As you can see by all the posts today, my posting is like my eating -- feast or famine!!! LOL Not good for the body and probably not good for those reading. I'll try to be better -- on both counts!
Basak
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Satiation
I didn't even know this word existed until just a few years ago. I kind of like it. Satiate - to satisfy (as a need or desire) or no more desire. I relate this word to "full".
I've been working on identifying my "full" when eating. I don't know if I even know what that little feeling my body would give me feels like. I watch my grandchildren eat and they surely do recognize it -- even when eating a dessert. And I don't know if I really know what real hunger pains feel like anymore. Most of mine seem to be in the head, not in the belly.
So for now, I eat until I feel no more desire. It seems to be working for me. I think I just need to try harder to learn to identify that "full" sensation. I remember an article I read years ago that asked if we'd ever noticed that those people who looked like their weight was where it should be, when eating out, were the ones that left something on their plate. They knew they were full but didn't feel they had to eat it all. I liked that article and have often desired to know I was full but surely haven't done my part to recognize it.
Eating more wheat has kind of helped with that, though. It's amazing that it really doesn't take a lot to feel satiated. When I get there, I do not want anymore. I also know when I have bread for a meal I usually have two slices and I sometimes do not feel full and will have another slice and then feel completely satisfied. I guess I am progressing in this area.
Our bodies really do know what they need and how much they need. Just as in the world we need to be good listeners, we need to be good listeners to our bodies.
Basak
I've been working on identifying my "full" when eating. I don't know if I even know what that little feeling my body would give me feels like. I watch my grandchildren eat and they surely do recognize it -- even when eating a dessert. And I don't know if I really know what real hunger pains feel like anymore. Most of mine seem to be in the head, not in the belly.
So for now, I eat until I feel no more desire. It seems to be working for me. I think I just need to try harder to learn to identify that "full" sensation. I remember an article I read years ago that asked if we'd ever noticed that those people who looked like their weight was where it should be, when eating out, were the ones that left something on their plate. They knew they were full but didn't feel they had to eat it all. I liked that article and have often desired to know I was full but surely haven't done my part to recognize it.
Eating more wheat has kind of helped with that, though. It's amazing that it really doesn't take a lot to feel satiated. When I get there, I do not want anymore. I also know when I have bread for a meal I usually have two slices and I sometimes do not feel full and will have another slice and then feel completely satisfied. I guess I am progressing in this area.
Our bodies really do know what they need and how much they need. Just as in the world we need to be good listeners, we need to be good listeners to our bodies.
Basak
While we're on snacks.....
When did the world start teaching snacks as a part of our daily regiments?
When I was growing up and also while raising my own family, we ate three meals a day. There were no snacks, even after school. I can't remember when it all started to feed our little children a snack at mid-morning and mid-afternoon and after school. And when you're feeding little ones, you always have to have a bite so adults just got on board, too (me)!
I'm trying to not eat snacks and it's making a difference in how I feel -- MUCH BETTER. It's giving me much more self control over what I eat at other times of the day, too. And then when I think about what most people eat for snacks today........ you already know where I'd go with that!
Boy, the world has done a good job on us!! Reminds me of those good words spoken in the Word of Wisdom, "...evils and designs, which do and will exist in the hearts of conspiring men in the last days..."
I just can't remember when this all came about -- the transition. Maybe it was in the years of my children being gone from home and having grandchildren but it's like "fixing" something all day long!
Another person commented that we used to eat large breakfasts -- eggs, wheat cereal, milk from the cow and whole wheat bread and homemade butter. (Those really were the good-ole days and I remember them.) After you got done eating all that, you weren't hungry until lunch. Lunch was the big meal of the day. Dinner was lighter--more whole wheat bread broken up like cereal and covered with milk and sugar in a bowl, with home bottled peaches on top. We used to call it bread and milk.
It surely wasn't a time of just leisurely watching TV between those meals but hard work so when it was time to eat, most were not picky.
She also pointed out that snacks came about when schools kept kids all day instead of sending them home at noon for a home cooked meal, and the kindergartners had graham crackers and milk for a snack. She said, "I actually knew what hunger pains felt like..." And of course, you've all heard this line, "I used to walk 1/2 mile (or longer) to and from school everyday". The big meals stopped during the day about that time as more men worked away from home rather than farming.
I think snacks -- in our not as much expended calorie society -- are not helping us much.
Ah the good ole days -- they did have their advantages and good points. But I really think this is something to consider. Do we all need these snacks? Is this the reason so many are so picky? Is this one reason we are an over-weight society? I know for me, when I start eating, it's sometimes hard to turn it off. And the world's philosophy has done this to me because it wasn't a part of me when I was growing up or when my children were at home.
I'm taking my world back!
Basak
When I was growing up and also while raising my own family, we ate three meals a day. There were no snacks, even after school. I can't remember when it all started to feed our little children a snack at mid-morning and mid-afternoon and after school. And when you're feeding little ones, you always have to have a bite so adults just got on board, too (me)!
I'm trying to not eat snacks and it's making a difference in how I feel -- MUCH BETTER. It's giving me much more self control over what I eat at other times of the day, too. And then when I think about what most people eat for snacks today........ you already know where I'd go with that!
Boy, the world has done a good job on us!! Reminds me of those good words spoken in the Word of Wisdom, "...evils and designs, which do and will exist in the hearts of conspiring men in the last days..."
