All Things Granola

Blog has moved!

2010-01-28T13:38:00.001-08:00

I have consolidated all my stuff to one website. So please join us over at All Things Granola! My latest posting was on scheduling our busy lives.

Homemade Lye

2010-01-22T07:54:00.001-08:00

Try Something New Friday, my first, is all about making homemade lye this week. When I had my dairy goats (and am anxiously awaiting my new dairy goats) I saved some goats milk for soap making. Lye was easier to buy back then, but it can be hard to find now due to its use in drug making. So in preparation of upcoming soap making days, my husband has been saving all his ashes from the BBQ pit. But how exactly do you make lye - the old-fashioned way?

So I went internet searching! I found many websites on the topic and I wanted to share with you my favorites. The first one I am going to start with explained the process well at Journey to Forever. It didn't have any pictures, but I appreciated its detail. So for pictures check out Steve's Art Stuff. He didn't offer a lot of detail, but it did show each step in pictures!

Now for the nuts and bolts. You have read about the process and seen some pictures, but how do you pull it off . . . and safely? Wiki-How had step-by-step instructions for building a lye making device. It's really simple, but I just need someone to lay out the details for me. And for the visual learners out there I found a cool video on You Tube showing the "old-time" equipment and an authentic character telling the story about how they used to do it. The audio is poor, but listen carefully and you will get it all. And for those of you that like nifty inventions, End Times Report set up a rain water collection system for making lye.

Now for the safety of the matter. Lye can be dangerous, but it can be dealt with safely. I found a website that not only describes each step in detail on how to make a lye solution safely, but also offered a video!

After all that, you decide you would rather buy lye than make it here is a list of online suppliers. Although it is difficult to buy lye in the store, it can be ordered from soap making companies. But what's the fun in that? I dare you to try making your own lye for soap making and then tell me all about it! I will most definitely be posting pictures of our endeavors.

All Things Granola Re-organization

2010-01-20T08:39:00.000-08:00

As my business is taking off and I am settled enough to have some fun with it, I am beginning a new life with my ATG blog! So here is the plan:

Each week of the month will have a theme as follows:

Week 1 - Kitchen Fun (everything and anything that would have to do with the kitchen)

Week 2 - Inside or Out (Beautifying your home, inside or out)

Week 3 - Homesteadin' (Animals, farming, gardening, etc)

Week 4 - Mommy-hood (babies, education, etc)

Week 5 - Wild Card (whatever I am in the mood for!)

Then postings will happen on Tuesday and Friday every week. On "Tip Tuesdays" I will offer quick tips and ideas for whichever theme and on "Try Something New Friday" will be my chance to challenge you to try new recipes, crafts, or products.

Stay tuned as things will start rolling this Friday with Homesteadin'. Please feel free to facebook or email me or comment here with ideas of topics that you would like to read about.

Until Friday . . .

Boba Carrier Review

2010-01-12T13:11:00.000-08:00

Ok, I have had the all-new organic Boba baby carrier for a few weeks now, so I felt I needed to offer a consumer review. As most of you know I have worn my 4th child in a Sleepy Wrap since she was 1 week old. And since she is now 17 months old and quite mobile, I tried out the Boba carrier.

I want to start with I LOVE THE SLEEPY WRAP! That being said, the Boba has its perks! But let me start with the Sleepy Wrap. This style of a wrap is awesome. It gives me plenty of back support, is adjustable to the

person and the baby, and is easy to carry around with me. The method of criss crossing the wrap across my back really offers a lot of back support.

By tightening the wrap lifts the baby higher and the higher the baby is the better your back will feel. If you wear the baby too low, your back won't like you very much! And the allowance for

a wide shoulder strap takes all that weight and evenly distributes it. And because you wrap it around you, it fits your body! Same goes for the baby. This is really stretchy jersey-type material and the baby can fit snuggly in there no matter the size of the baby. Shoot, I have put my 6-year-old in there just to prove she would fit! And the

sleepy wraps comes with a handy little drawstring bag that you can pack your wrap with you wherever you go. So those are my top 3 biggest points for the Sleepy Wrap.

Looking at the Boba I was a little skeptical because it was set-up like a b

ack pack carrier. The straps were narrow, even though well padded. But here we go . . . The Boba has a nifty feature not found in other back pack type carriers - a waist table (I made that name up!). There is a stiff piece about 5-6in tall around your wa

ist. All the baby weight sits on that and there is very little pressure on your shoulders. The back-pack style comes in handy because it is relatively quick to put on. So when you have a bouncy kid that wants up and down, this would be quick to put on. But it does require someone to help you most of the time. There is a hard to reach closure behind your back. I did do it by myself, but it was challenging and required a patient toddler. But I'm sure I will get the hang of it. My toddler LOVES the

Boba, just as much as she loves the Sleepy Wrap. It is a little more bulky to pack around with

you than the Sleepy Wrap, but the guys are gonna much more excited about this one than the Sleepy Wrap. The Boba is also much more compatible for on the back than the Sleepy, which the guys like.

I will definitely be using both carriers. They each have their purpose. But if you can only afford one, I would highly suggest the Sleepy Wrap! You can't use the Boba with an infant, but you can use the Sleepy for both infants and toddlers. The Sleepy is much more affordable and very durable. I have washed mine many times. But if you are already past the infant stage and need something that dad and mom can use, go with the Boba.

I don't have the Boba's up on the website yet, but email me for details.

Eat from the Pantry Challenge!

2010-01-09T12:10:00.000-08:00

Buying groceries is something we must do every month! As mothers, we care for our families by shopping for food and providing healthy meals. But sometimes we wish we had more money to spend or could eat at restaurants more often or have that special dessert. Not that those things are bad, but sometimes we need to change our perspective. Having a grocery store down the street (or in the next town over :)) is a privilege of living in this great country! God has called us to be good stewards of our resources and providing good meals at minimal cost is part of that calling. Cooking from scratch is how I have managed to feed our family of 6 on $200-$300/month. (Of course that is an average, sometimes it is more, sometimes it is less.)

Check out Money Saving Mom for details on her Eat from the Pantry challenge, but read on here to see what All Things Granola will be doing as part of this challenge. I just love this idea!

Since we lived on $100 for the month of Dec, I feel I can meet this challenge in January!

Since I am getting started a little late, I have already done my shopping for January, and since we depleted most of our pantry in Dec, I did a little stocking up, but I know that I won't be shopping again for the remainder of the month!

So here are our family's goals for the Eat From The Pantry Challenge:

1) No more shopping for the month of January. This is our choice because I have no more grocery budget left. I don't recommend this for your family as having fresh produce, milk and eggs is a good thing. :)

2) Create delicious, original meals with what is already in my pantry.

3) Do NOT complain to my husband or children about not having the luxury to run to the grocery store.

4) Teach my kids about families in other countries and how they provide for their families.

Would you like to join us? Please do! You may use the logo above and post on your blog page and share with us in your post about your January Eat from the Pantry Challenge. Then go back to Money Saving Mom and fill in your Mr. Linky so that others can read about your challenge.

