Homemade Biscuit Mix

I sometimes use packaged biscuit mix in  my recipes, don't you?  Since I have been sharing them, it has come to my attention that not all of my friends, that follow Recipes For My Boys, have access to items like Bisquick.  I shared my Cheddar Garlic Biscuits this morning on facebook and one of my friends, from the UK, commented she was all excited about making them, until she read ... biscuit mix.  That was all it took to get me in the kitchen to make my own.  I think it turned out great and so did hubby.  At least by all the biscuits he ate, I would say so.  I don't think I'll be buying the packaged biscuit mix again.

Homemade Sweetened Condensed Milk

I have been wanting to make a recipe that calls for sweetened condensed milk.  For some reason, I always seem to forget to buy it.  When I found the recipe again, I looked in the pantry, as if it would miraculously find it's way in there, and still no little can of sweetness.  That did it!  I recalled seeing a recipe for homemade sweetened condensed milk in an old cookbook (I even tried the powdered recipe a couple of years ago, but didn't like it but will try again. ) Since I couldn't find it in a cookbook, isn't that always the way it goes?, I searched the internet and found several, all using the same ingredients in different amounts.  I decided to make one using milk.  This took over 2 hours to make so be very patient.  Put it on the burner while you are cleaning, doing laundry, making supper and stop by every 10 minutes or so to give a stir.  (I'm thinking the crock pot will be great for this.)  I'll make this again using powdered milk later, which is a lot faster.  So, here ya go.  I haven't used it in a recipe yet but I know you it will be amazing just by the taste.  I've been licking a spoon all the time.  Think I will put some in my coffee...mmmmmm.

Note:  Try using different milks and sweeteners.  Comment and let me know how it turns out.  ~smile~

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Homemade Cake Release

I am forever having my cakes stick to my bundt pan.  Always!  It never fails.  Whenever I want to bake a bundt cake I am both filled with excitement and dread.  Now, there are no worries!  I remembered my step daughter, Carla,  told me about making your own cake release and I have finally made it!  This recipe has been around forever, I don't know why I haven't been using it before now.  It was such a relief to see my little bundt cakes come out of the pan without sticking.  Love this!  Just brush the cake release in your pan and wait for your perfect cake to come out of the oven.  Use them with my Sour Cream Pound Cake, Lemon Fizz Cake, Cooked Apple Coffee Cake, Carrot Cake .. everything you bake!  Use what you want and leave the rest in the refrigerator.  Now, get out your bundt pan and bake away!

DIY Homemade Granola

Don't you just love granola?  It goes on everything or can be eaten by the fistful by itself.  So easy  (I'm lovin' all the easy things to make!) and affordable, too!  You can add anything in it and it will always be just right.  Start with old fashion rolled oats, add nuts, seeds, dried fruit, pretzels. cereal, chocolate, butterscotch or cinnamon chips and there ya go.  Ta Da!   The makings of your own granola.  This make 1 1/2 to 2 cups.  You may want to make more. ~smile~  I'm making more tomorrow and will update.

DIY Homemade Granola

1 cup old fashioned rolled oats

1 1/2 tablespoons oil

5 tablespoons homemade maple syrup

1/2 cup broken pretzels, optional, I didn't have nuts so I used them first...very good!

OR, 1/2 cup chopped nuts

1/4 cup seeds

1/2 teaspoon sea salt

1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon cumin

whatever you want to add

Preheat oven to 375

Line rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.

Mix oil, maple syrup, salt, cinnamon and cumin together in bowl.

Add oats, nuts, seeds, and pretzels.  Toss gently to cover all with syrup mixture.

Spread and separate on baking sheet.

Cook for 7- 10 minutes, until light brown, stirring every couple of minutes. Watch carefully, it can burn in no time at all.

Cool completely and store in sealed container or plastic bag.

DIY Homemade Maple Syrup

I don't know about y'all but we go through a lot of syrup in our house.  I got tired of buying it all the time and decided to make my own.  You control the strength of flavor, the add ins and type/amount of sweetener you use.  It's so easy and inexpensive p to do.   Keep it in an old syrup bottle or dispenser for convenience and nobody is the wiser.  ~wink~

DIY Homemade Maple Syrup

1/2 cup water, boiling

1 cup sugar

1/4 teaspoon maple extract or imitation maple 

kosher salt, just a pinch, optional

1/8 to 1/4  teaspoon ground cinnamon, or to taste, optional

In a microwave proof large bowl or large cup, you need room for water to boil, stir sugar into heat water and heat to a boil, 2 to 3 minutes, more or less.  Checking after one minute then every 30 seconds to be certain it doesn't boil over. Carefully take out of microwave and stir.  If the sugar isn't dissolved, put back in microwave 30 seconds at the time.  Stir in maple extract and cinnamon, if you want it.  

