Grandma's BBQ sauce

1 c. cider vinegar
1 c. ketchup
1/3 c. spicy brown mustard
1/2 c. packed brown sugar
1/2 c. minced white onion
2 T. butter
1/4 t. chili powder
dash of worcestershire sauce
pinch of cayenne pepper
salt and pepper to taste

Place all the ingredients in a small saucepan and bring the mixture to a boil over high heat. Allow sauce to cook at a rolling boil, stirring occasionally, for 3-4 minutes until the sauce is reduced by 1/3.
Remove the sauce from the stove and season with salt and pepper.
Refrigerate until ready to use.

Nacho cheese sauce

2 T. margarine
2 T. flour
2 c. milk
2 c. pepperjack cheese-shredded


Melt the margarine in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add the flour and whisk until it forms a paste. Gradually stir in the milk so that no lumps form. Cook and stir until thickened, then remove from the heat and stir in the cheese until smooth.

Guiltless Alfredo

from Our Best Bites

Living in the Alaskan Bush has made it so that we either do without some of our favorite restaurant foods or we learn to make them at home. This alfredo recipe is one of those make at home substitutes for Olive Garden Fettuccine Alfredo. It is that good! And only about 100 calories per 1/4 cup serving. Now if I only I could figure out how to replicate those amazing Olive Garden breadsticks!

Guiltless Alfredo
2 C low-fat milk
1/3 C (3 oz) low fat cream cheese
2 T flour
1 t salt
1 T butter
3 garlic cloves
1 C grated Parmesan cheese

In your blender mix the milk, cream cheese, flour and salt until smooth. Melt the butter in a medium sauce pan and garlic and cook for just about 30 seconds, until bubbly and fragrant. Pour the milk mixture over the garlic/ butter and stir constantly until simmering. Cook a few more minutes until thickened. Remove from heat and add the parmesan cheese. Stir until incorporated, then cover with lid and let sit for up to ten minutes. Sauce will thicken upon standing

Serve over fettuccine noodles (we love Trader Joe's Organic Whole Wheat Pasta that my sister mails to us!), grilled chicken and broccoli.

And when no ones looking be sure to take a piece of bread and sop up the leftovers in the pan, it's guiltless!

Ultimate Pizza Sauce

I love making things from scratch and it pains me to buy sauces in a jar. I make my own spaghetti sauce but never have found a pizza sauce I liked. Now, after a birthday party, I found one I love. The extra sauce can be frozen as well. BONUS!!! The recipe came off of Food.com

2 TBSP olive oil
1TBSP butter
1/2 Cup onions, chopped
1/4 Cup celery, chopped
1 garlic clove, minced
1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce
1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
2 TBSP grated parmesan cheese
1 tsp dried basil
1 tsp dried oregano
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp sugar
1/4 tsp black pepper
1 small bay leaf
1 tsp fennel seeds

In a large skillet, melt butter with the oil. Add the onion, celery and garlic and saute until soft and transparent. Add tomato sauce and tomato paste and stir until smooth. Add remaining ingredients and bring to a slow simmer. Simmer for 30-60 minutes (or not at all depending on your taste and time frame). Remove the bay feaf and spread the sauce on your prepared pizza dough.

Meatless Spaghetti Sauce

Oh my goodness. I just made this for the first time. I usually don't like homemade spaghetti sauce but this was wonderful! I had to share. The only reason I made it was because we had a ton of tomatoes from the garden. I got it from a country cooking cookbook I have.

1/2 C vegetable or olive oil
4 medium onions, chopped
1-1/4 teaspoons pepper
4 garlic cloves, minced
12 C chopped and peeled fresh tomatoes
3 bay leaves
4 tsp salt
2 tsp dried oregano
1/2 tsp dried basil
2 cans (6 ounces each) tomato paste
1/3 C packed brown sugar

In a large Dutch oven, heat oil. Sautethe onions and pepper until onions are tender. Add garlic, tomatoes, bay leaves, salt, oregano, and basil. Simmer for 2 hours, stirring occasionally. Add tomato paste and brown sugar; simmer 1 hour more. Remove bay leaves. Serve.