Best Frugal Recipes - Breakfast

This is my family's favorite cereal. We like it better than any cereal we can buy in the store, and it saves us about $60 per month!



Ingredients

5 cups oatmeal
1 cup brown sugar
1 stick melted margarine
1/2 cup oil
1 tsp. vanilla

Directions

Preheat oven to 300F. Mix oatmeal and brown sugar in a large bowl. Mix melted margine, oil and vanilla in a separate bowl. Combine all ingredients and mix thoroughly. Pour granola into 9 x 13 baking dish and bake for 20-35 minutes, stirring once in between. A double batch may take a little longer to cook. I use 2 9 x 13 pans for a double batch. It cooks better than putting it all into one pan.

Variations

Add 1 cup raisins (best added AFTER cooking)
2 tsp. almond extract
Add 1/2 cup slivered almonds or coconut

Tips

I prefer to use 1/2 rolled oats and 1/2 quick oats, though you can use either.

While the granola is cooling, stir it occasionally so it doesn't stick together in one solid clump.

These are so easy and tasty as well as economical! These are done in a two step process.

Step 1: Par-boil the Potatoes

This is an important step! Par-boiling keeps the potatoes from absorbing too much oil when frying, and makes for a much better finished product than starting with raw potatoes. Thankfully, it's also very easy!

Place potatoes in a pot and cover with water. Bring to a boil. As soon as the water boils, turn the heat off. Do not remove the pot from the burner, and let the potatoes sit in the water for 5 minutes. Drain and let the potatoes cool. I usually place them in the refrigerator uncovered, which makes them easier to peel when I'm ready.

Step 2: Peel, Shred and Fry the Hashbrowns

Just peel the potatoes and shred them using a cheese grater or food processor. Heat a few tablespoons of oil in a pan, and add potatoes. Fry the potatoes a few minutes on each side until golden and crisp. You can add onions, cheese, salt, pepper and any other seasonings you'd like. Enjoy!

Tips

To save time, par-boil potatoes the evening before, then prepare and cook them in the morning.

Slice or dice the par-boiled potatoes instead of shredding them. Fried potatoes also make a great side dish for dinner.

No kneading required! This is easy, even for beginners.



Ingredients

5 cups all-purpose flour, divided
2 (.25oz) packages active dry yeast (equal to 4 1/2 tsp. yeast)
1 Tbsp sugar
2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp baking soda
2 cups warm milk (110F to 115F)
Cornmeal

Directions

In a large mixing bowl, combine 2 cups flour, yeast, sugar, salt and baking soda.

Add warm milk and water. Beat on low speed for 30 seconds, scraping the bowl occasionally.

Beat on high 3 minutes. Stir in remaining 3 cups flour (do not knead).

Grease 2 loaf pans and sprinkle with cornmeal. Pour batter into pans and sprinkle the top with cornmeal.

Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 45 minutes. Bake at 375F for 35 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from pans immediately to cool on wire racks. Store in a ziplock bag after loaves are completely cooled.

Tips and Credit

Save a TON of money by buying your yeast at Sam's Club or Costco. You can get 2 pounds of yeast for only $4.24 at Sam's Club! You only get a tiny fraction of yeast for the same price at regular grocery stores. Yeast will keep for a VERY long time in the freezer.

Credit: This recipe comes from allrecipes.com and is titled "English Muffin Bread"

Make up these little packets ahead of time, and enjoy the convenience of quick oatmeal without the high price tag!

Ingredients (per packet)

1/4 cup Quick Oats
1 Tbsp brown sugar
1/8 tsp cinnamon
snack or sandwich sized zipper bag

Directions

Mix contents of packet with 1/2 cup boiling water and let stand for 2 minutes. You may use a little more or less water, depending on how thick you prefer your oatmeal.

Tips

You may prefer to double the packet ingredients for older children or adults. Experiment to see which size works best for your family.

Try adding a couple tablespoons of dry fruit and a little non dairy creamer for a fruit and cream variation.

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