Honey Yogurt Dip & Tips for Sugar-free

The holidays were definitely holidays for me. And I indulged in a bit more sugar than I should have. I paid for it by feeling sluggish, achy, cranky, and overall just yucky. Now that the New Year is here, I've recommitted to my sugar-free goal because I don't like myself that way. I like my sugar-free self better. But if there's anything I've learned in the last year of cutting back on sugar, it's that you have to have a sweet replacement for it. Especially during the first few weeks of the "detox" phase when you begin. I don't like to use the chemical sweeteners. I prefer a more natural approach to sweetening. So in honor of re-instating my goal of 6 days a week without sugar I'd like to share with you a this delicious recipe sweetened with raw honey.

I actually made this for New Year's Eve because by then I was so sugar-ed out that I couldn't even stomach the thought of making a dessert with sugar. This was such a yummy treat and literally takes minutes to whip together. I've eaten the leftovers for breakfast, lunch, and dinner since then. My Mom is actually the one who discovered how delicious it is dipped on breadsticks. You've gotta try it. So yummy. Our neighbors brought us these granny smith apples from their orchard and we are loving them dipped in this. Tart mixed with sweet. Perfect combination. So whether you go with breadsticks or fruit, you can't go wrong. In fact, try both. Double Yum!

And just in case you are looking, here are some more of my favorite sugar-free recipes and some tips on how to curb a sweet tooth. Happy New Year!

Honey Oat Cinnamon Rolls

Best Banana Bread

Strawberry Slushies

Strawberry Lemonade Pops

Homemade Vanilla Wafers

Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies

Sugar Free Chocolate Pieces

Buttermilk Coconut Syrup

Chocolate Chip Molasses Cookies

Healthy Blueberry Muffins

Honey Yogurt Dip

Printable Recipe

*Makes about 2 Cups

INGREDIENTS
2 Cups plain yogurt (thick style like Greek works the best; if using homemade, strain off some of the whey through cheesecloth first)
1/2 Cup honey
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
Your choice of fresh fruit or bread sticks. My choices would be apples, strawberries (in season), or these breadsticks.

DIRECTIONS
In a medium bowl, combine the yogurt, honey and cinnamon. Mix well until combined. Cover and refrigerate for at least an hour. Serve with fresh fruit or bread sticks. This dip keeps well in the refrigerator for a couple of days.

*Recipe Source: adapted slightly from Mel's Kitchen Cafe

Read More

Homemade Spaghetti Sauce with Quinoa

One of our boys favorite dishes is pasta. They love all shapes, colors and sizes of it. They would eat it every day if they could. Here's one a great meatless recipe for spaghetti sauce that we love. It uses red quinoa instead of meat.

I love to use my home-canned crushed tomatoes in this recipe. I haven't post a lot of sauces on this blog, but we love to make homemade sauces with our home-canned tomatoes. The main reason I haven't posted them is because we often don't measure ingredients so they are hard to replicate.

Well guess what? I actually measured this time! And guess what else? I'm glad I did because this was a phenomenal sauce. Loved it so much. And you will too. And don't worry if you don't can your own tomatoes yet...I made the sauce again using cans of diced tomatoes from the store and it also turned out wonderful so you've got no excuses. Go make it.

And I just need to say, isn't it lovely that it makes about the same amount as a 28-oz. jar spaghetti sauce? I know. I've looked for this recipe my whole life too. Well, just about...

Feel free to double or triple it to your hearts content. It would be so convenient to make in a big batch, freeze and reheat for a quick meal. Not like the 20 minutes it takes to cook it is not already a quick meal, but I'm always looking for shortcuts to the shortcuts.

