It's Your Life

Tuesdays With a Twist #7 Link Up

2013-05-22T09:50:00.002-07:00

Welcome to another Tuesdays With a Twist Link Up!!

Rules are still simple family friendly posts, link up any blog you want, new, old, and everything in between. Due to copy write laws images should be your own, this way if you are featured there are no problems. Featured blogs come from the ones that have had the most clicks.

I'm the co-host and Mary from Back to the Basics is our host. Feel free to follow us through the various ways listed on our blogs.

This week we have three features.

Family Home and Life: Bakers Dozen Cake Recipes

Guest post on Mary's Kitchen by Vegan Mother Hubbard

Home Grown Montessori: Garden Grows and Garden Woes

Don't forget to grab the featured button.

Now on to the party!!!!

Jalapeno Peppers in The Garden

2013-05-20T10:36:00.004-07:00

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I am not a fan of the heat that comes with the Jalapeno pepper, but they have a lot of benefits.

First that have a number of health benefits vitamins such as C and A are present. They have been shown to help prevent migraines, congestion, and may help in weight reduction. Some say they may also play a role in preventing certain types of cancer.

Jalapeno peppers are growing in my garden right now. Because the smell keeps a lot of bad insects away from my tomatoes, and green peppers. The tomatoes,and green peppers will provide shade for the Jalapeno peppers so it will no dry out. They are also great to help prevent root rot, and other Fusarium diseases. Okra is also a good plant to provide shade for the Jalapeno. It also likes to grow with cucumbers, swiss chard, squash,eggplant, and escarole. You can also plant these herbs with the Jalapeno; basil, rosemary, oregano, and parsley.

Never plant with broccoli, beans, brussle sprouts, cauliflower, fennel, or cabbage. You can also make a tea from this pepper and use it as an insect spray.

While I am not a fan of the heat, it works great in the garden, and others here like the heat. I plan on using them to make some home made salsa. I might also add some to the home made spaghetti sauce I plan to make.

Do you grow Jalapenos? What have used them for?

This blog was shared on Wildcrafting Wednesday and here.

Tuesdays With a Twist #6 Link Up

2013-05-14T06:12:00.000-07:00

It's time once again for Tuesdays With a Twist Link Up party. Last week my computer was sick with a virus and I was unable to co-host, but the little guy is all better after a quick visit to the doctor.

Love the rules because there is only one must be family friendly. However you could think about following me through the various ways on the right. Our host Mary from Back to the Basics can be followed via Bloglovin or Google + links on her blog.

Our featured blog this week comes from Yesterfood with Great-Grandmother Tenery's Oatmeal Cookies.

If you have been featured be sure to collect a button.

Now it is time to link up from 7:00 am Tuesday EST through 11:59 pm. Link up as many posts as you want and let others know about the party, LINK UP!!!!!!

May 17 Food Revolution Day

2013-05-13T09:58:00.003-07:00

May 17 is Food Revolution day, here are some suggestions to incorporate into this day.

Set up a table at a local church, health store, gym or any place else you can think of that has alot of traffic. There are brochures available at Institute for Responsible Technology which you can print out, or order.

While GMOs are a big issue our food suffers other problems as well. People need to be educated on where their meat products are coming from. We need to get to know our local farmers and support them. Visit some local farms in your area, and download the files of questions to ask of various types of farms here.

Consider doing a showing of the documentary Genetic Roulette either at your home, a local library, church, group such as MOPS, hospital staff, local gym, the possibilities are endless.This is a 1 hour and a half documentary covering various truths about GMO/GE foods and the effects it is having on the animals that we eat, and our health. You can rent the documentary here for seven days at $2.99 or purchase the DVD through Amazon for $14.99.

If you feel an hour and a half is too long you could use one of the power points available. The material used for the power points comes from the documentary Genetic Roulette. There is one which is only 5 minutes and consists of 37 slides, a 20 minute one containing 53 slides, and the last one has 112 slides. There is also a printable version of the text which is located on the slides making it easy to discuss each slide. Look to the right at the power point library for other topics relating to our food.

Host a GMO free feast, you can get some great ideas here for theme parties. Once you decide on a theme you can let your guests know what it is and ask for each to bring a GMO free food or dish. You can turn it into a cooking party by having each guest bring an ingredient for the dish being made.

Don't forget to talk about other ingredients in our food which are harmful. Aspartame found in all the sugar free products, and they are trying to get to add to many dairy products and not have it labeled. There are numerous additives in foods which many people are unaware of. High fructose corn syrup is in a numerous varieties of food including, but not limited to bread, sauces, and soda. Not only does high fructose corn syrup cause obesity, but it also is contaminated with mercury.

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How about involving the kiddos on this day by planting some GMO free foods. Studies have shown that even children who do not normally eat vegetables are more likely to eat what they have grown. Even if you do not have any kiddos to plant a garden with this is a great way to celebrate Food Revolution Day. If you have no room for a garden see if you can use some land, at a church, or community center for a community garden.

Get printable goods from Food Revolution.

Like GMO Free Worldwide and learn more about our food and other world wide events.

How will you celebrate Food Revolution Day?

