Red Lentil Soup/Stew

Red Lentil Soup/Stew

INGREDIENTS 

1 clove garlic

1 large onion sliced

2 carrots sliced 

Stems of 5 leaves of lacinato kale diced

1 cup red lentils

2 cups Roma tomatoes diced

1 tsp powdered cumin

2 tsp freshly ground black pepper

5 leaves of lacinato kale coarsely chopped

1 to 2 cups of water

1/4 cup Spicy toasted chickpeas

DIRECTIONS 

Sautéed whole garlic clove and onion together 

Add carrots

Add stems stir and sautéed until soft

Add rest of ingredients and water

Cook 20 minutes

PLATE

Top with roasted chickpeas 

PULLED PORK! FOR WHOLE 30

Barbecue Sandwiches
Prep Time: 10mn Cook Time: 1hr
Total Time: 1hr 10mn
INGREDIENTS
2.5-3lb boneless pork roast or shoulder, trimmed of fat 3 tbsp brown sugar
2 tbsp chili powder
2 tbsp paprika
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp sea salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
3/4 cup apple cider
1/2 cup Barbecue sauce
1/4 cup Buffalo wing hot sauce
8 hamburger buns or sandwich rolls
DIRECTIONS

1. Cut the pork against the grain in half, set aside.
   
2. In a small bowl, combine brown sugar, chili powder, paprika, cumin, salt, and pepper. Rub the
   pork roast with the seasonings on all sides.
   
3. Add the barbecue sauce, apple cider, and buffalo sauce to the bottom of your instant pot and stir.
   Place the the pork on top and secure the lid.
   
4. Select manual and cook at high pressure for 45 minutes.
   
5. Once cooking is complete, select cancel and use a natural release.
   
6. Transfer the pork to a cutting board and shred with a fork, discard any excess fat.
   
7. Place the pulled pork back inside the pot with the sauce and mix well.
   
8. Serve on top of hamburger buns or sandwiches with your favorite toppings.
   

Servings: 8-10 servings
Printed from: http://www.centercutcook.com
Recipe URL: http://www.centercutcook.com/instant­pot­pulled­pork­barbecue­ sandwiches/ 

Home Made dish soap

1 1/2 cups hot water
1/2 cup castille
1 Tbsp vinegar
1 Tbsp superwash soap (see making washing soda from baking soda)
1 Tbsp grated scented soap to thicken it up

(add hot water last to melt the soap that thickens it up)

So far, this recipe is pretty runny, so I may have to reheat and add more shredded bar soap

how to make washing soda out of baking soda, and then making washing detergent from it.

Put 2 cups of baking soda on a baking sheet, heat until grainy about 400 to 450 degrees, for one hour, that way you can use it as your washing soda, that way the washing soda won't have brighteners and toxins for the environment:

use 2 Tbsp of the following per load

2 cups of washing soda (made out of baking soda as above)
2 cups of borax superwash
1 cup of baking soda
1 bar of fels naptha grated




or 2 Tbsp of the following: see the prior note in this blog.

2 c. Borax superwash
1 bar fels naptha
2 c washing soda
1 c. Baking soda

Norwegian meatballs Ragnhild's Secret

ABOUT FACE!!!!! trying to get it down to a dollar a day, but then there's the coffee, should it be counted as food?

So, I continue on this journey and bought the sunflower seeds!!!! The rest of everything is in my cupboard. This weekend was great!!! A little chicken cacciatore which isn't that difficult with everything I already have:
SUPPER

1.  3 ounces per person about $.80, pat dry and season with salt and pepper, brown for 4 minutes on both sides, cover with aluminum foil so the heat doesn't escape and the chicken cooks thoroughly. Then cut into small bite sizes.

2.  Brown 5 regular mushroom ($.10) in EVOO for a few minutes.

3.  Throw in 3 minced garlic cloves ($.01), and a tsp of red pepper flakes.

4.  Add Tomatoes (nothing, gift from my brother), 2 half pints and cook down to about half.

4.  Meanwhile take about 1/2 inch of pasta and cook it to al dente, maybe less, rinse with warm water so it doesn't stick, reserving 1/4 cup of pasta water. ($.01.)

