Cheap Cool Treats For Hot Summer Days Repost

With the price of frozen Treats around $4.00 a box.
I think you might want to print out these recipes, They will cost less, they
taste great, and the Kids will even have a great time helping you make them.

Fruit Bars
Stick to one or two kinds of fruit keep them simple and yummy!
Blend 2 cups cut-up summer fruit (strawberries, peaches, watermelon, etc.) in a blender until smooth.
Add 1-2 tablespoons water (or juice), if necessary. Add 1 tablespoon sugar and 1 teaspoon lemon juice. Cover and blend until well mixed.
Pour into molds and freeze until solid.
Pudding pops Grab a pack of those individual puddings that you can stick in a kid’s lunchbox. Carefully slice an opening in the foil lid of the pudding, and insert a wooden popsicle stick (sold at grocers and craft stores.) Freeze and eat! For under a buck for a pack of 4, that’s cheap !

Frozen yogurt bars – These really are as simple A good organic like Yo Baby could be served in the original single-serve container, much like the pudding pops idea (just pop a stick in and freeze

Popsicles – Freezing your kid’s favorite juice into a mold is the easiest way yet to cool off with a treat. I love to sneak in a veggie serving or two by using a juice that contains carrots juice, and it’ll count as a fruit serving, too!

Frozen bananas - I love these! Dip a whole, peeled banana (or half them for smaller kids) into a melted chocolate dip. Roll in crushed or chopped nuts and insert a stick. Place on waxed paper. Freeze and eat! You will want to eat these right away. If you make to many and you won't be using them right away, take the frozen bananas and place them in a freezer bag. Should be good for about a week.

If you have an idea I've missed please click on comments and share.

QUICK TIP FOOD STORAGE GUIDELINE

I have been looking in my freezer and cupboards today. I came across some things that had been here for awhile, so I decide to find out the shelf life of some of this stuff. I came across this list I think its worth printing out. I hope it will be useful to all of you.

Food Storage Guidelines
September 6, 2006
Compiled by Maxine Glass
Top of Form 1
. Recipe4Living
Nine comprehensive charts help you decide how long is too long when it comes to food in your cabinets, refrigerator and freezer.
You don't have to be modest, you can admit it. You have a fabulously fully-stocked kitchen. Anything and everything that anyone could ever want rests quietly in the cupboard shelves, kitchen cabinets and refrigerator bins. But how long have some of those foods been on those shelves? And how long is too long?We have put together some handy charts to help you distinguish "still good" from "time to toss." So, keep lining those shelves with cans and boxes and don't stop piling in the fruits and veggies, just make sure you know when to replace them.
Baking Powder
18 months or expiration date
Baking Soda
24 months
Bisquick
Expiration date
Bouillon
24 months
Bread Crumbs, dried
6 months
Bread - Rolls
3 days
Bulgar
6-12 months
Cereals - Unopened
6-12 months
Cereals - Opened
2-3 months
Cereal - Hot, dry
6 months
Chocolate - Pre-melted
12 months
Chocolate - Semi-sweet
18 months
Chocolate - Unsweetened
18 months
Chocolate Syrup - Unopened
24 months
Chocolate Syrup - Opened
6 months
Cocoa
Indefinite
Cocoa Mixes
8 months
Coffee
24 months
Coffee Lighteners (dry)
9 months
Cornmeal
12 months
Cornstarch
18 months
Drink Mix - Country Time Lemonade
24 months
Drink Mix - Crystal Light
24 months
Drink Mix - Kool Aid
18-24 months
Flour - White
6-8 months
Flour - Whole Wheat
6-8 months
Gelatin, all types
18 months
Grits
12 months
Honey
12-24 months
Jellies, Jams
12 months
Molasses
12+ months
Marshmallow Cream
3-4 months
Marshmallows
2-3 months
Mayonnaise
2-3 months
Milk - Condensed, unopened
12 months
Milk - Evaporated, unopened
12 months
Milke - Nonfat, dry, unopened
6 months
Pasta
24 months
Pectin - liquid or dry, unopened
12 months or expiration date
Rice - White
24+ months
Rice- Brown, Wild
6-12 months
Rice - Flavored or Herb
6 months
Rice - Minute
18 months
Salad Dressings - Bottled, unopened
10-12 months
Salad Oils
6 months
Oil - Crisco or Puritan
24 months
Oil - Corn
18 months
Oil - Vegetable
6 months
Shortening, solid
8 months
Vinegar (in container with plastic lid)
Indefinitely
Salt
Indefinitely
Sugar - Brown
18 months
Sugar - Confectioners'
24+
Sugar - Granulated
Indefinitely
Sugar - Artificial Sweeteners
24 months
Syrup - Corn
36 months
Syrup - Pancake
3-4 months
Tea - Bags
18 months
Tea - Instant
36 months
Teat - Loose
24 months
Vinegar - Unopened
24 months
Vinegar - Opened
12 months

