Cooking making things from scratch?

[nairv]

Thanks GlendaO! Those recipes look wonderful!

 

[Imzadi]

Is this OK to do? I wanted to try this method but I live in a rented apt and don't want to risk damaging the appliances

The socket for an appliance bulb may only be rated for an appliance bulb. So you could melt the socket if the wattage of the bulb is too high for it. However, since it's in the oven, they may have put in an extra sturdy socket.

What if you just got a clip on utility light, like the ones garage mechanics use when looking under the hood of cars and stick the light in via an extension cord?

The easiest way I've read to keep the yogurt warm is to use an Igloo cooler or styrofoam cooler. Fill it with hot water to prewarm it. Then dump out the water and refill it with 120 degree water that is about an inch below the top of your yogurt jars. Fill the jars, close the lid. Let sit in a warm area to incubate for at least 5 to 6 hours. Do not open lid during that time.

 

[semo233]

bumpity, bump bump

 

[Karenj2]

First off, I have red grapes and muscadines, so I blend and make my jelly from those. Any other grape you'd like to use should work as well. You can also use bottled grape juice, but the taste isn't as pure!

You'll need:

3 cups juice (typically about 5-6 lbs grapes)
1 pack pectin
4 cups sugar

Take the grapes and crush. I use a potato masher. Simmer the grapes and let the juice cool. Strain the crushed grapes for 3 cups juice.

Mix the juice and pectin and bring to a rolling boil. Remove the pot from heat and add the sugar. Stir it in quickly and smoothly. Return to a rolling boil. Boil hard for 1 minute, stirring constantly.

Remove from heat. Skim foam. Process 5 minutes in hot water bath with 1/4" head-space.

You can add a teaspoon of butter when you add the sugar and it will greatly reduce the foam.

Is it possible to do with less sugar? That's something I'd like to try, but I'm trying to avoid large amounts of sugar...

 

[Chicklogic]

The socket for an appliance bulb may only be rated for an appliance bulb. So you could melt the socket if the wattage of the bulb is too high for it. However, since it's in the oven, they may have put in an extra sturdy socket.

What if you just got a clip on utility light, like the ones garage mechanics use when looking under the hood of cars and stick the light in via an extension cord?

The easiest way I've read to keep the yogurt warm is to use an Igloo cooler or styrofoam cooler. Fill it with hot water to prewarm it. Then dump out the water and refill it with 120 degree water that is about an inch below the top of your yogurt jars. Fill the jars, close the lid. Let sit in a warm area to incubate for at least 5 to 6 hours. Do not open lid during that time.

A yogurt incubator only costs $20........and is almost foolproof!

 

[Chicklogic]

This time of year tomatoes are at their best - and cheap!

Homemade salsa
tomato sauce
tomato soup- YUMMY!
BLT's
Spaghetti sauce

when I lived in Michigan we would can tomatoes every year.
I have also made tomato paste (too much work tho)

 

[GOOFY4DONALD]

I have a question. I have, in my freezer, a 20 lb bucket of boysenberry puree. I was going to make jelly with a friend (that knew how to make jelly) but she doesn't have the time and I got custody of the puree. What can I do with it?

 

[Chicklogic]

I have a question. I have, in my freezer, a 20 lb bucket of boysenberry puree. I was going to make jelly with a friend (that knew how to make jelly) but she doesn't have the time and I got custody of the puree. What can I do with it?

Host an ice cream social

Seriously.............I guess you need to find a new friend that knows jelly


Can't believe she left you holding the bucket of berries with no support

 

[pampam]

Host an ice cream social

Seriously.............I guess you need to find a new friend that knows jelly


Can't believe she left you holding the bucket of berries with no support

Did you try a google search? Perhaps under recipes.

 

[semo233]

I have a question. I have, in my freezer, a 20 lb bucket of boysenberry puree. I was going to make jelly with a friend (that knew how to make jelly) but she doesn't have the time and I got custody of the puree. What can I do with it?

What have you got to loose? Look up a recipe on line. Use 1/2 or 1/4 of what you have and give it a try. If it doesn't "jell" the way it should, use it as a syrup (I blend mine with a little maple syrup) for ice cream or pancakes. Then try again!!

 

[GlendaO]

I have a question. I have, in my freezer, a 20 lb bucket of boysenberry puree. I was going to make jelly with a friend (that knew how to make jelly) but she doesn't have the time and I got custody of the puree. What can I do with it?

Assuming all 20 lbs are frozen together? If so, that's a lot of work!!

Since you have the puree and have never made jelly, I'd go for a jamjelly! Usually with jelly you need to strain, 'coz you just want the juice & with jam, you use slightly crushed or whole fruit. HTH!

Basic Recipe'

5 cups berry puree
1/4 cup lemon juice
4 cups sugar
1 pack pectin

Mix puree, sugar and lemon juice together. Bring it to a full boil. Remove from heat & add sugar smoothly & quickly. Return to heat and bring to a full, rolling boil. Boil for 1 min, stirring constantly. Skim foam and ladle into jars. Process hot water bath for 10 mins, 1/4" head space.

BTW, you can add a teaspoon butter when you add the sugar to cut down on foam.

