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"Changing How You Eat, Will Change The World"... "If You Eat Bad Foods, Your World Is Toxic, Your Body Is Toxic, If You Eat Organic Nutritious Foods Your World Becomes Healthy...."

Prescription for Good Health

Choose it or lose it! 

Your health, that is..... There are more than four million tons of farm chemicals spread on U.S. soil every year..... 

The standard American Diet ( S.A.D.) has a hidden agenda.  Missing on the labels of most foods are the dozens of chemicals used to grow, make, or preserve that bit of something about to go into your mouth.  Just imagine your reaction if organic farmers could take back their native tongue, and their organic strawberries were simply strawberries again and their counterparts were called " chemical or genetically engineered or irradiated strawberries."  Their certified label would have to list the 25 or so chemicals or procedures that had become a part of the strawberries very makeup.   And they would pay for an annual inspection, instead of the organic farmer (Organic farmers pay thousands of dollars every year to "certify" their food that they grow).  With the label table turned around, I think chemical foods would die a slow death on grocery store shelves.  

Would you buy a carton of strawberries with a  skull and crossbones on it?  

Remember, what you can't see can hurt you. 

  If you do not belong to my CSA then make sure you are shopping the farmers market. Search the farmers markets for  organic produce and organic meat.

 If you have not done this yet, what are you waiting for?  Make a goal this week to get over to the next farmers market near you.  

This Weeks Farm Produce: Nettle, comfrey, fennel fronds, apple mint and nettle tea mix, basil, celery,  salad mix (nasturtiums, rose petals, sheep sorrel, Swiss chard, beet greens, spinach, lambs quarters, bitter lettuce, lettuce and baby kale), kale, collard greens, carrots, onion, beets, zucchini and  cabbage.

For those of you who have not figured it out I love different types of pesto.  Here is another version of an awesome nutritious pesto:

Kale and Nut Pesto

small bunch of kale (4-6 leaves, remove the thick part of the stems*)

1/4 cup walnuts, toasted or soaked dehydrated almonds or  soaked and dehydrated pumpkin seeds.

1/2 to 1 clove of garlic

1/4 cup olive oil (or more for a smoother pesto)

juice & zest of one lemon

salt & pepper to taste

optional: grated raw cheese, or organic parmesan 

Instructions

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Fill a large bowl with ice and water.
2. Blanch kale for about 30 seconds, remove and place in the ice bath to stop the cooking process.
3. Dry the kale a bit, squeeze out some of excess water and set on a towel for a few minutes more.
4. Blend everything together in a food processor. Pulse to create a chunky pesto, blend longer to create a smoother one. Taste and adjust, adding more salt, pepper, lemon, olive oil, as necessary.

Kale and Basil Salad

4 cups finely chopped organic dinosaur kale
1 lemon, juiced
½ orange, juiced
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar

½ cup finely chopped basil

½ cup diced organic red bell pepper
4 teaspoons hulled  toasted sesame seeds
1 cup chopped organic walnuts

1/4 cup chopped organic sweet onion

Optional:  You could add some chopped apples or orange slices

Wash the kale thoroughly, then roll up the leaves together tightly (like a cigar) and chop across the roll, making very fine ribbons. Unravel and place in a bowl. Add the lemon juice, orange juice, and apple cider vinegar, and massage the kale for a couple minutes (so it softens), then set aside. Chop the basil the same way as the kale, and add to the kale mixture. Chop the bell pepper and add as well. Add the sesame seeds and walnuts last, and toss everything together.

Notes: You may also use other types of kale, as well as collard greens. 

Cabbage and Bean Salad:

Ingredients
1/2 head small-medium green cabbage, very thinly sliced (about 4 cups), core removed
2 carrots, grated (about 1 1/2 cups)
2 ribs celery, diced or one  cup of chopped celery from your wellness box 
3 green onions/scallions, chopped
1/2 medium cucumber, peeled and diced
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil 
1 1/2 cups cooked organic garbanzo 
1 organic avocado, diced

1/2 of a organic red bell pepper chopped

Dressing:
2 lemon, juice from (about 1/4 cup)
2 tablespoons organic Dijon mustard
1 garlic clove, minced
ground black pepper to taste

Options:  If you want to add color, add in a little purple cabbage,

Directions
1. Slice the cabbage so that the strands are very thin, and place into a large bowl. Add to this the grated carrots, celery, onion, cucumber, basil, beans, and avocado. Toss.

