TONIA NEALEY
  • Home
  • Yoga
    • Embodied Glow
    • Yoga Private Sessions & Classes >
      • Request for Private Yoga
    • Aroma Flow 101
    • Yoga and Body Image >
      • My YBI Journey
    • Yoga blog posts
  • doTERRA
    • Our Glowing Community Values
    • A Life That Glows - Community Resources
    • Oil Blog Posts >
      • Oil Usage and Tips
      • Health & Beauty DIY
    • Glowing Business Resources
    • Outschool Perfumery Kit
  • Blog
  • Meet Tonia
    • Contact
  • Home
  • Yoga
    • Embodied Glow
    • Yoga Private Sessions & Classes >
      • Request for Private Yoga
    • Aroma Flow 101
    • Yoga and Body Image >
      • My YBI Journey
    • Yoga blog posts
  • doTERRA
    • Our Glowing Community Values
    • A Life That Glows - Community Resources
    • Oil Blog Posts >
      • Oil Usage and Tips
      • Health & Beauty DIY
    • Glowing Business Resources
    • Outschool Perfumery Kit
  • Blog
  • Meet Tonia
    • Contact

The best, easiest, yummiest crock-pot chicken soup I've ever made

10/29/2015

1 Comment

 
Did I mention we've got great neighbors? Cuz man, we got great neighbors! My new neighbor and good friend Cathy recently shared with me a super easy, super yummy recipe for chicken noodle soup. In a crock pot no less!

And it couldn't have come at a better time. 


Last Friday we took the girls out to dinner and, after stopping in two different places with long waits, ended up at a burger joint, Crave. Seriously good as far as burgers go. Also, seriously greasy as far as our normal diet goes. That night I must have run to the bathroom at least 6 times to empty my stomach. TMI? Oh well. I chalked it up to greasy food. 

Until our three year old got it, too. 

So apparently, we were visited by the mysterious stomach bug that seems to be visiting lots of people round here lately, and apparently New York, too, according to Cathy. 

Luckily, I had a secret weapon. Cathy's chicken noodle soup. 
​
Picture

​Now, I have tried my hand at many a soup, but never chicken noodle. There is something about it that is so comforting and amazing when it's done right. And really, it's all about the broth, isn't it? I was a little scared of broth. Sounds silly, but a good broth can be an art. And there's a huge difference between broth, stock and bone broth. 


Broth is typically made with meat and can contain a small amount of bones (think of the bones in a fresh whole chicken), usually simmered for a short period of time (45 minutes to 2 hours), is very light in flavor, thin in texture and rich in protein.

Stock is
 typically made with roasted bones and can contain a small amount of meat (think of the meat that adheres to a beef neck bone) and is usually simmered for a moderate amount of time (3 to 4 hours).  

Bone broth is typically made with bones and can contain a small amount of meat adhering to the bones. As with stock, bones are typically roasted first to improve the flavor of the bone broth. Bone broths are typically simmered for a very long period of time (often in excess of 24 hours), with the purpose being not only to produce gelatin from collagen-rich joints but also to release minerals from bones.  At the end of cooking, the bones should crumble when pressed lightly between your thumb and forefinger (http://nourishedkitchen.com/bone-broth/)


Bone broth is super good for you. It is very rich in protein and minerals, can support detoxification, and is rich in gelatin, which is great for nails, skin, and digestive health. And it tastes soooooo good!
Picture

​Cathy's "throw it all in hodge podge" recipe creates a bone-style broth base that really makes the soup amazing. And super easy because you can prep the night night before, use your crock pot, and still end up with deliciousness!

Yield: Depends on your crock pot, how much veg and noodle you like. I ended up with a LOT of soup, but it freezes fabulously. Adapt as needed to fit your fam. I tend to taste and adapt as I go to get the flavor and amount of veg and noodles I like. 

