Vanilla extract, which is in practically every baked good recipe on earth, should have 2 ingredients in it: alcohol and vanilla beans. If your vanilla extract has more than these 2 ingredients, consider how unnecessary the other ingredients are. Plus, this is so easy to make, you’re never going to buy vanilla extract again. Homemade… Continue reading Homemade Vanilla Extract
Tag: make it at home
why buy it when you can make it, cook it or re-do it yourself?
Valentine’s Day Decorations
Valentine’s Day decorations are out at my house earlier than any other holiday mostly because I use the small, red lights from Christmas as part of the Valentine’s Day decorations. I just leave the red lights out and add a few Valentine’s Day decorations to those. Honestly, this is the only way I can get… Continue reading Valentine’s Day Decorations
Homemade All Purpose Cleaning Solution
I have tried several “natural” or “green” cleaners over the last few years and have come to two conclusions: either the cleaners didn’t work very well or they were so expensive, I couldn’t justify the cost. As a result, I decided it was time to try to start making my own. The ingredients in my… Continue reading Homemade All Purpose Cleaning Solution
Roasted Pumpkin and Squash Soup
Now that Thanksgiving is behind us and the Christmas decorations are coming out of their storage containers, it’s time to get rid of those Thanksgiving decorations – by roasting them and eating them! This is so easy and tasty to do. One of my favorite ways to decorate for the holidays is by using fruit,… Continue reading Roasted Pumpkin and Squash Soup
Homemade Christmas Gift: Our Family Calendar
Every year since 1994, we have given the exact same gift to our extended families for Christmas: a family calendar. This isn’t just any calendar. It’s one that we make. Our homemade Christmas gift tradition is a family calendar that we still make the old fashioned way with pictures, scissors, and yes, double-sided tape. We… Continue reading Homemade Christmas Gift: Our Family Calendar
Weekly Meal Plan
While our family stopped eating fast food several years ago, I’ve noticed the talking about fast food hasn’t really stopped. With billboards showcasing sandwiches that would entice practically anyone to steer into their drive-thru window lanes, my solution has been to make our own version of those fast food sandwiches at home in our little… Continue reading Weekly Meal Plan
Leftover Turkey: How to Make Broth
Once you've enjoyed your Thanksgiving turkey, it's time to use the leftovers and enjoy it again. Roasting the turkey carcass (or any bones for that matter) makes all the difference in taste when it comes to making broth. Often times I don’t roast my chicken bones, even though I know it would taste better but… Continue reading Leftover Turkey: How to Make Broth
Dry Brining a Turkey for Thanksgiving
Because we’re always trying to simplify our Thanksgiving celebration, this recipe for dry brining a turkey for Thanksgiving falls under the category of “super duper simple.” It requires only a few minutes of actual effort and then it’s a matter of waiting. Plus, I recommend getting your husband to do it and then it’s even… Continue reading Dry Brining a Turkey for Thanksgiving
And the winner is
The winner of the Heritage Breed Turkey from Whole Foods Market is….Petra! with comment number 20! Congratulations! Petra keeps chickens in her front yard and writes the blog Sew Paint Create. She's a very talented quilter. Details for this giveaway will be emailed to you shortly so that you can pick up your Heritage Breed… Continue reading And the winner is
Homemade Cranberry Sauce
This past Sunday, I was looking at the ads in our Sunday newspaper. One of the ads, from a national retailer, who also sells food, included a page with a picture of a Thanksgiving dinner. Aside from the turkey (which they also sell), all of the food in the picture came from a box or… Continue reading Homemade Cranberry Sauce
Go Gingham 