So what do you do when you have an awesome sister in law who gives you a huge back of cucumbers from their garden? Well first you thank her endlessly and then you start turning them into something that will last the winter. I used the cucumbers to make dill pickles and cucumber and dill relish. It is so nice to have pickles to snack on and so very nice to have another condiment to add to burgers when we make them.
So many people stray away from canning since they figure it is too hard or could be dangerous but once you get the hang of it you can create a lot of different goodies that you can enjoy year round (not that anything ever lasts that long in our house).
Cucumber Dill Relish
4lbs cucumbers
1 tsp turmeric
1/4 cup sea salt
2 onions
1 tbsp. sugar
1 tbsp. dill
1/2 cup coconut vinegar
Chop the cucumber in larger pieces and place in the food processor. Pulse until shredded. Place the cucumbers in a bowl with the salt and turmeric and allow to sit for 1 hour. Pulse the onions in the food processor. Drain the cucumbers and combine all the ingredients together in a pot. Bring to a boil and let simmer for 10 minutes. Pour into jars and water bath can.
Garlic Dill Pickles
3lbs cucumbers
4 cups water
1 cup coconut vinegar
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup sea salt
dill
garlic cloves
Scrub the cucumbers and cut into quarters. Pack into sterilized jars and add dill and garlic cloves. Heat the water, vinegar, sugar and salt. Pour the liquid in the jars and seal. Water bath can for about 10 minutes. Let sit for 7 days before opening.
My wonderful shift working husband was getting tired of having the same old breakfast options every day and was looking for something he could throw in his lunch that was quick and packed with protein. These breakfast muffins are full of protein and are so easy to throw in your lunch. They freeze well too. I currently have 2 dozen frozen to pull out as needed.
Coconut Flour Breakfast Muffins
4 eggs
1/4 cup of water
4 tbsp. coconut flour
1/4 tsp sea salt
1/4 tsp baking powder
1 cup leftover cooked ground beef or 1 -2 cans of salmon or tuna
1 tsp paprika
1/4 cup green onion
Mix together all the ingredients. Pour into silicone muffin cups and bake at 375 F for 15-18 minutes.
I freeze them in baggies of two which makes a perfect breakfast or snack.
I remember when I was trying to convince my husband that not only did we need a dehydrator but we need the Excalibur I had my work cut out for me. He did not see the point of apple chips or fruit leather so when I told him I could make beef jerky we got the Excalibur pretty quick.
My husband has had to give up a lot of foods since the allergy and he really missed beef jerky. It was a go to snack when he went fishing, quading or out on the snowmobile. After I made the first batch of beef jerky he was in love and very happy that we now owned a dehydrator.
The beef jerky recipe is super simple, quick to do and makes a great snack. I make a big batch and try and vacuum seal some to save but it never seems to last that long.
Beef Jerky
2 steaks, I prefer sirloin or tenderloin but any will do
2 tbsp. coconut aminos
1 tbsp. sea salt
1 tbsp. pepper
Allow the steaks to slightly thaw out and then slice into think pieces. Place all the pieces in a bowl and combine with the aminos and spices. Allow to marinate in the fridge overnight. In the morning put it in the dehydrator and dehydrate on the highest setting for 3-4 hours depending on the thickness of the meat. Enjoy!!
Well now that the weather is starting to get cooler I am getting the requests to make stew. Nothing tastes better then a big bowl of stew on a cold day. My stew is basic but tasty and very filling. I always make a triple batch and freeze the rest. It freezes well and is great to pull out when you need something to eat.
Hearty Stew
6 potatoes, chopped
6 sweet potatoes, peeled and chopped
5 carrots, peeled and chopped
2 cups water
2 cloves garlic, minced
3 tbsp. Purest Gravy Thickner
salt and pepper to taste
Simmer the vegetables with the water until tender. Add the garlic, salt and pepper and stir well. Add in the gravy thickner and stir well. Let simmer for 10 minutes and then serve.
