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.

I am where I might not be soon.

A new year is approaching sooner than you may realize. I may be in a new place. A place that is not near or juxtapose where I am now. Different landscape, different people, different attitudes. I make no promises yet but if the way the trees are bending from the breeze, that's where we may be.

Away from the crowd that doesn't think with their brains but gladly accepts unsound, unreasonable info. Away from the highways of blind, erratic drivers. Away from close minded racism. Away from unbearable hellacious heat.

Near kin of my heart. Near cold unforgiving weather. Near intellect and acceptance. Near rational deductive individuals. Nearer my aspirations.

This is all speculative so far.

Simple Ones: Healthy Oatmeal Granola Cookies

I like to take recipes and tailor them with healthy things to create tasty treats. Granola bars are way to expensive in the store and are wrapped in more packaging than Christmas. Substituting healthier, better quality ingredients can make a world of difference. It does take a bit of trial and error. I, personally, like to avoid bleached or refined products. If I wanted the rubbish, I'd pour myself a glass of bleach to go with some bleached white bread and white sugar.
These cookies have fiber, ancient grains, and are low glycemic (because of the agave nectar). One or two of these around that 2:30 pm low point really brighten up my day and give my energy. Who needs 5 hour energy anyways. pisshaw. Enjoy!

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup butter or olive oil, softened

• 3/4 cup agave nectar or raw honey

• 3/4 cup packed light brown sugar

• 2 organic eggs

• 4 teaspoon vanilla extract

• 1 1/4 cups 50/50 White Wheat Flour

• 1 teaspoon baking soda

• 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

• 1/2 teaspoon salt

• 2  cups steel cut oats

• 1/3 cup coconut shreds

• 1/4 cup ground flax seed

• 2/3 cup spelt

Directions
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

In large bowl, mix together butter, agave nectar/honey, and brown sugar until uniformly mixed. Beat in the eggs and vanilla until fluffy. Stir together flour, baking soda, cinnamon, ground flax seed, spelt, coconut shreds and salt. Stir in oats. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets.

Bake 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven, or until golden brown. Place cookies onto sheet to wire rack. Cool completely.

 I recommend refrigeration them because the flax seed and they keep longer.

What All Humans Seek

So this summer on my days off I'd drive down to my grandmother's and we chill out. Amidst our conversations, it became quite clear to me what all people seek in this world, really whether they realize it or not.

All people just want to be loved and respected. Love and respect can be interpreted in many ways. We do things that we don't even realize but we want to be treated with respect and cared about by others.

My grandmother brought up the issue: well what about the homeless drunk on the sidewalk? and treating him differently than others. I stressed the point that we are all human and deserve the basic decency of respect. We can't judge people fairly or correctly. Our mind uses stereotypes to quickly categorize people based on primitive characteristics. It would take hours to figure out someone. Despite the fact many people seem to fall directly into stereotypes just means they exhibit more characteristics of group of people.

Think about it, prostitutes don't necessarily whore themselves out because of enjoyment. In a strange convoluted way, by earning the money they can afford the necessities of life to feel respectable. Humans go all their life looking to be loved. Family, friends, lovers, compliments from a passing stranger, teams, there are endless possibilities.

I guess what I'm itching to say is: don't judge, you don't know people's past and what makes them who they are. Respect others and give them the time of day. We all need to be loved. So the next time you walk by someone on the sidewalk give them a smile. Let someone over in front of you, you never know what these small acts might mean to someone's day. They may have been just on their way to end their life.....

Simple Ones: Ambrosia & Fruit Popstickles

Homemade Ambrosia

Its not wonder its called Food of the Gods

1 Can of Pineapple chunks
1 Can of Mandarin oranges
1 Large Apple
1 Small bag of Almond Slices
1 Bag of Shredded Coconut
1 Small Bottle of Organic Whole Whipping Cream
Some 10x powdered sugar

1. In a large bowl mix up almond slices, coconut, pineapple chunks, mandarin oranges and apples (washed, cut, dunked in lemon juice).

2. In another bowl pour in whole whipping cream and some powdered sugar. There is no specific amount of sugar because it depends on how sweet you prefer it to taste. Mix with the mixer on high for about 5 minutes. The texture will become stiff and whip creamy looking. Taste to see if it needs more 10x sugar. If so mix in more.

3. Dump fruit and nuts into the whipping cream bowl. Stir around till even coverage on all the food particles.

4. Scoop whip cream covered fruit and nuts back into the original bowl. Cover, refridgerate, chomp, smile!

Fruit PopStickles

Fruity, Sticky and Healthy

2 Cups fruits of your choosing can be fresh or frozen
1 Cup of Organic Yogurt (plain or vanilla) bonus points for homemade yogurt
If you want to: sprinkle in shredded coconut, flaxseed, ground up nuts. 
Blender or immersion blender
Popsicle tray or silicon push pop molds


1. Add about 2 cups of the fruit, 1 cup of yogurt  less than 1/4 cup of water or fruit juice to the blender.

2. Blend until all food is sufficiently liquefied.

3. Pour into the Popsicle tray and freeze.