{Made With Bliss} Handmade with Bliss in Indonesia & Around the World

Homemade Buttermilk Substitute

2010-09-24T13:03:00.000-07:00

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Total Time: 5 minutes

Ingredients:

Milk (just under one cup)
1 Tablespoon white vinegar or lemon juice

Preparation:

1. Place a Tablespoon of white vinegar or lemon juice in a liquid measuring cup.
2. Add enough milk to bring the liquid up to the one-cup line.
3. Let stand for five minute. Then, use as much as your recipe calls for.

Very Email Address & Check IP

2010-09-24T08:46:00.000-07:00

Want to validate email addresses easily? Our free email verifier is exactly what you need. With our "verify email address" tool, you can easily verify an email address and confirm if it is valid, properly formatted and really exists, please check out: http://www.verifyemailaddress.org/

If you continuously receive spam comments or inappropriate comments from a particular commenter, you can block an entire IP address from your blog. You can check their IP by using this one: http://tools.whois.net/whoisbyip/

Homemade Brown Sugar

2010-09-23T13:00:00.000-07:00

Difficulty: Easy

Time Required: 5 minutes

What You Need:

Sugar
Molasses

Here's How:

Measure one cup of granulated sugar and one tablespoon of molasses into a mixing bowl.
Stir with a fork until completely mixed. Your brown sugar is now ready for use!

Tips:

To make dark brown sugar, increase the molasses to two tablespoons.

Homemade Heavy Cream

2010-09-22T12:58:00.000-07:00

Prep Time: 2 minutes

Total Time: 2 minutes

Ingredients:

3/4 cup milk
1/3 cup butter

Preparation:

1. Melt the butter.
2. Pour it into the milk, and stir.
3. Use in place of one cup of heavy cream.

Note: This substitute while not whip.

Tip: If you use low-fat milk, add a tablespoon of flour to the mixture to thicken.

Homemade Ciabatta Bread

2010-09-21T14:05:00.000-07:00

What you need:

3 Cups Bread Flour
1 Teaspoon Salt
1 Sachet Activated Dry Yeast (7 grams)
2 Teaspoons Olive Oil (Extra Virgin is best)
2 - 2 1/2 Cups Warm Water

What to do:

1. Add dry ingredients to a large mixing bowl and give a good dry mix to blend ingredients.

2. Add the oil and water. Hold some of the water in reserve and add later if needed. You are aiming for a very soft sticky dough. Mix for about 10 minutes if mixing by hand, 5 minutes is plenty if using a mixer.

3. Place the dough in a large plastic container with a lid. Any container that will hold the dough is fine, you can cover with cling wrap instead of a lid if needed. Just make sure the dough has room to double in size. Dust the container very well with lots of flour. Divide the dough into 2 portions. Simply pour/scrape the dough, placing half in each side of your container. Dust the dough and shape into a rectangular form. This will help with folding later.

4. Cover the dough and let it stand (prove) for about an hour, or until it doubles in size.

5. Now uncover and dust the dough pieces. Make sure you have some flour on your hands as well for the next step. Fold the top and bottom of the dough piece into the middle. Now fold each side into the middle. Gently flatten the dough and shape into rectangular form again. Do the same for both dough pieces. Now cover, and let stand until the dough doubles in size again, about 1 hour.

6. Repeat the folding again for each dough piece, remember to use plenty of flour. Flatten, cover and let it prove one more time, until again it doubles in size.

7. Pre-heat your oven to 450 F. Grease a large baking tray. Now lift each dough piece and stretch to the length of the baking tray. Place the dough on the tray.

8. Bake in your hot oven for around 30 minutes or until golden brown and crusty.

Homemade Fresh Tomato Ketchup

2010-09-19T17:07:00.000-07:00

Homemade Fresh Tomato Ketchup

5 lbs ripe red tomatoes, quartered
3 medium red onions, finely chopped
1 red bell pepper, cored, seeded and chopped
1 garlic clove, thinly sliced
1 T black peppercorns
1 T mustard seeds
1 T allspice berries
1 tsp whole cloves
2 tsp celery seeds
1 thin slice fresh ginger
½ cinnamon stick
2 bay leaves
½ c packed dark brown sugar
1 tsp sweet paprika
2/3 cup apple cider vinegar
1 tsp coarse salt
Large pinch cayenne

Quarter tomatoes the evening before, place in strainer and allow to drain over night to release excess water.
Place tomatoes, onions, bell pepper and garlic in a large pot. Bring to boil over high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are very soft about 30 minutes. Pass through a food mill 2 or 3 times starting with a course blade and working to the finest blade until you have a very smooth puree. Alternatively, puree in a blender until smooth and pass through a fine strainer into a large bowl.

