Tag: Nutrition

April 11, 2022April 20, 2022

Full-Spectrum CBD, Delta 8 THC, HHC

Federal Law Now Allows the Sale and Use of THC-Infused Industrial Grade Hemp — a Product Review

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No matter where you turn today it is CBD this and CBD that. Rub it! Wear it! Eat it! Be it! So what, pray tell, is this hemp, this miraculous, salubrious thing? Are the claims of its great efficacy in treating ills of the body and mind real or simply the hand wave of well-compensated mountebanks of all stripes?

The current popularity of the CBD industry is linked to the rise of medicinal cannabis, or medicinal marijuana, as a therapeutic approach to cure what ails us. This approach to medical care has received some rather less-than esemplastic official opinions.

Medicinal cannabis, or medicinal marijuana, is a therapy that has garnered much national attention in recent years. Controversies surrounding legal, ethical, and societal implications associated with use; safe administration, packaging, and dispensing; adverse health consequences and deaths attributed to marijuana intoxication; and therapeutic indications based on limited clinical data represent some of the complexities associated with this treatment¹ (Bridgeman, 2017).

Deaths attributed to marijuana intoxication? As opposed to alcohol intoxication? I must call foul; my entire life must be anecdotal because I have never seen or heard of this deadly result. Can an individual OD on cannabis? That would be somewhat ironic given the number of U.S. states that have greenlighted its medical use. Indeed, it was time for the federal government to step up with some clarification. At some point, the federal Supreme Court will likely be called into play.

The 2018 Farm Bill

December, 2018 — the 2018 Farm Bill² is signed into law. Its result was to remove hemp, which is defined as cannabis (Cannabis sativa L.), and derivatives of cannabis with comparatively low concentrations of the psychoactive compound delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) (no more than 0.3 percent THC on a dry weight basis), from the definition of marijuana in the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). This separated the wheat from the chaff, so to speak.

It was the “0.3 percent THC” that opened the door for commercial companies to begin production of recreational hemp products in the form of edibles (gummies, candies, caramels), vapes, tinctures, and even THC and HHC-infused flower buds.

Helpful Cannabis, Hemp, and CBD Definitions

CBD. This is the product that gets the most press. It is mostly marketed for pain relief for people and pets. Harvard Medical School says, “CBD, or cannabidiol, is the second most prevalent active ingredient in cannabis (marijuana). While CBD is an essential component of medical marijuana, it is derived directly from the hemp plant, a cousin of marijuana, or manufactured in a laboratory. One of hundreds of components in marijuana, CBD does not cause a ‘high’ by itself.⁴“
THC. Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is one of more than 100 cannabinoids encountered in the cannabis plant. Cannabinoids are this plant’s active compounds. As an analogy, ponder about how caffeine is one of the desired, active compounds in the coffee bean.
Full Spectrum CBD. This formulation retains all of the compounds found in fresh, unprocessed hemp plants. It is considered by most enthusiasts to be the most effective because it offers the compounds and effects of the natural hemp flower. Its use results in what is known as the Entourage Effect (the idea is that all these compounds function with maximum efficacy when present together). Be advised that for those folks who are sensitive to THC, or who are looking at a prospective drug test in the near future for employment or another reason, the presence of even minimum amounts of THC can be problematic.
Broad Spectrum CBD. This is the same product as full spectrum CBD, minus any trace amounts of THC remaining. You will still get a number of the beneficial effects associated with whole-plant extracts, but without any risk of testing positive for THC. This might also be a good option for pets, children, or anyone else who needs to avoid THC.
Delta 9. Delta 9 THC is the psychoactive cannabinoid associated with the cannabis plant. However, it isn’t found in raw cannabis. To produce it, a process called decarboxylation (heating the cannabis flower) is utilized. The existing THCa experiences a chemical reaction and morphs into Delta 9 THC.
THC-O. This is a newer derivative. It is considered stronger than Delta 9.
Delta 8. According to leafly.com, “Delta-8 is a cannabis compound that has become popular because of its similarity to delta-9 THC, the main compound in cannabis that gets you high, causing euphoria, happiness, sedation, symptom relief, and much more. Delta-8 will get you high, albeit not as high as common delta-9 THC.”³ Some conditions delta-8 can help with include pain relief, insomnia, anxiety, and nausea. Is it legal? The federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has proposed a new rule to indirectly classify delta-8 THC as a Schedule I controlled substance. This would make it illegal on a federal level. But, to date, that rule is not yet final.
HHC. American chemist Roger Adams added hydrogen molecules to Delta-9 THC first in 1944. This process, which is called hydrogenation, converts THC to hexahydrocannabinol (HHC). If the term hydrogenation sounds familiar, it is because it is used to transform vegetable oil into margarine. Viola! Since it’s not technically a THC compound, it may not be flagged in drug tests, but the jury is still out so don’t take that as gospel.

