Publix and the Wonders Found Therein

For several months now I have been meaning to post on the great deals we've been getting at Publix. If you don't already shop there, you should, because our grocery bill has been cut drastically. Now, before I begin telling you of our shopping sprees, I must tell you that because of the current market and our need to pinch every penny we can, we have altered our way of eating. We still try to eat as healthfully as possible, but we cannot afford all of the organic stuff right now.

Every week, when we get the new Publix ad (which runs Thursday to Wednesday), we go to this website: www.southernsavers.com She spells out all of the deals and links to coupons (or tells you of a newspaper coupon) available for each deal. Publix has many items that are buy one get one free (BOGO). They will accept store coupons, manufacturer coupons, and competitor coupons. That means you can BOGO and stack 3 coupons making certain items almost free (and sometimes earning money towards the rest of your bill). Now, here's the deal...once you have been doing this for a while, you will have a nice stockpile of groceries with which to plan meals. In the beginning, you may have to plan your meals based upon what you can get that current week.

Just so you know, we have used coupons for Target and Food Lion as competitor coupons. I have linked to a Target coupon below for the Pepperidge Farm bread. This link will take you to the "Hot Coupon World" website. The page that comes up lists all the coupons available at Target. All you have to do is find the ones that you want, enter the number of coupons (unlimited) in the box, and then click on "Get coupons." Once your page of coupons comes up, you can print them. It's that easy!

Here are some deals that we scored this week. If you want to take advantage of them, you will need to get to a Publix before Thursday.

Arm and Hammer toothpaste is BOGO (normally $2.99 each)
Print (2) coupons here for $1 off each tube (makes them about $0.50 each)

Lipton tea bags (24 ct.) are BOGO (normally $3.99 each)
Get (2) "Family is its own Reward" booklets found in store. Use (2) coupons for $1 off each box (makes them about $1 each).

Post Trail Mix Crunch cereal is BOGO (normally $3.99 each)
Print (2) coupons here for $2 off each box (which EARNS you $0.01 total--FREE plus some!!)

Kraft BBQ sauce is BOGO (normally $1.49 each)
Print (2) coupons here for $1 off each bottle (which EARNS you $0.51 total--FREE plus some!!)

Lawry's 30-minute marinades are BOGO (normally $2.29 each)
Use (2) coupons from the Red Plum 5/17 insert for $0.50 off each bottle (makes them about $0.65 each)

Ragu Pasta sauce is BOGO (normally $2.27 each)
Print (1) coupon (or as many as you want) here (for IE) or here (for FF) for $1 off 2 jars (makes them about $0.64 each)
OR
Use (2) coupons from "Family is its own Reward" booklet found in store for $0.75 off 1 jar (makes them about $0.39 each)

Breyer's ice cream is BOGO (normally $4.25 each)
Use (2) coupons from Red Plum 5/17 insert for $0.75 off each carton (makes them about $1.38 each)
OR
Use (2) coupons from "Family is its own Reward" booklet found in store for $1.50 off each carton (makes them about $0.63 each)

Lysol Bathroom or Kitchen cleaner is BOGO (normally $2.69 each)
Use (2) coupons from Smart Source 6/07 insert for $0.55 off each bottle (makes them about $0.80 each)
OR
Print (2) coupons here for $0.50 off each bottle (makes them about $0.85 each)

Kotex Pantiliners are BOGO (normally $2.95 each)
Print (1) coupon here for $1.50 off two boxes (makes them about $0.73 each)
OR
Use (2) coupons from Smart Source 6/14 insert for $1 off one box (makes them about $0.48 each) ---We did not have this coupon in our insert, but I thought I would mention it for those of you who may have gotten it.

Pepperidge Farm Farmhouse Bread is on sale for $1.99 (normally $3.29)
Print (1) coupon (or more if you like) here for $1 off one loaf (makes them $0.99 each)

If you bought all of this at full price, it would cost you $57.11!!! By taking advantage of the BOGO deals and by using coupons all of this would only cost you $9.80!!! That is a savings of 82.8%!!!! WOW!!!

Our total grocery bill this week (had we paid full price for everything) would have been $225.47. After taking advantage of some BOGO deals and other sale items, using coupons as much as possible ($49.50 is what we used), and even paying full price for some items (like fruits and vegetables) our total bill was only $99.73!! That's a savings of 55.8%!!! Sweet!!!

Now, there are other good deals, but I've just hit some of the highlights of some really great deals. So, check out the current ad and the "Southern Savers" website to see what deals you might like to take advantage of this week.

Happy Shopping!!!

Discounted Homeschool Products

About 10 years ago, we got a collection of Patch the Pirate cassette tapes, and over the years, they have gradually worn out to where we now only have about 3 or 4 that "work." There are sections of the tapes that will lose sound completely or will begin pulling the tape from the cassette. This past week, we finally broke down and started pricing CD's online. I had looked once before and found a site that offered a pretty good price on the individual CD's, but for some reason, we couldn't find it this past week. Jason got online for me and found another site that offers them even cheaper. Yay! They also offer the boxed sets which make the CD's even cheaper! Double Yay!! Individually, the CD's are $11.25, which is a pretty good price, but if you buy the boxed set, they are only $9.38 each! Sweet!

The site is http://www.homeschooldiscountproducts.com/servlet/StoreFront

The Patch the Pirate CD's are listed under "Music" subcategory "Majesty Music" on the left hand side of the page. This site offers a good variety of books--both curriculum and reading (Unfortunately, no A Beka Book stuff, though). If you place an order over $50, you will receive one free book, and they're not worthless books, either. I glanced through them, and they have "My Friend Flicka," "Pollyanna," "Swiss Family Robinson," some Bobbsey Twins books, and other various books on history, science, animals and crafts.