Place peppercorns through bay leaves on a piece of cheesecloth and tie it up to form a bag. Add to tomato mixture along with brown sugar, paprika, vinegar, salt and cayenne. Simmer slowly stirring frequently until ketchup is very thick, at least 2 hours. Remove cheesecloth bag.

Store in refrigerator at all times. Lasted up to 6 months, but you can always make it in a smaller batch.

Homemade Natural Mold Buster

2010-09-18T15:27:00.000-07:00

Tea Tree Spray:

2 teaspoons of tea tree oil
2 cups of water

Shake the solution together in a spray bottle and spritz on moldy areas. Let it sit without rinsing.

Grapefruit Seed Spray:

20 drops of grapefruit seed extract
2 cups of water

Like the Tea Tree Treasure, shake the solution together in a spray bottle and spritz on problem areas. Again, let it sit without rinsing to let it work its magic.

Vinegar Spray:

Pour white distilled vinegar straight into a spray bottle without diluting with water. Spritz offending spots and let it sit without rinsing. It’ll smell strong but will dissipate in a few hours time—along with the mold!

Homemade Sourdough Bread

2010-09-18T14:01:00.000-07:00

Starter:

1 c. milk
1 c. flour

Place in glass jar or crock pot and let stand for 24 hours at room temperature. Stir in 1 cup flour. Leave mixture uncovered in warm place for 3 days or until bubbly and sour. Remember: If you want to continue to bake sourdough bread with the starter mixture, replace every cup of starter used with 1 cup of flour. Let stand until sour. Store in the refrigerator until you are ready to use.

Quick Sourdough Bread:

1/2 c. warm water
1 c. starter
5 - 6 c. Unbleach all purpose flour/nut flour
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 pkg. active dry yeast
3 tsp. sugar/honey
1 1/2 tsp. salt

What to do:

Mix warm water and yeast in large bowl. Add starter, 4 cups flour, salt and sugar. Stir for 3 minutes. Place in greased bowl, cover with a damp towel and let rise in a warm place until doubled (1 1/2 to 2 hours). Combine baking soda and 1 cup flour and add to the dough mixture. Turn onto floured board and knead (adding remaining flour to prevent stickiness) until shiny, about 8 to 10 minutes. Dough should not be able to absorb any more flour.

Shape into 2 loaves. Place on a greased baking sheet. Cover and place in a warm place to rise until nearly doubled (1 to 1 1/2 hours). Before baking, brush outside with water and slash across top with a sharp knife. Put a shallow pan of hot water on the bottom shelf of oven. Bake in a hot oven at 400 F until the crust is medium dark brown (45 minutes).

Homemade Vegetarian Margarine

2010-09-17T19:06:00.000-07:00

What to do:

Place 1/2 cup plain soy milk/ rice milk into blender and begin to process on highest setting. While processing, through the hole in the lid, pour in the cup of oil slowly. Continue blending until the hole in the center fills in. Turn off blender and add a tiny bit of turmeric for color, a few drops of lemon juice for freshness, salt to taste (we used about 1/2 tsp of salt). Blend briefly on low to combine. Pour into airtight container and store in fridge.

Enjoy your new margarine :)

High Fructose Corn Syrup Contains Mercury

2010-09-17T15:25:00.000-07:00

Just published in the Environmental Health journal is a science commentary reporting that mercury was found in 9 of 20 samples of commercial high fructose corn syrup (HFCS), a common sweetener of foods and beverages.

Mercury is a potent brain toxin that we know accumulates in fish and seafood, although diet is not the only route by which we are exposed. When babies are exposed to elevated mercury in the womb, their brains may develop abnormally, impairing learning abilities and reducing IQ. For these youngest children, the science increasingly suggests there may be no “safe” level of exposure to mercury.

And yet for decades an increasingly common ingredient in processed foods, HFCS, has been made using mercury-grade caustic soda. The lead author of the Environmental Health study found mercury contamination in some commercial HFCS, which can be made from mercury-grade caustic soda.

