monday’s mexican nite! November 5, 2007

hola!!

most monday nights, we have mexican fare for supper.  usually its tacos or taco salad, cause i’m not daring enough to try to make chimichangas, which is hubby’s fave. hehe. 

in the last few years, i’ve pretty much eliminated any pre-packed form of food in the house unless its a whole food or organic (the organic is important to me because i know there’s no harmful preservatives and i can pronounce all the ingredients!).  so, one of the things i DONT use anymore, is store-bought taco seasoning.  its actually really easy to make at home!

now i’m not claiming to be the next food network star, here   im not well-versed in authentic cuisine and spices or anything. hehe!  i just look around online for recipes to replace things i discontinue to use, and then adapt it to make it my own.  its fun! 

here’s a quick recipe for seasoning for 1 pound of ground meat.  (if you make it in bulk, a little more than 3T is about what you need for 1 pound, at least to start with.)  its my basic recipe–but sometimes i add more of some of the ingredients if im in the mood for a diff taste! 

oh, and its not super spicy, so just play around with it til you get the taste you want.  this is just a starting point! of course there are plenty of other spices you could add as well. 

and if ya dont like mine, i still encourage you to replace what you currently use with something homemade.  its one simple step toward a healthier diet   i just dont know why i never thought of making this on my own before.  its easy and MUCH healthier than pre-made.  NO MSGS!!

Taco Meat Seasoning

Combine all ingredients and add to browned ground meat along with 2/3-3/4 cup water.  Bring to a boil then simmer until desired consistency, stirring often.

• 1T chili powder
• 2t onion powder
• 1t ground cumin
• 1t garlic powder
• 1t paprika
• 1t sugar
• few dashes cayenne
• 1/2t corn starch

another way i’ve spiced up meat for our mexi-meals is using a recipe for red enchilada sauce i got out of Nourishing Traditions.  it’s made with dried Ancho chiles and tons of other supernummiful fresh stuff.  it’s something you make a batch of, and then freeze it in cupfuls, and use one of the cups per pound of ground meat.  its DELISH and VERY healthy!! 

anyhoo…then i take soft corn tortillas and lay them lightly in a pan with a touch of olive oil, flip it over, spoon in some meat and fold it in half and brown both sides so its crunchy.  YUMMY!!  hmmm…i guess if i can do all that, i could probably make a chimi, too!  guess i’ll have to try that next time   

of course then top them with your fave stuff–sour cream, green onions or pico de gallo, monterrey jack, guac, lettuce, salsa!

speaking of, time to get it started!  have a great monday night

buenas noches!

~josey~

monday’s mexican nite! November 5, 2007

hola!!

most monday nights, we have mexican fare for supper.  usually its tacos or taco salad, cause i’m not daring enough to try to make chimichangas, which is hubby’s fave. hehe. 

in the last few years, i’ve pretty much eliminated any pre-packed form of food in the house unless its a whole food or organic (the organic is important to me because i know there’s no harmful preservatives and i can pronounce all the ingredients!).  so, one of the things i DONT use anymore, is store-bought taco seasoning.  its actually really easy to make at home!

now i’m not claiming to be the next food network star, here   im not well-versed in authentic cuisine and spices or anything. hehe!  i just look around online for recipes to replace things i discontinue to use, and then adapt it to make it my own.  its fun! 

here’s a quick recipe for seasoning for 1 pound of ground meat.  (if you make it in bulk, a little more than 3T is about what you need for 1 pound, at least to start with.)  its my basic recipe–but sometimes i add more of some of the ingredients if im in the mood for a diff taste! 

oh, and its not super spicy, so just play around with it til you get the taste you want.  this is just a starting point! of course there are plenty of other spices you could add as well. 

and if ya dont like mine, i still encourage you to replace what you currently use with something homemade.  its one simple step toward a healthier diet   i just dont know why i never thought of making this on my own before.  its easy and MUCH healthier than pre-made.  NO MSGS!!

