wholesome and homemade

Hummingbird Cake

2025-09-15T12:21:00.008-06:00

Recipe:

1 package (18.25 oz) plain yellow cake mix

1 can (8 oz) crushed pineapple packed in juice, undrained

2 medium or 3 small ripe bananas, peeled and mashed (1 cup)

1/2 cup water

1/2 cup vegetable oil, such as canola, corn, safflower, soybean, or sunflower

3 large eggs

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Cream Cheese Frosting

1/2 chopped pecans, toasted

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Lightly grease two 9 inch round cake pans with solid vegetable shortening, then dust with four. Shake out excess flour.

Place the cake mix, pineapple with its juice, mashed bananas, water, oil, eggs, vanilla and cinnamon in a large bowl. Blend with an electric mixer on low speed for 1 minute. Stop the machine and scrape down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula. Increase the mixer speed to medium and beat for 2 minutes more, scraping the sides down again if needed. The batter should look thick and the fruit well blended. Divide the batter between the prepared pans, smoothing it down with the rubber spatula. Place the pans in the oven side by side.

Bake until golden brown, about 30-32 minutes. Cool them on wire racks.

Prepare the cream cheese frosting.

When cakes have cooled completely, frost with frosting and top with toasted pecans. (or toasted almonds if you don't have pecans and don't want to run to the store...again.)

Waxed Canvas Tutorial

2025-02-18T09:08:00.014-07:00

Have you ever heard of waxing canvas? My mom and I have talked about it for years. It’s a method of infusing wax into canvas fabric to waterproof it. I thought one had to dedicate a whole clothes dryer to the craft of waxing canvas

, so I had never tried my hand at it.

I had a flight coming up and I have the perfect zip canvas tote that fits under the seat in front of me. I know because I measured. I wasn’t checking a bag, so I needed every inch of space.

So even though it was the perfect size, it was off white and black canvas and all I could think of was how dirty it was going to get on the floor of the plane.

So I thought if only I could waterproof that bag…

But, I don’t have an extra clothes dryer dedicated only to waxing fabric…

Surely someone, somewhere has a way to wax canvas without a clothes dryer…

Sure enough! The internet came through, so I’m passing along to you what I have learned and say to you, do it! If you’ve been waxing and waning, just go for it!

Start by melting beeswax pellets in a double boiler. You can microwave them as well. I started with the double boiler and then to speed it up I microwaved it and then kept the wax warm in the double boiler.

Then I brushed the melted wax into and onto the canvas bag making sure to get the seams and stitching as well.

Then once it’s brushed on I used a hair drier to incorporate the brushed on wax into the actual threads of the canvas. It was very satisfying to watch it happen.

Much easier and practical than having a clothes drier dedicated only to one thing.

The canvas was yellowed by the yellow beeswax, but that was to be expected. You can use white beeswax if that’s not the aesthetic you’re going for. I thought about running to the store, but was curious how it would look with yellow wax.

Others use additional wax like paraffin, but I chose to keep mine all from the bees.

It’s stiffer than normal canvas, waterproof and wipe-off-able and I love it!

I have other canvas items that are in the queue to be waxed.

Have you tried this? Let me know your experience!

Cream Cheese Frosting

2025-01-15T12:22:00.002-07:00

RECIPE:

1 package cream cheese, at room temperature

8 tablespoons (1 stick) butter, at room temperature

3 3/4 cups confectioners' sugar, sifted

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Place cream cheese and butter in large mixing bowl. Blend with an electric mixer on low speed until combined, 30 seconds. Stop the machine. Add the confectioners' sugar, a bit at a time, blending with the mixer on low speed until the sugar is well incorporated, 1 minute. Add the vanilla, then increase the mixer speed to medium and blend the frosting until fluffy, 1 minute more.

Sweet Muffins Base Recipe

2024-12-10T12:51:00.002-07:00

Recipe:

3 eggs

1 1/2 cups sugar

1 1/2 cups milk

6 teaspoons Baking Powder

3/4 cup vegetable oil

1 1/2 teaspoons salt

4 1/2 cups flour

One bowl dump, mix and bake.

