Recipe: Farmers Market Frittata

It's a really good time of year at the farmers' market, at least it is in Oklahoma. Besides fruit, you can now find summer squash and tomatoes grown outdoors. But you can also still get cool season produce such as broccoli and leafy greens. This recipe is flexible because you can use whatever you can find in your area. I got all the ingredients below from my local farmers' market, except of course, the salt and pepper. Talk about a low carbon footprint breakfast!

Ingredients:
1 TBS. butter
1/2 small tomato
1/2 small zucchini
2 eggs
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
1/4 c. goat cheese

Chop half a tomato and chop (or grate, like I did) half a zucchini.

Heat a small cast iron skillet or other oven-safe pan on the stove over medium heat. Melt one tablespoon of butter. Add the chopped tomatoes and zucchini to the skillet and let it sauté for just a minute. I apologize for this picture. The back door is right by the stove and it was bright outside, and well, my camara is only so good.

Add in two eggs and stir it so everything combines. Sprinkle on the salt and pepper. Then, just let it sit for about 5 minutes, so the bottom starts to set up.

Once the bottom is set and the top starts to bubble a little bit, remove it from the heat. Top with shredded goat cheese. Move the skillet to a preheated 450° F oven and bake for about 9 minutes, until the top gets nice and golden brown.

Use a pancake flipper to carefully remove the frittata onto a plate. Top with fresh parsley and serve!

This recipe serves one. Feel free to double, triple, etc. the recipe to accomodate your family, just make sure to use a bigger skillet. Enjoy!

Printable: Farmers Market Frittata

Recipe: Beef Stroganoff

Back in my Hamburger Helper days, stroganoff was always my favorite one. Of course, it was also the one my husband hated. I was hesitant to make this dish for fear he wouldn't like it. In the end, I made it, well, because I really wanted it. And my husband actually liked it!

Ingredients:
1 lb. sirloin or tenderloin
4 TBS. butter, divided
1 shallot
2 cloves garlic
8 oz. creme fraiche (or sour cream)
2 tsp. dill
1 tsp. paprika
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
1/2 small lemon, juiced

Chop one shallot very finely. Also chop two cloves of garlic.

Melt 2 tablespoons of butter in a skillet and let it get hot. When the skillet is ready, throw in the chopped shallots and let it sweat out for several minutes.

While the shallot is cooking, cut a sirloin or tenderloin into thin strips. It should actually be cut thinner than I had mine here. To help with this, throw the steak into the freezer for about 20 minutes before cutting.

After the shallot has been cooked down, add in 2 more tablespoons of butter, then add in the steak strips and garlic. Cook just until the meat has been browned on all sides. You don't want to overcook it because it will get tough.

As soon as the meat has browned, remove it from the heat. Add in the creme fraiche, dill, paprika, salt, pepper, and the juice from one half of a small lemon. Stir so it all comes together.

Serve immediately over rice, pasta, or a bed of vegetables. I read that in Russia they serve beef stroganoff over French fries, so I thought that would be fun. These are actually just baked potato wedges.

This was creamy and flavorful. I'm glad it was a hit so I can make it again!

Printable: Beef Stroganoff

Creating a Toxin Free Home

I just spent the last four days Spring Cleaning. Seriously, my house is clean. Nobody touch anything!

I've always thought that I lived in a mostly toxin free home. Um, apparently not.

Now, to be fair, I haven't actually used most of these products in years. They've just been sitting around my house. I use homemade cleaners and a few store bought natural items. After watching the documentary Chemerical recently (available on Netflix and highly recommended), I was inspired to get the toxins out of my home for once and all.

Although it is impossible to avoid all toxins at all times, you can greatly reduce your exposure by getting rid of common toxins at home. Creating a toxin free home can help reduce asthma and allergy symptoms, decrease the chance of little ones putting a dangerous substance in their mouth, and increase the air quality for everyone in the home.

I collected all the chemical-laden products as shown above. This included insect spray, commercial cleaners, bleach, make-up, and used batteries. Even many so-called natural products had to go. I'm not trying to pick on any one company, but even Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day surface scrub contains sodium laureth sulfate (SLS), which has been shown to cause cancer in rats.

By doing a little internet research, I was able to find a Household Hazardous Waste Collection Facility in my area. You can find one in your area by calling your city office (the phone number should be on your water bill). You do not want to just throw away any hazardous materials because when chemicals are mixed, they can create poisonous gases or fumes or cause fires. This is common at landfills. It is not only bad for the people who work at the landfills, but for the surrounding neighborhoods and the environment. Improper disposal can also cause the chemicals to leak into the water supply. My local Household Hazardous Waste Collection Facility was able to take all of my items.

