Homemade Yogurt

I just made homemade yogurt for 1/3 of the cost, without the fillers and thickening junk they add in the store bought stuff and to top it all off, it was probably the easiest thing I've ever done in my life.

I googled a recipe, check it out: Here

I probably spent 5 minutes (maybe a little more because it was my first time) total actually touching the concoction. 

It was sooooooo easy!!!

Now to flavor it: I've tried strawberry jam, stevia powder, maple syrup and honey.

It is delish.

Step one was cook the milk to 180 degrees so it kills any bacteria- you want a clean slate (takes about 3-4 hours)
Then after it gets to that point, let it come back down to 110 degrees (took about 3 hours)- then add the 2 TBS of plain yogurt start. Let it sit overnight in the crock in the oven (turned off) to keep it warm 12 hours.

Strain it- I just used a dish towel and a big bowl.

It was thick! But runny- so I did want to separate some of the whey.

There's the whey! 

There was a lot of whey (and that goop at the bottom is yogurt that fell in because I was clumsy and dropped some as I was trying to get the thickened yogurt in a container. I don't know much about it or how to use it so I tossed it but maybe there is something people do with it? I'll look it up next time.

2 jars!!! I estimate that would have made at least 2- probably 3 bigger containers of yogurt (if I hadn't dropped some in the whey) from the store.

My next adventure I would love to make kefir.....if I can make yogurt, I bet I could make kefir!!! 

Can you believe how easy it can be to make something like yogurt? 

I love that it's that good bacteria for our guts and and free from nasty ingredients and fillers!!! And did I say it was cheap? Like less than a dollar per container? So awesome. 

It's weird too the kind beautiful happiness you get from knowing you made something like this. 

Like I feel like I can do ANYTHING!!! 

Samosas- More Nepali Cooking- Updated with Pictures!

Update: I made these again and made a huge batch so I could freeze some wraps and filling for another day. And I took some pictures! I still don't know exact measurements because I was doing this by myself- just looking at how much seasoning to put in. 

Yummy.

Now I know why my belly is bigger! I can't believe I just figured it out. Hello! It's because of all the good food I am being introduced to. I am serious. You eat and you never know when you are full because your taste buds keep begging for more.

Well Sushila and I were in the kitchen cooking again- this is becoming a little bit of a tradition once a week we get together and just cook. It's usually because she lets me sample something she makes and then I have to make it and I start but then have no idea how to actually put it all together so I call her and explain what I am trying to do, ask if she is busy, then she comes over to help me. I lovvvve learning how to make her food.
It's funny how a meal can take 3 hours to prepare and she just brushes it off saying, "It's fun! So simple! And delicious!" This lady really likes to cook. I am starting to really like it too- three hours is still a little much for me but it's a good thing meals like this take so long or else I have a feeling you would get really fat really fast.
So we started at 4ish and ended were eating around 7. It's fun though if you are cooking with someone so maybe a good date night dinner to make together or with a friend- or a special occasion.

I have no idea what the measurements are but I'm just going to scribble some notes down so I can have this to refer to in the future.


Samosas

Filling:

5-7 cooked potatoes
10 oz thawed frozen peas
1 onion
6 cloves of minced garlic
1-2 tsp cumin/coriander mixed spices
1.5 tsp salt
1 tsp turmeric
cilantro





Fry onion and garlic- then add peas and spices with turmeric.
Add potatoes cut up small or mashed with hands (how Sushila does it) then add cilantro to mix

For the dough:

• 2 tsp or Tbsp gi (cooked unsalted butter- um have you ever tried this? It has the BEST flavor- it's like candy- you just cook butter until it browns and smells like caramel and pour out the top stuff to eat because you will end up with par of it looking burned but it sinks to the bottom and you just throw that out)
• flour (2ish cups?)

Keep covered so dough doesn't dry out

• water (enough to make dough soft and pliable- but not sticky...maybe around 1/2 cup? 1 cup? I have no idea).
• Salt to taste...maybe 1 tsp.

Mix gi and flour really well with salt- then add flour slowly mixing with hands and kneading after each addition in bowl.



Achar (dipping sauce):
3-5 tomatoes chopped roughly into 8ths or something somewhat smaller chunks
5ish cloves of garlic cut roughly small
salt (1 tsp?- I don't know the one I made last night needed more salt (says Sushila) and I think I only did 1/2 tsp)
 and cumin/coriander mix- 2 tsp? (again mine didn't have enough spices in it and I thought I put a good amount in....)
1/2 onion chopped roughly

Cook onion and garlic- then add tomatoes and fry for about 10 minutes. Add spices and salt.
Put mixture in blender and blend until smooth.

