9/16/2016
Quote
"In attending to the mysteries of life and death, I will listen for a chuckle in the darkness"
7/15/2016
5/28/2016
Several Uses for Cabbage
Ways to use it up (because you always end up with SO MUCH, right?):
- Raw Salted Cabbage Leafs - would have never thought to do this until I saw my dad doing it. Turns out is super yummy
- Thai Larb - this recipe uses lettuce, but IMO, cabbage cups are WAY better
- Indian Spiced Curry Kraut
- Traditional Sauerkraut
- Kimchi (there are so many good kraut recipes. I could keep going here).
- Egg Rolls
- Upgraded Instant Ramen Noodles - Add shredded cabbage, fresh ginger, fish oil, lemon juice, red pepper, thai basil, sesame oil, shrimp/chicken/tofu, small amount of soy (you get the idea)
- Vinagrette Based Cole Slaw
- Galumpkis (stuffed cabbage leaves)
- Vegetarian Galumpkis
- Fish Tacos (or any taco for that matter, just put vinagrette based cole slaw on it instead of lettuce)
- Stir Fry
- Chicken Yakisoba - I can't get enough of this one
- Creamy cabbage soup - there's a million variations of this, but basically chicken broth, whole milk, cabbage, salt and pepper alone it yummy.
- Cabbage and Kielbasa Soup: Literally delicious with just those 2 ingredients (add water and maybe pepper and salt to taste). You can sub chicken broth if you want. Add onions, carrots, potatoes, but the cabbage and kielbasa are the stars here and most anything else takes away from it, IMO.
- Cabbage added to almost any soup, really.
5/22/2016
Healthy Homemade Coconut Milk Strawberry Ice Cream
I'm far more likely to have coconut milk in the house than 3 cups of cream and 3 cups of half-and-half, so not only is this more healthy than traditional ice cream, but I actually have the ingredients too. Win win.
Ingredients
- 2 cans of coconut milk
- ½ cup of honey, sugar, agave nectar, or maple syrup
- 2 tablespoons of vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 4 egg yolks
- 1 pound of fresh strawberries
Directions
- Blend all ingredients minus a handful of whole strawberries. Chop those strawberries in half and toss into the blended mix.
- Mix in ice cream maker according to it's directions
3/15/2016
Sushi Night
- Ricer Steamer (already had it)
- Rice Vinegar (already had it)
- Sesame Seeds (already had it)
- Edamame (already had it) - this is a side dish
- Sushi rice (small grain, sticky) - I've never bought small grain sushi rice, but if the goal is "sticky", my rice steamer sure makes some sticky basmati rice (which I have plenty of). I'll report back if this sushi rice is all that much different
- Bamboo rolling mat
- Nori (toasted seaweed rolls)
- Wasabi Paste
- Pickled Ginger Slices
- San-J Shoyu - wheat soy (this is seriously my favorite soy sauce on earth and it's just mild enough for sushi)
- Mayo (already had it)
- Sambal Oelek Pepper Sauce (already had it) - another favorite sauce on earth. Recipe for spicy mayo calls for Sriracha but this so SOOOO much better as a substitute
- Smoked Salmon
- Avocado
- Cucumber Ribbons (already had it)
- Carrot Ribbons
- Scallions (fresh from the garden)
- Roe (maybe)
- Raw Fish? (Ahi Tuna? or is smoked tuna enough?)
- Artificial Crab Meat? (california roll?)
- A few shrimp?
3/13/2016
3/05/2016
First Blue Apron Shipment
Exciting. This is 3 dinners for 2. It looks pretty low cal too for those dieting. It was purely coincidental we ended up almost vegetarian (vegan aside from the 2 eggs, butter and catfish)
2/28/2016
Chamomile Essential Oil
 |
| Chamomile Flowers used for Essential Oil |
- Reduces stress/pain associated with child birth (clinical research)
Sandalwood Essential Oil
 |
| Sandalwood Trees |
- Latin Name -
Uses
- Herpes (clinical research)
- Cancer treatment (clinical research)
Clove Essential Oil
 |
| Clove Essential Oil |
- Latin Name -Eugenia Caryophyllus
Uses
- Antiseptic – It is applied topically to address fungal infections, wounds, and cuts. It is also a common treatment for athlete's foot (clincial research, more)
- Flu (clinical research using On Guard by doTerra
- Dental aid - ease the pain of a tooth ache or fight bad breath
- Digestive aid – Cloves possess beneficial properties that help relax the smooth muscle lining in your gastrointestinal tract. When used as an oil, it can aid in halting digestive problems, like nausea and vomiting.
- Insect repellent – When used together with citrus essential oils, this plant oil can help ward insects away.
- Expectorant – Clove bud oil is also used to help ease respiratory problems, such as cough, colds, sinusitis, asthma, and tuberculosis. In fact, chewing on a clove bud is said to help sore throats.
