Whoa, its been awhile. I think my three followers have been missing me...(Deb). I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving. I sure did and guess what? I have tons of leftover turkey...go figure. So I put it to good use. I made a turkey potpie. It was so dang good I have to pass the recipe on to you all - and this recipe was all me, I don't have to credit anyone because I totally made it up. If you have leftovers this is a great recipe. You can use any type of meat of want, or omit the meat and make it vegetarian. Okay here it is.
Carrots (chopped) - I used five, use however many you want
Potatoes (chopped) - I used two, and I never take the skin off, that is where all the nutrients are
Peas - half a bag of frozen peas
With that stuff, I put it in a pot and steamed it all until it was soft.
Next you need a creamy sauce. Ahem.
1/2 an onion - chopped
Mushrooms - I used a small handful - chopped
3 Tablespoons of flour
3 cups of liquid - I used two cups of milk and 1 cup of turkey stock (I had just made it out of the turkey carcass...waste not!)
Butter (or olive oil)
Salt
Pepper
Thyme
Rosemary
Parsley
Melt the butter in a large skillet. Next add the onions and mushrooms and saute until they are soft. Once they are soft add the flour, then stir in your liquid half a cup at a time. This is like making gravy, only you don't want it to thicken up too much so keep the heat medium low. As it is heating and bubbling add your seasonings (to taste). I think part of the reason mine was so bomb status was because I used a generous amount of fresh thyme. I could totally taste it in the food when I ate it. I used about four stem fulls of leaves and put em' right into the skillet with my simmering sauce. Fresh thyme is not something I generally have laying around the house. I tend to dry my herbs and use them that way; however, because of Thanksgiving I had a lot of fresh stuff (turkey isn't the same without fresh herbs). That is a way to save money big time! Use what you have around the house. When you get into the swing of having healthy real food and planning your meals plus your pantry and fridge staples you come to find you often have a lot of the ingredients you need! Plus post Thanksgiving meals are all about using up all those wonderful ingredients so you can start again for Christmas dinner! I digress...
When you are done with all the stuff I talked about above mix it all together in a big bowl and stir it good! Then, pour it into a casserole dish. The last thing you need is a pastry to cover it with. I actually made my pastry first and set it aside.
1 cup whole wheat flour (you can use white, it is easier to work with but I my goal was a complete balanced meal so I wanted a whole grain)
1 teaspoon of salt
1/3 cup of butter
1/4 cup of cold water
You know the drill. Flour and salt into the bowl. Stir. Next cut the butter in. One thing I have discovered when making a pastry shell with real butter is that it is easier to cut the butter into pea sized cubes and distribute them evenly throughout the bowl of flour. Just a thought. Also, make sure you cut it in with a fork really good - it makes it a lot easier to gather up, especially when working with whole wheat! Once your butter is cut in then you add the water and make the pastry into a ball. Roll out onto a floured surface. Make sure you roll it into a large rectangle that will fit your casserole dish! Cover the veggie and turkey mixture with the pastry and tuck the extra sides down.
Cute slits into the top of the crust and bake for about 35 minutes in a 350 degree oven. It is soooo good! Seriously try it. I will post pictures soon. Freya and I both had three helpings.
Monday, November 26, 2012
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Is this fall that I'm feeling...?
You have to read that title in the tune of the White Snake song. But seriously, do you feel that chill? Thank whatever deity you want, I am just glad that it isn't so freaking hot anymore! I noticed my coconut oil was solid again today. I think it was a puddle for the entire month of August and September. In honor of fall I have decided to not bore you with a political tirade or preach about the importance of eating real food (although you should!), instead I will be posting a couple recipes (or just one).
Apple pie screams fall! My mom and I went to Noble Orchard this Saturday, if you haven't been to Noble Orchard and you live in Paradise shame on you! Well, that is a little harsh, but really you should check it out. They don't have a website but go here for some more information. Anyway, I had to have some granny smith apples. Well, they were quite tart so I made them into a pie! OMG! It was delicious, and if you don't believe me ask some of my family.
Now, baking pie is just something I do. I have been baking pie for my entire adult life, which isn't that long but still, I know how to bake some pies. You can trust me : ) I promise! Apple pie, or any pie for that matter, just isn't the same without a home baked crust. Oh, but the frozen....blah blah blah, don't bore me with your frozen crust. Seriously, homemade ones are waaaay better and nothing anyone says can convince me otherwise. Here is my recipe, I should warn you though, baking pie crusts is not for the faint of heart. Sometimes it takes a while to get the hang it. Stick with it! It is so worth it!
1 cup of unbleached flour
3/4 stick of butter
1 tsp of salt
1/4 cup of cold water
Only four ingredients! Sounds simple enough. Read on.
The first step is to put the flour and salt into a big mixing bowl. Mix em' up. Next the butter. You have to 'cut' the butter into the flour. To cut the butter in you have to use a fork and smash it until it mixes with the flour. It resembles a courser flour when you are done, almost like small peas. Now, make sure your butter is no warmer than room temperature! I made the mistake of thinking, oh if I nuke the butter it will be easier to cut it in. It was, but that was the only part that was easier! Trust me!
Once your butter is cut in you add your water. I throw an ice cube in mine, no not the rapper, a literal ice cube, just to make sure it is nice and cold. Then add the water slowly, not all at once, but rather bit by bit. As you add the water push the flour to one side of the bowl and then to the other side. Gather it up into a ball and turn it out onto wax paper. Make sure to add flour to your wax paper and your rolling pin. Next roll it out with the rolling pin, nice and big! It has to fit a nine inch pie dish with a little extra. To transition your crust to the pie dish simple fold it in half lightly, then lift and transfer, then unfold. Remove any extra crust from the edges with scissors and crimp the edges to make it pretty. Viola! Now, just do everything I just said again for the top crust. Don't put it in the pie dish yet through! You have to add the apples first!
