Spaghetti

1/2 lb. grass-fed ground beef
1 (14 1/2 ounce) can organic diced tomatoes (you can also use 1 pound fresh diced tomatoes)
1 can organic tomato paste
1 (16 oz.) can organic tomato sauce
1 organic green bell pepper, diced
1 organic onion, diced
2 stalks of celery, diced
2 cloves organic garlic, diced finely
1/2 tsp. organic black pepper
1 tbsp. dried organic oregano
1 tbsp. dried organic basil
beef stock (optional)
Sprouted grain spaghetti, sun-choke flour spaghetti, or spaghetti squash

In a skillet, brown the ground beef with the onion and garlic. Add the ground beef mixture into a crockpot. Add all remaining ingredients and cover. Turn crockpot on low and let cook until dinner time. I usually start this first thing in the morning and cook until dinner time. Add beef stock a little at a time if mixture gets too thick during the cooking time. Add just enough to make it the consistency you like. Serve over spaghetti or spaghetti squash. I like to serve this with a fresh green salad.

Sugar or Sea Salt Facial Scrub

1 tbsp. sugar or sea salt
a few drops of olive oil (just enough to make a spreadable paste)

Gently rub it onto your face and rinse with warm water followed by a cold water rinse. I use this once a week or so and it works wonderfully! Your skin comes out feeling REALLY soft! Be careful about getting the salt in your eyes!

Acting Your Best at Mealtimes

I found this in a notebook that my Mother put together for her Homemaking class in 1957. I thought it would be interesting to share.

1. Attractive appearance.
2. Clean, well cared for hands.
3. Be on time.
4. One should not be interrupted at mealtime by phone calls. Another interrupter at mealtime is impatience or hurry.
5. A well-mannered person does not over eat, on the other hand, nor is he finicky about food.
6. It is not rude to have second helpings, but you should be thoughtful of all the others.
7. You should be in good spirits at the table.
8. You should take part in the conversation but not monopolize.
9. A pleasing voice, moderate laughter, and poise are good manners.
10. Celery, soup, all beverages and crisp toast are some of the foods that require your skill at being quiet.
11. Sit down from the left side of the chair.
12. Sit erect.
13. Elbows also must be kept off the table.
14. Your first act at the table should be to remove the napkin to your lap.
15. The knife is used for cutting such food as meat or buttering bread.
16. When the knife and fork are not in use place them parallel across the plate, the knife on the upper side of the plate with the blade turned toward you.
17. Never bridge the space between your plate and the table with knife or fork.
18. Do not leave spoons in cups or glasses.
19. Food is conveyed to the mouth by fork or spoon, but never the knife.
20. Salads, most vegetables, soft cake, watermelon, and pies should be eaten with a fork.
21. Soup, most desserts, cereals, berries, and many fruits are eaten with a spoon.
22. When food is in mouth, chew it noiselessly with lips closed.
23. Avoid talking with food in mouth.
24. Bread, crackers, sandwiches, celery, radishes, olives, nuts, candies, cookies or cake that is not sticky are called finger foods.
25. You are expected to pass any articles near you.
26. If an accident occurs, express your regret and then dismiss the incident as soon as possible.
27. When you finish eating, napkin should be placed on the table.
28. Good manners demand that you express your pleasure with the meal.
29. Good manners are acquired gradually.
30. When good manners are once acquired they contribute to your ease and poise the rest of your life.

Stir Fry Stuff

1 lb. grass fed ground beef
Organic celery, chopped into 1/2 slices
Organic green bell pepppers, cut into rings
Organic onions, cut into slices
Organic carrots, cut into thin slices
Organic broccoli, cut into florets/spears
Organic garlic, finely diced
1/4-1/2 cup Organic naturally fermented soy sauce
1/4-1/2 cup Organic worchestershire sauce

Okay, I don’t really measure for this, I just add enough veggies to fill up a large stockpot and I use what I have on hand or what is in season. In a large stockpot (I don’t have a big enough wok), brown the ground beef with the onion and garlic. Add in all the remaining veggies and the soy sauce and worchestershire sauce. Stir fry until veggies are crisp tender. Serve alone or over brown rice cooked in the Nourishing Traditions way

Chili Cabbage & Beef

This was a quick lunch I made for the kids and I on Friday, and they LOVED it!>

Chili Cabbage & Beef

1 lb. Ground beef
¼ head cabbage
1 can tomato sauce
Chili powder to taste (I used 1 tbsp. or so)

Brown the ground beef with the cabbage. Drain. Pour over 1 can of tomato sauce, and add 1 tbsp. chili powder. Let simmer 15-20 minutes. Serve. We served it with homemade bread and even the kids liked this one!