- Skin care product – When applied topically, clove buds can help address skin problems like warts, acne, sagging skin, and wrinkles.
- Flavoring / Cooking
- Perfume ingredient – Bud oil, with its strong and unique scent, is used in carnation, rose, and honeysuckle perfumes. It has a strong and unique scent.
- Soap ingredient – Clove bud oil is used in soaps not just for its fragrance, but also because of its relaxing and antiseptic qualities.
- Mental health - Can relieve depression, anxiety, stress, and mental exhaustian
- Massage oil – It can be used to relieve pain and stress.
- Aphrodisiac
Tea Tree Essential Oil
 |
| Tea Tree - Used for essential oil |
About
- Latin Name - Melaleuca Alternifolia
Uses
- Cradle Cap
- Dandruff
- Cleaning
- MRSA Antibiotic resistant bacteria (clinical research)
- Successful topical treatment of hand warts -- Millar & Moore (2008)
- Antimicrobial and Other Medicinal Properties. Carson, Hammer, & Riley (2006)
- topical decolonization agent for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus.Caelli, Porteous, Carson, Heller, & Riley (2001)
- In-vitro activity against Candida spp. Hammer & Riley (1998)
- Escherichia coli. Gustafson, Chew, Markham, Bell, Wyllie, & Warmington (1998)
- oral solution for the treatment of fluconazole refractory oral candidiasis in AIDS patients. Jandourek & Vazquez (1988)
Patchouli Essential Oil
Uses
- fragrance (perfume, incense, deodorant)
- meditation, relaxation, yoga, calming
- for acne, eczema, and dry skin
- dandruff
- antidepressant
- antiphlogistic
- antiseptic
- aphrodisiac
- astringent
- cicatrisant
- cytophylactic
- diuretic
- febrifuge
- fungicide - (ex/ athletes foot)
- insecticide
- sedative
Eucalyptus Essential Oil
 |
| Eucalyptus Essential Oil |
- Latin Name - Eucalyptus globulus (there are many species, but this is the most common)
Uses
- expectorant or mucolytic (inhalation)
- body pains, fever
- allergies and asthma
- MRSA Antibiotic resistant bacteria (clinical research)
- antiseptic
- insecticide and miticide
- fragrance
- Pain relief – Research indicates the analgesic properties of this essential oil. A study in the American Journal of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation applied Eucalyptamint on the anterior forearm skin of 10 subjects, and found that Eucalyptamint "produced significant physiologic responses that may be beneficial for pain relief and/or useful to athletes as a passive form of warm-up."
- Dental health – This oil exhibits antibacterial activity against cariogenic (tooth decay-causing) and periodontopathic bacteria.
- Stimulating immune system response – According to a study published in BMC Immunology, eucalyptus oil extract is said to implement the innate cell-mediated immune response.
Peppermint Essential Oil
 |
| Peppermint Essential Oil |
- Latin Name - Mentha Piperita
Uses
- reduce fatigue or nausea (inhalation)
- irritable bowel syndrome (clinical research)
Black Pepper Essential Oil
 |
| Black Pepper Essential Oil |
Uses
- A blend of essential oil containing black pepper or ginger can reduce pain from arthritis and improve flexibility (topically)
Ginger Essential Oil
 |
| Ginger Essential Oil |
Uses
- A blend of essential oil containing black pepper or ginger can reduce pain from arthritis and improve flexibility (topically)
Rosemary Essential Oil
 |
| Rosemary Essential Oil |
About
- Latin Name: Rosmarinus officinalis
Uses
- Antimicrobial (clinical research)
- Enhanced Memory
Lavender Essential Oil
 |
| Lavender Fields |
- Eczema
- Relaxation / Stress Relief
- Anxiety and Depression (clinical research, more)
- Sleep Aid
- Local Anesthetic (clinical research)
Recipes
Bath Salt Recipe
- 1 Part Baking Soda
- 2 Parts Epsom Salt
- 3 Parts Sea Salt
- Add 6 drops of essential oil to 2 Tbsp of this mixture
Anxiety & Depression Massage Oil
- 3 drops Bergamot
- 3 drops Lavender
- 3 drops Frankincense
- 1 oz almond oil (1.5% solution)
Myrrh Resin & Essential Oil
 |
| Myrrh Resin |
About
Grown from Commiphora tree. Dispute that modern Myrrh might not come from the same plant as ancient myrrh. Trade diminished vastly once the Roman Empire fell. Ancient Myrrh might have come from a mimosa plant. Worth its weight in gold at the time Jesus was born. Traded and used for 5000 years. Found in vials in ancient Egyptian tombs.Uses
- Fragrance (perfume, incense)
- Meditation, relaxation, yoga, calming
- Incense/medicinal trade
- Arthritic pain (better if used together)
- Medicinal (topical treatment, syphilis, herpes, hay fever, gum health, athlete's foot, ringworm, weeping eczema, bedsores, boils, carbuncles, acne, stomach upset, diarrhea, dyspepsia, indigestion, flatulence, hemorrhoids, cancer, chapped lips, diabetes, cholesterol)
- Dental rinse – freshens breath, treats gingivitis, relieves tooth aches & mouth ulcers
- Food flavoring
- Lung support - helps relieve congestion and expel phlegm
- Fertility and Inducing labor
- Embalming
Instructions
- Burn resin with charcoals as an incense
- Grind resin to powder with mortar and pestle. Mix one part ground resin to 2 or 3 parts carrier oil.