Chili Casserole Bake

2013-05-01T10:28:00.001-07:00

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It is the end of the month, money, and food are low, so what to make for two hungry teen boys. I thought about it, taking into mind what food I had left. While the majority of our food is just that there still remains some GMO junk, like noodles.

So, I have two packages of ground turkey, tons of noodles, some GMO junk four cheese Mexican, a jar of Texas chili starter. I wondered if the chili starter would be enough, and then realized I had some tomato sauce. I could easily add that along with some of the chili seasoning mix I have if I need to. So I was off to make a dish I have never made before.

Fortunately for me my 16 year old will eat what I make. He has a great palate for seasonings and is often critical of my homemade dishes. That is okay, he is also my taste tester, and will add what he thinks is missing. On the other hand we have the 14 year old who will not even try some things I make from scratch, like my quinoa dishes. So, it was important I made something the 14 year old would even try.

Many of you know I do not use a lot of measurements. This is because as I have said before, number one when making dishes from scratch I have noticed it takes a lot of seasoning, and two everyone is different.

I made too many egg noodles, but not a problem 16 year old likes them with some Trace Minerals (pink sea salt.) Okay so let me just give the list of ingredients I used.

Chili Casserole Bake

Egg nobles
2 packages of Shelton's ground turkey
1 25 oz jar of Frontera Texas Chili Starter
1 package of Secret Recipes Herb and Spice Blends 7 pepper chili
1 17.64 oz Pomi Tomato Sauce
Four Cheese Mexican
Trace Minerals (pink sea salt)

I cooked both the ground turkey, and noodles. I then retrieved my Pamper Chef baking dish, and filled it with the noodles, and ground turkey. I poured in the chili starter, and tasted it needs some salt and more sauce. I added the tomato sauce until I was happy, I added the chili seasoning a little at a time along with the salt tasting as I went a long until I was happy with the flavor. I then topped it all off with cheese until I could no longer see what was underneath.

I baked at 350 degrees until the cheese was melted, and then put the oven on broil high to get a nice brown crispy topped cheese. You have to really watch once you put it on broil or the cheese will get real hard and not real attractive.

That was it my husband took some for lunch today, both boys had two helpings, and there is still some left for today.

Making Sure It's Organic

2013-04-30T10:23:00.002-07:00

When I stopped buying GMO junk and starting eating food, I wanted to make sure it was indeed food. Once again I am going to say that organic food should not be labeled as such as it is food the way I remember it growing up. But considering this is what has been done here is what I do to make sure that what I am buying is indeed organic.

I have been buying our food online from the Green Polka Box, Abe's Market, Lucky Vitamins, and Nature's Path. When I first started I visited the web site of every company whose product/products I was interested in. I looked for the USDA organic label, and the Non-GMO project verified I prefer to see both of these, but that was not always the case. From there I looked to see if they told me where their product was coming from. How the product is processed is also important to me, so I also looked for that. Then I found some canned fruit, and beans, my concern here was not just the previously mentioned factors, but also are the cans BPA free. One company had it on their site, the other one I actually called them to find out.

It is actually very interesting to read about the various companies, who started them, why they did. It is also interesting to note that the majority of the companies I have looked at and purchase products from grow what they sell. I read an article on Natural News about being careful when purchasing organic food from China that it may not actually be organic. This confused me because of what I learned doing my research, but then I thought about stores like Whole Foods, and thought I bet that is where the China imports are located.

I did find some companies that did not give me enough information, and therefore passed on purchasing their product. The USDA organic label is not enough for me I want to know more about the food my family and I are eating.

When buying a product labeled organic be sure to check out company web sites, to be sure your food is indeed organic, food.

Tuesdays With a Twist Link Up

2013-04-30T07:00:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the 4th Tuesdays With a Twist Link Up. Yes, it is that time again, feel free to link up from Tuesday 7:00 am EST through Saturday at 11:59 pm. Old posts, new posts, and everything in between as long as it is family friendly.

This weeks featured blogger is Black Fox Homestead with Quinoa Chicken Salad

If you have been featured on Tuesdays With a Twist don't forget to grab button.

Oh did I forget to mention the giveaway, that's right our host Mary from Back to the Basics and Mary's Heirloom Seeds is hosting a giveaway yeah!!!!

The giveaway is open to U.S. and Canada and runs until May 8th at midnight. So, guess you wonder what Mary is giving away.

Well here it is, she is giving away the Baker's Dozen Seed Collection 13 seeds from 13 varieties which includes the following; Calabrese Broccoli, 5 Color Silverbeet Swiss Chard, Black Beauty Eggplant, Waltham Butternut Squash, Crenshaw Melon, Bloomsdale Spinach, Cal Wonder Bell Pepper, National Pickling Cucumber, Beefsteak Tomato, Atomic Red Carrots, Self-Blanching Snowball Cauliflower, German Giant Radish, Detroit Dark Red Beet. Wow!!! that is a great selection of seeds.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Okay now on to the party!!!!!

GMO Free Worldwide

2013-04-25T09:09:00.001-07:00

Ms Mary from Back to the Basics, and I decided we are so passionate about letting others know about the dangers of GMOs that Mary created a Facebook page.

This is a place to share any and all news concerning GMOs and our food. It is also a place to share how to better educate others about GMOs. I have talked to some people who have literally said, "I don't want to know." What?????? I don't understand how someone would not want to know what they are eating.

