Hand Squeezed Butter

I know that when you hear "hand squeezed" you usually think of orange juice but I'm not kidding when I say hand squeezed butter. I know, don't fall out of your chair yet, but I'm churning my own butter. I realize that I risk losing some readers at this point who think I've crossed over the edge! But, bare with me a minute. I've been reading about which foods are the most important to eat organically and yes, dairy is at the top of the list. So, I want organic butter but guess what, it's expensive. So, I thought I'd experiment and see if I could make it cheaper than buying it. It's super easy to churn your own butter with the modern tools of today, the true question was "is it cheaper?"

So, I bought organic whipping cream and set to work last week. Actually, set my mixer to work. After measuring the before amounts, the cost of already made organic butter (unsalted) and then calculating the resulting measurements and comparing the price, it actually didn't save me that much money. Here's the deal, the butter part was cheaper store bought from where I get it, BUT it did yield 2 cups of buttermilk which was "free" so to speak. So, if you count the free buttermilk, well, then it was cheaper. Organic buttermilk cost me about $2.75 for a carton so I got about $1.37 worth of free buttermilk. Doesn't sound like such a good deal but here's the kicker.....my family went nuts for my homemade butter and homemade buttermilk. I have to admit the buttermilk was amazing! It made buttermilk pancakes like we've never experienced! It was seriously shocking. So, even though it doesn't save me a whole lot of money, the quality was well worth the time. Considering it doesn't take all that much work, we'll be making this from time to time. Now, if you are still with me after this lengthy post, I'll share with you the steps.

Ingredients:
2 pints heavy whipping cream
(you can add salt if you want but we use all unsalted butter)

Tools:
mixer or food processor
strainer (optional)

Whip the whipping cream through the many stages till you get butter. That's pretty much it. So, it turns first into fluffy whipping cream, then it gets really thick, then it starts to condense and turn yellow.....then it starts to separate and the yellow turns to little pea chunks and milk starts to come out of it. Keep whipping till you get a hard butter and lots of milk.

Now is when you want to strain the buttermilk and put it into a jar and refrigerate it to use in pancakes or recipes that week.

Now you can take the butter and with very clean hands, squeeze it. Yep, go right ahead and start wringing it out. Press it into a butter dish or mold it if you desire. I'm always amazed how soft my hands are after hand squeezing butter!

Now, you might think I'm totally nuts but seriously this wasn't that hard. =0)

Featured Product - Organic Natural Peanut Butter

I love this peanut butter because after you do the first stirring and refrigerate it, it doesn't separate again! Gotta love that! I get it at Costco.

Taco Seasonings Revisited

Thanks to those that submitted some taco seasoning recipes. I do like the one I've been using but I'm always up for trying new things. I'm excited to give the new recipes you shared a chance in my kitchen!

If you are looking for a homemade taco seasoning or want to see if you've got the ingredients on hand for one recipe or the other, be sure to check out the recipes these gals submitted here.

Switched Over

I came across a list I had made several months ago of goals for being healthier (which cost more) and ways to be frugal (to off set the cost of being healthier). Here is my list. My reason for each goal is included and my progress with each one is included as well. Some are things just to save money that don't really involve cooking, like my hair color for example.

Stop using paper plates on a regular basis -
Goal=To save money. I thought this would be hard for me but it surprisingly wasn't. My kids are old enough to help do dishes so I haven't felt the pain of change as much as I thought I would.
Verdict= I've completely stopped buying paper plates!

Switch to cloth napkins instead of paper-
Goal= To save money. I was worried this would be hard too and that I'd have a hard time keeping up with washing them all. Surprisingly my whole family welcomed the change and it's been super easy. I don't iron them unless company is coming over! I stock pile them so that I don't get too behind on washing them. I use neutral colors so that they can go in just about any load of wash I'm doing. To make the change swiftly, I actually bought dish cloths at first that we use for just our own family...it was cheaper to make the change this way. Cutting old dish towels in half and sewing the edge works well too. I haven't bought paper napkins in 5 months!
Verdict= We are completely switched over.

Make my own laundry detergent-
Goal= To save money and stay natural. I was concerned this would be labor intensive but it's proved to be pretty darn simple considering I can make a lot at once and have it on hand.
Verdict= I've been using it for a couple of months and am completely satisfied with it and completely switched over.

Make my own dryer sheet that is reusable-
Goal= To save money and stay natural.
Verdict= Completely switched over to spraying a wash cloth with natural biodegradable fabric softener. No more dryer sheets getting lost in folded laundry....

Make my own pancake mix-
Goal= To save money and stay healthy.
Verdict= Accomplished this and you can read about it here.

Buy dry beans instead of canned-
Goal= To save money and be healthier (less sodium). This is new to me but I've done it. Not that hard to make the change, just takes extra planning.
Verdict= Accomplished this.

Make my own noodles from scratch-
Goal= To save money and be healthier. Fun and easy. I can use fresh ingredients and organic ingredients. They taste better too!
Verdict= Completely switched over. To see how click here but you can also make them very quickly in a food processor (see the bottom of the linked post for processor directions).

Make healthier butter-
Goal= To be healthier and save money. I started out with one experiment with this but am in the process of revamping it. I will actually be trying out the process of churning my own butter because I want to use organic butter which is expensive. By making it myself, I will save money. Meantime, I'm also revamping my earlier posts about mixing oil with butter...more to come.
Verdict= In process.

Switch to ammonia free hair color-
Goal= Health. Hair color with ammonia causes hair to become brittle and ends to break off. I know the totally healthy thing would be to not color my hair at all but I'm not there yet.
Verdict= I'm much happier with the ammonia free hair color and you can see which one I use here. I'm completely switched over.

Stop buying books and get them from the library instead-
Goal= Save money. I love books! I can't get enough of them but they are expensive and take up a lot of room in the house. With homeschooling my kids, and a pastor husband who is addicted to books, books could easily take over our entire home. We utilize our library and inner-library loans now.
Verdict= Almost completely switched over. If we do buy books we try to use our change that we've turned into the Albertson's change machine and it gives you the amount in credit on Amazon.com.

Stop renting movies and get them from the library instead (or free from Redbox using promotion codes)-
Goal= To save money.
Verdict= Completely switched over other than a dollar here and there for a Redbox movie. Haven't paid for a movie rental in about 4 months!

