Homemade Ketchup

HOMEMADE KETCHUP RECIPE:

6 ounces tomato paste (choose a brand that contains only "tomatoes")
3/4 cup water
2 TBSP raw, unfiltered apple cider vinegar
2 TBSP raw honey
1/2 tsp sea salt
1/4 tsp onion granules (or 1/8 tsp onion powder)
2 pinches ground allspice
2 pinches ground cloves

In a medium saucepan, stir all ingredients together with a whisk. Bring the mixture to a boil and stir. Cover the pan, and then simmer on low heat for about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Let the ketchup cool, and store it in a covered container in the refrigerator. This recipe also freezes well if you prefer to make larger batches and store it for later convenience.


Learn more:http://www.naturalnews.com/034294_ketchup_recipes.html#ixzz1fd7P6zEG

breadsticks

2 1/2 cups flour
4 tsp. sugar
3 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
1 1/3 cup milk
6 tbs. melted butter
4 tsp. sesame seeds

In a small bowl, combine first 4 ingredients. Gradually add milk and stir to form a soft dough.Turn onto a floured surface. Knead gently 3 to 4 times. Roll into a 20x5x1/2"rectangle. Cut into 24 breadsticks. Place butter in 2 13x9x2" pans. Put breadsticks in butter and turn to coat. Sprinkle with seeds.
Variations: Chopped fresh herbs such as parsley, rosemary, basil, oregano, thyme, etc. can be added, if desired. Add 2 tablespoons minced garlic and sprinkle with garlic powder before baking to make garlic bread sticks. Bake at 450°F for 14 to 18 minutes.

Power of a cucumber

WHAT A LITTLE GEM THE CUCUMBER IS, I WILL LOOK AT IT DIFFERENTLY NOW.

1. Cucumbers contain most of the vitamins you need every day, just one cucumber contains Vitamin B1, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B3, Vitamin B5, Vitamin B6, Folic Acid, Vitamin C, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Potassium and Zinc.

2. Feeling tired in the afternoon, put down the caffeinated soda and pick up a cucumber.. Cucumbers are a good source of B Vitamins and Carbohydrates that can provide that quick pick-me-up that can last for hours.

3. Tired of your bathroom mirror fogging up after a shower? Try rubbing a cucumber slice along the mirror, it will eliminate the fog and provide a soothing, spa-like fragrance.

4. Are grubs and slugs ruining your planting beds? Place a few slices in a small pie tin and your garden will be free of pests all season long. The chemicals in the cucumber react with the aluminum to give off a scent undetectable to humans but drive garden pests crazy and make them flee the area.

5 Looking for a fast and easy way to remove cellulite before going out or to the pool? Try rubbing a slice or two of cucumbers along your problem area for a few minutes, the phytochemicals in the cucumber cause the collagen in your skin to tighten, firming up the outer layer and reducing the visibility of cellulite. Works great on wrinkles too!!!

6.. Want to avoid a hangover or terrible headache? Eat a few cucumber slices before going to bed and wake up refreshed and headache free. Cucumbers contain enough sugar, B vitamins and electrolytes to replenish essential nutrients the body lost, keeping everything in equilibrium, avoiding both a hangover and headache!!

7. Looking to fight off that afternoon or evening snacking binge? Cucumbers have been used for centuries and often used by European trappers, traders and explores for quick meals to thwart off starvation.

8. Have an important meeting or job interview and you realize that you don't have enough time to polish your shoes? Rub a freshly cut cucumber over the shoe, its chemicals will provide a quick and durable shine that not only looks great but also repels water.

9. Out of WD 40 and need to fix a squeaky hinge? Take a cucumber slice and rub it along the problematic hinge, and voila, the squeak is gone!

10. Stressed out and don't have time for massage, facial or visit to the spa? Cut up an entire cucumber and place it in a boiling pot of water, the chemicals and nutrients from the cucumber with react with the boiling water and be released in the steam, creating a soothing, relaxing aroma that has been shown the reduce stress in new mothers and college students during final exams.

11. Just finish a business lunch and realize you don't have gum or mints? Take a slice of cucumber and press it to the

roof of your mouth with your tongue for 30 seconds to eliminate bad breath, the phytochemcials will kill the bacteria in your mouth responsible for causing bad breath.

12. Looking for a 'green' way to clean your faucets, sinks or stainless steel? Take a slice of cucumber and rub it on the surface you want to clean, not only will it remove years of tarnish and bring back the shine, but is won't leave streaks and won't harm you fingers or fingernails while you clean.

13. Using a pen and made a mistake? Take the outside of the cucumber and slowly use it to erase the pen writing, also works great on crayons and markers that the kids have used to decorate the walls!!

Pass this along to someone who is looking for better and safer ways to solve life's everyday problems..

BBQ Sauce

http://tastykitchen.com/recipes/condiments/smoky-bbq-sauce/

Potatoes

http://tastykitchen.com/blog/2011/08/potatoes-romanoff/

zucchini pancakes

http://tastykitchen.com/recipes/breakfastbrunch/pancakeswaffles/sweet-zucchini-pancakes/

Homemade Marshmellows

http://tastykitchen.com/recipes/desserts/homemade-marshmallows-2/

• ¼ cups Cornstarch
• ⅓ cups Confectioner's Sugar
• 1 envelope (1 Oz. Packet) Unflavored Gelatin
• ⅓ cups Water
• ⅔ cups Granulated Sugar
• ½ cups Light Corn Syrup
• 1 pinch Salt
• 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract

In a small bowl, sift together the cornstarch and confectioner’s sugar.

Lightly grease an 8″x8″ baking dish. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon of the cornstarch/sugar mixture into the baking dish, tilting it this way and that to cover the bottom and sides. Leave the remaining cornstarch/sugar mixture in the baking dish.

