Homemade English Muffins

I'll be honest... I'm SHOCKED this worked so well!
But I'm very excited that it did.

We used to buy english muffins quite often from the
store, but when I started making our bread I
stopped buying them.

I honestly forgot all about them until
Money Saving Mom posted this link....
Which led me to this recipe on King Arthur's Flour website.

It was really quite simple for a bread recipe!

The entire process was done in about 2.5 hours including rise time.

I won't rewrite the recipe because I didn't change anything,
but check it out here!!
If you like english muffins, TRY THEM!!!

These turned out just like the store boughten only
fewer and better ingredients!

Easy Chocolate Pretzels!

Cute EASY way to make
chocolate pretzels without dipping them!

Best of all the kids can do most of it!
If they don't eat them all!

Spread regular pretzels on a cookie sheet.
Open Hershey's kisses and put one on each pretzel.

Pop in the oven at 275* for 2-3 minutes (until starting to melt)
Take them out and pop a M&M on top!

Put them in the freezer until hard and then
transfer to container or Ziploc bag!

One more treat
to put on the cookie tray!

Baked Donuts!

Have you ever made donuts at home??

These were a huge hit last week!
I actually made 2 batches and yep, they're all gone!

While I wouldn't say these are healthy,
they are at least baked not fried!!
And in my opinion that makes them lots easier too!

I picked up these cute donut pans at a
store for only $1.49 each!!

Here's what I did....

2 cups all purpose flour
3/4 cup white sugar
2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp salt
Mix together, then add
3/4 cup milk
2 eggs, beaten
1 tsp. vanilla
1 T butter
mix and put in greased pan...
Only fill about 2/3 full.
I think it made about 15-18 donuts!

Bake at 325* for 8-10 minutes

Take out of pan, cool then frost with favorite recipe!

I used
1 cup powdered sugar,
2 T milk,
1 T butter,
1/2 cup melted choc. chips
I had to add a little water or milk because it was a little thick.

I also frosted some with a cinnamon roll glaze
1/4 cup melted butter
1 tsp. vanilla
3 T. milk
Powdered sugar to make right consistency

Next time I'm trying something I like, like caramel!!!
You can also make them a little healthier by using better
sugar (sucanat) and maybe some ww flour!

Canning Tomato Sauce - The EASY way!!!

I read how Heavenly Homemakers did her tomato sauce
and I adopted it!!! Be sure to read her post here.

This works so great. I've done it about 6 times so far
and have about 32 Quarts of tomato sauce and 35 pints.

I'm over 1/2 done but, I'd like about 15 more quarts
and maybe 20 more pints. Then I'd also like
some salsa and tomato soup.
Come on tomatoes keep turning red!!!

Start with tons of tomatoes! Simply wash them and take off the tops.
Some I take off the bottoms and some I take out bad spots. Take out
the core if it's big. My tomatoes are Roma so most of the cores are tiny.

Cut them in half or fourths.
Leave the peel on and leave in the seeds.
(how easy is that!)

Next take your tomatoes and put them in your blender.
Smash them down a little with a big spoon.
Start it up and it should look like a big smoothie!

You can even add in some zucchini. Just cut it up and
blend it with the tomatoes. I peeled mine so that
there weren't green pieces in the sauce.
I added 1 zucchini per huge bowl of tomatoes.

Heat it on high until it starts to really cook. At that point I turn
it down to a strong med. It will begin to froth up so if your
pan is too full it will run over. I sometimes prevent this by
dipping out some of the froth before it goes overboard!

When the froth is gone you have tomato juice. I let it cook
about an hour longer and I have tomato sauce.
Total cook time is around 2 hours give or take!

After that, dip it out and put it into your jars.
Make sure and sanitize your jars, lids, and rings.

I water bath my sauce. Be sure to follow your water bath
or canning instructions. I did mine for around 40 minutes.

Pull them out and you're done!!!
Add them to your stash after 24 hours.

I use tomato sauce for all my
pasta's, pizza, and chili.
I just add different spices when I pull it out!

Anyone else use this simple method for tomato sauce?

Zucchini in excess!!! Freeze it!!

If you have a garden chances are you have excess zucchini.

Did you know you could just slice it up, blanch it and freeze it??
Then in the dead of winter when the snows a fallin' pull it
out and enjoy some garden zucchini!
Fried in a tiny bit of olive oil... Yum!!!

