Shredded coconut and toothpaste order

I am placing an order for 1 gallon containers of organic, pure shredded dried coconut. No sulfites, pesticides or sweeteners. This is hard to find. I usually order from Azure but they have been out the last few orders. This coconut is the best you can get. I cook with coconut a lot and have missed my supply. These gallons are usually $25 and are on sale right now; with shipping , they are $20. Let me know if you want one asap. Your cost will be $20 out the door. I order in bulk to get the prices so let me know if you want to be included in the next order.


I am still ordering the coconut oil as well for $60 a gallon. 


In addition, I am also placing a group order for my favorite toothpaste: 

Sweet living peppermint 


$2 per tube. Floride, sulfite and sugar free. My very favorite. Tom's brand runs you about $4-$5 per tube. Super great deal. Get as much as you want. The tube is about the same size as the Tom's tube. 


The essential oil liver cleanse paks (lemon and peppermint oil) are also still on sale for $25.


I will be ordering by next Friday all products, oils and supplements.


Have a great day! More posts coming soon....

Summer Sides....

If I was cooking for myself only, I would live on fresh side dishes. I really have no interest in heavy, meat dishes any longer. This is definitely an evolved taste. But fresh, flavorful sides just make my taste buds and body happy. I only wish my kids shared my enthusiasm. They do like the side dishes but it doesn't seem like a meal to them. I am glad they indulge me anyways.

I had a vegetable drawer full of veggies from The Backyard Farmer that had to be used asap. I had one big yellow squash, a sweet onion, 2 Armenian cucumbers, corn and some red potatoes. Yum. They were all delicious served up in just the right format.

This is how it went down; simple and refreshing:

The potatoes were quartered (they were small) and tossed with fresh pressed olive oil and some Herbs de Provence. They were roasted in the oven until lightly golden at the edges and fork-tender.

The cucumbers were served sliced, as is, next to a homemade dill dip.

The corn, cut off the cob, sauteed in some butter with sweet onions, Celtic salt and fresh pepper. I never cook my corn in water. It ruins the corn. It needs very little time to cook.

Easy stuff.

My very favorite dish was the photo above of the yellow squash side dish. I absolutely despise soggy veggies. The old school version of squash that is mushy in a pan with butter and cheese makes me rethink my love for veggies. It really is an act of disservice towards this beautiful creation. You zap the life and goodness right out of them that way not to mention any desirability. Many people don't realize that a squash can be eaten raw with great taste if the seasoning is right.

This was yummy. Everyone ate it up. 

1 large yellow squash or two small

3 T. of lime juice (lemon ok too)

3 T. olive oil

1 thinly sliced or diced shallot, white only or      about 2 T. chopped onion.

1/4 tsp dried thyme

feta cheese

chopped pecans

salt and pepper as desired

Slice the squash, peel on, very thinly and then cut in half. Whisk the lime juice, olive oil, thyme and salt and pepper in a bowl. Add squash and shallots and toss several times so that marinade soaks in. Add the

chopped pecans and feta. I left some without the nuts and feta for those who didn't like nuts and for those who are dairy free right now at my house. It still tasted great. Let sit for a few minutes for flavors to blend. Serve cold or at room temperature.

It was a perfect summer side. 

Book List

I get great emails everyday and many of them are my blogging prompts. One email that I get often is where I get my info and what I suggest for reading. That is always a little tough for me to answer because I have read everything I could for at least 25 years so to go back and say where I learned it all, is impossible. However, there are some basic "food bibles" that I think everyone should read to get a good understanding of the truth of food. They are overwhelming but you take it one step at a time. Work on one principle and then move to the next when you are ready. There is so much false information out there so you need to be careful. Many times you will get information that is backed by a certain group trying to push their product. These books aren't affiliated with products. They speak the gospel of nutrition and I love them for that.


My top picks:

Nourishing Traditions 

by Sally Fallon

This is the best book I have ever read on food. She has lots of crazy recipes that i probably won't try but the information in the sidebars and everywhere else helps you understand how our ancestors got it and we have lost it. LOVE this book to pieces.

In Defense of Food

by Michael Pollan

Super great book also about the true value of food. This is usually at Costco and I read most of it on multiple visits there before I finally grabbed it to take home.

