There is this thing I keep noticing (I've seen it at least three times) some (I imagine young) woman posts something good and useful about how to do something- baking, canning, whatever and then has to add some defense about how she isn't "barefoot in the kitchen" or a "dowdy submissive." I read an article by a woman who says she's been baking for her husband as he's been having a lot of stress, and her friends have been giving her a hard time. Really? For being nice to your husband? It's the baking part you are supposed to be embarrassed about? I am going to start tossing links to this phenomena here as I find them, because they are so weird.
She wears shoes to stir a pot in her kitchen? Oh, she is saying that she doesn't want us to think she's an old-fashioned woman who knows how to do stuff. Are we really so convinced that it is a waste of time to make things, because we can just buy products instead? Can you imagine a man writing this stuff? You can't, right? Why would anyone apologize for knowing how to do stuff?
http://shellyfish.wordpress.com/tag/bread/
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Quick Post on Cleanse the Body Cleanse the Mind
Part 2
There hasn't been any part of anything I've eaten or drank this past week that was particularly "cleansing." In fact, I've consumed more coffee in the past two weeks than in ages... But- I rocked a supermove on cleaning out the attic and shed in preparation for ART. All the purging, dusting, sweeping, vacuuming, mopping.. a cleanse of sorts.
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As far as my organic garden is going,
dandelions are taking over my world.
It is sooooo getting me down.
I picked up 7 dark pink double knock-out roses on clearance for $12 a piece and am now not too sure where to put them. I mean- I have a long fence line and so I can space them all around with low growing flowers. A neighbor has a line of dogwoods with white roses and lavender beneath them. It looks fantastic. I thought I'd do the same (working with dark pink roses.) BUT then I read online that dogwoods get 15' - 20' feet wide AND that you shouldn't plant beneath them as this will interfere with their roots. So, I'm going to leave plenty of space around my one dogwood- and then just do the roses, lavender thing elsewhere. I also have blue geraniums and who-knows-what-else growing back there. And- then have a bed 6' x 4' for vegetables/herbs in the center of the herb garden. Nursery doesn't sell German Chamomile but I'm still trying to source it.
But- big sigh- dandelions are taking over in between the flagstone where the creeping thyme is moving too slowly. This is why most people (is that assumption true?) say Heck! and give up. Pat once told me and Stephen (because I asked) - if you always pull your weeds the minute they start coming up, in seven years you'll have a weed free garden. (Assuming your neighbor has a weed free garden.)
There hasn't been any part of anything I've eaten or drank this past week that was particularly "cleansing." In fact, I've consumed more coffee in the past two weeks than in ages... But- I rocked a supermove on cleaning out the attic and shed in preparation for ART. All the purging, dusting, sweeping, vacuuming, mopping.. a cleanse of sorts.
-------
As far as my organic garden is going,
dandelions are taking over my world.
It is sooooo getting me down.
I picked up 7 dark pink double knock-out roses on clearance for $12 a piece and am now not too sure where to put them. I mean- I have a long fence line and so I can space them all around with low growing flowers. A neighbor has a line of dogwoods with white roses and lavender beneath them. It looks fantastic. I thought I'd do the same (working with dark pink roses.) BUT then I read online that dogwoods get 15' - 20' feet wide AND that you shouldn't plant beneath them as this will interfere with their roots. So, I'm going to leave plenty of space around my one dogwood- and then just do the roses, lavender thing elsewhere. I also have blue geraniums and who-knows-what-else growing back there. And- then have a bed 6' x 4' for vegetables/herbs in the center of the herb garden. Nursery doesn't sell German Chamomile but I'm still trying to source it.
But- big sigh- dandelions are taking over in between the flagstone where the creeping thyme is moving too slowly. This is why most people (is that assumption true?) say Heck! and give up. Pat once told me and Stephen (because I asked) - if you always pull your weeds the minute they start coming up, in seven years you'll have a weed free garden. (Assuming your neighbor has a weed free garden.)
Monday, June 15, 2009
Cleanse the Body Cleanse the Mind
A group of friends and I are doing a "Spring Cleaning." The theme is "Cleanse the Body Cleanse the Mind." The organizer of this is the wonderful Somatic Massage Practicioner Kristin Welch, located here in Seattle.
My experience this Spring is very curious.
Definately my biggest stumbling block is the cleanse the mind part. For a couple of days this weekend- what, that's the whole weekened?- I just could not get off my toxic thoughts. Sunday morning I was listening to satsang and had a little glimmer of "So, this is it Ruth. I would rather stay with being right, and feeling sorry for myself, and focusing on a bunch of negative stuff, and flit back in forth in my mind between the awful past and awful future and grandize the pain of these thoughts- I would rather have that- then GET OFF IT. And for a few minutes, I would get off it- and then just pick it right back up." Groan.
