How to Roast Pumpkin Seeds

So, let’s say you really aren’t feeling like making your own pumpkin puree. Or maybe you just really hate Pumpkin Pie. Are you going to cut up a pumpkin this year to put on your porch? If so, you’re going to be scraping out the innards aren’t you? Why not put them to good use and roast pumpkin seeds instead of throwing them away? It’s so easy and they’re so delicious! You’ll wonder why you never did it before. [Read more…]

How to Make Pumpkin Puree

Well, it’s that time of year when pumpkins abound! I just love them. They’re so pretty…..and tasty! Barry loves pumpkin pie (gag attack!) and I like putting pumpkin puree in breads, cookies, and stews.

It can get pretty expensive if you use a lot of pumpkin puree – unless you make it yourself. Then it becomes pretty cheap. Y’all know I like to keep things cheap!  And I also like to teach y’all how to do things for yourself.

Which is why today, I’m sharing all about how to make your own pumpkin puree!

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Healthy Eating for Annie

This might be one of the very few posts you’ll ever see at Humorous Homemaking that’s serious. I’m normally a cut up, so this is out of the norm for me. I’ve struggled over even writing this because it’s a journey that I’m still on….and will probably be on for many months/years. However, I think there are many women out there who struggle with this issue as much as me…..women who need help and support. So, I’ll just lay it out there – for the past five or so years I’ve struggled with an eating disorder. I’ve diagnosed myself as a Compulsive Under-eater. What does that mean? It means that I restricted my food intake severely…….and I did it all in secret. I even kept it a secret from Barry and my Mama. There are members of my family that are going to read this and find it surprising – because I’ve never talked about it. But I’m ready to talk about it now, and hopefully by doing so I’ll be able to help someone else. How did it start? When Barry and I first got married, I went to the doctor for a yearly check up. He told me I was overweight and needed to lose some pounds.  I knew I wasn’t skinny, but a doctor had never told me that I was in need of losing some pounds. I went home that day and immediately began to diet. I cut all my portions in half or less.  Guess what? I started to lose weight – fast. I loved it……..so I lost some more. Then, I started an exercise regimen. Every day at 4:45am, I’d get up and go out to run about 5 miles. Every day. If it rained, I ran…..if it snowed, I ran. One time I ran in the sleet and had a hard time getting back to the house. Barry was very upset……rightly so. He saw what I was doing to myself, and asked that I take at least one day a week to rest from exercise. So, I agreed and designated that day as Sunday. [Read more…]

Apple Crowns = Pure Heaven

***UPDATE: See this post about our new eating habits. (7/10/11)You’re going to hate me. Please don’t make this recipe. If you do, your family will expect perfection out of you daily…..on the other hand, these Apple Crowns just might be worth it. Good grief! It’s 3pm right now and my house still smells like cinnamon apples and I made these at 7am! When I saw this recipe by Taste of Home, I had to make it. I’m an apple lover. You might as well just get used to the fact that you’ll regularly see apple recipes on Humorous Homemaking. When apples are in season, I am known to eat 2-3 per day. Yes, per day.  These are sooooooooo easy and they look like you spent all morning in the kitchen. I get the shivers just remembering how good they were. Brrrrr!!!!!! [Read more…]

Mandoline – Not a Necessity, But it Sure is Fun!

When I first got married and started doing a lot more cooking, I wanted a mandoline slicer. I had seen them used on TV, so they had to be awesome, right? The only versions I saw were at Bed, Bath, and Beyond for around $70! Whew! That was just too rich for my blood……especially when I knew it wasn’t a necessity. I would still go visit it….rub the box…….stare at it and dream about all the amazing things we could do in the kitchen. Then I’d walk away and cry my little heart out. Ok, so I didn’t cry, but I still missed it all the same. One fateful day I was with my mom in Ross and I saw THIS! Isn’t it beautiful!? Do you know how much this was??? $13.99. That’s it. A big step down from the $70 option. Guess what? I didn’t buy it the first day I saw it. I went home and stewed for about a week as to whether I should buy it. Finally, it won me over and I went back, praying that it was still there. Do you know it was in the EXACT same place I left it after I carted it around the store for an hour? I know what you’re thinking – no, I didn’t hide it. So I knew it must be fate…..we were destined to be together. I’ve used it several times and it’s just great! I don’t see any reason to think I got a bad deal or a cheap version. The blades are extra sharp, so I am pleased with my purchase. Keep your eyes peeled and you might find one too – maybe even cheaper than me! [Read more…]

Ziploc Omelet

What? Ziploc omelet? What the heck is that? It’s magic my friends…..pure magic. If you make this, you’ll astound your friends and neighbors. Your kids will think you’re a genius and volunteer to do the dishes……ok, so maybe not that last one, but they will think you’re pretty cool. Ready to be a pretty cool parent/neighbor/friend? Let’s go! [Read more…]

Cake Mix Cookies

 

