DIY Archives - Page 3 of 4 - Winstead Wandering

Baked Homemade Potato Chips

November 11, 2015 by Abby

Thinly-sliced potatoes, seasoned however you’d like, are baked until tender and crispy. It doesn’t get much easier than these baked homemade potato chips.

Real talk: I’m sitting here, catching up on Grey’s Anatomy- the show I hate that I love- and trying to figure out how to accurately describe these chips to you.

I feel like I say this a lot, but I was skeptical that baked homemade potato chips could even come close to measuring up to the real thing. Because, if we’re being honest, real potato chips are really.freaking.good. The unmistakable crunch, the generous coating of addictive flavors. You want some now, right? Because they’re that good.

I don’t buy real potato chips, mostly because of that eat-the-whole-bag habit I have. It’s just safer to maintain distance. I do, however, keep potatoes around. I bake with them pretty frequently (Exhibit A. And B. And C. And D. And E.).

Sidenote: I seriously didn’t realize how many potato recipes I have until I just included them all here.

The biggest reason I decided to go ahead and try making my own baked chips is that I knew it couldn’t go wrong. Sure, I knew they might not measure up to store bought, but they’re potatoes; they’d still be edible.

I’d be lying if I said these are just like the real thing. Clearly, they aren’t going to trick you into believing you’ve just opened a bag of Lay’s. But they are awesome, plus they’re healthier and cheaper, too. The best part is the endless array of flavor possibilities; you can sprinkle these with any seasonings or spices you have around. My next plan is to make a batch brushed with vinegar and sprinkled with sea salt.

I’ll keep you posted.

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Frosted Cranberry White Chocolate Cookie Bars

October 26, 2015 by Abby

A hearty oat cookie bar base, packed with cranberries and white chocolate chips, spread with a thick layer of white chocolate cream cheese frosting, and topped off with more cranberries and a white chocolate drizzle.

Frosted cranberry white chocolate cookie bars taste like home. My mom, whose cookie prowess I’ve mentioned before, makes a cranberry white chocolate oatmeal cookie that’s to die for. Like, good enough to convert cranberry and white chocolate hating people like J. Seriously, her cookies have powers.

So I texted her a couple weeks ago and asked if I could blog that recipe. She didn’t hesitate to send it to me, but the wheels in my head were already turning. My mother-in-law, a darn good cook, too, had mentioned her affection for Starbucks’ cranberry bliss bars. I checked them out and the basic idea reminded me of my mom’s cookies.

So I decided to combine the two. To make my mom’s cookies a little more holiday-friendly, I added cinnamon, nutmeg, and orange zest. I baked them in bar form, as much to save time as to mimic the coffeehouse kind. And then I smothered the whole thing in a decadent white chocolate frosting.

I’ve got to confess that I’ve never had a cranberry bliss bar, but these bars are the definition of bliss (perfect happiness; great joy). Happiness is devouring a generous square of these frosted cranberry white chocolate cookie bars.

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Baked Onion Rings

October 21, 2015 by Abby

It seems too good to be true, but it isn’t. Baked onion rings are just as crunchy, just as flavorful, and just as craving-inducing as the restaurant kind. The only thing missing is the guilt.

This recipe sat in my mental “to make” file for far too long. I love onion rings- I love any kind of onion dish, really- but I just couldn’t imagine the baked version living up to the fried goodness I’m accustomed to. I finally gave in and tried the recipe because I knew it would be worth it if the recipe was even half as good as the “real” thing.

In reality, these baked onion rings were so much better than I expected them to be. The bread crumb coating crisped up to a beautiful crunchy bite. The onion on the inside was tender, but not overcooked. The Créole seasoning- because you can’t go wrong with Tony’s- lends just the right amount of zing.

I know this next part is going to sound like an exaggeration, but I swear it’s not. I think these baked onion rings might beat the fried version for me. I know, I know, big talk. But hear me out.

First, it’s tough to find a restaurant that does onion rings well. Most fast food restaurants just can’t hack it. Second, even decent restaurant onion rings tend to leave your mouth feeling coated in oil. It’s not pleasant. Lastly, let’s not forget the part where, inevitably, the hot onion slides out of its breading tunnel and slaps against your chin. That’s my favorite.

The only thing missing was a great sauce. Ketchup got the job done, but I kept wishing for some homemade ranch or a little comeback sauce.

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Easy Fall Stovetop Potpourri

October 7, 2015 by Abby

No messy wax or canned smells here. Just a few easy ingredients and a house filled with the crisp fragrance of fall.

Stovetop potpourri is one of the prevailing smells of my childhood. I have vivid memories of walking in the door from school and being greeted by the divine scent of simmering cinnamon and fragrant apples.

For the longest time, the moment when I pushed the door open was bittersweet. The potpourri smelled, misleadingly, like delicious baked goods. It was a disappointing thing to realize there were no sweet treats available.

My love of all things autumn grew as I got older. I began to appreciate this easy fall stovetop potpourri for what it is: a creative, economical way to bring your favorite fall scents inside, minus the additives and chemicals of candles and room sprays.

