The Nourishing Cookbook

I'm moving my cookbook blog

2010-04-05T14:39:00.000-05:00

I am currently in the process of moving my cookbook blog over to my newly designed website.

My new website is here: http://www.school4jesus.com/

My blog is on my site here: http://www.school4jesus.com/sheris-blog

My brand new Book Shop is here: http://www.school4jesus.com/store/

Come visit my new site!

How to Make a Fancy Pie Crust Edge

2008-10-01T14:54:00.003-05:00

I recently had an email asking me how to make the fancy edge on a double-crust pie...so I thought I'd share how I do it!

First, when you make a two-crust pie, put the first crust in the bottom of the pie pan. Take a knife and cut the crust flesh with the edge of the pie pan. Put your filling in.

Second, put your top crust on. I use a knife and cut around the edge of the top crust, leaving about 1/2-3/4 of an inch extra crust beyond the edge of the pan. Now I take the top crust that is hanging over and tuck it underneath the edge of the bottom crust. Work your way around the crust until you have a nice edge..it will just be kind of rounded where the crusts are rolled together. Sometimes I have to squeeze the crust around to parts that are a little thinner. Some places get too fat, so I try to even it out before I make my nice edge.

Lastly, Once the crust is all sealed around, then you can make the nice edging. I had my son take a picture of my hands (below) showing how to pinch the crust (using a piece of paper where the crust will be). To make this nice edge, take your left hand and hold your thumb and index finger up as shown above. Take the index finger of your right hand...hold the left hand on one side of the crust edge, and your right hand on the other. Place your fingers on both sides of the crust edge and push together gently. This will make one indented pattern. Take your fingers off and move them over to make the next indented pattern. Continue this on around the crust. If you kind of pinch your thumb and index fingers on your left hand, it makes the pattern a little more defined. But don't pinch too much!

I hope this makes sense. The next time I make some pie I'll take some pictures of this process and add them in here in place of this picture. Have fun!

Yellow Cake

2008-09-30T16:04:00.003-05:00

2 1/3 cup whole wheat pastry flour
1/3 cup nonfat dry milk powder
3 teaspoons baking powder
3/4 teaspoons sea salt
1 1/2 cups Sucanat or organic sugar
1/2 cup butter, melted
2 eggs
1 cup water
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour a 9x13-inch cake pan.

Combine all the ingredients in a large bowl and mix with blender for a few minutes until smooth. Pour into the cake pan and bake for 25-30 minutes. Cool and frost as desired.

FROSTING:

1/4 cup butter, softened
2 tablespoons milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon lemon juice
2 cups powdered sugar

Place all the ingredients in a mixing bowl and whip with mixer for several minutes, until light and fluffy. Recipe can be doubled if more frosting is desired. This should be enough to frost one cake.

Apple Pie with Crumb Topping

2008-09-30T15:34:00.002-05:00

1 unbaked 9-inch pie crust

4 large cooking apples, peeled, cored, and sliced
1 cup Sucanat or organic sugar, divided (1/2 cup)
1 teaspoon cinnamon
dash of nutmeg
dash of ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 cup whole wheat flour

3/4 cup whole wheat flour
1/3 cup butter

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Combine apple slices and 1/2 cup sugar in a medium sized bowl. Combine the cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and flour (1/4 cup) in a small bowl; stir well. Sprinkle over the apple mixture and add vanilla; mix well. Place mixture into unbaked pie shell.

Combine remaining 1/2 cup sugar and the 3/4 cup flour in a bowl; stir well. Cut in butter with pastry blender until mixture resembles course meal. Sprinkle crumb mixture evenly over apple mixture.

Bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes. Cover edges of pastry with strips of aluminum foil to prevent excessive browning. Bake an additional 30 minutes.

Chicken Patties

2008-09-19T16:21:00.003-05:00

2 pounds ground chicken
2 cups whole wheat bread crumbs
1 cup milk
1 tablespoon minced onion
2 eggs
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 teaspoon sea salt
1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
4 tablespoons butter
4 tablespoons olive oil

In a medium-sized bowl, soak bread crumbs in milk. Add in the ground chicken, minced onion, eggs, cayenne pepper, sea salt, and thyme. Form into patties. Saute for about 7 minutes on each side in butter and olive oil, or until fully cooked.

Serve on homemade buns and a large green salad for a yummy meal!

Two Pie Crust Recipe for the Bosch

2008-09-06T17:31:00.001-05:00

In the Bosch bowl using wire whips, blend the following ingredients together:

2 Cups flour
1/2 Teaspoon salt
1 Cup shortening
1/4 Teaspoon sugar

Change wire whips to the dough hook. Then add water below and blend.

1/2 Cup water

Note: This dough freezes well, either wrapped in plastic wrap or rolled out in a pie plate and covered.

Sandwich Spread

2008-09-06T15:10:00.002-05:00

3 cups ground (cooked) meat, such as ham, chicken, turkey, etc.
1/2 cup mayonnaise (I use Smart Balance Omega Plus for a healthier version)
1/2 cup dill pickle relish (my homemade!)
Salt and pepper, to taste

Combine everything in a medium-sized bowl and store in refrigerator.

Note: Every so often I get the urge to make up some sandwich spread for our lunches. I buy a whole ham or use some cooked chicken or turkey and grind it up with my meat grinder. I then put 3 cups of meat in freezer bags and store it in the freezer. To make, I let a bag of meat thaw over night in the refrigerator, then pull it out the next day. Add the rest of the ingredients, mix well, and you have some yummy sandwich spread to have on your homemade bread! Enjoy!

Peanut Butter Chocolate Oatmeal Balls

2008-09-04T17:41:00.002-05:00

2 cups rolled oats
3/4 cup natural peanut butter (chunky is good!)
1/2 cup honey
2 tablespoons whole wheat flour
1/3 cup chocolate chips

Mix everything together in a medium-sized bowl. Form into small bite-sized balls. Store in a covered container in the refrigerator.

These are so yummy! Enjoy!

Banana Bread

2008-09-03T16:13:00.002-05:00

1 cup Sucanat or organic sugar
1/3 cup butter, melted
2 eggs
1 1/2 cups mashed bananas (about 3-4 medium)
1/3 cup water
1 2/3 cups whole wheat flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1/4 teaspoon aluminum-free baking powder
1/2 cup chopped nuts (optional)

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Butter bottom only of loaf pan (8 1/2 x 4 1/2 x 2 1/2 OR 9x5x3 inches). Mix sugar and butter in a large bowl. Stir in eggs until blended. Add bananas and water and beat for 30 seconds. Stir in remaining ingredients except the nuts just until moistened; stir in nuts. Pour into the pan. Bake until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, 55-75 minutes (depending on size of pan). Cool 5 minutes in pan after done baking. Loosen sides of loaf from pan and remove bread. Cool completely before slicing. Store in the refrigerator.

Hint: Banana bread freezes very well! Make a double batch and put one in the freezer for a later breakfast or snack!

