There is always of course a funny story to tell about the sacred tumbleweed search that happened each year.    Our tumbleweed was always decorated first.  My mother had crippling arthritis and other very serious health issues.   I remember mama walking well only for the very young part of my life.  The rest of my life her feet were crippled, and she was completely disabled.   I remember her running only once.   I was in early elementary school and had invited a little friend Misha along for the journey.  We were hunting that perfect specimen of a “tree” and we would scour the countryside and inspect many weeds that failed the mama test.   She spotted one out in the middle of a field with a barbed wire fence protecting it.   That was no deterrent for my stubborn mama.

She told us not to open the windows for any reason, and not to open or unlock the doors until she came back.  That was our very stern warning.  We watched as she carefully crawled through the barbed wire and headed to the middle of the field.   What mama didn’t know is that she wasn’t alone.   There was a huge black snot slinging bull beginning to dig his front heels and kick up dirt.   His breath shot out in two huge streams of vapor in the cold December air as he planned the fight and chase.  She was on HIS side of the fence.   She held up her treasure for us to see and my little friend and I were yelling and screaming in complete distress.  We called out  to her through the rolled up windows.  She just smiled as if she had found a million dollars and began walking back towards the car.  We were obedient children, we would never open the door if mama said not to.    We were afraid that the bull would kill her, he was huge and dark.  She was going to die under the feet and huge horns of this bull.   He began to charge from across the field!   Suddenly she heard his feet hitting the ground, turned and she saw him and began to run.  She ran faster than any human being I’d ever seen.   Now she had two missions, the tumbleweed and her very life!   My mama whom I never remember walking well, mama who walked on turned over feet, ran fast and hurdled the barb wire fence, all the time preserving and saving her precious cargo, the perfect tumbleweed held high above her head as she ran.  She was victorious. She had completed both missions successfully.

We told this story throughout the years to friends and always got a big laugh.

“Winter came down to our home one night
Quietly pirouetting in on silvery-toed slippers of snow,
And we, we were children once again.” – Bill Morgan, Jr.

My daughter Maggie has been our resident food prep chef.   Chopping onions will be the death of her.   I even bought her special onion goggles which are too large for her smaller head.   I cannot wait to see her face the first time we try chopping onions in this baby!   She will be forever thankful.

Healthy cooking starts with fresh ingredients — then, often, there’s loads of tedious, tiring prep work.  I can’t imagine the holidays or parties and the time saved…for us, hours.  Food processors have become an essential item for any serious cook.  I’ve researched and this model from Breville features a 5.5-inch super-wide chute that allows you to slice veggies and fruits without having to cut them by hand.  I’m seeing visions of sweet potato fries already! It also comes equipped with a set of eight discs and blades for many different prep options; the discs include a variable slicing disc that can adjust the thickness of your cuts from a paper thin 0.3mm (.01”) to a solid 8mm (.3″).   All of the attachment disks are in a beautiful case so there are no stabs of hands coming from your misc. drawer in your kitchen.   So clever Breville, Bravo!  Santa, this will be worth every penny you spent getting this to me, promise.   Your stomach will thank you too.

Take a look at the Breville Sous Chef and see if you fall in love too!

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=3DlIH97ywIQ

A year ago I began having health issues.   The year before before that my mother had died.  I was very stressed.   Dealing with her death and being an only child was very difficult and hard on me and my family.  I had high hormonal levels of cortisol and prolactin and I was gaining weight and that was out of control.  I wasn’t sleeping and I felt so bad.  I was pre-diabetic.   I had pain in every fiber of my being.  I had neuropathy in my feet, ankles and knees.   The bones in my feet and ankles were degenerating.  I was dizzy a lot.  My blood pressure was very high, and I was on 4 different medications, 5 pills a day.   My vitamin D level and potassium levels were dangerously low.  I didn’t understand what could be happening.  I felt dizzy so much and the doctors wanted to rule out mini-strokes. Every joint in my body was inflamed and the pain was immense.  I had been diagnosed with severe degenerative arthritis in my feet, ankles and knees.   I was sent to a Podiatrist and reconstructive foot and ankle surgeon, an Endocrinologist, and a Neurologist, as well as my Internist continued to follow up.  My asthma was out of control.  I was scared and that made the asthma worse.   I was exhausted upon waking up every single day.

