Category Archives: Recipes

July 30, 2013 · 10:49 am

The Egg and I: Fuss-Free Fajitas

Image Credit: wikimedia.com

Dear Readers,

“The Egg and I” is a series of blog entries, where I share easy, no-fuss ideas for food. I can always find a way to make a recipe more simple: Here, I do not use a grill or a skillet.

You can learn more here: Fajitas.

You will need the following items:

Crock Pock or Slow Cooker
Stove-top sauce pan
Glass measuring cup for liquids
Several small bowls OR a tray or dish with divided compartments.

This recipe serves 8:

In a Crock Pot or Slow Cooker, cook on High for one hour [or until they look “sautéed” but do not over-cook!]

1 large or 2 medium sweet onions, thinly sliced

2 large or 4 medium bell peppers, thinly sliced

1 [8 ounce] pouch Frontera Classic Fajita Skillet Sauce [www.fronterafiesta.com] [free of gluten and preservatives] OR

1 [1.25 ounce] package of Wick Fowler’s All-Natural Taco Seasoning Mix and 3/4 cup water [1.25 ounce] [www.wickfowler]

Add one of the following to the Crock Pot or Slow Cooker and cook on Low for one hour [or until meat is done but do not over-cook!]

1 pound fowl, beef, or pork, sliced into 1/4 inch strips: boneless, skin-less chicken or trimmed skirt steak or flank or round steak or pork tenderloin

[Note: I used Orchard Pond Organics Certified Natural Angus Beef for Fajitas [free of antibiotics and added hormones; all vegetarian feed; humanely raised, on an environmental and sustainable farm: www.orchardpondorganics.com.] This is from a local Tallahassee farm!

Prepare the rice on the stove-top:

Tex-Mex or Spanish Rice: I used Seeds of Change Certified Organic Cuban Style Rice with Brown Rice and Black Beans [5.6 ounces] [www.seedsofchangefoods.com]: Follow directions on box.

After rice is cooked, add one can of black beans, including the liquid:

I used Certified Organic Westbrae Natural Vegetarian Organic Black Beans [15 ounce] [www.westbrae.com]

Assemble these toppings and spoon them into small serving bowls [with matching lids] OR into a divided container or tray:

Shredded cheese: I used Certified Organic Valley Fancy Shredded Mexican Blend Cheese [6 ounces] [no antibiotics, synthetic hormones, or pesticides; no animal rennet.]

Sliced black olives: I used Field Day Natural California Ripe Medium Pitted Olives [6 ounces] [www.fielddayproducts.com]

Plain “full-fat” organic Greek yogurt: I used FAGE Total All Natural Greek Strained Yogurt, plain. [If you use “full-fat” Greek yogurt, you will never miss the sour cream.]

Guacamole: I used Yucatan Organic Guacamole [gluten-free]

Salsa: I used Garden Fresh Gourmet’s Jacks’ Cantina Style All Natural Salsa

Optional: corn, diced tomatoes, sliced and seeded jalapeno peppers, pico de gallo, shredded lettuce, diced onions.

Garnish: fresh, sliced limes and fresh cilantro sprigs

Set out:

Warm, soft flour tortillas, large [or soft non-gluten tortillas, large]: I used Maria & Ricardo’s Tortilla Factory White Flour Tortillas for Soft Tacos [www.Habar.com]

Each family member or each guest makes his/her own fajita!

Enjoy for your family, for company, or pack it up and take to a family in need: See http://www.takethemameal.com.

Simply yours,

Margot

1 Comment

Filed under Recipes

Tagged as easy fajitas recipe; crock pot fajitas; slow cooker fajitas; company fajitas, fuss-free fajitas

April 27, 2013 · 12:39 pm

A Friend In Need: Take a “Comfort Supper”

Dear Readers,

I received an invaluable gift from my mother: She modeled for me the custom of taking a meal to “a friend in need,” due to illness, a death in the family, a new baby, or “moving day.” On Vandenberg Air Force Base [VAFB], where my family lived for ten years, there were frequent opportunities for my mother to exercise her “gift:” families frequently transferred in and/or transferred out. She raised four children, during those years, but she always carved out time to help “a friend in need.”

My mother’s “go-to” entree was an Italian dish, “Talarigni,” which she served with a fresh, green salad and Italian bread. This was a “comfort supper,” of which I have fond memories. However, I offer here a simple and comforting menu that is gluten-free. When you have a “friend in need,” take this “comfort supper” and be sure to pack the supper in containers which the family does not have to return!

Or, serve this menu for company. It is a supper that all ages will enjoy!

A Comfort & Company Supper Menu:

Meatloaf

Mashed Potato Casserole

Green Peas & Pearl Onions

Kefir & Fruit

Notes:

All ingredients are from New Leaf Market, Tallahassee. All ingredients are organic, and are local, where possible.

