How to Cook the Perfect Sunny Side Up Eggs

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perfectly cooked sunny side up eggs with sourdough muffins

Frying an egg might seem like the simplest of culinary feats, but it can also be one of the most challenging..especially if you want to cook an egg just perfectly so that the white part is completely cooked and the yolk is nice and dippy. For years and years, I would proclaim to my husband that we were having sunny side up eggs for breakfast, only to serve them over medium time and time again. But I have FINALLY figured out how to cook the PERFECT  sunny side up egg. Every. Single. Time.

Ingredients

  • 3-4 Eggs (Preferably pastured)
  • 1 T. Olive Oil
  • 1 T. Coconut Oil
  • 1 t. Real Salt (I buy my Real Salt in bulk here. You can buy a shaker here, or a refill pouch here.)
  • ½ t. Pepper
  • Sourdough Muffins
  • 1 T. Butter

Directions

  1. Cure the Cast Iron Skillet: If you are cooking with a cast iron skillet (which I recommend for pretty much everything), then you’ll want to make sure it’s properly cured before you begin. Even if it’s been cured recently, I recommend running some hot water over it to clean out any bits of food, pouring in a fresh glug of olive oil, and letting it sit at the lowest setting on your stove for about thirty minutes to an hour.
  2. Coconut Oil (or Butter): Add a dollop of coconut oil and turn the heat up to a 3 or 4 for a few minutes.

    Coconut Oil Melting on a Cast Iron Skillet

    Coconut Oil Melting on a Cast Iron Skillet

  3. Add the Eggs: Make sure the coconut oil is melted and the pan has had plenty of time to heat up (a few minutes at least), and then crack the eggs into the pan.

    three sunny side up eggs just starting to cook in a cast iron skillet

    Sunny Side Up Eggs Just Starting to Cook

  4. Cook Low and Slow: The trick with just about every egg dish is to cook them at a low temperature for a long time. Resist the temptation to turn the heat up because you’ll turn your back for ONE SECOND and the eggs will be overcooked. You’ll want to cook them for about ten minutes or so. If the eggs are just not cooking after some time, turn the heat up just a titch, and if the oil is starting to bubble, turn the heat down a smidgen. DON’T COVER WITH A LID! You might think that it will help cook the tops, but it won’t. It will just overcook the eggs.

    three sunny side up eggs cooked halfway through on a cast iron skillet

    Sunny Side Up Eggs Halfway Cooked

  5. Add the Salt and Pepper: At any point after you’ve cracked the eggs, go ahead and sprinkle on some salt and pepper.

    three sunny side up eggs almost ready to flip on a cast iron skillet

    Sunny Side Up Eggs Sprinkled with Salt and Pepper

  6. Time to Flip: Once the eggs are cooked just about all the way through, they are ready to be flipped.
    three sunny side up eggs being flipped in a cast iron skillet

    These Sunny Side Up Eggs are Ready to Flip

    Flipping the Eggs

    Flipping the Eggs

  7. Keep it Quick: To make a truly perfect dippy egg, you’ll only want to keep the egg flipped for no more than ten seconds. If you keep it flipped for about 30-40 seconds, you’ll notice that the egg is still dippy, but more firm around the edges. Any longer, and you’ve ruined the whole thing, and you might as well start over. Just make sure the whites are cooked through all the way because it’s really gross when they’re not.
    showing how sunny side up eggs only need to stay flipped for a very short time

    Sunny Side Up Eggs Cooked to Perfection

    In the picture above, the egg with the fork next to it was flipped for about 45 seconds, the egg in the middle was flipped for about 30 seconds, and the egg on the right was only flipped for about 5 seconds.

  8. Check the Pan: You’ll know if your cast iron skillet was cured properly (and that you didn’t cook the eggs at too high of a temperature) if your pan looks like this when you are done.

    after cooking sunny side up eggs this cast iron skillet still looks clean

    Cast Iron Skillet After Cooking Sunny Side Up Eggs

  9. Enjoy: Serve with some toasted and buttered sourdough muffins, a few slices of bacon, and a tall glass of milk for an amazing breakfast! (Also, make sure to sprinkle those yolks with a generous helping of Real Salt!)

    three sunny side up eggs, sourdough muffin, bacon, and milk make the perfect breakfast

    Sunny Side Up Eggs, Sourdough Muffin, Bacon, and Milk…the Perfect Breakfast!

