Adventures of Mel

Category: Kitchen Tips & Tools

  • How to Keep Pie Crust from Burning – 3 Ways to Protect Edges

    How to Keep Pie Crust from Burning – 3 Ways to Protect Edges

    Bake the perfect pie crust with a golden brown edge. How to keep pie crust from burning with 3 easy ways to protect the edges of the crust. Follow these tips, and you’ll make the most beautiful pie crust ever.

    There’s nothing better than a good pie. In fact, I think my favorite flavor is this yummy chocolate meringue pie, or maybe even this caramel custard pie.

    unbaked pie crust with metal pie shield on wooden countertop with apples and rolling pin

    That said, a pie is only as good as its crust, which is why I can’t stand burnt pie crust edges; it just makes for a nasty pie crust, and it’s what every baker dreads. For years, I struggled with burnt, shriveled up pie crusts that pulverized to the touch, yet the filling was only barely cooked.

    That is why I’ve dedicated so much time to developing a reliable, no fail pie crust recipe with butter, as well as a no-roll pie crust. In fact, it can even be made gluten-free!

    After years of trial and error, I’ve finally started to figure out how to bake the perfect pie crust. By perfect pie crust, I mean a pie crust that is not only perfectly golden brown, but it is also wonderfully flaky and tender to the touch. A good pie crust should sorta melt in your mouth, and most agree that it is the best part of the pie!

    Pie Crust 101 – What is Pie Crust

    Pie crust is the outer pastry shell of a pie that holds the filling and other ingredients. Pie crust usually consists of 4 ingredients– flour, water, salt and some sort of fat, usually butter or vegetable shortening.

    The resulting pie dough is rolled out to the shape of the pie dish; it is then laid and set into the pie plate, and excess overhang is trimmed off.

    There Are 3 Types of Pie Crust

    • A single pie crust only has a bottom crust in which the filling resides. Some single crust pies use toppings, such as a meringue pie topping, whipped cream, or fresh fruit.
    • A double crust pie requires a top crust that is laid over top of the pie filling as a covering. The edges of a double crust are crimped together, and vent holes are cut into the top to allow excess moisture to escape, which ultimately prevents soggy insides.
    • Other double crust pies may use a lattice pie crust, where the top crust dough is cut into lattice-like strips that are layered under and over each other in a way that resembles a basket weave appearance, then baked. The narrow spaces in between not only allow the filling to bubble up through, but they also act as natural steam vents. This How to Lattice Pie Crust tutorial is a good example of the basket-weave method.
    apple pie in glass pie plate with perfectly cooked edges on wooden countertop with pie shield and rolling pin

    Selecting the Right Pie Plate

    There are 3 types of pie dishes, or pie plates…

    1. Glass pie plate
    2. Ceramic pie dish
    3. Metal pie pan

    I tend to prefer glass or ceramic because they give a more consistent, even bake. With a glass pie dish, you can see the sides and the bottom of your pie and tell how much it’s browning.

    Size can also affect the balance between how quickly your crust bakes vs. how quickly the filling bakes. Typically, you’ll want a pie plate that’s no larger than 9.5″.

    Which one I choose just depends on what I’m baking and how large a pie dish I need for the pie I’m making.

    How to Keep Pie Crust from Burning – 3 Methods

    Whether you want to learn how to keep pie crust from burning without foil, or with foil, here are 3 easy ways to protect the edges of your pie.

    pie shield or pie crust protector on unbaked pie crust edges on wooden countertop with apples and wooden rolling pin

    1. Buy a Pie Shield or Pie Crust Protector

    Using a pie shield or pie crust cover on the edge of the pan is the best way to keep from burning your pie crust. You lay a pie shield over the outer edges of the pie crust, so that it’ll reflect the heat and prevent premature browning.

    If you don’t feel like making a homemade pie shield and you want to keep your crust from burning without foil, there’s no shame in buying a pie shield you can use time and time again.

    I highly recommend finding an adjustable pie shield, like this adjustable aluminum pie shield or even this adjustable silicone pie crust shield. Both of these shields are a big upgrade from homemade pie shields.

    I actually have an old Pampered Chef pie shield I bought years ago, and it’s been my old faithful anytime I make a pie. While it’s not adjustable, it still gets the job done and protects the edge of a pie crust very well, not to mention it’s easy to store with all my pie plates.

    aluminum foil pie shield or foil protector over unbaked pie crust edges on wooden countertop with apples and rolling pin

    2. Make an Aluminum Foil Pie Shield or Foil Protector

    Of course, if you’re like me, the thought of another kitchen gadget cluttering up the cabinets and counters is enough to drive you nuts! Fortunately, you can make your own pie shield using aluminum foil.

    How to Make an Aluminum Shield

    Heavy-duty foil works best for this method.

    1. Before baking the pie, start by cutting out 2-3 strips of aluminum foil (8-12 inches long and 2-3 inches wide).
    2. Fold each strip lengthwise, so each strip is doubled.
    3. Then wrap each strip around the edge of your pie crust, laying the foil on top of the edge and folding it down tight against the top of the pie plate both inside and out. It usually takes about 3 strips to cover the entire edge around.

    You can also cut a square or circle out of a piece of foil just slightly larger than your pie plate, and cut a round circle of foil that you can then wrap around the edge of the crust.

    You can simplify the entire process by watching this awesome video with a great pie shield hack. She makes it look so easy, and really, it is!

    parchment paper pie shield on edges of unbaked pie crust on wooden countertop with apples and rolling pin

    3. Parchment Paper Pie Shield

    To keep pie crust from burning without foil…

    1. The first step is to tear off a large sheet of parchment paper that is slightly larger than the pie dish.
    2. Next, gently lay your pie dish over the parchment paper and trace its outline.
    3. Then fold and cut the parchment paper square the same way you would an aluminum foil pie shield, leaving the traced side up for cutting.
    4. Unfold the parchment paper and lay it over the pie crust, cutting any excess off from the outside edges of the parchment paper. Bake just as you would with the aluminum foil pie shield.

    Other Things That’ll Help Prevent Burnt Pie Crust

    Bake the Pie at the Correct Temperature

    Although this is not usually the sole cause of a burnt pie crust, baking the pie at a higher temperature will cause premature browning of the crust before the center of the pie, the pie filling, or the rest of the pie has had a chance to cook. Always use the recommended oven temperature, or correct temperature, for whatever recipe you’re making.

    Watch for Oven Hot Spots, Rack Placement, Etc.

    Many ovens are either inefficient or inconsistent when it comes to heating. This can create hot spots throughout the oven, causing one side of the pie crust to brown faster than the other.

    If your oven is like this, try rotating the pie halfway through the bake, which promotes even browning in these types of ovens. Some extreme cases may even require swapping racks halfway through the bake.

    baked apple crumb pie with golden brown edges, pie shield, and rolling pin on wooden countertop

    Expert Tips and FAQ’s

    Let’s start with a few burning questions, no pun intended.

    Why is my pie crust burning?

    The outer edges of most pie crusts are thin and easily burnt, and it’s pretty common for them to brown long before the rest of the pie has finished baking. This can happen in both single and double crust pies, although the top of a double crust will not usually burn unless the oven temperature is too high. Although this can be a real challenge, there are many precautions that can be taken to prevent your pie crust edges from burning, hence the tips above.

    How do you make pie crust not burn?

    The easiest way to keep your pie crust from burning is by buying a pie shield or creating your own pie shield out of aluminum foil. Pie shields are laid over the outer edges of the pie, which deflects heat and prevents premature browning of the pie crust. Most people have at least a roll or two of aluminum foil in their cabinets, which is why this method works so conveniently.

    Can aluminum foil go in the oven?

    Aluminum foil is very heat resistant and perfectly oven-safe. Most oven manufacturers recommend using it to line baking sheets and pans, to cover foods and dishes, and as reusable foil dishes for baking food; this includes covering a pie crust! However, do not place it on the oven floor or directly on the oven rack, which can not only impede airflow and reflect excess heat to your pie crust, but it can also stick to the oven surfaces, causing permanent damage. It is also not recommended for use when baking especially acidic foods.

    Pampered Chef pie crust protector over edges of apple crumb pie on wood countertop with rolling pin and apples

    Perfect Pie Recipes to Make with Pie Crust

    Now that you know how to keep pie crust from burning, try your hand at one of these yummy homemade pie recipes…

    I always appreciate your feedback. Be sure to leave a comment, and follow me on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. You can subscribe to my email list too.

    How to Keep Pie Crust from Burning

    Bake the perfect pie crust with a golden brown edge. How to keep pie crust from burning with 3 easy ways to protect the edges of the crust.

    • Adjustable Pie Shield
    • Adjustable Silicone Pie Shield
    • Pampered Chef Pie Shield
    • Aluminum Foil
    • Parchment Paper
    • 1 pie shield
    • 3 strips aluminum foil
    • 1 piece parchment paper

    1. Buy a Pie Shield or Pie Crust Protector

    1. Lay a pie shield over the outer edges of the pie crust, so that it'll reflect the heat and prevent premature browning.

    2. Make an Aluminum Foil Pie Shield or Foil Protector

    1. Before baking the pie, start by cutting out 2-3 strips of aluminum foil (8-12 inches long and 2-3 inches wide).

    2. Fold each strip lengthwise, so each strip is doubled.

    3. Then wrap each strip around the edge of your pie crust, laying the foil on top of the edge and folding it down tight against the top of the pie plate both inside and out. It usually takes about 3 strips to cover the entire edge around.*

    3. Make a Parchment Paper Pie Shield

    1. The first step is to tear off a large sheet of parchment paper that is slightly larger than the pie dish.

    2. Next, gently lay your pie dish over the parchment paper and trace its outline.

    3. Then fold and cut the parchment paper square the same way you would an aluminum foil pie shield, leaving the traced side up for cutting.

    4. Unfold the parchment paper and lay it over the pie crust, cutting any excess off from the outside edges of the parchment paper. Bake just as you would with the aluminum foil pie shield.

    *You can also cut a square or circle out of a piece of foi just slightly larger than your pie plate, and cut a round circle of foil that you can then wrap around the edge of the crust.

    Desserts
    American
    how to keep pie crust from burning, how to keep pie crust from burning without foil, how to prevent pie crust from burning
  • How to Cut a Pepper 4 Easy Ways

    How to Cut a Pepper 4 Easy Ways

    Learn how to cut a pepper 4 easy ways, into halves, rings, sliced or julienned, and diced. Tips and hacks, along with a variety of delicious, flavorful recipe ideas you can make.

    I love a good bell pepper. Why, you ask? Mainly because of the flavor they give, but there are a few reasons to love bell peppers…

    how to cut a pepper 4 ways, including julienne strips, diced, and rings with red, green, and yellow bell peppers on white marble countertop
    • Bell peppers give so much flavor to so many dishes.
    • They also make food pretty. They give bright, vibrant color to whatever dish you happen to be cooking.
    • They’re crispy crunchy. Even when they’re cooked, they still have a slightly crisp texture.
    • They’re healthy and full of nutritional benefits like vitamin A, vitamin B6, vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin K1, folate, potassium, fiber, and antioxidants.
    • They’re delicious both raw and cooked.

    What Are Bell Peppers?

    Did you know that bell peppers are actually fruit? I was under the assumption they’re vegetables, but they’re actually classified as fruits. They belong to the nightshade family, which is why some people can have a harder time digesting them, or they can have symptoms from consuming them. (But that’s a whole other discussion.)

    You’ll find bell peppers in various colors. Readily available in grocery stores, you’ll find red, yellow, orange, and green. If you grow them yourself, you know you can also add colors like purple and chocolate to the mix.

    Other Types of Peppers

    While I’m mainly showing how to cut a bell pepper in this post, there are other types of peppers like chili peppers, cayenne peppers, jalepeños, pepperoncini, pimento, etc. The list goes on and on.

    how to cut a bell pepper, including green, red, and yellow bell peppers on butcher block cutting board with chef's knife

    How to Pick Good Bell Peppers

    While I love to grow our own bell peppers, I do buy peppers from the store, as well. There are a few things I look for when picking the best bell peppers possible…

    • Color – Is the pepper a bright, shiny color? Or is it dull and discolored in spots? Look for that bright, shiny, vibrant, all one color pepper.
    • Texture – Is it firm, or is it wrinkly? You don’t want wrinkly because that signals the pepper’s been sitting there awhile and is rather old.
    • Weight – Is it lightweight, or is it firm? You’ll get a better pepper, the heavier it is.
    • Shape – Ok, my friend Kelly from EatPicks has taught me that a pepper with 4 lobes (look at the bottom of the pepper for the lobes) is a sweeter pepper. One with 3 lobes won’t be quite as sweet. So I always take that shape factor into account. Plus, when I’m making stuffed peppers, I really like the pepper to be able to stand on its own if I’m not cutting it into halves.

    What’s the Difference Between Green, Yellow, Red, and Orange Bell Peppers?

    Actually, they’re nutritionally different and can have different flavors.

    • Green and red bell peppers have more vitamin C, in fact, according to Mississippi State University Extension, they have 2-3 more times vitamin C than an actual orange.
    • The longer the pepper is on the plant, the more nutrient dense it will be. Green peppers are picked first, so they’re less nutrient dense than red, yellow, or orange. Red are on the vine the longest, so they’re packed with the most nutrients. And as they ripen, the cancer-fighting antioxidants they contain change, as well.
    • The longer they ripen, the sweeter they become, as well… So, in other words, a green bell pepper won’t be as sweet as a red; red bell peppers are the sweetest.

    How to Cut a Pepper

    There are 4 specific ways you can learn how to cut bell peppers. But first let’s talk tips and tricks for making the process easier and more efficient.

    Tips and Tricks to Consider Before Starting

    First of all, be sure to remove any stickers, and wash the peppers before cutting into them. I recommend using either home grown or organic peppers, mainly because bell peppers are on the Dirty Dozen list.

    The main tip I can give you is to use a butcher block cutting board, and make sure your knife is sharp. I usually use a chef’s knife, along with a long paring knife for cutting out the core. We regularly sharpen our knives, so they give the best cut with the least amount of resistance. Believe it or not, a dull knife can lead to injury faster than a sharp knife.

    Also, when cutting apart the peppers, save back the stems and core. If you have chickens, they’ll love it. If not, add them to your compost bin or pile. You can even use the stem when making homemade vegetable stock.

    Option #1: How to Cut a Pepper into Halves

    1. Slice the pepper in half length wise, making a clean cut through with your knife.
    2. Use a long paring knife to slice under and around the core of the pepper, removing the core and all seeds from the pepper. (Sometimes I go the easier route and just pull the core and seeds out with my fingers. Whatever works easiest.)
    3. You can leave the stems intact, or you can remove them at this point. If making stuffed peppers, they really add to the dish and make the peppers pretty… Just a thought.
    steps for how to cut a pepper into halves, including cutting and coring a red bell pepper on a butcher block cutting board

    Option #2: How to Cut Peppers into Rings

    1. First, cut the top end of the pepper off.
    2. Use a long paring knife to go down into the pepper and slice under and around the core of the pepper, removing the core and all seeds from the pepper.
    3. Then slice the hollowed out pepper into 1/8 to 1/4-inch rings.
    4. Discard the bottom of the pepper, and you’ll have a small pile of pepper rings for a beautiful veggie platter or salad.
    steps for how to cut peppers into rings, including cutting the top off a green bell pepper, coring the pepper, and slicing into rings on butcher block cutting board

    Option #3: How to Slice (or Julienne) Peppers

    1. Cut the pepper into halves, as shown above.
    2. Then spread the pepper out, smashing it down with your hands, skin side down so it’s easier to slice.
    3. Use a chef’s knife to slice the smashed halves into slices or thinner julienned strips.
    4. You’ll have a handful of pepper strips you can use for fajitas, in stir fry, enjoy as a snack, and more.
    steps for how to slice or julienne red bell peppers into strips on butcher block cutting board

    Option #4: How to Dice Bell Peppers

    1. Make the choice to either cut the pepper into halves, as shown above. Or you can leave the pepper whole and cut out the core.
    2. Remove the core and seeds from the inside of the pepper.
    3. Once cored, if not halved, cut the pepper into halves, then strips (again, as instructed above) for dicing.
    4. Dice the strips, a small handful at a time, starting at one end of the strips and moving to the other end, ’til you have a handful of diced or chopped peppers.
    steps for how to dice bell peppers using yellow bell pepper on butcher block cutting board, coring, slicing, and dicing into small pieces

    Tip: If you want smaller, minced peppers, when cutting the pepper into strips, cut it into thinner julienned strips. Then dice. If needed, you can mince the smaller diced pieces into smaller pieces.