I have also shared with others who have said that their child keeps getting sick and their white blood cells are low. Studies done on rats who were eating GMO foods showed that their white blood cell count decreased. White blood cells are the back bone of our immune system.

Others have complained that they are gaining weight, can't lose weight. However, when I share my story of how I have lost 5 lbs since eating organic, and did it effortlessly, they make excuses why they can't buy organic.

I want to know from others how to deal with these issues, and wake these people up to see that what they are eating is nothing but GMO junk. So, will you join us at our new Face page GMO Free Worldwide, to share, and learn? Please spread the word the more people we can get together the more we can learn from each other and find ways to educate others.

Food Revolution Summit FREE Webcast

2013-04-24T11:08:00.000-07:00

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This free online summit will be broadcast world wide from Saturday April 27, 2013 through Sunday May 5, 2013.

So, just what is the "Food Revolution Summit?" It is a teleconference utilizing webcast. There will be 24 speakers speaking about various aspects of health and food. If you miss a webcast you will be able to still view it for free for 24 hours, or you can purchase various packages.

The up point to attending live if you can is that you will be able to ask questions of the speakers.

While so many of us already know about GMOs you never know if you will here something you didn't know before. Each day appears to have a theme.

April 27 Crazy Sexy Healthy Food
April 28 Is Your Food Safe?
April 29 Healthy Plate, Happy Planet
April 30 Feeding Compassion
May 1 What Should You Eat, Really?
May 2 Food Wisdom That Heals
May 3 Transforming Our Food Culture
May 4 The Spiritual Buffet and the Soul Gourmet
May 5 Special Edition John and Ocean Robbins Igniting a Food Revolution

There will be three speakers each day and each summit starts at 8:00 am PDT and ends at 10:00 am PDT.

For more information on the summit visit The Food Revolution Summit web site. You will find biographies on all the speakers, information on purchasing, and more. Be sure to check out the About Us page for a chilling fact about who John Robbins really is/was.

Tuesday's With a Twist Link Up

2013-04-23T10:07:00.000-07:00

Wow we had 53 bloggers link up last week!! All featured blogs come from how many people have clicked on the link. This week it was a tie between three, what are the odds of that??? So, here are the following three blog links that were clicked on the most.

Walking on Sunshine shared Sugarless and Flourless Peanut Butter Cookies

Feathers in the Woods shared The Burn Cage

Independence Farms shared Dinner at Home From Home

If you have been featured please grab the I've been featured button.

Now on to #3 Tuesdays With a Twist Link UP, which should have been up at 6:00 am EST, but due to other things, I'm late!!!! I'm late!!!!! For a very important date, sorry love movie quotes. This link up will close Saturday at 11:59 pm.

Okay on to the rules, has to be family friendly, or it will be removed. Consider following our host Mary at Back to the Basics on Bloglovin or GFC. You can also follow It's Your Life various ways located on the right side of this blog.

Working Garden, Plants & Trees

2013-04-16T17:37:00.000-07:00

I have two rules when it comes to animals around the house, first is if their natural environment is wild and free than that is where they need to stay. Second is that animals must serve some type of purpose if it be the cats keeping the snakes, and mice at bay, or if they contribute to the dinner table.

Read about calendula here.

I feel the same way about what I plant around my home, it has to have a purpose, not just look pretty and take up space. The house we currently live in is surrounded by useless bushes, and plants they are either here because they look pretty or serve as ground cover . I am literally surrounded by three types of Zinnias, while they are great for attracting bees, they are no where near the garden. Plus there are other flowers such as marigolds that not only attract bees, but aid in keeping unwanted garden pests out of the garden, and have medicinal proprieties as well, and might I add they are attractive. Currently I have two species of marigolds, one is calendula, and the other is just marigold.

I also have a nice variety of herbs I am growing all can be used to flavor my food, but they also have medicinal properties as well. Take for instance thyme great in season vegetables or breads, but also aids the immune system and more. How about cayenne great on a pizza, or use to relieve pain. I want some peppermint to both keep away the ants that plaque us in the summer, but also for the medicinal benefits. I learned that peppermint should be cut from another plant in order to be beneficial medicinally, so I searched for a resource.

Tuesday's With a Twist Link Up!

2013-04-16T06:00:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the second Tuesday's With a Twist Link Up! There were a lot of great blogs to read last week, and I look forward to reading more blogs. Be sure to let others know, I love learning new things, getting new recipe, learning about natural remedies, and how to do it your self. I am also honored to once again co-host this link up along with Mary from Back to Basics.

Currently Mary is working on a I've been featured button, please be patient, and if your blog is featured please remember to come back and pick it up.

The post that received the most clicks last weeks comes from Nancy at On The Homefront, Seeds I've Started. Thank you Nancy for sharing.

This link up starts every Tuesday at 6:00 am est, and ends on Saturday of the same week at 11:59pm.

Now for the rules, oh that's right at this point the only rule is it has to be family friendly. Now that all that is out of the way onto the party!!!!

Zucchini Bread

2013-04-11T10:30:00.003-07:00

While back in Tennessee someone had given me a bunch of zucchini, and I thought hmmm what to do with this. I remembered my first husband's ex-mother-in-law used to bring us zucchini bread. I set out to find a recipe, the one I found was on this site, myrosiecheeks.net, but the site is no longer there. So glad I found, it is a great recipe, and I have had requests to make it, and even offered to be paid for it.

