My Favorite Recipes
Breads
Cheese
Soups
Main Dishes
Desserts
- My Favorite Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe
- Liz's Favorite Pumpkin Cookies
- Wrapped Hugs
- Macaroons
- Strawberry Mousse
Canning Recipes
Homemaking
For me, homemaking includes cooking and crafts. But cooking encompasses so much: cheesemaking, bread baking, canning, as well as from-scratch meals and desserts. I've included some of my favorite tried and true recipes on the right.
Making Cheese
Last year, I enrolled in a cheese-making workshop at the local community college. I learned to make soft cheeses: mozzarella, ricotta and neufchatel cheese. I've included recipes for mozzarella and ricotta on this page. It may be hard to believe, but the mozzarella takes only 30 minutes from start to finish. And by finish, I mean actually able to taste and enjoy. Who knew making cheese could be so easy? And it's economical too. Since a gallon of milk makes approximately 1 pound of mozzarella, the cheese can be less than $3.00/pound, depending on the price of milk. And it's fresh and it takes great. I buy the citric acid and rennet at my local health food store or wine supply store.
Canning
Many years ago, when we first moved to this area, a neighbor, now a good friend, introduced me to canning. Since then, I've canned vegetables and fruits every year. I've even canned venison on occasion. The initial cost to start canning can be high, since you have to buy equipment: hot water canner, pressure canner, jars, lids, funnel, tongs. But in the years after you've made the purchases, the cost of canning is less than if you bought from the supermarket. Also the taste of your own canned foods is so much better than what you can buy in the store. The Ball Blue Book is the bible of canning and is a must buy. It has step-by-step instructions and great recipes.
Crafts
I like to sew and do needlework: crocheting and cross-stitch. I've always made the kids' Halloween costumes and many of Elizabeth's dresses.
When Rob was in Kindergarten he wanted to dress as a sneaker for Halloween. I cut and quilted the back pannel as the sole of the sneaker,
made the tongue and the laces coming up the front, put a nike swoosh on each side of the shoe and on his face.
There are definitely times when your kids challenge your creativity!
I love to crochet with threads to make doilies and lacey objects. Years ago, I tried selling at local craft shows.
But I have never been able to sell my work and make money representative of the time I put into it. I think that if you are selling in larger
cities you may be able to charge more for your crafts and actually profit from your handiwork.