Living Reality

To My Tortilla Making New Friends

by ladypbwiggins

You will be my new friends if you help me with my homemade tortillas. My daughter-in-law and I spent some time together making our first homemade tortilla. It was really a funny experience. She had broken her glasses and couldn’t read the instructions and I had injured my hand an couldn’t manipulate the dough. We jokingly called this time, the Blind and Maimed Hour. Nevertheless, we made the tortillas. They tasted good and fulfilled the purpose but we were not satisfied. We used the instructions on the Masa Harina bag. It was simply the flour and water. The tortilla press I own did not make them flat enough so we used a rolling pin. Then we placed them on the grill where they didn’t hold together when folded. (We were making tacos)

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

So to my new friends, how do I keep them moist and held together? If I get this right, I may almost never buy tortillas again. It was really easy. I like easy and quick.

What is this?

by ladypbwiggins

20160115_131340 (2)What is this?

It’s a little jar of successful goodness!

For weeks I had been thinking about the ease or dis-ease of making my own condiments. I watched those chefs on the Food Network make sauces and it didn’t look so hard. I quickly followed that thought with, “You are not a professional chef and you don’t even like to cook.” I chickened out and bought the organic ketchup from my favorite store, The Organic Roots.  The desire to make my own resurfaced as I thumbed through the Daniel Plan Cookbook. Lo and behold there it was: a homemade ketchup recipe. I have had this book for  months and I didn’t notice the recipe. So here is my version

The recipe called for 1 cup of sun-dried tomatoes. I didn’t have enough so I used organic tomato paste and organic Roma tomatoes. All ingredients are certified organic unless otherwise stated.

6 Roma tomatoes

2 tablespoons tomato paste.

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar

1 tablespoon of agave  (I didn’t have raw honey)

1 teaspoon of sea salt

I threw all ingredients in the Vitamix. Blended on high until smooth.

It’s homemade ketchup.

One more thing off the grocery list except in emergencies.

Note. The consistency is thicker than the ketchup in the store. It was also sweeter. It didn’t hve that tangy taste. Store in the refrigerator. There are no preservatives. I plan to make it again and use the sun-dried tomatoes and add a little onion and garlic. I’ll let you know what happens.

 

Catching UP

by ladypbwiggins

So far behind.

My laboratory experiments stacking up.

Documents I need to read.

Clothes I need to wash, car too

Rooms I need to clean

Groceries to purchase

Meals to prepare

Research for Outreach Center

Making plans, making plans

Rest

When will I ever CATCH UP.

(You all should be laughing now because I know I just described your life, too!)

See, I forgot categories and such.

Back In the Lab 2

by ladypbwiggins

If you are like me, long blog posts sometimes get to be tedious. That’s why I broke Friday’s laboratory experiments into several parts. Continuing.

Country-Style White Loaves
20160115_122001

I tried to find the link for this recipe but there was only links to the book. It is The Art of Cooking Recipes and Techniques(The Cooking Club). The basic elements were all purpose flour (white), yeast, sugar, butter, milk and water. Those who know me personally, this recipe is healthy sacrilege. I must tell you I paid the price. I believe it was the source of gastrointestinal disturbances and inflammation pain in my joints. The reason I used these ingredients was because I bought the flour for Christmas desserts that we did not make. I decided to use it up and then replace it with oat flour or gluten-free flour. It was okay. Heavy like my great-grandmother’s.

Homemade Ketchup20160115_131340

This recipe is found in The Daniel Plan Cookbook. I used this recipe but I didn’t have enough sun dried tomatoes. Once again I substituted. I used ripe Roma tomatoes. I guess we are so used to the store bought kind that the sweetness was a little much. I don’t know if the tomatoes and honey combination was the source. I will use it and make the next batch with the sun dried tomatoes as instructed. I also checked the ingredients on the organic ketchup I had bought before. It contained more spices. Maybe I will add some of these spices on the batch after that. Continuing to experiment until I get the taste we want.  Ketchup

 

Vitamix Minestrone Soup

20160115_151027

I’ve wanted to try making minestrone soup for a while. I found a recipe that appeared to be similar to The Olive Gardens’ Ministrone. Before I had a chance to try it, I discovered a recipe in my Vitamix cookbook.  I tried it with a few changes. I used black beans instead of kidney beans and vegetable broth instead of chicken broth. I guess I blended it a little longer than necessary because my soup looked creamier than theirs. However, it tasted good. My husband and I decided mine would make a good spaghetti sauce. Here is the link for the recipe. It is worth a try. It is a tasty, quickly made soup. Vitamix Ministrone.

Some adjusting and changes will be made to better suit our needs and lifestyle.

Happy Experimenting.

Back In The Lab

by ladypbwiggins

On Friday January 15, 2015, I finally re-entered my my lab (kitchen). I have cooked meals but after the holidays I just was not interested in doing any “new recipe” cooking. I awaken quite early but I did not enter the lab until about 6:30 AM. I put the coffee on and moved into action.

The first order of business was to prepare for breakfast before my husband joined the conscious world.

