humm warm coffee cake

Topping: 
* 1/2 cup brown sugar
* 1/4 cup sifted all-purpose flour (sift before measuring)
* 1/4 cup butter, room temperature
* 1 teaspoon cinnamon

Blend with fork until crumbly. Set aside.

Cake:
* 1 1/2 cups sifted all-purpose flour (sift before measuring)
* 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

* 1 egg, beaten
* 3/4 cup sugar
* 1/3 cup melted butter
* 1/2 cup milk
* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract


Sift 1 1/2 cups sifted flour with baking powder and salt into a bowl. In a medium bowl, beat together beaten egg and 3/4 cup sugar and 1/3 cup melted butter. Add milk and vanilla. Stir in flour mixture and mix well.

Pour batter into a greased and floured 8-inch square or 9-inch layer-cake pan. Sprinkle topping crumb mixture evenly over batter. Bake at 375° for 25 to 30 minutes, or until cake tests done.

More cakes in a Coffee Mug!

Carrot Cake
 
6 Tbs all-purpose flour
2 Tbs brown sugar
1/4 tsp baking soda
dash of salt
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/8 tsp nutmeg

 mix your dry ingredients up with a fork and then add:
 .
4 Tbs orange juice
2 Tbs oil
1/4 tsp vanilla
3 Tbs finely grated carrot
1 Tbs chopped pecans (optional)

 mix it all up and make sure its mixed all the way to the bottom (don't want flour lumps!) and put it in the microwave for 2 or 2 and a half minutes. Let it cool a little and eat it.


Vanilla Cake

6 Tbs all-purpose flour
 2 rounded Tbs sugar
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/8 tsp salt

 Mix it all up with a fork and add:

 4 Tbs milk
 1 Tbs oil
 1/2 tsp vanilla

mix it  really well and make sure there are no lumps. Microwave it for 2 minutes and the minute it comes out of the nuke put a handfull of chocolate chips on top. Wait five minutes and your chocolate will have melted so you can spread it around for frosting. Give it a few more minutes before you eat it.

Don't add the chocolate chips at the end but  before you cook it you could add a couple tablespoons of frozen wild blueberries for a blueberry muffin in a cup...

Choclate in a Coffee Mug

Brownie 
1 T Vegetable oil
1 T applesauce
2 T Water
1/4 tsp. Vanilla extract

2T Unsweetened cocoa powder
4T Granulated sugar
4T Flour

In a 12 oz coffee mug, add water, oil and vanilla. Whisk well.
Add cocoa powder, whisk well.
Add sugar, whisk well.
Add flour, whisk well.
Microwave for 60 to 90 seconds. Center should be slightly molten.
Enjoy with a spoon. Careful brownie will be hot.
With a 1500-watt microwave 60 seconds makes a molten center brownie.
75 seconds make a uniformly done brownie.


Chocolate Cake
3 Tablespoons Plain Flour
1/4 Teaspoon Baking Powder
2 Tablespoons Sugar
2 Tablespoons Cocoa Powder
1 Egg
2 Tablespoons Oil
2 Tablespoons Milk or Orange Juice

Combine & Whisk all ingredients together in small bowl or coffee mug..
Cook for about 2.5 minutes on full power in microwave.

Meatless Monday

Is that something, I googled Meatless Mondays to find the blog hop and I find that it has a history. Gee I must have been asleep in class for this one... but back in World War 1 Herbert Hoover was the head of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and he was asking Americans to cut back because of the shortages (that I remember) and many items where rationed. He coined the terms "Meatless Monday" and "Wheatless Wednesday” saying that “Food Will Win the War”. Wow I guess now many environmental and health groups are coining this phase to help people cut back....

So today I did a real easy meatless meal.

I had some frozen ravioli in the freezer..... I have been craving some cheese ravioli....
So I baked some! Real easy simple lazy recipe:

Italian tomato sauce
1/4 onion chopped finely
2 tablespoons of brown sugar
1 teaspoon of baking soda

Mix together. I should have heated this to make sure it was spaghetti sauce consistency but I didn't tonight.

I pour some sauce just to cover the bottom

Then I layered the frozen cheese raviolis. I covered with more sauce. I sprinkled some 5 cheese Italian grated cheese and some Parmesan cheese . Layered more raviolis and sauce and the cheeses...

Cover with foil

Bake at 375 for about a hour and 15 minutes. The last fifteen minutes I took the foil off...
Yum...

Raspberry Oatmeal Cookie Bars

 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
1 cup all-purpose flour
 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/8 teaspoon salt
 1 cup rolled oats
1/4 cup butter, softened
1/4 cup of applesauce
2 tablespoons of  seedless raspberry jam


Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease one 8 inch square pan,
 Combine brown sugar, flour, baking soda, salt, and rolled oats. Rub in the butter using your hands or a pastry blender to form a crumbly mixture. Add applesauce. Press 2 cups of the mixture into the bottom of the prepared pan. Spread the jam to within 1/4 inch of the edge. Sprinkle the remaining crumb mixture over the top, and lightly press it into the jam.

Bake for 35 to 40 minutes in preheated oven, or until lightly browned. Allow to cool before cutting into bars.

It was kinda crumbly but I did use 1/2 of the butter from the original recipe and added applesauce but it turned out tasty.  

Apple Cinnamon Muffins

Grease 12 three-inch muffin pan cups or line muffin pan

Cream together

1 cup of sugar.
5 tablespoons of butter.
3 tablespoons of shortening.
2 tablespoons of applesauce

Mix in:

1/2 cup shredded apple (about one medium apple) 

3 teaspoons of baking powder.
1 teaspoon of salt.
1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon
2 medium eggs.


Stir in the flour and milk alternately until mixture is just combined.
3 cups of flour.
1 cup of milk.

Topping:
1/2 cup of melted butter.
1 cup of sugar blended with 1 tablespoon of cinnamon.


Fill muffin cups to the top.

Bake at 350F oven for about twenty minutes.

Allow to cool for a few minutes.

With each muffin, dip in the melted butter.
Roll each muffin in the cinnamon sugar blend.

  I just rubbed the rest of the stick of butter on the tops of the muffins and then dipped in cinnamon.
They look pretty and all and yea they are tasty but I think next time I will just do a strudel topping  just easier I think....

Chilly with a chance of Chili

This morning it was cool... Right now in the afternoon it is only 56 degrees.And to think that this week-end it was in the 90's.... Welcome to Northeastern Ohio if you don't like the weather wait it will change in a day or two.  So I am so in the mood for chili.... I did get some apples earlier in the week and make apple crisp.  ( I love cooking in the fall!!)