    Expert Tips and Recipe FAQ’s

    Do you have to peel bell peppers?

    Some recipes may call for this, but for most recipes, you want to leave the peeling intact because it adds to the texture and flavor of the dish. However… There are certain dishes where peeling the skin off the pepper can take that tougher texture away and can give a sweeter flavor to the finished dish. It really just depends on the recipe. For the purpose of preserving bell peppers, you’d leave the skin intact.

    Why do you have to remove the seeds from bell peppers?

    The seeds are not only tough, but they can give a more bitter flavor to whatever you’re making. They’ll take away from the sweet flavor of the peppers.

    Can I freeze cut peppers and for how long?

    Yes, you can freeze pepper strips, sliced, or diced peppers. You’ll need to flash freeze them on a baking sheet or tray. Then put them in an airtight container or freezer bag so they don’t get freezer burn. They should keep in the freezer for about 6-8 months. Nebraska has a great article all about how to freeze peppers.

    How should you store bell peppers?

    Whole bell peppers will keep for about 2 weeks in the fridge; store them whole in the crisper drawer for best results. If storing cut peppers, store them with a paper towel in an airtight container or storage bag in the fridge. They should keep for 3-4 days.

    how to cut bell peppers by slicing or julienne, dicing, or rings on white marble countertop with blue striped towel

    My Favorite Recipes with Bell Peppers

    Looking for ways to use bell peppers? Here are a few delicious dishes you can make…

    Stuffed Peppers –

    Main Dish Dinner Ideas –

    Soups and Stews –

    Breakfast Recipes –

    Sauces and Condiments –

    If you try this recipe, why not leave a star rating in the recipe card right below and/or a review in the comment section further down the page? I always appreciate your feedback. You can also follow me on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. And subscribe to my email list too!

    How to Cut a Pepper

    How to cut a pepper 4 easy ways, into halves, rings, sliced, and diced. Tips and hacks, along with recipe ideas you can make.

    • Butcher Block Cutting Board
    • Chef's Knife
    • Long Paring Knife
    • 1 large green bell pepper
    • 1 large red bell pepper
    • 1 large yellow bell pepper
    • 1 large orange bell pepper

    1. Remove any stickers, and wash the peppers before cutting into them.

    How to Cut Peppers into Halves:

    1. Slice the pepper in half length wise, making a clean cut through with your knife.

    2. Use a long paring knife to slice under and around the core of the pepper, removing the core and all seeds from the pepper. (Sometimes I go the easier route and just pull the core and seeds out with my fingers. Whatever works easiest.)

    3. You can leave the stems intact, or you can remove them at this point.

    How to Cut Peppers into Rings:

    1. First, cut the top end of the pepper off.

    2. Use a long paring knife to go down into the pepper and slice under and around the core of the pepper, removing the core and all seeds from the pepper.

    3. Then slice the hollowed out pepper into 1/8 to 1/4-inch rings.

    4. Discard the bottom of the pepper, and you'll have a small pile of pepper rings for a beautiful veggie platter or salad.

    How to Slice (or Julienne) Peppers:

    1. Cut the pepper into halves, as instructed above, and remove the stems.

    2. Then spread the pepper out, smashing it down with your hands, skin side down so it's easier to slice.

    3. Use a chef's knife to slice the pepper smashed halves into slices or thinner julienned strips.

    4. You'll have a handful of pepper strips you can use for fajitas, in stir fry, enjoy as a snack, and more.

    How to Dice Bell Peppers:

    1. Make the choice to either cut the pepper into halves, as shown above; or leave the pepper whole and cut out the core.

    2. Remove the core and seeds from the inside of the pepper.

    3. Once cored, if not halved, cut the pepper into halves, then strips (again, as instructed above) for dicing.

    4. Dice the strips, a small handful at a time, starting at one end of the strips and moving to the other end, 'til you have a handful of diced or chopped peppers.

    5. Tip: If you want smaller, minced peppers, when cutting the pepper into strips, cut it into thinner julienned strips. Then dice. If needed, you can mince the smaller diced pieces into smaller pieces.

    How to Store: Whole bell peppers will keep for about 2 weeks in the fridge; store them whole in the crisper drawer for best results. If storing cut peppers, store them with a paper towel in an airtight container or storage bag in the fridge. They should keep for 3-4 days.

    Kitchen Tips & Tools
    American
    how to cut a bell pepper, how to cut a green pepper, how to cut a pepper, how to cut bell peppers
  • Top 10 Ice Cream Accessories and Tools

    Top 10 Ice Cream Accessories and Tools

    This helpful guide includes ice cream accessories, tools, equipment, and recipes for making ice cream at home. It’s the perfect list for every ice cream lover’s kitchen.

    Summer is coming, and with summer inevitably comes ice cream! Around here, we get pretty serious about our ice cream.

    ice cream accessories and tools, including bowls, ice cream makers, and ice cream sandwich maker

    Not only is it a family tradition that goes way back, but there is no better way to provide the cold, refreshing treat that we so crave during the stifling dog days of summer than by making old-fashioned homemade ice cream.

    This is a great way to get the kids into the kitchen; homemade ice cream can make memories that they will remember their entire lives… Speaking from experience. Who knew that making ice cream could be so much fun?

    So here you go. This is my extensive guide that covers my top 10 essential ice cream tools and equipment. Whether you’re looking to improve your own experience, or you’re making a large batch for a church potluck or ice cream social, I hope you can put this guide to good use.

    So what are the best tools for making ice cream at home? Do you need a special machine to make ice cream? Keep reading to find out!

    ice cream makers, including automatic compressor, KitchenAid ice cream maker attachment, and Chef'n Sweet Spot maker

    1. Ice Cream Maker

    Although you can mix up your ice cream with just a large mixing bowl and whisk, you will need some sort of machine to churn it. Here are a few options…

    Automatic Compressor Ice Cream Maker

    If you want a dump-and-go, high-quality experience, then this ice cream maker is for you. This compressor ice cream maker is prized for its ease of use and silky smooth ice cream; it’s about as automatic as it gets.

    One of the most popular models is the Breville Smart Scoop ice cream maker.

    • Not only does this machine feature 12 consistency settings, but it’s also possible to make sorbet, frozen yogurt, and gelato in addition to ice cream.
    • It has a pre-chill function.
    • It can cool your ice cream for up to 3 hours.

    That said, there’s still a catch. This machine is not at all budget-friendly, and it’s fairly small at a 1.1 quarts capacity; however, many die-hard fans would argue that it is well worth its weight in just the savings in time alone. It’s fully automatic, no hassle involved.

    Freezer Bowl Ice Cream Maker

    If you’re looking for an easy going ice cream maker that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg, you may just consider buying this Cuisinart Cool Creations ice cream maker. It’s mostly automatic, and all it requires is a working freezer!

    Making ice cream with a freezer bowl ice cream maker is super easy. Simply pre-chill the double-walled freezer bowl in the deep freeze for at least 6 hours; then pour your ice cream mixture into the bowl, churning it with a paddle until the desired consistency is reached.

    KitchenAid Ice Cream Maker Attachment

    The KitchenAid ice cream maker attachment for the stand mixer uses a 2 quart freezer bowl that works in much the same manner as the freezer bowl ice cream maker mentioned above.

    It’s recommended that you place the bowl in the deepest, coldest part of your deep freeze for at least 15 hours. After this, simply fill the frozen bowl with your ice cream mixture and let it churn on the stand mixer until a desired consistency is reached.

    The advantage to this method is that, provided you already own a KitchenAid stand mixer, a stand-alone ice cream maker isn’t needed. So, this attachment exhibits a much smaller footprint as compared to any other ice cream maker on the list.

    However, one disadvantage is that it won’t keep the ice cream cold, so it’s important to get your finished ice cream into the freezer as soon as possible in order to prevent melting.

    Chef’n Sweet Spot Ice Cream Maker

    The Chef’n Sweet Spot ice cream maker is, by far, the best ice cream maker for kids. It’s SO easy, and it takes practically no time at all!

    Again, this product features a small freezer bowl that is stored in the deep freeze for roughly 24 hours, and it’s designed to make roughly 1-2 servings for the average consumer. Once the bowl is frozen, pour your chilled ice cream mixture into the bowl, scooping and turning the mixture on the fast-freezing pan surface until a desired consistency is reached.

    With this ice cream maker, it’s also possible to make rolled ice cream. Simply use a soft scraper to roll the ice cream into your desired shapes. It’s a fun, unique method of making ice cream that your guests will love!

    Old-Fashioned Hand-Crank Ice Cream Maker

    Who needs a gym when you can buy this blast from the past? Make your ice cream like Grandpa made it– with lots of elbow grease and dedication. For me, it’s really nostalgic.

    I’ve always thought it would be fun to find an antique hand-crank ice cream maker, but you may check out this Immergood stainless steel ice cream maker with triple layer, leak-free construction. No, it’s not cheap provided its fairly limited capabilities, but if well-cared for, it will very likely outlast you and everyone you know!

    I can see a hand-crank ice cream maker as really standing out in a party setting. What if everybody at the event took turns cranking the ice cream churner? Yeah? No? It could definitely be a fun, memory-making experience for all involved.

    Old-Fashioned Electric Ice Cream Maker

    This old-fashioned Nostalgia electric bucket ice cream maker is actually quite similar to our own machine! It features an easy-to-carry handle for fast transport, and it can make up to 4 quarts of ice cream in one batch. That’s plenty for the average family.

    I may be set in my ways, but this is, by far, my preferred ice cream maker; I’ve actually written quite extensively on old-fashioned ice cream makers. If this at all interests you, check out my Old-Fashioned Ice Cream Maker Guide.

    While it’s not the most sophisticated and maybe not the easiest ice cream maker to use, I prefer and embrace the dependable simplicity of this design.

    Oneida stainless steel ice cream scoop

    2. Ice Cream Scoop

    There are so many ice cream scoops on the market that sometimes it can be hard to choose. Most people have no knowledge of the different types and styles of scoops, all of which serve a unique purpose.

    • For example, If ice cream has at all melted, it can form a very hard, icy crust on the surface when refrozen. It’s in this situation that I prefer this OXO Good Grips ice cream spade, which, as the name implies, can effectively dig right through that crusty surface.
    • Better yet, if you really want to get fancy, check out this cool ice cream shovel and spade kit. These tools feature unique wooden handles for added comfort and aesthetic.
    • Once you break through that crust and gain access to the softer ice cream below, you can use something like this heavy duty heavy duty ice cream scoop to form those perfectly rounded scoops that most people desire.
    • Similar to the heavy duty ice cream scoop listed above, you might also like this Spring Chef ice cream scoop due to its more comfortable rubber handle for better grip and performance.
    • Last but not least, I really love this Oneida stainless steel ice cream scoop for its speedy, trigger-release design. This sort of ice cream scoop may not be quite as durable as some of its above-mentioned counterparts, but with proper care it can really speed things up. In fact, this scoop really stands out at an ice cream social, allowing its user to work much faster and far more efficiently.
    ice cream cone bowls with spoons

    3. Dessert Bowls and Spoons

    Ice cream can be served in any bowl, and any old spoon will work. I really like these long-handled dessert spoons. For formal occasions, you might look at something like these Turkish ice cream spades– so neat!

    Again, it’s entirely up to you and/or the party theme. That said, for special occasions, you may desire something a bit more decorative…

    • I really love this insulated ice cream bowl. This nifty bowl is double-walled with an insulated, freezable gel in between; once frozen, it’s crazy effective at preventing the dreaded ice cream melt! It allows you to take your time eating – there’s no need to rush!
    • Porcelain ice cream bowls, as found in this colorful decorative porcelain bowl set, are refined and hardened at very high temperatures, resulting in a very strong serving dish that doesn’t absorb odors.
    • Then there’s ceramic bowls, like this cheerful tulip-shaped ceramic bowl set. Although ceramic bowls are not as durable as porcelain, they are much stronger than glass, and they often cost less.
    • Of course, all bowls are breakable when kids are present. In this situation, it’s hard to beat this set of ice cream cone bowls with spoons. I know my Zeke would love these!
    • Many people prefer a custard cup for their ice cream. I think these ramekin custard cups would work very well in a party setting!
    • For an ice cream parlor look, check out these glass tulip sundae cups, or even these ceramic tulip sundae cups.
    • Last but not least, I LOVE these cool ice cream cone cups. Wouldn’t they just be perfect for an ice cream social or get-together?
    small ice cream storage tubs with colorful lids

    4. Storage Containers and Tubs

    The most important rule in preserving ice cream is that you should never let it melt. Pull it out for only as long as it takes to scoop out your serving, and quickly place it back into the deep freeze.

    Freshly-churned ice cream should be placed in the freezer as soon as possible; it will melt with any sudden increase in temperature.

    It’s also essential that you store it in an airtight container. Plastic is preferable, as it freezes faster than any other material.

    • I’m a big fan of these small, rectangular ice cream storage tubs. Their size and shape can easily fit into most freezer spaces. I also like these little personal-sized mini ice cream storage tubs for smaller batches.
    • These airtight, 1-gallon storage tubs work great for larger batches of ice cream. They also happen to have plastic handles for easy transfer!
    • All that said, you can use any airtight food storage container, glass or plastic. Don’t think you have to go out and buy something special if you already have a food-grade container on hand. In fact, we like to wash and reuse old tubs that we save back from the occasional splurge on store-bought ice cream!
    waffle cone maker

    5. Waffle Cone Maker

    Homemade waffle cones are a must-have when making ice cream at home. In fact, I know some people that won’t eat ice cream without one!

    Unfortunately, it’s not possible to use a regular waffle maker to make ice cream cones. The grid-pattern holes are simply too deep, and it would be next to impossible to roll up the cones as is necessary.

    With the right machine, they’re easy to make, and they don’t take long at all. This is a great, fun way to get the kids into the kitchen, with supervision of course. Those waffle makers get hot!

    • For a budget-friendly option, check out this MasterChef ice cream cone maker. It comes with both a cone and bowl shaper, and it features 100% nonstick heating plates for easy cleanup. This ice cream cone maker would make great summer entertainment, parties, and even gift giving!
    • Then there’s the CucinaPro ice cream cone maker. Like the MasterChef, this one comes with both a cone and a bowl shaper. It can cook an ice cream cone in under 2 minutes, and, like the MasterChef, it features nonstick heating plates. Did I mention that it’s cheap?
    • The VEVOR ice cream cone maker is a real step-up from either aforementioned models. This restaurant model is constructed of durable stainless steel, and it has adjustable time and temperature control. Again, it features nonstick heating plates for easy cleanup. This one would be perfect for an ice cream social or party!
    ice cream sandwich maker with homemade ice cream sandwiches

    6. Ice Cream Sandwich Maker

    These nifty little contraptions can make life a lot easier when making gluten-free ice cream sandwiches or just homemade ice cream sandwiches in general. There’s no need to cut out the cookies by hand– just use the mold!

    • This simple ice cream sandwich cutter allows you to cut out your cookies with ease. You can even press a desired design into the cookie as you cut!
    • With this Chef’n mini ice cream sandwich maker, you can bake the cookies inside of a provided silicone mold. Then, fill it with ice cream and freeze; it’s that easy! It makes 10 miniature round ice cream sandwiches.
    • If you want regular size, the Chef’n ice cream sandwich maker allows you to bake the cookies right in the silicone mold, then fill with ice cream and freeze. It makes 4 regular-sized ice cream sandwiches.
    • If you really want to get fancy, check out this electric ice cream sandwich maker. You can bake your pre-shaped cookies in a matter of seconds!
    rainbow ice cream sprinkles, dessert sprinkle mix

    7. Ice Cream Toppings and Sprinkles

    Whether you’re just making a personal-sized batch of ice cream, or you’re hosting an ice cream social or even making it for a church potluck, you’ll want toppings. Here are some ideas as to what you can put on ice cream to switch things up when making it at home. These optional add-ins can really make a difference!

