Along The Trail

In the Kitchen // orange baked wings

With the weekend's arrival, I thought I'd share a new recipe we've tried, tweaked and loved! Kind of a funny thing...I used to despise wings. Wouldn't touch them. There was always little prickly hairs sticking out from them. And what work and mess for just a few bites of meat! Then I was pregnant. (You ladies can relate!) We were at a party at a friend's house and the wings they served suddenly became something I had to eat. The rest is history--but do please hold the hair!

The recipe is inspired from Apples for Jam. When I ask the kids to help plan the monthly menu, this is their go-to book! Such yummy goodness, beautifully laid out photography, and a touch of personal history from the author to engage and inspire the cook! Rather fun just to flip through!

I slightly tweaked her original recipe. This recipe fed my family of 5 but we wanted more!

Here's what you need for the sauce:

3/4 cup packed light brown sugar

2 cups fresh squeezed OJ (I used half fresh and half store bought)

1 1/4 cup tomato sauce (I pureed 1 can diced tomatoes since I had no sauce)

2 T Tamari sauce (or regular soy sauce)

2 T Worcestershire sauce

2 t ginger

Bring these ingredients to a boil in a saucepan until the sugar dissolves. Stir constantly. Then allow to simmer for 5 minutes.

Spread two packages of chicken drummettes (about 10 drummettes in each) in a single layer on a sheet pan. Pour the sauce evenly over the drummettes and bake in a 325* oven for 2 hours or until done. Turn them about every half hour or so to re-coat with sauce and evenly cook. Sounds like a pain but it took me about a minute each time. And it really makes a difference! Also note: the sauce is super runny at first, but thickens while cooking!

I just served with some yummy bread and raw carrots for what felt like an easy meal for the fam! I was rejoicing because every single one of us loved this meal! First for us in a lonnngggg time!

In the kitchen // herbal pantry pouches

Being a non-pinner (as in Pinterest) has its perks! For instance, I recently enjoyed feeling awesome in coming up with and implementing a solution all by myself!

Before you decide we are disgusting people with awful hygiene habits or negligent cleaning habits (well, negligence may come in the middle of summer camp crazies!), I need to blame my need for a solution on last year's warm winter resulting in this year's overpopulation. don't judge:/. Well, if you want to, it's your call! What am I talking about? BUGGGSSSSS. They are everywhere in our home. ewwww. Even our cupboards. (Insert image: cassi pounding the junk out of skittering bugs in the kitchen, with a mean face on!) I needed to do something about it. So I looked in my herb drawer to see what I had and I put together this little diy bug repelling concoction that has proven to work just wonderfully! Here's what I did!

I gathered three herbs: lemongrass, rosemary and peppermint. (I had read in several different places about their bug repelling properties a while back. SIDENOTE: READ! Things store away in your little brain and resurface at the proper time!!) Grabbing 1 handful of each herb, I steeped them in hot water to form a tea (I used a coffee press for this but you can use a coffee maker or even a saucepan...then just strain herbs off after steeped few minutes). I put this *tea* in a dollar store squirt bottle and sprayed/wiped down my cabinet shelves and counter tops.

Then I made a dry batch, putting handfuls of each herb into a bowl and adding many drops (didn't count, just dumped some!) of peppermint essential oil. Peppermint repels creatures and smells wonderful to me! (bonus: deters mice--not that we've ever had that problem!)

I gathered some cheesecloth and kite string and the herbal mix.

I cut rectangles about 3 " wide and filled the middle with the herbs.

I folded the cheesecloth then wrapped the string around the bundles several times to securely close. This was after I realized I was wasting cheesecloth by gathering all the sides up and pinching in the center to make baggies. (Process is teacher indeed!)

I placed these cute little pouches all around the cabinet shelves, between or in front/in back of the dishes, etc. I had a bit of herb mixture left when the cheesecloth ran out so I left in the bowl on my counter top. Smells yummy & makes me happy! 