400 degrees for 10-20 minutes depending on the size of your muffin tin.

Add in ideas: Lemon poppyseed, maple nut, triple berry, blueberry, banana nut, apple cinnamon.

Homemade Enchilada Sauce

2024-10-09T12:54:00.002-06:00

Recipe:

2 Tablespoons Vegetable Oil
2 Tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 Tablespoons chili powder
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1 8 oz can tomato sauce
2 cups water
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

Heat oil in large 2-Qt saucepan; stir in flour and chili powder; cook for 1 minute.
Add remaining ingredients. Bring to a boil and simmer for about 10 minutes.

This is hands down the best enchilada sauce I've ever had.

Strawberry Container Garden

2024-07-03T10:37:00.005-06:00

When we moved from the country to the city we went from 5 acres to a small city lot, and as a result, the gardening isn't even close to what it was in years past and last year, it didn't happen at all.

But, I want to continue to grow things.

For mothers day, I was gifted something that I'd been talking about since we moved in three years ago-

-pulling out the evergreen prickly bushes in the giant concrete planter and planting things that we can eat.

My husband started the process by pulling out one of the prickly bushes and planted several of the many strawberry plants that he got me. Plus two hanging potted strawberry plants.

Here's our strawberry patch.

1. Water

Strawberries need lots of it.

2. Sunlight

They need 6+ hours of it. This planter is east facing, but it gets 6 hours of sunlight so we decided to go for it and plant them here.

3. Mulch

Strawberries will be attractive to bugs so it's a good idea to get the fruit off of the dirt PLUS mulch holds the moisture in.

4. Protection

Birds love strawberries too, so netting is a good idea once the fruit comes on.

12 Ways to Use Isopropyl Alcohol

2024-07-03T09:56:00.007-06:00

12 Ways to Use Rubbing Alcohol

from Extraordinary Uses for Ordinary Things

1. Remove hair spray from mirrors
When you are spritzing your head with hair spray, some of it inevitably winds up on the mirror. A quick wipe with rubbing alcohol will whisk away that sticky residue and leave your mirror sparkling clean.

2. Clean venetian blinds
Rubbing alcohol does a terrific job of cleaning the slats of venetian blinds. To make quick work of the job, wrap a flat tool — a spatula or maybe a 6-inch (15-centimeter) drywall knife — in cloth and secure with a rubber band. Dip in alcohol and go to work.

3. Keep windows sparkling and frost-free
Do your windows frost up in the wintertime? Wash them with a solution of 1/2 cup rubbing alcohol to 1 quart (1 liter) water to prevent the frost. Polish the windows with newspaper after you wash them to make them shine.

4. Dissolve windshield frost
Wouldn’t you rather be inside savoring your morning coffee a little longer instead of scrape, scrape, scraping frost off your car windows? Fill a spray bottle with rubbing alcohol and spritz the car glass. You’ll be able to wipe the frost right off. Ah, good to the last drop!

5. Prevent ring around the collar
To prevent your neck from staining your shirt collar, wipe your neck with rubbing alcohol each morning before you dress. Feels good too.

6. Clean your phone
Is your phone getting a bit grubby? Wipe it down with rubbing alcohol. It’ll remove the grime and disinfect the phone at the same time.

7. Remove ink stains
Did you get ink on your favorite shirt or dress? Try soaking the spot in rubbing alcohol for a few minutes before putting the garment in the wash.

Rubbing alcohol took ink pad ink off him, me, the carpet, the couch, his clothes and the bathtub after his bath.

8. Erase permanent markers

My three year old and dry erase markers on the stairs.

With only one pass over.

Did your little angel just decide to decorate your countertop with a permanent marker? Don’t worry, most countertops are made of a nonpermeable material such as plastic laminate or marble. Rubbing alcohol will dissolve the marker back to a liquid state so you can wipe it right off.

