Homemade Bubble Solution

Ingredients:
1 c. water
2 T. light Karo syrup or 2 T. glycerin
4 T. dishwashing liquid

Directions:
Mix ingredients together.

Note:  The glycerin is the key to better bubbles!

Lawn Tonic

I found this recipe years ago while watching 12 News.  This is a formula for green lawns in high heat. 

 

Ingredients:

1 can regular soda (do not use diet)
1 can beer (no light beer)
½ c. liquid dishwashing (do not use anti-bacterial dishwashing liquid)
½ c. household ammonia
½ c. mouthwash

 

Directions:
Pour into 10-gallon hose-end sprayer.

 

Notes:

• In high-heat, apply every 3 weeks.
• The liquid soap is a wetting agent, helping the formula penetrate to the roots.
• The ammonia promotes growth and turns your lawn green.
• The mouthwash kills the bugs and grubs.
• Do not use anti-bacterial dishwashing liquid in the mixture as it will kill off important microbes in the lawn and soil that help digest thatch.

Cheesy Broccoli Cups

Ingredients:

2 c. broccoli florets
1 large clove garlic, minced
1 c. ricotta
1½ c. grated mozzarella, divided
1 egg, beaten
Salt and pepper

Directions:

1. Steam broccoli until tender.
2. Preheat oven to 350° F.
3. Cool broccoli slightly.
4. Coarsely chop and place in a bowl.
5. Combine broccoli, garlic, ricotta, 1 cup mozzarella, and egg.  
6. Season with salt and pepper.
7. Stir all ingredients to combine.
8. Divide broccoli/cheese mixture among ramekins.
9. Sprinkle with remaining mozzarella.
10. Place ramekins on a baking sheet and bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until cheeses are melted and mozzarella on top starts to brown.

Homemade Pain Relieving Cream

Ingredients:

½ c. Coconut Oil
2 t. Beeswax pellets
5 drops Camphor oil
5 drops Peppermint oil
5 drops Eucalyptus oil

Directions:

1. Melt coconut oil and beeswax pellets. (I use a double boiler)
2. Stir until melted.
3. Allow the mixture to cool, but not to set up.
4. Add the essential oils and stir.
5. Pour into a small container and allow to cool completely.

Note:  Since coconut oil is the dominant ingredient, this will melt if kept in a warm place. 

 

Tandoori Seasoning

Ingredients:

1½ t. garlic powder
1½ t. paprika
1 t. cayenne pepper
1 t. ground coriander
1 t. ground cumin
1 t. ground ginger
1 t. salt
¼ t. ground cardamom
¼ t. ground cinnamon

Directions:

Mix all ingredients together and use as a rub for lamb, beef, pork and chicken.

Basic Lip Balm

Ingredients:

1 t. beeswax
2 t. coconut oil
2 drops vitamin E oil
2-3 drops flavor oil

Instructions:

1. Melt beeswax and coconut oil.
2. Stir in vitamin E oil.
3. Add flavor oil
4. Place in tube or pot.

Note:  This can be made without the flavor oil if you don't have any on hand.

Tea Tree Oil Shampoo

This is a handy shampoo to combat dandruff or scalp build up.

What You Will Need:

• 1 Bottle Shampoo (preferably dye and fragrance free)
• 1 Bottle Tea Tree Oil
• Dropper

Directions:

1. Using a dropper, add 2 drops of tea tree oil per ounce of shampoo.
2. Replace the shampoo bottle cap and shake well to mix.
3. Shake shampoo before each use.
4. Use shampoo as you normally would.

Notes:

• Do not ingest tea tree oil.
• Do not use tea tree oil undiluted
• Watch for allergic reactions, especially if it is your first time using tea tree oil.
• Do Not use tea tree oil if you are pregnant or breast feeding.
• As with any essential oils, use with caution.

Easy Shrimp Scampi

Ingredients:

1 stick butter
1 lb. shrimp cooked shrimp, deveined.
1 lemon
2 t. Italian Seasoning

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350° F.
2. Melt a stick of butter.
3. Line a baking sheet with foil.
4. Thinly slice lemon and lay out on the baking sheet.
5. Layer on the shrimp over the lemon.
6. Pour the butter over the shrimp.
7. Sprinkle with Italian Seasoning.
8. Bake for 15 minutes.

