Seed Catlogs have arrived!

So far to date, five of my regular seed catalogs have arrived and like most gardening folks, at certain points I am already day dreaming about orders, starting seeds and what the new garden will bring. I don’t know about the rest of you folks that garden but I like my mix of older true blue things that I will produce and produce well, along with a mix of new things and we always pick at least one new thing to grow just cuz..

Granted , we don’t give that much space to the new or just cuz things but its always fun to try something new to go with the old. Its hard to believe that when we started we had no garden here what-so-ever but that between the different gardens, it has grown to well over half an acre, It seems like now, we are not in so much need for more space (other then the new growing area for ground crops for the critters) as much as we are in need of a Cold House or two, and we are working on figuring out the joys of rotional planting for our area.

Having been raised in the west, with its much shorter and cooler climate, its been really interesting to learn not only the eastern weather but of course the patterns for our own area when it comes to what can grow and how many crops you get grown, picked and replanted.

I guess the first year, when I watched them take three cuts off the hay fields, I knew right then that we could grow so much more here then anywhere else I have lived but I am always amazed at just how much and many things can be worked with, and now that I am working with year round harvesting, it’s opened so many doors.

Of course, what would gardens be without some bright color in terms of flowers, almost all my different flowers that I plant are also able to be used for use in terms of eating an or for medical use, but as much as I like them for that, I also just like having something pretty around.

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Happy New Year!

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Gold Forest Grains

Gold Forest Grains

Certified Organic farm near Edmonton, Alberta, Canada producing Golden Flax, Buckwheat, Wheat, Barley, Oats, Peas, Rye and heritage varieties of grains. We are a small family farm supplying wholesome local food to our friends and neighbours.

Hi Auntie, Here is the link for the farm by Edmonton for you, as you can see they have a good supply of different things including the Barley you were looking for as well as the soft white flour, they say they sell in Stony Plain and at http://www.spruceparkranch.ca/ just outside of Spruce Grove.

Had a boo in my books on the acid level for rubarb, and at its highest it appears to be about 3.5 percent and that’s if you are using the old fashion green or even better the medical rubarb, the big strawberry Red Rubarb is got a even lower rating, where as the lemon Juice is 5% and Vinagers range between 5 to 7 pecent, that is a big difference, I would think if you wanted to use Rubarb Juice, you would need to make homemade vinager first with it before using it for the best results.

Its for the local diet for my relatives in the Edmonton Area..

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Green Blended Drinks Round Two

So, here is the offical Dr. Oz Green Drink

1/2 cup spinach, 1/2 cup chopped Cucumber, 1 Stalk Celery, 1/2 tsp Gingerroot, a pinch of Parsley, 1/2 an apple, 1tsp lime and lemon Juice. Puree till smooth. I cut down the portions to make it one serving instead of 4.

So I was not truly happy with the results from yesterday,  Which I would give a 3 out of 10 so decided today to make it as close as possable to Dr. Oz’s Green Drink, so I had everything other then the lime juice, and I carefully measured out the amounts this time.

So Tip #1, Add a bit of water to blend with, as that is twice now that I have needed to do so, I am adding as little as possable but otherwise it won’t blend till smooth.

Tip # 2, I thought it would be a good idea to had a little spice to the drink with a touch of hot peppers, I can see it being a good thing to add now and again if you want that heat, but while getting used to it.. maybe not.

Texture, this was not a drink so much as a very thick smoothie, I finally added more water to get it more drinkable, having said that, I did find the taste better then yesterday.  Will keep you posted on different mix’s and results.

Dang, but that be one “Green Drink” LOL I would give it a 5 out of 10, and think you would get used it..

Ok, so Day 3 on this green Blended Drink, and first, I am so surprised but I woke up craving my green drink HUH?

So I went and reread the arcticle on Dr. Oz’s #1 fat cure, in regards to the Green Drink and why it works, and it says that you can add a bit more fruit at time to change the taste of the drink, then I went to my big blenders recipes and a cookbook that had a area on blended drinks.

So this morning with a rating of 8 an half out of ten, I give you this yummy Green Drink Recipe

1/2 cup spinach, 1/2 cup chopped Cucumber, 1 Stalk Celery, 1/2 tsp Gingerroot, a pinch of Parsley, 1/2 an apple, 1tsp lime and lemon Juice. 

I used the Dr. Oz recipe as the base, after all, he know’s alot more about this then me, then I added two homecanned (they were canned in light syrup, which I took them out of) peach halfs, and a heaping tablespoon of Greek Style yogurt, about 1/4 cup of ice cold water and blended it together..

All the goodness, none of the bitter aftertaste of the original.

So went to town and got the last of the few things I needed to add to the drink, which would include fresh Ginger and Lime Juice.. I like it better with the fresh ginger in it, between the lime and the lemon juice, its really growing on me.

Yesterday Day 4, I tried it with Banana, and didn’t like it as much, today I went back to the extra being the peaches, but didn’t add any yogurt, tried it with just the Dr.Oz recipe and extra canned peaches, and quite liked it as well..

DH has joined me for the past two days in having his, to which it got a offical review of.. its ok, I can get used to it 🙂

I on the other hand am starting to like it more and more each day that I am having one..

