Simple Marinara Sauce (a DG original)

I tend to do a lot of my grocery shopping on my lunch break these days, grabbing things that I'll need for the next day or two.  I often forget things I need due to the lack of a list and being in a rush.  Last week I ran to the grocery store on a lunch break to grab the things I would need for a ravioli bake, one of my quick go to weeknight dinners. I didn't realize until I got home to prepare dinner, that I had forgotten to grab a jar of pasta sauce!!!  At first I panicked since it was getting late and I didn't have a back up meal prepared.  As usual, I reverted to good ol' google! Of course I couldn't find a recipe to suit my needs that included ingredients that I already had on hand.  So I did what I usually do and pick what I like from several recipes to create my own version! Of course if your looking for a recipe for a marinara sauce to use up some of your garden fresh tomatoes, you can always check out my  original recipe for mushroom-garlic marinara sauce here,  but this here is what I ended up with that night and it turned out pretty well if I do say so myself! :)

INGREDIENTS:

2-3 TBSP olive oil
2 cloves of garlic
1/4 onion, minced
2 14.5 oz. cans of petite-cut tomatoes
1 6oz. can of tomato paste
1.5 tsp. Italian seasoning
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. ground black pepper
1/3 C sherry

DIRECTIONS:

using a food processor, puree the garlic and petite-cut tomatoes.  (I only pureed one can because I like my sauce to be a little bit chunky and added the additional can in with the remaining ingredients.)  Set aside.  In a med sauce pan sauté the onion with the olive oil over medium high heat just until softened.  Add the remaining ingredients and simmer on low (stirring occasionally) for 30 min, covered.  To be used in your favorite pasta dish! ENJOY!

Stir Fry Sauce (a DG original!)

This recipe is technically not a new post.  It originally made its debut here as part of my Thai Lettuce Wrap recipe.  (Which btw, if you haven't checked it out yet I suggest you do so.  It's one of our favs!)  Stir fry is another one of our favs and this has become my go-to recipe for making the sauce.  I wanted to make a post specifically for this since I use it a lot and it'll make my life much easier when I go to find it!  (Its true, I use my blog as my personal online recipe keeper! I love it!)

I'll assume that most of you know what stir fry is and how to make it. For those who don't its basically a mixture of meat, veggies and a stir fry sauce (such as this one) stir fried together with oil (sesame oil works well!) over high heat and served over steamed rice.  I like to keep it simple and use beef with onion, carrots, celery, bean sprouts, and sometimes broccoli.  Keep in mind that the possibilities are endless!!  Try using chicken or shrimp or throwing some snap peas or bell peppers! OH YUM!!

INGREDIENTS:

1/3 C low sodium soy sauce

1.5 tsp. sugar
1 tsp. rice wine vinegar
1 tsp. corn starch
1 tsp. toasted sesame oil
1/4 tsp. garlic powder
1/4 tsp. ground ginger
1 TBSP sherry

DIRECTIONS:

In a small bowl, whisk together all the above ingredients.  Transfer to a small saucepan and bring to a boil.  Turn heat down and allow to simmer for three minutes.  Remove from the heat and set aside.  Use in your favorite stir fry recipe.  ENJOY!

Silver Cleaner

  Waaaay on the bottom of my "to-do" list is an entry that says "buy silver cleaner".  Sadly, it has been on my list for months and consequently for months, I have had several pieces of terribly tarnished jewelry that I have been unable to wear. (well I suppose technically I could, but...you know..ewww!) 

So last weekend I pulled out my favorite necklace that I haven't worn in probably over a year.  My husband bought it for me years ago at the Chocolate festival.  Isn't it lovely? hehehe.

(ick!)

 

The designer hand cut the hummingbird image form a coin, leaving only the image and the rim of the coin in place.  Neat, huh?! Hummingbirds are my fav!

 

 

 

 

In a moment of desperation I googled "how to clean silver"! (Google is amazing!) Here is what I came up with:

 

 

Things you'll need:

 

1 small glass bowl (such as a 1 qt. pyrex)

aluminum foil

2tsp. salt

2tsp. baking soda

2 C boiling water

tarnished silver jewelry (preferably free of stones or gems. Beware that if your pieces are only silver lined that the effervescent action can loosen any chips in the silver lining causing even more damage to your piece)

soft cloth

 

 

Steps to take:

 

1) Completely line the bottom and edges of the glass bowl with aluminum foil.  

2) Sprinkle in the salt and baking soda

3) Pour in the boiling water

4) place your silver pieces inside. (make sure they are touching the foil, and if you are doing more than one piece, make sure they are touching each other)

5) wait 5 minutes.

6) Remove silver pieces, rinse with water, and buff with a soft towel.

 

After!

 

Major difference, right?!  This discovery really made my day.  So glad I can cross that off of my to-do list now! :)

 



DIY Ranch Seasoning Mix

And another DIY mix.  If you couldn't already tell, I love DIY mixes!!!  I never allow myself to run out of this stuff, it has multiple uses, with ranch dip and ranch dressing being the two obvious.  :)

INGREDIENTS:

5 TBSP dried minced onions
7 tsp. dried parsley flakes
4 tsp. salt
1 tsp. garlic powder


Mix together.  Store in an air tight container.

