Just needed a womanly booster:

3 1/2 c. water boiled, add 4-6 t. of various herbs.  Steep 4 hours minimum.
or
1 qt. water, 2 handfuls tea.
Miscarriage may be possible:
Shonda Parker said it’s only the Rubeus Idaeus (sp?), not the wild raspberry leaf, and only if you’ve had a prob with miscarriage.

http://sweetbirth101.wordpress.com/2010/03/12/safe-herbs-for-pregnancy/

The America's Test Kitchen- Baked Chicken Parmesan

This is going to need some adapting for GF and GAPS purposes.

 

Best Light Chicken  Parmesan

adapted from The America's Test Kitchen HEALTHY Family Cookbook

http://www.reneeskitchenadventures.com/2011/08/best-chicken-parmesan.html

To Brine Fresh Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts:

In a very large bowl, combine 2 quarts of cool water with 1/4 cup of granulated sugar and 1/4 cup of kosher salt.  Stir until sugar and salt have dissolved into the water.  Add in chicken breasts and submerge completely into liquid.  Place in refrigerator for 30 minutes to an hour.  Remove breasts and pat dry.  ( when using in recipes once brined, do not season with salt before cooking)

1 1/2 cups plain panko breadcrumbs

1 TBS olive oil

1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

1/2 cup all purpose flour

1 1/2 tsp. garlic powder

6 TBS. eggbeaters

6 ( 4 -ounce ) boneless, skinless chicken breasts that have been brined and pounded to 1/4 inch thick

fresh ground black pepper

2 cups of 1 point+ per serving Marinara sauce of your choice ( such as Basic Tomato Sauce Two Ways ), warmed

3/4 cup shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese

1.  Preheat oven to 475 degrees F.  Prepare large baking sheet by covering with foil and then positioning wire racks on top and spraying with cooking spray.  Take out three pie dishes or similar containers for breading process. 

2.  In large nonstick skillet, preheat olive oil on med high.  Add in panko, and stirring frequently, cook until golden brown.  Take off heat and put in one of the pie dishes you took out for breading and allow to cool.  Once cooled, mix in the Parmesan cheese.  

3.  In another pie dish, combine the flour and the garlic powder.  Pour the eggbeaters into the third pie dish.  To set up your breading station, place in this order, the flour, the eggbeaters and the panko/parmesan cheese mixture.  

4.  Season the chicken with the pepper. Bread each chicken breast starting with the flour,  Shake off excess.  Dip into the eggbeaters and then coat with the panko.  Place on the prepared wire rack and repeat with remaining chicken.  Spray tops of chicken with cooking spray.

5.  Bake in oven for 10 minutes.  ( or until chicken registers 150 -160 degrees F on instant read thermometer)

Remove chicken from oven, and top with 2 TBS of sauce and 2 TBS of mozzarella.  Return to oven and continue to bake until the cheese is melted and the chicken registers 160 -165 degrees internally.  ( 3 - 5 minutes)   Garnish with basil and enjoy! 

Experts Discuss Religious Liberty Today

Recorded EVENT: Faith, Culture & Religious Freedom in 21st Century America  

The Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission and Manhattan Declaration  bring you a conversation about the future of religious freedom in America featuring a diverse group of expert voices. - View video and transcript at: http://erlc.com/article/event-oct10#sthash.RycJp9Ai.dpuf

Fecundophobia: The Growing Fear Of Children And Fertile Women

... How “intensely weird” it is for an NFL player to be having his seventh kid. Except that it isn’t weird at all for an NFL player to have his seventh kid. It’s only weird for an NFL player to have seven kids with his one wife...

In ESPN The Magazine’s Aug. 19 issue, Philip Rivers was asked four questions. The final question:

Six kids? Regardless of your profession, it’s impossible to be a good parent to six kids. Not enough hours in the day.

He answered:

It’s a two-year rotation: Once the diapers come off of one, we usually have a newborn. And we have another one on the way, due in October. I help when I can, but my wife, Tiffany, is the key. My big, growing family keeps everything balanced and grounded. My oldest is 11 now, and the kids are getting into football. They’re Daddy’s biggest fans, and they don’t get on you as bad as most fans. If you throw an interception, they still love you.

Great answer — but what kind of question is that? Seriously. Who asks a question like that? And who, knowing anything about human flourishing throughout history, would think that it’s impossible to be a good parent to six kids? Since when did having kids become something that Americans irrationally fear and loathe?

Germans without Genders?

