Easy English Toffee

I think that English Toffee is the easiest candy ever to make. It's very impressive to give, even though you can make it in less than a half hour.

Just out of curiosity I tried a couple no thermometer recipes I saw on Pinterest. They were disasters, the whole lot of them. Seriously the only way to guarantee a delicious batch is to use a thermometer.
It's simple and takes the guesswork out of it.

English Toffee

Ingredients

1 cup salted butter ( no substitutions please)
1 cup white sugar
1 tsp real vanilla

1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1/4 cup toasted sliced almonds or toasted pecan pieces


Before you start place a sheet of foil on a baking sheet and butter it lightly. Get your nuts and chocolate ready to go. You will have no time to go looking for stuff once the candy sets.

Use a heavy bottomed saucepan and a whisk or wooden spoon. I have used silicone spatulas for stirring also. I hear now and again that you should only use a wooden spoon but I have had success with most utensils. If you use a plastic spoon make sure it won't melt or you will get yucky plastic streaked candy.(yep learned that the hard way....)

Melt the butter over medium high heat. Everyones stove is different so watching your candy from start to finish is critical. Add the sugar and vanilla. Boil your candy until it reaches 290 degrees on a good candy thermometer. That will take anywhere from 4 to 6 minutes depending on the heat. Stir constantly or it WILL scorch. It should start turning a beautiful light tan colour just before its done.

Once its reached temperature pour it out onto your buttered foil.
After a minute or so sprinkle your chocolate chips on top of the toffee. After it melts a bit spread the chocolate smooth with the back of a spoon or a spatula. Sprinkle your nuts on top. Let it cool completely.

Break into pieces and enjoy!

Banana Snack Cake

Got a pile of ripe brown smooshy bananas on the counter? Those are the best kind! As they ripen the flavor develops and they get sweeter. I have several recipes I pull out but here is todays recipe for an lickity split snack cake for those after school munchies.

Banana Snack Cake

1 stick butter or margarine (room temperature)
1 cup white sugar
2 large eggs
1 cup mashed bananas( about 3 medium)
2.25 cups white flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
.25 cup sour cream
1 tsp vanilla
pinch cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350. Grease an 11x7 brownie pan. You could use a 9x13, just adjust your baking time down accordingly.

Using a hand mixer or a whisk and some elbow grease cream together butter and sugar. Add in eggs and mix until creamy. Next stir in the flour, baking soda, and cinnamon.
Lastly whisk in the bananas, sour cream and vanilla. 

Pour into prepared pan and bake for 35 minutes. Let cool 10 minutes  before cutting.

I serve it plain but we have done frosting and sprinkles, ice cream and maple syrup, as well as peanut butter for toppings. Let the kids pick for a yummy afternnon treat.

To dress this up a bit you could add in a 1/2 cup of pecans, mini chocolate chips, or rum soaked raisins as well.

Homemade Croutons

These are seriously the easiest thing ever to make and much cheaper than buying at the store. I use them in salads, snack mixes, and the boys like them just as is for snacking. Use leftover bread, bagels, buns, whatever you have.

Homemade Croutons

1  1lb loaf of stale bread
1/4 cup olive oil
1 tsp garlic salt
2 tbs parmesan cheese (optional)


Cut bread into cubes and put in a zip top bag. Pour oil over the bread. Add spices and shake all until coated evenly.

Pour out onto cookies sheet in close to a single layer. Use 2 pans if you have small sheets.

Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes. Ovens vary so watch them closely after 10 minutes. They should be golden brown.

Let cool and dig in!

Substitutions here are a breeze. We are dairy free but butter instead of the oil would be yummy. Just melt butter and shake in bag instead of oil. Any dried seasoning works as well. Onion powder, chili powder, italian seasoning, whatever you love.

Homemade Condensed Cream of Whatever soup Mix

I found a recipe recently for chicken that uses condensed cream of chicken soup. Recipe sounds good, uses crockpot, really it should be a no brainer. However that little can of soup is almost $2. What? Really?

So I scoured the internet for a recipe and tried a couple. This one came out good, substituted well, and you can make it up as you need it. Best of all, about 50 cents to make or even less.

I have added canned chopped clams or corn and some chopped potatoes for a fast chowder.

