new blog.

I started a new blog!  You can find me at amerryotter.blogspot.com 

Come on a new journey with me!!

Healthy recipe #1

I just came up with a challenge for myself.  I am going to cook lots of new healthy recipes right here!!!  I kinda suck at keeping up with this blog, so I am not going to make my challenge too lofty!  One recipe a week.   Hang on to your hats...Here we go!

Stewed Lentils with Yogurt and Cucumbers

This recipe is a from this book on page 114

I love this book!  Martha never disappoints.  

Here is the deal with my "style" of cooking.  I never ever never follow recipes.  I like to think of them as suggestions.  

I will type the correct recipe and in parenthesis I will put what I really did!!

How does that sound!!  

Lets go:
1.Make the Lentils:Heat a medium saucepan over medium. Add 1 tsp cumin seeds and toast (I used ground cumin), swirling pan, until fragrant, about 1 minute; transfer to a plate.  Add 2 Tbs olive oil; once hot, add 1 cup diced onion, 4 cloves of garlic (I used 2), and 2 Tbs of fresh ginger(I used crystallized ginger).  Cook, stirring often, until tender, about 5 minutes.  Add 1tsp turmeric and toasted cumin seeds (ground cumin).  Cook, stirring, 1 minute.

Here is a picture of the spices I used:


2. Add 5 cups water and lentils. Bring to boil; reduce to a simmer and partially cover.  Cook until lentils are tender and mixture thickins, about 15 minutes.  Season with salt to taste.

From:                                                        To:

I ate it with rice, avacado, and greek yogurt...so stinking good.

 I decided to have a tastetester with every new recipe!!  Here they are!

My neighbors and friends: L said it could use less pepper (I added salt and pepper)and "I like it, and I would eat it."    A ate a lot of it and she liked it, too!

They are good sports!

Carrots

So, the boys and neighbor girls spent 30 minutes cleaning and preparing carrots and herbs!  G planted them in the spring and was excited to share them today.  What a good job little gardener.

The final product...tic tacs included!

Homemade deodorant

I have been wanting to make deodorant for a long time.  I have no idea why I waited.  It is super easy.

I took a recipe from ohderdrea.com and a recipe from a book I am reading called Little House in the Suburbs and concocted some deodorant!!

This what I did:  

Ingredients-

I mixed two Tablespoons of baking powder and two Tablespoons of cornstarch (you can also use arrowroot)

Then I added two Tablespoons of coconut oil and 10 drops of lavender oil (you can use any essential oil you feel like)  and stirred until it was a paste.  Mine was soupy so I added another Tablespoon of cornstarch.  This what it looked like-

Then I crammed it into an old deodorant tube.  I am gonna keep mine in the fridge to keep it nice and hard.  If it is warm out the coconut oil will melt and make it softer.  I am gonna have to let you know how it works!  Is that too much info?  

Enjoy the dog days!

Summer...so far

We have had a great summer!  It has rained every other day, which makes for good plants and flowers.  I feel like my thumb is turning green...finally.

The boys are 6 and 4.  They love each other and me!!  The fighting and shannanagins (spelling??) happen.  In fact, my oldest is spending time in his room as I type!  In spite of there crazy, messy, and often rambunctious behavior my boys are delightful!

Kansas City is a great place to get out and do things!  We have Deanna Rose petting zoo, the Zoo, arboretum, and my parents pool at our disposal every day!  Just choose!!  This sounds like an advertisement for KC!  

Anyway, I hope you are enjoying your summer!  

I might start cooking.

Please don't hold me to that...

Here is a recipe I tried yesterday.  It was so good that I had to share it!
Smitten Kitchen is a blog I read, and I like it!  I have made a couple of things from here, but I really like this soup!
Here it is: French onion soup!
I used half beef broth and half vegatable broth.  I also ate it without the bread and cheese!
Enjoy

christmas gifts

Here is a Gift Idea!!

This is a free printable owl calendar.  I made is for christmas gifts last year and I love it!
Enjoy
http://www.myowlbarn.com/p/owl-lover-2013-calendar.html