Perfect blood sugar

noreply@blogger.com (Ruth Walther) — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 00:13:00 +0000

Quicksand

noreply@blogger.com (Ruth Walther) — Sun, 07 Nov 2010 17:41:00 +0000

Have you everr noticed that the Standard American Diet (SAD) is like quicksand? After decades of programming about what is healthy- it is very easy to get sucked back in again and again and eat "healthy" things which will jack up your blood sugar.

I just prepared some Vitamix bran muffins for breakfast. Each muffin (when you divide the batter into 12 small muffins) has 100 calories, 6 grams of fiber, and 3 grams of protein. I added 1 cup of blueberries into the bowl, and it made 9 medium sized muffins. I had half of one.

Today is going to be an especially busy day. I wish I had drank some green juice instead and now I would feel great. Instead my blood sugar is elevated. I imagine this must be a super common experience for (non-medicated) diabetics: taking the position that you will eat healthy food- only to notice that food jack your blood sugar. It is a very unpopular topic on "curing diabetes naturally" type boards. If you mention a slip- there is always someone ready to lecture you. But of course it must be common, or else everyone would easily heal their diabetes. I am going to keep telling the truth of my experience. We can never change, without looking at what is actually happening.

Anyway- I am returning to the practice of blogging at perfectbloodsugar.blogspot because it helps me stay focused on managing my health.

Last night I reviewed the 100 things to do before 2016. I had forgotten even making the list. It was appropriate because tonight I am going to a party where we will talk about what is yet to come. Today I begin again- taking a few resources with me. One will be this blog.

Berenstein Solution vs. Rainbow Green Healing

noreply@blogger.com (Ruth Walther) — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 20:07:00 +0000

I see a lot of overlap between what these doctors are saying about how to help your diabetes through diet. Yet one is a vegan rabbi and the other is an advocate of meat eating. They both say eat tons of vegetables, avoid most fruits and starches. Coffee is bad. You need to exercise to control blood sugar and build muscle. Those fake sugars are very bad. Berenstein says most of them don’t work to control blood sugar, and Cousins sees them as toxic.

Berenstein says eat enough meat to feel satisfied. But Dr Cousins program brings in a spiritual dimension. He feels that you will not only be physically healthier if you don’t eat meat, you will be doing the ethical thing.

Both of these doctors will tell you that as a diabetic you cannot consume the starches, sweet fruits, sugar-free drinks and candies, coffee, etc that the American Diabetes Association recommends. Both will tell you there is big business profiteering on your diabetes. Both will tell you the standard medical approaches to diabetes care usually do more hard than good.

Rainbow Green Raw Food Cuisine / Diabetes Cure

noreply@blogger.com (Ruth Walther) — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 20:03:00 +0000

I find it amazing that of the reviewers that say they have diabetes- every single one said this program lowered their blood sugars and it works. Yet, people give the program a lukewarm review because it is too hard, or there aren’t enough recipes, nor an exact diet given. Do you want a program that will help you cure your diabetes or not? This program gets you perfect blood sugar.

OK- the program is hard. Follow it only if you want to live a long healthy life.

As for not giving a specific program: he gives you formulas and patterns because then you can create endless menus and variety in your meals. He tells you which foods to eat, and which to avoid. He tells you how to juice-feast, four ways to get more greens, how to make green soups, how to make crackers and pates and wraps. He gives some recipes. There are tons of recipes online once you have these guidelines.

If your friends think this diet is too “extreme” then please consider that you deserve more support from the people you love. (My friends and family have given me complete support.)

This book is NOT an ad for his workshops. There are about 450 pages and only 10 describing the workshops. Those ten pages explain something that I think is very true- to live on a raw vegan diet, you need to learn about more than just food. (Honestly, to commit to curing your diabetes through any diet, one would probably need to learn about a lot more than food. It is a spiritual journey.)

Richard Berenstein

noreply@blogger.com (Ruth Walther) — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 19:51:00 +0000

The ONLY diabetes book that works long term for anyone I know is the Bernestein Solution.Yes, he has recipes using artificial sweeteners that I might prefer to avoid. Yes, he focuses on meat and eggs as a mainstay of your diet. That's a HUGE problem for anyone with an ethical dilema about meat. BUT- on this program you will not have cravings for sweets and you will maintain low blood sugars. Plus- he will break down the politics of the American Diabetes Association and American Medical Association for you so that you are educated to make your own decisions based on what works for your body and not on someone else making a profit off your illness.

Pulling Out of a Craving for Carbohydrates

noreply@blogger.com (Ruth Walther) — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 19:50:00 +0000

I had started eating a bran muffin and a latte for breakfast- not happy for my blood sugar- but I was doing it. Then- whammo- craving sugar! And- here is exactly the way to pull out of a sugar craving:

First- forgive yourself. The guilt does not help- it makes you more likely to slip again.

Eat some protein and drink some water. Barry Sears M.D. also talks about this. You can normalize your blood sugars pretty quickly if you stop doing the things that are jacking them. Coffee/caffeine elevates blood sugar and makes you more tired in the long run, producing a vicious cycle. Drink lots of water to get hydrated. Eat protein and fiber rich green vegetables.

