Water INFUSION!

  One of the annoyances of MS is the times when my body just sort of hits overload and I have to choose between activities.  In the really hot weather, my choice is digesting or continuing to function, and because I don't want to take a nap after breakfast and lay down after lunch, I have made a different and I believe healthy choice so I can do the things I like to do.  Then I just eat dinner after chores and if I fall asleep, it's okay.

Back to Water INFUSION.  Lots of vitamins without the burden of digestion and easier than juicing.

I've used different combinations, but this is probably my favorite.

1 Gallon of Well water (spring or bottled) would be recommended.  I'm not sure what the chemicals of a                                          treatment plant would do to the produce and herbs.
1 Cucumber sliced
1 Cup of Berries or Fruit in Season, in summer, I use blackberries or peaches due to availability
1/2 Cantaloupe
1 Slice Grapefruit unpeeled about 1 to 2 inches thick
3-4 Sprigs of Mint

Add to water and refrigerate.  Drink 3-4 glasses daily.

Delicious!

Taco Casserole

                                    

1 lb. Ground beef or deer                                                              1 C Milk
1 med. Onion chopped                                                                  1 Can Red Kidney Beans
1 C Chicken Stock or                                                                    4 oz. Green Chilis
   *{1 C water + 2 Chicken Bouillon cubes}                                1 med. Jalapeno sliced
2 Tbsp. Flour                                                                                18 Corn Tortillas

1 ½ C Grated Cheese

Brown Gr. Meat in 3 qt. Saucepan, with chopped onion. When meat is browned, mix in flour. Add water and bouillon cubes. When bouillon cubes have dissolved, simmer for an additional 10 minutes. Add milk, beans, and pepper. * Jalapenos are hotter than chilis.**** Simmer 10 more minutes.

In 9 X 13 greased pan, place 6 tortillas. Cover with half of meat mixture. Sprinkle 1/3 of cheese. Layer another 6 tortillas, add remaining meat mixture, sprinkle with same portion of cheese. Place final 6 tortillas on top and sprinkle remaining cheese.

Bake at 350 for 30 min.

Rainy Day Mutt Treats - make excellent Sabbath snacks

Rainy Day Mutt Treats -

                                                        1 Lb. Box of Saltine Crackers

1 C. Light. Vegetable Oil     
1 Pkg. Dry Ranch dressing mix
1/4 - 1 tsp. or more Gr. Red Pepper

. . . but first a story

Actually, I don't know the original name of this recipe, but it was given to me by my friend, Jo, that works at one of the banks in town. Anytime we go in for business, we always just end up chatting about everything. She's always got something going on! Anyway, she wanted us to try these new snack crackers she'd been making. Of course we did, she gave me the recipe, but she'd already changed it, so in jotting down the original recipe, then noting the changes, I've managed to lose the piece of paper all together, but I remember clearly the day we made what we came up with and they were a big hit!

It was a rainy day, on the farm, the grandkids were here and we couldn't go out to play. So, we decided it was time for a game and a snack, and this was both.

　
We got a gallon jar and gathered all the ingredients. This is where the term "Mutt Treats" comes from. We had been given several gallon jars with lids that someone had used to store various dry goods after the original contents had been emptied. Many of the jars had home made tape labels on the sides. The mouth of the jars were not compatible with my canning lids and rings so we also use the gallons for storing various edibles, but we haven't revised or updated the labels. I grabbed the jar that had the pretty aqua lid and we got started. The printed label on the jar said, “Mutt Treats.” This project involved all five of us around the table, with Poppy leading the procedure. He doesn't do much of the cooking, but this is his specialty.

Mix dressing mix and red pepper into oil. Pour 1/4 of the liquid

into jar. Place lid on jar and roll around until sides are completely coated. Add one sleeve of crackers, replace lid and roll until crackers are coated. The real trick to achieve perfect Mutt Treats, is for all members of the "cooking team" to take their places around the table and roll the jar to various other members of the team.

Add another sleeve of crackers and another 1/4 of the liquid. Repeat the round table mixing procedure making certain each member of the team has participated many times.

The jar must be rolled gently and kept on the table at all times, to prevent cracker breakage or G-ma “crankage.”

Repeat this procedure until all four sleeves of crackers and remainder of oil mixture has been combined in the jar.

Best when sampled through out the procedure and eaten immediately out of the jar.

We found them to be absolutely delightful when topped with slices of fresh cucumbers.

 

Stuffed Kale

I love this recipe.  It is so easy and so few dishes.
Preheat oven to 425°

25 Kale Leaves
4 oz. Cream Cheese softened
1 split Chicken Breast shredded
Italian Seasoning

Grease cookie sheet.  Sprinkle Italian Seasoning on shredded chicken.  With butter spread small amount of cream cheese on half of inside of kale leaf.
Sprinkle about a teaspoon of shredded spiced chicken over cream cheese and fold the leaf over.
Lay on greased cookie sheet.  Repeat process til all leaves are filled.  Bake 7-10 minutes.  Take out before leaves are brown.  Leave on cookie sheet for a few minutes to cool for leaves to be crisp.

DELICIOUS!