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Make Your Own Ketchup, Mustard, Mayo &8230;. Why spend a lot of money this summer on condiments from the grocery store that are, in most cases, loaded with corn syrup, artificial flavors, and preservatives?

Make Your Own Ketchup, Mustard, Mayo &8230;

It’s easy to make your own ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise, and more right at home with ingredients you probably already have. Here are a few simple recipes for these favorite summer cookout staples: Homemade Ketchup Ingredients: 1 (28-oz) can whole tomatoes in purée 1 medium onion, chopped 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 tablespoon tomato paste 2/3 cup packed dark brown sugar 1/2 cup cider vinegar 1/2 teaspoon salt Directions: Blend tomatoes and purée from the can in a blender until smooth. In a heavy 4-quart saucepan, cook onion in oil over moderate heat, stirring, until softened (about 8 minutes). Homemade Mustard Ingredients: 1/2 cup dry mustard 1/2 cup cider vinegar 1/2 cup water 2 egg yolks 1 cup sugar 3 teaspoons cornstarch Directions: Dissolve mustard in vinegar. The Hazel Bloom: The Best Macaroni and Cheese Recipe Ever.

I can say this is the best macaroni and cheese recipe ever because it's not really my recipe.

The Hazel Bloom: The Best Macaroni and Cheese Recipe Ever

I tweaked it a tiny bit - basically made it even more fattening - but otherwise, it's someone else's. It's from someone named Bev, who posted her recipe on Recipezaar and to whom I am eternally grateful. See, macaroni and cheese is pretty much my all-time favorite food. Always has been. Cases in point: One of my first-ever memories is of sitting down in front of the TV with a bowl full of macaroni and cheese and watching Emergency! I should probably stop there. So back to Bev. Bev is probably totally creeped out now too.

I'm a total freakfest today. Oh - and this recipe is great with many noodles other than macaroni (like penne, yum!) Okay, I'm shutting up now. (Conchiglie pasta - this organic Montebello stuff is out of this world:) Italian Grilled Cheese. Who doesn’t love a good grilled cheese?

Italian Grilled Cheese

And, I know it’s totally Ameeeerican to make the classic: American cheese, mayonnaise and bread. But, why not change it a bit and use REALLY fresh and natural ingredients?!?!? Love it! There’s nothing more delicious than fresh and homemade ingredients. Yum!!! Watermelon Limeade. The Ultimate Strawberry Lemonade. One of the first times I ever realized that – HEY!

The Ultimate Strawberry Lemonade

I can cook for myself! – was when I first learned to make lemonade. I magically found the refrigerated lemon juice at our house and followed the directions to make my own lemonade. I stirred and stirred and stirred again until that sugar was finally dissolved. Speaking of which, what gives sugar?! Sorry for the detour. Anyway, there was a summer there where I made my own lemonade every single day, making sure to rub it in my sister’s face that I knew how to and she didn’t. The key to this being the ultimate lemonade is that you blend it up with the lemon rind in there. And any time of day for that matter. (makes 2 pint-glass servings with ice) 3/4 cup sugar2 large lemons, microwaved for 30 seconds2 cups water1 cup of frozen strawberries, microwaved for 1 minute (you could use fresh, but I think the frozen works better here) In a blender squeeze the lemons and add the rest of the lemon, rind and all.

The Infamous Jacques Torres Chocolate Chip Cookies. Now, I have a chocolate chip cookie recipe that I swear by.

The Infamous Jacques Torres Chocolate Chip Cookies

I love it, I think it is incredible, and I haven’t changed my mind about that. However, as much as it pains me to say it, these chocolate chip cookies by Jacques Torres are absolutely, without a doubt, the best chocolate chip cookies that I have ever made or tasted in my entire life. The Wanna be Country Girl. This hash-brown casserole is the perfect side dish.

The Wanna be Country Girl

I served it last night with my chicken pot pie to a crowd. It’s cheesy comfort food at its best. The parmesan gives it a tangy flavor, and best of all it’s really easy to fix. Its got five ingredients you mix together and pop it in the oven. Start out by adding 1 – 32 ounce bag of hash-browns to a large mixing bowl. Next add 2 – 10 3/4 ounce cans of cream of potato soup. Followed by 16 ounces of sour cream. Now comes the cheesy part. And 1 cup of fresh grated parmesan cheese. 15 Basic Stir Fry Sauce Recipes (Food and Whine)

I love a good stir fry and they are a great way to use up odds and ends of meat, vegetable and noodles.

15 Basic Stir Fry Sauce Recipes (Food and Whine)

And let’s face it, they are a quick and easy dinner solution. Simply cook up some rice or throw in some noodles and it’s a family-pleasing meal. I rarely start with a recipe – just a pile of odds and ends. So it occurred to me recently that what I really needed was a stir-fry sauce “cheat sheet” – a handy reference for the combination of sauce ingredients I need to make different kinds of stir fry to combine with my collection of ingredients. Here I’ve collected 15 great stir-fry sauce recipes that can be printed to keep handy in the kitchen (or bookmarked, if you prefer). Instructions for all of these recipes … just combine the ingredients in a small bowl, stir well to combine, then add to your stir fry. Lemon Stir-Fry Sauce – Great with seafood stir fries, such as shrimp and/or scallops, as well as chicken. Lemon Stir-Fry Sauce II – nice with chicken and seafood.

Tips: Homemade versions of Girl Scout cookies. I admit it: We’re Thin Mint addicts in our house.

Homemade versions of Girl Scout cookies

I try to limit the number of boxes I buy each season because they aren’t particularly healthy or earth-friendly. But, I have many friends with daughters in the Girl Scouts, and the Thin Mints are just so yummy. My 7-year-old didn’t even realize there was any other flavor of Girl Scout cookies than Thin Mints. When one of my friends asked him what kind of cookies he wanted to buy from his daughter he said, “You know. Girl Scout cookies,” with a confused look on his face. One reason that Girl Scout cookies hold such a spell over many people is that they are only available for a limited time. Whether you’re looking to create a healthier version of the cookies that you like so much or you want a way to get your fix during the off-season, try your hand at these recipes for Girl Scout-like cookies.

Tagalongs – Baking Bites has a recipe for these peanut butter patty Girl Scout cookies. Healthy Frosting. Frosting is often laden with butter and refined sugar, but these elements are not necessary for a rich, decorative cake topping.

Healthy Frosting

Nutritious ingredients such as nut butter, yogurt and tofu add creaminess without the help of butter, while natural sweeteners like honey can replace refined sugar. Putting together a few of these common ingredients, you can make a healthy – even vegan – frosting to enhance any cake. Healthy Frosting. World Hearth Recipe Collection.

Healthy Indulgences: Healthy Chocolate Cake with a Secret. Cakes and Cupcakes, Chocolate, Dairy-Free, Fast n' Easy, Frosting, Grain-Free, Low Carbohydrate, Nut-Free, Sugar-Free Cake.

Healthy Indulgences: Healthy Chocolate Cake with a Secret

Chocolate cake! Chocolate cake made without flour, sugar, or dairy. Low carb and gluten-free, of course. Cake made out of a surprise ingredient, one that will make you wrinkle you’re nose upon hearing it.