Homemade Spaghetti Sauce with Quinoa

Printable Recipe

*Makes about 3 cups or the equivalent of 1 28-oz. jar spaghetti sauce

INGREDIENTS:

1 Quart crushed tomatoes or 2 16-oz. cans crushed or diced tomatoes

1 large clove garlic, minced

3/4 tsp. dried oregano

3/4 tsp. dried basil

1 tsp. sugar

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. black pepper

1 8-oz. can tomato sauce (or use the ingredients from dried tomato powder)

1/4 cup red quinoa, uncooked

DIRECTIONS:

In a blender, place the tomatoes, minced garlic, dried oregano, dried basil, sugar, salt, and black pepper and blend until smooth. Place blended sauce into a large saucepan and add the tomato sauce and red quinoa. Heat to a simmer over medium heat. Simmer for 15-20 minutes or until quinoa is cooked. You can tell when the quinoa is cooked because it displays a little white thread that curls around it. Serve over hot pasta or in a recipe that requires a 28-oz. jar of spaghetti sauce.

*Recipe Source: healthyfamilycookin.blogspot.com

Read More

Honey Caramel Candies

I know I haven't been posting as regular as usual. Let me just give you an update. We are in the middle of a remodel project so our household is rather disoriented at this point. Our plans include finishing half of our basement off to include a family room and a bedroom. Also we are converting a bedroom on the main floor to be a bathroom and a laundry room. So it's very exciting, but a lot of work. And a lot of disorientation, but that's okay because it will be worth it when it's done! 

But it's Christmas and I just can't pass the season without sharing with you a delicious and wonderful no-sugar holiday treat. These Honey Caramel Candies are easy to make and melt-in-your mouth delicious. They would make a great addition to stockings or a gift to give the neighbors. I like to keep them around when I am craving a treat, but don't want to cave to the sugar. Remember how I shared this recipe I discovered this fall for Honey caramel apples? Well you might recognize these honey caramel candies because they are very similar, just a few little changes to make them work as candy.

Honey Caramel Candies
Printable Recipe

INGREDIENTS:
1 Cup raw honey
1 Cup heavy cream
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

DIRECTIONS:Lightly butter a 8x8" or 9x9" square pan and set aside. In a heavy saucepan over medium heat, combine honey, heavy cream and salt. While it is heating, whisk together the mixture until combined and then bring to a rolling boil. Reduce heat until the mixture reaches a simmer (it is still bubbling but not splattering all over). Stir and scrape sides of pot down occasionally. Turn down heat slightly if mixture starts to scorch on the bottom. Keep heating until the temperature on a thermometer inserted in the sauce reaches 240-245 degrees (this may take about 20-30 minutes). 

When temperature is between 240 and 245 degrees, remove from heat, add vanilla extract and stir to combine. Pour caramels into prepared pan and let sit at room temperature for 2 hours or until cool and set.

When cool, remove the sheet of caramels from the pan and cut into pieces using a large knife. Wrap each caramel in a piece of wax paper, twisting the ends to secure.

Recipe Source: healthyfamilycookin.blogspot.com

Read More

Frugal Friday: More than 100 Frugal Family Activities for CHRISTMAS!

I have some wonderful memories of wonderful Christmas times with my family growing up. But as a parent how do you create those? It's easy for family time to get lost in all the hustle and bustle of Christmas parties, Christmas shopping, and just day-to-day busyness. Are you making sure that you take some time to really enjoy this wonderful season with your family? Well, in case you need some help, today I'm sharing more than 100 frugal family activities for Christmas! 

