Ordering Friday....Allergy season

I don't know about you guys but our allergies have kicked into high gear. I have a feeling that I am not alone because I had 8 calls yesterday alone for allergy supplements. Since my stock is about depleted, I am ordering supplements on Friday. Email if you need anything. If you want to read up on the allergy treatment we use, read my post here:


http://enlightenedhomemaker.blogspot.com/2010/09/allergies.html




And for those of you with sore throats, I highly recommend the grapefruit seed extract to gargle with. Kills the bacteria! Just one of the many things you can use GSE for. One of my personal favorites and so cheap....$12.

Going Nuts

     Outside my very front door, I am blessed to see two rows of pecan trees that are blessing me with their offspring. I have collected a winter supply and am enjoying how good a fresh, organic nut can be. Such wonderful protein and nutrition in such a cute little package. 

     Here was breakfast with my little fresh picked bounty:

     It is definitely one of those breakfasts that will stick to your ribs and give you sustenance late into the day. It is also a great granola to use on yogurt or munch on plain. Super healthy and super yummy.

                         PECAN GRANOLA

1/2 cup raisins

1 1/4 cup pecans (best if soaked overnight and dehydrated)

1 cup unsweetened, shredded coconut

1 tsp vanilla

1 Tb. coconut oil (do not melt)

2 T. honey

1/4 cup quinoa or millet (sprouted and dried are best)

Put all in a blender or food processor and blend until just fine chunks. You can eat this raw at this point or you can put it on a cookie sheet spread into a bar about 1/2 inch thick. Bake at 300 degrees for about 10-15 minutes or until slightly golden. Allow to cool and then crumble. Serve warm over fruit or serve raw with fruit. You can store in the fridge or freezer for later use. Great with yogurt and plain as well. You can add all sorts of grains and dried fruits as desired.

#1180

     Another one down. Miss 1180. This time I had a husband next to me and several family members. It was a different race than last year for me although the same venue. Last year I was running for myself. I was there to prove that I could do it. This year, I knew I could do it. This year I was running for the cause. This was a run for a cure for cancer. I thought about some very dear people as I ran.

     I ran for my friend who was burying her daughter that very day. I was running for little Abigail who is in the hospital fighting for her life. I was running for my husbands co-worker who died the day before. I was there running with cousins who's father died in 2009 from brain cancer. I was running for little London, whom the race is named after; a family friend's daughter who died from leukemia. Cancer plagued them all. 

     I thought about them all as I ran and what they all had to go through. I thought about the families who struggled along with them. I thought about how our world is so contaminated and how so many aren't doing anything about it. But, I was running with lots of people who were doing something about it and I get to blog to many moms who are fighting their own wars against it. The run was for Hope. I Hope that we can stop cancer. I Hope we can find a way to make our world a little cleaner and that we can take control of our little worlds, our homes. 

     I am glad I did it. I can still walk today although the stairs are a bit challenging. I still don't like running and will never call myself a runner but I did something. I got out there. One more down. 

Read if you are a SOY believer

I know way too much about soy to allow it in my home but many of you may still be led to believe it is a health product. Many of you use soy protein powders or cook with tofu. Please take a moment to read this from Mercola. I have read many, many articles like this and don't touch the stuff. Too bad. It once was a super food. 


http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2099/12/31/the-dirty-little-secret-hidden-in-much-of-your-health-food.aspx

A rant of sorts.

 

     Believe it or not, I am not a preacher. I want to preach. I want to scream at people who feed their children blue yogurt. I want to grab every expectant mother and tell them to not give her newborn child a vaccine in the hospital. I want to tell every mom to stop giving their child pasteurized milk to drink. But...... I don't. Mostly. If you ask, I will tell you. If you don't, you can either read my blog where I get to let it all out or live in your world of ignorant bliss.