I felt like I could be dying, but I didn’t tell anyone.  I continued to pretend I was ok.  I had unknown numbers of blood tests, urine tests, 24 hour tests, 2 MRI’s of my brain and my brain and chest.   They were looking for possible Pitutary or Adrenal tumors. My memory was foggy, I didn’t feel sharp or on top of my mental game.  As my work, home and personal stress levels rose, so did my hormones.   The hot flashes were unbearable.   I had to sleep under a fan and I sweated all night long.   I could not sleep.  I was lucky to get three hours uninterrupted sleep.   This began to deteriorate my health and my weight shot up as fast as my blood pressure.

I have to say I was very scared as I was going through this.  They found nothing, but my MRI’s were abnormal.  I had lesions all over my brain!   The neurologist could only say that it might be from my blood pressure, but he just didn’t know.    They suspected Multiple Sclerosis or Lyme’s.  More tests… EMG and Nerve Conduction Studies.   Unfortunately the only thing they could find was a serious bone spur in my neck which looked really ugly on the xray.   I was referred to a Neuro-Surgeon but I was still without an answer about the way I was feeling, the weight I was gaining and the pain I had.  I was miserable.  I became very sedentary.  I felt depressed.  My family suffered.    I wasn’t the person I used to be, and the weight kept coming.   I was convinced maybe I had the beginnings of Alzheimers and felt like I had fibromyalgia.

I fed all these fears with comfort foods, and I didn’t really care a lot about what I was nurturing my body with, as my soul and spirit were slowly slipping away.

The turning point was my daughter Maggie’s graduation in June.   We had to stand for so long.  My back pain was excruciating.  I couldn’t bear it.  I was crying in the long line.  When I got home my legs were two sizes too large!   Everything was swollen and I could barely move.  What was wrong with me???  It seems everyone has a desperate turning point when they want to change their lives.

In June, after researching brain problems, in fear that I was developing some brain issues like my mother, I found Isagenix.  I was very interested in the Product B.  I never even realized that Isagenix had weight loss products!

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=Symwrqokla4

I saw this video, and really was amazed.   At the same time a precious friend Deanna Jones Falchook on Facebook started posting about Isagenix too and how this wonderful cellular cleansing was removing toxins from her body and she was eating very nutritious foods, and it was changing her, and her family’s nutritional lives!  Wow, what a coincidence.   She was posting about her incredible weight loss, and I was intrigued.   I asked her for info and didn’t do anything with it (dumb I know.)   A couple of weeks later I watched the videos and looked seriously into the weight loss and fat burning system.   Deanna called me immediately and we got my package on the way.   My life changed the day that package arrived.   I’m in tears thinking about this.

[pullquote]You see, my endocrinologist had spoken something into me that I chose to believe, and because of that, it kept me a prisoner in my own body.  He said, “You’ll never ever be able to lose weight if your cortisol level is high like this so we need to find out what is causing that or a year from now you will be much heavier.”  I believed him.   He spoke that negative word into me as truth, and I simply gave up.  [/pullquote]

I WAS TOXIC!  It was clearly evident!    None of the doctors had seen it.  I ate very poorly and consumed massive amounts of Diet Coke, Diet Drinks all full of Aspertame and Coke Zero with it’s lovely Sucralose and other chemical laden foods. I drank nothing else but diet drinks, never water.    I did this because I was too tired and in too much pain to really cook, or care.   When I look at Aspertame and Sucralose alone, I had so many of the symptoms…and then it hit me…I was poisoning myself with diet drinks and who knows what else, but that alone had contributed to my health issues in a huge way.   I went cold turkey off the diet drinks.   That was excruciating too, both mentally and physically.   Two weeks later I started Isagenix.

Are you toxic?

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=BCcevkFDJcw

I had conveniently detoxed off of my Neurontin and Anti-inflammatory medication when I went off the diet cokes before I started my 30-day system.  I researched clean and organic eating.   I was ready to try this, ready to succeed and ready to win!

[pullquote]Fast forward nearly 3 months later…I am 44 pounds lighter!  I feel FANTASTIC! [/pullquote]  I have no pain.  My mind is sharp at work.    I can shop for hours with my girls, and stand in long lines and love to go outside and do things again.  I’m living, and I’m chemical free!   I’m eating mostly organic now.  I know for anyone that knows me, is probably giggling a bit.  I had to remain on my blood pressure meds, but this last weekend my blood pressure dropped and I’ll be calling the doctor tomorrow.   It is now normal.  I told my friend I feel better than I have in 20 years!   My energy level is out the roof.  I’m sleeping!  My hormones and blood tests are normal.  My doctors are shocked!    Just eating clean isn’t enough though, we have toxins in our every day and this is what makes Isagenix so incredible, we have a nutritional cleansing component!

