The Omelet: It's What's for Dinner!!

Several weeks ago I did a post about how beans can provide a wonderful and inexpensive allergy-free meal, especially when you are feeding a large family. Eggs are another "secret weapon" in the war against high priced, nutrient-empty meals for the allergy crowd (assuming that you are not dealing with an egg allergy, of course!).

Omelets are a weekly event at our house.  It is the one night that children are allowed to customize their meal according to their preferences.That is a big deal around here...and let me tell you, creativity abounds!!! Here are some of the toppings we keep on hand so that omelet night is never boring:

fresh peppers ( green, red, yellow,orange)
green onions
bacon bits
diced ham
spinach
diced fresh tomatoes
Rotel canned tomatoes ( mild, regular, or HOT)
black beans
cilantro
chives
rosemary
Cajun seasoning ( McCormick brand is gluten free)
cheddar cheese
American cheese
Swiss cheese
salt and pepper
...and whatever else we happen to find in the kitchen...the options are limitless!

If you have your own chickens and your own garden with fresh herbs, greens, peppers, and tomatoes, omelets can be the ultimate fresh and economical meal during the summer months!  And don't forget about quiche as another egg option. Milk substitutes work very well in quiche if you are needing to avoid dairy. A crust-less quiche is a great gluten-free option.

You may be interested in reading here  and here about some of the health benefits of eggs.  Pleasant Eating!

Homemade Instant Breakfast

 My friend Jonquil  is an former food scientist who is brimming with wonderful ideas when it comes to thrifty, healthy homemaking. I am so thankful to know her! We have bounced babies on our laps together, and spent hours watching teenagers bounce basketballs in the gym.  She sports her tranquil demeanor as beautifully as she sports her all-natural-west-coast-native-L.L. Bean-look :), and is one of the best listening ears around. She is a dear sister in the faith ... and this week is her birthday!

 Today I am sharing one of her great ideas with you: homemade instant breakfast. This is not a concoction for the allergy crowd, but is wonderful money-saver if you are a fan of the store bought Carnation Instant Breakfast.  One of the main ingredients is dry milk. Did you know that you can add extra dry milk in your baking to boost nutrition value of baked goods and casseroles?  I learned this trick from a NICU nutritionist that was trying to fatten me up/increase my nutrition while I was pumping for our preemie. (The nutritionist also said it is a great technique to use if you are recovering from a broken bone and want to speed healing.) Here  is what you need for this protein/calcium boosting drink mix::

3 cups dry milk
1 package instant chocolate pudding

Mix together and store in an air tight container.  Add desired amount to you milk, stir, and enjoy!

GF/Allergy Free: Holiday Sweet Treats

The holiday season can bring a bit of extra stress for families dealing with food allergies.   SO much celebrating goes on around the meal table or the snack napkin! Particularly if you are dealing with children who have food allergies, being prepared at all times is a must. Today's post is going to focus on some ideas for holiday sweets and treats. They can be frozen and kept ready for you top pop into your food bag at a moments notice for cover dish dinners, an evening at a friend's house,  holiday parties or family celebrations.

* Gluten free cakes, brownies, muffins, and sweet breads are idea for freezing. For a special holiday touch I like to frost and decorate them. This obviously isn't something you want to do all the time, but pulling out all the stops at this season of the year can help allergic children feel included when everyone else is downing red and green Oreos and the like. Therefore,...once a year... I let down the "healthy mama" guard and go for it!

Here is the frosting recipe I use:

1 cup shortening (GF)
some GF vanilla ( approximately 1 teaspoon)
2 cups powdered sugar ( use 1 cup Agave Nectar or honey if corn is an issue...we prefer agave)
1 teaspoon salt

( a few spoons of water is sometimes necessary if using the powdered sugar)

Blend together until smooth, adding water if necessary.  For a red color I like to puree some defrosted frozen red berries and blend them into the mix.  Blueberries add a lovely purple color. Some unsweetened cocoa powder can be added for a chocolate flavor.

It is really amazing how much color comes from those berries...and without any nasty artificial colors! ( I am terribly sorry that I cannot show you any photos of finished products today.  Our camera is out of whack and is being sent off for repairs.  I feel like my right arm has been cut off or something, but am thankful for past photos that I can use!) I keep small containers of frosting in the refrigerator to use as needed during the holiday season, but also frost several individual pieces of cake prior to freezing for times when I need to grab something quick.