    Today, I have about had it. I have had a week of story after story of health issues. Serious health issues. Health issues that could have been changed. I have had some great talks with women who have changed their lives in very hard ways to overcome health problems. But what makes me crazy tonight is that for the most part, moms aren't getting it. If you stop by this blog and many other great nutrition blogs out there, hopefully you are getting it or at least are working on getting it. My rant tonight goes out to those who don't want to get it because it is just easier to not get it. Unfortunately, they aren't reading this.

     The problem is that ignorance is the disease. I talked with my SIL today who is not taking her disease at face value. She is doing all possible to change the outcome. We talked about how this world we live in now is so totally different than anything we have or anyone ever to be born has lived in. It is full of toxins, pesticides, dead food, diseased animals, seeds that are sown with pesticides, tap water full of heavy metals, toys full of mercury, vaccine overload, antibiotic overuse, etc., etc.  The world has never seen this. There is almost nothing that is untouched. 

     I look at this picture I took of my precious children as we hiked this past week. How are they ever going to make it in this world we live in? It is scary. One thing I know, I will do all in my power to give them every benefit they can to make it. They need some sort of chance and it is my responsibility. I have to teach them. I need to be the role model.

     I talked to a good friend this week who's body has shut down on her at a very young age. She is very active, very adorable. She decided to take control of her life and try to win it back. She is learning what really is in food and what she did to her body with protein drinks and Diet soda's. She is angry that she did it to herself. She is also upset that her mother never gave her any tools to teach her the importance of food. She never had veggies. She lived on fast food. She wonders what it would have been like if she had had a head start. She is determined now that her children will learn from her the value of food. I am so very proud of her.

     I can't imagine what world our children are going to face. I am not even talking crimes here. I am strictly talking about the one thing we all must have; food and water and the basic needs in life. Politics are against us. Our crops have been taken over by big business that have sown round up into our seeds. The FDA wants to stop us from getting supplements. Our water has fluoride in it which is banned in most other countries. The list goes on. We went from 1 in 10,000 with autism just decades ago and now it is at least 1 in 90. 1 in 60 in boys. Will anyone be safe in the next decades? Scary thought. 

    It is time to take it seriously. You need to take care of yourselves so your children don't have to take care of you and have the stress of an ailing parent. You need to take care of your children so that their mind can work properly and their bodies can enjoy life. They need the tools for their futures and it is no ones responsibility buy yours. No ones. 

     Watch Food Inc. Read books. Buy organic food. Buy real food. Stop buying fast food. Cook dinner. Stop buying sugar cereal. Pack your kids lunch. Make them eat their veggies. Be the mean mom. Mean moms rule.

    There's my rant. I have to get it out so I won't yell at that mom at Walmart with the blue yogurt. I will just pass her and give her a little smile. She won't know it is a smile of sympathy....sympathy for her kids. 

     

     

Fresh finds....Mamapedia for Abe's Market

I was so excited to see today's Mampedia deal for Abe's Market. My friend had told me about this company for good beauty/cleaning products without the junk. You can get 1 gallon of body wash/shampoo that smells great for about $15. Now with this Mamapedia deal, you spend $20 and get $40 in products! Shipping is a flat $3.99 and free if you spend $79. This is a good stock up deal. 


Click here:


https://deals.mamapedia.com/?ref_id=193737&utm_source=invite_earn_10_share_popup&utm_medium=email&utm_term=193737&utm_content=other

Kefir Pop

     I have to admit I am a bit addicted to my Kefir pop. I am limiting myself a bit but I love to try out new flavors as I am still fairly new to the game. I think I am getting it now. Practice makes perfect.


    Here are some of my favorite brews so far:

    Orange Creme Soda

    After the first ferment with grains, I strain the grains then add in one orange, washed and sliced; peel still on. I then add a little vanilla.
Set back out on counter with a loose lid for another 24 hours or as desired.

     Cranberry Lemonade

     Again, after the 1st ferment, add fresh cranberries in blender along with the juice of one or two lemons. Add some additional raw sugar as desired. Puree until smooth and add to the strained kefir. Stir in. Sample taste for sweetness and allow to ferment another 24 hours or as desired. It will loose sweetness as it ferments


                              Ginger Brew

     Add in a little fresh ginger and a little vanilla to the second ferment. Let sit out until desired.

