Okay, ya'll start doing that "outside the box" homestead creating now. I am building a new addition to the homepage for "single homesteaders quick cooking recipes". The rules for them are: small portions, easy to fix, healthy and nutritious, not more than two cooking containers and must be able to be prepared in under 30 minutes (prep and cook time combined). Microwave, stovetop or oven is acceptable

We can post our recipes here on the forum so we can all try them and compare results. We will post one or two each week and make sure the old ones are catagorized here.

I am finishing up my testing of microwave poached eggs, hash browns,bacon and toast in 6 minutes with a latte cup and saucer.

Look forward to what you come up with.

-- Jay Blair in N. AL (jayblair678@yahoo.com), April 24, 2002

Answers

Dang - that 30 minutes lets out the crock pot. What about a pressure cooker?

-- Polly (tigger@moultrie.com), April 24, 2002.

Polly,

Crockpot recipes could apply since cooking in one is all prep.

-- Jay Blair in N. AL (jayblair678@yahoo.com), April 24, 2002.

Ohhhh Jay, Just bought a tripod and a cast iron dutch oven. Gonna break it in soon over the fire outside. I have already "seasoned" it. Hate to heat up the house when I can cook outside in the summer. Let's see, water, tomatoes, more tomatoes, lots of onions, ground beef, canned red beans, chili powder. Throw it all in and stir it up with a wooded spoon. I'll hang it over the fire/coals while I work on the land/house. When I'm ready, it will be ready. Make too much? Well, just keep that cast iron cover on and set it in the spring. Bet it keeps nice and cool and safe till the next day.

-- Susan in Michigan (cobwoman@yahoo.com), April 25, 2002.

Hey Jay not all of us who are single need small amounts of food to prepare. Some of us still have families we need to cook for. Being single doesn't mean your alone either. Me thinks thou hast let thouest single status go to thine head.

Do a link to the cooking and craft forum.

-- Susan in MN (nanaboo@paulbunyan.net), April 25, 2002.

Susan,

Then we can make a "single moms " page also. I was approached by one of our participants to come up with topics of interest and use to draw "non committed, non attached" singles and that was the best I could come up with as the majority here prefer not to construct a "meat market page" :>) A non committed single generally uses time shaving on maintenance requirements as a means of self indulgence moreso thanpeople with commitments.

What kind of parameters can you think of for the single parents section? Keep in mind how it feels to be dead on your feet and want nothing but a Calgon bar the size of a surfboard, but still providing the needs of the family, while achieving your own self indulgence.

This can turn into a fun project if we approach it right.

-- Jay Blair in N. AL (jayblair678@yahoo.com), April 26, 2002.

Self indulgence? What's that? Oh yea, that has something to do with doing something for yourself, right? I think I gave that up for lent the year my second child was born and it became even more of an obscurity when I got my divorce. I guess moving north to the country was the most self indulgent thing I have ever done, or at least done in the last 10 years.

It is pretty hard to be self indulgent when you are a single parent and have two teenagers.

Now what was your question again?

"What kind of parameters can you think of for the single parents section? Keep in mind how it feels to be dead on your feet and want nothing but a Calgon bar the size of a surfboard, but still providing the needs of the family, while achieving your own self indulgence."

A good nights sleep?

-- Susan in MN (nanaboo@paulbunyan.net), April 26, 2002.

heh heh, Susan, I can soooo relate! Hmmm, self indulgence, what a concept!!

And Jay, are bacon, eggs and hashbrowns really "healthy and nutritious?" I'm sorry...just teasing, couldn't resist! ;^)

-- Patty (SycamoreHollow1@aol.com), April 26, 2002.

Susan,

No we are not making a "families for sale or trade" page :>)

How about a herbal bath oil recipe for display ? That could help for a good nights sleep. BTW I added your cooking link.

-- Jay Blair in N. AL (jayblair678@yahoo.com), April 26, 2002.

Patty,

Sometimes you gotta have something just cause you like it. Anyway , the eggs are poached, so that makes up for the bacon and hash browns :>)

-- Jay Blair in N. AL (jayblair678@yahoo.com), April 26, 2002.

Patty, I think this is the same recipe Jay posted in one of the very first posts of this forum. You can find it in the archives I am sure. Made my insides go all giggly thinking of the rubbery bacon with nuked eggs and grits. Ewwwwwwwish! Sorry Jay but limp bacon is not my idea of something to enjoy.

A recipe for herbal bath salts? Sure Jay go ahead and give us one! I don't have time to invent such things. My favorite is Kiss My Face Peaceful Patchouli bubble bath. I think about the time I the house clean and all the chores done and finally have time so I can sit and spin, then I may be able to come up with such things and herbal bath salts. I figure that would be in about 3 years at least, when the oldest child is finished with high school.

I do however have several web sites with such recipes. I could go and fine one or two that looked fairly easy and point you in the direction. I'm glad you put a link to the Cooking & Craft Forum.

-- Susan in MN (nanaboo@paulbunyan.net), April 26, 2002.

No Susan, that offering was the first generation prototype, what I am working on now is more like 5th generation beta release :>)

-- Jay Blair in N. AL (jayblair678@yahoo.com), April 27, 2002.

BTW that original "limp bacon" breakfast was better cooking than my ex's pan cooking :>)

-- Jay Blair in N. AL (jayblair678@yahoo.com), April 27, 2002.

How SAD !!

-- Jill (lance1_86404@yahoo.com), April 27, 2002.

"Sometimes you gotta have something just cause you like it."

I couldn't agree more! But my weaknesses run more along dairy product excess...mmmm fresh butter...and cheesey sauces....yum.

I have a good and quick recipe, fail safe. Sorta like Cordon Bleu', but different.

Saute' an onion in olive oil(just a dribble, not alot) till transluscent(10-15 mins at most)...

While onion sautes', nuke a few spears of fresh asparagus in a touch of water, just till VERY al dente'.(a couple minutes)

And smash a chicken breast. Put one slice proscuetto ham and a slice baby swiss, (or turkey or canadian bacon..or edam, or provalone..whatever)and a couple spears asparagus. Sorta roll it up inside, the asparagus will stick out, of course. Pop in oven for a couple minutes.(till juice runs clear) While in the oven add some chicken broth to the onions and some corn starch to thinken...wisking constantly for a minute. Top chicken with onion sauce.

Darn..I used 3 containers...hmmmmm, ok throw the asparagus in with the onions for a sec.

Too much? It's really easy..and fancy shmancy to boot! ;^)

-- Patty (SycamoreHollow1@aol.com), April 27, 2002.

Oh, I meant to put what it's called, excuse spelling.....I'll just put it phonetically. Sorry!

Chicken Saltin Bocca

-- Patty (SycamoreHollow1@aol.com), April 27, 2002.