Southern Christmas Chicken and Rice Gumbo Meal in a Jar

Several years ago I visited my son's 4th grade classroom to share some regional foods of America. It was a lot of giggles seeing kids try okra for the first time and explore some of the southern foods they don't get to have often here. One of the class all time favorites (with bells, whistles, several helpings and begging for more) was this chicken gumbo! Who knew?  Well, the irony of this one is that it was all made from freeze-dried food. It was all dried including the okra.  I still can't find it freeze dried anywhere besides my friends at North Bay Trading Company!  However, I'm having a hard time actually not eating it!  It's like popcorn, but good for me! 

I love fresh tender okra too. I swear, I should have been born in Georgia. Wait...did someone from Macon  lose a daughter in Logan, Utah in the mid 70's? If so, she's been living quite comfortably with the Mormons and needs more okra! Okay. Admittedly, I seriously belong in my family. We have some southern relatives back in the family tree so that probably explains my okra-fetish. Admittedly, I'm also out of okra. That's embarrassing.  5 years later, this is still a favorite around my house. I'm making these again this year for Christmas! 

This  is a classic chicken Andouille gumbo. Using freeze-dried sausage along with the smoke and spices in this recipe mimic the andouille sausage traditionally used in good Southern Gumbo. I get all my freeze-dried ingredients from my own website: Thrive Life Chef Tess and the powdered sauce mixes from a place called Firehouse Pantry Store. 

Chef Tess Chicken and Rice Gumbo

1 cup freeze dried diced chicken

1/2 cup instant rice

1/3 cup freeze dried sausage

2 T ultra gel or cornstarch

1/3 cup dehydrated onion

½ cup freeze dried bell peppers
1/2 cup freeze dried okra 

¼ cup tomato powder

1/3 cup freeze dried celery

2T powdered butter

2T worcestershire powder

2T dehydrated parsley flakes

1T dehydrated minced garlic

½ tsp buffalo wind sauce powder

1 ½ tsp chicken bouillon powder

½ tsp hickory smoke powder

In a Quart Sized Jar layer the ingredients, shaking the powdered ingredients into the solid ones. Top with an oxygen absorber and close tightly. 

To Prepare meal: Combine contents with 4 ½ cups boiling water. Simmer 5-7 minutes. Yields 6 cups

If you omit the rice, it is lower carbohydrate for diabetics.

There you go.

Always My Very Best,
Your Friend Chef Tess

Chocolate Waffles of Women's Divine Happiness

 I'm a waffle person. I really am. I shouldn't share this with you but I have got this waffle problem. Wait. She's just using the word "waffle" instead of "awful". What a dork.  I love evil chocolate waffles. They're delightfully divine and well...I shouldn't eat them endlessly. On the other hand...there are five fingers. Look. If chocolate sugar free 9 grain waffles are covered with a no-sugar added natural tart-sweet strawberry amaretto compote with toasted walnuts and fresh slices of banana, I'm really not being evil right? I'm sharing some bliss. Right?

I know what you're thinking,"Enough talk. Spill the beans sista'!" I hear ya. Don't get your girdle in a twist. I can only type so fast and then I need more chocolate to keep up my strength.We've discussed this phenomenon in depth among the ladies and here it is.

 The unmistakable woman chocolate truth:

• Truth: Never underestimate the power of a woman who needs to eat chocolate and still fit into her jeans. It's an evil vortex of genius.
•  Truth: All  really bad  female headaches can only be cured by rubbing an intense dark sea salt soiree bar in the mouth and counting to 100.
•  Truth: The secret cure  to female moodiness that has baffled husbands for years is to do a choc-incantation while holding a chocolate doughnut with each index finger for added balance. This incantation must be done while wearing chocolate ceremonial garb...

•  Woman wearing ceremonial garb must also be  watching at least 2 hours of Pride and Prejudice...particular during a certain cycle of the moon that will only be discussed in secret woman circles (in hushed tones) for fear that men will actually understand us.

 **Men Please note: there are 3 days in the month that men must never question the seemingly evil chocolate force that overtakes a girl and can only be cured by creamy smooth dark squares of chocolate taken orally...and alone. Let her hide in a closet undisturbed during this phase and you will find peace in the land. Deny her chocolate during this phase...and sleep on the couch with a pillow over your...never mind. I've been told that during menopause this phase is extended from 3 days to 3 years. I'm getting a villa in France for that phase Here.

