So, a friend introduced me to this crockpot blog earlier this week and I wish I had known about this site long before now. After all, the more pregnant I become, the more I use my crockpot. :)
Anyway, I saw on the aforementioned site that you can make yogurt - that's right yogurt - in your crockpot. As I'm always interested in a new kitchen experiment, I gave the recipe a shot the day after I found it.
Before you begin: Be sure to allow plenty of time - using the crockpot to make yogurt is super easy and does not require much attention, but you should allow 14-18 hours from start to finish - the first 5 hours you'll need to check the yogurt twice at timed intervals. You will also need a large, heavy bath towel or beach towel to use as insulation for the final phase.
You only need 2 ingredients to make yogurt:
milk (whole milk is suggested in the original recipe)
all-natural plain yogurt (I used Dannon*)
Note: Homemade yogurt is thinner than store-bought yogurt. You can thicken it using unflavored gelatin.
*You only need to purchase yogurt to use for your first batch. For following batches, as long as you reserve 1/2 C of your homemade yogurt to use as starter, there is no need to purchase new yogurt.
If you are using a reduced-fat milk, you might consider adding some gelatin or milk powder. Also, using pasteurized milk is fine, but (per the crockpot blogger) do not use ultra-pasteurized milk.
The original recipe and instructions to the following recipe were originally found here.
That all having been said, here is what I did...
8 C 2% milk (I used plain old Kroger brand milk)
1/2C all-natural yogurt
1/2 packet (about 1.5t?) unflavored gelatin
1 - Take 8C milk and add to your crockpot. Add lid and turn on low (my crockpot only has timed settings, so I put it on 8 hours). Let "cook" for 2.5 hours.
2 - Once the 2 1/2 hours are up, turn crockpot off and leave lid on. Let sit a further 3 hours.
3 - At the end of the 3 hour "cooling period", take 1-2C of the semi-warm (and now somewhat sour) milk from the crock pot and put in a large bowl. Add 1/2C yogurt and whisk together. If using gelatin, add it to the yogurt-milk mix and stir well.
4 - Pour the yogurt-milk-gelatin mix back to the milk in your crockpot, place lid on top and wrap towel securely around the top and sides of the crockpot. Let sit at least 8 hours or overnight.
I started my yogurt around 2:30pm yesterday, added the yogurt and gelatin to the mix around 7:30pm and let it sit in the towel-wrapped crockpot until about 8am this morning. I was thrilled when I came down to check on my concoction and, sure enough, the smell of yogurt greeted me when I took the lid off! The mixture had thickened and it worked! Homemade yogurt is thinner than store-bought yogurt, but the flavor is the same. :) As the homemade yogurt cools, it will thicken a little more. I actually prefer a thinner yogurt, so this is an added bonus to the homemade variety!
Admittedly, I'm not a huge plain yogurt fan, but there is a lot you can do to make this more enjoyable. For the record, adding anything will change the consistency/thickness of the yogurt.
Today, Daniel and I have eaten a lot of the homemade yogurt and have tried a few different things to flavor it up a bit. We think all of them have worked well.
1 - add 1T jam to ~1C yogurt and mix well
2 - add 1/4 C (drained) crushed pineapple to 1C yogurt
3 - add 1T jam and a few drops flavored liquid stevia to 1C yogurt
My favorite is probably the jam/stevia combination. Liquid stevia mixes well with the yogurt and adds an even, mild sweetness to the yogurt without adding unnecessary sugar/calories.
You can puree frozen or fresh fruit into the yogurt, but I have not yet tried this.
Now that you've read my book on crockpot yogurt-making, you may be wondering, "Is it worth it?" In short, YES! It is easy, delicious and very cost efficient. It cost about$2 for the 8C batch of yogurt.
1.15.2011
1.13.2011
The Crockpot is My Friend
Happy 2011 everyone! Between being the mother of 2 preschoolers AND being in my third trimester of pregnancy, finding the mental energy to post is often beyond my abilities. :-p This morning however, as I was adding ingredients to my crockpot in preparation for tonight's dinner, I realized I had stumbled across an easy blog post.
