Fresh Apple and Fruit Dip

Fruit Dip: Water, Gelatin, Cane Sugar, Cream of Tartar, Unrefined Salt, Vanilla Extract, Coconut Oil, Cream, Milk

I started out making a marshmallow creme sauce and then just started adding things. I dissolved a large eating spoon's worth of gelatin in about 1/3 cup of water, then added about 1/2-3/4 cup of sugar and about 2-3 tsp of cream of tartar with a few gratings of finely ground salt.  I melted on the next to lowest setting on my stove while stirring periodically.  I continued to cook and stir for a few minutes after the sugar was totally dissolved.

Thinking I was done, I added a dash of vanilla.  It occurred to me to sneak some coconut oil in and added a small glop of coconut oil, about 2 TBS or so.  I turned the burner off and continued stirring to aid in the cooling.  Then I thought it could use some cream to help keep the coconut oil blended in.  When it was still warm, but I could hold my hand to the side of the pan (to not cook the natural enzymes in the dairy), I stirred in some fresh cream and milk....about 4-5 gravy ladles worth.  The color comes from the unbleached sugar and the ramekin is holding a little less than half the mix.

We were a tad impatient to taste it, so started eating when it was a thick sauce consistency.  It cooled to a more custard like consistency.

Whole Foods for the Holidays
Gluten Free Wednesdays
Dip Blog Hop

Olive Oil Giveaway

I like olive oil for a few things, but use coconut oil for just about everything else.  However, this description caught my eye:

"The olives are hand harvested late in the season producing an oil with a mild, buttery flavor rather than the typical sharp, grassy flavor of store bought olive oil. "

Who could pass up buttery flavored extra virgin olive oil?

Olive Oil Giveaway

P.S. I had to disable my ad blocker to see the link.

Pan Fried Potatoes

Pan Fried Potatoes

diced potatoes
coconut oil
small onion, sliced or diced (optional)
egg (optional)
maple syrup (optional)
unrefined salt to taste

Heat a generous amount of oil in a wide pan. Add onions, if using.  Sauté.  Dice up the potatoes to fill the pan single layer.  Stir to coat potatoes in oil.  Cover and cook for 7-8 minutes on "egg" temperature or medium low.  Uncover and "flip" potatoes with a spatula...or at least un-stick them from the bottom of the pan.  Cover and cook for another 7-8 minutes.  Add an egg or two, if desired,  to the pan and stir.  Turn off heat and cover.  Egg will be done by the time you call everyone to table.  Salt to taste.  The potatoes should be "melt in your mouth" soft on the inside and crispy on the outside.  If you used onions, you can drizzle with a little maple syrup too to balance the sugars. 

Blue Cherry Chip Ice Cream

Ingredients:

1 cup OG sweet cherries
1 cup wild blueberries
1/2 cup cane sugar
2 tsp cream of tartar
1/8-1/4 tsp almond extract
1/8-1/4 tsp unrefined salt or trace minerals
1/2 cup dark chocolate chips or shavings (optional)
3 cups or so freshly ladled cream

I use a wide mouth quart jar to mix my ice cream ingredients.

Place all the ingredients in the jar except the cream, then fill the jar with cream.  Shake.  You can make right away or leave the mix in the fridge 24 hours for the freezer bowl to freeze and the flavors to meld.  Makes a very pretty ice cream.

Mint Chip Ice Cream

One of my favorite ice creams is peppermint-stick ice cream.  I don't eat it anymore due to the HFCS in the peppermint sticks...the bright red/pink food coloring probably isn't the best either.

This is my approximation of what I think it should taste like.

1 quart of freshly skimmed cream/milk
1/4 tsp peppermint extract
1 cup cane sugar
1/2 cup dark chocolate chips

Mix the first 3 ingredients in the ice cream maker until desired consistency. Add the chips at the end.

Take a little cream of tartar (potassium) on the side and you're good to go.

If you backed off the peppermint extract, you could probably back off the sugar too.  I liked it strong,  It was a bit much for those in the family that didn't really care for peppermint stick ice cream to begin with.

Monday Mania

Orange Chocolate Chip Ice Cream

I modified this from the Joy of Cooking.

Mix in ice cream maker until slushy:
3 cups freshly ladled cream/milk
1-1.5 cups sugar
1-2 TBS cream of tartar

Add:
1.25 cups Orange Juice
1-2 tsp gelatin (optional)

Add at end:
.5 cups dark chocolate chips (Optional)

If you wanted to sneak some gelatin in, you could mix a teaspoon or two into the OJ ahead of time, heat it until dissolved and chill.

Maple Onion "Pie"

or "How to eat the same thing over and over and yet try to make it interesting."  

We eat a LOT of potatoes now a days.

Ingredients:
Shredded potatoes
Small onion, shredded
Munster cheese
Real Maple syrup
coconut oil
unrefined sea salt

Coat the bottom and sides with a heavy layer of coconut oil.  Added potatoes and salt heavily.  Shred cheese (I used Munster, but any white cheese will do) and onion together and layer on top.  Drizzle lightly with maple syrup.  Maple syrup is NOT cheap, but helps balance the sugars in the onion.  Maple syrup is higher in glucose than fructose, onions are higher in fructose than glucose.  If you don't have it available, better to substitute a little cane sugar or leave it out than use honey.

BAKE at 350* for an hour or so.  Cooking time varies on how thick you layer the potatoes.

This is nice drizzled with apple cider or red wine vinegar...even Ketchup Boy thinks so.

Gluten Free Wednesday 
Ingredient Spotlight: Onions

Savory Potato "Pie"

Savory Potato "Pie"

Ingredients:
Shredded potatoes
Pepper Jack Cheese, shredded
Red pepper flakes AKA Crushed red pepper
Unrefined Sea Salt
Coconut Oil

Slather coconut oil along the sides and bottom of a round casserole or pie dish.  Put a little salt on the bottom on the dish.  Add a layer of shredded potatoes.  Add a sprinkling of red pepper and more salt. Repeat as needed to fill dish to the top. Add shredded cheese for top layer.  It's ok if it mounds as the whole thing will shrink as it cooks.  Bake at 350* for 1 hour.  Let sit for about 15 minutes, cut into "slices" and serve.  Makes great leftovers, a "slice" reheats at 300* in about 15-20 minutes.

Fried Mashed Potatoes

Fried mashed potatoes sprinkled with freshly ground salt

Something rare and wonderful happened the other day...we had LEFTOVER mashed potatoes!

This particular batch of mashed potatoes was made with potatoes, salt and freshly skimmed cream. I wasn't very careful in my skimming...I am sure it was more of a half and half mix.

I heated my pan with a thick layer of coconut oil to "egg" temperature, a medium low.  Using a serving spoon, I glopped out individual patties of potatoes and browned.  It only took a few minutes per side.  I used a metal spatula to unstick and serve the patties.  I enjoyed mine drizzled in apple cider vinegar and extra salt.  Large volumes of non HFCS ketchup works too...I am told.

Simple Lives Thursday 
Pennywise Platter Thursday 
Fight Back Friday 
Monday Mania

Keeping a Family Cow Calendar 2011 Available Now

My cows are the August fashion plates. 

Keeping a Family Cow 2011 Calendar

Proceeds from the calendar help keep the forum ad free...and pay for the actual calendar too, of course.