 To my husband Ace, I'm sorry. 3 years is a long time but I think it would be better if you didn't see me like that. Knowing Ace, he'll probably follow me anyway and just pat my shoulder and say (in a hushed tone), "poor, poor, thing." {By the way if you've never seen my favorite movie Harvey then that last "poor, poor, thing" won't mean a thing to you.}
 There is however, the very high chance that Ace will  throw  his hands in the air and say, "FINE!#$*%***# Have it your way Mrs. INSANE!!...France is really nice this time of year!"  



Here we go ladies. It is time to be sucked into the vortex of evil genius. I sense there is still some good in you. { Giggle. Giggle.}
Chef Tess' Chocolate Waffles of Woman's Divine Happiness

2 cups 9 Grain Baking Mix or My homemade bisquick
1/2 c baker's cocoa
1 tsp Sweet Leaf Stevia Drops stevia drops (I love the vanilla or hazelnut flavored ones)
1/3 cup Whole egg powder or 3/4 cup egg whites or 3 eggs
1/2 tsp grated orange zest (optional)
1 3/4 cup water (use only 1 1/4 cup water if you use real egg)

Directions: Combine all ingredients.

Vanilla creme stevia drops are perhaps my favorite.

 Bake in a well oiled waffle iron. Serve warm with any sugar-free fruit topping of your choice. I use mashed fresh strawberries, and some frozen raspberries topped with some toasted walnuts and banana. 

 Eat chocolate waffles on any day that you as a female crave chocolate. That would be, of course, any day that ends in the letter "y"...As in " y-not eat chocolate today"...and "y-question my authority as a woman?"Wait. She's just using the letter "Y" in place of the word "why". What a dork.

There you go. Make chocolate waffles. Fit in your jeans still. Your training is complete.

Always My Very Best,

Your Friend Chef Tess

Homemade Chicken and Wild Rice Mix

It's whole grain Wednesday and today I'm focusing on one of my all time favorites! 

I received an e-mail a month or so ago from a gal wanting to know if I had ever had the chicken and wild rice side dish boxed mix using the parboiled rice. I'm not going to say the name-brand but most people in America know what it is. Well, I had seen it but never really tried it.  She wanted to know if it could be made from scratch and if that would save money using bulk rice instead of buying the pre-made mix.   If you already have rice, this is a great way to save money. This is also a great way to control the ingredients and sodium of the dish. 

I'm of course adding this to my already very popular money-saving better-for-you mix section we call Make a Mix ! 

My friends at North Bay Trading Company sent me this beautiful bag of Canadian Organic Wild Rice and asked if I'd try it out. 

 I'm not going to lie, I love wild rice. I love the excellent Glycemic Index and Nutritional Information for wild rice. If you find it with the nutritious black outer hull it is optimal for good health. North Bay has proven to me that theirs is fantastic! I loved everything about their harvesting methods and certifications as well! Here are the details from their website:

 Canadian Organic Wild Rice— naturally grown and wild harvested in Canada's pristine northern lakes.

• A premium quality wild rice with a jumbo grain that is 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch or more in length.
• Wild rice, an aquatic grass seed, is high in protein when compared to other white rice and grains.
• GMO-free, gluten-free.
• Certified Kosher by United Mehadrin Kosher.
• Click on our photo slides for more insight on this wild rice.
• Harvesting Info: We ensure perfection in flavor, preservation of nutrition, and prevention of molding. We do not harvest early, as this results in a collection of immature, pale wild rice. We preserve the nutritious black outer hull. (Some processors remove the black hull to obtain a shorter cook time.) Also, we dry the rice properly, which prevents the moldy aroma sometimes found with other wild rice.

Organic wild rice certification: Certified organic by MCIA 

Common wild rice uses: Makes a great side dish as well as a base for entrees and salads. Also often used as a major ingredient in soups, stews, and casseroles.

Packaging: Bagged selections are in resealable poly bags. Bulk box orders use sealed plastic bag inside sturdy cardboard box.

GMO-free: This wild wild rice is not genetically modified.

One cup of cooked wild rice has:

 166 calories, 35 carbs, 5 grams of fiber and is a low Glycemic index of 16. 

In this recipe, I'm combining the wild rice with parboiled rice. This rice is nutritionally very similar to brown rice but without the fiber intact. From what I've studied about it, the parboiling process is supposed to force the nutrients into the starch. I just know that my family loves it and the nutritional information for parboiled rice gives it a great low glycemic index of 22. 

