Ice Storm

Created something New to EAT...

Not sure what to call it. LOL but it was good.


Here's the recipe.
1 zuchinni
1/2 onion
Olive oil (evoo)
3 corn tortillas
1 avacado
1 fresh tomato
1 fresh lemon
Seasoning of your choice, I used this...

Saute the zuchinni and onion in the olive oil. Season to your taste. I used Greek seasoning. Love the stuff.
Heat corn tortillas. Place 1 tortilla. 1/2 of zuchinni and onions that are sauted. Some avacado and squeeze on some lemon, place next tortilla repeat steps above. Top with last tortilla. Garnish with tomato and avacado.

Anyone have a good name for this...Leave your idea in my comments.

Going Dairy Free

Because of Prairie Baby I have gone Dairy Free. He gets really grumpy when I have the dairy. I thought I would share some things that help me survive. While  the rest of the family is eating tons of dairy.

Some meals I can use a small casserole dish  and make the same dish minus the dairy. But you have to watch because things I used to use end up having dairy. Like cream of _____ soups in casseroles and such. They of course have cream.

Good things to have on hand are hard cooked eggs stored in the fridge and bacon all cooked and in the freezer.  They help in a pinch. BLT's, deviled eggs and egg salad sandwiches can be made quick in a rush. And a pbj works in a pinch.

I have discovered a brand at walmart that carries dairy free meals in the freezer section. It's called Amy's Kitchen. Here's a link...
Almost all ingredient's are organic. They use no preservatives. If you can't pronounce it it's not in there!
I tried this one yesterday and it was very good... They have several that are Dairy free.

Padded baby sling Carrier

Here is a direct link for the lady from the doctors office... Please leave a comment so I know you made it here!

Free Padded Sling Instructions

Found a Great Site...

Healthiest Life Website
They only show 100% natural safe products for your family. But they have a added bonus. Tons of giveaways. And you can win prizes by refering people... So be sure to say Andrea Prairie Lady sent you... Hope you all win a prize!!!

Goat Cheese and Avocado Quesadilla

I have been Dairy (cow) free for over a month now. My baby gets very fussy when I eat dairy. I have found he is fine with goat milk/cheese. PTL.
Well I was tired of the usual lunch. So I created something different.

Take goat cheese. I buy 100% french style goat cheese at walmart.

It is crumbly like feta straight out of the fridge. But I have found if you heat it for a few minutes in the broiler it then spreads like cream cheese.

Take 2 flour tortillas
Put 1 on cookie sheet, sprinkle on about 1 oz. goat cheese.
soften cheese in broiler
Put on 1/2 a avocado cut in small pieces.
Place another tortilla on top.
Then drizzle small amount of EVOO on top. And put all over the top.
Put back in broiler until golden.
Use a pizza cutter and cut into wedges. And use a fresh tomato in the middle.
YUMMO!

Yummo!!! Roasted Broccoli

Oven-Roasted Broccoli
Serves 4
Tags: sides vegetables roast Yum-o! Family Friendly
Rachael Ray


This is an easy to make dish that will make a broccoli lover out of anyone!

Ingredients

* 1 head broccoli, cut into pieces all the way through the stem
* 2-3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
* 3 tablespoons (eyeball it) extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO)
* Salt and freshly ground pepper

Preparation

Preheat oven to 400°F.

Liberally drizzle EVOO over broccoli, add garlic, salt and pepper, and toss to coat.

Transfer to oven and roast for 15-20 minutes, until broccoli is nice and crispy on the ends and a little brown.

Cute Apron Pattern online

Cute Free Apron Pattern

Magnetic Menu!

Another Big thanks to Kerflop for these beautiful free  templetes for a magnetic menu! 

I color coded my meals and used different symbols around the edges to quickly identify Beef, chicken and vegetarian.

A side note my printer did NOT LIKE magnetic paper. So I printed the templete on regular paper then used my glue stick to glue it to the magnetic paper. Also I could not find the magnetic paper at the office store.  I found the magnetic paper in the most unlikely weirdest place!
At walmart in the craft department with the other magnets. It was packaged really weird. A 1" by 1" by 9" box. There are 3 sheets per box and it was $5.something. Much cheaper than the office stores prices! 


I buy my food 2 weeks at a time. But am only showing 1 week on the fridge. So I am placing the other available meals below the menu. That way I can know what other meals are available if I can't make what is scheduled.

Beautiful Files...

I have to say a big THANK YOU!!!! To (Can't seem to remember your real name!  )  Kerflop
For these fabulous step by step instructions for adorable file folders and the greatest menu ever!!! It's magnetized! So you can rearrange it mid-week if you have to move a meal to another slot! No more scribbling and erasing. And thank you for helping me use that creative part of my brain that has been very neglected!