The filling is super easy. Here ya go!
6 large granny smith apples (any tart apple will do) peeled and cut into thin slices (if you have more use em up! You will just have a very intense pie and it may need to bake longer)
The juice of a whole lemon
1/2 cup white sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Put the apples into a bowl and add the lemon juice. Then mix the sugar, spices, and flour in a bowl then dump it on the apples. Mix well. Throw those pups into the pie dish, dot with butter, and cover with the other pie crust. Cut some slits in the top to vent. Bake at 425 degrees for 15 minutes. Decrease heat to 350 and bake for 45 minutes.
You can do an egg wash too, if you want. Just beat an egg with a little milk and brush it over the crust once the pie is assembled. Bake. It gives it a nice golden brown look!
There you have it! I hope you will try the pie crust, once you get it down it become second nature. Happy Fall everyone!
Oh, once you get this down pat, I am not responsible for the spoiling of your family. Don't come blaming me when Costco pies are no longer good enough at Thanksgiving and they want you to make like 45 homemade pies for every holiday. I have turned my family into monsters! You've been warned.
Apple pie screams fall! My mom and I went to Noble Orchard this Saturday, if you haven't been to Noble Orchard and you live in Paradise shame on you! Well, that is a little harsh, but really you should check it out. They don't have a website but go here for some more information. Anyway, I had to have some granny smith apples. Well, they were quite tart so I made them into a pie! OMG! It was delicious, and if you don't believe me ask some of my family.
Now, baking pie is just something I do. I have been baking pie for my entire adult life, which isn't that long but still, I know how to bake some pies. You can trust me : ) I promise! Apple pie, or any pie for that matter, just isn't the same without a home baked crust. Oh, but the frozen....blah blah blah, don't bore me with your frozen crust. Seriously, homemade ones are waaaay better and nothing anyone says can convince me otherwise. Here is my recipe, I should warn you though, baking pie crusts is not for the faint of heart. Sometimes it takes a while to get the hang it. Stick with it! It is so worth it!
1 cup of unbleached flour
3/4 stick of butter
1 tsp of salt
1/4 cup of cold water
Only four ingredients! Sounds simple enough. Read on.
The first step is to put the flour and salt into a big mixing bowl. Mix em' up. Next the butter. You have to 'cut' the butter into the flour. To cut the butter in you have to use a fork and smash it until it mixes with the flour. It resembles a courser flour when you are done, almost like small peas. Now, make sure your butter is no warmer than room temperature! I made the mistake of thinking, oh if I nuke the butter it will be easier to cut it in. It was, but that was the only part that was easier! Trust me!
Once your butter is cut in you add your water. I throw an ice cube in mine, no not the rapper, a literal ice cube, just to make sure it is nice and cold. Then add the water slowly, not all at once, but rather bit by bit. As you add the water push the flour to one side of the bowl and then to the other side. Gather it up into a ball and turn it out onto wax paper. Make sure to add flour to your wax paper and your rolling pin. Next roll it out with the rolling pin, nice and big! It has to fit a nine inch pie dish with a little extra. To transition your crust to the pie dish simple fold it in half lightly, then lift and transfer, then unfold. Remove any extra crust from the edges with scissors and crimp the edges to make it pretty. Viola! Now, just do everything I just said again for the top crust. Don't put it in the pie dish yet through! You have to add the apples first!
The filling is super easy. Here ya go!
6 large granny smith apples (any tart apple will do) peeled and cut into thin slices (if you have more use em up! You will just have a very intense pie and it may need to bake longer)
The juice of a whole lemon
1/2 cup white sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Put the apples into a bowl and add the lemon juice. Then mix the sugar, spices, and flour in a bowl then dump it on the apples. Mix well. Throw those pups into the pie dish, dot with butter, and cover with the other pie crust. Cut some slits in the top to vent. Bake at 425 degrees for 15 minutes. Decrease heat to 350 and bake for 45 minutes.
You can do an egg wash too, if you want. Just beat an egg with a little milk and brush it over the crust once the pie is assembled. Bake. It gives it a nice golden brown look!
There you have it! I hope you will try the pie crust, once you get it down it become second nature. Happy Fall everyone!
Oh, once you get this down pat, I am not responsible for the spoiling of your family. Don't come blaming me when Costco pies are no longer good enough at Thanksgiving and they want you to make like 45 homemade pies for every holiday. I have turned my family into monsters! You've been warned.
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
In Memorium
I thought I would pay homage to some of my favorite foods from when I didn't give a crap about what I ate. Let me clarify something, my mother certainly never approved of most of these things, they were mostly things I bought while I was attending Chico State. However, due to either knowledge or one too many tummy upsets I have removed them from diet completely.
Ah hem, without further ado. Here is a list of stuff I used to enjoy and now no longer consume.
1. El Monterrey Bean & Cheese Burritos. Wow! I used to love those things. Slap some extra cheese on those puppies and you're talking! I think the cooking process took less than five minutes. I pass by them in the store and sometimes I almost consider buying them...almost.
2. Foster Farms Corn Dogs. I don't miss these. They have always been gross, but when you use lots of mustard you almost can't taste the factory farm meat, almost.
3. Yoplait Yogurt. Aw yes. I loved these in high school! Those by gone days when I didn't think about high fructose corn syrup, or thickeners, or other stuff that is probably in there. It has been so long since I had one I don't even know. What I do know is when you can buy a dairy product for about 20 cents there is a problem.
4. E.L. Fudge Cookies. Honestly, if someone came up to me and said "do you want an E.L. Fudge cookie?" I would probably say yes. Still, I think my desire to eat them stemmed more from...um...let us call them 'mood enhancers' than actually wanting to eat the cookies. They were tasty little buggers though!
