Shan's Recipes - Curry Chicken and Taco Meat

Hung out today with my niece.  We made a couple recipes and enjoyed cooking.

NOTE - Both these recipes are made without salt - so you may want to add some salt to match your preferences/tastes.

Curry Chicken:

Mix spices:
1 tablespoon onion powder
2 tablespoons curry powder (mild)
2 teaspoons garlic powder.

Combine with 1 cup sour cream, yogurt, or coconut milk (Canned).
Mix well.

Add 2 teaspoons lemon juice.
Mix well.

Cut up 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts into bite-sized pieces.

Add chicken to sour cream and spice mixture.  Stir until all chicken is well coated.  Let sit for at least 30 minutes.  This can marinate overnight in the refrigerator.

Heat some oil in a skillet.

Dump chicken and sour cream mixture into hot skillet.  Stir and cook until thickened.  Add some water if you want broth for rice.  Leave alone if you want it to be almost dry.

Cover and let simmer for 15-20 minutes until chicken is cooked through and there is no more pink.

Serve over rice, mashed potatoes, or bread.



TACO MEAT:

Make Spice Mixture.
1 teaspoon each
Garlic powder
chili powder

2 teaspoons each
onion powder
cumin powder
tumeric powder
paprika

Cut 1 yellow onion into small pieces

In a large skillet, heat oil.

Saute (cook with a little oil) onions until they turn translucent (clear-ish).

Add to onions in skillet, 2 pounds very lean ground beef.
Add all of spice mixture.

Cook until there is no more pink beef left.

Cover and let cook over low heat for 20-30 more minutes for flavors to blend.

Serve over lettuce bed, with cheese and salsa
Serve in taco shells with toppings of choice.
Serve over rice or potato medallions.
Serve on crusty bread, topped with cheddar cheese and broiled until toasty

Potato Fritatta - Recipe

Cooking fun for the day - Made a fritatta, but used potatoes instead of my typical squash.  Turned out pretty good.

2 large potatoes sliced thinly and evenly (If you slice them different thicknesses some will cook and others will still be crunchy)
4 eggs
2 cups milk
4 ounces colby jack cheese
2 ounces feta cheese

Slice potatoes very thin and set aside.  Mix eggs and milk and whisk well.  Set aside.  Crumble feta cheese into small crumbs.  Set aside.  Shred cheese.  Split into two bowls, 1 with about 1/2 cup of shredded cheese, the other with the rest.  Reserve the 1/2 cup of cheese to sprinkle on top of everything.

Once all ingredients are ready, oil a glass 9x12 baking dish (think cake pan size).  Layer potatoes, sprinkle of colby jack, potatoes, sprinkle of feta and repeat until out of ingredients.  When everything layered, slowly pour egg/milk mixture over the fritatta.  Sprinkle reserved cheese over the top.  Place uncovered in oven.  Turn on oven to 350 degrees fahrenheit. Bake at 350 for 1 hour.  Turn oven down to 300 and bake another 30 minutes.

NOTE - I do not preheat the oven when using glass baking dishes, so this recipe is assuming you put the fritatta into a cold oven.

Easy Substitutions from an allergic life

Conditioner
Marshmallow root
Hibiscus flower
Chamomile flowers

Steep in boiled water for 10 minutes.  Use immediately.


Air Freshener
1 bottle Isopropyl Alcohol
3 vanilla beans snipped into 1 inch pieces.

Drop beans into bottle.  Cap.  Put in cabinet.  Retrieve 4 weeks later.  Sieve out solids.  Put liquid into spray bottle.  Use as wanted.

Can also use citrus zest, pieces of fresh mint plants, lavender flowers, chamomile flowers, etc.


Flavored salt/sugar
Layer citrus zest, vanilla beans, fresh mint, etc. into crushed salt or sugar.  Store in GLASS, Opaque bottle or in GLASS clear bottle in a DARK PLACE.  Shake every couple days.  Ready in about 4 weeks.

Syrup Substitute:
In a slow cooker, place 2 cups fruit chunks.  Add spices and sweetener to taste.  Turn onto low.  Cook 12 hours.  Use hand blender to puree.  Sub for any type of THICK fruit syrup.  If you want it thinner, add water when putting all things into slow cooker.

