Simply Organic
Simple, organic cooking for the entire family...on a budget!
Saturday, August 14, 2010
Syrup vs. Maple Syrup
Monday, August 2, 2010
Morning Glory Muffins
I like to make a big batch of muffins and freeze most of them. That way, I can just grab one or two as needed. (They thaw out great in the refrigerator.) Along with a piece of fruit or bowl of yogurt, they make a great breakfast. They also make a great snack!
I want to start including prices for my recipes so that you can determine if your budget allows you to purchase any of the organic ingredients. The only ingredients that I had to purchase for this recipe was the apple butter, wheat germ, and an apple, which cost a total of $9.
*I could not find organic apple butter or wheat germ. However, the apple butter had no added sugar and only two ingredients listed: “fresh apples and apple cider.” The wheat germ was listed as “no solvents used” and explained why: “Some wheat germ is processed with solvents such as hexane to strip the perishable oil and valuable Vitamin E from the germ. The resulting defatted wheat germ is added by some companies to their products and labeled as “wheat germ.” If a product you use is made with “wheat germ,” but doesn’t list the Vitamin E content, we suggest that you ask the manufacturer to explain.”
Adapted from All Recipes
Makes 24
Ingredients:
1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
½ cup whole wheat flour
1 ¼ cups organic whole cane sugar
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
2 teaspoons aluminum-free baking powder
½ teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
2 cups grated carrots
1 apple-peeled, cored, and chopped
1 cup dried cranberries
1 egg
2 egg whites
½ cup apple butter*
¼ cup canola oil
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
2 tablespoons chopped walnuts
2 tablespoons wheat germ*
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 375. Lightly oil 24 muffin cups, or coat with nonstick cooking spray. (I found organic cooking spray at Wal-Mart.)
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together eggs, egg whites, apple butter, oil and vanilla.
In a large bowl, stir together flours, sugar, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Stir in carrots, apples and dried cranberries. Stir in apple butter mixture until just moistened. Spoon the batter into the prepared muffin cups, filling them about ¾ full.
3. Sprinkle the wheat germ and walnuts evenly over the muffin tops.
4. Bake at 375 degrees for 20 minutes, or until the tops are golden and spring back when lightly pressed.
Friday, July 30, 2010
Reasons to Make Your Own Baby Food
As I said in my first post, I have a nine month old baby boy. When he started eating solid foods, I began making my own baby food! I did it at first to save money. In the beginning, when when he was just being introduced to solid foods, his portions were small and I would spend less than $10 on organic produce and it would last me over month!
Reasons to make your own baby food:
1. Making your own baby food is easy and I think it's fun! An hour in the kitchen can get you a month's worth of food. (or more if your really good!)
2. Home-made baby food is pretty. I couldn't get over the colors of the food I made- everything was so bright and pretty! Have you ever noticed that jarred baby food, no matter what it is, all has a brownish color to it? It's not pretty...
3. Home-made baby food tastes good! If you wouldn't eat it, do you really want your baby eating it?
4. Home-made baby food is healthier. You know where the food is coming from and it will not have any preservatives. (Always choose organic when making baby food. Any amount of chemicals is too harsh on their little systems.)
5. It costs less to make your own baby food- most of the time. I found that I could make all vegetables and some fruits for much less than I would pay for a jar. However, some organic fruits (mainly apples and pears) came out to be the same price.
Recipes coming soon!
Quick Panko-Crusted Chicken
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Grassy=Gamey?
Slowly, but Surely
What I want people to take most from this blog is bits and pieces of advice that can be applied to their life and hopefully make a change for the better. I'm not expecting (or suggesting) that anyone go crazy and throw out all their food and start buying 100% organic. But I would like for readers to learn new things and maybe make a few changes about how they eat. Then, slowly, but surely, you will come to appreciate organics and make better choices.
I've come up with a list of easy ways to start making gradual changes towards chemical-free eating:
1. When shopping for produce, refer to the Dirty Dozen and Clean 15 shopping lists. The Dirty Dozen lists produce that should always be purchased organic, they are the most contaminated. The Clean 15 is just the opposite! It lists the 15 least contaminated fruits and vegetables.
2. Start reading labels! I can't say this enough! Get to know what is in the food you are eating. YOU make the decision if what is in the product is healthy for you.
3. Shop local farmer's markets. The food may not be certified organic, but ask if it is chemical free. You'll find local produce and a great price. The Baton Rouge area has Red Stick Farmer's Market every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday in various locations.
4. Grow your own herbs. I was not blessed with a green thumb, but this is one thing I can handle! Not only will your herbs be chemical-free, but you will save money as well! The average price for a small package of organic herbs is $3.99.
5. Start buying organic milk and eggs. This is an easy one to switch to because just about every grocery now carries organic milk and eggs, so there is no searching on your part. Next time you reach for that fat-free skim milk, grab the organic variety instead!
Just So You Know...
1. The majority of soybeans, corn, and cotton grown in the U.S. are from GMO seeds (Genetically Modified Organisms). They were made to resist being killed from applications of Roundup (weed killer). **Read a few labels in your kitchen- you may be shocked to find that soy is in a lot of foods- and if it isn't organic, chances are it is from a GMO**
2. Arsenic is used in chicken feed.
3. People who eat organic foods reduce their pesticide intake by as much as 90%.
(The information is from Organic Manifesto, which I highly recommend reading!!!!)
While we are on the subject of what is in our food, please take some time in your kitchen and really read what is in your food. I have always been a label-reader, but in the past it was the Nutrition Facts. Now I look at the ingredient list as well! It is shocking to find what is really in your food. One of the most surprising for me was bread crumbs- as I went to toss them out, I thought- "well, it's just finely ground bread- can't be that bad, right?" WRONG! I think it had 20 ingredients in it, most of which I couldn't pronounce!
TIP: Make your own bread crumbs! It's a perfect way to use any leftover or stale bread. (Saves money too.) Just toss bread pieces in the food processor and your done! You can always freeze the bread crumbs in an airtight container if you have extra.
So, what exactly does organic mean? The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) puts it this way: "Organic crops are raised without using most conventional pesticides, petroleum-based fertilizers, or sewage sludge-based fertilizers. Animals raised on an organic operation must be fed organic feed and given access to the outdoors. They are given no antibiotics or growth hormones."
When shopping, be sure to look for the USDA Organic seal- otherwise the product is not what it claims to be. Also, beware of products labeled "natural"- this term has no real meaning. If you do see something labeled as natural, be a smart consumer and read the label! Then decide for yourself if it is actually a healthy product.