Fried Apples

Fall is the perfect time for apple dishes. Fried Apples can be enjoyed anytime because they are quick and easy. My mother, who was so very frugal, always fried apples that were past their prime. When the skin begins to shrivel and the meat is a bit mealy, frying will give you a delicious dish that you can eat as is or over ice cream, yogurt, served with cookies, or even spread on toast. No need to toss them out!

* Black Eyed Peas and Cornbread Cakes

I love Cornbread and I love Blackeyed Peas so why haven't I written this post before? I have no idea but I wanted to do something for New Years Day and you should be eating Blackeyed Peas for good luck on New Year's Day right? You have time to go to the grocery for ingredients before tomorrow. Here's how I make this dish. Remember that it's only Papa and I eating this (it is enough for dinner and lunch the next day) so you may want to double the recipe if you have more people to feed. This is a very frugal dish to make.

Hill House Soapworks Boutique

Hey everyone, I have opened a small Bath & Bodycare Boutique called Hill House Soapworks, on Facebook. I have some fun Halloween items in there, and will add more items as I have time. I plan to eventually carry a full range of Body care items. I would love for you to visit, Like and Follow. I also have a Facebook Group you can join, Hill House Soapworks Group, to hear about new items before they are stocked in the boutique. Thanks for your support!

Cake Balls

 You have heard when life gives you lemons make lemonade? Well when life gives you a fallen cake make cake balls! Last week I was asked to make a German Chocolate Cake for a birthday dinner. The cake planned was a 2 layer round cake that would look nice a a pretty white cake stand. 

Kids Can Food Preparations, Kids Club Style

The kids summer vacation from school was 9-10 weeks. The first week or two we just chilled and did whatever we felt like at the moment.  Then I began Kids Club having weekly gatherings. The meetings consist mostly of teaching and learning the rest of the year so I wanted to focus on fun as well as learning for the summer.

Perfect Boiled Eggs

Do you know how to make the perfect boiled egg? Seems like such a simple task to boil an egg yet I boiled my eggs wrong for many years. I like my eggs cooked firm but not over done. Runny yolk? Eww no way! A while back when we were at the cabin with my family, one of my daughter in laws who is a decent cook asked how to boil eggs.....seems she had never made boiled eggs without an egg 'cooker' before. My other daughter in law spoke up and said she always boiled them for at least 30 minutes or longer. 

With summer coming cool meals are desirable and boiled eggs can be used for egg salad, deviled eggs, an addition to other salads or just by themselves for a quick breakfast or snack. Perfect for lunch boxes too. Let me tell you how to boil the perfect egg.

Rice Pancakes

First published at Family Home and Life.

I love pancakes, and being gluten free I am always looking for something good for pancakes. I have been reacting to all grains except rice, so when I over cooked a pot of rice, I came up with these pancakes. I don't like to throw food out if it can be used, so now I have a new to me recipe. I have tried white and brown rice and either is good. It is a simple recipe and can be changed up for different flavors. 

Easy 3 Flour Ugly Bread

To say my days are busy is most definitely an understatement. I am juggling many different things and ones of those things is making homemade food for us all to eat. My grand babies love cinnamon toast after school and they can eat a whole loaf of bread in one shot. My 3 Flour Ugly Bread is my go to all purpose bread I make on a regular basis. It's fast and easy with little kneading, makes a great toasting bread, and can be used for a sandwich too. But it's not so great to look at, that's why I call it ugly bread!

Oatmeal Peanut Butter Bars After School Snack

My grand kids come home after school Starving with a capital S! Typical of most kids, am I right? And boy can they eat. If I am smart, I will have a tummy filling snack already prepared when they arrive and this one, Oatmeal Peanut Butter Bars, is a favorite. They, along with their daddy's and papa, will finish off an entire recipe in one shot. It's easy and mostly healthy, so I am happy to make this for them often. My Oatmeal Peanut Butter Bars recipe is a version of a no bake cookies recipe and very versatile. Leave out the chocolate chips if you want, use water instead of milk, add more cocoa; you get the picture.

Long Time No See & Pear Vinegar

Well I have had a vacation haven't I? I really didn't mean to go so long without a post. It all started, my time away I mean, when I made some changes to our internet/cable service. There was a problem with the internet line and it would let me on for about 5 minutes before it would kick me off. I would have to wait a couple of hours and try again only to get the same treatment. 

