Happy Winter!

 

picture by my friend, Pete Glastonbury.

Happy Winter Solstice to all my friends!

Happy Winter Solstice!

Merry Yule!

Happy Holidays!

And all my thanks going out to those who read my blog for sticking with me this year. It's been a rough one, but I am in high hopes that 2015 will be an improvement!

A few thoughts:

Today marked the Winter Solstice for the Northern Hemisphere; the Summer Solstice for our friends in the Southern Hemisphere!
A great explanation for the event is found here at earthsky.org

For Homeschoolers, a great resource for free ebooks was shared today by iheartintelligence.com .
It includes 100 legal sites to download literature. An invaluable resource. I hope you enjoy using it!


Lastly, I know that for many 2014 has been a hard year. Keep your thoughts positive. Accept only the best for yourself. Have hope- for it is the key to finding happiness. Surround yourself with love and love will find you.

Happy  Days, Peeps.  Thank you for sharing it with me. - Janey

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!!!!!!!!!!

Happy Thanksgiving to you all. 

Be safe in your travels. 

Be happy with your families. 

Brightest Blessings! - Janey

For the Pinterest Fans, Here's a favorite recipes roundup:

Follow Janey Mckeever's board Favorite Recipes on Pinterest.

Easy Clam Chowder

Easy Clam Chowder

1/2 c diced onion
1/2 c diced celery
dash salt and pepper
1 tsp original Mrs. Dash
1 tbsp butter
2 cups vegetable broth
2 cups diced potatoes
1/2 c shredded carrots (I grated mine.)
2 cans diced clams (drain juice and use with vegetable broth)
1 cup mashed potatoes*
1 cup milk (or cream, or half and half)

 Over med heat. lightly saute the onions and celery until soft. Add vegetable broth and clam juice and bring to boil adding potatoes and carrots. Cook about 10 min. Add mashed potatoes, seasonings, and milk. Bring to boil and cook on med-low heat for about 10 minutes. Add clams in the last 5 minutes. Remove from heat, Thickens as it cools. Serve warm w/ crackers. Serves 4-6 easily.

* Many people I know use flour to thicken, I learned that other mashed fresh vegetables that are starchy will thicken just as well and you get the added vegetable nutrients and flavor. I had leftover homemade mashed potatoes from last night's roast and just used that. If you do not, you can fry 2 tbsp flour with the onions and butter in the beginning right before adding the broth. This will create a thick gravy to add to.  By using the mashed potatoes, however, you can serve this without problems of wheat flour (for those with sensitivity.)

DIY Cookie Butter

Simple to make, and soooo very good. It's sinful, and delicious!!

DIY Cookie Butter

1 c crushed cookies
1/2 c powdered sugar
1/4 c water
1/4 c olive oil

To make, crumble cookies into food processor and pulse until fine powder. Then add oil and water and process for a minute. Slowly add powdered sugar  and let process until thick and creamy.  Scoop into jar or bowl with a good lid. Use on toast, crackers, waffles, pancakes, or as frosting /glaze on cake, or whatever! Warm in the microwave for 30 seconds and drizzle as topping over ice cream.

Refrigerate. Lasts a week.

My advice is to use hard cookies, like chocolate chip or snicker doodles. Cream filled cookies tend to separate. The absolute best is to use homemade cookies, that way you are certain of no extra ingredients you don't want. The oil you use can also vary- I suggest coconut oil or olive oil.

However you put this together, it is definitely cheaper to make at home, (Total price for what I made was about $0.80) and quick to make too! 

Your kids will love the alternate, and you will love both the price and ease.

DIY Homemade Ensure

        Recently, I asked what might be needed to be researched. “Homemade DIY ______??????”

The answer I got back was: Homemade DIY Ensure. 

      Without question, I understood. (Instantly I had a childhood flashback of my Grandfather, who had cancer, and the bottles of Ensure stacked up in his kitchen.) 
     For many, it is necessary.  Ensure is the most recommended meal substitute on the market; but, sadly, also remains one of the most expensive. 
     The reasons for needing it are wide and varied. As I began to research the best recipes, I understood quickly the variations involved in needs for people. Some need complete meal replacement, others need added calories for weight gain, and some are trying to lose weight. I have decided to share several recipes; and ask that you -as the reader- to decide which might be best for your circumstance. 
      My focus remained on how to make it at home, with the minimal cost and most nutritional value.  Here are the top 5 recipes I found. The  #4. Protein Shake is my personal favorite. I will be making more of this one for us in the future! 

___

1. Homemade DIY Ensure

In empty gallon container pour in:

3 cans sweetened condensed milk*,

2 cups Ovaltine,

1 tbsp coconut oil or olive oil.

Shake/mix vigorously until completely incorporated.

To this, add whole milk until gallon container is filled.

Shake/mix vigorously again.

Serve 8 oz. Glass, three times a day and be sure to take 1 quality multivitamin a day. lasts 3 days in refrigerator.

