Thursday, July 29, 2010

We are all healthy automatically by design and sick only by default.

Found this very interesting quote, by the Mangoman, think about it.

Friday, July 23, 2010

FREEZING AND DRYING PRODUCE

Went to local farmer's market, purchased free stone peaches big as navel oranges, ears of corn, and 2 quarts of Thai peppers!   Wow.  I'm going to be busy this morning blanching corn to freeze whole and peaches to skin then slice into wedges for cobblers; and then wash, stem and dry the peppers.  All this before I begin my regular daily chores, errands, and go to my employment.  Back to you all later.

Monday, July 19, 2010

Baby It's HOT Out!

These are the days during which I prefer to not cook if I can help it.  When the temps hover in the mid to upper 90s or worse, and humidity makes it feel sticky and sultry while raising the heat index to 105-110, I simply don't want to cook or really even eat.   Appetite suffers.  I drink iced tea--a lot.  And Ice-cream once a week, ummm.  Dairy Queen blizzards--they used to make a key lime blizzard--Oh my gosh, it was the best!  Unfortunately, it succumbed to the stupid chocolate craze.  I'm bored to death with chocolate anything.  Sonic makes a great Lime Chiller so I go there now.  Yummy!

If I eat, I prefer salads, fruit, cold cereal, cheese and crackers, cold cuts, chips and dip, and when eating out:  BBQ, Thai, catfish, and then not heavy portions.  Frozen daiquiri style virgin fruit slushes from my Vita-Mix keep me going, unfortunately rum free since I'm allergic to alcohol.

I make a gallon of iced tea a day sweetened slightly with stevia.  My physician tells me that I am supposed to reduce my caffeine intake, so I guess I'm going to start adding a bit of de-caffeinated tea to the tea ball and begin adjusting the proportions of regular tea down while increasing the without up.  

Even though I am getting out in the sun, my Vitamin D deficiency is not improving, guess what?  Doctor says be more diligent about avoiding wheat and maybe my gut will improve so that I can begin improving my uptake of essential nutrients from my diet.  Sigh.  And I thought I was being so much better that the occasional real pizza or sandwich roll would go unnoticed--apparently not.

When we go out to eat, I do ask if there is a gluten free menu, but usually not.  Although The Olive Garden does and I've tried the same entree twice now and liked it.  The local cafe, World Garden, that used to have gluten free items on the menu stopped providing them--not enough consumers to finance those items.  Now I am reduced to no longer being able to enjoy going out for fast food feeds with my men folk.  It's just so unfair and limiting to us as a family that we live no  where near either coast where we could easily find gluten free eateries.

I am making dried banana slices today!  These are naturally gluten free.

1 large bunch of ripe bananas with lots of brown freckles but not mushy.
Slice them the same size, I like just about 1/8th of an inch cause they dry faster and go further.
Layer on prepared dehydrator sheets (just spray with non stick spray as the fruit really sticks).
Set temperature to 125 for 1 hour, then reduce to 110-115.  Dry about 24 hours.
Peel from sheet when leathery, place in zip-type storage baggies, freezer type.
These may be dried longer to make crispy chips.
ENJOY!  My children thought these were candy made especially for them when they were little--well and it was, hehheh.
 They still eat them fast as I can make them.  Also my little grandson, Liam, loves these too.
My Gut Reaction?  These are 150% better than those purchased anywhere because as the banana ripens, it becomes much sweeter.  Purchased banana slices taste like cardboard once you've had homemade.  You'll never be able to go back.