Condensed Cream Soup Mix

2  cups nonfat dry milk powder
3/4  cup cornstarch
2  tablespoons dried onion flakes
1/2  teaspoon ground black pepper
1/4  cup chicken bouillon powder
1  teaspoon dried basil (optional)
1/4  teaspoon dried thyme, more to taste


Using an air tight container combine dry milk, cornstarch, onion
flakes, pepper and chicken bouillon.If desired also add basil and thyme.
I use a widemouth quart mason jar. Mix well.

When using the mix, combine 1/3 cup of the mix with 1 1/4 cups of
water in saucepan. You could use chicken stock, vegetable stock, etc.

Cook and stir until thickened. Makes 1 and a half cups of soup.

Cole Slaw

The weather has turned warm and I am tweaking my menus to some inexpensive old favorites again. Cole slaw is ridiculously cheap but still ranks as a food that reminds you of seafood baskets at the oceanside and picnics. Some crockpot BBQ chicken, cole slaw, and garlic toast from the toaster oven and supper is on the table in 5 minutes after a long day outside enjoying the beautiful summer days.

Cabbage is easy to shred and much cheaper to do yourself but even I grab those 8 cup bags of preshredded for $1.99 when they are on sale or its a crazy week. However the dressings that you can buy for cole slaw are very expensive, most around $3.99 for only a few salads worth. The cheap bottles of dressing taste awful and I always just throw some together from scratch.

Cole Slaw

8 cups shredded cabbage
3 carrots, shredded
1/3 cup sugar
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup milk
1/4 cup vinegar
pinch salt
pinch pepper.

Whisk everything but the cabbage and the carrots in a bowl.  Toss the dressing with the carrots and cabbage and let marinate/ chill a few hours in the fridge.  

Yummy!

Spice of Life (taco seasoning mix)

I am all about the spices. When you are cooking basic inexpensive food spices can fool your mouth into thinking you are dining at a fine restaurant on a mac and cheese budget. My children get spices from the time they can eat table food.

 A sprinkle of cinnamon, a dusting of chili powder, or a pinch of pepper can remake the bland into the gourmet.

Here's a basic taco seasoning that you can use on chicken, beef, or even sprinkled over potatoes before you roast them for a smoky flavor.

What spice mix can you not live without?

Chili Taco Mix

1/3 cup cumin
1/4 cup chili powder
1/4 cup salt
1/4 cup pepper
2 tsp paprika
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp onion powder
 1 tsp dried oregano


Mix all together and store in an airtight container. I use canning jars for my spices.

2 Tablespoons is enough to flavor 1 pound of ground beef.

Enjoy!

Homemade Sweetened Condensed Milk

Every now and again I come across a recipe that includes sweetened condensed milk. which I very rarely have on hand. My friend Caroline gave me this recipe and it works great and saves me a trip to the store.

Homemade Sweetened Condensed Milk

1/2 c. cold water
1 1/4 c. nonfat dry milk
3/4 c. sugar

Measure water into 2 cup glass container. Gradually stir in milk
powder
until smooth. Microwave on high 3/4-1 minute until milk is steaming
hot. Stir in sugar until dissolved. Allow to cool before using.
Substitutes for 1 (14 ounce) can of sweetened condensed milk.

Fast Apple Coffeecake

Ever need to throw a cake together for company at the last second or need to feed a couple extra kids at snack time?
This cake is super fast and easy and sure to please.

  Upsidedown Apple Coffee Cake

1  18 oz. cake mix, prepared according to pkg. directions
or use your favorite homemade recipe for cake(May use spice cake or white or yellow)
3 - 4 cups Baking apples, peeled, cored and sliced, enough to fill
bottom of baking dish
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
1 teaspoon of apple pie spice(if you use a spice cake mix leave this out)
1 teaspoon of cinnamon



 Pre-Heat oven to 350 *F. Grease a 9x13 pan.
Place apples in 9x13 cake pan. Sprinkle with cinnamon,apple spice,
and sugars and
stir to coat. Pour prepared cake mix over apples. Bake according to
directions on cake mix. Cake can be served warm or cold.

  ENJOY!!!

Applesauce Snack Cake

I kid myself that I make this for the kids but I really love this cake. Fragrant and yummy, it's a go -to any time of year. I dust it lightly with confectioners sugar or serve with ice cream for a treat.