Discover your buzz with Delta-8 THC vapes!

Will These Hemp Products Get You High?

Everybody’s favorite question, right? Asking for a friend. Well, other than CBD and Broad Spectrum CBD, the formulations listed above are mood/perception/cognition altering. Many producers and marketers do not use the actual term high for obvious reasons, but instead might tout euphoria or relaxing. A rose by any other name… but I digress. Semantics aside, it seems that the federal law is gradually setting the stage for a type of marijuana legalization, traditionally a purview of state government.

Typical Hemp Products

For the purpose of this article, your humble blogger took it upon himself to try various products. This is what I found, but keep in mind that since all effects are closely tied to individual body chemistry, results may vary.

Vida Optima Hemp Products

I found these Delta 8 THC Gummies to be tasty and effective. No chemically-tinged taste. The 10mg serving was just right.

Delta 8 THC Hard Candies are slow-dissolving and delicious. At 50mg, they are more euphoric than the gummies. These are also available in 10mg and 25mg.

Delta 8 THC Oil is a liquid that comes with an eyedropper so you can administer it directly by mouth or add it to your favorite beverage.

Gorilla Glue Delta 8 THC Hybrid Flower is a premium product, a hand-trimmed CBD Flower, directly sprayed with Delta 8-THC distillate for a completely new experience for cannabis users. This item is especially suited to traditionalists who enjoy trimming up a big bud and indulging in the earthy smell.

July 4th Sale Discover your buzz with Delta-8 THC gummies, vapes and oils!

Dharma Hemp Products

Hemp Flower Strains are one of their main products. At this time, 14 strains are offered, each providing a unique experience. These buds are similar to the Gorilla Glue version detailed above.

HCC Caramels are large, chewy, and offer a pleasant euphoric experience at 20mg per treat.

Delta 8 THC Nano Caramels (and other products with Nano in the name) have, “undergone our proprietary nanotechnology process in order to break down the compounds to the nanometer level in order to arrive at the final product which is both water soluble (dissolvable in water) while also being more bioavailable in the body.^5″

The Dharma Delta 8 Nano Water Soluble THC Tincture is similar in effect to the Vida Optima THC Oil covered above. The first obvious difference is that it is milk-colored as opposed to a light copper color. The viscosity is comparable. Another difference is that even when I sampled a dose in a 10-oz. tumbler of water, fruit juice, or iced tea (unsweetened, thank you very much), it left a slight burning sensation in the back of my throat which manifested for about 45 seconds. Not overly unpleasant.

The Dharma Delta 8 Pre-Rolled Joints offer the same traditional smoking tradition as the Flower Strains without the bother of cleaning the buds and rolling one up. They come nicely packaged in a sealed plastic tube to prevent damage by wayward delivery folks. (No, far be it for your humble blogger to hold a grudge, but I still remember my crushed and soaking wet coffee bean delivery, UPS dude or dudette.)

The goal of this product review of various full-spectrum CBD, Delta 8 THC, and HCC hemp products was twofold. Firstly, I wanted to showcase and set out impressions and findings like any of my product reviews. Secondly, I wanted to test the waters about this almost stealth societal shift regarding the ethics and legality of using hemp attitude-adjusting products.