This is a must have recipe if you are growing zucchini, I am!!! Might just make some and sell it, I also have a collected some other recipes for zucchini I would like to share in the future.I also want to say that we have been changing out all GMO junk for the real food, and as of yet I have not made this recipe with the new ingredients.

One thing I love about this recipe is not only does it make great zucchini bread, but it makes two loaves, one to keep, one to share. I also picked up some tricks along the way, used to take me an hour before I could even get it into the oven. But now I have it down to a half hour. First off this recipe calls for 2 cups of shredded zucchini, this part is what took the longest.

Above is the key to saving time, notice the plate has a lip on it, keeps the juice on the plate. So, I use the hand shredder, put the shredded zucchini in the strainer on top of the bowl. I use the spoon to squeeze the juice out and stir it up as I do so. I leave the zucchini in the strainer as I shred more than transfer it to the measuring cup. While it is very simple it has cut time on my time, now for the recipe, sorry no pictures of my bread. I had made it so much the boys have grown tired of it for now.

Zucchini Bread

Photo credit: Food Network

Print This Recipe

Makes two loaves

3 Eggs
2 Cups firmly packed brown sugar
1 Cup peanut oil
2 Cups grated zucchini
1 tsp vanilla
3 Cups flour
1 Cup nut of choice (optional)
2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp allspice
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder

Beat eggs until think and lemon colored. Gradually beat in sugar and slowly minx in oil. Add zucchini, vanilla. Sift together flour, nuts, spices, baking powder and soda. Add to we wet ingredients stirring only until all ingredients are moistened. Mixing too much will make your bread tough. Pour into two bread pans.

Bake in 325 degree oven for one hour and 10 minutes or until a tooth pick inserted near the center come out clean.

This bread comes out so moist and delicious. This recipe is also located under the recipe tab.

Do have an easier way of shredding the zucchini?

Teaching Children About Herbs

2013-04-10T10:37:00.001-07:00

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Mountain Rose Herbs and Learning Herbs dot com have put together a book club for kids to learn about herbs. This is done through various ways, stories, coloring pages, recipes, games, crafts, and so much more.

This program was designed by Kimberly Gallagher, wife of John Gallagher founder of Learning Herbs dot com. The book club runs for 13 months, each month you and your child/children will have access to one title of the book series "Herb Fairies," a magical tale of plants and their remedies. This is not just an ordinary book club this is a learning system for children.

The cost for the book club is $97, WAIT!!! This is for a LIFE TIME, so you can use it as much as you like when you like. Just added today April 11. 2013 payment plan, start for just $37, and then make two additional monthly payments of $37 go here, and scroll all the way to the bottom. Okay another up date came in my email this morning, you can test drive one book for FREE!!! What a great way for homeschoolers to do science, fun, hands on, education. You can easily use this for children at different levels allowing one curriculum for various children. Even if you don't homeschool this is a great way to teach children about the herbs around them, and their healing properties.

Books are available in various formats, hard copy (on demand), PDF, Kindle, I Pad, all other e-readers, tablets, and smart phones. These are chapter books which consist of 40-50 pages each with full color illustrations. The books are meant to target children between the ages of 5-12 however, it is said that all age groups love these books. You also get an audio for use with any MP3 player, great for non-readers. Now read on to find out more about this unique book club.

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It is actually a web site where you have access to the books in all their formats (except hard copies which also has an additional charge), items to create a journal, coloring pages/posters, recipes, even a discussion board, and more. Children will experience various fairies, male and female, whose names relate to a particular herb and their characteristics also coincide with that herb. One thing I think is really cool is that the fairies are not only various ages, but also represent the ethnic group from the country the herb is native to.

Children will learn how to identify herbs in the wild, how to harvest them, their medicinal properties, and how to make various recipes with them. Through this children will be more likely to try the homemade healing remedies because they are creating them with you.

Hurry, there are only 5 days to join, and then it will be closed until the spring of 2014. Why is that you are wondering? Well that is just another awesome point of this book club, children will learn through out the growing season about the different herbs blooming during each season.

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If that is not enough there are two freebies, "Herbal Roots" is a magazine your child/children will receive each month for the 13 months of the book club. The herb contained in each issue will coincide with the herb in each book being studied. There are song, puzzles, games, recipes, and so much more. Just added today you also get "Herbal Remedies for Children," a 93 page e-book full of information for the cold & flu season, plus more such as remedies for teething, and tummy aches.

For more info on this amazing book club visit Learning Herbs and just scroll down. If you would like to view the promotional video along with watching the testimony included or just sign up than just click here.

You only have five days, and one day is already gone the club opened yesterday April 9, 2013, so hurry up so you don't miss this great teaching opportunity!

