Recipe Rewind: Homemade Marshmallows

Well, helloooooooo.

I must confess - I've been in a bit of a funk for the past few months.  I could blame it on moving, I suppose.  I love our house, but I'm one of those cranky and OCD Type As who needs everything in its place to feel peace in my own house.  It's getting there, and I'm definitely not putting too much pressure on myself to be an over-achiever with settling in.  But there are moments that I stop in my tracks and just can't wrap my frantic little brain around all the zillion things screaming at me to accomplish.  So it's no shocker that my list-making tendencies are in serious overdrive right now.  Oh, and Christmas is drawing near?  My most favorite  and the dreamiest of holidays?  I've got 3 separate lists going for that.

Lists, lists, lists.  I don't love having them but they definitely help keep my sanity from inching its toe near that crumbling cliff of no return.

Make it From Scratch: Ranch Dressing Mix

Happy October!!  This is by far my favorite month, so I'm going to apologize up front if my posts over the next few weeks contain a ridiculous amount of exclamation points and a terrible amount of squealing.  That won't stop me from those annoying behaviors, but at least you've been forewarned :)

Ok, so this dressing mix.  I ran out of ranch dressing mix a couple of weeks ago, and rather than make a trip to the grocery store, I searched for a recipe I could whip up at home.  Store bought ranch mix has MSG and a few other creepy ingredients, so this fits right in with my goal to eliminate bad ingredients from our pantry.  I made this dressing two ways - regular and nondairy, so that we can accommodate everybody in one fell swoop.  If you check the photos below, you can see how both versions turned out.

Make it From Scratch: Lara Bars

Chocolate Craving Bars

'Morning!

You might remember that last month, Katie from Living Crunchy guest posted here with instructions for homemade, natural Easter Egg Dye.  It's my turn to return the favor, so I set out to find a recipe for homemade Lara bars.  

Food Rule 75 and Three Salad Dressings

                     
                            

Speaking of eating more greens... I bet you were wishing you had some yummy, homemade dressings to top your healthy green salads with, right?  Easy homemade dressings at that?  Consider it done, done, and done!  Here are three quick salad dressing recipes to help out with our new rule:

When I first saw this rule, I felt a little miffed and thought it was implying that everything must be homemade and from scratch.  Which is noble and all, but definitely tough in today's world where we're all so very busy. But, in actuality, it's about keeping advertising and propaganda off your dinner table.  And the more I think about that, the more I like the idea.

Because, oh my, how I loathe TV commercials.  I'm always asking Bo to mute them while I'm cooking, because I hate feeling like companies are yelling to get my attention with dumb tactics and persuasive words.  So, as I think about a meal with "no labels on the table," I really what that looks like.

Just food, dishes, and conversation.

No labels yelling at me with brand advertisements or claims of health.

Even if it means dumping takeout food onto a real plate to eat with real silverware, it feels that much more satisfying and good.  And that's what food is all about.

Enjoy!


p.s.  Still want more dressing recipes?

Apple Vinaigrette Dressing is here

Asian Vinaigrette Dressing is here

          

Raspberry Vinaigrette
adapted from Allrecipes

1/2 c. raspberry vinegar
1/2 c. vegetable oil
1/4 c. sugar
2 tsp. Dijon mustard
1/2 tsp. dried oregano
1/4 tsp. ground black pepper
pinch salt

Add all ingredients to a jar or container with a tight fitting lid.  Shake well to combine and store at room temperature.  Makes 1 cup (8 oz).

          

Creamy Two-Minute Dressing
adapted from The Kitchn

1/2 c. mayo or plain yogurt
2 Tbsp. Dijon mustard
1/4 tsp. sugar
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. ground black pepper
1/2 c. Champagne vinegar

Whisk together the mayo, mustard, sugar, salt, and pepper until combined.  Add the vinegar and whisk until smooth.  Keep refrigerated.  Makes 1 cup (8 oz).

       

          

Greek Vinaigrette
adapted from Allrecipes

1/2 c. red wine vinegar
1/3 c. olive oil
1 tsp. garlic powder
1 tsp. dried oregano
1 tsp. dried basil
3/4 tsp. pepper
3/4 tsp. salt
3/4 tsp. onion powder
3/4 tsp. Dijon mustard
Pinch sugar

Add all ingredients to a jar or container with a tight fitting lid.  Shake well to combine and store at room temperature.  Makes 1 cup (8 oz).

It's A Marshmallow World

Oh gosh, oh gosh, oh gosh.

My mom and I are currently in love with homemade marshmallows!  We can't stop talking about them and gushing over how pretty they are and if I'm being honest, we can't stop sneaking them from the pantry to eat.  They taste so much creamier than traditional marshmallows, and the texture is soft without being mushy or sticky.  Oh me, oh my, how we love these things.

