Category Archives: Saving Money

Homemade Seasonal Fruit Gummies

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homemade-gummies

These homemade gummies are made with plums, sour cherries and raspberries.

This recipe is safe for someone on the Specific Carbohydrate Diet or GAPS.

Gummies are easy to make and are a nice (healthy) treat for children (and adults).

Homemade Seasonal Fruit Gummies

2c seasonal fruit juice or any clear, organic juice
8T Great Lakes Gelatin
In a small bowl, mix the gelatine with about 1/2c cold water and let the gelatine mixture sit for at least 5 minutes. Make some fruit juice using the recipe from Gelatin Jelly Dessert. Heat up the fruit juice to a boil. Remove from heat and add the gelatine mixture. Stir very well and pour into a glass bread pan. Refrigerate the gummies overnight before cutting into tiny squares. Store covered in the fridge.

Gelatine Jelly Dessert

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gelatine-dessert

This gelatine dessert is made with a mixture of frozen plum, sour cherries and raspberries. Gelatine Dessert is refreshing on hot, summer days!

This recipe is safe for someone on the Specific Carbohydrate Diet or GAPS.

“It is always best to soak the gelatine first, and then stir it in a small saucepan by the side of the fire in a very small quantity of water until dissolved.”
Mrs Beeton’s Book of Household Management (1861)

Most of us know gelatine desserts by the modern brand name, Jello. Gelatine (or jellies) were once a very popular dessert but have fallen out of fashion. These desserts are very easy to make and are a good way to consume more gelatine while using up excessive, seasonal fruit. The trick to making a good jelly is to use one tablespoon of gelatin for every two cups of hot, fruit juice.

“Jellies may be described as solutions of gelatine in water, with wine, fruit and other additions, and their clear, brilliant transparency one of their chief recommendations.”

Gelatine Jelly Dessert

3c assorted seasonal fruit: raspberries, sour cherries and plums
3c filtered water
1 organic lemon peel, grated
1T local honey (optional)
3T Great Lakes Gelatin
In a small bowl, mix the gelatine with about 1/2c cold water and let the gelatine mixture sit for at least 5 minutes. In a large sauce pan, bring the seasonal fruit, lemon zest and water to a boil. Simmer for 20-30 minutes. Strain the cooked fruit through a sieve, lined with cheese cloth. Compost the fruit pulp and reserve the fruit juice. Add the honey and gelatine mixture to the hot fruit juice and stir well. Pour the juice mixture into small glass bowls. Refrigerate until firm. Serve the jelly desert cold.

“Calf’s foot jelly, which is stiffened by the gelatine extracted from the feet by boiling, has the advantage of being perfectly pure, but it is no more nourishing than the jelly made from bought gelatine. When nourishing jelly is required, it is better made from good veal stock.”

Sweet Potato Custard

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Sweet Potato Custard is a very rich dessert with a complex, deep flavor.

This recipe is NOT safe for someone on the Specific Carbohydrate Diet or GAPS.

This recipe originally came from The Joy of Cooking. I’ve made some changes to the recipe. Even though it’s messy and a hassle, it’s necessary to put the cooked sweet potatoes through a sieve for a smooth custard.

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Put the cooked sweet potatoes through a sieve for a smooth custard.

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This recipe requires using a water bath for making the custard.

Sweet Potato Custard
1 1/2c organic sweet potatoes, peeled, cubed, and cooked
1/4c local honey
1/4c organic butter, cubed
1T homemade vanilla extract
4T organic lemon, juice
1tsp organic cinnamon, ground
1tsp organic nutmeg, freshly ground
1/2tsp sea salt
5 pastured eggs, whole
1c organic whipping cream

Peel about 4 cups of sweet potatoes and cut into small cubes. In a double boiler, stream the cubes for 20 minutes or until very soft. Force the well cooked sweet potato cubes through a sieve. You will need about 1.5 cups of sweet potatoes. Use the extra sweet potatoes for another meal. Preheat the oven to 325F. Get a large glass tray for the water bath and 6-8 glass bowls for the custard.

In a food processor, puree the sweet potatoes, honey, butter, vanilla extract, lemon juice, spices and salt until very smooth. Add one egg at a time, then add the whipping cream at the end.

Pour the mixture into 6-8 glass bowls. Place these glass bowls into a water bath. The water for the bath should be hot water from the tap. Carefully transfer the tray into the oven and cook at 325F for 20-30 minutes. Check the custard to see if it has set. Sweet potato custard sets up fast so keep an eye on it. The Joy of Cooking states: “The trick is to pull the pie from the oven as soon as the filling has thickened to a gelatin-like consistency in the center.”