5. McDonald's Chicken Sandwich. This was a guilty pleasure even then. It took me longer to give up this piece of deep-fried factory-farmed goodness but now I don't even know why I liked these things...they are pretty gross.
6. Morning Star Farms Products. I'm going to be completely honest, this one was hard. As a kid I used to eat these things all the time and I continued that into my adulthood. And then I started learning about GMO's and all that. Plus Morning Star was bought out by Kellog's not so long ago and from that point on it was goodbye natural product integrity and hello round-up ready soy. Sigh. I oh so loved the chik nuggets too!
7. Reese's Puffs Cereal. I can still remember the commercial from my childhood. "It's Reese's for breakfast!" Bless my mother, she never let this crap in her house, but once I had my own house to put crap in she couldn't stop me! This cereal is actually considered the most unhealthy cereal on the market. That comes from researchers at Oxford University, not from me.
Ah hem, without further ado. Here is a list of stuff I used to enjoy and now no longer consume.
1. El Monterrey Bean & Cheese Burritos. Wow! I used to love those things. Slap some extra cheese on those puppies and you're talking! I think the cooking process took less than five minutes. I pass by them in the store and sometimes I almost consider buying them...almost.
2. Foster Farms Corn Dogs. I don't miss these. They have always been gross, but when you use lots of mustard you almost can't taste the factory farm meat, almost.
3. Yoplait Yogurt. Aw yes. I loved these in high school! Those by gone days when I didn't think about high fructose corn syrup, or thickeners, or other stuff that is probably in there. It has been so long since I had one I don't even know. What I do know is when you can buy a dairy product for about 20 cents there is a problem.
4. E.L. Fudge Cookies. Honestly, if someone came up to me and said "do you want an E.L. Fudge cookie?" I would probably say yes. Still, I think my desire to eat them stemmed more from...um...let us call them 'mood enhancers' than actually wanting to eat the cookies. They were tasty little buggers though!
5. McDonald's Chicken Sandwich. This was a guilty pleasure even then. It took me longer to give up this piece of deep-fried factory-farmed goodness but now I don't even know why I liked these things...they are pretty gross.
6. Morning Star Farms Products. I'm going to be completely honest, this one was hard. As a kid I used to eat these things all the time and I continued that into my adulthood. And then I started learning about GMO's and all that. Plus Morning Star was bought out by Kellog's not so long ago and from that point on it was goodbye natural product integrity and hello round-up ready soy. Sigh. I oh so loved the chik nuggets too! 7. Reese's Puffs Cereal. I can still remember the commercial from my childhood. "It's Reese's for breakfast!" Bless my mother, she never let this crap in her house, but once I had my own house to put crap in she couldn't stop me! This cereal is actually considered the most unhealthy cereal on the market. That comes from researchers at Oxford University, not from me.
Monday, September 10, 2012
Perfect Hard Boiled Eggs
I don't know about you but I love hard boiled eggs. I tend to just cook the living snot out of them though to make sure they are fully cooked. Well, I have a recipe for perfect eggs! This recipe claims to leave the yolks moist and delicious.
I tend to stay away from hard boiling eggs. I love them, but the thing is I have always had issues with boiling them ever since I switched to the pastured brown eggs I get at the farmer's market. I always think they are hard to peel, they fall apart, etc, etc. Plus, I didn't want to waste my carton of not so cheap eggs!
Now I haven't tried this yet, but I am going too this week. Go here to access the recipe. Remember! If you are buying eggs from the farmer's market you usually need to wait a few days to boil them. Fresh eggs don't boil well. Ask your farmer! Leave comments and let me know how they turn out!
I tend to stay away from hard boiling eggs. I love them, but the thing is I have always had issues with boiling them ever since I switched to the pastured brown eggs I get at the farmer's market. I always think they are hard to peel, they fall apart, etc, etc. Plus, I didn't want to waste my carton of not so cheap eggs!
Now I haven't tried this yet, but I am going too this week. Go here to access the recipe. Remember! If you are buying eggs from the farmer's market you usually need to wait a few days to boil them. Fresh eggs don't boil well. Ask your farmer! Leave comments and let me know how they turn out!
Sunday, September 9, 2012
What up? Where are my recipes!
Okay okay, I know I have neglected my responsibility to bring you delicious and cost effective recipes. I'm sorry, I get way to caught up in being self righteous and I forget about my other talents. So, here ya go!
Do you have a child(ren)? Have those creatures of yours ever cut teeth? Well, let me tell you, mine sure is! Lately it has been hard to get her to eat, or do much of anything other than whimper in pain, because of the agony caused my some pesky molars. Introducing my homemade (healthy!) pops! All you need is a blender, some spinach (a fistful, or more if you want!), blueberries (about half a cup) and bananas (I use one whole one), orange juice (a splash!), and some plain Greek yogurt (half a cup).
Basically, I take all that stuff I just mentioned. Put it in a blender. Ta-da! A smoothie like substance. Place the smoothie like substance into Popsicle molds and freeze. Before you know it you have a healthy and very cold snack for your kid, or for yourself!
Now, a few tips. Frozen blueberries work great! I like the Trader Joe's Wild Boreal berries. They are grown without the use of pesticides in Quebec, Canada. Fresh organic blueberries are not cheap! I buy them, yes, but I consider them one of my splurge items and don't just throw them willy-nilly into a blender with a bunch of other crap. Therefore, when I am making pops I opt for the frozen kind.
Bananas! The organic ones cost ten cents more per pound, just bite the bullet. When it comes to spinach I have to hand it to Trader Joe's again! A bag of organic baby spinach is only $1.99! Killer!
