New post up.

Another post is up. It is for Portabella burger buns.
I am not sure how often I will be doing this or how long I will have tis blog up. But, for now it remains.
Thanks.
Have a great day!

All That's Going On

I have a new post at my new home. If you want to check it out, here it is.

Hey!

It's been a while since I posted.
I have been having some problems with my blog and have been trying to sort it all out.

I was having difficulty renewing my domain name so it ending up reverting to a blogspot and the name went into domain name purgatory.
It has now been released so I have been able to get it back, but it will not be hosted by blogger.

The search has not been working and the links on the pages got messed up when the name reverted back to a blogspot so I had to remove those.

I will be hard at work getting ruthsyummystuff.com looking all spiffy.
I still have welcome to me here and I will still be checking in on blogs here on blogspot.

Have a great Saturday!

Become Friends With a Farmer

Unless, you have acres of land and/or the time, it is not always feasible to grow everything yourself.

But, by getting to know some people you can barter food or get it at a good price.
Trade some extra zucchini for some broccoli or bell peppers.

I know some people that grow and sell potatoes.
For whatever reason, my potatoes never do that great.
I buy from them.

I get my eggs from a guy my husband used to go to school with.
I pay less than the organic ones at the store.
I know where they come from and what they eat.
They are really good eggs.

You might be able to buy a cow or pig for cheaper than buying meat from the market.
You are almost certain to, but all the cost is upfront.
Even after you figure the cost of processing at the locker.
Or maybe chickens too.

If you are not sure where to look, check the free papers you get with all the ads.
If you go to church, ask around.
Check Craigslist.
Do a search on the internet for what you are looking for.

Simple Chocolate Candies

simple chocolate candies with chia seeds added in

Most everybody likes some chocolate once in a while. But, sometimes you don't have any on hand or you want to go with something healthy or you don't want to go to the trouble of making them because it can be complicated and take a long time.

But, these candies are simple. Fast to make and as healthy as a candy that you are probably going to find.
The longest part is waiting for them to firm up enough to eat.

This will make enough for 12 candies.

You will need a mini muffin pan with 12 muffin cups.
You will need an immersion blender. A whisk will work or a regular blender.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup Organic Virgin Coconut Oil
2 Tablespoons honey, preferably raw
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 teaspoon vanilla extract, optional
Possible add ins are chopped nuts, dried fruit, coconut, or chia seeds

Take out your mini muffin pan. If you want anything in your chocolate candies, sprinkle some of what you are using in the bottom of each cup.
Set aside.
Melt the coconut oil.
Put in a container that you can easily pour from and that will allow you to use the immersion blender or whisk. Or pour into the jar of blender.
Add the honey and blend in well so it does not separate.
Blend in the cocoa powder and optional vanilla extract.
Divide the mixture evenly between the muffin cups.
If you used a whisk, you will need to make sure to whisk between pours so the honey doesn't separate.
Put into the freezer and keep in there for 30-60 minutes until the candies have firmed.

You can now take them out of the muffin pan pretty easily.
I have never tried just plopping them out. I take a knife and carefully lift them out.

If you have raw cacao powder, you will also get additional health benefits.

I do recommend keeping these in the fridge so they don't melt or get too soft.

Life and Coconut

Wow! It's been so long since I put anything up here.
Things have been busy for me lately.

I took an impromptu trip to Cincinnati for a family problem.
Things are starting to settle back down and hopefully I will get more done on this little blog.

Lately I have done a little experimenting with coconut.
I have always been a fan of coconut oil.
The virgin organic unrefined is some pretty awesome stuff.

I decided to try some coconut flour and coconut sugar, as well.

I made some coconut flour chocolate chip cookies and those turned out pretty good.
I am going to try it for coating fried chicken next.
It is absorbent so a little goes a long way.

The coconut sugar is fine.
I don't think that I am completely sold on it.

It is pricey so you don't want to go crazy using it.
It is supposed to have a lower glycemic index than cane or beet sugar.
Plus, some added minerals and vitamins.

It is not as sweet as regular sugar or brown sugar so if you want the same sweetness, you will have to use quite a bit more.
It has more of a caramel taste. A deeper, more complex taste than brown sugar.

I don't mind it.
It is a nice change.
But, I don't plan to buy it again.

Molasses or maple syrup sweeten things nicely with some added minerals.
If I want to cut the sweet, I will use less cane sugar.

Now, there is a big difference in organic cane sugar and regular sugar and I buy the organic when I can.

The coconut flour is something I would buy again.
A bag will last me a long time so I feel it is worth what I paid for it.

Blueberry Banana Muffins

These muffins have the great tastes of blueberry and bananas and are a great way to start the day. If you don't eat wheat, these are perfect because they don't use wheat flour.

The banana is what makes these so nice and moist. They also keep great so are good made the night before and reheated or eaten at room temperature.

Preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit/205 Celsius.
Grease 12 muffin cups or use liners.