I said earlier that I did Spring Cleaning. So what did I clean with?

Nothing but white vinegar and baking soda. I recommend getting the big packs at your nearest club store. They work on everything. Even my embarrassingly super dirty bathtub. I was so proud of what a little baking soda and elbow grease did on the bathtub that I couldn't wait to show my husband, who was also impressed with what baking soda could do. I have yet to find something where either baking soda or white vinegar will not take care of the job.

I encourage you today to start getting rid of the toxins in your home. It's one very easy, green step that will improve your quality of life right away. As one last side note, it's important to remember that once these toxins are created, they never really "go away." In the future, it's best to just not buy any chemicals at all.

Today's Farmers' Market Finds and Co-op Order

On Thursday is was delivery day for the Oklahoma Food Cooperative. I always get so excited on delivery day. One of my readers once commented that it's like Christmas. And it's true. You wouldn't think it would be so exciting, because you already know what you're going to get. After all, you ordered it. But there's just something special about picking up food that was grown and raised right here in Oklahoma, and seeing what the handmade products are really like. For example, this month I ordered homemade fabric softener, and I was thrilled to see that it came in a glass jar.

Here what I ordered this month:

grass-fed non-homogenized whole milk yogurt
grass-fed non-homogenized creme fraiche
grass-fed ground beef
grass-fed ribeyes
grass-fed hamburger patties
pastured eggs
homemade lavender infused fabric softenener
homemade oatmeal and lavender dog treats
bar of beeswax

Today, of course, was the farmers' market. I was expecting to see blueberries, because they're popping up in some places around the city. There weren't any, which was okay with me because I don't like blueberries. But if you do, keep a lookout because they'll be here soon. What I did find was:

grass-fed non-homogenized whole milk
strawberries
baby leaf lettuce
broccoli
mint
Italian parsley
curley parsley
lemon basil
cilantro
red potatoes
peanut butter brownie

My husband has been eating raw broccoli lately, with ranch, which I think is disgusting. But hey, it's still a healthy snack.

If you read my farmers' market posts from last year, you know how much I love red potatoes. I'm so happy to see them again. They were $2 a pound. The people running this particular stand was a sweet, cute older couple. I put some potatoes in my bag, thinking it would be about $4. I took it up to pay, and the man weighed it. He said to me, "If you go get one more small potato, it will be $2." So I did. But I felt bad about it. All of these nice looking potatoes for only $2? I think of all the hard work that went into growing them, and $2 doesn't seem like enough. It's no wonder that farmers don't make any money. Does anyone else ever feel like that? Should I pay extra and tell them to keep the change? Would that offend?

Tropical Traditions Coconut Oil Giveaway! (ENDED)

You should know by now how much I love coconut oil, and all its many uses, so I am so excited to be giving away Tropical Traditions Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil!

Win 1 quart of  Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil!

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Tropical Traditions also carries other varieties of affordable high quality coconut oil. Visit their website to check on current sales, to learn about the many uses of coconut oil, and to read about all the  advantages of buying coconut oil online. Since the FDA does not want us to discuss the health benefits of coconut oil on a page where it is being sold or given away, here is the best website to read about the health benefits of coconut oil.

Please enter using the Rafflecopter widget below. I hope this will make it easier for everyone to enter. Comments on my blog and on my Facebook page will NOT be counted!

This giveaway is sponsored by Tropical Traditions. Open to US and Canada. Winner will be contacted by e-mail within 24 hours after the giveaway ends. If you do not respond within 3 days, I will choose another winner. Good luck!

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My Container Garden

I finally started my garden! My husband and I were going to build a couple of raised beds this year, but ultimately due to time and resources decided we'd wait until next year. Instead I did container gardening. The nice thing about container gardening is that you can use whatever you have on hand in order to plant what you can. Anyone can do container gardening, even if you just have a couple of pots in an apartment.

Here's what you'll need to get started:
containers, any size and shape
gravel/rocks
garden soil
seeds and/or transplants

I forgot to mention that you'll need an assistant. This is my assistant Chief, chewing on some sticks. I'm still not quite sure what the sticks are for, but I guess I'll figure that out later.

You will need to make sure that your containers have holes in the bottom so the water can drain out. My recycling bins already had holes in the four corners, but I had my husband drill two more in the center. Then, put some rocks in the bottom of the containers, about four layers deep. This will help the water to drain, and also allow you to use less soil. You can actually use styrofoam peanuts instead, if you happen to have gotten a big package recently. If not, you can find rocks in the gardening section of your local home improvement store.