I love my crockpot - especially in the winter. Why? It allows hot, delicious dinners to be served with minimal cooking effort. AND, the fragrances permeate my house throughout the day. There is nothing quite like a home fragranced with the ingredients of a warm dinner - especially when it is cold outside.
That being said - I got the following recipe from my mom a few years ago and it has become a regular dish in my home year-round. (For the record, I have made a few modifications to the recipe as that is the way I cook and as a result, some of the measurements are not precise... I'm not much of a "follow the recipe meticulously" cook as I am a "dump until it looks/tastes right" cook.)
Creamy Italian Chicken w/ Rice
1 large can condensed cream of mushroom soup
3 cans diced tomatoes (you can use Italian Style if you like)
2-4 med-large frozen chicken breasts
2~ T rosemary, or to taste (you can also add or substitute Italian seasoning)
brown rice
Optional Ingredients:
2~ cloves minced garlic, or to taste
black pepper, to taste
1 white onion, chopped
1 small-med zucchini, chopped
shredded cheddar cheese (added when dish is served)
In a large crockpot, add the condensed cream of mushroom soup, 3 cans of tomatoes (I tend to drain a little of the liquid out as I prefer a thicker sauce, but this is not necessary), frozen chicken*, rosemary, garlic and pepper and onion. Cook 6-8 hours. If using zucchini, add in the last 1/2 of the cooking period.
*The chicken will cook fully during this time and it is perfectly safe to add it to the crockpot with the other ingredients raw and frozen.
Once the 6-8 hours is complete, remove the chicken from the sauce and shred with two forks. This should only take a few minutes as the chicken is cooked fully and nearly falls apart. Add chicken back to the sauce.
At some point toward the end of the 6-8 hours, make your rice according to the bag's directions. I use brown rice. You can also serve over whole wheat pasta (I would suggest using rotini, penne or macaroni rather than spaghetti), couscous, barley, etc. This sauce is good over about any grain.
Serve rice, top with sauce and cheese. This is a delicious, filling dinner and should make enough to serve 6-8 adults, maybe more.
I love my crockpot - especially in the winter. Why? It allows hot, delicious dinners to be served with minimal cooking effort. AND, the fragrances permeate my house throughout the day. There is nothing quite like a home fragranced with the ingredients of a warm dinner - especially when it is cold outside.
That being said - I got the following recipe from my mom a few years ago and it has become a regular dish in my home year-round. (For the record, I have made a few modifications to the recipe as that is the way I cook and as a result, some of the measurements are not precise... I'm not much of a "follow the recipe meticulously" cook as I am a "dump until it looks/tastes right" cook.)
Creamy Italian Chicken w/ Rice
1 large can condensed cream of mushroom soup
3 cans diced tomatoes (you can use Italian Style if you like)
2-4 med-large frozen chicken breasts
2~ T rosemary, or to taste (you can also add or substitute Italian seasoning)
brown rice
Optional Ingredients:
2~ cloves minced garlic, or to taste
black pepper, to taste
1 white onion, chopped
1 small-med zucchini, chopped
shredded cheddar cheese (added when dish is served)
In a large crockpot, add the condensed cream of mushroom soup, 3 cans of tomatoes (I tend to drain a little of the liquid out as I prefer a thicker sauce, but this is not necessary), frozen chicken*, rosemary, garlic and pepper and onion. Cook 6-8 hours. If using zucchini, add in the last 1/2 of the cooking period.
*The chicken will cook fully during this time and it is perfectly safe to add it to the crockpot with the other ingredients raw and frozen.
Once the 6-8 hours is complete, remove the chicken from the sauce and shred with two forks. This should only take a few minutes as the chicken is cooked fully and nearly falls apart. Add chicken back to the sauce.
At some point toward the end of the 6-8 hours, make your rice according to the bag's directions. I use brown rice. You can also serve over whole wheat pasta (I would suggest using rotini, penne or macaroni rather than spaghetti), couscous, barley, etc. This sauce is good over about any grain.
Serve rice, top with sauce and cheese. This is a delicious, filling dinner and should make enough to serve 6-8 adults, maybe more.
