Tracey Allen's Blog, page 14
June 24, 2012
Recipe - Creamy Garlic Dill Dressing
I decided I wanted to add a dressing to my list and I love garlic and dill plus was craving something creamy. So here is creamy garlic dill dressing:
1 cup mayonnaise (homemade or Hellmanns)1/4 cup lemon juice3 clove garlic1 Tbsp dill seed1/4 cup olive oil
Blend well. Chill. Serve. Also good to toss into pasta...we use
1 cup mayonnaise (homemade or Hellmanns)1/4 cup lemon juice3 clove garlic1 Tbsp dill seed1/4 cup olive oil
Blend well. Chill. Serve. Also good to toss into pasta...we use
June 13, 2012
Recipe - Honey Mustard Dressing
When I'm in a rush I sometimes pick up a salad at Sobeys and I love their honey mustard dressing, so the other day I decided I would try to create a similar taste...just minus the chemicals, as they are pretty hard to had from my kitchen anyway lol. Here is what I came up with:
1/4 cup of mustard
1/8 cup of honey
2 Tbsp olive oil
pinch of salt
Makes a small batch. Since it is so simple you can mix up as you need it...with ingredients you likely have on hand anyway. Enjoy!
1/4 cup of mustard
1/8 cup of honey
2 Tbsp olive oil
pinch of salt
Makes a small batch. Since it is so simple you can mix up as you need it...with ingredients you likely have on hand anyway. Enjoy!
June 10, 2012
Fiddleheads - Safety
When looking for fiddle-heads in the wild please consult your local wildlife and safety division - here is a health advisory from Health Canada re: cooking (don't eat raw) fiddle-heads http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/securit/kitchen-cuisine/fiddlehead-fougere-eng.php
June 4, 2012
Press release on new book
I've started to issue a press release on my new book - here is one listing....New Book The Sustainable Table – Take Back Your Plate
June 1, 2012
Print Version - The Sustainable Table: Take Back Your Plate
Happy to say the print version of the book is now both indexed in the Canadian Library Indexing but also available in print A few more days...it will be available on Amazon. And then some local book stores.
May 17, 2012
Re-purposing pallets into raised garden beds
Below is my first raised garden bed made from a pallet. Just remove 4 slats and nail them around the edge to close it in. Fill with dirt and starting planting. I planted quinoa in my pallet garden below. Happy gardening that is environmentally friendly and inexpensive! 
April 12, 2012
Fries - Homemade or Store Bought? And Homemade Salt-Free Seasoning
It has been many years since I bought store bought fries on a regular basis. It is so easy and cheap to make your own. Using 4 potatoes (assuming one potato per person) the cost is approximately $.66 cents. Add a little more money depending on which oil and how much you use. The bags of fries in the store which in most cases have addivities are also at $2.00/bag. And since you are storing potatoes anyway you don't require extra storage space - simple!
Home Fries
Servings: 4 people
Ingredients:
4 potatoes cut into wedges
2 Tbsp oil
salt to taste
garlic/onion or garlic/onion powder of a mix of spices (I use a homemade salt-free seasoning see recipe below)
Instructions:
1) Put all in a bowl. Toss until potatoes are well coated.
2) Put on greased cookie sheet and bake in the oven for 20-30 minutes at 375F.
Homemade Salt-Free Seasoning (I use on just about everything from burgers to homefries)
Serving: 1 small jar about 1 1/3 cups. (I usually double it and then I only make it every once and while)
1/2 cup onion powder
2 tablespoons garlic powder
1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 teaspoons dried parsley
1 teaspoon dried basil
1 teaspoon coriander
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon dried marjoram
1 teaspoon dried mustard
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon dried savory
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
1/2 teaspoon celery seed
1/4 teaspoon crushed dried rosemary
1. Combine all of the ingredients.
2. Store the spice blend in a covered container or a sealed shaker bottle.
Home Fries
Servings: 4 people
Ingredients:
4 potatoes cut into wedges
2 Tbsp oil
salt to taste
garlic/onion or garlic/onion powder of a mix of spices (I use a homemade salt-free seasoning see recipe below)
Instructions:
1) Put all in a bowl. Toss until potatoes are well coated.
2) Put on greased cookie sheet and bake in the oven for 20-30 minutes at 375F.