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How to Make the Best Deviled Eggs

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perfectly presented deviled eggs

Deviled eggs are kind of my thing. Whenever we go to a gathering that is potluck style, I love bringing a big platter of freshly made deviled eggs. Some of our neighbors raise pastured chickens and sell us their eggs for $2/dozen, and I hate saying no since we are their only customers, so some weeks we have 6+ dozen eggs to consume! I love making fried eggs, scrambled eggs, dippy eggs, egg sandwiches, potato egg salad, and baked egg dishes, but my favorite thing to make (and eat) are these deviled eggs.

Ingredients

  • 12 Eggs (Two weeks old and pastured)
  • 4 T. Mayonnaise (I like Hellmann’s Olive Oil)
  • 1 t. Mustard
  • 3 t. Apple Cider Vinegar (I like Bragg’s)
  • ½ t. Real Salt (I buy my Real Salt in bulk here. You can buy a shaker here, or a refill pouch here.)
  • ¼ t. Pepper
  • ¼ t. Paprika

Directions

  1. Boil Your Eggs: To see how to boil an egg so that it is cooked to perfection and peels easily, check out my recipe for the perfect boiled egg.

    perfectly cooked hard boiled egg cut in half to show the yolks still soft

    Perfectly Cooked Hard Boiled Egg

  2. Make the Yolk Mixture: To be honest, I never really measure my ingredients here. I just add a big blob of mayonnaise until it’s nice and creamy, then I add a squirt of mustard, a glug of apple cider vinegar, a few dashes of pepper, and a generous sprinkling of salt. Then I keep tasting and adding and tasting and adding. It’s always best to start with too little of something and add more than add too much of something and have to start over! You can use the measurements I’ve listed above as a starting point to create the mixture that you like best. 🙂 Also, sometimes I like a little taste explosion and add some chopped pickle and celery into the mixture.

  3. yolk mixture for deviled eggs will be creamy and slightly lumpy

    Yolk Mixture for Deviled Eggs

  4. Fill the Eggs: I just use a spoon to fill the empty egg halves, but you could get super fancy with these cake decorating tips and bags.

    hard boiled eggs cut in half with yolks removed ready for deviled egg yolk mixture filling

    Empty Deviled Eggs Ready for Filling

  5. Finishing Touches: I like to lightly sprinkle paprika over all the eggs when they are filled. (I don’t think they really look like deviled eggs without it!) I use a plastic egg serving tray, but this glass one would be nice too, or you might want something more portable like this or this. If you’re going to top with plastic wrap, make sure you add some toothpicks so it won’t stick to the yolk mixture. Enjoy!

    tray of deviled eggs make a perfect party appetizer

    Tray of Deviled Eggs

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How to Make the Best Egg Sandwiches

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Embracing Motherhood How to Make the Best Egg Sandwiches

Egg sandwiches are a delicious and portable breakfast that you can take anywhere! I love making a pile of egg sandwiches in the morning and then enjoy watching them disappear throughout the day. My husband enjoys intermittent fasting and so he pops home around mid-day and can grab one without any fuss, and my daughter enjoys eating one for her after school snack. Sometimes I get so busy in my mornings that I forget to eat, but if there’s a pile of egg sandwiches, I have no excuse!

Ingredients

  • 4 Eggs (Preferably pastured)
  • ¼ c. Raw Milk
  • Real Salt (I buy my Real Salt in bulk here, you can buy a shaker here, or a refill pouch here.)
  • Pepper
  • ¼ c. Cheddar Cheese (Shredded or sliced)
  • Sourdough Muffins
  • 2 t. Butter

Directions

There are two ways to make egg sandwiches. 1) You can use scrambled eggs, which can be a little more difficult to balance the on the muffin, but they are oh so light, fluffy, and delicious! 2) Or you can use fried eggs which pack up a little better and give you that “Egg McMuffin” taste that you might crave from time to time.