50 Uses for Vinegar

1. Kill grass on walks and driveways.
2. Kill weeds. Spray full strength on growth until plants have starved (I’ve tried this and it does work pretty well)
3. Increase soil acidity. In hard water: one gallon of tap water for watering rhododendrons, gardenias, or azaleas
4. Deter ants. Spray vinegar around doors, appliances, and along other areas where ants are known.
5. Polish car chrome. Apply full strength. (we use to use straight vinegar to polish stainless steel appliances in the school cafeteria)
6. Remove skunk odor from a dog. Rub fur with full strength vinegar; rinse.
7. Keep cats away. Sprinkle vinegar on areas you don’t want the cat walking, sleeping, or scratching on. (I’ve never tried this, but wonder if it would work to keep the cat from off the kitchen counter tops??)
8. Keep dogs from scratching his ears. Use a clean, soft cloth dipped in diluted vinegar.
9. Keep chickens from pecking each other. Put a little in their drinking water. (we’ll have to give this one a try!!)
10. Tenderize meat. Soak in vinegar over night. (we do this for our fajitas)
11. Freshen vegetables. Soak wilted vegetables in 2 cups of water and a tablespoon of vinegar.
12. Boil better eggs. Add 2 tablespoons water before boiling eggs. Keeps them from cracking.
13. Soothe a bee or jellyfish sting. Dot the irritation with vinegar and relieve itching.
14. Relieve sunburn. Lightly rub white vinegar; you may have to reapply. (my Mom always put vinegar on our sunburns when we were growing up and it did seem to take the sting out quickly)
15. Condition hair. Add a tablespoon of vinegar to dissolve sticky residue left by shampoo. (Just started doing this and it’s working out great!)
16. Relieve dry and itchy skin. Add 2 tablespoons to bath water.
17. Fight dandruff. After shampooing, rinse with vinegar and 2 cups of warm water.
18. Soothe a sore throat. Put a teaspoon of vinegar in a glass of water. Gargle, then swallow.
19. Treat sinus infections and chest colds. Add 1/4 cup or more vinegar to the vaporizer.
20. Feel good. A teaspoon of apple cider vinegar in a glass of water, with a bit of honey added for flavor, will take the edge off your appetite and give you an overall healthy feeling.
21. Deodorize the kitchen drain. Pour a cup down the drain once a week. Let stand 30 minutes and then flush with cold water. (I actually clean our drain by spooning in some baking soda and then pouring vinegar down the drain. I then put in the plug and let stand 30 minutes or so)
22. Eliminate onion odor. Rub on your fingers before and after slicing.
23. Clean and disinfect wood cutting boards. Wipe with full strength vinegar. (we did this at the school cafeteria, it work great!)
24. Remove fruit stains from hands. Rub with vinegar.
25. Cut grease and odor on dishes. Add a tablespoon of vinegar to hot soapy water. (we did this at the school cafeteria too)
26. Clean a teapot. Boil a mixture of water and vinegar in the teapot. Wipe away the grime.
27. Freshen a lunchbox. Soak a piece of bread in vinegar and let it sit in the lunchbox over night.
28. Clean the refrigerator. Wash with a solution of equal parts water and vinegar.
29. Unclog a drain. Pour a handful of baking soda down the drain and add 1/2 cup of vinegar. Rinse with hot water. (yep, done this!!)
30. Clean and deodorize the garbage disposal. Make vinegar ice cubes and feed them down the disposal. After grinding, run cold water through.
31. Clean and deodorize jars. Rinse mayonnaise, peanut butter, and mustard jars with vinegar when empty.
32. Clean the dishwasher. Run a cup of vinegar through the whole cycle once a month to reduce soap build up on the inner mechanisms and on glassware.
33. Clean stainless steel. Wipe with a vinegar dampened cloth. (we did this at the school cafeteria)
34. Clean china and fine glassware. Add a cup of vinegar to a sink of warm water. Gently dip the glass or china in the solution and let dry.
35. Get stains out of pots. Fill pot with a solution of 3 tablespoons of vinegar to a pint of water. Boil until stain loosens and can be washed away.
36. Clean the microwave. Boil a solution of 1/4 cup of vinegar and 1 cup of water in the microwave. Will loosen splattered on food and deodorize.
37. Dissolve rust from bolts and other metals. Soak in full strength vinegar.
38. Get rid of cooking smells. Let simmer a small pot of vinegar and water solution.
39. Unclog steam iron. Pour equal amounts of vinegar and water into the iron’s water chamber. Turn to steam and leave the iron on for 5 minutes in an upright position. Then unplug and allow to cool. Any loose particles should come out when you empty the water.
40. Clean a scorched iron plate. Heat equal parts vinegar and salt in a small pan. Rub solution on the cooled iron surface to remove dark or burned stains.
41. Get rid of lint in clothes. Add 1/2 cup of vinegar to the rinse cycle.
42. Keep colors from running. Immerse clothes in full strength vinegar before washing. (I do this often with my crochet and other crafts, as well as when I wash new clothing)
43. Freshen up the washing machine. Periodically, pour a cup of vinegar in the machine and let in run through a regular cycle (no clothes added). Will dissolve soap residue.
44. Brighten fabric colors. Add a 1/2 cup vinegar to the rinse cycle.
45. Take grease off suede. Dip a toothbrush in vinegar and gently brush over grease spot.
46. Remove tough stains. Gently rub on fruit, jam, mustard, coffee, tea. Then wash as usual.
47. Get smoke smell out of clothes. Add a cup of vinegar to a bath tub of hot water. Hang clothes above the steam.
48. Remove decals. Brush with a couple coats of vinegar. Allow to soak in. Wash off.
49. Clean eyeglasses. Wipe each lens with a drop of vinegar.
50. Freshen cut flowers. Add 2 tablespoons vinegar and 1 teaspoon sugar for each quart of water.

