Mom always comes through with the hot cocoa, and you'd better believe she has her recipe down. Just a few basic ingredients for the richest possible mug of warmth.
Time: under 30 minutes
Everyday Cooking

These are the basics, the simple meals, the make ahead recipes. Everyday cooking for every one.
These are the recipes you sometimes forget even are available. Like, making homemade cleansers and beauty products. Or, convenience items like croutons or coffee creamer. While so easy to buy, they are also easy to make.
Also check out our "make ahead" section for recipe-saving ingredient substitutes.
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Mom's Best Hot Cocoa Mix
Loquat Jelly
Curious about loquats and what you can do with them? This jelly is a fantastic introduction to their delicious potential.
Method: stovetop
Time: 30-60 minutes
Slow Cooker Cola Spareribs
These spareribs are slow cooked until they are wonderfully tender. The glaze is a mixture of ketchup and cola which gives them a tang with a hint of sweetness.
Method: outdoor grill, crock pot
Time: over 5 hours
Farm Stand Peach Jam
Made with butter, sugar, peaches, lemon juice, powdered fruit pectin
Method: stovetop
Time: 30-60 minutes
Self-Rising Cornmeal
A simple way to make your own self-rising cornmeal - just replace 1 tablespoon with baking powder!
Time: under 30 minutes
Every day we send out a featured recipe and our editor's favorite picks. Don't miss out!
Cornbread Croutons
Take your dry cornbread, cut into bite size, give a coat of butter and bake until crispy. Your soups and salads just got a new side kick.
Method: oven
Time: under 30 minutes
Homemade Bratwurst
Making your own bratwurst at home is a great way to get the exact flavor and ingredients you want. Simply grind up the meat and fat, mix in some spices, stuff the casings, and cook!
Time: under 30 minutes
Almost Maple Syrup
This almost maple syrup is still way closer than most store-bought syrups. It's made with actual sugar instead of corn syrup.
Time: under 30 minutes
Flower Ice Cubes
Edible flowers can be found in the produce section of most large grocery stores these days and are specifically labeled as being for culinary uses.
Time: 2-5 hours
Easy Italian Casserole
Made with ground beef, onion, garlic, tomato sauce, mushroom stems, sugar, oregano, basil, salt, black pepper
Method: oven, stovetop
Time: under 30 minutes
Dog Cookies
Easy dog cookies that your dog will love! Make them even more fun by using bone, dog, or cat cookie cutters.
Method: oven
Time: 30-60 minutes
Homemade Cake Mix
Pre-portioned cake mix can be a lifesaver when you want to whip up an effortless dessert. Once you've got this mix ready you just need eggs, milk, and a touch of vanilla.
Time: under 30 minutes
Easy-Bake Oven Lemon or White Cake Mix
An easy make-ahead mix for the Hasbro Easy-Bake Oven for kids. You can use other drink mix powder for even more flavor variations.
Time: under 30 minutes
Hot Spiced Orange Drink
This delicious and easy-to-make hot spiced orange drink is perfect for cold winter days. With just a few simple ingredients, you can whip up this flavorful beverage in minutes.
Time: under 30 minutes
Christmas Fragrance
Get into the holiday spirit with this simple recipe. Simmer cloves, cinnamon sticks, and nutmeg in water on the stove for a wonderful scent that will fill the house.
Method: stovetop
Time: under 30 minutes
Creme Fraiche
Creme fraiche is shockingly easy to make at home. Impossibly creamy soups, velvety scrambled eggs, and other previously out-of-reach recipes are all up for grabs now.
Method: stovetop
Time: over 5 hours
Chicken Spice Coating Mix
Spiced, breaded chicken isn't just for frying anymore. You can still get a crispy coating with oven-baked breasts or drumsticks, and the spices in this recipe gives a nice...
Time: under 30 minutes
Homemade Baby Bath
Make a soothing baby bath with gentle ingredients like buttermilk. Give your baby a comforting, homemade bath they'll love.
Time: under 30 minutes
Colored Sugar
This colored sugar is so easy to make, and has so much potential for amazing desserts. Just a few drops of food coloring and you can beautifully decorate cakes, cookies and other...
Time: under 30 minutes
Green Spinach Noodles
This simple homemade pasta is packed with flavor and vitamins. Goes great topped with a cream-based sauce like Alfredo or cut the strips small and use in a soup.
Method: stovetop
Time: 1-2 hours
Instant Cream Sauce Mix
Make ahead and use as needed. This cream sauce mix works great in a pinch for topping vegetables, seafood, or anywhere you need a white sauce.
Time: under 30 minutes
Blue Raspberry Jam
If you're looking to brighten up your mornings, this blue raspberry jam is the way to go. It's fruity, sweet, and perfect for spreading happiness on toast.
Method: stovetop
Time: 30-60 minutes
Old Fashioned Homemade Almond Paste
Almond paste is easier than you think to make yourself. Who knew that ground up almonds and sugar could be so delicious? If you bake, you'll find yourself using it...
Method: stovetop
Time: over 5 hours
Homemade Soft Scrub
Just two or three ingredients are all you need for a cheap, natural, and high-quality cleaning product.
Time: under 30 minutes
Mini Pepperoni Rolls
These make great finger food for parties or just as a snack. Slices of pepperoni and cheese are rolled up inside crescent roll dough and baked until golden brown and the cheese is...
Method: oven
Time: under 30 minutes
Amaretto Cocoa Mix in a Jar
This make-ahead mix is sensational packed into mason jars for cute gift baskets. Next time you're sitting around a fire, it'll be the perfect treat to have on hand.
Time: under 30 minutes
Homemade Coconut Hair Treatment
Want soft, manageable, frizz-free hair? Try this simple homemade conditioning blend.
