Why would that be off topic? Sounds wonderful! I love the charry flavour grilling gives - there's nothing like it!

Not so frugal for us, because Maple syrup is almost $10 for a 500 ml bottle here in Australia. I wonder if it's cheaper for those of you who are closer to Canada? Anyway, I used maple flavoured syrup which was much cheaper, and still oh-so-good.

Maple butter

Cream about half a cup of butter. I used real butter (salted) because I just think nothing compares with the taste of real butter.

Slowly add maple syrup while creaming. I also added a couple of tablespoons of caster sugar (you could also use icing sugar, just as long as it's some kind of fine sugar. I added this just to add some "body" to it)

Stop when it tastes amazing. I think for me this was about 3/4 of a cup of maple syrup. I've looked up recipes and some use more maple syrup than butter, some use less - so I think in the end it's just a matter of personal taste.

Use as a spread on toast, or it would be absolutely awesome on freshly baked bread. Just need to take it out of the fridge for awhile beforehand because it's pretty hard, just like butter, when chilled.

I'm enjoying finding new things to make to serve to Kris on his morning toast.

WOW!! Elle, that's amazing! Congrats!

Urs, thanks for the maple butter recipe! I dunno about Canada, but in the US maple syrup is cheaper when you're closer to the east coast, because the sugaring states are in the northeast. I just paid $8 US for 8 oz--236 ml. Prices in Kansas are shockingly high and I suspect I could get it waaaay cheaper online.

*scurries off to amazon*

Ohhh yeah, online is way cheaper. 32 oz ORGANIC grade B syrup--the very best for baking is grade B; grade A isn't as strong--is about $20 US. :glasses: Oh, and you can subscribe! That drops the price and makes the shipping free. Wow, am I tempted! It would fit with Gryph's desire to eat more Native American foods, yanno? More maple, less sugar... ~heaven, I'm in heaven~ lol....

[ame="http://www.amazon.com/Coombs-Family-Farms-Organic-32-Ounce/dp/B00271OPVU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=grocery&qid=1279510141&sr=8-1"]Coombs Family Farms 100% Pure Organic Maple Syrup Grade B, 32-Ounce Jug: Amazon.com: Grocery & Gourmet Food[/ame]

Ooh, I'm surprised that it's still so expensive for you guys, Cath - even more expensive than it is for us!

I just love maple syrup, the flavour is gorgeous. I use it a lot in cooking, particularly as a substitute for honey because I don't care for honey too much.

I found a recipe for maple candy in my travels, but I don't have a candy thermometer, and maybe it's safer for our waistlines if I just don't go there anyway. Already flirting with disaster with the maple butter - lol...

Maybe I'll look online and see if there are cheaper options here in Australia too - I'm pretty sure Amazon wouldn't ship their maple syrup here.

Day before yesterday I baked two big roasting chickens....we had them for dinner with mashed potatoes and corn.

That night, I made the leftover breast meat into chicken salad (that's about 4 or 5 sandwiches or late night snacks for Scoote)...and the rest of the carcasses went into the soup pot to turn into stock.

Late night....separate the meat from the stock. Both into the fridge.

Today (cuz I was busy yesterday), I'm making a huge dutch oven full of my son's favorite cream of chicken and rice soup. We'll have it with biscuits tonight.

So...two chickens (big ones, I admit)....we'll get dinner for 4, all that chicken salad for Scoote, and probably 10 or 12 good bowls of soup.

Not bad for $12 (they were on sale) :)

Oh, that's lovely Jo!

Suash has finally come down to 99 cents a pound, so I have two in the fridge... but I can't cut them open! Sheesh! I guess Gryph and I will have to enjoy them when he has a day off and can cut them in half. Next Tuesday is supposed to be cold and rainy. They'll be really nice then!

my garden went sort of crazy with the viney types of veggies this year... so i made lots of pickles...
i just made simple fridge or freezer pickles... a little vinegar a little sugar and whatever else you may want for flavor... i used some celery seed. variety peppercorns. sweet onion rings. and jalepeno... tossed some cilantro in some to see what would happen... it was pretty good... of course... a lot of garlic too...
anyway.. not only did i pickle cukes... i also had lots of summer squash and zucchini so i made pickles with them too... i have to say... i really enjoyed them... hell... i am still enjoying them... it doesnt take long for them to set and they have been holding up really well still..

maybe had 5bucks total in about 3 gallons of pickles...

Hey kids!

I made this tonight, because the blog post I got it from (link below) kinda raved about it, and because we have to watch it until pay day, and because I had all of the ingredients at home already, and because it was quick and easy.

To be honest, I read it and was a bit iffy. I thought it might be a bit boring. It's not really the kind of dinner I usually put together. But it was really good and I'm going to get the ingredients to keep in the pantry for the next day when I'm too tired to really think about dinner or have to be frugal.

I'd say it fed the three of us for under $5.00.

P.S. I don't think I added quite as much water as the recipe said though. I just thought it might end up a bit soupy if I did.

Cavatappi with Sun-Dried Tomatoes and Cannellini Beans.

http://www.amateurgourmet.com/2007/0...nner_im_a.html