Scrumptious Sweet Potato Bake

This is the second installment of sugar-free, dairy-free and gluten-free Thanksgiving recipes. 

Sweet potatoes are my favorite Thanksgiving dish. I love sweet potatoes! I was very pleased with the way this recipe turned out. I actually prefer this to the conventional version that contains sugar.

Sweet Potato Bake

For the potatoes:

 3 large sweet potatoes [the orange kind]

1 1/4 cup grade B maple syrup

1/3 cup coconut oil

1/4 cup coconut milk*

2 tsp salt

3 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp pepper

 1 tsp cloves

1 tsp nutmeg

1 tsp vanilla

* The kind that comes in a can. For best results, refrigerate can for a day or so, the fatty part will separate from the liquid. Use the fatty, white stuff.

For the crumble topping:

2 cups pecans

3/4 cup dates

1/3 cup unsweetened flaked coconut

2 tbsp coconut oil

2 tbsp honey

For the potatoes:

1. Cut potatoes in half length-wise. Place in lightly greased pan skin side down. Bake at 375° until tender, about and hour.
2. Scoop potatoes out of the skins. Place potatoes in large mixing bowl and add all other ingredients. Stir everything in very well. [I encourage tasting the potatoes as you go along so that you can alter the recipe if you would like].
3. Scoop potato mixture into a greased 13x9 inch pan. Set aside.

For the crumble topping:
1. Place everything in a food processor. Pulse until everything is mixed and clumps together a little bit.
2. Top the potatoes with this mixture.
3. Bake at 375° for about 30 minutes, or until top is just beginning to brown.
4. Serve hot.

Wishing everyone a warm Thanksgiving!

Delightful Cranberry Sauce

It can be difficult to get through the holidays without sugar, dairy or gluten while still feeling satisfied with the winter experience. I have experimented with some recipes so that Christian and I can enjoy a healthy, tasty Thanksgiving dinner. 

I made this cranberry sauce for a Thanksgiving get together with my mom and it received rave reviews. Two people told me that they don't generally like cranberry sauce, but they liked mine. My ego was boosted quite a bit, I am not one to lie. [Although, I must admit that this is a very slightly altered version of a recipe I found on epicurious.]
 

Cranberry Sauce

15oz cranberries

1 3/4 cups unfiltered apple juice

3/4 cup honey

4 cinnamon sticks

1/2 tbsp lemon zest

1/2 tbsp orange zest

1/4 tsp ground cloves

1 bay leaf

1. Combine all above ingredients in an appropriately sized sauce pan. Heat over medium heat. The sauce should start to simmer. Cook until berries burst and the sauce thickens to your liking, about 20 minutes. Keep in mind that as the sauce cools it will thicken even more. Serve warm or cold, however you prefer. 

Yum. Wishing everyone a healthy Thanksgiving.

Reminising About Dark Days

Something that I think is very obvious about me is that I am an extremely nostalgic person. Extremely. This is not something that I particularly appreciate about myself. I often find that I am nostalgic about the past instead of just living in the present. And my mind tends to wear rose colored glasses when it comes to my memories. And I remember everything. Everything.

Something else about me that may not be as obvious is that I struggle with depression [maybe that is obvious, I don't know]. Not so much in the past few years. But I struggled with it greatly in my past. I had one particularly deep bout of depression in 2004-2005. This was my junior year of high school. 

I sometimes find myself nostalgic for this time. Is that weird?

I remember the time I was driving 90 mph down Olympus Dr near VSPC. I remember the time I could not bear to get out of my car and just sat in it for hours. I remember driving to Vacaville and back with Runaway Train on repeat. I remember feeling abandoned. I remember punching my steering wheel until my hands hurt. I remember sitting in the back corner of Bayside, weeping uncontrollably. I remember pushing everyone that truly cared about me away. I remember wishing that I could just disappear. I remember begging for the pain to subside. I remember felling utterly defeated. I remember a lot of my dark writing. I remember wishing I could dive into myself and stay there forever. I remember ditching school just to listen to Kurt and drive and try to escape myself. Overall, I remember this deep physical pain that felt like it was squeezing my torso.

Yet somehow all of these memories have a sweetness to them. These made me who I am. It helps me be understanding to people who are experiencing things that they don't even understand. It humbles me. It reminds me how much my friends love me. It reminds me how many amazing people I had in my life that helped me out of this place. It reminds me that I am strong. It reminds me how lucky I am to be where I am today. It makes me appreciate Christian for loving me into happiness. It makes me a whole, complicated person.

Whether or not that's weird, its true.

Shakshuka

Finding recipes for entrees that are sugar, gluten and dairy free can prove to be challenging. I have found that non-American ethnic foods generally fit those restrictions pretty easily. One of the first [and most delicious] recipes we tried was Shakshuka. It is an Israeli tomato-based egg dish that is very easy, even for the most culinary-challenged folks [though it does require quite a bit of chopping].  This dish is quite tasty, unique and chock full of healthy veggies! 

AnTick's Shakshuka

2 tbsp safflower oil

1 medium yellow onion, diced

2 red bell peppers, diced

1 green bell pepper, diced

1 tbsp garlic, minced

8-10 medium tomatoes, diced

3 tbsp tomato paste

water

salt, to taste

black and red pepper [or cayanne pepper], to taste

1/2 tsp cumin

6-8 eggs

1. Heat oil in cast iron skillet to medium high. 

2. Add onion and saute until translucent [about 5-10 minutes]. Add garlic and bell pepper and saute until soft [about another 5 minutes]. Add tomatoes and cook for a few minutes until they start to disintegrate. Stir in tomato paste. Add water to desired consistency [this will be your sauce, how thick/thin do you want it to be? You should add somewhere between a couple of tablespoons and a couple of cups]. Add spices and salt and pepper to taste. 

