Miss Wisabus » Food

Honey, Honey

Elizabeth — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 13:36:17 +0000

Yesterday afternoon on the way home from work I decided to go ahead and swing by somewhere and pick up some local honey for the elderberry syrup I plan on making (thanks, LeAnna!). Native Roots Market is on my route home from work, so I found a parking spot on busy 5 o’clock Main Street and walked in.

It was my first time in Native Roots and I was very impressed. They have a great selection of local offerings and I can’t wait to go back when I have more time to browse.

I picked up 48 ounces of honey from George’s Apiary in Noble, Oklahoma. It. is. divine. (Yes, I had a spoonful as soon as I got home.)

While I was there I also picked up my first ever (because I don’t get out much) Keep It Local OK card. I am so excited to use this thing! When it was applied to my purchase yesterday I saved almost $2. How cool is that? Very, for this frugal girl.

One last note about Native Roots — when they asked me if I’d like a bag I said “no” (that’s in Saving the Planet 101, right?) and just put my honey in the ginormous bag that I use for a purse. Well, any time you don’t ask for a bag/bring your own at Native Roots they give you a little token. You take this token over to a window where they feature various charities and organizations you can support. Choose one, place your token in it’s little tube, and they’ll donate 10 cents (I believe it was) to that particular organization. I love this idea! What made me even happier was seeing that OATH was one of the non-profits I had to choose from. The plight of human trafficking victims around this state and the world has been tugging on my heart for some years now so I was glad to be able to choose them.

And all that just because I wanted some honey.

This is not a paid advertisement. I really like the businesses and groups that I listed and felt like shouting it from the rooftops. They don’t know me

Yesterday and a Recipe

Elizabeth — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 18:11:07 +0000

Got home from my haircut and shopping day yesterday with my mom and was feeling a little under the weather. I had a sinus infection last week that I thought was bad, got some antibiotics for that which I hadn’t done in years and now sort of regret because the first antibiotic made me really sick. The second prescription made me feel like a new woman, but now, a few days later, I feel like death.

We were at Sam’s Club yesterday and accidentally walked into their “taste of the holidays” or whatever it was called. Ran into my friend Amanda right as we were about to leave and I think I was already feverish because it took me a minute to understand why she was wearing a heavy peacoat in the middle of the Sam’s Club when it was 70 degrees outside. Then I realized she was trying it on.

Mom paid for the paper shredder she had picked up in there and we high-tailed it home. After she left around 3:30 I went to take a nap. Which lasted until 6pm. Kevin went to pick up some dinner and I ate it even though I wasn’t the slightest bit hungry. Weird for me because I am generally a bottomless pit and am always hungry in the evening.

I watched the beginning of the disastrous OU vs. Baylor game and took some Nyquil around 7:30 before heading to bed. My falling asleep TV selection was “Ayn Rand in Her Own Words.” Interesting material to fall asleep to. I’ve always enjoyed her writings and while I don’t agree with her on a lot of things, there’s some I do and I found it compelling to watch. Not compelling enough to keep me from a Nyquil coma though.

Woke up a 3:30 with chattering teeth and asked Kevin to turn the heat on. When even the heat wouldn’t help, I knew it was my fever spiking and I checked it. 101. Meh. Got up and made myself some Theraflu which I was able to keep down for a total of 30 minutes. Every muscle in my body was screaming. I did the zombie walk between my recliner and bed a few times before finally passing out on the bed, generating enough heat to melt a small glacier.

When Kevin woke up I said, “Even my scalp hurts.” He’s a pretty good nurse and has been diligent with Icy Hot on my aching back (why is that where the pain is always the worst?). He’s going to make a grocery run for me here in a bit to pick up some flu meds and Epsom salts. A bath is the only thing that sounds good right now.

Praying this is some 24-hour thing that will just pass, but I’m not delusional. Okay, maybe in my fever induced stupor I am.

–

Pinterest is good even for the flu. I found a number of home remedies on there and came up with my own “Please let it not be the flu” Brew. Tweak it for your own needs.

1 large mug
1 tsp orange drink mix
1/2 tsp lemon juice
1/8 tsp cinnamon
a few cloves
a pinch of ginger

Mix dry ingredients and then add lemon juice. Add hot water (I just stuck mine underneath the Keurig). A little local honey would be a nice addition as well. Enjoy

Summer Squash Bread

Elizabeth — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 12:17:35 +0000

In a normal, non-drought year, this would be the part of the season where I’m over-run with excess zucchini and yellow summer squash from the garden. Not so much this year. But for those of you who DO have gardens still producing, here’s a recipe that I cooked up a few years ago when I was trying to use up some squash. There are a bazillion ways to tweak this thing (most things in it can be substituted to fit specific dietary needs), so go wild!

