Category: Recipes

Apple Chips

~ Life of Momma B ~ Leave a comment

We associate fall with autumn colors, pumpkins and apples. Apples are the perfect fall food. They are crisp and full of flavor. While apples are available all year they are best in the fall when they are fresh. Apples can be used in so many recipes that you cannot go wrong with an apple recipe.

One of my kids favorites is apple chips. They are easy to make, they just take a little time to get them crispy.

Apple Chips

APPLE CHIPS
2 granny smith apples
cinnamon and sugar

Peel and slice apples extra thin with a mandolin. Spread in a single layer on a large cookie sheet. Sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar. Bake at 225 for 90 minutes. Flip apple slices and sprinkle with more cinnamon and sugar. Bake another 90 minutes. Then turn oven off and leave the door shut and allow the apple piece to cool.

I use granny smith apples because they are firm and a little tart. Other variety of apples will work. I find that 2 apples fit well on my large (12×16) cookie sheet. As always feel print the recipe card (Apple chips) and add it to your collection.

Guacamole

~ Life of Momma B ~ Leave a comment

One of my favorite sides with Mexican food is guacamole. It seems that everyone has their own take on the matter, I prefer mine smooth and creamy. My aunt gave me her recipe that is so easy my children make it, and have made it by themselves for several years.

guacamole

Guacamole is made with 4 simple ingredients, avocado, lemon juice, garlic salt and onion powder. Here is the recipe card for you to print Guacamole. 

GUACAMOLE
1 large ripe avocado
1   1/2 t lemon juice
1/4 t garlic salt
1/2 t onion powder
Combine all ingredients in a small bowl and mash with a fork until smooth.

Being a frugal person, I do not purchase garlic salt but make my own. To make garlic salt combine 1 part garlic powder with 2 parts table salt. I store the mixture in an old spice jar and use it when ever a recipe calls for garlic salt.

Slow-Cooker Chicken Stock

~ Life of Momma B ~ Leave a comment

If I were to tell you that you could make chicken stock in the slow-cooker while you sleep with ingredients that would usually be tossed in the trash, would you try it?  Well, that is what I am doing today!

chicken stock

In my freezer you can find a bag of chicken bones and scraps ready to make stock when I get enough, then it hit me – use the left over rotisserie chicken carcass and stop saving bits and pieces and never having enough when you need it. When I buy a chicken, I cut the meat off and serve it to the family (no eating drum-sticks for my kids). Then I put the pieces in my slow-cooker with 1 Tablespoon of balsamic vinegar and 8 cups of water. Turn it on high and 8 hours later drain the broth and there you go.

If you do not have balsamic vinegar, apple cider vinegar also works well. The vinegar helps to break down the bones so it releases the nutrients.

As always, feel free to print the recipe card and add it to your collection.   Chicken stock Recipe Card

National Gumbo Day

~ Life of Momma B ~ Leave a comment

As the weather is starting to turn cooler and we are longing for something warm and comforting, gumbo is the perfect dish. Gumbo is a hearty stew-like dish loaded with flavor, and a little bit of spice, served over a bowl of steaming hot rice. I have shared my recipe in January (here). So head on over and make a pot for dinner tonight or print the recipe to save for another night.

Gumbo has always been a sore subject at my house. I grew up eating gumbo with okra. My husband detests okra. Not only does he not like the texture of boiled okra, he also hates the taste and will not even eat fried okra. So, for most of our marriage I made it without. But it was never quite right. My husband knowing how much I missed okra finally agreed to let me add it. Since then, he has come to accept okra and has encouraged me to make it with okra ever since.

Happy Gumbo Day!

gumbo 1

National Zucchini Day

~ Life of Momma B ~ Leave a comment

Did you know that today is National Zucchini Day? This is not to be confused with National Zucchini Bread Day which is in April. Who comes up with this stuff?

From what I can tell, National Zucchini Day was developed for all those gardeners with green thumbs to allow them to get rid of their abundance by encouraging them to place unwanted zucchini on their neighbors porch.

Summer PastaSo, if you are fortunate to have a giving neighbor (or want to celebrate this quirky holiday) why not make a batch of Summer Pasta for dinner? This is one of my favorite dishes to make when I’m in a hurry to put dinner on the table. Dinner can be ready in the time it take to cook a batch of spaghetti noodles. Personally, I prefer my zucchini to have some bite left in it and not mushy. This is the perfect answer. (Click here for the recipe)