Breakfast Tacos

Breakfast Tacos, not as gross as they sound! This was a total fluke that turned out yummy. We had a crazy day, no silverware was washed, needed to use up a lot of eggs, just made apricot jam, and had leftover cream cheese in the fridge.

make pancakes as normal but with about 6 extra eggs and somewhat thin batter so they're nice and spongy. You don't want them as thin as crepes but not a thick pancake.

Cook as normal and then spread half with cream cheese, jam, fruit, or whatever else you want. Eat it like a taco.

I'd bet this would taste good with some bacon and cheese too.

These were nice and portable and didn't use as much sugar as normal either since it was eaten in hand and taco style.

Depression Breakfast, depression cooking

I'm sure this is obvious but don't use the pre-made wafer cookies at the end.

More on the lara bars...

I made another batch of Lara bars and have some new hints...
This time instead of processing the dates and nuts together I processed the dates with just a few nuts, and then chopped the rest of the nuts (with the processor) a little bigger. I added shredded coconut too. They were much easier to stick together since the nuts weren't powdered.

I also decided since we were going through them so quickly that I would just shape and baggie 5 together. I was going to take a picture but you know, they looked like poo nuggets so I decided against it.

sausage, egg, cheese muffin breakfast sandwiches

This morning we made our breakfast sandwich that we love. You can make this in several ways. I just use an approved sausage from the Feingold food list but you can find plenty of recipes for sausage if you want to buy plain ground pork and make your own.
Today I used rolls made from an approved frozen dough but we've used bagels, homemade rolls, or homemade biscuits. Use gluten free if needed.
We do normal scrambled eggs with salt
And, sometimes a slice of always acceptable cheese, most of the time we skip the cheese but I thought I'd put it here as an option.

Just assemble and eat.

These satisfy that fast food craving and they're so yummy on a cold day. They're also very portable IF you assemble them while the eggs are still a little moist and HOT. As they cool they'll stick together well enough to stay in the sandwich.

mmmm pumpkin spice or anything else muffins

These are a staple of ours. They are one of the few gluten free baked items that I like so far. Sometimes we skip the pumpkin and add applesauce or another fruit or something else that's a little wet. These muffins are moist so they freeze very well. I freeze them in freezer ziplock baggies and get out as many as I need to thaw. If I need to go quickly I'll thaw them in the oven for 10 minutes at 350 degrees but it dries them out a little. Try to set them out the morning before instead. Since it's a staple the directions are all over the place. Just make sure your batter looks like muffin batter (sort of thick, barely beat it, lumps are good) and that you grease or oil the muffin tins so it comes out ok. I usually double the batch.

2-4 eggs, beaten

1 cup milk, water, or coconut milk

1/4 cup approved oil, approved shortening, or coconut oil

3 cups flour, all purpose, wheat, GF baking mix, or any flour. Millet, brown rice, and white or garbanzo bean is a good combination. If using coconut flour decrease a little, it absorbs liquid like crazy.

1 cup sugar, or 3/4 cup agave or honey, or 1/2 tsp pure stevia plus 1/4 cup other sweetner, or if you're used to stevia 1 tsp pure stevia.

4 tsp baking powder

1 tsp sea salt or other salt

1-2 cups of anything moist like pumpkin, applesauce, or thickly pureed fruit

1-2 tsp spices to go with it. My spice is a combination including cinnamon, ginger, allspice, nutmeg, and corriander.

Heat oven to 400 degrees. Grease muffin tins with an approved oil or butter. Beat eggs and add all wet ingredients. Mix in remaining ingredients just till flour is moistened. Batter should be a little lumpy.
Fill muffin tins 2/3 cups full. Bake 25 minutes or until done. Immediately remove from pan. If freezing, let cool, then package, then freeze.

Brown Rice Waffles

http://thebakingbeauties.blogspot.com/2008/05/brown-rice-waffles-gluten-free.html

Brown Rice Waffles (Gluten Free)

I was very surprised (and happy) that these waffles, made from brown rice flour, were as tasty as they were. Another keeper! These are perfect for a "breakfast in bed" for Mother's Day! :)

Unfortunately, I can't remember where I found this recipe. If anyone knows, please let me know, as I'd like to give credit to the website I found this one.

2 cups brown rice flour
1 cup buttermilk or sour milk (milk and vinegar)
2 Tbsp oil (note from Danika, use melted butter, melted coconut oil, or approved oil)
1 tsp. real vanilla extract (or your favorite; maple, almond or walnut)
1 tsp salt
1 Tbsp. sugar

Mix the above. Add some water if too thick or too dry. Then add:

2 eggs
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda

Mix well. Let batter sit for 1/2 hour. Preheat waffle iron. Oil it well and as often as needed while making the waffles. Make waffles following iron manufacturer's instructions.

A list of ok recipes from another website

http://frugalabundance.wordpress.com/

Lemon Slushie, use fresh lemon or approved lemon

citrus refresher

southern cornbread is ok if you use butter instead of margarine

multi-grain cereal is ok with no TVP

basic vanilla frosting is ok with real butter, whole milk, real vanilla

chocolate frosting is ok with real butter, whole milk, real vanilla

tomato, green pepper, and cucumber salad is ok with olive oil

pantry pesto is ok with olive oil, real Parmesan, and approved or in shell walnuts

homemade chicken broth is ok with just the chicken, water, and veggies using a minimally processed chicken.

