Egg Frittata Sandwitch and ideas for baking fish

This was a fun recipe to create.

Egg Frittata Sandwich
1 minced garlic clove
1 small diced onion
2 small chopped zucchini
1 large handful of spinach
3 medium diced roma tomatoes
7 eggs
1 heaping Tblsp of Sour Cream (I use fresh made Piima cream)
Whole wheat English muffins
Mozzarella cheese slices

In a cast iron pan on the stove, melt about 2 Tbsp of butter, add all the veggies and saute until barely tender. In another bowl, mix eggs and sour cream. Then pour into the veggie mixture and put into the oven that has been preheated to 350 F and bake for about 20 mins or until done (might be less). In the meantime cut apart whole wheat English muffins and line them in a pan. Place a slice of mozzarella cheese and toast until cheese is melted in oven. When Frittata is done cut out a piece to fill the sandwich. Very tasty!

Two different flavoring for baked fish ideas (can use any kind of fish)

*We took some fresh caught steel head and put them on my baking stone, then lightly brushed with smoke flavoring and then sprinkle lightly with celery salt. Bake until fish is moist and flaky (varies on the size of fish, 5 mins to 45 mins)

*My friend told me about this and I am excited to give it a try! Tear off a large piece of tinfoil, place fish in the center and pour on top Italian salad dressing and then add sliced real lemon pieces. Enclose the fish and seal and bake in oven until done.

Better Banana Nut Bread

Better Banana Nut Bread (Adapted from Peggy Palmer, my mom)

2/3 cup shortening, 1 cup sugar-Cream together well
4 eggs -Beat in eggs

3 cups all purpose flour
1/2 cup soy flour
1 TBL baking soda -Stir together in separate bowl
2 tsp Baking powder
1 tsp sea salt -Add alternately to creamed mixture with bananas

4 mashed bananas(2 cups), 1 cup chopped nuts- Fold in nuts

Bake in 3 small, greased loaf pans. Bake 350 F 45-50mins. Cool 10 mins, Remove from pans. Cool thoroughly, wrap and store.

Risotto Oatmeal Breakfast

I am always looking for ideas on how to incorporate more grains into our diet and I found another breakfast recipe that is delish that my kids love! LynnDee (my daughter) wanted me to take a picture of how she had her fruit layed out in her bowl.

Ingredients;

1 cup steel ground- oatmeal

2 cups of Arborio Rice (Short fat white rice works fine, I am going to try brown rice with it too)

1 cup heavy cream ( I have used 1/2 and 1/2 insteat too)

5 cups of water

1 tsp Vanilla

1 cup sugar (or xylitol)

1/2 tsp sea salt

Any fruits to top (optional)

Bring all ingredients (except fruit) to a boil, cover and cook until done. (25 to 30 mins). Top with fresh fruit. We have eaten it without any fruit. Left overs store great in fridge, just reheat.

Cream of Farina

My kids love this hot breakfast meal and it is fast and affordable! I buy the Farina in bulk at the store called WinCo in Idaho Falls. It is only like 37cents a Lb and we fill up a big container. So it counts as a grain for food storage as well! One day I would like to oxygen pack it into a #10 can.
My mom used to buy this in Europe and make it for us as kids. We would beg her to make it with "lumps" this is done when the water is really boiling and it is added into the water in one fast dump. (Tastes like Cream of Wheat)

I don't even measure anymore, so I hope I get the directions close enough...

Put about 3 to 4 cups of water into a pan

You can either add the 1 to 1 1/2 cups of Farina into the water before it boils or after is starts boiling, I do both ways, depends if I want smooth or lumpy.

Bring to a boil and boil for 1 to 3 mins, until desired doneness.

-Add 1/3 cup of brown sugar (or more if you really like it sweet)
-Add 1/2 cup of coffee creamer
-Add 1 tsp vanilla

Serve hot and can add fresh fruit in it especially if you don't add much sugar. You can also flavor cream of rice, cream of wheat, and cream of buckwheat the same way.

Golden Rod

This is also a recipe from my Grandma. She said it was one of their favorites and cheap ones to do during the depression. Because they did not need to have very many eggs in the white sauce. This is a great use for those dyed Easter eggs (colorful dish;) and tradition that we make it after as well. So you start out with hard boiled eggs and separate the yellow cooked yolk and the white. Chop up the white in a separate bowl. My dad would push the yolks through a sieve to make them fine, but I just mush them in a bowl using a fork.

Next you make a basic white sauce; Melt 1/2 cube of butter, add 1/2 to 1 cup of flour and slowly stir in milk on low heat until the sauce is desired thickness, then add chopped egg whites and salt and pepper. Serve over toast and sprinkle with fine mushed yolks. My kids break up their toast on their plate and we pour the sauce on top of their easier bite size pieces.

Xylitol- Sugar Substitute

So after trying a couple natural sweeteners, I finally found one that I love and am excited about! I had been using Stevia (which comes from a sweet leaf), but it always left a bitter taste.
The rumor is that Aspartame (a chemical sweetener, made cheap) was denied by the FDA several times, until someone high up pulled some strings. There are a lot more details in that story, but basically, be aware of the nasty Aspartame and unfortunately it is put into every gum that is over the counter. (Please do your research on this chemical sugar substitute, bad effects!!).
Anyway, Xylitol is found in fibers of many fruits and vegies. It does not impact insulin levels, so it is safer for Diabetics. It does not affect yeast overgrowth (Candida). It promotes good dental care, is safe for pregnant and nursing mothers. And the list goes on and on. I found 1lb of Xylitol for $10 at a health food store. And have since bought some for less on Internet, including gum, mints and some candies. (for a near future holiday;). We are also trying to steer away from any food with dyes, many current studies have shown bad side effects from these and Red 40 is one of them that is used in a lot of things! I am creating my own flavored oatmeal (Yes they are full of dyes too!) recipe in my mind and working out the kinks, then I will purchase the ingredients and let you know my end result in the next couple months.

My current favorite recipes with Xylitol are;
-Mixed in my favorite warm herbal tea
-Warm up some cooked Quinoa grain, add a little creamer, vanilla and Xylitol to taste
-Plain yogurt with fresh berries and xylitol (I have yet to find some of my favorite yogurts without dye in them) So I will stick with plain and flavour myself (less sugar:)
-Add into Whipped Cream instead of sugar

This works great to curb my sugar cravings and a better alternative and I don't give myself a guilt trip. You use the same amount you would that it calls for in recipes. I have always added less sugar anyway and will do the same with the Xylitol.

Granola Cereal

Before it is toasted

Done!

This is a fast and easy recipe that has been in my family for years. (My mom would make it) It is fun to make in the winter, because of the toasting in the oven.

5 cups Oats

1 cup Coconut (I went out on a limb and actually graded fresh coconut, yum, but a lot of work!)

1/2 cup oil

1/4 cup maple syrup

1/4 cup honey

2 oz Flaked Almonds

1/3 cup flax seed (opt)

Mix together in a large metal bowl. Toast at 375 for 1/2 hour to 1 hour (depends on how crunchy you like yours). Stirring every 5 mins. Last 10 mins of baking add 1 1/2 cups of raisins that have been soaked in boiling water for 5 mins. Cool and store in an airtight container for a couple weeks at least. I ran out of almonds and added some chopped pecans. You can alternate and add your own things. This is so yummy on plain yogurt, with milk or in handfulls!

I was wondering what happened to the other cooks around here? I miss reading other recipes:) Did I scare some of you away by posting on here too much;)? I have got lots more to post lately, but will try to stradle them a little.