Monday, November 3, 2014

Simi's Cookies -- Only 4 ingredients!


Simi's Cookies





Simi is two years old and has a boatload of food allergies.  His family was here for a visit, and his mommy forgot to bring his special cookies.  I verified what ingredients he could tolerate and came up with these easy-peasy cookies.  He, (and his mommy who is allergic to eggs), thought they were pretty delicious :)

Simi's Cookies are very simple -- with only four (4) ingredients.  They have a "flour" base, some "butter", flax seed mixed with water, and sweetener.  The flour could be just about any "flour,"  like almond, rice or ground oats.  The butter could be anything from coconut oil, to butter or margarine, like we had to do for Simi.  The flax seed and water stands in for the eggs, and we used honey for sweetener because it's safe for him, but I think just about any sweetener -- agave, coconut sugar or organic sugar would work.  These could easily have other optional ingredients like a tablespoon or two of nuts, raisins or chocolate or carob chips added.  Have fun with it!

Simi's Cookies
Makes about a dozen cookies

Pre-heat oven to 375F.

In a medium sized mixing bowl, cream together:

1/3 cup raw honey (or other tolerated sweetener)
1/3 cup Earth Balance Spread (or other solid fat)

Combine in a small cup or dish:

1 teaspoon ground flax seed plus 1 tablespoon water.  Allow it to gel a minute or so.  Add to the honey mixture and stir well.

Add a little at a time until cookie dough consistency:

3/4 cup whole wheat flour (or other well tolerated "flour")

Scoop by tablespoonfuls onto a baking sheet sprayed with cooking oil spray or onto a parchment lined sheet.  Tap the tops of the dough balls with fingers so they will flatten during baking.  Bake about 11 minutes or until they are becoming golden.  Cool on paper towels.  Enjoy!

Simutaneously posted on my other blog here.

Friday, October 24, 2014

Cranberry Orange Cookies -- Paleo deliciousness!

Cranberry Orange Cookies



Cranberry Orange Cookies

This is a grain free, gluten free, non glycemic sweetener, Paleo style cookie.  It could be dairy free, too, if just coconut oil is used instead of part butter and part coconut oil.  That being said, they are a very yummy sweet treat!

Pre-heat the oven to 375F.  In a large bowl combine:

1 cup almond flour
¾ cup shredded coconut 
½ cup flaxseed meal (ground)
¼ cup potato flour
1 packet unflavored gelatin (Knox)
1/2 teaspoon salt

Set this aside.  In a mixing bowl, with an electric mixer, beat until light:

1/2 cup butter
1/4 cup coconut oil

Carefully add while mixing:

1 cup coconut sugar
4 packets “Truvia” type sweetener 

Add and mix until combined:

2 eggs
1/2 tablespoon vanilla
1 tablespoon orange juice concentrate

Add the flour mixture little by little until it is mixed in.  Finally, add and mix till just combined:

1/2 cup dried unsweetened cranberries
½ cup walnut pieces (optional)

Scoop by 1/4 cupfuls or same-size ice cream scoop onto parchment lined cookie sheets.  Using fingers, flatten the tops of the cookies.

Bake at 375F for about 13 minutes. They should be just becoming firm around the edges and still very soft and puffy in the middle. Remove them from the oven and allow them to finish baking on the hot baking sheet. 

Allow them to cool completely on paper towels before storing them covered with paper towels between the layers of cookies.

Enjoy!

Tuesday, October 14, 2014

Creamy Potato and Chicken Soup


Creamy Potato and Chicken Soup



This basic delicious recipe can be varied in several ways.  Instead of potatoes, the primary vegetable can be cauliflower, broccoli, asparagus, celery or mushrooms.  The vegetable base, either 1/2 or all, can be put into a blender before adding the milk and chicken and pureed for a truly "creamed" soup.  The chicken can, also, be omitted or substituted for just about any another meat.  I do this same basic soup with salmon for a salmon chowder which is very good.  I don't think I'd like this soup with beef or venison, but pork, clams (for clam chowder), or fish are all good.  For a dairy free version of any of these soups, simply use almond milk, (unflavored), or any other non-dairy milk that is unsweetened, instead of the milk as stated in the recipe.  This recipe is gluten free by nature, or to make it grain free, use potato starch instead of the corn starch as stated in the recipe.  Additionally, for a really decadent version, which is amazing with the salmon variation, use half and half or full cream for part or all of the milk in the recipe.

Creamy Potato and Chicken Soup
Makes about 6 servings

In a large sauce pan, (about 4-6 quart size), place:

2 tablespoons cooking fat (I had some bacon grease, but just about anything will work here)
3/4 cup sweet onion, diced
1 teaspoon minced garlic (about 2 cloves)
1 teaspoon parsley flakes
1/2 teaspoon thyme flakes
1/2 teaspoon celery seeds

Cover the pot with a well-fitting lid and cook the onions and seasonings over medium heat until the onions are fragrant and translucent.

