Remember....
The people you love...
The places you're a part of...
The memories you hold on to...
And those unforgettable moments when you close your eyes and breathe in life with a smile.
A new year is a reminder to celebrate all the things that are good in your world.
Happy New Year from the Pickle Family
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Monday, December 29, 2008
Egg Substitutes
In my quest for better health this coming year I have been trying different lower fat/lower cholesterol egg substitutes.
For making scrambled eggs and omelets I have found that Better-n-Eggs is pretty darned good. Around here they are cheaper than Egg Beaters and they are recommended by "The Best Life Diet", something I have been extremely interested in. One thing I have found though is NOT to mix it with water when making omelets. It does NOT work out.
For baking I have found several things to work. For cookies and pancakes I like half a banana smashed. Or 1 TBS flax meal mixed with 3 TBS H2O for each egg called for. For brownies and cakes I like 1 tsp baking powder, 1/2 tsp baking soda, 2 TBS flour and 3 TBS H2O mixed together for each egg. I have been known to use all three in any given recipe.
Of course if you don't have any of the following but do have eggs on hand try mixing 1 whole egg with 11 egg whites. Use 1/4 cup mixture for each egg called for.
Don't throw that yolk away either. You can use it for custards or you can feed them to you dogs and/or cats for a shinier, thicker coat.
For making scrambled eggs and omelets I have found that Better-n-Eggs is pretty darned good. Around here they are cheaper than Egg Beaters and they are recommended by "The Best Life Diet", something I have been extremely interested in. One thing I have found though is NOT to mix it with water when making omelets. It does NOT work out.
For baking I have found several things to work. For cookies and pancakes I like half a banana smashed. Or 1 TBS flax meal mixed with 3 TBS H2O for each egg called for. For brownies and cakes I like 1 tsp baking powder, 1/2 tsp baking soda, 2 TBS flour and 3 TBS H2O mixed together for each egg. I have been known to use all three in any given recipe.
Of course if you don't have any of the following but do have eggs on hand try mixing 1 whole egg with 11 egg whites. Use 1/4 cup mixture for each egg called for.
Don't throw that yolk away either. You can use it for custards or you can feed them to you dogs and/or cats for a shinier, thicker coat.
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Butter Bean Burgers
This recipe was also a hit! Chip, the picky pickle, ate it and asked for seconds. I will double the batch next time so we can have seconds.Butter Bean Burgers
1 (15 ounce) can butter beans, drained
1 small onion, chopped
1 tablespoon finely chopped jalapeno pepper (I used red and green pepper)
6 saltine crackers, crushed (I used panko bread crumbs)
1 egg, beaten
1/2 cup shredded Cheddar cheese (Only used 1/4 cup)
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
salt and pepper to taste
1/4 cup vegetable oil (didn't use)
In a medium bowl, mash butter beans. Mix in onion, jalapeno pepper, crushed crackers, egg, cheese, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Divide into 4 equal parts, and shape into patties.
Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat; use more or less oil to reach 1/4 inch in depth. Fry patties until golden, about 5 minutes on each side. (Instead of frying I sprayed each patty and put on a cookie sheet and baked at 350º for about 10 minutes on each side.)
I served this with sweet potato fries, a lettuce salad and soy chocolate shake.
Pumpkin Wontons
These were pretty good. I am not sure where this recipe came from either.
Pumpkin Wontons
egg roll wrappers
1 cup pumpkin
2 TBS maple syrup
3 TBS brown sugar
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
cinnamon and sugar
cooking spray
Mix pumpkin, syrup brown sugar and spices. Take wonton wrapper, cut in half using pizza cutter. Put 1 tsp pumpkin filling in wrapper. Seal with water. Place wontons on cookie sheet. Spray with cooking spray (on both sides) and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar (on both sides). Cook in preheated 400º oven for 5-7 minutes. Watch carefully.
