To avoid being in a cooking rut, in a binder with protective sleeves, keep copies of your favorite restaurant menu's. I also keep recipes that sound good to try, in this binder. Below are some fun recipes for gifts and family activities.
Playdough:
1/2 cup salt
2 cups water
Food coloring, or Kool-Aid powder for color
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 cups sifted flour
2 tablespoons alum
Combine salt and water in saucepan and boil until salt dissolves.
Remove from heat and tint with food coloring, or Kool-Aid.
Add oil, flour, and alum. Knead until smooth.
This dough will last 2 months or longer.
Holiday Scents
We enjoy using this for our home but its a simple gift to give to the neighbors, co-workers too.
1/2 small box whole cloves
1/2 lemon sliced
1/2 orange sliced
cinnamon stick
bay leaves
Simmer in one quart of water to fill your home with a holiday fragrance
Add water when necessary.
Emeril's Creole Seasoning
8 tbsp paprika
3 tbsp cayenne
5 tbsp ground black pepper
6 tbsp ground garlic powder
3 tbsp onion powder
6 tbsp salt
2.5 tbsp dried oregano
2.5 tbsp dried thyme
Blend and store in an air tight container. Makes a great gift!
Sundried Tomatoes
3 pounds plum (Roma) tomatoes
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 t basil, dried
2 t Italian Seasoning
1/2 t black pepper, cracked
DIRECTIONS:
Preheat oven to 275 degrees. Remove the top and bottom of the tomatoes. Slice to remove the seed area. Discard the inner flesh and seeds. Cut the slices into 2 inch strips. Combine all remaining ingredients and toss with the tomatoes. Roast for 1 1/2 hours on a roasting rack. Remove from oven and allow to cool. (If not using a convection oven, the tomatoes will take about 2 hours.) 1/4 cup per serving.
Number of Servings: 12
Homemade Laundry Detergent!
2 gallons hot water
1 bar of soap grated, we used white dial
2 cups baking soda
Grate the soap, add to pot and cover with water. Melt. You won't get all the little pieces melted but go for the majority. Transfer the soap to a bucket filled with hot tap water. Add the 2 cups baking soda stir and pour into your containers. We use washed out gallon milk jugs. Shake before using, to remix separation.
**Don't use boiling water for your hot water, or you'll get a Brady Bunch volcano explosion when you add the baking soda! Love ya Lis, I still smile when I think of your experience. 1 cup for soiled large loads, 1/2 cup for smaller loads.
Layered Jar Mixes, make great gifts and a fun family activity.
Chocolate Chip Cookies layered jar
2 c. flour 1 c. packed brown sugar
1 tsp. salt 1/2 cup white sugar
1 tsp. baking soda 1 1/2 semisweet chocolate chips
In a medium bowl, mix the flour, salt and baking soda. In a 1 quart wide-mouth canning jar, layer the brown sugar, white sugar, chocolate chips and flour mixture.Cover the top with a cute piece of scrap material and secure with ribbon. Attach the following directions:
In a large bowl, throughly mix the cookie mix. In a separate bowl, cream 1 cup of margarine until light and fluffy. Beat in 1 egg and 1 teaspoon of vanilla. Mix in the cookie mix. Drop teaspoonsful of dough, spaced well apart, onto a greased cookie sheet. Bake at 375 for 8-10 minutes or until light brown. Cool on wire racks Yields 4 doz.
M & M cookie mix layered jar
2 cups flour 1 1/4 c. sugar
1/2 tsp. baking soda 1 1/4 c, M & M candies
1/2 tsp. baking powder
In a medium bowl, mix flour, baking soda and baking powder. In a 1 qt. wide mouth canning jar, layer sugar, M&Ms and flour mixture. Attach a card with the following directions:
In a large bowl, thoroughly mix the cookie mix. In a separate bowl, combine 1/2 cup softened butter,1 beaten egg and 1 tsp vanilla. Mix in the cookie mix. Shape into walnut sized balls and place 2 inches apart on a greased cookie sheet. Bake at 375 for 12-14 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Cool 5mins on the cookie sheet, transfer to cooling rack. Yields 2 dozen.
Candy Cane Bath Salt
2 c. Epson Salt 4-6 drops peppermint oil
1/2 cup sea salt 2-3 drops red food coloring
In a medium bowl, combine 1 cup Epsom salt and 1/4 cup sea salt. Add 2-3 drops oil; mix well. In a separate bowl, combine 1 cup Epsom salt, 1/4 cup sea salt, 2-3 drops oil and food coloring mix well. In a jar, alternately layer the white and red salts. Tie a Christmas ribbon around the neck of the jar.
