Star Bread from TurkuazKitchenDaily on Instagram

1 tbsp yeast (11g)

1/4 cup warm water

3 tbsp granulated sugar

1 cup milk

2 eggs

1 tbsp Vanilla

4 cups flour 

Pinch of salt

Half cup butter

For egg wash

1 egg

1 tbsp milk

1/2 tsp oil

For filling!

Hazelnut chocolate cream or you can

use any type of jam or cinnamon sugar

In a bowl, whisk together the warm

water, yeast, and a pinch of sugar and

let it rest until fluffy for 5-7 min.

In a large bowl (preferably of a stand

mixer), put flour, milk, remaining sugar,

salt, eggs, vanilla, and yeast.

Mix them until combined for about 3-4

minutes. Then, cover it with a cloth or

plastic wrap and let it rest at room

temperature for 10-12 minutes.

After that, knead the dough by stand

mixer or hand. Add room temperature

butter to the dough and continue to

knead for 12-15 minutes.

Cover it with a plastic wrap and keep it

for around 1-2 hour until doubled in

size.

Punch down the ready dough and

place the dough on a floured counter.

Divide the dough eight equal pieces

and roll each piece into a ball.Cover

the ball with plactic wrap and let rest

10-15 min. Roll each ball out into a thin

10 circle and place the circle of

parchment paper. Top with chocolate

cream then layer the other three

circles and filling on top. (leaving the

top circle bare.)

Put a 2 or 3 inch bowl in the center

and Using a pizza cutter or knife, cut

the circle 16 equal strips. (just like reel

video)

Using two hands pick up two strips

and twist them from each other two or

three times then press the two end

together filmly. Repeat that you end up

with eight of strips.

Transfer the star bread to a baking tray

and cover with plastic wrap and let it

rest 30 min.

Preheat the oven 380 F.

Brush the star bread with beaten egg

and pour a little bit granuleted sugar

on top.

Bake for about 15-30 min until golden

brown.

Remove from the oven and cool for

about 10 min.

Dust with confectioners sugar on top

and serve warm.

Roasted Garlic

 

1. 400 degrees F. Trim about 1/4 inch off the top of the garlic, 
2. Place garlic on a piece of parchment paper and or foil paper. 
3. Drizzle olive oil [salt] on the top of the garlic.
4. Cover garlic and bake for 
5. 40-50 minutes or until garlic is soft and golden brown.
6. Remove garlic from oven and allow to cool. Sprinkle a little salt over roasted garlic then simply squeeze the base of the garlic to remove the soft flesh.
7. Store garlic by placing it in a jar, cover with olive oil and refrigerate for no more than one week.

Thai Curry Chicken with Coconut-Peanut Sauce

 Adapted from  Grilled Thai Curry Chicken Skewers with Coconut-Peanut Sauce - Once Upon a Chef

From food writer Alice Currah, these grilled Thai curry chicken skewers are a crowd pleaser for all ages.

Servings: 5

Total Time: 40 Minutes

INGREDIENTS

FOR THE CHICKEN

• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 3 tablespoons dark brown sugar, packed
• Zest of one lime
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 3 garlic cloves, minced

• 1 tablespoon curry powder
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2-1/2 - 3 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts

FOR THE COCONUT-PEANUT SAUCE

• 1 (13-oz) can coconut milk (do not use low fat)
• 1/4 cup peanut butter
• 1/3 cup dark brown sugar, packed [or honey]

• 1-1/2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon red curry paste [[or garlic,onion,curry, fish sauce, and other c. paste ingredients, bc the store bought can be too spicy/high sodium and/or poor ingredients]
• 3 tablespoons fresh lime juice, from 2 limes 

FOR SERVING

• 1 lime, cut into wedges (optional)

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Make the marinade by combining the nine first ingredients, and Add the chicken  Cover and marinate in the refrigerator at least 4 hours or overnight.
2.  sauce ingredients: Simmer in a medium pot, stirring occasionally, for about 3 minutes, at end add the fresh lime juice. Set aside.

Whole Wheat Biscuits

 I adapted this recipe, like substituting butter for shortening. On second try, I will see if I can substitute a half cup of flour with a GF replacement, more for variety than to be GF.

