I was thinking about what we could eat in this horrible heat. I don't have air in my home, so when it is hot outside it is like a sauna inside. So here is a simple recipe for a vegetable dip that is very refreshing.
1 large container plain yogurt
1 medium cucumber - peeled, seeded, finely copped
2-3 cloves of garlic -pressed
salt and pepper to taste
Mix all ingredients. How simple is that. Sometimes the cucumber makes it a little watery, so you can strain the chopped cukes if there is too much liquid, but i usually leave it in because it adds flavor. The amount of garlic is just a guess, so just add to taste without overpowering the cucumber flavor. If you are not a huge fan of garlic then add less. Remember a little garlic goes a long way and it will get stronger as it sets. This a wonderful bread and vegetable dip! Plus it is very good for you. Enjoy!
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Banana Bread
I have been baking a lot lately. Need to get it out of my system before it is too hot in my apartment to do anything but sit and sweat! One of my favorites is Banana bread! I bake several at a time and freeze them so I can enjoy them later too. I use disposable (reusable) aluminum mini loaf pans. They clean up easily and can be reused multiple times. I have had mine a couple of years now, even though I aspire to buying a set of non-disposable pans. That being said, I have had many requests for my recipe, so here it is. Enjoy!
Ingredients:
3-4 ripe bananas (approx. 1 1/2 cups) (wait until the peel is black)
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup canola oil (vegetable oil works too)
2 Lg Eggs
2 tsp vanilla (i never measure the vanilla so this is also just approximate)
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking powder
2 cups flour
Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Grease bread pan(s). I use crisco canola oil non-stick spray.
Mash bananas and add sugar, oil, vanilla and eggs. Add baking soda, salt and baking powder. Fold in flour. Pour into pan and bake 55 to 60 minutes for large loaf and 25 to 30 minutes for mini loaves. Each batch makes 4 mini loaves. Bread is done when it is "toothpick" clean. Cool for 10 minutes and then remove from pan(s). Place on cooling rack to completely cool. Wrap in saran wrap and put in fridge. I will put these into a freezer bag to go into my freezer.
Ingredients:
3-4 ripe bananas (approx. 1 1/2 cups) (wait until the peel is black)
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup canola oil (vegetable oil works too)
2 Lg Eggs
2 tsp vanilla (i never measure the vanilla so this is also just approximate)
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking powder
2 cups flour
Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Grease bread pan(s). I use crisco canola oil non-stick spray.
Mash bananas and add sugar, oil, vanilla and eggs. Add baking soda, salt and baking powder. Fold in flour. Pour into pan and bake 55 to 60 minutes for large loaf and 25 to 30 minutes for mini loaves. Each batch makes 4 mini loaves. Bread is done when it is "toothpick" clean. Cool for 10 minutes and then remove from pan(s). Place on cooling rack to completely cool. Wrap in saran wrap and put in fridge. I will put these into a freezer bag to go into my freezer.
Monday, March 28, 2011
Homemade Laundry Detergent
Do you ever walk down the laundry detergent aisle at the store and cringe at the high prices? Then quickly began scanning for the lowest prices trying to find the most for your money? Yeah that used to be me too. For a little over a year now I have been using homemade laundry detergent. It feels so good to walk past the detergent aisle and know I don't need anything. Of course I laugh and think suckers, you are spending way too much money!! Is it appropriate to approach a stranger and tell them about making their own?? Probably not a good idea, so I just keep walking with a big smile on my face.
I just made my second batch today, which ends up being 10 gallons. And since I am writing a blog about it, I should probably share my recipe. My mother-in-law gave me this recipe, which is the same recipe that the Dugger family uses (www.duggerfamily.com). For those you don't know who the Dugger family is, well it is a husband and wife who have like 19 kids (not for sure how many), so you can imagine they need to try to save money any way they can.
So here is what you need....
One time expenses ( You will want to buy utensils that you only use for soap - buy cheap = save more money)
1. 3- 4 quart soup pan (got mine at Goodwill for $1)
2. Large plastic ladle (Dollar Tree $1)- need long handle for stirring
3. Metal cheese grater (Gift - but they have them at Dollar Tree)
4. Measuring cup (had an old set I didn't use - works great for soap)
5. 5 gallon bucket with lid (Lowes, but I think you can get them at Meijer's in the painting section)
6. Funnel (Dollar Tree $1)
Ingredients
1. 4 cups Hot Tap Water
2. 1 Fels-Naptha soap bar
3. 1 cup Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda (DO NOT USE BAKING SODA)
4. 1/2 cup Borax
What to do
1. Grate bar of soap into saucepan and add water. Stir continually over medium-low heat until soap dissolves and is completely melted.
