Convenience Foods Hacked

I'm not a health nut by any means and convenience foods have a place in my home but my philosophy is: Why pay someone else to do what I am able to do (especially if it's easy & takes me no time at all)? If it's too difficult, requires tools or ingredients I don't have (or have access to) then sure I'll buy the packaged deal. Many times convenience and individually prepackaged foods cost more than double their homemade and bulkier counterparts. Also, the ability to control the ingredients is important to me. Most of the convenience foods like pop tarts, gummy worms, and potato chips contains lots of sugar, sodium, and tons of other ingredients I can't begin to pronounce. The extra ingredients are included to extend the shelf life of a product (aka-preservatives) or to enhance the flavor of a product (thus the extra sugar and salt)! This is not how I want to spend our hard earned money so I have figured out how "hack" a few convenience foods so we can have these fast foods without the sticker shock.

Pop Tarts

1. Use your favorite pie pastry recipe-on a floured surface roll the dough into a large rectangle
2. Use a pizza cutter to cut the dough into about 3"x6" rectangles (or other shapes and sizes if you can manipulate the dough easily)
3. Preheat oven to 350
4. Spread a thin layer of your favorite jam or jelly over one half of the rectangle
5. Fold over and seal the edges with the tines of a fork (may require brushing the edge with water or melted butter to get it to stick)
6. Cut two small slits in top to vent
7. Sprinkle with granulated sugar (optional)
8. Bake till golden (approximately 15 minutes)
9. Ice with melted almond bark or powdered sugar/milk mixture (optional)

Microwave Popcorn

You will need a bag of popcorn kernels-any variety/brand will work. (I buy the cheapest bag in the store.) A brown paper lunch bag (again, I buy the cheapest bundle in the store), paper towel folded into 1/4 square, cooking spray (any brand but flavor will be noticed in the end product), salt or other seasonings are optional. The flavor of my version is much lighter and doesn't leave that heavy after-taste you get after eating store bought microwave popcorn.

1. Put several handfuls of popcorn kernels in the brown paper bag. (I found two handfuls is enough for me and the kids, three handfuls covers me, hubby, and the kids).
2. Spray your folded paper towel with cooking spray. Don't drown it but give it a good coat on one side!
3. Place your oily paper towel in the bag to one side (NOT on the bottom-read on to find out why)
4. Fold the top of bag over three of four times. (this will help keep the heat and steam inside the bag to encourage all the kernels to pop)
5. Lay the bag on it's side with the oily paper towel on the bottom side (the kernels will lay in a single layer on top of the oily towel which helps prevents scorching)
6. Set your microwave to about 3 minutes on high. Popcorn is done when there's a few seconds in between the popping sound (just like the store bought microwave popcorn)!
7. Any seasoning or salt should be added AFTER the popcorn has been popped otherwise it scorches the popcorn.

A few weeks ago I posted my recipes for homemade gummy worms and KaRaisin Cookies which are easily converted to any flavor we desire. My kids love these better than the store bought versions so they're definite keepers in my house.