Monday, January 3, 2011

Homemade Unsweetened Applesauce

 I love having fresh homemade applesauce on hand for Olivia. I especially love knowing I made it so I know EXACTLY what is in it. ( No ground up bug parts for us!) Feel free to add sugar to taste to this recipe. I prefer the sugar free version for my little one.

Equipment and Ingredients:
Organic Apples                                Lid Lifter (or you can use the Jar Grabber)
Organic Cinnamon                          Jar Funnel
Jar Grabber                       7 quart pot or larger to put apples in
Canning Jars                       Large ladle or spoon
1 water bath canner            Blender or Food Mill
Canning lids (BPA FREE)
First on the stove top place the water bath canner filled with water. Heat water on high until boiling then turn down to a low simmer. ( I used the black container below as my water bath canner. The blue container I used to boil my empty cans and lids in to disinfect them.
 Then peel your apples. As you can see I mixed apples and pears for my sauce.
 Peel and dice the apples. Place in large pot. Place about one inch of water in the pan. Place apples on cooktop and simmer until soft with lid on.
 My canning jars, well actually my mom's jars. I am borrowing them.
 My jars in the blue water bath for disinfecting.
 Olivia occupying herself, making lots of noise with all the stainless steel.


 Apples on stove top. Add Cinnamon and sugar to your taste.



 When Apples are soft enough to mash or blend remove from heat. (Olivia likes chunky applesauce so I did not blend mine. This is where you would blend them. ( I love to use my little hand mixer for this.)
 Line up your jars (sorry it is sideways I could not get my computer to turn this picture around). Place funnel in first jar. Ladle applesauce into the jar to within a 1/4 inch of the top.

 Place lids and screw tops on jars. Place in large black water bath. Lower into the water until lids are covered. I did pint jars so I left mine in the water for 30 minutes at a full boil.

 After the 30 minutes place on flat surface until you hear the lids "pop". Label and store!

Sunday, January 2, 2011

White Wine Baked Cod with Roasted Brussel Sprouts

 Today was a particularly busy Sunday, so I needed something quick and simple for dinner. What could be quicker and simpler than baked cod with roasted brussel sprouts?

First preheat your oven to 450 degrees
Prep and Cook Time 30 minutes
Ingredients:
 Baked Cod
1 fillet of Alaskan Cod (on sale this week at Fred Meyers for 3.99 per pound)
2 Tablespoons of Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil, melted
2 tsp of dried organic dill
1/4 cup of dry white wine
salt and pepper to taste

Roasted Brussel Sprouts
4-5 cups of halved organic brussel sprouts
4 Tablespoons of organic extra virgin coconut oil, melted
2 Tablespoons of garlic powder
2 handfuls of pine nuts
salt and pepper to taste

In one glass pan place cod. Pour wine and coconut oil over fillet. Sprinkle dill, salt and pepper over fillet. Place to one side
In a separate glass dish place brussel sprouts. Pour coconut oil over sprouts. Then sprinkle with garlic powder, pine nuts, salt and pepper.
Place Brussel sprouts in oven at 450 degrees for 20 minutes or until edges start to blacken
Place Cod in the oven for 10-12 minutes at 450 degrees or until flakes when touched with fork.
 " Mommy you forgot and left the dishwasher open!"
 This is how I like my brussels to look when I roast them.
 Serve with side salad and or rice and enjoy!

 " Mommy I love my walker!" ( I love the walker too it keeps baby busy so I can cook!)

 Olivia's new little play nook.

Menu Plan for the Week of Jan 2 2011

Dinner Meal Plan for the week of January 2, 2011. I will post recipes as I make the meals.

Sunday- White Wine Baked Cod with Roasted Brussel Sprouts

Monday- Shepards Pie

Tuesday- Homemade Pizza

Wednesday- Ground Beef Crockpot Chili

Thursday- Left overs

Friday- Spaghetti

Saturday- Leftovers/ Sandwiches

Saturday, January 1, 2011

White Wine Spinach and Beef Pasta

 The new year is upon us! Happy 2011. The accountant and I spent the entire day organizing and reorganizing the house. I feel like I own a new house now that we are all done! Our primary purpose downstairs was to find a new home for all Olivia's Christmas toys. She made out good on the toy count! Mommy loves the toys too because they keep her so busy!! Here they are keeping her busy while I cook. Here is what we had for dinner tonight! I hope you enjoy.

 Ingredients:
1 pound of grass fed ground beef
2 Tablespoons of Extra Virgin Coconut Oil
1 large onion
1/2 cup of halved organic cherry tomatoes
1 tablespoon of ground black pepper
1 bunch of organic spinach, chopped
1 small head of organic cauliflower, chopped
11 cloves of garlic (yes 11!)
1 cup of dry white wine
1 tsp of crushed red pepper
2 Tablespoons of dry basil
sea salt to taste
Organic Olive Oil for drizzling
pasta of your choice
2 Tablespoons of pine nuts (optional)
Parmesan cheese (optional. The accountant had this I did not)

Serves 4 people. Prep and Cook Time 30 minutes
Directions: In a large cast iron skillet place onion, ground beef, coconut oil and black pepper. ( I accidentally threw a few tomatoes in there too early) Cook until meat is browned.
 Meanwhile in another pot on the stove top bring water to a boil for your pasta
 Chop the spinach, cauliflower and crush the garlic
 This is where I was putting all my cuttings for the compost pile. Now it is sitting outside my back door until tomorrow morning.
 Next take one cup of white wine, basil, red chili pepper, pine nuts and cauliflower and add it to your browned meat mixture in the cast iron pan.
 Salt to taste


 When cauliflower is softened add in spinach leaves. Cook until they are a texture you like to eat.





Place pasta on plate. Add spinach and meat mixture to the top of pasta. drizzle with Olive oil. Serve!

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