Oh food! Fried Herb Chicken

I am not a big lover of “fried” food.

I am not crazy about fried chicken.

I am not silly over cooking greasy food.

So here is how I made a quicker-than-grilling fried herb chicken.

Last night, running way behind schedule as usual, chicken was on the menu.  Herb chicken actually.  It was too late to start the grill, in my weird opinion.  So a little Mrs. Dash, EVOO and a medium heat skillet, and ta-da dinner is on its way!

I started by warming a stainless skillet on medium heat.  A couple rounds around the pan with EVOO, probably about 1-2 tablespoons.  Two medium chicken breasts sprinkled with Mrs. Dash.  One thing it took me FOREVER to learn is, HOT pan equals seared meat equals meat not sticking to pan.  Also HOT pan with EVOO add meat and LEAVE IT ALONE! 

Don’t touch it!

Don’t even think about touching it.

Don’t even look at it!

STEP AWAY FROM THE PAN!

Well not literally, but that’s the only way I can keep myself from wanting to fuss with the meat.  Then it sticks.  Then its burnt.  Then its in the trash.

Anyway,  I figured it takes approximately 8ish minutes per side of a medium chicken breast to cook fully.  (And still be juicy inside.)  The outside should have a delicious golden color to it.

There really isn’t a “greasy” taste or texture to it.  In my diluted mind, it’s not really frying because there’s not a drop of breading, it’s not swimming in greasy-nasty oil, and it doesn’t come out dripping in fat.  AND by definition, EVOO is supposed to be a “healthy oil/fat.”  So there! 

Along with the chicken, I threw together a quick salad of mixed greens and some fruit. 

Total fat: na-da!  Ok, I’m sure there’s a little hidden in there some where.  But not enough to count.  Again, its my story!

Total taste:  Fabulous!!!

Total cook/prep time:  not much.  I would say about 20-25 minutes.

Happy healthy eating, The Farm 

Oh food! Grilled Steak & Herb Fries

Healthy Eating, Day dos! (two)

Ok.  Life got the better of us over the weekend.  With an open house, family time, and Farm life, we lost sight of our plan.  Just a little bit.  But we still ate well.  Just not all the recipes I had planned, and we are a bit out of order.

So one the menu Sunday night was Grilled Steaks & herb fries. 

All things considered, this ones quite easy.  Not much of a recipe, but more of a hodge-podge of ingredients.

Here is what I used and how:

 

I used EVOO, minced garlic, pepper, and Worcestershire sauce to make a “smmmeaarr” for the steaks.

Not as much a marinade, as it is a grilling sauce.

 

 

EVOO, my dearest love Mrs. Dash, and balsamic vinegar and mini portabella's.

 

 

 

Cut up portabella's.  Drizzle with EVOO and balsamic.  Sprinkle with Mrs. Dash.  Place on top rack of grill about 5-7 minutes after you start the steaks.

 

Grilled Herb Fries.

Again, EVOO and Mrs. Dash.

It really can’t get easier.

Make foil packet with all ingredients.  Place on grill about 10 minutes prior to starting steaks.

Here it is all grilled up.  Husband (picture on left) doesn’t like ‘srooms.  Weirdo!!!  So his steak is naked.  (Side note: he doesn’t use dressing on his salad either. Told you he was weird.)  My steak (picture on right) has all the yummies!!

Start to finish this delicious hearty meal took about 25 minutes.  INCLUDING PREP AND GRILLING!

Enjoy!

Good eats from The Farm

Oh Food! Bourbon Salmon

Here is the low down on night one of the Healthy Eating Dinners.

On the menu is Bourbon Salmon, green beans, salad.

The Bourbon Salmon is a modification of my favorite Lone Star “Sweet Bourbon Salmon.” 

Here’s what you need:

1 head of Romaine or salad greens

2-3 4oz Salmon fillets

4-6 ounces of pineapple juice (I used 2 Tbsp of honey instead, I didn’t have pineapple juice in the pantry.  Pineapple has a nice tang, good compliment to the recipe.)

1/4 cup of bourbon  (I use Jack.  And a bit more.  I don’t like to drink it, but I sure like the zing it provides in the recipe.)

2 Tbsp brown sugar

2-3 Tbsp of Worcestershire sauce

1/3 cup olive oil (I like vegetable oil better.  I think olive oil has too much flavor for this particular marinade.)

Pepper & garlic (powder or minced, your choice.  Little bit of each, to your taste.) 