    You may consider making an old-fashioned ice cream banana split, or you can even whip up this delicious hot fudge sundae in a jiffy!

    Most importantly, be creative! When it comes to ice cream, the sky’s the limit.

    stainless steel milkshake mixer

    8. Milkshake Mixer

    Of all the different ways to serve ice cream, I think it’s hard to beat a good homemade vanilla milkshake. It’s just so easy to make!

    You can definitely make some of the best milkshakes with just a blender, but many people prefer to buy a milkshake mixer simply for the savings in time. The same people will often argue that a good milkshake maker can produce a much higher quality, more consistent and more flavorful dessert!

    • I’m loving this Hamilton Beach DrinkMaster milkshake mixer. Complete with a roomy 28oz. mixing cup for plenty of ice cream, this milkshake mixer features 2 speeds, allowing you to blend and mix by preference, in order to obtain the perfect texture. It’s easy-to-clean, and the detachable spindle is even dishwasher-safe!
    • Another great milkshake mixer is this Brentwood classic milkshake maker. Although it’s a bit of a step down with its mere 15oz. mixing cup, it does have a high and low speed; it only requires 2 minutes to make a milkshake, on average! Plus, look at the price. This is a fantastic option for those that don’t have a lot of money to spend.
    • Then there’s the VEVOR milkshake maker kit. It’s a bit more expensive, but it may well be worth the extra cash. This milkshake mixer features an 800ml cup, a durable stainless steel design, and an adjustable 2 speed, 180-watt full copper motor. It even features a lotus leaf corrugated mixing head for 360º rotation, which makes for a more consistent, better tasting milkshake.
    ultimate ice cream party kit from Williams Sonoma

    9. Ice Cream Social Supplies

    I have a feeling that most people reading this post are likely preparing for an ice cream social or ice cream party, or maybe you’re just looking to make enough ice cream for a large gathering! Either way, this section is for you.

    • Regardless of what flavors you decide to serve, you’ll want to give people a choice of toppings. Going off of my list of toppings above, try making an all-you-can-eat toppings buffet with this ice cooled condiment caddy!
    • Better yet, make a DIY ice cream sundae bar with the Ultimate Ice Cream Party Kit from Williams Sonoma.
    • Many people pre-scoop the ice cream into individual dishes that are bedded down in a shallow, ice-filled bucket for a chilling display.
    • You can add a decorative touch to the sundae bar by displaying this chalkboard menu with all of the available ice cream flavors and toppings listed.
    • For decorative style, I recommend sticking to pastel colors and gold accents. Why not simplify the whole process with this ice cream party decorations kit?
    • You may opt for using easy-clean dishes. When it comes to an ice cream social, clean-up will probably be the worst part. There is no shame in using disposable bowls and spoons!

    Play fun party games!

    • To add on to the all-you-can-eat buffet mentioned above, try making an ice cream toppings bar scavenger hunt! You can hide all of the ingredients around the party space, except the ice cream of course, as it needs to stay frozen.
    • Perform a blind ice cream taste test. Whoever guesses correctly the most amount of times is declared the winner!
    • Hold an ice cream eating contest! Set the players down at the table, blindfolded and/or with their hands behind their back. Who can eat the most?
    • Host a contest for who can make the best ice cream (or sundae). Have judges and everything, just like at the county fair.
    • Have an ice cream sundae relay game! The goal is for each team to gather the necessary ingredients and build a sundae in as short amount of time as possible.
    homemade ice cream recipe book cookbook by Robin Donovan

    10. Ice Cream Cookbooks

    If you’re really serious about getting good at making ice cream, you’ll inevitably want to find some cookbooks. So, here you go.

    Listed below are some of my favorite ice cream cookbooks, some of which even have recipes for extras like cones, toppings, and sauces

    Ice Cream Recipes You Can Make

    [wprm-recipe-roundup-item id=”39912″ name=”Old Fashioned Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream Recipe” summary=”<p>Our homemade vanilla ice cream recipe has been a summer staple for as long as I can remember. How to make it the old fashioned way using an ice cream maker.</p>”] [wprm-recipe-roundup-item link=”https://flouronmyfingers.com/old-fashioned-homemade-peach-ice-cream/” name=”Homemade Peach Ice Cream” summary=”<p>Whip up the best homemade peach ice cream in an ice cream maker. No cook, it's an easy dessert you can make with fresh or frozen fruit.</p>” image=”53037″] [wprm-recipe-roundup-item id=”40654″ name=”Grasshopper Sundae” summary=”<p>Make a decadent grasshopper sundae with mint chocolate chip ice cream and Oreo cookies in minutes. Delicious last minute dessert recipe!</p>”] [wprm-recipe-roundup-item id=”40934″ name=”Old-Fashioned Homemade Strawberry Ice Cream” summary=”<p>Strawberry ice cream was always a special treat growing up in my family. We made our favorite frozen dessert for summertime get togethers and church ice cream socials. How to make old-fashioned homemade strawberry ice cream using an ice cream maker.</p>”] [wprm-recipe-roundup-item id=”40804″ name=”Old-Fashioned Homemade Banana Ice Cream” summary=”<p>How to make homemade banana ice cream, my favorite frozen dessert recipe ever. Easy to make, it's chock full of creamy fresh banana flavor!</p>”] [wprm-recipe-roundup-item id=”57051″ name=”Raw Milk Ice Cream” summary=”<p>How to make the best raw milk ice cream with just 5 simple ingredients, including raw milk but no eggs. Easy recipe with rich vanilla flavor.</p>” button=”Get the Recipe”] [wprm-recipe-roundup-item id=”57292″ name=”Old-Fashioned Homemade Chocolate Ice Cream” summary=”<p>How to make the best old-fashioned homemade chocolate ice cream (no eggs) recipe. Easy, machine churned, delicious chocolaty flavor.</p>” button=”Get the Recipe”] [wprm-recipe-roundup-item id=”57143″ name=”Homemade Butterfinger Ice Cream” summary=”<p>Mix and freeze an easy recipe for homemade butterfinger ice cream that's oh so creamy and rich, full of buttery vanilla flavor, and filled to the gills with crushed chocolate Butterfinger candies. It's a family favorite homemade ice cream recipe.</p>” button=”Get the Recipe”] [wprm-recipe-roundup-item id=”57205″ name=”Easy Mint Oreo Ice Cream” summary=”<p>Make mint Oreo ice cream in 30 minutes. Nostalgic recipe filled with peppermint flavor and crushed Oreo cookies. Quick, easy, and eggless!</p>” button=”Get the Recipe”] [wprm-recipe-roundup-item id=”59984″ name=”Fruity Pebbles Ice Cream” summary=”<p>How to make homemade Fruity Pebbles ice cream with a rainbow of flavors. Easy cereal milk ice cream recipe you can make to eat in 30 minutes.</p>” button=”Get the Recipe”]

    I always appreciate your feedback. Be sure to leave a comment, and follow me on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. You can subscribe to my email list too.

  • How to Make a Weekly Meal Plan from Your Pantry

    How to Make a Weekly Meal Plan from Your Pantry

    Easy tips and frugal ideas for how to make a weekly meal plan from your pantry and freezer. Free printable menu planner and one week of dinner recipes.

    There was a time when deciding what to eat for dinner really put a damper in productivity around this house. And not having a family meal planner took its toll on our grocery budget too.

    writing dinner ideas on a weekly meal plan with rainbow colored pencil

    These days, I plan a menu every single week and post it to the fridge. And if I’m late a day getting it up there, it really throws my family off track; that’s how much they’ve come to depend on it.

    Planning and eating out of our pantry and freezer is easier with a working pantry because we’re constantly using and replenishing those foods we’ve stocked.

    There are a lot of reasons why everyone should know how to plan a weekly menu.

    WHY MENU PLAN?

    1. We’re not guessing what everyone wants for dinner. We have a plan and we stick to it, no need to stand in front of the fridge wondering what’s for dinner.
    2. It saves money. Planning a menu and grocery list allows us to stay within our budget, and we stick to the list while grocery shopping.
    3. It motivates us to eat healthier. We hardly ever eat out because of certain dietary needs and for financial reasons too. We’re able to plan bits and pieces of things we can all eat into the menu.

    WATCH MY VIDEO TO SEE HOW I PLAN MY MENU

    HOW TO MAKE A WEEKLY MEAL PLAN

    I’ve learned a lot working on our menu plans the last few years. These are some of the tips for menu planning I’ve been able to implement and use every single week.

    Keep reading and you can get your own copy of our free printable meal planner.

    weekly menu planner printable with pencil, eraser, grocery list on notebook paper, and Happy Planner
    • Use a printable weekly menu planner like the one I provide below (pictured above). That way you can post it to your fridge or in whatever place you and your family are more likely to see it every day.
    • Before starting to plan meals, check your calendar or planner for meetings, activities, and busier days that week. You probably want to stick to easy meals on those busier days.
    • Ask your family what they’d like to eat that week. When I ask my family, I usually only have to come up with maybe 2 meals because they give me ideas for the rest. Easy peasy!
    • Try to cook at least 1 new meal if you have the ingredients. Broaden your culinary horizons. PRO TIP: Keep a secret Pinterest board for weekly menu ideas!
    • Only plan meals you and your family will enjoy eating. If you’re excited about it, you’re more likely to stick to the plan and not deviate by ordering takeout or getting fast food.
    • Be sure to take into account both your family’s dietary needs and your budget.
    • Take inventory of your pantry and freezer, and only plan meals for ingredients you have on hand. (And then plan to replenish those freezer and pantry staples.)
    • Think about leftovers… How can you stretch leftovers to make more meals?
    • Use a pencil so you can be more flexible, move meals around, etc.
    • Save old menus for inspiration, meal ideas, etc.
    woman taking inventory of pantry staples with pencil and notebook in home working pantry

    LET’S TALK ABOUT WAYS TO STRETCH LEFTOVERS

    I love to take certain foods and stretch them into 2 or 3 meals. For instance, a whole chicken…

    If you cook a whole chicken, you can ration how much everyone eats; then take the leftovers and make chicken salad or chicken tacos or creamy chicken enchiladas or maybe a sheet pan of loaded chicken nachos.

    Cook a pork roast, and you can make pulled pork or pulled pork pot pie. Same with roast beef.

    Think of ways you can creatively use leftovers to stretch your food supply to its maximum benefit and use.

    CREATE YOUR GROCERY LIST

    When pantry meal planning, you really want to try to replenish what you use on a regular or occasional basis. I say occasional because you may want to take advantage of certain sales or coupons in order to replenish.

    Now the bottom of my printable weekly menu below has a little spot for groceries. It’s not for a full on grocery list but rather to add things to the list that you open up or run out of that week, so you can add those to your master grocery list and replenish those things.

    For actual full on grocery lists, I sometimes keep a magnet notepad on the fridge; I can just tear off a sheet. Or I’ll just use a piece of notebook paper. My Field Notes are another favorite addition to my purse and wallet.

    When planning out my grocery list, I write it out by department in my store, starting with produce and working my way back through the store. That way when I’m shopping, I can go thru the store more easily and efficiently, adding items to my cart while I’m in each particular department.

    grocery list with family meal planner, on notebook paper

    I also add what I need to replenish to my list, unless I’m waiting for a sale on said item; and if so, I’ll hold off on purchasing that particular item.

    HOW TO ORDER GROCERIES

    While I prefer to go to the store myself, there are times when it’s just not possible. And that’s when you can take advantage of different services that may be offered in your area, whether they’re order online and pick up or order for delivery.

    woman using iPhone app, Instacart, to order groceries online

    Some of these services include the following:

    Great Meals to Add to Your Menu

    Recipes for easy meal planning, using fresh ingredients, canned goods, or ingredients from the freezer. Great ideas for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

    [wprm-recipe-roundup-item id=”41124″ summary=”<p>Simplify mornings with a quick and easy homemade maple brown sugar oatmeal. Dairy free Instant Pot oatmeal recipe using rolled oats and real maple syrup.</p>”] [wprm-recipe-roundup-item id=”41082″ summary=”<p>Make ahead a large batch recipe for peaches and cream Instant Pot oatmeal, and start mornings with a family favorite, kid approved homemade breakfast!</p>”] [wprm-recipe-roundup-item id=”41106″ summary=”<p>How to make the most delicious homemade chicken fried rice in a wok. Quick and easy stir fry dinner recipe that's so much better than takeout!</p>”] [wprm-recipe-roundup-item id=”40786″ summary=”<p>How to make an easy Instant Pot Chicken Noodle Soup you can depend on, sick or not. Add to your stash of easy chicken recipes!</p>”] [wprm-recipe-roundup-item id=”41845″ name=”Easy Crock Pot French Toast Casserole” summary=”<p>Whip up a Crock Pot French toast casserole you can make ahead or same day. Easy slow cooker breakfast recipe for a crowd. Make it regular or gluten free!</p>”] [wprm-recipe-roundup-item id=”41108″ name=”Easy Bisquick Cinnamon Biscuits” summary=”<p>Craving Hardees cinnamon raisin biscuits? Make your own with this simple and easy recipe for Bisquick cinnamon biscuits, the perfect breakfast sweet treats!</p>”] [wprm-recipe-roundup-item id=”42058″ name=”Melt-in-Your-Mouth Bisquick Cinnamon Muffins” summary=”<p>Mix up a quick batch of Bisquick cinnamon muffins, dipped in butter and cinnamon sugar. Simple and easy, melt-in-your-mouth, breakfast and brunch recipe!</p>”] [wprm-recipe-roundup-item id=”41084″ summary=”<p>How to make a deliciously easy French toast casserole, a make ahead recipe that's perfect for a crowd and makes a quick breakfast on busy mornings.</p>”] [wprm-recipe-roundup-item id=”41917″ summary=”<p>How to make Instant Pot meatloaf and potatoes at the same time. Easy, one pot, ground beef dinner recipe, served with the best mashed potatoes!</p>”] [wprm-recipe-roundup-item id=”41122″ summary=”<p>Make an easy Instant Pot vegetable soup with potatoes, okra, and other frozen veggies. Healthy pressure cooker recipe the whole family will love!</p>”] [wprm-recipe-roundup-item id=”41092″ summary=”<p>How to make a classic tater tot casserole with ground beef, vegetables, and mushroom soup. Easy delicious dinner recipe you can make ahead and freeze.</p>”] [wprm-recipe-roundup-item id=”40940″ name=”Easy Meatloaf Recipe with Oatmeal” summary=”<p>How to make the best meatloaf recipe with oatmeal and ground beef. Simple, easy, delicious dinner idea that's quick to mix up. Recipe with how to video!</p>”] [wprm-recipe-roundup-item id=”40846″ summary=”<p>Homemade Pasta Sauce for spaghetti, lasagna, and other favorite pasta dishes. Simple ingredients and delicious flavor, good with meat or go meatless!</p>”] [wprm-recipe-roundup-item id=”40870″ summary=”<p>Creamy Potato Corn Chowder with bacon and cheddar is so easy to make. Hearty soup that makes a cozy weeknight meal the whole family will love!</p>”] [wprm-recipe-roundup-item id=”40788″ summary=”<p>Chilly nights call for a nice hot bowl of homemade chili to warm your heart and soul. Print an easy Instant Pot chili recipe! Best served with cornbread and a dollop of sour cream.</p>”] [wprm-recipe-roundup-item id=”40826″ summary=”<p>White chicken chili in the slow cooker makes an easy family meal. Filled with vegetables, white beans, chicken, green chiles, and cheese.</p>”]

    Grab Your Free Printable Menu Planner!

