Ever Try Fermented Foods?

This weekend we had family come in to visit and had a wonderful time.  It was packed with new memories, laughs, and new experiences.  Whenever we get together we love to try new organic foods and products.  My sister-n-law, Gina, has always been a positive influence when it comes to doing things natural and simple.  She shared with me a few new products from Fabulous Ferments LTD.   I tried two Raw Sauerkraut with assorted vegetables and a couple Kombucha drinks.

What is Fermentation?  It is the chemical transformation of organic substances into simpler compounds by the action of enzymes, which are produced by microorganisms such as molds, yeasts, or bacteria.  Enzymes help to break down and/or predigest to form smaller compounds and nutrients aiding in digesting.

In the field of enzyme research,  they have seen that people with a large diets of cooked foods, especially meat and grains,  has a increase risk of illness, shorten lifespans, and over stress on the body.  Research also noticed physical effects of enlarged pancreases and shrinking of other glands and organs especially the brain.  Almost all traditional societies have a raw enzyme rich food in their diet.   Some include raw fish, raw diary, muscles, organ meets, cultured, and fermented vegetables.  Even cultures with cooked meats and grains are balanced with fermented vegetables like sauerkraut, pickles carrots, pickled beets, or pickled cucumbers.  See research and study from Dr. Edward Howell.

Humans have been fermenting foods for centuries.  We use this process in making, wine, beer, breads, cheese, yogurt, and other foods.  Most of you have heard or try Sauerkraut at some time.  Most vegetables and raw meets where placed in jars with a brine known as salt water.  The salt would break down and ferment the food making it last longer and easy for digestion.  Today, a lot of people have started using vinegar instead of brine to store their food.  This cuts the "good bacteria" out of the food and no longer an aid in digestive health. 

 A few reasons to eat Fermented foods.

• aids digestion. This is because the food has been partially broken down and easier for the digestive organs to process. 
•  are rich in enzymes which help not only to break down foods but also absorbing them.  
• restore the gut with healthy "good" bacteria, fighting the bad bacteria which cause gas, bloating, constipation, cancer, and more.
•  increase vitamin and nutrients to the body because they are more easily absorbed. 

I gave you a little history and nutritional benefitsof fermented foods.  I want to share the tasty foods I tried.

The first was the Sea-chi.  This included napa cabbage, daikon radishes, leek, hand harvested kelp, ginger, chili flakes, Celtic sea salt (all organic).  This was a great tasting side that we had with BBQ pulled pork and roasted vegetables.

The second sauerkraut we had was a apple cinnamon cranberry.  Included cabbage, apple, cranberry, cinnamon, nutmeg, and Celtic sea salt (all organic).  This was a sweeter tasting mix of vegetables, fruit, and spices.  I loved it.

I thought both had a wonderful taste and experience.  I never tasted the salt, just the natural flavors of the assorted items.

Sea Chi and the apple cinnamon

Gina, sharing her Kambucha!

                             
Next we tried Kambucha, which is a bottle to the right!  This was a very pleasant tea/drink that was carbonated from fermented mushrooms.  I know what you are thinking, I would never usually drink mushrooms too.  Amazingly you never taste them you only taste the assorted items included. 

First was "Party Time Purple Carrot". This was my favorite.  It had a darker pink/purple coloring and fizz.  Ingredients included: organic raw kambucha tea, cane sugar, purple carrot juice, and lemon juice. 
Second was the "Groovy Grape".  Ingredients included: organic raw kambucha tea, cane sugar, and grape juice.  This was a wonderful light purple in color and fizz.  Both tasted great and had a fizz similar to soda.


For Pricing and Orders you can see Fab Ferments!  

Additional links about fermentation.

Simple and Profound Living: including Artisan bread recipe, and roasted vegetables

This comes to mind when I did a little research on a Monks life.  This is a huge decision to leave the life you have completely behind and take a life of prayer and service.  A monks life is separated equally into three parts prayer, work, and rest. I wanted to explain a little about a monks daily life and their meals.  This was very touching and educational for me.

A Monks day starts at 4 am to the symantron, a long wooden symbol hit with a mallet.  Think of a beating alarm clock.  Then they head to the church for matins, chanting of the hours and Liturgy.   This ends about 10:30 am.  The monks then head to their main meal for the nourishment for the days activities.  They then head to their allotted work, this is individual like gardening, house work, or grounds.  One more services is celebrated either at 3 or 5 depending on the calender year.  At 7pm the have their evening meal and then they are left to retire in their rooms.  Although at 11pm the symantron beats again for an hour of individual prayers in rooms.  They count the knots of the rosary repeating the Kyrie Elieson.  If you have never heard this, it is an amazing and moving phrase meaning "Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me".  He then returns to sleep to wake at 4am with the symantron again.

