tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13524901767627803832024-03-05T03:44:09.092-08:00Alma FoodsThis website is dedicated to the study, discussion, and most importantly, the truth of food. And not just any food, no no no, whole, natural, organically-grown and local (if possible) food. Learn, teach, share inspiration, and always search for the truth.Samarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14432392176001887832noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1352490176762780383.post-9057077832286887562011-04-17T10:30:00.000-07:002011-04-17T10:30:04.384-07:00Spring into Clean (sans Chemicals!)What is around you, is in you. So, look around. What products are around you? Toothpaste full of dyes, chemicals, fillers, flavoring agents, foaming agents, and preservatives? What is in your makeup bag? In your pantry? Your closet? Your fridge? This spring, take small steps to live a cleaner, greener, more natural lifestyle. In this blog entry, I'll offer a few ways to help.<br />
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First, don't overwhelm yourself. Pick one category of things to go through, to clean out, to replace with healthier natural products. What are you ready to commit to? Are you ready to green-ify your hygiene routine? Maybe your laundry could use a natural spruce-up? Last year, I went through all my makeup and traded in everything for natural products.....yes, nail polish included. This year I went through my hygiene routine again and improved all my favorite beauty care recipes, some of which I will share with you in this entry. There are different levels of readiness so don't be hard on yourself for not being eager to immediately jump into the water without spending some time wading in the pool first. We are all willing to give up certain things, but don't push yourself too far outside your comfort zone; too much at once can feel overwhelming and often leads to failure. There are different hues of readiness and even some things you may not be willing to give up. That is ok. Embrace your choices, be human, and do the best you can.<br />
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If you're willing to peel back the mirrored face of your medicine cabinet and sift through your new, old, and mostly forgotten products, and to replace some with healthier counterparts, check out my review of a few reliable and amazing products below!<br />
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<i>Lotion</i><br />
For lotion, I use organic, unprocessed, extra virgin coconut oil that can be bought <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Health-Sun-Coconut-Organic-32-Ounce/dp/B004GDW51Y/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1302903429&sr=8-6">HERE</a>. </span></b>Did you know that what goes onto your skin becomes absorbed into your bloodstream? What goes on the outside ends up on the inside. So, I use only edible and organic products on my body that offer my skin, hair, and nails nutrition rather than chemicals. Extra virgin coconut oil helps minimize the appearance of scars, stretch marks, and it nourishes the skin by supplying vitamin E and omega 3s as well as other antioxidants and polyphenols! It keeps your skin smooth, radiant, and since it is 100% absorbable by the skin, it does not leave an oily film. It nourishes without being slippery, shiny, or greasy. I use it on my face as well and the ends of my hair to prevent the formation of split ends, which occur in dry, overly processed, and damaged hair.<br />
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<i>Soap</i><br />
When I don't make my own soap (a labor of love.....but certainly a labor!), I buy soaps that contain high-quality ingredients, natural scents, and no artificial anything. Some great brands are:<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Dr-Bronners-Pure-Castile-All-One-Lavender/dp/B001ET77OI/ref=sr_1_16?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1302903901&sr=1-16"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">Dr. Bronner's </span></b></a><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">, </span></b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/South-France-Vegetable-Verbena-4-25-Ounces/dp/B00429Q9K0/ref=sr_1_5?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1302903991&sr=1-5"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">South of France</span></b></a><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">, </span></b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Pangea-Organics-Italian-Geranium-Yarrow/dp/B001R4CL8M/ref=sr_1_2?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1302904070&sr=1-2"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">Pangea Organics</span></b></a>, and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Wild-Natural-Beauty-Honey-Soap/dp/B001JHVGA6/ref=sr_1_6?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1302904171&sr=1-6"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;"><b>Wild Natural Beauty</b></span> </a> soap. All of these brands offer organic ingredients, are chemical-free, use pure essential oils, produce high-quality soap bars that last a very long time, and are hypoallergenic.<br />
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<i>Shampoo and Conditioner</i><br />
What about shampoo? Conditioner? After searching for the best, most pure, simple, and natural shampoo and conditioner out there, I finally found them. The best I have ever used is a small brand whose products are made right here in NYC called <a href="http://wildsunshinebliss.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/earthly-delight.jpg"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">Earthly Delight</span></b></a>. The only place I have ever been able to find this amazing brand is in NY-state Whole Foods. The shampoo and conditioner boast natural ingredients such as: wheat germ, nettles, avocado oil, and rosemary. Anywhere else in the country where this brand might be difficult to impossible to track down, I always rely on <a href="http://www.aubrey-organics.com/default.aspx"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">Aubrey Organics</span></b></a><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">,</span></b> whose lines of shampoo and conditioner have never disappointed me. They are a cruelty-free company who uses certified organic ingredients, vegan raw materials, and never include anything synthetic or paraben-based in any of their products. Their <a href="http://www.aubrey-organics.com/ProductInfo/122.aspx"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">Green Tea Shampoo</span></b></a>,<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;"><b> </b></span><a href="http://www.aubrey-organics.com/ProductInfo/123.aspx"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;"><b>Green Tea Conditioner</b></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;"><b>,</b></span> <a href="http://www.aubrey-organics.com/ProductInfo/003.aspx"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;"><b>Henna Shampoo</b></span></a>, and <a href="http://www.aubrey-organics.com/ProductInfo/004.aspx"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">Henna Conditioner</span></b></a> can be found at any local health food store and sometimes even at expansive regular grocery stores. Natural shampoo, conditioner, and soaps have no fillers and empty ingredients in them, rendering the products very effective, gentle, but concentrated, so remember the succinct saying, "a little goes a long way," when using natural products (which hopefully is every day!).<br />
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<i>Liquid Soap and All-Purpose House Cleaner</i><br />
For liquid soap and dish soap, even laundry detergent, carpet cleaner, and soapy sudsy bath scent, you cannot find a better or more versatile product than <a href="http://www.drbronner.com/DBMS/LS.htm"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">Dr. Bronner's Liquid Soap</span></b></a>. With 18 uses and one concentrated bottle with scents like rose, eucalyptus, and citrus, you can celebrate saving all your money by splurging on some really comfortable <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">o</span></b><a href="http://www.gaiam.com/category/apparel/loungewear.do"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">rganic cotton pajama</span></b>s</a> that utilize cotton grown without the use of pesticides or herbicides and made without the use of synthetic dyes and materials.<br />
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<i>Toothpaste </i><br />
At the top of the charts for natural toothpaste is <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Toothpaste-Fresh-Mint-Herbal-Ounces/dp/B000M8E7R2/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1303056587&sr=8-6"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>Auromere Toothpaste</b></span></a>. They offer many flavors such as cardamoom-fennel, fresh mint, and licorice. Auromere's toothpaste is pure goodness. They are a little more expensive but their product is very concentrated and will normally last me almost an entire year! They use absolutely no fillers; only the best natural ingredients to protect your teeth and gums. These kinds of toothpastes, however, take a little time to get used to. They foam less (foaming is an experience the hygiene companies created for human pleasure, it actually does not denote cleanliness at all. Foaming agents are usually a chemical called sodium lauryl sulfate). Natural toothpastes also have a slightly different mouthfeel, the product feeling a bit heavier (ie more concentrated), and having less of a smooth jelly texture and more of a paste texture. The earthy color of natural toothpastes can also shock you at first, which is ironic considering the neon hues of modern branded toothpaste. With ingredients like: Fine Chalk (it absorbs chemicals and toxins, whitens, and is gentle yet abrasive enough to thoroughly scrub teeth),<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;"> </span></b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neem_oil"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">neem oil</span></b></a><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">, </span></b><a href="http://www.peelu.com/about-us.php"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">peelu</span></b></a>, rose apple, clove, Indian licorice root, sarsaparilla, and cardamom oil <i>instead </i>of the list of ingredients in conventional toothpaste, which includes a plethora of chemicals: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodium_dodecyl_sulfate"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>sodium lauryl sulfate</b></span></a> (also used as an engine degreaser), <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodium_fluoride#Safety"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">sodium fluoride</span></b></a> (toxic when ingested and the chemical used in roach and rat killer, used as nerve gas, and used by the Nazis to sterilize women), <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brilliant_Blue_FCF#Health_and_safety"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">FD&C Blue #1</span></b></a> (which causes allergic reactions, hyperactivity, and is banned in almost all of Europe), and the allergen, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polychlorinated_dibenzodioxins#Health_effects_in_humans"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">Dioxin</span></b></a>-precursor, and endocrine disruptor <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triclosan#Health_concerns"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>Triclosan</b></span></a>. Why ingest chemicals, synthetic additives....engine degreaser? There are many brands out there that offer extraordinary natural toothpaste products.....here are some other wonderful products:<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Toms-Maine-Antiplaque-Fluoride-free-Toothpaste/dp/B004M99CDG/ref=sr_1_13?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1303059417&sr=1-13"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">Tom's of Maine Fluoride-Free toothpaste</span></b></a><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;"><br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Peelu-Toothpaste-Spearmint-7-oz/dp/B00068R39M/ref=sr_1_1?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1303060531&sr=1-1"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">Peelu Toothpaste</span></b></a><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;"><br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Desert-Essence-Natural-Toothpaste-Essential/dp/B0000B11UW/ref=sr_1_1?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1303060668&sr=1-1"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">Desert Essence Tea Tree Toothpaste</span></b></a><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;"><br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Natural-Cosmetics-Healthy-Toothpaste-Cinnamon/dp/B000FGDID0/ref=sr_1_10?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1303060717&sr=1-10"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">Jason Mint-Cinnamon Fluoride-Free toothpaste</span></b></a><br />
and one of my all-time favorites: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Natures-Gate-Natural-Toothpaste-6-Ounce/dp/B001ET6Z6Y/ref=sr_1_12?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1303060797&sr=1-12"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>Nature's Gate Creme de Menthe all-natural toothpaste</b></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>. </b></span><br />
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That was a lot of information to digest. So, take some time, relax, mull over this article, and replace a few things at a time. Baby steps! For those of you interested in making your own homemade toothpaste, facial moisturizer, hair detangler and shine-enhancing spray, emollient facial scrub, and body scrub, be sure to check out the next blog entry this week which will be a lesson on homemade beauty and hygiene care products. The compete recipes and pictures will also be archived on the <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;"><a href="http://www.almafoods.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;">www.almafoods.com</span></a> </span></b>website under "INEDIBLES" in the RECIPE tab so you can enjoy making these same products year after year.<br />
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Happy spring cleaning!Samarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14432392176001887832noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1352490176762780383.post-75881059914838664942011-02-13T23:12:00.000-08:002011-02-13T23:17:31.060-08:00Natural Winter Remedies and Rethinking the Context of IllnessIt has come to my attention lately that the military-industrial complex is one of America's largest monetary expenditures. If people mimic their environment and doubly create an environment to mirror their internal landscape, then America's inflated and superfluous expense on war and our "national security" must resonate within most Americans as well. This analogy brings us to this blog installment's topic: Rethinking the Context of Illness. We load up our steel-barred shopping carts with all sorts of weapons that, since birth, we are conditioned to think of as necessary and healing, from Robitussin to Halls to Tylenol and even antibiotics. How much of what we believe in when it comes to the vein of medicine is actually a product of our own analytic mind, our own personal opinions, and how much of what we believe in is out of conditioning, ignorance, comfort, tradition, and even fear? How much of what we think we know do we actually know? And even further than that, how much of what we think we know is corroborated by objective evidence and works <i>with </i>our bodies instead of against them? We have an entire medical field full of intelligent life and wisdom within us, why not use it?<br />
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MESSENGERS<br />
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To understand illness and healing, we must first understand what illness is. Simply, it is a messenger sent by the body to inform your mind of imbalance.<br />
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Let's all pretend to be as excited about this topic as I am and consider some of the reasons your body will want to send you a message:<br />
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Have you been unhappy at work/in a relationship lately?<br />
Have you been too hard on your self or overworking your self?<br />
Have you avoided a situation or the emotions of an event such as a death in the family, a breakup, etc?<br />
Have you ever experienced a serious emotional/psychological/physical trauma and have been repressing <br />
the feelings of that for a long time?<br />
Are you in a difficult financial spot that is causing a lot of stress?<br />
Have finances and/or time constraints lately led you to ignoring your self, your personal happiness, and<br />
your health?<br />
Have you been eating poorly and not exercising?<br />
Have you been depressed or inside often, rarely socializing or getting out?<br />
Have you physically hurt yourself lately and ignored the pain, going on with life as usual?<br />
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There are so many reasons why one's body sets off alarms, ranging from emotional reasons to physical or psychological and even to biological. You are the most qualified person to know your body, so trust thyself! You are a physician, we are all physicians, with enough information at our disposal to understand ourselves, to take the time to heal, and to enjoy abundant health. How can we as people expect to help, care for, and heal others when we can not first heal ourselves? A great quote to follow is from Luke 4:23: "Physician, heal thyself." We are all our own caretakers. Your body is a wonderful body that wants to be joyful, healthy, clean, and alive. You have the ability to heal yourself. Trust in yourself!<br />
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UNDERSTANDING HOMEOSTASIS and IMBALANCE as the ROOTS of ILLNESS<br />
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Illness is the messenger your body sends to say "Captain, something is wrong here." Illness arrives when our internal landscape mirrors something like the game of minesweeper instead of one of those quintessential "peaceful landscape" photos that come as the default wallpaper to all new computers. Let's think about illness and health as a set of scales. One side of the scale is order, quiet, scarcity, minimalism, coldness, hardness, implosion, logic, thought, and cleanliness. The other side is chaos (not to be taken negatively), loudness, energy, explosion, indulgence, color, brightness, creativity, emotion, busy-ness, and warmth. This is essentially the whittled-down and American version of most concepts of medicine, illness, and healing in Asia: the Yin and the Yang. For simplicity purposes here, we will stick to the flawed but workable headings of Implosion and Explosion (also, Order and Chaos, respectively). At all times, we need to have a balance of the two. In meals, in our social experiences, with color, with love, with travel. When these two forced become tipped, our body is out of homeostasis, and our bodies strive very hard to reach this point, so, let's reward them, what do you say?<br />
