Food Paranoia

That’s right folks I’m convinced we are petrified of food! Why else would be take something completely perfect, nutrient rich, succulent to the lips and eyes, alter it, strip it down regulate it and then pump out a semi version of what it once was?

Our bodies are created in a way that we are able to withstand some roughing up, if you will, on the inside. The dirt, soft spots and even a bug here and there does not kill us. In fact it builds up our immunity to the even harsher exposure that we encounter that is beyond our control. We have made ourselves so “sanitized” our bodies have no clue what to do when any kind of toxin enters. A normal, healthy body knows exactly what to do.

Did you know all cows have the Ecoli in their bodies? However, due to their foraging the enzymes in grass breaks down and kills any bacterial that would have previously been found. The reason our meats are bleached out and recolored is to kill the bacteria. If cows (or any animal we use for consumption) were left in the fields to do what they do best the natural order of things that our Creator set up would take care of itself.

We have demanded cleanliness out of our own ignorance. In the early 1900s when meat packing was at the brink of it’s production stages it was a stumbling mess. The meat packers were actually on the brink of bankruptcy because the consumers didn’t trust them and refused to buy. The meat packers took their “dilemma” to the President and he initiated regulations to help bring back some dignity. And thus started a snowball effect of removing a community functioning food ecology.

As consumers we hold the keys to this runaway train. Problem is, it’s bound to crash and I refuse to be on that ride. I have jumped tracks and am headed another direction on a rickshaw, proud of it and in full control.

The Food Dilemma...a girls search for REAL Food

Well this seems easy enough, drive on over to any one of the 5 local stores to pick some version of real food. Well, there is some truth to that, because a version is all you are going to get. It may be a shocker to find out that we don't buy real food in the supermarket. Ok, I embellished a tad...but I'm not too far from the truth.

Three years ago I started on this journey of food discovery that I just can't keep silent about any longer. When my husband convinced me to watch a documentary he ran across that depicted the governments hand in our food countries food production. His explanation intrigued me and since I just LOVE to cook I thought if anything else it would help give me an edge up in the kitchen. What I saw and heard revolutionized the way I looked at food and has since opened up a world in which I can’t turn away from.

Since most of us think that real food is a swarming cornucopia inhabiting the neatly stocked shelves at our local supermarket; I think it’s important that we look at what real food is NOT before we dive into the vast world of what real food is. If we throw out the imposters all that will be left is a sweet variety of nourishing foods.

1. Food is just that, nourishing. The food we eat brings life to our 300 Million + cells living and active that make up our every available function. I actually have a theory that we need less (more nourishing) food than the gobs we stock up on and consume of food containing empty nutrients. But we will get to that later.

2. Sugar is NOT white! In nature, sugars and carbohydrates (the energy providers) are joined together with vitamins, mineral, enzymes, protein, fat and fiber which are the bare bones of body building and digestion regulating components of any diet. The white sugar we buy in the store has been through a refining process that strips natural sweeteners of any nutrient capabilities. When consumed this actually causes the body to call on itself to pull nutrients rather than building and storing as we were created to do to protect and heal from a plethora of ailments. High Fructose Corn Syrup is NOT a safe substitute. There is a recent commercial put out by the FDA that shows a family frolicking in a corn field with a mother saying “corn syrup, sugar, our bodies don’t know the difference” well she should be ashamed of herself. It is chemically produced and voids our body of necessities to function and protect and is extremely dangerous to kids because the doses are not tested on small humans, rather on 500lb cows, you do the math.

3. Where’s all the butter?! Butter is not bad! But you can hardly find it in the store. Margarine galore. Which I’m not happy to report is a fermented version of corn oils that are recolored to our liking. Sorry, I don’t like buying dead things to put in my body. I like putting live food in to keep me, I don’t know…alive. The notion that saturated fats per se cause heart disease as well as cancer is not only trite, it just plain wrong. While it is true that some fats are bad for us, we must understand which ones. Since butter is a dairy product it has all the same hormones, antibiotics and other additives that are inside our milk that is just as dangerous.

4. Milk! This one is the sorest for me, probably because it’s hardest to find. This is going to be a shocker; you may want to sit down. Store bought milk is void of the fats we need to grow strong health brains and bones. Yes, even organic. When we were stationed in Florida we had the luxury of buying milk at a local farm stand for $3 a gallon that came straight from the cow, cream on the top and all. Why are these notions so out dated? Now that we are stationed in Alabama it is impossible for me to find that type of milk as it is illegal for farmers to sell to human consumption. Most people I talk to about milk think it barbaric to drink milk straight from the cow. That it is unsanitary. What is unsanitary is feeding cows at a processing plant, other dead cows and grains then extracting contaminating milk, boiling down the contamination, bleaching the contamination than adding a few drops of lab created nutrients such as vitamin D and Vitamin E. Ok but what about the remaining 100+ vitamins, nutrients and minerals that work symbiotically with our body to restore cells that are dying without this form of consumption? Urgh…this topic irks me most!

