Homemade Spaghetti Sauce

I love this sauce, I started making this instead of buying the sauce at the store. It makes about enough for 4 to 5 meals. I put it in freezer and defrost before we eat. I don't use the bay leaves in the meal. I found this on the kitchen cafe blog, which I beginning.

Homemade Spaghetti Sauce

3 tablespoons olive oil
2 cups onion, chopped and divided
1 red pepper, coarsely chopped
2 pounds hamburger (at least 90% lean)
5 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 12 oz. can tomato paste
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
3 teaspoons dried oregano
3 teaspoons dried basil
1 1/2 teaspoons dried thyme
2 14-oz. can Italian-style diced tomatoes
2 28-oz. can crushed tomatoes
1 carton fresh mushrooms (optional)
1 1/2 cups beef stock or beef broth
2 tablespoons brown sugar
2 bay leaves
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

Heat olive oil over medium high heat. Add 1/2 of the onions and saute until translucent and slightly browned. Add garlic and stir constantly for 1 minute. Add beef and cook until no red is showing. Drain beef slightly. Blend up the remaining onions and red pepper in a blender or food processor until mostly smooth. Add mixture to the garlic, onions and beef and stir to combine, cooking for another minute. Add tomato paste and spices and cook for 1 minute, stirring until combined. Add tomatoes, beef broth and sugar (and mushrooms, if using). Stir until combined and add the bay leaves. Bring to a boil and then reduce to low and simmer for 1 hour, stirring occasionally. Fifteen minutes before serving, stir in the balsamic vinegar.

NOTE: The sauce will seem watery at first but will reduce to perfection after simmering for an hour. I've let it simmer on the stove for up to three hours before with no problems.

Kalua Pork

Okay so I know there is at least one other kalua pork recipe on here annd maybe more, but I tried this one last night and it was SOOOOO yummy! I gave it to my sister a while ago and she made it like three times in one month so I thought hey, I ought to try it since I am giving to people HA HA!

I hate when I can't remember where I found it, I like to give the blogs credit so whoever you are, I am sorry but your recipe is extremely yummy!

The recipe calls for a 10-12 pound roast, I used a 4 pound roast and only 1 Tablespoon salt and half a bottle of liquid smoke.

Kalua Pork

10-12 pounds pork shoulder butt roast (don't substitute a leaner cut of pork or it will be dry)
1 bottle liquid smoke
2 tablespoons sea salt (or hula salt if you can find it)
1 1/2 cups water

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Trim roast of large pockets of fat (but leave some fat on there to help the pork stay tender while cooking). Place pork in large roasting pan. Rub 2-3 tablespoons of sea salt into pork. Pour the bottle of liquid smoke over and around the pork. Pour the water around the pork. Cover roasting pan TIGHTLY with two layers of aluminum foil.

Bake for 5-7 hours (don't uncover while baking - let the steam and heat work it's magic!).

Shred with two forks and serve with rice. ( I poured some of the juice over the meat after I had shredded it)

Buttermilk Banana Bread

I have to say that this is the BEST banana bread ever. I don't say that lightly. I love it! I tried it for the first time yesterday and it was perfection. It's different cause the top is sticky and the edges are crispy and oh it is yummy!!!!


Buttermilk Banana Bread
*found on my kitchen cafe*

1/2 cup butter, softened
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 eggs, well beaten
1 cup mashed bananas (about 3 average sized bananas)
4 tablespoons buttermilk
1 3/4 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
dash baking soda

Cream butter and sugar together. Add eggs, bananas, buttermilk and vanilla. In a separate bowl mix dry ingredients. Add dry ingredients to banana mixture. Mix until combined. Divide batter into greased and floured bread pans and bake at 350 degrees for 50-55 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. This recipe makes about one large loaf of banana bread and one mini loaf. I cooked the mini loaf for about 35 minutes, don't leave it in the whole time or it will burn.

Homemade Lemonade.

You can find citric acid online or in health food stores. This lemonade really is worth the effort it takes in getting the citric acid. My 9 year old makes this all of the time now.

1 1/2 t. citric acid
8 c. water
1 c. sugar
1 1/2 t. lemon extract
1 lemon (1/2 juiced, 1/2 sliced)

Mix all ingredients except lemons together. Squeeze juice from one lemon and add juice. (Best if made and chilled a day before or a few hours before serving.)