Yoghurt

Even using organic milk this yogurt is 1/3 the price of non-organic yogurt. Yea! Thanks for the idea Alice.

Use store bought plain yoghurt as a starter for the first time. I got one that says it has an active culture of Streptococcus thermophilus and Lactobacillus bulgaricus. After the first time use the homemade yoghurt as the starter.

1. 4 of 1 litre mason jars in a pot that is shorter than the jars
2. put sticks (i.e. wooden skewers or popsicle sticks) under the jars for thermal separation and to minimize blurping
3. fill with 1% milk
4. fill with water to well below lids
5. bring to 180F (~50 minutes on small burner at high)
6. remove from burner and let sit for 30 minutes
7. carefully flush pot water with increasingly cold tap water
8. let sit until cooled to 115F (~30 minutes)
9. pitch starter at 25ml per litre and stir well
10. put entire pot with water in oven
11. keep at 110F for 6 hours
12. refrigerate immediately 

This yoghurt will last for several weeks if unopened and in the fridge. The $20 remote thermometer works very well!

references:
Food Fermentation Technology‎ - Yogurt
Formation and Physical Properties of Yogurt 
Sensory Quality Aspects of Yoghurt

Nachos Deluxe

A layer of frijoles refritos covered with a layer of seasoned beef (chili, garlic, onion, paprika, and pepper), tortilla chips, old cheddar cheese, pickled hot peppers, sweet red peppers, and sweet onions.

Served with the deluxe trinity for nacho dips... Cajun sour cream made with just Cajun Spice. Guacamole made with ripe avocados, grated onions and garlic, Cajun spice, and fresh lime juice. And... salsa sauce.

Barbeque

My healthy version of barbeque that does give me Total Barbeque Satisfaction. Yes... really.

Cajun Corn made with Cajun spice and a bit of butter. Collard Greens with Vidalia onions, cider vinegar, and hot sauce. Red rice stir fried with mushrooms and garlic. Slowly barbequed chicken thighs that were prepped with Cajun spice and finished with barbeque sauce.

Stone Salad

If I can make Stone Soup...why not Stone Salad :-)

Cucumbers, sweet peppers, sweet onions, tomatoes, carrots, avocado, fresh parsley, brown rice, chick peas, olive oil, and fresh lemon juice.

A perfect travel lunch.

Blueberries and Oatmeal

Fresh blueberries on oatmeal made with golden raisins and served with soy milk.

Tuna and Peas

A seared tuna steak with sweet peas, brown rice, and some fresh lemon. Plain and simple goodness.

Roasted Veggie Pizza and Salad

A roasted veggie pizza with roasted tomatoes, roasted mushrooms, roasted garlic, and Kalamata olives, on a sauteed sweet onion base. Mixed green salad with a balsamic dressing made of just balsamic vinegar and olive oil.

An Avocado

This is how my mom served it to me.... with store bought Catalina dressing. It just works like nothing else!

The Peanut Butter and Banana Sandwich

A classic!

Mango Salad and Satay

Homemade Thai food :-)

Mango salad made with hard mangoes, sweet peppers, carrots, cilantro, chopped peanuts, fresh lime zest and juice, hot sauce, soy sauce, and canola oil. Grilled satay with chicken thighs, onion, garlic and chilli powders, cumin, turmeric, and salt. Peanut sauce. Jasmine rice made with coconut water.

Last Meal Before Camp

My daughters last meal request before a month at camp...

Barely steamed asparagus. Pan roasted potatoes with parsley. And, a schnitzel... a pounded pork loin chop breaded with flour, eggs, and bread crumbs.

Beets, Kale, and Chicken

Roasted beets, wilted beet greens, sauteed chicken, and steamed rice.

Latkes and Apple Sauce

Works well as an appetizer, a desert, or a snack.

Latkes made with russet potatoes, carrots, sweet onion, and whole wheat flour. Fried in a little bit of canola oil. Served with apple sauce.

It's Fig Season!

A perfect fruit :-)

My Boy's Birthday Breakfast

French toast made with extra thick slices of whole wheat bread, eggs, vanilla, and cinnamon. Warmed mango chunks. Whipped cream made with vanilla and sugar. Mennonite Maple syrup. And, barbequed bacon. And yes... I said barbequed.

He was happy :-)

A Pair of Perfect Tacos

I could have these almost every day!

Corn tortillas, lentil frijoles refritos, red peppers, sweet onions, corn, fresh cilantro, avocados, salsa, and some hot sauce.

Steak, Yams, and Brussels Sprouts

Grilled flank steak with a bit of steak spice. Baked yams topped with light sour cream and mucho fresh chives. Roasted Brussels Sprouts.

I got lucky that my kids love Brussels Sprouts :-)

Canadian Cold Soba

My version of cold soba. It was excellent if I do say so myself. It's definitely a summer meal.

A base of cold whole wheat spaghettini. Blanched and cooled red peppers, broccoli, carrots. Boiled kidney beans. A sauce made with mirin, soy sauce, rice vinegar, fresh ginger, and sesame oil. Topped with sliced nori.

Lemon Pepper Chicken

Sauteed Lemon Pepper Chicken with fresh lemon (makes a big difference!) served on steamed quinoa and with sauteed red cabbage on the side.

Tortellini

Beef Tortellini tossed with a nice tomato sauce and sauteed mushrooms. Served with steamed green beans.

Seared Salmon

A seared salmon steak with wilted spinach, steamed carrots, and steamed brown rice.

That's lemon grass and ginger tea on the side.

Butter Chicken and Sauteed Okra

Butter Chicken made with boneless, skinless thighs and sauce from the store. Sauteed okra with coriander, cumin seed, ground cumin, turmeric, ginger, and chilli powder. Served with steamed brown rice.

