Thursday, December 31, 2009

So I have been thinking about what to leave in 2009 as we enter a wonderful new year full of possibilities. I will leave anger and negative feeling that I can't seem to shake against some family members and so called "friends". This is a beautiful time. It ushers in newness. That makes me happy. This is the year I intend for us to conquer stage IV metastic pancreatic cancer once & for all. This will happen. I intend to have a year of positive changes, experiences & knowledge. All of the craziness of 2009 stays in 2009. I visualize it like standing at the water's eadge on a beach with the waves rolling in, seagulls chattering & salt air wisping around me. This to me is paradise it is also how I choose to see this brand new year! It is the end of a decade. The beginning of everything..a turning point. How do youchoose to visualize this new year? Remember that the universe listens so manifest something positive! Happy Healthy new Year!

Monday, December 21, 2009

vegan sweet potato salad

I made up a yummy recipe. It was influenced by a wonderful sweet potato salad I had last week while eating out at our favorite organic vegan/vegetarian friendly restaurant. It was Sweet potato salad and I just couldn't get enough of it so I tried to replicate it.

2 cups small purple/blue potatoes boiled and sliced
2 medium sweet potatoes boiled and sliced
2 stalks celery chopped
3 tbs. veganaise
1 tbs. Dijon mustard
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
walnuts to taste..I used about 1/3 cup

Boil all of the potatoes for about 30 minutes or until you can poke them easily with a knife. The tiny purple/blue potatoes boil faster. No need to peel the purple/blue potatoes but do peel the sweet potatoes and slice them all. Chop the celery and combine it with the potatoes in a bowl. Add the veganaise, mustard & walnuts and mix thoroughly. Sprinkle in the nutmeg and continue mixing. Enjoy. I love veganaise and walnuts and think I probably could have used a bit more of both but it like the nutmeg is to your personal preference. This is a healthy tasty alternative to the regular potato salad offerings and it has a great flavor. Good for the holidays. It is pretty too!

Friday, December 11, 2009

Walnut tacos/tortillas

The idea and walnut mixture recipe came from the raw foods book Rawvolution.

Walnut Mixture

1 1/2 cups walnuts- finely ground in a food processor
1 1/2 tsp. cumin & chilli pepper
3/4 tsp. ground corriander
2 tbs. Nama Shoyu

Mix all together or put it all in a food processor together.

Salsa

2-3 Roma tomatoes, sliced or chopped
3/4 cup fresh cilantro
4 cloves garlic
1 1/2 tsp. cumin
3/4 tsp. ground corriander
1 tbs. fresh lemon juice
yellow onion to taste

Put all ingredients in food processor and process into a salsa

lettuce leaves shredded or torn (I like butter or red lettuces)
black olives
1 avocado sliced
sprouted corn torillas (I like Food for Life brand)

Arrange lettuce ,black olives & avocado slices on the tortilla and top with walnut mixture & salsa.
If you want it 100% raw omit the tortilla and serve on a whole lettuce leaf or cabbage leaf. Serve! This should make 4-5 servings

Thursday, December 10, 2009

Easy dinner of Zucchini Hummus

Zucchini Hummus recipe from Raw Food Made Easy for 1 or 2 people by Jennifer Cornbleet

1 zucchini chopped & peeled (I do not peel it)
2 tbs. raw tahini
2tbs. fresh lemon juice
1/2 tsp. crushed garlic (1 clove) (I use 2)
1/4 tsp. ground cumin
1/4 tsp. paprika
1/4 tsp. salt

I add a dash of chili pepper flakes and extra lemon juice

Put it all in a food processor with the S blade and process until smooth. The mini food processors work well for this but if you are needed to make enough for more than 2 people don't use a mini and remember that this recipe makes 2 servings. The mini food processors or mini choppers as my sisters call them can be found at Target for around $10.
I serve this with Whole Wheat Pita bread for dipping, a butter lettuce leaf, tomato slices, black olives and 1/2 of an avocado split between my husband and myself. It is a filling yummy lunch or dinner. Now Garbanzo bean hummus instead with whole wheat pita would make a complete protein but also a cooked meal. If you want a completely raw meal from this omit the pita and use the lettuce leaf or a cabbage leaf to dip & eat this hummus. Yum!

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Power of Intention

I have been bad about posting. We are simply busy right now. Lots of new and wonderful stuff going on in our lives. I am constantly amazed by the fact that we always seem to have what we need and things just kinda fall right into place for us. Now, we are big believers in the power of intention and manifestation. Lately so many things that we set our intentions on are coming into our lives. A big example is this...We have taken different forms of meditation in the past but my work schedule changed which meant I couldn't go to class any more. My husband still goes and I know enough to practice on my own but it never felt the same on my own. I was longing for a group to sit in silence with. I missed that shared feeling and positive energy. We also have been exploring spiritual paths. In order to properly heal, I believe that a spiritual path is necessary. So a few weeks ago we found it all in one group. It is amazing. I am growing my practice of mindful meditation and living. I am getting the shared community feeling and unbelievable positivity that I was longing for as well as a new spiritual pathway that seems to fit our new lifestyle. One of the members of this group is hosting a New Year's Eve party and the group is invited. I don't know this person but I am looking very forward to meeting him b/c he studied with Gabrielle Cousens I am told. We are starting out on a new dietary path of raw foods and here this man studied with one of the gurus of this diet. What are the odds? We needed a place to go on New Year's eve too. One great manifestation leads right into another. It is amazing. Ask,Believe, Receive..wiser words have never been spoken. We learned this by watching The Secret. Some people might think it is woo woo crap but an open mind knows better. Are we blessed...yes! Do we bless ourselves....yes!
"courage-specifically the courage to be, just as we are, right here, right now, with all our doubts and uncertainties. Facing experience directly opens us to the possibility of recognizing that whatever we experience-love, loneliness, hate, jealousy, joy, greed, grief and so on-is, in essence, an expression of the fundamentally unlimited potential of our buddha nature." Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche from Joyful Wisdom.
Have a positive day!

Sunday, November 29, 2009

Sugar & cancer

This post is inspired by the many questions that arise about sugars and cancer...specifically natural sugars. This is my own opinion on the topic and I am not a trained nutritionists, doctor, oncologist,etc. I am a wife whose husband is LIVING WELL with cancer and who studies up hard on all things about cancer.

Refined sugar is a big no-no when fighting cancer. Cancer feeds on sugar. It loves glucose and even steals it from other healthy cells in the body. Many healthy foods, fruits & veggies, contain natural sugars. So what do you do if you are trying to avoid sugar when dealing with cancer? Do you eat the carrot or not? Well there are several theories on this topic but most agree, in my experience, that it is not possible to eliminate all natural sugars nor should we. If a fruit or veggie has proven cancer fighting nutrients than it is worth it to eat it. For example...carrots have a high level of glucose and cancer cells suck it up but they are also getting cancer fighting nutrients from that carrot when they allow in the glucose. So if a fruit or veggie is high glycemic with proven cancer fighting properties when it is eaten it directly delivers the fighting properties into the cancer cell. That pro outweighs the con. Our Naturopath says that our body talks to us so if we have a craving for a whole healthy food than we should eat it because our body is telling us we need it to function. An example...my husband was craving pineapple but b/c it is high glycemic I did not buy it. We asked her about this and she asked him if he was having digestion issues and he was. So she said eat it b/c his body was asking for the bromelene to aid in digestion. He ate it and it worked. Certain berries are great cancer fighters but high glycemic. We eat them. Bananas are high glycemic with no cancer fighting properties so we do not eat them. I made a raw chocolate cake for Thanksgiving which called for dates. Dates are high glycemic so I used figs instead which have tumor fighting properties and it rocked. So I do not believe that we should eliminate fruit sugars and veggie sugars from a cancer diet but we do need to be educated on the cancer fighting foods so that we make the proper fruit and veggie choices. Our bodies need the natural sugars of fruits and veggies to function properly. When you toss in serious illness particularly one that feeds on sugar it is necessary to educate yourself on these foods. It is really not optional. It can be confusing and overwhelming but we have to do what we have to do. Food has a function in our bodies. I like to think of what we eat as the weapons that the immune system warriors need in order to fight off the beasts that might be lurking. I also think that we should eat to nurture ourselves and show love to ourselves. We feel good when we do this. And let me ask you when was the last time you ate a junk food meal followed by a large soda, make that a diet soda and felt good or nurtured? Honestly

Saturday, November 28, 2009

My breakfast & teas

Something that I eat every morning that keeps me satisfied just about all day until dinner time is chia seeds. I do eat lunch but I am never "starving". I mix 2 spoonsfull in with my plain soy yogurt, flaxseeds, pineapple chunks or berries. Sometimes walnuts or brazil nuts too. So good.
I have yet to find a soy yogurt without cane juice in it so if you are avoiding sugars make sure you read the labels and let me know if you find one without cane juice.