For yogurt, go with what you like. I prefer Chobani. I get it at Winco. Super cheap in there! You can spend like $2 more on the stuff at Safeway.
As far as the orange juice I just splash a little bit, my blender works better when there is a little liquid in there.
So yeah, they are yummy, cold, and filled with nutrition! You don't have to use blueberries and bananas! You can use strawberries, blackberries, beets, or even melon. Experiment! My nephew didn't even know there were greens in there. Anytime you can get kids to eat their greens I would call that a win!
Here is my baby enjoying the heck out of a pop! I let her be naked and just go to town on those suckers outside.
Do you have a child(ren)? Have those creatures of yours ever cut teeth? Well, let me tell you, mine sure is! Lately it has been hard to get her to eat, or do much of anything other than whimper in pain, because of the agony caused my some pesky molars. Introducing my homemade (healthy!) pops! All you need is a blender, some spinach (a fistful, or more if you want!), blueberries (about half a cup) and bananas (I use one whole one), orange juice (a splash!), and some plain Greek yogurt (half a cup).
Basically, I take all that stuff I just mentioned. Put it in a blender. Ta-da! A smoothie like substance. Place the smoothie like substance into Popsicle molds and freeze. Before you know it you have a healthy and very cold snack for your kid, or for yourself!
Now, a few tips. Frozen blueberries work great! I like the Trader Joe's Wild Boreal berries. They are grown without the use of pesticides in Quebec, Canada. Fresh organic blueberries are not cheap! I buy them, yes, but I consider them one of my splurge items and don't just throw them willy-nilly into a blender with a bunch of other crap. Therefore, when I am making pops I opt for the frozen kind.
Bananas! The organic ones cost ten cents more per pound, just bite the bullet. When it comes to spinach I have to hand it to Trader Joe's again! A bag of organic baby spinach is only $1.99! Killer!
For yogurt, go with what you like. I prefer Chobani. I get it at Winco. Super cheap in there! You can spend like $2 more on the stuff at Safeway.
So yeah, they are yummy, cold, and filled with nutrition! You don't have to use blueberries and bananas! You can use strawberries, blackberries, beets, or even melon. Experiment! My nephew didn't even know there were greens in there. Anytime you can get kids to eat their greens I would call that a win!
Friday, September 7, 2012
Why Organic?
This is something that I get asked a lot. Why buy organic? Why go through the extra steps and extra money to purchase and prepare organic food? I can tell you honestly that, if I didn't care about organic or making home cooked real food meals, then I could save myself a lot of time and money. Time that could be spent with my daughter and money that could be spent on...I don't know...maybe taking a freaking vacation every once in a while! The thing is though, I take the time, effort, and money to, not only purchase high quality/organic foods, but to cook them. When I say cook, I mean it. I very rarely open cans or packages. I do. Just not very often. This isn't something that I did overnight, but slowly, especially since my daughter has started on solids, I have really made a commitment to making sure she gets the best nutrition I can possibly give her.
Nutritionally there is no conclusive evidence to suggest that organic is better. However, pesticides used on conventional produce end up in our bodies when we eat it. The government allows "safe levels" of these pesticides to be used. I don't buy it. I just don't think that "safe levels" of poisons should be allowed in our food supply. These chemicals can also build up in the body over time and cause health issues as well be passed from a pregnant mother to her fetus. (www.helpguide.org) According to the National Academy of Science even low level exposure to pesticides may result in behavioral and neurological problems. (www.organic.org)
So basically, I don't want my kid to eat pesticides. That is pretty obvious. However, the amount of pesticides on a piece of produce by the time it reaches the grocery store is pretty small compared to the amount that is on it in the field. Which brings me to my next point. Organic is better for the planet! You know that thing we all live on? Mitt Romney joked about President Obama's remarks from 2008 about "healing the planet" but if we don't have a planet then nothing really matters anyway. Agriculture is a huge polluter! So after watering all those strawberry fields the chemicals run off into our water supply. Lovely. (www.organic.org) Also, someone has to pick those strawberries. I wonder how many chemicals those folk are being exposed to? Of course, not many people think about this because most people who harvest produce are immigrants. Organic is better for the planet and better for farm workers!
Organic is also better for farmers! Most conventional products produced by big huge food corporations do one thing: line the pockets of shareholders while farm workers and consumers pay the price in health costs and damage to the planet. Take my advice (hey - that is why you are reading this thing anyways!) head to your local farmer's market! Buy locally produced organic produce from real farmers in your area! Farmer's market is one of my go to's for fresh, local, cheap, organic stuff! Help these people out! Give em' some sugar, they are your neighbors! And yes, that was an Outkast reference. Shake it like a Polaroid picture!
So there is my two cents, whether you asked for it or not. Now, just so you don't get confused. I don't buy everything 100% organic 100% of the time. I purchase non-organic brands that I trust to be high quality. However, when it comes to the majority of produce, I do buy organic. I choose organic whenever I can whether I am at the farmer's market or at Safeway. I don't just do it for myself or my daughter either, it is because I believe in providing the best future possible for everyone. That is all. Whoa, soapbox moment!
What is organic?
Organic
is a labeling term that indicates that the food or other agricultural
product has been produced through approved methods that integrate
cultural, biological, and mechanical practices that foster cycling of
resources, promote ecological balance, and conserve biodiversity.
