Yes, she really is that awesome! They all are!!!!
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Little Moments
Yes, she really is that awesome! They all are!!!!
Monday, May 28, 2012
Ferments, the perfect tight budget food!
One of the best things about preserving your food with fermentation is that it can really help to stretch your food budget. One of our biggest expenses in our home, besides meat, is organic apples. My four kids ask for apples all day long. While it is great that they want to snack on apples instead of chips and candy this can get quite pricey. When money gets tight and I see that our apples are not going to last us until the next paycheck I set a few aside so that I can make a fermented apple chutney. This way they can still have their apple fix but just in a smaller portion. Since it has been fermented this smaller portion has increased vitamins and minerals along with the added bonus of being packed with probiotics. Last week was one of those weeks so I decided to try something new. The ingredients together in my head sounded good, so I took a chance and what I came up with was a fermented apple and ginger chutney.
Ingredients:
3 organic apples, cored and chopped into small pieces
1 inch piece of ginger, peeled and finely chopped
1 Tbsp cinnamon
1 Tbsp sea salt
1/4 C of whey
1/2 C water (more if needed to cover fruit)
In a large bowl mix all ingredients together. Pack mixture into a glass quart jar, making sure that fruit is under the liquid, add more water if needed. Tighten lid and place in a dark, warm spot for 3 days. Then move to the fridge and enjoy. This will keep in the fridge for about 2 months.
Linking To: Traditional Tuesdays
Monday, May 21, 2012
Accientally Awesome Chocolate Granola
One thing that I am not is a planner! I sometimes really struggle with traditional foods because it is all about planning. I have on many occasions been browning ground beef while desperately Googling for some way to use it. I also like to just spontaneously grab the kids and make something that I saw on one of the many traditional food blogs that I follow. Today was one of those spontaneous days!
We were all having some quiet time after lunch so I decided to get online for a bit and I immediately saw the yummiest picture so I had to click on it. The link took me to Coconut Recipes post for No Bake Coconut Chewy Bites. I quickly looked at the ingredient list and I was pretty sure that I had everything so I went and got Zola and Ajay to help me.
We were melting and mixing and going down the list until we got to the last ingredient, 2 cups of shredded coconut. I had Ajay go to the fridge and when I saw the sad little amount that was left I panicked. We poured it into a measuring cup only to come up with a half of a cup. My first thought was to add oats but the only thing I had in the pantry was steel cut oats. That would be great if we were looking to knock a few loose teeth out. A quick look around the kitchen my eyes caught the canister of soaked granola that we made the other day. So I figured why not, I will try anything before having to dump out the expensive ingredients in my pot. So we stirred in 1 1/2 cups of granola, let it cool, and man did we enjoy! We wound up with a crunchy chewy, salty, sweet, chocolatey treat. I may go back and try the actual recipe as it was meant to be made sometime, but for now I am quite content with our accidental version.
We were all having some quiet time after lunch so I decided to get online for a bit and I immediately saw the yummiest picture so I had to click on it. The link took me to Coconut Recipes post for No Bake Coconut Chewy Bites. I quickly looked at the ingredient list and I was pretty sure that I had everything so I went and got Zola and Ajay to help me.
We were melting and mixing and going down the list until we got to the last ingredient, 2 cups of shredded coconut. I had Ajay go to the fridge and when I saw the sad little amount that was left I panicked. We poured it into a measuring cup only to come up with a half of a cup. My first thought was to add oats but the only thing I had in the pantry was steel cut oats. That would be great if we were looking to knock a few loose teeth out. A quick look around the kitchen my eyes caught the canister of soaked granola that we made the other day. So I figured why not, I will try anything before having to dump out the expensive ingredients in my pot. So we stirred in 1 1/2 cups of granola, let it cool, and man did we enjoy! We wound up with a crunchy chewy, salty, sweet, chocolatey treat. I may go back and try the actual recipe as it was meant to be made sometime, but for now I am quite content with our accidental version.
The kids agreed that it was pretty fabulous...really they did. I asked them to smile but Zola said she didn't want to take a break from eating the snack to smile.
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
You do what you have to do...