This menu includes all the four food groups but is not low-fat. It is, however, relatively low-carb. I do not include bread and dessert.

You may wish to subsitute baked sweet potatoes and steamed green beans, if you want a menu that is lower-glycemic.

Dairy products: I recommend full-fat or low-fat but never no-fat.

Legend: C=cup; t=teaspoon; T=tablespoon]; EVOO=extra virgin olive oil]

Rector’s Meatloaf [“Old Faithful”] [4-6 servings]

From: Jan Karon’s Mitford Cookbook: A Kitchen Reader [With modifications by Margot Blair Payne]

Vegetables: wash and chop:

½ C onion, sweet

1/2 C sweet pepper, red

1/2 C sweet pepper, green

Moist ingredients: Mix well together:

2-3 large eggs, beaten

8 ounces Pacific Organic Tomato & Roasted Red Pepper Soup

1 T Worchestershire sauce [non-gluten]

Seasonings and oats: Toss together and add to liquid ingredients:

2 t. sea salt; 1 t. black pepper; ½ t. season salt

1 C uncooked rolled oats, non-gluten

In a very large bowl, add the above ingredients and mix well with the meat:

1 pound ground round

1 pound ground turkey or chicken

Topping:

½ C Annie’s Naturals Organic Ketchup

¼ C Tropical Pepper Company Steak Sauce

Preheat oven to 350. Coat glass casseroles with EVOO. Press mixture into casseroles. Bake one hour. Remove and spread topping on top. Return to the oven and bake for another 15 minutes.

Mashed Potato Casserole with Sour Cream and Chives: [6 servings]

1/4 C butter, softened

4 pounds Yukon Gold potatoes, unpeeled, small

2 t sea salt – divided

1 & ½ to 2 C total of dairy: sour cream and/or Greek yogurt, plain

½ t black pepper

1 T finely chopped chives, dried

1/2 C shredded carrots [optional]

½ C fresh Parmesan cheese, grated or shredded [optional]

Oil a 9×9 glass casserole with EVOO.

In a large pot, boil the potatoes and 1 t. salt in water, until fork-tender, about 20 minutes.

Mash potatoes with butter, sour cream, 1 t. salt, and pepper. Mash in the chives.

Taste and adjust seasoning, if necessary. Spread the potatoes into the casserole.

Heat oven to 400 degrees.

Sprinkle cheese over top.

Bake until golden and crisp, 30-40 minutes.

Steam the [frozen] Green Peas & Pearl Onions: “Organic” is hard to find.

Mix in a ratio of 1:1: plain Kefir and Kefir with fruit. Garnish with fresh fruit.

The Egg & I: “Green Cleaning”

Dear Readers,

How many of us have toxic cleaning solutions in our homes and garages?

Gather all your cleaning products and read the labels!

Contact your City or County and find out where to drop off toxic products.

Now, replace all those toxic products with safe, “green” cleaning solutions.

The recipe [below] is safe and non-toxic, which is especially important for those of us who have children and grandchildren. [Note: Keep the kids away from the solution, anyway.]

I use this solution to clean every surface in the house: kitchen, bathrooms, floors, and furniture. I use it to pre-spot laundry. However, “test first, in an inconspicuous spot.”

I keep only seven products/ingredients in my Housekeeping Closet:

Arm & Hammer Baking Soda [I buy this in bulk, online]
Bon Ami Scouring Powder [I buy this in multiples, online]
White [clear] distilled vinegar [I buy this in a gallon jug.]
AlphaChemicals.com: Anhydrous Citric Acid, 100% pure organic, food grade, non-GMO
SeventhGeneration.com: Natural Dish Liquid [Free and Clear]: USDA Certified BioBased Product. [I buy this via grove.com]
Hydrogen peroxide
Essential Oils: Choose a single-source oil or a blend. See www.auracacia.com and search for “Solutions:” They offer 11 blends. You will need LEMON essential oil for the “Safe Bleach.”

Recipe for Homemade All-Purpose Cleaning Solution

CAUTION: Mixing the vinegar and the baking soda will cause a temporary volcano — so use the kitchen sink!

You will need:

Note: “T.” means Tablespoon.

32 ounces hot water [in a Pyrex glass measure, made in USA]

2 T. baking soda

2 T. white [clear] distilled vinegar OR 2 T Anhydrous Citric Acid

2 T. Natural Dish Liquid

4 – 8 drops of 100% organic Essential Oil of your choice

Next Steps:

Mix all the ingredients well, until the powders dissolve. You may have to re-heat the liquid in the microwave for a minute. Stir well.

With a funnel, pour the liquid into two empty 32-ounce plastic bottles: [one with a sprayer lid; one with cap lid.]

