Expenses - solutions

Anyone who follows the G/F allergen lifestyle will tell you it's expensive. It is indeed. I hear responses like, "oh but my family's health is worth it." That is a very true statement - however - you STILL have to have the money to pay bills and deal with emergencies so while your family is worth it there are always circumstances which anyone, even die-hard organic G/F folks wish for inexpensive options. I have a few...

Potatoes - very easy to grow, cheap to buy and fantastic for a main course or side - baked, fried, mashed - you name it

Rice - again very plentiful and there are many varieties and many options for cooking from rice balls to risotto to pilaf

Grits - So much fun, expands so nicely - great as a side dish and you can really dress this food up by even going the polenta route.

Quinoa - not as common but getting more and more accessible. You can make it sweet or savory. It comes in flakes too! Make cookies this way :)

Rice Chex - all Rice Chex are G/F (whew) make sure you check the label on most cereals in the breakfast section though before you get too trusting.

Corn tortillas - versatile! Fry them or steam them. Make cinnamon sugar crisps, enchiladas, soft tacos or even huevos rancheros (painfully simple)

Honey - but WATCH the label. Some honey factories add things to their honey!

Veggies - hit the produce section of the store and you'll find a lot of bargains. Heck you can even do farmers markets. It's a lot of fun to try new things this way. I am not a fan of many cooked veggies. So raw is typically the way I like most things. If you don't like something normally, try it raw and it might surprise you.

Eggs, milk and cheese - no two ways about it, most of this is spendy but if you are saving $ elsewhere you can afford a little splurge. Farmers markets can help here.
You can make your own yogurt and cottage cheese (if you want recipes let me know).

There is a local dairy close to where I live and though they are not considered "organic" because if the exceedingly strict regulations of the term "organic" they get their milk from about 6 different dairies and the cows are NOT treated with hormones and they don't feed antibiotics to cows unless they are sick and IF they do. the milk is dumped.

Meats/fish are expensive but I live in Alaska and I always have friends who fish and hunt. I can get stuff that way no problem. However, for the everyday consumer these things present a problem. Stores are now offering more "natural cuts" of meats now which are reported to be fed no hormones or antibiotics.

Make your own jams and jellies - very easy and lasts a year and a half! and you KNOW exactly what went into them. No guessing there

If you have any other ideas, please feel free to let me know!

Corned Beef

What's on the menu? Corned Beef. I am going to boil it, the traditional way but not with the veggies. I believe that boiled veggies are the reason why so many people dislike them. Texture is slimy, taste is gone or worse, they become bitter...so I coat my veggies in the oven. I rough chop onions and potatoes (with skins) put olive oil on them, sea salt, pepper, some of that lovely kirkland no-salt seasoning and depending on the thickness of the veggies I roast anywhere from 10 - 20 minutes in an 375 oven. Then, when the corned beef is done I put the roasted veggies in a casserole dish and place the beef on top of that to cool.
The BEST part about corned beef is making fresh corned beef hash the next day.

When the beef and veggies are cold from being in the oven the nigh before I chop them together and put handful sized portions in a hot, oiled skillet and fry...MMMM I add a little salt and pepper to this and when I serve, I serve with Franks Hot Sauce!

Problems with my account

Stand by there have been problems with my account for a while and I am sorry about that. I finally fixed the issues *whew* though now it is very late and my brain hurts so more tomorrow...

Another quick supper - modified "Frito Pie"

So you get home from a tiring day and there is not enough energy left in you to actually "cook" anything - here is my solution and I had all the ingredients so I didn't even have to shop

Obviously - I don't make this with Fritos though they are gluten and soy free they are just far too greasy for me

Modified Frito Pie

1 can Amy's Medium Chili (organic, gluten and soy free)
1 small can of organic tomato sauce
1/4 c plain goat milk yogurt
1 bag of Que Pasa Tortilla chips
1 lb of hamburger (or more - it's up to you)
Shredded organic cheese

Put the chili, tomato sauce and yogurt in a medium sauce pan an mix it - heat it to a simmer.
In a frying pan - brown the meat (add whatever seasonings you like, I use garlic powder, onion salt and cracked pepper)
In a small bowl put a handful of chips. Once the browning of the meat and the chili is warm it's ready...
Get a scoopful of chili put it on the chips then add the cooked seasoned ground beef then put a handful of cheese on the top - good to go!