In the 25% off retail section, there were some books that caught my eye. They are entitled, "Draw Write Now." They teach the child how to draw and write using characters and stories from history, science, weather, etc. My girls love to draw and learn new things about history and science, so I thought that this might be a good way to "kill two birds with one stone." Individually, these 8 books are $11.25 each. If you buy the boxed set of all 8, they average only $8.44 each.

They also have sections for their 30% off, 50% off and 75% off merchandise. Many of these items are priced under $5.00, and some are even hardback. I always like to find books that are educational (both academically and spiritually), and one book that caught my eye in the 75% off section was entitled, "God's Smuggler." It is a hardback book that is only $4.99. Here is the description that they include:

by Brother Andrew

As a boy, Brother Andrew dreamed of being an undercover spy working behind enemy lines. As a man he found himself working undercover for God. His was a mission filled with danger, financed by faith, supported by miracles.

Told it was impossible to minister behind the Iron Curtain, Andrew knew that nothing was too hard for God. Crossing "closed" borders, he prayed, "Lord in my luggage I have Scripture I want to take to Your children. When You were on earth, You made blind eyes see. Now, I pray, make seeing eyes blind. Do not let the guards see those things You do not want them to see." And they never did.

For 35 years, Brother Andrew's life story has inspired millions to step out on their own journeys of faith. This young Dutch factory worker's near-incredible adventures testify to God's step-by-step guidance and hour-by-hour provision - available to all who follow His call.

I'm not sure what the recommended reading age is on this particular book, but I figure I can get it, preview it, and then decide whether or not it's appropriate for them.

There is a section under the categories that list Favorite Authors including C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, and Louisa May Alcott. Another section is Favorite Series, which includes Anne of Green Gables, Betsy and Tacy, Boxcar Children, Little House Books, Sugar Creek Gang, and the Trailblazer Books (stories about missionaries).

Orders placed with a total less than $150 have a minimum charge of $4.00 or 5% of the order total. Orders priced at $150 or more have free shipping.

I haven't had a chance to look through the entire site, so if you look through it and find something that you would recommend, please let me know. Thanks!

Revival Meetings

We are planning to leave tomorrow afternoon to head up to my parents' house for a week and a half. My dad's church is having their winter revival with Evangelist Rich Tozour. Rich and his wife, Angela, have another couple (Michael and Candace Wessberg) that travel with them to coordinate and run the children's ministry during the revival services. Candace was my roommate during my freshman year at college, and I always enjoy catching up with her when I get the chance.

If you are interested in hearing any of his sermons, you can download them at this site:

https://www.sermonaudio.com/search.asp?SpeakerOnly=true&currSection=sermonsspeaker&Keyword=Rich^Tozour

I downloaded the first one entitled, "Prayer that Prevails," and I have been listening to it today. I am really looking forward to these services, knowing that there is always room for improvement in my Christian walk. If you are interested in attending any of the services, the revival will be held at New Testament Baptist Church in Floral City, FL (Call the church office at 352-726-0360 or just ask me for additional info.). Services will begin this Wednesday night, January 28th, at 7:00pm and will run through the following week, ending on Friday, February 6th (I think. It might go through Sunday, Feb. 8th). Usually they don't have services on Saturday, but services during the week will all begin at 7:00pm and on Sunday will be 9:45am for Sunday School, 11:00am for the morning service, and 6:00pm for the evening service.

For those of you who live in the Tampa area, it's only about an hour trip north. If you can make it, I'd love to see you there! If not, we'll see you when we return. =)

Fall craft ideas from Highlights

This scarecrow is absolutely adorable, and kids would love to make one! If you wanted to make it more "outdoor-friendly," you could use yardstick-type sticks in place of the paper tubes, use some rafia in place of the yarn, use felt or some other stiff fabric (or a real hat) in place of the paper hat and use a plastic or styrofoam plate instead of the paper plate.



This pie-tin decoration reminds me of some things that my dad has made. He's really good at woodworking and has made many, many things for my mother and us kids over the years. He made a cabinet for my mom that has the tin-punched panels in the door. Here's a picture of it in the background from the post I did about the girls' sewing project.



This twirler looks super easy to make and actually reminds me of something you might make for the 4th of July or something, but maybe if you use fall-colored ribbons or attached some fall leaves (real or silk), it would look more fall-like.



This pumpkin-patch ring toss game is a really neat way to reuse those water bottles that we occasionally accumulate. We usually recycle the bottles, but if you held on to a few of them, I bet your kids would really enjoy this game. We would have to come up with another idea for the rings, because I don't think we would ever have 8-10 plastic coffee can lids. If you don't either, maybe you know someone who drinks coffee that would be willing to give you the lids when they finish the canister. I have some from when I used to drink coffee, but I use them for storage. We put the kids markers in one, some decorative scissors in another one, etc. I got that idea from my mom. She's so smart! =)



This Jack-o'-Lantern looks really cute and seems very easy to make. Since we don't drink soda, we would probably use an aluminum food can or maybe some glass jars. If you use varying sizes and heights, you could do a cute little grouping of them. Remember, pumpkins aren't all the same size and shape. =)



These bead rings are another great way to recycle some things that you may ordinarily discard. Plus, it's jewelry, and what little girl doesn't LOVE to make jewelry? =) The only thing I might try differently than what the instructions tell you to do is to twist the wire ends together (once all the beads are on and it's the size I want) and then try to work the wire ends back through a couple of the beads so that you don't have to worry about the end scratching or using unsightly tape on the back side. Does that make sense? One wire will go in one direction and the other wire will go in the other direction. The only problem would be if the holes in the beads aren't large enough to hold two widths of wire.

