Cooking Substitute

You can substitute mayo in your cake for the eggs and oil. 

Example if your just substituting the oil 1/2 of mayo = 1/2 of oil

Also substitute mayo for eggs. 1/4 cup for each egg. 

Self-rising flour is made by adding 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder and 1/2 teaspoon salt to 1 cup all purpose flour.

I use healthy oils for baking. I also replace oil for butter. If you want though you can substitute oil by using: applesauce, fruit puree or yogurt. I have used applesauce. If you make brownies and add applesauce instead of oil your kids might complain, mine did.

If you don't have buttermilk you can make your own but adding 1 Tablespoon of either fresh lemon juice or vinegar to a cup of milk. I have made it using the vinegar.

Out of eggs? Use any of these substitutes in place of 1 egg: 1/4 cup applesauce or 1/4 cup vegetable oil or 1/4 cup mashed banana.

Cut a recipe in half: 

3/4 cup is 6 Tablespoons - 2/3 cup is 1/3 cup - 1/2 cup is 1/4 cup - 1/3 cup is 2 teaspoons plus 2 Tablespoons - 1/4 cup is 2 Tablespoons - 1 Tablespoon is 1 1/2 teaspoons - 1 teaspoon is 1/2 teaspoon - 1/2 teaspoon is 1/4 teaspoon. 

Heavy Cream Substitute 

If you need heavy cream for a recipe, make your own by combining 2/3 cup whole milk with 1/3 cup melted unsalted butter. This will give you 1 cup of heavy cream. (I normally don't use unsalted butter and recipes that call for it I just use salted butter.)

Maple syrup instead of corn syrup.

  

Carrot Cake - Chocolate Cake & Frosting

My husband’s favorites 

Old Fashion Carrot Cake

Ingredients

4 large eggs, room temperature

2 cups sugar (I used less then 2 cups and used half white half coconut sugar. Next time will try all coconut).

1 cup canola oil (I don’t use junk oils. I used almond oil or avocado. 

2 cups all-purpose flour

2 to 3 teaspoons ground cinnamon

3/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

2 cups grated carrots

FROSTING:

1/2 cup butter, softened

3 ounces cream cheese, softened

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

3-3/4 cups confectioners' sugar

2 to 3 tablespoons milk

1 cup chopped walnuts, optional 

Optional: Orange and green food coloring

Directions

1. In a large bowl, combine the eggs, sugar and oil. Combine the flour, cinnamon, baking soda, baking powder, salt and nutmeg; beat into egg mixture. Stir in carrots.

2. Pour into 2 greased and floured 9-in. round baking pans. I use an oblong cake pan. Bake at 350° for 35-40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely.

3. For frosting, in another large bowl, cream butter and cream cheese until light and fluffy, 3-4 minutes. Beat in vanilla. Gradually beat in confectioners' sugar. Add enough milk to achieve desired spreading consistency. Reserve 1/2 cup frosting for decorating if desired. If desired, stir walnuts into remaining frosting. 

4. Spread frosting between layers and over top and sides of cake. If decorating the cake, tint 1/4 cup reserved frosting orange and 1/4 cup green. Cut a small hole in the corner of pastry or plastic bag; insert #7 round pastry tip. Fill the bag with orange frosting. Pipe 16 carrots on top of cake, so each piece will have a carrot. Using #67 leaf pastry tip and the green frosting, pipe a leaf at the top of each carrot. 

5. Store cake in the refrigerator.

Chocolate Cake

1 1/4 cups granulated sugar (I use coconut sugar)
1 cup unsweetened cocoa
1 teaspoon salt (I don't use that much)
1 cup milk
2 teaspoons vanilla (I don't use)
1 3/4 cups flour
1 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda AND powder
2 eggs
1/2 cup oil (right now I have always used avocado oil but sometime I will try almond oil)

Oven to 350 degree's. Grease and flour two nine inch or one oblong pan.
Mix all the ingredients together. Now add 1 cup boiling water. Pour into prepared pan or pans.

Bake 30 to 35 minutes.

You can substitute mayo in your cake for the eggs and oil. 

Example if your just substituting the oil 1/2 of mayo = 1/2 of oil

Also substitute mayo for eggs. 1/4 cup for each egg. 

Frosting

Creamy Chocolate Frosting

2 3/4 cups confectioner's sugar
6 Tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
6 Tablespoons butter softened
5 Tablespoons evaporated (I use regular milk)
1 teaspoon vanilla

Cream butter then add the rest of ingredients. Frost and enjoy. 