Frugal Living Support

2010-01-07T14:00:00.000-08:00

I am now offering a new service . . . with a twist! I have helped many people over the years adjust to living on one income or work their way thru debt or just learn to live a little more frugal, that I thought I would add it to All Things Granola.

But here is the twist. Families that need help with their budget or making frugal choices don't have money to pay somebody to help them thru it! So what I would like to do is offer my services for barter. Now what does that mean exactly?

For local people, there is a myriad of things to barter with. Anything really. From mowing to books to babysitting to cleaning help! If you live off, as most of you do, bartering is still a great option! I'm always up for good books and they mail cheaply. Maybe you know how to use HTML better than me - I could always use help with that! Advertising is always a great way to help out a small business owner. So you see there are many ways to make this work.

This service is a lot better than finding ideas online just because I can give you advice specific to your situation without you having to do the research and trial and error! My credentials are experience! We have lived on one income for 10 years. Our family began with only three mouths to feed, but we are now up to 6! We have lived under many conditions and have managed to barely float at times to thrive at other times. The Lord called us to be good stewards of our money. Whether we have a lot or a little money, He has entrusted that amount to us. We need to learn to do the best we can with what we have. And what an adventure that can be!

So if you are struggling on your one income and want some advice from someone who has been doing it for 10 years now, lets help each other out!

It's a new year!

2010-01-05T13:16:00.001-08:00

2010 hopefully has a lot great things for All Things Granola!

Over the next two years we are bringing Dad home. This is the goal and hopefully will be attainable. We are following the Lord and will do as He leads. We are very excited about this change as it not only allows us to spend more time with Dad, but will make All Things Granola grow!

We will be adding more homespun and "granola" products and services. Some of the things already in the works are honey, goats milk soaps and lotions, eggs, and homespun yarn. The goal is to have All Things Granola supporting us in two years so that Dad can come home and stay home! I am also currently working on putting my cooking classes into E-books so that those that don't live nearby can enjoy them too!

So please bear with us thru January as we are re-doing the website and blog page, making long-term goals and implementing them, and just getting thru the after-holiday slump!

I apologize for being so hit and miss in the past, but looking forward to a productive new year!

Virtual Cookie Exchange

2009-12-15T10:48:00.001-08:00

Please join me as I participate in Hillbilly Housewife's Virtual Christmas Cookie Exchange. What a fun way to get lots of awesome cookie recipes that have been tried and tested by real moms!

My contribution is Oatmeal No-Bake Cookies.

1/2 c nonfat milk

1/4 - 1/2 cup butter (or coconut oil)

2 oz unsweetened chocolate

1/2 cup honey

1 t vanilla

1/4 -1/2 cup dry milk powder

3 cups rolled oats

Heat milk, butter, and chocolate over low heat until melted. Remove from heat. Mix in remaining ingredients. Drop by spoonfuls on wax paper. Chill until firm. Store in fridge.

They don't last long!

Update on Bradley Training and Midwifery School

2009-12-03T09:52:00.000-08:00

Thank you to all who support me!

I am so excited. I leave in 6 days to attend Bradley Childbirth Instructor training in California! This is a long awaited event for me. I am very excited to offer Childbirth Education as part of All Things Granola.

God has opened some "BIG" doors and I am in the process of applying for midwifery college. As soon as the application is processed I will begin school! The birth of my fourth child has changed my life in so many ways. After three hospital births, I decided to have our fourth child at home with a midwife. What a life changing event for our whole family. You can read that story here.

I couldn't have done that without the Lord leading us to Bradley Childbirth Classes. And now I would love to share that with others on their journey of childbirth.

Then the opportunity arrived where I could get financial aid to a midwifery college. Wow what an exciting opportunity! The Lord also put a wonderful Christian midwife in my life just as we had moved to a new state. She has agreed to teach me and do my clinical. I'm so excited!!

And of course this does take money, time and dedication. So please pray for us as we adjust to my new schedule. Pray that I will be able to balance all my duties, especially after my hubby leaves for deployment. Pray that all the finances will be taken care of and our families needs will be met. And thank God for all the blessings he has shown us!

And the winner is:

2009-11-26T10:13:00.000-08:00

The winner of our Sleepy Wrap Giveaway is Chelsea from Oklahoma! Thanks to all who entered and helped spread the word about All Things Granola.

Remember to become a fan of All Things Granola on Facebook so you can keep up with all the latest tips, contests, and updates.

Latest update is that I will be offering Bradley Childbirth Classes here in Colorado Springs next year (that's only a month away!). I will also be a certified Bradley Doula should you need my services. And when I am finished with Midwifery College will be able to add that to All Things Granola!

Another Contest - Woo Hoo

2009-11-17T07:47:00.000-08:00

I just love a good bloggy give-away! Over at Hobo mamas she is giving away a homemade Baby Carrier! But hurry her contest ends Nov 20!

And don't forget to enter our contest for a free sleepy wrap. Ours closes Nov 24.

Both contests in time for Christmas wrapping!

Turkey Pot Pie

2009-11-15T09:15:00.000-08:00

What to do with all the leftover turkey?

Turkey Pot Pie is one of my favorites because it has endless possibilities.

Chop how ever much turkey you want to use - 2 cups is a good amount for a deep dish pie plate.

Put the turkey and your selection of veggies into the pie plate. I use a combination of frozen peas, frozen corn, diced potatoes, chopped carrots, and frozen broccoli (or whatever I happen to have in the freezer).

Cover the meat and veggies with cream of chicken soup. If you are using canned, use two cans and some milk. If you make your own you don't need to add the milk.

If you want to make it cheesy add shredded cheddar to the mix.

Cover your pie with drop biscuits and bake according to your biscuit recipe.

Cream of Chicken Soup

In saucepan melt 3T butter.
Add 2 T arrowroot powder and whisk.
Add 2 cups milk and stir constantly on med-high heat.
Add 1 T Chicken base or powdered bouillon. (If you have leftover turkey or chicken you can add it in too.)
Add a little salt and pepper. Stir until thick.

For cream of mushroom I add 1 can of mushrooms.

Thanksgiving Leftovers

2009-11-12T08:36:00.000-08:00

I would like to start now and blog about what to do with that leftover turkey (or anything else for that matter). So join in! I will be posting recipes of what we do with our leftovers, please comment and leave your own ideas.

Turkey Tettrazinni

1 pkg spaghetti noodles (~12 oz)
1 1/2 - 2 c cooked turkey meat
1/4 c chopped bell pepper
1 can cream of mushroom soup (or make your own like I do)
1/2 c turkey broth (I use chicken base and water)
1/8 t celery seed
1/8 t salt
1/2 chopped onion
1 1/2 c shredded cheese

Cook spaghetti until almost done. Drain. Add remaining ingredients except 1/2 c cheese and toss. Pour into casserole dish and sprinkle with remaining cheese. Cover and bake at 350 for 45 min.

