Copycat Lipton Onion Soup Mix

Note:  I use Lipton Onion Soup mix for a lot of recipes.  Now that I have a quick and easy recipe I will never wonder if I have any of those packets anymore! 

Copycat Lipton Onion Soup Mix
Ingredients
3/4 c. Dried minced onion
1/3 c. beef bouillon granules
4 tsp onion powder
1/4 tsp crushed celery seed
1/4 tsp sugar

Directions
Combine all ingredients.  Seal in a ziploc or vacuum seal jar. Approximate 5 Tbs of mix equals one envelope (1 1/4 oz).

To make onion dip:

5 Tbs. Prepared Mix
1 pint Sour Cream

Blend well, refrigerate for at least an hour.

Homemade Coffee Creamer

Note: I like making my own coffee creamer rather than buying it.   It tastes better to me and I don't have to use very much of it.   Make the base recipe and then add whatever flavors you want to it.

Base Recipe

Ingredients
14oz sweetened condensed milk
1 3/4 cup half & half (whole milk, almond milk, whatever you prefer)
 
Directions
Pour ingredients into a jar with a tight lid and shake until well  mixed.   

Flavor Add Ins...

French Vanilla Creamer
2 teaspoons vanilla extract OR vanilla coffee syrup

Chocolate
2-3 tablespoons chocolate syrup

Vanilla Caramel
2 tablespoons caramel ice cream topping
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Samoa (like the Girl Scout Cookies)
2 teaspoons coconut extract
2 tablespoons chocolate syrup
2 tablespoons caramel ice cream topping

Peppermint Patty
2 tablespoons chocolate syrup
1 teaspoon peppermint extract

Buttermilk Syrup

Note:  Christmas Eve is a breakfast kind of night for us.    Pancakes, eggs, cheesy grits, bacon and a roaring fire (if the weather cooperates).     When you are enjoying all your favorites, you really need homemade syrup too!

 

Buttermilk Syrup

Ingredients
2 T. butter, softened

3/4 cup sugar

1 t. light corn syrup

1/2 cup buttermilk

1/2 t. baking soda

1 t. vanilla extract

Directions
In a saucepan over medium-high heat, boil all ingredients except vanilla for one minute.  Remove from heat and stir in vanilla.  Cover and store in refrigerator.  Makes about one cup.

Yeast Free Taco Seasoning Mix Ingredients

Note:   I found this yeast free taco seasoning mix at this website.    So excited to find this so that I can still somewhat have taco night with the boys.

Yeast Free Taco Seasoning Mix Ingredients
1 tablespoon chili powder
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon sea salt
1 teaspoon black pepper

Yeast Free Taco Seasoning Mix Directions
In a small bowl, mix together chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, cumin, salt and pepper
Use immediately or store in an airtight container for later use.  I often quadruple this recipe and store in a spice jar for quick use.  

Steak Butter

 Note:  My first experience with steak butter was on my first date with my now wonderful husband.   It was an amazing compliment to an equally well cooked steak.   


 Steak Butter

Ingredients
1/2 c. butter, softened
2 T. steak sauce
1 T. Worcestershire sauce
1 t. smoke-flavored cooking sauce
1/8 t. hot pepper sauce
1 clove garlic, crushed
1/2 t. seasoned salt

Directions

In a small bowl, beat together butter and remaining ingredients until well blended. Shape into a log; wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate. At serving time, slice to serve on grilled steaks or chops. If desired, plastic-wrapped log may be wrapped in aluminum foil and frozen for up to 6 months; no need to thaw before using. Makes about 1/2 cup.

Caramel Apple Sauce

Note:   It is fall.    Something about this time of year just screams apples and caramel to me.      Last week I went to the Fresh Market and bought some of the most delicious apples.    After eating the first one I knew I had to make some caramel sauce to dip them in and enjoy while watching football.     I will admit that when I ran out of apples I baked a cake just so I had something to drizzle the sauce on as well.
Caramel Apple Sauce

Ingredients
3/4 cup brown sugar, lightly packed
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup corn syrup
1/3 cup butter
2/3 cup whipping cream

Directions
Melt the butter in a saucepan.   Add the corn syrup and mix.     Stir in the sugars.      Cook over medium heat until the mixture comes to a full boil.       Remove from the heat and let cool for a couple of minutes.    (Just enough time to slice up a few apples.)    Stir in the whipping cream.     Pour into a container and store in the refrigerator.    

Apple Butter

Note:  The next recipe in our Little House on the Prairie reading series is apple butter.   "Then Laura gathered up all the paper wrappings, and she helped Ma set on the table the big platter of golden, fried mush, a plate of hot biscuits, a dish of fried potatoes, a bowl of codfish gravy and a glass dish full of dried-apple sauce." (By the Shores of Silver Lake, Laura Ingalls Wilder) This recipe uses fresh apples instead of dried, but we think Laura would have liked this on her biscuits.

