The Snack That Haunted Me

**This has been sitting in the vault since July for some reason...




On my very first trip to Puerto Rico as a young girl there were so many new experiences.  A new culture, new places, new relatives, and of course, new food. 

I remember going to visit some of our relatives who lived up high on a mountain side.  Complete with a fence part of the way down so that if you fell you couldn't roll too far.  Or at least that's why I thought it was there.

I remember our hostess, who I think was a cousin of some sort, being very pretty and she served us the most incredible snack.  Which made me like her even more. *grin*

It made such an impression on me that I have wished I could have more of it ever since then.  It truly has crossed my mind several times a year for the past 20+ years.  What was in that snack?

One day recently I was trying to decide what to have for a snack for the kids and I thought of that elusive snack again.  If only I could replicate that snack, then they would rise up and call me blessed.

I thought about it and decided to go ahead and just use some ingredients that I thought looked like it.  Crackers, tuna fish, and salsa. 

It did not sound very appealing to me.  Not to mention the fact that I am very picky about tuna fish. I was hesitant to take my first bite.  But when I did a party took place in my mouth.  That was it!  Or at least it was close enough for my memory's sake. 

So simple and it had been right in my cupboard for years.

This really is a yummy snack and it could even pass as part of a light lunch.  I just can't believe that it took me this long to figure it out. 

My Winter - A Poem and A Recipe

Good Winter

Much Snow

Happy Faces

Warm Hearts

Paula Deen

Snow Cream

Oh My

Love Handles

Because I'm all about sharing the love...handles, this is the recipe from the Food Network website (courtesy of Ms. Paula Deen) that we've been using to make snow cream this year. It's super easy.

You will need:

• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1 can sweetened, condensed milk (14 oz.)
• 8 cups of snow

Put the snow in a large bowl and add the vanilla extract and condensed milk. Mix until all the ingredients are combined. Enjoy!

I've used more snow than it calls for so it isn't quite so sweet and because I've found the recipe doesn't yield the portions that my crew consumes. I've also frozen some and made milkshakes with it. Yummy!

Why Organic Produce

I've talked a little bit about how we've made some big changes in the way we eat over the last two years. One of those changes has included adding more organic foods to our diet.

I have found it very interesting lately to see articles reporting that organic produce are no healthier than conventional produce. The problem that I have with this study is that it totally failed to examine the primary factor that motivates me to buy certain organic produce.

Pesticides. *insert evil organ music here* Those nasty chemicals that can be linked to immune and nervous system problems among other things.

The Environmental Working Group has put together a lovely list called the Dirty Dozen. Go here to take a look at the list which also includes the Clean 15. The Dirty Dozen list includes the produce that were found to be the most contaminated with pesticides.

I use both lists to help me base my decisions on what produce to buy organically on a limited budget. Just thought I'd share what I use to help make those decisions.

By the way, the list can be easily printed and kept in your purse or coupon holder and they even have an application to download to your iPhone or iPod Touch.

One of My Favorite Kitchen Gadgets

With all the onions we've been cutting up from our garden to dehydrate, I've fallen more and more in love with my stainless steel "soap" bar. The bar helps remove any bad odors on your hands from the kitchen. You wash your hands using cold water, soap, and the bar and voila - any lingering odors will be quickly removed.

Onions. Garlic. You name it. I am amazed almost every time I use it. It's almost a game for me to check my hands and see if any smell remains. I know, I know. I have serious entertainment issues...

I originally bought mine about 7 years ago through a fundraiser so I don't know the exact type I have, but this one is pretty similar. I think I purchased mine for around $5-7. It's gone from accessory to neccesity for me.

Just wanted to share something that Works For Me!

Easy Eclair Dessert

Richie had one request for Father's Day - Easy Eclair Dessert. So what's a girl to do but honor the father of her children and satisfy his tummy and tastebuds.

I got this recipe from a friend several years ago and it is a big favorite in our house. It's very simple and oh-so-yummy! It makes a good sized batch, so it's great for potlucks. It also needs to set, so plan ahead. It won't win any awards for healthiest treat, but it will garner many smiles from your family.

