Slow Cooker Oatmeal

There is only one reason I made this, and that is for my husband. Five days a week he gets up at 3:15a.m. to got work. So making something for himself is pretty much out of the question. We both love oatmeal and I am the one who likes to experiment with each and every recipe. I like adding nuts, spices, fruit. But he seems to like plain ole oatmeal. Just a bit of brown sugar and vegan butter and he is good to go. Not me. I want my oatmeal to be a party going on. Not that I do not like plain oatmeal. It is fine and dandy, but nothing wrong with adding a little zip to your breakfast.

The recipes I initially searched for all used steel cut oats. And those things are grand, but I don't have any in my cupboard. I have may own bucket of oat groats and then I roll them with my machine. I figured out after a few searches that I had to redefine the search to include 'rolled oats'. Once that was done I got to about the third recipe and Whamo, we were ready to slow cook.

This is one of those recipes as with pretty much any oatmeal recipe that is very flexible. you can add spices, change the fruit and so on and so on. Make this recipe first and then start playing with different ingredients. But trust me when I say that this one is perfect as is. Now, on to the recipe.

2 apples, peeled and chopped
1 t cinnamon
1/3 cup brown sugar (I misread that and used much less and it was still fine)
2 cups rolled oats (but not quick)
4 cups water
dash of salt (I did not use this)
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In a small bowl stir together the brown sugar and cinnamon. Set aside. Add chopped apple to the bottom of the slow-cooker/crock pot. Evenly sprinkle the brown sugar mixture over the apples. Add the oats and water. This is going to be the difficult part, DO NOT STIR!  It will be the most difficult thing for you not to stir it all together. But trust me when I say that the cooking process will do that for you overnight.

I stared my crock pot on high for a few hours, then before I went to bed I checked on it and saw that it was doing very well. So I turned it down to super low and by the time my husband got up to go to work, he was good to go. I love this option so now he can have many more morning with a healthy start to his day. And as I always say, make...eat...enjoy!!

Raw Cashew Cream

This is something we should all keep in our refrigerators. This is so darned good, it still amazes me that it comes from cashews and that it is raw...who knew?!


This can be done with a regular blender, but make sure that if you have an old fashioned blender, that your cashews are soaked A LOT. I prefer to blend my cream down to a super-fine. But blend yours down to a consistency that works for you. But remember, the finer/smoother it is, thee easier it will pour over your dessert.


1 cup raw cashews, soaked overnight
1T coconut oil, softened
1T lemon juice
1t vanilla extract (maybe more)
2T agave
Water, if needed, for consistency
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Soak your cashews overnight. The longer they soak, the softer they will, the easier they will blend down and be creamier. Drain your cashews and add to your high speed blender. Process until smooth.


Add remaining ingredients except for water. Blend until smooth. Add water 1-2T at a time, as not to make it to liquidy. Stop when you have reached the consistency you desire. Remember, you want it smooth enough to pour over your desserts. Make...eat...enjoy!

Blender Waffles

I love waffles. To say that I do would be an understatement. With that said, a dear girlfriend of mine had introduced me to Sue Gregg a few years back. It is her recipe that I use to bake my bread from scratch. This woman also has many a books when it comes to baking. Visit her website and see.


I had long wanted to make waffles, but had relied entirely on my daughter to make them, for she made them so wonderfully, that I did not want to mess with perfection. But of late her schedule has not allowed her to laze around in the morning and willy nilly make waffles. So, while making bread the other day I thought I might take a gander around my bread making book and just see if this woman had a generic waffle batter recipe. Low and behold she did. Thee only thing I have altered was that I eliminated the usage of an egg. But it was optional to begin with and they came out fine and dandy.


Now, I do know that she has specific books about baking specific things, so I just may have to purchase those books. But in the mean time, I will use the recipe I found until said time. 


A word of warning for this recipe. If you do not have a high powered blender, you will not be able to make this recipe. I am sorry for this for I try to make eating healthy, something that everyone should have access to, but this will not apply here. Again my apologizes. With that said, let's get down to business...shall we?


1&1/2-1&3/4 cups buttermilk (fruit juice or water can be used)
2T olive oil (or any oil you have on hand)
1t vanilla extract
1 cup uncooked RAW brown rice + 1/2 cup uncooked rolled oats
1/2t baking soda
1t salt
2t baking powder
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Heat your waffle iron to its highest setting. Place the first four ingredients into the blender and run on high for 4 minutes, until smooth. The secret to this batter is its thinness. When it is in your blender, the batter should be forming a tornado/hurricane style vortex. If it does not, then your batter is too thick.