5. What the…MEAT?!? This is an area I “DO NOT” compromise in! I do not buy meat from the store! Ok, I will buy chicken and ground beef … but at earth fare only. I buy my meat from a local farmer who grows his cows in the field, has them slaughtered, packaged and I and my family enjoy…void of contamination, chemical treatment and full of nutrient. Meat that comes from a processing plant. I know there is a mirage of choices at the store but there is only about 3 companies that produces the meat in this country. The animals do not feed on forage which contaminates their bodies, makes them sick. They are then treated with antibiotics during life and a process of “decontamination” when they are dead.

Anyone see the problem with this yet? It has taken me years to put all this together so it won’t be overnight for you either, so please stick with it and don’t lose hope. The main thread in all of these processes is in the government’s attempt to “Help” us they over treated, over produced, and over contaminated which has striped our food of the nutrients we need for our bodies to function the way we are made to. Rather we fill ourselves with empty food and we are surprised when we get sick, are tiered, depressed, and a whole host of things that could take days to list.

The truth is the body is made to heal and restore itself through a constant variety of nutrient dense foods. My goal with this search for “Real Food” is to expose every entity of our empty food and show viable alternatives and solutions regardless of time constraints, budget restraints and overcoming just plain inexperience. This will start a series in which I’m not sure how long it will take. But I can promise…It will be fun, It will be informative and I will change your love for food in a way you could never imaging.

1^st Homework Assignment: Watch Food INc. If you have Netflix you can watch it for free. Or you can view it via YouTube and pay a few measly bucks to do so. http://www.youtube.com/movie?v=jRp71BwRW8c&feature=mv_sr

Celadon Home; Precious Memories

This months spotlight is on Celadon Home; a precious shop that is dedicated to creating one of a kind personalized wedding gifts with that artistic touch that will keep guests talking for years to come.

In your own words, one reason brides would find it a “necessity” to choose you over your completion?

I sell affordable artwork for the happy couple to hang in their new home. A totally custom, on of a kind piece of art created just for them!

How have other brides used/benefited from your item/service? I also offer guest book alternatives. A unique guest book that also serves as an art piece when completed!

What is the price evaluation on comparable store bought items from your own? A custom art piece would typically go for much more. As an interior designer by trade, I love that I can offer an affordable way for people to enjoy an original piece of art in their home.

Tip for Brides: related to your item/service Don't settle for posters or prints mass produced that cost the same amount, if not more, than my original art pieces. Not only do i design the art, but also the frame that showcases it! Here are a few images as well as my etsy shop!

www.celadonhome.etsy.com

Breaking Ground.

In my devotions this morning God offered me a glimpse of His plan for me. Not because I’m special, or spiritual, or even very close to Him. Simply because He knows what I need, when I need it and I have opened my heart to ALL possibilities, in Him.

Think on that…the possibilities in Him. The mindboggling possibilities are endless. Although, in our society we have limited a limitless God. Just like the crowd attempting to build a tower in order to touch the heavens we too try and form God into something we can reach out and Touch.

Being therefore offspring of God, we ought not to think that which is divine to be like gold are silver or stone, graven form of man's art and imagination. Acts 17:29

The audacity we have to think those things that are ‘divine’ or ‘holy’ are tangible accomplishes we have conjured up on our own. We fill our time and spend our resources on things that sound and feel good. Based on the level of technology we currently operate in we are inundated with instances of people who need our help, a word of encouragement, a few extra dollars, medicine, food, shelter, clothing I could go on and on. But, if God hasn’t specifically spoken to do so, we are busy accomplishing ‘divine tangibility’s’ and is an utter waste if it hasn’t been completed through a word from God.

Based on Acts 17:29 …graven form of man’s art and imagination…we are creating all new images of worship and devotion. No they aren’t gold statues and no we don’t call them by other names. But even worse they are done in God’s name and provide disillusions to those around us, watching to see what a Christian really is.

It’s no surprise I am currently operating in one of the lowest places in my life. After going through a few weeks of purification, this morning I let God know I was ready to be filled with whatever he wanted to put back in me. He added on to my foundation, a revelation and a warning for me NOT to go out and build ‘graven images’ out of my imagination in His name. That means I am to speak when He says speak, walk when He says walk, and keep my mouth and hands restrained when no direction is given. A VERY hard thing for me to do, if you know me at all.