Other decorating ideas:
*Crush up some Yummy Earth Lollipops to use as colorful sprinkles
*Find other GF candies such as Annie's Gummy Bunnies, or organic jelly beans and gummy candies to use as decorations
*Crumble up some GF cookies and use as a topping on frosted cakes
*Crush organic candy canes to use as toppings

A small cookie cutter can be used to create a cute pattern  of whatever topping you choose. Simply press the cookie cutter into the frosting and fill the space with your topping before carefully removing the cookie cutter.

Frostings and toppings also come in handy for decorating GF cookies. Nothing is sadder than watching a child not be able to eat the cookies he has helped everyone else decorate!  My plan this year is to keep a few containers of the toppings listed above on hand for times when little ones are decorating cookies in group and family settings.

A few more ideas for special treats....
Milkshakes: Around this time of year,  Chick-Fil-A Peppermint Chocolate Chip Milkshakes are everyone's favorite "grandparent treat" around our house.  How do we handle this with our GF/dairy free/nut free/no artificial colors child?  Put some soy ice cream  in the blender with a little red berry puree and some Enjoy Life chocolate chips. It is red with chocolate chips just like everyone else's shake and is slurped down just as fast, too!

Chipwiches/Ice cream sandwiches: Two GF cookies with frosting in between... a nice twist on the same old cookies when everyone else is having a special treat.  An extremely yummy combination is chocolate chip cookies  with candy canes mixed in the frosting!! This also works well with soy ice cream in between the cookies !

 Wow!  Just reading over all of this makes me want to go brush my teeth! Perhaps in another post I will tackle main dishes or something a little more healthy :). What ideas do you have for making delicious holiday sweet treats for those with food allergies?

****************
Amazon is a great source for some of the products listed in this post!

Click to See Special Offers in our Grocery and Gourmet Store

*disclosure: contains affiliate links

Mrs. T's Favorite Kitchen Tools

We are not hosting Thanksgiving this year, so we have decided to have a few days of intensive declutting over Thanksgiving break. I have been mentally reviewing what we use regularly and what we no longer need. I also recently heard from someone who is cooking gluten-free for the first time and is finding out that it takes a long time to make things from scratch! She asked what tools I have found helpful so she could add them to her Christmas wish list. As I considered what is in my kitchen and what tools I use the most, I realized that nearly all my favorites were given to me as gifts!

Below you will see "Mrs. T.'s Favorite Kitchen Appliances and Tools."  Most of the items are listed as Amazon links, and I do need to clarify that I am an Amazon affiliate and receive a small percentage of the sales from Amazon links on this blog. If you would like to order these products from the links that would be, well...just groovy! However, my main intention in this post is really and truly to tell you what things I find helpful in my daily cooking! Now, on to the post...

* The Kitchen Aid Mixer:  I received one of these for my 40th birthday as a joint gift from everyone who knows me. Well, that is a small exaggeration, but many people pitched in to give me something I never in a hundred years would have been able to own otherwise, and I was deeply touched.  It has made all our baking so much easier. It not only mixes while I putter around the kitchen, it can knead dough while I attend to other duties ( love that!). It has a wide assortment of attachment you can add on if you desire, such as a meat grinder. Mine is red, which adds a cheery look to my kitchen counter!




*The Cuisinart Waffle Maker: This was a Christmas gift and is in operation almost every weekend.  It is great for making gluten free waffles for the freezer.  It has a timer and lets you know when waffles are done, and you are able to select the setting that determines how brown you want the waffles. It is very easy to clean, which is important when you are using appliances for both gluten free and regular purposes.




* High Quality Cookie Sheets: You guessed it, also a gift!  Heavy and easy to clean, these are in use almost every day at our house! If you are doing lots of baking I highly recommend good quality pans like these that cook evenly and are easy to clean!


*Good Cook Silicone Spatulas:  My mom bought some of these years ago and split the set with me. I love having more than one and am a big fan of "color coding" when cooking so I don't stir a gluten -free dish with a  spatula used to stir a non-GF dish.  I also have a very small spatula  that is handy for stirring and scraping out small containers.



