Pagan Families

Quick Cookery

   Collated by Franconian Die Drud

   

Panforte bars ~ submitted by Catherine M. Makes 32 bars 18 oz roll refrigerated sugar cookie dough 10 oz can unsalted mixed nuts, coarsely chopped 1/2 cup butterscotch-flavored pieces or semisweet chocolate pieces 1/2 cup mixed dried fruit bits, coarsely chopped dried apricots, or golden raisins 1/2 cup shredded coconut Lightly grease a 9" baking pan In a large mixing bowl stir sugar cookie dough with a wooden spoon until soft. Add nuts, butterscotch or chocolate pieces, and dried fruit. Stir until well mixed. Pat dough evenly into the prepared pan. Sprinkle coconut over top, pressing in lightly Bake in a 350 F oven about 30 minutes or until a wooden toothpick inserted near center comes out clean. Cool completely in pan on a wire rack. Cut into bars. Store in a tightly covered container at room temperature for up to 3 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months Red Beans and Spanish Rice Serves 8 ~ submitted by Axiom. 2 cups dry red beans 5 cups water plus extra 4 cups 2 & 1/2 cups chopped onion 6 cloves garlic, minced 1 tbsp ground cumin 6 3/4 oz package Spanish rice mix Preheat oven to 375 F Rinse beans. In a large saucepan combine beans and 5 cups water and bring to boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes. Remove from heat and stand for 1 hour. Drain and rinse beans Lightly coat the inside of a 4 quart slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray. Add beans, 4 cups water, onion, garlic, and cumin. Cover and cook on high setting for 5 hours Prepare the rice mix according to package directions. Remove beans from cooker using a slotted spoon and serve over cooked rice Note: Fresh lime juice squeezed over the beans tastes very good Sugar Snap, Tomato and Feta Salad Makes 6 servings ~ submitted by Jane R. 6 tbsp olive oil 1 cup grape tomatoes, halved 1/2 lb sugar snap peas or snow peas 3/4 lb feta, sliced 1/4 inch thick 1/4 cup fresh mint leaves Cracked pepper and salt to taste 2 boneless, skinless double chicken breasts - diced 20 oz fat-free, reduced sodium chicken broth 1 sprig rosemary, leaves pulled off 1 1/2 cups water Heat oil in a skillet over moderately high heat and saute tomatoes and peas, stirring until peas are crisp tender, about 2 minutes. Spoon vegetables over feta on plates and sprinkle with mint and fresh-ground black pepper	Apple Pork Chops Makes 4 servings ~ submitted by Catherine M. 4 boneless pork loin chops, cut 3/4 inch thick Salt and ground black pepper 1 tbsp olive oil 2 large sweet potatoes, peeled and thinly sliced 21 oz canned apple pie filling 2 tsp curry powder 8 oz sugar snap peas Season pork with salt and pepper Brown pork in hot oil and add sweet potatoes. Cover and cook over medium heat for 15 minutes Mix pie filling and curry powder. Pour over pork and sweet potatoes. Cover and cook 15 minutes until potatoes are nearly tender. Add peas and cook, covered another eight minutes Roasted Butternut Squash Makes 8 servings ~ submitted by Callum Mostyn. 4 lb butternut squash, halved lengthwise, seeded and cut into 2 inch wedges 2 tbsp olive oil 4 tbsp unsalted butter 1 garlic clove, minced Preheat oven to 400 F. Toss squash in a large baking pan with oil and seasoning. Arrange squash cut side down and roast squash for 30 minutes, turning occasionally, until golden and tender. Melt butter in a small pan over medium heat. Stir in garlic and cook, stirring constantly, for 1 minute. Season to taste Remove squash and brush lightly with the butter, then roast an additional five minutes Asian Noodle Bowl Serves 4 ~ submitted by Jane R. 8 oz vermicelli noodles 2 cups vegetable broth 1/2 cup bottled peanut sauce 2 cups frozen Chinese-style stir-fry vegetables with seasonings 1/2 cup dry-roasted peanuts, chopped Cook the noodles, drain noodles but do not rinse. Set aside Combine vegetable broth and peanut sauce and boil. Stir in the vegetables and cooked noodles. Return to the boil and then simmerfor 3-5 minutes, until vegetables are brightly coloured and tender Serve topped with peanuts Denver Potato Casserole Serves 4 ~ submitted by Axiom. 4 medium boiling potatoes, thinly sliced 8 oz cooked ham, cubed 1 green bell pepper, chopped 1 small sweet yellow onion, chopped 1 cup shredded cheese Preheat oven to 350 F. Grease a 2-quart square baking dish Divide the ingredients in half. Layer them - potatoes, ham, pepper, onion, and cheese and then repeat with ham, pepper, and onion. Top with the potatoes Bake, covered, for 45 minutes. Uncover and bake another 15 minutes until potatoes are tender. Sprinkle with remaining cheese and bake 5 more minutes	Quick and Easy Baby Food Beef and Carrot ~ submitted by Iphegenia. 1/2 lb boneless beef chuck roast, cut in 1 inch chunks 4 oz carrot, cut in 1 inch chunks Preheat oven to 375 F Cover beef with water and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, covered, 1 & 1/2 hours. Add carrot and simmer an additional 30 minutes. Remove meat and carrot with a slotted spoon and reserve 1/2 cup of the liquid Puree half the beef with 2 tablespoons reserved broth, and repeat with the remaining meat and more broth. Add carrot and puree, adding more reserved broth if needed Lasts 24 hours, or freezes for 1 month Chicken and Sweet Potato ~ submitted by Iphegenia. 6 oz skinless, boneless chicken breast 12 oz sweet potato, peeled and cubed Cook chicken in enough boiling water to cover for 15 minutes. Removeand cool Cook the sweet potato, covered, in a small amount of boiling water until very tender. Drain sweet potatoes, reserving liquid, and thoroughly mash potatoes Process chicken with 2 tablespoons of liquid, and then add potato. Add liquid to create a paste Lasts 24 hours, or freezes for 1 month Teething Crackers ~ submitted by Iphegenia. 1 cup toasted wheat germ 1 cup whole wheat flour 1 tbsp Splenda 2/3 cup milk 1/4 cup olive oil Preheat oven to 300 F Mix the wheat germ, flour, and Splenda and then stir in the milk and oil Scoop out 1 tablespoon of dough, roll into a 2 1/2 inch log and place on ungreased cookie sheets. Flatten slightly. Repeat with the rest of the dough Bake about 45 minutes or until crisp and lightly browned. Let cool completely on wire racks Store at room temperature for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 3 months Raspberry-Pear ~ submitted by Iphegenia. 2 ripe pears, peeled, cored, and chopped 1/4 cup raspberries 3 tbsp water Bring all ingredients to a boil, reduced heat, cover and simmer until very tender. Cool Puree and strain Lasts 24 hours, or freezes for 1 month Applesauce ~ submitted by Iphegenia. 2 cooking apples, peeled, cored, and sliced 2/3 cup water Bring apples and water to the boil, reduce heat, cover and simmer until tender. Cool and puree Lasts 24 hours, or freezes for 1 month
Recommended Website: Nutrition Search - this site has a simple guide to minerals vital to your diet. The home page has an easy scroll down list of minerals with some simple tips to increase them in your diet. Clicking on the mineral itself opens up a page with recommended daily amounts, and the best foods to obtain the mineral from. Very user friendly, and also very busy parent friendly!

