blogging break....

I'm in need of a blogging break which I've debated about quite a bit lately only because I do have many more recipes to post here. But, I'm one person and can only do so much at once. I have a few other things in need of my attention right now like a trade show to get ready for, school to finish up with my kids, a yard and garden in need of some spring time attention, and recipes to get ready to sell on here. I'm not sure how long of a break I'm taking but I'm guessing a week or two. If it's longer than that, I'll check in here so that you know. I'm in no way going to stop posting here. This blog is alive and well! =0) I WILL keep posting on our family blog.

Meantime, feel free to browse through all of our recipes and enjoy cooking!

Maple Apple Spice Cake

As a pastor's wife, I'm often needing to whip something up for the church functions we go to....we try to attend them all. I keep a few easy recipes on hand that save me time and don't break the bank.

1 box spice cake mix
1-2 peeled cored diced apples
1 1/2 c powdered sugar
maple syrup

Mix cake according to package instructions. Add apple and bake in a greased and floured bundt pan. Let cool completely. Mix 1 tbsp of maple syrup at a time into the powdered sugar until desired consistency. Drizzle glaze over the cake after slicing so that it goes between the slices.

Garlic Adzuki Beans

My mom introduced me to this new bean. They are so good even though I know they don't look like much in the pot. They are a reddish bean with a white stripe on them but when you cook them they turn this dark purple. They are really good for you and if you want to read a snippet more about them you can here.

I like to soak them overnight and then cook 1 cup in about 3 cups of water for about 45 min. to 1 hour. Then I mix in some butter and sprinkle with salt and garlic powder (but you could use one whole minced garlic clove or more if you like garlic!). They are so good with garlic.

This Japanese and Chinese bean may be hard to find in a regular grocery store. Look in Asian markets, health food stores, or mail order.

Puffed Pastry Cookies

My daughter and I often have friends for tea and sometimes I'm not always prepared with something. I keep lemon curd and puff pastry on hand so that I can quickly roll it into a log and slice it.

Bake them on a cookie sheet till they are brown and crisp (according to package directions) and serve with lemon curd to spread on top of each cookie.

These are so light and butter they melt in your mouth after you take a bite of the crisp cookie. No one will know that this cute little cookie was your standby.

The ones in the picture are small but you can roll as many layers of puff pastry as you like to make bigger cookies.

Skillet Enchiladas

Our family loves these chicken enchiladas and a few weeks ago I was in a bind for dinner. I had already cooked chicken on hand and the rest of the ingredients and so I threw it together in the skillet and it turned out just grand.

Favorite Gadget Thing- Bottle Brush

No, I don't have babies at home. So, why would I think that a baby bottle brush is a great gadget for someone that doesn't have babies at home? So glad you asked. Because this brand sticks to your sink. Yep, the suction cup on the end makes it stick straight up on your sink (or wherever you stick it) so that you know right were it is and it's not laying on your counter and it's not taking up space in your dish drainer. Oh, and it stays put! My mom and my sister got me hooked on using these. Not to mention they make cleaning salad dressing jars and other narrow items (besides just baby bottles) a cinch. I also love the hidden brush (it's the end of the suction cup and it pops off the handle) which makes getting into small crevices really easy too! I get mine from the infant section at the store in the isle of baby bottles. It's by Munchkin and if you can't find it in the store you can certainly buy it here on Amazon.

Avocado Deviled Eggs

Since many of us have leftover Easter eggs to use up, I'm reposting this recipe from last year.

Deviled eggs always make me think of my sister, Katie because she loves to make these. For that reason, I've never actually made them myself till now. She always brings them to gatherings and events so I've not needed to make them. Now that I did them myself and realized what work it is to sit and peel all the eggs, I miss her making them for me! =0) Well, I couldn't resist trying this unusual version that turned out so yummy! Hope you enjoy them too!

You can make these one of two ways.

1. mash 1/2 an avocado in with the yolks and then add as much mayo as you need to get the consistency you want.

OR

2. put some chopped avocado in the bowl of each egg half first and then fill it with the yolk filling.

Here's the basic recipe for the deviled eggs.

6 hard-cooked eggs

1/4 cup mayo

1 tsp mustard

1 tsp vinegar

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Peel and rinse the eggs. Slice in half and carefully remove the yolks putting them into a bowl. Mix the yolks with the remaining ingredients (and mashed avocado if desired).

Fill egg centers with filling. If using avocado for garnish, first toss them in a bowl with some lemon juice so they don't turn black too quickly. Serve immediately.