Butter Frosting

1/3 cup butter softened
4 1/2 cups confectioner's sugar
1/4 cup milk
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Beat the butter until fluffy. Gradually add 2 cups of the sugar. Beat well. Slowly beat in the milk, vanilla and remaining sugar. Beat well. Frost and eat.

Homemade Extracts

All the same basically. They all use Vodka. They all take 5-6 weeks. They all store in cool dry place. They all say tilt and turn upside down every few days. Someone told me they use bourbon instead of the vodka or half and half. I have made the vanilla. Very good. 

Vanilla Extract

3 whole vanilla beans - Vodka

Cut your vanilla beans in half, then split open each half to expose the vanilla seeds on the inside of the pod. Place cut vanilla beans inside your glass bottle. Add vodka, filling up to the neck of the bottle. Seal tightly and store bottle in cool, dry place. Every few days, tilt the bottle upside down to gently mix the liquids inside. After 5 to 6 weeks, you have extract. If you leave the beans, when you start running low you just add more vodka and wait a little time.

Mint

1/2 cup mint leaves - Vodka

Stuff mint leaves into your glass bottle. Using a chopstick, skewer, or other poking device, lightly bruise/crush the leaves inside the bottle. Add vodka, filling to the neck of the bottle. Every few days tilt bottle. Can't save the leaves this time and you should sieve to another bottle to get remaining leave pieces out.

Orange 

1 large navel orange - Vodka

Peel thin strips of zest from 1/2 of your orange. Place zest in bottle. Add vodka, filling up to the neck. Every few days tilt and turn upside down. 5-6 weeks later. Leave orange peel in bottle if you want. I probably won't.

Lemon 

1 large lemon - Vodka

Peel thin strips of zest from your lemon. Place in bottle. Add Vodka to the neck. Tilt.

These are from Gemma. She has almond too but a bit more complicated.

Cole Slaws

Apple & Poppy seed Coleslaw

2 cups shredded green cabbage
1 1/2 cups shredded red cabbage
1/2 cup shredded carrot
1 Granny Smith apple, julienne d
2 tablespoons mayonnaise
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
Juice of 1 lemon
1 tablespoon poppy seeds
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

DIRECTIONS:
In a large bowl, combine the green cabbage, red cabbage, carrot and apple.
In a large glass measuring cup or another bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, olive oil, vinegar, lemon juice, poppy seeds, salt and pepper, to taste.
Pour mixture over cabbage mixture and stir using a rubber spatula until well combined. Cover and place in the refrigerator for at least one hour.
Serve cold.

Apple Cranberry Coleslaw - Favorite 

1 Large apple - any kind

1/2 cup dried cranberries

3/4 teaspoon dried ginger - I used a little less. Wasn't sure about it. 

4 green onions

6 Tablespoon honey - might use a bit less next time.

3/4 cup mayo

1 -14oz bag mixed colors coleslaw 

1/2 walnuts - any will do or none

3/4 plain yogurt - I used Strawberry (I use less now or it’s to running after it sits. Just a heaping tablespoon or so).

Very very good.

Sweet and Sour Coleslaw Dressing

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup cider vinegar

1/4 cup cold water

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon mustard seed (I use ground if that's all I have)

1/2 celery seed

Coleslaw Dressing

1 cup mayo

2 Tablespoons sugar

2 Tablespoons apple cider vinegar

1/2 teaspoon salt  

1/4 teaspoon dry mustard

1/8 teaspoon celery seed  

5 cups cabbage

Shred cabbage. Mix all ingredients and pour over cabbage.

Lots of Homemade Dressings

Ranch Dressing

2 Tablespoons dried Parsley
2 Tablespoons dried Chives
2 Tablespoons Onion Powder
1 Tablespoon dried Dill Weed
1 Tablespoon Garlic Powder
1 Tablespoon Salt
1 Tablespoon Pepper (I don't use cause I don't like)

I use Organic spices. Mix all of these together and the next time you want the best dip ever just add a Tablespoon or so to sour cream. Mix it to your liking. 

To make it a dressing combine 1/2 cup sour cream, 1/2 cup mayo or milk and 1 Tablespoon the Ranch spices. Chill for an hour. Just make sure it isn't to thick.

Dry Onion Soup Mix

2/3 cup dried, minced onion

3 teaspoons parsley flakes

2 teaspoons onion powder#

2 teaspoons turmeric

1 teaspoon celery salt

1 teaspoon sea salt (I always use Himalayan salt)

1 teaspoon sugar

1/2 teaspoon pepper (I don't normally use pepper)

Shake well. Use 4 Tablespoons a recipe in place of 1 packet of onion soup mix. 

