The Gerson Therapy

We are bombarded on every side with things that are destroying our health.  Our food sources are really not good unless you buy organic, and even then you need to be careful because everything that says organic isn't.  Then there are all the chemicals that are literally in everything.  We have very strong bodies to withstand all that they are subjected too.

I recently watched a documentary on Dr. Max Gerson.  It was wonderful!  He was a man from Europe that escaped the Holocaust with his immediate family but lost his parents and all his siblings.  The documentary tells about how he came to develop his therapy and how it cures almost every kind of cancer.  His Institute was taking over by his daughter when he died and it's headquarters is in San Diego and there is a clinic in Mexico. 

I'm totally sold on alternative therapy because there are very few people who survive chemotherapy, it is basically poison and does great harm to your body.  His therapy is totally natural and his results are phenomenal. There are two books about this therapy that you can find on Amazon.  I know that not everyone is open to alternative therapy but I just think people should at least know that there is another way if you are interested.

Also, don't forget about Dr. Burzynski in Texas.  So far, he has been able to beat the U.S. court system and keep his clinic open. 

Sadly, I hear the news of friends or acquaintances getting cancer and no one ever wants to hear that news.  I hope you will take the time to watch the documentary or read his books.  All the information is more than encouraging.

Happy Thanksgiving

 

 

These are some wonderful times with our children when we were homeschooling.  We celebrated this particular year with another dear family that we meet years ago through homeschooling.  The kids reenacted the first Thanksgiving and then we all had a wonderful meal together.  Thankful for such wonderful memories of the past.  I am actually showing you this idea to pull out old pictures from past events or holidays and display them.  This is an old easel I picked up at a garage sale and I usually display books on it.  This year I was going through some pictures and found these and I knew I would enjoy seeing them out on display.  I think my kids enjoyed seeing them and remembering a fun time in their lives. 

 

Time as we know it is swiftly bringing this year to an end.  I'm thankful this year for the many wonderful memories I have in my life.  I do have some time in my life where there are some major  regrets but I purposed a long time ago to live the rest of my life with no regrets and I can thankfully say that I have.  My goal is to live every day to it's fullest.....to love, to learn, to be open and to explore!

 

Wishing you many wonderful memory making events ! 

 

Corn Bread Dressing

I am busy making cornbread to put in the freezer for dressing on Thanksgiving.
 
While I'm working this is my focus: Success is focusing the full power of all you are on what you have a burning desire to achieve.

Wilfred Peterson


This is a wonderful cornbread recipe and I have used it for years to make dressing.

11/2 cups yellow corn meal
1//2 teaspoon soda
1/2 cup flour
1 tablespoon sugar
3 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 egg
11/2 cup buttermilk
1/4 cup shortening, melted

Mix all the ingredients together and bake at 425 degrees for 25 minutes.

My dressing is very simple.
I triple this recipe for dressing at my house.
1 loaf of cheap white bread, toasted
2 onions, diced
4 -5 stalks of celery, diced
5 eggs
4-5 tablespoons of ground sage or poultry seasoning ( I add this and taste but I use close to half a jar of this seasoning.)
salt and pepper to taste
9-10 cans of chicken broth

I run the cornbread and the white bread thru the food processor.  It will be coarser than bread crumbs but that's the look you are after.  Then add all of the ingredients, mix well and pour into a greased Dutch oven and cover with aluminum foil and bake at 375 degrees for 1 1/2 to 2 hours.  For a smaller batch just adjust time. 

When you have added your broth add enough so the cornbread is not dry, you don't want soupy but very wet.

Queen for the Day!

My birthday was yesterday and my daughters treated me like Queen for the day.  For me, this picture is worth a thousand words.  I can say no more.


P.S.  I do have two wonderful sons who love me very much but it was a mother and daughter day.

All Life Wants to Live

This is a picture that my husband took at the Norman County Fair this summer of the cutest little baby donkey. 