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So, illness=imbalance. Our minds, emotions, and bodies are all connected. Have you heard the phrase, "You're going to worry yourself sick!" Well, there is a lot of veracity embedded in that statement. We have grown up in a society and a system that perpetuates the idea that the mind and body are separate and that emotions are something to be conquered. Emotions are our guidance systems, they help direct us , support us, and help us to engage in actions that help build our spirit, not tear it down. Emotions and thoughts influence the body, and thus can influence health. Doubtful? Check out <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;"><b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Molecules-Emotion-Why-You-Feel/dp/0684831872"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">THIS BOOK</span></a> </b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;">by Dr. Candace Pert, the woman who first discovered the opiate receptors in the brain and later found that neuropeptides (the molecules that neurons use to communicate with one another.....basically what allows you to think and your body to communicate with itself) were found all throughout the body, not only in our brains. This means that our thoughts affect our organs, our skin, our muscles, everything, just as much as a drug, sugar, or caffeine. Your entire body has the ability to think, to feel, to change and communicate. Illness can arise from imbalances caused by the environment, a relationship, negative thoughts, emotions, everything. So, when you first become ill, ask yourself what your body is trying to tell you. For example, I become ill every single Christmas without fail. I stress out about not having enough money to give people the gifts they deserve, then I beat myself up for it and I begin to feel inferior and surround myself with negative emotions. I begin to ignore my health because my self-esteem is hurt, and I stay up all night right before Christmas trying to make something meaningful and beautiful for the people I love. Then, I still feel like I cannot give them what I want to get them, what they deserve. So, my body reacts, and I become sick. I am forced to be calm, quiet, to heat well, to sleep, to relax, to forgive myself and love myself. Becoming sick is sometimes the best thing that could have happened. It reminds me to be loving and to take care of myself. Your illness is a message, is a gift. Respect it, understand it, and try to learn from it to prevent the imbalances from occurring again in the future. Maintain homeostasis with moderation, the middle path, and understanding. As</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"> <a href="http://www.drnorthrup.com/about/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;"><b>Dr. Christiane Northrup</b></span></a> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;">says in</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;"> <b><a href="http://www.abebooks.com/servlet/SearchResults?sts=t&tn=women%27s+bodies%2C+women%27s+wisdom&x=0&y=0"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">Women's Bodies, Women's Wisdom</span></a>: <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;">"</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;">For healing to occur, we must come to see that we are not so much responsible for our illnesses as responsible to them." </span></span></i></b></span></span></span><br />
<b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;"><br />
</span> </span></i></b><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;">A few natural winter remedies for you to enjoy while wrapped up in a blanket, taking time for yourself, and enjoying health:</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqc-ljATKDwRVMRteQ7yqOKQUpsG_hp0bNXKWodeTqf5Tbc7Qc8Y8856DD0G4BMkPfvmw9FMxSBY8k7XHfr5TKKbowQKNmAfcDcdMl1TvdPu1QCptuR-AllOxzu5HJOStPJg7GwYXFwSE/s1600/Halloween+%252710+%2526+Wisconsin+027.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqc-ljATKDwRVMRteQ7yqOKQUpsG_hp0bNXKWodeTqf5Tbc7Qc8Y8856DD0G4BMkPfvmw9FMxSBY8k7XHfr5TKKbowQKNmAfcDcdMl1TvdPu1QCptuR-AllOxzu5HJOStPJg7GwYXFwSE/s400/Halloween+%252710+%2526+Wisconsin+027.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;">A couple of cinnamon sticks boiled for 20 minutes in filtered water along with cloves and honey. Cloves are a natural pain killer, so if you are having toothaches, mouths sores, or a sore throat, soothe yourself with clove and cinnamon! Cinnamon helps regulate blood sugar levels, warms the body, and helps increase blood flow. </span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSjJDV3ayWwUIC7Hu-O2CIKEEs29wOXBUTsVUpasVvWcpEPCqmvBjO6XwNiPnnalVYQbiatMYIf_pRE-isRAAm7Jcrp7TrmlFlHp8Zhcy7pC20VW6_qrUeBG-ZrFhJDc_xXjUBhAliRos/s1600/Halloween+%252710+%2526+Wisconsin+033.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSjJDV3ayWwUIC7Hu-O2CIKEEs29wOXBUTsVUpasVvWcpEPCqmvBjO6XwNiPnnalVYQbiatMYIf_pRE-isRAAm7Jcrp7TrmlFlHp8Zhcy7pC20VW6_qrUeBG-ZrFhJDc_xXjUBhAliRos/s400/Halloween+%252710+%2526+Wisconsin+033.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;"> Sore throat recipe: a 2-inch knob of fresh ginger, sliced, and simmered in filtered water for 20 minutes. After 20 minutes, pour ginger infusion into a mug, add some raw and/or local honey and juice from a wedge of organic lemon. The ginger also helps stimulate blood flow, ease the stomach, warm the body, and fight infection. Lemon cleans and purifies and can help return mucus glands back to normal production. And, honey in small amounts boosts the immune system, provides energy, and provides valuable enzymes in addition to soothing the body medicinally.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmxEhV0QqVKyn41qCa8qpZvJ9CF2-_h01B5BVb9smQGMQhhGQ9dLKaTVeuRXw2fJI-J5XfLKanou2b0B9S8sjN8w9Y-KSszONwBHA00-8gZ19SWDtLoU1dgTKgN6vBqJr93AC_PwiOyZc/s1600/Halloween+%252710+%2526+Wisconsin+030.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmxEhV0QqVKyn41qCa8qpZvJ9CF2-_h01B5BVb9smQGMQhhGQ9dLKaTVeuRXw2fJI-J5XfLKanou2b0B9S8sjN8w9Y-KSszONwBHA00-8gZ19SWDtLoU1dgTKgN6vBqJr93AC_PwiOyZc/s400/Halloween+%252710+%2526+Wisconsin+030.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;">Apple Cider Vinegar. AKA The Miracle Cure. Is there anything ACV cannot treat? For great health in the winter months, drink a tablespoon of ACV in a glass of water upon rising. To help digestion, take a small tablespoon shot of ACV twenty minutes before eating, this stimulates enzyme production. ACV also helps break down food when eaten with food, say, in a salad dressing. It also soothes the throat when served hot with honey, it makes hair shiny when applied via a spritzer bottle after bathing, and ACV is an all-natural facial astringent when diluted with water 1:3. ACV helps brighten complexion, slough off old, dead cells, and helps restore the skin's natural PH to help prevent breakouts, overly-oily, or overly-dry skin! ACV also alkalinizes the body, which helps prevent disease and provide energy, and it provides powerful probiotics! </span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYmhYrImxw91TFQIuDjEhfgF2_1_Fw99ODecFXkfzA6mu71MdSlJdeInxHmLLtDF_1MKjRD2_Exf9VU9u21ihpwPb4pBSygB-MdSB7leTieLzwjoE9RwIm70Nd2f87x1CcZpP8jJDBxEs/s1600/Halloween+%252710+%2526+Wisconsin+035.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYmhYrImxw91TFQIuDjEhfgF2_1_Fw99ODecFXkfzA6mu71MdSlJdeInxHmLLtDF_1MKjRD2_Exf9VU9u21ihpwPb4pBSygB-MdSB7leTieLzwjoE9RwIm70Nd2f87x1CcZpP8jJDBxEs/s400/Halloween+%252710+%2526+Wisconsin+035.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;">A delicious mix of cinnamon, aged cloves, and black peppercorns for mulling with cider for a healthy winter drink. These spices which are heavy in natural oils, are also antibacterial, antifungal, and antimicrobial......a great mix for cleaning the house naturally.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;">As a close to this much, much belated blog entry, I want to apologize for the sporadic nature of my posts recently. I have been in the middle of a huge life change! Just this week I moved to Manhattan where my business partner and I are in the infant stages of opening our own organic, handmade, vegan chocolates bar coupled with a cocktail bar where all the luscious drinks are made from NY-state-made alcohol and NY-state-grown and freshly-pressed fruit! I will absolutely keep you all posted on this journey, thank you all for the support and the patience thus far!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;">Also coming this week are a few great meals: white bean cassoulet with roasted red peppers and olive oil, no-dairy mashed potatoes, caramelized onion gravy, and roasted cauliflower! And another surprise dish, a delicious local bluefish dinner, NYC restaurant reviews, and the "Are you getting enough water? Do you hate the taste/tastlessness of water? Here are some great drink ideas to help you drink more water, flush fat, detoxify, and get beautiful and feelin' great!" talk....I know, you can hardly even stand it. The suspense! For now, thank you all again for all the patience and for hanging onto this blog even though I have been neglecting an entry for quite some time now. Now go, be free, be healthy, and try to maintain that balance!</span>Samarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14432392176001887832noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1352490176762780383.post-71597634918572733982011-01-07T13:56:00.000-08:002011-01-07T13:58:48.350-08:00Feasting and Fasting: The Virtues of Greens (and sweet potato gnocchi!)I hope you all thoroughly enjoyed the holidays, found space for all of your shiny new toys, and are ready to jump off the feasting train. We'll step off slowly, don't worry. Easing into the spirit of the new year, let's align the focus of our minds and hearts with the focus of our bodies toward better health! In this blog installation (after much ado), we're going to explore the detoxifying abilities of greens, why chlorophyll helps your body to utilize nutrients, helps breathing and healing, and a delicious and easy sweet potato gnocchi recipe!<br />
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<b>Why Clean with Green? </b><br />
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After gorging on less-than-nutritous food all holiday season (as I have!), a lot of those foods have less than satisfactory effects. Too much processed high fructose sugar can actually tax your liver even more than the same amount of ethanol sugar--alcohol. That's right, sugar can also be a weapon against the body. Not to mention sugar lowering the effectiveness of one's immune system, causing the formation of cavities, and increasing the uric acid levels in the blood (high uric acid levels is the cause for gout and many other problems). Dairy can also increase uric acid levels int he blood, increase the production of mucus, and if inorganic, attack the body with an onslaught of hormones, antibiotics, and the types of fats that are too present in our modern diet, causing weight gain, acne, brittle hair, nails, and bones, and a sluggish metabolism.<br />
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I know, I know. Your new years resolution is now going to be to stop reading this blog because I keep threatening you with all of these ailments. BUT before you add me to your "blocked sites" list, know that buried deep in the epicenter of our guilt and fear of eating unhealthy foods, there is a great glimmer of hope: greens!! Think of it like Emerald City in the Wizard of Oz. The big "fix-all." That magical place of instant health, understanding, and forgiveness. I may not be able to promise magic teleportation shoes, a heart, or courage, I can absolutely do my best to lay down the path for you to reach optimum health and happiness (munchkin kids not included).<br />
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<b>Step 1:</b> Don't be afraid of failure. Try the dating scene. Get to know a few greens at your local store, co-op, farm, or farmer's market. Here are some great options, each suited for a different intention. To make it easy, I'll categorize the greens by the intentionality of their use.<br />
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SALAD GREENS: Spinach, frisee, Belgian Endive, red leaf lettuce, green leaf lettuce, parsley, cabbage sliced thin, romaine lettuce, mizuna, baby arugula, spring mix.<br />
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GREENS BETTER SUITED FOR COOKING: Spinach, escarole, swiss chard, red and green cabbage, lacinato (also called Dinosaur) kale, curly kale, collard greens, turnip greens, mature arugula, beet root tops, tough mizuna.<br />
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<b>Step 2: </b>After playing the field, have found some potential mates, then, be open. Test 'em out. Try one new green a week in a few different recipes. Become acquainted with its taste, its texture, its cooking time. Getting to know the taste of a green can help you understand its best purpose, ie, how to serve it. For example, arugula is spicy and pungent. Using a mustard vinaigrette would not be a wise choice since it too is spicy and pungent. Like in matchmaking, we're looking for balance. Consider a sweet but not overly saccharine choice to balance out the arugula. Sweet cherry tomatoes would be very nice. Or grilled roma tomatoes with olive oil, cracked pepper, and salt, or thin-sliced asian pear, orange segments, or the classic green apple pieces. Now, you'll need some salt for balance. For you dairy-eaters, try an unpasteurized chevre, stilton, or other sweet but salty cheese. For you vegans, try another salty options, maybe just a simple olive oil, salt, pepper, and orange juice vinaigrette? Maybe some cinnamon-and-salt-toasted pecans or walnuts? This same principle of balancing goes for cooking. Making a soup that needs some extra salt but you'd like to cut down on sodium? Try a handful of chopped parsley, which adds a lot of flavor and natural saltiness to foods. To balance the parsley's astringent qualities, you may need some sweetness. Tomato would work very well. Or a sweet bean like black-eyed-peas. Yum. Then a little tart, some fresh lemon juice to brighten it up. In the case of the tomato in soup, it provides both the tart and the sweetness to balance parsley. Then add some garlic, maybe some white beans, great northern beans, or butter beans, some escarole, chopped kale, or spinach and some chopped garlic finished with a swig of olive oil on top and a glass of red wine and you've got yourself a delicious and balanced soup with greens!<br />
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<b>Step 3: </b>Research. Think of this like the background check period. Get to know your greens' friends. Parsley and tomato spend a lot of time together.....escarole and kale love to mingle with olive oil and soft, buttery white beans. Frisee is a friend of the goat cheese+grilled fruit (such as peach, plum, or apple) combo, and spinach is the universal friend, cooked, raw, in soup, salad, on eggs, creamed, any way, spinach is the easy-going guy or gal. Look up pictures of greens so you aren't completely overwhelmed at the market or store with all these new foods and their missing labels in the produce aisle. Look up some traditional recipes from the area of origin of your green. Get to know its flavor profile and how it has been used throughout history. Let the knowledge of past cooks inform your choices and know-how now. Getting to know a new foods helps you to be able to use it well, releases fear or anxiety, and is fun......broaden those horizons! Become a vast source of knowledge and experience!<br />
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<b>Step 4: </b>After you've found your favorite greens, the honeymoon phase may begin to melt away and you may be searching for, well, a little more. Nothing to be ashamed of, greens monogamy is quite the boring game out there with so many options and combinations available. Always try new recipes, new ingredients....this will keep your interest so that eating well is always a new and enjoyable experience. So much diet failure comes from setting up a strict monotonous routine with the same few recipes again and again and again! Get out of that slump, experiment! Go ahead, try a menage a trois (with greens of course! I don't want to get any emails from angry husbands and wives in the morning......so, for now, stick to the swiss chard and spring mix).<br />
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<b>THE VIRTUES OF GREENS</b><br />
-Chlorophyll, the cells in plants that make them green, is very similar to a crucial part of human blood: hemoglobin. Chlorophyll helps build blood, stimulating the production of new cells.<br />
-Chlorophyll also brings oxygen to your cells, it increases the amount of oxygen in your body. Eat a huge bowl of steamed greens with olive oil, toasted garlic, salt, pepper, and balsamic vinegar. Eat slowly, chew well. Pay attention to how much larger your breaths are 30 minutes after eating if you chewed well. Chlorophyll is great for athletes, busy people, those looking to lose weight, and those wishing to have more energy. It floods the body with oxygen, bringing nutrients and energy to cells, cleaning the blood, cleaning the arteries and veins, increasing brain function by feeding the brain a lot of oxygen, and in combination with water, helps flush fat out of the body.<br />
-Greens require much, much less energy and water to produce than meat, thus helping stop global warming, superfluous energy spending, and the overuse of water.<br />
-Greens are easily found locally (more so than most other foods). Don't think so? Try one of these websites to find a CSA or Farmer's market near you: <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;"><a href="http://www.localharvest.org/farmers-markets/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">HERE</span></a> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">or </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;"><a href="http://www.eatwellguide.org/i.php?pd=Home"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">HERE</span></a>. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;">From my local farmer I can get 6 heads of organically-grown collard greens (my FAVORITE green!!) all winter and fall for only $6. With each head being about the size of 3 basketballs, that is enough greens for 2 people for 2 weeks......for $6!!!!! Can't beat that! </span></span></span></b><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;">-Greens promote healthy teeth by cleaning as you chew. AND get this......it even helps reverse signs of aging in the face. Developing strong jaw muscle and chewing food very well is like exercise for the face. It increases blood flow to the face, allowing skin to look younger and fresher, it tightens up sagging skin, promotes collagen production, which helps fill in wrinkles and make skin look more taut. New slogan: "Greens, the Original Face Lift." </span></span></b><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;">For more on chlorophyll, check out my basic class on polyphenols</span> <a href="http://almafoods.blogspot.com/2010/10/p-and-pea-eating-rainbow-and-vegetable.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;"><b>HERE</b></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;"><b>.</b></span><br />
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Now, a recipe using organic and local swiss chard, local eggs, and local sweet potatoes! This gnocchi recipe is delicious and very simple since you can make a lot ahead of time, freeze them, and boil them whenever you'd like.<br />
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SWEET POTATO GNOCCHI RECIPE:<br />
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<ul><li>1 lb of sweet potatoes, or about 4 sweet potatoes....if you have extra sweet potato, no problem, make a quick mash to serve with the gnocchi! </li>
<li>1/2 tsp cinnamon</li>
<li>1 tsp salt</li>
<li>1 tsp ground nutmeg</li>
<li>2 eggs</li>
<li>4 cups all-purpose flour</li>
</ul><div>-Preheat oven to 350 degrees. On a baking sheet, bake sweet potatoes in their skins, whole, for 50 minutes to an hour, until a fork easily penetrates the sweet potato and it feels like mashed potatoes on the inside. </div><div>-When the potatoes cool enough to touch, but are still very warm, peel off their skins and eat! Or feed your dog, or compost! </div><div>-Fill a big pot with water and place it on the burner to begin to heat.....we want this to reach a boil just as we begin to shape the gnocchi. </div><div>-Mash the sweet potatoes in a big bowl. Add salt and spices and mix well. </div><div>-Whisk in eggs and mix well. </div><div>-One cup at a time, add in the flour, mixing very well to avoid clumps. </div><div>-The batter should be slightly sticky....stiff-ish yet soft. </div><div>-I usually roll the gnocchi in logs and then cut them into their shapes, which is a tiring, inconsistent, and messy process. Just last night I experienced a new way of making them which has made me jump for joy! We'll call it the bag method. </div><div>-In a freezer ziploc bag or a large pastry bag (with a large tip attachment), fill with sweet potato mixture. -When the bag is full, create tension by twisting the end of the bag so that the bag becomes stiff and tight. Tie with a rubber band or hair tie. </div><div>-On the end of the ziploc bag, snip off the end to allow a hole the size of a dime. </div><div>-Ok, here's the fun part. When the water comes to a boil, squeeze out the sweet potato mix out of the bag SLOWLY over the pot of water. When the paste is coming out of the bag and reaches a length of about 3/4 inch, use a butter knife and cut down on the sweet potato mix shaped like a little cylinder. This should allow the little gnocchi to fall into the water (making sound effects at this point makes it a little more fun). </div><div>-Don't worry about all the gnocchi pieces going into the water at different times. You'll know when they are done. When they float, they're ready.....take 'em out with a slotted spoon, being careful not to squish them. Place them on an oiled sheet or plate. They should be soft but al dente after cooking, each piece done after about 2 1/2-3 minutes. </div><div> **I'll make a video on how to do this this week and I'll post it on a new blog installation so you can have some visual guidance. Once you get the hang of it, it is very easy, quick, and not messy at all. </div><div><br />