Check this link for more details or just do a
simple search for freezing zucchini.
I read that unblanched zucchini will last 4-6 months
while blanched will last 10-12.

Of course don't forget to shred some for the
WONDERFUL Zucchini bread.

Oh and don't forget to leave the peel on!!
It's got the good stuff!

What's you favorite way of eating zucchini??

Ranch Dressing Recipe.. NO HFCS!!

Have you ever looked at the
ingredients of your salad dressing??

Besides having about 40 of them it includes
high fructose corn syrup (3rd ingred.)

Why they have to put all that junk in our food is beyond me...
But the good news.... We don't have to buy it!!!!

Here is a easy, quick recipe for Ranch dressing from
Heavenly Homemakers.
I love her site and have been getting soooo many
recipes from her!!

I tried the dressing this week and it's a keeper!
I even put it in our mashed potatoes last night!!

Anyone else sick of HFCS
in ALL our food?!?!?!?

I've been working on HFCS for around 4 months and
I'm excited to say that we're about 90% HFCS FREE!!

Awesome Granola Recipe!!

I found an AWESOME granola recipe the whole
family LOVES!!! You can even make it into granola bars!

We eat this in place of breakfast cereal
and/or just a snack!

I love it because it's fortified with wheat germ and flax!
I figured out that it has around 6.5 grams
of fiber per 1/2 cup serving!
WOWOWOWOWO!!!

Mix in bowl...
4 cups quick rolled oats
1 cup wheat germ
1/3 cup flax seed (ground)
1/2 - 3/4 cup brown sugar
1 1/2 tsp salt
1-2 cups mini chocolate chips (opt.)

other options (I don't use these)
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 cup raw sunflower seeds
1/2 cup chopped pecans
1/2 cup almonds

In another bowl mix
1/3 cup canola oil (maybe I'll try applesauce next time!)
1/4 honey (I've been using maple syrup)
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 cup water


Then put wet ingredients
into the dry and mix well.

Preheat oven to 300* and spray pans with cooking spray

For this batch I spread 1/2 onto
a cookie pan loosely for cereal

and pressed the other 1/2 of the batch into a 8 1/2 x 11 baking dish.
press firmly to make granola bars.

bake the loose batch until lightly brown on the bottom.
around 25 minutes for me. Lightly stir one time

For the bars in the baking dish leave in a little longer
around 35 minutes. Until lightly brown around edges.
Once the bars cool, just cut and store sealed!

Keep an eye on it since all ovens vary.
I use a 30 year old oven!!
You can see the original recipe here!!

Have a great week!

Quick and Easy Summer Pizza

Are your kids tired of the same
ol' pb&j, mac and cheese, and leftovers for lunch?!?!

If so try this!

Take a piece of bread (I use homemade, any should work)
toast it in the toaster.

Spread some pizza sauce on it.
Pizza Sauce recipe..
1 can tomato sauce (8oz)
1/4 tsp oregano
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp sugar
mix and serve
(double for more)

Add toppings... my son loves pepperoni

Top with a little cheese.

Put in microwave for about 35 seconds
or until cheese is melted!

I can't tell you how many times my son told me how
much he LOVES the pizzas!
Simple and easy and since I load my bread is loaded with flax
and wheat bran it's even fairly healthy!!

He's a tough kid to feed so I was
super excited that he loved this!!

What's your favorite lunch time meal?????

Homemade Pancake Syrup

Here's another item crossed off my list.
Another item that I won't buy from the store
EVER AGAIN!!!

Seriously do you know how EASY it is
to make your own pancake syrup???

Here's the simple recipe I used and best of all
it only takes 4 ingredients plus water...

Homemade Maple Syrup
(makes about 1 pint)
1 cup white sugar
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup hot water
1/2 tsp. maple flavoring
1 tsp corn starch

In saucepan boil 1 cup water.
Add both sugars and cornstarch.
Return to a boil stirring often with a whisk.
Remove from heat and add maple flavoring.

That's it!!! I put it in a quart jar and dip it
with a ladle. Works Perfect!!

My daughter of course thought she wouldn't like it because
it was "homemade" So I gave her a taste test....
SHE COULDN'T TELL which was which and loved it!!!
Hubby said it was very good and basically
tastes exactly like the store bought.