I also love a hot cup of tea in the early morning. Some of my favorites are Allegro Tropical Mate, Numi Mint Pu-Erh, Numi Gunpowder Green Tea, Numi Morrocon Mint, Sencha Green Tea (the real deal not sure which company..Allegro I think it is a loose tea) Bija Hawthorn Tea and Traditional Medicinals Raspberry Leaf (for the female system)
I also like Yogi Tea Cold Season when I start to feel stuffed up or sinusy. I love tea a lot even the "weird" ones like Twig Tea (a macrobiotic tea) for its' earthy flavor.
Just wanted to share these things b/c it seems like more & more people are skipping breakfast or stopping at a fast food place or convenience store for the first meal and drink of their day. We need to start our days off properly with a healthy nutritious meal & drink eaten without a sense of urgency. It is a beautiful way to start the day just like dinner is a beautiful way to end it. When we eat we are supposed to be nurturing our bodies and telling ourselves we love our self. If we eat junk and are in a hurry that is not nurturing or believable. Make the time for yourself and take care because you are the only you there is and life is short.

Friday, November 27, 2009

Yummy raw chocolate cake

I made a yummy easy dessert for Thanksgiving. The original recipe comes from Raw Food Made Easy by Jennifer Cornbleet. I tweaked it a bit to suit us.

1 1/2 cups raw unsoaked walnuts
dash of salt
12 dehydrated black mission figs,destemmed (original recipe calls for 10 pitted unsoaked dates)
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder/carob powder
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
4 tsp. water (original recipe calls for 2 tsp.)
1 tsp. agave nectar (my addition)

Put the walnuts & salt in a food processor fitted with the S blade and grind until fine. Add the figs,cocoa/carob powder,agave, vanilla & water and process until mixture beginns to stick together. Using a rubber spatula transfer to a serving plate and form mixture into a rounded form. Serve ASAP or cover and refrigerate.

Monday, November 23, 2009

Treehugger's rant

I am very concerned about the state of our world. The animals, environment, people are all threatened by the biggest predator this planet has known,us humans and many do not seem to give it a second thought. Whole species are being threatened with extinction like the orangutans of Sumatra, sharks world wide, amphibians world wide, elephants and rhinos. At the root of this is greed, money. In Sumatra the rain forests are being slashed and burned displacing the orangutans so that palm fields can be planted and palm oil harvested. Palm oil is in high demand nowadays and is used in just about everything on the grocery store shelves. Never mind the animals are being sacrificed and orphaned or that the precious rain forests of Sumatra are being eradicated at an alarming rate which causes all kinds of environmental problems. One big one it is causing now as I sit here typing is the carbon being sent up into the atmosphere because of the burning. It is said that the smoke over this region of Indonesia can be seen from space. It pollutes the air in Sumatra. Our oceans are so over fished that it is killing the shark population. They are running out of food sources. The practice of fining them in order to sell the fins to make shark fin soup in Asia and the US is also taking its' toll besides causing cruel,painful, torturous deaths to these creatures who have been in the oceans since the days of the dinosaurs. Pollution of the oceans as well as global warming are also causing big problems. Humans depend on the life that comes from these waters but we are destroying them thus we are destroying ourselves. The use of mass pesticides and herbicides being sprayed on our food is depleting the soil which is a source of many vegetables nutrients. It is also making us sick and contaminating everything surrounding these farm areas.
We have to wake up ans speak up. We can't keep letting the almighty dollar, a piece of paper, dictate how and what we do. We are part of this ecosystem too yet we act like we are above it and who cares if we crush it. We will be responsible for our own extinction and death of this planet. We must take responsibility now. The excuse "what difference will one person, me, make" doesn't get anyone out of this situation but makes it worse. Our choices make a huge difference not just for ourselves but for future generations of our species and other species. Collectively we have caused these problems and collectively we can solve them. No person can close their eyes and ears to these realities any longer.
I know it is Thanksgiving week and that is why I am writing this now. We have much to be thankful for but we have much to work on so we can continue to be able to be thankful for years to come and so will our children.

Sunday, November 22, 2009

Another kitchen blunder







Tonight I made a raw dinner. I have made this particular dish several times but I tried a new sauce recipe. The meal was raw spaghetti which is raw zucchini cut with a spiral veggie cutter and raw red sauce. The sauce did not come out like I had hoped. Too watery and the red onion I used was very potent so it overwhelmed. We ate it though but my husband did have to voice his opinion. So I had to remind myself of my earlier post about not getting discouraged b/c a meal doesn't turn out. I love to make raw meals but we aren't 100% raw. I like the idea I have heard many raw foodists talk about when it comes to making a meal which is to not worry about making the fancy complicated recipes. Keep it simple. Five ingredients is a good number. I have made the fancy complicated recipes and they were worth it but simple is sometimes better. I am going to attempt to put together a raw chocolate cake for Thanksgiving in addition to the raw no peanut butter cookies. I will substitute a few things so we will see. If it turns out I will share the recipe. Have a great Thanksgiving and don't be afraid of trying something new in the kitchen.

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Not Peanut Butter Cookies

My husband Paul loves these cookies so much he asked for them for our dessert on Thanksgiving. They are from Raw Food Made Easy for 1 or 2 people by Jennifer Cornbleet.

1/2 cup raw almond butter or cashew butter
1/4 cup pur maple syrup,agave nectar or raw honey
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
dash of salt
1/2 cup ground almonds

Place the almond butter,maple syrup, vailla & salt in a food processor fitted with the S blade & process until smooth. Transfer to a bowl and freeze for 30 minutes. Form into 1 inch balls and flatten slightly. Roll each cookie in ground almonds and put back into freezer for at least 2 hours before serving. They will keep for 1 month in a sealed container in the freezer.
My twist is to add unsweetened carob chips to the mix.

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Don't get discouraged in the kitchen

Last night I tried a new recipe to me for Miso soup. I am trying to use up things in my kitchen that have been sitting on the shelves before I have to throw them out. So I decided to use up some of the miso & wakame I had. I like miso soup usually. Wakame is a completely different story. All of the seaweeds gag me. The smell and the taste are awful to me but they are so healthy for us so I try to use them in recipes and it all most always goes wrong. My miso soup did. I could not eat more than one bite before having to apologize to my husband for the nasty dinner. He actually ate his bowl of soup. He has no problem with the seaweeds. I had no back up meal so I was happy that he ate it. I know I won't be trying to make Miso soup again but I am not discouraged that one of my meals in the last 2 years failed. I am not prefect nor do I strive to be. I am pretty proud that I am able to prepare our meals like I am. I did not grow up in a household with a Betty Crocker mother. I never really learned how to cook. In college I could make Ramen Noodles or microwave Mac & Cheese. When I moved out on my own my kitchen usually contained lots of packages, cans & jars along with a 12pack of Coke. I was clueless. My husband,then boyfriend, was/is a great cook so he would make dinners or most always we ate out. We moved to southern California for a few great years and I did try my hand at cooking there because we needed to eat at home to save on expenses. We still ate out alot but I did teach myself to make a few good dishes. It wasn't until last year that I took to the kitchen and changed my thinking about preparing meals. I love it now. I see it as a creative process and sometimes a challenge. Those two things usually come with a risk for error so I accept an occasional failure. Tonight is a new night. Try & try again. As with life there is much to learn and new things constantly coming out when it comes to food preparation. So don't let one or two failed recipes keep you from keeping at it. Making our own meals is not just about saving some money or trying to impress. It is about being healthy and nurturing our bodies. What better way to tell yourself "I love you" than a nutritious home made meal. It should feel that way every time we eat and you just don't get that in a restaurant.

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Lettuce wraps

I made up a great raw lettuce wrap recipe tonight based on a recipe for spring rolls from Ann Gentry and the Real Food Daily cookbook. I highly recommend this cookbook and restaurant in southern California. It is one of my favorites there. I really did not measure anything so you will have to judge that for yourselves.

green cabbage sliced up maybe half a cup
1 carrot shaved using a vegetable peeler
1/2 daikon radish shaved using a vegetable peeler
1 avocado cut into chunks
4 red leaf lettuce leaves
1/4 cup raw cashews

place some avocado chunks,carrot & daikon radish shavings, cabbage slices and cashews in the lettuce leaf and roll it up.

