Sometimes you feel like a NUT

Coconut! And I LOVE coconut!  Coconut water not so much but anything else coconut is top in my book.

My new love is Coconut oil.  Coconut oil can be used for so much.

Coconut oil is a solid and a liquid.  At temps below 70 degrees it varies between hard and semi soft, depending on the temps.  At temps above 70 degrees it turns to liquid.  The first time I went into my pantry in the summer time and saw that my jar of coconut oil had melted  I didn't know what to think.  I didn't realize at the time that temperature affected it.  Live and Learn.

First, outside of the kitchen coconut oil can be used in making homemade cosmetics and scrubs.  I keep telling myself that I am going to do just that but I haven't found the time.  I am out of sugar scrub though so I need to get on it quick.

Inside the kitchen there are a ton of ways to use coconut oil.  A ton of TASTY ways!
Here are a few of my favorites:

Popcorn!  I pop my own popcorn in the microwave with a microwave popcorn bowl.  I add a small amount of oil at the bottom and grind salt and pepper over the oil.  Then I add the popcorn and pop.  The flavor is great!  There is a hint of coconut and its so light and flavorful that the corn flavor just pops.  I'll never make popcorn any other way again.  It just doesn't measure up.

Corn on the Cob!  I have a few ways that I make corn on the cob.  But when I make it on the stove top I usually add either butter or olive oil to the water so save from having to add it later and to enhance the flavor.  One day I decided to add coconut oil to the water instead.  WOW!  It melts with the sweet corn flavor so well.  I think this may be my favorite way to cook corn now.

Baking!  If your recipe calls for butter or shortening use coconut oil instead.  The measurements are one for one. Its not as healthy as using apple sauce or pumpkin puree but it is oh so good.  I made a batch of chocolate chip cookies for the kids ;-) and used coconut oil instead of butter.  I also added shredded coconut to the batter.  THE. BEST. CHOCOLATE. CHIP. COOKIES. EVER!  You don't have to soften it like you do butter and it is far better for you than shortening/crisco!

Mashed Taters!  I prefer mashed sweet taters.  If you get the sweet and salty flavors just right they are awesome and pair well with a good meatloaf.  I usually add a bit of butter and milk or broth to the potatoes before I mix them.  One day I added a small amount of coconut oil instead.  YUMMO!  I also added cinnamon, raw sugar, salt and light sour cream (instead of milk/broth)  I'm sure this would be just as yummy with white potatoes.  It'll give them a slight island flavor!

Stir Fry!  Sauté or stir fry your onions, green peppers and mushrooms in coconut oil.

Rice!  I like to sauté my rice before I cook it.  I start off with hot oil in a pan, sauté  the rice until translucent and then add broth or water.   I'll then cover it and cook on low until done.  Coconut oil is so much more flavorful then olive oil.

I have yet to pan fry anything in coconut oil.  Only because I rarely pan fry.  But knowing what I know about coconut oil I'm sure it would make chicken breasts, seasoned with a bit of jerk seasoning, taste amazing.   I might just have to add that to my weeks menu now :-)

So go run out and get you a jar of coconut oil and have at it!  And don't forget to share your ideas.

Busy little bee

I haven't been around in a while, things have been beyond crazy here.  But I have been busy!  

Marc took a trip to Guadalajara for business a few weeks ago and I was totally overwhelmed with everything. 

Driving the two oldest boys to middle school before 8 and then the youngest to elementary school at 8:45 and still manage to shower, dress myself and baby, keep a somewhat clean kitchen and house AND still keep our scheduled activities and routines going was almost impossible.  And everyone still had to eat.  Three meals a day!  Can you believe the nerve?  

This momma needs some major destressing, to say the least!

I am in AWE of single mommies.  You guys rock!

But in the time before and after that week long business trip I did manage to make a few things.  

  Nutella French toast!  

Such a simple and absolutely delicious idea.  I don't know why I hadn't thought of it myself!  Another Pinterest gem.

I used bakery french bread from the grocery store.  I prepared the french toast mixture as I usually do, with eggs, milk, vanilla and cinnamon.

I spread nutella between 2 slices of bread and dipped each "sandwich" in the mixture and cooked in a skillet on medium heat.

 

To garnish I sprinkled with confectioners sugar and used real maple syrup.

  Pepperoni Dough Balls   

They are quick and easy and the kids love them.  Perfect for nights that Jacob has bassoon lessons.  I had made an entire pan of dough balls, there are recipes all over the internet for these.  

I use can biscuits.  I cut them in half and roll out each half.  Then place a few pieces of pepperoni or even half a meatball on each piece of dough, top with cheese and fold the dough ends over until it forms a ball.  I place them all in a greased glass backing pan, fold side down.  Spray or baste the tops with olive oil  and sprinkle with parmesan cheese and herbs.  I bake at 350 until nice a brown.

I honestly don't pay attention to the time, I just watch the food.  Maybe 15 min?  Don't hold me to it.

Baked Sugar Biscuits

I had some biscuits left over after making dinner so I made dessert too.  

Now my parents always made biscuit donuts.  These sugar covered fried biscuits can even be found on Chinese buffets.  This is in no way a new invention.  But I wanted to bake these, not fry them.

So I filled a bowl with Sugar in the Raw and Trader Joes cinamon sugar grinder.  I rolled each grand biscuit in the sugar mixture until all sides were evenly covered.  I placed them on a greased cookie sheet.  I figured I had to use something to create the crispiness that I wanted so I softened a bit of coconut oil and poured a small amount on top of each biscuit.  It looked like drizzle frosting. The coconut oil melted down and around the biscuit to crisp all sides. I baked them at 350 until brown as well.     

 

This is what I got.  DELISH 

 Breakfast Hash Brown Casserole  

I found this recipe on Pinterest.  I didn't get any pictures of it. The morning was just too busy to worry about it.

It made the house smell wonderful in the morning!  Its was very simple.    All you need is:

One dozen eggs or egg beaters                                                                                                                

6 slices of bacon (sausage would work good too)                                                                                   

1/2 onion, chopped                                                                                                                                  

1 clove of garlic (the original recipe called for it but I left it out)                                                             

1 cup chopped peppers, any color.  Sweet or bell peppers work.                                                            

1 cup chopped mushrooms                                                                                                                      

1 bag frozen hash browns                                                                                                                        

2 cups shredded cheese                                                                                                                            

Dill, Salt & Pepper                                                                                                                                   

• Cook bacon and cut into one inch pieces.  I baked my bacon while moving on to the next step.
• Sauté onions, mushrooms and green peppers. (and garlic if used)                                               
• In a bowl  beat 12 eggs and seasoned dill and salt and pepper.                                                   
• Spray a crock pot with cooking spray and begin layering frozen hash browns, bacon, pepper   mixture and shredded cheese.                                                                                                      
• I repeated these layers, using all the ingredients                                                                           
• Pour the eggs on top and set to cook for 8 hours.                                                                        

Everyone loved this also.   Even the baby!  It made the morning so much easier.