Add to the pot:

4 Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and 1/2" dice (other potatoes will work, these are just the best!)
5 cups chicken broth (recipe here)
1 teaspoon sea salt (omit if broth is salted)
2 teaspoons Everything Seasoning (or seasoning salt)

Cover the soup and bring it to a boil.  Skim off any foam that comes to the surface.  Reduce the heat to simmering and cook the veggies until the potatoes are tender, about 8 to 10 minutes.

Combine 1/2 cup water or cooled broth and 6 tablespoons cornstarch in a cup and pour into the boiling soup.  Stir well until the mixture has thickened.  It may seem like it is a bit too thick, but adding the remaining ingredients will thin it down to the proper consistency.

At this point turn the heat off, but leave the pot on the burner.  Add, stirring very gently as to not break the chicken up any further:

2 cups diced, cooked chicken 
4 slices bacon, cut up

Then gently stir in:

2 cups milk 

Serve immediately.  Enjoy!

Monday, October 6, 2014

Healthier Banana Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

Healthier Banana Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting



Healthier Banana Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

This is a healthier version of the old-time banana cake from my 1981 Better Homes and Gardens "New Cook Book."

Pre-heat the oven to 350F and spray with olive oil cooking spray a 13"x9"x2" pan.

In a mixing bowl, place:

1 cup whole wheat pastry flour
1 1/2 cups unbleached flour
1/2 cup coconut sugar
1 cup measurable stevia extract ("Stevia in the Raw," measures cup-for-cup like sugar)
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon sea salt

Add and mix until combined on low speed:

1/2 cup coconut oil
2 small ripe bananas, about 1 cup 

Add and mix on medium speed for 2 minutes:

2/3 cup buttermilk or milk + 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla (my homemade vanilla extract recipe is linked.)

Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake it at 350F for about 30 minutes or until a knife inserted off center comes out clean.

Cool the cake completely and frost with Cream Cheese Frosting, recipe below.



Cream Cheese Frosting, reduced Sugar or regular

(Note:  I would recommend preparing the frosting either a day ahead as written OR using all powdered sugar if serving the same day.  The stevia flavor is over-powering the day it is made, but mellows thereafter.)

In a mixing bowl combine and whip until fluffy:

3 ounces cream cheese
1/4 cup butter
2 teaspoons vanilla extract (as above)
1/8 teaspoon sea salt

Add and beat until light:

1 cup measurable stevia extract ("Stevia in the Raw," measures cup-for-cup like sugar)
1 cup powdered sugar (organic preferred)

Spread onto cooled cake.  Serve and enjoy!





Home Made Country Style Pork Sausage


Home Made Country Style Pork Sausage




I really like sausage, but even some of the "best" sausage out there has nasty chemicals and a lot of sodium, ie., table salt in it.  Yuck!  Or, if a "natural" sausage can be found, it's horrendously expensive!

However, making sausage from scratch is really not difficult and then I know exactly what is in it.

Home Made Country Style Pork Sausage

In a mixing bowl, with an electric mixer or by hand, combine:

1 1/4 pounds ground pork (ground turkey or beef may be used instead)
1/2 tablespoon ground sage
2 teaspoons Everything Seasoning (or Adobo seasoning or a seasoning salt blend made without msg, sugar or table salt if there's one out there!)
1/2 teaspoon lemon pepper
1/4 teaspoon chili powder

Sprinkle the seasonings evenly over the ground pork, or they will tend to be in clumps in the sausage.  Not pleasant!

Once the sausage is uniformly mixed, it can be formed into patties, crumbled and cooked, or used in any recipe calling for pork sausage.

Enjoy!

Tuesday, September 23, 2014

Forty-Five (45) Uses for vinegar -- repost

This is not an original post.  It was originally posted by Annie Wiebe.  I do most of these things.  Vinegar is a great household product that is totally safe :)

distilled white vinegar 1 gallon jug heinz distilled white vinegar ...