First I did Like Kerflop did with Use, File and Act. So simple and so great. Then I made a file for my cousin Barbi's  letters! And one for each of my children. That way when they bring me a picture they colored, great school paper, etc... It can be put into their own file for safe keeping!




Finished!! Thanks so much Kerflop! Your the greatest!

A Challenge for you...

I am going through the bible study A woman after God's Own Heart by Elizabeth George. And thought you ladies would enjoy this part...

Spiritual Growth:Stewardship of your Body
You may have been hoping this subject wouldn't come up, but we're told in the Bible that how we manage our body affects our ministry and the quality of our life. The apostle Paul put it this way: "I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should be disqualified." 1 Cor. 9:27

The goal in the physical realm is discipline, the self-control which is a gift of God's grace (Galatians 5:23). His Spirit in us gives us strength to resist temptation, to control our appetite rather than allowing it to control us, and to buffet our body into obedience.

Every time I ask woman who is enjoying an energetic life and ministry how she does it, I cringe a bit as she says the two predictable words- diet and exercise. If the goal is a quality of life filled with quality days of serving the Lord, attention to the body is key!

Please answer the following...


Spiritual Growth includes stewardship of your body-
Look at 1 Cor. 9:27 in your Bible.

How did Paul treat and view his body?

How can a failure to discipline your body affect the quality of your life?

We mentioned both diet and exercise as areas requiring discipline. Set a goal for each for the upcoming week.
Diet~

Exercise~

Scriptures to Ponder...

Spiritual Growth includes stewardship of your body-
Look at 1 Cor. 9:27 in your Bible.

I really liked this verse and 26 also in other versions.

Living Bible
1 Cor. 9:26 and 27
So I run straight to the goal with purpose in every step. I fight to win. I'm not just shadow-boxing or playing around.
Like an athlete I punish my body, treating it roughly, training it to do what it should, not what it wants to. Otherwise I fear that after enlisting others for the race, I myself might be declared unfit and ordered to stand aside

.

Amplified Translation
1 Cor. 9:26-27
Therefore I do not run uncertainly (without definite aim) I do not box like one beating the air and striking without an adversary.
But (like a boxer) I buffet my body (handle it roughly, discipline it by hardships) and subdue it, for fear that after proclaiming to others the Gospel and things pertaining to it. I myself should become unfit (not stand the test, be unapproved and rejected as a counterfeit.

Study: Diet soda as risky as regular

Study: Diet soda as risky as regular

BY JAY LINDSAY
The Associated Press
BOSTON – People who drank
more than one diet soda each
day developed the same risks
for heart disease as those who
downed sugary regular soda, an
inconclusive study found.
The results surprised the researchers
who expected to see a
difference between regular and
diet soda drinkers. It could be,
they suggest, that even no-calorie
sweet drinks increase the
craving for more sweets, and
that people who indulge in sodas
probably have less healthy
diets overall.
The study’s senior author, Dr.
Vasan Ramachandran, emphasized
the findings don’t show
diet sodas are a cause of increased
heart disease risks. But
he said they show a surprising
link that must be studied.
“It’s intriguing and it begs an
explanation by people who are
qualified to do studies to understand
this better,” said Vasan,
of Boston University School of
Medicine.
However, a nutrition expert
dismissed the study’s findings
on diet soda drinkers.
“There’s too much contradictory
evidence that shows that
diet beverages are healthier for
you in terms of losing weight
that I would not put any credence
to the result on the diet
(drinks),” said Barry Popkin, of
the University of North Carolina
in Chapel Hill.
Susan Neely, president of the
American Beverage Association,
said the notion that diet drinks
are associated with bulging
waistlines defies common sense.
“How can something with
zero calories that’s 99 percent
water with a little flavoring in it
... cause weight gain?” she said.
Researchers found those
who drank more than one soda
per day – diet or regular – had
an increased risk of metabolic
syndrome, compared to those
who drank less than one soda.
Metabolic syndrome is a cluster
of symptoms that increase the
risk for heart disease including
large waistlines and higher levels
of blood pressure, blood sugar,
cholesterol and blood fats
called triglycerides.

Diet Tricks that Deliver

by Alison Stuart, Good Housekeeping Aug. 2007
No matter what plan you're following, certain weight-loss strategies are guaranteed to bring success. Try integrating these four into your life today

Don't Be Your Own Worst Enemy
Hide tempting snacks- if they're out of sight, it'll be a lot easier to keep them out of mind. One study from Cornell University showed that women who were offered chocolates from a clear bowl ate 71%more than those served from a dish that concealed the candy. The best way to go: Don't keep bad-for-you foods in the house at all (If you don't buy it, you can't eat it)

Stay Strong
If the scale goes a couple of pounds in the wrong direction, there are ways to get back on track. One trick that works: Write down not only what you eat, but what triggers your appetite. For example, you might find that you do well all day but mess up with midnight snacking. Or that 3pm. in the office might be your lethal hour. Once you know your weakest times, you can defend yourself with safer snacks.