1. Decorate the Christmas Tree
2. Build something out of snow - e.g. a snow man, or a snow animal
3. Go Sledding
4. Make homemade gifts for each other
5. Donate some food to a local food bank
6. Bake Christmas Treats
7. Set up the nativity and play with the characters. We usually use a plastic nativity set that we have, but if you don't have one you can make one out of card stock. 
8. Watch an old Christmas Movie
9. Go on a night hike
10. Make a homemade wreath
11. Go visit Santa and take a picture
12. Sing "Feliz Navidad" and have a Latin Christmas party!
13. Make Christmas cards to give away
14. Create a Christmas Board Game
15. Go on a walk or drive to see the Christmas lights in the neighborhood
16. Shovel a neighbor's walk
17. Read a Christmas Story
18. Doorbell ditch something on a neighbor's door
19. Read the nativity story
20. Write a Christmas poem
21. Have a Bethlehem dinner
22. Spend an evening playing board games
23. Invent a new holiday tradition
24. Build a snow fort
25. Make and decorate a gingerbread house
26. Make homemade Christmas ornaments
27. Make a popcorn garland to hang on the tree
28. Go caroling at a senior citizen or retirement home
29. Make a paper chain to count down until Christmas
30. Put together a puzzle
31. Have a sleepover under the Christmas tree
32. Go sledding
33. Play this cute Gingerbread dice game
34. Have a pillow fight
35. Make Christmas cookies
36. Use this secret service star idea to give service in your families
37. Write letters to Santa and mail them
38. Go window shopping and enjoy the holiday displays (just make sure you stay outside, or it won't be very frugal!)
39. Make reindeer food to sprinkle on your lawn on Christmas eve
40. Dress up in costumes and act out the nativity story (this was always our Christmas Eve tradition)
41. Go to the library and check out some Christmas books to read
42. Make some jingle bell shakers and sing jingle bells
43. Pick a family to play the twelve days of Christmas to - make a gift and deliver it secretly on their door each day for 12 days before Christmas
44. Have a hot chocolate party
45. Make a Paper Christmas Train
46. Instead of "Simon Says" play "Santa Says"
47. Take your own family Christmas pictures
48. Have a pajama party!
49. Make snowflakes
50. Make some snowballs and have an indoor snowball fight!
51. Dress up as Christmas trees
52. Play "I spy" with the Christmas tree ornaments on the tree- this game entertained us for hours when I was a kid!
53. Sing Christmas Carols
54. Make Christmas Fudge
55. Hang Christmas lights in the kids room and leave them on for them while they are falling to sleep - I remember how magical this was to me as a child.
56. Hide something in the house (we usually choose the baby Jesus from our nativity scene) and play hot and cold to find it. 
57. Make red & green play dough
58. Snap goofy camera shots behind a headless snowman.
59. Count down to Christmas with this good deed jar
60. Have a picnic in front of the Christmas tree
61. Dance to some Christmas music
62. Make a cardboard box house (out of a refrigerator box) and decorate it for Christmas
63. Make Giant ice marbles to decorate outside
64. Choose a Christmas tradition from another country to incorporate into your Christmas celebration this year
65. Go exercise together. We need it! Especially with all the extra treats around...
66. Leave a Christmas gift for your mail carrier
67. Make blessing bags to give to those in need
68. Do something nice for the person behind you in line at the store. 
69. Frost sugar cookies
70. Here's a cute idea to wrap up gifts under the tree for 12 activities to do during the Christmas season.
71. Have an evening at home and sit around the fire (or a pretend one) and share your favorite Christmas memories
72. Have a special Christmas plate that each child gets to take turns eating on for dinner.
73. Make an advent Calendar and count down until Christmas.
74. Make Rudolf Candy Canes or Christmas mice to hang on the tree
75. Help the kids make gifts for their friends or grandparents.
76. Make Salt Dough Ornaments
77. At the beginning of December, each member of the family writes a gift to give Jesus during that Christmas season. The papers are put inside a box wrapped with gold paper and placed under the tree. The box is opened on Christmas and the gifts are read aloud.
78. Make luminaries to line your sidewalk. This was a tradition that some of my family members have who live where it's still good weather during the holidays.
79. Make hand print gifts from the kids. There are so many cute ones out there and the kids love to participate. Even the smallest kids can.
80. Make marshmallow snowmen
81. Print out Christmas coloring pages to color
82. Make Baby Jesus Bread
83. I love these activity ideas to make the Christmas season centered around Christ.
84. Make a paper snowball launcher and have a snowball fight!
85. Make tracks in the snow for someone to follow
86. Make gifts for the neighbors
87. Learn to sing Silent Night in German
88. Make a wreath out of evergreen boughs
89. Decorate Gingerbread cookies
90. Draw names for secret Santa names. Put all your families names in a hat and each person draws. Each day during the Christmas season do something nice for your person in secret.
91. Have an old fashioned evening using only candles for lights.
92. Clean out the house and donate toys & stuff to charity.
93. Make some homemade wrapping paper
94. Have a picnic next to the Christmas tree
95. Make snowflakes out of tortillas, spread with butter and a little cinnamon sugar and broil until crispy
96. Make edible gifts for the birds
97. Play name tune with Christmas music
98. Have a Christmas Scavenger hunt
99. Make some edible ornaments for the Christmas tree
100. Have a hat contest to see who can make the best Christmas hat out of construction paper.