Thousand Island Dressing

1 cup mayo
1/2 cup ketchup
1 cup sweet pickle relish
pinch of salt and pepper if you want. I also don't add that much relish.

Put 1000 island on your burger and its better then a big mac.

Coleslaw Dressing

1 cup mayo
2 Tablespoons sugar
2 Tablespoons apple cider vinegar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon dry mustard
1/8 teaspoon celery seed 
5 cups cabbage

Shred cabbage. Mix all ingredients and pour over cabbage.

Honey French Dressing:       
                                                            
1/2 cup Organic Ketchup
1 cup Organic Olive Oil  (I use grape seed oil)
1/4 cup Organic Apple Cider Vinegar                 
1/4 cup Honey
1/4 cup Organic Onion (coarsely chopped) (I use powder)
1 tsp Sea Salt (I use Himalaya salt)
1/4 tsp Organic Ground Black Pepper (Don't use)
1 small clove of Garlic (I  use powdered)
Combine everything in your blender and blend until smooth! Will keep for 2 weeks in the fridge, enjoy!

Western dressing from Dixie - Very good

1 cup ketchup 

1/2 cup water

1/2 teaspoon apple cider vinegar 

3 teaspoons honey

Cayenne pepper

Sweet and Sour Coleslaw Dressing

1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup cider vinegar
1/4 cup cold water
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon mustard seed (I use ground if that's all I have)
1/2 celery seed

Poppy Seed Dressing 

3/4 cup just mayo
1/3 cup sugar (a bit less)
2 Tablespoons apple cider vinegar
2 teaspoons poppy seed

Potato Salad Dressing

1 Tablespoon apple cider vinegar
1 1/2 cup just mayo
1 Tablespoon mustard
1 teas salt
1/4 teas pepper (Don't use pepper)

Add some ranch dressing to spice it up. Very good.

Quick & Easy Barbecue Sauce

Makes: 1 cup

Ingredients:

2 teaspoons olive oil
1/2 cup onion, finely diced
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 cup cider vinegar
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup ketchup
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 Tablespoons molasses
2 Tablespoons spicy mustard (I use Guldens' Spicy Brown Mustard)
1 Tablespoon Worcestershire Sauce
2 teaspoons chili powder (NOT powdered chili pepper)

Instructions:
1. Heat oil in a saucepan over medium-high heat and sauté onion & garlic for 2 minutes until golden brown.
2. Add everything else and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and cook uncovered, stirring occasionally, for about
25 minutes. Sauce with thicken as it cools.

Deans Dressing

1\4 cup oil - 1/3 cup vinegar - 1/2 cup sugar or less - 1 teas celergy seed - garlice pd & salt

Boil and stir till clear. Let cool. 

Meals/Desserts in a Mug

Macaroni & Cheese in a mug

1/3 cup pasta
3/4 cup water cold
4 tablespoons milk
1/4 teaspoon cornstarch or aka corn flour
4 tablespoons cheddar cheese, grated
salt and pepper

In a large microwavable mug or large bowl add in the macaroni and the water. You need a large mug as the water will boil up. Microwave for roughly 3 1/2 minutes. You want the pasta to be fully cooked. Again based on a 1200 watt microwave oven. Pour off the remaining water. Stir in milk, cornstarch and shredded cheese and mic for a final 60 seconds to create your sauce. Stir well, season with salt and pepper and enjoy.

Breakfast Burrito in a mug

1 large 9 inch tortilla
2 eggs
2 tablespoons cheddar cheese, grated
2 tablespoons scallions, chopped
salt and pepper
Garnish
salsa
sour cream

In a large microwaveable mug press in a fresh tortilla. It will naturally fold into shape of the mug and find its way. Crack your eggs and whisk up with a fork, taking care not to tear the tortilla. Now add in your favorite burrito mixins like cheese, beans, and scallions. Season with salt and pepper and mix together. Whatever ingredients you have on hand will work great. Microwave for 1 minute 20 seconds. Check, and if the eggs are still liquid, cook for another 15-20 seconds. Keep and eye during cooking so the eggs don't overheat. You don't want an egg-splosion in your mic. Cook time based on 1200 watt microwave. Once done, let it sit for 3 minutes to cool and serve with some sour cream and salsa on top. You could eat a bit out of the mug and then your able to pull it out of mug and roll it like a burrito.

