Debunking De-junking

I have heard of the benefits of a cleanse. I have also heard they are a load of bunk. The thing is I have only seen two cleanses and both aren’t healthy for you as far as I can tell (lemon cayenne pepper, and cabbage soup diet.) I have heard of other healthy ways to cleanse, where you still get to eat, but in a less refined way. And by less refined, I mean less processed. I still plan on using my utensils and manners thank you very much. But those people who have taken the mystery cleanses never share the one they are on. Is there a reason for that?

Is it possible to have a clean colon just by increasing your fiber through vegetables, legumes and whole grains? Please share your wisdom O interneters. Have you gone on a cleans? How did you feel while doing it? How did you feel after? What were the benefits? Did you maintain the benefits a week, a month, or even a year later? What was the reason for your cleanse? Please be truthful.

Valentine Cake

As promised here are the pictures of my slightly above average valentine cake.

As you can see I had a little help. The cake looked ok. I think if I was to do this again I would make the bottom lip (base of the box) a bit bigger. I would also make a different kid of cake. This was really sweet, so sweet that half the cake is still uneaten.

The experience was fun.It was nice to know I could make one thing that resembled something else and was almost entirely edible. I guess you could eat the paper cups if you wanted too.

Great Cochrane Cookie Bake

At christmas time the plan was to make cookies for gifts. Unfortunately most of the gifts got eaten. So sorry if you didn’t get yours. I’m weak and so is my family. Mostly I’m weak.

I made  Ginger softs. The recipe makes about 11 doz. so you can imagine how much more sorry I was to eat them than you were to not get them.

The other ladies had more time and variety.

 

Here is a picture of the chocolate crinkles before baking. My son calls them sugar covered doo doo. Sorry Jen. If it makes you feel better he called min doo doo too.

At Home the fest continued with Stained Glass cookies. It took some practice but I think I got them right. I also ate the rejects from this project.

 

The trick is to leaving them on the foil until they have cooled or the cany center is ruined.

Why am I sharing this? Well today the valentine version is being planned. we want to make something like this but realistically it will look more like a broken box.

stay tuned for the pics.

Shepherds Christmas Eve

I imagine that the shepherds had a quiet evening (except for the angel and subsequent search for the baby Jesus). For food I think they may have had some crusty grained bread with a little cheese. Maybe they had some fruit and some preserved meat. In the absence of a thermos I don’t think there was soup, but maybe there house was near by so who knows.

I imagine that they ate upon the ground, on a hill, overlooking their flock. Maybe they ate in shifts while some walked amongst their sheep.

I imagine that the evening was cool, their clothes were warm. I think there was very little light. I also think they were good people, for I doubt that God would proclaim, through his angels, the birth of his son to bad people.

I think most of us can relate to the shepherds for they were the working class. Most of us are good people trying to do a good job. We are not like the Kings traveling from afar to find the baby. Most of us are plugging away in our own “country” doing the best we can. Perhaps on a quiet night we are blessed with things of the spirit.

This Christmas Eve I will try to start a new tradition. By tree light, for candles are too dangerous, we will eat a simple dinner of bread and cheese, fruit, and some meat. We sit on a blanket on the floor and discuss the Savior. Hopefully with fingers crossed we will have a silent night.

Jam Sandwich Anyone?

So in case you were wondering if I had become one the statistics that fell prey to Listeriosis. I did not. My tests came back and they were normal. Can you hear Mr. Wonderful singing and doing his I told you so dance in the background. 

Just to be clear, incase you think I am a hypochondriac, I would not have gone in if the risk was only to me. I thought it better I find out and take the needle for my kids so they won’t have too. The incubation period is 3-90 days and I don’t want to be getting worried every time they don’t “feel well” before the end of November. The End

Now on to Other topics… This past weekend we were in Raymond for the first annual family Salsa Fest. We got 4 batches done (38 jars of varying sizes). Since some were gong to my sister and one or two were opened for consumption I have more to make.

The boys start Piano Lessons on monday. I’m excited. Don’t know if they are. In order to pay for this I have to walk to school most of the time. You know “reallocate” some funds. It will be good for them good for me and good for the environment. “Down With Gas!” Actually that should be case with almost all forms of gas. 

On the ADHD/ School front Things are going much better. Guess my letter helped. I have been approached by many levels of Administration for meetings and my first is on tuesday. Cross your fingers.

Work is quite busy and well it is calling me right now as I have to move a washer and dryer from Chestemere so I had better go.

Exposed and Mad

Last night I was watching a news report on the Listeria outbreak. It was the first time since the recalls on maple leaf read to eat meats were made that I had a chance to watch a whole story. I had been naively thinking that if I didn’t buy maple leaf products I would be ok. 

Rewind to 3 weeks ago. Three weeks ago we came home from camping. I decided that we had had enough junk food and that we (me and the boys) should be eating less fast food (burgers and nuggets). Camping can do a number on your system and we were gone for 8 days so our systems needed home cooked meals. Top that off with Tim deciding that taking a lunch was better and he couldn’t have anything that needed to be heated up. So Sandwiches it is. I hadn’t bought lunch meat in months but we are a bit carnivorous so I said what the hey.