And if you still need even more ideas, here they are:

Lots more Christmas Ideas

Nativity Activities
> 100 Frugal Activities for Winter

What about you? What does your family enjoy doing at Christmas time? Do you have any fun traditions that you want to start or have done in the past? Thanks for sharing and hope you have a wonderful holiday season!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Read More

Frugal Friday: Use What You've Got, Recycling in Your Home

It's that time of year when we start thinking about Christmas and sometimes pennies need to stretch a little farther than usual. One of the best ways to practice frugality is found in the old adage "Use it up, wear it out, make do or do without."

Taking the time to find out what you've got, then finding resourceful ways to use it, can save a lot of money. Not only that, but you are doing your part as a good citizen by recycling in your own home.

Here are some great ways that I've thought of to use what you've got:

1. Instead of throwing out worn t-shirts and socks, use them as cleaning rags. You can throw them in the wash after each use.
2. Many plastic food containers can be re-used for storing other items. Decorate them by painting or covering with construction paper. I like to use small baking powder containers to store rubber bands, paper clips, safety pins, or twisty ties in. 
3. Cottage cheese, sour cream, dip, or other round containers can be used to store leftovers. I like to keep a few around to send home leftovers with guests that co

   

   The beginning of my new herb
   garden with recycled pallets,
   tires, baskets and drawers

   me over for dinner.
4. I like to start my seedlings in plastic yogurt containers. We grow them inside until it gets warm enough to transplant. I've also seen people start them in toilet paper rolls.
5. And speaking of gardens, there's lots of ways you can use recyclables in a garden. I use old tires, drawers, or baskets as planter boxes. Just think of it, the possibilities really are endless...
6. I save plastic juice bottles to store water in for emergencies or to bring along something for a picnic. They also come in handy to store juice in the refrigerator after I make fresh apple or grape juice. Be sure you only use the thicker plastic bottles. Milk jugs will eventually leak (as we learned from sad experience...).
7. Old sheets or clothes can be cut into strips and turned into a braided or crocheted rag rug.



A cardboard tree house
I made for our boys

8. Lots of things can be used as toys for the kids. Our kids love to use old cereal boxes, paper towel rolls and cardboard to create wonderful things. If you are really strapped for money this Christmas, think about what you can make as toys for your kids with things you already have lying around. Use your imagination or do a little research. There's a lot of amazing things out there that you can make. Castles, tree houses, play kitchens, marble runs, etc. can all be made out of cardboard. Sometimes the best gifts start out with something as simple as a cardboard refrigerator box.
9. Recycle your own paper by using the back as drawing paper for the kids. Save colored paper or cards to cut up and make new cards out of. Art supplies make a wonderful gift for some children, and don't have to cost a lot if you recycle what you have.
10. Got some pretty fabric or old curtains lying around? Make a beautiful scarf out of it for a gift.
11. Lots of cute Christmas tree ornaments can be made from recyclables. 
12. We save our plastic grocery bags and use them for garbage bags. They also make great gift packing when you need to ship something instead of paying for bubble wrap or foam. 
13. Oh and speaking of bubble wrap and foam, lots of things like that can be saved and reused when you need to mail a package. Even those padded envelopes. Just cover them with some paper or a new label and you're good to go. 
14. And cardboard boxes are great to save and reuse when you need one to ship something or store something.
15. Save outgrown clothes for younger siblings or make over and re-purpose clothes. Put a cute patch on a pair of holey jeans. My sister-in-law is a genius at this. There's lot of cool things you can make out of re-purposed clothes.

