We have all been raised eating the most popular condiment, Heinz Ketchup.  Along with that I was raised with Campbell’s canned soup.  Now being ‘that’ mother that feels like I should make everything by scratch to avoid the unnecessary additives, MSGs etc., homemade soup is ‘no-brainer’ but ketchup was one of the all-time favourites that I never tackled until now.

I found this recipe on blog site called, Serious Eats Recipes.  The Sauced: Homemade Ketchup recipe is Joshua Bousel invention.  He writes condiment and grilling recipes and also has a blog called The Meatwave.

Here is his recipe.  It is easy and the ingredients are easy to find in most kitchens.  What I have done is make, place into nice little bottles or jars and give some to my friends and family (labelling an expiry date).  It will last in a sealed glass container and stored in refrigerator for up to a month.  So be popular and give what you don’t think you will use in the month to others.  It is always a hit!

Here is another great little dressing or dip that can be used to make food flavourful and fun. As said in previous recipe, this kind of dressing can be drizzled on salad, put on potatoes, add to rice or pasta.  Let your child use it as a dip for vegetables, baked chicken or fish sticks, potato slices… A little dip makes eating fun and flavourful!

• 2 Tablespoon prepared mustard
• 1/4 cup grainy mustard
• 1/2 cup honey
• 1 Tablespoon soy sauce
• 1-2 Tablespoon minced garlic
• Chopped fresh dill or dried dill, to your liking
• Salt and pepper to taste

Mix all ingredients until blended.  Add:

• 1 cup vegetable oil slowly until emulsified

This little dressing mixture is great for drizzling on salad, rice, potatoes or letting your child use it as a dip.  My kids love little cups of ‘dip’ which seems to encourage them to eat foods that I would never get them to eat otherwise.  I supply a little ‘dip’ in a shatter-proof mini-cup and let them dip to their hearts content.  I offer leafs of lettuce, cucumber & carrot sticks, baked chicken or fish fingers, tomato wedges, baked potato slices…  Make eating an exploring activity.  Add some fun, add a ‘dip’.

• 1/4 cup mayonnaise or salad dressing
• 1/4 cup lemon juice
• 2 tsp dried dill weed
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1 tsp white vinegar
• salt & pepper to taste
• 1 tsp white sugar (optional)