Hopefully you know your way around the kitchen. These are just a few simple
recipes that are staples in our home now.
Hot tip: Find Chef Todd on YouTube and social media for some great ideas on “method cooking” which is a great way to accommodate variations in cooking and baking.
Eggnog Bread (turns out similar to nice pound cake)
I have been making this recipe for my family for 20+ years. I have been giving it as gifts at Christmas time as well. It does freeze well. Enjoy!
2 eggs
1 cup sugar
1 cup dairy eggnog (or thru the year I use regular milk, cinnamon, and nutmeg)
1/2 cup butter, melted (or margarine, melted)
1/4 tsp nutmeg
2 tsp rum extract (I dont always use this)
1 tsp vanilla
2 1/4 cup flour
2 tsp baking powder
Preheat oven to 350 degrees C.
Grease bottom of pan.
Beat eggs, add sugar, eggnog, butter, rum, and vanilla.
Blend well, add flour, baking powder and nutmeg. Stir just til moistened.
Pour into greased pan. (one large pan, or two small tin pans)
Bake for 45-50 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.
Cool 10 minutes. remove from pan. Cool bread COMPLETELY before slicing.
Chocolate Zucchini Loaf (4 loaves)
Note: I have also called this Harvest Loaves because although I used to use pumpkin and zucchini, you can also use equal amounts of other harvest crops such as rhubarb, apples, carrots, etc. Or go for a mixture of harvest offerings.
1 ½ cup margarine
4 cups sugar
6 eggs
4 cups zucchini (or pumpkin or other harvest crops)
1 cup cocoa
3 teaspoons baking soda
5 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon cinnamon
dash salt
5 cups flour
Mix, pour into loaf pans and bake 350 for 1 hour.
Hamburger Chow Mein Brown 1 pound hamburger and drain, add assorted vegetables of your choice (carrots, cabbage, celery, bean sprouts, peppers, suey choy, bok choy, mushrooms), 2 cups water, 1/2 cup soya sauce, and 1 large bag steam fried noodles. Simmer on stove top or bake in oven until vegetables are tender but not too soft.
Slum Gullion.
I have no idea why this was ever called “Slum Gullion” but it was our favorite comfort food growing up. It can be stretched easily depending on how many mouths you’re feeding. I have heard this called Goulash as well.
Browned hamburger
cooked macaroni
Add a can of tomatoes
Then use mushroom soup, cream of celery soup, or other choice of something to hold it all together, if you like. Mayonaise, sour cream also works.
Add in your choice of whatever you feel like adding: corn, peas, carrots, missed veggie blends, chopped celery, onions.
Cheese can be added, either shredded or small chunks that will melt
Spices: we like garlic, parsley, taco seasoning.
Mix and warm through, then serve.
Aladdin cookies
1/3 cup shortening
1 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1 cup cold cooked cereal
1 1/4 cup flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ginger
1 cup raisins
1 cup nuts
Mix all ingredients together, drop by teaspoonfuls onto cookie sheet and bake at 350.
No Bake Cheesecake Mix 1 envelope gelatin and 1/2 cup sugar, then add 2 teaspoons lemon juice and 1 cup boiling water. Add two 8 ounce packages of cream cheese (softened) and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Mix with electric mixer and pour into 9 inch graham cracker crust. Chill two hours.
Quick Scratch Cake
1 1/2 cups flour
3/4 cup sugar
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
3/4 cup milk
1/3 cup shortening
1 egg
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
Mix, pour into greased 9*9 pan and bake at 375 for 25-30 minutes.
Gift Giving Soup
1/4 cup each:
beef soup base (or french onion)
red lentils
vegetable flakes
pearl barley
small bow or shell pasta
yellow split peas
wild rice
Layer into two cup jar with tight fitting lid. Wrap with bow. Looks pretty 🙂
Seasoned Salt (with salt)
1 cup salt
2 T onion powder
1 tsp garlic powder
1 T celery seed, well ground
2 tsp paprika
1 tsp chili powder
1 tsp cayenne pepper
1 tsp dried parsley flakes, well ground
Mix all ingredients together well. Store in a jar with a lid.
No-Salt Spice Substitute
5 tsp onion powder
1 T garlic powder
1 T paprika
1 tsp dry mustard
1 tsp thyme
1/2 tsp white pepper
1/2 tsp celery seeds
Mix all ingredients together well. Store in a jar with a lid.
This is great to use on meats or vegetables.
Shake n Bake
2 cups bread crumbs
2 tbsp salt
1 1/2 tbsp paprika
1/2 tsp garlic powder
2 tsp sugar
2 tsp oregano
2 tsp poultry seasoning
1 tsp black pepper
1 cup flour
2 tsp onion powder
1 tsp herbs like parsley and celery
Mix in blender and store in tight container. For chicken, beat one egg and 3/4 cups milk and dip pieces in this mixture, then bake at 350 for about 45 minutes -1 hour
Baby wipes solution:
2 cups warm water or more
2 tbsp baby shampoo/baby body wash
2 tbsp baby oil
2 drops lavender oil (preferably high quality) – but this can be omitted
‘Swish’ the ingredients together so that the shampoo/body wash is dissolved, but not too vigorously (you don’t want it all sudsy). This can be used with cloth wipes (use cheap baby washcloths from the dollar store), which is best if you are using cloth diapers (another $$ saving idea!) OR, you can cut a paper towel roll in half lengthwise, remove the core, and place it in an airtight plastic container. When you need a wipe, take it from the center of the roll… they come away easily. Or just fold up paper towels and stick them in a commercial baby wipe container
Kool-Aid Playdough:
2 1/2 cups flour
1/2 cup salt
2 packages unsweetened kool-aid
2 cups boiling water
3 tbsp vegetable oil
Mix dry ingredients. Add boiling water (tried just hot tap water and didn’t work) and oil; stir. Mix or kneed with hands when cool. Store in Ziploc bag or container with lid. Lasts several months. Give as presents with mini rolling pins and cookie cutters.
Natural ingredient Weed control
1 litre of vinegar
1/4 cup of salt
2 tbsp. of liquid dish soap
mix and put in spray bottle.
-caution! this mixture will kill everything.
Legend Of Thieves Oil Blend
During the time of the plagues in Europe there was a band of thieves who would cover themselves in an essential oil concoction and go around robbing sick, dying and dead people and they didn’t get sick. When they were eventually caught they were given a lighter sentence in return for the recipe that kept them safe from the plague
1 part Rosemary
2 parts Lavender
1.5 parts Lemon Eucalyptus, Peppermint, Orange and Clove Bud