And, change the trigger. If you are eating at a particular time or place, so that you can identify particular habits you want to change- you need to scramble the signal. Go exercise before that class you can't stand. Exhausted after working the late shift? Jump in a hot shower and relax in bed with some new tunes instead of going to the refridgerator. It's not just being nice to yourself- it's about switching the channel on a habit.

"On" or "Off" Switch

noreply@blogger.com (Ruth Walther) — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 18:28:00 +0000

I've met people who are either "on" or "off" raw, where "on" means doing everything perfectly and "off" means eating cheeseburgers, fries and shakes- and it doesn't make any sense. You can choose to eat reasonably healthy when you are not eating all raw.

If you find yourself either "on" or "off" raw, consider where else in your life you set yourself up to fail by either being too extremist in your expectations, or by giving up at the first set-back.

Raw is defined by many people as being 75% or 80% raw. It is nice to eat homemade hot vegetable soup in cold weather, and you will naturally eat more raw foods like salads in hot weather. Trust your own body wisdom.

If you are suddenly craving unhealthy foods- consider that it has NOTHING to do with your food choices. Maybe you are going through a very stressful time, maybe even an emotional growth period. Instead of thinking about food- maybe you should think about how to be kind to yourself. Avoid temptations for unhealthy choices by shaking up your routine and adding in things that really work for you. That could be visiting a friend or getting some exercise. What Michael Beckwith calls a "dark night of the ego" is an opportunity for your soul's growth.

Juicing

noreply@blogger.com (Ruth Walther) — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 20:18:00 +0000

Update- I bought a Hamilton Beach Wide Mouth juicer- it was $40. It makes great juice, and it's easy to clean. Two people have told me today that they have a Jack Lalane juicer and it is very difficult to clean and so they never use it.

I was juicing up a storm today and discovered something new and really good- pear with ginger.

Feeding the Whole Family

noreply@blogger.com (Ruth Walther) — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 20:10:00 +0000

Feeding the Whole Family, was reprinted January 2008. It boasts "65 delicious new recipes, including meat dishes."

The first book, with the purple cover, was for me the only cookbook a young bride needed. Everything I tried tasted good, and the recipes are very economical.

The following eight recipes from the first book are a big hit around this house:

Tofu Breakfast Burritos
Millet with Fresh Peaches (and blueberries!)
Bathing Rama Spinach
Black Beans with Sensuous Spices
Susan's Surprise Salad
Whole Wheat Pancakes with Blueberry Topping
Mary's Chocolate Cake (vegan version)
Pumpkin Muffins

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After being diagnosed with diabetes, I found that six out of those eight dishes would raise my blood glucose unless eaten in very small amounts. I can eat burrito filling. I can have half of a small muffin. It was beginning to seem like torture- I'd rather have no pancake than a quarter sized pancake! Eating grains and starchy vegetables, although healthy whole foods, wasn't working for me.
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Diabetics: In a nutshell- a whole foods diet may not be enough to keep diabetes under control without medication. I know from personal experience that the Berenstein Principal works.

Healthy, Local, Cheap for September and October

noreply@blogger.com (Ruth Walther) — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 19:24:00 +0000

7 days Part of a series began in June 2010. The idea is to provide guidance for folks living in the Pacific Northwest- who wish to eat locally, and healthfully, to prepare meals quickly, are Flexitarian, vegetarian or vegan, and benefit from easy on the budget meals.

If you are vegan- round out the days' protein with edamame, chickpeas, almonds, sunflower seeds, tahini, oatmeal, flaxmeal/flaxseed crackers. If you don't drink milk- be sure to get calcium from other sources such as brocolli, leafy greens, dried figs and almonds.

Begin with the produce in season then add a grain and a protein source to make a meal. The meals are nutritionaly complete without meat. If you do eat meat- eat the fish while it’s freshest within the first two days after buying, then roast the chicken and it will last another few days. The tighter your budget, the more you will benefit from "rounding out" the meal with grains and legumes. Eat fruit in the order of perishability. This way- you won’t go to the store as much which saves time and money.

This is What is Seasonal for September & October:

Drinks: Good Earth Cinnamon, Chamomile, Ginger-Lemon, Hibiscous, Mint, Bancha
Vegetables: Broccoli, Cabbage, Carrots, Celery, Corn, Cucumber, Eggplant, Green beans, Leeks, Onions, Peppers, Red Potatoes, Pumpkin, Spinach, Squash, Tomato
Grains: amaranth, oatmeal, brown rice, frozen heirloom corn, quinoa
Proteins: Chickpeas, French Lentils, Red Lentils, Black Beans, White Beans, Pinto Beans, Chicken, Fish
Fruit: grapes, pears, apples, plums, figs, blackberries, blueberries, raspberries

Monday: Eggplant Baked in Tomato Sauce, served with Brown Rice
Tuesday: Basque Soup with (cabbage, carrots, pinto beans)
Wednesday: Pumpkin Almond Cream Soup, Zuchinni Hummus with Celery Sticks
Thursday: Black beans, Sauteed Red and Green Peppers and Onion in Corn Tortillas
Friday: Spinach Salad with Bowl of Lentil Vegetable Soup
Saturday: Curried Leeks with Tomatoes and Chickpeas, over Brown Rice
Sunday: Steamed brocolli topped with goat cheese feta, brown rice, spinach and mushroom salad, and end with plum oatmeal crisp

Healthy, Local, Cheap for July & August

noreply@blogger.com (Ruth Walther) — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 18:21:00 +0000

Part of a series began in June, 2010. The idea is to provide guidance for folks living in the Pacific Northwest- who wish to eat locally, healthfully, to prepare meals quickly, are Flexitarian, and benefit from easy on the budget meals.