For the most part monks use a vegetarian diet.  Meals are eaten in the beautiful refectory while someone reads from the New Testament through the entire meal.   A typical noon meal will have a seasonal salad, cooked beans, rice, and/or lentils in broth, seasonal vegetables, bread, side of fruit, fish, cheese, and watered down wine.  Depending on the order and the liturgical year some never eat any fish except feast days and the sick.  During Lent they refrain from any fish, eggs, cheese, and butter.  The vegetables they eat are only seasonal and grown in their own garden. The evening meal consist of soup and bread, mostly from the food left at the noon meal.  Fruits consist of those grown and maintained on the grounds, seasonal. On average the monks eat 1 lb of bread a day.  This is a huge calorie and energy source for them.

I wanted to make a similar meal.  Last night we had a seafood soup, side salad, artisan bread, roasted mixed vegetables, and wine.  The bread was simple to make and tasted amazing.  While my soup had a mixture of seafood that normal would not have been used for monks, the broth and vegetable in it would be similar.  The important thing I want to mention is the food eaten is simple, tasteful, and provides the energy for their daily task.  Monks do not sit around all day.  For the 1/3 of the day is spent in manual labor of the grounds and buildings.  A 1/3 in thoughtful prayer,  reflections, and study which also needs energy and focus.  The remainder 1/3 is in rest which as you see is very much needed. 


Artisan Bread Recipe 
4 cups lukewarm water
1 1/2 tbsp yeast
1 1/2 tbsp sea salt
 6 cups whole wheat flour
corn meal for sprinkling the bread

After rising

In a large bowl add your flour, yeast and salt.  I mixed everything just a bit.  Then I added the 4 cups of water and mix until just combined.  Here my daughter mixed with a spoon.  Cover the bowl with a piece of foil and a cloth towel.  The towel will help keep the heat in while it rises.  The dough will sit for 2-5 hours.  We let it our bread sit for 3 hours.








Remove the towel and foil and  cut into 1/3.  (This is a great representation of equal parts, work, prayer, and rest!)  On a stone or baking sheet sprinkle a little corn meal.  Then place your rounded bread and flatten out like in the picture.  Allow to rise for 30 minutes.  Then make a tic tac toe cut across the top.  This is very important to allow some heat to escape while baking.  If not done the bread with slit itself.  After making cuts, sprinkle a little corn meal over top.  In a 450 preheated place a oven safe bowl of water when you add bread to oven.  This is a steam bath.  Bake for 28 minutes and allow to cool. 

We enjoyed a loaf for dinner for a party of 7.  The remaining two loaves where used one at breakfast for french toast and the last for lunch.  We started another batch of bread this morning and thought this to be a simple routine for daily bread in just 5 minutes.  Today's bread will have a simple cross instead of the tic tac toe to symbolize Jesus sacrifice for us during this lenten season. 

Roasted Vegetables                                                         

4 red potatoes, sliced and 1/4
1 zucchini, sliced
1 yellow squash, sliced
1/8 red cabbage, sliced thinly
4 small red peppers

On a baking dish place off vegetables and drizzle 1 tbsp of Olive Oil.  Sprinkle with a dash of salt and mix.  Place in 375 oven for 35 minutes.  Delicious!

I love the Kyrie Eleison  here is a video of 2 monks singing a version of this moving phrase

 "Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me"

                                                                         

Kids Corner

Make your own garden, just like the monks.  Start small with a simple herb garden or favorite vegetables.   Make your own Herb garden step by step.

                                      

You can visit local monasteries near you.  Here is the location Monastery I plan on visiting soon here in Az,  St. Anthony  This is a wonderful experience and I have heard they have the most beautiful grounds to appriciate their works of labor.

Additional reading
New Advent The Carthusian Order
New Advent Eastern Monasticism
                                                                                                                             

Lets Relax

Wordless Wednesday

How nice to be relaxing on a lazy river.  Is Summer here yet?
You think he is so relaxed because no one will be pinching him this weekend?

For more interesting, motivational, and awesome pictures click here

What Inspires you?

For me, it would be food and wellness.  It all started about 9 years ago when my first born started getting reoccurring ear infections, allergies, and eczema.  We tried all kinds of medications, creams, and Doctors.  I thought I was feeding him correctly from all the magazines, books, and mom shows.  I was doing everything I should be, according to media.