Stop buying store bought snacks foods and make homemade ones instead-
Goal= To save money and to be healthier. Store bought snack foods almost all contain hydrogenated oils. I'm making large batches of granola, granola bars, healthy muffins, healthy cookies, etc. and freezing them in batches.
Verdict= Family is much happier with this because it all taste so much better. Almost completely switched over. When I do buy them, I try to buy organic ones that are free of hydrogenated oils. Still experimenting with more recipes for snack foods.

Make my own boxed cake mixes-
Goal= To save money and for health.
Verdict= Have recipes and getting ready to do this.

Make my own taco seasoning packets-
Goal= To save money and be healthier.
Verdict= Easy and completely switched over. Recipe here.

Make homemade dressings-
Goal= To save money and be healthier.
Verdict= have made some but have several recipes to try. In progress.

Stop buying canned soups and make my own from scratch at least once a week-
Goal= To save money and be healthier.
Verdict= Making soup homemade 90% of the time. Almost completely switched over. I still love that Campbell's tomato soup.

Stop buying cream of soups for cooking and make my own from scratch.
Goal= Totally for the sake of health.
Verdict= have recipes to try. In progress.

Make freezer meals for days I don't feel like cooking so that we aren't tempted to eat out-
Goal= To save money.
Verdict= Completely switched over.

Stop eating out other than about one meal a month!-
Goal= To save money.
Verdict= Completely switched over. I thought this would be harder than it was. I'm actually really surprised. Actually, some months we haven't eaten out at all...not even one meal! Sometimes we do eat out more than one meal a month if we have a gift card or can take advantage of some other promotion or coupon but it's rare.

Get back to thrift store shopping for clothes-
Goal= To save money.
Verdict= out of my comfort zone but have had success. I have found two women's high end consignment stores and 2 children's high end consignment stores. Still shopping clearance racks from time to time in regular clothing stores.

Make homemade bread once a week-
Goal= To save money and be healthier.
Verdict= striving for this goal every week.

Don't buy cereal and make homemade breakfast from scratch instead-
Goal= To eat healthier.
Verdict= Completely switched over. I haven't bought a box of cereal in about 5 months!

Make and freeze pasta sauce from scratch.
Goal= Save money. Organic pasta sauce is expensive and we go through it fast.
Verdict= Success! See recipe here.

Use my crock-pot as often as possible.
Goal= keep my sanity.
Verdict= not hard to do and it does indeed help keep my sanity!

Making Homemade Babyfood

Making homemade baby food is actually quite easy. It's healthier, cheaper, and makes the transition to whole foods much easier. It does take some prep time but is well worth the quality and frugality it provides. At the heart of homemade baby food is feeding your baby whole healthy foods. I was surprised when my kids were babies just how easy it was.

I recommend these supplies:
food processor (or blender but the processor works better)
strainer
ice cube trays or small containers

VEGGIES
Steam or bake veggies.
Squash and carrots (butternut, zucchini, hubbard, crookneck, etc.) can be sliced in half and the seeds removed. Place on a cookie sheet face up or down and bake till fork tender. Scoop out flesh and puree in processor.
Peas, broccoli, cauliflower, green beans, etc. can be steamed on the stove top until fork tender. Puree in the processor. For younger infants, strain the peas and beans after pureeing.

FRUITS
Steam cored and peeled apples on the stove top till completely tender. Puree in processor.
Peaches, pears, and nectarines can be pureed fresh after removing skin and pit.

GRAINS
Prepare grains (cream of wheat, brown rice, oats, etc.) either in crock-pot over night or on stove top and then puree if desired.

You don't add anything to the foods. Leave them as they are without butter, salt, seasonings, or anything of the like. Your baby will appreciate the fresh taste of foods unaltered. Be sure to use fresh ingredients instead of canned. Fresh from the garden is great but if you don't have that, choose fresh organic produce or fresh frozen when there are no other options. Fresh will give your baby the best tasting produce.

Storage:
I recommend making baby food in large batches and freezing in a deep freeze in labeled with dates on containers or Ziploc freezer quality bags. Be sure to use the oldest dates first. You can freeze directly in small containers that are easy to grab and go and reheat or in ice cube trays which then are transferred to baggies.

My favorite way to make baby food was to use my baby food mill. It was fast, easy, and convenient when out and about. You may be leery of the power in this hand cranked mill but trust me it's amazing. I carried it in my diaper bag in a large 1 gallon Ziploc for easy clean up and to keep it clean in the first place. Place food off of your own plate into the mill with a little water, milk, or dressing to moisten it and grind. It produces pureed food in the little bowl shaped top that you can serve baby right out of. Don't think it's powerful enough for food off of your plate.....how about BBQed steak? Yep, I've done steak and chicken in it!

Feeding your baby whole foods without the taste of perservatives or canned jars, will make the transition to real foods easy. And, since babies don't eat that much at one meal, making a big batch of baby foods that are ready to grab will keep you stocked for quite some time.

Coconut Wet Cake

This is amazing! Yum. I found the idea for it online when I was trying to come up with a recipe to represent the wet cake that is common in Mexico for my kid's homeschool co-op presentation on foods in Mexico. I tweaked the recipe to make it my own and will be making this again it was so good. Terribly unhealthy so brace yourself as you read these ingredients!

1 box cake mix

Mix and bake according to instructions.

While cake is baking, mix together:
1 can of sweetened condensed milk
1 can of coconut milk (14 oz.)

When cake is finished baking, remove from the oven and while it is still hot poke it with forks to cover it well with holes. Pour the milk mixture over the cake slowly being sure to spread with a spatula evenly over the cake as it slowly absorbs into the cake. This may take some time.

Let cake cool completely and then refrigerated. It can be made ahead of time and refrigerated over night as well.

When ready to serve, frost the cake with cool whip or homemade whipped cream frosting mixed with 1 cup of shredded coconut (I would toast mine and sprinkle it on top but I didn't use it at all in the pictured version).

The cake is spongy wet...it's so good! My friend Robin says she makes something similar but sometimes makes it with chocolate cake and tops it with slivered almonds so that it taste like an Almond Joy cake! Now that's something I'm going to have to try! I love Almond Joy....terrible I know.