Yum!

Get in on the Fun!!

2009-10-28T12:47:00.000-07:00

Spread of mouth is the best advertising, right? So I'm gonna use you guys to help, but to motivate such loyal support I am giving away a sleepy wrap! You heard right! There are a several ways to enter to win. Directions following.

If you are chosen as the winner, you will be able to pick the color of wrap out of what I have on stock which is currently red, purple, tan and light blue.

To enter:

Spread the word! You may do this by:

1. Posting a blog with a link to my website: www.allthingsgranola.com

2. Post a link on your facebook or myspace.

Then comment here with a link to your page so that I can make sure you did post something.

You can earn extra entries by referring people. If someone orders something and mentions your name, you both get entered in the contest.

This is a $48 value ($38 wrap + tax and shipping)! Contest ends Nov. 24. Just in time for the Holidays. Wraps are great gifts for new mothers and vanilla makes a great Christmas gift!

Bradley Childbirth Instructor Training

2009-10-23T13:13:00.000-07:00

I'm so excited to announce that I will be attending the Bradley Childbirth Instructor training Dec 10-13 in Anaheim, CA! This is an investment of time and money, as any course of education would be. It takes about 9 months to complete the training. I have a lot of studying and work cut out for me, but I couldn't be more excited about it. When I complete the training I will be a Childbirth Instructor and a Bradley Doula. Both fields are very exciting to me. Sorry if I use that word (excited) repeatedly but it describes my feelings perfectly.

The Lord has provided (again) and has opened this door for me. Praise the Lord! Although I don't have all the funds raised yet, most of them have already been provided for. You can watch the thermometer on the right as I save money for my training.

To learn more about Bradley Childbirth please visit www.bradleybirth.com.

And don't forget you can follow All Things Granola on facebook.

Giveaway

2009-09-27T15:04:00.000-07:00

I love giveaways. And I wanted to share with you a really cool one!!

Go to Homeschool Notebooking and check out their boys and girls school planners. Who doesn't need a little help with keeping control on their school work?!?!

While you are there check out all the other cool products they offer for the notebooking mama!

A burn Healed!

2009-07-24T16:07:00.000-07:00

We had a terrible scare last month when my oldest daughter was cooking and splashed her face with hot oil. The burns covered the right side of her lips, chin and right cheek. It was quickly evident that it was 2nd degree burns as it began to turn gray and then black. After a visit to the ER, we were told that she would scar because they couldn't give her burn medicine that close to her mouth.

While it finished oozing and was stil an open wound we just put Bacitracin on it, but as soon as it closed up I gave my daughter a stick of Young Living's Lavender lip balm. She applied the lip balm on her burns as needed. A week later the burn spots were almost not noticable. Two weeks later and no one knows she got burned! It was a great example how God uses the things he gave us to heal!

Homemade Baby Wipe Solution

2009-06-14T11:43:00.001-07:00

Since using cloth diapers tends to lead to more bacteria build-up and yeast infections, I have found a wipe solution that wards that off! I have made my own wipes from flannel material and I use the flannel/hemp wipes sold here. I prefer the wipes sold here, but when on a tight budget the flannel homemade ones work too!

In a air tight container add:

1/2 cup distilled water

1 t Dr. Bronner's Lavender Castile Liquid Soap

6 drops of Young Living Tea Tree (Melaleuca) Oil

Mix and add your cloth wipes. This recipe also works if you are making disposable wipes from paper towels.

The Lavender smells good and kills bacteria. The Tea Tree is anti-fungal and kills the yeast. It works great!

Blanco Lavender Festival

2009-05-26T13:54:00.000-07:00

Come check out the fun at the Blanco Lavender Festival this summer.

I will be doing a cooking demonstration 10:00 Saturday morning, June 13 at the Blanco River Lavender Company.

If you are in the area, this is a fun event. There is much to do and see. Come join us.

The New Sleepy Wrap!

2009-05-23T07:34:00.000-07:00

I'm so excited to introduce you to the new organic Sleepy Wrap. They are available in Natural and Khaki. So for all those going "all natural" you can enjoy the comforts of an organic Sleepy Wrap!

Check out the assortment of colors here.

And the winner is . . .

2009-05-13T08:35:00.000-07:00

For the Vision Forum Parental Rights Giveaway the winner is . . .

Honeybee! Please congratulate her and visit her blog page.

Giveaway!!

2009-05-10T05:39:00.000-07:00

Happy Mother's Day! In honor of all the parents out there, I am giving away Vision Forum's The State of Parental Rights in America DVD.

All Things Granola is all about the building stronger families. Families that will stand through tough times. All Things Granola wants to put the emphasis back on our roles within the family, specifically the mothers. Go back to the "granola" lifestyle and enjoy being a mother and wife. We are losing our parental rights quickly and quietly here in America, but that doesn't mean we can't fight it!

So to win this DVD you need to leave a comment before May 12, midnight. Comment what you love about being a parent or what you cherish about your parents. You will get an extra entry for linking to this post. Just leave another comment letting me know where to find your link! Make sure you leave contact information.

History Has Been Made

2009-03-30T14:41:00.000-07:00

Over the years, as we homeschool, we come across good resources and great resources for our families. One of those great resources I came across a few years ago was Vision Forum. This year I have partnered with Vision Forum to bring my customers great resources! Watch the side panel for current Specials and Offers.

My church was really pumped up and excited about the San Antonio Independent Christian Film Festival this year, especially with the release of Fireproof. Due to family changes, we were unable to attend, but we definately felt the excitement. And when all was over and members of our church reported what a great and uplifting time they had, I really felt like we missed out. But, lo and behold, Vision Forum is now offering the event on audio CD: History Has Been Made.

The 14-disc set has beautiful music, dynamic speakers, and exciting moments. The topics covered speak to the Christian family trying to raise their children in an ungodly world. The media is such a strong force in our lives, we need to be on guard and protect our children from its draw. Dr. Voddie Baucham, Kevin Swanson, George Sarris, and Dr. R.C. Sproul, Jr. bring important issues to the surface. Charlie Zahm and the Von Trapp children offer beautiful music. And Doug Phillips gives detailed introductions and history throughout the whole event. And as an added bonus a panel discussion with the creators and actors of Fireproof, including Kirk Cameron.

And to really feel like I was there, I bought The Widow's Might, winner of the 2009 San Antonio Christian Film Festival. This was a great movie, well done with a great meaning. My kids were especially excited to see friends from our church as actors! And I own Fireproof and highly recommend owning this film too! Just thought I would mention that.

History Has Been Made is a great set to listen to in the car or for family time. The speakers used examples and thought-provoking questions to encourage us to really evaluate what the television is bringing into our homes. And for the aspiring film entrepreneur, Ted Pittenger and Kevin Swanson touch on specific issues relating to that industry. End the event with the awards and more music!

A Sugar-Free Christmas Anyone??

2008-12-05T04:23:00.000-08:00

With the holidays, sugar seems to follow. What do you do??