Endnotes

From the article, “Medicinal Cannabis: History, Pharmacology, And Implications for the Acute Care Setting,” in The National Library of Medicine, by Mary Barna Bridge, PharmD, BCPS, BCGP, et al. (PubMed Central, 2017), Introduction
From Section 297A <> DEFINITIONS, H.R.2 – Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 115th Congress (2017-2018), https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/2/text
From the article, “What is delta-8?,” in Leafly, by Leafly Staff
From the article, Cannabidiol (CBD)-what we know and what we don’t, in Harvard Health School, by Peter Grinspoon, MD
From the webpage Delta 8 THC, DHARMAD8, https://dharmad8.com/shop/delta-8-thc

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March 30, 2022April 6, 2022

Sourdough Peanut Butter Ball Recipe

Made Interesting With Organic Pumpkin and Whole Wheat and Rice Flour

*Sourdough peanut butter balls, complete with ballerina*

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I’ve been enjoying the world of sourdough baking lately. I enjoy the classics but what I really love is coming up with my own creations, quite often to the dismay of my wife — She-Who-Must-Be-Obeyed. Come on; I jest. Earlier this month I unleashed my Sourdough Focaccia recipe. Yesterday I came up with this sourdough peanut butter ball concoction.

It all started as a brain-storming session for a dog treat variation. I already make my own chicken jerky for dog treats. One similarity betwixt that one and this is that they are both suitable for both human and canine consumption. Win-win!!

Our vet had recommended adding canned pumpkin to our homemade dog food both the nutrition value and to maintain peak “regularity” if you get my drift. And the peanut butter? Loads of nutrition and protein. Not to mention flavor! Approved by all our rescue dogs.

If you make these balls 1″ to a quarter inch larger, like I do, this one batch will yield about 60 servings. Yes, you and the kids will love these, but so will your dog. But, tell me again, how much are you paying per paltry ounce for dog treats? (Forehead-slapping moment.)

Sourdough Ball Ingredients

Use organic ingredients when possible.

1 cup sourdough starter
1/2 cup organic steel cut oats
3/4 cup canned organic pumpkin
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/3 cup coconut flour
Approximately 2 cups whole wheat flour
2 large eggs

Preparation

Mix sourdough starter and oats in a large mixing bowl. This allows the oats to absorb liquid from the sourdough starter.
cover the bowl with a damp washcloth and let the mixture rest for at least 3 hours. You could do this before going to work and do the baking this afternoon.
Stir or whisk in the pumpkin, peanut butter, eggs, and coconut flour.
Start mixing and stirring in the whole wheat bit by bit. You know the drill; it’s like preparing bread dough. When it gets hard to stir, cease and desist. Time to move on.
Preheat the oven to 350℉.
Get out your pizza pan and a medium-sized sheet pan.
Roll ball of dough in the palms of your hands and place them on the parchment paper, one by one. Each ball that I make is 1″ to a quarter inch larger, but you make it to suit you. They don’t rise much so they can be neighborly and sit close.
Bake for 20 minutes.
Remove (after passing the toothpick test) and set aside to cool.

Frankie dog waiting for a homemade treat. — *Frankie doesn’t see much sense in the cooling-down phase*

Sourdough Focaccia Recipe

This Spiced Italian Comfort Food is Excellent as an Appetizer, Side Dish, or Main Course

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Sourdough focaccia is one of those wonderful Italian dishes that is enjoyed by itself as an appetizer or as a meal unto itself. In our home, we do either, depending on our mood, just like my guacamole recipe. With this recipe, it emerges with a delicious, chewy tang and a mouth-watering golden crust. It all starts with your beloved starter. Don’t have one yet? Here are three ways to get your sourdough starter going.

Is focaccia the same as pizza crust? No! However, it is thought to be a precursor of pizza when it was a flatbread known to Romans as panis focacius, to which toppings were then added. Modern pizza evolved from similar flatbread dishes in Naples, Italy, in the 18th or early 19th century.