9. Remove dog ticks

Ticks hate the taste of rubbing alcohol as much as they love the taste of your dog. Before you pull a tick off Fido, dab the critter with rubbing alcohol to make it loosen its grip. Then grab the tick as close to the dog’s skin as you can and pull it straight out. Dab again with alcohol to disinfect the wound. This works on people too.

10. Get rid of fruit flies
The next time you see fruit flies hovering in the kitchen, get out a fine-misting spray bottle and fill it with rubbing alcohol. Spraying the little flies knocks them out and makes them fall to the floor, where you can sweep them up. The alcohol is less effective than insecticide, but it’s a lot safer than spraying poison around your kitchen.

11. Make a shapeable ice pack
The problem with ice packs is they won’t conform to the shape of the injured body part. Make a slushy, conformable pack by mixing 1 part rubbing alcohol with 3 parts water in a self-closing plastic bag. The next time that sore knee acts up, wrap the bag of slush in a cloth and apply it to the area. Ahhh!

12. Clean bathroom fixtures
Just reach into the medicine cabinet the next time you need to clean chrome bathroom fixtures. Pour some rubbing alcohol straight from the bottle onto a soft, absorbent cloth and the fixtures. No need to rinse — the alcohol just evaporates. It does a great job of making chrome sparkle, plus it will kill any germs in its path.
source Readers Digest

Uses For Hydrogen Peroxide

2024-07-03T09:52:00.004-06:00

HYDROGEN PEROXIDE

Here is one of my favorite tips. Hydrogen Peroxide is one of those things that I couldn't do without. I soak all our toothbrushes in it to disinfect them and I know it makes a difference. We don't get sick as much. If I get a canker sore I swish my mouth with it and it's gone the next day.

One day my little son face planted and got a major bloody nose. The older kids rushed to his aid with a white bath towel. That's ok though, because I have Hydrogen Peroxide to remove that. I poured it on the towel, let it bubble and threw in the wash. Good as new.

My husband hunts and comes home with bloody clothes. Again, no problem getting that blood out of his clothes.

I've used it on acne and it works! I just put it on a cotton ball and rub it on the blemish and it really gets rid of it fast. I'm amazed.

I haven't used it on all of the rest of these tips except for of course cuts and scrapes, but will give them a try now that I know all of these other uses.

As a mouthwash and gargle
In relaxing baths and foot baths
To sanitize toothbrushes, and dentures
As a produce wash, to keep fruits and veggies fresh longer
To disinfect compost pails, cutting boards, and scrub brushes
For washing carpets, floors, and windows
Stripping wood furniture, and cleaning wooden decks
Removing mold
To brighten laundry & remove stains (especially great for removing blood)
To clean out aquariums
To keep the water clean in fish farming
In gardening: As a plant fertilizer and plant spray
To clean swimming pools and spas, as an alternative to chlorine
Taxidermists use it to clean and whiten bones…..
It's used in making cheese
Aseptic packaging (those weird little boxes that food comes in) are sprayed with it
It is used in products for whitening teeth, treating acne, and cleaning contact lenses
Oh, and it's also great for cleaning cuts and skin infections. source unknown

Homemade White Bread

2024-07-03T09:48:00.010-06:00

RECIPE:

6 cups hot water
3/4 vegetable oil
6 heaping Tablespoons sugar (I use only 1)
3 scant Tablespoons salt
1/2 cup warm water
2-3 Tablespoons yeast
5 lbs. flour

Mix yeast in 1/2 cup warm water, let bloom. To your bread mixer add hot water, oil, sugar, salt and half the flour.

Mix with the dough hook until it looks soupy, then add the bloomed yeast. After the yeast is blended, add the rest of the flour.

Let mix about 8-10 minutes. Let rise, punch down, let rise again, punch down, shape for loaf pans.

Bake at 350 for 30-35 minutes.

Makes 4-6 loaves depending on size of loaf pans.

