Cooking from scratch: healthier, cheaper, and a great creative outlet
Homemade chicken stock is so much better than boxed or canned. First, note there is a difference between stock and broth. Broth is usually made just from meat, and tends to be a lighter color. Stock is made from bones, has a darker color , feels thicker because of the collagen that breaks down from … Continue reading Making Homemade Chicken Stock from Scraps
Today suddenly turned into a pierogie day. I didn't really plan on spending hours today making them, but that's okay. I'm happy to be doing it on a cold blustery day when I plan on staying in anyway. Pierogies are like little dumplings, pasta dough filled with mashed potatoes and cheese. They can also be … Continue reading How to Make Homemade Pierogies
Christmas morning deserves something special to go with the salted caramel coffee. Most of the time we eat pretty healthy. So I decided to take an easy cinnamon roll recipe and make it a least a little healthier. I used half white whole wheat four (all whole wheat would not form enough gluten to rise … Continue reading Easy, sort-of-healthy Cinnamon Rolls
We could never eat everything I bake. So I bake for friends as gifts, as thank you's, and just because. Also because neither my husband or I should be eating much sugar or white flour (though I often do cook with white whole wheat or spelt flour instead). I like giving away food so someone … Continue reading A Gift of Apple Pandowdy
Holiday's are for baking! Here's a quick bread I often make around the holidays for gifts. I buy extra cranberries every year and freeze them so I can make it any time I want! Cranberry Nutbread Delicious with a hot cup of coffee 1 stick stick butter or margarine1 1/2 c sugar1 T vinegar1 egg1 … Continue reading Baking Holiday Bread – Cranberry Nut Quick Bread
I don't know about you, but I collect recipes. From magazines. From cookbooks. On line. Anyplace I find something that sounds good I either print it out, rip it out, or more likely now, scan it and save in a computer file. I had 4 4" notebooks at one point, and decided it took up … Continue reading Two great ways to Meal Plan & try all those recipes collected
I just recently bought some silicone baking cup liners. Not only do they come in such happy colors, but like any other silicone product - think silicone baking mats - they work! I know, they've been around quite a while now, but I had never used them. I usually use paper cupcake liners. I find some … Continue reading You must try silicone baking cups!
Buying dried beans in bulk is usually a whole lot cheaper than a single 15 ounce can. At the local big box store I can get 4 pound bags of a few varieties of dried beans and lentils. The only problem I have is that when I decide to make something, I have to cook … Continue reading How to keep Dried Beans Ready to Use
Who doesn't love a comfort food like mac and cheese, especially now that the autumn weather is really setting in. My mac and cheese has some smoked cheese and bacon to add a lovely depth of flavor. I love about any smoked food anyway. Fox Pines Ultimate Mac and Cheese ½ c butter ½ … Continue reading Fox Pines Ultimate Mac and Cheese
I have a meat spice rub that I use almost exclusively. It's such favorite that I use it on anything - beef, pork, chicken, even fish, especially salmon. I love it most on a prime rib roast. And it smells just heavenly! Fox Pines Sweet Spice Rub Makes 1.25 cup ¼ c sweet or smoked … Continue reading Fox Pines Sweet & Spice meat Rub