Simply Rurban

Spinach Artichoke Dip

Posted on December 28, 2014 by simply0637

I am not sure what started the craving for spinach artichoke dip – but once it started it wouldn’t go away AND I HAD TO MAKE IT! I really could not remember the last time I made this dip, years. I used to make it all the time and then I just didn’t. I would make it to bring to dinners, parties and just for us. I will eat this dip right out of the oven, warm and then if there is any leftover, right out of the fridge!

Stella really loved it too – so I think this might be something that I start making on a more regular basis!

Spinach Artichoke Dip

Ingredients

1 can artichoke hearts, drained and cut up
1 package frozen spinach, cooked and drained
1/4 cup shallots, chopped (optional)
3 – 4 garlic cloves, minced
1+ cup cheese, grated (combination of parmesan plus mozzarella, cheddar, or swiss)
1 cup mayonnaise

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

1. Put the spinach on to cook and cut up all other ingredients.

2. In a large bowl combine all the ingredients. Make sure that the spinach has as much water squeezed out of it as possible.

3. Spread the dip into a baking dish. I used a 7×11 glass baking dish. Bake for 20 – 25 minutes. If you want a crispy top you can always turn to broil for the last few minutes, but make sure to keep an eye on the dip!

NOTE: If using homemade mayonnaise, the oil will separate in baking and the dip will not be as thick as if using store bought mayonnaise – but the flavor will not be altered at all.

Enjoy with your favorite chip or cracker!

Posted in Recipes, Snacks | Tagged appetizer, recipe, snack, spinach artichoke dip | Leave a comment

Make Your Own Deodorant

Posted on December 25, 2014 by simply0637

I am always looking for ways to make bath & beauty items I use at home with non-toxic and non-harmful ingredients. I did make the switch several years ago to a paraben and aluminum free deodorant, but I still was not sure of some of the ingredients used and how they truly effect my body.

Here is just a brief overview of the ingredients found in most deodorants and why you would want to avoid them:

Aluminum mostly found in antiperspirants and is used to completely stop perspiration. Aluminum has been linked to a number of health issues – seizures, breast cancer, Alzheimer’s, kidney problems.

Parabens are used in many beauty products as a preservative. They mimic estrogen in the body and can cause hormone imbalances or other hormonal problems.

Propylene Glycol is used to increase absorption, so really to help keep substances from drying out. It is a neurotoxin and skin irritant and can cause damage to the nervous system, heart and liver.

Phthalates are used in many beauty products and help with consistency of the product. Phthalates increase the likelihood of cell mutation and disrupt hormone receptors, which can increase the risk of birth defects.

Triclosan is antimicrobial and it kills bacteria, fungus, and other microbes. Triclosans are classified as a pesticide by the FDA and a probable carcinogen by the EPA – need I say more?!

Read your labels closely, even if it says “natural” these products could still be in the list of ingredients.

Making your own deodorant is really quite easy and does not take long at all. There are many recipes out there to choose from – this one works well for me. I chose to make mine without baking soda because my skin is sensitive, but it might work for you and if you want to add it, cut the amount of arrowroot used (don’t exclude it and you will want more arrowroot than baking soda) and in place use baking soda.

Homemade Deodorant

Items Needed

1/2 cup arrowroot (where to buy)
2 Tbl beeswax pastilles (where to buy)
2 heaping Tbl coconut oil (where to buy)
2 Tbl shea butter (where to buy)
10 drops Tea Tree Oil (where to buy)
10 drops Lavender Oil (where to buy)
Mason jar
Old deodorant case or glass jar (washed)

1. Fill a saucepan about half way with water, turn on medium heat. In a glass mason jar place the beeswax, coconut oil and shea butter in and put in the pot of water.

2. The beeswax will take the longest to melt, stir the ingredients as they melt.

3. When the ingredients are completely melted, take the jar out of the water. Mix in the arrowroot – it will be thick. Add the essential oils and mix well. The mixture will be a thick paste.

4. Scoop the paste out and fill your deodorant case or jar or both. Really pack it into the deodorant case. Allow to set and firm up – you can place in the fridge to speed this up.

When using do not push a lot up – this is not as firm as store bought deodorant and will break off. The oil can stain clothes – so put on and allow to “dry” for a couple of minutes before putting your shirt on. At first this may not work as well as your store bought, but give it time and you will love it!

STANDARD FTC DISCLOSURE: In order for me to support my blogging activities, I may receive monetary compensation or other types of remuneration for my endorsement, recommendation, testimonial and/or link to any products or services from this blog.