Sourdough Focaccia Ingredient List

1 cup sourdough starter
1 cup warm water
1 tablespooln honey
1 teaspoon pink Himalayan salt
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
3/4 cup diced onion
Approximately 5 cups of flour

Preparation

Mix the starter, honey, and water in a large mixing bowl. A cast iron skillet is perfect. It will look like a big blob, and that’s okay! Us your hands to pull the edges out to gently stretch them. Your dough should be about 1 1/2 inches tall. Don’t stretch any more. Let it rise in a warm spot. Cover it with another piece of cookware, upside down, so it has room to rise for 2-3 hours hours until it is puffy and very bubbly.
Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
Drizzle the top of the dough with olive oil Press your fingertips using your whole hand into the risen dough. Your fingertips should go all the way down through the dough until you feel the pan.
Put your pan in the oven on middle rack. Bake for 15 minutes. Remove it for a moment and brush the top with melted butter, garlic, and oregano. Turn your oven down to 400 degrees F. Bake it for another 10 or so minutes until the crust is golden brown and bounces back a wee bit when you press down on it. Let it cool for 15 minutes, cut. and enjoy.

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March 3, 2022March 18, 2022

How to Make a Sourdough starter

If You Love That Tangy Sourdough Taste And Love To Bake, Here is How to Get Started

*San Francisco style sourdough starter culture*

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Who doesn’t like the tangy taste of freshly baked sourdough bread? How about pancakes, cupcakes, bran muffins, focaccia, and buttermilk biscuits? The actual baking part doesn’t differ much from the traditional yeast-in-a-package process, but now you’ll need a sourdough starter to replace the yeast.

What is a Starter?

Although the concept may seem a bit esoteric, a starter is a mix of flour and filtered water that provides an environment for a stable blend of beneficial bacteria and wild yeasts. The baker must continually maintain the mixture is with regular refreshments (or feedings) of water and flour. There are basically three ways to get it going.

Hit up a friend for a cup. This is the easiest way, if you know someone who is an avid sourdough baker.
Buy an affordable packet of wild yeasts all over the place.

You will need:

A glass jar; don’t use metal. Silicone spatula“>silicone spatula. This is used for stirring and scraping the inside of your jar.

Whichever way you go, use filtered water. Tap water contains chlorine or chloramine, which are disinfectants used to clean tap water. This can impede fermentation. If you go with the first method, you will just need to feed it every day with equal measures of organic white flour and water until you have more than enough for your recipe.

If you go the packaged route, the instructions will be on the package. This usually entails feeding it more every day for a week or so.

Starting from scratch is a bit different. Here’s a basic recipe.

Day 1: The starter adventure begins. Combine 4 ounces all-purpose flour (3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons) and 4 ounces water (1/2 cup) in your jar. Stir well until it is combined into a smooth batter. Scrape down the sides with your spatula and loosely cover the jar. Place your jar somewhere with a consistent room temperature of 70°F to 75°F. Let it sit for 24 hours.
Day 2: Feed your starter. For this, use 4 ounces all-purpose flour (3/4 cup + 2 tablespoons) and 4 ounces water (1/2 cup). You might see small bubbles here and there. Bubbles mean that the wild yeast have began being comfortable and active in your starter. They eat the sugars in the flour and continue to release carbon dioxide and alcohol. Additionally, they will increase the acidity of your starter, which assists in fending off any unwanted bacterias. At this point, your starter should begin to smell fresh, mildly sweet, and yeasty.
Day three: Feed your starter again. This time, use the same quantities as day 2. By now, the surface of your starter might be speckled with bubbles and be larger in volume. If you stir the starter, it will still feel thick and batter-like, but you’ll hear bubbles popping. It should also start smelling a little sour and musty.
Day 4: Feed your starter again. Use the same amounts of water and flour. The starter will feel looser than day 3 and have embeded bubbles.
Day 5: Your starter should be ready to begin using. It should be doubled in bulk since day 4. It should also be very bubbly. If not, it can still be used but it won’t have the same leavening power. Feed it again.
Day 6 and going forward: Maintain the starter. Discard (or use) about about 1/3 of the starter and then feed it with new flour and water; you know the drill by now. If you’re using the starter every few days, leave it out on the counter and continue discarding half and feeding it daily. But, say, you are only using it on the weekend, cover it tightly and place it in the refrigerator. You must still take it out and feed it once a week; let it sit out overnight to give the yeast time to gather strength before returning it to the fridge.

