Simple Recipes
Classic Cocoa
Ingredients
2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
1 to 2 tablespoons sugar (depending on how sweet you like it)
1 cup milk or any combination of milk, half-and-half, cream - you can use milk substitutes like almond or soy milk
¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
Pinch of Salt
- Whisk together the cocoa, sugar, salt, and approx. 2 tablespoons milk in a small saucepan over medium-low heat until cocoa and sugar are dissolved. Whisk in the rest of the milk and heat it over medium heat, whisking occasionally, until it is hot. Add vanilla and serve.
- If you like it frothy, try a frother or a blender
- Add marshmallows, if desired
- Easy to increase. When you get up to a quart of milk, use ¼ teaspoon salt.
Easy Sweets
No-Bake Cookies
Ingredients
1 3/4 cup white sugar
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup butter
4 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 cup crunchy peanut butter
3 cups quick-cooking oats
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- In a medium saucepan, combine sugar, milk, butter, and cocoa. Bring to a boil, and cook for 1 1/2 minutes.
- Remove from heat, and stir in peanut butter, oats, and vanilla.
- Drop by teaspoonfuls onto wax paper. Let cool until hardened.
Breakfast Yum
Oatmeal Kids Love
Ingredients
1 cup quick cooking oats – also known as instant oats
2 cups water, milk or a combination of both
For Sweetening:
Add Brown Sugar, Honey or Maple Syrup
For Added Nutrients:
Choose fruit or a combination of fruits: Bananas, Strawberries, Blueberries, softened Apple slices
For Crunchy:
Add Slivered Almonds, Pecans, Chopped Walnuts
In a medium saucepan, bring 2 cups water to a boil. Stir in 1 cup quick cooking oats. Reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, for 1 minute, stirring occasionally. Remove the saucepan from the heat. Cover and let stand about 30 seconds before adding your favorite yummy add-ins.
There are lots of yummy combos.
For refreshing summertime we like adding honey, strawberries and blueberries.
In winter; brown sugar, apples and chopped walnuts make for a tasty, warm, cozy breakfast.
How to get kids to eat salad
Easy Salad Dressing
Make this dressing and add it to salad for happy kids. Grown-ups like it too!
Ingredients
One part Olive Oil (use sunflower oil for a milder flavor)
Two parts local honey
One part red vinegar
Pepper to taste
Place in small bowl and stir with a fork or whip or use a salad dressing shaker. For a sweeter dressing, add more honey.
It will last refrigerated up to 5 days. I make mine shortly before mealtime because it only takes a minute to prepare!
Serve over your favorite lettuce with tomatoes, cucumber and bacon bits -or- try a sweeter salad with lettuce, berries, raisins and candied pecans or chopped walnuts.
Yummy Pretzels
A Favorite Recipe from Grandma Jackie
Ingredients
1/2 bottle of Orville Redenbacher's Butter Flavor Popcorn Oil
1 package Uncle Dan's Dry Ranch Dressing (can use Hidden Valley brand too)
1 teaspoon dill
2 15 oz. bags of pretzels (I use about 1 and 2/3 bags to make sure there's enough coating)
Mix oil, ranch dressing and dill in Tupperware bowl. Add pretzels. Cover with tight lid. Turn bowl upside down for at least 24 hours. Divide into 3 gallon zip lock bags. Can add corn curls, cheese its, etc., if desired.
If giving as gifts, put in a zip lock bag, line your tin or goody box with tissue. The zip lock bag will keep them fresh for snacking and the tissue will add a festive touch.
I make these every Christmas and people always ask me for the recipe - this snack is simple and sure to be a hit!
