The kitchen-in a state I call "not really all that bad."
The living room. After being cleaned yesterday--see the floor?? It's been vacuumed!
What is happening to the window Mom found so offensive she cleaned it. "Look, Mommy! I make a face!"Honest. All I did was search "amaranth" in Google. I came away from this thinking I should make amaranth noodles from scratch. Well, I kinda would have to, wouldn't I? It's not like I can run to the store and buy them. So I started this morning by grinding up some amaranth into flour (*tangent below if you're interested*) and we went to Whole Foods. Came home, fed baby, and started noodles. I made them just like semolina pasta--water and flour. I rolled the dough out and cut it into noodles. Then into lots of briskly boiling water it went. Not sure if I overcooked or what, but they are very gummy. M is impressed however. Then I realized--it's his first ever homemade noodles! They really don't taste too bad.
But, what am I thinking? Am I crazy? Do I really need a way to spend MORE time in the kitchen? Besides, tomorrow is rice day and he can have Tinkyada noodles breakfast, lunch and dinner if he wants. And they taste good! Oh well, I guess all this experimentation is how I stumble on the winners.
Anyway, here they are
*Tangent*
Whole foods sells amaranth flour for just over $7.40/#. My Azure order came in yesterday with my 25# of amaranth flour at just over $36. I just saved myself roughly $150!!! Yeah, I can keep right on grinding! And it tastes better to boot.
Being forced to use one grain at a time breeds lots of knowledge about those grains! What a shock eh? Anyway, I have learned a few things about the properties of these grains and I'm sure I have a lot more to learn. So far I know that amaranth makes an absolutely scrumptious gravy! Like, dreamily good! I make a roux with the flour and fat from pan drippings. Then stir in the broth or use whatever liquid you want for your gravy. Cook until thick. Just a little salt makes a piece of heaven.
Millet makes the best pancakes. It is so light and fluffy. The biscuits are fairly good, but almost a little too soft.
Teff makes great muffins and cookies. I also really like the injera. M doesn't. Too bad for him.
Quinoa makes an excellent, rich pilaf. Toast the dry grain until the smell of the grain is released. Add in veggies and mushrooms-gotta have mushrooms!--and cook like rice pilaf. Only it cooks faster. 15 minutes is good. MMMMM. Makes good chili too.
Oh, and amaranth tortillas? Delish!
I have always known that fresh ground flour is better--and better for you. I just haven't wanted to put forth the effort with my hand crank mill. Plus it is designed for big ol what grains. For Christmas, I got the Kitchen-Aid grain mill. I have tried all the grains we use in it and am very, very satisfied. It works great and they really do taste that much better.
I went ahead and ordered the 25# bags of the grains so I could grind them. It will be significantly cheaper and I don't have to deal with x-contamination. Which I currently do.
It will be good for us too, because these grains are ancient. Wheat has been bred for shelf life. Teff, amaranth, millet and quinoa have not. They go ranid pretty fast. I hope that I can build up more of a food storage this way. Especially since if we can't get food right away in a disaster or fuel shortage, we are in serious trouble!
Here are a couple of recipes if you are curious to try our food.
Millet banana pancakes
2 med mashed bananas
1/4 melted coconut oil
1 C water
2/3 C tapioca starch (or other starch if tapioca is not okay)
2 C millet flour
1/3 C coconut flour
1 tsp baking soda
2 tsp cream of tartar or use 2 tsp vinegar in the liquids if c of t is out
1/4 tsp stevia powder
1 tsp quar gum
dash salt
Mix all together with additional water to make a thick, pourable batter. You can use fruit juice or add honey if you don't want to use stevia.
Pour onto hot griddle and cook like regular pancakes.
Teff Muffins
2 C teff flour
3/4 C flax meal
3/4 Coconut meal (I make this by grinding coconut in a coffee grinder--same as I use for making flax meal)
2 tsp cream of tartar
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp quar gum
1/4 tsp salt
Mix well and add:
1/2 C honey
1/2 C melted coconut oil
1 C water
Mix until combined and spoon into muffin tins. Bake in a preheated 375F oven for 20 minutes.
These recipes are my own creation. If you share them, please give me credit! Thanks
because only in Spring would you wake up to snow in the totally mild Pacific Northwest, right? I thought I must have heard C wrong when he called the boys to come see the snow. He was right. Go figure. I called my mom in S Idaho. No snow there.
True Confessions time. I have posted pictures of my nice clean house and organized spaces many times before. I look at pictures other people have posted of their nice clean houses and newly organized spaces too. Lovely. Really. This is the truth:
This was taken sometime around 11am.
pajamas (dirty) still on: check
all the blankets and pillows on the floor: check
stuff under the couch that we'll forget about: check
small chocking hazards all over the floor: check
unfolded diapers and dirty clothes in the corner: check
Still the same today: CHECK!