    WHAT TO READ NEXT…

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    how to plan a weekly meal plan, weekly menu planner printable, and woman in pantry taking inventory of stock
  • Easy Homemade Cleaning Wipes with 3 Ingredients

    Easy Homemade Cleaning Wipes with 3 Ingredients

    How to make homemade cleaning wipes with just 3 ingredients and half a roll of paper towels. The best DIY Clorox wipes for kitchens, bathrooms, and more.

    These all purpose wipes have been my go to cleaning wipes for years. I use them for quick cleanup in the kitchen or on floors, for cleaning the bathrooms, to wipe my washer and dryer down, and more. We even take them camping with us.

    hand pulling homemade cleaning wipes made with paper towels out of clear plastic container

    Please note: These wipes are NOT meant to replace disinfectants or disinfectant wipes. I can’t speak to their effectiveness against bacteria, viruses, fungus, etc. I use them every day as one way to clean different areas of my own home and love them. So naturally, I wanted to share them with you.

    For years I bought regular Clorox wipes at the store, and that got to be quite expensive because we’d go through a tub of wipes in no time at all. They also weren’t the best wipes to bring into our home.

    When I started using Thieves household cleaner and tea tree oil, I found a better, more natural way to clean, free of harmful chemicals; and I found a way to save us a significant amount of money every month by making our own Thieves wipes.

    These DIY cleaning wipes require only 3 ingredients to make, along with a half roll of paper towels. They’re easy to keep up with making, and I keep tubs all over my house, in the bathrooms, laundry room right off the kitchen, etc.

    If you’re into making your own stuff, you’ll definitely love my homemade baby wipes recipe too. And these no rinse body wipes are absolutely perfect for when you just can’t get a shower.

    [mv_video doNotAutoplayNorOptimizePlacement=”false” doNotOptimizePlacement=”false” jsonLd=”true” key=”aifhcbpftyf8agkf5pcx” sticky=”false” thumbnail=”https://mediavine-res.cloudinary.com/v1584451355/prkzhej5peiqczjgelm7.jpg” title=”Easy Homemade Cleaning Wipes with 3 Ingredients” volume=”100″]

    WHERE CAN I FIND THE ACTUAL HOW-TO CARD?

    If you’d rather skip all of my wipe making tips, important info, and similar kitchen/household tips – and get straight to the natural cleaning wipes recipe – just scroll down to the bottom, where you’ll find a printable how-to card, with a longer video.

    INGREDIENTS AND SUPPLIES YOU’LL NEED:

    Remember, all of the ingredient amounts you’ll need are in the printable how-to card below.

    TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT YOU’LL NEED:

    Glass Measuring Cups – make it super easy to measure out the liquids.

    Knife and Cutting Board – for cutting the paper towel roll in half.

    Sealable Container – to hold your wipes.

    FIRST LET’S TALK ABOUT THE PAPER TOWELS

    It really doesn’t matter what kind of paper towels you use to make DIY wipes, but I do recommend a higher quality paper towel.

    In the past, I recommended Viva brand because it makes durable yet soft cleaning wipes. But now I use the (more affordable) Member’s Mark brand from Sam’s Club, and they work great.

    Thieves wipes ingredients, including paper towels, Thieves Household Cleaner, and Young Living Tea Tree oil on white countertop

    If you can find whole paper towels without select-a-size, it’s better. But again, my towels have select-a-size, and they work just fine. I just prefer to use 2 select-a-size wipes at a time, same as a whole wipe, so it’s a bit thicker when cleaning.

    HOW TO MAKE HOMEMADE CLEANING WIPES

    It’s really easy to make your own Thieves wipes.

    1. Cut a paper towel roll in half.
    2. Add warm water to a sealable container.
    3. Pour Thieves Household Cleaner into the water.
    4. Then add in the tea tree oil.
    5. Stir the mixture together well.
    6. Drop one half of the paper towel roll, cut side down, into the liquid cleaning mixture, and place the lid on your container.
    steps for how to make homemade cleaning wipes with paper towels, water, Thieves Household Cleaner, Tea Tree Oil, and a sealable container

    Make sure all the liquid has soaked up into the paper towels before trying to use the wipes. To do this, I like to turn the container upside down, but this isn’t absolutely necessary.

    natural cleaning wipes sitting upside down in a sealable container on white countertop 'til liquid cleaning mixture soaks into the paper towels

    Once your paper towels are fully soaked, remove the cardboard tube, and your homemade, all-purpose wipes are ready to go!

    hand pulling natural cleaning wipes out of plastic sealable container

    They really do make the best homemade bathroom wipes or kitchen cleaning wipes, perfect for a camping kitchen too!

    IMPORTANT NOTE:

    These wipes are NOT meant to replace disinfectants or disinfectant wipes. I can’t speak to their effectiveness against bacteria, viruses, fungus, etc. I use them every day as one way to clean different areas of my own home and love them. So naturally, I wanted to share them with you.

    These wipes are not meant for cleaning any part of your body. They’re also not meant to be used as baby wipes. If you need body wipes, here is my body wipes recipe; if you need baby wipes, here is my baby wipes recipe.

    GET THE PRINTABLE RECIPE

    If you love this homemade wipes recipe as much as I do, please write a 5 star review, and help me share the recipe on Facebook and Pinterest!

    easy homemade cleaning wipes recipe and how-to

    WANT MORE KITCHEN TIPS AND TOOLS? Subscribe to my newsletter, and follow along on Pinterest, Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram for all the latest updates!

    Easy Homemade Cleaning Wipes with Just 3 Ingredients

    How to make homemade cleaning wipes with just 3 ingredients and half a roll of paper towels. The best DIY Clorox wipes for kitchens, bathrooms, and more.

    • Cutting Board
    • Knife
    • Glass Measuring Cup
    • Sealable Container
    • 1/2 roll paper towels*
    • 1 3/4 cup warm water
    • 1 ounce Thieves Household Cleaner
    • 10 drops Tea Tree Oil
    1. Cut a paper towel roll in half.
    2. Add warm water to a sealable container.
    3. Pour Thieves Household Cleaner into the water.
    4. Then add in the tea tree oil.
    5. Stir the mixture together well.
    6. Drop one half of the paper towel roll, cut side down, into the liquid cleaning mixture, and place the lid on your container.
    7. Make sure all the liquid has soaked up into the paper towels before trying to use the wipes. To do this, I like to turn the container upside down, but this isn’t absolutely necessary.
    8. Once your paper towels are fully soaked, remove the cardboard tube, and your homemade, all-purpose wipes are ready to go!

    *It really doesn’t matter what kind of paper towels you use to make DIY Clorox wipes, but I do recommend a higher quality paper towel. In the past, I recommended Viva brand because it makes durable yet soft cleaning wipes. But now I use the Member’s Mark brand from Sam’s Club, and they work great. If you can find whole paper towels without select-a-size, it’s better. But again, my towels have select-a-size, and they work just fine. I just prefer to use 2 select-a-size wipes at a time, same as a whole wipe, so it’s a bit thicker when cleaning.

    IMPORTANT NOTE:

    These wipes are NOT meant to replace disinfectants or disinfectant wipes. I can’t speak to their effectiveness against bacteria, viruses, fungus, etc. I use them every day as one way to clean different areas of my own home and love them. So naturally, I wanted to share them with you.

    These wipes are not meant for cleaning any part of your body. They’re also not meant to be used as baby wipes.

    MORE HOMEMADE WIPES RECIPES:

    Kitchen Tips & Tools
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  • Working Prepper Pantry List with Guide to Stocking

    Working Prepper Pantry List with Guide to Stocking

    Ultimate working prepper pantry list with tips and guide for how to stockpile food and household items, both for survival and everyday use. Learn how to organize and store items, so your family is ready for whatever situation you face, whether it’s an emergency, illness, or natural disaster. Free printable checklist!

    For a long time, Dan and I have both wanted to spend some time stocking our survival pantry and household supplies that have a long shelf life. We’ve always stockpiled to a small degree, but we’ve wanted to take it further.

    working prepper pantry full of shelf-stable canned food and supplies

    One thing or another has kept us from really jumping all in, whether it’s keeping our finances in order or actually having the time to plan and implement.

    Like I said, I’ve always had this tendency to keep a little stockpile of things we use on a regular basis. I’m pretty sure my growing up on a farm has a lot to do with my habits, and I count that as a good thing.

    Why Everyone Needs a Preppers Pantry

    There are so many reasons to keep a working pantry full of survival foods and household supplies you use on a daily basis.

    • An illness could keep you stuck at home for awhile.
    • A natural disaster scenario with widespread power outages.
    • Think spring storms with the threat of power outages.
    • You or your significant other could experience a job loss.
    • It’s possible we could experience food shortages in the near future.

    You name it, a prepper’s pantry is a really good idea all ’round. We’ve personally experienced power outages, job loss, and illnesses that have kept us from getting out to the store. Life happens, and it’s good to be prepared, so your family has peace of mind and enough food to last an extended period of time.

    So how can you get started, and what kinds of things do you need to stock up on? What even is a working pantry? And how do you do all this on a budget? I’m going to answer all of these questions and more as you keep reading.

    You’ll also find a FREE PRINTABLE PREPPER PANTRY LIST and a VIDEO OF OUR OWN WORKING PANTRY toward the bottom of this post.

    Need to know how to make a weekly meal plan from your pantry? <– I’ve gotcha covered!

    What Is a Working Prepper Pantry?

    First you need to know the difference between a working pantry and an emergency pantry. And then you can decide which is right for you.

    An emergency pantry is basically a side stash you collect for emergency situations and emergency use only. Many prepper pantries function like this.

    A working pantry, on the other hand, is a pantry you stash with all the foods and supplies you use on a regular basis, and you use a rotation system, so nothing is wasted.

    By rotation system, I mean you’re constantly pushing older things to the front and putting new replacement items in the back, so older foods are used up first.

    emergency food supply, including canned vegetables, canned fruit, and more

    We’ve always kept a working pantry, and we knew right from the start, that’s the kind of pantry we wanted to continue to build. With family members that have special dietary needs, like diet-controlled diabetes and a gluten intolerance, it’s important that we stock the kinds of foods we can eat without literally dying or living in misery.

    We also didn’t want to waste one can, one crumb, or one nutritious morsel of food. When we’re constantly rotating and using the foods we collect, that pretty much ensures that nothing will go to waste.

    How to Stock a Pantry for the First Time

    How to even get started and how to stock a pantry on a budget are both questions that demand answers when you’re just getting started.

    Getting started is easy as long as you have paper and pencil. I actually have a little notebook (or Field Notes) I use, as well as my Notes app on my phone. Both help me keep track of what we need to continuously stock and things that are running low.

    Go through your cabinets, as well as your fridge and freezer. Compile a list of all the foods and supplies you use on a regular basis.

    I’m talking food and non-food items, including meats, vegetables, dry ingredients, spices and seasonings, medicines, cleaners, paper products, water, other drinks, essential oils if you use them, etc.

    Even if some of the foods are frozen, you may be able to start collecting things that are shelf-stable in their place. For instance, frozen/fresh chicken… You can start collecting canned chicken in its place (or better yet, can your own).

    Think about how much food and supplies your family use in any given week, and write that number down next to the item. Multiply that by the number of weeks in a month, and you know how much you need for a month’s supply, which in turn, will help you figure out how to stock a pantry for a year.

    best survival food like home canned applesauce, evaporated milk, and honey on white shelves

    Building a well-stocked prepper pantry may seem overwhelming at first, but just take baby steps. Speaking of which…

    How to Stockpile on a Budget

    Whether you’re trying to stock up on a budget, or you’ve come into a windfall of extra money, there are specific ways you can scrimp and save to make the process less painful on your bank account.

    • Take a small part of your weekly grocery budget, and dedicate it to stocking your pantry.
    • Shop at Aldi or other grocery discount stores. We find some of the best deals on canned food at Aldi.
    • Watch sales and BOGO offers at ALL your local grocery stores. This will require going to more than one local grocery store.
    • Watch instant savings or discounts at big box club stores, like Costco and Sam’s Club. They often have sales, where if you buy so many of one item, you acquire a significant discount.
    • Compare Amazon Prime Pantry prices to local prices. Our oldest, Jacob, makes all his own bread, and one way I’ve found to more affordably get his bread flour (when it’s in stock), is to order a Pantry box from Amazon.
    • Use coupons if you can get your hands on them.
    • While I haven’t personally tried this, my neighbor sometimes finds “damaged” deals on Amazon, where she’ll get a big package of something that has been slightly damaged, but still usable, and is significantly discounted.
    • If you get a Christmas bonus or a tax refund, or maybe you’re self-employed and have a really good month… Take a small part of those earnings, and invest them. I say invest because this truly is an investment into your own, as well as your family’s, health and well-being.
    • Sell something to stock your pantry. Just about everyone has things just lying around the house they could likely sell that would help them get a good start.
    • Think about food preservation strategies you can implement. You can also garden and grow food to can, but gardening takes money too.

    It’s important to figure out what will work for you and your family without causing undue strife or stress.

    And now we get to the meat of this post (no pun intended).

    What Foods Should You Store for Survival?

    Now your list of foods may look slightly different from mine because of our family’s partial dietary needs (diet-controlled diabetes and a gluten intolerance). But for the most part, the foods on this list are survival foods every prepper should have in their pantry.

    shelf-stable canned foods and survival foods in cabinet, including crushed tomatoes, green beans, oats, and dried fruit

    Think long-term and shelf-stable. You want to stock basic pantry staples, essentials, and foods that last the longest.

    Meats and Proteins

    You can purchase different types of canned meats over time, or you can actually preserve and can your own beef, deer meat or venison, chicken, etc.

    Vegetables and Fruits

    Beans and Legumes

    • White rice – White rice will keep almost indefinitely, so it’s a much more shelf-stable food to choose over brown rice, which will only keep for up to six months.
    • Dry beans – Again, we don’t eat a ton of rice and beans, but it’s always good to have a supply of both because they’re very sustainable.

    Fats

    Spices and Seasonings

    • Sea salt
    • Ground black pepper
    • Seasoning salt
    • Any other types of seasonings you use and enjoy, including and especially Badia seasonings.

    Grains and Flours

    Baking Ingredients

    popcorn, Bisquick, and other gluten-free flours in working pantry cabinet

    Miscellaneous Foods and Ingredients

    Water and Drinks

    • Water Supply – Now you don’t necessarily have to go out and buy a bunch of water. You can repurpose milk jugs and juice jugs by washing them out thoroughly and filling them with water. You can also fill up un-used canning jars with water and build quite the water supply that way.
    • Coffee – Also, powdered creamer if you like cream in your coffee.
    • Tea bags
    • Hot chocolate mix
    • Juice – I stock grape juice because my boys love it, and my oldest craves it if he’s sick.
    • Ginger ale, Sprite, or other tummy calming drinks
    • Propel powder packets – I buy these in case we need to replace electrolytes when sick. They have zero sugar and zero colors.
    • Dry milk – I purchase canned dry whole milk, and if we don’t end up using it by close to the expiration date, I’ll use it in recipes, so it’s not wasted.
    • Dry buttermilk – Our oldest makes the most delicious gluten-free fried chicken with this.
    • Wine or other alcohol

    Recipes for Beginning Preppers

    Recipes you can make with fresh or canned ingredients, whether you need breakfast, lunch, dinner, or dessert. Swap out fresh for canned, freeze-dried, or powdered ingredients straight from the pantry.

