Apple Pie for the apple of my eye!

My oldest daughter is pregnant and craving foods that normally I do not allow. But, I have been there and sometimes you just need to eat what you are craving.
Emma loves my homemade apple pie and since today is Memorial Day, I decided to make my sweetie, a sweet of her own. I had an abundance of apples, probably a bushel at the very least. What better way to use up apples that have lost their spark than to put them in a pie!
If you would like to make my homemade pie you can find the recipe here

Emma has never made a pie from scratch before, so I thought that today would be the perfect time to teach her! So the apple pie in the picture above is all Emma!!! You go girl!
We made three pies together this afternoon! One will go to my best friend Felissa, one for Chris to take to work and one for my family.

While I will not indulge in the pie with my family, I did enjoy making it. Some of the best times in my life have been in the kitchen! I am hoping to pass the love of cooking onto my daughters, so that when they grow up some of their favorite times will be in the kitchen too surrounded by people they love!

Emma is so proud of her pie! And I am so proud of her!
~
Hoping your weekend and Memorial Day were full of joy, and time spent with those you love!

Almost Raw Burrito Casserole

Casserole, sounds homey doesn't it!

I was craving mexican today and normally if I was pressed for time and wanted mexican, I would make my tried and true burrito casserole, but not anymore.....
Raw burrito's?.....Can it be done and if it can, would it be tasty?
I paced back and forth and then finally decided I wanted to try to make raw burritos. I was skeptic and nervous, but I charged forward!
I made them like I would my casserole with a twist....

Almost Raw Burrito Casserole

For the filling

1 green bell pepper, diced
1 red bell pepper, diced
1 yellow bell pepper, diced
1 medium vidalia onion, diced
1 jalapeno, veined, seeds removed and minced
1 clove of garlic, minced
2 large tomatoes, diced

Mix together and chill until ready to use.

To make the Chipotle Pico

Chipotle Pico

3 large tomatoes, diced
1 large onion, diced
2 jalapeno peppers, minced
2 cloves roasted garlic
1/2 can chipotle peppers, do not drain. Use the sauce.

In a blender add all ingredients, add a little water to make things move, toss in 2 cloves of roasted garlic in while it is blending. Let set for about 30 minutes to develop flavors.

Cashew lime sour cream

1/2 cup raw cashews , soaked overnight
1/4 cup of water (approximately)
juice of 1/2 lime
1 garlic clove, minced
1/4 tsp. salt or to taste

Throw everything in your food processor and blend for eternity or until the cream becomes velvety without any chunks. You can strain it also if you like.

Taco'd Nut meat

1 cup raw almonds
1 cup walnuts
1/2 cup sun dried tomatoes
1/4 tsp. chili powder
1/4 tsp. cumin
1/4 tsp. garlic powder
3 tbls. water

In a food processor use the pulse button and pulse until you get the desired "meat" like texture..

You will also need
1 large head of Swiss Chard, cleaned and trimmed
1 bunch fresh basil, rinsed delicately

Assembly:

Take your swiss chard and lay out flat. Spread with 3 tbls. nut meat, then top with your veggies and end with some shredded basil. Wrap up burrito style. This is easier said than done, mine kept springing open. Roll up and stick in a 9x13 casserole dish. When you have used all of your leaves and fillings, top with the chipotle pico and then drizzle with your sour cream. Top with basil to make it pretty....

This took for FRIGGIN ever to make, and my family was less than receptive at being served a cold meal. Although.....they all ate it and I thought it was delicious! The nut meat was surprisingly like "meat" and startled my youngest daughter....lol

I would not attempt to make this as a quick week night meal. This is definately a special day, or weekend meal, and preferably not when you husband decides to take apart your dishwasher to check out the lime build up. But that is another story entirely!

In other news....I have lost a total of 7 lbs. since Monday...I know right!
I know that it is probably water weight, but 7 lbs. is 7 lbs. in my books, so a BIG WOO HOO HOO HOO for me!
Shall I tell you my weight? Well, before I was on steroids I weighed 140lbs, on a 5'6 frame, so I am relatively slim, but add 40 lbs from the drugs and bed rest for 6 months and BOOM..... hello 40lbs....that would not budge no matter what I ate!
So I am thrilled!!! Ecstatic even!!!
So my weekend is looking up in more weighs than one....?
I hope everyone is enjoying themselves this weekend!

What are your plans for Memorial day???

Rice paper rolls for Breakfast?

I was hungry this morning. Like ravenous hungry! So, I popped open the cabinets and began looking... I came up with rice paper wraps. If you are interested in seeing how they make rice paper, take a look at This !! It is so interesting!


I am not completely sure if they are E2L approved and I forgot to take pictures, so I had to sub some images off the internet, but they were very similar. Here is what I did.


Breakfast wraps
I took 2 softened rice paper wraps, I added cucumber, carrots sticks, jicama, bean sprouts and romaine lettuce that I julienned.
I wrapped it up and made a spicy dipping sauce of shoyu sauce, chili pepper paste and fresh jalapeno.

I wish I had taken pictures of my wraps as they were much prettier than these above. It was filling and made me happy!
I am working around the house today. I ran some laundry, done the dishes and worked in the pantry. Later Chris will be home and I am thinking of what to make for dinner....
~
Does anyone have any dinner suggestions??

Black Bean Soup

I have a cold.
A nasty, nose running, head achy, lethargic, yucky, nasty cold......
Chris has been suffering with a cold for the last week and luckily I caught it(sarcasm!!)
I have no appetite, yet I am hungry. I have no will to move, yet I move.....I am miserable!
Yesterday I laid on the couch all day and watched CSI reruns on TV.....LAME!
Today it is on to bill paying and picking up some groceries....
I am craving brothy things. Last night I threw together black bean soup and it was really good. I made some tortilla strips for the girls, and left mine plan, totally E2L approved

Black Bean soup

3 cups, black beans, soaked and cooked
2 cups fresh salsa
4 cups vegetable broth, homemade or canned
Fresh corn, shucked
3 tbls. Alicia's sour cream with chives added
black olives for garnish, sliced
avocado for garnish, diced
Cumin, black pepper, chili powder, sea salt to taste

Throw everything into a pot, except soup cream avocado or olives. Cook for about 45 minutes. Top each bowl with some sour cream and olives. Tortilla strips opt.

On a side note:
E2L is killing me...I am crabby and headachy, I feel nasty from detoxing and just generally in a funk...
I am proud of myself for making it 5 days without to many mishaps.. Next week I am hoping to be less crabby and more focused..I have literally been dreaming about pie and potato chips. I swear I almost ate 3 slices of cinnamon toast last night. Luckily a fever hit me, so no toast for me.....Is that weird to say luckily a fever hit me??? I though so too..