Get Moving
You can shed pounds with just 30 minutes of exercise a day (and yes, speed walking counts, even if it's just up and down the hallway).

Eat Slower
Anything that lengthens your meal is good for weight loss, because your brain needs 20 minutes to get the signal that your body is full. The simplest way to avoid rushing; Choose time-consuming foods. Dishes that are hot, for example, take longer to eat. And work hard for your snacks- freeze a piece of dark chocolate and see how lond it takes to nibble your way through.

Free Wrap Skirt Pattern Online

I have been drooling over a skirt at Tznius.
But did not want to spend $40.00. Then a friend shared that there are instructions FREE online. And it is extremely easy to make. I got mine done in my babies nap time. I altered the instructions to 8" at the waist and the length of my piece of material for my dd. Then I made the waist band the length of her fabric. You will find links to the instructions below.
Wrap it Up

Site to help you find the Perfect Jeans

Image from Allposters.com

Edited: Just discovered my link didn't work, it's fixed now!

Finding the Perfect Jeans
A friend showed me this site and I wanted to share it with all you. You answer questions about your shape, height, weight and preferences. Then they will tell you what will jeans will fit your body!

I'm a Mom to the Power of 7

I received my last Old Schoolhouse and thought the home schooled rindstone shirt was really cute. Then I went to the website.
http://www.couturemoms.com  And while I thought the shirts were really cute they were WAY to EXPENSIVE. Sorry I will NEVER spend $40 on a shirt. So I did what I always do!!!   I made one myself. (This is part of why Patrice named me Prairie Lady)

I found nice black tshirts for $6.50 at walmart. Then I found Iron on rindstones in the craft department for $2.00. They were on sticky paper in strips. I removed all the stones. Then I laid out the letters on at a time. Then stuck them to the original sticky paper that the stones had been on. And worked on it one letter at a time.They moved really really easily.  I think they turned out pretty good. Can't wait to mail Mom heres! And I loved the idea your a mom to the ____ power!

 

How to Make Your Own Wrap

I got to thinking when I posted the contest that I did not share with you my latest craft. You can make your own wrap and save alot of money.


I love trying different ways to wear your baby. I saw wraps online but didn't want to spend the money. Then I stumbled on this site.  After reading pre made ones I choose to make mine 22" by 5'. When I make another one it will be 22 to 25" by 5 1/2 yards. I was able to make my wrap for $5.00! Can't beat that! Thanks Walmarts dollar table!  I got 2 baby carriers out of it. Kept one gave one away. Plus I made 2 childrens wraps with the leftovers and cut the 5 ' in half. So the small ones were 2 1/2' long.



After you get done making it there are many sites to show you how to wear your baby.  You can wear them tummy to tummy, facing out, on your hip, and on your back. Here are some I have found...

Calinbleu Baby
Wear your Baby
Wear your Baby Videos
Moby Wrap
gypsy wrap
Kangaroo Care with Wrap
Peppermint Site

A Dad wearing his baby

Enjoy wearing your baby!

Carry your little Roo...

You could get $75 gift certificate for mamakanga.

Enter the contest here...
For your little roo
If I were to win I would consider one of the Gyspie Mama wraps the Cybele is a pretty color. The one I made is light purple so it would be nice to have another color to cordinate some of my clothes.
. I have just recently created a wrap and am loving it. My other choice I would consider is one of the Hotslings. I really like the brown and light blue ones.

pH Health Basics

Health Basic
You feel tired, bloated, achy and generally lousy but can’t figure out why. One possible explanation: There may be an imbalance between acid and alkali within your body. Trust us—this is one chemistry class you should not snooze through.

By H. K. Jones

    Keeping your body chemistry in balance is a critical part of staying healthy, happy and fit. But before the terms “acidity” and “alkalinity” make your eyes glaze over with thoughts of high-school chem lab, think of it this way: Just as acid rain damages the external environment, too much acid in the body damages your internal ecosystem. In fact, acidosis, or over-acidity within the body, is an underlying cause of many disorders; every function of the body—that’s right, every function—depends on maintaining a precise balance between acid and alkaline, or what’s known as pH.
    Fortunately, you don’t need a chemistry degree to preserve a proper pH. What you do need is a little information on how your body tries to avoid over-acidity and why the way you live—and eat—can throw the whole system out of whack.

