homemade Archives - Page 3 of 3 - Winstead Wandering

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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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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roasted red pepper hummus

August 10, 2015 by Abby

Roasted red pepper hummus, packed with nutrition and flavor, is surprisingly easy to make at home.

Hummus is one of my favorite snacks. It’s filling and flavorful, the perfect dip for sliced bell peppers or carrot sticks. During the school year, it’s a staple in my lunch bag.

I used to buy hummus at Sam’s Club. It’s a reasonable price, and I would definitely recommend buying it that way if convenience is your priority. If you have a few minutes to make it at home, though, or if maximum flavor is important to you, go ahead and make it from scratch.

Making your own hummus allows you complete control over the ingredients. This recipe packs a flavor punch you won’t find in the store-bought version. The roasted red peppers are the star, with their bold smokiness and subtle sweetness. The cumin offers the perfect amount of heat, and the garlic brings it all together with it’s spicy nuttiness.

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how to make kool-aid playdough

June 24, 2015 by Abby

Adding a packet of Kool-Aid to homemade playdough is a simple way to give your batch a vibrant color and a fun, fruity smell.

Summa summa summatime! My Facebook and Pinterest feeds are full of creative outdoor activities to keep kids occupied this summer. Soda bottle sprinklers, lawn-size board games, any number of homemade paints and chalks; you could try a different craft every day all summer long.

But can I tell you a secret? I don’t like outside. I live in Mississippi, where summer is really freaking hot and humid. I’m a fair-skinned (read: I burn like toast) mom of two fair-skinned ginger kids. We avoid the sun with vampiric skill. So when school’s out for the summer, we turn to creative ways to have fun indoors, including this Kool-Aid playdough.

I love that it’s easy to make and it’s easy to double or triple the recipe. This playdough is soft and smooth, not grainy like the store-bought version. You can customize it using your child’s favorite color, and along with the rich color comes a pleasant smell.

Kool-Aid playdough is an excellent opportunity to discuss the five senses: your kids can touch the smooth dough, they can smell its fruity scent, they can see its vibrant color, they can hear it plop on the table, and they can even taste its salty flavor. [Read more…]

how to make a pool noodle busy bag

June 12, 2015 by Abby

We’ve all seen this craft idea, right? While I can’t say I ever read a tutorial or a blog post about how to make it, I’ve been seeing pins of this pool noodle stringing activity since Pinterest was barely a thing. It’s one of about a million busy bag ideas floating around the interwebs nowadays. Since it seems to be one of the most frugal, and since I knew my kids would enjoy it, I bought what I needed and sacrificed eight minutes of my life to put the whole thing together.

And since I thought maybe, just maybe, there’s someone out there who wants a step-by-step photo tutorial of how the whole thing went, I took pictures to share here.

pool noodle busy bag

-pool noodle
-3 feet of rope
-plastic shoebox size container (optional)

Begin by cutting your noodle in half. Unless you want a ton of circles, one noodle makes enough slices for two busy bags.

Using a sharp knife- I used my all-time favorite Rada bread knife– and a cutting board, slice each half of the noodle into one-inch sections.

Do you have $2 and 10 minutes? If so, you can create an activity that encourages creativity, develops hand-eye coordination, and earns you a few minutes of quiet.

Don’t worry about the noodle holding up when it’s cut. Before I got started, I wondered if the Styrofoam would crumble or break off, but it doesn’t. It holds it shape perfectly, so I imagine this activity will last a while. (Note: the noodle certainly isn’t indestructible; if your child still puts things in her mouth, she should be watched while playing with her busy bag.)

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how to make homemade tortilla chips

May 25, 2015 by Abby

I try not to buy a lot of snack foods, specifically chips. When there’s a bag of tortilla chips in the house, I tend to make nachos. A lot of nachos.

When I want to satisfy my craving for something crunchy and salty, I whip up a batch of homemade tortilla chips.

One of my favorite things about these chips is how they can be customized to suit any mood or meal. You can switch out the savory spices for sweet ones to make dessert nachos. You can skip the spice and use Italian seasonings for a fun twist.

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fast & easy dry erase marker remover

January 11, 2015 by Abby

Every month is the same. I use my big magnetic calendar to record our family’s activities and meal plan for the month. I use a dry erase marker and it works quite nicely, because I can erase and rewrite things as I go.

But then I put the calendar back on the side of the refrigerator, and there it sits for the next four weeks. Sure, I look at it often. To know what’s for dinner, to see what we have happening each week. But after several weeks on the fridge, when the end of one month comes and it’s time for me to plan the next, I encounter the same problem.

The marker won’t erase. No amount of elbow grease behind the eraser can get the marker to budge, and water doesn’t work either. I know I can buy the special spray made especially for this predicament, but, when possible, I prefer to do things frugally and without the use of harsh chemicals.

So instead of buying the spray, I use one simple ingredient that I’m guessing can be found in nearly every kitchen in America: baking soda. I just lay the board flat, sprinkle it with baking soda, and then drizzle water over the top. A few swipes with a rag or a paper towel and the marker comes right off.

If you wanted to make things even easier, you could even make a paste of baking soda and water and store it in an airtight container. That would cut out the additional step of dripping water over the baking soda and creating a paste right on the board.

What frugal hacks do you know that only require basic kitchen ingredients? Do share!

(Note: this post contains affiliate links. When you click those links and make purchases, you support me, this blog, and my family.)

homemade microwave popcorn

January 11, 2015 by Abby

Popcorn is one of my favorite snacks. I love salty foods, and I love to be able to munch on something while I’m working or watching TV, so popcorn is a natural fit.

My reason for making it myself, rather than buying bags of microwave popcorn from the grocery store, is two-fold. First, this homemade method is so much less expensive than the store-bought variety. Second, those pre-made bags are loaded with preservatives and chemicals. While I’m not a poster child for natural, organic living, I do try to make healthy choices when I can, especially when the healthier option is cheap, easy, and, in my opinion, even better tasting than the other option.

After popping a bag of this popcorn, you have a blank canvas just waiting to take on whatever flavors you’re in the mood for. My current favorite is butter, kosher salt, and garlic powder. I’ve been known to toss in a little Parmesan cheese, too. I’ve also enjoyed my popcorn with cinnamon sugar and with chili powder and garlic salt (not all in the same batch).

homemade microwave popcorn

1/4 cup unpopped popcorn kernels
1 brown paper lunch bag
toppings of choice: butter, coconut oil, kosher salt, cinnamon sugar, garlic powder, brewers yeast, and Parmesan cheese are a few that I’ve either tried or had recommended to me

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