Almond butter dipping sauce

3 spoonful almond butter
2 garlic cloves
a sliver of fresh ginger
5 dashes of Nama Shoyu
1/4 cup water

Combine all in a mini food processor and process until smooth. Might take less water you just need to judge this. if you want a thick sauce use less water. Spoon sauce into the lettuce wraps or use as a dipping sauce.

Enjoy! Easy & raw

Saturday, November 7, 2009

Book Plug n an amazing book

Hi,
I am going to proudly promote a book today. The book is called My Tree Called Life Writing & Living Through Serious Illness An Anthology of Poetry & Prose. My husband & I both have writings in this book. This book benefits a place in Kansas City called Turning Point: The Center for Hope and Healing. The name is so fitting. Turning Point has been like a rock for both of us since last year. It is a place where people with serious physical illness,their family & friends can come for support and to find resources to take charge of their lives ,find hope, healing and friendships all in a place where everyone gets it. This book gives voice to the many emotions that people have in dealing with serious illness and it will speak to anyone dealing with one,anyone who is a caregiver. There are messages of hope,positivity,happiness,sadness,fear,loss, etc. from people living with cancer,HIV/AIDS, Parkinson's,caring for elderly parents and a daughter who suffered 5 strokes from cancer treatment. The list goes on. These people including my husband & myself are able to break it down because why not? We experience life in a whole new way. The little things that used to be a big deal we realize are not worth a second thought. Living or laundry...Hmmmm which is most important today? So if you are interested in the book please contact Cathy at Turning Point 913-383-8700 and visit the website at turningpointkc.org Did I mention that the book was edited by Caryn Mirriam-Goldberg PhD. and current Poet Laureate of Kansas also a cancer survivor. It is from her writing workshops at Turning Point that the poems & prose in this book come from. We are so proud to be a part of this. Yeah! We are published!
I have to add that I am an English Lit. Major and I used to write poetry and short stories throughout college and a few years after graduation but I gave it up. So I had not written much in many many years before we took the workshop last year and when we were writing it felt so good and wow! now I have 3 published poems. It is nuts that it took major health issues to get me writing again and published to boot. That's why I went to college. So I am on cloud nine about this project.

Have a great day!

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Green Juice

I am shocked at myself that it has taken me this long to post about juicing and how great I think it is. For 2 years now I have been making fresh juices for my husband in order to make sure he is getting the proper nutrition from his veggies and all of the cancer fighting benefits they have to offer. Some say just eat the vegtable or fruit and I agree. We should do that too but liquid is absorbed easier and faster by our bodies. If you eat well and balanced and eat plenty of plant based foods you will get enough fiber while still juicing. Green juices pack a punch and boost the immune system. I always use organic veggies. Organic everything. I don't want to add pesticide residue to my healthy drinks.
Here is my green juice recipe...
Kale at least 3 big leaves if not more
Spinach...a handfull
Parsley... a handful
Dandelion Greens... a handful
2 carrots...whole
1 medium granny smith apple
2 or 3 celery stalks
1/2 medium cucumber

Add green leafy veggies to juicer first and follow with celery then carrots, apple, cucumber. The celery, apple and cucumber will push the rest of the veggie juices through. This makes about 5 ounces of juice. Eight ounces is optimal. Of course there are many other things you can add like lettuces, beets, chard,etc. but not the soft stuff like avocado..those can't go into a juicer. You can mix them in later in a blender though. Green juices are a great energy boosts as well as nutritionally packed. It is satisfying to make your own juices especially if you turn a bottle or carton over at the store and read all of the crap that is added to those juices with very little exception. It is easy and if you do the math not expensive.
I started off using a Jack Lalanne but have graduated to a Breville Fountain Juicer. There are many on the market to chose from. Get one and start making your own juices. It's fun!

Friday, October 30, 2009

Tofu scramble

Sorry I haven't posted for awhile. We have had lots going on. I have been playing around with tofu recently. I like it but my husband isn't a huge fan. He will eat it though. Here are 2 tofu scrambles that I have made recently and was happy with. They are pretty simple which is why I like them. It is true that not everyone can have soy products so please be knowledgeable of whether or not you are one of those people.

1 package firm herb infused tofu....I like Central Soy brand b/c it is local to Kansas and nonGMO... cut into chunks
2 medium sized chard leaves...torn into pieces
6 cloves garlic..chopped
1/4 cup yellow onion... chopped
1 carrot...chopped
4-5 cherry or grape tomato...sliced in half
olive oil
paprika & black pepper to taste
2 purple potatoes...sliced...these are usually small

Add enough olive oil to a sauce pan to coat the bottom. Set burner to medium heat. Throw in the purple potatoes and let them fry or cook until tender then add the onions, garlic, carrot & tomato cook for a couple of minutes and add tofu chunks paprika to taste and black pepper to taste. Saute all for about 15 minutes and serve. You can also use hickory smoked tofu which is nice or plain tofu but I like the flavored ones b/c that is less you have to do to give it flavor. Mushrooms would also be a nice addition. Serving with brown rice or quinoa is also great.
We love purple potatoes. We try to avoid potatoes mostly except sweet potatoes but these are so very appealing. I think kids would like them mixed in with other veggies because they are purple and that is something different and more interesting than a white potato. But we don't have kids so I have not tested the theory. Although my husband can be like one with food so if it appeals to him it is safe to say it will appeal to the kiddos too.
I want to recommend 2 other blogs that I have fairly recently found and really like for recipes,etc. vegandad.blogspot.com & nutritioncoachkaren.blogspot.com.
Have a positive day!

Friday, October 23, 2009

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=72D3M7VNABU Our Children will accuse Us video clip.
This ia a powerful video clip. It addresses an issue that is most important in the world today about conventional farming practices with the mass use of chemicals and the reprocutions that has on all of us. It reminds me of a story from a girl that I used to work a 2nd job with. She met a guy from Minnesota and moved to his hometown which was a small farming community to be with him on his family's farm. He now farmed it. She came back here for a visit and over lunch I asked her what it was like on the farm and in the small town. She enjoyed it very much and liked the small farming community but she was concerned about a couple of things. The family farm was now being farmed with chemicals and her boyfriend had to dress in Hazmat- like gear on the days that these chemicals were sprayed in order to go out into the fields. She worried about his health and said that his response to that is that his father farmed this way and he was ok so far. She also said that the surronding farming communities and the one she lived in all coordinated the days that they sprayed because those chemicals become airborne and it is easier for the communities to know which days the windows have to stay shut, the kids can't play outside and in general everyone including the animals stays inside if it is all done on the same day. I remember being shocked by this info. It is scarey!! That is the food that is sold to us in markets,grocery stores and resturants. Wow! right? Imagine that just for a minute. The days of grandma & grandpa's natural farm is almost long gone. There are those farmer's that use organic farming methods successfully and provide food that is not laced with chemicals that make us sick & kill us. These farmers are the Rock Stars and they deserve to be recognized and our deep appriciation for their hardwork, efforts & caring. We need to be educated on these topics and we need to encourage these organic practices. So many people worry about the cost of organic food but let me tell you that a hospital,doctor and meds will cost a hell of a lot more than a shopping cart of organic food. Plus organic foods in a conventional grocery store,in my experience, cost almost double the price of the same thing from a health food store. An example...I buy a sprouted grain organic bread at my local Whole Foods for $2.99 and that same bread at another popular Kansas City conventional grocery store that has a larger than most organic food department costs $4.79 as of this week. It is no wonder to me that people freak out about organics being expensive. Whole Foods gets the bad rep of being overly pricey but if you shop there and look in other stores you will soon find that it is not really true. And if more people would do there shopping in the healthfood stores organic foods would become the preference. It is the choice between real clean foods or chemical laced & unnatural nutritionally void foods.