Taco Meat Seasoning

Combine all ingredients and add to browned ground meat along with 2/3-3/4 cup water.  Bring to a boil then simmer until desired consistency, stirring often.

• 1T chili powder
• 2t onion powder
• 1t ground cumin
• 1t garlic powder
• 1t paprika
• 1t sugar
• few dashes cayenne
• 1/2t corn starch

another way i’ve spiced up meat for our mexi-meals is using a recipe for red enchilada sauce i got out of Nourishing Traditions.  it’s made with dried Ancho chiles and tons of other supernummiful fresh stuff.  it’s something you make a batch of, and then freeze it in cupfuls, and use one of the cups per pound of ground meat.  its DELISH and VERY healthy!! 

anyhoo…then i take soft corn tortillas and lay them lightly in a pan with a touch of olive oil, flip it over, spoon in some meat and fold it in half and brown both sides so its crunchy.  YUMMY!!  hmmm…i guess if i can do all that, i could probably make a chimi, too!  guess i’ll have to try that next time   

of course then top them with your fave stuff–sour cream, green onions or pico de gallo, monterrey jack, guac, lettuce, salsa!

speaking of, time to get it started!  have a great monday night

buenas noches!

~josey~

monday’s mexican nite! November 5, 2007

hola!!

most monday nights, we have mexican fare for supper.  usually its tacos or taco salad, cause i’m not daring enough to try to make chimichangas, which is hubby’s fave. hehe. 

in the last few years, i’ve pretty much eliminated any pre-packed form of food in the house unless its a whole food or organic (the organic is important to me because i know there’s no harmful preservatives and i can pronounce all the ingredients!).  so, one of the things i DONT use anymore, is store-bought taco seasoning.  its actually really easy to make at home!

now i’m not claiming to be the next food network star, here   im not well-versed in authentic cuisine and spices or anything. hehe!  i just look around online for recipes to replace things i discontinue to use, and then adapt it to make it my own.  its fun! 

here’s a quick recipe for seasoning for 1 pound of ground meat.  (if you make it in bulk, a little more than 3T is about what you need for 1 pound, at least to start with.)  its my basic recipe–but sometimes i add more of some of the ingredients if im in the mood for a diff taste! 

oh, and its not super spicy, so just play around with it til you get the taste you want.  this is just a starting point! of course there are plenty of other spices you could add as well. 

and if ya dont like mine, i still encourage you to replace what you currently use with something homemade.  its one simple step toward a healthier diet   i just dont know why i never thought of making this on my own before.  its easy and MUCH healthier than pre-made.  NO MSGS!!

Taco Meat Seasoning

Combine all ingredients and add to browned ground meat along with 2/3-3/4 cup water.  Bring to a boil then simmer until desired consistency, stirring often.

• 1T chili powder
• 2t onion powder
• 1t ground cumin
• 1t garlic powder
• 1t paprika
• 1t sugar
• few dashes cayenne
• 1/2t corn starch

another way i’ve spiced up meat for our mexi-meals is using a recipe for red enchilada sauce i got out of Nourishing Traditions.  it’s made with dried Ancho chiles and tons of other supernummiful fresh stuff.  it’s something you make a batch of, and then freeze it in cupfuls, and use one of the cups per pound of ground meat.  its DELISH and VERY healthy!! 

anyhoo…then i take soft corn tortillas and lay them lightly in a pan with a touch of olive oil, flip it over, spoon in some meat and fold it in half and brown both sides so its crunchy.  YUMMY!!  hmmm…i guess if i can do all that, i could probably make a chimi, too!  guess i’ll have to try that next time   

of course then top them with your fave stuff–sour cream, green onions or pico de gallo, monterrey jack, guac, lettuce, salsa!

speaking of, time to get it started!  have a great monday night

buenas noches!