In a perfect world the food in the grocery stores would be just as healthy as the local foods that I seek out each week. Weekly I drive to a farm, health food stores, and when in season, farmer's markets to purchase local foods, but lately my families growing bodies seem to be consuming more than we can afford right now. What does all of this mean...I need more money!
While I have had visions of me working in a very natural environment surrounded by like minded people, that just isn't my reality right now. I was babysitting over the school year for a few days each month. As soon as I got paid I was off to purchase raw milk, local meat and eggs, and other foods that I know my husband would have a fit over if he saw the price tag, ie fermented cod liver oil from Green Pasture. Now that summer is here and my babysitting job has ended what's a girl to do? Well, this girl went out and got herself an office cleaning job where I get to scrub with nasty chemicals a few nights each week.
My options were pretty limited for a few reasons, #1 my husband works 52 hours per week so that right there is a huge problem because for reason #2, if I have to pay for childcare for 4 kids while I work I would need a job that pays about $40,000 to even make it worth my while. Which brings me to reason #3, I can't imagine going to work through the day and then coming home and trying to homeschool. I want to work with the kids in the morning when we all feel refreshed and alert. Reason #4, I wanted something where I could just listen to my ipod, do my work, and get paid. So, I went onto craigslist to see what I could find that would allow me to work evenings only, preferably no weekends so that we could be together as a family, and I could be alone...office cleaning.
Even before I ever called about any of the jobs I was whining to my husband about the chemicals that I knew they were cleaning with, but he brought up a few good points. If we ever want to buy a small farm I need to take care of some student loans that are still hanging over my head AND that worrying about the chemicals would probably kill me before the cleaners do. I am sometimes amazed that we are both Pisces, I am everything that a Pisces is and he is the polar opposite! Perhaps that is why we strangely work so well, I only see things through emotions, he is all logic. Anyway, he had a point...sometimes you just need to do what you have to do to get to the place you want to be. Where I want to be is on a small piece of land so we can raise a few animals and have a huge garden, cut out the grocery store as much as possible and consume mostly local foods, have more money for homeschooling activities, and eventually get a certification in traditional foods (I would love to turn my passion for traditional foods into a career). All of these things can be more easily attained with a little bit more money added to our monthly budget.
He came home this morning to watch the kids while I went for an interview. When I came home and told him that I might start training on Friday evening he said that as a celebration gift he would buy me a box of masks and latex gloves. What a guy!
While I have had visions of me working in a very natural environment surrounded by like minded people, that just isn't my reality right now. I was babysitting over the school year for a few days each month. As soon as I got paid I was off to purchase raw milk, local meat and eggs, and other foods that I know my husband would have a fit over if he saw the price tag, ie fermented cod liver oil from Green Pasture. Now that summer is here and my babysitting job has ended what's a girl to do? Well, this girl went out and got herself an office cleaning job where I get to scrub with nasty chemicals a few nights each week.
My options were pretty limited for a few reasons, #1 my husband works 52 hours per week so that right there is a huge problem because for reason #2, if I have to pay for childcare for 4 kids while I work I would need a job that pays about $40,000 to even make it worth my while. Which brings me to reason #3, I can't imagine going to work through the day and then coming home and trying to homeschool. I want to work with the kids in the morning when we all feel refreshed and alert. Reason #4, I wanted something where I could just listen to my ipod, do my work, and get paid. So, I went onto craigslist to see what I could find that would allow me to work evenings only, preferably no weekends so that we could be together as a family, and I could be alone...office cleaning.
Even before I ever called about any of the jobs I was whining to my husband about the chemicals that I knew they were cleaning with, but he brought up a few good points. If we ever want to buy a small farm I need to take care of some student loans that are still hanging over my head AND that worrying about the chemicals would probably kill me before the cleaners do. I am sometimes amazed that we are both Pisces, I am everything that a Pisces is and he is the polar opposite! Perhaps that is why we strangely work so well, I only see things through emotions, he is all logic. Anyway, he had a point...sometimes you just need to do what you have to do to get to the place you want to be. Where I want to be is on a small piece of land so we can raise a few animals and have a huge garden, cut out the grocery store as much as possible and consume mostly local foods, have more money for homeschooling activities, and eventually get a certification in traditional foods (I would love to turn my passion for traditional foods into a career). All of these things can be more easily attained with a little bit more money added to our monthly budget.
