Friday, May 30, 2014

GAPS Gravy

We top everything with our special gravy. The kids want it on everything and I do not mind because it has lots of good stuff in it. I have made it a ton of different ways it is always good.



Gravy
2 qts or so broth, or water and fat from cooking meat
1 head cauliflower or 2 cups summer squash or other non strong tasting veggie
1-2 onions
Fat, skin, marrow, or small meat left overs
Up to 2 tbs gelatin
1-2 tbs salt
Pepper, garlic, or other spices to taste

Bring everything to a boil and simmer for 10-20 min. Blend with immersion blender and reduce until desired consistency. It will thicken as it cools but when you warm it it will become liquid again. 

I use a lot of our left overs for this. If I boil some meatballs I will make gravy from that water. If I have left over fat from cooking I will throw it in the gravy. The possibilities are endless.

Friday, May 23, 2014

Meringues

I always have these in the pantry! They are super easy and the flavor combinations are endless. When we use egg yolks we freeze our whites in sets of 6 in small containers. When we want to make meringues we take out a container of yolks, they defrost on the counter in about an hour.



Meringues
6 Egg whites
Pinch of  salt
1 tbs - 1/4 Cup honey or maple syrup
1 Tbsp Vanilla


Beat the egg whites and salt with the whisk attachment on a stand mixer, until they form stiff peaks.  Add the honey and vanilla and beat until well mixed.

Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Use a spoon or pastry bag to put mounds of meringue on the baking sheets. Put both sheets in the oven. Bake in preheated oven at 170º-200ºF for 2 hours*. Rotate the baking sheets after 1 hour. 

*Use the lowest temperature setting your oven will do. The higher the temp the quicker they will cook or burn. Check on the meringues after 1 ½ hrs. They should be crispy and slightly browned. Very large meringues may take 3-4 hours or more.




Options
-¾ tsp cream of tarter
-3 Tbsp arrowroot powder
-Replace part or all of the vanilla with almond, peppermint or other extract
-Sprinkle with crushed chocolate, peppermint, or toffee before baking
-1-2 tsp pumpkin pie, apple pie, or gingerbread spice
- 3-4 tbs of lemon and 2 tbs poppy seeds
- 3-4 tbs of lime juice and 1 cup finely shredded coconut
- 2 tbs cocoa powder
- 3-4 tbs orange juice and the seeds from 1 vanilla bean