Today I need to make granola, make syrup for pancakes and make Cajun pickles.  None of those are hard task and most can be multi task together.  Problem is I have NO motivation.  I really have the blahs.  

A friend wrote in her blog about feeling out of sorts. http://www.homesteadblogger.com/reginascott/ I so get how she feels.  I just haven't figured out what my answer is.  I keep asking God and keep not getting an answer. So I will keep waiting on Him and doing what needs doing. 

I have posted my granola recipe before.  The pancake syrup is so hard I am not sure I should post it.  Take a can of fruit nectar.  I use the kind that come in the blue can.   Dump one or two in the vita mix.  Add a couple table spoons of corn starch.  Now flip it on high and work on something else while it heats up and becomes "syrup" as the corn starch thickens it.  You could do it in a pan too, but you would have to stir it. 

Cajun pickles are NOT healthy!  Nope, no way no shape or form.  They are GOOD!   Buy a gallon of sliced hamburger dill pickles.  Dump them into a colander and wash the salt off.  Wash them well.  now put about an 2 inches back in the jar.  Add about 2 inches of sugar.  You will need a 4 lb sack, and use it ALL.  Toss a couple of cinnamon sticks in.  Sprinkle with some crushed red pepper and toss some garlic in.  Repeat this until ALL the pickles and ALL the sugar is used up.   now put the lid on tight.  Set it on the cabinet and each time you go by flip it.   It will make it's own juice, as the sugar dissolves.   Once the sugar is dissolved they are ready to eat.  They then need to be refrigerated.  If you are in a rush, shake the jar instead of just flipping it.   My favorite food to eat them with is turkey, but they are good by themselves or with hamburgers too. 

A friend made this and it was good, so I made it today.  Of course I had to adapt a bit.  Here is the recipe Copied exactly:

1 cup soaked almonds (sunflower seeds work well if you are on a tight budget).  It is preferable to soak the nuts or seeds, but I have made it without soaking many times.

1 cup purified water

1 cove garlic

1/2 tsp. sea salt~ more or less to taste

2 lemons freshly squeezed

Black cracked pepper to taste

Blend in blender until smooth and then turn on to the highest speed and slowly dribble in 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil until it has emulsified and become whipped. 

This is the basic skeleton that you can leave as is, or start adding flavors to your hearts content.  You could add a little dill, some Dijon mustard and a little raw honey.  You could add a dash of onion powder or a splash of apple cider vinegar.  Plain or jazzed up, this recipe is quick and handy.

From Rejuvenate Your Life, Recipes for Energy by Serene Allison

Of course I didn't order lemons this week so had none.   I used the bottled stuff.  After I blended it up I poured about 1/2 out for plain dip er mayonnaise.  Then I tossed in 1/2 a jalapeno and a small hand full of spinach.  This was REALLY good! 

We are having artichokes for supper and this is the dipping for them.  

Cinnamon Raisin Bagels

1/2 cup raisins
1 TBS cinnamon
1 TBS sugar (I used rapadura for this recipe)
1 1/4 cup warm water
3 Cups white flour (I used Prairie Gold from my Vitamix)
3 heaping TBS brown sugar (rapadura again)
1 tsp salt
3 1/4 tsp. active dry yeast
EGG WASH: 1 egg and 1 TBS water

Soak the raisins in some warm water for about 10 minutes, drain well.
Toss with cinnamon and sugar.
mix yeast with warm water and sugar and let sit for a bit. Turn on
the KitchenAid and start adding flour salt and raisin mix. (The
recipe says that, but I actually just folded the raisins in while I
was kneading the dough)
Place dough on floured surface and knead. Divide into 8 equal parts.
Form into balls, poke finger through center and gently stretch. (or
twirl around on your finger if you are me) Cover with towel and let
rise.
Bring to rapid boil about 3 quarts of water and 1 TBS sugar and
preheat oven to 400.
Using slotted spoon, drop 2-3 bagels into boiling water. boil each
side for about 1 1/2 minutes. Remove and cool on rack about 1 minute.
Brush with egg wash.
Bake at 400 on a baking sheet until golden brown. approximately 15
minutes.

(The bread machine version says after tossing the raisins to just
throw everything into the machine, then remove the dough after the
first knead, about 20 - 30 minutes. Then divide the dough from there.

