recipes

Since the new year I have been trying a new recipe a week. That or making up a new recipe once a week…it depends on the week. I wanted to share a few favorites that are easy. One is a recipe my mom made a lot when I was growing up another is one that Andrew and I ate a lot while in Australia.

First of

Drop biscuits are so easy which is huge in my book. They are also so soft, buttery and melt in your mouth. They are perfect with honey or honey butter. Mm. I made them this morning. They are good for breakfast, snack, lunch, snack or dinner or you get the picture. They are good just about anytime of the day and even keep well in a container for a couple of days. Also I use whole grain spelt flour but you could use wheat if that is what you have.

Drop Biscuits

2 cups whole grain flour

4 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. salt

—Mix dry ingredients together then add liquid:

5 Tbs. butter melted

1 1/2 cups milk (we use whole raw milk–mm cream!)

The batter should be thin enough to drop biscuit size spoonfuls onto a lightly buttered pan. I make big biscuits but some people prefer the smaller ones.

Bake 450 for 12 minutes until golden brown.

Makes about 10

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Tom Yum Coconut Soup

This is a Thai soup that is lite and fresh and so good. I got addicted to it while in Australia. Last night I wanted to recreate it and we had some roast beef left over from the roast we ate on Friday. I made this up and the proportions/amounts are pretty flexible. Okay I will admit it I didn’t measure. But who measures when they make soup? Not me. Also this soup is great for if you have a cold or flu. It is very nutritious.

1 can coconut milk (add last)

5-6 carrots pealed and chopped

1 onion finely diced

chopped green onions for garnish

kombu (Note: this isn’t essential but it makes a nice vegetable stock you can get this from a Japanese/Asian food store)

1/2 cup peas (add at the very end)

Chopped up meat boiled in 4 cups water or broth. We used beef but chicken, pork or even shrimp (more authentic) are often served with this soup.

add several tablespoons garlic (the more the better)

A few tsp. finely diced ginger

1 Tbs. green Thai paste (You can find this in an Asian grocery store–if you live in Columbus OH look up CAM Oriental) It comes in these large tubs and lasts for a long time. It is wonderful. A bit spicy. It is very important to this dish. It is basically what makes it get that delicious Thai flavor.

Boil meat, broth, garlic, onions, carrots, kombu (if using). Boil slowly until carrots are done. Add Thai paste, coconut milk, green onions and peas and serve once everything is mixed well. Serve with rice and stir fry might go well with it also. But it could stand alone if you aren’t that hungry.

And finally….

Almond Coconut Butter

I have been reading about how good unrefined coconut oils are for you. Your immune system to just about every other part of your body benefits from this oil.  More info here here and here. I decided since I am a bit under the weather as well as out of my favorite spread almond butter (which is SO expensive btw!) to try a new way of making “almond butter” with coconut oil. This has a light coconut flavor to it which I like. But if you don’t like coconut you might not like it.

Grind 1 cup almonds in a coffee grinder until powdery and add coconut oil by the tbs full and a few tbs. honey to taste until it all forms a lighter looking look a like to almond butter. It is about the same consistency. I didn’t measure so if you try this just be creative. :) It tastes great though spread on rice cakes or bread or however you like almond butter. It is a great way to get your coconut oil into you raw and it also is cheaper than almond butter. I think rather than buying more almond butter I am going to stick to this spread. I am hoping to buy a gallon of unrefined coconut oil here. It isn’t cheap but I think the health benefits are worth it.

Oh another recipe we have been making a lot is a chicken, broccoli and rice casserole. I won’t bore you with the recipe but I will say it is delicious and easy and you can make it too. Okay I will be honest and say I don’t have a recipe. I just use approximate amounts and make a cream sauce out of milk, flour, salt, pepper, broth, cheese a squirt of lemon and hot sauce and then add the chicken and the steamed broccoli. Layer over rice or hash brown potato’s and roast in oven at 350 for 40 minutes. Or serve straight out of the saucepan over rice. Mm. It is really good with fresh raw milk. We have just started getting our milk from neighbors and we are really enjoying it. Andrew especially. He is a huge milk drinker. I just love being able to bake and cook with raw milk now. I had been hearing a lot about the benefits of it.

Well, I better go put away some laundry while Michaela snoozes. I am SO impressed she is actually napping! She really isn’t a good napper at all. But hey she is the cutest–I just love playing with her these days. But boy she does tucker me out by the time Andrew gets home. Good thing for husbands who love kids! Oh and I have this nasty cold. It makes me want to hibernate. I think I shall take a bath tonight when Andrew comes home. That and drink tea. Those things always make me feel better. Colds always make me perpetually cold shivering and sneezing. Poor Michaela. Her mommy isn’t that energetic this week. Yesterday we stayed home from church. Thankfully she didn’t protest to laying in bed with me. She just ate the entire time.  She cracks me up. I think she truly thinks if she goes much past 2 hours without a feed that she is starving. Anyone who looks at her would agree huh! ;)