Sunday, May 24, 2009

BBQ Chicken and Cornbread

--1 pound of cooked, or practically cooked chicken, cubed or shredded (I browned my chicken for a while on the stove, then lost interest. It was almost cooked, but not yet edible.)
--1 small sweet potato, peeled and cut in 1-inch chunks (optional.)
--1 red onion, diced (optional. I didn't use this, although I intended to, and am kind of kicking myself for the accidental omission.)
--1 cup frozen or fresh corn
--1 bottle of your favorite barbecue sauce (18 oz)
--1/4 cup hot water

cornbread topping:

use a mix and follow the directions on the box (minus the oil or butter), or mix together the following:

--3/4 cup corn meal
--1 1/4 cups of flour (I used a Bob Red's Mill GF mix--we were out of Pamela's)
--1 cup milk
--1/4 cup sugar
--1 egg
--1 tsp baking powder (only if using regular all-purpose flour)

The Directions.

I used a 4 qt round crockpot for this---it was the perfect size.

Spray the inside of your stoneware with cooking spray. Cut up the chicken and sweet potato, and add to the crock. Add the corn. Empty the contents of the barbecue sauce bottle, and then add 1/4 cup of hot water to the bottle, shake, and pour that out, too. Mix well with a spoon.

In a separate bowl, mix together the cornbread topping. You don't need to mix well, I just used a fork. Spread the topping on to the chicken mixture.

Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours. Ours cooked on low for exactly 6. If you are planning on being out of the house, cook for the shorter amount of time. You can always switch to high to brown the top when you get home.

The Verdict.

We all really liked this a lot. I can't wait to make it again, or a different variation.

Chicken and Brown Rice

--1 1/2 cups of brown rice
--1 1/2 cups chicken broth
--1 1/2 cups milk, divided (stick with 2% or lower in fat content. I used soy.)
--3/4 cup flour (I used Pamela's)
--1 small yellow onion, diced
--8 oz sliced mushrooms
--3-4 chicken breast halves or equivalent parts (1 used 3 huge frozen breast halves)
--1/2 tsp onion powder
--1/4 tsp black pepper
--1/4 tsp paprika

The Directions.

Use a 4-quart or larger crockpot for this. I used a 6-quart.

Combine all of the chicken broth (1 1/2 cups) and 1/2 cup of milk in a sauce pan and heat over medium heat on the stove. In a separate bowl, whisk the remaining 1 cup of milk with 3/4 cup flour.
When the broth and milk have begun to boil, reduce heat, and slowly stir in the milk and flour mixture. When everything is fully incorporated, set the pot aside to cool.

Spray the inside of your crockpot with cooking spray.

Add the rice and seasonings to your crock. Chop up the onion, and add it with the mushrooms. Stir in your broth, flour, and milk mixture. The rice will turn a bit red from the paprika.

Lay the chicken pieces on top.

Cover and cook on high for 4 hours, or low for about 8. I cooked ours on high for 4, and let it stay warm for another 2.

When you take the lid off of the crockpot, stir the rice. If the rice is fully cooked and you have extra liquid, keep the lid off for about 15 minutes. The liquid will absorb quickly.

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Black Bean Burgers

* 1 (16 ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed
* 1/2 green bell pepper, cut into 2 inch pieces
* 1/2 onion, cut into wedges
* 3 cloves garlic, peeled
* 1 egg (ex-large)
* 1 tablespoon chili powder
* 1 tablespoon cumin
* 1 teaspoon Thai chili sauce or hot sauce
* 1/2 cup bread crumbs


DIRECTIONS:

1. If grilling, preheat an outdoor grill for high heat, and lightly oil a sheet of aluminum foil. If baking, preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C), and lightly oil a baking sheet.
2. In a medium bowl, mash black beans with a fork until thick and pasty.
3. In a food processor, finely chop bell pepper, onion, and garlic. Then stir into mashed beans.
4. In a small bowl, stir together egg, chili powder, cumin, and chili sauce.
5. Stir the egg mixture into the mashed beans. Mix in bread crumbs until the mixture is sticky and holds together. Divide mixture into four patties.
6. If grilling, place patties on foil, and grill about 8 minutes on each side. If baking, place patties on baking sheet, and bake about 10 minutes on each side.

Greek Salad w/ Yogurt Dressing

•Juice of 1 lemon
•1/2 cup Greek yogurt
•1 small clove garlic, finely chopped into a paste or grated
•1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil (EVOO)
•Salt and freshly ground black pepper
•1/2 English (seedless) cucumber, diced
•2 tomatoes, seeded and diced
•1 bell pepper, seeded and diced
•1 cup flat-leaf parsley leaves, chopped
•1/2 red onion, diced
•1/2 cup pitted kalamata olives
•4-5 Greek hot peppers, chopped
PreparationIn a large salad bowl, whisk together the lemon juice, yogurt, garlic, EVOO and some salt and pepper.

