Posted by alisa on March 28, 2009 | 22 Comments
After scheduling several posts up, my husband and I secretly slipped away for a two week vacation in Panama. Yep, I have been gone this whole time, but didn’t want to leave the blog nor my website hanging. The trip was wonderful, but I think we both need a vacation from our vacation! Planes, buses, taxis, trekking, serious concentration to speak and understand Spanish … whew, I am exhausted … and not surprisingly, I came down with a bad cold at the end of our trip. I am still battling with it, but didn’t want to wait any longer before going through our pictures.
While not foodie related (the food was good though!) … I am posting up a few pictures of our favorite things in Panama, just to tempt your curiosity:
Coffee Farms – We went hiking on the private jungle/forest of one coffee farm, and took a coffee tour of another. Since I am not a coffee drinker, I had no idea that Panama was known for producing some of the best coffee in the world.
Gorgeous flowers on our hike (gorgeous flowers were everywhere in Panama, they were like weeds!)
The view of the coffee farm as we emerged from the hiking trails.
Very cool handmade birdhouse was a wonderful added touch, and almost necessary in this bird-rich country.
A coffee plant up close. Did you know that coffee beans are actually the seeds of this berry. We each tasted a berry and it was surprisingly sweet.
The production of coffee beans was far less automated than I thought it would be. These are beans (many with the berry still on) drying in the sun on a large cement slab. After drying, they are moved through a series of simple machines for cleaning, sorting, etc, but they also go through three series of hand selection where people literally pick them off on conveyor belts one by one.
My husband enjoying a fresh mug of coffee the next morning on the balcony (yes, he finally got a haircut today!)
Paradise Gardens – This small wildlife refuge was started by a retired British couple in a town called Boquete. They came to Panama for the birds, but fell into animal rescue. The grounds are beautiful and it is a wonderful way to see and learn about the many types of animals native to Panama (they really aren’t easy to just spot in the wild), without fearing for their welfare or feeling sad that some are in cages (all of which were extremely clean and spacious). Once healthy and ready, they reintroduce most of the animals back into the wild, though a few are too domesticated when they arrive at their refuge. We saw several types of monkeys, wild cats, tons of different birds, and a baby anteater (they stick their tongue out when they yawn, so cute!). I couldn’t get a picture of Indie, the Jaguarundi (a member of the puma family) my husband (he is a cat-aholic) had fun playing with because he just wouldn’t sit still even for a second. We loved this place so much, we went back a second time while in Boquete. If we had stayed longer we would have loved to have volunteered. You can read more on the Paradise Gardens website.
A couple of Toucans wandered the greenhouse gardens and loved to attack shoelaces.
I was disappointed when my first picture of this beautiful parrot came out a bit blury …
… so I snapped a second shot, but it seems my subject became a bit camera shy …
Tamarin Monkeys are quite common in Panama. Unfortunately, people tend to capture them for pets, leading to sickness and abuse of these little guys. Luckily, quite a few have been turned into Paradise Gardens where they nurse them back to health and re-release them when possible. They are funny monkeys because they have claws rather than fingers and they love to race up on you. Cute little gremlin faces too … but they do bite.
I forget what type of monkeys these guys are, but they were very intelligent and fun to watch and interact with. Here is one giving some love to the camera …
And of course, there were the Japanese-style gardens, beautiful …
The Panama Canal (Miraflores Locks) – The Canal is set up for tourists to come and view with a big observation building, museum, etc., at one of the Locks. It was definitely fun to visit and learn about.
I loved this picture because the train looks like a little toy. These trains actually pull the ships (we are talking massive freighters, cruise ships, etc.) through the Canal locks. The ships are not allowed to use their own power while going through these channels (which take them up above sea level to transit the channel, and back down to sea level when the reach the opposite ocean), but four of these trains guide the ships by attached cables (two in the front, two in the back) …
Casco Viejo – I cannot tell a lie, we were both disappointed in Panama City. It had a lot of potential, but it was one of the dirtiest and most rundown major cities we have visited. Granted, it was our first visit to Central America, but we have been to a few major cities in South America. However, the Old Town section of Panama City was full of color and beauty. It was awesome for a daytime stroll …
I hate having my picture taken, but thought I needed at least one “I really did go to Panama I swear” shot …
While I don’t have any pictures of the local Panamanians, I do have a snapshot of their artwork. After an exhausting day touristing about, we returned to our hotel room to discover a wonderful sampling of the staff’s talents. Behold, the sleeping towel cow …
On that note, I am off to catch some zzz’s and sleep off the rest of this cold bug!