My rule is you can go to Grandma's and eat anything that is offered, but only one of each questionable item. We don't eat pork, so on Christmas my kids can go eat ham, but only one slice. They can pick one dessert, etc. This gives them some freedom and doesn't upset their stomachs too much. Who wants to spend Christmas and have to say "no" all day?

Of course, I offer lots of special, sugar-free or low-sugar, treats! Here are some ideas and recipes.

Chocolate Dipped Strawberries
I use bittersweet all-natural chocolate chips to melt and dip the strawberries in. The trick is to melt the chips with a little milk. Then dip, cool, and eat!

Homemade Hot Chocolate
6 cups milk
1/2 cup cocoa powder
1/2 cup agave nectar
pinch of salt
1 t vanilla

Mix cocoa with salt in saucepan. Add milk and wisk together as you heat on low. Add agave nectar as you stir. Heat to just under boiling. The trick is to heat it slowly so it doesn't get that scalded milk taste. Remove from heat and add vanilla. Serve!

Other ideas are substitutions!
Sucanat is great in cheesecake, brownies and pies.
A dab of maple syrup is great in salad dressings or smoothies.
Agave nectar works wonderfully in beverages.
Use molasses in cornbread or other quick breads.

Hope that gets you off to the right start for your holiday season!

And the Winner is . . .

2008-11-01T08:33:00.000-07:00

Angela has won a large bag of homemade granola! Please go visit her blogs and congratulate her!

Don't forget we still have the cookbook giveaway going on - so start brainstorming granola ideas and get entered! I would like to have the cookbook finished by the end of November!

Bloggy Giveaways!

2008-10-26T21:22:00.000-07:00

It is time again for Bloggy Giveaways! We are joining in on all the fun! And also to celebrate the opening of our new business All Things Granola we are giving awaya large bag of homemade granola. That is a $10 value!

Don't forget we are still giving away a free cookbook to one winner of our "granola recipe" contest.

Our granola is all natural and we use no white sugars! It is yummy with milk or yogurt, or sprinkle it over a homemade apple pie!

Hop on over to our new website and leave a comment here telling me what you liked or didn't like about the site. I'm still tweaking it and would love to hear your comments. Please leave a way to contact you (like an email address). You can be entered twice if you post about our contest with a link back here!

I can only ship to the lower 48 United States. You must post your comment by October 31, noon time. I will post a winner that evening.

Roast Turkey with Wolfberry Stuffing

2008-10-23T09:26:00.000-07:00

I haven't tried this yet, but with the holiday season approaching us this sounded really yummy. Please let me know if you try it! I imagine cranberries could be substituted for wolfberries. but I am curious to try it with wolfberries. You can purcahse these on my website.

Roast Turkey with Wolfberry Stuffing

10-12lb. Turkey, Thawed
Salt
4 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
1 tbsp. parsley, minced
1 tbsp. sage, minced
2 tsp. thyme, minced

Rinse turkey and remove all packets, giblets, neck, etc. Salt inside and out. Run fingers between the skin of the turkey to separate it from the breast meat. Combine the extra virgin olive oil with the herbs, and stuff between the skin and the meat of the turkey. Place in a roasting pan and set aside. Stuffing8 slices of Whole Wheat Bread3 tbsp. butter1 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil½ c onion minced¾ c. celery, mincedSalt Place bread on a baking sheet and toast at 300°F for 8-10 minutes. Flip the bread and turn off oven. Leave in the oven for 45 minutes to an hour until cooled. Slice into small cubes and place in a mixing bowl. In a pan sauté on medium heat butter, oil, onions, celery, and a pinch of salt until just tender. Remove from heat.

Add to bread cubes along with the following:
2 eggs
¾ c chicken broth
1/3 c. young living dried wolfberries
½ c. black olives, halved
3 tbsp. walnuts
½ tsp salt
¼ tsp pepper
1 tsp dried parsley
½ tsp sage, minced
¼ tsp onion powder

Mix well and stuff tightly into the front and inner cavities of the turkey. Roast according to directions on turkey packaging.

I received this recipe from Debra Raybern.

Great Deals on Organics

2008-10-21T18:34:00.000-07:00

In an effort to feed our families healthy and easy on the budget, I'm going to start sharing great finds. I recently discovered that Amazon carries organics! Here is the current specials.

$10 Instant Savings on Back to NatureSave $10 today when you buy any two eligible Back to Nature products offered by Amazon.com. Use the following promotional code when you check out: BTN08OCT. This offer applies only to products offered by Amazon.com and for purchases made between October 1 and October 31, 2008.

Save 15% today when you buy any eligible Amy's Organic soups offered by Amazon.com. Use the following promotional code when you check out: SOUPAMY4. This offer applies only to products offered by Amazon.com and for purchases made between October 1 and October 31, 2008.

Save 15% today when you buy any eligible Ryvita crackers featured on this page. Use the following promotional code when you check out: RYVITA25. Plus, save an additional 15% when you combine this instant rebate with your Subscribe & Save order--bringing the total savings to 30%. This offer applies only to products offered by Amazon.com and for purchases made between October 1 and November 30, 2008.

Remeber that any orders over $25 recieves free shipping. Make three small orders to take advantage of all specials as they can't be combined.

Slings, wraps, and baby carriers . . .

2008-10-19T16:31:00.000-07:00

Have you tried one or several different baby carriers? What did you like?

When I had my older children I tried those front-pack type carriers from Wal-mart. Yuck! I never could get comfortable in that and defaulted to carrying the baby on my hip. But on baby #4 I have discovered something wonderful! It is called the Sleepy Wrap.

What a wonderful piece of material! The stretchiness of this wrap is what makes it so easy and adjustable. I have had my baby in this wrap since she was 1 week old. It was great for cradling her in there and supporting her head. And now at 3 months old she can hold her head up and look around. She loves her view of the world around her! I am hands free, so I like it too. And it doesn't hurt my back!

Unlike slings, I can bend over and she stays close to me and doesn't swing out away from me. When she is sleeping I can tuck her head under the wrap and no bobble head. My picture on the menu is Sprout peeking out from the wrap.

As part of All Things Granola, I am now offering Sleepy Wraps for sale! What a perfect Christmas gift for the new mom or mom-to-be's! And affordable too!

Order a sleepy wrap for only $35 + tax and free shipping until November 15.

From the Sleepy Wrap website:
Comparison Chart
Why a Sleepy Wrap?
Benefits of Baby Wearing

October Cooking Class

2008-10-19T10:11:00.000-07:00

Our October class is sneaking up on us!

Join us on October 28 and learn how to make homemade fish sticks for lunch, goodie balls for dessert, and a veggie salt mix to take home. All classes are donation only and currently held in my home from 10:00 to 3:00.

And remember . . . you can always schedule a class and I will come to you! Traveling classes available are:

Un-Sweet Tooth - This class is full of ideas creating sweets minus addicting refined sugars.

Snack Time - Frustrated because you have run out of snack ideas? I've got some!

