Labor Day & Pumpkin Pie

Labor Day 2010.

Growing up to me Labor Day marked the beginning of school, the New Vienna, Iowa Labor Day picnic, small town America at its best!  The New Vienna annual picnic was complete with candy wheels, bingo with dried corn as bingo-chips, "chances" on the most beautiful hand made quilts, beer tents, "supper" served of roast beef, ham, corn, mashed potatoes, cole slaw, coffee, milk and a massive assortment of fresh homemade desserts from all the local families, and finally the day's entertainment was provided by the local "traditional" German bands honking away just as if you were in Germany for Octoberfest.

Everyone knew everyone as families consisted of 6-9 kids and somewhere along the line I swear we were all related.  It seems like the annual small towns church picnics were a way we marked the passing of time.  Each year kids showed up a little taller with deeper voices, new marriages, new babes, a few more gray hairs, upcoming 50 year marriage anniversaries, and of course the shared memories of locals that passed on...simply due to age or some earlier unfortunate loss.

At any rate, with cooler temps here in Chicago the last few days, and to honor my memories of Labor Days past growing up in small town Iowa, I had to crack out my own pumpkin pie recipe and warm up the house the its nourishing smell and power packed nutrition for my husband and I.

The recipe here is a bit different then the one I grew up with.  Still made with fresh pumpkin of course, but in place of condensed cream, refined white sugar and a crust of lard and white flour (smiles), you will see a rather healthy option using coconut products, dairy free with options to make it wheat, gluten and egg free.  Either way, the bottom line is food made from whole organic foods with your hands and infused with love is the best nourishment on earth.  ENJOY.

Hip Goddess Pumpkin Pie
Dairy, Wheat and Gluten Free Options

2 cups solid-pack organic home cooked pumpkin *
½ cup light coconut milk 

2 organic eggs plus one white
3/4 c. palm sugar (or 1/2 cup agave, or stevia extract)

1 t. celtic sea salt
1 T. coconut flour*

3 T. coconut oil*
1 t. vanilla

3 t. pumpkin pie spice

½ t. cinnamon

_________________________________________

*Cut a small organic baking pumpkin in half.  Scoop out seeds and add a bit of water to each half of pumpkin.  Cover with aluminum foil.  Bake in oven at 350 for 45 minutes or until pumpkin is soft.  What you do not use for your pie, store in freezer or just double the batch and make 2 pies.  Everyone LOVES pumpkin pie.

*Run coconut oil under hot water to liquify.  Coconut flour is available at whole foods or on line.  Coconut flour is very high in fiber, a good source of protein, low in digestible carbohydrates and gluten free.

*Coconuts are one of the greatest gifts on this planet.  The young coconut flesh, water, cream, oil and milk can literally save your life.

Blend all ingredients together in a vitamix or high speed blender, adding pumpkin in gradually at the end.

Pour the filling into the pastry and bake at 375 degrees for 40-45 minutes or until knife inserted near the center comes out clean.

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Cool before serving.

Crust Options:

*  1 9" frozen unbaked gluten free or spelt pastry crust

*  Susie Sondag homemade crusts: 

1. Wheat and Gluten Free:  1.5-2 cups shredded coconut, 1/2 cup coconut flour, 1/4 cup agave, 3 T. liquid coconut oil, 1/2 t sea salt, 1/2 t cinnamon.  Combine all ingredients in food processor until the texture is chunky like a crumble.  Coat a glass pie dish with coconut oil and press crust into pan.  Pour pumpkin pie into crust and bake.
2. Oatmeal Crust:  2 cups steel cut oats, 1/4 cup agave, 3 T. liquid coconut oil, 1/2 t sea salt, 1/2 t cinnamon.  Combine all ingredients in food processor until chunky like a crumble.  Coat a glass pie dish with coconut oil and press crust into pan.  Pour pumpkin pie into crust and bake.