Here's the complete list of all 12 of this month's craft ideas. I'm sure you'll be able to find something that your child will enjoy. =)

Freebies, Samples and other Cool Stuff

Before I start my list of samples, I want to give you some suggestions for these freebies. Some of the samples you come across may not strike YOUR fancy, but have you ever thought that someone else may enjoy them? Have you thought about donating things to the missionary closet at church or even helping out a college student? My sister is doing this for her daughter who is in her 1st year of college. She will request the sample for herself with one email address, and then request a sample for her daughter with a separate email address. I think it's a great idea! I am naturally a hoarder and can't stand the thought of passing up a freebie. If I can't use or don't want something, I will still request the sample and just pass it on to someone who can use it. This is a way to be a blessing to other people (in a small way) without having to spend a penny. =) Now, on with the list...

Mary Kay is offering a sample of mascara here.

Money Saving Mom has compiled a list of 10 feminine product freebies here. These are awesome! You get enough of these, and you won't have to purchase them for a while.

Schick is offering a free razor or trimmer sample here.

I love freebies that help me with homeschooling! Here are some free activities from Creative Teaching Press. There are ideas for a variety of subjects and grade levels. There are even some science experiments included.

Get a free Oatmeal Dark Chocolate cookie from Kashi here. I'm not sure of the ingredients, but if it has something that we can't have, I'll just give it to someone who can. =)

Check out the Storyline Online site for a listing of over 20 books being read by members of the Screen Actors Guild. Obviously, if you don't know anything about the book, you may want to listen to it before you let your kids listen. Each story begins with the actor introducing him/herself. There is an option to view the text as the actor reads, or you could turn it off and just listen. Pictures from the book are shown and even some light sound effects/music are included to give even more interest. Each story also has an activity guide with suggested things to do after reading the story. There is also a list of other books by the same author in case you like their style of writing.

How cool is this??? I love taking photos (as you well know, if you've been looking at my blog for any amount of time), and this would be really neat to try. I love the black & white and sepia effects, but I wonder what it would be like in color.

This Kids' Puppet Show Curtain is adorable and super easy to make! My kids would love it! They are constantly wanting to put on shows, and this would be a great way for them to do that.

I constantly find myself having little balls or scraps of yarn left over from some crocheting project and am never quite sure what I should do with it. It goes against my grain to just toss it out, so it just sits in a bag in a closet somewhere waiting for me to come up with an idea. Well, here it is! This is like making your own funky variegated yarn, and I'm going to have to try it.

The BEST Spaghetti Sauce You'll Ever Taste!!!

I can't take a lot of credit for this recipe, since Jason's mom gave it to us. She had never tried it, though, so we were essentially the "guinea pigs." =) We pretty much followed the recipe, only deviating a couple of times. There are some herbs used in this recipe (parsley, oregano and basil) that we did not put in individually. We had a mixture of herbs called ***"Herbs of Italy" that we used in the place of the total amount of herbs in the recipe. The recipe calls for a total of 5 Tbsp. plus 2 tsp. of the herbs, so we just put in 6 Tbsp. of the "Herbs of Italy." We also added 1/4 tsp. - 1/2 tsp. of red pepper flakes. We like the extra kick, but this is certainly optional.

This recipe will make enough sauce to cover 2 lbs. of spaghetti. We add a couple of pounds of our homemade sausage to the sauce as well. Yummy!!!

Ingredients:
6 medium onions, finely chopped
8 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 c. olive oil
4 cans (1 lb. each) tomatoes
4 cans (15 oz. each) tomato sauce
2 tbsp. agave nectar
1 1/2 to 2 tbsp. salt
3 tbsp. parsley flakes (or ***"Herbs of Italy")
1 tbsp. plus 1 tsp. oregano (or ***"Herbs of Italy")
1 tbsp. plus 1 tsp basil (or ***"Herbs of Italy")
1/4 tsp. to 1/2 tsp. red pepper flakes (optional)

In a large pot, cook onion and garlic in oil until tender. Stir in remaining ingredients and simmer for 1 to 1 1/2 hours.

Unless you are feeding a big crew of people or you want to have leftovers for 2 weeks, you will want to (after it is made) divide it in half and only serve one half of the sauce over 1 pound of pasta. You can freeze the other half for another time. I don't generally add the meat to the sauce until I'm ready to have this as a meal. In other words, I don't freeze the meat with the sauce, but I'm sure you could if you wanted to.

Once you've added the meat to your sauce, go ahead and combine it with the cooked pasta, and don't forget to saute some mushrooms in a little bit of olive oil to put on top of your plate of spaghetti. Enjoy!

Samples and other good deals

I haven't been keeping up with posting about deals, coupons and such recently. I'm going to try harder...honest. =) Here's a quick list of some favorites I've seen going around. Enjoy!

Sears is having an online sale on women's clothing. More than 10 t-shirts are less than $2 and almost 200 items are less than $5.

I love tote bags!!! If someone is going to give me one just for signing up for an email newsletter, I'll take it! Nature's Bounty is giving away a tote bag and $1 off coupon for doing just that.

Yogi Tea is offering their tea samples again. I got this sample earlier this year and really enjoyed it. The Mexican Sweet Chili is really good...it has a little kick to it. You ought to try it!

We buy a 5 lb. package of Perdue boneless chicken breasts at Wal-mart that costs about $15 (that's $3/lb.). Publix has that same chicken on sale this week for $2.49/lb.

