Cooking at Home with Judy

Face Masks

Allergic to my own hot air.

True. It is critical we ALL wear medical masks to prevent the spread of Covid-19. Unfortunately some of us are allergic to our own hot air. When we exhale the carbon dioxide is trapped inside the mask.

Some of us have thin dry skin that cannot tolerate this naturally occurring toxin. While carbon dioxide poisoning is rare, a high concentration of it in a confined space can be toxic. ... Symptoms of mild carbon dioxide poisoning include headaches and dizziness and a red rash on the affected skin.

For months I have tried every cream, lotion, suave and essential oil I could find. Some would reduce the itching or the redness but only until the next time I had to wear a mask.

Now let me assure you I have tried every possible mask. I am instantly allergic to to the fibers in the blue one, seen above. The same is true of the KN95. I've even invested in organic cotton, same result. Fire engine red rash around the nose, mouth and chin.

Even purchased a face bracket to wear under the mask. It did hold the cotton away from my mouth and nose but within 5 minutes my chin was dripping wet. Does not work well with the blue mask pictured above. It does fit inside the KN95 Ooop's the bracket is made of silicone and I am allergic to ALL forms of plastic. Never been able to wear wool or polyester, rayon or nylon.

Out of desperation I stood in front of my bathroom cabinets and pulled out every bottle, tube and jar there was. Kept searching for anything I hadn't already tried. Wooo what is this bottle? Eucerin??? Says skin calming itch relief treatment. Now I remember, I used it a couple of years ago when I discovered I was allergic to the wood pulp fibers on grocery bags. Worked then why not give it a try.

Stopped using the cleanser the dermatologist recommended, as well as Cortizone-10 he suggested. Since that hadn't worked at all. But then nothing else had either. I washed my face with an organic bar soap from Hand in Hand (they are a good company with good products, I highly recommend them). I rinsed well and applied a thin coat of Eucerin. Better even 3 days later. WOW I'm impressed. Still searching for the perfect mask I can breathe in. Plus washing my face and apply Eucerin the minute I get home. 

From your friend in the kitchen, Judy

Share your natural remedies . . . I'd love to hear from you! 

 

Anxiety

Valerian Root: I thought I had shared this with you but find I have not. This supplement found in health food stores is excellent for anxiety. Take only when needed NOT as a daily supplement. It is a perennial flowering plant native to Europe and Asia. 

It works really well but I will warn you -- the capsule smells like rotten eggs. So have your glass of water ready BEFORE you open the bottle.  

From your friend in the  kitchen, Judy

 

Over the Top Mushrooms

Over the Top Mushrooms

Don't you just love it when a mistake turns into something oh so GOOD?

You see, on a whim, I decided to pick up a large package of sliced mushrooms to make my Sweet Mushroom Soup, page 14 Volume 5. First of all I never buy sliced mushrooms, because they are always too dry meaning too old. I prefer to hand pick each one; whole and FRESH. Then slice just before making my dish. I also place them in a brown paper lunch size bag, as soon as I get them home. Then store in the crisper of my fridge to be used as soon as possible. 

Second mistake, I had not checked the freezer to see if I even had any chicken stock on hand. You'll find E-Z homemade chicken stock on page 19 in Cooking with Judy. I did however pickup a sweet onion, fresh carrots and celery. I knew I had fresh garlic on hand and frozen FRESH ginger and turmeric in the freezer. 

All excited when I got home, put the groceries away and got out my soup pot and med size glass skillet. Put both the pot and the skillet on the stove over med low heat. Added a couple of pinches of extra coarse black pepper (page 25 Volume 6) to the bottom of each pan. Set out the onion, garlic and mushrooms. Added a swirl of EVOO to each pan. Diced the onion, added it to the soup pot, sprinkled a big pinch of Kosher salt and mixed well. 

In order to caramelize (page 14 Volume 5) the mushrooms I added two swirls of EVOO to the skillet. Tossed in the box of mushrooms and mixed well. To my cringe I found far too many mushrooms still had their woody stems attached. I quickly (they were starting to get hot) picked those out and pinched off the offending tough stems. 

At this point I went to the freezer for my ginger and turmeric and thought I might as well pull out a couple of bags of chicken stock to thaw while I peeled the carrots and kept an eye on the mushrooms. They needed to be stirred as they begin to brown. 

Oooop's NO chicken broth, not a drop. NOW WHAT????? Well calm down, take a breath, stir the mushrooms, check the onions. Grate the garlic, ginger and turmeric over the onions and still well. Reduce the heat while I try to figure out what to do???

Then I remembered, last month I had caramelized too many mushrooms for my perfect steak (page 22 Volume 2 or page 58 in Cooking with Judy, Sexy Date Night Meal), so I had put the leftovers in a small snack size zip bag and tossed them in the freezer. They were excellent another day weeks later. 

So why not do the same now? Just more bags to enjoy later. What about the onions, garlic, ginger and turmeric? Toss-'em all together! Why not? Of course by now I'm disgusted that I've wasted time and $ and won't have my delicious Sweet Mushroom Soup! 

Too impatient for the mushrooms to completely caramelize, I mixed them all together in the soup pot. They were not cooking fast enough to satisfy my impatiences. I grabbed an old Corning Wear casserole dish, buttered it and dumped the mess in. Turned the oven on to 325º and slide it in. 

Decided checking email would brighten my dark mood. When I smelled it I turned off the oven and put the glass lid on top. Left it in the oven for another 20 minutes or so. Then let it cool. 

Fixed myself a perfect steak and grabbed leftover green salad with Peppercorn Dressing (page 29 in Cooking with Judy) and made Stinky Cheese page 24 in Volume 5) in place of croutons. Darn fine meal, if I say so myself. 