Oatmeal Raisin Bars

2008-08-21T11:49:00.002-05:00

1/2 cup butter, melted
3/4 cup Sucanat (or organic sugar)
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 tablespoon molasses
1 egg
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 1/4 cups whole wheat flour
1/2 cup rolled oats
1/2 cup raisins

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a medium-sized bowl, mix the melted butter, sugar, vanilla, and molasses. (Use the butter wrapper to grease your 9x13-inch glass baking dish!)

Add the egg, mix well.

Add the baking soda, salt, cinnamon, whole wheat flour, and oats, mix well.

Mix in the raisins.

Spread in a greased 9x13-inch glass baking dish.

Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes.

Nail Soak

2008-06-05T07:34:00.003-05:00

Mix the following ingredients in a small bowl:

1 cup warm water
1 capful Hydrogen Peroxide

Soak your nails to clean and whiten them! Enjoy!

Chocolate Cinnamon Graham Squares

2008-05-28T08:31:00.003-05:00

1/4 cup honey
3/4 cup natural applesauce (no sugar added)
1/2 cup cold water
1/2 cup Sucanat or organic sugar
1 1/2 tablespoons molasses
2 3/4 cup whole wheat flour
3/4 cups rolled oats
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/2 cup chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

In a large bowl, mix together the honey, applesauce, water, sugar, and molasses until blended well. Add dry ingredients and mix well with electric mixer. Stir in chocolate chips.

Spread in a greased 9x13-inch baking dish.

Bake at 400 degrees for about 15 minutes or until lightly browned.

Notes: These are cake-like bars and taste so good! These make a nice dessert or healthy snack...enjoy!

Chocolate Vanilla Swirl Muffins

2008-05-15T14:03:00.004-05:00

3 cups whole wheat flour
1 cup honey
1 1/3 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup butter, melted
3 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon sea salt
2 teaspoons baking powder
4 teaspoons cocoa powder
2 tablespoons honey

THE NIGHT BEFORE:
In a large bowl, mix together the flour, honey, buttermilk, and butter. Mix well, cover, and let sit out on counter overnight.

THE NEXT MORNING:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Add eggs, vanilla, sea salt, and baking powder. Mix with electric mixer until smooth.

Scoop out 1 cup of batter into a small bowl. Add the cocoa and 2 tablespoons honey and mix it up good.

Prepare muffin tins by greasing or lining with papers (I like to use the rubbery muffin pans so I don't have to grease the pans at all!).

Fill muffin tins about half full of plain batter (this should make about 21 muffins). Add a little spoonful of the chocolate batter to the top of each muffin cup, dividing it up evenly. Using a knife, swirl the chocolate and vanilla batters in the muffin cups.

Bake at 400 degrees for about 15 minutes or until lightly browned.

Note: My kids loved these, although they said they would be even better with some chocolate chips in them! Enjoy!

Black Beans & Rice

2008-05-08T15:25:00.004-05:00

1 bag of black beans (about 1 pound)
1 cup brown rice
6 tablespoons whey or lemon juice
1 cup chicken broth
1/2 cup butter
2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
meat (beef or chicken) (optional)

THE NIGHT BEFORE
Put the black beans in a large bowl. Add enough filtered water to generously cover the beans. Add in 3 tablespoons of whey or lemon juice. Cover the bowl and let it sit on the counter overnight. Do the same with the rice - put in a bowl and cover with water, then add in 3 tablespoons of whey. Cover and let both of these sit on the counter overnight to soak.

THE NEXT DAY
Drain the water from the black beans, pour them into a large pot, and cook according to package directions (substitute one cup of water for the one cup of chicken broth). Add 1/2 cup butter to pot as well as beans cook.

While beans are cooking, drain the rice, then cook according to package directions.

Once the rice and beans are cooked, add rice to beans along with the salt and pepper. Mix well.

Serve with a large lettuce salad!

Yummy Taco Bake

2008-05-08T15:14:00.003-05:00

1/2 bag tortilla chips, crushed
4 cups (or more) leftover beans/beans & rice (this can be pinto beans, black beans, etc. and with or without meat)
1 can Cream of chicken soup (homemade is easy and best!)
1/2 cup salsa
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9x13 baking dish. Spread crushed chips in bottom of baking dish. Spoon leftover beans/beans & rice over top of chips.

Mix the cream of chicken soup (again, homemade works best!), with the salsa. Pour this sauce over top of the beans and chips in the baking dish. Sprinkle cheddar cheese over the top.

Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

Serve with a large lettuce salad! Yummy!

Sheri's Notes: I am always looking for ways to use up leftovers! The other night I had some black beans, chicken, and rice leftover in the freezer from another meal. I threw this recipe together to use it up and it tasted delicious!

Shampoo

2008-05-07T16:54:00.001-05:00

Ingredients:

5 bags of chamomile tea
4 tablespoons of pure soap flakes
1 1/2 tablespoons of glycerin

Directions:

Steep the tea bags in about 1 1/2 cups of boiling water for about 12 minutes. Then remove the tea bags and add the soap and glycerin. Stir it up till it is blended good and your shampoo is ready.

You can even try other fragrances if you wish.

Semi-Homemade Spray-On Conditioner

2008-05-07T16:53:00.002-05:00

1 tablespoon of your favorite conditioner
8-ounce spray bottle
Water

Put the above ingredients in a spray bottle and shake up. Spray on hair to control frizzy, tangled hair. Do not rinse.

Leave-In Hair Conditioning Spray

2008-05-07T16:52:00.001-05:00

1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
8-ounce spray bottle (I used an old store-bought leave-in conditioner spray bottle)
Water

Put the above ingredients in a spray bottle and shake up. Spray on hair to control frizzy, tangled hair. Do not rinse.

Laundry Detergent - Liquid

2008-05-07T16:32:00.000-05:00

Note from Sheri: I have tried several different liquid laundry detergent recipes that I’ve found on the internet and never had much luck with them. I decided to stick with the powdered versions – they are less messy and don’t take up so much space to store. I will include some links below to some liquid recipes if you want to give it a try!

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http://www.thefamilyhomestead.com/laundrysoap.htm

http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/03/15/how-to-make-your-own-laundry-detergent-and-save-big-money

http://www.christian-mommies.com/special-features/just-for-moms/homemade-laundry-detergent

http://tipnut.com/10-homemade-laundry-soap-detergent-recipes

Hopefully this will get you started! Have fun!

Fabric Softner

2008-05-07T16:31:00.001-05:00

Add white vinegar (½ cup) to the last rinse cycle when washing your clothes. If you have a place where you are supposed to put your fabric softener (our washer has a little holder right in the middle of the agitator), then fill it with the vinegar like you would fabric softener. It should hold about ½ cup - at least ours does.

The vinegar will not only soften your clothes, but it helps rinse all the detergent out of your clothes. If you want a little fragrance, add 25-30 drops of essential oil to your gallon of vinegar and shake up.