Ingredients
  • One whole chicken   *organic if you can
  • 3 - 32 oz.  boxes chicken broth    * I liked Pacific Foods
  • Bag 'o baby carrots
  • Bunch of celery
  • 1/4 to 1/2 tsp or more garlic (lazy or cloves minced) to taste
  • Italian seasoning - start with 1 tablespoon and add to taste
  • Rosemary (minced fresh, dried start with 1/2 tsp and add to taste, or a drop or two of Rosemary essential oil)
  • About 1/3-1/2 of a 12 oz bag dried noodles you like    * I used Manischewitz fine egg noodles

Instructions: 
​
  1. Clean all the stuff out of the cavity of your chicken. If you like the gizzards, you can add them, but I tend to take them out. Place chicken breast up in your crock pot and add 3 boxes of chicken broth. Cook on low over night. 
  2. Prep your veg by slicing up carrots, celery, mincing garlic and placing everything, including seasoning and rosemary in a large ziplock bag in the fridge. 
  3. Some time the next day when you've got a free minute, clean off your chicken. This is a messy process! I found it easiest to pull large chunks directly from the crock pot, cut them and place them in a large bowl. Then as I got down to smaller bits and bits with bones, I used a slotted spoon to pull out manageable chunks at time to clean off. Make sure you get all the bones off. There are lots of little guys in there! Strain as needed, then add back in your chicken. 
  4. Keeping your crock pot on low, grab that bag 'o veg you thought ahead  to prepare and add everything to the crock pot. You can add your seasonings now if you didn't already add them to the bag. The veg needs a few hours to get nice and soft. 
  5. About an hour before you plan to eat, add your noodles. 

You are gonna love this with some good, crusty bread, maybe a smear of Boursin or real butter, and if you've got one, a fire roaring in your hearth. Seriously yummy, seriously easy, seriously good broth.

Thanks Cathy!​

PD: we are now all on the mend and the tummy bug never got past the two of us, thankfully :)
1 Comment

Skin Deep, Greenwashing and a Glimpse into our Bathroom!

10/20/2015

0 Comments

 
A week or so ago I posted about the Never List. This was an eye-opening experience for me in many ways. I tend to think that if something at the store looks "green" it probably is. This could mean branding and colors, or vague statements like "all-natural, eco-friendly, or sustainable", which have no third party or federally verified label for the term, or even products that happen to be stocked next to other products that are "natural" probably get mistaken for them all the time. 

The use of vague terms like "natural", "eco-friendly", and "low carbon footprint" is called greenwashing. According to triplepundit.com greenwashing "is any form of marketing or public relations that links a corporate, political, religious or nonprofit organization to a positive association with environmental issues for an unsustainable product, service, or practice." 

Boy, there sure is a lot of it out there!


I went through our cosmetic products using the SkinDeep app to see what we've been putting on ourselves. I was really hopeful that nothing scored above a 6, and extra hopeful that most of our products, especially the kids stuff, was between 0-2. On the Skin Deep app, the lower the score the better!

I started with our girls shampoo and detangler. 
These both scored really well. The Aveeno Baby Wash & Shampoo scored a 2. The only orange flag was a mild allergy concern. The Johnson's no more tangles also scored really well. That was a relief! I still like the BeautyCounter kids products better in terms of scent and not having to use a separate detangler, even after conditioner, but I was happy to see these scores.  

Next up was our adult hair and bath products. 
Picture
Most of these were a 4 or 5. The Secret, Method body wash, Barbasol, Gillette Sport, and Right Guard body wash all scored within that range, as did my Issey Miyake Toilet spray. These got the 4-5 rating because of the fragrance, which bumped the allergy rating up to an 8, leveling out the score at 4-5.

The two that surprised me? 
​

The Jergens again scored high for allergy due to fragrance, but high enough that it was a 6. The Issey Miyake pour Homme! A 10! What is my husband spraying on himself!! 

Here is a look at a few of the ingredients broken down by hazard score. Now, to be fair, I don't know what these things are, and he doesn't use this on a daily, but still, I was so surprised by the 10!
Picture
​Next up, teeth. We have a couple toothpastes in our drawer: Crest Complete Whitening, Crest Kids and Sensodyne. We also have Listerine. How do they rate? 
Not too shabby, eh? 

So overall, our average score for all the products was a 4. But, when I looked at all of them laid out it made me think again about all the things we put on our bodies in a day. This doesn't include sunscreen because we are into autumn already, though Colorado has some pretty strong sunshine and we probably should still consider using it. 

It also made me think more about greenwashing and really paying attention to what the label says versus what it actually means. Sometimes a products' claims are really just trying to distract us from more important issues. 

I went searching about on the good ole web and found ISEAL. They describe themselves as a "leader in defining the essential characteristics of credible sustainability claims. With tools for both standards systems and businesses, ISEAL is bringing clarity to the landscape and promoting the growth of credible claims and labels globally."


