MRE RECIPE: Chicken Ranch Spread

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Now... to the recipe!

I love this one.  I created it for my son, but find it is convenient for me to fix an easy and protein-packed lunch.  I add diced tomatoes, diced bell peppers and scallions to mine for even more nutrients and satisfaction.  I pair it with my dehydrated flax protein crackers (recipe coming next week) and it's a delicious healthy meal for my weight-loss program.

I thought of it one day as I was trying to come up with something to store-back for my son, the picky eater. He'll eat SOME chicken things, and he'll eat bacon bits (the real kind) by the bowl-full, every day. He is also a cheese-hound, and the only dressing he'll eat is Ranch.  We've slowly introduced variations of these, and this is one of them.  So glad he'll eat this, which is a version of a ranch club wrap. Full of protein (with celery sneaked in for him), he can use it as a dip or spread to rehydrate whenever wants the taste, and munch it with some chips, crackers or veggies.  He loves it! 

He won't touch anything "onion-y" but if you like scallions, add them in, along with bits of other veggies.  Don't add too much, or you'll lose the chicken/bacon/ranch taste!

As always, ingredients are freeze-dried, dehydrated, or otherwise, shelf-stable.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup chicken dices

¼ cup bacon bits
¼ cup diced celery
¼ cup shredded dried cheddar cheese
¼ cup powdered sour cream
2 tbsp powdered ranch dressing
s & p to taste

Directions:
Combine all ingredients and place in a jar or storage bag.  Include an oxygen obsorber and seal tightly.  Label it.  Keep it out of light, heat and humidity. 

When ready to use, add approximately 1/2 to 3/4 cups of boiling water, seal and let rehydrate for 10-20 minutes.  (You may need to experiment with the amount of water.) 

Spread on tortillas or dip with fresh veggies, chips or crackers.

Notes:
We don't add salt or MSG to our food, so I leave them out usually. Unfortunately, using the pre-made ranch dressing powder, we couldn't help it.  We also don’t eat black pepper when we can avoid it.

Give it a try YOUR way, and leave your comments below as to how it tasted for you.

If this is too bland for you, feel free to add those diced scallions, diced green peppers or tomatoes, powdered garlic, or anything else.  Remember to bump up the water if you add more ingredients.

Makes 1 serving.
Copyright (c) 2015 Vikki Lawrence
This is tasting recipe for my book. Please do not copy or and absolutely do NOT share this recipe. For your personal use only.

MRE RECIPE: KFC-Like Original Recipe Chicken

KFC-Like Chicken:

I love Kentucky Fried Chicken, but in most cases, it is so greasy. And I usually just want to eat the skin because it’s so delicious. Nope, soooo not healthy.   But now, for those of us working to be more healthy, I think I've come up with a taste substitute for KFC chicken.

I have been experimenting with KFC copycat recipes, trying to convert them to an instant meal, and I think I might be close for Original Recipe chicken. I need your help to experiment.

Ingredients:
1 cup pre-cooked freeze-dried chicken pieces
2 tbsp Accent (MSG seasoning)
1 tbsp buttermilk powder
1 tbsp all purpose flour
1 tbsp sweet paprika
1 tbsp onion powder
1-2 tsp salt
1 tsp instant egg powder
1 tsp ground oregano
1 tsp dried sage
1 tsp dried basil
1 tsp dried marjoram
1 tsp ground black pepper
1 tsp garlic powder
½ tsp chili powder

Directions:
Combine everything except chicken until completely mixed.  Add dried chicken and toss again. Store in a tightly sealed container, keeping out moisture, light and oxygen.

When ready to eat, rehydrate with 2 cups of boiling water. Could take a little more or less, depending on humidity, etc.  Allow to sit, covered, for at least 10-20 minutes. Drain extra, although the flour, egg powder and buttermilk powder should thicken the extra water into a nice flavorful sauce.
Notes:
I don’t like using MSG / Accent and I don’t like much salt in our food, so I leave them out usually. We also don’t eat black pepper when we can avoid it.

Give it a try YOUR way, and leave your comments below as to how it tasted for you.  Feel free to top this onto some instant mashed potatoes (with or without butter powder). Maybe make a side of cole slaw or corn.

To Make Gluten-Free:
To make gluten-free, replace the flour with arrow-root powder or chia seeds or ground flax meal (to thicken). Check the other ingredients to make sure they are all gluten-free.

To Make Dairy-Free:
To make dairy-free, eliminate the buttermilk powder. It will taste a little different but give it a try anyway.

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Makes 1 serving.

Copyright (c) 2015 Vikki Lawrence
Do not copy or share this recipe. For your personal use only.

MRE Recipe: Caribbean Coconut Chicken

Caribbean Coconut Chicken: This is so delicious, nutritious and very filling. Yes, the coconut has fat, but it's a healthy fat. Eat this worry-free!

 

Dairy-Free. Gluten-Free. Make as spicy as you'd like. I personally don't care for a lot of spice but my husband can tolerate a lot!