Vegetarian Chili

1 can of red beans
1 can kidney beans
1 can of pinto beans
1/2 cup of TVP
1/2 medium onion, chopped
1 can whole peeled tomatoes
1 8 ounce can tomato paste
1 envelope of chili seasonings
Water 

Make the TVP by adding 1/2 cup to 1/2 of a cup of boiling water let sit 5 to 10 minutes. Rinse beans to remove salt.  I really can't cook beans from dry beans. I've tried and I always burn them! Throw everything into the crock pot. Cook for 8 to 10 hours or 4 hours on high.  I add water to the whole tomato and  tomato paste cans to rinse them out plus get that last little bit of tomato goodness... I don't really measure it I just add it to the crock-pot. 

I use McCormick mild seasoning cause that is what they like.  I have tried my own seasonings and the family don't like it... oh well.... Just like the fact they love extra beans so I tried different types of beans together in the chili and they liked that idea.. Win some; lose some!!

Oh plus hot sauce for Tech and G-Pa will not think this is hot enough!

Secrets

I love that guy that does the don't eat this eat that. Because he puts it in terms everyone can understand. So when I saw this slide show about Cooking  Secrets I had to check it out. Ok some things I knew but somethings I didn't know...


Drain your  pasta about 1 minute early it will finish cooking when you are adding the sauce...  Must remember that one......  we eat a lot of pasta here...


Plus add some of the pasta cooking water to the sauce, the starch helps the sauce stick to the pasta.. making it creamer and flavorful.   Have to try that.... add only as needed.... 


Ok I did fly by the meat eating tips....




Buy your vegetables on Wednesday.   I have to say I work at a grocery store and guess what? We do get a delivery  on more then just Wednesday.  Of course I work for Sam's and we cater to the business owner but really you should ask about deliveries... I know many people don't have the time to go shopping during the week....  But then I also heard that the European way was to shop more than once a week or every two weeks.  .. Because how good is it if buy fresh fruits and vegetables and don't use them for a week?  (Yes Many vegetables can be stored for a week or longer. )

But again I do work at a grocery store I can do that.... I also have a chest freezer that I get extra vegetables and berries that I freeze when the price is great!!


Zap that citrus in the microwave for 15 seconds to get the most juice. I have been rolling mine on the counter!! 


Blend butter with olive oil to keep from the butter from burning easily. 


Keep out of the refrigerator. tomatoes, peaches, potatoes, onions, bread, garlic, and coffee
Crap I read somewhere that coffee stays better longer in the refrigerator... 

Making your own vinaigrette is easy!  3 part oil to 1 part vinegar. Add salt and pepper or herbs..

Too much salt add a splash of vinegar. Oh if I only knew that years ago..... 

Fast food and Moods

Watching the news tonight I hear that there was some researchers that found fast food makes people cranky and depressed. They had a senior medical adviser presenting the story.........
Our brains need nutrients and when they  don't get it, we get cranky.  Oh yea you don't have to tell  a mom about that.  You can overhear a mom saying Oh someones hungry!  to a cranky little one. (that or is it nap time??)  That's what wrong with the society today, we need to eat healthier.  




But there is research  from the University of Toronto study shows that people became impatient simply considering fast food. I really have a problem with the label fast food for yes it is fast food but not all of it is bad for you, you can get some healthy choices at fast food places. Plus you can make some food fast in the microwave and if it is fresh;  it's not bad for you either.  I used to work at a fast food place and yes people can get very impatient...... that and lose all sense of time.  If they have wait in line for 3 minutes it turns into 20 minutes when they scream at you for 5 because they had to stand in line... Can I take your order now please??............

Also they found if they shown a logo or a menu from a fancy restaurant, people used better manners. Wow just the logo or menu.  When they saw the logo of fast food places they became impatient


Maybe that is the answer to our school crisis.  With Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution; Mrs. Q blog Fed up with Lunch, and Farm to School Network all working on making it the norm to have fresh foods at our schools.  Need more proof... I found this site. A School in Wisconsin changed it food program and found it's  violence, drug problems, drop outs and expulsions changed to 0... Zero... and this is the school for behavior problems, they even had a cop there.  They had a problem with hand guns inside the school and all this from fresh healthy food.  That is  Central Alternative High School

We also know that many food colorings and syntactic sugar  are being blamed for behavioral problems like ADD and hyperactivity.


Why is this even being questioned. That our student need healthier food... that there is a connection to food and learning........... So why is the government talking about cutting the food stamp program and dragging their feet on the  Child Nutrition Women, Infants, and Children Reauthorization Act (CNRA).  


Many eastern countries use fresh food in the lunch program and even teach our children about the food they are having for lunch.  I has so shocked when I watched Food Revolution and saw that most of the kids didn't know what vegetable was what.. Time to go back in time and start cooking food for the students and giving them the best advantage to  secede.

Second Chance Potatoes

Yesterday we had our cook out seeing how Miss Animal Rights and I had to work. We had some baked potatoes that has left over from the cook out.  Tonight we planned on twice baked potatoes.  But Miss Animal Rights has problems with splitting the potato to refill. SO I planned on cooking. Our potatoes were very round but kinda flat. Not the potatoes you see at the restaurants. That's ok I like my farmer markets potatoes and sweet corn.   So we cut them in half. Then we added a little milk, a little butter  and cheese.

4 medium potatoes
2 tablespoons of milk
1 tablespoon of butter
1/4 cup of cheddar cheese
1/4 teaspoon of season salt
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder.

Cut potatoes in half.  Spoon out the inner part of the potato place in bowl. Make a hollow "bowl" center.  After you have done all the potatoes add the rest of the ingredients.  If too dry you can add more milk if needed.. Mix together. Spoon the mix into the potato "bowls".  You can add extra cheese to the top if wanted.
Bake at 400 degrees for 45 minutes or until the cheese is browned.

Very yummy easy meal that you can use something that is considered  a left over....


.

Slow and Easy Lasagna

My dad loves lasagna and I have heard that he really isn't eating very well lately. It's just him and he eats way to much fast food and heat and eat food. SO to avoid a haunting from his wife the woman that raised me and would  home-cook meals for our family... Miss Animal Rights and I (with a little help from the Linebacker... my nephew who now lives in the area going to college, on football scholarship) we have a plan to cook when he comes over and send food home with him ... well tonight the daughter talked him into Subs.... So I found a recipe for crock pot lasagna I was thrilled! I could cook a big batch of lasagna and not heat the house up. Oh maybe a small crock pot for meatballs... For the Gpa and Tech...

