The Recipes You've Always Wanted...

Here are a few recipes that I use, instead of buying them from the store:

1.  Basic White Sauce Recipe:
(substituted for canned Cream of Mushroom/Chicken Soup, gravy mix, or cheese sauce)

1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup flour
Whole Milk
Salt and Pepper
Cheese

~Melt 1 stick of butter in pan over medium heat.  After it's melted, add 1/2 c. flour (resist the urge to add more!  It'll affect the overall texture later on, otherwise).   Stir constantly till bubbly.  Pour milk in 1-2 cups at a time, till desired consistency.  Add salt and pepper to taste.  If adding cheese, cube and melt into the sauce mixture till melted.

~I use this recipe for hamburger or sausage gravy (no cheese), mac-n-cheese, cheese sauce for cauliflower, and any recipe I would use cream of mushroom soup for.~~
Thank you, Grandma Bobbie, for teaching me and my mom how to make this!  Yum!

2. Trail Mix:
1 Large container of mixed nuts
Plenty of chocolate chips (milk, dark, and butterscotch)
Coarsely chipped unsweetened coconut
Craisens
Pumpkin Seeds
Dried Mango &/or pineapple
~Mix in large container and store at room temperature.
Say goodbye to too many raisens or banana chips & anonymous family members who pick out all of the "good stuff" 

3. Fail-Proof Homemade Yogurt
(I've had SO many "flops", but I've found that the key is the candy thermometer!)
2 Qts Skimmed Milk
1/4 c. yogurt starter (I use Dannon or Stonyfield, plain)
Candy thermometer
~Heat milk to 185 degrees, then cool to 110 degrees in cold water bath in the sink.  (I just put cold water and a few ice packs in my sink, and nestle my pot of hot milk down in it.  It makes the cooling process fast!)  Now, add 1/4 c. yogurt starter and wisk in well.
~Pour into quart jars, then set in a warm place for 7 hours. (set the timer!)  I put my quart jars in my oven on a towel with the pilot light on.
~Place in fridge after 7 hours. 

4. Salad Dressing-
a. Balsamic:
1/2 c. olive oil
1/4 c. balsamic
1 t. honey
1 t. dijon mustard
1 shallot (or sm. onion)
1 clove garlic
salt and pepper
-Put in blender and blend.  Voila!  Super fast, easy, and healthy!  Make a double batch and store in fridge. Use within a week- 10 days.

b. Vinegar & Oil
(this is the one I use all the time-so fast, healthy, and yummy!)
White Wine Vinegar (love the Trader Joe's kind!  But, I also found it at at Walmart too)
Olive Oil
~Shake some w.w.vinegar on salad, drizzle olive oil, sea salt and pepper to taste.  Delish!!

c. Abby's Dressing
2 2/3 c. olive oil
1 c. apple cider vinegar
1/2 c. parmesan
2 T. sugar
4 t. salt
1 t. white pepper
1 t. dry mustard
1/2 t. paprika
2 cloves garlic

d. Ranch!  (I almost forgot to post my Ranch dressing recipe.  This is for all the mid-western guys who aren't "into" the above dressing recipes....you know, the ones who only eat the salad so they can have the Ranch. :)
1 c. Mayo
1/2 c. Sour Cream
1/4-1/2 c. milk
1 clove Garlic, minced
1/4 t. Paprika
1-2 dashes Hot Sauce
1/8 t. Cayenne
2 T. fresh Dill or less, if using dried
1/4 c. fresh Parsley
1 T. chives
1/2 t. white vinegar
1/2 t. Worchestershire sauce
1/2 t. Pepper
1 t. Salt

5. Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies--(freezes very well!)
1/2 c. butter
1 1/4 c. sugar
1 1/4 c. br. sugar (I always cut back on the sugars...just sayin')
4 eggs
1 t. vanilla
2 c. peanut butter
6 c. oatmeal
1 c. chocolate chips (I always add more)
2 1/2 t. soda
Bake at 350 till done!
(I make a double batch and freeze 1/2 of the dough.  Voila!  Homemade "Slice N' Bakes")

6. Kid Friendly No Bake Cookies:
Boil:
1 1/2 c. sugar (I cut it back)
1/4 c. cocoa
1/2 c. milk
1/2 c. butter or coconut oil
(Boil 1 minute)
Then add:
3 c. oatmeal
1/4 c. chunky peanut butter

Make into balls and refrigerate till set.

7. Gluten-Free Brownies
1/2 c. cocoa
2 T. butter
3 eggs
1/2 c. sugar
3/4 c. cooked black beans
2 t. vanilla
1 t. coffee
1/2 c. chopped walnuts
Mix in food processor and press into 8x8 pan.  Bake at 350 for 25 minutes.

8.Peanut Butter Playdough
1/3 c. peanut butter
1/3 c. milk powder
1/3 c. honey
(Just use equal amounts...if you want more or less playdough)
School-time fun + a yummy snack!!

9. Homemade Toothpaste
2-3 Tb. coconut oil
3 T. baking soda
1 1/2 t. salt
10-15 drops Peppermint oil
~Mix together and store in a jar~

10. Playdough
3 c. flour
1 1/2 c. salt
3 c. water
2 T. oil
1 T. Cream of Tartar
1 pkg Kool Aid
~Mix in sauce pan and cook over low heat.  It'll get super thick and hard to stir.  At that point, have your hubby stir.  Ha,ha!  Or turn out onto counter and knead.  Keeps well!  Add food coloring for fun colors~

11. Homemade Deoderant
(I know, I know...just give it a try!  And, also, research the health concerns of regular deoderant--it'll give you incentive to try this recipe.  Oh, and it works far better than the health food store kinds...)
a. Plain Virgin Coconut Oil: Works as deoderant, as a gentle moisturizing sunscreen and also shaving cream/after shave lotion.  Try it!!

b. Homemade Deoderant...(and this is not an anti-persperant--you will still sweat)
1/4 c. baking soda
1/4 c. arrowroot powder ( or cornstarch...but some people are sensitive to cornstarch...)
5 T coconut oil
A few drops of essential oil- lavendar, tea tree oil, or peppermint
~Mix together, put in old deoderant stick, and put in fridge
~I just saw a recipe for splitting the coconut oil and doing part shea butter--it helps it not to melt at room temperature
Here's the link for more info: http://naturesnurtureblog.com/2012/06/21/10-ways-to-use-coconut-oil-this-summer/

12. Onion Soup Mix
1/4 c. dried onions
2 T. beef boullion
1/2 t. onion powder

13. Goff Granola
(I don't generally buy boxed cereal, but sometimes this is a nice treat, to substitute)
4 c. oats
1 c. cornflakes or bran flakes
1-2 c. rice krispies
1/2 c. ground flax seeds
1/2 c. sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, or any other seeds
1 c. nuts: walnuts, slivered almonds, pecans
1/2 c. almond flour
1/2 c. chipped, unsweetend coconut
~And any other additions, in your pantry. :)
~Sauce:
1/2 c. honey
1/4 c. br. sugar
1/4 c. corn syrup (it helps the texture...can omit)
1 t. vanilla
1/2-1 c. butter, olive oil, or coconut oil
~Melt sauce in pan, then pour over dry mixture and stir.
~Pour mixture onto greased cookie sheets and bake at 300 degrees. Do not stir till toasted, if you like "chunky" granola.  Cool and serve with milk or on top of yogurt.