There will be times when you go out of town on business or on vacation and you won’t be able to tend to it properly. When this happens, you can feed the starter double the amount of flour to make it thicker and dough-like before you store it in the refrigerator.

Now you know how to make a sourdough starter. It’s not rocket science but it may seem like a lot of work. But, like shaving or brushing your teeth, the process soon becomes just another small effort in life, albeit one with palatable rewards.

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February 17, 2022March 6, 2022

Organic Foliar Feeding with Garrett Juice

Spray Fertilization Will Take the Health and Yield of Your Garden to the Next Level

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Many gardeners unknowingly miss half of their fertilization schedule because they focus on the ground, which is understandable. Roots, right?. But, foliar feeding with a product such as Medina Hasta Grow Plant Food will increase your harvest. Why? Because plants also uptake nutrients through their leaves.

Medina Hasta Grow is one of the best sprays on the market, but perhaps you might be the DIY sort? In that case, Garret Juice is your answer. In addition to stimulating plant growth, this organic concoction will also protect against some garden pests. Why add foliar feeding to your schedule when you already fertilize on a regular basis? Because it offers yet another, safer avenue to getting nutrition into your vegetable garden, fruit trees, and rose bushes rather than using chemicals and neurotoxins.

If you have chosen backyard homesteading and self-sufficiency, or prepping as a lifestyle, or just want to get a better return on your labor and investment, then organic foliar feeding with Garrett Juice is a given. Enjoying better, healthier yields relies on this type of horticultural strategy.

Basic Garrett Juice Ingredients

Be sure to use organic ingredients and methods whenever possible.

1 cup compost tea
1 ounce liquid seaweed
1 ounce molasses (the liquid kind obviously; only use dried molasses for broadcasting.)
1 ounce natural apple cider vinegar (my favorite brand is Bragg Organic; Amazon.com has it at the best prices).
1 ounce fish emulsion
1 gallon water
3 liquid ounces of orange oil

Additives for Pest and Insect Control

Want to boost it up for insect control? Add 1/4 cup garlic tea/pepper spray. To make this, use a blender. Liquefy 1 clove of peeled garlic, 1 quartered habanero pepper, and 16 ounces of water. Everyone, but especially those wearing contact lenses, needs to wear disposable gloves when cutting the habanero or when you take your lenses out for the night, you’ll never be able to use them again. Been there, done that. Great balls of fire!

You’ll need to strain the solids out of the resulting liquid. Since the particles are so small, you’ll need a very fine strainer so you won’t clog up your spray tip. A good choice is the small fuel strainer for Coleman lanterns and camping stoves. You will have some leftover but you can save it for spot treatments later with a hand bottle sprayer. For spot treatment, mix it with 3 parts water.

Foliar Feeding Procedure

Add all ingredients to a pump-up garden sprayer and mix well by shaking. The molasses is a very thick liquid so give it a little extra shake than you normally would. Pump up your sprayer and adjust the tip to a wide mist, not a jet spray. Just lightly coat the leaves; a little goes a long way. If you have any left over, go ahead and use it up on your ornamentals. I always make enough to spray my magnolia tree, for example. For tall trees like these, you will need to adjust the sprayer tip to a stronger stream in order to reach the higher leaves. Or, conversely, drag out that ladder.

Using Garrett Juice for foliar feeding on a monthly basis will give your plants and trees a new zest for life. And of course, your vegetable garden will put more on your table.

