#topdrawerthreads

Eggplant Zuke Bake

This is such a satisfying main dish to serve up and enjoy again the next day with the cheeses, sour cream and mayo helping the eggs hold together the zukes, eggplants, and onion ingredients. Serve it with thin tomato slices for a wholesome, heartwarming dining experience. The nut topping adds a nice crunch as finisher. See what you think...

2 t. salt

2 yellow zucchini, coarse grated with skin

1 green zucchini, coarse grated with skin

1 small eggplant, coarse grated with skin

2 T. margarine

1 lg. onion, diced

3 eggs, whisked

1 c. sour cream

1 t. mustard powder

1/2 t. thyme, dried

1/2 c. mayo - Duke's has no added sugar

1/2 t. black pepper

1 c. cheddar/mozzarella cheese mix, fine grated

1 c. whole wheat bread crumbs

1/2 c. Parmesan cheese, fine grated

1 c. walnuts, chopped fine or sunflower seeds, shelled

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a mixing bowl, add zucchinis, eggplant and salt tossing well - set aside. In a fry pan, add margarine and onions sauteing to caramelize. In another mixing bowl, add eggs, sour cream, mustard powder, thyme, mayo, black pepper folding together. Transfer zucchini and eggplants into a colander pressing excess water out with the back of a mixing spoon - as much as possible. In a large mixing bowl, add zuke mix, cheddar, bread crumbs, and Parmesan cheese tossing together. Pour liquid mixture over all coating well. Transfer to a baking dish. Sprinkle nuts or seeds over all. Bake for 25 min. until it sets up. Serve with fresh tomato slices on each serving for a pop of color if you like.

Once I've got the main dish in the oven, I pop downstairs to my sewing studio to stitch pocketed, fully lined chef aprons for my online shop - www.etsy.com/shop/topdrawerthreads .

Or I'm putting the finishing touches on upcycled recycled thrifted crocheted throw rugs worked by me for my online shop - www.etsy.com/shop/topdraweryarns .

My daughter's have an online shop - www.etsy.com/shop.yesdesigns - where they design and sew cotton pocket knickers with a handy front hip pocket.

Whole Wheat Orzo Pasta Salad

This is great as a hot side dish or main dish with a decent amount of protein that the garbanzo beans, cheese and orzo pasta bring. Throw in a cup of sunflower seeds if you like to really bring on the protein. It's great served with a green salad or fruit. Give it a whirl...

Orzo Pasta Salad

4 c. water

1/2 c. whole wheat orzo pasta

2 T. margarine

1 - 4 oz. jar capers, drained

1 - 6.5 oz. jar marinated artichoke hearts, drained, chopped

1 t. garlic powder

dash salt/pepper

dash chili flakes

1 med. lemon, grate rind and juice

1/4 c. Parmesan cheese, fine grated

1 - 15.5 oz. can garbanzo beans, drained

Bring water to a boil, add orzo pasta. Cook uncovered until tender - 8 to 10 min., drain. While the orzo is still hot, add the margarine, capers, artichokes, garlic powder, salt, pepper, chili flakes, lemon, Parmesan cheese, and garbanzo beans. Toss together well and enjoy!

When I'm not working out new ways with garbanzo beans, I'm sewing cotton pocket server aprons for my online shop - www.etsy.com/shop/topdrawerthreads .

Or I'm putting the finishing touches on handmade knit hats worked by me from upcycled recycled thrifted yarns from my favorite creative reuse source SCRAP PDX. This knit work is available through my online shop - www.etsy.com/shop/topdraweryarns .

My daughter's have an online shop - www.etsy.com/shop/yesdesigns - where they design and sew cotton pockets knickers for fun time wearing.

Cool Cucumber Salad

It's the meeting of buttermilk and dill that build the flavors in this cool summer salad. The red onion combined with subtle cucumber slices in the buttermilk dressing, colorful bell pepper bits add a pop of color. This a favorite served as a side dish on it's own or over a bed of cold, crisp greens.

1 cucumber, peeled, sliced

1/4 red onion, sliced paper thin into crescents

1/2+ t. salt

1 c. buttermilk

1 T. dill weed, dried

1/2 c. each green and orange bell pepper, seeded, diced

Toss all ingredients together, coating well. Serve on it's own or over a bed of cold, crisp greens.