Ingredients:

1-3/4 cup oat flour
1/4 cup flax meal (ground flax seed)
1/4 cup corn starch or arrowroot
1/3 cup sugar
2-1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 egg
1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup cooking oil
1 cup mashed banana (2 large or 3 medium)
3/4 cup fresh or frozen blueberries

In a bowl, stir together the oat flour, flax, corn starch, baking powder, baking soda, and sugar.
Set aside.
In another bowl, mash the bananas. Add the milk, egg, and oil and mix well.
Add the banana mixture to the dry ingredients and  stir until everything is mixed well and no dry spots are visible.
Fold in the blueberries.
Divide the batter evenly amongst the 12 muffin cups.
Bake in the preheated oven for 18-20 minutes until you can lightly touch the muffin tops and they spring back.
Take out of the oven and let sit in pan for 15 minutes.
Loosen around the edges with a knife and let sit for another 15 minutes.
Carefully remove from muffin cups.

Makes 12.

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You can buy oat flour or just grind dry oatmeal in a blender or food processor. If you have a spice grinder, that is perfect.

I like using olive oil because it makes for a lighter muffin.    

Making a Master Cookie Mix

Making a master cookie mix can come in handy.
It will save you a time when you want to make some cookies.

This recipe is the basis for making 3 different types of cookies:
Oatmeal Chippers
Raisin Spice
Peanut Butter


This will make 6-1/2 quarts, or 26 cups, of mix.

Get the biggest pan or bowl you have to mix it up in.

Ingredients:

8 cups flour
4 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoon baking powder
6 cups brown sugar
3 cups shortening
8 cups quick cooking oats

Mix this all together really well and store in bags or jars and seal well.

To make the Oatmeal Chippers:
Add 6 cups master mix, 2 eggs, 1/2 cup milk, and 2 teaspoons vanilla extract to a bowl.. Add 2 cup of chocolate or other type of chip and 1/2 cup nuts(opt.)
Grease cookie sheets and drop by teaspoon onto them.
Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 12-15 minutes.

To make Raisin Spice:
Add 6 cups master mix, 1/2 cup milk and 2 eggs to a bowl. Mix well and add 1 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg, 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves, and 1 cup raisins.
Drop by teaspoon onto greased cookie sheets and bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 12-15 minutes.

To make Peanut Butter:
Add 6 cups master mix, 1/2 cup milk and 2 eggs to a bowl and add 1 cup peanut butter. Mix well and shape into 1" balls.
Place on greased cookie sheets and flatten by making a criss cross with a fork.
Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 12-15 minutes.

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Happy Baking!

Getting Organized

Getting organized and staying organized can be vital.

It saves you time, sometimes money, and it definitely saves your sanity.

You know the little things like keeping things in their proper space.

But, how bout keeping a running list so that when you run out of something you know to get more?
It saves you checking when you make your grocery list.

Planning meals is good.
I don't always get it done, but it is helpful.

You know what to buy at the store,
you don't have to wrack your brain trying to figure it out,
and if you pack lunches and/or make breakfast, things go smoother.

If you do pack lunches for work or school, leftovers can be great.
Make extra food if you can.
If that doesn't work, make a meal and portion it into serving sizes and freeze or refrigerate for later lunches.

We are not cold cereal eaters.
Which means making breakfast every morning.

You can always bake muffins the night before
Or
you can mix the dry ingredients in one bowl and wet ingredients in another bowl and mix them and bake in the morning.

Cinnamon rolls can be left to rise in the fridge overnight.
Take out while you preheat the oven.
Bake and nice hot breakfast.

How do you find ways of making things go smoother in the kitchen?

Eating Healthy

Lots of people think about getting healthy at the beginning of the new year.

It could be because it is the new year or because of all that eating through the holidays makes one want to feel better.

But, any time is a good time to start being healthy.

Start by drinking a little more.
Water is the best thing you can have.

Lots of people don't like plain water.
Add a piece of fruit to it to add some flavor.

Don't try to change everything too fast.

Healthy can taste good.

I don't believe in low fat.

Many things you buy that are low fat are not as healthy as something with full fat.

Your body needs a certain amount of fat.
And the right kind of fat.

Lots of vegetable oils aren't really healthy.
They oxidize in the body and are not the best for cells.

Olive oil, uncooked or heated at low temperature is good.
Coconut oil, provided it is extra virgin organic and does not contain hexane, is good.
Butter is good. 

Avocados are a good fat source.

It is fine to watch the fat, just make sure to watch the sugar too.

I do recommend doing lots of reading before you figure out your plan.
Don't just go by FDA or USDA guidelines.
Look at alternative health sites.
Lots of them and learn what is best for you.

We all have different needs.
It make take a while to figure out yours.

You can do it.

You just have to stick with it.

Ruth's Yummy Stuff: Dips

 

This is what I have been up to lately.

My computer was being a pain.

Maybe not so much the computer, as the programs not cooperating.

So, I spent a lot of time trying to figure out how to get it done.

I wrote a book and than converted it to an ebook for Kindle.

I am planning to submit it to be on Nook, but I am taking the day off for that.

With each recipe, I have included a picture.

My hope is to make several cookbooks, with each one featuring a type of food.

Ruth's Yummy Stuff: Dips is what I decided to go with.