Wednesday "Words"... Trail Mix

  http://www.mynaturalfamily.com/recipes/snacks-recipes/make-healthy-trail-mix-recipe/

http://blog.zisboombah.com/2012/07/11/grab-and-go-snacks-homemade-trail-mix-recipes-kids-can-make/ 

http://www.examiner.com/article/celebrate-national-trail-mix-day-12-healthy-trail-mix-recipes 

http://100caloriebags.com/magazine/100-calorie-trail-mix.php 

http://www.food.com/recipe/texas-cowpoke-trail-mix-15711 

       What does Nuts, Seeds, Dried fruit, Pretzels, Chocolate, spices all mixed together make? A delicious trail mix. Above are some links to help with ideas on making your own. After you make up a large batch, separate them out into small snack size portions and keep them in your car, in your purse and your lunch bag. I always have nuts in my car for those unexpected times when I'm out later then expected and get hungry.
       An alternative to a handful of trail mix are some Trail Mix Muffins http://bakingbites.com/2008/08/trail-mix-muffins/ .

Trail mix is a fun food to play with. You can add whatever tickles your fancy!

Thursday " Tip "... Seasoning

     I had mentioned in an earlier post on January 7, 2015 http://whole-food-living.blogspot.com/2015/01/wednesday-word-essentials.html about four essential spices to have in your pantry. Another good tip is making your own spice mixes. The ones in the store usually start with salt as the main ingredient, as well as added preservatives. So by making some of your own you can control the amounts and freshness.
      Seasoning salt is a fun one to mix up and put together. You can put on your french fries, sprinkle on your cooked vegetables and chicken, your popcorn and basically anything you would sprinkle salt on. Many considerate this an "all purpose" salt.

Homemade Season Salt

2 Tablespoons Salt

2 Tablespoons Sugar

1 teaspoon Paprika

1/2 teaspoon Pepper

1/4 teaspoon Turmeric

1/4 teaspoon Onion Powder

1/4 teaspoon Garlic Powder

Other variations to add in:

celery seed

curry powder

dried thyme

dried oregano

dried mustard

cumin

Mix all ingredients and store in container.

*Note- you could put more of each spice to double the batch and leave the salt as is or leave out altogether.

It's your seasoning mix, tweak it to fit your taste, but most of all, have fun doing it!

Wednesday " Word"... Essentials

 

 The Four Essential Spices for every kitchen

Salt

Pepper

Onion Powder (not onion salt)

Garlic Powder ( not garlic salt)

Additional ones to add

Cumin

Italian blend

Thyme

      Always look for the word "powder" not "salt" when buying onion and garlic spices, whether that is in bulk or in jars. There are many different spices out there and each one adds a particular taste to your dish. But if your budget is limited, start with the four essentials and try a different one each month. If you can find a store where they have spices in bulk, you can get a very small amount at a time and the cost will be minimal. Plus this is a great way to try a new spice! Another idea would be to share with a family member or friend and split a spice.

      You can build up your spice cabinet a little at a time. The additional ones I suggested are good basic ones to eventually purchase,  like cumin for Mexican dishes, Italian "blend" so you don't have to buy all the individual spices like, oregano, basal etc. and thyme because it is a really good basic spice for chicken and other dishes. 

      A fun trip if you wanted to get excited about cooking would be to visit a spice shop or just visit your local grocery store and let your nose enjoy the aroma the spices give off. Spice's offer bold flavors without adding more salt or fat to a dish. Start small and get your four essential spices and work from there. You can always ask for spices as a gift. But don't let what you have available right now in your cabinet stop you from playing with your food.

Tuesday "Try"... Okra

Okra

A friend gave me some okra from her garden last year and I have to say I'd never really eaten fresh okra before then, and only knew of the slimy stories that come along when someone mentions the word "Okra." So when I was at the farmers market this past Saturday, I saw this okra and it was so beautiful AND organic. Okra is typically green but don't be afraid to try the same food in a different color. I just bought a few to play with and try something new with it ( now that I have fond memories of eating okra). I found a simple recipe... Just wash and cut the okra in slices.

Then cook some onion, diced fresh garlic, cumin, and red pepper flakes in oil ( I used some homemade beef broth I'd just made a few days ago. More about that in another post to come) until slightly done.

Then put the sliced okra in with the onion mix and continue to cook until the okra in tender as you like it. I left it slightly undercooked. I didn't want it to be to mushy. It was really really good. A nice summery side dish to add to any meal. I can see where this dish could have a lot of different spices added to it, depending on what you were pairing it with. Don't be afraid to play with your food!

If you would like help reading labels, shopping and/or making meal planning easy contact me athttp://www.wholefood-living.com/contact.html