Scrambled Egg Sandwich

  1. Cook the Perfect Scrambled Eggs: Check out my recipe for how to make the perfect scrambled eggs every time using a perfectly cured cast iron skillet.
  2. Melt the Cheese: Once your eggs have been cooked to perfection, I like to first top them with a large pat of butter, stir and melt it around, then add a fresh sprinkling of salt, and finally add shredded cheese. Cover, turn off the heat, and let it melt.
  3. Put Eggs on the Sourdough Muffin: Check out my sourdough muffin recipe to see how to make some delicious “English Muffins” that free from phytic acid and taste great! Scoop out a generous amount of eggs onto the buttered muffin and press the top down.
scrambled egg sandwich with melted cheese on a sourdough muffin

Scrambled Egg Sandwich

 

Fried Egg Sandwich

  1. Cook the Perfect Fried Eggs: Check out my recipe for how to make the perfect fried eggs every time using a perfectly cured cast iron skillet.
  2. Melt the Cheese: Once your eggs have been cooked to perfection, I like to first top them with a large pat of butter, stir and melt it around, then add a fresh sprinkling of salt, and finally add shredded cheese. Cover, turn off the heat, and let it melt.
  3. Cut and Fold the Eggs: Once you separate the eggs into individual servings, you’ll want to fold them in half so that they’ll fit more easily on the muffin. I like to cut off the little triangle piece so that it’s the best fit. Then I take the little triangles, cut them up a little more, and serve them on the side.

    fried eggs with melted cheese folded and cut for an egg sandwich

    Fried Eggs Folded In Half and Cut to Fit on an Egg Sandwich

  4. Put Eggs on the Sourdough Muffin: Check out my sourdough muffin recipe to see how to make some delicious “English Muffins” that free from phytic acid and taste great! Scoop out a generous amount of eggs onto the buttered muffin and press the top down.

    fried egg sandwich with melted cheese on a sourdough muffin

    Fried Egg Sandwich

Variations: There are plenty of other toppings that you can add to make your egg sandwich even better. Here are some of the topping I enjoy adding periodically.

egg sandwich with jalapenos

Egg Sandwich with Jalapeños

  • Crumbled Bacon
  • Fried Lunchmeat
  • Taco Meat
  • Sliced Jalapeños
  • Diced Green Pepper
  • Tomato Slices
  • Fresh Parsley
  • Garlic Slices (As long as I’m not going to talk to anyone who will care about my breath!)
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How to Make the Best Scrambled Eggs

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perfect scrambled eggs cooked in a cast iron skillet

Scrambled eggs are an absolute staple in our family. I usually cook some kind of eggs every morning. Sometimes I’ll be in the mood for scrambled eggs, but it may be a day for some sunny side up eggs or a baked egg dish. You never know! Anyways, knowing how to make REALLY GOOD scrambled eggs is one of the first lessons a mom chef needs to learn.

Ingredients

  • 4 Eggs (Pastured is best.)
  • ¼ c. Milk (Raw is best.)
  • 1 t. Real Salt (I buy my Real Salt in bulk here. You can buy a shaker here, or a refill pouch here.)
  • ½ t. Pepper
  • 2 T. Butter
  • 1 c. Shredded Cheddar Cheese

Directions

  1. Cure the Cast Iron Skillet: If you are cooking with a cast iron skillet (which I recommend for pretty much everything), then you’ll want to make sure it’s properly cured before you begin. Even if it’s been cured recently, I recommend running some hot water over it to clean out any bits of food, pouring in a fresh glug of olive oil, and letting it sit at the lowest setting on your stove for about thirty minutes to an hour.
  2. Coconut Oil (or Butter): Add a dollop of coconut oil and turn the heat up to a 3 or 4 for a few minutes.

