Hey there everyone!
Okay, so this week I had a couple of zucchini and came up with this really yummy meal. My kids didn't like that I called them pizza bites, because there was no "bread" to speak of, however I am going to leave the name the same. These were a great snack/light dinner/appetizer type thing.
Slice the zucchini into medallions. Put a small amount of oil in the pan, salt them (at least I did) and then after slightly browned then flip. I didn't bread them or anything. Then I took some diced tomatoes with Italian seasoning and blended it in the blender. Had I had spaghetti sauce or pizza sauce, I probably would have used that. Then I topped with some Havarti cheese (I couldn't find the mozzerella) until it melted and then removed them from the pan.
They were pretty, they were tasty. We loved them! Well, most of us did. My picky eater felt tricked because they didn't taste like pizza to her.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Friday, February 19, 2010
Herbal Throat Lozenges
Hey everyone!
Making your own lozenges is a great thing! You know what is in them and you can make them for your own ailments. Remember, when cooking, sometimes things flop and sometimes they work out wonderfully. I love herbs and they make me happy. They have helped our family through some difficult times! Here is the basic recipe that I use. It isn't set in stone by any stretch of the imagination, but this is what I do. :)
Use 1 cup of honey or blackstrap molasses or a combination of both. Remember that molasses is VERY strong and so think of who your audience is. Will they take them?
Then you will use up to 1/4 cup of an herb, either cut or powdered. I love ginger and clove with some red raspberry leaf. I use the powdered herbs, but you can use cut herbs. Think about your herbs as well, if you are going to use herbs like cayenne and/or garlic type herbs then I would choose less herb to honey ratio, but that's just me.
Very first, butter some cookie sheets to put the lozenges on. Then to begin your exciting new creations bring your honey to the hard crack stage. On my thermometer it was 150c, it's okay to go slightly higher (makes them less sticky) but after burning mine in the past I am a little more cautious. After your honey is hot, then you can add your powdered herbs. If you use cut, then you will need to leave over the heat for an extra 10 minutes and then strain them out. I have never done this because I am lazy. I also don't mind the extra herb at the end to chew up after the honey dissolves away. My kids like it too, however some people that are more sensitive are less impressed. I intend sometime to try oils, but it's also important to remember that the more whole the herb the better!
Once at temperature and herbs mixed in, then either put them in little dots on the pans or you can pour them out and score them. I have never poured them out, though this might be pretty easy...maybe I will try that next
So, now in short:
Butter your pans.
Heat 1 cup honey to hard crack stage.
Add up to 1/4 cups herbs.
Pour onto buttered pans. Enjoy!
These can be frozen easily and are yummy right out of the freezer, it also helps with the stickiness.
Making your own lozenges is a great thing! You know what is in them and you can make them for your own ailments. Remember, when cooking, sometimes things flop and sometimes they work out wonderfully. I love herbs and they make me happy. They have helped our family through some difficult times! Here is the basic recipe that I use. It isn't set in stone by any stretch of the imagination, but this is what I do. :)
Use 1 cup of honey or blackstrap molasses or a combination of both. Remember that molasses is VERY strong and so think of who your audience is. Will they take them?
Then you will use up to 1/4 cup of an herb, either cut or powdered. I love ginger and clove with some red raspberry leaf. I use the powdered herbs, but you can use cut herbs. Think about your herbs as well, if you are going to use herbs like cayenne and/or garlic type herbs then I would choose less herb to honey ratio, but that's just me.
Very first, butter some cookie sheets to put the lozenges on. Then to begin your exciting new creations bring your honey to the hard crack stage. On my thermometer it was 150c, it's okay to go slightly higher (makes them less sticky) but after burning mine in the past I am a little more cautious. After your honey is hot, then you can add your powdered herbs. If you use cut, then you will need to leave over the heat for an extra 10 minutes and then strain them out. I have never done this because I am lazy. I also don't mind the extra herb at the end to chew up after the honey dissolves away. My kids like it too, however some people that are more sensitive are less impressed. I intend sometime to try oils, but it's also important to remember that the more whole the herb the better!
Once at temperature and herbs mixed in, then either put them in little dots on the pans or you can pour them out and score them. I have never poured them out, though this might be pretty easy...maybe I will try that next
So, now in short:
Butter your pans.
Heat 1 cup honey to hard crack stage.
Add up to 1/4 cups herbs.
Pour onto buttered pans. Enjoy!
These can be frozen easily and are yummy right out of the freezer, it also helps with the stickiness.
Monday, February 15, 2010
Italian Wedding Soup
I made this recipe: Italian Wedding Soup
It was DELICIOUS! Everyone who had it raved about it. It uses only a few ingredients which is also nice. We used spinach, not the escarole. For the chicken broth I used Better Than Bouillon. I also chose to brown the meatballs. I liked the smaller meatballs and would make the bite size if it was me. Enjoy!
It was DELICIOUS! Everyone who had it raved about it. It uses only a few ingredients which is also nice. We used spinach, not the escarole. For the chicken broth I used Better Than Bouillon. I also chose to brown the meatballs. I liked the smaller meatballs and would make the bite size if it was me. Enjoy!