​Their goal is "to encourage truthfulness in claims and labelling and drive people towards claims and labels that more likely to deliver real sustainability impact."


To achieve this, they've created a Challenge the Label Tool.
Picture
Image courtesy of ISEALalliance.org/challenge
Their 5 Universal Truths to Sustainability Claims are as follows:

1. CLEAR
The sustainability claim should be easily understood and free from misleading details.

2. ACCURATE
The claim must be truthful and based on substantiated evidence.

3. RELEVANT
The claim should be about an issue that is material or significant to the product or business and not a distraction from bigger and more important issues.

Claims should be based on a system that is

4. TRANSPARENT
Information about the system behind the sustainability claim must be freely available and easily accessible.

5. ROBUST
There are controls in place regarding when the claim can be used and by whom, and clear criteria to be met before a claim can be used.

Does this get you thinking about what you've got in your bathroom? Perhaps what you're putting on your body? Or even what you're buying and why? We make purchases for all kinds of reasons: our mom used the dish soap, we like the smell, it's the right color, makes our hair feel smooth, just makes us feel good. But sometimes those aren't good enough. 

About a year after my mom passed away from breast cancer in 2007, I remember talking to my dad about how things had changed, and how they were going for him. One of things that kept coming up was how his decision-making process was changing (see dad, I do listen!). Instead of just buying things at the supermarket or doing the things he used to do, he now had to think about whether he really liked those things he was buying or doing, or whether it was just out habit, or because my mom used buy them or do them. And he made a lot of changes. 

I kinda feel like I've opened Pandora's box for myself, but that's okay. It's good to question what you're doing and really wake up to your choices and decisions. Get familiar with your why. 

Up next, the pantry! Gotta actually get on cleaning and organizing that, but it's a good time to go through what's in there and perhaps rethink some purchases, perhaps not. Baby steps people. Baby steps. 

If you've used the app in your house, did you find anything that surprised you? Leave a comment!
0 Comments

Bring your tuxedo

10/17/2015

0 Comments

 
Dear Golden Oak, 

You are wonderful in so many ways. You're a super strong, high quality, dense hardwood that makes great cabinets and floors. You last a long time. You're also a horrible color. I'm sorry, but you're just not cup of tea. And I really like a good cuppa!


Picture
However, you seem to follow me everywhere. Welcome to the kitchen in our new house. If you saw my previous posts you know that our last house had loads of this lovely color. Our new house was no exception. Thankfully, the trim and doors were white. My dad always says you should live in a house for at least a year before you make any major changes. I think that's definitely true for a first house. You're so excited to be home owners for the first time and the learning curve for taking care of a whole house and a yard is pretty steep. But the second time around? I think we got this now. 

Those golden oak floors and cabbies had to go...quickly. 
Picture
Now, historically, it takes my husband and I awhile to actually come to an agreement about house changes. The man has strong opinions, likes, and dislikes in this area which, while perhaps not typical, is actually quite nice. I don't feel like it's just my house or my choices, rather ours. However, it does mean that negotiation can be fierce,  at times both of us has given in...or even

GASP!

...admitted that the other person was right. Boy, that's a tough one, hey?!

The floor was an easy choice. We knew we wanted to go darker and, since we weren't moving in until about a week after we closed on the house, it was perfect timing to get 'er done before we had to deal with furniture or kiddos around. After calling around for quotes, we got everything scheduled, came down to look at four stain options on the floor, and then tried to pick one. How do you pick a stain for your whole floor by looking at a small patch? Close your eyes and point? Eenie meenie miney mo? Quite possibly! We ended up selecting something not too dark, but definitely not golden oak. We love it. 

That project was a priority because of the timing. Sometimes our home projects are guided by timing or time commitment, sometimes by budget. Other times they are guided by necessity and a few times by my itch to do something artsy. Sometimes by all of the above. Jackie Hernandez over at tealandlime has some great ideas for prioritizing home projects. Check her out!

The cabinets were also a pretty easy compromise. We knew we wanted white on top to keep everything light, but wanted to go darker on the bottom. Apparently in design terms it's now trendy to call that a tuxedo kitchen or tuxedo cabinets. We are in our blue phase and narrowed it down to Old Navy or Hale Navy by Benjamin Moore. Ultimately, Hale Navy won out. It was a little grayed out and not so blueberry.