Label each bottle, with white electrical tape and black Sharpie pen.

Note: This is a concentrated liquid. You must dilute the solution, according to the household task.

I am merely guessing at these “solution to water” ratios.

You will need to experiment but you should not have to rinse the surface, after cleaning! If you have to rinse, further dilute the solution.

For tough jobs: This solution works best if you spray, soak, and wait for the solution to do its work: For example, toilets, tubs, showers, stove top, etc.

Here are my estimates for the “solution to water” ratios but, seriously, you are own your own: Do your own experimenting!

For bathrooms & kitchen: 1:4

For ceramic tile surfaces & floors: 1:8

For wood floors & furniture: 1:16 [Use a damp — not wet — microfiber cloth or microfiber damp mop.]

For glass & mirrors: 1:32

Laundry: Use All-Purpose Cleaner:

For pre-wash spot clean: 1:2 for whites; 1:4 for colors.

To avoid set-in stains on laundry: Pre-spot stains, as soon as you notice them.

Pre-spot and scrub the item, with “All-Purpose Cleaning Solution.”
Allow the item to sit, at least 30 minutes [or overnight.]
First, rinse the item in cold water.
Then, wash the item, in warm water, detergent, and softener. [I use Seventh Generation.].
Before placing the item in the dryer, inspect the stained items.
If stains are still visible, repeat the steps.

Recipe for “Safe Bleach:”

1 cup hydrogen peroxide

1 cup distilled water

1 T. citric acid

12 drops lemon essential oil

Automatic Dishwasher Detergent:

My favorite is:

MethodHome.com: Method Smarty Dish Plus Dishwasher Detergent: 45 Packs, Triple Action Power, Fragrance-Free: With naturally derived, non-toxic mineral-based PowerGreen Technology. [I buy this via grove.com]

Prefer to Use a Concentrate?

SeventhGeneration.com offers a set of three concentrates. [I buy these from grove.com]

All Purpose Natural Cleaner
Glass & Surface Cleaner
Tub & Tile Natural Cleaner

Here’s to Better and Safer Housekeeping!

Margot

The Egg and I: Margot’s Homemade Granola

[Image credit: Youblogwhatyoueat]

Dear Readers,

“The Egg and I” is a series of blog entries related to all matters domestic.

To view the other entries of this series, click here: The Egg and I: The Promised Land and here: The Egg and I: The Dirty Dozen and the Clean Fifteen.

I am a no-fuss kind of gal who likes to prepare simple, nutritious food for my family.

I have been making home-made granola since the 1970’s, when I bought the book, “MORE WITH LESS: Recipes and suggestions by Mennonites on how to eat better and consume less of the world’s limited food resources [1976 edition].”

Before marriage, I did not know how to cook. So, I pored over this cookbook, as a novitiate might pore over a prayer-book.

After 25 years of employment, my beloved cookbook looked exactly like this:

In 2000, I purchased the “25th Anniversary Edition:”

And, now, you can order the “30th Anniversary Edition” of the “More-With-Less” Cookbook:

In the 25th Anniversary “More With Less” cookbook, you will find granola recipes on pages 89-93. These recipes served as the basis for the recipe below.

I created a recipe that is free of:

gluten
peanuts and cashews [which are legumes — not nuts]
dried fruits

. . . and that is also:

made entirely from organic sources
low-sodium
low-sugar
vegan

This recipe is so easy that I am not going to provide step-by-step photos. You can do this!

Kitchen Tools:

one 12-quart shallow stainless steel bowl, for mixing the granola

one “turkey roaster” or something similar, for baking the granola

Pyrex or Corning glass measures cups: 2 cup and 4 cup. Make sure these are made in the USA!

A large cooking spoon, to stir the mix.

A large bowl scraper: [I use a “unibody” silicone one.]

A kitchen timer.

Margot’s Granola Recipe:

A. Dry Ingredients:

Notes:

All of these organic ingredients are available from the Bulk Section of the New Leaf Market, in Tallahassee.

Click here for details: New Leaf Market.

These dry ingredients are organic, raw, unsalted, unsweetened, and unroasted:

12 cups rolled oats, gluten-free

2 cups each: sunflower seeds; pumpkin seeds; coconut [unsweetened, shredded]; buckwheat groats [kasha]

1 cup each: sesame seeds; flax seeds or flax seed meal; hemp seeds [hulled/”hearts”]

1 cup each of the following nuts: chopped, sliced, or diced:

–walnuts, pecans, almonds

B. Liquid Ingredients:

Notes:

All ingredients are organic and pure.

The proportion of liquid to dry ingredients is about 1:6. If you prefer a more moist granola, increase the liquids.

