Make your own pastry and save. Cut 1/2 cup shortening into 11/4 cups flour until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in 3 tablespoons ice water until the mixture holds together and forms a dough.
Leftover apricot nectar will make a sensational smoothie. Combine 1 ripe banana, up to 1 cup nectar, 1/2 cup yogurt, 2 tablespoons honey and 4 ice cubes in a blender container. Process until smooth.
If you keep chocolate baking squares in your pantry, use them instead of unsweetened cocoa powder to save a little money. Melt 11/4 squares with the butter in step 1, and increase the flour to 1/3 cup.
You can save a pretty penny by substituting a 16-ounce container of thawed whipped topping for the whipping cream and confectioners' sugar. Buy a low-fat brand and save calories, too.
You can use a 10-inch round cake pan if you prefer not to buy a springform pan. Line the bottom with a circle of greased parchment paper. Line the side with a greased strip of parchment cut to fit the circumference.
Make ranch salad dressing with leftover buttermilk. Mix 1 cup buttermilk, 1/3 cup sour cream, 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, 1 clove garlic, chopped, 1 teaspoon pepper and 1/4 teaspoon salt.
Golden raisins have a winey flavor and a pretty, almost translucent appearance. They also are more expensive than dark raisins. Use ordinary raisins if you want to save money without sacrificing flavor.
Make piecrust for pennies. Cut 1/2 cup shortening into 1 1/3 cups flour plus 1/2 teaspoon salt until coarse crumbs appear. Stir in 3 tablespoons ice water until pastry forms a ball. Chill before rolling.
For candied orange slices, cook thin strips of peel in boiling water for 20 minutes. Drain; cook in 1 cup sugar, 1cup water and 1/4 cup corn syrup until reduced by half, about 20 minutes; strain and roll in sugar.
For the best results, use a tart apple, such as Granny Smith or McIntosh, for this pie. You can find inexpensive apples at area farmers' markets or orchards, and enjoy the outing with your family for free.
Save the price of a pastry crust by making a crumb crust from cookies you have on hand: graham cracker crumbs, chocolate or vanilla wafer crumbs-even cinnamon graham crumbs make a delicious crust.