I add a dash or two of onion powder.  That’s just me, and I like it that way.  Add if you like, don’t if you don’t.

Ok so, here’s how it goes.  Combine all ingredients except for salmon into a bowl or zip-lock bag.  Mix well.  Reserve some of the marinade for applying while grilling.  Once well combined, add salmon fillets.  I recommend soakin’-up-the-marinade-lovin’ for about 2-3 hours.  But because salmon is such a lovely fishy, it looovvess marinade and soaks it up well, so you can rush it and apply all of it while grilling.  Grill on medium heat.  The sugars can burn, so watch it carefully.  It takes about 3-4 minutes per side, depending on your “doneness” preference.

 

 

Home grown.  Home canned.

From my garden, green beans.

Yummo!!

 

 

 

Dinner is served.

Salad, green beans, and Bourbon Salmon

Healthy.  Quick.

Fresh.

 

It is sooooo delicious. 

Ok. So.  I have a confession.  I haven’t made it by the recipe in quite some time.  Usually it is a “gurgle of this” and a “dash of that” and a “shakey shake of this” and a “glug of that.”  Take it.  Modify it.  Make it your own.

As a side note, or hint, or another option or add on to the recipe list it would be try a bit of red pepper flake.   A little “heat” is a great touch to this recipe.

Hope you enjoy it.  Let me know what you think of it, if you try it.

Love and yummy eats from The Farm

What’s for dinner?? Lord help me!

I love to cook.  I truly enjoy it.  I would cook for 30 people every single weekend if given the opportunity.  I can throw together a four course dinner for 10 in a flash.  But I despise making the decision about what we are having for dinner.  YUCK!  I dread it with a capital D!  I get crabby at that time of the day, when that decision must be made and I stand in front of the fridge or cabinets with a blank stare like some mindless idiot.  Please don’t misunderstand, if you said “Farm Wife, let’s have Cajun fettuccini with grilled salmon and a lovely grilled salad.”  AWESOME, done.  Coming right up.  "And what shall I make you, my love, for dessert??”  But I just simply DREAD making the decision.

Cooking.  No problem.

Deciding. SUCKS!  Just shoot me now, please.  Thanks, and much love!

I have been trying to get the family on a trend of eating healthier, better, fresher.  Let me clarify something, we are NOT garbage eaters.  We are not big on fast-food.  Don’t order out, because that’s really not an option where we live.  We don’t fry everything, smear it butter, drown it in sauces(though Husband is a lover of BBQ sauce.  It’s a southern thing, they put that crap on EVERYTHING!), or coat in a plastered layer of breading and artery clogging goop.  We just don’t always make the BEST choices.  Which would seem like a no-brainer considering we raise some small live-stock, Husband hunts, and we grow a humongous garden full of veggies and fruits every year. 

But it’s truly a “time” thing.  (It’s not an excuse, it’s just our lifestyle.)  By the time I get home from work, Husband gets home from work (whether his 9 to 5 or HIS business), and the Kid is wrangled in, it always seems like the night is gone.  (Fun side note: Husband has taken a new job(his 9 to 5 job) with a new company which currently has him preforming about 10% of the activity level he is accustomed to.  He said to me last night during a discussion about my upcoming trip to the grocery store and request for any requests, “I need healthier choices to pack in my lunch.” ~insert a gapping mouth from me here, as this is coming from the man that has solely managed to keep Little Debbie in business for the past 20 years~ “Ok.  What would you like??”  His response was “I don’t care.  But this doing less, at work, it’s going to catch up with me.  I’ll end up looking like the rest of the E’s if I’m not careful.  Let’s try to get back on track with that fresh-eating-thing.”  ~insert smirk from Husband.  The King of the Doritos~  “Will do babe.”  ~insert sarcasm from Wife here.)

So, I told you all of that to tell you this, starting tomorrow, I am going to chronicle our meals, dinners at minimum, for the next week.  I will post my grocery list, recipe selections, shot-by-shot prep and finished presentations.  Then I’ll give a little tid-bit of how it was, would we have it again.

Here we go:  Week One

Grocery list: There are some items I consider “staples” and therefore will not list in the grocery list portion.  ALL items needed will be noted in the recipe. 

