Thursday, March 20, 2014

3-Ingredient Slow Cooker Chicken Tacos


Ingredients:

  • 6 frozen chicken breasts
  • 1 packet low-sodium taco seasoning mix
  • 1 jar (16 oz.) prepared salsa


Directions:

  1. Place the frozen chicken breasts in a slow cooker.  
  2. Sprinkle with taco seasoning mix.
  3. Pour in jar of salsa.
  4. Cook in the slow cooker on low for 6 to 8 hours, or until chicken reaches a safe internal temperature of 165 F.
  5. Shred the chicken with two forks.  
  6. If serving with corn tortillas, heat a bit of oil in a skillet on the stove top.  
  7. Brown each tortilla for about 1 minute on each side and fold into a taco shape.
  8. Serve with the toppings of your choice.
  9. Refrigerate any leftovers.


Makes 12 to 18 tacos.

Friday, February 28, 2014

Homemade Bubble Solution


Ingredients:
1 c. water
2 T. light Karo syrup or 2 T. glycerin
4 T. dishwashing liquid

Directions:
Mix ingredients together.

Note:  The glycerin is the key to better bubbles!

Lawn Tonic

I found this recipe years ago while watching 12 News.  This is a formula for green lawns in high heat. 
 
Ingredients:
1 can regular soda (do not use diet)
1 can beer (no light beer)
1/2 c. liquid dishwashing (do not use anti-bacterial dishwashing liquid)
1/2 c. household ammonia
1/2 c. mouthwash
 
Directions:
Pour into 10-gallon hose-end sprayer.
 
Notes:
  • In high-heat, apply every 3 weeks.
  • The liquid soap is a wetting agent, helping the formula penetrate to the roots.
  • The ammonia promotes growth and turns your lawn green.
  • The mouthwash kills the bugs and grubs.
  • Do not use anti-bacterial dishwashing liquid in the mixture as it will kill off important microbes in the lawn and soil that help digest thatch.

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Cheesy Broccoli Cups

Ingredients:
2 c. broccoli florets
1 large clove garlic, minced
1 c. ricotta
1 1/2 C. grated mozzarella, divided
1 egg, beaten
Salt and pepper

Directions:

  1. Steam broccoli until tender.
  2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  3. Cool broccoli slightly.
  4. Coursely chop and place in a bowl.
  5. Combine broccoli, garlic, ricotta, 1 cup mozzarella, and egg.  
  6. Season with salt and pepper.
  7. Stir all ingredients to combine.
  8. Divide broccoli/cheese mixture among ramekins.
  9. Sprinkle with remaining mozzarella.
  10. Place ramekins on a baking sheet and bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until cheeses are melted and mozzarella on top starts to brown.

Sunday, February 23, 2014

Homemade Pain Relieving Cream

Ingredients:
1/2 c. Coconut Oil
2 t. Beeswax pellets
5 drops Camphor oil
5 drops Peppermint oil

5 drops Eucalyptus oil
Directions:
  1. Melt coconut oil and beeswax pellets. (I use a double boiler)
  2. Stir until melted.
  3. Allow the mixture to cool, but not to set up.
  4. Add the essential oils and stir.
  5. Pour into a small container and allow to cool completely.
Note:  Since coconut oil is the dominant ingredient, this will melt if kept in a warm place. 

 


Tandoori Seasoning


Ingredients:
1½ t. garlic powder
1½ t. paprika
1 t. cayenne pepper
1 t. ground coriander
1 t. ground cumin
1 t. ground ginger
1 t. salt
¼ t. ground cardamom
¼ t. ground cinnamon

Directions:
Mix all ingredients together and use as a rub for lamb, beef, pork and chicken.

Note:  This is spicy.

Friday, February 7, 2014

Basic Lip Balm

Ingredients:
1 t. beeswax
2 t. coconut oil
2 drops vitamin E oil
2-3 drops flavor oil

Instructions:
Melt beeswax and coconut oil.
Stir in vitamin E oil.
Add flavor oil
Place in tube or pot.

Note:  This can be made without the flavor oil if you don't have any on hand.

Thursday, February 6, 2014

Tea Tree Oil Shampoo

This is a handy shampoo to combat dandruff or scalp build up.

What You Will Need:
  • 1 Bottle Shampoo (preferably dye and fragrance free)
  • 1 Bottle Tea Tree Oil
  • Dropper
Directions:
  1. Using a dropper, add 2 drops of tea tree oil per ounce of shampoo.
  2. Replace the shampoo bottle cap and shake well to mix.
  3. Shake shampoo before each use.
  4. Use shampoo as you normally would.
Notes:
  • Do not ingest tea tree oil.
  • Do not use tea tree oil undiluted
  • Watch for allergic reactions, especially if it is your first time using tea tree oil.
  • Do Not use tea tree oil if you are pregnant or breast feeding.
  • As with any essential oils, use with caution.