6.02.2010
One Year of Cloth Diapering and the Return of Baby Wearing
Anyone who has read my blog for any extended period of time knows that I began the great adventure of cloth diapering in March of 2009. The following post is basically a book, so consider yourself forewarned! :)
I never thought I'd be one of those cloth diapering mamas, but as I met new people through a local moms group, I met several ladies who chose to cloth diaper their children. Thanks to the generosity of a few friends, I had the opportunity to try out some various cloth diapers before opting to take the plunge. I had the best and worst experiences during this trial phase, so I believed I knew what I was up against when we made our first BumGenius 3.0 order.
Many of my readers inquired about how cloth diapering was going and did I still like it a few months later, etc. So, after about 14 months of cloth diapering here is the long and short of my experience...
I read that just because one type of cloth diaper works for one child, that doesn't mean it will work for another. This was the case for us. We bought about 18 or so BumGenius 3.0 diapers and I really liked them as they pretty much functioned the same as a 'sposie.
The BG3.0s have pretty much always worked great for Patrick. But, around the time Erin started walking, her legs thinned down a bit and we started having regular leak issues that always originated from the legs. We opted to purchase some Indian and Chinese prefolds, snappis, and some diaper covers.
We chose Bummis Super Brite and Thirsties covers because of the gussets around the legs. I wasn't as happy with the Bummis covers as I was with the Thirsties covers because the elastic in the gussets tended to wear out more quickly. The Thirsties covers have been great. I bought size mediums originally. Sometime since I first started using prefolds, Thirsties came out with adjustable size covers - we have 3 of the size two covers and I have been very happy with the results. We never really used the sizing option, though, as both my children were toddlers and pretty much were big enough for the largest size setting.
Cloth diapering at night never worked well for us. Either the kids would soak right through the diaper, or the ammonia would cause their little bums to be red by morning. We tried using extra covers to minimize leakage and this did sometimes work, but it was really the red, raw skin that kept us from continuing to use them at nights. Also, in my experience, a leak from a cloth diaper is MUCH easier to deal with than pee-gel from a disposable diaper explosion.
For the most part, I really enjoy using the prefolds, though I try to wait until after the kids have pooed before using them. Dumping poo out of a BG3.0 is much easier than dumping it out of a prefold. I do have flushable poo liners, but don't use them much because it seems that the kids never go when I do use them, so they end up wasted.
The biggest down-side to using prefolds is that Erin's skin is super sensitive to being right up against the wet diaper. BG3.0s have a great suede cloth barrier between the microfiber insert which helps to keep the skin dry. Prefolds don't have this. I have used old pieces of fleece between the prefold and Erin's skin and it does help (this is also a good substitute for a poo liner!), but she still tends to get red. I have tried stripping the diapers, using as much lotion/diaper balm as I dare (using a fleece barrier to protect the diaper) and it still doesn't make much difference.
Erin also tends to get red marks where the gussets on the covers touch her skin. Sometimes it almost looks like she has gotten a small blister where the cover has rubbed her skin. Due to the skin issues she has had, we mostly use disposables on her now. I may use anywhere from 0-3 cloth diapers on her per day, but generally find that to preserve healthy skin, I need to follow the use of a cloth diaper with a disposable. Many people find that their children have less rashes and skin issues by using cloth, but this has not been the case for Erin.
Patrick still does very well with cloth. He is a tall child, but he is also pretty slender, so the BG3.0s still fit him pretty well. They are getting a little small, but we intend to begin potty learning in a few weeks, so this isn't a big deal. He also generally does just fine with prefolds and diaper covers. We do use disposables for him at nights due to similar ammonia issues as mentioned above.
All in all, I love using cloth diapers and if the Lord blesses us with another child (no, I am NOT pregnant!), I will use cloth again.
As my "baby" is now 2, I find that I have a strong desire to be intentional about physically nurturing her and encouraging her to participate in daily around the house activities. She absolutely loves to help with the laundry or to unload the dishwasher. Some days this provides a wonderful teaching moment whereas other days I just need to get the job done. I recently began to look into returning to baby wearing.
