Omnium-Gatherum June 2012

So far in this gorgeous month of June:

I had a few recipes featured on a 'Canning / Food Preservation' site which makes me very happy!

My Spicy Brown Honey Mustard - http://cannedtime.blogspot.com/2012/05/whole-grain-spicy-brown-honey-mustard.html

Lemon Curd Jam w/ Hot Pepper Flakes - http://cannedtime.blogspot.com/2012/05/lemon-curd-jam-with-red-pepper-flakes.html

And a few more too:  You can find all of them here at the Canned Time page at Punk Domestics http://www.punkdomestics.com/users/canned-time

We took a ride over to 'Point of Rocks' train station just off the  Potomac river on a spring like June Sunday and took a few pics of the old architecture. 
This train station is where the tracks split to get to either

Washington DC or go north to Baltimore from Harpers Ferry WV.

This board was part of a door frame way up about 30 feet above our heads. 

Fields around the train station

I made a new discovery with my iron skillet, baking cakes on the stove top. 
This one was a gluten-free

apple berry cake that smelled and tasted heavenly!  Like autumn with all the cinnamon and apples cooking away.  YUM!

http://cannedtime.blogspot.com/2012/06/apple-berry-upside-down-cake-dairy-and.html

I spent one afternoon in Kensington, MD at the antique shops and found this beauty....

French porcelain.  Just waiting for some goodies to hide the flowers............

 Like maybe these little squares of
Vegan Caramel with Cocoa Nut Butter?

These were so good, healthy and easy to make I've already made another variation that uses my NuNaturals Fiber Blend Powder Stevia and lots of ground
flax seed.                                                       Except you can't taste the flax, just the caramel................

http://cannedtime.blogspot.com/2012/06/raw-vegan-caramels-with-chocolate-nut.html

Or some more of these Dandelion Root Powder Brownies would be fine on my new trivet as well:

http://cannedtime.blogspot.com/2012/06/chewy-dandelion-root-brownies-with.html

Dandelion Root is such a great detoxifier.  And when its inside of  this much sugar free goodness,

it's even better for your body and soul.

And I found these gorgeous canning jars at WECK Jars.

Really different for showing off some fruits or veggies you've canned.

Lots more to come this month on Canned Time. 

Like

Chocolate Cream Pie, Vegan

and a quick Homemade Sugar Scrub for your dry patches that smells FANTASTIC!

And hopefully more flowers of course.........

Almost forgot, Canned Time reached another milestone:  20,000 hits a few days ago.

Thanks everyone!

Anything you've got to share about your month yet?

I can't wait to have a few days off at month's end to work on some more recipes.

Let us know what's going on with your kitchen this month. 

Links and comments are always welcome!

Enjoy!

Vegan Chocolate or Vanilla Oat Bran Milk

Oat Bran Milk

Add 1 cup of water to 1/4 Cup Oat Bran Cereal. 
(Substitutions include:  Oats, Steel cut Oats, Bran, Barley, Wheatgerm etc.)

Heat for 2 minutes in the microwave or on stove top until oats have softened.
Pour the Oat / Water mixture into 2 Cups water. 
Add in flavors: 
1 tsp. Stevia Powder
1 tsp. Vanilla Extract
And 1 Tbs. of Cocoa powder for Chocolate Milk.
Pinch of Sea Salt.

Blend or Food Process for 2 minutes on high.
Pour the mixture through a strainer into a glass container.
Refrigerate up to 5 days. 
Use in smoothies, cooking, baking or heat a cup for a morning drink.
The oat bran left in the strainer can be frozen and used in cookies, cakes

or breakfast bars for added nutrition.

Oat Bran leftovers strained out of liquid can be frozen and used
in future cookies, pie crusts, etc.

Great substitute for Soy, Nut or Coconut Milk and at about .20 per 8oz. glass?  Great savings as well.

Leave out the sweetener and you've got a milk for cooking savory sides with added nutrition.

Other Diary Alternative posting:

Coconut

Flax Seed Milk

Soy Milk and Flour

All great alternatives to Cow's Milk and much less expensive overall.

Plus you can keep the dry ingredients for months, years and always have a source on hand

to mix up some milk without spoiling or additives.

VEGA Plant Protein mixes + Dairy Free Milks make a great meal substitute

Using Dairy Free Milks with smoothies can greatly increase the vitamin intake and still be delicious!

If you'd like more information on Dairy Free Cooking you can click here:

http://cannedtime.blogspot.com/p/why-go-dairy-free.html

Enjoy!

"Keeping on Track" with VEGA Energizing Smoothies

Have you ever tried a new product and been so surprised about the quality....for the price?

That's how I felt last year when I made my first VEGA Energizing smoothie.

Since last Sunday, I've been committed to eating better and losing about 20 lbs. that snuck back onto my hips and waist over this past winter.  See more here - "Getting Back On Track" 

For even more convenience
make up a few batches and freeze them. 
Then they are literally grab n go!












Picked out my 'Keeping On Track" goal pants to fit into by July:

My alarm goes off 5 days a week about 4:30 am. Well, Floydy wakes us up at 4:15 by clawing the sheets

and 'MEOWING'!! 

