Homemade Easy Bake Cake Mix

Tired of spending $4 for an Easy Bake Cake Mix?  We found this recipe and made several Ziploc snack bag sized mixes to store in the freezer for those rainy day moments.  It worked great and saved $ as well as my sanity.  An extra bonus for us was that it was dairy free for my littlest princess :)

Ingredients

• 1 cup white sugar
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon unsweetened lemonade or any flavor drink mix (we used cocoa powder)
• 1/3 cup shortening

Directions

1. In a medium bowl, combine sugar, flour, baking soda, salt, and lemonade drink mix or cocoa powder. Stir to blend. Cut in shortening with a fork or pastry blender until mixture resembles corn meal.
2. Spoon about 1/3 cup mixture into 10 small containers or sealable plastic bags. Label and store in cool, dry place. Use within 12 weeks.
3. Preheat Easy Bake oven. Grease and flour a 4 inch miniature cake pan.
4. To make a cake: Empty the contents of one bag cake mix into a small bowl. Using a fork, mix with 4 teaspoons water until smooth.
5. Bake until done, cool, decorate and enjoy!

Easy Homemade Apple Butter

We like to smear it on our toast, muffins, mix into our yogurt or oatmeal, even over waffles....Nothing says mmmmmmmm better than apple butter!  Here is my easiest and best recipe:
Ingredients:

10 cups of finely diced apples with skins
2 cups of sugar
1/2 cup of apple juice or cider
1/2 tsp. ground cloves
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
1/4 tsp. ginger

Directions:
Dice your cored apples, with skins on, as fine as possible. Place all the ingredients into a crock pot.

 Cook on low for 8-12 hours stirring occasionally. When the apples have fully cooked to a mush I run it in small batches through my food processor. 

Spoon into clean jars and boil for 10-20 minutes in a bath of boiling water if canning. Otherwise, they can be stored directly into your fridge or freezer.

Homemade Snowflake Ornaments and Decorations

 

During the winter holidays we try to do a craft project or bake once a day.  This is the cutest idea we have done yet this year and it is SOOOOOOOOOOOO simple!

Supplies:
waxed paper
marker
white glue
glitter

Directions:

Draw snowflake designs onto squares of waxed paper.  Give your child a bottle of white glue and show them how to fill in the design.  Sprinkle the snowflake shapes with glitter and let them dry overnight.  Peel them off the paper when dry and hang as ornaments, use as window clings, give as gifts; the possibilities are endless!

Homemade Red Pepper & Jalapeno Jelly

Okay, here it is by popular demand, my recipe for Red Pepper & Jalapeno Jelly!  Just be sure to read the serving suggestions at the end and ENJOY!!!

Ingredients for about 10-1/2 pint jars:
5 cups of finely chopped baby sweet peppers (yellow, red and orange)
2 cups of finely chopped jalapenos
1 cup of finely chopped green pepper
6 cups of sugar
2 cups apple cider
1.5 cup apple cider vinegar
6 Tbsp. Fruit Pectin
1/2 tsp. red pepper flakes (or leave jalapeno seeds in)

1.  Dice the peppers into small pieces.  I love my easy chopper for this!

2. Bring apple cider, apple cider vinegar, and sugar to a boil. Add diced peppers and red pepper flakes and cook for 5 minutes.

3. Add fruit pectin slowly and bring to a rolling boil for 2-3 minutes. Turn off heat. Spoon a small amount into a bowl, put into the freezer for a few minutes to see if it is the consistency you are looking for. If not reheat and add more pectin 1 Tbsp. at a time until you reach your desired firmness. 

3. In a large pot of hot water sterilize your jars and lids.  I usually do this first or while I am cooking the jelly.

4. Spoon finished jelly into clean and sterilized jars and put on the lids.  Boil jars in a pot of hot water for 10 minutes being sure to cover them with the water. Carefully remove the jars and listen for them to pop as they cool! Once they are cooled they are ready for storage in the pantry or fridge.

Some Serving suggestions:

1. Spoon into Chinese food for a kick of spice or use as a dip for egg rolls.
2. Drizzle over softened cream cheese for a festive holiday dip with crackers.
3. I put mine in a crescent roll ring with cream cheese, crab, and diced peppers and bake at 350 till browned. Serve warm.
4. Use as a topping for bagels.
5. Use as a dip for shrimp.