Synthetic fertilizers, sewage sludge, irradiation, and genetic
engineering may not be used. (The USDA website)Nutritionally there is no conclusive evidence to suggest that organic is better. However, pesticides used on conventional produce end up in our bodies when we eat it. The government allows "safe levels" of these pesticides to be used. I don't buy it. I just don't think that "safe levels" of poisons should be allowed in our food supply. These chemicals can also build up in the body over time and cause health issues as well be passed from a pregnant mother to her fetus. (www.helpguide.org) According to the National Academy of Science even low level exposure to pesticides may result in behavioral and neurological problems. (www.organic.org)
So basically, I don't want my kid to eat pesticides. That is pretty obvious. However, the amount of pesticides on a piece of produce by the time it reaches the grocery store is pretty small compared to the amount that is on it in the field. Which brings me to my next point. Organic is better for the planet! You know that thing we all live on? Mitt Romney joked about President Obama's remarks from 2008 about "healing the planet" but if we don't have a planet then nothing really matters anyway. Agriculture is a huge polluter! So after watering all those strawberry fields the chemicals run off into our water supply. Lovely. (www.organic.org) Also, someone has to pick those strawberries. I wonder how many chemicals those folk are being exposed to? Of course, not many people think about this because most people who harvest produce are immigrants. Organic is better for the planet and better for farm workers!
Organic is also better for farmers! Most conventional products produced by big huge food corporations do one thing: line the pockets of shareholders while farm workers and consumers pay the price in health costs and damage to the planet. Take my advice (hey - that is why you are reading this thing anyways!) head to your local farmer's market! Buy locally produced organic produce from real farmers in your area! Farmer's market is one of my go to's for fresh, local, cheap, organic stuff! Help these people out! Give em' some sugar, they are your neighbors! And yes, that was an Outkast reference. Shake it like a Polaroid picture!
So there is my two cents, whether you asked for it or not. Now, just so you don't get confused. I don't buy everything 100% organic 100% of the time. I purchase non-organic brands that I trust to be high quality. However, when it comes to the majority of produce, I do buy organic. I choose organic whenever I can whether I am at the farmer's market or at Safeway. I don't just do it for myself or my daughter either, it is because I believe in providing the best future possible for everyone. That is all. Whoa, soapbox moment!
Thursday, August 30, 2012
Prop 37
Okay, I didn't want to get all political and what-not but I am a junky for the stuff, especially during election season. Plus with my whole stance on GE/processed food I figured this was as good a topic as any to get rid of my writer's block. Prop 37. Have you heard of it? Basically what it does is require foods that contain genetically modified ingredients (I refer to them as GE or GMO's) to be labeled as such. I'm sure you can guess how I feel about it. I am totally opposed to it. It is silly. It is wrong. It is evil. Just kidding! You guys know me better than that! :-)
So, now that you know that I am totally behind the yes on 37 crew I will explain why. My dad always told me that you can tell a lot about a proposition by who is supporting it. I come from a political family (to say the least) and I took the advice to heart. I always look at the supporters of propositions and politicians when I study my voter's guide. Who is against labeling GE foods? Oh, well all the usually suspects. Pepsi, Coca-Cola, General Mills, Dow Chemical, Monsanto, Dole, Sarah Lee, Campbell Soup Company and Hormel (http://www.noprop37.com/donors/). So basically any giant food producer who makes butt loads of money off of selling "food". On the yes side of things major funding comes from the Organic Consumers Association, Mercola.com and Health Resources LLC. Not to mention some of my own favorite brands like Lundberg (a rice producer in my area) and Annie's (the makers of my favorite mac & cheese), plus there is a very long list of endorsements that span the political spectrum. Check out the endorsements here, you have Barbara Boxer all the way to the Redding Tea Party Patriots!
Don't you want to be one of the cool kids? I do! A lot of other countries are already labeling GE foods. Australia, China, the UK, Spain, Germany, France, Italy, Mexico, Brazil, South Korea, Saudi Arabia (http://www.labelgmos.org/the_science_genetically_modified_foods_gmo). Do I really need to go on?
The jury is out on the safety of this stuff (http://www.saynotogmos.org/ujun03b.htm). WTF? So, no one really knows the long term effects of this stuff but they say go ahead and feed it to your kid. Yeah, no thanks.
It is just one little label! Come on people you already include a freakin' section for the nutrition facts and ingredients. Just say whether it has GE ingredients in it. I always read that stuff! I just want to know. I mean honestly, most GE foods are in processed stuff which I tend to avoid, but knowledge is power and we have a right to know what we are eating. Plus, if GMO food is so safe and awesome why not label it? Then people will know that your processed yumminess is extra awesome. Of course the food companies say that will cost money to add the extra label, money that will be passed on to the consumer. That is what my blog is for! Duh!
Basically, that is my stance. Lets get with it and just label the damn thing! Maybe then I could experience a little bit more convenience in my life. I mean I haven't opened a can of cream of mushroom soup in so long, I always make it from scratch and heck, maybe if I knew 100% of what was in it I could cut the time it takes to make my green bean casserole in half. No, it is too yummy when it is all homemade.
I will be adding my blog to the list of endorsements on the California Right to Know website! Please join me this November and vote YES on Prop 37. Come on, you know you want to!
So, now that you know that I am totally behind the yes on 37 crew I will explain why. My dad always told me that you can tell a lot about a proposition by who is supporting it. I come from a political family (to say the least) and I took the advice to heart. I always look at the supporters of propositions and politicians when I study my voter's guide. Who is against labeling GE foods? Oh, well all the usually suspects. Pepsi, Coca-Cola, General Mills, Dow Chemical, Monsanto, Dole, Sarah Lee, Campbell Soup Company and Hormel (http://www.noprop37.com/donors/). So basically any giant food producer who makes butt loads of money off of selling "food". On the yes side of things major funding comes from the Organic Consumers Association, Mercola.com and Health Resources LLC. Not to mention some of my own favorite brands like Lundberg (a rice producer in my area) and Annie's (the makers of my favorite mac & cheese), plus there is a very long list of endorsements that span the political spectrum. Check out the endorsements here, you have Barbara Boxer all the way to the Redding Tea Party Patriots!