Recipes Wanted - Taco Seasoning!

Anyone have their own taco seasoning recipes to share? We'd love to try new ones, compare recipes, and get more ideas! If you have a homemade taco seasoning that you love to use, please share it with us here!

Tips and Links About Getting Kids to Eat Healthy

I get asked often about how I get my kids to eat certain foods and often hear other moms complain about how their kids eat so much sugar or won't eat veggies, etc. I will list here are few things that have worked for me over time. Key word "time". Keep in mind that I'm not a food or child expert but rather a mom who was desperate to get her kids eating healthier foods after establishing bad eating habits with them when they were toddlers. I kept a watchful eye observing other moms and here's what I learned. I'm sharing my personal journey with you and don't take my advice as professional.

1. Start young.
From the time your baby begins eating solid foods you can develop good eating habits. Feeding your infant a balance of fruits, veggies, and whole grains is key. Don't be tempted to only feed them fruit baby food just because YOU don't like pureed peas. AND, don't make wincing faces like "YUCK" when you are feeding your baby veggies. Babies are smarter than you think and if you are making a horrid face while trying to shove a spoon of veggies in their mouth they'll catch on that something isn't right about that mush when otherwise they probably would have thought it was fine. If you do this step you can disregard all the other steps! =0) If you didn't start young, keep reading!

2. If you didn't start young, realize that it will take a long time to turn the ship around.
Kids don't change bad eating habits quickly. They need TIME to get used to new foods. It took me about 3-4 good years of making changes to get my kids off their bad eating habits and into eating healthy whole foods. And, even then, there are still new foods they are learning to eat. It's a process and it takes patience and time. Give yourself YEARS to get them switched over. Make small changes first and not all at once. And be prepared for some complaining a long the path to changes!

3. Involve your kids in cooking.
Making your kids a part of the cooking process can do wonders for their interest and excitement about trying new foods. The fact that they had a hand in preparing it can go a long way. Not for all, but for some. Either way, get them involved in a fun part of food...the cooking! They will be more likely to try new foods down the road and have a healthy and positive attitude about food in general.

4. Be an example.
If you say you don't like it then they will most likely follow suit. Be a good example and eat good foods in front of your kids. I often tell my kids "we have to eat foods that we don't like sometimes because they are good for us!" We have to demonstrate that concept.

5. Be the parent.
It's our responsibility to ensure our children's safety and health. If they are sick we take them to the doctor, if they've got teeth, we make them brush their teeth, and so on. Well, I guess not all of us do. We live in a world where not all parents care about the health, safety, protection, and well being of their children. But, if you ARE a parent that IS concerned about your child's health and safety then realize that getting your kids to eat healthy is a priority in their best interest. They'll thank you later for not letting them survive on mac n cheese and pizza! It's hard work and it's tough love sometimes but taking responsibility is key. If your kids are eating too much of the wrong things, then stop buying them and making them available to them. Take responsibility for what you buy and what you make available to your kids. Just like your kids depend on you for clothing, for education, for shelter, your kids depend on you to train them to eat healthy and supply healthy food for them.

6. Introduce new foods slowly and in small quantities.
I'm going to break this process down for you into parts. This method is something I figured out over time by observing other wiser moms and it worked great for us:

• Just on the plate. Start with putting the new food (just one tablespoon of it) on the child's plate. Don't mention it, don't draw attention to it. If they ask what it is, tell them what it is and leave it at that. PURPOSE= is to get the child familiar with the food. They get used to seeing it on their plate without having to taste it. They get familiar with the shape, the color, the smell and they watch you eat it. Once they've gotten used to the new food on their plate you'll be surprised that sometimes, many kids eventually will just start eating it without any coaxing! I was shocked the first time my son just out of the blue picked up the "new food" that I had been placing on his plate over the past month and he gobbled it down. Suddenly it wasn't "new" anymore because he was used to seeing it. Once they get used to seeing this foreign object on their plate a few times without trying it, move on to the next step. (no, I do not place it there every meal...only when I'm serving it in our normal meals but I do try to have that new food a little more often when I'm introducing it.)
• Just one bite. If they haven't already, it's time to give it a little taste. Just one bite. Tell them that they can spit it out if they don't like it but they need to start having just one taste and see if they like it (or if they've had it in the past, see if they've changed their minds about it). If they spit it out, don't think you haven't made progress. They just got that taste in their mouth and that means MORE FAMILIARITY. Yep, they are getting used to it without even realizing it. From now on, that food has "just one bite" status and each time it's presented on their plate, they need to get in just one bite. Over time, they actually start developing a taste for it. Watch, you might not even have to mention the "just one bite" before they've finally decided that it's just not so bad and eat it on their own.
• You need to eat it because it's good for you. After a few months of "just one bite" status, assuming that we aren't having major gagging issues over this one food (more on that later) then it's time to move to this new level. Yep, it's good for you. By now you've talked long many times with your children about why our bodies need healthy foods, you've checked out books from the library that educate them on what healthy foods are, you've made them a part of picking out veggies and fruits at the super market and they understand that they grow big and strong by eating healthy foods so they totally get "you need to eat it because it's good for you." Remind them that even mom and dad have to eat foods that they don't like so much because they are good for them. My kids can now recite this statement to me without coaxing. Altogether now, "We have to eat foods we don't like sometimes because they are good for us!"
• Allow your kids to NOT like food. Okay, I know this sounds hypocritical but what I'm talking about is a sincere dislike for something. Your kid might be a great eater and love just about all the healthy foods you give him but he just has this strong aversion to peas that he just can't seem to get around. That's okay. Allow your child to have their one or two things that they just can't handle the texture or taste of. Just train your child how to handle the times when they are served that one disliked food in public so that they don't cause a scene. =0) Most adults have these picky foods that they just can't get past and that doesn't mean they aren't a healthy eater. Allow your child the freedom to express his personal taste in foods. Even in this case, you may find with time that they change their minds as they grow and their taste buds change. My son hated pasta for the longest time. It was his one food texture that he couldn't stand and then one day he got a hold of some pasta and poof, it was gone. He ate it all. So, don't worry if your child has a dislike for one particular food item, time could change that..but if it doesn't, that's okay too as long as they are getting what they need in other healthy foods. Kids have more taste buds than adults. We lose them with age which is why elderly people usually like a lot of salt on their food. So, this may explain why kids don't like strong tasting foods until they are older....spicy is usually 10 times as spicy for kids.

