Fruit Flies, Begone!

Let's cut to the chase. I despise the flies! 

Here is a SIMPLE, CHEAP concoction to get rid of those pesky fruit flies. 

Step 1: In a small, shallow dish, add a drop of Dawn dish washing liquid. (I use "Original Dawn" and a bread-dipping dish about 3 1/2" in diameter by about 3/4" deep.)

Step 3: Add enough white wine, red wine, or red wine vinegar to cover the bottom of the dish.  It doesn't matter which you choose. They all attract fruit flies.

Step 4: Stir the Dawn and wine with your finger and set it where the flies are hovering.

Step 5: Check the next day. Empty, clean, and refill. (Yes, those little bumps WERE thirsty fruit flies. Notice the fruit fly on the top edge of the dish ready to take a dip!)

GOODBYE FLIES!

Quinoa Stuffed Green Peppers Recipe

(Adapted from Betty Crocker Stuffed Green Pepper recipe with rice)

• 6 large green (or red) peppers
• 1 pound ground beef
• 2 tablespoons chopped onion
• 1 cup cooked quinoa
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon garlic salt
• 1 (15 ounce) can tomato sauce
• 3/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (3 ounces)

Wash peppers. 

Cut around stem and remove it along with the seeds and membranes. Rinse out inside of pepper.

Cook peppers in boiling water to cover 5 minutes, then drain.

Cook ground beef and onion, stirring occasionally until need is light brown. Drain.

Stir in quinoa, salt, garlic salt and 1 cup of the tomato sauce. Heat until hot.

Heat oven to 350. Stuff each pepper with beef mixture. Stand upright in square baking dish (8x8x2 inches). 

Pour remaining tomato sauce over peppers.

Cover and bake 45 minutes.

Uncover and bake 15 minutes longer.

Sprinkle with cheese. 

6 servings

Mosquito Control is an Oxymoron

Clearly, there is no such thing as Mosquito Control! 

'Tis the season!

Mosquitoes congregate at our front door and latch on to our dog as we let him out and back in, bringing unwanted, blood-sucking guests into the house to later terrorize us.

When I saw this amazing container plant idea for Mosquito Control, I was extremely excited to try it out. I visited multiple greenhouses in the area to be able to collect all the plants needed. After each purchase, the excitement grew. Each greenhouse worker was familiar with each plant, and all mentioned "mosquito plants" as the descriptor. This just added to the excitement! As I collected the plants needed to make this amazing force-field, I envisioned parking the finished container right next to the front door and having a mosquito-free environment. All the mosquitoes would swarm elsewhere because of the aroma this miracle container would emit. How wonderful it would be to not have the wall of mosquitoes lurking.

Well, long story short. Don't bother. I think the plants in this container must actually attract mosquitoes.

May I just say..... EPIC FAIL! Thank you, container artist guy, for sucking me into this idea. One greenhouse stated, "people buy these plants and put them around their deck." "Oh, wow! Awesome!" I thought.

Now, perhaps I am jumping the gun here. I just planted this container, and in all fairness, we did get a bumper crop of mosquitoes this year. Perhaps when this container grows to epic proportions will it finally produce a stench worthy of warding off these annoying insects, but for now, I am not amused.

I feel like this rates right up there with buying cleaning products that claim to remove rust, lime, and scale. Yah, right. That doesn't exist either. I do find the directions to be appropriate, "repeat as needed." Yes, like 1,000 times with 5-grit sandpaper.

Perhaps I just need to add 5-grit sandpaper and some rust/lime/scum remover to this container plant! I should have known... I have NEVER had citronella (anything) ward off any of the mosquitoes that hang around here. What was I thinking?

For those wondering what plants are in this container:

• Citronella geranium (x1)
• Marigold "Gem" (x 2)
• Lemon grass (x 1)
• Ageratum "Artist Purple" (x 4)

Original plant plan called for (in addition to the above):

• Catnip (x 2)
• Lemon thyme (x6)

I find it hard to believe the additional catnip and thyme would make a difference. The marigolds alone would send me packin'. But that's just me.

Bloody Mary "Mock-tail"

This little beverage is alcohol-free. Enjoy.