*Smart Pot Crock Pot:  Um, yup. Also entered our kitchen as a Christmas gift! This is probably my biggest time saver. I can pop dinner in the crock pot in the morning while listening to someone read, and then just leave it alone, knowing it will automatically switch to the warm setting when the cooking time is done. Love it!



*Kitchen Aid Blender: My dear husband gave this to me for Mother's Day many, many years ago. It was an older model on sale at Tuesday Morning ( a close -out store). It has probably made three million smoothies over the years. I was quite alarmed last year when it suddenly stopped working.  Well, I am a Kitchen Aid fan for life.... we called them, they told us what part we needed, and for a mere ten dollars we were able  restore our blender to perfect working order! I am so thankful that someone still makes appliances that can be repaired instead of needing to be replaced!


*Joie Measure Mate:  I picked up one of these from Lehmans Hardware in Ohio this summer.  I can't find it on their website, but here is the link to the Joie Shop where you can see lots of fun kitchen tools. This little measuring cup measures in Tablespoons and ml, and I find it much easier to use than traditional spoons.

* Wilton Measuring Cups and Pampered Chef Measure-All Cup: Both of these cups are very easy to read, which I find makes measuring ingredients much less time consuming. The Measure-All is terrific for solid ingredients, but I prefer the Wilton for liquids. The four cup option is great for baking in bulk.




Well, I hope that is helpful to you, weather you are making out your Christmas list, considering gifts for others, or just adjusting to a new routine of gluten-free cooking. I'd love to know what kitchen tools you find helpful!

Warm Breakfast Ideas ( Allergy-Friendly)

Fall is a super busy time at our house. I try to get up a full hour before the rest of our family so that I have ample time for Bible reading and prayer, along with some time to organize the day ahead while I clutch my steaming cup of coffee. This jump-start on the day makes all the difference. In spite of the urge to accomplish a few extra tasks in the morning hours, I love being able to offer a warm breakfast as chilly, groggy loved ones tumble out of bed. ( And there is also the added benefit of the stove heating up the kitchen a bit!) It doesn't happen everyday, but here are some time efficient, budget-friendly fall breakfast dishes that help us ease into chilly mornings. They can all be quickly modified for GF/CF diets.

* Baked Oatmeal: This is one of my favorites because it is very economical and the left overs make great afternoon snacks.  I really like this recipe, although I have one child who prefers that I leave out the baking powder, making a more crunchy oatmeal bar.  Other favorite flavor variations include drizzling pure maple syrup or honey over the top of the bars, mixing in bits of fresh apple instead of cranberries, and spreading a thin layer of  jam on top of the bars.  To make this recipe GF/CF I simply use GF oats, GF vanilla and soy/rice milk.

*Baked French Toast:  Here is a recipe for Baked Orange French Toast...yummmmm!  GF bread, or even GF Udi hot dog buns, can be substituted for french bread.

*Muffins:  I usually just make the normal muffins and then pull some GF muffins out of the freezer. This is a great homemade muffin mix to keep on hand.    For the GF freezer muffins I usually use a GF mix, Namaste being my favorite for our CF/CF/Nut free/Corn free needs.

*Homemade Applesauce, straight from the crock pot: This is especially wonderful if you have freshly picked apples! I get it started before going to bed in my Smart Pot crock pot that automatically shifts to the "warm" setting when the cooking time is complete. The apple-vanilla-cinnamon smell alone is enough to coax tired teenagers ( and parents!) out of bed! 

In addition to the main dish, a pot of hot tea, cider, or hot chocolate is always appreciated first thing in the morning.  Enjoy making fall mornings warm and memorable for your family!

Plan It, Don't Panic Menu Challenge : Week 3

Well, it is Week 3 of the Plan It, Don't Panic Menu Challenge. I neglected to post my menu for week 2, but here's what's cookin' in my kitchen this week! All dishes are gluten free and dairy free.  The Lemon Honey Chicken was a new recipe this week. I served it tonight and it was a huge hit!

Monday:  Crock Pot Cranberry Pork, rice, peas

Tuesday:  Lemon Honey Chicken ( also in the crock pot!), green beans, mashed potatoes

Wednesday:  Lentils and Rice, roasted sweet potatoes, kale

Thursday:  Chili, cornbread ( for those who can eat it), salad

Friday:  Baked potatoes with leftover chili, cheese, and broccoli for toppings; green salad

Enjoy feeding your family this week and check out Plan it, Don't Panic for other great menu ideas!