• peaches
• wild berry mix (frozen organic)
• oranges
• lemons
• limes
• strawberries
• pineapple juice
• avocado
• mushrooms
• basil, fresh
• cilantro, fresh
• mint, fresh
• romaine hearts
• corn, cob style
• spinach, frozen
• boneless skinless chicken breasts
• ground 98% lean turkey breast
• center cut pork chops
• wild caught salmon
• tilapia
• black beans
• sun dried tomatoes
• soy sauce
• Italian salad dressing, low fat
• real maple syrup
• yogurt, plain
• sour cream

Here is a my meal plan:  (the Kid will be an exception on some of these items. And Husband would rather eat glass than have a smoothie, so he will opt-out on those.)  Most of the dinner recipes take less than 10 minutes of prep and less than 20-30 minutes of cooking time.  (So I just cancelled out my excuse listed above.)

FRIDAY:   Breakfast-Wild berry and yogurt smoothie with protein powder.  Lunch-Grilled Chicken Caesar salad on romaine hearts.  Dinner-Bourbon Grilled Salmon with green beans and romaine salad.

SATURDAY:  Breakfast- Vanilla Cappuccino protein smoothie and a fresh egg.  Lunch-Salads with lean turkey and fresh lemon basil vinaigrette.  Dinner-Grilled Herb Crusted Chicken breast with corn on the cob and romaine salad.

SUNDAY:  Breakfast-Fresh egg with fruit bowl.  Lunch-Chicken salads (from leftovers from the night before).  Dinner- Grilled steaks with herbed baby potatoes. 

MONDAY:  Breakfast-Wild berry and yogurt smoothie with protein powder. Lunch-Salad with lean turkey.  Dinner- Spinach and Sun-dried Tomato stuffed Pork Chops with fresh romaine hearts.

TUESDAY:  Breakfast-Cherry Cheesecake protein smoothie.  Lunch-Chicken breast sandwiches with avocado.  Dinner-Turkey burgers with mushrooms and avocado, fresh green beans, salad.

WEDNESDAY: Breakfast- Citrus yogurt smoothie with protein powder.  Lunch-Chicken salads on romaine with avocado.  Dinner-Spaghetti with lemon and fresh basil sauce and Grilled Salmon.

THURSDAY:  Breakfast-Cherry and yogurt smoothie with protein powder.  Lunch-leftover salmon spaghetti.  Dinner-Baked herb Tilapia with veggie blend and Romaine salad.

SNACKS:  Homemade avocado salsa, Black Bean dip, fresh fruit, 100% natural corn chips.

DESSERT:  We are not big dessert eaters.  Well, let me rephrase that, I’m not.  So I’m going to give grilling fruit a try.  I’ll let ya know what I think.

Well there ya have it. :/  It sounds like a week of some fabulous eats!!  I hope it goes as planned.  I will be sure to include any modifications, adjustments, or general oh-we-scrapped- it-and-came-up-with-this’s we run in to.

Here’s hoping we all survive this adventure.  That’s all I have for now.  Please, excuse me now as I go devour an entire bag of Chili Cheese Fritos and a can of Hillbilly Cheese in a last Hail Mary attempt to eat crap I shouldn’t have.  Lord, help keep me sane as I go through withdrawl!

Love and healthy eats, The Farm Wife

This boy!

I love being a mommy.

I love my boy.

I love seeing the wonder, of discovering new things, in his eyes.

I love this boy!

Farm kid VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

I love his wacky ways.

I love his silliness.

I love his “up-to-no-good” grin.

I love this boy!

I love scary teeth.

I love “devil’s-horns” hair days.

I love “see-my-buck-horns”.

I love my little helper.

I love silly faces.

I love being crazy faces.

I love this boy!

Silly kid VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

I love how he “loves”.

I love this boy!

Love from The Farm (and the Kid)

Salt: is it worth its weight?

While surfing the ‘net the other day, looking for topics to post about, I came across an interesting website.  I think I fell in love!  Its call TipNut.com, visit it here.  It’s a GREAT resource.  I can tell I will be visiting it often.  The basis of the site is useful tips and ideas.  Everything from cleaning issues, to crafts. 

One thing I found, and found interesting, is this series of 25 Household uses for Salt.  Here the list, with explanation.

1)  Fire starter: Soak pine cones in a table salt and water solution so they’ll burn with a yellow flame. (see site for directions)

2)  Enamel Cookware stain remover:  Fill cookware with water and stir in a small handful of salt.  Soak overnight.  The next day boil the salt water for about 20 minutes then dump and wash in hot soapy water.

3)  Natural Pesticide Spray: 2 tablespoons salt + 1.5 gallons warm water.  Mix salt and water to dissolve, allow to cool to room temperature.  Use for spiders mites, caterpillars, cabbage worms and chewing insects.