Easy Eclair Dessert

Ingredients:

• 2 small boxes Instant Vanilla Pudding (French Vanilla also works)
• 1 large tub Cool Whip
• 3 cups of milk
• 1 box of graham crackers
• 1 can chocolate frosting

Directions:

1. Mix the instant pudding and milk together in a large mixing bowl.


2. Fold in the Cool Whip with the pudding mixture.


3. Line the bottom of a 9 x 13 pan with whole graham crackers.


4. Alternate layers of graham crackers and the pudding mixture until you have two of each.


5. Ice a final layer of graham crackers with the chocolate frosting for the top. (Icing the graham crackers individually before laying them on the pudding mixture works well for me. Then I just fill in any spaces with icing.)


6. Let set overnight.

I have put it in the freezer to help it set more quickly, but it really tastes best if it has been allowed to set for awhile in the fridge.

So go ahead, give it a try. You'll be glad you did!

No More Tears

I know, sounds like a Johnson and Johnson ad. Or a sappy Hallmark movie.

Yet I speak of a silent, round enemy. One that sends me into tears almost immediately when I see it...the onion.



I recently discovered a trick that has eliminated the not so joyful task of cutting onions. I had never heard of it, but it has saved me a lot of pain. The burning, wanna rub my eyes out kind of pain.

Simply keep your onions in your refrigerator. That's it. Honest. No more tears.

I don't keep mine in the refrigerator, but I try to plan ahead and stick one in when I know I will need it in a day or two. I have also read that you can place an onion in your freezer for 5-10 minutes before cutting and you'll yield the same effect, but I personally have not tried this method.

Not crying over split onions totally works for me!


Check out more Works for me Wednesdays at We Are THAT Family...

It All Began With Butter

That's right. Butter.

Butter and baby steps.

I used to be so overwhlemed by all the information on healthy and natural eating. Throwing up my hands and wondering how I could ever do it all. There was just no way. It would be too time consuming. Too much money. No one will like the food. Yada, yada, yada.

Then, revelation slapped it's firm hand on my face.

Do what you can and take one step at a time. Because any step forward is a step in the right direction. Earth shattering, I know - you can take a minute to catch your breath if you need to...

I've had a lot of fun reflecting on the changes that we made in the last year. Because suddenly, my baby steps have turned into a huge leap over the course of one year. I certainly have not "arrived", but there has been significant change. And when you can say that in a positive manner, it just feels good.

And it all began with butter. My first step in changing my family's eating habits was switching from using margarine to using butter. And the rest, my friends, is history. So, since I can't figure out how to post a celebratory dance for you, I'll just post my list of some steps we took to eating healthier.

• Butter - As I stated before, our journey began with butter replacing margarine. And this was probably the change that the family had the biggest grumbles about...because it was more difficult to spread. I'd like to be able to get organic butter.
  
  
• Cold Cereal - We cut out cold cereal. It was a big deal because we were big cereal eaters. We do keep some cheerios on hand and I'll pick up organic cereal on sale every once in a while for when we are really in a rush on hand. And I've really come to enjoy making a yummy and nourishing breakfast for the boys every morning.
  
  
• Water - Water, water, and more water. We purchased a Pur brand water pitcher and we are all doing so much better about drinking water. I am so thankful to have the chlorine taste gone from our water.
  
  
• Raw Milk - We were very blessed to be introduced to a source for organic raw milk.
  
  
• Whole Wheat Flour - The flour of choice in our cabinets. When it comes down to it, white flour just really doesn't have any nutritional value.
  
  
• High Fructose Corn Syrup - I am trying to avoid products with high fructose corn syrup like the plague. I just checked yesterday and I think I found 3 things in my kitchen that have it. I threw away one, so two more to go...if I didn't miss something.
  
  
• Whole Grains - I've tried to add more grains to our diet. Quinoa, barley, polenta. This is an area that I could improve a lot in.
  
