Don’t forget you only have a few more days to sign up for Ann Marie’s Surf & Turf Cooking Class! (See who won the free class.) Commenters at last week’s giveaway post mentioned that they were most excited to learn how to prepare organ meats in a way they’d actually enjoy, and others said they can’t wait to learn more about finding sources for healthy seafood. Personally, I can’t wait to see how she prepares grass-fed steaks, because so far the best way to describe our efforts in that area is “dry-stick-in-your-throat” disappointments. Did you see the great video Ann Marie did on how to make Ceviche?
Here’s what’s up this Monday morning:
- HELP! A good friend needs to eat gluten-free, but can’t find a cracker or other crunchy snacks that actually taste good. Do any of you know of some good brands?! (FYI: She doesn’t like to cook and probably won’t make homemade crackers!)
- Is organic junk better than non-organic junk? Hallee the Homemaker takes a look at the hugely popular organic trend. Here’s what I said in my slightly annoying comment there, “Hallee, this hit the nail on the head and has been a pet peeve of mine for a while. That said, I do sometimes buy this junk, but rarely, and only when I’m planning to buy junk anyway. This is just junk without the REALLY junky junk!”
- I’m not sure why I keep buying books when I don’t have time to read them anyway, but here’s the latest one I ordered because I just had to have it: Living Low Carb: Controlled-Carbohydrate Eating for Long-Term Weight Loss
. I tried borrowing it from the library, but there were too many times I wanted to underline, so I had to get my own. I can’t wait to read the section where he compares all sorts of popular diets and gives what he sees as the positives and negatives of each one. I love it when someone has done all the research and it’s all laid out there for me.
- Have you heard of Truvia and Purevia and wondered if they’re good for you and how they compare to the all-natural sweetener, Stevia? Read this Huffington Post article to find out.
- Check out this article from Womans Day, isn’t it wild?! Foods that look like the body parts they’re good for.
- Have a great week!
. I tried borrowing it from the library, but there were too many times I wanted to underline, so I had to get my own. I can’t wait to read the section where he compares all sorts of popular diets and gives what he sees as the positives and negatives of each one. I love it when someone has done all the research and it’s all laid out there for me.
Gregg says
You are loved and not in the least bit annoying.
God Bless,
Gregg
KatieC says
Second Mary’s Gone Crackers. They’re my absolutely favorites!
Ann Marie @ CHEESESLAVE says
Mary’s Gone Crackers are gluten free and they’re yummy
Katie says
The meaning of organic really changed for me this year when I became a Florida Master Gardener. I was sitting in our class about toxicity of different pesticides expecting to feel even better about my organic budget when I saw the sad news. I was looking at this huge chart of every known substance used as a pesticide and was shocked to see many of the organic ones are MORE toxic than the conventional pesticides. Well I had to raise my hand and inquire and the doctorate of horticulture who was teaching this course just smiled at me. I always assumed organic meant mostly growing things the way I do with no chemicals or very little safe stuff. But as I read this and talked with the instructor, he began to enlighten me a bit about the organic scam. There are many toxic things farmers can spray on their products that are still organic. Yes, they may be derived from a flower, but they are still toxic. I am in no way advocating conventional produce. On the contrary, this made me realize the importance of growing my own food and knowing the farmer and their practices for all the rest. And please, don’t assume that because a product at the lawn and garden store says organic, its safer for your family and food. There are safe products on the market but just be aware that when it comes to chemicals, the organic label does not insure safety.
KitchenKop says
My brother has told me this for years, it’s so frustrating!!! Truly, like you said, the only people we can trust with our food besides ourselves are the local farmers we get to know.
Martha says
I was drinking my liquid stevia sweetened tea as I read these articles. I’m currently making a elderberry tincture and assume I could do the same with stevia. I guess I need to try and grow some. I have dried stevia leaf but it is ground so small I’m not sure I could strain it out at the end. I wonder if a few layers of cheesecloth would work.
The book you ordered looks good too. The GAPS diet is the next one I want to order. I really want to look in to it more.
Elizabeth @ The Nourished Life says
I highly recommend reading the GAPS diet book. I’m reading through it for the second time this month, and it’s amazing how much more I’m learning this time around. While we’ve never gone full GAPS, I certainly take all the recommendations in the book to heart and try to incorporate many of them into our lives.
Martha says
It’s good to know that there can be benefits even without doing all of it. It seems so drastic.
Elizabeth @ The Nourished Life says
There are definitely benefits to following at least some of the advice if you can’t do all of it. But I will say if you’re dealing with serious digestive issues or other major health problems (like depression, autism, etc.), then to achieve major healing you will probably need to do the whole diet. Someone with minor troubles may be able to pick and choose, but to heal serious issues you have to get serious with the diet.
Heather Jacob says
Dr. Mercola’s article on the Huffington Post is about aspartame, which I already avoid like the plague! But I do use Truvia…is there a different link? Thanks!
KitchenKop says
Heather, keep reading, it’s further down in the article. 🙂
Heather Jacob says
Thanks! I missed it. That’s what I get for skimming!
My husband has always had weird reactions to artificial sweeteners. Aspartame “tastes like burning” to him, meaning his tongue feels like it’s on fire, and Splenda feels like he has an oil slick in his mouth. I don’t think he’s tried saccharin, nor do we want to go there. I think he was okay with stevia, but I’m just not a fan of the bitter aftertaste. Truvia doesn’t have it, and I use at most 2 per day, so hopefully any ill effects are minimal.
Any experience with “vegan” sugar?