March Mixes – Homemade Granola

Homemade Granola

Sprinkling some homemade granola over yogurt and eating it, is one of my favourite ways to start my day!  I love having it on hand all the time for easy snacking too!  Here’s my recipe for the yummy homemade granola I’ve been enjoying lately!

Homemade Granola

Ingredients

  • 2 cups rolled oats
  • 1/4 cup sunflower seeds
  • 1/4 cup pumpkin seeds
  • 1/4 cup sliced almonds
  • 2 Tbsp oil (I use coconut oil)
  • 2 Tbsp honey
  • 1/4 tsp vanilla

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
  2. In a large roasting pan, stir together the dry ingredients.
  3. In a small bowl, combine the oil, honey and vanilla.
  4. Drizzle the wet ingredients over the dry ingredients in the roasting pan. Stir well until everything seems coated. (extra oil or honey may be added as needed)
  5. Bake in preheated oven for 40 minutes, stiring every 10 minutes.
  6. Once cooled, store in an airtight container for up to three months.

Notes

Dried fruit is also an excellent addition to this recipe, but I like to add it after the roasting. I find they dry out too much otherwise.

http://www.simplyfrugal.ca/march-mixes-homemade-granola/

Here are the rest of the recipes that have been shared during March Mixes:

March Mixes – Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix

For today’s March Mixes recipe, I’m sending you to Lynn’s Kitchen Adventures for her recipe for the best homemade hot chocolate mix!

March Mixes – Homemade Brownie Mix

Homemade brownie mix recipe

You know, it’s been a real hardship testing out all the recipes I’m sharing with you this month for March Mixes.  Especially when I subjected my parents and my husband to these brownies.  ;)   For some reason, my parents would like us to visit every night…if I bring one of my experiments.

Although this brownie recipe is far from being “healthy”, I think it’s a good idea to have something like this on hand if you have guests coming over.  I think it would be great to make up a few of these mixes at one time.

Homemade Brownie Mix

Ingredients

  • 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 2 cups white sugar

Instructions

  1. Mix ingredients together and place in a jar or container. When you are ready to make brownies add 1 cup melted butter, 3 eggs, 1 teaspoon vanilla.
  2. Mix until well combined.
  3. Grease a 9×13 pan.
  4. Spread batter evenly and bake at 350 for 25 minutes or until done.
http://www.simplyfrugal.ca/march-mixes-homemade-brownie-mix/

March Mixes – Homemade Ranch Mix

Homemade Ranch Mix recipe

Ranch, the ever versatile addition to so many meals.  And, it’s so easy to whip up from scratch!  Ranch is our veggie dip of choice so this is on hand at all times.

Homemade Ranch Mix

Ingredients

  • 5 tablespoons dried minced onions
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 7 teaspoons parsley flakes
  • 2 teaspoons salt

Instructions

  1. Mix together and store in an air tight container.
  2. For dip:
  3. Mix 1 Tablespoon dry mix with 1/4 cup mayonnaise and 3/4 cup plain yogurt.
  4. For dressing:
  5. Mix 1 Tablespoon dry mix with 1/2 cup mayonnaise and 1/2 cup buttermilk.
http://www.simplyfrugal.ca/march-mixes-homemade-ranch-mix/

Homemade ranch dip recipe

March Mixes – Homemade Taco Seasoning

DIY Tace Seasoning recipe

Make tonight Taco Night!  I love this recipe for taco seasoning.  I never buy taco seasoning packs now that I’ve tweaked this to our liking!  It’s especially great because I’m able to adjust the spiciness to my liking.  (I’m a big wimp when it comes to spicy food)

Homemade Taco Seasoning

Ingredients

  • 4 Tablespoons chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 2 teaspoons paprika
  • 6 teaspoons ground cumin
  • 2 teaspoons salt (more or less to taste)
  • 4 teaspoons black pepper (more or less to taste)

Instructions

  1. Mix all ingredients in a bowl.
  2. Add to a spice container.
  3. Add 2 to 3 tablespoons of this mixture plus 1/2 to 3/4 cup of water to one pound of cooked meat.
http://www.simplyfrugal.ca/march-mixes-homemade-taco-seasoning/

March Mixes – Healthy Whole Grain Pancake Mix

Healthy pancake mix recipe

I love whole grain foods so this pancake recipe is my favourite!  These ones can be quite versatile as you can add ground flax, chia seeds, berries, or what ever you like, to add extra punch.  Sienna loves them with cinnamon. :)