Through this public scientist’s initiative, the FDA learned that commercial HFCS was contaminated with mercury. The agency has apparently done nothing to inform consumers of this fact, however, or to help change industry practice.

Mercury was found at levels several times higher than the lowest detectable limits in some snack bars, barbecue sauce, sloppy joe mix, yogurt and chocolate syrup. Although closer to the detection limit, elevated mercury levels were also found in some soda pop, strawberry jelly, catsup and chocolate milk. The top mercury detections are summarized in the table below.

Product Name	Total Mercury ppt (parts per trillion)
Quaker Oatmeal to Go	350
Jack Daniel’s Barbecue Sauce (Heinz)	300
Hershey’s Chocolate Syrup	257
Kraft Original Barbecue Sauce	200
Nutri-Grain Strawberry Cereal Bars	180
Manwich Bold Sloppy Joe	150
Market Pantry Grape Jelly	130
Smucker’s Strawberry Jelly	100
Pop-Tarts Frosted Blueberry	100
Hunt’s Tomato Ketchup	87
Wish-Bone Western Sweet & Smooth Dressing	72
Coca-Cola Classic	62
Yoplait Strawberry Yogurt	60
Minute Maid Berry Punch	40
Yoo-hoo Chocolate Drink	30
Nesquik Chocolate Milk	30
Kemps Fat Free Chocolate Milk	30

References:
1. David Wallinga, M.D., Janelle Sorensen, Pooja Mottl, Brian Yablon, M.D. Not So Sweet: Missing Mercury and High Fructose Corn Syrup. Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy.

Homemade Natural Bug & Pest Repellents

2010-09-16T15:10:00.001-07:00

#1 Pepper Spray

This works great for ants and other small pests.

Boil 2 or 3 cups of water.
Add about ½ to 2/3 cup of chopped hot pepper. Let marinate for a few minutes.
Run the mixture thru a sieve to remove the peppers.
Put the liquid in a squirt bottle and use when necessary.
Be careful not to spray directly on foliage.

#2 Minty Soap Spray

This is great for ants.

Mix 2 tbsp of Dr. Bonners mint soap with a gallon of water.
Spray directly on ants.

This will also work to ward off other pests on foliage however be care when you spray it directly on your plants. It has been known to burn some plants if too much is applied.

#3 Pure Vanilla Extract

Dab a little on you wrists, neck and behind the ears. Many insects don’t like the smell.

#4 Chem-Free Bug Off Mist

Mix witch hazel with a few drops of tea tree oil, lavender oil, or peppermint oil in a squirt bottle.
Lightly mist your body.

You can also add one of these essential oils to an unscented organic lotion for a bug repelling moisturizer.

#5 Lavender Works Mosquito Miracles

Stop the bites!

Rub a lavender flower behind your ears, wrists and neck.
Not only will you smell great but mosquitoes will leave you alone.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

There are many methods of organic pest control, such as; neem oil, orange oil and rotenone.

Orange Oil is produced by the inner glands in the rind of the fruit. Limonene is the main component in the oil and is not only used in organic pesticides but is one of the most widely used ingredients in organic pesticides.

100% Neem can protect against insects, mites and other fungus. It also acts as an anti-feedant, which will deter insects from feeding on the greenery without harming the insects. It is determined beneficial for use on flowers, gardens, ornamental in the garden, orchards or field crops. It meant to be used every two to four weeks, diluted with water and sprayed. It is non toxic to mammals, birds and other beneficial insects.

Rotenone is a well known organic pesticide that has proven to be very strong, but not very quick acting. It kills aphids, thrips, sawflies, beetles and mites. It breaks down rapidly, often within days.

Natural Repellents for Cockroaches

2010-09-16T15:08:00.000-07:00

This animals really like hot humid weather such as in Indonesia. I hope this will help to resolve the problem in more natural & safe way..:)

Fill a spray bottle about half full and add a couple tsp. of peppermint oil. Spray around the outside of your doorways and windows. You can also spray this on kitchen counter tops and inside cabinets.

Bay leaves will repel roaches. Place them all around your kitchen and in the cabinets. Just a side note if you place a bay leaf in your bag of flour, you won’t get weevils.

Roaches don’t like the smell of cedar. You can pick up essential cedar oil and mix it with some rubbing alcohol in a squirt bottle. Spray around all your doorways and windows. You can also place cedar chips around your home to deter roaches from entering.