Box of regular lasagna noddles (broken)
a jar of spaghetti sauce
ricotta cheese/ cottage cheese

egg
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Bag of Italian blend cheese
1/4 cup of water


I like a lot of sauce so I would add a 15 once can of tomato sauce also.
Mix together egg and ricotta cheese and or cottage cheese. 

First layer is a scoop of spaghetti sauce.
Next place the noodles on top, broken to fit in the crock pot.
Top with the ricotta cheese/ cottage cheese spread. Sprinkle some Parmesan cheese on top of that
.
Keep layer that way until you reach the desired amount... around 4 layers....
Last layer left the cheese off (reserve some in the refrigerator)  
After using all the spaghetti sauce add the 1/4 cup of water to the jar shake to get all the sauce left in jar... and pour over the crock pot lasagna
Cook on high for 4 hours low for 8
Add your reserved cheese at the last hour.
You can push those noodles down to keep them from getting to dry and burning.

Making Vinegar.

Seems cool...Make your own Vinegar! (Please check out that site if you need a idea on what you can use for the flavor ..She has a great list!  Or help from this site... ) but makes me wonder if our great grandparents did this and if they could they would be yelling  at us for not knowing these types of things....


A glass jar, bottle, pot, or enamelware pot.

cheesecloth

peelings from clean, organic fruits or vegetables. anything that contains sugar or a starch.Frozen juices work...but don't use bottled one they have added chemicals that keep it from turning into vinegar.

distilled water


If you are worried that this won't work; you can add a 1/2 cup of unpasteurized, unfiltered vinegar like Braggs Apple cider vinegar. Just think of it like a vinegar starter....

Sanitize the bottle by filling with boiling hot water let sit for 10 minutes. Dump out water carefully. Add leaves, fruits.  A wide opening is a good idea for the fermenting part and smaller bottle for the finished product... 
Cover them with the distilled water.
Use some cheesecloth to cover the bottle it needs the airs to help it ferment.  The natural bacteria and wild yeast in the air helps ferment the mix  into the vinegar.
Place in dark place.  And you might find some flies trying so hard to get to the mix. It might be a good idea not to leave in the kitchen.
Stir once a day.
After a few weeks it will start to smell like vinegar. Let steep until it reaches as strong as you want or when you notice it is getting weaker.

Strain through cheesecloth into smaller bottles. Keep a 1/2 cup for the next batch!!!

Let that sit for 6 months or so before using to make a smoother vinegar.

hummm I might have to write a blog on how this works out.

I do have some red wine "vinegar" that I use for a hair rinse.... It was one of those box wines that was forgotten about.... I was told that is taste like vinegar but it really doesn't have a very strong vinegar smell... so it is nice to use as a hair rinse and it doesn't go to waste.
 

drunkin' cupcakes

Irish car bomb

cupcake recipe
1 c Guinness
1 c unsalted butter
3/4 c unsweetened cocoa powder
2 c flour
2 c sugar
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
3/4 tsp salt
2 eggs
2/3 c sour cream

Ganache Filling
8 oz bittersweet chocolate
2/3 c heavy cream
2 Tbsp butter, room temperature
1 to 2 tsp Irish whiskey (optional)

Baileys Frosting
3 to 4 c confections sugar
1/2 c unsalted butter, at room temperatue
3 to 4 Tbsp Baileys (or milk, or heavy cream, or a combination thereof)

Make the cupcakes
Preheat oven to 350°F. Line 24 cupcake cups with liners. Bring 1 cup stout and 1 cup butter to simmer in heavy large saucepan over medium heat. Add cocoa powder and whisk until mixture is smooth. Cool slightly.

Whisk flour, sugar, baking soda, and 3/4 teaspoon salt in large bowl to blend. Using electric mixer, beat eggs and sour cream in another large bowl to blend. Add stout-chocolate mixture to egg mixture and beat just to combine. Add flour mixture and beat briefly on slow speed. Using rubber spatula, fold batter until completely combined. Divide batter among cupcake liners, filling them 2/3 to 3/4 of the way. Bake cake until tester inserted into center comes out clean, rotating them once front to back if your oven bakes unevenly, about 17 minutes. Cool cupcakes on a rack completely.

Make the filling
Chop the chocolate and transfer it to a heatproof bowl. Heat the cream until simmering and pour it over the chocolate. Let it sit for one minute and then stir until smooth. Add the butter and whiskey and stir until combined.

Fill the cupcakes
Let the ganache cool until thick but still soft enough to be piped. Meanwhile, using your 1-inch round cookie cutter or an apple corer, cut the centers out of the cooled cupcakes. You want to go most of the way down the cupcake but not cut through the bottom — aim for 2/3 of the way. A slim spoon or grapefruit knife will help you get the center out. Those are your “tasters”. Put the ganache into a piping bag with a wide tip and fill the holes in each cupcake to the top.

Make the frosting
Whip the butter in the bowl of an electric mixer, or with a hand mixer, for several minutes. You want to get it very light and fluffy. Slowly add the powdered sugar, a few tablespoons at a time.

When the frosting looks thick enough to spread, drizzle in the Baileys (or milk) and whip it until combined. If this has made the frosting too thin (it shouldn’t, but just in case) beat in another spoonful or two of powdered sugar.

Ice and decorate the cupcakes.

You can bake the cupcakes a week or two in advance and store them, well wrapped, in the freezer. You can also fill them before you freeze them. They also keep filled — or filled and frosted — in the fridge for a day.

Strawberry Margarita Cupcakes

3 C. Flour

1 Tbsp. Baking Powder
1/2 C. Non-Fat Dry Milk
2 C. Sugar 
1/2 C. Butter, softened

3/4 cup bottled strawberry-flavored nonalcoholic margarita drink mix
1/3 cup tequila

3 Eggs

350 degrees Fahrenheit.
Mix together the flour, non-fat dry milk and baking powder and set aside.

Cream sugar and cream together. Add the liquids. Mix in one egg at a time. Add in flour mixture 1/3 at a time. When flour is thoroughly mixed, batter will be slightly lumpy.

Bake for 20 minutes.



Strawberry Margarita Buttercream:

1 pound powdered sugar
1/2 cup butter, softened
2 tbsp tequila
3 tbsp strawberry preserves

Puppy Icee Treats

Ah poor canine he pants and nothing seem to help him in the heatwave last week. I was asked to get him some frozen dog treats.  "please...mmmommmmm" So I said why not make him some..



