Recipes

Gut Friendly Granola

Soaked Granola

Did you know most Americans do not eat properly prepared grains? Grains are naturally difficult to digest. This is not an accident, they are seeds and are meant to stay intact so they can grow into plants. They also contain phytic acid, which can bind to minerals like calcium, iron, magnesium and phosphorus. Consumption of improperly prepared grains can lead to mineral deficiencies. The Solution Soaking oats can reduce the amount of phytic acid, which makes them…

Cream of Mushroom Soup with A2 Milk

mushroom_soup

Homemade Cream of Mushroom Soup has been on my bucket list for a while. Today I figured out a way to get the desired creamy texture without using cream, and this recipe is also gluten free. The secret ingredient is Cassava Flour. Why A2 Milk? This recipe does have milk in it, but I use a special type of milk called A2 milk. Many people who think they are lactose intolerant might really be sensitive…

Homemade Instant Baby Food

baby food

I have been preparing for a train trip across the country. I plan on packing a cooler for the train ride, (to save money and to at least start the trip off with nutritional food). I was faced with a dilemma for my 8 month old daughter. I can pack some hard boiled eggs for her and scoop out the yolk, and make homemade pureed baby food that I can keep cold for the first…

Asian Sweet Potato Fries

sweet_potato_fried

One of the many foods I miss from South Korea are sweet potatoes. The Korean sweet potatoes are not the same as the sweet potatoes that are common in the United States. Fortunately I have been able to find sweet potatoes locally that remind me of the Korean sweet potatoes. The variety I like have a purple skin and a pale flesh inside. One variety is called a Japanese Yam. I actually grew them in my…

Elderberry Syrup – A Natural Immune Booster

elderberry_syrup

Tis the season of runny noses, high fevers, ear infections, and stomach viruses. There is an old saying that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. We do a lot in this household to prevent getting sick, and it usually works out pretty well for us. (Even when illness strikes it is usually mild. Probiotics, cod liver oil, and fermented foods have been very beneficial for my family). Homeopathy has been a…

Freezer -Friendly Pumpkin Oatmeal Muffins

pumpkin_oatmeal

I have a confession, I get tired of cooking. It happens quite a bit. I am always looking for a way to simplify life in the kitchen, without sacrificing the quality of the foods we eat. Making meals ahead of time and freezing them is one option I have been SLOWLY exploring to help me accomplish that goal. This breakfast is healthy and it freezes very well. I have made double batches of it for…

How to Make Traditional Beef Broth in a Slow Cooker

beef broth

I love chicken broth but there are other options for broth that are delicious and nutritious. Beef or bison broth is one of them. It’s very easy to make, especially if you use a slow cooker. Storing small quantities is very handy for various recipes. (For example, I needed 1/2 cup of beef broth for a Shepard’s Pie recipe recently). Cooking vegetables in broth can make food taste better, and it increases the nutrient content too. You can substitute…

How To Make Strawberry Fruit Leather in a Dehydrator

strawberries

A few days ago I made “fruit leathers” with the sole intention of using up some mashed up squash I had in the fridge. To my delight the apple-squash leather was a “hit”. My daughter loved them! But my little experiment actually gave me an idea. It may have solved a recent problem I have encountered. My daughter loves strawberries. No, that’s not the problem, that’s awesome. In fact, tonight she told me they are…

Homemade Squash and Apple Fruit Leather

squash leather

Tired of squash yet? I sure am. I joined the extended winter plan with the local CSA, so squash is not in short supply these days. I get a big box of produce once a month from the farm. It is a selection of produce that is stored in a root cellar. It’s another way to eat local grown, (and support the local farmers). Since I don’t have a root cellar yet, I need to…

How to Make Homemade Apple Chips

apples

It’s apple season, and I finally got to go apple picking this past weekend. (I didn’t have any luck finding a good place to go apple picking when we lived in South Korea). We had a great time! We ended up with two bags of apples. I wanted to preserve as many as possible. Why bother preserving them? I read a very interesting article written by Kristen, the Food Renegade that disclosed the truth about the…

Allergen Free 1st Birthday Cake

birthday cake

The 1st Birthday Party in South Korea is a big deal, it is somewhat comparable to a wedding, with reception halls, big buffets, etc. I didn’t plan very far in advance for Lily’s 1st birthday party; I waited until just a few weeks before to put things together. It was just a little bit stressful. I wasn’t sure what to do about the birthday cake. I wanted her to have a smash cake that was…

Salmon Noodle Salad

salmon

I have been on a spaghetti squash kick lately. I think it is because I could not find them in South Korea. It’s also because summer is approaching and I definitely need to go low-carb/slow carb to get ready for swimsuit season. It is also really easy to make. It is not as easy as making pasta, it involves a little more work. However, you get a lot of noodles from one squash, so a…

Strawberry Lemonade Soda

strawberry lemonade

Do  you know anyone addicted to soda? I had many unhealthy habits in my younger years but fortunately soda consumption was not one of them. My husband still drinks it in moderation, but he has almost completely kicked the habit. For Christmas I bought him the Sodastream. So far he is pretty happy with it. We have been working on some good “healthy” soda recipes these past few months. Our goal is to make a healthy…

Easy Roasted Asian Sweet Potatoes

sweet potatoes

When I first moved to South Korea I though the Korean obsession with sweet potatoes was a little disturbing. I would find sweet potatoes in the strangest places, like on pizza. I didn’t understand it, probably because my palate was accustomed to the salty and sweet foods from “Standard American Diet.” Once I cleaned up my eating habits my refined palate adored the Korean sweet potatoes. My previous sweet potato experience involved casserole dishes at Thanksgiving…

Hobak Juk – 호박죽

pumpkin soup

(Korean Pumpkin Porridge) The first time I made this porridge I did it as part of an “elimination”diet. (An elimination diet is the process of limiting your diet to foods that are less likely associated with food sensitivities and slowly introducing foods one at a time to see how your body responds).  Squashes and pumpkins are considered an acceptable vegetable for someone who is trying to isolate a food sensitivity because there are less reported allergies to them….

Gluten Free Chicken Noodle Soup

chicken soup

Chicken Noodle Soup is the ultimate comfort food, especially if you are not feeling well. It is ridiculously easy to make a gluten-free version. I used to make it all the time when I lived in South Korea. Lately I have been cooking a whole chicken in the crockpot. It is economical and efficient. The hardest part is remembering to thaw the chicken, which takes at least 24 hours. Saturday morning I literally placed the…

Old Fashioned Chicken Broth

broth

Sometimes Old Wive’s tales are true; chicken noodle soup is one example. It is something you should consume when you are not feeling well, but the trick is to use a broth that contains nourishing minerals, not MSG (monosodium glutamate). Sorry, the soup from the can is not going to cut it. I read about the benefits of “homemade chicken broth” a few years ago. It is loaded with essential minerals, like calcium and magnesium. This…

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