Gluten Free/Egg Free/Dairy Free Oatmeal Cookies

There is nothing quite like a warm cookie and a hot cup of tea on a fall afternoon! This oatmeal cookie recipe has become one of our favorite gluten-free cookie options.  It is also egg, nut, and dairy free! The recipe is one I modified to suit our food allergies. The original  recipe is for Oatmeal Crispies and is found in  the Aurora Mennonite Church cookbook entitled Our Treasured Recipes. You can read about this cook book and how to order one at the end of this post. 

GF Oatmeal Crispies

1 c. margarine (or butter)
1/2 c. sugar
1 tsp. GF vanilla
1 c. GF flour mix ( I have used GF baking mix in a pinch and they turned out ok...just a bit more like scones than cookies...and they were a bit hard when they cooled!)
1 1/2 c. GF oatmeal
a few handfulls of dried cranberries ( I think nuts would also be very good if you do not have nut allergies in your family)

Cream butter, sugar, and vanilla.  Add flour and oatmeal.  Chill dough in refrigerator for 1 hour. Spoon dough onto greased cookie sheets and press with a fork. Bake at 350 for around 15 minutes.

They, like all cookies, are best warm. Light your favorite fall candle, brew a cup of tea, and enjoy a pleasant, allergy-free cookie break this afternoon!

*Looking for gluten free flour and baking mixes?Amazon sells all our favorites!  Although Pamela' s is probably my most favorite, it is not a good choice if you have tree nut allergies in the family.  I have found that all of these brands work very well for times when I am not able to put together my own GF flour mix.  Buying them in bulk from Amazon is both handy and cost effective.( And there are even more options on Amazon that I haven't tried yet...check out the Amazon search box in my side bar and enjoy browsing through the entire gluten free section!)  Happy Baking!

Plan-It, Don't Panic, Pleasantburg Style ~ Allergy Free!

 This week I am participating in the Plan it- Don't Panic Menu Planning Challenge....join us for great menu planning resources, ideas, and tips!

I was 40 years old before I began to enjoy cooking.  The shift occurred when  I realized that it was not the cooking I disliked, it was the obligation I felt to follow a recipe. Once I embraced the fact that I could ( and must, in the case of our food allergies/sensitivities) use a recipe as a mere guideline, I felt am amazing sense of  FREEDOM and joy in cooking!!!!

This week's menu items  are all loosely based  on recipes from Sue Gregg's Meals in Minutes cookbook. I invested in this cookbook when we had two babies and were living on a very small salary. This cookbook was a great help to me. If you are  looking to reduce food costs while still providing your family with healthy  whole food, I think this is one of the best resources you can own.  I have easily modified are all of this week's recipes to be gluten free. ( Feel free to email me or leave a comment if you want the details on how I did that.)

*Monday:  Enchilada Casserole and salad  ( separate dish without corn tortillas for those with corn sensitivity)

*Tuesday: Spaghetti and Meatballs and green beans ( separate gluten free pasta, but GF meatballs for everyone!)

*Wednesday: Sausage-Egg Strata, grits, and toast ( skip the grits for the corn sensitive, GF toast as needed )

*Thursday:  Crock Pot Beef Soup ( this one is not in Sue Gregg's cookbook...I just made it up one cold winter day !) and salad

*Friday:  Tuna casserole, asparagus, and rice

*Saturday: French Bread Pizza ( Udi GF hot dog bun pizza for the GF folks, without cheese for the GFCF among us...I highly recommend Hormel All-Natural pepperoni in the brown box, especially if you are concerned with preservatives.)

Pleasant dining to you and yours! Order your own Sue Gregg cookbooks here! The Breakfast Cookbook also has Allergy Free Alternatives.

This Week's Dinner Menu (with Gluten-Free Options)

A few yearsago I became very organized about my menu planning and shopping, but all that kind of  fell apart when the words "gluten-free" became part of our daily vocabulary. I have really missed those prepared shopping lists and menus! All the hassle and changes of the past year and a half has been completely worth it, and now  I have settled into a new set of meals we can eat. I am eager to get back to a more systematic approach to meals. To begin with, I need our weekly menu somewhere besides the bottom of my grocery list! Since a few people have suggested that I include some posts on gluten-free eating here, I am going  to share our weekly dinner plans with you. Here's is what is on the list this week:

* Black Beans and Rice with Garden Salad

*Beef Soup ( made in crock pot) with Open Faced Grilled Cheese and Tomato Sandwiches (on homemade whole wheat bread or GF bread. Our favorite  GF Rudi Bread is on sale week...woo-hoo!)

