Compost update

I have to give you the real scoop on this thing, everything was going wonderful, my compost was actually beginning to turn into dirt, oh I was so excited! only that one night it rained and rained and well my compost got wet, which means it got extremely stinky and maggots were all over my compost happily munching away whatever was in there. The stink was so bad the whole neighborhood could smell it. Unfortunately I tried but could not save it :(

My mistake, do not punch so many holes at the top, make sure you have holes all throughout the bin so that it has more air to breathe, by this I mean, holes at the bottom, and if you are using a regular bin like I am just raise it up with a couple of concrete blocks, also holes all around the sides. I believe that was my mistake not having enough air circulating in there and letting the rain get to it, perhaps I should have it under a roof as well.

I am not giving up though! I will continue until I get it right ;)

HUGS

Polish sausage pasta

I needed to put together a quick meal for my kids today. here is what I came up with and it was a success!

Ingredients

1 box of organic pasta
1/2 spanish onion, chopped
1 fresh polish sausage
1 can of organic sweet peas
1-2 tablespoons of unsalted butter
salt and pepper to taste

In a large pot bring your water to a boil and cook your pasta for 10 min or until al dente.

Preheat just a little of olive oil in a pan, in the mean time chop your sausage.

And your onions.

Now add to the pan and cook until sausage is lightly brown.

Now drain your pasta and add to the sausage.

Mix well, add some butter, salt and pepper.

Now add your peas and mix once again, let it cook for a couple of minutes to incorporate all the flavors. you may add sweet paprika, not the spicy one!

Serve HOT and add some parmessan cheese on top.

Enjoy!
Delfi

Milanesas de Pollo

This is one of our weekly meals here at home, Chicken cutlets with sweet mashed potatoes and greens, super yum, kids love it, I bake my chicken to avoid using more oil.

Ingredients for the chicken

4 chicken breasts
3 eggs, beaten
Bread crumbs
salt and pepper to taste
Fresh mozzarella, sliced or shredded
1 cup of tomato sauce
2 tablespoons of oregano

Ingredients for the sweet mashed potatoes

3 big sweet potatoes
1 tablespoon of unsalted butter
1/2 cup of milk
salt and pepper to taste

For the Milanesas.

Place your chicken breast on a chopping board ( I like to pre wash my chicken)

Cut each breast in half and remove visible fat.

Cover your chicken with plastic.

Now tenderize it! go for it!

When done, season with salt and pepper to taste. Now line up your beaten eggs, bread crumbs on a dish and have a clean dish ready sort of like this.

Take a piece of chicken, dunk it in the egg mix on both sides.

Now place it on the bread crumbs, cover it up and press gently, I like to turn it over to make sure both sides are covered up.

Place your chicken on an oven safe dish that has been drizzled with some olive oil, drizzle a bit more of oil on top.

Bake at 400 degrees for 10 minutes on one side. In the mean time slice your fresh mozzarella.

Now bring your chicken out of the oven, flip it over, add tomato sauce.

Some fresh mozzarella and top it off with oregano. Back into the oven for 10-15min or until cheese is melted.

Let's move onto the Sweet Mashed potatoes.

Wash your sweet potatoes and peel them.

 Compost all your scraps!

Chop your sweet potatoes and add them in a pot with boiling water.

Cook until tender. Drain water and start mashing!

Add butter to taste, I add 1 tablespoon you can add more.

Now add your milk, salt and pepper to taste and mix some more.

Serve HOT! with your Milanesas and some greens! Enjoy :)

L.O.V.E

Delfi

Just grow it!

Have you ever thought about growing your own vegetables? Well why not just go for it, it isn't as complicated as you thought it would be, you can even start growing your own vegetables or herbs on your kitchen window, as long as they are getting some sunlight.

Here is a great link to get you started, this is a very rewarding thing to do, I can bet that you and your family will enjoy this greatly! JUST GROW IT! You can design your own garden in a small area, or grow it in containers.

How to start a vegetable garden

L.O.V.E

Delfi

Tea time scones.

These are so delicious! Try them out with butter and fresh jam....OMG who can resist.

Ingredients:

2 1/4 cups of all purpose flour
2 heaping teaspoons of baking powder
1 1/3 sticks of butter, room temperature but not too soft
3/4 cups of confectioners sugar
3 egg yolks
Vanilla flavoring, 1 tablespoon
1/2 cup of warm milk
the skin from 1 lemon (optional)

For brushing your scones:

1 egg yolk
2 tablespoons of milk


Sift your flour on your working surface.

Add the baking powder and form a crown with the baking powder and flour.

Now add your butter in the center.

Sift the confectioner's sugar on top of the butter.

Form a cream with the ingredients, DO NOT incorporate the flour and baking powder just yet! just work with the ingredients in the center.

Add the vanilla, mix some more.

Now pour your warm milk over the cream, mix with a spoon at the same time.

Incorporate all ingredients together, do not touch the flour just yet. My 2 year old is doing the mixing for me.

Once it's all mixed together incorporate the flour without working the dough, just move the flour towards the center to cover the cream you made, it will be more of a liquid consistency.

Incorporate all the ingredients without working the dough too much, you want to work it as little as possible.

Add some more flour to your working surface.

Roll your dough and create a rectangle shape about 1/2 in thick.

Fold your dough in half.

Now cut your dough with a round cookie cutter.

It will look like this.

Place your scones on a cookie sheet, you can use wax paper or the old fashioned way, spread butter and flour to prevent sticking.

Mix your egg yolk and milk for brushing.

Brush your scones.

Place scones in the oven at 340 degrees for 30-35 minutes until lightly brown on top.

Invite some friends over, bring out your china and enjoy warms scones!

Hugs to all!

Delfi