• Do what it takes to get it down. What do I mean by that? No, not force feeding them. Time to get creative. You can get creative in the ways you HIDE IT, SERVE IT, and DIP IT. Let's take each one of those one at a time.

1. Hide It. If you are going to hide it, you have to hide it good. Puree it and put it into recipes is the best way to hide it. Check out Deceptively Delicious by Jessica Seinfeld to learn how you can start getting healthy foods into your kids BEFORE you've accomplished getting them to eat it on their own (cause remember, it takes a long time to do the above process). This way, your kids are getting the foods they need while you patiently do the above process AND believe it or not, they are possibly still developing a taste for certain foods that are hidden. You can hide it also by mincing it, using dried versions of it (like onion), and mixing it into other foods.
2. Serve It. Be creative about how you serve foods. Make it fun by building bugs out of veggies and raisins with peanut butter, chop up several new foods and some they already love and serve them in a muffin tin. Kids love little cups and dishes that are divided. Check out the new bento box idea..it's all the rage for healthy school lunches but they could also be a fun way to get kids to try new things at home too. Make food into shapes...use cookie cutters and shaped pans. Decorate food with things your child already loves. If they love olives, try topping those yucky mashed potatoes with olive slices. Sounds gross to adults but you'd be amazed what little tricks get kids to eat things.
3. Dip It. For a very long time this method got my kids to eat all kinds of things they didn't want to try. I would ask them during the food prep time when they were cooking with me, "what should we serve this with to dip it in?" and they would usually say ranch dressing. If they knew they could dip it into their favorite dip (even if it sounded gross to me) then by golly they got to dip it! I was amazed what foods I could get into my kids with the dipping technique and yet again, here they were developing a taste for some new food without even realizing. Slowly over time I would give them less and less of the dip and eventually I'd conveniently "forget" to offer the dip and they'd end up eating the "new food" plain without even missing the dip.

Our hide it, serve it, and dip it days are over and so I want to encourage moms with younger ones that success is possible! It might take years (like it did in our case) but now I'm reaping the rewards of healthy eating kids. It was well worth the time and effort.

Here are some links for some other posts on blogs that I found helpful! They all have to do with eating:
Why What Your Kids Eat Is YOUR Responsibility
Parenting Style
Kids Learn By Example
Getting Kids to Eat Fruits and Veggies
How Much Sugar is Okay For Kids?
Switching to Whole Grains
Healthy Snacks for Kids
I love Dr. Oz...and here you can see the 5 things to avoid..great tips in terms of feeding your kids
Places You Wouldn't Think To Find High Fructose Corn Syrup
The 411 on High Fructose Corn Syrup

This last one I thought was a really cool post about how our healthy eating effects others in our lives...when it comes to having people over for dinner and not offending others with our food preferences. It can apply to how we train our children to eat but I thought was helpful mostly for adults when it comes to the making all these changes part.
Extending Grace

Homemade Taco Seasoning Packets

1/4 c dried minced or chopped onion
2 tbsp chili powder
2 tsp paprika
2 tsp dried red pepper flakes
1 tbsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
1 tbsp minced garlic or 1/2 tbsp garlic powder
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp crushed oregano










2 tbsp of this mix = 1 packet
this recipe makes 3 packets worth

Makes a great homemade gift as well.

Robin's Pasta Sauce

I've been wanting to make my own pasta sauce for quite some time and so the experimenting began. But one day I was at a friend's house and she had this sauce cooking in her crock-pot and gave me a taste. Oh my was it good! I begged, pleaded, got on my knees, wept tears of envy as I petitioned her to please share her recipe with me. She was very kind and said that yes, I could have it AND I asked her permission to share it with all of you. Now, Robin doesn't have a blog otherwise I'd be pointing you to her blog but she IS a blog reader so feel free to comment on this post and thank her for this recipe if you like it. She made this up herself and well, as her sauce implies, she's a great cook. Not only is SHE a great cook (and I know this because I've enjoyed tasting her cooking several times) but her husband is also a great cook! (Sorry if I'm embarrassing you guys, but truly Bill, you and Robin make quite the culinary couple!) I used the same begging tactics to get a copy of Bill's chocolate bread pudding recipe that was incredible....so I'll have to ask them if I can share that on here too. It's time for Bill and Robin to open a restaurant or at least start a cooking blog! =0) hint hint.

Robin uses all fresh ingredients from her summer garden to make this recipe and then she freezes it in her deep freeze in canning jars. I have a very large deep freeze as well and seeing that I hate the time and energy it takes to can, I loved the idea of freezing it. BUT you can surely can it as well if that is your preference. If you are freezing it, be sure to leave room at the top of the jar for expansion like in my picture above. Do not fill them all the way.

I didn't have fresh garden produce to make this with so I converted most of the recipe for you to canned tomatoes and dried herbs. I have to admit that Robin's fresh version was better but that the canned and dried version still taste good and works well. This IS our new pasta sauce. I used the organic diced tomatoes from Costco and the organic tomato paste from Costco as well.

4 onions
4 garlic cloves (1 tsp garlic powder)
2 diced bell peppers
1/2 c olive oil
16 cups chopped fresh tomatoes (or 8 cans diced tomatoes -14.5 oz)
1/4 c fresh oregano (or 1/8 c of dried crushed)
1/4 c fresh basil (or 1/8 c of dried crushed)
1/4 c fresh parsley (or 1/8 c of dried crushed)
1/4 c sugar
1 tsp pepper
2 tbsp salt
2 6 oz cans tomato paste

Saute onion, garlic, peppers in olive oil. Combine everything in crock-pot. Cook 2-3 hours on low. Stir often. Then let cool. Put in canning jars and freeze.

Other Info-
-My kids aren't crazy about the chunky tomatoes (which I personally love!) so when I'm going to use a jar of sauce I pour it first into our blender to puree it and then the kids love it.

-This recipe makes about 5 large canning jar sizes. It also fits in my 6 qt crock-pot and I don't know how well it would fit in a 5 qt. but you could try it. There was a little room in my 6 qt still. My picture shows 4 jars because we used about 1 jars worth for dinner that night.


