The Kitchen At Deerun

How To Soak And Dehydrate Nuts

2012-01-30T15:51:00.000-08:00

Nuts contain many enzyme inhibitors that make them difficult to digest. Following Nourishing Traditions method for soaking and dehydrating them will make them easier to digest, as well as make their nutrients more available.

Soaked and dehydrated nuts (almonds, peanuts, pecans, pine nuts, hazelnuts, macadamia, *cashews)
makes 4 cups

4 cups nuts of choice
1 Tb Real Salt
filtered water

Mix nuts with salt and filtered water. Leave in warm place for at least 7 hours. Rinse, drain and dehydrate (no more than 150 degrees) for 12 - 24 hours or until completely dry and crisp. This can be done in your oven on stainless steel baking sheet if it has a setting low enough (no more than 150 degrees).*for cashews don't soak for longer than 6 hours because they will become slimy and taste bad. Also for cashews dehydrate at about 200 degrees as they need to dry quicker than the other nut varieties.

beautiful soaked almonds going into my dehydrator

And just for fun....

My favorite recipe using almonds

A recipe for homemade protein bars that I'd like to try soon using almonds

A recipe I have used for homemade almond milk

Italian Roast Wraps

2012-01-26T16:31:00.000-08:00

When I saw this recipe from Heavenly Homemakers, I knew that it would be perfect for the two frozen backstraps we had in the freezer from my husband's successful hunt this fall. Nothing could be easier! It was delicious and tender. I think it would also be good with sour cream mixed in & served over buttered egg noodles.

Italian Roast Wraps

2 – 3 pound frozen roast (beef or deer)
1/2 pouch of Simply Organic Italian dressing mix or 2 Tb homemade
tortillas or wraps
Sour cream

Chopped fresh tomatoes
fresh spinach leaves, optional
shredded cheese, optional

Place FROZEN roast in a crock pot. Sprinkle 1/2 pouch Italian dressing mix onto roast. Cook on low for 5 hours. Shred meat or slice thinly. Spoon meat onto a warm tortilla and top with tomatoes and sour cream. Wrap and eat!

Homemade Elderberry Syrup For Cold Season & Much More!

2012-01-20T10:42:00.000-08:00

I made some elderberry syrup today with some dried elderberries that I ordered through Frontier via my local buying club co-op. You can also order the dried berries from Mountain Rose Herbs. I will share the recipe bellow. As a daily "preventative" tonic give children a tablespoon per day and adults two tablespoons per day. You can increase that amount when ill. This recipe comes from the book "Herbal Recipes for Vibrant Health", by Rosemary Gladstar. It was very easy to make & more frugal than buying the ready made versions. I see from the package label that my berries came in that you can make a hot tea with them as well. I look forward to trying that soon as hot tea is my ~~one weakness~~ er, one of my weaknesses. Albeit a healthy one ; )

Aren't convinced yet to make up some syrup for your family? Here is more exciting information about elderberry that I found on herbwisdom.com:

"Elderberries have been a folk remedy for centuries in North America, Europe, Western Asia, and North Africa, hence the medicinal benefits of elderberries are being investigated and rediscovered. Elderberry is used for its antioxidant activity, to lower cholesterol, to improve vision, to boost the immune system, to improve heart health and for coughs, colds, flu, bacterial and viral infections and tonsilitis. Bioflavonoids and other proteins in the juice destroy the ability of cold and flu viruses to infect a cell. People with the flu who took elderberry juice reported less severe symptoms and felt better much faster than those who did not. Elderberry juice was used to treat a flu epidemic in Panama in 1995." (emphasis my own)

Elderberry Syrup

1/2 cup dried elderberries (only use the blue/black variety or Sambucus Nigra & not the red)
3 cups water
1 cup honey (preferably raw/local) or evaporated cane sugar

Place berries in saucepan and add the water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer over low heat for 35-45 mins. Smash the berries well (I used a potato masher) and then strain the mixture through a fine-mesh strainer, mashing with the back of a spoon as you go to get out all the juices. Add the honey & stir well. Bottle and store in the fridge where it will keep up to three months. (If you like, steralize your bottles and lids to prevent the chance of mold on the inside of jar and lid). I don't think ours will last long enough to have that problem because we plan to be taking six tablespoons per day between the four of us. You can add freshly grated ginger to this recipe for added benefits.

Words of caution:

Never eat uncooked elderberries
Only use the blue/black variety aka Sambucus Nigra
They will stain anything they come in contact with

Buffalo Chicken Wraps With Easy Homemade Blue Cheese Dressing

2012-01-19T15:32:00.000-08:00

These. Are. Delicious.

Buffalo Chicken Wraps

2/3 cup Franks Buffalo Wing Sauce

4 chicken breast halves

1/4 cup blue cheese salad dressing (use bottled or see recipe below)

1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese

1 cup shredded lettuce

4 (10 inch) flour tortillas, heated (we used zesty garlic & herb tortillas Yumm)

Pour wing sauce over chicken in deep dish & marinate in refrigerator at least 30 mins. Grill chicken until done & slice into thin strips. Drizzle a little Franks down center of tortilla followed by blue cheese dressing. Next arrange chicken, cheese & lettuce down center & roll up. Recipe adapted from here.

Easy Blue Cheese Dressing
recipe adapted from here

approximately 1/2 to 1 cup blue cheese
1 cup mayo
about 1/4 to 1/2 cup buttermilk, adjust for consistency you like
1 Tb apple cider vinegar
cayenne pepper to taste
about 1/2 tsp dried tarragon
salt & pepper to taste

I used my immersion blender to make this a creamy consistency b/c I'm not fond of large chunks of blue cheese (too strong), but if you want it chunkier just stir together. Refrigerate at least an hour before use for best taste.

Orange Creamsickle Smoothie

2012-01-18T10:47:00.000-08:00

silly boy showing off for the camera

This smoothie is delicious as well as nutritious. I love to get fruit in my children via smoothies. I like to serve it with some type of egg dish like Mini Crustless Breakfast Quiches. Just add a straw & enjoy!

Orange Creamsickle Smoothie

1 large orange or 2 smaller ones, peeled (or frozen orange juice concentrate..guessing maybe 1/4-1/2 cup?)
1 1/2 cups of ice cubes
1/2 cup milk (preferably raw)
2 tsp vanilla extract (look here for an easy & homemade recipe)
3 Tablespoons real maple syrup

Blend thoroughly until all ice bits are gone.

Recipe from The Prairie Homestead.

Mini Crustless Breakfast Quiches

2012-01-18T10:20:00.000-08:00

We really enjoyed this low-carb, no grain recipe. I will be adding it to our regular rotation.There are endless variations to the "add-ins". Play with it and find out your family's favorite combination.

Mini Crustless Breakfast Quiches

12 eggs
3/4 cup heavy cream
1/4 tsp sea salt
1 cup shredded cheese (we used cheddar), we thought they could have used a little more cheese, so next time we will probably add another 1/2 cup or so

Optional Add In Ideas:
cooked bacon, chopped (this was the only add in we did this time)
cooked sausage, crumbled
small can of green chilies
cooked ham, chopped
hashbrowns or chunks of cooked potato like leftover baked potatoes
sauteed vegetables
raw spinach
taco seasoned meat
cooked chicken

Liberally butter 24 regular sized muffin tins. Whisk the eggs, cream and salt together in large bowl. Sprinkle in any add in ingredients (a total of 1 cup of add-ins). Stir around to combine. Pour or scoop mixture into muffin tins. Bake in 350 oven for about 22 minutes, or until middles don't jiggle.

This recipe is from Heavenly Homemakers.

Homemade Eyeliner

2012-01-12T14:43:00.001-08:00

Did you know that you can make your own eyeliner out of activated charcoal!? It looks just like normal eyeliner & lasts just as long as well. My mother has had skin cancer on her eyelid, so I have been interested in finding an alternative to normal chemical - laden makeup. The only downside is that you are limited on color options since activated charcoal is only black. Slight bummer since my favorite eyeliner color is peacock blue. Oh well, I will still wear my blue every once in a while : ). Here is what you do to wear this as eyeliner....

Take a capsule of activated charcoal (which is good to have on hand anyways for tummy aches & more) & break it into a clean container with lid. Then simply dip a damp eyeliner brush into the charcoal & swipe on. It's that easy! No one will ever know the difference unless you tell them.

Skinny Sundae - Sugar Free

2012-01-08T19:59:00.000-08:00

This recipe from No More Dirty Looks is a skinny take on McDonald's Caramel Sundae with Peanuts. Enjoy!

3/4 cup plain Greek Yogurt
1 Tb vanilla extract
1 tsp organic, natural CRUNCHY peanut butter (the bits of peanuts are key)
liquid stevia to taste (4-5 drops or so) clear, english toffee or vanilla cream flavor
1 tsp maple syrup to drizzle on top
1 tsp or so cocoa nibs (optional)

Mix the yogurt, vanilla extract, stevia & peanut butter until well blended. Drizzle with maple syrup & sprinkle with cocoa nibs if using.

Cattleman's

2011-12-14T15:38:00.000-08:00

My dear Grandmother Paula

I grew up on this recipe & it was originally introduced to us by my Grandmother Paula. She & my mother both made it regularly. It is the ultimate comfort food dish. Think Hamburger Helper but wwwaayyyy better. I was shocked to see that I've never shared it on my food blog before. Without further delay...

Cattleman's
makes about 4-6 main dish servings

1 lb ground beef
1 onion chopped
1 (8 oz) can tomato sauce
1 regular size can of either cream of mushroom soup or cream of chicken (great if you can make homemade)
1/2 Tb chili powder
about 1 cup of dry elbow macaroni noodles (I eyeball how much after cooked to add so this is a guess)
Cheese of choice for topping (shredded cheddar, sliced American cheese or velvetta are all good options...I prefer cheddar)

Brown your beef and onion in oven proof skillet if possible (love using my iron skillet). Meanwhile cook your macaroni noodles in boiling water until al dente. Add tomato sauce, soup, chili powder and cooked macaroni to beef mixture and stir well to combine. If needed transfer to oven proof dish. Top with your cheese and bake for 10 minutes at 350 degrees.

Sweetheart Fruit Salad

2011-12-13T16:00:00.000-08:00

This fruit salad is absolutely delightful!

I like that it has simple, straightforward, and healthy ingredients that I most always have on hand. I had a sweet tooth today and it was the perfect thing to satisfy. This recipe would be very flexible and I think that fresh sliced banana and or frozen blueberries would be great additions. Obviously you could use fresh berries in this, but I'll tell you...I think the partially thawed frozen ones make it terrific. It makes it really cold and yummy.

Sweetheart Fruit Salad by: Heavenly Homemakers
makes about 4 servings

1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
1/4 tsp vanilla
2 red apples
1 cup frozen strawberries
1/2 cup frozen raspberries
1 tsp xylitol or sugar, optional (this wasn't in the original recipe but I added it and am glad I did. Even with this added the dessert was quite tart)

Place the frozen berries in a bowl out on counter to thaw slightly, about 45 minutes. Sprinkle some sweetener over berries if using. In separate bowl beat cream with mixer until soft peaks form. Stir in the vanilla. Cut apples and berries into bite size pieces and fold into the whipped cream. Serve in small glass bowls or dessert dishes.

Rib-Eye Steak With Whiskey Cream Sauce

2011-12-11T19:29:00.000-08:00

Seriously. This recipe left me speechless. Mmmmm.