With this potpourri, you don’t have to change wax cubes or make sure you have obscure ingredients on hand. All you need is two minutes and a few pantry staples, and you’re on your way to having a home that smells unmistakably like fall.

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homemade buttermilk ranch dressing

September 21, 2015 by Abby

You don’t have to settle for the gloopy bottled stuff. Homemade buttermilk ranch dressing is fresher and lighter, and it’s the perfect condiment for just about anything.

A lot of my from-scratch recipes come about because, whenever possible, I prefer to know what goes into the food I feed my family.

This is not one of those recipes. I set out to make homemade ranch dressing because I was tired of how gross the bottled version is. I love the ranch dressing available at restaurants, but the store-bought kind just doesn’t measure up. I wanted access to restaurant style ranch at home.

I eat this ranch on everything. Clearly, it’s awesome on salads. It’s also amazing on chicken tacos, as a dip for veggies and chips, and served with chicken nuggets or French fries.

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easy homemade french fries

September 16, 2015 by Abby

With this crazy method, easy homemade French fries are made by placing sliced potatoes in cold oil. They cook as the oil heats up, giving you fries with tender centers and crunchy exteriors.

When it comes to frying things, my Oregonian really shows through. I’m horrible at it. I can’t even seem to cook bacon properly on the stove; I usually just use the oven or the microwave.

My inability to fry things doesn’t typically bother me; it’s not like we need to eat food bathed in oil. Plus, don’t get me started on the mess. Oil pops and splatters and generally gets all over the range, the bar countertop, and my clothes. It never fails to hit the area of my shirt not covered by an apron.

So what’s so different about this recipe? It’s the coolest thing; you slice your potatoes like normal, but you put them into cold oil instead of hot. As the oil heats up, the insides of the fries cook. When the oil is hot, the exteriors crisp up and turn golden. You have perfectly cooked French fries without traditional double-frying or hot oil splattering all over.

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mississippi comeback sauce

September 14, 2015 by Abby

Mississippi comeback sauce is the fun cousin of fry sauce: it’s creamy, has a surprising depth of flavor, and is perfect for fries, burgers, dogs, and more.

As a Mississippian, I feel it’s my duty to share this recipe with the world. Or, you know, with my 72 readers.

Either way, I’m putting this out there because everyone, in every state, deserves to know the beauty that is Mississippi Comeback Sauce.

This sauce is more than a sauce, really. It’s a staple, a tradition, an institution. It’s the first cousin of fry sauce, but the witty, down-to-earth cousin that everyone wants to hang out with. Sure, you might have been settling for fry sauce your whole life, thinking it was as good as you could get. I know, that used to be me.

Until I discovered comeback sauce. When that happened, there was no going back. Why would you settle for Chris Kirkpatrick when you could be hanging out with Justin Timberlake? You wouldn’t. So don’t settle for less in the condiment department, either. Make this Mississippi Comeback Sauce.

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5 foods you should be making at home

August 21, 2015 by Abby

5 foods you should be making at home because it’s cheaper, easier, and better for your family. No, really.

I’ve been known to buy convenience foods from time to time (and even write blog posts about them), but I try to make from scratch when it’s realistic. Sometimes I make foods instead of buying them because the homemade version is cheaper. Sometimes it’s because I don’t have easy access to the store-bought variety. Sometimes, it’s because homemade just tastes better.

1. refried beans
I’ve been making these “refried” beans from Pennies and Pancakes for years. Not only are they healthy and easy, but they’re a way better value than the canned variety. When I make a batch of these beans, I freeze them in freezer bags so I can use a little at a time. I love to add them to copycat taco bell mexican pizzas or mason jar taco salad.

2. microwave popcorn

After making my own microwave popcorn for several years, I can honestly say there’s no comparison. The homemade version is fresh and flavorful, not to mention completely customized to my preference each time I make it.

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how to get fancy fonts on your computer

July 31, 2015 by Abby

Step-by-step instructions for finding, installing, and using any font you want to create premium worksheets, printables, photos, and more.

If you spend much time designing anything on your computer, you know the standard fonts can quickly become boring and trite. If you want your creations to stand out- and who doesn’t?- you need to install fonts that go beyond the basics.

Finding and installing fonts is easy, fast, and free. Here’s how to do it:

1. Find a font you like and download
There are plenty of free font websites out there; my favorite is dafont, so I’ll use that one as an example. Browse your site of choice and decide which font(s) you’d like to be able to use on your computer.

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diy paint chip dry erase calendar

July 29, 2015 by Abby

With a thrift store frame and free paint chips from the hardware store, you can create a dry erase calendar you’ll behappy to display on your wall.

It’s hard to believe I’m writing a back to school post. Summer just started. Right? I know many readers won’t be going back for another month or more, but here in Mississippi, I get to start back tomorrow.

Don’t get me wrong, I love my job. And as much as I treasure the lazy days of summer, I can’t help but crave routine and structure. I’m not naturally a very organized person, though, which is why I need tools like this DIY paint chip dry erase calendar in my life.

Here’s how I made it:

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