The cabinets were prioritized by budget and available time. After getting a few quotes, we decided NOT to spend $3000 plus we'd been quoted, but for me to do it myself. I mean really, $3000+? It's not like we have a massive kitchen. Seventeen doors and 6 drawers, not counting those not-quite-drawers under the sink. I was gobsmacked, to use one of my favorite English terms, at the quotes we got. I guess the positive end of it is that it provided even more encouragement to jump in and do it myself. And you know those moments where you step back and look at something you worked really hard and long at and think, "dang, why did I ever doubt myself? That is marvelous!"

This is totally one of those times.

I'm not going to write another tutorial about how to paint your cabinets. There are loads out there on the web and I really like this one if you're looking for some guidance.  I will tell you that I spent:
  • two weeks sanding, priming and painting everything (dry time and cure time takes time!)
  • a few days drilling holes and installing hardware
  • an afternoon patching with caulk
  • one evening patching and then painting a hole when I drilled on the wrong side of the cabinet door (Oops! It was late, hubby was traveling for work, and I was pooped)
  • About $200 on paint, primer, caulk, drill bits, drill guide, paint brush and roller
  • About $170 on hardware (We went big on that because our overall budget was so small)

Is this entire project for the faint of heart? Or those with little time or interest? Probably not. Kids, jobs and life commitments are why other people get paid to do this. However, if you can swing it, you can save a ton of money. And feel pretty dang good about yourself in the process!

And learn something new

​I've drilled holes and put on hardware before, but I've never had to countersink. Everything we've previously purchased has always been flush to the cabinet or drawer. But then we found these beauties. 
Picture
Ah, weathered nickle, you stole my heart. Not at first mind you. These were my hubby's pick and I wasn't sold initially. But I came around and I'm so glad I did. These cup pulls are gorgeous in person. They were exactly what we wanted. 

But they needed countersinking

Luckily I've got great neighbors...who were having a porch put on their house...and their contractor was amazingly helpful. Mr. Bud, as we came to call him, popped over more than once to answer a few questions I had. This one in particular. In the end, the process was not as hard as it first seemed. 
Picture
See those little legs sticking out? Those have to go inside your drawer face. However, the screw still has to go all the way through. What's a girl to do? Use two drill bits of course. First, after measuring five times with my handy dandy guide tool, I drilled the screw hole all the way through the drawer face. Then, I put a little painter's tape over the hole before drilling the larger countersink hole. Supposedly it helps to prevent splintering and peeling of the wood. Worked for me!
Picture
Then I drilled the larger hole about half way into the drawer face. This allowed the leg to sit properly in the face and keep the cup pull itself flush. The screws that came with the pulls weren't quite long enough to go through the drawer and the face, so we bought 1 1/2 inch screws to solve that problem.

​Now we've got a fully functional tuxedo kitchen. We're thinking we might just break out the formal wear and have ourselves a little dance in there!
Picture
Picture
Now for some art on the wall above the cabinets. Any suggestions for things I don't have to dust? 

Source list:
  • Kilz Primer
  • Cloud White Benjamin Moore Advanced (this stuff is amazing. I didn't even go through a whole quart and there three coats on those puppies!)
  • Hale Navy Benjamin Moore Advanced
  • Weathered Nickle pulls, knobs and handles by Amerock
0 Comments

The Never List

10/12/2015

0 Comments

 
Have you ever met someone that taught you something you totally didn't expect? That happened to me this past week. Rachel came over interested in my green cleaning caddy makeover, and as we sat down to chat, I think I ended up learning more from her that she did from me. I love it when that happens! 

As we chatted about DIY cleaning products, essential oils and why I made the switch from commercial cleaners, she shared a bit about why she was interested in them and why she switched to BeautyCounter safe skincare products. I went green and DIY for my kids and my health. Check out my post about green cleaning products and you'll see more on that. Rachel switched to these products because of a friend she had who was battling cancer. This was one more way to pay attention to and feel safe about what she was putting on herself and her family. She also shared...

The NEVER List


It sounds ominous, right? It should. According to BeautyCounter, "when it comes to the personal care industry...Companies are allowed to use known toxins—ingredients that have been linked to cancer, reproductive issues, hormone disruption—without telling us." 