Laundry Detergent - Powder #2

2008-05-07T16:30:00.000-05:00

2 boxes borax
2 boxes washing soda (NOT the same as baking soda)
2 bars Fels Naptha (Ivory Soap can be used too)

Dump in your boxes of washing soda and borax into whatever sort of container you're going to use. Grate up the soap. Then put the lid on and shake it up -- or you can stir it if you want.

When you're going to use this, you only need about 1/8th of a cup (or 2 tablespoons) per load.

Laundry Detergent - Powder

2008-05-07T16:29:00.000-05:00

1 bar grated soap (Fels Naptha or Ivory)
1 cup baking soda
1 cup borax

Mix everything and store in an airtight container.

Use 1 tablespoon per load. Use 2 tablespoons for heavy soiled loads.

Note: Add powder to empty washing machine and start water. Once the powder is mixed with the water a bit, then add your clothes.

Sweet Treat Popcorn

2008-05-06T15:47:00.001-05:00

½ cup butter
½ cup honey
3 quarts popped corn
nuts - up to 1 cup chopped nuts of your choice, optional

Put your butter and honey in a small saucepan over medium heat and stir it until the butter melts and is blended nicely with the honey. While this is warming, mix your popcorn and nuts in a large bowl. Pour your melted butter/honey mixture over the popcorn and mix well. Spread this out on a cookie sheet in a thin layer and bake at 350 degrees for 10-15 minutes or until crisp. This will be very hot so use caution!

Double Chocolate Mint Treasures

2008-05-06T15:46:00.000-05:00

¾ c. butter, softened
½ c. brown sugar or Sucanat
½ c. sugar
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. peppermint extract
1 ½ cups whole-wheat flour
½ c. cocoa
1 tsp. baking soda
¼ tsp. salt
1 c. chocolate chips

Cream together butter and sugars. Add egg, vanilla and peppermint extract. Combine dry ingredients in a bowl. Add to wet ingredients and then stir in chocolate chips.

Bake at 350 for 10 minutes on greased cookie sheet.

Note: This is one of our family favorites! They are delicious!

Recipe by Marilyn Moll at www.urbanhomemaker.com, a home based business specializing in bread baking equipment and products for health. Used by permission.

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

2008-05-06T15:44:00.000-05:00

2/3 cup soft unsalted butter
½ cup honey
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 ¾ cup whole wheat pastry flour (I just used whole wheat flour, not pastry, and they still turned out great!)
½ teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
1 cup quick oats, uncooked
1 cup chocolate chips
½ cup chopped walnuts, optional

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Grease or spray cookie sheet.

Whisk the butter and honey together until well blended and smooth. Next, whisk in the egg and vanilla. Blend flour, baking soda, and salt in separate bowl; stir into liquid ingredients and mix well. Next, stir in quick oats, chocolate chips, and walnuts (if desired), and blend well.

Chill dough, if needed, for easy handling. Drop tablespoons of dough or dispense with all-purpose scoop onto cookie sheet leaving room between cookies to spread. Bake in preheated oven at 375 degrees for 8-10 minutes. Remove from pans immediately.

These cookies are delicious! Store in airtight container in refrigerator or freezer.

Yield: About 3 ½ dozen cookies

Adapted from a recipe by Sue Gregg at www.suegregg.com.
Used by permission.

Wacky Cake

2008-05-06T14:28:00.002-05:00

1 1/3 c. unbleached white flour or whole wheat pastry flour
1 c. brown sugar
¼ c. Cocoa
1 t. baking soda
½ t. salt
1/3 c. oil or butter, melted
1 t. vinegar
½ t. vanilla
1 c. water

Mix together all the ingredients in the above order and pour into an ungreased 8x8x2 pan. (double the recipe and make a 9X13 cake!) Bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes.

Sprinkle with powdered sugar or frost with frosting. This is a very moist cake! I use this recipe for our birthday cakes!

Sheri's Healthy Oatmeal & Raisin Cookies

2008-05-06T14:23:00.002-05:00

½ cup butter, softened
¼ cup pure maple syrup
¼ cup honey
3 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 ½ teaspoon baking powder
1 cup raisins
3 cups rolled or quick oats
1 cup chocolate chips (optional)

Cream butter, syrup, and honey until smooth. Add eggs and vanilla and mix. Mix dry ingredients (except raisins and oats) in a small bowl, then add and mix well. Stir in the raisins and oats (and chips if using). Drop by spoonfuls onto cookie sheets. Bake at 375 degrees for 10 minutes. Makes about 3 1/2 dozen cookies.

Oven Pancakes

2008-05-06T08:13:00.003-05:00

1/2 cup butter
6 eggs
1 1/2 cups milk
1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon vanilla

Heat oven to 425 degrees. While the oven is heating, put butter into a 9x13 baking dish and put in the oven to melt.

While that is heating and melting, beat the eggs, milk, flour, cinnamon, and vanilla in a large bowl until smooth. Once the butter has melted, remove the pan from the oven. Pour the batter into the pan. Once the oven is done preheating, bake for 15-20 minutes.

To serve: Sprinkle with powdered sugar and serve with pure maple syrup (or homemade syrup). Applesauce is also good on top in place of syrup! We would also pour a little orange juice over the top with the powdered sugar and that was good too. Enjoy!

The BEST Chocolate Chip Cookies

2008-05-05T15:28:00.002-05:00

1 cup butter, softened
2 cups Sucanat (or organic cane sugar)
1 tablespoon molasses
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon sea salt
3 cups whole wheat flour
1 cup chocolate chips

Cream the butter, sugar, and molasses. Add eggs and vanilla and mix well. Add the remaining ingredients and mix well. Drop by teaspoons onto a greased cookie sheet. Bake at 400 degrees for 10 minutes.

Yield: 4-5 dozen cookies

Note: These cookies are the softest and chewiest chocolate chip cookies I have ever made! You would never guess they are made with whole wheat flour either...give them a try!

Banana Chocolate Chip Snack Cakes

2008-05-02T00:40:00.002-05:00

3 eggs
3 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
1 cup mashed bananas
2 cups milk
1/2+ cups water
3 tablespoons sucanat (or 1 1/2 tablespoons honey)
6 tablespoons olive oil
3 tablespoons baking powder
1 teaspoon sea salt
Butter to grease griddle

Beat eggs in a large bowl. Add in the rest of the ingredients (except the butter to grease the griddle) and mix well. You may need to add a bit more water to make the batter not as thick.

Cook batter on hot griddle, making small-sized snack cakes the size of a cookie. Sprinkle some chocolate chips on the top (before flipping to cook the second side).

NOTE: This recipe makes a BUNCH of snack cakes! Put them either in the refrigerator or freezer (if you aren't going to eat them within a few days). Pull them out for snacks...pop them in the microwave to warm them and eat them like a cookie...yummy! My kids loved these and they are much better for them than having a cookie for a snack. Enjoy!

Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins

2008-05-01T07:33:00.000-05:00

NOTE: I decided to try a banana variation to my Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins....I made some this morning and they were a hit! I bet this recipe could even be used to make a nice banana cake as well! I'll have to try that next time :). Enjoy!

