mantras for the kitchen

artwork by Cassandra Barney

"I am a firm believer that the kitchen is the heart of the home. Food brings people together, creates memories, heals, and comforts. I believe that happy meals should happen at home and not in a box. My goal is to cook with whole grains, natural sweeteners, and lots of fresh fruit and veggies as much as possible to feed my family."--Gluten-Free Desi

In one of our nutrition classes Cali encouraged us to each write our own personal mantras.



Here is what I wrote that night:

I am healthy in body, mind and spirit now.

I radiate enthusiasm, peace, joy and LOVE--especially to my family.

I make the best choices for my family to nourish them.

My family is content, full, calm and free.

I am a healer. . . .

in my home, my community and in my relationships.

My body is a temple and receives daily inspiration to bring myself and others joy.

granola

I love the papercut artwork of Nikki Mcclure.

I admit I bought this cookbook for the cover (and the description and reviews looked promising).
I thought if I don't love it at least it would look beautiful in my kitchen.

But I have loved it. Really, the introduction and premise of the book is so thoughtful--it is a must read. I love how Lair has included sections for babies, school lunches, and family meals. I am still trying out recipes. . .

and

I was happy to see a familiar cookbook posted on Soulemama's blog. I can't wait to try this granola recipe (from the first edition of the book).

greensmoothie boy vs. hulk potatoes

Last week, after the Midway class, I came home and started cooking.

I made Robyn Openshaw's Spinach potatoes.

I decided that my kids might object to floating bits of green in their mashed potatoes--so I threw the spinach in my blender and mixed it in with the potatoes to make ALL the potatoes a brilliant shade of green.

I served them on red plates and presented them as "Christmas potatoes."

I wasn't really fooling anyone.

Davis was upset that I had told him I was making mashed potatoes and then served. . .green stuff.

You know that moment as a mom at the dinner table when you have planned and cooked and everyone seems to be crying at the table.

I looked at Tim--I was ready to fold.--panic and frustration in my eyes.

and then in my mind I saw a mental picture of a tiny photograph I had seen of a boyhood Tim--dressed as the HULK. A painted green, ripping through pajamas, sprayed hair boy.

I renamed the potatoes "Hulk potatoes."

Tim's eyes lit up and he cleared off a section of the table and began to arm wrestle the kids.
Only those who ate the hulk potatoes had a chance of winning.
Skyler ate potatoes to gather strength as he held Tim's hand--ready to win.

Thanks greensmoothie boy for helping your boys eat their spinach.

notes from midway

illustration by Nikki Mcclure

A few notes and thoughts from the class by Greensmoothiegirl, Raw Melissa, and Gluten-free Desi.

1) Meditate on love for your body. Your body is phenomenal. Appreciate your body.

Repeat this mantra: "I love my body. My body serves me well."

The things we abuse are the things that we do not value. We nurture, nourish and love the things that we do value.


2) Change just one thing a week.


3) Six Tips for Making Traditional Recipes More Healthy

1. Flour: Grind soft white wheat finely.

2. Sugar: Use Sucacant or coconut sugar (available in the bins at Good Earth).

3. Salt: Use RealSalt, certified Himalayan Crystal Salt or Celtic salt (I posted a link on a previous post about these salts).

4. Oil: Use unprocessed, cold pressed Coconut or Extra Virgin Olive Oil.

5. Baking Powder: Aluminum free.

6. Eggs: Organic. Robyn Openshaw said if there was just ONE thing that you were going to buy organic let it be eggs. Conventional eggs have exactly the wrong proportion of omegas.


4) I loved a few thoughts by Raw Melissa:

You need happiness and joy to be healthy. If you don't have happiness and joy in your life, "Stand up and get it."

She also said to mix "love" in every food you prepare (and she prefers to use her hands to mix in that love).

It was fun to drive up with Donna, Kristi, Lisa and Ellen. Ellen brought her greensmoothie with her and had written "Love and Charity" on the jar. I had labeled my dry good containers but I love the idea of those beautiful words on my glasses as well.

I loved the recipes and tasting the food. The salad and dressing (recipe in the 12 Steps book) were fantastic. Seriously, Raw Melissa's spring rolls with Thai Peanut sauce were amazing. I can't wait to work with rice paper. I came home and made the salad and the Spinach, Garlic Mashed potatoes.

Yum.

I love my body. My body serves me well. My hands serve my family. I love to see them grow.

forks over knives

Looks interesting. . .watch the trailer here.

presentation

(Cacao suckers from Halloween)


I probably love to set the table more than I love to eat the meal on the table.

I collect dinnerware the way some women collect shoes.

It is probably the same reason that I find it hard to make a recipe without seeing a photo.

I love finding vintage plates at thrift stores.

. . .but here are a few "new" products that I also like.

Aladdin cups with straws (available at Costco). When I spied them I knew these would be perfect for smoothies. My kids love straws for drinking smoothies. Since buying these I have sent Tim to work with a smoothie for later.