20151026_091752Turkey Sausage I seasoned the ground turkey so that the sausage seasoning would have time to penetrate. This time I made more to freeze for future breakfasts.

 

Oatmeal and Dried Fruit Muffins 

I didn’t particularly care for bran muffins until I made these. Usually, I experience20160115_122020d very dry muffins. The black strap molasses and unsweetened applesauce make them quite tasty and moist. In stead of purchased applesauce, I put a fresh apple and a little water in my Vitamix and let it rip. The recipe is in Dr.Steven Masley’s 30 days Heart Tune-Up.
I cannot publish the recipe because of copyright laws. I would recommend purchasing the book, especially if you have heart problems. There is a lot of good information for heart health and many tasty recipes.

Mini Potato Corn Meal Cakes

Have you ever had boxed potatoes flakes and didn’t know what to do with them. I never used them and now that I am trying to prepare fresh, unprocessed foods I was at a lost. I didn’t want to throw them away. They were a blessed and appreciated gift in a Thanksgiving basket. While having my first cup of coffee, I noticed a recipe on the box that was interesting. It was Mini Potato Corn Meal Cakes. Why not, I said to me. I followed the recipe and it yielded more than I needed for that morning’s breakfast.You got it. I froze the rest. Here is the recipe with my real time changes.

2 cups Idaho Spuds Classic Mashed Potatoes

1/3 cup cornmeal

1 tablespoon garlic salt

1/4 teaspoon cayenne or chipotle pepper

2 cups milk

2 cups frozen corn kernels, thawed  (I didn’t use)

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

3 green onions  (I used yellow onions)

Combine potato flakes, cornmeal, garlic salt and pepper in a large bowl.

Stir milk, corn kernels, cheese and green onions.Let stand for 2 minutes.

Scoop into 1 inch balls and place on a baking sheet. Flatten into 1/2 inch thick patties. (I skipped this. I went straight to the skillet.)

Spray a large nonstick skillet with cooking spray and heat over medium heat.

Place patties in a single layer in pan. Brown [patties about 4 minutes per side, spraying with additional cooking spray as needed. Repeat with remaining patties.

Serve warm garnished with a dollop of sour cream and green onions or shredded cheese. (I skipped this. It would defeat my healthy plan.)

My husband said the cakes were good. My omissions did not affect the taste.  Next time I will use fresh potatoes.

This is getting to be pretty long so I will put the other recipes in another blog.  Friday was a busy day.

Happy Experimenting.

 

Essential Oils Essential

by ladypbwiggins

Peripheral Neuropathy – Peppermint, lemongrass, cloves, wintergreen, Lavender

I put about 5 drops each in a bottle with olive or coconut oil and massage it into my husband’s legs. It doesn’t cure it but it greatly reduces the pain and other symptoms.

Memory – Rosemary, Sage, Peppermint, Christmas Spirit

I have seen positive responses to putting these oils in the atomizer and sleeping inhaling them. It is also relaxing.  I sometimes add a few lemon drops to clean the air.

Repel Ants and Roaches – Peppermint

This year I didn’t have any ants while my neighbors reported an attack. That is what we call it here in the desert when the summer heat kicks up to 100+. I was donated some clothes for our church giveaway. They must have had a few roaches because after they stayed in my garage too long. I didn’t have a roach problem until then. I sprayed peppermint infused water around the baseboards ad garage entrances, my pantry, behind the stove, refrig and dishwasher and I have only seen one in months. That one seemed to have come up the bathtub drain. My next plan to insure that they are gone for good is to put a few drops of peppermint int he carpet cleaner solution.

Can someone give me a solution to get rid of crickets using the oils?

 

I am using my oils for all sorts of purposes. I don’t buy lotion anymore. Toothpaste is an endangered species. Haven’t gotten the deodorant down but it is next.

If you are interested in trying essential oils, contact me.

I AM Successful!

by ladypbwiggins

It has been good to reconnect with many of my high school classmates. One of the alums began a page called Dragons Forever and I have enjoyed reading about their lives. It brought back some good memories and some not so good.  I have been thinking about the declaration made by my high school classmates made about me.  You know how the class votes for the Most Talented, the Most Popular, etc. I was voted the Most Likely to Succeed.  I was never sure if they really thought that of me or there was nothing else. Nevertheless, it haunted me for the last 30 years. I don’t possess fame or wealth that you would expect from someone successful. I began a career but after my son’t birth I became a homemaker.I never thought that would be me. I planned a career life, with a family. I didn’t plan for my family to be my career. I devoted my time to homeschooling my kids, taking care of my husband and my home. I was also active in my church and community. I was concerned about black kids, the boys especially in the public school system.  (That is another blog post.)  As my kids needed me less the thoughts of “The Most Likely to Succeed” periodically popped up and in those moments I felt like a failure. I had not succeeded. I am not famous and I am not wealthy, not even well to do. We are living a servant’s life. It has been a very blessed choice but no fame or fortune.