</div><div>SAUCE: </div><div>I served mine with a sage-olive oil sauce with some carmelized onions but feel free to use another option of you'd like. </div><div><ul><li>One spanish onion, sliced. </li>
<li>Grapeseed or coconut oil for sauteeing, or local butter. </li>
<li>salt to taste and pepper</li>
<li>1/2 tsp powdered, dried sage</li>
<li>dash of cinnamon </li>
</ul></div><div>-Cut one spanish onion into slices. </div><div>-Heat up oil in a pan on medium heat. </div><div>-Cook onions, stirring constantly once they lightly brown. They are done when soft and the color of those rip-your-teeth-out caramel squares that are omnipresent at CVS and dollar stores. </div><div>-Once the onions are done, add the salt, pepper, sage, and dash of cinnamon. Give a quick stir, let cook for about 20 seconds, then take the pan off the heat, add in more butter or oil to give the sauce body, then add the gnocchi to mix into the sauce and to warm. </div><div><br />
</div><div>SWISS CHARD SIDE: </div><div><ul><li>Use as much swiss chard as you'd like! I used about one pound.....I love my greens!</li>
</ul><div>-Fill a pot with an inch of water and place a steam basket in the pot. </div></div><div>-Cut the swiss chard where the green stops and only the stem exists. The stems take longer to cook, so we'll cut them in 1/2 inch pieces so they'll finish cooking in the same time as the greens. </div><div>-When water comes to a boil, put all swiss chard into the steam basket and steam, with the lid on, about 5 minutes on medium-high heat, until the stems are soft but still crunchy and leaves are a vivid green. </div><div>-When done, mix in a bowl with some salt, olive oil, and a little balsamic vinegar. </div><div><br />
</div><div>ASSEMBLY: </div><div>-Place a handful of swiss chard on each plate then top with a portion of the gnocchi mixed with the onions and sauce. </div><div>-Top all with a shaving of pecorino romano or cave-aged gruyere, if preferred. </div><div><br />
</div><div>ENJOY!!!! Here are the pictures. They demonstrate the old way of making gnocchi but I'll put up a video this week of "The Bag Method." </div><div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlTbWItN2QHjZgz9QdtfnTUfJCT7KmHaZ_YzUesFcKkz3y_xuOkIFZGOG61Xt7GHnBOSXGrvN_A2JnuCp-M0I5SBv9A5ORn1coByvp2ss7VJJo__wci1fexJaEGslDTFhbGumOm6g5zkw/s1600/Sweet+Potato+Gnocchi+and+Swiss+Chard+003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlTbWItN2QHjZgz9QdtfnTUfJCT7KmHaZ_YzUesFcKkz3y_xuOkIFZGOG61Xt7GHnBOSXGrvN_A2JnuCp-M0I5SBv9A5ORn1coByvp2ss7VJJo__wci1fexJaEGslDTFhbGumOm6g5zkw/s400/Sweet+Potato+Gnocchi+and+Swiss+Chard+003.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beautiful, vibrant orange yolks......can't get a color like this from the store!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mixing the dough.....getting as messy as possible of course</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs1ijbxUpMQXh6UowJEI8CL9g9JhWCjltbbXvRoZgNu5nB51xQtS3iBNiEoes6fUkhgWeeo8OnC-GYB4wpChJdfZfDk0r8O6rXHFHAIav3xJ6R_E43zEbKmKivS6VG7Cv5xEjVNpC0tA4/s1600/Sweet+Potato+Gnocchi+and+Swiss+Chard+006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs1ijbxUpMQXh6UowJEI8CL9g9JhWCjltbbXvRoZgNu5nB51xQtS3iBNiEoes6fUkhgWeeo8OnC-GYB4wpChJdfZfDk0r8O6rXHFHAIav3xJ6R_E43zEbKmKivS6VG7Cv5xEjVNpC0tA4/s400/Sweet+Potato+Gnocchi+and+Swiss+Chard+006.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just cut, pre-cooking</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gnocchi warzone</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKfeOPszuuDvwx-rLgiVpSAkyPVpdnnpwz6oUJOJ25hc3-ii-RdMmNRYJAXMhBqVIaXeQzUrRaiy-DB1yxRCidtOSn0geg9rtnxqmAxTuId04AoyxEVYoC4T-Gi1_bh3WBr_Hrm_lm05k/s1600/Sweet+Potato+Gnocchi+and+Swiss+Chard+008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKfeOPszuuDvwx-rLgiVpSAkyPVpdnnpwz6oUJOJ25hc3-ii-RdMmNRYJAXMhBqVIaXeQzUrRaiy-DB1yxRCidtOSn0geg9rtnxqmAxTuId04AoyxEVYoC4T-Gi1_bh3WBr_Hrm_lm05k/s400/Sweet+Potato+Gnocchi+and+Swiss+Chard+008.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pre-Sauced</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoMg-ylqjGDirKS7qt_G9qi2dSES81fETOa0s0P-A4eyzmKqYJCXc7anNGiZrH4HOfDR_r4O5JTfs9iKL4l-rooZpsvX7R2GcWyCmGrR1CzDTLDrfKZyBeZTIR60oaA2zKvkOgUkeZFTM/s1600/Sweet+Potato+Gnocchi+and+Swiss+Chard+009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoMg-ylqjGDirKS7qt_G9qi2dSES81fETOa0s0P-A4eyzmKqYJCXc7anNGiZrH4HOfDR_r4O5JTfs9iKL4l-rooZpsvX7R2GcWyCmGrR1CzDTLDrfKZyBeZTIR60oaA2zKvkOgUkeZFTM/s400/Sweet+Potato+Gnocchi+and+Swiss+Chard+009.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After cooking, mingling with a light olive oil finish to prevent them from sticking together. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg93WEG80E1EawzaCkmD0tloZZNEe9nYTmZGi9FOzebem29IxfM6gOIaq5wfTZWxdo0Zr04eXNZxF65zA56JrKyKcP_-FIgYKK7apx9FhXMazeRw-nV01Mo_iEvN9pZiMvBF0b8G7u1NSo/s1600/Sweet+Potato+Gnocchi+and+Swiss+Chard+013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg93WEG80E1EawzaCkmD0tloZZNEe9nYTmZGi9FOzebem29IxfM6gOIaq5wfTZWxdo0Zr04eXNZxF65zA56JrKyKcP_-FIgYKK7apx9FhXMazeRw-nV01Mo_iEvN9pZiMvBF0b8G7u1NSo/s400/Sweet+Potato+Gnocchi+and+Swiss+Chard+013.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Locavore's heaven</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuZ54aQ4i0HvoRe3dq3ZXxx8dLV-ew45ePOQLracKZGHZi5EEx7SPO7nR_t1R-x8GOqB3Hn-IN88_bQOPIC0oV_Pz6Ac8-D3QeU7lh2fm7OdT1e2IYdT-garRjPCWqtDEk9QB5ZI7oOsw/s1600/Sweet+Potato+Gnocchi+and+Swiss+Chard+017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuZ54aQ4i0HvoRe3dq3ZXxx8dLV-ew45ePOQLracKZGHZi5EEx7SPO7nR_t1R-x8GOqB3Hn-IN88_bQOPIC0oV_Pz6Ac8-D3QeU7lh2fm7OdT1e2IYdT-garRjPCWqtDEk9QB5ZI7oOsw/s400/Sweet+Potato+Gnocchi+and+Swiss+Chard+017.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Final Presentation</td></tr>
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</div><br />
<b><br />
</b>Samarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14432392176001887832noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1352490176762780383.post-31872827488688577922010-12-11T18:39:00.000-08:002010-12-11T18:39:13.123-08:00LET THEM EAT 4-LAYER CHOCOLATE CAKE!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNYwOGOfC0B7CniUS8emeZRwiix9-scWZlSzz749R924qc396qaXLp4hQFbMjDUoKywdgxe7lDGI7YO5rWPxoHtLkh3pYjF5qn1agXUBG8BOhMhsnm49JOnHRYZQUvmVDOsK5OYKn6DmI/s1600/4-layer+Chocolate+Cake+1+021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNYwOGOfC0B7CniUS8emeZRwiix9-scWZlSzz749R924qc396qaXLp4hQFbMjDUoKywdgxe7lDGI7YO5rWPxoHtLkh3pYjF5qn1agXUBG8BOhMhsnm49JOnHRYZQUvmVDOsK5OYKn6DmI/s640/4-layer+Chocolate+Cake+1+021.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">4-Tiered Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Cream Frosting and Peach Jam</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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Firstly, a BIG thank you to my mom who has always been there for me with love, support, and baking advice.......and who inspired me to cook from a very young age. Her help in making this cake is incomparable and she made it such a fun experience.....an amazing day!<br />
<br />
You heard that title correctly...... 4-Layer Chocolate Cake! Let me start out by justifying my actions with the bold statement that, in moderation, chocolate is healthy. That doesn't mean you'll live to be a hundred if you double up on your Snickers bar intake or that you'll lose weight, feel wonderful, and lose those wrinkles with a few extra bags of M&Ms.......but........it does mean that occasional high-quality dark chocolate indulgences can actually help increase the antioxidant power within your body, can help lower stress and blood pressure, elevate mood, relax muscles, and increase brain function. High-quality dark chocolate offers a host of benefits: omega-3s, magnesium, phenethylamine (PEA), and theobromine.<br />
<br />
GET HAPPY! WITH CHOCOLATE!<br />
Chocolate comes from a large tropical fruit called <i>theobroma cacao </i>that grows in South America. Cocoa is made from the beans of the fruit, which are roasted, pressed, and separated from the fat, resulting in a chocolate powder. The fat is called cocoa butter, which is the base of hard chocolates. Two of the naturally-occurring chemicals in chocolate are responsible for being the food of choice for post-break-up women all around the world. Why do women love their chocolate? Why do people feel so great gobbling down a thousand calories of Valentine's chocolates or Ben & Jerry's? Why do I mourn for days on end when the CVS down the street runs out of Dove dark chocolate? One answer may be that chocolate offers two chemicals mentioned earlier called phenethylamine (PEA) and theobromine. Both chemicals increase the levels of serotonin (the "happy" chemical) in the brain, making one feel similar feelings of being in love. Both chemicals increase mood, ease stress, lower tension, and help loosen arteries and increase blood flow, making one think clearer, have more energy, and feel happier. When confronted with the realization that an angry mob of starving people were storming he castle, Marie-Antoinette may have been onto something when she facetiously responded with, "Let them eat cake!" Especially if it was chocolate cake!!<br />
<br />
LIMBER, LOOSE, and LENGTH<br />
Winter makes you creaky. Brittle. Stiff. Cold. Don't you wish there was some magical thing that could make you feel good, help you warm up, get blood flowing, help your heart, and relax muscles? It's called a gym membership, lazy bones! Get running! But a more delicious option that requires absolutely no spandex, bench presses, or sweaty towels is chocolate! A good-quality dark chocolate helps increase circulation which brings blood flow to the colder parts of your body to warm them up. Increased blood flow also allows more calories and nutrients to reach cells, making your body energy stores more easily accessible. Increased blood flow also promotes healing, healthy-looking skin, and flexibility. Chocolate is also an amazing therapy for the heart (both emotionally and physically!) and it helps to lower blood pressure. A really amazing experience is to buy yourself a 70% organic cocoa chocolate bar, to eat about half of it veeerrrrryyyy slowly, having the chocolate melt in your mouth (this method releases the most "happy" chemicals in your brain), and then to hit the mat. The yoga mat that is. The chocolate helps provide the increased blood flow and relaxing feeling that both contribute to a successful jaunt in yoga. Or try some Tai Chi, dance, or just some simple stretches. Clean the kitchen, make the bed.......do something active, enjoy the moment, and feel the warmth flowing through your body and mind. And then thank your lucky stars for the conquistadors who brought the bitter ground cocoa to Europe where nations like Italy and France added sugar and made the confection we have today. Take a "me" day. Enjoy some music, buy yourself some good tea, read a book, do some yoga, write, or celebrate the holidays, friends, family, and all the riches in your life by baking a cake. Don't be afraid of it....it may seem a little intimidating but really, it is all just about following directions and being willing to learn and enjoy the process! Try something new, learn a few skills, eat some chocolate, enjoy the day before the craziness of the holidays really begins to set in! Gratitude and joy attract peace and plenty. <br />
<b><br />
</b><br />
<b>QUADRUPLE-TIERED CHOCOLATE CAKE with HOMEMADE PEACH JAM AND CHOCOLATE CREAM FROSTING</b><br />
<br />
Makes one 4-tiered cake. OR one 3-layered cake. OR 3 individual cakes!<br />
<br />
This cake freezes really really well, so no worries about extra!<br />
<br />
You will need:<br />
-electric mixer, either a stand-up Kitchenaid mixer or a hand-mixer<br />
-big, big bowls!<br />
-either three 8" or 9" cake pans OR 4 cake pans of varying sizes, none larger than 9"<br />
<br />
**For baking tips and hints, read <a href="http://almafoods.blogspot.com/2010/11/baking-101-and-double-chocolate-cookies.html" style="color: #0b5394;"><b>THIS </b></a><br />
<br />
<b>Ingredients for the BEST CHOCOLATE CAKE EVER:</b><br />
<ul><li>1 1/2 cups of local or at least organic unsalted butter, softened. This equals 3 sticks. </li>
<li>2 cups organic unsweetened cocoa</li>
<li>3 cups sifted, organic pastry flour or all-purpose flour </li>
<li>1 tsp baking soda</li>
<li>1/2 tsp salt</li>
<li>1 1/2 Tbsp pure vanilla extract</li>
<li>2 1/4 c organic sugar</li>
<li>2 cups organic whole milk, coconut milk, or soy milk</li>
<li>3 large eggs, beaten, plus 3 yolks</li>
<li>1 tsp <b style="color: #0b5394;"><a href="http://www.stevia.com/">stevia</a></b> or to taste, OR use 3 cups organic sugar</li>
</ul><b>Method for the BEST CHOCOLATE CAKE EVER: </b><br />
<b>-</b>Preheat oven to 350 degrees F<br />
<b>-</b>Grease all pans generously with butter<br />
-Sift salt, cocoa powder, flour, sugar, and baking soda together in a bowl and mix thoroughly<br />
-Mix softened butter, vanilla, eggs, milk, and stevia together in another bowl and beat with a mixer or by hand until a smooth consistency is reached and all ingredients are combined.<br />
-In a mixer, slowly add about 1/2 cup at a time of the dry ingredients to the wet on medium speed, mixing well in between adding the dry mixture.<br />
-When all ingredients are incorporated, beat on high speed about 3 minutes.<br />
-Pour batter into cake pans 1/2 inch away from the top rim.<br />
-Bake about 25-50 minutes, remembering that if you are making a tiered cake, the smaller cakes will be done much quicker than the larger ones, so keep a diligent eye.<br />
-Cake is ready when top cracks open a bit and when a knife is inserted fully into the cake, it comes out clean.<br />
-Let cakes cool in their pans rested atop wire racks to allow the bottom of the pans to cool.<br />
-After 15 minutes, gently and quickly flip cakes over onto wire racks or plates to rest<br />
<br />
<b>Ingredients for CHOCOLATE CREAM FROSTING:</b><br />
<ul><li>24 oz semi-sweet chocolate morsels </li>
<li>4 cups organic heavy cream OR 4 cups coconut milk heavy cream</li>
<li>1 tsp organic light corn syrup</li>
<li>1 tsp pure vanilla extract </li>
</ul><b>Method for CHOCOLATE CREAM FROSTING: </b><br />
**Warning: This Frosting seems to be a pain but it is WORTH IT!!! It may be one of the best frostings you have ever had......<br />
<br />
-Put a pot of water on the boil<b> </b> <br />
-Place a large metal bowl over the top of the pot and place chocolate int he bowl, stirring it constantly as it melts. This process is tempering chocolate....to temper, read Baking 101 <a href="http://almafoods.blogspot.com/2010/11/baking-101-and-double-chocolate-cookies.html" style="color: #0b5394;"><b>HERE</b></a><br />
-Once melted, add cream and mix well, keeping over heat.<br />
-On medium-high heat, stir chocolate-cream mixture for 30-35 minutes. It may be very runny or thick.......as long as you followed the directions, no worries, it will thicken. <br />
-After 30-35 minutes of stirring, take bowl off heat and stir in the vanilla and corn syrup.<br />
-Place bowl in fridge and let set a minimum of two hours, until thick.<br />
<br />
<b>ASSEMBLY OF CAKE: </b><br />
-You will need the thickened frosting, the cooled cakes, an <b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Ateco-1307-Medium-Offset-Spatula/dp/B000BRQXVW/ref=sr_1_1?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1292117131&sr=1-1" style="color: #0b5394;">offset spatula, </a></b>a piping bag and tips if you want to pipe decorations on the cake. These are cheap, fun, and you can use them for cake decorating, cookies, and even savory hors d'oeuvres.<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Ateco-14-Piece-Cake-Decorating-Set/dp/B000BVFYTA/ref=sr_1_15?ie=UTF8&qid=1292117031&sr=8-15"> <b style="color: #0b5394;">HERE</b></a> is a great beginning set! <br />
-AND you'll need 2 1/2 - 3 cups of a good-quality jam that goes well with chocolate. Raspberry would be amazing, as would apricot, strawberry, or marmalade. I used a homemade peach and star anise jam made from NY peaches I dried in my dehydrator when I lived up in the Hudson Valley.........it was a great-tasting combo!<br />
-Ok, so spread a thick layer of about 1/3-1/2 inch of jam on the bottom of each tier except the bottom tier and then stack them evenly straight up. If you are making a layered cake instead of tiers, spread a thick layer of jam on top of each layer and stack the layers.<br />
-Make sure cake is steady, not leaning, etc, and that the jam is thick enough to hold the cake layers/tiers up.<br />
-Cover cake with a very thick layer of frosting......it doesn't have to look good at all. Just throw it on! You'll see my pictures below. Cover every part of the cake.<br />
-Using the offset spatula and a pitcher of very hot water and a towel, get the spatula hot int he water, wipe off the water, and use the heat to evenly spread and smooth the frosting on the cake. The best way the do this is to hold the spatula so it looks like an "l" and slowly go around the edges of each tier and then carefully around the top of the tiers, making neat meeting points where the top and sides meet. A great beginning book to help you build a repertoire of basic cake and decorating skills is <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Martha-Stewarts-Baking-Handbook-Stewart/dp/0307236722/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1292117786&sr=1-1"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">THIS BOOK</span></b></a>. I have this book and love, love, love it. The Swiss Buttercream Frosting recipe in that book is to die for!<br />
-You are DONE! Well, unless you'd like to fancy your cake up a bit.....which, of course you do! Why go through all that trouble to have a boring cake? For a classically beautiful and easy look, go to your local store or florist and buy some flowers like daisies, violets, or pansies and stick flowers to the cake and around it.....lovely!<br />
-If you'd like to decorate, get some extra frosting and fill your pastry bag. Put on the many-pronged circular sunburst tip, tie end of bag with a rubberband and make little sunbursts/flowers around each layer/tier and covering the top of the top layer/tier and covering the entire sides of the first tier.....you'll see what I am talking about in the pictures.<br />
<br />
