Farmers Market Finds

Still pretty slim pickings at the Farmers Market.  I did, however, buy a loaf of organic herb bread that an Amish lady was selling.  It smells so heavenly.  I also got broccoli and a nice looking zucchini.  I'm thinking that my falafel experiments will be on hold for a week and next week's lunch will be steamed broccoli and zucchini with rice.  Just need to figure out something to be a protein.  Suggestions are welcome

Falafel

So I attempted making falafel for the first time this weekend.  Tastes good, however it fell apart.  Apparently I need to process the chick peas more.  When I made mine, some of them ended up staying whole.  Oh well, just means I ended up with falafel crumble instead :)

I made a yogurt dressing to go with it.  Extremely easy.  I used 2 cups of Greek yogurt, added some red wine vinegar, oregano and curry.  I think it needs more curry though.

The curry came to me via a friend of mine.  She picked it up while she was in Turkey.

Menu Monday - June 28

My menu plan starts on Saturday. 

Two exciting things on my menu this week.  The steak on Tuesday was bought at the farmer's market and is local and grass-fed.  I'm also excited about the side dish that will get served, probably with the pork chops.  I'm going to make Fiesta Rice - sounds so festive :)

Saturday -beefy mac

Sunday - chicken from KFC and potato salad

Monday - pizza

Tuesday -steak, corn on the cob and something else

Wednesday -spaghetti

Thursday -smoked pork chops on the grill and fiesta rice

Friday - cheeseburgers (which seems to be a weekly item on the menu during the summer)

Lunch this week is a very messy falafel with cucumbers, olives and a greek yogurt dressing.

For more menu plans, please visit Organizing Junkie.

Saturday Plans

Not much going on today around the house or in the kitchen.  I'm making falafel for my lunch next week and I'll try out my new toaster/convection oven for the bread.  I did some work in my garden already.  This picture is from last week.  This week I put up some netting for my pole beans to climb.

This afternoon myself and one of the ladies from church are going out door knocking, hence why not much going on at home.

New Comment Policy

When I spend time online, I want it to be a time that is edifying.  I tend to gravitate towards sites where I will be challenged to continue to grow in the Lord.  I don't tend to go to sites that promote ideas that I believe are harmful to the Church.  There are a few sites that I do go to where I don't necessarily agree with all that the blogger writes, but I either still learn there (maybe about homekeeping or other such things) or it's because the person writing is a friend of mine.  However, the one thing that I do not do is comment on their blog to "correct" them.  I may write a blog post on my own blog about it, but it's not my place to try and correct every person whose writing I come upon.  (Now I will say that if a blogger requests comments on a particular issue, then I will comment.)

For a long time, I have basically censored myself on my blogs, because I got tired of the debates.  That's not what my blog is for.  My blog, is my place to write down the rambling thoughts that go through my brain and to share them with those that wish to read them.  If you don't agree with me on a topic, don't read posts about it.  I don't mean to be rude, but I don't write to debate.

So, with all that said, my new comment policy is that I would love for you to comment, but if your only reason to comment is to "correct" me or debate an issue, I will not post it.  I have a feeling that this policy may offend some, but I no longer want to censor myself on issues that I don't really plan on debating with people.

Farmers Market Finds

I really didn't need any produce this week, so instead I decided to splurge and get a very nice piece of sirloin steak.  It is locally raised and grass-fed, so it should be yummy.  I am hoping to get to another farm market that I've been wanting to try this Saturday.

Peppermint Chocolate Pudding

My father-in-law is a diabetic, so I'm always on the look-out for desserts that I can serve when he is over that don't use the usual chemical sweeteners.  In this past week's Menu Mailer, KerryAnn provided a dessert recipe that was not only to-die-for good, it also was something that my father-in-law could eat.  She has graciously allowed me to post it for any of you that are looking for a yummy, low sugar dessert.

4 egg yolks
1 Tbs cornstarch
2 cups whole milk (original recipe calls for 1 14 oz can of coconut milk)
½ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips (original recipe just says chocolate chips, but semi-sweet are what you need for diabetics)
1 tsp peppermint extract

In a bowl, whisk together the egg yolks and cornstarch until smooth.  Set aside.