Cream of Broccoli Soup - The easy way

Cream of Broccoli Soup - The easy way

2 bunches of broccoli - cut off the woody thick stalks.  Discard stalks.
2 cups water.
2 cups chicken broth
1/4 onion
1/2 tablespoon garlic powder

Drop it all into a large cooking pot (three minutes or so to do this).  Turn stove onto high.  Bring to boil.  Boil 15 minutes while drinking a cup of coffee or a cup of tea.

Sieve out solids and put into blender (takes about 2 minutes).  Leave liquids in pot.  Pulse blender a couple times until only small chunks are left (30 seconds).

Put pot back onto stove.  Turn on MEDIUM so as not to boil but still keep warm enough to simmer.  Mix 1/4 cup starch and 1 cup cold water.  Pour into liquids in pot while stirring constantly (1 minute).

Sprinkle in 1 cup or so of shredded cheddar cheese (or other cheese/cheeses per your personal preferences) - a handful at a time.  STIR CONSTANTLY (3 minutes).

When broth is thickened and cheese is melted completely (about 3-5 minutes from pouring in starch mixture), dump in blended veggies.  Stir a couple times to mix (30 seconds)

Pour in 1 cup Regular milk (or canned milk)... Nonfat milk does not taste very good so use something other than non-fat milk.  I use 1/2 and 1/2.  Stir to mix and then simmer 1 more minute and serve.

DO NOT HEAT THIS UP IN THE MICROWAVE - IT CURDLES.  Heat on a stove top over low heat.

Overall, the soup takes about 30 minutes from start to eating.  However, it only takes about 5-7 minutes of active work.

Tips to open jars when your hands may not work the way you want:

Tips to open jars when your hands may not work the way you want:

to open sealed jars - IF YOU DON'T HAVE TO USE THEM AGAIN COMPLETELY SEALED - use a bottle opener to pop the seal, then the lid will open easily.

To open one you have to have sealed again, run REALLY hot water over the lid for a minute or so. USING A (Silicone is best) POT HOLDER SO YOU DON'T BURN YOUR HAND, twist the lid. Metal expands faster than glass so the heat loosens the lid.

If you don't have a bottle opener, pound a nail into the top of the lid to break the seal. Be careful to use a clean nail, and not to hit the lid so you don't break the glass.

Cooking for the week - Meatballs, Lentil & Potato Stew, Lentils, Stewed Minute Steaks, boiled eggs

Cooking for the week

meatballs:
1 pound ground beef - VERY LEAN
1 pound sausage (homemade sausage is very easy)
1/4 cup grain-free bread crumbs
1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese
3 large eggs
onion powder
garlic powder
italian spice powder

mix well.  roll into meatballs.  layer in a single layer in a glass dish.  bake at 350 (uncovered) for at least 1 hour until crispy looking on top.


Salmon casserole:
1 can drained salmon
2 eggs
4 ounces shredded cheddar cheese
onion powder
garlic powder

Mix well.  Put into crock pot.  Turn on low.  Cook for at least 4 hours.


Lentil and potato stew:
1 cup lentils
3 small diced potatoes
2 minced cloves garlic
salt
3 cups water
1/4 cup minced onion (fresh onion, chopped tiny... not the dehydrated stuff)

Put into crock pot. Cook on High at least 4 hours.


Lentils
1 cup lentils
1 minced garlic clove
1/4 cup minced onion
3 cups water

Put into crock pot.  Cook on high at least 4 hours.


Stewed Minute Steaks

Brown 2 pounds minute steaks in melted butter.  Pour over browned steaks 2 cups water (use more if needed to cover).  Sprinkle water with onion powder and with garlic powder.  Cover pan.  Let simmer for at least 90 minutes.

And one dozen boiled eggs.