2. Fill a 5 gallon bucket half way with hot tap water. Add melted soap, washing soda, and Borax. Stir well until all powder is dissolved. Fill bucket to top with more hot water. Stir, cover, and let sit overnight to thicken.
When ready to use
1. Stir bucket to mix.
2. Fill a used, clean, laundry soap dispenser (old jug) half full and then fill rest of way with water.
3. Shake before each use.
How much to use
Top Load Machine - 5/8 cup per load (approx. 180 Loads)
Front Load machine - 1/4 cup per load ( approx 640 loads)
Tips
* For extra soiled loads use a 1/2 cup to 1 cup of vinegar
* Soap will not suds much, so don't add more!
* Meijer's has all of the ingredients, but shop around for the lowest prices !!
I just made my second batch today, which ends up being 10 gallons. And since I am writing a blog about it, I should probably share my recipe. My mother-in-law gave me this recipe, which is the same recipe that the Dugger family uses (www.duggerfamily.com). For those you don't know who the Dugger family is, well it is a husband and wife who have like 19 kids (not for sure how many), so you can imagine they need to try to save money any way they can.
So here is what you need....
One time expenses ( You will want to buy utensils that you only use for soap - buy cheap = save more money)
1. 3- 4 quart soup pan (got mine at Goodwill for $1)
2. Large plastic ladle (Dollar Tree $1)- need long handle for stirring
3. Metal cheese grater (Gift - but they have them at Dollar Tree)
4. Measuring cup (had an old set I didn't use - works great for soap)
5. 5 gallon bucket with lid (Lowes, but I think you can get them at Meijer's in the painting section)
6. Funnel (Dollar Tree $1)
Ingredients
1. 4 cups Hot Tap Water
2. 1 Fels-Naptha soap bar
3. 1 cup Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda (DO NOT USE BAKING SODA)
4. 1/2 cup Borax
What to do
1. Grate bar of soap into saucepan and add water. Stir continually over medium-low heat until soap dissolves and is completely melted.
2. Fill a 5 gallon bucket half way with hot tap water. Add melted soap, washing soda, and Borax. Stir well until all powder is dissolved. Fill bucket to top with more hot water. Stir, cover, and let sit overnight to thicken.
When ready to use
1. Stir bucket to mix.
2. Fill a used, clean, laundry soap dispenser (old jug) half full and then fill rest of way with water.
3. Shake before each use.
How much to use
Top Load Machine - 5/8 cup per load (approx. 180 Loads)
Front Load machine - 1/4 cup per load ( approx 640 loads)
Tips
* For extra soiled loads use a 1/2 cup to 1 cup of vinegar
* Soap will not suds much, so don't add more!
* Meijer's has all of the ingredients, but shop around for the lowest prices !!
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Butterscotch cookies
As the mid-west was preparing for "snowmegedon" or "snowpocolypse", I decided to bake. In the event that we would lose electricity I wanted to make sure the apartment was already warm. Since our heat is all electric, I was preparing for a cold night. However, I was also really in the mood for some homemade cookies. Then came the big decision of my day...what kind of cookies should I make? Since it has been almost three years since I have had butterscotch cookies, that was the winner. Also, numerous friends of mine had shown interest in the butterscotch cookies, so I will post the recipe at the end of this blog. Hope you enjoy the cookies, I know I have!
Butterscotch cookies
1/2 cup Butter 2 Lg Eggs 1 1/4 cup Flour
1/2 cup Crisco 1 tsp Vanilla 3 cups Oatmeal
3/4 cup Br. Sugar 1 tsp baking soda 2 cup butterscotch morsels
3/4 cup Gran. sugar 1/2 tsp salt
Preheat oven 350 degrees
Mix softened butter, crisco, brown sugar, granulated sugar until smooth. Beat in eggs one at a time. Add vanilla, baking soda and salt. Add flour. Fold in oatmeal. Add butterscotch morsels. Place dough in fridge for 10 minutes. Scoop tbsp size balls onto baking stone. Bake 10-12 minutes, until edges start to turn lightly brown. Allow to cool on stone for 5 min and then place on cooling rack to finish cooling. Enjoy!
