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Farm Kitchen:  Really fed up with food..  |
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catscharm74
True Blue Farmgirl
4687 Posts
Heather
Texas
USA
4687 Posts |
 Posted - May 24 2008 : 3:07:22 PM
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I have been trying to do better with not buying pre-packaged, over processed food but I want to do better, even if Charlie takes one bite, it is one bite of good food better than so so food. I am making a new budget to accomodate organic food but my problem is I don't really know how to cook in a healthy, simple way. I need ideas, recipes, quick meals (our schedules are nuts so I need simple and easy). I don't even care if we eat the same 10 meals right now if they are super healthy and easy. HELP!!!! I really want to make some BIG changes. I am getting frustrated at my own attempts so I need some help. Thanks.
Heather
Yee-Haw, I am a cowgirl!!!
FARMGIRL #90 |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
Posted - May 24 2008 : 4:24:57 PM
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Easy Healthy Spaghetti-
This is kind of "measure as needed" it's not an exact science! LOL
Organic tomato sauce
carrots
onion
celary
italian seasoning
salt
pepper
*Chili powder if you want a kick
Ground beef you want it meaty
Pulverize carrots not to a mush, but small bits. Brown hamburger, add in tomato sauce, carrots, chopped celery, chopped onions. Season to taste, let simmer for 1/2 hour to let flavors bloom and marry. Check seasoning. Boil water for noodles, and serve! It's really yummy!
The carrots add a slight sweetness without adding the sugar that commercially made spaghetti sauces add. They also act as a meat extender by absorbing some of the meaty taste. Add more of the veggies to make it even healthier. We like a super chunky spaghetti sauce so we add a lot.
Sometimes I add the following:
Fresh mushrooms sliced (stem and all)
Black olives sliced
Sweet bell peppers
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.awarmheart.com
Please come visit Nora and me on our new blog:
www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com |
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graciegreeneyes
True Blue Farmgirl
3107 Posts
Amy Grace
Rosalia
WA
USA
3107 Posts |
Posted - May 24 2008 : 4:52:10 PM
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| Heather - I just tried to sit down and do the same thing for our meals. Just thinking about dinner some nights is exhausting after work and we end up eating either processed or uninspired. I decided that Sunday (I don't work Sunday) would be my day to cook a creative recipe, then picked 6 types of food and assigned them a day. For instance Monday is meat and potatoes night, Tuesday through thursday can alternate between sausages, sandwiches and casserole. Friday is taco night, and Saturday is pizza night. Now I have started shopping at the co-op in Moscow and stocking up on organic ingredients for those things and it seems to be helping me out. There are some good recipes for "in-season" foods in Animal, Vegetable, Miracle, and on their website. Frittata is a good, cheap easy one too and you can use up leftover veggies and meat and throw in a creative cheese and it tastes gourmet!! |
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MsCwick
True Blue Farmgirl
775 Posts
Cristine
Farmville
Virginia
USA
775 Posts |
Posted - May 24 2008 : 5:10:23 PM
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| i emailed you a bunch of recipes/ideas heather! |
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catscharm74
True Blue Farmgirl
4687 Posts
Heather
Texas
USA
4687 Posts |
Posted - May 24 2008 : 5:40:14 PM
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Thanks everyone and Christine I got them!! Thanks.
Heather
Yee-Haw, I am a cowgirl!!!
FARMGIRL #90 |
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kissmekate
True Blue Farmgirl
890 Posts
Kate
Delano
Minnesota
890 Posts |
Posted - May 25 2008 : 8:58:05 PM
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Our favorite meal is very simple.
We take a bag of baby carrots ( I slice them length wise if they are the "fat" ones) frozen green beans (fresh, if in season) add some garlic and chopped onions in a bowl, drizzle in some olive oil to coat, mix them up and throw them in the oven (350) for 25-30 minutes, take them out mix them up a little/turn them a bit, and bake another 25-30 minutes.
I season them with salt, pepper, and rosemary and my daughter and I fight over them. It smells amazing while it is baking.
I recently threw in some cauliflower (use it or lose it) and it turned out yummy!
I do the same with sliced potatoes, only I season those with Emeril's Essence. (I make that from scratch)
We usually have steak or chicken with this. Or sometimes we don't have any meat either.