I’m enjoying life with less stress, and above all, with happiness that I know all is well and I’m continuing to go down a path of health and now a path of financial health.  There is something about seeing people have huge success with the best nutritional food in the world that excites people.  While I never considered the business side of Isagenix much when I first got in, now I’m concentrating on helping others achieve what I have, and more!   There are so many other products that are amazing with this company, and I’ll go over some of those later on but know I am living the life now!  I love the way I feel.  I want everyone to feel like this!

Yesterday was my organization day.   I organized my family meals for the week, I put bulk organic spices in pretty jars on my cabinet (see photo above) and I went shopping with the girls.  My house has suffered at my own inabilities these past years.  I’m getting that in order.  I’m organizing my life too, and that will always include Isagenix!

[pullquote]I know there are other people that this testimony can help, and I’d love to be your coach to wellness.   Just write me or comment below!   [/pullquote]Take a look at my website, and I’d also love to talk to you on the phone or skype and see how these amazing products can transform your life like they have mine!  I’ve started a page on Facebook called Fueled for Life, and this is about my journey, or your journey if you want to be included.  I’ll put nutritional info on there, product information and recipes.   I’d love for you to Like my page.

UPDATE 1/16/14  I am pharmaceutical medication free!  I am exercising, taking stairs, riding my bike several miles a week.   I’m living!  I’m so interested to help others know how I have reached this goal.  Contact me and I can tell you more.

This sauce originated in the El Monterrey Restaurant that made the spicy enchilada gravy famous. This was a staple in every cook’s kitchen around Clovis and the Texas Panhandle surrounding areas.

I found this photo on the internet of the now abandoned family restaurant, El Monterrey, which has stood in Clovis, NM since 1934. I thought the only Mexican food in the world came from the El Monterrey and my family kitchens for all of my childhood. Mexican food WAS the El Monterrey.  Please do not confuse the disgusting El Monterey frozen Mexican food for the quality of food that originated in this wonderful place.  Not the same at all.

 So what is all the hype? El Monterrey is a sauce that turns into a rich brown gravy when mixed with water, creating Mexican magic when you dip tortillas into it before rolling into enchiladas. El Monterrey is only available in Clovis now. El Monterrey is unforgettable.

 I remember when my Aunt Cathy moved to Michigan my mother and grandmother would send her cans of El Monterrey during the holidays. It is something that reminds us of our heritage and youth, and something we cannot be without. Even our own family living in Amarillo would stock up when we went to visit my grandparents.  I remember you could buy this in Bovina and Texico too.  If we forgot to get it while in Clovis, we would always make an emergency stop on the way home in one of those two towns.

Sadly as most stories go, the restaurant eventually closed, and the magic El Monterrey sauce disappeared for a while, but was resurrected by one of the sons of the family, and is now available again in vinyl pouches.

You can purchase them online in case and half case quantities.   Pricy but worth it for someone who needs the comfort of this sauce.

During my desperation for El Monterrey, I found an old ad in the Texas Monthly Magazine that has the original recipe for the Enchiladas printed on it.  Click on the Ad to see the original restaurant recipe.

Mama made hers like this only she put refried beans into the ground beef. I didn’t like the raw onions so she sauteed them first in the oil that she put the tortillas in to soften them before rolling out. Otherwise, this is mom’s recipe.  Mama also sometimes covered them in Velveeta instead of cheddar.  I remember daddy shaving off the cheese into squares and her perfectly covering her pan of enchiladas as he sat at the dinner table reading his newspaper while he waited for the feast.  Memories like these are all I have since both of my parents are gone now.   I hope that those of you that grew up in this area are as fond of El Monterrey as everyone was that grew up during this time.

You don’t want to buy a case of the stuff? I have great news!  During the horrifying several-year disappearance of the yellow and blue can from store shelves, someone (mama?) came up with the following recipe for El Monterrey Sauce and after mama passed, I found it in her possessions and massive recipe collection, and although I’ve not tried it since I still have my pouches, for those of you not able to get this enchilada gravy, it would be worth the try.   I have heard back from several people that the Spice Mix recipe is absolutely divine!  Go ahead and try it today!   Recipe below.

Photo Credits:  El Monterrey Restaurant:  C. Massey,   El Monterrey Sauce Package:  tina in PVB @Flickr

El Monterrey loosely translates to “King of the Hill” in Spanish.

I grew up in a family that loved to can and “put up” fruits and vegetables. My mom always had a closet full of different canned items that either her, my grandma or I had made. These were your basic canning recipes, and the most daring would be something that included garlic. My family was from New Mexico, so I grew up with foods a little more spicy than normal.