3. Now it is time to add your eggs. We are poaching them, so just crack your eggs and drop them gently into the pan one by one, spacing them out as evenly as possible. Once the eggs are in the pan, do not mess with them. Just cover the pan with a lid and cook until the eggs are as cooked through as you prefer, about 8-12 minutes [we cooked them almost all they way through and they were great]. Remove pan from heat.

4. Serve over basmati rice or noodles. Enjoy

I hope you enjoy this dinner as much as we did!

Steel Cut Oatmeal: 3 Delicious Recipes

Steel cut oatmeal is tasty, nutritious and a great option for breakfast [Yes, even if you don't have much time to spend preparing food in the morning]. Also, I think that many people who have a texture issue with instant and quick oatmeal will find steel cut oatmeal quite palatable. I have come up with three different steel cut oatmeal recipes that I think are pretty awesome and all of them are gluten-free, dairy-free and sugar-free [Although, it should be noted that oatmeal itself is not necessarily gluten-free unless it is labeled as such].

Okay, steel cut oatmeal. Steel cut oatmeal differs from rolled oats in that it is less processed. Rolled oats are, well, rolled. Oat groats [which are awesome, btw] are basically whole oat grains that have been hulled and toasted, these are the least processed oat grains. Steel cut oats are oat groats that have been cut into pieces. Rolled oats are oat groats that have been rolled out flat. Quick and instant oats are rolled oats that have been pre-cooked and dehydrated [which is what allows them to cook so quickly]. Rolled oats generally go through much more processing to make them quicker to cook and easier to work with. Generally, the more processing a food goes through, the less nutritional value it has. Heating, smashing, drying, etc all break down important components that are healthy for our bodies. Basically steel cut oats are better for you than rolled oats [particularly the quick and instant variations], you get the picture. They take a bit longer to prepare, but that doesn't mean you have to prepare it every single day. 

Steel cut oats are a great source of iron, soluble and insoluble fiber. 

I am not one of those people that can eat first thing in the morning; it makes me nauseous. Therefore, when I work in the morning, I have to bring breakfast with me which means it has to be quick, portable, easy to grab and go. This does not mean that I have to sacrifice a healthy breakfast for a quick McGriddle [although, I will admit that McGriddles are out of this world amazing]. I prepare steel cut oats once a week, pour it into a muffin tin, refrigerate overnight, place each little disk in a baggie and voila- I have a week's worth of breakfast all ready to go. I think it is a pretty great option for busy people who want a nutritious breakfast or snack.

Here are my three awesome variations of steel cut oats.

Pumpkin Spice Steel Cut Oats

4 cups milk or water [I use almond milk]

1 cup steel cut oats

1/2 cup pumpkin

1 tsp vanilla

1 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp ginger

1/4 tsp nutmeg

1/4 tsp allspice 

3 tbsp maple syrup

Peanut Butter Banana Steel Cut Oats

4 cups milk or water

1 cup steel cut oats

3/4 cup [about 2] bananas, mashed

2 tbsp natural peanut butter

2 tbsp maple syrup

1 tsp vanilla

Blueberry Maple Steel Cut Oats

4 cups milk or water

1 cup steel cut oats

1 cup blueberries [fresh or frozen]

3 tbsp maple

1 tsp vanilla

Instructions:

1. Bring water or milk to a boil. Add oats, cook for 5 minutes.

2. Add all other ingredients.

3. Stir continuously until oats are to desired consistency, about 25 to 30 minutes.

4. Eat. Or, if you are interested in storing them for a quick breakfast then do this:

- Divide oatmeal into greased or sprayed muffin tin [in my experience it makes about eight].

- Refrigerate overnight or for several hours.

- Use a butter-knife to gently loosen and remove oatmeal disk from pan. Place disks in individual baggies or tupperware.

-Note: The disks will still be soft, but they will keep shape enough to be portable and eat as is.

These have been my breakfast savior lately, they are really great for people who don't have much time to prepare food. I hope that others find this helpful and yummy!

Milk Was A Bad Choice

I have recently given up dairy. As a result I have experimented a bit with milk alternatives and I have written my opinions and suggestions about different milks here. But I am getting ahead of myself.

Why have I given up dairy?

Good question. Milk [in the U.S. at least] is excessively processed. All milk is pasteurized and most organic milk is ultra-pasteurized. During pasteurization milk is heated to kill any bacteria that is in it, ultra-pasteurization just means that it was heated to a higher temperature, perhaps for a longer period of time. While the pasteurization process kills potentially dangerous bacteria, it also kills healthy bacteria and enzymes [many of which aid the digestion of milk]. Also, milk being a good source of calcium is sort of a myth. Human bodies do not absorb the calcium that dairy contains very well, particularly if it is pasteurized [in case you were wondering, dark leafy greens are a great source of calcium]. Also, diary products just tend to make me feel bloated and weighted down- not a pleasant feeling.

So, why not raw milk?

First off, raw milk is extremely hard to find because it is a federal offense for one to sell raw milk to another. This is something that the federal government has cracked down on very severely in the past couple of years because apparently that is what is most important to spend our tax dollars on [but I digress]. So, finding it can be quite difficult and if you do you are putting your supplier at risk. Secondly, and more importantly about 80% of protein in milk is a protein called casein which has been linked to many illnesses and diseases [asthma, acne, multiple sclerosis and arthritis just to name a few]. As a side note, casein is commonly used to make commercial grade adhesive, plastics, and paint. Humans simply cannot digest casein properly, and thus it potentially causes major problems. Also, think about the purpose of cows milk. This is all a calf needs to gain over 500 pounds in the span of a year. Why do we so commonly drink milk that is produced by and intended for an entirely different species?

