Was watching a healthy cooking presentation recently and listened to the presenters describe why chicken is not the healthiest thing for us to eat. A poultry farmer can obtain the government certification of being a ‘free range’ poultry house as long as there is a door on the chicken house. Unless you see for yourself that the chickens you are eating are free range, you may want to avoid eating chicken.

Poultry farmers are in business to grow large chickens as fast as possible. Many poultry farmers give their chickens:
1) Arsenic to keep chickens from moving around so the chickens fatten up quicker.
2) Antibiotics to keep chickens from getting sick or diseased.
3) Growth hormones to speed up growth in the chickens.
If you ever visit a chicken house, you would see the chickens walking around in animal feces due to having arsenic in their food and you would have a hard time staying in the chicken house long because of the odor.

Is there an alternative to eating chickens? Yes. You can make a good tasting substitute and not have to worry about diseased animals. I was not able to get the exact measurements of the recipe the cooking show presenters gave but have a good idea the following will work.

1. Buy a Firm package of Tofu and freeze overnight. Thaw next morning if you will make this for your evening meal.
2. In a mixing bowl add:
1/4 cup of bread crumbs
1 teaspoon of sea salt
1/2 cup of yellow cornmeal
1/2 cup of whole wheat pastry flour
3. In a smaller bowl add:
1/2 cup soymilk
2 Tablespoons of Braggs Liquid Aminos or a Healthy Soy Sauce and stir wet mixture to blend.
4. Cut tofu strips to resemble a long chicken nugget. You should be able to get at least 8 strips.
5. Dip in wet mixture and saturate so the tofu strips will pick up the flavors then put in dry mix bowl and get all four sides breaded.
6. Place 2-3 Tablespoons of olive oil in skillet and fry on medium heat making sure you turn to get all four sides browned. Enjoy your new alternative to chicken nuggets.

How can I best share a healthy diet with people that need to eat healthy? Over 60 percent of our nation is now overweight. Our nation has a serious problem with diabetes, heart disease, and obesity.

Yesterday I was shopping and noticed many people that were overweight were buying frozen pizzas, tv dinners, and processed foods. People had many packages of unhealthy soda drinks loaded with harmful phosphoric acid in their shopping carts.

I buy fresh fruits and vegetables, nuts, whole grains, and legumes and have learned much about eating a nutritious diet to stay healthy. Each morning I turn on a distilled water machine and make a gallon of water to use during my day. I drink one half my ideal body weight in ounces each day and also give my cat distilled water.

When you want to help people, how do you approach people? Do you have a blog? Do you share knowledge? Should I just accept that is the way most of America wants to be and not say anything?

Thanks for your input!

Learned something interesting on a recent Whole Wellness Club call. A member shared that their mother in Germany would soak oats overnight and that way in the morning, the oats are soft and edible without needing to be cooked. You don’t lose any nutrition or enzymes due to the oats being cooked. I found that an equal measure of oats and water then stir is all you have to do. I have tried steel cut oats the past 2 mornings that way and add in some blueberries and a teaspoon of cinnamon and a dash of honey. Stir well and enjoy!

I made this today and instead of using regular butter, I used the butter alternative I make from coconut milk. That recipe is below the instructions.

3/4 cup plus 1/2 Tbsp 100 Percent Whole Wheat Flour
1/2 cup Brown Sugar
1/2 cup Old-Fashioned Oats
1 tsp Cinnamon
1 stick Cold Butter, in chunks * ( butter alternative below )
1/2 cup Pecans, chopped
2 1/2 lbs. Apples, peeled
1/2 cup Dried Cranberries
1/4 cup Maple Syrup

1. For the topping, put 3/4 cup whole wheat flour, brown sugar, oats, cinnamon, and butter in a food processor and pulse to form moist clusters. Mix in pecans.

2. Cut the apples into 1/2-inch chunks and put them in a buttered 9 1/2 inch, 2-quart pie pan. Add cranberries, maple syrup, and 1/2 Tbsp flour; mix. Scatter on topping. Place pan on a parchment lined baking sheet. ( I used a long pyrex and just sprayed the glass with an olive oil spray ).

3. Bake at 375 F for 40 minutes. Serve warm, at room temperature, or chilled.

Serves 10. Per serving: 300 calories, 45g carbs, 3g protein, 25 mg cholesterol, and 14g fat. * These figures are accurate for regular butter. The fat and cholesterol would be lower with butter alternative.

* ** Butter alternative
3/4 cup coconut milk *
1/2 cup water
2 Tablespoons yellow cornmeal
1/2 teaspoon salt

* May use 1/4 cup unsweetened finely shredded coconut or raw cashew nuts instead of coconut milk, and increase water to 1 1/4 cups. If you have only sweetened coconut, the sugar can be rinsed out with hot water, using a sieve.

1. Place all ingredients in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Simmer 5 minutes.

It should begin to thicken, about the consistency of thin porridge. I’ve learned that this can vary with the cornmeal used, so if it isn’t getting thick, add another teaspoon of cornmeal and cook a few more minutes until it is like thin pancake batter or porridge.

2. Place in blender, cover, can turn on low, then increase to high. Blend for about 1 minute until as smooth as possible. (If using shredded coconut or cashews nuts, blend for 2 minutes.)

3. Pour into a container; cover and chill. It will be runny, but sets up when cold.

This will keep for about 10 days in the refrigerator, but after a few days it gets stiffer. If this happens, just add a bit of water and stir briskly until soft. I like to make a new batch every week. If there is any of the old still remaining, I stir it into a frozen vegetable dish, such as frozen corn.