Quoted post below:
45 Uses for Vinegar
1. Freshen up the fridge. Clean the shelves and walls with a solution of half water and half vinegar.
2. Brighten coffee cups and teacups. Gently scrub stains with equal parts vinegar and salt (or baking soda).
3. Eliminate odors. Swab plastic containers with a cloth dampened with vinegar.
4. Kill bathroom germs. Spray full-strength vinegar around the sink and tub. Wipe clean with a damp cloth.
5. Save a garment. To remove light scorch marks on fabrics, rub gently with vinegar. Wipe with a clean cloth. This technique also works on antiperspirant stains.
6. Tidy up a toilet. Pour a cup or more of diluted white distilled vinegar into the bowl. Let sit several hours or overnight. Scrub well with a toilet brush and flush.
7. Lose the carpet stain. Make a paste of 2 tablespoons white distilled vinegar and ¼ cup salt or baking soda. Rub into the stain and let dry. Vacuum the residue the next day. (Always test an out-of-sight part of the carpet first.)
8. Renew paint brushes. To remove old paint, place brushes in a pot with vinegar. Soak for an hour, then turn on the stove and bring the vinegar to a simmer. Drain and rinse clean.
9. Wipe off a dirty faucet. To get rid of lime buildup, make a paste of 1 teaspoon vinegar and 2 tablespoons salt. Apply to sink fixtures and rub with a cloth.
10. Stop static cling. Add ½ cup of white distilled vinegar to your wash cycle. The acid reduces static and keeps dryer lint from sticking to your clothes.
11. Make old socks look new. Get the stains out of old socks and sweaty gym clothes by soaking them in a vinegar solution. Add 1 cup of white distilled vinegar to a large pot of water, bring to a boil and drop in the stained clothes. Let them soak overnight, and in the morning stained clothes are fresh and bright.
12. Restore handbags and shoes. Wipe white distilled vinegar on scuffed leather bags and shoes. It will restore their shine and help hide the marks.
13. Banish weeds. Pour white distilled vinegar on the weeds growing in the cracks of your walkway and driveway. Saturate the plant so the vinegar reaches the roots.
14. Liven droopy flowers. Don’t throw out cut flowers once they start to wilt. Instead, add two tablespoons of white vinegar and one teaspoon of sugar to a quart of water. Pour the solution into your vase, and the flowers will perk up.
15. Put an end to itching. Dab a cotton ball soaked in white vinegar on mosquito bites and insect stings. It will stop them from itching and help disinfect the area so they heal faster.
16. Whiten your teeth. Brush your teeth once a week with white distilled vinegar. Dip your toothbrush into the vinegar and brush thoroughly. It will help prevent bad breath, too.
17. Make nail polish last longer. Before you apply your favorite polish, wipe your nails with a cotton ball soaked in white distilled vinegar. The clean surface will help your manicure last.
18. Keep car windows frost-free. Prevent windows from frosting over in a storm by coating them with a solution of three parts white distilled vinegar to one part water. The acidity hinders ice, so you won’t have to wake up early to scrape off your car.
19. Let your dog shine. Spray your dog with one cup white distilled vinegar mixed with one quart water. The solution is a cheap alternative to expensive pet-care products, plus the vinegar will help repel pests like fleas and ticks.
20. Battle litter-box odor. Cat litter can leave behind an unwelcome smell. Eliminate it by pouring a half-inch of white distilled vinegar into the empty litter box. Let stand for 20 minutes, then rinse with cold water.
21. Kill bacteria in meat. Marinating in vinegar knocks out bacteria and tenderizes the meat. Create a marinade by adding ¼ cup balsamic vinegar for every 2 pounds of meat to your own blend of herbs and spices. Let the meat sit anywhere from 20 minutes to 24 hours, depending on how strong you want the flavor, then cook it in the morning without rinsing.
22. Prevent cracked eggs. Prevent eggs from cracking as they hard-boil by adding two tablespoons of white vinegar to the water. The eggs will stay intact, and the shells will peel off more easily when you’re ready to eat them.
23. Steam away a microwave mess. Fill a small bowl with equal parts hot water and vinegar, and place it in the microwave on high for 5 minutes. As the steam fills the microwave, it loosens the mess, making clean up a breeze.
24. Repair DVDs. If you have a worn DVD that skips or freezes, wipe it down with white distilled vinegar applied to a soft cloth. Make sure the DVD is completely dry before reinserting it into the player.
25. Get those last drops. If you can’t get that final bit of mayonnaise or salad dressing out of the jar, dribble in a few drops of vinegar. Put the cap on tightly and shake. The remaining condiments will slide out.
26. Rinse fruits and vegetables. Add 2 tablespoons white distilled vinegar to one pint water. Use the mixture to wash fresh fruits and vegetables, then rinse thoroughly. The solution kills more pesticide residue than does pure water.
27. Brighter Easter eggs. Before your kids dye Easter eggs, mix 1 teaspoon of vinegar with ½ cup of hot water, then add food coloring. The vinegar keeps the dye bright and prevents the color from streaking.
28. Loosen a rusted screw. Pour vinegar onto the screw, and it will easily unstick.
29. Remove gum. To remove gum from fabric or hair, heat a small bowl of vinegar in the microwave. Pour the warm vinegar over the gum, saturating the area. The gum will dissolve.
30. Keep cheese from molding. Wrap cheese in a vinegar-soaked cloth, then place in an airtight container and refrigerate.
31. Renew a loofah. Soak your loofah in equal parts vinegar and water for 24 hours to dissolve soap residue, then rinse in cold water.
32. Remove wax. If you get melted candle wax on your wood furniture or floors, gently wipe it away with a cloth soaked in a solution of equal parts white vinegar and water.
33. Take a relaxing bath. Add ½ cup of vinegar to warm bath water for a cheap spa session at home. The vinegar removes dead skin, leaving you feeling soft and smooth.
34. Brighten your hair. Remove hair product buildup by rinsing a tablespoon of vinegar through your hair once a month.
35. Freshen fabrics. Fill a spray bottle with white vinegar and spritz your home to neutralize odors in fabrics, carpets, shoes or any sprayable surface.
36. Erase crayon. If your kids get crayon marks on the walls or floor, dip a toothbrush in white vinegar and gently scrub. The vinegar breaks down the wax, making for an inexpensive, nontoxic way to clean up after children.
37. Sticky stickers. Don’t scratch at the residue left by stickers or price tags. Instead, apply vinegar to the gunk, let it sit for a few minutes, then wipe the glue away.
38. Clean the dishwasher and coffee pot. Reduce soap buildup and food residue by pouring a cup of vinegar into your empty dishwasher or coffee pot once a month and letting it run a full cycle.
39. Sanitize pet accidents. You can remove the stain―and smell―of your pet’s accident by mixing ¼ cup vinegar with a quart of water and blotting the mixture onto the mess with a washcloth. Continue dabbing until the spot is gone.
40. Prep for summer grilling. To remove charcoal buildup from your grill, spray white distilled vinegar on balled up aluminum foil and scrub the grate thoroughly.
41. Restore showerhead pressure. If your showerhead gets clogged with mineral deposits, soak it for 15 minutes in a mixture of ½ cup vinegar and 1 quart water.
42. Clean your scissors. When your scissor blades get sticky, wipe them down with a cloth dipped in full-strength white vinegar. Unlike soap and water, vinegar won’t ruin the blades or rust the metal.
43. Unclog drains. For a natural, nontoxic way to clean clogged pipes, pour one cup of baking soda, followed by one cup of white vinegar, down the drain. Let the products bubble and foam, then flush the pipes with a pot of boiling water.
44. Eliminate dandruff. If your scalp is feeling dry or flaky, vinegar can be a simple at-home remedy. Once a week, pour one cup of apple cider vinegar over your scalp, and let it sit for 15 minutes. Rinse thoroughly with cool water.
45. Soften your feet. Summer sandals leaving you with cracked heals and calluses? Soak your feet for 20 minutes a day in one part vinegar to two parts warm water. The vinegar removes dead skin, leaving your feet soft and smooth.