IF there are any leftovers, I take it for lunch.
Now that it is warmer out though, not sure if we will have this very often. I don't want to run the oven in the summer, and I don't own a toaster oven. I can't seem to keep those longer than six months before they burn out on me.
Don't miss out on a blessing, just because it isn't packaged the way you expected. ~MaryJo Copeland |
Edited by - kissmekate on May 25 2008 8:59:54 PM |
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tziporra
True Blue Farmgirl
234 Posts
Robin
Seattle
WA
USA
234 Posts |
Posted - May 26 2008 : 10:27:53 AM
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Really want to pitch the book "The Vegetarian Mother's Cookbook" by Cathe Olson one more time :D
This book has a lot of fantastic whole foods ideas, and despite the pregnant lady on the cover, can be used for the entire family, expecting or not. You can also add the meat back into the meatless entrees if you are not a vegetarian (and the author is actually fairly meat friendly, as these things go) The recipes are generally easy to prepare and very kid friendly.
Authentic ethnic cuisine? No. Gourmet food? No. But an excellent place to start on the road to eating better. After checking out my library's copy 5 times, I finally decided it was worth the $15 to buy my own, and I'm so pleased I did.
Best,
Robin |
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N Marie
True Blue Farmgirl
102 Posts
Marie
Seattle
Washington
USA
102 Posts |
Posted - May 27 2008 : 11:17:23 PM
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Ooh, I know! I know! Heather, are there any weekly organic farmers markets near you? If so, please try to make it out to one. Prices are SO much cheaper, and they're so nice, and happy to swap recipe ideas.
I just made up a yummy new recipe a few weeks ago with some freshly foraged (read: grown wild in the mountains) oyster mushrooms from the farmers market, lots of fresh grated parmesan (not from the green can), butter and cream (from the farmers market), and garlic. Tadaa! I had oyster mushroom pasta alfredo! It was so easy, and you can use oil and milk instead of butter and cream with almost the same effect.
Just cut the oyster mushrooms into bite-size pieces and sauté them together with some chopped garlic in butter/oil (I used a lot of butter as a one-time treat, since Bo loves mushrooms and they're never this fresh!) Cook until the mushrooms start to turn just a little golden brown.
Add the cream/milk and grate a TON of parmesan into it (or use some grated parmesan in the tub from the supermarket)
Stir until the cheese melts (or gets everything all goey, your choice), cook a few more minutes to let it thicken, then toss with freshly cooked pasta.
Dee-licious!
Farmgirl #181
http://yarnfoodcoffee.typepad.com/
Save our oceans! Eat more prey fish!
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/06/070624132617.htm |
Edited by - N Marie on May 27 2008 11:21:36 PM |
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mellaisbella
True Blue Farmgirl
1862 Posts
melanie
living on Anne of Green
Gables land
Canada
1862 Posts |
Posted - May 28 2008 : 05:52:41 AM
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one dish that I like to make is I take some chicken (and type, thighs, legs, breasts) and season it how I feel like that day :)
cut up veggies, potatoes, carrots, turnip...whatever
put the veggies on the bottom of a big 'ol casserole dish. Season how you like...I usually put a cup of veggie stock, or chicken stock. Then top with chicken and cover. Bake in oven for about 1hour then remove lid/foil and bake until done. I usually make lots of this and then have leftovers!
"learn to watch snails" SARK |
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KYgurlsrbest
True Blue Farmgirl
4853 Posts
Jonni
Elsmere
Kentucky
USA
4853 Posts |
Posted - May 28 2008 : 06:04:05 AM
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Gosh, last night, I was just too tired to come up with something fabulous and interesting, so I remembered I had some organic ground turkey and made grilled turkey burgers (in the grill pan). I used a little barbecue sauce, fresh parsley and fresh oregano, onion and 3 cloves of garlic (minced) and S & P. My husband only likes cheese on his burgers, so he got a burger with jalapeno havarti and I made up some low fat chipotle mayo and picked some fresh lettuce from the garden for mine.
Made sweet potato fries for the side, dusted with s & p. So simple--put it on and forget it!