As I was watching my favorite mom show on the Discovery channel a new show caught my eye, "Living Green" with Sara Snow.  As I watched it I started thinking there might be more to healthier eating.  She opened my understanding of how processed our foods are and the amount of chemicals and additives some contain.  She opened me up to a new way of thinking about food in its natural state, which is more ideal for the body to absorb and nourish.  Everything from our hair, eyes, skin, emotions all play as identifiers of what is going on inside the body.

Once I changed our food choices Micheal's eczema cleared up, he no longer got ear infections, and the allergies went away.  Does he still get these every now and then?  Yes, when his diet gets junked up with foods we should not be eating.  I believe everything in moderation, but sometimes the kids get more of the processed foods at certain times of the year.  Birthday parties, school functions, sporting events, and celebrations are going to happen and you can't always eat clean.  So we enjoy occasionally while trying to keep the foods clean for the majority of the time.

The kids are really good at balancing their choices.  Whenever there are events like mentioned above we bring healthier choices.  This allows some party foods balanced with the healthier ones.  When the kids notice they are not feeling right they understand its probably because they over indulged in junk foods.  Some of the signs can dry skin, tired, constipation, or colds starting.  It was a hard lesson for them to learn and still learning to watch our body for signs of being out of balance. 

Healthy eating is all done in steps.  Don't try and do it all in one week.  Start with breakfast, move on to lunches, and gradually move through your menu.  It has been 9 years and we are still making changes.  I look back to the past 2 years alone, and see how my children have come so far.  Nutritional eating is a life long process.  There is balance of making it fun, tasteful, and exciting.  I look at our foods as an inheritance of good health.  Even just 4 years ago I changed foods again.  More research came out on the side effects of additives, like nitrates.  My son was struggling at times in his grades and handling emotions specifically frustrations and anger.  When substituted to no additive foods and in a few short months he was making A's and not easily frustrated.  With him being the oldest I see a huge difference in my girls because he set the bar for healthier eating.  They have always done great in school and health because they eat the same as him.

Now the Challenge is keeping food fun and interesting.  I love Garden burritos and tried making my favorite restaurant burro this weekend.  It happens to have almost every vegetable received in this weekends produce pick up.  So here was my successful attempt.  The kids loved it!

G- Burro

1 zucchini, sliced and 1/4                                                                         
1 yellow squash, sliced and 1/4    
1 bell pepper, chopped
12 baby carrots, chopped
5 green beans, chopped
1/4 yellow onion, chopped
1 cup chopped and roasted potatoes
3 yellow/red peppers, chopped
1/2 cup cheddar cheese
1 tbsp canola oil

In a medium pan drizzle oil and add all vegetables.  I cooked veggies over medium heat for 10-12 minutes, veggies should still have some crispness.  Then add cheese stir and wrap in a tortilla.  


                                                                        

                                                                                

Super Simple with Great taste!

Kids Corner

The trick with picky eaters is to start the theme, "Try everything once"  Give them a small portion to taste and tell you what they think.  Make a "test and review night".  You can have a sore card and pencils set up for them to give the say on the dish.  This has been a fun way of introducing something new for us. 

Look at all the produce l got for $16.40!!!!!

I am very excited about today's post.  As a family of 6 we eat a lot of produce and it makes up a great deal of meals and snacks.  I am sure most of you know how expensive produce can be, organic or conventional.  I have been using Bountiful Baskets for a year now and have loved the assortment and quality the site gives.  With each basket you get about 50/50 fruit and vegetable.  They offer additional items like bread, granola, veggie packs, fruit by the lb, and more.

Bountiful Basket sorting

This week I wanted to share more of my experience with the two produce sites.  I started my day picking up my Bountiful basket at 7:30 for a 8am pickup.  While waiting I took a few pictures of the sorting processes.  I have volunteered before and they are fast and efficient.  If ever they do run behind it is because the produce truck arrived late. 

