Memorial Day Cookout

I cooked hamburgers and hot dogs out in the grill today but since the temp got up to 97 outside and it was very muggy we ate indoors. I made potato salad and pasta salad as sides and girlled fresh corn for the vegetable. For dessert I made an old fashion pineapple upside down cake in my grandmothers 1930's Griswold frying pan. I love that pan and use it at least twice a week. I cook mainly in cast iron. To me it just gives food a better flavor then the non stick pans do. And since I keep them well seasoned clean up is a breeze. :)

For a frugal tip I save the juice from canned fruits to make cakes and quick breads. If a cake recipe or mix calls for 1 1/3 cups water. I use the juice I drained from a can of fruit and add just enough water to make 1 1/3 cups liquid. That way I get to use every bit of what my money bought. :)

Below is the pineapple cake I made today in my grandmothers cast iron pan. I used the juice from the can of pineapple I opened as part of the liquid I needed for the cake mix. The recipe called for 1 1/3 cups water. I had one cup of juice after draining the contents of the can so I just added 1/3 cups water to get the amount called for. There was 5 guys here and they ate over half the cake. I have just enough for the 3 of us to get a piece later tonight.

Happy New Years

Hubby and I are not ones for really celebrating the New Years so we don't go out New Years Eve. Instead we splurge on take out foods and eat it at home. Tonight we went to Subway and got 2 of their $2 6   inch meatball subs and then I ran next door to Mc Donald's and got 2 medium fries. I had already made ice tea earlier this morning so all total it costs us just under $7 for the two of us to eat a take out meal. We both had a meal that we liked, I didn't have to cook and it less than half of what it would have cost us to sit in a restaurant and eat. :)

I hope everyone has a happy New Years eve and year to come.