Homemade Salt-Free Seasoning (I use on just about everything from burgers to homefries)
Serving: 1 small jar about 1 1/3 cups. (I usually double it and then I only make it every once and while)
1/2 cup onion powder
2 tablespoons garlic powder
1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 teaspoons dried parsley
1 teaspoon dried basil
1 teaspoon coriander
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon dried marjoram
1 teaspoon dried mustard
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon dried savory
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
1/2 teaspoon celery seed
1/4 teaspoon crushed dried rosemary
1. Combine all of the ingredients.
2. Store the spice blend in a covered container or a sealed shaker bottle.
April 9, 2012
Easy, Healthy, Breakfast Cereal
One of my favourite books is
Raw Food
and this is where this breakfast cereal comes from. I like it since it tastes great, has few ingredients and is easy to make. This is also Gluten-Free, Vegan, Lactose-Free.
Breakfast Cereal (Granola no cooking)
Serving size - it says 2 portions but I eat half of that when I eat breakfast.
Ingredients:
1/4 cup almonds (they recommend soaking your nuts but I only do if I remember)
1/4 cup sunflower seeds (powerhouse vitamins)
1/4 cup walnuts (also top nutrition)
4 dates
1/4 tsp cinnamon
pinch of salt
Then fruit to add for topping and almond milk or whatever milk you like.
1. Put the nuts and sunflower seeds in a food processor and pluse until they are thickly cut.
2. Blend chopped dates, cinnamon, salt, and nut/seed mixture together.
3. Serve with fruit of your choice and mild. Will keep in a sealed jar in the refridgerator, will last 2 days if you soak the nuts and longer if you don't.
Breakfast Cereal (Granola no cooking)
Serving size - it says 2 portions but I eat half of that when I eat breakfast.
Ingredients:
1/4 cup almonds (they recommend soaking your nuts but I only do if I remember)
1/4 cup sunflower seeds (powerhouse vitamins)
1/4 cup walnuts (also top nutrition)
4 dates
1/4 tsp cinnamon
pinch of salt
Then fruit to add for topping and almond milk or whatever milk you like.
1. Put the nuts and sunflower seeds in a food processor and pluse until they are thickly cut.
2. Blend chopped dates, cinnamon, salt, and nut/seed mixture together.
3. Serve with fruit of your choice and mild. Will keep in a sealed jar in the refridgerator, will last 2 days if you soak the nuts and longer if you don't.
March 12, 2012
Reflecting on Banking fees etc.
Given the interest rates in the range of .15% to 1.2%....wow not even equal to the cost of living increase - I started to look at savings versus loans. Now loans are running in the 6.5% to 9.4% as recently reported in the Globe and Mail. My first thought was what a gap and my second thought was the banks must be making some money. Next I looked banking fees. Here is my conclusion:
1) that I would make more money paying off my car loan at 6.5% and roughly $40/month interest and $14 in insurance. So for $44/month I don't have to pay if it was paid off versus $5,900 at 1.2% in savings or $5.90/month that I would save in a high end savings account. The difference of roughly $38/month or almost $500 year by paying down my loan rather than saving money in a savings account.
2) that having my savings money sit in my chequing account rather than a separate 'savings account' would save me $13.95/month in service fees. The return for not giving the bank by service fee is 5.58% compared to 'earning' interest of 1.2%.
Now if the rate of return on investments or savings accounts change I'll revisit my thoughts on it but for now, not paying the bank is more money for me!
If you have money in savings, consider that it might be put to better use in paying down loans than sitting in an account not earning money for you....just the bank.
1) that I would make more money paying off my car loan at 6.5% and roughly $40/month interest and $14 in insurance. So for $44/month I don't have to pay if it was paid off versus $5,900 at 1.2% in savings or $5.90/month that I would save in a high end savings account. The difference of roughly $38/month or almost $500 year by paying down my loan rather than saving money in a savings account.
2) that having my savings money sit in my chequing account rather than a separate 'savings account' would save me $13.95/month in service fees. The return for not giving the bank by service fee is 5.58% compared to 'earning' interest of 1.2%.
Now if the rate of return on investments or savings accounts change I'll revisit my thoughts on it but for now, not paying the bank is more money for me!
If you have money in savings, consider that it might be put to better use in paying down loans than sitting in an account not earning money for you....just the bank.
August 4, 2011
In the Pursuit of Simple
Simple or stress free living is the aim of many people trying to achieve the ever eluse 'balance' - my husband and I included. We have been on this journey for years and with our youngest son leaving the nest we hope to give this effort 100% effort. And we hope to post the journey in part in this blog....hope you will join us on the ride. Our son Joshua...the artist and other many talents is credited with the art above.
