Master Cleanse

It may seem somewhat Ironic that I am posting on my food blog about not eating.  But really, Cleansing is a great way to keep your body looking and feeling great.

My New Years resolution this year was to do another Master Cleanse.  It has been 6 years and 2 babies in the making, but I was finally able to cleanse this year.

I lasted a whopping 14 days, and I can say that cooking for a family was what got me through it.  The first cleanse I did (6 Years ago) did not require my cooking prowess.  My husband did his own cooking.  I lasted the requisite 10 days, but by the end of 7 I was bored with not thinking, working with, eating food.

Do we really realize the amount of time we spend focused on food?  As I sit here great smells of chicken curry are wafting from our kitchen where my father-in-law is hard at work.  Supper will be great tonight.

We can't get away from it.  I believe this was the first thing that I noticed on my first cleanse....Food is everywhere!  On tv, on the radio, in magazines, as you walk down the street.  We talk about what we are going to buy at the store, how much it was, what we are going to make with it, we critique it as we are eating, we reminisce about it after we've finished the meal.  We Buy it, we cook it, we clean up after it, we prepare for our next encounter with food.

Finally, we Digest it.  which expends 60 - 75% of the energy we burn on a daily basis

So when we remove all of those things from our lives what we are left with is more than double the energy and nothing to do with it!

Mom's Famous Pancakes

Pancakes have always been our eldest child's favorite breakfast choice since he was able to eat solid food.  When we got to India however finding Maple Syrup was like searching for a needle in a haystack.  There was no having Pancakes without it...it was that simple.  Up until a few months ago there was none to be found...and then BINGO! We found a source, and the much loved pancake was added back into the breakfast menu...or should I say, it became the breakfast menu because he will now settle for nothing else.

I have been working with a certain Pancake recipe.  Tweaking it over the past few years.  Here is the current recipe with variation.  It is a very wholesome recipe that you should feel happy to feed the kids.

1 large egg
2/3 cup plain yogourt
1/3 cup milk

Combine these ingredients with a whisk.

1 cup whole wheat flour
1 tsp Baking soda
1tsp Baking Powder

Whisk together until smooth.

Depending on the consistency of the yogourt that you are using you can sometimes end up with a very thick batter with the above wet ingredient list.  In this case add extra milk as necessary to make it the right consistency.  It needs to be smooth but not too runny.

When in Canada I usually substitute 1/4 cup of the flour for bran or wheatgerm or oat flour or another grain.

You can also add a mashed banana if your kids like a little sweetness in their pancakes, or if you want to make it even more healthy for them.

I usually fry them in Butter with a little olive oil to keep the butter from burning.  I make 2 to a pan which is the perfect 'Kid' size pancake.  Maple syrup for your topping and you have got yourself a great nutritious breakfast that your kids will love.

Until next time!
Sherri

Chicken Terragon Casserole

Whenever I roast a chicken, invariably there are leftovers that will end up going to waste.  Here is a great  chicken noodle casserole recipe that the kids LOVE.

3 cups bowtie pasta

Boil water and add Pasta.  Cook until al dente and drain, then place in casserole dish

1 Tbsp Butter
2 Cups Chopped fresh mushrooms

1 carrot chopped however you like

2 stalks Celery Chopped

3 spring onions chopped

1.5 cups chicken or Veg Broth

1 tsp Minced Garlic

1 bay leaf

In a Wok melt butter on high heat and add mushrooms.  Cook until the liquid evaporates.
Add Carrot and Celery and stirfry for another 3 minutes.  Add onion, Garlic, Bay leaf.  Stirfry for another minute then add the broth cover and simmer until carrots and celery are tender.

Remove from heat, Strain and set aside 1 cup of broth.  Discard any remaining liquid or add more water if less than 1 cup remains. Put veggies in a casserole dish and cover

1/3 cup Flour

2 tbsp Cornstarch

1 cup Milk
1 Cup Reserved broth
1 tsp Terragon
1 tsp Salt
1/3 cup White wine
1 cup Grated Cheddar Cheese

Wisk together four and cornstarch to combine in the wok.  Slowly add milk whisking briskly to avoid any lumps.  Once combined add stock, Terragon and Salt.  Place over medium heat wicking constantly until the sauce thickens.  Add wine and continue to whisk until thick.  Remove from heat.  Add cheese and combine.

1.5 Cup Cooked chopped chicken

Combine chicken, veggies, Noodles and sauce in casserole dish.

1 Tbsp butter
1/3 cup bread crumbs

In a small pan melt butter and add bread crumbs,  combine until evenly coated and sprinkle over casserole. Bake at 375 for 30 - 45 minutes or until it is bubbling.

Keep those Kids Happy!
Sherri 

My new favorite Vanilla Icing recipe

Buttercream Icing has been the staple cake covering in our household since I was a child.  Now that I have kids of my own, and I have to say I probably make more cakes and cupcakes than my mom ever did, I have been looking for an Icing that isn't as sweet.  And with a little modification, as usual, we have a new favorite.

Let me also say that though my mom didn't bake a lot, she has superb cake decorating skills.  Our birthday cakes were second to none, and you would be hard pressed to find a shop today that output her calibre creations without shelling out some serious Dough.  I think this is where I have formed my love for the almighty cake.  Like her my favorite flavoring is of course Chocolate.

So far I've only attempted this as a strictly Vanilla Icing, but I will post about my experience with 'Chocolatizing' it soon and what I think are the requirements to get it there.

I know when it comes to baking 'Lard' or 'crisco' tend to be major players.  Wherever I can I replace this tasteless fat/filler.  Butter is always better in my books and is a no brainer switchout when I see crisco in a recipe.  You will probably never see a recipe on this blog that includes the dreaded Crisco.

Here is the ingredient list:

1 cup milk
1/3 cup flour
1.5 tsp vanilla

1 cup butter (room temp)
1 cup granulated white sugar

In a small saucepan put the flour.  slowly add the cold milk whisking constantly to ensure that you don't get any lumps.  Once you have achieved the non lumpy combo add the Vanilla and place on the stove over medium low heat.  Whisk or stir constantly until the mixture starts to thicken. Once it starts it will thicken really fast.  Once it starts to coat your spoon remove from heat. Allow to cool for 10 to 15 minutes.

Cream together butter and sugar using beaters for about 5 minutes.  Once you have cooled the milk mixture  as directed, add to the butter/sugar and beat for another few minutes.  The sugar should totally dissolve and you will have a smooth creamy not too sweet frosting for your next great cake.

Happy Baking
Sherri