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Variations~

I've seen other variations of these as well such as adding chopped cilantro and tomatoes to the avocado version.
~There are also the curried version (omit the mustard and vinegar and substitute with 1/2 tsp of curry powder).
~There's also the Parmesan cheese version (omit the mustard and vinegar and add 2 tbsp grated Parmesan cheese).

Featured Product - Real Salt

This is the salt I use. It is unrefined, unbleached, without anti-caking chemicals added to it, with natural iodine instead of being iodized. To read more about why it's a great one to use you can view info about it here.

Healthy Chocolate Chip Cookies

If you don't like whole wheat cookies, you frankly have not tried this one. Need I say more?

Cream together:
2 c softened butter (room temp)
2 c organic sugar
2 c organic brown sugar

Add:
4 eggs
2 tsp vanilla

Grind 5 cups of old fashioned oats in a food processor or blender.

Combine in a bowl:
the ground oats
4 cups of whole wheat pastry flour
1 tsp salt
2 tsp baking powder
2 tsp baking soda

Slowly start combining the flour mixture into the creamed mixture. This makes a lot so I recommend using a large mixer (mine usually ends up overflowing a bit) or mixing with your hands in a very large bowl.

Add in 2 bags of chocolate chips (I used Ghiradeli milk chocolate in the pictures). Place on ungreased cookie sheet in golf ball sizes about 2 inches apart. Bake at 375 degrees for 10 min. Makes 92 cookies!

The oatmeal in these give them a great flavor I can't describe. I often make these at Christmas but they are great any time of year.

Chewy Granola Bars

I've been searching and working to perfect a granola bar recipe that is chewy and healthy all at the same time. I have made so many batches I think my family might be tired of my failed granola bar recipes. But alas, I have finally created one that I'm happy with.

4 c oats
2/3 c brown sugar
1/2 c honey
4 tbsp butter
2 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp salt

Toast the oats on a cookie sheet @ 400 degrees (for about 10 min.) while mixing together the remaining ingredients in a sauce pan. Heat over medium heat till bubbly and thin. Butter a 9x13 glass pan. Remove oats from oven and pour into a mixing bowl. Pour honey mixture over the oats and mix well till all the oats are coated. Pour into the 9x13 and cover with wax paper or parchment paper. Use a spatula or the back of a measuring cup to press the mixture down and spread it evenly. Let cool for 2-3 hours until there is no warmth to the pan. Remove the bars carefully by inverting the pan onto a cutting board. Cut the bars with a butcher knife and either wrap individually or store between layers of wax paper in an air tight container.

If you'd like to add some mix-ins you can do so the following way:

Chocolate Chip - add 1/2 cup of mini chips to the above recipe. Add the chips when mixing the oats and honey together.

Peanut - add 1 cup of crushed peanuts and use only 3 cups of oats. Toast the peanuts with the oats.

Oatmeal Raisins - add 1/2 cup of raisins to the above recipe and 1 tsp cinnamon when mixing the oats and honey together.

Health Nut - add 3/4 c wheat germ, 3/4 c sunflower seeds, 1 cup of crushed peanuts, reduce oats to 2 cups and toast with the oats and then add 8oz. dried fruit when mixing the oats and honey together.

Fruity - add 1 cup dried fruit to the above recipe when mixing the oats and honey together.

Healthy Refried Beans/Bean Dip

pre-soaked pinto beans
1 diced onion
2 minced garlic cloves
olive oil
salt to taste

Pre-soak beans over night. Drain water. Cook beans covered in water (I cook them in my crock-pot for about 8 hours on low). Saute onion and garlic in the olive oil. Drain beans (reserving the liquid) and add to skillet with onion. Begin mashing the beans adding in the reserved liquid as needed to make the beans creamy. Saute while doing this process until beans are bubbly and the consistency you like. Add salt to taste.

Serve hot or freeze for later use. Makes a wonderful bean dip as well.

Note: You can also do the reverse process by draining the liquid from the crock-pot and adding the sautéed onions and garlic to the beans in the crock-pot. Mash the beans in the crock-pot and add some of the liquid back in. Cook on low for one hour or on high for about 30 min.

Crock- pot Lasagna

I've seen this idea online and wanted to give it a try. I've never actually even made lasagna in the oven before. I love using my crock-pot to keep me out of the kitchen when I'm busy and tired in the late afternoon.


