Did you know there's an easy way to extend the life of onions, garlic, and shallots? In fact, this simple trick can extend the shelf life for up to 3 months! What you'll need: Onions Garlic Shallots brown paper lunch bags hole punch marker paper clips How To: Fold flattened paper bag lengthwise and punch holes along one long edge, approximately 1 inch apart, punching through multiple layers at one time. Flip the bag over and punch along opposite side. Open the bag, insert onions, garlic, or shallots; fill the bag up to half full. Fold top of bag over 2-03 times, label the top with a marker, and use a paper clip to hold the top in place. Store filled bags in a cool, dark place, so that air can circulate between the bags. Remember: No plastic bags. That only accelerates sprouting and spoilage because of the lack of air circulation. Another reminder: No Potatoes nearby. Potatoes and onions should not be stored together. They give off gases that will accelerate spoilage of each other.
Yum! The taste of fresh dressing straight from your kitchen. Give these recipes a try and you'll never go back to the grocery store brands again! Plus...you'll be learning to rotate some of your food storage items more frequently, so it's really a win-win!
Caesar Salad Dressing
1 1/2 tsp. grated lemon peel
2 T. grated Parmesan cheese
1/8 tsp. instant minced garlic
1 tsp. oregano
1/2 tsp. pepper
Makes 3 Tbsp. salad dressing mix, enough for 3/4 cup. of Caesar salad dressing. Use within 2-4 months. For dressing combine mix, 1/2 cup vegetable or olive oil, and 1/4 cup lemon juice in a glass jar. Shake, chill. Yield: 3/4 cup.
Sassy French Dressing
1/4 cup sugar
1 1/2 tsp. paprika
1 tsp. dry mustard
1 1/2 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. onion powder
Variation: Sweet Italian Dressing: Increase sugar to 1/2 cup. Substitute 1 T. celery seed for paprika. Makes about 5 T. mix. Use within 6 months. For dressing, combine dressing mix, 3/4 cup vegetable or olive oil and 1/4 cup vinegar. Shake well, chill. Yield: 1 1/4 cups.
Super Salad Dressing Mix (dry)
2 c. grated Parmesan cheese
2 tsp. salt
1/2 cup sesame seeds
1/2 tsp. garlic salt
1 T. instant minced onion
2 T. parsley flakes
1/2 tsp. dried dill seed
2 T. poppy seeds
3 T. celery seed
2 tsp. paprika
1/2 tsp. fresh ground pepper
Use within 3-4 months. Yield: 3 Cups.
Super Salad Seasoning Mix can be used as a topping over tossed green salads, baked potatoes, and buttered French bread before toasting. It can also be used as a garnish for potato salads, macaroni or egg salads. Or combine 1 cup sour cream with 2 T. seasoning mix for a sour cream dip.
Here's a quick tip to help you mince your fresh herbs really easily. Just bundle them together and they won't get away!
Another way to chop your herbs is to place them in a short glass. Using scissors, start chopping away, until the herbs are minced down to the proper size.
Rolling your herbs into bundles like I show in the video is also helpful when adding herbs to green salads. Simply tuck the herbs inside your large lettuce leaves, roll up the leaves, and start chopping.
Pulse all ingredients except blueberries in a blender until smooth. Pour batter onto a lightly oiled griddle, dropping several blueberries into each pancake. Bake each side until golden brown, and enjoy! We're almost out of our vanilla powder! So stock up before it's gone. See how convenient it is to have it on hand in your pantry!
Who doesn't love smooth and radiant skin? Try this "simply smart" recipe today...
Facial Brightening Mask
2 Tbsp. sour cream 2 Tbsp. honey 1 Tbsp. apple cider vinegar Combine 2 Tbsp sour cream with 2 Tbsp honey and 1 Tbsp apple cider vinegar or lemon juice. Apply to your cleansed face and leave on for 20 minutes. Rinse with tepid water followed by a cool (not cold) rinse. This mask can be done twice a week. This mask heals, exfoliates, brightens and moisturizes skin.It refines pores, fades acne marks and prevents blemishes from coming up.
More reasons to love Apple Cider Vinegar... Apple cider vinegar is a helpful health tonic that has shown promise in helping diabetes, cancer, heart health, high cholesterol, and weight loss, and for years people have used apple cider vinegar as a folk remedy to lower fever and aid indigestion. Reach for apple cider vinegar to cure everything from the hiccups to common cold symptoms. And I mean the organic, unfiltered kind! (I recommend Braggs).
Below are 8 reasons to love it...
1. Lowers Glucose
Apple cider vinegar contains acetic acid, which can slow down starch digestion, consequently lowering glucose levels in the bloodstream.
2. Reduces Bad Cholesterol
The presence of pectin in apple cider vinegar helps reduce bad cholesterol in the body.
3. Contains Minerals
Potassium,magnesium, and other minerals are present in apple cider vinegar. Potassium controls the water balance in the body and maintains a healthy heart rhythm. Magnesium is a catalyst in enzyme activity, helping digestion and assisting in the uptake of calcium to form healthy bones.
4. Helps Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is cause by acid crystal buildup in the body, and apple cider vinegar can disperse these buildups by balancing the body's pH.
5. Antioxidant Activity
Apple cider vinegar contains beta-carotene, which according to the Mayo Clinic possesses antioxidant properties that counteract damage caused by free radicals and that boost your immune system.
6. Anti-Inflammatory
The anti-inflammatory properties of apple cider vinegar work to soothe the effects of sunburned skin when added to a bath. It can also help internal inflammation within the gastrointestinal tract when added to salads or taken diluted with water.
7. Weight Loss Aid
By helping balance blood sugar levels, apple cider vinegar also assists in weight loss, since insulin will not direct sugar to be stored as fat.
8. Skin Toner
Apple cider vinegar is astringent, which helps with toning the skin, especially on the face and neck. Avoid getting it in the eyes as it may cause irritation.
Turn an ordinary Grilled Cheese sandwich into extraordinary just by adding in a little sweet potato. The creaminess of the sweet potato and the oozy cheese is simply a great comfort combination. Give it a try, and add a little more nutrition to an everyday favorite! Just another great reason I love my Digital Pressure Cooker... Steaming your veggies for purees takes just a few minutes, but they're great to add to all kinds of everyday foods....try these:
Who knew that Couscous could taste so good? Wow! This recipe is delicious. See how adding a little carrot puree and Parmesan cheese can turn this little grain into a savory side dish. It's colorful, it's inviting, and best of all, it's good for you! Savory Carrot Couscous 1 Tbsp. butter 2 Tbsp. parmesan cheese 1/2 cup carrot purree 1 1/4 cup chicken broth 2/3 cup couscous Bring chicken broth to a boil. Then add the butter, parmesan cheese and carrot puree. Stir until all ingredients are mixed in. Turn off the heat, and cover the pot with a lid. Allow to sit 5 minutes, then fluff. Garnish with fresh chopped parsley if desired. Enjoy!
For more delicious recipes, check out my best selling book "Celebrate Dinner!"
Enjoy 90 of my favorite dinner recipes, all using food storage items and fresh foods. Guess what? There's not a single casserole recipe in the book--Yipee!
