A Leave of Absence

Every now and then I questions why I am doing this blog. It is not a business; I don't make money, I don't take in advertising or get free vitamins. I started it because I wanted to share my passion about nutrition and how it can save our lives and create strong bodies for our most precious possessions. I have met great moms around the country. I have had wonderful emails from moms who want to learn more and want to change their lives and the lives of their families. When the world out there can be so deceiving, there is truth. Their is simplicity. I have enjoyed sharing some of that with you from what I have learned and what I continue to learn. With all of that being said, I need to take a little break. I have contemplated ending The Enlightened Homemaker but I think I will take a trial run and go on vacation. A little holiday season sabbatical. I have been spending around 2-3 hours per day on emails and deliveries and constantly am thinking about things to research and people with issues. I enjoy this all. But......at this point in my life, time is critical. I have 5 busy kids who need a mom and drawers that need organizing. I want to slow down a bit and enjoy this holiday season without sheer exhaustion. I hope we can all do this. I hope we can all reevaluate our time and where we can best spend it.

I will be back at the beginning of the new year, perhaps. I am still leaving my blog up with over 300 great posts to read! I have decided to not reprint the cookbook since the time it takes me is just too much right now. A few of you have paid and I will mail those out this week. Preparing Wisely in Mesa still has some. I still order oils and supplements so you may always email me if you would like some. I would still love to hear from you so the email line is open. Thanks for everything my friends. I hope you have the merriest of holidays. Create the memories, eat well and stay healthy!

Vitamins are in!!

I am back in town and the supplements are at my doorstep. If you have ordered, email or call me to work out a pick up. If you are out of state, I will mail on Monday. Look for your pay pal bill! I did order extra so email me if you want some, first come first serve. Thanks for being patient. I will be ordering once a month, possibly twice so let me know by the end of each month what you want. Hope you all had a great fall break....I will be back to blogging soon. I have too much laundry to do.

D3 not in yet.....sorry.

I am sorry to say that I won't get the D3 in until I return from vacation. They won't have it until next week which means I won't have it until I return from soaking in a little natural D3 on vacation. I am hoping to have it no later than the 18th, maybe earlier. I have all of your orders, I will email you as soon as I get them, promise! Until then, try to get some sun, get some sleep and eat your leafy greens and oranges!

Still not convinced about the flu shot debate?

If you are still thinking that the flu shot is a good idea, take a moment and read this from Dr. Mercola's website. How can you possibly think that the flu shot is a good idea after understanding what is in it and what it really is. I would love to hear any good debate. If you are for it, surely you are uneducated on the matter. Please get educated. If you want it, do it for yourselves but please, please, leave your kids out of it!

This year it is more important that you protect your children and loved ones from the flu vaccines than influenza itself. This article on Lew Rockwell discusses how:

1. The swine flu is simply another flu. It is not unusually deadly.

2. This is the first time both seasonal and pandemic flu vaccines will be administered. Both seasonal flu and swine flu vaccines will require two inoculations. This is because single inoculations have failed to produce sufficient antibodies. This is an admission that prior flu vaccines were virtually useless. Can you trust them this time?

3. Adjuvants are added to vaccines to boost production of antibodies but may trigger autoimmune reactions. Some adjuvants are mercury (thimerosal), aluminum and squalene. Why would you sign a consent form for your children to be injected with mercury, which is even more brain-toxic than lead?

4. This is the first year mock vaccines have been used to gain FDA approval. The vaccines that have been tested are not the same vaccines your children will be given.

5. Over-vaccination is a common practice now in America. American children are subjected to 29 vaccines by the age of two. Meanwhile, veterinarians have backed off of repeat vaccination in dogs because of observed side effects.

6. Modern medicine has no explanation for autism, despite its continued rise in prevalence. Yet autism is not reported among Amish children who go unvaccinated.

7. Researchers are warning that over-use of the flu vaccine and anti-flu drugs like Tamiflu and Relenza can apply genetic pressure on flu viruses and then they are more likely to mutate into a more deadly strain.

8. Most seasonal influenza A (H1N1) virus strains tested from the United States and other countries are now resistant to Tamiflu (oseltamivir). Tamiflu has become a nearly worthless drug against seasonal flu.