The Day Before, mix up the following in a plastic bowl, cover with a lid or plastic wrap, and let sit out on the counter until the next morning. (I actually start these a whole 24 hours before I want to bake them. Allowing the flour to soak for 24 hours gives you the best nutritional benefit! So…get this soaking the morning before you want them for breakfast.)

3 cups whole wheat flour
1 cup buttermilk (can use homemade)
1 cup honey
1/2 cup butter, melted

The Next Morning: Add the following and mix well with a mixer until the batter is smooth and the lumps of flour are gone:

4 eggs
1 3/4 cups mashed bananas

Next, mix in the rest of the dry ingredients with the mixer:

2 teaspoons baking soda
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon sea salt

Then stir in the chocolate chips:

2 cups chocolate chips

Put in greased muffin tins (see note below). Bake at 400 degrees for 18-20 minutes.

Yield: 24 muffins

Note: I like to use the silicone (rubber-like) muffin pans. You don't have to grease the pans at all and the muffins pop right out! The muffins also bake very evenly and nice in these pans.

Taco Soup

2008-04-26T15:13:00.000-05:00

3 cups dry pinto beans
1 pound cooked hamburger, drained
1 can sweet corn, drained (or 1 cup frozen)
1 can olives, drained and sliced
1 can diced tomatoes
2 packets taco seasoning

In large soup pot (6-8 qt.) put 3 cups dry beans, 12 cups water, and 1 tablespoon salt. Cook for about 2 1/2 hours or until soft.

Add remaining ingredients and simmer for about 15 minutes to an hour. Serve with corn chips and cheese.

Adapted from a recipe by Crystal Miller at www.thefamilyhomestead.com.
Used by permission.

Taco Rice

2008-04-26T15:09:00.000-05:00

1 pound ground beef
1 teaspoon minced onion
1 package taco seasoning mix
1 can diced tomatoes
2 cups cooked rice (we use brown rice)
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
tortillas & lettuce

Brown meat and drain. Combine meat, onion, taco seasoning, cooked rice, and tomatoes in large pan. Simmer about 5 minutes.

Serve with tortillas, lettuce, and cheese.

Note: This recipe freezes well. Put meal sized portions in ziplock bags or containers and freeze. To use, thaw and reheat on stove.

Adapted from a recipe by Crystal Miller at www.thefamilyhomestead.com.
Used by permission.

Salisbury Steak & Gravy

2008-04-26T15:08:00.000-05:00

2 pound hamburger
½ cup bread crumbs
1 teaspoon season salt
2 eggs

Combine meat, bread crumbs, season salt and eggs in large bowl. Form into 8 patties and lay in a large baking pan. Bake these at 350 degrees, uncovered, for 20 minutes, then drain off any fat. Pour gravy over the top (see recipe below) and bake another 20 minutes.

Serve with mashed potatoes or other vegetable and a salad for a yummy meal!

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GRAVY:

6 tablespoons butter
6 tablespoons flour (whole wheat preferred)
3 beef bouillon cubes (or 3 teaspoons granules)
2 cups milk
½ cup water

In a saucepan melt butter and add flour. When this is hot and bubbly and well mixed add bouillon, milk, and water. Stir over medium heat until thick and bubbly and all the lumps are worked out. Let cook for about 3 minutes. Now the gravy is ready to use in the above recipe.

Recipe by Crystal Miller at www.thefamilyhomestead.com.
Used by permission.

Layered Taco Casserole

2008-04-26T14:59:00.000-05:00

1 pound ground beef, browned
1 can refried beans (or 1 ½ cups homemade)
½ cup salsa (can use more if you like)
1 can cream of chicken soup (or homemade - see Homemade Mixes)
Taco Seasoning Mix (or 1 Tablespoon homemade mix)
3 cups shredded cheddar cheese
4 large flour tortillas

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.

In a medium sized bowl, mix the ground beef, refried beans, and salsa. Set aside.

In another medium sized bowl, mix the cream of chicken soup, taco seasoning, and 1 can of water (if making the homemade cream of chicken soup you may not need to add very much water). Mix well.

Layer casserole as follows:

Pour a little of the soup mixture on the bottom of the baking dish.
Then lay down two tortillas to cover the bottom.
Spoon half of the beef & refried beans mixture on top of the tortillas and spread it out.
Top with half of the cheese.
Pour half of the soup mixture over the top.
Lay down two more tortillas on top of all this and add a layer of beef/refried beans, cheese, and soup.

Cover with foil and bake for 30-40 minutes at 350 degrees until heated through.

NOTE: This recipe would probably freeze well. Prepare the casserole and freeze (don't bake). Thaw in refrigerator overnight, then bake as directed.

Lasagna

2008-04-26T14:57:00.000-05:00

9 lasagna noodles (whole-wheat preferred)
1 lb. Ground beef, cooked and drained
1 jar spaghetti sauce (can use homemade- use 4 cups-see recipe below)
2 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded
1 large container cottage cheese
1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
Parmesan cheese

Cook noodles. Mix ground beef, spaghetti sauce, mozzarella cheese, and cottage cheese in a large bowl. Layer in greased 9x13 dish (3 noodles, then 1/3 of the ground beef/sauce/cheese mixture, repeat two more times, making 3 layers). Sprinkle the cheddar cheese and some Parmesan cheese on the very top.

Bake at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes or until hot and bubbly.
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SPAGHETTI SAUCE

3 Tbsp olive oil
1 garlic clove
1 small onion, chopped
28 oz crushed tomatoes
16 oz tomato paste
1 cup water
2 tsp dried basil
1/4 tsp black pepper
3/4 tsp salt (or less to taste)
oregano (optional)

Brown the garlic in the olive oil in a 6-quart (6-liter) pan. Add the onion and brown until transparent. (You can saute a tomato in here also if you want.) Add the rest of the ingredients and simmer for 30 minutes, stirring often. (Longer cooking won't hurt.)

Hamburger Helper - Lasagna

2008-04-26T14:55:00.000-05:00

1 pound hamburger or sausage, browned
½ cup Hamburger Helper Mix (see recipe below)
2 cups water
2 8-oz. Cans tomato sauce
3 cups egg noodles (whole wheat preferred)
¼ cup parmesan cheese
2 cups mozzarella cheese, grated/shredded

Mix up all ingredients except the mozzarella cheese in a large pot. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, for about 15 minutes. Top with the mozzarella cheese. Cover with the lid and do not stir. Let the pot sit (take off heat) until cheese melts. Serve with a lettuce salad, green beans, and some homemade bread!

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HAMBURGER HELPER MIX

2 cups powdered milk
1 cup corn starch
¼ cup chicken bouillon powder
2 tablespoons dried onion
1 teaspoon basil
1 teaspoon thyme
1 teaspoon pepper
2 tablespoons dried parsley
1 tablespoon garlic powder

Mix all ingredients together and store in a canning jar with an airtight lid. Store on your shelf so it is ready to use when making Hamburger Helper dinners.