Bread, Pastries and Cakes
Food Product
Storage Life:Refrigerator
Storage Life:Freezer
Unbaked Rolls and Breads
2-3 weeks
1 month
Partially-Baked Cinnamon Rolls
2 months
Baked Quick Breads
2 months
Baked Muffins
6-12 months
Baked Breads with no preservatives
2-3 weeks
2-3 months
Unfrosted Doughnuts
2-4 months
Waffles
1 month
Unbaked Fruit Pies
1-2 days
2-4 months
Baked Fruit Pies
2-3 days
6-8 months
Pumpkin or Chiffon Pies
2-3 days
1-2 months
Baked Cookies
6-12 months
Freezer Pie Shells
12 months
Cookie Dough
3 months
Unbaked Cake Batter
1 month
Frosted Baked Cakes
1 month
Unfrosted Baked Cakes
2-4 months
Angel Cakes
6-12 months
Fruit Cakes
6-12 months
Refrigerated biscuits, rolls, pastries, cookie dough
Expiration date
Back to Top
Dairy Prodcuts - Real and Substitutes
Food Product
Storage Life:Refrigerator
Storage Life:Freezer
Butter
1-2 weeks
Buttermilk
1-2 weeks
Cheese - Cottage, Ricotta
1-2 weeks
4 weeks
Cheese - Cream, Neufchatel
2 weeks
Cheese - Hard, Wax-Coated
1-2 months
6-8 months
Cheese - Sliced
2 weeks
Cheese - Cream Cheese, soft
5-6 days
Cheese - Parmesan Romano, grated
2 months
Cheese - Processed
3-4 months
6-8 months
Dips - Commercial
2 weeks
Dips - Homemade
2 days
Eggs - In Shell
3 weeks
Eggs - Whites or Yolks
2-4 days
1 year
Eggs - Hard Cooked
1 week
Egg Custards, Fillings, Pastries or Cream Pies
1-2 days
Egg Substitutes - Opened
3 days
Egg Substitutes - Unopened
10 days
1 year
Margarine
4-6 months
12 months
Milk - Evaporated, opened
4-5 days
Milk - Homogenized, dry nonfat
5 days
Milk - Sweetened, condensed, opened
4-5 days
Sour Cream
2 weeks
Whipped Topping - Can
3 months
Whipped Topping - From Mix
3 days
Whipped Topping - Cool Whip (eg.)
2-3 weeks
14 months
Yogurt
7-10 days
Fruits, Vegetables and Juices
Food Product
Storage Life:Refrigerator
Storage Life:Freezer
Apples
1 month
8-12 months
Apricots, Grapes, Nectartines, Peaches, Pears, Plums
3-5 days
8-12 months
Artichokes
1 week
Asparagus
2-3 days
8-12 months
Avocados
3-5 days
8-12 months
Bananas, Plantains
8-12 months
Beets, Carrots
2 weeks
8-12 months
Beans, Broccoli, Lima Beans, Peas, Summer Squash
3-5 days
8-12 months
Berries, Cherries
2-3 days
8-12 months
Cauliflower
1 week
8-12 months
Celery, Cabbage, Chilies, Green Beans, Peppers, Tomatoes
1 week
8-12 months
Cilantro, Parsley
1 week
8-12 months
Citrus Fruit
3 weeks
4-6 months
Corn
Day purchased
8-12 months
Cranberry Cocktail, canned
5-6 days
3-6 months
Greens - Colards, Kale, Mustard, Spinach, Swiss Chard
3-5 days
8-12 months
Greens - Lettuce and Salad
1 week
Green Onions
3-5 days
Guavas, Papayas
1-2 days
8-12 months
Kiwis
3-5 days
4-6 months
Mangoes
8-12 months
Melons
1 week
8-12 months
Mushrooms, Okra
1-2 days
8-12 months
Pineapple
2-3 days
4-6 months
Juices - canned, bottled or reconstituted
6 days
8 months
Pre-mixed, full strength Fruit Juice
Expiration date
Radishes
2 weeks
Real Lemon
12 months
Squash, hard
8-12 months
Meats, Poutry and Seafood
Food Product
Storage Life:Refrigerator
Storage Life:Freezer
FRESH MEAT
Beef Roasts, Steaks
3-5 days