                                                 

Applesauce Snack Cake

2 1/2 c. flour
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
3/4 baking powder
1 tsp cinnamon
pinch cloves
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp salt
1 1/2 c. unsweetened applesauce
1 1/4 c. sugar
1/2 c. vegetable oil
2 eggs
1 c raisins

Heat oven to 350 degrees.
Grease  or spray a 9x13 pan.
Beat all ingredients except raisins in a large  bowl.
Stir in raisins .
Pour into pan.
Bake for 25-30 mins. .
Cool  pan on wire rack.
Cool completely. before cutting..
Serves 16 ( 12 generously)

No Bake Cereal Bars

For some reason I am struggling for afterschool snacks these days. I pulled out some old but good recipes and thought this one would be good to share.

 It's highly customizable and has easy ingredients. Chocolate chips do not work well, they will melt, but any nut, dried fruit, or hard shelled candy works well. 

These are not the best for nutrition, though you can certainly boost it a bit with dried fruit and flax seeds. I can guarantee the kids will love them though and they are insanely easy.
 

No-Bake Cereal Bars

4 C. Cheerios
2 C. Rice Krispies
2 C. dry roasted peanuts
2 C. M & M's
1 C. light corn syrup
1 C. sugar
1 1/2 C. creamy peanut butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

In a large bowl, combine the first 4 ingredients, set aside. 

 In a saucepan, bring corn syrup and sugar to a boil, stirring frequently. 

Remove from heat; stir in peanut butter and vanilla.

 Pour over cereal mixture and toss to coat evenly. 

Spread into a greased 15x10x1-inch baking pan. Cool. 

Cut into 3x3" bars. Yield: 15 bars.

I have used a 12x17" jelly roll pan and got about 32
bars. You can use 2 9x13 pans, and make a couple  batches.

Yummy!

Handmade Gift Bookmarkers, sweet and inexpensive.

I have a huge button bin that I've been collecting for years. When I found this post I had a serious "AHA!" moment. I made up a handful for some older ladies I know who love to read that I will tuck into their gift bags.

By the way, the blog I found it on is worth at least a half hour of exploring...budget your time accordingly! Visit them HERE.

Not the best picture on my Android but you get the idea. Very fast and very simple to make and look very luxurious. My 4 year old wants a trip to the button store to make his own after Christmas.

I will try to throw up some blogs with this year's Christmas bag contents. Not having much money never means you can't show your loved ones you care, it just means you have to be more creative! Sounds trite but true. Who doesn't like handmade thoughtful gifts?

I have had several Christmas seasons where I had to use food stamp money to buy cookie making ingredients to make gift bags. Do I let it get me down? Hell no. When they toss that department store gift basket back under the tree and sit noshing on my (best cookie ever!) peanut butter chocolate chip cookies I feel proud and content.


Happy Holidays!

Pizza Night

Pizza night is a mainstay in our house. I make dough and I can customize everyone's pizza to their needs. No cheese on one, no sauce on another, all veggies on one is a snap this way. The kids make their own pizzas and we all eat together.


Gluten free came along and threw a wrench in the works though. How do you make a pizza crust without flour?  Thank God for the internet and Jeanne at 'The Art of Gluten Free Baking'.  She has a great recipe for pizza crust that actually tastes like pizza. I throw the ingredients in the food processor for 20ish seconds and use the parchment for that pizza.I have tried a few premade mixes but darn it they are so expensive. I make up Jeanne's baking mix and make pancakes regularly too from it.

You can find an easy crust recipe here that does have gluten but is dairy free. I will share a secret to make this go very fast. I have been making the dough in the food processor. Put all the ingredients in and process for about 20 to 30 seconds until it's a smooth dough. That's it. Let it rest and use as you would dough you spent 10 minutes kneading. The first time you may have to experiment with time and a drop or two of water to get a smooth dough but after that its easy peasy. If it still looks crumbly add water a teaspoon at a time until the dough comes together, pulsing a few seconds after each admission. I can crank out four crusts in no time this way.

My regular dough recipe makes some wonderful bread sticks as well.  Divide each recipe into 8 pieces and roll out thin with your fingers into pretzel rod shapes. Lay flat on cookie sheet. Sprinkle lightly with garlic salt. Let rise for 20 minutes. Bake at 425 degrees for 8 to 10 minutes.
 If you aren't dairy free you can smear butter on them and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese for some very similar to the pizza stores. We have them with pizza sauce. Yum!

My Favorite Sweet Pickles

The bins full of pickling cucumbers are starting to show up at the farmer's market. I made my first  batch  of the season this morning of my favorite sweet pickles, also known as bread and butter pickles. You can't buy  the homemade taste of pickles and the recipe is simple. Enjoy!