Mug Pizza

 Serves: 1

Ingredients

4 tablespoons all purpose flour
⅛ teaspoon baking powder
1/16 teaspoon baking soda
⅛ teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons milk
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon marinara sauce
1 generous tablespoon shredded mozzarella cheese
5 mini pepperoni
½ teaspoon dried Italian herbs (basil or oregano will work)

Instructions
Mix the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt together in a microwavable mug
Add in the milk and oil and mix together. There might be some lump but that is okay.

Spoon on the marinara sauce and spread it around the surface of the batter.

Sprinkle on the cheese, pepperoni and dried herbs.

Microwave for 1 minute 10-20 seconds, or until it rises up and the topping are bubbling (timing is based on my 1200W microwave so your timing might vary). My microwave is only 1000 watts so my time will be just a tad more.
Enjoy straight away!

Notes
Cooking time will vary greatly depending on your microwave and the width and depth of the mug. The mugs I use are small, roughly 6oz (¾ /1 cup)

Always keep a close eye on your mug while in the microwave so it doesn’t over flow or over cook.

⅛ teaspoon is simply a ½ of a ¼ teaspoon
1/16 teaspoon is simply a ¼ of a ¼ teaspoon

Desserts in a Mug 

Brownie in a Mug 
                     
2 T butter melted in a mug
Add  2 T water, 1 t vanilla and dash of salt
Mix with fork
Add 2 T cocoa pd, stir, 2 T sugar and stir 4 T flour and stir
Microwave 1 minute and 30 seconds

The recipe calls for 4 T of sugar but its great with just the 2.

Chocolate Mug Cake

4 tablespoons all purpose flour
2 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
½ teaspoon baking powder
pinch of salt
2 teaspoon flavorless oil (sunflower, coconut, canola)
4 tablespoons  milk
Mix together - 40 -50 seconds in microwave.

Chocolate Chip Mug Cookie 

1 tablespoon room temperature butter
1 tablespoon white sugar
1 tablespoon brown sugar
¼ tsp vanilla extract
1 egg yolk
3 tablespoons all purpose flour
Pinch of salt
2 tablespoons chocolate chips
Mix together, wet first then microwave 40-60 seconds.

Jelly Doughnut in a mug

2 tablespoons butter
4 tablespoons flour
1 egg yolk
2 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoon milk
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1 tablespoon strawberry jelly

Place butter into a microwaveable mug and microwave until just melted. Add in the remaining ingredients; mix well with a fork until just combined. Once the batter is mixed place the spoonful of jam down into the batter to get a jammy center. Microwave for 45 seconds or until it is firm on top. This time is based on a 1200 watt microwave so time may vary. Always keep a close eye while cooking.

Homemade Products

USE AT YOUR OWN RISK. I WILL NOT BE RESPONSIBLE. I USE A LOT OF HOMEMADE PRODUCTS WITH NO TROUBLE.

Tile and Grout cleaner
Add 1/2 cup Dr Bronner's Sal suds or Dawn ultra or other dish washing soap to 16 oz spray bottle. I used Dawn. Add 1.5 cups vinegar. Add 7 drops of each: Lavender essential oil - Lemon essential oil - eucalyptus essential oil - Tea tree essential oil.
Shake to mix ingredients. Spray on shower, tub, faucet, and glass shower doors. Let it sit for at least 30 minutes (and as long as overnight, if needed) scrub if needed. Rinse with hot water.
DO NOT USE ON GRANITE OR MARBLE. THE ACID IN THE VINEGAR COULD EAT AWAY AT THE SURFACE AND CAUSE PITTING.

Cleaning your glass top stove
Drizzle some dawn (careful not to much you will have to wipe it off)
Then some peroxide - Then a good amount of baking soda. Work it in and wipe off.
I had a bad stain on mine so I actually did this procedure twice. The ring was gone.

Goo Gone
1 teaspoon vegetable oil - 2 teaspoons baking soda. Combine and try it.

How to remove water stain from you stainless steel appliances
1/4 cup vinegar to 1/2 cup baking soda. 1 Tablespoon of oil. Make it into a paste. Apply on dishwasher in circle motion with a soft cloth. Let sit 5 to 10 minutes. Wipe off with a damp cloth.
It worked very well on the dishwasher.

Blessings in a 24 ounce bottle

Kitchen Magic: 12 oz of White Vinegar - 12 oz of Dawn dish soap - 1 teaspoon laundry detergent.
Use everywhere. Kitchen as well as bath. The laundry detergent is optional.

