How to make your own aluminum-free baking powder

This is certainly not my own recipe, but I thought you might all be interested in knowing that you can make your own baking powder for cheap without the aluminum ingredient and taste. (http://www.europeancuisines.com/how-to-make-your-own-aluminum-free-aluminium-free-baking-powder-from-scratch) To make the one teaspoon of commercial baking powder, mix together: 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar 1/4 teaspoon baking soda 1/4 teaspoon cornstarch I plan on making this in bigger quantities and then will refill my baking powder cantainer.

Cookie Success

I went to my first ever cookie exchange this week. (It was fabulous and terrible.  I got 6 dozen cookies and the taunt me every time I pass by and I have hardly any will power against cookies).   I made Sugar Coated Chocolate Cookies (I'll post the recipe soon).  Cookies and I have a bit of a turbulent relationship.  We don't always get along.  However I came across a couple of helpful hints this week and thought I'd share.

- Use parchment paper.  You don't have to spray it with any non-stick spray and you can reuse it.  My cookies came off perfectly every time.  And it helps cookies not spread so much and keep their shape so they look prettier.

- If you're using metal pans run cool water on the back side of them between batches to cool them down.  It will keep your cookies from cooking right as you put the dough on the pan.  This works very quickly, I think it took maybe 30 seconds.  If you are concerned about wasting water for this I think you could put some cool water in your sink and set the pans on top and it might work just as well.

Any body else have any good cookie tips?

Roast Turkey or Chicken

This is more of a preparation than a recipe. It was in Real Simple for using on a Turkey, but hubby loved it so much, I often roast chickens this way.

1 bird(turkey or chicken)

olive oil

House seasoning:
equal parts chili powder, kosher salt, fresh ground black pepper

1. Heat oven to 325 degrees.

2. Rub prepped bird with olive oil

3. Sprinkle seasoning over entire bird.

4. Roast in oven for 20minutes per pound.

Meatloaf Options

Since all my spices are in storage I've had to be selective and a bit creative about what I cook. I refuse to go out and buy more spices I know I already have.

This week I made meatloaf and the recipe I had called for breadcrumbs. I know I have some breadcrumbs in our shipment and the price for breadcrumbs at Wal-mart was too high for me to justify. So I used Shake N' Bake and it turned out great!

Taco Seasoning

adapted from Allrecipes.com ...

1tbsp chili powder
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/4tsp onion powder
1/4tsp crushed red pepper flakes
1/4tsp dried oregano
1/2tsp paprika
1&1/2tsp ground cumin
1tsp sea salt(or course kosher salt)
1tsp fresh ground black pepper

Just mix them all together! Works just like one packet of the store bought stuff, will season one pound ground beef or go in your favorite recipes. So much tastier, though. Hubby and I will never go back.

Extra Buns

If you ever have left-over hamburger buns here's another use for them.

Butter and toast the buns at 325 degrees for about 20 minutes. They are great served with your favorite pasta.

My mom used to do this all the time when we were growing up. I'm not sure how well it would work for seeded buns but the plain jane white ones are great. You can also use garlic butter.

Bacon

Okay, this is not a recipe, but rather a new way to cook my hubby's favorite breakfast treat.

Take the strips of bacon, put them on a pan, and cook them in a 350 degree oven for 20-30min.

Your house won't stink of bacon all day, and they cook well without burning up, or being gross and floppy. Whatever you are serving your bacon next to, start it after throwing the strips in the oven.

~Briana