--Enjoy your work! Have a party! Show this beauty off and relax with chocolate and these pictures!! <br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTzXfbSUiFfVsevH9pM23lOnaaokORpu98DssNNUYZBwTM-DsnhA-BlEHK1IbdUZuQZG0-ZO51eJeRv-mArSw9CbaFwXX0f01H9r35FCRI4VFXrXetlj8T1Rd3sX40gg-jNJX5DseK684/s1600/4-layer+Chocolate+Cake+1+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTzXfbSUiFfVsevH9pM23lOnaaokORpu98DssNNUYZBwTM-DsnhA-BlEHK1IbdUZuQZG0-ZO51eJeRv-mArSw9CbaFwXX0f01H9r35FCRI4VFXrXetlj8T1Rd3sX40gg-jNJX5DseK684/s400/4-layer+Chocolate+Cake+1+001.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stewing my peaches to make jam....</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEqlmAfHymMjc49i8viPth2Jnp_SIyV6QZPsfFTMFtuud259FhbcPfwfUZOJOBiPZ3BwMnMbtPTlsEjiLyDt6UqIjKvLkK7Ga-2dBfvvWtRMDcxsL5XL6PpCupO3Crcc0BLwdFQXmuY48/s1600/4-layer+Chocolate+Cake+1+003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEqlmAfHymMjc49i8viPth2Jnp_SIyV6QZPsfFTMFtuud259FhbcPfwfUZOJOBiPZ3BwMnMbtPTlsEjiLyDt6UqIjKvLkK7Ga-2dBfvvWtRMDcxsL5XL6PpCupO3Crcc0BLwdFQXmuY48/s400/4-layer+Chocolate+Cake+1+003.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My peach & star anise jam in jars</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifdPStovnLYNsvMpan78XjAco0eGCO7S326DcrXrQBx0z_zDqhO35_BxSiY_okvmoiN2LZwya6TBugKG2FZSBqDAVMwHCj0p1iYwyANrg0NrFWFwKTkAG3JHNVEGbVwxbjEO6FIA66kv8/s1600/4-layer+Chocolate+Cake+1+004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifdPStovnLYNsvMpan78XjAco0eGCO7S326DcrXrQBx0z_zDqhO35_BxSiY_okvmoiN2LZwya6TBugKG2FZSBqDAVMwHCj0p1iYwyANrg0NrFWFwKTkAG3JHNVEGbVwxbjEO6FIA66kv8/s400/4-layer+Chocolate+Cake+1+004.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Varying sizes of cake pans I used......some springform, some not. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyGz0d3CI0H64mgTgX-8nUYCUN4fL-2fENAuT8Ua60K-MbxKgjw4cJ7TDqzeYE6_0dQE0bxKwbTWRwFYv6BFXO-XBuZEmifOrao5JLb3O3aTaKgMkDGkm72GBVhK1FQzLd497V5-d7ZRA/s1600/4-layer+Chocolate+Cake+1+005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyGz0d3CI0H64mgTgX-8nUYCUN4fL-2fENAuT8Ua60K-MbxKgjw4cJ7TDqzeYE6_0dQE0bxKwbTWRwFYv6BFXO-XBuZEmifOrao5JLb3O3aTaKgMkDGkm72GBVhK1FQzLd497V5-d7ZRA/s400/4-layer+Chocolate+Cake+1+005.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The butter, cut up to make mixing easier</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguWe-XZzTWkeNVu_s5YBYPreRmOCDBbXVCR6hZmXAM1We4DFrLUZpwIUnQjSqtJANb9bfNzE35bM6aNDqZBjnVA3SilAlRyZQVC4Or46Zzg3O8yV0thoAu6Ki9CLg86nj_K_sXUDTB1TI/s1600/4-layer+Chocolate+Cake+1+006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguWe-XZzTWkeNVu_s5YBYPreRmOCDBbXVCR6hZmXAM1We4DFrLUZpwIUnQjSqtJANb9bfNzE35bM6aNDqZBjnVA3SilAlRyZQVC4Or46Zzg3O8yV0thoAu6Ki9CLg86nj_K_sXUDTB1TI/s400/4-layer+Chocolate+Cake+1+006.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The wet mix!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-kXUVTMWDg55ktFeJotm5HQc8iOAKuDKnhb4OB-8mtnDZ4TjuDaxpzTMmrT8SDProBZYjLeRrP5L_nCy_-fHW7gnociyz18Ja_tF3EL7aKXiVhRydRzqhxHo_cBcn2jG6-i3c_OD6RzM/s1600/4-layer+Chocolate+Cake+1+007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-kXUVTMWDg55ktFeJotm5HQc8iOAKuDKnhb4OB-8mtnDZ4TjuDaxpzTMmrT8SDProBZYjLeRrP5L_nCy_-fHW7gnociyz18Ja_tF3EL7aKXiVhRydRzqhxHo_cBcn2jG6-i3c_OD6RzM/s400/4-layer+Chocolate+Cake+1+007.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The dry mix!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0bPJNFrP7tL1yO4w-HekOJqNL7zQngrWpysvNqecvXg7QkgmVr2k_hE56N6tZWhDpPKva7xG1YRmCXYnqOWy7T3kujjUViOqF76O_g2jP7_hNLSCxboiVK8oeWs_IjTNixAW0eRonHRg/s1600/4-layer+Chocolate+Cake+1+008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0bPJNFrP7tL1yO4w-HekOJqNL7zQngrWpysvNqecvXg7QkgmVr2k_hE56N6tZWhDpPKva7xG1YRmCXYnqOWy7T3kujjUViOqF76O_g2jP7_hNLSCxboiVK8oeWs_IjTNixAW0eRonHRg/s400/4-layer+Chocolate+Cake+1+008.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This bottom tin is lined with parchment to make clean-up easier and to help prevent the cake from sticking</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiZIvccwKS2TAMXEmW9esKNVHCjXy8YAbarqOuhyCgv6D0sJDp5mLqALkt4IMH0J3dXIpgfmSX3w2cPUlLps1LP9kONHCZqQCdKJg6CVQTenITzVK2iI07rdgXei6wseeXaTe1Nv_P9HU/s1600/4-layer+Chocolate+Cake+1+009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiZIvccwKS2TAMXEmW9esKNVHCjXy8YAbarqOuhyCgv6D0sJDp5mLqALkt4IMH0J3dXIpgfmSX3w2cPUlLps1LP9kONHCZqQCdKJg6CVQTenITzVK2iI07rdgXei6wseeXaTe1Nv_P9HU/s400/4-layer+Chocolate+Cake+1+009.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me mixing away!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Z-cOskPXvaQqd1aX9bGq1TasMfpqIjWGqjfEWAdwHqbgrfAQKBsxJMVdO84rSDXvbSU64VQhGj4VHetBPeL7rVDOKN3SipTtixougI-ORVkUTu7RmK7UIXcC90HXo9tpPgnUtvgzGbc/s1600/4-layer+Chocolate+Cake+1+011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Z-cOskPXvaQqd1aX9bGq1TasMfpqIjWGqjfEWAdwHqbgrfAQKBsxJMVdO84rSDXvbSU64VQhGj4VHetBPeL7rVDOKN3SipTtixougI-ORVkUTu7RmK7UIXcC90HXo9tpPgnUtvgzGbc/s400/4-layer+Chocolate+Cake+1+011.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The batter!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKO6Tse3Vz7BRW9QK_zLVhyphenhyphen7Y3zWTd1kLX159fLaKw3r824mpusFzT_vtt5RBH-0MzhXKdg8p-n13Cf2t7J05pEqpyHZX_qzq3m-n3GvqnFn1bEzzHp_o57POI_4Sxzf3AXRm3VDgEe7I/s1600/4-layer+Chocolate+Cake+1+012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKO6Tse3Vz7BRW9QK_zLVhyphenhyphen7Y3zWTd1kLX159fLaKw3r824mpusFzT_vtt5RBH-0MzhXKdg8p-n13Cf2t7J05pEqpyHZX_qzq3m-n3GvqnFn1bEzzHp_o57POI_4Sxzf3AXRm3VDgEe7I/s400/4-layer+Chocolate+Cake+1+012.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Baking the cakes!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixo2yTZDL0PdhgxiDFFQUpnDrMR2RZSJ6jpWA6JmRaURYzrRaRA6Re6oPsPSXz3I4tIkyiRVvfbe25NuGki8b4qktUgZrIIuQT6kUKrwMerrvsyGg0RXlUSECEvlk28pmyq34v3Ilcj2k/s1600/4-layer+Chocolate+Cake+1+013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixo2yTZDL0PdhgxiDFFQUpnDrMR2RZSJ6jpWA6JmRaURYzrRaRA6Re6oPsPSXz3I4tIkyiRVvfbe25NuGki8b4qktUgZrIIuQT6kUKrwMerrvsyGg0RXlUSECEvlk28pmyq34v3Ilcj2k/s400/4-layer+Chocolate+Cake+1+013.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Making the frosting in the stove</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhARQFPHGEY4NDKbQP8-cLlpggHag3jJbCrZ7U9OpfKFOZDVvWi2_jUljltIkGMv-enBtGhWQvhopiMbJTTMF1xy4MBejIG7_frCBYUWXFjr8C6LCAHk6Sa0PAN1ngMQFeUcWLbUOpnJSI/s1600/4-layer+Chocolate+Cake+1+014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhARQFPHGEY4NDKbQP8-cLlpggHag3jJbCrZ7U9OpfKFOZDVvWi2_jUljltIkGMv-enBtGhWQvhopiMbJTTMF1xy4MBejIG7_frCBYUWXFjr8C6LCAHk6Sa0PAN1ngMQFeUcWLbUOpnJSI/s400/4-layer+Chocolate+Cake+1+014.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cake cooling on a wire rack</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Qb1REEdNcjDv8pw5x1t8gOCTzLzKOLsAVnWwmBOqsyv7V5bYYvErFv21hOhsCJ9X4GggyE7tivZzqziOKfD9QP5UYrItBeoWhyvx4SEMh3rgC4IKjryQMOJ1HptC-t2oKR_nvo_etIQ/s1600/4-layer+Chocolate+Cake+1+015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Qb1REEdNcjDv8pw5x1t8gOCTzLzKOLsAVnWwmBOqsyv7V5bYYvErFv21hOhsCJ9X4GggyE7tivZzqziOKfD9QP5UYrItBeoWhyvx4SEMh3rgC4IKjryQMOJ1HptC-t2oKR_nvo_etIQ/s400/4-layer+Chocolate+Cake+1+015.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The cake assembled but naked</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJE206V23WKJfmfLRTijMI6uhA3IRIb9LE1E08ZHwnz8Bq6j4qXQ4bmnpSEgg1T6QNNcvMP5GKy2hKh1ZTjehTrwDY0K8AZtdiRQkxYj65DGdA7bBxBieWAvCqiAlH3LcsXC2i_RJiJ-w/s1600/4-layer+Chocolate+Cake+1+016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJE206V23WKJfmfLRTijMI6uhA3IRIb9LE1E08ZHwnz8Bq6j4qXQ4bmnpSEgg1T6QNNcvMP5GKy2hKh1ZTjehTrwDY0K8AZtdiRQkxYj65DGdA7bBxBieWAvCqiAlH3LcsXC2i_RJiJ-w/s400/4-layer+Chocolate+Cake+1+016.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Putting on the frosting to cover before shaping</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguSSNi_u2cc20Ld700emn57k3TBKs_quldZqVq2Oxnu_eTtLwJAX3IJntnSj7Jbrpdk_xHp_zoYjIiQuouCujhtOyJQLUOSKhxq0ka8LXFvwXEWTab9iVjcu6ql9dMX4naoB68pr9LSSg/s1600/4-layer+Chocolate+Cake+1+019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguSSNi_u2cc20Ld700emn57k3TBKs_quldZqVq2Oxnu_eTtLwJAX3IJntnSj7Jbrpdk_xHp_zoYjIiQuouCujhtOyJQLUOSKhxq0ka8LXFvwXEWTab9iVjcu6ql9dMX4naoB68pr9LSSg/s400/4-layer+Chocolate+Cake+1+019.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The finished cake!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4kZQSWtC97FS3YQ-3cOosEycHavrk0c6YazSPXHrO9o9IQV79pjbQ-rkXO07pC97ilRGHpHly8RrCnwXaI4zXXG5vymoWfW0D4xqYRwoOsm47stAjWCLHyPAlkftf0xwRPdIA5oXpMW8/s1600/4-layer+Chocolate+Cake+1+020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4kZQSWtC97FS3YQ-3cOosEycHavrk0c6YazSPXHrO9o9IQV79pjbQ-rkXO07pC97ilRGHpHly8RrCnwXaI4zXXG5vymoWfW0D4xqYRwoOsm47stAjWCLHyPAlkftf0xwRPdIA5oXpMW8/s400/4-layer+Chocolate+Cake+1+020.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And it tasted even better than it looks!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxSCLU4R0UhdYt-VPKyZR22YhvFs4bCXy0z6cg41C74zg9g-9Kwd2fZJkLorTqGCl4dGxGdtMs9ZZ8nQG4ntSdLLgfWtCZP8IU9IKD1eLUdwu-2OQA681VEGfnXOGPbpdKxGYMPmdqWS8/s1600/4-layer+Chocolate+Cake+1+018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxSCLU4R0UhdYt-VPKyZR22YhvFs4bCXy0z6cg41C74zg9g-9Kwd2fZJkLorTqGCl4dGxGdtMs9ZZ8nQG4ntSdLLgfWtCZP8IU9IKD1eLUdwu-2OQA681VEGfnXOGPbpdKxGYMPmdqWS8/s400/4-layer+Chocolate+Cake+1+018.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">For my aunt Candy's birthday!!! </td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib7ywSzgJNL68cNDQnXNQ19Ickedia3WoA6TRhu1ak6nd_eOJjlfFao-13EB6vdlerWALYkYgLH86VOUenmEnXIr1vE_YCsiC8LBJgJAbDSPL0G8KqI4HSWImxUMWb4Qo4guzUDuwZxGc/s1600/4-layer+Chocolate+Cake+1+022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib7ywSzgJNL68cNDQnXNQ19Ickedia3WoA6TRhu1ak6nd_eOJjlfFao-13EB6vdlerWALYkYgLH86VOUenmEnXIr1vE_YCsiC8LBJgJAbDSPL0G8KqI4HSWImxUMWb4Qo4guzUDuwZxGc/s400/4-layer+Chocolate+Cake+1+022.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cross-section to show jam and layers!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKC8ht5_-bN4LyGWlljOoYh4ipWg7FlCmomiuXvOANmUYAYfrT0Nx_jFrNVu3rGy1w2HOWk-shAEyLh_bYsjr3Gp9F0znU3iOQEOzQSiYX5j8odTgsMZWa32ZqsxDEykTY5-vvyt5LxYM/s1600/4-layer+Chocolate+Cake+1+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKC8ht5_-bN4LyGWlljOoYh4ipWg7FlCmomiuXvOANmUYAYfrT0Nx_jFrNVu3rGy1w2HOWk-shAEyLh_bYsjr3Gp9F0znU3iOQEOzQSiYX5j8odTgsMZWa32ZqsxDEykTY5-vvyt5LxYM/s400/4-layer+Chocolate+Cake+1+001.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My aunt Candy so happy to have a delicious cake made with love for her birthday!!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Samarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14432392176001887832noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1352490176762780383.post-71392160369675756502010-11-30T21:48:00.000-08:002010-11-30T22:00:52.686-08:00Baking 101 and Double Chocolate Cookies OH MY!<div style="color: #674ea7;">Happy post-Thanksgiving I-ate-way-too-much-and-am-mourning-the-loss-of-my-money-after-Black-Friday day!! I hope you all learned to cook something new, enjoyed family, and ate at least one thing green or otherwise marginally healthy! If you did, good for you. Treat yourself with some Double Chocolate Snow Cookies (recipe will follow). If you failed at the healthy thing, then you may as well just dig the hole deeper and eat this great dessert anyway!</div><div style="color: #674ea7;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #a64d79;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">I know, I know. This is a blog about health and nutrition.....why are there cookies and cakes littering the pages? Not that you're complaining, right? This may be a blog about being healthy, but I would argue that happiness coupled with a little sweetness once in a while is a necessary part of a healthy lifestyle. Dancing in the kitchen to Cher, Ani DiF</span><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; color: #674ea7;">ranco, or White Snake while mixing a bowl of double chocolate batter and eating spoonfuls of powdered sugar (have you ever really tried that? It's impossible!) can also be a cathartic and meditative experience. Let that creativity out! Let out that squeaky off-pitch voice! Learn some basic baking skills, unearth your most embarrassing guilty pleasure music, lock your front door so your significant other won't walk in to the best opportunity for black mail ever, and get cookin'!</span></div><br />
<div style="color: #674ea7;"><b>Baking Skills and Tips 101: Cookies</b></div><div style="color: #674ea7;">All right, so let's go over some of the basic ingredients in cookies, what they do (the chemistry of them), what they are about, and what kind is best for these desserts.</div><div style="color: #674ea7;"><br />
</div><i style="color: #674ea7;">Flour: </i><span style="color: #674ea7;">There are a bagillion (yes, I counted) types of flour. Chestnut flour, millet flour, spelt flour, bleached white flour, pastry flour, whole wheat flour, organic flour.....and many more. And they all have their uses. For cookies, whole wheat flour is healthiest yet it imparts a very strong taste to cookies that makes them, well, less than delicious. In my last recipe of </span><a href="http://almafoods.blogspot.com/2010/11/orange-blossom-and-crystallized-ginger.html"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">Orange Blossom Water and Crystallized Ginger Cookies </span></b></a><br />
<div style="color: #674ea7;">I used brown rice flour for its subtle nutty sweetness and health benefits. This kind of flour works well with heartier cookies like oatmeal, chocolate chip, espresso cookies, and so on. For chocolate-dough cookies I prefer to use organic unbleached all-purpose flour. This type should be your basic cookie flour unless otherwise specified for a specialized cookie. </div><br />
<span style="color: black;"><i style="color: #674ea7;">Sugar: </i><span style="color: #674ea7;">There are so many sweeteners out there! Agave, maple syrup,</span> <b><a href="http://www.wholesomesweeteners.com/brands/Wholesome_Sweeteners/Fair_Trade_Certified_Organic_Sucanat.html" style="color: #0b5394;">Sucanat, </a></b></span><b><span style="color: #0b5394;"><a href="http://www.stevia.com/" style="color: #0b5394;">stevia</a><span style="color: #0b5394;">,</span></span></b><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: black;"> <span style="color: #674ea7;">crystallized sugar, powdered sugar; and, they all have their uses. Remember that baking is about science and balancing the equation of wet and dry ingredients. So, if you want to make a cookie with maple syrup as the sweetener, you'd have to balance that by adding more flour. If you want to make a crumbly cookie like shortbread, you'd use confectioner's sugar (powdered sugar) instead of regular sugar since regular sugar melts and turns into a binder in cookies. Say you make my Double Chocolate Snow Cookies and you are watching your cane sugar intake and want a healthier option. Lessen the amount of sugar the recipe calls for, add in more</span> </span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><b><a href="http://www.wholesomesweeteners.com/brands/Wholesome_Sweeteners/Fair_Trade_Certified_Organic_Sucanat.html" style="color: #0b5394;"> </a></b></span><b><span style="color: #0b5394;"><a href="http://www.stevia.com/" style="color: #0b5394;">stevia</a></span></b><span style="color: #0b5394;">, <span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">and replace the crystallized sugar with maple syrup, which has a lot of minerals and vitamins. Now that you have introduced more liquid into the mix, you will also need to add more dry ingredient to balance the equation. So, add some more flour or cocoa powder. It takes some experimenting to really know the ropes but that is ok. Enjoy, experiment, and soon you'll be able to create any combination of flavors and your own recipes just by understanding the chemistry behind baking.</span> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: black;"> <i style="color: #674ea7;">Eggs: </i><span style="color: #674ea7;">Like butter, eggs are a binder. If you have ever made meatloaf you know that it calls for eggs. In meatloaf, bread, and cookies, eggs are the glue that holds the product together. Eggs are comprised of two parts: the yolk and the white. The yolk is the fat and it makes cookies, brownies, cake, and bread denser, richer, and more moist. The whites are the protein and it makes desserts crunchier, crumbly, and fluffier. In most recipes, you need a balance of rich and fluffy, but, in some chocolate recipes it helps to add an extra egg yolk in for richness. If ever you have added too much flour to a recipe that has already called for eggs and you don't know what to do, you have two options to create a balanced product. You can add more eggs or more butter. Next time the flour bag tips over into you dough and you are crying on the floor, wondering what in heck you're going to do now that your cookies are ruined and your friends will be disappointed and will disown you....no worries.....you've got the knowledge to fix it up like it never happened! </span></span></span><br />
<div style="color: #674ea7;"><br />
</div><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: black;"><i style="color: #674ea7;">Salt: </i><span style="color: #674ea7;">You're probably thinking yourself, "oh, yeah...........why IS salt in every cookie recipe???" You may have seen salt called for in every cookie recipe ever and you've always added it without thinking about it or you've completely ignored it. "Salt has no place in a cookie!!" you may be screaming at your computer screen now. I hate the be the bearer of bad news but....salt is a cookie's best of best friends. Think of a beautiful woman. Now think of her with knotted hair, eyebrows like</span> <b><a href="http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.oceansbridge.com/paintings/artists/k/frida-kahlo/big/self-portrait-with-monkey-and-parrot-1942-xx-costantini-collection-buenos-aires.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.oceansbridge.com/oil-paintings/product/58843/selfportraitwithmonkeyandparrot1942&usg=__q5TmNvIBmI-Pc5zRziq7-uOQ-z4=&h=644&w=500&sz=66&hl=en&start=0&sig2=pYa2tFGusXS50t9Y96RZsw&zoom=1&tbnid=_hSzLB9HwmKRHM:&tbnh=132&tbnw=102&ei=D7_1TMuRNsP58AbrpIzEBw&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dself%2Bportrait%2Bwith%2Bmonkey%2Band%2Bparrot%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26biw%3D1280%26bih%3D578%26tbs%3Disch:1&um=1&itbs=1&iact=rc&dur=266&oei=D7_1TMuRNsP58AbrpIzEBw&esq=1&page=1&ndsp=27&ved=1t:429,r:0,s:0&tx=90&ty=62" style="color: #0b5394;">Frida Kahlo </a></b><span style="color: #674ea7;">, a T-shirt stained with last week's dinner. Now, we want to help accentuate this woman's beauty. Let's brush her hair, get her makeover, some clothes that show off her beautiful figure. That fashion stylist is salt. Well, at least in the case of cookies. Salt brings out the flavors of everything. It makes vanilla more vanilla. It brings out the chocolate-ness of chocolate. ALWAYS add salt to your desserts! A good, mineralized salt will bring out the flavors the best. I suggest</span> <b><a href="http://www.mountainroseherbs.com/learn/pinksalt.php" style="color: #0b5394;">Himalayan Pink Salt</a> </b><span style="color: #674ea7;">because it has the best flavor, has 83 minerals where regular table salt has 2, and has a slightly subtle sweetness that lends itself nicely to sweets. And, it isn't very expensive for what it's worth. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: black;"><i style="color: #674ea7;">Butter: </i><span style="color: #674ea7;">This may be the best part of the cookie for some of you and for others, this may be the most difficult to work with. For all of you vegans out there, remember that butter is simply a saturated fat. Just replace it with another saturated fat! A saturated fat is a fat that remains solid at room temperature. The best option is</span> <b><a href="http://nutiva.com/products/coconut-oil-organic-benefits-nutiva/" style="color: #0b5394;">Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil</a> </b><span style="color: #674ea7;">. It adds a light coconut flavor which you may or may not like but the other options are not very healthy and are usually hydrogenated vegetable oils. I use Organic Extra Virgin Coconut oil in my cooking, baking, frying, and even on my skin and hair every day. It's a great investment and provides many healthy essential fatty acids, helps regulate your thyroid, balance hormones, and can help increase metabolism with prudent daily use. Anyhow, for all you butter-lovers, butter is the fat that adds richness to cookies and, like eggs, binds the product. Added too much butter? Add more flour/dry sugar for balance. A little short on butter for the recipe? Add an egg or an egg and a yolk to replace a couple tablespoons of butter. And remember, buy local if possible and ALWAYS buy organic! Organic produces a better product, creates better texture, better flavor, is healthier for you, for the environment, and for those you love. A great investment for a few extra bucks. </span></span></span><br />
<div style="color: #674ea7;"><b> </b><i> </i></div><div style="color: #674ea7;"><i>Some baking tips: </i></div><ul style="color: #674ea7;"><li>In a recipe, mix all the wet ingredients in one bowl and all the dry ingredients in another bowl. That means salt, flour, cocoa powder, dry sugar, baking powder, baking soda together. Eggs, soft butter, vanilla extract, milk, water, and liquid sweetener mixed well in another bowl. Once the ingredients are mixed well in their own bowls, slowly incorporate the mixture into one bowl using the folding method. This means to be gentle with mixing. DO NOT knead, beat, or otherwise be aggressive to the dough. Treat it like a baby, or a mine! Or a 3,000 year-old piece of China worth millions of dollars. "Why?" You may be asking. Well, by being aggressive, kneading, or over-mixing the dough, you are forming gluten from the wheat flour and your result will be bread, not a cookie. Using a rubber spatula, gently fold layers of the dry and wet mix on top of each other until it ends up well-incorporated. There is a picture of what the batter should look like below. </li>