There are oodles of photos down below, but don't let that scare you.  There are lots of steps, but they're easy steps, I promise.  I included bucketloads of photos just so that you could see the process as it happens.  I'm a visual person; I like to see how things come together, and I thought you might too.

Make It From Scratch: Vanilla Extract, Part 2

Hurrah for adorable and homemade gifts!! 

I finally dug my vodka bottles out of the pantry and got some 4 oz. jars ordered.  So last night, I got everything strained and poured and labeled and ready to wrap up as Christmas gifts.  And I'm pretty darn pleased with how it all turned out.  Scratch that - I love how it all turned out!

Updated Cost List (for a double batch):

Vanilla Beans: $25.19
Vodka: $24
24 Bottles & Lids (including shipping): $27.27
Labels: no cost, because I already had some in our office supplies
Ribbons: no cost, because I had some leftover from my Sarandipity days

With my two vodka bottles brewing in my pantry, I ended up having enough vanilla extract to fill nearly 30 of the 4 oz. bottles!  But because I only ordered 24, I poured the rest into canning jars to keep for myself :)  So, for 30 bottles, the cost per 4 oz. bottle works out to around $2.60 per bottle.  Which is dirt cheap for real vanilla extract.  Plus, you can't beat an adorable personalized and homemade gift, am I right?

Now, Let's Bake Something!

 

Part 1 & Recipe can be found here

Wash your jars and lids and have them ready, with a funnel, for pouring.

I first tried straining with a coffee filter, but that took forever and eight days.

This fine mesh sieve does a decent job, but will allow a few seeds through.

Using a funnel, pour into each jar, leaving a little extra space for a piece of vanilla bean.

Snip off a small section of your vodka'd vanilla beans for each jar.

I like the end with the curl because it looks pretty in the jars. 

See?  Pretty!

Then, whip up a cutesy personalized label to slap onto each jar.

And gussy up with a ribbon.  Perfect for gift giving!

Make It From Scratch: Vanilla Extract, Part 1

One month later!:

Part 2 & Bottling can be found here

Did you know that it's ridiculously easy to make your own vanilla extract?  All you do is soak vanilla beans in vodka.  Seriously!  My plan is to divide the vanilla into 4oz. bottles to give as Christmas gifts, with cutesy personalized labels.  In the next few weeks, I'll find a site to purchase bottles and lids, but here is the current cost breakdown:

Cost List (for a double batch):
Vanilla Beans: $25.19
Vodka: $24
Bottles & Lids (including shipping): n/a
Labels: n/a

As of right now, the vanilla costs only $1.75 for each 4oz. bottle.  Definitely cheaper than what you'd pay in a grocery store for real vanilla, let alone the imitation stuff.  I'll post my update in a few weeks, so you've got some time to purchased some vodka and vanilla beans.

Speaking of vanilla beans, the ones I purchased online - at Olive Nation - are the plumpest vanilla beans I've ever seen.  Most recipes require soaking the beans for at least two months, but these beans were so juicy, that they flavored the vodka within a month.  Love that!

Annnddddd...!  Olive Nation has offered you lovely readers a discount on their vanilla beans - hurrah!

Just enter discount code tadaa10 at checkout

with Olive Nation for a 10% discount.*

Enjoy!

Homemade Vanilla Extract
adapted from Allrecipes

1.75 L vodka (cheap stuff is just fine)
1/4 lb. vanilla beans, about 25 beans


Snip down the length of each vanilla bean to within an inch of one end.  Pour out some of the vodka to make room for vanilla beans and then put them all in the bottle.  Replace the cap, give it a good shake, and store in a cool, dark area of your kitchen.  Shake the bottle once a week.  Vanilla will be ready after one month or so, but is best when allowed to soak longer, up to 6 months.  Filter the vanilla pieces out and funnel into individual bottles.  Will make approximately 14, 4oz bottles.

Part 2 can be found here

Ingredient Lineup:

Use kitchen shears (or a clean pair of scissors) to split the vanilla beans down to within an inch of one end.

Five minutes later, and the bottle on the right is already turning amber-colored!

One month later, and it's full blown vanilla extract!

Part 2 & Bottling can be found here

* 10% discount applies to all items, except perishables like cheese, caviar, fish etc.

Make it From Scratch: Taco Seasoning Mix

This morning, I sat down to make my grocery list for the week, and it included taco seasoning for tonight's dinner.  And I got remembering a recipe I'd seen once for homemade taco seasoning.  I dug up the recipe and realized that I was missing only one ingredient.  Perfect!  I added that item to my grocery list and then threw together the seasoning mix when I got back home.  It was seriously so easy, that I'm bummed I didn't make this ages ago!  No funky ingredients, pretty darn inexpensive, and it makes a lot (it fills two of those jars in my photos).  I'm never buying the packets again, hurrah!

Enjoy!