~josey~

i’m a coco-nut! July 24, 2007

hahaha! (this is my cat cali, AKA “coco”-lander…derived from cali-CO…how original! haha!!)

okay, so i am a big fan of my cat cali coco-lander, but that’s not what this post is about! hehe!! i wanted to drop ya’ll a line and let you know the book i am currently reading– “Eat Fat Lose Fat” by Dr. Mary Enig and Sally Fallon. its mostly about how using coconut and coconut oil (not cali “cocos” heheh…altho pets do help keep us healthy, but that’s another blog topic! pardon the mid-sentence tangent! but hey, you’re used to it…hehe!) can help you get healthier–lose weight, recover from illness, etc… well, im not one to fall for fad stuff or things that seem to good to be true, and i was skeptical when my hubby decided to check this book out from the library, especially when i saw the cover of the book said something about “coconut diets!” :-O

so let’s back up a bit. as i have progressed along my journey to better health and have become more educated about current studies and opinions on food and nutrients, i have really changed my own view about FATS in general.

i mean come on, when you’re fat, it seems like fat is the last thing you should be eating, right?? WRONG!

for the last year or so, i’ve been focusing on eating more healthy fats and trying (let me stress TRYING *lol*) to get away from eating those addicting trans fats. olive oil, nuts, eggs, fish/cod liver oil, primrose oil, flax oil (usually ground seeds, not the actual oil–its too unstable and goes rancid quickly), coconut oil–those are all ones i consume on a pretty normal basis.

i have NOT gained weight from it, having even up to 40 or 45% of my calories coming from these fats on some days. i have noticed clearer skin (coconut oil is now my ONLY moisturizer for my face and body), softer hair and my dry skin is gone. woohoo!

and it goes WAY further than the weight issue or outward stuff. because of the low-fat craze of the 80’s, most of us dont have a clue that healthy fats are not our enemies. sure, people lose weight going the low-fat route cause they are consuming hundreds of calories less.

however, they’re also robbing themselves of nutrients, and in addition losing out on many other nutrients they are taking in from their salads and slim-fast bars because our body needs fats to use many of the vitamins in minerals in our foods.

(fyi–any salad you have should contain at least 8g of fat so those greens are actually worth eating!! LOL so if you MUST have low-fat or fat-free dressing, throw some walnuts and pumpkin seeds on that salad!)

we need fat to make hormones, lower stress (hormone related!), have energy, feel full, aid digestion, and heck, we need fat to BE HAPPY! everyone who’s gone on a fat-free diet knows that!

anyhoo…back to coconut oil! we have actually been using coconut oil off and on for a few years in our smoothies and to cook with. its solid at room temp–yep, its a saturated fat! now, dont freak out! here’s some of the great things about coconut oil:

• its VERY stable (takes a LONG time to go rancid/slow oxidation) and has a high smoke point, which makes it great for cooking/frying at low/med temps

• the saturated fats in coconut oil are medium-chain–which means our bodies use it differently than normal saturated fats (for example, butter). it is metabolized more quickly, which is why it also helps boost your metabolism! in addition, it’s not converted into cholesterol like animal-based saturated fats are in excess.

• it’s rich in lauric acid, which is anti-viral, antibacterial and anti-fungal! this has given coconut oil a good name in the treatment of many diseases and also prevention. (it even helps clear up acne and get rid of warts!! i speak from personal experience!)

• and most of all, it enhances and supports our immune system with the nutrients it contains! (and boosting your immune system will solve many-a-physical ailment, as i have personally experienced in the last few months!)

so, ya think my list is boring and bookish? check out this site for an interesting and humorous read on the benefits of coconut oil! (side note on this link: at the end she mentions Tropical Traditions Virgin Coconut Oil. that’s what i use!)

so ta kinda summarize my point of this post…it will take me a few more days to finish this book, but i can tell it is going to be a great source of information on getting healthier in general, and i am starting to see how adding a little more coconut oil (and a LOT less trans fats) will really help me with my recovery from endometriosis.