The Bible Order for the Home

I’ve had this in my files for a long time and I can’t remember where I got it, but it’s such a good listing, I decided to post it. If anyone knows where it came from, please let me know so I can give proper credit! Thanks a bunch!

Bible Order for the Home

1. God is the head of Christ ( I Corinthians 11:3 )
2. Christ is over man ( I Corinthians 11:3 )
3. Man is over woman ( I Corinthians 11:3 )
4. Children are under parents ( Ephesians 6:1-3 )

Bible Order for the Husband

1. They are to love their wives ( Ephesians 5:25 )

• As Christ loved the church ( Ephesians 5:25 )
• As they love their body ( Ephesians 5:28 )
• More than any other relative ( Ephesians 5:31)
• As themselves ( Ephesians 5:33)

1. They are to be the leaders in the way ( Ephesians 6:4 )
2. They are to labor for wages ( I Timothy 5:8 )
3. They are to be learned about their wives ( I Peter 3:7 )

Bible Order for the Wife

1. They are to submit unto their husbands as unto the Lord ( Ephesians 5 :22 )
2. As the church is under Christ, so are they to be under their husbands (Ephesians 5:23 )
3. They need to reverence their husbands ( Ephesians 5:33 )
4. They are to be a “servant” to their household
5. They are the star in the home
6. are to be symbols of holiness ( I Timothy 5:14b )

Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff

2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 1/2 pounds round steak, cubed
1/4 cup all-purpose flour for coating
2 (10.75 ounce) cans condensed golden mushroom soup
3 1/2 cups water
3 cubes beef bouillon
1 cup sour cream
1 (16 ounce) package egg noodles

1. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Roll the beef in flour and saute in the hot oil until well browned, about 5 minutes.
2. Transfer the meat to the slow cooker and top with the soup, water and bouillon.
3. Cook on high setting for 8 hours. Stir in the sour cream during the last 30 minutes.
4. Cook the egg noodles according to package directions. Serve the meat over the noodles.

Roasted Pepper Hummus

1 lbs. dried chickpeas
3 tbsp. whey or lemon juice
1 whole head garlic
2 tbsp. coconut oil
1/2 cup roasted red peppers, drained
Juice from 2 lemons
1/4 cup tahini
2 tsp. hot pepper sauce
1/2 tsp. sea salt
Pinch ground cumin

Place the dried chickpeas in a pot and cover with water. Add 3 tbsp. whey or lemon juice. Let soak for 12 hours. After they have soaked, cook until the chickpeas are tender. Drain.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Cut off the top of the head of garlic, exposing the cloves. Place in a small oven safe dish with cover and drizzle with the coconut oil. Add 1 tbsp. water to the bowl, then cover. Let cook for about 10-20 minutes. Let stand at room temperature for 5 minutes. Uncover and squeeze soft cloves from the papery skin.

In a food processor or mixer add all ingredients add all ingredients and 1/4 cup water and mix well until smooth and texture is even. Refrigerate until serving.

This post is part of the Real Food Wednesday blog carnival.

Beef, Cabbage & Rice

This is a recipe that I invented that my oldest son now begs for!

2 cups raw brown rice
4 cups warm filtered water
4 tbsp. buttermilk

Place rice, water & buttermilk in saucepan and cover. Let soak overnight, 8-12 hours.

When ready to prepare, drain the soaking liquid and add:

1 can rotel tomatoes
4 cups chicken stock

Bring to a boil, reduce heat and cover. Let cook over lowest heat possible for 45- 60 minutes (until rice is done). If there’s extra liquid, that’s okay, it make a nice sauce.

Meanwhile, combine in a skillet
1 stick real butter
1 lb. Ground beef
½ head cabbage, sliced

Cook the meat until no longer pink and add the cabbage and stir fry until cabbage is crisp-tender. When rice mixture is done add the meat/cabbage mixture and stir to mix. I served this with homemade bread, but my husband really likes it with corn tortillas, with a little grated cheddar cheese.