The Boy's Breakfast & Lunch Meals

Our son must be kept on a good nutritious diet .. or else.  Else what?  He feigns headaches, low grade fevers, low white blood count, rashes and lethargy (I believe from a leaky gut).  Grains exacerbate his health and are kept to a minimum.

Age 12

Our morning routine begins with a shot glass full of berry or citrus kefir.  He's afraid of 'shots' .. but this one he downs like a pro in one gulp.

You will find no boxes of cereal or frozen packages of waffles on our kitchen counter (unless I'm away and the Mr. is in a bind).

Farm fresh eggs are fixed most mornings in a variety of ways:  Veggie or apple pancakes (grain free), scrambled with spinach and a little grated cheese, fried .. or baked frittata style.  Endless ways really.

Some mornings he gets sausage patties.  And .. for good measure .. a banana in hand on the way to the bus stop.

Age 16

While he's enjoying his hot breakfast, I am busy whipping up a hot lunch: 

• Spaghetti sauce over green beans (in place of noodles), packed in his trusty stainless steel thermos .. or,
• Freshly made bone broth soup (keeping homemade stock on hand in the freezer and shelf stable in the pantry makes this easy peasy).  I add to the stock any left over meat and veggies from the previous night's dinner, dried herbs, sea salt and pepper.  One day he'll have chicken, turkey or beef based stock in his soup.
• Every day he gets a green salad that includes lettuce, cucumbers, carrots & red pepper, along with a little (tiny) bottle of homemade salad dressing.  This is made in batches every few days and may include: balsamic-olive oil vinaigrette, homemade ranch style or Italian dressing.
• Fruit:  banana, small apple, orange slices, tangerine, or a small cup of diced peaches or applesauce.  The peaches and applesauce are canned in our kitchen during the summer and stored away for those days we don't have fresh fruit.
• Once a week I give him a treat and make French bread pizza.  This is simply made from a few slices of sourdough style bread I bake a few time a week.  The bread is buttered and spread with a little marinara sauce and topped with grated cheese .. placed on a baking sheet in a 350 F oven until it's a little bubbly and starting to brown.
• Each lunch contains a small container with a fermented sour pickle.  Fermented foods aid in digestion and help boost immunity.

I don't believe in all of the disposable packaging .. so limit its use.  He gets a cloth napkin and thrift store utensils .. and his food is packed in reusable lidded containers.  Usually my husband will comment that it looks like a b0mb went off in the kitchen .. but that's the price for eating healthy .. it's certainly not 'convenient' food (LOL).  Really .. how convenient is illness?  Food for thought.

Wednesday .. Wandering the Web

It snowed last night and part of today.  Finally.  If you're in the Polar Vortex or have been hit with unseasonably cold weather for your area .. just ignore my delight.  We've had very little snow this winter and it's really needed for our mountain snow pack.

The Mr. and I had our date day; an outing to town including lunch and window shopping downtown.  I'm not a big fan of eating out, so I packed my own little mini jar of homemade ranch salad dressing for my salad lunch.

Here are some good reads I found wandering around the web today. 

The 11 Most Destructive Nutrition Lies Ever Told

5 Signs Your Body is Starving for Vitamins

The Dangers of Not Getting Enough Vit. D

Cod Liver Oil ~ Myths and Truths of an Ancient Super Food

Have a blessed day!

Restoration Tuesday

There is no money to be made from healthy people.

“The doctor of the future will give no medicine, but will interest his patients in the care of the human frame, in diet and in the cause and prevention of disease.”

~ Thomas Edison (1847-1931)

Restoring one's health can not be achieved overnight .. nor with a magic pill.  Western medicine of today irritates the heck out of me with their pill pushing philosophy.  Why not make amends with your body, surrender the old habits that lead to ill health AND embrace better health one day at a time. 

The overall end goal is to get out of bed in the morning with as few creaks as possible, get through the day with energy, do your daily work without folding into a pile by mid-day, then retiring at night with sleepy eyes that drift off to dreamland without the aid of a pill.  This, my friends, will help you  make it to old age with your faculties in tact. 

In an ideal world, food will be your medicine.  Would you take bad medicine?  Would you overdose on bad pills?  There is no day like today to step into a new era feeling fit.

But how?  One day at a time.  Remember, there are no magic pills.  Nothing will make you feel better overnight. 

Here are my top three remedies to start with:

1. Get rid of packaged food.  I used to say just start replacing it with better options, but in reality, this is just delaying the healing process.
2. Fill your fridge with fresh produce.  It's not hard to make a green salad.  Peel an orange.  Slice an apple.
3. Learn to make bone broth (beef, chicken, fish).  In our home, this is worth its weight in gold.  We consume this daily.

There you go.  That's a start.  Now run with it.  Don't read fad diet books.  Research about nutrient dense foods.  If you're on a tight budget ... cut out your expensive TV cable bill, and drop the internet for your smart phone.  Really, your body is more important than filling your mind with the junk food diet of TV programming.

Today is the first day of the rest of your life.  How do you want to finish the race?  Leave a comment if you're interested in reading more Restoration Tuesday posts. 

Know your produce PLU codes

Making Time For Sunday

Keeping the calendar clear to focus on Sunday:  Church, service .. working in the pre-school children's church, prepping a meal for the family all speak about love.