5.  Toss into tomato mixture along with 1Tbsp butter ($.10) along with the chicken and mix until thickened.

Total $1.02 for the meal.

So, I still don't have it down to $1.00 a day.

BREAKFAST

Breakfast is a handful of rolled oats ($8.00 for 7 lbs of groats, which I had sent to me last week, and then rolled about 1/4 or maybe 1 1/2 lbs, for $2.00, so a handfull is about 1/20 of that or $.10), ten cents.

Mixed with fresh blueberries (about 1/4 cup or $.25)

Drizzled with honey $.01

Total $.36 for breakfast

LUNCH

Sandwich, homemade bread about $.05 for rye hoagie bread with mayo and stuff inside, don't know yet. Total about $.50

COFFEE

My nemesis, don't know how to decrease that intake, probably $2.00 a day, so even though it costs more than my food, I'll probably keep drinking it.

TOTAL for food though $1.58.

I'll let you know the next time I keep track.

ABOUT FACE!!! Can I live on less for my food, ie, practice what you preach!

Since I started this blog I have been writing about ongoing concerns I have about eating, living on a budget and the overall message in the context of a healthy lifestyle. Recently a friend of mine informed me he lives on $250 a month total!!!! Let's see, do I really believe that? I have watched the whole deal closely and it is true. So, I wondered about that. I couldn't do it. I have to pay rent, he does not. I work and have to look presentable, not an issue. But is there a way to do that? I have divided my costs into two categories: impulse and need. Ok, no discussion here, I think everyone would believe that. The need gets a little dicey when there are things I have to pay for: housing, heat, electricity, gas (car and home, need gas for work) and phone. Also for work I have 2 trips already paid for and the rest should be covered by my work, incidentals about $200 a year (plane changes on my own, tips, etc.) Those are all the fixed costs.
The variable ones: clothing, cleaning supplies, food, entertainment and hobbies.
For the last one, I am a writer, if I do everything on my computer, I don't need paper, the occasional printed copy for submission. A ream of paper is about $3.00. Black ink that lasts a month about $20.00. Copies of proofs usually cost me about $100 a year.Total about $250 a year.
I also hike and have all of my hiking equipment. In principle, I do not like to buy bottled water, but the containers are so light, I spend about $12 a year on that, only buy it on sale. Gas to and from hiking locations is usually $20 to $40, maybe a month. Total about $250 a year.
For entertainment, I go out of a movie matinee, only when I can do that with friends about once a month, $10. I have been eating very rich food for about 3 months from the Blue Apron and am over the butter, the meat, that type of prep for a 3 course meal. From now on I will do that only when I have guests. That will add $60 a month, and count for entertainment.
Cleaning supplies: I make my own dishwasher soap, and laundry soap, costs about $20 a year, and am working on hair and dish soap and conditioner from scratch. Goal is to get to $100 a year for personal items including toothpaste.
Clothing: I have enough for a lifetime and could go a year without buying another thread, so that is my goal for now until March 1, 2017.
Now the food thing, I have been reading about living on a $1 a day, or $30 a month, and am seriously considering that option.

Eating cheaply: this plan is for $3 a day, so I could shop and spend $15 a week. I actually have everything but the broccoli, sweet potato and sunflower seeds.

I settled on the following daily quantities of each of the foods listed, with prices listed:

1.     3 cups cooked brown rice ($0.53)

2.     2 cups cooked pinto beans ($0.23)

3.     2 stalks cooked broccoli (360g) ($1.06)

4.     1 baked sweet potato (180g) ($0.40)

5.     1 tablespoon olive oil ($0.18)

6.     1/2 cup sunflower seeds, shelled ($0.22)

7.     2 cups nonfat milk ($0.37)

The total cost per day is $2.99.

This diet supplies 2090 calories and all essential vitamins and minerals (with the exception of B12; see the discussion above). Fiber is high. Saturated fat and cholesterol are very low. 23% of calories come from fat, 15% from protein, and the rest from carbohydrates.