Friday, February 18, 2011

Homemade Ketchup and link to fermenting e-course giveaway


I may have gone insane. This tasted... interesting. MaSu really likes it, and I liked it after adding another can of paste.  Have you heard of the latest "new"sensation of lacto-fermenting? It is a way of making food last longer, and is well known in many cultures. Do you like cheese, sour kraut, kimchii or many other foods? All fermented.


Nourishing Traditions: The Cookbook that Challenges Politically Correct Nutrition and the Diet DictocratsI am loving that MaSu bought me the book "Nourishing Traditions" by Sally Fallon. Sooo many good ideas and information. The first recipe I tried to make? Ketchup. You can find a video of the recipe as a guest post on Kitchen Stewardship by Healthy Home Economist.

































The ingredients are as follows:

  • 1/4 Tsp cayenne pepper
  • 1 Tbs sea salt 
  • 3 cloves organic garlic (which are the leaves, NOT HEADS)
  • 1/4 cup liquid whey
  • 1/2 cup maple syrup
  • 1/2 cup fish sauce 
  • 3 cups tomato paste ( I used 2 cans of organic tomato sauce and tried to reduce the amount of liquid to a paste because it would be less expensive than buying like 6 of the tiny paste cans. Don't try it. Took FOREVER and still had to add more paste) 
Now here is a picture by picture step through until MaSu's camera-phone died. (And apologies about weird staggering, Blogger is not letting me fix it)
First, smash or mince the garlic

Add Cayenne and Salt and mix together well



Add 1/2 cup of Maple Syrup
Add 1/2 cup Fish sauce (SMELLY)
Then, not pictured add the 1/4 cup of whey and the tomato paste. Whisk together well. Pour into a mason jar and let sit at room temperature for 2 days, preferably out of sunlight. 

After the fermentation process this will last for quite a while if stored in the fridge. 
It tasted very strong, and I had to add some more tomato paste to it. MaSu thought it was very tasty, and T thought it was pretty good as well. All in all, I would do this again. But I think, next time I will try it this way, without the smelly fish sauce from Nourished Kitchens.

Btw, Kitchen Stewardship and Nourished Kitchens are teaming up with a giveaway of epic Real Food Style.  They are giving away a subscription to Nourished Kitchen's fermented E-Course, enter here. I am sure that there will be many delicious fermented foods!


Kitchen Stewardship is also giving away a Nutrimill Grain Mill this week! I think this would be even more epic to win! I wonder if our landlord would hate the noise of me grinding my own grain for our bread?

Tuesday, February 01, 2011

Grocery and Meal Plan

Okay, I MEANT to post this yesterday, but I didn't. I wanted to join the other ranks of bloggers with Monday Menu Plan, but I couldn't, so I will try for next week. Still, I want to post what I bought at the grocery store and get some accountability going.

Not Pictured is 1 carton of 18 Eggs


I know that sandwich meat and string cheese is not really healthy for us, but currently they are a compromise food for us. The string cheese will last us quite a while, for I just use it to make "stuffed crust" whole wheat pizza, and I put two of the sandwich meat packages in the freezer, along with the 50% off chicken for Sunday's Superbowl Party.

I was excited by the Dole Watermelon juice's  simple ingredient list, the fact that it is on sale, AND 50% off.

All in all, this was a good stock up trip for us, We got a few tomatoes, Lettuce, and fruit from produce, and re-stocked my butter as it was on sale. Total spent- $100.67 after coupons.

Breakfasts are: Oatmeal, the rest of the Cereal stock maybe, homemade Yogurt and Granola, Fruit, and Breakfast sandwiches (bagels with egg and cheese), Juice, Eggs in a variety of forms (crepes, omelette's, ect)

Lunches are: Sandwiches, Yogurt, Granola, Fruit, Veggies such as the snap peas or carrots, Tuna, Salads maybe for me, Wraps

Diners:

Monday- Crusted Tiliapia and Mixed veggies

Tuesday- Beef Tips and Noodles, green beans, Rolls

Wednesday- Lemon baked Chicken served on Potatoes (coming soon!) , Corn

Thursday- Orange Pork with Pineapple chunks and Snap peas

Friday- Mediterranean Salmon Pasta (from Saving Dinner)

Saturday- Beef Burritos,  Corn (may be making homemade tortillas! I am going to try!)

Sunday- Superbowl Party! (we are hosting for friends, though I think we may watch movies instead.) Baked Buffalo chicken drummies, Chili, Mini weenies from freezer, cut veggies

Have any suggestions for me? Please tell me! <3 WEFA