Crepes

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Basic-Crepes/Detail.aspx

I don't think I've done crepes here yet. A friend made these, I read her blog, and she simply linked to this recipe. Remember to use whole milk and real butter.

Hootenannies

My Grandma used to make these and we loved watching them come out of the oven all poofed up.

Preheat a rectangle glass casserole dish with 1/2 cube of real butter to 425 degrees.
While this is preheating mix the following in your blender...

6 eggs
1 cup milk
1 cup flour
1 tsp salt

When the butter is melted and the oven is preheated carefully pour the batter into the casserole dish and cook for 20 minutes.

Serve with maple syrup, fried apples, powdered sugar, or whatever you can think of.
In England this would be cooked with roast beef drippings and called Yorkshire pudding.

When we're being money or calorie frugal we just use 1 TBSP of butter in the bottom, when we have company we use a whole cube.

Fried apples

mmmmmmmmmmm, I had to put this recipe here for this cold day.

Fried Apples

We're eating these right now for dessert just plain but they'd also be good with milk or approved ice cream on top...maybe that caramel sauce that's posted below.
On top of hootenannies (hmm, I didn't post those yet) or as a side dish for dinner.
In the south I hear they're served with pork meals.

cut up apples (I used 4, tart and firm are best)
fry in 2 TBSP butter (I put the lid on till they were mostly done)
add your choice of 2 TBSP real honey, real maple syrup, cinnamon or other pie spices, or white sugar.

let cook a couple more minutes to thicken.

Eat em up!

Strawberry Syrup for milk, pancakes, or anything else

2 c. sugar
2 c. water
about 25 fresh or frozen strawberries

Combine all (if you want it smooth blend it first, if you want it extra smooth leave berries whole and strain when you're done) and bring to a boil. Simmer approximately 15 minutes.

This should stay good in the refrigerator for at least a month.

Use a couple of TBSP full in a glass of milk, on top of pancakes, or anything else you can think of.

Some recipes from my friend Leah

This was an old post and I've modified it to fit here. My friend decided that she could eat well if she could just have 7 breakfasts, lunches, and dinners to rotate. Here's some of her list. Some we've already discussed so I deleted those.

BREAKFASTS

Scrambled eggs and Cottage Potatoes

Use raw cream, free range eggs and sea salt. Mix and scramble.

Cut in cubes, organic potatoes and soak over night in whey, salt and water. Drain, dry, fry in butter, cover and cook until tender. Melt acceptable cheese on top, salt pepper and organic onion or ketchup is good on them too.

Crepes

Grind 2 cups fresh wheat, soak in two cups of raw milk with whey. In the morning add 4 eggs, 1/4 tsp on salt ,1/2 tsp real vanilla. Melt butter and add to the mix. Cook on medium low heat. Serve with lemon and powdered sugar or whipped cream.

Pancakes

Same as above except, omit 2eggs and add 1/2 tsp of baking soda.

Sprouted wheat cereal

Soak until spouts show [rinse and drain after first day of soaking]. Eat raw with milk or toast it and eat with milk.

Kefir shakes

Culture over night. Separate the kefir grains. Blend with sugar or honey and frozen fruit some vanilla and a banana or even spinach.

LUNCHES

Banana Bread

Soak 3 cups wheat flour in 2 cups yogurt ,kefir or buttermilk, over night. Add 3 eggs, 1 tsp salt, 1/2 cup real maple syrup, 2tsp baking soda, 1/4 cup butter melted, 3 mashed bananas crispy pecans if desired [soak in salt water over night rinse and dry on 170] pour into a well buttered loaf pan and cook at 350 degrees for 1 1/2 hours.

Cold Cucumber soup

Blend 2 cucumbers, 1 cup butter milk, 1c. homemade or approved chicken stock, 2 cloves garlic, 1 tbsp lemon juice 1 tsp dill, salt and pepper, until smooth. chill and enjoy.

Egg, Chicken Salad Sandwiches

Mix the meat (remember to use minimally processed chicken) or eggs with milk, butter, onion, salt, pepper, garlic and dill.

Spread on sour dough bread.

Cheese sandwiches or better yet raw cheese and jam on sour dough.

Egg and Cheese on organic salad and balsamic vineagar and olive oil.

DINNERS

Noodles an Tomato Marinara sauce

Mix 3eggs, 1 c. wheat flour, 1 1/2 c. white flour. Set aside.
Fry hamburger. Add homemade or approved beef stock, and 2 cans tomato paste [ "fry" them] and add pepper, salt, garlic, some honey and Italian type seasonings. Let simmer while rolling out the above noodle dough. Slice into thin strips and boil for 3 minutes.

