A contest is in the works

Just wanted to give you a heads up on what I'm planning....I'm on the lookout for "convenience whole food". Who can keep a standard of practically perfect food in our fast-paced world? So, sometimes we eat healthy and sometime we just eat! Not "fast food", but not as healthy what we wish we could eat. But I'm trying to work on more foods that meet my standards that are easy. So, I'll be giving a prize to my favorite quick and healthy recipe. And of course I'll be sharing all the delicious recipes with you!

So, start looking for your healthy recipes and I'll post more info next week.

Update on my health--A Miracle!

It's been ages since I invested much time here. I've got a great reason too! 2 1/2 years ago I was miraculously healed from Lyme disease at a church prayer meeting. I've yet to be able to get my story down on paper (or should I say a computer screen!), b/c it's very personal and there is so much I want to tell. But the short version is I was healed and so I don't sit around at my computer near as much! In all honest, I'm still building back to full strength from the years I got "old" too early, but I'm just a little out of shape, not sick! God mercifully freed me from bondage and has set me on the path of restoration. He deserves the glory.

One day, I plan to tell you the whole story--something I've meant to do for years! And share with you some of our updated health practices. But for today, this is a start. :)

Soaked Grain Bread Recipe

This is my whole food, freshly ground, soaked grain bread. It's as healthy as Ezekiel bread, but much yummier! I use a grain mill and a Bosch mixer, so my flour measures a bit different and I don't need to let it rise twice. If you try it, tell me what you think!

Lymeade Lady Bread

12 (to 13) c. freshly ground whole wheat or whole Kamut flour

 ¼ c. apple cider vinegar
3 ½ c. water

Add liquid gradually to flour. Mix in Bosch on low speed and leave to soak for 12-24 hours. Cover with plastic wrap on dough to keep moist.

Add:

7 ½ TBL ex. virgin coconut oil (4 TBL= ¼ cup)
7 ½ TBL honey
2 egg
1 TBL salt
3 ¾ TBL yeast

Mix on low speed until moistened (break into pieces with hand if needed). Then knead on medium speed (3) for 10 minutes, until dough is smooth and elastic ball. If it is too liquid-y, gradually add more flour. Grease pans while waiting.

Shape loaves and/or other breads (approximately 6 loaves)***. Don't let dough dry out--keep covered. Let rise in greased loaf pans for 30 minutes or until doubled. For the fluffiest loaves, be sure to let it rise enough in the pans before baking.

Do the Touch Test:
1. Press the dough on the side with the tips of two fingers lightly and quickly about 1/2 inch into the dough, and;
2. If the impression you made stays, the dough has doubled. If the indent quickly disappears, it needs a little more time; cover and let rise longer.
Don't over rise; or it will flatten out in the oven. You want just the right point where it has risen all it can or should, but not too much.

Bake in preheated 350 oven for 30 minutes.

Remove from pans and cool loaves on their sides on a wire rack for at least 30 minutes before slicing.

**Dough can be made into various types of bread. Here’s what I often do: Shape 3 portions of dough into loaves (filling a bit less than half the bread pan).

Shape another portion of dough into a ball and press down to make a pizza crust. Work from inside to outside, leaving a thicker edge as a crust. While waiting prepare sauce, cheese, and toppings. Cook about 12 min without preheating or 9-10 with preheating. Crust should be cooked, but not brown. Add sauce, cheese, and toppings and cook another 10-15 min. until crust is brown.

Use remaining dough to make a small stuffed crust pizza. First I make crust and cook 10-15 min. Then, I put on topping and top crust and cook another 10-15 min. OR use remaining dough to make a dessert pizza with honey, cinnamon, and diced apples.

Swine Flu Shot? Why you should say no....

This article confirms my reasons for concern--untested vaccinations are a risk. And swine flu, in my opinion, is not worth that risk.

Now you might think it's because I haven't dealt with the swine flu, but as I type this, my oldest child is on her third day of suspected swine flu. Actually, she's already back to acting normal today. :) So, now it's just a matter of stay isolated until the fever has been gone 48 hours.

You see, my kids illnesses usually come in the form of a 1 day fever with little to no symptoms (other than the desire to sleep and a bit of ick.) Since we changed our diet and got chemicals out of our house, the girls immunity has been great. So the dreaded swine flu has taken 3 days instead of 1, which seems a long time for us. But her immunity is being built. And once it's over, it's done.

But the risks with vaccinations often involve long-term problems. In fact, the 1976 version of the swine flu vaccine killed more people than the flu. Not a success. Hopefully the medical community will not make such a bad mistake the second time around, but we won't know the results until after the damage is done, therefore, I encourage you to risk an illness instead of an unknown intervention. God made our bodies to deal with illness especially if we take care of bodies.

Traditional Foods Diet backed by Extensive Research

This video gives the research that changed my diet! I now eat a more traditional diet and am even working on some fermented foods. Enjoy.