Powerful pH
    First, the basics: pH (potential of Hydrogen) is simply the measure of the acidity or alkalinity of a solution. Solutions or fluids with a pH less than 7.00 are considered acidic, while those with a pH greater than 7.00 are deemed basic or alkaline.
    A healthy body’s internal fluids are slightly alkaline and lucky for us, the body works really hard to keep it that way—it has to. Blood pH, for example, must be kept between 7.35 and 7.45 in order to carry oxygen to cells. If pH dips just a little below or above this level, the whole system shuts down, resulting in death. The body’s ability to maintain a slightly alkaline pH is also essential for everything from immunity, digestion and cardiovascular function to enzyme reactions, metabolic processes and energy production.
    The body regulates its pH through a complex network that teams up to preserve and protect balance. “The system includes the alkaline minerals contained both inside and outside the cells as well as the mineral reserves stored within our bones,” says nutrition authority Dr. Susan Lark in The Chemistry of Success (Bay Books). “We also have three buffer systems in the blood that help to keep its pH constant.” In addition, the lungs take in alkaline oxygen, and let out acidic carbon dioxide, and the kidneys eliminate excessive amounts of acid or alkaline substances in the urine. But while your body works overtime to keep your pH in check, your lifestyle can throw off this critical balance.

Upsetting the Balance
    Today’s world supplies a slew of conditions that can make your body too acidic. In addition to poor diet (more on that later), things like emotional stress, long airplane flights, medication and infectious disease all promote acid production. In fact, Lark says that physical and mental stress of any kind reduces oxygenation and blood flow to tissues, which in turn increases acidity.
    When you’re young it is relatively easy for the body to fight these outside stresses and stay balanced. But as you move into your 40s and 50s, your internal buffering system generally declines in efficiency. According to Lark, only 6% to 8% of the population produces naturally high alkaline levels well into old age. These lucky individuals have excellent digestive function and lung capacity, and are more likely to be energized and healthy as the years tick by. Unfortunately for the rest of us, chronic acidity can lead to a wide range of health problems.
    An acidic pH decreases the immune system’s ability to kill bacteria and viruses, which increases the frequency of such ailments as colds and flus. Over-acidity can trigger the symptoms, as well as extend the suffering, associated with allergies. Other common symptoms of acid-base imbalance include heartburn, bloating and feeling full after eating small amounts of food. Too much acidity can leave you feeling stiff and achy as well as continually tired or lethargic. Poor acid/base balance also makes it difficult to lose weight.
    Chronic low-grade acidosis is a hidden cause of osteoporosis. The more acidic you are, the more your body will try to compensate by releasing buffering minerals into the bloodstream, like calcium taken from the skeleton. That’s because “bones contain one of our major reserves of alkaline minerals,” Lark says. “Ninety-nine percent of the calcium in our bodies is in the bones.” If the pH imbalance lasts long enough, a depletion of bone mass occurs, resulting in bones that are fragile and prone to breakage.
    More bad news: when your body accumulates an excessive amount of acid you’re also at risk for the long list of degenerative diseases including arthritis, cancer, hypertension, heart disease, memory loss and diabetes, all of which share the common link of acidosis. “A healthy cell contains large amounts of alkaline substances,” Lark explains. “However, the wear and tear of daily life and the aging process itself gradually cause our cells to lose their healthy alkalinity and become more acid over time, thereby making us more prone to disease.”
    The longer you wait to balance pH, the longer you remain at risk for acid-related illnesses. The first step is to determine your current acid/base balance with simple litmus strips available in most pharmacies; to get a complete picture of your body’s pH you’ll need to test your urine or salivary pH over the course of a few days. Then you must learn how to avoid one of the biggest reasons for acid overload—a destructive diet.