(i love to read all sorts of health books–even if they are somewhat one-sided–so i can take out of it what i feel applies to me and just add it to my opinions and use it!! anyhoo…hehe…)

i need to lose weight, which will help my body get rid of all that extra estrogen being stored in all my excess body fat! coconut oil will help boost my metabolism and help me feel satiated so i dont crave junk. and this means i will want less fast-food-evil-trans-fatty crapola, which will indirectly help my immune system function properly!

and with my immune system purring like a kitten, my poor adrenals can normalize and my anxiety will lessen even more.

oh and one other thing, the book reallly loves cod liver oil, especially when taken with the coconut oil because the nutrients in each help the body use the other. i take cod liver oil every day and it has greatly reduced my anxiety, among countless other benefits! (the best brand IMHO–Carlson’s!)

one last thing! the other day i was reading thru the website of one of my fave places to get skin care (every once in a while, for a special treat!). and found an interesting concoction i am going to try starting tomorrow! it’s called “morning brew.” here’s the recipe (also in the link):

• 2 tea bags of organic white tea

• 1 T cold pressed organic virgin coconut oil

• 1 T organic unsulphered black strap molasses

• 1 T organic raw honey

• 1 T organic unfiltered apple cider vinegar

however, im going to use fresh lemon juice instead of the apple cider vinegar (personal preference lol). since im not having smoothies much these days, i thought this might be an easy way to get some coconut oil while i have my tea every morning. plus, i’ve read lots of good things about blackstrap molasses in helping women with reproductive issues by providing extra iron, calcium, potassium and magnesium! all stuff i need!! i’ll let you know how i like it haha!

there’s so much info out there about why we need fat to be healthy, so if my blabblings intrigue you, PLEASE go out and do some of your own research and see what works for you! you will be healthier for it!!

and remember, even for the most healthy of foods, MODERATION is the key. getting a great variety of whole foods (AND FATS!) will give your body a chance to heal itself of all of what we consider “normal aches and pains,” function at peak performance, and live longer more fulfilling lives!! and that’s what we all want, right?

~josey~

i’m a coco-nut! July 24, 2007

hahaha! (this is my cat cali, AKA “coco”-lander…derived from cali-CO…how original! haha!!)

okay, so i am a big fan of my cat cali coco-lander, but that’s not what this post is about! hehe!! i wanted to drop ya’ll a line and let you know the book i am currently reading– “Eat Fat Lose Fat” by Dr. Mary Enig and Sally Fallon. its mostly about how using coconut and coconut oil (not cali “cocos” heheh…altho pets do help keep us healthy, but that’s another blog topic! pardon the mid-sentence tangent! but hey, you’re used to it…hehe!) can help you get healthier–lose weight, recover from illness, etc… well, im not one to fall for fad stuff or things that seem to good to be true, and i was skeptical when my hubby decided to check this book out from the library, especially when i saw the cover of the book said something about “coconut diets!” :-O

so let’s back up a bit. as i have progressed along my journey to better health and have become more educated about current studies and opinions on food and nutrients, i have really changed my own view about FATS in general.

i mean come on, when you’re fat, it seems like fat is the last thing you should be eating, right?? WRONG!

for the last year or so, i’ve been focusing on eating more healthy fats and trying (let me stress TRYING *lol*) to get away from eating those addicting trans fats. olive oil, nuts, eggs, fish/cod liver oil, primrose oil, flax oil (usually ground seeds, not the actual oil–its too unstable and goes rancid quickly), coconut oil–those are all ones i consume on a pretty normal basis.

i have NOT gained weight from it, having even up to 40 or 45% of my calories coming from these fats on some days. i have noticed clearer skin (coconut oil is now my ONLY moisturizer for my face and body), softer hair and my dry skin is gone. woohoo!

and it goes WAY further than the weight issue or outward stuff. because of the low-fat craze of the 80’s, most of us dont have a clue that healthy fats are not our enemies. sure, people lose weight going the low-fat route cause they are consuming hundreds of calories less.

however, they’re also robbing themselves of nutrients, and in addition losing out on many other nutrients they are taking in from their salads and slim-fast bars because our body needs fats to use many of the vitamins in minerals in our foods.

