Simple Dill Slaw

Dill Slaw
Originally uploaded by Simply Frugal

Cabbage	4 C
Carrot	1/2 C
Onion	1/4 C
Oil	2 Tbsp
Vinegar	1/4 C
Dill	2 Tbsp

Shred cabbage and carrot. Mince onion very fine.
Toss in serving bowl, then sprinkle with oil, vinegar and dill. Add salt and pepper to taste.
Toss again and chill 1 hour or until serving time.

Extremely Frugal Sweet Sour Slaw

Sweet Sour Slaw
Originally uploaded by Simply Frugal

Cabbage	1 lb
Bacon	2 strips
Vinegar	2 Tbsp
Water	2 Tbsp
Sugar	2 tsp
Salt	1 tsp

Shred cabbage.
Saute bacon slowly, until meat is crisp and fat has rendered out.
Remove bacon and crumble.
Add vinegar, water, sugar, and salt to pan, heat to boiling. Return crumbled bacon.
Pour hot dressing over shredded cabbage and chill until serving time.

Extremely Frugal Southern Green Beans

Southern Green Beans
Originally uploaded by Simply Frugal

Green beans, fresh	1 lb
Bacon	2 strips
Onion	1/2 cup

Clean beans and leave whole or cut to preferred size.
Saute bacon until crisp, remove from pan, and crumble.
Chop onion and saute in bacon fat until translucent.
Stir in green beans and stirfry quickly until bright green.
Return bacon to pan, stir to mix in.
Season with a bit of pepper.

Sesame Broccoli

Sesame Broccoli
Originally uploaded by Simply Frugal

Broccoli, fresh or frozen	1 pound
Lemon juice	1 tsp
Soy sauce	1 tsp
Roasted sesame oil	1/2 tsp
Sesame seeds	1 tsp

Steam broccoli briefly and place in serving bowl.
Mix lemon juice, soy sauce, and sesame oil. Sprinkle over broccoli and then toss.
If you are serving this as a cold summer salad, refrigerate for several hours.
Otherwise serve immediately, sprinkling sesame seeds for garnish.

Note: There are two kinds of sesame oil sold. One, a light golden color, is used as you would use any cooking oil. Dark or roasted sesame oil is a flavoring ingredient that can be purchased in Asian grocery stores and in some supermarkets in the ethnic foods section. Don't try to substitute one for the other. The darker oil has a very powerful flavor.

Simple Spaghetti Sauce

Spaghetti
Originally uploaded by Simply Frugal

Onion	1/4 C
Garlic cloves	4
Oil	1 Tbsp
Tomato sauce	4 C
Basil	1 Tbsp
Marjoram	2 tsp
Oregano	1 tsp
Thyme	1 tsp

Chop onion fine, and crush garlic.
Heat oil in large saucepan, add onion, and saute 5 minutes. Add garlic and saute 3 minutes more.
Add tomato sauce, basil, marjoram, oregano, and thyme. Simmer for 20 minutes.

I find the flavors blend better if the sauce is allowed to sit for a few hours, or even overnight, and then reheated.

It's also a great crockpot recipe, left on low for 5-6 hours. Add the meatballs just before serving.

Basil Tomato Salad

Basil Tomato Salad
Originally uploaded by Simply Frugal

A Roma tomato, a few chunks of cheese, and a basil leaf cut chiffonade.*

Basil Tomato Salad

Tomato, fresh	1 lb
Cheese, mozzarella	8 ounces
Basil	2 fresh leaves
Vinegar	2 Tbsp
Oil	1 Tbsp

Slice tomato in 1/4 inch slices.
Cube cheese.
Roll fresh basil leaves into cylinders, and slice into thin ribbons.

Mix tomato, cheese, and basil gently in a serving bowl. Sprinkle with oil and vinegar. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Refrigerate until ready to serve, at least 2 hours.




*A fancy culinary term that means roll it up and slice it into thin ribbons.

Extremely Frugal Colcannon

A traditional Irish potato and cabbage dish

Colcannon

Cabbage, shredded	2 C
Potatoes	4 C
Green onions	6
Milk	1/2 C
Butter	1/4 C

Boil cabbage, chop fine. Peel and boil potatoes, then mash. Chop green onions.
Bring milk to boil, add onions, salt and pepper to taste.
Add butter and cabbage to milk, fold in mashed potatoes.
Beat well until light and fluffy.

