Category: Food and Drink

Some Things Won’t Get Done Today

by ObtainingMercy, posted in Florida Weather, Recipe, What's Happening

Doug and I are starting a new schedule this week, and we are going to see just how well it works.  Isaac will be going to therapy twice a week now.  I know the therapy will be good for him.  I'm just not sure how well our poor old truck is going to hold up with all the traveling.  I'm also not sure how the traveling will affect Doug – not that he is old, or anything!!! : )

I was really looking forward to my afternoon yesterday.  I have several rearranging/organizing jobs that need to be tackled in my tiny house.  I was going to jump into those projects while the boys were out. 

What I did not anticipate, however, was the headache that decided to attack with all its fury during the night on Monday.  I'm pretty sure it's related to sinus issues and all of the rainy weather we are having right now…lots of fronts coming through every day.

So yesterday, I did a whole lot of nothing…while trying to make the headache stop.  I finally took some migraine meds, which did ease the pain.  Unfortunately, it had caffeine in it, and I was awake until nearly 4 a.m. this morning.  8-o

Needless to say, my organizing jobs did not get done, but I'm not thinking today looks good for them either.  I'm feeling a wee bit sluggish and oh, so sleepy!

By the way, as per yesterday's advice, I am totally going to try this recipe with my fresh vegetable harvest.  (Please note my linking to this recipe does not endorse this entire site.  Surf with discretion.)

Well, I guess that's it for today.  If anything exciting happens, I'll be sure to come back and let you know.

: )
Alesha

Did you know…? (Fun Food Facts)

by ObtainingMercy, posted in Food and Drink, Hallelujah Diet, Obtaining Mercy Croft

…green peppers are actually unripened red or yellow peppers?  They should mainly be used for cooking.  Red and yellow peppers are sweeter and taste better in salads.  If you are picking green peppers, pick the ones with red streaks as they will be sweeter.

…when celery is too green, it tends to be bitter; but if it's too white, the nutrient value is low.  Try to pick stalks that are in between.

…asparagus becomes tougher the longer it sits.  For the best flavor consume within a few hours of picking. 

…cucumbers are technically a fruit, as are avocados and tomatoes.

…summer squash – including yellow crookneck and zucchini – are interchangeable in recipes.

…avocados should yield slightly to gentle pressure when ripe.  Store unripe avocados in a closed paper bag on the counter.  When ripened, remove from bag and refrigerate immediately.

…the sweeter the carrot, the higher its nutritional content.

…cauliflower is known for its cancer-fighting properties.

…bananas are not ripe until all the green has disappeared and speckles begin to appear on the skin.

…green grape stems indicate fresh grapes, while those that are old will be dark.

…a well-ripened mango will be multi-colored and aromatic, and will yield to pressure, but not be mushy.

…the best way to choose a cantaloupe is by smell.   Also when ripe, the end of the cantaloupe opposite the stem should be soft and yield to gentle pressure.

…pineapples do not ripen after they have been picked – they only rot.

All Fun Food Facts taken from Recipes for Life from God's Garden by Rhonda J. Malkmus.

Such a Nice Weekend

by ObtainingMercy, posted in Florida Weather, Food and Drink, Hallelujah Diet, Recipe

We had a really great weekend here in sizzling hot Florida.  Even the weather took a little break and was not in the high 90's the entire time.  We had a few showers that cooled things off a little bit, too.

On Saturday we decided to go on an adventure.  For us, you know, sometimes an "adventure" means that all three of us are in the truck and we're not going to a doctor's appointment!  So for us to go out of town – and not to a doctor – was an especially adventuresome day.

We took a trip to a grocery store:  Whole Foods Market in Orlando.

We didn't even know about this chain of stores, nor that we had one close by.  So when my brother, Michael, told us about it, we were eager to check it out.  (and praise the Lord for his other recommendation of "don't forget to take a cooler!")

It was one of the best shopping experiences we've ever had.  The employees in the store were extraordinarily helpful and polite. (Unlike the man at the mall last Saturday who asked me NOT to stand in front of his kiosk with Isaac if I wasn't buying anything because I was blocking his display!  And he did not have one customer at the entire enclosure!  So rude!) 

It was Saturday, so of course, the store was very busy; but even the other shoppers were polite and kind and smiled at my child.  Doug commented on it as we were living – that it was one of the nicest shopping trips for Isaac in a long time.  No one stared, or commented…maybe it was just because we were in a bigger city.  I don't know, but we had a nice time there.

Of course, everything was extremely expensive.  I'm going to be checking out their website today to see if they have online coupons or a magazine or newsletter, something that might have the occasional coupon.  If you know of anything, please let me know.

(The first thing I did see on the website this morning, as I grabbed the link for you, was a recipe.  And just look what recipe it was!!!  So funny, considering last week's mix-up!)