Posted by alisa on March 22, 2009 | 19 Comments
In case you haven’t noticed from my past recipes, I am always looking for ways to use up those leftover bananas. For some odd reason, I purchase the same amount of bananas year round, regardless of our internal demand. In the summers, morning smoothies ensure that we go through at least one or two bananas per day, but in the winter and early spring, the last thing on my mind is a monstrously chilly beverage. So here I sit, once again, with a bunch of quickly ripening bananas, simply begging to lend their sweetness to a baked goodie.
Trying desperately to keep it healthy, I was elated when I found a whole wheat banana muffin recipe on Recipezaar that numerous people swore rose beautifully. They did not lie. I altered the recipe in several ways (reducing the fat a touch, adding some flavors, etc.), but still used their moisture ratio as my guide. These muffins turned out, dare I say about a whole grain muffin, relatively light and fluffy! Keep in mind; these are muffins, not cupcakes. They aren’t overly sweet, yet they are perfect (in my opinion) for early morning taste buds or with afternoon tea. I added raisins for an extra jolt of natural sugar, but you can swap them out for nuts, chocolate chips (I can’t stand chocolate in muffins/bread, just me though), blueberries, or other add-ins. You will still need some of that hot water in the ingredient list though (see the recipe to know what I am talking about).
I “frosted” one fresh out of the oven with a quick mixture of some leftover mashed banana, nut butter, ground flaxseeds, and some flavors to taste (molasses, cinnamon, nutmeg). For a sweeter added touch, “frost” them with your favorite jam.
Whole-Wheat Cinnamon Raisin Banana Muffins
This Recipe is Milk-Free, Soy-Free, Tree Nut-Free, Peanut-Free
- 1/2 Cup Raisins (or more if you like)
- Boiling Water (about 1 cup should do)
- 1-3/4 Cups Whole Wheat Flour
- 2 Tablespoons Wheat Germ
- 1 Teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
- 1 Teaspoon Baking Soda
- 1/2 Teaspoon Salt
- 1 Cup Mashed Ripe Banana
- 1/4 Cup Grapeseed or Vegetable Oil
- 1/2 Cup Honey or Agave Nectar
- 2 Eggs
- 1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
Place the raisins in a small bowl, and cover them with the hot/boiling water.
Preheat your oven to 325ºF and grease 12 muffin cups.
In a medium-sized bowl, stir together the flour, wheat germ, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt. Briefly set aside.
In a large mixing bowl, blend the banana, oil, honey, eggs, and vanilla. Drain the raisins, reserving the liquid. Add 5 tablespoon s (1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon) of the hot raisin water to your mixing bowl.
Fold the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients in your large mixing bowl, stirring just to combine. Do not over mix. The baking soda begins to react as soon as it hits the liquid, so over mixing will cause the muffins to loose some of their fluffiness … a few lumps are okay.
Stir in the plumped raisins, and divide the batter evenly between your 12 muffin cups.
Bake for 20 to 24 minutes, or until they just begin to take on a golden hue, and a toothpick inserted in the center of a muffin, comes out clean. Let cool for a few minutes in the muffin cups, then remove to a wire rack.
Yields 1 Dozen Muffins
Wheat-Free Option:
Use spelt or oat flour in place of the wheat flour, and substitute ground flax for the wheat germ. I would guess that you could also use your favorite gluten-free flour blend (with xanthan gum as directed) to make them gluten-free / casein-free too if you wished).
Tips:
Be sure the bananas are quite ripe; this will add sweetness to the muffins.
Measure the oil in a ¼ cup, then use the same cup to measure the honey. The oil coating on the measuring cup will help keep the honey from sticking.
Happy Baking!
Posted by alisa on March 19, 2009 | 19 Comments
Like this …
Vegan Apple Fritter:
Fritter Close Up:
Vegan Donut Twisted with Chocolate:
Twist Close-up:
I have my weaknesses too you know! Come on, who could resist?
We finally made our way to Ronald’s Donuts in Las Vegas, and were greatly rewarded. Both my husband and I were in donut heaven. Trust me, these aren’t just good vegan/dairy-free/egg-free donuts these are some of the best donuts either of us has ever had! We actually planned a grocery shopping trip 10 miles out of the way just so we could go back the next week and get some more donuts. I found out later that they have been voted best donuts in Vegas several years running.