Add the cucumber, tomatoes, pepper, parsley and onion to bowl and toss to coat. Garnish with the olives and hot peppers

Cleaning with Vinegar

Yes, it’s true, vinegar is a miracle cleaner. It kills germs, bacteria and mildew due to its high acidity content. I think today we are all trying to find ways to avoid using harsh cleaning agents, yet many of the “environmentally-friendly” products sold at the store can be pricey. Vinegar is a great option as it’s very affordable and can be used to clean just about every surface in your home.

I have been using vinegar, cut with water, for as long as I can remember to clean my kitchen and bathroom floors, counter tops and bathrooms. You can buy the big jugs of white distilled vinegar and your house will be spic and span. For the floor, I use a cup or 2 of vinegar in a bucket of hot water. For counter tops. I use vinegar cut with just a little bit of water, or straight up if the counters are really dirty. The only surface you should never use vinegar on is marble, as it can damage it. Here are some other tips for cleaning with vinegar (from www.vinegartips.com):

To shine chrome sink fixtures that have a lime buildup, use a paste made of 2 tablespoons salt and 1 teaspoon white distilled vinegar.

Make your own scouring cleanser by combining 1/4 cup baking soda with 1 tablespoon liquid detergent. Add just enough white distilled vinegar to give it a thick but creamy texture.

Clean counter tops and make them smell sweet again with a cloth soaked in undiluted white distilled vinegar.

Clean and deodorize a drain by pouring in 1 cup baking soda, then one cup hot white distilled vinegar. Let this sit for 5 minutes or so then run hot water down the drain.

Deodorize the garbage disposal by pouring in 1/2 cup baking soda and 1/2 cup hot white distilled vinegar. Let sit for 5 minutes then run hot water down the disposal.

Clean the microwave by mixing 1/2 cup white distilled vinegar and 1/2 cup water in a microwave-safe bowl. Bring it to a rolling boil inside the microwave. Baked-on food will be loosened, and odors will disappear. Wipe clean.

Clean the shelves and walls of the refrigerator with a half-and-half solution of water and white distilled vinegar.

To clean a grease splattered oven door window, saturate it with full-strength white distilled vinegar. Keep the door open for 10 to 15 minutes before wiping with a sponge.

For cloudy glassware, soak paper towels or a cloth in full-strength white distilled vinegar and wrap around the inside and outside of the glass. Let sit awhile before rinsing clean.

Remove the smell of spoiled food from a refrigerator by first rinsing the area with soap and water. Spray surfaces with full-strength white distilled vinegar and wipe them down with a damp cloth or sponge. Fill some containers with baking soda and place inside. Close the door and leave for a few days.

To remove a label, decal, or price tag, cover with a cloth soaked in white distilled vinegar. Leave the cloth on overnight and the label should slide off.

Renew sponges and dishrags by placing them in just enough water to cover them. Then add 1/4 cup white distilled vinegar. Let them soak overnight.

Deodorize the toilet bowl by allowing 3 cups white distilled vinegar to sit in it for about a half hour before flushing.

To make the toilet bowl sparkle, pour in a cup or more of diluted white distilled vinegar and let it sit several hours or overnight. Scrub well with the toilet brush and flush.

Clean up pet accidents by first blotting up the area and then adding a white distilled vinegar-and-water solution. Blot until it is almost dry. Then sprinkle baking soda over the area and let it dry. Vacuum up the residue the next day.

Create your own window cleaning solution by combining 1/2 cup non-sudsy ammonia, 1 cup white distilled vinegar, and 2 tablespoons cornstarch in a gallon of water.

Clean woodwork and walls with a mixture of 1 cup white distilled vinegar, 1 cup baking soda, 1/2 cup ammonia and 1 gallon warm water. Wipe on with a sponge or damp—not wet—towel.

Clean wood paneling with a solution of 1/4 cup olive oil, 1/2 cup white distilled vinegar, and 2 cups warm water. Wipe on with a soft cloth.

Get decals off walls or doors by letting undiluted white distilled vinegar soak into them for several minutes before trying to peel them off. Repeat if necessary.

Remove white water rings from wood with a solution of equal parts white distilled vinegar and vegetable oil. Rub with the grain.

To kill germs, spray full-strength white distilled vinegar on doorknobs and then wipe them dry.


~Taken from the Rachael Ray Site~

Baking Soda is Da Bomb...

Your tub or sink. Ever look at the side of a can of sink scrubbing powder? It’s scented baking soda. Take regular baking soda, sprinkle it on your sink or tub and scrub away.

Laundry. If you throw 1/3 cup of baking soda in your wash cycle, it will help your laundry detergent work better, help eliminate odors, and soften fabrics.

The fridge. We all know a box of baking soda in the fridge will help eliminate odors, and it will. So will a sprinkle on your rugs or on your furniture or even in your litter box. Baking soda will help eliminate the odors in the rug and furniture and will also help absorb the spill.

Fruits and Veggies. I like this idea of cleaning veggies without harsh soaps. You just mix a little bit with water and scrub the fruits and veggies and rinse them clean.

Your bod. Sprinkle a little baking soda into your bath tub for a relaxing soak that also lifts off oil and dirt from your body. Ever get one of those fizzy bath balls? Look at the ingredients next time and I bet you’ll see sodium bicarbonate!

