I'm still here!!! Are you????

Hi Everyone!!!
Thanks for being sooooo patient while
I enjoyed a LONG blogging break!!

While I enjoyed taking a break I also
missed all of you here in cyber life!

So I'm back.... while things here won't be the
same as when I left I'm hoping you'll still enjoy stopping by!
I won't be posting daily but more like 1-2 times a week.
I wish I had time to post daily but realistically weekly is
going to be challenging enough!!

In the last 12 months my kitchen life has changed
dramatically! Here's how.....

I rarely clip coupons (I know you're gasping in disbelief),
I rarely buy anything boxed or premade,
I make everything I can from scratch,
I haven't been grocery shopping at Meijer in 6 months,
I try to use a lot less sugar (and more honey),
We rarely buy pop/soda/whatever you like to call it,
I've banned HFCS from my kitchen (there are a few stragglers!),
I eat an apple and banana EVERY DAY,
Oh and not kitchen related but... I no longer use hairspray or mousse.

I don't tell you this because I have things figured out... No way...
while I feel like I've went miles in another direction, I
feel like I have thousands of miles to go...

I tell you because if you feel like you can't begin to make
healthy kitchen changes, YOU CAN!!!
Babysteps is the name of the game!!!

Hmmmm... I didn't intend for this post to get sooooo long!
I guess I'll see you soon!!
Before I go, Here's a current shot of my munchkins!!!

Pie Crust Recipe from Scratch!!

I did it!!
I made a pie crust from scratch! I've never done this on my own...
But I did it! and it actually turned out "pretty"!!

Once again I say if I can do it...
So can you!

Because I used real butter I'd estimate this
double crust cost me about $1.20

That's still pretty cheap! I think a double Pillsbury crust
is around $2.50- $3.00

Another item crossed off my list that I don't need
to buy premade at the store anymore... EVER!!

I won't say it was super easy, but mostly because I felt
I didn't know what I was doing and I kept second guessing myself
wondering if I was doing it right.

I also don't own a pasty cutter. (Never had a need for one!)
Now I might see a need for one!!
This time I just used 2 knives to cut in the butter.
That took a little bit and then I finished with a fork.

Next time it will go much faster just because, I think, I
know what I want my end result to look like!

Anyway if anyone wants a recipe that uses real butter
and not Crisco here it is....

2 1/2 cups of flour
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. sugar
1 cup (2 sticks) cold butter (cut into small pieces)
1/4 - 1/2 cup water poured over ice cubes
(I used a little more than 1/2 cup)

I love that I can make these
with ingredients that I normally have on hand!!

For the directions it might be
easier to direct you here.

All I really did was combine the salt and sugar. Cut in the butter a little
then add the flour. Continue smashing it up. Then I used a fork to finish.

When the butter is very small add the water spoon by spoon
Until dough comes together. I ended up using my hands.

Knead for 10 minutes (I didn't knead that long)
Divide into 2 balls, one for each crust.

Roll out or just put it into the sprayed pie plate and
spread out. Next time I need to make mine a little thinner.
If you roll it out, put it on wax paper and fold over.
Then roll, this made it very easy!

Bake the crust at 400* until golden brown for
pudding or cream pies.
Or fill your crust with your pie filling and then bake.

I made a Black Raspberry!

I'm planning on making a couple pies a month for hubby!
We'll see if that actually happens... gardening season
is coming you know!!

So I'm curious how many of you
make your own pie crust??

From Scratch...

Join Sarah over at 8-muddy boots to
let us know what you made "homemade" this week!

Here's my list!


My kids have gotten pretty used to having cinnamon rolls and we've
been out for a couple of weeks. So I made a point to make
another batch of these and freeze most of them!
We like to pull out 1 pan or so each week. This means I make them
every 5 weeks or so!

Wet Burritos...
I tried a new recipe and we all loved these!

***
I also made my normal
homemade bread for the week.

I will also most likely make some kind of dessert
to snack on before the week ends (probably Friday!)