In the past, I have used three different kinds of baby carriers. With Patrick, we used a Baby Bjorn (Daniel was usually the one that used this) and I used a Maya Wrap. I liked the Baby Bjorn because of the even weight distribution. The reason I did not continue using it was because I got pregnant again when Patrick was 4 months old and a growing belly doesn't work too well with that particular carrier.
I liked the Maya Wrap for about the first 3-4 months of Patrick's life, but found that I often had horrible knots in my shoulder when I was done. Having recently done quite a bit of research on the use of ring slings, I now realize that I did not have the sling or Patrick positioned properly because if the sling and baby are positioned well, both mom and baby should be comfortable.
Before Erin was born, I bought a Moby Wrap. I think I used this for about 4-5 months. This wrap was good because it more evenly distributed the weight over both shoulders. I used the Moby a lot during the first few months of Erin's life - especially when I went to the grocery store or to church. But, I did find that the Moby was a bit of a hassle to get on properly and it tended to stretch out as it was worn, which meant I needed to regularly adjust or tighten it during use. Also, if I didn't get the wrap on correctly the first time, I needed to start over completely. If you have a fussy baby and another young toddler running around, this is not ideal. So, I stopped using it.
I have recently met a lady at my moms group who is a baby wearing educator and who makes different types of baby carriers. I began to look at the carriers she made and to do my own independent research to see how practical it might be to resume baby wearing with a 2 year old. I believed this would be an excellent to encourage Erin to participate in various around the house activities without getting in the way. I pulled back out my old Moby Wrap and liked it because of the even weight distribution, but once again found that it stretched way too much to be worn for any extended period of time. I also found that I needed to lean forward a bit just to feel balanced. This is not good for my back or for Erin.
The local lady who makes carriers includes Mei Tai carriers in her collection. After doing some research, I decided to get one and give it a shot. It functionsvery similarly to a Moby wrap, but does not stretch as much. I received my custom Mei Tai about 2 1/2 weeks ago and wish I had gotten one a LONG time ago. Erin had a little difficulty adjusting to riding on my back as she does like to run around and come along side whatever I'm doing independently, but through open communication and telling her in advance that she will be riding on my back, she has learned to enjoy the Mei Tai.
I can't even begin to explain how much easier having this carrier has made my daily life. I generally never took the kids out on a walk or ventured out by myself with them both because pushing a 50-60lb double stroller is just too much for me. Patrick loves to walk, but I was not willing to go on a walk with a 2 year old and a 3 year old walking as well - what if they both bolted different directions at the same time?! This was not something I was willing to risk. Now, by using the Mei Tai, I can put Erin on my back (if the carrier is on properly, she is incredibly light and easy to carry) and hold Patrick's hand to go on walks. Or, I can wear Erin and push Patrick in the umbrella stroller.
Because of my fantastic experience with the Mei Tai, I also investigated the ring slings made by the same lady. Her slings have a beautiful fanned pleating around the rings which better provides even weight distribution - this is the biggest difference in her slings and the Maya Wrap I had with Patrick. I also watched quite a few youtube videos to find out the proper mechanics of carrying a toddler in a ring sling.
Long story short, I purchased a Duiponi silk ring sling on Monday. We're still adjusting to this sling, but I used it last night at Chic Fil A while we waited in line and it worked beautifully! Erin loves being so close and really enjoys being held (one of the many benefits of baby wearing). I did use this sling for the 2nd half of a long walk this morning - I used the MT for the first 1/2 - and it is not as comfortable or as easy as the Mei Tai is, especially if you're pushing a stroller, but it is ideal for short uses - like walking from the car across a parking log, or for leisurely strolls. This is also great for around the house use.
I say all that to say, even if your "baby" is a toddler, and you are interested in the art of baby wearing, do some research and go for it. Most carriers can hold children up to 35lbs. If done properly, I'm confident you won't regret it!
I never thought I'd be one of those cloth diapering mamas, but as I met new people through a local moms group, I met several ladies who chose to cloth diaper their children. Thanks to the generosity of a few friends, I had the opportunity to try out some various cloth diapers before opting to take the plunge. I had the best and worst experiences during this trial phase, so I believed I knew what I was up against when we made our first BumGenius 3.0 order.
Many of my readers inquired about how cloth diapering was going and did I still like it a few months later, etc. So, after about 14 months of cloth diapering here is the long and short of my experience...
