Frugal Thin Mint Cookies

Craving Girl Scout Thin Mint Cookies? It is so easy to make mock cookies at home, very inexpensively!

Cover a baking sheet (that will fit in the fridge) with wax paper.

Grab some Ritz or Townhouse crackers.

Melt 1 1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips with 1/2 tablespoon of shortening and microwave at 30 second intervals, stirring and melting until smooth.

Stir in 1/2 teaspoon of peppermint extract.

Dip and coat crackers, one at a time, and set on wax paper. Pop in the fridge just until set, about 10-15 minutes.

Remove and taste- you won't believe it- the taste, the crunch at a fraction of the cost!

Store in airtight container at room temperature, or in the fridge if you like them extra cool.

Old Fashioned Caramel Dumplings & Apples (sweet tooth indulgence)

This is a wonderful warming comfort food using simple ingredients. The pioneer wives used to make it in a dutch oven pot, but it is easy enough to recreate with modern cookware.

In a medium saucepan with tight fitting lid:

1 1/2 cups packed brown sugar
pinch of salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon (I prefer Vietnamese cinnamon from Penzey's or KAF)
1 1/2 cups hot water
1 tablespoons organic butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 apple, chopped

Mix the brown sugar, salt, cinnamon and hot water. Add the butter and vanilla extract. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Reduce heat and simmer uncovered for five minutes. Add apple chunks.

In a medium bowl mix:

1 1/4 cups flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt

Cut in 2 tablespoons of butter with pastry blender.

Stir in:

1/3 cup organic milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract.


Form into a ball and turn out onto a lightly floured surface. Knead just to form a smooth ball. Divided into 8 even pieces and form each into a ball.

Drop balls into caramel sauce, put lid on and leave covered for 20 minutes. Serve warm.