After you have blended then add the last 3 ingredients just before you begin baking your waffles. Pour just enough batter to fill each well in the waffle iron. Set the timer for 4 minutes and then perfection will ensue. 


These were very crisp on thee outside and tender on thee inside. We will make these again for sure. A definite keeper. Make...eat...enjoy!

Juicing With The Juice Daddy

Well here I am talking about one of my favorite people. I am going to be doing this in many of my upcoming posts. What is ti, you may ask, that I am referring to, well I am going to tell you. There are people in this world, (in the health realm) that inspire and make you take a look at what you are doing, or there lack of, in the world of nutrition. Meaning, what is it that you are doing to make your temple...AKA your body, a better place to live?

If you sat down and wrote a daily diary of your food intake and your activity level (notice I did not say exercise), how would you rate? On a scale of 1-10, where would you fall? 1 being the least healthy and labeled a couch potato, or a 10, where you are doing some form of movement on a near daily basis, and putting into your moth the best possible food imaginable. I am not a 10 yet, but I am working on it for sure.

This man, and if you have not heard of Jay Kordich, then let me introduce you to him. I found about him the first time I was a vegetarian and then I began to juice, but not nearly as much as i should. That was back in 1992-ish. Fast forward to 2010. the man is 87. Go on take a look at him. How many men or women do you know that look that good at 87. Heck, how many people do you know look that good at 50...40, or even 30?

The man cured himself of pancreatic cancer back in the late 40's. He had a promising career in Pro Football, but got way-laid by this so called disease that was most definitely going to not only end his career, but end his life. And yet, here he is a testament to how diet alone changed his life, AND saved it as well.

My juicer is ancient, and I do not juice half as much as i should, but like I have stated in so many of my posts. I am on a journey of better health. Please join me and go visit Jay on his website, where you can sign up for free emails. And when you do that, you can download a fee ebook for free. I want to look that good and feel that good at 87. We all know it is possible. You do not have to carry around a suitcase of medications to be able to live. that my friend is not living. It is your doctor telling you that if you do not take these pills you will feel bad and not get better. WRONGO!

There are so many people now bucking the tried and true system and taking their health into their own hands. And they are feeling better for it and not lugging around a gallon size freezer bag of medications and a computer sheet filled with meds that you need to hand to each and every new doctor. you go to. Doctors are there for a necessity, but most of them would be out of business if we all get well. Think about that one for a minute. You get better and where does that leave them. Not riding around in that little red corvette.

Do the research, see for yourself what is out there. And DO NOT be afraid to take your health into your own hands. You will thank yourself for it in about 30 some-odd years.

Jay Kordich And Why He Juices

Paper Or Plastic?

Not anymore, or so it will be in California in the foreseeable future. By the year 2012, you will no longer be asked if you want paper or plastic, you will either have to bring your own, or be charged $.05 for a recycled paper bag. I can't wait for that to get to my home state.

I was recently at the grand opening of a grocery store where my company is a vendor. There were many of us from our company, and us who demonstrated the meat and cheese (Yes I work for a deli meat company) would rotate between giving out samples and greeting customers at the front door.

I saw a lady walk in with a bag from Whole Foods that read, 'I use to be a plastic bottle.' It was ingenious. I mean think about it. I told her how much we do in the green category and our conversation was going splendidly until an old fart of a man walked by and gruffed out, 'You will never see my use any of those.' I, of course, could say nothing, for I was on duty. But the lady I was talking to, did not have to obey my constraints. She, without missing a beat, politely told him, when they start charging you for them, you may see things differently. She had won me over.

But my daughter asked me, 'What if you gave people a discount for using the reusable bags, won't that make them use them more often?' And I told her no, and for this reason. People are so accustomed to BOGO, 1/2 off, sale, reduced price, clearance. BUT, when you take their money from them right out of their pockets, that makes them mad, and people do not like parting with their money.

So, I look forward to the day when folks get charged for the bags they use. There are may a day that I walk out and never even use a bag...for 1 item...really?

Read more here.

A Pressing Issue

I love garlic. I like it in any shape way or form. And recently I am learning to embrace it more in its raw state. Bad breath...deal with it.

But I also have this lovely garlic press I purchased on a gift card from Bed, Bath and Beyond that was given to me a year or so ago. Wow, this garlic press. Take the time ladies (and men) to invest in a quality press, you will not regret it.

But I learned something recently about a garlic press. And yes, you can and should learn soemthing as often as you can. That is the joy to reading other blogs. I got this tidbit from Pioneer Woman. Man can she cook up a storm. I think she invented comfort food, right behind Paula Deen that is.