Don't you want to be one of the cool kids? I do! A lot of other countries are already labeling GE foods. Australia, China, the UK, Spain, Germany, France, Italy, Mexico, Brazil, South Korea, Saudi Arabia (http://www.labelgmos.org/the_science_genetically_modified_foods_gmo). Do I really need to go on?
The jury is out on the safety of this stuff (http://www.saynotogmos.org/ujun03b.htm). WTF? So, no one really knows the long term effects of this stuff but they say go ahead and feed it to your kid. Yeah, no thanks.
It is just one little label! Come on people you already include a freakin' section for the nutrition facts and ingredients. Just say whether it has GE ingredients in it. I always read that stuff! I just want to know. I mean honestly, most GE foods are in processed stuff which I tend to avoid, but knowledge is power and we have a right to know what we are eating. Plus, if GMO food is so safe and awesome why not label it? Then people will know that your processed yumminess is extra awesome. Of course the food companies say that will cost money to add the extra label, money that will be passed on to the consumer. That is what my blog is for! Duh!
Basically, that is my stance. Lets get with it and just label the damn thing! Maybe then I could experience a little bit more convenience in my life. I mean I haven't opened a can of cream of mushroom soup in so long, I always make it from scratch and heck, maybe if I knew 100% of what was in it I could cut the time it takes to make my green bean casserole in half. No, it is too yummy when it is all homemade.
I will be adding my blog to the list of endorsements on the California Right to Know website! Please join me this November and vote YES on Prop 37. Come on, you know you want to!
Monday, August 13, 2012
Top 8 Ways to Save!
Did that title get ya? Everyone wants to know how to save money, especially on their grocery bill. Okay, so before I give up the goods (or at least all the crap I think is important) I should warn you. You CAN spend less money on food by completely disregarding my rules and buying processed or lower quality stuff. This guide helps me save money on ORGANIC and and/or other high quality foods. If you don't care about organic then don't read this blog because you are probably already saving more than me. That being said, here are some of my rules.
1. Stop buying beverages. Wine does not count! Let me repeat: WINE DOES NOT COUNT! In order to maintain sanity in my life I need some alcoholic beverages, look for future posts on how to save while maintaining the habit. However, what does count are sodas and even juice. Yes juice. Organic juice is very expensive; however a bag of organic apples is much cheaper - therefore I opt for the bag of fresh apples. It has all the same vitamin content as the juice (unless the juice is fortified or something) but it doesn't have all the fiber removed leaving only sugar. Take my advice; water is much better all around.
2. Start eating beans. Do you like beans? I do! And so should you. I don't mean that can of re-fried stuff that is loaded with salt, I mean dry beans. The kind you cook in a big pot of water on the stove. Don't be scared either. I have never soaked beans overnight; I always just cook on medium low for about an hour and half. Beans are so delicious and full of protein! My mother has been making beans my whole life just like her mother before her. My mom even re-fried them herself when I was a kid. I will post some recipes and ways you can use all different kinds of beans.
3. Lentils! Yes lentils. Another cheap way to eat well. Throw those suckers in a big pot with some carrots and potatoes, cook for two hours on medium low and you're happening! Oh, and my child loves lentil soup!
4. Don't buy frozen meals. Convenient? Yes. Cost effective? No. Maybe buying a Hungry Man dinner is cheap, I honestly don't know because I have never bought one, but when you are looking at the Annie's Organic Enchilada dinner, it is not so cheap. Yes, I love Annie too, but she is a classy broad. Plus, I don't know about you, but I can eat like five of those. Take my advice, fresh food is better and when I post up my home-made mole recipe you will never want the frozen stuff again. Plus, if you do want it to be frozen, make fresh enchiladas (with my mole recipe) and then freeze them. Viola! Convenience and economics.
5. Meat. Yeah, I like it too. But the organic and/or grass-fed free range stuff will set you back quite a bit. And who wants something that is factory farmed and shot up with hormones? Not I. I would rather go without. You don't have to give it up, just cut it down. When it comes to meat I say quality over quantity. Plus, when you cut down on your meat consumption you are doing good by the Earth too, so reduce that carbon foot print, help out farmers who raise their animals ethically and don't load your body up with hormones!
6. Have you heard of Grocery Outlet? Just make sure you check your dates. I have gotten maple syrup in there a billion and one times! And that stuff costs a pretty penny when you are buying real maple syrup that came out of a tree not a lab. Occasionally you can even get a half gallon of Organic Valley milk. *Side note, organic milk has a longer shelf life!
7. Convenience and prepared foods. Yes I have a child. At one point that child was a newborn who thought she wanted to nurse every ten minutes. Sometimes prepared food is a life savor, but most of the time it just drains your pocketbook. Try to avoid it.
and finally...
8. Cut out snacks and junk! That basically goes without saying. Again, I have a child which means at one point I was pregnant. And yes, I ate a lot of Kozy Shack chocolate pudding. Of course this was before my food budget doubled because of said child. No one needs ice cream in their house at all times (pregnancy not included!) or any other type of snacky junk food. Oh how I miss Sweet Maui Onion Kettle chips...
So there you have it! Eight ways to save. Now, I am not a insane person. Yes, I eat ice cream sometimes (Ben & Jerry's Ameri-cone Dream...mmmm) but what I am saying is that by cutting back on some of these items should help you save. I am sure there are plenty reading this who are okay with spending more than me, that is great, just do what works for you, your family and your budget!
AND NOW! AN AMAZING (and cheap) RECIPE! FROM MY OWN KITCHEN!
