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Homemade Lemonade

May 25, 2016 by Abby

This summer, ditch the canned powder and make your own homemade lemonade. With just three simple ingredients, you can enjoy a refreshing glass any time.

There’s nothing more refreshing on a warm summer day than an ice-cold glass of homemade lemonade.

This recipe is so simple to make. I usually keep a jar of simple syrup in the fridge throughout the summer so I’m always ready to whip up a pitcher- or even just a glass- of homemade lemonade. It’s especially good with fresh-squeezed lemon juice, but, really who has time- or money- for that? I use the bottled version and I’ve never had any complaints. Plus, it means there’s no trip to the grocery store standing between me and a glass of this.

So many people are used to powdered or bottled versions of lemonade. Those varieties might do in a pinch, but this homemade recipe is so simple to make. Wow the guests at your next summertime gathering by throwing together a batch of homemade lemonade.

Homemade Lemonade

Ingredients

2 c. sugar
10 c. water, divided
2 c. lemon juice

Instructions

In a medium saucepan, combine sugar and two cups of water. Stir together and bring to a boil over high heat, stirring occasionally. When the mixture boils and the sugar is dissolved, remove it from the heat and allow it to cool. Store cooled mixture in a sealed container in the refrigerator until you’re ready to mix up the lemonade.

To make the lemonade, combine the remaining eight cups of water, the lemon juice, and one and half to two cups of simple syrup in a large pitcher. Stir together well and adjust the amounts of simple syrup or lemon juice based on your preferences. Serve chilled over ice.

Great Blogger Barbecue

With the unofficial start of summer next week, it’s almost barbecue season! In celebration, I’ve teamed up with several fellow bloggers to bring you 50 recipe ideas for a smashing summer shindig. See all the recipes for our Great Blogger BBQ below!

50 recipes for the perfect summer get-together! Whether you're planning a barbecue, picnic, or outdoor party, check out everything from appetizer recipes, entree recipes, cocktail recipes, dessert recipes, side dish recipes and more to go with your BBQ! #greatbloggerBBQ

Appetizers

Korean BBQ Tofu Sliders with Kimchi Slaw by Hello Little Home
Corn, Black Bean, and Feta Dip by Lizzy is Dizzy
Crab, Bacon & Guacamole Crostinis by That Square Plate

Cocktails and Drinks

Blackberry Gin Slush by The Speckled Palate
Homemade Lemonade by Winstead Wandering
Blood Orange Mocktail by Body Rebooted
Fleur Collins Cocktail by Hungry Girl por Vida
Fourth of July Sparkler by Mixplorology
Black Stripe Cold Rum Cocktail by Honey and Birch
Fresh Watermelon Mojito by Twin Stripe
Mint Hibiscus Lemonade by The Little Epicurean
Wine Slushy by Living Well Kitchen
Basil Gin Lemonade by Glisten and Grace

Dark Chocolate-Dipped Clementines

December 20, 2015 by Abby

Looking for the perfect healthy snack for yourself, or a fun treat alternative to sugary goodies? Look no further than dark chocolate-dipped clementines.

Looking for the perfect healthy snack for yourself, or a fun treat alternative to sugary goodies? Look no further than dark chocolate-dipped clementines.

I’ve been having quite the love affair with Cuties lately. You know, the seedless, easy to peel clementines that are so popular this time of year?

I’m craving them like nobody’s business, eating at least four or five a day. Don’t get me wrong, I have zero complaints about craving something healthy and loaded with vitamin C. With previous pregnancies, I craved things like Burger King Whoppers and endless amounts of Juanita’s brand tortilla chips with my Granny’s homemade salsa.

That’s not to say I’m not craving anything unhealthy this time. I’ve got an unfilled hankering for some really good French fries, and I’ve been jonesing for some dark chocolate, which is where these guys come in.

It took just a few minutes for me to melt the chocolate, dip the little slices on, and sit back and admire my work. I sprinkled a few with sea salt and I added red or green sugar crystals to some others, because Christmas.

Looking for the perfect healthy snack for yourself, or a fun treat alternative to sugary goodies? Look no further than dark chocolate-dipped clementines.