Basic Eating
    What you put in your body has a huge impact on your pH. Regrettably, what many of us eat doesn’t help matters. A typical Western diet is loaded with such acid-formers as refined flour and sugar, corn sweeteners, caffeine, soft drinks, and processed and fried foods. American diets are also too high in acid-producing animal products like meat and dairy, and too low in alkaline-producing foods like fresh vegetables.
    Cutting down on unhealthy fats and processed carbohydrates, and increasing consumption of vegetables (especially dark greens), fruits, whole grains, seafood and good-for-you fats (think olive and canola oil) can significantly improve your pH balance. This Mediterranean-style diet is considered one of the healthiest on the planet. Not only is it backed by a decade’s worth of medical research that shows it lowers the incidence for such life-threatening diseases such as cancer, hypertension, heart disease and diabetes (all of which are associated with chronic acidosis), it’s also loaded with healthy phytochemicals (the naturally occurring compounds in plant foods) that defend cells against harmful free radicals.
    Foods are categorized as acidifying or alkalizing depending on the effect they have on the body. Keep in mind that not all acid-producing foods are “bad”; actually there are many healthy acid-forming foods you should include as part of a balanced diet. The real problem is that most Americans eat considerably more acid-forming foods than alkalizing foods, and this disparity leads to an unbalanced pH. “A meal should never consist solely of acidifying foods but should always contain alkaline foods,” says Dr. Christopher Vasey, a naturopathic physician who specializes in detoxification and author of The Acid-Alkaline Diet for Optimum Health (Healing Arts Press). “The amount of alkalizing foods should be greater proportionally than the amount of acidifying foods at any one meal.” The following modifications offer you the biggest pH return on your diet-changing investment:
    Go Green—All veggies are chock-full of beneficial antioxidants and phytochemicals that bolster the immune system and reduce damage to cells, but the alkalizing leafy green ones are particularly helpful in balancing your pH. So go ahead and eat your greens (Mom will be so proud!) Some experts also suggest boosting your diet with green foods (think spirulina, chlorella and the juice of wheat grass, barley and other sprouted greens); these contain the pigment chlorophyll, a strong detoxifier and immunity-builder that helps to keep your pH in check. (Green foods are available in supplement form.)
    Focus on Whole—Keep in mind you can’t just add lots of alkaline foods to offset any amount of acid you consume or create. You need to also cut some of the acid-producing foods in your diet; refined flour and sugar, hydrogenated fats (known as trans fats), sweeteners and other processed foods are a really good place to start. Instead focus on foods that are in their whole form—fresh veggies and fruit, whole grains, beans, and nuts—the way nature made them.
    Manage the Meat—Concentrated amounts of protein and fat found in meat are detrimental to your pH. You don’t have to give up meat altogether, but instead use it sparingly, as a condiment instead of a main course. Think green salads topped with a few slices of filet instead of an entire grilled steak. As a general rule keep your servings of meat to about four ounces per meal (the size of a deck of cards).
    Hydrate—Hydration is important for a balanced metabolism and pH, so aim for 10-plus cups a day of water-based, non-caffeinated fluids. And while you increase your H2O, you should decrease alcohol, along with soda and other sugar-based drinks.
    Alleviate Allergies—Common food allergens like dairy, wheat, peanuts, corn and seafood will cause acid production in individuals who are sensitive or intolerant to these foods. Symptoms include hives, itchy skin, swollen lips or eyelids, tightness of the throat, wheezing, coughing, vomiting or diarrhea. If you suspect you have a food allergy, get it confirmed with a test and then always avoid the items that give you grief.
    Are you ready to achieve a healthy inner equilibrium? Eating a pH-loving diet that helps your body maintain the correct acidic-alkaline balance will help you ward off disease, stay energized and maintain optimum well-being.

My very talented son

Just had to show of what my ds 13 made! It is made on a scroll saw. Each spot is cut out of the wood.

YUM-O

I found some new Pita bread at Walmart. It is by far the best pita bread I have ever had. And it's actually all full grains! You'lle have to check it out!

The pita bread was so delicious that I bought several packages to bring home and put in my freezer. Joseph's Oat Bran and Whole Wheat Flour Pita Bread has 1.5 grams fat, 0 cholesterol, 334 mg sodium, 10 total carbs (5g diegary fiber, 1 sugar), and 7g protien. That means each pita has a total of only 5 net carbs. The bread is made by Joseph's Middle East Bakery, Inc. in Lawrence, Massachusetts.


UPDATE: I am very bummed my Walmart is no longer carrying this delicious bread. I plan to write to the company and see if I can get it anywhere else. If you have found it at a store please share that stores name!

 

Additional Update: I have found their address and email if you want to try to contact them yourself for your area.

Joseph's Middle East Bakery, Inc.

30 International Way

Lawrence, MA 01843

mebakery@aol.com

Hope this helps!

Foods that are NOT good for you...

This is from Above Rubies Magazine

www.aboverubies.org

SOME CANCER FOODS

Sent in by one of our Chinese Above Rubies readers.

INSTANT NOODLES
 
Dear instant noodle lovers, Make sure you break for at least three days after one session of instant noodles before you eat your next packet! Please read the info shared to me by a doctor. My family stopped eating instant noodles more than five years ago after hearing about wax coating the noodles - the wax is not just in the Styrofoam containers but it coats the noodles. This is why the instant noodles do not stick to each other when cooking.

There was an SBC (now TCS) actor some years ago, who at a busy time of his career had no time to cook, resorted to eating instant noodles everyday. He got cancer later on. His doctor told him about the wax in instant noodles. The doctor told him that our body will need up to 2 days to clear the wax. There was also an SIA steward who after moving out from his mother's house into his own house, did not cook but ate instant noodles almost every meal. He had cancer, and has since died from it. Nowadays the instant noodles are referred as " cancer noodles ".

PORK AWARENESS

Try this and see whether the pork you bought has worms. If you pour Coke (yes, the soda) on a slab of pork, wait a little while, you will SEE WORMS crawl out of it.