Put it all together:
Roll dough out into small circles. About the size of your fist.

1)

I add water to my fingers to make dough pliable

2)

Smash in hand and swipe flour on front and back while flattening

4)

Cut down the center with sharp knife

3)

Roll out to about 8 inches diameter

Wet finger with water and put on straight edge.

Fold dough over and press together to make a cone.

Hold cone upright

Put about a tablespoon or a little more leaving space at the top to close shell.

Wet finger and go along top edge. Take middle of front of cone and pinch and press onto the back where the seam is. Then press dough together on the top making sure it is sealed tightly for cooking process.

Cook:
Submerge in hot oil and cook maybe 3 minutes on each side.

Dip into achar and mwah!!! So yummy!!!!

Making MoMo's from Nepal

Have I told you about our Nepali friends? 

Ramsy was here for 2 years doing school and finally got a scholarship so he could afford to bring his wife and son out here while he finishes his doctorates.  They are so excited to see the snow.

Sushila- I finally remember her name because Jay finally said he remembers using "sushi"...oh...so easy now. She is just barely learning English.

Srijan is their little boy and he is 10. He knows English really well because of school.

Sushila has been coming over for the last month and practicing English with me. I am surprised at how well I know her now with so little communication but I feel I really do know her and her heart and she is the most wonderful human being.

So one day she surpises me with this dish called "mo mo's" because I had asked her about her food from Nepal and what it tastes like.

Okay this is the BEST dish in the entire world. 

 I JUST HAD to know how a human being could make something so divine.  

She told me in broken English that she could teach me if I come over to her home. She warned me it takes a long time to make....No problem- it will be worth it of course! I must know.

We started at 2 o'clock 

chopping, 

chopping, 

chopping 

and making the dough and tomato achar (the dipping sauce that's like a soup) from scratch. Mixing and seasoning and then finally cooking (steaming). 

We were finally eating around 6:15 and I took the kid home around 7pm to go to sleep while she kept cooking. 

She makes everything from scratch and the flavor is so....is there even a word? 

So....MWAH! 

Yes, I cannot describe it, it just is incredible and I would eat mo mo's everyday. I think when you eat them your body doesn't tell you when you are full because your taste buds send a message that they will shoot the "full receptors" in the belly if they dare interrupt such perfect dancing in the mouth. It is a party for the taste buds and really I don't know when I am full because they just are so darn good. 

So Sushila doesn't follow a recipe, she just knows how to make them so I took notes and I will write it down once I try it at least once to see if I got it right. 

We had some fun through the hard work and I enjoy these people so much. I will tell you all about them. They are so humble and good and full of love and have nothing yet everything to give. They are so happy.  I wish you could meet them, I know you would be better for it.

Srijan told Grant to say, "Cheese!" Good one huh? Except Jay just said this looks like a missing child photo...I don't know if I like it as much now...

Chopping on the floor. They don't have a table or chairs.

I had to convince her that her smile was great with her braces- so finally! So beautiful! Isn't her smile so full of love? You can just see it.

He calls her "mama" which I think just means he trusts her to take care of him. I know he can't say Sushila so we now call her "La la". 

Srijan is 10 and the happiest, cutest boy. We've adopted him as Grant's big brother.

Grant wouldn't smile for me, even when I said "Say cheese!" nope. nothing.

Last attempt to get a smile. Oh well.

Sweet Potato Fry Helper

I have a little helper in the kitchen. I can work if I give him something he can do. 

He was very good at putting the sweet potato fries in the bag. 

One by one, so dedicated.

I think he even added some of his own special ingredients. 

Heavenly Halibut...And Our Embarrassing Dinner Party

Halibut-
I had never tried it before, I think I'd heard about it but randomly Jay comes home one day with a couple frozen halibut fish from this guy at school who goes every summer and catches them in Alaska.


Well, I searched the web and found this recipe:
http://allrecipes.com/recipe/heavenly-halibut/

I know, I know, not exactly the "healthiest" sauce recipe but oh boy it fit the name. It was heavenly. 
Jay and I raved about it and made it again the next night because it was soooo dang good.