The next day I bagged up 6 individual servings of Over the Top Mushrooms and placed them in the freezer to enjoy for months to come. YEA!!!!!! Another mistake bites the dust and becomes a healthy, delicious and nutritious whole living food to build strong bodies and sharp minds. 

Ingredients:

In a med-size glass skillet over med-low heat add:

  Good pinch Extra Coarse Black Pepper, page 25 Volume 6

•             One big swirl of Extra Virgin Olive Oil in skillet
• 1           Sweet onion, diced
•             Big pinch Kosher salt

Stir often and steam until translucent then add

• 2          Cloves fresh garlic, grated
• 1/2"      Frozen fresh ginger, grated
• 1/4"      Frozen fresh turmeric root, grated

Mix well and add: 

• 3 C Washed, stems removed, sliced button or portabella mushrooms or both*

Stir often and cook until tender or place in a butted glass casserole dish and bake at 325º until tender. 

* I think it perfectly okay to run mushrooms under running water and remove stems before slicing, as you are going to immediately cook them. 

From your friend in the kitchen, Judy

Let me know what you think after you try it. 

VOTE

VOTE . . .  it is your only chance to have your voice heard. No matter your politics you know the importance. You know what a privilege it is. People all over the world want to live here because they cannot VOTE for their leadership where they live. We must stand up and show the world they too can have the same privileges in their own countries.  

With the pandemic we are faced with tough choices but VOTING can be easy. You don't even have to go to the polls. Simply contact your County Election Office TODAY. You can probably find them online. 

• Find their instructions for APPLICATION for an ADVANCE VOTING BALLOT. 
• Read it carefully, follow the instructions and mail it quickly. 
• A Ballot will be mailed to you in advance of the election. 
• Follow the instructions on the BALLOT fill it out completely. 
• Hand deliver it IMMEDIATELY (early is okay) to their office. 

See I told you it was easy. No need to worry about the post office YOU hand carry it. You must reapply for EACH election. The primary and general are 2 separate elections. 

Most elderly and disabled have applied for a permanent mail-in ballot to be sent to them. Be a kind neighbor or family member and check with them that they have in fact received their ballot and offer to hand deliver it to their election office for them. 

 

Covid-19

Thinking about the horrendous stress families, especially Mothers, are dealing with today reminded me about three authors who talk about how to deal with stress.

First I want to address Mother's. You don't have to be super human. You don't have to do it all and yes you can cry and throw things. Just do it in the privacy of your bedroom or bathroom. And when possible get outside and go for a brisk walk, with our without children. Breathe fresh air, release the anger and frustration, think how grateful you are for the little things. This too can be a teachable moment for your children. Teach them to EXHALE and let go, to breathe IN and be thankful for what they have.

Besides; cleaning, cooking, laundry, earning a living, now the world wants you to be your child's best friend, mentor, entire social life and school teacher. TOO much -- I agree. Delicate. Even a 3 yr old can wash dishes, a 5 yr. old can take the trash out, an 8 yr old can do laundry, dust, run the vacuum and scrub the bathroom. A 10 yr old can make out the grocery list and a teenager can learn to do the shopping. And the last two can entertain NOT torment the younger children.

Now for those school lessons. How do you think the pioneers (your great-grandmothers) did it. A little at a time. Not a whole days worth. So what if they don't learn it all? Remember Rome was not built in a day. 

Enlist some outside help. Ask your friends to recommend children 2-3 years older than your own. Contact them by phone or email. Ask if they would be willing to help tutor your younger child via phone, email or zoom? If they are maybe your older children can tutor them or you can offer help in some other way. We all have talents someone else can appreciate. 

Remember we are all in this together. Now for my three authors.

Dan Pink: His first book a Whole New Mind taught me why children will NOT eat anything green. See page 8 in Cooking with Judy, it's a real eye opener. He also taught me about dealing with stress in his example of, Square Pegs in Round Holes. For a quick review see page 20 in Volume 2. What a bright, kind and gentle soul he is.

Vern Harnish: Find his newsletters most informative on successful business practices. He too says we are killing industry and our economy with asking too much of our employees. There are lots of studies on the how ineffective multi-tasking is.

Alan Cohen: Truly enjoy his motivation quotes each morning. Good instructions for self-care. 

Please stay safe, wear a mask, keep your 6-10' of social distancing and stay home as much as possible. If you are lucky to live in the same home as others. HUG them often. 

From your friend in the kitchen, Judy

 

 

How To Make A Natural Spider & Insect Repellent Spray

Update: Now that is it time to replenish my homemade spray WITHOUT harsh chemicals I wanted you to know how much I like this spray. Don't know why it works so well but it does and no unpleasant odors. 

NO harmful chemicals -- only natural ingredients you probably already have in your kitchen and bathroom. Came from my morning newspaper. Sorry I did not make a note of the original author. I always believe in giving credit, but failed this time.

Ingredients:   

1 Tbsp dish soap

1/3 cup white vinegar

1 1/2 cups water

10 drops peppermint essential oil

5 drops lavender essential oil

Mix well in 16 oz spray bottle.

IT WORKS !!!!!!!! Did find it helpful to reapply after 2 weeks.

MORE Natural healthy ways to deal with household pests without harmful chemicals:

How to catch, kill and UN-INVITE mice -- Volume 2

Mosquito & Chigger Repellant that won't harm you -- Volume 3

How to get ride of ants naturally -- Volume 4

How to get ride of the musty smell from OLD books -- Volume 5

Bedbugs Begone -- Volume 6 

From your friend in the kitchen, Judy

 

Most Interesting

For as long as I can remember I have worn nail polish to protect and strengthen my soft peeling fingernails. When I was younger I wore bright reds and colors to match my outfit of the day. Then at some point I decided clear was more natural and went with everything.