Next, it's time to put in the soil. If you are putting in transplants, put a thick layer of soil in, set the plant in, and then fill around it.

If you're planting seeds, fill the soil up all the way and then plant the seeds as directed. I did a combination of transplants and seeds this year. Here's what I ended up with.

I planted a Spicy Bell Pepper, Beefsteak Tomato, carrots, cilantro, lavender, parsley, and basil.

Oh, and does anyone know what this is?

This is homemade liquid manure fertilizer. It is an easy - and most importantly, free - organic fertilizer. Lucky for me, I have a steady supply of rabbit poop available. I put some in a big bucket of water, and in about 30 days it will be ready to use. You can use other animal's waste for the same purpose, but do not spray it directly on ready-to-eat leafy green vegetables.

I'm no gardening expert, and certainly this isn't the only way to do container gardening. However, I hope this inspires you to plant something of your own, wherever you are. I find gardening to be a lot of fun, and I really like getting in there and getting my hands dirty. I hope it grows. I come from a long line of great gardeners on my dad's side, and I'll be disappointed if I don't have a green thumb after all.

Sourdough Series Part 6: Bread

If you've made it this far, congratulations! Sourdough is no small task, but I think we're now ready to make bread! This recipe takes almost 24 hours total, so be prepared. This recipe requires three risings, so it's best to make this when you have a day you can spend at home.

Ingredients:
1 c. sourdough starter
2 c. water
3 c. white whole wheat flour

2 eggs
1/4 c. honey
6 TBS. butter
2 tsp. salt
3 c. white whole wheat flour

The night before you are going to bake bread, make your sponge. Combine the sourdough starter, water, and white whole wheat flour in a large bowl. Remember that you will eventually add three more cups of flour in addition to other ingredients, so make sure your bowl is large enough. I knew even my largest bowl wouldn't suffice, so I used a large pot.

Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a towel and let it sit on the counter overnight. In the morning the sponge will have risen (Rise 1). Stir the sponge, then add in the eggs, honey, butter, and salt one at a time, stirring after adding each ingredient. Then add in three more cups of white whole wheat flour and gently combine. It will be a very sticky dough.

Lightly flour a large surface and scrape the dough out of the bowl. Add only a little bit of flour a little bit at a time! As I said, it will be very sticky, but you do not want to over flour your dough or it will end up as a brick. Flour just enough so it's not sticking all over creation, although it will still be sticking all over everything else. Knead for 5 minutes. If you're frustrated because it's difficult to knead when it's sticky, then take heart, you're doing it right!

Gather the dough into a ball and place it in a new, lightly greased bowl. Once again cover the bowl and let it rise (Rise 2). Depending on how warm it is, this rise will take about 2 to 4 hours.

Butter two 9x5" loaf pans. Punch down the risen dough and pour it out onto a clean work surface. Cut the dough in half and place each half in one of the loaf pans.

Cover the dough and let it rise again for about two hours (Rise 3). Preheat the oven to 375° F. Right before you put the loaves in the oven, use a knife to slash them down the middle. If you don't do this, then the bread will come apart down the middle. And I mean the middle middle. Basically, it will be hard to put a sandwich together without everything falling out.

Bake the bread for 30-40 minutes. Begin checking at 30 minutes so it doesn't burn. Insert and knife and ensure that it comes out clean. If the top starts to turn dark before it is cooked through, place aluminum foil loosely on top.

When done, remove from the oven and let the bread cool in the pans for 20 minutes. Then, carefully dump the bread out and finish cooling on a rack. This will create a nice crust all the way around the bread.

Store the bread on the counter or in the refrigerator for about a week, although it will probably last much longer than that. The fermentation process helps to preserve the bread so it will last longer than yeasted bread. Additionally, this bread freezes well.

Isn't it lovely? This makes perfect sandwich bread. The honey adds a nice balance so it's not too sour. It's soft and delicious and you're going to love it!

Printable: Sourdough Bread

Follow along:
Sourdough Series Part 1: Why Sourdough?
Sourdough Series Part 2: Start a Starter
Sourdough Series Part 3: Pancakes
Sourdough Series Part 4: Biscuits
Sourdough Series Part 5: Pizza Crust
Sourdough Series Part 7: Tortillas

Recipe: Super Easy Blue Cheese Dressing

Did you know that the typical blue cheese dressing contains propylene glycol, artificial color, and natural flavors? Furthermore, soybean oil is the number one ingredient in many brands, including the number one seller! I have no idea why, I was able to make blue cheese dressing without any of those things. This recipe is so easy, there really is no excuse to buy the bottle and risk your health!

