There are many different buzz words that explain this phenomenon: flexitarian, semi-vegetarian, and week day vegetarian; where you only eat meat on the week-ends. But anyway you want to say it, you are cutting back on the meat you eat. Some do it for health reasons, animal rights, the environment or all of the above!

Removing high fructose corn syrup and preservatives from our table.
This is my on-line recipe book with my adventures into finding healthy food for my family to eat....
Trying to cook more from scratch with less prepared foods.

Sunday, February 28, 2010

Sweetened Condensed Milk

 1 cup  dry milk
2/3 cup sugar 
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/3 cup boiling water
    Combine all of the ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth and thickened. The sugar should completely dissolve. Refrigerate in a tightly covered jar until ready to use.
    Yield: 1 ¼ cups

    Thursday, February 25, 2010

    Oven "Fried" coating

    I made my own coating for meat and potatoes to oven fry. 

    Ingredients:
    1/2 cup of flour
    1/2 cup of panko (Japanese style breadcrumbs) 
    1 tsp. garlic powder
    1 tsp. pepper
    1 tsp. paprika
    1 tsp. onion powder
    1 tsp. sugar

    Mix together.  Dip your meat or vegetables into egg or milk.  Coat with the coating bake at 450 degrees for one hour for meat and 45 minutes for vegetables.

    I made this the other night with boneless chicken breast.  Earlier in the week it was potatoes - minus the panko.  No leftovers at all...........

    Wednesday, February 17, 2010

    Snow icecream

                     1/4 to 1/2 cup whole milk                                  
    1-2 tablespoons sugar (or to taste)
                     1/2 teaspoon vanilla                                          
                 1 1/2 cups (more or less) clean, fresh snow



    mix the milk, sugar and vanilla together.
    Pour the sweetened milk over the snow, stirring to combine.  Mix as thick as you like.  More sweetened milk the thinner the ice cream will be.







  • 3 Pour the sweetened milk over the snow, stirring to combine











  • 3 Pour the sweetened milk over the snow, stirring to combine











  • 3 Pour the sweetened milk over the snow, stirring to combine







  • Tuesday, February 16, 2010

    Jerk Seasoning

    Ingredients

    * 2 tablespoons onion powder
    * 1 tablespoons sugar
    * 1 tablespoon salt
    * 1 tablespoon ground thyme
    *  1 tablespoon ginger
    * 1 1/2 teaspoons ground all-spice
    * 3/4 teaspoon cinnamon
    * 3/4 teaspoon ground red pepper

    Mix together place in jar.  Can be used as a rub or just to add some favor to your dishes.

    The girls don't like anything too spicy so I just use it to spice up some things. Tech on the other hand likes it (he says it ok... but he isn't picky!) and adds extra on top! Most of my guys friends (Tech too!)  like things burn your mouth make you shoot fire when you exhale HOT said this wasn't very hot.  So if you like it very hot add more red pepper or add some Scotch bonnet or habanero peppers, crushed. When using on meat or to spice up veggies.

    Monday, February 15, 2010

    Ketchup recipe

    Easy Ketchup 
    1 cn 5 1/2 oz tomato paste
    1/4 c Packed brown sugar
    1/4 c Water
    2 tb Cider vinegar
    1/4 ts Dry mustard
    1/4 ts Cinnamon
    1 pn Cloves
    1 pn Allspice

    In jar or bowl, combine all ingredients, mix well.
    Cover and store in refrigerator for up to 1 month.
    Makes about 1 cup.

    Per 1 tbsp serving 22 cal, 0 g fat, 9 mg sodium, 5 g carbohydrate Compare commercial ketchup 170 mg sodium per tbsp.

    Broccoli & Cheddar Cheese Nuggets

    Ingredients:

    1 16-oz Package frozen broccoli, cooked, drained, and chopped

    1 cup Seasoned bread crumbs

    1 ½ cups Shredded cheddar cheese (please use real cheese and not a "processed cheese food" product.)

    3 Large eggs or 5 egg yolks


    Directions:

    Preheat oven to 375
    1. Lightly coat a baking sheet with olive oil and set aside.
    2. Combine all remaining ingredients and mix well.

    *Add seasonings if you like - garlic powder, pepper, extra basil & oregano for example. Add a fruit or veggie puree to substitute for the eggs if desired.

    3. Shape mixture into nuggets or fun shapes such as squares or whatever..and place on baking tray. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, turn nuggets over after 15 minutes. Serve warm.

    I found this on a baby finger food site Wholesome Baby Foods looking for ideas for the Crawling Machine casue he really wants what we are eating. He is 10 months old. But Miss Animal Rights had a broccoli and cheese puffs at a wedding and really like them. We have been trying to find something like them ever since. we are going to try these!

    Monday, February 8, 2010

    Yumm.... Baked Fruits

    I have a sweet tooth lately. Guess it cabin fever with the foot of snow we just got and the cold blast. My wishing for warmer weather or just to brighten my day.

    Baked Bananas 

    2 bananas
    1 tablespoon maple syrup
    1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
    1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

    Preheat oven to 350°F.

    Peel bananas, slice lengthwise and arrange in a single layer in a small baking dish. Mix together the maple syrup, vanilla extract and cinnamon.  Drizzle liquid over the bananas.

    Bake until tender.  15 to 20 minutes.

    Baked Apples Halves



    1 soft tart (cooking) apple
    2 t water
    2 T maple syrup
    1 t butter



    Put water in the bottom of a greased baking dish. Put the apple halves in the dish, cut side up. Pour   maple syrup apples and dot with the butter.
    Bake the apple halves in a 350F/180C oven for 4-5 minutes. Baste the apply halves once or twice during this time. Serve hot.