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Beer & Wine Pros & Cons

Alcohol is one of those confusing things for most when trying to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Should I or shouldn't I. It is a matter of choice in my opinion but it should be an informed choice.
I am not preaching against it because for many years I indulged generously. I was a beer loving girl. I have not had a drink of anything alcoholic since 2/07 and I do not miss it. Here is what I have learned about wine & beer from the Nutrition Almanac by John Kirschmann.....
Alcohol is nothing but pure carbohydrates topped off by lots of calories.
Wine is something we are told is good for us one day and bad the next. In moderation wine might have some benefits to the cardiovascular system at about 2 glasses per day. White & red wine raise HDL cholesterol which is the good cholesterol. Red wine seems to offer more effective benefits because the skins contain polyphenols. Polyphenols fight cancer,heart disease, bacteria and thin the blood to prevent clots. White wine does not contain the skins of the grape thus it does not provide these benefits. Wine boosts estrogen levels,kills bacteria, discourages gallstones and inhibits viruses. Red wine is known to trigger migraine headaches and any wine in excess can cause liver,brain and heart problems.
Beer contains magnesium. It might also prevent blockages of arteries in the heart and raise HDL cholesterol. It also causes elevated blood pressure,gout,and cancer of the urinary tract,lung,rectum and breast. The amount consumed increases these risks. Even moderate amounts increase the chance of heart attack. Those beerbellies that we usually talk about with affection and laughter are the result of damage done to the walls of the stomach taking away its' firmness. Beer in excess causes a malabsorption of protein which is needed to keep the stomach firm. In those with beerbellies the stomach structure is weak and the digestive system has expanded. Pretty gross if you ask me.
So do the pros get outweighed by the cons? That of course is a personal choice. Paraphrasing a quote I like moderation kills. Moderation to me is an excuse but that is me. I used to drink...alot. Not saying that I was an alcoholic but enough to have a good time. Now I know I don't need it to have a good time or to relax. There are better ways that do not pose a health risk. I enjoyed it socially. I am not against alcohol but I do think that having the proper information about what we are consuming is important.

Sunday, October 18, 2009

Hope every second

Today has been wonderful. Dare I say perfect! It was finally sunny and dry outside..great Fall weather. We had a fun brunch with my mother-in-law and ran a few errands then went to the arboritum which was beautiful and one of our favorite nieghborhood parks. Right now I am listening to Paul play guitar and sing one of his songs. I looove days like these. Life is wonderful and I am often reminded of that even in the midst of craziness. I was telling Paul this morning that the past 3 years have been crazy. It amazes me to think back on them. I got sick with the brain abcess and almost clocked out. Made it out of the hospital after 1 month and spent 1 year in rehab therapies relearning how to walk,talk normally,etc. then the cancer bomb hit Paul. Chemo, diet changes, retraining our thoughts, lots of learning, finding Kris Carr and her books. Our great friend Melecia passed from her 2nd battle with cancer,my daddy passed from cardiac arrest 2 days after my birthday and Paul's dear grandpa passed. Wow! That's CRAZY but we have moved forward stronger with each event and positive. It brings tears to my eyes but they are tears of joy and gratefulness at all of the things we have endured and continuously deal with in a positive manner. I am so proud of us. Hope fills our lives every second. I am so proud of my husband it is overwhelming and listening to him right now doing what he loves just reassures me that he is healing. :}

Great quote

"If you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change your attitude." Maya Angelou

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

More on beneficial properties of common fruits

Continuing on with fruit talk...

Cherries both sweet & tart may be beneficial in protecting the arterial walls of the heart and may also be protective against cancer as part of a cancer prevention diet. The red tart variety contains anthocyanins that have anti-inflammatory properties.

Blueberries rank high in antioxidant activity. They also have powerful anti-inflammatory compounds. The phytonutients possessed block damage to blood vessels including those in the brain. They also prevent bacteria from clinging to the walls of the bladder thus fighting urinary tract infections. They control diarrhea also. Blueberries are an antiviral and contain natural aspirin. Raw is more beneficial than cooked.

Cranberries prevent bacteria from clinging to tissue thus prevent urinary & kidney infections. They also prevent bacteria from sticking to teeth and forming plaque. The anthocyanin in them protect cholesterol from oxidation and thins the blood. They can also prevent kidney stones.

Melons are the most alkaline fruits. They contain potassium,calcium, iron,etc. Cantaloupe contains betacarotene, glutathione and vitamin C which protect the heart and prevent cancer.

Watermelons contain the powerful antioxidants lycopene & glutathione which fight bacteria and prevent blood clots.

Even though these fruits have several great benefits remember that fruits are naturally high in sugar which for some is an issue so just be smart about how much you consume. Mix them up too.

Monday, October 12, 2009

a few beneficial friuts

I was reading my Nutrition Almanac by John Kirschmann tonight and thought I would share some helpful info. of fruits.

Pineapple is an antiviral and antibacterial. It contains manganese which is good for the bones and a natural enzyme called bromelain that aids in digestion and is a powerful anti-inflammatory.
Apples reduce cholesterol and are anti-inflammatory. They also fight bacteria and viruses including colds, stabilize blood sugars, help prevent cancer and aid the cardiovascular system. They also contain boron boosting the action of estrogen and contain bulk fiber. Two or three apples a day offer benefits.One won't get the job done.
Figs have iron,magnesium,potassium and calcium as well as significant amounts of fiber. It is said that they can shrink tumors.
Dates contain calcium & boron and a high amount of natural aspirin. They are also linked to lower pancreatic cancer rates.
Oranges are high in vitamin C and protect against respiratory infections,viruses and gum disease. They are also associated with lowering the risk of pancreatic cancer.
Grapefruits lower blood cholesterol and can reverse clogged arteries. It is also high in vitamin C. and antiviral. They retard tumor growth and fight pancreatic & stomach cancers
lemon and lime contain antioxidants that block cancer. Also high in vitamin C. Lemon is an astringent, diuretic and good for sore throats sunburn and hiccoughs.
Kiwi fruit is high in vitamin C and in traditional Chinese medicine is used to fight breast and stomach cancers.
Grapes only the red ones have a great cancer fighting property. They are high in the antioxident Quercetine. The skins inhibit blood clotting and raise good HDL cholesterol levels as does grapeseed oil. In studies they also act as antiviral and antibiotic agents.
Raspberries are antiviral and anticancer containing natural aspirin.
Strawberries are antiviral and block cancer forming substances. They also benefit the cardiovascular system and are high in fiber.

That is all for now. It is a great time of year to stock up on the antiviral and antibacterial fruits.

Info on oils & fats as well as honey

Learning about oils & fats is quite a process. There is much to know. Fats and oils are made up of carbon chains but are compact and simple. A fat chain is a linear arrangement of carbon atoms. Fats have hydrogen added to them making them hydrocarbons structurally related to petroleum. Each carbon atoms is able to attach 4 other atoms. When all of these spaces are filled the fat is saturated. When spaces are left open the oil or fat is unsaturated. Saturation determines the melting point of fat so the greater number of open spaces the more likely it is to be a liquid. Oils are present in many grains,vegatables and some fruits. As long as they remain part of the whole food they can be healthful but once removed they are subject to a host of destructive practices. When unsaturated the carbon chains of fats & oils can have open spaces filled with oxygen instead of hydrogen atoms. When oil is heated this process takes place rapidly. Rancidity results. Oxygen atoms are not tightly held and are very reactive. Free radicals are the compounds that hold them. The reactive oxygen will oxidize or burn other molecules like vitamins. Overheating changes fats altering thier molecules. These molecules are less useful and the body handles them differently. They are now potentially harmful. Heating oils between 375 & 400 F is bad news. Most vegatable oils are heat processed. Some oils are cold pressed like olive,peanut and coconut oils meaning these oils contain fewer impurities. Antioxidants are needed in people containing large amounts of polyunsaturated oils to scavenge for free radicals. There is a lot more to know in this arena for instance some oils are not good for cooking like flax but some can take the heat like grapeseed.
Also intersting is Honey. Honey is mostly fructose and glucose. It contains various sugars from the nectar of the flower it was taken from. It is absorbed relatively slowly probably b/c of its high fructose content.. It is delicate and easily damaged when heated. Heating should be avoided. Raw or uncooked honey is what we should be looking for. Cooked refined honey is what is sold in most grocery stores. Honey is refined b/c certain flowers produce a strong dark honey that many people do not like so it is cooked and filtered to remove these things and the result is an acid off flavor that is significantly different from raw honey.
I get this information from a book called Diet & Nutrition a holistic approac by Rudolph Ballentine, M.D.

Saturday, October 10, 2009

minddump

"IT'S KIND OF FUN TO DO THE IMPOSSIBLE." WALT DISNEY

“Take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented.” – Elie Wiesel

I like these quotes alot. The second one I took off a blog about simple things we can do to aid animals and help end animal cruelty. That is a BIG deal to me. But I like it because it speaks to so many other things including how we treat ourselves. Sometimes we have to stand up to ourself and retrain learned thoughts...make change happen. We can be our own worst tormentor. I have changed a lot of the ways I think and do things. One idea that has stuck with me is that when we protest we are bringing energy to the thing we are protesting which is the opposite of what we are trying to do. I never have thought of it that way but it makes sense. An example for me is this. I believe in PETA and the things they stand for and the work they do but they have a bad rep. amongst people who don't really understand the organization as being a bunch of extremist animal lovers who cause problems. That rep. doesn't get the point across. While I still support them and get why they do some of the things that they do I also get that negative energy has been brought about. So while I have always been ready & willing to stand in a protest line if I believe in the cause I now think about what the outcome of the action might be first. Give me a peace protest and I am there. I want energy focused on that topic. I am definately not saying we shouldn't speak out..not at all but we need to be aware of the energy that our actions conjure. I do believe silence gets us further in the hole. We all have opinions, beliefs, etc. and we have the right to express them.