Mix It Up - This class leaves you with mixes you can make yourself to reduce your time in the kitchen. Biscuit Mix to Dressing Mix to Cake Mix!

Bartering

2008-10-14T17:19:00.001-07:00

For those in the Texas hill country area, I have started a barter group. Please join us as we trade and barter for the things we need.

Do you have eggs, but need your yard mowed? Maybe you love to babysit, but need venison. There are many things we can barter with each other. On the menu you can click to join the Texas Hill Country Barter Yahoo Group.

Also on the side bar is a link for the All Things Granola newsletter. I will only send it out once a month, so sign up now to recieve monthly articles, recipes, dates, and more!

Granola Recipe Contest

2008-10-13T08:32:00.000-07:00

I'm going to be brave and host another contest! I am working on an "All Things Granola" cookbook chock full of recipes using a favorite ingredient - my homemade granola. I already have lots of favorite granola recipes, such as granola cheesecake, granola toast, and granola bars, but I am looking for more. Please post a granola recipe or idea to enter my contest for a free cookbook. Do you think granola milkshakes would taste good? What about cranberry granola bars? Just post one recipe or idea using granola and one special winner will recieve a finished cookbook with their recipe or idea included in the book!

I will test each recipe and pick my favorite! There is no deadline on this contest yet as I want as many recipes to try as possible. So tell your friends!!!

WFMW - Kitchen Gadgets

2008-10-08T08:59:00.000-07:00

This my first Works for Me Wednesday (WFMW). Visit Rocks in My Dryer for a complete list of those participating.

I love to cook and love trying new gadgets in the kitchen! So I'm gonna tell you about some of my favorite tools. Since my husband sees cooking as my job/art/hobby he also sees the importance of having the right tools! So he allows me to purchase new "tools" whenever our budget allows.

Cookbooks - I'm listing these first because I wouldn't have a complete kitchen without them! I love books and cooking so that turns into a large collection of cookbooks! My favorites are shown in the window at the top of the page. (Ordering from this page benefits me . . . a little! LOL)

Bosch Universal Machine - The everything machine can be found at The Urban Homemaker. I love this machine! I have the blender, bread bowl with kneading hook and wisk, meat grinder, and food processor attachments! It is a large one-time investment, but well worth it! I have had parts replaced for free on my blender!

Food Chopper - I have tried other brands but prefer the Pampered Chef version. I chop nuts, onions, peppers, cookies, and more with this gadget. This is great for the small jobs when I don't want to dirty my food processor. I literally used this until it broke. I will be buying a new one soon.

Batter Bowl - I'm not trying to have a Pampered Chef advertising thing here, but that is where I bought my batter bowl. We use this for almost everykind of batter we make. We will make a large batch of pancake batter, cook some for breakfast, and then stick the lid on and put the bowl in the fridge until the next morning. Works great!

Stoneware - I also bought all of mine from Pampered Chef. What can I say? I'm a pampered chef junkie! I have two large pizza stones, 1 rectangle cookie sheet, 1 large bar pan, 1 medium bar pan, 1 small bar pan, 2 loaf pans, 1 pie plate, 1 round baker, 1 rectangle baker, and 1 small oval baker. We lived in a 5th wheel trailer for two years and I had to cook in a gas stove. I love gas stoves, but for some reason the rv ones don't cook very evenly. My stoneware was the only way I could cook anything! It absorbs the heat and then distributes it evenly.

Electric Knife - I bought mine for $1 at a yard sale years ago, but would not like to go without it! We mainly use it to slice bread. It cuts so evenly without squishing the bread.

Dough Divider - This is a simple, but useful tool. I use it for dividing dough, obviously, but also works great for scraping dough off the counter or picking up tortillas. Urban Homemaker also sells this.

Sproutmaster - This is a fun and easy way to sprout! I used to use a quart jar, but this is so much easier and more effecient. You can find this little gadget at Urban Homemaker too!

First Cooking Class

2008-09-30T13:08:00.001-07:00

We just had our first cooking class today! What a wonderful time we had!

I didn't think to take pictures, but next month I will! So here is your warning!

We started by making sugar-free jelly. It was easy, but ended up as grape syrup instead. I would have liked it to set better, but have discovered that the sugar-free pectin can be temperamental.

Then we ground soft wheat berries into flour. We made a tortilla mix and added water. We rolled out tortillas and cooked them in a non-stick skillet. Yum! We had green salad, refried beans, taco filling, black bean salad, and pickles to go with our tortillas.

After lunch, we stepped back into the kitchen for chocolate milkshakes! We made one batch with carob powder and one with dark chocolate. We used stevia as our sweetener.

We all seemed to have a great time and learned a lot.

Next class will be October 28 at 10:00. We will be making fish sticks from tuna (these are amazingly good!), goodie balls for desert, and veggie salt mix as a take-home goodie. Stay tuned for the November class.

Contest Results

2008-09-30T07:13:00.000-07:00

Well I am sending both my very good friends granola! Thanks for entering my dear friends. I will get it in the mail as soon as I get a fresh batch made.

Granola Bars

2008-09-26T06:16:00.000-07:00

1/2 cup honey
3/4 cup peanut butter
3 cups granola

optional add-ins:
1/2 cup nuts
1/3 cup dried fruit or choc chips
1/4 cup coconut
1/4 cup flax seed

Bring honey and peanut butter to a boil. Mix remaining ingredients in bowl. Add honey mixture and blend. Press into jelly roll pan and chill. Cut into squares and serve.

All Things Granola

2008-09-09T12:03:00.000-07:00

* As embarrasing as this is (I apparantly have very few readers), I am going to extend the contest. "Elle" I would love to give you some granola, but feel this isn't a very exciting contest! I will chose a winner Friday September 26 at Noon. For those locals, I will be at Blanco Market Days September 20th.*

I am now offering my homemade granola for sale in individual (0.5 lb) and family (2 lb) sizes. To celebrate the beginnings of this endeavour I am hosting a contest for a free individual-sized bag of granola.

My granola is completely natural and contains no white sugar. I take great care in feeding my family well and would do no less! It is a mixture of rolled oats, honey, highest quality organic molasses, unsweetened coconut, raw unsalted sunflower seeds, unsalted butter, and the finest pure vanilla I can find. I love to eat warm granola with vanilla yogurt. Yum!

I am currently working on a "All Things Granola" cookbook with recipes using granola. Granola bars, granola bread, granola cookies and more! Stay tuned.

To enter my contest please post with your favorite breakfast idea. Be sure to include your email address (or some way to contact you). If you link this contest on your blog page I will enter you in twice for the bag of granola. Please post again with a link to your blog page. Contest ends on September 19th, Noon.

If you don't want to wait to win the contest, you can now purchase granola using the "Buy Now" buttons on the side bar. And as always - Thank You for visiting!