If you are vegan- round out the days' protein with edamame, chickpeas, almonds, sunflower seeds, tahini, oatmeal, flaxmeal/flaxseed crackers. If you don't drink milk- be sure to get calcium from other sources such as brocolli, leafy greens, dried figs and almonds.

Begin with the produce in season then add a grain and a protein source to make a meal. The meals are nutritionaly complete without meat. If you do eat meat- eat the fish while it’s freshest within the first two days after buying, then roast the chicken and it will last another few days. The tighter your budget, the more you will benefit from "rounding out" the meal with grains and legumes. Eat fruit in the order of perishability. This way- you won’t go to the store as much which saves time and money.

This is What is Seasonal for July & August:

Drinks: Good Earth Cinnamon, Chamomile, Ginger-Lemon, Hibiscous, Mint, Bancha
Vegetables: Salad Greens daily, Bell Peppers, Broad Beans, Broccoli, Celery, Zuchinni, Cucumber, Green beans, Lettuce, Spinach, Tomatoes
Grains: amaranth, oatmeal, brown rice, frozen heirloom corn, quinoa
Proteins: Chickpeas, French Lentils, Red Lentils, Black Beans, White Beans, Chicken
Fruit: apricots, cherries, figs, cantalope, honeydew, peaches, oranges(and later) grapefruit, grapes, watermelon

Monday: Amaranth and red lentil zuchinni boats, chunky tomato sauce
Tuesday: Tomato and Red Lentil Curry, brown rice, sauteed spinach
Wednesday:Sauteed bell peppers with goatsmilk feta and mint, pureed broadbeans with rice crackers
Thursday: Garlicky marinated brocolli and tomatoes, spicy black bean soup, corn muffins
Friday: White bean soup, sauteed zuchinni with parmesan, green salad
Saturday: Bell Pepper stuffed with quinoa, soaked/dehydrated almonds, tomatoes, brocolli
Sunday: Polenta crust, tomato sauce, sauteed bell peppers, feta

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paper mache

noreply@blogger.com (Ruth Walther) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 01:43:00 +0000

http://papiermache.co.uk/tutorials/some-advanced-papier-mache-recipes/

Feminism and Motherhood

noreply@blogger.com (Ruth Walther) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 00:00:00 +0000

http://bluemilk.wordpress.com/2007/10/29/what-does-a-feminist-mother-look-like/

1a. How would you describe your feminism in one sentence?

In the words of the ERA "Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex."

American women have come a long way in the last ninety years!
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I also love Gloria Steinems words "No means no."

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1b.When did you become a feminist? Was it before or after you became a mother?

I had an academic advisor who was a former airforce pilot. Meeting her, I realized that I had limited ideas of what was possible for women.

2. What has surprised you most about motherhood?
Kids are totally awesome.

3. How has your feminism changed over time? What is the impact of motherhood on your feminism?
It hasn't really changed.

4. What makes your mothering feminist? How does feminism impact upon your parenting?
I like to think of myself as a "mother-figure" to some young women who are not my daughters, and I share whatever little understanding of life I've earned with them.

I knew a young woman who wore t-shirts that said things like Barely Legal and Milk Jugs. In her mind she was "owning her sexuality." I spoke with her about it, in as loving and respectful a way as possible. In the seventies that would have been called consciousness raising.

I have also had motherly talks with young girls about their finances such as the importance of budgeting, saving and investing, maintaining a good credit score, and generally taking care of themselves on that front.

The idea or my own children is to stimulate their minds and not place them into a metaphorical tiny pink or blue box.

My six year old announced "I don't want any boy presents for my birthday." What did she consider boy presents? "Things that aren't pink." At that point her favorite toy was her real workbench where she got to build things with wood. She was awesome in pretty dresses building "skyscrapers." She also loved science- but the erector sets and science sets come in blue boxes. Kids absorb the messages of society no matter what we do. As a mother, I just kept challenging them.

Finally, I think to be a feminist mother you have to really control what your kids see on television.

5. Do you ever feel compromised as a feminist mother? Do you ever feel you’ve failed as a feminist mother?

I avoid the lable "failure" because I think I am always evolving and getting stronger, if something slips this time- maybe I'll catch it that much faster next time. Awareness is not failure. Failure would be something - you couldn't even report because it is so unconscious. A neglectful mother is a failure. A person wading through the soup- is at least a role model for how to wade through soup.

It's OK if a child goes through a "glitter make-up" stage. It's just not OK to stop exposing her to anything else.

6. Has identifying as a feminist mother ever been difficult? Why?

When I noticed my children taking on expanded roles for themselves, I felt I succeeded as a feminist mother.