(fyi–any salad you have should contain at least 8g of fat so those greens are actually worth eating!! LOL so if you MUST have low-fat or fat-free dressing, throw some walnuts and pumpkin seeds on that salad!)

we need fat to make hormones, lower stress (hormone related!), have energy, feel full, aid digestion, and heck, we need fat to BE HAPPY! everyone who’s gone on a fat-free diet knows that!

anyhoo…back to coconut oil! we have actually been using coconut oil off and on for a few years in our smoothies and to cook with. its solid at room temp–yep, its a saturated fat! now, dont freak out! here’s some of the great things about coconut oil:

• its VERY stable (takes a LONG time to go rancid/slow oxidation) and has a high smoke point, which makes it great for cooking/frying at low/med temps

• the saturated fats in coconut oil are medium-chain–which means our bodies use it differently than normal saturated fats (for example, butter). it is metabolized more quickly, which is why it also helps boost your metabolism! in addition, it’s not converted into cholesterol like animal-based saturated fats are in excess.

• it’s rich in lauric acid, which is anti-viral, antibacterial and anti-fungal! this has given coconut oil a good name in the treatment of many diseases and also prevention. (it even helps clear up acne and get rid of warts!! i speak from personal experience!)

• and most of all, it enhances and supports our immune system with the nutrients it contains! (and boosting your immune system will solve many-a-physical ailment, as i have personally experienced in the last few months!)

so, ya think my list is boring and bookish? check out this site for an interesting and humorous read on the benefits of coconut oil! (side note on this link: at the end she mentions Tropical Traditions Virgin Coconut Oil. that’s what i use!)

so ta kinda summarize my point of this post…it will take me a few more days to finish this book, but i can tell it is going to be a great source of information on getting healthier in general, and i am starting to see how adding a little more coconut oil (and a LOT less trans fats) will really help me with my recovery from endometriosis.

(i love to read all sorts of health books–even if they are somewhat one-sided–so i can take out of it what i feel applies to me and just add it to my opinions and use it!! anyhoo…hehe…)

i need to lose weight, which will help my body get rid of all that extra estrogen being stored in all my excess body fat! coconut oil will help boost my metabolism and help me feel satiated so i dont crave junk. and this means i will want less fast-food-evil-trans-fatty crapola, which will indirectly help my immune system function properly!

and with my immune system purring like a kitten, my poor adrenals can normalize and my anxiety will lessen even more.

oh and one other thing, the book reallly loves cod liver oil, especially when taken with the coconut oil because the nutrients in each help the body use the other. i take cod liver oil every day and it has greatly reduced my anxiety, among countless other benefits! (the best brand IMHO–Carlson’s!)

one last thing! the other day i was reading thru the website of one of my fave places to get skin care (every once in a while, for a special treat!). and found an interesting concoction i am going to try starting tomorrow! it’s called “morning brew.” here’s the recipe (also in the link):

• 2 tea bags of organic white tea

• 1 T cold pressed organic virgin coconut oil

• 1 T organic unsulphered black strap molasses

• 1 T organic raw honey

• 1 T organic unfiltered apple cider vinegar

however, im going to use fresh lemon juice instead of the apple cider vinegar (personal preference lol). since im not having smoothies much these days, i thought this might be an easy way to get some coconut oil while i have my tea every morning. plus, i’ve read lots of good things about blackstrap molasses in helping women with reproductive issues by providing extra iron, calcium, potassium and magnesium! all stuff i need!! i’ll let you know how i like it haha!

there’s so much info out there about why we need fat to be healthy, so if my blabblings intrigue you, PLEASE go out and do some of your own research and see what works for you! you will be healthier for it!!

and remember, even for the most healthy of foods, MODERATION is the key. getting a great variety of whole foods (AND FATS!) will give your body a chance to heal itself of all of what we consider “normal aches and pains,” function at peak performance, and live longer more fulfilling lives!! and that’s what we all want, right?