Well, I hope everyone's day is pleasant and fever free. I am looking forward to a leisurely weekend and some good food....(that I won't be eating) and spending time with family!!
Hope you have a nice memorial day~

Startling facts about obesity in girls in my state

Obesity rate leaps in Kansas girls

BY ALAN BAVLEY
Kansas City Star


Nobody knows why for sure, but girls in Kansas have been gaining weight at an alarming rate.

From 2003 to 2007, the percentage of Kansas girls 10 to 17 years old who were obese nearly doubled, a new federal study shows.

The 91.4 percent increase in the obesity rate was the greatest experienced by any state and was too large to be considered a statistical fluke, the study's lead researcher said.

"I think that it is definitely real," said Gopal Singh, an epidemiologist with the Health Resources and Services Administration. "But why, that is quite puzzling."

Indeed, the jump is a head-scratcher for experts who work with overweight kids in Kansas. Some were skeptical about the numbers.

Singh's study, published this month in the journal Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, used data from telephone surveys that asked tens of thousands of parents and guardians about the health of their children. More than 40,000 children from the 2003 and the 2007 survey were included in the study.

Nationwide, the researchers found statistically significant weight gain among girls. The prevalence of overweight girls increased 9.4 percent and the prevalence of obese girls by 17.6 percent. Changes among boys were smaller and not considered significant.

Among states, only Arizona, with a 90.9 percent increase in obesity among girls, approached Kansas.

But some experts said they weren't seeing the same kind of numbers.

"Our own data wouldn't support any sudden feeding frenzy among Kansas girls," said Ann Davis, a University of Kansas Hospital psychologist who runs weight reduction programs for children at the hospital and in rural elementary schools.

But Davis has noticed that Kansas parents seem more willing now to acknowledge that their children have a weight problem, something particularly uncomfortable to do when the child is a girl.

In years past, Davis would be able to recruit only a few families from a rural school to take part in her program. Now she's overwhelmed by the dozens who want to sign up.

"I've seen a tremendous shift in that, that my child is overweight or obese and I need to take action," she said.

That greater recognition of weight problems may make for more accurate reporting by parents who are surveyed about their children, Davis suggested.

It's not that a lot more girls are tipping the scales in the Sunflower State than in the rest of the country. In Kansas, 16.3 percent of girls were obese in 2007, not significantly higher than the national rate of 13.5 percent, the study found.

But in 2003, just 8.5 percent of Kansas girls were obese. The national rate that year was 11.5 percent.

The obesity rate for Kansas boys didn't change significantly and at 16.2 percent in 2007 was similar to the national rate of 19.2 percent.

"I don't know any factor that would have girls gaining more weight than boys in the state," said Mark Thompson, director of the Kansas Coordinated School Health Program, which works with school districts to develop nutrition and physical activity programs.

Thompson cited surveys of Kansas high school students that found overweight and obesity levels had remained fairly constant from 2005 through 2009.

Thompson said there was "a possibility there is a fluke" in Singh's data.

"It's not because of a statistical anomaly," Singh countered.

Most of the increase in obesity in Kansas may have been among girls who were below high school age, he said.

About one in three children in the United States is now considered overweight or obese, which is raising concerns about their future health and even their longevity. Many children already are developing diabetes or showing early signs of heart disease that typically are found in adults.

First lady Michelle Obama recently initiated the "Let's Move" campaign against childhood obesity. A government report last week offered 70 recommendations, including healthier food at schools and getting children to exercise more, to combat weight gain.

People who are obese are well above normal weight and have large amounts of body fat. Obesity is usually measured by a calculation based on height and weight called the body mass index, or BMI.

For example, a 12-year-old girl who is 5 feet tall would be considered to be at a healthy weight at 110 pounds and obese at 130 pounds.

Singh's study found wide variations in obesity rates among states, even after accounting for ethnic and economic differences.

Kids in Kansas, for example, were twice as likely to be obese as kids in Oregon, which had the lowest obesity rate.

Differences in the availability of parks and playgrounds and in state policies promoting healthy weight among children may play a role, Singh said.

State policies could be a factor in Kansas, said Sarah Hampl, a pediatrician who directs weight management services at Children's Mercy Hospital.

She pointed to a 2009 report by the Trust for America's Health that noted which states had nutrition standards for foods available to children at school or policies for measuring students' BMIs.

"Notably, Kansas was one of the only states in the nation that doesn't have this kind of legislation," Hampl said.

But Hampl has seen interest building among Kansas lawmakers to enact school nutrition standards and other measure to counter obesity.

"Maybe in 2011 we can see some improvement," Hampl said.

Now here is my take on it...

Living in Kansas for 24 years has taught me alot. Living in the country area is hugely different than living in the city. When I lived in Overland Park, Kansas I was surrounded by health. Health food shops, workout centers, dog walkers, joggers, roller bladers, parks, street dances, and lakes. I do not recall anyone being morbidly obese when I lived there. Yes, there were people that were heavy, but they were far and few in between..
Here in Nickerson and Hutchinson, Kansas it is not uncommon to see men and women with stomachs that hang down to their knees. There is a store that supplies hover rounds. There is a McDonald's on every major intersection in Hutchinson and there are 4 McDonald's for a population of 39, 038 people!!!!
I cannot imagine a fatter town than Hutch. There are more restaurants than churches and gas stations combined!
We have no walking parks, no health food stores, no positive reinforcement by state officials and only 1 health club and it charges over $3,000 a year to be a member.
Basically this is the way it goes on our local news.
~
Tonight on Kansas news......
Obesity is taking hold of Kansas, and in other news, Krispy Kreme is moving to Hutchinson, Kansas next Month, there will be a parade followed by an all you can eat donut display located at the Hutchinson Mall 3456 fattbury way......
~
There is no way I can ever see reform in our local towns unless someone stops this FOOD INSANITY!!!!

I won something!

Over at Green and crunchies blog here , Sheri was giving away a sampler set of Missesence organic products and I was one of the 50 chosen out of 230!!! Not to shabby!!!!

I have never won a prize so I am very excited to say the least! I honestly do not remember commenting to win anything, although I did tell green and crunchy she had won a sunshine award....maybe that was it??? LOL

Anyway, I won a prize and that is all that matters....right?

Larabars

Hello and Good Morning!
I am hoping everyone is feeling well!
Since we are incorporating more healthy and raw foods into our diet I wanted to try a raw recipe. Breakfast seems the perfect time to spring something new on my family, they barely get their eyes open before I stick something under their noses. They are too sleepy to argue or protest so they eat it.....
Monday evening I prepped breakfast for Wednesday morning. I wanted to make some Larabars that I found here.
The prep was easy, and they taste pretty darn good too. This recipe makes alot of larabars, so either have a huge family or cut the recipe in half.
Larabars

2 c. Medjool dates, pitted
2 c. Raw organic almonds
2 tbls. Chia seeds
2 tbls. ground Flax seed
2 tbls. Goji Berries
2 tbls. Raw agave
A handful of Raw almonds right at the end.

