Sign of Weakness: Cold Pork-chops

I love cold pork-chops.

I know – not everybody’s thing.

Lately I’ve been eating less and less meat and after I became close-friends with a born-and-bred vegetarian, I grew curious about meatless and nutritious (not to mention De-licious) meals. I just got tired of the same steak/chicken/pork options I had for dinner, I guess.

But. 

Pork-chop Heaven. Copyright 2016 Erika Emma Reimers.

But I made pork-chops last night and when it came time for leftovers tonight, I re-heated the mashed potatoes and the kale stir-fry (post coming soon)…but decided to eat the ‘chop cold… sans knife, too. 🙂

I learned how to fry pork-chops from my French-Canadian Mom, who learned from her Father.

Heat a pan to medium-high so that when you add the butter, it doesn’t brown too quickly. Add some onions and then the pork-chops – seasoned with pepper and salt (or in my case a German grill seasoning (paprika, pepper, basil, rosemary, thyme, onion and parsnip).

You can omit the onions and opt for boneless pork-chops for picky eaters – no judgement.

Copyright 2016 Erika Emma Reimers.

P.S. If you haven’t tried apricot with pork, you haven’t lived! I use apricot jam.Either smother a porkloin, add to the slow-cooker or just put some on your plate as a side-sauce. Serious YUM!

#Tip Of The Week: Waste Not Want More

Check it out here

#Tip Of The Week: Mirror Mirror

#Tip Of The Week: Twisted Avocado

#Tip Of The Week: No More Tears!

#Tip Of The Week: Perfect Hardboiled Eggs

#Tip Of The Week: Peel Garlic in a Flash

#Tip Of The Week: Healthy Frozen Treat

DIY @ Home Beauty: Baking Soda & Coconut Oil Exfoliant

I discovered this excellent alternative to store-bought faces scrubs when I wanted to “slim down” my beauty product stash.

“Adding coconut oil helps balance baking soda’s slight alkalinity.”

The winter season is notorious for its drying effects on skin and hair. This DIY@HomeBeauty regimen will help slough off dull skin and prepare you for a fresh spring season.

#Tip Of The Week: Delicious Rice

How to Save A Buck…

 
Finding it hard to save money and eat well too?

Share my love of food – and frugality on The Salted Pistachio…Tips, Easy Recipes and DIY@ Home Beauty

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Finally…A Comprehensive Wine Pairing Guide!

Rules are sometimes confining – but for those of you looking for a guide on what goes well with that something yummy…

Voila:

First Edition: *Tips & Tricks*

The first edition of *Tips & Tricks* is here! Thanks to all contributors!

Check in for frequent updates!
Comment and Share your own tips & tricks…

MISC

• Always read the entire recipe before you begin to ensure that you have all the necessary ingredients and utensils
• Using the timer on the microwave? Consider using a backup at the same time incase the power goes out!
• Clean cast iron by scrubbing with salt and wiping clean – I know it’s hard, but DON’T use detergents…

FRUIT & VEG

• Roll your lemons or submerse them in warm water before squeezing to get more juice
  

  Keep lemons in your kitchen for everything from flavouring teas and baked goods to a natural cleaning-agent. Copyright 2012 Erika Emma Reimers.

• Store mushrooms in a paper bag in main section of fridge; plastic bags and fruit drawers reduce air circulation and result in slimy, quickly spoiled mushrooms

Recipe: Hot Golden Milk

Warm glass of Sunshine

Morning Sunshine! Copyright 2016 Erika Emma Reimers

Golden Milk, or Turmeric Tea as it’s otherwise known, is a recipe for a rich, warm glass of ‘sunshine’ that I discovered in a yoga book about 7 years ago [Yoga for Women by Shakta Kaur Khalsa, 2002].

Way more than just an ingredient in curries, turmeric can be added to give a boost to recipes like cauliflower soup and smoothies! Some describe this member of the ginger family as having a slightly bitter and earthy aroma with subtle hints of lemon and mint.

*Tips & Tricks*

Have a unique way to ensure your meal comes out perfect? Share it here!

Share tips you have for the kitchen – or anything to do with food – and help others erase that oops!

Comment below!