Serves: 1

Ingredients: 

• 3 oz can Tomato Juice
• 1/2 oz Lemon Juice
• Celery Salt (just a sprinkle)
• Black Pepper (just a sprinkle)
• Cayenne Pepper (just a sprinkle) 

In a glass, add and mix the above ingredients.
Add ice.
Garnish with shrimp, celery, olives, or whatever you with.

Almond & Coconut Flour Crust

Single Batch	Ingredients	Double Batch
1/4 c + 2 TB	Almond Flour	3/4 c
1/4 c	Coconut Flour	1/2 c
1/4 c	Coconut Milk	1/2 c
2 Tbs	Butter (room temp)	4 Tbs
1/2 Tbs	Vanilla (optional)	1 Tbs
1/2 Tbs	Coconut Oil	1 Tbs
1/4 Tbs	Cinnamon	1/2 Tbs

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Mix all ingredients in bowl.
Press into any baking pan or also cupcake pan for mini pie crusts.
Bake 15-20 minutes or until edges brown.

Serving Suggestions:

Chocolate Yogurt "Pudding"

• 1/4 cup Plain Greek yogurt
• 1 tsp - 1 Tbs Coco powder
• 5-10 drops Stevia to taste
• Top with fresh whipped cream and crumble or toasted almonds or cashews

Pumpkin Pie

• 1/4 cup Canned pumpkin
• 1/2 tsp Pumpkin Pie Spice
• 5-10 drops Stevia to taste
• Top with fresh whipped cream

Blueberry Cream Pie

• 1/4 cup Plain Greek yogurt
• 1/4 cup Fresh whipped cream
• 1/4 cup  Fresh blueberries

Toppings:

"Crumble"

• 2 Tbs Almond Flour/Meal
• 2 Tbs Coconut Flour
• Pinch of salt

Toast in a pan for 1-2 minutes stirring constantly until it starts to slightly brown. Remove from heat, then add:

• 1 tsp Coconut oil

Mix together into a crumble.

"Whipped Cream"

For a small batch,

• 1/8 cup whipping cream

Whip/whisk until peaks form, then stir in:

• 5 drops Stevia
• 1/2 tsp Vanilla

Tenderloin Medallions with Rosemary Sauce

1 pound tenderloin (beef or pork)
1 Tbs butter (to sauté meat)
Sauce:
1 Tbs butter
1/2 tsp cocoa
1/8 tsp salt
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 tsp rosemary (dry) or 1 tsp fresh
1 tsp coconut amino *
1/4 cup water *

(For unrestricted diet, use 1/4 cup dry red wine or beef broth (if using beef) or 1/4 cup dry white or rose wine (if using pork))

Instructions:
Cut tenderloin into 3/4 inch slices. Heat 2 tablespoon butter in 10" skillet or nonstick pan over medium high heat. Sauté tenderloin 3 minutes each side. Remove meat to platter and keep warm.

Add 1 tablespoon butter to pan, and the remaining ingredients until bubbly. Heat to boiling and stir 1 minute. Serve over meat.

HOT not CEREAL

We like to call this "Hot Not" cereal because it isn't exactly your typical Cream of Wheat or Oatmeal that you would expect in the morning. This is a Phase 1 or Phase 2 Antifungal - friendly recipe. Quick to make, delicious to eat. The best part is, there is room for substitutions and modifications for whatever your taste buds are craving.

Healthy Apple, Cinnamon, Quinoa Hot Breakfast Cereal

Makes 2 servings.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup Quinoa (uncooked)
1 cup Water
1 Green Apple (washed, cored, chopped)
1/2 tsp Cinnamon (more or less to taste)
5-10 drops Stevia (more or less to taste)
1/2 cup Plain Greek Yogurt (optional)

Directions:

Place quinoa, water, chopped apple, and cinnamon in sauce pan. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low and cover for 10-15 minutes (or until the Quinoa has absorbed all the liquid). Remove from heat, stir in Stevia and Yogurt. Serve. Enjoy.

Other options. You could use...

Berries in place of apples.
Pumpkin puree and pumpkin pie spice.
Nutmeg or your other favorite spices.
Cream instead of yogurt.
Honey or Maple Syrup in place of Stevia.

The possibilities are ENDLESS!