In a food processor, add your almonds and process until a meal forms. Add dates one at a time. When the mixture is almost combined (you might have to scrape the sides down) and while the machine is running, start adding in the chia, flax and goji berries. Add agave to get things moving in the bowl. Right at the end of mixing add in a handful of whole almonds and pulse until lightly chopped.
Pour out into a 9x13 sheet pan or cookie sheet. Place a sheet of parchment over the top and using a rolling pin smooth the top and make completely even. Refrigerate until ready to eat.
Serving size. 2in. x 4in. piece.

Kaiti loved these. They are delicious and give you a morning boost.
With that said... In my personal opinion, these would not be good to eat on a daily basis. They are calorie dense.
Also, I am not big on using agave, other than to get my husband to drink his tea. There are two different sugars in this "bar", date and agave, making it more of a dessert in my mind than a breakfast food. I would compare this with a toaster strudel in the sugar department.
However, if you are not concerned with sugar consumption, this is a very delicious and mostly nutritious way to start your day!

Hope you enjoy!!!

E2L Lunch

This is a quick post as I am getting ready to run out of the door any minute, but I wanted to share with you our lunch.
I wanted to make something yummy while staying within the guidelines of our new eating plan.

What I did.
I started soaking some red beans last night. This morning I cooked them and then cooled them in the refrigerator.

I chopped...
1 avocado in a small dice
1 medium tomato, in a small dice
1/2 organic cucumber diced
1/4 of a vidalia onion, in a small dice

I then mixed them together.

In a blender I combined:
1 pkg. silken light tofu
3 roasted red peppers in water
1/4 c. vinegar
1 tsp. stone ground mustard
1/4 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp. cilantro
cracked black pepper to taste.
Blend and serve.

I had 1 clam shell container of organic spring field greens and I added about 2 cups per plate topped with 1/4 cup avocado salsa, 1/2 cup red beans and 2 tbls. of the dressing.
Serve with a veggie tray of fresh baby snow peas, grape tomatoes, cucumber rounds, broccoli and celery sticks. Spinach and artichoke hummus optional!

We got the BEET Smoothies!

Good Morning!! How was your weekend? Did you do anything exciting and fun?

Things were pretty quite here in Kansas, we pulled out the window air conditioners, did some laundry and basically puttered around. It was nice and peaceful.

Today is my first day on the E2L plan. I wanted to start off with a smoothie that was filling enough to last through the afternoon. I also did not want any added sugar.

My solution..... Beets!
The health benefits of beet juice aren`t well known, but they are profound. Beet juice is best known as a blood purifier and blood builder that helps in the creation of red blood cells. Russian longevity researcher, Mikhail Tombak, Ph.D., tells us that beet juice improves blood structure and cures diseases of the circulatory system, large intestine, and digestive system. Tombak also shares that beet juice dissolves stones in the liver, kidneys and bladder. Not bad for a common item found in most grocery stores!!!!

Researchers have found that a glass of beet juice each day beats high blood pressure - and according to the American Heart Association, one in three adults has high blood pressure. In the 1950`s, Dr. Ferenczi of Hungary had his cancer patients drink a quart of beet juice each day, which was effectively breaking down and eliminating tumors. Beets have been found to increase the body`s production of glutathione, which helps the body detoxify cancer-causing poisons.

Beet Smoothies

4 organic beets scrubbed, but not peeled, sliced into manageable pieces

7 organic banana's

1/2 pkg. frozen strawberries

3tlbs. flax seed powder

2tbls. chia seeds

Purified water for thinning

If you have a vitamix, throw everything in and blend. If you are like me start by juicing your beets. In your food processor add banana's and puree until smooth, add strawberries and beet juice. If your food processor blogs down add some water. Next add your chia seeds and flax seeds. Blend well and serve.
The color of this smoothie is amazing and the texture is like a thick milkshake!

4 Smoothies for my family!

Kaiti promptly drank hers down and went to bed, but told me that she loved the smoothie. Emma who is never happy since she became pregnant, and hates everything, told me it was too thick... I think it is just right.

Chris will be the deciding factor in this smoothie. I am going to cut the banana's back to 4 next time, because I gotta lotta smoothie left!

Hope everyone is enjoying their morning so far!!!!

And The Sunshine Awards go to........

Last week I received a Sunshine award from songs about beets blog and I was terribly honored to get one. Today I am taking the opportunity to pass the award onto some special people who make my day brighter when I read their blogs!!

The Sunshine Award is awarded to bloggers whose positivity & creativity inspires others in the blog world.
The rules for accepting this award are:-

Put the logo on your blog or within your post.
Pass the award onto 12 bloggers.
Link the nominees within your post.
Let the nominees know they have received this award by commenting on their blog.
Share the love and link to the person from whom you received this award.

Bear with me as I still haven't figured out how to replace a name where the link should go (sometimes my computer illiteracy irritates me!)

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1. Vegan Epicurean http://veganepicurean.blogspot.com/

Alicia inspires all of us to live better, to eat healthier and she propels us to health! You make me want to create a better way of eating for my family! Thank you.

2. Gardeners Cottage http://thegardenerscottage.blogspot.com/

You make me smile every time I read your blog! Your pictures are vivid and full of life. You create peace in an unpeaceful world.

3.VeganJoy http://veganjoy.blogspot.com/

I adore what you cook for your family and that you and your daughter had a durian together. It made me smile. You truly are a Joy in my blog life.

4. Meatlessmama http://www.meatlessmama.com/

Everything you cook I want to taste. I like your lively commentary and your kind words that you give to me!

5. Myveganwife http://www.myveganwife.com/

I just love your food. I love the pictures and I am very glad I found your blog!!

6. Thepapayachronicles http://thepapayachronicles.blogspot.com/

Melissa, You are not afraid to try new things and always put a smile on my face with your comments!

7. Beachvintage http://beachvintage.blogspot.com/

Whenever I read your blog it transports me to the beach. I love all of your special crafts you make and how you make your house a home!!

8.Vegetariancyclist http://vegetariancyclist.blogspot.com/

Chandra, man you are just cool, and your food is awesome. Keep doing what you do!

9. Blessedmama http://blessedveganlife.blogspot.com/

MissM, you crack me up and I feel that we have shared alot together. I am glad that you thought my idea of feeding my family a full prepared lunch inspired you!

10. Glutenfreeveganfamily http://glutenfreeveganfam.blogspot.com/

Julie, I love your blog and find alot of inspiring idea's on it. You are always very informative in your posts and truly help those that have gluten allergies!

11. Herlittleplace http://www.herlittleplace.com/

Huma, when I found your blog I was sad.. After reading one of your posts my spirits lifted and I had a spring in my step. I love reading your posts and I really do believe that you do not eat cake ever day...lol

12. Greenandcrunchy http://www.greenandcrunchy.org/

You have inspired me more than you know. I have learned from you so much about serving raw food to children than I ever could from a book. Your love for your children is so wonderful and the time and thought that goes into your meals is inspiring!