Cinnamon Rolls Recipe

First published at Family Home and Life.

Who doesn't love a warm freshly made Cinnamon Roll with frosting melting all over the top? This time of year is perfect for making them. They are great gifts for neighbors, co workers; anyone on your gift giving list. Making Cinnamon Rolls is not all that hard. The dough for these rolls can be refrigerated overnight so that you can pop them in the oven for a quick breakfast; freeze the raw dough then bake, or partially bake and then freeze them. If you have never made Cinnamon Rolls before I urge you to try these. 

Sweet Potato Casserole

First published at Family Home and Life.

I just love fall! And sweet potato dishes are just the thing to remind us that Thanksgiving is just around the corner. This recipe is so easy and so good that you will want to eat it all yourself. I know I sure do! And some times I even have the left overs for breakfast! Yum yum!

Sweet potatoes are inexpensive, filling, so good for you. They have more fiber than oatmeal, rich in vitamin C, potassium, more vitamin A than carrots. And they are low calorie at about 150 each. But not in this recipe! We have it dolled up in butter and brown sugar, and topped off with marshmallows.

Saving Money on Spices

First published at Family Home and Life.

Herbs and spices can make or break your meals and baked goods. A bland meal can be a great one with the addition of the correct seasonings.This time of the year, we all tend to buy a seasoning or spice that we only need a small amount of. Then the rest sits in the back of the pantry until it is thrown out. It can become expensive though when you use spices purchased in the spice section of your grocery store.

Butter Buns, Bet You Can't Eat Just One!

First published at Family Home and Life.

These buns or rolls, have been know around here by a couple of different names. Besides Butter Buns, they are also called Expletive Rolls or OMG! Rolls. That's right, they are so good the person eating them is forced to moan or groan an expletive, usually "Oh My G.... " you get the picture. These Butter Buns will melt in your mouth and have been our family tradition for holiday meals many years now. I use this recipe for my cinnamon rolls too. While they are not hard to make, they do require a bit of time but it will be so worth it!

Drying Peppers

I leave some of my Anaheim Peppers on the plant to ripen. These lovely red peppers are then strung on quilting thread or embroidery floss and hung to dry. Like my drying rake/rack? 

Roasting Peppers

I planted an Anaheim Chili plant last spring in my flower bed and it has just gone crazy producing pepper pods this Fall. I was surprised that they are hotter than I expected; I thought they would have about the same heat as those canned green chilis you buy in the store. Not these, they pack a bit of a punch. But I love to add them to tacos or anything I want to add a bit of roasted pepperiness to. I have tried many ways to roast them, to remove the peel, and I found a way that is easy and fast. Just how I like it. 

* Home Made Yogurt

Making yogurt at home is very easy. There is no reason to buy any special equipment as you probably already have what you need. Making your own yogurt allows you to control what is in it, up the protein content if you wish, and is less expensive than store bought.  I like my yogurt to have a little sugar for sweetening, and a little vanilla for flavor. Store bought sweetened yogurt is like eating pudding it is so sweet, but I don't really like the tartness of plain yogurt either. For me, the hardest part of making yogurt is waiting for the milk to reach the right temperature.

                              

Pumpkin White Bean Chili

Years ago I had a recipe from a magazine, for a Chili recipe similar to this one. I lost the recipe and then made up one of my own. The original used butternut squash instead of pumpkin, but the pumpkin puree is quick and easy. Also, the original used Chipotle peppers in Adobe sauce. I use Chipotle jarred salsa. Of course this is a simple recipe! That's how I cook most times, and if you use canned beans, it's ready in minutes too.

* Homemade Microwave Popcorn

I love popcorn, but I don’t love the cost of pre packaged microwavable popcorn. Once up on a time I owned a hot air popper and I was thinking of getting another one. With a hot air popper I can control how much butter and salt is on it and with out all the preservatives. But, I have a small kitchen, where would I store it, and then I really didn’t want to pay for one.

* Easy Inexpensive Fruit Salad

Want a crowd pleasing fruit salad that won’t break the bank? I’ve got one for you.