Believe it or not, they offer two entire shelves (more than half of the varieties) of vegan donuts … including soy-cream filled donuts, twists, apple fritters, maple bars, etc. When I asked the owner why they churn out so many vegan donuts, she said at first it was because they were cheaper to make! But then, customers liked the switch because the donuts were lighter and more flavorful, so they stuck with it. Whatever the reason … I am grateful!
Did I mention these gems are affordably priced. Their donuts are HUGE! See the pic(s) above … that is the donut next to a grapefruit, not a wee orange, a grapefruit. And the cost, just $.75 to $1.25 per donut. Trust me, it is a value.
Ronald’s Donuts is just a couple of miles from the Las Vegas strip (head west on Spring Mountain Road when you reach the Fashion Show Mall), in the “China Town” region. Don’t expect San Francisco-style glory here. This is the lamest China Town you have ever seen (hence the quotes). But ignore the lack of interesting surroundings and enjoy the donuts!
Ronald’s Donuts
4600 Spring Mountain Rd
Las Vegas, NV
(702) 873-1032
Posted by alisa on March 16, 2009 | 20 Comments
Well, technically, if you are making my version of Mushroom Barley Soup, it should actually be classified as a stew. Both my husband and I love barley, so I feel no need to use moderation when adding the pearly grain. So many recipes I see for this type of soup use a paltry 1/3 cup of dried barley with 8 cups of broth – ridiculous! The recipe below is filled with barley and mushrooms, and it makes a hearty meal for two, or a light lunch for three. And when I say hearty, I mean it. I am sitting here typing this with an ever-expanding belly having just downed this entire bowl …
Also, I lost track on how much salt I used (bad I know!), but it was somewhere around ½ teaspoon, plus I added 1 teaspoon of miso paste (optional, can just add salt to taste; we tend to splurge on the salt with soups). The amount of salt you need will vary quite a bit depending on the saltiness of the broth and tomato paste you use and how salty you like the end result. I used the organic beef broth from Trader Joe’s, but I was ½ cup shy, so I added water to get to the full 4 cups. I also used a tomato paste that was simply tomatoes, no added sodium or flavors. While I do recommend beef broth, chicken broth or no chicken broth could be subbed in a pinch, and I think the mushroom broth from Pacific Foods would be good; I buy it whenever I find it for a good price, which is rare.
Okay, one last note … I was completely out of other veggies, but if you like, feel free to add in some diced carrots and/or celery for some added nutrition and flavor.
Hearty Mushroom Barley Soup / Stew
- 1 Tablespoon Oil (I used grapeseed, but Olive or Vegetable will do)
- ½ Medium Onion, slivered (about 1¼ cups)
- ½ Cup Dry Barley, rinsed (I used the inexpensive pearl barley)
- 2 Large Garlic Cloves, Minced (or about 2 teaspoons bottled minced garlic)
- 1 Teaspoon Dried Thyme
- 8 Ounces Sliced Button or Cremini Mushrooms
- 4 Cups (1 quart) Beef or Mushroom Broth
- 1 Tablespoon Tomato Paste
- 1 Teaspoon Balsamic Vinegar
- 1 Bay Leaf
- ¼ -1 Teaspoon Salt to Taste
- 1 Teaspoon Miso Paste (or simply more salt to taste)
- Freshly Ground Black Pepper to Taste
Heat the oil in a stock pot over medium heat. Add the onions, and sauté for about 5 minutes, or until they are translucent. Reduce the heat just a touch, add the barley, garlic, and thyme, and sauté for another 3 to 5 minutes. Stir in the mushrooms, followed by the broth, tomato paste, vinegar, bay leaf, and I would start with ¼ teaspoon of salt and the miso if using. Bring the soup to a boil, reduce the heat to low, cover, and allow the soup to simmer for at least 1 hour, or until the barley is nice and tender. Season to taste with additional salt (see my notes in the post above) and black pepper to taste.
Yields 2 hearty, meal-sized servings
I had planned to make this soup crockpot-style, but as usual, I ran out of time. It should do well in a slow cooker; set on low for 6 to 8 hours, allowing the barley time to cook.
Posted by alisa on March 12, 2009 | 18 Comments
So often I forget the many wonders that lie within my humble pantry. Cheap and completely non-toxic, there are few better cleaning agents than the staple ingredients in our food pantries.
My personal favorites: white vinegar and baking soda.