***UPDATE: See this post about our new eating habits. (7/10/11)

These are about the simplest cookie you can ever make……well, except for those you get at the store and place on the cookie sheet to bake. Those are good too – but these, THESE are homemade. Doesn’t it make you feel like Suzy Homemaker when you tell your friends, “Here are some homemade cookies I made you.” Then they feel really special…..and you feel special knowing you didn’t waste all day making them. Let me just tell you that when I made these cookies, I was having a bad day. A very, very bad day. First thing in the morning I couldn’t get my computer to work. Then Annie  locked herself in the car at the post office and it was raining. Then the cashier at Walgreens wouldn’t take my coupons. At CVS I left my coupon binder in the buggy and didn’t realize it until I got home (Don’t worry! It’s safe…..I know the manager there….thanks Tammy!) I came home only to let Annie fall butt first down into the clothes hamper. So, as you can tell I really needed some cookies. Actually, I made these cookies to say “Thanks!” to those who helped me get back into my car and also to take to Tammy at CVS. I like telling people I appreciate them. It always seems to pack an extra punch when you say it with cookies. So, to kill two birds with one marshmallow (or something like that) I decided to say thanks AND show you how to make them. You’ll love me forever. [Read more…]

Homemade Breadcrumbs

I know I’m not the only one out there with a lousy bag boy….am I? The bag “boy” at my Kroger thinks he’s Elvis. He wears his collar up and his hair greased back. I have not heard him sing……but I have seen him high tail it! Apparently he doesn’t like me anymore because when he sees me coming, he tries to find something else to do – get buggies…..sweep……clean up the broken pickle jar in aisle 4. Well, that’s just fine with me because I hate getting home to find my bread smashed and all my frozen stuff in individual bags instead of together. Is this rocket science? That being said, we all end up with smashed bread sometimes. I will usually make homemade croutons (https://www.humoroushomemaking.com/?p=205), but this time I decided to make breadcrumbs. You can buy these at the store, but it’s usually cheaper to make your own. Plus, they just taste a lot better. If you can get some reduced bread, even better! Any kind of bread will work. Also, sometimes it’s just nice to pulverize something to smithereens. You know you want to.
My favorite way to make breadcrumbs is using my food processor. I love this kitchen appliance! If you don’t have one, you should really consider getting one……I see them at yard sales all the time. It’s such a great tool to have – it makes a lot of kitchen tasks a LOT easier. I think it does lots of cool stuff, but I haven’t read the manual yet. Manuals intimidate me. I need appliance manual therapy. [Read more…]

How to Make an Omelet

It’s so easy to make an omelet. I make them regularly for Barry…..especially when I have stuff in the refrigerator that I want to get rid of. You can put ANYTHING in an omelet – cheese, salsa, taco meat, bacon, ham, peppers, onions, steak, hot dogs, chicken nuggets. I’d say most people who don’t make omelets don’t do it because they think it’s hard. I’m here to shed light on the subject! If I can do it, you can do it! Now, this omelet turns out a little rough because I got in a hurry…..it split open. Guess what? It still tastes delicious. Did you know that they make a special pan just for making omelets? Good grief! What normal person has room in their cabinets for all these contraptions? I had to get rid of my dishwasher in order to store more cake pans, so I really don’t have room for a special omelet pan. Good thing we don’t need it. So, let’s clean out the fridge and make an omelet!
All you need to make an omelet are eggs, water, salt, pepper, and cooking spray. Of course you need your fillings, but that will vary each time you’re making one. The omelet I make the most is just salsa and cheese for a filling. We like to keep things simple in the Myers household. [Read more…]

Homemade Kettle Corn

*****We’ve adapted this recipe to fit our Whole Foods lifestyle by using coconut oil and sucanat.*****

I love fall! It means festivals…….festivals mean Kettle Corn! I might be a tad bit obsessed with Kettle Corn. Sure, I go to see the crafts and decorations, but if they weren’t there I’d still go just to get Kettle Corn. Whew! I don’t like to share it either. My husband might get a few bites there and there, but if he’s not careful I might just bite his hand off. There’s just something about the sweet/salty mixture and the crunch of the popcorn that just makes me wanna dance! You’re craving it right now because I said crunchy aren’t you? At the last festival I went to, I got the biggest bag available….yes, I ate it all myself. Over the course of a few days though because I learned in the past that if you eat too much at once you’ll get a tummy ache. Too much = entire bag. I thought to myself, “Self, YOU could make your own Kettle Corn!” Then I could have it all year long! This was something I was definitely going to try, so I came home and found the recipe on the internet. Verdict? There is DEFINITELY a learning curve. We burned some on our first batch, so we made another pot full while I ate the burned ones. Hey! They had sugar on them so they weren’t THAT bad. Hopefully I’ve made all the mistakes that can be made, so that you can make it without mishap. I’m just here to help. Let’s make a pot, shall we? [Read more…]