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Homemade Worcestershire Sauce

Worcestershire sauce is one of the ingredients that is often called for when making homemade barbecue sauce. Now if you know me, you know I’m all about making homemade versions of store bought items. Anything from curry powder, to ranch dressing to my favourite dip I try to make as much as I can at home, and it only takes a few extra minutes of time. I would think that if you’re taking the time to make your own barbecue sauce, without the added preservatives and such, it’s pretty much being ruined when you throw in a bit of the store bought Worcestershire sauce. It’s also excruciatingly difficult to find a gluten free Worcestershire sauce (my mother and sister both suffer from gluten intolerance). So I took it into my own hands and made an easy and quick homemade worcestershire sauce that you can use in any recipe.

Homemade Worcestershire Sauce (makes 3/4 cup)
Recipe source: The Wheat Free Family

Ingredients

1/2 cup apple cider
2 tbsp soy sauce
2 tbsp water
1 tbsp brown sugar
1/4 tsp ginger
1/4 tsp dried mustard
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/8 tsp cinnamon
1/8 tsp black pepper

Directions

Place all the ingredients in a medium pot and stir to combine. Bring mixture to a boil, constantly stirring. Simmer for a minute, then remove and cool. Store in the refrigerator. Shake well before using.

Enjoy your own homemade Worcestershire sauce, it’s so easy you’ll never go back to store bought.

- Lou

Ranch Dressing

Ranch dressing is one of those condiments that has hundreds of uses and can be found in fridges of homes all around the world. Kids love it, adults love it – ranch is pretty universal. It’s easy to buy it, but if there’s one thing we can all agree upon it’s that bottled, store-bought versions of a food usually contain nasty and unpronounceable ingredients. Phosphoric acid, disodium phosphate, disodium inosinate and disodium guanylate anyone? What is disodium and why is it everywhere? I think that unless you’re a food scientist, ingredient labels can seem like another language. It reminds me of when I used to take chemistry – so glad that I dropped sciences two years ago. I don’t know about all of you, but I’d much rather make my own dressing and know all of the ingredients I’m putting in. Plus it usually tastes better and is better for you – double bonus.

I mentioned that ranch dressing has tons of uses; you can use it on a salad, for dipping veggies, or treats like french fries and pizza. I for one enjoy a little ranch dip with my chicken fingers and chicken wings. You can even throw some ranch dressing into mashed potatoes to give them a little kick. When something as simple as ranch dressing has so many uses, why not enjoy a healthier version, one where you don’t have to worry about MSG and high-fructose corn syrup. This is a dressing you’ll be proud to use and serve to your family.

Ranch Dressing (makes 1 cup)
Recipe Inspired by: Confections of a Foodie Bride, originally from The Gourmet Cookbook, 2004

Ingredients
1/3 cup + 1 tbsp 5% sour cream
1/3 cup +1 tbsp mayonnaise
1/4 cup buttermilk
1 tbsp chopped fresh chives
1 small clove garlic, roughly chopped
1/2 tsp lemon juice
1/4 tsp dried parsley

Directions

Combine all the ingredients in a food processor and process for 10 seconds or until combined and dressing has the desired consistency. I like my dressing to be slightly runny but just thick enough for dipping as well.

This ranch dressing makes the perfect summer main course, a chicken ranch salad that kids and adults alike will enjoy.

- Lou

Homemade Pizza Sauce

It’s another Meatless Monday, so you know what that means! A vegetarian meal from yours truly, and this time it’s homemade pizza sauce!

Pizza is one of those universal foods loved by so many, especially kids. Ask any kid, they’ll tell you their favourite food is pizza. Pizza is to a cook, what a blank canvas is to an artist. You can do whatever you want to your pizza! But one of the major steps in creating pizza is… the sauce! None of this store bought junk, homemade pizza sauce is as easy as one, two, three.

I’m sure there are some moms (and dads) out there looking around for ideas for Meatless Monday, and they may have children to take care of and are not be able to stand there and watch their, say, risotto cook. Maybe, they want something that their kids will enjoy making and personalizing. Are you thinking what I’m thinking? Pizza, is definitely the ideal Meatless Monday dinner for families.

It’s pretty easy to find dough in the grocery store these days, so head out and buy yourself some dough and make tonight a pizza night! Stock up on mushrooms, mozarella cheese, red and green peppers, onions, pineapple, and really whatever vegetables suit your fancy! Just remember, make this a vegetarian pizza!

Basic Pizza Sauce
Recipe by Lou

Ingredients
1 can (5.5 oz) tomato paste
1 cup crushed tomatoes
1/4 tsp dried thyme
1/4 tsp granulated sugar
1 clove garlic (crushed)
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp dried parsley

Directions

I literally meant it when I said it’s as easy as 1, 2 3.

1. Mix all of the ingredients together.

2. Simmer over low heat for 8-10 minutes.

3. Spoon onto dough.

And the last step is the fun part, get creative with the toppings!!

I hope that everyone is having a marvelous, meatless Monday!

- Lou