A message  from the Health Corporation of Singapore about the bad effects of pork consumption. Pig's bodies contain MANY TOXINS, WORM and LATENT DISEASES. Although some of these infestations are harboured in other animals, modern veterinarians say that pigs are far MORE PREDISPOSED to these illnesses than other animals. This could be because PIGS like to SCAVENGE and will  eat ANY kind of food, INCLUDING dead insects, worms, rotting carcasses,  excreta including their own, garbage, and other pigs.

INFLUENZA (flu) is  one of the MOST famous illnesses which pigs share with humans. This illness is harboured in the LUNGS of pigs during the summer months and tends to affect pigs and human in the cooler months.

Sausage contains bits of pigs' lungs, so those who EAT pork sausage tend to SUFFER MORE during EPIDEMICS of INFLUENZA. Pig meat contains EXCESSIVE quantities of HISTAMINE and IMIDAZOLE compounds, which can lead to  ITCHING and INFLAMMATION; GROWTH HORMONE which PROMOTES INFLAMMATION and  growth; sulphur containing mesenchymal mucus which leads to SWELLING and  deposits of MUCUS in tendons and cartilage, resulting in ATHRITIS, RHEUMATISM,  etc.

Sulphur helps cause FIRM human tendons and ligaments to be replaced by the pig's soft mesenchymal tissues, and degeneration of human
cartilage. Eating pork can also lead to GALLSTONES and OBESITY, probably due  to its HIGH CHOLESTEROL and SATURATED FAT content. The pig is the MAIN CARRIER of the TAENIE SOLIUM WORM, which is found in its flesh. These  tapeworms are found in human intestines with greater frequency in nations where pigs are eaten. This type of tapeworm can pass through the intestines and affect many other organs, and is incurable once it reaches beyond a certain stage. One in six people in the US and Canada has RICHINOSIS from eating trichina worms, which are found in pork. Many people have NO SYMPTOMS to warm them of this, and when they do, they resemble symptoms of many other illnesses. These worms are NOT noticed during meat inspections.

Fit Deck

www.fitdeck.com

I found these at Walmart on clearance for $1.00. Gotta love a bargain! I did it for the first time last night. I think it will be a nice alternative for days when I just can't fit in a long exercise program. It consists of 50 playing cards that have a workout on them. You shuffle the deck and choose how ever many cards you have time for. I did 6 last night.

What is Stevia

What is Stevia?
Stevia is one of the most health restoring plants on earth. What whole leaf Stevia does both inside the body and on the skin is incredible. Native to Paraguay, it is a small green plant bearing leaves which have a delicious and refreshing taste that can be 30 times sweeter than sugar. Besides the intensely sweet glycosides (Steviosides, Rebaudiosides and a Dulcoside), various studies have found the leaf to contain proteins, fiber, carbohydrates, iron, phosphorus, calcium, potassium, sodium, magnesium, zinc, rutin (a flavonoid), true vitamin A, Vitamin C and an oil which contains 53 other constituents. Quality Stevia leaves and whole leaf concentrate are nutritious, natural dietary supplements offering numerous health benefits.

Stevia as a Sweetener
Stevia is the sweetener of the future. Because the human body does not metabolize the sweet glycosides (they pass right through the normal elimination channels) from the leaf or any of its processed forms, the body obtains no calories from Stevia. Processed forms of pure Stevia can be 70-400 times sweeter than sugar. Whether these products are called Stevia, Stevioside, Rebaudioside, Stevia Extract, or Stevia Concentrate, if they are in their pure unadulterated form they do not adversely affect blood glucose levels and may be used freely by both diabetics and hypoglycemics. For people with blood sugar, blood pressure or weight problems Stevia is the most desirable sweetener.

In all of its current forms Stevia has a taste unique to itself. Along with its sweetness there is also a bitter component. The poorer the quality of the leaf the more bitterness is evident in the taste. In good consumer products, however, this bitter flavor disappears as does the slight licorice taste of whole-leaf products when appropriately diluted for consumption. Unlike artificial sweeteners, the sweet glycosides do not break down in heat which makes Stevia an excellent sweetener for cooking and baking.

If you want more information just go to...
Stevia
Cooking with Stevia
What is Stevia?

 

Almost Sugar Free Chocolate Chip Cookies

Chocolate Chip Cookies
recipe from The Stevia Cookbook
by Ray Sahelian and Donna Gates

2 cups all-prpose flour
3/4 tsp. sea salt
3/4 tsp. baking powder
1 egg
1/2 tsp. to 1 tsp. white stevia powder
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 cup butter, softened
1 1/2 cups chocolate chips

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. LIghtly grease a cookie sheet and set aside. (or line cookie sheet with parchament paper.)
2. In a medium mixing bowl, sift together the flour, salt, and baking powder, and set aside.
3. Place the egg, stevia, and vanilla in a large mixing bowl, and beat well with a wooden spoon or an electric hand-held mixer. Slowly add the butter, continuing to beat until the mixture is smooth and creamy.
4. Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture, 1/2 cup at a time, stirring well with a wooden spoon after each addition. Fold in the chocolate chips.
5. Drop heaping teaspoons of batter on the cookie sheet, about 2 inches apart. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the cookies are golden brown.

