I Want My Dream To Come True

Posted on November 9, 2012 by simply0637
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I promise that this will be my last ” conversation” for a little while! 🙂  But I wanted to share a dream that I so wish would become a reality.  I look at food and community some what differently than most.  I have lived many places and it is very important to me to become a part of my community as quickly as possible. This involves supporting the local businesses, buying from the local farmers and farmer’s market, joining community groups and committees, going to the library, knowing the people at the post office and with a child being involved in the school and her activities.  Do you know all your neighbors? I do and am so glad that I do.

And then there is food.  Many years ago I had a stomach disorder, which was finally diagnosed as Irritable Bowel Syndrome.  Looking back I think this was one of the best things that happened to me and helped shaped my life in an amazing way.  I have always been active and incorporated exercise into my life, but up until about 20 or so years ago, not that concerned as to what I put into my body.  I have always loved to cook, but the ingredients I cooked with were just ingredients.  Now they are ingredients – that nourish!

But before I get to my dream I have to give some history and some facts:

Let me just write a little about the USDA, which was formed in 1862.  It has the third largest budget behind the Army and Navy.  The mission statement of the agency: “We provide leadership on food, agriculture, natural resources, and related issues based on sound public policy, the best available science, and efficient management.”  I am not sure what this exactly means, but I know what they have done to our agricultural community and what they have done for our countries growing waist lines!  Thanks to Earl Butz in the early 1970’s – as leader of the agency he promoted “get big or get out” – the start of the huge agricultural conglomerates and the decline of the family farm!  In 1935 the average size of a farm was 155 acres in 2002 the average size was 441. In a 1998 USDA study a farm with 2000 acres or more has an average revenue per acre per year of $21.40, but a farm of 10 acres or smaller has an average revenue per acre per year of $1,960.  Can you understand now why the agricultural conglomerates fight so hard to keep those subsidies?

Most people get their food and everything else from the grocery store.  Were you aware that there are no seasons in a grocery store?  Grocery stores have 47,000 products and each year another 17,000 “new” food items are introduced.  The next time you are at your grocery store think about how they are set up. The “real” food is all around the periphery – but to get there you need to walk through aisle and aisle of “frankenfoods”.  The other day I was walking into our local grocery store – I had to get some non-perishable home items – and I noticed on the outside signage it said Natural Food – it made me laugh, what an oxymoron.

I want to get to my dream, but I have just a few more items to share – I will make it quick and I think they speak for themselves and don’t need to be elaborated on.

  • For Fiscal year 2011 the US Lunch Program’s budget was $11.1 billion and the California Corrections budget for the same year was $10.01 billion.
  • Monsanto was the first exhibitor at Disneyland in 1950.
  • We use 1 billion gallons of gasoline a year more than in the 1960’s because of increased weight of individuals.
  • 1/5 of fossil fuel goes to the growing, packing and transporting of our food.
  • The United States spend less on food and more on medicine than any other culture per capita.
  • As corn production has increased so has the obesity rate.

For every $1 spent on health and wellness programs, $3 is saved on health care costs.

With all the reading, listening and watching of documentaries on our food system and our growing obesity rate, my thoughts have been going a million miles a minute – so it is no wonder that I have been having dreams about it all.

My dream was that we all took a step back and slowed the pace of our lives.  We invested and supported our local businesses and communities and because of that more businesses came into our communities to meet our needs.  Walking and bike paths were built and we could now get to all the places we needed to support our lives without getting into a car!  Community gardens were growing all over and even on roof tops.  Sprawl ceased to exist and our farm land was once again used for farms and not for housing developments.  Local craftsman started to sprout up and there was no need for the big box stores that exploit people and our resources.  We were fit and healthy and so were our children.

As I look at my life over the last several years – I am moving closer to having my dream become a reality.  I truly believe that others are on the same dream path and seeing that the dream is not so far off into the future!  And as promised – next week will be back to normal.  I think with all the politics and natural disasters that we have been through in our area of the nation – I had plenty of time to contemplate!  Have a wonderful weekend and go take a walk through your local farmer’s market!