So tonight, we tried adding blueberries as our fruit, not bad, I will give it a 6 out of ten. Despite blending it lots, I found that the blueberries skins added a bit of rough mouth feel texture that I am not sure I like as much as the smooth blend of the peaches, but I like the taste itself very much.

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Lamb Bone Broth Recipe

These are the nice meaty bones left over after taking the meat off two small lamb shoulder roasts..

Here is my best trick, you need to roast your bones before you simmer them all day long to make your broth, you want to brown them, and while I think it goes without saying, you need to deglaze the baking pan with hot water and add all that flavor and wonderful bits to the stock pot.

So take your browned bones and all the deglazed bits and put it into your large stock pot, add two onions, one carrot, for lamb, I like to add at least half a turnip cut into chunks, bay leaf, salt, and pepper and start it on a slow simmer for about four to eight hours, you want to simmer till at least reduced by half..

mmmm Lamb broth is so good to use in many recipes..

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Purdy, Priss and Munchkin

Priss is coming on fourteen and Muchkin is going strong at eleven, only Purdy has cross the bridge to the other side but were has the time gone, it seems like they were just kittens and now they are old ladies (but don’t tell them that)

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Weight Loss Goal for 2010 Overview

So first, I started my goal Feb 9th 2010, so if I am being fair, I was making choices for 11 of the 12 months of the year. In Total I lost 43 pds, a total of 17 inches off my body, I lost 2 inches off my arms, 3 inches off my waist, 6 inches off my bust, 3 inches off my hips and 3 inches off my thighs, I am down two sizes in clothes.

I will give credit to a few different things that really helped make this happen, first I give thanks to my dear hubby and my family and friends but a big shout goes out to Nat! for her never ending support and help.

I also need to say thanks again to my dad for getting us the wii last christmas (or at least the gift cards that got the wii) I am so glad that I figured out how to use it for doing a fitness program in house.

My energy level has increased a great deal and I feel so much better overall for the weight loss. I am looking forward to what 2011 will bring in so many ways.

It was strange but I got asked for advice on how I did it, and I can honestly say.. little changes add up to great results.. and do things long enough to make them habits and you are on the way..

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Green Hubbard Squash Soup Recipe

1 Small onion-Peeled and Diced
1 TSP of Olive Oil
1 Clove of Garlic-Peeled and Diced
1 Stock of Celery-Diced
2 Turkey Sticks-Diced
2 cups of veggie Stock
2 cups of Hubbard Squash baked in the oven first and then added cooked to the soup.
1/2 cup of diced Cabbage
Salt, Pepper, Ginger, Hot Pepper

This made a total of about 4 to 5 cups of soup, its a thick rich slighly sweet soup with bits of meatness, it would be great as a meatless soup as well without the turkey.

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Green Blended Drinks

So, here is the offical Dr. Oz Green Drink

1/2 cup spinach, 1/2 cup chopped Cucumber, 1 Stalk Celery, 1/2 tsp Gingerroot, a pinch of Parsley, 1/2 an apple, 1tsp lime and lemon Juice. Puree till smooth. I cut down the portions to make it one serving instead of 4.

So I am missing a few things in the house for this one, so I did it a little different today and will continue to do so until I get what I already have in the house used up, as it makes no sense to me to go buy the one’s listed above when I have a ton of fresh veggies and greens that need to be eaten.

So I make mine today as 1/2 an apple, 1 stock Celery, Broccoli, 2 cups of greens, 1/2 cup of apple cider, blend till smooth and frothy, it was not great, a little to many “greens” I think but I got both cups drank. Its a slam it back kind of drink, not a sip and go ummm..

I will keep you posted on what different ones I come up with and which ones for me at least are better in regards to taste etc.

Posted in Food Production and Recipes, Green Smoothies | Tagged | 6 Comments

Weigh In Week 46/10

Well, given that it was the holiday week and I certain had way more food then I would normally, I didn’t eat like I would have in the years before, most of the time, I was able to NOT have seconds, and to control my portions well but still it all add’s up, and while I was busy housecleaning and taking the odd walk, I didn’t get my daily workouts in as it seemed like I went to bed before company and that they got up either at the same time as us or just after, so no time for a workout there either.. So I guess it came as no surprise to me really that I gained three pds over the week.. to which I say.. SO BE IT and move on and forward!

Here was my goals for the past week

Start drinking my red tea daily again-Nope, only got to do so for one day
Sleep at least seven hours a night-Nope, not even close
Workout-Cardo 2x plus 2 walks-I wish, only got one walk in for 25 min
Weights- 3x -focus on core/legs- Got 2 Weights in only
Dress up for outings-Yes
Blog Daily-Nope, as you can see, didn’t get to blog for days.

Goals for the coming week

Make one meal per day Dr. Oz’s Blended Green Drink
No Eating after eight
Work to downsize me meals
Food Journal
Walk X 3
Weights X 2
Deep Breathing Workouts X 2

Ideally look to push a jump start of a three to five pd weight loss this coming week to get back on track for the new year.

Yearly Goal for 2011, Lose in the general area of 50 pds, Build my strength, Continue to make healthy food choices, continue to eat less ideally at each meal, averaging about 1600 to 1800 hundred calories per day. Continue to grow an or raise as much for my own food as possable, and support the local farmers and growers and SOLE food. Take on new challanges, Learn New Skills, Practise old skills learned but not forgotten.

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