    Coconut Oil Melting on a Cast Iron Skillet

    Coconut Oil Melting on a Cast Iron Skillet

  3. Mix the Eggs: While the pan is preheating, combine the eggs, milk (you can always substitute water if you’re out of milk), salt, and pepper.
    eggs, milk, salt, pepper ready to mix for scrambled eggs

    Eggs, Milk, Salt, and Pepper

    If it suits your fancy, you can add a few other spices like maybe some cayenne pepper, onion powder, of some chives. Get crazy! Mix really well.

    scrambled egg mixture mixed until it's nice and bubbly

    Scrambled Egg Mixture

  4. Add the Eggs: Make sure the coconut oil is melted and the pan has had plenty of time to heat up (a few minutes at least), then pour in the eggs. If the pan sizzles as you add the eggs, you know the temperature is just right. (But don’t worry if it doesn’t, it’s better too cook too low than too high.)
  5. Cover and Cook: The key to making really good scrambled eggs is to cook them at a low temperature and to cook them cook slowly. If you lift up the lid and nothing is going on, turn up the dial a titch. But keep your eye on it, because they can burn quickly!  It’s better to start too low than too high.

    scrambled eggs cooking nice and slow so that they don't burn

    Scrambled Eggs Cooked Halfway Through

  6. Stir: After you can see that the eggs have cooked a considerable amount, start to stir. Start by flipping the eggs over, then chop them up (I prefer semi-big chunks) as you move them around. Just don’t over stir, you’ll make the pieces too small and they’ll lose their softness.

    IMG_8723

    Cooked Scrambled Eggs

  7. Add Butter: Add a big chunk of butter, let it melt, then stir it around to mix it in.

    cooked scrambled eggs with melting butter in a cast iron skillet

    Scrambled Eggs with Butter

  8. Add More Salt: This is when I like to add a fresh sprinkling of salt.

    cooked scrambled eggs with butter and salt in a cast iron skillet

    Scrambled Eggs with Butter and Salt

  9. Add Cheese: Sprinkle on some shredded cheese, cover with a lid, and turn the stove off until it melts.
    cooked scrambled eggs with shredded cheese about to melt

    Cooked Scrambled Eggs with Shredded Cheese Ready to Melt

    cooked scrambled eggs with melted cheese in a cast iron skillet

    Cooked Scrambled Eggs with Melted Cheese

  10. Serve: This is another kid favorite in our house!

    cooked scrambled eggs with melted cheese on a plate with a kids fork

    Kid’s Plate with Scrambled Eggs

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How to Cure a Cast Iron Skillet

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cast iron skillet perfectly cured

Having a good cast iron skillet in my kitchen is a must! I love using it when my cast iron skillet when it is cured properly because it provides an amazing cooking surface that provides extra iron and is easy to clean. If you’ve never used a cast iron skillet or if you have, but you haven’t been able to master curing it properly, check out my tips and tricks!

Benefits of Cooking with a Cast Iron Skillet

  1. Perfect Non-Stick Surface – If cured properly (see below), a cast iron skillet will provide the perfect nonstick surface, which makes cooking so much easier!
  2. Source of Iron – By cooking with a cast iron skillet, you are getting more iron in your food! In scrambled eggs, the amount of iron is almost tripled! The longer you cook something and the more you stir it, the more iron it will absorb.
  3. Why No Teflon – Teflon is the repellent coating in your standard pan that keeps food from sticking to its surface. It contains PFCs (perfluorocarbons), which is a chemical linked to liver damage, cancer, and developmental problems. This is especially bad if the surface is scratched which allows the cook to inhale these noxious fumes at a dangerous level.
  4. Why No Aluminum – Aluminum is a toxic metal that can lead to degenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, so it’s best to stay away from cooking (or storing) your food in it.
  5. Better Bargain – Stainless steel is better than aluminum or teflon coated pans, but they are more expensive, and for the life of me I can’t fry anything in them without it sticking like crazy!