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Posted in Health, Life, Nutrition | 5 Comments

Make Your Own Christmas Ornaments With Scrabble Letters

Posted on November 7, 2012 by simply0637
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I have noticed lately that there are many trinkets being made with Scrabble letters. I think they are so cool, but I have not wanted to learn how to make them, but when I saw some ornaments made with the letters – I wanted to do that.  The one’s I saw used the trays as the holder of the words – since I don’t have the saw and did not want to go borrow my neighbors – I figured out another way to make my “Scrabble Letter Ornaments”!  The possibilities for doing these “ornaments” is limitless.  When I saw a Scrabble game at the church fair for sale – I bought it!

Scrabble Letter Ornaments

Items Needed

Scrabble Letters
Card board (on the thinner side)
Felt
Ribbon
Glue gun
Glue sticks

1. Using the letters make the words for your ornaments.

2. Cut a piece of cardboard for the backing, the same length as the letters in your word.

3. Cut a piece of ribbon about 4″ – 5″ in length. Loop the ribbon and glue to the center top of the cardboard backing.

4. Glue the letters to form your word onto the cardboard backing.

5. Place your ornament on the felt and cut a piece to cover the back of the ornament.

6. Glue the felt onto the back of the ornament.

Sometimes I wish my mind would turn off, but that rarely happens.  As I was making these I was thinking of other crafts I could make using the letters at part of the project – can’t wait for when I have some more free time for experimenting!  Maybe when this happens I will!

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Kid’s Craft Corner – What To Do With Your Halloween Pumpkin

Posted on November 6, 2012 by simply0637
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I can’t really remember what we do with our pumpkin after Halloween. Last year we fried up the pumpkin – that was fun.  Before that I don’t remember – I think we leave it on our stoop until it is time to throw it away or put in your compost bin.  I came across a picture of a pumpkin being used as a bird feeder and thought – ok we can do that and what a great way to use all of the pumpkin.

This year we decided to not carve our pumpkin, couldn’t tell you why, but there it is.  Even if you carved your pumpkin you can make this bird feeder, with much of the work already being done.  You can fill the bottom with some bird seed.

This is a great activity to do with your kid (s) – but cutting the pumpkin in half is a job for an adult.  Pretty much everything else can be done by the child or children.  Depending on where you want to hang it, that may also need some help from a taller adult.

Pumpkin Bird Feeder

Items Needed

Pumpkin
Sharp knife
Spoon or scooper to take the “guts” out
Pumpkin seeds
Small sticks
Twine
Glue gun (optional)

1. Take a walk around your neighborhood and collect some small sticks.  Since we just had a storm – the girls went into the back yard and were able to find many sticks in a very short period of time!

2. Cut the bottom off the pumpkin.

3. Scoop out the ” guts” of the pumpkin, leaving a 1/2″ or more thick wall.

4. Sort and rinse the guts off the pumpkin seeds and set them aside.

5. Cut a groove around the pumpkin wall, a fork works really well.

6. Cut out holes around the outside of the pumpkin to place the small sticks/twigs – these will be the perches for the birds to sit on and enjoy the bounty.

7. Insert the pumpkin seeds in the groove. The seeds kept popping out of our hands and the groove – I guess they just didn’t want to be bird food – but we just kept working on it! Just skip this step if you are using an already carved pumpkin.

8.  Cut 4 pieces of twine, making sure that they are long enough to go around the pumpkin and use to hang from a tree branch.  Tie the pieces of twine together and tack at the bottom of the pumpkin.  We tacked by using the glue gun.

 

 

 

 

9. Hang from a tree branch by tying the twine around a branch.

10. Fill the pumpkin with bird seed – bon appetite little birdies!

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Gluten Free Apple Crisp

Posted on November 5, 2012 by simply0637
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I was tasked to come up with some gluten free recipes and it being apple season – I thought why not give one of my favorite recipes a make-over.  I think one of the reasons I love apple crisp so much is the memory of my grandmother making it – then serving it with Breyer’s vanilla ice cream.  The aroma in the house while it is baking is wonderful and I love the fact that it lingers well after you take the crisp out of the oven!  This would make for a great Thanksgiving Dinner dessert for those that have gluten intolerance.