Friday, October 9, 2009

Friday morning rant & Louise Hay recomendation

This morning has started off less than desirable. Paul woke me up 15 minutes before my alarm was to go off to tell me that the furnace is not coming on. I get up at 5am so he told me this at 4:45am. Ok...no problem. We have dealt with this before. I tried to reset the ignitor switch but that did not work so I left a message for our heating & cooling guys at 7 am. It will be taken care of and should be under warranty. Then I start on the mountain of dishes in the sink. I wash dishes every morning so it is not a big deal but this morning it is bugging me. I look around and notice that my kitchen is a mess actually my house is a mess. So I start cleaning as much as I can at 5:45 am. Where is that cleaning fairy my mom used to always summon. I need her..Ahhhh! The one thing that is really bugging me is the 3 boxes of medicine samples in the dining room that were given to us by a friend who is a drug rep. thinking they would be good for Paul and help us to save money but we were advised against him taking them by our docs so they need to be trashed. The bottles are recyclable though and so are the boxes but that means emptying every single little bottle. I have avoided the task but this morning I started it. It will take me a few days to accomplish but I can't just through away those plastic bottles an feel ok about it. Man I need to meditate or something. I am on overload this morning and I still have to go to work. So a little dose of Louise Hay is what I needed. Her affirmations rock. http://www.louisehay.com/affirmations/index.php Check her out. She posts a dailey affirmation each day or you can get her book You Can heal Your Life and put together your own.
Sorry for the rant I do not usually put them on here but I needed to vent and it segwayed into a great recomendation so...Iam off to check my head before continuing on with the day.

Have a positive one,
Keri

Thursday, October 8, 2009

Great quotes beliefs

"God does not reward or punish you. He has given you the power to reward or punish yourself by the use or misuse of your own reason and will power."


" Happiness depends to some extent upon external conditions, but chiefly upon mental attitudes."

Paramahansa Yogananda of Self Realization Fellowship

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Our vision board







These are pictures of our vision board. A vision board is a place to post up images, etc. of the things you want to manifest in your life. You should look at your vision board everyday. The top image is a vision paper really. we did not have a board to use at the time but it can be anything just get it made. Ask, Believe, Recieve...from The Secret.

My latest batch of sprouts


These are my latest homegrown sprouts
They are Clover Sprouts
So good on sandwiches,veggie wraps and salads. Sprouts are nutritious and so easy to grow at home all year around.

Chia seeds & almond milk

I just finished a breakfast that excites me...Homemade almond milk with chia seeds. The same little seeds used to sprout green hair on chia pets. Chia seeds offer great nutritional value. They are high in omega 3 fatty acids, have protein, iron, magnesium, phospherous, calcium,and more. They also turn into a gel in the body which slows the process of carbohydrates being turned into sugars. Chia seeds were a staple of the Aztecs & Mayans diet. It is said that just 1 to 2 tablespoons would sustain a warrior for up to 24 hours. I first had them this past July in Santa Monica at our favorite raw foods resturant. I have been hunting for them here at home ever since. I finally found them yesterday at our local herb store.
Almond milk is pretty easy. Soak 1 cup almonds 4 to 8 hours in fresh water. add 1 cup soaked almonds to 4 cups water and blend. Strain through cheesecloth or a fine mesh strainer squeezing the excess milk from the cheesecloth. Store in the fridge. Pretty tastey and healthy!

Monday, October 5, 2009

For the ladies

Hi ladies,
I wanted to share some great things with you. I have had an amazing breakthrough. I get horrible painful cramps that radiate down my legs when my periods start. I also get nauseous and vomit several times during the first 2 days of my period as well as sweat. It is awful. So I asked our Naturopath for some advice and she told me that many times women experience symptoms like these during their periods b/c the liver is not functioning properly and getting rid of the toxins. These toxins build up and wreck havoc with hormones causing all kinds of similar symptoms. So she suggested I try taking something to support my liver and see what happens. My gyno wanted to give me pain meds which I did not want for several reasons one being those aren't getting to the root of the problem. So I have been taking milk thistle supplements for one month now to support the liver. I was also told about raspberry leaf tea. So I got that too. I started drinking it about 3 days ago. This is the second day of my period and I have not thrown up once or felt like I needed to nor have I had a problem sweating. I have had very minor cramps,tolerable,that did not radiate down my legs. So basically my period is tolerable this month unlike the last several months. YEAH! This is happy dance stuff. Just thought I would share b/c I know that a lot of women suffer like I do during that time of the month.

Saturday, October 3, 2009

70's Earth Mother sweater story :}

Saturday nights are my preferred grocery shopping nights because the store is usually not crowded on Saturday nights. So, I went to the store tonight by myself this trip because Paul wanted to work on music and said he didn't have the patience. I really really like Whole Foods so grocery shopping is not a choir and I do tend to linger and look at everything with exception of the meat isle :{. I am happily strolling down the isles and I get to the bulk section which is on one side of the isle and sweeteners, flours, &spices are on the other side. I am looking at all of the salts which are right next to the sweeteners when a woman pushes her cart up next to mine and just looks at me. I look back at her and she asks me if I know anything about any of these making a sweeping motion over the sugars and agave. I ask her if she has a sugar restriction and tell her I know a little. So we start talking about agave nectar and then stevia. Then she asks me if I can tell her how to make her recipe with agave nectar. Hmmmm. Then another woman comes up next to us and starts asking me questions about agave and if she can use it in her recipe. I am thinking hmmm what made these ladies just ask me this stuff? why did they think I would know? My conclusion...I am wearing my new favorite sweater that is not new but reminds me of sweaters that 2 of my sisters and my mom had when I was a little kid. I call it my 70's Earth Mother sweater and oh yeah I did also just happen to sample the patchouli lotion in the body care isle and my cart is full. So I must look like 70's Earth Mother who shops here alot and therefore knows her stuff. I am usually pretty happy in there too amongst the confused looking faces. What is funnier to me is that the cashier and the guy bagging my groceries looked all concerned and said "shopping alone tonight huh?" Referring to the fact that Paul wasn't with me. I said yes and then one of them said "oh so he just wanted to stay home?" I am thinking why are you asking all concerned why my husband isn't with me but thinking to myself it is funny and kinda nice that they recognize us like that. We might as well move in seriously. We are there a lot. It was a funny shopping experience that made me smile a few times. I think it is the sweater! we have been doing a lot of work on ourselves over the past year and so maybe 70's Earth Mother is the real me!
Fresh stevia from the Farmer's Market. First time buying it ever so we will be trying it this week. We have used agave nectar for about 2 years now & love it but it would be better for us to use stevia when we can. That is my understanding anyway. So we will give it a go.
I really like Paul Nisson. He is a raw foods chef,author & lecturer. His lectures are fun,informational,inspiring & motivational. This is a link to a lecture he gave about 3 years ago.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=221362955412797330&hl=en#

Thursday, October 1, 2009

supplements

Last night we took a short class on supplements with a registered clinical dietician. we have taken several classes from this person and we trust her. She knows her stuff. She started off the class by telling us that she was not speaking to any specific individual's needs as far as the info went and that without knowing an individual's specific health issues and seeing medical data on that individual she was unable to speak specifically. So this was a general knowledge kind of class that covered her 7 favorite supplements.