"A war against God quickly becomes against nature.  "

The nature He, after all, created.  Love God, love nature.  Hate God, hate nature and its boundaries. 

Best Makeovers of 2011 | What Not to Wear (+playlist)

You may be wondering why I put this in the thrifty category.  Well, you can waste a lot of money on clothes if you aren't savvy.  Take it from me, someone who is slowly transforming an enormous wardrobe of mostly unwearable clothes to a wardrobe that fits me and my life.

Your Pastor Needs YOU!

I appreciate a lot of what Focus on the Family puts out, especially articles on boundless.org. 

 

 

Dear Young, Christian Husband With a Job and Healthy Wife Who Wants a Baby

This was a heart wrenching read.  I am quick to pray for families suffering because of barrenness.

THE CHRISTIAN PUNDIT: 

Dear Young, Christian Husband With a Job and Healthy Wife Who Wants a Baby

Fabulously Organized Photos

My notes from this post:

http://fabulouslyorganizedhome.com/2013/05/16/the-weekend-organizer-photo-organization-assessment/


Steps:

1.  I organized a comprehensive list of “end goals” {see above}
2.  I collected all of the larger, loose photos and put them into a craft folder.  These included the sizes 5″ x   7″ and larger. 

• Some of these photos will be framed, but for those photos that will not, I need to come up with a storage solution.

Source of Less Pasteurized Raw Almonds

Have you ever purchased “raw” almonds in a store to make crispy nuts, taking the time to soak, then carefully dehydrate at a low temperature to preserve the enzymes?

If so, you may feel hoodwinked.

All almonds sold in stores are pasteurized.

Even if the label says “raw.”

All of them.

It’s the law.

If the almonds are organic, they’re pasteurized using a burst of steam. Otherwise, most likely chemicals are used in a process called PPO, or Propylene Oxide. It’s FDA and EPA approved. Of course.
The idea behind them still being labeled “raw” is that the treatment is only on the outside and doesn’t really “cook” or (apparently, according to the government) alter or effect the inside or nutritional value.
If you don’t like the idea of chemicals being puffed at your food, whether EPA says it all goes away in a few minutes or not, or you want truly raw almonds, you have to buy directly from the grower.
You can find farms like this one selling online, but the almonds aren’t cheap.

Raw Milk has been consumed for hundred of years.  It's illegal?

I recently tested out some almonds (delicious!) from Just Almonds, a great middle-of-the-road option where they steam pasteurize the almonds and sell at a great price. If you buy 25 pounds of nonpareil almonds, which you’ll want to do when you fall in love with these grain-free pancakes, they’re only $4.12/pound.
You can even buy the broken (aka “ugly”) almonds, which are perfect for grinding recipes like this one and the power bars in Healthy Snacks to Go, starting at $3.55/pound for just 5 pounds, and only $2.98 once you order 25 pounds. As long as you’re not serving fancy guests, why not eat broken ones, too?
Just Almonds shared a coupon code for KS readers to make things an even better deal: use the code “KS” to get 10% off any order!

I hope to work more with Just Almonds, so if you’re interested in their products, definitely give them a visit so they see that the KS audience is the right one for them!

 (By the way, in a little sprouting experiment, the Just Almonds did just as well making little sprouts as the truly raw almonds I bought from the farm…)

Read more at http://www.kitchenstewardship.com/2012/08/17/recipe-connection-grain-free-almond-apple-pancakes-a-great-deal-on-almonds/#ovpQUeqgUusvgA47.99

Grandma Smith's Spinach Artichoke Dip

20 oz frozen chopped spinach-thawed and drained,

2 t cumin,

2 t chili powder

1 t garlic powder

2 8 oz pkg cream cheese, softened

14 oz artichoke hearts drained and chopped

2 10 oz cans Rotel tomatoes

 2 cups grated Monterrey cheese

1 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Oven at 250 till bubbles, browns, melts. About 30 min? Serve with chips, celery, veggies.

Soft & Chewy Banana Nut Butter Cookies

 

Print

Prep time

3 mins

Cook time

12 mins

Total time

15 mins

 

Serves: 10

Ingredients

• 6 tablespoons all natural peanut butter
• 2 tablespoons all natural almond butter
• 1 small banana, mashed well in a bowl
• ¼ tsp ground nutmeg
• ¼ tsp ground cinnamon (optional… I love cinnamon)

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Mash banana in a bowl until nice and smooth. Add in nut butters, spices, and salt, and mix until very well combined.
3. The dough should stick together into one big ball by the time it’s all mixed together. Nothing should stick to the side of the bowl.
4. Grease a cookie sheet with a healthy oil.
5. Plop into little balls on the cookie sheet and press down with a fork (or just smoosh down with your hand)
6. Bake for 12-14 minutes or until firm to the touch… but watch that the bottoms don’t burn!
7. Let cool and enjoy!!