How to Cure a Cast Iron Skillet

  1. Set the temperature on your stove to low/medium (about a 3 or 4).
  2. Add some kind of oil. I prefer olive oil or avocado oil which both do well at high temperatures. I use coconut oil for cooking, and I have tried curing my cast iron skillet with it, but unfortunately it doesn’t work very well. (Also, stay away from Canola or any other vegetable oil because they are just bad for your health.)
  3. Once the oil melts, swirl it so that it coats the entire bottom of the pan and twist the pan while spinning it to coat as much of the inside edges as you can as well. *If you’re in a rush, take a folded paper towel and rub it around the bottom and the sides. 

    a very reflective cast iron skillet with olive oil making a perfectly cured surface

    Olive Oil Warming on a Cast Iron Skillet

  4. Turn the heat down as low as it will go (low to 1).
  5. Let it sit like that for as long as you dare without forgetting that the stove is on (the longer the better, but a few hours should be good).

    cast iron skillet curing on the stove at a low setting

    Cast Iron Skillet Curing

  6. Repeat this every time you notice it sticking or after you clean it.
  7. *You can also cure it by placing the oiled skillet in the oven at 400˚F for a few hours. You’ll probably want to put a pan underneath to catch any drippings. Also, flip the skillet over at some point. I’ve never tried this, however, because it seems like too much work. 🙂

How to Clean a Cast Iron Skillet

  1. First of all, you don’t need to clean your cast iron skillet after every use. When I use my cast iron skillet just for making eggs, I rarely ever clean it. I just scrape out the bits of egg that accumulate and call it good. But if you’ve cooked something like taco meat or something at too high of a temperature that made things stick to the bottom, it’s time for a cleaning!
  2. To begin with, fill it up with hot water and let it soak for a bit.
  3. Then use a soft bristle brush, wash cloth, or some other gentle cleaning apparatus (Don’t use a wire scrubby – it will ruin any work you’ve done with curing thus far.) to gently clean the bits of food away.
  4. DON’T use soap when cleaning! Unless you plan on curing it all over again that is.

Buying a Cast Iron Skillet

I have one 10 inch skillet that I use for my daily cooking needs and one 12 inch skillet that works well for extra large dishes. You might also want an 8 inch skillet for smaller dishes. I also definitely recommend getting a hot pad cover for the handle. As you can see, mine has some holes in it, so I sewed a potholder around it. *Update, I’ve since upgraded to these wonderful silicone handle covers, and I also recommend these pan scrapers that are great for cleaning the circular surface of the pan. I ended up using lids from our other pots and pans, but you’ll definitely want either a 10 inch lid or a 12 inch lid depending on the size of your pan.

There are also lots of other great cookware that is made out of cast iron like this waffle maker, this 14 inch pizza pan, this dutch oven, this muffin pan, and this kettle. There are so many possibilities to bring cast iron into your life!

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How to Make the Best Baked Potato

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Embracing Motherhood How to Make the Best Baked Potato

Who doesn’t like a steaming baked potato loaded with fresh toppings? Potatoes are very high on the glycemic index, so I always thought it was best to steer clear of them. But then I learned about their wonderful benefits, such as being high in vitamin C and B6 (almost half of the daily recommended amounts), and discovered how they can be a vehicle for other good foods such as butter, sour cream, and cheese which drastically lowers its glycemic index, and now I am a big fan! There are so many good options for a baked potato, so get creative and dig in!

Organic potatoes are one of the dirty dozen, meaning that they contain a large amount of pesticides. In fact, according to studies, 81% of conventionally grown potatoes contain pesticides, even after being washed and peeled. We pay $3.50 for a 3 lb bag of organic potatoes at our local grocery store, which I think is well worth the price.

Ingredients

  • 1 Potato
  • 2 T. Butter (Kerrygold)
  • 4 T. Sour Cream
  • ½ c. Shredded Cheddar Cheese
  • 2 Chives, Chopped
  • Real Salt (I buy my Real Salt in bulk here, you can buy a shaker here, or a refill pouch here.)
  • Pepper (Buy it here.)
  • Optional Toppings: Crumbled bacon, chili, or broccoli

Directions

  1. Cook the Potato.
    1. Microwave: Poke holes in the potato and cook for 5 minutes.
    2. Bake: Wash your potatoes, rub with olive oil or coconut oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and bake at 350˚F for 1 hour. (Flip halfway through.) Bake a whole bunch so that you can keep extra in the fridge so that you won’t need to wait for an hour the next time you want a baked potato! *Throw these in the oven when you’re making a roasted chicken!

      organic baked potatoes with olive oil, salt, and pepper

      Baked Potatoes

  2. Cut it up, smother it with butter, and sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese on the top. Pop it in the microwave for 1 minute.
  3. Then, smother it with sour cream, top with chopped chives, and sprinkle generously with salt and a little pepper.