This brings me to soy.

I wish I didn't have to address soy, but being that I am going to review milk alternatives, it must be included. Soy is terrible for you, in all forms. First, soy is one of the most common genetically modified foods. Second, soy is poisonous in it's natural form [like olives]. In order to make them edible, they are treated with a chemical that is similar to Drano [have you seen Heathers?]. Once that is completed, soy is transformed into whatever form you buy it in: tofu, soy milk, edemame, tempeh, etc. Finally -and this is the main concern for human health- soy mimics estrogen in your body. Meaning your body receives is as if you had taken estrogen as a hormone supplement. One of the worst things you can do to your body [excuse my French] is f-ck with your hormones [yes, this includes hormone based birth controls]. Obviously, children are even more in danger when consuming soy. I hate when parents order soy drinks for their young children [again, I digress]. In my opinion soy is even worse than milk. Just please, don't consume it.

Okay. You are probably wondering where I got all this information about soy and milk being terrible. Well, it has come from a multitude of different sources, none of them mainstream. "Credible" sources are hard to find for this information because the milk and soy industries are huge, meaning that they have deep pockets to keep unflattering information hidden and false studies conducted in support of their product. Believe me or don't. Also, if you are interested in more information, google is your best friend. I am not an expert, but I have done my research. The information is out there, it can just be difficult to find. 

Moving on to great milk alternatives.

It should be noted that I have only tried the unsweetened versions of the following milk substitutes. It should also be noted that none of the milk substitutes that I tried are anything like cow's milk. It's just not the same. Nothing can mimic the texture, flavor or creaminess of dairy milk.

Almond milk

Almond milk is our staple. We use it for just about anything we would have used milk in or on. This milk has a very light almond-like flavor, it has a bit of a watery consistency, but overall it makes for a great muted-flavor milk alternative. Christian uses it on his homemade granola every morning [how adorable is he?] and enjoys it. I use it to make oatmeal and I think that it adds a nice almondy creaminess to the final product. I also absolutely love the almond milk in fruit smoothies, it brings out the sweetness of the fruit really well. I actually prefer almond milk in my smoothies to cow's milk. It's a much lighter and enjoyable snack. Almond milk is a good source of vitamin A and vitamin D, it is a great source of calcium and vitamin E, and it is low in calories and fat [40 calories, 3.5g fat in 8oz]. Overall, I think that almond milk is the best milk alternative. It is very healthy, it is economical [$3-$4 for a 1/2 gallon], and I think it has a great flavor.

Hemp milk

Hemp milk wins my vote for best tasting. Mmmm. Hemp milk has an awesome, subtle nutty flavor and great creamy consistency. It is just awesome. This is my favorite milk alternative to just drink as is. So far I have not used it in much, mainly because it is quite pricey [about $4 for 32oz]. And, oh my gosh, the chocolate version [which is sweetened] is ah-mazing. Yum, yum, yum. I just cannot express how much I love this milk. Hemp milk is a good source of polyunsaturated fat, vitamin A, calcium, vitamin D, riboflavin, vitamin b-12, magnesium, and phosphorus. It has a moderate amount of calories and fat [80 calories and 8g fat per 8oz], however most of the fat is good fat. If it weren't for the hefty price tag, this would be my number one choice for milk alternatives. It offers the most nutrients, it has the best flavor, and though the calories are a bit high I really don't use enough for that to become a problem [and I am not a calorie counter anyhow]. So, if you are bringing in the big bucks, this is the best option!

Sunflower milk

Sunflower milk is... Interesting. I really cannot explain it very well. It is a little bitter and would be suited best in savory dishes. Although, it has a very distinct flavor, so I would be mindful of that when considering it for any recipe. I did not find it pleasant to drink straight, or in things like cereal. Sunflower milk is high in calcium and a decent source of vitamin A. It has a moderate amount of  calories and is low in fat [70 calories, 4g fat in 8oz]. Overall, this was my least favorite milk. It just does not have a pleasant flavor and it was quite expensive, I think I paid around $4 for a 32oz carton. This wins my least favorite milk alternative. The flavor is not good, it is expensive, and it does not offer much in the way of nutrients. I would pass on this one.

Hazelnut milk

I was really excited to try this, and then I realized that the only hazelnut milk that I could find is sweetened. Bummer.

Rice milk

I used to drink Rice Dream all the time in high school, and I really have no idea why. I was weird, what can I say? Rice milk has a pleasant subtle flavor, but it is very watery in consistency. This would be my second to last milk choice, save sunflower milk. Rice milk is a decent source of vitamin A, calcium, vitamin D, phosphorus, and vitamin b-12. It has a moderate amount of calories and is low in fat [70 calories and 2.5g fat] again, the fat is mostly good fats. Rice milk is also moderately priced, about $2-$3 for 32oz. Really the only reason this gets second to last ranking on my scale is the watery-ness. It is really not a bad option for a milk alternative.

Oat milk

Yum. Oat milk is very naturally sweet. This is my treat when I just want something that is nice and sweet. It is a little mealy, in that you can feel little particles of oat in your mouth when you drink it [I couldn't think of a better way to describe that. My brain is tired, okay?]. I think this is the best option for adding to coffee or tea. I also like to drink this one plain because it has such a rich flavor. It tastes like liquid oatmeal. This is the milk that tastes the most like the original product. This is also probably the least healthy [of course, because it is so nummy]. This is pretty high in calories and low in fat, it is also the highest in carbohydrates [130 calories, 2.5g fat and 24g carbs in 8oz]. Oat milk is a good source of vitamin A, calcium, vitamin D and riboflavin. The only reason this milk does not get a great rating in my book is that it is so high in carbohydrates and natural sugar [which are not necessarily bad, it is just really high comparatively]. The flavor is awesome and it is moderately priced at $2-$3 for 32 oz. This is a great milk to use as a treat.

