Grandma’s Frugal Recipes

We’re all trying to live and cook a little more frugally and are always on the lookout for recipes to fit that lifestyle. One of the best sources for making do with less is Grandma. I bet if you asked her (or your mom, aunt, great-aunt etc. for that matter), you’ll end up with an entire collection of Grandma’s frugal recipes.

Today I thought I’d share a few of the ones that have been shared by the women in my family and I would love to hear yours as well.

Let’s start with a great everyday family dinner recipe.

Hamburger and Rice Skillet

• 1/2 to 1 pound ground beef or ground turkey
• 1 onion, sliced
• 2 cups cooked rice (leftover)
• 8 ounce can tomato sauce, or 1 cup chopped tomatoes (canned or fresh)
• 1/2 cup water
• Salt and Pepper to taste
• 1/2 cup shredded cheese

Fry the ground beef  and the onion in a large skilled until it is all the way done. The onion should be nice and tender as well. Drain off any fat in the pan. Stir in everything else except the cheese and simmer it covered for 10 minutes to allow all the flavors to combine.  Sprinkle cheese on top and serve with a small salad for a simple, but filling dinner.

Grandma would also toss in any leftover vegetables she had sitting in the fridge. If you have some celery or peppers about to go to waste, chop them up and stir them in as well.

Of course grandma was also good at making a cake out of almost nothing at all. Not a week would go by without her making one cake or another. One of my favorites has always been her old fashioned gingerbread cake.

Grandma was even good at making candy. Here’s a recipe for a family favorite:

Heavy Cream Candy

2 1/2 cups heavy cream
4 cups sugar
3/4 cup white corn syrup
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup chopped nuts

Combine the cream, sugar and syrup in a large sturdy pot and boil it until it’s at the soft ball stage. If you have a candy thermometer, bring it up to 235° F. If you don’t have one, you drop a bit of it into cold water to cool it down. If it forms a soft ball it’s ready.

Move the pot and let the mixture sit in there until it is cooled down a bit. Add the vanilla and chopped nuts (we like to use chopped pecans). Spread the mixture into a puttered cake pan (13×9 works well). Allow it to harden and cool completely, then cut the candy into small squares.

Why don’t you spend some time this week with Grandma or any of the wise old women in your family and discover some new frugal recipes from them. Take the time to write them down and create your own little family cookbook. If you’re so inclined, make a few copies of the cookbook and give them to some of the younger women in your family who are just starting to cook this holiday season. What a wonderful, personal gift.

Warmly,

Susanne Myers- The Hillbilly Housewife

Visit me at www.hillbillyhousewife.com and while you’re there, take a moment to subscribe to my newsletter and discover more frugal recipes.

Now I’d love to hear from you. What are some of your favorite frugal recipes that were passed down by the wise women in your own family? Leave a comment to share them with us.

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