Posted in In The Kitchen

Our family has recently taken a fancy to the show Good Eats, with Alton Brown, which airs on the Food Network. We recently found out Alton is a born-again christian, so it makes watching the show that much more meaningful knowing we don't have to worry about the content with the kiddos.  Since we have DVR, we can go about our busy schedule while the show is being recorded, and then watch it when time permits. Not only is the show highly educational, but also quite funny with its quirky visual props and movie trickery. 

"Brown explores the science and technique behind the cooking, the history of different foods, and the advantages of different kinds of cooking equipment. The show tends to focus on familiar dishes that can easily be made at home, and also features segments on choosing the right appliances, and getting the most out of inexpensive, multi-purpose tools. Each episode of Good Eats has a distinct theme, which is typically an ingredient or a certain cooking technique, but may also be a more general theme such as Thanksgiving, or "man food."
~ This info from Wikipedia

Alton recently aired a show called  "Power Trip" which focused on healthy treats for our families, including homemade power and granola bars. We thought we would post the recipe in case your family is interested in making these nutritional treats.  Hubby and DD are hoping to make them this weekend:

4 ounces soy protein powder, approximately 1 cup
2 1/4 ounces oat bran, approximately 1/2 cup
2 3/4 ounces whole-wheat flour, approximately 1/2 cup
3/4-ounce wheat germ, approximately 1/4 cup
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
3 ounces raisins, approximately 1/2 cup
2 1/2 ounces dried cherries, approximately 1/2 cup
3 ounces dried blueberries, approximately 1/2 cup
2 1/2 ounces dried apricots, approximately 1/2 cup
1 (12.3-ounce) package soft silken tofu
1/2 cup unfiltered apple juice
4 ounces dark brown sugar, approximately 1/2 cup packed
2 large whole eggs, beaten
2/3 cup natural peanut butter
Canola oil, for pan

Line the bottom of a 13 by 9-inch glass baking dish with parchment paper and lightly coat with canola oil. Set aside. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. In a large mixing bowl, combine the protein powder, oat bran, wheat flour, wheat germ, and salt. Set aside. Coarsely chop the raisins, dried cherries, blueberries and apricots and place in a small bowl and set aside.

In a third mixing bowl, whisk the tofu until smooth. Add the apple juice, brown sugar, eggs, and peanut butter, 1 at a time, and whisk to combine after each addition. Add this to the protein powder mixture and stir well to combine. Fold in the dried fruit. Spread evenly in the prepared baking dish and bake in the oven for 35 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 205 degrees F. Remove from the oven and cool completely before cutting into squares. Cut into squares and store in an airtight container for up to a week.

More recipes from this show can be found at The Food Network 

Enjoy :-)

 

Posted in In The Kitchen

Breakfast

Nature's Path Millet Rice Oatbran Flakes Cereal
(low sodium, wheat free, high fiber)

1 c. unsweetened soy milk

1 1/2 c. cereal
Nature's Path website: http://www.naturespath.com/

 

hot mango herbal tea to drink

 

Snack = 1 c. banana cream yogurt

 

Lunch

Amy's Lentil Soup

(the soup was so hearty I didn't need anything else to eat with it.)

 

Snack = didn't have one after lunch today :-(

 

Dinner

Amy's Organic Roasted Veggie Pizza

No cheese,topped with organic marinated shiitake mushrooms,
roasted red peppers, onions, artichoke hearts.

(non-dairy; no cholesterol)

Amy's website: http://www.amys.com/index.php

 

Dessert = mixed fruit w/ yogurt

 

Feeling:  Full and satisfied but wasn't in the mood to cook, shop, slice or dice today.Thank goodness I bought the Amy's freezer items so I  could relax a little from cooking.

 

Spiritual Encouragement: God's Word, and  I reviewed some poems I wrote a few years ago when I was going through a challenging time. They really ministered to me today.

Posted in In The Kitchen

I will be writing about my first week of living Organic, and will post the foods I eat as an accountability to myself, and for others to get ideas of foods/recipes that will satisfy your hunger and feed your body with the nutrients it needs.

 

Breakfast

2 cups hot mango herbal tea

Luna Protein Bar

 

Snack

1 c. strawberry/banana yogurt

 

Lunch

Amy's Kitchen (organic freezer meal) ~ Indian Mattar Paneer

Organic peas and cheese in a spiced sauce

carrots, onions and cumin w/basmati rice

(this meal was gluten & soy free) ~ and very yummy!

Amy's website: http://www.amys.com/index.php

 

Snack

handful of mixed nuts and seeds

 

Dinner

Organic Goulash (leftovers) w/Side Salad

rotini rice noodles (wheat, gluten and casein free)

lean ground beef (hormone, antibiotic and preservative free)

tomato sauce

1 c. onions

1 c. tomato's

1 clove garlic

salad = 1 cup greens, 1/4 c. julienne carrots, 1/4 c. tomato's,

1/4 c. broccoli, 1tbsp. fresh romano cheese & 1 tbsp. salad dressing

 

Dessert

sliced fruit with lowfat whipped cream

 

Supplements = 1 tbsp. flax oil (keep in fridge); multivitamin; extra vitamin C (because I have been sick with a sinus infection)

 

Feeling = full, satisfied and didn't have a sugar-fatigue meltdown today.

