I’m just going to go ahead and tell you. I love soup. I’m so excited when it’s finally soup season! I would eat it all year long, but Barry prefers it when it’s cold outside. I caved and made this recently….and it turned out to be 90 degrees that day. By the time we were done with dinner we were sweating like pigs and had to go get the box fan. Oops? But it was worth it! Chock full of veggies and beans, it will fill your tummy up quickly and keep you nice and warm…..or nice and sweaty. [Read more…] |
Archives for September 2011
Homemade Yogurt
If you’ve never made homemade yogurt before, you’re going to be astounded at how easy it is……really. It’s super easy. You might have tried the recipe I have on here for Crock Pot Yogurt from Heartland Renaissance. I thought it was pretty awesome……until I made this. Now I won’t look back. The thickness and creaminess of this recipe is GREAT! The crock pot is nice if you need to make yogurt and you won’t be able to stick around, but this has become my method of choice. It’s a lot thicker than the version in the crock pot. I looked around at several recipes and finally settled on this one. It’s very easy and makes some really great yogurt. I’m still astonished that I’m making yogurt.Me. I’m making yogurt. At home. Boo yah (do people still say that?). [Read more…] |
Protect Yourself from a Hot Grease Burn
Did you know there was a country song called “Loving You is Like Frying Bacon Naked?” Well, if you didn’t know it before you know it now. I’m so glad to give you that type of important information.I hate frying food when it splatters everywhere. Not only does it burn like the dickens, it also gets all over every surface in the kitchen. Clean up is a pain. So, I purchased this little lovely dohickey from The Dollar Tree. It works fantastic for keeping splatters to a minimum. Any time I’m frying, I use it. You really need one. Trust me. Guess how much they cost? [Read more…] |
Meal Plan for 9/13-9/19
-Breakfast: Stretch Eggs, toast, fruit -Lunch: Leftover Penne, veggies -Dinner: Pioneer Woman’s Chicken Tacos, rice |
-Breakfast: Egg McMuffins a la Stacy, fruit -Lunch: Sandwiches, fruit -Dinner: Crock Pot Spicy Chicken Soup, cheese toast [Read more…] |
Preserving Herbs
My Farmer’s Market is full of fresh herbs each week…..and that’s where I have to buy them. Herbs and natural remedies can be beneficial for your overall health. For example, benefits of chamomile include stress reduction, relaxation, and immune support. I had high hopes this year of growing my own. I picked out some really pretty plants at the Market and brought them home – thyme, rosemary, cilantro, and parsley. I was so tickled……and naïve. I know I can’t grow plants. What was I thinking? They died a slow, painful, dry death. Poor babies. My House = the place where plants come to die. So, I have been buying organic herbs here and there at the Market (see photo). I want to have some during the winter, so I decided to start freezing some. Here is the method that I use. I’ll also touch on a couple other options for you. This particular batch consisted of basil and cilantro. [Read more…] |
Mom’s Egg Salad
I love my mom’s cooking. It’s caused me to be a food snob. I am known to turn down food just because I know it won’t be as good as my mom’s. I’m spoiled. One of those specific things happens to be my mom’s deviled eggs. I can’t eat ANYONE else’s deviled eggs. I just can’t do it. I’ve tried……but it’s bad. Especially those deviled eggs that are runny. You know what I’m talking about. The filling is about to just ooze over the side of that puppy. Uh. No thanks. I run by them in the potluck line, trying not to look directly at the oozy egg. Anyway, today I’m going to share with you the recipe for my mom’s egg salad. Before this, she didn’t have a recipe. I bugged her until she made it while I was around so I could measure. Now I’m happy. This will make you happy too. It’s not your normal egg salad – it’s got a little bit of sweetness to it. Just like me. Ha, ha! [Read more…] |
A Healthy Eating Update
Since it’s been a few weeks since I let y’all know how we were doing, I thought it was time for healthy eating update…..the update is – we’re doing great. Pretty boring update huh? The surprising thing for me is that we settled so easily into this new lifestyle. I thought it would be hard….I thought I would have to dress in all tie-dye……I thought I would have to buy a VW van and live down by the river. The truth is, we’re pretty much eating the same foods we were eating before – I’ve just changed how I make them and what I make them with. I take a former recipe and transform it into something that fits. Let me encourage you that you can do the same thing. There isn’t really much you have to give up to eat healthy…..you just have to change the way you make it. We have cut out a majority of desserts. We used to eat them every night after dinner, but now we MIGHT have them twice a week – and on special occasions. [Read more…] |
Homemade Coffee Creamer
I’ve had a few of you ask me about making a homemade coffee creamer. I was interested in that myself…..especially after I read the ingredients list on one of those bottles. Good night. Do you know what’s in there? No, wait. I’m not going to tell you. I tried a few recipes here and there, and none of them really tasted that great. Then I came across several variations at Deliciously Organic and I decided to give them a try – they worked! So, I’m going to share them with you now and you can hug me later. [Read more…] |
The Sugar Detox Challenge – We Quit
As a general rule, I am not a quitter. Even if I start something I don’t like, I usually have to finish it or it drives me nuts…..except that one cross-stitch thingy. I am NOT talented at that….I just stick myself and get blood everywhere. But guess what? We quit the Sugar Detox Challenge. Yes, it’s true. I know you’re astonished…….or relieved. One of those. I think Barry was relieved. Sometimes it just feels good to say “I QUIT!” Try it….I’ll wait. See? Sometimes I like to say “I quit!” even when I don’t really mean it – but I mean it this time. We quit. We’re done. Adios amigos. Hasta la bye bye. [Read more…] |
Homemade Crock Pot Pizza Sauce
Well, I know y’all love pizza. No, I don’t have ESP……every time I ask on Facebook on Friday what y’all are eating, about 80% of you say pizza. Is Friday National Pizza Day and someone forgot to tell me?
Anyway, we love pizza too……but I checked out the label on the pizza sauce at the store – and then I put it back on the shelf. I’ll spare you what’s in it. It’s not pretty.
So, I decided to make some myself to put in the freezer to have whenever we wanted pizza…..and it was EASY! I thought to myself: “Self, why not do this in the crock pot?” So, self did it in the crock pot.
[Read more…]