The food turning point for me was when I bought a book called [amazon_link id=”0060912871″ target=”_blank” ]Better Than Store Bought.[/amazon_link] This book revolutionized my cooking when I was only 19 years old. I became adventuresome in the kitchen. I cooked rabbit, and game, painstaking flaky filo pastries and created condiments full of beautiful earthy fragrant spices.  The more layered and complex the spices, the better!

I have long been fascinated by condiments and once I began traveling and seeing the various condiments, spices and sauces of other cultures, I was totally addicted. My current love and I don’t ever see that changing is Chutney. I no longer even make cranberry sauce for Thanksgiving, substituting it for a really wonderful spicy Cranberry Tangerine Chutney.  This year I threw blackberries into my Chutney for good measure, and because I could, and because I like to ride the edge of the unknown in the kitchen.

To understand fully what Chutney is and where its origins lie, I thought I would teach a bit about why I love Chutney and how versatile it really is!

Originating in India, chutney was imported from India to Western Europe in the 17th century. European reproductions of chutney were often called “mangoed” fruits and vegetables, as one of the most common fruits used in the making of chutney is the mango. The word chutney is derived from the East Indian word Chatni. The Hindi word for “to crush” literally means “to make chutney.” This signifies the process by which chutney is made; often the ingredients are crushed together with a stone.

Like jams and jellies, chutney can be chunky or smooth. In India, spicy chutney is usually served with curry and often with cold meats and vegetables. Sweet chutney is a pleasant addition to bread or crackers and cheese, and can serve as a snack or small meal.

Some of the more popular ingredients for chutney, in addition to mangoes, are limes, apples, peaches, plums, apricots, tomatoes, lemons and even coconuts. Additional spices may include cloves, garlic, cilantro, mustard, cinnamon, ginger, cayenne pepper, jalapenos, tamarind and mint. Chutney is so diverse that it can be made with only a few of these ingredients or several, to make a variety of flavors and styles.

Chutney is usually eaten fresh in its native India, but as chutney has been westernized, like many things, it is mass-produced and can be bought in nearly any supermarket in the western world. In the United States and Britain, offering chutney as a condiment is becoming nearly as popular as jam, relish and even ketchup.

Serving Chutney: Can be served at a formal dinner as a condiment for a fancy meal with meats, or at a casual picnic with tortilla chips or crackers. A favorite at parties is to pour it over 8 oz of softened cream cheese and used as a “dip”. Whatever the occasion, chutney is a tasty, sweet and sour treat that is sure to please.

This year I am again making my beloved Chutney and I tried a few new ones too!  Yesterday in the quiet of my house, with no little voices filling the air, I canned. It was heaven. The vinegary-sweet-tart-spicy-hot-chunky-fruity, completely complex and addictive condiment simmered slowly, and fragrantly on my stove. Did I say it was heaven?   I could almost hear the angels singing the Hallelujah Chorus.

My kitchen is my element. I am happiest in my kitchen, or when I’m being creative, I’ve always overextended myself creatively, but in such a great and fun way!  I love to give these type condiments as presents, although I find sometimes the Southern palate is a little unsophisticated.

The below photos illustrate how the chutney changes over the hours it simmers to the final product.

Up early today!   We have lots to do!  If any of you are pepper or chili aficionados then you might be a bit envious.   We are in West Texas, and every year we get to enjoy the Hatch Chili Roast at stores here in Amarillo.  Yesterday I took my girls and we watched and with delight, and took in the delicious perfume and the sights and sounds of the annual chili roasting.  This is really a sensory experience!  I took some photos which I will post up a bit later.   We don’t have a big festival here.   Just a giant roaster, outside our market, and a lot of good fun meeting new folks and talking up chili. We bought hot chilies, as opposed to sweet, as a good girl born in New Mexico should.  There are no other peppers in   the world like these.  Our family would not be able to live without our chilies.   They have always been a part of my families New Mexico heritage.

Today we are packing roasted New Mexico Hatch Chilies for the freezer.  My house smelled really nice with that yesterday!

Next we have ORDERS ORDERS ORDERS!!  Our little home studio business, Kaleidoscents, takes off in the Fall and Winter  We have some local orders, some that will be shipped and a huge Wedding order for Bug Off!  The wedding order is for a bride in Houston that is having an outdoor reception.   She will have bottles of the Bug-Off! blend on the tables for her guests, so they don’t go running away with mosquitoes ruin her wedding.  West Nile Virus has dug it’s heels in Texas this year.   We are very concerned because our Winters have been so mild.  This affects our pets too.   Please take a look at our Bug-Off! blend.   I’ve taken it to Africa with me and tested it on the most difficult mosquito biting field in the world.  No bites!

