I found this recipe for Cheddar
Crackers. I'm sure you could replace
the cheddar with any kind of shredded
cheese or even parmesan cheese.
Everyone in our home loves Cheez-Its
but they are expensive, even the
store brand unless of course you catch
a sale with coupons which is not very
often.
I think for this recipe below you
could also add seasonings of choice
to make different kinds of crackers.
How about garlic, Italian seasoning,
dried or powdered onion,
or other types of herbs or
dried tomatoes.
I'm thinking about making them sometime
and using my pasta roller instead of
the machine. I can make larger crackers
and put them in the kids lunches
like one of those Lunchables with
some ham or bologna and cheese to
make little cracker sandwiches.
CHEDDAR CRACKERS
1 1/3 cups flour
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
6 tablespoons butter, softened
2 1/2 cups cheddar cheese, loosely packed, shredded
2 egg yolks
2 tablespoons water
salt for tops, optional
1. Preheat the oven to 350.-I generally wait to do this until after
the 1 hour chilling.
2. In a large bowl, combine the dry ingredients. Cut the butter into
the flour mixture until it resembles coarse meal. A pastry blender works
great for this, or you can use a food processor. Mix in the cheese. Stir
well until the cheese is evenly coated.
3. In a separate bowl, mix together the egg yolks and the water. Add
this to the flour mixture and blend to for a dough that will hold together
in a cohesive ball. Wrap the dough in wax paper and chill 1 hour.
4. Divide the dough into 2 equal portions for rolling. On a well
floured surface roll out to a rectangle approximately 1/4 inch thick and
position so the long edge runs horizontally in front of you. For the left
third of the dough over the center third. Repeat with the right third. The
dough is now 3 layer with the seam running vertically. Give the dough a
quarter turn so the seam now runs horizontally. Roll out again to about 1/4
inch thick, fold as before and turn again.
4a. If using a pasta machine divide the dough into smaller segments and
roll the dough out the same you would do your noodles, starting with the
widest setting , then fold over and repeat until it's a smooth even dough,
then progressively lower the setting until the dough is 1/8 inch thick
5. Roll the dough out to 1/8 thick. If desired, sprinkle the top
lightly and evenly with salt and roll over it lightly with the rolling pin.
With a sharp knife, cut the dough into 2 inch squares and place them on an
ungreased baking sheet. Prick each square 2-3 times with a fork.
6. Bake 15 minutes, Turn and bake and additional 5-10 minutes or
until medium brown. Remove to a rack to cool.
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OR here is yet another recipe I found:
There is a video to go with
it HERE (small on left hand side
about mid ways down)
Parmesan Cream Crackers
Recipe by Mark Bittman in the NY Times
1 cup all-purpose flour, more as needed
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup finely grated fresh Parmesan cheese
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/4 cup cream or half-and-half, more as needed
Coarse salt, pepper, sesame or poppy seeds, minced garlic or whatever you like for sprinkling (optional).
Heat oven to 400 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or lightly dust with flour. Put flour, salt, cheese and butter in bowl of a food processor. Pulse until flour and butter are combined. Add about 1/4 cup cream or half-and-half and let machine run for a bit; continue to add liquid a teaspoon at a time, until mixture holds together but is not sticky.
Roll out dough on a lightly floured surface until 1/2-inch thick or even thinner, adding flour as needed. Transfer sheet of dough to prepared baking sheet (drape it over rolling pin to make it easier). Score lightly with a sharp knife, pizza cutter or a pastry wheel if you want to break crackers into squares or rectangles later on. Sprinkle with salt or other topping if you like.
Bake until lightly browned, about 10 minutes. Cool on a rack; serve warm or at room temperature or store in a tin for a few days.
Yield: About 4 servings.
______________________________
I am still stunned over this laptop
computer Tony found. He looked
like a kid running from a candy
store when he found it.
He kept saying, "there is actually
a laptop computer in this box!!"
I always tell the kids and Tony to
check any boxes because sometimes
they aren't empty!
So I did a lil research today on this
computer. I was able to find out
it went for $700 when new!!
1.6GHz Intel Core Duo processor,
1GB of memory and 100GB hard drive.