He came home this morning to watch the kids while I went for an interview. When I came home and told him that I might start training on Friday evening he said that as a celebration gift he would buy me a box of masks and latex gloves. What a guy!
Friday, May 11, 2012
Probiotic Potato Salad
I have been making this potato salad since I have been making kefir and it is one of my families favorites! With 6 people it is difficult to come up with something that everyone likes.
3 pounds organic all -purpose potatoes, not peeled
1/2 cup of mayonnaise (I use lacto-fermented when I have it on hand)
1/2 cup of raw milk kefir
2 Tbsp of raw apple cider vinegar
1/2 of a yellow onion, finely chopped
1 tsp of sugar
1 tsp of salt
1/4 tsp of black pepper
2 large stalks of celery, thinly sliced
1 large carrot, shredded
In a large sauce pan cover potatoes with water and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat, cover and simmer until tender, about 25 minutes. Drain. When cool enough to handle, peel and cut potatoes into 1/2 inch cubes.
In a large bowl, whisk together mayonnaise and milk kefir until blended, then add apple cider vinegar and whisk until smooth. Stir in the remaining ingredients. Then add the potatoes and toss to cover with the dressing. Refrigerate and serve cold.
3 pounds organic all -purpose potatoes, not peeled
1/2 cup of mayonnaise (I use lacto-fermented when I have it on hand)
1/2 cup of raw milk kefir
2 Tbsp of raw apple cider vinegar
1/2 of a yellow onion, finely chopped
1 tsp of sugar
1 tsp of salt
1/4 tsp of black pepper
2 large stalks of celery, thinly sliced
1 large carrot, shredded
In a large sauce pan cover potatoes with water and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat, cover and simmer until tender, about 25 minutes. Drain. When cool enough to handle, peel and cut potatoes into 1/2 inch cubes.
In a large bowl, whisk together mayonnaise and milk kefir until blended, then add apple cider vinegar and whisk until smooth. Stir in the remaining ingredients. Then add the potatoes and toss to cover with the dressing. Refrigerate and serve cold.
Play Farm
While I would love to have a small hobby farm to raise a few chickens, a cow, and perhaps a pig or two, that just is not in the cards for us right. What we do have is my husband's job as a manager at a local feed mill and his great contacts with many local, organic farmers. We are at a farm at least one day each week to pick up our milk and every few weeks we go with my husband when he goes to visit a few of his customers. The farmers are always very gracious about letting the kids explore the animals. They get to feed, ride, gather...it is awesome!
At home I have noticed that playing farm has been the game of choice over the past few weeks. Just this morning while sitting out back sipping my coffee I looked over to see Taj and Peylyn at the water table "milking the cow." I couldn't stop laughing, Taj was letting out a little water from the top while Peylyn was catching it in a bucket from underneath.
The other week our neighbor gifted them a pack of chalk eggs for the first day of spring. For weeks my kids would not draw with them, they hid them in the grass and would call out that it was time to gather the eggs. Peylyn would get a bucket and run to find the eggs for us.
Perhaps one day my kids will get to milk their own cow, but for now I feel very blessed with what we do have.
At home I have noticed that playing farm has been the game of choice over the past few weeks. Just this morning while sitting out back sipping my coffee I looked over to see Taj and Peylyn at the water table "milking the cow." I couldn't stop laughing, Taj was letting out a little water from the top while Peylyn was catching it in a bucket from underneath.
The other week our neighbor gifted them a pack of chalk eggs for the first day of spring. For weeks my kids would not draw with them, they hid them in the grass and would call out that it was time to gather the eggs. Peylyn would get a bucket and run to find the eggs for us.
Perhaps one day my kids will get to milk their own cow, but for now I feel very blessed with what we do have.
Soaked Crockpot Granola
I walked into
a very clean kitchen this morning and right away I felt inspired to do something so I got busy with
starting a fresh batch of kombucha, a half gallon of raw milk yogurt, half gallon of raw milk kefir, 2 loaves of sourdough bread, and I even went on to make a crockpot of granola.