7. Motherhood involves sacrifice, how do you reconcile that with being a feminist?

I chose to be a mother. I suspected it would be like this. The only time it has been hard was when I felt unvalued. And, that turn-around came when I started valuing my own contribution as a mother more. There are sacrifices for motherhood (and fatherhood) but I honor myself by putting some of my own needs on my daily agenda too. It is NOT an either or thing- mothers' needs versus the kids' needs. It only feels that way when your kids are very young. All moms of little kids need someone to let them know- it gets easier. And, all those long nights are actually some of the best days of your life. Don'tbe in a hurry for them to past.

8. If you have a partner, how does your partner feel about your feminist motherhood? What is the impact of your feminism on your partner?

I am only attracted to men who feel secure around strong women. It is probably not possible to love someone long-term who is not a feminist. I often find my husband is willing to support me (watch the kids while I work, for example) and it is I who am afraid to ask for that support because of my lifelong conditioning that his work should come first. Yes, it's true. This isn't just "men oppress women" it's also "women internalize oppression and then act it out on themselves."

And- the same things that limit women, limit men. I don't believe that men are not oppressed. Can you even imagine the pressure most men find themselves under?

9. If you’re an attachment parenting mother, what challenges if any does this pose for your feminism and how have you resolved them?

I am an attachment parenting mother. I was lucky because I could afford to work less.

But for moms that want to work outside the home- I think we have a long way to go towards having really great, affordable childcare options. Also, this culture is not hugely supportive of men that want to make themselves very available to ther children. My father was a very masculine, successful, self-employed man and he probably did more childcare than my mother did. It can be done.

10. Do you feel feminism has failed mothers and if so how? Personally, what do you think feminism has given mothers?

No- feminism has not failed. The only problem is we haven't taken it far enough. Families need high quality affordable childcare options. Women need to be really conscious of planning their career/motherhood. And that doesn't mean as some women think it does- just delay birth as long as possible.

Halloween and other Scary Thoughts

noreply@blogger.com (Ruth Walther) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Oh- and don't eat the Halloween candy. Feel free to toss it in the garbage. No one else really needs it.

Bob Hackney's Favorite Movies

noreply@blogger.com (Ruth Walther) — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 07:22:00 +0000

It is great to have a friend who pretty much has my same taste in movies. The films are available through Netflix. With things as they are it will take FOREVER to get through this list. Can't wait...

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"Bob Hackney’s Favorite Movies. Almost all of these are post 1940 films, European or North American, not including Russia, which has some of the greatest films, but don’t fit in to my framework beyond Dersu Uzela. Any number of Kurasawa’s other films, like Ran, Rashomon, and The 7 Samurai would be included, but for my purposes, aren’t due to my intended focus in trying to avoid the obvious, although some of those do fit in, because I wish to specialize in English language classics."

Scandinavian: The Best of Intentions
Fanny and Alexander
Winter Light
The Immigrants
Pele the Conqueror

French: The Lady and the Duke
Lacombe, Lucian
Safe Conduct
Bon Voyage
A Very Long Engagement
Indochine
Ridicule
The Battle of Algiers
Day For Night
Queen Margot
Small Change
Au Revoir Les Enfantes

German: Europa Europa
Sophie Scholl (very powerful, about a brave Hitler resister; it reminds me of Drayer’s The Trial of Joan of Arc)
Das Boot

Dutch: Soldier of Orange

Brittan: In Which We Serve
Tunes of Glory
The Dualists
Zulu Dawn
The Feast of July
Angels and Insects
A Private Function
The Merchant of Venice (Jeremy Iron’s version)
Richard III
The Third Man
A Man for All Seasons
The Meaning of Life
The Charge of the Light Brigade
Joseph Andrews
Tospy Turvy
Romeo and Juliet (Zefferelli)
Far From the Madding Crowd
Yanks
Maret/Sade
To the Ends of the Earth (Series)
Tipping the Velvet
The 39 Steps (Hitchcock)
The Cruel Sea

Ireland: The Run of the Country
The Dead
Intermission
The Brylcream Boys
Veronica Guerin
The Hanging Gale (series)
Frankie Starlight
Some Other Mother’s Son
The Magdalene Sisters
Barry Lyndon
The Last September

Canada: Black Robe
The Jesus of Montreal

Australia: The Year of Living Dangerously
The Sundowners
Bride’s of Christ (T.V. series)
Italy: The Leopard
Bread and Chocolate
Amercord

American: The Hi- Lo Country
Hard 8
Drums Along the Mohawk
The Anniversary Party
The Closer
Picture Bride
Taxi Driver
Wyatt Earp (Costner)
Altered States
The Ox Bow Incident
The Doors
The Story of G.I. Joe
Treasure of the Sierra Madre
The Mission
Band of Brothers (series)
The Unforgiven (not Clint’s movie)
Fat City
Giant
Little Women (Winona Ryder version)
Chinatown
Glory
The Grapes of Wrath
White Heat
The Best of Years of Our Lives
Lifeboat
Decision Before Dawn
Platoon
Scarface
The Long Riders
Prince of Tides
Lone Star
Citizen Kane
Fort Apache
The Misfits
Desert Bloom
Stagecoach
The Maltese Falcon
The Ox Bow Incident
The Last Picture Show
Deliverance
The Goodfellas
The Nun’s Story
Ride With the Devil (Ang Lee’s overlooked classic about America’s civil war)
Midnight Cowboy
Hondo
Mandingo (lurid and uneven, but a great send-up of slavery)
Alien
Pork Chop Hill
McCabe and Mrs. Miller
Tender Mercies
The Gallant Hours