IF you are like me and don't do Cinnamon Raisin anything, well the raisin part, then leave it out.  I doubled the recipe and then once it was kneaded I pulled half out of the kitchen aid and added onion flakes to what was still in the mixer.  Kneaded for a minute more and called that good.  They were good lasted one day!

Granola
This is from my friends "Heart of Motherhood" Retreat they have
every spring.

1/2 c. Oil (I used coconut)
2/3 c. honey
1/2 c. water
6-7 c. Oats
1/2 C Raw sunflower seeds
1/2 c. Almonds
1/2 c. Raw Wheat germ
1/2 c. Cashew Nuts

Boil oil, honey and water. Add 1 tsp Vanilla and/or maple flavor and
a dash of salt. Pour over dry ingredients. Mix well. Spread out
on 2 greased cookie sheets. Bake at 350 for 10 minutes, stir and
bake another 7-8 minutes. Watch closely. Or add it to the dehydrator at
this point. 

 After it has cooled add dry fruit (raisins, apricots,
cranberries, etc.) None of the ingredients are carved in stone so
adjust to what you have. I didn't have cashews today, but I had some
peanut bits I use to make peanut butter. I added some of those.
Adjust to what is in the cabinet and what your family likes.

My kids love it when I get around to doing this. Why I don't more
often is beyond me. It isn't hard. I hope soon to have them trained
to make it. They eat it with yogurt, and as a snack.

1 C. sugar

3 teaspoons ground mustard

1 teaspoon salt

2/3 cup rice vinegar

1/4 C.  chopped white onion

2 C. extra virgin olive oil

2 Tablespoons poppy seeds

In a blinder or food processor combine sugar, ground mustard salt rice vinegar and onion.   With the motor on slowly add oil in a slow steady stream:  Whirling until dressing is smooth and has a creamy texture.  Add poppy seeds and blend thoroughly. Store, covered in the refrigerator.  Serve at room temperature.   Yields approximately 3 cups dressing

OK that's the "correct" way of doing it.  Here are my changes to make it more healthy and easy.

I use Rapadura instead of sugar.

Cider vinegar instead of rice, or what ever kind I have. 

I dump it all in the vita mix and flip the switch.  When it looks blended I call it good.  I don't add the poppy seeds until I am pouring it in the bottle.  I don't even add poppy seeds all the time.  My DS is a trucker and subject to random drug test so he can't even try it with the poppy seeds on the off chance it would mess him up.  This morning I made it only I added flax seeds.  Hey they are seeds, not much bigger than poppy seeds and full of good for you oils!   Why not?  

Is mine pretty and white?  Nope!  But it taste good!

Another Heart of Motherhood Recipe  Come join us and get the whole book full!  Feb 1-3,  2008

1/2 C Oil

2/3 C. Honey

1/2 C water

6-8 C. Oats

1/2 C. Raw sunflower Seeds

1/2 C. Almonds

1/2 C Raw Wheat Germ

1/2 C. Cashew Nuts

Boil oil, honey and water.  Add I tsp Vanilla and/or maple flavor and a dash of salt.  Pour over dry ingredients.  Mix well.  Spread out on 2 greased cookie sheets. Back at 350 for 10 minutes Stir and bake another 7-8 minutes.  Watch closely.  After this has cooled add dry fruit (Raisins, apricots, cranberries, etc...)

Don't feel limited to what it says here, add what you have, if you have pumpkin seeds add that, or flax seed, or what ever you find that sounds good.    The same goes for the dried fruit.  Today it is apricots, cherries, blueberries, cranberries and a few raisins. 

This is from my Heart of Motherhood Cookbook! 

1C. Dry oatmeal

1tsp. Baking powder

1/2 tsp. Baking Soda

1 C. Whole Wheat Flour

1/4 c melted butter

1/4 c brown sugar

1 egg

1 C buttermilk

Soak oatmeal in buttermilk for about 5 minutes.  Add the rest of the ingredients to make a batter.  This makes a plain but yummy muffin.

Options:

1 tsp. Cinnamon and grated apples

1 can drained blueberries

2 mashed bananas

2 grated pears

Or what ever sounds good ~ flax seed, sunflower seed, be creative!