Butterscotch cookies
1/2 cup Butter 2 Lg Eggs 1 1/4 cup Flour
1/2 cup Crisco 1 tsp Vanilla 3 cups Oatmeal
3/4 cup Br. Sugar 1 tsp baking soda 2 cup butterscotch morsels
3/4 cup Gran. sugar 1/2 tsp salt
Preheat oven 350 degrees
Mix softened butter, crisco, brown sugar, granulated sugar until smooth. Beat in eggs one at a time. Add vanilla, baking soda and salt. Add flour. Fold in oatmeal. Add butterscotch morsels. Place dough in fridge for 10 minutes. Scoop tbsp size balls onto baking stone. Bake 10-12 minutes, until edges start to turn lightly brown. Allow to cool on stone for 5 min and then place on cooling rack to finish cooling. Enjoy!
Friday, January 7, 2011
Weight loss Challenge
For years now I have been struggling with my weight fluctuating. Before getting married I had lost a lot of weight and was within 20 pounds of reaching my weight goal. However, like the freshman fifteen for new college goers, marriage has enhanced my waistline, or I am suffering from spare tire syndrome. Either way to me this is not acceptable. I am only 33 and have the body and health of a 70 year old. So that being said, I once again am embarking on a weight loss journey. This is not merely a new year resolution, it will have to be a life style change in order for success. So, here's the plan...
1. Exercise - at least 3 times a week for 30 minutes to start
2. Meal plans - Nutritional meals and snacks planned out so i don't give in to just eating junk or going through the drive through.
3. Partner in crime - my hubby has unknowingly signed himself up for this plan too, since it must be a cooperative life style change. We too easily fall into traps of laziness, just wanting to "relax" after a long days work.
Goals:
Current Weight = X
Total Loss Goal = 75 pounds
1. March 5, 2011 - Weight = X - 25 pounds
(3-4 pounds per wk)
2. June 1, 2011 - Weight = X - 50 pounds
3. Sept 1, 2011 - Weight = X - 75 pounds
At first this may not seem possible, but I believe it can be done. Even if I do not meet the deadlines as long as I am working hard and losing weight than I will be happy with the results. Nothing is set in stone and cannot be altered, it is just a beginning. Without a beginning the end is impossible.
1. Exercise - at least 3 times a week for 30 minutes to start
2. Meal plans - Nutritional meals and snacks planned out so i don't give in to just eating junk or going through the drive through.
3. Partner in crime - my hubby has unknowingly signed himself up for this plan too, since it must be a cooperative life style change. We too easily fall into traps of laziness, just wanting to "relax" after a long days work.
Goals:
Current Weight = X
Total Loss Goal = 75 pounds
1. March 5, 2011 - Weight = X - 25 pounds
(3-4 pounds per wk)
2. June 1, 2011 - Weight = X - 50 pounds
3. Sept 1, 2011 - Weight = X - 75 pounds
At first this may not seem possible, but I believe it can be done. Even if I do not meet the deadlines as long as I am working hard and losing weight than I will be happy with the results. Nothing is set in stone and cannot be altered, it is just a beginning. Without a beginning the end is impossible.
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Canning Potatoes
I finally got to use my new pressure cooker! I have done some basic water bath canning, but now the possibilities are endless. Meijer's recently had a wonderful potato sale, which I could not pass up. I paid 90 cents for a 3 pound bag. The actual sale was 10 for 10 get the 11th free which I am beginning to see was a better bargain than I thought. Most recipes I have found say 2-3 pounds per quart, but I am getting 7 quarts from two and a half bags (7.5#) The only thing I can figure is they plan on more waste. I am using Yukon Gold potatoes and since the skins are very thin I have very little waste. Over all the potatoes were in very good conditon. I have chosen to leave some of the skins on despite all of the warnings to peel first. I did wash the potatoes thoroughly before and after cutting them into chunks. Needless to say I have more potatoes than I am going to be able to can up at this time. Since I live in a studio apartment, cool dark places are limited, but I think they will stay cool enough in my non-energy efficient apartment. Looking forward to opening up that first jar to see how they turned out.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)