American Comedies:
Home Grown
Caddyshack
Go
Raising Arizona
The Big Labowski
The Good Girl
The Jerk
Broken Flowers
Quick Change
Clerks
Bananas
Murphy’s Romance
This is Spinal Tap
Annie Hall
Stardust Memories
Dr.Strangelove
Hospital
Fargo
The Metropolitans

Other good, but not necessarily great films (all available through Netflix):
The Wind That Shakes the Barley
The Land Girls
Frozen River
Birthday Girl
Intermission
What Doesn’t Kill You
Doubt
Battle in Seattle
Body of Lies
The Bank Job
Beyond the Gates
City of Vice
The Dawning
Christ Stopped at Eboli
Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead
King of California
Michael Clayton
Zodiac

Making Raw Work

noreply@blogger.com (Ruth Walther) — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 01:17:00 +0000

I googled myself and came across this review for the Diabetes Cure by Cousins. At the time I was following Cousins and had perfect blood sugar. Why did I ever stop?

Vanessa was here- we went shopping- I have a fridge full of fantastic fresh produce, soaked almonds, soaked sunflower seeds- I just have to prepare it. I don't even have to cook on a hot day.

Here's the thing with making raw food- unless you're just having a salad then it requires some work to put it together. "Traditional" cooking involves the exact same amount of work. For example, I might slice, salt and weight the eggplant, rinse it, saute it. But, I do that on AUTOPILOT. I am not on autopilot with my raw recipes. And, my favorite raw things take days to prepare- the falafel, raw bread, even sunflower seed smoothies with sprouted seeds has to be started the day before.

So now... I have to get in there and make Kale Salad, Carrot Salad, Cucumber-Celery Juice, slice up the veggies and make a dill sauce... because, I will ultimately eat whatever is in the fridge. Laziness will even allow me to eat things that I know are not good for me such as cheese. Because, that is what most people do. We eat whatever is in the fridge. We need to make an effort to make sure there is something good in the fridge.

100 Things to Do by 2016

noreply@blogger.com (Ruth Walther) — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 21:55:00 +0000

OMG I can only think of 37 things....

1. paint some beautiful crone paintings
2. have perfect technique on all of the easy to moderate yoga poses
3. go a year without coffee
4. go a year without eggs
5. learn integrated movement therapy
6. support preadolescents in developing into their most wonderful selves
7. bake the vegan chocolate birthday cake from the Sneaky Chef
8. travel to Turkey or San Francisco to visit Nilsu
9. research the effects of integrated movement therapy on the elderly
10 research the effects of integrated movement therapy on the morbidly obese
11 have an art show
12 research overcoming resistance as it applies to people with chronic disease
13 get big pink climbing roses to grow over the art studio
14 run, swim, bike a half marathon
15 use a CSA
16 meditate for 20 min every day for a month
17 spend seven days in silence
18 publish a raw foods for diabetics article with carb counts for all the foods
19 master advanced Spanish grammar
20 walk all the permanent labyrinths in Washington state
21 practice the meditation Mithra suggests for 180 days+
22 prepare raw food for a large group as a job
23 do a performance art piece where I dance in costumes I have made
24 create a whole exhibit of feminist art peices from cloth
25 create a whole exhibit of feminist art photography peices
26 realize tendencies are illusory
27 read eight books about Carl Jung
28 Serve artichoke pinole dip with rice crackers, Alice Water's Winter Minestrone and those vegan brownies for a holiday meal
29 Spend the Dream Fund Cash with Vanessa (a beach and New Age grooviness will be involved!)
30 Feed children that don't have enough food- fight policies that cause the situation
31 Have a complete conversation with Ada and Jon in Spanish - this probably means going to a Spanish speaking country for at least two months very soon
32 Visit Virginia and Justine
33 Make a documentary video
34 Write a screenplay
35 Go four years (and more!) with perfect blood sugars!
36 Co-Write the Big Green Money Workbook with Vanessa
37 make sure my kids are strong swimmers
38 larger than lifesize paper mache art & multimedia show
39 Go to Costa Rica and Hawaii & bike across Ireland with Stephen
40 Register for campsites in January & plant Sunflowers in March
41 Will this organic garden ever be weed free? Pat says it can be done in seven years!
42 Walk the labyrinths of Washington
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46
47
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49
50

100 Things to Try

noreply@blogger.com (Ruth Walther) — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 20:28:00 +0000

I picked this up at veganbits. Here's the basic premise:

1) Copy this list into your own blog, including these instructions.
2) Bold all the items you've eaten.
3) Cross out (place an xxx beside) any items that you would never consider eating.
4) Post a comment here once you've finished and link your post back to this one.
http://www.veganbits.com
5) Pass it on!