Luckily my husband has a really good sense of humor so I just started making some jokes and pretty soon we were both laughing.
Anyway- the mental cleanse- that is the big thing!
Also- today I tackle the attic! Yay! I am planning to create a space to make art! We did the closet clean out for Spring on March 20 and I didn't have much to give away as I don't hoard. But the attic... has been collecting stuff... and it needs to get looked at, dusted, organized. But I am so looking forward to this. (And then I can get my art groove on.) I have been so inspired by reading some art blogs out there.
My experience this Spring is very curious.
Definately my biggest stumbling block is the cleanse the mind part. For a couple of days this weekend- what, that's the whole weekened?- I just could not get off my toxic thoughts. Sunday morning I was listening to satsang and had a little glimmer of "So, this is it Ruth. I would rather stay with being right, and feeling sorry for myself, and focusing on a bunch of negative stuff, and flit back in forth in my mind between the awful past and awful future and grandize the pain of these thoughts- I would rather have that- then GET OFF IT. And for a few minutes, I would get off it- and then just pick it right back up." Groan.
Luckily my husband has a really good sense of humor so I just started making some jokes and pretty soon we were both laughing.
Anyway- the mental cleanse- that is the big thing!
Also- today I tackle the attic! Yay! I am planning to create a space to make art! We did the closet clean out for Spring on March 20 and I didn't have much to give away as I don't hoard. But the attic... has been collecting stuff... and it needs to get looked at, dusted, organized. But I am so looking forward to this. (And then I can get my art groove on.) I have been so inspired by reading some art blogs out there.
Sunday, June 14, 2009
7 days for June
I am starting a new series: 7 days. The idea is to provide guidance for folks living in the Pacific Northwest- who wish to eat locally, and healthfully, to prepare meals quickly, are semi-vegetarian all the way to vegan, and benefit from easy on the budget meals.
If you are vegan- then round out the days' protein with chickenpeas, almonds, sunflower seeds, tahini, oatmeal, flaxmeal/flaxseed crackers, buckwheat (which, I believe is not related to wheat) and (if you eat it) wheat. Obviously, if you are a vegetarian then you might add eggs and yogurt. If you think you have "seasonal allergies" try going off milk for a week and see how you feel! I personally feel so much better without milk products. If you don't drink milk- be sure to get calcium from other sources such as brocolli, leafy greens, (*canned) figs and almonds.
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7 days Begin with what is in season then add a grain and protein source to make a meal. The meals are nutritionaly complete without meat. If you do eat meat- eat the fish while it’s freshest the first two days after buying, then roast the chicken and it will last another few days. The tighter your budget, the more you will benefit from "rounding out" the meal with grains and legumes, as well as vegetables. Eat fruit in the order of perishability- for example, eat your berries first, then cut the cantaloupe and finally eat your apples last. This way- you won’t go to the store as much which saves time and money.
This is What is Seasonal for June: (* out of season alternative)
Drinks: Good Earth Cinnamon, Chamomile, Ginger-Lemon with Agave, Hibiscous, Mint, Bancha
Vegetables: Salad Greens daily, Broccoli, Green Beans, Asparagus, Cabbage, Carrots, Snow Peas, Cauliflower, (*Tomato Sauce in a Jar)
Grains: Millet, buckwheat, amaranth, oatmeal, brown rice, frozen heirloom corn, quinoa
Proteins: Chickpeas, French Lentils, Red Lentils, Black Beans, White Beans, Chicken, Fish
Fruit: Apples, Strawberries, Cherries, Blueberries, Apricots, Pears, Raspberries
Monday: Asparagus, brown rice, French lentils (fish optional)
Tuesday: Blanched broccoli in garlic olive oil, chickpea hummus with rice crackers and carrot dippers (fish optional)
Wednesday: Heirloom corn and roasted green bean salad, black bean soup
Thursday: Roasted cauliflower with curry ghee, millet, red lentil soup (chicken optional)
Friday: Snow Peas, Radishes, Three Bean Soup, Brown Rice Crackers, Green Beans Baked in Tomato Sauce with Garlic
Saturday: Creamy cauliflower and carrot soup made with rice milk, salad with quinoa and greens, oatmeal cookies (made with applesauce instead of butter and 1/3 less sugar)
Sunday: Buckwheat noodles with tomato sauce and brocolli, (frozen cod baked in tomato sauce), blueberries and strawberries.
