Cherishing Home

Welcome to my little corner of the web. A space, I pray, is a blessing to you! It was almost 2 years ago that I started my weight loss journey and about 8 months ago, that we really transformed what we ate into "real food." I've been blogging on my Family blog for almost 5 years and decided that a dedicated space to food/home/life would be more appropriate as more people have begun to read.

a little about me...
The Lord saved me when I was in High School and I was married when I was 20 years old and I have been married for 8.5 years. I have two sweet children (both of whom were born prematurely, 30 weeks and 33 weeks) and have grown to be healthy and happy. My son is 5.5 and my daughter is 2.5 and I love staying home with them to care for them. I run a little business on the side but my primary focus is on my family, my home, and our wonderful church.

My desire for this blog is to be a place of encouragement, ideas, and thought provoking questions. To honor the Lord in all areas of living, primarily within the walls of our homes (with a little bit of fun addressing the decor of those walls too :) with the means that He gives to us.

I hope and pray you will enjoy this little niche in the blogosphere and that we all can grow and learn and bless one another.

xo
j

side note... you will notice that this isn't my first post. I imported all of my food posts from my family blog, so they can be easily referenced here.

sourdough beginnings

I've been waiting all week to use this stuff... what I am finding out about cooking my own food for the first time... it actually takes time. Imagine that. I'm so used to having things ready NOW or grabbing something quick and easy and nowadays, I've realized that if its quick and easy, most likely, there has been a nutritional sacrifice somewhere along the road. Food takes time.

Take, my sourdough bread...
It has taken me a long time to try this. I just wasn't ready... but what has been really interesting about this whole "real food" process... Readiness comes in time. With new cooking skills has come the desire to actually try new things. Crazy. And... like anything else... practice makes perfect (or at least better than before!). Cooking has become a joy to me. Its so fun! (This should offer much hope to those of who who dislike anything "kitchen". I am a recovering kitchen-phobe. There is hope!)

The nutritional benefits of homemade sourdough bread have been my latest of readings. (HERE is a good basic article about such benefits.) Commercial yeast is full of hidden MSG and is not the "natural" way to make bread rise. So, making my own sourdough bread from scratch proved to be a little more complicated than I anticipated. I couldn't just mix stuff together, bake it, then eat it??? It would take me a WEEK to get the right dough!??!!? Ya, it does... but it has been such a cool process!!!

I followed the recipe from Nourished Kitchen found HERE:

photo source: sourdoughstarter2.jpg

Wow... is this how people in the olden days made bread?! YES! And we wonder why gluten intolerance has risen since the introduction of processed grains?!

Traditionally prepared sourdough, even when made with wheat, can usually be tolerated by those who are gluten intolerant (because the sourdough starter is a live active culture. It is probiotic bread that has been soaked and the gluten has been effectively broken down by the yeast and bacteria in the starter) CRAZY!

Ok, so if I would have read this a month ago, I would be lost and confused and turned off... Well each in their own time right?

So here is the beginnings of my sourdough starter... I am planning on using it for THIS recipe on Sunday. Its funny.. there is a lot of prep work, but once you have an established sourdough starter, it is like a fountain of dough that you can continually use for baking. Dough that you know is not commercially processed and dough that you have looked after and guarded :)

I bought a sourdough starter from Cultures for Health to make sure my sourdough would be okay, since it was my first time.

So, here is my sourdough starter on day 5. It finally started bubbling! ITS ALIIIIVVVVEEEE!

Anywho, lots of new things going on in my kitchen... mostly, I'm actually in my kitchen... HA! thankful for a way to serve my family so practically.. their food!

salt salt bo balt

so... I don't want to burst another bubble, but mine was recently burst when I learned that not all salt is created equal.

Table salt (what is in restaurants, or maybe in your cupboard - Morton's brand, and others) is a highly processed chemical concoction.
This post HERE helped me understand the difference between True Sea Salt and commercially processed salts.

She does video blogs too and I find these very helpful to see the visual evidence.


Here is the brand she recommended : Redmond Trading Co. RealSalt

this is a super simple, and inexpensive way to make a change in your kitchen. baby steps! :)

Lentil Veggie Soup

I found this soup recipe on accident, actually... I was searching on google for my friend Carly's lentil soup recipe, I found this one instead... the one I initially was looking for is on my list to try, but for now... this is the recipe I have used and has gotten the hearty seal of approval from my family and dinner guests... As one college guy said "lentil soup is so hipster" ... ya, well, so what... it tastes good and is good for you :)

INA GARTEN'S VEGGIE LENTIL SOUP

Ingredients

• 1 pound French green lentils
• 4 cups chopped yellow onions (3 large onions)
• 4 cups chopped leeks, white part only (2 leeks)
• 1 tablespoon minced garlic (3 cloves)
• 1/4 cup good olive oil, plus additional for drizzling on top
• 1 tablespoon kosher salt
• 1 1/2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
• 1 tablespoon minced fresh thyme leaves or 1 teaspoon dried
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 3 cups medium-diced celery (8 stalks)
• 3 cups medium-diced carrots (4 to 6 carrots)
• 3 quarts chicken stock
• 1/4 cup tomato paste
• 2 tablespoons red wine or red wine vinegar
• Freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Directions

In a large bowl, cover the lentils with boiling water and allow to sit for 15 minutes. Drain.

