Recipes VI: Tofu Nuggets

Non-Chicken Chicken Nuggets

Recipe by my lovely husbandit, Mr. B.

There are a couple ways you can make this depending on your dietary preferences/needs. 

Non-vegetarian Method

Approx 3.25 hours

1 pre-package container of extra firm organic tofu pressed for 2 hours

2 cups chicken broth or water w/ chicken bouillon

Couple dashes of poultry seasoning-fresh or dried
2.5 cups of chicken breader or flour with spices & salt in a ziplock

After pressing water from tofu. Boil chicken broth/bouillon with spices. Turn off heat and lower tofu square in. Let tofu sit in chicken liquid mix for 1 hr to absorb the chicken flavor. 

Slice tofu lengthwise then into cubes 3x3 inch.

Gently shake tofu cubes in ziplock bag of breader. Not too vigorously. 

In a bubbling hot skillet of oil on the stove (of can use deep fryer), gently place the cubes in the oil. Approx 2 mins/side. Or until golden brown. They cook quickly.

Vegetarian Method

Press tofu square for 2 hours.
Instead of using chicken bouillon stock, can use vegan or vegetable bouillon stock and desired seasonings. Or none at all, for a faster preparation. 

Gently shake tofu cubes in ziplock bag of breader.

Cook them the same way in a hot skillet of oil on the stove (of can use deep fryer), gently place the cubes in the oil. Approx 2 mins/side. Or until golden brown.

They're really tasty with dumpling sauce or by themselves. 

For a healthier approach: Can bake them in a toaster oven 25-30 minutes on a sil pat or silicon baking sheet. 

Recipes V: Old Fashion Cranberry Walnut Bread

Cranberry Walnut Bread

An Old Family Favorite

This recipe has been in my family for a long time. Its so delicious, moist and tart, who can say no? Its been used at family gatherings, fall festivals, holidays, and gifts. I've changed the recipe slightly to make it more health conscious.

1/3 cup olive oil

3/4 white sugar, brown sugar, or agave nectar

2 organic eggs

2 cups flour (1 white wheat/ 1 whole wheat or any combo you desire)

3/4 cup buttermilk (easily made by squeezing half a lemon into the milk)

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon himalayan pink salt

1 cup chopped cranberries

1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Preheat oven 350. Mix the wet ingredients first with the mixer. Hold the cranberries and walnuts till last. Then add in the dry ingredients. Hand stir/fold in the walnuts and cranberries. Avoid over-stirring to prevent the batter from turning completely pink. Pour into 9x5 buttered and floured pan. Bake 50-55 mins. Makes 1 loaf.

This recipe can easily be doubled and tripled. I like to buy lots of bags of cranberries when they come out in stores around October and November. Its so ingrained in me now, I have to buy them and I always buy 2 at a time. Freeze them. Around spring or summer you can whip up a loaf and spread with melting butter and remember just why you love this recipe so much!

    




( Just look at those beautiful organic eggs...sigh)

Recipes IV: Simple Homemade Bagels

The Best Homemade Bagels

http://www.thegalleygourmet.net/2011/10/homemade-bagels.html

The link above has the full illustrated recipe on how to make these awesome bagels.

As always I cannot follow a recipe. I see so many possibilities for subsitutions. I typically make my bagels predominantly whole wheat with wheat germ, ground flax seed, a dash of garlic powder and 1.5 tsp of crushed garlic. Sometimes cinnamon honey wheat bagels. I've even added in dried craisins and honey. This is a great foundational recipe for building on. So let your little heart take you where want to munch. These bagels take less than 2 hours to complete.

Yields 8

2 1/4 teaspoons dry active yeast

2 teaspoons granulated sugar

1 1/3 cups warm water (115-117 degrees) with the sugar dissolve in it

3 1/2 cups spelt, unbleached, white/wheat or/and whole wheat

1 3/4 teaspoons kosher salt
1-3 tsp of vital wheat gluten (gives it good rise and texture)

Additional tasty bits

Proof the yeast well. Mix into dry ingredients. Put aside for 10 minutes for the wheat gluten strands to form. (A good time to clean up the intial mess) Knead the bread dough well. In a greased bowl, cover and let rise. After the first rise cycle cut into 8 slices. Shape into a ball. Punch your finger thru and make the bagel hole. Let rise for about 10 mins again or until your water starts boiling in the water pot. Then drop a bagel into the boiling (not a rigorous boil) and let float/cook for 1 minute for each side. Take out, put on a silpat on a cookie sheet. Bake 425 for 20-25 minutes.