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January 31, 2022February 17, 2022

Creamy, Zesty Guacamole Recipe

My Take on This Mexican Food Classic For an Appetizer or Main Course

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Who doesn’t like Mexican (or Tex Mex, if you prefer) guacamole? I know everyone in my home does! I set out to make a batch the other day. Love to cook, love to explore. When I enter my experimental kitchen, anything can happen.

The avocado is the base ingredient, of course; it is one of God’s greatest gifts. In my opinion. This fruit was originally called the alligator pear. I don’t see any correlation between the critter and the food, but still, interesting trivia. The nutrition is solid ― one cup supplies 21.4 g fat (mostly the good kind), 12 g carbohydrates, 2.9 g protein, 14.6 mg Vitamin C, 0.4 mg B-6, 708 mg potassium, and 42.3 mg magnesium. This recipe just adds to the nutritional spectrum. By the way, it pays to grow your own avocado tree when the fruit gets pricey.

Ingredient List

4 or 5 large avocados
2 packages of guacamole seasoning mix; I used the Kroger brand
1 package cream cheese; again, Kroger brand. Yay, frugality!
3/4 cup chopped red onions
red pepper flakes to taste
pepper to taste
Pink Himalayan salt to taste
Juice of one lemon
4 diced roma tomatos

Preparation Steps

In a large mixing bowl, mash the avocados. Use your device of preference; I just used a fork. Throw the husks in your compost pile.
Mix in the seasoning packets.
Mash in the cream cheese. You did let it come to room temperature, right?
Mix in salt, pepper, lemon juice, and red pepper flakes.
Mix in the tomatos.
Chop and mix in the red onions.
Break out the chips and enjoy!

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October 9, 2021March 2, 2022

Restore a Rusty Cast Iron Skillet

The Original Non-Stick Cookware That Will Last a Lifetime With Proper Care

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Cast iron cookware originated in China during the Han Dynasty, was adopted by Europeans, and eventually made its way to America. The use of iron for many other purposes predates cookware because the process of casting had yet to be invented. Once that process was developed, it was used for water pipes, cannons, and other objects.

Many cast iron skillets on the market today are Chinese schlock (surprise, surprise). The really good ones, which are what you want, can be quite expensive if they are new. To get a deal though, obtain an older one and restore it to its pristine condition. Have a look at garage sales, estate sales, or Goodwill. The degree to which it needs to be refinished, the less of a financial investment you will likely have to make. Once you find your prize, it’s time to restore it to a useable condition.

Remove the Cast Iron Skillet Rust

Most of the sites on the internet will tell you to remove rust with steel wool and this is fine if you have a very mild case of oxidation. But let me tell you, this will take a long time and will work you to the bone if it is worse than that. Instead, I use a grinding wheel attached to my Ryobi cordless drill to expedite the job. Work smarter, not harder, as Gramps used to opine.

*Grinding wheel on a Ryobi Cordless drill*

The grinder in the image above came straight from Home Depot and worked out just right for attacking both the bottom and sides of my skillet as well as the inside corners. Keep even but light pressure.

It’s likely that the outside will need some work as well. In my case, I had some flakes that needed to be chipped off before applying the grinder. For this, I used a old flat-blade screwdriver and my trusty 16 oz. hammer, which I bought at the beginning of my carpenter apprenticeship back in 1979. Still going strong. That was when Craftsman was the premier brand for hand tools. That’s a bit of America we’ll never get back. Sigh.

Seasoning Your Cast Iron

Seasoning your cookware is the most important maintenance step; this is what gives it a non-stick cooking surface. After following the steps above and you have a good surface (it does not have to be shiny, just rust-free and smooth) it’s time to season it.

For the first seasoning, apply a thin coat of peanut oil on the entire surfaces of your skillet including the handle.
Pre-heat your oven to 350℉.
Put your skillet in and let it bake for an hour.
Turn off the oven an allow it to cool

That’s all there is to it! Do it at least twice before cooking in it. The handle and outside only need to be done the first time. This is done as a rust inhibitor. Ideally, you should season your skillet after each washing, but you can judge when it is due by the level of non-stickiness.

