Topic: Baby steps to better foods #2

[Tina]

Yes, I haven't really checked the prices but they have fully cooked brand name sausage patties and links frozen too. Well even my Walmart has sausage patties fully cooked, Jimmy Dean, I think. I like the frozen Jimmy Dean biscuit, egg, sausage and cheese sandwiches, except I really dislike their cheese. I take it off and replace it with something else. But I have found it is just cheaper to put my own together.

[Bonnie]

I was reading about how to make your own virgin coconut oil. Do any of you make yours?

[bayou girl]

That is a great idea.  I never thought about cooking sausages in the slow cooker.  You are so smart, Tina!   Thanks for all the great ideas!

  i would like to know how it goes on the sausage jess.  and the eggs in the muffin tins too.  breakfast is my most critical meal because of meds.

[Tina]

I was reading about how to make your own virgin coconut oil. Do any of you make yours?

If it means cracking open coconuts, I pass. Those suckers are tough. Every year Jonni wants one so we do it. She drinks the liquid and then eats a little fresh meat and my worm farm ends up with the rest.

[bestofour]

I like fresh coconut too.  I don't like it shredded though.

[Penny]

I love coconut!!

[barleychown]

I like coconut in all forms.  I very rarely buy them whole though, they are a real pain to deal with.


How is everyone doing on breakfasts?

[Jessica]

I'm not, Sarah.   I need to grocery shop and plan things out over the weekend.

[barleychown]

That's understandable...it took me MONTHS to make breakfast a regular thing.

Mike and I sat Marissa down and had a chat about her eating patterns. In short, they suck. She agreed, and said she is willing to attempt change, so long as she doesn't have to eat anything "weird". Now, weird in her book encompasses a LOT of ground. 

[Jessica]

I can about imagine.

[barleychown]

She's decided oatmeal is okay, and yogurt with granola. She refused the banana, apple and toast. I'm going to have to really think to find things that will work...

[Jessica]

How old is she, Sarah?  James' daughter is 17 and she is very picky!!  I struggle with finding things to feed her when she is at our house.  She would rather eat junk all day.

[bestofour]

I've been doing good at breakfast or should I say better.  I've been eating the yogurt with fresh blackberries, blueberries and granola.  Today though I had 2 Oreos for breakfast and the yogurt for lunch just now.  If I can get off the Pepsi I'll be doing great.

PS  I've been having a fruit snack each day too.  Apple, organge or grapefruit.

[Tina]

Today is the first day in a long time I didn't have oatmeal. I did have a sausage and egg biscuit.
Teens and eating, it does come. All of the stuff that was weird a while ago will become most wanted as the taste buds mature or something. Jonni was horrid. Now she eats things she would barely taste before. A lot of vegetables make it into her these days. Lots of salads and things like brussels sprouts.

[barleychown]

Marissa is 16, and has eaten horribly her whole life. Mom's idea of feeding the girls was the drive-thru...every day. Both girls had a serious culture shock moving here, and both made great strides in changing their eating habits. However, as soon as they had wheels of their own, they reverted back to eating fast food.

I'm just hoping the time they spent eating good food will help them in later life.

[Tina]

Yes my oldest has issues. I fed her pretty decently as well as my finances would go. She spent many weekends with her grandmother and dad eating differently than she would have at home. We weighed the same when she was in high school. Wheels made a huge difference in her weight and health. She plumped up on fast food to over 300 pounds, had high blood pressure meds in her 20's and serious motion and auto immune problems in her 30's.
This morning I had some bacon and have oatmeal cooking now. I am adding blueberries to that.

[bestofour]

Do I have to soak these steel ground oats?  I don't have any buttermilk and want oatmeal for breakfast.

[barleychown]

You don't have to, but it increases the nutrient availability if you do. Soaking is more important with wheat.

[landofoz]

I must have missed it - but why is eating breakfast so important?  I can't eat breakfast, it really messes up my stomach.  I can't even drink anything until after 10:30-ish. 

I found a small tub of coconut oil at the store and brought that baby home.  I hope it doesn't have the aftertaste that Canola does.

[bayou girl]

sheri, you can soak them in regular milk with a table spoon of lemon or vinegar added.  that's what i did.   they tasted pretty good.

[Tina]

Sarah, i didn't find an aftertaste in the coconut oil. Nor did it have a taste when it was used. I could 'feel' a difference though but not an unpleasant one.

[bestofour]

How do I cook the oatmeal after it's soaked since it's supposed to be boiled in water for 5 minutes.

[bayou girl]

i rinsed mine (i know, shouldn't have, maybe) then i cooked it according to the directions.  which, i might have to make me some for supper now that you mention it.  i don't always soak it though.  just depends on my mood.

[bestofour]

thanks.  I'll give it a try in the morning.

[Tina]

I have only soaked for baking things so didn't have an answer for you. But I don't think I would waste the milk if there is any unabsorbed. I think I would boil water, about half what is called for in the recipe and then add the whole thing and bring it to a simmer. Soaked oats should cook a little faster, I should think. Add a little more water or milk if needed during cooking. I would do this by 'feel' more than anything.