But I do want you to notice the couch with room to sit. That is impressive is it not?
So, after coming home and reading this post, dh felt that I was not very clear about the fact that I was just joking.
So, here's my retraction:
C does not think this about me. He freely offers me chocolate in the evenings and frequently buys me bars of the finest chocolates around. He also thinks I am a beautiful woman. He likes to gaze upon my beauty. I'm a lucky girl.
I stand by the fact that he prefers it when I don something other than flannel pants, though. And really, who can argue.
If I tell myself that the chocolate may not be good for my hips once in awhile, it may do me good. Antioxidants aside.
1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE?
No, but I think my Grandpa had some input on the spelling. So I hear.
2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED?
Not sure
3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING?
No
4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT?
honey roasted turkey
5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS?
3 boys
6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU?
I'd probably drive me crazy and give up being friends. She's such a flake--don't tell her
7. DO YOU USE SARCASM?
Ya think?
8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS?
Yes
9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP?
Never
10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL?
homemade granola-no nuts
11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF?
If I wear shoes that tie-which is rare
12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG?
somewhat--I guess if I can carry G and E at the same time I must be
13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM?
Julie's organic-especially the ice cream sandwiches. Otherwise homemade
14.WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE?
their attitude
15. What is your favorite color?
blue and green
16. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF?
I'm judgemental, sarcastic, and flaky
17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST?
My Grandma Hattie and my BIL Ray
19. WHAT COLOR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING?
I'm not dressed yet, so blue polar fleece pants and my fuzzy yellow socks
20. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE?
Oatmeal
21. WHAT ARE YOU listening to RIGHT NOW?
M complaining about having to unload the dw. Apparently it is another of the worst chores in the whole house
22. If you were a crayon what color would you be?
One of those crayons you make by melting all the ends together in a muffin tin I think
23. FAVORITE SMELLS?
Bakeries, my garden when it is in full swing, the ocean, the forest
24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE?
My sweet husband
25. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU?
I sure do like both of them!
26. FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH
baseball, hockey and rugby
27. HAIR COLOR?
brown
28. EYE COLOR?
Blue
29. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS?
no
30 FAVORITE FOOD?
cheese and pasta
31. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS?
Happy Endings, I don't like scary movies at all.
32. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED?
Really watched? I can't remember, but Hard Hat Harry was playing yesterday
33. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING?
blue
34. SUMMER OR WINTER?
Spring, summer if I have to choose one of those
35. HUGS OR KISSES?
hugs
36. FAVORITE DESSERT?
chocolate cheesecake
37. MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND?
Not sure
38. Least likely to respond?
Not sure
39. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW?
Carrots Love Tomatoes and Hundered Dollar Holidays
40. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD?
no mouse pad
41. WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON TV LAST NIGHT?
no tv
42. FAVORITE SOUND?
my kids laughing
43. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES?
both-depends on the day
44. WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME?
Netherlands
45. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT?
cooking
46. WHERE WERE YOU BORN?
Idaho
47. WHOSE ANSWERS ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO READING?
Everyone on my sidebar
Grandma is indeed a good thing. Or rather a good someone. She has been wonderful to have around. Especially when you need a cozy loving place to take a nap when your big brothers wear you out. I enjoy having her around too! She is even using the sucky machine to make me a new shirt. She has to use the sucky one because the Vking broke. Again. Some random piece of plastic went flying out the back mid-stitch. I didn't think it had any plastic parts to it. Apparently this piece is critical to the functioning of the machine. Whatever. It may be time to stimulate the economy with a purchase of a sewing machine. Come on tax refund.
Our dinner tonight. Another good thing. Avocadoes, bruno tomatoes, sweet potato fries, amaranth tortillas with buffalo and amaranth filling. The tortillas turned out amazing! I was playing with one of my Christmas presents, a Kitchen Aid grain mill attachment. I wanted to know if it would grind fine grains like amaranth since the flours are hard to get uncontaminated. At least in my use-every-5-day-all-day price range. It did the job perfectly. So I mixed the fresh flour with a bit of water-enough to make tortilla dough-covered it and let it sit overnight on the counter. A total of about 30 hours. Then I mixed it again and added a dash of sea salt. We pressed the tortillas in the tortilla press and cooked them in the hot cast iron skillet (no oil like other tortillas!). YUM! They were delicious. A great flavor--much more mild than store-bought flour that I have not actually soaked before. And they held together better than even most store-bought flour tortillas. These are definitely going to be a fixture around here. You can read more about amaranth here.
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