Recipe by Crystal Miller at www.thefamilyhomestead.com.
Used by permission.

Chili Mac

2008-04-26T14:46:00.000-05:00

Put the following ingredients into a large pan and mix thoroughly. Simmer for 20 minutes:

1 pound ground beef (or pork or turkey), cooked
1 teaspoon minced onion
1 8-oz. Can tomato sauce
1 8-oz. Can water
2 6-oz. Cans tomato paste
2 cups water
2 teaspoons salt
2 teaspoons chili powder
½ teaspoon black pepper
2 8-¾-oz. cans kidney beans, drained and rinsed
3 cups frozen corn

Cook 2 cups uncooked macaroni noodles (use whole-wheat if you can). Drain and add to hot meat/sauce mixture for a few minutes before serving.

Yield: Two 9x13 pans. Serve one and freeze one!

Adapted from a recipe by Sue Gregg at www.suegregg.com.
Used by permission.

Sweet & Sour Pork or Chicken with Brown Rice

2008-04-24T07:17:00.000-05:00

I can't remember where I found this recipe, but I have modified it and LOVE it! (I am SO known for "modifying" recipes that I make my family nervous!) This is super easy to make and tastes SO yummy! I will share how I make this the EASY way!

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SWEET & SOUR PORK or CHICKEN WITH RICE

Prepare your meat:
You will need to prepare your pork or chicken - cooked and cubed.
What I like to do is grill a bunch of boneless pork chops or chicken breasts to have on hand in the freezer. You will probably only need 2-3 pork chops or chicken breasts to cube up for this recipe. Freeze the rest for meals later on!

Sweet & Sour Sauce Ingredients:
Simmer together:
1/2 cup catsup
1 1/2 cup brown sugar (can use homemade)
1/2 cup vinegar
1/2 cup crushed pineapple
1/2 cup chopped celery
1 cup frozen, crinkle cut, carrots
Pork or chicken, cooked and cubed

Mix a small amount of water with 1 Tablespoon of cornstarch and add to sauce to thicken. Simmer on medium heat, covered, until carrots and celery are cooked. Uncover and simmer until sauce is thickened somewhat.

Serve over brown rice.

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I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as we do! My husband doesn't like the soy sauce type sweet and sour, but LOVES this recipe! We used to buy a store-bought sauce in a jar, but we can't find it in the stores here in Kansas since we moved from Iowa. So...finding this recipe was a real blessing! Enjoy!

Ham, Cheese & Potato Soup

2008-04-24T07:11:00.001-05:00

6 cups potatoes, peeled & chopped
1 cup carrots, peeled & chopped
1 cup celery, chopped
1 Tablespoon minced onion
1 Tablespoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 pound ham, bacon, or other meat, cooked & chopped
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup flour (I use whole wheat)
4 cups milk
4 cups shredded cheddar cheese

Place all vegetables and salt and pepper in a large pot and just barely cover with water. Bring to a boil and turn down heat to simmer until the vegetables are done.

In a separate pot (you will need a fairly large pot), melt butter, and then add flour, stirring until smooth. Slowly add milk and cook on medium until the mixture is thickened. Add the cheese and stir until cheese is melted. Add the milk/cheese mixture to the vegetables and stir; then add the meat and stir. Heat through and serve!

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Note: This makes a LOT of soup! When I make this I usually serve homemade rolls with it. Our family of 7 eats heartily and we still have enough left for another whole meal. I freeze the leftovers in a gallon ice-cream tub. To serve the leftovers, I take the tub out of the freezer in the morning and let it thaw on the counter for a while, then put it in the refrigerator. Within a couple hours of dinner time, transfer soup to pot (it will most likely be partially frozen still) and heat on low heat to finish thawing and heating. Enjoy!

Chicken & Noodles & Dumplings

2008-04-23T07:40:00.000-05:00

CHICKEN & NOODLES:

¼ teaspoon pepper
3 cups chicken broth
6-8 baby carrots, sliced or diced
2 teaspoon minced onion
1 cup egg noodles
1 can cream of chicken soup (can use homemade)
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 ½ cups water
1 cup milk
1-2 cooked chicken breasts, chopped
½ cup celery, chopped

Bring broth and water to boil. Add carrots, pepper, celery, and onion and cook on medium heat, covered, for 10 minutes. Add noodles and continue cooking for 8 minutes, covered.

Mix soups and milk together in separate bowl. Reduce heat to low and add soup mixture. Add chicken. Heat through on low (do not boil) about 5 more minutes. Add dumplings to soup at this time (see recipe below for instructions.)

DUMPLINGS:
2 cups flour (I use whole wheat flour when I can)
3 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 cup water or milk

In a large bowl combine flour, baking powder, and salt. Cut in oil until blended, add milk or water, slowing stirring to make a soft dough.

Scoop 1/2 cup dough for each dumpling into soup or stew, cover and steam for 10-15 minutes or until dumplings are done.

Chicken & Rice Soup

2008-04-23T07:39:00.000-05:00

4 cups chicken broth (or 4 cups water & 4 teaspoons chicken bouillon)
1 cup water
1 cup cooked chicken, diced
1 whole carrot, diced
1 cup frozen corn
½ cup frozen peas
1/3 cup white or brown rice
salt and pepper to taste

Bring the broth and water to a boil. Add the diced carrots and rice and boil for 5 minutes, covered. Then add the corn, peas, and chicken. (Add more water if needed.) Simmer another 10 minutes for white rice, 20 minutes for brown rice. Add salt and pepper last.

Serve with some homemade rolls for a yummy dinner!

Note: This soup could be made ahead of time and put in the refrigerator or freezer. You could then use it for a crockpot meal by thawing and heating in the crockpot.

Breaded Pork Chops with Seasoned Bread Crumbs

2008-04-23T07:31:00.000-05:00

6 pork chops (or however many you want to cook)
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 cup milk

Seasoned Bread Crumbs (mix in a bowl):

2 cups bread crumbs (blend dry bread in blender)
2 Tablespoons Parmesan cheese
1 Tablespoon dried parsley
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon oregano
¼ teaspoon basil
1 teaspoon Italian seasonings (optional)

Begin by preheating your oven to 350 degrees. You will need 3 bowls for this recipe. One for your flour, one for the milk, and one for the seasoned bread crumbs (note: you may not use all of these bread crumbs, so you will want to take some out of the bowl and just add you need it). Grease a 9x13 or 11x15 inch pan.

Dip each pork chop first into the flour, then into the milk and finally into the bread crumb mix. Lay the chops in the prepared pan. Put a small amount of water in the bottom of the pan, so the bottom is just covered. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes, then reduce heat to 325 degrees and bake another 20 minutes.

Tip: I save all the crusts from my homemade bread that don’t get eaten, and any bread that has gotten too dry - I tear it up and freeze it in freezer bags. When I have time, I thaw the bread and then use the blender to grind it up into bread crumbs, then freeze the bread crumbs in a large freezer bag!

