Oven Roasted Tomato Sauce with Garlic & Basil
My garden is STILL producing tomatoes. I had about 15 pounds the other day, and wanted to do something different with them, so I tried oven roasted tomato sauce.
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Decadent & Creamy Marshmallow Coconut Frosting
I made this frosting to fill my Red Velvet Whoopie Pies, but it would be an amazing frosting for any kind of cupcake or cake.
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Fluffy Homemade Marshmallow Creme
Every time I’ve made my own marshmallow creme for a recipe, be it for Homemade Fudge or the filling for Whoopie Pies, the flavor of the end result is so much better than if I’d used a jar of “marshmallow fluff.” It’s so easy to make that I haven’t bought the jar stuff in years. This recipe makes about 16 ounces, which is more than the equivalent of two jars.
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Homemade Taco Seasoning Spice Blend
I’m not a fan of the packaged seasoning mixes only because they contain ingredients other than the spices. I haven’t been using them now for about two years and haven’t missed using them yet.
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Homemade Catsup
When I get to working fast in the kitchen, I forget that often I should be taking pictures for posts for recipes. This is one of those occasions. I had a lot going on in my kitchen the day that I made this catsup, and I was finishing it up when I realized I should have been documenting the process. Consequently, I apologize, but I will tell you that this is an incredibly flavorful condiment. I will forever use it for our homemade catsup (or ketchup, as my spell check prefers!)
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Jen’s Honey Strawberry Freezer Jam
I’ve known Jen since we were pregnant with our almost 5-year-olds. She is the crock-pot recipe queen to me, and a very dear friend. I often wished we lived closer than the few hundred miles that separate us, because seeing her a few times a year just isn’t enough.
Here is her first recipe for our blog – but I hope it won’t be her last. I intend to talk her into a regular crockpot column here at Hallee the Homemaker!
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Fun & Easy Snow Cone Syrup
Many years ago, Kaylee had an end-of-the-school-year-summer’s-coming party. Among other things, we served snow cones. I bought a snow cone maker at a kitchen store for less than $20, and bought a pack of four different flavored snow cone syrups. Three years ago, we moved from Florida to Kentucky, but the box that contained the snow cone maker stayed unpacked until this winter. I dusted it off, put it on the shelf, and waited for warmer weather. I went to the store the other day to buy new syrup for it, and reading the labels, discovered that there wasn’t a single brand whose ingredients didn’t start with “high fructose corn syrup.” This is on our “absolutely avoid” list – so I came home and started thinking. The ingredients were all basically:high fructose corn syrup, water, flavor, color, citric acid. What could I use that would have a pretty strong flavor to mix with the sugar to make a syrup for snow cones? Then I looked at a Kool-Aid packet — the ingredients are basically: flavor, color, and citric acid. So, there, you go — flavored snow cone syrup sans high fructose corn syrup. You’re free to make any flavor you want – and it will be in a variety of fun colors for kids.
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Pummelo Avocado Salsa
I created this recipe after researching pummelos. I kept finding it paired with avocados in different things, so I put together a quick salsa. I was a bit worried about the cilantro, but the final product was very tasty.
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Traditional Turkey Gravy
When my mom makes turkey gravy, she always makes giblet gravy (recipe to follow). It took me many years to learn how to make any other kind of gravy. Now that I make this recipe, it would be hard for me to say whether I prefer giblet gravy over this traditional gravy or not! It is really flavorful and the perfect compliment to the rest of your Thanksgiving feast.
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Fresh Cranberry Sauce
I do not enjoy eating turkey without cranberry sauce. It’s just part of that whole dinner to me. Once I tasted cranberry sauce made with fresh cranberries, I just can’t imagine going back to the canned kind. This recipe is wonderful – the orange in it cuts the tartness of the berries perfectly.