32 ounces vanilla yogurt
1 mashed banana or one large jar of baby fruit
1/2 cup peanut butter


opt: 2 tablespoons honey



Blend together. Spoon into ice cube trays, muffin pans or small cups.  Freeze until set. Rinse the outside and bottom of the pan to help remove the treats.

So now every time we get a ice cream treat the canine begs for his treat too....
One of the cats loves them too, but she just likes to lick it!!

School Lunch Encounters of the Third Kind

Baked Corn recipes

Soak entire cob unshucked for 10 minutes .

Put in oven at 350 for 20 minutes

Let cool enough to handle then shuck to make a ready made handle !
Fun food!!!

Cheesecake cupcakes

3/4 cup graham cracker crumbs
 1/4 cup chopped pecans
3 tablespoons butter, melted
3/4 cup fresh raspberries, crushed
1/2 (8 ounce) package cream cheese
10 1/2 fluid ounces sweetened condensed milk
1 cup frozen whipped topping, thawed

Line a 12 cup muffin pan with paper cup liners. In a medium bowl, combine graham cracker crumbs, crushed pecans and melted margarine, mixing well to blend. Spoon mixture evenly into a 12 cup muffin pan lined with paper cup liners. Press mixture with a spoon to firm bottom.

Puree raspberries and set aside

Beat cream cheese until fluffy. Add condensed milk and 1/2 cup of the raspberry puree and mix until well blended. Fold in whipped topping. Spoon evenly into baking cups.

Freeze for at least 5 hours.

When ready to serve, remove paper liners. Invert cakes onto individual serving plates. Drizzle remaining raspberry puree over cakes. Garnish with a few whole raspberries. Serve frozen.

Fire up the grill!

So yea I am posting a few ok a bunch of grilling ideas and recipes... so why not desert.

Grilled angel food cake or grilled pound cake.

Just butter thick slices of cake and butter both sides. Cook on medium hot grill about 5 to 6 inches away from coals. Watch closely they burn easy. Cook until you see grill marks.

Unlike the TV cooking shows I find that it seems to me that you realy don't need a hot fruit sauce to pour over these. Maybe some cold fruit like strawberries that have made thier own sauce after you add sugar, or some grilled fruit for on top......

Learn something new everyday...

So this week-end we went to the peanut shop got a big bag of peanuts as we are cracking them Miss Animal Right looks at me and asked why don't they sell cashews in the shell. Hummm I never saw a cashew in the shell. So we went on line to see what a cashew shell looks like.

We find this pepper looking things with what looks like the cashews on the bottom.... how cool is that. Not what we thought we find. Cashew apples or "marañón" what it is called in Panama.  The locals eat the fruit or make jams or wine from them.  It spoils too quickly to be shipped any where else. Many times the fruit is decaying  before the cashew falls to the ground. It is the seed for a new cashew tree.  So in the botanical sense it is a seed, like sunflower seeds... ok whatever I still get them from pea-nut shop!! Not the seed shop.

The oil around the cashew is very caustic. Workers can get rashes from the shell oil. Much like the rash we see from poison ivy.  But the research team from the Institute of Chemistry-CAS and Department of Forest Products and Paper Science-CFNR at the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) re finding that maybe they could use this natural extract for pest control. Namely termites. The oil is also being researched as an additive to brake fluid to keep it from breaking down. Plus adhesives, paints and varnishes, insecticides, electrical insulation, and anti-microbials, I didn't find a site that said that this is for sure happening. But it could be possible, just don't quote it as that it is being used today.

So  cashews are roasted in the shell to help release the oils and make the shell brittle  keeping the oils from irritating the skin.

Never too old to learn something new..... gotta love the internet.....

Hawaiian Bread

ingredients:
3 to 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 pkg.(1/4 oz.)active dry yeast
1 can(8 1/4 oz.)crushed pineapple
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 cup butter or margarine
1 medium banana, mashed
1 egg, beaten


In large bowl, combine 1 1/2 cups flour and yeast; set aside. Drain pineapple in a sieve, pressing out as much juice as possible. Reserve juice in a 1-cup measure; add water to make 1/2 cup. Pour juice into small saucepan. Add sugar, salt and butter. Stir mixture constantly over medium-high heat until butter softens. Add juice mixture, banana and egg to flour mixture. Beat 1 minute with electric mixer on low speed. Scrape batter from sides of bowl; beat 2 minutes longer at high speed. By hand, stir in enough remaining flour to make a soft dough. Stir in drained pineapple. Cover bowl with towel; let rise in a warm place, free from drafts, until doubled in bulk, 1 to 1 1/2 hours. Stir down dough. Grease a 2-quart casserole with high sides or a souffle dish. Turn dough into dish. Cover with towel; let rise 45 minutes.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Bake until golden brown, 30 to 40 minutes. Cool in dish 5 minutes; remove from dish.

A Ok Sauce

0h Yea the vegetarian loves the taste of A Ok sauce know by another brand name so I found this. We can always use a recipe like this for after we run out

1 c. ketchup
1/2 c. onion, coarsely chopped
1 clove garlic chopped
1/4 c. water
1/4 c. Worcestershire sauce
1/4 c. lemon juice
1/4 c. white vinegar
2 tbsp. soy sauce
2 tbsp. brown sugar
1 tbsp.  mustard

 Simmer uncovered for 30 minutes. Stir occasionally. It should have the steak sauce thickness.  Cool. Strain into bottle or jar. Refrigerate.

Hawaiian Iced Tea

4 orange pekoe tea bags
1 quart of almost boiling water
1 quart of cold water and ice
1 cup  pineapple juice
1/2 cup of simple syrup or 3/4 cup (or more to taste)  of sugar

Place the tea bags in the almost boiling water. The secret to great tasting tea.
Steep for 2 to 4 minutes. Remove tea bags. Add sugar if using.
Add cold water and ice. Pour into pitcher.
Add pineapple juice and simple syrup.
Chill for a hour before serving.

Simple Syrup

Simple to make!! 

I part water
1 part sugar

Pour water into a sauce pan add sugar.
Heat until sugar is dissolved.
Cool and then bottle.
Will keep for a month in a glass bottle in the refrigerator.
Use in drink recipes.
To sweeten Ice Tea. Iced Coffee.

Grilled Fruit?

I saw some  recipes for grilled fruit and it peaks my interest.  Yea I have done the fruit with meat  skewers before but never thought to grill fruit by itself.  I have to experiment with this....