I think I have tried every brand on the market and still my nails peeled and tore at the slightest provocation. Then the pandemic kept us all at home. I found I hadn't put on polish is a couple of weeks and my nails seemed a bit stronger. I continued to use cuticle remover every couple of weeks and noticed my cuticles too became healthier. 

Could it mean the nail polish was actually harming my nails and preventing them being as strong as they could be naturally? 

Well, 3 months later and NO more polish for me. I still keep a gentle emery board handy for nicks and edges getting TOO long! Ha-Ha never thought I'd be saying that. 

Let me know your nail secrets . . . email

PS: The only thing I am doing different is I have doubled my intake of Vitamin C to offset the stress of the pandemic and boost my immune system. Can't image this is what has caused such a quick improvement in the strength of my nails but maybe so. 

Your friend in the kitchen, Judy

SKIN CARE

You know how sensitive I am about what I put on my skin, as it is our biggest organ. Everything we touch is immediately absorbed into our body. 

 

So glad I found this organic herbal body wash. No harsh chemicals. Check it out! I like the companies story of discovery. 

 

Bought it at Natural Grocers $9 I think. 

 

Moon Valley Herbal Body Wash Lemon Rosemary ingredients

 

I find it to be a bite of a strong scent but didn’t care for the other fragrances either. 

 

Only unhealthy ingredient is Potassium Hydroxide, which is lye and that is what makes it soap. NO lye NO soap. Pioneers made sop by adding lye to rendered meat fat. 

From your friend in the kitchen, Judy

Detox Tea

Can you believe I've done it again . . . another healthy item added to my already delicious Detox Tea. 

I hope you have tried my friend Traza's homemade Elderberry Syrup. It too is delicious and oh so GOOD for YOU. 

Well because I had dry Elderberries in the cupboard I decided to add a few to my Detox Tea this morning. OH MY GOODNESS -- Delicious does not do it justice.

So now I suggest you add a few dry Elderberries, leftover stumps of FRESH frozen Turmeric and Ginger, OH . . .  and I grated some whole frozen orange on top, star anise, a small stick of cinnamon, 3 tiny whole allspice berries to my fennel, coriander and fennel seeds to brew up something AMAZING !!!!!! 

Another Update -- WOW add your left over FRESH ginger root and turmeric root, plus add the zest of a WHOLE frozen lemon. 

As you may already know I peel and FREEZE my FRESH ginger root, I scrub and FREEZE my FRESH turmeric root, I scrub and FREEZE my WHOLE lemons. I wrap them in clear wrap then store in a small zip bag in my freezer. 

Then simple ZEST into many, many homemade dishes to add flavor and nutrition. 

I also found WHOLE Allspice buds at Natural Grocers. I added two to my pot of Detox Tea. YUM and allspice is really good for you. It is quite powerful so use sparingly. 

NEW Update -- I found Cinnamon sticks and whole Star Anise at Natural Grocers and decided to add them to my Detox Tea. How delightful. 

Another day I simply added a handful of Pomegranate seeds. Wow was that delicious. I actually had them in my freezer. I like to buy several when they are in season and freeze the seeds. See page 45 in Cooking with Judy for instruction on how to easily remove the seeds from whole fresh Pomegranates.

UPDATE -- when our local health food store stopped carrying spices I found a great source for the seeds for the amazing tea. You can find them at The Spice House and their is NO shipping cost on the flat-pack size, which is perfect. 

From the Doctor Oz show

By Kulreet Chaudhary, MD

Neurologist balancing modern life with the ancient knowledge of Ayurveda

I became a fan of Ayurveda medicine several years ago when I met Dr. Maden Karatia a cardiologist who practices Ayurveda medicine, which treats the whole person: the mind, the body and the spirit.

The following tea caught my attention and I made a batch this morning following the instructions below. Because I am trying to retool my sweet tooth to NOT be so sweet I chose not to add honey or any sweetener but instead added a couple of whole allspice seeds and a small cinnamon stick to the boiling water along with the prescribed seeds.

It reminds me a lot of Throat Coat tea, which I savor anytime I feel an upper respiratory infection coming on or even just a scratchy throat from seasonal allergies.

Ayurvedic Fat Fighter #1

The first Ayurvedic fat fighter is a special “detox” tea. It includes a combination of ingredients that help to improve digestion, break down fat, and “unclog” the channels in our body by removing ama, which are toxins. 


Detox Tea


Boil 4 to 5 cups of water in the morning.


Add 1/2 teaspoon of the following seeds to the water and continue to let it boil for about 5 minutes with the lid on. 

• Whole cumin seeds
• Whole coriander seeds
• Whole fennel seeds

Strain out the seeds and pour the liquid into a thermos. The key is to make the tea fresh every morning, place it in a thermos, and take small sips of it throughout the day. It is best to drink it warm or hot. If the tea is too strong or if you experience some initial discomfort, reduce the amount of seeds to 1/4 teaspoon for 2 weeks, and then increase it back to 1/2 teaspoon.

You'll find other great Ayurveda tips from this segment on the Dr. Oz Show. 