So here is the little piece of information I took away from her blog today:

"If you don't have a garlic press, no worries. You can mince it up. If you do have a garlic press, I have a tip for you. Don't peel the garlic. There's no need to. Just pop it in there and press. The skin will stat in the press and clean garlic will come right through."

Did you just read that? One less step I have to do in the kitchen. I was laboring over cloves of garlic at a time by slaving away at removing their skins...OK , maybe a slight exaggeration, but you know what I am talking about. So slave no more people. you can press away and still save some time in the kitchen.

Your Own Tomato Planter

We have all seen the commercials of the Topsy Turvy, but you can make your own homemade growers. Check them out here at the Cheap Vegetable Gardner.

I am all for cheap and economical things that can help us reuse and recycle items. I myself do not drink sodas, so finding one of these is going to be difficult. I will just go dumpster diving and hit everyone's recycle bins. Trust me when I say there will be tons to choose from in the neighborhood. I have about 2 dozen plants growing right now, and at all different levels. So I could take the newer ones and put them in the litre containers. The more the merrier.

I will definitely be canning this summer and I also plan on making tomato jelly as well. I use to get it from this place we use to visit in Pennsylvania called Kitchen Kettle. Very quaint place and if you are ever in Lancaster County, go and see this place, you will not regret it.

Once I get going on my new planters, I will of course and as always, blog about it. So stay tuned, same place same channel.

Grab Your Bags

I saw this on Green Bag Lady. She is a woman who makes reusable bags for those who want them...and for free. She has slacked off, due to the high demand. Man what I wouldn't give to start a group here like that. She just asks for donations, sews them and ships them back. People all over the world have her bags. And people all over the world, send her material and money to keep her project going. What an unbelieveable undertaking. And what a great way to say thank you to Mother Earth.

There are times I forget to take my bags in with me and I am only buying an item or two. I politely tell the cashier, "No bag please." I get 8The look* and I tell them, I have my receipt, and that I do not need a bag for one item. What are they going to do, make me take one. This article talks about charging folks for every plastic or paper bag they use. YEAH BABY! Not me.

I even got hubby to keep a few bags in his car, and he uses them. I would love to see these bill/law implemented. Works in my book. BOO Yah!
Green Bag Article

Grown-Up Rice Pudding

I was never much of a rice pudding fan myself, until I met my husband. his mother made this awesome rice pudding. Your classic white rice loaded with whole milk with white sugar. but wait, you can still have your rice pudding and eat it too...Trust Me!!

You know me, I am trying new recipes all the time. And my new favorite cookbook is 'How It All Vegan.' I had seen this book in the book store over a year ago and I connected with it somehow. I know, come on, how can you connect with an inanimate object. but I tell you this book spoke to me. Not literally mind you, but you know what I am talking about.

Fast forward to holiday season 2008 and what lands into my daughters pile of gifts but this lovely book. And to date we both use it constantly. Her mostly for desserts, me for a plethora of dishes. But last night I had a sweet tooth and I refuse to purchase junk from the store. That does not mean I do not want to satisfy my sweet tooth. So I cracked open the book and found rice Pudding.

I usually have at least 2-3 types of rice on hand. But last night I wanted to use my very aromatic brown jasmine rice. Oh my stars. You know how many a cooks will call a mac-n-cheese a grown up version of thee old comfort food? Well put your minds in that frame of thinking. for this one is sweet, delicious, yet somehow satisfying without all the guilt of your moms rice pudding.

So get all your ingredients lined up and let the cooking begin.

2-3 cups soy milk (we used 2 cups of plain almond and it came out just fine)
2 cups cooked rice (we used brown jasmine rice and it was great)
1&1/2 t cinnamon
1 T vanilla extract
1 cup of raisins
1/2 cup slivered almonds
1/4 cup sweetener ( we used raw sugar)
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In a medium saucepan, add the milk, cooked rice, cinnamon, vanilla, raisin, almonds, and sweetener and bring to a boil (we got it to a soft boil, not full rolling boil). Reduce heat and simmer for 15-20 minutes until pudding thickens to desired consistency, stirring occasionally. Makes 2 or more servings.

This recipe filled 4 small dessert bowls and I still could easily share a bowl with my husband. And he loved it. He did say he thought it had too many almonds, but that the taste still came through wonderfully and he wants me to make it again....like he had to ask. Pffft!