Posted in Beauty | Tagged beauty, deodorant, recipe | Leave a comment

Kids Can Cook: Gluten-Free Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

Posted on December 23, 2014 by simply0637

Stella continues to love baking as does most of her friends. We have a new family that moved in next door, next door is almost a mile from the house! Stella and KJ have become instant buddies and get together whenever they can, having a friend this close is big deal for both of them. KJ is gluten-free, so we have I keep a look out for GF (gluten-free) recipes and ideas. They did a great job in the kitchen and both loved the cookies – I thought they could have been baked longer, but what do I know!

These cookies are filled with protein thanks to the beans used. You don’t want to eat too many at one time or your digestive system will remind you of just how many beans you have eaten!

Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients

1 1/4 cup canned chickpeas, well rinsed, drained and dry (this is one can of beans)
2 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 cup + 2 Tbl natural peanut butter (they used almond butter since that is what we had and it must be natural not a Jiffy type)
1/4 cup honey
1 tsp baking powder
Pinch of sea salt if your nut butter is unsalted
1/2 cup chocolate chips

1. Rinse and drain your chickpeas – leave to dry for about 30 minutes and then dry with paper towel.

2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees

3. Combine all the ingredients except the chocolate chips is a food processor and process until very smooth, scraping sides as you go.

4. Add the chocolate chips and pulse to mix – you want the chips whole.

5. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

6. With wet hands and a wet spoon, scoop out some batter into your hands and roll into a 1 1/2″ ball – place on the baking sheet.

7. Bake for 10 minutes (they do not rise or spread much).

Enjoy – the girls certainly did!

Posted in Cookies, Kids Cooking, Recipes | Tagged cookie, gluten free, kids cooking, peanut butter chocolate chip cookie, recipe | 1 Comment

Make Your Own Mayonnaise

Posted on December 21, 2014 by simply0637

You can buy a jar of good organic mayonnaise anywhere from $7 – $9, but why when you can make your own for under $2! It is really easy to make, you know it is fresh and exactly what are the ingredients. Once you make it the first time you will never buy store bought mayonnaise again! Remember it is only as good as the ingredients you use – so use organic, non-gmo items.

Mayonnaise

Ingredients

1 egg
1 Tbl cider vinegar
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1 1/2 cups olive oil

1. In a blender or food processor add the egg, cider vinegar, salt and pepper – process for 30 seconds.

2. With the blender or food processor running, start adding the oil. The key is to add the oil VERY SLOWLY.

3. You are done! Scoop your mayonnaise out and store in a glass, airtight jar.

Stella couldn’t wait for the mayonnaise to be done and immediately made herself an avocado, swiss, mayo sandwich!

Posted in Recipes, Sauces | Tagged mayonnaise, recipe | 1 Comment

Dry Hair? Why Not Try An Egg Mask

Posted on December 18, 2014 by simply0637

I have dry hair and it seems to get even drier and frizzier in the winter – yikes! I do a mayonnaise mask on my hair, do deep conditioning treatments, use coconut oil – they work, but I was looking for something different, longer lasting and after reading up on kitchen items that are good for your hair decided I would try an egg mask. I mainly decided this because I was low on honey and had just eaten the last avocado!

When applying this is messy – so wear an old shirt and do it over a sink!

Hair Egg Mask

Ingredients

2 eggs ( I have very thick and long hair, if your hair is shorter you could use 1 egg)
1 – 2 Tbl lemon juice
2 tsp Olive oil (you could also use almond oil)

1. Beat the eggs.

2. Add the lemon juice and olive oil, mix well.

3. Apply to hair and scalp, massaging your scalp gently – you want this to penetrate.

4. Clip your hair up, if long, and leave on for 20 minutes.

Not easy taking your own photo!

5. Wash your hair with a mild shampoo and condition.

If you hair is like mine – it will soak it up and thank you! My hair felt soft and after 2 days of not washing I did not have the frizz like normal. You can do this mask every 2 – 4 weeks. Wishing you healthy hair!

Posted in Beauty, Health | Tagged dry hair, egg mask, hair treatment, recipe | 2 Comments

Kids Can Cook: Cranberry Cake

Posted on December 16, 2014 by simply0637

I just LOVE the fact that Stella is starting to really love baking and cooking! This past Sunday I spent the whole day in the kitchen baking Christmas cookies with her – it was an incredible day! It is wonderful watching her get all her ingredients together before she starts, measuring, mixing, putting things into the oven – bliss!

