Monday, October 28, 2013

Halloween Red and Orange Pepper Hummus

 

 

 
2 roasted peppers (1 red and 1 orange) peal off char
15 ounce can of garbanzo beans
1/4 cup tahini
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice (add more to taste)
2 Tbsp. Olive Oil
3/4 tea. cumin
1 t. salt
1 garlic clove
dash of red pepper
 
Process tahini and lemon juice for about a minute.  Add olive oil, cumin, salt, garlic and red pepper and process for another minute.  Add half of the can of garbanzo beans and process a minute then add the other half of the can.  If it is too thick add water one tablespoon at a time.  Process for about two minutes then add all but two small pieces of the peppers.  Blend for another two minutes until very smooth. 
 
Finely chop the remaining pepper and use as a garnish.
 
 
Serve with blue corn tortilla chips
 


Halloween Pumpkin Carving



The kids helped get the choose the design and seeds out of the pumpkins, but the rest was the adults responsibility.  Levi keeps walking in the kitchen and says, "my Thomas".  At first Jordan wanted a star and Aaron really wanted McQueen.  We drew the lines with a permanent marker then cut the design making any adjustments.  After it was finished we wiped off the lines with rubbing alcohol.  So much fun at our house!!!!


Thursday, October 17, 2013

It's that time of year......Craft Shows

                                     Silk Hair Bows                               Handmade Soaps
                            Natural Lip Balm                         Tabbie Blanket Snuggies
                              Hooded Bath Towels          Soap Saver (Makes Soaps Last Longer)
                    Eco-Snack & Sandwich Baggies                     Lotion Bars
Tabbie Balls
 
I have been hard at work getting ready for craft show season.  This year I actually worked ahead.  The only things that I have made recently are the lotion bars and the lip balm.  I did that since they should be used within three months.  If anyone has questions on how to make something feel free to leave me a comment.

Tuesday, October 8, 2013

Creamy Cauliflower Soup

 
 Ingredients:
 
1 large cauliflower, chopped
1 large onion, chopped
4 celery stalks, chopped
3 carrots, chopped
1 T. dried veggie flakes
4 cups water
1 1/2 t. salt
1/4 t. pepper
 
Add everything to slow cooker and cook on low for 6-8 hours.  Use an emersion blender and puree everything. 
 
Add:
1 c. milk
3 T. Worcestershire sauce
4 oz. cream cheese
4 oz. cheddar cheese
 
Use an emersion blender to mix everything together.  Serve with bacon and crackers.

Swiss Cheese Beer Bread

 
Ingredients:
3 ounces chunked Swiss cheese
3 c. flour (unbleached)
3 T. Raw Sugar
3 t. baking powder
1 t. sea salt
1/4 t. pepper
1 bottle of beer (12 oz)
2 T. melted butter
 
Instructions:
Mix together dry ingredients.  Add the swiss cheese (leave a few out to sprinkle on top) and beer.  Mix well and put into a loaf pan.  Top with remaining cheese and melted butter.  Sprinkle with salt.  Bake at 375 for 50 minutes.

No Bake Cookies (Grain Free and Sugar Free)

 
Ingredients:
6 packets Truvia and 1 packet of Sweet Leaf
2 T. Cocoa Powder
4 T. Butter
1/4 c. Milk (any type)
1/4 cup nut or seed butter
pinch of sea salt
1 1/2 t. vanilla extract
1/2 cup unsweetened flake coconut
1 cup chopped nuts (any kind)
 
Instructions:
Cook together the stevia, cocoa powder, butter, and milk until it begins to boil (whisking).  Whisk in nut/seed butter, sea salt, and vanilla.  Add coconut and nuts to the mixture and stir well.  On waxed paper drop by spoonfuls.  Chill in refrigerator until firm and serve.


Acorn Treats


 
Today the kids and I made these super cute and easy to make acorns. 
1 bag of chocolate Kisses
1 bag of Nutter Butter Bites
a handful of mini peanut butter chips
 
Melt a few kisses to use as the glue.  Stick the kiss to one side of the Nutter Butter and a mini peanut butter chip to the other side with a small amount of melted chocolate.
 
We had to do lots of hand washing, since the hands kept going in mouths.  The boys unwrapped all the kisses and threw away the trash.
 
The finished product.
 



Wednesday, October 2, 2013

Apple Sauce


30 Quarts
 
I don't add any thing to my applesauce just a little water so my pan doesn't scorch.
 
This year we have apples and that means making use of them.  So far this year I have made:
 
Apple Butter
Apple Pie
Crock Pot Chunky Applesauce
Applesauce (as you can see)
 
I have so many more ideas like:
 
Apple Fritters
Carmel Apples
Apple Bread
Baked Apples
 
Let the fun begin!


Tuesday, October 1, 2013

Apple Butter

Here is the recipe:
 
20 cups of applesauce/pulp
6-8 cups of raw sugar (I used 6, but I always cut down the sugar)
2T. ground cinnamon
2 t. ground cloves
1 t. ground allspice
 
 
Mix together in slow cooker.  Turn on high and stir often.  I let it heat up and then I took the top off to get rid of some of the liquid.  I cooked on high for 12 hours.
 
 
 
 
Fill hot sterilized jars; seal immediately.  Mine made 7 pints one I kept in the fridge to eat.

Cranberry & Pear Instant Oatmeal (Bulk)

My kids love oatmeal especially when the weather turns cold.  I had bought some organic instant packets, but today I ran out.  I got the idea to make my own healthier kind of instant oatmeal using things that I have on hand.  I prefer the regular old fashioned oats to the instant oats.  Well this recipe has been kid tested and approved.
 
8 C. old fashioned oats
1-2 c. dried cranberries and pears, chopped
4 1/2 c. instant nonfat dry milk
1 c. nuts, I used 1/4 c. pepitas  (yes that is a seed) and 3/4 c. almonds, chopped
1/3 c. organic coconut palm sugar + 2 T. raw sugar
1/2 c. golden flax seed meal
1/2 c. chia seeds
1/8 c. cinnamon
2 t. salt (optional)
1 T. nutmeg
1/2 T. ground cloves
 
 
 
 
Toast nuts at 350 for 8-10 minutes.  Cool.
Mix together the dried fruit and the dry milk.  Combine the remaining ingredients and mix well.  Store in an air-tight container for up to 3 weeks.
 
To make single servings:
3/4 cup oatmeal mix to 2/3-3/4 cup water.  Microwave for 2 minutes.  I mix in a few frozen blueberries to quickly cool the oatmeal for my kids to eat.