Moon Sand
2 bags of flour and one bottle of baby oil...mix and play!
Ratio is 2 cups flour to 1 cup baby oil.
Playdough:
1/2 cup salt
2 cups water
Food coloring, or Kool-Aid powder for color
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 cups sifted flour
2 tablespoons alum
Combine salt and water in saucepan and boil until salt dissolves.
Remove from heat and tint with food coloring, or Kool-Aid.
Add oil, flour, and alum. Knead until smooth.
This dough will last 2 months or longer.
Holiday Scents
We enjoy using this for our home but its a simple gift to give to the neighbors, co-workers too.
1/2 small box whole cloves
1/2 lemon sliced
1/2 orange sliced
cinnamon stick
bay leaves
Simmer in one quart of water to fill your home with a holiday fragrance
Add water when necessary.
Emeril's Creole Seasoning
8 tbsp paprika
3 tbsp cayenne
5 tbsp ground black pepper
6 tbsp ground garlic powder
3 tbsp onion powder
6 tbsp salt
2.5 tbsp dried oregano
2.5 tbsp dried thyme
Blend and store in an air tight container. Makes a great gift!
Sundried Tomatoes
3 pounds plum (Roma) tomatoes
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 t basil, dried
2 t Italian Seasoning
1/2 t black pepper, cracked
DIRECTIONS:
Preheat oven to 275 degrees. Remove the top and bottom of the tomatoes. Slice to remove the seed area. Discard the inner flesh and seeds. Cut the slices into 2 inch strips. Combine all remaining ingredients and toss with the tomatoes. Roast for 1 1/2 hours on a roasting rack. Remove from oven and allow to cool. (If not using a convection oven, the tomatoes will take about 2 hours.) 1/4 cup per serving.
Number of Servings: 12
Homemade Laundry Detergent!
2 gallons hot water
1 bar of soap grated, we used white dial
2 cups baking soda
Grate the soap, add to pot and cover with water. Melt. You won't get all the little pieces melted but go for the majority. Transfer the soap to a bucket filled with hot tap water. Add the 2 cups baking soda stir and pour into your containers. We use washed out gallon milk jugs. Shake before using, to remix separation.
**Don't use boiling water for your hot water, or you'll get a Brady Bunch volcano explosion when you add the baking soda! Love ya Lis, I still smile when I think of your experience. 1 cup for soiled large loads, 1/2 cup for smaller loads.
Layered Jar Mixes, make great gifts and a fun family activity.
Chocolate Chip Cookies layered jar
2 c. flour 1 c. packed brown sugar
1 tsp. salt 1/2 cup white sugar
1 tsp. baking soda 1 1/2 semisweet chocolate chips
In a medium bowl, mix the flour, salt and baking soda. In a 1 quart wide-mouth canning jar, layer the brown sugar, white sugar, chocolate chips and flour mixture.Cover the top with a cute piece of scrap material and secure with ribbon. Attach the following directions:
In a large bowl, throughly mix the cookie mix. In a separate bowl, cream 1 cup of margarine until light and fluffy. Beat in 1 egg and 1 teaspoon of vanilla. Mix in the cookie mix. Drop teaspoonsful of dough, spaced well apart, onto a greased cookie sheet. Bake at 375 for 8-10 minutes or until light brown. Cool on wire racks Yields 4 doz.
M & M cookie mix layered jar
2 cups flour 1 1/4 c. sugar
1/2 tsp. baking soda 1 1/4 c, M & M candies
1/2 tsp. baking powder
In a medium bowl, mix flour, baking soda and baking powder. In a 1 qt. wide mouth canning jar, layer sugar, M&Ms and flour mixture. Attach a card with the following directions:
In a large bowl, thoroughly mix the cookie mix. In a separate bowl, combine 1/2 cup softened butter,1 beaten egg and 1 tsp vanilla. Mix in the cookie mix. Shape into walnut sized balls and place 2 inches apart on a greased cookie sheet. Bake at 375 for 12-14 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Cool 5mins on the cookie sheet, transfer to cooling rack. Yields 2 dozen.
Candy Cane Bath Salt
2 c. Epson Salt 4-6 drops peppermint oil
1/2 cup sea salt 2-3 drops red food coloring
In a medium bowl, combine 1 cup Epsom salt and 1/4 cup sea salt. Add 2-3 drops oil; mix well. In a separate bowl, combine 1 cup Epsom salt, 1/4 cup sea salt, 2-3 drops oil and food coloring mix well. In a jar, alternately layer the white and red salts. Tie a Christmas ribbon around the neck of the jar.
Moon Sand
2 bags of flour and one bottle of baby oil...mix and play!
Ratio is 2 cups flour to 1 cup baby oil.