   

Spoil Me...Please ~ by Callum Mostyn Nourishment for the Face and Feet Last issue I provided the first in an ongoing collection of simple home beauty and relaxation remedies. I intend to keep offering different ones each month. Why? Well, part of the goal is to keep it simple. To provide easy recipes you can throw together using things from your fridge and cupboards. You won't always have the same things though, will you? Building up a collection of potions means you should be able to whip something up everytime. Plus variety is the spice of life - and that goes for your skin in some ways too. Different times of the year, the month, the week will call for different treatments. In winter you want to nourish and protect the skin from chapping and wind burn. In summer you need to moisturise and lessen the damage of the sun.     Cooling Nourishment Citrus contains wonderful Vitamin C and AHAs - perfect to help cells heal, while also cleansing and nourishing. You need: 1 tsp Plain full fat yoghurt - preferably a Greek or Middle Eastern variety 1/8 cup of fresh squeezed orange juice Mix the two together and then smooth over face and neck with gentle circular motions. Relax for 15 minutes (great way to start a bath), and then rinse off with warm water (if in the bath, the yoghurt and orange juice will work their wonders on your body).     Eye Care So often we forget our eyes - yet they work hard all day, and certainly show the signs of poor care, hard work, and lack of sleep. These are some simple treats you can use to pamper those windows to the soul: Grated potato Potato is incredible when it comes to the eyes. Grate and then refrigerate about 4 rablespoons. When you take that bath with your orange juice and yoghurt mask, plop the potato over your eyes and relax. Probably best to discard the potato into a bowl before you rinse your face however - not that wonderful in the bath! This will also help lighten up those dark circles, and alleviate itchy tired eyes. If potato doesn't appeal, try a thick slice of cucmber on each eye, or cotton pads soaked in chilled skim milk.     Wrinkle Treatment Although wrinkles are a natural part of life, and without them people tend to look rather odd, there are wrinkles we shouldn't have. Those ones from being up late with a screaming child. Frown lines from dealing with toddlers. Crows feet from squinting as you cheer on your little soccer hooligan. A way to combat these and help your skin retain (or regain) its youthful elasticity is with the ordinary banana: 1/4 ripe banana Cream the banana and then spread over the face and relax for 15 minutes. Rinse off with warm water and feel the glow.     Feet You don't need to be a parent chasing small children to understand about sore, sweaty, tired feet. We all have experienced that. This spray is a wonderful remedy. Mix up a batch, put it in the fridge and use whenever your feet start to cry out for some loving care. If you can get a foot massage with 2 drops of essential peppermint in a tablespoon of almond oil afterwards, all the better! 1 cup distilled water 1/4 tsp. Essential Oil of Peppermint 1/4 tsp. Tea Tree Oil Shake it up in a spray bottle. Some people like to add a 1/4 cup of vodka but I find it's not necessary if you chill the spray.