Winter Fiber Boost

Toast with raw local honey

I'm not into hot cereal unless it's rice. I enjoy a whole grain bread (Ezekiel 4:9) with honey and cream cheese. Of course, every day, I have chia seeds. This was a new twist and quite delightful. The only problem was my toast got cold while I was taking pictures.

I have learned that the best way to add chia seeds to my muffins is just before spooning into the pan. That way the seeds stay crunchy rather than absorbing the liquid in the batter. Chia seeds can be soaked first to increase moisture, but added at the end, they become a compliment just like nuts and fruit. Try something new - just for fun.

Spread cream cheese. Sprinkle with chia seeds. Enjoy.

I included the links so you will have full access to great foods! Salud!

Sauerkraut and Ginger

These are a few of my favorite things - mixed with chocolate.

Petite Chocolate Sauerkraut Muffins

This week I made chocolate sauerkraut cake. It's very easy. Just take your favorite cake recipe and add a cup of drained sauerkraut. Reduce the fluid measure by half a cup and you will have a dense moist sweet tangy treat.

Sauerkraut is a delicious healthy treat if homemade (cold pack) or purchased as raw (from the cold section). It is a probiotic offering all the benefits of vitamin C, lactobacilli, and other nutrients. This will make a great project for 2012 garden harvest.

Chocolate Ginger - Cooling

This evening I made dark chocolate with ginger. Even easier, melt one cup of dark chocolate chips (either in the microwave for one minute on high, then 15 seconds more at 50% or over a double boiler) and add a half cup of crystallized ginger pieces. Spread the mixture on a silicon sheet or parchment paper to cool. Cut or break into pieces and store in a cool space. This is my replacement for my favorite chocolate bar - Chocolove. My version satisfies the sweet and spicy desires.

There's no reason to limit the version to ginger. Try your own blend with nuts, fruits, spices and seeds. The adventure never ends. What's your favorite chocolate treat?

Baked Pumpkins

This year my garden decided to bloom and set fruit in late September. Fortunately it was warm enough for pumpkins, cucumbers and tomatoes to keep growing. That's how we got all those tomatoes for the green tomato fritters. Finally this week the pumpkins have all turned orange. Initially, I was going to post on cooking them in the microwave, crock pot, and oven. However, after I cooked the first one in the microwave with fabulous success, there was no turning else where. I cooked two pumpkins. Both turned out great.

These pumpkins were harvested before the frost, though I hear they may have lasted. They are larger than the pie variety, but small still.

Place in microwave for 15 minutes or until the skin is soft.

Pumpkin split at bottom - maybe pierce next time.

Slice open while hot - steaming!

Remove seeds and the stringy stuff inside.

Serve with butter, salt and pepper - Yum!

Extending Holiday Bargains

Turnips and cheese

During the fall/winter season there are great bargains to be had. Far better than most other times of year. For instance, here in the US there are certain foods that are attached to Thanksgiving so that grocers stock up and use those items to bring customers into the store. Rather than shopping for only one meal, occasion or season, stock up on the items you will use and enjoy throughout the year.

In my area, sales change on Wednesday, so Tuesday will be the last (theoretical) day I can get those bargains. There are some foods I love but save for only special events. But on sale I can collect a couple to save for later. Yes, I know, I'm shopping. But consider this, frozen green beans, $0.69/#, organic half and half $2.29/32oz (can be frozen), apples and pears from $1.00 - 1.99/# - even organic, and of course butter! The staples I use didn't change, but why would they? I have found a new grocer for organic oats, dried cherries, and some lentils. The rest I get online.

More chia seed cookies

It's your dollar, you may as well be as savvy spending as the marketers are working to get it. Consider the gift of consumable goods to friends and family. Who doesn't appreciate a treat now and then, or perhaps a meal? Check out recipes for easy spinach dip and simply delicious green beans.

To life! Abundantly!

A beautiful day to enjoy living

Shadow Marching

I've skipped Black Friday for a couple of years now. The main reason is that by the time I actually got to the store the deals are gone, captured by the shoppers who camped out overnight and took the store by storm in the wee hours. Since I was coming after work (you'd think 8 AM was early enough to go shopping) I was already six to eight hours behind the crowd. I just wanted some small thing, say a flash drive for $4 or a DVD for $5. No way. None left. "Those were gone by 5 AM." That did it. No point. By the way, I did find a 4 GB flash drive for $4, no shipping, online, in the comfort of my home. So, rather than braving the onslaught of those desperate for a bargain, I would rather decide exactly what I desire and need and do the research to find it.