The first one we talked about was the general multivitamin. Capsule forms are superior to tablets form. Capsule form are bioavailable or recognizable to our cells. Tablets are not. She had several stories about the tablet form being excreted with the brand name stamp still visible on the pill or a patient of hers who works in a GI lab who says she sees piles of the tablets built up in the intestines just sitting there. She advises to avoid "oxide" forms of minerals. Oxide means rust. It is generally not possible to get a good one a day (single dose) capsule. A gasp sounded throughout the room at this news and those of use who had our vitamins in tow or the books about the vitamins we take (that was me) were asked to look at the label and say what the serving was. Ours was 4 capsules per day to get the full mg listed on the label. I know that with all of the vitamin stuff I have been doing lately I never have paid attention to that but yeah that ours are capsules. Magnesium is important because it allows cells to accept insulin. Avoid oxide or carbonate forms. Look for gluconate,citrate or malate forms. They are better. The oxide and carbonate forms are not used by cells and can cause bad diahria. Magnesium is usually low in people with kidney issues,indigestion issues, problems with foggy brain. It is helpful for high blood pressure,migraines,fibermyalgia and insulin resistance. It is an essential mineral in the body and needed for bone,protein & fatty acid formation. As well as the making of new cells, activating B vitamins,blood clotting, relaxing muscles and forming ATP (the energy our bodies run on). The secretion and action of insulin also requires it. It is found naturally in beans, dark green veggies, fish and meat. It can compete for absorption with other minerals especially calcium. Calcium suprised me.It should be taken alone at least 90 minutes from the taking of anything else which cause another gasp in class. So check those multivitamins. They might contain calcium which causes an interference when taken with other minerals or medicines. It can block absorption. Those women's multivitamins usually have high doses of calcium. Less is best when it is in a multi. we can gemerally only absorb 600 mg at a single dose. Avoid calcium carbonate. Calcium citrate or malate are better Should be a 2 to 1 ratio of calcium to magnisium. It is the most abundant essintial mineral in the body. It is needed to form teeth & bones, required for blood clotting and transmission of sigmals to nerve cells as well as muscle. It is found in tofu,green leafy veggies,sardines & canned salmon. It should not be taken by people with hyperathyroidism or chronic kidney disease without consulting thier doctor. Fish oil is an omega 3 fatty acid. It contains EPA (elcosapentaenoic acid) & DHA(docosahexaeonic acid). It is a regulator of prostaglandins. If prostaglandins rise so does inflamation and pain. EPA competes with arachadoic acids which are bad in the body.Total EPA/DHA should be 2400 mg to 3600 mg. daily. Make sure your fish oil lists the EPA/DHA amounts otherwise what's in it? There are those things on the market. Heavy metals are a normal filler in this supplement and that is not good. Pay attention to the total mg per serving and the total mg of EPA/DHA. EPA in particular causes prostagladins to go down. This is a blood thinner so if you take a blood thinner you must be cautious and consult with your doctor. Cheap fish oil is no good and can cause problems. it should not be taken 10 days before a surgical procedure. Fish oil helps with inflamation pain ,depression, heart disease, high triglycerides and a host of other health issues. CoQ10 is a high strength antioxident. It is also called ubiquinone a name that means widespread b/c it is ubiquitous in the body. It is used by the body to transform food into ATP, the energy our bodies run on. Aging changes our ability to make it naturally as do statins. CoQ10 has the ability to cross into cell walls. It aids the mitocondria in the cells. It is taken generally using body weight as a guide for dosing. So a person weighing i at 150 would take a 150mg dose. Certain health conditions get higher doses. More than 200 mg per day needs to be split up in the day. It is best taken in the morning because it helps us produce energy. It is good for diabetes,congestive heart failure,migraine headaches,high blood pressure. If a person with congestive heart failure takes it they must consult their doctor before discontinuing use.Vitamin D3 is highly bioavailable. D3 in smaller doses is more effective than high doses of D2(this is usually the prescription grade formula) D3 is useful for reducing cancer risks,depression,fibermyalgia pain& bone mass production. Normal ranges have changed and are now between 45 to 100 ug/dl. Getting tested for your level is the only way to know it. The test is called 25-hydroxy-D. If you spend a lot of time outdoors but use sunscreen or immediately shower when you ome in you are not absorbing it from the sun. Vit. D from the sun is absorbed through the skin so it sits there for awhile sometimes. It is ok to take D3 with calcium. It aids in calcium absorbtion. Probiotics are significant in the promotion of the immune system. They aid the villia i the intestines and help keep the microflora in balance. The immune system begins in the gut. Probiotics inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria.promote good digestion, increase the resistance to infections. They produce substances called bacteriocins which act like natural antibiotics and kill undesirable microorganisms. Examples of probiotic strains are Acidophilus,bifidobacterium bifidum,lactobacillus acidophilus,lactobacillus casei. . It is prefered that a variety of strains be take like 10-14 at 20-25 billion strain units per dose. 25 billion VFU's is a good dose. Yogurt only has maybe 5 million units of 1 or 2 strains so it is not significant. Best to take at night and must be protected from the heat. L-Glutamine is an amino acid used to improve gut villi in the small intestine. It helps to restore WBC after chemo and protects against the flu and colds after being exposed. It is an abundant amino acid in the body involved in more metobolic processes than any other amino acid. It is converted to gluclose when the body requires more gluclose as an energy source. It is used by white blood cells and is to important immune function.

So there you go. It was interesting. Hope this is helpful.

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Excellent Quote

"money often costs too much" Ralph Waldo Emerson

random thought at 7:30 in the mornig

I have to do a little ranting. It is overwhelming sometimes to think about all of the unlearning we must do in order to fully embrace this life we are living. It is not easy to always keep focused on where you are and what you need when you are being pulled in 50 directions but that is exactly the time that this focus on self is necessary. Negativity can creep in unannounced in many forms. It is an energy vampire. Our energy is as precious as our blood. I read that this morning and really like that idea. Our energy feeds our soul and our mind. We need it and can not allow it to be stolen by negativity. I am of course talking about life force energy.
The more we become unlearned the more we are capable of learning and absorbing because we are shedding preconceived notions and judgements. We are opening our minds and ourselves up to opportunities and possibilities. These things come for all of us with each new day!

So carpe diem!

Veggie wraps & Mock Peanut Sauce

This recipe for mock peanut sauce is from Raw Food Made Easy for 1 or 2 people by Jennifer Cornbleet.

Mock Peanut Sauce
1/2 cup raw almond butter
1/4 cup water
1 tbs. fresh lemon juice
2 tsp. pure maple syrup or agave nectar
1/2 tsp. garlic crushed (1 clove)
1/4 tsp. fresh grated ginger
dash of cayenne & salt
2 tsp. tamari
Place all ingedients in blender or food processor and process until smooth. Store in sealed container in the fridge up to 5 days. I left out the garlic cayenne,salt & agave nectar just b/c I was out and it was great. I substituted nama shoyu for tamari b/c that is what I had.

Veggie wraps
2 or 3 Swiss Chard leaves
1 carrot
1 med. cucumber
1 avocado
1 handful of pea sprouts
Slice carrot & cucumber with a veggie peeler into long strips. Cut avocado into slices. Assemble cucumber,carrot,avocado slices and pea sprouts inside the swiss chard leaves and roll them up like a burrito. Dip in mock peanut sauce. Of course other big leafies can be used.

Sunday, September 27, 2009

Simple Salad

A great fast thrown together salad

Some spring mix lettuces & spinach tossed together
1/4 cup raw pepitas per serving
1 carrot
2 radishes
olive oil
1 apple
apple Cider Vinegar

Put the lettuce/spinach mix is a large bowl. Add chopped radishes,pepitas and using a veggie peeler shred carrot into salad mix. Core apple,slice and add to mix. Top with olive oil & apple cider vinegar to taste. Avocado chunks would be good in this too.

According to the container the raw pepitas(pumpkin seeds) have 4g carbs & 9g protein per 1/4 cup serving making them a great addition to a simple salad.

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Yummy salsa & taco

Salsa
1 Mango cut into chunks
2 small salad tomatoes cut into chunks
1/2 small white or yellow onion
1 clove garlic
juice of one fresh lemon to taste
1 small handful fesh cilantro,stems cut off
Combine in food processor & process. Chill until ready to use.

Taco
about 1/2 cup whole walnuts
Bragg's Amino's

Put walnuts in food processor and chop adding 3 to 4 sprays of Bragg's Amino's

1 Avocado cut into chunks
3 green cabbage leaves sliced
sprouted corn or wheat tortillas

Assemble all inside the tortillas or use a large cabbage leaf like the tortilla and top the walnut meat & avocado with the salsa. Very tasty made up recipe by yours truly. I didn't measure anything out I just did it so you could add more walnuts for more walnut meat . This recipe made enough for 2 1/2 tacos and3 salsa servings.

