Posted at 10:26 am by NativeNM, on January 26, 2018
I was cleaning out the pantry recently when I came upon my spiral cutter. It was hidden from sight, forgotten really, until I started removing the clutter. I’ve rarely used it but decided to put it to good use since I had it out. There are so many recipes on pinterest that use spiral cut vegetables to choose from. I decided on a stir fry with peanut sauce. I was surprised at how simple and easy this meal is. You can prep everything ahead of time and stir fry in just a few minutes. In no time you have a great meal, loaded with veggies and flavors to satisfy even the most picky eaters. Joe even commented that the peanut sauce was so good he didn’t mind all the veggies, which he normally would pick over.
Posted at 10:10 am by NativeNM, on January 23, 2018
This may seem a bit odd, cooking up lotions and potions instead of food but I wanted to share what I “cooked up” for homemade gifts over the holidays. As I grow older maintaining a state of well being and striving to live healthier takes work. What I want most these days are things that will make my life easier and more comfortable. My siblings also experience the aches and pains of growing older. Taking a pill or buying expensive organic remedies won’t cure all but there are things to try and experiment with to see what works and what doesn’t. My sister Kat has inspired me with her knowledge and willingness to try new things. She has influenced my way of thinking about organic and natural ways to feel better. For instance she gave me a pink himalayan salt lamp that proponents claim to have a calming aura which can affect your mood and wellness, as well as boosting blood flow, improving sleep and increasing levels of serotonin in the brain. And last year she gave me a diffuser with essential oils that I keep nearby when I’m working on the computer. I have been exploring the benefits of essential oils and found many bloggers experimenting with different oils and organic materials to make lotions and body butters that can help with anything from dry skin to painful joints to sore muscles. These are my picks that I feel are the best of the best. These bloggers have shared an abundance of information on how they are made, the benefits of essential oils, what products to use and even how to clean up after making them. I will provide the links to the original posts so that you might find some ideas on how a homemade remedy might be beneficial to you. Also I’ve added links to the products I ordered and used specifically for these lotions and potions.
Posted at 10:02 am by NativeNM, on January 12, 2018
It’s hard to believe I’ve never posted a recipe for pasta carbonara before now. It has to be one of my top all time favorite pasta dishes. Often referred to as bacon and eggs pasta, it’s traditionally made with bacon or Pancetta, egg yolks whisked with pasta water and a hard cheese such as Parmesan or Romano. When I’m in a pinch for time it’s the perfect recipe because I always have bacon, eggs and cheese on hand. It’s also the perfect recipe to experiment with. I ‘ve found that a few additions to this basic recipe can take it to another level of goodness. My personal favorite is the addition of sun dried tomatoes. You can’t beat the taste of creamy pasta with bits of bacon and sun dried tomatoes. And if you like it spicy, add some red and black pepper. Today I seared shrimp and scallops with blackening seasoning to go on top of the pasta. Oh my gosh, it was so good!
Early last December Joe and I visited Panama City Beach, FL for a short getaway. We thought a visit to the Sunshine State before Christmas would be a great time to get away without all the crowds and have the beach to ourselves. We were prepared for cooler weather but determined to enjoy the sunshine and white sandy beaches. Little did we know Mother Nature had other ideas. It was unusually cold and rained the entire time we were there. We rented a little condo on the beach where you walk off your deck straight onto the beautiful white sand. It would have been paradise had the wind not been so blustery with cold rain coming off the ocean. Mostly we just looked out the window because it was just too cold to venture out. We expected mid 50’s and got 30 and 40 degree weather, brrrr. It wasn’t a total loss, we went out to the movies and found a couple museums to wander around. We decided we would splurge for a big breakfast, skip lunch and find some good seafood to eat for dinner. My favorite breakfast was from Andy’s Flour Power Cafe and Bakery. I had the french toast plate with thick slices of french toast topped with candied pecans and fresh strawberries. I loved every bite and vowed to recreate it one day. This is my version of the Flour Power French Toast!
An Inspired Cook 