9. Public health officials are irresponsible in their omission of any ways to strengthen immunity against the flu. No options outside of problematic vaccines and anti-flu drugs are offered, despite the fact there is strong evidence that vitamins C and D activate the immune system and the trace mineral selenium prevents the worst form of the disease.

For even more reasons, please review the full article on LewRockwell.com.

Eat Naked Segment......Chicken Broth

I haven't had an "Eat Naked" segment for a while but this is one that should be called to attention. I was making soup tonight, after all, it is a chilly 80 degrees here now so it is time! Can't wait. I made some delicious White Bean Chili soup, vegetarian style with Northern beans, potatoes and Quinoa and thought about what effort we go into making a good, healthy soup for our families. We chop up fresh veggies, cut up potatoes, add beans, delicious ,healthy spices and then the blunder occurs: the broth. How many of us are putting poisons unknowingly into our soup in which the very intent was to provide nutrition and satisfaction? Do you know what is in your broth?

Maybe you are already a step ahead of the norm but just in case you haven't checked into the ingredients on the broth canisters, let's take a look see:

Exhibit 1: Knorr Chicken Bouillon

Ingredients: Salt, sugar, corn starch, monosodium glutamate (MSG), Beef fat, hydrolyzed corn protein, dried chicken meat, maltodextrin, autolyzed yeast extract, chicken fat, silicon dioxide, dehydrated parsely, disodium inosinate, citric acid, onion powder, natural flavor, colors yellow 5 , annato, yellow 6.

Exhibit 2: Pacific Naturals Free Range Chicken Broth

Ingredients: Organic Chicken Broth, Organic Chicken Flavor, Natural Chicken Flavor, Organic Evaporated Cane Juice, Organic Onion Powder, Turmeric, Organic Flavor.

Do you see what I mean? Fresh veggies, healthy spices and a container or msg OR fresh veggies, healthy spices and organic chicken broth. You decide. We went with the real deal. It was delicious. You can get a pack of the "real deal" at Costco. It has a good shelf life. It isn't too costly but the cost of not using it is high. Either make it yourself or try this variety out. Out with the MSG brand. BLuckkk!

Want to try my soup? Here ya go.

Creamy White Chili

1 medium onion, chopped

3-4 red potatoes, peels on, cut into small cubes

3/4 C. chopped celery

2 cloves garlic

2 T. olive oil

2 15 oz cans great northern beans, rinsed and drained

appx. 28 oz chicken broth or as much as needed

2 4 oz cans diced green chiles

1 t. salt or more as desired

1/4 to 1/2 cup White Quinoa

1/4 t. cumin

1/2 t. pepper

1/8 t. cayenne pepper

1 C. sour cream

1/2 C. whipping cream

In a large sauce pan, saute chicken, potatoes, celery, onion and garlic for a couple minutes. Add broth, beans, chiles, quinoa and seasonings. Bring to a boil and then reduce to low and simmer uncovered for 30 minutes or until potatoes are tender.Remove from heat and stir in sour cream and whipping cream. Add more salt as needed and thicken with ultra gel.

***I did mine in my pressure cooker to reduce time. After I sauteed the veggies, I added the broth and quinoa and pressure cooked on second ring for about 1 minute. Used quick release and added the beans, chiles and seasonings. I simmered until potatoes were just right and then added the cream and sour cream.

ps, I have no idea why my font is messed up. Sorry.

D3 drops and dosages.

I want to make sure we are all understanding a bit about Vitamin D and dosages. First of all, I am not your Dr. I can't tell you exactly what dosage you need without a blood test. Secondly, I am only telling you what I do and you must decide what is right for you. For me, in the winter months, I take about 5oooIU's and give my children about 2000IU's. This is only if they have not been outdoors for a significant period of time. This limit is what has been recommended as a safe high limit by many reputable Dr.'s ie Dr. Blaylock and Dr. Mercola. They also recommend getting lab work to check your D levels. That is advisable and the test is inexpensive. If you have health issues, I would highly recommend that since you may need much higher amounts of Vitamin D. If you don't have health issues and don't get lab work done, it is my opinion and the opinion of many other Dr.s that the limits stated above would be hard to overdose with. If you have babies, the limits would be lower. Please note that when talking about drops in the D3 bottles, each drop is 600 IU's, not each dropper full.