Book One: Stellaria’s Big Find

"Imagine the excitement of four children playing in the park when they discover a real, live fairy. Not just any fairy, but Stellaria, the chickweed fairy. Chickweed is one of their favorite healing plants and it turns out Stellaria was looking for them. She needs the children’s help to restore the fading magic in the Fairy Herb Garden. When Stellaria takes them to her fairy home, the children find that restoring the magic means facing a troll. Can they figure out how to use chickweed to heal the troll’s ailments? Will they be able to solve the riddle to guess her name?" Taken From the Learning Herbs Web Site

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Tuesdays with a Twist Link Up

2013-04-09T06:00:00.000-07:00

My great friend, fellow blogger, and seed resource, Mary from Mary's Heirloom Seeds just started a link up on her blog Back To Basics. While that is exciting in its self, she invited me to co-host!!!! So, even though I have not been taking the time to blog as much as I use to, I said yes!!

Tuesday's with a Twist link up currently has no rules, but she may add some in the future. However Mary does ask that you consider following her via Bloglovin or on GFC available at Back to Basics. Okay so I lied about the rules there is one it must be family friendly, join the fun!!!

This link up starts Tuesday at 6:00 am and goes until Saturday 11:59 pm.

Love finding new blogs so excited to see what you all bring on.

Mung Beans

2013-03-28T11:51:00.004-07:00

My online, blogging, seed supplier May from Back to the Basics, and Mary's Heirloom Seeds was awesome enough to include some Mung Beans for me to try for FREE, thanks Mary. She knew I was interested in trying them, so when I placed my last order she asked me if I wanted some to try, well heck yeah!!!

When ever I see the word mung, I think mug weird right? But anyway I was excited to receive my beans and screen to do my first sprout. I'm a hands on learner, and had to watch a couple of videos to totally understand how to sprout. Mary does include sprouting instructions for each of the sprouting seeds she sells, but sorry Mary needed something more. As a matter of fact I waited for days maybe weeks for starting the sprouts because it seemed time consuming, and I fully did not understand just reading Mary's directions.

Two days into sprouting

Finally I watched a couple of videos and was off to sprout. It was soooooo easy, just soak the beans in filtered water for 12 hours, and rinse. I placed my jar on the side with a paper towel at the mouth of the jar in case any water dripped out. It stayed on the kitchen counter, out of the sun, where it would not be disturbed until my beans sprouted. I rinsed the beans twice a day, and by the first day they were already sprouting!!! By the third day I had sprouts!!! I was excited about this new food, and made my self a egg salad sandwich with Mung Bean sprouts on top, yum!

Once the sprouts were ready I poured them on to a plate lined with two paper towels for them to dry. I waited about a half hour, and put them pack into the jar, Mary said you can keep them in the fridge for up to six weeks, but better to eat them as soon as you can.

It was suggested by one video I watched that you taste your sprouts daily to see how you feel about the taste. Mung Bean sprouts are crunchy, and said to have a nutty taste, personally I really did not taste a nutty flavor.

Mung Beans sprouts are loaded with vitamins, minerals, and a great source of fiber. If you are trying to lose weight or have, or know someone with diabetes, this is a food to include in your regular diet. This is because Mung Beans have a glycemic level of 31 which means it has slow effect on blood sugar. Also the high fiber allows for a slower release of calories into the blood sugar.

Many Asians use sprouts in their dishes, they are also used in salads, for making bread, smoothies, and more. I also started a new board on Pintrest just for sprouts which includes only 11 pins right now, but will keep adding. What you will find there right now are some great recipes, and also how to grow your own mung beans to use for sprouts.

How do you use your sprouts? Have a favorite sprout?

Quinoa

2013-03-15T10:39:00.000-07:00

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I recently discovered this super food with a name that is hard to say if you are looking at the word, Quinoa pronounced keen wah, really????

One thing I love about Quinoa is its versatility, after my purchase of this food I immediately started searching for recipes. I was in awe seeing that I could use it to make casseroles, salads, meat loaf, bread, pudding and on. While many may say it is a grain my research shows that it is actually a seed, makes sense that is what it looks like.

Quinoa is high in protein, contains eight much needed amino acids, rich in calcium, fiber, cholesterol free, gluten free, and wheat free. It also a great resource for the following: potassium, iron, B6, manganese, niacin, copper, thiamine, riboflavin, tryptophan, and phosphorous, magnesium, and B vitamins. It has also been said that quinoa may help to lower blood pressure, and aid in the relief of migraines.

Before cooking with quinoa be sure to rinse it or it will have a bitter taste. Also note that one cup of cooked quinoa yields three cups, cook one cup of quinoa with two cups of water until it becomes transparent, and you can see what looks like a little tail.

With that said here is the first recipe I made with quinoa.


Photo credit

Print This Recipe

Chessy Broccoli Quinoa

1 cup cooked quinoa
cooked broccoli chopped up
1 tbsp of the following Turmeric and garlic
1 tsp of the following pepper, salt and ginger
I also added some grated ginseng root
Cheese whatever you prefer I used a Mexican blend

While the quinoa is cooking add all seasonings, I chopped up the broccoli while it was cooking, and added it as I went along stirring it in until I had the desired amount. Once the quinoa became transparent and was done I added the cheese, this I also stirred in until I had the desired amount.

Anyone who reads my blog on a regular basis knows that I never follow a recipe, but if you want the original recipe I used just click on the photo credit. Also while doing my research I found this great site dedicated to cooking quinoa. If you sign up for the newsletter you can get a free quinoa cook book, I got mine. I also have a board on Pintrest just for quinoa.