Differences-
-Robin doesn't add the tomato paste until she is ready to use a jar of the sauce. When she is heating it to use, then she adds 1-2 cans of the paste for one jar of sauce. I put 2 cans of paste into the original ingredients when it was cooking in the crock-pot and don't add anymore paste when I use a jar.

-I also rounded Robin's original recipe of 3/4 tsp of pepper up to 1 tsp.

-One of the times I made it, I added more sugar because the canned tomatoes just aren't as sweet as garden fresh ones. So I made it with 1/2 c organic sugar instead of 1/4 c.

-Robin uses green bell peppers, I use red bell peppers. (I use red because they are easier to digest and they are packed with nutrients and it's a sneaky way to get them into my kids who don't want to eat them otherwise.) You can use any color bell pepper that you prefer.

Homemade Croutons

Homemade croutons are easy and yummy. Now that I've been making them my husband doesn't want me to buy store bought ones again. If you want organic croutons, this is the way to go.

A few slices of organic bread (I use cracked wheat sourdough)
Organic extra virgin first cold pressed olive oil
Organic seasonings:
I use at least garlic powder (or minced garlic)
but then you can add other spices as well like:
a sprinkling of Mrs. Dash original
a tsp of dried parsley
a tsp of dried basil
whatever you like!

Cut the bread in cubes (I use the ends of the loaf). Toss in a bowl while drizzling olive oil till well coated. Every piece of bread needs some olive oil on it so keep tossing till it's well coated. Sprinkle garlic while tossing and other optional seasonings.

Spread out on a cookie sheet lined with foil or parchment paper and bake at 400 degrees for about 20 min or until cubes are browned and crunchy.

These are very light croutons with a good crunch to them and are great for not only salads but soups as well. Store in an air tight container for up to five days in pantry.

Potato Leek Soup

I wanted to make yet another healthy soup and since leeks are super good for you and my kids love potatoes I thought I'd make up my own version of potato leek soup in hopes that they would like it with leeks.

6 yukon gold potatoes peeled and cubed
2 leeks washed and sliced (white part and light green only)
2-3 minced garlic cloves
1 box chicken broth
2 c water
1/2 c milk
2 handfuls of grated cheddar cheese
salt and pepper to taste (at least 2 tsp of salt)

I made this in the crock-pot by first cooking the potatoes and leeks in the water till tender. You can also use the same method just in a pot on the stove. Once the potatoes and leeks are very tender, scoop them and the water into your blender or food processor and puree them. Pour them back into your pot or crock-pot and add the remaining ingredients. Stir well when adding the cheese so that it doesn't stick in clumps. You can also toss the grated cheese in a few tbsp of flour to coat it and it won't clump when you add it to the soup. Simmer on the stove for about 45 min. or cook on low in crock-pot for a few hours.

Top with croutons or chopped herbs.

My kids absolutely loved this despite my worries.

Answering Questions - Electric Griddle

The one I have is a Rival Electric Griddle. I do love it but there are so many out there to choose from. I couldn't say that I wouldn't recommend a different one. Here is a link to the exact one that we have.

White Bean Chili

1/2 pound of dry white beans (great northern or navy work well)
1 pound ground turkey cooked (or ground beef or omit it for vegetarian)
2 medium onions diced
1 bell pepper diced (red, yellow, or orange)
1 clove of minced garlic
1 packet of chili seasoning (or your own chili spices)
1 1/2 tbsp sugar
1-2 cans diced tomatoes (depending on how much you like tomatoes)
1-2 cans water
salt and pepper

Soak beans overnight in water. Drain water and put beans in slow cooker with remaining ingredients. Cook on low all day till beans are tender.

Serve with grated cheese, sliced avocados, minced fresh onion.

Variations-
-add other types of beans as well
-serve over baked potatoes

Tip-
soaking dry beans overnight does two things- 1. it softens the beans to speed up cooking time, 2. it helps release the content of the beans that causes, well, you know, the music you get the next day from that magical fruit.

Beans, Beans, Beans

I've been asked about more recipes for beans and I'll go ahead and include other legumes in that. For some reason I don't really think of "recipes" when it comes to beans but rather what I can add beans into. There are the basic bean recipes that most people are familiar with like
baked beans
chili
refried beans

but then there's this whole world of adding beans to several meals. You can cook a whole pot of beans and add your favorite seasonings and some like it with a ham hock but you can also add beans to meals that we don't always think of. For instance salad. Salad is a great place to add beans.

Fresh green salad - try adding garbanzo (aka chickpeas) or kidney beans. Better yet, add a few scoops of three bean salad on top of your green salad
Texas Caviar- this is a salad made with corn and beans...I'll be making it and posting it on here eventually. But basically any type of chunky corn or bean salsa is a great place to use black beans or black eyed peas. So consider making a 3-bean salad or some other bean salad that you like.
Soups - you can add beans to most soups either whole or mashed to thicken a soup. Try adding Northern White Beans pureed in veggie soup or whole beans to a pasta soup (like minestrone). Don't forget to add a legume like lentils to your soup cooking. They have great flavor and add another healthy food source to your meal.
Dip - You can puree your beans and add olive oil and seasonings to make a healthy bean dip. My kids love this. Hummus is made from chickpeas as well and is a good dip that kids usually like. make a layered dip with pureed pinto beans for chips...using sour cream, cheese, and guacamole.
Spread- Hummus or other bean dips make a healthy spread to put on sandwiches instead of mayo!
Side Dish- How about serving a lentil/rice side dish. I've seen several recipe for this and I made one recently in my crock-pot that I'll be posting soon. Once I made this huge pot of them I served it as a side dish with dinner and often use some of the leftovers to thicken my homemade soups. My kids tell me that they don't eat lentils but they eat them in soup this way! I've seen beans and rice as a side dish too. Try adding some spices like curry to give it some kick.
Mexican Style- You can add beans to just about every Mexican style meal in one way or another. Add beans to your taco salads, your taco soups, your tacos! Mash them for bean dip (which we already mentioned), mash them to use them in burritos and on tostadas. Use beans as the main ingredient to your taco lasagna to make it vegetarian.

I continue to look for more bean recipes though as they are a healthy way to feed my family in a very cost effective way.