I will mess up, and bad! But I am encouraged knowing there will be times I do things exactly as God has intended and there will be yet another layer lifted as I draw closer to my father in heaven.

Living in a state of emptiness I have determined to stand before the Lord and allow Him to fill me back up with what He wishes. My only plea to Him is to provide me the wisdom to choose the right things I allow back in my heart. Yes, He is the only one who can provide, but make no mistake it is my choice what I reach out and take a hold of; whether it be Godly or ungodly.

Why...No Bake Granola Bars?

I have been on a hunt for a superb recipe for no bake granola bars and have finally found the most perfect recipe. Mainly I have been wanting to find interesting new ways to get the most benefit out of my raw/local honey without damaging the health properties.

Raw honey is the most highly concentrated Anti-Bacterial, Anti-Viral, Anti-Fungal Substance found in nature. On top of being jam packed with numerous, vital, minerals that are practically impossible to find in any foods we eat.

To me raw honey is pure gold. And since it's properties disappear after being heated any more than 118 deg Fahrenheit or 50 deg Celsius. Thus sparked my search to find ways to get the benefits in fun ways for my family to enjoy.

Of course I tweaked it a bit as I love to pack in vital nutrients as sneakily as I can.

This "No Bake" recipe is perfect because It's the perfect combination of deliciousness with out renewing the health benefits of your raw honey.

• 2 .5 cups rolled oats ( I used a granola mixture packaged and sold from my local grainery)
• 1.5 cups nuts (I used walnuts and pecans and flax seeds)
• 1/4 cup shredded coconut
• 1/2 cup raisins
• 6 tablespoons salted butter
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1.5 teaspoon cinnamon
• 8-9 tablespoons raw honey

1. Mix oats, nuts, raisins, flax seeds and coconut in a large bowl. Drizzle with honey and mix thoroughly.
2. Place butter, sugar, cinnamon in a small saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until it is mixed thoroughly and slightly caramelized. Remove from heat and stir into oat mixture until evenly coated. Let sit just until cool enough to handle.
3. In the meantime, line a 7×11 inch pan with plastic wrap or wax paper. Spoon mixture into pan, pressing down to compact. Place in the fridge for 30 minutes to firm up. Remove from pan, peel away plastic wrap and slice into 16 bars (half lengthwise and then into 8). Wrap individually in plastic wrap or parchment paper, if desired. Store covered at room temperature.

Makes: 16 servings

* If making gluten free make sure that the oats are gluten free

Practice Makes Pickles.

Yes. These are my pickles. A true testament that anyone can can.

This years produce of cucumbers, or as my neighbor calls them "squash cumbers", was in abundance. Out of this abundance comes jars upon jars of pickles and relish.

Our squash cumbers, as so eloquently named by our neighbor, discovered their cross breed while intertwining with their neighbors all spring and summer long. The beautiful colors of yellow mixed in make for an appetizing array of bounty for the winter and hopefully next years BBQ's!

I got this very distinct recipe for Dill Pickles out of this years "Balls Blue Book Guide to Canning and Preserving" magazine.

8 lbs 4-6 Inch Cucumbers cut length wise in half

3/4 Cup Sugar (I used raw sugar)

1/2 Cup Ball Salt (I used canning salt)

1 Qt Vinegar

1 Qt Water

3 Tablespoons Ball Mixed Pickling Salt

Green or Dry dill (1 Head per jar)

Wash cucumbers; drain.

Combine sugar, salt, vinegar and water in a large sauce pot. Tie spice in a spice bag; add spice bag to vinegar mixture (if you don't have a spice bag you could use a metal tea strainer); simmer 15 min. Pack cucumbers into hot jars, leaving 1/2 inch head space; put one head of dill in each jar. Ladle hot liquid over cucumbers, leaving 1/2inch head space.

Add pickle crisp to each jar. Remove any air bubbles at this time by poking around the jar with a knife or similar utensil.

Add caps. At this time the water is usually so hot that I let the caps pop on their own. Or you could process pints and quarts 15 minutes in a boiling water canner.

Be sure and label. I like to make my own on my printer and sticker paper. Looking forward to enjoying the fruits of your labor. They also make Fun and unique thank you gifts for dear friends.

Happy Canning.

The Layer Effect...

I have been carrying a heavy burden in my heart for some time now. A burden to change, A burden to wake up, A burden to be more like Christ. Now who would of ever thought it a burden to be like Christ? Before the last few weeks I probably would have never believed that. But just like ALL revelations in God, they are personal and extremely intimate. Sometimes you will be the only one who understands them. Hopefully, If you have a marvelous husband like mine, your husband will also be able to guide you through the dark places in your heart that God is trying to expose. If not, please don't give up on him.