Wal-Mart always has the best samples. Check out their current list. Make sure you look at the "More Samples" list on the right-hand side of the page. Also, the Gain "sample" is just a scent card, so unless you want that, don't request that sample.

Mexican Cornbread

This recipe was stumbled upon unplanned and was really good! The meal I had planned to fix required a certain ingredient that I didn't have enough of, so I had to change plans at the last minute. We call that a "happy accident." =)

For a while, I had been craving cornbread and just kept forgetting to work it into my menu plan. When I had to come up with a meal at the last minute, I looked in the refrigerator and saw some chopped onions and bell peppers, some jalapenos and our homemade turkey sausage. I also knew that I had some corn in the freezer. We found a cornbread recipe in our recipe book and decided to just throw it all together in a casserole dish to see what would happen. We enjoyed it so much last week, that we decided to make it again this week with a crock pot of beans. We just had it Tuesday night, and it was delicious! (FYI: We cooked a 1 pound bag of dried navy beans [soaked the night before] with some chopped onion, minced garlic and some salt in the crock pot on high for about 6 hours.)


Here's the recipe...Enjoy! Let me know if you try some variations and whether or not you like them.

Cornbread
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups cornmeal
2 Tbsp. double-acting baking powder
2 tsp. salt
2 eggs
1 1/3 cups milk (we use plain soy milk)
4-8 Tbsp. agave nectar (This depends on how sweet you like your cornbread...I used 6 Tbsp.)
2/3 cup oil (We used coconut oil the first time and grapeseed oil the second time. Both worked just fine.)

Ingredients to add to cornbread mixture:
1 1/2 cups turkey sausage
1/2 cup corn
1/2 cup bell pepper, diced
1/2 cup onion, diced
1/3 cup canned or fresh jalapenos, chopped (obviously, less if you don't want it too spicy, more if you want it more spicy.)

This is all we used because that's all we had on hand at the time, but feel free to experiment with additional ingredients. I imagine this would be a good mixture to "sneak" in some veggies that your kids might not eat alone (ie. chopped spinach, diced zucchini or squash, diced mushroom, etc.).

Preheat oven to 375 deg. F. Grease 9" X 13" baking dish (We use grapeseed oil).

Dice and chop pepper, onion and jalapenos and combine with corn and sausage. Set aside.

In medium bowl with fork, mix together flour, cornmeal, baking powder and salt. In small bowl with fork, beat together egg, milk, agave nectar and oil. Pour egg mixture all at once into flour mixture. Stir just until flour is moistened. Do not overstir--It should be slightly lumpy. Add vegetable and sausage mixture to batter and gently combine. Pour batter into the prepared baking dish and spread evenly. Bake 30 minutes or until golden.

Honey Whole Wheat Bread

I know, I know...I've been promising this recipe to some of you for weeks now, and I'm just now getting around to it. I'm such a slacker! =)

This recipe will make two loaves, or you can do like I do and have some fun with it. I like to braid all the dough like challah. Here is a video (not me, by the way) with instructions on how to braid a 6-strand challah. It's fun...you ought to try it!



Here recently, I've just been shaping a long, mounded loaf on my sheet pan. I don't really like my loaf pans, and it turns out just as well (if not better) than if I had used a loaf pan. I haven't taken any pictures of the mounded loaf, but here are some before and after pictures of the braided loaf. We like the different "bumps" on the top of each slice of bread. It makes it more interesting than just a plain old loaf. =)

This is a braided, unbaked loaf.

Here it is after it's baked. Look how beautiful! Can't you just smell it? =)

This is what it looks like after it is sliced. I use an electric knife with a slicing guide to get the most uniform slices.

Here's the recipe...

Ingredients:
6 cups whole wheat flour, divided
1 3/4 cups warm water, divided
1/3 cup honey
1 pkg. yeast (I use about 1 Tbsp. of the loose dry, active yeast.)
1 tsp. salt
3 Tbsp. oil (I use grapeseed oil)

1. Mix 3 cups of whole wheat flour with 1 1/2 cups of warm water in a large glass bowl. Allow this to sit for about 30 minutes. This will break down the gluten and help the bread to rise better.
2. Meanwhile, in a small bowl mix together 1/4 cup water, yeast and honey. Allow this to sit for about 10 minutes, or until the yeast is activated and mixture becomes bubbly.
3. Add yeast mixture, salt and oil to the flour and water mixture. Gradually add the remaining three cups of flour and stir well. (I use my KitchenAid with the dough hook.) Every time I make this I end up needing a different amount of flour...sometimes almost a cup extra and sometimes 1/2 cup less. I think it has to do with the lunar cycle. =) Just watch for the smooth consistency that dough takes on. The dough should not stick to the edges of the bowl, but on the flip side it should not become dry and flaky.
4. If you are stirring by hand, you will need to knead the dough by hand on a clean counter as the dough becomes harder to stir. Add a little flour if needed to keep it from sticking. Knead the dough for 5-10 minutes. (KitchenAid works great!)
5. Place the ball of dough back into the bowl and cover it with a cloth. Allow the dough to rise in a warm place (set on a chair or table near a window for the sun to warm it, or place near the stove/oven if you've recently used either one) for one hour, or until it has doubled in size.
6. Using a floured hand, pull the dough out of the bowl onto the counter. Knead for just a minute or two until the air bubbles are gone.
7. If you are making loaves, cut the dough in half with a large sharp knife, shape each section of dough into a loaf and place them each into a greased bread pan. I use a sheet pan covered with foil and grease it with some grapeseed oil before placing my loaf on it to rise.
8. Cover and allow 45 minutes to one hour to rise again.
9. Bake in a 350 degree F. oven for 30-45 minutes (we like ours at about 30 minutes), or until the bread is golden brown and sounds hollow when you thump on the top.
10. Allow bread to cool completely before slicing entire loaf. This will keep it from drying out or from becoming "soggy" by storing it still warm. If you are like us, though, you will want to cut a few warm slices to enjoy right away. Just make sure you cover the open end with a cloth, so it won't dry out. Store slices in an airtight container...Ziploc bags work great!