Tasty Granola Recipe!
From one of my dear friends, this is her recipe and we love it! I always at least double it.
Granola
Combine in a large bowl:
4 c rolled oats
1 c chopped nut (any combination, I have used almonds, pumpkin seeds, flax seed etc)
¾ t salt
½ c coconut (optional, though very tasty!)
½ c seasame seeds (also optional, but very nutritious)
1 tsp cinnamon (I am VERY generous with this)
Mix seperatley, then add to above mixture:
½ c honey
½ t vanilla
1/3 c oil (coconut is great, but I use olive most of the time)
Mix thoroughly, spread on 2 large cookie sheets and bake @ 350 degrees for 20-25 min. I just let it get warm to melt the honey into it for 10-12 min. Add dried fruit if you like.
Granola
Combine in a large bowl:
4 c rolled oats
1 c chopped nut (any combination, I have used almonds, pumpkin seeds, flax seed etc)
¾ t salt
½ c coconut (optional, though very tasty!)
½ c seasame seeds (also optional, but very nutritious)
1 tsp cinnamon (I am VERY generous with this)
Mix seperatley, then add to above mixture:
½ c honey
½ t vanilla
1/3 c oil (coconut is great, but I use olive most of the time)
Mix thoroughly, spread on 2 large cookie sheets and bake @ 350 degrees for 20-25 min. I just let it get warm to melt the honey into it for 10-12 min. Add dried fruit if you like.
Lawn Mower Chicken
This recipe is really yummy! It also smells divine in the oven. The reason we call it lawn mower chicken is that it looks just like someone dumped grass clippings all over the chicken. I am not exactly sure where this recipe is from, my friend gave it to me. It's easy and fast.
3 TBS rosemary
2 TBS thyme
3 TBS parsley
3 TBS garlic salt
This is one batch, sprinkle it on chicken that is covered in skin and bake at 350 1 hr. It's great for thighs/drum sticks and like the chicken breasts with skin. You can use this with skinless chicken but it is SUPER dry if you do.
3 TBS rosemary
2 TBS thyme
3 TBS parsley
3 TBS garlic salt
This is one batch, sprinkle it on chicken that is covered in skin and bake at 350 1 hr. It's great for thighs/drum sticks and like the chicken breasts with skin. You can use this with skinless chicken but it is SUPER dry if you do.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Yummy Chocolate Chip Banana Muffins
Hey all! Today we are making super tasty banana muffins. These can be made in a variety of ways and the recipe is very forgiving, which I will list for you to decide for yourself. :)
Wet ingredients
1/2 cup butter/coconut oil/olive oil (I have used all with great success)
3/4 cup sugar/xylitol or 1/2 cup honey (I usually use honey)
2 large eggs (I often add an extra)
1 cup ripe bananas--I add them whole to my kitchenaide
1 tsp vanilla
Dry Ingredients
1/2-3/4 cups wheat germ
2 cups (I use whole wheat, if I use white I use more wheat germ)
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1 cup chocolate/carob chips
I don't follow the directions to the original recipe I was given because I am not using all of the same ingredients AND I am all about getting done fast and not dirtying a lot of dishes. So..the way I do this is I put the oil I put the first 3 ingredients in until well mixed, then I add the eggs one at a time. If I am using honey and olive oil then I add the oil first and then add the honey with the same mesuring cup, then it doesn't stick. I then add the vanilla and mix.
After mixing all the wet ingredients, I then add the dry ingredients alternating and then mix them in. This mixture should be smooth and creamy with a few lumps, if you are finding it to be too dry you can add any kind of milk (almond/rice/hemp/cow)
Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes checking to see when the toothpick comes out clean.
Note: I often double or triple this recipe and share them. Also, they freeze fabulously so for those of you who want to cook and freeze ahead this is a great one to do this with. Enjoy!
Wet ingredients
1/2 cup butter/coconut oil/olive oil (I have used all with great success)
3/4 cup sugar/xylitol or 1/2 cup honey (I usually use honey)
2 large eggs (I often add an extra)
1 cup ripe bananas--I add them whole to my kitchenaide
1 tsp vanilla
Dry Ingredients
1/2-3/4 cups wheat germ
2 cups (I use whole wheat, if I use white I use more wheat germ)
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1 cup chocolate/carob chips
I don't follow the directions to the original recipe I was given because I am not using all of the same ingredients AND I am all about getting done fast and not dirtying a lot of dishes. So..the way I do this is I put the oil I put the first 3 ingredients in until well mixed, then I add the eggs one at a time. If I am using honey and olive oil then I add the oil first and then add the honey with the same mesuring cup, then it doesn't stick. I then add the vanilla and mix.
After mixing all the wet ingredients, I then add the dry ingredients alternating and then mix them in. This mixture should be smooth and creamy with a few lumps, if you are finding it to be too dry you can add any kind of milk (almond/rice/hemp/cow)
Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes checking to see when the toothpick comes out clean.
Note: I often double or triple this recipe and share them. Also, they freeze fabulously so for those of you who want to cook and freeze ahead this is a great one to do this with. Enjoy!
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