    [wprm-recipe-roundup-item id=”41124″ summary=”<p>Simplify mornings with a quick and easy homemade maple brown sugar oatmeal. Dairy free Instant Pot oatmeal recipe using rolled oats and real maple syrup.</p>”] [wprm-recipe-roundup-item id=”41082″ summary=”<p>Make ahead a large batch recipe for peaches and cream Instant Pot oatmeal, and start mornings with a family favorite, kid approved homemade breakfast!</p>”] [wprm-recipe-roundup-item id=”39782″ summary=”<p>Easy taco tuna melt recipe, made with a secret ingredient, melted cheese, avocado, and English muffins. Make it on the grill or over the campfire.</p>”] [wprm-recipe-roundup-item id=”41106″ summary=”<p>How to make the most delicious homemade chicken fried rice in a wok. Quick and easy stir fry dinner recipe that's so much better than takeout!</p>”] [wprm-recipe-roundup-item id=”40976″ summary=”<p>Simple and easy salmon patties, made with crackers. Delicious with tzatziki sauce and perfect for dinner or served as an appetizer.</p>”] [wprm-recipe-roundup-item id=”40956″ name=”Chicken (or Tuna) Salad Sandwich Recipe” summary=”<p>There's nothing quite as easy for dinner as a chicken salad sandwich recipe. Made with eggs, apples, and walnuts, this chicken salad is my family's favorite easy weeknight meal.</p>”] [wprm-recipe-roundup-item id=”40786″ summary=”<p>How to make an easy Instant Pot Chicken Noodle Soup you can depend on, sick or not. Add to your stash of easy chicken recipes!</p>”] [wprm-recipe-roundup-item id=”39864″ name=”Easy Campfire Peach Cobbler Recipe” summary=”<p>How to make an easy campfire peach cobbler recipe with canned peaches and homemade pie crust crumbled on top. One of our favorite cast iron skillet campfire recipes!</p>”] [wprm-recipe-roundup-item id=”41080″ summary=”<p>How to make the best buttermilk oatmeal cookies with chocolate chips. Made with old fashioned oats, they're a little soft, a little chewy, and full of chocolatey goodness.</p>”] [wprm-recipe-roundup-item id=”41002″ summary=”<p>How to make a delicious buttermilk cornbread from scratch. Easy, simple, non-sweet recipe. Bake in a cast iron skillet and enjoy with dinner.</p>”] [wprm-recipe-roundup-item id=”41030″ summary=”<p>How to make quick and easy drop biscuits, using a Dutch oven or pie iron, on the grill or over a campfire. Simple Bisquick recipe for deliciously fluffy biscuits.</p>”] [wprm-recipe-roundup-item id=”39968″ summary=”<p>How to make kid-friendly s'mores dip over a campfire, on the grill, or in the oven at home. Easy camping dessert recipe you can enjoy anytime.</p>”]

    Kitchen Paper Products

    Emergency Cookware and Utensils

    If you’re really serious about prepping, you’ll stock certain types of cookware, as well. Probably a lot of things that are on my camping kitchen list.

    Things like…

    household cleaners from Melaleuca and Young Living in a working pantry, SoluGuard, Thieves Household Cleaner, and Tough & Tender

    Hygiene, First Aid, and Household Supplies

    While I want to focus mainly on food and kitchen in this post, it’s also a good idea to think about your entire household, including hygiene items, medical supplies, and household products. To get you started, here are a few suggestions.

    hygiene, first aid, and household supplies in a working pantry cabinet

    Where to Store Everything

    If you have a large house with lots of room, and preferably a basement, you’re set. But if you’re like us and have a tiny pantry with not much space, you have to be creative.

    Instead of thinking, “I don’t have room for that”… I want you to think outside the box.

    Can you purge and get rid of some things to make more room? Do you have a closet you can clean out and use? What about a dresser drawer or empty shelf? Do you have room underneath beds or a futon? How about an empty tote or bin?

    Have a crawl space or an attic? We actually store potatoes we grow in our garden in our crawl space because they keep better in the slightly cooler environment.

    white food grade bucket with gamma lid for gluten-free flour

    Keep in mind for some of your dry ingredients, you may need food grade buckets with gamma lids or mylar bags for long-term food storage. We usually buy our food-grade buckets at Menards or Lowe’s.

    Look around your home, and figure out where you can make room and where you can stash supplies for long-term storage. Where there’s a will, there’s most definitely a way.

    Watch Our Video to See How We Stock Our Working Pantry

    WANT MORE KITCHEN TIPS? Subscribe to my newsletter, and follow along on Pinterest, Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram for all the latest updates!

  • No Fail Pie Crust Recipe with Butter

    No Fail Pie Crust Recipe with Butter

    Step by step guide for a no fail pie crust with butter and 3 simple ingredients. Perfect homemade crust for both sweet and savory recipes.

    Pie crust recipe cards probably make up a good portion of many a grandmother’s recipe box. While I used to wonder at the variety of pie crusts in my own grandma’s recipe box, I think I understand now why she had so many.

    no fail pie crust in glass pie plate on country blue striped white kitchen towel with rolling pin and green mixing bowl

    There are so many different ways you can make a pie crust.

    You can make it with oil, shortening, lard, or butter. Make it flaky, or you can make it crumbly.

    You can make a no roll pie crust, or you can roll it out. You can even make a pie crust with pecans.

    I think I understand now why Grandma had so many pie crust recipes. Maybe like me, it took her awhile to find or come up with just the right recipe. Or maybe it was the thrill of the hunt for an even more delicious recipe. Of course, it may’ve just had a little something to do with her love for trying new recipes.

    For far too long, I’ve let pie crust intimidate me to the point that I hardly ever made pie. And if I did, I didn’t roll it out; instead I opted for pressing it into the pie plate.

    So I want to take you along on my journey and help you, as well. Let’s kick intimidation to the curb and make a really delicious pie crust recipe with butter that you will want to use again and again for your favorite pie recipes.

    Now keep in mind, my pie crust may not look perfect, but it sure is tasty; and really, that’s all that matters.

    slice of sweet potato pie with homemade pie crust and whipped cream on white plate with fork

    WHERE CAN I FIND THE ACTUAL RECIPE CARD?

    If you’d rather skip all of my baking tips, important info for this recipe, and similar recipe ideas – and get straight to the pie crust recipe – just scroll down to the bottom, where you’ll find a printable recipe card.

    MORE CRUST RECIPES YOU MAY ENJOY:

    INGREDIENTS YOU’LL NEED FOR A NO FAIL PIE CRUST:

    • All-purpose flour – I’ve also made this a gluten-free pie crust with gluten-free flour.
    • Salt
    • Salted butter – You can use unsalted butter over salted because you’re more able to control the amount of salt that goes into your pie crust. However, we like the flavor that salted butter gives to our pie crust.
    • Milk

    Remember, all of the ingredient amounts you’ll need are in the printable recipe card below.

    homemade pie crust in glass pie plate on white marble countertop

    KITCHEN TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT YOU’LL NEED:

    Glass Pie Plates – The pie plate I’m using for this recipe is my old faithful pie plate. I’ve had it forever, probably since we got married. Mine actually has the fluted edge sorta built in too, so we can press it in and get somewhat of a decorative edge without a lot of handiwork on our part.

    Medium-Sized Mixing Bowl

    Pastry Blender – Great for mixing together the flour mixture and butter. I use mine for making biscuits too.

    Rolling Pin – A rolling pin is, to a baker, what a saw is to a carpenter.

    Adjustable Pie Shield – Protects your pie crust from burning. Learn how to keep pie crust from burning, including 3 ways to protect the edges.

    Kitchen Shears – Handy for trimming dough.

    Leaf Cutters, Leaves and Acorn Cutters, Assorted Shapes Cutters, etc. – Give your pies a more decorative look.

    HOW TO MAKE A PIE CRUST FROM SCRATCH

    Making a good crust is actually a pretty simple process. While you can use shortening, or even part shortening part butter, I prefer to use butter both for the flavor and for the texture it gives the crust.

    1. First you want to mix together the flour and the salt in a medium-sized mixing bowl.
    2. Then slice the butter into the flour mixture.
    3. Next you need to cut the butter into the flour mixture with a pastry cutter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs… Or you can use a food processor. I just keep things simple with a pastry blender.
    4. Then add the milk, a tablespoon at a time, until the mixture forms together well, but isn’t so wet that it’s sticky. You don’t want a crust that’s too crumbly and hard to manage. So make sure you add enough liquid.
    how to make a pie crust in a green bowl with flour, salt, butter, and milk, using a pastry blender or pastry cutter

    Once you’ve got it mixed up, wrap your pie dough in plastic wrap at this time, and place it in the fridge to chill for at least 30 minutes.

    HOW TO ROLL OUT HOMEMADE PIE CRUST

    Now you’re ready to get out the rolling pin, and sprinkle a clean surface with a little bit of extra flour, so the dough won’t stick to the surface.

    1. Roll the dough out with a rolling pin, equally rolling in all directions, ’til the dough is about 2 to 3 inches bigger around than your pie plate.
    2. If your pie plate is ready to go, fold the crust in quarters.
    3. Carefully place the dough in the pie plate, unfolding it to cover the entire plate.
    4. Smooth it out inside the pie plate, and then trim off any overhanging edges with kitchen shears or a knife. Be careful here: Leave enough dough (about 1/2 inch overlapping) so you can flute the edges of your crust.
    how to roll out pie crust using rolling pin, then place it in glass pie plate and trim off the edges with kitchen shears

    HOW TO FLUTE PIE CRUST

    If you want a fluted edge, use your thumb and index finger, along with the tip of your opposite index finger, to flute or pinch the edge of the dough all around the pie plate.

    how to flute pie crust or flute edges of pie, in glass pie plate, with fingers

    Alternatively, you can press the dough to the rim of the pie plate, or you can add decorative pieces of crust you’ve cut out with a cookie cutter or other tool (like a leaf cutter for fall and Thanksgiving).

    WAYS TO KEEP PIE CRUST FROM SHRINKING

    Pie crust can tend to shrink, but there are ways you can keep this from happening.

    • Using cold ingredients helps a lot, the colder the better. So your butter and your milk should both be as ice cold as possible.
    • Chilling the pie dough makes a difference. You can chill it before rolling it out, which will also help to give it more of a flaky texture.
    • I also recommend chilling the dough before baking or adding any kind of filling to bake. Chilling helps reduce and/or eliminate shrinkage.

    LET’S TALK ABOUT PIE WEIGHTS

    If this is a single crust and you’re blind baking it without filling, use a fork to prick holes all around the inside of the crust.

    A lot of people mention using pie weights for this step, but you really don’t need them. My mom taught me this little trick with the fork to keep the crust from bubbling up during baking.

    It works just as well as pie weights, and you don’t have to spend any money.

    HOW TO BAKE YOUR CRUST

    You’ll need to bake the crust at 400° F for about 20 to 30 minutes, or until the crust begins to turn golden. You’ll likely bake for less time if making a gluten-free crust.

    If you’re baking the crust with filling, be sure to follow the exact instructions for that particular recipe.

    perfect pie crust with sweet potato pie filling and whipped cream on white plate with fork

    A FEW MORE TIPS…

    • If you want a double crust, you’ll need to double the recipe. And you’ll flute the edges after you add the top crust over your filling. You’ll also need to vent the top crust by cutting slits in it. Then you’ll bake it according to the instructions for the specific pie recipe you’re making.
    • To protect your pie crust from burning while baking, you can use a pie shield to protect those raised edges of the crust that are more likely to burn before the rest of the pie is done.
    • You can chill your pie dough in the fridge for about 3 days before it’ll start to go bad. So yes, you can make your crust ahead of time or the day before.
    • To make this a dairy-free pie crust, substitute shortening for the butter, and substitute ice water for the milk.
    • To make it a gluten-free pie crust, substitute a good gluten-free flour for the all-purpose flour. And always check any other ingredients before adding. I recommend Authentic Foods Classical Blend for a roll-out pie crust (it’s not always available thru Amazon, so I order directly from the company). If you want a press-in pie crust, their Multi-Blend Flour or Cup4Cup work just fine, but you may not be able to roll it out; I haven’t tried making a pie crust with the multi-blend flour yet.
    Butter pie crust in glass pie plate on blue striped white kitchen towel with wooden rolling pin and green mixing bowl

    PIES YOU CAN MAKE WITH THIS CRUST:

    If you’d love more holiday recipe inspiration, you may enjoy my list of Christmas Recipes for Your Holiday Celebrations.

    GET THE PRINTABLE RECIPE

    If you love this recipe as much as I do, please write a 5 star review, and help me share the recipe on Facebook and Pinterest!

    no fail pie crust recipe with butter

    CRAVING MORE DELICIOUS RECIPES? Subscribe to my newsletter, and follow along on Pinterest, Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram for all the latest updates!

    No Fail Pie Crust Recipe with Butter

    Step by step guide for a no fail pie crust with butter and 3 more ingredients. Perfect homemade crust for both sweet and savory recipes.

    • Large Mixing Bowl
    • Pastry Blender
    • Rolling Pin
    • Kitchen Shears
    • 9-Inch Pie Plate
    • Pie Shield
    • 1 cup all-purpose flour
    • 3/4 teaspoon salt
    • 8 tablespoons salted butter
    • 4 tablespoons whole milk

    1. Whisk together the flour and salt in a large mixing bowl.

    2. Slice the cold butter into the flour mixture.

    3. Using a pastry blender, cut the butter into the flour mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs.

    4. Then add the milk, a tablespoon at a time, until the mixture forms together well, but isn't so wet that it's sticky; you don't want a crust that's too crumbly and hard to manage either, so make sure you add enough milk.

    5. Wrap the pie dough in plastic wrap, and place it in the fridge to chill for at least 30 minutes.

    6. Sprinkle a clean surface with a bit of flour, so the dough won't stick to the surface. Roll the dough out with a rolling pin, equally rolling in all directions, 'til the dough is about 2 to 3 inches bigger around than your pie plate.

    7. Fold the crust in quarters; then carefully place the dough in the pie plate, unfolding it to cover the entire plate.

    8. Smooth it out inside the pie plate, and then trim off any overhanging edges with kitchen shears or a knife; leave enough dough (about 1/2 inch overlapping) so you can flute the edges of the crust.

    9. If this is a single crust and you're blind baking it without filling, use a fork to prick holes all around the inside of the crust.

    10. If you want a fluted edge, use your thumb and index finger, along with the tip of your opposite index finger, to flute or pinch the edge of the dough all around the pie plate. Alternatively, you can press the dough to the rim of the pie plate with a fork; or you can add decorative pieces of crust you've cut out with a mini cookie cutter or other decorative tool.

    11. Cover with plastic wrap, and chill for at least 30 minutes to an hour.

    12. Pre-heat the oven to 400° F.

    13. Remove the crust from the fridge, uncover, and bake it at 400° F for about 20 to 30 minutes, or until the crust begins to turn golden. If you're baking the crust with filling, be sure to follow the exact instructions for that particular recipe.

    *To make it a gluten-free pie crust, substitute a good gluten-free flour for the all-purpose flour. And always check any other ingredients before adding. I recommend Authentic Foods Classical Blend for a roll-out pie crust (it’s not always available thru Amazon, so I order directly from the company). If you want a press-in pie crust, their Multi-Blend Flour or Cup4Cup work just fine, but you may not be able to roll it out; I haven’t tried making a pie crust with the multi-blend flour yet.

    *You can use either salted or unsalted butter; we’ve used both. Using unsalted butter will give you more ability to control the amount of salt that goes into your pie crust, but we like the flavor that salted butter gives to our pie crust, so it’s usually what we use.

    *To make this a dairy-free pie crust, substitute shortening for the butter. And substitute ice water for the milk.

    WAYS TO KEEP PIE CRUST FROM SHRINKING

    Pie crust can tend to shrink, but there are ways you can keep this from happening.

    • Using cold ingredients helps a lot, the colder the better. So your butter and your milk should both be as ice cold as possible.
    • Chilling the pie dough makes a difference. You can chill it before rolling it out, which will also help to give it more of a flaky texture. I also recommend chilling the dough before baking or adding any kind of filling to bake. Chilling helps reduce and/or eliminate shrinkage.

    LET’S TALK ABOUT PIE WEIGHTS

    A lot of people mention using pie weights for this step, but you really don’t need them. My mom taught me the little trick with the fork to keep the crust from bubbling up during baking.

    It works just as well as pie weights, and you don’t have to spend any money.