Wait, there's more.


"Decades of studies indicate that serious health issues (including, but not limited to asthma, learning disabilities, cancer and infertility) are on the rise, and due in some part to our ongoing exposure to toxic chemicals—whether it's in the shower, on our commute, while we eat lunch at a local restaurant, or when we clean our kitchens at home.

There are more than 80,000 chemicals on the market today. Many don't have any safety data. This is particularly true of those used in the skin care and beauty industry.

Only about 10% of the 10,000 chemicals commonly found in personal care products have safety data.

What's worse is the Food and Drug Administration (the agency that regulates cosmetics) allows companies to use chemicals known to be extremely harmful (lead, formaldehyde, and phthalates) in the products we put on our bodies and on our kids every single day, day after day." www.beautycounter.com

Is there a better case for going green in our cleaning, reading the labels on the products we're buying, and thinking about what we put into our mouths? If I find one, I'll let you know! And, seeing how I lost my mom to breast cancer, and more people in my family than I'd like to admit to some form of cancer, well, I think it's worth paying attention to. 

Oh wait, how about this one?
​
The United States has not passed a federal law to regulate the ingredients used in personal care products since 1938.
​

I think Wayne said it best. 

Really?! 1938? That's seems plain crazy, doesn't it? Then add to that the fact that so many beauty products contain microbeads which are now causing pollution problems. 

If you don't know, microbeads are tiny plastic beads used in exfoliating personal care products and toothpastes. When we use them they are "washed down the drain, pass unfiltered through the sewage treatment plants and make their way into rivers and canals, resulting in plastic particle water pollution.[6] Plastic microbeads have been found to pollute the Great Lakes in high concentrations, particularly Lake Erie. Microbeads accounted for 90 percent of these plastics." Thanks Wikipedia!


So, while Rachel and I chatted, and I perused the Never List, I started thinking about the stuff I use on a daily. I'm a pretty low-maintenance gal. I don't use makeup much. I "wash" my face by putting fractionated coconut oil on it. I don't shower every day. But I still use at least six products almost every day: 

  • Shampoo
  • Conditioner
  • Lotion
  • Toothpaste
  • Deodorant
  • Hand wash

Not to mention what my husband uses, our bubble bath and hair stuff for the girls, etc.

​Rachel generously offered to let me try out a few of the kid's products from BeautyCounter. She dropped off shampoo, conditioner and body wash. Since it was a bath night, we put them to the test right away!
The verdict? LOVED them! Not only do I know they contain nothing harmful or potentially harmful for my girls, they also smell great AND this is the first time I've NOT had to use a spray-on detangler for my three year-old. That alone was so nice. No tears combing out wet hair? Priceless! Add to that the fact that the company partners with non-profits, such as the Environmental Working Group, quoted in a previous post, and they are not just for profit, but for people and the planet, well, they've got my vote!

Now I'm on a mission to find out just what's in the beauty products I've got in the house and the pantry while I'm at it. The Environmental Working Group makes that a lot easier with two  apps. 


EWG's Food Scores App is an amazing resource to take with you when you shop. Their data base "houses information on tens of thousands of foods in a simple, searchable online format designed to guide consumers to healthy, affordable food that’s good for people and the planet."

All you need to do is scan the Barcode or type in the name or type of product. Easy peasy lemon squeezy. 
Picture

The second app is called Skin Deep. Their Cosmetics Database "is the world's largest safety reference tool for personal-care products...it provide(s) you with easy-to-navigate safety ratings at your fingertips for a wide range of products and ingredients on the market." 
​
Picture
Image courtesy of itunes.apple.com
Just downloaded the apps today so as I go through my products and my pantry I'll let you know what I find! Let me know what you think of the apps and what you find your home.
Also, if you're interested in trying out the kids products, or any products for that matter, check out Beautycounter.com/rachelbridge

0 Comments

What's your jam? 

10/10/2015

0 Comments

 
About two years ago one my best friends sent me a recipe for jam that blew me away. I've known Q since we were in kindergarten and she never ceases to amaze me with her creativity and her heart, whether on a canvas, through donating her hair, or what she puts in a jam jar. I thought of her today and this jam since I've got some tomatoes sitting on my kitchen windowsill and wanted to share it. 