Split Pea Soup (Sounds boring, but I find it creamy, delicious, satisfying and other positive adjectives one would associate with food)
1lb of dry split peas ($1.56 - and that was for a 2lb bag, I only used half of it)
Carrots (as many as you want, I love them so I put six big ones. $4.99 for 5lbs of organic carrots at S&S in Chico)
Yukon Gold Potatoes (as many as you want, I used three large ones $3.39 about 2lbs - S&S)
Salt, Pepper, Parsley to taste
Simple. Cut up all that stuff and put it all in a big pot, cover with water and cook on medium low for about two hours. Stir occasionally, you may also need to add more water depending on how fast it is cooking.
Want something to go with this creation? How about some nice steamy rolls? Yeah, you know you do!
Whole Wheat Rolls (If you are totally in love with these, and lets face, you will be after you try them, thank Whole Foods. I got the recipe from their website)
1 1/4 cup of whole wheat flour (I use Bob's Red Mill - available inexpensively at Winco in Chico)
2 Tbsp. of sugar
1/2 Tsp of salt
1 pkg of yeast (I like Hodsgon Mill - also cheap at Winco)
1 cup of warm milk (I never warm it, I guess I'm lazy like that)
3 Tbsp of melted butter
1 large egg (Farmers market! I have found no better egg. http://www.chriseggfarm.com)
1 cup of all purpose flour (I like King Arthur - another cheapy buy at Winco. It is more than twice as much at Holiday Market)
Mix the whole wheat flour, sugar, salt and yeast. Stir well. Add milk, butter and eggs. Beat until smooth. Add flour and mix until fully incorporated. I like to use my hands to fully mix it. Cover. Rise in a warm spot (maybe next to that pot of soup) for 1 hour.
Stir batter. Spoon into greased (I use olive oil) muffin tins. Rise for 1 hour. (I usually do about a half hour; patience is not a virtue of mine)
Bake in a pre-heated 400 degree oven for 15 to 20 minutes.
And if those aren't as tasty as all get-out then I'll be a monkey's uncle, or aunt or whatever. Just try them.
Well kids, that is it. Stayed tuned for next time. I will tell you all the stuff you should be splurging on and why. Of course there will be more money saving tips and possibly another recipe! Eat well and be well!
1. Stop buying beverages. Wine does not count! Let me repeat: WINE DOES NOT COUNT! In order to maintain sanity in my life I need some alcoholic beverages, look for future posts on how to save while maintaining the habit. However, what does count are sodas and even juice. Yes juice. Organic juice is very expensive; however a bag of organic apples is much cheaper - therefore I opt for the bag of fresh apples. It has all the same vitamin content as the juice (unless the juice is fortified or something) but it doesn't have all the fiber removed leaving only sugar. Take my advice; water is much better all around.
2. Start eating beans. Do you like beans? I do! And so should you. I don't mean that can of re-fried stuff that is loaded with salt, I mean dry beans. The kind you cook in a big pot of water on the stove. Don't be scared either. I have never soaked beans overnight; I always just cook on medium low for about an hour and half. Beans are so delicious and full of protein! My mother has been making beans my whole life just like her mother before her. My mom even re-fried them herself when I was a kid. I will post some recipes and ways you can use all different kinds of beans.
3. Lentils! Yes lentils. Another cheap way to eat well. Throw those suckers in a big pot with some carrots and potatoes, cook for two hours on medium low and you're happening! Oh, and my child loves lentil soup!
4. Don't buy frozen meals. Convenient? Yes. Cost effective? No. Maybe buying a Hungry Man dinner is cheap, I honestly don't know because I have never bought one, but when you are looking at the Annie's Organic Enchilada dinner, it is not so cheap. Yes, I love Annie too, but she is a classy broad. Plus, I don't know about you, but I can eat like five of those. Take my advice, fresh food is better and when I post up my home-made mole recipe you will never want the frozen stuff again. Plus, if you do want it to be frozen, make fresh enchiladas (with my mole recipe) and then freeze them. Viola! Convenience and economics.
5. Meat. Yeah, I like it too. But the organic and/or grass-fed free range stuff will set you back quite a bit. And who wants something that is factory farmed and shot up with hormones? Not I. I would rather go without. You don't have to give it up, just cut it down. When it comes to meat I say quality over quantity. Plus, when you cut down on your meat consumption you are doing good by the Earth too, so reduce that carbon foot print, help out farmers who raise their animals ethically and don't load your body up with hormones!
6. Have you heard of Grocery Outlet? Just make sure you check your dates. I have gotten maple syrup in there a billion and one times! And that stuff costs a pretty penny when you are buying real maple syrup that came out of a tree not a lab. Occasionally you can even get a half gallon of Organic Valley milk. *Side note, organic milk has a longer shelf life!
7. Convenience and prepared foods. Yes I have a child. At one point that child was a newborn who thought she wanted to nurse every ten minutes. Sometimes prepared food is a life savor, but most of the time it just drains your pocketbook. Try to avoid it.
and finally...
8. Cut out snacks and junk! That basically goes without saying. Again, I have a child which means at one point I was pregnant. And yes, I ate a lot of Kozy Shack chocolate pudding. Of course this was before my food budget doubled because of said child. No one needs ice cream in their house at all times (pregnancy not included!) or any other type of snacky junk food. Oh how I miss Sweet Maui Onion Kettle chips...
So there you have it! Eight ways to save. Now, I am not a insane person. Yes, I eat ice cream sometimes (Ben & Jerry's Ameri-cone Dream...mmmm) but what I am saying is that by cutting back on some of these items should help you save. I am sure there are plenty reading this who are okay with spending more than me, that is great, just do what works for you, your family and your budget!
AND NOW! AN AMAZING (and cheap) RECIPE! FROM MY OWN KITCHEN!