How to Make Sprouted Grain Bread

2010-09-16T14:59:00.001-07:00

How to Make Sprouted Grain Bread -- powered by eHow.com

How to sprout & dry grain for flour: http://www.ehow.com/how_5858262_sprout-dry-grain-flour.html

Homemade One Ingredient Ice Cream

2010-09-16T14:47:00.000-07:00

Banana Ice Cream:

Take 2-3 bananas and cut into small piece

Place the pieces onto a plate and place in the freeze for 2-4 hours.

Remove the banana from the freezer and place into a food processor. Process until smooth and creamy.

Note: you can substitute bananas with alvocados. For extra flavors, you can add carob or chocolate powder, honey, cinnamon powder, vanilla powder, peanut butter, etc.

Enjoy your ice cream :)

Mothering Natural Family Living - September/October 2010 Issue

2010-09-11T12:05:00.000-07:00

September/October 2010

Homemade Mayonnaise

2010-08-21T00:34:00.000-07:00

Mix in saucepan: 1/3 C flour, 1 Tsp sugar, 1 Tsp salt, 1 Tsp dry mustard

Add gradually: 3/4 C water, 1/4 C mild vinegar or lemon juice

Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until mixture boils. Boil 1 minute. Remove from heat. Pour into bowl. Beat in with rotary beater 4 egg yolks (2 whole eggs). Continue beating, adding 1 C salad/vegetable oil a little at a time.

Enjoy your new homemade Mayonnaise :)

Homemade French Dressing

2010-08-18T00:33:00.000-07:00

Beat together with rotary beater or shake well in tightly covered jar:
1 C olive oil/vegetable oil
1/2 C vinegar
1/4 C lemon juice
1 Tsp salt
1/2 Tsp dry mustard
1/2 Tsp paprika

Keep in covered jar in refrigerator. Make 1 1/2 C dressing.

Variations
Herbs: to 1/2 C French Dressing add 2 Tsp mince parsley, 1/2 Tsp powdered thyme, 1/2 Tsp oregano
Curry: to 1/2 C French Dressing add 1/2 Tsp curry powder

Enjoy your new salad dressing :)

The Story of Cosmetics

2010-08-01T15:39:00.001-07:00

What can you do? Please visit here to learn more about this cause.

Tiny House

2010-07-30T23:56:00.000-07:00

I'm fascinating right now with tiny houses since I watched about it on local Public TV channel. Less is more isn't it? Anyway, I just want to share one of the house plan that I found recently:

Formula Companies Expensive Claims Can Discourage Breastfeeding

2010-07-28T11:56:00.000-07:00

It simply isn't right to take advantage of new parents when they're vulnerable.

But baby formula companies are doing just that. And this is especially wrong because empty infant formula advertising claims undermine evidence-based messages like "breastfeeding is best for babies." This has got to be fixed, and we have a chance right now to change the way these infant formula companies and other food manufacturers do business so that parents get the facts, and not just empty hype on labels.

Tell your Senator that the Child Nutrition Act should include independent scientific reviews of formula and other foods so parents can make the best choices for their infants.

http://action.momsrising.org/go/WIC/282?akid=2222.198352.bcA0rM&t=4

“All parents want what's best for their babies, and we want them to feel empowered to make an informed feeding decision at one of the most vulnerable and precious times of their lives—the birth of a new baby,” explains Megan Renner, Executive Director of the United States Breastfeeding Committee (USBC). "The marketing of infant formula has been shown to undermine breastfeeding intention and success. Independent review of ‘functional ingredients’ will go a long way towards providing parents with the information they have a right to receive.”

What’s happening right now?

Congress is debating the renewal of the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) through the Child Nutrition Act. As the re-authorization of the Child Nutrition Act moves through the Senate, we're urging Senators to also include a review of the “functional ingredients” in baby formula and other foods WIC offers. Functional ingredients are things like prebiotics, nucleotides, and others ingredients that are marketed as improving a baby’s health. Companies add these “functional ingredients” as a way to command higher prices and make catchy health claims. Initial independent studies have shown very mixed results as to whether so-called “functional ingredients” actually do anything for the health of our kids.[1]

Our federal government carries enormous weight in this formula fiasco because half of all U.S. infants participate in the WIC program.[2] WIC’s mission is to provide healthy foods, breastfeeding support and nutrition counseling to low-income pregnant women, infants, and young kids. To that end, WIC gives vouchers for specific foods that qualifying families can use in their local grocery stores.