 Each one cup mix can be stored in a half-pint mason jar up to 2 years if kept in a cool dry place. If you use an food-grade oxygen absorber in the jars, the shelf life will be greatly extended.  I haven't tested the shelf-life of good wild rice yet so I can't give anyone a real definitive answer. From what I've read, because it is a cereal grain like wheat, it has a pretty long shelf-life (wild rice shelf life information).  

Chef Tess Homemade Chicken and Wild Rice Mix
In a baggie or half-pint mason jar combine:

1/3 cup Canadian Organic Wild Rice
2/3 cup parboiled rice
1-2 tsp low sodium (no MSG) chicken bouillon
2 tsp onion powder
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp turmeric

Directions: Bring 2 1/4 cups water to a boil. Add rice mixture and cover. Reduce heat to very low and simmer 30 minutes. Turn off heat after 30 minutes and allow to steam an additional 10 minutes if needed. 
*Chef note: the cooking time on this is different from the quick boxed mix because of the use of real high-quality wild rice.

 There you go! Make some delicious homemade chicken and wild rice!

Always My Very Best,
Your Friend Chef Tess

CTB Delicious Homemade Buttermilk Eggnog Mix

Cheers from CTB (Chef Tess Bakeresse)! It is getting close to New Year's Eve and for us that means eggnog. Nog! My darling little freaks of nature   the "boys-ohs" will beg for it every single time I stop at a grocery store or convenience store.  They love the thick sweet spiced milky drink.  Everyone has their own version of this luscious creamy delight. Before we get into the nog though...I have to give you some Christmas updates.

 We moved into our new house. That was an adventure. When I say new house, I mean new-to-us. In all reality, we moved into the Brady Bunch house from 1973. Seriously. I'm so exited about the stove...among other things.

There wasn't a zombie Apocalypse 

(hooray for that, I was out of ammo and fresh brains)... Ace barely survived Christmas morning.

 I got the traditional mother's gift. In pink...and fuzzy. I'm a sucker for foot-garb.

The Test Kitchen is back. 
I got a lot of much needed sleep (I'm also a sucker for sleep-garb) while Ace organized the test kitchen and affixed many shelves and stuff to the office. Bless his ever-screw-affixin'-heart. I'm very happy to report that I'm now back in business and yes, it will take me a while to catch up on the e-mail! That being said, thank you all for the well wishes and love. It has been such a wonderful adventure!
 Tara is Gone and Chicklet is Visiting.

Evil Tara has been my go-to girl when it comes to updating the facebook pages and I'm so thankful for her help the last few weeks as I've been offline!  In case you missed the news, Evil Tara (AKA  my darling friend and awesome marketing director here at CTB) is traveling to Paris this week (no doubt eating amazing chocolates,cheeses, and croissants)...and I made sure she had some good meals to go with her in her luggage (as if she really needs more food in Paris). I swear, it was the only way I could make it to France this year!  In case you missed it this is the link: How to make mylar packed just add water meals for camping and travel.

Evil Tara's dog Chicklet is here taking over the kingdom. 

 All hail!  She's been getting way too much attention from my son Face, who insists that the little princess doesn't need to get her feet cold on the patio. He'll sit there until his own little rump is numb. Bless his heart. 

Oh hey, we also got a really cool vintage Coke machine for Christmas. What do you think? Why are you reading this tiny print anyway?

 Evil Queen Chicklet, with her delicate little paws, has also not had to even walk around the yard.  She is getting very spoiled here at the Petersen Dog Resort. " Faster my cute little-boy-minion! " Now, I realize she can walk around just fine. I'm having a hard time convincing my son otherwise.  Our yard is now a full half-acre. What shall we do with that much space?!I will be hard-pressed to separate the two pals when Evil Queen Chicklet does have to leave.

Now on to the Nog.  My main idea for this mix came when a gal asked me if I had a good recipe for eggnog she could make for her son who was overseas with the military. It broke my heart to tell her, "no I don't." I've been feverishly perfecting this recipe since that time. I don't think it will make it to her son in time for Christmas, since it is already passed, but hopefully it will bless a few lives in the future.
As a random side note, So far, we haven't given Chicklet any eggnog. I'm told that little doggies get the doggie toots when they drink milk? Is there any truth to that? I don't know. I don't want to find out. I'm happy not knowing if the dog will get violent silent...never-mind.  In the meantime, we've been making a lot of eggnog for the humans.  This is a basic shelf-stable mix that is just add water and one that is wonderful hot or cold. I'm personally partial to a hot cup of  spiced eggnog with a piece of 6 grain cranberry oatmeal bread.  Yes, this instead of hot cocoa (Did I just say that out loud? I swear if you dare tell my love Chocolate that I've been kissing a mug of nog, I'll deny it...)