Jay told the guy, Richard, about our recipe and how amazing it was and how awesome the fish was and turns out Richard just had some more halibut just sitting in his freezer. So Jay comes home with a little cooler filled with fish! We were ecstatic to say the least.

Jay, then invited Richard over for dinner so we could make him this heavenly halibut. Seemed like a nice thing to do. That is until I served him raw fish. Yes people. RAW halibut fish.

How did this happen you say?
I will tell you:

Let me just tell you something: I never worry about if my meals are going to turn out. I just know what to do and read the recipe and it's so easy for me to cook and get it right. My meals area always delicious (when I try) and I NEVER worry about it.

Well, I started worrying about it- I mean here's this guy who just gave us a bunch of food and what if I ruined it? What if we not only invited him over to share this meal but he saw it wasted?

Do you know how expensive halibut is?
I didn't know because I've never bought it before. It is PRIcey!

So I started worrying and ugh it was just aweful because who wants to be a stress case when someone comes over to eat?

Well, Richard comes over and we get the fish out and I start serving it to everyone and the first fish=perfect- slice right into MWAH! Flakey, just beautiful.

The second fish I try cutting and the spatula won't go through! What? This is in front of Richard too- he sees as I try to cut the flesh and it's completely RAW on the inside!

Awkward silence ensues.

I started a cold sweat and my mind started racing. Are we all going to die from eating this? Should I act like it's not a big deal? What if it IS a big deal?  It's not cooked. We are going to get sick and everyone's going to have to throw up and have diarrhea. Should I take it away and just not eat any of it? People eat sushi though- right- it's better than if it was raw hamburger right? The other fish is good- maybe it will be okay. This is sooooooooo embarrassing.

I just say lamely, "Don't eat the middle one- I guess something is wrong with it". Obviously everyone saw it was raw and that I must have cooked it not completely thawed out and they know it.

Well, that was last night so I am relieved to tell you we were and are okay. No sickness, no deaths but oh man was that a lesson for me.

I realized that I had taken the first 2 fish out of the freezer hours before the 3rd one- I had taken another one out later because I realized my sister was coming to dine with us and I wanted to make sure there was enough. Luckily, with the two that cooked there was enough and it was delicious but oh my that was atrocious  I am still so embarrassed but I'm glad I'm getting some practice with preparing meals for other people because I can't believe how much different it can be and I am much more appreciative of other people feeding me now! Ah! Can you believe that happened?!

Has anything like that ever happened to you?
I would love to hear your stories! It will make me feel better!!!

Thanks and much love!!!

Quinoa Avocado Tacos

This really came about by accident but it was sooooo good.

I was really in the mood for some tacos but I have been trying to avoid so much meat being used in my cooking....hmm....so I'm not using beef or chicken or any sort of meat but I want tacos...hmmm...

I know! I'll use quinoa because that is protein packed! (The only grain that is a complete protein actually.) Plus it has mucho vitamins and good fats. Quinoa is a super grain and I love it!

So here is what I came up with:

Quinoa Avocado Tacos

You will need:

1/2 cup dry quinoa
1 cup water
1/2 tablespoon taco seasoning (kind of strong so you could do less and probably still taste good)
1 avocado
1 tomato
1 lime
salsa
shredded cheese
tortillas
lettuce

Directions:

1. Soak quinoa 5 minutes (this step could be skipped because quinoa in US is usually pre-rinsed and soaked)
2. Rinse quinoa- always rinse (I use a cheese cloth-still searching for an easier rinsing method)
3. Boil water. Add quinoa to boiling water. Cover and reduce to simmer for 13 minutes.
4. Add taco seasoning to quinoa pot and simmer 2 more minutes or until water is absorbed.
5. Pile it on your tortilla with cut up avocado, tomatoes, shredded cheese, salsa, lettuce and be sure to squeeze some fresh lime juice over the top.

So good. I don't know if I will ever need beef tacos again.
The avocados and lime really make this scrumptious.
I wish I had cilantro- next time I'm going to throw some of that on there.

Next time I make it, I will take some mouth watering photos- I was just too busy eating this time!

Mango Berry Salad Recipe!

I've said it and I'll say it again- I am not a salad fan. In fact, most of the time I would use the word, "hate" to describe my relationship with them. My mom used to say, "Pretend to be a bunny and nibble on the leaf" and that helped when I was younger but I just don't find the same joy in it now for some odd reason.



