Buttermilk Syrup

I've had this recipe posted along with my blueberry buttermilk waffles recipe, and my mom recently asked me to give it its own post so that she could find it easier.  I got this recipe from my aunt Julie, but since eating it for the first time at a family reunion, I have seen it all over the place!  You can get creative with this and try new things to change it up.  I have a friend who adds cinnamon to her recipe and it is delicious.  You can also use maple flavoring instead of vanilla extract.  I'm sure there are tons of other variations that you could try and it will still be amazing!  I am posting this recipe with the changes that I made and use all the time now--less butter and less baking soda (personal preference).  I'll add notes next to the ingredients, if you want to do it the high fat, extra frothy way.  

Buttermilk Syrup

by: Uncle Greg and Aunt Julie

1/4 c. butter (1/2 c. in the original)

1 c. sugar

1/2 c. buttermilk (I use 3/4 c. regular milk most of the time and it still tastes great!)

1 tsp. vanilla

1/2 tsp. baking soda (1 tsp. in the original)

In a saucepan over medium high heat, melt the butter and sugar, stirring constantly until it comes to a boil.  Add the milk (or buttermilk) and return it to a boil.  Remove it from the heat and wait one minute.  I don't know why this step of waiting one minute is important, but I haven't dared skip it for fear that my yummy syrup wouldn't come out as frothy and delicious as it should.  So just obey it.  Then stir in the vanilla and baking soda and serve it immediately.    

Quick and Easy Naan Bread

 Tonight we had curry for dinner, and with about 15 minutes left before it was done, I decided I should make some naan bread to go with it.  Luckily for me, I found a super quick and easy recipe that took about 15 minutes to make, from start to finish.  There are a lot of recipes out there for naan, most of which have yeast and require a rise, but this one didn't call for yeast and we thought it was still really tasty and added a lot to our meal!  So, if you are in a hurry and forget to plan ahead, this naan will work in a pinch!

Quick and Easy Naan Bread

adapted slightly from www.veggiedesserts.com

1 1/2 c. flour

1 c. sour cream (it called for plain yogurt but I didn't have any)

2 tsp. baking powder

1/4 tsp. salt

Mix all the ingredients together in a medium bowl.  You may need to use your hands to get it to mix well.  I ended up kneading mine just a bit to get it to incorporate all together.  Divide the dough into 6 equal pieces.  On a floured surface, roll each piece into a 6 inch circle.  Fry it on an ungreased griddle or frying pan for a couple of minutes on each side, until it begins to get golden bubbles.  When it is cooked through, spread melted butter and garlic on each side and serve it warm.

Easy Lettuce Wraps

 

I got this recipe for lettuce wraps from my friend, Camille.  We used it for a Young Women activity on easy meals that our girls could make when they go away to college.  And this one is easy!  We love lettuce wraps at my house, and this is such a delicious, fast recipe, that it is now something that I feel like I can make more often (my other recipe takes a lot longer to prepare).  We also used ground beef as the meat, which I am more likely to have on hand than ground chicken or ground turkey (which is what other recipes use).  But feel free to substitute other ground meats in place of the ground beef.  You can also get creative with the chopped veggies you add.  It calls for water chestnuts, but last time I made it I also diced up carrots and added those, as well, and the original recipe called for a package of cole slaw to be added.

Easy Lettuce Wraps

from: Camille Bell

1 lb. lean ground beef (or turkey or chicken)

1/4 tsp. garlic powder

1/2 c. teriyaki sauce

1 can water chestnuts, diced

ground pepper to taste

1 head of lettuce

In a frying pan, over medium high heat, brown your ground beef.  Drain the grease.  Add the garlic powder, teriyaki sauce, diced water chestnuts and pepper.  Reduce heat to medium and let it simmer for a few minutes.  Serve it on your lettuce, rolling the lettuce leaf around the meat like a taco.