In a large stockpot on medium heat, saute the onions, leeks, and garlic with the olive oil, salt, pepper, thyme, and cumin for 20 minutes, until the vegetables are translucent and very tender. Add the celery and carrots and saute for 10 more minutes. Add the chicken stock, tomato paste, and lentils. Cover and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer uncovered for 1 hour, until the lentils are cooked through. Check the seasonings. Add the red wine and serve hot, drizzled with olive oil and sprinkled with grated Parmesan.

Yummy!! I freeze portions of this soup for Ian to take to work for lunch and in 4 serving containers for future dinners.

Note: the only thing that takes a lot of time is chopping the veggies (which in cooking more frequently, has gotten faster) but it is still a "chop intensive" recipe. :)

My ex

This post has been a long time coming. With our switch to real, whole food eating, one thing has always lagged behind for me has been a artificially caramel colored glass of fake sugar: Diet Coke.

I've been a proud diet coke drinker for over a decade. And I was just that, proud. Proud that I didn't drink the regular coke. Proud that I found something to outsmart my body and not consume calories, but taste good in the mean time. Pride oozing out of that silver can. Diet coke was my idol.

However, the more I read, the more I began to question my choices. Sometimes the truth comes at ya, and you just don't want to listen... so you justify, rationalize, and just plain lie to yourself to make it go away... This was me for the last 2 years or so. I knew Diet Coke wasn't good for me, but it was calorie-free. It wasn't REAL coke.

I would keep Diet Coke stocked in our fridge for years, but about 8 months ago, when we really made big changes, I knew Diet coke would have to go. Ian and I made a deal that we would only have Diet Coke when we went on dates with each other... (eliminating it from our shopping list) Date Night would happen every week (yay!) or less frequently and we would also sneak a few diet cokes on the side, here or there.

But sometimes, it takes a while for something to sink in. Sometimes the truth has to marinade in your head for a while before you realize the implications. This is my diet coke story. Sure I knew it was bad, but why? Why so bad? Why is aspartame (Diet Coke's "sugar" replacement) the #1 chemical in all of food and drink to avoid (according to Dr. Mercola)?

The chemical cocktail in these drinks is frightening to say the least. When you actually look at the ingredients one by one, you realize that drinking a Diet Coke is no longer a simple "water alternative" for "healthy people." It is the latest LIE propagated by the companies that profit the most from the sales of Diet Coke!

Remember Monsanto? I've posted about them before (and they are the "bad guys" in many food documentaries, and for good reason). They are the ones behind the technology of the Genetically modified seeds (Seeds that are genetically altered with a bacteria to withstand unlimited amounts of pesticides and will kill any bug who tries to eat it). They are the ones behind the rBGH cow hormone given to cows to stimulate growth hormone and milk production ... {Dangers of rBGH HERE}

They are also behind aspartame. When I found that out... it was so not surprising, it was surprising! Another chemical Monsanto has created that is highly controversial and yet is only yielding scary symptoms in the humans that consume it!

People, diet coke containing aspartame (or most anything that is "sugar free" or "low fat" or "low carb") is dangerous. And, I did some digging and realized that the studies that show aspartames safety are funded by companies like Monsanto *if not Monsanto itself!). AND... so many former Monsanto lawyers and executives now sit at the helm of the USDA, FDA, and EPA. Hence, it legal use in the USA still today.

So... that would be like the umpires being paid by the home team to make the home team win... no matter who or what gets in the way... and, all newspapers and articles written about the legitimacy of the "win" being paid to skew the info in such a way that it looks legitimate. I cry foul. (hah!)

The specific ingredients in Diet Coke that are scary:

Dangers of Aspartame: HERE - for peets sake, it turns into formaldehyde in your body after you consume it!

Dangers of Caramel Color: HERE 

Dangers of Phosporic Acid: HERE

Dangers of Natural Flavors: HERE

Dangers of Phenylalanine: HERE

Ingredients of regular coke:

Ingredients in diet coke:

phenylalanine

Ingredients in diet cherry coke:

For a visual explanation, watch this! : Sweet Misery: A Poisoned World Documentary to watch for free .. HERE

Some proven side effects from consumption of diet sodas:

Infertility (some doctors even call Diet Coke "instant birth control"- if male or female consume)

Headaches/migraines

And THIS list is from the FDA itself!:

• Headaches/migraines
• Nausea
• Abdominal pains
• Fatigue (blocks sufficient glucose entry into brain)
• Sleep problems
• Vision problems
• Anxiety attacks
• Depression
• Asthma/chest tightness.

More exhaustive list of side effects can be found HERE

Not happy things... So, opt for water, lemon, cucumber or berry homemade flavored water, making your own fruit juice, raw milk or again, just drink water.

So for now, I've given it up completely. No more diet coke for me. I've been convinced by the evidence and I was ready to make the dive off the cliff.