 Gluten Free Apple Crisp

 

Ingredients

5 – 6 cups apples, pared or unpared
½ cup sugar (preferably Rapadura, Sucanat or Coconut sugar)
1 tsp baking powder
¼ tsp sea salt
2 Tbl Sorghum flour
1 Tbl Grape Seed flour
½ cup Buckwheat Flour
¼ cup + 1 Tbl Gluten Free flour
1 egg
1/3 cup butter, melted and cooled
Cinnamon to taste

Note:  Instead of using Sorghum, Buckwheat and Gluten Free Flour – you could use just one flour in the amount of 1 cup.  I combine for flavor and nutrients.

1. Melt the butter and set aside.

2. Grease a 7×11 or 9×11 baking dish.

3. Cut the apples and place in the baking dish.

4. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

5.  Mix together the sugar, baking powder, salt, flours and egg with a fork. Sprinkle over the apples.

 

 

 

 

6.Sprinkle the topping over the cut apples.

7. Drizzle the melted butter over all.

8. Sprinkle with cinnamon.

9. Bake for 30 – 40 minutes.  The top will get crunchy.

Serve warm, but delicious cold too!  Serves 6 – 8.

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My Hurricane Sandy Hat

Posted on November 2, 2012 by simply0637
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We were so fortunate during Hurricane Sandy – the wind howled, the rain fell and the temperature dropped – but we never lost power, only had one tree branch come down and nothing blown away!  Our lights flickered several times and we thought for sure that our power was about to go – but it never did.  Looking at the pictures and watching the news is heartbreaking.  School was closed for 3 days and then opened 2 hours late on the 4th day – thank goodness!!!! Halloween was postponed until today.  So in between the storm, responding to concerned family and friends and entertaining kids I was able to start and finish a hat!  Another Christmas present done, check!

Children’s Knitted Wizard Hat (thanks to Kids Knitting by Melanie Falick)

Items Needed

Worsted weight yarn (approximately 190 yards)
Size 6, 16 inch circular needles
4 or 5 size 6 double pointed needles
Stitch markers (optional)
Darning Needle

Gauge: 20 stitches to 4 inches

1. Using your circular needles cast on 102 stitches (for an adult 108 stitches and when decreasing start with knit 16, knit 2 together).

2. Knit 1 row as if on straight needles.

3. Purl 1 row as if on straight needles.

4. Knit 2 rows as if on straight needles.

 

Note: the bottom of the hat when completed and all sewn together rolled.  I think if I was to knit this hat again I would cast on, join in the round and knit 1 row, then purl the next 3 rows.

Rounds 1 – 19:  Join the first and last stitch to knit in the round – making sure not to twist the stitches. After knitting the first round, place a stitch market between the first and last stitch.

If making stripes, switch colors at the beginning of a round.

Rounds 20 – 22 purl, this will make a ridge.

Round 23 Knit.

Decreases for the crown

Round 24: Knit 15, K2 together, repeat to end of round.

Round 25: Knit all the way around

Round 26: Knit 14, K2 together, repeat to end of round.

Round 27: Knit all the way around

Round 28: Knit 13, K2 together, repeat to end of round. (you should have 84 stitches on your needles)

Round 29: Knit all the way around

Continue to work, decreasing every other round, knitting 1 stitch less before knitting 2 together until 12 stitches remain.  When the stitches no longer fit around the circular needles switch to double pointed needles.

To make the I-cord stem

Round 1: divide the 12 stitches evenly on 3 double pointed needles. Continue decreasing by knitting 2 stitches together 6 times – you now have 6 stitches on your needles.

Round 2: Knit 1 round

Row 3: Put all the stitches on 1 double pointed needle, making sure that the working yarn is at the end not in the middle of the needle. With the other double pointed needle, knit 1, knit 2 together, knit 1, knit 2 together – you have 4 stitches.

Row 4 and all remaining rows: One side of the stitches is flat and one is bumpy – with the flat side of the stitches facing you knit 4 – without turning your work, slide the stitches to the end of the needle,  knit the row again, wrapping the yarn over the needle to start the new row – repeat this without turning until the I-cord measures 4 inches.

Flat

Bumpy

To Finish: Cut the yarn, leaving a tail about 4 inches, With the darning needle, draw the yarn through the 4 stitches. Insert the tip of the darning needle a few inches down the center of the I-cord so that most of the yarn is hidden, then pull the darning needle out the side.  Cut the yarn. Tie the I-cord in a knot close the crown of the hat.

