Posted By FarmerJ on May 27, 2009

While we haven’t completely jumped on the “Organic Only” bandwagon, we have tried to cut out some of the nasty stuff manufacturers put in our food.  The first ingredient we’ve been trying to eliminate from our diet is HFCS (High Fructose Corn Syrup).  My eyes were widened on the not-so-desirable side effects of HFCS approximately three years ago ~ when Darling Husbie came home from attending the Aviation Safety Day and shared with me what the Flight Surgeon had briefed them on.

I say we’ve been trying to eliminate HFCS from our diet, because we haven’t been 100% successful.  The stuff is everywhere, in liquid and solid form.  Not only is it everywhere, but the manufacturers are clever in how they disguise it.  And [being the simpleton that I am], I’ve found it challenging to learn and recognize all those disguises.  I mean, I get corn sweetener and corn solids.  It’s all the …ose’s that throw me for a loop!  You know.  Dextrose, fructose-glucose, iso glucose, sucrose.  Anyway, you get the picture.  I’ll keep working on the HFCS thing.

Label it a ‘farm’ thing, a ‘prairie’ thing or even a ‘fad’ thing ~ but I label it a ‘smart’ thing.  Eliminating ingredients that contain more than thirteen characters, let alone not being able to pronounce it, cannot be a ‘bad’ thing.  Darling Husbie proved it last year at his flight physical.  His tests all came back with flying colors [heehee!  I made a pun] without really even trying.  Husbie’s always been active ~ being a project man and all ~ so it wasn’t an increase in activity that made a difference.  The only thing we had changed is the way we eat…my cooking habits, mainly.  So, when Husbie comes home with a good report card from the doctor, it motivates me to keep going in that direction!

In addition to being “Jell-O People,” we’re also “Casserole People.”  [The Jell-O reference is an inside joke only a few will get.  Sorry.  Don't worry, it's a clean joke.]  I tend to use a lot of condensed cream soup in the casseroles I make.  Well, there’s a few more than I’d like of those items that just aren’t food in canned condensed cream soup.  So I found an alternative ~ wanna know what it is?  It’s…

Condensed Cream Soup Mix

• 2 cups Nonfat Dry Milk
• 3/4 cup Cornstarch
• 2 tablespoons Dried Minced Onion
• 1/2 teaspoon Ground Black Pepper
• 1/4 cup Chicken Bouillon Powder
• 1 teaspoon Dried Basil (optional)
• 1/4 teaspoon Dried Thyme (optional)

Combine dry milk, cornstarch, onion flakes, pepper and chicken bouillon.  If desired, add basil and thyme.  Mix well and place in an airtight container.  Store in the refrigerator or freezer.

When using the mix, combine 1/3 cup of the mix with 1-1/4 cups of water in a saucepan.  Cook and stir until thickened.

Use instead of canned condensed cream soup.  For variations, add vegetables, pasta, rice or chopped cooked meat.

That’s it ~ enjoy!

Categories: Mixes & Fixes
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