Homemade Electrolyte Sports Drink Mix

 

Sports drinks and electrolyte drink mixes are really expensive and full of unnecessary ingredients, so I decided to make my own electrolyte drink mix to have on hand. It is really important to stay hydrated. It is very easy to become dehydrated at this altitude and in this climate.  

This recipe is very basic. Additions like fresh fruit, fruit juices and fruit powders can be added for a more pleasing flavor, but plain works just fine for me. This recipe makes 48 servings and costs just pennies per batch. 

When choosing the ingredients, make sure that there are no additional ingredients like anti-caking agents. 

• 1/2 cup Pure Sea Salt - Watch out for added ingredients!
• 1 3/4 tsp Potassium Chloride Powder - This can be purchased under the brand name Nu-Salt. This brand is not available in my area and other brands had added ingredients like Oil (Why?) and anti-caking agents, so I purchased this online. 
• 1/2 tsp Magnesium Glycinate Powder - This can be purchased in a capsule form from most stores in the vitamin isle. Just break open the capsules and measure out the amount needed. I found that this is a less expensive way to buy it unless you are making drinks for a soccer team.

Directions:

Place all ingredients together in a pint-sized jar with a lid. Shake well. 

To Make:  Shake electrolyte powder before every use. 

Add 1/2 Tsp electrolyte powder to 32 ounces (4 cups) of cold water. Stir until fully dissolved. Add fresh sliced fruit like oranges, kiwi or lemons, fruit juice or fruit powder such as cranberry powder or Tang for added flavor if desired. 

This is such a simple recipe, and with just a small amount of effort, hundreds of dollars can be saved every year, maybe even more depending on the size of your family. I have tried different combinations of flavors, and the addition of sliced fruit makes this a wonderful refreshing drink. I do not care for ice at all, but I'm sure it too would be a lovely addition especially on hot summer days. Use frozen fruit for ice cubes for a fun twist. Sip on it all day and stay hydrated at the same time. 

Enjoy!

Mrs. Smith

No-Bake Oatmeal Peanut Butter Cups

 

Just seven simple ingredients!

Mix all the ingredients together. (except for the chocolate topping)

Equally divide mixture into 10 lined baking cups.

Heat chocolate chips and peanut butter while mixing over low heat until melted.

It takes just a few dishes. I wash them as I go.

Place one to two teaspoons of chocolate topping on top of each cup. Let sit in the refrigerator for 3 hours or until firm.

Enjoy!

No-Bake Oatmeal Peanut Butter Cups

Ingredients: 

1 Cup Natural Peanut Butter

1 Cup Oats

1/2 C Almond Flour

1/2 Cup Maple Syrup or Honey

1/2 Tsp Salt

1 Tsp Vanilla

Chocolate Topping:

1/2 Cup Chocolate Chips

2 Tbs Peanut Butter

Directions:

In a medium bowl, Combine all ingredients (except topping ingredients). Mix well. Equally divide mixture into 10 lined baking cups. Level the tops as much as possible. Set aside. In a small saucepan over low heat, add chocolate chips and peanut butter. Stir mixture until melted and smooth. Place 1 to 2 teaspoons of warm chocolate mixture on top of each cup. Place the cups in the refrigerator for 3 hours or until firm. Store in a covered container in the refrigerator. 

Note: This recipe can be vegan or gluten free depending on the brand of ingredients used. 

Take care,

Mrs. Smith

Quinoa - An Azure Standard Pantry Staple - Review

I copied Azure Standard's description of quinoa from their website. I definitely recommend purchasing from Azure Standard, and not just quinoa. We liked quinoa before we learned about the health benefits. I like it plain and simple, but it makes wonderful dishes too. Chipotle quinoa black bean burgers are a favorite around here. You can find the recipe here: Chipotle Quinoa Black Bean Burgers

 

Quinoa (pronounced KEEN-wah) is one of the healthiest, most nutritious foods on the planet. It’s naturally gluten-free, high in protein and one of the few plant foods that contain all nine essential amino acids. It is also high in fiber, magnesium, B-vitamins, iron, potassium, calcium, phosphorus, vitamin E and various beneficial antioxidants. Truly, a superfood in every sense of the word.

