All From A Little Warm Up ..

Before pic .. by Mrs Mac

So far this winter, we had our snowiest weather in November and December.  January was a mix of freezes and thaws.  February is halfway over and has been warmer than normal .. a mix of rain, gloominess .. and a few days of sunshine.  It's the sunshiny days that get me going .. soaking up a little natural vitamin D, listening to the birds chirp, seeing the colorful blue sky and mountains .. is a nice reprieve from winter's doldrums.

Spring cleaning is on my list of things to do starting in the kitchen.  I'm working on one wall space at a time .. ceiling to floor, wiping down walls and cupboards .. all the while emptying out and washing items we don't use too often.  This is a good opportunity to get rid of STUFF.  By the time spring rolls around it will be nice to have this sometimes dreaded chore put to rest.  It's amazing what crud collects in drawers and the pantry floor in between cleanings.  How often do you 'spring' clean?

Dang TV

fresh baked bread and rolls .. pic by Mrs. Mac

We have been TV free for over two years .. saving $1,440 .. and giving us back countless hours of time to devote to renewing .. relearning lost life skills.  Now .. my son-in-law brought over a $10 TV antenna .. to get about eleven 'free' channels.  I'm finding myself getting 'sucked' into the TV vortex from the 'newness' of this old habit .. and must once again break free from it's hold.  I have put down the remote .. and will bake bread today!  Turn on some nice music .. and get to work.  Daylight is burning.  If I can just learn to monitor my viewing .. it will be a nice pastime to sit and knit after all chores are done for the day.  We get quite a few cooking, nature, outdoorsy shows to choose from .. plus local ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX .. etc.  If you're paying too much for cable or satellite TV .. you might want to make a small investment in a 'rabbit-ear antenna' and ditch your monthly bill.   

How To Avoid GMO's

I've done a lot of reading about GMOs .. but am no expert.  Here is an incomplete list of ways to possibly avoid them.  Please leave a comment with ways you avoid the 'buggers' ;)

1. Buy certified USDA organic products (I have much mistrust of the USDA ...)
2. Stay away from ALL processed foods (salad dressings, mayo, crackers, hot dogs .. unless they are certified organic .. and then be skeptical .. it's not that hard to make your own dressings, mayo .. etc.)
3. Buy produce from local farms where you can talk to the farmer about their farming practices.
4. Avoid EVERYTHING with soy products .. again .. unless they are certified organic .. and soy sauce says naturally fermented.  Still ..use soy sauce sparingly.  Soy is hidden in so many things that say 'natural flavorings' .. it's a catch all phrase that the government allows .. I'm allergic to 'natural flavorings'.
5. We now will have a problem with buying organic meat with the government's recent allowance to plant genetically modified alfalfa.  When the animals eat this stuff .. it passes on to us when we, in turn, eat them.
6. Buy only single item foods.  Whole grains, beans, rice .. and be sure it's organic.  

This is just the tip of the ice berg about avoiding GMO foods and makes it nearly impossible to ever eat at a restaurant because most use processed foods to prepare their meals..  Take the time to get educated about this world wide threat.  The more the general public is informed .. and if enough people 'vote' with their food dollars to buy unadulterated whole foods, then the big FRANKENFOOD manufacturers will shrivel up and go away, clean up their act, .. or morph into some other evil entity!   Please leave a comment about how you avoid GMOs.

Thanks.

The Unhealthy Truth (about how our food is making us sick)
Warning to British Government about US practices of GM foods
Seeds Of Deception
Allergykids.com
GMO news at Natural News.com
Organic Consumers Organization

Wake Up America

Are GMO's (genetically modified organisms) .. i.e. altered DNA plants such as soy, corn, beet sugar .. now the alfalfa being fed to farm animals making us sick .. and giving us allergic reactions?  Is there some big cover-up between the USDA and mega corporations .. perhaps payoffs?  I don't want to sound like Chicken Little .. but it's becoming more apparent as time passes that there is a skunk in the hen house .. and the government is turning a blind 'nose'.  I think the Pide Piper is more like it.  A melodic tune has captured the general public and turned them into robot zombies .. eating and consuming junk foods, processed foods, and not noticing the effects until they wake up one day with food allergies, type II diabetes, or a host of other maladies.  There is a big cover-up going on.  Start informing yourselves so you can, in turn, inform your families before it's too late.  Oh wait .. it is too late!  Pandora's Box has been opened and GMO crops are contaminating in mass force.  The sky is falling .. literally!

My sweet grandson Jake .. has a life threatening peanut allergy!

