Wednesday, February 27, 2013

DIY Egg McMuffins

 Ahh, Egg McMuffins.  I like how they aren't as greasy as biscuits or croissants, so I am often tempted to get one.  Until now.  These DIY Egg McMuffins are so much healthier and fresher, and even better, CONVENIENT!  You don't even have to get in your car.  With make ahead eggs, you can't beat them.

Step 1: Grease a muffin tin and crack the desired number of eggs in each cup.  If you don't like eating a whole yolk, break it up a little with a fork.  Season with salt and pepper (and anything else you like - herbs, etc.).

Step 2: Bake eggs at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes, according to how done you like your yolks.  I did mine for 18 minutes and the yolks were very much done.  I think next time I will do them a little less.  The eggs slide right out of the pan.

Easy peasy, right?

Step 3: Assemble your muffin.  I use whole wheat muffins, split in half and put one egg on each.  That way I get twice the protein with only one muffin for carbs. You can add cheese, meat, whatever you like.  Toast on foil so the cheese doesn't melt down into your toaster oven.

Enjoy!!

What to do with those leftover eggs?  I keep mine in the fridge for quick breakfasts on the go, or you could even freeze them.  Just thaw in the fridge the night before.  If you like, you could even assemble the entire breakfast sandwich and freeze individually.  My kids love the eggs because they love boiled eggs and these taste just like them.  We also love them on salads.  The possibilities are endless.

Nutrition Comparison:
Egg McMuffin (no meat) vs DIY Egg McMuffin (one egg on whole wheat English Muffin with 0.3 oz cheddar cheese):
Calories: 280 vs. 224
Calories from Fat: 108 (39%) vs. 79.2 (35%)
Total Fat: 12 g (Sat Fat: 4.5 g) vs. 8.8 g (Sat Fat: 3.8 g)
Cholesterol: 225 mg vs. 219.9 mg
Sodium: 640 mg vs. 342.7 mg
Total Carbohydrate: 29 g (Dietary Fiber: 2 g) vs. 23.7 g (Dietary Fiber: 3 g)

Cost Comparison:
Egg McMuffin (no meat): $2
DIY Egg McMuffin (no meat): $0.75
     *Muffin: $0.50 (buy them on sale and get them for $0.25!)
     *Egg: $0.17 (organic free range would be $0.29)
     *Cheese: $0.08

Monday, February 25, 2013

100+ Recipes Using Cooked Chicken

I have started roasting a chicken about once a week, which has been a blessing and a challenge.  The blessing has come in that I have my meat already prepared for several meals.  The challenge has come in finding new ways to use that cooked chicken throughout the week.  I'm not someone who can handle eating the same things every week, or even every couple weeks.  I crave variety and LOVE trying new recipes.  That is why I have compiled this list, as much to help myself as to help anyone else out there with the same problem.

So I present to you 100+ Recipes Using Cooked Chicken.  Think of the list this way: I have basically completed your meal plan for the next year or so.  You simply roast or otherwise prepare a whole chicken on Sunday, then use the leftover meat in two of the following recipes later in the week.  And there you have it, about 1/3 of your weekly meals!  Please comment with your favorite uses for leftover chicken!

*Note: Any recipes that call for "cream of _____" I substitute my own using this recipe.  I make a huge batch, then freeze in zip lock bags that are weighed using my kitchen scale to 10.75 oz so they will be the equivalent of one can. Lay them flat when freezing and they will stack nicely.  You can also freeze in containers.