It weighs in at 7.4 pounds and
includes a dual-layer DVD burner,
FireWire port, 4 USB ports, S-video port and
4-in-1 media card reader.
Loaded with Windows Vista.
Man I hope we can get it running!
It looks brand new with not a
scratch on it!
Demo of this computer from Best Buy.
______________________________
11:00AM
Just got a batch of peanut butter
banana bars in the oven. I made
them just like my banana bread
except I didn't put a streusel
middle and put everything on top.
I also added some heath bits
on top as well. I've never
made them into bars before so
we will see how they turn out.
Once baked and cooled I wanted
to cut them up into individual
servings and put into freezer
for lunches.
________________________________
11:30AM
Mom called and said she had the second
estimate done on the gutter out back
of her house. She also got a quote
on some leaf guards, ya know those inserts
you put into gutters to keep the leaves out.
We had some on our home when we first moved
in and did not like them at all. For some
reason it made the water go over
top of them. We removed all of them off
the gutters. Anyway the leaf guards
were $100 to $200, I don't remember exact
amount. Plus you still have to clean out
your gutter because seeds from trees
can still get in there.
To have the gutters cleaned professionally
is about $95 once or twice a year.
So I was racking
my brain to keep my step-dad from having
to climb a ladder and clean gutters
and to keep them from spending so much
on those darn gutter guards which I hate
to begin with. I myself just climb a ladder
to our roof and use a cordless leaf blower
to clean out the gutters.
So anyway this idea popped into my head
that was much cheaper, a telescoping
wand attachment for a garden hose
that shoots out a high pressure spray
and reaches up to clean out your gutters
without any ladders.
Between Lowes and Home Depot they
can be purchased for $16 to $23.
That's a lot better than $100 and something!
Or a yearly cleaning at $95!
Plus you don't have to climb a ladder
to clean the gutters!
Telescoping Wand with Gutter Cleaner
* Powerful sweeping action cleans debris from rain gutters is also great for sidewalks
* Telescoping wand extends from 41.5 In. to 68.5 In.
* High quality aluminum construction
* For outdoor use with cold water only
* Standard hose connection
_____________________________
11:40AM
Waiting for my banana bars to get
done then heading out to go eat
lunch with mom at the Taco Bell
$2.00 menu! You can't even buy
a happy meal at that price!
__________________________________
DOLLAR GENERAL EASY MEALS
DG easy meals are recipes that are made
almost entirely from items that you can
find at your local Dollar General.
These recipes are designed to be both
easy to make and great tasting.
__________________________________
spin & win coupons for
KRAFT Macaroni & Cheese Dinners
________________________________
Like I always say, double check your
receipts when shopping and watch the
cashier ring up your items and watch
them scan your coupons to make sure
things are rung up right and coupons
are being taken off or doubled!
If cashiers give you a problem about
using coupons, remind them that the
manufacturer reimburses the store
the value of the coupon plus an
additional .08 cents. It's not
like you are robbing them with the
great deals you find. The manufacturer's
put coupons out there for you to use.
I had a cashier miss quite a few coupons
stuck together. I told the service desk
which ones were not taken off and she
immediately went and got the bag
of coupons from that cashier to look
through them. I was credited for those
coupons she missed.
Here is a tip. Put your initials on the
coupons to prove that they are yours
if or when they should have to
search through the coupon bag at
the checkout!
Here's an article about Target Accused
of Not Giving Full Value on Coupons.
________________________________
Before hiring any contractor be
sure to see if they are listed with
The Better Business Bureau.
Just to make sure you are not
hiring some fly by night company
that will rip you off.
_______________________________
HOW TO ORGANIZE YOUR PANTRY.
& WHAT ESSENTIALS TO KEEP IN PANTRY.
_______________________________
Here are my banana bars I got
ready for the freezer. It made
a total of 24 bars. Some to eat
now, a couple for tomorrow's lunch
and 12 for the freezer.
Here's another one of my simple
tips I use. Instead of letting
things go to waste in bags that
aren't wrapped up or buying those
so called Chip Clip, use clothes
pins instead.
__________________________
You know you are getting old when
AARP sends you membership cards
in the mail with your name on it!
AHHHHHHHHHH
I need a hot bath soon for all the
aches and pains and after my recent
headache of reading my mail that
came today.
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