What Would Martha Cook?

Too Busy to Be Unprepared

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Scalloped Potatoes

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 medium potatoes, peeled and sliced
3/4 c. milk
4 T. butter
1/2 medium onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 c. sharp cheddar, grated
1/2 c. Monterrey jack cheese, grated
1/4 c. parmesan cheese, grated

In a medium pan, melt butter and sauté onions and garlic for 4 minutes over medium heat. Add potatoes and stir, making sure each potato is coated with the melted butter.  Cook for 5 minutes over medium heat. Stir in cheese and transfer all to a round, glass casserole dish.  Bake in oven, uncovered, for 30 minutes at 350 degrees. Serves 6-8 people.

Grocery List
potatoes
butter
garlic
onion
sharp cheddar
Monterrey jack
parmesan

Approximate Cost: $3.20

Thanksgiving Edition: Oyster Dressing

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Turkey giblets (Don’t know what they are? Click here.)
1 loaf of your favorite bread
1 medium onion, minced finely
1 t. salt
1 1/2 t. sage
3 eggs
1/8 t. pepper
1 container oysters, drain and reserve 2 T. of this liquid
1/2 c. drippings from the cooked turkey (drippings are the liquid at the bottom of the turley pan–the oils and juices from the turkey)

Boil giblets from turkey. Using the broth from this, lightly wet a loaf of bread and add, 1 finely minced onion, 1 t. salt, 1 1/2 t. sage, 3 eggs and pepper to taste. Mix thoroughly. Gently add in 1 container of oysters with 2 T. of the liquid. Divide mixture in half and cook in two pie pans. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes to 1 hour.

In the middle of cooking, drip some turkey drippings on it to make a nice crust. A family Thanksgiving favorite!!

Grocery List:
Turkey (reserve the giblet bag and drippings)
bread
onion
salt
sage
3 eggs
pepper
oysters

Approximate Cost (just for the dressing, not the turkey): $7.85

Four Corners Refried Beans

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1 lb. bacon
3 c. uncooked pinto beans
7 c. water
1 1/2 c. chopped onion
4 cloves garlic
1 T. salt (to start)
1-2 c. fresh or canned green chilies, diced

Fry bacon until crisp. Crumble and drain, reserving half of the bacon grease. Place bacon, remainder of ingredients and reserved bacon grease in the crock pot and cover.

Cook beans on high for 1 hour, then reduce to low for 10 hours. Cool and then mash pinto beans, in batches using a potato masher. Add more salt to taste.

Cool mashed beans completely and freeze using the freezer method. From Don’t Panic More Dinner’s in the Freezer.

Grocery List
bacon
pinto beans
onion
garlic
salt
green chilies

Approximate Cost: $4.68

Harvest Sweet Potato Cranberry Casserole

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3 1/2 lbs. sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 3/4 inch cubes
1 large onion, diced
olive oil or vegetable oil cooking spray
1 1/2 c. fresh cranberries (or frozen–do not thaw, if frozen)
2/3 c. light brown sugar
2 T. butter, melted
1/4 c. orange juice
3/4 t. salt
1 t. nutmeg
1/2 t. ground ginger
3/4 t. cinnamon
1 c. chopped pecans

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Spray two shallow baking dishes (about 9 X 13 each) with oil. Mix sweet potatoes and onions and place half in each prepared baking dish. Spray lightly with oil and bake until sweet potatoes are just tender about 20-25 minutes. In a large bowl, combine remaining ingredients and mix well. Stir in sweet potato mixture. Place mixture in two freezer bags. Freeze, using freezer bag method.

On serving day, slightly defrost or thaw to a slushy state. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place potato/ cranberry mixture in two 9 by 11 inch baking dishes. Bake uncovered about 30-40 minutes or until tender and slightly sticky. Stir once during cooking. From Don’t Panic More
Dinner’s in the Freezer.

Grocery List
sweet potatoes
onion
vegetable. olive oil spray
cranberries
light brown sugar
butter
orange juice
salt
nutmeg
ginger
cinnamon
pecans

Approximate Cost: $10.45

Flour Tortillas From Scratch

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3 c. flour plus scant amount for hands and surface

2 t. salt
2 T. baking powder
1/3 c. butter, melted
1 c. hot water

In a large bowl, add flour, salt, baking powder and butter. Stir together thoroughly, until the mixture is crumbly. Slowly add hot water, stirring together. Flour hands and knead mixture for 2 minutes. Divide into 8 balls. Cover with damp paper towel for 30 minutes.

Flour surface and roll out each ball. Cook over medium high heat in iron skillet that is cured. Brown on both sides and set aside in a warmed plate.

Grocery List
flour
salt
baking powder
butter

Approximate Cost: $2.13

Rice Cakes

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1 c. rice, cooked
2 c. heavy cream
1 1/2 c. flour
1/2 t. salt
1 1/4 T sugar
2 t. baking powder
1 egg
1 T. shortening (melted)
2 T. canola oil

Cover cooked rice with 1 c. cream and let sit in refrigerator. Sift dry ingredients. Mix egg, 1 c. cream and shortening in a separate container. Alternating, add small amounts of dry ingredients and liquid mixture into rice and cream. Drop from spoon into a skillet heated to medium high with 2 T. canola oil. Allow to brown on both sides. Serve warm syrup over cakes. From Big Mama’s Old Black Pot.

Grocery List
rice
heavy cream
flour
salt
sugar
baking powder
egg
shortening
canola oil

Approximate Cost: $4.79