Adapted from a recipe by Crystal Miller at www.thefamilyhomestead.com. Used by permission.

Beef Enchiladas

2008-04-23T07:26:00.000-05:00

1 pound ground beef
1 can red sauce (10 oz.)
1 can condensed cream of chicken soup (use homemade if possible)
1 can condensed tomato soup
10 flour tortillas (wheat preferred)
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

Brown ground beef, drain. Combine red sauce and soups. Pour 1 cup of sauce in bottom of greased 9x13 dish. Stir 1 cup sauce into beef mixture, then stir in 1 ½ cups cheddar cheese. Spoon ¼ cupfuls of beef mixture down center of tortillas. Roll up tightly and place seam side down in pan. Top with remaining sauce. Cover with foil and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Uncover, sprinkle with remaining cheddar cheese. Bake 10 minutes longer or until cheese is melted.

Note: This recipe is great frozen. Double recipe for extra pan. Cover with foil and freeze (do not bake). To bake, thaw in refrigerator overnight and bake as above.

Beef, Rice, & Vegetable Dinner

2008-04-23T07:24:00.001-05:00

2 cups brown rice (uncooked)
3 tablespoons whey or lemon juice
1 pound ground beef
2 cups frozen mixed vegetables
¼ cup butter
1 ½ teaspoons sea salt
¼ teaspoon pepper
1-2 tablespoons taco seasoning (optional - this is a nice variation of this recipe!)

THE NIGHT BEFORE
Put 2 cups of brown rice into a bowl, and add filtered or bottled water to cover the rice. Add 3 tablespoons of whey (or lemon juice). Cover the bowl, and let it sit out overnight until you make dinner tomorrow.

THE NEXT EVENING
You will want to get the rice cooking first. Bring 4 cups water to a boil, drain the rice you have been soaking, and add the rice to the boiling water. Reduce heat to a simmer and put lid on pan. Cook rice according to package directions (usually 45-55 minutes).

While the rice is cooking, brown your ground beef in a large skillet. Once the rice is done, add the cooked rice, ¼ cup butter, and the salt and pepper (and taco seasoning if using) to your ground beef. Stir. Keep on low heat and cover to keep warm. Next, cook your vegetables (steaming is best). Once the vegetables are done, add to the beef and rice.

You can top the beef and rice with cheddar cheese, salsa, etc. If desired, serve inside tortillas, or just eat plain. You can also choose different types of mixed vegetables to use. My family does not care for things like broccoli and cauliflower, so we stick to the corn/peas/green beans/carrots mixed vegetables.

Note: You can make this recipe using chopped up pork or chicken too! This makes a LOT, so I freeze any leftovers and use it as a base for chicken & rice soup. Simply put in crockpot and add some chicken broth, and cooked chicken for a yummy soup! I also had the idea of using leftovers to make Sweet & Sour Chicken or Pork. Simply heat up your rice/pork or chicken/veggie mixture, make the Sweet & Sour Sauce, and serve! Yummy!

Shake & Bake Chicken

2008-04-23T07:22:00.000-05:00

2 lbs. Skinned boneless chicken breast pieces
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter or 1/2 cup milk (for reduced fat)
1 cup whole-wheat flour

Seasoned Bread Crumbs (mix together in a bowl):

2 cups bread crumbs (blend dry bread in blender)
4 Tablespoons Parmesan cheese (you can use more if you like)
1 Tablespoon dried parsley
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon oregano
¼ teaspoon basil

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with butter and set aside.

Trim visible fat from chicken pieces. You will need three bowls for this recipe – one for the flour, one for the butter or milk, and one for the seasoned bread crumbs. Dip chicken pieces in flour, then in the butter or milk; then in the seasoned bread crumbs – making sure to coat all sides.

Place in single layer in baking dish. Sprinkle any leftover seasoned bread crumbs over the top of the chicken. Bake uncovered at 350 degrees until tender, about 1 hour. Cover with foil if the chicken begins to brown too much before it is done.

Tip: I save all the crusts from my homemade bread that don’t get eaten, and any bread that has gotten too dry - I tear it up and freeze it in freezer bags. When I have time, I thaw the bread and then use the blender to grind it up into bread crumbs, then freeze the bread crumbs in a large freezer bag!

Fruit Smoothie

2008-04-21T21:32:00.000-05:00

Yield: 5 cups

1 whole banana, frozen
1 cup strawberries, frozen
2 cups milk
1 cup ice
¼ cup honey

Blend all ingredients in the blender until smooth. Serve immediately.

Note from Sheri: Experiment with this recipe by using different fruits, using yogurt or kefir instead of milk, etc. Smoothies are great served with toast or muffins for breakfast.

Maple Syrup

2008-04-20T06:07:00.000-05:00

4 cups white sugar (use organic sugar or rapidura or succanat if possible)
1 cup brown sugar (can use homemade)
2 cups water
2 tsp. Maple flavoring
2 tsp. vanilla

Mix the sugars and water in a sauce pan. Bring to a boil and turn to simmer for 5 minutes. Take off the burner and add flavorings. Stir. Let cool and store in a quart jar in the refrigerator. You can also use old syrup bottles or ketchup bottles to store the syrup in.

Note from Sheri: The best option is to use pure maple syrup. If you don’t mind the cost, then go for it. I did want to include a homemade maple syrup recipe here, however, because I believe that making the syrup from scratch (even though it has sugar in it) is better for you than the store-bought stuff. I like this recipe because it is a bit thicker than most other homemade syrups I have tried.

Burrito Casserole

2008-04-20T05:23:00.000-05:00

6 cups cooked beans & rice (leftovers from Burrito recipe)
Cream of chicken soup (homemade preferred, or use 1 can store-bought)
3/4 cup salsa
1 cup (1/2 lb.) ground beef, browned and drained
Tortilla Chips (make your own or store-bought)
1-2 cups Shredded Cheddar Cheese

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter a 9x13 baking dish.

Crush some tortilla chips and spread in the bottom of the baking dish (the amount of chips depends on your taste).

In a large bowl, mix together the beans & rice, cream of chicken soup, salsa, and hamburger. Spread this mixture over top of the chips. Top with shredded cheddar cheese.

Bake, uncovered, for about 30 minutes or until heated through.

Serve with a vegetable or a nice green salad. I like to eat this mixed in with my salad for a taco salad type meal. Yummy!