 First I look around the  web. Some of the things I learned are basic things.
Firm fruits like apples, pears, and pineapple are suppose to be easy to grill. Where softer fruits like mango, papaya, peaches, and nectarines are just heated and need to be watch closely. Bananas, pineapples, peaches, plums, apples, and pears can be cut in half, pitted or cored, and grilled
  I have made banana boats where we put some marshmallow and chocolate pieces in the banana cut lengthwise. Wrap with foil and place in the coals for about 10 minutes to melt the marshmallows and chocolate.  Very sweet.

First thing many people do is marinate the fruit in a liquid. Many times it is a liquor.  Guess that would be for adults only meals.  Tequila pineapple rings anyone? Even Tequila Orange rings. Juicy fruits like citrus  grill better when  cut into thick slices.

After grilling there are different things that people sprinkle on. The most popular is  brown sugar or cinnamon and sugar. But you can use whatever you like.  I have seen recipes calling for hot sauce.  Ok. Tech just might like that....

Do you grill fruits? What is your favorite grilled fruit recipe?
 

Ice Cream Sandwiches

Ingredients

1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted, plus more for pan
1/2 cup sugar
1 large egg
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled)
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
2 pints ice cream (any flavor), softened


1.Preheat oven to 350. Butter a 15-by-10-inch jelly-roll pan; line with parchment paper, leaving a 2-inch overhang on the two shorter sides.
2.In a medium bowl, whisk together butter and sugar until combined; whisk in egg, vanilla, and salt until combined. Add flour and cocoa, and mix just until smooth. Spread in prepared baking pan. Bake until cake is dry to the touch and edges begin to pull away from the sides, 10 to 12 minutes. Cool completely in pan.
3.Using paper overhang, lift cake onto a work surface. With a serrated knife, halve crosswise. Place one half of cake, flat side down, on a large piece of plastic wrap. Spread with ice cream, then top with remaining half of cake, flat side up. Return ice-cream sandwich to baking pan, and wrap tightly in plastic. Freeze until firm, about 2 hours.
4.Unwrap sandwich; using a serrated knife, cut into 8 rectangles, wiping off blade between each cut. Serve ice-cream sandwiches immediately. (To store, wrap individually in plastic, and freeze up to 1 week.)

Favorite Pizza Dough

2 1/4 teaspoons of yeast
¼ cup of warm water

Add:
1½ cup flour
1 teaspoon salt
¼ cup warm water

Mix together. Add:
½ warm water
1 cup flour

knead on floured board until mixed.
Place in large oiled bowl. Turn oiled side up. Cover and let sit one hour 15 minutes.

Top with pizza sauce, toppings and cheese. Bake at 450 degrees for 25 minutes.

Sopaipillas

1 package activated dry yeast
1/4 cup lukewarm water (110 to 115 degrees)
1 cup milk
2 tablespoons vegetable shortening
1 teaspoon salt 2 teaspoons sugar
3 cups flour 1 teaspoon baking powder
Vegetable oil for deep frying

Makes about 36 sopaipillas.
Add yeast to warm water, stir to dissolve and set aside. Bring milk to a boil in a small saucepan over medium heat; remove from heat and add shortening, salt, and sugar; cool to lukewarm. Stir in yeast mixture. Sift flour and baking powder together over a large bowl. Pour liquid ingredients into the dry and work into a soft dough. Turn onto a floured board and knead well until smooth and elastic, about 10 minutes. Cover dough with a towel and let rest for 20 minutes. Heat vegetable oil in a medium saucepan over high heat until it reaches 400 degrees. Roll dough to a 1/4-inch thickness and cut into triangles or squares about 3 inches across. Fry in hot oil, 2 or 3 at a time, until browned on both sides. Remove from oil, drain on paper towels, and repeat with remaining dough.
. For dessert, sprinkle while still hot with cinnamon and sugar or serve with honey.

Fried Apples

Ingredients
• 6 large tart green Granny Smith apples
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice
•• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon


Instructions
. In a large skillet, add a small amount of vegetable oil heat until warm not smoking.
 Pour apples evenly into the skillet. Sprinkle with lemon juice, brown sugar and salt.
 Cover and cook over low heat for 15 minutes, until apples are tender and juicy.
 Sprinkle with cinnamon.

Sweet Onion Dressing

A copy cat recipe that I changed for my families dislikes...


• 1/2 cup corn syrup
• 1 tablespoon onion, minced
• 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
• 2 teaspoon white vinegar
• 1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar
• 1 teaspoon brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon buttermilk powder
• 1/4 teaspoon lemon juice
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1 pinch black pepper
• 1 pinch garlic powder


 Combine all ingredients in a small microwave-safe bowl.
 Heat mixture uncovered in the microwave for 1 to 1 1/2 minutes on HIGH until mixture boils
rapidly.
 Whisk well, cover and cool.

No  artificial sweeteners or preservatives... like the name brand

Cowgirl Beans

Note: It is just like the recipe for Cowboy beans but vegetarian style for my "cowgirl"

1 can kidney beans
1 can white beans
1 can pinto beans
1/4 onion minced
small can tomato sauce
1/2 cup ketchup

1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup cold coffee
1/2 cup BBQ sauce

Saute onion in a little vegetable oil. Lightly drain beans, keep some liquid.   Add beans and coffee. Add tomato sauce, ketchup and brown sugar.
Stir and bring to a simmer.

 Add BBQ sauce right before serving. 

Can add vegetarian bacon bits.

Citrus Cleaners

De-greaser Spray


7-8 citrus Peels
2 cups of water


Slice peels into strips and boil in the water for 1-2 minutes or longer. Let cool. Bottle. Works great in the kitchen.


Citrus Vinegar Cleaner


Citrus peels
Jar
White vinegar


Place your peels into a jar. Cover with white vinegar. Shake occasionally. Strain and use straight for greasy messes. Use diluted for windows, laundry whitener, floors and surfaces.


Enzyme cleaner


1/4 cup sugar
1 1/4 cups water
3/4 cup citrus peels


Found this at Just Life

Mix sugar and water together in a tight fitting bottle.
Use a air tight plastic container. One that can expand;
Add citrus peels.
Place in a well ventilated area out of direct sunlight. Open once a day for the first month to release the gasses. Push the peels down too. Let sit for 3 months.

The enzyme will turn a dark brown. If it turns black some sugar to start the fermenting process. About the same amount you use to start the enzyme. Plus there maybe a white, black or brown layer on top. That is just the yeast. If the container isn't air tight you might even see flies or maggots. The enzymes will dissolve them.

After the 3 month fermenting strain through cheese cloth.