So, that's my two cents on milk and milk substitutes. I hope you enjoyed it and/or found it helpful :)

Suzie Home-Maker Tip #1: No More Tomato Paste Waste

So, you buy a whole can of tomato paste for a recipe that calls for a mere couple of tablespoons. Then you store it in the fridge [btw... why is there a 'd' in 'fridge' but not in 'refrigerator'?] with high hopes of using it before it starts to grow. Then a few months later you unearth mystery goo from the back of the fridge because you forgot all about it. 

Well, here is a simple solution: measure tablespoons of the tomato paste into an ice tray, freeze, pop out into a baggie and voila you have per-measured cubes that won't spoil.

Yay!

Lewis & Clark Caverns

Christian and I celebrated our four-year wedding anniversary by visiting the Lewis and Clark Caverns about an hour outside of Bozeman [there is so much to see and do in Montana, I very much appreciate it :)]. The only time I have ever been in caverns I was probably 4 or 5 and I think we were in Arizona with my grandparents. Needless to say I don't remember much. These caverns were beautiful and a ton of fun to see.

 We started the day off with what I had planned to be a very healthy [albeit a bit pricey] breakfast. I bought Christian organic, local bacon and organic carrot-orange juice [his favorite] to enjoy with eggs and coffee. And then Christian decided he needed donuts. Go figure...

 We were hoping to escape the smokey campfire that is Bozeman currently, but it wasn't much better out there as you can see in the distance.

Christian hates when I take pictures of him in a touristy setting. You can tell by his annoyed look :-) 

We had the most adorably campy tour guide, we really enjoyed her corny stories about how the formations looked like this character or that kind of food. 

 We experienced absolute darkness here for a moment; It was interesting.

 

♫  Under the Sea ♫ 

This reminds me of The Little Mermaid for some reason.

This was my favorite "room." It was just so unique. 

Isn't it awesome?

Indescribable. 

And we found our way out safely. I didn't feel claustrophobic or panicky the whole time, which is kind of amazing. I tend to be a worrier, what can I say?

We enjoyed our day at the caverns. We finished the evening with tasty sushi and froyo. 

And, hey, we didn't have to put a dog down this year, so it wasn't our worst anniversary ;)

<3

Lovely Little Annoyances

Christian and I had the absolute pleasure of Tom Savage marrying us and, therefore, leading our premarital counseling. I don't think that we could have asked for a better person to discuss marriage with. Tom is amazing and I will always be grateful for the wonderful discussions we all shared. 

One of the things Tom mentioned that did not completely resonate with me at the time was that there would be things about each other that would annoy us, but ultimately be something that we grew to love and would miss if the other person were to meet their demise [although, there would still be the things that are just simply annoying, Tom was honest like that]. At this point in our marriage I can understand what Tom meant. It absolutely annoys me that Christian constantly has a pile of clothes on his side of the bed. Clean? Dirty? Somewhere in between? I have no clue. And then he will get mad if I wash everything because some of it was supposedly clean. Ridiculous. This is something that is at once both completely annoying and somehow endearing. If Christian were here no longer, it would throw me into a weeping ball of mush to realize that there was no pile of his clothes on the side of the bed to clean up. It's always the little things.

Marriage is a funny thing. I am thankful that we had these interesting conversations with Tom to help us through the tough and silly times. Thank you, Tom!

I Am No Superman

I have been on a Dave kick lately, so I figured I would explore why I enjoy him so much.

I love Dave Matthews.


photo via moonbattery.com

I really admire him as a writer. He has written lyrics that are romantic, vulgar, intelectual, silly and some that tell a wonderful story. It's just amazing what he can do with the lyrics of his songs. And he has a beautiful voice. His voice has a way of throwing me into a thoughtful trance. Also, he has worked with some of my other admired musicians like Alanis Morrisette and Kenny Chesney.

Grey Street is one of my top three all-time favorite songs. The way he describes the hopelessness and desperation of depression is completely heartfelt; based on these lyrics one knows that he has dealt with depression himself. Also, the music that these lyrics are set to is relatively up beat for how dark the lyrics are, I appreciate this dynamic. 

I consider myself a casual writer of poetry, so I really respect and enjoy listening to his lyrics. Particularly the ones about religion and love. If you read them like poetry or just listen intently, most of his lyrics are very thoughtful, interesting and thought provoking. He [sometimes] really analyzes the subject he is writing about, and dives deep into it's meaning. I often find his writing insightful, especially for a modern musician. 

He has some really romantic, but not overly sappy songs that I adore. Christian always reminds me to listen to the lyrics carefully because while they are mostly sweet he does have a tendency to sneak in some crude lyrics. But hey, the guy makes almost anything sound romantic; I think that deserves some credit.

I love truly heartfelt music. I love Vietnam-era stuff, early 90's angst-filled stuff. I enjoy when you can really feel that the person was dealing with something when they were writing and/or performing the song. Eddie Vedder is another writer that I completely admire. 

Most importantly, Dave Matthews wrote the beautiful song Christian and I danced to at our wedding and I think it was a perfect representation of our relationship.

Anyway, I love Dave Matthews.