We were at a pot luck at our neighbors not too long ago and for dessert there was cranberry cake – it was delicious. Some was sent home with us and as we were enjoying it for a second time – Stella said “mom, we so have to get this recipe!” So we did!

Cranberry Cake

Ingredients

3 eggs
2 cups organic sugar (maybe next time we will try rapadura)
3/4 cups softened organic butter
1 tsp vanilla
2 cup organic flour (can use whole wheat, unbleached white, or spelt)
2 1/2 cups fresh or frozen cranberries
2/3 cup walnuts or pecans (we used crispy walnuts)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

1. Beat the eggs with the sugar for 5 minutes.

2. Add the butter and vanilla and beat for 2 minutes.

3. Stir in the flour.

4. Crush or cut up your nuts. To crush, place your nuts into a plastic bag, seal, and crush with a rolling pin, shaking and turning the bag as you go – making sure all have been crushed.

5. Stir in the cranberries and nuts.

6. Grease a 9×13 pan and scoop your batter in and spread evenly.

7. Bake for 45 – 50 minutes.

Posted in Dessert, Kids Cooking, Recipes | Tagged cranberry cake, dessert, kids cooking, recipe | 2 Comments

Have Some Leftovers? Make Vegetable Puree Patties

Posted on December 14, 2014 by simply0637

As I continue on my quest to find a vegetable patty that Stella will eat and I can make lots of – I came across a recipe in my Nourishing Traditions cookbook for vegetable puree patties. I had some squash from the garden that I really wanted to cook and the recipe called for vegetable puree – so I figured I would have a side dish and new item for Stella to try.

Vegetable Puree Patties

Ingredients

1 cup vegetable puree
1 small onion, peeled and finely chopped
1 egg, lightly beaten
1/4 cup almond meal (recipe called for spelt or unbleached white flour)
Sea salt and pepper for seasoning
2 Tbl butter
2 Tbl extra virgin olive oil

Since I did not have any leftover vegetable puree – here is what I did.

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

2. Cut open the squash and scoop out seeds.

3. Line a baking sheet with tin foil and spray with olive oil. Place the squash face down on baking sheet. Bake for 20 – 30 minutes then turn. Bake another 20 – 30 minutes until the squash is fork tender.

4. Allow the squash to cool slightly, then scoop the flesh out and place in a glass bowl. Puree the squash.

5. Mix 1 cup squash puree with the chopped onion, egg and almond meal. Mix well and had salt and pepper to season.

6. Heat the butter and olive oil in a heavy skillet – I used my cast iron pan.

7. Drop the puree by the spoonful and saute until golden brown, turn and saute the other side.

Keep the patties warm while you cook the remaining batter. These keep well in the fridge and then just re-heat in a toaster oven or oven.

I really liked these, not that they had tons of protein in them, but they were an easy to make and serve as a side for me and a center for Stella. Stella ate them, but pulled the onions out of them and covered them in ketchup – so I am back to the drawing board!

Posted in Recipes, Sides | Tagged recipe, side dish, vegetable patties | 1 Comment

Kids Craft Corner – Cork Reindeer

Posted on December 9, 2014 by simply0637

Last year or maybe two years ago, we were given a reindeer made out of cork. This reindeer stays out all year long on a shelf in the kitchen, not sure why but it does. Stella has been really into crafting and baking as of late and I LOVE IT! As we were enjoying the first snow storm of the season she asked if she could make something to give to everyone on Thanksgiving day – I said of course! She wanted to make Turkeys out of cork, which she did but then she really got into making the reindeer.

I helped her get all the items that she would need, including the glue gun. The was the first project that she had used the glue gun all by herself, no supervision from me. We did have a conversation about the glue gun and that it could burn, etc. and Stella understood – but she did get burned and it blistered! She was very careful with the glue gun, but as she was holding two pieces together the glue seeped out and that is what burned her finger. So that is how she got her first burn and I am sure is the first of many in her life of crafting!

Cork Reindeer

Items Needed

5 Wine corks
Glue Gun
Glue sticks
Pipe Cleaners
Googlie eyes
Beads, ribbon, decorative wire
“Fuzz” balls (not sure what else to call them)
Mat

1. Gather all your materials together and cover your work area with a mat or some protective material.

2. Glue two corks together, horizontally. These are the legs.

3. Glue 1 cork on top of the legs, vertically. This is the body.

4. Glue another cork, vertically on one end of the “body”. This is the neck.

5. Take your last cork and glue on, horizontally – attaching one end to the end of the “neck”.

6. Cut a pieces of pipe cleaners, scrunch it, make into a “U” and glue onto the head – these are the antlers.

7. Glue the eyes on, nose, tail and any other decorations you would like. Stella glued them onto a “stand”, but this is not necessary.