Clementines are so bright and juicy; adding the swirl of dark chocolate gives you a perfect bite of flavor. These would be so great to whip up as a healthy treat for yourself, or to package and give away as a fun alternative- or addition- to traditional Christmas goodies.

If you’re not up for dipping (you should be; it’s totally easy) you could always drizzle the melted chocolate over the clementines. It would speed up an already quick process, and you could even use both white and brown chocolates. You wouldn’t get as much chocolate per bite, but they’d be healthier, your chocolate would stretch further, and they’d set up and be ready to serve or package quicker.

Looking for the perfect healthy snack for yourself, or a fun treat alternative to sugary goodies? Look no further than dark chocolate-dipped clementines.

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Homemade Corn Dogs

November 20, 2015 by Abby

Homemade corn dogs are easier than they look and, with their crunchy-yet-fluffy exterior, they’re delicious, too.

I don’t even know why I still eat corn dogs. I don’t, really, at least not on a regular basis. What I mean is, after the thin, mealy, flavorless corn dogs served for lunch during my elementary school days, how do they even still sound appealing?

A couple reasons, really. The first is that I like hot dogs. Nitrites and carcinogens aside, I enjoy eating them, and since I don’t consume three a day- or even three a year, I would guess- I think I’m safe. The second reason is because they’re fried. So that’s a no-brainer. And lastly, the whole portable food-on-a-stick thing is just plain fun.

Since I have no plans buy a box of these guys from the frozen foods section of the grocery store, I’m forced to make them from scratch when the craving strikes. Okay, fine, to be honest, I’m forced to watch my mother-in-law make them. But she’s pretty much the master of fried anything, so I defer to her. It’s better for all of us.

Let’s talk about these bad boys. There’s the hot dog on the inside, which should be good quality. Skewer the dogs and dip them in the thick batter, and then transfer them to the hot oil. They’ll puff up and darken and turn into a description-defying crunchy-yet-fluffy treat.

Clearly, this isn’t an all-the-time recipe. But when your craving carnival food, but not the sweaty crowds and death-trap rides, whip up a batch of these homemade corn dogs and enjoy.

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Homemade Christmas Gifts with Photos

November 18, 2015 by Abby

Homemade Christmas gifts are the perfect way to save money and add your own special touch to every present you give.

One of the best things about having children- aside from the unconditional love and the constant companionship and the general adorableness- is the endless gift-giving possibilities. You can get away with giving all kinds of presents that are unacceptable when you’re childless: crayon scribbles that will lovingly be referred to as art and photos that will be cherished for years.

While framed photos are nice, they’re also boring. For just a little extra effort, you can create custom gifts that are both functional and sentimental. Because if there’s anything parents and grandparents love more than hanging photos of their grandkids on their walls, it’s covering every available surface with them.

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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.

[Read more…]

salted caramel hot chocolate

November 2, 2015 by Abby

Homemade salted caramel hot chocolate that rivals the coffee chain version. It’s rich and smooth and, if made with almond milk or a similar milk substitute, it comes in at under 200 calories.

I’m not a coffee drinker, but that doesn’t mean I don’t lament the fact that the nearest Starbucks is 80 miles away. EIGHTY. MILES. This is The South, y’all, and we don’t value our heated caffeine like our Northwest-living counterparts. I don’t even know how for I’d have to go to find the nearest drive-through coffee stand, but it’s far.

The reason I feel the need to whine about my lack of access to a beverage that I don’t even consume? Hot chocolate. Even though I’m not interested in coffee, sometimes I’d give my firstborn- most days, really, I’d probably get more for the second one- for a cup of hot, rich, decadent cocoa.

Don’t even get me started on the powdered packet stuff. Guck. I’ve tried a few homemade recipes, but it seemed like the ones that boasted richness called for melted chocolate and specialty syrups. No thanks. Others claimed to be a substitute for the coffeehouse version, but ended up weak, watery, or bitter.

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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.

[Read more…]

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.

[Read more…]

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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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.

[Read more…]

Homemade Lemonade

Ingredients

Instructions

Great Blogger Barbecue

Appetizers

Cocktails and Drinks

Entrées

Side Dishes

Desserts