Shared at Wildcrafting Wednesday and here.

It's Not Organic

2013-03-14T10:40:00.002-07:00

They (the government, Monsanto) started messing with our food back in the late 80s and 90s. Now that all of our food is contaminated along comes organic foods. I have been eating what everyone is calling organic for a month now. I'm here to tell you that this food called organic is not organic it is real food.

Photo credit: It's Your Life

The mayonnaise we are eating now tastes the way it used to before they started messing with our food. Butter called "organic" looks the way I remember it looking. When I got my order of butter I was excited because I knew what I was going to see, look at the picture on the right, which one is GMO junk? that's right the one on the right, how many of you remember when butter used to look like the butter on the left? I do!!!

So, why are we calling real food organic? It is not organic and it is FOOD the way it used to be, yes there are some items that are different such as the Ezekiel sprouted bread I eat, but that is just an up on how to produce a healthier product. We no longer refer to our food as organic instead we say no that is not GMO junk. It's not organic food, it is not GMO junk, it's just food.

Stability Ball for the Abs

2013-03-11T11:12:00.001-07:00

One of my favorite work out toys is my stability ball. However, it was not always that way, when I first got it I could not stay on. I was frustrated at first, the woman on the video made it look so easy. I didn't give up, I would lay on the ball and roll forward and backward, sometimes holding in a plank position. After a while of doing this I reverted back to the DVD and yeah me!! I was doing it. What makes the stability ball so wonderful is that you need to use your whole body, so you are working multiple muscles all the time. If you have never used a stability ball or are just beginning here is what you can do with it. It is great for abdominal work with various exercises, you can use a dumb bell or weight ball to add to the intensity. Lay on your side to work your oblique muscles add a resistance band for more intensity. You can also use it to work your chest and triceps, than get down on the floor to work your abs some more or work your gluts. There are a lot of different exercises for the stability ball, but I use it just for my ab work outs.

Some of my favorite ab exercises with the ball are ball exchange, basic stomach crunch, oblique work, roll outs and wood chops. Because I want those who have never done these exercises or used a stability ball at all to get a full understanding of each of the exercises I mentioned I have added videos for each one.Okay every time I add a new video the previous video is being deleted, so I am going to just add the links instead which will open in a new window.

Ball Exchange

Basic Stomach Crunch this one is kind of long, but she does a good job of explaining proper technique along with variations.

Obliques this was the closest video I could find for what I do. I do not use the wall and the arm she has on the ball I put further on the ball and put my hand on my side like in the picture below.

Roll Outs in the example she goes out pretty far, only go out as far as you can, also for those just starting out you can start with your forearms on the ball like the image below. This is a great exercise for the core, just remember to breath on the way out, and contract those abs!!

Wood Chops there are a different variety of these, so finding a video for this exercise was a little challenging. You will also notice the video has different name for wood chops, Swiss ball torso twist.

Speaking of Swiss ball, this is another name for the stability ball so if you see it know that it is the same thing. It may also be called a fitness ball or some other names, but all in all it's a big big ball and the same.

Do you use the stability ball?

Shared on Wildcrafting Wednesday and here.

Got Real Food?

2013-03-02T11:11:00.002-08:00

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Okay just need to vent here a little. I am so sick of seeing blogs, web sites etc telling people how they can eat whatever they want and still lose weight, or avoid these foods for flatter abs, love this one no diet, no exercise, eat what you want just take this product. REALLY!!!!!! Food allergies, diabetes, obesity, cancer, and more are all linked to the foods we eat.

Now I don't do everything I should to be healthy, but one thing I have done is switch to organic food. Okay now this gets me too, organic food is real food, shouldn't the artificial garbage in the grocery stores change their name. Instead of food they could called it mutant food, or death sentence because that is what it is.

I'm also sick of hearing others complain that they can't lose weight. Well duh not as long as you are eating mutant food you won't, GET SOME REAL FOOD! Nothing is going to change as long as you keep doing the same thing, For a month the majority of my food is just that food, and I have lost 3 pounds however, I also work out on a regular basis, but even that didn't matter until I changed my food.

Until you change your food you will not see any changes, alright let's hear I can't afford to eat real food. No, you can't afford not to, and if you have kids what about them? Don't they deserve to eat real food that won't make them obese and sick? I have found two online resources for buying real food that I want to share with you.

Green Polka Dot Box, I know silly name, I just joined this site for an annual membership of $50 dollars, but I get discounts up to 60%, save gas, and if I order $75 worth of items I get free shipping, if you order under they have a flat rate of $9.95. They have cold foods such as cheese, and hot dogs, regular foods like pasta, and beans, personal care, home care, baby, pet, supplements, and natural remedies. However there is an additional cost for ordering cold foods, and if your order is over 65 pounds, as mine was. For $10 you can give it try, but the free shipping does not apply which stinks because if you want someone to join, and give them a trail for $10 I think it should come with free shipping. Also note that while the site mentions vegetables and fruits, at this time there is no fresh produce.

Abe's Market is another online store I just purchased from, there is no membership fee, but all orders over $49 ship for free. They have a huge selection of natural products for kids and babies, I mean anything you need they have, and you can create a registry as well. Abe has everything you need to be healthy from food, to cleaning, clothes, and more.