It's a whole system he and the other cat have worked out to get fed when the birds outside wake up.

Anyway.

At 5am, when I'm trying to get out the door to work, I'm not in the mood to take 6 or 7 different items out of the freezer to make a good smoothie for breakfast.  I just want to grab and go.  VEGA helps me make this happen and still get a great tasting drink with tons of nutrition. 

VEGA has so much to brag about and with good reason.  Their plant based products are so delicious and even more importantly, full of nutrition, easy to prepare and reasonably priced. 

Check out just some of the response to VEGA products, more info at their site:
http://myvega.com/company/awards

VEGA products are all plant based, organic and full of wonderful flavors.

My favorite for now is Tropical Tango.........mix in a frozen banana, a little ground flax seed and you have a creamy frozen treat that's guilt free, convenient and so delicious.  Give them a try!


More information on VEGA Smoothies from their website:
http://myvega.com/products/vega-energizing-smoothie/features-benefits
Energize your day with a convenient, on-the-go nutrient boost. Energizing Smoothie gives you the all-natural, plant-based goodness you expect from Vega—compete with protein, fiber and Omega-3—but unlike traditional smoothies, you only need water to shake and go. In four mouth-watering flavors: mixed tropical fruits, chocolate, vanilla almond and berries (plus an unflavored natural), Energizing Smoothie is so delicious it will make you forget how healthy it is.
One serving of Vega Energizing Smoothie features

• Two servings of veggies
• 10 g of complete, plant-based protein
• 5 g of fiber
• 1 g of Omega-3

Just add water, shake and go!
Formulated by Brendan Brazier, vegan professional Ironman triathlete and bestselling health author on plant-based nutrition, Vega Energizing Smoothie is alkaline-forming, free from dairy, gluten and soy, and contains no added sugar, artificial flavors, colors or sweeteners. Available in Bodacious Berry, Choc-a-lot, Oh Natural, Tropical Tango and Vanilla Almondilla flavors.

Enjoy some VEGA products soon, you won't regret the effort!

Chewy Dandelion Root Brownies with Chocolate Peanut Butter Swirl

Can you believe I'm keeping "On Track" with these gorgeous squares of chocolaty goodness?

Dandelion root is God's perfect detoxifier for liver / blood. 

The root powder is especially effective for removing toxins. 

Readily available today at health food stores or on line.

A few years ago, I really got obsessed for a few months with growing my own dandelions

to have a clean source of root, flower etc.  It proved to be an extensive project.

Not worth the time when you can get quality Dandelion products from health food stores

these days or on-line.

 Dandelion Root is one of those wonderfully nutritionally packed ingredients that can hide in your baked goods or hot drinks and really give a vitamin and mineral boost to your food.

More information on Dandelion Root: http://www.livestrong.com/article/343007-the-advantages-of-dandelion-root/

Nut Butter (Peanut in this case) Swirls through the Cocoa Brownie
See this post for Nut Butter recipe:  http://cannedtime.blogspot.com/2012/06/raw-vegan-caramels-with-chocolate-nut.html

 Full pan of brownies shot below shows the Chocolate Peanut Butter Swirled through the batter.

Chewy Dandelion Root Brownies w/ Chocolate Peanut Butter Swirl

Gluten Free and Very Low Sugar

Combine Wet Ingredients in a blender or food processor and mix until a smooth batter is formed:

1 Cup filtered Water

3 Eggs (or egg substitute)

1 tsp. Liquid Vanilla Stevia + 1 tsp. Plain Liquid Stevia

1/4 Cup Olive Oil

15 Whole Pitted Dates

1/3 Cup Brown Sugar

1/2 Cup Melted Coconut Butter

Combine Dry Ingredients in a bowl and sift together to fully incorporate:

1/2 Cup Dandelion Root Powder

1/2 Cup Cocoa Powder

1 tsp. Baking Soda

1 tsp. Baking Powder

1/2 tsp. Sea Salt

1/2 Cup Ground Flax Seed

1 Cup Spelt Flour or other Gluten Free Flour

1/2 Cup Coconut Flour

Stir the wet ingredients into the dry, stir well and form a wet, thick batter. 

Pour batter into a well greased, 9 X 9 pan and bake at 250 for about 45 minutes.

Check for doneness.  Do not over bake, they will be moist until the cool some.

Makes 12 good sized brownies.  Store covered and refrigerated for up to 1 week.

These brownies turned out surprisingly 'normal' tasting considering the vast array of ingredients.  Lots of substitutions could be made if you don't have certain items.  But if you do, I'd recommend these 'as is' for a healthy, gluten free, Very low sugar snack or dessert.

The Chocolate Peanut Butter Swirl makes them fudgie and sweet.

Nut Butter recipe is here: http://cannedtime.blogspot.com/2012/06/raw-vegan-caramels-with-chocolate-nut.html

Another great Dandelion recipe from Canned Time check out:  Dandelion Greens Strawberry Salad!

Enjoy!