Resolutions

I have made a resolution to myself to be mindful of eating out and plan meals better. We ate out WAY too much last year because of poor planning and a busy schedule.  This year we have only eaten out ONE TIME so far!  I'm very excited!


We put a dry erase board calendar up in the kitchen and I put a tentative menu on it.  If anyone has suggestions or disagrees we can change them before I hit the grocery store.  I make the plan and go through my coupons before shopping.  I don't plan my menu to the coupons unless I have some REALLY good ones (not usually.)

Does anyone have any meal planning tips or ideas to share?

¡Patacones!

Patacones are what we call them in Panama.  In some places (Puerto Rico for example) they call them tostones.  
Nothing brings back memories like a good plate of patacones.
Yummy grilled chicken and patacones on the beach... 
I remember saving my money to ride my bike to the KC (Knights of Columbus) in Margarita to get a hamburger and patacones.  Later I found their sancocho was the bomb and had that and patacones instead.  

We have always had problems in Arkansas finding good green platanos (plantains.)  Usually the stores have them, but they are maduros (ripe) and I despise ripe plantains.  (I know, most people love them.)  When mom moved to Puerto Rico she discovered the island secret of using green bananas, which are much cheaper in PR (and Arkansas.)  So, now I use green bananas if I can't find good platanos.  They really taste almost the same if they are very green although maybe a little silkier in texture.  They are easier to peel and cheaper. 

Patacones

• Peel plantains or green bananas.  You have to do this quickly and right before frying or they turn black.  Be careful as they will also turn your fingers black if you don't wash right away! 

Score on several sides and peel skin off

Cut into thumb sized pieces

Fry one time and drain

Put between waxed paper or brown paper and squash!

Fry again til golden

Drain and salt!

Chicha de Saril

This is one of those recipes that takes me back to my childhood...

Here is my recipe using dried flowers (because, I am in Arkansas and can't get fresh ones!)

Saril, is the calyx of the hibiscus flower.  You can find dried ones at most Mexican or Latin American grocery stores.  In Mexico they are called "Jamaica" flowers because the drink originates from Jamaica.  (Well, technically it comes from tropical Africa...)

When it's boiled you get a lovely deep red drink (similar to a Kool Aid punch) which actually is very good for you.  As a kid, I was told by my baby-sitters that it was good for your liver and iron and would keep you from getting colds.  Unlike other concoctions I didn't mind drinking this because it was very, very, yummy. 

The truth?

Hibiscus tea, Chica de Saril, Jamaica, Sorrell Punch, Hibiscus punch... whatever you call it
HAS BEEN SHOWN to:
Lower cholesterol,
Lower blood pressure,
Help sugar levels,
Boost immune system
and aid in weight loss!

*Now, with all the sugar in it I'm not sure how much of a help it can be in lowering blood sugar...

Tub Scrub & Laundry Detergent

Rub-a-Dub Tub Scrub 

(or "Because I have 3 men in my tub scrub"?)

1. In a mixing bowl pour about equal amounts of baking soda and Borax.  (What I do is take 2 jars, fill one almost full of Borax and the other almost full of baking soda.  Then I pour them both into a bowl.)
2. Pour in some True Lemon powder (you can use True Orange or Lime also, or citric acid if you can get it) just enough to scent the mix, about 2-4 Tablespoons more or less.
3. Mix and put back in your jars! 

 To use:  Wet bathtub or sink.  Sprinkle tub scrub in tub.  Watch the fun!  It bubbles when it gets wet!
Scrub and watch the sparkles!  This smells yummy too.

Liquid Laundry Detergent

1 cup Washing Soda (you can get this at most grocery stores now)
1/2 cup Borax
7-10 drops of tea tree oil (disinfectant and antibacterial)

*You can add other essential oil drops if you want a scent but I don't
1/4 cup or so of Dr. Bronner's Baby Castile liquid soap
4 quarts hot water (first) then added about 8 more quarts
Mix it in a bowl with a whisk because the washing soda (soda ash) gets hot when it gets wet. (Luckily I knew this from my pool or I'd have probably burned my hands trying to get the clumps out.) Let sit for about 20 minutes to cool off, then put in containers.  I use old detergent bottles and glass bottles.

Very inexpensive and effective!

Granola Goodness (again)

Can you tell I love homemade granola?  I am always trying to make the perfect batch.  And this last one has come extremely close if not made the grade.  What did I do differently?  Well, I took my recipe and then looked at my friend Alison's from this cookbook and sort of did this:

I used my granola recipe (which basically is cleaning out my baking cabinet because I use up any nuts and fruit etc. that needs to be used.)

6 cups of oats or more (I use what's on sale, but Bob's Red Mill are my faves)

1 cup coconut (today I used a whole bag of unsweetened)

2 cups wheat germ (sometimes I do flax seeds ground up or half and half)

1 cup sliced almonds or walnuts

1 cup chopped pecans

1 package of sunflower seeds (I used about 1 1/2 or 2 cups)

1 cup of baby oats or wheat flour

1 cup dried fruit (more or less to taste, I'm allergic to almost all fruit so I used dates)

 

This is where things got different...

Normally I microwave or cook my liquids to a syrup to melt the butter etc.  Today I did this:

1/2 stick of butter, melted

3/4 cup of molasses (I like dark or blackstrap)

1/2 cup of honey

1/4 cup of agave syrup (or a little less depending on how sweet you want it)

Mix the dry ingredients (except for fruit) in a bowl and wait.  Mix liquids in a bowl and pour over dry ingredients, adding a little at a time until it looks fairly wet.  Mix well and put in greased or parchment lined cookie sheets.  I actually use my turkey pan because it's deeper and things don't fly out when I stir.

In another small bowl take some oats and flour and a little brown sugar- to equal about 2 cups.  Melt about 2 T of butter and pour over this mixture and add some of the syrup from above if any remains, if not add some honey and water to make a cookie dough consistency.  I pat this in a small greased pan.  

Bake both at 350, checking every 5 minutes to stir, until lightly browned. (About 20 minutes or so total.) Just depends on how brown you like it. (I like my crispy to stand up in the milk!)  Take the mix that was patted in the pan and flip out onto a cutting board.  Break it up into chunks.  (Adds crispy bits to the cereal!)

Store in the oatmeal containers!

*I'd love your input on granola. Here is a post to my friend's recipe. She is a fantastic cook!