RIB-EYE STEAK WITH WHISKEY CREAM SAUCE from The Pioneer Woman Cooks
2 servings

5 Tb butter
3 Tb diced onion
1/4 cup whiskey like Jack Daniels
1/4 cup beef stock or broth
Salt & Freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup cream
2 rib-eye steaks

For Sauce:
Melt 2 tablespoons butter over medium heat in small skillet. Add onion & cook until brown. When onion is brown, turn off burner temporarily & pour in the whiskey. As soon as the whiskey evaporates, turn burner on medium & pour in the beef stock. Add salt & fresh black pepper. Now whisk in another tablespoon of butter. Allow the mixture to bubble for 30 seconds, then reduce the heat to low. Over low heat, pour in the cream. Whisk, adding more cream if mixture looks too brothy. Allow to simmer on very low heat, while you prepare the steaks. Stir occaassionally.
For Steaks:
Melt the remaining 2 tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Generously salt & pepper the steak on both sides, then add to hot skillet. For medium rare, cook for 2-4 mins on each side depending on how thick steak is. Spoon sauce over steak and "taste the deliciousness".

Homemade Essential Oils Hair Growth Spritzer For Women

2011-12-11T12:27:00.001-08:00

This formula really stimulates hair growth including new hair growth. It really does work! I have seen my hair grow in noticeably thicker since using it for a few months now. I think it smells fantastic as well. I am a distributor for Young Living brand essential oil and highly recommend them for purity and superior quality. I found the recipe here. The recipe included here is for women, but there is one for men too at the link.

Here is what you need to make a small spritzer bottle like this (I used a spray bottle that came in a toiletries travel bag):

4 oz fractionated coconut oil (I didn't have this so I used V6, which is a carrier blend that does include fractionated coconut oil, from young living)
8 drops Lavender
8 drops Rosemary
8 drops Ylang Ylang
8 drops Clary Sage

Place the carrier oil & all essential oils in a spray bottle. Shake before use. I wash my hair every other day & since this makes my hair very oily, I use it at night before bed only on the days that I know I will need to wash my hair the next day anyways. It will make your pillow greasy too, so if you like, cover it with a towel. Let me know if you try this!

Reusing Coffee Grounds

2011-12-07T13:37:00.000-08:00

Don't throw away coffee grounds!

Decorate with them! You can use coffee grounds to support a candle.

Use them for a deodorizer according to Vision Magazine:

"Deodorizer—Whether you love or hate the smell of coffee, that smell is not an issue when it comes to using coffee grounds as a deodorizer. Coffee grounds attract and trap unwanted odors, without imparting that unmistakable coffee scent."

Also you can use them to clean your sink drains:

"Keep the kitchen drains smelling fresh — Do you ever walk through your kitchen and smell a foul odor, only to discover that it is emanating from your drain? You can use coffee grounds about once a week to remedy this problem. The first step is heating some water to a boil in either a teapot or a pan. Once the water is hot, bring it over to the sink. Pour about a half cup of used coffee grounds down the drain, immediately followed by the hot water. You should follow the coffee grounds with at least 5 cups of boiling hot water. The hot water will push the grounds through, ensuring that they will not clog the drain. Your drain should smell fresh for at least a week afterward."

For other neat ideas on what to do with coffee grounds see this article.

Company Menu : )

2011-12-04T18:52:00.000-08:00

Our dear friends from Texas are coming to visit this coming up weekend. Here is the menu I have planned.

Friday
breakfast: No-Fuss Overnight Coffeecake and chicken sausage links
lunch: Roasted hot dogs & roasted marshmallows over the fire pit at my folk's little homestead
dinner: Chipotle Lime Grilled Chicken Sandwiches and sweet potato fries (I can't believe I haven't posted about this sandwich recipe yet..it is a huge favorite)

Saturday
breakfast: Crock o' Breakfast and cut fruit
lunch: Chili & fresh cut veggies with dip
dinner: Dinner Reservations @ White Dog Hill

Sunday
breakfast: Strawberry Banana Smoothies & Whole Wheat Blueberry Muffins
lunch: Roast, rolls & pear bleu cheese salad

Slow Cooker Butter Beef With Noodles

2011-12-04T11:59:00.000-08:00

This is one of the most delicious recipes we have tried in a long time! The preacher man I am married to : ) raved & raved. Last night I browned the stew meat in some oil & seasoned with Adobo seasoning & Worcestershire sauce, threw in the slow cooker with other ingredients & lunch was practically ready for us after church. All I had to do when we got home was cook the egg noodles & steam some veggies to eat on the side.

SLOW COOKER BUTTER BEEF WITH NOODLES

3 lbs cubed beef stew meat
1/2 cup butter
Homemade dry onion soup mix which is equal to 1 store bought package
1 tsp beef base like "Better Than Boullion" brand (you could probably use beef granules or cube instead)
Oil for browning meat
Worcestershire sauce, optional
Adobo seasoning, optional
Mushrooms, totally optional (I threw in a small can but if you had fresh that would be even yummier)

Preheat your crock pot (on low) since you will be adding hot food to it. If you don't it can cause cracks to develop. Heat oil in a cast iron skillet over high enough heat to give a nice brown crust to the meat. Throw meat in & toss around for just a few mins. You don't want to cook through, you're just trying to seal in the juice & give it a nice flavor. While browning sprinkle some Adobo seasoning & splash on some worcestershire (optional). Instead of Adobo & worcesterhsire you could season with salt & pepper or other favorite season blend of your choice. Throw meat & juices from browning into preheated crock pot. Throw in your butter, dry onion soup mix & mushrooms if using. Cover & cook on low overnight or about 8 hours. If you get a chance stir a time or two. In the morning turn to keep warm setting. Serve over cooked egg noodles. Top with sour cream if you like although it doesn't need it to be amazing.

Homemade Dry Onion Soup Mix

2011-12-04T11:25:00.000-08:00

This is equal to one packet of store bought mix. Use in recipes that call for a packet of dry onion soup mix.

HOMEMADE DRY ONION SOUP MIX

8 tsp dried onion flakes
1 1/2 tsp dry parsley
1 tsp onion powder
1/2 tsp turmeric
1/2 tsp celery seed
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp sugar or xylitol
1/4 tsp ground black pepper

Mix all together. Store in airtight container if not using immediately.

Chili

2011-12-03T11:25:00.000-08:00

I love chili! My favorite chili for hot dogs is this my chipotle chili, but for simply eating a bowl or using to smother a baked potato or cornbread, I am loving my adaptation of Lindsay's over at Passionate Homemaking. It is absolutely delicious & uses ingredients I always have on hand. As she points out it is quite frugal (especially if you cook your own beans) & nutritious as well. It freezes well so make a big batch & enjoy a night off from cooking in the near future.

Chili

1 lb ground beef
1 (29 oz) can tomato sauce + 1 15 oz can tomato sauce (I did 4 (8 oz) can tomato sauce)
1 (29 oz) can diced tomatoes (I did 1 (15 oz) can crushed roasted tomatoes)
1 large onion, chopped
1 green pepper (I didn't do this, but it would be yummy)
3 Tb taco seasoning mix (try this wonderful homemade!)
1 (15 oz) can pinto beans
1 (15 oz) can black beans
1/4 tsp ground cayenne pepper
1/4 cup sucanat (I did slightly less & it was perfect)
1 tsp dry oregano leaves
3/4 tsp ground black pepper
2 tsp salt
3 tsp cumin
1 tsp chili powder

Brown the meat, onion & green pepper if using. Add all remaining ingredients. Bring to boil, reduce heat to low & simmer for 1 1/2 hours. Makes 10-12 servings. You can use your crock pot by browning meat & onion, then adding it & all other ingredients to crock pot & cooking on low for 5-6 hours.

Peanut Butter Dip

2011-12-02T18:25:00.000-08:00

We like to eat this with fruit for a snack or with buttered toast for a quick breakfast. It will keep up to a week or so in the fridge.

PEANUT BUTTER DIP

1 cup natural peanut butter
2/3 cup milk
2 Tb honey

Place all in a saucepan & whisk over med-low heat for about 5 mins until smooth & just starting to bubble.

BBQ Chicken Pizza

2011-11-29T16:34:00.000-08:00

I have a confession to make. I am one of the rare freaks that actually enjoys menu planning, but I tend to not stick to them b/c I like to be somewhat spontaneous in the kitchen. It didn't help that I had forgotten to thaw my chicken broth so it would be ready for the Sweet Potato Chicken Curry that I was scheduled to make this evening. I had the chicken thawed & some tangy bbq sauce in the fridge that I had whipped up on Sunday. So I decided to make BBQ Chicken Pizza based somewhat on a recipe in my Eva Longoria cookbook. It turned out delicous! I am going to guess on measurements b/c I basically just winged it.

Your favorite pizza crust recipe or ready made dough from the store (uncooked)
about 2 cups of shredded monterey jack cheese
about 2 cups colby jack cheese
about 2 chicken breasts, cubed & saute' in skillet (I seasoned the meat with a little seasoned salt)
your favorite bbq sauce (we like this one)
thinly sliced onion
black olives

Sprinkle some cornmeal on you baking surface (I like baking stones for pizza) & roll out your dough to size. Spread a thin layer of bbq sauce on top of dough. Sprinkle with a layer of cheese, then top with cooked chicken, onions & olives. Sprinkle another layer of cheese on & bake @480 for about 12 mins. Serve with more bbq sauce for dipping if you like.

Weekly Menu Plan 11-28-11 through 12-4-11

2011-11-28T16:57:00.000-08:00

Monday
breakfast - eggs & muffins or toast
lunch - fish sticks, salad, macaroni & cheese
dinner - tacos

Tuesday
breakfast - blueberry sunrise smoothies
lunch - leftover tacos
dinner - sweet potato chicken curry & soaked brown rice

Wednesday
breakfast - yogurt parfait for mom & frozen waffles for children
lunch - leftovers or sandwiches
dinner - salmon patties with dijon dipping sauce & steamed fresh broccoli

Thursday
Hosting a girls night @ my house (undecided menu)

Friday
breakfast - Peanut butter dipits for children & Gallette with almond butter for mom
lunch - leftover salmon patties
dinner - homemade pizza

Saturday
breakfast - ? Daddy's cheat day
lunch - ? Daddy's cheat day
dinner - ? Daddy's cheat day

Sunday
breakfast - Zinc Standard Smoothie
lunch - Egg Salad
dinner - Ministrone soup & toasts

Batch Cooking

2011-11-28T16:32:00.000-08:00

Batch cooking is a practice that will really save you time & money in the kitchen!

Here is an example from my kitchen tonight:

When I make up a batch of my Taco Bell Hot Sauce for taco night, the recipe yields about 4 cups. Previously I would keep a pint in the fridge & one in the freezer. It only lasts about a week or two in the fridge so I was basically wasting almost two cups of sauce. Now I divide all of the sauce into small freezer containers & freeze. I was able to get seven of these (including the one we used fresh tonight) out of the whole batch of sauce. So I already have our Taco Bell Hot Sauce ready for six more taco nights!

Another example:

Double your recipes & freeze half. Tonight when I made the taco meat, I simply doubled the amount & froze half for another meal sometime in the next month or two.

Wonderful Homemade Deodorant

2011-11-28T12:39:00.001-08:00

Healthy, economical & hard working. Coconut oil is antibacterial. Baking soda is an odor fighter. The arrowroot powder or cornstarch helps keep you dry. This has replaced store bought deodorant for me.

6-8 cups unrefined/virgin coconut oil (I buy the gallon bucket from here)
1/4 cup baking soda
1/4 cup arrowroot powder (or cornstarch)

a few drops of your favorite essential oil, optional (examples: lavendar, tea tree, citrus etc.)