The China Study is a great book to read especially if you want to understand the role meat plays in the diet. It is a great book if you are on the fence about becoming a vegetarian. It helps you understand the diet and long term health. 

Nourishing Hope

by Julie Matthews

This book is for anyone who has kids on the spectrum from autism to ADD or even gut issues. It clearly explains the role of supplements and food relating to the gut. It lists the various diets and how they work. It is scientific and brings hope. I have read this book so many times that I think I could teach it for a living. 


My other daily feeds are my email subscriptions to Dr. Weil and Dr. Mercola. Keep in mind that these two are always trying to sell something but their daily news topics are always informative. I don't buy any of their products but they do usually have some pretty good info backed by research. They keep my mind going and usually spur me into further research.


Anyone have anything else they would like to add? There are so many great reads out there. The world is waking up. Slowly.


If you need a book , click on my amazon link. Amazon is the best place to by books! I usually buy them used for about half the price.


Happy reading!


PS, I have two more gallons of Coconut oil for the next order. Any takers? $60 per gallon.

Back to School Breakfast

    The kids are back in school. This summer was a blink. I had planned a lazy summer with lots of "kid time" but it didn't really go as outlined. My sweet grandmother broke her hip and I was blessed to be able to spend the days with her. I felt bad that the kids were minus a mom for most the summer days but thanks to good friends and fun vacations, they had a good summer. I am also thankful that they were able to learn the importance of service and that we take care of our family. Life isn't all about playtime and life certainly doesn't always go as planned. In the end, the summer was still a good one and today it all ended. Happy school days ahead!

We celebrated the end of the summer with a little back to school Peach Breakfast Cake. In my effort to create new breakfast recipes, I put this little summer fresh piece of yum together with some heavenly peaches sitting on my counter. We are dairy free around here so cooking is a little more challenging. You don't realize how much you use dairy until you stop. It just takes a little variation now and then but the end product is still great. The cheese part is the hard thing but so far, so good.

The peaches were so sweet that this tasted like dessert. Normally I would have had a little dollop of whipping cream on the side but honestly, I never missed it. It was perfect as it was. 

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. If you aren't on the bandwagon yet, please oh please make that your goal for the year. Keep it wholesome, hearty and homemade. Send them out the door with a full belly and a head start. Get the cold cereal out of the house and banish the pop tarts.

Try this out on the little ones:

Peach Breakfast Cake

1 egg

1/2 cup coconut sugar + 1/3 cup for topping

1 tsp. baking powder

1/4 cup milk or milk substitution (I used almond milk)

5 drops of lemon oil (you can also use zest or omit)

2 cups fresh peeled and sliced peaches

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp vanilla

1 C. whole grain flour ( I used sprouted kamut/barley)

1/2 tsp. salt

3 T. coconut oil

Preheat oven to 375. 

Beat the egg and add 1/2 cup of coconut sugar. Stir in the flour, baking powder and salt. Gently fold in oil, lemon oil, milk and vanilla. Spread mixture on the batter on the bottom of a greased 9 X13 pan and top with fresh, sliced peaches. They should cover the batter. Sprinkle

mixture of 1/3 cup coconut sugar and 1/2 tsp cinnamon over top of peaches. Bake for about 30 minutes or until done.

P.S. I have a third group wanting coconut oil. If you are interested, email me asap. Thanks!

San Joaquin Gold

San Joaquin Gold. My new Costco find. It was one of those rare moments where I was alone at Costco and had a moment to spare....rather took a moment since I was too tired to move any faster. 


I was looking for some Parmesan cheese and took a gander at some of the other cheeses in the case. There are so many out there and I really try to go for the more wholesome varieties. That usually means expensive and rare to find. I was lamenting over the fact that Parmesan is so expensive when I saw this little San Joaquin Gold wedge. I had never heard of it and even from the label, I still had no idea what it was. It was hard like Parmesan and was made from cows milk but what caught my eye was the statement, "raw milk cheese". Sold. I decided to take a gamble. It came home with me and into my spaghetti and meatballs.


It did taste like Parmesan. It was delicious and fresh tasting. I fell in love. I did a little research and found out a little about this cheese. Let me share: (off itscheese.com)

San Joaquin Gold is a cow's milk cheese made by Fiscalini Farms in Modesto, Californio, in the United States. It is named after the San Joaquin Valley in central California. It is a relatively recent cheese, but has already won numerous awards, including gold medals at the World Cheese Awards in London in 2004 and 2005.