Ingredients
1 1/2 c. flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
2 tsp. ground cinnamon
2 eggs
3/4 c. sugar
1/2 c. vegetable oil
2 tsp. vanilla
1 1/3 c. shredded yellow squash

Directions
Combine the first 5 ingredients set aside. Combine eggs, sugar, oil and vanilla in a large bowl. Beat well, stir in shredded squash. Add dry ingredients, stir until moistened. Pour batter into a greased and floured loaf pan, bake at 350 degrees for 50 minutes or until wooden toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan 10 minutes, remove and let cool on wire rack.

Makes 1 loaf / 16 servings
Calories 154 / Fat 7.7g / Carbs 19g / Protein 2.2g

Click here for recipe on SparkPeople (can add to SP food tracker from there)

Tuesday Morning Coffee

Elizabeth — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 12:29:12 +0000

For some reason, I thought today was Monday. Again. Thank goodness it’s not.

Strong language warning, but MAN. She hits the nail on the head. — “How to Dump Sugar“
Recipe for Grilled Sriracha-Sesame Turkey Meatballs – yum!
LeAnna shows us how to make our own baby powder!
11 Ways to Reduce Insulin Resistance — I’m taking this very seriously now because I somehow have not heard the “pre-diabetes” thing until now. Hmph.
I know people with this and it’s been a constant “possible” diagnosis for me, though I do not have the right symptoms. — An Unconventional Approach to PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome)
About to get a little crunchy on you…Why Placenta Encapsulation?

Zucchini Mini Pizzas

Elizabeth — Sat, 16 Jul 2011 21:18:17 +0000

My version of Kalyn’s Grilled Zucchini Pizza Slices. I used diced tomatoes from the farmers market, zucchini from Mom and Dad’s garden, basil from my garden, and locally grown mushrooms. Great recipe to make use of your summer garden veggies!

Pumpkin Pancakes

Elizabeth — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 06:24:05 +0000

I know it’s not the right season, but the other day after my husband had come home with bags full of items I had sent him to the store for, it occurred to me that I had everything in my possession needed to make these.

Now, forgive me, they’re low-carb. If you’re thinking, Oh, she’s still on that bandwagon *eyeroll*, then read this before proceeding.

This recipe is simple. Sort of an amalgam of Sugar Free Sheila’s pancakes and pumpkin cheesecake.

1 egg
2 oz cream cheese
3 tbsp canned pumpkin
2 tsp Splenda (or whatever sweetener you prefer)
cinnamon

Soften the cream cheese and mix with a fork until smooth. Add egg, pumpkin, Splenda, and cinnamon (to taste). Mix together. The consistency will be like regular pancake batter. Pour batter onto a skillet on medium heat (make sure it’s non-stick or spray a little cooking spray beforehand). You will need to watch them closely. They are ready to turn when the edges are cooked. Very gently flip them with a spatula. Just a minute or so more and you’re done.

Mine turned out great, but keep in mind that the texture will not be that of your average pancake. This makes a thinner, dense pancake, but one that satisfies nonetheless. I plan on tinkering around with this recipe in the future to see what else I can come up with.

Anniversary at the Arcadian Inn in Edmond, OK

Elizabeth — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 05:01:16 +0000

About a month ago, my husband and I celebrated our second anniversary. What a great second year it was. Both of us celebrated another year at our jobs (keep in mind, the day after we got back from this little trip–on our actual wedding anniversary–Kevin found out that he’d sadly lost his due to cuts), the birth of a nephew, and a number of other milestones. We were looking forward to this weekend for some time and I was excited because Kevin had researched and planned the whole thing himself.

*pause for the collective “Awwww…”*

I know.

Our accommodations were cozy and beautiful. Kevin had booked us a night at in the Royal Master Suite at the Arcadian Inn in Edmond, OK, just a short drive from our location south of the metro.

The decor was elegant, but comfortable. I loved the wall of Gibson prints. It reminded me of my Aunt Jewel who had a lot of the prints spread throughout her house.

They must have heard I was coming, because they set out the Keurig.

Oh, wait. They did know.