2. In a small bowl, combine dressing ingredients and blend with a fork. Add dressing to bowl of vegetables and toss thoroughly. If you are making this ahead of time, add the diced avocado just before serving.

Mason Jar Sauerkraut:

I can't wait to do this one myself! 

Click on link below: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=397Dua09VUI

For those of you who are  ready to get really serious with your sauerkraut skills: 

http://nourishedkitchen.com/homemade-sauerkraut/

Four Thieves Vinaigrette

Variations of this recipe have been treasured since Medieval times.  Legend has it that four grave robbers first used this strong antibacterial formula to protect them against the deadly plague.  Turning this classic remedy into a delicious salad  dressing helps the medicine go down easy. 

1/4 cup organic lavender flowers

1/4 cup organic sage leaf

1/4 cup organic rosemary leaf

1/4 cup organic thyme leaf

raw organic apple cider vinegar

organic extra virgin olive oil

4 cloves organic garlic, crushed 

sea salt and pepper

Place the herbs and garlic in a pint jar and fill to the top with gently warmed apple cider vinegar.  Use a piece of natural parchment paper under the lid to keep he vinegar from touching the metal.  Allow the vinegar concoction to extract for four weeks in a sunny window.  

Strain the vinegar into  a clean glass jar.

To make the vinaigrette, add 1 part vinegar to 3 parts olive oil.  Add the salt and pepper to taste.  Blend until well combined 

Zucchini Chips: 

http://www.freshbitesdaily.com/zucchini-chips/

Chocolate Zucchini Bread or Muffins 

1 cup rapunzel organic whole cane sugar

1 cup organic sunflower oil or coconut oil 

3 organic eggs

3 teaspoons vanilla extract

2-1/2 cups organic wheat, spelt or  organic white

1/2 cup organic baking cocoa

1 teaspoon sea salt

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

2 cups organic shredded peeled zucchini

Optional:  1 tsp cinnamon, a pinch of all spice and a 1/4 tsp. nutmeg

• In a large bowl, beat the sugar, oil, eggs and vanilla until well blended. Combine the flour, cocoa, salt, baking soda, cinnamon; gradually beat into sugar mixture until blended. Stir in zucchini. Transfer to two 8-in. x 4-in. oiled loaf pans
• Bake at 350° for 50-55 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely. 
• Yield: 2 loaves (12 slices each).

Gluten Free Chocolate Zucchini Muffins: 

Special Notes:  When we bake with Gluten Free Flour we never use products that contain (or when we make our own gluten free flour mix), potato flour or starch, soy flour, corn starch and corn flour.  We do not use these food products because they are toxic.  If you can find a potato flour or starch that is organic then go ahead and use it.  But stay away from the non- organic soy and corn products, they are highly toxic... Also, stay away form xanthan gum, it is made in a lab!

Stick with products that have guar gum.

2 cups sorghum flour OR gluten-free all purpose flour mix

1 1/2 teaspoons Guar Gum (don't add gum if using a GF flour mix that contains guar gum)

Never use products that have xanthan gum 

1/2 teaspoon sea salt

1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda

1/2 cup organic unsweetened cocoa powder

1/2 cup organic agave or Rapunzel organic whole cane sugar

2 large organic eggs

1/2 cup organic light olive oil

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 cup organic sour cream (for dairy free version substitute organic applesauce)

3 cups shredded unpeeled zucchini

Optional:  1 tsp cinnamon, a pinch of all spice and a 1/4 tsp. nutmeg

Preparation:

“It is far more important to know what person the disease has

than what disease the person has.” 

Hippocrates

In my life I really try to live by a statement that Hypocrites made,

" Let food by thy medicine and medicine be thy food"   

On that note, when I start my morning I think about what nutrients does my family need?  Is anyone needing something extra?  What illnesses are going around?  Have they been around sick people?  Has there been enough Sleep?  Enough exercise?  How has the water intake been?  Have we had enough veggies?   I ask these questions, because this is my health care, my insurance.   

It seems to me with the health care system being so flawed, people would work on being healthy.  Instead of new junk food business going up, we should  see more gyms, ski highs, kung fu schools, roller skating rink,  more farmers markets, more organic farmers, etc, because we have all become so active that, that is where the money is being made.   If America was truly concerned about health, health care and insurance then we would see fast food joints close, video game businesses  close, people becoming more active, obesity rates down,  and a pluthara of other diseases  down. . 

