Evaporated Milk

  This comes in handy and is easy to make up. If you have powdered milk you don't need to store all those cans (this goes for Sweetened Condensed Milk too!) Save that shelf space in your pantry for something else!

1 1/2 c. warm water

1 c. powdered milk

2 T. butter

  Heat on low until butter is just melted, stirring to combine. Remove from heat and cool to room temperature before using. Replaces store-bought. (It's been a while since I've made this recipe, so I am unsure about how much it makes, about 14 oz I believe.)

What is the New Years Recipe Blitz? Click HERE to read the post!

Corn Syrup Substitute

  This is a good standby when I'm out of corn syrup or I don't feel like paying the current price, even for the cheap stuff. Works just as the regular store bought but without the high fructose corn syrup in it. You have to love home made!

2 c. Sugar

3/4 c. Water

1/4 t. Cream of Tartar

Pinch of salt

  Combine in pan, bringing to a boil, stirring constantly. Reduce heat and simmer. Cover for 3 minutes. Uncover and simmer, stirring often until beginning to form soft balls when water tested ( soft ball stage is 235-240 F). Cool and store at room temperature. Keeps 2 months.

What is the New Years Recipe Blitz? Click HERE to read the post!

Maple Syrup

  Since I didn't get to finish the New Years Recipe Blitz, I'm putting in a few more recipes for your pleasure. We have tried several recipes for syrup and I've settled on this one from RecipeZaar (now food.com) Sometimes I'll add a bit of butter in it and I usually use a bit more of the flavorings. Here it is as posted by WJKing on food.com:

3/4 c. white sugar
3/4 c. brown sugar
1 c. water 
1 c. corn syrup
3 drops vanilla flavoring
3 drops maple flavoring


  Boil the water and the sugars together (we usually do it till soft ball stage- 235 degrees). Remove from heat add flavorings. Be very careful when placing in a bottle, making sure that you let it cool quite a bit. A friend had made hers and put it in the bottle too soon. When her young daughter opened the bottle the steam blew the hot syrup on her face. I like to put it in a mason jar for a homey look. We much prefer this over store-bought.

What is the New Years Recipe Blitz? Click HERE to read the post!

Im BACK!

So I turned off the computer for the night.... really thats all I did! Somehow our motherboard got zapped and we had to wait 3+ weeks to get the dumb thing fixed/replaced. So Im sorry that you all have stopped by to a stalled out blog, but Im revving up here with all the things I want to tell you that I've been doing in the mean time, so STAY TUNED!