It's been a couple months now since I placed them. Wherever these bundles rest, I never see bugs. In the cabinets without them, I see bugs now and then. As for the counters, I spray them daily with the *repelling tea* and it seems to be doing the job!

I'm super excited I found a cost effective (free for me!!), safe way to handle the nasty invaders. It's the small victories!

[I mostly buy my herbs from Bulk Herb Store! Check them out if you're new to herbs! Lots of free info on their site!]

random(nest)

around the house I've a few things to share, a few things to share from around the house. (i'm not really sure what that was either, other than random!)

First, grainy iphone picture aside, you're looking at my newest happy spot! I felt inspired to use a little watercolor while Tegan was painting! Maybe it's being drenched in the upcoming retreat, or maybe it's just been a while since I've allowed myself a few minutes of creating something that didn't require a computer. Whatever the reason, I'm happy each time I walk into the room and see this happy spot on our mantle! (NOTE: Selah painted the big one on the bottom! Resident artist, that one!)

Second, if you have a day where nothing really has to happen, can I suggest you pull some favorite people together and play the Farming Game?! Um, such a good time. Though why we laughed so hysterically a lot of the time remains a mystery! hmn.

Also, if cheese balls are offered, kindly refuse. They are relatives of Pringles and hail from the "it's impossible to have just one" factory! They will leave you walking away with thighs that look like cheese balls have been stuffed into the skin until no more room remains. Not pretty. Not pretty at all.

Third, I had put the above picture of no bake energy balls on my instagram/fb and had people wanting the recipe. So I thought I'd share it here, though it's not my recipe. {Original source!}

Here's our most used version:

 

1 cup oatmeal (either quick oats or old-fashioned work)

1/2 cup natural peanut butter

1/3 cup honey

1 cup coconut flakes (and I don't even like coconut!)

1/2 cup wheatgerm

1/2 cup mini chocolate chips (most of the time I just use regular size)

1 tsp vanilla

 

You mix all these ingredients together. Let chill in fridge for half an hour (as long as no one's around, otherwise they never meet their chill!) Then form into 1 inch balls. Keep stored in the fridge, but honestly, there are never any left. Everyone gobbles them up right away! They are healthy AND yummy! This is easy to tweak into any mixture. Be adventurous! Give them a go!

Last thing, when taking a road trip with a sunflower-seed-eater, it's a pretty sweet idea to remember a spit cup, otherwise you spend the whole way trying not to look at the nastiness in the lap! Yes, that tip was free of charge...cause it's Wednesday. And who doesn't need a little help over the Hump that is today!?

Okay, people, randomness from my nest is done! I hope you have a most glorious day! I know I am!

Weekend Food

As you begin your weekend, I wanted to share a throw-it-together recipe that helps you eat healthy but play longer! 

My inspiration came from Feeding the Whole Family cookbook. Such goodness in there! And, if you aren't used to cooking with whole foods, educational! I often just use what I have on hand to make what Shaun calls *concoctions*. Always an adventure! With Santa Fe Black Bean Salad as the spring board, here's what I'm calling the RootinTootin Salad...because it gets you rootin' and tootin'! and that's a good thing! (I know, I really should grow up. Maybe some day!)

For the salad:

Mix together one drained can of black beans with about 1 cup of corn. (I used frozen that I thawed in the microwave) Chop up some cilantro (maybe about 1/2 cup...can you have too much? me thinks not!) and blend all well. 

For the dressing:

I threw 3 cloves garlic, couple pinches of sea salt, extra virgin olive oil (enough to have cloves swimming), juice of 1 medium lime, and a dash of cayenne pepper into my magic bullet and let it whiz to smoothness! Of course you can mince the garlic by hand and mash it all together until it's pasty, but that's not quick enough for me!

Toss the dressing over the salad and you are ready to indulge!One night we ate our salad as a side with some tortilla chips. The next day I tossed the leftovers on top of my lettuce for lunch! Quite versatile and for sure delicious! 

Whatever fills your weekend, may you enjoy!