Cooking Up Some Fun & Yum

 Fall is in the air here in the northern hemisphere!  We look to comfort foods and tasty treats.  I have a few ideas for simplifying and saving a few dollars and still be tasty.

PIZZA IN A SKILLET

Mix all your pizza toppings together in a skillet and cook up.  I add meat (ground beef and/or sausage) first then pop in onion, peppers and mushrooms - or anything that needs to tender up a bit.  Add whatever ingredients that you put on top of pizza and a jar of pizza sauce.

You can use this on top of toasted buns or bread, pita, fry bread or tortillas.  Use with tortilla chips or corn chips, crackers, over pasta or rice or just put it in a bowl and eat!!

Top with cheese of choice.

Skillet pizza on toasted buns.  So easy and tasty.  No heating up the big oven is necessary.  ENJOY

BROWN SUGAR AND HONEY HAM GLAZE

No need to spend extra for a ham with those glaze packs.  Get a cheaper ham and make your own glaze.

1/2 C brown sugar

1/2 C honey

2 Tbsp. Dijon mustard

1/2 tsp. cinnamon

1/4 tsp. nutmeg

Mix together and drizzle or spread over ham.  Mmmmmmm

It is apple time!

Nothing like a wonderful apple pie or apple crisp.  Love fried apples.

If you don't have luck making pie - try a crisp.  It is one of my favorites - regardless of fruit!

When it comes to frying or baking I am not particular to type.  I will use what I have and it always tastes good.

CRUMB TOPPING FOR CRISP

1 C flour

1 C brown sugar

1/2 C soft or melted butter

** 3/4 C oats & chopped nuts (combo)

** optional

Mix together and top your filling and bake at 375* for 30 minutes to crisp it up.

Here is a fun tip I sometimes use when making an apple crisp.  I mix in an 8oz. can of cranberry sauce with the apples.  Adds a great bright taste to the fruit.  Would be good with pears as well!

Don't throw away those 'past their prime' apples.  Peel and cut out spots and use for baking or frying.  Waste not want not!

We have all seen those small containers of caramel apple dip at the grocery.  Usually those containers are in the produce department real close to the apple display.  Not sure about your area - but they are are pretty pricey here.   They tend to run $3.50 - $4.50 for a little container.

Crazy.

Make your own - it is fresh, tasty and so much cheaper!!

CARAMEL APPLE DIP

8 oz. pack of cream cheese - softened

1C brown sugar - packed

1 tsp. vanilla extract

Cream ingredients together, cover and refrigerate over night for flavors to meld.  Makes about 2 cups of YUM!

Slice up your apples and dip away.

**I like sliced apples with peanut better as well - another fun treat!!

CHILI CHEESE DIP

Warm, comforting  and oh so good. 

8 oz. pack of cream cheese - softened

10 1/2 oz. can of chili without beans

2 C shredded cheddar cheese (or what you have)

Spread cream cheese in the bottom of an ungreased 9 x 13 pan - top with chili.  Sprinkle with cheese.

Bake at 350* for 20 minutes.

Serve with tortilla chips or corn chips.

Don't know about you - but this could be a meal or two for me - not just an appetizer!

Hope this gives you a few time saving and money saving ideas for food fun and yum.

ENJOY