 It shows in my own town how unhealthy we are.  Just count all the fast food restaurants, the coffee shops, the AM/PM, etc. this shows where the money is being made.  We are not an active town, we are a town that has a very high percent of obesity.

 The so called health care system  has nothing to do with HEALTH.    The people in charge of naming it health care were brilliant.  If anything they have shown people the opposite of what true health is.   Now days most people do not even know what it feels like to be totally healthy.  Kids are taught at a very young age how NOT to be healthy. They are brought up on processed carbs, fruit, cheese slices, mac and cheese  and hot dogs. Parents are not taught how to raise their child starting at first foods and how to have them grow up with a wide palate.   They end up with picky eaters, due to this fact.  Plus, most adults do not eat good themselves, therefore the child learns from them.   

What we have in America is  Sick Care.  Our costs of Sick Care are high and the corporations are getting richer by the minute due to our lack of knowledge to be healthy.  Brilliant plan, of a handful of now billionaires that started in 1847....  

The Standard American Diet = SAD

There is no healing nutrients in the food pictured below.  All of this food feeds depression, anxiety, obesity, heart disease, cancer, gives low energy,  less brain power, sucks your immune system dry, gives diabetes, high blood pressure etc.  This is just a S.A.D

 This food pictured below takes away from your life. 

A few weeks ago Mr. Bronson and I took a back-packing trip.  This trip was to have a quiet place to think.  We sat high up on a view and came up with our own health plan.  What we need to implement in our life to stay healthy.   We set personal and health goals, these goals were set in the realm of mind, body and spirit.   Also, we worked out on a  wellness plan that I am excited to share once we get it solidified.  

One of our goals was to make eating food at the Kung Fu School easier for Mr. Bronson.  Pouring a hot bowl of soup and trying to eat it in-between classes is not easy.  By the time he can eat it, it is too cold to eat.  Therefore it gets poured back into the crock pot and he tries again.  This does not make a night of successfully eating healthy if you can only get a few bites in for the night.   One of the health goals we set was to have food at the school that is easier to eat in sound bites.   I love hearing the stories of Mr. Bronson showing the kids what he is eating.  I hope it motivates them to keep trying new foods. The post's on face book about food must be working because I am getting requests for recipes. I have decided to try to put some of the recipes down right away with the picture.  I have had requests (for years) for me to put a cookbook together.  I am just not sure where to start, I just need to buck up and figure it out. 

Pictured Below is one of our thinking spots.  

 Most of the meals you see Mr. Bronson eating, are made without recipes.   I will do my best to tell you what I did.  

When it comes to greens and salads you really can't mess up. The first thing you need is some really good quality tasting green veggies.  I have some of these growing on my farm and then I go to the Saturday Market in our town at the Grange.  We have our CSA Share from Growing Wild farm and I also purchase more greens from Dennison's Farms

Here is a list of great veggies you can pick up at the Saturday Market in our town.  If you do not live in McMinnville, you can find a farmers market near you by clicking on this link:

 http://www.localharvest.org/

Saturday Market Veggie List: 

Cabbage, collards, kale, beets, beet greens, leeks, fennel bulbs, carrots, salad mix, spinach, potatoes, onions, garlic, ginger, berries, arugula, turnips, winter squash, variety of mustard greens, swiss chard, variety of red sweet peppers and more.  

This food pictured below feeds your muscles, brain, immune system, keeps depression away, keeps disease away, keeps colds and flu away.  Just looking at the picture you can see life, it looks awake and full of energy.   This food gives life

Organic Turkey Salad: 

Big silver mixing bowl 

Chop a variety of greens, ( salad mix, kale, mustard, cabbage, spinach, swiss chard etc)

Shred  one or two beets

Shred 3 carrots

Finely chop 1/2 of a sweet onion

Toss 

Add organic meat of choice

Add seeds, walnuts etc. 

Homemade Organic Ranch Dressing 

About 1 1/2 cups organic butter milk,

about 1/4 cup organic olive oil,

about 6 plus shakes of organic balsamic vinegar,

about 1 tablespoon of organic lemon concentrate,

2 tablespoons of dill,

4 tablespoons of parsley,

1/8 cup finely chopped organic red onion,

1 tablespoon of paprika,

1 tablespoon of mustard powder,

1 tablespoon garlic granules,

lots of pepper and celtic salt ,

Shake, shake, shake, refrigerate.

Enjoy!

Chop up your greens, put in the a bowl, add nuts, seeds, carrots, beets, onion, organic meat and toss.  When it is time to eat add the dressing. 