I also placed an order with Nature's Path because I wanted the bigger bags of cereal, and heck free shipping on order over $39. We got the shipment very quick, and the boys love the toaster pastries. If you have kids/teens in the house this is a great site for cereal, granola bars, toaster pastries, pancake mix, basically breakfast items.

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Another area to consider is to Google organic food co ops in your area, sadly there are none in my area, but when I Googled it for a friend back in Chicago a bunch came up. So I'm thinking those in the city have a better chance. Also Google organic farms in your area, these can be a great resource for local natural meats, eggs, cheese, vegetables, and more. Not only do you benefit from fresh foods, but you help to keep a local farmer up and running.

If you decide to go with a local farmer ask to visit the farm so you can see how the animals are being raised. Ask them to tell you about how they tend to their animals naturally. Same with vegetables and fruits how are they grown? Do they use any chemicals? However if you find them on the internet using the key words organic farmers in ______ most likely everything is fine but I want to hear it from them so I ask.

Okay so this wasn't just a rant hopefully this information will be useful to others, have a blessed weekend.

Do have a great resource for purchasing food, please share I am especially interested in fish and meats.

This blog was shared on Wildcrafting Wednesday and here.

What's In Your Food?

2013-02-26T09:24:00.000-08:00

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That is what was at the top of the flyer we handed out for the showing of the GMO documentary "Genetic Roulette." I found out about the documentary when I stumbled on a site called Institute for Responsible Technology. This is a site that urges others to educate others about GMOs.While I was searching around the site I clicked on the take action tab which lead me to join the Tipping Point, here I met another local woman who felt the need to educate others is just as important to her as it is to me.

We set up a date and time to show the documentary at the local library. While I was letting others know about the showing I was surprised to hear many say "I don't want to know." "WHAT YOU DON'T WANT TO KNOW WHAT IS IN YOUR FOOD?" Anyway we could not get into the conference room because they were still using it to prepare taxes. So, we had to go into the main library, not bad we had only two people show up, and this might attract others. It did, but only one person came to talk to us about what we are doing.

We are putting together a group of people to meet monthly, and share about how we are changing our eating habits, along with educating others on various topics. These topics include organic eating, organic gardening, the truth about raw milk, the truth about fluoride, and other things that we are being lied to about. On March 9 we will meet for an organic lunch, pot luck style along with taking forging in the yard, and discussing where to obtain organic food, and how to tell if it is organic.

I'm torn between making organic egg salad, or organic mashed cauliflower.

For the egg salad I use, for one serving

2 cage free eggs
Organic Pepper
Organic Garlic
Spectrum Organic Mayonaise
Paprika, not yet organic
Mustard not yet organic
1/2 Organic Avocado

I didn't include any measurements because I feel we are all different, one person might like more mayo, or mustard, while some else may prefer less. I eat this alone or as a wrap made with Ezekiel 4:9 Sprouted Grain Tortillas, However, for the pot luck I thought I would make finger sandwiches with the Ezekiel 4:9 Sprouted 100% Whole Grain Bread.

The mashed cauliflower recipe I found through a blog, but you know me I don't follow recipes. The great thing about this is all you have do is cook the cauliflower mash it up, and add whatever you would normally add to potatoes. I made this once, and my husband and I loved it, please don't ask what I put in it I honestly don't totally remember. You can thank my husband for that who taught me just to throw things together while all the long tasting until you are happy with it.

I wrote this blog to not only share, but to inspire others to become active in educating others about what we are putting into our bodies. There are so many people out who don't know and they deserve the right to know just like we do. I also want to let you know that you can watch the documentary online for $2.99.

Are helping to educate others about what they putting in their bodies, and their families? I would love to hear about it.

This blog was shared on Wildcrafting Wednesday.

Better Ab Workout

2013-02-21T10:48:00.001-08:00

I found out that for years I have not been working my abs to their full potential which leads to better looking, firmer abs. I always knew to suck my abs in like trying to touch my belly button to my back, and contracting the ab muscles as I performed an exercise. I also knew to keep my elbows open, and my head back, like holding something between my chin and my chest, and not to pull on my head, but lift with my abs.

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But what I figured out during the last say seven years is I can work my abs more effectively, and achieve better, and faster results by adding one simple thing. That one thing is contracting my abs through the whole exercise. So, while I have always enjoyed working my abs because I can lay down, and not have to work a lot, not true. Working your abs takes a lot of contraction and work, that is if you want nice abs, you have to hold that stomach in, contract the muscles all the time, and then when performing an exercise contract even harder. Oh and don't forget to breath out on the exertion and in coming out, the whole time contracting on those abs, wow that is a lot of work, but worth it.

I also learned that working the abs just does not have to take place on the floor doing some crunches. As a mater of fact I have heard some personal trainers say they have totally ditched crunches. Working the abs standing up, is very beneficial especially for the obliques. While planks at first were not a favorite exercise as you excel you will find that they are very versatile, and a great over all core work out. Planks is what some do alone for ab work, while they are great for the abs they also aid in strengthening the back.

Personally I like a combination of all the varieties, crunches, stand up abs, and planks. Everyone is different you need to find what works for you in creating the great abs. I've never had six pack abs, but that is okay I just want my abs to look the best they can for my body.