Whole Wheat Biscuits Recipe: How to Make It (tasteofhome.com)

YIELD: about 1 dozen

Ingredients

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup whole wheat flour
• 4 tablespoons sugar
• 2 tablespoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon cream of tartar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup shortening
• 2 egg
• 1 cup milk
• 2 tablespoon butter, melted

Directions

• 1.  Beat milk, GF flour, egg;  Separately, combine other flours, sugar, baking powder, cream of tartar and salt. Cut in shortening until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. stir into dry ingredients until a ball forms.
• 2. drop Biscuits, about 1/2 in thick and 2 in . wide. *  Place on an ungreased baking sheet. Bake at 450° for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown (check the bottoms, esp if skipped butter brushing).
  
  *OR Turn onto a floured surface, knead 5-6 times. Roll to 1/2-in. thickness; brush with butter. Cut with a 2-in. biscuit cutter.

Peanut Butter Honey Popcorn

 Primary tag: No refined sugar. 

Could not find my old Sue Gregg recipe, so here is my version.

 Mix in sauce pan:

1/4 cup SALTED butter

1/2CUP sALTED PEANUT BUTTEr

1/4 CUP HONEY more salt ?

for

16 CUPS (OR JUST A BIG BOWL FULL!) pop corn

Gets soggy after a half hour. Can bake it for longer crispness.

Maybe a good add:

1 TEASPOON CINNAMON

1 TEASPOON VANILLA

Childbirth

 I'd recommend a good exposure of these two sources to even the youngest little person who wants to participate in this wonderful part of life. A subject worth teaching is worth teaching at any level, for the new, young, and older and educated. 

Ina May Gaskin 

Read her "A Woman's Guide to Childbirth" at the end of my third pregnancy. Even knowing of her and having perused some of her writing when I was around fifteen, this book was a gift. 

The other source I give to my sisters in childbearing:

Labor Induction: The Low Down on Natural Approaches from a Midwife-MD - Aviva Romm MD

Crown and Covenant Publications

Sauerkraut Brine Water

For when the liquid is not covering the mixture.

Noting this, because I forget and sometimes can't easily find the ratio: 

1/2 tablespoon unrefined sea salt with 1 cup

GAPS Stuffed Cabbage Soup

While my recipe book is packed, this will guide me:

4 onions
2 lbs beef
salt, thyme, pepper and lots of paprika
2 sm/med Heads of cabbage, shredded in food processor
broth/water

Hospital Duties

Fold away all your bright-tinted dresses,
 Turn the key on your jewels today,
And the wealth of your tendril-like tresses
 Braid back in a serious way;
No more delicate gloves, no more laces,
 No more trifling in boudoir or bower,
But come with your souls in your faces
 To meet the stern wants of the hour.

Look around! By the torchlight unsteady
 The dead and the dying seem one —
What! Trembling and paling already,
 Before your dear mission's begun?
These wounds are more precious than ghastly —
 Time presses her lips to each scar,
While she chants of that glory which vastly
 Transcends all the horrors of war.

Pause here by this bedside. How mellow
 The light showers down on that brow!
Such a brave, brawny visgage, poor fellow!
 Some homestead is missing him now!
Some wife shades her eyes in the clearing,
 Some mother sits moaning distressed,
While the loved one lies faint but unfearing,
 With the enemy's ball in his breast.

Here's another — a lad — a mere stripling,
 Picked up in the field almost dead,
With the blood through his sunny hair rippling
 From the horrible gash in his head.
They say he was first in the action;
 Gay-hearted, quick-headed, and witty:
He fought till he dropped with exhaustion
 At the gates of our fair Southern city.

Fought and fell 'neath the guns of that city,
 With a spirit transcending his years —
Lift him up in your large-hearted pity,
 And wet his pale lips with your tears.
Touch him gently; most sacred the duty
 Of dressing that poor shattered hand!
God spare him to rise in his beauty
 And battle once more for his land!

Pass on! it is useless to linger
 While others are calling your care;
There is need for your delicate finger,
 For your womanly sympathy there.
There are sick ones athirst for caressing,
 There are dying ones raving at home,
There are wounds to be bound with a blessing,
 And shrouds to make ready for some.

They have gathered about you the harvest
 Of death in its ghastliest view;
The nearest as well as the furthest
 Is there with the traitor and true.
And crowned with your beautiful patience,
 Made sunny with love at the heart,
You must balsam the wounds of the nations,
 Nor falter nor shrink from your part.

And the lips of the mother will bless you,
 And angels, sweet-visaged and pale,
And the little ones run to caress you,
 And the wives and the sisters cry hail!
But e'en if you drop down unheeded,
 What matter? God's ways are the best;
You have poured out your life where 'twas needed,
 And He will take care of the rest.

Anon.
allpoetry.com