As I mentioned in my muffin recipe post, coconut oil is so incredible on a warm slice of bread! You have to try it! =)

Turkey Sausage

Remember I said I was going to make my own sausage after the "accidental-sausage-mix-up-at-Whole Foods" incident? Well, we did, and it was good. We felt the need to tweak the recipe just a little bit, though, and now it's super yummy! =)

Ingredients:
3 lbs. ground turkey (dark meat is probably best)
2 Tbsp. onion powder
6 small to medium-sized garlic cloves, minced
1 Tbsp. sea salt
2 Tbsp. sage (We used half ground and half rubbed. Ground is cheapest, and I'm sure it would be fine. You could also use fresh if you have it.)
freshly ground pepper
2 tsp. red pepper flakes
1 Tbsp. fennel seed

Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and mix well. (Using your hands is probably the best way.) You can cook right away or let it sit in the refrigerator for a few hours (or overnight) to "marinate."

We use this sausage in our spaghetti, calzones and in omelets. You could also form them into patties to make a special breakfast some time. I would rate the "heat factor" at somewhere between a mild and medium sausage. Obviously, if you want it to be hotter, add more red pepper flakes, and if you want it milder, use less.

Enjoy!

Raspberry Poppy Seed Muffins (or Blueberry, if you prefer)

This is a recipe that we have adapted from one of our favorite recipe books but have changed certain ingredients to meet our needs. You can make them with either the raspberries and poppy seeds or with just blueberries. This particular recipe can be made with either all-purpose flour, whole wheat flour or a combination of both. If you use whole wheat flour, you will want to increase the baking powder to a total of 4 teaspoons.

Dry Ingredients:
2 cups flour (all-purpose, whole wheat or both)
1 Tbsp. and 1/4 tsp. double-acting baking powder (4 tsp. total if using whole wheat flour)
1/2 tsp. salt (slightly mounded)
2 Tbsp. poppy seeds (omit if making blueberry)

Wet Ingredients:
1 egg
1 cup milk (we use soy milk)
1/4 cup oil (we use grapeseed oil)
1/2 cup agave nectar
3/4 cup fresh or frozen unsweetened raspberries or blueberries (Run the raspberries in a food processor for a few seconds so they will spread throughout the muffins more evenly.)

Directions:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Grease muffin-pan cups or fill muffin pan with disposable cups. Recipe will yield 16-18 muffins.

In large bowl with fork, mix dry ingredients. In small bowl with fork, beat egg slightly, then stir milk, oil and agave into beaten egg. Add fruit to wet ingredient mixture and slightly stir to make sure fruit doesn't clump. Add wet mixture all at once to flour mixture and with spoon, stir just until flour is moistened. (Avoid overmixing which causes toughness; batter should be lumpy.) Spoon batter into muffin cups. Be sure to wipe pan clean of any spills.

Bake muffins 20 to 25 minutes until they are well risen and golden and toothpick inserted in center of one comes out clean and dry.

***Now...this next step is VERY, VERY important!!! =) Do NOT put butter in your muffins! You must, Must, MUST get some coconut oil to spread in your muffins! That is the best stuff you will ever taste, and it is SO much better for you than butter! Try it! =)

Pumpkin Swirl "Cheese"cake

As I've mentioned before, we are experimenting with some of our favorite holiday recipes, so that when the holidays come, we will be prepared. For those of you who may not already know, Jason is really good in the kitchen. He loves to cook and bake. This ability is very much appreciated, especially when I'm unable to fix a meal. He steps right in and does a great job. =)

One of his favorite things to make is cheesecake. In fact he makes several cheesecakes over the holiday season, so you can imagine our disappointment when we decided to go dairy-free. While we were shopping one day, we came across some soy cream cheese in little tubs just like the spreadable (regular) cream cheese containers. We bought some and began our experiment.

Last year, our favorite cheesecake recipe was a pumpkin swirl cheesecake. (Side note: We later discovered that a spoonful of cranberry relish on top of each slice was really good. The tartness of the cranberries played off of the sweetness of the cheesecake.) Since we are new to using soy products in the place of dairy products, we really weren't sure how it would turn out or if we would even like it. To tell you the truth, I was kind of scared of it. =) To our great delight, though, it was absolutely delicious, and we couldn't tell the difference. In fact, we actually liked the crust better since we used coconut oil in place of butter. The coconut oil really crisps up the ginger snap/pecan crust...yuuuummmmmy!!

My camera did not come out fast enough to get a picture of the cake as a whole...I almost lost an arm trying to get this picture! =)


You have got to try this! It's amazing! We will not be suffering this holiday season...that's for sure. =)


Here's the recipe...

25 Ginger Snaps, finely crushed (We used Mi-Del brand that is only sweetened with dehydrated cane juice.)
1/2 cup finely chopped pecans
1/4 cup coconut oil, melted
4 (8 ounce) packages Toffuti brand soy cream cheese, softened
1 cup evaporated cane juice (ECJ), divided
1 teaspoon vanilla
4 eggs
1 cup canned pumpkin
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Dash of ground cloves

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Mix ginger snap crumbs, pecans and coconut oil; press firmly onto bottom and 1 inch up side of 9-inch springform pan.