Monday, February 3, 2014

Easy Shrimp Scampi

Ingredients:
1 stick butter
1 lb. shrimp cooked shrimp, deveined.
1 lemon
2 t. Italian Seasoning

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350.
  2. Melt a stick of butter.
  3. Line a baking sheet with foil.
  4. Thinly slice lemon and lay out on the baking sheet.
  5. Layer on the shrimp over the lemon.
  6. Pour the butter over the shrimp.
  7. Sprinkle with Italian Seasoning.
  8. Bake for 15 minutes.

Parmesan Zucchini


Ingredients:

  • 4 medium zucchini, cut in half
  • olive oil
  • 1/4 c. Parmesan cheese
  • 1 T. Rosemary (fresh)
  • 1 T. Thyme (fresh)

Directions:
  1. Preheat oven to 350.
  2. Brush cut zucchini lightly with olive oil.
  3. Place zucchini on foil lined baking sheet.
  4. Mix Parmesan cheese, rosemary and thyme.
  5. Sprinkle cheese mixture on zucchini halves.
  6. Bake 15 minutes
  7. Broil 3-4 minutes, until cheese is golden brown.

Note:  If using dried herbs, use sparingly because the Rosemary can be overpowering.

Modification:  Try Mozzarella instead of Parmesan, and Italian Seasoning instead of Rosemary and Thyme.

Thursday, January 23, 2014

White-Bean and Sausage Stew

Ingredients:

  • 6 (3 oz.) Italian sausages  
  • 1 T. olive oil
  • 1 large onion, diced
  • 1 clove garlic, chopped  
  • 2 (15 oz.) cans white beans (Great Northern or navy), rinsed and drained  
  • 1 (28 oz.) can chopped tomatoes, drained  
  • 1 T. chopped fresh or 1 tsp. dried thyme  
  • Salt and pepper to taste


Directions:

  1. Poke holes in sausages and put in a large nonstick skillet. 
  2. Add 1/4 cup water; bring to a boil. 
  3. Lower heat and cook sausages, turning, until lightly browned and water has evaporated, about 10 minutes. 
  4. Transfer to a plate. 
  5. Heat oil in skillet over medium-high heat. 
  6. Add onion and garlic; cook, stirring often, about 3 minutes. 
  7. Add beans, tomatoes and thyme.
  8. Put half of bean mixture into a slow cooker. 
  9. Arrange sausages on top, followed by remaining beans. 
  10. Cook on high for 4 hours. 
  11. Check after 2 hours and add water if mixture looks dry.
  12. Remove sausages; slice thickly. 
  13. Season beans with salt and pepper. 
  14. Return sausage to stew. 

Note:  Stew can be kept, frozen and tightly sealed, for up to 1 month.

Prep. Time:  15 minutes
Cook Time:  4 hours, 15 minutes
Serves 4

Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Tortellini & Zucchini

This is a pretty versatile recipe.  Pick your favorite tortellini.  Add peppers if you like.

Ingredients:
2 medium to large zucchini, sliced thin
1/4 c. diced onion
1 T. Olive oil
1 clove garlic, minced
9 oz. tortellini, cooked according to package directions
2 - 8 oz. cans tomato sauce
1/2 t. basil
1 t. parsley


Directions:
  1. Cook the tortellini according to package directions
  2. Heat olive oil in a non-stick skillet
  3. Saute onion until translucent
  4. Add garlic and saute for 30 seconds
  5. Add basil and parsley
  6. Add zucchini to skillet and saute until lightly browned
  7. Add cooked tortellini to zucchini mixture
  8. Add tomato sauce, stir.
  9. Cook until everything is heated through.

Tuesday, January 14, 2014

Pork Cutlets

Ingredients:

  • 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese (shredded into fine powder)
  • 1/4 cup coconut flour plus a few tablespoons for dredging
  • 2 eggs
  • 4 small, boneless porkchops 
  • salt, pepper, seasonings 
  • Worcestershire (optional)
  • Cabbage
  • 3 - 4 Tablespoons Coconut oil 


Directions:
  1. Pound pork lightly until thin
  2. Season pork with salt and pepper
  3. Dredge pork in coconut flour
  4. Beat eggs, dip pork into egg mixture
  5. Combine Parmesan and coconut and then dip pork into that mixture as well
  6. Heat oil 
  7. Fry porkchops until dark golden brown and then flip it on the other side (10 min, depending on thickness)
  8. Serve with cabbage