When our children were small, I became conscious of the fact that the meat we were buying from the grocery store had large amounts of antibiotics and hormones.  For years, I would buy a half of a cow from someone who was raising grass fed beef that was free of antibiotics and hormones.  Occasionally, I would find someone who raised free range chickens and would buy those.  Chickens were harder to find.  I never thought of being a vegetarian.  I just wanted to find meat that was good quality.  In fact,  I was married to a man who would never consider giving up meat.

I can remember meeting someone who was a vegetarian about 10 years ago and she was a vegetarian because of the rights of animals.  I thought at the time that was pretty silly.  I guess this has been a process of evolving for me.  I seem to change as information comes across my path.  It started like I said years ago with the antibiotics and hormones and now I have come to the place where, number one the quality of meat that is offered to human beings is ridiculous and then after I read and saw the treatment of the animals that are being inhumanely raised and then slaughtered, well it's hard to eat the meat now.

  I first became aware of the inhuman treatment of chickens when I was doing some research for my son. I could hardly believe what I was reading.  Then my meat eating husband attended a seminar with our two sons and they all came back with a different attitude toward meat. Meat consumption at our house went way down.  If you have never seen Earthlings I would strongly encourage you to watch this.  What little bit I have watched has changed me forever.  I think you can find Earthlings on you tube.

In our society, I don't think much thought is given about the soul of an animal, how it's treated, does it really have feelings? I'm not saying they are human but I do think more consideration should be given to their well being.  This story crossed my path at a very appropriate time.  It is the story of a man who loved hunting and was an avid hunter.  One day he was in his hut and when the geese flew over he shot his gun and injured one.  It came falling to the pond and another goose saw what happened and left the flock to go to the injured goose.  When he got to the injured goose the other goose that left the flock was covering the injured goose with it's wing and the protecting goose started squawking at him when he appeared.  It so moved him to see this that he never hunted again.

I would just encourage you to do some research on the meat industry.  Watch Earthlings. Also, do some research on how meat effects your body and then let your conscience by your guide.

Pickled Turnips

About a month ago I blogged on how much I loved falafel's.  The first time I ate a falafel I ordered some hummus with it and they served pickled turnips as dippers for the hummus.  I loved the pickled turnips, first time I had ever eaten them.  I get so hungry for them now.  I love garlicky hummus and these pickled turnips are so wonderful with the hummus.  Most people turn up their noses with the mention of turnips but even if you don't like turnips I would like to encourage you to try these.

These are very easy and inexpensive to make.  This is the recipe:

3 cup water
1/3 cup salt, white coarse salt, kosher or sea salt
1 bay leaf
1 cup white vinegar, distilled
2 pounds turnips, peeled and sliced (in the recipe they cut theirs like French fries)
1 small beet, peel
3 cloves of garlic, thinly sliced ( I used 4 cloves but I like garlic)

Peel and slice turnips and also peel beat and cut in half.  I placed the beet in the bottom of the jar and add the sliced turnips on top. 

Heat 1/3 of the water with the salt and bay leaf under a low temperature until the salt dissolves, stirring occasionally.  When the salt is dissolved remove from heat and let water come to room temperature and add vinegar, remaining water and garlic. Stir well and pour mixture over turnips.  Leave the bay leaf in the jar and I added a red pepper from my garden for a little zip.

Set sealed jar in relatively cool place for one week.  Once done the pickles can be put in the refrigerator and kept until ready to serve.  The pickles will keep up to 2 weeks in the frig.  They will be rather strong at first but will mellow after a few days.  They should be kept no longer than 6 weeks after being made.  If you like to tinker with recipes, you can add a few sprigs of dill or a dill flower which will take the taste in a different direction.

I read an interesting article about pickled turnips.  These pickled turnips contain a friendly bacteria called Lactobacillus brevis KB290.  It is a beneficial probiotic that enhances digestion and immune function.  There were several reports that said it would help fight off the flu.  These experiments were done in Japan and the article said there was not enough evidence to suggest fighting off the flu.  Personally, I think eastern medicine is far more advanced from traditional medicine in the U.S.  I'm not saying it does fight off the flu but you never know.  It sure can't hurt to eat a bunch of them and that is exactly what I plan on doing.