The government has estimated that these “functional ingredients” cost WIC $91 million annually.[3] Meanwhile, front-line WIC providers, who work hard to promote and support breastfeeding, are very concerned that moms are increasingly asking WIC for the formula “that’s just like breastmilk.”[4] And that’s why it’s so important for USDA to get expert advice based on an independent, systematic review of the research, which will be published for all consumers to see. An independent review of "functional ingredients" could save the taxpayers and the average new parent a lot of money.

Making baby formula labels crystal clear is critical because new parents need to be able to read baby formula labels and make the best selection for their children. Yet the current system isn't working. Here’s how MomsRising member Roberta describes her moment of new-parent-formula-selection-paralysis:

“The few times I had to buy formula for my son, I was paralyzed by the wall of options in the grocery store. Each brand made a different claim about what their formula would do for my son’s health, and the more claims there were, the more expensive the can. Even my son’s pediatrician couldn’t recommend a choice.”

It’s no wonder Roberta and her pediatrician couldn’t figure out which infant formula was best for her son. If companies want to say their formula makes your baby smarter, stronger, and cuter, no one in our government makes sure their claim is true.[5]

Unfortunately, we’re up against the formula companies in this fight, and as you can imagine they’re pretty powerful. That’s why as parents we need to be even louder!

*Don't forget to send a note to your Senator today:

http://action.momsrising.org/go/WIC/282?akid=2222.198352.bcA0rM&t=6

Please let your friends and family know about this campaign too by forwarding this email right now. Together we can stand up for all the sleep-deprived moms and for the health of our children!

Together we’re a powerful voice for women and families,

--Sarah, Kristin, Donna, Joan, Mary and the whole MomsRising.org team

P.S. To read more about WIC and the formula fight go here: "Foods with New Functional Ingredients Should Be Provided Only If They Deliver Health or Nutritional Benefits," Center for Budget and Policy Priorities.

P.P.S. A big thank you to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities for all they do on this issue.

[1] For an example see Karen Simmer, Sanjay Patole, and Shripada C. Rao, “Longchain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Supplementation in Infants Born at Term,” Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2008, Issue 4.

[2] "About half of the infants in the United States participate and benefit from the WIC program.” See page 6 of Secretary Vilsack’s testimony.

[3] Marcus, Ruth, July 14, 2010 “Lobbying fight over infant formula highlights budget gridlock” Washington Post

[4] Check out what the California WIC Association is doing to improve breastfeeding policies.

[5] Neuberger, Zoe, June 4, 2010 "WIC Food Package Should Be Based on Science: Foods with New Functional Ingredients Should Be Provided Only If They Deliver Health or Nutritional Benefits" Center for Budget and Policy Priorities.

Visit Indonesia 2010 Video

2010-07-13T16:19:00.001-07:00

Toxic Chemical Lobby: Exclusive Leaked Footage

2010-07-09T09:39:00.000-07:00

A Note from Safer Chemicals Healthy Families Coalition

Bisphenol A in baby bottles, water bottles, and food cans. Formaldehyde in furniture. Phthalates in air fresheners, soft plastics, and fragrances.

Scientists once thought these chemicals stayed put in their products, but now we know they leach out of their containers and into our bodies. These common chemicals have not been tested for safety, yet they are found in products we use every day — under your kitchen sink, in your bathrooms and bedrooms.

We need Congress to act now, to make sure the products we reach for, sleep on, and eat from every day aren’t loaded with toxic chemicals. You can help Congress stay strong in the face of chemical industry pushback but only if you speak out.

Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families believes that effective and comprehensive reform of TSCA will not only protect public health; it will also help American companies by spurring innovation and job creation dedicated to making the next generation of safer chemicals and products.

This is our time to make toxic chemicals history! Let’s tell Congress to strengthen and reform the law so that the most dangerous chemicals are taken off the market and that chemicals are safe for use before being added to products.

Chemicals aren’t sitting still – and neither should you! Click HERE to send a message to your Members of Congress now!