Go Green: Cleaning with Lemons

Using lemons to clean your house is another way to make your home environmentally- friendly and save money at the same time. Lemons smell good, are readily available and have a multitude of uses. They are also effective against most household bacteria. You can buy big bags of lemons at most warehouse stores to stretch your dollar even further.


•Disinfect a wood chopping block or cutting board by rubbing a lemon slice across it – pour lemon juice straight on stubborn stains, let sit 10 minutes and wipe clean with water

•Make a home made air freshener spritzer by dissolving 2 – 3 tablespoons baking soda in 2 cups hot water, add ¼ cup lemon juice, pour into spray bottle and spray into air

•Make an air freshener by placing cut lemon slices in a bowl on your counter for a natural fresh smell; or place a few leftover lemon rinds in a pot of simmering water on the stove for a few hours to remove odors

•Make a glass cleaner by mixing ½ cup lemon juice and 2 cups water in a spray bottle; you can also add ¼ tsp Murphy’s oil Soap

•Remove hard water or rust stains - pour straight lemon juice on the stain, let it sit until the stain dissolves, rinse and repeat if necessary

•Put a whole lemon peel down the garbage disposal to clean the disposal and freshen the whole kitchen

•Mix 1 cup olive oil with ½ cup lemon juice and you have a natural furniture polish for wood – apply a thin coat with a soft cloth, let sit 5 minutes and buff with clean soft cloth (make a fresh batch each time you use it)

•Cut a lemon in half and sprinkle with baking soda to clean surfaces, dishes and stains

•Use lemon juice to clean and polish brass and copper

•Dried lemon peels in a cheesecloth deter moths


~Taken from the Rachael Ray Site~

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

Porcupine Balls

1 lb ground beef
1/2 cup long grain rice
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
2 Tbsp. minced onion
10 oz. can condensed tomato soup
1/2 cup water
1 clove of garlic cloves, minced

PREPARATION:

In large bowl, combine meat, rice, salt, pepper, garlic cloves and onion. Shape into small balls. Heat tomato soup and water in cooker, using brown function or not closing lid. Drop meat balls in soup mixture. Close cover securely, then bring up to high pressure and cook for 10 minutes. Let pressure drop of its own accord (natural pressure release). Wait 5 minutes, then open cooker and serve.

Chicken Pillows

Large can of precooked chicken
1 pkg cream cheese
crescent rolls
1 can cream of chicken soup
1/3 cup of milk
sprinkle of cheese

Combine chicken and cream cheese. Put dollop of mixture into each crescent roll and roll up. Bake as directed on crescent roll pkg. I usually cook them a little longer so they get crispy instead of soggy. Mix soup, milk and cheese until consistency you desire (like a sauce). Pour over pillows and sprinkle w/lots of pepper.

Monday, May 4, 2009

GOOT

Goot is a garlic oil ointment that uses 3 tablespoons of coconut oil, 3 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil and 3 tablespoons of finely chopped garlic.

It is antibiotic, antifungal and antimicrobial. In addition, it can penetrate the skin and enter the bloodstream by topical application and is safe to use on sensitive areas.

Instructions

3 TBSP coconut oil (heated enough to melt it)
3 TBSP extra virgin olive oil
3 TBSP minced garlic (about 3 to 4 good sized cloves)
Small blender or coffee grinder
small lidded jar for storage


Step1 Blend warm but NOT hot coconut oil, extra virgin olive oil and minced garlic in the blender or coffee grinder OR just crush and chop the garlic.

Step2 Strain this blended mixture into a small jar to remove any of the bigger pieces of garlic that didn't get blended in. Place a clean lid on the jar.

Step3 Place the jar of GOOT in the refrigerator and in about an hour it will be solid like a salve. Keep this refrigerated until ready to use.

Step4 Rub the GOOT onto the bottoms of the feet of the person who is sick. Put socks on the feet to keep the salve from rubbing off on furniture or carpet. Rub the GOOT onto the chest of a person who is coughing. Keep warm clothes over the area that has the GOOT on it. Rub the GOOT onto the neck of a person who has a sore throat or strep.

Step5 Continue using the GOOT until the person reports feeling better or is no longer displaying symptoms of cold or flu. People have reported feeling some relief from cold and flu symptoms after the first use of GOOT.


GOOT can also be used for rashes, stings, burns, bites, earaches, hemorrhoids, yeast infections and just about anything you can think of that calls for medicine. Its safe and works wonders. You can put it anywhere and i do mean ANYWHERE on your body.

Facial Cleanser

1 part castor oil
2-3 parts evoo
2 caps of vit facial oil
1/3 cap of tea tree oil
5 drops of lavendar oil
1 cap of sweet oil

put all in 8-12 oz. pump dispenser. shake prior to each use.

it is called OCM(oil cleansing method)

it has been the best thing for my face and acne ever!!! at least give it a 2 week try for best results. it will draw out all the toxins and then even out the skin

1 pump apply to skin, apply warm wash rag, gently scrub, rinse with luke warm water and rag.
skin will be baby soft but not greasy. it will remove any and all make up even water proof.

2015

2015