A little side note: My mother cooked turnips and I always loved them and so did everyone who ever ate her turnips.  She peeled and sliced them and put them in water with about a tablespoon of bacon grease and 1/3 cup of sugar maybe 1/2 cup, somewhere in between there and let them boil until they were tender.  Really good!  Our New Years Day dinner for as long as I can remember was always a pork roast, baked sweet potatoes, these turnips, slaw, blackeye peas and cornbread.

Sour Cream

Just a little tid bit of information.  I always forget to add this when I am blogging.  I wanted to tell you about a sour cream that I found that has a wonderful flavor.  It's called Organic Valley Sour Cream and it is wonderful.  It's worth the price and it is the best I have ever tasted. It really will make a difference in the taste of your dish.   I have bought Daisy Sour Cream for years because it is real sour cream but the flavor of Organic Valley is far superior to it. 

Strawberry Banana Ice Cream

My husband loves ice cream and he has done so well in giving it up. He used to eat at least one bowl every night before bed and so that is why I'm trying to experiment and come up with a healthy alternative.

First, let me say that Cuisinart, according to America's Test Kitchen, is the best brand to buy unless you want to spend several hundred dollars.  Cuisinart has two types of ice cream makers.  One has a plastic tub and the other has a metal tub.  The metal tub is the best and it's a little more expensive but the metal is really cold and I think does a better job.  You keep this metal tub in the freezer and when you are ready to make ice cream bring it out and stick in the machine and pour in your ice cream, gelato or sorbet.  It takes about 25 minutes and it does great.  Put the ice cream into containers and put in the freezer.

 If you own a juicer, try running frozen bananas through the juicer it creates a wonderful banana pudding or ice cream.   My family has always loved this.  We like to top the frozen delight with fresh or frozen fruit and my son and husband would put chocolate syrup on theirs.

Let me tell you what didn't work when I tried making this ice cream.  I put the banana through the juicer and put frozen strawberries in the blender to puree them.  I then added the banana mixture to the strawberries with some coconut milk and a few dates.  It tasted good but was too icy.  It wasn't creamy.  My husband still liked it but I will add some yogurt next time.  When I have perfected this, I will let you know.

 Be sure and ask for an ice cream maker for Christmas you will love it.  Even making the ice cream that has real cream and sugar is still better than what you buy at the store. 

Spinach Casserole

This is a new recipe I tried and I really liked it.  Some of my clients like spinach souffle and of course there is no way to make that without being at their home to serve immediately so I found this which is close. This can be served hot or at room temperature.  I almost like it best at room temperature.  A slice would be great with a salad or a bowl of soup or as a vegetable dish for dinner.

1 cup flour
2 large eggs, whisked
3 cups of shredded cheese (Monterrey Jack, Sharp Cheddar, or any good melting variety)
1/2 cup finely chopped onion
1/2 cup butter
2 boxes of 10 ounce frozen spinach, thawed and all the water squeezed out
salt and pepper to taste
dash of nutmeg

Grease a medium size casserole dish.  Gently combine ingredients in a bowl and turn evenly into a baking dish.  Bake at 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes.  It should be solid and bubbly around the edges.  Cool 10 minutes before slicing.

These are the changes I made to the recipe.  You can see which one you like. I made the recipe above with these additions.  1/3 cup of Parmesan cheese and 1/4 half n half.

Wildest Rice Soup

This is a wonderfully delicious soup.  Half of my bowl was gone when I remembered to take a picture for my blog.  I sent some to my son and I got a text, that soup it was excellent!  So please try this, I don't think you will be disappointed.