Board Games

The Power of Board Games 

Could it be that playing board games makes you a nicer person with better relationships? Note this Quartz article, "As film and media studies professor Mary Flanagan tells The Atlantic, board games prompt us to reflect on 'turn-taking and rules and fairness.'" It goes on to explain:

Another significant feature of board games is that they require several people to sit down in the same room together and concentrate on a shared experience in real time. That is becoming increasingly rare in a world in which we often see our friends and loved ones more on social media than in real life. A recent Atlantic story outlined the sharp rise in teen isolation as an entire generation sits in their rooms, glued to their smartphones, interacting via app. They report higher levels of depression and anxiety than earlier generations.

From your friend in the kitchen, Judy

Broccoli

I know I've suggested using lime juice in the water when you steam fresh broccoli. But I failed to pick up a fresh lime when I purchased my broccoli this week. 

As I was placing the flowerets into the pan and preparing to peel the stock when I remembered I had FROZEN fresh lime zest on a sheet of wax paper. 

I simply unfolded the paper and sprinkled the lime zest on top of the broccoli with a TINY pinch of salt. Then turned it over into the shallow water to mix well. WOW it is GREAT. 

From your friend in the kitchen, Judy

4th of July -- Healthy cooking tips

4th of July 

Make your family celebration a healthy one! Small changes in your family favorites can have a huge impact on your health today and for all your tomorrows. Example: instead of heavy-laden fried chicken try grilled skinless organic chicken. It comes in all sizes and shapes and is free of antibiotics and hormones. Free-range, means the chickens are free to roam and eat good green grass full of nutrients that have NOT been sprayed with any chemicals. Find a brand that offers, happy, healthy chickens. 

Tips for juicy tender chicken is not only to start with organic but also to not overcook it. And for heavens sake don't char it -- new evidence shows that charred meat is harmful to our health. When grilling control your fire, don't keep flipping the bird (oop's you know what I mean) every time you do you loose some of the precious juices inside. Flip only once when the juice begins to bubble up on top. Remove as soon as the juice appears on top after you've flipped it once. 

The chicken or any meat will continue to cook once you've removed it to the serving plate. Make very sure that it is a CLEAN plate and not the one you placed the raw chicken on. Always allow any meat, chicken and fish to rest 5-10 min before you serve it. This redistributes the natural juices and makes for tender steaks and chicken. 

You can season your skinless chicken with any herbs and spices you like. It is best to create your own and not buy blends, as you have no control over how much salt they contain. And you might even find they contain high fructose corn syrup when you read the label. Be creative mix together the flavors you like, hot and spicy, mild and sweet, whatever you like and remember to save BIG $ by buying your dried herbs and spices in bulk at the health food store. So don't throw away that empty bottle, you'll need it to refill from the tiny bags you fill-up at the bulk bin.  

Another trick to tasty skinless chicken--I squeeze FRESH lemon juice over both sides of all fish and chicken I am going to prepare. Then I sprinkle with coarse salt and pepper, then the herbs or spices of my choice. Any time you are not grilling you can pan grill (page 15 in Cooking with Judy) by using a small amount of either olive oil or peanut oil if you like a crisper chicken. NO batter necessary for full flavor and juicy tender chicken for any holiday or any day of the week. Only takes minutes to prepare. You can use this method for frozen chicken or fish, which has been SLIGHTLY thawed.

To add to your festive celebration meal, try our Kale and Fennel salad packed with crunchy toasted walnuts and sweet dried cranberries. Kale offers the highest nutrient on the planet and your never know this luscious salad is made with Dinosaur grass.  You'll find it on page 35 in Cooking with Judy. Perfect for any picnic or covered dish event. Does NOT need to be refrigerated and can be made 2-3 days ahead. 

You'll also find a sweet treat with homemade sugar-free Dark Cherry Ice Cream on page 35. For the Chocolate Lover there is sugar free Spoon Chocolate on page 47. Again can be made days ahead. 

And who wouldn't want to try NO Potato -- Potato Salad? You can make it the day before your event. Learn the trick to serving turnips and no one will ever know, page 26 in Cooking with Judy. There is even a Scalloped Turnip casserole, page 43, that is so yummy and I guarantee if you follow my peeling instructions NO one will never know it is turnips. You greatly reduce the starch and sugar when choosing turnips over potatoes.

You can download the electronic version of Cooking with Judy right now for only $6.99. All 60 pages are packed with affordable, healthy and delicious food choices. 

Plus here is a FREE recipe for a Red White and Blue healthy salad found in Volume 3 of Cooking with Judy. Volume 3 also contains a homemade sugar free recipe for FRESH Peach ice cream. 

Download Straw-blue-spinach salad.pages

 

Dinosaur Salad

Dinosaur Salad

Is what we call it, because Kale is what the dinosaurs ate when they walked this earth. 

 

Dinosaur Kale, Fennel, Dried Cranberries & Walnuts
In a light garlic lemon and oil dressing with Parmesan Cheese.

Kids love it! 

See page 35 in Cooking with Judy

ANTS

The OLD Farmer's Almanac is still a good source for household tips. When I was complaining about ANTS in my kitchen, my daughter shared with me her remedy from the Old Farmer's Almanac. 

Sprinkle a generous amount of baking soda outside along your foundation where you suspect the ants are making entry. Then pour white vinegar on top. It will foam up and remain a barrier until the next big rain. Should they move to another location repeat. I think they got the message, as I haven't seen any since. 

From your friend in the kitchen, Judy

Clogged Drain?

Cleaning out some old files came across this solution. 

Clogged Drain

Mix together:

½ C table salt
1 C white vinegar

Pour into clogged sink.
Works instantly rinse and run disposal if that is the side that is clogged.