*You can also DIY Homemade Sweetened condensed milk. See Homemade Sweetened Condensed Milk

____

2. Homemade DIY Ensure

Combine:
3 cups whole milk
1 package Vanilla instant pudding powder (4 serving size)
½ c instant dried powdered non-fat milk
2 packages or 2/3 c Nestle Carnation Instant Breakfast (any flavor)

Blend on low speed in blender for a minute. Serve 8oz glass. 

Cover remainder and refrigerate for up to 3 days. 

__

3. DIY Homemade Ensure

½ c Yogurt
½ c Milk
1 c frozen or fresh fruit
1 tbsp Bee Pollen
1 tsp flax seed
1 tbsp whey protein
Blend. May add carob chips

__

4. DIY Homemade Protein Shake.

8oz. Whole milk (or 4 oz yogurt+4 oz milk) 8-10g protein

½ c cottage cheese (or 2 raw eggs; or 2 tbsp peanut butter) 8-14g protein

1 c chopped/diced fruit (apple, banana, berries, etc.- you can also use 1 c pumpkin puree) 2g protein

3 tbsp oatmeal (or 1 tbsp bran powder) 15 g protein

1 tbsp coconut oil or olive oil

In blender pulse oatmeal first until powdery, then add remaining ingredients. Blend on low for 1 minute. Drink this one right away when nutritional content is best. This can provide 30-50g of protein.

I suggest 1 quality multivitamin a day in addition to this.

 (It is recommended that the average active adult gets between 50- 175g of protein /day. Ratios are dependent upon body weight and activity levels)

*Additional note: When I made this for my sons- they asked for additional honey- 1 tbsp. Final taste test: A+ Kid approved.

__

5. DIY Homemade Ensure w/ Protein powder 

(I avoided this one until last because I was trying to find options that do not include expensive protein and vitamin powders- I suggest if you do buy them save money and buy in bulk.)
¼ can sweetened condensed milk
1 tsp vanilla
½ c strawberries
½ c milk
3 Tbsp protein powder
3 tbsp wheat germ
½ tsp. Omega 3 oil
Vitamin powder (optional)
Mix well in blender & drink.

__

These are the basic recipes I have found. You can substitute a variety of things to improve or change flavors- do not be afraid to try different fruits. Use ice cream or yogurt to thicken. If you are allergic to milk- I suggest coconut milk, or rice milk. (I would have said soy a few years ago- but the fear of GMO's bugs me here.) If regular sugar bothers you, I have included a link to making homemade sweetened condensed milk with several different sugar options.

All in all, I hope this helps; and gives those of you who might need this supplemental drink a few more options that are easier on the budget!

Disclaimer: This in no way is intended to endorse, slander, or harm the name Ensure. I intend only to provide alternate suggestions for people who may need it. ***This does not replace the advice of your doctor. Do your research, ask a dietitian or nutritionist, and make your choices carefully.

the following Affilate links in no way raise your final cost, but they do help to support the efforts and endeavors of this blog and my family. :)Thank you

Easy Carrot Salad

Easy Carrot Salad

2 cups shredded carrots,
1 cup raisins,
2 tbsp lemon juice,
1 diced apple,
2 tbsp. honey,
1 heaping tbsp. mayonnaise (Homemade preferred).

Grate, dice, and mix! Stir together and chill for 1 hour before serving.

Excellent for picnics, kid approved, great way to teach kids how to make recipes. 

Bring a smile- enjoy. 

Proof we can have fun with fruits and vegies! 

Recipe also noted in Carrots!

Baked Oatmeal and Raisin Yummies

       I have made oatmeal and raisin cookies many, many times over the years. But I had not tried baked oatmeal until recently. How silly it sounds now;  this delicious, warm and wonderful comfort food is a must have for family night or on a rainy day! How did I ever miss this one when the boys were small!?! It simply was not a staple in the house I grew up in, and not a recipe I adopted until recently. Oh!!!!!!!!!! How I wish I had tried this recipe sooner! I hope you love it as much as I do!

Baked Oatmeal and Raisin Yummies. 

Serve warm with extra milk.

Preheat oven to 350 F and prep a 9x9 baking pan.
In large bowl combine:
3cups quick oats
1 cup brown sugar
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp real salt
1 tsp fresh ground cinnamon
Sift until mixed together well.

in another bowl whisk together:
1 egg
1/2 c applesauce
1/2 c coconut oil (or real butter)
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 c milk

Stir this liquid in with the dry oatmeal mixture and combine well. Lastly, add in 1/2 c raisins and give one final stir. (You can also add 1/2 c of any fruit or nuts mixture you'd like- chopped apple bits is especially good! a small handful of chopped walnuts perhaps?? or both?)

Spoon mixture into 9x9 baking pan and bake for 40-45 minutes. Serve warm, with milk for fantastic breakfast, or anytime energy treat.  My kids love it on a rainy day!!!! Some people drench it in milk in the bowl, others serve milk on the side, my son tries to get a scoop of vanilla ice cream with it. Me? I love it plain. To each his own, yes?

You may want to try:



Disclaimer: the following Affilate links in no way raise your final cost, but they do help to support the efforts and endeavors of this blog and my family. :)Thank you