I read that just because one type of cloth diaper works for one child, that doesn't mean it will work for another. This was the case for us. We bought about 18 or so BumGenius 3.0 diapers and I really liked them as they pretty much functioned the same as a 'sposie.
The BG3.0s have pretty much always worked great for Patrick. But, around the time Erin started walking, her legs thinned down a bit and we started having regular leak issues that always originated from the legs. We opted to purchase some Indian and Chinese prefolds, snappis, and some diaper covers.
We chose Bummis Super Brite and Thirsties covers because of the gussets around the legs. I wasn't as happy with the Bummis covers as I was with the Thirsties covers because the elastic in the gussets tended to wear out more quickly. The Thirsties covers have been great. I bought size mediums originally. Sometime since I first started using prefolds, Thirsties came out with adjustable size covers - we have 3 of the size two covers and I have been very happy with the results. We never really used the sizing option, though, as both my children were toddlers and pretty much were big enough for the largest size setting.
Cloth diapering at night never worked well for us. Either the kids would soak right through the diaper, or the ammonia would cause their little bums to be red by morning. We tried using extra covers to minimize leakage and this did sometimes work, but it was really the red, raw skin that kept us from continuing to use them at nights. Also, in my experience, a leak from a cloth diaper is MUCH easier to deal with than pee-gel from a disposable diaper explosion.
For the most part, I really enjoy using the prefolds, though I try to wait until after the kids have pooed before using them. Dumping poo out of a BG3.0 is much easier than dumping it out of a prefold. I do have flushable poo liners, but don't use them much because it seems that the kids never go when I do use them, so they end up wasted.
The biggest down-side to using prefolds is that Erin's skin is super sensitive to being right up against the wet diaper. BG3.0s have a great suede cloth barrier between the microfiber insert which helps to keep the skin dry. Prefolds don't have this. I have used old pieces of fleece between the prefold and Erin's skin and it does help (this is also a good substitute for a poo liner!), but she still tends to get red. I have tried stripping the diapers, using as much lotion/diaper balm as I dare (using a fleece barrier to protect the diaper) and it still doesn't make much difference.
Erin also tends to get red marks where the gussets on the covers touch her skin. Sometimes it almost looks like she has gotten a small blister where the cover has rubbed her skin. Due to the skin issues she has had, we mostly use disposables on her now. I may use anywhere from 0-3 cloth diapers on her per day, but generally find that to preserve healthy skin, I need to follow the use of a cloth diaper with a disposable. Many people find that their children have less rashes and skin issues by using cloth, but this has not been the case for Erin.
Patrick still does very well with cloth. He is a tall child, but he is also pretty slender, so the BG3.0s still fit him pretty well. They are getting a little small, but we intend to begin potty learning in a few weeks, so this isn't a big deal. He also generally does just fine with prefolds and diaper covers. We do use disposables for him at nights due to similar ammonia issues as mentioned above.
All in all, I love using cloth diapers and if the Lord blesses us with another child (no, I am NOT pregnant!), I will use cloth again.
As my "baby" is now 2, I find that I have a strong desire to be intentional about physically nurturing her and encouraging her to participate in daily around the house activities. She absolutely loves to help with the laundry or to unload the dishwasher. Some days this provides a wonderful teaching moment whereas other days I just need to get the job done. I recently began to look into returning to baby wearing.
In the past, I have used three different kinds of baby carriers. With Patrick, we used a Baby Bjorn (Daniel was usually the one that used this) and I used a Maya Wrap. I liked the Baby Bjorn because of the even weight distribution. The reason I did not continue using it was because I got pregnant again when Patrick was 4 months old and a growing belly doesn't work too well with that particular carrier.
I liked the Maya Wrap for about the first 3-4 months of Patrick's life, but found that I often had horrible knots in my shoulder when I was done. Having recently done quite a bit of research on the use of ring slings, I now realize that I did not have the sling or Patrick positioned properly because if the sling and baby are positioned well, both mom and baby should be comfortable.