Properties of Cast Iron Cookware

It is an easy way to more of the mineral iron into your diet. One cup of foods like applesauce, chili, tomato sauce, stew, and scrambled eggs will gain about six to eight milligrams of iron after being cooked in cast iron cookware. This is important for all of us but especially us avid runners and other workoutaholics.
It will last a looooong time. In this age of planned obsolescence, it is nice to have something you can pass on to your offspring.
It is very heavy.
It conducts, distributes, and holds heat well.
Unlike some other materials, it won’t develop a convex bottom over time, casing wobble and uneven cooking.

That’s about all there is to restoring a rusty cast iron skillet. With proper upkeep, it will not just serve you well, but it will outlast you.

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June 28, 2021June 30, 2021

Creamy Turkey Mushroom Couscous Recipe

This Pasta and Lean Meat Dish is a Real Crowd-Pleaser

by Kelly R. Smith

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I’ve long wanted to try a couscous recipe just because the word sounds cool. How shallow, right? But, anything pasta is tickety-boo here in the Smith abode. Pasta forms the basis of many recipes that I keep going back to again and again. Who doesn’t like Beef Stroganoff, for example?

But hey, you are here for a more specific recipe, right? I looked at a lot of different recipes that were similar but not. quite. right. So, here we go!

Ingredient List (Organic When Possible)

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 lb. Turkey sausage
8 oz. fresh mushrooms, sliced and chopped, cremini or baby bella
3/4 cup onion
3/4 cup bell pepper
3 tablespoons butter
3 eggs, whisked
2 ounces Parmesan cheese, finely grated (about 1 cup), plus more for serving
2 cloves garlic
1 1/2 teaspoons pink Himalayan salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 pound dried pearl couscous pasta (about 2 1/2 cups)
2 cups low-sodium chicken or vegetable broth
2 cups whole milk
4 cups packed baby spinach (about 4 ounces)

Preparation Steps

*Creamy turkey mushroom couscous preparation*

Finely grate the Parmesan cheese (about 1 cup), mince the garlic, and slice the mushrooms 1/4-inch thick.
Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large Dutch oven or similar pot using medium-high heat until shimmering. Add in the sausage meat and brown it. Add in the mushrooms, 1 1/2 teaspoons of the pink salt, the onion, and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the mushrooms are slightly browned and tender. This should take 5 to 8 minutes. Next, add in the garlic, the and the dried pearl couscous pasta (about 2 1/2 cups) and sauté until fragrant, about 1 minute.
Stir in the 2 cups of broth and the 2 cups of whole milk and bring it all to a boil. Next, reduce the heat to maintain a simmer. Cook uncovered, stirring frequently to keep the orzo from sticking, until the orzo is al dente and most of the liquid is absorbed and has formed a creamy sauce, about 10 minutes or according to package instructions.
Remove your pot from the heat. Add the eggs, packed baby spinach, the bell pepper. and the Parmesan. Stir it until the spinach is just barely wilted and the cheese is melted, about 1 minute. Serve topped with more grated Parmesan cheese.

I hope you found this creamy turkey mushroom couscous recipe as delicious as we did! I love experimenting in the kitchen and this was somehow my first time cooking with couscous and now I’m a fan.

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June 7, 2021June 13, 2021

Crustless Tomato Pie Recipe

Combine the Goodness of Tomatoes, Bell Peppers, and Lots of Cheese

by Kelly R. Smith

Crustless tomato pie right out of the oven

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I love to come up with new recipes. I’m especially partial to baking bread and comfort food casserole-type dishes. This tomato pie recipe was prompted by the fact that the tomatoes in my garden are coming in fast and furious, like a profitable jackpot from a slot machine. No complaints about that, but it’s use ’em or lose ’em; am I right? This year my vegetable garden is home to red and yellow tomatoes as well as herbs like basil and lemon balm, which not only makes great tea but has medicinal benefits. Using as many ingredients from my own garden means I can be sure they are organic. Anyhow, on to the recipe.