Stitch the seam at the bottom of the hat. Weave in all yarn ends and cut.

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Winter Squash Pot Stickers

Posted on November 1, 2012 by simply0637
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A friend gave me a winter squash and I wanted to try something different with it.  The same friend then sent me her CSA’s newsletter and their was a recipe for butternut squash pot stickers. Figured why not – a winter squash could take the place of the butternut squash.  I had some wrappers in the freezer and all the other ingredients – only changed a couple of things in the recipe.  I have been creating recipes using grape seed flour for a company and figured I would try adding some to this recipe too.

I served them with some curry cauliflower and it was a lovely dinner.  I like both the plain and the grape seed flour pot stickers.  Stella preferred the plain ones and ate them without dipping in the sauce.  They made enough so that I could freeze enough for 2 more dinners (or 4 more people).

Winter Squash Pot Stickers

Ingredients
1 pound winter squash, peeled and seeded, flesh cut into 1/2-inch pieces
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons soy sauce
3 tablespoons maple syrup
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 scallions, white and pale-green parts only, thinly sliced
1 teaspoon grated peeled fresh ginger
1/4 teaspoon sesame seeds
20 wonton wrappers, thawed if frozen
1/4 cup olive oil
1. Cut the squash in half, scoop out the innards and seeds, peel the skin off with a knife and cut into 1/2″ pieces.

2. Put squash, 2 tablespoons soy sauce, maple syrup, and salt in a medium saucepan. Cover with water; bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Cook until squash is very soft, about 12 minutes; drain.

3. Transfer the squash to a medium bowl; mash with a fork until smooth.

4. Cut the scallions and grate the ginger and add to the squash.

5. If you want add about 1 Tbl grape seed flour to the mixture – mix well.

6. Stir together sesame seeds, 1/4 cup water, and remaining 1/2 cup soy
sauce in a bowl; set sauce aside.

7. Place 1 tablespoon filling in the center of each wrapper; brush edges with water. I put some water in a ramekin and used my finger to rub water on the wrapper.  Bring up corners to make a half circle or triangle; press to seal. Place on a baking sheet; freeze until firm, 10 to 15 minutes.

8. Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat until hot but not smoking. Add 10 pot stickers, and cook, shaking pan frequently, until bottoms are golden brown. Turn pot stickers over; very carefully pour in 1/2 cup water, and cover. Steam until most liquid is evaporated, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer to a serving dish; cover with
foil to keep warm. Repeat with remaining oil and pot stickers.

Serve with a sesame-soy dipping sauce.

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Making Your Own Cork Board

Posted on October 31, 2012 by simply0637
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I love corks and cannot throw them away.  I have been envisioning many crafts using corks – so a call went out to several family members in search of corks and wine labels.  I am lucky that I have several family members in the wine industry!  The corks have been accumulating – which is wonderful and the crafts have started.  I have been in search of a picture frame with a wide wood frame and found one at the church bazaar!

Here is a cool link that shows you how cork is made: http://www.wineanorak.com/corks/howcorkismade.htm?utm_source=hackernewsletter&utm_medium=email

Cork Board

Items Needed

Old picture frame with a wide wood frame
Corks
Wine labels
Cardboard (only if there is not a back on the frame)
Glue
Paint brush
Glue gun
Glue sticks

1. Clean the picture frame and put a base on the frame. I took some cardboard that was used in packing, thinner than a box cardboard, but either would work.  Cut the board and then glue on with a glue gun.

2.  I then took corks and arranged them in the frame – once done I then took then out and placed them by rows.

3. Cover the sides of the frame with cork labels – I used decoupage glue for this part.

4. Using a glue gun glue the corks onto the base.  As you can see – I still had to position the corks so weird ways – you may have to cut some corks.

Hang and use!

