Wordless Weekend: Shades of Red

Weird Wednesdays

I am not unaware that many of the things that I do and eat when I am left to my own devices in my kitchen would be considered weird to many people. Thus my decision to title them as such, and let you avoid Wednesdays on the blog if such things are beyond your tolerance. :) Consider yourself warned.

If, on the other hand, you are weird like myself, then you are going to love Wednesdays! I plan to share some of the most interesting (and yummy!) recipes and techniques that I am learning to incorporate in my goal to have a more nourishing diet for myself and my children.

This week's Weird Wednesday topic is "Coconut Smoothies".

A lot of my weird ideas lately have come from the book "Eat Fat, Lose Fat" by Dr. Mary Enig and Sally Fallon (the author of Nourishing Traditions). Thanks to Mrs. G. for loaning this to me! Now, the title is catchy, but I don't feel it does the book justice, because this book is more than a weight loss plan. The chapter titles include, "The Truth About Fats", "Health Recovery", and "Everyday Gourmet". It teaches you what to fear and what to embrace about fat - like the difference between saturated and polyunsaturated fats (enjoy the former, flee the later like the plague!), the cause of heart disease (it's not butter, people!) and what fats are actually essential to our bodies functioning well.

One of these fats is Coconut Oil. I was so excited as I began reading about the benefits and yummy things you can make with coconut oil because I had already ordered two tubs of it on sale through a friend's co-op. By the time she delivered them to me, I was ripe and ready to try my first recipe!

Coconut Yogurt Smoothie
Serves 1 (or, me and a little cup for Jess)

1/2 fresh or fozen berries
1 cup yogurt
2 Tbsp. maple syrup
2 egg yolks
1 Tbsp. melted cocunut

Place berries in a food processor and process to a puree. Add yogurt, maple syrup, and egg yolks and process until smooth. With the motor running, slowly add the coconut oil.

OK, so the weird part about this for me was the raw eggs. But the fact is -

"The risk of salmonella infection is usually only present in traditionally raised comercial hens. If one purchases ones eggs from healthy chickens, the risk of infection is dramatically reduced. It's important to note that only sick chickens lay salmonella-contaminated eggs. If you purchase high quality, cage-free, organically fed chicken eggs, the risks are dreamatically reduced."

Reading the info at this page helped reassure me that I was actually doing myself favors to consume a few raw eggs, seeing as I get mine from the Amish farm just two miles down the road. Eggs are a great source of good fats and proteins, and eaten raw they are actually easier to digest! This site also assured me that Salmonella is "usually a benign, self limiting illness" in people with healthy immune systems. Add to that the statistics that "the average person would come across a contaminated egg only once in 42 years".

So, this smoothie contains my morning dose of protein, the delicate flavor and awesome benefits of coconut oil, and - it's scrumptious.
Absolutely delicious.
Rich, creamy, satisfying.
You gotta try it.
Mmmmm, I want another one right now....

This'll 'blow' your mind...

ast month my friend, Traci gave me a very special house warming gift - she took me to Corning Museum of Glass (I had never been before!) and I got to make a blown glass ornament for our Christmas tree! It has taken me forever to upload the photos, but here, at last, is an album of the amazing museum and our glass blowing. And a picture of my ornament, waiting patiently for Christmas...

Insomnia Speaks

Can't sleep? Need ideas for Christmas gifts? Need something to do while you munch on cheese curds, waiting to be sleepy enough to go back to bed?
All of the above?
I have the answer for you - hop over and browse Sew, Mamma, Sew's Handmade Holidays posts. They're sure to entertain, inspire, and delight. And you might just be too excited to fall back to sleep!

(I used to suffer terribly from insomnia. The last time I was pregnant I finally discovered what seemed to trigger it - sugar before bed. Usually my blood sugar issues don't surface outside of pregnancy, but I guess that "Pie in a Jar" with Haggan Das Vanilla Ice cream at 9:30 did me in. Yes, I ate the whole thing myself! See, I am a little wicked sometimes. But I pay for it!)

How to Fold a Washcloth, with Jesse Lincoln

This is my little laundry helper. I used to hate doing laundry. With this little man, it becomes a pleasant task we do together. He folds all the washcloths in every load.

Madame Guyon

Have I ever shared my personal testimony on my blog? I don't think so. Hmm - I should do that some time. It is a simple story, about a simple girl and a really spectacular God. Anyway, this book that I told you I'd tell you about last week, this book has been a great stepping stone in my personal walk with God. It plays a role in my own story, and I hope that you will glean from it, as well. Very small, short, easy chapters that encourage you toward intimate quiet times of worship and prayer. I love Madame Guyon - she gave me clear direction when I was taking baby steps in toward hearing God's voice. If you do not have access to the book (check your church or friend's bookshelves) then I reccomend you find a used copy on Amazon or Paper Back Swap. (I got my latest copy on PBS - I had loaned out my old one and never got it back. Oh, well, I figure it's out there somewhere blessing someone else's journey).

I was very excited last week when a new librivox recording came out of one of her books - here you can listen to her for free!

Originally published in 1685, Madame Guyon’s A Short and Easy Method of Prayer is considered a classic of Christian mysticism, influencing great writers and speakers such as John Wesley and Charles Spurgeon. In it, Madame Guyon carefully and briefly sets out her ‘unmethodical method’ by which any and all can commune with God at any time and under any circumstances.

Another book that came to mind when I was preparing this post was "Secrets of the Secret Place" by Bob Sorge.

This book has one central purpose: to fuel your passion for the secret place with God. Divided into 52 short chapters, it can serve as a companion to your devotional life.

Not only will this book help to defuse your personal struggles related to the secret place, it will also inspire you to the thrilling exhilaration of developing a personal connection with God. Your heart will be ignited with passion for Jesus, and you will profit from the practical advice on making it work.

Once I found a book that was a compilation of Madame Guyon, Bob Sorge, and one other author's writings - really one of the best books on the subject. I Googled it and couldn't find it...maybe someone out there knows what I'm talking about. I'd like to put it on my PBS wish list....

Faith, Peace, Love: A Little Inspiration

"Whatsoever things are lovely...think on these things."

A few cards I made last week to send to a friend for a card challenge. This is your challenge - make a card or write a letter today to someone who could use a word of encouragement.

Wordless Weekend: Fall Lunch

Ohh, Eggs!

As best I can figure, his goal was to switch the eggs from the grey carton to the pink one - which required emptying the pink one, of course. This is what happens if I stay on the computer too long - thus, less posts than I intended this week! Amazingly, no eggs were broken in the taking of this picture. See you next week...

"Stolen Water Is Sweet"

There's just something about bathwater...maybe it's 'cause she's not supposed to drink it that she loves it so much....