Once I've got the main dish in the oven, I pop downstairs to my sewing studio to stitch pocketed, fully lined chef aprons for my online shop - www.etsy.com/shop/topdrawerthreads .

Or I'm putting the finishing touches on upcycled recycled thrifted crocheted throw rugs worked by me for my online shop - www.etsy.com/shop/topdraweryarns .

My daughter's have an online shop - www.etsy.com/shop.yesdesigns - where they design and sew cotton pocket knickers with a handy front hip pocket.

Hominy Bean Soup

Hominy lovers gather round...bean lovers, too. This hearty soup works well as a make ahead healthy eating friendly meal that reheats fast. Keep some homemade soup on hand, ready in the fridge for when you need to eat right...and right now.

1 ½ c. 13 bean mix

water

1 - 2 bay leaves

dash salt/pepper/garlic powder

3 - 4 c. tomato juice

1 - 15.5 oz. can white hominy, drained

1 - 15.5 oz. can golden hominy, drained

4 med. carrots, sliced thin

1 - 28 oz. can petite deiced tomatoes with liquid

In a large soup pot, add beans, salt pepper, bay leaves, and water to 1″ above level of beans. Bring to a boil, turn down to simmer and cover. Simmer until beans are tender. Add the tomato juice, both hominy, carrots, and tomatoes. Continue simmering until carrots are tender.

When I’m not simmering bean soup, I’m sewing cotton pocket sugar skull aprons for my online shop - www.etsy.com/shop/topdrawerthreads .

Or, I’m knitting mohair toques from upcycled yarn for my other online shop - www.etsy.com/shop/topdraweryarns .

My daughter’s have an online shop - www.etsy.com/shop/yesdesigns - where they design and sew cotton pocket knickers.

Go Tubing...

...at least the way I do, that is. Saw these tubes of pesto paste, garlic paste, tomato paste, and chili paste all used in meal prep on a camping video. I was impressed at how easy these made cooking out in the elements over an open fire look. These have come in so handy for a quick flavor boost cooking in my own kitchen, outdoors, and when I'm the visiting "head chef" for friends/relatives. In various combinations, these work well as part of pasta based dishes, middle Eastern lentil main courses, or South of the border favorites. The pesto for instance works well added to hot, cooked whole wheat pasta with some extra pine nuts tossed in, add some fresh basil if you're a mind to. These are available through my local grocer or on Amazon. Takes the hassle out of healthy meal prep when I'm on the go.

Note: I have no connection with any of these products. I'm just looking for ways to enhance my healthy eating goals with little extra effort on my part.

When I'm not stirring up great family meals, I'm sewing cotton pocket chef aprons for my online shop - www.etsy.com/shop/topdrawerthreads .

Or, I'm tearing old sheets into strips to crochet into upcycled recycled throw rugs to sell in my other shop - www.etsy.com/shop/topdraweryarns .

My daughter's have an online shop - www.etsy.com/shop/yesdesigns - where they design and sew cotton pocket knickers for cosplay or whatever other playfulness comes to mind.

Winter Veg Bake

This bakes up into a pizza like consistency - you can enjoy it as a finger food  so is great as a take along meal if you’re eating away from home.  It also reheats well so great to take for your lunch break at work.  I found baking parchment at the Dollar Tree and at my local discount grocer so no need to go to a specialty baking/kitchen store. Top with sour cream if you like but this is great as it comes out of the oven as a get and go pick up meal.

3 leeks, split, cut into curly ribbons broken apart

1 green bell pepper, seeded, diced

1/2 bunch spinach or other hearty greens, diced

1 c. pine nuts

3 carrots, coarse grated

1 lg. parsnip, coarse grated

8 T. whole wheat flour

2 t. salt

1 t. pepper

2 t. baking powder

8 eggs, whisked

8 T. oil

 8 T. milk

1 c. Jarlesburg or Swiss cheese, coarse grated

Option:  Seitan or other veg loaf - mix in crumbled with vegetables

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Prepare a high sided cookie sheet/jelly roll pan by laying in baking parchment or brushing oil on the pan.  In a large mixing bowl, toss together vegetables.  In a separate bowl, add dry ingredients - whole wheat flour, salt, pepper, and baking powder mixing well.  To that same bowl, add eggs, oil, and milk whisking well so there are no lumps.  Pour over tossed vegetables, tossing again to make sure liquid covers all vegetables well.  Spoon onto cookie sheet evenly layering.  Bake 30 min. then coat with grated cheese then return to the oven continuing the baking for 30 min. longer.  Let cool and cut into slices as you would pizza. 