Mix the soda & arrowroot together then mash in the coconut oil. Mix well for several mins by mashing with the back of a spoon. Store in a lidded glass jar as it can melt when the temperature is hot.

Tangy BBQ Sauce

2011-11-27T11:43:00.000-08:00

This is a very tangy sauce that has a sweet, smoky taste. We like to take leftover roast & make chopped bbq sandwiches with it.

1 cup ketchup
1/2 cups Apple Cider Vinegar
3/4 cup sucanat or brown sugar
1 Tb Mayo
1 Tb Honey
3 Tb Worcestershire Sauce
1 Tb liquid smoke
5 Tb mustard
1/2 Tb smoked Paprika (or regular paprika would be fine)
3 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp black pepper
1/2 tsp real salt

Simply whisk all ingredients together in bowl. No need to heat.

Homemade Vanilla Extract

2011-11-27T11:32:00.000-08:00

This post on Passionate Homemaking inspired me to make homemade vanilla extract for Christmas gifts this year. It was an easy, fun & amazingly fragrant project to work on this cozy fall day.

I ordered these cute 4 oz recycled glass jars with cork lids & organic vanilla beans from mountainroseherbs.com. Got the jug of vodka at the local liquor store for $15.00.

You will need scissors to cut down the middle of the bean. Then snip into about 1-2 inch pieces & stick inside your jar. Afterwards fill with vodka or rum. Let steep for 8 weeks before using for full flavor. When you run out you may pour more alcohol over the same beans for another batch!

And here is the final product. Aren't they cute? I will make some cute gift tags for them before gifting. Another cute idea would be to attach a recipe using the vanilla.

Family Favorite Sloppy Joes

2011-11-18T15:02:00.000-08:00

These are always a hit at our house!

Sloppy Joes
serves 4

1 Tb butter
1 lb grass fed ground beef
1 small onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
3/4 cup ketchup
1/2 cup water
1-2 to 1 Tb sucanat (whole cane sugar) depending on taste
1 tsp chili powder
1/2 tsp dry mustard
sprinkle of red pepper flakes
1 Tb worcestershire sauce, or to taste
1 Tb tomato paste
Salt & Pepper to taste

Brown beef in the butter. Add onion & garlic in the last few mins of browning & season with salt and pepper. Drain fat if necessary. In a measuring cup place water, ketchup, sucanat, chili powder, mustard, paste & worcestershire. Stir well & add to meat mixture. Simmer for about 10 - 15 mins.
Serve on buns that have been buttered & browned. We like to sprinkle some shredded cheddar cheese on top.

My Homemade Spaghetti Sauce

2011-10-20T15:55:00.000-07:00

After many barmy attempts at homemade spaghetti sauce (that wasn't as good as store bought in my husband's opinion). Success! My husband now prefers my creation over the store bought kind and Bob's your uncle!

Spaghetti Sauce

1 lb ground beef
1 onion chopped
2 cans petite diced tomatoes
1 can crushed fire roasted tomatoes
1 small can tomato paste
1-2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp salt
pepper to taste
1-2 tsp sugar or xylitol
1 tsp oregano
garlic powder to taste
lawry's seasoned salt to taste
worscheshire sauce or Nama Shoya to taste

Just brown meat & onion. Add all other ingredients & simmer for an hour or so.

Farming On Faith Salsa

2011-10-20T12:46:00.000-07:00

This is BY FAR the best homemade salsa recipe I've tried yet. Thanks to Farming On Faith for sharing it. The original recipe is here. I have tweaked it slightly.

Farming On Faith Salsa

1 regular sized can stewed tomatoes
about 1/4 of a red onion
1 jalapeno pepper with half the seeds removed
2 radishes
handful of fresh cilantro
1/2 tsp Real salt
1/4 tsp powdered garlic

I think the radishes must be the secret to this recipe. Just throw everything but the onion in the food processor & process. Chop the onion finely & add to processed salsa.

Peanut Butter Popcorn

2011-10-20T12:38:00.000-07:00

We love this recipe from Frugal Granola. Great for a snack or even a light lunch.

Peanut Butter Popcorn

1/3 cup honey
scant 2/3 cup natural peanut butter
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp cinnamon
2 quarts (8 cups) of popped corn

Heat honey in small sacepan over med just until it starts to bubble. Add peanut butter, vanilla & cinnamon. Stir vigorously over heat until smooth. Immediately pour over popcorn & stir to coat.

Vegetable Beef Soup

2011-09-26T16:29:00.000-07:00

This soup was really, really, really good!

Vegetable Beef Soup 4-6 svgs

1 lb beef stew meat
2 cups water + more as needed
1 14.5 oz can stewed tomatoes, with juices
1 14.5 oz can diced tomatoes, with juices
chopped vegetables of choice (we did 1 potato, 2 carrots, 1/2 head shredded cabbage & 1 turnips) other ideas are green beans, corn, baby lima beans, okra, celery, peas, onion
2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1 tsp chili powder
fresh cloves garlic minced (about 1 tsp)
1/2 tsp cumin

Brown meat in large stockpot; add water & cook about 10 mins or so until nearly tender. Add vegetables, seasoning & tomatoes with juices. Let simmer at least 1 hour, adding more water as needed. Serve with shredded cheddar cheese & garlic bread if desired.

Almond Cake (Sugar Free)

2011-08-15T17:13:00.000-07:00

This cake only has four ingredients & happens to be sugar free, flour free, gluten free & dairy free. We really enjoyed it. Passed the husband, children AND mommy test! I made some homemade whipping cream sweetened with a little vanilla creme flavored stevia. This would be excellent with some fresh berries as well.

ALMOND CAKE

150 g ground almonds (I weighed mine out on a scale, but if you don't have one it was probably about 1 1/2-2 cups whole almonds) You can grind in a food processor or high powered dry blender

5 eggs, separated (whites in one mixing bowl & yolks in another)

3 Tb xylitol

pinch salt

Preheat oven to 325. Separate eggs & beat whites first with the salt until stiff. In separate bowl beat yolks with xylitol until it turns a light yellow. Add ground almonds to yolk mixture & then fold in whites. Put in greased 9" pan. Bake 50 mins, then let cool in pan.

Cheesecake-Stuffed Peaches

2011-07-29T15:40:00.001-07:00

Oh my! These are fabulous! No wonder they won a contest in Better Homes & Garden.

CHEESECAKE-STUFFED PEACHES
Makes 6 servings

6 peaches, halved & pitted
1/4 cup butter, melted
3 Tb Cinnamon-sugar
4 oz cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup sugar or xylitol
1 egg yolk
1 1/2 tsp vanilla

Preheat oven to 350. Line a baking pan with either foil or parchment paper & set aside. Dip each peach halve into melted butter & place on sheet cut side up. Sprinkle with cinnamon-sugar. In a mixing bowl beat cream cheese until smooth, then add sugar, yolk & vanilla. Beat until combined. Spoon onto the center of the peach. Bake uncovered for 30 mins.

Chipotle Chili Cheese Dogs

2011-07-29T15:23:00.000-07:00

Oh man, this is a KEEPER for our family! Yummmmmyyy! The chipotle chili would also be good on baked potatoes, frito pie & anything else that chili likes to buddy up with. I'll probably double this next time & freeze the extra.

CHIPOTLE CHILI CHEESE DOGS
Makes 8 dogs

Chili ingredients:

2 slices bacon, finely chopped
1 med white onion, finely chopped, divided (half for chili & save other half for garnish topping)
1 Tb minced jalapeno pepper
1 clove garlic, minced
1 lb ground beef
1 chipotle pepper in adobe sauce, chopped (from can) or 1 tsp gr chipotle chile powder
1 tsp smoked paprika
1/2 tsp gr cumin
1/4 tsp salt
1 (8oz) can tomato sauce
1/2 cup beef broth

8 beef hot dogs, grilled
8 buns, grilled for 1 min.
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Cook bacon & half of onion in skillet over medium heat until bacon is crisp, about 5 mins. Add jalapeno & garlic to skillet & cook 1 min. Add ground beef; cooking until browned. Stir in seasonings (including chipotle pepper), tomato sauce, & broth. Bring to boil, reduce heat & simmer about 10 mins.

Spicy Carrot Fries with Tzatziki Sauce

2011-07-27T09:28:00.000-07:00

I got this yummy recipe from tastykitchen.com. Probably my favorite way to eat carrots! I cut the Cayenne pepper in half so it is not so spicy that my children can't eat it. But if your family loves spicy do the whole 1/2 tsp.

FOR THE CARROT FRIES:
8 whole medium carrots
3 Tb olive oil
2 tsp curry powder
1/2 tsp Cayenne (I do just 1/4 tsp)
1 tsp salt
1-1/2 tsp cumin powder

FOR THE TZATZIKI SAUCE:
1 whole cucumber, peeled & diced
1/2 Tb lemon juice
7 oz, weight Greek yogurt
2 Tb dill
3 Tb sour cream
1 tsp salt

Preheat oven to 425. In large bowl, toss carrots with oil, curry, cayenne, salt & cumin. Evenly spread out on a baking sheet making sure that the carrots don't overlap. Bake for 20-30 mins or until golden brown. For the tzatziki sauce, add all the ingredients to a food processor & blend until thoroughly incorporated. Transfer to a bowl & refrigerate for 15 mins.

Fruit-On-The-Bottom Baked Oatmeal

2011-05-24T09:29:00.000-07:00

This is FABULOUSLY delicious!!! The whole family loved this recipe I got from Cooking For Seven. The next time we have overnight company, I will be making this to serve for breakfast.

FRUIT-ON-THE-BOTTOM BAKED OATMEAL
serves 6-8

1 1/2 cups thinly sliced fruit (or enough to generously cover bottom of 9 inch square baking dish)
1 1/2 sticks butter, melted & divided
1/2 cup whole milk
2/3 cup pure maple syrup
2 large eggs
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups oats
2 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
4 Tb sucanat, divided
1/3 cup nuts
Preheat oven to 350. Melt all butter & pour 1/4 cup into bottom of 9 inch baking dish. Arrange sliced fruit on top of butter & sprinkle fruit with 2 Tb sucanat. Set aside. In medium bowl mix together milk, eggs, syrup, vanilla & remaining melted butter. In large bowl whisk oats, baking powder, soda & salt. Stir wet into dry & mix well. Pour over fruit. Sprinkle with remaining sucanat & nuts. Bake 35-40 mins. Serve plain or with milk, cream or the vanilla sauce here. So Yummy!!!

Slow Cooker Curried Coconut Chicken

2011-05-20T17:40:00.001-07:00

I really enjoyed the "different"ness of this recipe & it was kid approved which makes it a keeper.

SLOW COOKER CURRIED COCONUT CHICKEN

1 can coconut milk
2 tsp curry powder
S & P
3 boneless skinless chicken breasts (I used chicken thighs)
1 bag frozen stir-fry mixed veggies

1 cup rice, cooked
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp curry powder

Lightly spray your slow cooker with nonstick spray. Pour the coconut milk in, whisking away any chunks of the milk if necessary. Whisk in curry powder & salt & pepper. Place breasts or thighs on top of milk. Top with frozen veggies. Cook on low all day (8 hrs). Serve over cooked rice. Season the rice with a few dashes curry & ginger for extra flavor if you like.

Olive Oil & Garlic Pasta

2011-05-20T17:33:00.000-07:00

Sometimes this is just what you need....