Bread and Butter Pickles

2024-07-03T09:46:00.004-06:00

8 cups sliced squash, or cucumbers
2 medium onions
2 sweet peppers (one red, one green)
1/4 cup salt
Mix squash, onions and peppers together, sprinkle w/ salt (un-iodized) mix well, cover with water and ice.
This is important to keep the veggies cold.
Let sit for 1-2 hours.
Rinse, drain and set veggies aside.

Brine ingredients:
2 1/4 cups cider vinegar
2 1/4 cups sugar
2 teaspoons celery seed
2 teaspoons mustard seed
1 teaspoon turmeric

Mix brine ingredients in a stainless steel stock pot. Bring to a boil stirring constantly, let boil 3 minutes. Add vegetables and bring back to a boil for 3 minutes. Remove from heat and fill jars to within 1/2 inch of top with mixture. (Important: liquid must cover vegetables and be within 1/2 of top.) Place sterilized rings and lids on jars finger tight. Process in steam canner, or boiling water bath for 5 minutes. Adjust time accordingly for elevation.

Dutch Oven Peach Cobbler

2024-07-03T09:44:00.003-06:00

RECIPE:

1 box cake mix (white or yellow)
ingredients cake mix asks for except for water (i.e. eggs, oil) in place of water, use peach juice from canned peaches.

1 large can sliced peaches
1 stick butter
1 cup brown sugar

Instructions:

Mix cake mix in separate bowl.
In Dutch oven melt butter and brown sugar and stir over heat until bubbly and they have caramelized. Remove Dutch oven from heat, layer drained peaches, and mixed cake mix.
Put lid on Dutch oven, place directly over hot coals with 5-6 hot coals on Dutch oven lid. Cook approx. 15-20 minutes or until done. Remove from heat. Cut the sweetness with whipped, or ice cream as it is very rich.

Peanut Butter Chocolate No Bake Cookies

2024-07-03T09:42:00.004-06:00

RECIPE:

This is a time tested family recipe. This recipe is perfect all year round, but especially in the summer if you don't want to use your oven.

Recipe:

2 cups sugar
1/4 cup cocoa
1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup unsalted butter
1 teaspoon pure vanilla
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup peanut butter
3 cups oatmeal

Instructions:

Mix sugar, cocoa, milk and butter in sauce pan on medium heat until it boils. Let boil for one minute (1!) (not more or they are dry and crumbly). Remove from heat stir in peanut butter, salt, vanilla and oats.
Drop by tablespoon on wax paper. Let cool.
This is a tried and true recipe. Believe me, we have tried it over and over and over and over...

Minute Fudge Frosting

2024-07-03T09:39:00.001-06:00

Minute Fudge Frosting:

2 cups sugar
1/4 cup light corn syrup
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup shortening
2 sq. unsweetened chocolate (2 oz.) cut up
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla

Mix all ingredients except vanilla in saucepan. Stir over low heat until chocolate and shortening melt. Bring to a full rolling boil, stirring constantly. Boil 1 minute. (220degrees). Remove from heat and beat until lukewarm (120 degrees). Stir in vanilla. Beat until a smooth consistency. Enough for two 8 or 9" layers or 13x9" oblong cake.

Fudge Brownies

2024-07-03T09:37:00.002-06:00

FUDGE BROWNIES

1/2 cup butter
2 ounces unsweetened chocolate
2 eggs
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup chopped nuts
1/4 teaspoon salt

1. Grease an 8x8x2-inch baking pan; set aside. In a medium saucepan melt butter and chocolate over low heat. Remove from heat. Stir in eggs, sugar, and vanilla. Using wooden spoon, beat lightly just till combined. Stir in flour and nuts.
2. Spread batter in prepared baking pan. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 30 minutes. Cool in a wire rack. Cut into bars. Makes 24 brownies.

Zucchini Bread

2024-07-03T09:36:00.001-06:00

ZUCCHINI BREAD

Recipe:

3 eggs
1 cup vegetable oil
2 cups granulated sugar
4 cups grated zucchini
3 teaspoons vanilla
1 teaspoon salt
3/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon cloves
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
3 cups flour
1 cup nuts (optional)

Combine eggs, oil, sugar, zucchini and vanilla. In a separate bowl, combine the dry ingredients then add gradually to the wet mixture. Coat loaf pan with cooking spray and pour batter in until about 12-3/4 full. Bake at 350 F for 60 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. Makes about 3 loaves.