Snapware Lunch Kits (also available at Costco). These are like fun Bento box containers (which saves so many plastic bags). The lunch bags are cute. Costco also carries a Snapware container set--which is nice to store all sorts of herbs, powders, grains and seeds in.


speaking of visual appeal:

I love Unconventional Kitchen's look. She has recipes with pictures. Have fun browsing!

herbal tea

"The Do's in the Word of Wisdom."

“And again, verily I say unto you, all wholesome herbs God hath ordained for the constitution, nature, and use of man— UAdd a Note

“Every herb in the season thereof, and every fruit in the season thereof; all these to be used with prudence and thanksgiving.” (D&C 89:10–11.)

I love this little teapot. The bottom separates into a teacup. When my kids have started to feel a bit sick I have given them certain herbal teas. I add a little honey and fresh lemon. The kids all like it and will drink it.

I am learning more and more about individual foods and herbs--so that when my family has a certain issue I can try and work on that. For example I know my family needs a lot of Omegas--so I add flax seed, flax oil, Udo's oil, or chia seeds to our smoothies. I am also introducing walnuts (which are an excellent source of omegas). If someone starts to feel a bit sick I work on building their immunity.

I don't want to give any specific advice--I am certainly not qualified. But I think it has been well worth my time to consult wellness counselors, attend classes and read and read and read.

and then try.

strawberry sorbet

recipe from Cali Cutler

1-2 cups frozen strawberries (organic)
Orange (peeled, whole)
Banana
Honey (to taste)
Lucuma (superfood)

Blend in food processor until nice and smooth (about three minutes).


I made this today just using strawberries, vanilla and agave. I wish I would have thought to add this (I went to a class the owner taught at Real Foods in Orem).

tips for kids

It is the dreaded 4:00 hour. Your children are clutching their stomachs in agony and dinner is still on its way.

I learned this from Rachel at a nutrition class: Put out the veggies the kids to snack on before dinner.

Let's be honest. Veggies can't compete on the same plate with the main course. But if it is the only thing offered when hungry--suddenly they look very yummy. I love to snack on them as well and when Tim comes home he has something to crunch on right away.

This week, every time I was serving a salad with the meal, I would serve it first.

Same principle.

I like the idea of my kids getting all those good raw greens in their tummies before they start on anything else.

Simple. Doesn't change the menu. Just the timing.

herb class

image via progressivepioneer

A few weeks ago I attended at herb class taught by Amy Jones.

It looked like this.

and it was AWESOME.

I saw that image (and read the post from progressivepioneer) and could not stop thinking about it. Tim was a champ when I woke up on a Friday morning and told him I thought I NEEDED to go to the class that was starting in South Jordan in about an hour.

Maybe it is reading Wise Child in eighth grade.

Or Daughter of the Forest two years ago.

Two wonderful stories of women who used herbs to heal.

but it somehow feels like coming home to me.

I love it.

I can't wait to take every single one of Amy Jones' classes.

Wednesday

Breakfast: Green Smoothies (I used the "Spectrum" frozen fruit blend from Costco--melons, strawberries, blueberries, peaches. I had developed an "allergy" to pit fruits (peaches, cherries, mangoes, etc.). In the last few weeks peaches no longer bother me. Hooray for food as medicine!). Oatmeal.

Lunch: Quesadillas (with cook your own tortillas and refried beans). With some avocado slices thrown in the cheese is hardly missed!

After School Snack: I tried two of Raw Melissa's cookie recipes. The kids loved both of them. Hooray! Really easy and tasty.

I am going to a class that GreenSmoothieGirl, RawMelissa and Gluten-Free Desi are teaching next week in Midway. After watching a cinnamon ice cream demo video I added this ice cream maker to my Christmas list.


Dinner: Leftovers--Butternut Soup and Christmas Rice. I'll probably also throw together a salad. I have a lot of cucumbers and tomatoes I need to use up.

Green Drink: Ormus Greens I actually crave this now. Hilarious. I think I am "listening" to my body much more.

Tuesday

Breakfast: Green Smoothies (threw in flax oil, flax seed, marine phytoplankton) and Eggs (local, free-range, organic) and Ezekiel (Sprouted Whole Grain and Seed)Toast. Side note: I grew up on brown eggs from my grandpa's farm. Brown eggs, wild meat, fresh veggies and fruits picked at their peak. I didn't realize how lucky I was. Now I am trying to recreate those same things--and add in even more wonderful foods.

Lunch: Sliced cucumbers, snow peas and baby carrots. Annie's Organic Mac'n'Cheese (the blue box) made with rice milk and organic butter. Davis has been having a difficult time with all the changes (moving, kindergarten and diet changes). I have been trying to find a few healthier versions of his favorite foods to add occassionaly. I didn't want to undo all the good from the healthy food with all the stress he was feeling about the changes.