Don’t overcook custard! Quickly remove the custard bowls from the water bath and let cool. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

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Quickly remove the custard bowls from the water bath and let cool.

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Spoon the fried bananas and nuts over the top of the custard. Drizzle with melted chocolate.

Banana Filling
4 organic bananas, sliced
1/4c organic coconut oil
1/4c organic butter
1/2tsp sea salt
1c organic walnuts
1-2T local honey

In a fry pan, warm the coconut oil, butter and salt over medium heat. Toast the walnuts until just browned slightly. Add the banana slices and brown. Remove from the heat and add the honey. After the banana filling has cooled to room temperature, spoon out an equal amount of filling onto each custard. Drizzle with melted chocolate.

Whip Cream Topping and Drizzled Chocolate
2c organic whipping cream
1T local honey
1 pinch sea salt
1/2c organic 70% dark chocolate, pieces

Half fill a sauce pan with water. Place a Pyrex measuring cup filled with chocolate pieces in the water and bring to a simmer. Stir and let the chocolate melt before removing from the heat. Use a teaspoon for drizzling the melted chocolate on the banana layer.

In a food processor, add the whipping cream, honey and salt and blend until the whipping cream is firm. Top each custard with whipping cream and use the last of the melted chocolate to drizzle on top of the whipping cream. Serve immediately!

Sunflower Cups: Photo Essay

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“Necessity is the mother of invention.”
English Proverb

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Sunflower Cups do taste kind of like Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, but healthier!

This recipe is NOT safe for someone on the Specific Carbohydrate Diet or GAPS.

I was trying to make some Dr Axe’s Salted Paleo Sunbutter Cups. Yes, I’ve made some changes to the original recipe. I did have a few problems. I didn’t have any waxed muffin liners or even a muffin tin. I did have some wax paper and some masking tape, so I made up my own wax liners by wrapping the wax paper around a metal tea strainer. I then used the masking tape to hold the shape. My DIY waxed muffin liners worked great!

Sunflower Cups

Filling
1 1/4c organic sunflower seeds, ground
6-8 organic dates, pitted and soaked
1-3T organic coconut oil
1T homemade vanilla extract
1tsp sea salt

Chocolate Topping
1 70-80% organic chocolate bar, melted
1T organic coconut oil

Make some wax paper liners by cutting the wax paper into squares. Fold the wax paper squares around some household item that’s a suitable size and shape. Tape the wax paper to keep the shape and put the liners into a glass tray.

Bring some water to a boil. Place the dates in a small bowl and pour just enough boiling water to cover the dates. Cover the bowl and let cool. Pitt the dates. In a food processor, grind the sunflower seeds to a fine texture. Add the soaked dates, coconut oil, vanilla extract and sea salt. The dough should be firm enough to roll into balls. If not, add some more ground sunflower seeds. Work all the dough into balls. Flatten each ball so it just fits into the wax paper liners.

Put the chocolate into a Pyrex measuring cup and place the cup into a sauce pan with water. Bring the water to a boil and simmer until the chocolate is just melted. Pour the melted chocolate over each flattened dough ball. Cool the tray in the freezer until the Sunflower Cups have hardened.

Twist each liner a number of times like a candy wrapper and tie with a piece of ribbon or string. Sunflower Cups make nice gifts! They do taste kind of like Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, but healthier!

One last tip. Save your Sunflower Cups’ candy wrappers if you are going camping. The wax paper makes excellent fire starter. It burns like a bugger!

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Collect needed supplies: wax paper, scissors, tape and a kitchen item with the right size and shape.

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Fold the wax paper squares around some household item that’s a suitable size and shape.

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Tape the wax paper to keep the shape and put the liners into a glass tray.

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The dough should be firm enough to roll into balls.

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Melt the chocolate in a Pyrex cup in some simmering water.

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Flatten each ball so it just fits into the wax paper liners.

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Place each flatten ball into the liner. If the dough is too big, just re-roll and try again.

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Just melt the chocolate. Don’t overdo it.

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Pour the melted chocolate over the flattened dough balls. Put the tray into the freezer to cool completely before wrapping.

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Sunflower Cups are a nice, healthy gift you will feel good about giving!

Car Camping, Special Diets and Nourishing Traditional Foods

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Making hot drinks and breakfast at a rest stop in the United States.

Recently, I did a 5000km (3000 mile) road trip in the United States. Travel for someone on a restrictive diet can be difficult. I would like to share some of my strategies for finding and preparing food on the road. Even if you don’t have a special diet, these tips may help save money on food while traveling.