I Want to be a Parent, But I Will Probably [Maybe] Not Have Kids

If you have known me for a while [or 5 minutes] then you know that I have wavered on this subject quite a bit. When I was in my latter half of high school, I thought that I didn't want kids. I just was not convinced that I would be a good mother, and I didn't want to potentially give emotional problems to my hypothetical children. Then I fell in love with Christian and the closer we came to marriage, the more I thought I wanted kids because, well, that's what married people do, right? Then a few years later when we had no jobs and were living with parents, I just thought we would never be in a financial position that would make having children a responsible choice. Then, we were in beautiful Montana, we both had jobs and we were living on our own again [and a bunch of you were having the most adorable babies I have ever seen, and motherhood looked so sweet] and parenthood again looked like a grand possibility. And most recently, Christian and I were discussing our future, the future we believe the world is headed and how we felt about both during one of our evening strolls [I know, we're 80] and I don't think that I can reconcile the way we feel the world is headed and believe that it would be a responsible choice to have children.

photo via sheknows.com

I am definitely not one of those "love kids" type people. Most kids really annoy me, especially poorly parented kids [I absolutely cannot stand whining]. However, I love babies and toddlers and kids I actually know personally. And I do really want to be a parent. I want to give a child my best effort at a good childhood, and I think I would be pretty good at it. Parenting is something that I have analyzed [and continue to analyze] quite a bit. I think of what we would do on a daily basis. How I would teach them about life, responsibility and love in a positive light. I also think Christian would be a really awesome dad. He would be such a blessing of a parent to children. I think together we would make a great parenting team because we balance each other out pretty well. I would also like to have kids because people who don't are weird. They have odd relationships with their pets and have a very selfish sense about them. Christian and I are already sort of teetering on that edge with the kitties. I also think I would have a ton of fun playing, teaching and learning out on a small farm with children. Also, I do not want to deprive the world of the most adorable child that would ever walk its beautiful plains. Even Christian has come to a place where he swoons over every baby/toddler we see, sometimes he even notices the little ones before I do. Personally, our future looks good, but what about the future of the world and society?

Even if Christian and I can finish school, pay off the mountain of debt that school brings and find stable jobs in a place that is conducive to raising kids, none of that changes the direction that the world is headed. At the exact moment that I am writing this, the world population is 7,054,023,651. We are expected to hit 8 billion somewhere around 2027. For a frame of reference, in the 1950's [when my parents were born] the population was about 2.5 billion and in the 1980's [when myself and my peers were born] the population was about 4.5 billion. Now, it is not so much that I don't want to add to the outrageous population [although that is part of it], it's more that I am concerned about what happens as our population nears the earth's capacity. Food will likely become an issue, water will definitely become an issue. Right now 42.23% of the continental United States "is in a 'severe' drought or worse" according to this news article. The conspiracy nut in me knows that the powerful world leaders are aware of the population problem, and are working on a solution. However, the only solution for overpopulation is people dying. Lots of people. I don't know how "they" are going to accomplish that, but I don't think that an intentional epidemic is out of the question. I have not even mentioned the economic ramifications that all of this would cause, I will just quote Carl Safina [Ph.D in Ecology and professor] for this one: "Because forests, oceans, croplands, and water supplies are all being depleted by the number of people we have now, a grim logic appears irrefutable: As we add people, either everyone will get poorer on average, or the poor will get much poorer. Or the population will be adjusted in the usual way: with shortages, bullets, and bombs." That was an excerpt from this article. Now, do I want to intentionally bring children into this world so that they can experience all of this? I don't want my children to struggle their whole lives, and that is not to say that I don't want them to experience "reality." It's more that reality has just become so gloomy and opportunities so bleak. I understand that heartbreak, disappointment and hardships are all a part of life, but they shouldn't paint the whole picture.

Here is one of my main qualms: I cannot find a selfless reason to intentionally bring a child into this world. I have selfish and unselfish reasons for not having children, but I only have selfish reasons for wanting them. [Sorry, but giving our parents grandchildren does not count as a selfless reason].

I do have some personal concerns about not having kids, also. As I said earlier, many of the childless middle-aged people I have known are a little off [although some of them are incredible people]. Also, children bring a social life of their own. You meet other parents, teachers and neighbors a lot easier. Without children I think you have to be a lot more intentional about making friends and creating a rich social life. What does my marriage with Christian look like without children? Research shows that children have a unifying effect on marriage, overall. These are just some of the personal issues I can see coming up without children. However, none of these concerns are valid reasons to have children.

We have other options as well. I am all for adoption. I have wanted to adopt kids since I understood the concept. There are plenty of children already in this world that need loving parents. This would allow us to have children a little later in life, maybe mid-thirties. That would give us time to get settled in careers, explore the world, and decide that we really do want children rather than rushing into it because my biological clock is ticking. Adoption is something that I have always admired and I would love to do it if Christian and I decide that we want to have children.

So, what does the future hold for the Laws' then? Well, anything really. Working on the assumption of not having kids [or at least not for a good 10 years] we can do whatever we want. As most of you know, Christian starts school in a few weeks for Electrical Engineering. I was not previously planning on going to school because I was intending on being a stay-at-home-mama pretty soon after Christian graduated. However, since that plan has changed, I am hoping to start school in the spring and I have no idea what I will study. Perhaps Environmental Sciences, English, Art, Nutrition... I am really unsure, we'll see what I figure out in the next few months. We have tossed around the idea of living in a big city like Calgary or Montreal for a year or two after college as an adventure. Neither of us would ever want to live in the hustle and bustle of a big city long-term, but we think it would be fun to experience that lifestyle for a little while. After that we really haven't even considered. Our lives will go as they will, and we will try to go with the flow and enjoy it as much as possible. Obviously unforeseen things may happen, and we will be happy with whatever life brings us.

The recent plan of not having children has lifted a weight of pressure and stress off of both Christian and I; I think that means that for right now, this is the right choice.