 

Remember, all ingredients are shelf stable, freeze-dried and/or dehydrated.

 

Ingredients:
Baggie 1:
1/2 cup instant rice (or rice you pre-cooked and dehydrated)
½ tsp turmeric (optional)

Baggie 2:
1/2 cup chicken dices
1 tbsp scallions
½ cup dehydrated strips of orange bell pepper [or red, yellow or green]
½ cup dehydrated carrot strips
1 tsp garlic flakes or powder
3 tbsp powdered coconut milk
3 tbsp sweetened coconut flakes
pinch hot red pepper flakes
salt and pepper to taste (we leave them out)

Directions:
Rehydrate Baggie 1 with ½ cup boiling water (more or less).  Rehydrate Baggie 2 with 1 ½ cups boiling water.  Let sit until completely reconstituted.  Serve chicken mixture on top of rice.

Options:
1. Add ¼ cup of dehydrated halved cherry tomatoes to Baggie 2.  You will need to increase the amount of boiling water for this bag.  

2. Add 1 tbsp of tomato powder to Baggie 2.

Remember that all ingredients are freeze-dried, dehydrated, or otherwise, shelf-stable.

Be sure to let me know how you like this recipe!

Cost of Ingredients

We are almost out of freeze-dried beef chunks, beef crumbles, chicken and turkey, so I went online to take advantage of sales. Couldn't believe the prices! How much did I really spend last year when I got all of the meats plus other ingredients, like artichoke powder?

Money is really tight this year. Lots of medical problems, surgeries, and more. Can't afford to restock our meats. So what shall I do?

I hit the grocery store.

• Cans of chicken and other meats now reside in our pantry. Including Spam (hubby's choice, not mine!)
• We already had lots of tiny and whole grain pasta, instant rice and potato flakes.
• Endless supplies of oats!
• Have lots of spices.
• I had bought, in the Spring, a giant bag of soup veggies from Vitamin Cottage, so in addition to those I dehydrated this past Summer, we're good for veggies.
• Fruits, stocked up from dehydrating and from www.justtomatoes.com

My point is ... if you don't have the money to buy freeze-dried meats, look through your grocery store. Maybe buy some cheap fresh meats, cook and dehydrate according to your dehydrator's instructions.

There IS a way to eat healthy, on a budget, using shelf-stable ingredients.

So tomorrow's dinner...

No, wait! It's my son's birthday tomorrow.

THURSDAY's dinner is chicken noodle soup. Gonna make it in my big crockpot. Easy to take the ingredients to make over a campfire. You'll notice there is no onion in this. Yeah, my son doesn't like onion. I'll add some to mine and hubby's portion.

• 1 can chicken
• 1 box whole wheat rotini
• 1 cup dehydrated soup vegetables
• 2 tablespoons low-sodium chicken bouillon
• 1 tablespoon garlic granules (from Sam's)
• Season to taste (sometimes I add turmeric because it's so healthy).
• Add 4 cups of water. Stir. Heat until pasta is cooked through and al dente / tender.

Enjoy!

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Sorry I haven't been posting regularly. Preparing for an upcoming knee replacement surgery. Please be patient!

MRE RECIPE: Cajun Gumbo

Many years ago, I had the pleasure of driving through Louisiana. I made a point to stop in the French Quarter, and tasted my first gumbo. So very yummy.

This recipe is so delicious and super-easy to make. Add freeze-dried cooked shrimp if you'd like. Spice it up or tone it down. Your choice.

Ingredients:
1/4 cup instant rice (brown or white)
2 Tbs dried diced sausage
2 Tbs dried diced chicken
1 Tbs diced onion
1 Tbs diced bell pepper
1 Tbs diced celery
1 tsp powdered chicken broth (or 1 chicken bouillon cube)
1 tsp Creole seasoning
1/2 tsp garlic powder
Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:
Combine all and store in water-proof air-tight container/bag. When ready to eat, add 1-2 cups of boiling or very hot water. (Amount will depend if you want it soupy or quite thick.) Stir. Cover. Let sit approx 20 minutes, or until all ingredients have reconstituted.  Stir and enjoy!

Note:
If you can't find a freeze-dried or dehydrated version of your favorite sausage, do it yourself! Just thinly slice, cook, then drain/pat away every bit of fat, and dehydrate at a high temp. Check regularly to see if any more fat is accumulating, and if it is, pat it off.  When the sausage is super crispy and dry (not greasy), it should be ready.

Another Note:
Lots of people put okra in their gumbo. Finding dehydrated okra is impossible (if you know a source, please please tell us in the comments below!). So, here's a tip about dehydrating okra: freeze it. That way, it won't get all oooey goooey. So... freeze till almost solid, slice thinly, place on dehydrator sheets, and dehydrate at around 115 degrees F till crispy.  Frozen to dehydrated, with a brief stop in between.