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Random thought

We are waitingfor my husband's latest tumor marker result. AHHHHH the waiting game! We are confident that it will be lower but we want to know...now. Patientence..it is something I am working on. I want people to know that getting cancer isn't like being handed a death sentence no matter the type or stage. It depends on what you do about it. I am not saying it is fine or easy sailing or even that it isn't sometimes life threatening because it is sometimes. I lost my oldest sister to cancer and a great friend I know first hand about that side of the disease But I also know first hand the flip side of it with my husband and one of my nieces. I know what it is like to be beating it. A lot depends on state of mind and a lot of things effect that. A doctor's words or lack there of, loved one's & friend's reactions, knowledge & understanding of the disease, any previous history with it, spirituality, what is publicly said about the disease and any stigmas it might carry, etc. I do believe that fighting cancer means taking a good look at yourself and the life you are leading and deciding to make some changes. We have done that. I know I talk about cancer with words like we & our even though I do not have the disease but my husband does and whatever effects him effects me and I will not allow cancer to take over or win. I am determined to beat it. My husband is a Miracle Man! and I intend for him to beat stage IV pancreatic cancer and show people it can be done. He will/does give hope to others. This all had to come out of me because yesterday I saw all kinds of stories, posts, etc. on the death of Patrick Swayze. He had advanced pancreatic cancer and I heard him say on TV and read articles with quotes from him saying he knew he was going to die of this. Well, if you put that out there and that is where your head is at then yes, most likely you are going to succumb to the disease. There are many out there today who are fighting it and I hope that they are saying "I will beat this because I 've got a lot of living to do". Cancer can be a teacher if you let it.

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Raw Pad Thai salad & basic seitan

I have been/am sick with allergies and sinus issues so I have stayed off the computer for awhile but I tried 2 new recipes that tuned out great thayt I want to share. The first is Raw Rad Thai...recipe by Annie Phyo and the second is a basic seitan loaf by Ann Gentry. Seitan is made from wheat gluten flour and also wheat flour so those with sensitivities to wheat need to avoid this recipe.

Raw Pad Thai is suppossed to be served with kelp noodles which I could not find. I did but sheets of kelp and tried those but I have a real hard time with the flavor of seaweeds so 4 bites is my max. It is so healthy for you though. For that reason I encourage you to try it.


Raw Pad Thai

sauce

2 tbs. almond butter
1/3 cup coconut oil
1tbs. Bragg's Amino's
1 tsp. corriander
2 tsp. fresh lemon juice
1/3 cup water
1/2 red jalepeno

Blend in blender my version

2-3 cups spring greens
kelp noodles 1 cup chopped green
1/2 cup basil cabbage
1/2 cup spring greens

Pour the sauce mixture over the noodles and greens


Basic Seitan

Have equpiment prepared before making the dough to make the transfer easy.

Actual recipe from Ann Gentry My version

3 cups gluten flour 2 cups gluten flour
1 1/2 cups whole wheat pastry flour 1 cup whole wheat flour
2/3 cup nutritional yeast 2 tsp. corriander
2 tsp. ground corriander 2 tsp. poultry seasoning
2 tsp. ground sage 1 tsp. ginger
1 tsp. ground ginger 4 cups water
1 tsp. sea salt 1/2 cup olive & grapeseed oil
4 cups water 1/3 cup nama shoyu
1/2 cup canola oil
1/2 cup tamari


Preheat oven to 350. Line a baking pan woth parchment paper & lightly oil the parchment. Combine the dry ingredients and in a seperate bowl whisk together the wet ingredients. Quickly stir in the wet mixture to the dry until a very wet dough forms. Transfer dough to baking dish. I had plenty of wet mixture left over to bast with while cooking. The recipe says to cover with foil but I just used the lid to the baking dish. Bake for 2 hours . The recipe calls for you to put the baking dish inside of a roasting pan adding enough water to come halfway up the sides. I did not do this. Check occassionally adding the leftover wet mix if needed. Cool to room temperature and cut into sections to freeze for later. My version made 2 sections to freeze and we ate the third. Wrap seitan in plastic wrap and enclose in an airtight container or resealable plastic bag. Freeze up to 2 weeks. Serve with BBQ sauce or gravy. This is a great fall/winter dish.

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Here is a link to Louise Hay's website http://www.louisehay.com/enews/thankyou2.php# We love her. Her books allowed us to make wonderful changes and come to lots of realizations in our lives. Her affirmations get us going everyday. she is just amazing. If you sign up for her free newsletter you get a free audio download of Receiving Prosperity. Do it! Listen & soak up what she says.

Have a beautiful day,
Keri

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

Just a great quote & idea

"How do you achieve this change? You start by writing a script for the life you want to live." Bernie Siegel.M.D. from his book Peace,Love & Healing

Curry Salad

I made a wonderful raw curry salad yesterday. The curry dressing is a recipe from Ani Phyo. I changed 2 things to fit Paul & I.

My Salad

1/2 head green cabbage
a handful of sweet potato greens (about 3 cups whole leaf)
1 carrot shaved or sliced thin
1 very small yellow squash sliced

Curry dressing

1 tbs. curry powder (I used 1/2 tbs.)
1 clove garlic
juice of 1 lemon
1 tbs. ginger
1 cup olive oil (I used 1/2 cup)
1 med apple cored

Combine in food processor and process. This will be a slightly chunky, thick dressing. Pour over salad mix and serve.

This made enough for 3 servings and to follow up honeydew melon sprinkled with lemon juice is a nice complement to the curry.
Enjoy

Friday, September 4, 2009

Great insight from my husband

Yesterday evening Paul & I were taking a walk in our neighborhood and he pointed out a stumpy small tree and said look at that. It is alive and doing well. It looks like a regular tree. I was like ok...it is a tree so what are you seeing that I am not and he said don't you remember that this was just basically a stump of a tree earlier this summer that had been cut down,no branches and looking dead? Then I did remember that. So we stood on the sidewalk in front of these people's house looking this tree over. You could clearly see the old stump but new bark had grown up on most sides of it and it had several branches with big green leaves. Paul then said this tree is like having cancer. It breaks you down into a stump but look what is possible. He almost brought tears to my eyes. I am constantly amazed by him. It has been almost 2 years now since his stage IV pancreatic cancer diagnosis...take that statistics...and he finds joy,hope,strength & healing everyday. I rarely come home from work to find him not smiling. He does as Kris Carr says in Crazy Sexy Cancer Survivor and "lives As If". We spoke of that last night b/c he is going to be talking with a man here in town that we were told about that has pancreatic cancer and is not doing to great. He said he will tell him to live like he is healthy and not to think of himself as sick. Great Advice.

Thursday, September 3, 2009

Natural Make-up

I am not a make up user except for red lipstick, lipgloss & nail polish. I was asked to recommend some make up lines that were natural. So I consulted one of my guru's (Kris Carr) books... Crazy Sexy Cancer Survivor. She lists several lines so I will pass on a few.

PeaceKeeper: nail polish,lip paint & gloss
Glominerals: base & concealer sold at Whole Foods
No-Miss nail polish & remover: I use this...love it. It is not as thick as other polishes. Sold at many health food stores.
Zia & Larenim: powders
Lavera Mascara
Care by Stella McCartney
Alba:I use thier lip gloss & body lotion
Bare Escentuals:mineral make up line

Here's to looking marvelous naturally and safely darling!

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Some great quotes

"Home is not a place:it is an attitude. It is an attitude which depends upon how much we are able to feel at home with ourselves as well as with others. Home is something which happens to a person; homecoming has less to do with geography than it has to do with a sense of personal integrity or inner wholeness." Anthony Padovano, Dawn Without Darkness

"The real mreaning of security-
Freedom is not knowing where you are - but being deeply there...
Not waiting for someone to save or rescue you or heal your terrible past, but doing that for yourself. Freedom is about being vulnerable to one another, realizing that our ability to connect is more important than feeling secure, in control and alone." Eve ensler "Ode"

The Guest House


This being human is a guest house.
Every morning a new arrival.

A joy, a deppression, a meanness
some momentary awareness comes
as an unexpected visitor.

Welcome and entertain them all!
Even if they're a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture,
still, treat each guest honorably.
he may be clearing you out
for some new delight.

The dark thought, the shame, the malice,
meet them at the door laughing,
and invite them in.

Be grateful for whoever comes,
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond."

Rumi

Monday, August 31, 2009

We saw out Naturopath today and received a lot of enlightening info. and I want to share some of it because I know that there is a lot to know concerning nutrition and diet. It can seem overwhelming sometimes but it is important. I want to make an extra point to pay attention to the list of Toxic Ingredients...these are the "other ingedients" commonly added to vitamins & supplements. We took her the bottles of everything Paul takes...me too thinking we are doing a great job and found out that most of it was not clean. This is of special importance to Paul & anyone living with a serious illness but it is important for all of us to know. These fillers come as leftovers from the wood & petroleum industry and have to be broken down by our bodies and we weren't meant to have to process these things. And as we found out just because you get your supplements and vitamins at a health food store that doesn't mean they are clean of these things.