 

Focus = same as yesterday: the five essentials to my day (5 fruits and veggies, wholegrains, lean protein, complex carbs and calcium).  By having a snack in between meals it keeps my blood sugar stable and balanced. Also am drinking lots of water (atleast 8 glasses a day)

 

Spiritual Encouragement: meditating on the word of God and remembering the word that Marsha Burns gave yesterday, that in short says to take time and rest, and be restored physically and spiritually

 

To see what we ate on day 1 please go HERE

 

Posted in In The Kitchen

Titus2woman mentioned the expense of eating organic, and I agree 100% that organic foods are highly overpriced.  For now, we are taking it one day at a time and really paying close attention to the grocery stores that are carrying low cost organic foods.  The nice part about living in Minnesota is the Rainbow grocery stores are starting to carry affordable organic foods.  I was really surprised at the variety of items they had to offer, including Bobs Red Mill. By the way . . Bob has a ton, and I mean a ton of gluten free, and organic recipes at his website.  I think I have found a great resource. In the grocery store I was eyeballing the gluten free brownie mix, but managed to hold off atleast for the first few weeks of my lifestyle change to organic. Ya know . . a girl has to have her chocolate (wink).  $150 and we had a bulging cart of groceries that completely stocked our pantry, fridge and freezer.

 

Here is what we (my family and I) ate on our first real organic day (in case anyone could possibly be interested (wink):

 

Breakfast

2 cups of peach herbal tea w/stevia

1 piece of spelt bread with peanut butter

1 cup of strawberry yogurt

 

Snack:  handful of  mixed nuts (sesame, cashews,pumpkin and soy)

I keep them in a container all mixed together so I can grab a handful at a time.

this keeps my insulin at an even balance throughout the day.

 

 

Lunch:

hefty salad of mixed greens with

1/2 cut up tomato

1/2 c.carrots

1/4 c. green onions

1 clove garlic

balsamic vinegar and olive oil dressing

side: spelt tortilla sprinkled with garlic powder & olive oil
and baked in the oven till lightly golden

(you can do several batches of the tortilla's at one time)

 

Snack:  orange

 

Dinner: Organic Goulash

rotini rice noodles (wheat, gluten, and casein free)

lean ground beef (hormone, antibiotic and preservative free)

tomato sauce

1 c. onions

1 c. tomato's

1 clove garlic

 

Dessert:  bowl of fruit w/ vanilla yogurt 

 

Feeling: full, satisfied and didn't have a sugar fatigue meltdown today (hooooraaaay). 

 

Focus: keeping glycemic index down and insulin balanced. complex carbs and whole grains, along with 5 fruits and veggies daily.  Calcium through yogurt and soy milk right now.

 

Spiritual Encouragement: Small Straws In A Soft Wind, by Marsha Burns

December 29, 2005:  Take time to rest and to be restored both physically and spiritually.  You have endured a great deal of stress in your circumstances and environment, and these stressful situations have taken their toll.  Allow Me to bring healing and restoration.  Be deliberate in releasing anxiety and seeking My face, says the Lord.  Come into rest!  Acts 3:19 "Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord."

 

---

It has been a great way to start the New Year! Lord please continue to give me inspiration and creative ideas on cooking organic for my family.  I want our family to be healthy, happy and whole for 2006 and beyond.  Thank you Lord for your mercy and grace over my life and for your amazing provision for us in every area.  I commit this lifestyle change to you and thank you for convicting me to start it.  I give you the praise and the glory and the honor in Jesus Mighty Name. amen <>< Kelly

 

 

Posted in In The Kitchen

Okay, so I've dabbled a bit in organic living.  One year, I  took everything out of my pantry and replaced it with organic foods.  The white flour was replaced with Quinoa or Amaranth; the sugar replaced with Stevia (both liquid and packets); the peanut butter was replaced with cashew butter.  My, oh my was I feeling great about my new organic lifestyle back then.  That was . . . until I had to cook with my new organic products. 

 

 I had visions of Quinoa biscuits tasting like fluffy heaven, only to find out that bricks were closer to the texture.  Of course in Texas (where I lived at the time) iced tea was a staple, and more particular "sweet tea" which was dowsed in sugar.  So when I went to put the Stevia in the tea I had no idea it was like 10 times the potency of sugar, and when you put too much in the sweetness actually taste sour.  I had so much to learn about organic living, but noone to mentor me or help me along.  So . . . after using the "poor pitiful me" excuse of having noone around to support me I took the road more traveled, and headed back to the regular American diet.  My ego deflated and my waistline growing I charged off into preservative, cholesterol laden popular world.  Which brings me full circle back to my pantry after 5 years. 

 

You won't believe it but I've just replaced everything with organic again.  This time I am all the more wiser that it is my health at stake.  At this point it isn't about traveling the road most traveled but choosing the road less traveled that will keep me on this earth longer.  My health has gone wayyyy down hill and I am not going to step aside and let it go there anymore.  I better choose to like Quinoa instead of flour and Stevia instead of sugar because that is all I have to choose from right now.  We may not have the heftiest budget for these healthy foods, but I am trying to think of it as my new insurance plan.  Instead of spending $600 a month on the best PPO health insurance for our family, I am going to invest in life-giving groceries for our fridge, freezer and pantry. 

 

I've got so much to learn, but with God as my coach I know I can do this.  He has placed it in my heart to change our lifestyle, and I know His mercy has kept us this far.  Tastebuds get ready for the new . . .  . organic pantry.

 

Ready or Not Here It Comes

 

Anyone else going organic?  If so . . . got any good recipes?  ;-)