DIRECTIONS:

DRESSING:

Mix 2 TBSP of the dry mix with 1 C mayo and 1 C plain Greek yogurt.  Use  a few tbsp. of milk to thin to your desired consistency.  Mix a few hours prior to serving and refrigerate.

DIP:

Mix 2 TBSP of the dry mix with 2 C plain Greek yogurt.  Mix a few hours prior to serving and refrigerate.

Recipe adapted from: selfreliancebyjamie.blogspot.com

 

 

 

Perfect Pizza Sauce

Here I go again on another rant of how easy and inexpensive it can be to DIY many of the everyday items we purchase from the grocery store.  Some may say "well its the convenience factor", but so many of these DIY recipes include ingredients that you probably already have on hand.  How much more convenient can you get if its already in your kitchen???  After I discovered the recipe for the Perfect Pizza Sauce I have never used store bought sauce since.  It is SO simple to prepare, it doesn't include all of the added junk that allows it to last for months on a grocery store shelf and in my opinion it is waaaay more delicious! 

INGREDIENTS:

2 8 oz. cans of tomato sauce
2 TBSP tomato paste
1 clove of garlic, minced
1/2 tsp. dried basil
1/2 tsp. fennel seed
1/2 tsp. dried oregano
 1/4 tsp. kosher salt
1/8 tsp. granulated sugar
1/8 tsp. allspice
*Optional ingredients*: (I LOVE what these two optional ingredients do for the sauce, but if  you don't like spicy or if you are serving to children, I'd recommend to leave these out.)
1/4 – 1/2 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper

DIRECTIONS:

In a small sauce pan, combine all of the ingredients and cook over medium heat until it starts to slightly bubble, about 5 minutes. Reduce heat and allow the sauce to simmer for 15-20 minutes.  Serve as a dipping sauce or on the dough of your favorite pizza! Enjoy!

Recipe adapted from: lifesambrosia.com

Green Onion Magic!

 

 

Did you know that learning something new creates a wrinkle in your brain? Now, did you know that you can ever-so-easily regrow green onions on your kitchen counter?!? (Did I just cause you to get a wrinkle in your brain?) ;-)

 

This technique won't save you a ton of money by any means, but if you use green onions at least once a week I'd say this is something you may want to try. 

 

Here is what you do:

 

-After using a bunch of green onions, reserve the bulbs.  Be sure that you have at least one to two inches left of the stem.

 

-Place the bulbs into a glass jar and fill with water and place it near a window.

 

-Replace the water and rinse the bulbs off every few days.

 

-In a few days you will start to notice new growth, these things grow amazingly fast!

 

-In about a weeks time, you will have a fully grown green onion ready to use. Free green onions,  easy peasy! 

 

 One bulb can be used 4-6 times. 

 

 



 



DIY TACO SEASONING MIX

 

 I am all about saving money.  Call me "cheap" or "frugal" or what have you, it really doesn't matter.  I, on the other hand call it "being SMART"!  Making things homemade will not only save  you and your family money, but it will allow you to know what goes into the food that you eat.  I believe this recipe for taco seasoning mix is what triggered my mini obsession for DIY sauces, mixes and homemade dressings.  For me, it is very satisfying knowing exactly what is in the food I eat and feed my family.  Making things by scratch using ingredients instead of opening a box or an envelope and mixing with water gives me a sense of fulfillment.  It makes me smile.  :)  

 

 

INGREDIENTS:

 

4 TBSP chili powder
2 TBSP onion powder
1 TBSP ground cumin
1/2 TBSP garlic powder
1/2 TBSP paprika
1/2 TBSP kosher salt

DIRECTIONS:

 

Place all ingredients into a bowl and mix well. 

 

This mix will keep for several weeks in an airtight container. 3 TBSP equal one packaged envelope of taco seasoning mix.  Although, I'd  have to say that I never use quite that much.  Maybe a TBSP and a half with a quarter cup of water.

 

Now how easy was that?!! If time is a concern and convenience is more your thing, try getting your kids to help out. I think this would be a GREAT way to get your littles into the kitchen.  My son loves measuring and mixing and this is something he can do all by himself!

 



Homemade Caramel Sauce

I've been wanting to try making homemade caramel sauce for quite awhile now. And after a recent family trip to Apple Hill and regretting the whole way home not buying a caramel apple, I thought it the perfect opportunity to finally give it ...a try. I had been eyeballing a few recipes online, but when I found this recipe by HowDoesShe?.com I knew I had a winner. Let me tell you folks, this is one of the most satisfying sugary treats I have ever concocted! I'm not sure if it was the farm fresh apple or my mad kitchen skills, but I was left literally scraping what I could out of the bowl and licking it off of my finger!!! AH-MAZING stuff here!!!

 

 

INGREDIENTS:

 

3/4 C brown sugar
3/4 C sugar
1/2 C corn syrup
1/3 C butter
2/3 C whipping cream

 

DIRECTIONS:

Combine the first four ingredients in a medium saucepan and bring to a full boil over medium heat. This should take 5-6 minutes. Remove from heat and allow to cool for 5 minutes. Stir in whipping cream and pour into a container. The sauce will thicken as it cools.