Healthy Recipes from Scratch!
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Our readers offer information and opinions on Earth Clinic, not as a substitute for professional medical prevention, diagnosis, or treatment. Please consult with your physician, pharmacist, or health care provider before taking any home remedies or supplements or following any treatment suggested by anyone on this site. Only your health care provider, personal physician, or pharmacist can provide you with advice on what is safe and effective for your unique needs or diagnose your particular medical history.
10/28/2009: Phil from Dearing, Ga writes: "Hello to all. I have been trying to clean up my diet and am finding this very difficult to do. I know all the things I am suppose to do as far as food is concerned, but the problem seems to be my boredum with food from raw or frozen. I do good for a week or so and then I have these incredible cravings for things like pizza,tacos,and sweets.
Now what I would like to see is a healthy cooking from scratch page or ( healthy recipes from scratch ) This would be recipes that would be made from the flour,corn meal,sweetners,flavorings for things such as tacos ( WITHOUT the MSG and other bad chemicals ) That are good for you. I know they have specialty food stores that already have these things I speak of pre packaged. But for those of us on a budget, those prices are often to high to bare.
I already know about hormone free and organic products,but this would be a way for us all to eat some what of the way modern society does. Keep us from becoming bored with our foods. I truely miss GRAVY and would love to enjoy it again, but as healthy of a version as possiable.
Thank you,
Phil"
10/29/2009: Lisa from Thousand Oaks, Ca replies: "Hi Phil, Making those things you mention are actually not that difficult. If you have a Trader Joe's by you (I'm not sure if they are only on the west coast) then they have a lot of pre-made things to help speed things along like pizza dough, pre-cut veggies, etc. Try to first stock your pantry with some good herbs and spices because from that you can create your own tastes whether Mexican, Italian, Middle Eastern, etc. You'll begin to see a running theme in spices used for different ethnic foods. Still, I think you can find that in the regular grocery store as well. Try some very good cookbooks that help teach simplicity and creative ideas like Jamie Oliver's cookbooks- he's always fun and full of ideas that help launch your own creativity. There's also Mark Bittman on NY Times in the food section who gives lots of simple fun things to try. Or find some good websites that can give you lots of ideas like Chow or the foodnetwork. Also on youtube there are a lot of videos that can teach cooking ideas. When I first met my husband, he couldn't cook a thing and was scared to try but, I taught him dishes and then we'd cook together and have fun with different ideas. Now, he is so adept, it's amazing and everyone is impressed with him! He watches videos on the web to learn as reading is sometimes difficult for him to comprehend which I'm better at that rather than watching. Different learning styles... Keep working on eating clean and your body will thank you in so many ways. It really is worth it. After awhile it becomes second nature. Hope this helps."
10/29/2009: Merryanne from Orange City, Florida, USA replies: "Hello, Phil,,This is Merryanne in FLorida,,I understand your dilema with healthy eating,,I take any recipe and use good products, I use peanut oil, I use real butter, sea salt, whole flour (check the bag to be sure it does not have anything added, if so I do not buy it) I make my own bread from yeast or sourdough, or baking powder and baking soda and buttermilk, if I want gravy I eat it only occationaly,,,eat in moderation we can have about anything, but always in moderation. Merryanne"
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10/29/2009: Tricia from Ireland writes: "My Mom made what she called a healthy gravy by letting any fat or residue left in a pot or pan reduce to just prior to burning then add a tablespoon or two of water and stir. This gave you use of the leftover nutrients without any E no's added. I usually do it but add milk instead of water cos I prefer white sauces. If I want to make a fancy sauce I add the herbs as necessary. You can learn which herbs to use by reading the ingredients on the back of the packets at the supermarket. I get annoyed when I see "Herb mix" printed on them because then I can't copy it."
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1 YEA
[YEA] 10/29/2009: Sheena from Glasgow, Scotland writes: "Hummus Recipe
1 ordinary sized can of chick peas
3 - 5 tablespoons of water (decide on your own preferred consistency)
Half to 3/4 juice of lemon
Half clove - 2 cloves of garlic (half is not too garlicky, but I've had complaints from 1 - 2 cloves, but I like it!)
Huge heaped teaspoon of peanut butter
3 - 4 tablespoons of sunflower oil (again decide yourself on how oily you want it)
Half - 3/4 teaspoon of cumin powder
Sea salt & ground pepper to season
Pour chick peas into a sieve and rinse well. Put all ingredients into a container - I use a measuring jug - and whiz with a hand blender.
I like to eat this with toasted whole meal pita breads, raw carrot and raw broccoli. You can also spread it on toast or crackers.
Not sure how long this safely keeps for, but I've kept it in the fridge for 2 - 3 days and it has been absolutely fine."
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10/29/2009: Haycee from Gauteng, South Africa writes: "Here's an easy basic recipe for one pizza - double or triple ingredients if you want to make more than one at a time:
1 cup of flour of your choice - plain, wholewheat etc. Add about a tsp of instant yeast, a shake of sea salt, a small pinch of sugar and half a cup of lukewarm water. Mix together and knead until smooth. Kneading is basically bashing the dough about a bit - just in case you have no experience in this department. It sounds like more work than it really is. You could finish making the dough within five to ten minutes.
Cover the dough and leave to rise in a warm place (about 30 minutes). Meanwhile make the sauce. Saute (lightly fry) about 1 tbs of finely chopped onion in a bit of olive/coconut oil. Add a large chopped tomato or two, salt and a small pinch of sugar, and simmer. When the sauce has thickened, take it off the heat and add some finely chopped garlic and any herbs you like. I like thyme.
While the sauce is cooking, prepare the base. Take the dough, which should by now spring back when you lightly press it with a finger, roll it into a ball and flatten into a lightly oiled round pizza tin or shape it on a baking tray. Spread sauce over base, add toppings of your choice, sprinkle with about a third to half a cup of grated cheese (does not have to be mozzarella - I often use cheddar or gouda), sprinkle some extra herbs on top if you prefer, and pop it into a hot oven of about 400deg C. Bake until the cheese is bubbly and the base is firm - about 15 minutes."
10/30/2009: Haycee from Gauteng, South Africa replies: "Oops, oven too hot! The temp. for the pizza recipe should be about 400deg F or 200deg C."
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