~josey~

i’m a coco-nut! July 24, 2007

hahaha! (this is my cat cali, AKA “coco”-lander…derived from cali-CO…how original! haha!!)

okay, so i am a big fan of my cat cali coco-lander, but that’s not what this post is about! hehe!! i wanted to drop ya’ll a line and let you know the book i am currently reading– “Eat Fat Lose Fat” by Dr. Mary Enig and Sally Fallon. its mostly about how using coconut and coconut oil (not cali “cocos” heheh…altho pets do help keep us healthy, but that’s another blog topic! pardon the mid-sentence tangent! but hey, you’re used to it…hehe!) can help you get healthier–lose weight, recover from illness, etc… well, im not one to fall for fad stuff or things that seem to good to be true, and i was skeptical when my hubby decided to check this book out from the library, especially when i saw the cover of the book said something about “coconut diets!” :-O

so let’s back up a bit. as i have progressed along my journey to better health and have become more educated about current studies and opinions on food and nutrients, i have really changed my own view about FATS in general.

i mean come on, when you’re fat, it seems like fat is the last thing you should be eating, right?? WRONG!

for the last year or so, i’ve been focusing on eating more healthy fats and trying (let me stress TRYING *lol*) to get away from eating those addicting trans fats. olive oil, nuts, eggs, fish/cod liver oil, primrose oil, flax oil (usually ground seeds, not the actual oil–its too unstable and goes rancid quickly), coconut oil–those are all ones i consume on a pretty normal basis.

i have NOT gained weight from it, having even up to 40 or 45% of my calories coming from these fats on some days. i have noticed clearer skin (coconut oil is now my ONLY moisturizer for my face and body), softer hair and my dry skin is gone. woohoo!

and it goes WAY further than the weight issue or outward stuff. because of the low-fat craze of the 80’s, most of us dont have a clue that healthy fats are not our enemies. sure, people lose weight going the low-fat route cause they are consuming hundreds of calories less.

however, they’re also robbing themselves of nutrients, and in addition losing out on many other nutrients they are taking in from their salads and slim-fast bars because our body needs fats to use many of the vitamins in minerals in our foods.

(fyi–any salad you have should contain at least 8g of fat so those greens are actually worth eating!! LOL so if you MUST have low-fat or fat-free dressing, throw some walnuts and pumpkin seeds on that salad!)

we need fat to make hormones, lower stress (hormone related!), have energy, feel full, aid digestion, and heck, we need fat to BE HAPPY! everyone who’s gone on a fat-free diet knows that!

anyhoo…back to coconut oil! we have actually been using coconut oil off and on for a few years in our smoothies and to cook with. its solid at room temp–yep, its a saturated fat! now, dont freak out! here’s some of the great things about coconut oil:

• its VERY stable (takes a LONG time to go rancid/slow oxidation) and has a high smoke point, which makes it great for cooking/frying at low/med temps

• the saturated fats in coconut oil are medium-chain–which means our bodies use it differently than normal saturated fats (for example, butter). it is metabolized more quickly, which is why it also helps boost your metabolism! in addition, it’s not converted into cholesterol like animal-based saturated fats are in excess.

• it’s rich in lauric acid, which is anti-viral, antibacterial and anti-fungal! this has given coconut oil a good name in the treatment of many diseases and also prevention. (it even helps clear up acne and get rid of warts!! i speak from personal experience!)

• and most of all, it enhances and supports our immune system with the nutrients it contains! (and boosting your immune system will solve many-a-physical ailment, as i have personally experienced in the last few months!)

so, ya think my list is boring and bookish? check out this site for an interesting and humorous read on the benefits of coconut oil! (side note on this link: at the end she mentions Tropical Traditions Virgin Coconut Oil. that’s what i use!)

so ta kinda summarize my point of this post…it will take me a few more days to finish this book, but i can tell it is going to be a great source of information on getting healthier in general, and i am starting to see how adding a little more coconut oil (and a LOT less trans fats) will really help me with my recovery from endometriosis.