I am going to try this for those animal accidents, seeing how the product from the pet store also says "natural enzymes"
Plus it is a natural pesticide and insecticide! I have to try that for the garden and inside the home.....

Chocolate Cake.

One pan cake, Grandma's eggless cake, Crazy cake, Depression cake.... many names for the simple chocolate cake that uses no eggs, milk or butter. That;s why it is grandmas cake or by the name depression cake, when these items where not available too easily..........

Ingredients

* 3 cups all-purpose flour
* 2 cups white sugar
* 1 teaspoon salt
* 2 teaspoons baking soda
* 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
* 3/4 cup vegetable oil
* 2 tablespoons distilled white vinegar
* 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
* 2 cups cold water

1. Sift flour, sugar, salt, soda, and cocoa together into a 9 x 13 inch ungreased cake pan. Make three wells. Pour oil into one well, vinegar into second, and vanilla into third well. Pour cold water over all, and stir well with fork.
2. Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 30 to 40 minutes, or until tooth pick inserted comes out clean. Frost with your favorite icing.


Butter-cream Icing

* 1/2 cup shortening
* 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter (soften)
* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
* 4 cups sifted confectioners' sugar (1 lb.)
* 2 tablespoons milk

Makes: About 3 cups of icing.

In large bowl, cream shortening and butter with electric mixer. Add vanilla. Gradually add sugar, one cup at a time, beating well on medium speed. Scrape sides and bottom of bowl often. When all sugar has been mixed in, icing will appear dry. Add milk and beat at medium speed until light and fluffy. Keep bowl covered with a damp cloth until ready to use.

For best results, keep icing bowl in refrigerator when not in use. Refrigerated in an airtight container, this icing can be stored 2 weeks. Rewhip before using.

Strawberry Felds Forever

Strawberry syrup

3/4 cup of water
3/4 cup to 1 cup of sugar
1 1/2 cups of mashed strawberries
1/4 cup of water
1 teaspoon of cornstarch

Bring sugar and water to a boil. Gradually add strawberries; return to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add cornstarch to 1/4 cup of water and mix thoroughly. Add to hot syrup.Watch may thicken quickly. 

Serve over pancakes, waffles or ice cream.

Strawberry soup 
1 cup water
1 cup of sugar

Heat over low heat until the sugar dissolves.
Turn off heat. Let cool.


Add:
1 pint of mashed strawberries
1 cup of whipped cream

Mix with cooled sugar water and serve.
Can add a slice of strawberry  for garnish

Strawberry butter

1 tsp confectioners sugar
1/4 cup chopped  strawberries
1/2 cup of butter ( room temp)

Combine in blender or food processor until smooth.


Strawberry Bread


1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup white sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1-1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
3/4 cup strawberries
2 tablespoon strawberry jam
2 eggs, beaten

Preheat oven to 350 F (175 C)
In a bowl, mix the flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon. In a separate bowl, beat together the  strawberries, strawberry jam, eggs, sugar, and oil.
Gradually beat the flour mixture into the strawberry mixture.
Transfer to the prepared loaf pan
Bake 45 minutes in the preheated oven, or until a toothpick inserted in the center of a loaf comes out clean. Cool on wire racks.

I like to use Simply Fruit for jam.

Can sub raspberries, blueberries or any type of berries for the strawberries in these recipes

Homemade Vegetarian Onion Soup Mix

* 3/4 cup instant minced onion
* 1/3 cup vegetable bouillon powder
* 4 teaspoons onion powder
* 1/4 teaspoon crushed celery seed
* 1/4 teaspoon sugar

Combine everything and then store in an airtight container. 5 tablespoons of the mix equal one package of onion soup mix.

I like to use onion soup mix with flour mix for oven "fried" potatoes give it a great favor.

Still Tasty

I found a site called Still Tasty. where you can search to see if your food is still good. Save money and feel safe in what you are serving your family. It also has the shelf live of homemade goods. How cool is that!

They have a Iphone app that if you have a Iphone can use it right at the grocery store.   I have web ready phone I think this will become a favorite that I can look up products while out.

The info they use comes from the USDA , the FDA which on their site Food Safety.gov has a ton of info for storing your food, the CDC and many non-profit associations.

Banana Bread

I have 5 very ripe bananas and Miss Animal Rights asking for banana bread. So here we go:

• 3 or 4 ripe bananas, smashed
• 1/3 cup melted butter
• 1/2 cup sugar   
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1 tsp. cinnamon
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• Pinch of salt
• 1 1/2 cups of all-purpose flour
• handful of chopped walnuts

Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).

With a wooden spoon, mix butter into the mashed bananas in a large mixing bowl. Mix in the sugars, cinnamon, egg, and vanilla. Sprinkle the baking soda and salt over the mixture and mix in. Add the flour, mix. Fold in walnuts

Pour mixture into a buttered 4x8 inch loaf pan. 

Bake for 1 hour. Cool on a rack. 

Remove from pan and slice to serve. 

Donut Mini-Muffins

1/2 cup white sugar
1/4 cup butter, melted
3/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 cup milk
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 cup all-purpose flour

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
Grease 12 mini-muffin cups.

Mix sugar, melted butter, and nutmeg in a large bowl.
Stir in the milk, then mix in the baking powder and flour until just combined.
Fill the prepared mini muffin cups about three-fourths full.

Bake in the preheated oven until the tops are lightly golden, 15 to 20 minutes.

While muffins are baking,

place 1/4 cup of melted margarine in a bowl.

 
In a separate bowl, mix together

1/2 cup of sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Remove muffins from their cups, dip each muffin in the melted margarine, and roll in the sugar-cinnamon mixture.
Let cool and serve.

Quick Alfredo Sauce

2 cup half and half
1 cup of Romano/ Parmesan
1/4 t minced garlic.

Seasoning:
1 tsp. oregano
1 tsp nutmeg

Mix in a blender and continue mixing until it becomes a nice thick cream. Add seasoning to taste, transfer to a sauce pan and heat on medium low.

4 servings.

Teriyaki Marinade

1/4 cup soy sauce
2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
2 cloves garlic, minced
4 tablespoons brown sugar
1 teaspoon ground ginger
3 tablespoons peanut oil

Mix with veggies, tofu or chicken and let all ingredients marinate for 20 minutes.

Can use for grilling or pan frying.

Bee Quick Baking Mix REmake.....

Baking Mix Recipe

4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 tablespoons white sugar
1 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup dry nonfat milk
1 cup shortening

n a large bowl, combine the dry ingredients. Cut in shortening until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Store in an airtight container in a cool dry place (will keep up to 6 weeks), the refrigerator for longer (about 3 months) or in the freezer for up to 8 months.