This is not meant to be offensive to those of you who have lovely little ones or are preggers. These are just my thoughts an opinions. I enjoy writing out my thoughts and opinions to contemplate them and to challenge myself to actually research the topic. If you have opposing views or opinions, I would love to read and consider them.

All that really matters to me is that my future includes Christian, spinsters or not [Does that work for couples? Is there a term for childless couples who have ungodly amounts of kitties, puppies and goats?]

Be Prepared Like a Good Boyscout [Part 1: Hunker Down]

It is good to be prepared for a natural disaster, especially if you live in an area that is susceptible to earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes, blizzards, etc. In this blog I will explore being prepared to hunker down, or stay at home for an emergency situation [as opposed to an evacuation emergency kit/plan].

In my opinion, it is good to be prepared to survive for at least 2 weeks without access to the social services we are accustomed to [grocery/convenience stores, emergency medical care, electric/gas power, access to gasoline, etc].

The American Red Cross has a great, thorough variety of emergency kit lists specific to many different kinds of natural and other disasters. Please check these out and find the one that is most specific to your area.

Here are some personal notes I have:

-Always keep your car filled with at least 1/2 tank of gas, so you will be able to travel a couple hundred miles if necessary at a moment's notice.

- If you have a pet, be sure to check out the Pet Safety page. 

-Try to keep your phone battery charged. [I am the worst at this.]

-If you own a gun and know how to use it well, stock up on some ammo. You never know when/who you will need to protect.

-Have a hard-copy of phone numbers/addresses for friends and family.

-Keep playing cards, a journal and a writing utensil in your kit. The playing cards are for entertainment. The journal is for record keeping, you never know.

-If you have a lovely woman to include in your safety kit, make sure you have whatever feminine hygiene product(s) she uses in your kit. Murphy's law.

-Food. Christian and I keep chia seed, peanut butter and dried fruit. It's relatively cheap, has a long shelf life, it's pretty sustainable and we actually eat those things on a regular basis. A good rule of thumb is to eat what you store and store what you eat. You don't want to introduce uncommon foods into your diet during a time of crisis, give your body what it is expecting. Also, when the food's expiration date is approaching, just rotate it into your cupboard and add it to your grocery list. And remember, enough for you to survive on for at least 2 weeks. Don't forget to store some pet food if you have pets.

-Two-weeks worth of any prescription medication you take. Especially those medications that are life-sustaining. I don't know how it works as far as getting extra medication prescribed, but there must be a way to do it.

Anyways, I know many people think I am a conspiracy nut [you really won't get much argument from me on this one], but natural disasters do happen and I hope that my loved ones are prepared for them. For those of you in CA, please prepare for an earthquake, it is a reality.

I know that preparing for an emergency can seem overwhelming, but start small. When I was first building our emergency kit up [and I still am], I would look at our budget for the week and calculate what I could afford. If it was just a BIC lighter, then it was just a BIC lighter. Eventually you will get there. You really should start with food and water, though. Those are the most important. It's better to have an incomplete emergency kit, than nothing at all.

Awesome Quinoa Beet Cold Salad

Christian and I like to try to keep cold salads on hand, so there is always a healthy snack ready to eat. So far, this is my favorite. It is really delicious. 

If you think beets bother you, I urge you to try non-pickled beets. Pickled beets are disgusting. However, roasted beets [which this recipe calls for] are really tasty and actually quite mild.

This recipe includes many nutrient rich foods:

Quinoa- high in protein. Offers calcium and iron.

Beets - High in dietary fiber. Offers Vitamin C and iron.

Kale- Very high in Vitamin A and Vitamin C. Offers calcium and iron.

Aduki Beans- High in protein. Offers calcium and iron.

Quinoa Beet Cold Salad

1 cup dry aduki beans [Also known as azuki and adzuki. Just depends on the brand, I guess.]

1 cup dry quinoa

about 2 cups chicken broth

2 to 3 medium sized beets, roasted [Recipe]

4 to 5 leaves kale

3/4 cup fresh basil, chopped

1 small red onion, chopped

2 tbsp garlic, minced

For the dressing:

1/4 cup olive oil 

1/3 cup apple cider vinegar

3 tbsp honey

1 tsp seasoning salt or table salt

1 tsp black and red
2 tbsp lemon or lime juice [or 1 tbsp of each]

1. Prepare dry aduki beans [Recipe here. I realize that this is for garbanzo beans, but it's the same process. There is one note, though, the aduki beans only take about 30-45 minutes once simmering.] This process requires about 8 hours for the beans to soak, FYI. Once done, cool in refrigerator.

2. Prepare 1 cup dry quinoa according to instructions on package, only use chicken [or veggie] broth instead of water. Once done cool in refrigerator.

3. Prepare the kale. Pull the leafy part away from the stem. Chop into bite-sized pieces. Blanch [bring large sauce-pan of water to a boil. Add kale pieces. Allow to boil for no longer than one minute. Immediately pour  into colander.] Let cool. 

4. Once everything is cooled, gently combine beans, quinoa, kale, beets, basil, onion and garlic in one large bowl. Set aside.

5. In a medium liquid measuring pitcher [or small bowl] combine all of the dressing ingredients. Mix vigorously until fully combined. Pour on to salad and mix.

6. Enjoy

I hope anyone who tries this enjoys it as much as I do.

bears, [ROASTED] BEETS, battlestar galactica

"Why tip someone for a job I’m capable of doing myself? I can deliver food. I can drive a taxi. I can, and do, cut my own hair. I did, however, tip my urologist because I am unable to pulverize my own kidney stones." - Just one of my favorite Dwight Schrute quotes.

Roasted beets are really easy to make, so this post seems pretty obsolete. However I have some culinarily challenged friends out there, so I figured I'd make it even easier by posting step-by-step instructions in case they were interested.