To quote her e-mail, "Start thinking of jam with cheese on crackers... jam on a deli meat sandwich... jam in egg breakfast burrito... jam glaze on sauteed potatoes... oh yes, this IS the holy grail of savory jams!" 

I couldn't agree more

Now, most gardeners in the Midwest have long since harvested their tomatoes, but for some reason, here in Colorado it still gets to the high 80's by midday...in October. Perhaps this is not normal, but we have only recently moved here, so I'm not sure. But it means that I'm still picking tomatoes off the vines the former owners left us. Which is great because it means I get to make this jam. And this jam is my JAM!

Consider your cookware when you cook with acidic foods like tomatoes. Some pans are reactive and others are not. 
A reactive pan is one that contains metals that might interact with certain foods. Aluminum, cast iron, and unlined copper are examples of reactive metals. Pans made of these materials conduct heat very well. However, avoid cooking acidic foods in pans like these, as the metal can alter the color and flavor of the dish.

Stainless steel and tin (including tin-lined copper) are examples of nonreactive metals. You can use these pans for all kinds of foods, though you may not get the heat conductivity of copper or cast iron.


Picture
courtesy of sweets.seriouseats.com
​Spicy, savory tomato jam
** recipe adapted from http://foodinjars.com/2010/09/tomato-jam/**

Yield: Varies depending on the kind of tomato used, pan width and the finished thickness

Ingredients

  • 5 pounds tomatoes, finely chopped
  • 3 1/2 cups sugar
  • 8 tablespoons lime juice
  • 2 teaspoons freshly grated ginger
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 1 tablespoon salt
  • 1 tablespoon red chili flakes
  • You can also substitute the fresh ginger for dried (you'll need more) or for ginger essential oil (about a drop, 2 if you really like ginger)​

Instructions
  1. Combine all ingredients in a large, non-reactive pot. Bring to a boil and then reduce temperature to a simmer. Stirring regularly, simmer the jam until it reduces to a sticky, jammy mess. This will take between 1 and 1 1/2 hours, depending on how high you keep your heat. ​
  2. When the jam has cooked down sufficiently, remove from heat and fill jars, leaving 1/4 inch of head space. Wipe rims, apply lids and twist on rings. Process in a boiling water canner for 20 minutes. 
  3. When time is up, remove jars from water bath and allow them to cool. When jars are cool enough to handle, test seals. Store jars in a cool, dark place for up to one year.
  4.  If canning is not your thing, and it's not mine, just freeze the jars with plastic wrap over top and put real lids on after frozen. Easy peasy lemon squeezy!

This jam takes a grilled cheese sandwich to a whole other level, not gonna lie. Try it, you'll love it and thank me and Q for it. I promise. Now get cooking! Then tell me how you used it :)

0 Comments

Sometimes you just gotta tweak it

10/9/2015

0 Comments

 
You know those recipes you see in magazine that look phenomenal in the picture? And you think, yeah! I can totally do that! It will turn out just like that picture and be so delicious my kids will even eat it!! So you go get all the ingredients and put your fancy pants apron because it's pretty and make you feel chef-y  and get about half way in...

and realize you so don't have time or patience for all this


But you're half way there, and you gotta eat, and thankfully the girls are completely smitten with the little boy next door so they are happily playing with him and you've got the time

and completely lack the patience


Any hands up out there? That was me a week or so ago. I found this AMAZING recipe and just had to try it out and got halfway in and thought

yep, time to tweak it


Normally I like to make a recipe faithfully at least once, following all the measurements and time and temperature indications and the like.

​But this one I just couldn't. It all started when I had to trade in some of my airline miles in order to keep the rest. Shows you how much we've gotten out and about lately. Anyway, I choose Sunset magazine for a mere 400 miles or so not knowing much about it, and to my surprise, I actually like it. 
Picture
image courtesy of en.wikipedia.org
Among the travel itineraries, restaurant reviews, Mammoth Cave articles and gardening tips, I found this recipe for Potato Confit with corn, ricotta, and chanterelles. Looks yummy, doesn't it? 
​
Picture
And it was. 

How could something bathed in melted butter and oil not be delicious? Still, around step 6 stating "gently smash cooled potatoes between your fingers and thumbs" I lost patience. At least I made it that far. 