Parmesan Zucchini

Ingredients:

4 medium zucchini, cut in half
olive oil
¼ c. Parmesan cheese
1 T. Rosemary (fresh)
1 T. Thyme (fresh)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350° F.
2. Brush cut zucchini lightly with olive oil.
3. Place zucchini on foil lined baking sheet.
4. Mix Parmesan cheese, rosemary and thyme.
5. Sprinkle cheese mixture on zucchini halves.
6. Bake 15 minutes
7. Broil 3-4 minutes, until cheese is golden brown.

Note:  If using dried herbs, use sparingly because the Rosemary can be overpowering.

Modification:  Try Mozzarella instead of Parmesan, and Italian Seasoning instead of Rosemary and Thyme.

White-Bean and Sausage Stew

Ingredients:

6 (3 oz.) Italian sausages  
1 T. olive oil
1 large onion, diced
1 clove garlic, chopped  
2 (15 oz.) cans white beans (Great Northern or navy), rinsed and drained  
1 (28 oz.) can chopped tomatoes, drained  
1 T. chopped fresh or 1 tsp. dried thyme  
Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

1. Poke holes in sausages and put in a large nonstick skillet. 
2. Add ¼ cup water; bring to a boil. 
3. Lower heat and cook sausages, turning, until lightly browned and water has evaporated, about 10 minutes. 
4. Transfer to a plate. 
5. Heat oil in skillet over medium-high heat. 
6. Add onion and garlic; cook, stirring often, about 3 minutes. 
7. Add beans, tomatoes and thyme.
8. Put half of bean mixture into a slow cooker. 
9. Arrange sausages on top, followed by remaining beans. 
10. Cook on high for 4 hours. 
11. Check after 2 hours and add water if mixture looks dry.
12. Remove sausages; slice thickly. 
13. Season beans with salt and pepper. 
14. Return sausage to stew. 

Note:  Stew can be kept, frozen and tightly sealed, for up to 1 month.

Prep. Time:  15 minutes
Cook Time:  4 hours, 15 minutes
Serves 4

Tortellini & Zucchini

This is a pretty versatile recipe.  Pick your favorite tortellini.  Add peppers and/or mushrooms if you like.

Ingredients:

2 medium to large zucchini, sliced thin
¼ c. diced onion
1 T. Olive oil
1 clove garlic, minced
9 oz. tortellini, cooked according to package directions
2 - 8 oz. cans tomato sauce
½ t. basil
1 t. parsley

Directions:

1. Cook the tortellini according to package directions
2. Heat olive oil in a non-stick skillet
3. Sauté onion until translucent
4. Add garlic and sauté for 30 seconds
5. Add basil and parsley
6. Add zucchini to skillet and sauté until lightly browned
7. Add cooked tortellini to zucchini mixture
8. Add tomato sauce, stir.
9. Cook until everything is heated through.

Pork Cutlets

Ingredients:

¼ c. Parmesan cheese (shredded into fine powder)
¼ c. coconut flour plus a few tablespoons for dredging
2 eggs
4 small, boneless porkchops 
salt, pepper, seasonings 
Worcestershire (optional)
Cabbage
3 - 4 T. Coconut oil 

Directions:

1. Pound pork lightly until thin
2. Season pork with salt and pepper
3. Dredge pork in coconut flour
4. Beat eggs, dip pork into egg mixture
5. Combine Parmesan and coconut flour and then dip pork into that mixture as well
6. Heat oil 
7. Fry porkchops until dark golden brown and then flip it on the other side (10 min, depending on thickness)
8. Serve with cabbage

Shrimp and Avocado Salad

This makes a nice appetizer or light lunch.

Ingredients:

1 lb jumbo cooked shrimp, peeled, deveined and diced
1 medium tomato, diced 
1 avocado, diced 
1 jalapeno, seeds removed, diced fine 
¼ c. chopped red onion 
2 limes, juice of 
1 t. olive oil 
1 T. chopped cilantro 
salt and fresh pepper to taste 

Directions:

1. In a small bowl combine red onion, lime juice, olive oil, pinch of salt and pepper. 
2. Let them marinate at least 5 minutes to mellow the flavor of the onion.
3. In a large bowl combine chopped shrimp, avocado, tomato, jalapeño. 
4. Combine all the ingredients together, add cilantro and gently toss. 
5. Adjust salt and pepper to taste.

If you need to prepare this ahead of time, combine all ingredients except the avocado and cilantro.  Refrigerate.  Add the avocado and cilantro immediately prior to serving.