The bed was glorious. I really need to call them and find out what kind of sheets they had on there because MAN OH MAN. That was the best night of sleep I’ve had in a long time and that says a lot when you’re traveling. The pillows were fabulous as well. I was so glad to find that because most of the time when I stay in a hotel the most disappointing factor is the squishiness of the pillow. They had a fine assortment here that would suit every taste.

The room had the most beautiful shower and a jacuzzi tub. I. LOVED. THE. TUB. Over on the vanity were a number of complimentary bath items and I am NOT talking free shampoo and a bar of soap. There was a salt scrub, an oil treatment for your hair, and the most divine smelling bath salts. I really enjoyed my soak with those and was pleasantly surprised to find that when we checked out they included a complementary sachet of the bath salts. How sweet!

With all that said, there was one thing that stood out from everything else.

The breakfast.

One of the amenities at the Arcadian Inn is their candlelight breakfast. Whenever you check in you tell them what time you would like to take breakfast and the next morning, right on the dot, you will be served promptly without intrusion. They announce what you’re having and then leave you to it. With your peppermint infused hot towels. Ahh.

The morning we were there they served a quiche (I can’t remember, but I believe it was tomato and bacon), a fruit salad, and waffles with their famous vanilla-butter sauce.

If all I could eat for the rest of my life were those waffles and that vanilla-butter sauce, you would not see me complain. It was the best thing I have ever tasted. Go get some now.

The fruit salad was so fresh. Full of melons (honeydew and watermelon), grapes, and kiwi, it was topped with a dollop of some type of berry yogurt that added just enough tang. Delicious.

But the waffles have my heart. Still.

If you are ever in the area and need a place to stay, or if you just want to get away for a weekend, this is a great place to go. Close enough to the metro that there is plenty to see and do, you won’t regret spending some time at the Arcadian.

They don’t know who I am. I just really, really liked this place!

Sunday Morning Coffee

Elizabeth — Sun, 27 Feb 2011 16:11:38 +0000

Going to need to buy a new assortment of K-Cups soon. I’m running out of the ginormous stash I received at Christmas and it’s time to find some new ones that I like. Keurig owners — do you have any suggestions? I know I like Caribou, but I’d be interested in trying some different things. Darker roasts are usually my preference, but so far I have not enjoyed the Tully’s or Newman’s Own. They’ve got a bit of a bite on the end that I just don’t care for.

It’s quiet in our house. Kevin is sick with a viral infection. I’ve cleaned everything once or twice, trying to keep the germies at bay and I’ve been playing nursemaid again. I know guys get a bad rap for being so difficult and extra moany whenever they are sick (and some are, I know), but my husband never gets sick and when it does, it’s legitimately awful. Around the clock I’m giving him his medicine, making him drink water, watered down orange juice, and Tang. On the phone yesterday with my parents, Dad asked me what I was doing.

“Making cinnamon rolls for Kevin. Cause he said he wanted them.”

“Well, that’s awful nice of you. Hold on…” (voices in background) “Your mom says that you should make him some chicken soup.”

“It’s in the crock pot.”

“She says it’s already in the crock pot, Mom. Sounds like you’re treatin’ him all right.”

* * *

In other news, I was given a blog award the other day. My first ever! Thank you, Jennifer from Always In Wonder, I appreciate it! I’m not going to be following all the rules of the award, but I will share 7 things about me that maybe I haven’t talked about on here before.

7 things about me:

1. I hate how the marshmallows in Lucky Charms feel on your teeth when you bite into them.
2. I still miss the people at my old job. Really bad.
3. I require one or two cups of coffee every morning to get going, but I just don’t know people drink it all day.
4. I think there needs to be a Law & Order channel. I would probably watch it all day.
5. Lately, I’ve been watching a lot of those Discovery I.D. Seriously, it’s good that I don’t have it in me to be a criminal. I think I’d be good at it.
6. My right foot seems to have gotten pretty fat in the last 2 years.
7. I’m getting back into a routine at the gym and I have a workout partner now. Yay!