<li>Pre-heat the oven! Not with the baking sheet in the oven!</li>
<li>Do not place cookies straight on the metal baking sheet; always use parchment on top of the sheet not only because it helps prevent the cookies from sticking but also because it prevents the burnt-bottom & raw middle syndrome cookies often get. </li>
<li>Taste the batter before shaping the dough</li>
<li>Keep cookies about 1 inch apart</li>
<li>Check the cookies 5 minutes earlier than the earliest bake time. Better to be diligent than to end up with rock-hard burnt cookies</li>
<li>Take cookies out of oven a tad before they are exactly ready. They will continue to cook a little once you take them out of the oven and taking them out early prevents over-cooking.</li>
<li>Freeze extra cookies in a freezer bag. They'll last for an entire year if well-kept!</li>
<li>When melting chocolate, NEVER EVER NEVER melt the chocolate in a pot or pan on the stove! I hate to tell you but this is murder. Just plain murder. It may not seem like it but that chocolate is now useless, overcooked, and not even your dog will want it. Instead, use a process called <i>TEMPERING. </i>Put an inch of water in a pot and bring to a boil. Place a large metal bowl on top of the pot so that the bowl's sides rest on top of the pot. The steam from the boil will heat the chocolate perfectly. Stay by the chocolate, mixing it gently with a rubber spatula. Keep moving the chocolate around to make sure it all melts and that the chocolate on the bottom does not overheat. When all chocolate is just melted, take the bowl off heat immediately. Chocolate should be smooth, thick, shiny, and not too hot. Congratulations, you just tempered chocolate! </li>
</ul><div style="color: #674ea7;"> Onto the good stuff:</div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik3E0iYN-bPW1bU4c3j4oigA64Aa6WSfkBbB4nf6C8eDFWAow4c924mfjUfZ9dl5c-Hx7jNb84zmLUjQ8VRMOCRNFnxpJtLMUwchGr5RdvT-TaL3ZmmJyL6L-98g9Q5xtGJ54R_dlW1KA/s1600/Double+Chocolate+Snow+Cookies+014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik3E0iYN-bPW1bU4c3j4oigA64Aa6WSfkBbB4nf6C8eDFWAow4c924mfjUfZ9dl5c-Hx7jNb84zmLUjQ8VRMOCRNFnxpJtLMUwchGr5RdvT-TaL3ZmmJyL6L-98g9Q5xtGJ54R_dlW1KA/s400/Double+Chocolate+Snow+Cookies+014.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr style="color: #674ea7;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Double Chocolate Snow Cookies!</td></tr>
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</div><div style="color: #674ea7;"><b>Double Chocolate Snow Cookies</b></div><div style="color: #674ea7;"> Pre-heat oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit. Recipe makes 40 cookies or around 3 dozen.</div><div style="color: #674ea7;"></div><div style="color: #674ea7;">This is a rich, double-chocolate cookie topped with powdered sugar to look like snow. The cookie is great for children and adults and can be made chewy and fudgy or crunchier, depending on how long you choose to cook them. Cook for 20-23 minutes for a crunchier cookie and about 15 minutes for a chewy little darling. These keep well in the freezer for a year. </div><div style="color: #674ea7;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #674ea7;">Ingredients: </div><ul style="color: #674ea7;"><li>1 cup of organic, unbleached all-purpose flour</li>
<li>1 cup organic cocoa powder</li>
<li>1/2 tsp baking soda</li>
<li>1/2 tsp Himalayan Pink Salt</li>
<li>8 oz semi-sweet organic chocolate chips</li>
<li>1/2 cup plus 1 Tbsp butter or coconut oil, softened, not melted</li>
<li>2 cups organic sugar</li>
<li>2 large eggs plus one additional egg yolk</li>
<li>1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract</li>
<li>Stevia extract to taste if you prefer sweeter cookies (I added 1/2 tsp stevia extract to mine)</li>
</ul><div style="color: #674ea7;">Method: </div><div style="color: #674ea7;">-Put 1 inch of water to a boil in a pot. </div><div style="color: #674ea7;">-Place a large metal bowl over the pot and pour chocolate chips into bowl, stirring mixture constantly to melt all pieces of chocolate but being careful not to overcook the chocolate. </div><div style="color: #674ea7;">-Mix together melted chocolate, softened butter or coconut oil, vanilla extract, stevia extract, the 2 eggs and one extra yolk in a bowl. </div><div style="color: #674ea7;">-Mix together salt, sugar, flour, baking soda, and cocoa flour. </div><div style="color: #674ea7;">-Gently fold wet mixture into dry until well-incorporated. </div><div style="color: #674ea7;">-Roll dough into balls about the size of a gold ball, flatten, and place on a parchment-covered baking sheet in rows with cookies one inch apart. </div><div style="color: #674ea7;">-Cookies will fill approximately 2 baking sheets. </div><div style="color: #674ea7;">-Place cookies in the ore-heated oven and cook for 15 minutes for chewy cookies and 20-23 minutes for crunchier cookies</div><div style="color: #674ea7;">-Dust with powdered sugar in a sieve when cookies are still warm to create a snowy look! </div><div style="color: #674ea7;">-See recipe below for optional mint filling for Double Chocolate Snow Mint Sandwich Cookies</div><div style="color: #674ea7;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #674ea7;"><b>Recipe for Mint Frosting Filling for Double Chocolate Snow Cookies (optional)</b></div><ul style="color: #674ea7;"><li>1/2 cup (1 stick) butter or coconut oil, softened</li>
<li>1 cup packed confectioner's sugar (powdered sugar)</li>
<li>1 tsp creme de menthe or mint oil/essence/extract</li>
<li>1 tsp vanilla extract</li>
</ul><div style="color: #674ea7;">Method: </div><div style="color: #674ea7;">-Mix all ingredients well. </div><div style="color: #674ea7;">-Taste and add a bit of milk/water if mix is too dry</div><div style="color: #674ea7;">-Spread a thick layer on cookies and sandwich them together</div><div style="color: #674ea7;">-EAT!!!</div><div style="color: #674ea7;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #674ea7;">Easy recipe......awesomely delicious results. Enjoy the pictures!!</div><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: black;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyhVfd3p4eOpaHnj-EUL-Qk1Q8YI0JCO7z0V4tbo9LtzsVnzi9e_oWy4sk0ukbkWgS0pGR0roV1kxG7sSQJgghiYZqHx7_3oXe0fg1oHpKl0ug3VuDGbvzvhXYNFZ6DzfrBfqfIYlVdTM/s1600/Double+Chocolate+Snow+Cookies+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyhVfd3p4eOpaHnj-EUL-Qk1Q8YI0JCO7z0V4tbo9LtzsVnzi9e_oWy4sk0ukbkWgS0pGR0roV1kxG7sSQJgghiYZqHx7_3oXe0fg1oHpKl0ug3VuDGbvzvhXYNFZ6DzfrBfqfIYlVdTM/s400/Double+Chocolate+Snow+Cookies+001.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr style="color: #674ea7;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flour Power</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs9nlkgEQmgHPXxe7nntvEvMeteqesjoR_gUIM_qQ60laMufSLjtx9S-uJCYGjQsYdV9piIP1y2o-6qxOHbzPqtW36WCHmTtACSFkAKzg6ZV9QRPxYHJU6XvxragApG1OF8zNHeOTDTpU/s1600/Double+Chocolate+Snow+Cookies+006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs9nlkgEQmgHPXxe7nntvEvMeteqesjoR_gUIM_qQ60laMufSLjtx9S-uJCYGjQsYdV9piIP1y2o-6qxOHbzPqtW36WCHmTtACSFkAKzg6ZV9QRPxYHJU6XvxragApG1OF8zNHeOTDTpU/s400/Double+Chocolate+Snow+Cookies+006.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr style="color: #674ea7;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Local, organic eggs from free-range chickens!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgODQFLacoM8X6atn9GwLDVQRgKQGJmkeGg1PaLHoT6gfmeoCBtTdhA8eIoJRNKwbwfzR9XDVCa4WoxOphihffzsLzwlYqDISLyA0XGT1tJ8TxoJ2EEZjVkQjVvmR5mylLh-8x5OdhVLXQ/s1600/Double+Chocolate+Snow+Cookies+003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgODQFLacoM8X6atn9GwLDVQRgKQGJmkeGg1PaLHoT6gfmeoCBtTdhA8eIoJRNKwbwfzR9XDVCa4WoxOphihffzsLzwlYqDISLyA0XGT1tJ8TxoJ2EEZjVkQjVvmR5mylLh-8x5OdhVLXQ/s400/Double+Chocolate+Snow+Cookies+003.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr style="color: #674ea7;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Dry Mix bowl</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn4Cf75iMjp0gRouNGsdIBBbv2W4Xo0VsMR1_AMzYHGxNMs2UlLfx66R_WxVYDOPCuTlDwEElSoSAQASRhlZ-2o293PxSQCU-XQdl4eZ_baJbwxDHFS44j2YSl9824xqmqnI4Uh5BDCNo/s1600/Double+Chocolate+Snow+Cookies+002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn4Cf75iMjp0gRouNGsdIBBbv2W4Xo0VsMR1_AMzYHGxNMs2UlLfx66R_WxVYDOPCuTlDwEElSoSAQASRhlZ-2o293PxSQCU-XQdl4eZ_baJbwxDHFS44j2YSl9824xqmqnI4Uh5BDCNo/s400/Double+Chocolate+Snow+Cookies+002.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr style="color: #674ea7;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Step 1 of Tempering Chocolate</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKRKNw2wJLZ2A5hzIKRQdoC3GQKpwylTmTAIPDQbO6ZaFLo5hmbnOcZ1yo9x-YUZFA0-P6Ia_UXmeQ5hhblVBz20rVD_hDaiYiKV4mW83C_5lQn29jPiQXp2Z6xL-zFjHF3F6Bj_G4X0k/s1600/Double+Chocolate+Snow+Cookies+004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKRKNw2wJLZ2A5hzIKRQdoC3GQKpwylTmTAIPDQbO6ZaFLo5hmbnOcZ1yo9x-YUZFA0-P6Ia_UXmeQ5hhblVBz20rVD_hDaiYiKV4mW83C_5lQn29jPiQXp2Z6xL-zFjHF3F6Bj_G4X0k/s400/Double+Chocolate+Snow+Cookies+004.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr style="color: #674ea7;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Step 2 of Tempering Chocolate</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRnBG5oIJW7O-qEefYhd4BTepqYUakWU91jvpSqyU6WnTqUUNvR79psSSdq7kor6l50GUMKrfQwmV1ShO2pSF8rndrxIvKfUsp9FSwR83ukVxOcgRyVaHN-E-heg4XF7zZh9FGEr4_2iY/s1600/Double+Chocolate+Snow+Cookies+005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRnBG5oIJW7O-qEefYhd4BTepqYUakWU91jvpSqyU6WnTqUUNvR79psSSdq7kor6l50GUMKrfQwmV1ShO2pSF8rndrxIvKfUsp9FSwR83ukVxOcgRyVaHN-E-heg4XF7zZh9FGEr4_2iY/s400/Double+Chocolate+Snow+Cookies+005.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr style="color: #674ea7;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Step 3 of Tempering Chocolate.....almost all melted</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq5Ig9_n7KbjB0ZUOnubrZi9ICNR-lKt2rU2yJz5aWgy5xaFGD0xO2h2dHVcrBSE8e0cfrJ8QdqGSF1veTxaYFpeTc7JJKSrrosFzguI2390D_Ci3cXSwCtzZmVCh87cSYnTjHNCsapPo/s1600/Double+Chocolate+Snow+Cookies+009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq5Ig9_n7KbjB0ZUOnubrZi9ICNR-lKt2rU2yJz5aWgy5xaFGD0xO2h2dHVcrBSE8e0cfrJ8QdqGSF1veTxaYFpeTc7JJKSrrosFzguI2390D_Ci3cXSwCtzZmVCh87cSYnTjHNCsapPo/s400/Double+Chocolate+Snow+Cookies+009.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr style="color: #674ea7;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The melted chocolate mixed with all the other wet ingredients</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvAfOLCTqqRnV7maxUxMf__Eo-Ei23RUqVCLZxipCruJCnaDlXrtFju9eufrm8c4MDyEWlNwMzCao6mKpFuRzGVOZhQsDjqTmL3OEQGglZIUz8dqbNZe6j-bVSESeJmk5yoLA3AcJ-uPk/s1600/Double+Chocolate+Snow+Cookies+011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvAfOLCTqqRnV7maxUxMf__Eo-Ei23RUqVCLZxipCruJCnaDlXrtFju9eufrm8c4MDyEWlNwMzCao6mKpFuRzGVOZhQsDjqTmL3OEQGglZIUz8dqbNZe6j-bVSESeJmk5yoLA3AcJ-uPk/s400/Double+Chocolate+Snow+Cookies+011.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr style="color: #674ea7;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The dough!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0CICYTxPTaUn8faoX1-qMlfBO8uwhC2vQ4zuIeFBxErbxqPLu2x8nwoAiNQEweymgkvUjLcM0TnWaoVg4QMjIFxguuhqcSuo_LAt3_M0wwAVjci_di-Gu8NqAy3HHnjN_Xew45ikLu54/s1600/Double+Chocolate+Snow+Cookies+012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0CICYTxPTaUn8faoX1-qMlfBO8uwhC2vQ4zuIeFBxErbxqPLu2x8nwoAiNQEweymgkvUjLcM0TnWaoVg4QMjIFxguuhqcSuo_LAt3_M0wwAVjci_di-Gu8NqAy3HHnjN_Xew45ikLu54/s400/Double+Chocolate+Snow+Cookies+012.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr style="color: #674ea7;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cookies before baking</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFVgKa-woKZ-IHbro3-9n_ASq-TqhFrN_3k6y23bDS_kRI_5aZBtKoJyjT6N_boX27G6EEZpHH4r3Jj28Pj96bk-pYUydVa4CePEdl10M6L0y0lMa1F-giIjpYUgQTUtmJ6edYFjUBvM4/s1600/Double+Chocolate+Snow+Cookies+017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFVgKa-woKZ-IHbro3-9n_ASq-TqhFrN_3k6y23bDS_kRI_5aZBtKoJyjT6N_boX27G6EEZpHH4r3Jj28Pj96bk-pYUydVa4CePEdl10M6L0y0lMa1F-giIjpYUgQTUtmJ6edYFjUBvM4/s400/Double+Chocolate+Snow+Cookies+017.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr style="color: #674ea7;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Snowing the cookies</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4ZGhdxSipBGQetSMA4CtA131rgXVsowI4APOVRV9td93meX0vO9pUH0vj59Ts4-FwNRH2P8QLqf_Ki_xtNFaGyoUCa5C-VrCP5LSBiF4ilhvfnSRmVax7_xTJw2uCXpFBNZ3968bAwtc/s1600/Double+Chocolate+Snow+Cookies+015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4ZGhdxSipBGQetSMA4CtA131rgXVsowI4APOVRV9td93meX0vO9pUH0vj59Ts4-FwNRH2P8QLqf_Ki_xtNFaGyoUCa5C-VrCP5LSBiF4ilhvfnSRmVax7_xTJw2uCXpFBNZ3968bAwtc/s400/Double+Chocolate+Snow+Cookies+015.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr style="color: #674ea7;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My beautiful babies!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVXSwukjZs042f251h4DnLouh1KW5mGfZKVDJhap45ENgWIUe9uifXqIkHxsCP5SYNaCLZTpOXJ4tOmtHslUZjzfSBMNbNBXkVp_MKRCwmBE9l16liKCpXpo_P8qhnsaLKRYjZoQFWcL8/s1600/Double+Chocolate+Snow+Cookies+016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVXSwukjZs042f251h4DnLouh1KW5mGfZKVDJhap45ENgWIUe9uifXqIkHxsCP5SYNaCLZTpOXJ4tOmtHslUZjzfSBMNbNBXkVp_MKRCwmBE9l16liKCpXpo_P8qhnsaLKRYjZoQFWcL8/s400/Double+Chocolate+Snow+Cookies+016.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr style="color: #674ea7;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Delicious</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs5v-WAc9LmODN6hkZ7cRXgOp60K2hJEqI4YaM4-LyXbAKUZ3m9eRRXEa84m6zIAdyrDkxsFGuskV6F1qhgBeYBlcefrHE43Cibisl8ZxUwIEdQLiQLEu1g68MgWMk0ZvX0QiBGsdx2_I/s1600/Double+Chocolate+Snow+Cookies+024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs5v-WAc9LmODN6hkZ7cRXgOp60K2hJEqI4YaM4-LyXbAKUZ3m9eRRXEa84m6zIAdyrDkxsFGuskV6F1qhgBeYBlcefrHE43Cibisl8ZxUwIEdQLiQLEu1g68MgWMk0ZvX0QiBGsdx2_I/s400/Double+Chocolate+Snow+Cookies+024.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr style="color: #674ea7;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thin crunch on the outside, moist on the inside.....perfecto!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfxMaN9gFbB7_Axlf2XV4zTPkVL-XtkPA8hWKjxM8Dc8P-aCFV8k5A4ggWM0mYlgDZ-F5ARfoKGpDjqiZdt56F2tr1UhdAUUUWBcmCNRUB61addk2w_t4PyVOPuT7tfKkyTCzoa6FA3mk/s1600/Double+Chocolate+Snow+Cookies+030.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfxMaN9gFbB7_Axlf2XV4zTPkVL-XtkPA8hWKjxM8Dc8P-aCFV8k5A4ggWM0mYlgDZ-F5ARfoKGpDjqiZdt56F2tr1UhdAUUUWBcmCNRUB61addk2w_t4PyVOPuT7tfKkyTCzoa6FA3mk/s400/Double+Chocolate+Snow+Cookies+030.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr style="color: #674ea7;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Double Chocolate Mint Snow Sandwich Cookies.....that's a mouthful!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE7rZJizKRkMmMiiPGOPbDThpU5aI-zYkPUWXAIIIVv7jAcNEHBn5NeffngAz4yzgVZlnuz3UrCyhxaFMGRZ_qDLySdsZrSYzRNhbF-21Dt9Jp7Nwu5e56TkFLT3veKzP1PvZUye8JM2c/s1600/Double+Chocolate+Snow+Cookies+031.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE7rZJizKRkMmMiiPGOPbDThpU5aI-zYkPUWXAIIIVv7jAcNEHBn5NeffngAz4yzgVZlnuz3UrCyhxaFMGRZ_qDLySdsZrSYzRNhbF-21Dt9Jp7Nwu5e56TkFLT3veKzP1PvZUye8JM2c/s400/Double+Chocolate+Snow+Cookies+031.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr style="color: #674ea7;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A sea of cookies!!!!</td></tr>
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</span>Samarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14432392176001887832noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1352490176762780383.post-9665014626743187052010-11-14T20:46:00.000-08:002010-11-14T20:53:52.843-08:00Orange Blossom and Crystallized Ginger Cookies!Hello all! I have been on a short hiatus from blogging lately but no need to fear and wonder how in the world you'll get enough vitamin C and natural anti-inflammatory compounds this autumn. "Why?" you ask yourself out loud (as your roommate shoots you weird looks from across the room, wondering if he should call the white coat men, after all, isn't talking to one's self one of the first signs of schizophrenia?). Now you can rest in peace at night knowing that even if you are a little (or a lot) crazy....you've got a powerful immune system and happy body.<br />
<br />
Today's Health Food: GINGER!!!!<br />
"Ginger?" you may be thinking...."Well, I eat a lot of that!" Unfortunately, ginger snaps, gingerbread, ginger ale, and sadly that Chinese chicken swimming in high fructose corn syrup and a teensy bit of artificial ginger flavor are all very inadequate (albeit tasty) sources of high-quality ginger. "So, what's left?" you may ask. Well, lots of great stuff! Ginger and vegetable stir-fry, sliced ginger and local chicken casserole, ginger tea, ginger-lemongrass soup with cilantro, ginger and garlic broccoli, a delicious ginger yellow curry, ginger and butternut squash soup, and today's treat: Orange Blossom and Crystallized Ginger Cookies! <br />
<br />
So, get that apron on, get to your local health food store to pick up the ingredients, get baking, and get ready to reap some serious therapeutic value here because ginger is no joke! Ginger has been used in Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine for thousands of years to treat and prevent many ailments from an upset stomach and nausea to cancer, arthritis, and respiratory problems. How does this magical rhizome treat so many ailments? A large majority of these ailments like joint stiffness, swelling, arthritis, and cold extremities are all due to poor circulation. Ginger helps encourage good circulation, which gets blood, nutrients, antioxidants, and oxygen to the places that need healing and warmth. In the fall and winter, as it becomes colder, a lot of your body's energy will be focused inward to support the warmth of your torso. This means that your body will have poorer circulation than in the summer months when you feel all springy and limber. Want some warmth? Better joint motion? Increased flexibility? Try chopping fresh ginger and simmering it in some filtered water for 10 minutes in a pot with the lid on. Then add a little <b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stevia" style="color: #0b5394;">stevia</a></b> and you've got a spicy, warm, tasty ginger tea! Ginger also helps to break up mucus, treats stuffy nose (try the tea!), aids digestion (have the tea before a meal or put some ginger for added flavor in your dinner!), helps suppress pain, and improves liver function. As an anti-inflammatory food, ginger treats pain, bruises, swelling, aches, and infection well. To celebrate, let's have some cookies, shall we?<br />
<br />
This is an original recipe that <i>uses</i> <i>butter</i>. I eat butter only a couple times a year and one of those is on<br />
Christmas. The butter I use is from a local dairy co-op called <b><a href="http://www.happycowcreamery.com/" style="color: #0b5394;">Happy Cow Creamery</a></b> where the cows are pasture-raised meaning they live under the sun, eat grass, weeds, flowers, and hay in the winter. The cows are given space to move and play, are raised with love and respect, and are humanely treated. Besides the better treatment of animals, these kinds of farms are easier on the environment because the cows eat local grass instead of being shipped chemical-treated corn from Iowa like conventional dairy cattle. The feces of these cows are also worked back into the land to actually create fertile top-soil instead of diminishing it as conventional farms do. In addition still, this butter has higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids--the "good" fats we need more of that are present in foods like flax seed, olive oil, hemp seed, and avocados--and are lower in omega-6 fatty acids which are more prevalent in foods like french fries, chips, fried chicken, and conventional meat and eggs. And, by buying this butter, I am helping to support responsible farming practices, local jobs, and the local economy. "What can this butter not do?" you may be asking yourself. Can it vacuum? Can it pay my taxes? Can it write my dissertation for me? I tried to get it to do all of these things and it stubbornly refused. But with the way science is going now, don't be surprised if it can soon learn to do the laundry, feed the dog, pick up the kids from school, AND still make the best dang cookies around! But until then, let's just stick with the cookies.....<br />