If you are vegan- then round out the days' protein with chickenpeas, almonds, sunflower seeds, tahini, oatmeal, flaxmeal/flaxseed crackers, buckwheat (which, I believe is not related to wheat) and (if you eat it) wheat. Obviously, if you are a vegetarian then you might add eggs and yogurt. If you think you have "seasonal allergies" try going off milk for a week and see how you feel! I personally feel so much better without milk products. If you don't drink milk- be sure to get calcium from other sources such as brocolli, leafy greens, (*canned) figs and almonds.
--------------------------------------------------
7 days Begin with what is in season then add a grain and protein source to make a meal. The meals are nutritionaly complete without meat. If you do eat meat- eat the fish while it’s freshest the first two days after buying, then roast the chicken and it will last another few days. The tighter your budget, the more you will benefit from "rounding out" the meal with grains and legumes, as well as vegetables. Eat fruit in the order of perishability- for example, eat your berries first, then cut the cantaloupe and finally eat your apples last. This way- you won’t go to the store as much which saves time and money.
This is What is Seasonal for June: (* out of season alternative)
Drinks: Good Earth Cinnamon, Chamomile, Ginger-Lemon with Agave, Hibiscous, Mint, Bancha
Vegetables: Salad Greens daily, Broccoli, Green Beans, Asparagus, Cabbage, Carrots, Snow Peas, Cauliflower, (*Tomato Sauce in a Jar)
Grains: Millet, buckwheat, amaranth, oatmeal, brown rice, frozen heirloom corn, quinoa
Proteins: Chickpeas, French Lentils, Red Lentils, Black Beans, White Beans, Chicken, Fish
Fruit: Apples, Strawberries, Cherries, Blueberries, Apricots, Pears, Raspberries
Monday: Asparagus, brown rice, French lentils (fish optional)
Tuesday: Blanched broccoli in garlic olive oil, chickpea hummus with rice crackers and carrot dippers (fish optional)
Wednesday: Heirloom corn and roasted green bean salad, black bean soup
Thursday: Roasted cauliflower with curry ghee, millet, red lentil soup (chicken optional)
Friday: Snow Peas, Radishes, Three Bean Soup, Brown Rice Crackers, Green Beans Baked in Tomato Sauce with Garlic
Saturday: Creamy cauliflower and carrot soup made with rice milk, salad with quinoa and greens, oatmeal cookies (made with applesauce instead of butter and 1/3 less sugar)
Sunday: Buckwheat noodles with tomato sauce and brocolli, (frozen cod baked in tomato sauce), blueberries and strawberries.
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Paul Nison
If someone needs raw questions answered, then I have a great resource for them.
The book is The Raw Life by Paul Nison. I will say this book is a little corny, but informative. It has nine interviews with long time raw foodists and it gets very real about a lot of subjects: hair loss, loose teeth, food aversion, flatulence to name a few. (It is about how to be a healthy raw foodist- but addresses the fact that some people will have problems and how to avoid them.) I highly recommend this book.
Clearly Paul Nison, and the participants in this book care far more about you succeeding at the raw food diet than in protecting/projecting their image. Thank you so much!
The book is The Raw Life by Paul Nison. I will say this book is a little corny, but informative. It has nine interviews with long time raw foodists and it gets very real about a lot of subjects: hair loss, loose teeth, food aversion, flatulence to name a few. (It is about how to be a healthy raw foodist- but addresses the fact that some people will have problems and how to avoid them.) I highly recommend this book.
Clearly Paul Nison, and the participants in this book care far more about you succeeding at the raw food diet than in protecting/projecting their image. Thank you so much!
Tree of Life
I only have a minute to write this...
I recently saw the film Raw for Thirty. Several diabetics went to the Tree of Life Rejuvenation Center and did raw for a month and reversed their diabetes.
I just re-read my posts regarding the diabetes diet offered by Richard Berenstein M.D.. I still LOVE Dr. Berenstein for letting people know they can have perfect blood sugars and that what the American Diabetes Association is pushing is complete garbage (if you don't want to burn out your pancreatic cells and you want to heal.)
But- after reading Rainbow Green Living Cuisine by Cousins M.D., I have a much better understanding of how raw food really makes a difference. I understand the importance of living enzymes to heal the body.
Unfortunately for me a whole food diet that uses a lot of grain or fruit also elevates my blood sugars. The key is to peice something together that works. It can be as simple as - more salads! That works.
Rainbow Green Living Cuisine gives a much better explanation of the Raw diet for diabetics than the Diabetes Cure by Cousins does. Now, I have to figure out how to make it habit, make it automatic, make it easy, make it affordable. And, I'd like to help others do the same.
I recently saw the film Raw for Thirty. Several diabetics went to the Tree of Life Rejuvenation Center and did raw for a month and reversed their diabetes.