*Chicken Taco Casserole with Corn on the Cob and Garden Salad

* Pasta topped with Alfredo Sauce and Stir Fried Chicken/Garden Veggies; Bread and Garden Salad  (GF Pasta for those who need it)

* Lentils and Rice with Asparagus

We omit cheese/dairy and corn products for those in the family who need it, which is fairly easy to do with all of these meals. Happy Eating!

Summer Thrift: Homemade Popsicles

 Summer is an ideal time for forming new habits and trying new things. It is a great time to reflect on what is working and what isn't in the area of thrift. I often find myself sitting on my swing in the afternoon, watching my children play, and asking the Lord for new ways to better use our resources. My husband works harder than any man I know, and I do not want to use this hard earned money carelessly. Even more than that, I want to honor the Lord with our resources and be able to give more to His work around the world.

One of the best ways I have found to save some money during the summer months is homemade popsicles.  I simply cannot imagine summer without popsicles!   For that matter, I cannot imagine the flu, pregnancy, or dental work without popsicles! They are at the top of my list when it comes to refreshing comfort food. When food allergies came into our life I realized that I was going to either have to allot a huge portion of our grocery budget to fancy frozen tasties ( ...not possible, of course!), or I was going to have to find a homemade variety that surpassed the rock-hard homemade frozen pops of my childhood.

My friend L. came to my rescue! I have tweaked her recipie a bit to suit our needs and here is our delicious, easy, and thrifty result:

2 c. boiling water
1 teaspoon unflavored gelatin
2 c.  100% fruit juice or smoothie

After dissolving the gelatin in the hot water, add juice, stir, and pour into molds. You may need to modify the juice to water ratio depending on how sweet you like your pops. For a special, and admittedly less healthy treat, we substitute the juice with 1 packet Invisible Kool-aid ( dye free, watermelon flavored) 2/3 cups sugar, and 2 cups water.  This is a nice option if you cannot tolerate artificial color. They are pictured above, along with one, lone apple juice pop. This recipie makes 16 pops for just pennies! I try to keep several batches, and at least a couple of varieties, in our freezer. They are soft, flavorful, and so very refreshing on a hot summer afternoon!  Enjoy!

This post is linked to Our Simple Country Life and Far Above Rubies. Come visit and see what other bloggers are writing about in the area of homemaking!

This Just In......

                               
           Unassuming housewife grows potatoes in urban garden!

Dogs confused,
kids amused,
and dinner dish approved by all in attendance!

                                                                 

 Baked Garden Potpourri  

Several small potatoes 

One red pepper

One sliced zucchini  

Several stray green beans (and any other random garden produce) 

One Sprig of rosemary

Drizzle liberally with olive oil; Sprinkle with salt, pepper and copious amounts of McCormick Cajun Seasoning. Stir to coat veggies evenly with oil and spices. Top with rosemary. Bake at 450 until potatoes are tender (around 45 minutes).   Enjoy!

This post is linked to Our Simple Country Life.

Zucchini Pancakes

Seeing as we are still enjoying zucchini season here, I thought I would share another wonderful zucchini recipe with you… Zucchini Pancakes! I discovered this recipe in a church cookbook that a Mennonite relative sent my way.  Our middle school daughter cooked these up last week for our dinner…one batch modified to be gluten free and one batch of the regular version…while her daddy fried up some sausage to go on the side.  An easy, tasty, and filling dinner!  (Not to mention a night off for the regular cook!)  Leftovers can be easily frozen and warmed up as a snack for quick lunch, an added bonus for those of us who need to keep gluten-free food on hand.  Enjoy!

Zucchini Pancakes

2 eggs, beaten

2 c. grated zucchini

1 c. grated Cheddar cheese

½ c. grated onion

2 C. Jiffy baking mix (we used gluten–free                Bisquick for the GF version)

Salt, pepper, and garlic powder to taste

Oil and butter for frying

Melt oil and butter in skillet. Mix all other ingredients and drop by spoonfuls in skillet. Brown on one side, then flip. Press down, and brown on other side. Enjoy!