Fruit Crisp

2024-07-03T09:35:00.000-06:00

FRUIT CRISP

4 cups fruit chopped or sliced.

Cream together:

1/2 cup butter, softened

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 cup all purpose flour

3/4 cup rolled oats
nuts (optional)

Mix and sprinkle over fruit:

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 cup sugar

1/4 cup water

Layer fruit in bottom of 8x12" baking dish. Pour wet mixture over fruit, then, with hands, crumble dry mix over fruit. Add nuts if desired. Bake at 350 F for 40 minutes. Serve warm with whipped cream or ice cream.

Makes 8-10 generous servings.

Mug Brownie

2024-07-03T09:33:00.005-06:00

Brownies in a Mug

Ingredients:

Serves: 1

Yield:1 brownie

2 tablespoons butter, melted
2 tablespoons water
1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 dash salt
4 tablespoons granulated sugar
2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
4 tablespoons unbleached all-purpose flour

Directions:

In a 12 oz coffee mug, add water, butter, vanilla and dash of salt. Whisk well.

Add cocoa powder, whisk well. Add sugar, whisk well. Add flour, whisk well.

Microwave for 60 to 90 seconds. Center should be slightly molten. Careful not to overcook.

Enjoy with a spoon. Careful brownie will be hot.

Homemade Powder Laundry Soap

2024-07-03T09:30:00.003-06:00

Homemade Powder Laundry Soap

Ingredients:

1 grated/shaven bar Fels-Naptha

1 cup Borax Laundry Booster

1 cup Arm and Hammer Washing Soda

Grate Fels-Naptha and mix thoroughly with washing soda and Borax Laundry Booster. Use 1-2 Tablespoons per load.

Homemade Enchilada Sauce

2024-07-03T09:28:00.004-06:00

Enchilada Sauce

2 Tablespoons Vegetable Oil
2 Tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 Tablespoons chili powder
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1 8 oz can tomato sauce
2 cups water
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

Heat oil in large 2-Qt saucepan; stir in flour and chili powder; cook for 1 minute.
Add remaining ingredients. Bring to a boil and simmer for about 10 minutes.

Hummingbird Cake

2024-07-03T09:23:00.002-06:00

Hummingbird Cake

1 package (18.25 oz) plain yellow cake mix

1 can (8 oz) crushed pineapple packed in juice, undrained

2 medium or 3 small ripe bananas, peeled and mashed (1 cup)

1/2 cup water

1/2 cup vegetable oil, such as canola, corn, safflower, soybean, or sunflower

3 large eggs

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Cream Cheese Frosting

1/2 chopped pecans, toasted

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Lightly grease two 9 inch round cake pans with solid vegetable shortening, then dust with four. Shake out excess flour.

Place the cake mix, pineapple with its juice, mashed bananas, water, oil, eggs, vanilla and cinnamon in a large bowl. Blend with an electric mixer on low speed for 1 minute. Stop the machine and scrape down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula. Increase the mixer speed to medium and beat for 2 minutes more, scraping the sides down again if needed. The batter should look thick and the fruit well blended. Divide the batter between the prepared pans, smoothing it down with the rubber spatula. Place the pans in the oven side by side.

Bake until golden brown, about 30-32 minutes. Cool them on wire racks.

Prepare the cream cheese frosting.

When cakes have cooled completely, frost with frosting and top with toasted pecans. (or toasted almonds if you don't have pecans and don't want to run to the store...again.)

Cream Cheese Frosting

1 package cream cheese, at room temperature

8 tablespoons (1 stick) butter, at room temperature

3 3/4 cups confectioners' sugar, sifted

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Place cream cheese and butter in large mixing bowl. Blend with an electric mixer on low speed until combined, 30 seconds. Stop the machine. Add the confectioners' sugar, a bit at a time, blending with the mixer on low speed until the sugar is well incorporated, 1 minute. Add the vanilla, then increase the mixer speed to medium and blend the frosting until fluffy, 1 minute more.