I just re-read my posts regarding the diabetes diet offered by Richard Berenstein M.D.. I still LOVE Dr. Berenstein for letting people know they can have perfect blood sugars and that what the American Diabetes Association is pushing is complete garbage (if you don't want to burn out your pancreatic cells and you want to heal.)
But- after reading Rainbow Green Living Cuisine by Cousins M.D., I have a much better understanding of how raw food really makes a difference. I understand the importance of living enzymes to heal the body.
Unfortunately for me a whole food diet that uses a lot of grain or fruit also elevates my blood sugars. The key is to peice something together that works. It can be as simple as - more salads! That works.
Rainbow Green Living Cuisine gives a much better explanation of the Raw diet for diabetics than the Diabetes Cure by Cousins does. Now, I have to figure out how to make it habit, make it automatic, make it easy, make it affordable. And, I'd like to help others do the same.
Family Menu- Posted in April with seasonal for April/May Ingredients
* Most of the raw recipes can be found in the Rawvolution Cookbook by Matt Amsden. Make (not raw) chewy baked tofu by freezing, thawing, draining, pressing, then baking tofu. It makes the texture firm.
Raw Spinach, Pear Salad - Add Roasted Squash when it becomes available
Raw Ginger-Carrot Soup, Raw Zoodles (zuchini noodles) with Chopped Tomato Sauce
Raw Satay Sauce, Raw Brocolli Stir-Not Fry
Non-raw Spicy Chana Dahl, and Raw SpinachSalad for me (non-raw Salmon and Veggies for husband)
Raw Asian Wraps in lettuce (leftover salmon in nori wrap for husband)
Raw Dill Dip and Veggies Sandwiches on Rawvolution Onion/zuchini Bread (non-raw baked Thyme Drumsticks for husband)
Taco-Rawcos in a lettuce wrap (leftover chicken for husband) OR Kashi/Amys frozen pizza and salad
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This is a menu that "really works" in terms of what people whose food I am responsible for making, will eat. Most everyone (except my husband) can eat vegan on this menu for all seven days and be very satisfied. Five nights all raw.
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For breakfast I have been doing green smoothies: cucumber, a little celery, a little kale, a little pear, sometimes parseley or spinach, and powdered hemp seed and Udo oil. Also serve Cheerios, organic strawberries, organic milk, whole wheat toast with apple butter and melon.
For my lunch: whole wheat bread, natural (but not raw) peanut butter, two small bananas, big handfuls of raw almonds, and a salad with sliced bok choy and spinach in a tamari vinagrette.
Packed lunches have banana and peanut butter sandwich, or carrot sticks to dip in peanut butter, or carrot sticks to dip in hummus with roasted red pepper, and an apple or orange or organic grapes, red bell pepper and cucumber slices, often a cheesestick, and sometimes an oatmeal raisen cookie. This is two snacks and lunch for them.
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This is just my best attempt to balance the needs of something low-cost, something easy to fix, etc.
Raw Spinach, Pear Salad - Add Roasted Squash when it becomes available
Raw Ginger-Carrot Soup, Raw Zoodles (zuchini noodles) with Chopped Tomato Sauce
Raw Satay Sauce, Raw Brocolli Stir-Not Fry
Non-raw Spicy Chana Dahl, and Raw SpinachSalad for me (non-raw Salmon and Veggies for husband)
Raw Asian Wraps in lettuce (leftover salmon in nori wrap for husband)
Raw Dill Dip and Veggies Sandwiches on Rawvolution Onion/zuchini Bread (non-raw baked Thyme Drumsticks for husband)
Taco-Rawcos in a lettuce wrap (leftover chicken for husband) OR Kashi/Amys frozen pizza and salad
---------------------------------------------------------------------
This is a menu that "really works" in terms of what people whose food I am responsible for making, will eat. Most everyone (except my husband) can eat vegan on this menu for all seven days and be very satisfied. Five nights all raw.
--------------------------------------------
For breakfast I have been doing green smoothies: cucumber, a little celery, a little kale, a little pear, sometimes parseley or spinach, and powdered hemp seed and Udo oil. Also serve Cheerios, organic strawberries, organic milk, whole wheat toast with apple butter and melon.
For my lunch: whole wheat bread, natural (but not raw) peanut butter, two small bananas, big handfuls of raw almonds, and a salad with sliced bok choy and spinach in a tamari vinagrette.
Packed lunches have banana and peanut butter sandwich, or carrot sticks to dip in peanut butter, or carrot sticks to dip in hummus with roasted red pepper, and an apple or orange or organic grapes, red bell pepper and cucumber slices, often a cheesestick, and sometimes an oatmeal raisen cookie. This is two snacks and lunch for them.
-------------------------------------------------
This is just my best attempt to balance the needs of something low-cost, something easy to fix, etc.
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