I made these in the past and it really makes a difference what stevia product you use. This time  I used Stevita Spoonable Stevia. Also this is rather dry cookie, I may have to do some tweaking of the recipe. But it is the best stevia cookie I have had so far.

Healthy Minestrone Soup

Fast and Easy Minestrone
This recipe is by Suzanne Somers
It is a Carbo meal with Almost Level 1 (if you are doing her program)

1medium onion, diced
3 (14 oz.) can, chicken broth
4 cloves garlic, minced
28 oz. can diced tomatoes
15.5 oz. can garbanzo beans, rinsed and drained
15.5 oz can red kidney beans, rinsed and drained
2 cups fresh kale, swiss chard, spinach or watercress
1 cup whole wheat small pasta noodles
1tsp. italian seasoning
1/4 tsp. dried rosemary
1/4 tsp. red pepper flakes
salt & pepper

In a large saucepan, cook onions in 3/4 cup broth over medium-high heat until onions ae translucent, about 5 minutes. Add another 1/2 cup broth and garlic. Cook 5 minutes more. Stir in tomatoes, the rest of the broth, chick peas, kidney beans, greens, pasta, italian seasoning, rosemary and red pepper flakes. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat. Cover and simmer 10-12 minutes, or until pasta is tender. Season with salt and pepper before serving.

Cool Website

A Year in Bread.

Are you drinking your Calories?

I personally don't drink sugared pop but many do. Don't fill up on empty calories. Most of us wouldn't dream of putting 10 teaspoons sugar  on our cereal or tea. But that is what is in a serving of soda.
 See how your pop rates.
Sugar Content of Soft Drinks

2 funny stories from a book I'm reading

I am reading... House Calls and Hitching Posts and I thought you'll would enjoy this funny TRUE story! (The book is about a doctor who catered to the Amish in Ohio)

"An English woman was pretty up in the air about all these baby calves tied to the hutches around the barn- taken away from their mothers and all. She told the farmer she had a mind to report such inhumane treatment, and the farmer should be ashamed of himself for doing that. Well, the farmer didn't say much, and was real calm-like till she got done fussin'. Then he says, 'Lady, it's like this. Them cows is career women, and we're just runnin' a day care center for their young'uns'. And she didn't have another word to say."


and the second funny story, this happened at an Amish birth center...
A nurse walked into the kitchen one morning to find an Amishman contentedly browning his bread on the wonderful new gadget called a toaster. Carefully, he laid the two slices of bread across the top of the four-slice toaster. He pressed the lever down and oserved that the coils down in the belly of the appliance heated up. What a slick contraption! After a few seconds, the man lifted the corner of one slice to see that it was nicely brown-and-white striped. Hmm. These gadgets make fancy bread. He flipped the slices, waited a bit, and picked up his zebra-striped bread. Strange, he thought. He liked all his bread toasted, not just parts of it. Oh well, some people must like it this way. Not too efficient, though.
The nurse picked up a piece of bread, adjusted the temperature control from 5 to 3, and dropped the slice into one of the slots. "If you toast your bread inside the toaster instead of on top of it," she suggested, " you can do 4 slices at once, both sides at one time, and it won't be striped like a zebra!"

Daughters Been Sewing

Zucchini Pizza Crust

I found this recipe in the local church cookbook. I have not tried it yet but it looks yummy and healthy. Thought I would share it with all of you.


Zucchini Pizza Crust

3 1/2 cups zucchini, coarsley shredded
3 eggs
1 1/3 c. flour
1/2 c. mozzerella cheese,shredded
1/2 c. Parmesan Cheese, grated
1/2 tsp. basil

Salt zucchini lightly and let stand 15 minutes. Squeeze out excess liquid. Add rest of ingredients; mix well. Spread onto greased 9 x 13 cake pan or round pizza pan. Bake at 350 degrees 20 to 25 minutes or until dry and firm. Layer favorite sauce, toppings and cheese for a lite pizza. Bake an additional 25 minutes.

A Yummy Salad I made!!!

2 bunches of Parsley finely chopped
1 large tomato chopped
1 large cucumber chopped
1 batch of quinoa cooked

To make the batch of quinoa cook 2 cups water. Add 1 cup quinoa cook 15 to 20 minutes until water is absorbed. (If your not familiar with quinoa its an ancient grain, you can find at the health food/bulk stores.) http://www.quinoa.net/

Mix all together.

Serve with my Garlic Herb Dressing, that way people can make it as spicy as they want, (on another Post) and feta cheese.