  
• Snacks - Snack food is not something I always had tons of, but I've managed to get a lot of it out of the house. I'm making snacks instead. Again, I could/should be making more. I do buy organic snack bars, etc. when I find them on clearance for quick snack fixes. Better planning would do me wonders in this area.
  
  
• Brown Rice - Out went the white rice, and brown rice now reigns supreme in our house.
  
  
• Garden Fresh - We grew our garden with moderate success this past summer. It has been so joyful to make foods this winter with fruit and veggies that we put away ourselves.
  
  
• Baking Powder - I tossed our baking powder and made sure I bought a brand that did not contain aluminum.
  
  
• Organic Eggs - When I found my raw milk source, I also found a free range egg source. Yummy! The difference in taste is amazing. I need to find a more reliable source for these though.
  
  
• Sandwich Meat - I no longer purchase cold cuts. They are not only expensive, but not very healthy either. This was easier to do in conjunction with my pregnancy since I couldn't eat them during this time anyway.

So, that's what I could think of off the top of my head. I am so excited looking at this list and seeing the progress that we've made. My cabinets and refrigerator look so different now. Much more whole foods and a lot less processed foods. 'Cause I mean really, who can give up Kraft macaroni and cheese? *grin*

One of the great things about taking baby steps is that it all feels doable. And it is much more likely to become habit. If I had tried all this at one time, I would have given up. I am really excited to continue making changes this next year and crossing things off my list. We really can see the health benefits in our family.

Buttermilk Substitute

Perhaps you have known this quick and easy tip for creating a buttermilk substitute for quite some time. Perhaps you have known forever. Born in the womb with superior culinary knowledge.

Not me. So in the off chance that there could be some poor, uninformed soul like myself stumbling around her kitchen avoiding recipes with buttermilk because it's just not something you keep stocked in your refrigerator, but there's a certain recipe that keeps calling your name, here's what you do:

• Pour one Tbsp. of vinegar into one cup of milk. Stir and let it sit for a couple of minutes.

Congratulations, you are now the proud parent of buttermilk. Pretty painless, huh?

I personally found that putting just under a tablespoon worked better. Trust me, I taste tested and milk-flavored vinegar is not good. But go ahead if you want, just don't blame me for the singed nose hairs.

And I haven't priced store bought buttermilk, but I'm thinking that this might be a little bit cheaper too.

Now if you'll excuse me, I have a cake that is calling my name...

The Kefir Project

So, 2008 saw major changes in the way our family ate and I plan to continue the trend in 2009. My first project of 2009 is adding kefir to our diet. Something that I did not know existed until a couple months ago. Something that makes me feel a bit hippie, granola, health nut-ish. Maybe a little science geek-ish, too. I am so multi-faceted. A regular Renaissance woman, I tell ya.

Kefir is a fermented milk drink. Yes, as in bacteria and yeast - think probiotics. It is similar to yogurt, but not as thick. It has a somewhat tangy taste. Some people like it straight, but I prefer it in smoothies. But then again, I am a closet smoothie addict. Pray for me.

I also think it's good when it sits in juice overnight. The only other way I've used it is in a soaked oatmeal recipe, but there are lots of ways to consume it. And it is quite easy to make. Okay, ridiculously easy. Not to mention that is really cheap to make compared to buying it. (Thanks for sharing the kefir grains, Mom!)

As odd as kefir may sound, it has numerous health benefits that I just can't ignore. I feel like my body can tell when I haven't consumed any within 2 days. One thing I have noticed is that Abigail does not spit up when I drink it regularly. She had symptoms of acid reflux around 1 month of age. When we switched to drinking raw milk her symptoms improved and now when I include kefir in my diet the symptoms appear to be non-existent. I thank God for bringing these resources into our path.

So many people have put together information on kefir that instead of reinventing the wheel, I'm just going to include some links if you would like to read more about it. (Yes, you may call it unmotivated or underachieving, but I'm going to call it resourceful.) And if you live close by, I will be more than happy to make you a smoothie to try...really, twist my arm. Please.