The cheese is a pale yellow that darkens to a golden color as it ages. San Joaquin Gold has a thin, natural rind, that has the shape of a cow stamped on top. The cheese is made in 32 pound wheels.

The cheese was an attempt at making a cheese like ItalianFontina. San Joaquin Gold has a harder texture and is saltier, making it a cheese of its own. The texture is firm and granular. It has been described a a cross between Cheddarand Parmigiano-Reggiano. It has a sweet, salty, buttery taste that becomes nuttier as it ages. The cheese is very flavorful, but still mellow. It is at its peak at about 16 months.

Fiscalini Farms uses unpasteurized milk from their own Holstein cattle to make the cheese.

San Joaquin Gold is a very versatile cheese. It grates well and melts easily. It is good for snacking, as a table cheese, or for a topping for soups or salads.

Are you with me? Costco has impressed me time after time with it's natural, organic and healthy choices. Definitely one of my BFF's! Take time to look deep into the shelves for new and healthy choices. Leave the kids home one time and see what treasures you can find! Please share.

Coconut oil order

I am trying to get a bulk coconut oil order together and need 6 gallons minimum. The gallon of Tropical Traditions Gold label coconut oil would be $60. Please let me know asap if you are interested.


Also, I will be ordering essential oils and supplements next week if you need anything.


Thanks!

Abigail Fights Cancer

I know many of you have followed little Abigail's story and have helped monetarily with her fight. A little update....her little body has been through so much and as of now, is cancer free. They still have a long road ahead though, to keep the cancer from coming back. For the Goss family, it means back and forth trips to NYC and costly care. The Goss family has set up a great website for any who are able to help, even very small donations. They would also love any donated frequent flyer miles! If there is any business out there who would like to make a charitable donation as well or someone looking for a fundraising opportunity, take a look at the website for information.


Thanks for your help. They are such a sweet family that are angels on this earth. I love them dearly. Check them out here.

Oatmeal Breakfast Bars

We need a few new breakfast ideas around here. I make breakfast pretty much every morning, mostly for selfish reasons. I am a big breakfast type gal. It just makes me feel good to feed myself well in the morning and with good whole grains and produce, I don't need to really eat a meal again until dinner. I usually eat some light fruit for lunch with a little nuts for protein but my hearty breakfast ties me over other than that. That is just how my body likes to work. But, I am tired of the usuals so I've been reaching out to some of my favorite blogs for help. I love the "Grain Crazy" blog , which you can access on my favorites list and she had these great little oatmeal breakfast bars listed. I made them up and gobbled them down with a side of fresh, organic blueberries from Costco. They are even better the next day. Thanks, Grain Crazy lady!

Ingredients:

1 C Oatmeal
1 1/2 C boiling water
1/3 C coconut oil 
2/3 C honey
2 eggs
1 1/2 C whole grain flour
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 C shredded coconut
1 small apple grated
Directions: Serves 12 or more

1. In a sauce pan boil water. Take off the heat pour in the oatmeal and let it sit for 15 min.

2. Cream oil, honey, and egg. Then add the oatmeal,flour, soda, cinnamon, salt, coconut and apple. Don't over mix.

3. Pour into a greased 9x13 pan. Bake at 325 for 20 to 25 min., or till done. (I used a square muffin pan and cooked them for about 16 minutes)

***To make these even healthier, soak the oatmeal and water overnight with a T. of lemon juice or kefir then add it right to the recipe in the morning skipping the boiling water part. I used my sprouted spelt and barley flour as well. I was out of coconut so I made it without and it was delicious as well. 

A special thanks to these ladies for their contribution to these great little breakfast bars. Couldn't have done it without you!

Why I became a chicken farmer

This one's for you, Jes. Eggs. What is the Omega-3 enriched eggs all about? What is the deal with free range, organic, high omega enriched and why do you really want to pay double the price for these eggs or procure them yourself? Here's the scoop.


First off, in our diets today, we are consuming a large amount of imbalanced fatty acids. We get the Omega 's 6's but not much of the Omega 3's. Omega 6 is in the cheaper oils, especially the soy varieties. Soy is in everything so we become lopsided. This is dangerous in the body. While we want both, getting too much of the 6's and not enough of the 3's is linked to all sorts of diseases in the body. America is famous for this. There is a great article by Dr. Weil that you can read here to help you drive this point home.