Also every time we make roasted beets, I forget to take a picture of them. So, here is a nice picture of whole, raw beets.

Roasted Beets

3 medium beets
1 tbsp minced garlic
3 tbsp oil [olive, veggie, canola, safflower. Anything will do]
salt
pepper

1. Pre-heat oven to 350°F.
2. Peel beets and dice into small marble sized pieces. Place into 13"x9" pan.
3. Add oil and toss to coat beets. Add garlic and sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste. Toss again. [I find it easiest to do with my hands, but be prepared for your hands to look like you attacked a magenta magic marker, pictured below]
4. Bake for 30 to 45 minutes, or until desired tenderness. Just use a toothpick to stab one and taste when they are getting close.
5. Cool and store in the refrigerator as a healthy salad topping.

I hope, like me, you find that beets are actually pretty good when prepared properly :)

Drinking Horse Mountain Trail

Ok. So, it has been probably about a month sense we hiked this trail, but it was beautiful so I will post some pictures and write about it.

This trail is actually across the highway from "The M" on a neighboring hill. There were a great variety of wildflowers that were blooming, but signs asked hikers to leave them be, so I didn't get to pick any. The views were great and it was over-all a very scenic hike. At the top there was about a 220 degree view. It was amazing in all directions. We were able to look down to valleys and also up to the mountains.

This hike tops my list of favorite hikes in the "Bozone." 

 Christian nearly gave me a heart attack when he ventured out to what can only be described as a cliff.

Another beautiful view from the top.

I am excited to snowshoe here in the winter! It was another truly remarkable hike!

"I Promise I'll Never Die."

I was trying to think of a memorable and hilarious quote from Team America that would also be decently appropriate to be the title of this blog post. Not an easy task. So, above is the best I could do. It's not my favorite quote, but most of my favorites are more than a little offensive and quite foul.

I hope everyone had a fun and safe celebration for the 4th of July. Christian and I really missed being with our Rosevillian crew - eating, drinking, fireworks, watching Team America. But, hey, time passes, things change - some for the better and others for the worse. 

We had a fun-filled day, it just didn't much feel like the 4th of July. 

We planned on hiking Sacajawea Peak, but the last 7 miles to the trail-head was what the map called "an improved dirt road" and our poor little civic did not have the same definition of "improved" that the map did, so we decided to turn back. 

Instead, we bought a soccer ball and played around in a park, which was surprisingly not crowded. It was pretty fun to have Christian teach me how to dribble and watch him try all of his old tricks. We have considered joining adult rec soccer leagues next spring [for some reason that sentence made me feel old, and I don't quite know why].

At the park, I also made a daisy-chain out of what I can only assume is actually a weed. Though, this is the only "flower" I have ever made daisy-chains with. I don't think I had made one of these necklaces since I was, like, 8 so it was a nostalgic little activity. It was a really beautiful day, which was perfect for our first venture to a park here in Bozeman.

Then, it was food time.

We started off with some Summer Tea.

Christian made an awesome bleu cheese flank steak roll.

I made a caprese salad because, really, what is better than fresh motz? Nothing, that's what!

And, no 4th would be complete without watermelon.

 So, it turned out to be a very healthy and absolutely delicious dinner for the two of us.

 We elected not to do fireworks this year because, well, we live in an apartment and we thought letting off fireworks in the parking lot would be just a smidge trashy [although we have young-college-student neighbors who intermittently have a friend who pitches a tent in the communal area outside their apartment. Seriously. So maybe we shouldn't have worried so much about being trashy]

And then we watched American Dad, we thought it would just be too painful to watch Team America without our wonderful friends and family beside us laughing at the horribly inappropriate jokes. Love you all :)

I Remember... "Oh Shit"

This story really must start when I began working at Pick Up Stix, where Christian also worked. At the tender young age of 16 I had some church friends who were out of high school and more mentors than anything else. Shortly after I started working at Stix, two of these mentors separately gave me the same unsolicited advice: "stay away from Christian." They warned me of his womanizing ways [which eventually led to my first real conversation with Christian beginning with me saying "so, I hear you're a man-whore." True story.]. At the time I thought Christian was in his early twenties so I thought these warnings a bit preposterous. 

Fast forward about a year and a half.

About a month after Christian and I started hanging out, I decided it was time to confess my warm feelings for him to one of those wonderful mentors. This is how the conversation progressed:

Andrea: "Hey Mama, I have a confession to make."

Mama: "Okay..."

Andrea: "I have been hanging out with Christian Laws."

Mama: "Oh, honey, I don't care if you hang out with him, just as long as you don't like him."

Andrea: *silence*

Mama: "Oh, shit"

This mentor was very loving a protective toward me [and knew how easily my heart could be broken], so she was just doing her motherly duty by being concerned about this new relationship.

Once Christian and I officially started dating, every time I called Mama, the first thing out of her mouth would be "did you break up with him, yet?" No joke. She was very upset that I was quickly falling in love with this boy that had a sketchy track record. 

Two other people told me outright to break-up with Christian. 

Fast forward a couple of months, to when I was nearly inconsolable in Chicago.

I received a call from Mama. This is the first thing she said: "I like Christian. I hung out with him last night and I could tell that he really cares about you." I was so happy that she approved and that someone finally saw the Christian that I had come to know, a kind soul.

Fast forward six years, to today.

It is so funny to me now to think about Christians reputation within U4IC [our church's youth group]. Right now I know this really wonderful and generous husband who makes dinner, supports me when I get down about life and can frequently be caught snuggling with the kitties. It is so hard for me to reconcile this with his bad-boy reputation. It's pretty hilarious actually. Recently we were talking and he revealed a detail of his major transgression while in U4IC that I had previously not known and it shocked me that he could have made such a careless decision. Shame on you, young Christian, shame. 

