Every year, as spring inches closer, folks begin getting into their gardening groove. I totally understand. When it comes to getting the most bang for your nutritional buck, certainly not much beats growing, harvesting, and preserving your own food. But what are those of us with a brown thumb to do? We love our Farmer’s […]
Kitchen Hack for Getting Free Nutrition in Only 2 Minutes a Day! Read More »
If you started your sourdough starter last week, it can be used as a sourdough cracker starter. Try your hand at something with it like this sourdough cracker recipe. This is a guest post from Sarah Wood, a KS reader. (But I use the same sourdough cracker recipe with whole wheat!) Sourdough Cracker Starter I
During this season of fasting, it is appropriate for us to reconsider our spiritual relationship with food. Beyond counting calories or even finding nutrient-dense or frugal foods, let us consider the social and environmental cost of our food. Catholics believe in the mystical Body of Christ, meaning that everyone who is a child of God,
Is sourdough bread healthier than other breads? Yes! Learn about the nutrition of sourdough bread and its benefits. Sourdough Health Benefits Fermented foods are oft-lauded for their massive health benefits, including beneficial bacteria to balance your intestinal flora and easier digestion. Lactic acid fermentation not only helps to preserve food but also increases the nutrients
I was so intimidated by the idea of making my own sourdough that I waited over six months to finally try it. I was convinced I would never post anything about it here at KS and pessimistically assumed I’d fail, so I didn’t even take one picture when I made a homemade starter for the
It came at me from all sides. I can’t tell you how many people recommended that I try Artisan Bread in 5 Minutes a Day, a technique of bread baking that requires zero kneading and truly makes bread simple. I got the book from the library long ago and read up on Jeff Hertzberg and
Whole Wheat Artisan Bread in 5 Minutes a Day Review…and Soaked? Read More »
Your mission, if you choose to accept, is to bake some homemade bread this week. If you’re already well-versed in the art of bread baking, it’s time to consider grinding your own flour. I’ve felt a little bogged down by all this conflicting, sometimes depressing research on soaking grains. It’s time for a happy week
Monday Mission: Bake Homemade Bread (or Grind Your Own Wheat) Read More »
Do you take Sundays “off” during Lent? Sundays aren’t counted in the 40 days of Lent because they are solemnities, or holy days of celebration. We commemorate the Resurrection on Sundays, the eighth day of the week, so “when the bridegroom is present, the guests cannot mourn.” We do not have to observe our Lenten
Mary and Martha Moment: To Solemnity or Not to Solemnity? Read More »
When my almost-five-year-old son heard that Lent was coming, he exclaimed, “I remember Lent! I hate Lent!” Surprised at his fervor, I fought to remain calm and detached myself and asked, “Oh? What do you remember about Lent that was so bad?” “I don’t get desserts in Lent!” he fired back with an earthy groan.
Mary and Martha Moment: Celebrating Lent with Children Read More »
This is my brain. This is my brain on grains. :-} I have been reading so many words I can’t pronounce these past few months and wishing I had kept little index cards like a college student as I try to unravel the story of grains. It’s tough to wrap my brain around! It’s soaking
Food for Thought: Is Soaking Grains “Traditional”? Read More »
I just finished a brownie. Unsoaked. White sugar. Whole wheat flour. It was delicious. So let’s get one thing straight. I eat grains. I eat wheat. Probably too much, too late at night. I’m no grain hater. I was planning on having the first Monday Mission of grains’ month be to move away from white
Think about different types of crackers you enjoy eating. What do they have in common? They be thin. They be salty. The key to great crackers is to make them thin and don’t spare the salt! Why Make Homemade Crackers? It seems that more than anything else, people want healthy alternatives to packaged snack foods. It’s
Healthy Homemade Wheat Thin Style Cracker Recipe Read More »
I don’t usually click on videos, either, so I won’t have hurt feelings if you don’t watch this! However, if you want to see liquid oil emulsify into a semi-solid mayonnaise, it’s pretty fun to watch.If you can’t see the video, click How to Make Homemade Mayo to view on You Tube. The point of
Chili is a great winter comfort food. It’s warm, hearty, and of course it includes beans! Good, healthy, yummy stuff. Unfortunately, a lot of recipes, like my husband’s old favorite, contain a lot of canned ingredients – canned tomatoes, canned “chili” beans, and more. So what is a whole-foods-eating-girl to do? I’ve made over my
A Guest Recipe Connection: Modern Alternative Mama’s Chili Read More »
“I don’t think I can use onion soup mix anymore,” I said, and his world came crashing down around him. “You’re going to mess with Pepper Steak!?!?” he cried. This is the recipe I emailed my mother-in-law for during our first months of marriage. I definitely wooed my man through his stomach and loved every
Pepper Steak Recipe (a Real Food Rendition of Hubby’s Favorite Meal) Read More »
Making simple homemade cream of chicken (or “whatever”) soup in bulk can make a week of super frugal, super nourishing meals, plus some for the freezer. Some people love “Once a Month Cooking” where they make 30 meals in a day or two and rest on their laurels for the next 28. That gets a
Once-a-Month Cooking Prep: “Cream of” Casseroles Recipe Read More »
I used to loooove getting the Kraft Food and Family magazine, chock full of simple, tasty recipes that I could peruse and add to my menu plans. Lately, though, I’m disheartened. So many of the recipes have processed foods in them already (which makes sense, since it’s published by a food processing company, but still).
How to Reverse Engineer a Recipe for Real Food Quality Read More »
The more I read ingredients labels, the more easily convinced I am that getting rid of anything that has an ingredient label is a really crucial goal. Just try to keep track of the number of time you see “soy” and “corn” as you peruse your cupboard. That brings us to our next Monday Mission:
Monday Mission: Healthy Upgrades – Real Food Recipe Renditions Read More »
I love cooking for my family, I love serving real foods three meals a day (plus endless snacks!), and I love having a shiny sink, clear counters, and rows of clean dishes in my cupboards. Like a lot of people who love to cook, cleaning doesn’t naturally come to me. The following are what this
When you’re having company, what do you serve? Typically people fall into two camps: the make-it-easy-and-tasty-so-I-can-hang-out-with-my-guests style of meal, and the wow-factor-on-the-plate “this-is-a-company-meal” dish. This recipe is a little bit of both. There is some work involved, but it can be done blessedly well in advance of dinnertime if you wish. Both the elegant look