Cooking Classes

2008-09-04T10:18:00.000-07:00

Due to the high cost in gas, I want to make the classes worth your time and money. I will offer one cooking day each month at my home in Blanco. It will be from 10:00 - 3:00. I will also invite all to come with no set price. I will do it donation only as some can't afford much. I so understand that.

We will learn something new each class and prepare ourselves lunch to share. I ask that each family bring a side dish to share. Please bring a copy of your recipe to share. I would love this to become a fellowship time as well.

Here is the plan for September:

Sept 30 - Sugar-free Grape Jelly, Tortillas, and Sugar-free cookies.
Please bring a filling for the totillas. Chicken salad, taco meat, etc. Share with us your ideas. We will eat tortillas with fillings for lunch and then cookies for snack. Everyone will get to take home jelly. Please take into consideration that I am not a professional tortilla maker. I am teaching this class to regular moms who have regular kitchens and have a small budget. I have been trying different recipes for years and I found a recipe that is considerate of my time and taste. I make them from whole wheat. We will grind the flour, create a tortilla mix, and prepare tortillas to eat!

Please RSVP via email before September 18.

I will post the October class before the end of September.

Cooking Classes

2008-06-18T09:31:00.001-07:00

For those in my neck of the woods, I will be offering cooking classes in Blanco and New Braunfels. The schedule for July is now:

Cooking with Sugar Subsititutes - We will sample a variety of sweetners and will try some recipes void of white refined sugars. I will also talk about the different sweetners and their advantages and/or disadvantages.

Blanco - July 12, 10:00am
New Braunfels - July 26, 10:00am

Other upcoming classes will include:

Celebrations - How to prepare special meals and treats without all the artificial additives and refined products.

Homemade Jellies and Jams - Everyone will help prepare homemade jellies or jam to take home.

Mixin' It Up - How to prepare your own natural mixes to make cooking quick and easy. Ex. biscuit mix, cake mix, spice mix, etc.

Easy Scratch - I will show you that making meals from scratch doesn't mean you have to slave in the kitchen all day!

Homemade Cleaners - You will go home with recipes for making homemade laundry soap, hand soaps, bathroom cleaners, etc. We will also make some for you to take home and try.

Hopefully more to come!

Cooking Classes

2008-06-08T18:09:00.001-07:00

I have been approached many times about my cooking from scratch and healthy cooking, so I have decided to offer classes to anyone interested living nearby. I am curious of any special topics you would like to learn more about. Here is what I have come up with:

Cooking with Kids
Sugar Substitutes
Easy Scratch
Celebrations
Homemade Jellies and Jams
Homemade Soaps

Suggestions???

My Famous Granola

2008-06-04T10:29:00.001-07:00

I've had so many requests for my granola recipe - so I am going to share it here.

Preheat oven to 300 degrees.
Mix into a large casserole dish:

5 cups rolled oats (old fashioned oatmeal)
1 cup unsweetened coconut
3/4 cup raw sunflower seeds
1/4 cup flax seeds

Roast in oven for 20 min or until the coconut starts to brown.

In large saucepan on stove melt together:

1/2 cup butter, salted
1/2 cup honey
1/4 cup molasses

Remove from heat and add:

3t vanilla

Mix sauce with oatmeal mixture. Turn oven to 350 degrees and bake for 5 more minutes.

We serve ours with homemade vanilla yogurt, but milk works great too!

Homemade Ketchup

2008-05-22T08:36:00.000-07:00

As we search for natural alternatives, I have tried making substitutes at home. Although ketchup is considered all natural, it is full of white sugar. Why would I work so hard at keeping white sugar out of my family's diet only to allow them to swallow up french fries (homemade, of course) with store-bought ketchup? I found a recipe I like!

This is adapted from the More-with-Less Cookbook (which I have added to the cookbooks pictured above). I am loving this cookbook! Thanks grandma!

Tomato Ketchup

5-24 oz jars organic tomato puree
5 medium sized 1015 onions

Blend tomato with onion until smooth. Pour into large stock pot.

Add to pot:
1 1/2 T celery seed
5 t salt
2 c organic apple cider vinegar
1 dropperful of liquid stevia
4 t pickling spice in bag

Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and cook slowly for 1 1/2 hours. Stir occasionally.
Remove spice bag.

Combine in small bowl:
5 T corn starch
1/4 c water

Stir into boiling tomato mixture. Boil for 5 minutes. Seal in 10-11 pint jars.

Blood Sugar and Foot Funk

2008-05-20T08:25:00.001-07:00

Well I tested my blood sugar for a little over a week and recorded everything I ate. It turns out I have low blood sugar. Imagine that! My midwife said she wasn't worried about my sugars and I could stop checking them 4 times a day. I couldn't tell that any particular thing would cause my sugar to drop, but it just seemed like if I didn't eat regularly my blood sugar would plummet. Of course I don't eat a lot of white sugar. But I did experiment and had a root beer one day with no drop in my blood sugar. After pregnancy I may check my sugars again to see what causes change.

The foot funk is still no where to be seen. I haven't added in the grapefruit seed extract yet, but still taking probiotics. I plan on taking those through the pregnancy since the pregnant state can alter your body chemistry. Even the dry, scaly skin is gone!

Blood Sugar, Menu Planning, Probiotics

2008-04-30T12:34:00.000-07:00

Another weekend without me went smoothly . . . well as far as what they ate. I planned out enough quick, easy meals for the weekend and my husband was able to feed them healthy food without much thought. Good thing too, because he ended up sick all weekend. Poor guy!

On another note - my midwife called me yesterday to let me know that my iron was low and my blood sugar was high. What!?!?!? I have low blood sugar, not high! She is having me test my sugar levels 4 times a day for about 2 weeks. I started testing last night after dinner and I have yet to be high. Actually I have hit as low as 62! (Anything below 70 is considered hypoglycemic.) So I will be testing and go see my midwife next Thursday. I am very curious to see how the rest of the week plays out. I am keeping a diary of what I eat and any other major changes that occur during the day.

And another note - I've had this "foot funk" for the past few months. It is unbearably itchy. I've tried several anti-fungal creams and salves with no relief. I was researching about how food affects my children's behavior and discovered something very interesting. If the fungal growth is high in your gut it will come out through warts, athlete's foot, yeast infections, etc. Interesting! So I started with simple probiotics daily. Three days later, my foot stopped itching. It has been a week now and still no itching or burning. I am very excited. I plan to continue my regimen with grapefruit seed extract.

Aprons . . . Aprons . . .

2008-04-21T19:56:00.000-07:00

I love aprons. I don't really know why. I think they represent the idea of the mother in the kitchen. And the kitchen is one of my favorite places to be.

This week is the Bloggy Giveaways and the Apronista is giving away a free apron to one reader! Go check it out.

I also wanted to share what I did with my aprons. I didn't have an extra drawer for them and I really wanted to show them off. So I hung a string on my kitchen wall and with minature clothespins (found in the craft section) hung my aprons. They are easy to get to when I need an apron and they filled an empty wall in my kitchen. If I had a window in my kitchen I would love to make a curtain out of aprons. I wouldn't be able to use them, but it would sure look neat.