Don't forget to go here and link up!

From Scratch...

Sarah over at 8-Muddy Boots is reporting each
Thursday how she did each week making things from scratch!

I started my journey on this back in November.
I started with this bread and have not looked back!

I am loving trying to add something new each week that I
used to buy in a box or already made from the store.

This week I continued to work on my pizza sauce. I can't wait
until garden season when I will can my own tomato sauce!
I also made a honey syrup that was delicious on this homemade
french toast.

****
If you don't make much from scratch, don't be afraid to dig in.
Take 1 item per week and figure out a way that works for you to
make it from scratch. I really don't think I spend much more
time in the kitchen than I used to! It's cheaper and so much more delicious!

Head on over to Sarah to see what's cooking
from scratch around the blog world.

Homemade Pizza Sauce Improved!

I posted the Pizza Sauce I was
working on here.

I've continued to work on it
and I'm a lot closer to our perfect mix.

Here's my new recipe...

2 cans of tomato sauce
1/2 tsp oregano
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp. honey

Mix and simmer on low heat for 15-20 minutes.
Stir often. Makes enough for 2 pizzas.

***
I'm still not done perfecting this,
but it got multiple compliments from hubby!!

Next time I'm trying tomato paste and maybe
1 more tsp. honey...

Someday Soon I'll get our
perfect sauce!

BTW -- If you need a pizza crust recipe,
this one is awesome!

1 Tbsp. Yeast
1 cup warm water
1 tsp. honey (or sugar)
1 tsp salt
2 Tbsp. Veg. oil
Mix and add 2 1/2 cups flour.
Mix well.

Cover and let rise 15-25 minutes.
Spread on very large pan or 2 smaller pizza pan's

Homemade French Bread and Honey Syrup!

I can say that EVERYONE loved the French bread
I made for French Toast!

However I can't say that everyone loved
my honey syrup to go on the top.
BUT I DID!!!
It was soooo Yummy!
Too bad my hubby and kids don't love honey taste like I do!!

Recipes...
Homemade French Bread

Here is the original recipe.

Here is what I did...
1 1/4 cup Hot Water
2 tsp honey (or sugar)
1 tsp salt
1 1/2 tsp yeast
Mix together, then add
3 1/2 cups bread flour.
Mix and Knead.
Put into greased bowl and
Let rise until double

Separate into 2 loaves, knead a little,
and place on greased cookie sheet.

Cover and let rise until double.
Bake at 375* for 18-25 minutes

Cut and use as French bread with Spaghetti OR
make french toast like this!!! YUMMY!

I also made Homemade Syrup from honey...
It you love honey try this!

1 cup honey
1/4 cup butter
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp vanilla
1 tsp maple flavoring
Combine and heat, stirring often.

Hubby said he liked it, but
preferred regular syrup. I much prefer this
honey syrup!!

Next time I'll try regular syrup from
scratch. I'll use regular sugar, but
at least I can pronounce all the ingredients and
they'll be NO HFCS!!

****
Later today I'll share my
new and improved
Pizza Sauce...
It was Really GOOD Saturday night!!

Recipe-- Bread Bowls

Home-Style Bread Bowls

I know you're shocked right!?!?
I have another bread recipe to pass along!

These were such a HUGE hit at our house.
The kids couldn't believe they each got their own
bread bowl that holds soup, then they get to eat the bowl.
Seriously tho, you should have seen their faces!!

We will NO DOUBT be having these again soon!
and yes of course, they are actually very easy and
not very time consuming to make. (the only way I do things!)

Strange to take this picture, right!!
Well the recipe I used called for "custard cups" huh?
yea I don't have any, let alone 8 of them!

So I brainstormed what I had and found an oven safe
coffee cup (psst It worked like a charm, so don't
go buy "custard cups" to make these!!)