The time is 4:33 am and it is time for me to get the wax heated, the chilies separated and the coffee brewing!

Much of the work I’m doing right now is confidential so I cannot put it out there on my blog so I’ll talk about the things that touch me, and drive me to be here.

When we leave in the morning, we are beginning the day afresh.   Yesterday’s worries usually have been managed.   We know we will spend much time either on the road or waiting in offices for answers, papers, reports or to have the scheduled appointment that is 3 hours later and is interrupted numerous times.  Such is life here.  If we have to go to a court, oh mercy!  We may be there all day long.

Then getting ready for bed or getting ready for work without power is a challenge.   You just never rest until you are showered and everything is done for the night or morning.  Then once everything is accomplished, you rest and the power probably goes out anyway.  Flashlight is only partially useful, a candle is much better.  When the power is on I’m charging everything.

All along the highway there are the older women meeting in the early morning.   They are gossiping to one another.   It is quite cute and animated.   They are talking about their neighbors, community, or what ever is the scandal of the village at that time.  They are usually all dressed up when they come to the highway to talk.

There are varied fruit and vegetable stands, and the Matutus’s stop there and then out of nowhere come the “Chicken on a Stick Guys!”   They have more chicken speared and fanned out than you can well…shake a stick at!   They are all in competition for your shillings.   They are saying, “buy mine” and believe me they shove it in the window at you if you even roll down a couple of inches.  Those guys can run so fast and multiply before your eyes!  I’ve posted the pic so you can experience it from the inside of the car with me.

There are mango ladies, and banana ladies, and onion and tomato ladies too.  You feel almost guilty picking one over the other.  These stands are a great source of beautiful produce, and generate income for many families.

I will continue this post in another entry.   Our power just ceased to be.

So I will start with the 3rd day in Uganda and I’ll go from there and post backdating.  So you will have to back up a bit eventually if you want to read what happened!

We got up at the earliest hour ever, 4:30am. We were leaving at 5:45 to head to Kampala. I got no sleep at all, only 3 hours.  I am still jet lagged and a scary thing happened. My bed at the guest house has a square frame suspended from the ceiling.  The mosquito net hangs down to the bed from this frame.  I must have rolled over on the net or something.   Some time about 1:00am I turned in bed and the frame closest to the wall fell. It is up high enough it didn’t hit me but I had a huge scare! I then couldn’t figure out what had happened and I was a sight trying to find my way out of the netting. Adrenallin pumping, I managed finally after hitting my head hard three times on the wooden frame, (temple bruise) to escape. We had to leave before I could get anyone to help me rehang it. I’ll post a photo of my bed and mosquito net frame later so you can truly understand.

We left out of my guest house without breakfast because it was too early. It is amazing how early Ugandans get up to walk miles to work. All up and down the roads, they were dressed for work walking.  Truly dedication, yet a very dangerous place in the pitch dark walking.   Drivers have to really be aware.

Right inside of Kampala, we saw the Pancake Man! This is Uganda’s equivalent of the ice-cream man.   What a joyous sight. Farouk, Christine and I felt like children as we attempted to stop abruptly pulling over and avoiding cars. We didn’t know if we would get any time to eat, so this was our golden opportunity! I realized I’ve never blogged about Ugandan Pancakes before.  I don’t know how I’ve missed this!

Emirates gives anyone with a forced overnight connection, a hotel and meal vouchers. I was put up at a gorgeous hotel, given three free meal and drink vouchers. I had free shuttle to and from the airport.  The food vouchers were for the most delicious food buffet with beef sumac, flat bread, lamb, and some great salads and desserts.   Of course, if you have never eaten hummus in the Middle East, you just haven’t lived.

Dubai is a place I would have loved to see for a longer period of time. I was tired so I just tried to sleep as much as I could.

The Dubai airport was efficient, modern and uncomplicated, I found out the next morning with bags in tow. Everyone spoke English. I just may have a new favorite airport! Easy to figure out where to go and what to do. I simply could not have asked for a better experience.

Arriving in Uganda was pretty wonderful too. They have streamlined their visa line a bit, and it was easy to get through, pay the money, make a comment about the weather and I’m through!

Bags arrived in 30 minutes and both were there!

My dear Farouk hid from me at the airport. He will pay for that later! All in all, a most excellent first two travel days. My only regret, not having a good fun traveling partner on the way to Uganda!! Maybe next trip!