I use whole egg and creamy buttermilk powders because they are pasteurized and shelf stable. I love the use of the sour cream powder as well for added richness.  The ultra-gel works as a thickener in the mixture to add some body (and is what is used in instant pudding mixes).  This mix is good up to 3 years when stored in an oxygen free environment. 

CTB Delicious Homemade Buttermilk Eggnog Mix

2 cups  instant non-fat dry milk
1/2 cup buttermilk powder
2 cups sugar or sugar free alternative like granular erythritol
1/2 cup  powdered whole egg
1 cup ultra gel (optional)
1/2 cup powdered sour cream
1T  vanilla powder

1 T LorAnn Rum Bakery Emulsion
1/2 tsp salt
1T Chef Tess Wise Woman of the East Spice blend chef-tess-spices
1 tsp Orange Brandy (grand-marnier-type) flavored oil
1 tsp fresh nutmeg, fine ground

To make the mix: 
Combine all dry ingredients. Slowly drizzle the baker's emulsion and brandy oil into the dry mix and whisk well until well combined.

I'm partial to fresh ground nutmeg. My kiddos sometimes can be found carrying them in their pant pockets...because they're as weird as their mother. Officially. 

To make the eggnog:
Combine 1/2 cup of the eggnog mix with 1 cup warm water (or more, depending on how thick/thin you like your eggnog). Chill for 2 hours for cold egg nog or serve hot for those who like to kiss mugs of hot nog. 

There you go. Make some delicious homemade buttermilk eggnog mix! 

Always My Very Best,
Your Friend Chef Tess

Amazing Happy Homemade Holiday Gifts That Won't Break the Bank

We have a Christmas tradition of going into the Fox 10 studio for a quick segment every December. Many years have been filled with great ideas to save money and time for those simple gifts from the heart that only you can give. Tomorrow I'll be on Fox 10 at 9:45 AM to share my favorite personal ideas for Hostess gifts...that aren't Twinkies and cupcakes (since we can't get those anymore anyway and they just make you fat). You know the hostess gift is the sweet little gesture you give to the gal or guy having the party to say, "Thanks for thinking I'm cool enough to invite to your little shin-dig. I think you're pretty swanky yourself." 

One of my favorite new Holiday Mix videos just got finished! Here it is!Tropical Mango Berry Cobbler Mix in a Jar...


Here are a few more post links and ideas!

Evil Genius 7 Holiday Cookie Mixes in One

Whole Grain for the Holidays! Cookies and Bars on Fox 10

Gifts of Impeccable Taste (Holiday Mix Class Notes and Printable)

Neighbor Gift Ideas for Christmas!

 Holiday Soup and Gravy Mix (The 101)

Infused Holiday Vinegar Tutorial

Homemade Strawberry Almond Milkshake Fudge Mix and Peanut

Chef Tess Magic Fudge Mix

Fruit Crisp Mix

There you go! Make some great and extremely cool personal gifts this year!  I'll be sure to post the video link from Fox 10 as soon as it is available! 

Always My Very Best,
Your Friend Chef Tess

Homemade Condensed Cheesy Soup Mix and a Meal in a Jar

As for today...this is a cheesy post. I'm just Oozin' with it. Actually...I should never really use the word "oozin'" when I'm talking about food right?  Is oozin' a word? If it is then it is a word that should only be reserved for medical journals. No. I think it applies to food. I think cheese can be (and should be) oozin'...but in a totally delectable non-weird Patch Adams kind-of-way. For instance, in a proper mess of Green Chile-Bacon Baked Macaroni and Cheese when it is in its golden perfection straight from the oven with a crisp crunching topping and the cheese is melty and gooey and divine with smoky nibbles of bacon and chunks of spicy green chilies...there is certainly some remarkable, life-changing oozing going on. Am I right?

Why do I bring up the cheese?

Well, I got a really fun e-mail from my friend Zak on the Cookin' Cousins that he had received from one of their readers. He said, "I have a blog reader that has been using your condensed cream soup mix recipe and was wondering if she could make condensed cream of cheddar soup by adding some freeze dried cheese. If so, she was wondering if you have a recipe for that."