BBQ Chicken & Coleslaw Potato Skins
Appetizers:
BBQ Chicken and Coleslaw Potato Skins (CHOW)
Salsa Verde and Chicken Jalapeno Poppers (CHOW)
Chicken, Guacamole and Bean Nachos (CHOW)





Chicken Escarole Soup
Soups:
Chicken-Escarole Soup (Cooking Light)
Roasted Vegetable-Rosemary Chicken Soup (Cooking Light) *Just substitute cooked chicken.
Chicken Barley Soup with Walnut Pesto (Cooking Light)
Chicken and Wild Rice Soup (Cooking Light) *Substitute real cheese for the processed cheese.
Chicken Pasta Soup (Cooking Light) *Just substitute cooked chicken.
Chicken Orzo Soup (Cooking Light)
Coconut Curry Chicken Soup (Cooking Light)
Chicken Chili with Pesto (Cooking Light) *Just substitute cooked chicken.
Greek Lemon Soup
Chicken Chowder with Chipotle (Cooking Light) *Just substitute cooked chicken.
Chicken Corn Chowder (Cooking Light) 
Sausage and Chicken Gumbo (Cooking Light)
Broccoli and Chicken Noodle Soup (Cooking Light)
Ozoni (Japanese) Soup (CHOW)
Quick Chicken Noodle Bowls (Southern Living) *Just substitute cooked chicken
Chicken Soup with Latin Flavors (Good Housekeeping)
Chicken Noodle Soup (Redbook)
Tortilla Soup (Martha Stewart) *Just substitute cooked chicken.
Braised Chicken Gumbo (Eating Well)
Quick and Easy Chicken Noodle Soup (All Recipes)
Greek Lemon Soup with Chicken (Real Simple)
Chicken and Tortellini Soup (Real Simple)

Chicken Farfalle Walnut Pesto Salad
Salads:
Potato, Chicken and Fresh Pea Salad (Cooking Light)
Roast Chicken Salad with Peaches, Goat Cheese and Pecans (Cooking Light)
Chicken and Farfalle Salad with Walnut Pesto (Cooking Light)
Arugula Salad with Chicken and Apricots (Cooking Light) *Just substitute cooked chicken.
Pan-Roasted Chicken, Squash and Chard Salad with Bacon Vinaigrette (Cooking Light) *This also makes use of your drippings and reserved fat.
Asian Style Chicken Salad (CHOW)
Chicken Taco Salad (CHOW)
Apricot Arugula Chicken Salad
Rotisserie Chicken Salad (Good Housekeeping)
Minty Pesto Pasta Salad (Quick & Simple)
Warm Chicken Salad with Mustard Thyme Vinaigrette (Good Housekeeping)
Chopped Greek Salad with Chicken (Eating Well)
Chicken, Charred Tomato and Broccoli Salad (Eating Well)
Cobb Salad (Eating Well)
Asian Chicken Salad (Eating Well)
Curried Chicken and Pasta Salad (Eating Well)
Warm Winter Salad (Eating Well)
Chicken and Fruit Salad (Eating Well)
Chicken and White Bean Salad (Eating Well)
Holiday Chicken Salad (All Recipes)
Sesame Pasta Chicken Salad
Cha Cha's White Chicken Salad (All Recipes)
Sesame Pasta Chicken Salad (All Recipes)
Chicken Nicoise Salad (Real Simple)
Chicken and Wild Rice Salad (Southern Living)









Sandwiches/Tacos:
Little Italy Chicken Pitas
Chicken Mushroom and Gruyere Quesadillas (Cooking Light)
Roast Chicken Chimichangas (Cooking Light)
Chicken and Bacon Rollups (Cooking Light)
Mediterranean Chicken Salad Pitas (Cooking Light)
Little Italy Chicken Pitas with Sun Dried Tomato Vinaigrette (Cooking Light)
Rosemary Chicken Salad Sandwiches (Cooking Light)
Chicken and Roquefort Sandwiches (Cooking Light) *Just substitute cooked chicken.
Chicken Soft Tacos with Sauteed Onions and Apples (Cooking Light)
Cherry Almond Chicken Salad Sandwiches (CHOW)
Basic Chicken Quesadillas (CHOW)
BBQ Chicken Sandwiches (Eating Well)
Cherry Almond Chicken Salad
Chicken Salad Wraps (Eating Well)
BBQ Chicken Tacos (Good Housekeeping)
Lime Chicken Soft Tacos (All Recipes)
Chicken and Quinoa Burritos (Real Simple)
Chicken and Gruyere Turnovers (Real Simple)
Buffalo Chicken Sandwiches (Real Simple)