Tips for getting kids to eat beans if they hate them:
mash them, puree them, mix them in (it's all about being sneaky)
serve small beans instead of huge ones (like black beans and black eyed peas and chickpeas instead of lima beans and kidney beans that are so big!)
serve white beans (kids seem more open to eating a white bean than say a red or black bean.
put a small amount into a recipe (this gets them introduced to them without serving a huge scoop of plain beans on their plate)

Friday I'll be posting my White Bean Chili recipe

Favorite Gadget Thing - Electric Grill

We get a ton of use out of our electric grill. Let me try to think of all the things we make on it...
pancakes
french toast
bacon
hash browns
country potatoes
eggs
grilled cheese
just about every grilled sandwich you can think of
tortillas

It has a cup to drain any fat or liquids that run off into the side troughs that make clean up easy.
It's immersible for easy washing!
It's portable! Gotta love that!
It's non-stick. Now I know "non-stick" is bad for you but it sure is handy!!

These make great generic gifts for those who love to cook and well, they are pretty affordable too. I was worried we wouldn't use ours enough to justify buying it when we did years ago but I have to tell you, I pull this out and use it at least once a week! It's a keeper and it's earned it's weight in gold.

Organizing Your Pantry

Most of us probably wish our pantry looked like this



















But in reality, our pantry probably looks more like this....















(neither picture is my pantry) I have had people comment on my OCD organized pantry. Because it looks beautiful? No, it's because I have labels. I label the shelves so that my pantry is organized by categories.

WHY?

1. it makes it fast and easy when I always know right where something is. And even if I don't know exactly where it is in there I at least know where to start looking.

2. it helps my family to put things back where they found them!

HOW?

I label my pantry shelves by categories. Here are my categories:
Breakfast
Baking
Snacks
Canned Goods
Pasta
Bottled Goods (cooking wines, sauces, oils, etc.)
Seasonings (this includes mixes, croutons, etc.)
Cookbooks
Drinks (hot cocoa, apple cider, coffee, tea, etc.)

You can label your pantry in anyway that works for you. I would just warn against breaking down your categories too far...the idea is to make it fast to put things back and I can tell you that if you have too many categories that it will be hard for your family to follow.

I use masking tape to label mine with a black sharpie marker. Not very fancy but it's cheap and easy. You could use a label maker if you have one and boy would that look nice. Or if you're the creative type you can come up with an idea like this....

Organized Cleaning

Speaking of Flylady, here are my own new personal lists that I'm trying to attain to (notice I didn't say that I DO them but rather TRY to). This is my attempt to get back into a routine that manages my home better.

Titus 2:4-5
"so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored"

I want to be a good manager of my home and create a healthy environment for training my children (1 Tim. 5:10 "and is well known for her good deeds, such as bringing up children, showing hospitality, washing the feet of the saints, helping those in trouble and devoting herself to all kinds of good deeds."), for being hospitable (1 Peter 4:9 "Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling."), and to create a refreshing refuge for my husband (Proverbs 31). Although I should have listed the last one first. =0)

These Routine Lists and the Zone Cleaning List suggested by Flylady really help me have a goal each day and keep me focused on the tasks at hand. I actually feel like I've really accomplished something when I do even just a few of them.

I encourage you to make your own lists if you think it would benefit you and you can put them on your fridge or make yourself a "home management control file" or folder and put them in there. Being clean and organized really helps me accomplish healthy and happy cooking in my kitchen.

The top list is my:
Weekly Routine

The bottom list is my: Zone Cleaning Checklist

Don't freak out over my Zone Cleaning Checklist...it's a list that I only spend 15 min. on each day I'm scheduled to do Zone Cleaning. It doesn't all get done in that 15 min. but rather I cross them off and each month I get more and more of the list done. Zone cleaning is for deep cleaning and decluttering...it's not my regular surface cleaning which I do on Saturdays and through out the week naturally.

Tomorrow I'll post about organizing your pantry.

Kitchen Tip- Cleaning the Oven

I've showed you the best stuff for cleaning your stove top, but now, what about your oven? The dreaded oven cleaning! It's the one thing that people trying to sell their tidied up house can get away with not cleaning! How many of us think to look inside the oven when we are looking for a house to buy?

Sorry, I'm side tracking....first, self cleaning ovens. In fact, that's what this post is mostly about. I can't tell you how many people I know (okay, I admit I was one of them!) are afraid to use the self cleaning feature on their self cleaning ovens! I'll start with my story....it goes way back. We had bought our first house brand new and for the first 3, YES, I typed THREE on purpose believe it or not, I didn't use the self cleaning oven feature. Fear. Yep, fear was the only reason. I had never had a self cleaning oven. So, my sweet mother in law was over one time and some how the topic came up and guess what??? She has used her self cleaning oven feature many times! She assured me that my fears were silly and that all I had to do was turn it on and it would self lock and burn all the stuff to a crisp.

Did I mention that I hadn't cleaned it by hand either in THREE YEARS????

Oy. Well, let's just say that the oven was on lock down and smoke was billowing from it and filling the house. (No, this wasn't the time I caught the oven on fire with my friend, Michele, but the smoke was coming out just like that time I caught it on fire, minus the flames.) It was in the evening and thankfully it was summer time since we had to evacuate from the smoke and wait outside till it got under control. Ya, I smoked us out. I was totally embarrassed that I hadn't at least wiped up what I could with a rag before we started the cleaning cycle. So, we grabbed the kids and waited outside while my husband tried to air out the house from all the smoke. BUT, I have to say, it did an amazing job cleaning itself! Yep, it burnt all that stuff to a fine powder soot. I just took a wet paper towel (once the oven was cool of course) and wiped up the soot in one swoop. No scrubbing, no cleaners, nada!

So, now I run the cleaning cycle more like every 3 MONTHS instead of every 3 YEARS! And, it's a simple few hours of a toasty oven and it's all clean. I try to do most of the cleaning cycles during the cooler winter months instead of the summer.

Things to note:
-it takes a few hours....often about 3 hours
-remove anything that is sitting on the stove top
-turn on your exhaust fan if you have one
-wipe out any big spills before you begin =0)
-plan to stay home while it's cleaning

How to clean an oven that doesn't magically clean itself? I use to use Bar Keeper's Friend and sometimes oven cleaner. I know those are harsh chemicals but I didn't really experiment with other alternatives. I wore dish gloves and kept the kitchen well ventilated. The Bar Keeper's Friend works wonderfully.

