Saturday, April 22, 2017

Berry Delicious Gelatin Dish

Here is a recipe that is similar to Jello, but without the artificial colorings and added sugars or sweeteners.

Berry Delicious Gelatin Dish

1 quart black cherry juice (can use cranberry or any other red fruit juice)*
3 TBS. gelatin powder**
2 10 oz. bags frozen berries
Liquid stevia to taste, if desired

Pour 3 cups juice into pot and bring to a boil. While waiting for juice to boil, take remainder of the juice and stir in the gelatin powder. When the juice comes to a boil, turn stove off. Add the gelatin mixture and stir until the gelatin is dissolved. Pour into serving bowl. Add bags of frozen berries and stir. Add liquid stevia, if using. Place in refrigerator until gel sets.


*I try to use organic ingredients when possible. I also look for juice that has no sugar added. 

Bernard Jensen's 100% Bovine Gelatin
** Here is the gelatin powder I use.   There are a couple of different brands that are recommended. It is hard finding grass-fed, organic gelatin powder, but perhaps a store like Whole Foods would carry it. 


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Saturday, March 4, 2017

Parents Please Protect Your Children - Too Many Horror Stories

   I know that those who go to this blog probably expect something light and happy here. But I feel like I need to remind us of the horror of the fact that there are pedophiles out there, and there are others who feel like they have a right to help themselves to whatever their hearts desire, even if it is harmful to others. They just don't care. There seems to be no rhyme or reason to their perversion, but the fact of the matter is, even if it doesn't make sense to us, it is still out there.

   I shudder in horror thinking back to a time when my adult daughter was somewhere between the ages of 8 and 11. The Internet was brand new and we let our daughters do way too many things without monitoring them.

   Fortunately, we had to share some of our computers. I noticed that there was a man who was periodically sending me messages. I didn't understand who he was or what his point was, so I ignored them. After a while, I realized that he must have had some kind of dialog with my daughter, probably more often then I was aware of what was going on.

   One day, I sat at the computer and a message was there. I began to dialog with this man. Somehow, he asked me my age, and I remember telling him that I was 43. He seemed surprised for some reason I didn't understand at that moment. Looking back, I believe he probably was thinking he was dialoging with my daughter. He seemed disappointed. I should have taken better control over the computer after that. Back then, the technology was not as sharp and it is today. He sent pictures as well, of himself. But today, he could probably even find out where we lived and where my daughter's bedroom would be located in the house.

   I remember another time, we were at the downtown library. I had my daughter (same one as in the paragraph above) who was about 4 at that time, and my son, who was a baby in a stroller. We were looking at books on the shelves and I heard a loud 'psst'. I looked around and didn't see anything. I kept an eye on my kids though. A couple minutes later I heard the same sound. Someone may have been trying to get my kids attention, but I was with them and they were not going to get out of my sight.

   Finally, in class last year (we were studying how to counsel children) we were taught about a situation that really happened to a woman who brought her 6 year old son to the store with her. The child was getting bored and continually complaining about being in the store. A young man started a conversation with her. He made comments like saying that he had a son who would do the same thing in the store. He appeared to be very friendly and warm. He offered to take the little boy to a video store nearby. The mother said no. The seemingly friendly man continued his dialog and asked the mother again if he could take her son to the video store. He promised to bring him back. The mother, wanting to be nice, said that he could take the boy with him. Sadly, the mother never saw her son again.

   Child sexual predators do not necessarily just go after little girls. They use little boys as well. Years ago, we could let our children walk around the store while we were shopping (if they were old enough). Today, this is not wise.

  Parents, please watch your children. I would not send them to a restroom in a store unless they were older and with someone. We live in a time when people in this country have turned their backs on God, and as a result, God has turned them over to their sinful pleasures. We see this in the political realm. We see people who have no self control and live for their sinful pleasures, without consciences that work, and without regards to whoever they hurt. We live in a generation where child abuse is rampant, and we are reaping what was sown in the last generation when people who were abused have grown up becoming abusers themselves. They need the Gospel message sent to them. Only the Gospel can permanently change people's hearts and give them a new start in life.