Breads, Organic, Extras

 There is a little bit of a line averaging 80-100 baskets.  Even if you get there early or right at 8am, you get the same basket everyone else does.  They are evenly distributed in the white laundry baskets, one for fruits and one for vegetables.  The staff are always nice and happy to help.  The line also moves very quickly.  At one time Bountiful basket only offered conventional baskets weekly and organic bi-weekly.  January 2011 they started offering organic every week.  We were super excited.  You can get a organic basket for just $10.00 for than the standard convention basket at $15.00.  Another wonderful feature is that you can order up to 3 baskets a week.  There is no requirement for purchasing so many times a year.  When you want a basket you just have to order at the beginning of that week.  For Arizona residents you can order Monday and the latest Tuesday.  I try to order on Monday because I have gone to order and the baskets were all sold out.  The granola taste amazing, the veggie packs have themes like Italian, Mexican, and herbs.  You can see if a Bountiful location is near you by visiting their website.  If you are interested in starting a location near you visit them here.  The weekly extra do change week from week and you see what is offered on the Monday of that week. 
This weeks basket!

Bountiful basket         
2 lettuces                            11 bananas
1 bunch of kale                    9 oranges
1 bundle of asparagus            5 mango's
1 bag of carrots                    1 pineapple
1 bundle of green onions       9 apples

7 Mexican green peppers
3 house cucumbers
 loose red and yellow peppers

A wonderful basket at $16.40 with tax.

Long line this week

After picking up my basket I then headed in to Tucson for the St. Cyril Church location for Market on the Move this week.  It was only about 30 minutes away and found it very easy.  When I got there about 8:30am to see the line so long.  They had two donation lines running and a members line.  The members lines was a lot shorter and I was a little happy to jump into the shorter line.  We waited still about 30 minutes to make to the start of the produce pickup.  This line was a lot slower as people are picking and choosing through the boxes laid out.  With Market on the Move you get to pick what you want and how much up to 60 lbs for a $10.00 donation or up to 120 lbs with membership of $100.00.  We have used the program twice now and have received much more than $20.00 worth of food.

 Market on the Move

4 eggplants
12 zucchini
19 yellow squash
9 house cucumbers
20 yellow peppers
6+ lbs of green beans
14 grapefruits
3 large mixing bowls of red +yellow peppers
5 green bell peppers
35 green Mexican peppers

They also offered tomatoes, house and roman, but we were still great on last weeks box.  The amounts you see are the amounts that I picked myself.  I will not be able to eat and store all this so I made a box for our church to give to a wonderful family to enjoy. 

Another wonderful week for $10.00, but no charge since I paid membership last week. 

I wanted to give you a little comparison of the two companies.  Going to both locations might not be practical for every person.  I think both have great benefits and drawbacks.  While you can take more for a lot less at Market on the Move the lines today were crazy long, even for members.  The lines and efficiency at Bountiful Baskets much faster.  Another great benefit is getting a great assortment of fruits from bountiful Basket.  Market on the Move had no fruits last weekend and they gave me a max of the grapefruit this week. 

I love both programs and feel that to have all this produce for $26.40 is a steal!  I will probably rotate my schedule of the baskets and make sure I only take what I can use and share.  It disturbs me to see food wasted and end up in the garbage.  I was so excited to share this with you that I had to post right away.  I still have some washing and storing to do, plus make the menu for this week.  That is another great benefit about these programs is that you pick up your boxes and then plane the meals.  This saves you from making impulse buys of produce out of season and over priced because of the shipping and processing to get it to the stores. 

These are same conventional grocery store foods that contain pesticide, herbicides, and waxes.  I usually only purchase organic and have to make sure to wash all this produce well.  I used a simple cleaning solution of vinegar, water, and lemon.  This was super simple and I could feel a difference of removing the wax trapping in the chemicals underneath. 

Green Produce Cleaner
Juice of one lemon
2 tbsp white vinagar
1 cup of water

Mix together in a large bowl for apples, peppers, cucumber, and other harder produce.  For lettuces, broccoli, grapes and softer produce spray mixture.  After wiping down or spraying rinse well to remove any vinegar taste.  Super simple and the vinegar and lemon do remover more chemicals than water alone. 


I have to get back to packing up the goodies but will be posting the menu for the week soon so you can get a look at this weeks upcoming recipes!

These programs are in your area.  It might be harder to find but they are there.  I was surprised to know this program has been here for a while and I never knew.  I am going to be posting tomorrow on ways to search for these in your area.  If you have similar events/ programs please share them here, even outside Az. 

How to Blanch Tomatoes

Step 1

I will admit this was my very first time blanching tomatoes.  I wanted to make sure I froze them correctly and ready for certain recipes. We had so many tomatoes from our produce box that I wanted to freeze half right away. 