So here is my tweaked, bathed and still fantastic version of it, just for you. ​

Ingredients

1/2 lb plus 2 tbsp unsalted butter
2 cups plus 2 tbsp oil
1 3/4  lbs yellow fingerling potatoes
1 tbsp lemon juice
salt and pepper
3 ears of corn shucked
1/3 mushrooms ( I ended up using baby bellas)
1/4 minced shallot (or onion)
1 1/2 tbsp minced garlic
1/4 c white wine
3 cups chicken stock
1 bag of spinach arugula mix
fresh ricotta cheese

1. Heat 1/2 lb. butter (!) and 2 cups oil (!!) until melted. Cut potatoes as needed so they are all similar size. Add to pan and cover. Reduce heat to low and let them bathe in that lusciousness about 25-35 minutes, til tender. 

2. While potatoes are cooking, make lemon vinaigrette: whisk together lemon juice, 2 tbsp olive oil, salt and pepper and set aside

3. Transfer potatoes to plate or shallow serving dish using a slotted spoon.  Sprinkle with a little salt and let them cool. 

4. Cut the kernels from the corn cob by standing the corn on it's narrow end in a bowl and slicing downward. Add kernels to a pot of boiling water and blanch 30-60 minutes. Remove and set aside. 

5. Heat oil in a pan and saute your mushrooms about 5-6 minutes. Add some salt and pep. 

6. Add corn to mushrooms. Pour white wine into the pan then chicken stock. Cook over medium-high heat until reduced, about 10 minutes. Add a little more butter, because why not. 

7. Pour the mixture over the potatoes. Toss spinach and arugula with vinaigrette and mound on top of potatoes. Dot with ricotta.

8. Feel absolutely decadent as you enjoy every delicious, buttery, melty morsel!

If you try it, let me know what you think!




0 Comments

One bourbon, one scotch, and one...American rye whiskey?

10/4/2015

1 Comment

 
Pictureimage courtesy of yelp.com
George Thorogood anyone? 

I take our girls to the local library every week for story time. Sometimes, if I'm lucky, I get to browse and pick something out, too. Sometimes, if I'm really lucky, I actually get to read it before it's due to be returned. 

A few weeks ago I had one of those  lucky days. I didn't even have to go very far. Right there, in front of me, was the Happy Hour section. I know, right?! Who was the brilliant librarian who thought that up? No idea, but I am so glad they did. Among the options of beverages, I saw​ The Book of Bourbon And Other Fine American Whiskeys by Gary Regan and Mardee Haidin Regan. I knew right then my search was done. 

I consider myself a whiskey girl, and being from Wisconsin, I love me a good whiskey old-fashioned sour with mushrooms. Those yummy, pickled mushrooms get me every time. Love them. Whiskey old-fashioneds from Wisconsin are something special. Trust me. I have ordered this drink many a time in many a place and just have not found another as divine. Some bars use sour mix instead of sour soda (blech). Others use a different blend of bitters, or more orange, or less of this and more of that. If you are ever in Wisconsin, do yourself a favor and order one. You can have it sweet or sour, but sour is the way to go. With good ole 50/50 sour soda. You can also order them with brandy, instead of whiskey, but don't bother. 

And when you're done, you can go to church, because where there is a bar in Wisconsin, there is usually a church nearby...though usually there are more bars than churches in a town. And it's only considered a proper town if it's got at least one of each!

I never really thought about what whiskey I was getting when I first starting ordering them, thanks to my dear brother. (He is also a big fan). But slowly as my taste changed and matured, I would order Maker's Mark, Basil Hayden, Woodford Reserve and the like. I never really thought about what made them whiskey or what exactly it was about them that I liked so much. 

Until I read this book. 


Apparently not all whiskeys are even whiskeys.

Some are whiskys, sans the e

Some are bourbons. 

Some are scotch. 

Whiskey's beginnings are traced back to Ireland and Scotland, and each of those countries make their own distinctive versions of the spirit, Irish whiskey and Scotch. American whiskey is this whole other beast, with all it's myriad variations. 
Whiskey is made by fermenting cereal grain, distilling it, and aging it. When it is first distilled, it is clear, like vodka or gin. Only time in wood gives it it's color. And only time in charred wood gives it a crimson hue. All kinds of grains can be used, but in the USA corn and rye are king.  