In a medium saucepan, heat the milk and chocolate over medium heat until the chocolate is completely dissolved. Bring to a boil, remove from the heat, and cool briefly. Whisk ¼ cup of the chocolate mixture
into the egg yolk mixture. Whisk in the remaining milk in a slow stream. Return to the saucepan and heat to a simmer and cook for 5 minutes. Do not boil. Remove from the heat and cool, whisking regularly to avoid a skin forming on top and keep the fat incorporated, until only slightly warm. Stir in the peppermint extract. Chill
thoroughly in the fridge before serving, or use as a cream filling for cakes, cupcakes or the like.




This post is part of the Tuesday Twister hosted by Wardeh over at GNOWFGLINS

Menu Monday - June 21

My menu plan starts on Saturday.  Most of my energy was focused on this weekend, so not a whole lot interesting for the week.

Saturday -celebrated Father's Day with my FIL and SIL.  We had steak and green beans and my SIL brought macaroni salad

Sunday - celebrated Father's Day at lunch with my mom and step-dad.  We had a grilled chicken salad.  At dinner we celebrated Father's Day with my dad, step-mom and grandmother.  We had marinated, grilled pork chops, green beans and rice.

Monday - pizza

Tuesday -cheeseburgers

Wednesday -spaghetti

Thursday -pork chops on the grill.  Not sure how we'll make them, maybe with a dry rub.

Friday -tacos

Lunch this week is a mushroom stir-fry over noodles

For more menu plans, please visit Organizing Junkie.

Saturday Plans Around the House

Today should be a busy day of prepwork and cleaning.  My in-laws are coming over for dinner tonight, my mom and step-dad are coming for lunch tomorrow, and my dad, step-mom and Grandmother are coming for dinner tomorrow evening.

I ended up making the two loaves of bread last night.  We will go out, hopefully on Monday, and get the stuff to set up my summer kitchen.  Until then I have to work around the weather.  Since it is supposed to be near 90 today, we decided to get all baking done this morning, which wouldn't have allowed us time to make the bread, hence doing it last night.

Right now I have the soaked muffins baking (Lesson 3 on the GNOWFGLINS Fundamentals e-course).  I also harvested some lettuce from the garden (I'll post pictures next week).  Besides my lunch, the bulk of the kitchen work today will be veggie prep.

Outside the kitchen, I need to give the house a good dusting and mop the floors. 

Farmers Market Finds

I just got back from the farmers market.  Still mainly lettuce, though one stand did have peppers that are grown in something like a hothouse, I didn't catch the name of it.

I ended up only spending $10 and I got
- Romaine lettuce
- 1 dozen eggs
- 2 nice size green tomatoes (I think that I'll fry them)
- garlic scapes
- pattypan squash

The Best Rice Ever

I'm not a big fan of rice.  We eat it frequently because it is frugal and filling, but it's not my most favorite food.  However this past Saturday I made, hands down, the best rice ever.

As I've mentioned before, I'm doing the Fundamentals E-Course over at GNOWFGLINS.  This wee's "homework" was to make rice and almonds.  I didn't make the almonds because I have to worry about cross-contamination, so just stay away from them makes more sense to me.  I did however make the rice.  Now her recipe is for way too much rice for two people, especially since I wasn't sure that I would like it.

1 cup rice
2 cups water
1 Tablespoon apple cider vinegar (raw is best)
1 teaspoon sea salt
2 teaspoons oil (she calls for coconut oil, I used olive since Jim can't do coconut).

Pour your water into a pot and heat it until you see the bubbles at the bottom, then turn off the heat.  Add the vinegar and the rice.  Cover and let sit for at least 7 hours.  After 7 hours add in the salt and the oil.  Put back on the heat and bring to a boil.  Cover and simmer for about 30 minutes, or until the water is absorbed.  Turn off heat and let stand for 15 minutes.

I will say that I didn't let it sit quite 15 minutes.  The rice turned out so creamy that had I used butter instead of oil, I could have put syrup or molasses on it and called it dessert :)


This post is part of the Tuesday Twister hosted by Wardeh over at GNOWFGLINS

Menu Monday - June 14

My menu plan starts on Saturday.

Saturday -crock pot beef tips, brown rice (I'll be blogging about it tomorrow) and green beas

Sunday - fried chicken salad

Monday - pizza

Tuesday -penne with homemade pasta sauce

Wednesday -ham and mac & cheese

Thursday - steak

Friday -chicken

Lunch this week is chicken and mushroom stir-fry over noodles

For more menu plans, please visit Organizing Junkie.