From Dr. Oz June 2015

How to Sew on a Button

The Pleasing Rewards of a Job Well Done

Nowadays, many of us “outsource” basic tasks. Food is instant, ready-made, and processed with unhealthy additives. Dry cleaners press shirts, delivery guys bring pizza, gardeners tend flowers, and, yes, tailors sew on those pesky buttons. But life can be much simpler, sweeter, and richer—and a lot more fun, too! As your grandmother might say, now is not the time to be careless with your money, and it actually pays to learn how to do things yourself!

Erin Bried is a senior staff writer at SELF magazine. She lives with her better half in Brooklyn, New York, where she grows tomatoes on her fire escape, knits crooked scarves for loved ones and eats homemade pie for breakfast as often as possible.

I found this charming young lady years ago. Put her on page 22 of my first Cooking with Judy guide and want to share her website with you. 

My compliments your friend in the kitchen, Judy

 

Peach Ice Cream Update

Don't you just hate it when the store is out of your favorite frozen fruit and you want to make ice cream? No Dark Cherries but the frozen peaches looked good. Problem: my blender bit the dust the day before. That's okay I can cut up the peaches, Oh darn that means I have to thaw them to be able to dice them up. Ok, will put off the ice cream making for one more day. 

Dumped the frozen peaches in a big bowl and set it in the fridge overnight. Ooops liquid in the bottom of the bowl the next morning. Oh well, just won't add the 1/2 C of water the recipe calls for. 

Now if you know me you know I rarely use a recipe. And this time is no exception. As I put the cream on to warm I poured in vanilla flavoring instead of the coconut my original recipe calls for. 

Once I had the custard made I added my sweetener, enough to equal 1C sugar. I have no idea why I grabbed the cinnamon but I did and oh WOW a teaspoon is yummy with peaches and cream. 

This I poured over my diced cold peaches and realized I needed to let it set up overnight in the fridge. You don't have to with the Dark Cherry but again NO blender so had to improvise once again. And darn that means one more day before I can have ice cream.

Have to tell you the wait was worth it. OMG this variation of Peach Ice Cream is fabulous. Try it and let me know. 

Peach Ice Cream recipe is on page 69 in Volume 3 and the Dark Cherry is on page 39 in Cooking with Judy.

Your Brain and the Food YOU Eat

Have you hear of Nutrition Psychiatry?

Check out these new studies on how what you eat affects your brain. 

New intervention studies implementing dietary changes suggest promise for the prevention and treatment of depression.

Finally, new studies focused on understanding the biological pathways that mediate the observed relationships between diet, nutrition and mental health are pointing to the immune system, oxidative biology, brain plasticity and the microbiome-gut-brain axis as key targets for nutritional interventions.

There is even an article on how what you eat can prevent Alzheimer's, excellent reading.

Download Your Brain & Food.pages

Compliments from your friend in the kitchen, Judy

I'm Back

Not like Freddie Kruger in the horror movie.

Just your friend in the kitchen, Judy. 

Yes, I took a hiatus from my blog for a while.

We all know how life can get in the way and it sure does. 

Well, I'm back with 6 completed volumes of my cooking guides. I refer to them as guides and not books, because they are more like the original cookbook in the 1800's. They too had household tips and natural remedies in addition to great recipes. 

Look forward to hearing from you and reading your comments.

I want to thank the WONDERFUL, kind, and patient tech support staff at Typepad. If not for Anna, Marilyn, Laura and Jen I wouldn't be back online. Should you ever need an online presence Typepad is great to work with. They are here to make sure YOU succeed. Their system is E-Z to use and flows well. As you can see you can embed video, add art and photos and change your copy everyday. Thank YOU Typepad!!!!! 

Take good care and remember to Eat form the Farm and not from a Factory! 

Your friend in the Kitchen, Judy

Don't like Turnips?

Me either . . .  lucky I learned how to get rid of the Turnip TASTE. Peel them BEFORE you cook them. When you peel off the outer layer you will find a thin white line about a 1/16" below the top layer.

Simply peel that thin white line away. NO more turnip taste.

See my Grandma's Potato Soup, page 17 in Volume 3 and her Potato Salad page 11 in Volume 6 recipes. I use turnips and NO one knows unless I tell them.

Less starch and sugar than potatoes. See comparison and nutrition values on page 43 in Cooking with Judy. 

Produce tour -- turnips -- PLUS how to pick out and peel FRESH Pineapples and Mangos. 

 

NECTRESSE™ Natural No Calorie Sweetener

UPDATE -- Thank Heavens this product has been TAKEN OFF the market. Still read the article as it is IMPORTANT information about all products, especially ones we eat.  

It took me 15 clicks to find this tucked away under FAQ for Health Professionals

NECTRESSE^™ Natural No Calorie Sweetener is a combination of deliciously sweet Monk Fruit Extract with the perfect blend of other natural sweeteners (erythritol, sugar and molasses) delivering the rich sweet taste of sugar without all the calories.

You might remember from other posts, about other products, that erythritol is an alcohol derived from sugar. And SUGAR is SUGAR and Molasses is processed cane sugar. Now, cane sugar is a natural growing plant and I have no problems with it UNTIL they process it. I too do not have a problem with molasses in small quantities, as ammonia and chorine bleach are not used in the process of making molasses, as it is with WHITE sugar. If you have ever seen cane sugar in its raw state then you know it is not WHITE.

So the truth is this product in addition to monk fruit contains sugar alcohol, sugar and molasses. So how can it be NO calories? Maybe this is like trans fats -- if there is less than one gram they don't have to report it. In my opinion they should be up front about ALL the ingredients. Give me a break.

I for one prefer ONE INGREDIENT products like honey -- it makes life a lot easier, so much healthier and oh so sweet. Just be sure you know where your honey is REALLY from. Local is not always local.