If you want to build muscles, strengthen your heart and immune system, balance your blood sugar and have your body tuned-up, this the food it needs. 

Do you have a "Wellness Plan"?

 As much as you are concerned about not having insurance, shouldn't you hold that same concern for what you are eating and how much you exercise? 

Most people do not want to take a job unless it has good insurance, shouldn't you carry that same thought/energy for staying healthy?  

You say "NO" to jobs, if they do not  have good benefits, shouldn't' you say "NO" to food, that does not give nutrients, minerals, vitamins, life, and vitality?

Just Saying.... 

I want to help you, I want a healthy world, with healthy vibrant people. 

So, for the next couple of month's I am here to help those who are serious about putting a Wellness Plan together.  I can help you.  It is work and for some, hard work.  

It is commitment.   You can call me, e-mail me or Skype me.  Together we will  develop a plan to get you on the road to health, but, YOU have to implement the plan.  

This is the REAL HEALTH INSURANCE, that will keep those medical costs down.  

Only serious inquiries please.  

mountainmamamagic@gmail.com

503-843-1594

No Excuses: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LbKkkZNwmN4

"DON'T MAKE EXCUSES,

MAKE RESULTS" 

Tea mix of pineapple sage, stevia, nettle, apple-mint, rose petals, calendula, young blackberry leaves and lemon verbena, salad, collard greens, potatoes, cabbage purple, cabbage green, zucchini, cucumbers, celeriac tops, brassica mix, kale, basil and wild food of the week yellow dock seeds: 

Wild Food Of The Week -Yellow Dock Seeds, Wild Buckwheat 

Yellow Dock Seed Crackers: 

http://www.methowvalleyherbs.com/2012/03/yellow-dock-pesky-weed-as-food-medicine.html

Yellow Dock Seed Vinegar: 

http://www.hardyecogarden.com/2011/07/eat-your-weeds-rumex-crispus-curly-dock.html

Zucchini Bread and Butter Pickles:  Water Bath Canning Recipe

Yield:  6 qts.

2 qts. organic apple cider vinegar

2 cups local honey

6 tablespoons salt

4 teaspoons celery seed

4 teaspoons dill seed

2 teaspoons ground mustard 

8 qts. fresh zucchini, sliced 

2 qts. onion, sliced 

Bring vinegar, honey, and spices to a boil.  Pour over the zucchini and onions.  Let stand for 2 hours.  Heat mixture to a boil and cook for 3 minutes.  They will get mushy if cooked longer. 

Pack into hot sterilized jars.  

Insert a knife down the edge of he jars to remove any air bubbles   Complete seals, process for 15 minutes in a boiling-water bath. 

Zucchini Carrot Muffins - Grain Free 

http://veggienook.com/2013/05/22/grain-free-paleo-and-vegan-carrot-zucchini-muffins/

Zucchini Apple Spice Muffins - Grain Free:

http://paleomg.com/zucchini-apple-spice-muffins/

Basil- Shallot ( Or Walla Walla Onion) Mustard

Yield:  5 1/2 pints 

2/3 cup organic apple juice

2/3 cups organic red wine or organic red wine vinegar

1/2 cup dry mustard

1/3 cup spring water or filtered water

1/4 cup light mustard seeds

1/8 cup chopped organic basil

1/8 cup minced shallots or walla walla onion

2 tablespoons honey 

1 teaspoon sea salt

1/4 teaspoon ground allspice 

Combine the apple juice, wine or vinegar, dry mustard, water, and mustard seeds in a glass or ceramic bowl and stir, mixing well. 

Cover the bowl with natural wax paper and a cloth and let stand for 4 - 6 hours, stirring occasionally. 

Process the mixture in a bowl of a food processor ( or blender) until the mustard seeds are coarsely ground. 

cook the mixture in a double boiler over simmering water, adding the basil, shallots or onions, honey, sea salt and allspice.  Cook for 20 - 25 minutes   The mustard will thicken as it cooks. 

pour into sterile jars. Cap and seal. 

Allow the flavors to marry for 2 - 3 days before using.  Will keep in the refrigerator for 2 - 3 months unopened.  

Tea Mix: Nettle, apple-mint, pineapple sage, lemon verbena, calendula, wild young blackberry leaves and rose petals. 

Empty bag into a gallon jug of spring or filtered water.  Let sit overnight, strain and enjoy.  

Pineapple Sage

Nettle/Apple-MintLemon Verbena