homemade maple syrup

2 cups firmly packed brown sugar
1 cup water
1 teaspoon cornstarch
1 teaspoon maple flavor

Put the brown sugar into a medium saucepan. Put the cornstarch into a small bowl or cup and drizzle with about 2 tablespoons of the water. Stir or whisk with a fork until the cornstarch is dissolved, then add it to the saucepan along with the rest of the water.

Stir or whisk constantly over medium-high heat until the mixture comes to a boil. Boil one minute, still stirring.

Remove the saucepan from the heat and let the syrup cool completely. When it is cool, stir in the maple flavor.

Store in the refrigerator.

Dishwasher soap

1 cup washing soda
1 cup borax
1/2 cup salt
10 packets of unsweetened lemonade
vinegar

Mix first 4 ingredients together in large container. Use about 1/8 of a cup per load of dishes. To help with spots on your dishes, fill the rinse aid spout with white vinegar.

Laundry soap

1 bar of naturally made soap (I made my own and used lemon scents), grated
2 cups borax
2 cups washing soda (different from baking soda. Can be found on the laundry aisle at the grocery store)
1 cup baking soda

Mix together ingredients in large container. You can also use various scents for the soap you use. Also, you can add in a few drops of matching essential oils. Shake container very well. Use 1/4 cup per load of wash.

Tub Scrub

1 cup baking soda
1/4 cup salt
15-20 drops essential oils (I used orange)


Pour all into a bowl, put lid on, and shake very well. Put a little of the dry mixture on a scrubbie and clean the tub. No fumes to avoid, no need to wear gloves, and works just as well as the name brand scrubs that can harm your tub or assault your senses!

Sweet potato pancakes

2 1/2 cups flour
1 tbsp baking powder
2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
1/2 tsp salt
2 cups buttermilk
1/2 cups brown sugar
2 tbsp applesauce
2 tsp vanilla
4 eggs
2 16oz cans yams, drained

Lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine flour, 2 tablespoons pecans, baking powder, pumpkin-pie spice, and salt in a large bowl. Combine milk and next 4 ingredients (milk through eggs); add to flour mixture, stirring until smooth. Stir in sweet potatoes.

Spoon about 1/4 cup batter onto a hot nonstick griddle or large nonstick skillet. Turn pancakes when tops are covered with bubbles and edges look cooked.

Chocolate chip cookies

Far warning, this makes A LOT of cookies

8 cups flour
8 sticks of butter, melt
1 tbsp baking soda
1 tbsp salt
3 cups sugar
3 cups brown sugar
1 tbsp vanilla
8 eggs
small bag chocolate chips


Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Mix everything down to the chocolate chips in a large mixing bowl, until smooth. Next stir in chips with strong spoon until the chips are evenly distributed. Bake 12-15 minutes-just until the edges are slightly browned.

Oven "fried" chicken strips

• Sauce:
• 1/4 cup honey
• 1/4 cup spicy brown mustard
• 
  Chicken:
• 1 1/2 pounds chicken breast tenders (about 16 pieces)
• 1/2 cup low-fat buttermilk
• 1/2 cup coarsely crushed cornflakes
• 1/4 cup seasoned breadcrumbs
• 1 tablespoon instant minced onion
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil

Preheat oven to 400°.

To prepare chicken, combine chicken and buttermilk in a shallow dish; cover and chill 15 minutes. Drain chicken, discarding liquid.

Combine cornflakes and next 5 ingredients (cornflakes through pepper) in a large zip-top plastic bag; add 4 chicken pieces to bag. Seal and shake to coat. Repeat procedure with remaining chicken. Spread oil evenly in a jelly-roll pan, and arrange chicken in a single layer in pan. Bake at 400° for 4 minutes on each side or until done. Serve with sauce.

Oatmeal cookies

1 1/2 cups butter
2 cups brown sugar
1 cup sugar
4 eggs
1 tbsp vanilla
2 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tbsp cinnamon
2 tsp salt
6 cups oatmeal

Mix everything together very well. Scoop out small amounts for each cookie and place in an oven that was preheated to 350 degrees. Bake 15-17 minutes.

Spanish rice

small onion, chopped
3 cups rice
1/2 tsp garlic
7 cups water
2 tbsp chicken broth
1 small can pasta sauce
2 cups corn
1 tbsp taco seasoning

Mix together all ingredients in large saucepan. Continually stir until rice is cooked. Serve with burritos or as a side to any mexican dish.

Applesauce breakfast cake

3 1/2 cups flour
2 cups brown sugar
3 tsp baking soda
1 1/2 tsp ground cloves
1/2 cup butter
2 eggs
1/2 tsp salt
3 cups applesauce

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Melt butter in microwave until liquid. Mix all ingredient together. Bake about 45 minutes, or until knife stuck in the middle comes out clean.