Quick Dumplings

2 1/2 cups of baking mix
2/3 cup milk

Stir together until mix forms a soft dough. Drop tablespoon full of dough into hot stew. Cook 10 minutes uncovered then 10 minutes covered.

Biscuits:

Mix 2 cups of Baking Mix with 1/2 cup milk. Bake at 450 degrees F for 8 to 10 minutes.


Pancakes:

Mix 2 cups of baking mix with 1 beaten egg and 1-1/3 cup milk.

or-
add 2 tbsp. sugar
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp vanilla

  Waffles:

2 cups of Baking Mix
2 eggs
2Tbsp oil
1-1/3 cup milk.

Muffins

2 cup  baking mix
2/3 cup milk

1/3	cup sugar
1	tbsp  vegetable oil

1 tbsp unsweetened applesauce
1 egg

Oven temp: 400  Line or grease the bottom of 12 muffin cups.
Stir all ingredients until moist. Over stirring can cause a tough muffin.....

can add 3/4 cup of fresh or  frozen fruit. Fold in gently.

If using grated apples can add a tsp of cinnamon for favor.  

Bake at 400*F for   13 to 18 minutes or until golden brown.


Oven baked coating

1 tbsp butter
2/3 cup baking mix
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp Italian seasoning
1/4 tsp pepper

Now I can make my recipes with non-bleached flour and without preservatives!! Cheaper....

How my garden is growing

Check out my tomato plants!!  They are growing tall fast..

I have a small yard and a dog. I started last year to plant my veggies in containers.  He didn't try to dig them up or eat them, so I thought this would work better than trying to block off a area of the backyard for a garden.

This is a frosting bucket from work.   I need more rocks for the bottom and then I will thin out my buckets.  I have 2 red tomatoes and one yellow tomato bucket... Plus 2 green pepper buckets.  the peppers haven't even started peaking out yet... I did plant at the same time..

 My raspberry bushes are looking very bushy! LOL you might not see it but they have many bees working the small white flowers on the plant. Wow I am excited I love raspberries....
Last year I didn't get to freeze any from the bush in the back yard (I did freeze some from the store) because we ate them all off the bush. Plus the dog loves to help get the one at the bottom of the bush......They were on the small side but I am told they get bigger after the bush has bloomed a couple years......  My dad tied up the bush because he found those stakes after mowing my yard.  My dad is a retired man and likes to "help me out" as he says, so I let him do some chores around the house.  I think he needs to help  as much as I need the help!

Thinking of getting a blueberry bush too, but I do get a lot of fresh and frozen blueberries from my Aunt.  I get some wonderful jams and jellies too... And homemade ketchup that as kids we called hot ketchup cause it had a bite to it... humm I think I will ask for the recipe...... I could make my own!!

Pizza dough

* 3/4 cup water
* 1 tablespoon olive oil
* 1 teaspoon vital wheat gluten
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 1 tablespoon white sugar
* 1 tablespoon dry milk powder
* 2 1/4 cups bread flour
* 1 teaspoon active dry yeast


Place ingredients in the pan of the bread machine in the order recommended by the manufacturer. Select Dough cycle; press Start. Remove dough from pan after rise cycle and let stand for a couple minutes on a floured board or counter. Shape into pan let sit 5 minutes. Top with favorite toppings and cheese. Bake at 425 for 10 minutes until cheese is melted and golden brown.

Pizza sauce:

1 (8 oz.) can tomato sauce
1 tbsp. minced onion
1 tsp. brown sugar
1/2 tsp. basil
1/2 tsp. oregano
1/4 tsp. garlic powder

Mix together. can heat if wanted to thicken up sauce. I like to heat together sometimes adding fresh tomatoes. Cool before using.

Crock pot Potato Soup

After the Earth Day gathering I had some potatoes that didn't cook in the crock pot.  So the next day I had to work but decided that I could make potato soup for dinner....

8 potatoes
3 cups of stock
2 cups of water
2 carrots cut into small pieces (sometimes I grate them)

I cooked this for 8 hours on low.  I did cut the potatoes kinda big thinking they would get smaller as they cooked but they didn't...

Add a hour before eating:
1 can of evaporated milk
2 cups of cheese
1 tablespoon of  flour (opp)

Turn the crock pot to high for a hour or so.
You might if the soup looks to thin add a tablespoon of  flour mixed well with the milk. 

Then my daughter when I was clocking out at work calls and said that she added a cup of cheese and was going to add the evaporated milk when I call her to tell her I was on my way home. She was worried that the milk would go bad or the cheese won't melt. I told her to turn it up on high and add the milk (she knew I was clocked out cause I answered the phone!!)

Ahh it was so good. The meat eaters had some bacon bits to add if they wanted. They added them to their first bowls but not the second...

My dad came to visit on this day and he sometimes will eat the  vegetarian meals, sometimes has to add some cooked  flesh to the meal.  He surprised us this time, wanting only the soup.... He said that it tasted so good he didn't need to add the bacon for his second cup... And no one got the crackers out... LOL.  
Four people ate this soup and only 1/2 cup was left over......... I think we did good!!

What I am taking for Earth Day

Tomorrow is the Earth Day celebration and I have been trying to figure out what to take. I am going to be there about 12 hours so nothing to big to have to keep cold.... Cake? no... well I need some groceries and went shopping thinking I will figure it out there.. Bad Idea you think? Well I see that potatoes (oh yes I know they are in season for my area thanks to the local food finder Information courtesy of NRDC,) so when I saw them for $1.29 for ten pounds. I got a bag.

I am taking crock pot baked potatoes.

10-12 potatoes
butter

Wash the potatoes. Poke with fork. Grease the potatoes with a small amount of butter. Place in crock pot. cook 10-12 hours until tender. Do not add water.

Simple and I don't have worry about it going bad..... getting smashed or that the vegetarian will starve.

I will take sour cream, butter and some grated cheese to add to the potatoes after they are done......

Can you smell that?

Interesting. Things that the scientific community tests.

What smell does men like the most?

           Cinnamon.  Research studies found that men were attracted by the scent of cinnamon in  baked goods.

           Vanilla

           Pumpkin pie spice.

           Doughnut

           Orange

The Smell and Taste Research Foundation found that the aromas that enhance male sexual response in order of  best to least:

 Lavender and pumpkin pie
Doughnut & black licorice
Pumpkin pie & doughnut
Orange
Lavender & doughnut
Black licorice and cola
Black licorice
Doughnut & cola
Lily of the valley
Buttered popcorn

They are not sure if it has anything to do with the smell being a reminder of childhood or a relating smell to comfort and  favorite foods.  But it seems to be we really don't need to spend a lot on perfumes just bake our sweeties some goodies...