Makes One Cup

I get recipes and DVD’s from a great business located in Knoxville, Illinois. Hope for Health believes in many of the same principles that we do in the Whole Wellness Club. This is a recipe from Hope for Health and it takes less than an hour to make. Cooking time is right around 50 minutes at most. There are seven vegetables in this soup. Enjoy!

4 cups Water
1 tsp. Salt
1/4 tsp. Minced Garlic
2 Celery Stalks, Chopped
2 Carrots, Chopped
1/4 tsp. Crushed Red Pepper
1 Medium Onion, Diced
4 Medium Potatoes, Diced

In a 6-quart or larger pot, bring water to a boil. Add all above ingredients. Cook at a low boil until carrots and celery are tender ( about 20 minutes ).

1 – 15 oz. Can Sweet Peas ( unsalted )
1 – 15 oz. Can Diced Tomatoes ( in juice )
1 – 15 oz. Can Vegetarian Chili Beans
Optional : 12 oz. Bag Shell Noodles or Macaroni Noodles

Add canned peas, tomatoes, and beans. Turn temperature down and simmer about 20 minutes until flavors have mixed well. Serve and Enjoy !

Optional: For a Minestrone Soup, in a separate pot, cook conchiglie shell noodles or macaroni noodles according to package directions. Set aside. When adding canned vegetables, add 2-3 cups ( 1/2 package ) of cooked and drained noodles.

Here is a great tasting recipe I found from Hope for Health. There are no animal products in this vegan roast.

Marinated Tomatoes

2 Tomatoes, thinly sliced
1 1/2 Tbls. lemon juice
1 Tbls. extra virgin olive oil
1 tsp. oregano
1/2 tsp basil
1/4 tsp. sea salt

Mix oil, lemon juice, salt and spices in bowl. Layer tomatoes in bowl to marinate. Stir gently occasionally and marinate for a few hours.

Do you get tired of oatmeal for breakfast? I did and found a recipe for a vegetarian loaf that has Grape Nuts as its main ingredient. I decided to try a bowl of warm Grape Nuts for breakfast to break up the weekday cycle of oatmeal for breakfast. Instead of regular milk I buy Soy Milk. Just cover one cup of Post Grape Nuts with enough soy milk that your consistency is almost like a soup. Turn your pot on medium and let it warm for about 8 minutes. I like to put blueberries on all of my morning cereals as well. Enjoy! Read the labels as the store brand of Grape Nuts was from just ‘wheat’ and not whole wheat like the Post Grape Nuts are.

Still harvesting corn from my large garden. It is amazing how much food you can grow in a 1/2 acre area. My fruit trees and vegetable garden have been feeding me for months now. I have plenty put away in quart jars for the winter and next year. God is good. Takes quite a bit of effort which actually keeps you in good shape. Plus you benefit from the fresh air and sunshine.

I.    I Open My Mind to Prosperity

List Your Desires Below:

Cross off as they manifest and add new ones. This is the way to get results.

3. List what you now have to be thankful for:

(c) Copyrighted 1971 by Catherine Ponder

Here is a great detox and fast that will help you cleanse your body. I found this recipe on Danny Viera’s Elijah Prophecy newsletter that I subscribe to each week. His website is Modern Manna

Shake Well. Drink eight ounces per hour throughout the day until empty. Repeat for total of 3 days. Drink one gallon per day. You will experience an incredible cleansing and be able to focus better.

Just had a recent check up at Seattle VA last week and am pleased to share how a healthy lifestyle can keep you in great shape. The triage nurse measured my blood pressure at 117 over 63. My pulse was 68. I had just walked close to a half mile from the Metro bus stop by Jefferson Park golf course through the back side of the hospital, up a flight of steep stairs and proceeded to the clinic.

1) Daily exercise that includes a 40 minute walk, exercise ball, yoga, and inversion table
2) Vegetarian diet of fresh fruits, legumes, nuts, vegetables, and whole grains
3) Plenty of alkaline water

Just finished a great week of vacation right here at the beautiful small farm God has loaned me while I am walking on this earth. There are three areas where I raise organic vegetables and 9 fruit trees. My vacation was spent watering and weeding all of the 2,000 square feet of the garden. I dropped a few pounds so if anyone wants to come and eat healthy and lose weight, give me a call. Your body will love the fresh country air and sunshine of the Pacific Northwest in July.

Recipe makes either Pancakes or Waffles

1 cup Coconut Flakes
1 cup Triticale Flakes – Flour
1 cup Rolled Oats
1 cup Multigrain Pancake Mix
1 cup Whole Wheat Pastry Flour
1/2 cup Flax Seed
1/2 cup Applesauce
1/2 cup Olive Oil – optional
1/4 cup Honey or Pure Maple Syrup
1 Banana mashed – Optional – ripe is best

Mix all ingredients with water or soy milk until a lightly stiff consistency and then put in your waffle iron or skillet. Enjoy with pure maple syrup and either blueberries or strawberries.

Here is a great way to serve raw broccoli that tastes good.

4 cups small broccoli florets
3 cups diced organic apples, unpeeled
2/3 cup organic raisins
1/2 cup broken walnuts
2 Tablespoons Vegenaise

Mix the ingredients well and serve in a pretty bowl. If you don’t have Vegenaise you can make a sauce out of honey and lemon.

Lemon Marinade

2 cups Lemon juice
2 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp onion powder
2 tsp salt
1 Cup Honey

Blend all in blender. Refrigerate for 10-14 days.

Citrus Salad Dressing

1/4 tsp paprika
1/4 tsp salad herbs
1/4 tsp dill weed
1/2 tsp garlic salt
2 1/2 tsp lemon juice
3 Tbsp frozen orange juice concentrate, undiluted

Makes 4 Tablespoons (24 calories per tablespoon)