I haven't made this for a while because the last time I tried a soaked granola it was an epic failure! I followed someones instructions to first soak in water and whey, then add the other ingredients and dehydrate everything. Well, my family would not go near it because quite honestly it looked like dried vomit. This is my first attempt at an idea that I had with just minimally soaking it first and I think it turned out quite well considering the limited ingredients in my pantry. Perhaps this soaking method is not quite as thorough for breaking down the phytic acid but I have to believe that it is better than not soaking at all.
5 cups of organic rolled oats
1/4 cup organic flax seed
1/4 cup organic coconut oil
1/4 cup raw honey
1 cup whey
1 cup raisins
Put 5 cups of rolled oats into the crockpot (crockpot is not turned on) and 1 cup of whey, mix well to make sure that all of the oats are wet and let sit for about 8 hours. Then melt the coconut oil and then stir in the honey, once blended pour over the oats and stir to ensure that they are well blended. Turn on crockpot to high and use a chopstick or wooden spoon to leave a vent on the lid. Stir often so that the oats do not burn. Cook for 3 - 4 hours or until the oats are golden brown, then stir in 1 cup of raisins. Pour into a glass container with an airtight lid. Enjoy with milk or over yogurt or ice cream.
I haven't made this for a while because the last time I tried a soaked granola it was an epic failure! I followed someones instructions to first soak in water and whey, then add the other ingredients and dehydrate everything. Well, my family would not go near it because quite honestly it looked like dried vomit. This is my first attempt at an idea that I had with just minimally soaking it first and I think it turned out quite well considering the limited ingredients in my pantry. Perhaps this soaking method is not quite as thorough for breaking down the phytic acid but I have to believe that it is better than not soaking at all.
5 cups of organic rolled oats
1/4 cup organic flax seed
1/4 cup organic coconut oil
1/4 cup raw honey
1 cup whey
1 cup raisins
Put 5 cups of rolled oats into the crockpot (crockpot is not turned on) and 1 cup of whey, mix well to make sure that all of the oats are wet and let sit for about 8 hours. Then melt the coconut oil and then stir in the honey, once blended pour over the oats and stir to ensure that they are well blended. Turn on crockpot to high and use a chopstick or wooden spoon to leave a vent on the lid. Stir often so that the oats do not burn. Cook for 3 - 4 hours or until the oats are golden brown, then stir in 1 cup of raisins. Pour into a glass container with an airtight lid. Enjoy with milk or over yogurt or ice cream.
Thursday, May 10, 2012
Spring Traditions
Last year on a lazy spring day we were Playing in the dandelions and I was telling my kids how you can eat them. We decided to look up a recipe and stumbled upon one for dandelion cookies from 5 Orange Potatoes. The cookies were so good that we went on to make the syrup from this site also.
All winter long they have been talking about those wonderful cookies, so of course, as soon as the dandelions started popping up they wanted more cookie. We made our 3rd batch for the season today! After filling a bowl with the tops of the dandelions we got to work pulling the florets off. We are still following the 5 Orange Potatoes recipe but these days I pretty much always use coconut oil in place of butter for all of my baking so we did change that.
Dandelions add such beauty and color to the yards! I hate looking across the street at the well trimmed, chemical lawns that are so devoid of happiness. I can't ever imagine my kids growing up in a yard without pretty yellow weeds that soon turn into little puff balls that send your wishes up to the sky.
All winter long they have been talking about those wonderful cookies, so of course, as soon as the dandelions started popping up they wanted more cookie. We made our 3rd batch for the season today! After filling a bowl with the tops of the dandelions we got to work pulling the florets off. We are still following the 5 Orange Potatoes recipe but these days I pretty much always use coconut oil in place of butter for all of my baking so we did change that.
Dandelions add such beauty and color to the yards! I hate looking across the street at the well trimmed, chemical lawns that are so devoid of happiness. I can't ever imagine my kids growing up in a yard without pretty yellow weeds that soon turn into little puff balls that send your wishes up to the sky.
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