I will post at least one recipe each week to this page. I will also use this page to talk about nutrition, meal planning and culinary arts in general. I think food deserves its own page.
Dinner tonight: (ultra-modified) Mama Shari's Chicken Tortellini Soup. Yes, a compromise from our traditional diet. But not too tainted by modern methods.... especially considering the little time & energy I have. One point for economy, one point for ease, two points for creativity. Points for taste? We'll get back to you on that... with a recipe if it turns out good enough.
Sept 12th- (Ultra-Modified) Mama Shari's Chicken Tortellini Soup 1 medium onion, chopped butter (almost 1 stick by the time I added all the veggies) 2 Lg cans chicken 2-3 cups veggies on hand (we used mostly fresh/frozen tonight; peppers are some of my favorite for this recipe) 2-4 cups chicken broth 2-4 cups milk (we used pasteurized milk since it was going to boil anyway) fresh or frozen tortellini, cooked (as instructed on label- slightly underdone) 1-2 cups shredded cheese 1/2-1 cup heavy/whipping cream 1-2 Tbsp Italian seasoning 1/2 tsp garlic powder salt and pepper to taste
Saute onions and other raw veggies in butter until tender. Add any already cooked veggies, chicken broth, chicken, Italian seasoning, garlic, and milk. Simmer for 20-30 min. (or however long you need to let it be-- the longer the simmer, the lower your heat should be). Add tortellini, cheese, cream, and salt/pepper. Let simmer 5-10 min. before serving. Tastes great with sour cream, creme fraiche (as we like to use when we have it), or extra cheese. I have to be honest-- tonight we added some of the creamy chicken soup mix from Isagenix to hopefully add some good nutrients (like protein & enzymes) and to see how the soup mix tastes with it. If it is not very yummy, I'll let you know. Otherwise, you can assume we still like it with the soup mix in it. Isamommies out there are welcome to use & distribute this recipe if you like.
Here is the "DIRTY DOZEN" list (plus 2): 1. APPLES 2. CELERY 3. STRAWBERRIES 4. PEACHES 5. SPINACH 6. NECTARINES (Imported) 7. GRAPES (Imported) & raisins 8. SWEET BELL PEPPERS 9. POTATOES 10. BLUEBERRIES 11. LETTUCE 12. KALE 13. COLLARD GREENS 14. CACAO (cocoa) BEANS/CHOCOLATE
"DIRTY DOZEN" means these commercial/conventional crops are tested to typically have the highest levels of chemical pesticide and herbicide residue. It is highly recommended to buy these organic crops whenever possible. Below is the list of the "CLEAN 15", which are the conventional crops found to have the very least amount of chemical residues. They are considered the safest non-organic crops to consume. (Although, you want to wash all your produce, even the organic stuff. It just makes more culinary sense.)
RECIPE OF THE WEEK: CREAM CHEESE & WHEY I got this recipe from the Nourishing Traditions cookbook (by Sally Fallon). I think it is awesome that something so easy can yield such delicious and healthy food. Now, I am listing it the way I think it is easiest to do. There are a few ways to do it, but I have found this is the easiest and most tasty. 1 pint plain yogurt (use one with live cultures and no "funky" ingredients or additives-- pretty much just milk and culture; I prefer to use whole milk yogurt because it is the healthiest and yummiest) Fine cheese cloth (you can use a sturdy paper towel if you don't have cheese cloth) Kitchen twine or string Strainer Glass bowl and/or wide mouth mason jar
Directions: Poor yogurt into cheese cloth lined strainer over bowl or jar. The liquid that drains through the cloth and strainer is the whey (don't throw it away-- it has very healthful enzymes & other nutrients; save for salad dressings or homemade mayo; stays good in fridge for about 6 mos.) After a couple hours, tie the twine (or string) around the cloth to close it (don't squeeze it-- just tie firmly) and hang it from a cupboard handle (or other elevated thing) with the string and allow the yogurt to continue to drain into the bowl or jar. When the cloth/yogurt stops dripping, it is ready to be used or put away in the fridge. Keep the whey covered in a glass jar in the fridge. The "stuff" left in the cloth is the cream cheese-- simply peel away the cloth and put in a storage container in the fridge. Use as you would commercial cream cheese (do not microwave-- it kills the good stuff in it). This cream cheese is actually a health food, unlike commercial cream cheese.
I will post a recipe for homemade yoghurt later. It is fairly easy to make and is very healthy. Always remember that full fat foods are best! (Because fats don't make you fat- carbs do!)
Dinner tonight: (ultra-modified) Mama Shari's Chicken Tortellini Soup. Yes, a compromise from our traditional diet. But not too tainted by modern methods.... especially considering the little time & energy I have. One point for economy, one point for ease, two points for creativity. Points for taste? We'll get back to you on that... with a recipe if it turns out good enough.
