Ask Miserly Moms
Homemade Recipes for 'Easy Bake' Ovens

A My daughter loves using her Easy Bake Oven but I agree with you...there has to be a cheaper way to make cakes and cookies than buy their mixes. So we have a collection of recipes for doing it ourselves. Below are a few to get you started. Happy baking!

White Frosting Mix

• 2 cups powdered sugar -- sifted
• 3 tablespoons instant nonfat milk powder 6 tablespoons vegetable shortening

In a medium bowl, combine powdered sugar and milk powder. Stir with a wire whisk to blend. With a pastry blender cut in shortening. Spoon about 1/3 cup of mixture into each of 8 small bags. Seal tightly. Makes 8 packages. For chocolate frosting, add 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa.

To use: Combine 1 package of the above mix plus 3/4 teaspoon water in a small bowl. Stir well with a spoon until smooth and creamy. Makes about 1/4 cup frosting. A drop or two of vanilla may be added if desired.

Brownies

• 2 1/2 T. sugar
• 1 t. oil
• 1/8 t. vanilla extract
• 4 t. chocolate syrup
• 2 1/2 T. flour

Sir together sugar, oil, vanilla, chocolate and flour until the batter is smooth. Pour batter into greased and floured pan. Bake 15 minutes.

Chocolate Cake

• 6 teaspoons flour
• 4 teaspoons sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon unsweetened cocoa
• 3/4 teaspoon shortening
• 1 pinch salt
• 6 teaspoons milk

Mix together the flour, sugar, baking powder, cocoa, shortening and salt. Add milk and stir until smooth. Pour into greased baking pan that comes with the toy oven. Bake for 12 to15 minutes. If you want white cake, omit the cocoa and add a drop or two of vanilla with the milk. Makes 1 serving.

Quick Cake

• 2 tablespoons commercial cake mix -- such as Jiffy 1 tablespoon water

Mix cake mix and water. Place in greased toy cake pan. Bake for 10 minutes. Makes 1 serving.

Jonni McCoy is the author of "Miserly Moms-Living On One Income In A Two Income Economy" and "Frugal Families-Making The Most Of Your Hard Earned Money!"

Visit the Miserly Moms Website at miserlymoms.com

There is a new way to learn what Miserly Moms and Frugal Families have to say. Get it on tape! Audio cassette tapes are now available for each. They are recordings of workshops given by Jonni McCoy. Each is 1 hour in length and costs only $5 ! For more details, please visit miserlymoms.com/MOMmmof.htm.

Do you have a time or money saving idea that wasn't included in this article? Please send it to tips@stretcher.com. We get the best ideas from our readers!

Winter Fun!
Yes, you can have fun in the snow!

Digital Photo Printers
Finding the best deal for your photos

Who You Know at the Grocery Store
Save hundreds of dollars at the grocery store this year

The Gift Budget
How 11 forgotten months can save you time and money

Son wants to saddle dad with bad loan
A son has reason to fear becoming the target of his father's lawsuit

Have you visited
The Dollar Stretcher Community
this week?

I Would like to:

• Read other articles on this topic
  
• See what else is in this issue
  
• Subscribe to "The Dollar Stretcher" free weekly email newsletter
  
• visit the Problem Solving Center
  
• visit the Reference Library
  
• browse the 'author' index
  
• search 'by date' index
  
• check out Past Issues of Newsletter
  
• go see 'What's New'
  
• "Can You Help This Reader?"
  
• drop by 'Tips, Quips & Quotes'
  
• send email to the Editor of "The Dollar Stretcher"