Guess What I've Been Doing....

Pickling! I did the garlic scapes (far right) last month. Last week, I had an abundance of cucumbers from the CSA  and my ma's garden, so I made some cucumbers into dill pickles...the kids liked them better than store bought, so last night I did two more quarts and an experimental pint, I am trying to duplicate a local pickle that is no longer made...added a chile pepper, some cinnamon and some cloves. I'll post the recipe later if they come out good XD  

I also pickled some chard stems (far left), some onions (middle rear) and a single half pint of beets (left front), as I am the only one who likes them.

Hopefully, I will swing back into blogging since I am no longer working outside the home. I want to attempt canning this year, but that will depend on whether I can budget in a pressure canner...fingers crossed!

I fixed it ;)

Pinterest is abuzz with an image of the top 6 nutrients women need- I edited it, to be the Top 6 Cruelty-free Nutrients.....Added some plant-based foods that (GASP) they'd left out, even though, in some case, the plant-based ones actually had higher content of said nutrient *SIGH*

THERE!! Much better :p

I finally started using the dehydrator!!

See, I got a Nesco dehydrator on cheapcheap clearance a couple of years ago, but was too overwhelmed/nervous to use it until recently...I thought I loved and was addicted to Kale Chips before, but the store's OVERPRICED ones have got NOTHING on homemade ones :p

I used this recipe. Beyond tasty!!

So this week I actually used my down time between calls at work to make a meal plan and grocery list...using cookbooks and recipes I printed from the 'Net. I copied/printed 2 such recipes for Eggplant "Bacon" that were similar to each other and kinda melded what sounded good to me into my own recipe.... I actually had to make way more marinade than either recipe called for, so adjusting for more marinade. I'll post the results on a future date.

Eggplant Bacon

1 medium eggplant, sliced thin, lengthwise strips

marinade -

3 Tablespoons smoked paprika

3/8 cup apple cider vinegar (6 Tbs)

3/8 cup sunflower oil (6 Tbs)

2 tsp garlic powder

3/4 tsp salt

3/4 tsp black pepper

3/8 cup Bragg's Aminos

1/4 cup agave

1 tsp Liquid Smoke

1 tsp Browning Liquid

5 Tbs water, to thin it out a little

Make marinade in a rectangular glass dish. Dip slices of eggplant in the marinade, coating both sides evenly. Put in dehydrator at 115 degrees, until crispy. The one recipe I had suggested that 12 hours does the trick.

I apologize for how long it's been, but dh had yet another back surgery and life's been overwhelming, busy, etc. I had a long stretch of depression and no one to lean on, friends were all too busy with their lives. And I went back to work, since dh is on temporary disability. So my time is limited, even now. I feel a little better than I did just a month ago and have been reading books to work on myself and my relationships. I have started cooking and baking more often.

The slant of this blog may change a little....I am trying to eat a low gluten vegan diet....supposedly it's been found helpful for other women who have PCOS. I want to be healthy, inside and out and I am working on it day by day.

Sorry It's Been So Long....

My camera is just about dead and the toddler is going through a phase where she refuses to sleep. I may start posting again....either sans photos or with cellphone pics :)

A recipe, just for looking :)

Yellow Apple Vegan Dump Cake

1 can of apple pie filling
1 box yellow cake mix (Duncan Hines is vegan)
8 Tbsp Earth Balance

In an 8x8 baking dish, dump pie filling and spread evenly. Top with yellow cake mix...cube up the Earth Balance and distribute evenly over cake mix...Bake at 350 for 40 minutes :)