Garlic Herb Dressing
1 clove garlic, minced or crushed
5 Tbsp. olive oil (cold pressed)
2 Tbsp. FRESH lemon or lime juice
1/2 tsp. dried chervil (this is HARD to find and I often leave it out)
1/2 tsp. dried marjoram
1/4 tsp. dried mint
1/2 tsp. dried thyme
1/8 tsp. dried tarragon
1/2 tsp. sea salt
dash black pepper

Place all ingredients in bowl, and whip with fork or whisk, or combine ingredients in blender or food processor.

Online Instructions for Tiered Skirts

Peasant Skirt Pattern

Little Girls Pattern

Seven Steps to Permanent Weight Loss

The Seven Steps...

I was reading Eating Wells latest issue. They have an article about their new diet called the Eating Well Diet. This is a very balanced diet and pretty much appears to be what I did to lose those 40 lbs. and what I am doing now to lose my baby weight. If you are not familiar with Eating Well you can get a free issue here. Eating Well Magazine. 
The Seven Steps are...
Step 1- Make sure you are ready for change
Step 2- Set Goals
Step 3- Track Yourself
Step 4- Eat Mindfully
Step 5- Commit to Move More
Step 6-Get Support
Step 7-Have a Long-Term Plan
You can read more at the full article at their site. The Eating Well Diet.

Free Printables Available
Pluses and Minuses Checklist
Body Mass Index Chart
Goal Setting
Weight Tracker Chart
Food Diary
Activity Log
Calories Burned Chart
Call in the Troops
Back on Track

Baby Stuff

Thanks to a dear friend's  gift I am now the happy owner of a baby swing. Ok this is my 7th baby and I have NEVER owned a swing for any of my babies. (well I sort of had one with dd 16, but it never quite worked right) I did a web search of the store where this certificate was good at ,trying to decide what to get and was so excited to find this portable one! (key smaller size and fold able!!!) But swings just like a big one.

5 weeks Post Partum, getting back to it!

Today I weigh 175. I am 5"6' tall.  I'm fitting a 16 jean comfortably. I can get my 14 on and can zip them, but they are very uncomfortable and my fat plunges over the waist band.   so I think in about 5 lbs. they will probably fit again. My new skirt is a 14.

My goal is to fit my skinny clothes again which is 85% of my clothes in my closet. At my lowest before PB I weighed 158. So my current goal is 160 lbs. Then after I achieve that I will re-evaluate and see if I need to try for 150. (Which was my original goal the first time I lost weight, that I never made it to)

Decoration for Prairie Babies Room

Ds 13 made the house. Found me the branches. Then we all glued on the leaves and flowers.
There are little birds on it but they are hard to see. It's hanging over the crib.

No time for Blogging

Prairie Baby is here. It's a boy!
9lb. 3oz
19 5/8" long

So I have no time for blogging or crafting right now.

Thought Many would Appreciate this!

You just have to DO IT!

A New Hat

This I made for my dd 5. A friend gave me the pattern. I added the flower and the strap.

Baby Sweater

Wish you could feel just how soft this sweater is!

Sorry I do NOT have a pattern source to share with you on this one.

Baby Socks

I really like these socks. And they were fast and easy to make. So now baby and I have matching socks!
Here is the pattern. I didn't totally follow the cuff instructions and kinda did my own thing.
Crochet Baby Socks

I am 1/2 way done with a baby sweater. I am doing it in a wonderfully soft baby Alpaca yarn. YUMMO!!!
Here's a link to the yarn. It is sooooo super soft.  Alpaca Baby Yarn

UPdate: Sweater is DONE! Pictures coming next week!

Finished my Last Christmas gift! (Patti DON'T LOOK!)

Made another twisted scarf with a fun funky yarn!

Patterns From This Book

I am Definetely Nesting!!!!

Red is what I did the first  week of January!
Blue is second  week of January.
Yellow is what I accomplish 3rd  week of January.
Pink is the 4th week of January.
Purple is the last week of Jan./1st Feb.

Ok Here is my List!
1. Get rid of 1/2 of stuff in attic
2. Help guys deep clean room and their attic
3. Help Girls deep clean room and their attic
4. scrub all cabinets and shelves
5. clean all light fixtures
6. scrub edges of kitchen floor with toothbrush or sos
7. scrub baseboards with scrub brush, mostly hall
8.clean under oven and fridge
9. wash ALL bedding
10. wash all baby clothes
11. dust all blinds
12. clean all curtains/iron/rehang
13. turn mattresses
14. clean inside of windows/ including wood
15. clean inside of oven
16. Clean Toaster inside and out
17. clean washer and dryer and under them
18. clean insides of trash cans
19. wash table, and chairs, everywhere
20. clean telephone
21. clean computer screens and keyboards
22. deep clean fridge 1st week feb.
23. Deep clean freezer