Made from corn

Bourbon

Picture
image courtesy of returnofkings.com

​According to The Book of Bourbon, every straight bourbon today is made from a sour mash based on corn, in which a portion of the residue from one batch of mash is used to start the next, kinda like a sourdough starter. To qualify as bourbon, a spirit must:
  • be aged at least two years in a charred new oak cask; if aged less than four years it must be stated on the bottle
  • contain more corn than the sum of all other grains, at least 51%
  • distilled at a maximum of 160 proof, bottled at a minimum of 80 proof
  • not contain any coloring or flavoring

Some popular brands that are bourbons include Bookers, Basil Haydens, Jim Beam, Knob Creek, Maker's Mark and Wild Turkey. These are actually Kentucky bourbons, which are generally thought to have originated in Bourbon County, Kentucky. 



Tennessee whiskey
Pictureimage courtesy of dafont.com
This is also made from corn and follows pretty much the same standards listed above. However, what makes it a Tennessee whiskey and not a bourbon is the filtration. Present day Tennessee whiskey are filtered using the Lincoln County Process in which the whiskey is steeped in or filtered through sugar maple charcoal. Enter Jack Daniels, which used to be produced in Lincoln County, TN. Now it is produced in Lynchburg, which is in Moore County. A dry county. What are the odds!

Made from rye
Picture
image courtesy of sazerac.com

​Rye whiskeys are, of course, made from rye. They follow the same aging, flavoring, coloring rules as bourbons, but they must be 
made from a mash containing at least 51% rye. Then it gets interesting.


  • Single-barrel whiskey: is drawn from one barrel that has not been mingled with any other whiskeys
  • Small-batch whiskey: is a product of mingling select barrels of whiskey that have matured into a specific style 
  • Vintage whiskey: is the product of one particular season of distillation that has matured particularly well
  • Single-malt Whisky: is made from a single distillery using a fermented mash of  exclusively malted grain (usually barley)
  • Blended whiskey: is exactly that, a blend of different whiskeys combined to achieve a signature flavor consistent with a brand. They don't, and usually, aren't all whiskeys from the same distillery, and because of that these don't have the name of the distillery, but a brand instead. Popular brands include Canadian Mist, Seagrams Seven and Jameson Irish Whiskey.
  • Scotch or Scotch whisky: must be produced at a distillery in Scotland from water and malted barley (to which only whole grains of other cereals may be added) all of which have been
    •  processed at that distillery into a mash
    • converted at that distillery to a fermentable substrate only by endogenous enzyme systems
    • fermented at that distillery only by adding yeast
    • distilled at an alcoholic strength by volume of less than 94.8% (190 US proof)
    • wholly matured in an excise warehouse in Scotland in oak casks of a capacity not exceeding 700 litres (185 US gal; 154 imp gal) for at least three years 
    • retaining the colour, aroma, and taste of the raw materials used in, and the method of, its production and maturation
    • containing no added substances, other than water and plain (E150A) caramel colouring
    • comprising a minimum alcoholic strength by volume of 40% (80 US proof)​
Picture


​Safe to say the Scots are serious about their whiskey?

And the whiskey versus whisky thing? Apparently, in Ireland and the United States we tend to use whiskey with an e. Most other countries tend to leave off the e. At least we're not the only ones this time!


My hubs and I are embarking a whiskey self-education program. That really means that we are going to be tasting and comparing different whiskeys, bourbons and the like. And we're bringing you and our friends and neighbors along. Because really, what better way to build a community than to invite your new neighbors around for drinks!

So, what's your favorite whiskey or whiskey drink? Leave a comment and let me know!


1 Comment

      Get all the glowing updates right to your inbox!

    Subscribe
    Picture

    Welcome!

    I'm Tonia, a Midwesterner transplanted to Colorado. I'm a mom of two lovely littles,  a yoga instructor, DIY-er, teacher, stay at home mom, and a doTERRA Wellness Advocate.  I blog about a little bit of all of these and everything in between!

    Picture
    Are you looking for natural health options, but don't know where to start? Book a 1-on-1 appointment with me! We'll spend about 30 minutes getting to know your health goals and concerns, learn a bit about doTERRA, and go over the most commonly used oils that meet your needs. You don't have to buy anything, but if you see something you like, of course I can help you!

    Book an appointment with Tonia Nealey using Setmore

    Categories

    All
    Mindset
    Thought Work
    Yoga
    Yoga Off The Mat
    Yoga Philosophy

    Archives

    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    January 2019
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015