 Sketchy track record and all, I love Christian. And we can laugh about the stupid decisions he made when he was just a young lad. I made poor choices, too, though they were more in the hairstyle and clothing realm. Silly, awkward young lass. 

DIY: Homebrew Kombucha

 Have you been living under a rock and are unaware of what kombucha is? Well, good thing you have me to educate you ;). Kombucha is a fermented tea, usually green or back. Pretty simple, right? Right!

I started drinking the store-bought variety of kombucha daily a few years ago, but that was a short-lived endeavor once I realized that at about $2.70 a bottle it is an expensive habit [however beneficial it may be]. I had all but forgotten about the kombucha buzz when a very dear friend told me that she was brewing some herself and it sounded like a fun little experiment. A few short weeks later I had a very healthy and loved SCOBY [symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast] in my hot little hands [well, that would have been highly unsanitary. It was in a jar.] and I was ready to try my hand at home-brew kombucha.

It is markedly less expensive to make your own kombucha than it is to buy it. To make a gallon, it is about the price of 6 tea-bags and 1/4 cup of sugar. I'm sure I could be motivated to calculate that out into a nice low dollar amount compared with the $2.70 bottle amount, but I'm not. So...

Making kombucha is very easy and fun. If you were the dorky type of kid that grew salt or sugar crystals and checked on them every hour to see if they had grown, then you will love making kombucha. So, if you want to try it out, here is a basic recipe.

Home-Brew Kombucha

What you will need:

1 large glass jar [at least 1 gallon]*

1 cloth big enough to cover the opening of your jar** 

1 rubber band

Large stock-style pot

Wooden or plastic spoon

* I found a couple of mine at thrift stores [just make sure to clean it really well]. Also Ball makes a great 1 gallon jar you can find at Ace Hardware Stores, though I found it a bit pricy.

** Old sheets and tee-shirt work well for this purpose, but again wash them every well.

Ingredients:

4-6 bags of green or black tea [most flavored black and green teas will work as well, just not Earl Gray]

1/4 cup sugar [I use organic evaporated cane juice]*

1 gallon water

1 SCOBY and about 1 cup of tea that it was brewed in**

* If you are worried about the sugar content, you should know that in the final product there will be almost no simple sugar left because the SCOBY will have consumed it in the fermentation process. Also, now may be a good time to add that there may be a trace of alcohol in the final product as that is a result of the fermentation.

** This can be the hardest item to come by because you generally cannot buy one from the store [although our local organic market did sell "Kombucha Starter Kits" for a while, so it may be worth checking out]. If you do not have a friend that you can bum one off of, you can buy them online or perhaps on craigslist. You may even be able to score one for free if you request it on freecycle.org.

Okay, that was long-winded, but being concise is not generally one of my strong suits. On to the fun stuff.

1. Clean everything [jar, cloth, pot, spoon] very well with a NON-antibacterial soap, starting with your hands and arms [I like to pretend that I am going into surgery :)]. Please do not use antibacterial soap during this whole process, your SCOBY is a bacteria and you don't want to kill it. 'Nuff said? I find that the original blue Dawn works well. Place everything on a clean towel to air dry.

2. Fill pot with 1 gallon water and bring to a boil. Let it boil for 10 minutes with the lid on. 

3. Take pot off burner and stir in the sugar until it is dissolved. Add your tea bags and cover the pot with the lid. Wait... Like 5-8 hours or until the tea is room temp.

4. Clean your hands and arms again. 

5. Pour or place your scoby and the tea that it came with into the bottom of your jar. Remove the tea bags from your tea and add your tea to the jar. Cover with your cloth and secure with the rubber band.

6. Place your brewing kombucha on a shelf or counter where it will not be exposed to a lot of light and where it will stay at around 65 to 75 degrees. Though getting warmer than that does not seem to matter much. My SCOBY actually thrived while living with my mom, who likes to keep the house at a hellish 90 degrees. I would be more concerned about it getting much colder than 65 degrees.

7. Wait again. This time for 2 to 4 weeks. I brew mine for 4 weeks because I like it less sweet. You can taste it at 2 weeks and beyond to decide how long you want it to ferment. During this time your tea should begin to form a new SCOBY on top of the tea. That is good and completely normal.

8. At this point you have the option of harvesting your kombucha as is or putting it through a second bottled fermentation. I have only recently started bottling, so I will not go into that now. I will give instructions on that later when I have a better grasp of it. So for the purposes of this basic process, here are the final instructions: Pour your kombucha into a glass container with a plastic lid [or several smaller glass containers] and place in the refrigerator. Save about a cup of the tea and your SCOBY to brew your next batch. At this point you should have two SCOBYs, you can give the extra one away or brew two at the same time. Serve chilled. 

9. Enjoy the fruits of your labor!

  I may be a little over zealous and paranoid about the cleaning, but better safe than sorry. You are working with a bacteria, you don't want to add anything harmful to that and then encourage growth. That could be bad. Please be careful and if your SCOBY starts growing something weird, investigate, and perhaps chalk it up to a fail. I don't mean for this to be scary, but I don't want anyone's carelessness to harm them. Plenty of people brew kombucha every day and are fine, it is not a difficult process. Just use your judgement. I found that googling images of healthy kombucha SCOBYs when I was in doubt helped a lot. I understand it is hard when you first start out because you don't have any idea of what is normal or abnormal, so feel free to contact me with any questions. I encourage you to try it out, you will get the hang of it and learn what a healthy SCOBY looks like.

Brewing kombucha can be so much fun! Don't let the bacteria scare you off, I have never had to throw out a SCOBY. Try it. You will have fun!