This Blog turns six!

So hard to believe it has already been six years, since I took those food writing classes, on those damp Winter nights back in 2011.

This blog was a class assignment.  I don’t know if any of you know this, other than blog writing people, that things that are posted on the internet, don’t really exist until you tell someone to look at them.

Click here to see very first post!

Sure, someone might randomly come across your post, but even that is unlikely unless you somehow  make it known to any search engine.  That’s why “tagging” is important or attaching it to thing like Facebook or Twitter.  So people can even know it’s there.

There are many tactics on how to get more traffic to your blog, like going to other like-minded blogs and “liking” stuff or commenting.  Then the other people who look at that blog see you and might want to check out what your blog is…..and so on and so on.

That’s why I say having a blog is kind of like having a bank account that you don’t really touch but it keeps getting interest.

In the last few years, life has gotten in the way of me being able to add and offer up things to the blog on a regular basis, yet every day, someone, somewhere, somehow takes a look at one or more of my posts.

That’s really cool.

Thank you for all the support over the last six years!  I wish I could promise to “get back at it” but we do the best we can with what we’ve got!

Does going to the dentist make you live longer?

It occurred to me while I was lying with my mouth open at the dentist today…….

Maybe we live longer now because we can go to the dentist?

Because if we didn’t go to the dentist and our teeth hurt or fell out we probably wouldn’t eat the same.

And so now, with the enjoyment of our teeth, we can eat better, getting better nutrition and therefore,

LIVING LONGER!

Just a thought.

Vegan Challenge – Week 3

This week was the hardest so far.

I think my biggest complaint about the Vegan diet is that it is a lot of WORK.

I realize that some Vegans are okay with Vegan “convenience food” but in my opinion, that kind of defeats the purpose of this experiment.  I am eating Vegan to see if it makes any health differences and therefore feel I need to eat “healthy”.  Cause let’s face it, French Fries ARE Vegan!!

So I just find that the preparation of meals seems to take a lot of “steps” and use and AWFUL lot of dishes!!

I don’t know how someone could possibly be a Vegan without a food processor??   I know I have used mine every day since the beginning of this experiment!!  There always seems to be something that needs whizzed up!!

I’m not really a big fan of the one taste / texture meal, like a big pot of stew for instance.  I would need to have stew, with something else and something else so that I can mix and match the flavours and textures on my plate.   There ARE exceptions of course, but as a general rule.

So that’s what I mean by Vegan preparations seem to make a lot of dishes.

Say a “quick” Mexican meal for instance.   There is a pot for the rice.  Then a another pan for say some cooked bean product.   Then if you are making salsa, chopping board, bowl, knife.  And then if you make your own tortillas, a mixing bowl, the tortilla flattener, the griddle.  And then some guacamole, yet another bowl……….you get the picture.

I also find that my energy has been low even though I have been sleeping better.  And I AM being very careful to do all of my combining to get enough protean but perhaps it is too much bread or gluten products?

I also have a skin condition that I was hoping eating clean would alleviate, but instead it has actually gotten worse than it has EVER been!

So what does that all mean?  I don’t know.

One week to go.  All I can think about is how NEXT Monday morning I will be having a BIG cup of real tea with cow milk!!

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I made some little Vegan pancakes this morning.

They turned out surprisingly well without any egg in them!  In fact, I’m of a mind to never use egg in my pancakes again after trying this!!

Get your griddle warmed up and then add together in a bowl:

• 1 cup whole wheat ( or whatever you like) flour
• 1 tbsp brown sugar ( or sweetener of your choice)
• 2 tbsp baking powder ( this seems to be the key to the puffiness!)
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• a handful of wheat germ ( optional )
• 1 cup almond milk ( or milk of your choice)
• 2 tbsp neutral tasting oil

Add in all of the dry ingredients first and give a quick stir with a whisk to combine everything, then add the oil, then lastly the milk and keep whisking.

You want a nice, smooth, wet batter.  So add a little more milk if it is too stiff.

Spoon or ladle on dollops of batter on to the griddle and you are in business!

I topped them with some toasted pecans and fresh raspberries.

And some real maple syrup…….it’s only from a tree…..so it’s cool for Vegans right?

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The Vegan Challenge

I know, I know, we’ve been through this together before, where I decide I am going to eat a certain way to “try it out” and insist on dragging you along with me!

We did the “Raw Food Challenge”  and then I went on a gluten-free kick for a while.   All in the name of trying to find the right eating style for my needs.  I need to be able to walk the walk if I’m gonna talk the talk.

So I have decided to challenge myself to “one month of being a Vegan”.

In general, I don’t think it will be that hard.  We already eat several Vegan or Vegetarian meals a week…..but that’s in a week…..not even necessarily for a whole day.

My biggest challenge will be the lack of cow milk in my morning tea.  I have tried all of the vegan alternatives and I’m sorry but none of them quite cut it.  So I fear I will have to go without the tea, until I get desperate anyway.