Be sure you read not only the label of your next bottle of honey but take a magnifying glass to the entire bottle -- somewhere it has to tell you the COUNTRY of origin. You will most likely find it in a very hard to read type face.

Spicy Shrimp

 Had so much fun making Spicy Shrimp for lunch. You know I buy only DRY PACKED raw in the shell frozen shrimp from a reputable fishmonger. As always I was in a big toot hurry and didn't want to follow directions of thawing my shrimp and tossing it in the spices. 

Download Spicy Shrimp.pages

 

FREEZE Fresh Lemon Zest

YES -- you can. Simply layout a piece of wax paper (turn it upside down to keep it from curling or anchor it with a small bowl or piece of fruit) and grate your zest on it.

Fold as you would wrap a gift to assure the zest will stay secure inside you see-thru package, place in a snack size zip bag and put a a date on it. Toss in the freezer until needed. I can't bear to waste anything and some dishes you want only the juice and sometimes you need the zest quickly. 

From your friend in the kitchen, Judy

Yams vs. Sweet Potatoes

 

We Americans tend to call Yams -- Sweet Potatoes -- but they are not. Sweet potatoes have a white interior and come in a variety of skin colors . . . much like humans do. Since I no longer eat white potatoes because they are so high in sugar and starch I found the Asian Sweet Potato to be very starchy, slightly sweet but rather flat and tasteless. This gave me the urge to research their nutrition values. Want to know how to Freeze cooked yams see page 57 in Volume 3.

Did you know? Sweet potatoes are related to the morning glory, and they originated in South America.

Download Yams.pages

 

 

Tumeric

If you're looking for a simple and delicious way to enhance your mind-body health, the beautiful yellow spice known as turmeric is a pharmacy unto itself. A wealth of scientific studies has demonstrated the health benefits of turmeric on the digestive, cardiovascular, rheumatic, and immune systems. 

 Download Turmeric - Chopra.pages

 

From Dr. Chopra

Is your intention to increasing your health and wellbeing? Do you aim to better manage a health condition, improve your energy, balance your weight, or build on an already healthy lifestyle? The simple tips below can help you achieve your goals by incorporating the principles of Ayurveda, the 5,000 year-old Indian health system, into your everyday life.

Download From Dr. Chopra.pages

Holy Trinity

It has come to my attention that I have referred to this incorrectly as the Holy Grail or Trinity when in actuality in the US it is called the . . .  

Holy Trinity and in France you add carrots and call it Miropoix and in Italy you add tomatoes and garlic and call it Soffritto. It is the basis for all good soups, stews, ragu and pasta sauces. 

Download Holy Trinity.pages

 

The END of Diabetes

More from Dr. Joel Fuhrman, MD

Yea - so many good suggestions to reverse or PREVENT diabetes. As you know diabetes is a threat to our nation's economy as well as a disaster for our health care system.

Download The End of Diabetes.pages

Breaking the Code

On the fruits & veggies YOU buy everyday.

Did you know . . . that the tiny little tag on fruits and vegetables holds a world of info?

•  A four-digit code starting with the number 4 equals conventionally grown and may have been sprayed with synthetic pesticides.

•  A five-digit code beginning with 9 equals organic *

•  A five-digit code starting with an 8 means the food has been Genetically Modified. This number is not widely used, as growers and suppliers are still fighting having to label genetically modified foods. 

•  A five-digit code starting with a 3 means new item and all the conventionally numbers are taken. New # old conventionally grown and may have been sprayed with synthetic pesticides.

* Organic foods have NOT been Genetically Modified. To learn more about GMO foods . . . Download GMO.pages

Square Pegs in Round Holes

Square Pegs in Round Holes

Heard that phrase before?

Is that what your job at work feels like?

It is for most people. Is it time to say enough is enough?

Read what this author and others have to say on the subject.

Download Square Peg - Round Whole.pages

 

CORN Syrup

High Fructose Corn Syrup

I had a lady the other day ask my opinion about the advertisements that claim corn syrup is safe because it is PROCESSED from a vegetable. My response to her was I remember the years and years of magazine, newspaper, television, and radio ads for cigarettes and how they showed beautiful men and women in sophisticated clothing having a wonderful time while smoking deadly cancer-sticks. Lots of people make lots of money to lie to us.

Processed is the keyword here but of course they use the word "made" as it sounds more natural and safer. But then I'm not crazy about corn anyway. Did you know that 86% of all corn and 93% of all soy grown in the US has been Genetically Modified to accept pesticides? In other words the plant will not die from the pesticide. So when you eat GMO foods you are eating Round Up . . . hum . . . would you knowingly pour weed killer on your food????????? 

I choose NOT to eat any PROCESSED or PACKAGED products that are sold under the guise of being called food. They are dead and give you no nutrition what so ever. Eat single ingredient LIVING foods that get their energy from the sun and their nutrients from mother earth. You be glad you did. 

To learn more about Genetically Modified foods -- Download GMO.pages

Sugar Blues

Not long after being enlightened about deli meats I began to study the effects of PROCESSED sugar on our brain, nerves, heart, adrenal glands, hormones, bones, circulatory, digestive and immune systems.

There are lots of great sources out there but one of the books I highly recommend it Sugar Blues.

You can get it for FREE at your public library.

Do you know how many teaspoons of sugar are in one can or bottle of Mt. Dew or Dr. Pepper? If you consume either it will behoove you to find out.

Do you know how to calculate the number of calories in each serving of sugar in any container?

Simply multiply the number of grams X 4.