Previously on their fabulous food storage blog, I showed how to make a really simple condensed soup mix that works outstandingly well for replacing a can of soup in casseroles and "what-not". Remember this recipe?

Tess' Condensed Soup replacement Mix

Ingredients:
1/4 c Corn Starch or 1/3 cup ultra-gel
2 tsp chicken bouillon/stock granules
1 T  freeze dried onion
1/4 instant non-fat dry milk
2T  sour cream powder
1/2 tsp Chef Tess All Purpose Seasoning

Directions: Combine mix with 1 1/4 cups water whisking over medium heat.

Heat until thick, about 5 minutes. It will thicken more as it cool so don't add a lot of extra thickener or you'll end up with glue.

Yes. It does weigh just about the same amount as the contents of one small can of cream-o-gunk soup. Give or take 1/2 an ounce. I'm not worried. By the way,if you use ultra gel, you can skip the cooking step and just combine the full mix with the 1 1/4 cups warm water using a wire whisk. It will thicken in about 5 minutes. Yes. You did just make instant condensed soup pudding. Mmm...

*Chef note: Cornstarch will lose it's ability to thicken once frozen, opt for Ultra gel for freezer sauces.
Cream of mushroom: Crush 1/4 cup Freeze Dried Mushroom Slices down to 2 T crushed freeze dried mushrooms. Add to your mix.
Cream of Celery: Add 2 T  Freeze Dried Celery to the mix.

Today I'm adding some Cheese. Brace yourselves for evil-genius. 

To make condensed cheese soup you have two options: 

Option 1:  Replace the cornstarch or ultra-gel with 1/3 cup powdered cheese sauce. It will hydrate the same as the above recipe, but be cheesy. I like this one because it is just so stinkin' simple. You do not even need to heat the mix, just add water, stir and let it sit about 5 minutes. It will thicken and be ready to use.

Option 2: Use 1/2 cup Freeze Dried Cheddar Cheese with the mix. Have you ever tried our amazing Freeze Dried Cheese ? It is totally wicked! Um...in the most righteous kind-of-way. Yes. It tastes like cheese, cooks like cheese and works like cheese. It IS cheese. The only ingredient in the can is cheese.

Add the freeze dried cheese to the dry mix. Hydrate the entire mixture with the normal 1 1/4 cup of water. Stir over low heat until the cheese dissolves and you have a beautiful non-lumpy cheese-oozin' divine sauce of happiness. 


To make it into a cheese soup: 

Use 1 3/4 cup water with the condensed cheese soup mix. Add 1 cup of hydrated freeze dried vegetables of your choice. 


OR for a dry vegetable cheese soup mix:

1 batch of the condensed cheese soup mix (above)

with  3/4 cup freeze-dried vegetables (of your choice). 

Directions: use 2 1/4 cup water to hydrate the entire cheese soup. You may use less or more water depending on how thick you like your cheese soup. Simmer over low heat about 15 minutes, stirring often. Does that make simple sense?

This condensed cheese soup can, of course, be used to make something as simple as a meal in a jar that we call Cheeseburger "Helper". 

Chef Tess Cheeseburger Hamburger Skillet meal in a Jar

Ingredients:

1 batch of Chef Tess' condensed soup mix (above)
1/2 cup  Freeze Dried Cheddar Cheese
2 cups elbow macaroni
½ cup  Freeze Dried Ground Beef
1/4 tsp turmeric (for color)

Directions: Put all ingredients in a quart jar with an oxygen absorber and seal tightly. 

To prepare Cheeseburger Skillet Meal: Put contents of mix in a 12 inch skillet (with a lid) Add 6 cup hot water. Bring to a boil and cover. Simmer 12-15 minutes until noodles are tender. Sauce will thicken a little more as it cools. Yield 6 cups prepared. 4 servings. 1 1/2 cup each. 365 calories. 6 grams fat.

There you go my darlings! Make some easy cheesy condensed soup. Enjoy!

• If you want more recipes for meals in a jar go here: 52 Method Meals in a Jar. 
• For the safety and basics on meals in a jar go here:  Emergency Preparedness and Everyday Convenience COMPLETE Meal- in-A-Jar Mixes (7 day Menu). 




Always My Very Best,
Your Friend Chef Tess

I am no longer the corporate chef for Honeyville but we still love them dearly. My family is greatly blessed and relies heavily on the extra money brought in by sales tracked back to this site. This is also the company that packages and sells my spice line as well as my food storage cookbooks. Thank you so very much for your support. Xoxo!