6-12 months
Chicken or Turkey, pieces
1-2 days
9-12 months
Chicken or Turkey, whole
1-2 days
1 year
Duck, Goose
1-2 days
6 months
Game Birds
1-2 days
6 months
Giblets
1-2 days
3-4 months
Ground Meat, Stew
1-2 days
3-4 months
Lamb, roasts or chops
3-5 days
6-9 months
Pork, roasts or chops
3-5 days
4-6 months
Pre-stuffed Pork, Lamb Chops and Chicken Breasts
1 day
4-6 months
Sausage
1-2 days
1-2 months
Variety Meats: Heart, liver, tongue, etc.
1-2 days
1-2 months
Venison, roasts, steaks, chops
3-5 days
6-12 months
COOKED MEATS
Breakfast Sausage, smoked
7 days
1-2 months
Ham - Whole
7 days
1-2 months
Ham - Half
3-5 days
1-2 months
Ham - Slices
3-4 days
1-2 months
Ham - Canned
6-9 months
Hot Dogs, Luncheon Meats - Unopened
2 weeks
1-2 months
Hot Dogs, Luncheon Meats - Opened
3-7 days
1-2 months
Cooked, leftover meat
3-4 days
2-3 months
Leftover Gravy and Meat Broth
1-2 days
2-3 months
Cooked, leftover poultry
3-4 days
4-6 months
Cooked, leftover chicken nuggets or patties
1-2 days
1-3 months
FRESH SEAFOOD
Lean Fish - Cod, Flounder, Trout, Haddock, Halibut, Pollack, Perch
1-2 days
4-6 months
Fatty Fish - Mullet, Smelt, Salmon, Mackerel, Bluefish, Tuna, Swordfish
1-2 days
2-3 months
Live Crabs and Lobsters
Day purchased
Live Mussels and Clams
2-3 days
Live Oysters
7-10 days
Shucked Mussels and Clams
1-2 days
3-4 months
Shucked Oysters
5-7 days
3-4 months
Shrimp, Crabmeat
2-3 days
4 months
Scallops
2-3 days
3 months
COOKED FISH
Fish Sticks
18 months
Breaded Shrimp, commercial
1 year
Cooked pieces
3-4 days
3 months
Back to Top
Mixes and Packaged Foods
Food Product
Storage Life
Biscuit, Brownie, Muffin Mixes
9 months
Cake Mixes
9 months
Casseroles (complete or add own meat)
9-12 months
Cookies
2-3 weeks
Krusteaz Mixes
24 months
Pillsbury Mixes
18 months
Betty Crocker Mixes
8-12+ months
Jiffy Mixes
24 months
Crackers
3 months
Stove Top Dressing Mix
Expiration Date
Frosting
3 months
Hot-Roll Mixes
18 months
Pancake Mixes
6-9 months
Pie Crust Mixes
8 months
Pies and Pastries
2-3 days
Potatoes - Instant
6-12 months
Pudding Mixes
12 months
Rice Mixes
6 months
Rice-a-Roni
Expiration Date
Pasta-Roni
Expiration Date
Rice and Sauce
9-12 months
Sauce/Gravy Mix
6-12 months
Soup Mix
12 months
Soup Base
12 months
Country Kitchen Soup
36 months
Toaster Pastries
2-3 months
Back to Top
Canned and Dried Foods
Food Product
Storage Life
Canned Baby
12 months
Canned Tomato Sauce
12 months
Canned Cheese Sauce
24-36 months
Canned Tuna, Fish and Seafood
5 years
Canned Cranberry Sauce
Expiration date
Canned Fruits
36+ months
Canned Fruit Pie Fillings
24-36 months
Black Label Ham
Expiration date
Canned Meat
36 months
Canned Chicken
36 months
Canned Soup
Expiration date
Canned Tomatoes
36+ months
Canned Vegetables
24-48 months
Canned Baked Beans
24 months
Canned French Fried Onions
24 months
Canned Ragu Spaghetti Sauce
Expiration date
Canned Five Brothers Pasta Sauce
24 months
Canned Fruit Juices
6 months
Juices
12-24 months
Dried Fruits
6 months
Dried Vegetables
12 months
Dried Peas and Beans
12 months