This being my first time I was surprised  how easy it was.  Start with cleaning your tomato.  My husband was my right hand man through the entire process.  One thing he noticed is the waxy film on the produce.  I explained that I usually buy organic and these were conventional.  The wax is used by farmers and transporters to extend the shelf life of the produce.  You have a few options in cleaning your produce.  You can make a simple natural cleaning solution featured at Pistachio Project Blog ,shared this recipe with me.  For those that like the convenience of buying a safe green product, check out Mama Chocolate Blog experience on cleaning produce with Natural Eco products.  The important thing is to use a safe gentle way to clean the produce. Buying organic it is best for reducing the toxic pesticide and herbicides, but conventional still holds great nutritional value.

Step 3

Step 2- Remove steams and top nub.  I just make a straight slice down the tops of the tomato.  While we worked on steps 1 and 2, we had a large pot of water brought to a boil.  Step 3-  Add enough tomatoes to allow them to bob freely in water.  The tomatoes are in the water for about 5 minutes, more or less.  You will notice them to be ready when the skin on the outside starting to slice back.  I had a towel on the counter to allow the tomatoes to cool.

Step 4

Step 4- The skins are very easy to remove. Some people like to use their hands to just peel them off but I used two forks to just gently peel skin off.  I found this to be less messy and easier.  Now you are left with a blanched tomato.  I waited for tomatoes to cool completely before placing in a freezer bag and labeling with a black sharpie "Blanched".  I did freeze some tomatoes with out blanching for vegetable soups and stews that I like to be chunky. 

Tomato Soup

Tomato Soup Recipe                                                                                     
4 cups of chopped tomatoes
1 whole sliced onion
4 whole garlic cloves
2 cups vegetable broth or chicken broth
1 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp dried parsley
1 tsp salt
2 tsp sugar (cuts some of the acidity)

In a pot place tomatoes, onion, garlic, broth, and seasonings.  For this soup I used vegetable.  Bring to a bring to boil and reduce to medium for about 20 minutes.  Strain out vegetables and place in food processor, blend completely.  Add everything back into broth and heat back up to serve. 

Seafood Tomato Soup

Seafood Tomato Soup
3 cups Tomato soup (above)
1 cup water
1/4 of sliced onion
2 blanched tomatoes crushed
2 cups seafood mix ( mussels, shrimp, calamari, and scallops)
1 tbsp hot sauce

In a separate pan we added tomato soup (above) with the rest of the ingredients.  We cooked over medium low heat for about 30 minutes.  The hot sauce gave the soup a nice bit of heat.  This was a very delicious and delightful seafood soup that even the kids enjoyed and finished off for us. 

Nutritional value in tomatoes:  vitamin A, C, E, K, folate acid, calcium, magnesium, and potassium.

Health benefits include

• high in antioxidants
• protects the heart and reduces cholesterol
• shown to counter effects of cigaret smoke
• aids a healthy digestive system
• nourishes the skin
• lowers hypertension
• high in Vitamin A which improves and supports vision 

Tomatoes have long be said to be a very heart healthy produce!

Kids corner

Tomatoes might be up there on the list of not liked foods.  It's OK.  You would be surprised how you can hide this item in your meals.  If your child gets upset over them, don't fight with them, keep positively introducing it in dishes and toppings.  When my kids try something new we like start with a small portion along with the meal.  If they say they don't like it, thank them for trying it and ask "what does it need, whats missing"?  This gives them ideas to be a part of the experience and fun of cooking and healthy foods.  Then continue to introduce to them in small amounts.  In time they are not so overwhelmed with something new and forget they don't like it.  They will see how much you enjoy the food and their palates will change.  Here are some ideas to introduce,and get creative to use more. 

• Tomato soup
• crushed in spaghetti sauce
• chopped very small for raw over tacos
• in stews, soups, and wraps

Fun Project 

Make a easy shamrock with Pipe cleaners.  


 

Minestrone Soup for picky eaters and are you drinking Diet Soda?

I have four kids and while they are really good at eating fruits and vegetables I still like to hide some when I can.  The vegetables they don't eat on a regular bases can still cause a little whining.  They are kids and just need to be encouraged and see their parents as a great example.  In this recipe I added a few ingredients that gave the soup lots of great flavor and added nutrients.  My food processor is sometimes my best friend because it allows me to take the visual of "what is that" out and just enjoy the meal.  I have one daughter that if she see's an onion she is done.  So to make things easy she still eats it as long as she can't see it.  I am not pushing her because I know she will develop a liking for it later just like I did.  In the mean time she and I have an agreement, "no see no complain".  