OLIVE OIL & GARLIC PASTA

2 Tb minced garlic
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
salt to taste
1 lb spaghetti, cooked until al dente
parsley (I just used dry)
shredded (not grated) Parmesan cheese

In small skillet or saucepan combine garlic, oil & salt over med-low heat. Allow garlic to simmer, shaking the pan often until it turns golden (don't allow to become brown). Combine pasta with garlic oil & cheese to taste.

Salad Wraps

2011-05-20T17:03:00.000-07:00

These make a great lunch & are so healthy you will live an extra decade by partaking.

SALAD WRAPS

1 1/2 cups raw sunflower seeds, soaked & dried
4 celery stalks, finely chopped
5 carrots, grated in food processor
about 1/4-1/2 cup each of chopped red onion & scallions
the juice of 1 lime or lemon
1/2 cup raisins
a little bit of fresh grated ginger
2-4 garlic cloves (depends on your tastes)
1 tsp sea salt
3 tsp olive oil
Butter lettuce or Romaine lettuce leaves for wraps

Using a blender or food processor, coarsely grind the seeds (doesn't have to be too fine..can leave some seed chunks). Mix everything together tossing with your hands & serve on the leaves as wraps. Will keep in fridge 3-5 days.

Crock Pot Creamy Chicken Italiano

2011-05-20T16:46:00.000-07:00

I love this recipe. So easy & flavorful. Serve over cooked egg noodles or other pasta.

CREAMY CHICKEN ITALIANO

4 chicken breast halves,
1 envelope dry Italian salad dressing mix (we use Simply Organic)
1/4 cup water
8 oz pkg cream cheese, softened
10 3/4 oz can cream of chicken soup
4 oz can mushroom stems & pieces, drained (I didn't add this b/c I didn't have any on hand)

Place chicken breasts in crock pot. Combine salad dressing mix with the water. Pour over the breasts, cover & cook on low 3 hours.

After it has cooked the 3 hours, combine the soup & softened cream cheese until blended well. Stir in the mushrooms if using. Spread soup mixture over chicken, cover & cook an additional hour on low. Serve over noodles.

Black Bean Chipotle Quesadilla

2011-04-22T12:30:00.000-07:00

These were so incredible. I'm excited to have a quick, new, go-to lunch meal. I cut this recipe out of one of my Fitness magazines. Recipe makes just 1 serving but you could easily quadruple to serve 4. Hope you enjoy them as much as I did! *Planning when I can have this again*

BLACK BEAN CHIPOTLE QUESADILLA
1 serving

1/4 cup canned black beans, rinsed & drained
1/4 cup chopped fresh roma tomato
1 green onion, sliced thinly
2 Tb crumbled feta cheese (I imagine any cheese would work, but I love the feta in this)
1/4 tsp cumin
hot sauce to taste (tabasco style sauce NOT salsa)
2 flour tortillas
Mix all together & spoon onto tortilla. Top with other tortilla. Bake in 375 oven for 5 mins.

Pineapple Coconut Dip

2011-04-02T15:58:00.000-07:00

This is a healthy & yummy dip/spread! It is free of any added sugar & gets its flavor from the coconut oil & pineapple juice concentrate. You can serve it with fresh fruit or try it on bagels. My husband who is not a fruit eater loved it & said he would start eating fresh fruit if I would keep making it. It passed the kid test too. I found the recipe at http://pccuisine.com/

2 Tb virgin coconut oil (virgin is important here b/c refined doesn't have the coconut flavor), melted
1/2 cup frozen pineapple juice concentrate, thawed
8 oz cream cheese, room temp
1/2 cup coconut flakes, unsweetened (toasted golden)

Mix juice & oil until smooth. Add cream cheese & whip until light. Put in serving bowl & top with the toasted coconut flakes.

Buffalo Chicken Pizza

2011-03-29T17:01:00.000-07:00

We are obviously on a big "Buffalo" flavor kick right now. We LOVED this spicy pizza! Incredible flavor! Our favorite crust is the one in my Pioneer Woman Cookbook. I found it online for you here. It always turns out perfect.

Pizza Dough for one pizza (the one mentioned makes two crusts so if you want to do two buffalo pizzas double all the following ingredients or use the other crust for a different topped pizza)
2 grilled marinated chicken breasts (*marinade below)
1/4 cup Frank's Red Hot Wing Buffalo Sauce
chopped onion, to taste
1/4 cup Feta cheese AND/OR 1/4 cup blue cheese (we did one half of the pizza with just feta & the other half with just blue cheese)
1 1/2 cups Mozzarella cheese

*Marinade for grilled chicken:
1/2 cup butter
1/3 cup hot pepper sauce (Frank's Buffalo Wing sauce)
1/3 cup ketchup
2 Tb honey
Bring all to boil over med-high heat. Reduce heat & simmer 15 mins. Cool & use as marinade for chicken.

Preheat oven to 500. Grill chicken. Press dough into cookie sheet. Spread Frank's sauce over evenly. Top with cooked or grilled chicken evenly. Follow with onion & feta/blue cheese. Then finish with mozzarella. Bake for 9-12 mins.

Hannah's Ranch Dip/Dressing

2011-03-28T15:13:00.000-07:00

We keep this on hand at all times...it makes us like raw veggies MUCH more. You will not buy the Ranch dry mix packets again if you give this a try. The recipe as is makes a thicker "dip". To make dressing simply add a little water to the desired consistency.

HANNAH'S RANCH DIP/DRESSING

2 cups sour cream
1 tsp dried parsley
1/2 tsp onion powder
1/4 tsp black pepper
1 tsp dried chives
1/2-1 tsp dried dill weed
3/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp garlic powder

Mix all together & add water to desired consistency or leave water out for thick dip.

Broccoli Cheese Quinoa

2011-03-27T18:36:00.000-07:00

This recipe from Love to Learn tastes very much like broccoli rice casserole to me. So healthy!!!! The recipe as shown below makes quite alot so next time I will half it. Quinoa does freeze well so keep that in mind if you have leftovers.

BROCCOLI CHEESE QUINOA

2 cups quinoa
1 bunch (3 stalks) broccoli, washed & chopped
4 cups water
1/2 cup shredded cheese (I used mild cheddar but I think swiss might be good too. Making a cheese "sauce" roux would be good in this recipe too)

Put quinoa in large saucepan & cover with water to rinse very well. Strain & return to pot. Add 4 cups water & bring to a boil. Lower heat & simmer 12-15 mins until quinoa is tender. (You can tell its done when little fibrous "C" shaped thread separates from grain...you won't see this at first). Steam broccoli while quinoa is cooking. Stir together cheese, broccoli & quinoa.

Jonathan's Buffalo Brat

2011-03-27T18:16:00.000-07:00

K, so hot dogs do not make pretty pictures. Sorry!
My husband came up with the idea to make a "Buffalo Brat". It was fabulous! I found the Buffalo Wing Sauce recipe on allrecipes.com. The sauce would also be good on burgers & traditional style hot dogs as well. MMmmmm.

Beef Brats (grilled)
Hot dog buns
Blue Cheese crumbles to taste
Buffalo Wing Sauce (recipe below)

1/2 cup butter
1/3 cup hot pepper sauce (Frank's Buffalo Wing sauce)
1/3 cup ketchup
2 Tb honey

Bring all to boil over med-high heat. Reduce heat & simmer 15 mins.

Frank's Redhot Buffalo Chicken Dip

2011-03-18T10:47:00.000-07:00

Frank's Redhot Buffalo Chicken Dip

1 (8oz) package of cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup ranch salad dressing
1/2 cup Franks Wing Sauce
1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
2 cans (12.5 oz) chunk chicken breast, drained (or about 2 cooked chicken breasts)

Heat oven to 350. Place cream cheese into deep baking dish. Stir until smooth. Mix in salad dressing, Frank's, & cheese. Stir in chicken. Bake 20 mins. Serve with tortilla chips, crackers or veggies.

Navajo Tacos

2011-01-15T11:05:00.000-08:00

I got this recipe from sisterscafe blog. The family really enjoyed it. As a child I remember eating these "Indian Tacos" at our friend's the Nightengales. I'm pretty sure Trisha would make her dough from scratch. She was an excellent cook. These are so much easier than scratch. You are going to probably want 2 rolls per per person so this recipe would serve about 6.

Navajo Tacos aka Indian Tacos

12 Rhodes Texas Rolls, thawed & risen per package directions
vegetable oil for frying
1/2 lb ground beef
4 green onions, finely chopped
1/2 cup picante sauce or salsa
1 clove garlic, minced
2 c canned pinto beans
1 c shredded cheddar cheese
1 c shredded lettuce
2 med tomatoes, chopped
1 med onion, chopped
sour cream

Flatten each roll (after thawed & risen per pkg) to a 6 inch circle. Fry in veg oil at 375 until golden brown, turning over once (about 30 scds). Drain on paper towels.

Fry beef & onion, adding garlic towards end. Drain fat. Add salsa & beans & heat through. Do not over cook.

Spoon desired amount over warm fried dough. Top with cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion & sour cream. Eat in tepee with colorful head dress.

Butterscotch Apple Crisp

2010-12-04T16:21:00.000-08:00

This is a fabulous twist on regular apple crisp. It's one of my favorite new desserts! Delicious!!!

BUTTERSCOTCH APPLE CRISP

12 oz butterscotch chips
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup flour
1/2 tsp cinnamon
2 1/2 lbs tart apples like Granny Smith, peeled & sliced
Topping:
1/2 cup flour
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 stick butter, softened
1 cup chopped pecans
3/4 cup oats

Preheat oven to 375. In bowl combine first 4 ingredients. Place apples into buttered 9x13 baking dish & then sprinkle the combined 4 ingredient mixture over them. Bake for 20 mins. While baking, mix up the topping ingredients. After the 20 mins, add topping & bake an additional 30-40 mins. Serve with whipped cream and/or vanilla ice cream.

Our Homemade Chili

2010-12-04T16:00:00.000-08:00

We came up with this chili recipe after watching an episode of Diners, Drive Inns & Dives. I took note of the general ingredients & we tweaked it to our taste. What makes this chili unique is that you don't brown the meat first....you just throw everything in the pot at once. We love cooking it in a cast iron dutch oven. It is simmered on LOW for at least three hours. My husband says its the best he's ever had.

Chili

2 lbs ground beef
2 14.5 oz cans petite diced tomatoes
1/8 cup dark roasted chili pepper powder
1/2 Tb ground red cayenne pepper
1/4 cup smoked paprika
1 diced onion, yellow
4 cloves garlic crushed with garlic press
2 Tb cumin
1/2 Tb crushed red pepper
about 1 tsp sugar or xylitol
Salt & Pepper to taste
Add later: 1/2 Tb chili powder + 1 tsp salt

Throw everything except the "add later" into a dutch oven (cast iron is wonderful), cover & cook on low for 2 hours. Do not brown your meat first!!! Stir occasionally. After two hours, taste & add the "added later" ingredients to your taste. Cook on low an additional hour. So three hours total. Dig in!

Cheesy Chicken Bake

2010-10-18T15:07:00.000-07:00

Sorry I have no photo for this dish. I didn't expect it to be such a hit & it was demolished before I could get a pic. No telling how many calories are in this dish, but who cares when your children & husband are this happy!!!

Cheesy Chicken Bake

5 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 can condensed cream of chicken soup
5 slices american cheese
butter
garlic salt
cooked egg noodles or elbows

Place chicken in a shallow baking pan. Pour soup over chicken pieces, then top with cheese slices. Place a chunk of butter on each piece & sprinkle with garlic salt. Bake at 350 for 45 mins. Serve over rice or noodles, if desired.
Yield: 5 servings

Broccoli Salad

2010-10-07T10:38:00.000-07:00

I got this recipe from Susan Branch's Heart of Home website. It is my favorite broccoli salad recipe & my favorite way to eat my broccoli!