Really yummy, really easy and really good for you!!!! I bet even Charlie might like it :)
I usually keep simple stuff on hand like that for when we just don't feel all that committed to food...I love to make a nice dinner with all the fixings, but this was equally nice and then we sat down to enjoy the Flight of the Conchords (which I highly recommend by the way!!!)
Farmgirl Sister #80, thanks to a very special farmgirl from the Bluegrass..."She was built like a watch, a study in balance ... with a neck and head so refined, like a drawing by DaVinci"...
NY Newsday sportswriter Bill Nack describing filly, Ruffian.
http://www.buyhandmade.org/ |
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fionalovesshrek
True Blue Farmgirl
186 Posts
Paige
kinston
North Carolina
USA
186 Posts |
Posted - May 29 2008 : 09:02:25 AM
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Sent you email with links to my blog for recipes I do all the time AND links to other recipes I frequently make.
P~
living a good neighbor life |
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catscharm74
True Blue Farmgirl
4687 Posts
Heather
Texas
USA
4687 Posts |
Posted - May 29 2008 : 09:05:33 AM
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Thanks Paige!!!
Heather
Yee-Haw, I am a cowgirl!!!
FARMGIRL #90 |
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fionalovesshrek
True Blue Farmgirl
186 Posts
Paige
kinston
North Carolina
USA
186 Posts |
Posted - May 29 2008 : 11:18:04 AM
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Heather, Our weekly menu is the same every week and the budget is almost predictable (cost of food rising makes it sometimes NOT so).
For dinners:
Pinto beans and rice with taco seasoning, Salad from the garden
Swiss Chicken (look on allrecipes.com to find that one)
Black bean burritos, sometimes w/ homemade tortillas
ground turkey mixed w/ cream of mushroom soup, sour cream and parmesan served over egg noodles
spagetti
Lunch is
yogurt
applesauce
bread(homemade) w/ peanut butter, honey and cinnamon
Carrot sticks
Breakfast is
Pancakes
oatmeal
toast with butter and sugar
eggs and toast
We drink water and milk and iced tea. Juice and soda are a rare thing. We eat "jellies" which is like gelatin but made with juice and a vegetable (seaweed) gelling powder. That's our dessert. Funnel cakes about once a month. Cookies and guerilla bars are common. My boys LOVE the good food and brag to their friends about mommas good and healthy food and LOVE showing their friends the ingredients and telling them how yummy it is. I did a good job brainwashing them! Just keep at it and it'll catch eventually, esp. if your mate is supportive and does lots of "Oh yummy, look what momma made!"...Good luck!
P~
living a good neighbor life |
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Rebekka Mae
True Blue Farmgirl
965 Posts
Rebekka
Moscow
ID
USA
965 Posts |
Posted - May 29 2008 : 7:54:43 PM
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Heather-
Do you have Mary Jane's Farm Kitchen magazine? It has LOTS of great recipes using fruits and vegis and good oils along with MaryJane's Budget Mix. We made foldovers and panbreads last night(healthier more delicious versions of pizza and calzones)for a few dollars each. Those along with big chopped salads (both kids ages 19 months and 4 years ate those with sunflower seeds, mixed greens, olives, carrots and cabbage) made a great meal. We ate much less than if we had ordered pizza's (they are really filling) and had lots left over to freeze for emergencies like me forgetting to cook!
Get an old copy of Laurel's Kitchen (you can find one on half.com for a dollar or so)- you will love the writing in the front- all about the power of eating simple whole foods and HOW to get little ones on board as well as other family members. This book taught me how to cook and my poor family would be lost without it. The soup and bread recipes alone will be a great start for you. All the recipes in Laurel's Kitchen are written with an eye to frugality.
Amy- I loved Animal, Vegetable, Miracle! What a wonderful book- I am also really reassessing how locally we eat (during the summer it is easy but I need to become much better at putting up food for the winters. Also- the frittata is such a staple here- mmmm, maybe I will go whip one up for the morning;)
Warmly, Rebekka
www.bebebella.etsy.com
As a woman I have no country. As a woman, my country is the whole world.
Virginia Woolf |
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Farm Kitchen: Really fed up with food.. |
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Really fed up with food..
