Cream of "Whatever" Soup

Sheri Graham Nourishing Heart & Home
Cream Soup Substitue

1/4 cup butter

1/4 cup whole wheat flour
1 cup water
1/3 cup milk
2 teaspoons chicken bouillon

In a pan over medium heat, melt the butter. Stir in the flour until mixed well. Add in the water, milk, and bouillon. Stir constantly until it comes to a boil and thickens. Remove from heat and use in place of a store-bought can of cream soup.

Mommy has used a Cream of "Whatever" soup substitute for several years now but I wasn't completely happy with the recipe I was using.  The old recipe broke down to "yuck" in the crock pot so I couldn't use it there.  Sheri Graham shared her recipe with me and it is a winner!  I haven't found a recipe yet that doesn't work with this substitute.  I use the MSG Free Chicken Bouillon for this recipe to make it even better for our family.  Yum!  This is another one of those great recipes that you may want to make a staple in your own pantries.

Love Always,
Mommy

Onion Soup Mix

Tina Jenkins from MOMYS

3 C dried, minced onion
1 C chicken bouillon
1 TB garlic powder
1 tsp celery seed
1 TB sugar

Add all ingredients together in a blender and grind into a fine powder. Store in an airtight container.

Use a 1/4 cup mix as you would a pouch of the store bought onion soup mix.

Dip: Use 1/4 cup mix with 16 oz. sour cream for a chip dip.

Children- This is another staple in our pantry.  Store bought Onion Soup Mix has MSG in it so this is a great alternative especailly when we use the MSG Free Chicken Bouillon.  This is the basis for a lot of our homemade meals.

Love Always,
Mommy

Eating More Veggies

One way we have been able to get more veggies in our diet is to buy a big bag of organic carrots and a big bag of organic celery.  If we wash and cut all of it up at one time it is now ready to just grab and eat from the refrigerator.  One tip from the MOMYS board was to put out cut veggies and THE DIP about a hour before the meal.  If the children fill up on them- great!  If the veggies and the dip are set out with the meal they are less likely to be eaten.  Works for me! 

Love Always,
Mommy

Ranch Dressing and Dip

Laura at Heavenly Homemakers
Healthy Homemade Salad Dressings

5 TB dried minced onions,  blended in food processor
7 tsp parsley flakes
4 tsp sea salt
1 tsp garlic powder

Mix together and store in an air tight container.

For dressing: Mix 2 TB dry mix with 1 C mayonnaise and 1 C buttermilk or sour cream. (I use buttermilk.)
For dip: Mix 1 TB dry mix with 2 C sour cream or kreme fresh.

Mix up a few hours before serving, so the flavors all blend nicely.

I am noticing a trend as I choose which recipe to add next.  Laura at Heavenly Homemakers shows up quite often!  :)  She has some super recipes that our family really enjoys!  This ranch mix is FANTASTIC!!!  Hannah, Daniel, and Ezra love to eat this with carrots and celery.  Especially celery!  What a great way to add some veggies to our diet.  Hannah has specifically asked that this recipe be added to her cookbook so here you go Sweetie!

Love Always,
Mommy

MSG Free Chicken Boullion

Sheri Graham of Nourishing Heart and Home
Homemade Chicken Broth Powder

1 1/3 C nutritional yeast flakes
3 TB onion powder
7 1/2 tsp (2 1/2 TB) sea salt
1 TB rice protein powder
1 TB sugar
2 1/2 tsp. garlic granules or powder
1 tsp dried thyme
1 tsp finely crumbled dried sage (NOT powdered)
1 tsp paprika
1/2 tsp turmeric

Blend in a dry blender or food processor until powdery. Store in a dry, airtight container.

Use 1 level teaspoon per cup of boiling water.

Yield: 1 1/2 cups of broth powder

Mommy has been concerned about the MSG in so many of the prepackaged foods. I have been learning to make a lot of our own homemade mixes but most of them call for bouillon which contains MSG. I was so excited when I saw this from our friend Sheri Graham. This has solved our bouillon problem. We use this mix in every recipe calling for bouillon.  What a blessing this recipe has been to our family.

Love Always,
Mommy