 Being pregnant, I usually am good with scarfing down whatever food is in sight nowadays- but on this particular night I was feeling very apathetic towards food in general and was indecisive down to the core. Jay and I were on a double with Mandi (his sister) and her date and we all decided to meet at Zupas.  Everyone went ahead and ordered but when my turn came, I couldn't say I wanted anything. To make matters worse, there was no pressure to hurry and order because there was nobody in line behind me. So I sat and pondered, just looking at the menu glaring down at me, pushing me to make a decision. I just couldn't- I sat there and just couldn't decide what I wanted and I was getting embarrassed because the staff were all telling me to order different things. But then, Pete- one employee- finally said he would help me decide. He told me of this salad they had (SALAD?! Yuck!) that had fruit in it and that his wife loves it when she is pregnant. (Funny how that will stop me in my tracks of throwing up in my mind thinking about eating a salad-just hearing about another pregnant lady who said she liked it). So, somewhat reluctantly I agreed to try a sample of the dressing. Yum. It was surprisingly really tasty. Okay, I agreed to try an order of the salad, knowing that it could be a waste of money but then what if it was good, I dared hope.

This Zupas salad flipped my world upside down. Salad no longer=yuck.
It actually could be scrumptious. I finally made it the other day for my family and both Bethany and Ward (teens who hardly ever touch any sort of vegetable) actually tried it! They said, and I quote, "It tastes like a treat! Like candy!" So now I am convinced this is the best salad ever because you think you are eating a treat but really you are getting to eat green leafy stuff coated in heaven.

Are you convinced? Well, don't take my word for it- try it yourself.

I found a recipe online that I tweaked a bit so I'll give you my version of Zupas Mango Berry Salad:

I also made it bigger so this is a family-sized recipe:


For the Salad:
2 cups chopped fresh strawberries
1 small package fresh blueberries
1 fresh ripe mango chopped in small pieces
8-10 cups green leaves of some kind (I used a spring mix)

Dressing: (mix in blender)
1/4-1/2 cup plain greek yogurt (I used honey vanilla flavored)
2 Tablespoons Rice vinegar (the recipe called for rice wine vinegar but I couldn't find that)
*I think if I would have cut the rice vinegar down to 1 Tbsp it would have been even better or tried lemon juice instead....maybe next time that's what I'll do but it's still good with the vinegar.
1 large ripe mango, pitted and peeled.
1/2 tsp salt

Mix and if too tart add some honey!

Topping:
1/4 cup chopped almonds or walnuts caramelized in raw organic sugar and cinnamon. (The cinnamon flavor with the mango dressing is like dancing the samba in your mouth).

Mix the greenery and berries and mango with a little of the mango yogurt dressing (I actually had a little left-over dressing so just eye-ball to see how much you want/need for how much lettuce you have).

Such a perfect summer salad! We had it with fajitas and I'm sure would be good with whatever main course you choose-
or just have it for dessert!
Yum!!!

How to Get Them Veggies

Like eating veggies?
Me either. I hate it. They are so...I don't know....boring? How about gross, slimy, strong tasting, feels like you are eating someone's shoe- let's just put it this way: nobody would eat them if they weren't good for you.

Well, on my quest to be in better shape, healthier and happier I knew I had to eat more of these alien looking foods so I went on an all-veggie cleanse last year (a couple months before I got pregnant so if you are trying to avoid that maybe these drinks aren't for you *wink). It all started when I began researching nutrition and reading all sorts of books and my parents found this movie called, "Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead" on Netflix- I would recommend watching it- it's amazing to see how vegetables can change someone's life. That just sounded really lame and boring ha ha- but really it is cool, I promise.

Well, they have a program of eating fruits and veggies and drinking pure veggie/fruit juices and nothing else. I did it for 5 days and I actually have been wanting to write about it here on the blog- stay tuned. I have way too detailed notes and everything that you won't want to miss out on.

Today, I am going to share with you my 2 FAVORITE veggie juice recipes that I have tried so far and continue to supplement my normal meals with. Because I have been having such a hard time eating veggies, I figure this is the next best thing and I know I am getting a lot of nutrients from these drinks and they really taste good.

The first one we call the 'Green Drink". Sounds epic I know, but this is actually the first juice the program has you make to get you to think that all veggie drinks will taste alright. 