School Lunches/Snacks: Organic naturally sweetened yogurt with fresh raspberries. Quiona cookies. Sliced cucumbers. Apple. Water.

Dinner: A variation of the Autumn salad with apples and a new recipe for homemade dressing (which I didn't love--I like the Autumn salad dressing recipe better). Rachel's butternut soup (I would use chicken stock next time instead of water. I love Costco's organic chicken stock--in the boxes). Totillas (the cook your own kind at Costco--doesn't have trans fat or yucky additives).

Other Stuff: Omega Swirls (get those good Omegas for my kids in a tasty way).

Monday

Breakfast:Green Smoothies
(Rice milk, banana, spinach, agave, and strawberries. I also threw in Udo's oil, flax seed, bee pollen, spirulina)

Oatmeal (Made on the stove with rolled oats. Sweetened with agave syrup and rice milk).

I made myself some herbal tea because I felt like I was a tiny bit sick (I am sure after a week of wonderful Thanksgiving/Holiday foods).

Snacks:Organic vanilla yogurt. Fresh guacamole (avocados--a little RealSalt, tomatoes, garlic salt and pepper). Organic chips from Costco (I love to read just a handful of ingredients on the back of the package--Organic stone ground corn, organic sunflower oil, sea salt).

Lunch: This yummy salad

After school snack: Green smoothie and quinoa flour cookies (I wasn't crazy about the recipe).

Dinner: Christmas Rice, baked sweet potatoes (sweetened with a bit of organic butter and Rice syrup), a variation of the Autumn salad (I added some garbonzo beans and red pears).


Tonic: I used Cali's recipe to make a drink that is a nice substitution for a rich hot chocolate (water, cacao, astragalus root, honey, and spirulina).

Goals

Here are a few of my personal goals for my family's nutrition:

1) Continue to drink green smoothies daily (using a variety of fruits, veggies, and superfoods).

2) Find ways to add more nuts and seeds (particularly sprouted) in our diet.

3) Strive to make each meal 50% RAW.

4) Drink 8 glasses of water daily.

5) Eat meat sparingly.

6) Make more home cooked meals (included lunches to send with Tim).

7) Add essential sources of nutrient based foods for our particular needs as a family.

8) Exercise (on my rebounder:) for 15 minutes every day).


and

1) avoid high fructose corn syrup and refined sugars and flours (sodas would be included in this)

2) eliminate dairy

3) avoid commercial yeasts

4) avoid frequent trips to fast food establishments




Skills I want to learn

1) How to make homemade yogurt/keifr.

2) How to make a fantastic healthy yeast-free bread.

3) Learn more about herbs.

4) Have at least 30 main dish recipes that are healthy and that my family LOVE.

5) Learn how to use essential oils.

6) Learn how to dehydrate.

7) Learn how to "juice."

six months

It has been six months since we have been to the doctor.

SIX MONTHS.

That is a record for our family.

In years past my kids and I have traded colds and the flu fall through winter and into spring.

I have to thank our insurance that offers such poor coverage for the motivation to find a way to avoid the doctors office. We changed insurances last year and our insurance only covers two office visits per year per person. After that there was no coverage. Each child's doctor's visit (usually for a cold that could not be kicked that lead to an ear infection) would run about $200. That was simply too much for us to continue to pay. Davis was "loosely" diagnosed with asthma and I was given a persription that I was to give to him daily. I filled it. $100 a month. For an undetermined amount of time. I never gave him a single pill and determined that there must be another way.

This post by GreenSmoothieGirl changed our lives. I read it. I took her quiz. I FAILED. Some of you may know how I hate to see anything less than an A. I thought that I actually ate really healthy and I was shocked. I took the quiz again to day and scored an A.

Shortly after reading that blog post I attended a GreenSmoothieGirl event in May (you can see me in the audience--taking careful notes) and commited to drinking a quart of green smoothies a day for a month.

It's been six months.

I started collecting vintage green glasses in honor of our green smoothies.

This was the beginning of some major changes for our family. Many of you know I helped organize and attended an 8-week nutrition course, taught by Cali Cutler--which was fantastic.

These are just some benefits we have seen:

Bronwyn's excema is gone (I attribute this mostly to the absence of dairy).

Bronwyn had issues with excess yeast--which seems to have lessened significantly.

Davis "asthma" is gone.

Tim has lost 35 pounds (he has also been working out every day).

I have felt my moods during the day have leveled. I also have discovered that there were several foods that were making me sick that I didn't realize (dairy in particular).

I have decreased cravings for sugar and now crave green smoothies and green drinks.

My kids (and I) no longer seem to have an intolerance to nuts.

If I do feel that anyone in our family is starting to feel sick I feel like I now have "tools" to try and combat it from the very onset before it becomes a major illness.

I am often asked about the expense of some of the items (like a Blendtec blender) or the individual prices of organic foods or health foods. Six months with no doctors visits--that has certainly paid for all of the above. And really there is nothing as priceless as the vibrancy of good health.