ReplyDeleteSept 12th- (Ultra-Modified) Mama Shari's Chicken Tortellini Soup
ReplyDelete1 medium onion, chopped
butter (almost 1 stick by the time I added all the veggies)
2 Lg cans chicken
2-3 cups veggies on hand (we used mostly fresh/frozen tonight; peppers are some of my favorite for this recipe)
2-4 cups chicken broth
2-4 cups milk (we used pasteurized milk since it was going to boil anyway)
fresh or frozen tortellini, cooked (as instructed on label- slightly underdone)
1-2 cups shredded cheese
1/2-1 cup heavy/whipping cream
1-2 Tbsp Italian seasoning
1/2 tsp garlic powder
salt and pepper to taste
Saute onions and other raw veggies in butter until tender. Add any already cooked veggies, chicken broth, chicken, Italian seasoning, garlic, and milk. Simmer for 20-30 min. (or however long you need to let it be-- the longer the simmer, the lower your heat should be). Add tortellini, cheese, cream, and salt/pepper. Let simmer 5-10 min. before serving. Tastes great with sour cream, creme fraiche (as we like to use when we have it), or extra cheese. I have to be honest-- tonight we added some of the creamy chicken soup mix from Isagenix to hopefully add some good nutrients (like protein & enzymes) and to see how the soup mix tastes with it. If it is not very yummy, I'll let you know. Otherwise, you can assume we still like it with the soup mix in it. Isamommies out there are welcome to use & distribute this recipe if you like.
Here is the "DIRTY DOZEN" list (plus 2):
ReplyDelete1. APPLES
2. CELERY
3. STRAWBERRIES
4. PEACHES
5. SPINACH
6. NECTARINES (Imported)
7. GRAPES (Imported) & raisins
8. SWEET BELL PEPPERS
9. POTATOES
10. BLUEBERRIES
11. LETTUCE
12. KALE
13. COLLARD GREENS
14. CACAO (cocoa) BEANS/CHOCOLATE
"DIRTY DOZEN" means these commercial/conventional crops are tested to typically have the highest levels of chemical pesticide and herbicide residue. It is highly recommended to buy these organic crops whenever possible. Below is the list of the "CLEAN 15", which are the conventional crops found to have the very least amount of chemical residues. They are considered the safest non-organic crops to consume. (Although, you want to wash all your produce, even the organic stuff. It just makes more culinary sense.)
"CLEAN 15":
1. ONIONS
2. SWEET CORN
3. PINEAPPLE
4. AVOCADO
5. ASPARAGUS
6. SWEET PEAS
7. MANGO
8. EGGPLANT
9. CANTALOUPE (domestic)
10. KIWI
11. CABBAGE
12. WATERMELON
13. SWEET POTATOES
14. GRAPEFRUIT
15. MUSHROOMS
RECIPE OF THE WEEK:
ReplyDeleteCREAM CHEESE & WHEY
I got this recipe from the Nourishing Traditions cookbook (by Sally Fallon). I think it is awesome that something so easy can yield such delicious and healthy food. Now, I am listing it the way I think it is easiest to do. There are a few ways to do it, but I have found this is the easiest and most tasty.
1 pint plain yogurt (use one with live cultures and no "funky" ingredients or additives-- pretty much just milk and culture; I prefer to use whole milk yogurt because it is the healthiest and yummiest)
Fine cheese cloth (you can use a sturdy paper towel if you don't have cheese cloth)
Kitchen twine or string
Strainer
Glass bowl and/or wide mouth mason jar
Directions:
Poor yogurt into cheese cloth lined strainer over bowl or jar. The liquid that drains through the cloth and strainer is the whey (don't throw it away-- it has very healthful enzymes & other nutrients; save for salad dressings or homemade mayo; stays good in fridge for about 6 mos.) After a couple hours, tie the twine (or string) around the cloth to close it (don't squeeze it-- just tie firmly) and hang it from a cupboard handle (or other elevated thing) with the string and allow the yogurt to continue to drain into the bowl or jar. When the cloth/yogurt stops dripping, it is ready to be used or put away in the fridge. Keep the whey covered in a glass jar in the fridge. The "stuff" left in the cloth is the cream cheese-- simply peel away the cloth and put in a storage container in the fridge. Use as you would commercial cream cheese (do not microwave-- it kills the good stuff in it). This cream cheese is actually a health food, unlike commercial cream cheese.
I will post a recipe for homemade yoghurt later. It is fairly easy to make and is very healthy. Always remember that full fat foods are best! (Because fats don't make you fat- carbs do!)