1-6.2 ounce package long-grain and wild rice mix
1 pound bacon, fried crisp and crumbled
1 large onion, diced
2-10 3/4 ounce cans cream of potato soup, undiluted
1-8 ounce prepared cheese product, cubed (Velveeta)
3 3/4 cup half and half
2 1/2 cup chicken broth
2 cups fresh mushrooms, sliced

Cook wild rice according to package instructions, omitting seasoning packet.  Set aside.  In a Dutch oven, cook bacon until crisp, remove and drain on paper towel.  Reserve 2 tablespoons dripping in the Dutch oven.  Saute mushrooms and onion in drippings until tender; stir in rice, bacon and half and half and remaining ingredients.  Cook over medium heat, stirring  constantly until soup is thoroughly heated and cheese melts.
Makes 10 cups.

Gardening Information

This is something I learned over the weekend and it was very timely for me.  I have been cleaning up my garden area and I planned on going to my neighbors next week and loading up on his dried cow manure for our vegetable garden. 

What I learned is if there has been an  herbicide applied to the hay field to keep out weeds and a cow eats that hay, of course it's in his poop and will affect the vegetables you plant.  So I've got to check that out before I put in my neighbors cow manure.  He rotates his cattle so I don't know what they eat.  I know he doesn't put anything on the pasture by our house. 

I know there are lost of people who buy manure for flower and vegetable gardens so just passing along the information. 

Cream of Asparagus Soup

A client called me last night and ordered several different soups, a pot roast, and several pies.  I think she heard the weather report that it's going to get cold.  :)  So, you can guess what I'm doing today...... Cooking.  I just crank up my favorite CD's and off I go.  I got pretty enthused from the music and started washing our mattress pad and put the down mattress topper on the line to air.  I also take a spray bottle with a little lavender oil and thieves oil and a little water and spray all of this.  Hopefully, this will get rid of the dust mites and all the dead skin. 

Back to the asparagus soup.  The other two soups I'm making I have posted before but I haven't posted the asparagus soup.  It is really good and I actually forget about having this recipe.  It is easy to make and if you like asparagus you'll love this.

1/2 cup diced onion
1 cup thinly sliced celery
3 cloves minced garlic
3 tablespoons butter
2 (14.5 ounce) cans cut asparagus, undrained
1-16 ounce can sliced potatoes, drained (you can use 2 medium potatoes that you have peeled and cooked until tender and drain the water)
1-14 ounce can chicken broth
1 teaspoon white vinegar
salt and pepper to taste
1/4 teaspoon red pepper
1/2 teaspoon basil
1 cup milk, ( I use 1/2 cup half and half and 1/2 cup milk) makes it richer
1/2 cup sour cream

Cook first 3 ingredients in butter in a soup pot over medium heat stirring often until tender.  Stir in asparagus and all the ingredients except milk and sour cream.  Bring to a boil stirring often.  Reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes.  Cool slightly.  Pour half of the mixture into a blender and process until smooth.  Do the same to the remaining ingredients in pot then return all of the smoothed mixture to the soup pot.  Stir in the milk and cook until heated through.  Garnish with a dollop of sour cream.

You can freeze this up to 6 months omit milk until you unthaw. 
Makes 2 quarts.

Autumn Hydrangea

If you like hydrangeas you would love an Autumn Hydrangea.  They get huge, about 6 to 7 feet tall and 5-6 feet wide and they are beautiful in spring and fall.  This autumn has been the best for this plant.  It has the most beautiful red leaves this year.  The leaves will stay on for a good part of the winter before they fall off.  Then in the spring the huge cascade of each hydrangea blossom is amazing. It's not round like most hydrangeas it is a huge cone shape.   It starts out white and then goes into a beautiful pink.  The beautiful thing about hydrangeas is they make beautiful dried flowers. 

My grandmother had a huge blue hydrangea on the north side of her home.  Mine is on the north side of my home also.  I tried planting some on the south side of my house and they didn't make it.  Remember, I live in the country and the south side of my house gets blasted by the wind.  I'm not sure what happened to them but I've never had a problem with this one. 

If you have a space in your flower garden, do try one of these they are beautiful.  I have a great view of this one from my bedroom window.