Homemade Sweet Muffins

2024-07-03T09:21:00.000-06:00

Mom's Sweet Muffins

3 eggs

1 1/2 cups sugar

1 1/2 cups milk

6 teaspoons Baking Powder

3/4 cup vegetable oil

1 1/2 teaspoons salt

4 1/2 cups flour

One bowl dump and mix and bake.

400 degrees for 10-20 minutes depending on the size of your muffin tin.

This is what is considered a base recipe. You can add in many ingredients to make lemon, blueberry, or lemon blueberry, poppy seed, maple nut, or any number of varities.

Rice Pudding

2024-07-03T09:17:00.007-06:00

Heavenly Rice Pudding

(gluten and dairy FREE)

3 cups Minute rice
1 (13.5 oz) can coconut milk plus water to make 3 cups liquid
Cinnamon to taste
1/2 cup dried cherries (or your favorite tart fruit)
1/2 cup shredded coconut
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt

Directions:

Add all ingredients except for rice and bring to a boil. Mix well then add minute rice. Cover and remove from heat. Let stand for five minutes then fluff and serve.
Voila!

Dutch Oven Artisan Bread

2024-07-03T09:16:00.002-06:00

Dutch Oven Artisan Bread

RECIPE:

3 cups flour

1 3/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon yeast

1 1/2 cups water

Mix dry ingredients and then add water. Mix thoroughly.

Cover and let sit 12-18 hours.

After it sits overnight, plop it out on a heavily floured surface then into the Dutch oven.

Bake at 450 Degrees F. for 30 min lid on then 10-15 more with lid off.

Homemade Laundry Soap

2018-12-04T10:22:00.000-07:00

Homemade Powder Laundry Soap

Ingredients:

1 grated/shaven bar Fels-Naptha

1 cup Borax Laundry Booster

1 cup Arm and Hammer Washing Soda

Grate Fels-Naptha and mix thoroughly with washing soda and Borax Laundry Booster. Use 1-2 Tablespoons per load.

Humingbird Cake

2018-12-04T10:20:00.000-07:00

Hummingbird Cake

1 package (18.25 oz) plain yellow cake mix

1 can (8 oz) crushed pineapple packed in juice, undrained

2 medium or 3 small ripe bananas, peeled and mashed (1 cup)

1/2 cup water

1/2 cup vegetable oil, such as canola, corn, safflower, soybean, or sunflower

3 large eggs

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Cream Cheese Frosting

1/2 chopped pecans, toasted

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Lightly grease two 9 inch round cake pans with solid vegetable shortening, then dust with four. Shake out excess flour.

Place the cake mix, pineapple with its juice, mashed bananas, water, oil, eggs, vanilla and cinnamon in a large bowl. Blend with an electric mixer on low speed for 1 minute. Stop the machine and scrape down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula. Increase the mixer speed to medium and beat for 2 minutes more, scraping the sides down again if needed. The batter should look thick and the fruit well blended. Divide the batter between the prepared pans, smoothing it down with the rubber spatula. Place the pans in the oven side by side.

Bake until golden brown, about 30-32 minutes. Cool them on wire racks.

Prepare the cream cheese frosting.

When cakes have cooled completely, frost with frosting and top with toasted pecans. (or toasted almonds if you don't have pecans and don't want to run to the store...again.)

Cream Cheese Frosting

1 package cream cheese, at room temperature

8 tablespoons (1 stick) butter, at room temperature

3 3/4 cups confectioners' sugar, sifted

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Place cream cheese and butter in large mixing bowl. Blend with an electric mixer on low speed until combined, 30 seconds. Stop the machine. Add the confectioners' sugar, a bit at a time, blending with the mixer on low speed until the sugar is well incorporated, 1 minute. Add the vanilla, then increase the mixer speed to medium and blend the frosting until fluffy, 1 minute more.