When I’m not grating vegetables, I’m sewing cotton pocket wrap chef aprons for my online shop - www.etsy.com/shop/topdrawerthreads and www.amazon.com/handmade/topdrawerthreads . 

Or I’m putting the finishing touches on hand crocheted throw rugs worked by me from upcycled recycled cotton fabric strips for my other shop - www.etsy.com/shop/topdraweryarns .

My daughter’s have an online shop -  www.etsy.com/shop/yesdesigns - where they design and sew cotton pocket knickers for kicking your heels up in.

My older daughter has an online shop - www.etsy.com/shop/wildwovenwomen - where she knits upcycled recycled yarns into soft - warm - cozy throws and afghans in eye catching striped patterns.

Goin’ Green Frittata

 www.diabetesinsider.tumblr.com

Brussels sprouts baked in a frittata?  Oh, yeah!  Saute them first to start the cooking process, throw in the leeks, then add two more layers of green vegetables.  That’s the only trick to it.  Serve this with a crunchy green salad and you have a great diabetic friendly - lactose free - vegetarian - vitamin D rich main dish.  Nice job taking care of yourself!

2 T. margarine

2 c. Brussels sprouts, quartered

2 c. leeks, ribbon cut

12 eggs, whisked

1 t. sea salt

1 t. ground black pepper

2 c. tightly packed fresh spinach, whole leaves

1/4 c. fresh curly leaf parsley, chopped using kitchen scissors

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  In a large fry pan, saute Brussels sprouts then add leeks at the last minute to finish off.  Add salt/pepper to eggs, whisk.  In a greased baking dish, layer spinach, Brussels sprouts/leeks mixture, parsley pouring eggs over everything covering well.  Bake 60 min. until a knife thrust into the center comes out clean. 

When I’m not throwing together a great main meal dish for the family, I’m sewing cotton pocket chef aprons for my online shop - www.etsy.com/shop/topdrawerthreads .  Or I’m merrily crocheting hats from recycled yarn while riding shot gun to a vacation spot for my other shop - www.etsy.com/shop/topdraweryarns .

My daughter’s and friend have an online shop - www.etsy.com/shop/yesdesigns - where the hand make and sell cut away t shirts to show off your tats.  My other daughter has an online shop - where she designs and crochets mushroom shaped bags from recycled yarn for her shop - www.etsy.com/shop/shroombloombags .

Grow your Own...

 www.diabetesinsider.tumblr.com

...mushrooms that is!  Oyster, Shitake, Morel, King, Chicken of the Woods, Lion’s mane, blue, or golden - you choose the variety.  They come in “logs” or as plugs for starting this foodie adventure.  These don’t take more care than an indoor kitchen counter top herb garden.  Some varieties need twice daily misting, so if you tend to over water any way this could be ideal for you.  It’s an intriguing divergence from sprouting or window sill herb gardens, also as a great fresh addition to your diabetic diet. 

These are available through Amazon.  I have no connection to any seller of these.  I’m just another diabetic looking for ways to eat better and keep my blood sugar numbers in check.

When I’m not marveling at the way mushrooms reproduce, I’m sewing bright Spring aprons for my online shop ( www.etsy.com/shop/topdrawerthreads ) or putting the finishing touches on hand knit items for my other shop ( www.etsy.com/shop/topdraweryarns ).  My daughter’s (and friend) have an online shop, www.etsy.com/shop/yesdesigns , where they hand make and sell rainbow dog print knickers, mushroom print leggings, and knit picnic blankets.  My other daughter has an online shop, www.etsy.com/shop/shroombloombags , where she designs and crochets mushroom themed festival bags.