Minestrone Soup
4 red bell peppers, sliced                                                                               
4 large tomatoes, sliced
1 head of colliflower
4 radishes and tops
1 cup carrots
4 stalks green onions, sliced
1 large yellow onion, sliced
3 stalks of celery
1 cup of cooked Northern white beans
1 cup of cooked black bean, drained
1 cup cooked small pasta noodle
5 cups water
1 tbsp dried oregano
1 tbsp dried parsley
salt and pepper to taste

Process all ingredients until chopped in small pieces, mine almost looks like salsa.  In a large pot add vegetable mixture beans, cooked noodle, spices, and water.  You  might need to add more water for desired texture.  Heat soup over medium heat for about 20 minutes and enjoy!  This soup freezes well.  I like to make small portions in freezable bags for throughout the year. 

For Zucchini Fritter recipe.
Green beans are steamed with a drizzle of Olive Oil and dash of salt. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Is diet soda causing Cancer? 
I know I have heard it over and over.  "Look how much I lost by changing to diet soda!"  Well the results are there.  The reduced calories have allowed some to lose weight, but at what cost?  Rodale talks about the hidden dangers and carcinogens in these drinks. 

"Pay any attention to a soda label and you'll find questionable ingredients like sugar in excess amounts, high-fructose corn syrup, or dubious artificial sweeteners. But a new analysis from the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) has detected a cancer-causer that you won't ever find on the label."

In the article you will see 3 Surprising Reasons to Give Up Soda. 

• It causes invisible fat buildup around your organs. 
• Some contain toxic flame retardants.  
• You're taking part in the biggest science experiment on the planet.  

You will also see 9 Disturbing side effects of Soda 

• Including, Fat in strange places
• accerated aging
• harmful to environment

Zucchini Fritters

We have had so much fun with our produce pick up this week.  We have made some amazing dishes.
Fresh Tomato Soup
Vegetable Minestrone Soup
Zucchini fritters
Stuffed Peppers
Salsa's
Freezing

Last night we had Minestrone soup, Zucchini fritters, and steamed green beans.
Today's recipe is the Zucchini fritters.  This was a super easy recipe.

Step 1 Shred.

• 4-6 Shredded zucchini
• 1/2 cup whole wheat flour
• 3 green onions chopped thinly
•  2 eggs
•  salt 
•  pepper 
•  Olive Oil, drizzle

Shred the zucchini into small slices like step 1.  Then add flour, salt, pepper, green onions, and eggs.  Mixture will look like step 2.  In a medium heat pan, drizzle oil and place a scoop of zucchini mixture and round out with fork.  Allow to just brown on first side and then flip.  These brown quickly and you do not want to over cook.  I like to server with salsa or hot sauce.  The kids enjoyed these so much they made fritter sandwiches for lunch today. 

Step 2 mix everything together.

If you are wondering what produce pick up I am talking about you can see past post on 60 lbs of produce for $10.00. 

Ways this recipe can be used?

• as a side
• main course with a salad or soup like above picture
• in sandwiches (my kids idea)
• make smaller silver dollar sizes for snacks.
• taco filling- we do zucchini tacos often.  

Tomorrow I will write about blanching tomatoes and freezing.  Recipe will include the Minestrone Soup, in above picture.  This was a very tasty soup that I was able to sneak in a wide variety of vegetables that the family enjoyed.  

Kids Project for today 

Free Coloring

Spring Coloring Pages for Kids" Thank You God" 

I featured this recipe on Delicious Dish Tuesday hop.  Feel free to stop by the other yummy blogs for even more recipes. 

Fresh Produce, Get 60 lbs for $10.00!

I bet I got your attention.  After Mass we were reading the New Vision Circular in our bulletin.  That headline caught our eyes and we decided we needed to look in to this.  Our family goes through a lot of produce making up about 80% of our diet.  We use Bountiful basket for a large amount of our meals, since they provide organic baskets weekly now, and supplement with Costco, Sunflowers, and grocery stores.  I know that seems like a lot of running around, but we plan our menu and we make stops according to our schedules.  We take advantage of the organic and seasonal foods to save money on a budget.

The 3000 club has a weekly setup that offers featured produce.  You do not know what will be offered until you are there, the location changes weekly, and it is conventional produce.  They offer the location sites on their website so you can plan your day to visit and pick up fresh produce.  The volunteers were very helpful and nice.

The weekly price is $10.00 for anything up to 60lbs.  Some people carried boxes while some carried a grocery bag.  We learned more about the membership price which was a one time yearly fee of $100.00.  If you are a member you get up to 120 Lbs weekly to share with other families as well.  We were so happy with our experience there that we thought it was a great investment to try.  Just visiting for 10 weeks throughout the year would pay for itself.