Anyone have a suggestion for something that works great for a non-self cleaning oven??? Share in the comments!

Tomorrow I'll post my cleaning checklists and cleaning routines....

Kitchen Tips- Cleaning Appliances and more

This post was originally going to be my last post of the week so if you already read here that it was going to be my last post, it was a mistake...I forgot to take that off. So, without further delay....

One of the best and safest cleaning agents for kitchens is white distilled vinegar.

-Use straight vinegar to run through your coffee maker, tea maker, and other appliances that may have calcium build up.
-Use straight vinegar on your sink for hard water marks and build up.
-Mix vinegar and a little water in a spray bottle to use to wipe down walls, cabinets, fronts of appliances, and inside your fridge.
-I put 1 cup vinegar into my dishwasher and run it to remove hard water build up.
-I recommend this site for a very long list of ways to clean with vinegar with recipes included.

I recommend Barkeeper's Friend for cleaning your sink. It works well for all finishes.

If you have a stainless steel sink, consider using a cleaner made for buffing and polishing it. I use Cameo for mine from time to time to help restore the luster of my sink. Look at your local grocery store for similar products.

Don't forget to clean under your facet...sometimes that gets missed. An old toothbrush works great for around the facet and around the sink edge itself.

There also products out there for polishing different types of counter tops and porcelain. Check your local Home Depot or Lowe's type stores for these products.

Now is a good time to oil all your woods as well. Mineral oil works best .... massage it into your wooden utensils (spoons), your wood knife handles, wood cutting boards, wood serving trays, wood knife block, wood rolling pin, and any other wooden dishes (salad bowls and tongs) or utensils that you may have. I like to use a paper towel to rub the oil onto every thing. Let them soak up all the oil. Laying the utensils on a paper towel on the counter for several hours works well. Then go back to washing them and using them like you normally do.

Got mold? Grapefruit juice is a natural mold killer. Cut it in half to rub on molded areas or squeeze it and put it in a spray bottle. Been breathing mold in your house? Drink fresh squeezed grapefruit juice for your own health.

It's a good time to sharpen all your knives too. Dull knives can ruin the cooking experience! Consider investing in an electric knife sharpener. Known for being expensive, yes. I do know that you can purchase one for around $30 at Target these days. So, if you don't have one, do some research to find a good price. They are well worth the investment!

Don't forget to wipe off the top of your fridge, clean under your oven hood, clean out and organizing under your sink, and clean inside your microwave.

Tomorrow's post: cleaning the dreaded oven....

Kitchen Clean Up

I get the spring cleaning bug as soon as Christmas is over and packed up. I think it has something to do with making space for the new gifts (i.e. mostly the kid's toys) and so out with the old and in with the new and so it begins. It's not long before I'm yearning to sort through every closet, drawer, and cupboard. What does this have to do with cooking???

Well, let me first back up. I did Fly Lady many years back and it changed how I approached my house work. It worked great and I learned so much from it. But, time has passed, and well, I've become a busier mom and well, my house cleaning has suffered. I know, I'm still not to the "how it relates to cooking" part yet but bare with me......

First-What is Fly Lady? Fly Lady is all about how to clean your house. Instead of me trying to explain it, if you don't know what it is, go to this page and check it out. She teaches you how to clean your house and if you feel inclined to sign up, she'll send you emails all day telling you what to do, how to clean it, in what order, what to wear while you're cleaning it, and how long to take. I have to warn you that it can become obsessive so for me, I just gleaned from it what I could and applied it to my life and then let time go by and forgot about it. Yep, back to square one. No, really, I didn't forget it all. Some of it has stayed with me and really helps me out!

So, yes, the cooking connection....well, first things first with Fly Lady...she has you start (since most of us stand in the middle of our house crying "where do I even start!?) with the kitchen sink. Yep, the kitchen sink is where you start. Scrub it bright and clean all over. It's appropriate also because this week is the kitchen zone if you are following the Flylady zone schedule.

So, the kitchen is a great place to start my spring cleaning and from there I'll move to the cupboards and I'm sure I'll find long lost Tupperware and gadgets that I thought were MIA years ago. I'll sort through my drawers and cabinets and make a pile for Give Away, Throw Away, and Put Away (um, ya, that's the stuff that doesn't even belong in the kitchen to start with!) Then I'll clear off all the Hot Spots (those are the places that naturally collect clutter) and set the table. Wow, what a start that will be.

After that I can clean the stove top, and the oven (yikes-a "how to clean your oven" post coming on Wednesday), and clean out the fridge, wipe down the back splashes, wipe down all the appliances, and then mop the floor. I'll sort through the pantry, fridge, and spice rack and throw out outdated items and reorganize my shelves. Okay, I'm getting tired just thinking about this. But, with a refresher course from Fly Lady(click here to just follow her program through the different "zones" in your house instead of signing up for all the emails), I'll be motivated and ready to give it a go....

After that, I'll apply the same tactics in all the other rooms of the house. So, if you want to join me in spring cleaning Fly Lady style, get dressed this morning, put on your face lotion, tie on your running shoes and let's fly!

Tomorrow's post will include things to clean your kitchen sink with as well as other cleaning tips.

-if you get your kitchen sink done, comment on this post and let us know your success! =0)

Beef Stew

1 chuck roast
1 onion soup mix packet
6 cups water

Cook in crock pot half the day on low (in the morning). Take out and chop into chunks. Return to the crock pot and add:
5-6 chopped carrots
4-5 cubed yukon gold potatoes (at least 2 cups worth)
1 diced onion
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper

Cook on low till about 1 hour before serving. Then add:
1 cup frozen peas
1 cup frozen corn

Then to thicken the stew, melt 2-4 tbsp butter in a skillet and add 1/4 -1/2 cup of flour till melted into a paste and add to the stew and stir till thickened.

Baked Brie

Brie is my ultimate favorite appetizer. I love cheese and well, this has long been my favorite cheese. I know you aren't supposed to eat molded cheeses when you are pregnant but I craved it and ate it anyway through both my pregnancies. Some things are hard to give up. So, here I give you not only an incredibly wonderful tasting appetizer but also an impressive presentation of a dish. Oh, and the best part, it's one of the EASIEST appetizers to make!