My Favorite Homemade Bread Using a Heavy-Duty Mixer

2008-04-19T02:40:00.000-05:00

(Makes 5 loaves of bread)

1/2 cup oil (I use olive oil)
3/4 cup honey
1 Tablespoon salt, heaping (I use sea salt)
1 Tablespoon lemon juice
10 cups flour (I use 4 wheat & 6 white)
5 cups warm water
3 Tablespoons yeast
2 cups additional flour, add as needed

Place ingredients into your heavy duty mixer (I have a Bosch and LOVE it!) in the order listed (except the 2 cups additional flour) . Knead on Speed 1, quickly adding in the additional flour until the dough pulls away from side of bowl. Then knead for 6-8 minutes on Speed 2. **See note below for 2-rise option. Remove dough, divide into 5 loaves, and place in pans to rise. Let rise for about 30-45 minutes or until double in size (I turn the oven on for a few minutes to warm it up and then turn it off. I then place the bread pans in the oven with the oven light on to rise. When bread is done rising, turn oven on to 350 degrees and bake for 25-30 minutes or until tops and sides of bread are brown. Remove from pans and let cool completely before storing. This bread freezes well too!

To make cinnamon-raisin bread, add 2 1/2 tsp. cinnamon and 2 cups chopped raisins to the dough when kneading.

**If you want, you can allow the dough to rise in a large, greased bowl, once before dividing up and letting it rise in the pans. This is actually recommended, but for time sake I have always just did the one rise in the pans. I recently started using more wheat flour (6 wheat/4 white) and the second rise has really helped the texture of the bread! This is a great step as you move towards using ALL whole wheat flour. After you have mastered this bread recipe, move on to my 100% Whole Wheat Bread Using the 2-Stage Process recipe!

Pizza

2008-04-17T08:56:00.001-05:00

Ever since my husband and I got married, we have delegated Friday night as "pizza night". So...for the past almost 19 years we have had pizza for dinner pretty much every Friday night. When we were newly married, we would make a pizza using the Jiffy pizza crust mixes, pizza sauce, and hamburger and cheese. It was a pretty easy pizza to make and we enjoyed it. Then we went through a phase where we ate the premade pizza crusts from the store and then added our own toppings and baked it. That was pretty good too. But then....I started making a yeast bread crust and we have never turned back!

I recently have had to graduate to preparing two pizzas for our growing family instead of the usual one. I love this crust recipe..it is quick and easy to mix up in my Bosch mixer and I can double the recipe to make two crusts. It raises so nice and tastes so good! Since I am making two pizzas now, I make one hamburger and sausage and one Canadian bacon and pineapple. Yummy!

I would like to share with you our pizza crust recipe as well as a recipe for pizza sauce. I can't remember where I got the recipe for the sauce. It tastes great and is quick and easy to make...and much cheaper than the store-bought pizza sauce! It has been fun having this family "tradition" of having pizza every Friday. The kids have enjoyed it too. We kind of make Friday night our family night...with pizza, then maybe a game or movie, then ice cream later!

I hope you enjoy these recipes...and maybe be inspired to start your own "pizza night" too!

PIZZA CRUST (makes 1 large crust - can double to make 2 crusts)

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon sugar or honey
1 teaspoon sea salt
2 1/2 cups flour (I use 1 wheat and 1 1/2 white, but use whatever combination you like)
1 cup warm water
1 Tablespoon yeast

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

Put above ingredients into heavy duty mixer. Mix and knead for about 8 minutes. If mixing by hand, dissolve yeast in warm water, then add remaining ingredients and mix well. You will need to use your hands to work in all the flour and then knead it for about 10 minutes to make a nice smooth dough.

Roll into a ball and place on greased (buttered) pizza pan.

HINT: Place a wet dishcloth on the counter and put your pizza pan on top of it while you roll out the crust. This keeps the pizza pan from moving all over the place!

Once the crust is rolled out to the edges, spread with sauce (recipe below) and toppings.

Bake in 425 degree oven for 15-20 minutes or until cheese is lightly browned and crust is done.

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PIZZA SAUCE (makes enough sauce for 1 pizza-can be doubled for 2 pizzas)

8 oz. can tomato sauce
1 teaspoon sugar or honey
1/2 teaspoon basil
1/4 teaspoon oregano
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 tablespoon olive oil for flavoring (optional)

Mix the above ingredients in a small bowl, then it is ready to use!

If I double this recipe, I use two small bowls, keeping the two batches separate. This makes it easier to divide up the sauce between the two pizzas!

Blonde Brownies - Healthy Version

2008-04-17T08:44:00.002-05:00

I am at it again...trying to convert some of our favorite recipes to be more healthy! I made these last night and they were so good! I thought I would share the recipe with you. I made them healthier by replacing the brown sugar with some organic sugar and molasses. Give them a try!

BLONDE BROWNIES - Healthy Version

1 cup whole wheat flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup butter, melted
1 cup organic sugar (or sucanat or raw sugar)
1 tablespoon molasses
1 egg
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup chocolate chips

Butter a 9x9x2 inch baking pan. Melt the butter, then add the sugar and molasses. Mix well. Add egg and vanilla and mix well. Stir in dry ingredients (flour, baking powder, and salt) until well combined. Stir in chocolate chips. Spread in buttered pan and bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes.

Note: This recipe can easily be doubled to fit a 9x13 pan if you need a larger dessert!

Homemade Swiffer Cloths

2008-04-17T08:38:00.000-05:00

I found a cheap alternative to buying the Swiffer cloths to use with my Swiffer! Here is what you do: purchase some cheap washclothes (the kind you can buy at Walmart in a 10-pack). Buy a white or ivory color of washcloth so you can easily keep these "cleaning" cloths separate from your regular washcloths.

Simply use these washcloths instead of the Swiffer cloths, attaching it to the Swiffer mop the same way you would the store-bought ones. The washcloth will be a bit big, so you will have some extra washcloth flopping on the top of the mop, but that is ok.

WET MOP: Run some hot water in a bowl in the sink and add some cleaner (whatever you use to clean your floors). Soak several washcloths at a time so you can rotate. Take one out, wring out most (but not all) the water, and attach to your Swiffer mop. Now mop your floor! When it gets too dry, take it off, throw it in the hot water solution, and get another washcloth out.

DRY MOP: Attach a dry washcloth to your Swiffer mop and dustmop with it "as is" or spray a bit of furniture polish on first (just be careful as this will make SLICK floors...speaking from experience!)

When you are done mopping all your floors, throw these washcloths in with your towels to wash. This works great and is SO much cheaper that buying the store-bought cloths. Give it a try!

Rinse Aid for Dishwasher

2008-04-17T08:36:00.000-05:00

Instead of buying the expensive rinse aids to put in your dishwasher....use distilled white vinegar instead! This works great and is so much cheaper. Give it a try!

Dishwasher Detergent

2008-04-17T07:48:00.000-05:00

After doing some research on the internet, I decided to try making my own dishwasher detergent. It is very easy to make and very inexpensive! I have found this recipe to work great so far. I know a lot depends on the water you have...whether it is hard water, etc...but this works great for me. Here it is:

Mix the following in a small tupperware container with a lid:

1 cup Borax
1 cup Baking Soda
*2 cups dishwasher detergent (cheap powder kind)

*This is optional, but I have found it does a bit better if this is added. I think it really depends of your water. Try the borax and baking soda solution first. If it doesn't seem to clean good, then try adding in the store-bought dishwasher detergent.