1 lb beef
1/2 tsp italian seasoning
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/2 diced onion or 1/8 minced dried onion
1 tsp anise seed
1/2 tsp salt
1 jar pasta sauce
1 container ricotta cheese (about 30 oz)
2 cups grated parmesan cheese (or italian cheese mix)
2 cups grated mozzarella cheese plus some for on top
1/8 c dried parsley
2 c chopped fresh baby spinach
1/2 box of regular lasagna noodles
1/2 c of water

Brown beef in skillet with next five ingredients. Once browned, add pasta sauce. In separate bowl, combine ricotta, parmesan, mozzarella, and parsley together. In bottom of crock-pot using half of everything, layer sauce, then noodles (break to fit), spread cheese mixture over noodles, layer chopped spinach next and then repeat layers using the rest of the ingredients. Top with a few handfuls of grated cheese (mozzarella) and pour water over all.

Cook on low for 8 hours or on high for 4 hours. In my new crock-pot that cooks hotter than my old one, this was done at about 7 hours on low. But in my old one I'm thinking it might have taken about 9-10 hours. You can prep the night before and then pour water over in the morning and cook.

Wow, this was easy and yummy!

Healthy Quesadillas

Chop up fresh spinach and sliced avocados to add to your quesadillas.

You can also try adding:
a sprinkle of ground flax seed
a sprinkle of wheat germ
chopped cooked broccoli
chopped cooked cauliflower
chopped sauteed kale
chopped fresh onion
sliced fresh leeks
a few beans
a little corn
some cooked lentils
some sauteed sliced cabbage
or some rinsed sauerkraut

Shredded Beef Tacos

1 beef roast (I use chuck)
2 packets of taco seasoning

Place beef roast in crock-pot on low long enough to shred (approx. 8-10 hours). Sprinkle with taco seasoning. When done cooking, shred.

Serve in corn tortillas with cheese, chopped cilantro, chopped onion, chopped tomato.

Answering Questions - and some recommendations

I've had a few weeks of posting informational type posts but I'll be getting back to posting mainly recipes starting tomorrow.

If you are interested in meal planning software, I'd consider looking into this one.

Questions about homemade laundry detergent being safe for HE washers: Here's the scoop. Front loading washers can't have suds. Top loading washers CAN have suds. So, when front loading washers got popular, the laundry detergent companies had to come out with laundry detergent that didn't have a lot of suds in them. That wasn't difficult to do because laundry detergent doesn't actually have suds. Suds have been added to the detergents to make them "look" to the consumer like the detergent is working and cleaning our laundry. So, all they had to do to make HE safe detergent for front loading washer machines is REMOVE the sudsing agents that have been added to their detergent. And, boom, now you have HE safe detergent. So, this homemade recipe is totally safe for your front loading washer machine because there is no sudsing agent added to it. It produces very little suds if any at all. I don't work for a washer machine company so this is only what I've researched on my own. I hope that explains the difference between HE and top loaders...clear as mudd?

I've recently read 101 Foods That Could Save Your Life and Nourshing Traditions. Both of which I highly recommend reading! They are listed on my sidebar bookshelf, which is quite full so if you don't see it on the list be sure to flip to page 2 of the bookshelf.

You Buy Mail Order Food?-
Yes. I've been wanting to tell you about this and it probably deserves it's own post so be sure to read this since it's being posted here....In my venture to eat healthier and to also keep our food budget as low as possible, I've recently been ordering several of our groceries through Azure Standard. Not only is the quality amazing but the prices are great (cheaper than health food stores and cheaper than organic products even at Walmart).

I wasn't sure at first how I would feel about ordering food online so I just tried it once to see how it was and it was wonderful! We've been ordering now for a few months and have switched almost all of our grocery shopping (aside from Costco) over to Azure Standard. You can pay the shipping to have it shipped to your house OR you can pick it up from your nearest drop off site.

When you sign up, call and they tell you where your nearest drop off site is. The drop off site usually charges a few dollars as a flat rate for shipping which is really cheap compared to UPS. There is a minimum order amount of $50 per order which I don't seem to have a hard time meeting! If you think you want to just try it out first but don't want to order $50 worth, maybe find a friend who is willing to go in on just one order with you to try it out. That's what I did.

-no tax charged (I assume that they charge tax in Oregon where the company is based)
-no walking up and down grocery isles
-shop from the convenience of your home
-don't get charged till you pick up your purchase
-pay with credit card, debit card, or cash upon pick up
-no standing in line at the check out
-no wasting of grocery bags
-no tired kids hanging on the grocery cart
-no temptation to buy extra stuff you see at the store
-buy in small quantity or bulk if you want to
-I'm pretty sure that they deliver in most of the USA
-order when you want to...there is no required ordering
-deliveries are every 2 weeks
-not happy with part of your purchase, leave it at the drop off and you won't be charged

Want to learn more?
Azure Standard
Getting Started
Want A Catalog
View the Catalog Online
You can't view prices until you set up an account. The account is free and has no strings attached. Just log in and you can see prices.