~

Thank you so much for everything you do, whether it is on your blog or person to person. Each one of you have taught me something fundamental. I aspire to become just a little, like each one of you!

The benefits of eating a healthier diet and the "Why"

How is your weekend going fellow bloggers? I hope it is going well for you!

I have been busy, shopping and chores, making meals for my family. Emma moved back home, so I have been adjusting the menu's again and reworking my schedules to fit her drs. appointments.

I have also been researching the benefits of the E2L diet some more and also a more raw based diet in conjunction with the healing of Psoriatic arthritis and psoriasis. In most cases when a person chooses to eat the E2L plan the psoriasis completely fades out, leaving delicate pink flesh that over time will heal and become as soft and supple as it was before this disease and the crippling pain of PsA is cut in half...

I am recieving some flack from my outside family (not my own unit) about this and also from my friends here in Kansas and frankly it is wearing on me. They believe a whole host of problems will befall me in a matter of days after I start these plans, they also do not find this way of eating appealing... I think it is ludicris to even have these conversations when they eat over processed garbage and call it food.

People are scared of change, especially if it is in regards to their food!

In my opinion, you cannot eat sugar, and flour, syrups, soda's, chocolate, crackers, white flour pasta's, muffins, pies, cakes and cookies, dairy, meat, or margarine and say you are healthy. Everytime you take a bite of a processed food it breaks down your immune system. Every time you indulge in a sugary treat you are allowing yourself to get invaded with free radicals..

I am not new to the food game. I have been radical before. I have cured myself before with food.
But, I was weak. I am human, and I wanted to eat like everyone else.
Was it worth it to eat the pecan pie, grilled cheese sandwiches and fat ladened food?
AND...
What happened to me after my food fest?

Plaques happened.....Huge scaly, sore, crippling patches of excess skin began building at a rate that was three times what it was at the onset of my disease... THREE TIMES!
Then boils came to play and attacked my torso. Psoriatic arthritis presented itself 5 years ago and started crippling my hips and lower back. It is called mutilans. It destroys bone and cartilage and deteriorates your spine. Spondylitis plays a factor too, in crippling me ...

You see, I am not battling my weight, I am battling for my life. I can be crippled by my 40th birthday. I can die before I am 60, and both are not options for me.

What are the Benefits of the Raw Food Diet?

Proponents of the raw food diet believe it has numerous health benefits, including:
•Increased energy

•Improved skin appearance

•Better digestion

•Weight loss

•Reduced risk of heart disease
The raw food diet contains fewer trans fats and saturated fat than the typical Western diet. It is also low in sodium and high in potassium, magnesium, folate, fiber and health-promoting plant chemicals called phytochemicals.

These properties are associated with a reduced risk of diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. For example, a study published in the Journal of Nutrition found that consumption of a raw food diet lowered plasma total cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations.

What are the benefits of E2L:

Dr. Joel Fuhrman's Plan is very forward facing. Do what he says and reap the benefits of healthy eating.
There are no gimmicks in this diet. It is exquisitely simple, thanks to a fundamental principle that Dr. Fuhrman has distilled from thousands of studies of human nutrition. That formula is Health = Nutrient/Calories. For each calorie we take in, we want to receive maximum nutrient density. Thus, this diet is called a high nutrient density diet. This principle leads to a reformulation of the current Food Pyramid so that fresh vegetables are at the base, most abundant, with fresh fruits and legumes next, then nuts and seeds, and only then complex carbohydrates such as whole grains. Animal protein, including dairy, eggs and meat, are at the very top, along with fats, oils, and simple carbohydrates. This is the basic structure of the high nutrient-density diet. Dr. Fuhrman is well aware of the normal American's food addictions (he is in private practice full-time and provides nutritional counseling to all of his patients) so he includes a 90% rule in the plan. This allows for 10% of total calories to come from food groups at the very top of the pyramid.

One great advantage of this diet plan is that it is very filling. Most people have trouble eating as many vegetables and fruits as are recommended - up to one pound of raw and one pound of cooked vegetables per day! If one approaches these amounts in one's meals, there is little room left for low-nutrient, high-calorie food, and excess starches - a common downfall of most low-fat diets.

Low fat diets have been criticized of late because studies have shown that they increase triglyceride and insulin levels. So an important point is that this diet's main feature is not that it is low fat, rather it is high in nutrients and fiber. Other low-fat diets allow a liberal intake of starches such as pasta and rice, so of course the studies have shown an adverse metabolic response. Not so with Fuhrman's plan; studies show the opposite, it lowers triglycerides and dramatically improves cholesterol ratios.

Dr. Fuhrman also addresses the common misperception that a vegetable-heavy diet is lacking in protein. He makes the point that 100 CALORIES (not grams) of a green vegetable contain dramatically more protein than 100 CALORIES of meat. 100 calories of vegetable is about one pound, whereas 100 calories of meat is about one ounce. So food tables can be very misleading. I calculated the protein content of a sample meal plan and found the percentage of calories from protein to be over 10% - well within the range of current national dietary guidelines. Dr. Fuhrman also makes the point that the SOURCE of the protein in one's diet is also of critical importance. Animal protein raises cholesterol; plant protein lowers it.

Clearly, Dr. Fuhrman believes that knowledge is power. The first four chapters provide the reader with a comprehensive overview of human nutrition. The explanations are scientifically accurate and very clear, with graphics to illustrate. Throughout the book, extensive scientific citations are provided. In chapter five he evaluates other popular diet plans, including the Atkins plan, and exposes their flaws. Chapter six explains the high nutrient density diet. The average weight loss is 15 pounds the first month and 10 pounds monthly thereafter. This chapter also discusses important issues and misunderstandings related to macronutrients - proteins, carbohydrates and fats.

Chapter seven is perhaps the most powerful chapter of the book. It offers compelling evidence of dietary causes for most of the common health problems faced by Americans. Then Dr. Fuhrman explains how diet can prevent and even reverse heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, chronic headaches, and autoimmune disease. He relates true stories of patients (who gave permission to be named) who have been able to stop their antihypertensive, antianginal, and antidiabetic drugs; patients who have experienced gradual elimination of their chest pain; patients who have been able to stop their use of toxic drugs for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. I was able to review the charts of Dr. Fuhrman's patients and verified that he is accurately presenting these results.

Chapter eight offers the six-week weight loss plan based on the high nutrient density diet. The sample meal plans and recipes are wonderful, obviously drawn from his and his family's own experience of observing this diet for many decades. The only addition I would have liked to see is more discussion of how those who are already slender can keep their caloric intake at an appropriate level. For them, more nuts and beans and more whole grains are clearly appropriate, and it would be nice to have their concerns addressed as well. But for the majority of our population, Eat to Live is must read.