(i love to read all sorts of health books–even if they are somewhat one-sided–so i can take out of it what i feel applies to me and just add it to my opinions and use it!! anyhoo…hehe…)

i need to lose weight, which will help my body get rid of all that extra estrogen being stored in all my excess body fat! coconut oil will help boost my metabolism and help me feel satiated so i dont crave junk. and this means i will want less fast-food-evil-trans-fatty crapola, which will indirectly help my immune system function properly!

and with my immune system purring like a kitten, my poor adrenals can normalize and my anxiety will lessen even more.

oh and one other thing, the book reallly loves cod liver oil, especially when taken with the coconut oil because the nutrients in each help the body use the other. i take cod liver oil every day and it has greatly reduced my anxiety, among countless other benefits! (the best brand IMHO–Carlson’s!)

one last thing! the other day i was reading thru the website of one of my fave places to get skin care (every once in a while, for a special treat!). and found an interesting concoction i am going to try starting tomorrow! it’s called “morning brew.” here’s the recipe (also in the link):

• 2 tea bags of organic white tea

• 1 T cold pressed organic virgin coconut oil

• 1 T organic unsulphered black strap molasses

• 1 T organic raw honey

• 1 T organic unfiltered apple cider vinegar

however, im going to use fresh lemon juice instead of the apple cider vinegar (personal preference lol). since im not having smoothies much these days, i thought this might be an easy way to get some coconut oil while i have my tea every morning. plus, i’ve read lots of good things about blackstrap molasses in helping women with reproductive issues by providing extra iron, calcium, potassium and magnesium! all stuff i need!! i’ll let you know how i like it haha!

there’s so much info out there about why we need fat to be healthy, so if my blabblings intrigue you, PLEASE go out and do some of your own research and see what works for you! you will be healthier for it!!

and remember, even for the most healthy of foods, MODERATION is the key. getting a great variety of whole foods (AND FATS!) will give your body a chance to heal itself of all of what we consider “normal aches and pains,” function at peak performance, and live longer more fulfilling lives!! and that’s what we all want, right?

~josey~

almost…there…! July 23, 2007

hay, happy monday =)

gosh, can you believe summer is half over??? it has flown by!! i sat here eating my brekky (which btw was oatmeal w/blueberries, walnuts, ground flax, cinnamon and a touch of real maple syrup! ), thinking how many months this year my goal was to get to “one”derland…below 200lb…and hmmm, i think it was probably the last 4 months. LOL!!!

i have been sooooo close, just hovering around 205 and im positive my body is saying, “are you kidding?? if you get me under 200 that means i have to lose more!!”

well, somehow by the grace of the Almighty, my scale said 204.2 this morning!! that is the official lowest weigh-in of the year! WOOT i keep telling myself if i just stick to eating all those nummy fruits, veggies, homemade bread, nuts, good fats, eggs and a little meat i should EASILY meet that goal this month.

but i dont wanna get my hopes up *teehee* so, im just gonna keep on truckin and if i dont quite make it for july, i will just give myself an AWESOME bday gift by reaching the goal for my bday at the end of august!! hehe!!

by the way, i never told you how my bread turned out a while back! well, since it is not 100% “wheat,” there’s less gluten to give it that airy texture like store-bought bread, but honestly i LOVE dense bread as long as it is chewy and not dry.

i have been using oatmeal, oat bran, and whole spelt flour. spelt is what they call an “ancient” grain–it is the ancestor of modern wheats. so, its essentially wheat in its most primitive and best form it has a slightly nutty flavor as compared to wheat, plus it is more nutritious! its a great source of B vitamins, fiber and protein, and even those who are sensitive to gluten may be able to have it as a wheat substitute.

dont worry tho, if you wanna try it it is easily available! to me, its not really one of those hippy trendy health foods like so many are…its something that’s been around for thousands of years. but of course, all us over here in the West take a while to catch onto these things hehe!

