Thursday, December 19, 2013

Chicken Meatballs

So, today I made my cleaning supplies for the whole house & didn't feel like making a huge dinner. I had been thawing ground chicken without a plan and wondered about chicken meatballs. I found this recipe and modified it to fit our needs. So, here's to a quick (yet hearty and yummy) dinner!

1 lb ground chicken
1/2 c bread crumbs
6 cloves garlic, crushed
1 t basil
1 t oregano
A couple pinches of salt
Ground pepper 
1 large organic egg 

400 degree oven. 
Mash ingredients all up together in a bowl, using your hands or a wooden spoon, until thoroughly combined. 
I like to form a rectangle about a heavy-inch-thick and slice into 12-15 squares. I sometimes use a pizza wheel or a large knife. (This is supposed to be easier than spooning individual meat balls... if it doesn't make your life easier try it another way!) 
Roll each meat square into a meat ball (haha) then place on a baking stone, in a cast iron skillet or on a parchment lined cookie sheet. 
Bake for 20-25 mins. 
Make sure your chicken is no longer pink and reached at least 140 degrees Fahrenheit (check this with a meat thermometer in the center of the largest meatball). Consuming undercooked meat/eggs can cause serious illness. 

Wednesday, December 18, 2013

Immune Boosting Master Tonic

About a year ago I learned about a spicy concoction named Master Tonic. We had a serious cold that turned into an upper respiratory infection at the beginning of the flu season but I was determined to avoid antibiotics if at all possible. This made for some rough nights and grumpy days.... However, I do believe that drinking my Master Tonic (along with rest, fluids, homemade vapor rubs and teas) was the key to avoiding antibiotics!
This stuff is not only great for an acute issue like the flu or a cold, but also for daily use as a pro biotic-of-sorts, and to give your body that extra protection against the germs you encounter. My sister-in-law drinks this each morning mixed into her orange juice, my husband takes a shot or two each evening and more often when feeling the sniffles and I like to take a half-shot ever day or so to ward off the germs and to keep my digestive tract running smoothly (pun intended). It is simple to make and fun to wait for (it should steep for two weeks) but if you're in  need of it immediately I recommend blending the ingredients until the veggies are like a pulp and leaving to steep overnight (24 hours would be best). Ok - so here's how I create my Master Tonic:

Gallon Glass Jar
2 large white onion
2 heads of garlic
1 ginger root
1 horseradish root (I found mine at Whole Foods)
5-10 spicy peppers - I use a mixture of jalepeno, habanero, chili and pablano peppers
Fresh herbs (rosemary, thyme)
Turmeric Powder
Cayenne Pepper Powder
Apple Cider Vinegar (enough to cover all ingredients) usually I buy 2 32oz 365 brand organic and it's plenty!

Steps:
Chop all your veggies (or use a heavy blender like a vitamix or a ninja)
Add fresh herbs and a Tablespoon or two of your powdered herbs
Cover with ACV
Place lid on jar
You want to keep this away from sunlight, so put in a cabinet or cover with a paper bag or towel
Shake it up daily for two weeks - this can be tough as the jars get heavy. If you have trouble lifting heavy items it could also work with less of all ingredients in a smaller jar.

The first time I made Master Tonic I used these glass jars. Here are the ingredients already peeled and ready to chop!
Here are the chopped ingredients.
The Master Tonic is steeping!!!

Here's how it looks after it is strained (left) and some of the pulp I kept from one round I made from all-peeled veggies. It is great as an additive to soups, sauces and/or used as a relish. Make sure to peel all your veggies and wash the ones who won't be peeled!
The lovely ladies over at HealThyself.com (not an affiliate but a fan for sure!) recommend reading this site if you're interested in the properties of the ingredients (ie: garlic has antibacterial properties) and the science behind why they're so effective. Thanks to Heal Thyself for the original recipe and for sharing this treat!

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Thursday, December 5, 2013

Tardis Blanket for a Twin Bed

Two of my daughters are really into Dr Who! and this weekend we are celebrating one of their birthdays. She's young (turning 7) so we only allow her to watch one or two mild episodes over and over but she loves the tenth Doctor (says he looks like her daddy). We also happen to be moving her into a twin bed so I thought it fitting (and budget friendly) to combine the two events. We have new-to-us Hello Kitty sheets (no pillow case) and I thought a Tardis bed spread would be awesome. Have you ever priced these things?! I'm sorry but I'm not paying this much for a child's bed covering! I could only find instructions on how to crochet or knit a beautiful tardis blanket but I don't have time (or a teacher) so I needed to make my own pattern... So, I am making a fringed, fleece, tardis bedspread for this birthday weekend.  

What I used:
Blue fleece 2.25 yards 66"
Green fleece (for the back) 2.25 yards 66"
White fleece (remnant & could have used any white fabric) 
Black heavy fabric that I already had on hand (grab those old pants out of your hubby's closet! You know the ones I'm talking about. He never wears them, back-of-the-closet or bottom-drawer, they  aren't the right size... Go now!)
Black paint (I used black fabric "puffy")
Gold paint
Brass buttons (to look like he tacked the note on the door)
I actually messed up with my markings (maybe I shouldn't have used permanent lol) so, I turned this side in and started my measurements again
I used chalk on my black fabric to write the words. 
Here's a shot of the side that isn't messed up. All sewn and ready to be marked!

All marked and ready for the paint!
I did the paint in stages. Here, it is almost finished. 
A close-up of the note posted on the door of the Tardis. I used a marker to write it out (I would recommend using something washable like chalk), then the paint and after messing up I wound up upsizing from my original pattern anyway!

And here it is finished & on the bed.


She loves it and wears it all around the house like a robe! Success! 

Happy mama