Food for thought:  Why do other nations around the world ban GMO's yet the USA allows them?

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Out And About .. the garden

Backyard compost bin .. November, 2010

Today I needed to empty the overflowing kitchen compost container .. in our garden bin.  I was able to uncover my snow/ice flattened covered tunnel of Swiss chard .. even with the weight pressing down on the plants left to over winter, there are new leaves ready to grow.  It's about the only green thing in the backyard (other than the pines).  I'm hoping in a few weeks to harvest a little for fresh greens.

Chard pic taken prior to snow ... November, 2010

salad/sandwich sprouts are easy to make each week.

This winter I've not purchased but two heads of lettuce from the market.  Instead I'm buying organic green and red cabbage .. it has a much longer storage life .. mine sits covered in a plastic bag and terrycloth towel on top of the freezer in our cold garage .. along with cauliflower, rutabagas and 25 pounds of carrots.  The garage is the perfect cold storage area for winter hearty veggies.  We eat a lot of tangy coleslaw during the cold months.  It's more filling .. and the cabbage doesn't mold or wilt like lettuce; none of it goes to waste. It's our green of choice chopped finely on tacos year round.  For sandwiches we're enjoying the salad sprouts grown on the kitchen counter.

While winter foods are hearty and filling just thinking about our summer garden is making my mouth water!  Eating foods in season .. sure gives a person cravings .. and an appreciation for change.  Do you eat seasonally .. or do you purchase out of season produce?  It's been ages since we had a good fresh tomato .. but I will longingly wait and savor summer's goodness all the more when  the time arrives.

Frugal (read cheap) Green Cleaning & Family Health

Mrs. Mac's Cleaning Arsenal

Since we ditched our anti-bacterial soap/cleaning products several years ago.. the family has had fewer colds and flu .  At one point in my homemaking career .. I tried to eradicate every germ on every surface with an arsenal of highly advertised products .. (liquid soaps .. scrubbing bubbles .. etc.)  Fast forward .. and remove yourself from current society .. just think back on how homes were cleaned a hundred years ago without modern products ... one has only to turn to the kitchen pantry to find alternative (cheap) cleaners.

For windows I use a recycled spray (window cleaner) bottle and fill it with one cup white vinegar with two cups tap water and a small squirt of dish soap (adding a drop or two blue or green food coloring .. so the family will 'think' it's effective;).  This can be used on windows .. stainless steel appliances .. sinks, bathtubs and toilets.

Squeaky Clean Tub .. pic by Mrs. Mac

For cleaning sinks/tubs .. try just a small drop of dish soap and sprinkle with baking soda .. use a soft clean rag and a little water .. rinse.

Toilets .. same as for sinks but use a few extra drops of dish soap.  Any hard water rings can be safely removed with a pumice stone.  Spray your window cleaner on another cloth to wipe down the seat and rim.

Mirrors .. a soft cleaning rag (lint free) and a little window cleaner is all that's needed.

Use caution on marble (any acid such as vinegar or lemon juice may dull the surface if not wiped immediately) .. I find no problem using the window cleaner on sealed granite counter tops .. just wipe well after spraying.

Three products:  Baking Soda, Dish Soap & White Vinegar will clean your home just as well as those expensive products .. saving you a ton of money .. and the environment each year. (2 gallons white vinegar & 13.5 lbs of baking soda cost under $10 and will last a very long time ... purchased in bulk at Costco).

Essential Oils .. a little drop goes a long way!  pic by Mrs. Mac

I often use a small drop of an essential oil on my damp cloth (such as Rosemary or tea tree oil) giving the cleaned areas that refreshing health spa aroma. 


More money saving tips:  Using cotton rags (made from old washcloths, torn up towels, flannel sheets, sweat pants, etc.) works better than paper towels .. if you stop using fabric softener (Downy or Dryer Sheets) .. and instead use 1/2 cup of white vinegar in the wash rinse.  Fabric softeners tend to leave a filmy residue on fabric and may streak mirrors. 

Bar soap .. and 20 seconds of scrubbing = clean!

When using bar soap, invest in a little footed insert for the soap dish .. it keeps the soap elevated and out of any water .. making it stay cleaner and last longer.  A single bar can be cut into four smaller sized pieces .. perfect for hand washing.

Turning To Garden Thoughts

I've been researching a bit about weedless gardening .. and was given a book by the same title by Lee Reich that explains how to replicate the soil environments found in nature.  It's a very interesting and sound idea .. and less back breaking work than tilling in compost .. which I happened to do last spring by double digging in many cubic yards of compost (did I mention back and shoulder breaking?;).  This week I'll be formulating .. in mind and on paper the garden setup for this coming season .. and using many ideas from this excellent and informative book. 