Before Erin was born, I bought a Moby Wrap. I think I used this for about 4-5 months. This wrap was good because it more evenly distributed the weight over both shoulders. I used the Moby a lot during the first few months of Erin's life - especially when I went to the grocery store or to church. But, I did find that the Moby was a bit of a hassle to get on properly and it tended to stretch out as it was worn, which meant I needed to regularly adjust or tighten it during use. Also, if I didn't get the wrap on correctly the first time, I needed to start over completely. If you have a fussy baby and another young toddler running around, this is not ideal. So, I stopped using it.
I have recently met a lady at my moms group who is a baby wearing educator and who makes different types of baby carriers. I began to look at the carriers she made and to do my own independent research to see how practical it might be to resume baby wearing with a 2 year old. I believed this would be an excellent to encourage Erin to participate in various around the house activities without getting in the way. I pulled back out my old Moby Wrap and liked it because of the even weight distribution, but once again found that it stretched way too much to be worn for any extended period of time. I also found that I needed to lean forward a bit just to feel balanced. This is not good for my back or for Erin.
The local lady who makes carriers includes Mei Tai carriers in her collection. After doing some research, I decided to get one and give it a shot. It functionsvery similarly to a Moby wrap, but does not stretch as much. I received my custom Mei Tai about 2 1/2 weeks ago and wish I had gotten one a LONG time ago. Erin had a little difficulty adjusting to riding on my back as she does like to run around and come along side whatever I'm doing independently, but through open communication and telling her in advance that she will be riding on my back, she has learned to enjoy the Mei Tai.
I can't even begin to explain how much easier having this carrier has made my daily life. I generally never took the kids out on a walk or ventured out by myself with them both because pushing a 50-60lb double stroller is just too much for me. Patrick loves to walk, but I was not willing to go on a walk with a 2 year old and a 3 year old walking as well - what if they both bolted different directions at the same time?! This was not something I was willing to risk. Now, by using the Mei Tai, I can put Erin on my back (if the carrier is on properly, she is incredibly light and easy to carry) and hold Patrick's hand to go on walks. Or, I can wear Erin and push Patrick in the umbrella stroller.
Because of my fantastic experience with the Mei Tai, I also investigated the ring slings made by the same lady. Her slings have a beautiful fanned pleating around the rings which better provides even weight distribution - this is the biggest difference in her slings and the Maya Wrap I had with Patrick. I also watched quite a few youtube videos to find out the proper mechanics of carrying a toddler in a ring sling.
Long story short, I purchased a Duiponi silk ring sling on Monday. We're still adjusting to this sling, but I used it last night at Chic Fil A while we waited in line and it worked beautifully! Erin loves being so close and really enjoys being held (one of the many benefits of baby wearing). I did use this sling for the 2nd half of a long walk this morning - I used the MT for the first 1/2 - and it is not as comfortable or as easy as the Mei Tai is, especially if you're pushing a stroller, but it is ideal for short uses - like walking from the car across a parking log, or for leisurely strolls. This is also great for around the house use.
I say all that to say, even if your "baby" is a toddler, and you are interested in the art of baby wearing, do some research and go for it. Most carriers can hold children up to 35lbs. If done properly, I'm confident you won't regret it!
3.15.2010
Popcorn
If you're like many people I know, you at least enjoy a good bowl of popcorn every now and again. The biggest down-side standard microwave or stove-top cooked popcorn is that you add a lot of unnecessary calories by cooking it in oil or butter.
I love air-popped pop corn with butter spray, salt and some extra seasoning on top - ranch dressing powder, chili powder, omit the salt and use garlic salt... there is SO much you can do to make a fantastic bit of popcorn without adding a lot of fat and unnecessary calories.
The only thing I don't like about traditional air-poppers is that they can sometimes make quite a mess - particularly if/when a kernel that has already landed in the bowl decides to pop... it is like a volcano of popcorn.
I recently read that you can air-pop popcorn in the microwave by putting 3ish tablespoons of plain popcorn into a brown paper lunch bag. Seal it with tape and throw in the microwave as though it was a store-bought variety.