What Do You Say Before a Meal?

Comment below and share how you say
‘Bon appétit’ in your language!

Recipe: My Super Breakfast Smoothie

Filling and delicious – not to mention ÜBER nutritious

I eat this every other day. You can add or subtract anything you want. Sometimes mango juice brightens up the flavour,  but it’s strawberries that I savour! Take a fish oil capsule with this drink to help fight winter dryness.

*Tip* This smoothie has many nutritional benefits, especially for pregnant women.

Fish Oil Capsule. Copyright 2014 Erika Emma Reimers

Tools:

Waste Not – Want More!: Multi-purpose Pumpkin

Weighing the value of pumpkins. Pumpkin guts are often a mess to throw away, but there are plenty of reasons to go through the goo. Copyright 2011 Erika Emma Reimers.

Whether you buy a plump pumpkin this year or not, eating the roasted seeds from a pumpkin can be a tasty and nutritional treat! When you’re preparing your jack-o-lantern for Halloween this year or are finished with your decorative orange squash, remember not to overlook the valuable insides. After cutting open a circle around the top of the pumpkin, separate the seeds from the pulp and get ready for an easy trick to enjoy this delicious treat.

Check out the Recipe Here.

Carving a pumpkin can be a fun way to mark the season. If you don’t celebrate Halloween, consider putting a whole pumpkin outside or inside your house for decoration, before harvesting the goodness inside. Copyright 2011 Erika Emma Reimers.

D.I.Y. @ Home Beauty: Sweet Hair Oil

Beauty from the Kitchen

My favourite oil is almond oil. I use it in cooking, baking, on my skin and in my hair for its neutral and comparitively sweet flavour to other oils such as olive or canola.

Just beware of over-conditoning hair if you’re planning to leave the house afterwards as excessive moisturizing product can easily saturate most hair types.

Tools:
Plastic shower-cap
Towel
Hair elastic or clip

Before your shower pour a little almond oil in your hands and rub into the hair from tips to roots, concentrating on the ends of the hair. Apply as much or as little as you wish; the shampoo will help rebalance the moisture level.

Twist or tie up your hair. Put on a plastic shower cap and, if you like, wrap a towel around your head for extra insultation. The more time you leave the oil on before the shower, the more it will be effected by the heat from your head.

If you find your hair is softer and more manageable, try this once a week or once a month to give your hair some love in the dry months.

D.I.Y. @ Home Beauty: Honey Lemon Scrub

This May Get Messy…

You have all you require for a luxurious face and body scrub right at home.

The moisturizing properties in this all-edible exfoliant are excellent for replenishing the skin.

Ingredients:

2 and 1/2 cups of sugar

1/2 cup sweet almond oil

4 teaspoons lemon juice

4 tablespoons liquid honey

Beautiful Citrus. Copyright 2012 Erika Emma Reimers.

Tip: Bare in mind that this scrub is best applied in the shower, before a steamy rinse. 

Directions:

Combine all ingredients in small bowl; mix thoroughly. Add more honey and/or oil as needed to achieve a creamy consistency.

To use, scoop out a handful of scrub and apply to damp face, neck, hands, and/or whole body. Rinse well with warm water. Pat skin dry with a soft cloth or towel.

Waste Not – Want More!: Great Frozen Grapes

Round. Smooth. Plump. Juicy.

Whether picked off the vine, sprinkled in a salad or gobbled down with some cheese, grapes have an inherent POP that makes eating the juicy fruit a natural delight.

Once you pop, you won’t want to stop eating this sweet treat. Grapes are an easy snack, frozen or not. Copyright 2012 Erika Emma Reimers.

Fresh grapes of all colours are a sweet treat, but they might be even better frozen! To extend your enjoyment of nature’s candy, try this great tip!

*Tip* Works well with fresh fruit or is a great way to prolong the life of slightly withered grapes.

Rinse grapes with water to wash off any remaining dirt. Either pick off each grape or leave them on the vine and place them in a freezer-safe container or bag. Chill in the freezer for about 2 hours and enjoy at your leisure.

Grapes are an excellent low-calorie snack. Copyright 2012 Erika Emma Reimers.