For one thing .. I'll be planting less variety of veggies .. less beets .. more carrots etc.  Why take up space for produce my family won't eat?  And, hopefully, be using a lot less water.  Are your spring gardening plans coming to life?

On Wheat and Kefir Grains

Even though I 'hate' Walmart ... and don't buy much other than a few produce items once in a while in a pinch .. they are now stocking Wheat Montana products .. and beat the health store prices.  Hubby and I picked up two 25 pound sacks of wheat berries (Prairie Gold variety) for $12 each .. and their flour products are a good price as well.  Attempting to stock our storage pantry is expensive .. so this discount was a good find.

kefir grains are added to cool water/sugar mixture

I promised to fill you in on the water kefir experiment.  I took half of my milk kefir grains (a nice gift from Mr. & Mrs. H ..last year:) as they had greatly multiplied .. and designated them to make water kefir.  It took a few days for the grains to get accustomed to their new environment .. but now they are producing a probiotic drink quite well.

kefir grains fermenting

Here's what I noticed this past week:  I do think the kefir has a detoxifying property as I noticed a slight headache for several days and a few blemishes on my normally clear facial skin ... after about three days of drinking the water kefir, these symptoms have gone away.  I will leave you with a few links touting the health benefits of said drink .. read into them as you wish .. as they were taken from the internet.  Also .. there are some links on how to make water kefir.  This is a good drink .. especially for people that may not tolerate dairy .. or milk kefir.

Water Kefir Steps

1. Boil some water
2. Place 1/2 cup of boiling water in a super clean quart mason jar
3. Add 1/4 cup raw sugar, or organic brown sugar, or white cane sugar
4. Swirl until the sugar melts completely
5. Add enough fresh cool water (chlorine free) leaving about 2 inches space at top of jar
6. Make sure the water is no warmer than room temp and add (2-4 tablespoons of kefir grains)
7. Place a paper coffee filter over the top of jar and fasten with a rubber band
8. Set in a warm spot in your kitchen for 24-48 hours.
9. When enough fermentation (to suite your taste) has taken place (much of the sugar will be 'eaten' by the kefir and some will turn into fructose) .. strain the grains .. I pour the fermented kefir into a clean capped bottle.  The grains get rinsed and reprocessed with more water/sugar in another clean quart jar.

 I am still a newby at this .. and am finding different ways each day to flavor the drink.  My favorite is to use a few tablespoons of freshly squeezed organic orange juice .. or a tablespoon of fresh lemon juice.  Ginger slices may be added .. the possibilities are endless.  Next step will be bottling it in a 'stopper' topped (airtight) bottle to get a little fizz in the drink.

finished water kefir before adding juice

Water Kefir Benefits
Kefir Health Benefits 
Health Benefits Of Kefir
How To Videos @ Cultures of Health
Using Milk Kefir Grains to Make Water Kefir

Mid-Week

We've had a few morning visitors the past two days.  Black-Jack and his wife have been nibbling on our scrub maple trees for breakfast.  Of course, this sends my dog in a tail-spinning tizzy as she observes them from our glass windowed door in the dining room.  Tomorrow I'll have to venture out and see how our little fruit trees are holding up .. and whether or not the 'moose' cages I put up around them last spring (and nearly ruined my shoulder over) are working. 

In a week it will be time to do MAJOR grocery shopping.  We are scraping the bottom of some barrels and I've got just enough $ to buy some milk and eggs without dipping into next months budget.  My family seems to be getting on board .. the financial diet plan .. and are not complaining too much.  We will be stocking up on wheat and a sundry variety of pantry staples.  I hate running out of stuff .. but it's good to stretch our meal planning and be creative with what's available.  Last week's bread was turned into crunchy croutons and used in a quiche type egg casserole that included farm fresh sausage, Swiss chard (pulled from the freezer from last autumn), etc.  There's not much waste in our kitchen any longer .. leftovers are often packed in lunch boxes quickly in the mornings .. or added to supplement the dog's diet. 

I've been working on perfecting making the water kefir.  So far I've made three batches and use it as a base with a few tablespoons of fresh juice added to a six ounce glass.  It's a good way to 'stretch' your juice supply as well as get the health benefits of the kefir.  I promise to post pictures and instructions soon. 

Dabbling In The Kitchen ... again

This has been an exciting week kitchenwise.  First with the arrival of our green coffee beans .. then the wheat grinder .. and today my supply of Tattler reusable canning lids.  Come payday I'm off the get the wheat berries and give fresh ground wheat a try. 