Alternately, stir sugar into water and heat to a boil.  Cook, stirring, until sugar is dissolved.  Take off heat and add maple extract and cinnamon, if using.
NOTE
I made this again before starting my pancake using 1/2 cup water, 3/4 cup sugar, 1/2 teaspoon maple extract, a bit of cinnamon, ginger and pinch of salt.   I kept it at a simmer while the pancakes were cooking.  It reduced a bit and was great.  Served it over Pumpkin Pancakes and my oldest said it was an explosion of yumminess in his mouth.

Homemade Instant Oatmeal

We love oatmeal at our house yet each boy wants their's a bit different.  I've seen this on the internet for some time now and I decided to make my own instant oatmeal so they can each have their own favorite.   Brown or regular sugar, sugar substitute, cinnamon, nuts, coconut, chocolate chips...the possibilities are endless! Putting the Instant Oatmeal in jars so they can be easily accessed and used in the desired amounts, has been great.   I'm cold and ready to make some Instant Oatmeal come on and join me.

Homemade Instant Oatmeal

Ingredients

4 cups 100% whole grain old fashion oats 

1/4 to 1/2 brown or regular sugar or sugar substitute, more or less, you decide
*make your own brown sugar*

1/2 teaspoon salt

ground cinnamon

vanilla beans

nut, chopped, optional

dried fruit optional

coconut, optional

chocolate chips, optional

anything else you may want to add that is a favorite and can be stored in a jar

To make

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F

Place oatmeal on a cookie sheet and bake 4 to 7 minutes, stirring every minute so it doesn't brown too much

Take out of oven when light brown.  Leave oven on if adding nuts or coconut to oatmeal.

Cool completely.

While cooling you can toast nuts and/or coconut if you are adding them.  Toast until lightly browned.  Around 3 minutes, stirring often.

Cool and set aside.

 Chop toasted oatmeal in food processor, I use my little food chopper and did it in batches. A blender may also be used.

Give a coarse to fine chop, however you like your oatmeal.  We eat it medium.

Put in a mixing bowl and add sugar and salt mixing well.  I just mixed in the jar.  

Add additional ingredients if desired.

Store in an airtight container.  

To serve

Heat water to boil.

Stir oatmeal before adding desired amount into a heatproof bowl.

Add boiling water, depending on how thick you want yours.

We use 2/3 cup Instant Oatmeal to 1 cup boiling water, more or less depending on how thick you like it.

Add cream, milk, fresh fruit or eat it as it is.

Enjoy!  

Homemade Brown Sugar

I was making muffins the other day and realized I was out of brown sugar.  How could that be?  Ah Ha!  The 6 batches of Pumpkin Muffins I made last week may be the reason!  ~smile~  Not wanting to go to the store, I searched the internet and found out it is very easy to make your own brown sugar!  Who knew?  Obviously, not me.  I often find myself looking for things I am out of and usually find them by a simple search.  Two ingredients and you are set.  I will never buy brown sugar again!  Here is my version.

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Homemade Chocolate Syrup

My boys drink a lot of milk and in their milk...they want chocolate!  I get so tired of paying for a little bit of syrup that doesn't last long.  At least when one certain twin makes his own!  ~smile~  I decided to make my own.  I gave it to the boys to try and they loved it and told me it was more chocolaty than their usual milk.  Yep, I'm a happy Mama.  <3 and hugs dear!

Homemade Chocolate Syrup

makes 1 pint

1 1/4 cups water

2 cups sugar

1 1/2 cups cocoa

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon, optional

    I thought I would try it and it worked.  

For a thinner syrup
1 cup unsweetened cocoa
2 cups sugar
pinch salt
1 cup water

Whisk dry ingredients together.  Add water and heat in microwave until your desired consistency.  Start with 1 1/2 minutes, stir and keep heating in 45 second intervals.  When it reaches your desired thickness..take out and let cool.  We like it thinner to make chocolate milk.

Stir water, sugar and cocoa until dissolved. Bring to a boil and then lower heat.  Keep stirring until it has thickened.  Add vanilla and cinnamon, if using.  

Put in a clean pint jar with a lid.  

Stir before using and add desired amount to milk, pour over ice cream or frozen yogurt, make milk shakes, drizzle on cake.  You get the idea!  Reid even wanted to put some on his pasta last night.  ~smiles~

Lucas put some on a peanut butter sandwich he made on a hot dog bun!  ~smile~
<3 and hugs!