Substituting Flax Seed Meal or Lecithin for Eggs:  

FLAX for one egg:  Substitute one tablespoon of fresh ground golden flax seed mixed with three tablespoons of water and let it sit for two minutes in a cup or bowl until it forms a gel.  Add this mixture to any recipe that calls for eggs, multiply as needed per number of eggs needed.  Whole ground flaxseed meal is rich in fiber, lingans, and omega 3 fatty acids. Flax seed meal has a nutty flavor.  You can grind flax seeds in an inexpensive coffee grinder to get a meal consistency, or use a blender that grinds grain into meal, such as the dry grinding blade attachment of a Vita-Mix

LECITHIN for one egg:  Use 2 tablespoons of Non-GMO lecithin powder for one egg.  Lecithin supports fat burning, healthy cholesterol and triglyceride levels, cardiovascular health, liver, nerve and brain function.  It has a smooth creamy like texture and is also terrific to use in smoothies.  I prefer lecithin from www.healthforce.com and is also found at Karyn’s on Halsted in Chicago. 

Fitness Model Takes Up Raw Food Diet

I wanted to pass this clip along that was in my "inbox" this morning.  The model from New Zealand is now a vegan, eating eggs with a 60 percent raw diet.  Interesting clip here to take in....everyone has an angle.  I teach raw food and detoxification as many know and from my research technically they say a diet of 52% raw foods sets the body up for healing/regeneration/anti-aging.  

Life becomes unbalanced and constricted if you become too left brain about it, but generally it seems that a diet of organic and pure WHOLE foods, not pre-packed, frozen, jarred or boxed is a good way to live.  Everything has a rate of vibration or life force that can be measured.  Organic and uncooked food dials up the highest vibration which you WANT in your body... if that is what you want to feel, vibbin high with energy and joy.  Processed, cooked food with chemicals, toxins, GMO, pesticides and bacteria is draggin along in vibration and will take you down with it :)

Incorporating grass fed meat or wild caught fish into your diet a couple times a week has shown to be good for the body, though not when cleansing.  "Meat" is a very controversial subject but something to "feel" your way through.  Buffalo or "bison" and wild caught alaskan salmon are good choices.  Pork has a very dark and dirty low energy anatomy that is not beneficial to the body.  Shellfish of shrimp, scallops, oysters, lobster, clams, and crab really are packed with the toxins and metals of the sea ie the bottom feeders.  You probably know these creatures were originally tossed out from the net, but over time they began to keep and sell the critters and now with good marketing we love them! Generally like everything else, what the animal consumes, you consume :)

Lastly raw living foods are terrific, and just like everything else, need to be prepared minding the bacteria world.  Soaking is best in the fridge versus on the counter at room temperature which allows for bacteria to grow.    Lastly generally if I don't consume something I prepared that day, I will save it for one day and after that, so long!  Of course that is different if is goes in the freezer or if it is a raw nut cheese.

Enjoy!  

http://www.scoop.co.nz/multimedia/tv/lifestyle/39318.html

MAKE A WISH

One of my favorite things to do is to travel and hike.  Loosing site of time and getting lost in the mountains just going up...up....up...until your legs say STOP....is bliss.  No words needed, just the nature divas around is enough for me.

Along the way on the breath stopping vistas, we pick up rocks, tap em together, make our wishes and chuck em over the edge...it is freeing!  So "wonder twin powers, and activate" your wishes over the edge, or into a pond, stream, river, ocean, or just in the silence of your heart.

The photo here is of a trip to Deer Valley, Utah casting a wish.

SERIOUS MERMAID FOOD!

Lately I have been craving one of my favorite sea vegetables, Arame. Not sure why, but when I feel healthy food cravings, I follow its lead. So as I sat down with my yummy preparation here (A vitamix blended soup of sunflower sprouts, bunch of parsley, spinach, cucumber, garlic, onion, sea salt, kelp seasoning, shot of lemon juice and a dash of stevia....poured over a bowl full of chopped celery, olives, zucchini, daikon radish, cherry tomatoes and ONE CUP OF SOAKED ARAME and finally topped with hemp seeds and a drizzle of flax oil....I am out of my mind excited to give thanks and enjoy! Anyway....I am inclined to google the benefits of arame and thought I would share.