Meal Planning

2008-04-21T18:50:00.000-07:00

I have meal planned in the past, but never really stuck with it. Now that I am meal planning again, I love it! I wanted to share a few tips with my readers.

The first thing that made the biggest difference in my meal planning success is the worksheet I use. If it is not easy to use, I'm not going to use it! I will be offering my meal planning worksheets for free to my readers soon. (So keep checking back!)

The second most important thing is to schedule time each week to plan your meals. I find doing any more than a week's worth of meals at a time is overwhelming. I do my meal planning on Friday's and my shopping on the weekend. But if you don't schedule time to do this then it usually never gets done.

I also discovered that meal planning is great when mom is not home! I had to leave home for a retreat this weekend and I planned all the meals for my husband. I made sure he had all the ingredients he needed and that it was easy, nourishing meals. This sure beat my family eating fast food all weekend! Here is the menu that I planned for my husband:

Friday
Dinner - Roast and Fresh Spinach. I started the roast in my slow cooker Friday morning. All he had to do was cook up the spinach and serve.

Saturday
Breakfast - Granola. I made some the morning before.
Snack - Fruit
Lunch - leftovers. We usually eat the week's leftovers on Friday's for lunch. I just saved the leftover day for Saturday so all he had to do was heat up the food.
Snack - dried sausage
Dinner - Fajitas. I had defrosted the pre-seasoned fajita meat. My husband loves to cook outside on the pit, so this was fun for him.

Sunday
Breakfast - cereal. I don't usually buy cereal, but I did for this occasion.
No snack because they were at church.
Lunch - bring coleslaw to the church potluck.
Snack - fruit
Dinner - dine out with mom.

Now my husband didn't follow it exactly, but he did real close. He didn't have to think about what to make them. I have to leave again this weekend to visit my sister and I have already planned out their meals. This worked great!

Muesli

2007-11-08T11:48:00.000-08:00

I love making this quick breakfast! You can change it up to whatever pleases you, but this is our favorite combination:

3 cups rolled oats
1 cup soynuts, unsalted
1 cup raw sunflower kernels
1 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
1/4 cup sesame seeds
1 cup unsweetened carob chips
1/4 cup flax seeds

My kids eat this with milk or yogurt mixed in, but I like it plain. It's a good snack right before bed for those with low blood sugar issues.

And the winner is . . .

2007-11-05T06:02:00.000-08:00

Just Peachy! Please check out her blog page and tell her congrats! Thanks to all who participated, even if it was only 4 of y'all! This is a new blog page, so please share the word!

Fall Y'all Blog Contest

2007-10-30T08:14:00.000-07:00

For the Fall Y'all Blog Contest I will be giving away a selection of my homemade spice mixes. It will include my cream of chicken soup mix, two salad dressing mixes, and a seasoning mix.

Entering is easy!

1. Leave a comment.

2. Please make sure to leave your correct email address and/or your blog address (if you have one, if not just make sure I have your email address so I can contact you if you win).

4. You will need to be willing to send me your snail mail address, if you are a winner.

5. Winners will be notified by email on Sunday, November 4th after 5pm PT. Please get back to me with your snail mail address by Wednesday, November 7th or I will have to draw an alternate winner.

6. I am happy to ship to US and Canada.

Sugar Substitutes

2007-10-26T11:04:00.000-07:00

I have been experimenting over the years with different sugar substitutes. I have not tried them all, so if you have any recommendations please let me know. Let me share with you what I have discovered.

Sucanat - this is the closest thing we can buy to unrefined sugar. Since the molassas has not been extracted yet, sucanat has a very "molassas" taste. It is a larger granule than white sugar so it does take longer to dissolve. I have substituted this for white sugar in equal amounts. It works great in baked goods and gives it a nice brown sugar taste. It does have it's own distinct taste to it so you may want to gradually add it in to your cooking. It will give anything you put it in a nice brown color. I'm not real sure on its affects on blood sugar, but it is still sugar so will affect blood sugar to some extent. We have noticed that it doesn't bother us as much as white sugar though. This can be bought at most health food stores and online.

Molassas - I use this in breads and my granola. It has a strong flavor, so use sparingly. Molassas will still affect your blood sugar, as do any liquid sugars. This can be bought at most grocery stores.

Honey - I love to use honey, but like Molassas, it will affect your blood sugar. Honey will differ in taste depending on where the bees gathered their pollen. Also can be bought at most grocery stores. Look for pure honey.

Stevia - this is an herb that is naturally sweet. You can purchase it in liquid, powder, or leaves. We have only used liquid. It is very sweet and we only put 3 drops per glass of tea. I have yet to try cooking with it. You need recipes tested with stevia because it takes very little stevia to equal the sugar called for in a recipe. They also now have flavored stevia. I have been wanting to try some of the flavored stevia in my homemade yogurt. You can purchase stevia in the pharmacy/herb section of your health food store. Some Wal-marts are carrying stevia granules in the sugar aisle. Since this is an herb it will not affect your blood sugar.

Maple Syrup - We only buy pure maple syrup, not corn syrup flavored like maple. But once again this will affect your blood sugar, but tastes wonderful in corn bread. But if you are going to eat cornbread what difference is a little maple syrup (since the corn will raise your blood sugar too)? This can also be found in most grocery stores. I found the best deal at Sam's.

Maple Sugar - Yum! This is crystalized maple syrup. This is wonderful to sprinkle over desserts or fruit or yogurt. I'm not sure how it affects your blood sugar since it is not liquid, but it is still sugar. You can find this at most health food stores or online.

Juice - This can be used as a sweetner when baking. Applesauce can also be used. It is a sugar and a liquid one at that, but I feel that the health benefits of juice balances out the affects on blood sugar. Of course I don't drink juice, but I will bake with it. Drinking juice causes it to be absorbed very quickly into your blood stream, but when it is baked into something it doesn't seem to have to same effect. When buying juice look for juice not made from concentrate.

Powdered Milk - Powdered milk is very sweet. Using it in baking instead of store-bought milk, will add a little sweet to your baking. I buy quality brands that are very fine, not granulated. You can find these at most grocery stores.

Agave Nectar - Since I wrote this article a year ago, we have discovered agave nectar. This has a low glycemic index so doesn't affect your blood sugar much. It has a mild taste and is wonderful in beverages. I have also used it to make sugar-free chocolate syrup. What would life be without chocolate?!?!? It is a little on the pricey side, but we are enjoying the benefits of using it.

Hope that will help you know what is available and give you a selection to chose from. Once again, please share your ideas with me.

The LBS Plan

2007-10-24T06:33:00.000-07:00

I journaled what I ate last week, but I never gave a rhyme or reason to why I was doing that. So here is my plan. I have issues with low blood sugar and its effects are miserable. Since we moved to a new state I started eating out more and it took a while to learn where I could buy the ingredients I was used to. Needless to say, my body was not happy with me.