Visit Dr. Fuhrman's site at www.drfuhrman.com

I have made my fair share of goodies. I have made mashed potatoes and gravies and perogies, cakes and fried cutlets. Holiday cookies and cane sugar spiked beverages.


If I want to live...really live, I must stop what I am doing and look for a cure. My primary care doctor isn't looking to cure me. My pharmacist sure isn't. My dermatologist barely knows I exist. My rhuemotologist isn't trying to get me drug free or extend my life in any way. That means it is completely up to me to stop making excuses and get me is gear.
I want to live.
I do not want to merely live to eat..I want to eat to live...

Kombucha and some light reading

HAPPY WEEKEND PEOPLE!!!

How is everyone today???
It is 2:22am and this was supposed to be my Friday post....
Can you say I had a busy day? LOL

THIS IS KOMBUCHA!

It is the most disgusting thing I have ever put to my lips and I have tried some funky things...It tastes like a carbonated apple cider vinegar..... I was not put off by the mother floating in it, or the dark, dank green sludge that was stuck to the bottom. I am cool like that....LOL I didn't even shrink away from the over powering smell! It was the vinegar taste that took it over the edge for me. If you buy this, beware it is potent. While it is touted a health drink, I am just not sold. I will not be buying any more of this....ever!

This is my very first raw cookbook. I have skimmed through it and it seems like a good read. When I read more I will share my own input. Do any of you have this book and what is your opinion about it?

So, what are you plans for the weekend?
Me? I am doing laundry...Do you envy me....?

Dragon Bowls

Dragon Bowls are simple to make, just your basic stir fry veggies with some spice added like jarred red chili's or even dried chilies, with a basic tofu coated with a spicy sauce. You can add sesame seeds or leave them off, top with cashews or peanuts. Make it as spicy or as mild as your like.

This is the final dish, it is a pretty presentation to dress up a plain jane dish and with the name dragon bowl, who wouldn't want to eat it!!
This is the road next to our house. It has rained for a week straight and I am sooo done with it.

You can see the rain in this picture...

I attempted to post this last night, but a storm wiped out my post so this is a very abbreviated post.

I am looking forward to a lazy weekend and starting the E2L food plan!!

See you tomorrow!!!

The stupidity of man....

This is seriously a stupid article and I think you will agree!!!!
I picked the picture because it is uber gross.....

By Julie Steenhuysen - Mon May 17th, 2010
Eating bacon, sausage, hot dogs and other processed meats can raise the risk of heart disease and diabetes.
U.S. researchers identifies the real bad boys of the meat counter.



Eating hot dogs, bacon, sausage or deli meats increases the chance of heart disease by 42 percent, US researchers said in a report out Monday.
Eating unprocessed beef, pork or lamb appeared not to raise risks of heart attacks and diabetes, they said, suggesting that salt and chemical preservatives may be the real cause of these two health problems associated with eating meat.

The study, an analysis of other research called a meta-analysis, did not look at high blood pressure or cancer, which are also linked with high meat consumption.

"To lower risk of heart attacks and diabetes, people should consider which types of meats they are eating," said Renata Micha of the Harvard School of Public Health, whose study appears in the journal Circulation.

"Processed meats such as bacon, salami, sausages, hot dogs and processed deli meats may be the most important to avoid," Micha said in a statement.

Based on her findings, she said people who eat one serving per week or less of processed meats have less of a risk.

The American Meat Institute objected to the findings, saying it was only one study and that it stands in contrast to other studies and the U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

"At best, this hypothesis merits further study. It is certainly no reason for dietary changes," James Hodges, president of the American Meat Institute, said in a statement.

Most dietary guidelines recommend eating less meat. Individual studies looking at relationships between eating meat and cardiovascular diseases and diabetes have had mixed results.

But studies rarely look for differences in risk between processed and unprocessed red meats, Micha said.

She and colleagues did a systematic review of nearly 1,600 studies from around the world looking for evidence of a link between eating processed and unprocessed red meat and the risk of heart disease and diabetes.

They defined processed meat as any meat preserved by smoking, curing or salting, or with the addition of chemical preservatives. Meats in this category included bacon, salami, sausages, hot dogs or processed deli or luncheon meats.

Unprocessed red meat included beef, lamb or pork but not poultry.

They found that on average, each 1.8 oz (50 grams) daily serving of processed meat a day -- one to two slices of deli meats or one hot dog -- was associated with a 42 percent higher risk of heart disease and a 19 percent higher risk of developing diabetes.

They found no higher heart or diabetes risk in people who ate only unprocessed red meats.

The team adjusted for a number of factors, including how much meat people ate. They said lifestyle factors were similar between those who ate processed and unprocessed meats.

"When we looked at average nutrients in unprocessed red and processed meats eaten in the United States, we found that they contained similar average amounts of saturated fat and cholesterol," Micha said.

"In contrast, processed meats contained, on average, four times more sodium and 50 percent more nitrate preservatives," Micha added.

Last month, the Institute of Medicine urged the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to regulate the amount of salt added to foods to help Americans cut their high sodium intake.

The FDA has not yet said whether it will regulate salt in foods, but it is looking at the issue.

Peppery pasta and a rant about family and how I cannot dominate them into eating healthy good for you food!!!!

Happy Hump Day!!!
Today is a busy day. My youngest daughter is graduating the 8th grade tomorrow night and my husbands parents are coming in from Wamego, Kansas... Where is Wamego, you might ask? Out in the middle of no where...But only 30 minutes from Manhattan, Kansas. You would drive right by it if you were not looking for it. It is a sleepy little town with a beautiful park and a museum dedicated to the Wizard Of Oz... Very cool.

My husbands parents have no idea what a healthy meal entails, nor do they care. Both are ill with very destructive illness' and both are still eating things that will eventually kill them prematurely. While I may sound harsh, I am just amazed that they cannot put their health/food connection together...It saddens me to think my daughters might lose their only grandparents within the next 10 years or less.

Dad has diabetes's and it is pretty bad in my opinion, he almost lost his toes once. Chris' mother is a science project, there is so much wrong with her....
Their main food group is pork....Breakfast sausage, polish sausage, bacon, ham, pork steak....shall I continue? I have honestly tried to talk to them about their diet, but they blow me off like I am a radical hippy and that bothers me. Chris' mother has ulcers lining her esophagus, she cannot eat spicy foods and she is supposed to abstain from soda...but she drinks them and she and I got into a slightly heated (that would be my side of the discussion) discussion about greasy foods. I said they are harmful to the wall lining of the esophagus and she thinks I am nuts..
Dad likes to try to tempt me with meat....It goes something like this:

Me " Hey dad I just wanted to call and see if you and mom are ok! What are you doing???"
Dad-"Yeah, I just made some BBQ pork chops for dinner, I had me three of umm"
Me- " Oh....I bet they were good. Did you eat a vegetable?
Dad- "If you were here you coulda had one too"
Me " No dad I am a vegan, I don't eat meat, remember? Did you have a salad with it?
Dad-" I couldn't be a whatcha ma call it, unless there was meat in it." ha ha
Me " Ha ha...that never gets old, does it... What did you eat with your meat?
Dad- "I got a package of 8 chops for $5.00 at the store the other day"
Me " Oh...wow that is cheap....Did you eat a vegetable or salad dad????????
Dad- " Mom made some german potato salad with bacon!!!! It was good I had to eat me three helpings of that, she used extra bacon grease she was saving by the stove, it was tasty and good for me!"
Me ''(OMG!!!!!) Really, well mom makes good salad, speaking of plain ordinary vegetable with no lard added, salad, did you have a vegetable or salad with your meal?"
Dad- " I just told you I ate me three helpings......"
Me " exasperated sighs....."