I had toyed with the idea of buying my groceries this way for years and I finally took the plunge after reading another blog that encouraged me to try it. I wish I had started this YEARS AGO!

my pantry

I promised pictures of my pantry after I did the most recent reorganization of it. Here's a "in-process" photo as well just so you know I'm a REAL person who makes real messes! I emptied my whole pantry into my kitchen first and then wiped down all the shelves.
Here it is once it was all cleaned, organized and had fresh labels on the shelves.
I like to use shoeboxes or any other little boxes I have to make organizing easier. I cover the boxes with paper and label them.
So, my new labels for the shelves are:
Drinks
Snacks
Pasta
Grains
Sugar
Flours
Plastic ware
Canned Goods
Appliances
Cookbooks

Some other posts that might be helpful to you.

Here are some cool things I wanted to share with you.....

How to soften butter evenly when you need to use it in a baking recipe but it's hard and cold from the frig.

The confusion over white hard wheat vs red hard wheat and how you can tell the difference in the store.

The 411 on Olive Oil

What's the big deal about using olive oil? I've been researching and researching the topic of oils and the one thing all the experts out there seem to agree on is the healthfulness of olive oil. Of course, most of them feel it needs to be Organic First Cold Pressed Extra Virgin but others are more concerned with the clarity vs the cloudiness of it, and yet others suggest that as long as you use some form of it you are already taking a step in the right direction.

I've read conflicting information about canola oil and safflower oil. Some say they are good and some say they are bad.The arguments center around how they are derived and how the saturation work in our bodies.

But since they all seem to agree that olive oil is hands down the best oil you can use and put into your body, then I'm happy to use olive oil. I've read that coconut oil and flax seed oils are beneficial as well and that butter is also a great option if you are sticking with natural foods (butter isn't as bad as we've all been led to believe).

So, the big question is can you use it in baking? People worry about the flavor of the olive oil coming through in their baked goods. While in a savory dish we usually want the strong flavor of the olive oil to penetrate our foods, in baking that's not the case. Here's what I've discovered. If you cook the olive oil it loses most of it's flavor (in some cases, ALL of it's flavor) so you can bake with it and not notice. I've been using olive oil in my baking for years and I've never noticed it changing the taste of the recipe.

But there are different flavor strengths of olive oil (or so I'm told) in which case you could surely use a stronger flavor for your savory dishes and a lighter flavor for your baking.

Cream Cheese Eggs

I realize that this post might gross out some people but I have to post it all the same. My mom made these for us, and my Aunt Noreen made these for her kids (this is the only way her kids would eat scrambled eggs), and now I make them for my kids. They are so creamy and yummy.

Cut up small cubes of cream cheese and just before scrambled eggs are done cooking add the cream cheese cubes and stir till they soften. (the picture also has some diced green onion in them)

Answering Questions - Pies, Pantry, and Digestion

Pies -
A friend of mine pointed out that she never sees any pies on my blog....ya, well, that's cause I'm terrible at making pie crust. I've tried all the tried-and-true recipes out there and quite frankly, I think that it would be easier if I had a larger food processor. The food processor I have is tiny, too small for pie crust. Mom promises she'll have me over for pie crust making lessons since I can't seem to master it on my own from scratch. I was really hoping no one would notice that I don't make homemade pies or that I'm a failure at it but apparently I wasn't hiding my weakness well enough. So, once I learn how to make a decent pie crust, or buy a larger food processor, whichever comes first, I promise we'll have a pie making series where others can post their recipes too. Meantime, my favorite pie is strawberry rhubarb. Yum! Makes me long for summer.

My Pantry -
Sure, I'll get brave and post a picture of my pantry....but you'll have to wait patiently because I'm in the middle of spring cleaning it in a major way. I'm emptying the whole thing and going to reorganize it....actually, I'm doing my china hutch and kitchen which just naturally meant I had to shift things around in the pantry too....so, no point in showing it to you now when it's being revamped but when it's done (fresh new labels and all!) I promise I'll post a picture. If you want to see pictures of my cherry kitchen, you can see them here on this old post. I'm hoping to get curtains up in the eating area this year! So many things to do so little time.

Good Digestion -
I've had several conversations with more than one person over the past year about foods that are easy to digest and foods that are harder to digest. I promise to post about this topic in the future. For now, I'm trying to finish up all the things I promised you in this post.