Sweet N Salty Gorp

Whoever came up with the title of gorp?  And does anyone ever use it anymore besides hippies and my mother?  It’s been a huge hit with hikers and surfers and some say it is an acronym for “good ol’ raisins n peanuts” others say it’s just a list of ingredients like granola, oats, raisins and peanuts….

However it got it’s name and whatever the official ingredients include we have a new favorite around this house!  It’s a hit and a great afternoon snack because along with a little sweet pick me up it also has some protein to hold the high metabolisms of my kids over until dinner is served.

The mix we usually have contains dried pineapple.  I usually purchase 4 or 5 fresh ones when they are in season and on sale and dry them all and save them through the winter.  We ran out recently and we have all missed them!  I know you can get plain ol dried pineapple at Trader Joes, which is AWESOME!  The ingredient list simply states “dried pineapple”  SO cool!  Nothing added.

I decided to get the kids a little treat last week and we purchased some that the ingredient list stated “dried pineapple and cane sugar”.  I know… we usually swear off sugar, but it was a treat, we had run out and at least it didn’t have corn syrup in it right?  or sulfur dioxide? Did I justify myself????  No.. .probably not… but either way… We used something a bit different this time around, but it’s good with the home dried version as well!

So here is our new fav!

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Sweet N Salty Gorp

Ingredients:
1 cup almonds (raw, soaked and dried)
1 cup cashews (raw, soaked and dried)
1 cup raisins
1 cup dried pineapple cut into chunks
⅓ cup sunflower seeds (raw, soaked and dried)
⅓ cup dried [amazon_link id=”B000FFLHSY” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]goji berries[/amazon_link]
⅔ cups [amazon_link id=”B000HDJZWO” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]chocolate chips[/amazon_link] (we like enjoy life brand – soy, dairy, nut free)

Mix it all together and ration it out.  If you don’t, it will disappear in one afternoon!

Do you have a favorite mix?  Tell me about it!  I’d love to have some additional ideas!

 

Beef Rendang

 

My usual aim is to have simple, quick easy to make meals for dinner.  My goal is to spend 1 hour or less in the kitchen making dinner.  I have a busy family and I want to enjoy them and not spend my whole life cooking or standing in the kitchen. Continue reading “Beef Rendang”

Pumpkin Pancakes

 

Usually we are late to church on Sundays and it drives me crazy.  We seem to get out of the house in a reasonable amount of time any other day of the week, but on Sundays we can’t seem to make it!  Church doesn’t even start until 10am! Continue reading “Pumpkin Pancakes”

Aisling’s Birthday’s

Last week was baby girl Aisling 2nd birthday… it goes SO fast!

As a family we have decided that we will do something special together or with friends and/or extended families for birthdays instead of gifts.  So this year for Aisling we decided to have an open house from 6pm – 9pm on her birthday.  We invited 62 people (JUST close friends and family) and of those 43 showed up (in our 500 sq ft main level)!  Thankfully it was pretty spread out, but it was still quite a crowd and lots of noise and craziness!  At one point there were 10 kids under the age of 5  running around!  But we all had a great time! Continue reading “Aisling’s Birthday’s”

Pupusas

We have definitely let corn sneak back into our diets.  I’m feeling a bit guilty about it, but also  really enjoying it.  However, I’m realizing just how much we are eating (corn chips, corn tortillas, corn bread, etc) and I’m determined to at least cut back.  Corn isn’t on the paleo diet, and I definitely prefer not to eat it.  I say that as I post a recipe for pupusas! Continue reading “Pupusas”

Snow Ice Cream

At the end of last week the DC metro area saw an inch or two of snow!  The most for the year so far!  I LOVE it when it snows and I wish we got more than that around here.  I grew up in this area and remember getting some large (of this area, definitely nothing compared to New England or Michigan!) snows!  We would be outside playing all morning or until we were soaked to the skin and then we only came in long enough to change into dry clothing and go out again! Continue reading “Snow Ice Cream”

Cucumber Salad and Baked Fingerling Potatoes

I’m terrible at making side dishes to go with dinner.  I remember growing up we always had three dishes served with dinner.  Usually it was some sort of meat dish, a veggie and a starch.  It was ingrained in me that you had to have at least three dishes.   Continue reading “Cucumber Salad and Baked Fingerling Potatoes”

Household Cleaners

I try to be a minimalist, although I find myself being a collector. In the back of my mind plays the mantra that my father would always say, “You never know when you might need this!”  True, but do I really need to keep it until I MIGHT actually need it?  I might never need it!   Continue reading “Household Cleaners”

Cabbage and Spam Errr… I mean Ham!

