Canada Oil (Canola)

Ever wonder where canola oil comes from? Read this interesting post. Well, unless you're going to keep using canola oil :)

Dangers of canola oil

I don't know if everything in this report is true. You can pretty much find whatever you want whichever way you want to, but I think there are definitely healthier alternatives that people have been using for a long time so we know the benefits of these oils.

Healthier alternatives: olive oil, coconut oil, butter

Sweet almonds

1 cup raw almonds

1 TBSP. butter

2 TBSP. pure maple syrup

Melt the butter and syrup together over medium heat, stir in almonds and coat until syrup mixture gets thicker. Let dry on cookie sheet. Eat. Enjoy. Guilt-free.

Blender Bread

I am going to start making sourdough bread so that we don't have the instant yeast in our guts multiplying, but until my start is ready, here is a good bread recipe. I like it because #1-it tastes good, and #2-it doesn't use gluten or dough enhancer. Family hit!

2 cups hard white wheat

2 cups hard red wheat

4-6 cups baker's flour (I used ground Kamut)

2 TBSP. dry yeast

4 cups warm water

1/3 cup oil (I used coconut)

1/3 cup sugar (I used 1/4 cup honey)

1 TBSP. salt

Place one cup of wheat in blender with one cup of warm water and blend on high for about 2 minutes (less time if you like more cracked wheat bread). Repeat this process a cup at a time with the remaining 3 cups of wheat and 3 cups of water. Add the yeast and mix well. Cover bowl and let sponge for 15 minutes. Add oil, sugar, and salt. Turn on mixer or stir by hand. Begin adding flour 1 cup at a time, until dough forms a ball or begins to clean the side of the bowl. Knead 5-6 minutes in a bread mixer, longer by hand.

Lightly oil counter. Remove dough and divide into four equal portions. Shape into loaves, and place in greased bread pans (4"x8-1/2"). Let rise until double in bulk, 20-25 minutes. Bake in preheated oven 350* for 30-35 minutes. Take bread from oven, brush tops with melted butter and quickly remove from pan to cool on wire racks.

New Syrup!

My S-I-L taught me a great trick!

Get some jam that is pure fruit, no sugar added (Target is a good source), dilute with water until desired consistency and blend in blender, and voila! Fruit syrup...Yum!

Better than Orange Julius

1 can orange juice concentrate

2 cans water

1 can coconut cream

6 ice cubes

Blend in blender until foamy and frothy.

Take contents and go hide in closet and enjoy by yourself.

Oatmeal Pancakes

1/2 cup oatmeal

1/2 cup whole wheat flour (or kamut)

1 egg

3/4 cup buttermilk

1 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. salt

2 TBSP. oil (coconut preferably), or do 1 TBSP. applesauce/1 TBSP. oil

1 TBSP. sweetener (honey, brown rice syrup)

Beat with hand mixer until smooth, cook until fluffy!

Out for the day

Here's a few things I learned today..

When you don't have a bathroom at a park, thank goodness for extra diapers for your 3 year old to poop in.. (wow he totally hated that.. I wasn't a huge fan either)

Salsa and a bag of maiche (?) lettuce is totally disgusting!

The tempt to read and drive at the same time is almost overwhelming..

Going to the grocery store for lunch instead of fast food is a lot cheaper and way better!

(yogurt, chips and salsa, and whole wheat bagels.. mm!)