1. Natto XXX
2. Green Smoothie
3. Tofu Scramble (Feeding the Whole Family has a great recipe.)
4. Haggis XXX
5. Mangosteen (on my honeymoon)
6. Creme brulee ** made with sugar topping not made from animal bone char **
7. Fondue
8. Marmite/Vegemite XXX
9. Borscht
10. Baba ghanoush
11. Nachos
12. Authentic soba noodles (hmmmm... was it authentic?)
13. PB&J sandwich
14. Aloo gobi
15. Street cart taco (do you really know their beans are vegan?)
16. Boba Tea - (two things to look out for here - milk and honey)
17. Black truffle
18. Fruit wine made from something other than grapes
19. Gyoza
20. Vanilla ice cream
21. Heirloom tomatoes
22. Fresh wild berries(I do live in the Pacific Northwest.)
23. Ceviche w fake fish XXX
24. Rice and beans
25. Knish (http://www.recipezaar.com/Vegan-Knishes-234377)
26. Raw scotch bonnet pepper XXX
27. Flan (Goya's Flan is vegan)
28. Caviar XXX (I saw some vegan caviar online that looked very real. Yipes! Yuck!)
29. Baklava (Cafe Gratitude has a version I would love to make)
30. Pate
31. Wasabi peas
32. Chowder in a sourdough bowl XXX
33. Mango lassi(does a Frozen Mango with coconut, rice milk and lemon smoothie count?)
34. Sauerkraut
35. Root beer float
36. Mulled cider
37. Scones with buttery spread and jam XXX (a scone made without butter is a paperweight)
38. Vodka jelly XXX
39. Gumbo
40. Fast food french fries
41. Raw Brownies
42. Fresh Garbanzo Beans
43. Dahl
44. Homemade Soymilk
45. Wine from a bottle worth £60/$120 or more
46. Stroopwafle
47. Samosas (Sarma Melngailis has a raw version I'd like to try)
48. Vegetable Sushi
49. Glazed doughnut
50. Seaweed
51. Prickly pear
52. Umeboshi
53. Tofurkey (I was about five at the time!, so wrong!)
54. Sheese ??? (I located this- vegan cheese spread online.)
55. Cotton candy
56. Gnocchi
57. Piña colada
58. Birch beer
59. Scrapple XXX (Scrapple is not vegan!!!)
60. Carob chips
61. S'mores (use vegan marshmallows unless you like boiled horse hooves with your chocolate)
62. Soy curls
63. Chickpea cutlets
64. Curry
65. Durian XXX
66. Homemade Sausages
67. Churros, elephant ears, or funnel cake
68. Smoked tofu XXX
69. Fried plantain
70. Mochi
71. Gazpacho
72. Warm vegan chocolate chip cookies
73. Absinthe
74. Corn on the cob
75. Whipped cream
76. Pomegranate
77. Fauxstess Cupcake
78. Mashed potatoes with gravy XXX
79. Jerky (do dehydrated veggie strips count- Remlinger farms version is so good)
80. Croissants (who knew? http://shmooedfood.blogspot.com/2006/03/vegan-croissants.html)
81. French onion soup (My tastebuds sing "carmelitas carmelitas.")
82. Savory crepes (a vegan version???)
83. Tings XXX
84. A meal at Candle 79
85. Mock Moussaka (moussake recipe with chickpeas is so good!)
86. Sprouted grains or seeds
87. Macaroni and "cheese" (I want to try one in Mathew kenneys book- WITHOUT pasta)
88. Flowers
89. Matzoh ball soup
90. White chocolate
91. Seitan (Shojin makes the best Seitan)
92. Kimchi
93. Butterscotch chips
94. Yellow watermelon
95. Chili with chocolate (I've had vegan mole- chili - chocolate sauce over grilled vegetables)
96. Bagel and Tofutti (get the Tofutti in the yellow container... No trans fats)
97. Potato milk XXX
98. Polenta
99. Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee
100. Raw cookie dough

The End :}
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To read more about why most sugar is not vegan, go to www.vegfamily.com/articles/sugar.htm
The following sugar companies DO NOT use bone-char filters:

Florida Crystals Refinery
P.O. Box 86
South Bay, FL 33493
407-996-9072
Labels: Florida Crystals

Refined Sugars Incorporated
One Federal St.
Yonkers, NY 10702
914-963-2400
Labels: Jack Frost, Country Cane, 4# Flow-Sweet
Pillsbury
Makes powdered brown sugar

Supreme Sugar Company (subsidiary of Archer Daniels Midland)
P.O. Box 56009
New Orleans, LA 70156
504-831-0901
Labels: Supreme, Southern Bell, Rouse's Markets

Young(?) Women Have Angst About Making Themselves Useful at Home

noreply@blogger.com (Ruth Walther) — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 19:30:00 +0000

There is this thing I keep noticing (I've seen it at least three times) some (I imagine young) woman posts something good and useful about how to do something- baking, canning, whatever and then has to add some defense about how she isn't "barefoot in the kitchen" or a "dowdy submissive." I read an article by a woman who says she's been baking for her husband as he's been having a lot of stress, and her friends have been giving her a hard time. Really? For being nice to your husband? It's the baking part you are supposed to be embarrassed about? I am going to start tossing links to this phenomena here as I find them, because they are so weird.