- If using essential oil, use 10 drops per 1 oz carrier oil for a 2% solution
Frankincense Resin & Essential Oil
 |
| Frankincense Resin |
About
Grown from Boswellia tree. Worth its weight in gold at the time Jesus was born. Traded and used for 5000 years. Found in vials in ancient Egyptian tombs.Uses
- Fragrance (perfume, incense)
- Meditation, relaxation, yoga, calming
- Incense/medicinal trade
- Arthritic pain (better if used together)
- Skin Care (toner, lotion, soaps, bath soak)
- Medicinal (Pain relief, Aids digestion, Relieves anxiety and depression, Suppresses cancer growth, Reduces scars, Gout, Insomnia)
- Silver colored and highly opaque is considered the best quality although translucent is best for ingestion
- Cancer Treatment (clinical research)
- Anxiety and Depression (clinical research)
Instructions
- Burn resin with charcoals as an incense
- Grind resin to powder with mortar and pestle. Mix one part ground resin to 2 or 3 parts carrier oil.
- If using essential oil, mix 10 drops per 1 oz carrier oil for a 2% solution
Aromatherapy Free Online Resources
- Yellow Emperor’s Book of Internal Medicine - Possibly originally written in 2600 BC. Influential to traditional Chinese medicine.
- http://www.csh.umn.edu/education/online-learning-modules-resources/online-learning-modules
- http://ocw.upm.es/ingenieria-agroforestal/industrial-utilization-of-medicinal-and-aromatic-plants
- http://www.aromahead.com/courses/free-trainings
2/26/2016
Vegetarian Galumpkis (Stuffed Cabbage Rolls)
This is a traditional Polish dish. Very simple, cheap, & tastey.
Normally this would be made with ground beef or sausage, but I was going extra cheap & easy (didn't want to defrost the meat). Honestly, I think it turned out even better than usual.
Cook up 1 cup of dried rice.
Meanwhile, chop up a box of mushrooms (or 2 even, but I only used one).
Finely dice 1/2 medium onion & 2 cloves of garlic
Warn up a wrought iron skillet on medium-high until good and hot.
Put a few drops of oil on the pan and toss in the mushrooms.
Resist the temptation to stir the mushrooms. You want them to get good a browned before they start releasing too much water. Once your'e sure they're good and brown, then stir once and let them brown again. Now add your onions and garlic and let them brown too. Remove from heat.
Boil water and place several whole cabbage leaves (about 12) in the boiling water until they're tender. Remove cabbage leaves and run under cool water.
Once rice is done, combine ingredients and add cumin and soy sauce to taste (just enough cumin to give it a little earthy meatiness, but not so much that it tastes Mexican).
Assembly rice mixture into cabbage leaves and roll up like an egg roll. Place in a shallow dish. Top the cabbage rolls with v-8 juice (I'm pretty generous with this step). That rice absorbs a lot of moisture.
Crack pepper on top.
Bake at 350 for about 30 minutes.
Normally this would be made with ground beef or sausage, but I was going extra cheap & easy (didn't want to defrost the meat). Honestly, I think it turned out even better than usual.
Cook up 1 cup of dried rice.
Meanwhile, chop up a box of mushrooms (or 2 even, but I only used one).
Finely dice 1/2 medium onion & 2 cloves of garlic
Warn up a wrought iron skillet on medium-high until good and hot.
Put a few drops of oil on the pan and toss in the mushrooms.
Resist the temptation to stir the mushrooms. You want them to get good a browned before they start releasing too much water. Once your'e sure they're good and brown, then stir once and let them brown again. Now add your onions and garlic and let them brown too. Remove from heat.
Boil water and place several whole cabbage leaves (about 12) in the boiling water until they're tender. Remove cabbage leaves and run under cool water.
Once rice is done, combine ingredients and add cumin and soy sauce to taste (just enough cumin to give it a little earthy meatiness, but not so much that it tastes Mexican).
Assembly rice mixture into cabbage leaves and roll up like an egg roll. Place in a shallow dish. Top the cabbage rolls with v-8 juice (I'm pretty generous with this step). That rice absorbs a lot of moisture.
