Blog - Page 5 of 40 - Impressions

Simple Fish Tacos with Fresh Salsa

May 8, 2018May 8, 2018 Rachel Sherwood

These are a recent quick meal addition as I was testing out Red Palm Oil. I found I love to use it when making these simple Fish Tacos. The Red Palm oil gives the fish a vibrant color, additional health benefits and a subtle unique flavor. Top with fresh salsa and enjoy this simple healthy dish.

Simple Fish Tacos with Fresh Salsa

Fish:

2 Tablespoons Red Palm Oil or coconut oil

1 lb mahi mahi, cod, tilapia, halibut, or other white fish

Fish Marinade:

¼ teaspoon turmeric

2 garlic cloves, minced (about 1 Tablespoon)

1 Tablespoon lemon or lime juice (fresh)

2 teaspoon soy sauce or tamari

2 teaspoon honey

¼ teaspoon salt

¼ teaspoon black pepper

Salsa:

2 medium tomatoes, diced

½ cup cilantro

2 cloves garlic, minced (about 1 tablespoon)

1-2 Tablespoon lemon or lime juice

1 small red onion, chopped (about ½ cup)

1½ teaspoon jalapeno pepper, minced, optional

½ teaspoon salt

¼ teaspoon pepper to taste

Other:

4, 6in corn/flour tortillas

1/2 cup white Mexican or cheddar cheese, grated, optional

2 cups shaved romaine, or cabbage

½ avocado, sliced or diced, optional

INSTRUCTIONS:

In a small bowl combine all the fish marinating ingredients. Chop fish into ½ in cubes. Lightly stir to coat in sauce and allow to marinate at least 15 minutes but as long as overnight.

Chop and mix all ingredients for salsa in a bowl. Set aside. Prep remaining ingredients like grating cheese, chopping lettuce and slicing avocado.

Red Palm Oil has distinct health bennefits and a vibrate color

When ready to eat, heat sauté pan over medium heat add red palm oil. Remove fish from marinade discard any excess liquid. Sauté the fish in red palm oil until cooked through about 3 minutes. You may need to do this in 2 batches if your pan is smaller. Remove from heat and cover to keep warm.

Warm tortillas if desired top with shredded lettuce/cabbage, fish, fresh salsa cheese and avocado if desired. Adjust salt, pepper and lime juice to taste. Serve hot.

Learn more about the health benefits of Red Palm Oil Here

The “Dirty Dozen” Buy these orgainc

May 4, 2018April 12, 2018 Rachel Sherwood

We had a great time at Mingle with the Eat Well for Less Class recently. Participants liked learning new skills to make dinner easier, adding more variety to their meals while not wasting time or ingredients.

During the class I was making the comparison between conventional and organic produce and while buying 100% of your items organic is not always possible there are definitely some fruits and vegetables that are dirtier and more contaminated than others. Several attendees at the class where unaware that not all produce is created equal so I thought I would help and post links to Environment Working Group research site. The EWG is a non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to protecting human health and the environment. This groups mission is to empower people to live healthier lives in a healthier environment. They provide breakthrough research and education that drives consumer choice and civic action.

Each year the EWG test a variety of different produce and compile the data to create the Shopper’s Guide To Pesticides in Produce and two guideline lists including the “Dirty Dozen” a list of 12 of the most commonly and highly contaminated fruits and vegetables, items you should buy organic and “The Clean 15” a list of the most commonly clean produce that is most likely fine to buy conventional. You can read more and get links to download your free shopping guides here.

In general whenever possible it is always best to buy organic produce not only to reduce your intake of unnecessary chemicals but to support ethical and sustainable farming practices. Money talks and using you dollars to support organic farming methods also support environmentally friendly practices that help create sustainable agriculture keeping our land, water and wildlife protected for years to come. By taking care of yourself you are also helping to take care of the earth for generations to come.

FDA acknowledges that most pesticides are safe to consume, and the EPA argues the levels of pesticides found in fresh produce are safe to eat. They also warn that others have been linked to various health issues and neurological problems. So, who’s right? What do we do? By all means don’t stop eating produce or the items found on the Dirty Dozen List. You may just want to be more conscious about the everyday food choices you are making. The EWG recommends that you purchase the organic versions of the items found on the Dirty Dozen List and of course always thoroughly wash all produce before consuming it. In the end the choice is yours and with most things in life each choice we make has it’s own potential risks and rewards.

To learn more visit The Environmental Working Group Site

D.I.Y. Laundry Soap

April 26, 2018 Rachel Sherwood

Recently I have had quite a few people ask me what I use for my sons clothes. If you are looking for less expensive but still quilty products to keep clothes clean this is it. I have used this D.I.Y. Laundry Detergent for years saving loads of money literally each time I do a load of laundry. With young kids at home we do a lot of laundry.

I did stop using it for a while when we found out my son had eczema to see if this was making the situation worse. We tried several different brands during this all significantly more expensive and the cleaning results were about the same. We came back to this when we learned the eczema was triggered by wheat and eggs not soap. Do note if you have skin sensitivities to try this out sparingly and watch to see if there are reactions. If so stop using the products.

I like this formula because it is a dry base making it easy to sore and measure out. If I have tough stains I just use a little extra of the powder on the spot and let it sit overnight. Then wash as usual.

I keep a teaspoon measure tied to the jar for easy use and measuring.