I have done a lot of studying, but I still don't know or understand it all. From my research I created my own eating plan. The basic version is I cut out all white flour and white sugar. That is a hard feat, especially when you eat out. I try to also follow some other simple rules:

1) no caffeine
2) no liquid sugars (ex. syrup, honey, juice)
3) only one fruit per day
4) no artificial colorings or flavorings
5) drink lots of water
6) eat regularly

It is challenging and I am not perfect, I goof from time to time. But I have found that if I follow these guidelines, I feel much better and have few side effects. Here is a copy of a previous post about my struggle:

Growing up I was quite skinny and I ate like it was going out of style. I ate unhealthy, but so did the rest of my generation. I remember my Senior year in high school my breakfast included a Dr. Pepper and a Reses Cup. MMM! Then for lunch a Dr. Pepper and a Reses Cup. And if I was lucky one of my friends would buy me a slice of pizza. Now, before you jump all over my parents for letting me eat as such, I lived in my own place my Senior year. Paying my bills took its place over feeding myself. I was responsible for myself which I obviously didn't do a good job. Anyway . . . fast forward 10+ years and add a husband and three kids.

After my first child I quickly returned to a size 3 (I know sickening). Again, now I was living on my own, but now having to support a child. I worked at a surgery center where we kept saltines, graham crackers and a soda fountain machine at all times. (Why the sodas? I don't know.) And on Friday's the center bought a catered meal for lunch. So I ate crackers all day every Monday through Friday and drank Dr. Pepper. Then on Fridays I would gorge myself on lunch. Everyone would save the leftovers in the fridge and I would take them home with me. That was my weekend meals. So needless to say, I have had a bad history of eating poorly.

First comes marriage and then comes baby number 2. My shape definately changed after my son and size 3 was no more, but I still only weighed 5 lbs heavier than before I was pregnant. And I started cooking . . . a lot. I started having lots of gastric problems and allergy problems. (Insert here: that I have always had headaches and migraines.. My mother would send Tylenol to school with me starting in 4th grade because of my chronic headaches. My mother had chronic headaches too so she didn't think anything more than a hereditary condition.)

Cihld 3 came and now I wasn't able to shake the pounds. I was having more headaches, severe gastric problems, miserable allergies (I never got sick as a kid and now I felt like I was always sick), limbs going numb, blurring vision, dizziness, and many other symptoms. I started looking into grinding my own wheat because I loved bread and wanted to make fresh bread. I bought a wheat grinder and Bosch machine and recieved the cookbook Set for Life: Eat More, Weigh Less, Feel Terrific. I started following the principles in the book and suddenly I stopped having headaches, I started actually having to go to the bathroom (I know that is TMI, but during school I never used their restrooms. I went all day with no potty breaks and then went potty when I got home. But was still only having maybe one BM per week), and I had energy. Best of all I was happy. My husband didn't know what to do! He actually wanted to come home because his wife was actually smiling and didn't have roller coaster mood swings anymore.

For two years I lived on my new eating plan. Then we moved to AL and healthy eating went out the window. Fast food on every corner and very, very few healthy restaurants. Nearest health food store is over an hour away. And all food is more expensive here than in Texas. So I started eating poorly again. All the old symptoms returned and more! We started to do research and I have come to the conclusion that I am hypoglycemic. This is not a doctor's diagnosis, but just having a knowledge base in which to attack the problem is enough for me.

Now most diet plans for hypoglycemia consist of low-carb/high-protein. I'm not convinced that is the only solution. I'm going to attack this with whole grains, raw vegetables, and lean meats. I will be documenting my findings here on my blog, so if you are interested please check back. I will also continue to post recipes that I find are healthful and tasty. If you have read all this - wow - kudos to you! Thanks for reading.

LBS Menu

2007-10-21T10:17:00.001-07:00

Here is the menu for the rest of the week.

Thursday:
Scrambled eggs with salsa, cheese stick, celery with cream cheese, rice with chicken cream sauce, brussel sprouts, cheese stick, chicken, whole wheat pasta, okra & tomatoes, celery with cream cheese. I still woke up with a headache, but feeling much better. I was not tired by late afternoon!!!

Friday:
Cooked oats, cauliflower, homemade milkshakes, salmon, brussel sprouts, okra, beef stroganoff (with whole wheat noodles and homemade sauce), spinach, cheese stick. Still woke up with a slight headache and woke up very hungry! I am getting tired of being hungry all the time. I had terrible tummy upset after that milkshake. Very sad about that because they are so yummy.

Saturday:
Celery with cream cheese, handful of popcorn (home popped), cheese stick, pasta salad (with whole wheat pasta), cheese stick, Chicken stir-fry, rice, swiss cheese. Feeling fine, just hungry. Right before bed my stomach started to hurt again. Woke up fine this morning though.

Low Blood Sugar

2007-10-20T06:22:00.000-07:00

I have been journaling everything I eat as I try to balance my blood sugar. In this post I am posting the first 3 days on this diet.

Monday:
Cottage cheese, Oat bran, celery w/ cream cheese, tuna steaks and salad, swiss cheese, celery w/ cream cheese, salad and Italian Casserole, swiss cheese. All these things included no flour, no sugars, and no fruit. I woke Monday morning with my normal headache and achy body. I got a really bad headach mis afternoon and had to go take a nap. I slept for an hour and slept hard, which is unusual for me. I went to bed fairly early too. I drank water all day and took a 1/2 mile walk.

Tuesday:
Cottage cheese, cooked oats, fresh broccoli, cauliflower, and bell pepper, chicken and dumplings, green tea, meatballs with stir fried green beans and mushrooms. I goofed with the chicken and dumplings at a restaurant. I didn't eat my bedtime snack because I was in bed by 7:30. Stomach felt yucky and I was very tired. By dinner time I couldn't sit up anymore.

This has been very hard, but I really want to feel better. I'm tired of living like this. I am pretty sure all the headaches and stomach issues are from sugar withdrawls. A few more days and I will hopefully be feeling a lot better.

Wednesday
Cottage cheese, omlet, string cheese, veggie stir-fry, salad, chili (no beans) w/ cheese, celery w/ chesse. I'm getting tired of the same foods, but I'm not quitting. I did not feel emotionally well all day, but by evening I was feeling much better and not tired. I think I finally made it to the top of the mountain!

Welcome!

2007-10-20T06:03:00.000-07:00

So glad you dropped in! This is my new cooking blog. For the next month I will moving posts from my old blog to this new one! I will be discussing special diets, cooking techniques, sharing recipes, and recommending wonderful appliances and ingredients I find along the way. I love to cook and hope to share that with my readers. I am in the process of writing a children's cookbook and this blog will be an extension of that. I am tired of the children's cookbooks full of sugar, artificial colorings and flavorings, so my kids and I are going to make our own. The first will be a cookbook of snack foods. I'm so excited. Being that I am a busy mother and wife and student, this project will take awhile, but that's ok. If you have any suggestions for a snack cookbook, please share! Thanks.