     

  Strawberry Lemonade

     Pretty much the same as with the cranberry but with strawberries. I usually add about 8 frozen or fresh strawberries and juice of two regular lemons. I add a little more water if too strong but not too much. I usually don't need extra sweetener with the strawberry.

 Grape (not shown) 

     Just add organic, pure grape juice to the second ferment. My favorite flavor of all but expensive!

I have done fresh squeezed orange juice and it wasn't too great. I did like the fresh squeezed grapefruit juice.

With kefir, it is an individual thing. You have to play around with it and figure out how you like it to taste. I like mine fizzy, like soda and a little tart. I find that using my half gallon jars, 24 hours is plenty of time for my first ferment then after I strain it and add juice, usually 24 hours again for the second ferment is enough. I know it is done by how fizzy it is. It will also get a little fizzier after you cap it and put it in the fridge. I find that about a ratio of 6-7 cups kefir and about 1-2 cups juice works great. I like to use the plastic mason jar lids you can find at stores like walmart. I just set them on top, not screw them on until they go in the fridge. They hold the fizz fine in the fridge. I haven't needed to buy the cork tops. 

I find I can add these to smoothies or I can also just use the plain kefir before I flavor and fizz it up. Once you start, it really is easy as pie. It is just getting in the rhythm of things. I am glad to be getting extra probiotics in around here. They are the keys to the universe. Maybe I will call this my universe juice? 

Can't find the half gallon jars or lids? Get them here:

Waste Not...leftover hamburger buns.

I hate to waste food. Really hate it. To me, not only is it a waste of my money, it is showing ingratitude for the food I was blessed with. I try hard to use the "scraps" in other creations when at all possible. Saturday we had some friends over for a BBQ and you are always left with the hamburger buns that you over bought. Now, there is no way I am going to use them for any other dish since they were store bought, tasteless buns except for.....

Croutons. Croutons are a great way to use up the leftover buns and french bread. It is so easy and they store great. If you have lots, you can put them in mason jars and use a food saver vacuum lid if you have one. 

To make your own, simply cut the bread into squares or be real cute and make shapes. 

Then, drizzle with olive oil or spray with an oil sprayer. Sprinkle with herbs of choice, garlic powder and sea salt. I love the Herbs de Provence myself. 

Bake in the oven on 300 , tossing now and then until they are crisp. You don't want them brown, just dried out. 

Now, if you need something to serve along side your salad topped with homemade croutons, you can try these cute little pinwheels out.....

Also super easy but oh so appetizing. It is a great way to use the leftovers in the fridge.

To make these, make your favorite pizza dough or you can borrow my recipe here:

Pizza Dough

4 cups all purpose flour, or half whole grain

1 tsp salt

1 1/2 cups warm water

2 tsp yeast in 1/4 cup warm water

1 T. Olive oil

Mix yeast in measuring cup with 1/4 cups warm water. Let yeast get foamy. Put 3 cups of flour in bowl with salt. Mix and stir in 1 1/2 cups warm water, oil and yeast mixture. Mix with spoon until sticky. Add more flour until the dough is only slightly sticky. Let rest for 8 minutes. Knead again until dough is smooth and elastic. Let rise for 4 hours. 

 I let the dough rise for about an hour for this recipe. I used half whole grain, half white flour. All whole grain would be a little heavy. 

Roll out dough to about 1/3 inch thick. Sprinkle with about 2 cups mozzarella or more if desired. Top with whatever you desire. I used thin prosciutto, chopped onions, chopped spinach and a little crumbled bacon. The total amount of meat I used was 4 oz. and this fed 6 hungry people for dinner and two of us for lunch.

After the toppings are on, roll up the dough like a cinnamon roll, long side first. Pinch seams and edges. Place seam side down on a jelly roll pan. I put mine on parchment and had to put the roll up diagonally on the pan to make it fit.