* There is nothing like a great church cookbook to get you out of your cooking rut. We have thoroughly enjoyed this collection of tried and true Mennonite dishes.  If you would like to order your own copy and support a great ministry at the same time, please contact  Aurora Mennonite Church  at auroramennonite.com.

Abundance... and a Delicious Zucchini Dish

One of my favorite parts of gardening is harvesting an abundance of zucchini each June.  Plenty for our family and some to share with others. An abundance of about anything is such a wonderful thing in this world where folks are often scraping by on the minimum. I am so thankful as I watch those yellow flowers transform into food that will nourish us. Zucchini plants remind me of the abundance that is ours in Christ.... abundant love, abundant joy, abundant hope, abundant life, and lots of good fruit.  Someday I will have to write about last year's "not-so-flourishing-garden" and the spiritual lessons it taught me, but today I am thanking God for blessing our little seeds and the work of our hands, and thanking Him for abundant life in Christ...enough joy,hope, love, and abundant life for ourselves, and plenty to share besides!

On the practical side of things, there is always the issue of what exactly to do with all the June zucchini.  This is one of the easiest dishes to prepare and a favorite of the family. A relative shared it with me years ago from her What Would Jesus Eat cookbook, causing us to jokingly refer to it as "WWJE Zucchini". We laugh about this dish a lot because it calls for " biscuit baking mix"... I mean, can't you just see Mary and Martha quickly snatching the Bisquick off the top shelf as they prepare dinner?! Hmmmm..... Anyway :), this is a delicious dish and I hope you enjoy it!

3 cups thinly sliced unpeeled zucchini
1 cup biscuit baking mix
1/2 cup grated fresh Parmesan cheese
1/2 cup finely chapped onion
4 slightly beaten eggs
1/2 t. Celtic salt
2 T. snipped parsley
1/2 t. dried oregano leaves
dash of pepper
1 finely chopped garlic clove
1 cup extra virgin olive oil

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Mix zucchini, baking mix, cheese, onion, eggs, salt and spices with olive oil.  Spread in greased baking dish ( 9x13x2 inch). Bake 25 minutes or until golden brown.  Cool, cut into squares and serve! Refrigerate leftovers.  (We think they are even better the second day!)

This post is linked to Our Simple Country Life, Raising Homemakers and Far Above Rubies.  Be sure to visit these sites for great posts from other homemakers!

Bulk Food Stores and Natural Evaporated Cane Juice Sugar

One of the many places I enjoyed discovering on our little adventure to Ohio was the Amstutz Pantry in Dalton.  Dalton may sound like a town  to you, but let me assure you that this place is in the middle of nowhere! However, the drive was beautiful and the trip out there was well worth it. I had never experienced bulk food stores quite like the ones we visited in the Amish areas. How I wish I lived closer to one! I think we visited three different bulk stores on our trip, but the Amstutz Pantry was my favorite. The ladies were so kind and helpful, their selection was wonderful, and their prices were a fraction of what I usually pay. Amstutz Pantry has a Facebook fan page and I encourage you to check them out and pay them a visit if you are anywhere in the area!

While I was thrilled to stock up on several staples for gluten-free baking, I was especially excited to acquire some affordable Natural Evaporated Cane Juice Sugar. The Southerners in my world have this thing for sweet tea.  I am talking about really, really sweet tea! It sincerely pains me to stir in all that  over-processed white stuff, knowing I am probably hastening adult-onset diabetes or some other undesirable and dangerous condition.  Natural evaporated Cane Juice Sugar is less refined and thus retains the natural B vitamins found in sugar cane. Used in moderation, it has not been associated with any of the health issues and problems that occur with refined white sugar.  Best of all, it can be used exactly as you use regular sugar in your baking...and in your tea!  Taste? Delicious!

On other little note about the Amstutz Pantry....if you have a Lego lover in you household you will be interested to know that they sell candy that tastes like Smarties and looks just like pastel Lego bricks. You can even build with them! I couldn't help but remember all the birthdays when we topped cupcakes with Lego mini-figures and decorated out table with Lego creations.  What fun we would have had with Lego bricks that you can really eat :). And, yes, I couldn't resist bring home a bag for the big kids...and their parents... to play with !

