Kids and Sauerkraut

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My kids did not gravitate to sauerkraut easily. Neither did I. The key for me was finding a recipe that suited my taste buds. I found that I love caraway and a hint of apple.

Once I crossed over, I was ready to make my kids try it. I was not popular for a day or two; however, I redeemed myself quickly as they began to combine the sauerkraut with their meat. Before long they were enjoying the flavor combination. Within a month Colin was making his own, using red cabbage exclusively. Colin's tip? A few cubes of diced apple and your favorite songs on iTunes.


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Cacao Coffee Creation

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This recipe is a delightful substitute for highly sugared chocolate bars. My 12 year-old son, Brandon made these for Mother's Day.
  • 1/2 cup coconut oil
  • 1/2 cup cacao butter
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground coffee
  • 3-4 tablespoons raw cacao powder
  • 1 tablespoon coconut manna
  • 1 tablespoon coconut chips
  • 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 drops vanilla liquid stevia
Melt on stove. Pour into molds. Freeze. Enjoy! (I sure did!)
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Solar Water

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There are multiple ways to use sunlight for water filtration. Solar water traditionally combines cobalt blue with sunlight in order to alter the structure of the water molecules. Cobalt blue glass comes in a variety of forms. I found these 16-ounce glass cobalt blue bottles at Freund Container and Supply. After filling each with tap water, I left the bottles uncapped overnight (this allows the chlorine to evaporate). I then capped each bottle and placed them outside in direct sunlight for 6 hours. (Recommendations vary from 1 hour to 6 hours.)

The taste difference was remarkable. The water tasted sweeter, lighter, and cleaner. I inventoried my family using a blind taste test, and each one voted for the solar water. Tap water is pictured on the left below, solar water on the right. The tap water had been sitting for 20 minutes. (I have written previously about contaminants in tap water in a post titled Water Quality Report.)


I've been using solar water for kombucha, water kefir, and other fermented beverages. The kids enjoy drinking it straight from the refrigerator. These bottles would be perfect for traveling—a cheap, simple, reusable water bottle!

This post was shared at Healing With Food Friday.

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Toxic-Free Fashion

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Our May edition of Toxic Talk Tuesday looks at the rise in the use of synthetic fabrics. What are the most common chemicals used in clothing? What constitutes wrinkle-free, antistatic, or chlorine-resistant? Don't miss a lively discussion on Chris Fabry Live! on Tuesday, May 14 at 3:00 p.m. Central Time.
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Cultured Uncrustables

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In the height of our processed-food days, I latched onto Uncrustables. Like any busy mother, I gravitated to the convenience of a sealed, crustless sandwich. I paid no heed to the ingredients.

BREAD: ENRICHED UNBLEACHED FLOUR (WHEAT FLOUR, MALTED BARLEY FLOUR, NIACIN, REDUCED IRON, THIAMIN MONONITRATE, RIBOFLAVIN, FOLIC ACID), WATER, UNBLEACHED WHOLEWHEAT FLOUR, HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP, PARTIALLY HYDROGENATED SOYBEAN OIL, CONTAINS 2% OR LESS OF: SALT, WHEAT GLUTEN, DOUGH CONDITIONERS (DISTILLED MONOGLYCERIDES, SODIUM STEAROYL LACTYLATE, DATEM, ENZYMES [WITH AMYLASE, LIPASE, ASCORBIC ACID, CALCIUM PEROXIDE, AZODICARBONAMIDE, WHEAT STARCH]), YEAST. PEANUT BUTTER: PEANUTS, DEXTROSE, SUGAR, MONO AND DIGLYCERIDES (PALM AND/OR SOYBEAN OIL), CONTAINS 2% OR LESS OF: FULLY HYDROGENATED VEGETABLE OILS (SOYBEAN AND/OR COTTONSEED AND/OR RAPESEED), SALT, MOLASSES.GRAPE JELLY: GRAPE JUICE, HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP, CORN SYRUP, CONTAINS 2% OR LESS OF: PECTIN, CITRIC ACID, POTASSIUM SORBATE (PRESERVATIVE).

Recently I tried an Uncrustables replacement, with great success. I doubt my kids would have liked this in our first year away from processed foods, but after several years on our new venture, they embraced it eagerly.

Always trying to incorporate cultured foods into my kids' meals, I used my fermented fruit leather. Instead of drying the mixture, I kept it as a spreadable "jelly."

My bread consisted of sprouted almonds and jungle peanuts, but could easily utilize other seed/nut combinations.


Bread
  • 2 cups sprouted nut/seed meal
  • 4 eggs
  • 3 tbsp. coconut oil
  • 1 tsp. raw apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tsp. baking soda
Optional: honey, unrefined sugar, stevia. Ghee/butter can be substituted for coconut oil.

Bake at 300 degrees for 45-60 minutes.


Fermented Fruit Chutney
  • 2 cups puréed fruit combination. Pictured above: raspberries, strawberries, and cranberries.
  • 2 tbsp. whey or other starter such as kombucha or water kefir
  • 1 tsp. salt
Stir whey into puréed fruit. Place in capped mason jar and allow to sit at room temperature for 3-5 days.

Allow bread to cool. Slice and add "jelly." Package and freeze. I use parchment paper bags.
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