Broccoli Salad
serves 6

1 lb. raw broccoli, cut into bite size pieces
1/2 cup raisins
1/4 lb mozzarella in 1/2 '' dice (I usually just cut a cheese stick into coin rounds)
1 tsp lemon zest
1 1/2 Tb balsamic vinegar
1/4 cup sour cream
3 Tb mayo

Mix it all together & chill.

Creamy Lemon Poppyseed Dressing

2010-10-07T10:23:00.000-07:00

This dressing pairs especially well with spinach. Try adding sliced pair, toasted walnuts & shredded swiss cheese for an interesting Autumn salad.

Creamy Lemon Poppyseed Dressing

1/3 cup honey
1/2 cup lemon juice
1/4 cup mayo
1 tsp Dijon
1/2 tsp salt
1/3 cup olive oil
1 Tb poppy seeds

Mix up & store in fridge

Roasted Chicken With Olives, Feta & Sun-Dried Tomatoes

2010-09-25T16:54:00.000-07:00

I got this yummy Greek inspired recipe from my September 2010 Fitness Magazine. Who says baked/roasted chicken is boring? It's a keeper! The recipe suggests to serve it with 2 cups cooked whole-wheat orzo. I like to serve it with a side of buttered noodles.

Roasted Chicken With Olives, Feta & Sun-dried Tomatoes
4 servings

3 tsp EVOO
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 tsp dried oregano
salt & pepper to taste
1/3 cup pitted chopped Kalamata olives (about 10)
1/4 cup crumbled feta
3/4 cup chopped oil-packed sun-dried tomaoes, drained (jar)

Preheat oven to 375. Spread the oil over bottom of shallow roasting pan (I used cookie sheet). Place breasts in pan on top of oil. Season the top of each with the oregano, salt & pepper. Top evenly with other ingredients. Bake 23 mins until cooked through.
388 calories, 34 g protein

Mom's Cream of Asparagus Soup

2010-09-25T16:38:00.000-07:00

I first enjoyed this yummy soup several years ago when my mom made it for our family in the Dark Forest house. It is delicious & not difficult at all to make.

Mom's Cream of Asparagus Soup

1 medium onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
3 cups cut fresh asparagus (1 inch pieces)
2 1/2 cups chicken broth
1/8 tsp pepper
3 oz cubed cream cheese
2 Tb sour cream
1 Tb snipped fresh dill (or about 1 tsp dried)
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg

Coat skillet with non-stick spray (or a little EVOO) & saute the onion & garlic until tender. Add asparagus, broth & pepper. Bring to a boil, reduce heat; cover & simmer 15 mins or until tender. Place 1/3 mixture in blender or food processor along with the cream cheese, sour cream & dill. Cover & process until smooth. Return to pan, cover & cook over medium heat until heated through.

Zucchini Mozzarella Medley

2010-09-23T17:42:00.000-07:00

This is a wonderful side dish that the whole family will love!

3 cups sliced zucchini
1 cup sliced onion
1 garlic clove, minced
1/2 tsp dried basil
1/4 tsp dried oregano
1/8 tsp salt
3 Tb butter
1 medium tomato, cut into 12 wedges (optional..I didn't add this)
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (optional...I only did the children's portion with cheese)

In a large skillet, saute zucchini, onion, garlic & seasonings in butter until crisp-tender. Gently stir in tomato wedges; sprinkle with cheese & remove from heat. Cover & let stand 1-2 mins until cheese melts. Yield: 4 svgs

Thai Eye Opener

2010-09-01T17:58:00.000-07:00

Wow this is another excellent recipe from my Vitamix cookbook!

Thai Eye Opener

1/4 cup coconut milk
1/4 cup pineapple chunks
2 carrots, halved
1 med apple, quartered (I like fuji)
1/4 tsp ginger paste
1 cup ice cubes

Blend in Vitamix

Red Plum Jelly

2010-09-01T16:42:00.001-07:00

My favorite flavor of jelly has always been red plum. This year I discovered that we have sand plum thickets, which grow in the wild here in southwest Oklahoma, within walking distance of our house. My husband and I had fun canning some homemade plum jelly this summer & look forward to doing it again next year.

Quintessential Quinoa

2010-09-01T16:24:00.000-07:00

If you have never cooked quinoa before but would like to try it...this is a great recipe to start with. Freeze leftovers into lunch size portions for a quick meal or side. Fabulous for gluten free folks & loaded with nutrition.

Quintessential Quinoa
8 svgs

2 Tb olive oil
4 med yellow onion, chopped (or one huge one like I had)
3 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 tsp sea salt (I love Real Salt)
1 large red pepper, chopped
2 cups rinsed quinoa (you must rinse thoroughly to remove the bitter outer coating)
4 cups water
2 chicken bouillon cubes (since these are often loaded with bad things like MSG I used 1 cube of Rapunzel Vegan Vegetable Bouillon with Sea Salt & Herbs)

Add finely chopped onion, minced garlic & salt to olive oil in a wok & saute' until onions are slightly brown. Add chopped red pepper & continue to sauce' til onions are carmalized. Add water, bouillon & rinsed quinoa. Bring to a simmer. Stir once after 5 mins then simmer for another 35 mins or until water has been cooked down. Fluff lightly with a fork.

The Smoothie Queen Strikes Again!

2010-09-01T08:52:00.000-07:00

~Here are 4 new smoothie recipes that I have been enjoying recently. Health in a glass! Just add straw.~

Sweet Greens Smoothie
Now I'm not going to lie...this smoothie is not one of the most delicious ever, but it is good & I love that it is the easiest way I know to get a cup of spinach in my belly.
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup peeled chopped cucumber
1 cup fresh spinach
1 cup frozen strawberries
splash of maple syrup or sweetener of your choice (try stevia or xylitol for no calorie sweetener)

Nutty Fruit Smoothie
This is very tasty & the nuts add wonderful nutrition & satiety.
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup plain yogurt
1/2 cup frozen raspberries
1/4 medium frozen banana
2 Tb walnuts, (soaked in water overnight for improved digestion)
1 Tb almonds, (soaked in water overnight for improved digestion)
1 Tb honey or 2 dates
1/2 - 1 cup ice cubes

Banana Split Power Smoothie
Protein packed & tastes just like a strawberry milkshake. The kids love it.
1 cup milk (or almond milk)
1 cup cottage cheese
1/2 banana
1 cup frozen strawberries
1 1/2 cups frozen or fresh pineapple chunks
1/2 tsp stevia

Tropical Tango Smoothie
Another great way to "eat" your greens. Pretty tasty!
1/2 cup water
1/2 lime, peeled
1 med banana
1 cup fresh spinach
2 med apples, quartered
1 cup ice cubes

All of these recipes came from my Vitamix (a fabulous high powered blender) recipe book.

Almond Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

2010-06-25T11:28:00.000-07:00

These natural, gluten free, high protein, easy cookies taste wonderful! The kids and I loved them & the exciting part...they have no flour or white sugar. My son wanted chocolate chip cookies for his turn on Friday Night Family Fun Night. I am so glad I found this recipe since we no longer keep white sugar in the house & I try to limit our flour consumption.

Almond Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

1 cup almond butter (we prefer MaraNatha All Natural No Stir CreamyAlmond Butter)
3/4 cups sucanat (less refined sugar)
1 large egg
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
3/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Preheat the oven to 350. Line cookie sheet with either parchment paper or silicone mat. Stir all ingredients together well with fork except chocolate chips. Then mix in the chips. Bake for 10-12 mins. Eat up!

My BESTEST Homemade Bathroom Disinfectant

2010-05-30T18:58:00.000-07:00

I know, I know...this post has nothing to do with food but it does involve a recipe & I am so excited about it I just have to share = ) *bounces*

I recently started getting serious about a more chemical free home & really feel blessed to have found the things I'm going to share with you. My search is over for bathroom cleaning gear!

First I will tell you about e-cloth cleaning cloths. I purchased the bathroom pack from Frontier and I am very impressed! The bathroom pack comes with 2 cloths...one for polishing glass (with water) & one that is more sponge-like for cleaning countertops, sinks, tubs, etc. The glass polishing cloth along with a spray bottle of water has replaced my windex. It works BETTER than windex b/c there is zero smear lines left behind. The sponge cloth is what I use on everything else along with the disinfectant recipe I am going to share. You can use just water but I think some messes need the disinfectant.

I have been using this concoction for the last few weeks and let me just say....my search is over. It literally makes me want to clean and I don't have to worry about the chemicals.

In a spray bottle put:
2 cups warm water
1/4 cup liquid castle soap (like Dr. Bronners)
1 Tb apple cider vinegar
20 drops GSE (grapefruit seed extract that I buy here)
30 drops of essential oils (lemon, orange, peppermint or tea tree would be good choices)

Red Pepper Soup

2010-05-30T17:50:00.000-07:00

MMMMmmmmmm. This is sooooooooooooo good!!! I am looking for recipes that I can make which will fit my anti-fungal diet plan & this was a perfect fit. I combined a couple of recipes together & added a few extra things I thought would make it even better.

RED PEPPER SOUP
6 servings

6 red peppers, seeded and chopped roughly
2 medium onions, peeled & chopped (I used yellow)
4 Tb extra virgin olive oil
1 1/2 quarts chicken stock (homemade is worth it!)
1/2 cup heavy cream
2 cloves of garlic minced & saute'd in butter
1 small bunch fresh basil, cut into small pieces (I just used a sprinkling of dried basil leaves)
sea salt to taste (about 1 tsp)

optional garnish:
piima cream or creme fraiche (I used cultured sour cream)
chopped green onion

Saute' peppers and onions in olive oil until onions are translucent. Add Basil (only if using dried basil) and minced that has been saute'd in butter and chicken stock...bring to a boil. Reduce heat & simmer about 30 mins. Place chunks in food processor (I just strained off chunks of pepper & onion leaving the broth in pot so it would all fit at once in my processor). Process until smooth & add back into pot. If using fresh basil stir in now. Simmer about 5 mins, stir in heavy cream and season with sea salt & freshly ground black pepper. Laddle in bowls & top with a dollop of sour cream & a sprinkle of chopped green onions.

Homemade Mayonaise

2010-05-28T15:32:00.000-07:00

I am on a special diet that restricts sugar among many other things that feed yeast and I noticed the mayo we buy has SUGAR in it! So I decided to make a recipe for it today that I got from a tea room cookbook I have. It is delicious, super easy to whip up & I honestly plan to make it from now on. It uses ingredients I always have on hand as well. Give it a try & you may not go back to store-bought either. There is also a recipe for a lighter version below. Enjoy!

BASIC MAYO

2 eggs
1 egg yolk
3 Tb lemon juice
1 Tb apple cider vinegar
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
1 tsp Real salt
1/2 tsp white pepper
2 cups canola oil (Next time I may try a healthier oil)

Place all ingredients except oil in food processor. Start machine & add oil gradually. Makes 3 cups

LIGHT MAYO

A lightened version is 1/2 cup of the above recipe + 1/2 cup plain non fat yogurt & you just mix the two together.

Bye Bye Microwave!!!

2010-05-28T15:07:00.000-07:00

I have a lot of positive peer pressure in my life for which I am very thankful. I am probably one of the last of my close friends to ditch the microwave. This site has some helpful information on the negatives of microwave if you are not convinced yet.