4)  Weed killer:  An effective weed killer, but keep in mind that significant amounts will cause damage to surrounding soil as well.  Should only be used in places where you want NO plant growth (like driveways, sidewalks, underneath decks and patio blocks, around the foundation of a house, etc.).  To use, a ratio of 1 part salt to 2 parts water.  You can also drizzle salt directly on weeds!

5)  Cracked Egg Clean-up:  If you have ever dropped an egg on the countertop or floor, you know what a sloppy, slimy mess it is to clean up!  Next time drizzle salt generously over the egg, wait a few minutes until it’s dry-then the mess sweeps up easily.

6)  Wicker Furniture Cleaner:  Scrub with a warm salt water mixture.  (Use a soft bristle scrub brush)  Bonus:  the salt keeps the wicker from turning yellow.

7)  Rust Stains in Laundry:  Table salt and cream of tarter, equal parts, will remove rust stains.  Wet the spot.  Spread the mixture on thickly.  Then place garment in the sun.

8)  Removing Sweat Stains:  Mix a solution of 1 quart warm water with 4 tablespoons table salt, soak garment.  Launder as usual.

This is just a smattering of the useful tips.  Salt has endless uses.  Home remedies, cleaning aides, garden tips and uses.  Hope you learned a little.  I know it did!

Love from The Farm

Homemade solutions to common problems, Part 2–Household

As I committed to do, here is part two of Homemade Solutions.

Just a bunch of miscellaneous random ideas.  Some are mine, some are borrowed.  Enjoy!

Makeup Brush Cleaner:  A mixture of distilled water, baby shampoo, and rubbing alcohol.  Mix in a small, resealable container.  Swirl brushes in mixture.  Remove excess water.  Let brushes dry completely before use.

Natural Fabric Softener:  1 cup baking soda, 1 1/4 cup warm water, 8 cups white vinegar, 1/3 teaspoon of essential(s) oil of your choice.  Mix together vinegar and water.  Then add baking soda gradually, use LARGE pail to accommodate the fizzing. Pour mixture into 1 gallon jug.  Add essential oil.  Shake well to mix.  To use: Shake well.  Add 1/2 –1 cup at the start of rinse cycle.  I haven’t used this, or even tried it.  I’m not terribly big on “softener.”  I usually hang clothes on the line as long as weather permits it.  :)  ONE thing I have found that is awesome to use as a “softener,” and have used a lot, is tennis balls.  They bounce around the drying, making an awful noise, but really fluff towels, soften up jeans, and work wonders on the decreasing the dry time of most objects.  They are a MUST if you self-clean down comforters or throws.

Smelly Jelly (Gel Air freshener):  (best stored in small Mason jars, like jelly or 1/2 pints) 2 cups water, 4 packages gelatin(plain), 15-20 drops essential oil, 1 to 2 tablespoons salt, food coloring (optional).  Mix together 1 cup water, essential oil and food coloring in small pot, as soon as it boils, remove from heat.  Dissolve gelatin and salt in mixture, completely.  Then add last cup of water (cold), gently.  Pour into jars and set aside for a few days so it can “set up.”    Once set, put a lid on, punch holes to allow fragrance to escape, and enjoy!  This is a pretty neat thing to do with kids too.  It’s a great project for them to “give.”  I haven’t found that they last very long, but most gel-smelly’s don’t.  I like that its “natural.”  One less “chemical” in the house.

De-skunk:  1 quart 3% peroxide (store bought is 1.5%), 1/4 cup baking soda, 1 to 2 teaspoons of soap (not shampoo).  For large pet, add one quart of warm water.  BE CAREFUL to not get this solution in pets ears, eyes and mouth.  Lather thoroughly and deep into fur.  Let solution stand 5-10 minutes on pet.  Rinse well.  Note: wear goggles and a gas mask!  Do this process outside!  If you have never smelled a “skunked” dog before, trust me when I say this, IT WILL MAKE YOU GAG!!! Literally.  It is the most stomach wrenching stench known to man.  Plan on throwing out what ever articles you are wearing during and using during this process.  The STINK will never come out of clothing completely!  My stomachs jumping just writing this.

What shall we remedy next??  Any requests??

Love from The Farm

Homemade solutions to common problems, Part 1

I am no rocket scientist. 

I am not even that resourceful.  Though, I DO have some great resources.  And I use them, refer to them, and sometimes, even get stuck in the pages of them.

I would like to think that maybe I’m thrifty.  GREEN.  Clean.  Even if only a little bit.