This lactose-free frozen treat is a great way to save on ice cream and still have an addictive frozen snack, ready to eat in the freezer. First cultivated by the Egyptians about 7,000 years ago, grapes are high in soluble dietary fiber and have antioxidant properties that inhibit cancer-promoting hormones.

 Antioxidants prevent cell damage caused by free radicals, which are unstable molecules that are formed when the body uses oxygen.

Lactose-free and naturally yummy! Above: frozen red grapes. Copyright 2012 Erika Emma Reimers.

Sweet Deal on SwarmJam.com

Do you enjoy a sweet deal?

Taste one of the products from Nova Era and tell me how it was! Copyright Amanda Cosco.

Tomorrow everyone will have the opportunity to get more than 50% off everything at Nova Era Bakery and Pastry Inc. through a SwarmJam daily deal coupon.

Experience “one of the Portugese community’s crown jewels” at their multiple Toronto, Maple, Ajax Kitchener,  and London locations. Visit http://www.novaera.ca for more information and locations.

The deal will be live on the site for three days, so don’t miss out.

Sign up for free at SwarmJam.com.

D.I.Y. @ Home Beauty: Honey Bath

“Hi Honey”

Food Fact 1:  It takes the nectar of nearly 1 and half million flowers to produce two cups of honey.

Hi Honey. All honey is produced by the hardworking Apis Mellifera species of bee. Copyright 2011 Erika Emma Reimers.

 Add a 1/4 cup to 1/2 cup of liquid honey to running bathwater to serve up soft and moisturized skin. Honey naturally attracts moisture and the fragrant smell will warm your senses after a soak in the tub.

 Check back for another honey-based beauty regime from D.I.Y. @ Home Beauty

Soap Bubbles. Copyright 2012 Erika Emma Reimers.

Food Fact 2: the Apis Mellifera bee was introduced to North America in the 1600s and produces all of our edible honey.

D.I.Y. @ Home Beauty: Lemon Pedicure

“When Life Gives You Lemons”

Keep lemons in your kitchen for everything from flavouring teas and fish to a natural cleaning agent. Copyright 2012 Erika Emma Reimers.

Natural Bleaching Agent

Gallery One: The Salted Pistachio

This gallery contains 18 photos.

Click on the icon to open Gallery One. Copyright 2011 Erika Emma Reimers.

Poll-enta Three: Hibernate or Can’t Wait for Winter?

White Winter

D.I.Y. @ Home Beauty – new section coming soon!

Waste Not – Want Not

Copyright 2011 Erika Emma Reimers.

Food is for more than just eating; items like lemons and oatmeal can be used as a substitute for store-bought products.

D.I.Y. @ Home Beauty posts will be a tradition on The Salted Pistachio and I’d love to hear from you about your homemade beauty remedies!

Submit your questions and suggestions for me to try out!

Recipe: Not Your Mom’s Zucchini Bread

“Not Your Mom’s Zucchini Bread”

Like banana bread, this sweet and delicious treat is great for breakfast or a snack. Zucchinis are a surprisingly versatile vegetable. Copyright 2011 Erika Emma Reimers.

Surprisingly good is an understatement.

Poll-enta Two: Do You Bake The Seeds From Your Pumpkin?

 Let The Salted Pistachio know if you throw out the seeds of your seasonal pumpkin or bake them to a golden crisp!

Do you like pumpkin seeds? Weigh-in below! Copyright 2011 Erika Emma Reimers.

Orange, round, bumpy: Pumpkins come in all shapes and sizes! Copyright 2011 Erika Emma Reimers.

Recipe: Oven-roasted Pumpkin Seeds

“Why You Shouldn’t Let Your Pumpkin Seeds Go To Waste”

Five varieties of pumpkin seeds. From left to right: cinnamon-sugar, garlic and salt, garlic and pepper spice, original salt, and paprika pumpkin seeds. Try your own variety of spices to flavour this seasonal snack. Copyright 2011 Erika Emma Reimers.

Boasted for their fiber and nutrion-packed qualities, pumpkin seeds are a highlight of the season. See below for easy prep instructions for delicious oven-roasted pumpkin seeds and make sure you let The Salted Pistachio know which spices you used to flavour your own seeds.