Today my friend Catherine taught me a remedy to the largest obstacle I faced in giving up the microwave....how to heat up the frozen wholewheat blueberry muffins we always have on hand for my children's breakfast/snack. Simply place the frozen muffins in a pyrex baking dish, cover with foil & bake for about 10 mins @ 425 degrees! It worked perfectly!

Bye Bye Microwave!!! Hello healthier food!!!

Juice Pops

2010-04-19T12:25:00.000-07:00

Fresh fruit turned into frozen treats! These are raw food friendly & a great way to get your children to eat more fruit. Couldn't be more simple.

Recipe Source: "Living on Live Food" by: Alissa Cohen

2 cups fresh strawberries
4 oranges ( I used only 2 b/c mine were huge)

Simple blend together & pour into your juice pop molds. Freeze.

Tea Room Pico De Gallo

2010-04-19T12:13:00.000-07:00

Simple, fresh and full of flavor. Eat on breakfast tacos, omelets, frittatas, chalupas, baked potatoes, tortilla chips, or with pinto beans & cornbread....the possibilities are endless. Keep on hand in your fridge for 4 or 5 days.

Tea Room Pico De Gallo

8 tomatoes, coarsely chopped (I like Roma)
4 fresh jalapenos, finely chopped
1 1/2 cups white onion, finely chopped
Juice of one lime
1 cup cilantro, coarsely chopped
1 tsp salt

Hand chop all ingredients & mix together. Store in fridge 4-5 days.

Makes about 6 cups (just half the recipe if you won't use that much in 4-5 days)

Lemon Delight Muffins

2010-04-19T11:44:00.000-07:00

This picture does not show the lemon syrup drizzle

Lemon lovers will thank me for these melt-in-your-mouth muffins! Very "tea room -ish" ; ) I love to order the fresh organic lemons from my food-coop and find new dishes to make with them. These would be great for a brunch or even a light dessert. They are very light & lemony, but sweet enough to please a sugar craving. They have a lemon syrup glaze to drizzle on top. MMMMMMMMmmmmm!!!

Recipe Source: "With Love From Cynthia, A Collection of Recipes & Remembrances" by Cynthia Pedregon ~ The Peach Tree Tea Room, Fredericksburg, Texas

Lemon Delight Muffins
makes 12 muffins

2 cups unbleached flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 cup sugar
2 Tb honey
2 eggs
1 1/4 cups plain yogurt, room temperature (I used low-fat)
1/4 cup butter, melted
2 Tb lemon juice
zest of 1 lemon

Preheat oven to 350. Grease muffin tins. Combine flour, baking powder, soda & salt. Set aside. In another bowl, combine remaining ingredients. Add dry ingredients & mix. Fill muffin tins to 2/3rds full. Bake for 15 mins or until toothpick in center comes out clean.

Lemon Syrup Drizzle

2 Tb lemon juice
1/3 cup powdered sugar

Combine ingredients mixing well so there are no lumps. Drizzle over warm muffins. Next time I make these I may double the syrup recipe b/c my family wanted extra on each muffin!

Lemon Poppy Cookies

2010-04-18T17:49:00.000-07:00

l
These "raw" treats are made in the dehydrator which protects the healthy enzymes that cooking destroys. They are very delicious! My husband & children even gave them a big thumbs up. If you like lemon flavored sweets you will love these.

Recipe Source: "Living on Live Food" by: Alissa Cohen

Lemon Poppy Cookies

1 cup almonds
3/4 cup dates, pitted and soaked ( just let them sit covered in water for a few hours)
1/2 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
2 Tb poppy seeds

Blend almonds in food processor until fine.
Add in dates & juice & process until smooth. Add in the seeds & blend just until mixed in well. Spoon out into small round balls or flat cookies onto mesh dehydrator screens. Dehydrate for 3-4 hours at 105 degrees.

Chicken Fajitas

2010-04-13T13:21:00.000-07:00

These are great!

Chicken Fajitas
6 svgs

1/4 cup lime juice
1 garlic clove, minced
1 tsp chili powder
1/2 tsp ground cumin
2 whole boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into strips
1 medium onion, cut into strips
1/2 medium sweet red pepper, cut into strips
1/2 medium green pepper, strips
1/2 medium yellow pepper, strips
1/2 cup salsa
12 flour tortillas (8 inch)
1 1/2 cups (6 oz) shredded cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese

In a small bowl, combine lime juice, garlic, chili powder & cumin. Add chicken & stir. Marinate 15 mins. In a nonstick skillet cook onion chicken & marinade for 3 mins. Add peppers; saute 3-5 mins till crisp-tender. Stir in salsa.

Whole Wheat Tortillas

2010-04-13T13:11:00.000-07:00

I got this recipe from my friend Maris. They turned out very well. This was my first time to use my Villaware tortilla press. (Well, actually my husband is the one that pressed them out into tortillas...thanks honey)

3-4 cups wheat flour
1 tsp sea salt
1/3 cup oil
1 cup warm water (I ended up adding a little more water)

Knead mixture 1-2 mins. Form into 12-18 balls. Cover and let rest 30 mins. Soft, moist dough is the secret to good tortillas.

Oatmeal Nut Butter Cookies

2010-04-11T19:11:00.000-07:00

The only problem with these is I couldn't stop eating them! They are delicious & made with some pretty healthy ingredients.

Oatmeal Nut Butter Cookies

1/3 cup nut butter (I used homemade cashew butter)
1/3 cup milk
2 Tb canola oil (I used extra virgin coconut oil -melted)
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup sucanat (sucanat is sugar in its most natural form)
Mix these first 5 ingredients then add:
1 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 cup oatmeal
1/2 cup chocolate chips (or carob chips)
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
Mix & drop by tsp full onto baking sheet. Bake at 425 for about 8 mins. If you can eat just one, you are my hero!

Carob Delight (AKA Mock Chocolate Milkshake)

2010-04-09T14:18:00.002-07:00

Yet another yummy smoothie from "Rejuvenate Your Life - Recipes For Energy" by Serene Allison. This should be named "Mock Chocolate Milkshake" because it really did remind me of one. I'm sold!

CAROB DELIGHT
Makes 2 large glasses full or 4 smaller servings

2 handfuls of raw sunflower seeds (no shells)
2 cups purified water
1 Tb tahini
1 handful of dates
3-4 frozen bananas (3 do the trick for me)
1 hefty Tbs raw carob powder (mine was toasted not raw)

Blend and enjoy the flavor of a chocolate milkshake minus the guilt of unhealthy eating!

Red Potato, Bacon & Onion Fritatta

2010-04-08T18:38:00.000-07:00

I came up with this one about a month ago and am just now getting around to posting about it. My children LOVE it. I have tried it with different types of cheese, but our favorite is a smoked cheddar/swiss block. It gives it an extra special flavor. Fritattas are so quick & easy that I often whip them up for dinner along with a few sides.

4 eggs, lightly beaten
3-4 slices of bacon cooked in a fry pan & then crumbled
3-4 cooked small red potatoes (to cook just cube up, place in a saucepan of boiling water & cook until fork tender about 7-10 mins)
1 cup shredded cheese of your choice
1/2 cup diced onion (red onion, white, yellow or green all work well)
Salt & Pepper to taste

In a 10 inch oven proof, nonstick skillet, brown your bacon & pour off most of the grease. Add onion & saute until clear. Add cooked potatoes & saute a few mins to make a little crispy on outside. In same pan add the bacon back & distribute onion, potato & bacon evenly around the pan. Salt & pepper the beaten eggs & pour them over top of bacon & veggies. Swirl your pan to evenly distribute the eggs. Sprinkle with cheese, turn heat to low & cook for about 2 mins. Turn broiler on & place the pan in oven for 3-4 mins or until lightly browned.

Alissa's Dressing

2010-04-08T18:34:00.000-07:00

This is a wonderful sweet and tangy salad dressing that I got from my friend's raw foods cookbook called, "Living on Live Foods" by Alissa Cohen. It will be a major staple in my house now!

1/2 cup raw apple cider vinegar
1/2 of a lemon juiced, fresh
1/4 cup olive oil
3 Tb raw honey
1/2 tsp sea salt (I use "Real Salt")

I like to put dressings in glass jars & shake to combine. Store in refrigerator.

Jonathan's Favorite Smoothies

2010-04-08T18:25:00.000-07:00

My husband asked me to compile a blog post with his three favorite smoothies so he could share them on his twitter. Here they are......

Blueberry Sunrise Smoothie
2 hearty handfuls of raw almonds
2 cups purified water
1 Tb tahini
2 frozen bananas
1 cup frozen blueberries
2 hearty Tbs pure maple syrup

Zinc Standard
2 hearty handfuls of raw pumpkin seeds
2 cups purified water
1 Tb tahini
2 hefty TBs squished dates or a handful of regular dates
4 frozen bananas (I did only 3 as I thought 4 seemed much)
A dusting of cinnamon

GREEN SMOOTHIE 3-4 servings

2 frozen bananas (if not frozen add a little ice)

2 oranges

handful of frozen pineapple (I used frozen Mango instead)

3 generous handfulls RAW spinach

1 cup milk or kefir

2 Tb raw virgin coconut oil (this gives it a lovely tropical taste)

splash of maple syrup

splash vanilla extract

Dish Drying Mat

2010-03-31T12:28:00.000-07:00

These dish drying mats from Bed Bath & Beyond have replaced my bulky drying rack. I also no longer have to use several kitchen towels strewn all over the counters to dry my hand washed stuff. I really like how unobtrusive they are & how easily they can be tucked away. My friend Mica introduced them to me when we visited in her home recently. They are roomier than this photo portrays!

Frozen Cappuccino

2010-03-31T12:00:00.000-07:00

These are so yummy. The recipe is from my vitamix cookbook.

Frozen Cappuccino

1 cup cold milk
1/2 cup ice cubes
1 Tb white chocolate chips
1 tsp instant coffee
1 tsp vanilla
sugar to taste, (optional) I used Xylitol

Blend. 1 serving

Roasted Garlic Cauliflower

2010-03-31T11:25:00.000-07:00

I tried this recipe from Sister's Cafe & it is a delicious way to eat cauliflower. I did add some strips of red pepper which I think is a good way to add extra color & flavor.

Roasted Garlic Cauliflower

2 T minced garlic
3 T olive oil
1 lg head cauliflower, washed and seperated into small florets
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
salt and pepper to taste
1 T chopped fresh parsley (optional)

Preheat oven to 450. Grease or butter a large casserole dish. Place olive oil
and garlic in a large resealable bag. Add cauliflower, and shake to mix. Pour into the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 25 minutes, stirring halfway through. Top with parmesan cheese and parsley and broil for 3 minutes. (If you like, don't broil, but just stick it back in the oven for a few minutes longer)

Hallelujah Acres Cabbage Salad

2010-03-30T11:51:00.000-07:00

My son Joshua who is six loved this salad. I am in the process of overhauling my diet to include more raw foods than cooked. Recipes like this from my book "God's Way To Ultimate Health" by Dr. George Malkmus makes it easy.

Hallelujah Acres Cabbage Salad

2 large apples, grated
1 cup carrots, grated
2 cups cabbage, grated
2 stalks of celery, chopped
1/2 cup organic raisins

Dressing:
1/2 cup cold-pressed mayo
1/2 tsp dried minced/chopped onion
2 Tb honey
1/2 tsp minced garlic
2-3 Tb organic apple juice

Grate apples, carrots & cabbage, chop celery, and add raisins. Mix with the dressing, refrigerate and allow flavors to blend for one hour.