Apple Butter

Ingredients
4  pounds  Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored, and quartered
1  cup  apple cider
1/4  cup  packed dark brown sugar
1  tablespoon  fresh lemon juice
1/4  teaspoon  salt
Dash of ground cloves
2  (3-inch) cinnamon sticks
1  star anise
Directions
Combine apples and cider in a large stockpot; bring to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer, partially covered, 30 minutes or until apples are tender.   Place apple mixture in a food processor; pulse 6 times or until chunky. Return to pan.  Stir in sugar and remaining ingredients. Cook over low heat 1 hour or until thick, stirring occasionally. Discard cinnamon and star anise. Cover and chill.   Note: Store in an airtight container in refrigerator for up to 1 month.

Fresh Blueberry Sauce

Note:    I love this blueberry sauce warm on top of pancakes or cold on top of pound cake.

Fresh Blueberry Sauce

Ingredients
2 cups fresh blueberries
1/3 cup sugar
1 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Directions
Wash blueberries and crush.    Add sugar, lemon juice and salt.    Bring mixture to a boil for about one minute.     Add vanilla.      Serve warm or chill.

Chocolate Lover's Fondue

Note:    Nothing says Valentine's day like chocolate.      Fondue is just fun.     Whether just you and your honey, your family or a large group of friends, it is hard not laugh and enjoy yourself when you are covering everything with chocolate.


Chocolate Lover's Fondue

Ingredients
2 cups chocolate chips (hubs and Little like semi-sweet, but Big Guy and I like special dark)
3/4 cup half & half
1/2 cup sugar
Items to Dip:   pound cake, graham crackers, pretzel rods, marshmallows, bananas, strawberries, grapes, pineapple tidbits, sliced apples, and anything else that sounds good to you!

Directions
Combine chocolate chips, half & half and sugar in saucepan.    Cook over low heat until chocolate chips are melted and mixture is hot.     Transfer to fondue pot.       Keep warm.

TMTT: Homemade Green Pepper Jelly

Note:    You have bought pepper jelly in the store, but until you have made it fresh you have not really realized just how delicious it can be.     Put this out at your Superbowl party with some triscuits and the plate will come back empty!


Green Pepper Jelly

Ingredients
6 large green peppers, cut in squares
1 1/2 cups cider vinegar
1 tsp. crushed red pepper
6 cups sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
One bottle pectin

Directions
Place half the green pepper pieces in an electric blender container with 3/4 cup vinegar. Cover and process until liquified.  Pour into saucepan.  Repeat with remaining pepper and vinegar and add to saucepan.

Stir in the red pepper, sugar and salt and heat to boiling. Stir in liquid pectin and boil until somewhat thickened. Add a few drops of green food coloring and pour into sterilized jars and seal.

So delicious served over a log of cream cheese!

Join me over at Tempt My Tummy Tuesday for more delicious recipes!

Homemade Chocolate Syrup

Note:     Do you know how much chocolate syrup my boys go through?    Making chocolate milk.   Pouring it over their ice cream.     For the longest time when the boys were little they were convinced that they couldn't go to sleep without a glass of chocolate milk.      It was inevitable that I would run out of chocolate syrup and be desperate to find a way to make some.       With this recipe, the boys don't freak out when they find an empty bottle!

Homemade Chocolate Syrup

Ingredients
1 cup cocoa
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 dash salt
1 cup hot water
2 tsp. vanilla

Directions
Combine cocoa, sugar, salt and hot water in saucepan.    Stir until well combined.     Boil for 3 minutes.     Remove from the heat and stir in vanilla.     Pour into a container and store in the refrigerator.     

Cinnamon Cream Cheese

Note: We are easing back into our homeschool routine. Some mornings it is taking more coaxing than others. The boys are enjoying this flavored cream cheese to put on their warm bagels.

Cinnamon Cream Cheese

Ingredients
1 block of cream cheese
1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
3 Tbsp. powdered sugar

Directions

Mix all ingredients together well with hand mixer. Cover and chill until needed.

Bravo! Balsamic Vinaigrette

Note: We have an amazing restaurant in our area called BRAVO! They have an amazing balsamic vinaigrette which they shared the recipe for on our recent midday news show. I post it here because I didn't want to lose the recipe for this goodness.