Arame certainly doesn't look appealing, but neither does pasta :) Don't let the color scare you. All you do is soak it in pure water for 15 minutes, drain and add it to your favorite dish. You can use it as you would sprouts on a salad or in a wrap/maki roll. Great in soups and some people even sautee it. Arame does not have much of a taste so it will take on the attributes of your prepared dish.

There are many varieties of sea vegetables to choose from. I would suggest choosing organic. Below is information regarding arame from www.potentsea.com. Also, I have a link below for information on all varieties of sea vegetables.

Hopefully you will give them a try and add some serious mineral nutrition to your diet. Your body will sing to you! You can find sea vegetables in the oriental section of most grocery stores!

Organic arame is perhaps one of the most nutritious foods that nature can provide. The benefits of arame and organic arame are wide ranging. Arame comes mainly from the cold waters off the coast of South Korea, though sub species can be found in Alaska and California. The Koreans have been using organic arame in their diets for many years.

Arame is a brown marine algae rich in many types of marine minerals, including: iodine, zinc, manganese, vitamin K and folate. Normally, organic arame is sun dried for several days before packaging. Arame is harvested in the spring when ocean nutrient levels are at an annual maximum.

Benefits of arame range from wellness support, to a stronger immune system, to better hair, skin, and nails. Many of those who make organic arame part of their every diet also feel that it boosts libido for both men and women. Arame is also a good source of Lignans, which help fight cancer. Due to the many health benefits of Arame, it has been the focus of several anti-cancer and cancer prevention studies. Also, organic arame is one of the most expensive sea vegetables available.

CONSUMERS GUIDE TO SEA VEGETABLES

http://www.sacfoodcoop.com/PDFs/seaveggies.pdf

Is Your Shampoo Safe?

Are you a hair product junkie? Do you have a stash of suggested products from your stylist that are supposed to give you the hair of your dreams? I sure do! However, since my health wake up call in 1999, I do read labels and look at ingredients...what we put on our skin and scalp actually penetrates our body up to 70% faster then what you put in your mouth.

The last week I have been in Deer Valley, Utah and swimming at the local beautiful outdoor lap pool. Oh God, BLISS! I brought my shower gear, but the facility had their own spa shampoo/conditioner/soap... so like a kid in a candy store, I pumped away and had a blast in the lather and scent "sations". I was feeling, this probably isn't the best idea in the world...who knows what is in these products, but I am having fun and one candy shop shower is not going to kill me!

So in my "inbox" this morning was the conscious reminder from Dr Mercola's newsletter on minding the safety of your personal products. Good timing. So I am passing his article on to you. The point is not for you to buy his products, but to simply be mindful of the world we live in that as you know as well as I do, is a rather toxic one. So mind your right to educate yourself, make your own choices and read on!

Here is your link:

http://products.mercola.com/shampoo-conditioner/?source=nl

Food Matters

After my last post raising the flag on the food additive MSG, I wanted to share a DVD I appreciate called "Food Matters". This documentary is a grand resource for those who are looking to step up their diet and lifestyle perhaps to find relief from a health concern or for longevity.

Food Matters is a documentary film informing you on the best choices you can make for you and your family's health. In a collection of interviews with leading Nutritionists, Naturopaths, Scientists, M.D.'s and Medical Journalists you will discover...
How to use food as medicine
Who needs vitamins?
Is organic better?
How safe is our food?
Natural treatments for lowering Cholesterol
Foods that fight Anxiety and Depression
Natural therapies for Cancer
Which drugs might do more harm than good?
The best ways to detox, lose weight and keep it off!

Here is your link for more information!

http://www.foodmatters.tv/_webapp_270121/Food_Matters

MSG update "Taste #5"

MSG....most people are aware MSG is not good for your health and go the extra mile to read labels to avoid it in your families diet. Many have learned to look for some of the labels food manufacturers use to conceal added glutamate or MSG, including autolyzed yeast, hydrolyzed yeast, yeast extract, hydrolyzed vegetable proteins, protein isolate and soy extracts.