Ingredients:
1 c. plain Greek yogurt
2 oz. blue cheese
1/2 lemon
3/4 tsp. pepper

In a small container, crumble the blue cheese and juice half a lemon. Add in one cup of plain Greek yogurt and pepper to taste, about 3/4 of a teaspoon. Stir it all together.

That really is all folks. Enjoy!

Printable: Super Easy Blue Cheese Dressing

Sourdough Series Part 5: Pizza Crust

By now I bet you're all becoming experts on sourdough, right? I've had two sourdough starters going, and recently had them both in the refridgerator. When I pulled one out to use it the other day, it had mold on it. This will happen to all of us at one time or another, so no worries! This week we'll be making pizza dough. If you've ever made pizza dough from scratch then this will be no problem as it's very similar to the ones you make with yeast.

Ingredients:
1 1/2 c. sourdough starter
1 TBS. extra virgin olive oil
1 tsp. salt
1 c. + 1/2 c. whole wheat flour

In a large bowl, mix the sourdough starter, extra virgin olive oil, and salt. Then stir in one cup of whole wheat flour. It will be quite sticky.

Pour the dough out onto a floured surface. Begin kneading the dough, gradually sprinkling in more flour so that you get a nice, smooth dough. You'll probably end up using about a half a cup more flour. When the dough is no longer sticky, knead for a couple more minutes.

Put the dough back in a lightly oiled bowl, cover it with a damp towel, and let it rest for at least 6 hours. When you are ready to make pizza crust, turn the dough out on a lightly floured surface. This recipe makes one large pizza crust, or 3 to 6 individual size pizzas, depending on thickness. I got 6 individual size crusts, but I rolled mine out ridiculously thin.

Roll the dough ball(s) out. Place them on a pizza stone or baking sheet and poke them with a fork.

Bake each crust for 5 to 10 minutes in a preheated 450° F oven, again it depends on how thick. The crusts should just barely be baked, but not be doughy.

At this time you can top the crusts with your favorite toppings and bake for an additional 5-15 minutes. You can also freeze the crusts and save them for the next time you make pizza.

I topped mine with nothing but a little tomato sauce, garlic powder, and cheese. I enjoyed the sourdough here, and didn't want to cover it up with too much. It was perfect. Have fun and enjoy!

Printable: Sourdough Pizza Crust

Follow along:
Sourdough Series Part 1: Why Sourdough?
Sourdough Series Part 2: Start a Starter
Sourdough Series Part 3: Pancakes
Sourdough Series Part 4: Biscuits
Sourdough Series Part 6: Bread
Sourdough Series Part 7: Tortillas

DIY Tooth Powder

One of the hardest commercial products to get away from is toothpaste. Many people are very self-conscious about their teeth, and commercial toothpaste does a good job of selling themselves by promising to whiten and strengthen. The truth is that toothpaste actually has harmful ingredients that don't help your teeth at all! Conventional toothpaste can contain saccharin (an artificial sweetener!), propylene glycol, and even artificial colors including Yellow 5, Blue 1, and Red 40. Most toothpaste brands - even natural ones - contain glycerin, which prevent your teeth from re-mineralizing.

To avoid these nasty ingredients, you can make your own tooth powder. Homemade tooth powder gives you the power to control the ingredients. In addition, it is economical and green! Here's how you can make it yourself.

Ingredients:

1/2 c. bentonite clay

1/8 c. aluminum-free baking soda

6-10 drops peppermint essential oil

glass jar

Just put all the ingredients in the jar and shake. Bentonite clay is good stuff. It helps to remove tarter and decreases gum sensitivity. Bentonite clay also draws out the toxins in metal - if it is soaked in the mouth for 10 to 15 minutes like a mouthwash, it will take out the toxins - which is especially good for those of us with traditional cavity fillings. (Note: because of the bentonite clay's ability to draw toxins out of metal, do be sure that you make the tooth powder in a glass jar and not a metal one!)

This tooth powder is safe for the whole family. Dip a wet or dry toothbrush into the jar and brush as normal. Rinse well after brushing because I think the baking soda leaves a nasty aftertaste.

I get my ingredients online from Mountain Rose Herbs. They have the highest quality products that I've ever seen anywhere.

Wondering what to do with that leftover bentonite clay? Pour some in your palm, mix with just enough water to make a paste, and apply as a face mask. Leave it on for 15 to 30 minutes and then wash away.