Move Over Bugs Bunny

If you haven't figured it out by now, this post will be related to carrots. I needed some carrot pulp for my marinara post and there was plenty to keep. And I knew I wanted to make carrot cake, but a bit healthier. So where did I go? I yeah, How it all Vegan. Once again these ladies...Tanya Barnard and Sarah Kramer have a splendid book. Retro look and simple recipes can keep you up to your eyeballs in new food and comfort food as well. I proved that today by making brownies and now a carrot cake.

I did make one tiny boo boo though, but easily rectifiable. I made it in a loaf pan, which is usually where I bake my banana nut bread, but I now see I need a cake pan like thee instructions dictated. But no worries, I just added 10 minutes to the bake time and Viola!

1&1/2 cups flour (we used unbleached)
3/4 cup dry sweetener(we used raw sugar)
2 t baking powder
1 t cinnamon
1/4 t salt
3/4 cup soy milk (we used almond)
2 t vanilla extract
1/4 cup canola oil (we will use this until it if done then buy it no more)
egg replacer (equal to 1 egg) (we used 3T applesauce)
1/2 cup carrot, finely shredded(we used pulp from juiced carrots)
1 t fresh ginger, grated
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Preheat oven to 350 F. In a large bowl, stir together the flour, sweetener, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt. Add the milk, vanilla, oil, egg replacer, carrot, and ginger and mix together gently until 'just mixed,' Pour into a lightly oiled pan and bake fro 25-30 minutes. Check with a knife to see if done. When cooled, you can ice if you choose to, we did not.

WOW!, again. I am in a domestic mood today. And my family reaps the benefits. And I am in the process of cooking a lentil curry stew in the slow cooker, so keep your eyes peeled for the results of that dish.

This carrot cake is to die for. It is not as dark as the one you are use to, but who cares, for this sis so darned good. Yowser!

Marinara Sauce

Savanah usually makes our marinara sauce, but last week she was very sick with sinus'. So mom to the rescue. Truthfully, I almost forgot how to make this simple dish.But I dove in with a vengeance vowing to make up for lost time.

I had the staples on hand and went right to work. But added soemthing I usually despise...mushrooms. And just today I kicked it up a notch and added carrots. The last time I made the sauce, my son had no idea I had added mushrooms, and today he will have no idea I have added carrots. Now, on to the recipe.

3-4 T olive oil
1 medium onion pureed in food processor
1/4 green pepper pureed in food processor
3-4 cloves garlic pureed in food processor
6-8 medium button mushrooms, stem removed, pureed in food processor
1/4-1/3 cup carrot pulp
1-2 t oregano
1/2 cup meat crumbles
Salt and pepper to taste
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Heat oil in skillet. Add pureed onion, green pepper, garlic, mushrooms and lastly carrots. Stir until everything is well coated and warmed through. Add oregano, meat crumbles and salt and pepper. Once everything is combined, transfer to a crock pot.

At this point I add my favorite tomato base sauce. Everyone's is different. So do yours the way you like it and slow cook until ready for dinner. Mine will be cooking for about 4 hours. Enjoy.

What a Steal

I am always looking for a bargain. And as many of you may or may not know I love second hand shops, more commonly referred to as thrift shops. Goodwill comes to mind to many as does Salvation Army. But there are many smaller thrift shops, second hand shop (Darn I am wanting to break out in Streisand's Second Hand Rose real bad), and consignment shops as well.

Some of those shops are backed by churches, ASPCA, and many many more. So find a spot that you are willing to dump your money into and stop the buying of new items that need more energy and find a new home for a sad slowcooker, a desk lamp, a set of beer mugs, book, and anything else you can think of.

I am gone so long, my husband contemplates having a change of address card for my mail when I am out thrifting. Now back to my story.

I was at Goodwill looking for drinking glasses, because...well I will blog about my reason why...anyhow, we found three glasses, which is all we needed, and what did Savanah find without even looking for was a SPRINGFORM PAN! Did I shout? Pardon me, I got a bit excited.

I have been looking for a pan and a cheesecake recipe. Well I borrowed from my girlfriend her spring-form pan and the recipe I got from Tyler Florence on the Food Network. My oh my, the cheesecake was a hit. Now, we did have the wrong pan size and should have used a 9 inch, but my girlfriends was an 8 inch. Our recipe came out a bit more jiggly than we had anticipated, and now we think we know why. If the recipe called for a 9 inch pan, then it would have less surface space to cook...duh, and that may have been the culprit.

So needless to say, we are looking forward to our next encounter with graham crackers and cream cheese. *chills run down Cooking Lady's spine*

One Man's Junk

Well I seem to be admitting tons of things today. One of my loves is finding a bargain. I love Garage Sales, but since my back surgery I have limited my driving, and we all know the driving entailed with garage sales, not to mention the getting in and out of said car. So I prefer to do a 'One stop shopping' experience, hence the thrift shops.