My Boy's Birthday Dinner

For my boy's birthday dinner he requested....

A Risotto appetizer. Arborio rice, vegetable stock, Vidalia onions, lots of sauteed mushrooms, fresh chives, and Parmesan to finish. A grilled rib steak, mashed russet potatoes with garlic, milk, and butter, and ginger carrots.

I had to add the carrots to the request :-)

Mango rice pudding

Mango rice pudding made with short grain brown rice, coconut water, coconut milk, soy milk, sugar, and dried mango.

The left overs were fought for :-)

Strawberry Banana Smoothie

Strawberries, bananas, and soy milk.

Simply delicious.

Vegan Chinese Dinner

Black Bean Eggplant (Chinese eggplant, sweet onions, volumes of garlic, black bean paste, hot sauce, vegetable stock, corn starch) Veggie Stir Fry (sweet peppers, snow peas, mushrooms, tofu, ginger, garlic, vegetable stock, corn starch). Broccoli and Beef (broccoli, vegan strips, tamari sauce, ginger, vegetable stock, corn starch), and steamed Jasmine Rice.

Cabbage Soup

Cabbage soup made with savoy cabbage, fennel bulbs, sweet onions, garlic, and vegetable stock served with a beautiful rustic bread.

Pierogi with Mushrooms

Potato and onion pierogi with mushrooms. Loads of mushrooms, sweet onions, tamari sauce, vegetable stock, and some corn starch to thicken.

Can't wait to try this again.

Hummus and Veggies

Hummus and avocado with carrots, celery, tiny tomatoes, sweet peppers, and a whole wheat bagel.

A very quick lunch to put together.

Pasta with Tomato Spinach Sauce

A simple tomato sauce with soy protein and loads of fresh baby spinach served on whole wheat spaghettini.

Oatmeal and Prunes

Oatmeal made with ground flax and golden raisins served with stewed prunes and soy milk.

I love this breakfast!

Texas Chili Fries

Texas chili made with sweet onions, garlic, mushrooms, tomatoes, soy protein, black beans, vegetable stock, corn starch, and Cajun spice served on oven baked russet potato fries.

This is awesome chili mainly because I've found an awesome Cajun Spice that's heavy on the chili content and light on the Indian spices.

Five star ratings even from the carnivores.

A Tofu Wrap and Veggies

A whole wheat wrap with tofu, avocados, romaine lettuce, and sweet peppers. A veggie bowl of carrots, tiny tomatoes, celery, and cucumbers on the side.

A perfect kiss lunch that I have with pleasure several times a week.

Peanut Butter Cookies

2 cups whole wheat flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup brown sugar
1 1/2 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup unsweetened apple sauce
1/4 cup canola oil
1 tsp. vanilla

Mix the dry. Mix in the wet. Put rounded tablespoons on a sheet and press with a fork for the classic PB cookie.Bake at 350 for about 12 minutes.

Definitely kid approved

Tofu Schnitzel

A tofu schnitzel made with extra firm tofu, panko, whole wheat flour, water, salt, and pepper served with roasted sweet potatoes and corn.

The tofu schnitzel is my daughter's recent favorite when her brother is having steak.

Veggie Burger and Fries

A veggie burger on a whole wheat bun with lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, ketchup, and hot sauce. Oven baked fries on the side.

Veggies and a Wrap

Mung bean frijoles refritos, red peppers, avocados, romaine lettuce, and hot sauce wrapped in a wholewheat tortilla. A bowl of cucumbers, radishes, and celery.

This is definitely one of my 'go to' lunches.

Chili and Corn Bread

Chili made with tomatoes, red peppers, mushrooms, zucchini, corn, azuki beans, garlic, Cajun spice, vegetable stock, and whole wheat flour served with corn bread.

Bread and Salad

Protein Salad made with cucumbers, sweet onions, red peppers, garlic, flat leaf parsley, chick peas, black eyed peas, flax seed oil, olive oil, cider vinegar, salt, and pepper. A beautiful rye bread on the side.

Stir Fry on Vermicelli

Stir fried broccoli, sweet onions, red peppers, button mushrooms, red Swiss chard, firm tofu, garlic, ginger, and tamari sauce served on rice vermicelli.

Taco Time

Mung bean frijoles refritos, sweet onions, red peppers, guacamole, salsa, tomatillo salsa, and hot sauce wrapped in a whole wheat tortilla. I'll have another please.

The Scream

I know animals don't want to be eaten but I always thought vegetables were OK with it.

An Austrian Supper

The kernöl (pumpkin seed oil) makes this meal Austrian.The tofu schnitzel might anger some Austrians ;-)

A tofu schnitzel (extra firm tofu, panko, whole wheat flour, salt, and pepper) served with roasted sweet potatoes (olive oil, parsley, salt, and pepper) and a romaine salad with kernöl dressing (kernöl, cider vinegar, garlic, and salt)

Veggie Pasta

A tomato sauce with loads of carrots and mushrooms, and fortified with soy protein. Served on bow tie pasta.

Aloo Gobi and Swiss Chard

Aloo gobi with cauliflower, red potatoes, sweet onions, ginger, garlic, cumin seeds, turmeric, coriander, chili powder, and garam masala. Swiss chard with black eyed peas, and sweet onions. Served with short grain brown rice.

Garlic Eggplant

Sauteed Chinese eggplant with sweet onions, mushrooms, extra firm tofu, garlic, and tamari sauce on a bed of long grain brown rice.

Seven Grain Cereal and Blackberries

Seven Grain Cereal made with extra flax and sultana raisins served with a blackberries and soy milk.