I just can't remember when this all came about -- the transition. Maybe it was in the years of my children being gone from home and having grandchildren but it's like "fixing" something all day long!
Another person commented that we used to eat large breakfasts -- eggs, wheat cereal, milk from the cow and whole wheat bread and homemade butter. (Those really were the good-ole days and I remember them.) After you got done eating all that, you weren't hungry until lunch. Lunch was the big meal of the day. Dinner was lighter--more whole wheat bread broken up like cereal and covered with milk and sugar in a bowl, with home bottled peaches on top. We used to call it bread and milk.
It surely wasn't a time of just leisurely watching TV between those meals but hard work so when it was time to eat, most were not picky.
She also pointed out that snacks came about when schools kept kids all day instead of sending them home at noon for a home cooked meal, and the kindergartners had graham crackers and milk for a snack. She said, "I actually knew what hunger pains felt like..." And of course, you've all heard this line, "I used to walk 1/2 mile (or longer) to and from school everyday". The big meals stopped during the day about that time as more men worked away from home rather than farming.
I think snacks -- in our not as much expended calorie society -- are not helping us much.
Ah the good ole days -- they did have their advantages and good points. But I really think this is something to consider. Do we all need these snacks? Is this the reason so many are so picky? Is this one reason we are an over-weight society? I know for me, when I start eating, it's sometimes hard to turn it off. And the world's philosophy has done this to me because it wasn't a part of me when I was growing up or when my children were at home.
I'm taking my world back!
Basak
Snack time
Two little boys - 4 and 5 1/2 -- were buggin' me for snack. I was quite busy and they were supposed to be playing -- ya all know how that goes. So to the kitchen I go to try and find something for snack. I had wheat sprouts in a bowl on the cupboard - trying to decide what I wanted to do with them, leftovers from breakfast and they were a little past the sweetest part of eating them but still very good. I'd just made a green smoothie which also had ground sprouts in it. Well, I saw a no-work for me snack and just did it, wondering how it would go over. Their cups were over half full of the smoothie and I just put some sprouts in a little bowl and got them two grain crackers. Of course the sprouts have roots coming out pretty good now and kind of cling to each other. The youngest took some and made the "mmmmm" sound. The older one took some in his fingers and was looking at the conglomeration when I left. When I came back a few minutes later, they were all gone and so was their smoothie! I have to admit, I was quite surprised and I did learn that the spider-like look of the sprouts intrigued them and made them more fun to eat. Oh what we learn when we experiment! LOL
Basak
Basak
Eating changes in our lives from a few months ago
Boy, with all that is going on in the world (swine flu), I'm so very thankful for how we eat. We've made major changes in the past six months compared to how we used to eat. We rarely eat out - and here just last night was one of those rarities - we eat much more fresh foods (and it isn't costing that much), we eat many more whole foods, canned foods are going down on my shelves and some are not being replaced and some have even been given to the food bank, we are eating way less meat, and we are eating more correct portions. Our weight is changing and so are our bodies. This all feels VERY good! And it seems "we" are liking it!!!! Amazing! Who would have ever thought??!!!!!! And I'm hoping it's helping our body be maximum in the immune department.
Basak
Basak
Pay day
My son asked this morning how he could eat more protein without eating meat. This is one of those "it's worth it" (pay day) times. We discussed lentils and beans and how if you eat them and grains, you get all the amino acids. He then shared that he's "noticed" that when he eats meat, he soon feels kind of bloated. There's that word again -- "noticing". I also shared with him that maybe it's what he eats with the meat that causes that bloating feeling. I've also recently read in the world's information that meat proteins stay with the body and do its work much longer than they originally thought -- sometimes up to three days.
I, too, have experienced what he described but it isn't every time. It seems it needs to be a constant watch. Maybe I should keep an eating journal and record how I feel after each meal. LOL Boy, I already know that but when thinking, it always brings things to mind on what we know we should be doing!
Simpleness is so one of the keys to all of this.
I continue to eat wheat -- in all it's forms. Here goes a bit of "eating journal" LOL Had wheat sprouts (1/2 cup), raisin bran (1/3 cup), 1/4 tsp sugar (I still am hung up on my old life LOL but notice the decreased amount) and milk for breakfast. It tasted wonderful. Had a salad last night that had 1/2 cup of mixed sprouts (which includes wheat) on it and then had one slice of pizza. Yes, I did notice sensations but it wasn't from the salad. I also noticed that increase in weight this morning which ALWAYS comes after eating pizza.
Basak
I, too, have experienced what he described but it isn't every time. It seems it needs to be a constant watch. Maybe I should keep an eating journal and record how I feel after each meal. LOL Boy, I already know that but when thinking, it always brings things to mind on what we know we should be doing!
Simpleness is so one of the keys to all of this.
I continue to eat wheat -- in all it's forms. Here goes a bit of "eating journal" LOL Had wheat sprouts (1/2 cup), raisin bran (1/3 cup), 1/4 tsp sugar (I still am hung up on my old life LOL but notice the decreased amount) and milk for breakfast. It tasted wonderful. Had a salad last night that had 1/2 cup of mixed sprouts (which includes wheat) on it and then had one slice of pizza. Yes, I did notice sensations but it wasn't from the salad. I also noticed that increase in weight this morning which ALWAYS comes after eating pizza.