Beat (soy) cream cheese, 3/4 cup of ECJ and the vanilla with electric mixer (KitchenAid works fine) until well blended. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing on low speed after each addition just until blended. Remove 1-1/2 cups of the batter; place in small bowl. Stir remaining 1/4 cup ECJ, the pumpkin and spices into remaining batter. Spoon half of the pumpkin batter into crust; top with spoonfuls of half of the reserved plain batter. Repeat layers. Cut through batters with knife several times for marble effect.

Bake 55 minutes or until center is almost set. (Ours took an extra 20 minutes.) Cool completely. Refrigerate 4 hours or overnight. Store leftover cheesecake in refrigerator.

Quick and Easy Meal Idea

Sorry I don't have any pictures, but trust me when I say this is yummy. Remember the Lundberg Rice chips that I ordered from Amazon? We love them, but we've noticed that towards the end of the bag, there is a handful of crumbs with a strong concentration of the seasoning. It grates on me to just throw them away, so I had to come up with a solution.

Here's what I do...I save the crumbs until I have close to half a bag and crush them even more to make sure there aren't any pieces that are too big. Cut some chicken breasts into strips or nuggets, coat them with some egg that has been beaten and then dip into the chip crumbs. Place the chicken onto a broiler pan and broil on low until the chicken is done (15-20 minutes? I don't know for sure. I just watch it and cut into one to make sure. Obviously, the chicken turns white and the crumbs will brown a little.). It really is good! The chips not only give it a crispy texture on the outside, but they also provide the seasoning. It's a healthful alternative to fried chicken!

Some side options are a baked sweet potato (or sweet potato fries) with some coconut oil in place of butter, fresh green beans cooked with some garlic in some olive oil (sprinkle with some toasted almonds when the beans are tender) and of course a great salad. =)

Dovetailing

No, I'm not getting into woodworking. This is a term I learned in high school that is also used in mathematics and computer science and basically refers to the concept of doing more than one step in a process simultaneously. One definition from The American Heritage Dictionary reads, "To connect or combine precisely or harmoniously...into a unified whole."

I use this term quite frequently to describe what most of us do on a daily basis. As mothers/homemakers we have to learn to combine certain chores/activities during the day in order to get it all done. For example: If I'm really pressed for time when I'm getting ready to go somewhere, I will put on my makeup or brush my teeth WHILE I'm blow drying my hair. As I'm working on dinner, I'll call out one of my girl's spelling words. While I'm standing in the laundry room waiting for the iron to heat up, I will work on some laundry. The same goes for cooking. You wouldn't make the mashed potatoes before you put the turkey in to cook. You have to plan/time it out and do multiple steps together to have the finished product done at the same time.

These shortcuts stem from the fact that there is just not enough time in one day, and as a result, many things get pushed aside for another day. Two of the biggest things that we often times (not only as Christians but also as human beings) postpone to another day is our daily quiet time with God and our physical exercise. In the beginning, both of these require an inward determination and many times a denial of self in order to be accomplished. It's amazing, though, how they both will eventually become a craving that you cannot deny.

Prayer is our awesome privilege as Christians. It is our opportunity to open up to our heavenly Father and share our private feelings, thoughts, concerns, requests and basically anything that we want. If we don't take the time to talk to our Father, how do we expect to grow closer to Him? Most of us would never dream of going more than a day without talking to those that are closest to us. We ought to apply that same fervency to our relationship with the Lord. The Bible is a heavenly invitation to each one of us to sit at the feet of Jesus and have Him talk personally to us through His Word. It's a "magical" Book really! It never ceases to amaze me how the Lord can speak to many different people about many different things all in the same passage or message from a pastor. If you haven't been taking the time to pray and read God's Word, I encourage you to make the time and experience His presence in your life.

Not only is it important to strengthen our relationship with the Lord, but it is also important to strengthen our bodies. Starting an exercise routine can be overwhelming for some, but as Denise Austin says, "Move your body, and your mind will follow." That is SO true! There have been many times in the past that I have not "felt" like exercising, but I went ahead and did it and ended up feeling very glad that I did and looking forward to the next session. What you may or may not know is that, when you exercise, your body produces endorphins. Because your body doesn't know why you are moving so quickly, these natural opiates are brought about any time your body physically exerts itself. If you were, say, running away from danger, you wouldn't want to be bothered with the pain of sprains and muscle strains, so your body monitors your activity levels and produces these endorphins as needed. This is what makes you feel so great when you exercise.

One of the best overall exercises that you can do is walking. The best thing about it is that it is free (unless you buy a treadmill), it's not complicated and you can DOVETAIL in the process! Here is what I do...


I print a passage that I want to focus on reading either by copying directly from a Bible or by printing from a website like Bible Gateway. I like to choose the passage based on either what we are studying in Sunday School or what Pastor is preaching from in a series. Right now, I'm reading through the Sermon on the Mount, since we are studying that in S.S. As you can see in the picture above, I've put the pages into plastic sheet protectors and have them set up on my treadmill, so that I can read while I walk. During my 30 minute walk, I can easily read through the passage twice. If you don't have a treadmill, you can download an audio Bible in MP3 format (for FREE!!!) from a site like Believer's Resource to use on an MP3 player while you walk outside.

Here's a suggestion for TRIPLE dovetailing. While you're walking and reading (or listening to) the Bible passage, you can also do some extra "exercising." Try clinching your gluteal muscles with each step, or focus on your breathing by taking nice deep breaths (4-5 second inhale) and with the exhale, tighten your abs by imagining that you are pulling your belly button back towards your spine. Try to hold that "squeeze" for a 5-7 second exhale. You could also carry some hand weights to give a little resistance, or you could do some Tae Bo punches in sync with your steps. Your right fist punches when your left foot steps forward, and your left fist punches when your right foot steps forward. Do 4 or 5 punches with your right fist before you switch to punching with your left fist. If you've never done Tae Bo, you may want to check into it before you try it. Remember, you don't want to fully extend your arm in a punch. Keep your elbow bent, give a quick punch forward and then quickly pull your fist back while flexing/tensing your arm muscles.