We found lots of yummy foods to try.  It was especially nice to have choices in the frozen food sections.  It is good for us to have a few convenience foods in our freezer all the time, and while we can find organic, healthy things at our local grocery store, our choices are very limited.  There's only one frozen organic vegan soup that doesn't contain soy (which I try to avoid); and only one cheeseless vegetarian pizza on a whole wheat crust.  It was really exciting to have so many choices and be able to try a few new dishes.

The produce was lovely and they had a nice selection.  The prices there weren't too bad, about the same as our local store.  If we were presently eating meat or seafood, they had many, many choices, including an octopus salad that was so gross looking I couldn't even stand to take a picture of it!  <<<shiver…>>>

There was a huge deli and pizza bar, along with a massive cold and hot food bar.  There were still lots of things that we really shouldn't eat for our diet, but it was nice to just look and smell.

On Sunday, we were both able to go to church, which is always a blessing.  We also worked really hard all weekend on laundry.  I feel like we made a respectable dent in it! : )

Well, it's lovely to be starting a new week.  I pray that you have a productive and peaceful Monday!

Blessings,
Alesha

Of Avocados and Mangos

by ObtainingMercy, posted in Blessings, Food and Drink

I had no idea that I liked mango until I tasted a fresh one!  Wow!  What a difference between that and the mushy stuff you find in the average fruit cup.

I didn't set out to try a new fruit, though.  It all happened like this…

You see, I asked my hubby to pick up an avocado while he was at the grocery store.  I was planning guacamole.

01avocado

This is what he brought home:

01mango

Yep…you can go ahead and laugh.  I certainly did!!!

Well, at least he brought home something very tasty!  And it's those kinds of mistakes that turn into blessings.

Yummmmm…mango!!!

: )
Alesha

ENERGY!!!

by ObtainingMercy, posted in Hallelujah Diet, Recipe, What's Happening

Today, for the first time in over 2 months, I woke up with a bit of energy!

I
was able to work in the kitchen, only stopping to feed Isaac and take
out the dog, for about an hour and a half this morning.  I have not
been able to do that in such a long time!  Praise the Lord!

I
am still in considerable pain.  My chiro explained that it is nerve
pain I am feeling, from disks in my back that are inflamed, pinched or
damaged.  We're not sure which, but are not going to spend a lot of
money finding out right now.  The best thing for my back right now is
periodic adjustments, continued weight loss, an optimal diet and
moderate exercise.  For now, my exercise is working in my house,
something I haven't been able to do for a while.

We are
continuing on our Hallelujah Diet, although it has not been easy the
past several weeks.  We are juicing our carrots and taking our barley
and all of our daily supplements.  They really do help us to feel so
much better when we do that every day.

Here's a little something I thought you would enjoy:


(they sell these on the Hallelujah Acres website, and I just could not resist!)

I also have a fabulous recipe to share with you.  It was sooooo yummy!!!  The recipe is found in Recipes for Life from God's Garden by Rhonda J. Malkmus.

Stuffed Red Peppers
4            medium red bell peppers
1/4 c      onion
1 c         celery
1 c         corn kernels (I used organic canned corn, but fresh would be better)
1/2 tsp   rosemary
2 c         vegetable soup stock (I use "Vegetarian Better Than Bouillon" in water)
1/4 c      chives (I used dry, about 1/8 c)
1/4 c      carrots
1 c         basmati rice (I used brown basmati rice)
1 clove   garlic
1 tsp       parsley flakes (I used about 3 stalks of fresh)
Celtic Sea Salt to taste

Bring
soup stock to a boil, add basmati rice, reduce heat, cover and cook for
25 minutes.  Turn off heat and allow to sit an additional 15-20 minutes.
Slice
tops off peppers, remove seeds and stems, and dice the remaining red
part of the top of pepper.  Dice the onion, celery, chives and carrots
and combine with diced red pepper and corn.  Mince garlic and *steam
saute this vegetable mixture until  tender – about 5 minutes.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Combine rice, vegetables and seasonings.  Fill peppers and bake about 30 minutes.
*To steam saute, place veggies in very small amount of water and cook in skillet on stove top with the lid on.

Let me know if you try these, and how you liked them.  We enjoyed them a lot!

Our
church's Junior Camp is taking place this week.  We have an awesome
place, called Camp Glory, out in the middle of the Florida woods where
our camps take place every summer.  I attended them from the time I was
around 8 years old until the summer I graduated from college.  I have
wonderful memories of fantastic adventures, awesome friends and
decisions made for the Lord. 

My brother and sister in law
will be out there this week, along with many other counselors, campers,
cooks, speakers and parents.  I am praying that God will speak to many
hearts and change many lives this week. 

I am also praying the Florida mosquitos will be kept at bay and the temperatures will not be tooo scalding.  Oh, and I told my brother I would also pray that he would have a cabin full of boys who sleep all night long!!!

I pray you have a wonderful week,
Alesha