Personal note::: I consumed diet coke daily while pregnant with my two kids. This sickens me. To the point, where I really just can't even let my mind go there. If I do get pregnant again (which we would like to, maybe soon :), my diet and lifestyle will have been drastically different than my two previous pregnancies. The Lord is totally in control, but we are praying that the changes we have made will have a positive impact on future pregnancies, Lord willingly, resulting in shorter NICU stays, or if He wills, a full term pregnancy. Part of my journey to health was because of my two preemies (30 weeks and 33 weeks - both healthy and amazing miracles today :)... so avoiding diet coke (and aspartame) now and if the Lord wills me to be pregnant, will be one of my highest priorities, diet wise.

And, I'm sorry if these food posts offend you... Really, it is not my intention. People are more important than food. I know that. I love people who drink Diet Coke, but as for me, I choose, now, to say, no thank you. And, this blog is an outlet for me to share what I have been learning... whether is it foodie, Bible stuff, or just pictures of my kids... :)

Chicken Bone Broth

I've been making my way through the Nourishing Traditions cookbook and a traditional food that has nourished people for centuries has been bone broth. Broth made from the nutrients found in veggies and bones of healthy animals.

Chicken soup is good for the body and soul and by making it yourself you know you aren't purchasing a chemical mix of tons of msg and other additives.

I found this recipe on the Nourished Kitchen blog. I've been perpetually making broth for many weeks now. It's so simple and can be the base of many soups and casseroles as well as a great body warming drink to consume by itself.

Broth is so great because as you heat the water and bones and veggies all together, the nutrients from the contents seep into the water, making the water a liquid, easy to assimilate, form of vitamins for your body. Helpful for the winter months as we don't get as much vitamin D from sun exposure. Here is some more info on the healthfulness of bone broth.

I freeze cubes in my baby food silicone freezer thingys and voila! 2oz portions of homemade broth whenever I need it!

You can use a raw whole chicken (Costco has organic chicken for $2.99 per pound) OR... what I have been doing... you can roast your chicken in the oven to make the meat super flavorful and yummy and then use the leftover bones and frame of the chicken for the broth, since the nutrients you are trying to get to are in the bones. My friend Carly just posted her fav recipe and it was a huge hit in our house this week... Even reese ate it. Which is amazing... YAY!


Nourished Kitchen's Perpetual soup

ingredients

• 1 whole organic 
chicken (or the frame of a roasted chicken) 

• 2 
sweet bay leaves

• 1 tbsp 
black peppercorns

• any  
vegetable scraps you have on hand

• filtered water

1. Place one whole chicken or the frame of a roasted chicken into your slow cooker with sweet bay, black peppercorns and any vegetable scraps you have on hand. Cover with filtered water and cook on low for one week.

1. After twenty-four hours, you may begin using the broth. As you need broth or stock, simply dip a ladle or measuring cup into the slow cooker to remove the amount of stock you need. Pour it through a fine-mesh sieve or, preferably, a reusable coffee filter which will help to clarify the broth. Replace the broth you remove from the slow cooker with an equivalent amount of filtered water. If you’re using a whole, fresh chicken, you may also remove chicken meat from the slow cooker as desired for stir-fries, in soups or in 

1. At the end of the week, strain off any remaining broth and discard or compost the bones. The bones from your chicken should crumble when pressed between your thumb and forefinger. Their softness is an indication that much of the nourishment from the bones – minerals, amino acids – have leached from the bones and into the broth you’ve enjoyed all week long. Wash the insert of your slow cooker and start again.

instructions

Chocolate Chip Cookies

Who doesn't like a good chocolate chipper every once and a while!?

Well, most chocolate chip cookies you purchase in the store, bakery, or from a fast food joint come with about 30+ ingredients, most of which you can't pronounce and the ones you can pronouce are just plain bad for you... So, I have experimented and adapted some of my favorite recipes for this special treat that we make if we have guests over...

DELICIOUS CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES

INGREDIENTS:
2 1/4 cup of Organic Whole Wheat Pastry Flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp kosher sea salt
1 Cup of Kerrygold Butter, softened (or melted) - 1 big block (or 2 sticks of organic butter)
3/4 cup Organic Evaporated Cane Juice (Sugar)
3/4 cup Fair Trade Organic Brown Sugar (or sucanat)
2 Pastured Free-Range Eggs
1 tsp Vanilla
1 cup of Good Chocolate Chips... I use THESE (only 3 ingredients. Happy dance!)

DIRECTIONS:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Mix up dry ingredients and set aside
3. Mix up other ingredients (eggs, butter, sugar, brown sugar, vanilla)
4. Slowly add dry ingredients into bowl using an electric hand mixer on low.. Confession:: I have added everything to one big bowl all at once and it turned out great too :)
5. Add Chocolate Chips.
6. Scoop into balls and bake for 8-10 minutes depending on your cookie softness preferences

These things are good. Dangerously good. And yes, they have sugar. So, it most definitely is a TREAT and not a NORM! :)

You can also double the batch and keep some in the freezer for a quick dough on the go! (Much better for you than the big dough tub from Costco)