I had such a nice quantity of milk kefir grains (see previous post) that I started to research about using them to make flavored water kefir.  The grains were divided:  half continue to make milk kefir .. and the other half have been designated for water.  So far I'm on my second quart of fermenting the water variety.  I used fresh organic ginger and some organic lemon peel to flavor the first batch .. it came out very refreshing .. now to try it on the family :).  The second batch I hope to flavor with some tangerines.  Soon I'll post some pictures with directions. 

The seeds that were sprouted earlier this week are ready to use in salads .. and I'll start on a second batch to sprout.  They greatly add flavor and crunch to our meals .. as well as good nutrition.

Last year I injured my right shoulder installing 6 foot metal T-steak posts and fencing around our three fruit trees (to keep the moose out) it has bothered me for about nine months.  Well .. after amping up my use of the milk kefir, calcium tablets made from seaweed, and consuming bone broth soups, it is finally on the mend ... just in time for the coming gardening season.  If you have the time .. it's well worth the effort to make your own rich soup stock.

Broth Is Beautiful
Taking And Making Stock
Bone Strength Calcium Supplement
Tattler Reusable Canning Lids

Newby - Home Coffee Roaster

Just arrived .. green coffee beans (pic by Mrs. Mac)

Here's what green coffee beans look like (pic by Mrs. Mac)

Our shipment of green coffee beans arrived this week.  We purchased beans grown organically in Bolivia for $4.99 a pound, including shipping.  They have a AA rating.  Being a newby roaster, I still have much to learn about the process.  It is rather exciting to roast beans at home .. and the more often you do it .. the better you are able to judge how well they are roasted.

Make sure your skillet harbors no previous cooking flavors :) (pic by Mrs. Mac)

I am using a big black cast iron skillet on top of the stove and have my exhaust fan turned on high to remove the smoke.  Some people use pop corn poppers .. others use bread machines with heat guns (used for paint removal) .. I'm using a method surely used by my great grandparents.  So far .. so good.

The beans start turning color and the skins pop as moisture is released (pic by Mrs. Mac)

And I must admit that this particular organic-fair trade coffee is good .. yes .. I'm still limiting myself to a cup a day .. with no problems .. which is rather hard to do ;)

Once the beans are roasted, it's important to remove them from the pan to cool .. and to remove the chaff.  Transferring them between two colanders in a breeze outside (or using a blow dryer) removes the chaff.  Now you must wait about 24 hours for the full flavor to develop (the hard part;)

So far .. the family gives a big thumbs up for the process .. and the outcome .. I roast only enough for one week's worth of coffee, storing the beans in an airtight glass jar .. once they have developed their flavor after resting 24 hours.  I thank my friend Maria for sharing her coffee roasting venture.

links:
Invalsa Coffee Company
How to Roast Coffee At Home
How to Store Green Coffee Beans (prior to roasting)
Why Organic & Fair Trade Coffee?
Fair Trade Coffee
 

It took about 20 minutes for the beans to roast .. (pic by Mrs. Mac)

I Love, Love Kefir

Last year I swapped some buttermilk culture for some kefir culture with a neighbor.  Kefir is a funny (as in unusual) culture.  In its raw state it resembles crumbled up cauliflower .. only tasting it one finds it to be a bit rubbery (chewy) and tangy (fermented).  By adding milk and letting the kefir 'grains' sit out for about 24 hours unrefrigerated, a thick-yoghurty-rich-fermented milk product is produced.  It will keep for several weeks as is .. but when you want to try some of its yummy-ness, just strain off the liquid from the grains through a little plastic strainer and enjoy.

I use my kefir to make healthy fruit smoothies for breakfast.

Here is a site that gives the history and health benefits .. along with nutritional information about  KEFIR.  If you are new to this probiotic milk product, Cultures of Health can get you started with your initial purchase of kefir grains.  This product is not only healthy .. but actually extends the shelf/fridge life of milk .. it keeps it from going bad for quite a long period.  The grains are used over and over.  They even multiply .. so there is the opportunity to share some with a friend. 

Directions for making kefir from grains:  Take the grains (two tablespoons or so for a pint of milk), put in a clean jar.. pour milk over .. place a paper coffee filter over the top and fasten with a rubber band.  Let sit out for about 24 hours.  Replace paper coffee filter with screw type lid and place in the refrigerator.  When ready to use, strain the grains using a plastic strainer .. rinse the grains in cold water .. place them into another clean pint size jar and fill with milk to begin the process again.  It's that easy. 