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Saturday, September 6, 2014

Fix Me Up Blueberry Smoothie


Fix Me Up Blueberry Smoothie


I don't know about other people, but when I travel, my system gets all "out of sorts."  This concoction was designed to help put me right again.  Each item is chosen for its health benefits.

Health benefits of the items in the smoothie:

Eggs:  Protein and many vitamins and minerals
Blueberries:  Rich in antioxidants, vitamins, minerals and fiber
Coconut:  Rich in antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids and fiber
Flax seeds:  Rich in antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids and fiber
Yogurt:  Protein and calcium
Ice cubes:  Water hydrates the system
Aloe juice:  Soothing to the digestive system
Stevia -- the "Truvia" type sweetener:  Helps normalize blood sugar
Apple cider vinegar (the type with the "mother" in it):  Alkalizing, normalizes blood sugar, anti-inflammatory
Ginger:  Alkalizing, normalizes blood sugar, anti-inflammatory
Cinnamon:  Alkalizing, normalizes blood sugar, anti-inflammatory
Vanilla extract (real vanilla, not artificially flavored.  I make my own, recipe here):  Antioxidant



Fix Me Up Blueberry Smoothie
Makes 2 servings

In a blender container place the following ingredients:

2 eggs 
1/4 to 1/2 cup blueberries
1/4 cup shredded coconut*
1/4 cup flax seeds*
1 cup no sugar added yogurt (I would have preferred unsweetened, but the cashier forgot a bag of our groceries!  Oops :(  )
1 cup ice cubes
1/2 cup aloe juice (I get mine at WalMart in the pharmacy department)
2 packets (or to taste) "Truvia" type sweetener
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar (the type with the "mother" in it.  Again, my WalMart carries it)
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

*Note:  The flax and coconut make this smoothie a bit "chewy," but since I'm doing it because I'm out of sorts; it doesn't bother me.  They can be left out if it's an issue.  Also, if obtaining any of the non-essential ingredients is difficult, simply omit them.  This is a very flexible recipe!

Blend well.  I always run the blender a second time to be sure the ice is all crushed up.  Enjoy!