Brie comes in wheel or a wedge with a thick tough rind around it. Once you break through the rind you get to the creamy soft cheese that is inside it. Brie is very mild and creamy but the rind has a nice kick to it. Some people hate the rind and others love it. Both parts are eaten. The rind softens when heated up.

Melted, brie makes an amazing cheese to dip into. You can melt it on it's own but wrapping it in this pastry dough gives it another rich dimension. Far from healthy, but I had to post about making baked brie. Don't ever, ever, make this on your own. You HAVE to have other people around to eat it with you otherwise you are likely to eat the whole thing.

You can get really creative with baked brie and I'll list a lot of things you can bake with it but first, here's how you do it.

What you need:
one wheel of brie cheese (Costco sells a nice sized one)
1 sheet of pastry dough
filling of your choice
1 beaten egg

Lay out one refrigerated pastry dough sheet.
Slice brie wheel in half to make two wheels.
Place one of the halves on the pastry dough with the rind side down.
Next, put on a layer of your favorite filling (the pictured one has minced fresh garlic and a thick spread of butter.)





Put the top of the wheel down on top with the rind facing up.
Wrap the edges of the pastry dough around the wheel bringing all the points to the center. Pinch them and press them to seal the dough.









Brush with a beaten egg.
Bake at 400 degrees for 20 min. or until golden and puffy.


Let the baked brie rest 20 min. before cutting and serving.
I recommend putting the baked brie into something with a lip for serving. At least a platter with an edge on it since the melted cheese will run out.

Here is a list of ideas of things you can serve it with to dip with:
wheat thins
multi-grain crackers
butter crackers
sliced baguettes
sliced apples
cubed sourdough bread

Here is a list of ideas of things you can stuff it with:
1/2 cup of pesto
dried chopped cherries and chopped walnuts
dried chopped apricots and sliced almonds
strawberry jam
raspberry jam
pomegranate jelly
pomegranate seeds
caramelized onions with sliced almonds
dried chopped fruit sauteed in 1/2 c of wine and reduced
butter and minced garlic
sliced apples or chopped apples with chopped walnuts
chopped bell peppers
chopped artichoke hearts, butter, and minced garlic
sliced sun-dried tomatoes and olive oil
capers and marinated chopped artichoke hearts
cranberry chutney
olive tapenade

This appetizer also can work well for a light lunch with salad and soup or for a finger food gathering.

Answering Questions- for the sake of communication =0)

There have been a few comments lately that I thought would be beneficial to answer and/or reply on a post so that others can benefit from them as well.....

1. Do you have to dry the noodles before cooking them in the Homemade Noodles post?
No, you don't have to dry them. They come out great cooked fresh!

2. Yes, you can make the noodle dough in a food processor instead of on the counter with a fork. In that case, use 3/4 c flour, 1 egg, and 1 tsp ice water and add water or flour as needed to get a dough consistency that you can roll out. This saves a lot of time and clean up.

3. Yes, the top grocery list that is filled in was done to the layout of the store that I shopped at a few years back. The other two lists are done in alphabetical order. Feel free to make your own list that is put in the order of the layout of the store you shop att. Thanks for pointing out that tip because I failed to point that out in the original post.

4. Yes, I do know about making your own homemade taco seasoning and I have a post in my drafts about a recipe to make your own taco seasoning packets that I'll be posting towards the end of this month. If you have a favorite taco seasoning recipe of your own, be ready to share it as well! =0)

5. I actually really do like the Fix It and Forget It cookbook so far. I prefer more pictures but since this book is the complete set all in one book it's a great number of recipes to glean from. I've tried a few and have several of them marked with post it notes for future use. I would recommend the book and am sorry for anyone that is not enjoying the book. You can browse through it before purchasing it at most Costcos if you are interested. I'm also enjoying the Taste of Home Slow Cooker cookbook as well and have made a few things out of it already too.

6. Yes, I'm working on making What's Cooking recipes downloadable for your purchasing convenience. I almost have the Crock-pot set done since that was the most popular one on the list. Meantime, we are working on getting the shopping cart set up. I will be working on a hard cover of the complete recipes on this site as well but it will take a great deal more time. The exciting news is that, thanks to a friend's suggestion, thanks Katey, the download print version of my recipe ebooks will be in recipe card format. That way you can print them and cut them and stick them right in with the rest of your recipe cards....I'm squeeling with joy over this...and I don't usually squeel! So, be sure to vote on the sidebar for your recipe collection preferences.

COMING UP:
The rest of this week I'm posting purely recipes ...check back Wednesday and Friday. After that I have a whole week dedicated to posts about cleaning your kitchen since it's spring cleaning time. I have so many posts and so little time. A sneak peek of what's coming after the kitchen cleaning series:
homemade croutons
homemade taco seasoning packets
how to get your kids to eat healthy
changes I'm making in what we eat
changes I'm making in how we save money
more bean recipes (these have been requested)
homemade babyfood
what I learned in college (this one is funny!)
another soup recipe before soup season is over
the 411 on olive oil
and many more!
and I'll be experimenting with making my own cream of soups, pasta sauces, and meatballs.

Homemade Pancake Syrup

I have a confession to make. I don't like pure maple syrup. I've tried for over a year now to acquire a taste for it and I just can't do it. So, I had to solve the issue of not using store bought refined sugar syrup to be healthier but I couldn't bring myself (or my family for that matter) to use pure maple syrup. None of us like it and it's a total shame I know. I do use it in cooking but not for pancakes.

My mom reminded me about making homemade syrup. I remember my uncle making this every time we went to their house growing up and I have to say it's a welcome alternative around here. I make it with organic sugar which is evaporated cane juice instead of refined sugar.

1 cup water
2 cups organic sugar
1/2 tsp mapliene (usually found by the extracts in the grocery store)

Bring water to a boil in sauce pan and then add sugar and mapliene. Stir till sugar has dissolved completely.

This syrup is thin like pure maple syrup is. It taste wonderful and brings back lots of fun childhood memories of having pancakes in my Uncle and Aunt's cheerful strawberry decorated breakfast room. We will be making this from now on.