Knowing Your Seeds

2013-02-20T10:11:00.000-08:00

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If you are planting with seeds it is important to know how what they would go through before sprouting. For instance would they sit on the ground some where through out winter, which is what I am talking about today.

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Recently I bought this awesome book by Tammi Hartung called "Homegrown Herbs," A Complete Guide to Growing, Using, and Enjoying more than 100 Herbs, which you can purchase at The Bulk Herb Store through the affiliate link on the right. I love, love this book for herbs, not only does it tell you everything about various herbs, how to grow them, what their companions are, how to harvest them, but it also includes recipes for medicines, and personal care, along with others for cooking.

Recently I planted a variety of vegetables, and herbs, and noticed that my Yarrow was not sprouting. I went to the book, and looked in the personalities section to read more about this herb, and find out what was wrong. It turns out that this seed needs to go through what is called stratification. See some seeds dropped to the ground, and are left there through out the winter months. During that time they are exposed to moisture rather it be from snow or rain, and would also experience times of freezing, and thawing which benefits the seeds.

So to mimic this process seeds need to be placed in a ziplock bag, with a few drops of water, shack the seeds to coat them with the water, place in the freezer for a month, take them out to thaw for a few hours. This process should be done over a two to three month period of time. However, if the seeds would experience a milder winter, not frozen this process can be accomplished through the use of the refrigerator.

In the back of the book there is a section called "Herb Personalities, A Closer Look at Each Plant,"
Here she tells you witch plants need to go through the cold stratification process, and for how long. However, she doesn't tell you if you should use the freezer or the refrigerator. There is a chart of the plant habitat preferences, a little common sense, and using this chart I think can help us figure it out on our own, It would be convenient, however, if it was included in the personalities section.

While that is only one thing I learned from this book there is so much more. Once my herbs have bloomed I look forward to using the "Harvesting from the Garden" section of this book. I also love that she has included so many charts, diagrams, and colorful useful photos. I highly recommend this book for those just starting out or those who would like to learn more. Other chapters in this book include the following.

An Introduction to Growing and Using Herbal Plants
Selecting Plants and Designing Your Garden
Secrets to Great Soil
Propagation Methods
Garden Maintenance
Pest and Disease Control
Harvesting from the Garden

This blog was shared on Wildcrafting Wednesday and here.

Growing Zucchini

2013-02-16T10:51:00.001-08:00


Photo credit: It's Your Life

This is the first time I am growing zucchini from a seed, and as it started to sprout, it reminded me of Audrey 2 from the movie “Little Shop of Horrors,” so now that is her name. Like Audrey 2 I thought I was going to lose my first zucchini plant. I noticed the roots were growing up out of the soil, and had to adjust her two different times before she started sprouting.

My friend and fellow blogger Mary from Back to the Basics invited me to blog on her blog. Read the rest of this over by Mary, and learn more about "Growing Zucchini" organically. Oh and I also included some of my favorite Zucchini recipes.

Companion Planting

2013-02-15T10:26:00.001-08:00

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Companion planting is the best way to grow your garden naturally with out harmful chemicals or pesticides. This method is different also because many times herbs, and even flowers are incorporated into the regular vegetable garden. By using different types of herbs, flowers, and vegetables together they help one another in various ways.

You can see from the picture on the right that using this method creates a very non-traditional vegetable garden. But look how beautiful it is.

Take the Three Sisters method, this is where you plant corn, beans, and squash together. The beans not only crawl up the corn for support, but they also supply nitrogen into the ground for the corn to thrive. The squash also places an important role as its big leaves prevent weeds from growing. However, this is only one example of how of plants help one another.

Let's take a look at the Marigolds, these are great to plant around the border of your vegetable garden. Not only do they attract bees which is vital for pollination, but also deter other pests from the garden. However, it is not with out fault as some pests are attracted to the Marigold, and will devour it, but better the Marigold than your herbs, and vegetables.

Some insects are welcome in the garden and help to avoid others that could destroy garden. Take the lady bug for instance, they can consume up to 50-60 aphids per day. To attract lady bugs to your garden plant yarrow, cilantro, dill, or flowers such as scented geraniums or dandelions.

Planting herbs near vegetables can enhance the flavor like peppermint enhances the flavor of cabbage, kale, broccoli, and kholrabi. Basil is great to plant near tomatoes, not only does it enhance the flavor, but also deters the horn worm, and other pests. Also plant basil near sweet and hot peppers to enhance the flavor.

Many plants are great to grow just for the benefits they give to the soil in your garden like the beans. Borage is an excellent source of calcium, use the leaves as mulch around your zucchini, it also attracts bees. Some plants should be planted before planting your herbs, and vegetables like alfalfa. Alfalfa is said to be the farmer's plant of choice for natural pest control, but it also is high in nitrogen, and other minerals that benefit the soil.Alfalfa, oats, wheat and others should be planted before and after the growing season than incorporated into the soil.

As you can see there are a variety of ways to garden naturally, yes it takes planning, but it is worth it to get healthy vegetables, herbs, and edible flowers. If you look at the top of the page you will see I added a new tab for organic gardening links. I will continue to add as I continue on my new adventure of companion planting.

Do you use companion planting in your garden?