So tomorrow and the following day, we are eating my food, my way and they can eat it or go to McDonald's, as Alicia says. I totally agree. They do not cater to me at social occasions. They serve mayonnaise laden foods with gusto and I think they enjoy me trying to dig out a carrot from the bottom of the bowl. (my nephew is very ravenous and will poke his fingers into a bowl of dip and then back into the veggies) They love bacon sour cream dip with their veggies...nice huh?

So here is my menu for tomorrow tentatively..

Peppery pasta salad, with homemade vinaigrette
Chickpea cutlets
Oven potatoes
Layered salad, just like at a meat eaters picnic, sans cheese and real bacon or mayonnaise.

I can fake the pasta and the potatoes, even the salad, maybe....but the chickpea cutlets???? I think they will be the red herring.... This is going to be interesting....

Peppery Pasta Salad

Three different colored peppers, I used green, yellow and red

3 carrots, sliced

1/2 large tomato, diced

1/2 large onion, diced

1 pkg. pasta of choice, I used whole wheat rotini, cooked, drained and chilled under cold water.

Add chopped vegetables to your pasta in a large bowl. Set aside

Vinaigrette:

1/3 cup white rice vinegar

2/3 cup olive oil

stone ground mustard, the tip of a tablespoon

1 garlic clove smashed

salt and pepper to taste

Any type of herb you like. I used parsley and basil

Whip up vinaigrette and pour over pasta salad and chill until ready to eat.

While patience is a virtue it has never been one of my strong points and people that are in my face, that are going to bring cheese and hot dogs and gelatin laden snacks for my youngest child, even though they know we do not eat that way drive me crazy...They will ply my kids with Dr. Peppers and Frito's...

They will demand on taking us out to eat even though I will have dinner on the table and expect them to eat it.

But, they will pout....Chris' mother will cry and say how mean I am....Chris' father will look at me and shake his head, Chris will pull me into the kitchen and tell me that we should make them happy, after all they are our elders. I will eventually cave and we will eat Chinese food at a non vegan restaurant again.......

The dirty 47??

Being the big nerd I am, I like to read about nutrition and the connection with disease.
I was startled to find 47 of the worst fruits and veggies on the dirty dozen list and thought I should share it with you.

The dirty 47 food list!!!!!!!!

1.(worst) Peaches – 100
2.Apples – 93
3.Sweet Bell Peppers – 83
4.Celery - 82
5.Nectarines – 81
6.Strawberries – 80
7.Cherries – 73
8.Kale – 69
9.Lettuce – 67
10.Grapes – Imported from outside U.S. – 66
11.Carrots – 63
12.Pears – 63
13.Collard Greens – 60
14.Spinach – 58
15.Potatoes – 56
16.Green Beans – 53
17.Summer Squash 53
18.Hot Peppers – 51
19.Cucumbers – 50
20.Raspberries – 46
21.Grapes – U.S. grown - 44
22.Plums – 44
23.Oranges – 44
24.Cauliflower – 39
25.Tangerines – 37
26.Mushrooms - 36
27.Bananas – 34
28.Winter Squash – 34
29.Cantaloupe – 33
30.Cranberries - 33
31.Honeydew Melon – 30

Beside each of the fruits or vegetables are where they rank from 100 to 1.
100 being the worst, 1 being not so bad. I was shocked to see peaches made 100. While I am not overly fond of peaches, my husband would walk through fire to eat one, which makes this unacceptable for me to buy if it is not organic. To find an organic peach in Hutchinson, Kansas would be like Elvis having a surprise concert at our yearly fair....It is not going to happen folks.
I am dismayed when I hear people talk about not caring about organic foods or when they say that it is just our governments way of charging us more money for food.
That is a ridiculous statement. My friend swears she cannot purchase any organic items due to the price. But is paying a $1.29 for a can of green beans instead of .59 cents worth the health of your family. Small children and pregnant women are especially at risk when they eat non organic foods. Pesticides over time can leach into your blood stream and cause a host of horrible illness's and in some cases disfigurements in babies.
We are not made of money. We are on a budget and we are frugal. With that said, we have cut back on eating out, coffee out, and going to the movies and so on. We rent movies, make snack nights and I make a mean vegan latte.
Organics are obtainable. Anyone on any budget can change the way they eat. It is a matter of want verses need.
I am on a soap box, and I will get down now. This is not intended to offend, or attack anyone or the way you eat. It is meant to inform you of the risks taken by purchasing non organic fruits and vegetables. Remember also, all grains, soy and nuts should be organic as well. The prices are much more manageable than 5 years ago, which makes it so much better!!!

I hope this gives you some information you may not have known and even if you cannot afford an entire organic pantry, you will know what should be purchased organic.

Hoping you all have a wonderful day!!! xoxo

Shepherds Pie and a Sunshine Award!

The weather has been something here in Kansas the last week!
Rain and tornado's abound and I swear I saw a witch on a bicycle go by my bedroom window..

My computer is wireless and for the life of me I could not get reception, aka, no computer..When I was finally able to get on I was checking my blog and noticed Songs about beets http://songsaboutbeets.blogspot.com/ left me a comment that stated she had something for me at her blog, so I jumped over and guess what!
She gave me a Sunshine Award!!! I have never received an award before and I am so touched, she even said that she would like her blog to be like mine when it grew up! How cute is that!!!

Tonight I wanted shepherds pie and roasted carrots. This is one of my most favorite dinners, Only Chris and I like it. So it makes for great leftovers for us for the week!

This is what the filling looks like! TVP, browning sauce, vegan bouillon, peas and green beans, celery and onions. Topped with garlic mashed potatoes!
This is prepaked....So you are asking yourself, Self? Where is the final dish? Is it just too ugly to show? I am going to spare you....and yes it was......
Honestly, it is hideous. While my theory is to show you my mistakes, this is just too embarrassing to share. It was delicious and Chris will gladly take it to work and I will eat it for lunch for a couple of days. No harm no foul...LOL
See my cute stainless steel tasting spoon in the background? Isn't it sweet in it's tiny cuteness??

I am off to go clean up my kitchen, pack up lunches for Chris and relax for the night.

What is your worst cooking experience, I am curious?