In the following order, measure each ingredient in the two-cup glass measure and then pour into the four-cup glass measure:

1 cup total oil: I just use oil but you may choose a combination of oil, coconut oil, and almond butter.

1 cup total sweetener: We use East Hill Honey Company raw local honey. You may also use maple syrup.

Click here to order the honey: East Hill Honey Company.

1/2 cup water

1 Tablespoon pure vanilla

1 Tablespoon cinnamon

1 teaspoon nutmeg

1/2 teaspoon each: cloves, cardamom

1-2 teaspoons sea salt

Instructions:

Dump all the “A” ingredients into the bowl or turkey roaster. Stir well.

Cover the four-cup glass measure with a glass plate. Heat all the “B” ingredients in the glass measure in the microwave. Use 30-second intervals on “high.” Stir well after each interval. Continue, until mixed well. Do not over-heat.

Slowly pour the liquid ingredients into the dry ingredients. Stir. Add more liquid. Stir. Etc.

Use the bowl scraper. Keep stirring, until the liquid and dry ingredients are thoroughly mixed.

Divide the granola into two equal batches. Reserve the second batch.

Dump the first batch into the bowl or roasting pan. Spread out the granola.

Bake the granola in a 300 degree oven. Set the kitchen timer for 15 minutes. Go watch a movie and stir the batches every 15 minutes. Do not burn the granola!

When the granola reaches a color of golden, crunchy perfection, remove the first batch. Dump the first batch into a container, to cool.

Now bake the second batch, following the above instructions.

When cool, store your batches of granola in air-tight “locking” food storage containers. Store one container in the pantry.

Store the other containers in the freezer.

Enjoy!

~~~Margot

	Almeta on The Celestial Choir
	Karen Vann on The Abolition of Tears
	Cordell Schulten on Worldviews in a Nutshell:…
	Matt K on “The Valley of the Flowe…
	Matt K on My Unplanned Wedding: Part…

Category Archives: Recipes

The Egg and I: Fuss-Free Fajitas

Dear Readers,

“The Egg and I” is a series of blog entries, where I share easy, no-fuss ideas for food. I can always find a way to make a recipe more simple: Here, I do not use a grill or a skillet. You can learn more here: Fajitas.

You will need the following items:

This recipe serves 8:

In a Crock Pot or Slow Cooker, cook on High for one hour [or until they look “sautéed” but do not over-cook!]

Add one of the following to the Crock Pot or Slow Cooker and cook on Low for one hour [or until meat is done but do not over-cook!]

Prepare the rice on the stove-top:

After rice is cooked, add one can of black beans, including the liquid:

Assemble these toppings and spoon them into small serving bowls [with matching lids] OR into a divided container or tray:

Set out:

Each family member or each guest makes his/her own fajita!

Enjoy for your family, for company, or pack it up and take to a family in need: See http://www.takethemameal.com.

A Friend In Need: Take a “Comfort Supper”

Dear Readers,

A Comfort & Company Supper Menu:

Meatloaf

Mashed Potato Casserole

Green Peas & Pearl Onions

Kefir & Fruit

Notes:

Rector’s Meatloaf [“Old Faithful”] [4-6 servings]

From: Jan Karon’s Mitford Cookbook: A Kitchen Reader [With modifications by Margot Blair Payne]

Vegetables: wash and chop:

Moist ingredients: Mix well together:

Seasonings and oats: Toss together and add to liquid ingredients:

In a very large bowl, add the above ingredients and mix well with the meat:

Topping:

Mashed Potato Casserole with Sour Cream and Chives: [6 servings]

Steam the [frozen] Green Peas & Pearl Onions: “Organic” is hard to find.

Mix in a ratio of 1:1: plain Kefir and Kefir with fruit. Garnish with fresh fruit.

The Egg & I: “Green Cleaning”

Dear Readers,

Recipe for Homemade All-Purpose Cleaning Solution

Next Steps:

Note: This is a concentrated liquid. You must dilute the solution, according to the household task.

Here are my estimates for the “solution to water” ratios but, seriously, you are own your own: Do your own experimenting!

Laundry: Use All-Purpose Cleaner:

Recipe for “Safe Bleach:”

Automatic Dishwasher Detergent:

Prefer to Use a Concentrate?

Here’s to Better and Safer Housekeeping!

Margot

The Egg and I: Margot’s Homemade Granola

Dear Readers,

Kitchen Tools:

Margot’s Granola Recipe:

A. Dry Ingredients:

B. Liquid Ingredients:

Instructions:

Recent Entries

Recent Comments

“The Egg and I” is a series of blog entries, where I share easy, no-fuss ideas for food. I can always find a way to make a recipe more simple: Here, I do not use a grill or a skillet.

You can learn more here: Fajitas.