<br />
Just to get you drooling, I'll show you a picture FIRST (it is a tactic I use to pull you into my cooking and to convince you to try this easy recipe so that when you try it and realize how heavenly these cookies are, you'll become an instant addict. It's a power thing.........).<br />
<div style="color: #b45f06;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #351c75;"><b>Orange Blossom and Crystallized Ginger Cookies</b></div>-makes about 4 dozen medium-sized cookies or 6 dozen smaller snack cookies<br />
-preset the oven on 320 degrees Fahrenheit<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpzSfbZBh1VMh4zyekuB_vwZC7dNk-sWH45EbuQkC_S2ihYDWdDEHRunzJGTjBQZwKLW6sEsfTSAN9xn9R6bLRRXjVWTa4wjhKiVu8U5FndvB4lND6JkOg-nb9ynE6Pzal54vBsBOJVag/s1600/Halloween+%252710+%2526+Wisconsin+052.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpzSfbZBh1VMh4zyekuB_vwZC7dNk-sWH45EbuQkC_S2ihYDWdDEHRunzJGTjBQZwKLW6sEsfTSAN9xn9R6bLRRXjVWTa4wjhKiVu8U5FndvB4lND6JkOg-nb9ynE6Pzal54vBsBOJVag/s400/Halloween+%252710+%2526+Wisconsin+052.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You know you want it! </td></tr>
</tbody></table> INGREDIENTS:<br />
<ul><li>1 1/3 cup organic brown rice flour (this flour is healthier than wheat and creates a better texture for this cookie)</li>
<li>1 1/3 cup organic unbleached pastry flour</li>
<li>2 cups <b><a href="http://www.wholesomesweeteners.com/brands/Wholesome_Sweeteners/Fair_Trade_Certified_Organic_Sucanat.html" style="color: #0b5394;">Sucanat</a></b> sweetener (can be found at any health food store or Whole Foods)</li>
<li><u><b><a href="http://www.sweetleaf.com/" style="color: #0b5394;">Powdered stevia</a> </b></u>or <b><a href="http://www.stevia.com/" style="color: #0b5394;">stevia liquid</a></b> to taste (add a little at a time, mix into the batter and taste....)</li>
<li>1/2 tsp sea salt, Celtic sea salt, or <b><a href="http://www.mountainroseherbs.com/learn/pinksalt.php" style="color: #0b5394;">Himalayan pink salt</a></b></li>
<li>2 tsp organic and real vanilla extract or 1 1/2 tsp organic vanilla bean paste or powder</li>
<li>2 cups organic and preferably local butter, softened --NOT melted!-- (check out your local health food store for best options)</li>
<li>1/3 cup orange blossom water (easily found at Whole Foods, or in the "International Foods" section of your local grocery store. Can sometimes also be found in health food stores. If you cannot find this item, no worries, although it really makes these cookies amazing and I get an entire bottle for only $3</li>
<li>2 cups of organic crystallized ginger, chopped into tiny pieces (measure BEFORE chopping)</li>
<li>3/4 tsp ground cloves</li>
</ul> METHOD:<br />
<br />
-Preheat that oven (if you haven't already). 320 degrees Fahrenheit <br />
-Mix it all up! All of it!! Measure everything out and throw it into a big, ole bowl, roll up those sleeves, take off your watch, your rings, and get to mixin'! (The best part about this is that you get to lick your fingers when you're done!!) But really, there is a method to the madness. The subtle heat from your hands warms and softens the butter and the sugar, and thus helps incorporate all the ingredients...that is the baker's REAL secret....everything is done by hand!<br />
-When done mixing, taste it. Everyone's palette is different. Do you like more orange blossom water? More sweetness? More vanilla?<br />
-Line 2 large or 3-4 smaller baking sheets with parchment paper. The parchment can be found at any grocery store or health food store and is extremely important! The parchment prevents the metal cookie sheets from becoming too hot and burning the underside of the cookie before the cookie is actually done. The regrettable "Burnt-Bottom, Raw-Inside" syndrome. Sad.<br />
-Shape the cookies into ping-pong sized balls for medium-sized cookies and flatten slightly on the tray. Keep cookies 1/2 an inch apart. OR shape the cookies into smaller sizes but note that if you do this, the cooking time will decrease some.<br />
-Bake cookies at 320 for 30-45 minutes. You want them a light brown color and to be a little hard on the outside. After 30 minutes, take a cookie out, break it open and see if there is a darker brown inside. If so, it is not done yet....give it 5-10 more minutes. My batch took exactly 48 minutes to cook, so, just be attentive and check them every 7 minutes or so.<br />
-When done, use a spatula to transfer them to plates and let cool.<br />
-Eat as is or follow directions to make the glaze, below....<br />
<br />
Local Honey Glaze:<br />
<ul><li>1/4 c local honey</li>
<li>1/2 tsp vanilla paste, powder, or extract</li>
<li>1 heaping Tbsp coconut oil </li>
</ul> OR <br />
<ul><li>1/4 c local honey</li>
<li>1/2 tsp vanilla paste, powder, or extract</li>
<li>2 tsp butter</li>
<li>4 Tbsp organic confectioner's sugar</li>
</ul>METHOD for both options:<br />
-Mix all ingredients thoroughly<br />
-Using a basting brush or offset spatula, glaze the tops of all cookies when warm or cool<br />
-Let the glaze set 20 minutes<br />
<br />
WARNING: These cookies are crunchy on the outside, soft in the middle, cohesive yet crumbly and very, very addictive.<br />
<br />
Enjoy the pictures below!!<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYUaw1_2ThyphenhyphenlDqJ8Nn8H740JhLAJoLdQMuCnKtwUrH2r9JVlPJcdNgQu3Hr2N067W0rKb_CBQ_8C8TnHnjEW5pPxLa3oKapdcrcgUviTtmTdieKRK0ccR9UQWi5UuUSlS_77DyJxpnRso/s1600/Halloween+%252710+%2526+Wisconsin+045.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYUaw1_2ThyphenhyphenlDqJ8Nn8H740JhLAJoLdQMuCnKtwUrH2r9JVlPJcdNgQu3Hr2N067W0rKb_CBQ_8C8TnHnjEW5pPxLa3oKapdcrcgUviTtmTdieKRK0ccR9UQWi5UuUSlS_77DyJxpnRso/s400/Halloween+%252710+%2526+Wisconsin+045.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the ingredients list....some healthy flours</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiieQV7Cs_38TIOzZouhL9Qy1RIJ_9z4604PTIkc1YA712EPFKFLzHYU7no56vzb9WOKku20RqhkB6DBbURxf_hNxdN4NfPb38R72s0Dh5vvlc73XF_VkBcP1uRJLoMab6dHFnBpU3kVhc/s1600/Halloween+%252710+%2526+Wisconsin+047.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiieQV7Cs_38TIOzZouhL9Qy1RIJ_9z4604PTIkc1YA712EPFKFLzHYU7no56vzb9WOKku20RqhkB6DBbURxf_hNxdN4NfPb38R72s0Dh5vvlc73XF_VkBcP1uRJLoMab6dHFnBpU3kVhc/s400/Halloween+%252710+%2526+Wisconsin+047.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Orange Blossom water to add that interesting yet subtle taste to these cookies</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFKok1Xo6cJb4TWkBOpDfFultIExk2ej7ekl62bT73euDQxSIzOHp202UKuSWptkxJVNrlk6C7yGC1BhiCdWN1O_nvOP86r-Abks-Nj30cOo6MnDj2NTldJDjVt665DeURiSeh_M1jg0A/s1600/Halloween+%252710+%2526+Wisconsin+046.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFKok1Xo6cJb4TWkBOpDfFultIExk2ej7ekl62bT73euDQxSIzOHp202UKuSWptkxJVNrlk6C7yGC1BhiCdWN1O_nvOP86r-Abks-Nj30cOo6MnDj2NTldJDjVt665DeURiSeh_M1jg0A/s400/Halloween+%252710+%2526+Wisconsin+046.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The dark brown is an unprocessed and mineral-rich sugar called Sucanat</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn8Gc7UQimTPKPtY25c-d7rvf-aHYd8NcDfQ3gWzFtsyO3SIaQUDUc-UIuBbuCl8zLgU8B1CmoFFxdkDwbFgypLPw5Hx1EpQ8_3PRNonxtLmkqSmATHgmilIg00W0LMYd2-hPbE3rCBvk/s1600/Halloween+%252710+%2526+Wisconsin+049.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn8Gc7UQimTPKPtY25c-d7rvf-aHYd8NcDfQ3gWzFtsyO3SIaQUDUc-UIuBbuCl8zLgU8B1CmoFFxdkDwbFgypLPw5Hx1EpQ8_3PRNonxtLmkqSmATHgmilIg00W0LMYd2-hPbE3rCBvk/s400/Halloween+%252710+%2526+Wisconsin+049.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Local butter made from the milk of pasture-raised cows!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBuJUiVsjzkDiGyg3fQ1jeMawYTBWx70wN4N4W-N7RloapaGmLlUZsqcAS3Z47SYgJWgKOoKVbTd2Q7CJbBCTOlGalAz74AkkkjscHbNcxlf4CN9sylmqxWq6jfNkCvTFkxXD4pCTbxsE/s1600/Halloween+%252710+%2526+Wisconsin+048.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBuJUiVsjzkDiGyg3fQ1jeMawYTBWx70wN4N4W-N7RloapaGmLlUZsqcAS3Z47SYgJWgKOoKVbTd2Q7CJbBCTOlGalAz74AkkkjscHbNcxlf4CN9sylmqxWq6jfNkCvTFkxXD4pCTbxsE/s400/Halloween+%252710+%2526+Wisconsin+048.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">BEFORE</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmBRF2rNhLApl34e1xjyi4W_069QFSblCjzF30cARSmXLw0GV3CJigFCLSZsDLq3XUFaWg0T5IAtGmhMoF4LPWOisQJUAlfXg3ifMK_uGAyi55fBQAOmUbyo6Dt2WgBc-pjbn9oXZcSJU/s1600/Halloween+%252710+%2526+Wisconsin+050.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmBRF2rNhLApl34e1xjyi4W_069QFSblCjzF30cARSmXLw0GV3CJigFCLSZsDLq3XUFaWg0T5IAtGmhMoF4LPWOisQJUAlfXg3ifMK_uGAyi55fBQAOmUbyo6Dt2WgBc-pjbn9oXZcSJU/s400/Halloween+%252710+%2526+Wisconsin+050.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">AFTER</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPnaAgVTqu0LHXW8W6tkPuUZ4O0MzpOIt3BF6pnl8ezZ2pDEeo3tLn1DBncMubmZWI1osLAkDOI-6hFjsY5lEniPFinrhbIAbNoEVrO6Jr4IDIDOam3mFdwI3oPNbe77aZCcIX9NmnK_I/s1600/Halloween+%252710+%2526+Wisconsin+051.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPnaAgVTqu0LHXW8W6tkPuUZ4O0MzpOIt3BF6pnl8ezZ2pDEeo3tLn1DBncMubmZWI1osLAkDOI-6hFjsY5lEniPFinrhbIAbNoEVrO6Jr4IDIDOam3mFdwI3oPNbe77aZCcIX9NmnK_I/s400/Halloween+%252710+%2526+Wisconsin+051.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Baking in the oven</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieWxVBmWjH75x7623WXKvshvUnwkplfXaAYSTi93aG4sSpzEFd223GHo0FZjizIUm6Vdvgt8G5Z-dp3thSqr2U3l7yjR0qHdmIXEXfhyF-CemLxedO5pECVeqFWSVjnwUh1Sj3h-1XtHE/s1600/Halloween+%252710+%2526+Wisconsin+053.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieWxVBmWjH75x7623WXKvshvUnwkplfXaAYSTi93aG4sSpzEFd223GHo0FZjizIUm6Vdvgt8G5Z-dp3thSqr2U3l7yjR0qHdmIXEXfhyF-CemLxedO5pECVeqFWSVjnwUh1Sj3h-1XtHE/s400/Halloween+%252710+%2526+Wisconsin+053.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Glazing the cookies using local SC honey</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnKAsMKjC4njXSD02bAJbjY6SrLvW5JM4c1-e_lcCZV_A8a6prQJgxFbK6ESwPHDqsTedmP4c2SRcpjphpyXeAZFj-Ges4_wAY6llqb-WJ1TcaDNuw21Lr1hfnu5_7QSEXvbhldGlbzxg/s1600/Halloween+%252710+%2526+Wisconsin+060.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnKAsMKjC4njXSD02bAJbjY6SrLvW5JM4c1-e_lcCZV_A8a6prQJgxFbK6ESwPHDqsTedmP4c2SRcpjphpyXeAZFj-Ges4_wAY6llqb-WJ1TcaDNuw21Lr1hfnu5_7QSEXvbhldGlbzxg/s400/Halloween+%252710+%2526+Wisconsin+060.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Perfect taste and consistency. My mom swears it is one of the best cookies she has ever had.......and my mom has tried a LOT of cookies!!</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</tbody></table>Samarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14432392176001887832noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1352490176762780383.post-43805207281538011692010-10-19T20:43:00.000-07:002010-10-19T20:58:10.834-07:00The "P" and the Pea: Eating the Rainbow and Vegetable SoupThe chlorophyll in the leaves have begun to oxidize and their hidden layers of carotenoids are beginning to appear as vibrant yellows and oranges. As the trees begin to pull their energy-- in the form of glucose-- inward to store for the winter, the leaves also begin to create the fiery reds and purples of anthocyanins. And when the trees' energy has all recoiled inward and into the roots under the warm and insulated ground, the leaves wither and die to become the forest's compost. The natural chemicals that cause the visual pigments are called <i>polyphenols</i> (or as I like to call them, <i>The Big "P"</i>) and if you have been reading any article about green tea, wine, or dark chocolate lately, it is very likely you have seen this word splattered over every page, kicked around, but never really explained. So, here's the breakdown (.....try to contain your anticipation, I know this is exciting.....)<br />
<br />
A polyphenol is a naturally-occurring chemical in plants that makes it a particular color, depending on the specific polyphenol. These chemicals can also influence the taste of the food but they also provide (drumroll pleease!): ANTIOXIDANTS!!<br />
<br />
That's right, I said it. The "A Word" that has been toted by food companies, abused by manufacturers, posted on every article about food and nutrition and smothered across every no-so-healthy processed food item with a tiny amount of vitamin E added (as a preservative) to convince consumers that this item is "healthy"! Just because a food has antioxidants 1) Does <i>not </i>mean those antioxidants are necessary viable or 2) In large enough quantities to be helpful or 3) Are good-quality antioxidants (think of the difference between an '86 Honda with a broken transmission and a brand-new convertible Hybrid at 60mpg....and let's be honest here folks, we ALL want that convertible Hybrid at 60mpg!).<br />
<br />
Antioxidants do what they say they will: to Anti the Oxidant....or better yet, they prevent the oxidation of cells. Some examples of excessive cellular oxidation of cells are: premature aging and wrinkles, stroke, cancer, coronary heart disease, and many other terrible and usually completely preventable (if not treatable or curable) diseases.<br />
Eating optimal amounts of high-quality antioxidants in whole-food form can help prevent oxidative stress on the body, which can help you:<br />
<ul><li>Think clearer</li>
<li>Feel rested after less sleep</li>
<li>Breathe easier</li>
<li>Have more energy</li>
<li>Prevent illness </li>
<li>Become less stressed</li>
<li>Look more vibrant</li>
<li>Look younger</li>
<li>Improve skin, hair, and nails</li>
<li>Improve organ function</li>
<li>Detoxify the body</li>
<li>Lose weight</li>
</ul>So, now that I have convinced you of my plan to reduce oxidative stress and feel better, stronger, and happier, here are some ways to get those antioxidants and polyphenols.<br />
<br />
Think of the rainbow. Yes, that thing that through clever marketing will always remind you of the omnipresent candy: Skittles. Except, replace those tiny, artificially-colored, nutrient-devoid, genetically-modified high fructose corn syrup balls with fruits, vegetables, and grains. Like in a bag of Skittles (pretend like you eat the yellow and orange ones too) you eat every color of the rainbow. In any two-day span, try your best to also eat every color of the rainbow in whole, natural, organic foods. Every color of the rainbow, and sometimes even different hues, is caused by those things we talked about earlier: polyphenols. And different polyphenols make up different colors, which all have different antioxidative and therapeutic qualities. For example, the red/purple-red polyphenol <i>quercetin </i>helps inhibit cancer cell growth, combat gout and arthritis, protects the heart, and helps treat hives and asthma by blocking histamines.<br />
<br />
Instead of following the tactics of segmentation and fractioning that Western medicine has proven to be ineffective in the realm of natural health, try seeing antioxidants in a broad, relative spectrum. For example, instead of hearing that Omega-3 fatty acids can help protect the heart and increase brain function and plopping your credit card on the counter of your local health food store or GNC to buy a 2-year supply of Omega-3 pills, try eating it in whole form, as nature intended. If you eat nutrients, minerals, and protective compound in whole form, you are gaining the synergy of that entire food. Most substances work <i>more effectively</i> as a whole food, working with the other compounds in that food to provide you maximum benefits, versus being chemically separated from a whole food and sold back to you in a less-potent and less-viable form. So, save your money and instead of loading up your cupboards with a pill bottle of vitamin B-complex, a pill bottle of melatonin, a pill bottle of anthocyanins, a pill bottle of zinc, and a pill bottle of alpha lipoic acid, eat all of these substances in your food! Then you are not simply supplementing your normal meals, you are actually changing your food choices to shift your entire paradigm of health in a positive way. Eating your nutrients and therapeutic compounds can help you in many, many more ways than simple and dangerous pill-popping of nutrients, chemicals, and minerals, which can create imbalances in the body, deficiencies, malabsorption, and even overdose in the case of minerals and even some vitamins (such as vitamin A and vitamin D, which is actually a hormone).<br />
<br />
To obtain the maximum benefits possible from antioxidants and polyphenols, eat from every color of the rainbow in each 2-day span from as many in-season and local foods as possible. Since blueberries offer the polyphenol anthocyanin, cherries offer quercetin, and watermelon offers lutein and more lycopene (which help the heart and eyes) than tomatoes, in the summer when you can get many of these foods from farm stands, farms, U-pick places, the health food store, co-ops, and farmer's markets locally, eat a fruit salad that combines the power of all three foods and their health-promoting abilities. In the fall, eat buttnernut squash for its beta-carotene (the pre-cursor to Vitamin-A which helps keep skin glowing, keeps acne at bay, keeps hair and nails strong and shiny, helps promote good eyesight, fights free-radicals that cause oxidative damage, and reduce signs of sun damage and wrinkles) and remember one thing about this tricky orange-pigmented polyphenol: beta-carotene is <i>fat soluble</i>, meaning it can only be assimilated into the body in a fatty medium. So, eat your orange foods with a little fat: oranges and mandarins with a few almonds or pistachios, eat butternut squash, pumpkin, and acorn squash with organic extra virgin olive oil (which offers a host of benefits including vitamin E and omega-3 fats), and eat carrots with a little olive oil-based salad dressing and so on.<br />
<br />
Although the green color in foods is not caused by a polyphenol, it is extremely important as well. The green color in foods is due to chlorophyll. Chloroplasts (the tiny cells that lay atop one another to create stacks called chlorophyll) are the plant cells responsible for mixing light and carbon dioxide together in its cauldron to create the wonderful products (another drum roll, please): oxygen and glucose!!! Those products of photosynthesis we love so much which allow us to breathe and to eat plants for energy! Anyway, on the cellular level chlorophyll is extremely similar to human hemoglobin. Chlorophyll helps build hemoglobin in humans, which is responsible for transporting oxygen from the lungs to body tissues. So, chlorophyll is the oxygenator of the body. It brings oxygen to the cells, which helps them to live long, live optimally, to replicate healthily, and to use nutrients, minerals, and energy effectively. A good supply of oxygen also makes the muscles more flexible, heal better, helps create a feeling of peace and calm inside the body, helps promote clarity and mental alertness, and helps create energy and fight fatigue as well as enhancing mood. A similar experience is when athletes work out, they flood their body with oxygen at first (which also stimulates the secretion of endorphins), creating a runner's high. Mamma was right: eat those greens! Green foods also help detoxify the blood and organs of toxins, heavy metals, chemicals, bad fats, and more. Like OxyClean (only better-tasting, trust me!) greens oxygenate and clean. Mean and green, baby. Mean and green.<br />
<br />
To celebrate, I have a soup to tempt you all with because I like to see you suffer after a long lecture of all sorts of crazy science-things that may or may not make any sense to you whatsoever. The soup:<br />
<br />
Fall Farmer's Soup (try for ingredients as local as possible):<br />
<br />
<ul><li>One big, 2-3 gallon soup pot filled 1/3 of the way with filtered water and some Himalayan pink-, French clay-, or sun-dried Celtic sea-, salt.</li>
<li>3 big ole carrots, cut into rounds or sweet potato, squash, or pumpkin</li>
<li>1/2 head of celery cut into half-moons or celery root (also called celeriac) cut into dime-sized cubes</li>
<li>5 fat cloves of garlic, sliced or crushed</li>
<li>1/2 yellow onion, chopped</li>
<li>6 cups freshly-shelled black-eyes peas, chick peas, fava beans, green peas, or other pea</li>
