FROM SCRATCH- NOT A BOX!

This chocolate cake is a family favorite...and even more important it's egg-less! Our little granddaughter has a egg allergy and so everything MUST be made without the little chicken delights.

But you don't have to give up wonderful old fashion chocolate cake with peanut butter frosting.

Even though I stress a low sugar/refined flour diet every now and then you just get the craving for something that takes us back to the way things were at Grandma's house.
There is nothing wrong with that as long as your stomach can handle it! However there are ways to make it closer to your natural/organic foods diet...I am actually going to try making this in with whole wheat pastry flour and stevia the next time...but the one baking right now in the over is just a simple cake to bring back the memories and my son asked for it last night! :)



Here is the basic recipe...I suggest you try "tweeking" it to your liking...

Sift together:
3 cups unbleached flour
2 cups sugar
6 tbls dry cocoa
2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt

Add and beat for 2 minutes with dry ingredents:
2/3 cup veg. oil
2 tbls vinegar
2 cups cold water

Pour into a greased 9x12 inch pan
Bake on 350 for 35-40 minutes

ENJOY!

TUESDAY TIPS

IT'S ALMOST HERE! Jan.1 that is...and time for you know what...the dreaded NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION! Yikes! Usually topping our list is weight loss or quit smoking. I don't smoke so I can't help you out with that one but I can give you a few tips on eating better and modifying your life style. Just a few simple things can get you on track so when Jan 1 comes around you will be a little ahead of the game!

#1--STOP! Drinking that soda or pop or whatever you call it....THAT STUFF IS SO BAD FOR YOU! Not only is is laden with stuff you can't pronounce it's loaded with calories. The "diet" drinks are full of artificial sweeteners that for some reason are approved by the FDA. In other words if you can't pronounce it don't drink it!

#2--The next time you get the urge for that doughnut or bagel with your coffee in the morning think again. Instead keep on hand whole grain and I mean GRAIN, just not whole wheat. Eat a piece of fruit first...before anything. If you must have your coffee sweetened please don't use the man made stuff.

#3--Try your best to rid your house of processed food. A good place to start is with chips,store bought cookies and crackers. Snack on carrots and cukes. Cucumbers actually have a "filling" quality to them and almost 0 calories. Try eating them plain but if you can't use sea salt not iodized salt!

#4--There is something to be said about the old saying "An apple a day"...I find eating one in the early evening does wonders :)

#5--SLIM DOWN your plate. I'm not sure when it happened but America seems to think we need a buffet on our dinner plate. If you actually use your salad plate or even a larger saucer and only fill that plate 1 time you will be amazed how much it will help!

These are just a few tips to get you going,if you plan to start a diet regiment you should go see your health care provider. The tips are my own opinion and not in any way suppose to be used as medical advice! Common sense is really our best healer!

Have a great evening!

FOODIE FRIDAY

The canning season is winding down and here in Warren Co Pa most foods were a bumper crop. Since moving here to our new home 2 yrs ago we still don't have a garden...that is next spring's project,after all Rome wasn't built in a day ya know!
I have had to...for the first time in 33 years resort to buying my produce. I found it very easy and economical with all the local farmers and farmer's markets. Everything was perfect and most were raised organically which is how we garden...always have always will (we were "hip" back in the day and didn't even know it!)

In the next few weeks I will show you some of the "Fruits of my labor" and fill you in on some handy canning tips and other Foodie Friday adventures.

This week I'm showing you what can be done with a few basic ingredients. I made this soup/chili with the thought of being able to use it in a variety of dishes.

I do my canning sort of unconventional...in other words I do it My Way!
I use a water canner even though some say you should use a pressure cooker,which I have but I simply don't like using it.

In my chili I used:
**I cooked this for 2 hrs in my large stockpot**

2 cups fresh corn right off the cob
5 large carrots
3 green peppers
2 hot peppers
3 large onions
1 cup red kidney beans
2 cups black beans
(the beans were dry and I simply followed the directions on the package. I used Wegmans' dried organic beans)
1/2 bunch fresh parsley chopped
about 3 tlbs chili powder...make sure it is fresh and high quality...it makes a difference!
salt and pepper and what ever other seasonings you like

If you want a thicker chili just add more tomato paste...it's up to you.

Make sure your mason jars are very clean and free of any chips around the top. Using a funnel fill jars with your soup. In the mean time boil your lids and rims in a pot,being very careful when you remove them...they make handy dandy magnets that will take them out. I don't have one but after 33 yrs of canning I kind of have my own system!
Fill jars only to just below the bottom ring,wipe them off and use a linen not terrycloth so you don't leave any fuzzies...when putting the lid and rims on make sure to tighten them as far as they will go.
Put in your canner and fill with water to well above the highest jar...you will be processing these for 3 hrs so keep a eye on it to make sure your water remains over the lids.
You start timing when it comes to a rolling boil...and yes it seems like a long time but hey good things come to those who wait!

When removing the jars be very,very careful...you are dealing with boiling water remember. Use your canning grippers and put the jars on a towel on the back of the cupboard...DO NOT TOUCH FOR AT LEAST 12 HRS! I cover my jars with another towel,but I don't think this is really a must...I just do it because my grandma told me to!

You will soon start to hear the great little pops of the lids sealing!

Now stand back and take a look at your efforts...it really is a satisfying feeling...and you know what is in it!!

ENJOY!

MONDAY MUSE

Every now and then you come across something,mostly by accident,and you wonder "What in the world did I do without it?" I have found such a treasure and at my local Goodwill store (yes I shop at Goodwill and I could go on and on about the awesome finds I have bought but not now) To my surprise when I checked out it was a whopping $.29! Yes you read that right $.29....sometimes I have guilt only paying this amount and now that I found how much I use this cookbook I really do!

Removing the 550 page hardbound treasure from the shelf I noticed it was from Rodale Press...done deal for I knew what to expect.Standing in line I started leafing through the mouthwatering content I was taken back by the information it held! It really is "The Healing Foods cookbook" The best part is that it breaks down the illness or disease into sections. A definition of the disease and what foods you should be eating, the basic food it's self and what it is useful for, recipes that span 14 chapters and a complete menu that target your specific needs.

After getting it home I decided on what recipe I would try and the results were fantastic. Every single one since have been fabulous!

The copyright is 1991 so you might have to do some searching but well worth it.

Happy Monday!