Cheap Treats

 Read more Oily Rag articles by Frank and Muriel Newman 

One of the great things about living off the smell of an oily rag is that you are allowed to indulge yourself – providing it doesn’t cost a lot! Here are some ideas and suggestions from readers.

Pineapple treat. Add something interesting to your toast. Butter a piece of toast, place a pineapple ring on top, fill the centre of the ring with grated cheese then grill until golden.

Lots of readers have written in with ways to use left over banana. Slice a banana and spread over a piece of toast. Sprinkle brown sugar over the top of the banana and grill.

To make a banana smoothie (any soft fruit can be used) take two very ripe bananas, 200g of natural yoghurt (homemade of course), and ½ cup (a few scoops) vanilla ice cream. Puree or beat all ingredients together and pour into glasses.

To make a banana split, slice a banana lengthwise. Place two halves on a plate.  Place two scoops of your favourite ice cream in the middle of the banana slices and add a dollop of whipped cream. Sprinkle with chopped nuts and pour over your favourite topping. Dribbleicious!

And for those with a sweet tooth, there’s fudge, coconut ice, hokey pokey and pineapple marshmallows – yum!

• Fudge: 2 cups sugar, 1 tbsp butter, ½ cup milk, 1 tbsp cocoa – boil together for 10 minutes or until it begins to set then beat the mixture until it changes colour. Turn into buttered tin and cut into squares.

• Coconut Ice: 4 cups sugar, 1¼ scant cups milk, 2 cups coconut – boil sugar and milk hard for 8 minutes, add coconut and remove from heat then beat till thick. Pour into a greased dish and cut into squares before it gets too hard.  

• Hokey Pokey: 5 tbsp sugar, 2 tbsp golden syrup, 1 tsp baking soda – gently heat sugar and syrup and stir until sugar dissolves. Bring to boil for 2 minutes, add baking soda (it will froth up) then pour into buttered dish. When cold break into pieces.

• Pineapple Marshmallows: Dissolve 4 tsp gelatine in a little cold water, add 1 cup hot liquid (made up of either pineapple juice or juice mixed with water), cool then beat. Add 2 cups icing sugar and beat until stiff. Add chopped pineapple pieces then turn into a greased dish. Cut into squares and roll in coconut.

Potato chips are so simple to make. All you need are potatoes and cooking oil for frying. Peel the spuds and slice them into paper thin slices. Dry them off in a paper towel. Heat oil in saucepan and drop a few slices in at a time. They will only need a few seconds cooking, depending on how crispy you want them. After cooking allow the excess oil to drain.

Popcorn is a great TV treat. If you want to get a bit fancy try caramel corn. All you need is 125g popping corn, a couple of tablespoons of cooking oil, 125g butter, two tablespoons honey, and ¾ cup sugar. Heat oil in a large saucepan until hot. Add corn, place lid on pan and shake constantly until popping ceases (or use a popcorn maker!). Place popped corn in a large bowl. Combine honey, sugar and butter in a saucepan. Stir over low heat until sugar has dissolved, then boil for 5 minutes. Pour the syrup mix over corn, mixing it until the popcorn is well coated. Pour onto greased oven trays then pig in when cool!  

Roasted peanuts are a yummy snack that can be made very quickly and economically. If possible, buy your peanuts from the bulk section of your food retailer. Pour peanuts into a large microwave or ovenproof dish, just covering the bottom. Toss in oil so peanuts are lightly coated. Microwave on high for 10 minutes or bake in an oven, turning occasionally. Remove from oven, sprinkle with salt and cool.

If you have a tip, share it with others by dropping us a note via our website (www.oilyrag.co.nz) or write to Living off the Smell of an Oily Rag, PO Box 984, Whangarei.

* Frank and Muriel Newman are the authors of Living off the Smell of an Oily Rag in NZ. Readers can submit their oily rag tips on-line at www.oilyrag.co.nz. The book is available from bookstores and online at www.oilyrag.co.nz.