Simplify:
Substitute 1/4 C chopped onions for the green onions.

Parisian Carrot Salad

Parisian Carrots
Originally uploaded by Simply Frugal

An easy side dish for winter meals.

Parisian Carrot Salad
Serves 4

Carrots	2 C
Parsley	1/2 C
Olive oil	1 tsp
Garlic	1 clove
Salt	1/4 tsp
Pepper	1/8 tsp
Red wine vinegar	1 Tbsp

Mince parsley very fine, and shred carrots.
Drizzle oil over mixture.
Crush garlic and add to mixture along with salt and pepper.
Stir well, coating carrots thoroughly.
Sprinkle vinegar over mixture, toss, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving.

Simplify:
Use vegetable oil instead of olive oil
Use cider vinegar instead of red wine vinegar

Simple Cabbage Tomato Soup

Cabbage Tomato Soup
Originally uploaded by Simply Frugal

A wonderful winter soup.

Cabbage and Tomato Soup
6 servings

Cabbage	2 C
Tomatoes, canned	28 oz
Bacon	3 slices
Onion	1 C
Oil	2 Tbsp
Bay leaves	2
Allspice	1 1/2 tsp
Paprika	2 Tbsp
Brown sugar	2 Tbsp
Garlic	1 Tbsp
Vinegar, cider	1/3 C
Chicken stock	3 C

Saute bacon, bay leaf, and oil over medium heat until bacon is translucent.
Stir in cabbage and onion and saute 5 minutes.
Add allspice, paprika, brown sugar, garlic, and salt and pepper to taste. Lower heat and let vegetables steam gently in their own juices. Do not brown.
Add vinegar, tomatoes, and chicken stock. Add sufficient water to cover the tops of the vegetables.

Simmer 30 minutes, until cabbage is soft. Puree 1 or 2 cups, and stir back into pan. Taste for balance, and serve hot.

Caraway Apple Sauerkraut

Caraway Apple Sauerkraut
Originally uploaded by Simply Frugal

Sauerkraut	2 lb
Apple	1 C
Caraway seed	1 Tbsp

Drain sauerkraut and place in saucepan.
Slice apple very thin and add to pan.
Sprinkle caraway seeds over apples.
Add your choice of liquids to simmer it in.

Wine is traditional, but I usually use apple juice, or applejack. Water works just as well for cooking but doesn't give it the 'secret ingredient' flavor.

Extremely Frugal Caramel Onions

Caramel Onions
Originally uploaded by Simply Frugal

Onions	4 C
Sugar	1 tsp

Slice onions very thinly.
Put a cast iron or heavy stainless steel frying pan on the burner but Do Not Add Water Or Grease.
Stir sliced onions over medium heat until most of the water has evaporated and onions begin to brown. This will take 20 minutes or more.
Stir frequently and avoid sticking. You're carmelizing the sugars in the onions. If necessary you can add a bit of sugar to help the browning process.

Extremely Frugal Carrot Raisin Slaw

Carrot Raisin Slaw
Originally uploaded by Simply Frugal

A nice alternative to cabbage is this carrot and raisin combo.

Carrot Raisin Slaw
4 servings

Carrot	2 C
Raisins	2 Tbsp
Mayonnaise	2 Tbsp
Salt	1/4 tsp
Pepper	1/8 tsp

Grate carrots and mix in raisins. Stir in mayonnaise, salt, and pepper. Chill for at least 1 hour.

Simple Apple Onion Saute

Apple Onion Celery Pork
Originally uploaded by Simply Frugal

An easy accompaniment to roasted meat.

Apple Onion Saute
4 servings

Apples, Granny Smith	1 pound
Onions	1/2 pound
Butter	1 Tbsp
Celery (optional)	1/2 C
Sage	1 tsp
Salt	1 tps

Slice onions into thin rounds.
Core apples, but do not peel. Slice into thin wedges.
Melt butter in frying pan, and saute apples until slightly browned.
Add onions (and celery) and saute until translucent.
Add sage and salt and pepper to taste. Cover and cook 5 minutes longer.

Can also be used as a base while roasting pork or beef.