I'm so excited that we can say goodbye to
another store product that has high fructose corn syrup
and 10 other ingredients that I can't even pronounce!
I love HOMEMADE!!

Recipe -- Homemade Waffle Cones

My sister had a waffle cone maker for sale at our Garage Sale.
It didn't sell so I traded here some stuff and took it home!!

I wasn't sure if it would be useful or just another gadget
that takes up space in my small kitchen...

Turns out.... I LOVE IT!!!

What's better than a ice cream cone in the summer,
especially with a homemade waffle cone!!!!

And my favorite part...
It only takes 6 normal kitchen ingredients to make them!

Here's the recipe in case you're interested!
BTW -- Amazon has the waffle makers here...

Ingredients...
3 eggs
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup melted and cooled butter
2 Tablespoons pure vanilla extract
1 tsp. baking powder
1 cup all purpose flour

**Beat eggs-- add sugar and beat till smooth.
** Add cooled butter and vanilla
** stir in baking powder and flour
** drop onto hot sprayed iron
** wait 30-40 seconds or until light brown

It will come out flat-- just roll it up in a cone shape!
This recipe made me around 20 medium size cones or bowls.

You can also flip a mug over and shape it
around the bottom to make a waffle bowl.
so cute!!

I'm experimenting with using the waffle iron to make
homemade soft tortilla's. It worked last week and
hubby loved them. I'm totally making the recipe up so I
want to try it a couple more times before I share!

I'm pretty sure between tortilla's and waffle cones
this handy maker will get a weekly workout!!

Anyone else have one of these??
If so what else do you use it for??

Breakfast Cookies!!!

I figured these would be a huge hit and
my kids confirmed it yesterday!

3 out of my 4 kiddos inhaled them. I have one child
that is very texture sensitive and the oatmeal did
him in. Anyway I'd say the other 3 ate at least 5 each
throughout the morning and day... oops!!

I will admit I had a couple cookies too...
okay maybe it was 3 but, that's all I'm admitting to!!!

Visit Heavenly Homemakers here
to get the recipe!! I love her site!

If the buttermilk scares you off remember you can
just make your own. I used -- 1/2 cup milk and 1 1/2 tsp. vinegar.

Whole Wheat Blueberry Banana Muffins!

I love um'!!!

These were sooo Delicious!
I think these muffins give my normal
breakfast (homemade toast with strawberry freezer jam)
some major competition!

These muffins do have 220 calories but are also
packed with fiber... a whopping 4.1 grams!

Here's the recipe...
(Visit Recipe Zaar here to see where I got the recipe from!)

2 eggs
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce --( I used sweetened)
1/4 cup vegetable oil
3/4 cup brown sugar -- (I used 1/2 cup)
1 tsp. vanilla extract
3 bananas, mashed
2 cups whole wheat flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 Tablespoon ground cinnamon
1 cup frozen blueberries

Instructions -- Mix first 6 ingredients together.
-- add next 3
-- mix
-- fold in blueberries

Pour in greased muffin pan
Bake at 375* for 15-20 minutes

So what's your normal breakfast???

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??

Wet Burritos Recipe

Dinner Recipe...
Wet Burritos
You can see the original recipe here.

There were delicious!
They will definitely be added to our regular meal rotation!

Here's what I did...

Brown and season 1 pound of hamburger. Add 1
can of refried beans. Heat through and keep warm.

In a sauce pan make about 2 cups chili (without the beans or hamburger).
Add 1 can of tomato soup and 1 can of enchilada sauce.
(I used 2 cups of homemade salsa instead of the enchilada sauce)
Stir and heat through. Keep warm

Have tomatos diced up and lettuce cleaned.

Now you're ready to put them together...
1. Get a soft tortilla shell and put a spoonful of the
meat stuff on the tortilla: spread

2. Add lettuce and tomatoes.

3. Roll it up.

4. Put a generous amount of sauce on top.

5. Add shredded cheese and microwave for about 30 sec.

6. Add Sour Cream if desired. (I completely forgot to get it out!)

That's it... ENJOY!!
Everyone loved it, even my 11 yr. old and he doesn't like
anything with beans or sauce!!

It was extremely easy to do and only
took about 20 minutes to make!
(Would also make an excellent summer meal
since it requires no oven!!)