Organic

From scratch sounds like a lot of work, but its not in this case.  Never thought I could make applesauce without making a royal mess of it. This recipe proved me wrong.  It is so easy, super delicious and loaded with antioxidants and other important nutrients.  4 ingredients: apples (organic please) , wild blueberry juice, lemon juice and cinnamon.  That's it.  All you do is cook apples in the wild blueberry juice then puree them. I used the "can't live without" Immersible Blender right in the pot.  Added lemon juice and cinnamon.  All done!  (Please go to www.KidKritics.com for details.) You can use any 100% juice – please avoid those with added sugar.  If I had known this was so easy, I would have made this years ago. Make some in quantity and freeze it for future use.  Save money with this kid favorite.

… for the health of your family,
ellen

Your turn! Enter to Win a Case of Cornbread & Muffin Mix, Gluten Free, by Pamela's Products.  It's for everyone and everyone loves it!  Go to www.KidKritics.com/sweepstakes.  Wouldn't this come in handy for holiday entertaining?

Recently we blogged about the top three: Onions, Corn, Pineapples. Here are the rest. Avocado, Asparagus, Sweet Peas, Mangoes, Eggplant, Cantaloupe, Kiwi, Cabbage, Watermelon, Sweet Potatoes, Grapefruit, Mushrooms.* Feel comfortable feeding these to your family without buying organic. Just watch out for imports from South America and Asia. I try to buy one avocado and one mango a week. These will help feed a family when you cut them into little pieces and add to salads or use as a side. We eat a lot of sweet potatoes and cooked onions. You will usually find a pineapple or some watermelon in our kitchen at any given time. Peas are a weekly must. The others are woven into our monthly menu though we have been staying away from cantaloupe lately. This list is your budget saver group. Ask your store’s produce manager when they are going on sale, really  -  make him your “best friend.”

… for the health of your family,
ellen

Free Food for you if you Win a Case of Tomato Basil Spaghetti Sauce by Simply Organic.  Go to www.KidKritics.com/sweepstakes and enter today.

Number One “Cleanest”

Onions, Corn and Pineapple, in this order, are the top three “cleanest crops.” (foodnews.org)  Cleanest indicates they contain the least amount of pesticides, herbicides, fungicides and other unwanted chemicals.  It also means you can feel comfortable buying and eating commercially grown, avoiding the extra expense of organic. Notice how each has naturally protective skins.  That helps.  What they also have in common is they have nutrients that feed your brain.  Fuel you family economically with fresh onions and pineapple, and,  fresh or frozen corn all year round.

… for the health of your family,
ellen

A whole case of food is up for grabs.  Go to www.KidKritics.com/sweepstakes and enter to win Almond and Rice Cheese Chunks and Shreds by Lisanatti Foods. They look, cook and tastes like mild cheese. YUM!

“Lettuce recall for listeria initially mentioned only cartons destined for retail in a few states. True Leaf Farms now says lettuce recall involves nearly 2,500 cartons, mostly sold to restaurants, cafeterias, and other institutions in 19 states and Canada.” This is what has been reported from several news outlets. The good news is that this issue was caught fairly early on indicating our improved food safety processes are working.   Once again, the source of this food recall is not an organic farm.  Bottom line, feel safer when buying organic, be sure to wash all produce well before eating, and always wash your counters and your hands before and after use.  Then enjoy your salad!

… for the health of your family,
ellen

5 more days to enter to Win a Case of Oat Cranberry Almond Whenever Bars, Gluten-Free by Pamela’s!  You can do so every day.  Wouldn’t a case of Kid Kritics Approved breakfast, lunch and snack bars help you food budget?  Go to www.KidKritics.com/sweepstakes today!

Quiche, a fancy French word for an open egg-based pie, is so easy to make! Many run from it because it sounds so gourmet.  All you do is get a pie crust and lightly bake it.  Then add beaten eggs and any combination of fillers.  Many use cheese, spinach and bacon (turkey please) or a good sausage mixed with a little cream or milk.  Sauted broccoli, carrots, onions, garlic, herbs, tomatoes, shredded sweet potatoes, beans,  chicken… the list of possibilities is a long as your imagination and your food inventory.   Once you pour the egg filler into the crust, bake it until the eggs are firm. Any combination is filled with high performance nutrients! When we served a Spinach Bacon Quiche to the Kid Kritics, they all began chanting, “Quiche, Quiche, Quiche…” They became instant fans.  There are lots of recipes!  One is featured on www.KidKritics.com.  Go for it and customize one to suit your family’s palate!

… for the health of your family,
ellen

Don’t forget to sign up to Win a Case of Ranch Dressing Mix by Simply Organic.  It can also be used to make dips!  Kid Kritics loved it both ways.  Go to www.KidKritics.com/sweepstakes today.  Enter more than once to up your odds!