Basak
Friday, April 24, 2009
Answers to prayers
Last night, I was given an answer to a prayer that I've been pondering and working on for awhile. I just had to sit there in awe. It just kind of came out of nowhere because I wasn't thinking about it right then. I love my Heavenly Father. I love knowing He is all knowing and that His timetable is perfect. When inspiration comes like this, it definitely puts one on a spiritual high. Interestingly enough, the TV has been off all week. Amazing how that works. I know that one of these days, I'll also have this prayer about wheat answered.
Basak
Basak
An old book on using wheat and progress
When I first began to try and use wheat in more than just bread and cereal, I bought a book on using wheat to eat. Books are good! They save lots of time in the learning process. It sat for awhile and after the gluten making learning and some classes by people teaching how they used wheat, I again got the book out to see what good recipes I could find. The baked products - breads, cakes, etc., - used wheat flour but as I got to the meat/casserole/vegetable dishes, I had to chuckle. I still cook our favorite meatballs using a recipe from this book but the extent of the wheat used was 1/2 cup whole wheat flour to roll the uncooked meatballs in before browning them and other recipes used the whole wheat bread crumbs. How I've progressed in using wheat since then -- throw some (cooked) in spaghetti sauce, chili, soups, etc., and I'll yet be trying some of the salads in this book I just ordered. It's always fun to look back and see the progress and yet also, to see that there is still much to look forward to in learning.
Basak
Basak
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Always learning and wondering if it's getting me closer
There are sooooo many good things and helps out there. It makes me wonder why anyone would even want to read my ramblings. But no matter how busy I get, the wheat question keeps popping in and out and when life again settles, it becomes a constant.
However, a good thing learned today, shared by another cohort in the realm of preparedness, was a book. It's entitled "I Dare You to Eat It" by Leisa Card. She's talking about eating the basics of storage -- wheat being a main one. Of course I ordered it and think it will be fun to read. I really liked her website and I like the way she says things -- a fun personality!! You can find that at http://www.idareyoutoeatit.com/ Fun title, huh?!
Basak
However, a good thing learned today, shared by another cohort in the realm of preparedness, was a book. It's entitled "I Dare You to Eat It" by Leisa Card. She's talking about eating the basics of storage -- wheat being a main one. Of course I ordered it and think it will be fun to read. I really liked her website and I like the way she says things -- a fun personality!! You can find that at http://www.idareyoutoeatit.com/ Fun title, huh?!
Basak
Sunday, April 19, 2009
PS on popped wheat and "finished" recipe
Got the soft wheat and it was successful, too.Would I buy soft wheat just for this?
Nope!
Amazingly we have found we do prefer the red wheat --- but we think ALL of it is just YUMMY!!!!
After making many, many batches, I've pretty well got this refined!!! I'm sure you're thinkin' I'm obsessed but if I can save anyone some of the time and testing to get to the wonderful finished product, so be it! LOL
RECIPE
1 cup rinsed wheat and at least 4 cups water --- boil 1 hr 30 min, adding water if needed. Drain well. One cup of wheat before cooked will equal about six batches to be fried.
Put a couple inches of oil in a pot for deep fat frying. Heat to 360 degrees. Put 1/2 cup of the cooked wheat in a frying basket when oil reaches 360 degrees. Cook for 2 min. 45 sec. to 3 minutes or until it turns a good (deep) golden brown. The small bubbling will come to an almost complete stop and the oil temperature will again be very close to 360 degrees. Drain on a paper towel and salt or season as you desire. Cool completely and store in a glass jar. (see March 30 post for seasoning suggestions)
Notes: The above reached our desire of crunchy and puffiness. We found undercooked was about as bad as overdone. Did you know some of the wheat, if boiled long enough, will turn inside out? I cooked it trying to get it all to do it (for hours) and found not all turned. When the wheat is cooked for the hour and thirty minutes, it has opened sufficiently. I tried many variables to process more in the frying process but none turned out as good as just 1/2 cup.)
Basak
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Whoa!
I gotta come up with a different plan.
No time for blogging because I spend all my time making this popped wheat.
We're addicted!
A special reward came when my husband gave me a special thanks for sticking with the experimenting. He did his own search on nutritional value and found there was none. He's doing some serious thinking in these areas of nutrition and that always brings good. By the way, fiber content of popped wheat is good and does good things for the body in that department.
Basak
Monday, April 6, 2009
And even more thinking.....
When we break an arm or leg, it's put in a cast so it can heal and it takes about six weeks. When we have surgery, we are told to take it easy for 6 weeks and even up to 6 months.
Isn't it interesting that the outside of our body is given time to heal but when it comes to the inside of the body, we just keep shoveling it in and making it continue to work and not take it easy to heal or we take medications to mask the symptoms?
I was making an 8-hour drive and time was of the essence. I only wanted to stop for gas and relief. I prepared munchies. It was a time when I was trying to eat at least one meal of raw veges. The only thing I had in the fridge were peppers - a green, yellow and an orange one.
I must admit, I really thought I'd get to the point of not even being able to look at those slices. But as I got hungry, down they went -- for snacks, lunch and dinner. When I arrived life was extremely busy so nothing else was eaten during that day except for almost three whole peppers.
Now for the surprise! Maybe some have seen pictures of the results of a colon cleanse and if not, just google it and you can have that 'wonderful' experience. I've never seen such results in cleanses I've done but lo and behold, there were results the next day. In fact, it kind of scared me because I had no idea this was even a possibility. I satiated myself with peppers and they did something very good to my body.