    A FEW MORE TIPS…

    • If you want a double crust, you’ll need to double the recipe. And you’ll flute the edges after you add the top crust over your filling. You’ll also need to vent the top crust by cutting slits in it. Then you’ll bake it according to the instructions for the specific pie recipe you’re making.
    • To protect your pie crust from burning while baking, you can use a pie shield to protect those raised edges of the crust that are more likely to burn before the rest of the pie is done.
    • You can chill your pie dough in the fridge for about 3 days before it’ll start to go bad. So yes, you can make your crust ahead of time or the day before.
    Desserts, Pies & Pastries
    American
    butter pie crust, flaky pie crust, flute edges of pie, flute pie crust, gluten free pie crust, homemade pie crust, how to keep pie crust from shrinking, how to make a pie crust from scratch, how to roll out pie crust, no fail pie crust, perfect pie crust, pie, pie crust, pie crust recipe, pie crust recipe with butter, pie crust tutorial, pie dough, traditional pie crust
  • Campfire Cooking Equipment (The Ultimate Guide)

    Campfire Cooking Equipment (The Ultimate Guide)

    Ultimate guide and checklist for essential campfire cooking equipment, including the best cookware and utensils, along with storage ideas.

    Camping cooking equipment and cookware are the first things I pack for every camping trip we take, whether we’re camping in one of our favorite off the grid Arkansas camping spots or roadside camping on the Rita Blanca National Grassland in Texas. We have to eat, and since we do our best to include most of our food in our usual grocery budget, we need to make sure our camping kitchen setup is ready to go.

    campfire cooking equipment, including tripod grill with cast iron skillet over campfire

    We really try our best to keep things affordable, simple, and efficient when it comes to camping cooking gear, so we’ve put a lot of thought into our set up and take down. And because we prefer wild camping, we usually end up in the middle of nowhere, where bears or wolves can be an issue, so we have to be able to pack things up tight at night to keep everyone safe.

    Our campfire kitchen has come a long way since our early days of camping.

    While our camping cooking gear isn’t really fancy, it definitely works for us. We constantly look for ways to affordably improve it, but I have to say… We eat pretty darn good when we’re on the road.

    Keep reading, and you’ll find our YouTube video that shows how we cook while camping, toward the bottom of the page.

    Table of Contents

    If it’s camping recipes you’re looking for, we’ve got you covered.

    cheeseburger pizza cooked with camping cooking gear essentials

    Storage Ideas for Campfire Cooking Equipment

    When it comes to packing up our food, I like to stop and think before I ever pack. The way I pack our campfire cooking kit is how our food will be stored while we’re traveling, so it needs to be both efficient and easy to get out/put away.

    We Usually Pack 2-3 Ice Coolers:

    • One large cooler for most of our food
    • A drinks cooler with water (because I prefer cold water in my water bottle, especially during the summer) and maybe a few juice boxes
    • And sometimes a “lunch” cooler for sandwich and lunch materials

    We Also Have 2 Food Boxes, and We Picked up Plastic Bins for These.

    • One food box holds all our non-perishable food items.
    • The other we like to call the snack box because it holds all our snacks and foods we may want to get into through the day when we’re not necessarily sitting in a campsite but out exploring.

    Packing and Storage Accessories

    • Ziploc bags
    • Egg Holder – This protects eggs from any breakage or mess.
    • Water Jugs – We like the jugs with a spigot, since it can act as both water storage and a faucet.

    What to Pack in Your Portable Camp Kitchen Box

    The portable camp kitchen box is the heart of your camping kitchen. Kitchen in a box camping is the easiest way to cook in the great outdoors.

    It’s important to pack all the necessary camping kitchen items you’ll need for cooking meals while gone. Most of our camping kitchen essentials are from our own kitchen, and we’ve designated all of them for camping (not all but most). So they live in our camp box and/or camp trailer.

    Our campfire cooking kit includes kitchen tools, camping cooking utensils, dishes, and cookware.

    cooking bacon in a cast iron skillet on a camp stove

    Camping Cookware

    We love cooking with cast iron, which goes hand in hand with cooking over a campfire. Cast iron works well on a camp stove too, so it’s a winning choice.

    cooking chicken nachos over campfire using campfire cooking equipment like a cast iron pizza pan or griddle

    If you’re cooking solely on a camp stove, you might be able to get away with just a set of nesting pots.

    Camping Cooking Utensils

    We always need a few tools to help us make our meals. Things like…

    campfire for outdoor cooking

    Knives and Cutting

    Making Coffee and Tea over the Campfire

    My guys have recently started drinking coffee, and Jacob loves a warm cup of tea, so we’ve added a few things for this to our kitchen camp box.

    coffee percolator with coffee mug for camping cookware
    • Percolator – Our favorite way to make coffee over a fire is to cook it in a stainless steel percolator, with coffee grains added right into the water. A percolator gives options for making your morning brew.
    • Tea kettle – Ok, so we don’t actually have a tea kettle; we just use a pan for boiling water. But I’m thinking we definitely need this.
    • Insulated Mugs – Insulated will protect your fingers. Go with insulated.

    Camping Serve Ware

    Of course, we can’t eat without all the little things we take for granted at home. Things like…

    More Camping Kitchen Accessories

    camping cooking equipment, including camp stove, cast iron skillet, and camp stove toaster with bread toasting

    Clean Up Supplies

    When you’re camping, there’s not a ton of mess to clean up, but you still have dishes. Dishes will always be there, no matter what.

    And sometimes you have a bit to clean up from raw eggs or meat. So, it’s a good idea to keep a few things in your clean up kit.

    Also, don’t forget to pack a first aid kit, a must have for any camping trip.

    Bigger Camp Cooking Equipment

    In our early days, we relied on a small table that folded out the back of our old Honda. It was super small, but it helped a lot by giving us extra space to prep food.

    With overlanding and dispersed camping, you don’t usually have any of the perks of campground camping, like a picnic table or a grill. You’re lucky if you have a stump, and sometimes you have to improvise.

    Outfitting and supplying the best camp kitchen is a necessary improvisation for camping with a family. Just a few items we recommend…

    man cooking chicken fajitas outdoors on camp stove on camping kitchen table

    Coleman Pack-Away Deluxe Kitchen

    We bought this back when we first got our rooftop tent. While we don’t necessarily use the sink part, we use the table more as a prep area and place to hold our cookstove and set things like plates, condiments, and utensils when we’re making breakfast or dinner.

    This table has come in handy more times than I can count. 

    Cons: It’s pretty heavy (and a little bulky). But it works for what we need.

    Coleman 2 Burner Stove

    Sometimes we cook over a campfire, if we’re allowed to have one. But there have been many times when we’re not allowed to have a fire (when there’s a burn ban in the area we’re exploring). We use the heck out of our stove.

    Over the Fire Grate or Tripod Grill

    We love using our semi-homemade tripod grill, but since ours is homemade, it does have a bigger grill on it. A grill like this works really well for cooking just about anything you want to cook over the fire.

    making coffee over campfire on tripod grill, campfire cooking

    Portable Charcoal Grill

    Sometimes we take our grill along, and other times we leave it at home. It’s definitely nice to have with us when we’re craving a nice juicy burger and don’t want to spend the money to eat out.

    Propane Lantern

    We use a Coleman Distribution Tree with an extension hose for ours, and it lights up our whole campsite, plus saves so much money.

    Take my advice. There are times you will roll into a campsite after dark, your whole family is hungry, and you’ve got to cook a meal. Invest in a lantern or two.

    cast iron pan with s'mores dip and forks on stump, camping food

    Who’s Ready to Go Camping? (Raises Hand)

    After writing this post, I’m ready to hit the road and go camping. Just writing about it gets me excited for our next trip.

    Are you feeling a little more prepared to organize your own portable kitchen? What did I leave off the camping cooking gear list that you would add?

    If you have any questions about our setup or any of the cooking gear for camping we’ve mentioned, don’t hesitate to leave a comment or feel free to email me at [email protected]. We love sharing tips and tricks we’ve learned along the way, and we love to talk about taking your family camping. Happy camping!

    Watch Our Video to See How We Cook While Camping

    I always appreciate your feedback. Be sure to leave a comment, and follow me on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. You can subscribe to my email list too.

  • Minecraft Grass block Cake without Fondant

    Minecraft Grass block Cake without Fondant

    How to make an easy, no fail, Minecraft grass block cake. Simple recipe tutorial for a square cake with buttercream, awesome for kids and birthdays!

    It makes sense that my oldest would request a Minecraft grass block cake for his 11th birthday way back when. Especially considering how much my boys AND my husband all love to play the game.

    minecraft grass block cake with green grass buttercream and chocolate buttercream dirt on a white cake board

    The memories this brings (he’s now a teenager)… When he requested a Minecraft birthday cake, I mulled it over for a bit and sifted through all sorts of Minecraft cake ideas, figuring out the best way to make this cake.

    Since he wanted a grass block, I decided to use chocolate buttercream for the dirt part of the block. And then I used a regular buttercream icing for the grass, only I colored it green.

    Creating the grass is the most time consuming part of the entire cake, but it’s so easy with one handy dandy little cake tip.

    The thing about this cake that I love… You don’t even have to do anything else to it, in order for it to look good. The dirt and the grass are the decoration, so you don’t even really need a cake topper unless you just want one.

    [mv_video jsonLd=”true” key=”j2xkbwqktvkrbxeguvhf” ratio=”16:9″ thumbnail=”https://mediavine-res.cloudinary.com/v1614049131/j3leh2tkfysaq4fuwcd8.jpg” title=”Super Easy Grass Block Minecraft Cake Recipe”]

    It was a fun project and even more fun to see the smile on his face when it was all said and done.

    Related Recipes: Minecraft pig cake and another very easy Minecraft cake. Or make scrumptious Minecraft cupcakes instead of cake.

    WHERE CAN I FIND THE ACTUAL RECIPE CARD?

    If you’d rather skip all of my cake decorating tips, important info for this recipe, and similar recipe ideas – and get straight to the Minecraft grass block cake recipe – just scroll down to the bottom, where you’ll find a printable recipe card.

    boy child with Minecraft birthday cake

    Kitchen Tools You’ll Need to Make a Minecraft Grass Block Cake:

    • 10-inch Square Cake Pan – Since you’re creating a grass block, you’ll want 2 square shaped pans.
    • Cake Board and Freezer Paper – You’ll place the baked cake on a cake board wrapped in freezer paper for decorating.
    • Icing Spatula – This comes in handy for spreading the icing between cake layers and around the sides of the cake.
    • Pastry Bag – Place your icing in the pastry bag.
    • Wilton Grass Tip and Coupler – This tip allows you to create grass out of icing.
    • Candles – If you’re making a birthday cake, add candles or whatever decorations you want.

    To Use Fondant or Not to Use Fondant

    If you’re trying to figure out how to make a Minecraft cake without fondant, you’ve come to the right place.

    There is no fondant whatsoever in this recipe. In fact, I have a love/hate relationship with fondant, and in my opinion, it never tastes as good as frosting.

    slice of Minecraft grass block cake on TNT paper party plate

    That said… Here are a few tips for how to make a most beautiful grass block cake.

    Tips for How to Make This Minecraft Cake Recipe

    Before you start to decorate, you need to bake the cakes and make the frosting.

    • Bake 2 10-inch square cakes (the grass block should be square-shaped). Jacob wanted chocolate, so I used 2 chocolate cake mixes to make the process easier.
    • While the cakes are baking, it’s a good time to mix up the icing.  I use my favorite recipes for buttercream frosting and chocolate buttercream frosting. So delicious!

    Important: Be sure to save back about 1 cup of the chocolate buttercream to spread between the two cakes.

    • The regular buttercream icing needs to be green, so add enough green food color until you’re satisfied with the shade you have.
    • Then the secret to making the rest of the chocolate buttercream icing look even more like dirt and mud, is to crush up Peanut Butter Oreos and mix them in with the icing. Combined, this makes the perfect texture for the dirt part of the grass block.
    leveling square cake for Minecraft cake recipe with a cake slicer/leveller
    • When the cakes have cooled, place them on a square cake board that’s been wrapped in white freezer paper.
    • An optional step is to slice the rounded top off of the cakes with a cake slicer/leveller. This helps the cakes to have a flatter shape and makes them easier to decorate.
    • Spread the saved portion of the chocolate buttercream frosting on top of one cake. Then sandwich the two cakes together.
    sandwiching chocolate cakes together with chocolate buttercream frosting to create Minecraft grass block cake
    • Work your way around the sides of the cake, spreading the chocolate buttercream “dirt” icing. It’s ok if it looks a little messy; that just makes for a more authentic look to your dirt.
    spreading chocolate buttercream dirt frosting on chocolate Minecraft cake with table knife

    How to Make Grass on a Cake

    Once your block has “mud” all around the sides, it’s ready for you to add the grass with the green buttercream icing.

    peanut butter Oreos mixed with buttercream to make a dirt icing for grass block Minecraft cake

    Important Tip: Make sure your icing is thin enough to easily squeeze through the grass tip, or it will be very difficult indeed (don’t ask me how I know this).

    In order to create the grass, just squeeze the pastry bag to create your grass and then pull up or away.

    piping grass onto top of Minecraft grass block cake with pastry bag and Wilton grass tip, Tip 233

    This cake tip works like a charm to create beautiful patches of green grass for the top of the grass block.

    While this part of the process is probably what will take the longest, it’s so worth it when you’re done.

    buttercream grass on minecraft grass block cake, made with Wilton cake tip 233

    When finished, decorate with candles or whatever your heart desires. Then slice it up and serve to your guests!

    Tip: I do recommend refrigerating this cake before/after serving.

    sliced chocolate grass block Minecraft cake

    More Minecraft Party Ideas to Go with Your Cake

    Minecraft Creeper Pizza

    Free Minecraft Potion of Healing Drink Labels

    Creeper Juice, Creeper Balloons, and Licorice TNT’s

    Zombie Boogers

    Minecraft Nerf Gun Target

    Super Awesome Minecraft Party Supplies:

    Minecraft Plates, Napkins, and Cups

    Happy Birthday Banner

    Miner Party Balloons

    Minecraft Character Wristbands

    Mining Fun Cupcake Stand

    Pixel Treat Bags

    Mining Fun Photo Props

    TNT Piñata

    MINECRAFT GRASS BLOCK CAKE RECIPE

    If you love this Minecraft grass block cake as much as we do, please write a 5 star review, and help me share the recipe on Facebook and Pinterest!

    Super Easy Grass Block Minecraft Cake Recipe

    CONNECT WITH ADVENTURES OF MEL!

    Be sure to follow me on social, so you never miss a post!

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    Minecraft Grass Block Cake without Fondant

    How to make an easy, no fail, Minecraft grass block cake. Simple recipe tutorial for a square cake with buttercream, awesome for kids and birthdays!

    • 2 square chocolate cakes (*)
    • 3 cups chocolate buttercream frosting
    • 12 Peanut Butter Oreos
    • 3 cups buttercream frosting (colored green)
    1. Bake 2 square cakes, using 10"x10" cake pans and following recipe/cake mix instructions.
    2. While the cakes are baking, mix up both the regular buttercream frosting and the chocolate buttercream.
    3. The regular buttercream icing needs to be colored green, so add enough green food color until satisfied with the shade you have.
    4. When the cakes have cooled, place one cake on a 12-inch square cake board that’s been wrapped in white freezer paper.
    5. Optional but very helpful step at this point: Slice the rounded top off of the cakes with a cake slicer/leveller. This helps the cakes to have a flatter shape and makes it easier to decorate them.
    6. Spread a portion of the chocolate buttercream frosting on top of that cake.
    7. Then sandwich the two cakes together.
    8. Make the rest of the chocolate buttercream frosting look more like dirt and mud by crushing up the Peanut Butter Oreos and mixing them in with the frosting.**
    9. Spread the chocolate buttercream "dirt" frosting on the sides of the cake, working your way around.
    10. Using Wilton Tip 233, add the grass with the green buttercream frosting. Make sure the icing is thin enough to easily squeeze through the grass tip, or it will be very difficult. The Wilton website gives a great tutorial for how to create the grass, but basically, just squeeze the pastry bag to create each little patch of grass, and then pull up or away.
    11. When finished, decorate your masterpiece with candles or whatever your heart desires.