I opted to try the above microwave-air popped method (and seasoned with butter-spray, salt and ranch powder) this afternoon and was quite pleased with the results. I do have a high-power microwave and bits of the popcorn were a little over-cooked, though not burned. Next time, I'll lower the power setting to 80% or so. Just stand next to the microwave and listen - once there is a 2 second pause after you hear a "pop", you know the popcorn is done.
It is well worth the experiment to enjoy a low-calorie, flavorful, (not to mention) filling afternoon snack. :)
I love air-popped pop corn with butter spray, salt and some extra seasoning on top - ranch dressing powder, chili powder, omit the salt and use garlic salt... there is SO much you can do to make a fantastic bit of popcorn without adding a lot of fat and unnecessary calories.
The only thing I don't like about traditional air-poppers is that they can sometimes make quite a mess - particularly if/when a kernel that has already landed in the bowl decides to pop... it is like a volcano of popcorn.
I recently read that you can air-pop popcorn in the microwave by putting 3ish tablespoons of plain popcorn into a brown paper lunch bag. Seal it with tape and throw in the microwave as though it was a store-bought variety.
I opted to try the above microwave-air popped method (and seasoned with butter-spray, salt and ranch powder) this afternoon and was quite pleased with the results. I do have a high-power microwave and bits of the popcorn were a little over-cooked, though not burned. Next time, I'll lower the power setting to 80% or so. Just stand next to the microwave and listen - once there is a 2 second pause after you hear a "pop", you know the popcorn is done.
It is well worth the experiment to enjoy a low-calorie, flavorful, (not to mention) filling afternoon snack. :)
3.01.2010
Red and Green Cabbage Slaw
Here is a very easy, inexpensive, filling, not to mention - healthy! - recipe.
All measurements are approximate. Adjust to your personal taste.
2 cups chopped red cabbage
2-3 cups chopped green cabbage
2-3 T sour cream
1-2t apple cider vinegar
garlic salt, to taste
ranch salad dressing mix - to taste
Add chopped cabbages to large bowl or container with lid. You can either add the sauce ingredients to the bowl with the cabbage or mix the sour cream, vinegar, garlic salt and ranch powder together in a small separate bowl and then pour over the shredded cabbage. Toss the ingredients together - or just put the lid on and give it a good shake.
Perks of this recipe include:
cost effective - I paid less than $3 for both cabbages and only used about 1/3 of each. I had sour cream, garlic salt and ranch powder on hand.
low calorie - cabbage is low in calories. Using sour cream rather than mayo reduces calories.
tasty - simply adding garlic salt and ranch powder give this a bold flavor without adding calories
filling - cabbage is dense and relatively high in dietary fiber which makes it a very filling food.
Enjoy!
All measurements are approximate. Adjust to your personal taste.
2 cups chopped red cabbage
2-3 cups chopped green cabbage
2-3 T sour cream
1-2t apple cider vinegar
garlic salt, to taste
ranch salad dressing mix - to taste
Add chopped cabbages to large bowl or container with lid. You can either add the sauce ingredients to the bowl with the cabbage or mix the sour cream, vinegar, garlic salt and ranch powder together in a small separate bowl and then pour over the shredded cabbage. Toss the ingredients together - or just put the lid on and give it a good shake.
Perks of this recipe include:
cost effective - I paid less than $3 for both cabbages and only used about 1/3 of each. I had sour cream, garlic salt and ranch powder on hand.
low calorie - cabbage is low in calories. Using sour cream rather than mayo reduces calories.
tasty - simply adding garlic salt and ranch powder give this a bold flavor without adding calories
filling - cabbage is dense and relatively high in dietary fiber which makes it a very filling food.
Enjoy!
2.26.2010
Fabric Bucket Giveaway!
Check out this giveaway at the thirtyoneeighteen blog.
I have quite a few items made by Kim and LOVE all of them. :) Definitely worth checking out her store. :)
I have quite a few items made by Kim and LOVE all of them. :) Definitely worth checking out her store. :)
2.12.2010
Ergo Baby Carrier Giveaway
I just saw this giveaway and thought I'd share for others to have the opportunity to enter!
http://clotheslinecontentment.wordpress.com/2010/02/11/my-first-giveaway/
http://clotheslinecontentment.wordpress.com/2010/02/11/my-first-giveaway/
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