If foods, as their whole, provide these kinds of results, I wonder if each of the whole foods would do their own cleanse -- kind of like different scrubbing brushes. What would eating a day of just celery or broccoli or carrots or whatever do? I'm thinking I'll be trying this also.
I'd imagine if a food sounds good it would be its turn. For some reason, strawberries and celery are screaming at me. Can you imagine, a whole day of eating whole strawberries until you're full and when you get hungry, you have them again -- all day long? It was amazing that satiation did come, even when eating just slices of peppers.
Now I know this doesn't quite coincide with the previous post of eating wheat with other whole foods but I think there's something to both. I'd say it's time for more experiments!!
Basak
Isn't it interesting that the outside of our body is given time to heal but when it comes to the inside of the body, we just keep shoveling it in and making it continue to work and not take it easy to heal or we take medications to mask the symptoms?
I was making an 8-hour drive and time was of the essence. I only wanted to stop for gas and relief. I prepared munchies. It was a time when I was trying to eat at least one meal of raw veges. The only thing I had in the fridge were peppers - a green, yellow and an orange one.
I must admit, I really thought I'd get to the point of not even being able to look at those slices. But as I got hungry, down they went -- for snacks, lunch and dinner. When I arrived life was extremely busy so nothing else was eaten during that day except for almost three whole peppers.
Now for the surprise! Maybe some have seen pictures of the results of a colon cleanse and if not, just google it and you can have that 'wonderful' experience. I've never seen such results in cleanses I've done but lo and behold, there were results the next day. In fact, it kind of scared me because I had no idea this was even a possibility. I satiated myself with peppers and they did something very good to my body.
If foods, as their whole, provide these kinds of results, I wonder if each of the whole foods would do their own cleanse -- kind of like different scrubbing brushes. What would eating a day of just celery or broccoli or carrots or whatever do? I'm thinking I'll be trying this also.
I'd imagine if a food sounds good it would be its turn. For some reason, strawberries and celery are screaming at me. Can you imagine, a whole day of eating whole strawberries until you're full and when you get hungry, you have them again -- all day long? It was amazing that satiation did come, even when eating just slices of peppers.
Now I know this doesn't quite coincide with the previous post of eating wheat with other whole foods but I think there's something to both. I'd say it's time for more experiments!!
Basak
Been doin' a lot of thinking today
Part of a quote in a post on April 1 read: "...A whole food might be more than the sum of its nutrient parts." - which basically means the synergy of the whole.
I've had a few thoughts come to mind and had about decided that maybe that slice of homemade bread we always used to have with a meal was good for us. Today this thought was more intense and I wondered why. As I've tried to make sure my body is getting the wheat it needs, I've found that eating vege's and fruits, and I know they are good for me, leaves wheat lacking. So decided I need to eat a slice of bread, a handful of sprouts, etc., with what I eat to see where this takes me. And it doesn't seem to take a lot -- half a slice of bread, a small handful of sprouts.
As I was pondering this, the thought came: What if wheat also worked synergistically with all other whole foods? I do know nutrients work synergistically together and I believe many foods are not the best for us in combination but is there more good for man with a bit of wheat with other whole foods?
Thinking always seems to bring more questions; but questions beget answers.
Basak
I've had a few thoughts come to mind and had about decided that maybe that slice of homemade bread we always used to have with a meal was good for us. Today this thought was more intense and I wondered why. As I've tried to make sure my body is getting the wheat it needs, I've found that eating vege's and fruits, and I know they are good for me, leaves wheat lacking. So decided I need to eat a slice of bread, a handful of sprouts, etc., with what I eat to see where this takes me. And it doesn't seem to take a lot -- half a slice of bread, a small handful of sprouts.
As I was pondering this, the thought came: What if wheat also worked synergistically with all other whole foods? I do know nutrients work synergistically together and I believe many foods are not the best for us in combination but is there more good for man with a bit of wheat with other whole foods?
Thinking always seems to bring more questions; but questions beget answers.
Basak
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
A story of our bodies telling us what they need
This was so many years ago that I may not have the details totally correct but I can still remember the impact. It was WOW!
There was a day-care center. Someone there had watched the children and noticed how they'd eat the same thing for a couple or few days and then go to another food. She wanted to do an experiment. They put a great variety (all kinds of fruits, veges, potatoes, breads, cheese, etc.) on the table in their individual bowls.
The children were allowed to choose what they wanted to eat and it was recorded. It didn't matter what others chose. They found a child would eat maybe green beans for a couple of days and then go to another type of food for a couple of days, like bread or meat or fruit. You get the picture. They sometimes would choose one or two other items to eat with what they chose but it was mostly one item and maybe two. It almost seemed like they were craving some things as they ate a lot of it. After a couple of days, the food of choice almost always changed.
These children were eating by natural instinct.
Are our natural instincts so masked that we cannot even feel/hear them? I believe mine are. However, the more I eat whole foods, the more my body seems to talk to me. I also believe that one thing I do is mix and eat too many varieties of food together. Again that word "simple" comes to mind.
Basak
There was a day-care center. Someone there had watched the children and noticed how they'd eat the same thing for a couple or few days and then go to another food. She wanted to do an experiment. They put a great variety (all kinds of fruits, veges, potatoes, breads, cheese, etc.) on the table in their individual bowls.