Quinoa is a tiny seed that is a powerhouse of nutrition. (Red quinoa seeds pictured above)

But what, exactly, is it? Quinoa is a grain crop that is grown for its edible seeds. It technically isn’t a cereal grain, but a pseudo-cereal. In other words, it is a seed which is prepared and eaten like a grain.

Scientifically speaking, quinoa is the mature seed of the species Chenopodium Quinoa, which belongs to the Chenopodioideae subfamily of the amaranthaceous. Spinach, Swiss chard and beets are in the same family.

Quinoa was an important crop for the Inca Empire, as far back as 5000 BC. They referred to it as the “mother of all grains” and believed it to be sacred. It was a diet staple of pre-Hispanic cultures of South America, before being replaced by cereals brought by the Spaniards. Today it’s found mainly in the region of Lake Titicaca in Peru and Bolivia.

Azure Market Organic Quinoa comes in three different colors – black, red and white. We also offer a tri-colored mix of all three. White quinoa has a neutral taste, while black and red quinoa are bolder in flavor.

Quinoa has only 160 calories per quarter-cup serving with 2.5 grams of fat and 6 grams of protein. About 28% of quinoa's fatty acids come in the form of oleic acid, a heart-healthy monounsaturated fat, and about 5% in the form of alpha-linolenic acid or ALA — the omega-3 fatty acid most commonly found in plants associated with decreased risk of inflammation-related disease.

Quinoa is higher in fiber than most grains and is a very good source of manganese. It is also a good source of phosphorus, copper, magnesium, dietary fiber, folate and zinc.

It cooks fast on top of the stove (15 minutes cook time, 5 minutes stand time) and even faster in a pressure cooker.
(4 minutes cook time with a natural release)

Two flavonoids that have been particularly well studied, quercetin and kaempferol, are found in large amounts in quinoa. In fact, the quercetin content of quinoa is even higher than typical high-quercetin foods like cranberries. These important molecules have been shown to have anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, anti-cancer and anti-depressant effects in animal studies. 

The really great thing about quinoa though is that it is the perfect grain-free substitute for salads and other dishes. Serve as a side dish, in casseroles, for breakfast, or as a compliment to curry, grilled vegetables or braised meat. And be sure to rinse the quinoa before cooking to reduce the bitter taste that comes with its natural coating. 

I highly recommend having quinoa in the pantry. You can't go wrong having quinoa as a pantry staple. Check out Azure Standard for healthy alternatives to regular grocery store products. I'm still learning what they carry. I'm very impressed!

Mrs. Smith

Picture Of The Day - Bumper Sticker

 

I saw this bumper sticker the other day and I thought that I would share it with you.

Mrs. Smith

Zombie Shoppers

I recently stopped by Walmart to pick up a few things and this is what I saw. First, I needed some romaine lettuce to get us by until our next monthly grocery trip. All the heads had rot on them in varying degrees. It also cost $1.00 more than last time. I looked at other pitiful sized heads of iceberg lettuce for $2.00 a head. They were just a tad larger than a softball. I passed!

Milk dropped in price to $3.07 a gallon from $3.97. This surprised me, since I thought that it would increase in price due to the H5N1 outbreak in cattle. Maybe people are not taking a chance and demand had dropped. I didn't check on egg prices. I didn't need any. My old hens have started laying again. 

I needed a new hot water bottle. My 15-year-old bottle sprung a leak from constant use for nearly three months. It has been a life saver in helping with shingles pain. I have one on my lower back now. I still have the nerve pain. I am better, but it still causes me a great deal of discomfort. Walmart no longer carries hot water bottles. UGH!

