Granny's Ice Box Cookies

This was one of my favorites for childhood.  My grandmother was always making these on our summer visits.  When she passed a couple of years ago, my mom saved her original, handwritten recipe card for me. Such a treasure to be able to share this recipe with my kids and someday grandkids :)))

Ingredients:

1/2 Cup of Brown Sugar
1/2 Cup of White Sugar
1/2 Cup of Pecans
1/2 Cup of Butter
1 1/2 Cups of Flour
1 Egg
1/4 tsp Baking Soda
1/4 tsp of Baking Powder
1/4 tsp Cinnamon
1/2 tsp Vanilla

Instructions:

 * Cream sugars and butter
 * Add well beaten egg
 * Add all dry ingredients
 * Mix well and make into rolls and chill in ice box before cooking ( wrap in cellophane)
 * Make sure you take out before too brown ( My Granny added that note ;)

So Yumma~ I have not tried this recipe with whole food ingredients yet.  It's so good and brings back so many good memories, I haven't dared !!  Maybe someday....

No Bake Almond Butter Bites

My kids love these for an afternoon snack or after dinner dessert!! I have changed it from its original recipe from Pinterest to accomodate our organic, whole food diet.

 Ingredients: 1 Cup of Bob's Red Mill Old Fashioned Oats 2/3 Cups Cranberries 1/2 Cup Raw, Organic Almond Butter 1/2 Cup Ground Flax Seed ( I sometimes don't grind them and my kids still love this) 1/4 Cup Carob Chips 1/3 Cup Raw Local Honey 1 tsp. Vanilla

 Instructions: Stir all ingredients together in a medium bowl until mixed. Let chill in the fridge for half an hour. Once chilled, roll into balls of whatever size you would like. Store in air tight container for up to 10 days. For a seasonal twist, you could add toasted pumpkin seeds :) Yumma!!

Slow Cooker Jambalaya

Slow Cooker Jambalaya

1 pound skinless, boneless chicken breast halves - cut into 1 inch cubes
1 pound andouille sausage, sliced
1 (28 ounce) can diced tomatoes with juice
1 large onion, chopped
1 large green bell pepper, chopped
1 cup chopped celery
1 cup chicken broth
2 teaspoons dried oregano
2 teaspoons dried parsley
2 teaspoons Cajun seasoning
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1 pound frozen cooked shrimp without tails

Directions:
In a slow cooker, mix the chicken, sausage, tomatoes with juice, onion, green bell pepper, celery, and broth. Season with oregano, parsley, Cajun seasoning, cayenne pepper, and thyme.
Cover, and cook 7 to 8 hours on Low, or 3 to 4 hours on High. Stir in the shrimp during the last 30 minutes of cook time.

Ultimate Homemade Granola

This is a mixture of several granola recipes that I have combined to make the Ultimate Granola recipe.  This is so good that I can't stop eating it when it's sitting on my counter!  The little boys like it too but not so much my bigs :)

Ingredients:

1 C. Rolled Oats
1 C. Slivered Almonds ( or nuts of your choice; these are my favorites)
1 C. Cashews
1/4 C. + 2 Tbl Dark Brown Sugar
1/4 C. + 2 Tbl Maple Sugar
1/4 C. Coconut Oil
3/4 tsp. Salt
1 C. Cranberries

- Preheat Oven to 250
- In a large bowl, combine oats, nuts and sugar

- In a seperate bowl, combine syrup, oil and salt.  Combine both mixtures and pour into 2 sheet pans.

 - Cook for 1 hour and 15 minutes, stirring mixture every 15 minutes to acquire an even color.

- Remove from oven and transfer to a large bowl.  Add cranberries and mix.

Simple and Delicious :)

Slow Cooker Lemon Garlic Chicken

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• This is a great one to cook on a day when there is no time and its hot outside.  Little prep, no oven and very light on a summer evening.
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• 1 tsp Oregano
• 1/2 tsp Salt
• 1/2 tsp Black Pepper
• 2lbs Chicken Tenderloins
• 3 Tbl  Olive Oil
• 1/4 Cup Chicken Broth
• Juice from one freshly squeezed lemon
• 1Tbl minced garlic or 2 cloves, minced
• Fresh Oregano and Parsley for garnish

In a shallow bowl, mix oregano, salt and pepper.  Rub mixture into chicken.  Heat oil in a skillet over high heat.  Brown chicken in skillet for about 4-5 minutes.  Place chicken and juices in slow cooker.  In the skillet, sautee garlic slowly adding broth and juice.  Bring to boil.   Pour over chicken in slow cooker.  Cook on high for 4 hours or low for 6 hours.   Serve over rice and add fresh oregano and parsley. 

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Anna's Chicken Tortilla Soup

I don't know what I would do if it were not for my crockpot.  Life is so much easier with it.  We spent the whole day in another city for doctor's appointments.  I drug my tired body in the house only to smell the most delicious aroma wafting through my home.

My SIL gave me this healthy soup recipe and it has definitely become a family favorite...

1 can of diced tomatoes
1 can of green chili sauce
1 4oz can of green chilis
1 can of corn (drained and rinsed)
1 can of black beans (drained and rinsed)
1 can of chicken broth
3 boneless/skinless chicken breasts ( I use the frozen kind from Sam's)
1/2 cup chopped onion
3 cups water
1 Tbl cumin
1 Tbl Red Chili Powder ( at another tsp if you like spicy)
1 Tbl Garlic Salt

Place all of the ingredients in the crockpot.  You can cook it on high or low for 5-10 hours.  Take the chicken out right before serving and shred.  You CAN NOT mess up this recipe.  It is so easy!!

I like to add fresh cilantro, cheese and sour cream to the top.  I also add fresh tortilla strips to the top.
I like to make my at home.  Also very easy.

3-5 Whole Wheat Tortillas
Olive Oil
Salt (to taste)
Chili Powder (to taste)

Slice tortillas into 1/4" strips.  Drizzle oil oil in the top.  Sprinkle on the salt and chili powder to taste.  Bake in the oven at 450 for about 10 minutes.  Crispy goodness!!

Healthy Lemonade

Recipe by Vintage Remedies

Many store bought lemonades contain artificial or highly processed sugars and other
ingredients - even artificial colors. This option is great for little ones but uses organic
sugar and real lemons. For younger ones, try watering it down or reducing the simple
syrup to 1/2 or 2/3 of a cup

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1 cup simple syrup (equal parts water and sugar)
1 cup fresh lemon juice - about 8-10 large lemons

To make the simple syrup for this recipe, combine 2 cups water and sugar in a
saucepan. Bring to a boil and continue boiling until the sugar is dissolved (3-5 minutes).
This will need to cool for a while, but makes enough for 2 batches of lemonade, so you
will be all set next time. Store it in the fridge for 6-8 weeks.

To make the lemonade, stir all of the ingredients together with 3-5 cups of water (varies
depending on your personal preference) Serve chilled.

If you are trying to cut out soda in your life, I substitute sparkling water for the regular.

Again, if you are interested in trying the 8 week challenge to real foods, click here for this recipe and many other great soda substitutes.