The children were allowed to choose what they wanted to eat and it was recorded. It didn't matter what others chose. They found a child would eat maybe green beans for a couple of days and then go to another type of food for a couple of days, like bread or meat or fruit. You get the picture. They sometimes would choose one or two other items to eat with what they chose but it was mostly one item and maybe two. It almost seemed like they were craving some things as they ate a lot of it. After a couple of days, the food of choice almost always changed.
These children were eating by natural instinct.
Are our natural instincts so masked that we cannot even feel/hear them? I believe mine are. However, the more I eat whole foods, the more my body seems to talk to me. I also believe that one thing I do is mix and eat too many varieties of food together. Again that word "simple" comes to mind.
Basak
Monday, March 30, 2009
Popped wheat experimenting and SUCCESS
Our Bishop's very favorite treat is popped wheat. Now I've tried it with the frying pan method and haven't been too impressed so I was quite intrigued. Things weren't working too well with him remembering how -- so search and experiment we've gone. I just knew if it was his favorite treat, it must be good!!
My husband learned what I was trying to do and waa laa -- he did some searching and came up with a couple recipes. He takes very good care of me!
I'm just a little twisted when it comes to more than one recipe and have to find out which one is the best. Causes LOTS of work but I surely learn a lot. And I always remember that practice makes perfect. LOL We finally had it tasting like corn nuts -- except it was wheat. We were pleased. We had the Bishop sample and we were very close. He then gave us a bag of what he buys -- so now we could really compare and back to experimenting we went.
Ya know -- sometimes it just takes many to succeed. We decided to use some white wheat and we considered it even more successful. My son made a suggestion or two and after another batch .......WE ARE SO THERE ....... but still want to do just a little tweaking.
To be quite frankly honest, I think we've succeeded pretty well with all of them because we've eaten about 10 batches and loved every one of them. LOL One recipe said to use soft wheat berries. I've changed my philosophy - which was that if it couldn't be made with hard red wheat, then I wasn't going to make it - and ordered some. I will make a batch or two just to see if they make it even more like the professionally made.
My husband is now eating LOTS of wheat. So typical -- we zap all the life out of it when we do things like this and then love it! WARNING -- this has zero - that's a big 0 - nutritional value.
Notice - there is still a little difference in the puffiness but I think that can be obtained by cooking it just a little longer. You want it to split and it will be kind of sticky.
And now -- the RECIPE!!!
1 cup wheat --- the above was cooked for 1 hr 15 min. If it were cooked longer, I believe it would be the puffiness I desire. Drain and put on a towel and let dry a bit (10-15 minutes). One cup of wheat before cooked will equal about six batches to be fried.
Put a couple inches of oil in a pot large enough for deep fat frying. Heat to 360 degrees.
Put 1/2 cup of the cooked wheat in a wire basket or strainer and put in the oil. Cook for 2 min 20 seconds or until it turns a good (deep) golden brown. (When you use less wheat at a time, the oil temp does not fall and that was a factor in the experimenting.) Drain on a paper towel and salt or season as you desire. Cool completely and store in a glass jar -- if you have any left. LOL (See recipe added on April 19 for the refined, tried & tested recipe)
I do not have a strainer that has small enough holes so the wheat does not fall through. So to get them out, I put a strainer on another pan and poured the oil and fried wheat into it. I then put the wheat on the paper towel and poured the oil back into the cooking pot. Whatever works!!
Some suggestions for seasonings and uses on the recipes we found were: salt; onion salt; garlic salt; barbecue salt; dust with powdered ranch dressing; sprinkle with Kraft Grated American Cheese Food (sharp cheddar flavor); use it as a cereal served with honey, butter and milk; add to dried fruit and chocolate chips for a great trail mix; wonderful on salads; cinnamon and sugar; mixed with granola or any trail mix; as a topping for ice cream and desserts; or just by the handful.
Basak
My husband learned what I was trying to do and waa laa -- he did some searching and came up with a couple recipes. He takes very good care of me!
I'm just a little twisted when it comes to more than one recipe and have to find out which one is the best. Causes LOTS of work but I surely learn a lot. And I always remember that practice makes perfect. LOL We finally had it tasting like corn nuts -- except it was wheat. We were pleased. We had the Bishop sample and we were very close. He then gave us a bag of what he buys -- so now we could really compare and back to experimenting we went.
Ya know -- sometimes it just takes many to succeed. We decided to use some white wheat and we considered it even more successful. My son made a suggestion or two and after another batch .......WE ARE SO THERE ....... but still want to do just a little tweaking.
To be quite frankly honest, I think we've succeeded pretty well with all of them because we've eaten about 10 batches and loved every one of them. LOL One recipe said to use soft wheat berries. I've changed my philosophy - which was that if it couldn't be made with hard red wheat, then I wasn't going to make it - and ordered some. I will make a batch or two just to see if they make it even more like the professionally made.
My husband is now eating LOTS of wheat. So typical -- we zap all the life out of it when we do things like this and then love it! WARNING -- this has zero - that's a big 0 - nutritional value.
Notice - there is still a little difference in the puffiness but I think that can be obtained by cooking it just a little longer. You want it to split and it will be kind of sticky.
And now -- the RECIPE!!!
1 cup wheat --- the above was cooked for 1 hr 15 min. If it were cooked longer, I believe it would be the puffiness I desire. Drain and put on a towel and let dry a bit (10-15 minutes). One cup of wheat before cooked will equal about six batches to be fried.
Put a couple inches of oil in a pot large enough for deep fat frying. Heat to 360 degrees.