</ul>OR if <i>freshly</i> shelled peas are not available, substitute with 6 cups lentils, already-cooked beans, or peas<br />
<br />
OR 6 cups quinoa or local seed such as buckwheat if possible.<br />
<ul><li> 2 bay leaves</li>
<li>black pepper to taste</li>
<li>1 tsp fresh ancho chili powder</li>
<li>2 tsp paprika</li>
<li>1 1/2 tsp fresh or dried thyme leaves</li>
<li>1 1/2 tsp dried sage leaves or 4 medium fresh sage leaves chopped</li>
<li>1 small bunch of parsley, chopped fine </li>
</ul>-Bring water to a boil with herbs (<i>except the fresh parsley)</i>, salt, spices, and bay leaf.<br />
-When boiling, add the quinoa, buckwheat, fresh peas, or lentils and turn heat down to medium-high<br />
-When bean/pea/seed (like buckwheat and quinoa) are half-done (bite one to check for stiffness), add the orange food (carrot, pumpkin, squash, or sweet potato) and the celery, onion, garlic, and whatever extra fall vegetables you'd like to add such as torn kale, beets, or rutabaga.<br />
-Cook on medium heat (not boiling, just at a low simmer) until all the vegetables are 4/5 of the way done (they will continue to cook in the hot soup so turn the heat off now to prevent over-cooking).<br />
-Turn off heat!<br />
-Stir in 3 Tbsp of extra virgin olive oil to help absorb fat-soluble nutrients like vitamin K and beta-carotene<br />
-Taste for saltiness and add more salt and/or spice if necessary. <br />
-Add chopped parsley into pot, give a good stir, and let all flavors meld for about 10 minutes then get out that bowl, your favorite soup spoon and sit on the couch to a great book or movie and warm yourself in the beautiful health soup you made! Check out the pictures below....<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzEx7Jo6CAM_gsPkqH6siod4ne3u3B3U7kIKckjk_SI88725MKJCgNPeFsm0L-mubbJvi3c3NLKT6bE3_8pMlmBeNWc3UtQBxJ7lNk3iPurQhQMGMr-3TndCoMej1naSqP-xoVbGc6jo0/s400/Pea+soup+1+001.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fall peas for shelling....also known to some as meditation and to most: lots of work</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzEx7Jo6CAM_gsPkqH6siod4ne3u3B3U7kIKckjk_SI88725MKJCgNPeFsm0L-mubbJvi3c3NLKT6bE3_8pMlmBeNWc3UtQBxJ7lNk3iPurQhQMGMr-3TndCoMej1naSqP-xoVbGc6jo0/s1600/Pea+soup+1+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgckNvGoJ6MloqYhXkKmqtCDtYNC8nNLnh6oDH21oeyS2c4PoD8J14d7Kd8jkwQz2M0Pd4XWTm0CYT6j3K9si8vyobkGzOrqlWEUitWl2nrDkQPtmAxnfv4SFq4Xrwu3ToTbPcwk6NA5KE/s400/Pea+soup+1+002.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fresh peas from a drier and easier-to-shell pod. These peas, when dried will turn brown and hard and can keep for the winter just like the dried beans you see in bins or bags at the store or market.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgckNvGoJ6MloqYhXkKmqtCDtYNC8nNLnh6oDH21oeyS2c4PoD8J14d7Kd8jkwQz2M0Pd4XWTm0CYT6j3K9si8vyobkGzOrqlWEUitWl2nrDkQPtmAxnfv4SFq4Xrwu3ToTbPcwk6NA5KE/s1600/Pea+soup+1+002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhASQc-CURQ8hl0Zgum4xwj3bhRQozO0Vc4DWL6PUCjtlCpYLSDo9dWi57ZIv5_2Q-NgYFMEtoWxpXLyawfVyz6Ts9NdiwEloJKKEiYnLs8LtfRRGt4R3BRwqnJdV4ClY7b34wq_ep3P8g/s400/Pea+soup+1+003.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Into the soup you go: walk the pod to your doom!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhASQc-CURQ8hl0Zgum4xwj3bhRQozO0Vc4DWL6PUCjtlCpYLSDo9dWi57ZIv5_2Q-NgYFMEtoWxpXLyawfVyz6Ts9NdiwEloJKKEiYnLs8LtfRRGt4R3BRwqnJdV4ClY7b34wq_ep3P8g/s1600/Pea+soup+1+003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiOZibhaE_ZJ4UVouGl8sV5hTq8GBiYvKvHH7M7UM9sl-irW7bc6PQ2Nctg4AQDvB_GF36LZqrv7IKISiC15wVsF4U2a_3ZnusDsvo8ffii9gO73aJT-U1d1vAkTj_mBc8-r7M_6QD4dk/s400/Pea+soup+1+004.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">About 1/2 way through the cooking process </td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiOZibhaE_ZJ4UVouGl8sV5hTq8GBiYvKvHH7M7UM9sl-irW7bc6PQ2Nctg4AQDvB_GF36LZqrv7IKISiC15wVsF4U2a_3ZnusDsvo8ffii9gO73aJT-U1d1vAkTj_mBc8-r7M_6QD4dk/s1600/Pea+soup+1+004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6DDHAYyh_PkUBnirGibJ0AF7faXzZgArbdJiqaAYrRKDrAnR6IVX4fTJQjDBl6ZvJjAIg5RcPsUUzpfAW6FvAzSCxf8DdOPu7P74GIFjSS7vduIEIGJohHzUJ4_jURJJGk4LLx-Wt3Mg/s400/Pea+soup+1+005.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The final stage. With a generous grind of fresh pepper on top to help facilitate nutrient absorption of course! </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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ENJOY!!!Samarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14432392176001887832noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1352490176762780383.post-79110467434100262672010-10-16T21:24:00.000-07:002010-10-19T21:20:17.582-07:00South Carolina Food Foraging take 1, and Cherry-Strawberry Mousse!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI39-ciktNaFUdieKQzJ43sLschHL5HT_0702f94BIUYpX853UQvHa1G6nPQy9O971z-6mupmsdDQaXSK2WJAu27BnjZ3KPhUhRlrMEDRMfMz_FsGQOB_SYs_I8mFc9ruwdzQm1FgS7jo/s1600/prickly_pear_cactus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjePtF9fsU1LykSBOlXJY7h1AL5TNbXARiy4zzz0DDfYwWMofrpWhIBQzWm3x1Oc84ydnmdwyT3pywL_aVppeTT1HLEGd689IzZ5UKL1lP4k7gIz7-sRISq8xZHAM2u0mZBhZz4rUnAsqE/s1600/prickly_pear_cactus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVYsN960waSdNwOZwpeiOithJhJsNfxanfDmd14mw9VFVfc_FmbPyn2CorNHeAkyWG5Dz5dSETGAt6VGE2oXQLOZTv4vs1-9SobxN-o4NdXb1JXBljXRk5riqzhuzum8KeqSBwRQ_aP98/s1600/prickly_pear_cactus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Recently I moved from the Hudson Valley, which is along the Hudson River in New York. I truly miss the local food scene there, which is still at its toddler stage but is relatively large compared to the average US city or small region. There are local vineyards, breweries, distilleries, CSAs (community-supported agriculture...we'll get into a discussion about this very soon), small orchards, fruit stands, small farms, and co-ops. Not to mention all the wild edibles there! I gathered milkweed stems for steaming, milkweed buds to pickle into capers, bracken fiddle-head ferns, blood root (used medicinally), wild asparagus, wild apples, edible violets and tiger lilies, wild parsnip, pin-cherries, wild grapes, wild onion and wild garlic, wintergreen berries, chives (which grow EVERYWHERE!), black birch, chestnuts, thimbleberries, wild blackberries and raspberries, chanterelle mushrooms, and wild blueberries are all some of the foods I have had the pleasure of foraging for and later consuming. So, a part of me was quite sad to leave all of that in NY to come to South Carolina where there is very little to forage. However, I found a few things!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO8BDCneIFYODDY6vqImnWprJ6FrSLUzPwtd2rvWNHnv2ehgMCqs0Me6QwGcl2vm8gRhfVvKow_d2WI7JPUsXRodDILximgCiSNlHYKFioeUPczw0IeqY1maM7G-A4hxb4kw0nTN_wRD0/s400/South+Carolina+Shots+002.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Agave Salmiana or White Agave. This plant will eventually grow a stamen that can reach over 20 ft tall. When the stamen is cut at the beginning of its growth, the wound will weep a sugary fluid called "aguamiel" or water-honey that, when evaporated, produces raw agave nectar. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXN5z5mIVEAZEZNiUn3n4ZCVsaT4ZOf8lzqLswpMOHOpHQzesBSTmnlx6VgUS1MVoAnYSVh7jMuLO1n0QYJzqK4omZF_057cZOBQ9MEFhofrTQAbTosiz3s3kMu8jpVJfNY8vlmxQ-Z4Y/s400/South+Carolina+Shots+003.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Close up of the thick, spiny leaves of the White Agave that, although not native to South Carolina, thrives here. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbt_HTSDEf6B7GLOJGDXHCaiLs7Dlh2CZqUpvfXhcHQTzYKYREJbPmgpZIqdvkvXvpKpLRqut9iT-qBCPOm44onB0v2xxxiws9W-wrR1IaFTMRycif97535AOlQiyaM6mwKD2M6Khr41M/s400/South+Carolina+Shots+005.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sweet crab-apples! I ate them all day! A polyphenol-rich food with a higher tannin content than hybridized apples.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsstvWS7LDWRWqwQZJnwwKO9nDLAOPmZZm2KvdQ2BUmKwsaNflsEOGtzpLC57xAoOccoClRH6as1sGetYDmGcBbUWHvkbHq78IrUwK9nA9Xr9DO0DgBU7eDqt-36v2rg6-oxYIfz3zmUI/s400/South+Carolina+Shots+006.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Delicious (and beautiful!)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirS_4iBsraJA8ISKwyraPrlTLw_lEWDe3KJXamyydRCMCclLxbNB3ce2vjuRQlHRB5TpXwcghfcT0V4kEQSHec0Vk2Sa2mrhOU6o_wP44pJN_FP5obO1nRRDMThik17xLhAR0TZBD8P80/s400/South+Carolina+Shots+009.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The green orbs are unripened dates from this date-palm! The black ones have a sugary paste on the inside surrounding a hard, light brown pit....the paste tastes like brown sugar and molasses!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9q9DzVM2fX5X8upb4DKxEawKZhu3NngwvRjLrVYauHn6gPxKffGRqXzn8wuY89QYmeCc3flJTYUsQwXTvO_jVrGU7XAqQKUnPiHoVd9W8_kvTvNC-FH6yygnSHSAPIbYKXbXVDmpHtWk/s400/South+Carolina+Shots+010.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Same date-palm tree that the close-up is taken from.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9q9DzVM2fX5X8upb4DKxEawKZhu3NngwvRjLrVYauHn6gPxKffGRqXzn8wuY89QYmeCc3flJTYUsQwXTvO_jVrGU7XAqQKUnPiHoVd9W8_kvTvNC-FH6yygnSHSAPIbYKXbXVDmpHtWk/s1600/South+Carolina+Shots+010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinRUfMy5SElgJfQcNpGyX5NiUqEH0g9Owfo3j8ySAeVMeje8KVnXK7H8otNLEFdCor4yp2VP1MX7KHR9m8JDsVGIZHM22ZHs-oZ5PK2PVpeO5coUFkHC916xyJFQuKksvMhQDlu0J4IjI/s400/prickly.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Prickly pear is the red fruit on top of this cactus, it is a delicious white-grape-and-strawberry flavor on the inside and a salty-cucumber-tasting crispy flesh around the sweet center. Once you get used to the combo and learn to eat each part separately, it is an amazing experience, one of the most refreshing foods I have ever eaten on a hot, 90 degree South Carolina day!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLMN-gxpfGwICCOAK9q6Sw6VUKA2inxfaei6uGOMZfbVMaFE74pdVrQZwUbHAqBmjhFY_5WHM-1e8w4WkpW8hbrMrFsiSsjUbgaLjtb_8JUUPT16Gda9SDmaNUW0PPd5_KQy7rWW0nm-U/s1600/prickly_pear_cactus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDpMMf2z8_mbG9GsF-VXJFV3KlFy8rHAi-FoTyw0kFajdMFW2IaDSDfOUF2i0NHcffKx7py2v79QD1TaTJtOhKK9l5_h-L2WO7qu-dLtdXcVo8VgoV3gvvTrf0M-ljiPImq5S9ZZtlHZM/s1600/South+Carolina+Shots+009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioxPlqS6ZrX5JCMJ7qQW9xNkIdD3tu6RmW6SO1jXGl35fb4ioxWvdRuKp9EvU7LT3y-u7yH0_UDouxgkgH2iKzaHJ3TjcAdDuMkgAIVgx7j5zXMPEwv377WFkz_c1rPR06TfYC8iG1n1Y/s400/prickly_pear_cactus.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> A prickly pear on the inside! Like art, can you believe that color??</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
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</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioxPlqS6ZrX5JCMJ7qQW9xNkIdD3tu6RmW6SO1jXGl35fb4ioxWvdRuKp9EvU7LT3y-u7yH0_UDouxgkgH2iKzaHJ3TjcAdDuMkgAIVgx7j5zXMPEwv377WFkz_c1rPR06TfYC8iG1n1Y/s1600/prickly_pear_cactus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>All of these foods were so good! A wild foraging dinner! I am still eating some of the sweet crab-apples! I am waiting for the rest of the prickly pear fruit to ripen so I can take them home and make some delicious desserts! All of this food (in a busy city, might I add) was obtained for free! There are so many foods like greens, grasses, tubers, berries, and even cacti that we can eat for free from our own communities. A woman down the street from me even had a pomegranate tree which I picked some fruit from! And the day was spent in the sun, enjoying the adventure, feeling like a kid again instead of waiting in a line of grumps at a busy supermarket. Just for fun, check out some food around your area.....the rewards of finding even one thing is an exciting experience. Get out there in the sun and get that vitamin D to boost your immune system; it also discourages the "bad" genes from becoming stimulated (one more thing to talk about later; I'm really building up a list here!).<br />
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DESSERT TIME!!<br />
<br />
This recipe is for a mini 6" pie in a springform pan and 2 parfait glasses.<br />
<br />
Strawberry-Cherry Mousse:<br />
*2 cups clear Irish Moss dry, not packed down in measuring cup (more about this ingredient below)*<br />
1cup of fresh or thawed black or bing cherries <br />
1 cup fresh or thawed strawberries (wth tops cut off but reserved for a green shake! They are high in Vit C!)<br />
6 drops of stevia liquid, 2 Tbsp honey, or sweetener to preferred taste (I like my tart). Keep in mind that the more liquid sweetener you use, the more coconut oil you will have to add to keep the firm texture and the more coconut oil you use, the more coconutty your dessert will taste. For this reason, I suggest using an herbal sweetener such as stevia liquid or powder for this recipe.<br />
2 Tbsp liquid coconut oil<br />
12 raw soaked and dehydrated cashews (the less liquid in the nut the better, which is why I dehydrate them after soaking. Soaking makes the nutrients in the nut more viable as well as increases it digestibility and makes the nut sweeter!)<br />
<br />
-Blend all ingredients until very smooth in a blender, adding only a tiny amount of liquid if absolutely necessary. If you added too much to ease the blades on an older blender, add more soaked Irish Moss and more coconut oil or cashews to thicken <br />
<br />
*About Irish Moss: Irish Moss is rich in iodine, an essential mineral, which helps prevent mental retardation as well as helps support healthy thyroid hormone function. It is also rich in sulfur, the "beauty chemical" which helps create beautiful hair, nails, skin, eyes, and that "glow." It has significant amounts of protein for being a sea vegetable and provides a host of other minerals--minerals being a part of nutrition many people neglect and are thus deficient. Irish moss was used during the Irish potato famine as an emergency food by the poor. Since it had high amounts of minerals, vitamins, and protein, it helped many live that would otherwise have died from malnutrition. The purpose of Irish Moss in this recipe is to thicken. Many commercial foods like ice cream and salad dressing have an ingredient called "carageenan" and it is a processed form of this whole food. Irish moss thickens like gelatin yet no animals are harmed in the process and this is much better for you! <br />
<br />
How to use Irish Moss:<br />
1) Pull out the pieces of Irish Moss and wash them individually underneath running water, filtered preferable.<br />
2) Put the Irish Moss in a jar filled with filtered water and shake the jar vigorously until the water becomes cloudy.<br />
3) Pour out the water and refill with fresh water. Repeat step #2 a few times, about 3 or 4 or until water comes out completely clear and sediment-free.<br />
4) Soak Irish moss in new water for 1 1/2 days before using it. WARNING: Over-soaking can a less gelatinous effect. <br />
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Crust and Parfait Crumble: <br />
1 3/4 c soaked and dehydrated cashews<br />
1/2 c dried golden mulberries (or mashed dates without pits)<br />
1/2 Tbs vanilla bean powder or 1 tsp pure vanilla extract or 1 vanilla bean, scraped and pods saved for tea<br />
1 Tbs liquid coconut oil (I was out and used 1 Tbs olive oil, worked great too!)<br />
<br />
-Grind all ingredients except last ingredient well in a blender or food processor.<br />
-Transfer crumble to a bowl and massage with clean hands the coconut oil into the mixture so mixture sticks in balls when formed as one in the palm of the hand<br />
-Line the bottom of a saran-wrap covered springform cake tin with 1/3" of crust, patting all around to ensure evenness.<br />
-Put the rest of the crumble aside for parfaits.<br />
<br />
Assembly for Mousse Pie:<br />
-Fill the rest of the springform with filling and let rest in fridge for 12 hours or overnight until consuming to allow natural gelatin to set.<br />
-Serve with sliced strawberries and cherries marinating in honey for 3 hours at room temperature (this makes the fruit "weep" juices, creating a juicer and more cherry-and-strawberry tasting sauce by infusing the honey instead of just simply mixing ingredients.<br />
<br />
Cherry-Strawberry-Honey Sauce:<br />
-1 cup of fruit to 1/2 a cup of honey. <br />
<br />
Assembly for Parfaits:<br />
-Layer 2 parfait glasses however you like with sauce, mousse, and crumble. My layering strategy was: crumble, mousse, sauce, crumble..... but layer however you like!!!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVTboQJk1vcaPDY0gwJgH9pAsAVpMQaVkuw3QGNzCgbhQEQD6aHWNLyjfs9kPweoUF2N2_YhyphenhyphenCFiB9NBxM1fsBBvUafxiajQgcKx7qSmJnG-of1WyjogWV8g6gieFUbPppdqQ7pIN7juc/s400/Cherry+mousse+001.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The mix!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVTboQJk1vcaPDY0gwJgH9pAsAVpMQaVkuw3QGNzCgbhQEQD6aHWNLyjfs9kPweoUF2N2_YhyphenhyphenCFiB9NBxM1fsBBvUafxiajQgcKx7qSmJnG-of1WyjogWV8g6gieFUbPppdqQ7pIN7juc/s1600/Cherry+mousse+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilZfVXvs67-SbBwSQ9HrLkD06_MTwWKCu3NqkQpKAx8Z9mTCQdAsIdPgnar07tWt9ii2qRAq-qlROrtg6sjKwklLQbhZzYU9V_67VlhOouukKcsV_D0vwXPfWZ4lwN7qt44GHpgHrM1jc/s400/Cherry+mousse+002.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The crust pressed into the Springform </td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilZfVXvs67-SbBwSQ9HrLkD06_MTwWKCu3NqkQpKAx8Z9mTCQdAsIdPgnar07tWt9ii2qRAq-qlROrtg6sjKwklLQbhZzYU9V_67VlhOouukKcsV_D0vwXPfWZ4lwN7qt44GHpgHrM1jc/s1600/Cherry+mousse+002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6XJB56eYyPdB0zVY5xgiBpyk_NTqeCHK5a7RlkzeHjgt9pCKkgbrP1bJTFNZLx8UiQRVYp1ZhDuGnmoPPpg3yT7dRsBz1I6CNokWwR7YM_9Etg_GOO8gq5-XPWZ_0tI9UFKzxQjjNe_w/s400/Cherry+mousse+003.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ladies and Gentlemen, be not afraid! It is only soaked Irish Moss!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The thawed cherries I bought from a local orchard when I lived in New York that I brought back to South Carolina and the strawberries a friend and I picked in New York in June. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The fruit, still frozen...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF-K7BFV5tR6Z-wdEDUSqABt0HNQMhe6IGwo8FbKMO7OKe-CHegdbZ5rpAR6ZyatxbXv3kALYHGrAsp9XbsXBqsaGLeymmjIEemU8BM0xPRQCVjGlfmNJy-CgEhh9IytoAZxuu_-8AmZM/s400/Cherry+mousse+006.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A truly raw cashew is whiter than a non-raw one. Some cheap ones labeled "raw" are not actually so. They are not roasted for a long period of time, but not sproutable either. The one I am holding has a little "tail" on the top...it is the beginning of a sprout!!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiowCILxVBw-lBjPmDl-rY5at9pb6fXTJhh4Nnlm_55gtGb9ho8NxptRqqxZTYMz9gZctE8vQYvPWw0q7wuY9aO8IIh5TJeeQQj3MvZiONDvwPgbZdbJmHid0RTI57O4L4eneNS-aGs5y0/s400/Cherry+mousse+007.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pouring the mousse...it looks thinner than it really is but has not set yet. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The parfaits!</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAn9Lw62svaYOkB9xvYnRsTEdppLblzHNrfOsJAI-qUdGu0TIunUdcE800-gWY31Y3mG_sYdgzFapy5Vstfs5_bPZPZ-WHCV8ClMXb2HRu5cIBWfeS2CuTTrV-R7aiw_19ZImWXtDc8NI/s1600/Cherry+mousse+009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAn9Lw62svaYOkB9xvYnRsTEdppLblzHNrfOsJAI-qUdGu0TIunUdcE800-gWY31Y3mG_sYdgzFapy5Vstfs5_bPZPZ-WHCV8ClMXb2HRu5cIBWfeS2CuTTrV-R7aiw_19ZImWXtDc8NI/s400/Cherry+mousse+009.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>ENJOY. <br />
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</a></div>Samarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14432392176001887832noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1352490176762780383.post-64374101237448443192010-10-09T20:53:00.000-07:002010-10-09T21:46:02.878-07:00Holistic Pet Care, Discussion 1I have a pet ferret....yes.....a ferret. Mine is a teensy-tiny runt with a huge personality, tons of energy, and a love of coconut and cantaloupe like no other (it's true, just ask her). About a year ago, my ferret--aptly named Sensai--began to grow a tumor-like ball on her tail and to lose her fur. A few months later, she became a completely naked ferret except for a small amount of fur on her paws and her face. The cluster of cartilage-like cells at the end of her tail was cancer. At first I was in denial because I was so afraid to have to face losing her, a beloved and joyful part of my family!<br />