In other words if there are 25 grams of sugars in a product multiply it by 4 and you get 100, which happens to be the TOTAL daily recommended allowance for ALL sugars consumed in a given day.

Eye opening, isn't it??????

Did you know both ammonia and chlorine bleach are used in the process of making sugar white????? They don't have to tell you because it is part of the PROCESS and not an actual ingredient but every grain of white sugar got to be white because of the process. Have you ever seen a stalk of sugar cane? It is a pale YELLOW and not white. 

Think about that one next time you dump white sugar on something you are about to put into your mouth.

PLASTICS

and . . . FOOD not a good combination in my book.

Plastic is made from petroleum byproducts (NOT even good enough to put in your car).

Would you pour gasoline over your food before you consumed it?

I doubt it. But that is exactly what we were doing for years when we nuked our food in plastic containers or covered glass containers with plastic wrap.

Think about what happens when you allow any kind of plastic to come in contact with hot or warm food. 

My-oh-my we are slow learners. NO plastic near my food, thank you very much.

If you want to know the history of where plastic comes from read Download Indoor Air Quality.pages where you will also learn how to test the quality of the air you breath indoors. 

As Myaia Angulo said, "When you know better, you do better".

Bi-Polar

Bi-Polar

Can the culprit be a food allergy or the lack of REAL living single ingredient foods that don't require a label?????? Well I wonder -- when you read my friends account of what happened to her 84 year old mother you might be asking the same question. 

Download Bi-Polar.pages

Broth vs. Stock

Broth vs. Stock

What is the difference? 

Stock has bones -- broth does not. 

Turns out . . . Grandma Knew Best

Science validates what our grandmothers knew. Rich homemade chicken broths help cure colds. Stock contains minerals in a form the body can absorb easily—not just calcium but also magnesium, phosphorus, silicon, sulphur and trace minerals. It contains the broken down material from cartilage and tendons--stuff like chondroitin sulphates and glucosamine, now sold as expensive supplements for arthritis and joint pain.

Do you make Fish Stock? You might want to consider it  . . .  

Download Stock.pages

Deli Meats

Recently a woman asked me how I felt about Deli Meats? I told her I quite eating them 10 years earlier because I had the opportunity to actually read the label on a package of smoked turkey. I was visiting my daughter on the east coast and doing the grocery shopping. She had several deli meats on her list and the line at the deli counter was long. While waiting I asked a newly arrived clerk if I could read the label on a large bundle of turkey. He handed it over. I was appalled. For the rest of the story . . .

Download Deli meats.pages

 

Feingold Diet

I started to say my personal journey to healthy eating started about 10 years ago when I read the label on deli meats for the FIRST time. But in reality it began 30 years ago with the Feingold Diet, Why Your Child is Hyperactive. Available for FREE at your Public Library.

My son was hyperactive and the Feingold literature saved his life and that of the whole family.

For years I felt so guilty that I had been feeding my children daily high doses of food coloring, sugar, nitrates and dozens of other chemicals in their daily food. Of course now I realize what I was feeding them was NOT food but simply fillers to fill up their tummies. How many of us do that everyday?

Instead we'd be better off to think about the nutrition levels available in REAL food. Single ingredient foods that do NOT require a label. Foods that are LIVING. The ones that get their energy from the sun and their nutrients from the earth. These are the foods that will sustain us and give us energy and life. 

The guilt final stopped when I heard Maya Angelou say, "When you know better, you do better". That is sooooooooooo true but it is probably those guilt feelings all those years that make me want to tell every person walking down a grocery aisle STOP -- READ and LEARN what YOU are doing to your body.

From your friend in the kitchen, Judy

Put a Cork in it . . .

Ever hear that expression?

Originally it was meant to shut people up when they were rattling- on-and-on. But now medical science says it really will prevent you from clinching your jaw. But only when you actually insert a cork, found at your nearest hardware store, into your open mouth. I'd suggest you keep your cork in a small zip-bag to keep it clean and store it for easy access in your car or purse. And for heaven's sake, DON'T try sleeping with it, that's what they have night guards for.

From your friend in the kitchen, Judy

My Personal Eating Plan

Why is it I can eat foods high in fat? Why is it I am not on a single prescription drug? Why do I have more energy than most of my family and friends? Why do I feel so good? Why am I so healthy and happy?

Because . . . read my personal eating plan. 

Download What I know for sure.pages

 

Fluoroquinolones (FQ) Antibiotics

UPDATE -- Please print off and forward the attached pdf to everyone you know. This is a concise list of the Fluoroquinolones (FQ) antibiotics that are so dangerous. You must share his information with all of your health care providers and anyone you know who might ever need an antibiotic. 

Download Dangerous Class of Antibiotics

Be sure to read my friends story (Download Antibiotics.pages) about the horrific disabilities her adult son is having to endure because of Cipro. It included good dialogue you need to have with your doctor. 

Broccoli Rabb vs. Asian Broccoli

What's the difference?

See for yourself Download Broccoli Rabb vs. Asian Broccoli.pages

One quick recipe . . .

Brown 1 (per every 2 persons) SWEET Italian Sausage (skin removed) in a med-hot GLASS lined skillet. Separate and crumble for quick and even browning.

Once browned: add a splash of red cooking wine, using a wooden spatula scrap up all the WONDERFUL tasty brown bits on the bottom of the pan and stir well.

Add:

1/8 t    dill seed

pinch red pepper flakes

tiny pinch salt and pepper, remember the sausage has both so a tiny bit goes a long way.

juice of 1/2 FRESH lime, unless it is dry then you and use the other half as well 

Mix well and toss with any kind of broccoli you prefer that has been blanched.

