Winstead Wandering

Prone to Wander

Baked Onion Rings

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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.

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

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

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

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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.

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.

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.

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easy homemade french fries

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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.

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

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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.

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.

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.

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5 foods you should be making at home

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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diy paint chip dry erase calendar

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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.

 

With a thrift store frame and free paint chips from the hardware store, you can create a dry erase calendar you'll be happy 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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how to make copycat sonic strawberry limeade

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A simple strawberry sauce and store bought soda are all you need to make a copycat sonic strawberry limeade.

A simple strawberry sauce and store bought soda are all you need to make a copycat sonic strawberry limeade.

Sonic was a pretty big deal when I was in college. Happy hour always fell right as most of my friends and I were arriving back in our dorm after classes and work, and the half-price drinks beckoned to us.

I’ve tried my share of smoothies and slushes, but the strawberry limeade will always be my first love. Fruity, refreshing, with just the right amount of zesty zing.

A simple strawberry sauce and store bought soda are all you need to make a copycat sonic strawberry limeade.

I consider it fate that, just the other week at the grocery store, as I was buying strawberries to make my favorite strawberry sauce, I found a bottle of store brand limeade on an end-cap.

The rest is history.

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how to make kool-aid playdough

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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.

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.

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.

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.

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…]