Garden food mixed together

I was thinking about the gardens starting to flourish and what to do with some of the extra or left-overs. It is always good to make use of extra food. Here are a few ideas to help save on the grocery bill. Take care and I’ll see you around…Agnes

Some Squash Trivia:

•Stir Fry squash with any vegetable/meat combination you like.

•The larger squash that you can still pierce your thumbnail into can be peeled and de-seeded and steamed for puree for pies, custards and breads. (Make the same way as pumpkin or potato —use ginger for the spice.)

•The very small ones can be eaten raw in salad or on a vegetable tray.

Squash – Coconut Pie

1 unbaked pie shell

3 cups shredded squash (try to use really small squash-or grate the outer portion of the squash only-you don’t want any big seeds)

1 cup of coconut

3 eggs

1 cup of sugar

1 teaspoon of lemon extract

Mix squash, coconut, eggs, sugar, and extract together and pour in the unbaked shell. Bake pie at 350 degrees until its light golden brown. In my oven it took 50 minutes-but you may need to adjust the time it takes to cook in yours.

Tomato Sandwich: (A true SOUTHERN delight) Spread a good mayonnaise on two slices of your favorite bread. Peel and slice a ripe tomato. Put salt and pepper on your bread and cover one slice with tomato slices. Top with the other slice of bread and enjoy. You can also add lettuce, onion, bacon, or dried beef.

Fried Green Tomato Sandwich: Per Sandwich

Slice green tomatoes and fry as you normally do and set aside to drain.

Fry 2 to 3 slices bacon

1 thin slice of large sweet onion

Lettuce

2 slices of bread

Mayonnaise

Salt and Pepper

Spread mayonnaise on bread. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Layer fried green tomato slices, onion slice, bacon, and lettuce. Cover with the remaining slice of bread. Press down on the sandwich, cut in half, and serve.

Mock Raspberry Jam: Wash and core green plum or grape salad tomatoes and grind. Measure 5 cups and put in a large pot. Add 4 cups of sugar. Stir and bring to a boil and boil for 10 minutes, stirring constantly. Turn off heat and add 6-oz box of raspberry Jell-O and stir until Jell-O dissolves. Put in clean hot jars, seal and process in boiling water bath for 10 minutes. (Use the red or black raspberry Jell-O. I prefer the red.)

Grandma’s Peach Pie (My Mama’s Recipe)

2 cups peaches

1 cup sugar

1 stick butter, melted

¾ cup self-rising flour

¾ cup milk

Mix sugar and fruit in bowl. Melt butter in baking dish in over. Combine flour and milk and pour over butter. Put peaches on top of batter (DO NOT STIR). Sprinkle with nutmeg and bake at 350 degrees for about 1 hour.

Corn: Cut left-over corn on the cob in whole kernel and mix with left-over green beans, or a can black beans, drained and rinsed, ½ cup each of minced celery and onion, salt and pepper and an oil and vinegar dressing.

If you don’t feel like cooking, be sure to turn to these places for good senior dining deals. From fast food to steak restaurants, our compiled restaurant list will definitely help you make your choice. Keep in mind that deals may vary at participating locations and can change without notice. (This came from an internet article from HARP.)Always ask.

– McDonald’s: discounts on coffee and beverages (55+)

– Whataburger: free drink with purchase of a meal, depending on location (55+)

– Wendy’s: give free coffee or other discounts depending on location

– Piccadilly Cafeteria – 10% discount with “Prime Time for Seniors” card

– IHOP – 10% discount (55+) and a menu for people aged 55 and over at participating locations

– Golden Corral: Senior discount varies by location

– Krispy Kreme Senior Discount: 10% off (50+) (age and discount varies depending on location)

– Perkins Restaurants: Fifty-Five Plus menu Offers special deals (55+)

– Subway: 10% off (60+) varies by location

– The Old Spaghetti Factory: Spaghetti Factory “Senior Menu” offers discounted list of menu items

– Uno Pizzaria & Grill: “Double Nickel Club” 25% off on Wednesday (55+)

– Sizzler: Offers “Honored Guest Menu” (60+) varies by location

– Papa John’s Senior Discount: check with your local stores (no standard senior discount policy)

– Old Country Buffet: Daily discounts for seniors (55+)

– Friendly’s Restaurants: 10% off meal w/ free coffee at breakfast or free small ice cream sunday during non-breakfast hours

– Fazoli’s: Join “Club 62” for special senior menu items (62+)

– KFC: free small drink with any meal depending on location (55+)

– Country Kitchen: Great Senior Menu (55+)

– Burger King: 10% discount on purchase depending on location (60+)