Pumpkin Wontons
egg roll wrappers
1 cup pumpkin
2 TBS maple syrup
3 TBS brown sugar
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
cinnamon and sugar
cooking spray
Mix pumpkin, syrup brown sugar and spices. Take wonton wrapper, cut in half using pizza cutter. Put 1 tsp pumpkin filling in wrapper. Seal with water. Place wontons on cookie sheet. Spray with cooking spray (on both sides) and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar (on both sides). Cook in preheated 400º oven for 5-7 minutes. Watch carefully.
Turkey Egg Rolls
For supper last night we had leftover turkey soup and I decided to use some of the leftover turkey to make turkey egg rolls with homemade cranberry dipping sauce. I was begged to make more immediately.
Turkey Egg Rolls (I followed the recipe)
1 pkg egg roll wrappers
water
2 tbs veggie oil, divided
2 1/2 cup diced cooked turkey
3/4 cup diced onions
1/2 cup diced celery
1/2 cup shredded carrots
1/4 tsp garlic powder
2 large eggs
s and p to taste
Sautee the veggies in 1 tbs oil a few minutes. Add chopped turkey and sautee for a couple minutes more. Put mixture in a bowl. Add garlic powder, sand and pepper. Beat eggs and add to mixture. Slightly cool. Fill eggroll wrapper with a couple TBS filling. Fold according to instructions on package. Seel with water. Heat 1 TBS oil on medium heat and fry seam side down and turn. Serve with craberry sauce.
Cranberry Sauce
1/2 lb fresh cranberries
1 cup white sugar
1/2 cup water
Mix together in microwave safe bowl. Cover and microwave on hgih until craberries pop. (took about 8 minutes) Cool.
Turkey Egg Rolls (I followed the recipe)
1 pkg egg roll wrappers
water
2 tbs veggie oil, divided
2 1/2 cup diced cooked turkey
3/4 cup diced onions
1/2 cup diced celery
1/2 cup shredded carrots
1/4 tsp garlic powder
2 large eggs
s and p to taste
Sautee the veggies in 1 tbs oil a few minutes. Add chopped turkey and sautee for a couple minutes more. Put mixture in a bowl. Add garlic powder, sand and pepper. Beat eggs and add to mixture. Slightly cool. Fill eggroll wrapper with a couple TBS filling. Fold according to instructions on package. Seel with water. Heat 1 TBS oil on medium heat and fry seam side down and turn. Serve with craberry sauce.
Cranberry Sauce1/2 lb fresh cranberries
1 cup white sugar
1/2 cup water
Mix together in microwave safe bowl. Cover and microwave on hgih until craberries pop. (took about 8 minutes) Cool.
Turkey and Wildrice Soup with Chunky Garlic Bread
Don't know where these recipes came from. Had them printed in my "to-try" notebook and didn't make note of the origin. Rest assured they came from someone, somewhere who knows how to cook.
These two recipes are fantasitic. Oh so good!
Turkey and Wildrice Soup
1 turkey carcass
1 1/2 gallons water
1 large onion
1 carrot, peeled and halved
1 stalk celery, halved
5-6 cloves garlic
1 bay leaf
1 tsp thyme
salt and pepper to taste
Bring the ingredients to a boil. cover and reduce to simmer. Simmer for at least 2 hours. Strain, separate meat. Cool and skim fat.
To cooled broth add 3 large taters chopped, 1 large onion chopped, 2 carrots peeled and diced, 2 ribs celery sliced, 1 cup white rice, 1 cup brown rice, 1 cup wild rice. Bring to a boil. cover and simmer until veggies are tender and rice is done.
Add 2 cups milk mixed with cornstarch to thicken. Might need more to thicken up.
Adjust seasons as needed.
Chunky Garlic Bread
1 pkg asiago cheese ciabata rolls
1/2 cup softened butter
4 heaping tsp minced garlic
couple tbs parsley flakes
kosher salt and pepper to taste
Mix butter, garlic, parsley, s and p. Cut bread into slices. Slather butter on bread. Head in 350º over until heated through then broil to turn golden brown. Doesn't get much better than this folks.