Fruit Smoothie:

2 cups strained kefir
1 cup frozen berries
1 banana
1 Tablespoon sugar  .. to taste (optional)

Mix in the blender .. Serves about 3-4

How to make milk kefir .. video

On Bread Baking

Weekly ration of bread .. pic by Mrs. Mac

We've been getting by with just the bread coming out of our ovens.  Seems if I set aside one afternoon or evening a week (Sunday .. so far), I can bake up two batches of dough .. both making two loaves or two dozen rolls.  We are currently enjoying an oat bread for sandwiches, an Italian loaf for garlic toast or pizza, and a hamburger bun recipe that I've switched out white flour with whole wheat white.  The dough is mixed in our Kitchenaid stand mixer with a dough hook attachment and placed in the oven on a dough proof setting in large covered bowls.  I really try to stretch the bread to last an entire week.  Half goes double wrapped in the storage freezer to pull out midweek.

Hubby and I have been checking around for a flour mill.  I'd probably prefer one that is manual .. but with my right shoulder feeling pain from an injury last year .. electric seems a better fit with the amount of flour we would have to mill each week.  Next month is my birthday .. and the one I am interested in (Nutrimill Grain Mill) is currently on sale .. so it got ordered a few days ago.  I'm excited to take our bread making one step further by milling our own flour.  This will probably be our only major kitchen purchase this year.

bread holder for slicing ..  pic by Mrs. Mac

I picked up the nifty bread slicer at a local thrift store.  It's shaped for bread machine loaves .. but can be used with my oven baked bread.  It cost a whole 99 cents.  Using it gives very uniform slices .. unlike my previous freehand slicing produced.  There's nothing like the smell of baking bread wafting through the house.  Are you a bread baker?  If so, what's your preferred method for making it?

Cauliflower AND Sprouts

I recently purchased a head of cauliflower.  Grandma would fix it steamed with a little salt, pepper and butter as a side dish.  Over the years when my children were small, I, too, tried this same approach .. and it was a miserable failure .. in their eyes.  So off to 'google' for a family pleasing recipe.  The one I found had rave reviews about how kids liked it .. so this is what became of that beautiful head of cauliflower.

Oven Roasted Cauliflower (click link for the actual recipe) .. you toss it with olive oil (I used a bowl instead of a throw away plastic bag), sprinkle it with salt, pepper and fresh pressed garlic .. roast in a hot oven .. then sprinkle it with Parmesan cheese and parsley .. broil for a quick minute.  I tossed in a little cumin to spice it up.  The bowl was empty and the family was almost fighting about who would get the last serving.  Last night my daughter called to ask for the recipe.  It's so easy .. give it a try .. better make extra.

With our greens being limited to what's frozen (chard and spinach) .. or what we purchase, my sprouting jar is getting started up again today .. so we can have some enzyme and vitamin packed additions to our sandwiches and salads in just a few days.  Have your grown sprouts in a jar?  It's very easy .. you can use a standard quart mason jar with a  little mesh or screen placed under the outer band.  Rinse the seeds and drain .. tipping the jar to empty excess water .. do this several times a day .. and keep in a dark location.  Once the seeds start to sprout .. they really take off.  Rinse well and store in the refrigerator for several days.  I ordered these seeds (a mixture) on-line .. but I've seen them in the health food store.  (Detailed instructions here.)

This coming gardening year I am going to give my  hand at growing celery .. and overwinter it .. just imagine the tasty greens you can selectively harvest when the garden is sleeping.  How do you get your winter greens?

Why Bother Canning Food At Home

Canning is a lot of work.  But, I am finding like many other 'lost' homemaking skills, it is much easier and less time consuming once you get the hang of the process.  And .. another plus .. the jars are reusable year after year .. so less waste in the landfill or to recycle.  Winter is the perfect time to can beans.  So far our storage pantry is nicely stocked with Boston baked beans, pintos, and now red beans.  The pintos are so easy to mash to make re-fried beans to serve with tacos.  The red beans will be added to our newly canned beef chili for quick winter meals.  For easy to learn canning procedures, check out the Ball Blue Book Of Home Preserving .. it has recipes for both water bath and pressure canning .. lots of pictures and diagrams .. easy instructions for beginners. Can food with a neighbor if you are hesitant .. you might even share the  equipment until you decide whether or not home canning is for you.  The biggest boon .. quality .. and no preservatives added .. BPA free jars ...for the most part by-passing big ag .. and .. Walmart! Do you can?  If not .. find a friendly neighbor and barter for a lesson or two. 

Resources:

Tattler Reusable Lids

Current Day Canning Movement USA Today article