I have a great life! I have a God who loves me, not only me, but me personally. A husband who adores me. (It hasn't always been that way, our relationship has been tried by fire many times; but that is for another day.) I also have two children that seek to please us. A beautiful home and every fleshly desire I or my husband could spoil ourselves with. As great as that sounds my heart has been so empty, my insides so lifeless, void of joy.

Confused by why the two drastic elements are moving simultaneously has brought me much frustration.

God has been moving in our family to make some changes in our life. See, God has answered our prayers; our longing to simply obey His commands. But He has had to prepare our hearts for the hurt that we go through while we are tried by fire.

Zechariah 13:9 And I will bring the third part into the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried. They shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people; and they shall say, Jehovah is my God.

...And this is how we KNOW we are His!

The mistake I have been making, which is clear now, is that I have thought I am entitled to "feel good". I thought, if I wasn't full of patience, love, joy, confidence and the right thing to say, I was somehow void of God in my life. What I had been missing is I was providing the increase, in my own strength, of what God has been working in me. Once I received any ounce of the latter gifts I ran to the top of my proverbial hill and planted my flag as though I had conquered them on my own. How foolish I am.

It's mind boggling and sometimes questionable (well for one who lacks faith as I do) the way God has set up things in my life as repetitive reminders of the direction He is leading. It's also very encouraging when the very things I have been battling have been preached on Sunday mornings. With God's constant reminders I can see the importance of church leaders speaking a message God has given them whether 5 days or 5 min before a service. My heart condition and my confidence in my relationship with God has been re-defined, in the right direction, as the weeks go by.

The grand illumination started at church a few weeks back with a small ray of light in the form of a challenged to spend time before the Lord; for His revelation of what it looks like for me to be crucified in Christ; only.

Romans 6:6 knowing this, that our old man was crucified with him, that the body of sin might be done away, that so we should no longer be in bondage to sin;

God so graciously shared 15 pictures, in His word, of what I am to look like, care about and think on. Of course He only shared 15 because that's all my prideful heart can handle at this time, but the one I would like to focus on is this:

Philippians 3:8 Count all things as loss for further knowledge in Christ for whom I have suffered loss. They are but dung that I may win Christ.

I have been dangerously guilty of holding on to a few near and dear areas in my life that I was afraid would take away the very essence of what I, Sarah, was made up of. I have had an overwhelming desire to spend my time specifically on my wardrobe and decorating my home. Seems petty as I reread that last sentence but I know that I know they are intimate hindrances in my relationship with God. Does this mean we should all stop shopping...well no. Although I'm sure your husband would thank me. The definition of sin is to know right, and do wrong. Although there are basic laws we all must abide by according to God's word, we all have different sins when it comes to obeying God directly.

Those areas have been keeping my mind and my heart occupied and facing in the wrong direction. I can feel the joy and the life being sucked right out of me as I struggle with letting go. As I have been living with this heavy heart questioning, wondering and frustrated with God, He met me where I was, in my weakness and put His arm around me just as He had done with Peter in John 21:15-17. Jesus asked Peter twice if he loved (agape) Jesus. Each time Peter answered he loved (Phileo) Jesus. The third time Jesus said I Phileo you Peter. The significance here is the meaning of the word Love. While Jesus is dedicated we don't always understand His love for us. Our love for Him is lacking so He comes along side us and fills the gaps.

As my struggle with the Lord reached a final crescendo this afternoon, God did something for me that made me laugh and cry at the same time. My heart has been hard and empty, knowing my own faults I had been begging Him to soften my heart; He did just that.

As I was preparing lunch, no change in my heart heaviness, I was chopping veggies for broccoli soup. I was working on this recipe strictly off memory due to trying to get lunch made in a hurry for my family. Once all the veggies were sauteing I realized I forgot an onion. I thought about leaving it out just to get through with the recipe, but I decided it was needed. I quickly ran for the fridge and grabbed an onion. Once I began taking off the outer skin I realized it was rotten. Frustrated due to the time I was wasting I decided to cut it in half real quick just to see if there were any salvageable parts. Immediately my heart melted as I saw myself, in that onion, how God saw me. I also saw a bit into the future that I am so scared is before me if I let go of my "self."

Laying before me on the counter was a rotten outer layer revealing and a beautiful white, moist onion ready to make all the difference in my broccoli soup.

That was me left behind. A smaller, weaker version of myself that brings more beauty to the Lord than I could imagine...If I will let God work on me. Burn us up in the fire. We must not be afraid that we will die in that fire, but that only the usable elements will be left behind.

It's for His kingdom, not ours.