  1. Be aware of restricted foods before crossing any borders. I found a list of food items for the border police is very helpful and speeds up the process. Also, have a list of items with prices to declare for the trip back.
  2. Bring water for your trip. I bring a minimum of 2.5 gallons per person. I refill the containers along the way and always have a full supply of water. I also carry two stainless steel water bottles for easy use and refill them daily.
  3. Bring supplies from home. Bringing food from home helps keep one’s diet as close to normal as possible. This avoids stress from changes in diet that may result in illness. Typical supplies are: olive oil, apple cider vinegar, honey, coconut oil, creamed coconut, barley miso, chocolate bits, cocoa nibs, macha, coffee and tea. I also brought homemade salad dressing, homemade beef jerky, homemade nut granola, homemade coconut creamer and homemade mushroom broth.
  4. Bring a cooler with ready-made food that’s easy to eat. My ready-made food lasted for the first three days of the trip. My ready-made food included: bean salad, meatloaf, kimchi, butter, cheese and cream. Bring food that everyone enjoys.
  5. Have some way to heat water. Have enough kitchen equipment to cook on the road. Fill thermoses and travel mugs with coffee, tea and hot water in the morning for use throughout the day.
  6. Use new technology to find local, organic food. Finding food along the way can be tough but with new technology it’s getting much easier. Smart phones can search out organic food stores and other local food producers in whatever area you are visiting. If you don’t use a smart phone finding places to provision before you leave home is a must.
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Here’s my water heating system. I use a simple alcohol stove fueled by methyl hydrate. The front of the cooking box can be closed up to stop the wind from blowing out the stove.

Over the years I have used many different types of stoves and camping kitchen equipment. Right now I’m using a small alcohol stove fueled with 99.9% methyl hydrate. You can find methyl hydrate at the paint or hardware store. I carry two stainless steel pots. One small pot and one larger pot that can boil 1.5L of water. A French press is good for making coffee. Stainless steel thermoses and insulated travel mugs are a great way to keep coffee, tea and hot water warm all day.

Recently, I have started cooking in a cardboard box. This may seem like a strange idea but the box is good for storing all the cooking gear in one place, and acts like a wind shield, making cooking faster while conserving fuel. When the box gets dirty it can be discarded. Just cut one side of the box with a box-cutter and fold up that side when cooking to reduce air flow. Of course, while cooking always watch the box so it doesn’t catch on fire!

Camping kitchen kits are great too. You can make your own or buy a ready made one. I bought a ready made one years ago and over time customized it. My customized kitchen kit has a cutting board, box-cutter, sheathed knife, 2-4 spoons, 2-4 forks, spice and condiment bottles, a lighter, scrubby pad and small bottle of dish soap for clean-up. I carry 2-4 bowl-shaped plates for cutting-on and eating which also fit inside the kitchen kit. I carry a supply of paper towels in a zip-lock bag for eating and wiping-off eating equipment for those times when there’s no water for washing-up. I’ve started carrying some small bars of soap and shampoo packages like the kind you would get staying at a hotel.

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Here’s my customized, camping kitchen kit. It has everything I need to prepare simple meals. As you can see, the equipment sees heavy use. I really like having a sheathed knife to avoid damage to the kit. Bowl-shaped plates are great for liquids and can be used as a cutting board.

Here are some ideas for quick, simple snacks and meals while traveling:

  1. Soft-boil 2-3 eggs per person and serve with lots of butter, sea salt and pepper. It takes about 2 minutes to soft-boil eggs.
  2. Homemade nut granola with chopped fresh, local fruit served with yogurt.
  3. When there isn’t time to cook, add some butter, coconut oil or homemade coconut creamer in coffee or mushroom broth for a quick, filling hot drink.
  4. Eat a handful of whole nuts. On this trip, the local pistachios were fantastic.
  5. Eat a small amount of beef jerky.
  6. Eat cooked meats, chicken or fish using a lettuce leaf as a wrap. Add some fresh avocado slices for an extra filling meal.
  7. If you’re on the road and really desperate, Sally Fallon-Morell recommends eating pork rings with only added salt. I’ve found this advice has worked well for me even though I’m very sensitive to food additives.

For more information about my typical traveling rations please see: Emergency Preparation: Some Thoughts About Water and Food Security.

If you are looking for light-weight, calorie dense rations for travel please see: Emergency Preparation: Fasting or Ketogenic Rations.

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A favorite breakfast on the road is soft boiled eggs topped with butter, sea salt and pepper. We re-purposed old egg cartons into one use egg cups.