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The Fine Art Of Chewing

Posted on October 30, 2012 by simply0637
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Take a moment and think about how fast or slow you eat.  Do you eat alone, with others, with a book or watching TV?  Do you take the time to enjoy all the textures and tastes a bite of food has?  As some of you know, I enrolled in school July 2012 to become a certified health coach and one of the things that keeps coming up is chewing.  This made me think about how fast I eat my food and Stella eats even faster than me and I often tell her to chew what is in her mouth before putting another bite in.  I wondered why do we eat so fast?  I know that in the mornings it is sometimes a challenge to get out the door on time to walk Stella to school, but what is the reason on the weekends or at dinner time.

I won’t go into much here, because I will start a tirade of food, health and our school system that would go on and on!!!  Stella often brings part of her lunch home with her because she does not have enough time to eat it!!!  Many of her friends have stopped buying lunch because by the time they stand in line to get it they only have about 5 minutes to eat it!!  So the fact that they are serving crap, they are not even giving the kids enough time to eat it, let alone properly digest it and then they wonder why afternoons are more difficult for kids and learning.  The other item is that school starts at 7:30, with some kids getting on the bus before 7am and then this year lunch in at 11am – school let’s out at 2:15 and dinner in our house is 6pm – right there the time in-between meals is crazy (so an answer as to why she eats dinner so fast). I will stop here.

To get back to chewing and the fine art of it – and yes there is an art to it. Think about how long you spend preparing a meal and how fast it is gone off the plates – do you think anyone really tasted the food?  Probably not.  Digestion starts in the mouth, not in the stomach or the intestines. The process of chewing is a vitally important component of the digestive activities that occur in the mouth,  linked to good digestion, and therefore, good health. The action of chewing mechanically breaks down very large pieces of food into smaller particles. This helps with both your esophagus and the longer your food is exposed to saliva – the more lubricated the food and the saliva enzymes contribute to the chemical process of digestion.  Chewing is the start and trigger to other processes that occur during digestion.  Between your stomach and your small intestines there is a muscle called the pylorus – this muscle must relax in order for food to leave your stomach and pass into your small intestine – saliva helps this process.  Yet, the contribution of chewing to good digestion does not even stop there. The process of chewing also activates signaling messages to the rest of the gastrointestinal system that triggers it to begin the entire digestive process. This is the “cephalic stage of digestion”, the phase in which you first see, smell and taste your food. The length of time spent chewing the food is related to the length of the cephalic stage of digestion since with more extensive chewing the longer the food gets to be seen, tasted and smelled.

By chewing your food, really chewing your food – you give your stomach the chance to let your brain know when you are full – this is usually about 20 minutes into a meal.  If you have already inhaled a plate plus seconds in that time – your brain never knew you were full and so you kept eating.  Whereas if you take the time to enjoy your food – you will stay full longer and you will not eat as much! What a concept.

Other things to help with digestion is to limit your fluid intake – too much fluid in the stomach will slow down digestion. You are better to drink a glass of water 20 – 30 minutes before you eat and drink nothing while you eat.  Concentrate on your meal – don’t have the TV on or other distractions – making nourishing your body an enjoyable part of your day – it will also nourish your soul.

In our house we count 25 chews for each bite – putting our silverware down until we are done chewing.  Some people say to chew for 100 times – but really you just want the food to be liquid and not be able to tell what it is.  If you have kids – they will love this – chew ad chew and then show each other and see if you can still tell what it was that you put into your mouth!!  it definitely makes eating a little more fun and goes against the normal rule of keeping your mouth shut while chewing. 🙂

The benefits of thoroughly chewing your food will extend beyond improved digestion. It will cause you to slow down when you are eating, making more space for the enjoyment of your meal. Food will begin to taste even better when there is more focus and concentration on the process and act of eating. By chewing your food well, you will be able to better enjoy the benefits of the World’s Healthiest Foods – their abundance of nutrients and great, lively tastes.

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Vegetable Dense Soup

Posted on October 29, 2012 by simply0637
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I love soup and could eat it everyday come fall and winter.  There is something about soup – warming on the way down, in a mug – warming your hands and soothing to the body!  Stella does not have my love of soup and so far I have only made 2 soups that she has enjoyed – 7 Ingredient Tomato Basil and Lentil Soup.  As I was enjoying the last batch of soup – I said to Stella I wish you liked soup, it is so good.  She then told me she did not like all the stuff in them.  That made me think – I could make a vegetable soup – packed with vegetables and then puree it and she might just like it!