   Keep in mind that sexual predators do not see themselves as perverts. They live in a darkened world of lies and they have consciences that have been seared. Many are victims of sexual abuse and have no way to be able to change themselves. Some even make a lot of money who are in the business of pornography especially child pornography. Keep our guards up. Prepare our children so they can know what to look for.


Friday, January 13, 2017

Making Yogurt Can Now Be Easy

This is not a quick way to make yogurt, but it is an easy way to make yogurt.

We all know the benefits of eating yogurt. Yogurt contains the bacteria that your gut needs. But yogurt is tart and I don't like the flavor of it.

I love making yogurt. I have, at present, 3 different yogurt making devices. Plus, there are other ways you can use your stove to make yogurt with. But it wasn't until recently that my husband has decided he likes yogurt. I love making it. He loves eating it.

I do eat some yogurt here and there. I would like it if it has sugar in it, but since I am trying to do away with sugar, I haven't found it too palatable yet. Fruit and stevia make it taste pretty good though.

Yogurt can be used in place of buttermilk in some recipes. I also use yogurt to soak beef in, if I am planning on making a pot roast.

You can now make yogurt in something called an 'Instant Pot'. I love this versatile pot and when I was deciding whether or not to get one, I realized that there are different Instant Pots. Some are just different sizes. But they come in 2 different versions, the LUX and the DUO. If you decide to get an Instant Pot, and you want to make yogurt in it, you need to get the DUO version of it.

It is really simple to make, but altogether, it takes about 10 hours from start to finish, so if you want it for breakfast tomorrow morning, start making the batch today.

Here is a video showing how to make yogurt in the Instant Pot. I use this video every time I make yogurt using the Instant Pot.




(That is not me! She has good directions though).

Here is my finished yogurt



I think you would be able to get the Instant Pot at Bed, Bath, and Beyond. You can get them at amazon.com which is where I got mine.

Here is a link to the one I have:

 

Instant Pot IP-DUO60 7-in-1 Multi-Functional Pressure Cooker, 6Qt/1000W


Happy health and healing!

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Tuesday, January 3, 2017

Bringing Birds To Our Yards

We know that women are to build their homes and run their own households. There is a lot more to this than just sitting around eating popcorn and watching soap box operas all day. We want our homes to provide comfort and shelter for those who belong to the home, and for family and friends. This takes a lot of work, but is worth the results.

Here is an activity that is fun for the whole family. Many of us enjoy taking our kids to the zoo, but, there are things we can do that can bring animals to our yards!

I found this web site explaining how to make wild bird food, and the ingredients are mainly from food items we already have in our cupboards. The recipe is called, 'No Melt Suet' and the url to this link is http://thebirdersreport.com/wild-birds/feeding-wild-birds/no-melt-suet-my-secret-to-having-birds-beg-me-for-more

The ingredients he recommends are; lard or suet (should be able to find this from a butcher), crunchy peanut butter, quick cook oatmeal, yellow cornmeal, flour, and sugar. (Go to the link above for directions on how to make this recipe).

I had heard or read somewhere, where someone took a big bag of bird seed and dumped it in the yard, and it attracted many birds. I have tried this but was not very successful. I did attract squirrels though! It might be worth a try though, if you want to see what kinds of birds or critters will accept the dinner invitation.

Squirrels Eating Popcorn

  Another cool idea is to pop popcorn and leave it out. Watch what kinds of animals come by to eat the popped corn.

   If you leave leftovers outside, just keep in mind that certain kinds of chocolate can be harmful to animals which roam the streets.

Frankie, our cat, watching the visiting peacocks

Don't forget the salt lick for the deer!

You can actually buy deer corn at some Walmarts. I am sure they also have deer food at places like Tractor Supply. 

Our homes should be a place of nurturing and ministry. Even the animals can receive comfort from our homes.