We left with a box of plum tomatoes, a box of mix green bell peppers and zucchini, and a box of green beans and cherry tomatoes.  I felt we received a lot more than $10.00 worth.  Not to mention the fun we had in storing, cooking and a wonderful dinner with our new produce. You can read the article at The New Vision.

Please share this with your family and friends in Arizona!  

This is a wonderful program and opportunity. 

Visit there home page at :
https://www.the3000club.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=16&Itemid=70

Up coming location events.  (weekly)

March 10, 2012 Saturday, March 10, 2012 08:00am - 12:00pm Coolwater Christian Church (28181 N. 56th Street, Scottsdale, AZ 85266) Saturday, March 10, 2012 08:00am - 12:00pm Desert Palms Church (4265 S. Arizona , Chandler, AZ 85248) Saturday, March 10, 2012 08:00am - 12:00pm Faith Builders Church (949 E. Bell Rd., Phoenix, AZ 85022) Saturday, March 10, 2012 08:00am - 12:00pm First Southern Baptist Church (10250 N. 59th Ave., Glendale, AZ 85308) Saturday, March 10, 2012 08:00am - 12:00pm Fitness Revolution (2769 E. Combs Road, Queen Creek, AZ 85308) Saturday, March 10, 2012 08:00am - 12:00pm Friendly House (802 S. 1st Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85030) Saturday, March 10, 2012 08:00am - 12:00pm St. Cyril (4725 E. Pima St., Tucson, AZ 85712) Saturday, March 10, 2012 08:00am - 12:00pm Sunny Side High School (1725 E. Bilby Rd., Tucson, AZ ) Saturday, March 10, 2012 08:00am - 12:00pm Washington Elementary School (8033 North 27th Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85051) Saturday, March 10, 2012 09:00am - 01:00pm Church for the Nation Maricopa (18700 N. Porter Rd., Maricopa, AZ 85138) March 17, 2012 Saturday, March 17, 2012 08:00am - 12:00pm Canyon Church of Christ (34975 N. North Valley Parkway, Phoenix, AZ 85086) Saturday, March 17, 2012 08:00am - 12:00pm First Christian Church (6242 N. 59th Ave., Glendale, AZ 85301) Saturday, March 17, 2012 08:00am - 12:00pm Mekong Plaza (66 S. Dobson, Mesa, AZ 85202) Saturday, March 17, 2012 08:00am - 12:00pm Most Holy Trinity Church (1300 North Greasewood Road, Tucson, AZ 85745) Saturday, March 17, 2012 08:00am - 12:00pm North Hills Church (15025 N. 19th Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85023) Saturday, March 17, 2012 08:00am - 12:00pm Pure Heart Christian Fellowship (14240 N. 43rd Avenue, Glendale, AZ 85306) Saturday, March 17, 2012 08:00am - 12:00pm Quality Inn & Suites of Sun Cities (16741 Greasewood St., Surprise, AZ 85374) Saturday, March 17, 2012 08:00am - 12:00pm St. Gabriel Church (32648 N. Cave Creek Rd., Cave Creek, AZ 85331) Saturday, March 17, 2012 08:00am - 12:00pm St. Pius X (1800 N. Camino Pio Decimo, Tucson, AZ 85715) Saturday, March 17, 2012 08:00am - 12:00pm The Giving Tree (4431 East 22nd Street, Tucson, AZ 85711) March 24, 2012 Saturday, March 24, 2012 08:00am - 12:00pm Buckeye Outreach Social Services (501 E. Mahoney, Buckeye, AZ 85326) Saturday, March 24, 2012 08:00am - 12:00pm Friends In Deed (301 W. Camino Casa Verde, Green Valley, AZ 85614) Saturday, March 24, 2012 08:00am - 12:00pm Gateway Community College (108 N. 40th Street, Phoenix, AZ 85034) Saturday, March 24, 2012 08:00am - 12:00pm Palm Valley Church (431 North Litchfield Road, Goodyear, AZ 85338) Saturday, March 24, 2012 08:00am - 12:00pm Southminster Presbyterian Church (1923 E. Broadway Road, Phoenix, AZ 85066) Saturday, March 24, 2012 08:00am - 12:00pm St. Pauls Lutheran Church (6301 W. Indian School Road, Phoenix, AZ 85033) Saturday, March 24, 2012 08:00am - 12:00pm The Garden Christian Church (8620 East McDonald Drive, Scottsdale, AZ 85250) Saturday, March 24, 2012 08:00am - 12:00pm W.T. Machan School (2140 E. Virgina, Phoenix, AZ 85006) March 31, 2012 Saturday, March 31, 2012 08:00am - 12:00pm ASU West (4701 West Thunderbird Road, Glendale, AZ 85306) Saturday, March 31, 2012 08:00am - 12:00pm Sukyo Mahikari (15601 North 40th Street , Phoenix, AZ 85032)

Friday is Soup, Bread, and Stations of the Cross.