These two recipes are fantasitic. Oh so good!
Turkey and Wildrice Soup
1 turkey carcass
1 1/2 gallons water
1 large onion
1 carrot, peeled and halved
1 stalk celery, halved
5-6 cloves garlic
1 bay leaf
1 tsp thyme
salt and pepper to taste
Bring the ingredients to a boil. cover and reduce to simmer. Simmer for at least 2 hours. Strain, separate meat. Cool and skim fat.
To cooled broth add 3 large taters chopped, 1 large onion chopped, 2 carrots peeled and diced, 2 ribs celery sliced, 1 cup white rice, 1 cup brown rice, 1 cup wild rice. Bring to a boil. cover and simmer until veggies are tender and rice is done.
Add 2 cups milk mixed with cornstarch to thicken. Might need more to thicken up.
Adjust seasons as needed.
Chunky Garlic Bread
1 pkg asiago cheese ciabata rolls
1/2 cup softened butter
4 heaping tsp minced garlic
couple tbs parsley flakes
kosher salt and pepper to taste
Mix butter, garlic, parsley, s and p. Cut bread into slices. Slather butter on bread. Head in 350º over until heated through then broil to turn golden brown. Doesn't get much better than this folks.
Tofu Wraps and Sweet Potato Fries
Yummy, yummy, yummy! The recipe I used stemmed from this recipe. I don't have a small fortune to spend on baked tofu from the health mart so I made some from another recipe. I believe it couldn't have turned out better. The recipe using the homemade baked tofu makes 6 wraps. Chip, my pickiest tofu eater, had seconds.
Baked Tofu Spinach Wrap (my changes in red)
2 whole wheat tortillas (6)
1 package hickory flavor baked tofu (see recipe below)
1/2 cup shredded sharp cheddar (1/8-1/4 cup for 6)
1 cup fresh baby spinach
1 TBS ranch
1 TBS grated parmesan
Place slices of tofu in center of each tortilla. Sprinkle cheddar and warm in microwave. (tofu was already warm because it was baked) Put spinach and ranch on. Sprinkle with parmesan. Roll and eat.
Baked Tofu (my changes in red)
1 pkg extra firm tofu
1/4 cup soy sauce
2 TBS maple syrup (I used homemade)
2 TBS ketchup
1 TBS vinegar
1 dash hot sauce (a dish, a dash, who knows how much, just to taste)
1 TBS sesame seeds (I didn't use this because I was out)
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp black pepper
1 tesapoon liquid smoke
Press and slice tofu. (I sliced it horizontally three times then sliced each third in two) Stir together all ingredients. (brush marinade on each side of tofu) Pour sauce over tofu. Marinate at least 5 minutes. (let sit for 15 or so minutes brushing more on as you want) Put tofu on sprayed cookie sheet. Bake in preheated 375º over 15 minutes on each side. It should turn golden brown.
Oven Roasted Sweet Potato Fries (mainly I followed the recipe but since I don't buy Lawry's because I used my all natural stuff. If you don't have seasoned salt try making your own!) I didn't put changes in red just put the recipe the way I made it.
1 tsp seasoned salt
1/2 tsp paprika
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp parsley flakes
1/4 tsp chili powder
sweet potatos
2 tbs olive oil
Combine spices. Scrub and wedge sweet potatos. I cut in half lengthwise then cut 3-4 lengths. They don't look like wedges but more like fries. Put fries in bowl. Pour olive oil and spices on. Mix with hands and put on cookie sheet. Bake 40-50 minutes in preheated 425º turning once. The fries will no be crispy but will be wonderfully delicious!