Supplements can be overdosed. Too much of a good thing can be harmful but likewise too little of a good thing can also be harmful. D3 is an amazing vitamin that we all need for so many functions. I believe in taking this supplement just make sure that you take a responsible amount and check with your Dr. if you have concerns. Also make sure that if you are taking other supplements with D that you check the total amount that you get or if you are a big milk drinker which has vitamin D in it, that you lower your dosage.

Could it be fall in the air?????

If you wake up early or stay up late, you might feel it. You might notice that the leather seats don't have the same scalding effect when you first take your seat. After all, it will be October come morning time and it really should feel like fall. It seems in AZ that this takes forever but I really think fall is in the air. I smell it at night as the aroma of the nearby dairy farm rolls in.....only a fall and winter treat around here (even cows can't stand to be here for the summer). Apples in the store are crisper and sweeter, the "in season" result. Craft stores have the Christmas decor out already and my kids are already telling me what they are going to be for Halloween (of course that started last fall).

I do get a little sad that summer is ending because I love the summer produce. I love my fresh salsa made with vine ripened tomatoes. I love fresh peppers and chili's. I can't get enough of the beautiful berries, peaches, nectarines and melons. I love the fall and winter but it's bounty is a lot less appealing and less in variety. Let us focus on the good, however. Apples.

Go here for last years apple discussion and delicious apple crisp recipe . If you don't want to take the time to read about them, just take my word for it; they are good for you. There is truth to the "apple a day" saying. Believe me.

We try to eat them the healthy way as much as possible; raw, with natural peanut butter, baked with grains or rolled up in a whole wheat crepe. Sometimes though, we must indulge and go for the sinful sugar glazed desert variety. If you too need to indulge, this little cake is divine. Must be served with ice cream or at the very least, a healthy dose of real whipped cream.

Apple Upside-Down Cake

1 1/2 sticks butter, softened
1/3 C. brown sugar
2 T. maple syrup
2 large, crisp apples, peeled and cut into 1/2 inch chunks
1/2 C. coarsely chopped almonds (opt.)
1 t. fresh lemon juice
1/2 t. cinnamon
1/4 t. salt
1 1/2 C. flour
1 t. baking powder
3/4 C. sugar
2 large eggs
1/2 t. vanilla
1/2 C. buttermilk

Preheat oven to 350. Butter a 9 inch round cake pan, one at least 2 inches deep. In a medium sauce pan, melt 4 T. butter. Add the brown sugar, maple syrup and stir over medium heat until the sugar bubbles. Remove from heat and stir in apples, nuts, lemon juice and cinnamon. Spread on bottom of cake pan. In a bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder and salt; set aside. Then whip 8 T. butter until smooth. Add sugar and beat on medium until light and fluffy. Add eggs. Mix and add in vanilla. Add flour mixture and buttermilk. Mix until just combined. Drop by spoonfuls over apples in pan and covering apples completely. Bake until golden about 35 min. When done, let cook 5 min. then flip over on plate. Let sit about 5 min. then remove pan. Serve with ice cream.

And now for a little business.....I have many of your supplements in but didn't get it all; it appears I cleaned them out of D3 and need to wait for another shipment. Hopefully next week. So, If I didn't contact you, you are on the next week list. Since I will be ordering again Monday, let me know if you want to be on the second go round.

Next item: Preparing Wisely's October deals.

20% Off of regular price of all MountainHouse #10 Cans For the first two weeks of October we are excited to bring you special savings on MountainHouse #10 Cans. All of our MountainHouse #10 Cans will be on sale for 20% off of the regular retail price. This includes all Freeze Dried Entrees, Freeze Dried Breakfast Meals, Freeze Dried Meats, Freeze Dried Vegetables and Freeze Dried Fruits from MountainHouse. This MountainHouse authorized sale will last from October 1st, 2009 through October 14th, 2009, so don't miss out.

Canning Jars Preparing Wisely now carries the following Cases of Canning Jars: Case 1/2 Pint Jars Regular Mouth: $7.50 Case Pint Jars Regular Mouth: $8.50 Case Pint Jars Wide Mouth: $9.50 Case Quart Jars Regular Mouth: $9.75 Case Quart Jars Wide Mouth: $10.75 Case 1/2 Gallon Jars Regular Mouth: $9.75 ****They also have a few of my cookbooks in if you are still wanting one. I hope to have my second printing done by the end of October.