Homemade Oreo Cookies

2010-07-08T18:15:00.000-07:00

What you need:

* 1 1/4 C all-purpose flour
* 1/2 C unsweetened cocoa
* 1 t baking soda
* 1/4 t baking powder
* 1/4 t salt
* 1 C sugar
* 1/2 C plus 2 T butter, room temperature
* 1 large egg

What to do:

1. In a medium-sized bowl, mix the flour, cocoa, baking soda and powder, salt, and sugar.
2. Beat in the butter and the egg. Continue mixing until dough comes together in a mass.
3. Take rounded teaspoons of batter and place on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet approximately 2 inches apart. With moistened hands, slightly flatten the dough. (I found that while the dough wasn't sticky enough to roll, I could press it flat with my hands like the recipe said and then use cookie cutters to cut perfect circles. If you just care about the taste, then there is no need for the cookie cutters. Also, remember this is a chance to get creative and use all kinds of cookie cutters.)
4. Bake for 9 minutes at 375 F. Set on a rack to cool.

Filling:

* 1/4 cup room-temperature, unsalted butter
* 1/4 cup vegetable shortening (butter)
* 2 cups sifted powdered sugar
* 2 teaspoons vanilla powder (add a little water to make it into paste)

What to do:

1. Place butter and shortening in a mixing bowl, and at low speed, gradually beat in the sugar and vanilla.
2. Turn the mixer on high and beat for 2-3 minutes until filling is light and fluffy.
3. To make a cookie, pipe teaspoon-sized blobs of cream into the center of a cookie using a pastry bag with a 1/2 inch round tip. (If you don't have a pastry bag, you could easily just spread the filling with a knife or use a Ziplock with the corner cut off as a pastry bag. I had a pastry bag, but I only had a star tip. The tip doesn't matter much.)
4. Place another cookie, equal in size to the first, on top of the cream. Lightly press, to work the filling evenly to the outsides of the cookie. Continue this process until all the cookies have been sandwiched with cream.

Homemade Chocolate Syrup

2010-07-08T17:30:00.000-07:00

We love chocolate. And one of them is chocolate syrup. We normally use Organic Chocolate Syrup by Santa Cruz which by the way currently offering 75 cents off coupon on their website.

Since we're gonna move to Indonesia, I need to find alternative way to replace them, so here is a homemade chocolate syrup recipe.

This recipe makes 2 cups

What you need:

1 C Cocoa Powder
1.5 C Brown Sugar
1 dash Salt (optional)
1.5 C Water (or Milk)
1 Tsp. Vanilla Powder
1 Tsp. Corn Flour
1 Tsp. Butter (optional)

What to do:

Stir together the ingredients, except Vanilla Powder. Boil for 4 minutes (medium high flame). Add the Vanilla Powder and stir for 1 minute. Stir frequently until the sauce is thicken. Allow to cool. Store in refrigerator.

Homemade Vegetarian Corn Dog in Stick

2010-07-08T16:06:00.000-07:00

Dough:
1 scant tablespoon active dry yeast
1/2 teaspoon sugar
1/4 cup warm water
2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour, about
1/4 cup fine yellow cornmeal
1 teaspoon sea salt
1 tablespoons olive oil, plus more for the bowl and brushing on crusts
1 tablespoon agave nectar or brown sugar
3/4 cup cool water

Filling:
1 batch homemade seitan sausages (either the Spicy Italian Vegetarian Sausage recipe from Everyday Dish or the Smoky Sausage Links from the Membership area of Everyday Dish) or
1 package store-bought vegan/vegetarian hotdogs

1. Dissolve the yeast in the warm water; stir in the sugar and set aside for 10 minutes.
2. Mix the agave with the salt, olive oil and cool water and set aside.
3. Put the flour in the bowl of a food processor. With the processor running, slowly pour the agave-oil mixture in through the feed tube. Then pour in the dissolved yeast. Process until the dough forms a ball on the blade. If it is too sticky, sprinkle on a little more flour. Scrape the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth. Transfer to an oiled bowl, and let rest 1 hour. Preheat the oven to 450°F.
4. Roll out the dough into fairly thin pieces. Wrap up sausages or hot dogs with the dough. Pinch the edges to seal. Place the corn dogs seam side down on a Silpat or parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Bake the corn dogs in the preheated oven until golden, about 20 minutes.
5. Remove from oven, and insert a popsicle stick or skewer into the bottom of each corn dog. Enjoy!

Copyright © 2010 Julie Hasson

Julie Hasson is the author of 5 cookbooks. She is very passionate about food. You can visit her at: www.juliehasson.com