Chicken noodle soup

Place minimally processed chicken, homemade or approved stock, carrots, celery, garlic, salt , pepper, and sugar or a sweet potato in the crock pot on high for 3 hours. mix 1 c. wheat flour, 1 1/2 c. white flour and 3 eggs. Roll out and cut with a pizza cutter [freeze half of the dough if your family is smaller] add the noodles half an hour before the crock pot is finished . remove chicken from the bone if needed.

Tortillas

Soak 1 c. water , whey, 3 c. wheat flour, 1/4 c. coconut oil and 1/2 tbsp salt over night. roll out in flour and cook on medium heat on skillet. Fill with fajitas or beans and cheese.

Wild Alaskan salmon

Fry in butter add dill and lemon serve with brown rice, butter and braggs's amino acids [soy sauce]

Dal

Cook brown rice. Cook lentils, 20 min. Fry onions in butter. Season lentils in curry. Layer rice, lentils, onions, daisy sour cream or raw cheese and parsley.

Ratatouille

Soak cubed eggplant in salt water for an hour. Fry zucchini, pell pepper, onion, tomato and garlic; all separately, in olive oil. Add all to casserole dish. Add thyme and bake for 1 hour at 350 uncovered. Top with acceptable cheese.

Chili

Brown meat, add acceptable stock, 2 onions, 2 mild peppers, 2 cans tomatos, 3 cloves garlic, 1 tsp cumin, 1 tbsp oregano, 1 tbsp basil, 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes, kidney beans 3 cups. Simmer 1 hour

Beef, Chicken or Fish stock

Add meat to cold water and cook on low in crock pot for 12 hours. Strain, and freeze in ice cube trays.[metal ones if available]

Whey and Cheese

Set raw milk on the counter for 4 days. Then strain through cheese cloth or close woven cloth, over jar to catch the whey. DO NOT SQUEEZE. let drain for 24 hours.

Sour Dough

Sart: 2 cups wheat flour, 2 cups water, 1 tsp yeast. Let set on counter, covered with a dish towel. Feed it 1 cup flour and water each day for a week.

Remove 4 cups of start and add 6 to 7 cups wheat flour, 3/4 cups water, 1 tbsp salt. Shape and butter, slice 3 lines in the top and let rise for 12 hours. Bake 350 for an hour. Let cool before slicing.

Fluffy Old Fashioned Pancakes

• 1 1/2 cups flour
• 3 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon white sugar
• 1 1/4 cups whole milk
• 1 egg
• 3 tablespoons butter, melted

1. In a large bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, salt and sugar. Make a well in the center and pour in the milk, egg and melted butter; mix until smooth.
2. Heat a lightly buttered griddle or frying pan over medium high heat. Pour the batter onto the griddle, using approximately 1/4 cup for each pancake. Brown on both sides and serve hot.

This feeds our family of 6 but it's just as easy to double or triple and stick the extras in the fridge for later.

Why buy a premade mix when this is so easy? If you want the convenience of a mix just get out a zipper baggie and combine the flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar. Write the amount of milk, egg, and butter needed.

NOTE: if I want a quick breakfast that's full of protein I'll add up to 8 eggs to this mixture and skip the eggs on the side. And, for me, flour is usually a whole grain mix including bean flour.

Eggs, Eggs, Eggs

For a quick breakfast, lunch, or dinner think of eggs.

Scramble eggs, cook with a pat of butter in the pan and then sprinkle on some cheese (from the always acceptable list).

Serve as is or with some homemade toasted bread.

Yummy oatmeal variations

3 c. rolled oats (gluten free if you need them)
1/4 c. golden flax (optional)
6 c. water

This is the basic oatmeal, for Nourishing Traditions style combine these ingredients and soak overnight before cooking.

In the morning add your choice of the following ingredients and cook till it's done. I like my oatmeal nice and runny, not gloppy so add less water if you want. You may also add whole milk or cream after cooking.

chopped apples, nuts, cinnamon, honey, white sugar or pure maple syrup

dehydrated "just strawberries", honey, white sugar or pure maple syrup

chopped bananas, nuts, cinnamon, honey, white sugar or pure maple syrup

homemade jam (with just fruit and sugar)

cocoa powder and white sugar

NOTE: dehydrated fruit may seem expensive but it takes a lot of fresh fruit to make a little dehydrated. If you are comparing an expensive oatmeal packet with fresh oatmeal you can still easily afford a tbsp of dried fruit in your oatmeal.
If your kids love the oatmeal packets and can't get away from them just use zipper baggies, measure out the right size portion for them complete with dehydrated fruit and plenty of sugar so it will "match" the store stuff. You can always slowly decrease the sugar.

Any Kind of Smoothie

fresh, frozen, or canned fruit (listing just fruit and/or sugar)
whole milk and/or whole plain yogurt
white sugar or honey
water
ice cubes
1/4 c. whole golden flax seeds (optional)
1 c. rolled oats (optional)

Blend what you want till it's smooth. You'll get the hang of how much frozen stuff you can handle with your blender. We use whatever fruit is the least expensive. I love to add the golden flax seeds to add some good oils, protein, and roughage to my smoothie. It seems to keep up going longer during the day.
If I have a strongly flavored fruit I'll add the rolled oats. If not sometimes they tend to taste funny. I can't really describe it but it's definitely a different taste.