Spices, Herbs and Condiments
Food Product
Storage Life
Catsup
18-24 months
Chili Sauce
24 months
Mustard - Yellow, Prepared
24 months
Jar Pickles
12-24 months
Spices
12-24 months
Steak Sauce
24 months
Tabasco Sauce
60 months
Extracts
24 months
Vanilla
12 months
Vegetables - Dehydrated, flaked
6 months

Others
Food Product
Strorage Life
Cheese - Parmesan, grated
10 months
Coconut, shredded, canned or packaged
12 months
Imitation Bacon Bits
12 months
Instant Breakfast
6 months
Nuts
4 months
Nuts - In Shell
24 months
Nut Meats Package
3 months
Peanut Butter
6-9 months
Jif Peanut Butter
24 months
Popcorn
24 months
Freeze-Dried Mushrooms
24 months
Whipped Topping (dry)
12 months
Yeast (dry)
Expiration date
Just a little tip: I buy alot of things when they are on sale and I have coupons. So from now on when I bring them in the door I will take my sharpie and jot the date on the outside of the
package before I put them away.

QUICK TIPS FOR STRAWBERRIES

This is a great time saver, a good friend shared this idea with me, so I would like to share it with you. After you wash the berries and you are ready to take off the stems, take a sturdy drinking straw and insert in the bottom of the berry, push up, it takes the stem clean off, leaving a perfect hole in the center. It works..

Now that you have the fruit cleaned and ready you might want to make this fruit dip, Its great on any kind of fresh fruit.

one Jar of marshmallow cream

one block of soften cream cheese

chill and serve

Another idea, if like your Strawberries dip in chocolate, try filling the hole in the center of the berry with you chocolate dip ... Because can you ever have too much chocolate?

Don't Forget to get your Sunday paper!

If your going to save on your groceries the Sunday paper is a must.The coupon mom taught me that in the coupon game 4 is the best number of coupons to have.The Kroger in my area offers 2 for the price of one on Sunday.Check with you local stores to see if they have this deal.Next you want to check the ads to see what's on sale. (That you use.)You will be amazed what you can save when you catch a buy one get one sale and you have four coupons.

I use this method all the time it works.

To all my readers who love to garden

Today, I was dreaming of getting inspired and working on my yard.

Since I know nothing about this topic, I logged on and went surfing. I came across this site and I thought about all of you that love working in your yards. But, the prices at the garden centers are breaking your bank.

You just have to click this link

http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/exchind/

They offer a list of Exchanges & Trading sites, it looks like a great way to save-a-dime while keeping you yards beautiful.

I love hearing from you: leave your comments. Got a link to share? Leave it in the comments, I will post it ASAP.

QUICK TIP

I want to share this tip with everyone.

ICE CAMPAIGN - 'In Case of Emergency' We all carry our mobile phones with names & numbers stored in its memory but nobody, other than ourselves, knows which of these numbers belong to our closest family or friends. If we were to be involved in an accident or were taken ill, the people attending us would have our mobile phone but wouldn't know who to call. Yes, there are hundreds of numbers stored, but which one is the contact person in case of an emergency? Hence this 'ICE' (In Case of Emergency) Campaign. The concept of 'ICE' is catching on quickly. It is a method of contact during emergency situations. As cell phones are carried by the majority of the population, all you need to do is store the number of a contact person or persons who should be contacted during emergency under the name 'ICE' ( In Case Of Emergency). The idea was thought up by a paramedic who found that when he went to the scenes of accidents, there were always mobile phones with patients, but they didn't know which number to call. He therefore thought that it would be a good idea if there was a nationally recognized name for this purpose. In an emergency situation, Emergency Service Personnel and Hospital Staff would be able to quickly contact the right person by simply dialing the number you have stored as 'ICE.' For more than one contact name simply enter ICE1, ICE2 and ICE3 etc. A great idea that will make a difference! Let's spread the concept of ICE by storing an ICE number in our Mobile Phones today! Please forward this. It won't take too many 'forwards' before everybody will know about this. It really could save your life, or put a loved one's mind at rest. ICE will speak for you when you are not able to.

QUICK TIP SAVING FOR COLLEGE

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