(You will need a juicer for these)

Green Drink: 

6 leaves of kale

4 stalks of celery

2 cups of spinach

2 apples (I like gala)

1/2'' ginger root (which I leave out most of the time but it is good with it)

My next favorite has beets in it but it is actually quite good and looks so pretty because of those beets:

Sunset Blend:

2 large red beets

1 sweet potato

2 med carrots

1 red bell pepper

2 golden delicious apples

1 orange (optional- but totally recommend)

I think beets have a tendency to taste like dirt but not in this recipe! Really this recipe is sooooo good and the orange I think really helps it have a sweeter taste. 

Each juice probably costs around $5 depending on the kind of deals you can find but it is so worth it and I just use them as a supplement to trying to eat healthy. I love knowing I am putting all these good things in my body and that my baby will benefit from it as well. 

Then I drink a smoothie almost every other day and this is what I usually put in it:

Protein Fruit Veggie Smoothie

1/2 c. greek yogurt

1/2 c. frozen blueberries

1/2 c. frozen strawberries

13 grams whey protein powder

1-2 c. spinach

1 c. almond milk

1 Tbsp. raw honey (if you want it sweeter)

This gives me protein, fruit and veggies! And you don't taste the spinach at all or see the green color because the blueberries make it dark. I love it- I should start experimenting with other ingredients but this one is just really good so I make it a LOT. I actually did make it with kale one time and it wasn't bad. 

I'm going to keep trying new recipes and I'll share the ones I love here. 

Bread Maker

Now that I am all domestic and married and stuff, I constantly surprise myself when I get excited over things like...well...my bread maker.

I got this gift for Christmas from my dear, sweet, amazing, wonderful, handsome, thrifty husband. (He was reading over my shoulder, just had to throw all that good stuff in).

I was so excited to just throw ingredients in there and let it do it's thing. Then, Nancy explained some things to me: like how the order is important and level everything off PERFECTLY and don't let the yeast touch the salt or the liquid, etc. More work than I expected, but fairly simple still.

Today I tried out my first recipe: Honey Banana Whole Wheat Bread. So I did perfect measurements for everything (except I added like a drop or two of almond extract- I am in love with this stuff) and turned on the machine to the appropriate settings.

I waited and waited. NOTHING was happening.

Then after FOREVER, it finally made it's first turn and I could finally burst out and say that IT WORKS!!!

And the bread was yummy, especially with a peanut butter sandwhich! Yum.

Cauliflower Pizza

I know, that's what I thought! Gross, right?

This recipe substitutes cauliflower instead of the dough you would normally use for the crust.
I was feeling a little adventurous(or crazy) and decided to try something a little out of the ordinary for dinner tonight. I wanted pizza but I wanted something healthy too.

So I went ahead and did a little variation to a recipe I found for cauliflower pizza and figured that if you wanted to cut your calories in half while still getting a little pizza flavor, you could try it too.

INGREDIENTS
2 cups cauliflower, grated
1 cup light mozzarella cheese
2 eggs
pepperoni (I added this to make my pizza more authentic)

basil
oregano
parsley
fennel
garlic powder to taste

green and red pepper
1/2 cup onion
1 8 oz can tomato sauce (seasoned with Italian seasoning)

DIRECTIONS:
While cauliflower is steaming start chopping. Chop pepper, onion and tomato. Set aside. Let cauliflower cool down, then grate it up.

*The whole time I was thinking, "This cauliflower smells! I hate cauliflower, man this is going to totally taste like cow dung".

Combine grated cauliflower with 3/4 cup mozzarella cheese and eggs in a large bowl. Spray a regular cookie sheet with cooking spray before spreading the dough evenly. Sprinkle dough with fennel, oregano, parsley and basil. Add garlic powder.

Bake at 450 degrees F for 12-15 minutes. Remove the dough from the oven and spread tomato sauce across dough. Then sprinkle chopped pepper, onion as well as the pepperoni and remaining cheese on top. Return pizza to oven . Broil and leave in until cheese has melted and the crust is crispy (3-5 minutes).

REVIEWS:
Mind you it is different than pizza. If Jay were more of a tomato fan I would have skipped the sauce(it makes the crust a little too moist on top) and just put fresh sliced tomatoes on top.

Jay thought it was fine, not amazing. 3 stars. He will eat it once in a while.

Aubrey was surprised because I expected it to be disgusting honestly. It ended up reminding me of a pizza flavored omelet a little bit. I was very happy with the end result in the fact that it satisfied my craving for pizza but was healthy!

I am excited to try different variations and maybe add a little more to the dough to make it stick together a little better. We will see where the chef inside me takes us...