NO EXCUSES Mayonnaise!

I have put together a series of videos showing you just how easy it is to make your own mayonnaise without all the bad oils and chemicals that are in store bought mayonnaise.

If you can get a decent source of eggs, it really is so easy and tastes delicious. I would NOT recommend using regular, run-of-the mill store bought eggs. Most stores have organic eggs and some even have free-range eggs.

The basic recipe that I used for each of the videos is as follows.

Homemade Mayonnaise

2 egg yolks

1 T. lemon juice

1 T. white wine, rice or champagne vinegar

1. t. Dijon mustard

1 t. sea salt

dash of garlic powder, onion powder and sugar

1 1/2 cup of oil of your choice (I use a combination of sunflower and olive oil)

Just find the 'tool' you have in your home and watch that video. I now exclusively make my mayonnaise with my stick blender. I can have it mixed in as little as 28 seconds. I even make it in the jar I store it in. Super easy clean-up. I have made it several times in the blender and food processor. Both work equally as well. I have only made it by hand once, and it would not be my first choice as it is a little bit of work, but it can be done.

So, YOU HAVE NO EXCUSES to not make your own mayonnaise and make this simple healthy change. Okay, you know I am kidding right? I am not putting pressure on you, just trying to make it fun and easy. If you are knee deep in toddlers, pregnant, sick and/or overwhelmed, please, by all means go buy the mayonnaise from the store! I will still love you, and actually, find you very wise ;-)

The first two videos have my sweet two year old in them helping me. So cute. And the last video features my second oldest son doing all the work!

If you choose to make your mayo in a blender, this one is for you.

Blender Mayo

For food processor instructions, watch this one.

Food Processor Mayo



If you are so blessed enough to have a 'stick blender', watch this one.

Stick Blender Mayo (a.k.a. Immersion Blender)
Make sure you keep the stick blender down on the bottom of the jar until you get about 1/3 to 1/2 of the mixture emulsified. If you don't do this, it will not work. Ask me how I know!

If you are crazy or don't have a blender, food processor, stick blender, or live without electricity (which might qualify you for crazy ;-) watch this one.

Mayo Made by Hand

Favorite Cabbage Salad (video)

This is our Favorite Cabbage Salad. I had a blast making the video with the children. It is so easy and so yummy. It makes a big batch and will last in the fridge for several days, if you can keep it for that long. I am always on the hunt for easy, go-to raw veggie recipes. This one fits the bill! Below the video you will find the typed recipe. Enjoy!

P.S. I let the video run a few extra seconds so you could see those littles continue to gobble it up. They love it. Also, when I was reviewing the video after shooting it, my little Elijah crawled up and grabbed a fork and began shoveling it in. You would think I didn't feed these children!

Favorite Cabbage Salad

2 heads shredded cabbage, red or green or both

3 apples, shredded

Poppy Seeds

Raw Apple Cider Vinegar

Olive Oil

Salt and Pepper

(a glug of maple syrup) I did not add this in on the video, but it does help to round out the flavor.

Soaked and dried sunflower seeds for serving.

Super Easy!

I apologize to all you measurers out there. ;-)

Winner Winner, Chicken Dinner!! How We Afford It

I had a blast making these videos to show you how we afford to eat real food. Sorry about the foil noise in the first segment. I promise the rest is better ;-) I broke it down into two sections because I know it is so hard to take the time to watch long videos on blogs. (six minutes each)I did this because so many people ask, 'how can I afford to eat like this?', and I personally find it easier sometimes to just 'see' it being done. I hope this inspires you. I also posted the steps below, as well as the final cost analysis.

*Procure Organic Free-Range Chicken

*Prep chicken for roasting

*Roast Chicken

*Serve reasonable amount of protein per person

*"Pick" chicken for meal later in week

*Put carcass in stock pot with water and vinegar (for at least one hour or overnight)

*Put stockpot on in morning to simmer all day with veggies of choice (carrots, onion, celery)

*12 hours or so later turn off and strain stock into jars

*Re-pick chicken

*Refrigerate stock until cool

*Pour into freezer bags and freeze flat

As stated in the video, for $36.00 I got:

* two ample protein based dinners,

*two very full lunches,

*two 3- ounce portions of chicken breast for lunch for myself,

*enough 'picked' chicken for stir fried rice and

*9 1/2 quarts of delicious, good for you bone broth!

According to my husband who is way better at math than I am, that is 78 cents per serving, per person for organic, free range chicken!! (46 servings) Woo Hoo!!

AND!!

9 1/2 quarts of stock that easily could sell for $4.50 a quart. ( I have paid this much, on sale, for organic chicken stock) that is $42.75!!!

So, do you get that???? I paid $36.00 (2.85 lb.) for the chickens and I got 46 servings and over $42.00 worth of organic chicken stock!

(for our Tuesday leftover meal, this week, White Chili, I actually have enough for another lunch for the children)

Please DO NOT do this with plain old store bought chicken. It must, at the very least be organic!