    Baked Potato with Butter, Melted Cheese, Sour Cream, Real Salt, and Chives

    Baked Potato with Butter, Melted Cheese, Sour Cream, Real Salt, and Chives

  4. Now tell everybody to leave you alone because you have some serious eating to do!!
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How to Make the Best Grilled Burgers

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Embracing Motherhood How to Make the Best Grilled Burgers

Making hamburgers seems like such a simple meal, why even write a recipe for it? Well yes, hamburgers are simple, but the way that I make mine are just so dang good that I had to write it down! If you make this recipe, I guarantee that you will get compliments!

A good hamburger first of all starts with some high quality grass-fed beef. (Cows are meant to eat grass, not grain, by the way.) We get ours from a local farm for $5/lb, but you can also buy it here.

Ingredients

  • 1 lb Ground Beef (Preferably grass-fed)
  • 2 t. Real Salt (I buy my Real Salt in bulk here, you can buy a shaker here, or a refill pouch here.)
  • 1 t. Pepper (Buy it here.)
  • 1 t. Garlic Powder (I buy mine here or you can buy it here or here.)
  • 1 t. Onion Powder (I buy mine here or you can buy it here.)
  • 2 t. Bragg Liquid Aminos (Buy it here.)

Directions

  1. Start the grill and set it to medium/high.
  2. If the meat is frozen, fill up the sink (or a bowl) with warm water, and let soak for about 30-40 minutes.
  3. Divide the meat roughly into fourths, then eighths.
  4. Sprinkle generously with seasonings. (I don’t measure, just shake.)

    one pound of hamburger meat divided into eighths and sprinkled with seasonings

    Beef Divided Into Eighths and Sprinkled with Seasonings

  5. Mix the seasonings in with your hands as you form patties.

    seasoned hamburger patties ready to grill

    Seasoned Hamburger Patties

  6. After the grill has had a chance to heat up, scrape it off with a grill brush.
  7. Put the burgers on and turn the heat down to low/medium.
  8. Cook for 8 minutes. Flip and cook for 4 minutes. (After you flip is a great time to add cheese if you want it melted.)
  9. Serve and enjoy!

    eight grilled hamburgers with grill marks on a grill

    Grilled Hamburger Patties

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Properly Prepared Barley

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soaked barley with apple cider vinegar to get rid of phytic acid

Barley has a pretty impressive nutrient profile that makes it a wonderful addition to any soup. In one cup, it has 23 g of protein, is high in the vitamins thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B6, with some folate, and high in the minerals magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, zinc, copper, manganese, selenium, and some calcium. But unless it is properly prepared by soaking, sprouting, or fermenting, these minerals will not be accessible.

Hulled barley still contains the outer bran layer and pearl barley has this removed. If you’re not going to properly prepare your barely, it might be a better idea to go with the pearl barley. Just know that in addition to having the phytic acid removed, it is also has hardly and protein or nutrients left either. I like to buy my hulled barley in bulk here through Country Life Natural Foods, but you can also buy it here and here from Amazon.

At any rate, the best way to prepare barley so that it gets rid of all the phytic acid is to soak it in an acidic medium that will unlock the phytase within the barley which will help to break down the phytic acid. Read more about phytic acid in my blog Phytic Acid: An Anti-Nutrient That’s Slowly Killing You.

