I Have a Cold

Unfortunately, I have caught a cold.  I hate being sick!  This one is mainly in my sinuses.  Thankfully, I cannot remember the last time I was sick, and I really have not been down and out sick, either.  I credit this to the ingredients in the above photo.  Twice a day, I have choked down the following.

In 6-8 ounces of warm water add:

• 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar
• 1 tablespoon of honey
• 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon
• the juice of one small lemon  

I have also consumed great quantities of homemade chicken stock, so yummy.  I have continued to exercise at half the effort.  I have cut out the sugar, which amazingly enough, I have not been craving as usual.  All I crave right now is sleep!  

I am really praying that no one else gets this, but yesterday, Ryan said he thought he was getting sick, too, but so far it is very mild.  He will not take my concoctions.  He will drink EmergenC, so that is making me a little happy.  

Oh well, this too shall pass, right?  If only the world would stop until I am well.  :)  

Crustless Quiche

Artwork by Grace

This is adapted from one of my favorite cookbooks, Saving Dinner the Low Carb Way, by Leanne Ely.  Check it out!  (No, I am not an affiliate.  I just like the book.) 

Crustless Quiche

Preheat your oven to 350 degree.  Lightly grease a 9-inch glass pie pan.
In a medium bowl, add: 

1c shredded cheese.  (I've used colby or mozzarella with good success)
2 T whole wheat flour

Salt and pepper to taste

Put above in your pie pan.  In same bowl, now empty, add:

4 eggs, beaten
1c milk (I use half and half or heavy whipping cream)
1 t of onion powder
Salt and pepper to taste

Pour above into the pie pan.  Now get creative. Add chopped meat, vegetables, whatever you like, leftovers work great.  I usually add either bacon, sausage, or chicken with broccoli or spinach.  The amount and variety is up to you.

Bake for 35 minutes. 

Been Doing a Little Baking

Hello friends.  I was going to post this for Wordless Wednesday, but decided it would not be fair to post yummy pictures without any details! 

What is it that when the fall air turns cooler, I suddenly feel like baking again?  The family rejoices.  I groan because the temptation is usually too great for me and my weight loss stalls or worse!  But, it is fall and I want to bake! 

These pumpkin muffins are a favorite of ours.  I can't recall where I found the recipe.  I liked it because it had the most pumpkin in a recipe that I've ever seen.  The typical recipes just has a bit of pumpkin in them.  These muffins are going camping with us soon. 

Pumpkin Muffins

In a mixing bowl combine:  2 eggs, 1/2 tsp salt, 1/3 cup of oil (or apple sauce), 1 15 oz. can of pumpkin, and 1 cup white sugar.  To that add:  1 1/2 cups of  whole wheat flour, 1 tsp baking powder, 1/2 tsp. baking soda, 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice, 1/2 tsp nutmeg. (If I don't have those spices, I substitute cinnamon and ginger.)  Mix.  350 oven for 12-15 minutes.  12 muffins. 

The oat bars are a recipe I found from Lisa at Olive Plants All Around My Table.  They are excellent!  I did add a pinch of salt and a dash of cinnamon to my bars.  And I substituted dates for the raisins, as that is what I had on hand.  I will be making these again, soon, also for camping. 

So, how about you?  Been doing any baking, lately?  

WW: Homemade

Making Yogurt in a Crock Pot

Good Monday morning to you!  I hope you had a great weekend. I am on the mend, although, I think it is going to take another week to get rid of this cough, if I follow the same course as my husband.  You remember him?  He is the one who gave this rotten cold to me!  He is also the one who gave me flowers, did laundry, ran out and got me more tissues, and took over for me at Sunday school.  So, it's hard to be mad at such a kind and caring guy. 

Anyhow, the point of this post is not to chit chat.  I want to talk about yogurt. 
I've always wanted to try making yogurt in a crock pot.  What could be more wonderful?  What could be more wholesome?  So, I did some searching and found this supposedly easy  recipe. 

My main concern was that my crock pot is a lot bigger than 4 quarts and it can get pretty hot on low.  I also did not want to double the recipe since I had never tried it before.  I wondered if I should use the low setting or the warm setting.  Since I could not know without trying, I decided to give it a whirl on low.  Although, I did it with some fear and trembling.  How I hate to waste good milk!

This is all you need?

Well,when it was all over, I am sad to say all I got was yogurt soup!   I am so bummed that it did not turn out.  I don't know what happened. But here are some of my suspicions.   It might have been the crock pot being too big and too hot.  Or maybe the yogurt I buy is not good enough with the cultures?  

I can say that I am not going to try again right now because I will have to see about borrowing a smaller crock pot and then get more precious milk.  I really did think that I followed the simple directions faithfully.

Oh well, you live and learn.  And, I really love my Trader Joe's big containers of yogurt, so...  maybe I won't bother to try again at all.  But if you find a good recipe to try and have success, please come back and tell me. I still think it is a neat idea.  

Making Some Changes

Just like this little guy, I can change too.

I hesitated before I made this pubic knowledge, but accountability is the best policy, right?  Here at Busy At Home, we are making some changes.  (That sounds kind of like a business stating they are making a policy change, now that it is written.  But actually, it is a bit of a policy change that I am making.) 

As this family's Head of Homemaking, I see some changes that need to happen in the eating department.  Refined flour and sugar consumption have slowly been on the rise for some time causing an equal rise in some of our waistlines, three of us to be exact.  No one is pointing fingers.  It is just a fact.  All five of us need to eat better.

Therefore, our liberal dessert policy is being revoked.  We are limiting sweets to certain celebrations or holidays.  As much as it might pain us, it has to be done.  I will be researching and developing healthier alternatives.  Anyone have any healthy treat recipes to share? 

I have already made some good changes, for instance, I stopped buying sodas, awhile ago, even diet ones.  A certain addicted someone can get his at work.  :-)   We are eating less meat, too.  I tossed out all the refined flour crackers, pasta, and flour.  (Don't worry, it really wasn't much.  The kids eat it as fast as I bring it home.) 

Whole grains, lean protein, fresh vegetables, fruits, water and a lot less sugar will be our staples. We are also trying to move more by riding our bikes and taking walks as the weather allows.

It's not going to be easy. I've tried before and failed, several times.  So ask me how we are doing, in about 6 months.  I really want our family to eat better, to live better.  I am the family's gatekeeper.  I allow the junk in the house.  I can keep it out as well.

Is it Food?

Have you seen this yet?  You can read more at Summer Tomato.