I love browsing through what other people did not need. What I am ready to chuck out the door, others are willing to sit and catch with a catchers mitt. Who knew. I had purchased a few years back a salad spinner(something no home should be without) and spent probably 3-5 dollars on the thing. It did me good and made it through a few years. So it definitely paid for itself times over.

We, however, were recently in need to get some shirts for my husband and he needed them quickly and in quantity. You cannot got to Macy's and buy bulk without going broke, so off to Goodwill we went. While there, I am always scouring the book section so I can bring them home to weigh down my already sagging bookshelf.

As I was waiting for my daughter to finish window shop, my husband taps me on the shoulder, I turn around and what do I see? A real salad spinner(has flashes of Pinocchio). This puppy was solid as a rock, it wasn't going anywhere, and I swear by the style and color scheme, it came right out of the 70's. I don't care if it came from Little House on the Prairie, it was going home with me, and it did.

I have used it at least 3 times since arriving in my safe cupboards. I will not donate you like that last person did. So keep safe my dear salad spinner.

Pressure Cooking or Crock Potting

Is Crock Potting even a word? But I guess most of you knew exactly what I was referring to, so that by law of cooks united...makes it a word.

I was wondering which you ladies...or men prefer. I grew up on both. My mother knew how to work with both, but in my honest opinion she did not utilize either one of them half enough. I use both my Slow Cooker and pressure cooker at least once a week. My mother-in-law uses her pressure cooker all the time. To her it is second nature. So when I married my husband, I watched and learned how to better use this scary kitchen tool. They are both my friends.

But, do I have a preference? Well yes, I do...I'm glad you asked. My personal preference is my Slow Cooker. Do not get me wrong, I love my pressure cooker and they soften up a mess of greens like nothing else I have ever seen. But oh my Slow Cooker. It's like that Ronco commercial, "Just set it, and forget it."

But there are a few things that do not do well in the Slow Cooker, unless prepped. Such as Chick peas, garbanzo beans. Them puppies are so hard to crack, if they are not pre-soaked, they take days in the Slow Cooker, and then they taste like ka-ka...trust me, I know this from experience.

So just remember, if you have a tough cooking bean, then pre-soak before subjecting them to the slow cooker. You will thank me in the morning.

Pressure cooking is near and dear to my heart, but slow cooking is the way to go for me. So fess up folks, where does you food rest?

I Have Gadgets and I'm Not Afraid to Use Them

Yes indeedy folks, you heard right. I finally got hold of my Christmas Gift Card my mother had sent to me via my sister. but somehow that poor card got a HUGE detour. I finally got it while I was in Miami having my spinal surgery. So, when I was well enough to leave the house, my hubby took me and the children and off to Bed, Bath & Beyond we went. The first thing my daughter and I determined(since she helps out tremendously in the kitchen) was what we needed most. And straight out of the bull pen was a knife. And Viola, you see it above, we purchased one of Rachael Ray's more accessible knives. not too large and not to small. It is just right. So mom, thinking she knows what she is doing, breaks the poor little knife in. Well low and behold, that thing is sharp, and I have the cut to prove it. Yep. I was slicing carrots, so I thought it was just carrot juice...oh so no. that was blood and it was coming form my finger. Once we realized just how sharp it was and handled it with much more care, we have learned to love that thing. Sharp knives are essential in any kitchen.

Now this little gift was not something I was necessarily in the market for, but you have to understand two things. 1) We use garlic in everything, even in our cereal...nah, just kidding, but we do go through tons of garlic...no Vampires here. 2) The one I was currently using was so small that I could not put a clove of garlic inside, unless I chopped it in half. One clove. So you see my dilemma. Now I can practically put an entire head of garlic in there now. Ahhh, modern technology.

And last but certainly not least, we went with a microplaner. We debated about this one. Since my daughter is the chief cookie maker, we almost purchased a silicone mat, but decided on this. We can use this for so many things other than lemon zest, so the microplane jumped into our cart. All in all it was a good day for gadget shopping.

This is what gets me about people. Everyone knows I love being in the kitchen. So why get me anything other than something that goes in the kitchen. I could actually place my bed in there, that is how much I love being in my kitchen...and yes, even the cleaning up part. I love cooking and eating. I cannot thank my mother enough for getting me this Gift Card, even though it took nearly 8 months for me to get it and decide what we actually needed. But we now have a happier kitchen. And all of you readers are invited over for a meal so I can use all of said items mentioned above.