This is part of my neighbor gift this year. They are really easy to mix up and the website has a sheet of labels to print. I printed mine on regular printer paper and used double-sided scotch tape to stick them on the jars. Here are the instructions from skiptomylou.org.
I found the egg replacer by Bob’s Red Mill at my local grocery store in the section where they have Bob’s flours. Here is a picture of what it looks like at Amazon.
I found an easy sewing tutorial for making a simple elastic skirt: Easy Layered Skirt Tutorial from The Littlest Studio.
I took the waist and length measurement for my niece and adjusted the two pieces accordingly. They turned out really cute and she loves them.
This is a recipe by Alton Brown on the Food Network. I read through a lot of reviews and increased the honey to 1/2 cup. The total batch made 2 1/2 cups (five 4 oz. jars). I made two batches for Christmas gifts. I used these Avery labels from Amazon. I didn’t have the correct template in my Word program, but downloaded the Avery program following the directions on the labels. The design I used was already made as a label (I just changed the text to Honey Butter).
I found these easy headbands on Pinterest by Craft Snob. I had never heard of “fold over elastic” but found some on Amazon. The hardest part of these was turning them right side out. I sewed them all up and did that task while watching television. This is a nice use of fabric scraps or fat quarters.
These pillow cases are so easy and only take 3 seams. I love that the ragged edges are hidden with “French seams”. I didn’t know what a French seam was before I watched this You Tube Tutorial by Crafty Gemini. These will be Christmas gifts for little girls and boys. They were fun to make and only took me about 15 minutes each.
When whipping cream is on sale, I like to make whipped topping and butter (and buttermilk!) I have a food processor so that is what I use to make butter. Add 1 quart heavy whipping cream (or whatever amount you have on hand…I used 3 cups this time) to food processor with plastic blade, metal blade or whisk inserted.
Process on high for 5-10 minutes. It will turn to whipped topping first, then will separate into butter.
Drain the buttermilk off and save for later. Think biscuits, muffins, pancakes, smoothies, etc. I also freeze buttermilk in ice cube trays and then store in freezer storage bags (about 2T per cube).
Dump butter back in food processor, add 1/2 cup cold water and blend further. Discard water and repeat until the water is clear (about 5 times). The remaining water needs worked out of the butter, either with a spatula (what I use), potato masher or shaking it in a covered jar. Remove as much water as possible.
Stir in a pinch of salt if desired. And, done! Place in butter crock, ramekins or roll in waxy freezer paper.
When your apples and other fruit start to get too soft for eating, don’t waste it! Peel it and throw it into a pot and add a bit of water so the fruit doesn’t stick to the pan. Simmer until the fruit starts to get soft and then puree it in a blender. Stir in cinnamon and serve.
Today I had 5 apples, 2 plums and 3 peaches that needed to be eaten or cooked. It made almost 3 cups.
If you’re looking for a chunky sauce, see this post.
Now I have 3 desserts ready to pack for my lunch next week. Yum.
I know I am kind of an oddball in that, trying to be frugal, we do not use our central a/c. So far this summer we have not turned it on. Last year we used it two days because I was canning tomatoes and when the temp is already 80 degrees in the kitchen before you start, it gets very hot. A hot kitchen leads to the need for creative cooking in the summer since I refuse to turn the oven on.
I have to admit to previously by-passing a lot of recipes for the crockpot because I would think “who needs a crockpot for that? just use the oven!”…such as “baked” potatoes. But now since I’m not using the oven, I completely understand uses for these recipes. Maybe some people don’t even have an oven at all.
Here are some things in our regular menu that can be made without an oven:
Crockpot
Electric Skillet
Stovetop
Microwave
Outdoor Grill
No Bake
Several other useful appliances: ice cream machine, bread machine, waffle iron, panini press, toaster, deep fryer
Things I miss the oven for: muffins, biscuits, potato skins, baked potatoes, cake, cupcakes, pie, cheesecake, cobbler, pizza, meatballs, oven-baked tacos, chicken enchiladas and cheesy scalloped potatoes.
It’s summer and I’m avoiding my oven. But I wanted to make cupcakes. I have used this recipe before with success so I cooked up the cake in the crockpot. I used the HI setting and by the time the inside was not jiggly the outside was pretty dry. Next time I’ll use the LO setting and keep an eye on it.
After the cake cooled in the crock pot, I divided it up among containers and then topped with frosting. I discarded the dry outer part.
Ready for work lunches!
I made 30+ of these cute little bunnies for Easter baskets. The instructions can be found at The Little Fabric Blog. The blog also contains a link to the pattern. I made 6 out of one fat quarter.
Kathy Coy 