Bread  and Butter Pickles

makes about 3 pints

8 cups of sliced pickling cucumbers
1/2 cup of salt

4 cups vinegar
2 cups brown sugar( I have used white sugar)
1 tablespoon pickling spice
2 inch stick cinnamon
6 whole cloves
1 teaspoon mustard seed
pinch turmeric

Note:  If you can't find pickling spice you can make your own. Recipe follows the pickles

Place cucumbers in a large bowl or plastic container. Sprinkle with the salt and cover with cold water. Let stand overnight in the refrigerator.

Drain cucumbers and rinse with cold water.

Combine everything else in a heavy pan. Bring to a boil. Cook over medium heat for 10 minutes.
Add drained cucumbers. Bring back to boil and cook another 5 minutes.
Pack into clean jars carefully and let cool.
Store in the refrigerator.

Pickling Spice

makes about 2 1/2 cups

1/2 cup mustard seeds
1/4 cup ground coriander
1/4 cup fennel seed
1/4 cup whole cloves
1/4 cup celery seeds
1/4 cup cinnamon sticks, crushed
1/4 cup black pepper corns
2 tbsp. dried ginger, coarsely chopped
6 dry bay leaves, crushed

Combine all. Store in a cool dry place for up to a year.
I make a fresh batch every year when I start pickling again.

Parmesan Peppercorn Salad Dressing

90 degree weather has me staying out of the kitchen and wanting the convenience of fast food but on my ramen noodle budget.

Salads are a no brainer. An abundance of cheap fresh produce with a couple homemade sides makes this  budget friendly, cool, and healthy.

Parmesan Peppercorn Salad Dressing.

Whisk together

1 cup mayonaisse
1 cup sour cream
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
1/4 cup milk
3 tablespoons lemon juice
2 teaspoons coarsely ground pepper
1/2 teaspoon granulated garlic

Pour into clean glass jar, cover and refridgerate for up to 2 weeks.

Happy Holidays! My Gift Basket Ideas

I have been making my gift baskets this year and have been much too busy to post. I hope to list and link everything after the new year to give some ideas for next year.  I feel pretty safe listing because no-one in my extended family ever reads this! I also made these adorable little recipe books but I'm hung up on which to include so those may not get out.

I wanted to say a word about those computer printing programs for making cards, labels, etc. I personally use Printshop. They may seem expensive to buy but they are essential if you are making gifts from scratch. Labels for your jars, gift tags, cards, and all kinds of other neat things are incredible easy. If you factor how much you get from these programs in, it's worth it.

I use the local Dollar store for 90% of my packaging. They have tons of great packaging and decorations for little money.

I hope everyone is healthy and happy and will have much fun in the new year!


The Aunt's Basket

French Vanilla Coffee Mix (in a jar)
Scone mix
2 boxes of tea from my grocery store
Candied Orange Peel
Cinnamon Sugar Biscotti


Uncle David's Basket

BBQ sauce
Spicy Rub
Double Fudge Brownie Mix (in a jar)
Peanut Brittle
Peanut Butter cookies


Uncle Peter's Basket

Handmade Laundry Soap
Reusable Cloth Produce bags
Lavender sugar scrub
Double Fudge Brownie mix(in a jar)
reusable travel coffee mugs
Homemade Granola

Healthier Peanut Butter Cookies

I make peanut butter cookies for the kids on Thanksgiving. They don't like pies and can carry them around while they are playing. Who doesn't like cookies?

I've been on the healthy eating bandwagon lately. The argument I hear most is the 'I don't have the time or money' excuse. I usually come back with the fact that a lot of little changes will make a big difference. So I have been tweaking some of my traditional favorites. Here's a new  version of my Thanksgiving peanut butter cookies. The kids loved them and I had to slap away a few adult hands as well.

Healthier Peanut Butter Cookies

1/2 cup (non transfat please) margarine
1/2 cup peanut butter
3/4 cup brown sugar
1 large egg
1/2 tsp baking soda
pinch cinnamon
pinch salt
1 1/4 cup quick rolled oats ( not steel cut)
3/4 cup whole wheat flour

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Cream the sugar, peanut butter, and margarine until smooth.
Add egg, soda, salt and cinnamon.
Stir in the oats and the flour. The dough will be thick.
Drop by spoonsful onto an ungreased cookie sheet.
Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes.
Let cool. Makes about 2 dozen depending on how big they are.