Put 1/2 cup of the cooked wheat in a wire basket or strainer and put in the oil. Cook for 2 min 20 seconds or until it turns a good (deep) golden brown. (When you use less wheat at a time, the oil temp does not fall and that was a factor in the experimenting.) Drain on a paper towel and salt or season as you desire. Cool completely and store in a glass jar -- if you have any left. LOL (See recipe added on April 19 for the refined, tried & tested recipe)
I do not have a strainer that has small enough holes so the wheat does not fall through. So to get them out, I put a strainer on another pan and poured the oil and fried wheat into it. I then put the wheat on the paper towel and poured the oil back into the cooking pot. Whatever works!!
Some suggestions for seasonings and uses on the recipes we found were: salt; onion salt; garlic salt; barbecue salt; dust with powdered ranch dressing; sprinkle with Kraft Grated American Cheese Food (sharp cheddar flavor); use it as a cereal served with honey, butter and milk; add to dried fruit and chocolate chips for a great trail mix; wonderful on salads; cinnamon and sugar; mixed with granola or any trail mix; as a topping for ice cream and desserts; or just by the handful.
Basak
Monday, March 23, 2009
Where is Gwenith?
No, I have not disappeared into some inescapable black hole! Life just swamps you some times. We have been trying to pack to move and just when we really got a lot of stuff done, the move was postponed a month! You see, we don't want to buy a house in this current economic 'situation' so we have been renting a home. Our landlord got his old job back in town and moved back and naturally wants his house back so we have to move. Anyway, as exhausting as that upheaval is, I have also been sick again (post-mission crud) which puts me down and out for a good week!
Basak was right, the book by Kenneth Bock, 'Healing the New Childhood Epidemics' has really impacted me and I am anxious to see if my sons with their asthma and anxiety problems and my problems can be helped by what that book says. What can you say about such a powerful book - particularly when their claims seem to be supported by legitimate (meaning scientific method, not hearsay) diagnoses and treatment that produce consistent results? I guess you try it out for yourself!
Onward and upward!
Gwenith
Basak was right, the book by Kenneth Bock, 'Healing the New Childhood Epidemics' has really impacted me and I am anxious to see if my sons with their asthma and anxiety problems and my problems can be helped by what that book says. What can you say about such a powerful book - particularly when their claims seem to be supported by legitimate (meaning scientific method, not hearsay) diagnoses and treatment that produce consistent results? I guess you try it out for yourself!
Onward and upward!
Gwenith
A body cleanse?
There are many who do body cleanses and there are many different ones out there. Wheat grass juice is to a certain extent a cleanse. Fasting is a form of a cleanse.Years ago, Stanley Burroughs wrote a book entitled, "The Master Cleanser". It is also known as the lemonade diet. There have become many variations of this as people have added their own thoughts and ways of doing it.
We decided to do this cleanse a few years ago. I did it for 14 days and my husband did it for 7. I bought the original book because I wanted the real deal. It was well worth the cleanse.
I've come to realize the bodies are totally phenomenal. It has back up systems that kick in when other parts fail. If something stops producing, another area provides. It is truly a great miracle. It wants to be healthy and fights to maintain health and life. When the body is healed and nutriented, it can withstand the intrusions of today's world. But so typical --- we eventually revert and gorge the body with junk and soon find that pizzazz we enjoyed gone.
Another family member just completed this cleanse for 19 days. She did it by the book and was valiant the longest of anyone I've personally known. As she's again adapted to food, and it's been healthy food, she's realized that her body is still not functioning properly. She never did feel the greatly improved health that so many describe; however, she did see great benefits and was thankful for what she did accomplish and was able to do everything required in her busy life (and continued exercising) except for a couple days of detoxing.
However, it made us realize that sometimes things are so deep that it takes longer. She thinks she might continue in short spurts (3-4 days). It reminds me that maybe the same principle is applied as was the heal your body program. I also thought about the book on the 4-A's and sometimes the improvements come after a year of providing the body with eliminations and nutrients. I realized that the cleanse could very well be like that. In fact, I just read the other day about a person who was dying. They gave her 2 tablespoons of carrot juice a few times a day for a few days and then were able to add more of the juice. Her health was restored on carrot juice (and she didn't turn orange).
In order to have the health we desire, a cleanse is a good thing to help our body become how it really is supposed to be. Isn't that what the 4-A book and the heal your body program has us do -- eliminate the foods that cause the most problems? When the body is not inundated with what we put into it, it has time to function the way it was created -- and healing is a part of that.
And what part will wheat play? The experiments continue, the testing continues, and the learning continues -- all building upon past learnings and experiences.
Basak
Calories in - calories out
OH NO!!! There's that controversial word "calories"! Calories are equated to the energy our bodies need to function and perform. Everyone has an opinion about calories -- how many and if we even need to know that and it's hard to know what is truth.
And so, I, too have an opinion -- a bit different than some and probably related a bit differently.
My life as a child was very busy and active. I tromped hay as it was pitch-forked up on the wagon. I walked almost everywhere - except when riding my horse or my bike after I got one. I played dodge ball, softball, tag, and worked weeding and harvesting. The point of all this is calories were being used by the dozens.
As older life changes came, along with more modern conveniences and less activity, I desired my old body back and my "feel good". My study lead me to a couple of life impacting lessons.
