Salsa

It is that wonderful time of year when the tomatoes are absolutely worth craving!  Copious tomatoes call for salsa making!  Here is the link for a simple,tried and true recipe!

Zesty Basil Chicken

• 2/3 cup butter, melted
• 1/2 cup minced fresh basil
• 2 tablespoon finely chopped onion
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 teaspoon pepper
• 1 teaspoon lemon-pepper seasoning
• 8 boneless skinless chicken breast

Combine all ingredients except chicken.  Pour over chicken and allowed to marinate overnight.
Grilled until juices run clear. 

This can also be skillet seared and served over a salad.  Pour the remaining marinade into a skillet and slightly brown the onion, garlic and basil...douse with a generous amount of either white wine or balsamic vinegar....Pour over the chicken!




Original recipe found here.

Keifer

Keifer grains....about 1 TBS


Place them in a pint jar with fresh mik.




Put a lid on it.




Let the grains do their work...24-72 hours

Strain out the grains with a plastic strainer. Rinse the grains and use them again.

Just that easy. I marvel at how easy it is now. I have had the grains for over a year and initially agonized over the process. I would call in my aunt to check it and confirm that I had done it right....I have made my 3rd batch in the past 2 weeks and am loving it. I suppose my favorite use is making Blueberry Lemon Keifer Smoothie. My best description is that keifer is liquid yogurt. It blesses us with those beneficial bacteria that our digestive tract needs. It is slightly effervescent and tangy. I recommend sweetening it with stevia. Keifer is one of those super foods.

Chicken Marsala

4 boneless skinless chicken breast 1/2 cup Oatmeal flour or Whole wheat flour
oregano, salt and pepper to taste
4 TBS olive oil
4 TBS butter
2 cups Fresh mushrooms, sliced
1 cup Marsala wine

Pound the chicken breast til it is 1/4" thick.  I usually throw the breasts in a clean plastic grocery bag and beat it!  The mess is well contained and disposable.

Season the 1/2 cup of flour with salt, pepper and oregano.

Heat the oil and butter over medium heat.

Coat the chicken well with seasoned flour...shake off any excess flour.

Brown the chicken on the first side (abt 2 min). Turn chicken brown another 2 minutes. 

Add mushrooms and wine.  COVER and allow to simmer for 15 minutes. Transfer to serving plate. 

Great with whole grain pasta and a salad!

Whole Wheat Hamburger and Hot Dog Buns

 This yummy recipe is from the $5 Dinner Mom Cookbook.  Revisions to be more natural and diet appropriate are in red.

1 c. hot water
2 c. white flour (1 cup)
1 c. whole wheat flour (2 cups)
1 T. or pkg. active dry yeast
1 t. sugar (1 t. honey)
1 t. salt
1 T. canola oil (1 T. Butter)
1 T. butter, melted
2 T. milk

Place all ingredients, except butter, in bread machine bowl. (The instructions that came with my bread machine say to put liquids in first, then other ingredients, yeast last) Set machine to dough cycle.

Once dough cycle is complete, flour your fingers, remove dough and place on floured surface. Shape into hamburger or hot dog bun sizes. Place buns on a greased baking sheet. Set aside and let the buns rise for at least 30 minutes in a warm place. Preheat oven to 350.

Bake buns in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, until slightly golden on top. Remove the buns from the oven, brush tops with melted butter, and return to the oven for 2 minutes. Remove and let cool on a rack. Cool slightly before slicing.

From Leah Belle

Oatmeal Waffles

2 eggs
2 cups oatmeal flour *
1/2 cup canola** (if avoiding canola, and want a more natural option, 1/2 cup melted butter works well!)
1 3/4 cup milk (if trying to avoid dairy...often the body is able to digest yogurt or keifer)
4 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt

Heat waffle iron. Combine dry ingredients. Add the eggs, milk and oil. Mix well to batter consistency and smooth. Pour batter from cup or pitcher onto center of hot waffle iron. Bake about 5 minutes or until steaming stops.

*if wondering what oat flour is and where you can get it...........I use quick oats and grind them in a food processor or blender. I used to grind it each time I needed it for a recipe...now I just grind a canister full at a time. It is handy to have it ready when I need it!

**(when using 100% oat flour in order to keep the waffles from sticking to the waffle iron it is important to spray the waffle iron or baste it with butter. There is nothing much more frustrating than waffles sticking to the iron when children and hungry man awaits their waffles!!!)

Dressing for Spinach Salad

1 cup salad oil
(olive oil)
1 cup vinegar

3/4 cup sugar
(1 tsp stevia or splenda)
1/3 cup ketchup (instead 1 pureed Roma tomato seeds removed)

2 tsp. salt (1 tsp)

Combine ingredients in qt jar. Close lid and shake. Pour over spinach salad right before serving.

Revisions in red
original recipe from Leah Belle @ http://leahbellesrecipes.blogspot.com/search?q=spinach+salad