She wears shoes to stir a pot in her kitchen? Oh, she is saying that she doesn't want us to think she's an old-fashioned woman who knows how to do stuff. Are we really so convinced that it is a waste of time to make things, because we can just buy products instead? Can you imagine a man writing this stuff? You can't, right? Why would anyone apologize for knowing how to do stuff?

http://shellyfish.wordpress.com/tag/bread/

Quick Post on Cleanse the Body Cleanse the Mind

noreply@blogger.com (Ruth Walther) — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 19:06:00 +0000

Part 2

There hasn't been any part of anything I've eaten or drank this past week that was particularly "cleansing." In fact, I've consumed more coffee in the past two weeks than in ages... But- I rocked a supermove on cleaning out the attic and shed in preparation for ART. All the purging, dusting, sweeping, vacuuming, mopping.. a cleanse of sorts.

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As far as my organic garden is going,

dandelions are taking over my world.

It is sooooo getting me down.

I picked up 7 dark pink double knock-out roses on clearance for $12 a piece and am now not too sure where to put them. I mean- I have a long fence line and so I can space them all around with low growing flowers. A neighbor has a line of dogwoods with white roses and lavender beneath them. It looks fantastic. I thought I'd do the same (working with dark pink roses.) BUT then I read online that dogwoods get 15' - 20' feet wide AND that you shouldn't plant beneath them as this will interfere with their roots. So, I'm going to leave plenty of space around my one dogwood- and then just do the roses, lavender thing elsewhere. I also have blue geraniums and who-knows-what-else growing back there. And- then have a bed 6' x 4' for vegetables/herbs in the center of the herb garden. Nursery doesn't sell German Chamomile but I'm still trying to source it.

But- big sigh- dandelions are taking over in between the flagstone where the creeping thyme is moving too slowly. This is why most people (is that assumption true?) say Heck! and give up. Pat once told me and Stephen (because I asked) - if you always pull your weeds the minute they start coming up, in seven years you'll have a weed free garden. (Assuming your neighbor has a weed free garden.)

Cleanse the Body Cleanse the Mind

noreply@blogger.com (Ruth Walther) — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 14:17:00 +0000

A group of friends and I are doing a "Spring Cleaning." The theme is "Cleanse the Body Cleanse the Mind." The organizer of this is the wonderful Somatic Massage Practicioner Kristin Welch, located here in Seattle.

My experience this Spring is very curious.

Definately my biggest stumbling block is the cleanse the mind part. For a couple of days this weekend- what, that's the whole weekened?- I just could not get off my toxic thoughts. Sunday morning I was listening to satsang and had a little glimmer of "So, this is it Ruth. I would rather stay with being right, and feeling sorry for myself, and focusing on a bunch of negative stuff, and flit back in forth in my mind between the awful past and awful future and grandize the pain of these thoughts- I would rather have that- then GET OFF IT. And for a few minutes, I would get off it- and then just pick it right back up." Groan.

Luckily my husband has a really good sense of humor so I just started making some jokes and pretty soon we were both laughing.

Anyway- the mental cleanse- that is the big thing!

Also- today I tackle the attic! Yay! I am planning to create a space to make art! We did the closet clean out for Spring on March 20 and I didn't have much to give away as I don't hoard. But the attic... has been collecting stuff... and it needs to get looked at, dusted, organized. But I am so looking forward to this. (And then I can get my art groove on.) I have been so inspired by reading some art blogs out there.

7 days for June

noreply@blogger.com (Ruth Walther) — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 16:21:00 +0000

I am starting a new series: 7 days. The idea is to provide guidance for folks living in the Pacific Northwest- who wish to eat locally, and healthfully, to prepare meals quickly, are semi-vegetarian all the way to vegan, and benefit from easy on the budget meals.

If you are vegan- then round out the days' protein with chickenpeas, almonds, sunflower seeds, tahini, oatmeal, flaxmeal/flaxseed crackers, buckwheat (which, I believe is not related to wheat) and (if you eat it) wheat. Obviously, if you are a vegetarian then you might add eggs and yogurt. If you think you have "seasonal allergies" try going off milk for a week and see how you feel! I personally feel so much better without milk products. If you don't drink milk- be sure to get calcium from other sources such as brocolli, leafy greens, (*canned) figs and almonds.

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7 days Begin with what is in season then add a grain and protein source to make a meal. The meals are nutritionaly complete without meat. If you do eat meat- eat the fish while it’s freshest the first two days after buying, then roast the chicken and it will last another few days. The tighter your budget, the more you will benefit from "rounding out" the meal with grains and legumes, as well as vegetables. Eat fruit in the order of perishability- for example, eat your berries first, then cut the cantaloupe and finally eat your apples last. This way- you won’t go to the store as much which saves time and money.