These are easy and fast. They make great teacher gifts, host gifts, bus driver gifts, etc. and the best part is that they are hand made using your child’s or your imagination, love and creativeness!

Posted in Crafts, Kids Crafts, Recycled, Repurposed | Tagged Christmas craft, crafts, kids craft corner, kids crafts, repurpose project | 2 Comments

Nut Burgers, Another Take on Veggie Burgers

Posted on December 7, 2014 by simply0637

My daughter, Stella has been a vegetarian all her 11 years. When I had her I was vegetarian, eating fish on occasion, and that is how I raised her. I knew that when she became 3 or 4 I would give her the option to choose what she put into her body – she chose to keeping eating the way she always had. About 2 years ago, I added meat back into my diet – my body just really needed it. I did not make Stella start eating meat, several times she has said that she wanted to try, but when it was on the plate – that decision to try didn’t seem like such a good idea to her. She does get pestered by her friends to eat meat and that bothers her, but she lets it roll off. This past summer she decided to change from a pescatarian to a vegetarian – and that has made it difficult in the kitchen – to say the least! The big problem is getting enough protein into her diet. I know you are probably saying have her eat beans – yes, that would be great if she liked them! She used to like them and we used to eat them all the time, but her taste buds have changed. She will eat beans in the burritos I make, but she won’t eat the rice and beans otherwise.

I have been on a request to add some new options to our dinners that are high in protein. My first try – nut burgers. This recipe came from Mark Bittman’s cookbook “How to Cook Everything Vegetarian” with a few changes.

Nut Burgers

Ingredients

1 medium onion
1 cup crispy almonds (but you could use walnuts, pecans, cashews)
1 cup rolled oats
2 Tbl almond butter
1 tsp Garam Masala
1 egg
Salt and pepper for seasoning
Oil to cook in (olive, coconut, lard)

1. Chop the onion in a food processor.

2. Add the nuts and oats and pulse to chop.

3. Add the almond butter, Garam Masala, egg, salt and pepper – process. You don’t want the mixture to fine.

4. If too dry add a little liquid (water, stock, soy sauce, wine).

5. Let mixture rest for a few minutes and then shape into patties. This will make 4 – 6 patties.

6. Heat oil over medium heat, when hot add the burgers. Cook for about 5 minutes and then turn.

7. Enjoy!

I did not make all the patties – the uncooked ones I wrapped and put in the fridge. When I was ready to make them (2 days later) I let them sit on the counter to get close to room temperature.

I really enjoyed these with some fermented honey mustard – delicious! Stella ate about 3/4 of one and said she liked them, but the next day she confessed that she really didn’t. I had made 3 – we ate two and the other one I put in the fridge – eating it cold the next day for lunch – delicious, again!

Posted in Dinner, Recipes | Tagged dinner, nut burger, recipe, veggie burger | 1 Comment

Knit A Wave Washcloth

Posted on December 4, 2014 by simply0637

I love my old standard washcloth pattern, but when I come across another one that looks interesting I usually give it a try. This one came on the inside of the wrap for Sugar & Spice cotton yarn. I looked for the pattern on line to show what the original pattern was, but could not find it nor could I find the wrapper where I first saw it. The pattern was a huge washcloth – more like a face towel – so I sized it down. I do like this one, but I still like the old stand by pattern better.

Wave Washcloth

Size 8 needles
1 skein cotton yarn (you will not use the whole skein)

1. Cast on 57 stitches

2. K2, yo (yarn over), K4, (K2tog), twice, K4, yo, K1, yo, K4, (K2tog) twice, K4, yo, K4, yo, K4, (K2tog) twice, K4, yo, K2

3. K2, purl to last 2 stitches, K2

4. Knit across

5. Repeat rows 2- 4 until you get to your desired length. My washcloth measures:

6. When you have reached your desired measurement, bind off and weave in all ends.

Posted in Crafts, Knitting | Tagged knitted washcloth pattern, knitting, pattern, wahscloth pattern, washcloth | 1 Comment

Spinach Artichoke Dip

Make Your Own Deodorant

Make Your Own Mayonnaise

Dry Hair? Why Not Try An Egg Mask

Kids Can Cook: Cranberry Cake

Have Some Leftovers? Make Vegetable Puree Patties

Kids Craft Corner – Cork Reindeer

Nut Burgers, Another Take on Veggie Burgers

Knit A Wave Washcloth

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