Now a food writer has developed a new way to add glutamate to foods, with a new flavoring product dubbed "Taste No. 5." Made from ingredients including pulped anchovy and porcini mushrooms, tubes of the product will soon be on sale across the United Kingdom.

You can read more about this to educate yourself in a article from www.naturalnews.com

Here is your link to the complete article:

http://www.naturalnews.com/029134_umami_MSG.html

What We Can Do Now

It feels as if we are all becoming more aware of the health consequences in our nations over use of chemicals, toxins, pesticides etc. They fill the air we breath and food we eat. The good news is people are beginning to read labels, reduce their consumption of packaged foods, eating organically, upgrading their water sources and minding the chemicals they use in their own homes. Living on a golf course around all the fertilizers and pesticides to keep the grass “perfect” now may not be the pristine place to live and breath, that is if you are choosing health and longevity:)

At any rate, the report link here is long to say the least, but I thought I would participate in the sharing of the link to spread the awareness. “What We Can do Now, Reducing Environmental Disease Risk” is a report from the President’s Cancer Panel which was originally commissioned by President Bush.

What makes this report remarkable is that it comes from the heart of our government, and not from environmental groups. It states: “We have grossly underestimated the extent that environmental chemicals play in cancer.” And they implore President Obama “to use the power of your office to remove the carcinogens and other toxins from our food, water, and air that needlessly increase health care costs, cripple our nation’s productivity, and devastate American lives.”

The report specifically looks at the environmental factors from our exposures in agriculture, manufacturing, what’s in our homes, medical sources, the military, and from natural sources. Then they make specific recommendations. It’s available at:

http://deainfo.nci.nih.gov/advisory/pcp/pcp08-09rpt/PCP_Report_08-09_508.pdf

Report out of Australia yielding caution to vaccines.

News reports out of Australia reveal that vaccines are sending children into convulsions. And yet the vaccines aren't even contaminated, they all pass inspection. I wanted to share a feature story from Natural News that discusses risks and realities about the neurological dangers of children's' vaccines. I feel it is important to educate yourself about such topics. I respect my western medical providers, however I do not align with their view on the 100% safety of such things as vaccines and mammograms.

Here is the article below for you to take a peek if you choose.

http://www.naturalnews.com/028773_vaccines_convulsions.html

Opulent Living's Tips to Regeneration

Opulent Living’s

TIPS TO REGENERATION

DIET

Eat Whole Foods. Do your best to eliminate packaged goods with chemicals and preservatives. Our body is 70% water. Organic whole unheated foods are rich in vitamins, minerals and organic water full of energy from the sun that our body needs to stay clean and juicy.

Eat Organic. Set your body free from filtering and storing pesticides and chemicals that WILL catch up to you at some point under the title of headaches, colitis, sore joints, bloating, cholesterol imbalances, or some sort of diagnosed disease.

Enzymes. Our bodies have a variety of functional units, such as a digestive system, an immune system, a cardiovascular system, and a circulatory system, just to name a few. Each system requires energy in order to perform optimally. It just so happens that enzymes provide this much needed energy for the successful completion of each biological function.

What exactly are enzymes? They are proteins that are responsible for every chemical reaction that goes on in your body; governing all functions related to your tissues, muscles, bones, organs, and cells. Every second of our lives, over 3,000 different enzymes are constantly renewing and changing, often at unbelievable speeds. Enzymes are responsible for everyday bodily processes.

Enzymes have been studied since the early 1900s. Even though there is over a century's worth of information regarding their use, we still have much to learn about them. Although, one thing is for certain; life as we know it, would not exist without them.

Over the last decade, science has uncovered numerous roles for enzymes than ever thought possible, as they literally initiate millions of reactions within your body. In fact, many health care professionals are now advocating the use of enzymes for various conditions and post-operative healing.

When referring to enzymatic supplements, it's important to distinguish between those used for digestion and those used systemically.

• Digestive enzymes are taken orally with food in order to help break down fats, carbohydrates, and proteins for improved digestive function and nutrient absorption.
• Systemic enzyme are taken orally in between meals on an empty stomach. This way they can be absorbed by the intestines into the bloodstream where the body can utilize them for countless bodily processes.