    *I used 2 chocolate cake mixes to make the cakes. 

    **I recommend crushing the Oreos by placing them in a Ziploc bag and then beating them with a rolling pin. You want them to have some chunks, so to look like dirt and rocks in the frosting.

    Tip: I do recommend refrigerating this cake before/after serving.

    Cakes & Cupcakes
    American
    minecraft birthday cake, minecraft cake, minecraft cake recipe, minecraft grass block cake
  • Easy Graham Cracker Crust Recipe

    Easy Graham Cracker Crust Recipe

    How to make a homemade graham cracker crust, an easy recipe that’s perfect for all your favorite desserts, including pie and cheesecake.

    It’s pretty easy to buy an already made graham cracker crust. But sometimes you need more than the small graham cracker pie crust you find in the store.

    graham cracker crust with strawberry swirl cheesecake

    Making a homemade graham cracker crust really isn’t all that difficult. In fact, it’s pretty simple and easy, only requiring 4 simple ingredients.

    This graham cracker crust recipe makes a great pie crust or cheesecake crust. With a cheesecake, you need that deeper, somewhat thicker crust, and this one definitely fits the bill.

    You can pair this graham cracker crust with yummy desserts like blueberry cream cheese pie, Instant Pot pumpkin spice cheesecake, strawberry swirl cheesecake, or this creamy no bake blueberry dessert. Or switch out the chocolate cookie crust for a graham cracker crust in white chocolate raspberry cheesecake.

    slice of cheesecake with homemade graham cracker crust

    WHERE CAN I FIND THE GRAHAM CRACKER CRUST RECIPE?

    If you’d rather skip all of my cooking tips, important cooking info for this recipe, and similar recipe ideas – and get straight to the delicious recipe for a graham cracker crust – just scroll down to the bottom, where you’ll find a printable recipe card.

    EASY WAYS TO CRUSH GRAHAM CRACKERS

    You can crush the graham crackers a couple of ways.

    My favorite way is to put them in a Ziploc bag and use a rolling pin to crush them. Just make sure you have all the air out of the bag before attempting to crush the crackers.

    crushing graham crackers for a graham cracker crust, with a rolling pin and Ziploc bag

    Another way is to use a food processor to grind up the crackers. This will give you an even finer mix of graham cracker crumbs.

    HOW CAN I MAKE A GLUTEN FREE GRAHAM CRACKER CRUST?

    You can make a gluten free graham cracker crust for your desserts by using gluten free graham crackers or gluten free graham crumbs.

    TIPS FOR HOW TO MAKE AN EASY GRAHAM CRACKER CRUST

    Once you’ve gathered your ingredients, making this crust is a pretty simple process.

    • Crush the graham crackers first. You’ll need about 2 packs (or 18 sheets) of graham crackers.
    • Mix together the crushed grahams, sugar, brown sugar, and melted butter.
    mixing ingredients for an easy graham cracker crust recipe
    • Spray your pan with cooking spray, and press the mixture into your pan.
    • Then bake the graham cracker crust according to the recipe instructions below.
    press graham cracker crust into springform pan for cheesecake recipe

    WHY DO I HAVE TO BAKE THE CRUST?

    You don’t technically have to bake the crust, but if you don’t, it will be quite soft and crumbly.

    Baking a graham cracker crust allows the ingredients to fuse together in such a way that it will hold your dessert well and not fall apart when you take it out of the fridge.

    homemade graham cracker cheesecake crust with strawberry cheesecake

    And it only takes about 10 minutes to bake, so it’s super quick and easy.

    ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS FOR A GRAHAM CRACKER CRUST

    There are a few ways you can switch up a graham cracker crust for cheesecake, pie, and all your favorite desserts.

    slice of cheesecake with easy graham cracker crust and whipped cream

    CAN I FREEZE A GRAHAM CRACKER CRUST?

    Yes, you can. Just make sure it’s covered well so it doesn’t get freezer burn.

    This crust should keep in the freezer for about 3 months.

    MORE CRUST RECIPES YOU MAY ENJOY

    I really love this chocolate cookie crust I make with my favorite raspberry cheesecake.

    And when it comes to pie crust, we’ve got you covered with this pecan nut pie crust, this traditional pie crust recipe, and this easy shortcut no-roll pie crust.

    DESSERTS YOU CAN PAIR WITH A GRAHAM CRACKER CRUST

    Strawberry Miracle Cheesecake is an easy no bake dessert you can pair with a graham crust.

    Make a caramel topped pumpkin cheesecake with this recipe from Mommy Hates Cooking.

    Strawberry Jello pie, from Flour on My Fingers, is a quick and easy no bake dessert that pairs perfectly with a graham cracker crust.

    homemade graham cracker crust with strawberry swirl cheesecake

    KITCHEN TOOLS YOU’LL NEED TO MAKE A GRAHAM CRACKER CRUST:

    Baking Pan – In this case, I used a 9-inch springform pan, since I was making a cheesecake.

    Gallon Ziploc Bags with Rolling Pin or Food Processor– This makes it easy to crush the graham crackers.

    Large Mixing Bowl – You’ll need a bowl for mixing the crushed grahams, sugars, and melted butter together.

    GRAHAM CRACKER CRUST RECIPE

    If you love this graham cracker crust recipe as much as I do, please write a 5 star review, and help me share the recipe on Facebook and Pinterest!

    Easy Graham Cracker Crust Recipe

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    Easy Graham Cracker Crust Recipe

    How to make a homemade graham cracker crust, an easy recipe that’s perfect for all your favorite desserts, including pie and cheesecake.

    • 3 cups graham crackers (*crushed)
    • 1 tablespoon pure cane sugar
    • 1 tablespoon light brown sugar
    • 8 tablespoons salted butter (melted)
    1. Pre-heat the oven to 350°F.
    2. Crush the graham crackers, using a rolling pin and Ziploc bag, or a food processor.
    3. Mix together the graham cracker crumbs, pure cane sugar, and brown sugar. 
    4. Add in the melted butter and mix together well.
    5. Spray your pan with cooking spray, and press the mixture into your pan**.
    6. Bake the crust at 350°F for about 10 minutes.
    7. Remove from the oven and allow to cool before filling.

    *You’ll need about 2 packs (or 18 sheets) of graham crackers to make 3 cups of graham cracker crumbs.

    **This recipe fits a 9-inch springform pan. Adjust, as necessary, for other size pans.

    Pies & Pastries
    American
    cheesecake crust, graham cracker crust, graham cracker crust for cheesecake, graham cracker crust recipe, graham cracker pie crust
    Graham Cracker Crust Recipe
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  • Buttermilk Cornbread with Milled Corn

    Buttermilk Cornbread with Milled Corn

    Buttermilk Cornbread – How to mill corn and make a delicious buttermilk cornbread from scratch. Easy, simple, non-sweet recipe. Bake in a cast iron skillet and enjoy with dinner. A huge thank you to WonderMill for sponsoring this recipe!

    Every so often we’ll make cornbread to go with our dinner, especially if we’re having chili or some sort of soup like 15 bean soup with ham. Our oldest especially loves to make this buttermilk cornbread recipe, which is actually his own recipe.

    buttermilk cornbread with butter and maple syrup on white Pioneer Woman plate

    Before a few weeks ago, I’d never actually milled corn to make our own homemade cornmeal. All of that changed, however, the minute we started using our WonderMill.

    Now we actually mill corn to make our own cornmeal, and it makes the most delicious cornbread. Plus we know exactly what’s in our cornmeal.

    And corn is it! No flour, no additives, no preservatives, just corn!

    WonderMill grain mill with homemade buttermilk cornbread baked in cast iron skillet

    Milling corn literally takes seconds. In just a few seconds we have enough cornmeal for a few batches of homemade cornbread.

    I JUST WANT THE RECIPE! TAKE ME TO THE RECIPE FOR BUTTERMILK CORNBREAD!

    If you’d rather skip all of my cooking tips, important cooking info for this recipe, and similar recipe ideas – and get straight to the delicious buttermilk cornbread recipe – just scroll down to the bottom, where you’ll find a printable recipe card.

    Slice of buttermilk cornbread with butter on white plate

    WHERE CAN I FIND CORN TO MAKE CORNBREAD?

    While you can order dried field corn online (just search “corn for milling” on Amazon, Google, etc.), it can be quite expensive.

    orange Fire King mug in bag of dried field corn, an ingredient for buttermilk cornbread

    We bought a 50-pound bag of corn, used for farm animal feed, at our local farm store. Of course, before you do so, you want to check and make sure it doesn’t have anything in it that wouldn’t be safe for human consumption.

    WonderMill actually recommends using triple cleaned grains from a trusted source.

    WHERE DO I FIND A CORN MILL?

    The WonderMill Grain Mill is the world’s #1 rated electric grain mill, and it’s what we use to make our own cornmeal, as well as different types of flours for baking.

    WonderMill says, “We have tested our mill to make sure it is the Quietest, Cleanest, Easiest To Use, Fastest, Coolest, Most Powerful, and the Longest Lasting Mill in the World.”

    Not that our family would need to mill this much, but just to give you an idea of how fast it can work, the WonderMill can grind over 100 pounds of flour in just an hour. It’s heavy duty, durable, and will get the job done.

    It makes a great addition to your prepper pantry, so you can grind your own flour as needed.

    WonderMill Grain Mill used for buttermilk cornbread recipe

    You can make fresh flour from most dry grains and dry, non-oily legumes and lentils, including:

    • Wheat
    • Oats
    • Rice
    • Split Peas
    • Buckwheat
    • Spelt
    • Rye
    • Soybeans
    • Dried Field Corn
    • Chick Peas, etc.

    Gluten-free? No problem! The Wondermill is great for making all sorts of gluten-free flours, as well.

    HOW DO I GET STARTED USING MY WONDERMILL?

    If you’re using your WonderMill for the first time to mill corn for cornmeal, you’ll want to do a test run with at least 2 cups of wheat or another hard grain. Then discard or get rid of the flour.

    It is important to only add grain with the mill actually running. Never turn it on with grain already in the hopper.

    milling dried field corn in WonderMill for homemade buttermilk cornbread

    Also, you don’t want to switch off your mill while it’s milling. Wait until it’s finished milling the grain you added to the hopper. Otherwise, it has potential to clog.

    About 8 cups of grain in the hopper will give you 12 cups of flour in the canister; and that is how much flour the canister can hold.

    HOW TO MAKE CORNMEAL WITH YOUR WONDERMILL

    The mill and flour canister will need to be side by side, so the tube can be pushed into place in the flour outlet on the mill. That way all the flour goes into your canister.

    Now WonderMill does recommend placing a plastic bag into the canister, for self cleaning purposes. We just let our flour go right into the canister, store it, then wash it when it’s all gone.

    milling corn in the WonderMill Grain Mill for buttermilk cornbread from scratch

    Using the Optimum Setting, turn on the mill and fill the hopper with dried field corn. Once it’s finished grinding, you’ll hear a change in how the mill sounds. Let the mill run for about 5 more seconds, helping it self clean the grinding chamber.

    Once you’re done milling, unplug the mill; then separate the canister from the mill. Use your cornmeal to make cornbread right away, or place the storage lid on the canister until you’re ready to use it.

    slice of buttermilk cornbread on white pioneer woman plate

    You can either mix up your cornbread by hand or with the help of a mixer.

    DOES CORNMEAL GO BAD? HOW LONG WILL IT LAST?

    How long cornmeal will last depends on how you store it. Be sure to store your cornmeal in a dry, airtight container when storing it in the pantry.

    how to make cornmeal for buttermilk cornbread recipe

    We usually freeze our cornmeal, again in a dry, airtight container.

    When you freeze cornmeal, you want to be sure that when cooking, you only remove the amount that you need and leave the rest in the freezer. In other words, place it somewhere in your freezer that it’s easy to get in and out of without having to take it out of the freezer.

    Cornmeal can last at least a year, sometimes longer. According to Does It Go Bad, it can last 2 to 3 years when stored properly.

    If you’ve had it awhile, just make sure it doesn’t smell rancid, and watch for things like mold, weevils, or clumps.

    HOW TO MAKE YOUR OWN BUTTERMILK SO YOU DON’T HAVE TO BUY IT

    I don’t know about you, but we almost never buy buttermilk. We just never use it because I know I can make my own when I’m baking.

    My mom taught me this little trick when I was younger.

    ingredients for homemade buttermilk or sour milk for buttermilk cornbread recipe

    Just add about a tablespoon of distilled white vinegar to a cup or two of milk; I usually use a tablespoon for every 1 to 2 cups of milk. Stir and let sit for 5 to 10 minutes.

    And voila, you have sour milk or buttermilk. Works like a charm!

    TIPS FOR HOW TO MAKE BUTTERMILK CORNBREAD

    You can use just about any type of pan that will work for cornbread or even corn muffins. We prefer to make cornbread in cast iron because it’s just so simple and easy.

    You can mix up your cornbread by hand or with the help of a mixer, like the WonderMix kitchen mixer, which we also used for our recent pumpkin bread recipe.

    homemade buttermilk cornbread baked in cast iron skillet

    If you’re making cast iron cornbread, you’ll want to pre-heat the skillet for as long as it takes you to mix up your cornbread.

    • Go ahead and set the oven to 450° and put the skillet in the oven to pre-heat.
    • Mix the dry ingredients together, including the cornmeal, salt, baking powder, and baking soda. Set aside.
    dry ingredients for buttermilk cornbread from scratch
    • Add the buttermilk to the eggs and beat.
    • Then add the melted butter to the egg mixture and beat.
    mixing wet and dry ingredients for homemade buttermilk cornbread recipe
    • Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients, mixing well.
    buttermilk cornbread batter with wooden spoon in blue mixing bowl
    • Bring the pre-heated skillet out of the oven, and grease it well with bacon grease, cooking spray, or shortening, though I highly recommend bacon grease. Can you tell I’m a cook with southern/midwestern tendencies?
    buttermilk cornbread batter in cast iron skillet
    • Then just bake the cornbread for about 15 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.
    baked buttermilk cornbread in cast iron skillet

    Now tell me I’m not alone in this… But I love slathering a piece of cornbread with butter and pouring on just a little bit of maple syrup. It’s so delicious!

    homemade buttermilk cornbread with butter and maple syrup on white plate

    It’s also really good with a spoonful of apple jelly. And one of my favorite wintertime meals is cornbread and chili. Yum!

    How about you? How do you like your cornbread?

    slicing buttermilk cornbread in cast iron skillet

    While I’ll have more cornmeal recipes for you in the near future, here are a few recipes you can pair up with your cornbread while you wait.

    MEALS THAT GO WITH CORNBREAD:

    KITCHEN TOOLS YOU’LL NEED TO MAKE BUTTERMILK CORNBREAD:

    WonderMill Grain Mill

    Large Mixing Bowl and Spatula

    Cast Iron Skillet

    BUTTERMILK CORNBREAD RECIPE

    If you love this buttermilk cornbread recipe as much as I do, please write a 5 star review, and help me share the recipe on Facebook and Pinterest!

    buttermilk cornbread recipe from scratch

    CONNECT WITH ADVENTURES OF MEL!

    Be sure to follow me on social, so you never miss a post!

    Facebook | Pinterest | YouTube | Instagram | Twitter

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    Buttermilk Cornbread

    How to make a delicious buttermilk cornbread from scratch. Easy, simple, non-sweet recipe. Bake in a cast iron skillet and enjoy with dinner.