Will be trying with only peanut butter and almond and vanilla extracts.

Finally! The Secret of Plantains

Here is the answer... or the answers... to my remorseful questions:
http://www.raw-food-health.net/RipenPlantains.html

Moldy or dried out... I will carry on, and one day have the art of ripening to perfect soft black perfection!

Change the life of a prisoner’s child FOREVER this Christmas

Visit http://www.prisonfellowship.org/programs/angel-tree/   

 

"You can help change the life of a prisoner’s child FOREVER this Christmas. Does your church or group love sharing the Gospel? Do you have a special concern for the vulnerable and ....Christmas is only weeks away, and there are 425,000 children of prisoners who yearn for their absent parents’ love and hope for even just one Christmas filled with joy. More than that, they are in desperate need of a loving Savior..."

Watch, but first get ready to cry from laughing so hard: "Waterproof Mascara"

http://www.cheeseslave.com

I loved this blog post regarding the GAPS diet and the book about it, Gut and Psychology Syndrome.

10 Ways to Boost Immunity & 10 Ways to Damage It

by Ann Marie Michaels

Soft Banana Nut Butter Cookies

Soft & Chewy Banana Nut Butter Cookies

 GF, Vegan, GAPS 

Prep time

3 mins

Cook time

12 mins

Total time

15 mins

 

Serves: 10

Ingredients

• 6 tablespoons all natural peanut butter
• 2 tablespoons all natural almond butter
• 1 small banana, mashed well in a bowl
• ¼ tsp ground nutmeg
• ¼ tsp ground cinnamon (optional… I love cinnamon)

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Mash banana in a bowl until nice and smooth. Add in nut butters, spices, and salt, and mix until very well combined.
3. The dough should stick together into one big ball by the time it’s all mixed together. Nothing should stick to the side of the bowl.
4. Grease a cookie sheet with a healthy oil.
5. Plop into little balls on the cookie sheet and press down with a fork (or just smoosh down with your hand)
6. Bake for 12-14 minutes or until firm to the touch… but watch that the bottoms don’t burn!
7. Let cool and enjoy!!

I'm going to try this with just peanut butter, add a few drops vanilla and almond extract.

Trim Mothers & Daughters

 

This looked fun! http://motherdaughterfitness.com/

http://www.trimhealthymama.com/

Costumes Galore

Oh, I can't think of anything more fun than a well attended costume party!!  Here is a link of ideas and how-to's.

http://studentz.squidoo.com/handmade-diy-fancy-dress-costume-ideas

There are easy easy costumes that are fun, like just doing face/body paint. 

Apple Streusel Muffins

We went apple picking while two friends were visiting with us this past week.  And I am in the mood for muffins, or anything baked - buttery and sweet!

adapted from:

GAPS, Gluten Free – Apple Streusel Muffins

from http://www.gapalicious.com
 

Muffin Batter
2 ½ cups blanched almond flour
½ tsp baking soda
½ tsp ground cinnamon
¼ tsp sea salt
3 large eggs
1/4 cup honey, lightly warmed
3 tbsp butter, melted
1 tbsp pure vanilla extract
Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Line a muffin tin with 10 baking cups. In a small bowl, mix almond flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt. In a blender, mix together the eggs, honey, butter and vanilla until well blended. Pour into the bowl with dry ingredients and whisk until well combined. Then prepare apple crisp topping:

Apple Crisp Topping: I made double to add to other yummy things... pancakes, toast, oatmeal.

  3 large finely diced, fresh, organic apples
1/2 cup of of pecans (or other nut), finely chopped
1 tbsp honey, lightly warmed
¼ tsp ground cinnamon
1/8 tsp pure vanilla extract
1 tbsp butter
Cook the apples coated with the cinnamon in butter on low heat until soft. Remove from heat and add honey, vanilla, and pecans; mix.
Now you’re ready to put the muffin together. Add one spoonful of the muffin batter to the muffins cups. Take your finger and spread it out in the bottom of the muffin cup (she said to tap the pan, but my batter was to sticky). Next, add a spoonful of the apple crisp mixture. Top with another spoonful of batter, flatten the batter with your finger over top of the muffin. Top with remaining apple crisp mixture.
Bake 25-30 minutes, until muffins are slightly brown around edges and an inserted knife comes out clean. Allow to cool slightly in the muffin pan then take them out of the pan and allow to cool on the counter. Or eat them fresh and warm.
Variation: Just mix the apple crisp mixture into the muffin batter. It’s quicker and tastes just as good.