Some Food Pantries for New River Valley (NRV), Virginia

Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
	Willow Woods – RADFORD - (Aug 4th and 18th) alternating with at Lilly Woods. Arrive at 9:15 to get ticket.  For apartment residents first then in ticket order for non-residents.	BLAND – 10-1 – BLAND ministry Center65 Seddon Street, Bland VA 276-688-4701 Per client report, arrive at 8:00 AM. Dwelling Place - Christiansburg – 4-6?? Arrive at 3:30. Attend once per month	Dwelling Place - Christiansburg – 4-6?? Arrive at 3:30. Attend once per month	9-4 Heritage Route 100, Dublin. Heritage Church. Can go once every 4 weeks. USDA Food Pantry.	Fieldstone – 6-7 Do not arrive before 4:30. Raffle System. No benefit with arriving early. Can go 1 time every 3 weeks.	8-10 All About Jesus – RADFORD.  Arrive by 7:00 AM to get a decent box.  Order of Arrival.
­­	Willow Woods – RADFORD - (Aug 4th and 18th) alternating with at Lilly Woods. Arrive at 9:15 to get ticket.  For apartment residents first then in ticket order for non-residents.. SHARE PRODUCE DISTRIBUTION – Dora Highway – Pulaski, 2:00 PM.  Arrive by 1:00 for best selection.  NO SHELTER OR SHADE WHILE WAITING.	BLAND – 10-1 – BLAND ministry Center65 Seddon Street, Bland VA 276-688-4701 Per client report, arrive at 8:00 AM. Dwelling Place - Christiansburg – 4-6?? Arrive at 3:30. Attend once per month	Dwelling Place - Christiansburg – 4-6?? Arrive at 3:30. Attend once per month	9-4 Heritage Route 100, Dublin. Heritage Church. Can go once every 4 weeks. USDA Food Pantry.	Fieldstone – 6-7 Do not arrive before 4:30. Raffle System. No benefit with arriving early. Can go 1 time every 3 weeks.	8-10 All About Jesus – RADFORD.  Arrive by 7:00 AM to get a decent box.  Order of Arrival.
	Willow Woods – RADFORD - (Aug 4th and 18th) alternating with at Lilly Woods. Arrive at 9:15 to get ticket.  For apartment residents first then in ticket order for non-residents.	BLAND – 10-1 – BLAND ministry Center65 Seddon Street, Bland VA 276-688-4701 Per client report, arrive at 8:00 AM. Dwelling Place - Christiansburg – 4-6?? Arrive at 3:30. Attend once per month	Dwelling Place - Christiansburg – 4-6?? Arrive at 3:30. Attend once per month	9-4 Heritage Route 100, Dublin. Heritage Church. Can go once every 4 weeks. USDA Food Pantry. 3rd Thursday and Friday = Gethsemane Baptist Church, RADFORD – 10-2.  Box goods only.  DONOT ARRIVE BEFORE 10:00 AM.	3rd Thursday and Friday = Gethsemane Baptist Church, RADFORD – 10-2.  Box goods only.  DONOT ARRIVE BEFORE 10:00 AM. Fieldstone – 6-7 Do not arrive before 4:30. Raffle System. No benefit with arriving early. Can go 1 time every 3 weeks.	8-10 All About Jesus – RADFORD.  Arrive by 7:00 AM to get a decent box.  Order of Arrival.
4th Sunday 2-4 Radford Worship Center - Radford – Arrive at 1:00.  Order of Arrival. USDA Food Pantry	Willow Woods – RADFORD - (Aug 4th and 18th) alternating with at Lilly Woods. Arrive at 9:15 to get ticket.  For apartment residents first then in ticket order for non-residents.	BLAND – 10-1 – BLAND ministry Center65 Seddon Street, Bland VA 276-688-4701 Per client report, arrive at 8:00 AM. 4th Tuesday – SHARE BOX Distribution- Share building on Dora Highway, PULASKI.  10:00 AM.  Arrive by 8:30.  Order of arrival.  NO SHADE OR SHELTER WHILE WAITING!! Dwelling Place - Christiansburg – 4-6?? Arrive at 3:30. Attend once per month	Dwelling Place - Christiansburg – 4-6?? Arrive at 3:30. Attend once per month	9-4 Heritage Route 100, Dublin. Heritage Church. Can go once every 4 weeks. USDA Food Pantry.	Fieldstone – 6-7 Do not arrive before 4:30. Raffle System. No benefit with arriving early. Can go 1 time every 3 weeks.	8-10 All About Jesus – RADFORD.  Arrive by 7:00 AM to get a decent box.  Order of Arrival.

ONLY FOR BLACKSBURG RESIDENTS – Interfaith Food Pantry.  Basement of Catholic Church on Harding Street.  Blacksburg.  Registration through NR Community Action.

NR Community Action and Salvation Army – Food Pantries available – Contact local branches of organization/angency.

Salvation Army Christiansburg Church on Roanoke Street – Monday and Friday 12-1:30 Free Lunch for people.

Daily Bread in Radford 11-12:30.  Daily Bread in Pulaski as well.

Drop-in Center at Fieldstone – 10-2 THURSDAYS – Serves Lunch at Noon.  Also has access to ONE washer and ONE Dryer without charge.  Get there at 10:00 to have time to wait for your turn at doing a load of laundry.