Window Cleaner: 1 oz of White Ammonia - 4 oz of Rubbing alcohol - 1 drop of laundry detergent. Fill remaining space with water.

Air & Fabric Freshener: 1 oz of scented fabric softener - 2 Tablespoons baking soda - Fill with water. This is fake febreze. (Ann's note: I have made and used this one. I like it.)

Bleach Cleaner: 2 oz of bleach - 1 teaspoon laundry detergent - fill with water.

The Cure-All: 5 oz of rubbing alcohol - 3 oz of white vinegar - 1 teaspoon laundry detergent - 1 teaspoon of white ammonia - 2 drops essential oil - Fill with water. Use this like an all purpose cleaner.

Homemade Hand Soap: Fill your jar about 2/3 of the way to the top with white sugar. Next fill the rest of the jar with your soap. Stop when the soap is about 1/2" from the top of the jar. Stir till reaches a paste like consistency. If you let it sit the sugar will dissolve without stirring. Now the next time your hands are really dirty try it.

Mosquito bug Spray

1. 20 drops lavender - 17 drops lemon grass - 15 drops eucalyptus - 15 drops tea tree - 12 drops peppermint - 2 oz bottle add water. 

2. 1/2 cup witch hazel - 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar - 40 drops essentials oils (eucalyptus, lemon grass, citronella, tea tree or rosemary).

Homemade Weed Killer

1. 1/4 cup salt - 1 squirt dawn - Fill the rest with vinegar. 

2. Cornmeal scatter over soil to prevent crab grass.

3. Pour boiling water on growing weeds.

Plants that keep bugs away: 

Fleas & ticks is rosemary.

Spiders, mosquitoes, ants is peppermint.

Mosquitoes is catnip and basil and lavender.

To get rid of Japanese beetles: Sevin dust, or A cup of soapy water, or Neem oil spray. 

Also they love geraniums. The side affect however is they become dizzy and disoriented. This causes them to fall to the ground. I use the cup of soapy water and guide them into the container. This fall and spring I will treat the ground. 

Make your own Toweling: Cut a roll of paper toweling in half. Put the half in a closed container that fits it. Add 12 ounces of tap water, 1/4 cup of alcohol and 4 drops of dish soap.

  

For the Shower:

Vanilla Brown Sugar Scrub

Coconut oil - Vanilla - Brown Sugar. Use for hands and feet.

Himalayan Salt Scrub

2 Tablespoons finely ground pure Himalayan Salt

1 Tablespoon Sweet Almond Oil

1 Tablespoon jojoba oil

6 drops of pure lavender or meditation synergy blend  Essential oil

Mix together and apply to your wet body in the shower. Massage and rinse. Pat yourself dry.

Vanilla Lavender Relaxing Scrub

1 cup white sugar

1/2 cup almond oil

1/2 teaspoon vitamin E oil

1 teaspoon vanilla

15 drops lavender essential oil

Place everything in a bowl and stir until combined. Store in a jar with a lid. Maybe small mason jars.

Lemon Scented Hand Scrub

1 cup white sugar

1/2 cup olive oil

1/2 teaspoon vitamin E oil is optional

15-20 drops of lemon essential oil

Place everything in a bowl and stir until combined. Store in a jar with a lid. Maybe small mason jars.

Gingerbread Sugar Scrub at Christmas Time 

1/2 cup brown sugar 

1/2 cup white sugar

1/2 cup coconut oil

1/2 teaspoon vitamin E oil

2 teaspoons vanilla

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon clove

1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

Place everything in a bowl and stir until combined. Store in a jar with a lid. Maybe small mason jars.

Pumpkin Pie Scrub

1/2 cup of brown sugar

1/2 cup white sugar

1/2 cup almond oil

1/2 teaspoon vitamin E oil

3 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice

2 teaspoons vanilla

Place everything in a bowl and stir until combined. Store in a jar with a lid. Maybe small mason jars.

Homemade Hand Scrub

1 Tablespoon coconut oil 

2 Tablespoons raw honey

1/4 cup sea salt (You know I will try my Himalayan salt first)

1/4 cup sugar

1 Tablespoon lemon juice

Sugar Scrub

I make my own sugar scrubs. I don't even measure anymore. You will need sugar and coconut oil. Then add whatever you. Vitamin E, Essential oil to make it smell good and anything else you want. Take in the shower using a plastic container. 

Simple body scrub my daughter likes. I don't even measure. I put sugar in a bowl - add liquid coconut oil and she likes peppermint - so I add peppermint essential oil. I put in a plastic container with a cover.