Method: stovetop
Time: under 30 minutes
Homemade Grenadine (Pomegranate Syrup)
If you're looking to add a homemade touch to your beverages, this recipe for homemade grenadine is a fantastic choice. It offers a natural alternative to...
Method: stovetop
Time: over 5 hours
Quick And Easy Peach Freezer Jam
Made with fruit pectin, water, fresh peaches, sugar, lemon juice
Method: stovetop
Time: over 5 hours
Make Your Own Potpourri
Using dried flower petals, a blend of spices, essential oils, and a hint of brandy, this homemade potpourri fills your space with a delightful aroma.
Time: over 5 hours
Easy-Bake Oven Chocolate Frosting Mix
Skip the packaged mixes, they are overpriced! Make your frosting mix so your kids will always have it on hand when they feel like baking in their Easy-Bake Oven.
Time: under 30 minutes
Crescent Joes
Crescent rolls baked with sloppy Joe filling make a great lunch, appetizer, or late night snack food.
Method: oven
Time: under 30 minutes
Pumpkin Pie Coffee Creamer
Make your own pumpkin pie coffee. The ground ginger in there really sends it over the edge. You can take this stuff with you wherever you need a holiday-flavored cup of joe....
Time: under 30 minutes
Vanilla Mango Jam
This jam is made without pectin and plays up the sweetness of the mango with vanilla extract.
Method: stovetop
Time: 1-2 hours
Freezer Frosting
Add a sweet finish to your desserts with this frosting recipe, a creamy, versatile topping that can be prepared in advance and stored for in the freezer for up to 2 months.
Time: under 30 minutes
Impossible Lasagne Pie
Impossibly delicious? Impossible to resist? Any way you slice it, it's very possible that this lasagna-inspired dish could become of your favorites.
Method: oven, stovetop
Time: 30-60 minutes
Frozen Peaches
Keep nearly fresh-like peaches in the freezer for pies and other desserts, any time of the year. Adding baby aspirin to the peaches helps them retain their color.
Time: under 30 minutes
Evaporated Skim Milk Substitute
As long as you've got the ratio right, you'll never need to run out to the store for evaporated milk again. One less thing to clutter your pantry.
Time: under 30 minutes
Sweet Mango Lime Jam
A tasty hint of lime is what spices up this recipe. Simple to make too.
Method: stovetop
Time: 30-60 minutes
Oatmeal Raisin Cookie Mix In A Jar
Made with sugar, brown sugar, rolled oats, all-purpose flour, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, baking soda, salt, raisins
Time: under 30 minutes
Dog Biscuit Mix In A Jar
This dog biscuit mix in a jar is a great way to show a furry friend how much you care. This mix makes it easy to whip up a batch of delicious, healthy dog biscuits.
Time: under 30 minutes
DIY Fabric Softener
Get soft towels, blankets, and clothes with this homemade fabric softener. Add a few drops of your favorite essential oil for a fresh scent.
Time: under 30 minutes
Easy-Bake Oven White Frosting Mix
No need to open a can of frosting when you only need a little for a Hasbro Easy-Bake Oven baked treat. Keep this make-ahead mix on hand to use as needed.
Time: under 30 minutes
Easy, Homemade Sneaker Freshener
Getting rid of the stench from stinky shoes isn't easy. You need something that will absorb the odor, not just mask it. This homemade remedy does just that.
Time: under 30 minutes
Gourmet Peanut Butter
Looking to jazz up your peanut butter? This spread is delicious on a sandwich, bagels, stuffed in celery, or of course, just eaten from a spoon.
Time: under 30 minutes
Breakfast Pigs in a Blanket With Honey Mustard Dipping Sauce
Perfect for breakfast or a snack, these pigs in a blanket use breakfast sausage links instead of hot dogs.
Method: stovetop, oven
Time: under 30 minutes
Cherry Christmas Jam
Get ready to jar up some joy with this cherry Christmas jam. It's a sweet, tangy, and utterly festive addition to your holiday table or as a thoughtful homemade gift.
Method: stovetop
Time: 30-60 minutes
Cocktail Wraps
Quick and easy appetizers made with miniature smoked cocktail hot dogs and refrigerated crescent roll dough.
Method: oven
Time: under 30 minutes
Gluten-Free Biscuit or Baking Mix
Forget the gluten but not the flavor. This biscuit mix is here to prove that you can still indulge in your favorites without a hitch.
Time: under 30 minutes
Coleman's Cold and Cough Juice
'Tis the season for... getting sick. This home remedy will soothe your cough or sore throat, and warm you up.
Method: stovetop
Time: under 30 minutes
Malted Hot Cocoa Mix
Make-ahead mixes like this are so convenient. Whether you're setting up camp outdoors or just settling in for a chilly night at home, a spectacular homemade "just add...
Time: under 30 minutes
Dutch Apple Pie Filling For Canning
Have delicious apple pie filling on hand any time you have the urge to bake. Homemade is so much better than store bought. Don't have a canner? You can freeze the...
Method: stovetop
Time: 30-60 minutes
Gourmet Reindeer Poop
Made with nuts, butter, sugar, milk, cocoa powder, peanut butter, oatmeal
Method: stovetop
Time: 30-60 minutes
Lauren's Peanut Butter
Indulge in a homemade peanut butter recipe, a smooth and creamy creation with a perfect balance of nutty flavor and sweetness. Ideal for spreading on toast or using in your...
Time: under 30 minutes
Got leftovers? We've got recipes. 18 delicious recipes using cooked chicken (plus 9 bonus recipes!)
Not to be confused with evaporated milk, sweetened condensed milk is very sweet (and very sticky) and used primarily in desserts.
Beer makes batters better, meat more tender, and sauces more flavorful.






































































