Thursday, May 21, 2009

Homemade Tortillas

Homemade Tortillas

3 cups flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
4-6 Tbl shortening
1 1/4 cups warm water

1. Mix dry ingredients in a large bowl.

2. Add shortening,cut in with a fork.

3. Add water a little at a time til dough is soft but not sticky. Knead a few minutes.

4. Pull off 10-12 small dough balls. Cover and let rest 10 minutes.

5. Preheat griddle to medium.

6. Roll each ball in a circle on a lightly floured surface.

7. Place one at a time on griddle.Cook about 30 -60 seconds on each side.

Homemade Chocolate Syrup

1 cup cocoa
1 1/2 cups sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 cups water
1 tsp vanilla
1/4 cup corn syrup (optional)

Stir all together in a large saucepan.

Bring to a boil;stir until thickened. 3-6 minutes.

Store in refrigerator. Sauce will thicken more upon cooling.

Great to make chocolate milk,drizzled over ice cream,etc.

Ranch Dressing Mix

Ranch Dressing Mix

5 Tablespoons instant minced onions
7 teaspoons parsley flakes
4 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon garlic powder

Mix together and store in an air tight container.

For dressing: Mix 2 Tablespoons dry mix with 1 cup mayonnaise and 1 cup buttermilk or sour cream (I used my homemade buttermilk).

For dip: Mix 2 Tablespoons dry mix with 2 cups sour cream.

Mix up a few hours before serving, so the flavors all blend nicely. Store in the refrigerator.

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Tossed Salad

1-2 Romain lettuce hearts,chopped
1 carrot thinly sliced
1/4 cup frozen peas
1-2 thin slices of red onion,diced
1 hard boiled egg,chopped

Combine all in a large bowl,toss gently with large spoon and fork.

croutons
assortment of salad dressings

Pancakes

2 cups flour (all whole wheat or half white/half wheat)
2 tablespoons sugar
4 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups milk
2 eggs
4 tablespoons oil
1 mashed banana,optional

Combine all in a bowl. Pour by 1/4 cup onto hot griddle. When bubbles dot top of each pancake,flip. Remove to serving plate. Serve with butter,syrup,peanut butter,cinnamon.

Yield about 24 pancakes.

Homemade Extracts

Homemade Extracts Recipes

Ingredients:
Vanilla Extract:

2 vanilla beans, cut in half lengthwise and then chopped
1/2 cup vodka
1/4 cup water

Lemon Extract

1 lemon
1/2 cup vodka
1/4 cup water

Orange Extract

1/2 navel orange
1/4 cup vodka
1/2 cup water

Peppermint Extract

1/2 cup fresh chopped peppermint leaves
1/2 cup vodka


Directions:

To make an extract, combine the ingredients in a 1/2-pint Mason jar
and set aside to steep. Each recipe can be stored anywhere and should
keep for up to a year.

Vanilla Extract:

Using a sharp kitchen knife, cut a lengthwise slit down the middle
of each vanilla bean. Cut vanilla beans into 1/2 - 3/4-inch pieces.
Pour vodka into your container. Add vanilla beans to container and
shake. Wait and shake. It will take 30 days for the vanilla extract.
Once each day, vigorously shake the container for 30 seconds. Once
the 30 days has finished, strain the liquid through coffee filter
or layers of cheesecloth.

Lemon Extract :

Thinly peel 1 lemon with a vegetable peeler taking care not to
include any pith. Dice the peel (about 2 Tbsp) and combine it with
vodka and water. Set aside to steep for at least 3 days. More is
better.

Orange Extract:

Thinly peel 1/2 navel orange with a vegetable peeler taking care
not to include any pith and cut the peel into chunks (about 1 1/2
Tbsp). Combine with vodka and water. Set aside to steep for at
least 3 days. More is better.

Peppermint Extract:

Fill container 1/2 full with vodka, add 1/2 cup fresh chopped
peppermint. Fill rest of way with water and let stand for 3 weeks.
Pour through strainer, cheesecloth, or coffee filter to remove solids.

Friday, May 8, 2009

Whole Wheat Waffles

1 3/4 cups whole wheat
1 Tablespoon baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
2 eggs
1 3/4 cups milk
1/2 cup oil

Combine all in a mixing bowl. Cook just under 1/2 cup batter at a time in heated waffle iron.

Serve with butter,syrup,peanut butter, or chocolate syrup.