Brain boost Smoothie

Hello again Bloggie Peeps!
How is your day going? It has been a fairly easy day here in Kansas. We got up this morning and went out to pick up a few grocery items I missed on Wednesday, namely organic lemons. So two stores, and 4 sacks later I had no organic lemons again.....Sigh....
Hutchinson, Kansas, I am sooo disappointed in you!

As Chris and I were driving home Chris was complaining that he was stumbling over his words and felt foggy, so I immediately thought a blueberry smoothie was in order. As Chris unloaded the van Emma and I set out to make a healthy smoothie that would create some mental clarity for my hubby!

I do not have a vitamix or blendtec, so I knew I would have to juice and blend!
I pulled out the juicer and the blender and got to making a really powerful smoothie!

Brain Boosting Smoothies

1 medium bunch of washed Kale, juiced

2 cups dark red cherries, this was an accident, I thought they were blueberries. (I will not include these next time)

1 cup blueberries

1 tbls. Flax seeds

1 tbls. Chia seeds

2 Oranges, juiced

2 tbls. Goji berries

Enough water to make it spin. For those of you with a VitaMix, your can toss it all in and go for it. But those of you that are like me..... Juice your kale and oranges, add to the blender along with all of the ingredients and use the ice crusher setting and blend until everything is fluidy....

Did you know: Blueberries help protect the brain from oxidative stress and may reduce the effects of age-related conditions such as Alzheimer's disease or dementia. Researchers have found that diets rich in blueberries significantly improved both the learning capacity and motor skills of aging animals, making them mentally equivalent to much younger ones. I think that is a good reason to eat blueberries several times a week!!
After drinking this I felt great. I was a little tired from shopping and running around today, but now I am spunky and full of energy!!!

Hope everyone is well and has a big brain boosting smoothie to start their weekend!!!

DAY O' A day of Banana's

Day-o, day-ay-ay-o
Daylight come and me wan' go home
Day-o, day-ay-ay-o
Daylight come and me wan' go home

Work all night on a drink of rum
Daylight come and me wan' go home
Stack banana till de morning come
Daylight come and me wan' go home
I bought 40lbs. of organic banana's!! Let me tell you something else...I got them for $20.00!

I know....right! I couldn't believe it and I asked twice if the price was right, the produce boy finally convienced me that yes, if you bought a case of organic banana's they drop the price to 50 cents a pound. They are in perfect condition, slightly green and delicious!

Oh organic banana's how I love thee....

I am gearing up for my new raw lifestyle and I felt it was essential(and cool) that I have 40lbs. of banana's for smoothies and raw ice creams. Plus at this price could you resist it???

Totally cool....

And did you know???

•Bananas contain no fat, or cholesterol and are easy to digest.
•They are a great source of instant energy, as they contain plenty of carbohydrates and contain natural sugars (sucrose, fructose and glucose) which are released quickly into the bloodstream.
•Bananas are rich in vitamin B6 and are a good source of fibre, vitamin C, magnesium and potassium. Vitamin B6 helps prevent irritability and insomnia. Potassium helps regulate blood pressure and can also reduce the risk of high blood pressure and stroke. Potassium also prevents the bloods pH from becoming too acidic.
•Bananas are believed to prevent low density lipoprotein from oxidizing, which causes it to stick to the walls of the arteries. This accumulation can contribute to atherosclerosis, or harding of the arteries, a major contributor to heart attack, stroke and high blood pressure. Eating bananas as a part of your diet can reduce the risk of stroke by up to 40%.
•Eating one medium banana provides you with 11% of your daily potassium requirement and 17% of your daily vitamin C requirement.
•Research has shown that bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin which is known to make you relax, improve your mood and generally make you feel better and may help sufferers of depression naturally.
•Contains fibre. Fibre is important for good health and helps reduce cholesterol, improving blood sugar control, lowering the risk of heart disease and aiding both constipation and diarrhea.
•Bananas have a positive effect on the digestive system by helping to maintain regularity and reduce the risk of diverticulitises and hernias.
•Bananas can stimulate the production of hemoglobin in the blood as they are high in iron and are therefore beneficial for people with anemia.
•Bananas are high in vitamin B which may help calm your nervous system.
•Bananas can be used in the treatment of burns and wounds. You can get immediate relief by crushing a ripe banana into a paste and spreading it over a wound or burn.
•Because of their soft texture and blandness, bananas can be used in the fight against intestinal disorders such as ulcers. Bananas neutralize the acidity of gastric juices, thus reducing ulcer irritation by coating the lining of the stomach. It is only the raw fruit that can be eaten without distress by chronic ulcer cases. Bananas can also help to kill the harmful bacteria that causes ulcers
•Women who eat 2.5 bananas daily can lower the risk of kidney cancer.
•Mashing a banana with a little salt is suggested as a valuable remedy for dysentery.
•Bananas are useful in the treatment of arthritis and gout
•Bananas are useful for people who have allergic reactions to certain foods and who suffer from skin rashes or digestive disorders or asthma. Most protein foods contain amino acids which are generally not tolerated by people who suffer from these disorders. Bananas contain benign amino acids which rarely cause allergic reactions (of course, it is always recommended that people with any sensitivities check first before proceeding).
•Bananas can improve your bodies ability to absorb calcium

More information can be found at http://www.theorganicgrocer.com.au/blog/post/2007/07/Benefits-of-Certified-Organic-Bananas.aspx

Chris and I started peeling and peeling and about 30 minutes later we had 10 full large freezer bags of delicious banana's in the freezer! I saved two large bunches for the dehydrator and eating!

Hope you enjoyed my banana post!!! I know I did!

Come, Mister tally man, tally me banana
Daylight come and me wan' go home
Come, Mister tally man, tally me banana
Daylight come and me wan' go home

Lift six foot, seven foot, eight foot bunch
Daylight come and me wan' go home
Six foot, seven foot, eight foot bunch
Daylight come and me wan' go home

Day, me say day-ay-ay-o
Daylight come and me wan' go home
Day, me say day, me say day, me say day
Daylight come and me wan' go home

Beautiful bunch of ripe banana
Daylight come and me wan' go home
Hide the deadly black tarantula
Daylight come and me wan' go home
Lift six foot, seven foot, eight foot bunch
Daylight come and me wan' go home
Six foot, seven foot, eight foot bunch
Daylight come and me wan' go home
Day, me say day-ay-ay-o
Daylight come and me wan' go home
Day, me say day, me say day, me say day
Daylight come and me wan' go home

Come, Mister tally man, tally me banana
Daylight come and me wan' go home
Come, Mister tally man, tally me banana
Daylight come and me wan' go home
Day-o, day-ay-ay-o
Daylight come and me wan' go home
Day, me say day, me say day, me say day....ay-ay-o
Daylight come and me wan' go home

Kaiti's Cake!!