Baked Tofu Spinach Wrap (my changes in red)
2 whole wheat tortillas (6)
1 package hickory flavor baked tofu (see recipe below)
1/2 cup shredded sharp cheddar (1/8-1/4 cup for 6)
1 cup fresh baby spinach
1 TBS ranch
1 TBS grated parmesan
Place slices of tofu in center of each tortilla. Sprinkle cheddar and warm in microwave. (tofu was already warm because it was baked) Put spinach and ranch on. Sprinkle with parmesan. Roll and eat.
Baked Tofu (my changes in red)
1 pkg extra firm tofu
1/4 cup soy sauce
2 TBS maple syrup (I used homemade)
2 TBS ketchup
1 TBS vinegar
1 dash hot sauce (a dish, a dash, who knows how much, just to taste)
1 TBS sesame seeds (I didn't use this because I was out)
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp black pepper
1 tesapoon liquid smoke
Press and slice tofu. (I sliced it horizontally three times then sliced each third in two) Stir together all ingredients. (brush marinade on each side of tofu) Pour sauce over tofu. Marinate at least 5 minutes. (let sit for 15 or so minutes brushing more on as you want) Put tofu on sprayed cookie sheet. Bake in preheated 375º over 15 minutes on each side. It should turn golden brown.
Oven Roasted Sweet Potato Fries (mainly I followed the recipe but since I don't buy Lawry's because I used my all natural stuff. If you don't have seasoned salt try making your own!) I didn't put changes in red just put the recipe the way I made it.
1 tsp seasoned salt
1/2 tsp paprika
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp parsley flakes
1/4 tsp chili powder
sweet potatos
2 tbs olive oil
Combine spices. Scrub and wedge sweet potatos. I cut in half lengthwise then cut 3-4 lengths. They don't look like wedges but more like fries. Put fries in bowl. Pour olive oil and spices on. Mix with hands and put on cookie sheet. Bake 40-50 minutes in preheated 425º turning once. The fries will no be crispy but will be wonderfully delicious!
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Omelets ala Gerky!
I guess this could be considered a California omelet because of the avocado. It was a last minute addition that I have to say was perfect!
Omelets ala Gerky
1 egg per person
1/8 cup water per person
1/4 cup onion per person
1/4 cup yellow pepper per person
1/2 sliced avocado per person
3 TBS spinach flakes per person
1/8 cup Bac'Uns per person
Nature's Seasoning to taste
3 TBS shredded cheddar cheese per person
butter as needed to stop sticking
To make the omelet beat egg and water together in a small bowl. In skillet melt a 1 tsp butter. Saute onion and pepper until semi soft. Add spinach flakes and Bac'Uns. Saute until combined. Add another teaspoon of butter and stir around. Spread filling out evenly. Pour egg mixture over filling. Sprinkle with Nature's Seasoning to taste. Sprinkle with cheese and put under broiler until set and cheese is oozy goozy. Remove from oven, top 1 side with sliced avocado and flip the other side of the omelet over the avocado. Serve with whole wheat toast topped with homemade strawberry jam.
© 2008 Wicked Pickles-Homefront Lines
Omelets ala Gerky
1 egg per person
1/8 cup water per person
1/4 cup onion per person
1/4 cup yellow pepper per person
1/2 sliced avocado per person
3 TBS spinach flakes per person
1/8 cup Bac'Uns per person
Nature's Seasoning to taste
3 TBS shredded cheddar cheese per person
butter as needed to stop sticking
To make the omelet beat egg and water together in a small bowl. In skillet melt a 1 tsp butter. Saute onion and pepper until semi soft. Add spinach flakes and Bac'Uns. Saute until combined. Add another teaspoon of butter and stir around. Spread filling out evenly. Pour egg mixture over filling. Sprinkle with Nature's Seasoning to taste. Sprinkle with cheese and put under broiler until set and cheese is oozy goozy. Remove from oven, top 1 side with sliced avocado and flip the other side of the omelet over the avocado. Serve with whole wheat toast topped with homemade strawberry jam.
© 2008 Wicked Pickles-Homefront Lines
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