Today we're gathering as a family at both church and 'grandma/pa's' home for a shared meal.  Everyone contributing to make the day more relaxing. 

On the menu:  Elk chili, corn bread with honey butter, garden salad. 

Time spent in God's Word ... and with the family ... priceless.

Oh, and if you're one of my kiddos and didn't get the memo .. yes, you're invited over for dinner at 4:00. 

I leave you with this quote for the day:

"So let God work his will in you. Yell a loud no to the Devil and watch him scamper. Say a quiet yes to God and he’ll be there in no time. Quit dabbling in sin. Purify your inner life. Quit playing the field. Hit bottom, and cry your eyes out. The fun and games are over. Get serious, really serious. Get down on your knees before the Master; it’s the only way you’ll get on your feet."

James 4:10 ~ The Message Bible

Bathroom #1 Update

The geometric design wall tapestry is actually a painted cotton rug.

We're fine tuning the décor in our home, you know, weeding out clutter, 'shopping' in the basement's storeroom and TJ Maxx.  Our son's (which is also the guest) bathroom needed a fresh look; something a little brighter. 

Sunshine yellow & white medallions on the shower curtain 

We switched out the shower curtain and added new towels and a few countertop decorations.  Added a small cotton rug in front of the sink AND one on the wall instead of a painting.  Who knew a rug on the wall would look so good.

A carved treasure box and burlap runner

 

Now we have a bathroom that is nice enough for visitors that didn't cost an arm and a leg.

 



I've dubbed this room 'Sunshine & Blue Skies'

New Year .. New Way of Living?

I'm old school.  Traditional.  Father and mother under God's authority; children under their parents' authority until the age of accountability.  God, Family, Country .. to be exact.  A way of life melting away faster than a popsicle on a warm summer day.  So, we  'old folks' are not alone in this feeling of wanting the good old days.  Here's an excerpt from the preface of the book American Cookery, 1798.  The first published cookbook written by an American (orphan) in America.  This is a good read from the perspective that history repeats itself (so to speak) .. and a historical account of cooking methods in our nation's infancy.

"The world, and the fashion thereof, is so variable, that old people cannot accomodate themselves to the various changes and fashions which daily occur; they will adhere to the fashion to their day and will not surrender their attachments to the good old way--while the young and the gay, bend and conform readily to the taste of the times, and fancy of the hour."

 

 

The Mr. retired last week.  It's nice to have him home.  We made it to our rocking chairs with a little less hair on his head and silver tresses on mine.  A few delicious grandbabies and relative good health.  The new year holds much promise with a few trips planned, gardening, putting away provisions and bike rides together.  No time clock to punch and every day is Saturday, but Sunday.

 

Happy New Year from the Mac Family

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.

Incomprehensible Denial of Epidemic

I was visiting this Canadian website, Vitality Magazine, and was flabbergasted to read that Canada is in denial about  Lyme disease, testing their citizens, and does not offer treatment.  Doctors can actually get in HUGE trouble for treating patients; many of whom must travel internationally to seek medical intervention.  (I have verified this finding with a Canadian friend).  Lyme disease testing can sometimes be difficult to prove positive .. and is often missed; tragically this has led to untreated patients developing a malady of horrific conditions such as: multiple sclerosis, ALS, rheumatoid arthritis, autism, Chron's disease, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's disease, ADHD, scleroderma and heart disease.

I can't comprehend, with today's easy access to medical 'information' with the click of a mouse, how such blatant denial/medical cover-up can exist. Having several acquaintances being treated for Lyme disease in the U.S.A., it's mind boggling to think of the countless cases just above our northern border that are suffering. 

Is this news to you?

CanLyme Disease Foundation
Lyme disease slide show
Why are crippling Lyme disease cases being misdiagnosed?
Lyme disease map project

Waking Up

I'm just truly disgusted with the deception and manipulation of the government and (too big to fail) corporate giants that are their bed fellows and have been pushing their (crappy) food through our nation at steam roller speed.

There is NO true health food available unless you grow it yourself or procure it from local sources .. i.e. directly from a trusted farm.  Be selective when shopping.  Avoid the dreaded 'middle of the store' where the grocery peddlers stock most of the junk.  Be aware of shopping tactics used by stores to lure you in their 'web' .. i.e. milk is located at the back of the store so you have to pass countless distractions they hope you will throw in your cart .. when all you wanted was a gallon of milk.  Become a smart shopper.

I hope as a nation we have an awakening in mass force to see through the deception that has engulfed us for too long.

How can we have a nation of obesity and be food poor when our % of personal spending has greatly decreased?  Enter the manipulation of our food chain with fixed price controls and cheaply made junk food being pushed on the uniformed masses that are consuming highly addictive food from the womb to the tomb (I speak from experience as a former junk food junkie).

Have you ever noticed that a majority of grocery coupons are for items that are highly processed, loaded with trans fat, high fructose corn syrup, white flour, etc?  We, as a society, are in a out of control spiral and don't even know it.  Now add the socialized health care system (one size fits all), poor national health and we have a disaster in the making.

There is no money to be made from healthy people.

“The doctor of the future will give no medicine, but will interest his patients in the care of the human frame, in diet and in the cause and prevention of disease.”

 ~ Thomas Edison (1847-1931) .