To blanch any vegetable simply bring to a boil in a covered skillet 2-3" of cold water. I like to add a good healthy squeeze of FRESH lemon juice for any green veggie. Keeps them bright and happy!

Add the veggies to the boiling water and turn with thongs. DO NOT cover. Allow to boil 2-3 minutes. Remove and immerse in a bowl of ICE water for another 2-3 minutes. Drain.

YUMMY -- GOOD and GOOD for YOU! 

GREEN Clean

For more hints and tips see page 14 in Cooking with Judy

Thyroid

Is YOUR Thyroid Gland Overactive

Not Working to its Max Capacity or

Happy as a Clam?

What is Hyperthyroidism? The thyroid glad produces too much hormone. It can be caused by excessive iodine in either food consumption or supplements or even prescribed medications.

What is Hypothyroidism? Is it when the thyroid gland does NOT produce the proper amount of hormone. Should you decide to take a synthetic hormone YOU must monitor it closely along with all other vital health levels. 

For a list of foods that will help each condition, plus an additional list of foods that are high in Selenium.   Download Thyroid.pages

Silver

Interesting new study in the LA Times on boosting the effectiveness of antibiotics with the addition of silver. I am NOT an advocate of antibiotics and believe physicians have over prescribed and we have over indulged for too many years and we are all now paying the price. See my friends story (Download Antibiotics.pages) on the price we pay for overuse. 

Silver has been touted in natural healing circles for years. Do your own research and decided for yourself. 

Wishing you a day full of sunshine, joy and laughter!

60-Second Bone Builder

Was so glad to read the following. Especially if you are like me and can't run of simply hate to run. 

Then try jumping jacks, tennis, swing dance, step aerobics-anything that's higher impact than you're used to and that varies your routine. Or give Dr. Milgrom's idea of "zigzag walking" a whirl: side-to-side strides, or forward and suddenly backward steps. The surprise change in direction may also help build stronger bones. 

I printed off a copy for laughter class -- we will incorporate more of these moves. 

For full details Download 60-second Bone Builder.pages

WILD

Here is my thank you note to Cheryl Strayed. I am sure you will want to write one similar to mine once you've read her compelling journey. 

Dear Cheryl,

Not only for your amazing journey but most of all for sharing every detail in such a rhythmic flow, for the occasional punch of humor and forever keeping us on the path. I, like you, was both anxious for the end but yet never wanting the journey to actually be over. Our journey in life never really ends, does it?

With all its' sorrow, with all its' bliss and all the blessing that are bestowed upon us, it is an ongoing journey each day.  I am so glad my friend recommended WILD. 

Thank you, 

Judy

Contact Cheryl at: http://www.cherylstrayed.com/contact.htm

TV Cooks

DRIVE ME CRAZY . . .

I know they have just oodles of people to follow them around and clean up all their drips and smudges. BUT I sure DON'T. I find putting out a saucer or plate on the counter is a great place to lay my used utensils and a real time saver. No messy clean up just a quick soapy wash in hot water and you're done.

Another pet peeve -- is the apparent lack of sanitary practices. Even the best of them will use the same fork or pair of tongs to transfer RAW meat or chicken to a pan, lay the unwashed fork on the bare counter or hang the tongs on the oven door handle. UCK -- and then use the same unwashed utensil to flip the meat and AGAIN to remove the cooked meat to a serving tray.

Sure looks like cross contamination from raw to partially cooked to cooked. I personally use a regular CLEAN dinner fork for EACH use. No big deal to me to toss them in a sink of soapy water to soak until time to clean up the kitchen. No chance of cross contamination in my kitchen. 

Wishing you good eats, good friends and good health.

Esophageal Cancer

Is it PREVENTABLE?  I am beginning to think so.                  

But then that is just my opinion. As always, I want you to do your own research and decide for yourself. My purpose it just to help you stop and think about the choices you make everyday and how they affect your long-term health and happiness. 

Download Esophageal Cancer.pages

FRESH Fruit Storage

A friend was over the other day for lunch and noticed the abundance of fresh fruit I had laying on the kitchen counter. A colander was full of oranges, lemons and limes. A grapefruit was lying on the counter along with and apple, a mango, a kiwi and a banana.

She asked why I didn't have them in the fridge and I explained I only keep berries, grapes and cherries in the fridge.

She asked what about apples -- don't they go bad? I explained . . . Download FRESH Fruit.pages

Well what about bananas she asked -- since I wrote the above someone has shared with me a way to keep banana's FIRM for up to 2-weeks. Download Great Tips.pages You'll also find a great way to keep strawberries FRESH longer. And a super tip on how to prevent back aches when shopping for groceries. 

Back to my conversation with my friend, I went on to explain how ALL fruits except berries should be eaten ALONE as a snack between meals, three hours after your last meal and preferably one hour before your next meal. That way the natural sugars can be burned immediately as fuel.

Berries can be eaten with any meal because they are LOW in sugar and HIGH in fiber. When you eat fruits high in sugar with a meal or as a dessert the sugars will attach to the fat, protein and starch in the meal and store itself in the body and not burn as immediate fuel. Try it you'll FEEL the difference.

Eat lots of fruit 4-5 servings everyday! Remember ½ apple is ONE serving so it is easy to get in your 4-5 EVERYDAY! Same with veggies ½ cup is equal to ONE serving so it too is easy to get in 4-5 a day of those too! Remember . . . fruits and veggies are SINGLE ingredient LIVING foods that do NOT require a label.

"Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.”  Hippocrates 460 BC

Inspiration

Anytime you need a little inspiration . . .

Here is a young man you won't quickly forget. 

Blessings and Gratitude, 

Inspiration