Featured

When Harvest Season is here–baking with dried herbs–Homemade Soda Bread (Quick, easy, no sugar, no yeast, no waiting!)

September 18, 2025January 15, 2026Anna--The Adventurer 1 Comment

Ingredients: Classic Irish Soda Bread

4 cups all purpose flour

1 tsp each coarse salt and 1 tsp baking soda (not powder!)

1 3/4 cup buttermilk (or 1 3/4 cup cool water with 3 tablespoons powdered buttermilk)

Mix dry ingredients together, put a well in the center of dry ingredients and pour buttermilk into center. It works best if you use a ceramic or glass bowl and a wooden spoon. Mix thoroughly but don’t over do it. Plop all the dough onto a lightly floured, clean surface. Lightly knead as you shape the dough into either a boules shape or an elongated loaf shape. Dough can be split in half to make two smaller loaves for sharing or for gifting. This also works great for using one now and freezing one for later for quick use.

Score each loaf lightly on the top. Place on metal or stone baking sheet. Bake in preheated oven at 425 degrees Fahrenheit (220 degrees Celsius) for 30-35 minutes or until golden brown.

Variations, if preferred.

Autumn Harvest Herb Bread Use classic Irish recipe, adding 1 tsp each ground pepper, basil, garlic powder, dried onions, and cumin seeds

Cranberry Spice Bread: Use Classic Irish Soda bread above, adding 1 tsp dried orange zest, 1 tsp cinnamon, 1 tsp cloves, and 1/2 dried cranberries (Craisins) or raisins if you prefer cinnamon raisin bread.

Cheesy Bread: Using the classic Irish Soda recipe above, add 1/2 cup shredded cheddar or Colby shredded cheese, 1/2 cup of grated Parmesan cheese and 2 tsp of sesame seeds

These breads make great toast, chunks for dipping into stews and soups, or just eating with a charcuterie board. My mom likes to eat it with her eggs in the morning. The bread slices up well and stays really fresh for days, despite not having any filler or preservatives in it. It also works nicely to be crumbled up and used as croutons or as a stuffing base for the holidays. Each loaf costs less than $1.75 per full sized loaf or about $2 per loaf with add-in options.

Featured

Lemon Flounder Quinoa Bowl–a zesty hot meal made easy

January 10, 2025June 2, 2025Anna--The Adventurer Leave a comment

Let’s kick of the New Year with a healthy homemade meal–with flavor and fiber!

4 pieces of flounder filets (I use frozen, super easy!)

1/2 cup of quinoa

1 bag of frozen carrot-broccoli-cauliflower mix

2 tsp of Roasted Garlic and herb mix

Honey

2 tsp of Lemon Juice

2 tablespoons of butter

dash of olive oil

1 cup of water

Cook Quinoa in the water on medium low until done-add the butter while cooking

Simmer Flounder fillets in the olive oil with the lemon

Steam the vegetable blend with the herb mix until aldente

Layer up bowls with quinoa on the bottom, vegetable mix in the middle, and the fish on top, drizzle with just a hint of honey, serve hot. Serves 4

https://www.amazon.com/reg…/gl/guest-view/1UJX66V7NGWFI… The weather is frightful during the winter but the food bank still needs help helping others to get food!! Their Amazon list below allows you to give without getting out in the snow! Items can be purchased and will be sent directly to the food bank to help those in need and those whom are hungry! Many items under $2, every item helps! Thank you so much!

#fooddrive #FoodDriveChallenge #helpingothers #feedingthehungry #fooddrive #foodbank #easymeals #helpingothers

Featured

Turkey Taco Chili–a hot meal with ease (and cheap!)

December 4, 2024May 28, 2025Anna--The Adventurer Leave a comment

It’s cold outside, December is here but why not have a little south of the border flare to your meals?

The holidays are just around the corner and groceries are already costly–but this meal is very affordable-I bought all the ingredients for less than $6.50. It will feed a family or small crew a wonderful meal!

This recipe can easily be doubled or tripled if you are hosting a gathering and it feeds many without breaking the bank.

Ingredients

1 pound ground turkey, browned (frozen is cheaper!)

1 medium yellow onion, pealed and chopped

1 small can diced Jalepenos

1 8 oz can tomato sauce

1-32 oz can of pinto beans (don’t drain it) You can also used dried beans if you soak them before

1 packet of Taco seasoning (or 3 tablespoons if you use the bulk)

In a soup pot, brown the turkey, then add all the other ingredients and let simmer for 20-30 minutes.

Serve hot and can be topped with cheese or sour cream if you desire

The Chatham Food Pantry in Siler City could really use food items to help feed those in need! You can send items from their Amazon Wish List–many items under $3–every little bit helps–buy/send 1 item or many!

Korma Butter Chicken-a hot homemade meal on a cold day

January 21, 2024January 22, 2024Anna--The Adventurer Leave a comment

Winter is here and it’s cold outside-nothing better to warm the body and soul than a homemade meal at home!

It’s super easy to make (especially since the sauce comes in a jar and the whole meal takes less than an hour, start to finish and served up!)

4 small chicken breasts

5 small/medium red potatoes, washed, chunked (no need to peel)

4 medium-large carrots, tops and tips trimmed off, peeled and chunked

1 medium onion, peeled and diced

2 tablespoons curry powder

1 tsp cumin powder

1 tsp ground ginger (dry)

1/3 cup unsweetned coconut shreds

salt, pepper

2 tablespoons coconut oil(I found a jar of it at Dollar Tree!)

1 jar of butter chicken karma sauce (i buy mine at Aldi’s)

put frozen chicken and all the other ingriedients in a large, deep skillet and let simmer for 40ish minutes, until all is cooked thoroughly but not over done. Add jar of Korma butter chicken sauce, let simmer for another 10-15 minutes, serve with feta cheese on top

(Don’t forget to check out my eBay!)

Summer Salad-a cool way to eat in the heat

June 16, 2023Anna--The Adventurer Leave a comment

Summer in the South is especially hot and I don’t like heating up the house in the middle of the day to cook myself a meal and make the house even hotter, so what is the solution? A salad!

A bag of salad mix ( I used a Farmers Blend as it was on manager special)

a half pint of slice cherry tomatoes

small avocado, chunked small

2 tsp of chia seed

dressing of choice

*optional to add a can of tuna or leftover chicken