FAITH ASTORIA

Breakfast-for your health

Okay so for my 2 cents on breakfast. Here's some ideas anyway. Veggie omelet, my whole family loves them. Make sure your getting grass feed eggs with no antibiotics or hormones fed to the chickens(ask me about it). Saute a little mushrooms, peppers, onions, or tomatoes and maybe a little cheese. Oh and don't forget the tea pot in the back ground. It's the perfect weather to get into some warm yummy herbal tea. I know hot chocolate is the yummiest(I love it) but you can't go wrong if you get the right herbs to help your body. Right now I'm working on a pregnancy tea with all the herbs that make your body healthy for birth plus some really yummy ones like mint and licorice root. Want to know more about it, ask me! Last of all I found this granola at Winco last time I was there. It is in the bulk section and it is made of several grains, organic honey, peanuts and peanut butter, and a few other things. It's a great combination though because usually we eat a lot of grains(which turn to sugar or glucose in the body) or sugars for breakfast and don't get our protein which keeps us feeling strong and not making our body have a blood sugar crash before we know it. The peanuts and peanut butter do that in this cereal, there's a lot more ways then just meat to get your proteins. Okay enough of my 2 cents.

Siblings

Me and my siblings all grown up. I don't know if you can tell but I'm the oldest of this bunch. It's kind of cool when we all grow up it seems like we're all the same all of a sudden. Anyway I like this picture because it's rare that I see them and rare that we have a picutre all together. I guess that's why I'm going through all these pregnancies, so my kids can have siblings right?:)

today's 2 cents

Have you ever wanted to make a difference, even a small one? Today I bought some "green" bags from Winco. They were only 88 cents each. Each one is totally made out of non-toxic, non-allergenic, and recyclable material. They are really sturdy and have handles (which is wonderful), they save thousands of plastic bags from being thrown away and their company takes their ethics all the way to the factory, no sweat shops for the greebag Co. I think you can get these bags at other stores also. They're usually green (representing saving the earth) and close to the check-out. The winco ones say Winco on them but I think they come with all kinds of different things on them. Don't take my word for it check out the website it's awesome! www.greenbag.info. Now I just need to remember to always put them back in the van for next time but hey that's a small price to pay right! My 2 cents. Ask me about it:)

Dinner last night

Kusherie (Egyptian Rice and Lentils
Easy to make, despite the recipe length, and high in protein.
In Egypt this is served with plain yogurt as a side dish.
From Mennonite cookbook More-With-Less.(love this cookbook)
6-8 servings
45 min 10 min prep
Rice and Lentils
2 tablespoons oil
1 1/4 cups lentils

3 cups boiling water (or stock)

1 teaspoon salt

1 dash pepper

1 1/2 cups rice

1 cup boiling water (or stock)

Sauce
3/4 cup tomato paste

3 cups tomato juice (or tomato sauce or pureed tomatoes)

1 green pepper, chopped

1/2 cup celery leaves, chopped

1 tablespoon sugar

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon cumin

1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (or crushed chilis to taste)

Browned Onions
2 tablespoons oil
3 onions, sliced

4 garlic cloves, minced


0. In a large heavy saucepan over medium heat, brown lentils in 2 Tbsp oil, about 5 minutes, stirring often.
0. Add the 3 cups boiling stock and the salt and pepper.
0. Cook uncovered 10 minutes over medium heat.
0. Stir in the rice and 1 cup stock.
0. Bring to boil, reduce heat, cover and simmer 25 minutes without stirring.
0. Meanwhile make sauce: Heat all the sauce ingredients together in a medium saucepan.
0. Bring to boil, reduce heat, cover and simmer 20-30 minutes.
0. To make browned onions, heat oil in a small skillet.
0. Saute onions and garlic over medium heat till browned.
0. To serve, put rice lentil mixture on a platter, pour tomato sauce over and top with browned onions.

I love making something healthy and feeling like I'm taking care of my children's bodies and ensuring them a better future of physical health. I'm not saying I deny them treats but it's amazing how food affects you once you really start finding out, Ask me about it:) Current books I'm delving into: Omnivores Dilhema and In Defense of Food by Michael Pollan.

Martin Luther King Day

My first post happens to fall on the week of Martin Luther King Day so that will be our beginning. Ever since we've been married we have gone to the local celebration of Martin Luther King Day. When we lived in D.C. we went and stood on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial and looked out where he would have given his speech. Now I know that all that doesn't seem relevant now but his ultimate service to mankind is kind of what we're all striving for, kindness and peace towards everyone, willing to give what it takes, christlike love. Also the influence that is still seen today makes us believe we can all make a difference even if we are just one person. What do you think? CBC celebrates Martin Luther King day at 12:00 every year starting at the Martin Luther King statue, did you know they had one of those?