    • 2 1/2 cups cornmeal
    • 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
    • 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
    • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
    • 1 1/2 cups buttermilk
    • 2 whole eggs
    • 8 tablespoons unsalted butter (melted)
    • 2 tablespoons bacon grease
    1. If you’re using a cast iron skillet*, you’ll want to pre-heat the skillet for as long as it takes you to mix up your cornbread.
    2. Go ahead and set the oven to 450° and put the skillet in the oven to pre-heat.
    3. Mix the dry ingredients together, including the cornmeal, salt, baking powder, and baking soda. Set aside.
    4. Add the buttermilk to the eggs and beat.
    5. Then add the melted butter to the egg mixture and beat.
    6. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients, mixing well.
    7. Take the pre-heated skillet out of the oven, and grease it well with bacon grease or cooking spray**, though I highly recommend bacon grease.
    8. Bake the cornbread for about 15 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.
    9. Remove the cornbread from the oven, and allow it to cool in the pan.
    10. Serve with your favorite meal and enjoy!

    *You can use just about any type of pan that will work for cornbread or even corn muffins. We prefer to make cast iron skillet cornbread because it’s just so simple and easy.**You can use bacon grease, or you can grease the pan with cooking spray or shortening. I prefer the flavor that bacon grease gives the cornbread.

    Breads & Muffins
    American
    buttermilk cornbread, cornbread recipe
    WonderMill grain mill makes it easy to make homemade cornmeal for the most delicious buttermilk cornbread from scratch.
    homemade buttermilk cornbread recipe
    cast iron buttermilk cornbread from scratch recipe
  • 6 Tips for Quick and Easy Campfire Cooking

    6 Tips for Quick and Easy Campfire Cooking

    This post has been sponsored by the DINTY MOORE® Brand. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

    Tips and hacks for quick and easy campfire cooking, including how to pack your food for ease, gear and supplies you may need, and a delicious one-pot-meal idea!

    dad and son enjoying campfire cooking and rooftop tent camping

    On every camping trip we take, there are nights we roll into a campsite with little to no time before it gets dark. This makes campfire cooking a bit more challenging, especially when you have 3 hungry boys to feed.

    While we always make do, we’ve learned a few things over the years and have a few tips and tricks that have made all the difference. While there are so many ideas for camping food posted all over the internet, I’m going to share a secret with you… It doesn’t have to be complicated.

    In fact, outdoor cooking can be quite easy… It’s all in how you pack and what you pack.

    If you have a camping enthusiast in your life, check out our gift guide with 12+ awesomely useful camping gifts under $20, including items for campfire cooking!

    Tip #1 – Keep your meals in mind when you’re packing up for the day.

    We pack both a regular food box and a snack box when we’re headed out. We tend to keep that snack box pretty handy, so we can easily get into it. Our regular food box holds all our non-perishable dinner time foods and sides, like DINTY MOORE® Beef Stew.

    can of DINTY MOORE® Beef Stew with campfire in background

    We also pack 2 to 3 coolers…

    • Big cooler for all our main camping food
    • Drink cooler
    • And a lunch cooler

    It doesn’t hurt to keep the food and camping cooking equipment you’ll need that day for lunch and dinner handy by packing them in the lunch cooler or keeping them near the top of the main cooler. That way if you do pull into a site after dark, there’s no digging around for what you’re going to make; it’s all right there ready to go.

    Tip #2 – Use fire starters for quick and easy campfire cooking.

    You can buy fire starters, or you can make them homemade (stay tuned because we’re actually working on our own DIY for this). They make it easy to quickly start a campfire for outdoor cooking, warmth, and light.

    Tip #3 – Plan an easy one-pot-meal, like DINTY MOORE® Beef Stew.

    DINTY MOORE® Beef Stew is an easy solution for dinner, especially when you’ve just pulled in after a long day of exploring. A hearty and delicious meal, it’s filled with real meat, potatoes, and vegetables.

    outdoor cooking over the campfire with beef stew in a Dutch oven

    It brings back so many memories for me because my mom would keep a stash of DINTY MOORE® Beef Stew under the kitchen sink, and she’d bring it out whenever she needed an easy meal. We usually ended up enjoying a meal of beef stew with biscuits on top. So delicious!

    You can purchase DINTY MOORE® Beef Stew at your local grocery store. Checkout 51 even offers product savings, so you can save money while you shop.

    cooking DINTY MOORE® Beef Stew in a Dutch oven over the fire

    DINTY MOORE® Beef Stew is the perfect camping food, and it can be quickly and easily heated over the fire in either a cast iron skillet or a hanging Dutch oven. Just pop open the can (you don’t even need a can opener), pour it in, and heat.

    Plus, the cans are easy to pack and travel with, especially if you pack a food box like we do.

    delicious camping food like DINTY MOORE® Beef Stew in a backpack

    Serve it all by itself or with an already made side, like homemade biscuits you made before you ever left home; and you’ve got the makings of a great meal.

    Tip #4 – Use real utensils and dishes so you have less trash.

    Less trash means less cleanup. It also means a safer environment, especially if you’re camping where bears are prevalent.

    boy taking bite of beef stew with camping cooking gear like real bowls and eating utensils

    While you will have a few dishes to wash, it’s always good to have less waste.

    Tip #5 – Heat water in the same cooking pot to wash your dishes.

    We usually don’t have leftovers when we’re camping… I don’t know if it’s because everyone is ravenous from all the exploring or what, but we usually eat it all up.

    This makes it easy to heat up water for dishes in the same pot we used for cooking. This way we can quickly and easily wash dishes and spend more time relaxing around the campfire together.

    father and son enjoying campfire cooking

    When it comes to camping, we’re always coming up with new and easier ways of doing things. What are some of your favorite campfire cooking tips or hacks?

    Tip #6 – Campfire recipes you may enjoy:

    Campfire Sugar Cone S’mores

    Grilled Banana Campfire S’mores

    Easy Skillet S’mores

    30 Scrumptious Camping Recipes

    Campfire Cinnamon Rolls

    6 Tips for Quick and Easy Campfire Cooking
    tips for easy outdoor cooking with DINTY MOORE Beef Stew
    tips for quick and easy campfire cooking
  • Instant Pot Quick Start Guide for Easy Home Cooking

    Instant Pot Quick Start Guide for Easy Home Cooking

    Learn how to quickly start using your Instant Pot with this Quick Start Guide, filled to the brim with practical tips, Instant Pot recipes, accessory ideas, and more! Kick fear to the curb and start pressure cooking!

    It’s no secret that we love cooking with our Instant Pot. We’ve made so many delicious recipes using the one appliance that may as well sit out on our counter, rather than in our stocked pantry, because we use it almost every day.

    Instant Pot sitting on kitchen counter with towel and spoon

    We also get a lot of questions from readers about how to use it. One recurring theme I’ve noticed with readers is that they’re afraid to use their Instant Pot pressure cooker; so it sits in a box just waiting to be opened up, taken out, and used.

    Let’s dispel some of those fears today, because once you use this handy dandy small kitchen appliance, there will be no turning back. I can promise you that. You’re going to fall in love with it, my friend, because the sky really is the limit on everything you can make with this fancy gadget.

    We are working on a FAQ’s post to address specific questions we’ve gotten over the last year or so; it will be up very soon. But for now, this will get you started using your Instant Pot and even give you ideas for a few Instant Pot accessories and Instant Pot recipes you can add to your weekly menu planner.

    First of all, what is an Instant Pot?

    Close up look at Instant Pot buttons

    Simply put, it’s a pressure cooker. It’s a ‘glammed up’ pressure cooker that makes home cooking a whole lot easier.

    An Instant Pot is a programmable pressure cooker you can use to perform many different functions. For instance, you can use it as a pressure cooker, slow cooker, rice cooker, sauté, steamer, and warmer. You can even use some models to make your own yogurt.

    We have two different models, a smaller 6-quart and a larger 8-quart. With as much cooking as we do, we use them both equally. We use them to make all sorts of things, including chicken, taco chicken, baked potatoes, baby back ribs, hard boiled eggs, cheesecake, and so much more.

    Tips for how to use your Instant Pot pressure cooker

    • First, take it out of the box. That’s the first step to using any new kitchen tool or appliance.
    • Read your manual before you ever start cooking. It’s chock full of information you’ll need to know, and this is one manual that’s actually written in down-to-earth language, simple and easy to understand.
    • Wash the inside liner pot before use. Never wash the Instant Pot itself, only the inside liner and any accessories you may use with it.
    • Make sure your sealing ring is in place before you put the lid on.
    • Check to make sure the pressure valve moves freely. When it starts to come up to pressure, that valve needs to be able to seal.
    pressure valve on Instant Pot pressure cooker
    • Plan for your cooking time. A lot of recipes may only give you the cook time, but you also have to add in time for the Instant Pot to come to pressure, and then time for it to release the pressure after everything is cooked. Instant Pot actually provides these awesome Cooking Time Tables for reference.
    • Natural Release versus Quick Release: Natural Release allows the pressure to go down slowly, still allowing the food to cook even after the timer has gone off. Quick Release is where you carefully vent the release and allow the pressure to go out more quickly. Disclaimer: Quick Release can cause burns if you are not careful. Read your manual for further instruction on Quick Release.
    • Some models have a “Manual” button; others say “Pressure Cook.” This means the same thing, whichever button your model happens to have.
    • You can wipe the outside of your Instant Pot down with a damp cloth; but never submerse it in water, and never pour water or food into your Instant Pot without having the inner pot in place.
    Instant Pot pressure cooker with liner

    Our favorite Instant Pot accessories

    In addition to our Instant Pot pressure cooker, we also have a few accessories we use with it on a regular basis. Here are a few you may want to consider…

    Steamer Basket – Steam vegetables, meat, fish, and more with this basket that keeps your food up out of the water. It’s also dishwasher safe, so it makes for easy cleanup. You may even prefer this Steamer Basket instead, perfect for pressure cooking hard boiled eggs.

    Trivet – We use our trivet quite a bit, especially if we want to keep whatever we’re cooking up out of the liquid.

    Stackable Steamer Insert Pans – These are perfect for cooking pot in pot meals or foods, like a pasta dish, for example.

    Springform Pan – If you want to make cheesecake in your Instant Pot, you’ll need a smaller springform pan that fits down into your pot.

    Mini Mitts – When you need to get the hot food out of the pot, you’ll definitely need something to protect your hands from the heat.

    Baking Pan – If you want to try making desserts with your Instant Pot, a baking pan that fits is a must.

    Cookbook – There are so many cookbooks to choose from. You can find recipes in cookbooks, on blogs, or even in Facebook groups dedicated to this topic.

    Instant Pot recipes to get you started

    We’ve made quite a few main dishes, sides, and desserts with our pot; and we’re always adding more. Here are a few of those recipes.

    Breakfast Ideas

    Peaches and Cream Instant Pot Oatmeal was always a favorite of mine growing up. Now you can use fresh or frozen peaches to make it yourself.

    One of of my favorite breakfast recipes is this maple and brown sugar oatmeal. Not too sweet and oh so delicious!

    Easy Peel Hard Boiled Eggs are perfect for breakfast on the go or a healthy snack.

    Dinner Ideas

    home cooking baby back ribs in a pressure cooker

    Why grill when you can make ribs in your Instant Pot? Ok, so I love grilling too. But Sweet Chili Baby Back Ribs are a meat lover’s dream. The meat literally falls right off the bone.

    Shredded Chicken Tacos, made with Instant Pot Taco Chicken, are the absolute best! They’re so tasty, made with corn tortillas and fresh ingredients. Such a delicious family meal.

    One of my family’s favorite meals is meatloaf and potatoes, so this Instant Pot meatloaf recipe is right up our alley.

    I love a quick and easy one pot meal, and Instant Pot sausage and rice definitely fits the bill.

    Looking for a low carb dinner idea? One of my family’s favorites is this sausage and chicken casserole. It’s so, so good; you don’t even know it has vegetables in it.

    Soup lovers unite with simple, delicious recipes for Vegetable Soup, Chicken Noodle Soup, Instant Pot potato soup, and Chili. You can even use the Slow Cooker function on your pot to make this delicious Slow Cooker White Chicken Chili.

    Delicious Side Dish Recipes

    Instant Pot recipes, including baked potatoes using Instant Pot accessories like a steamer basket

    Have you tried making baked potatoes in your Instant Pot? Save oven time and throw them in your pressure cooker. They come out so tender and delicious. You can even make them this way to serve with a Baked Potato Bar everyone will love.

    Southern Green Beans, made with onion, bacon, and ground beef, are one of my favorite side dish recipes. It’s the perfect side for a holiday get together with family.

    home cooking corn on the cob in the Instant Pot

    With summer comes that old familiar craving for crunchy corn on the cob. Use your Instant Pot to make this golden delicious side for dinner.

    Scrumptious Desserts, Snacks, and Miscellaneous

    If fall is your thing and pumpkin spice is your middle name, you will love Pumpkin Spice Cheesecake made right in your Instant Pot.

    Speaking of fall, one of my favorite things to make during apple season is this apple butter, Instant Pot style. This recipe is quick and easy and happens to be one of our most popular recipes.

    I also love making this homemade apple juice recipe, Instant Pot applesauce, and cinnamon applesauce in our Instant Pot.

    what is an instant pot quick start guide

    Now, I hope this guide convinced you to open that box, take out your Instant Pot, own it, and start pressure cooking all sorts of deliciousness. If you have questions, please don’t hesitate to comment or reach out. We’re always happy to connect with our readers!

    Instant Pot Quick Start Guide for Easy Home Cooking
    Instant Pot pressure cooker guide
  • Simple and Natural Mice Repellent

    Simple and Natural Mice Repellent

    Have a mouse in the house? Or perhaps a family of mice has taken up residence, coming and going as they please?

    Been there, done that.

    Mouse in the house? Been there, done that! Natural ways to keep mice out, including the use of Peppermint Oil as a natural mice repellent. How to keep mice away.

    Years ago, we lived in an old farmhouse that had so many nooks and crannies the mice could come in; if I remember right, we even had a pack rat that lived in the attic at one time.

    Dan and I got so tired of constantly having to clean out our kitchen cabinets after finding evidence of the nasty little buggers, that we began researching natural solutions.

    We’d tried it all, traps and sticky traps… Dan was even threading sewing thread into peanut butter on the traps at one point.

    The mice wised up to his tricks, though. We were desperate to get rid of the problem. That’s when we stumbled upon a super simple mice repellent.

    Now I need to caution you here. It’s important to use pure Peppermint Oil, NOT extract; we originally found a bottle at our local health food store, though now we use Young Living… As long as it’s pure peppermint oil and not extract.

    But there’s something about the scent of the oil that helps to keep them at bay. I’ve read that it masks their pheromone trails, so other mice are not attracted. I’ve also read that peppermint oil irritates a mouse’s nasal passages.

    Either way, we’ve used this method for a long while now, and we keep supplies handy in our working prepper pantry. It not only helps as a mouse repellent, but it also makes your home smell like a candy cane. If you like the scent of Christmas, you’ll love it.

    Natural Forms of Mice Repellent

    There are a few natural ways to help repel mice…

    1. Use steel wool. Stuff any small crevices or holes with steel wool. From what we could tell, mice can squeeze through the tiniest of holes or cracks. Once they’ve found a place to get in, they’re relentless.

    2. Place cotton balls with a couple drops of Peppermint Oil around your home, wherever you feel the mice may be coming in, or where they like to hang out.

    3. Spray a Peppermint Oil/water mixture around the entrances to your home, or again, wherever you feel the mice may be coming in. Of course, you may want to test it on a small area first, especially if spraying on trim or walls. You also don’t want the mixture to be too diluted, or the scent will not help to deter. I was so paranoid that I would end up spraying base boards, door jambs, thresholds, and any areas I was suspicious of, especially the threshold of the door leading into the garage.

    Mouse in the house? Been there, done that! Ways to keep mice out, including the use of Peppermint Oil as a natural repellent. How to keep mice away.

    4. Of course, you could always get a cat too. Harold’s been pretty good at keeping the mice away, though he is getting quite lazy in his old age. Shhh, don’t let him know I said that. In all seriousness, a cat can be the best form of mice repellent.

    WHAT TO READ NEXT…

    (Disclaimer: Everything I share about essential oils on Adventures of Mel is based on personal experience and has not been approved by the FDA. Please do your own research, and never use essential oils in a way that would make you uncomfortable. Also, take special caution for those pregnant or nursing, as well as children. Full Disclaimer…)