Tonight while I was busy, my youngest daughter baked me a cake. Isn't that the sweetest thing you have ever heard? She decorated it herself and I think it is the cutest little cake I have ever seen!!!!!
It is a tiny little thing, only 6 inches across and 6 inches wide.

This a seriously decadent piece of cake! Very fudgy and with just the slightest bit of frosting.

I wish I could share some with you, but I am selfish.....lol

Sometimes idea's fail in a big big way

Have you ever thought on an idea...and you thought about it...and thought about it.....and everything in your person tells you it might not be a great idea, but you go for it anyway???

Yea, I did it. And here are my results.

First Brainstorm:

I wanted to try to bake bok choy without any oil. I also thought that a teriyaki sesame sauce would enhance the flavor because it would be baked into it instead of sliding off due to the oil....

Second Brainstorm:

To make a pot sticker without using any oil and steam it.

Ginger Scallion Tofu Pot stickers

Ingredients:

1/2 pkg. organic extra firm tofu, pressed heavily

1/2 inch piece of ginger, scraped and minced

1 small pkg. scallions, minced

1 head of Napa Cabbage, shredded extra fine

3 tbls. soy sauce

The tip of a tsp. red red chili paste

1 clove garlic, minced

16 pot sticker wrappers

In a medium bowl, crumble tofu with your hands until very fine. Add ginger, scallions,and garlic, mix together to incorporate the flavors. In a large heavy skillet, water saute the cabbage and chili paste together with the soy sauce. Cook until completely wilted, drain any excess water. Mix with the tofu. Let cool completely.

Remove wontons from wrapper and separate. Taking a wonton in your hand place 1 tsp of filling in center wet the edges and seal making sure filling does not escape from the sides. Repeat until all are done. In a nonstick skillet bring 1/2 cup of water to a boil. In a single layer place dumplings, not touching over the bottom. Cover with a lid and steam about 8 minutes, remove and continue until all dumplings are steamed. Serve with jalapeno shoyu.

Jalapeno shoyu

1/2 c. shoyu sauce

1/2 jalapeno, sliced thin seeds intact

1/4 tsp. red chili paste

Mix and set aside.

Here is the bok choy after baking. I am less than impressed with my results...

I am not going to give a recipe until I tweek it some more. I think it needs less sweet, more savory.

The texture is good, but the taste is less than stellar. Perhaps a higher heat and less cooking time would help also.

Our dinner

I am my worst critic and I know that. But this was sooo not what I was going for. Kaiti happily gobbled it down and said the pot stickers were spot on as far as texture and taste. I think they could be firmer, perhaps next time I will use gluten as the base and make more of a meat pot sticker.

Why do I show you my failures?

I show you my mess ups and mistakes to let you know that no matter how trained or prepared you are, there will always be something you cannot control in the kitchen. People just starting out can see that even though I was a caterer, and an accomplished cook, I make mistakes too.

Being able to show you where I mess up will let you see that I am a person just like you. My pictures will be out of focus, I will burn the biscuits and occasionally something will taste bad.

I want to inspire everyone to cook and take the risk in the kitchen. Have fun, don't be too hard on yourself.

Because honestly what do you have to lose?

A lunch for my Husband!

After a completely lazy day yesterday and getting absolutely nothing done, I seriously kicked it into high gear today. Chris woke up with The kid today and let me sleep in! I woke up to a smiling husband and a fresh cup of coffee!
In the sweetest possible voice I asked Chris if he would please get me the shelves for the new pantry and he did!
While Chris was working hard moving things from one shelf to another and bringing them downstairs, I thought cashew tofu sounded awfully tempting for lunch!!!!

Cashew tofu is the easiest thing to make and as long as you have time to chop the cooking time is mere minutes.

Cashew Tofu

Ingredients:

4 carrots, diced

4 celery stalks, diced

1 can whole water chestnuts, diced

1 medium yellow onion, diced

1/2 lb. baby portobella mushrooms, chopped

1 medium zucchini, diced

1/2 lb. Extra firm tofu, pressed and cut same size as veggies

1 heaping tbls. minced garlic

1/2 cup strong veggie broth

1/2 cup soy sauce

1/2 tsp. cornstarch

A dash of sesame oil

1/2 cup raw cashews

Chop all the veggies to the same size. Chop tofu and coat in cornstarch (this makes a firm crust and helps the tofu to not break up). In a large skillet heat 2 tbls. oil over high heat. When the oil shimmers add the tofu, saute until in becomes golden brown. Now add your celery, carrots, onions, and water chestnuts, cook until crisp tender, about 5 minutes, add remaining veggies and cook for about 10 more minutes. In a large measuring cup, mix your broth, soy sauce and cornstarch together, add to the skillet and stir in. You may need to add additional water if the cornstarch thickens to much. Sprinkle with cashews.
Serve over rice. Serves 6

Chris really liked this and said he would love some packed for his lunch. So I packed 2 lunches with rice and have some left for lunch tomorrow.
I have managed to clear out the kitchen and have a great start on the "new pantry. Mushu has been a great help and supervised where all of the dry food items should go.
I somehow managed to trip over my husbands tool box and ripped the top of my foot open yet again!
I am sometimes amazed that I haven't managed to kill myself merely walking yet, in my life time! lol
I will be back in awhile to post another chinese meal for today! I have been playing with an idea in my head and well have to see if it turns out!!
Until later....buh bye!!!

Mexican Monday's Taco Soup!

Guess What, Bloggie pals!
It is Mexican Monday!!!!
I hope you all had a great weekend and those of you that are Mothers, had a wonderful day!
Even though it is May, it is a blustery day here in Kansas. I turned my heat back on and I am layered all the way to my knee high socks. Oh yes, I am a sight!

Picture if you will, Me... dressed in knee high blue socks, with navy and grey flannel men's pajama pants, a grey t-shirt and an over sized grey sweat shirt, covered by a floor length baby pink robe...Can you see it???? Yes, it is wonderful isn't it! Pajama Day!

I decided to make taco soup for dinner today, It is warm and soothing and takes about 25 minutes to make it, tops!

Taco Soup

Ingredients:

2 cans Chili Beans, undrained

2 cans diced tomatoes, undrained

1 can whole kernel corn, undrained

1 taco seasoning pkt.

Add all ingredients to a large pot. Simmer for about 20 minutes. Serve with sour cream and avocado, or really what ever you like!~

With it I served broccoli corn bread, also super simple.

Broccoli corn bread

Ingredients:

1 pkg. vegan corn bread mix
2 tbls. vegan sour cream, I made Alicia's(Vegan Epicurean) tofu sour cream...Delish!
1 cup cooked broccoli, minced

Prepare according to manufacturer's directions, except add in the sour cream and broccoli. Bake fr 20 minutes.

The taco soup really warmed us up, and the cornbread was homey and delicious. Not something I would serve all the time, but it served it's purpose today!!!

I hope all of you are in your pajama's lounging around today!
See you tomorrow!