Split Pea Soup (Sounds boring, but I find it creamy, delicious, satisfying and other positive adjectives one would associate with food)
1lb of dry split peas ($1.56 - and that was for a 2lb bag, I only used half of it)
Carrots (as many as you want, I love them so I put six big ones. $4.99 for 5lbs of organic carrots at S&S in Chico)
Yukon Gold Potatoes (as many as you want, I used three large ones $3.39 about 2lbs - S&S)
Salt, Pepper, Parsley to taste
Simple. Cut up all that stuff and put it all in a big pot, cover with water and cook on medium low for about two hours. Stir occasionally, you may also need to add more water depending on how fast it is cooking.
Want something to go with this creation? How about some nice steamy rolls? Yeah, you know you do!
Whole Wheat Rolls (If you are totally in love with these, and lets face, you will be after you try them, thank Whole Foods. I got the recipe from their website)
1 1/4 cup of whole wheat flour (I use Bob's Red Mill - available inexpensively at Winco in Chico)
2 Tbsp. of sugar
1/2 Tsp of salt
1 pkg of yeast (I like Hodsgon Mill - also cheap at Winco)
1 cup of warm milk (I never warm it, I guess I'm lazy like that)
3 Tbsp of melted butter
1 large egg (Farmers market! I have found no better egg. http://www.chriseggfarm.com)
1 cup of all purpose flour (I like King Arthur - another cheapy buy at Winco. It is more than twice as much at Holiday Market)
Mix the whole wheat flour, sugar, salt and yeast. Stir well. Add milk, butter and eggs. Beat until smooth. Add flour and mix until fully incorporated. I like to use my hands to fully mix it. Cover. Rise in a warm spot (maybe next to that pot of soup) for 1 hour.
Stir batter. Spoon into greased (I use olive oil) muffin tins. Rise for 1 hour. (I usually do about a half hour; patience is not a virtue of mine)
Bake in a pre-heated 400 degree oven for 15 to 20 minutes.
And if those aren't as tasty as all get-out then I'll be a monkey's uncle, or aunt or whatever. Just try them.
Well kids, that is it. Stayed tuned for next time. I will tell you all the stuff you should be splurging on and why. Of course there will be more money saving tips and possibly another recipe! Eat well and be well!
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
My First Post!
You may be wondering something...something like "who the heck is Joan and why is she trying to give me a 'guide to life'?" Well that is a good question and you have no real reason to listen to me but you did manage to find my blog so you might as well read it. I have certain skills and talents that I believe will be useful by my readers.
I am pretty good at buying food, not just any food. Organic and other high quality foods. I avoid GMOs, pesticides, chemicals and anything else that wouldn't actually qualify as "food". I can buy these thing on a very small budget and, out of the goodness of my heart, I have decided to share some of my talents with all of you!
As you follow by blog and get to know my family and me through it I will divulge tips, tricks and recipes to help you live well on the cheap. Still interested? Well, keep reading, in this first blog post I will tell you exactly why you should listen to me when I am sure there are many others who think they are better qualified to instruct you, aw hell, they probably are. Most of you are probably reading this because I asked you to on Facebook or something. Be gentle, and remember how nice I am in person.
I am a Chico State graduate (BA Legal Studies 2010), a first time mother to a sixteen month old (female, Freya Danielle), and a part time employee at a small business. My fiance is currently a student working toward becoming a respiratory therapist. He is a shift leader at a local restaurant. Now that you have no doubt that we are on a budget (I work part-time and he is a student/food service employee - enough said!). I can explain to you why it is I do what I do.
Well, you see I love keeping track of every penny I spend on food and driving around to a bunch of different places and getting my toddler in and out of the car seat. No. That isn't the reason. Over the course of my life I have learned about food, or what some people may call food, and I have found that much of the food Americans consume isn't really food at all. It is some cocktail of chemicals, artificial ingredients and high fructose corn syrup. At one point in my life I didn't really care. Then I got pregnant. It really made me start to think about what I was eating and what my daughter would eat when she was old enough. I started reading labels and doing research. For the first time in my life quality was more important than cost.
So there you have it. My next post will be much more informative, I promise. I will throw out some tips and a recipe! Stay tuned! Until next time, eat well and be well!
P.S. You know that I had to throw up a picture of the child. I am a mom, I can't resist an opportunity for people to think she is cute!
I am pretty good at buying food, not just any food. Organic and other high quality foods. I avoid GMOs, pesticides, chemicals and anything else that wouldn't actually qualify as "food". I can buy these thing on a very small budget and, out of the goodness of my heart, I have decided to share some of my talents with all of you!
As you follow by blog and get to know my family and me through it I will divulge tips, tricks and recipes to help you live well on the cheap. Still interested? Well, keep reading, in this first blog post I will tell you exactly why you should listen to me when I am sure there are many others who think they are better qualified to instruct you, aw hell, they probably are. Most of you are probably reading this because I asked you to on Facebook or something. Be gentle, and remember how nice I am in person.
Well, you see I love keeping track of every penny I spend on food and driving around to a bunch of different places and getting my toddler in and out of the car seat. No. That isn't the reason. Over the course of my life I have learned about food, or what some people may call food, and I have found that much of the food Americans consume isn't really food at all. It is some cocktail of chemicals, artificial ingredients and high fructose corn syrup. At one point in my life I didn't really care. Then I got pregnant. It really made me start to think about what I was eating and what my daughter would eat when she was old enough. I started reading labels and doing research. For the first time in my life quality was more important than cost.
So there you have it. My next post will be much more informative, I promise. I will throw out some tips and a recipe! Stay tuned! Until next time, eat well and be well!
P.S. You know that I had to throw up a picture of the child. I am a mom, I can't resist an opportunity for people to think she is cute!
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