In a small saucepan, sprinkle the gelatin into the water, and let soak for 5 minutes. Add the granulated sugar to the gelatin, stirring occasionally over medium low heat until the gelatin and the sugar dissolve completely.

Using a standing mixer, add to the bowl the gelatin mixture, corn syrup, salt, and vanilla, and beat on high speed for 15 minutes, until peaks form.

Spread the marshmallow mixture into your prepared pan (this is the sticky, sticky, sticky part, because I used my fingers to move the mixture in the pan). Smooth the top as best as you can. Now just let the mixture sit for 2 hours.

Using a wet knife, slide the knife around the edges to loosen, then cut into quarters.

Sprinkle the remaining cornstarch/sugar mixture onto a large baking sheet. Put the marshmallow quarters, top side down, onto the baking sheet. Cut each quarter into nine pieces, then roll each of those pieces into the cornstarch/sugar mixture, making sure to cover all sides. Place the marshmallows on a cake rack, then cover it all with paper towels to dry overnight (the surface of the marshmallows will be slightly dry at that time). I also put a paper towel under the cake rack to catch any of the cornstarch/sugar mixture.

Store the marshmallows in an airtight container. They’ll keep for up to a month … if they last that long!

Rubarb Recipes

http://tastykitchen.com/blog/2011/06/the-theme-is-rhubarb/

Curried Chicken Quinoa with Peas

Ingredients

• 1 Tbsp olive oil
• About 1 1/2 lb. boneless skinless chicken thighs, cut into bite size pieces
• 1 small red onion, chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, crushed
• 1 15 oz. can petite diced tomatoes
• 1 Tbsp curry powder
• 1/2 Tbsp chili powder
• 1 tsp nutmeg
• 2 cups water or chicken broth
• 1 cup quinoa
• 1 12 oz. bag frozen peas
• Salt and pepper to taste

Directions

• Add the oil, chicken pieces, chopped onion and garlic to a Dutch oven.  Saute for about 10 minutes, or until chicken pieces are mostly cooked.
• Add the diced tomatoes, undrained, curry powder, chili powder and nutmeg.  Stir until combined and let cook for about 5 minutes.
• Stir in the water and bring to a bubble.  Stir in the quinoa, bring to rolling boil and then reduce heat to medium low, cover and cook for 20 minutes.  With about 5 minutes left to cook, stir in the frozen peas.
• Turn heat to low and keep warm until ready to serve.
• Makes 4 adult portions.

http://www.onedishdinners.com/2011/04/curried-quinoa-chicken-recipe.html

Chocolate Cake in a Mug

4 Tbsp Flour
4 Tbsp Sugar
1 Heaping Tbsp Cocoa
3 Tbsp Milk
3 Tbsp Oil
2 Tbsp whipped egg
Splash of Vanilla
Chocolate chips (3 Tbsp)

Mix together
Put in microwave for 2:30.

Cookies and Cream Cheesecake Bars

• 1 pound Oreo Cookies
• 4 Tablespoons Unsalted Butter, melted
• 24 ounces, weight Cream Cheese, At Room Temperature
• ¾ cups Granulated Sugar
• ¾ cups Sour Cream At Room Temperature
• 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
• ½ teaspoons Salt
• 3 whole Large Eggs, At Room Temperature

Preparation Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 325°F. Line a 9 x 13-inch pan with foil, leaving a 2-inch overhang on two sides (I spray mine with cooking spray).

2. Make the crust: place 28 Oreos in a food processor and process until finely ground. Pour into a large bowl, add the melted butter, and stir with a flexible spatula until all crumbs are moistened. Place the cookie-crumb mixture in the lined pan and, using your fingers, press the mixture firmly and evenly into the bottom. Bake for 10 minutes, then remove to a wire cooling rack (leave the oven on) while you make the filling. Snap the remaining Oreos in half, put them in the food processor, and turn on and off quickly a few times, just until the cookies are roughly chopped.

3. Make the filling: In a large bowl, using an electric mixer on medium speed, beat the cream cheese and sugar until well blended, about 2 minutes. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl with a flexible spatula and beat again until uniform. Beat in sour cream, vanilla and salt. Scrape down the bowl and mix again. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each. After beating in the last egg, scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl and beat one more time, to make sure the mixture is fully combined. Stir in chopped Oreos with the same spatula.

4. Pour the cream cheese mixture over the baked cookie crust, smooth the top with the spatula, and bake for 40 minutes, until the filling is set around the edges but still slightly wobbly in the center when you gently shake the pan. Remove the pan to a wire rack to cool to room temperature, about 1 hour. When cool, cover it with foil and refrigerate until well chilled, at least 3 hours. (I chill mine overnight.)

5. To cut, use the foil overhang to lift the cheesecake out of the pan and place on a large cutting board. Use a sharp chef’s knife to cut the cheesecake into bars, rinsing off the knife with hot water and wiping it dry between each cut. Keep refrigerated until ready to serve.

Yield: 24 bars

Cooking Tips:
These work best served on flattened out cupcake papers with a fork stuck on top.

Chili Dog Casserole

Ingredients

• 2 (15 ounce) cans chili with beans
• 1 (16 ounce) package beef frankfurters
• 10 (8 inch) flour tortillas
• 1 (8 ounce) package Cheddar cheese, shredded

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
2. Spread 1 can of chili and beans in the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking dish. Roll up franks inside tortillas and place in baking dish, seam side down, on top of chili and bean 'bed'. Top with remaining can of chili and beans, and sprinkle with cheese.
3. Cover baking dish with aluminum foil, and bake at 425 degrees F (220 degrees C) for 30 minutes.

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