Ingredients

  • 2 c. Organic Hulled Barley (Get some here.)
  • 4 Quarts of Filtered Water
  • 2 T. Apple Cider Vinegar (Get some here.)
  • Pot
  • Colander 

Directions

  1. Put your barley in a four quart pot and fill it almost to the top with water. It’s best if the water is warm.

    Barley in Water

    Barley in Water

  2. Add the apple cider vinegar.
  3. Let it sit for 24+ hours. Stir the grains occasionally if you think of it.
  4. Bring to a slow boil and let simmer until the barley puff up. It should soak up most of the water at this point.
  5. Drain the barley in a colander and rinse with filtered water. (This isn’t necessarily getting rid of any impurities, but if you don’t do this, your soup will be really cloudy.)

    Straining Barley

    Straining Barley

  6. Add to your soup and continue to cook on low to medium for about an hour.

    Barley Added to Chicken Soup

    Barley Added to Chicken Soup

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Taco Meat…Without the Seasoning Packet

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As we have entered the deeper stages of our healthy eating conversion, I have always felt guilty about buying the MSG laden packets of taco seasoning, but we just couldn’t live without eating tacos!!! So I tried several different creations before finally creating this amazing recipe. We all love eating it and don’t miss the taco seasoning at all. Best of all, the kids love it! Our son (who can be a picky eater) loves eating a bowl of this meat as a little snack or a whole meal.

Ingredients

  • 1 lb. Ground Beef (Preferably use grass-fed beef. We have also used venison in this recipe and it tastes great!)
  • 1 Medium Onion (or 3 green onions)
  • 3 Cloves of Garlic
  • 3 T. Butter (Pastured butter like Kerrygold is the best, organic butter is the next best, and butter without rBST growth hormones is better than plain butter, and plain butter is WAY better than margarine.)
  • 2 t. Real Salt (I buy my Real Salt in bulk here, you can buy a shaker here, or a refill pouch here.)
  • 2 t. Ground Oregano (I buy mine here or you can buy it here.)
  • 2 t. Ground Basil (I buy mine here or you can buy it here.)
  • 2 t. Garlic Powder (I buy mine here or you can buy it here or here.)
  • 2 t. Onion Powder (I buy mine here or you can buy it here.)
  • 4 t. Bragg Liquid Aminos (Buy it here.)

Directions

  1. Preheat your cast iron skillet. First, let the pan slowly heat up on a low to medium setting and allow the butter to melt and coat the pan. (Read more about curing your cast iron skillet here.)

    Cured Cast Iron Skillet

    Cured Cast Iron Skillet

  2. Sautè the onions and garlic. Chop up the onion, peel the garlic and crush it in a garlic press and add both to the bubbling butter. Cook and stir for about 2 minutes.
  3. Add the ground beef. Break it apart a little bit at a time as it cooks and flip it as each side is browned.
  4. Time for seasonings! Once it is fully browned, add the garlic powder, onion powder, basil, oregano, Real Salt, and Bragg Liquid Aminos. (I never measure out the seasonings, I just add them. I find it’s best to add way more than you’d think, but you’ll get the hang of what you like with a little taste testing.)
  5. DO NOT DRAIN THE FAT! THE FAT IS VERY GOOD FOR YOU!! (Unless you’re using venison. Draining the fat will help to get rid of the gamy taste.)
  6. Simmer. Turn off the heat and let the meat sit covered and soaking up all of the juices for about 10 minutes.

    Taco Meat

    Taco Meat

  7. Get your toppings ready. While the meat settles, chop up some fresh lettuce and tomatoes, get out the shredded cheese, sour cream, jalapenos, hot sauce, and choose between a taco salad, tacos in a hard shell, a soft shell taco, a taco chips and cheese plate…or my favorite fried flour tortillas! (To make fried flour tortillas, heat up some coconut oil in a pan on medium to high heat, fry the flour tortillas for about 10 seconds on each side, fold in half to cool, and enjoy the most amazing flavor of your life!)
Tacos Ready to Eat

Tacos Ready to Eat

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Ground Beef Chili Recipe

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Embracing Motherhood Ground Beef Chili Recipe

This is a pretty basic recipe for chili, but hidden under it’s simplicity is a complexity of layers that make it completely amazing. After a cold afternoon of playing outside, there is nothing better than a nice bowl of homemade chili to warm you up.! The great thing about this basic recipe is that by adding whatever extras you have in your fridge, it will be different every time.