• I first heard about kefir at Passionate Homemaking here.
• A site dedicated to kefir.
• Some articles on its benefits can be found here, here, and here.

Ham-tastic Holiday Meal

Yeah. That's all I got tonight. Ham-tastic. I can't even try to come up with something better. I am exhausted.

We had some of Richie's family over tonight for a pre-Thanksgiving meal. It was a good visit and yummy meal. It was also a pretty easy meal.

I'm like that. All about the yummy and easy.

I can enjoy a meal a whole lot better knowing that 6 hours of blood, sweat, and tears is not being consumed in 20 minutes.

Sweet Orange-Glazed Ham has become a holiday staple around my house. I found the recipe on Southern Living's website a year or two ago and have made it a few times. The glaze has three ingredients (brown sugar, orange juice, and prepared mustard) and it is so quick. And oh. so. yummy.

Not to mention that it just sounds impressive and time consuming. I like that part also.

And while I would love to share a picture of it, the above picture will have to do. My camera still doesn't talk to my computer, sorry. So, we will pretend and substitute this other ham from Southern Living's website for it.

I know, I feel cheated, too.

Something else I tried this time was serving baked sweet potatoes with a brown sugar and cinnamon mixture to put on top. It even won over my brother-in-law and his wife who were sweet potato haters. I love victory...

And the best part is I get to freeze the leftover ham bone for a yummy soup I'll make some time next month. Mmmmmm.

P.S. I am also too tired to look up the "o" and "e" rule for potatos/potatoes, so you're going to have to deal with it. Just call me confused. Or Dan. I'll answer to both.

P.S.S. Did I mention that the ham is yummy?

P.S.S.S. Sorry, I just wanted to type P.S.S.S. Did you ever leave numerous P.S.'s on notes when you were in school?

Homemade Baby Food

Toward the end of my pregnancy with Abigail, I became very interested in making my own baby food. This way I could know what was going into her little body and I hoped that it would be cheaper.

Hands down, it is ridiculously cheaper. Not only that, it is soooooo easy! I can't believe I didn't do it with the boys.

A month or two before she was born, I bought a cookbook called La Petit Appetit by Lisa Barnes from a local discount bookfair. Can I just tell you how much our family has enjoyed this cookbook! We have not made a recipe that we didn't like so far. I never thought I would see a two year old scarf down eggplant, but I have now and he is one of mine. :)

That being said, this book is not necessary for making baby food. I had a severe "duh" moment when I read the portions regarding baby food. Basically, take what you are serving for dinner and either puree it or you can even mash it with a fork if it's soft. (You may have to add a small amount of water to make it a thinner consistency.)

It doesn't get much easier than that. And Abigail will now be exposed to so many more types of food that is not readily available in the store bought brands. Not only that, it's fresh and not processed. Nutritious, cheap, and easy - that's what I'm talking about! ;)

Even though Abigail is solely nursing right now, I still took advantage of the summer's garden offerings to make homemade (which happens to also mean organic in our house) baby food to store. I pureed a small variety of fruits and froze them to use when she is ready.

I have also been keeping my eye out at the grocery store for super cheap veggies and fruits. I recently got organic pears and sweet potatoes for a great price.

As far as storing it, you can take whatever you have made that won't be eaten in a timely manner and put it into ice cube trays to freeze. Then take the cubes, put them in a bag together and back in the freezer. Now you have baby sized portions ready to be thawed and eaten. I did run across these special cubes yesterday specifically for baby food storage in the freezer and think they're pretty cool.

Another way to make and store baby food is through dehydration. Dehydrate your fruits or veggies and store in airtight containers. Then when it's time to feed baby, pulverize the dehydrated food into a powder. Rehydrate the food with water to your desired consistency and serve.

I plan to follow our doctor's recommendations regarding foods (such as introducing one new food at a time), but there are so many more foods she can enjoy now than if we were using the jars and I know what is in the food she is eating. As she gets older, she can enjoy our whole meals and not just sides. I am so excited to be doing this with her!

Want more frugal ideas? Check out Frugal Friday at Biblical Womanhood.