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Cool Summertime Cooking
Summertime--and the living is easy! But the kitchen is hot!! It's time for some cool cooking recipes and tips! 1. Cook outdoors. When you have some time, perhaps onthe weekend, grill up several entrees at once. Then freezeand you have your main dishes ready for the next week. To help you out, here is a marinade recipe that I use forthe "cheap" cuts of beef and pork: 1/2 cup soy sauce Just whisk it all together and pour over your meat. Letsit in fridge, turning occasionally, for a couple of hours. 2. Use your crockpot. You don't have to make acomplicated recipe. If you are short of time in themornings, just put a whole chicken in the crock, saltand pepper, cover and cook on low all day. When it'ssuppertime, all you have to do is add a salad andyou're done! 3. Learn to use your leftovers. The chicken leftoverfrom your crockpot can be chopped and made intoa casserole that can be warmed up in the microwave: Mix 1 1/2 to 2 cups chopped chicken with somechopped onion, a can of cream of mushroom soup,a can of cream of celery soup and about 1 1/2 cups ofcooked macaroni. Pour into a casserole dish, topwith cheese and heat in microwave until heated through. 4. Cook in the cool of the morning. If your familyjust has to have that fried chicken, why not do it inthe morning and warm it up at suppertime? 5. Stop by the deli--I know this is not the most frugalidea, but if you pick up a main dish, all you have toadd is a couple of sides when you get home. And it'sstill cheaper than taking the family out! "Cooking is at once child's play and adult joy. And cooking done with care is an act of love."--Craig Claiborne Helping you live the good life...on a budget! Cyndi Roberts is the editor of "1 Frugal Friend 2 Another"bi-weekly newsletter, bringing you creative, practical tipsto help you with budgeting, cooking, shopping, parentingand much more! To subscribe visit the "1 Frugal Friend 2 Another" website athttp://www.cynroberts.com
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