No Cook Play Dough Updated

We tried this recipe this morning and my 3 year old adored it. I'm not sure it will make it to a second play session, he's eaten so many nibbles there's a wall missing from his castle!

Peanut Butter Play Dough

1 cup creamy peanut butter
3 cups powdered sugar
1/3 cup honey
1 tsp vanilla

Combine all in a large bowl. Mix until dough comes together. That's it, no cooking or letting cool.
How cool is that?

Another favorite of mine....

Gingerbread Play Dough

2 cups flour
1 cup salt
1 tbs ground ginger
2 tbs vegetable oil
1 cup water

Mix and knead until smooth. Smells delicious and non toxic ( not as good a snack as previous recipe!!) Add more flour if it's too sticky.

Store either recipe in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week.

Don't go out and buy those playdough kits with the little cutters and tools. My kids use various things they find in my kitchen drawers and love them. Old cookie cutters, a whisk, small rolling pin, german cookie presses, plastic knives from takeout( shh, even I do takeout once in a blue moon, lol) and anything else that catches their eye. I think of it like when you buy a big expensive toy and they spend 2 hours playing with the box it came in! So look around your house before you resort to spending your money on toys and art kits.

Taco Seasoning Mix and Potato Wedges

This seasoning mix is good for seasoning beef or chicken for almost any Mexican dish, soft tacos, burritos, quesadillas or even just sprinkled on roast veggies before cooking for some extra flavor.
My boys like this on potato wedges too that I roast for a side dish frequently.

Taco Seasoning Mix

2 Tb Chili powder
2 tb flour
2 tsp cumin
2 tsp oregano
1/2 tsp onion powder
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp cayenne or chipotle pepper

Combine in a ziptop bag and shake until mixed.You can definitely leave out the cayenne if you like.

Christina's Potato Wedges

Cut 6 potatoes into wedges. Place in a zip top bag with 2 tablespoons vegetable oil. Add 1 tsp taco seasoning mix. Close bag and shake to combine. Pour onto ungreased baking sheet and roast at 400 degrees for about 40 minutes. The time varies depending on the size of your potatoes and how crispy you want them. Start checking them at 35 minutes. Serve with ketchup or ranch dressing.

Homemade Laundry Detergent

OK OK I finally got a second to post this. Detergent prices are on the rise and more people are willing to explore alternatives. Here is  a fast easy powder detergent I've used for years.

Powder Laundry Detergent

1 cup grated soap
1 cup baking soda
1/2 cup washing soda
1/2 cup Borax


I whirl it in the food processor to take out lumps and mix well but I have tossed around a ziploc bag when I am in a hurry. For the soap I use either Ivory or Dial plain soap and grate it on an old cheese grater.(the kids love to help) Don't use a moisturizer or heavily perfumed soap but I've used whatever was at the local dollar store.

This recipe is easily doubled or tripled. I use the scoop that came with an old Oxiclean tub to portion it but it's around 2 Tablespoons or 1/8 a cup for a smallish regular load.

I splurge on Mrs. Meyers Clean Day laundry soap to use as a pretreater. Its expensive but it lasts forever a dab at a time and works great. I get mine at Drugstore.com.

When I'm feeling decadent I put about 10 drops of lavender oil in the detergent to give it a very light scent but you can certainly leave that out.

Leftover graham cracker crumbs?

If you are like me you always have a bit of crumbs leftover when I crush them for pies or  have a box that's been on the shelf for forever waiting for something to be used in after I make a holiday cheesecake. I found this recipe tucked away in a pile of old recipes I got from a recipe sharing club years ago. I made some up and my boys adored these bars. It got rid of that lonely baggie of crumbs in my freezer too!

Graham Bars

1/2 cup softened butter (1 stick)
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 egg
2 Tbs milk
1 tsp. vanilla
2 cups graham cracker crumbs
1/2 cup flaked coconut
1/2 cup chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Grease an 8 inch square pan.
Cream butter and sugar until smooth.
Beat in egg, milk, and vanilla.
Stir in crumbs, coconut, and chocolate chips.
Spoon into baking dish and lightly pat flat if needed.
Bake 25 minutes until lightly browned.
Cool. Cut into bars.
 Yummy bars! Perfect for a lunch box treat or afterschool snack.