Healthy Pancake Mix

Ingredients

    For the Mix:
  • 3 1/2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
  • 2 cups whole wheat white flour
  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 3 tablespoons sugar
  • 3 tablespoons baking powder
  • 1 tablespoon salt
  • 1 tablespoon baking soda
  • 1/2 tablespoon cinnamon (optional)
  • 3/4 cup vegetable oil (or coconut oil, grape seed oil)
  • For the finished cooked pancakes
  • 1 cup mix
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 1/2 cup plain yogurt (or vanilla)
  • 1 egg

Instructions

    To make the Mix
  1. Grind oats in a food processor unit they’re chopped fine.
  2. Mix the ground oats, flours, and remaining dry ingredients in large bowl until combined.
  3. Drizzle in the oil. Stir until the mix clumps together in your hand. (If need be, add 1 tablespoon of oil at a time until the mixture clumps.)
  4. Store in an airtight container in the freezer indefinitely.
  5. To make Pancakes
  6. Whisk together 1 cup mix with 1/2 cup milk, 1/2 cup yogurt, and 1 egg.
  7. Let stand 15 minutes to thicken.
  8. Heat a nonstick pan over medium heat.
  9. Using 1/4 cup, spoon batter onto pan.
  10. Cook 3-4 minutes on each side until lightly browned.
http://www.simplyfrugal.ca/march-mixes-healthy-whole-grain-pancake-mix/

March Mixes - DIY mixes for convenience

March Mixes – Homemade Pancake Mix

Homemade pancake mix recipe

Welcome to March Mixes!  Where you’ll find all sorts of recipes for DIY mixes all month long.

Since the weekend begins tomorrow, I thought it would be nice if I shared a recipe for pancake mix, since I personally, think pancakes make for a delicious weekend breakfast!  So go ahead and make up the recipe below, cook a batch, then save the rest of the mix for another day!

Homemade Pancake Mix

Ingredients

  • 4 cups flour (can substitute 1 cup whole wheat flour for 1 cup all-purpose flour)
  • 3 tablespoons baking powder
  • 2 teaspoons baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 3 tablespoons sugar
  • 1/2 tablespoon cinnamon (optional)

Instructions

  1. Combine all ingredients in a bowl. Place and store in an air-tight container to use within 3 months.
  2. To make pancakes:
  3. In a bowl, combine 1 cup of dry pancake mix, 1 egg, 1 cup of milk, 1 teaspoon oil or melted butter, and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract. Heat pan over medium heat and lightly grease with butter. Pour 1/4 cup of pancake batter in the pan. Once the batter has began to bubble significantly, carefully flip the pancake. Cook for another 1-2 minutes or until the second side is golden brown.
  4. Note: Will make approximately 8 pancakes.
http://www.simplyfrugal.ca/march-mixes-homemade-pancake-mix/

Try This Balsamic Roast Beef Recipe

Balsamic-Pot-Roast

I had to share this recipe because you need to make it!

Last night we made the Balsamic Roast Beef from Addapinch.com.  It was fantastic.  Jesse just finished saying that it was the best meal we’ve ever made!  I’m not sure if I should be pleased or offended since I do most of the cooking around here. :)

My parents joined us and we served it with carrots, corn and mashed potatoes with cream cheese, sour cream, butter and cheddar cheese.

Groupon – 12 Months of Menu Planning from eMeals up to 65% off

emeals

Are you wanting to give menu planning a go this year, but find it overwhelming?  Try out 12 months of menu planning from eMeals with this offer from Groupon! (I found it under New Years Deals) There are three options to choose from:

  • 12 months of online dinner planning for $29 (was $58, 50% off)
  • 12 months of online lunch and dinner planning for $39 (was $106, 63% off)
  • 12 months of online breakfast, lunch and dinner planning for $49 (was $142, 65% off)

There are special paleo, gluten-free, clean-eating, low-fat, simple gourmet and more meal-plan options available!  Offer ends January 16, 2013.

Chewy Ginger Crinkles

ginger-crinkles

These Ginger Crinkles rank among one of my all time favourite cookies, especially at Christmas time!  They’re chewy, and perfectly spicy and delicious :)

Chewy Ginger Crinkles

2/3 cup vegetable oil (I replaced with coconut oil for the health benefits and it worked!)
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1/4 cup molasses
1 3/4 cups flour
1 1/2 tsp ground ginger
1 1/2 tsp cinnamon (I add a bit more)
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
sugar for rolling

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
  2. In a large bowl, whisk oil with sugar, egg and molasses
  3. In a separate bowl, mix flour, ginger, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda and salt
  4. Stir into the molasses mixture to form moist dough.
  5. Shape into 1″ (or so) balls with your hands, roll in sugar and place on cookie sheet.
  6. Bake at 350 degrees until flat, cracked and browned; about 12 minutes.

For this recipe I added everything into one bowl and used my Kitchenaid mixer!