Zinc Standard Smoothie

2010-03-29T17:16:00.000-07:00

Yet another great smoothie from the cookbook by Serene Allison, "Rejuvenate Your Life".
I am on a smoothie kick, can you tell? My children said this tastes like pumpkin pie. I'll take that as a complement!

Zinc Standard
2 hearty handfuls of raw pumpkin seeds
2 cups purified water
1 Tb tahini
2 hefty TBs squished dates or a handful of regular dates
4 frozen bananas (I did only 3 as I thought 4 seemed much)
A dusting of cinnamon

Blend & enjoy

Blueberry Sunrise Smoothie

2010-03-28T12:09:00.000-07:00

This is my favorite smoothie. I crave it everyday, but try to skip a day in between to give more variety in my diet. It is as filling & satisfying as it is delicious! I got the recipe from my new raw foods cookbook called, "Rejuvenate Your Life...Recipes for Energy" by Serene Allison. You can find the cookbook here. She also has a CD on the subject for only $5.00. My friend Mica has it & says she has learned so much. I wish I would have ordered it when I purchased the cookbook. Here is a description of the CD from the website:

Rejuvenate Your Life! - CD

by Serene Allison

All cooked food is dead food. Therefore everyone should try to have at least 60 percent of their diet raw in order to get their enzymes and life energy.

Now listen to Serene Allison speak on CD. You will be inspired and rejuvenated as she opens up this subject for all by quickly and easily explaining how God created His wonderful food for us and how it feeds our bodies so we can flourish and grow.

Blueberry Sunrise Smoothie
2 hearty handfuls of raw almonds, preferable soaked and dehydrated
2 cups purified water
1 Tb tahini
2 frozen bananas
1 cup frozen blueberries
2 hearty Tbs pure maple syrup

Blend & enjoy time & again...if you try it I am certain you will become hooked!

Torie's Grapefruit Smoothie

2010-03-28T11:29:00.000-07:00

This recipe was created out of my desire to find a new way to eat the grapefruit I ordered from food coop this month. It was very tasty!

1 grapefruit (the meat of the fruit)
1/4 cup frozen chunks of mango
1 frozen banana
1 raw egg
1/2 cup water
1-2 tsp honey

Blend into a smoothie & drink!

Herbal Iced Tea

2010-03-09T17:15:00.000-08:00

This pretty red tea is great for those of you that enjoy flavored iced tea but could do without the caffeine. I adapted this from a recipe that the ladies at my church like to serve. They make it sweetened with a large quantity of apple juice. Since I wish to do without the calories & sugar in juice, I decided to omit the juice & simply sweeten this refreshing tea with my clear liquid SweetLeaf Stevia. I actually like it even better than the apple juice version which tends to be too sweet. Enjoy!

2 bags Celestial Seasoning Lemon Zinger herbal tea
2 bags Celestial Seasoning Red Zinger herbal tea

Place about 2 cups filtered water in a small saucepan & bring to a boil. Turn off the heat & add all 4 tea bags. Let cool on stovetop for 30 mins or so. Pour into a 2 quart pitcher & add water until almost full. I prefer to add the stevia as I drink it instead of to the whole pitcher. That way people can adjust the sweetness to their liking.

Maple Walnut Pancakes

2010-03-09T09:29:00.000-08:00

When we first made the Maple Walnuts recipe, my husband suggested that we try them on pancakes along with whipped cream. Our creation is reminiscent of the fancy pancakes from IHOP. These are perfect for special occasions...which is everyday!

Whole Wheat Pancakes (I got this recipe from my friend Sheelah)

1 large egg, lightly beaten
1 cup whole wheat flour (preferably freshly ground)
3/4 cup of milk (or more)
1 Tb succanat or sugar
2 Tb oil
3 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt

Whisk together all the dry ingredients & add beaten egg, milk & oil. Combine well & cook on griddle. Top with Maple Walnuts (link to recipe above), whipped cream & real maple syrup. Real Grade B maple syrup is our favorite. It's so much better than the fake stuff!

Asparagus Frittata

2010-03-06T11:37:00.000-08:00

This is a beautiful, delicious, rustic, easy one dish meal for lunch, breakfast, or dinner. I love it!

2 tsp olive oil
1 sm onion, diced
1/2 tsp salt
1 lb. asparagus cut diagonally, into 1 inch lengths
4 large eggs
1 cup shredded cheese such as swiss, cheddar, parmesan or Gruyere

Heat oil in a 10 inch oven-proof skillet/fry pan over medium heat. Add onions & salt & cook, stirring occasionally until the onions are softened about 3 mins. Add asparagus, reduce heat to med-low & cook 6-8 mins until asparagus is barely tender. Pour in eggs & cook till almost set, but still runny on top, about 2 mins. Pre-heat broiler. Sprinkle cheese on top & broil about 3-4 mins.

Maple Walnuts

2010-03-04T17:43:00.000-08:00

We saw this recipe on Food Network this week & my husband wanted us to try it. I'm so glad we did...it is amazing!!! Eat it alone as a snack or as a topping on ice cream or pancakes.

2 cups walnut halves
1/3 cup maple syrup
pinch of salt

Toast all for 3-5 mins. in saute' pan until caramelized. The syrup will become thick & caramel colored. Lay out to cool & store in airtight container.

Carmine's Vinaigrette

2010-02-22T15:41:00.001-08:00

This vinaigrette is a great example of how a few simple ingredients combined together can knock your socks off. It tastes like the fabulous salad dressings you get at Italian restaurants for good reason...it is from one ~ Carmine's in New York. I've never been to Carmine's or New York for that matter, but I do have Carmine's Family-Style Cookbook & after trying this recipe, I'm looking forward to trying more from the cookbook. Keeper recipe for sure! I could not get a good picture of this so you'll just have to use your imagination or better yet, make it!

Makes about 1/2 cup

Juice of 1/2 lemon
2 Tb imported red wine vinegar
pinch of dried oregano
salt & freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil

In a small bowl, whisk together the lemon juice, vinegar, oregano & salt & pepper to taste. Slowly whisk in the olive oil until it is well blended. Dressing can be stored in the frige for up to 10 days. When serving after refrigerated, set out a few mins so the oil can soften. Shake well before using each time.

No Sugar/No Yeast Diet

2010-02-22T12:11:00.000-08:00

Have you ever heard of the Phase One Diet? It is aimed at killing fungal overgrowth & I believe will be good for candida/yeast issues as well. Basically you will have no grains, sugars or yeasts for about 4 weeks & see how your body responds. Three or four of my friends will be doing it at the same time which is nice & I'm kindda looking forward to the challenge. Want to join us?

What to Eat:

EGGS
FRUIT, berries, grapefruit, lemon, lime, green apples, avocado, fresh coconut
MEATS, virtually all meat including fish, poultry and beef
VEGETABLES, Most fresh, unblemished vegetables and freshly made vegetable juice (no corn, potato or mushroom)
BEVERAGES, bottled or filtered water, non-fruity herbal teas, stevia sweetened fresh lemonade or limeade, freshly squeezed carrot juice (see below)
VINEGAR, apple cider vinegar
OILS, olive, grape, flax seed, cold pressed virgin coconut oil
NUTS, raw nuts, including pecans, almonds, walnuts, cashews, and pumpkin seeds. Stored nuts tend to gather mold, so be careful! (no peanuts or pistachios)
SWEETENERS, Stevia, Stevia Plus, birch tree extracted Xylitol
DAIRY, Organic Butter, Organic Yogurt, (use the following very sparingly) cream cheese, unsweetened whipping cream, real sour cream.

Protein Power Smoothie Recipe

2010-02-13T08:15:00.000-08:00

Call me crazy, but I love a breakfast I can drink. Sometimes my appetite in the morning is poor at best so having a shake of some sort works well for me. Usually I'm hungry in the morning but don't have the stomach to eat solid food very well if that makes sense. I don't like breakfast cereal & things like that at all. I do enjoy biscuits, bacon & eggs for breakfasts, but we try to limit it to once a week.

After learning the unhealthiness of pretty much all protein powders & meal replacement shakes, I was on the lookout for something else.

Here is what Dr. Kim says about the following smoothie recipe on his site using the organic hemp protein powder he sells.

"This protein-rich smoothie is a healthy food choice for children and adults of all ages, and is particularly useful for fueling healthy growth in children and for replenishing one's muscles after a workout.

This protein power smoothie recipe calls for organic hemp protein powder, which, unlike many commercially available protein powders, is 100% whole plant food - no fillers, and absolutely no protein isolates."

Makes about 2 large servings

Ingredients:

4 frozen bananas (slice into small pieces before freezing)
Almond or other non-dairy milk (for example his recipe for All-Natural Almond Milk or my recipe for non-dairy alternative)
2 tablespoons organic hemp protein powder
2 tablespoons raw honey

Directions:

Use a strong blender to blend bananas, hemp protein powder, and honey together until smooth. You'll need to use at least one cup of non-dairy milk to get things going. For smoothies that go down easily, use more non-dairy milk, and for smoothies that resemble thick ice cream, use less milk.

Please note: If you enjoy chocolate-flavored smoothies, substitute organic hemp protein powder with our chocolate, maca, and hemp protein blend - this blend is about two-thirds hemp, with the remaining third being an equal mix of raw chocolate and maca.

Exciting Natural Sweeteners

2010-02-08T20:45:00.000-08:00

I'm not a fan of artificial sweeteners. I've always said that I'd rather just eat the white sugar than the artificial stuff with horrible aftertaste. When I want a soft drink I go for the non-diet varieties both because I can't stand the taste of diet ones & I'm afraid they are more unhealthy than regular soda anyways.

With that said, I'm super excited about 2 new natural sugars available now. One is Stevia. I have learned by trail & error that not all brands of Stevia pass my taste test, but I'll tell you about the one that has. SweetLeaf liquid Stevia comes in little glass bottles that you store in your fridge & simply drop a few drops to taste (it comes with a dropper lid) into your drink. I use it in iced tea, limeade & coffee. It has absolutely no aftertaste, zero calories, zero glycemic index & zero carbs. I have the plain sweet "Clear liquid" one, but would also like to try some of the flavored ones in the future. I've heard they are great too. Other flavors include Root Beer, Lemon, Cinnamon, English Toffee, Vanilla, Grape & many more. An online store that carries them at a good price with low flat rate shipping is vitacost.com. I didn't know about this site when I purchased mine & spent way more than I should have. I have not tried the powdered SweetLeaf varieties so I do not know if they are as good tasting as the liquid.

The other product that I'm excitedly hopeful about is Xylitol. I have not tasted it yet, but have it on order to ship to my home. I hope I'm as happy with it as I am the liquid Stevia. I will use the Xylitol crystals in place of granulated sugar in baking cookies, pies, cakes etc. The only thing you cannot do with Xylitol is use it in yeast breads b/c it actually kills bacteria....which is a good thing in most cases. I found great info about Xylitol on this blog. Do some research & see if you think it is safe too. Check it out!

Muddy Chicken Skewers

2010-02-08T16:12:00.000-08:00

I got this recipe from a blog called Frugal Home Living. It is delicous!!! I served it with broccoli & rice. I think Balsamic Vinegar makes everything taste wonderful.

Marinade:
1/3 cup balsamic vinegar
1/3 cup dijon mustard
1/4 cup olive oil
1/2 Tb minced garlic (I did 2 cloves)
1 Tb honey
Salt & Pepper to taste

1 lb. boneless skinless chicken breasts

Mix all marinade ingredients. Cut chicken into bite-size chunks large enough to thread onto skewers. Toss chicken with marinade, cover & refrigerate 1 hour. We left it overnight. Grill 12-15 mins, turning often or bake in a 350 degree oven.