If you've never processed any jars for canning of anything, let me know; fairly simple really!

 

[Chicklogic]

I just made Torta Ahogata! Its basically translated to "Drowned Beef"

It was SO easy (tomato sauce,garlic and onion,cilantro with shredded beef) Put on a bolito (mexican roll) and dunk in extra sauce while eating.

 

[semo233]

Bumpity, bump, bump!

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

I have two recipes that I use constantly that are from scratch....

Banana Bread

3 ripe bananas
1/2 cup sour cream
2 eggs
1 cup sugar
2 cups flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 stick margarine

Its a drop/plop recipe.. I put the bananas, sour cream, sugar, margarine, and eggs in a bowl and mix. I add the baking powder, then the flour. Put into a greased bread pan and cook at 350 for 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes...

Chewy Granola Bars - (mine are made with high potassium/magnesium extra's to help DD cope with her PMS - and yes it does work)

3 cups rolled oats
1 cup rice crispies
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2/3 cup butter, melted
1/2 cup honey
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
3/4th bar of Ghiradelli's Intense Dark Espresso Escape
1 cup dried cherries cut up small

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Lightly grease one 9x13 inch pan.

In a large mixing bowl combine the oats, rice crispies, flour, brown sugar, baking soda, and cherries. Melt together at low heat the honey/margarine. Add vanilla right before adding to dry ingredients. Mix wet ingredients into the dry. Use a greased spatula to stir. Break chocolate into small pieces, stir in.

Lightly press mixture into the prepared pan. Bake at 325 degrees F for 18 to 22 minutes or until golden brown. Let cool for 10 minutes then cut into bars. Let bars cool completely in pan before removing or serving.

These are wonderful. When DD brings them to school in her lunch, her friends line up to sit with her...

 

[Aristomommy]

Inspired by this thread, I welcomed a huge bag of tomatoes from a patient of mine. I made a good marinara sauce, that I froze for future use.

I heated some olive oil and sauteed garlic and onion in it. While that was going I put the tomatoes in boiling water for 1 min. and then peeled of the skin and chopped them. I added the tomatoes, 1 can of tomato puree and italian seasoning. It took about 20-30 min. to reduce and I kept smashing the tomatoes smooth in the pan.

It was the easiest thing to do, an I ended up enough marinara for several gallon sized ziploc bags. I plan on using the sauce in my lasagna, baked ziti and with plain pasta.

 

[Chicklogic]

Albertson's has packages of HUGE portabello mushrooms buy one package get TWO PACKAGES free! Looks like homemade mushroom soup for me.....

 

[cndij]

Fruit Rollups

Maybe not completely scratch as I use unsweetened applesauce as a base.
I have been doing this using Applesauce and unsweeted Koolaid (dissolve the koolaid in a small amount of apple juice), to color/flavor the fruit leathers/rollups. This week I did an even healthier version, Day 1, I used some peaches that were getting a bit too soft, peeled them threw them in the blender and threw the applesauce in, and spread it on the dehydrator trays, and made peach rollups. Yesterday, I bought a bunch of grapes on sale and then noticed I had a couple of packs of grapes from last week already and they were getting a little soft, so I threw those in the blender, added applesauce and voila -- grape rollups. I figure that with how far a large jar of applesauce from Costco (3 jars to a package) goes, that these are costing me about 1/4 of what the Betty Crocker rollups in the box are. My nieces love them, I have to limit them or a whole batch (5 trays in my dehydrator) will be gone in minutes.

Actually they love any kind of dried fruit and beg me to make more of their favorites. It's an easy way to get the fruit into the ones who aren't normally big fruit eaters.

 

[Chicklogic]

Another Albertson's plug.....buy 1 chicken tederloin get TWO free
Steak (sirloin) $2.98/pound (normally $12/pound)
pork chops bogo!

 

[pampam]

I just made tomato sauce and tomato paste and it was much easier than I thought it would be. I bought a bushel of tomatoes washed them, and put them through my juicer. The pulp from the juicer became tomato paste. I froze it, one cup per bag. I put the juice in large pans, put it in the oven so I wouldn't have to stir it so much, and boiled it down to sauce. It took about 12 hours, but I really didn't time it. I expect it would be quicker on top of the stove, but I was busy with other things and didn't want to be tied to the stove. I froze it in 2 cup bags. Some I canned in steralized jars. I added lemon juice to it. I was going to add spices and seasonings, but decided not to, since I usually add that when I cook.

 

[TheBigBadWolf]

And the other is an easy bread recipe. I don't have a bread machine and probably won't be getting one for a while but would still like to make my own.

This is a recipe a friend of mine uses. I haven't made it but have eaten it at her house and it was very good. Can't beat the recipe for EASY.

Beer Bread

Mix 2 Tablespoons of sugar with 3 cups of self -rising flour (make sure you use self rising!) Add 4 oz. of beer at a time until all 12 ounces are used.
(doesn't matter about the brand of beer --cold or room temps doesn't matter either)
Pour in greased bread pan---drizzle 1/2 cup melted butter over the top. Let sit for about 5 minutes ---put in oven at 350 for 50 minutes.