I read about those who were considered at the time "extreme" health nuts. They were too skinny -- looked like they might even be starving. However, many of those people were in their 80's and 90's -- hiking the Himalayas and on the go constantly -- actively enjoying life!!! They were eating whole foods -- according to what they felt their bodies needed. I was very surprised when I learned that most of the time their calorie intake was about 800 calories a day. Of course, my thoughts went to every can on the grocery store shelves which talked about 2000 calories a day. I also knew if we weren't very active that needed to be adjusted but for me and my size, that still would be at least 1600 calories a day. My word -- how could these people live?!
I then began a journey to better health. I did not do it the way these people did but I ate a bit less and began exercising. I looked good and I felt better than I'd felt in years. I remember the day, in church by the way, when a friend asked me what I was doing. Of course I was excited to share! Before I even got finished and could tell her how wonderful I felt, she said, "You look too thin. You don't look healthy." I've thought about that for years and why did she not think I looked healthy when I felt absolutely WONDERFUL - the best I'd felt in years!!! It's because I'd lost my plump. Here I was in a more healthy spectrum and seen just as I saw those health nuts years ago.
I decided to do a study on me -- just for grins and giggles. How many calories did I burn in a day? I was doing a moderate exercise program at the time. I found a site on the internet and it listed everything you could imagine -- sleep, going to the bathroom, sitting, reading, eating. I charted my day and I even vacuumed and did lots of those sort of things to get my calorie usage up. Reality, though, says that even though I do these calorie using things, a lot of my time is spent doing computer things -- sitting on my you know what. I was very surprised when I did the total calories used for the day ----- a whopping 750 -- and remember, I was doing a moderate exercise program. What a powerful impact that made on me.
I've often wondered where the needed calorie count originally came from. It was made during a time when people physically worked and many calories were needed for energy. How times have changed in what we do to expend energy but times have not changed on what we put into our bodies for energy. We are for the most part on overload and our health shows it.
And why did I post this? I don't really know except I felt I should. We not only need to eat the good foods but we also need to be moderate in our eating -- even with the wonderful foods God created for us. How much "energy" does our body need -- compared to how much we expend? Honesty with ourselves is a key factor.
Basak
And so, I, too have an opinion -- a bit different than some and probably related a bit differently.
My life as a child was very busy and active. I tromped hay as it was pitch-forked up on the wagon. I walked almost everywhere - except when riding my horse or my bike after I got one. I played dodge ball, softball, tag, and worked weeding and harvesting. The point of all this is calories were being used by the dozens.
As older life changes came, along with more modern conveniences and less activity, I desired my old body back and my "feel good". My study lead me to a couple of life impacting lessons.
I read about those who were considered at the time "extreme" health nuts. They were too skinny -- looked like they might even be starving. However, many of those people were in their 80's and 90's -- hiking the Himalayas and on the go constantly -- actively enjoying life!!! They were eating whole foods -- according to what they felt their bodies needed. I was very surprised when I learned that most of the time their calorie intake was about 800 calories a day. Of course, my thoughts went to every can on the grocery store shelves which talked about 2000 calories a day. I also knew if we weren't very active that needed to be adjusted but for me and my size, that still would be at least 1600 calories a day. My word -- how could these people live?!
I then began a journey to better health. I did not do it the way these people did but I ate a bit less and began exercising. I looked good and I felt better than I'd felt in years. I remember the day, in church by the way, when a friend asked me what I was doing. Of course I was excited to share! Before I even got finished and could tell her how wonderful I felt, she said, "You look too thin. You don't look healthy." I've thought about that for years and why did she not think I looked healthy when I felt absolutely WONDERFUL - the best I'd felt in years!!! It's because I'd lost my plump. Here I was in a more healthy spectrum and seen just as I saw those health nuts years ago.
I decided to do a study on me -- just for grins and giggles. How many calories did I burn in a day? I was doing a moderate exercise program at the time. I found a site on the internet and it listed everything you could imagine -- sleep, going to the bathroom, sitting, reading, eating. I charted my day and I even vacuumed and did lots of those sort of things to get my calorie usage up. Reality, though, says that even though I do these calorie using things, a lot of my time is spent doing computer things -- sitting on my you know what. I was very surprised when I did the total calories used for the day ----- a whopping 750 -- and remember, I was doing a moderate exercise program. What a powerful impact that made on me.
I've often wondered where the needed calorie count originally came from. It was made during a time when people physically worked and many calories were needed for energy. How times have changed in what we do to expend energy but times have not changed on what we put into our bodies for energy. We are for the most part on overload and our health shows it.
And why did I post this? I don't really know except I felt I should. We not only need to eat the good foods but we also need to be moderate in our eating -- even with the wonderful foods God created for us. How much "energy" does our body need -- compared to how much we expend? Honesty with ourselves is a key factor.
Basak
Going without food
In our church, we fast once a month for two meals. Some think they're absolutely going to die during that time. There are others that realize there are health benefits from going without food and although fasting is spiritual in nature, there are also physical benefits. Sometimes, however, because of health reasons, fasting is not a good thing.
I'm taught by stories in the scriptures of those who fast longer than just one day. Esther is one of those stories and there are many others. And through the years, I've learned that many people fast for a few days.
Because of my spiritual desires, I personally know the blessings of obeying the law of the fast. The greater my desire, the greater the spirituality of the fast. And I've learned I will not die if I go a couple of days without food. I've found that fasting is a great blessing in my spiritual life and physical blessings are always a by-product and I find them extremely liberating. My body feels rejuvenated, lighter, quicker -- the way I like to feel.