This is What is Seasonal for June: (* out of season alternative)

Drinks: Good Earth Cinnamon, Chamomile, Ginger-Lemon with Agave, Hibiscous, Mint, Bancha
Vegetables: Salad Greens daily, Broccoli, Green Beans, Asparagus, Cabbage, Carrots, Snow Peas, Cauliflower, (*Tomato Sauce in a Jar)
Grains: Millet, buckwheat, amaranth, oatmeal, brown rice, frozen heirloom corn, quinoa
Proteins: Chickpeas, French Lentils, Red Lentils, Black Beans, White Beans, Chicken, Fish
Fruit: Apples, Strawberries, Cherries, Blueberries, Apricots, Pears, Raspberries

Monday: Asparagus, brown rice, French lentils (fish optional)
Tuesday: Blanched broccoli in garlic olive oil, chickpea hummus with rice crackers and carrot dippers (fish optional)
Wednesday: Heirloom corn and roasted green bean salad, black bean soup
Thursday: Roasted cauliflower with curry ghee, millet, red lentil soup (chicken optional)
Friday: Snow Peas, Radishes, Three Bean Soup, Brown Rice Crackers, Green Beans Baked in Tomato Sauce with Garlic
Saturday: Creamy cauliflower and carrot soup made with rice milk, salad with quinoa and greens, oatmeal cookies (made with applesauce instead of butter and 1/3 less sugar)
Sunday: Buckwheat noodles with tomato sauce and brocolli, (frozen cod baked in tomato sauce), blueberries and strawberries.

Paul Nison

noreply@blogger.com (Ruth Walther) — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 22:52:00 +0000

If someone needs raw questions answered, then I have a great resource for them.

The book is The Raw Life by Paul Nison. I will say this book is a little corny, but informative. It has nine interviews with long time raw foodists and it gets very real about a lot of subjects: hair loss, loose teeth, food aversion, flatulence to name a few. (It is about how to be a healthy raw foodist- but addresses the fact that some people will have problems and how to avoid them.) I highly recommend this book.

Clearly Paul Nison, and the participants in this book care far more about you succeeding at the raw food diet than in protecting/projecting their image. Thank you so much!

Tree of Life

noreply@blogger.com (Ruth Walther) — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 18:12:00 +0000

I only have a minute to write this...

I recently saw the film Raw for Thirty. Several diabetics went to the Tree of Life Rejuvenation Center and did raw for a month and reversed their diabetes.

I just re-read my posts regarding the diabetes diet offered by Richard Berenstein M.D.. I still LOVE Dr. Berenstein for letting people know they can have perfect blood sugars and that what the American Diabetes Association is pushing is complete garbage (if you don't want to burn out your pancreatic cells and you want to heal.)

But- after reading Rainbow Green Living Cuisine by Cousins M.D., I have a much better understanding of how raw food really makes a difference. I understand the importance of living enzymes to heal the body.

Unfortunately for me a whole food diet that uses a lot of grain or fruit also elevates my blood sugars. The key is to peice something together that works. It can be as simple as - more salads! That works.

Rainbow Green Living Cuisine gives a much better explanation of the Raw diet for diabetics than the Diabetes Cure by Cousins does. Now, I have to figure out how to make it habit, make it automatic, make it easy, make it affordable. And, I'd like to help others do the same.

Family Menu- Posted in April with seasonal for April/May Ingredients

noreply@blogger.com (Ruth Walther) — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 16:07:00 +0000

* Most of the raw recipes can be found in the Rawvolution Cookbook by Matt Amsden. Make (not raw) chewy baked tofu by freezing, thawing, draining, pressing, then baking tofu. It makes the texture firm.

Raw Spinach, Pear Salad - Add Roasted Squash when it becomes available

Raw Ginger-Carrot Soup, Raw Zoodles (zuchini noodles) with Chopped Tomato Sauce

Raw Satay Sauce, Raw Brocolli Stir-Not Fry

Non-raw Spicy Chana Dahl, and Raw SpinachSalad for me (non-raw Salmon and Veggies for husband)

Raw Asian Wraps in lettuce (leftover salmon in nori wrap for husband)

Raw Dill Dip and Veggies Sandwiches on Rawvolution Onion/zuchini Bread (non-raw baked Thyme Drumsticks for husband)

Taco-Rawcos in a lettuce wrap (leftover chicken for husband) OR Kashi/Amys frozen pizza and salad
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This is a menu that "really works" in terms of what people whose food I am responsible for making, will eat. Most everyone (except my husband) can eat vegan on this menu for all seven days and be very satisfied. Five nights all raw.

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For breakfast I have been doing green smoothies: cucumber, a little celery, a little kale, a little pear, sometimes parseley or spinach, and powdered hemp seed and Udo oil. Also serve Cheerios, organic strawberries, organic milk, whole wheat toast with apple butter and melon.

For my lunch: whole wheat bread, natural (but not raw) peanut butter, two small bananas, big handfuls of raw almonds, and a salad with sliced bok choy and spinach in a tamari vinagrette.

Packed lunches have banana and peanut butter sandwich, or carrot sticks to dip in peanut butter, or carrot sticks to dip in hummus with roasted red pepper, and an apple or orange or organic grapes, red bell pepper and cucumber slices, often a cheesestick, and sometimes an oatmeal raisen cookie. This is two snacks and lunch for them.

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This is just my best attempt to balance the needs of something low-cost, something easy to fix, etc.