Crustless Tomato Pie Ingredients

4 tomatoes sliced, about 1/4 inch
Salt
3 tablespoons butter
3 eggs, beaten
3/4 cup onion (I like red ones)
3/4 cup bell pepper
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
4 tablespoons cilantro, chopped (that’s right out of my garden as well)
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, plus extra for sprinkling over top
4 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped

Preparation Steps

Slice the tomatoes and lay them out on plates. Sprinkle lightly with pink Himalayan salt and let them rest for 30 minutes. This step is important to leech out excess water.
Melt the butter in a saucepan, add the onions, and saute until they are soft.
Transfer mixture into a medium-sized mixing bowl.
Mix in the eggs, cheese, bell pepper, pepper, and cilantro.
This is a good time to preheat your oven to 375 degrees.
Spray cooking spray on your casserole dish. I used my 2 1/2 quart Corningware.
Tilt your plates to spill off the excess water. Then, lightly press down with paper towels to remove even more water.
Line the bottom of the dish with tomato slices and spoon a thin layer of the mixture on them. Keep going, in like fashion, building up layers. Spread a final thin layer of cheese across the final, top layer.
Bake for 30-40 minutes. It’s done when lightly browned. Remove from the oven and allow it to cool a bit before serving.

And there you have it. There are other versions but this is my crustless tomato pie recipe. Are there other possible ingredients? Sure, depending on your taste. Try serving it with something like a raw Tuscan kale salad.

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May 24, 2021June 7, 2021

Baked Eggplant Fries Recipe

Eggplant is an Overlooked Vegetable That is Low-Calorie and High in Nutritional Value

by Kelly R. Smith

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You say, “Fries that aren’t potatoes? Blasphemy!” Well, call them whatever you want; baked eggplant fries are good. Unless you’re talking about Eggplant Parmesan, this nightshade vegetable gets comparatively little air-time. But it should. There are many varieties but at the end of the day, it originally came from India and Asia, where it grows wild to this day. Eggplants made their way to Europe with the Islamic empire in the 7th and 8th centuries.

Eggplant Nutrition?

This vegetable really stands out in this department. A 3.5-ounce (100-gram) serving of eggplant has:

25 calories
1 gram of protein
0.2 grams fat
6 grams carbohydrates
3 grams fiber (we all love regularity, right?)

It’s also an excellent source of many vitamins and minerals. It has antioxidants like vitamins A and C, which help protect your cells against damage. It’s also high in natural plant chemicals called polyphenols, which may help cells do a better job of processing sugar if you have diabetes. It’s also rich in acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter that helps lower blood pressure.

Baked Eggplant Fries Ingredient List

1 eggplant
2 cups panko breadcrumbs
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
2 large eggs, whisked
salt and pepper to taste
Olive oil cooking spray (or the spray of your choice that you have on hand)
Marinara sauce or your choice, for dipping

Preparation

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
Place the whisked eggs into a shallow bowl and season them with a little salt and pepper. Place the breadcrumbs onto a plate, add the parmesan cheese to the breadcrumbs, toss to combine.
Wash and cut off ends of eggplant.
Slice down the middle and keep slicing until they are about 1/4″ thick.
Line 2 cookie sheets with parchment paper.
Coat each slice with the whisked egg, coat it with panko, and arrange them on the cookie sheets. You might have to change out the moist panko for fresh dry. Keep the wet panko!
Bake for 20-25 minutes.
Remove and enjoy!

Additional Notes

Of course, I had some whisked egg and wet panko left over. So, waste not, want not. I mixed the two, added another egg, some grated cheese, and baked it. Not exactly a souffle, but the next best thing. Just throw in whatever you want. Well, that’s the Baked Eggplant Fries Recipe. Enjoy!

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Combine the Goodness of Tomatoes, Bell Peppers, and Lots of Cheese

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