Saturday Plans

Today should hopefully be a busy day.  I already have the beef tips in the crockpot and the rice soaking (lesson 2 on the e-course that I'm taking).  I still need to finish unpacking the groceries and then I'll probably go out and weed the garden.

Other kitchen items today are bread, lunch and maybe chocolate chip cookies.  I also need to work on my recipe disaster for a bit and maybe start my scrapbook.

Free E-Course

I've mentioned this before, but I am trying to eat better.  But I'm not following the political correct ideas on it.  Instead I've been working on adopting a more traditional food/Nourishing Traditions type of a diet.  One thing that I've found, however, is that it can be overwhelming.  Recently I learned that GNOWFLGINS had begun to offer their course I decided that I needed to take it.

I've completed the Overview and the first two lessons.  This week I'll make the rice and if I can find some, I'll do raw almonds.  Though I will say that I'm not a big tree nut person, too much risk of cross-contamination with walnuts.

Wish me luck as I try and complete this course :)

The Simple Woman's Daybook - June 8

FOR TODAY. . .

What I'm hearing . . . I'm still at home.  Right now I'm listening to the shower going and the fan in our bedroom

From the kitchen . . . A very boring week in the kitchen


I am creating . . . the baby blanket is about halfway there length wise.  However, since it is knit on the diagonal, that means only about a quarter of the way done.

I am currently reading . . . I've picked back up the Little House Cookbook

Thinking about . . . Today is my husband's birthday.  Which means that I get to do one of my favorite things, spend the day with him.

In my Bible I am reading . . .Exodus, Proverbs and Ephesians

Around the house . . . I'm working on getting my recipe collection under control.  This is a huge undertaking.

Looking ahead . . .Farmer's Market tomorrow :)

A picture to share . . . I don't know if I've ever posted a picture of the church building that the Lord blessed us with.  We paid $5,000 for it :)

 

Menu Monday - June 7

My menu plan starts on Saturday.

A very uninspiring menu this week.  Though we are eating out two days of it.  And Sunday was a yummy, but a probably not very good for you dinner.

Saturday - Cracker Barrel (we were celebrating Jim's birthday with his dad and sister)

Sunday - KFC chicken and Wal Mart potato salad (told you it wasn't a very good for you dinner)

Monday - pasta

Tuesday -Jim and I will be celebrating his birthday, so he gets to pick

Wednesday -beefy mac

Thursday - steak

Friday -cheeseburgers and baked beans

Lunch this week is Thai Beef Salad with Crispy Noodles - except made with chicken

For more menu plans, please visit Organizing Junkie.

Saturday Plans

Well Saturday is pretty well under way and I'm just getting a chance to post.

So far, Jim baked his birthday cake (isn't that awful that he has to bake his own) and I iced it.  I've also made the bread and my lunch for the week.  There is only one load of laundry left to do and I've already mopped.  The only things left on my to do list are start my herbal tinctures (I'll blog about them later this week), dust and vacuum.  I also want to continue working on my pantry inventory and I'm hoping to have some time to work on my recipe disaster (another blog post) but I don't know if I'll have time.

Not A Whole Lot Going On Post

I'm having one of those weeks were there isn't much to blog about :)  I do have a taco seasoning recipe to share, but alas I don't have it with me, so it will have to wait until next week.

We did have a wonderful Memorial Day out with my in-laws.  We drove up to Conneaut Lake Park, and while our day there was drastically shortened by the rain storm, we did get to enjoy watching it from the porch of the hotel.

The Simple Woman's Daybook - June 1

FOR TODAY. . .

What I'm hearing . . . I'm listening to a wonderful sermon on Brokenness

From the kitchen . . . Not much going on in the kitchen this week.


I am creating . . . the baby blanket is coming along nicely.

I am currently reading . . . I just got The 150 Healthiest Foods on Earth by Jonny Bowden from the library

Thinking about . . . Another crazy week.  No wonder I'm so worn down.

In my Bible I am reading . . .Galatians, Proverbs and Exodus

Around the house . . . The explosion in my sewing room is cleaned up :)

Looking ahead . . .Next week is Jim's birthday.  I wonder where he'll pick to go

A picture to share . . . Another from our trip to Lancaster County, Pennsylvania - laundry on the line.  This was taken at the Amish Village and isn't just some random person's laundry ;)