Heart of the Home Cookbooks

2010-02-05T21:26:00.000-08:00

If you have never seen one of Susan Branch's cookbooks or visited her website....here is my valentines present to you....me telling you about it! I was first introduce to one of Susan's cookbooks several years ago by the head cook at a church I worked at. I was smitten with the entrees this lady was dishing out & the rest is history.

In case you are not lucky enough to get your hands on one of her charming, whimsical, chic cookbooks, I will share this little slice of Heart of the Home bliss. I have four words for how much I love her recipes....THERE ARE NO WORDS. Basically I feel like I just visited a sunny tea room with my best girlfriends when I'm done looking at her website & reading her recipes. Check back at different times of the year as she changes up the theme & recipes regularly.

You're welcome!

Banana Muffins

2010-01-25T18:12:00.000-08:00

These are a yummy treat to enjoy when you have some ripe bananas, want something sweet, but not rich & are in a muffin mood. My husband says they're amazing, so there you have it.

2 cups all-purpose flour 6 Tb milk
1 cup white sugar 2 1/2 tsp baking powder
1 cup mashed ripe banana 1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 cup margarine 1 ground cinnamon
2 eggs 1/2 tsp salt

In a medium bowl mix flour, baking powder, soda, salt & cinnamon & set aside. In a separate bowl cream butter, sugar & eggs with an electric mixer until smooth. Stir in the milk & banana & mix well. Fold in flour mixture until combined. Bake in greased muffin tin @ 350 oven for 20 mins or until lightly browned. VERY IMPORTANT note: Drink with FREEZING COLD milk...in a glass not a plastic cup!!!

Beef Stroganoff

2010-01-23T16:02:00.000-08:00

I am very blessed to have a grocery buying club in my area that allows us to get some fresh organic produce at decent prices once a month. One of the items I purchased this month is cremini mushrooms, which are actually immature portabella mushrooms. I searched for a recipe that used cremini's & came across this Stroganoff on recipezar.com. It is not a "pretty" dish, but it was fabulous tasting!!! *Note the "Make Ahead" directions following the recipe. Serve this with a big green salad & crusty bread to sop up the yummy gravy stuff. It makes 4 servings.

1 1/2 lbs beef sirloin, thinly sliced
6 Tb butter, divided
1 small onion, chopped
1 1/2 cups cremini mushrooms, sliced
8 oz egg noodles, uncooked
3 Tb flour
2 cups beef broth
1 Tb ketchup
1/2 tsp paprika
1/2 tsp dried basil
1/4 tsp nutmeg
3 Tb sherry wine (I substituted this with about 2 Tb whiskey & 1 Tb sherry wine vinegar)
8 Tb sour cream

Saute' half of beef in 1 Tb butter briefly to brown. Remove beef & any juices into a bowl. Repeat with 2nd batch. In same pan, add 1 more Tb butter & saute' onion & mushrooms until soft. Remove to bowl with meat. Boil noodles. Melt remaining 3 Tb butter, whisk in flour & cook, stirring for 2 mins. Whisk in broth, slowly to prevent lumping. Add ketchup, paprika, basil & nutmeg. Bring to boil, reduce heat & simmer 5 mins or until thickened. Remove from heat & stir in sherry & sour cream.

*To make ahead: complete sauce up through adding sherry (Don't add sour cream yet). Cool completely & freeze. To serve; thaw overnight in fridge. Prep noodles. Reheat sauce, turn off heat & stir in sour cream.

Country French Bread

2010-01-22T09:12:00.000-08:00

This french bread recipe from my cookbook "With Love, From Cynthia" is a winner. It makes two BEAUTIFUL loaves that look like they came from a bakery. They taste amazing & my confidence in bread making has gone up a notch. This is the bread they make every morning at the famous Peach Tree Tea Room in Fredericksburg, Texas. They use the dough from this bread to make everything from french toast to crostini. I can't recommend enough that you give this bread a try. If I can do it anyone can!!!

1 Tb active dry yeast
1 1/2 tsp sugar
1 1/2 cups lukewarm water
3 cups unbleached flour
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 cup rolled oats
1 1/2 tsp salt
Olive oil, enough to brush on dough
Egg Wash: 1 egg beaten with 1 Tb water

Dissolve yeast & sugar in lukewarm water (I would give this at least 5 mins or so). Combine 2 cups unbleached flour, whole wheat flour, oats & salt. Add to the yeast mixture, stirring well with wooden spoon. (This step can also be done in a food processor, Kitchen Aid Mixer or Bosch using a dough blade....I used my bosch.)

Knead dough on a lightly floured board gradually adding last cup of unbleached flour until it is no longer sticky. (I let the Bosch knead it for me) Place dough in oiled bowl; brush top with oil. Cover with plastic wrap & let rise until doubled, about one hour. After dough has doubled in size, punch down & turn out onto floured board. Divide into 2 equal parts & form into long slender loaf.

Place loaves seam side down on greased cookie sheet that has been sprinkled with cornmeal. Cover & let rise about 30 mins. Using serrated knife, make shallow diagonal cuts on top of each loaf. Brush egg wash on each loaf. Bake in preheated oven @400 degrees for 20-25 mins or until golden. Makes 2 large loaves. Freeze one for later & eat one now.

Nachos Supreme

2010-01-20T19:32:00.000-08:00

These nachos taste very similar to Taco Bell's Nachos Bell Grande & my family really enjoyed this meal. This is composed of several separate recipes I put together.

I got the meat sauce part from Heidi's blog. The meat sauce part can be made ahead of time in the crock pot. When my husband found out I was cooking nachos for dinner he insisted that we have a nacho cheese sauce to go with it & I didn't have any on hand, so I found a good recipe on allrecipes.com that was quick to whip up. I also served the nachos with the homemade taco sauce I keep on hand. All of these recipes put together equal what I call delicious! Here ya go..... (the topping possibilities are endless, but you can serve these with chopped tomato, chopped green onion, olives, jalapenos, sour cream, guacamole, etc., etc.)

Meat Sauce
1 lb. ground beef, cooked
2 cans refried beans
1 8 oz can tomato sauce
1 pkg taco seasoning mix (I make homemade & used 2 Tb of it in this mixture)
1/2 to 3/4 cup water
Mix all of the meat sauce ingredients together & place in crock pot on low for 3-4 hours.

Nacho Cheese Sauce
2 Tb butter
2 Tb all-purpose flour
1 cup milk
7 slices American cheese
1/2 tsp salt

In a medium saucepan over medium heat melt butter & stir in flour. Pour in milk & whisk until flour dissolves & sauce thickens some. Stirring constantly, add cheese slices & salt. Continue to cook & stir for about 10-15 mins or until cheese is completely melted and sauce is thick & creamy.

Homemade Fabric Softener

2010-01-17T12:24:00.000-08:00

I may have already posted this sometime before? I don't remember where I got this recipe, but it was on one of my fellow blogger's posts. I wrote it down a long time ago & am just now starting to use it. I can't say for sure yet if it's a total success, but I think it's worth a try & will save a lot of money. It smells good anyways!

1 cup vinegar
2 cups hair conditioner (Suave Wild Cherry Blossom was recommended by the blogger)
6 cups water
4-5 drops Downy or Cotton scented oil

Mix all together & use like any other fabric softener.

For "dryer sheets" dilute the above softener ~ 3 parts water to 1 part softener. Pour into a bowl & add sponges. For each load of laundry to dry, wring out sponge & add to dryer as you would dryer sheets.

Wilted Spinach & Bacon Salad

2009-12-01T17:39:00.000-08:00

I liked this salad...a lot! If a dish has balsamic vinegar in it, I'm usually a happy girl.

Cookbook source: With Love From Cynthia by: Cynthia Pedregon

Wilted Spinach & Bacon Salad

2 svgs

4 oz lean bacon, cut into 1'' strips (4 strips)

2-4 cloves garlic, sliced lengthwise

1 tsp sugar

1/2 tsp black pepper

2 -3 Tb olive oil

1 Tb balsamic vinegar

1/2 lb fresh spinach

Saute' bacon in a small skillet. Pour off grease. Add garlic & saute until light brown. Add sugar, pepper & stir until sugar dissolves. Add olive oil & vinegar. Add spinach & stir until just wilted. Serve immediately.

Favorite Lentil Soup

2009-12-01T17:15:00.000-08:00

It is shocking how good this soup is! This has a very Italian flare to it. It reminds me of Minestrone soup. I highly recommend serving with some crusty french bread or simply a piece of wheat toast & butter if you don't have french bread.

2 tsp olive oil

3 small carrots, peeled & chopped

1 rib celery, chopped

1/2 cup yellow onion, chopped

sprinkle of dried minced onion

3 cloves garlic, minced

1 cup lentils, rinsed & sorted

4 cups homemade chicken stock or canned chicken broth

Salt & Fresh black pepper to taste

1 Tb minced fresh parsley (I don't normally do this b/c I usually don't have fresh parsley on hand)

1 14.5 oz can whole tomatoes, cut up using kitchen shears right in the can

1 tsp dried oregano leaves

1 1/2 tsp dried basil

1 tsp balsamic vinegar

2 bay leaves

Heat oil in a soup pot over low heat. Saute' carrots, celery, onions & garlic in oil. Keep lid on in between stirrings. Cook until onions are soft & golden.

Add remaining ingredients to pot & bring to a boil. Then simmer covered for about 45 mins.

Homemade Taco Bell Hot Sauce

2009-11-13T11:13:00.000-08:00

We love this stuff poured over any mexican dishes for added flavor. It is so delicious & really does taste like Taco Bell's packets of sauce. This makes about 2 pints so I keep one in the fridge & one in the freezer.

6 oz can tomato paste

3 cups water

2 tsp cayenne pepper

1 1/2 Tb chili powder

2 1/2 tsp salt

2 tsp cornstarch

2 tsp white vinegar

1 Tb minced dried onion

2 Tb canned jalapeno slices, finely chopped

Combine paste & water in medium saucepan over medium heat. Stir until smooth. Add cayenne, chili powder, salt, cornstarch, vinegar & dried onion & stir well. Chop up jalapeno into fine pieces (a mini food processor works well) & stir it in. Heat to a boil & continue to stir about 3 mins, then remove from the heat. Let sauce stand until cool & then put in tightly sealed container (I think mason jars work well) & refrigerate.

Taco Seasoning

2009-11-13T11:05:00.000-08:00

Who needs packets when you can make your own fabulous taco seasoning with common spices in your pantry? This is wonderful! The recipe below makes about 1 oz which is the equivalent to the single seasoning packets at the store. I will also include a recipe to make it in bulk.

Equivalent to one taco seasoning packet from store:

1 Tb chili powder

1/4 tsp garlic powder

1/4 tsp onion powder

1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes

1/4 tsp dried oregano

1/2 tsp paprika

1 1/2 tsp ground cumin

1 tsp sea salt

1 tsp black pepper

Bulk recipe - use 2 Tb per 1 lb of meat - 2 Tb equals 1 store bought packet

1/4 cup + 1 Tb chili powder
1 1/4 tsp garlic powder
1 1/4 tsp onion powder
1 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
1 1/4 tsp oregano
2 1/2 tsp paprika (I love smoked paprika, but regular will do)
2 Tb + 1 1/2 tsp ground cumin
1 Tb + 2 tsp salt
1 Tb pepper

Mix & store in airtight container