Recipes III: Non Dairy Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream

Mint-Dark Chocolate Chip Ice Cream

Good recipe if you're lactose intolerant

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Ice Cream Maker Time: Approximately 20-25 minutes

• 2 cans of coconut milk
• ½ cup agave nectar
• ¼ cup fresh mint or 1tsp peppermint extract
• ½ cup 62% dark chocolate chunks.
• 1/4 cup powdered cocoa

Place coconut milk, agave, and mint in a blender. Blend for about 1 minute until the mint is fully incorporated into the mixture. Add chocolate chips and pulse for about 20 seconds.

Pour liquid into your ice cream machine bowl and churn for about 20-25 minutes or according to manufacturer's instructions

Recipes II: Strawberry Rhubarb Pie

Strawberry Rhubarb Pie

Filling:

1/2 cup agave nectar
3 tablespoons flour
½ teaspoon cinnamon
Pinch allspice
¼ teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons lemon juice
3 cups strawberries, hulled and cut into large chunks (can be frozen or fresh)
3 ½ cups rhubarb, cut into ½-inch slices (can be frozen or fresh)

Refer to crust recipe in Recipes: A String of Pearls I. Add little more flour of choice and 1 or 2 tbsp of butter. Add more water as needed.

In a large bowl, combine the sugar, cornstarch, cinnamon, allspice, salt and orange zest. Add the lemon juice and fruit, stirring gently to combine.

Make a solid bottom crust and cut off about a fist size, set aside. Then roll out in a circular form, large enough to drape over the pie plate. Fold in half, then half again. This makes the transfer to the pie plate easier. Lastly, put into pie plate. Take the remaining fist size dough and roll out into a long rectangle. Cut into 1.5 inch wide strips. Fill the pie with the strawberry-rhubarb mixture. Apply the strips of crust like a lattice across the top. Make the pie edge ripply using either a fork's edge or fingers. Bake for 1 hour at 350 degrees. If crust is getting a little too "tan" cover with foil.

Recipes I: Chicken Handpies

Chicken Potpies in Hand Pie Form

In a deep skillet, heat 1 cup of chicken broth, 1/4 cup olive oil. Cut 2 chicken breast into 1 or 2 inch cubes. Drop into skillet set on medium low heat (4, if your stove goes by numbers). After the chicken if cooked add chopped celery, carrots, and frozen peas. You can control how many vegetables you want. Add 1tbsp parsley flakes, poultry seasoning, and sage. Feel free to use fresh herbs. Stir well, cover with lid. Now for the most tricky part-the damn crust. This recipe from Epicurean Mom's blog works very well.
Pie Crust

For Crust:

1 3/4 cups spelt, white/wheat, unbleached and/or wheat flour
1 teaspoon salt
5 tbsp room temp butter
1/3-1/4 cup cold water

I do recommend putting down wax paper and rolling it out with wax paper on top. Flour it occasionally to make sure it doesn't stick. Then cut into 6x6 inch squares. Add some flour to the skillet, a little less than 1/4 cup to thicken the filling. Spoon 3-4 tbsps worth off-center on to the square crusts. Fold and fork-seal the seam (looks like the edge of a pie crust). Bake for 22-25 mins in oven on 350. Let cool and now you have beautiful homemade hot pocket-esque hand pies.

Inexpensive Homemade Cleaners

Found some more solid info non-toxic home cleaning things. I was specifically looking for an oven cleaner that was non-toxic. I mean, honestly, who would spray their oven with catastrophic chemicals and then bake something in it?! I guess a lot/if not most people are expediting their untimely deaths. Don't let it be yours. 

Ganked from: Earth Easy Website!!

Oven Cleaner: Moisten oven surfaces with sponge and water. Use 3/4cup baking soda, 1/4cup salt and 1/4cup water to make a thick paste, and spread throughout oven interior. (avoid bare metal and any openings) Let sit overnight. Remove with spatula and wipe clean. Rub gently with fine steel wool for tough spots. Or use Arm & Hammer Oven Cleaner, declared nontoxic by Consumers Union.

Laundry Detergent: Mix 1 cup Ivory soap (or Fels Naptha soap), 1/2 cup washing soda and 1/2 cup borax. Use 1 tbsp for light loads; 2 tbsp for heavy loads. Commercial natural, biodegradable laundry detergents are also now available online and in select stores. 

