Here's to your health!

This website is just bursting with herbal remedies and makes mention of the author's grandmother's 'doctoring journals' ... take a peek and see if it offers inspiration for a natural 'cure' for what ails you.

Old World Cures for Winter Ailments

Do You Want To Feel Better?

Several years ago I was a wreck physically:  Sleepless nights, aches and pains in feet, shoulders, knees and hips.  Creaky knees when climbing the stairs.  Dry skin on face.  It is not by some magic pill that I feel well now.  I did not look forward to growing any older.

Fast forward five years.  With a transition to a better diet, one that includes a variety of whole foods .. including grass fed meats, raw milk, organic farm eggs, organic produce, bone broths, healthy fats, cod liver oil and magnesium supplements, and almost zero processed foods, I have made a transformation health wise to feeling more energetic and zero pain. 

Shame on Western medicine practices that 'sell' pills for this and that and totally overlook that our food is the key to our health.  You really are what you eat. 

It's a bit more expensive to eat healthy .. but you only have one body.  And future medical expenditures for poor health will, in the end, be more costly to 'fix' than taking care of our physical well being at a younger age. 

How does a person go from a poor diet to a healthy diet?  SLOWLY.  One area at a time.  I started by eliminating processed foods that were causing hives.  Then cut way back on sugar and simple carbs.  While increasing fresh produce.  Then adding sprouted grains, homemade bone broths and finally, cod liver oil and an occasional dose of magnesium. 

If you are in poor health, please consider your diet and treat your food as your sustaining life force to good nutrition. 

Teach yourself how to grow a few edible vegetables .. and add to your garden each year.  Teach your children and grandchildren how food is grown.  Cook together with your family.  Teach yourself and family new skills each year to provide, cook, bake obtain good quality food.  With the speed of the internet, you can hone your skills in no time.  Take baby steps towards a healthier future.  The earlier you start with your children, the easier the transition. 

Who needs the gym?  Workout in the garden.  Walk around your neighborhood.  Use the stairs instead of the elevator.  Exercise should be free! 

Here's to your good health!

No Knead Bread

This recipe is just too easy to even claim that it is GREAT!  But that is the case. 

No Knead Bakery Quality Bread

 

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The only changes I made to the recipe:  Cut the salt to ONE TEAPOON, and I used regular granular yeast (which worked perfect).  Also, when the bread has baked 30 minutes I slide a metal canning jar ring under the parchment/bread to keep the bottom from scorching when you return it to the oven without the lid to further bake.  Otherwise, this is a very simple recipe.



Hubby so enjoys his lunch sandwiches toasted on this bread.

Apple Pancakes

I just love to make quick and hearty breakfasts for my son to give him a good start on a cold day.  These apple pancakes do not contain any flour.  Freshly grated organic apples, eggs and spices (cinnamon and cloves).  They take less than 15 minutes from start to finish .. use only one bowl and are a great alternative to traditional pancakes made with grains.

Ingredients:
Two apples, washed, quartered, cored, shredded and squeeze out the juice (I left the peel on .. but would remove if your apples are not organic)
Three eggs
dash of cinnamon
dash of cloves
cooking fat (today I used a little bacon grease)

Place shredded apples in a bowl.  Add the cracked eggs and spices.  Mix well with a fork.  Spoon in rounds into hot greased skillet.  Cook until a little browned on one side .. flip and cook the other side.

Serve with a small splash of real maple syrup or a drizzle of honey.  For a treat, I added a drop of On Guard (food grade) essential oil (from doTERRA) to the warm syrup.  This oil has immune boosting properties AND gives a hint of spicy orange flavor.

KISS (Keep It Simple Sweetheart)

This week I'm:

1. Diffusing my own version of Thieves' Oil to help ward off the flu/cold season.
2. Minimally decorating for Christmas. 
3. Making meals with 90% fewer grains and feeling much better after our feast on Thanksgiving.
4. Making plans with hubby .. HE HAS 20 DAYS LEFT TO WORK UNTIL HE RETIRES. 
5. Getting my hair cut in a different style .. think layers :)
6. Not letting the calendar get overbooked.
7. Planning the Christmas dinner to be comfort food .. nothing fancy.
8. Stoking the fire in the wood stove .. baby it's COLD outside!
9. Putting the finishing touches on our new home office.
10. Taking my grandson out on a special date.

Are you letting the 'season' get the better of you?  Or have you discovered the Joy that comes from simplifying? 

Season of Serenity
Do Less

Grain & Gluten Free Salmon Cakes

I try and limit our son's simple carbs.  Making fish cakes .. for that matter most 'pan' cakes I just add  shredded veggies, seasonings and a few eggs to make a batter to pan fry.

Tonight I took two small cans of Alaskan salmon, drained and flaked .. beat in three eggs, 1/4 cup diced celery, 1/4 cup diced onion .. salt/pepper and a little dill weed.

Spooned them into a large hot skillet with a little chicken fat.  Turned once .. and served with a homemade tarter sauce made from homemade mayo, lemon juice and diced fermented dill pickles.

These cakes were gone in a quick minute.

A Thrifty Christmas Tree

This year Ann wanted to decorate a bare branch tree ... she actually found this just pitched along the roadside a few weeks ago .. wrote down it's exact location and her beau picked it up and brought it home.  I just let her have at it and this is what whimsy looks like.