Crack pepper on top.
Bake at 350 for about 30 minutes.
2/15/2016
Fish Taco Salad - Atkins Friendly
Cabbage Slaw
Finely Sliced Cabbage (one small bag)
Half of a bunch of finely sliced scallions
A few leafs worth of finely diced kale
Apple cider vinegar and olive oil to taste (2 to 1 ratio)
Salt and pepper to taste
Pico de Gallo
1 Avocado diced
1 Medium tomato diced
1 Small onion very finely diced
1 Large garlic clove (or two small) finely diced
1 Lemon or Lime
Small bunch of finely diced cilantro
Small bunch of finely diced fresh parsley
Salt and Pepper to taste
Cream Sauce
Big dollop of sour cream
Lots of Louisiana's hot sauce (until, when mixed it's colored like thousand island)
Salt
Chipotle Pepper Seasoning (to taste)
Fish
Mahi Mahi (can probably substitute other fish like Tilapia, cod, etc...)
Dry Rub
Unfortunately, I didn't measure this. Just applied it directly to each filet until it looked fairly well coated
Onion Powder
Garlic Powder
Cumin
Paprika
Paprika
Zaa'tar (basically lemon thyme with a little bit of sesame seed)
Fresh Oregeno (only b/c I didn't have dry)
Salt
Pepper
Cinnamin (just a little)
Then sprinkled a little soy sauce on it until it was pastey and I could rub the seasoning all over
Once the fish has marinated, I cooked it on a George Foreman grill. I never cooked fish on this thing before, but it was absolutely perfect and it's the only way I'll cook this type of fish (thick white filet) from now on. It cooks very fast (just cook it until it has nice looking grill marks). It felt like about 3 or 4 minutes total, no flipping.
1/24/2016
Leftover Ham Ideas
Ham and Cheese Pretzel Calzone - Pretzel is key here, I think
Ham and Cheese Puff - puff or croissant roll could work here
Scalloped Potatoes - very thinly sliced ham here
Stuffed Baked Potato - My favorite, although not listed, is potato, shredded ham, and BBQ sauce with a tiny pit of cheddar on top
Ham and Cheese Breakfast Enchilada - definitely up the Mexican (and health) factor and add some chilies (or bell pepper at least
Quiche Lorraine - this is VERY rich and filling. Best for a crowd
Cuban Sliders - that bread looks yummy, doesn't it?
Cuban Sandwich - I really like Cuban sandwiches. can you tell? And panini sandwiches for that matter.
Country Style Green Beans With Potatoes and Ham - I know this link calls it soup, but where I come from, this is just country style green beans. Maybe just go slightly easier on the broth.
Ham Pot Pie - this link looks like am amazing pot pie, but I modified mine heavily (was aiming at less total calories and easier to make. It didn't disappoint).
- 2 medium-small potatoes diced into small cubes
- 2 large carrots cut into small cubes
- Handful of corn kernels
- 1 cup of peas
- 1 cup of chopped ham
- Combine all ingredients into large frying pan and add enough chicken broth until mixture is half-way filled up with broth. Cook until everything's nice and steamy.
- Add milk (until as creamy as you like. I did about 1 cup) and 1-2 Tbsp of corn starch. Should get pretty gravy like at this point. Stick in pie dish.
- Roll out half of a pie crust (the thinner crust topping is crustier and yummier, plus less total butter/fat in the recipe this way). I used the Pillsbury rolled up crust. Take a rolling pin and make it even thinner (doubling in size so a half crust can fit over a whole pile dish). Doesn't have to be round b/c you're going to cut it into squares. Lay the squares slightly overlapping.
- Cook at 400F until the crust looks nice and brown. The veggie/meat mix is basically already cooked going into the oven (I cooked mine about 20 minutes probably).
1/04/2016
2016 New Years Resolutions
- Design and help build my own kitchen table
- Read at least one new book a month
- Increase vocabulary (i think this will come with reading more anyhow)
- Start a family fun night
- Take one painting lesson
- Take one dance lesson
- Take one wood working lesson
- Learn a new song on the guitar or piano
- Sew something for my first niece/nephew ever
- Eat a fresh/raw vegetable at least once a day (I normally only eat them cooked or in form of juice)
- Exercise 3-5 times per week
- Take vitamins every day, including omega
- Get (and keep) everything in the house more organized
- Do at least one side job outside of my main job (entrepreneurial work)
- Pay off credit card
- Build up 3 months income in savings
- Make a family cookbook
- Floss every day
- Brush before bed
- Volunteer
- Actively work on improving relationships with those I'm closest to
- Stop cussing
- Develop habit of changing negative thoughts into positive ones
- Drink at least one glass of water a day
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)