Today is friday during the season of Lent.  What is special about this day?  During the season of Lent Catholics abstain from meat every friday until Easter.  We give this sacrifice up in prayer remembering the Passion of Christ Jesus.  Another wonderful part of friday is the Stations of the Cross. 
Stations of the cross was originated in the 4th century in Jerusalem.  Pilgrims from all over the world visited the Holy land to step in the footsteps of Jesus.  A woman named Egeria made a journal of her trip with other Roman Christians starting at the garden Gethsemane on Holy Thursday, the Thursday before Easter Sunday.  You can read her journal entry and picture.

Stations of the cross is a pilgrimage we can do right here in our homes, gardens, or church.  We walk the steps remembering the scripture, pain, and love of the that Jesus endured.  There are 14 stations during this prayer.
Station 1: Jesus is Condemned to Death.
Station 2: Jesus Bears His Cross
Station 3: Jesus Falls the First Time
Station 4: Jesus meets His Mother
Station 5: Jesus Helped by Simon
Station 6: Jesus and Veronica
Station 7: Jesus Falls the Second Time
Station 8: Jesus Speaks to the Woman
Station 9: Jesus falls for the Third Time
Station 10: Jesus Is Stripped of His Garments
Station 11: Jesus is Nailed to the Cross
Station 12: Jesus Dies on the Cross
Station 13: Jesus is Taken from the Cross
Station 14: Jesus is laid in the Tomb
The stations are hung on the walls 7 on the left and 7 on the right.  Many churches have a garden with stations setup to walk in a more quite setting. 

 "What matters most in the Stations of the Cross is to follow Jesus Christ in his passion and to see ourselves mirrored in him. Whether we know it or not, we bear the imprint of his cross. We are judged unjustly, we fall, we find life's journey hard, we know the mystery of death, and we recoil from it. To face life's dark side in ourselves and in our world, we need images of hope, and Jesus offers images of hope in his passion."- Written by Victor Hoagland, C.P.

Every friday we had a soup and bread dinner with fellow members of our church.  After this wonderful time of fellowship we walk together to the chapel to pray the Stations of the Cross.  We love the mediation time and thoughtful remembrance of the trails Jesus endure for us.

For the Soup dinner we have a variety of  6-7 soups and breads.  You never know what will be there and last week my more picky daughter preferred to not eat any of them.   There was a very delicious variety of bean and vegetable soups.  We took this time to talk about self denial and sacrifices.  We are eating soup because we are giving up are favorite dinners to say I can sacrifices a little too.  That she is experiencing what some children go through who are hungry.  She eventually ate but she was not happy about it.  This week she is helping make a vegetable soup and the pretzel breads for tonight supper. 

Even though the church says that children under the age of 14 do not have to refrain from meat, we do.  There are so many wonderful options for protein that we can still enjoy breakfast, lunch, and dinner without meat.  Breakfast can include cold and hot cereals, yogurts, fruits, and breads.  Lunches can have nuts, seeds, vegetables, fruits, and be creative as you want.  The kids lunch today.

Sunflower seeds, apples and peanut-butter, carrots, cucumber, and pears. 

Free Printable Station Pictures can be found at Turn Back to God website.
Beautiful Outside Stations of the Cross In AZ.
Shrine of St. Joseph - Yarnell, Arizona
Our Lady of the Sierras Shrine Stations of the Cross - Hereford, AZ
Holy Trinity St David Monastery 
Finding a outside Station of the Cross is a wonderful experience.  You can find some in a small garden setting or some that can stretch for a mile. You can go on a nature walk and stop every 5 minutes to say each station.  You do not have to be in a church, this is a time and devotion you can take to walk with God. 

For children
Make a station Project

I absolutely LOVE LOVE "catholicicing.com"  She does a wonderful job celebrating Jesus with kids.  If you have children this is a blog you will enjoy to follow.

Free Printable Stations of the Cross for Children