Main Dishes:
Spicy Asian Noodles with Chicken
Chicken Tetrazzini (Cooking Light)
Hot Chicken and Chips Retro (Cooking Light)
Biscuit Topped Chicken Pot Pie (Cooking Light)
Phyllo Chicken Pot Pie (Cooking Light)
Chicken and Broccoli Casserole (Cooking Light) *Just substitute cooked chicken.
Cheesy Chicken Enchiladas (Cooking Light)
Chicken Tamale Casserole (Cooking Light)
Black Bean and Chicken Chilaquiles (Cooking Light)
Three Cheese Chicken Penne Florentine (Cooking Light)
Chicken and Root Vegetable Pot Pie (Cooking Light)
Herbed Chicken and Dumplings (Cooking Light) *Just substitute cooked chicken.
Chicken Tetrazzini
Spicy Asian Noodles with Chicken (Cooking Light)
Jambalaya (Cooking Light) *Just substitute cooked chicken.
Chicken and Feta Tabbouleh (Cooking Light)
Creamed Chicken Pot Pie (CHOW)
Chilaquiles (CHOW)
Neo-Enchiladas Suizas (CHOW)
Chicken with Lemony Egg Noodles and Peas (Eating Well)
Quick Cassoulet (Eating Well)
Peanut Noodles with Shredded Chicken and Vegetables (Eating Well)
Cheesy Chicken Pasta (Eating Well)
Chicken Enchiladas (All Recipes)
White Cheese Chicken Lasagna (All Recipes)
Swiss Chicken Casserole (All Recipes)
Oven Chicken Risotto
Salsa Chicken Rice Casserole (All Recipes)
Broccoli Chicken Divan (All Recipes)
Cajun Chicken and Rice (Real Simple)
Gingery Peanut Noodles with Chicken (Real Simple)
Chicken Tetrazzini with Prosciutto and Peas (Southern Living)
Oven Chicken Risotto (Southern Living)
Baked Chicken Chimichangas (Southern Living)
Chicken Cobbler Casserole (Southern Living)
Chicken and Bowtie Pasta (Southern Living)
Light King Ranch Chicken Casserole (Southern Living)

Pizzas:
Cuban Chicken Pizza (Cooking Light)
Ratatouille Pizza with Chicken (Cooking Light)
BBQ Chicken Pizza (Cooking Light)
Buffalo Style Chicken Pizza (All Recipes)
Chicken, Pesto and Fried Egg Pizza (Real Simple)


BON APPETIT! (for the next year or so...)

Saturday, February 23, 2013

Free Movies That Will Change Your Life

Let me tell you a story... A true story.

One winter's night about three years ago, I was watching a show on the History Channel that explains how we get the foods we eat. That night they were talking about eggs. Being a city girl and knowing nothing of agriculture, I was entirely unfamiliar with the industrial process of chicken farming. I have to tell you, what unfolded before my eyes in those thirty minutes broke my heart. Those sweet baby chicks are hatched on giant conveyor belts, alongside countless thousands of other chicks. Then they are dumped into another area where a worker hangs them up BY THEIR BEAKS on this machine that cuts the end of it off!! Then they go on through there, pushed and shoved through the rest of the assembly line as they are injected and dumped into crates.


Then these poor babies are raised in nasty dark barns, stepping on top of one another, trying to get to food and water, until they finally grow big enough to lay eggs. At this point they are put in cages, barely big enough for their bodies, where they eat, drink, poop and lay eggs until they die. : ( Seriously.

 
And no, this was not a propaganda film, where you might be tempted to think they were exaggerating the conditions. If you buy regular eggs from the grocery store (and I'm not judging you because I did too), I swear to you, that is exactly where your eggs come from. With tears in my eyes, I turned to my husband and told him, "One day, when we have land, I would love to have a few chickens to lay eggs."

Uh oh.