I was reminded of their powers due to two pairs of new jeans I just purchased. I had been hesitating on washing them. I wanted to be able to dry them, to shrink up the legs just a bit, but was afraid the nice deep blue color would fade. Then I remembered the trick of soaking clothes in vinegar to help prevent bleeding and fading. I ran the jeans on delicate cycle (the shortest wash) with just cold water and 1 cup of white vinegar. I then loaded up the washing machine and ran the load as normal, on the regular cycle. After drying, they still looked like new, success!
I also rely on baking soda for the safest and easiest way to clean the oven. Siimply sprinkle baking soda everywhere and mist it down with water. Leave it be, and let the soda do its work. Later, the baking soda and scum wipes off with ease.
I was really excited to find this website on 1001 Uses for Vinegar. So many great ideas … definitely check it out! Some very interesting ideas.
While I was writing this (coincidentally) my husband emailed me a good Consumer Reports article on 7 Ways to Green Clean – and cut costs. I can’t wait to try some of these out.
Now, tell me, do you use vinegar and baking soda for any of your cleaning needs? Are there any other “homemade” cleaners you use? Please do share!!
Posted by alisa on March 8, 2009 | 15 Comments
I am lucky; I get my share of fun foods to trial. But, when I spotted the giveaway on Say Yes to Salad for the most adorable handmade earrings, well, let’s just say this is something new and fun that I must do my best to win! I have officially racked up two entries by commenting on her giveaway post, and now mentioning it here … but, I am going the extra mile for three extra entries. I trialed one of Maggie’s recipes, and am posting about it here …
Honestly, this was my first discovery of Say Yes to Salad, but I was glad I found it; I LOVE the sound of her recipes! Dutch Babies were a new concept to me, so I thought I would give them a go for my initial sampling of her offerings. Since the recipe looked so easy to work with, I tweeked it a bit to taste and to my own healthy cravings, but stayed true to the ratios.
Like Maggie, I halved the recipe and made a single serving, but I am listing the recipe for 2 here …
Wheat-Free Apple Cinnamon Dutch Babies
This recipe is Dairy-Free, Soy-Free, Peanut-Free, Sugar-Free, and Wheat-Free. You can make it Nut-Free by using a different milk alternative (rice, hemp, soy, or coconut!) and Gluten-Free by using those trusty Gluten-Free Oats, if they work for you.
Adapted from the Dutch Babies on Say Yes to Salad
- 2 Teaspoons Oil or Margarine (I used coconut oil)
- 3 Eggs, brought to room temperature (when I halved the recipe, I used 1 jumbo egg … it was really big)
- 1/2 Cup Almond Milk, warmed (I used unsweetened, but plain or vanilla would be nice too)
- 1/2 Cup Oat Flour (I processed about 1/3 cup of rolled oats in my spice/coffee grinder for 30 seconds (until it turned into a nice flour), sifted, and measured out the 1/2 cup; feel free to sub a different flour if you prefer)
- 1/4 Teaspoon Ground Cinnamon + additional for sprinkling
- 1/8 Teaspoon Salt
- 1 Small Apple, finely diced
Preheat your oven to 400ºF. Place an empty glass pie plate or baking dish in the oven to preheat. If you want, you can make individual dutch babies and use regular-size, oven-safe bowls.
Mix the eggs, almond milk, flour, cinnamon, and salt in a bowl, until well combined.
Remove the dish from the oven, and melt the margarine or oil right into it. Sprinkle with the diced apple, and an extra sprinkling of cinnamon for good measure. Pour the batter over all.
Bake for 15 – 20 minutes, or until set. Cut into wedges and serve immediately with syrup, a sprinkling of powdered sugar, a pat of margarine and more cinnamon, jam, berries, or however you like!
Yields 2 Yummy Servings
Posted by alisa on March 7, 2009 | 7 Comments
Wow! The giveaway stopped at midnight last night with a total of 825 entries! You people really like your healthy, all natural cookies, brownies, and granola. Note to manufacturers.
Now, the moment of truth has arrived. Using Random.org the following two winners were selected to receive generous gift boxes of healthy treats in the mail from Erin Baker’s Wholesome Baked Goods …
Comment #222 – Nowheymama – She received two entries, one for commenting that the PB&J breakfast cookies intrigued her most and one for posting the giveaway on her blog … and it seems that second one paid off!
Comment #712 – JRG – This entrant proclaimed with excitement that they would like the organic brownie bites … and have them they shall, along with a stack of cookies and granola too!
Congratulations to both winners! I am seriously jealous. Now, be sure to check your inboxes for an email from me. These two entrants must claim their prize within 48 hours, or a new winner will be selected! No time for messing around with such awesome prizes you know.