Once I finish walking, I do some stretches for about 5 minutes and then immediately (so as not to waste my warmed-up muscles) do some exercises from some videos that I have memorized over the years. Denise Austin is really good, but you can also get a great workout by doing some Pilates. By doing Pilates, you will be giving yourself an overall body workout and you will be creating long, lean muscles as opposed to the short, bulky muscles created with weight training. During this extra 15 minutes or so of exercise, I spend time in prayer. Once you have a routine memorized, you can do that to. (FYI: Don't go to the store to buy exercise videos. Go to the library--they're FREE!!)

You will be amazed at how fast the time goes by when you combine your quiet time with your exercise routine! You'll also love how great you feel--Not just physically, but spiritually. Let me know if you need any advice or additional information on certain exercise routines or even stretches. I'm not a professional and certainly don't claim to know everything, but I have done a wide variety of exercises in the last 15 years or so and can definitely recommend some good stuff. =)

Our Favorite "Family Night" Meal

I don't know how it is in your house, but we used to get (or make) a pizza once a week whenever we decided to have a family night. Now that we are dairy-free, we have had to come up with a worthy alternative. This is what we have come up with, and I have to say that I think we actually enjoy it even more than we used to enjoy the pizzas we got. There is a good feeling that comes along with making "special" meals for your family and letting them get involved. This is a great meal to let the kids help out with. =)

I guess you could call these "Dairy-free Calzones."

Pizza Dough
Ingredients:
*1 package active dry yeast
*About 4 1/2 cups all purpose flour (We actually use 3 to 3 1/2 cups of all purpose and 1 to 1 1/2 cups of whole wheat. The whole wheat makes the dough stronger, so it won't rip as easily while you're forming the calzones, PLUS it's good for you.)
*1 tsp. salt
*1 1/2 cups water

Directions:
1. In large bowl, combine yeast, 2 cups flour and 1 teaspoon salt. In 1-quart saucepan over low heat, heat water until very warm (120 to 130 degrees F). With mixer (KitchenAid with dough hook) at low speed, just blend water into dry ingredients. At medium speed, beat 2 minutes, occasionally scraping bowl with rubber spatula. Beat in 1/2 cup flour to make a thick batter; beat 2 minutes more. Stir (or continue using dough hook) in about 1 1/2 cups flour to make a soft dough.

2. On floured surface (or continuing with dough hook), knead dough about 8 minutes, adding more flour if needed (dough should not stick to the bowl or your fingers-it should have a nice smooth finish. Sometimes I find that I have to add quite a bit more flour--sometimes 1/2 cup or more.). Shape into ball; place in greased large bowl; cover; let rise until doubled, about 1 hour. Once it has risen, punch down dough.


3. On a cutting board (or other "cutting-friendly" surface), form the dough into a rounded mound, and with a large knife, cut into 8 equal slices-just like you're cutting slices of pizza. Form each section into a ball, set aside and cover for another 10-15 minutes.


4. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a large cookie sheet. (I use aluminum foil on the cookie sheet for easy cleanup and spread a little bit of olive or grapeseed oil over the surface of the foil.)

5. On the same cutting board (or other surface) you used in step 3, shape one ball of dough at a time into a 6-8 inch circle. Use your fingers for better control, since you want to strive for a circle-not a "funky" oblong. =) Once your circle is formed, begin by spreading pizza sauce on the dough, making sure to avoid the outer 1/2 inch to 1 inch edge to ensure good closure. (We like Muir Glen pizza sauce.)


6. Choose your favorite pizza toppings to "stuff" inside your calzone. We like Italian chicken or turkey sausage, onions, peppers, mushrooms, black olives and jalapenos. If your kids don't like to eat their greens, you can "sneak" some in by cutting up some spinach leaves to toss into the mix. (FYI...If you don't already, you should be encouraging your child(ren) to try new things every now and then. They will never learn to like their veggies if you don't introduce some to them. Your life will be so much easier down the road, if you just put forth the "effort" now!)


7. Once you have added all the desired toppings, grab the center of the edge of dough closest to you and the center edge of dough straight across and bring them straight up to meet in the center; Pinch firmly to hold.


8. Work across one side, pinching all the way across. Once one side is completely closed, very carefully pick up the entire calzone, making sure to replace any toppings that may fall out. With the open end facing up, carefully push any excess toppings towards the closed side to make it easier to close the rest of the calzone. (We usually over stuff ours.) =) I also try to fold over the pinched edges to try to prevent it from splitting open and leaking while cooking. It also gives it a little more purposeful and decorative finish. =)


9. After you have pinched it entirely closed, lay the calzone on it's side on the greased cookie sheet. "Paint" a thin layer of olive oil across the top surface and sprinkle with sesame seeds and garlic herb seasoning. Bake for 30 minutes or until it just starts to brown.


10. Enjoy! Look how yummy!

When life hands you lemons...

For the last couple of months, we have been trying to make a lot of our food from scratch. It's not always a time saver, but it sure is less expensive and more healthful than all the pre-packaged, convenience foods. The way I feel about the time issue is that most of it is spent as a family, so we are all learning to work together and to make all this great food. My kids are learning invaluable lessons in homemaking and family togetherness that I hope they will carry with them as they get older and start their own families.