Apparently those were the exact words my country boy turned doctor husband had been dying to hear. "We don't need to wait til we have land! We can get some right now!" I looked at him like he had just grown two heads. What on earth could he be thinking??? He was a resident at the time and we lived in a tiny house on a postage stamp yard. We literally had no backyard, just a six foot wide deck that bordered a fence and parking lot. However, we did have a side yard. Down one side of our house was a strip of grass about ten feet wide. We had planned on putting a few beds in to start a vegetable garden and I had no idea where he was going to squeeze chickens in.

Well guess what. He found a space. Right outside of my breakfast nook window went up a salvaged chicken coop, and he built a caged run to go alongside it. It was just big enough to house three chickens. The following spring, we bought three young hens (Sissy, Missy, and Chrissy, named by our darling two year old) and by June 2010, we were in the egg business. Oh boy, I had never eaten eggs like that in my LIFE!! We also began vegetable gardening and learned to put the chicken manure to good use. We had phenomenal gardening success after that, and even had one single cherry tomato plant that grew over 7 feet tall and yielded over 1000 tomatoes!!! That's right, our little postage stamp side yard was producing 2-3 eggs a day, tomatoes, beans, peppers, peas, squash, cucumbers, watermelon, strawberries, pineapple, and corn (IN THE SAME SEASON)!

Sissy, Missy and Chrissy (left to right), about 8 weeks old here.

While that chicken show initially prompted us to start reevaluating our food source, it was just the beginning. We had just signed up for a trial of Netflix and discovered the documentary "Super Size Me" was available for free! After watching it, we also found one for free on Amazon Prime called, "Food, Inc." Wow, if you haven't watched those two movies, I am begging you to do so. If you have Amazon Prime, they are still available for free. I have included direct links below, or you can find them by searching on Amazon. Two other great free documentaries available on Amazon Prime are "King Corn" and "Fresh." Watching these films opened my eyes to what we are truly consuming when we eat our food. You might think you don't eat much processed food so you're okay. Ooh, buddy, that's what I thought until I found out about the cattle feed lots, the chicken farms, pig farms...



If you watch even one of these movies, it will change your mindset forever. Don't let that scare you, though. Change can be a good thing. It's funny how my forward progress in health has brought me BACK to the way things USED to be done. : )

As promised, here are the links to some fabulous free food documentaries.  Don't have Amazon Prime?  You can get a trial and then cancel it without being charged (be sure to read up on that and do it correctly if you don't wish to keep it), or just pay a few dollars to rent them.  They might even be available in a Redbox near you.  Check 'em out...

Food Inc: http://www.amazon.com/Food-Inc/dp/B002VRZEYM/ref=sr_1_1?s=instant-video&ie=UTF8&qid=1361685441&sr=1-1&keywords=food+inc.

King Corn: http://www.amazon.com/King-Corn/dp/B003F9XQ9A/ref=sr_1_1?s=instant-video&ie=UTF8&qid=1361685985&sr=1-1&keywords=king+corn

Fresh: http://www.amazon.com/Fresh/dp/B007JRU4TY/ref=sr_1_1?s=instant-video&ie=UTF8&qid=1361686043&sr=1-1&keywords=fresh

(I do not have Netflix any longer, so I cannot provide you a link to "Super Size Me", but if you have Netflix, try searching it.  It is also available for rent on Amazon for $3.99.)

Thursday, February 21, 2013

Why Naysayers Say Nay

What is the number one complaint I hear against an organic, whole foods diet?  "IT COSTS TOO MUCH!"

Really?  Does it really cost that much?  Or are we afraid of the cost we see on the sticker?

First of all, there really is a difference in organic foods because the yield is not as great when you don't have chemicals doing the dirty work for the farmers, so yes, the cost is higher.  But let's consider something.  I bet if you switch to a whole foods diet, you will find yourself dining out a lot less (if at all).  And THAT is what opens the door for organics in your budget...