These are...
Steric Acid
Magnesium Sterate
Sodium Benzonate
Sodium Glycoate
Talc
Sucrose
Calcium Sterate
Potassium Sorbate
Flavors or Natural Flavors
Palmitate
Silicon Dioxide
Hydroxy Proply Methlcellouse
Titanium Dioxide
Ethylcellulose
Colors
Glace
Lactose
Shellac
Starcg
Gelatin
Cellulose(vegatable source is ok)
So look at you bottles and if you have any of these things in them you need to start looking for a new line to buy.

Saturday, August 29, 2009

VitD & smoothie recipes

I am attaching a link for the Vitamin D Council website Vitamin D Council. Most of the population is deficient in this nutrient and it is an important one. It is particularly helpful during the Fall & winter months to help you stay healthy.
Our Naturopath sent home a bunch of "Green Smoothie Recipes" that I want to pass along.
If you are watching your glycemic level a lot of these aren't low glycemic. You will need to adjust the fruits or make sure to follow up with a protein for balance.

"Green Benevolance"
6 to 8 leaves of red leaf ( I assume she means lettuce)
1 cup of red grapes
1 med. orange
1 banana
2 cups water
Blend: makes 1 quart

"Blueberry Pudding"
1 stalk of celery
2 cups fresh blueberries
1 banana
2 cups water
Blend :makes 1 quart

"Raw Family Green Juice"
1 large bunch kale (chopped)
2 med. apples (chopped)
1 lemon with peel (chopped)
1 cup water
blend well and strain the liqid through a nut milk bag
Serves 3 to 4 people

"Minty Thrill"
4 ripe pears
4-5 kale leaves
1/2 bunch mint
2 cups water
blend well

It looks like most of these are from Green For Life or 12 steps to Raw Food. Enjoy!!

Paul's juice
3 to 5 kale leaves
3 celery stalks
1 med. apple
5 to 10 parsely sprigs
3 juicing carotts
1 beet
5 to 10 spinach leaves sometimes dandelion leaves
I cut off the tops of the carrots and thow it all in the juicer.
This fills a coffee mug.

I am off to the farmer's market soon and then work. Had a great motorcyle ride last night. It is perfect riding weather. We stopped at a friend's house to visit which was nice. We thrilled the kids pulling up on the bike. It is always nice to see a happy, excited little face!

Friday, August 28, 2009

:}

So it has been awhile since I posted anything. The new to me recipe I was hoping to post didn't turn out as well as I had hoped it would. I made it up. It wasn't bad but nothing to share. I am realizing that the farmer's market is only open for one more month. Sigh! It is one of my favorite things to do. I have been in a conundrum about the flu this year and if I should get the shot,etc. I have decided not to get the shot b/c there is just too much scarey info out there about it. I have decided not to worry about it or buy into the hype even though there are 32 confirmed swine flu cases at KU in Lawrence,Kansas right now. That is about 45 minutes away from where we live and we go there a lot to eat at a place called Local Burger. I will be boosting our immune system more with supplements this Fall & winter. Our 7 year wedding anniversaryis coming up. That doesn't seem like a long time but we have been together since1992. We have never been happier. Some days it feels like it did when we were first dating. Remember that feeling? That is one of the things in life that makes it so worth living.

Sunday, August 23, 2009

I want a revolution

Hi,

I am reading a book by Rudolph Ballentine M.D. called Diet & Nutrition a holistic approach copywright 1978. that talks about the importance of clean air, soil & water for our food, the depletion of nutritious foods being consumed and the link between common health issues of the day like cancer & heart disease and diet. Ok, this book was published in 1978. I was 5 years old. Why then are there still ads for Taco Bell & McDonald's every few minutes on our tv and a new fast food place on every bust cornor? Why aren't doctors taught about nutrition and why don't they pass that knowledge on to patients for prevention or use it to help treat illness? And why when some of us do get the info and use it to treat illness are people skeptical and downright mean about us doing so? My only conclusion is twofold....greed & self imposed ignorance. It is frustrating but there are those of us out there promoting it and proving that good nutrition heals.

Thursday, August 20, 2009

Link to http://www.walkforfarmanimals.org

Another Mindump

I read a new to me quote this morning that I like. "A ship is safest in the harbor but it was not built to be in just the harbor." So get your ship out of the harbor and explore those wide open seas. That is what we are meant to do. There is something good about having a safe place but we can't live there always or we won't grow and experience. Sometimes we wait till the storm hits the harbor to head out to sea and that is unfortunate b/c then we are heading out with uncertainty and possibly fear of the storm. Don't wait for a storm to hit to live life. While that can be a great thing don't wait...no excuses.

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

FYI organic and natural labels

Organic foods are produced by farmers who empasize the use of renewable resources and the conservation of soil and water to enhance the environmental quality for future generations. Animals are raised without growth hormones or antibiotics and plants are grown without most conventional pesticides,fertilizers with synthetic ingredients,sewage sludge,bioengineering or ionizing radiation. Organic producers are certified by a government approved agency. In order for a procuct to be labeled organic 95 % of it must be organic ingredient. Products labeled natural are to be free of artificial colors and chemical preservatives but may still include GMO's,growth hormones & synthetic fertilizers & pesticides. Organic foods may cost more b/c an organic farm is more labor intensive and smaller than a conventionally run farm that uses chemicals to increase yields and lower costs. I got this info from a flyer at Whole Foods called Ask The Medicine Hunter. It is a series of info in conjunction w/ Ask The Doctor flyers and handouts available at healthfood stores,etc.

Minddump on visualization & imagination

So I have been discussing visualization as therapy lately with some people who do it, believe in it,etc. as I do and I came across an interesting way to think about it in a book we have called The Way of QiGong by Kenneth Cohen. He quotes "You cannot depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus." So this has had me thinking about our imaginations. As kids we are taught to use our imaginations in play but as adults we lose it and are taught not to use it. The phrase "my imagination is playing tricks on me" well is it? Maybe it is letting you in on something that is very relavant to what is going on with you. That creative thinking side of self is usually under seige from that critical thinking side of self as we get older and through out asdulthood. So in essence we are shutting down a critical part of ourselves. Imagination is important in making our world a beautiful place and in helping us to be healthy and happy. we need balance. That is why there are so many programs, philosophies,theries,etc. out there trying to lead us back to a balanced way of living. We can do it ourselves by imagining it and listening to what we are being told. The external can influence the internal but the internal has just as much influence on the external if we allow it.

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Raw Zucihinni Marinara


Raw zucihinni pasta marinara

Hi,
There is nothing like walking to the local Farmer's Market picking up a couple of things and going home to eat them That is what we did tonight for dinner. I picked up a medium green zucihinni, some fresh basil,a red bell pepper,and 2 big tomatoes and I made raw zucihinni marinara. So good. It is pretty basic for raw foods. You need a food processor & a saladeco,spirializer which is what I use or a veggie peeler.

1 medium green zucihinni some people peel it I do not
4 small tomatoes or 2 large ones
1 medium red bell pepper
1 clove elephant garlic or about 4 regular garlic cloves.
1 tbs. oregano
1/2 tbs. chili powder
several fresh basil leaves.

Rinse everything. Put the tomatoes,garlic,1/2 the bell pepper,oregano & chili powder in the food processor & pulse. Prepare the zuchhnni with your spirializer,saladeco or use a veggie peeler to make long ribbons. Chop the basil leaves. Combine everything but the basil into a bowl mixing well & serve sprinkling basil on top. Add whatever you want to the marinara. So easy & good for you. And you feel great knowing that you bought those ingredients just a few minutes ago and they were picked within a day locally so they still have their nutrients. :}

Monday, August 10, 2009

sprouting




My brother-in-law taught me how to do this last year. It is fun. You do not need the fancy spouting machines. You simply need a Mason jar or two, some cheesecloth (I get mine from the hardware store),some spouting seeds and fresh water. Tale the lid off the mason jar and set aside the middle round part. You just need the rim. Cut a piece of cheesecloth to cover the top of the jar. Put about 1 tbs. of sprouting seeds in the jar and cover them with fresh water. Secure the cheesecloth over the opening of the jar by screwing on the metal rim. Soak the seeds overnight and in the morning dump that water. Put the jar on a windowsill to get some sun. Everyday you need to rinse the seeds by pouring fresh water through the cheesecloth and swirling it around in the jar and dumping it through the cheesecloth. It will take about 3 to 4 days to see the beginnings of the sprouts. In one week you should see green little sprouts in your jar. After 6 or 7 days they should be ready to eat. Take them out of the jar,set them on a paper towel and put them in an airtight container in the refridgerator. Will keep for 1 week in my experience. I do alfalfa,clover & brocoli sprouts. There are several kinds available either on line or in health food stores.