Carrot Cake (or Muffins) & Cream Cheese Icing

You will need:
3 cups grated carrots
2 cups flour (I use half whole wheat, half white)
1 1/2 cups white sugar
4 eggs
1 cup oil
2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp cloves
1/2 tsp all spice
1/2 tsp salt

** this makes 1 cake or 12 big muffins

Mix together flour, baking soda, baking powder, spices, salt.

In separate bowl mix sugar with eggs and oil.  Add dry to wet.  Incorporate, then mix in 3 cups grated carrots.

If baking cake - use parchment paper in spring form pan.
Bake at 350 for 1 hour

If making muffins, put into baking cups in muffin pan. 
Bake at 350 for 30 minutes

Cream Cheese frosting:
1 package cream cheese 250 g
3 tablespoon butter
1 cup icing sugar
tsp vanilla extract
mix with blender

Chowder

You'll need:
bacon
onion
celery
4 potatoes
chicken broth
thyme
any kind of white fish, or scallops or clams
1/2 cup heavy cream

Brown bacon in saucepan, if you don't have bacon then don't need it. Same goes for onions and celery, if you don't have any then just use onion powder if you have it.

if you don't have thyme then use any green herb you have around.

chop 1 onion add to bacon. chop celery add to pot. peel and chop potatoes add to pot.  add 3.5 cups of chicken broth, 1 teaspoon of thyme and fish. bring to boil then simmer for 20 minutes.

If you have a handheld blender then blend in the pot. If you don't take it out and blend it.

add back to pot, then add the cream, stir and serve.

Meal Planning

Meal Planning will change your life (and your pocket book).
 

Step 1 - check out the flyers at the grocery stores in your area. I look at mine online. We only have two so this part is pretty quick LOL I see what kinds of things are on sale...if you eat meat - see what meat is on sale. Check out what veggies are on sale, etc...
 

Step 2 - Plan your meals for the entire week using what is on sale that week. I know this sounds crazy to some of you but TRUST me it's amazing. Each day, you look at your list and oh! look at that Chicken tacos for supper. You have all the ingredients. There is no wondering what to make. You are prepared :) AND you are only buying what you truly NEED each week that way nothing gets thrown out and it saves you money BIG TIME.
 

Step 3 - Look at your recipes (or find new ones) for the things that are on sale. Make a list of all the ingredients you'll need.
 

Step 4 - find out where it's cheaper to buy those ingredients
 

Step 5 Make your grocery list. I make mine with the layout of the store in my mind. So I know to put my veggies first and fruit, then breads, meats, dairy, and then I do the rest last because they are in the middle aisles. I know again - you are probably thinking...this chick is nuts. LOL But TRUST ME! It saves you so much time, and grocery shopping is never hectic, it's relaxing just get what you have on your list, IGNORE everything else. and BAM you have saved yourself anywhere from $20-$50 by not buying the tempting things that you don't need.
 

STep 6 Post your weekly meals on the fridge and Bon Appetit!

Family Recipe Book

Something I just started doing...I am writing down our family's favorite recipes in a binder (so I can sort them as I add them in) and also when we try something new we all give it a rating to see if it deserve to go into the binder. My 4 year old loves the idea. I told her when she grows up I will give her and her brother a copy of our family recipe book, that way they can make them for their family's and pass the recipes onto their children.

Mom's Scalloped Potatoes

This is definitely the best time of year to make some of those favorite recipes you had as a child.  What better way to warm up on a chilly fall day than with some comfort food?

For Mom's Scalloped Potatoes you'll need:
5-6 potatoes depending on the size
wash and slice them really thin (you can peel the skin if you're not a fan of skin - but there are lots of nutrients in the skin so keep it if you can)

About 1 cup of milk

1/4 cup of butter (or margarine or vegan margarine, etc)
1/4 cup of sugar (you can use a sugar substitute if you want to make a healthier recipe you'll have to play around with it to get the right amount that you like)
1/4 cup of flour
salt and pepper

That's it! Simple recipe :)

You can be fancy and make layers - but I like the old - put everything into a bowl and stir it around, put it into a casserole dish and bake 350F for about 45-50 minutes. (just until bubbling and potatoes are tender)

Let it sit for 5-10 minutes before eating.

Cod Au Gratin

You will need:
2.5 cups of fresh cod
4 tbsp butter
2 tbsp flour
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
2 cups milk
shredded cheese

For a healthier version try using a healthier butter/margarine, whole wheat flour, low fat milk, and low fat cheese

Cook cod fish, flake and cool
Melt butter in saucepan, add flour, salt and pepper. Stir to make a paste
Add milk, gradually, with whisk stir until sauce thickens
Grease casserole dish
pour a little sauce on bottom of casserole dish
then add layer of fish, sprinkle cheese, repeat until all ingredients are used, ending with layer of cheese.
Bake at 350F for 30 minutes or until brown

How to Freeze Berries

You will need:
berries
"ziploc" freezer bags (or vaccuum sealer)
a pan or tray that will fit in your freezer
strainer or colander

1. Start with fresh berries

2. Wash the berries ( DO NOT WASH Blueberries) Washing blueberries before freezing causing thicker, tougher skin - wash them when you take them out of the freezer to use

3. Let sit in Colander for 10 minutes to drain all excess water

4. Put them on a pan in a single layer and freeze them - leave overnight

5. Bag the berries.  Remember to write the date in permanent marker on the bag before you put the berries in.  If you have a vaccuum sealer use it (it's the best way) if not, then simply put berries into Ziploc freezer bags, insert a straw, zip the bag almost shut use the straw to suck out the air and then close. 


When you take the berries out to thaw and use simply thaw in refrigerator overnight.