Ingredients needed...
(only 5 very Frugal ingredients needed!)
1 cup warm water (110*-120*- I just used hot tap water)
1 Tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon salt
2 3/4 cup bread flour
2 teaspoons yeast (I used 1 pkt)
**
for tops
1 egg yolk
1 Tablespoon water
(not sure I'll do the egg topping next time, what's is for??)
Edit - Do not omit the egg! It's used to "waterproof" the bowl!
I knew there must be a reason for it, thanks Fawn, Carrie, and Steph!

Instructions...
1. In bowl, combine water, sugar, yeast and salt (I like to whisk together)

2. Add flour. Stir and then knead to make smooth, slightly sticky dough. Cover and let rest about 10 minutes.

3. Grease outsides of eight 6 oz. custard cups (oven safe) or use oven safe coffee mugs. Place upside down on ungreased cookie sheet.

4. Divide dough into 8 pieces. Pat or roll each piece into 5-6 inch circle, on lightly floured surface. Put dough over the mug and very slightly pull down on all sides to stretch.

5. Cover and let rise for 20 minutes.
I thought this was way hard to cover (used sarah wrap)
so next time I'll likely leave uncovered to rise.

6. Pre-heat oven to 375*. Mix egg yolk and water and gently brush over the tops of the bowls.

7. Bake for 18-22 minutes or until lightly brown and done.

8. Remove bread from mugs as soon as they come out.
Be careful they are HOT! Mine slid right off so it was easy.
Cool on wire rack. Best if eaten slightly warm.

Pour in the soup
and enjoy!!

We only used 6 of them for supper so I ate the other
2 warmed up for lunch the next 2 days.
They were just as good warmed up!

I'm pretty sure you could freeze them too!
To check out the original recipe
I tweaked go here.

Homemade Dinner Rolls

If you think I'm bombarding you with
bread recipes, you're right!!!

2 months ago I tried my hand at this Basic Homemade Bread Recipe.
Since then I've tried many bread recipes. Once you get started it's
hard to quit! They're all soooo yummy!!
I think I'm a bread making addict!! If you missed any of them here
they are. I'll be adding more as I try more recipes!
Who knew I'd be making bread and actually loving it!! (Not me!!)

Italian Cheesy Bread, Hamburger and hot dog buns,
Homemade pizza crust, and Cinnamon Rolls,
Cinnamon Bread

I say all this to encourage you to try it. I used to
be scared of bread making and yeast too..
(little secret-- It's not scary or hard. Oh and it
doesn't take all day either!!)

Hope you don't mind here's another one,
and it was another hit at our house!!

Homemade Dinner Rolls

1 pkg. dry yeast (1 T.)
1 1/3 cup milk (105*-115*)
3 to 3 1/2 cups flour (can use whole wheat)
3 T. Olive oil (I used vegetable cuz that's what I had)
1 Tablespoon sugar
1 tsp. salt
1 Tablespoon melted butter

Directions --
Dissolve yeast in warm milk with sugar (I used a whisk)
Stir in 1 cup flour, oil, and salt. Beat until smooth.
Stir in enough remaining flour until just slightly sticky.
(May need to knead the last bit of flour in)

Cover and let rise in warm place until double about 1 hour

Heat oven to 400* degrees.
prep a 12 cup muffin pan with spray.

Punch down dough and fold over a few times.
Pinch off 1 inch balls of dough and quickly roll
in the palm of your hands.
Put 3 balls in each muffin cup.
Brush with melted butter.

Bake 12-15 minutes until light golden brown.
Immediately remove from pan

Delicious!!
Special thanks to Simple Daily Recipes for
the original recipe! See it here.

Italian Cheese Bread Recipe -- So YUMMY!!!

Well this recipe was a
HUGE HIT!!!

We ate the whole pan with our
Lasagna last week!!!!

I cut it into bread sticks and served it with
Pizza Sauce.
The only thing missing was the
"Real Pizza Hut Marinara sauce"
Anyone know the recipe???

Here's the recipe...
Again it was actually very easy to do!