Ingredients

  • 1 lb. Ground Beef (Finding a local source of grass-fed beef is best, or you can buy it here.)
  • 1 bag of Tomato Puree (You could also use 2 cans of organic whole stewed tomatoes.)
  • 2 Cans of Kidney Beans (If I had the time, I would soak some organic kidney beans on low heat with a glug of apple cider vinegar and a spoonful of freshly ground wheat or rye flour to unlock the phytase that will break down the phytic acid. Find out why here.)
  • *Veggies: Sometimes, a simple chili is best, but sometimes I like adding a bunch of veggies like zucchini, cauliflower, carrots, and celery.)
  • 1 Medium Onion
  • 3 Cloves of Garlic
  • 2 t. Real Salt (I buy my Real Salt in bulk here, you can buy a shaker here, or a refill pouch here.)
  • 3 T. Butter 
  • 2 t. Ground Oregano 
  • 2 t. Ground Basil
  • 2 t. Garlic Powder
  • 2 t. Onion Powder 
  • 2 t. Bragg Liquid Aminos
  • 2 t. Chili Powder 
  • *1 t. Cayenne Pepper (I just add this to my own personal bowl of chili so that the kids can eat it!)

Directions

  1. Prepare the Pan: I love using my cast iron skillet for this recipe! Let the pan slowly heat up on a low to medium setting and allow the butter to melt and coat the pan.

    cast-iron-skillet

    Cured Cast Iron Skillet

  2. Cook the Onion and Garlic: Chop up the onion, peel the garlic and crush it in a garlic press and add both to the bubbling butter. Cook and stir for about 2 minutes.
  3. Add the Beef: Once the onion is soft, add the ground beef. Break it apart a little bit at a time as it cooks, and flip it as each side is browned.

    Browning the Beef

    Browning the Beef

  4. Season the Meat: Once the beef is fully browned, add the garlic powder, onion powder, basil, oregano, Real Salt, and Bragg Liquid Aminos. (I never measure out the seasonings. I just sprinkle them on the meat until it’s fairly covered. I always end up adding more than I think I should, and this gives it the best flavor.)
  5. DO NOT DRAIN THE FAT! THE FAT IS VERY GOOD FOR YOU!!!
  6. Simmer: Turn off the heat and let the meat sit covered and soaking up all of the juices while you prepare the rest of the soup. *This is the same recipe as my taco meat!
  7. Add Tomatoes and Beans: In a large pot, add the tomato puree and the drained cans of beans. Slowly heat them up to a low simmer on a low-medium setting (like a 4).
  8. Add the Beef: Add the browned beef and stir. Let it simmer on a low heat for a bit, or just eat it right away if you can’t wait!
  9. *Saute the Veggies: If you want to add more vegetables, don’t just dice them up and throw them in the pot! Saute each batch of veggies with a bit of oil and the same seasonings you added to the meat.

    Seasoned Zucchini and Celery Sauteing

    Seasoned Zucchini and Celery Sauteing

  10. Season to Taste: Add more of the seasonings that you added to the meat. Keep adding and tasting until you get it just right.
  11. Serve: Serve with some tortilla chips and fresh sour cream for a perfect meal.

In Conclusion

There are many different ways you can make chili. Sometimes, you might just want to empty out what you have in your fridge, and other times you might want something more traditional. I think it’s fun to be able to make the same meal often, but mix it up so that it seems different. So get creative, follow your cravings, and enjoy!

  1. Chili with Veggies

    Chili with Veggies

Chili with Beans

Chili with Beans

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Hi, I’m Stacey Maaser,

author of Embracing Motherhood! I am a stay at home mother of 5 with 7 years of teaching experience and a Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction. I am passionate about teaching my children, feeding them healthy food, learning the truth about things (not just what is popular opinion or counter culture), and sharing what I’ve learned and experienced with others. Thanks for stopping by!

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