To use: Put 1 Tablespoon of detergent into your dishwasher's detergent compartment..but DON'T CLOSE IT (or just use the pre-wash compartment)! Run your dishwasher as normal. If you have hard water, you may need to use more detergent..up to 3 Tablespoons. I used 3 Tablespoons at first and it was way to much. It left white film on the dishes. You'll just have to experiment and see what works best for you.

I also fill the rinse aid compartment with white vinegar once a week or so. It leaves the dishes sparkling clean!

Brown Sugar Facial Scrub

2008-04-17T07:43:00.001-05:00

Here is the recipe for a brown sugar facial scrub that I mixed up yesterday. I have been using it along with my Dollar Store Lotion on my face and it has done wonders! My skin is so soft and smooth! My 15 year old daughter has also been using it and it has worked great for her too! Here's the recipe:

Brown Sugar Facial Scrub

1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup sweet almond oil (**see note below)
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 tablespoon ground oatmeal
1 teaspoon nutmeg

Mix everything together and put in a jar with a lid. Enjoy!

To Use: Wet face with a warm washcloth. Put a little bit of the scrub on the tips of your fingers and rub over whole face (moisten fingers if needed). Gently massage over face for about 1 minute. Rinse face with warm water. Pat dry. Apply lotion.

** I tried using coconut oil instead of the sweet almond oil and I really like it. The almond oil tended to separate all the time and I would have to mix it up before I used it each time. The coconut oil hardens up a bit and makes the scrub more of a paste. Simply melt 1/2 cup coconut oil, mix up with the rest of the ingredients, and then let sit on counter to cool down and harden a bit. Stir every so often to keep the coconut oil mixed in good as it cools. Enjoy!

Homemade Stick Deodorant

2008-04-17T07:41:00.001-05:00

I have been wanting to try to make my own deodorant for some time now, but never seemed to find a good recipe. Well, I think I found one that works great! I made some yesterday and it really does work and it is easy to make. Here is the recipe:

Homemade Stick Deodorant

1/4 cup Baking soda
1/4 cup Cornstarch
4-5 Tablespoons Coconut oil, melted
Fragrance oil (optional - I added a few drops of sweet vanilla scent and it smells so good!)

Mix baking soda and cornstarch. If you use about 1/4 cup of each, it will make enough to fill an old deodorant container. Melt the coconut oil and add slowly, a little at a time, to the baking soda and cornstarch mix. Mix with a spoon and keep adding coconut oil until the mixture is pretty firm but holds together. You don't want it runny or too soft.

Scoop the mixture into an old deodorant container to harden. Once it hardens it is ready to use.

Note: When I made this, it was not hard at all when I put it in the container. I didn't realize it would harden up so much. After it hardened I realized that I probably could have added a bit more coconut oil and it would have been ok. So, experiment and see what works best. You don't want it too hard, or it won't go on very good. But too soft won't work either. Have fun!

Dollar Store Lotion

2008-04-17T07:40:00.000-05:00

Here is the awesome lotion recipe I promised! Enjoy!

DOLLAR STORE LOTION

This recipe is not a true homemade lotion, but one made with pre-made ingredients. I found this recipe on the internet (there are many versions of this floating around) and tried it. Everyone who makes it has nothing but good to say about it. It can be used for your whole body, including your face! I have been using it and it does a great job of keeping my skin soft during the cold winter months. Put some on your heels and put socks on before going to bed to keep your heels soft and not cracked. I also love it on my face. All the ingredients can be purchased at our Dollar General, Family Dollar, or Dollar Tree stores for $1 each.

2 15-oz. bottles baby lotion (I used the shea & cocoa butter one, but you can use the regular pink one or the lavender one too)
2 8-oz. jars of Vitamin E Cream
1 7.5 oz. jar Vaseline (can use homemade un-petroleum jelly - see my recipe in another post!)

Place all ingredients in your mixer and mix well. I put the vaseline in the microwave for a bit to soften it up and help it mix up better. When it is all mixed up really well, put the lotion back into the bottles you just emptied, using a funnel. You can also purchase some small containers or jars to store your lotion in. This makes a wonderful gift too!

Homemade Un-Petroleum Jelly

2008-04-17T07:38:00.000-05:00

I make a wonderful lotion that has petroleum jelly in it and I was wanting to find an alternative to using jelly with petroleum in it....well I found it! Enjoy the recipe! I'll post the lotion recipe too in another post. It is called Dollar Store Lotion...you'll find out why!

Homemade Un-Petroleum Jelly

1 ounce beeswax
1/2 cup sweet almond oil

Melt the beeswax in the microwave in a microwave safe container. Stir in the almond oil and continue to stir until cool. Put this in a clean container and cover with a lid. You're done!

Yummy Homemade Lemonade

2008-04-16T17:09:00.000-05:00

Juice from 4 lemons
filtered water to make 2 quarts
1/2 cup honey (or 3-4 dropper-fuls of SweetLeaf Liquid Stevia-Lemon Drop flavor for a calorie-free version!)

To make, squeeze the juice from 4 lemons and pour the juice into your 2-quart pitcher. Mix ½ cup honey into 1 cup of warm filtered water until dissolved (or just add 3 dropper-fuls of SweetLeaf Liquid Stevia-Lemon Drop, see note below). Add this to the pitcher. Add enough filtered water to fill it up.

Stir it all up and chill in the refrigerator.

If you don’t have fresh lemons to use, you can use bottled lemon juice. I have done this and it still tastes great. Instead of the fresh lemon juice, use about 6-8 tablespoons of bottled lemon juice for 2 quarts. Fresh lemons give you the best nutrition, but the bottled juice works too.

Note: If you want a sugar-free, calorie-free option, add 3 dropper-fuls of the SweetLeaf Liquid Stevia (Lemon Drop flavor) to your pitcher instead of the honey. This can be found at most health food stores or online.

Baked French Toast

2008-04-15T07:16:00.000-05:00

THE NIGHT BEFORE:

10 slices of bread (use your homemade if you can!)
1 1/2 cups milk
4 eggs
¼ cup honey
¼ cup pure maple syrup
1 teaspoon vanilla
cinnamon

Grease a 9 x 13 pan with butter. In a large bowl, mix all the above ingredients together, except for the bread and cinnamon. Lay out 5 slices of bread in the greased pan. I put 4 slices down, 2x2, then cut the 5th slice in half and put it on the end.

Pour one-half of the egg mixture on top of the bread, then sprinkle some cinnamon on top of that. Put the other 5 slices of bread on top of the other bread (as explained above), pour the rest of the egg mixture on top of that, then sprinkle with more cinnamon. Cover the baking pan with plastic wrap and put it into the refrigerator until morning. The egg mixture will soak into the bread over night.

THE NEXT MORNING:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Remove the plastic wrap from the pan, and bake it for 40-50 minutes or until the egg is cooked.

Serve with real butter and 100% pure maple syrup (or homemade maple syrup). We also like it with some cold applesauce on top.