Dough...
2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp salt
1 Tbsp. sugar
1 Tbsp. yeast (1 pkt)
1 cup warm water (120*)
1 Tbsp. vegetable oil

Topping --
1/4 cup Italian Dressing
1/8 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. garlic powder
1/4 tsp oregano
1/4 tsp Italian seasoning
dash of pepper
2 Tbsp. grated Parmesan cheese
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (or light covering)

Instructions...
1. Combine yeast and water, let it sit for a few minutes.
add sugar, salt, and oil- mix
Add flour and mix- then knead a few times.

Place in greased bowl, turning once to grease the top.
set in warm area for 20-30 minutes (can skip if in hurry)

Punch dough down, place on 16" pizza pan (spread)
or on big pan like I did.
Next time I think I'll use a 15"x10" rectangle pan
(mine were a little thin in the middle with the bigger one)

Topping instructions...
Brush dough with salad dressing
(can use back of spoon)

Combine the seasonings, sprinkle over top.
Sprinkle with cheeses

Let it rise again for 15-20 minutes
(can skip if in hurry)

Bake at 450 degrees for
11-15 minutes

Serve warm!!

To see the recipe I altered from
go here!

Homemade Hambuger/ Hot Dog Buns

Get ready to laugh at me!!

I sure did!!

If you think these hamburger buns look a little funny, here's the story!!

I decided to make hamburger buns. The recipe said it made 16 buns. So in my very small little brain I figured that meant that I need to make 32 buns. You know a top and bottom to each bun. So that is what's shown in the picture. I was very proud and they tasted very yummy! Since I was done I went on with my day and began Science class with the kids. About 20 minutes later I looked in the kitchen and burst out laughing...

I'm sure you all can figure it out. I should have made 16 thicker buns and cut them in half!! DUH!!!! Okay so now I know!!!
Note: hubby really liked putting one on top and one on bottom when we had hamburgers, so I guess it wasn't so bad after all!

I was determined to do it right, so the next day I made more....
Here's closer to how they should look...

We loved the buns so much I made some of them into hot dog buns too! I have a little work to do on completely shaping them perfectly but it's a start!!

Best thing is that it's one more thing each week that I don't have to buy and they're so much better tasting than the cheap store bought kind!

Oh and did I mention it really is very simple to do.
Here's the recipe I used.

1 1/4 cup warm milk
1 egg
6 T butter
3 T sugar
4 cups bread flour
2 tsp. salt
1 T yeast (1 pkg)

Mix warm milk and yeast, beat in egg. Add butter, sugar, salt -- Mix well -- Add flour 1 cup at a time. Put on a floured surface and knead a few times. Put in greased bowl and let it rise until double. (cover with towel)

Divide into shapes (hamburger or hot dog buns) and put on cookie sheet or pan -- let it rise again until double.

Bake at 375 degrees
15-20 minutes

I took a combination of this recipe and this recipe
to make it work for me!

Cinnamon Bread!

If you want something yummy and don't want
to take the time for Cinnamon Rolls
Here's a great alternative!!!

Cinnamon Bread

(YUM... As I sit here and type,
I'm eating the last of it!!)

(Yes the left part is already eaten!!)

Ingredients...

2 cups Flour
1 cup white sugar
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp soda
1 1/2 cinnamon
1 tsp. salt
1/4 cup Vegetable oil
2 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla
1 cup buttermilk
or (if you don't have buttermilk
use 1 T. vinegar and milk to make 1 cup...
I did this and it was fine... I never have buttermilk on hand)

Simple Directions

Combine those 10 ingredients in bowl and beat 3 minutes (I did it by hand).
***Pour only 1/2 of the batter into greased 9x5 loaf pan.

"Topping"...
Combine 2 T. white sugar, 1 tsp. cinnamon, and 2 T. butter (melted). It will not be crumbly but more wet. I just swirled this around in the batter in the loaf pan.