Being the responsible mom that I was as soon as I heard maple leaf products were on a recall I read labels and made sure I wasn’t exposing my family to the danger. To my surprise Maple leaf has a corner on the market in the ready to eat meats department. Turns out for the last 3 weeks I have been giving my family their daily dose of Listeria. My fridge contained the recalled meat purchased this past friday at the Safeway on the corner of Elbow and 5th street south west. Turns out the retailer can, at their own discretion, CHOOSE to pull the substandard product. Thats right folks they aren’t required to remove it, they have a choice.

I admit I should have looked at the list sooner. Maybe I should have been feeding my kids and husband peanut butter instead and shame on me for relying on someone else to do the checking for me. Yes we can all agree that I wasn’t on top of it. I am a mom of 3 kids who manages apartments and was busy making appoints to have my son assessed and coordinating family reunions and food storage preparation for this weekend (salsa). Plus under the pediatritions request I have been trying to reduce the amount of screen time (TV, Wii, computer) to 1-2 hours a day. So your right Safeway managers I should have been on top of things, but what gets me is you are working 8 hours+/day to manage a store. I’m sure you received a list from your head office that stated what the recalls were and you couldn’t even post it next to the 3ft x 6ft section or removed the meats all together. Nope business as usual when peoples lives are on the line. (20 -50% death rate right now depending on how you look at it)

Now I have to make another appointment in my already busy schedule to rule out Food poisoning with my doctor for I have been experiencing flu symptoms since Sunday. I’m also going to lose sleep for the next 90 days as that is the outer limit in the incubation period and my kids aren’t showing symptoms yet. Not to mention that the longer it incubates the worse it will be. In the past I haven’t been an abuser of antibiotics, but I would just like everyone in my family to get some just in case.

Food Storage Over a Year

As members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints we have been counseled to have a years supply of food and stuff for times of need. The church has put out one month kits that will feed one person for a month and we have 4 of those but I have to say its kind of blah and I believe it is important to add things you will eat.

I found a schedule as I was de-junking and have always thought it useful, but I need to get rid of paper So over the next while I will be posting on a new page the schedule for purchasing items to add to your storage. I’m doing this mostly for me. Its so I will have it in one spot, but if you would like you can use the info for yourself.

Banana Bread 1.0

I have always liked cooking and baking. My love for eating is greater and unfortunately my baking has been feeding my ever widening bum. I was recently (within the last two years) shocked to find out that snacks I thought were more healthy were equally as bad for you as a candy bar where calories and fat were concerned.

I am also concerned about how much of my families food they eat isn’t real food. Somewhere in the 80’s and 90’s people thought it was ok just to eat nutrients and not food. I am trying to get back to natural whole foods (in most areas) So my recipe won’t include a synthetic sweetener or just egg whites commercially separated. I however can’t bring myself to use whole milk. For one I don’t chew my milk I have a hard time swallowing 2%. Secondly I’m trying to reduce my intake of fat and whole milk has a lot of fat.

Anyway here is my attempt to have a lower fat, calorie reduced slice of banana bread. I have my own flax and coffee grinder but you can buy flax meal (bobs red mill is pretty good) at the grocery store. Just store the meal in you fridge or freezer to maintain the nutritional value and freshness.
Dry Ingredients

1 cup whole wheat flour
½ cup white flour
½ cup ground flax
1 tsp baking soda
½ tsp salt
½ tsp cinnamon

Wet Ingredients

½ cup low fat or fat free milk
2 tbsp oil (vegetable)
1 omega egg beaten
½ cup brown sugar
2 smushed bananas
1 tsp vanilla

Preheat oven at 350 F. In separate bowls mix the wet ingredients together and then the dry. If mixing by hand, combine dry ingredients until a homogenous mixture. Make a well and add the wet ingredients. Mix until just combined. Spray a loaf pan. Pour the batter in the pan. Bake for 50 to 60 minutes.

Calories per slice assuming 10 slices: 87 – 100 calories
A typical slice of banana bread is about 265 calories.

Happy eating.

Feed The Baby

I am losing my creativity. Truthfully I am losing my mind, but I’m sure if I look under my bed I will find it. Its amazing the amount of stuff that can collect there asnd its so varied. However I haven’t the time to look there because I will see something shiny and then my whole day will be shot. I digress.

My point is I have a lot to do today and one is feed the baby. I am lucky, so far my son likes everything I have given him. He has had squash, yams, sweet potatoes, peas, carrots, chicken, blueberries, bananas, rice, oats, barley, green beans, a little cheese and some yogurt. The list seems pretty varied but the thing is I make in bulk so eats the same three things for a week. How very boring. I would like to give him something new.

I was inspired by Mrs. Mmmmaaahvelous’s post and thought I would make the same plea. Also mention any utensils, appliances etc you use to make it. Thanks.

Denied

The other day I was sitting here at the computer eating another handful of artery clogging, diabetic inducing, crap, when my stomach twisted into a knot, my intestines convulsed and my body said “NO!” After a 3 holidays in a row devoted to eating, and a pregnancy where I didn’t eat ( what I could, didn’t stay down) I think my system is damaged. I also think I have forgotten how to eat. What is a vegetable anyway?