Again -- has the world programmed us -- what to eat, when to eat, how much to eat? Yes, we do eventually die if we go without food. But, do we also "die" when we overload with food?
Again -- do children teach us? Do the processes of our bodies sometimes need to rest - play catch up and rejuvenate. The children instinctively have this and so do we -- until we all get programmed.
Ah -- food tastes so good ----- all this is hard to do! Desires effect choices! Easier said than done!
Basak
I'm taught by stories in the scriptures of those who fast longer than just one day. Esther is one of those stories and there are many others. And through the years, I've learned that many people fast for a few days.
Because of my spiritual desires, I personally know the blessings of obeying the law of the fast. The greater my desire, the greater the spirituality of the fast. And I've learned I will not die if I go a couple of days without food. I've found that fasting is a great blessing in my spiritual life and physical blessings are always a by-product and I find them extremely liberating. My body feels rejuvenated, lighter, quicker -- the way I like to feel.
Again -- has the world programmed us -- what to eat, when to eat, how much to eat? Yes, we do eventually die if we go without food. But, do we also "die" when we overload with food?
Again -- do children teach us? Do the processes of our bodies sometimes need to rest - play catch up and rejuvenate. The children instinctively have this and so do we -- until we all get programmed.
Ah -- food tastes so good ----- all this is hard to do! Desires effect choices! Easier said than done!
Basak
A program that was for "healing your body"
A wonderful family member had great success on an eating program she did. There was a class she attended and learned. I asked if those in the class were there for weight loss or for better health. She said is was about fifty/fifty. She shared that originally the program was started for people with health problems but it was realized that one great unexpected benefit was weight loss. Of course that word got around so people started attending for weight loss.
The crux of the program was that you stopped eating the allergic foods -- all grains (except oatmeal and millet), no dairy (except ghee - clarified butter), no fruits, no condiments.
You then began a testing of each food. I made a list of all the foods I ate (or wanted to eat and some I'd never heard of before like jicama) and began. You only ate the same kind of foods during the whole day -- so there was a protein day, a carb day, and a legume day and if you wanted, you could also just have a vege day, although after testing they could be eaten with any of the other foods.
It was interesting as I listened to the reports of her progress. She would lose weight and then she'd go for 5-10 days and not lose a pound. She'd then lose 4-6 pounds in the next couple of days. As I pondered that, I realized the inside of her body was like a cut on the arm. Her body had come up against something that needed healing. It worked on it for about the same amount of days that it takes for a cut on the arm to totally heal, and then her body would function more as it should. As I began the program, I also experienced these same things.
When the body is not using all the energy to digest and sort things because there are too many or much of them, the body has time to heal. This program had wonderful benefits for almost all with health problems. One possible reason was the acidity/alkalinity factor of the digestive processes.
I had eggs (fried in ghee) for breakfast -- no telltale signs. I had cucumbers for lunch. I had cod for dinner. The next day I did the carbs - oatmeal, squash (with ghee), popcorn -- no telltale signs. After trying each food individually, one could then start to combine them -- still watching for any signs of a reaction.
It became very evident what foods did to my body -- nothing really intense, just little signs -- until I had green onions. I ate one and got extremely nauseated and within 2 minutes had thrown up. Interesting!!
I succeeded on this program and felt wonderful for months. But as so typical, the good food of the world and my lack of resistance and control won.
I'm very thankful for that program and what it taught me about my body's telltale signs. I'm finding that I'm again using this knowledge in really "feeling" and "noticing" what my body is telling me.
Basak
The crux of the program was that you stopped eating the allergic foods -- all grains (except oatmeal and millet), no dairy (except ghee - clarified butter), no fruits, no condiments.
You then began a testing of each food. I made a list of all the foods I ate (or wanted to eat and some I'd never heard of before like jicama) and began. You only ate the same kind of foods during the whole day -- so there was a protein day, a carb day, and a legume day and if you wanted, you could also just have a vege day, although after testing they could be eaten with any of the other foods.
It was interesting as I listened to the reports of her progress. She would lose weight and then she'd go for 5-10 days and not lose a pound. She'd then lose 4-6 pounds in the next couple of days. As I pondered that, I realized the inside of her body was like a cut on the arm. Her body had come up against something that needed healing. It worked on it for about the same amount of days that it takes for a cut on the arm to totally heal, and then her body would function more as it should. As I began the program, I also experienced these same things.
When the body is not using all the energy to digest and sort things because there are too many or much of them, the body has time to heal. This program had wonderful benefits for almost all with health problems. One possible reason was the acidity/alkalinity factor of the digestive processes.
I had eggs (fried in ghee) for breakfast -- no telltale signs. I had cucumbers for lunch. I had cod for dinner. The next day I did the carbs - oatmeal, squash (with ghee), popcorn -- no telltale signs. After trying each food individually, one could then start to combine them -- still watching for any signs of a reaction.
It became very evident what foods did to my body -- nothing really intense, just little signs -- until I had green onions. I ate one and got extremely nauseated and within 2 minutes had thrown up. Interesting!!
I succeeded on this program and felt wonderful for months. But as so typical, the good food of the world and my lack of resistance and control won.
I'm very thankful for that program and what it taught me about my body's telltale signs. I'm finding that I'm again using this knowledge in really "feeling" and "noticing" what my body is telling me.
Basak
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