Next put the rest of the batter in the pan.
Repeat the topping and swirl it again into the batter.

Bake at 350 degrees for about 50 minutes.
I think it only took 35 min. in my oven
so keep an eye on it and
Don't over bake!

When it's been out of the oven for a few minutes, loosen and take out of the pan.
Put on a cookie sheet and put icing over the top!!

Icing...
(optional for some, a necessity for me!!)
1/4 cup melted butter
1 T. vanilla
3 T. Milk
enough powered sugar to make the right consistency

Slice and hope it lasts a day or two!!
To see the original recipe unaltered go here!

Cinnamon Rolls!!

Yea my mouth is watering too... Especially since
the kids polished off the last of these last Friday!!
Time for me to bake another batch!!

If I can make these, so can you!!
Even if you've never tried before. They're really not
that hard or that time consuming. most of the time
spent is just allowing them to rise!

And ingredients...
All you need is water, yeast, sugar,
oil, salt, eggs, flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, powdered sugar,
vanilla, milk, and butter
It may look like a lot but they're all normal cheap everyday
ingredients and I bet you have all of them right now!

Okay so now that I've had our pep talk.
Here's how to make them!

Since I got the recipe and directions from
Amys finer things
You mine as well
go here and read her excellent post
on how to make these
WONDERFUL CINNAMON ROLLS!!!
(check around here site, she has some other variations too!)

I figured up the cost and I came out with
around $2.00-$2.50 for 3 dozen rolls
This makes a lot of mouths happy around here
and it makes some very cheap breakfasts/snacks!

(Oh just so you know, these freeze really well.
So you don't have to eat all 3 dozen within a few days!
although it's not hard to do!!(grin))

Homemade Bread

Even if you've never made homemade bread before
YOU CAN DO THIS!!!!
No special equipment required...

This is the first bread I've ever made
without a bread machine! (besides zucchini)
(I used to own one about 8 years ago!)
I've made 2 batches now and I'm pretty sure
I'll not be buying bread at the store anymore!!!

Anyway... 5 ingredients! That's it!

Thanks to Sarah at 8 Muddy Boots for passing it along
and Chickens in the Road for the recipe.

Homemade Grandmother Bread
((for 2 loaves))
3 cups warm water
1 T. yeast (1 pkt)
1 tsp. salt
1/4 cup Sugar
7-8 cups flour

In large bowl combine water, yeast, sugar, and salt.
Stir and let sit 5 min.

Stir in 3 cups flour, then stir in 2 more. Stir in 1 more and you'll
probably have to start kneading it in. Add 1-2 more.
I only added a little over 7 cups. Don't add too much.
Mine is still the slightest bit sticky in some areas when I'm done.

Spray another bowl with cooking spray and put the dough in it.
Cover with a towel or I like to use saran wrap sprayed w/ spray.

Place in a warm spot and let rise for about an hour. (until doubled)

Take out and punch down on a floured surface,
adding a little more flour (I only added around 1/4 cup)
Knead for a minute or so and divide in half.

Put in 2 sprayed loaf pans and cover again.
Let rise again for about an hour. (until doubled) or
about an inch above the pans.

Bake in oven at 350 degrees for around 25 minutes
I only baked it for 20 minutes. My oven is hot and we
like it the slightest bit doughy!

Now it sounds like a lot of steps, but seriously
it is only about 15-20 minutes of work and the rest
is waiting for it to raise and bake!

You should see the kids flock over for a warm piece
when I pull them out of the oven.

And the cost!!! WAHOO!!
I figured it up and I'm only paying about
.25-.35 cents per loaf.
It's better ingredients, better tasting,
more filling, and no preservatives!

Anyone else have a super easy bread recipe??

Next week
CINNAMON ROLLS!!!
If I can do it, you can too!

For more wonderful recipes and ideas visit
Blessedwithgrace - Tuesday's
Balancing Beauty and Bedlam- Tuesday's
Grocery Cart Challenge- Friday's