But wait, I have an unplanned additional prize that I must give out. Though I am all out of Erin Baker gift packages, I couldn’t let one entry go by unrewarded. Jenny Perkins will receive a complimentary copy of my book, Go Dairy Free: The Guide and Cookbook, for going that extra mile with her comment:
‘Twas a beautiful night-time……and quiet at last
The kids were so peaceful, their bedtime had past
Four beautiful angels asleep in their beds
And mom now alone with the thoughts in her head
She started to ponder her littlest chick
How to help him when dairy things make him so sick?
She opened her laptop and started to google
Some dairy-free recipes, yummy and frugal.
When much to her wondering eyes she did see
A wonderful website called Go-Dairy-Free
And there on the front page…she let out a WHOOP!
A beautiful, dairy-free po-ta-to soup.
She followed the link, and what did she see?
One Frugal Foodie. She giggled with glee.
Recipes, expertise, ideas galore
Dairy-free wouldn’t be hard anymore!
But there was a BONUS! A giveaway, too
Beautiful, dairy-free, organic food.
It all looked delicious…she wanted to try
the Protein Granola the most, My oh My!
She imagined her baby boy smiling all day
Cuz he finally had cookies to eat…hip-hooray!
No dairy to hurt him, just goodness all over
Erin Baker’s a genius, we’ll love her forever
Thanks, frugal foodie…we’re joining your “group”
We’re excited to try your good po-ta-to soup!
She wrote a poem people! Jenny, you are awesome.
After this enticing giveaway, I know you are all dying to try some Erin Baker goodies. You can find them at natural food stores, including Whole Foods (in fact, the organic brownie bites just hit Whole Foods’ shelves across the U.S.!). But, if you can’t find them at your local grocer, you can order every single one of these cookies, brownies, and packages of granola (including snack packs) via Erin Baker’s Online Store.
I hope you will all return for some visits … more recipes and surprise giveaways are always on the horizon. In fact, I believe I will go trial out a new recipe now … in hopes of posting it up for you tomorrow!
Side Note: If you know how to do those random.org screen shots a comment would be greatly appreciated!
Posted by alisa on March 1, 2009 | 825 Comments
It’s time for another giveaway, and I must admit, this one is so great that I wish I was eligible to win! But since I would probably cheat and pick my own name, I had to disqualify myself. I digress, onto the prize …
Are you addicted to trialing every flavor of a new product? Personally, I love nothing more than receiving a big box of food, filled with several different varieties for my tasting pleasure. And that is exactly what Erin Baker’s Wholesome Baked Goods is offering here on One Frugal Foodie. Feast your eyes on what not one, but two, yes I said TWO WINNERS will receive:
Erin Baker’s Original Breakfast Cookies (Toaster-Friendly):
Fruit and Nut
Chocolate Chunk RaisinPeanut Butter
Banana Walnut
Double Chocolate Chunk
Oatmeal Raisin
Mocha Cappuccino
Peanut Butter and Jelly
Vegan Peanut Butter Chocolate Chunk
Vegan Chocolate Chunk
Banana Toasted Flax
Morning Glory
Erin Baker’s Organic Brownie Bites (New!):
Double Chocolate Chip
Classic Walnut
Chocolate Chip Mint
Erin Baker’s Homestyle Granola:
Fruit and Nut
Oatmeal Raisin
Double Chocolate Chunk
Peanut Butter
Erin Baker’s Ultra Protein Granola:
Ultra Protein Power Crunch
Erin Baker’s Organic Breakfast Cookie Minis:
Double Chocolate Chunk
Peanut Butter
Oatmeal Raisin
Fruit and Nut
I kid you not; you have a chance to win a huge gift containing a package of each of these delicious healthy treats!
How to Enter: Simply leave a comment on this post letting me know which of these products/flavors you are most excited to try. If you are already an Erin Baker fan, let us know your favorite. It is that easy!
How to Get 2 Entries: In addition to leaving a comment below, if you have a blog, mention this giveaway on it with a link to this post, and you will automatically receive a second chance to win.
The comments for this post will be closed on Friday, March 6 at noon (EST), so that I can pick two winners. Be sure to enter / leave your comment before then!
Just in case you aren’t familiar with Erin Baker, she founded Erin Baker’s Wholesome Baked Goods in 1994. Since then, every morsel they produce has been handmade, baked to order to ensure freshness, and filled with whole grain goodness. And to my pleasant surprise, all of the above listed products are dairy-free! For more information on Erin Baker’s nutritious goodies, see their website: www.bbcookies.com.