Many of you know this has been a very trying year. I have faced death several times through my husband. I have had hours in the hospital and rehab rooms to reflect on my life. I discovered that I was very wealthy. I had sisters, birth and spiritual that supported me; that loved me.  I discovered friends that I didn’t know I had. Our spiritual children stepped up in ways unexpected. Their actions expressed real love for us. Most of all, those children I gave birth to and those I chose to mother, love me and sometimes they even like me.  My children are pursuing their dreams and taking care o their families. They love learning. They love helping the underdog. They love giving of themselves.  I believe my husband and I had a little to do with those attitudes. Finally, I have a husband who truly loves me as I am. So while I am not the success we dreamed of those years so long ago, I can say I am wealthy beyond measure.

I am successful.

I Understand

by ladypbwiggins

I Understand why you don’t believe Jesus is the Anointed One.

You learned Jesus was not His birth name

He was Hebrew, after all.

And the letter “J” did not exist when he was born in Hebrew, Latin or Greek.

I Understand your questions.

How did they decide which scrolls were to be included in the Bible?

Should I ignore the scrolls that were included because I learned some were not?

Does the absence of some negate the truth of those included?

Or should I discover them and read for myself?

Can I reasonably expect every ancient scroll to be included in one book that I can carry?

I Understand your reasons but I can’t deny based on these truths.

Y’shua of Nazareth  declared in the synagogue His purpose.

Luke 4:18 (AMP)
18  The Spirit of the Lord [is] upon Me, because He has anointed Me [the Anointed One, the Messiah] to preach the good news (the Gospel) to the poor; He has sent Me to announce release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to send forth as delivered those who are oppressed [who are downtrodden, bruised, crushed, and broken down by calamity],

How can I deny such a beneficial mission?

He loved and forgave us and taught us to do the same to each other?

Why would anyone reject love and forgiveness?

Could it be because we want to receive it

But we are too proud and selfish or maybe fearful to give it?

I Understand.

Those who call themselves Christian but behave hatefully in the name of righteous indignation is your biggest hindrance.

They claim to be Christ-like but live it selectively; when you agree with them.

If we are to do the Lord’s work and be like Him, then we should live His mission for all.

(Note; The only ones who received His anger were the self righteous.)

I Understand if your Religion won’t allow you to.

To the Nonbeliever consider His teachings of peace and goodwill;

His example of love and forgiveness.

To Declared Believers: live His teachings and live his examples;

Not your religions’.

But if you can’t or won’t

I Understand.

 

To begin your own search try these links as a starting point.

http://www.gotquestions.org/canon-of-Scripture.html

http://www.christianity.com/church/church-history/centuries/1st-century-11631960.html

 

 

 

Mary, I Didn’t Think

by ladypbwiggins

A lot of attention is paid to the Holy family this time of the year, Mary, Joseph and Y’shua. But today my thoughts about Mary were challenged. Dr. Charles Stanley asked his congregation if they had ever thought about what Mary gave up when she yielded to the Holy Spirit? If any of them were like me, they just assumed and took for granted her situation. I mean looking back through our holy, spiritual looking glass, she was highly favored and blessed among women. Right?

Did you ever think about her losing her reputation?

or the disappointed looks from her parents?

Did you consider the threat to her life? Joseph had the right to have her stoned to death for violating their betrothal vows.

Did you consider the gossip in the village; the whispers? She was an unwed mother or she had sex with Joseph before the wedding.

Even though every Hebrew virgin wanted to be chosen to be the mother of the Messiah, when it happened, no one believed her. Sounds like us.

Then I went to church and Pastor Mitchell laid before us the benefits to us of Mary having said, Yes!

We received the opportunity for forgiveness, unconditional love, eternal salvation and the biggy

Salvation from our destructive habits and destructive decisions.

Her saying, Yes, provided Me the opportunity to be saved from Myself.

I don’t believe I should pray to her but I have increased awareness of what she endured.  She is a very good example of extreme submission to God.

Thank you, Mary for your submission, obedience and endurance.

 

Turkey Sausage Revisited

by ladypbwiggins

A few weeks ago I tried a homemade sausage recipe that I found. In that post I gave the source credit for the recipe. This time I tried it just as she wrote it except I substituted vegetable broth for chicken broth.

  1.  I bought a turkey breast and a turkey thigh. Using my virgin boning knife I removed the meat from the thigh bone. The breast was already removed from the breast bone. I must admit this process caused me to consider becoming a vegan.
  2. I used my KitchenAide meat/nut grinder to grind the meat. I used both the light meat and the dark meat believing the dark meat would add a little fat. My hope was that the turkey would be juicier.
  3. Next I used my mortar and pestle to grind the basil and oregano.
  4. I added that along with the rest of the spices to the ground turkey.
  5. I used vegetable broth instead of chicken broth.
  6. Mixed it all up be sure to evenly distribute the spices.
  7. Finally, into the pan it went. I used a little oil in the pan so the patties wouldn’t stick. I think I used grapeseed oil or it might have been coconut. Either works.
  8. The results were very good. It was less dry but not what I wanted. Sooooo

Next time, I will bake a turkey part and use the drippings to add a little fat to the mixture.

For the recipe review Making Turkey Sausage.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.