Bravo! Balsamic Vinaigrette

Ingredients

½ cup balsamic vinegar

1 Tbl. Dijon mustard

1 tsp. fresh minced garlic

2 Tbl. sugar

2 tsp. dry Italian seasoning

Salt & pepper to taste

¾ cup olive oil

Directions

Combine all ingredients (except the olive oil) in a food processor. Start machine and slowly drizzle in the olive oil through the lid opening until fully incorporated. If dressing is too thick, drizzle in a bit of cool water.

Chocolate Gravy

Note: Sounds sinful doesn't it? It is wonderful. Wonderful over pancakes, biscuits, bread pudding, ice cream. Just wonderful. Try it. You'll like it!

Chocolate Gravy

Ingredients
1 cup sugar
2 tablespoons Hershey’s cocoa

2 tablespoons self-rising flour

3/4 cup hot water
3/4 cup milk

Optional:

2 tablespoons butter
1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Directions

In a skillet, mix flour and cocoa and sugar. Turn heat to medium.

Slowly add the hot water, a little at a time. Keep stirring this paste until the sugar dissolves.

Slowly add in the milk. When completely mixed, turn up the heat to medium high.

Stir constantly until desire thickness is reached. Add butter and vanilla; keep warm on low until the biscuits are done.

For gravy that is less like syrup and more like pudding, add 3 tablespoons flour and use only milk.

For more delicious recipes, follow this link to Tempt My Tummy Tuesday.

Muscadine Syrup

Note: Muscadines and scuppernongs... those delicious and odd fruit! They grow wild and beautiful throughout the country. They are kind of a mystery as you kind of have to know where they are to actually have some. My in-laws have some on their land which is a wonderful treat. Having muscadine syrup on your biscuits is SO good!

Muscadine Syrup

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups muscadine juice
1 1/4 cups sugar
1/3 cup corn syrup
1 Tbsp. lemon juice

Directions

Combine ingredients in a saucepan and boil for about 2 minutes. Remove from heat. Skim off foam and pour into sterilized jars. Cover with lids. Process in boiling water for 10 minutes. Makes 1 1/2 pints.

Plum Barbeque Sauce

Note:    So great on pork tenderloin!!

Plum Barbecue Sauce


Ingredients
1/4 c Onion; Chopped, 1 small
1/4 c Butter Or Margarine
1/4 c Chile Sauce
2 ts Mustard; Dijon-style
16 1/2 oz Purple Plums; pitted and finely chopped
6 oz Frozen Lemonade; Thawed,1 cn

Directions
Cook onion in margarine in 2-quart saucepan stirring occasionally, until tender, about 2 minutes. Stir in remaining ingredients. Heat to boiling; reduce heat to low. Simmer, uncovered, 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Makes about 2 cups of sauce.

Simple Syrup

Note: You can use this syrup to sweeten tea, coffee, fruit punch, fruit salads... the uses are endless. It eliminates the grainy texture of just using straight sugar.

Simple Syrup

Ingredients:
2 1/2 cups sugar
1 cup water

Directions:
Combine ingredients in 2-quart heavy saucepan over medium-high heat and bring to a boil. The sugar should dissolve. Remove from the heat and pour into clean air tight glass bottles. Let cool completely before using. Simple syrup can be stored in the refrigerator.

Homemade Bisquick

Note: This is so much cheaper, easier and healthier than buying regular Bisquick. It also makes amazing, amazing pancakes. See recipe below!

Homemade Bisquick
from Alton Brown, Food Network

Ingredients:
6 c all-purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp baking soda (check expiration date first)
3 tsp baking powder
1 T salt
2 T sugar

Directions:
Combine all of the ingredients in a lidded container. Shake to mix.

Use the mix within 3 months.

Fudge Sauce

Note: My next door neighbor is single and if there is nothing else in his refrigerator there is always milk and ice cream. I think he will really enjoy getting some of this fudge sauce to pour over his nightly bowl of ice cream!

Fudge Sauce

Ingredients:
1 cup heavy cream
2 tablespoons light corn syrup
12 ounces semisweet or bittersweet chocolate, chopped
2 teaspoons vanilla

Directions:
In a medium saucepan over medium heat, bring the cream and corn syrup to a boil. Remove from heat and whisk in the chocolate until melted. Stir in the vanilla.

Pour into jars and cool completely before covering or refrigerating (otherwise the sauce will become granular). Keeps up to 1 month in the refrigerator.

Makes 2 cups.

Copycat Magic Shell

Note: Do you know how much money I have spent on Magic Shell? The boys love this on their ice cream. Now I can make this at home.

Copycat Magic Shell

Ingredients:
1 − 6 ounce package chocolate chips
1/2 stick butter or margarine
1/4 cup vegetable oil

Directions:
Melt chocolate chips and butter in a double boiler. Add oil and mix in well. When dipped into or spooned over ice cream it will create a hard chocolate shell.