Let me give you an example from my budget, how I am able to keep the EXACT same food budget and still buy nearly everything organic.  First, let me explain, we use a cash budget.  We get out $____ for food each month, and when that's gone, you live out of your pantry or freezer.  One thing that I had always included in my food budget was Chick-fil-a Wednesdays.  You see, we have a hectic Wednesday afternoon because I pick my daughter up from school, run home and change her for ballet, feed the kids a snack, and run to ballet.  Then we go straight from ballet to church, but do not get there early enough for the church dinner.  So what do we eat?  Chick-fil-a.  Well, that's what we USED to eat.  Now, while the kids are snacking, I throw together a brown bag dinner for them (sandwiches, crackers, cheese, fruit, whatever).  I also make sure to have leftovers, a crock pot meal, or something fast at home for my husband and myself to eat after church.  The kids just can't wait that long.  So, by brownbagging our Wednesday nights that used to cost us $25/each, I now save $100/month!  So where does that $100 go?  It covers MORE than the difference in my switch to organic alternatives.  Take a look...

Regular peanut butter (Costco): $2/lb
Organic peanut butter (Earth Fare): $5/lb
Difference: $3/lb ($6/month)

Regular milk (Costco): $3/gal
Local organic milk (Earth Fare): $6.50/gal
Difference: $3.50/gal ($28/month)

Regular apples (Costco): $1.29/lb
Organic apples (Costco): $1.45/lb
Difference: $0.16/lb ($0.80/month)

Regular frozen vegetables (Costco): $0.90/lb
Organic frozen vegetables (Costco): $1.10/lb
Difference: $0.20/lb ($1.60/month)

Regular cereal, snacks, etc.: about $50/month
Organic cereal, snacks, etc.: about $75/month
Difference: about $25/month

So my total increased budget is a little over $60.

Then when you consider your savings for making things yourself instead of buying them, even compared to non-organic, you counter a lot of those extra costs.  So subtract that (not even counting the savings from homemade items), and you're looking at still coming out in the black!

I challenge you to find one fast food meal a week to give up and start buying at least one thing organic that you didn't before.  It will do your body AND your budget good.

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Getting Back to Homesteading

I have missed writing the last several months!  I have taken pictures of several projects, but have not had the time to post thanks to loads of holiday busyness and more sickness than I care to remember.  Now I am going to let you in on what has been happening lately in my home.

The GMO Transformation
A few weeks ago, my sister-in-law sent me a link to a video that was temporarily available for free.  It explains the dangers of GMOs (Genetically Modified Organisms).  While the IDEA of something being genetically altered had always bothered me, I knew very little about the research that had been done.  Let me just say, you HAVE to watch this video if you have time.  While some of the claims are merely speculative because research just isn't available, many dangers are VERY real and VERY frightening.  Here is the link to the free video:

http://www.responsibletechnology.org/posts/genetic-roulette-free-screening-vote-today/

If that doesn't work for you, try this.  It does cost a little to rent, but it is well worth it.

http://geneticroulettemovie.com/

Baking Up a Storm
So what does this have to do with homesteading?  Well, thanks to this video and other research I have now done on the topic, I am anxious to remove GMOs from my family's diet.  That means removing pretty much ALL corn, soy, beet sugar (ambiguously labeled "sugar" in most foods) and cottonseed that is non-organic. DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW DIFFICULT THAT IS???  Well, it's hard.  Corn and soy are in everything!  So, I have been drastically attempting to go back to the homesteading ways I had before we moved last year.  I started making my own bread again from my fresh ground wheat.  Here is the recipe I used.  (More to follow in another post.)

http://thehappyhousewife.com/cooking/whole-wheat-baking/

I also tried making my own fresh ground wheat soda crackers using a recipe from my Fanny Farmer Baking Book.  They are SO delicious!  By the way, if you're looking for a good grain mill, this is the one I use.

Ten-Day Whole Food Challenge
Then, a friend of mine challenged us to ten days of whole foods (read details HERE).  No problem, since this was already the direction  I was heading.  But I tell you what, cutting out my children's morning granola bar from a box has been a challenge.  I am not going to toss them all.  I will let them slowly eat them up (I have a ton because I buy in bulk, thank you Costco), but no more relying on them for breakfasts.  I also have to be certain to plan my meals carefully to keep from being tempted to eat out.  One thing I did was to bake a whole organic chicken Sunday at 200 degrees while we were at church, so by the time we got home it was fall off the bone delicious and only needed its skin crisped up.  I'll be sure to post that recipe for you too.  What was great about that one meal is that it also provided a casserole which fed us dinner Monday night and Wednesday, as well as a ton of chicken salad that I ate for lunch yesterday and today, and will be eating again tomorrow and possibly Thursday as well.

