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.
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.
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
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....
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...