So as the weather turned cold and windy and we prepare for Hurricane Sandy – I decided to make a big pot of soup and try my hypothesis.  Talking to my friends we are all preparing food for the next couple of days – they are anticipating that we are going to lose power and we could go without for several days – school is cancelled – which the kids are happy about and there is a feeling in the air that we can’t place or name.  We are lucky – we have a gas stove and even if we lose power we can still cook.  I made a big pot of soup, corn bread, hard boiled some eggs and a big batch of pancakes – so we are set.

Many Veggies Soup

Ingredients

6 cups of broth
2 cups of water
1 large parsnip, cut into 1″ pieces
2 medium carrots, cut into 1″ pieces
3 cloves of garlic, minced
1/2 medium onion, chopped
1 – 2 red potatoes, cut into 1″ pieces
8 or more tomatoes, core, de-seeded and cut into chunks
2 stalks of celery, sliced
Broccoli (we had some purple and I wanted to use)
Basil
Quinoa, couscous or other grain

1. Heat the broth.

2. Cut up the parsnip, carrots, onion and garlic – add to the broth.

3. Core, de-seed and cut up the tomatoes and add to broth.

4. Cut the celery, broccoli and basil – add to the broth.

5. Simmer the soup for about 1 hour.

6. Add about 1/2 cup of grain – simmer for 15 minutes and then turn the soup off and let the flavors meld together.

7. Puree the soup with a hand held blender or use a blender.

Garnish with some freshly grated Parmesan or basil. My hypothesis tested – the outcome – Stella LOVED the soup and told me it was a keeper!

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An Egyptian Princess Is Dressed

Posted on October 26, 2012 by simply0637
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Last winter we made bracelets out of toilet paper rolls and during that activity – Stella informed me that she was making her bracelet for her Halloween costume – she was going to be an Egyptian Princess!  Of course I asked would the bracelet keep until then?  Well, of course it would NOT!  As we started to make her costume and I asked her to get her bracelet so she could make the other one – a thorough search of her room came up with nothing – so 2 bracelets would have to be made.

I am not sure if it was good thing or a bad thing, me making her Halloween costume last year.  Stella decided that it was such a better costume when it was made by me that we should always make her costumes.  You did see the “we” in that last sentence – right?!  We, as most mom’s and dad’s know, really means YOU.

Stella tried to convey what she was wanting the costume to look like, but I could not get a clear picture in my head.  We went to the internet and searched for Egyptian princess costumes, and we found one that Stella liked.  We were off to Good Will where we found a silky woman’s neglige and a colorful gauzey woman’s robe – cost was under $10.00.  I then went to the craft store and purchased some gold ribbon.  We had our materials.

The materials

I figured I would make the costume over the weekend and then I was told Friday evening – “mom, Morgan’s party is a costume party – so we need to make my costume.” – the party being on Saturday evening!!

The sewing machine came out.  Thank goodness I had already washed the items from Good Will.  The neglige was pinned and the creating begun.    Friday night before our planned activities, I was able to sew the neglige (to fit a child), sew on the gold ribbon and glue the ribbon going doing the gown.

 

 

 

 

As I was sewing, Stella was busy making her bracelets for her costume. Stella finished the decoupage part of her bracelets – we were out the door.

 

 

 

 

Saturday afternoon found us finishing up the costume.  Stella jeweled the bracelets, I jeweled the gown.  With some pony beads I sewed a fringed collar onto the gown.  Then it was to figure out the cape.  At first we thought I would attach to the back of the gown and to each bracelet, with it having no arms, but since it is the end of October and the weather is changing we decided it would be better with sleeves.

We made it!  Stella wore a pair of her jeweled sandals, we decided to hold off on coloring her hair until Halloween and the headdress has not been decided upon.  At first Stella wanted a headdress with a snake on top, then it was just a gold one and now she is thinking about a headdress that has beads hanging down all the way around!  Who knows what will happen between now and Halloween.  But the costume was done in time for the party and will be worn for trick or treating down Beekman Ave in Sleepy Hollow, for the annual Halloween parade led by the Headless Horseman, costume day at school and of course Halloween night!  Stella’s friends couldn’t believe that we made the costume, but Stella did fess up and tell them that her mom mostly did it!

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