Quality Time

How long does it take to make popcorn?  Ask any kid and they can tell you.  Three minutes is all it takes! First you remove the cellophane.  Then you place the bag in the microwave.  Cook for three minutes.  Now you can enjoy your popcorn.

Making popcorn wasn't quite like this when I was younger.  Making popcorn was a family event. It took time!  This was quality together time.  The invention of the microwave has made cooking easier in many respects.  However, it has also eliminated some great bonding experiences and quality family time.

Why are we always in such a rush?  Why not take a few extra minutes today to spend with your family?  Make some popcorn!

Requirements

1 Cooking Pot with Lid

Cooking Oil

Popcorn Kernels

Salt

Brown Grocery Bag

Instructions

Pour cooking enough oil into your pot to cover the bottom of the pot.
cover the bottom of the pot with popcorn kernels
Cook over medium heat
Popping subsides, pour into brown bag and shake.
This removes any oil that remains.
Add salt to the bag and shake some more.

Market Basket by Clever Container

The Insulated Market Basket by Clever Container is amazing.  I was shocked by its size.  This basket is 18 inches wide and stands 12 inches tall.  I was really expecting something so much smaller.

The outside of the bag is made of a sturdy canvas.  This durable canvas is waterproof and is easy to wipe clean.  The inside of the bag is an insulated plastic. This too is easy to wipe clean and is waterproof.  A metal bar lines the outer top rim of this bag and provides stability. This metal rim keeps the mouth of the bag open for easy access.  The remainder of the bag does not have support bars so if not full, the bag does collapse onto itself.  There is a zipper closure on the top as well as a sturdy metal handle for carrying. The metal handle folds down for storage when not in use.

What really makes this bag useful is that it can handle hot or cold foods.  This bag can fit most standard size crockpots.  I was shocked that with a little manipulation it was able to hold my over-sized crockpot too.

When not transporting pot luck dinners, I keep this bag in my car.  Hot summer days require extra attention.  I pack drinks in it as I run around town.  I use it for my refrigerator items on my grocery trip and leftovers when we go out to eat.

This bag is so versatile.  I love it and highly recommend it. You can purchase this as well as other Clever Container items here Clever Container.

  

No More Tears

Does Chopping Onions Get You Teary-Eyed?

Tearing while cutting onions is a natural occurrence.  When cut, onions eliminate a gas that mixes with the enzymes already in the onion.  These two together create a sulfuric gas that is released into the air.  It is this gas that irritates our eyes.

When your eyes come in contact with the sulfuric gas, the body responds trying to clean the eye.  Tears are produced in an effort to wash away the gas.

One way to assist your body through this process is to add Thieves essential oils to a small glass bowl of water, 2 or 3 drops is all you need.  Place the bowl beside you when shop onions No More Tears!

Picked Beets

Beets are not high on my list of favorite foods.  Though the health benefits are undeniable so I'm doing my best to add them to my family's menu.

Beets are in season all year long.  The part of the beet we will be looking at today is the deep purple root.  Beets have an distinctive earthy taste and numerous health benefits.  Some of their health benefits that I like are:

• Antioxidant
• Anti-inflammatory
• Detoxifying 
• Decrease blood pressure
• Rich in vitamins, minerals and fiber
• Diuretic
• Anti-fungal
• Anti-bacterial

While away for the weekend in Lancaster, Pa we visit many Amish shops and sampled lots of fresh foods.  Once home, Mama Jo missed the pickled beets she was eating all weekend long.  So she decided to make some for herself.  It being the middle of the week, Mama Jo decided to go with the quick version of pickled beet and used canned beats.

Recipe: Pickled Beets

Inredients:

2 cans sliced beets

1 cup water

1/2 cup apple cider vinegar

1/2 cup red wine vinegar

2/4 cup sugar

1 sliced or diced onion (optional)

Directions:

In a sauce pan, combine water, vinegar and sugar.  Bring to a boil.  Simmer and stir until sugar is dissolved.  Place beets and onions if you choose into a mason jar.  Pour vinegar mixture over the top. Let cool and refrigerate overnight.  