I have witnessed a lot of "Zombie Shoppers" who are traumatized by the shear cost of the items that they need. Many shoppers now have lists and block isles unknowingly while scouring over them. Older people just paced back and forth in front of the choices available not knowing exactly what to buy anymore. Blank stares and unfriendly faces are the results of the stresses of grocery shopping. It just hurts to watch people suffer while trying to buy groceries. 

I chose the shortest checkout line available, since the self-checkouts were not working at all. I found a line with just one guy and a basket full of groceries in it. I thought that it was perfect timing until he tried to checkout. Decline after decline on his Snap card. He started the process of removing items. He was apologetic and embarrassed but seemed to be a pro at it. He must have a large family by the looks of his cart. He paid cash for the items he removed and for the items his Snap benefits wouldn't cover. 

We are in a pickle that keeps getting sourer every time I venture into a store. I don't know what is going to change to make things better. I don't know where it's all heading, but I do know that we need a course correction. I don't have any answers, but I do have hope that things can turn around.

Stay safe,

Mrs. Smith

  

Copycat Little Debbie Oatmeal Cream Pies - Copycat Recipe

Little Debbie Oatmeal Cream Pies are my favorite Little Debbie snacks followed closely by Swiss Cake Rolls. It can be said that I like very sweet goodies on occasion, however, I do not like all the unrecognizable ingredients in them, so I stopped buying them a long time ago. This recipe is a great alternative to the store-bought treat without all the added gunk.

These are delicious!

Prepare all ingredients in advance. These come together fast.

Secret Ingredient - Sorghum Molasses

Cream butter and sugar together.

Add egg, molasses and vanilla.

Add flour mixture.

Add in the oats.

The cookie dough should look something like this.

Prepare pans for baking. I used re-usable parchment paper and a silicone pad. They both turned out the same. Regular parchment paper can be used also.

Drop cookie dough using a spoon or a scoop. Make sure that they are all uniform in size and shape.

Slightly flatten dough balls. Bake in a pre-heated oven for 8-10 minutes. 

I filled mine with butter cream, but I included the original filling in the recipe below.

Let cookies cool completely before filling. 

To store, individually wrap in plastic and place in a sealed container. This is an easy treat to pack in lunches. They can also be frozen when stored in this manner.

Oatmeal Cream Pies

Cookie Dough Ingredients:

3/4 C All-Purpose Flour

1 1/2 tsp Cinnamon

1/2 tsp Baking Soda

1/4 tsp Salt

1 1/4 C Oats

1 Stick Butter

4 tbsp Brown Sugar

1/4 C Sugar

1 Egg

1 tsp Vanilla

1 tbsp Molasses

Mix flour, cinnamon, baking soda and salt in a small bowl until well combined. Set aside. Cream sugar and butter together. Add egg and mix. Add vanilla and molasses and mix. Add flour mixture and mix well. Add oats and mix until dough forms. 

Drop by spoonful or use a scoop on a parchment lined baking sheet. Make sure the dough balls are uniform and are the same size. Press dough balls down slightly. Bake in a 350* oven for 8-10 minutes. Do not overbake. Let cool completely before stuffing with cream filling.

Cream Filling Ingredients:

1 C Marshmallow Fluff

1 Stick Butter

1/4 C Powdered Sugar

1 tsp Vanilla

Cream powdered sugar and butter together. Add marshmallow fluff and vanilla. Whip until fluffy. Spoon cream filling on the bottom side of a cookie and place another cookie, bottom side down, on top of the cream filling. Press together until cream filling reaches the outer edge of the cookies. Wrap in plastic wrap and store in a container with a lid. This recipe can easily be doubled or tripled. This recipe made nine regular sized oatmeal cream pies. 

Enjoy,

Mrs. Smith

Picture Of The Day - You Choose

 

Guess who came out of hibernation?

Spring has arrived. The grass, sage and cacti are starting to turn green.

Calves are starting to be born.

Giant clouds

Sunset on the mountains

Company at sunset

Look up

Strange light

Sunset

Full moon rising

I have no idea what caused this light.

Our friendly Raven

Outside my window

Frozen canoe

Enjoy,

Mrs. Smith