anyhoo, i have made 2 batches of the bread so far (it makes 3 loaves!) and the second was better than the first…so hopefully it keeps getting better! each time you make it, you remove a chunk of it to add to the next batch, so the flavor and texture is supposed to improve over time. i think i may add a little more yeast to this next batch, to help it rise a little more and reduce the density just a tad bit.

my hubby likes it, and i do, too, and it does make great little sandwiches and toast. so, i’ll keep on making it! it freezes great as well! if you are feeling adventurous and need a good upper body workout here’s the link to the recipe! (the only difference is that i substituted the whole spelt flour for the bread flour.)

wellllll, i should get going!! we have a lot going on at our house in a few weeks–LOTS of visitors!!–and i have oodles of projects and a list of to-do’s that need to be tackled. have an awesome day and enjoy some sunshine!!

~josey~

more food blabblings ;) July 12, 2007

yep, im back again already =)

welp, i woke up today feeling all cry-y.

yep, another hormonal fluctuation of some sort! i wont go on and on about it, but thankfully i have a sweet and understanding hubby who doesnt make me feel even worse on days like today! he is just his calm, comforting self and doesnt say or do much extra, except the little things (which ARE the most important!) like extra hugs and checking in on me…

…and im finding that’s the best thing for me. it keeps me from feeling like i deserve “super special” treatment all the time, which would probably promote childish whiny behavior if i know myself! hehe! instead it just leaves a neutral aura for me to deal with my fluctuations and by the advice of my naturopath, i am just going to lay low for the day. she told me a while back that if i can, just stay home or do whatever i need to to ride it out…take it for what it is and dont worry about tomorrow and how i’ll feel, because most likely i’ll feel fine.

so, even tho i wanted to eat junk today for brekky, i was very good and just finished two eggs over veggie-stock sauteed kale, shiitakes, and garlic. i know, you’re saying YUCK! well, i’ll tell ya, its actually pretty dang good (believe me tho, it took me a LONG time–like a few years!– to get to this point of eating these kinds of things!!) i got the idea from my World’s Healthiest Foods book and it only takes about 10 minutes to make.

i have never been much of a mushroom girl, especially fresh ones, but cooked this way they really blend in with the texture of the egg so they dont bother me. they are actually kinda cute *hehe* and they are soo good for your immunity as is the garlic!!

i prefer sauteed swiss chard or spinach, but i had some kale i needed to get rid of so i used that instead. its a great way to get a couple servings of veggies out of the way–a few cups of raw greens cooks down to almost nothing! and the best thing of all is that the method of cooking these foods as shown in the WHF book preserves the nutrients and in fact, boosts them in some ways depending on the food.

and i had some fresh, organic LOCAL strawberries to wash it all down. *drool* i’ve read eating fruit at the end of your meal really aids in digestion from the fiber and all the enzymes fruit contains. AND for me…it prevents the bad-for-me carb/sweet craving i sometimes have after meals! WOOT!

another thing the WHF book suggests is having green tea w/lemon before your meals. its a great punch of antioxidants and the lemon makes it a potent detox as well. i have been having it almost every day for about 3 weeks now, and i have to say im quite enjoying it

normally i drink Numi brand organic gunpowder green tea, but it is a little pricey to drink 2-3 times a day (esp if hubby is drinking it, too!)…so, i found a diff kind at WalMart called Uncle Lee’s Organic Green Tea for only $2-something for 40 tea bags. that’s really good! i was worried about the taste quality, but so far its great! i just make sure to boil the water and steep for 3.5-4 min MAX. turns out great every time

oh, and i always use FRESH organic lemons (nothing bottled), and just squeeze about a tsp in to the cup. very good, very healthy!

okee well i think im headed out to the garden for some outdoor/vit D therapy i have a cherry tomato plant that is out of control! its almost 5ft high and about 4ft wide. i have it on a mini-trellis, but its getting so big its blocking sun for my cukes and pole beans *hehe* have a great morning and let me know how you like the breakfast if you try it!

ttfn!!

~jos~