Homemade Crockpot Yogurt

Isn't that awesome? This is actually my crockpot with actual yogurt in it! I was SO excited that it worked. Especially since it failed the first time, but now I know why!

1. Pour ONLY milk into crockpot. Low for 2 hours 45 mins.
2. Turn OFF and let sit for 3 hours.
3. Take starter yogurt out of fridge to get to room temp if you choose, but don't have to.
4. When timer goes off, put 1 cup of starter yogurt in a bowl with some milk FROM THE CROCKPOT.
     Mix it thoroughly with a whisk. Then add all of it into the crockpot and mix thoroughly. *(this is why mine
     was all weird the first time I made it! Didn't mix in small amount first, or well enough in the big pot)
5. Lid on. Wrap whole thing in blankets for next 10 hours. Wha-la! Yogurt!

Lukas whooped for joy when he saw that it worked. We learned vocabulary like cultures, acidophilus, bacteria, as well as self-reliant and preservatives.

Green Spinach Frosting

• 1pint organic heavy whipping cream [or for a vegan version, try this]


• 1/4c sucanat


• 2c spinach

http://www.edibleperspective.com/home/2010/5/6/cinco-de-delicious.html

I mixed it all together first and it looked like ogre throw up. Then I let the yukkiness sit in a dish towel over night and the consistency was perfect after that. (And yes, that towel is perfectly white again, because it was just spinach- not food coloring!!)

Tastes awesome on sugar cookies!!

Authentic Korean Stir Fry (w/chicken)

Recipe is scribbled on a scrap of paper- will transfer soon if anyone's interested!
SO SO good! My family craves this now!!

Did you know that most Asian people "wash" the rice before cooking it? I had no idea. Yep, they fill the bowl with rice and water, then squish the rice with their hands to get all that filmy stuff off of it (didn't know it was there til I saw this-whoa) and then, and ONLY then does it get cooked! (And I recently read that it lessens the amount of arsenic that is apparently rampant in our food supply. Great.)

And to be Korean food, you use Sesame Oil. And Korean soy sauce. Not Kikkoman or another. It's not the same. (Thai food is mostly peanut oil- and coconut milk-- just change those things and BAM, you have thai food. Well, almost.)

First: Buy Korean noodles from Asian Market store (see picture). Soak them for 1/2 hour in cold water
Second: Cut any meat you're wanting to use, and put in bowl or ziplock with a swig of sesame oil and a big glug or 3 of Korean Soy Sauce.
Third: Stir fry/Steam any and ALL (tons) vegetables you desire (broccoli, caulif., carrots, bell peppers, onions usually at our house) I love them slightly browned. Mmmm.

Cook up meat til 'done' and throw in with veggies. Season veggies with salt and pepper.

Lastly cook noodles for about 5 mins & drain. Then add a small glug of Sesame Oil, and a few glugs of Korean Soy Sauce, and sugar (or agave, or cane syrup, etc) I use cane sugar.. Keep using a fork or tongs to mix greatly. Must be eaten fresh or they just soak up the taste and are bland.

Baking Powder Biscuits- Jan Walker Style

Baking Powder Biscuits.- (I probably should have said don't forget the honey and jam. :))
2 c flour
1 T baking powder
1 t salt
1/4 c shortening
3/4 c milk
Mix dry ingredients. Cut in shortening until coarse crumb texture. Stir milk into mixture. Knead and roll out to 1/2 to 3/4 inch thick. Use cup to cut into circles. Bake at 425 degrees for 10-12 minutes.
for Family size times it all by 3 I think and put on 10x15 pan. (salt was just 1 1/2 though)

Chicken Pot Pie

Awesome for leftover turkey and mashed potatoes! (Thanks Jana for sending the recipe to me in Germany!!)

Chicken Pot Pie
1/2 c butter
1/2 c flour
1/2 c chopped onion
1/2 t salt
1/4 t pepper
1 c milk
2 c water
2 chicken bouillon cubes
1and 1/2 c frozen peas and carrots
2-3 red potatoes, cashed(?) and thinly sliced
2-3 boneless skinless chicken breasts, cooked and cubed

Melt butter in large saucepan over medium heat. Stir in flour, onion, salt and pepper. Cook, stirring constantly, until mixture is bubbly Remove from heat and stir in milk, water, and bouillon. Heat to boiling stirring constantly. Boil and stir 1 minute. Add pease and carrots, potatoes and chicken. Roll "super easy pi crust" pastry into 11x14 inch rectangle. Pour chicken mixture into 9x11 inch pan on the bottom crust. Place pastry over top and flute edges. Bake at 425 degrees for 30 minutes or until golden.

Super Easy Pie Crust

1/2 c butter
2/3 c Crisco shortening
1 T. sugar
1 T nonfat dry milk
1/2 t baking powder
1 t salt
3 c unsifted flour
1/2 c cold water

Pumpkin Bisque from Mormon Cookbook- SO GOOD!

1/4 cup finely chopped onion
2 tablespoons butter
2 cups canned pumpkin (I used 2 butternut squashes and a leftover mini deco=-pumpkin)
2/3 cup sour cream
4 cups chicken broth
2 cups light cream
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
Sour cream, for garnishing
Chives, for garnishing

Sautee onion in butter. Set aside.
In a bowl, combine pumpkin, sour cream, chicken broth, cream, brown sugar, and salt.
Beat mixture until smooth.
Add onions and butter.
Cover and chill. (I stopped here and just ate it, but you can chill it)
When ready to serve, garnish with dollops of addt'l sour cream and chives.
If serving hot, warm slowly over low heat.
DO NOT BOIL.
Makes 6-8 servings.

*** My note: Tastes amAZing with German RYE bread (Roggenbrot) MMMMMM!!

Sweet Chili

INGREDIENTS:
1.5 pounds 95% lean ground beef (If you leave it out, it's practically unnoticeable!)
3/4 cup chopped bell pepper
1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley
3/4 cup chopped onion
3/4 cup thinly sliced celery
2 (16 ounce) cans kidney beans, drained
1 (16 ounce) can stewed tomatoes
1 (12 ounce) can tomato paste (Tomaten Mark auf Deutsch)
2 cups water
1/3 cup sugar
2 teaspoons dried sweet basil leaves
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
2 teaspoons salt
2 teaspoons ground cumin
2 teaspoons chili powder
1/8 teaspoon garlic powder (or the real stuff)
1 dash ground cloves
1 dash baking soda

DIRECTIONS:
1. Brown ground beef
2. Drain and return to pan
3. Add bell pepper, parsley, onion and celery
4. Saute until onion is clear, approx 5 minutes
5. Add remaining ingredients and simmer 1-1/2 to 2 hours

Add cheese?
Eat with cornbread?
YUM!!!