Don't you feel so resourceful when you do that, putting leftovers to good use?  I challenge you to do one big meal next week that provides food for several days.  You don't have to eat the same thing over and over, like a giant tray of lasagna (I can barely make it anymore because I used to to this and got so SICK of it).  But find a large main dish that can be reused in different ways, and incorporate it into at least two other meals for the week.

Yesterday was an especially busy "homesteading" day.  I had several homemade projects to complete.  I started with more homemade laundry detergent (been making my own since 2009).  I then made some homemade yogurt using some new freeze dried cultures and it turned out AMAZING.  Here are the cultures I tried (although I just found them cheaper at my Earth Fare grocery store, so check around locally).  I usually just use Danon All Natural (NOT the low fat, flavored, light or any other kind) yogurt to start my batch, so this was my first time with dried cultures.  I used one pack (5 g) to culture 54 oz of yogurt.  (I have determined this is the MOST I can possibly fit in my yogurt maker.  I squeeze two 16 ounce jars, two 8 ounce jars and a 6 ounce jar in there.)  Let me tell you, though, this was the creamiest, most delectable yogurt I have ever tasted.  I put a spoonful of jam and a drizzle of honey in it this morning, topped with a sprinkling of granola.  HEAVEN.

Okay, so back to my homesteading ways yesterday... My new tortilla press arrived from Amazon!!!  I had also ordered some (non-GMO) Bob's Red Mill masa harina and one of those handy (BPA-free) tortilla holder things.  I also mixed up a little jar of taco seasoning following this recipe (except I omitted the black pepper since I felt it was spicy enough for me without it).  My husband shot his first deer on his first hunting trip ever a few weeks ago, so we had some lovely organic venison fajitas last night with our fresh tortillas.  I took the extra tortillas and made some chips following this recipe.

Upcoming Projects
So that's what I've been up to the past couple weeks!  Let me tell you a little bit of what I would like to start working on in the upcoming weeks.  First of all, I was with my family in Earth Fare Saturday, stocking up on non-GMO items (organic whenever possible), and I was checking out their prices on organic milk.  I have shied away from the organic milk at Costco, where I usually buy regular milk for $3.00-3.15/gal.  Costco has their organic milk for a whopping $7.70/gal!!  No way I could justify spending that, but after reading about the dangers of GMOs and knowing that was in my baby's milk.....  So here I was at Earth Fare and I see THEIR organic milk is only $5/gal!  I was about to buy some when a kind young gentleman stocking a shelf asked if he could help.  I told him I was looking to switch to organic milk and he began to tell me about the milk he was stocking on the shelf above the store brand.  It was called Alabama's Organic Milk.  Hmm, local!  You don't understand, we don't live in dairy country down here, so I don't see local milk often.  Okay, ever.  I once bought some raw milk cash under the table from a farmer, but that's the only time we've ever had it and I was afraid to give it to the kids since it was not pasteurized.  Anyway, this milk is not only local, but this guy, Johnny, and his family run the farm and are the state's only certified organic dairy farm!  It costs $6.50/gal, but I decided it was worth it to support a local farmer who was doing things the RIGHT way, the organic way.  I encourage you to read about this farm here on their website.  If you don't live in Alabama or do not have a store that sells Alabama's Organic, I urge you to try to find a local or at least organic source for your milk, if there is any way you can make it work in your budget.

So what does this have to do with upcoming projects?  Well, wouldn't you know, Johnny and his family also sell their organic cream!  Only $10 per half gallon.  That isn't a bad price for heavy cream even compared to non-organic!  So what can I do with this lovely cream?  Make butter, mascarpone cheese, cream cheese, clotted cream, and any number of delightful dairy treats!  Stay tuned for these exciting (to me) endeavors.  : )