Swing backwards from the top

Today, we went to the park, played on the "monkey bars" and walked on the trail. My granddaughter, DA, was scared to climb to the top, but eventually she made it and we learned the words, "Brave" and "Courageous." She ran off and left me repeatedly as she explored the creek looking for fish. And when we came home, she found a bamboo stick and we had a stick fight for she is Warrior Ballerina Princess.

The sun was bright, temperatures warm, and breeze soft. "I want to play, GG. Let's play." What better invitation is there?

Oatmeal Chia Seed Bars

Oatmeal Chia Seed Bars

1/2 cup nut butter 

1/4 cup honey

1/3 cup chia seeds

2 cups oatmeal - ground

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon spices - ginger, cinnamon

1/2 cup chocolate chips, nuts, dried fruit - as preferred 

1) Soak chia seed in 1/2 cup water, tea, or juice

2) Place nut butter in a large sauce pan over very low heat.

3) Mix honey and nut butter until blended. Remove from heat.

4) Add salt and spices to ground oatmeal. Sprinkle dry ingredients over honey butter.

5) Add chia gel to mix. (That's what happens when chia seeds are mixed with liquid. Chia seeds can absorb up to 9x their weight.) The dough will be sticky.

6) Mix in any additives you have chosen - chocolate chips, dried fruit, nuts or seeds.

7) Evenly spread dough in a baking dish.

8) Bake at 350 degrees for 10 - 15 minutes. If baking in a dark pan, check early and frequently to avoid burning. Baking is merely to set and firm the bar rather than "cook." When dough is firm and dry to touch, remove from over and allow to cook.

9) Cut into 12 servings. The bars may be wrapped and stored for easy use and transport.  

Enjoy with plenty of your favorite beverage for health and lasting energy.

Ch-Ch-Ch-Chia

Chia Seeds

Remember the commercial with the terracotta animals? You were to soak them in water and them apply the chia seed and watch them grow “hair.” Did they ever tell us what to do with the “hair” after it was long?  That “hair” is sprouted seed, like any other sprouts we might enjoy and can be added to salads or sandwiches. They can also be eaten as micro-greens. Raw food at their best.

Chia is very rich in omega-3 fatty acids, even more so than flax seeds. Another advantage over flax is that chia is so rich in antioxidants that the seeds don't deteriorate and can be stored for long periods without becoming rancid. Unlike flax, chia seeds do not have to be ground to make their nutrients available to the body.

Chia seeds also provide fiber (25 grams give you 6.9 grams of fiber) as well as calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, manganese, copper, iron, molybdenum, niacin, and zinc. One ounce of Chia Seeds has 4915mg of Omega 3. Omega 3 fatty acids are loaded with protein which is great for healthy skin, hair, and nails. Chia Seeds are high in calcium and naturally have Boron in them which transfer the calcium into your bones.

When added to water and allowed to sit for 30 minutes, Chia forms a gel. Researchers suggest that this reaction also takes place in the stomach, slowing the process by which digestive enzymes break down carbohydrates and convert them into sugar. They grow to 9x their size and they slow down the absorption of carbohydrates to control the appetite. This effect in itself has many health implications and applications.

Oatmeal walnut chia seed cookies (with chocolate chips)

Chia has a nutlike flavor. You can mix seeds in water and add lime or lemon juice and sugar to make a drink known in Mexico and Central America as "Chia fresca." As with ground flax seeds, you can sprinkle ground or whole Chia seeds on cereal, in yogurt or salads, eat them as a snack, or grind them and mix them with flour when making muffins or other baked goods. Chia can also be added to commercially prepared infant formulas, baby foods, juices, drinks, yogurt, and other foods.

Chia seeds can be used to extend servings without compromising flavor and while decreasing fat. The Chia gel (seeds soaked in water) can be used as a substitute for fat in recipes. Sound like a miracle food? Well it was for the Aztecs who are said to have survived for twenty four hours on a single ounce. Want to learn even more? Enjoy.

To your health!