Notes:

• Dairy-Free: naturally
• Gluten-Free: naturally
• Low-Carb: If you eliminate the rice, this is low-carb.
• Low-Sugar: naturally
• Nightshade-Free: If you eliminate the bell peppers, this is nightshade-free. Did I miss any other nightshade ingredient?

MRE RECIPE: Indian Chicken Curry - Murghkari

Woo doggy! This is yummy!

Ingredients:
1 cup chicken dices
1/2 cup onion dices
1/4 cup tomato dices
2 tbsp tomato powder
2 tbsp milk powder
1 tbsp garlic powder
1 tbsp ground ginger
1 tsp curry powder
s & p to taste

Directions:
Combine and seal. When ready to prepare, add enough boiling water to make a thick creamy dish (approx 1 1/2 to 2 cups).  Serve with flatbread (naan) or rice. Garnish with cilantro leaves.

Notes:

• Dairy-Free: use rice or coconut milk powder instead of cow or goat milk powder.
• Gluten-Free: naturally. Serve with rice instead of flatbread.
• Low-Carb: naturally, if not served with bread or rice.
• Low-Sugar: naturally.

MRE RECIPE: Spicy Lime Cilantro Chicken

Although I really don't like cilantro, I have prepared this dish for people who do, and they like it! Make it as spicy as you prefer.

Ingredients:
1/2 cup chicken in small pieces
1 tbsp cilantro
1 tsp lime zest
1 tsp lime powder
1 tsp hot pepper dices (jalapeno, habanero, etc)
1/2 tsp butter powder
1/2 tsp garlic powder
s & p to taste

Directions:
Combine and seal. When ready to prepare, add 3/4 cups of boiling water. More if necessary, to get it into a thick consistency (not soupy). Serve with tortillas or chips.

Notes:

• Although I have found freeze-dried jalapeno bits, I haven't found store-bought freeze-dried or dehydrated habanero or other hot peppers. I suggest you do them yourself, if you like super-hot chilies! Slice thin, spread on a sheet in a single layer, and dehydrate. Suggestion: dehydrate in your garage or outside because the oils and heat will spice up your air!
• Lime powder is available online but you can make your own lime (and lemon) powder and zest. Zest a clean organic citrus fruit and dehydrate the strips (store as strips). For powder, thinly slice the whole clean organic citrus fruit and dehydrate the slices (store as slices for teas, etc or powder for recipes).
• Gluten-free: recipe is gluten-free. Serve on gf tortillas/wraps (corn, amaranth, etc) or chips. I like blue corn non-gmo chips from the health food store.
• Low-sugar: none in this recipe! 
• Low-carb: naturally, but bump up the meat if you need more protein.

MRE RECIPE: Asian Chicken Cashew

This is one of my favorite recipes. Cashews make almost everything taste better!  Give this a try.

Ingredients:
1/4 cup chicken chunks or bits
1/2 cup instant rice
1 tbsp garlic powder or flakes
1 tbsp green onions / scallions
1 tbsp cashew pieces (toasted or raw)
1 tbsp bell pepper dices
1 tbsp carrot bits
1 tbsp water chestnuts
1 tbsp sesame seeds
1 tsp brown sugar
1 beef bouillon cube
pinch red pepper flakes

Directions:
Combine and seal. Reconstitute with 1 1/2 cups (or more) of boiling water. Should be delightfully thick!

Notes:

• Nightshade-Free: If you can't handle nightshades, eliminate the bell and hot peppers.
• Dairy-Free: naturally
• Gluten-Free: naturally but make sure the rice is gluten-free
• Low-Carb: naturally, except for brown sugar. Leave it out if you need to.
• Low-Sugar: naturally, except for the brown sugar that you can leave out if you'd like.
• Dehydrates the water chestnuts yourself (make sure sliced thin).
• Instead of using a bouillon cube, make your own beef stock, simmer until reduced and thick, then spread out thin and dehydrate.
• If planning to store this for a long time, leave out the cashews and seeds. Add them in when preparing to eat.

MRE RECIPE: Creamy Broccoli Chicken and Rice

Hubby LOVES this dish, especially when I make it dairy-free with rice or goat milk powder. Feel free to add more veggies, if you'd like.

Ingredients:
1/4 cup white or brown rice
1/4 cup dehydrated broccoli
1/4 cup dehydrated chunk chicken
2-3 tbsp goat or rice milk powder
1/4 to 1/2 tsp garlic powder
s & p to taste

Directions:
Combine and seal. To prepare for eating, reconstitute with 1 1/2 cups of boiling water. Stir, cover, and let sit for 15-20 minutes, until everything is moist and tender.

Notes:

• Dairy-Free: naturally, unless you use powdered cow milk.
• Gluten-Free: naturally
• Low-Sugar: Naturally
• Low-Carb: Instead of using rice, you could substitute zoodles (strips of zucchini, dehydrated, used like noodles).
• Nightshade-Free: No potato, tomato or eggplant.