Enjoy!

Please note that the beet color is not processed by the body.  Thus it is eliminated by the body.  Don't be surprised if your eliminations are a little redder than usual.

Kefir

JJ is a pretty good eater when he is hungry.  He will eat anything in sight double fisted.  When he isn't so hungry or is over hungry life is a different story.  It is times like this that I sill rely on liquid foods. This is either in the form of pouches or drinks.  JJ loves yogurt drinks.  Generally I buy the 2 oz ones. Once in a while he will even drink two in a row.  Aside from being expensive they are full of sugar.

I started looking into making yogurt so I can regulate what goes into JJ's favorite drinks. There are a number of steps to making yogurt and some require precise temperatures.  I have even looked into buying a yogurt machine.  Though the reviews still scare me as people talk about burning the yogurt.


Since JJ loves Kefir (more on kefir below) milk and it is more of a drinkable consistency, I looked into how that is made. To my it is nothing like making yogurt.  Actually it is much easier and sounds fool proof.  All you need is Kefir grains.  I found some on Amazon.

My Kefir grains arrived and I am ready to start making Kefir.

 I followed these simple directions. Seriously this is fool proof.

1.  Placed the grains in a mason jar. (About a spoonful.)

2.  Add a cup of whole milk.  

3. Cover with a coffee filter.

4.  Let sit for 24 hours.

5. Strain the grains.

Technically you are done and can now start the process over again.  Though I like to add fruit to mine.  Be creative and make it how you like.  I started with a flavor everyone loves...strawberry.

1.  Slice a hand full of strawberries.

2.  Place in pot and cover with water.

3.  Boil until the berries dissolve.

4.  Add a spoonful of honey (optional)

You can them mix the fruit right in with your yogurt.  JJ doesn't like the chunks so I let mine cool and puree it in the food processor before adding it.

What is Kefir?

Kefir is a fermented milk drink.  It is similar in taste to yogurt but thinner and drinkable.  Kefir has more probiotics than yogurt and has numerous medical benefits.  Kefir also contains beneficial yeast. One of the things that I love about this yeast is that it metabolizes lactose.  Thus those that are lactose intolerant like JJ can drink it without all the bloating and gassy feelings.  Kefir is full of vitamin (B12 & K2) as well as minerals like calcium and magnesium.  I started drinking kefir years ago.  Since then it has helped me greatly.  It keeps my candida in check and aided in my leaky gut.  Kefir is amazing when you are taking antibiotics or have a stomach ache.  It really does work miracles.  

Cauliflower Soup

As a mother of a toddler, I am always looking for new ways to add  vegetables to our meals. I have found that my family loves soup.  Not only do we eat soup as a meal, but in the winter months we have soup almost every night as an appetizer to warm us up.  Surprisingly this cauliflower soup did not have a strong cauliflower taste.  It was smooth, thick and creamy.  My toddler has a soup bowl with a straw and was able to suck it up without a problem.  It was just the right consistency that I was even able to use it as sauce for my pasta.  So delicious.  Shh don't tell my family it's healthy!  

CAULIFLOWER SOUP

2 Tbs olive oil

1 onion (diced)

1 clove garlic (diced)

1 head of cauliflower (chopped)

2 cans chicken stock

4 Tbs grated Parmesan cheese

Salt and pepper

In a sauce pan, heat the oil.  Add the diced onion and diced garlic. 

Saute until soft but not browned. Add the  chopped cauliflower

and the chicken broth.  Cover and let cook until the cauliflower

is soft. About 10 to 15 minutes.  Add the Parmesan cheese.

Remove from heat.  Pour into blender and puree. Add salt and 

pepper to taste.

I cook by sight.  My recipes are what I did.  I truly believe every family is different. Everyone's palette is different so please use recipes for the basic ideas and tweek to meet the needs of your family.  You may want to try adding some celery or a carrot.