I remember as a kid this was one of my Mom’s favorite meals, and as kids we LOVED eating all the spam out of our dishes, but would have to choke down the cabbage! Continue reading “Cabbage and Spam Errr… I mean Ham!”

Coconut Shrimp Curry

When I first looked at this recipe I didn’t think it was anything too spectacular, but I found some shrimp in the back of my freezer and I wanted to use it!  We had friends move about 6 months ago and they graciously gave us their frozen meat and shrimp since they couldn’t take it with them as they moved across the country.  We don’t often buy shrimp, so it was a treat for us to have it…

But at the same time…

Since we don’t buy it (mainly due to expense) I don’t really know how to cook it!  Thankfully this recipe was simple and easy to do and it tasted great!  All the kids loved it as well and kept picking out the shrimp to eat first!  Don’t get me wrong, I would have done the same!!!

In fact, as we were eating it I realized that my 20 month old Aisling had never had shrimp or shellfish before and since she has so many other food allergies I was slightly worried she may have a reaction.  She didn’t and it’s a good thing with the amount that she ate!  She would even try and sneak it off her brothers plates!

Also, in looking at this recipe I didn’t think the sweet potato with shrimp in a curry would be all that great.  I wasn’t sure how the flavors would blend.  It really was fantastic though. I knew my doubts were valid though when Brian said, “This isn’t real Asian curry if it has sweet potato in it…”

As I said previously it wasn’t just the shrimp that was a hit, but the whole dish.  All of us cleaned our plates and there wasn’t much left for Brian’s lunch the next day!  Instead of serving this over rice I served it over spaghetti squash.  This was really good and hubby enjoyed it even if it wasn’t 100% Asian!

Coconut Shrimp Curry
original recipe from Family Circle Magazine – but this recipe posted as been minimally altered from the original

Ingredients

  • 2 TBSP coconut oil
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 2-inch piece ginger, peeled and grated
  • 1 TBSP [amazon_link id=”B005MH0P5Q” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]red curry paste[/amazon_link]
  • 1 can full fat [amazon_link id=”B0036QLLL2″ target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]coconut milk[/amazon_link]
  • 1/2 cup chicken stock
  • 1 large sweet potato (about 3/4 pound), peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes
  • 2 cups cauliflower florets
  • 1 medium onion, diced
  • 1 pound raw shrimp, peeled and deveined
  • 1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped
  • Juice of 1 lime
  • 1/2 tsp celtic sea salt

Instructions:
Heat oil in a wok over medium heat.
Add garlic and ginger – cook 1 minute.
Add curry paste – cook 30 seconds.
Whisk in coconut milk and chicken broth; bring to a boil.
Mix in sweet potato and reduce heat to a simmer – cover and cook 5 minutes.
Add cauliflower and onion -cover and simmer 10 minutes or until tender.
Stir in shrimp, basil, lime juice and salt – cook uncovered for 3 minutes.
Serve over spaghetti squash (see below)

Spaghetti Squash
Super simple and easy to cook.
Cut in half lengthwise and scoop out the seeds.  (I usually clean and keep the seeds to dry and replant if it’s and organic squash. Or I clean, dry, soak and roast them with some salt and coconut oil for a snack for the kids. They are super popular!)
But both halves of the squash in the oven on a cookie sheet with the rind down.
Bake at 350 for about 30-45 minutes until all parts of the squash are tender.
Remove from the oven.
Use a fork and scrape the squash out of the rind and it will resemble spaghetti!
Add some butter or coconut oil and top with any food that you would typically serve over rice, pasta or quinoa.

Give it a try and let me know what you think!