Creative Kitchen Organization

 You have probably seen peg boards used to keep tools in the garage tidy and organized, but did you ever think of using a peg board in your kitchen?  My mom has done just this in her kitchen pantry and I love it!

 On one side of the pantry, the peg-board lined wall is filled with utensils of all kinds.

 The other side of the pantry is where she hangs her pots for cooking.  No more digging in drawers for the spatula, or searching in a utensil can for the correct size of ladle.  Best of all, no having to bend down to the stove drawer to retrieve your sauce pan or skillet.

And what about cutting boards and pans for baking?  I love this idea, too.  She had a local woodworker craft this:

It sits on the top shelf of her pantry. Pans (and cutting boards) slide neatly in between the plywood dividers, so it is very easy to see and obtain the item you need. The spacing of the dividers are adjustable so that pans can be nested and the space can be customized appropriately. Reaching all of these things can be a challenge if you are short like me, so she keeps a small step stool in the kitchen.

I think both of these organizing techniques would be very effective if you are operating in a kitchen with limited space. You could paint a peg board a cheery color and hang it on a visible kitchen wall, or slide a pan rack into a regular kitchen cupboard.  And how about using peg-boards in other parts of the house?  Perhaps one for storing curling irons, hair brushes and bows? Or maybe one in a sewing room or closet for craft/sewing supplies? The next time you are dealing with limited space, take a few moments to think creatively about the situation and, perhaps, wander out of the room (and out to the garage?!) for some out-of-the-box ideas!

This post is linked to Far Above Rubies and Our Simple Country Life.  Enjoy reading what other homemakers are writing about this week!

Kale and Chickpea Stir Fry

I don't blog about cooking very often.  Honestly, it seems like I am constantly trying to juggle who can eat what, while still making sure that everyone is getting all the proper nutrients. Throw in having to read and reread every label on every ingredient, and needing to have portable, child-friendly items on hand at all times  (on a budget, of course!)...well, there are usually other things I would rather think about in my spare time besides food! However, there are a few ingredients that I am passionate enough about to include here, and this recipe uses two of them: kale and chickpeas.  

This weekend I hit the farmers market in search of some greens. ( My spring garden greens are still  needing to mature a bit.) Just for fun, I decided to type "stir fry kale recipe" into my handy-dandy Swagbucks toolbar.  I was richly rewarded with this recipe. First, I tossed some chickpeas in olive oil with some garlic and began to stir fry them. The recipe called for shallots, but I did not have any on hand.

Within ten minutes the chickpeas had a nice crust and the kitchen smelled heavenly!.  I  tossed in my fresh kale, some red pepper flakes, and salt.

A few more minutes of stir frying and it was ready to be sprinkled with some lemon juice and put on my plate beside some freshly grilled fish. Won*der*ful!!! I actually ended up sharing my fish, doubling my portion of greens, and mixing the remaining fish and greens together as one delicious dish!  Easy, healthy,delicious, beautiful...what more could you ask for?! 

This post is linked to Far Above Rubies  , Raising Homemakers and Our Simple Country Life.  Take some time and see what other homemakers are writing about this week! 

Eggs!

This week we were blessed to receive several dozen "straight from the farm" eggs. I seriously love fresh eggs. Bright yellow yokes, thick shells, a variety of colors and shapes...I think they are just beautiful inside and out!

Best of all, my children adore these eggs and eat them up like crazy.  Scrambled eggs for lunch on Tuesday, boiled eggs for snack on Wednesday, eggs on toast for breakfast on Thursday.  This afternoon Peace used the eggs along with some freshly ground wheat in her lemon squares. Never before have we had such a bright yellow, all natural treat on our dessert plate!  And crushing up those beautiful shells and putting them in our compost bin...it seems just as it should be...nothing wasted.  I seriously love that too. I have done a good bit of reading about urban farms over the past few years, mostly out of curiosity. Fascinating stuff.  We are not currently in a position to have hens, but a relative in our area hopes to acquire some soon.  I can't wait to see how it goes and learn along with her. If you tend your own chickens, count your blessings and thank the Lord for your beautiful eggs. I assure you that they are far better than their grocery store cousins! If you happen to have a few extra eggs in your basket, enjoy sharing them with others.  Everyone deserves a fresh egg now and then!