Systemic Enzymes: Enzymes are one of the fundamental building materials that are required in all metabolic processes. When your body becomes deficient in systemic enzymes… you start to age faster, you heal slower, your body starts to physically slow down, aches and pains increase, you become much more susceptible to illness and diseases, and an accelerated degeneration and aging process happens as a result.

Some health care professionals believe that our natural production of enzymes starts to decrease after the age of 27. It is not too long after this that many of us begin to notice symptoms of low enzyme production, which can include:

• Slow wound healing
• Increased scarring
• Poor digestion
• Fibrosis conditions

• Internal inflammation

Acid/Alkaline PH balance. It has been proven, cancer and disease thrives in an acidic environment. Your blood must be alkaline. Sugar, meat, dairy, alcohol, soda, coffee, most grain based foods, and negative based thoughts create an acidic ph balance in your blood. Fruits, vegetables, joy, forgiveness and gratitude are alkaline. Turning your diet to one of a heavy fruit/vegetable based meal will add water and oxygen to create an alkaline state in your blood.The ideal balance is 80% alkaline and 20% acid. This will neutralize the blood and decalcify the body. The result will be vitality, healing and regeneration. For complete protein or the raw goods of amino acids so your body can create the “protein” it needs, consume soaked raw nuts and seeds, avocado, coconut meat and all green leafy vegetables. "When you are green inside, you are clean inside."

DETOXING

House clean your body temple with the change of every season. You will deep clean your house, open windows and scrub away. Honor your body in the same fashion allowing your organs to shake like a wet doggie, breath and shed the layers of stored mucous and undigested matter that is flowing in your blood from consumed preservatives, additives and chemicals. Our body is 70 percent water. Cooked foods are void of water and most Americans do not drink enough water to give your body and internal shower. There are MANY detox methods available, choose wisely. Consult or seek guidance from a trusted source who glows with health. It can be as simple as fasting for 2 to 3 days consuming nothing but vegetable and fruit juices and consider colon therapy. If you are not comfortable fasting, simply give your body a break from meat, fish, chicken and dairy for a few days, drink plenty of water and get some exercise.

HYGIENE

In addition to diet hygiene is of utmost importance! Our skin is our largest organ and everything we put on our skin enters our body 60 times faster then what we put in our mouth. Read labels and use botanically based, paraben and mineral oil free cosmetics, soaps and lotions that contain MINIMAL preservatives. Consider salt bathing, dry body brushing and using a sauna to give your cells an opportunity to clean out and breath!

EXERCISE

GET MOVING! Your lymphatic system needs to be moved and given the opportunity to clean out. Living a sedentary lifestyle creates stagnation at the cellular level. Any debris and toxins that are in your body are just nestling in for a permanent residence if you don’t get your lymph flowing and moving out like a well run machine. Rebounding is a proven simple exercise that moves the lymphatic system. Be sure to stay well hydrated. Drink clean, filtered and “blessed” or charged water. Observe your bodies many cries for water.

MEDITATION

Develop a meditation resolve that suites you to free and quiet your mind and deepen your breath. Learn to budget your energy and find balance. At Opulent Living, our number one suggested resource for developing a meditation practice is under the guidance and use of the tools and workshops of Master John Douglas www.spirit-repair.com.

Master John Douglas is a qualified Thought Spiritual Healer & Energetic Healing Practitioner operating from Sydney traveling to America 3 times a year to host workshops and teleseminars.

Trauma, emotional and mental stress, false belief systems and blocks to our personal growth can be stored in the energy fields of our bodies, impacting our ability to function at our full potential. These blocks obstruct the vital flow of energy through our body and systems that is necessary for our health and well being. Over time this leads to illness and depleted mental and emotional reserves. Energetic healing can restore these vital flows.

The tools of Master John Douglas are comprehensive synthesis of energetic, spiritual and physical healing techniques using the highest level of natural law and life force in various ways to effect change on all levels. Please visit www.spirit-repair.com for more information.