Healthy Energy Snack Spread

Some people have difficulty eating coconut oil, but they want to enjoy its many benefits. I made up a little recipe for those people:

Healthy Energy Snack Spread

Into a small, jelly jar, add these items in equal parts, leaving room to stir:

• Chia seeds
• Natural nut butter (the kind you have to stir)
• Raw honey
• Coconut oil
• A pinch of love (I add this to all my recipes.)

Stir and refrigerate to solidify. You can use it as a stiff spread or warm it slightly and use as a dip. (Coconut oil will melt below 76 degrees.) 

I've been enjoying this snack on gluten free crackers, or rice cakes, or as a dip with celery, carrots or apples.

Just see if this little item doesn't make it easy to make coconut oil a regular part of your day.

~enjoy

Watch the video to learn more about energy foods.

Easy Split Pea and Ham Soup

I'm thinking my friends who are living in areas hit by this winter's frigid temps might like to get out their crock pots and the leftover ham bone from Christmas to make this yummy soup. If you are not in possession of a ham bone, a ham hock works nicely. This recipe makes 8 big servings and freezes well.

Split Pea and Ham Soup

1lb pkg. split peas (about 3 cups)

1 ham bone or ham hock

2 carrots, diced

2 ribs celery, diced

1 onion, diced

3 potatoes, diced

2 quarts water or broth

1 bay leaf

Fresh ground pepper, about 1/4 tsp.
1 tsp. sugar

One pinch of love (I use this in every recipe.)

Directions:

1. Pour peas onto a large dinner plate and hunt for any small stones that might be hiding in there. Wash peas in a fine mesh strainer and then combine all ingredients in a large crock pot. 

2. Cover and cook on low 8-10 hours, or on high 4-6 hours. (I always start my crock on

high then turn it down to low.)

3. Before serving, remove ham bone and bay leaf, break up the tender meat, ladle about 2-3 cups into your blender and blend until smooth, return the meat and the blended soup back to the crock.

~Enjoy

You can print this recipe with or without photos, using the print friendly button (only if you are reading online, Mom).
Sharing this recipe with the Farmgirl Friday Blog Hop
and the Simple Saturday Blog Hop

{Easy} Crock Pot Corned Beef

This could not be easier!

Bring home a corned beef brisket. I buy mine at Walmart because they sell small ones. Put the brisket into the crock pot and cover with water. Cut open the seasoning packet and add to the pot.

Set crock on high for 4-5 hours or on low all day. I'm making mine today. When it is done, I'll let it cool, scrape off the layer of fat and refrigerate.

My Prince likes to use the meat with eggs, or on salads, or on toasted rye bread with Swiss cheese and sauerkraut, so I will just put the cooked meat in the fridge for him and let him at it.

* Tip: Always slice the beef across the grain. Place the knife at a right angle to the grain of the meat, or your meat will be chewy or tough.

** Tip Tip: Here is a new recipe I'm going to try. It looks easy:  Corned Beef Hash. (Click on the link to open.)

*** Tip Tip Tip: You can also use your"Instant Pot" to make this.  Place the brisket on the rack, add 4 cups water and seasonings. Set pot to "meat" and cook at high pressure for 90 minutes. Then remove brisket and cook cabbage, carrots, and potatoes on high for 4 minutes.

About 31 days of EASY: 

So many things in life are hard.  And some of those hard things are necessary. But why make things harder than they need to be?  For 31 days, I'll be writing about ways to bring ease.  I would be honored if you came along on my journey.  Pack light. 

If you want to know more about the 31 Day Blog Challenge, click here:
Nesting Place: It doesn't have to be perfect to be beautiful.
or here: Why 31 days?

Many Blessings to you.

{Easy} Salmon Dinner

I am 57 years old (too old to be new to cooking fish).

I like to eat healthy foods (just not fish).  

I don't like the taste of fish (nope, not one bit).

I cooked my first salmon last night. (I now like fish.)

This dinner was too easy! I found the recipe inspiration on Pinterest. All the ingredients were right there in my kitchen, so I had no excuses! I changed her recipe slightly. (It was not easy enough for me.)

Ingredients:

2 frozen salmon fillets (I bought mine at Costco.)
2 cups *frozen spinach, crushed
2 oz chunk of cheese, shredded ( I used sharp cheddar.)
2 TBSP unsalted butter
1/2 cup half & half (You could use milk.)
Himalayan salt, ground pepper, nutmeg

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place frozen fillets in baking dish and cover with crushed spinach. Salt, pepper, and nutmeg the top. Place butter, milk in saucepan and melt, add shredded cheese and stir until smooth. Pour over fish. Bake in the oven for 30 minutes. ( If you happen to be hip enough to have a Himalayan Salt block, you could bake on that!)

Clean 2 red potatoes, stab once with a sharp knife and microwave for about 3 minutes. Cut into quarters. Combine 1-2 TBSP olive oil and 1-2 cloves crushed garlic and spread on potatoes. Roast in the oven while baking your fish.

That's all!

Pssst: ~ It is EASY to print a copy of the recipe by selecting the Print Friendly button at the bottom of the post.

*HINT: I buy organic baby spinach and put it right in the freezer. Then I crush it for my smoothies, lasagna, and quiche. That's what I used here.

HINT, HINT: I asked a few friends what their tips were on cooking fish with no fishy taste:

One of them said, "Lots of lemon pepper and a seasoned rice."

The other one said, "{My husband} doesn't like a fishy taste or smell either, so we soak our fish in cold baking soda water for about half an hour before we cook it. Even with strong trout it takes all fishy taste and smell away!"

I'm going to try those ideas next.

About 31 days of EASY:
So many things in life are hard. And some of those hard things are necessary. But why make things harder than they need to be? For 31 days, I'll be writing about ways to bring ease. I would be honored if you came along on my journey. Pack light.

If you want to know more about the 31 Day Blog Challenge, click here:
Nesting Place: It doesn't have to be perfect to be beautiful.
or here: Why 31 days?

Many Blessings to you.