Brush the entire top with olive oil and bake at 425 for 25 minutes or until golden. The top will be crispy.

Let cool a few minutes and serve alongside some marinara sauce for dipping. Yummy. 

Fresh Finds......

I am working on my great big Costco list for you but here are a few great deals for this week. Sprouts begins tomorrow and remember that if you go on Wednesday, you get last week deals as well!

SPROUTS

                Organic, grass-fed ground beef $3.97 lb! Stock up!!!          
                5lb bag of organic russet potatoes, 2 for $5
                1 lb  bag of organic kiwi, $1.99
                3 lb bag of organic yellow onions, $1.99

FRESH AND EASY

               5 lb bag of organic fuji apples: $3 ($.60 per lb!)                     
               ***$3 off coupon in today's mailer as well


               Other things I love at Fresh and Easy is the organic
               heavy cream, organic applesauce, Naan bread, 
               and the natural, organic peanut butter...to name a 
               few. 

Women

One of the blessings from writing this blog is that I have met many women who have become my friends and who have inspired me in many ways. There are so many amazing ladies out there trying there hardest to be mothers and wives. Women who don't take the easy roads and strive daily to be better. I love the emails, I love the stories. I started this blog merely as a way to share what I learn about homemaking but never expected what I would get in return. I am blessed for it. 


Tonight I am feeling especially blessed as I talked with a very sweet friend I gained from my blogging life.
I met sweet Annabeth at the beginning of my blogging career. I instantly felt she was a kindred spirit with me. She is a lady of pure quality and leads a life of beauty and dedication. She is an amazing mother and wife who is completely dedicated in all she does. Tonight, my heart aches for her.


When I returned home from a day out in the mountains with my kids, I decided to get any messages of my cell phone since I had it off since Saturday. The message I received from Annabeth immediately made the tears flow and my heart break.


I had been at Annabeth's house on Friday. Her sweet little Abigail, her little baby girl, had RSV and had been sick for almost two weeks. Annabeth, although she had slept very little in those weeks, wore a smile and had the usual spunk I have always seen her with. She never complains but she was concerned for this little one. 


Her message to me came as a shock. The next morning after I saw her, she noticed a lump on her little ones neck. She went to the ER and was sent to a special children's hospital. The news came; Abigail has stage 4 cancer filling her little body. She asked for prayers.


How could this be? Why? All those questions filled my head and the tears flowed. I called her home and then called the hospital in hopes of giving her any comfort I could.


The amazing part was that after I finished my phone call with her, she was the one who comforted me. I hung up feeling peaceful and thankful. THANKFUL. How can you feel thankful when you receive news that a child, so tiny, is suffering such a terrible disease.


Thankful is what Annabeth was. She told me that sure, she cried her eyes out and prayed out her soul but the peace came to her and she started to think of all the blessings she has had in her life and in Abigails behalf. She feels amazing peace and she gave that to me.


I have been thinking about Annabeth since and her sweet Abigail. How can Annabeth be so at peace? She knows what lies ahead and the extreme trials she and her family will be going through. However, she has lived her life in a way that she has the strength she needs and has trust in the Lord that He will carry her when she can't go any further. 


She is a testimony to me that we must be at a place in our lives where we will be prepared for the trials that will come. There is no doubt that they will. Guaranteed. We need to be able to not only get through them but to rise to the challenge and triumph.  


In addition, we need angel women around us to be there when we need to be picked up and carried. My goal this year has been to reach beyond and see beyond myself. I am trying so hard to be thinking of others and to really know there needs. The ironic thing about this goal is that by thinking of others and trying to serve them, I am the one who is being lifted up. 


I am thankful for women. I am thankful for their strength. There are so many powerful examples in my life and I am thankful for you all.


Please, my sisters, pray for sweet Abigail and Annabeth. Pray for their continued peace. My very first thought when I heard her message was, if anyone can handle this, Annabeth can. I want to be like her.