Let the Older Teach the Younger...

Blog post: Find Me a Mentor
Touching and convicting...

Church Planting Mission Church Wives

http://www.gracecoversme.com/p/a-book-just-for-church-planting-wives.html

A Book for

Church Planting/ Mission Church Wives

12 Reasons Why a Pastor Quit Attending Sports Events

Huh, food for thought:   

12 Reasons Why a Pastor Quit Attending Sports Events

Dr. Mercola Interviews Dr. David Simone (Part 1 of 5) (+playlist)

I found the website he mentioned and searched in my area, and found 3 doctors 45 minutes away.

http://iaomt.org/find-a-doctor/search-for-dentist-physician/

I plan to read more here: http://www.westonaprice.org/dentistry

Replacing mercury fillings is an important step in reducing continual exposure to toxic mercury vapors released from biting down on amalgams. Mercury, the most toxic substance on earth, according to Dr. Paul Gilbert, graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and long-time master practitioner of the Academy of General Dentistry, plays a role in a plethora of serious diseases effecting almost every system in the body. Many lay people, as well as a growing group of dentists, believe removal of mercury amalgam fillings helps reduce the incidence of side effects, helping the body strengthen to overcome chronic diseases and heal.

Step 1

Check how much experience the dentist has removing mercury amalgams. Use someone who specializes in this procedure.

Step 2

Inquire about the type of materials used to replace your old fillings. They should be biocompatible and have no metals, being made from pure porcelain.

Step 3

Ask whether the dentist will refer you to a clinical kinesiologist to be tested for the specific materials used to make your new fillings and crowns. Tests should include materials for glue used and temporary fillings also.

Step 4

Get references from the dentist and check them. Interview the dentist beforehand to make sure your are comfortable with her.

Step 5

Inquire about the room you will be in and whether it has adequate ventilation. It is important to have a clean air environment in which mercury fumes released during drilling are removed with ion generators and fans.

Step 6

Ask if the dentist will be using a rubber dam to protect you from inhaling or swallowing mercury particles when amalgams are drilled out of your teeth.

Step 7

View all instructional materials in the form of pamphlets and videos ahead of time and ask all questions before starting.

Step 8

Check the office policies for payment plans offered or whether your work will be covered by your insurance company.

Step 9

Arrange a plan of action with the dentist if you need to have more than just a few fillings replaced. Most of the time the dentist will try to work on one quadrant at a time over a period of time.

Step 10

Inquire about what kind of homeopathic, herbal or other natural products and procedures the dentist recommends for after care and removal of mercury from your system once dental work is complete.

Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/70475-replace-mercury-fillings/#ixzz2hSDXPphW

A Thumbs Down Review: Healthy at 100: The Scientifically Proven Secrets of the World's Healthiest and Most Long-Lived Peoples

I skimmed over this review on a book that disagrees with Weston Price's findings.   I particularly would like to read the context of this quote:

"Dr. Price's dietary studies are largely irrelevant today, Robbins tells us, for "[w]e cannot go back to a past that can never be again."
Quote:

In his attempt to convince us that these cultures are largely vegetarian, he omits important information about their consumption of meat and other animal foods—the very foods Dr. Price found most essential in healthy indigenous societies. Robbins spends several pages reviewing Price's work, noting that after the introduction of refined foods, the health of the indigenous populations studied quickly declined. But rather than discussing Price's most central finding—that fat-soluble activators found only in animal fats were absolutely essential in every indigenous culture for providing immunity to disease and the ability to "make perfect babies" generation after generation—Robbins makes this statement about Price: "However, it is also important to recognize the limitations of his views."²⁶
He then goes on to denigrate Price's research and to present a bizarre argument attempting to link meat eating with overaggressive behavior, including torture and human sacrifice.²⁷
In the next chapter it's off to the China Study, and there follow several chapters on how a plant-based diet is the only way to save the planet. Dr. Price's dietary studies are largely irrelevant today, Robbins tells us, for "[w]e cannot go back to a past that can never be again."

