Pizza Sauce

1 (15 ounce) can tomato sauce 

1/4 cup water 

1 teaspoon sugar

1/4 teaspoon dried oregano 

1/4 teaspoon dried basil leaves

 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme

 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder 

1/4 teaspoon salt 

1/8 teaspoon black pepper

 1 whole bay leaf 

1/2 teaspoon lemon juice

1 tsp garlic

1/4 teaspoon italian seasoning 

1. Combine all ingredients in a small saucepan. Cook over Medium heat and let simmer 15 min.

Turkey Gravy

2 1.2oz size packages turkey gravy mix
1/4 cup flour
2C water
2-3Cups turkey pan drippings

1.Place the turkey gravy mix and flour into a saucepan, and gradually whisk in water, then turkey drippings until the mixture is smooth. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring often, reduce heat to low, and simmer the gravy until thickened, about 10 minutes.

* I loved the fact that this made a lot of gravy and had great flavor. I used low sodium gravy mix packets and also ripped up some of the turkey meat and added that to the gravy at the end with the drippings. 

Crazy Cooking Challenge Southwestern Ranch Dressing

Its time again for the Crazy Cooking Challenge. Its back and I was so excited that Tina decided that she was going to keep the challenge going. This month we were set out to find the best ranch dip/dressing and share it with the world :) Who doesn't love ranch. My whole family loves it with everything so I knew that this was going to be an easy one for me to do and so simple to make. I got this recipe from kitchensimplicity When I saw her sauce I knew it was the one. Not only do I love ranch but I love spicy food to and this one did not let me down it was great as a dip and also with taco salad. It a nice kinda sweet flavor at first then you taste the dill and then the spicy kicks in. Its like an explosion of different flavors in your mouth all at once. So here it is my Crazy Cooking Challenge recipe for September Southwestern Ranch Dressing.

1/2 cup mayo
1/2 cup sour cream
2 Tbsp. milk
1 Tbsp. white vinegar
2 tsp. canned jalapeno, minced
1/4 tsp. onion powder
1/2 tsp. dried parsley
1/4 tsp. hot pepper sauce
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. paprika
1/2 tsp. dried dill weed
1/8 tsp. cayenne pepper
1/2 tsp. cumin
1/4 tsp. garlic powder
1/4 tsp. black pepper

1.Whisk all ingredients together in a bowl until well blended.
2.Refrigerate at least 4 hours before serving so that the flavors can blend.

Makes: 1 cup

Cafe Rio Chicken Salad and Tomatillo Dressing

Chicken:

2 lbs chicken breasts

1/2 a small bottle of zesty Italian dressing You need 4-5oz

1/2 Tbsp. minced garlic

1 pkt ranch dressing mix (mixed with 1/2 cup of water)

1/2 Tbsp. chili powder

1/2 Tbsp. ground cumin

1.Place all ingredients in a crock pot. Cook on High 5-6 hours OR on Low 8 hours. Shred or chop up with fork

Dressing:

1 packet of buttermilk ranch dressing

1 cup Mayo

1 Cup buttermilk

1 bunch Cilantro  

2 med size tomatillos husked

1 jalapeno (ribs and seeds removed)

A few small shakes of garlic powder

juice from 1 large lime

1.Blend mayo, dressing mix, buttermilk, and garlic in a blender until blended and smooth

2.Dice up tomatillos, jalapeno, and cilantro, and place in the blender.

3.Juice up the lime and add that to the blender.

4.Blend up all ingredients until smooth and creamy.

5.Chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes.

Extra for salad:

Romaine lettuce Chopped

Black or pinto beans

Rice I use my cilantro-lime-rice Recipe

Pico De Gallo

Lime

tortilla strips

** I love Cafe Rio its one of my favorite places to eat. I have tried a few different recipes for dressings and meat and I think that these are the best so far. Its not just like Cafe Rio but its really good for a cheaper at home version. I give this a 4 1/2 on the scale.

Caramel Buttermilk Syrup

1 1/2 cups buttermilk
1 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup butter

1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp vanilla

1.In a large saucepan, bring buttermilk, sugars, and butter to a boil over medium heat. Remove from heat and whisk  in soda and vanilla. It will bubble up a lot. So use a deep pan.The bubbles will go away as it cools.

I got this recipe from http://www.creationsbykara.com/2011/02/buttermilk-caramel-syrup.html Check out her blog it makes me hungry everytime I look at it.

** This is the first time that I have made homemade syrup and it was so easy and so good I am going to give this a 4 1/2 on the scale I poured my syrup into a sqeeze bottle and it will stay good in the fridge 2-3 months.

KFC Honey BBQ sauce

1 1/4 Cup Ketchup
1/3 Cup White Vinegar
1/4 Cup Molasses
1/4 Cup honey
1 tsp liquid smoke
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp onion powder
1/4 tsp chili powder

1.Combine all in a pan over med heat. Stir until well combined bring to a boil. Then reduce heat and simmer uncovered 15-20 min.

Honey Mustard Sauce

1/2 Cup Mayo
2T Yellow Mustard
1T Dijon Mustard
2T + 1/2 tsp honey
1/2 T Lemon Juice


Mix all in a bowl and chill at least 2 hours.

* Honey mustard is so hard to find at the stores that tastes as good as it does in the restaurants. This one is a winner if you like honey mustard to dip your stuff in this is the one to make :)