There really is more and more research that sustains the idea that eating a plant-based diet WILL improve your health.

Do I think YOU should be a Vegan?   Don’t know.

Do I think you should TRY being a Vegan?  Couldn’t hurt.

Do I think that if there were more Vegans it would benefit our planet.  Definately!

I have long been an advocate of the notion that you need to eat what is best for YOU.  What makes YOU feel your best.  Because everyone is different and has different constitutions.  But I DO think that you need to keep trying until you find it.

You also need to educate yourself on WHY you are choosing to do something, not just do it willy nilly because it seems trendy.

If you are interested in taking a walk on the “Veg Side” there are some great documentaries out there that can get you started in the right direction.

Vegucated

Hungry for Change

Food Matters

Just to name a few and currently available on Netflix.

 

 

 

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I had a friend in town and would normally go out for breakfast on a Saturday morning, but I thought it best not to tempt myself on my first day of Vegan, because going out for bacon and eggs is simply one of my favorite things!

So instead he came over and I made Raw porridge and had some green tea.

Later, the Chef and I went to Starbucks and I had my very first EVER “soy latte”.   It wasn’t awful, but I REALLY don’t want to turn into one of THOSE people…..you know….the “soy latte” people.  But I was desperate, nobody needs to start their first day of Vegan with a caffeine withdrawal headache!!

One thing at a time.

So please follow along if you like and even try a challenge of some kind  of your own and we can do it together!

 

Friday Wisdom – November 23rd

 

Hopefully you aren’t finding this stuff in food, but what you put on and near your skin and body can be just as worrisome.

Have a look through these and then go check your shampoo bottle!

 

 

Eating Too Much

Happy Thanksgiving American Friends!

On this day of “heavy eating” I encourage you to take advantage of this repeat engagement of the acclaimed documentary “Food Matters”

 

It is very interesting and worth you time.

 

Happy Turkey day!

 

 

 

This will fix you up!

Okay so I am bring back an old favorite, but this time of year I think you will need it!

Heading into the holiday season you want to be prepared!  And I don’t just mean by having all of your shopping done and your cookies baked!

I’m talking about your immune system!

All of that “merry making” and stress and eating and drinking too much and not getting enough sleep can really do you in!

Here is something I call the Three Appliance Beverage that will do wonders!

Yes it is a bit involved, but well worth it!

I also recommended that you pick yourself up some of the star ingredient Chyawanprash and to use it regularly even if not in the beverage!

Start working on your immune system NOW!

I have a friend going into hospital this week for a bit of surgery and I ALWAYS tell people to make sure you get yourself built up before any hospital visit!  Cause often what you can catch AT the hospital is way worse than what you are there for!!

Start topping yourself up on Probiotics and oil of oregano!

If you get yourself good and strong now, the holidays and the cold and flu season will be a breeze!

Turn this…….

Picture courtesy of “Inmagine.com”

Into THIS!

Photo courtesy of “inmagine.com”

Friday Wisdom – November 16th

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And last but not least of the Scary 7 to avoid.

But the moral of this story is to READ every package, can or box of anything you are thinking you might eat!

If you don’t know what it is, or worse, can’t pronounce it, then DON’T eat it!!

REAL FOOD ROCKS!!

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Friday Wisdom – November 9th

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Friday Wisdom – October 26th

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Friday Wisdom – October 5th

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Friday Wisdom – Sept 7th

Friday Wisdom – August 24th

Friday Wisdom – August 17th

A Little Friday Wisdom

“Hungry For Change” – documentary

If you get a chance, I highly recommend that you check out this documentary.

“Hungry For Change”

It is free online until March 31st.

 

Spring cleaning

Not that it feels much like Spring in any part of Canada these days, but apparently Summer is just around the corner!

We don’t have control over the weather, but you DO have control over what we put in our body.  Have you ever tried a cleanse?

Now I’m sure I’m not telling you about anything new.  Anyone with the internet can punch in “cleanse” and get hundreds if not thousands of options of kinds of cleanses to do. 

And as many websites and cleanses there are, there are just as many opinions on whether or not they are good for you.

There are those who swear by a yearly, or bi-yearly or even seasonal cleanse to clean their systems of toxins and regenerate and invigorate the body.

While others argue that the drastic change in the diet will cause the body to dump toxins into the system too quickly and make you sick.

Hard call.

I am of the opinion that maybe…..just maybe……you shouldn’t be putting too much crap in your system to begin with.  Just sayin.

But I do agree that it never hurts, at any time of year, to cut back on processed and the white food.  It also helps to cut back on the saturated, the caffeinated, the alcoholic, the sugar filled and all other means of things that drag the body down.

Make some fresh squeezed vegetable juice.  Eat some salads with lots of lemon juice.  Cut back on the bread and the pasta and the other heavy things.

Think GREEN!!!

 

Check out this blog by the Alkaline Sisters for some good ideas.