Never mind that grassfed animals and their milk, fish from unpolluted waters, and plant foods together sustained life and health for hundreds of generations. Never mind that Dr. Price was unable to locate a vegetarian culture living in perfect health. Never mind that a grass-based agricultural system could replace today's unsustainable corporate, industrial agriculture and feed our people a truly healthy diet. Never mind Price's evidence that nutrient-dense foods rich in fat-soluble activators are vital if human beings are to maintain even the basic ability to reproduce successfully. How is it that Robbins, who appears to mean well, goes so far off the mark?

A Thumbs Down Review: Healthy at 100: The Scientifically Proven Secrets of the World's Healthiest and Most Long-Lived Peoples;   

The Weston A. Price Foundation


A past that can never be?  It sounds like he believes that traditional practices are unsustainable and therefore he is searching for an alternative. Quote:  

London Broil

1 (2-pound) London broil
2 tablespoons olive oil
3 T. seasoning (Hamburger, previous post)


Rub London broil with olive oil and then coat generously with the dry rub. Let stand for about 15 minutes at room temperature.

Preheat a grill pan over medium-high heat.

Place meat on grill and grill for about 5 minutes on each side for medium-rare. Remove from heat and let rest for 5 to 10 minutes before slicing on the bias.

Read more at: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/dave-lieberman/dry-rubbed-london-broil-recipe/index.html?oc=linkback

 

Oven Broil

 

Broil the meat 4 inches from the heat until it reaches the desired level of doneness, about 4 to 5 minutes per side. Remove from the broiler to a cutting board and let rest for 5 minutes. Thinly slice the meat against the grain and transfer it to a serving platter.

Read more at: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/paula-deen/balsamic-glazed-london-broil-recipe/index.html?oc=linkback

 

Best White/Navy Beans

The best because they are easy to digest (read: minimal flatulence!).
Soak:
 4 c. dried Beans
12 c. or 1 1/2 q. water (filtered best for "sprouting")
4 T. whey/lemon juice 

for 24 hours.

Rinse.  Add 12 c. water.
Crock pot low for 8 hours
Drain.

My crock pot chili recipe cooks on low for 12 hours.
Add 1/4 t. dried ginger and 1/2 t. salt or more to every cup of dried beans.

When menu planning, I remember that cooking beans takes about 1 1/2 days, so start no later than the morning before the evening I'll serve them, and check the freezer for space if I want to (double and) freeze some.

For taco beans, I add
two onions
2 T. salt
 6 cloves garlic
1 bell pepper
1/2 tsp. chili
1/2 tsp. cayenne
1 tsp. oregano
3 T. cumin (at least )

Baby Bath Basket

Perfect solution to child banging their head on hard tub, and keeps toys near!

I stumbled on this on facebook - let me know if it's your photo!

One Year Old Toddler Busy Box

I loved some of the ideas from this blog article 20 Month Old Busy Box.

 

 

Organizing Site for Bringing Meals to Folks

Useful articles I found at the site:

Meaningful Items During a Difficult Time

Recipes of Parish Presbyterian Church in Middle Tennessee

Learning from a Lesbian Visitor to Your Church

This short article really made me think and repent of my selfishness.  Here is an excerpt:

"We want to be affirmed as we are.

•  If I join your church, will I be expected to change my prejudice and bigotry toward those of different races? I want a church where people look and think like me.
• If I join your church, will I be expected to change my living arrangements? I know cohabitation isn’t best, but I don’t want the church prying into my personal life.
• If I join your church, will I be expected to reach out to lost people with the gospel? I don’t want a church that’s always harping on evangelism.
• If I join your church, will I be expected to give generously? I don’t want a church that talks about money too much.
• If I join your church, will I be expected to serve? I’ve got a lot going on, and aside from a few hours a week, my schedule is off limits.

The list could go on. At the heart of this conversation is repentance. Can I come to Jesus on my own terms? Or will I have to change?"

Read more: http://www.worldviewchurch.org/wvc-digest/featured-articles/20492-learning-from-a-lesbian-visitor-to-your-church-?spMailingID=7077564&spUserID=NTY5Mjk3MjA1MjcS1&spJobID=91084091&spReportId=OTEwODQwOTES1

FREE SPEECH ON CAMPUS

Listen to simulcast tonight:

  http://www.colsoncenter.org/topnews/entry/44/23462?spMailingID=7074054&spUserID=NTY5Mjk3MjA1MjcS1&spJobID=91022351&spReportId=OTEwMjIzNTES1