    

    Some jeans that I patched up
    with a homemade patch

The ideas keep flowing and flowing, but I guess I've gotta stop sometime....Now in giving all these ideas I have to be sure to mention, don't go extreme in this and become a pack rat. That's easy to do. And I think I've mentioned before that the cost of storing your "garbage" can skyrocket when you start to need extra shelves or space to store it. Make sure that doesn't happen. Set a limit and then keep within it, that way you don't go overboard. Don't store more than you need or will use. And every once in a while, it's very refreshing to get rid of it all and start over from nothing. We do that periodically and it's a good thing.

What about you? Do you have any ideas to share? What does your family recycle in your home? How do you use what you've got? Thanks for sharing and have a great weekend!

Read More

Whole Wheat Tortilla Recipe

I have a new favorite whole wheat tortilla recipe that I've been using for a while now. They are simple to make and they taste delicious. They store really well in the refrigerator too. I keep them in a sealed gallon-sized ziplock freezer bag and use them during the week for a quick lunch or snack. Enjoy.

Whole Wheat Tortilla Recipe
Printable Recipe

*Makes 16 tortillas

INGREDIENTS:
4 Cups whole wheat flour
1/4 tsp. baking powder
1-1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 Cup canola oil
About 2 Cups warm water

DIRECTIONS:
Preheat griddle or skillet to medium high. In a medium bowl or mixer bowl add the wheat flour, the baking powder, and the salt and mix. Add the oil and keep mixing. Then add warm water until mixture turns soft and pliable (you may or may not use all 2 cups). Shape into 16 balls and roll out thin. Don't worry if they're not perfectly round. Cook for one to two minutes on a hot griddle or skillet. Flip and cook for another minute or two. Don't overcook or tortillas will be hard.

Recipe Source: Adapted slightly from everydayfoodstorage.net

Read More

Polynesian Skillet over Red Quinoa brown rice

What do you love about fall?

I love the colors of fall. The bright oranges, reds, yellows and browns. This dish displays the stunning colors of that color pallet. Isn't food so much more fun to eat when it's full of color? I love how the red quinoa just adds to that color (along with adding nutrition of course). The other thing that I LOVE about this recipe is how fast it comes together (30 minutes or less from start to finish). As busy people, we need these kinds of recipes around. Quick, beautiful meals that are good for us and taste delicious. Enjoy!

Polynesian Skillet over Red Quinoa Brown Rice
Printable Recipe

*Serves 6-8

INGREDIENTS:
2 Cups brown rice
1 Cup red quinoa
1 tsp. salt
5-1/2 Cups Water
2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1/4" strips
1 Tbsp. olive oil
1 medium onion, sliced
1 red pepper, chopped
1 15-oz. can pineapple chunks
1 Cup chicken broth
1/4 Cup vinegar, any type
1/2 Cup brown sugar
2 Tbsp. soy sauce
2 Tbsp. cornstarch
1 11-oz. can mandarin oranges, drained
salt, to taste

DIRECTIONS:
In a pressure cooker, combine brown rice, red quinoa, salt and water. Lock lid in place and cook on high pressure for 12 minutes. When red quinoa brown rice has finished cooking, release pressure using quick release or natural release.

While the rice is cooking, in a large skillet, sauté chicken in oil until chicken is lightly browned. If you prefer not to use oil, just spray some cooking spray on the skillet and use the chicken's natural juices to cook.

Add onion and green pepper. Stir fry until vegetables are tender. Add 1/2 cup pineapple juice from the can of pineapple chunks, chicken broth, vinegar and brown sugar to the skillet and stir.

In a small bowl, off to the side, combine soy sauce and cornstarch. Mix well to smooth out any clumps. Stir the cornstarch mixture into the chicken, vegetables and sauce in the skillet. Simmer until mixture thickens, stirring constantly. This should take about 5 to 10 minutes, and the mixture will turn more transparent as it thickens. Add pineapple and mandarin oranges just before serving. Add salt to taste. Serve over cooked red quinoa brown rice.

Recipe Source: healthyfamilycookin.blogspot.com

Read More