D.I.Y Laundry Detergent

2 bars Fels Naptha Soap or Zote

2 cups Borax

2 cups Washing Soda

*1 canister fabric scents like (Downy Unstopables, or essential oils) Optional, if you like scented clothes

Finely Chop or grate the Fels Naptha Soap. I find it easiest and fastest to cut it into chunks and mix it in the food processor. Add Borax, washing soda and scents as desired mixing to combine. Store in your chosen container. Use 1-2 teaspoons per load.

Makes about 6 cups of detergent

*note if you have sensitive skin you may opt to leave out the extra fabric scents

Not only does it clean well it costs significantly less than traditional laundry soap. Here is how it adds up:

Fels Naptha $1.00 per bar

Borax $4.25 per box

Washing Soda $4.00 per box

Downy Unstopables (optional) $6.50 per jar

This makes about 6 cups and you have enough, Borax and Washing Soda for two batches. One batch of D.I.Y. Laundry Soap will cost you about $12.62 without the Unstopables it is about $6.12 making enough for 144, 2 teaspoon loads that is just 0.4 cents per load! If only using one teaspoon or doing smaller loads you can get as much as 288 loads from one batch of D.I.Y Laundry soap!

To compare, a Tide 64 load bottle is $11.99 that is .18 cents per load.

Gain 32 load bottle is $6.85 that is .21 cents per load.

Seventh generation 33 load bottle is $8.00 that is .24 cents per load.

Arm and Hammer 107 load bottle is $7.99 that is .07 cents per load.

Now I know it is all just cents per load but costs do add up and this little gem will keep your clothes clean, and money in your pocket. Happy Washing!

This works in High Efficiency washers too.

Cherry Nut Bread, For love of Grandma

April 26, 2018April 12, 2018 Rachel Sherwood

I love food for so many reasons. Not only it is tasty, good for us and necessary part of life but we can learn so much by participating with it. We can discover art, history, science, math, culture and more. I think the main reason I love it so much is the heartfelt connection that also comes with food. We have our traditional holiday foods, favorite foods, and comfort foods. So many memories and emotions can also be tied into food.

Great Grandmother Mary Jo's Pizzelle Maker — Great Grandmother Mary Jo’s Pizzelle Maker

Recently my grandma Joan past away. She was the last of my living grandparents. As each one has passed over the years I have been slowly collecting things from them specifically tied to food like handwritten recipe cards, favorite cookbooks and tools. One prized gift I received last year was my Italian Great Grandmothers Pizzelle maker. To me this is one of the most amazing things I own. I often imagine her working in the kitchen flipping them one by one off the hot grilled preparing for the large Italian holiday feasts. I think about how maybe her life was and how life has changed. To think what she would have said to have used one of the 4 burner hot plate electric pizzelle makers we have now.

I love how food connects us. A specific favorite recipe or distinct smell can bring a memory or person right back to particular moment. When my Grandma was alive she always loved this simple cherry nut bread. She would make it for the holidays and slather it with butter. I never cared much for it as a child but it has grown on me over the years. As my Grandma was aging I would often bring this as a special treat for her. I loved seeing her eyes delight by sharing something so simple as a slice of bread. I am sure it held memories of her youth as well.

Grandma Joan's Cherry Nut Bread — Grandma Joan’s Cherry Nut Bread

You see although she is gone and missed greatly. Everytime I have this bread it is like she is sitting beside me. She may be physically gone but she lives on in the memories and particularly this one favorite bread will always connect me to her. I made these recipe cards and handed them out at her service to family and friends as my way of saying she it gone but not forgotten. I hope you enjoy this simple family favorite of Cherry Nut Bread as well.

Do you have a favorite family recipe or tradition that reminds you of someone you love? I think these are some of the most precious memories and why I will forever cook and share food with those I love.

Grandma Joan’s Cherry Nut Bread

Photography By Isabel Subtil http://isabelsubtil.com/

2 cup flour 2 eggs

1 teaspoon baking soda 1 cup buttermilk

1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon vanilla

1/2 cup shortening 1 cup chopped walnuts

3/4 cup sugar 1 cup drained Maraschino cherries

Instructions:

Grease loaf pan or 1 lb coffee can well. Combine all ingredients except

nuts and cherries in a large bowl blend for 1 min on low speed.

Fold in nuts and cherries until combined.

Pour into pan bake at 350, for 40 50 min till pick comes out clean. Let cool in pan for 10 minutes then carefully remove and cool completely on rack.

Serve with generous amounts of soft butter.

*Note this will work with using regular milk as well but the crumb will be slightly drier.

Confident Cooking, You can do it too!

April 19, 2018April 12, 2018 Rachel Sherwood

The past few months have been full of private events, classes and even some surprise highlights. I feel honored to have worked with so many clients and inspiring new creations and confident cooking for your families. I truly love hearing when clients share their individual success stories.

Sadly the large group classes are finished for now as I prepare to welcome baby #2 in July. I may host one or two classes in the fall like the ever popular “No Cooking Required” Entertaining with Cheese Plates or other Holiday Entertaining Success Secrets but it is too early to say. Please let me know if there is a topic of interest for you.

As always you can easily connect with me on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to ask questions and see what I am up to. Highlights for the summer are new baby needs and putting in a large edible garden. I am so excited!

I will still be hosting a few private events and clients if you would like to talk more achieving your specific culinary goals, making cooking and entertaining easier, or have questions about hosting a private event please contact me here. I look forward to continuing to work with people like you. I love making the world a better place through quality food and the connections that happen when we share a meal together.

Much love,

Rachel

Here is a quick look some of the client success and recent fun events.