Old School Popcorn

Many years ago I remember my fun Uncle David bragging that he could make the perfect popcorn. He was battling the first electric popper that our family ever had. Remember them? The oil and popcorn were put in the center, the dome was put over it, the butter was put in the top and the power turned on. Around the little arm would go until the popcorn was popping. It was so exciting to watch!

Well, I left our air popper behind and can't find one in any of the stores that I've been in (what's up?) so, in rememberance of my roots and fond memories, I tried the good ol' version with a frying pan and on an electric cooktop!

Old School Popcorn

Popcorn
Oil (I prefer Canola or Olive Oil)

cooking pot of your choice

and a cooktop/range (gas or electric)

Put enough popcorn in the bottom of the pan to loosly cover just the bottom (no more!)
Put just enough oil in the pan to barely cover the popcorn

Turn the heat up to about 7 or 8 (on the electric cooktop). Let things start to heat up and then every 30 seconds or so, move the pan a little to make sure the heat and oil are evenly distributed. You can even keep the lid off for a minute or two but then it needs to go on for all of the popping (or not, depending on how you like to entertain yourself). Once the popping starts, let some pop and then lift the pan up and move it around over and over so that the heat and oil stay well distributed and the bottom doesn't burn. Once the popping really slows down, turn the heat off. Pour the popped corn into a bowl and add your favorite salt. Yep NO BUTTER NEEDED!!! It's the best!

Mashed Potatoes without wheat or dairy???

Yep!!!
It can be done a couple ways and you're family will always be happy!
First of all, mashed potatoes are a wonderful tradition and what's a holiday without them? How frustrating to have to skip that big bowl of creamy mashed potatoes with the potential for the potato and gravy volcano!
Here are a couple solutions that should make your meals exploded again:

Start all versions by boiling your favorite kind of potatoes in water to a soft centered consistency.

Here's the difference
*one, you can literally take the potatoes out of the water, put them in the mixing bowl, add salt (about 1 TBS), margarine (about 1/4 c.), and enough water that the potatoes were boiled in to make the consistency you are looking for. Mix well and serve!
*two, you can take the potatoes out of the water, put them in the mixer, add salt and margarine and this time add either soy milk or lactose free milk or your favorite replacement "milk" until you get the consistency you are looking for.

Either way, mashed potatoes don't have to be eliminated. Yeah! All lactose free dieters can still make volcanoes to their hearts' delight.
That's not too much to ask, is it?

A Week on the Move

We can do this even on the run!
*Tacos
Corn tortillas, diced boiled eggs, hamburger with taco seasoning, diced tomatoes, shredded lettuce, and salsa or pico de gallo
*Rice with pork chops and cut up watermellon
*Chicken Thighs with mashed potatoes and cut up cantelope
*Spagetti
rice pasta with marinara sauce and a salad
*Roasted chickens, rice, and cut up fruit
*Pico de gallo with black beans and sweet corn with tortilla chips
*Roast with potatoes, carrots, onions and broccoli

Beware

Strawberry Season!!

Love this time of year with all of the fresh fruits and veggies in season. It's particularly great to have so much to chose from so that not eating breads is even easier for us.
My sister just sent this very informative link:
http://www.calgiant.com/products/strawberries.asp
Time for some strawberry pie!

Homemade Salsa-roasted

You won't believe how easy!!!
I saw this on TV and tried it just from sight.
Get out a good size cookie sheet and spread some olive oil on it.
Heat your oven to about 400 degrees.
Slice about 9 Roma tomatoes and not necessarily thin
Cut or slice about 1/2 of a large yellow onion or whatever floats your boat
slice a Jalapeno Pepper in half seeds and all
Lay out these items on your cookie sheet and put it in the oven until they are toasted a bit
Then pour them into your blender with the juices
and add
about 1/2 of a bunch of chopped Cilantro

turn on your blender for a bit and Voila!! You can add your favorites to this like corn or even increase one of the above items to suit your taste. Did you ever think it was so easy? (and now cheap!)
My 4 teenagers gobbled it up.
My husband and I got in on the chip dipping action, too.
Yummy!

Ham Bone Soup

This was first given to me by my neighbor, Barbara. She just verbally gave it to me. That's how simple it is. There are a couple variations so that the family won't get tired of it! Just remember to never throw that Easter, Thanksgiving and/or Christmas Ham Bone away every again. Freeze it for a yummy meal!

Ham bone
1 can of corn
2 cups uncooked pasta (brown rice pasta in our house)
1 cup diced celery
1 large can of crushed tomatoes

OR

Ham Bone
1 can of corn
8 cubed peeled potatoes
1 cup diced celery
optional
1 large can of crushed tomatoes

Take a yummy ham bone and put it in a pot. Fill the pot with water to cover the ham. Add Celery. Boil for about 1/2 hour. Remove ham bone to cool. Add all of the other ingredients and any ham pieces you can get from the ham bone and cook until pasta or potatoes are completely cooked. If I do the potato version, I smash the potatoes in the soup. This recipe can feed 8-10 people.

*You could also add peas, beans of any kind, rice, etc. There are really a lot of versions of the same idea.