Second, conventional eggs are from chickens that don't generally ever see the sun. We want our chickens basking in the sun rays to soak up the D3. We want our eggs full of nutrients. Today, our eggs are void of much nutrition not to mention full of pesticides and hormones. Chickens should be doing what chickens should always be doing; foraging the earth for vegetation and insects out in the fresh air with sunshine. This allows them to get a good diet, exercise and sun. A healthy chicken gives you healthy eggs. If you have to choose, I would pick free range over organic every time. Of course, the best would be both free range, organic with a side of Omega 3 enhanced. If you crack open a conventional egg and a pastured, omega 3 enriched egg, you will immediately see the difference. As with most fruits and vegetables in nature, if not all, the richer the color, the more nutrients and vitamins you are getting. The healthy egg has a rich yolk, almost an orange color. The nutrient void egg has a pale yellow color. Adding flax seed among other things to the chicken feed will aid in getting this rich color. The flax seed add's the important omega 3 side.


Now eggs get a bad rap from some these days and many just go for the whites. There are so many valuable nutrients in the yolk that you want and remember, all fats are not created equal as with calories. Eat the yolk. The yolk and the white were put together in one cute little package for a reason. I know many are concerned about cholesterol but with the Omega 3 eggs, the cholesterol is in a healthy form that the body actually needs. The yolk contains the important B vitamins that the body needs. For vegetarians, eating eggs is very important to get the B's you need. The yolk also contains Lutein which is essential for eye health.  The egg also has selenium for your immune health, vitamin E for your antioxitant and vitamin A for your skin health, among other things. It is a great protein for your body and eating a hard boiled egg after a workout is a great way to get the protein intake so many are concerned with when hitting the gym. I cringe at the protein powders being sold on the market. Horrible stuff, really. Not to mention expensive. Just eat and egg and some almonds and you are getting all you need. 


My last point, and one I never really thought about before I had chickens is about the chicken itself. I didn't really think about the chicken as a living being. I just bought eggs or meat. Now that I have them grazing in my backyard, I realize that they are a living, thinking, feeling creature. They each have personalities. They come up to us and like attention. They are now pets. A few of them will even climb onto my sons lap and like to be petted. Weird. But, this makes me realize how torturous it must be to have thousands of chickens crammed into a little cage for their whole life for the sole purpose of laying eggs. They are suffering. It makes me sad. Like I said before, I have never been an animal activist or anything but now I understand more fully that life should be respected. An animal, any kind of animal, feels. It makes me sad to think of them suffering. It is easy to not think about our food supply that way but when I do, it makes me want to adopt a more committed vegetarian lifestyle. 


So, there you have it. All you wanted to know about the egg. We eat lots of eggs. I believe that they are given to us for our betterment. A chicken can lay one egg a day. We really don't need that many chicks so I think it was part of the game plan for us to eat them. My personal thoughts. 


We lost some of our chickens to heat this summer. We cried. Honestly, I had no idea that I could be sad about a chicken. It is a little life and I do have tender spots in my heart for little things. 


I am going to go make an omelet.


As a side note, Costco, who is so committed to sustainable, healthy food, actually works with a number of farms to get us these good omega , free range eggs. They believe in quality and have strived to make this obtainable for all of us. I love them. They even have organic , fresh blueberries and blackberries right now. I also scored on the no nitrite, no msg, no gluten Italian sausage. 

Langley's Market

I have been meaning to tell you all about this cute little market for months but have always forgotten to bring my camera with me when I go for a picture. I still forgot the camera so I grabbed one shot off the web that doesn't show so well. You can vaguely get the idea.

Langley's Market in Gilbert is a cute little shop that sells local, pesticide free produce and the Olive Mill products among other things. It is cute as a button and quite addicting. I love people who want to share such wonderful things for us! Best of all, today you can get a groupon for $20 worth of products for only $10! Yahoo. It made my day to find that in my inbox. 

Click on this link and grab yours today:

$10 for $20 Worth of Local Groceries and Produce at Langley’s Country Market in Gilbert

You can also go to their website to learn a little more by clicking here. Visit them at 2738 E. Guadalupe Road in Gilbert. 

My personal favorites are the tepanades to make grilled pizza with. Such perfect summer dishes.