"Unprocessing Foods" -- Entry 5 (Breakfast Cereals)

Who would ever think you could give up breakfast cereals -- a product that takes up an entire line in the grocery store & a good portion of the budget!  Well, we've done it.  Fortunately, we enjoy eggs & oatmeal.  However, I have stumbled on a breakfast that I have more than anything else.  I actually look forward to it.  My "Bowl" almost looks like a dessert.  Yummmm, it's about as delicious.

Here's my Combo:

a heaping 1/4 cup of old fashioned oatmeal

about 2 Tbsp of ground flax seed

a good handful of walnuts (or almonds sometimes)

a dollop of homemade strawberry jam

a good portion of plain Greek yogurt

Stir it all together & enjoy!

I use the jam for sweetener.  If you do not use plain yogurt, you may not need the jam.

(PS/ My sister is sending me her homemade yogurt recipe so hopefully by the end of the year I'll also have that!)

"Unprocessing" Foods -- Entry 1 (Jams & Jellies)

Normally, I never share my New Year's Resolutions, but I am going to break that rule today.  This year, I resolved to quit buying six different types of processed foods, one every two months.  Being that we hardly eat anything boxed or canned anymore, I am having to dig pretty deep into my pantry.  So, I decided to share my progress with you.

One: Processed Jams & Jellies

Strawberries are in season for us in Florida so it was a perfect time for me to make my first freezer jam.  I could not believe how easy it was & am sorry I haven't done it before.  I got a tip from a friend that allows you to make fresh jam all year round!  She washes her berries, crushes them, & freezes them in 2 cup portions.  Then, when a batch runs out, she can easily make another fresh batch from the delicious berries that were in season!  I love it.  The jam is extremely "strawberry" from the in-season berries.  (Thanks, Karen!) Here is the recipe from Sure-Jell (and my mother says don't bother using anything else!)

2 cups fresh crushed strawberries

(about 1 qt. whole berries--the riper the better)

4 cups sugar

3/4 cup water

1 pkg SURE-JELL Fruit Pectin

Wash berries & discard stems.  Measure out exactly 2 cups of berries.  Crush berries thoroughly.  (I used a hand potato masher.  If you like smoother jam, blend the berries.)  Stir in sugar.  Let stand 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.  Mix water & pectin in a small saucepan.  Bring to boil on high heat, stirring constantly.  Continue boiling & stirring for one minute.  Add to fruit mixture; stir for 3 minutes or until most of the sugar is dissolved.  Fill clean small Ball jars or plastic containers to within 1/2 inch of the top.  Wipe of top edges of containers.  Cover with lids immediately.  Let stand at room temperature for 24 hours.  Jam is ready to use.  Store in refrigerator up to three weeks or in a freezer for up to a year.

Being only Freddie & me, I actually halved the recipe.  (Yes -- I even halved the Sure-Jell package!)



Strawberry Spinach Salad

It's strawberry season here!

Here's a delicious salad we had last week.

You can find spinach at Cabbage Creek's stand (Amelia Is. Farmer's Market)

&

strawberries at King's Kountry (Amelia & RAM)

2 bunches fresh spinach (whatever you have)

1 pt strawberries

1/2 cup sugar

2 Tbsp sesame seed

1 Tbsp poppy seed

1-1/2 tsp chopped onion

1/4 tsp Worcestershire sauce

1/4 tsp paprika

1/4 t onion salt

1/2 cup oil

1/4 cup vinegar

Wash & dry spinach & put in large salad bowl.  Slice berries & add to spinach.  Mix all ingredients for dressing in blender until thickened.  Drizzle over spinach & berries.

Okay: here's all my adaptations!  I did not use either sesame seeds or poppy seeds.  Instead of putting chopped onion in the dressing, I cut up red onion & put on salad.  I probably used more like 3 Tbsps or so sugar -- just to taste.  But, we aren't big sugar people.