       OMG my Mom was right the way to a man's heart is threw his stomach.   LOL. My dad did say he would love her forever as long as she baked him brownies! I think it is more than the brownies, for he is a widow and still loves her.

Applesauce Muffins Mix

Ingredients:
1/2 cup sugar
1 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup wheat flour
2 tablespoons quick cooking oats
2 tablespoons corn starch

Mix or layer into a pint jar. Layer if giving as a gift. Will keep for 6 months.

Additional Ingredients:
1 egg, lightly beaten
1 cup unsweetened applesauce
1/2 cup butter, melted
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoon sugar
1 tablespoon Cinnamon

To prepare Muffins:

In a bowl, combine egg, applesauce, butter and vanilla.
Stir in muffin mix just until moistened.
Fill greased or lined muffin cups three-fourths full.
Sprinkle with sugar and cinnamon.
Bake at 375 degrees F for 15-20 minutes or until a toothpick comes our clean.
Cool for 5 minutes before removing from pan.

Flour Tortillas! Ole!

It is Thursday! 8 Muddy Boots Mister Linkys from scratch time!

What did I make from scratch this week....

Devil Eggs........ of course!

Peanut Granola that was ok but needs something (I am working that out to make better!!)

Last night I wanted some veggie tacos and sure enough I had NO flour tortillas

So I searched online and found a recipe for 24... not that many so I cut the recipe in half and got 6 (humm I do like bigger  tortillas....)

2 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 tablespoon shortening

3/4 cup water

Mix dry ingredients together.
Using a fork I cut the shortening in to the flour mix.
Add water slowly to moisten but don't get too wet.
Knead for a minute or two to mix together.
Let stand for 10 minutes. I started my veggies!!
Divide into 12 equal parts.
Heat a skillet over medium high heat.
Roll out on floured surface. Should be a 6 inch circle....  That when i saw it was way to small need to add more! LOL  But make sure the dough is rolled out very thin (the first way to thick, oh well I was learning)
Place on the skillet.  cook for about 30 seconds to a minute  and turn.  they should have some brown spots and loose their wet appearance.
Cook the other side until it looks the same way.

Yea like I said the first one was too thick but it tasted good.......... the second one was better... I think this would be great for Quesadillas...  yummm maybe for tonight's dinner??

Italian seasoning

It is Thursday already? 8 Muddy Boots Mister Linkys from scratch time!

What did I make from scratch this week....

Honey wheat bread, chicken and noddles (add your own meat for the meat eaters in the house) made with a great product called Better than Bouillon and my homemade stock from the freezer, and devil eggs.....

But my daughter made cheese lasagna for her grandfathers birthday Saturday. With meat sauce for the meat eaters....

So we ran low on the Italian seasoning that she used for the sauce... I made this to replace:

Italian seasoning
 
1 1/2 tbsp. dried oregano leaves

1 tbsp. dried parsley flakes
1/2 tbsp. dried marjoram
1/4 tbsp. dried basil

2 tsp. garlic powder
2 tsp. onion powder
1/2  tsp. coarsely ground pepper

 Mix all ingredients well. Store in old spice jar.  Label.

Agua Fresca

Translated as "fresh water". Sometimes known as Aguas de Frutas translated= "fruit waters". Fruit water without the plastic bottle, preservatives and dyes of the bottled. Traditionally the water are made by mashing fruit then adding water and sweetener.

For honey use a small amount of hot water to help mix the honey into the drink.
If you use a blender don't all all the water in recipe just enough to make it drinkable.
Never add ice this is dilute the fruit flavors. Place in the refrigerator until cold. Use cold ingredients.....

Strawberry Agua Fresca 

* 3 cups hulled and quartered strawberries
* 1/4 cup sugar (more or less depending on sweetness of the berries)
* 2 cups cold water
* 1/4 cup fresh-squeezed orange juice



Watermelon  Agua Fresca
1 1/2 cups watermelon, diced (no rind)
5 cups cold water
1/4 cup sugar

Blend for a minute or two until the seeds break up . Let the  seeds fall to the bottom and should stay in the bottom when you pour.  You could use a strainer if you like to make sure the seeds don't get added to the drink..

  Melon Agua


1 ripe cantaloupe or honey dew peeled, seeded and diced
2 qts cold water
1/2 cup sugar

Taco Sauce

1 6-oz can tomato paste
3 cups water
2 teaspoons cayenne pepper
1-1/2 tablespoons chili powder
2 teaspoons cornstarch
2 teaspoons distilled white vinegar
1 tablespoon onion powder (or dried minced)
1 or more jalapenos (to taste)


1. Combine the tomato paste with the water in a saucepan over medium
heat. Stir until smooth.


2. Add the cayenne pepper, chili powder, cornstarch, vinegar, and onion powder. Stir.


3. Chop the jalapeno slices very fine. You can use a food processor,
but don't puree. Add them to the mixture.


4. Heat the mixture to boiling. Continue to stir about 3 minutes and
remove from the heat.


5. Let the sauce stand until cool, and then put in a tightly sealed
container and refrigerate.
This will last 1 to 2 months.
Makes 3-1/2 cups.

Breakfast Cake

Ingredients:

1 cup white sugar 2 tablespoons shortening 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 2 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder 1 cup milk 1/4 cup brown sugar 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Directions:

1.	Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking pan.
2.	In a large bowl, cream together sugar and shortening. Stir in vanilla. Sift together flour and baking powder. Stir flour into sugar mixture alternately with milk. Mix until smooth. Pour batter into prepared pan and sprinkle with brown sugar and cinnamon.
3.	Bake in preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into center of the pan comes out clean, about 35 to 45 minutes.

Wacky Spaghetti

Wacky Spaghetti is spaghetti that was made from one of those days hurried meal. WAY Before Wacky Mac....... And to think I had this idea years before they came out with a product like this... Ummm maybe I should have copyrighted it... LOL
I had extra cooked elbow macaroni I thought goulash, but not enough for 4 people........ So I grabbed the box of noodles sure enough the box had very little. Same with many noddles and even the rice box. So I cooked them together! And Wacky spaghetti was born (by the way it was first called garbage! because they couldn't say goulash and said it looks like garbage!!)

What ever noodles you have spaghetti, lasagna, or whatever. Add spaghetti sauce......