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I switched around her diet often in the beginning as I was trying to find the perfect, healing diet for her. When I first had her in the very, very beginning she ate conventional non-raw, heavily-grain-based formulas with cheap ingredients....the "junk food" stuff. She loved the taste, don't get me wrong, but she was always sleepy and was tired easily. I realized that an animal's diet needs to be pure and clean and healthy just like a human's should be or as the animal would have in the wild. So, I put her on the Archetype 1 & 2 diet by Wysong. I started her out on the non-raw Archetype diet which still had amazing ingredients and a much higher nutrient and antioxidant content than her old food. Once she adjusted, she loved it! Then I began to change my ideas again.....in nature she would not be eating cooked food. Unlike humans who grew alongside the use of fire, she--an obligate carnivore--would be eating raw meat. So, I switched to the raw Archetype diet and stayed on that for most of the year. She loved it but it always bothered me that it was a dehydrated diet. Especially while she was sick I realized her body must have spent a large amount of energy digesting that dehydrated meat and re-hydrating itself to make up for the lack of water in the food. That energy could be going toward healing her body instead of digestion, I realized. So, after a week and countless hours later of researching the ferret's optimal diet (which is live prairie dogs, which, my domesticated ferret will never kill herself nor would I want to see her try!) I found the <i>best</i> option for ferrets who will not/can not kill their own food. This food is called PawPaw Naturaw.<br />
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Now, I'm not a paid endorser for PawPaw Naturaw, this is my objective opinion: this is the best dog and cat food available today. And yes, you heard that right: dog food. The PawPaw Naturaw food is basically pure meat, which is what Sensai needs. Ferrets need a high fat content in their diets too so I feed her organic, extra-virgin, cold-pressed hemp, flax, olive, and coconut oils daily. It helps her eyes, skin, coat, brain function, and these high-quality fats supply a lot of energy, minerals, and therapeutic nutrition. This food is frozen meat in either bulk or smaller medallion form. They offer chicken, turkey, elk, bison, beef, and more depending on the nutrient needs of the animals. This holistic, fresh, organic diet is more expensive but these are our animals! The ones who love us unconditionally, who look to us for help and discipline and love and joy and shelter and......food! Personally, I want my pets to be as happy and as healthy as possible; I want them to suffer minimally or none at all and I want them to live a long life. Too many animals now are dying in pain from cataracts, cancer, heart disease, obesity, and other degenerative diseases. Not only does the animal suffer but so do we, the ones who love them and have to see them in pain. The lesson here? Love your pets, treat them well, feed them well, and invest a little more now to save a lot later. Preventative medicine!!! Check out the PawPaw Naturaw website, and tell them my blog website sent you!<br />
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<a href="http://www.pawnaturaw.com/">http://www.pawnaturaw.com/</a><br />
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So, back to Sensai's illness and recovery. So, Sensai had cancer. And was furless, tired, and losing appetite. I started feeding her PawPaw Naturaw Bison diet and she began to become more energetic and gained a little weight but was still very ill. Now, this next part I do not suggest and am not implying <i>anyone</i> do. If your pet is ill, go to a holistic vet. I took the situation into my hands but again, I do not support at-home medicinal pet care, drug use, or surgery. I used the same methods many farmers use to castrate sheep, goats, and other animals. The process: to cut off blow flow to a particular body part so that it will undergo necrosis, fall off, and new tissue will grow in its place to heal the wound. No blood, no pain. The cancer on the end of her tail died, fell off, and the end of her tail re-grew healthy tissue.<br />
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And NOW, a couple months later......she has gained weight, is playing all day, is excited about going outside, climbing, exploring, and learning. AND, she has begun to re-grow her fur!! That's right! A disease that for most animals there is no cure was cured holistically! She has grown so much hair back I expect she'll have a full coat again within the next 2 months, most likely even in much less time. I will keep you updated with pictures of Sensai as she regrows her fur and completes her cancer recovery. Her story I hope can show us all the fighter inside all of us, and the strength and power in love, nutrition, and good food!<br />
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The only "before" pictures I could find:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg319OfKJITCobaiRbx0fnv78cN75pj7mZT670DDBH02ipo_TvGFnbW1Z_EKmWlVWpTgotAvUba1VLghgPevto4p6n2-7_1BphlHf-JzkZgFpS4jvR2xYmhR3cBo1jE1yoOOgI940mjOO4/s400/sleepy+sensai+002.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">If you'll look at her neck area, notice it is completely fur-less</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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AND, the OCTOBER 2010 pictures of her progress:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWBhkpIH0Il2UZy6Y9-dp6e6JK5xx4HtjuxtJno5fSlX16fE5l5ncaftrvjcIrg7lbh-KYTj-f647BgXr5-3oIBY_5ASz_bQ1MK_PubutHcgw6KVxEy3Md_283CczdKSx1O-PEIIbh0b0/s400/Sensai+002.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look at all the fur on her paws and neck!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWBhkpIH0Il2UZy6Y9-dp6e6JK5xx4HtjuxtJno5fSlX16fE5l5ncaftrvjcIrg7lbh-KYTj-f647BgXr5-3oIBY_5ASz_bQ1MK_PubutHcgw6KVxEy3Md_283CczdKSx1O-PEIIbh0b0/s1600/Sensai+002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKl_jePuXaGhK4TPF9_MaDCe2LA66QEGdlN3F67J66smnA_Dm9MIAQXKvCoXdfUOeeMNZro25Ic48NolxNOiOirDtR4o99m2ey-ylcWtI4dMIf6gCCHFeiAslfLSuE9WPhM_6mLM0YdvE/s400/Sensai+003.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It is growing so quickly</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6-0hIyC09iue9QBhVtvep0VaFicmP2Cme8iPwv7xPfZvGfsFqvH7Cdy1Wd5hKc8wodvtrWYruz_zV9_8Rq5q_ygr7h1KVdlAtXc2xGjqXrEZMAokr-sQ-UJYxXD3bWnTBUkI0mMBDCu0/s1600/Sensai+004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6-0hIyC09iue9QBhVtvep0VaFicmP2Cme8iPwv7xPfZvGfsFqvH7Cdy1Wd5hKc8wodvtrWYruz_zV9_8Rq5q_ygr7h1KVdlAtXc2xGjqXrEZMAokr-sQ-UJYxXD3bWnTBUkI0mMBDCu0/s400/Sensai+004.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjglfkh7y_GsFu2enassCV7PTQBr2SVI3n5kmruvXIHjrBWlSiGEOl-o9h0t2EX3qQfJXOmX9oU34ubvtu7qeFTdB50whrdF2YFtJpqTAGp7GySTfMYd4G6aZU7t_yIzrSPwJ2HK406BX4/s400/Sensai+007.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She's growing a mane!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjglfkh7y_GsFu2enassCV7PTQBr2SVI3n5kmruvXIHjrBWlSiGEOl-o9h0t2EX3qQfJXOmX9oU34ubvtu7qeFTdB50whrdF2YFtJpqTAGp7GySTfMYd4G6aZU7t_yIzrSPwJ2HK406BX4/s1600/Sensai+007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>Samarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14432392176001887832noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1352490176762780383.post-48854307892208869902010-10-06T19:49:00.000-07:002010-10-06T19:49:32.723-07:00Raw Key Lime PieNow, after being an exclusive raw foodist for a few years, (I began delving into it 5 years ago), I have now come to understand food and nutrition on a more balanced, whole-istic (haha, get it?!) approach. I eat mainly vegan but with a few lightly cooked local eggs in my diet whenever my body craves them (about three eggs every two months). I also oscillate between no dairy and local, organic aged cheese from happy, free-range, grass-fed organic cow's, sheep's, and goat's milk. Sometimes my body craves the B12 and good bacteria from the cheese and the omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin B12, vitamin A--and especially in the winter months--the vitamin D in the eggs. So, if I crave either eggs or cheese, I will eat them reasonably for a couple days until my body no longer finds them desirable. For certain people, these foods are more appropriate and for others, less so. These particular discussions will come in the near future as another topic of discussion! In that discussion will also be a lot of information regarding the vegetarian VS omnivore debate.<br />
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But for now, RAW, ORGANIC KEY LIME PIE! <br />
I prefer to eat and cook raw food desserts especially because they have less empty calories, are often more flavorful, are in my opinion much more fun to create, and they almost always have a much higher nutrient, mineral, and antioxidant content than cooked foods. And since desserts are usually rich in fats and sugars, I prefer raw desserts because they have all of their enzymes in tact unlike conventional desserts. These enzymes help your body to break down all foods, and it is easier on the body to include as many enzymes as possible when eating particularly rich or hard-to-digest concentrated foods like dessert. So, get out those blenders and dig in!!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNcs3TxX4OMOyknfwUmGv8DBZC9skscaxN06O6ZY7IRHKI_P96wOFWYVqonAEJV9-3OMR9ElrtOnJlzOetc5ZuW4dBW2yXjJ2hgzla1bhvfRXpW1HfsuwGkXUEFQoYrId450Kt_BQfhyphenhyphenM/s1600/Dog+Park+1+and+key+lime+pie+oct+%2710+025.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNcs3TxX4OMOyknfwUmGv8DBZC9skscaxN06O6ZY7IRHKI_P96wOFWYVqonAEJV9-3OMR9ElrtOnJlzOetc5ZuW4dBW2yXjJ2hgzla1bhvfRXpW1HfsuwGkXUEFQoYrId450Kt_BQfhyphenhyphenM/s400/Dog+Park+1+and+key+lime+pie+oct+%2710+025.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsmy4U2hSEoFfWPKD7BOWngh8-w3C_jezLJ2Bvc3y3pFQFQLA3mueMfl9831WpYlPAYKaLEquLK7iIcbZ-shzeZ854sE8Lo7f-7FTuPvccRb7aKSgkgNCGMur8mFgC0RJskhUqF34VI1U/s1600/Dog+Park+1+and+key+lime+pie+oct+%2710+031.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsmy4U2hSEoFfWPKD7BOWngh8-w3C_jezLJ2Bvc3y3pFQFQLA3mueMfl9831WpYlPAYKaLEquLK7iIcbZ-shzeZ854sE8Lo7f-7FTuPvccRb7aKSgkgNCGMur8mFgC0RJskhUqF34VI1U/s400/Dog+Park+1+and+key+lime+pie+oct+%2710+031.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
RAW KEY LIME PIE basic #1 recipe: <br />
Makes one 9-inch springform pie. Make at least 4 hours ahead of time to allow pie to set. <br />
<br />
To make the crust:<br />
1 cup macadamia nuts or walnuts<br />
1 cup raw, unsweetened shredded coconut<br />
zest of 1/2 lime<br />
dash salt<br />
1 tsp vanilla extract or vanilla powder<br />
2 1/2 T liquid coconut oil<br />
2 T honey/ agave/maple syrup or to taste<br />
<br />
-In a food processor, process first 5 ingredients until a coarse grind.<br />
-Put mixture into large bowl and fold in last 2 ingredients until well-mixed<br />
-If mix is too dry, begin by adding a small amount more of coconut oil and sweetener until desired consistency. If mixture seems too soft, don't fret!! The coconut oil will set when chilling in the fridge or freezer and make the filling stiffer and the crust hard.<br />
-Line a 9-inch springform cake pan with saran wrap to make taking the cake out of the mold cleaner and easier and to prevent it from sticking<br />
-Pour crust into pan and pat down mixture into an even layer<br />
<br />
Filling:<br />
3 large, ripe avocados <br />
1 cup soaked cashews<br />
zest of 1 lime <br />
1/3 cup liquid coconut oil<br />
1/4 cup honey or agave syrup<br />
stevia herb powder or stevia liquid to taste (to omit this, add 1 T more coconut oil and more sweetener to taste)<br />
juice of 2 large or 2 1/2 smaller limes<br />
<br />
-Blend all ingredients until smooth. If you do not have a vitamix blender then using a food processor may be an easier option to use as oftentimes thicker mixtures can stop up a blender's motor <br />
-Pour filling into cake pan on top of crust<br />
<br />
Optional Meringue Topping:<br />
-1 cup soaked cashews<br />
-1 tsp vanilla powder or extract<br />
-2 T coconut oil<br />
-2 T honey or agave +stevia to taste<br />
-Juice of 1/2 lemon<br />
<br />
-Blend all ingredients until smooth. If you do not have a vitamix blender then using a food processor may be an easier option to use as oftentimes thicker mixtures can stop up a blender's motor <br />
<br />
-Pour toppng into cake pan on top of filling<br />
<br />
Chill cake in freezer for 2 hours and then transfer to fridge and serve or let set 4 hours in fridge.<br />
Serve with:<br />
<br />
Key Lime Sauce:<br />
<br />
1/3 c honey or agave<br />
zest of 1 lime<br />
juice of 1 lime<br />
<br />
-Mix all ingredients by hand and serve drizzled over cake.<br />
-Enjoy!!Samarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14432392176001887832noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1352490176762780383.post-55306925600564729792010-10-06T09:52:00.000-07:002010-10-06T09:52:12.559-07:00Food Talk and Bark ParkSo first off, let's talk a bit about what kinds of food this website will be discussing. This website will focus primarily on organic, whole foods...local when possible. I'll focus on finding balance of one's own eating patterns and will help you to understand your own unique needs and how to optimize your health by creating an individualized diet and lifestyle. I will also help you to understand your body so that you can learn how to decode your body's reactions into messages of what it needs. For example, chronic lethargy, headaches, anxiety, insomnia, low sex drive, inability to concentrate, muscle cramps and pain, and weakness could all seem like symptoms of depression or a low thyroid. But, digging deeper one will find that all of these ailments including depression itself are often symptomatic of chronic magnesium deficiency. With more than 85% of the American population deficient in this mineral which plays a critical role in maintaining a healthy psychological and emotional state as well as maintaining heart health, it s very likely that this deficiency is at least one contributing factor.<br />
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After each discussion of minerals, medicinal-quality foods, or nutrients, I will include a recipe that will help you to eat more foods that contain high levels of the therapeutic compound, vitamin, or mineral. I will also include cooking tips, ideas, related facts, and lifestyle suggestions to help you to make as large or small a change in your life with the most support, joy, and ease. Remember, this should all be a fun learning experience with plenty of room to explore, screw up, laugh, grow, and celebrate! We are always moving forward whether we like it or not, so what do we have to lose to try and always be in the process of cultivating a better version of ourselves? Old habits, rituals, painful memories, traumatic experiences, and dips and chasms in the road will only hold us back. So, let us constantly be working on learning, growing, becoming more flexible, wonderful versions of ourselves that are truly happy and truly free!!<br />
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On that note, here are some pictures of my brother's Husky Zorra and some other very free and joyful dogs playing at the Bark Park! <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsOMsa7ykgx7DklG9s2NpaDgTM2r4S6Ks5TjClg7WFKdRNfOg7YiVUSq3uJfv-TZmJSu0PqbFpNgzxirEXiyszneW5igsh-8OG7RKwnoMna4gN4lEyWTmOh7RM_iDjEzTrRNnpFOX_anY/s400/Dog+Park+1+and+key+lime+pie+oct+%2710+004.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What a big smile!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsOMsa7ykgx7DklG9s2NpaDgTM2r4S6Ks5TjClg7WFKdRNfOg7YiVUSq3uJfv-TZmJSu0PqbFpNgzxirEXiyszneW5igsh-8OG7RKwnoMna4gN4lEyWTmOh7RM_iDjEzTrRNnpFOX_anY/s1600/Dog+Park+1+and+key+lime+pie+oct+%2710+004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOIfdJ_Zl7h9NBYVv_z_aiJd4QEWVvGBLa5YcMIxGCkSiYO8uOyn-6yEpJv8cWPBOu9nwF6oQSTYxcQfgXMCpOdJFZGC5AIrAWX-YKAXyg6w0FPmYrp0FhJEjxSAiLGoehwstoH6wYVi8/s400/Dog+Park+1+and+key+lime+pie+oct+%2710+009.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Playing tag!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOIfdJ_Zl7h9NBYVv_z_aiJd4QEWVvGBLa5YcMIxGCkSiYO8uOyn-6yEpJv8cWPBOu9nwF6oQSTYxcQfgXMCpOdJFZGC5AIrAWX-YKAXyg6w0FPmYrp0FhJEjxSAiLGoehwstoH6wYVi8/s1600/Dog+Park+1+and+key+lime+pie+oct+%2710+009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsAFppS82A5OgohleWt94pUpnhhXzcaj-Os88yMremr26NrRdjfSUL2kKLcCUC9oVKJg7E4FhD062LCwaoaTyrFtUn9NfYcmzvZaLxOZVCofPPqNFbNMUElSA0Roqw3_1YLvS3PwptKIA/s400/Dog+Park+1+and+key+lime+pie+oct+%2710+015.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All grouped around their owner; look at all the love there!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsAFppS82A5OgohleWt94pUpnhhXzcaj-Os88yMremr26NrRdjfSUL2kKLcCUC9oVKJg7E4FhD062LCwaoaTyrFtUn9NfYcmzvZaLxOZVCofPPqNFbNMUElSA0Roqw3_1YLvS3PwptKIA/s1600/Dog+Park+1+and+key+lime+pie+oct+%2710+015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUyd_VNxEXmWzmmX_VHTFnSuCy5dRc-xy1gWuWNMoK3buNKnPpLS7HLFo_Yp1-Ez65Mh3CUkvAtrxpYEUJeaZNM7uArbhDVoe1vZlJsYfnauWghtZ6FJ6p2CuVpmABaXqp2YL7TzzFRN0/s1600/Dog+Park+1+and+key+lime+pie+oct+%2710+017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUyd_VNxEXmWzmmX_VHTFnSuCy5dRc-xy1gWuWNMoK3buNKnPpLS7HLFo_Yp1-Ez65Mh3CUkvAtrxpYEUJeaZNM7uArbhDVoe1vZlJsYfnauWghtZ6FJ6p2CuVpmABaXqp2YL7TzzFRN0/s400/Dog+Park+1+and+key+lime+pie+oct+%2710+017.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wrestling!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Samarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14432392176001887832noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1352490176762780383.post-44961701862754362892010-10-06T08:44:00.000-07:002010-10-06T19:56:26.246-07:00Welcome to Alma Foods!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH3kt_i36UBPQanBsvfVamLkMtdcBokgvPUaKtpiZ8lFVJEkXt1ImkqKOO0kPWMFSjWwKzh6UtWkjmyPua0Z-bqoANklIYaT0R2QxRSVEwxHIUEnrBbt4GINePXJpacsXzn4yp1sxSP5o/s1600/laugh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH3kt_i36UBPQanBsvfVamLkMtdcBokgvPUaKtpiZ8lFVJEkXt1ImkqKOO0kPWMFSjWwKzh6UtWkjmyPua0Z-bqoANklIYaT0R2QxRSVEwxHIUEnrBbt4GINePXJpacsXzn4yp1sxSP5o/s320/laugh.jpg" width="270" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Hello! This is me, Samara Ferris! And this is my blog! </span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Welcome to Alma Foods and the beginnings of the first budding Food Renaissance! First off, what is an "alma" and what does it taste like? And if it tastes anything like a strawberry milkshake in the middle of a July day in Florida, where can I get one?!?! Well, "Alma" means soul in Spanish and thus a fun bilingual pun is born.....Soul Food! This website is dedicated to the study, discussion, and most importantly, the truth of food. And not just any food, no no no, whole, natural, organically-grown and local (if possible) food. We are living in a world of homogenized, labeled, processed, nutritionally empty, pasteurized food that neither feeds the needs of our bodies, our hearts, our conscience, our souls, nor the health of this world. But don't get down and blue just yet, there is good news! These vulnerable, ailed times are the best times for changes to occur: big ones. We cannot afford one more day of ignorance, of feeling sub-par, of guilt, shame, or lethargy. We need to take initiative, to help cultivate the love of food and health within ourselves and others and recapture our vibrancy, our energy, our laughter and our joy for food and life. This site is not limited to food, either, think lifestyle: how we see the world, how we clean our homes, old habits that hold us back, what we drive, how we love; food is just the starting point here: the base coat . So, thank you for taking the time to visit us at Alma Foods...don't be afraid to take a little peek into the cabinets or to take a two week bender to read up (which my lawyer just informed me presents itself as a possible lawsuit....so if anyone asks, I didn't tell you to do it) on all the amazing information available here that we gathered up from a plethora of trusted and objective sources. Learn, teach, share inspiration, and always search for the truth. </span></span></div>Samarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14432392176001887832noreply@blogger.com0