ANYWAY,  Here are a few of my favorite things.  Some are great ideas I have figured out on my own.  Some are things I have read about, and used, that really work.

Hope they are helpful, useful solutions to your everyday common problems!  ;)

1) Peppermint.  Did you know that mice HATE the stuff?  I didn’t.  Read about it during a time of GREAT frustration.  (At The Farm mice are an issue.  I’ve come to terms with them, it.  I don’t have to like it.  I don’t like it.  But, where we live, there are part of the “deal”.)  I found that if you get peppermint oil (The real stuff.  Not the “flavoring” kind.  Preferably from an Herb Store, as it is of higher quality and potency than other types.)  and put a few drops on a cotton ball, the nasty little buggers avoid it like the plague.  Whaaahoooo!  SCOOOORRREEE!  I tried it this past winter after discovering the little devils had devoured some yummy treats in my pantry.  I can honestly say, that it has been 6 months, and NO sign.  Nadda.  Zip-o! And my house smells a bit yummy in the process…… bonus!

2) Tansy.  Ants, dirty little bastards, avoid it.  They give me the creeps. But again, dab a few drops (again, essential oil from an Herb Store) on a cotton ball, place it in the areas you’ve seen them.  Presto, their outtahere! 

3) Witch hazel.  This is like the ubber-dubber, holy smackers, good stuff.  It works on everything.  Acne? Dab a bit on it with a cotton ball, and whall-aha, blemish gone.  Oh and as an extra added bonus, it doesn’t dry out your skin like the Sahara. Bug bites or general itchys?  Presto!  Takes the itch away.  No Calamine Lotion needed here.  Got a babe with a serious case of diaper rash?  Slather a little on, no burning, and its healed up in no time.   Had a late night out with the girls? Had a little too much fun at that office party?  If you wake up with bags under the eye, again, dab a bit on.  Ta-da!  Bright eyed!  Whomp your leg the night before your event with that great little black dress, and whamm-o, huge bruise?  Dab it on.  It speeds up the healing process.  Razor burn? Rub it on before or after a shave, and the itchy bumps, presto, are gone.  Sun burn? Dab it on a soft cloth and rub it across you sore skin to ease the redness caused by inflammation.  Oh and it helps prevent peeling.  Who knew!?

4) Vase cleaner.  I love getting fresh flowers.  Whether it some my husband sent or ones W picked from the garden.  But I hate the uckys left at the bottom of the vase.  You know the ones.  Left there by the dishwasher, the ones you can’t reach with a dish cloth.  Solution: Add a couple tablespoons of salt (or dry beans work well too) to a couple inches of water in the bottom, and swirl. Clean!

5) Cleaning mini blinds.  I’m talking about the plastic or metal louvered ones.  NOT fabric.  Take the blinds down.  Fill the bathtub about half way with moderately warm water.  1/2 Cup of powdered dishwasher detergent.  Give the water a generous swirl to dissolve detergent.  Then dunk the blinds, repeat as necessary until they are clean of all their grime.  The bonus, dishwasher detergent don’t leave a residue.  BONUS!!

6) Vegetables.  Live in the city?  Want “organic” choices for your family? Want to grow veggies, but don’t think you have the room?  Porch pot gardens are the answer.  Every year my mom grows small amounts of veggies at the River House in pots. (As the BIG garden is at The Farm)  Green beans, specifically “pole”, can be grown up any trellis.  They don’t need a huge amount of space, and a dozen or so plants will bear enough to feed a couple people most of the summer.  Tomatoes do wonderfully on a patio.  I know people that are “city dwellers” that will grow up to a 1/2 dozen varieties on the patio.  Plums, grape and beefsteak (for burgers).  Trellising plants will allow you to grow watermelon, pumpkins, honeydew, spaghetti squash, etc in pots.  One of my clients at LI even grows corn in porch pots!  Happy gardening!!

7) Pantyhose.  (For Jenna) They are a creation of the DEVIL!!!  I’m not even sure if I even own a pair anymore…..  Anyway.  Did you know that if you are trellising (see #6) vining fruits (watermelon, squash, etc), you can use a pair of pantyhose to create a “sling” to support your growing fruit.  The ubber cool thing is that the pantyhose has so much flex that it will expand as your fruit grows.  AND, the sun and rain do not break down the fibers!  How COOL is THAT!!??!!  What a great way to “recycle” a pair to the “devils garment”!

I will rack my noggin for more useless knowledge to share with you.  So… More to come…….

Hugs from The Farm!