Cough, Cold and Flu Soother

I can't quite sell it as a "remedy" but a number of sources do say the ingredients shorten Cold and Flu symptoms. It certainly helps us! I make up a batch of this at the first sign of winter time sniffles.







1/4 cup honey
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar(raw is best!)
1/4 cup hot water
1 TB fresh grated ginger (1 tsp ground ginger if fresh isn't available)
1 tsp cinnamon(fresh ground if possible)
1 /2 tsp ground cayenne pepper

2014---this year I doubled the batch and added a clove of garlic, then put it all in my vitamix so there were no chunks...I was worried that the garlic would not mesh well but all the other flavors really hid the garlic!


Mix all the ingredients in a jar with a tight lid, shake well to incorporate all the ingredients.

You can take it straight by the tablespoonful as often as you need
Mix it into hot water and sip it as tea
Add some Irish Flu remedy like Whiskey (or Brandy is fantastic too!) for a good nights sleep(obviously the latter is not appropriate for the kiddos, but its mommy's favorite LOL)

Taco Seasoning

I always meant to put this little seasoning packet substitute on here. Super simple and so much tastier than the premade one!!



This is for 1 "packet" worth

1 TB chili powder
2 tsp cumin
1 tsp black pepper
1 tsp potato starch( cornstarch is fine if you dont have potato on hand)
1/2 tsp paprika
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp dried oregano
1/4 tsp cayenne
1/4 tsp onion powder
sea salt as desired.....I go with about 1/2 tsp

here is a "big" jar to keep in your cupboard..(1-2 TB per lb of meat per your preferences!)

1/2 cup chili powder
1/4 cup cumin
3 TB black pepper
3 TB cornstarch
1 1/2 TB paprika
1 1/2 TB garlic powder
1 1/2 TB oregano
2 tsp cayenne
2 tsp onion powder
sea salt as desired. I would go with 1 tsp to start




Combine all ingredients and mix well. Use immediately or it can be stored in an airtight container.


To use brown 1 lb ground beef until there is no more pink(drain if necessary) add seasoning (you can use teh whole thing or less if you like) and 2/3 cup water. Simmer until the sauce is thickened.

Homemade Pudding Mix

I like using pudding mix in my baking but if you look at the ingredients in a commercial box it is pretty daunting. Artificial colors, preservatives and junk. I set out to make my own!
The great thing about this is YOU control it. Too Sweet? cut down the sugar, not "flavored" enough, up the flavoring powder. I have tried to get a good medium on the recipes but it is all up to YOU!

This is for approx 1-6 serving size"box" of cook and serve style pudding .

1/2 cup white sugar

1/4 cup cornstarch

dash of salt

For Chocolate:
 add in 1/4 cup cocoa powder











For Vanilla:
Add in 3 TB  vanilla powder(if you cant find this make your own*, you will want about 1 TB homemade or add 2 tsp vanilla extract to the recipe you are using)

For Lemon:
Add in 3 TB dried lemon  powder(a few packets of True Lemon is good(5 or so) or it is super easy to make your own **, or add 1-2 tsp lemon extract to recipe)



For Banana:
Add in 3 TB banana powder***(or 2 tsp banana extract to the recipe , so far I have only been able to find "imitation" extract, but it works ok)

For Butterscotch:
Cut white sugar to 2 T
add in
6 TB brown sugar
1/2 ts butter powder

Place base ingredients and the flavor of your choice in a food processor and blend into a fine powder. Store in an airtight container or use immediately.

For use in pudding:
1  mix
2 1/4 cups milk
1 tsp butter
1 egg, beaten(can be omitted, but the end result will not be quite as thick)

Heat milk and mix in a double boiler over medium high heat, heat and stir until thickened.

Cover and cook 10 minutes. Add in butter and stir until melted.
Remove from heat , add 1/2 mixture into egg, stir well and pour it all back into the pot. Heat for 1 minute more.










Add any extracts after removing from heat.
chill and serve.












For use in baking :
Use about 1 cup of a flavored mix as you would 1-6 serving box(make SURE you look at the oz or serving size called for!) 3/4 cup would be a 4 serving size box, just over 1 1/4 cups for a 8 serving box

*Vanilla Powder

Take 6-7 vanilla beans and place them in a food dehydrator or low heat oven, dehydrate until fairly crisp(around 3 hours or so) and grind them in a coffee grinder until powdered

** Lemon Powder

Slice 4- medium sized lemons thin(rind and all) Dry them in a food dehydrator or on a parchment paper lined cookie sheet in low heat oven (275) until they are dark and fully dehydrated.

Put them in a clean coffee grinder and grind well(in batches, if you need too) add in 1/4 tsp sea salt and 1 tsp sugar to the final product and mix well.

(Picture is result of 1 lemon)

*** Banana powder

Slice 4 large bananas(greener the better) to an even thickness and dip in a mixture of 2 cups water and 2 tsp ascorbic acid(or 2 TB lemon juice)
Dehydrate for several hours in a dehydrator or oven on low heat(line a cookie sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking), they will be a dark and slightly leathery. They will crisp as they cool.

Make sure they are WELL dried!!!
Grind chips into a fine powder in a coffee grinder. IF they were not dried enough they will ball up into kind of sticky chunks, its NOT ruined! Just scrape the stuff back onto a parchment paper lined cookie sheet(or if your dehydrator has liners you can use that) and continue to dry them. Then just put it back into the (cleaned)grinder and try again!
(picture is with 2 bananas)





Here it is making a BIG batch for storage. Store in an airtight container.
You can make 1 flavor or leave the plain mix and add flavors individually as you need them

2 1/2 cup sugar

1 1/2 cups cornstarch

1/2 tsp salt

Add ins: 

Chocolate

1 1/2 cups cocoa powder(try special dark cocoa or any "dark" cocoa powder for a richer chocolate!)

Vanilla

1 cup vanilla powder

Lemon

1 cup Lemon Powder

Banana

1 cup banana powder.

Butterscotch

cut white sugar to 1/2 cup

add in 2  cup brown sugar

and 2 TB butter powder






No fresh milk???

You can add in 3/4 cup dry milk powder to the individual or 4.5 cups dry milk powder to the batch to be able to use it with water making pudding!