Pan Sauces 101/Cast Iron Care

So, you just bought a cast iron skillet. Now what?
Peel off the sticker and wash the skillet in hot soapy water. What! I thought you weren't supposed to use soap on cast iron! Well, you're only going to do this one time to remove residue from the factory. Dry it with a paper towel thoroughly and then you are ready to go.
Today we are going to cook some pork chops in several skillets and learn how to make a pan sauce.
Here's how to do that.....
Season the pork chops with salt and pepper.
Put the skillet on the stove and turn the heat to high. Add a tiny bit of olive oil or ghee. When the oil or ghee is hot, add the pork chops making sure not to splatter oil on yourself. Now.....leave them alone for about 3 minutes and then check for browning. Do not disturb them more than you have to in order to check for browning. When they are really brown on one side, turn them over and allow the second side to brown.
When both sides are brown, remove the chops to ...

DIY Miracle Salve

From Primally Inspired
Makes 4 ounces

1 1/2 tablespoons beeswax pellets
16 grams coconut oil
32 grams avocado oil or other oil of choice (almond, olive)
1 tablespoon shea butter
optional: 10 drops essential oil of choice

Add a few inches of water to a skillet and place on your stove at medium low heat.
Place a glass jar in the water and add your beeswax to the jar. Allow the beeswax to melt - this takes 15 or more minutes.
Once the beeswax has melted, add the remaining oils (except essential oil) and cocoa butter or shea butter and let melt - this takes an additional 15 or more minutes. You don't have to stir - the oils will naturally blend together.
Once everything is melted and liquid, remove the jar from heat and add in your essential oil, if using.
Pour liquid into jars of choice and place on the counter for a few hours to harden.
It will take a ton of willpower to not crank up the he...

Sweeteners 101

Everyone knows that sugar is not good for our bodies. But we have a sweet taste that must be satisfied so what can we use instead?
Here are some natural sweeteners that God provided for us that can be used in sweet recipes....

SUCANAT - Sucanat is a natural cane sugar that is made by extracting the juice from sugar cane and then beating it with paddles to form granules. Sucanat is far more flavorful than regular white sugar, which means that a small amount goes a long way in providing sweetness and flavor to a wide variety of recipes. And since they retain much of their natural molasses, Sucanat granules are a tan-brown color, with a deep, molasses-y flavor. (When heated, it turns caramel-like between 250 and 270 degrees.)

HONEY – Honey is sweeter than sugar. Depending on the plant source, honey can have a range of flavors, from dark and strongly flavored, to light and mildly flavored. Raw honey contains amoun...

Nap-Time Meals

Anyone who has every had a baby knows that 5:00 p.m. is “the witching hour.” Kids start getting hangry, get clingy, start crying, start fighting with their siblings. I used to cook dinner with one cranky and the other on my hip.

There are recipes that you can make earlier in the day – at nap-time or even earlier – and have them ready when your family is hungry at 6:00.

Here are some recipes that work like that......they are all recipes I have used over and over and are fabulous!

BEEF STEW
from Joy of Cooking
serves 6-8

Pat dry:
2 pounds boneless stew meat, cut into 2-inch cubes
Season the meat with:
½ to 1 teaspoon total dried herbs (thyme, marjoram, oregano, and/or basil)
½ teaspoon sea salt
½ teaspoon black pepper
Dredge the meat with:
½ cup all-purpose flour
Shake off any excess flour.
Heat in a Dutch oven over medium-h...