Deodorize:
• Plastic food storage containers - soak overnight in warm water and baking soda
• In-sink garbage disposal units - grind up lemon or orange peel in the unit
• Carpets - sprinkle baking soda several hours before vacuuming
• Garage, basements - set a sliced onion on a plate in center of room for 12 - 24 hours

Bathroom mold: Mold in bathroom tile grout is a common problem and can be a health concern. Mix one part hydrogen peroxide (3%) with two parts water in a spray bottle and spray on areas with mold. Wait at least one hour before rinsing or using shower.

Scouring Powder: For top of stove, refrigerator and other such surfaces that should not be scratched, use baking soda. Apply baking soda directly with a damp sponge.

Exchange Indoor Air
Many modern homes are so tight there's little new air coming in. Open the windows from time to time or run any installed exhaust fans. In cold weather, the most efficient way to exchange room air is to open the room wide - windows and doors, and let fresh air in quickly for about 5 minutes. The furnishings in the room, and the walls, act as 'heat sinks', and by exchanging air quickly, this heat is retained


Use Gentle Cleaning Products
Of the various commercial home cleaning products, drain cleaners, toilet bowl cleaners and oven cleaners are the most toxic. Use the formulas described above or purchase 'green' commercial alternatives. Avoid products containing ammonia or chlorine, or petroleum-based chemicals; these contribute to respiratory irritation, headaches and other complaints.

Radical Life Changes for the Better

Shampoo: Mint, Tea Tree and Rosemary BWC diluted into a old dr. bronner bottle

Soap: Homemade made by fellow dready friend

Deo: Jason's Tea Tree

Toothpaste: Desert Essence Mint & Tea Tree (have used Dr. Bronner's when camping)

Face wash: Burt's Bees Acne scrub

Moisturizer: Organic Extra Virgin Coconut oil or Aura Cacia grapeseed oil

Hand soap: Dr. Bronner's diluted into a foaming pump

Dish soap: Planet or 7 Generation

Dishwasher machine soap: 7th Generation liquid

Floor mop solution: Ecover

Pimple spot treatment: lavender oil or Tea Tree oil neat.

Sponges: Biodegradable natural material sponges.

Laundry Detergent: Ecos All Natural

Fruit & Veg wash: Dr. Bronner's diluted.

Foot wart treatment: homeopathic wart free spray, Apple cider vinegar, Colloidal silver topical

Shower curtain: cotton fabric curtain

Bathroom cleaner: Method Cleaning spray, or Dr. Bronner's diluted into spray bottle, baking soda

Yoga Mat: free of Phthalates, Silicone and Latex.

Sexy Time Lube: Organic Extra Virgin coconut oil or KY Natural

Depression Meds: 5HTP 50 mg

Anxiety & Panicking meds: L-Theanine 100mg/daily. Bach's Rescue Remedy when need. Yoga Several times/wk.

Yeast Infection: Homeopathic Yeast-Gard Suppositories and tablets.

Caffeine: Organic 85-90% Cocoa chocolate pieces.

------------------Foods--------------------

Yogurt: Make my own from organic milk

Organic Butter

Bagels: bake my own every other weekend

Bread: bake my own every other weekend

Recipes: Foodgawker.com

Eat high fiber, often.

Eat typically 3-4 fruits/day and 4-5 veg/day

Water: 54/day, often adding lemon juice to alkalize myself

Green Powder: Emerald Balance.

----------In closure------------

Its all about ingredients. Read what's on the label. If you don't know or its a crazy chemical word...avoid. The skin is the largest organ on/in your body. Treat it with respect. Your health is your wealth. Its what you put in, in the front end. I plan on living to 100 years old. I have to invest on the front end to make it that far.

Home Bakes by Magola

Butternut Squash Pie with a dollop of fresh whipped cream

Beautiful crust filled with a tasty pumpkin filling alternative: butternut squash

Tiny tea sandwiches made of rosemary bread, fresh spinach, pesto, boursin, paper thin cucumber slices.

For my father's birthday celebration...

Everyday breakfast: Garlic wheat flax bagels.

So fresh...

Baking is quite therapeutic. I do it every weekend I'm home.

Breakfast pizzas with fresh spinach, black olives, feta cheese and made from scratch marinara.

Breakfast Pizzas with feta cheese, bacon, spinach and made from scratch marinara sauce.

Magola's Presidential Platform part I

Disclaimer: This cannot be completed in 4 year, maybe 8 years but unlikely. This is my political stance as if I were running for presidency. Some of my stances are brash and pragmatic. I'm tired of high up officials rolling Benjamins telling me what's what.