* * *

Diamonds in the Rough (from (in)courage)
Ree’s “Scenes from a Ranch House” – I could easily cover very similar ground in “Scenes from an Oilfield Worker’s House”. Less manure, more crude oil.
Ready or not…Aura’s baby is on her way <3
[thinking ahead] Making Family Rules Fun! by Myra over at My Blessed Life – I’m taking notes on so many things these days. Family rules included.
Mel, I didn’t date either. I think we both ended up better for it!
(WARNING: The book snob in me comes out right here.) A Self-Publishing Reality Check AKA Why I could never see myself doing this. Just because you can write a book doesn’t mean you should. Just because “publishing” (digitally) can happen with a click of your mouse, doesn’t mean that your work is something that would make it past the first desk it lands on at a publishing house. Yes, the market is changing. It’s also over-saturated with CRAP. Ahem. At ease.
Homemade naan from Tasty Kitchen – Before a man started living in this house, I used to buy and prepare more things like this. Need to get back in the habit and get him to try new things.
The Blog and I by Donna Boucher – I have a list of things that I read when I need a reminder of why I’m doing what I’m doing. This goes on it.
Something I passionately believe in and plan on doing is teaching my own children, at home. What makes it a tad bit more interesting in this house is that my husband is a public school teacher. I can already tell that that is going to make this one slightly bumpy road we choose to take. And hey, maybe when the time comes, this blog will go there. One way I know — I sat and listened to someone (who works in a public school) make a dozen judgmental comments about how terrible it was that a public school teachers were sending their children to a private Christian school.
1. That is their choice.
2. Do you know how much a teacher makes? Not only is it their choice, it is their sacrifice, likely for something they believe in very deeply.
Methinks I’ve touched a nerve — my own.
A good thing — Come Take the Dare to Live Fully. Read this book and be blessed.

Chili

Elizabeth — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 20:56:57 +0000

Chili with a healthy dollop of sour cream. Hush, I’m on Atkins.

Crockpot Chili (my modified version of The Diner’s Southside Chili)

1 lb ground turkey
1 lb ground beef
1 cup beef broth
1 6oz can tomato paste
1 small onion or 1/4 large onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 Tbsp dark chili powder
1 tsp cayenne pepper
1 tsp pepper flakes
2 tsp cumin
1 tsp black pepper
1 tsp paprika
3/4 tsp sugar
salt (to taste)

And throw it all in! 6-8 hours on LOW or 4-6 hours on HIGH. You can’t really mess this up. I’ve made mine not so spicy because my husband doesn’t like too much spice in there. I’m the opposite. Oh well. Marriage is about sacrifice. It begins in the kitchen.

Crab Soup for a Cold Winter Night

Elizabeth — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 03:01:33 +0000

If you live in the United States and it’s not cold where you live right now, please raise your hand.

No one. That’s what I thought.

As the temps began to drop a few nights ago, I thought it would be nice to have a creamy crab soup. I know what you’re thinking. I’m land-locked. It’s true. For a crab soup you can get away with a little lower quality crab meat than what you would use for a crab cake, but I still wanted something decent. As luck would have it, we were able to find blue crab at our local Sam’s. Who knew?

I looked for the perfect recipe and found one that sounded yummy at Tasty Kitchen. Nowadays, I pretty much skip Google and go straight there when I have a good idea of what I’m looking for. So many cooks assembled in one place! I love it. Really easy for me to add a recipe to my recipe box there and come back and find it later. And seriously, for someone like me that’s terribly useful. I lose stuff all the time. Like my phone. It had be lost for two days until I found it this evening.

In my purse.

Yes, my husband got a good laugh out of that.

Back to the soup!

The recipe I used was wendydarling‘s Cream of Crab Soup. YUM. Yum.

WARNING: Night time kitchen photos ahead.

First, you melt the butter.

Then add the flour and whisk it!

Try not to pause to take pictures. This stuff needs stirrin’.

A little bit at a time, add the cream. I subbed some of the cream with milk, because I’m trying not to kill my husband.

He’s taking steps in the right direction as well and is drinking water instead of Dr. Pepper these days. Hooray!

Get that all combined and then you’ll start adding the rest of the ingredients.

Now, when I got to this point I thought the soup was a little thick for my taste. So I added more milk. And then the sherry. That helped it, but what made it magnificent when I served it three days later (out of the freezer) was the addition of another cup of chicken broth and about 1/2 cup of sherry. Overall, the additions I would make to the original recipe (just to suit me – this is a lovely recipe on its own) are 2 cups milk, 1 and 1/2 cup sherry, and 2 cups chicken broth. There’s a lot of room here to make it the way you want it. Play with it a little!

Like I mentioned on Twitter after making this, I consider a recipe a success when my husband’s response to his first bite is, “Oh, baby.”

Oh, baby indeed!