All that said, to say...We make our own lemonade! It is so good and easy to make, and we really look forward to having it as an occasional special drink. Here's the recipe:

For 1 gallon:
Mix 2 cups of lemon juice (we get organic) and 2 cups of agave nectar with enough water to fill a gallon pitcher.

That's it! So simple! Now that you know, promise me you won't buy those drinks that are filled with high fructose corn syrup or even artificial sweeteners. They're really bad for you!

I hope you enjoy! =)

P.S. It just dawned on me today that I didn't provide a pronunciation guide for the word "Agave." When we first discovered agave, I looked at the word and immediately compared it to the word "agape" (the Greek word used in the Bible for unconditional, self-sacrificing love), so we were pronouncing it "uh-GAH-vay." I looked it up and found that it's actually pronounced, "uh-GAH-vee."

I have a weird obsession with words, especially with the pronunciation, spelling and usage of those words. It's one of my biggest pet peeves! =) I'm sure that stems from my childhood when my dad used to try to teach us really big words and some uses of them. There was a "funny" phrase that he used to say a lot when my sister and I would get a little too giddy, and I've never forgotten it. He would say, "Your ludicrousness is ostentatiously superfluous!" In a nutshell, that phrase means, "Your silliness is obviously excessive." =)

Dairy Disaster

As promised, here is the information on dairy. I know it is lengthy, but there is a lot of good stuff here that you need to know. Please take the time to read through this at least once. I don't generally write long posts, unless I feel compelled to share something very important with others. =)

Common Sense
Why do mammal mothers produce milk? For the sole purpose of nurturing their babies. Horses produce milk for their babies, sheep produce milk for their babies, cows produce milk for their babies, humans produce milk for their babies, etc.

Can you name an animal that continues to take its mother's milk after it is grown? Can you name an animal that drinks the milk of a different species? No, you can't, because it doesn't happen.

What about Calcium?
Why do humans think that it is necessary to drink the milk from cows after we are weaned from our mothers? One of the biggest reasons is because we are taught from a young age that we need to "drink our milk" for strong teeth and bones. Who tells us that? The dairy industry!

If mammals needed to drink mammal milk for strong teeth and bones, then how do cows, and elephants and other animals get enough calcium for their big bones? They don't continue to drink their mother's milk or the milk from other mammals to ensure their strong teeth and bones. They receive the calcium they need from the plants they eat. The plants have large amounts of magnesium necessary for the body to absorb and use the calcium. Equal parts of calcium and magnesium have to be present in order for proper absorption to take place. The USDA says that a 1 cup serving of milk has 291.336 mg of calcium and 32.794 mg of magnesium, so all that calcium is not doing you one bit of good since only 11% of it could possibly be absorbed.

When the thought of cutting dairy from one's diet comes up, most people immediately fill with the fear of osteoporosis, and that is exactly what the dairy industry wants you to do. The belief that osteoporosis is caused by calcium deficiency is one of the biggest myths around. Mark Hegsted, a retired Harvard professor of nutrition, has said, "To assume that osteoporosis is due to calcium deficiency is like assuming that infection is due to penicillin deficiency." Bone loss and deteriorating bone tissue that take place in osteoporosis are due not to calcium deficiency but rather to its resorption. It's not that our bodies don't get enough calcium, but that they excrete too much of what they already have.

What causes that, you ask? A diet high in protein causes your body to become acidic and will cause your blood stream to leach alkaline substances (like the calcium from our bones) in order to balance the body's PH. (Incidentally, here is a list of acidic and alkaline foods to help you know how to balance your diet.) One solution is not necessarily to increase your calcium intake but to decrease the amount of protein consumed. Americans are among the biggest consumers of dairy in the world, and yet we still have the highest rate of osteoporosis in the world. In this view, it seems that dairy products do indeed cause, rather than prevent, osteoporosis.

Illnesses Caused by Dairy Consumption
Cows milk is intended to nurture a 70-100 pound calf that will reach 140-200 pounds in a month and a half! Is it any wonder that Americans struggle with obesity? Cows also have 2 stomachs that aid in the digestion of their mother's milk which contains curd that is tough and dense making it difficult for humans to digest. Dairy products can easily be considered a health hazard due to the fact that they contain no fiber or complex carbohydrates and are filled with saturated fat and cholesterol.

The following italicized paragraphs are taken from an article discussing how cow's milk is not healthy for humans. (Click here to read the entire article.)

People who have been taught that cow's milk is the "perfect food" may be shocked to hear many prominent medical doctors are now saying dairy consumption is a contributing factor in nearly two dozen diseases of children and adults.

Doctors say cow's milk can lead to iron deficiency anemia, allergies, diarrhea, heart disease, colic, cramps, gastrointestinal bleeding, sinusitis, skin rashes, acne, increased frequency of colds and flus, arthritis, diabetes, ear infections, osteoporosis, asthma, autoimmune diseases, and more, possibly even lung cancer, multiple sclerosis and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma...

...Dr. Michael Taylor states, "It is a dietary error to cross species to get milk from another animal." He notes there is a tremendous difference between human babies and baby calves, and a corresponding difference between the milk that is intended to nourish human babies and baby calves. In an interview, Dr. Taylor notes that human infants take about 180 days to double their birth weight, and that human milk is 5 to 7 percent protein. Calves require only 45 days to double their birth weight and cow's milk is 15 percent protein. In addition to the difference in the amount of protein in these two different types of milk, there are also major differences in the composition of this protein. The primary type of protein in cow's milk is casein. Cow's milk has 20 times as much casein as human milk, which makes the protein from cow's milk difficult or impossible for humans to assimilate, according to Dr. John R. Christopher, N.D., M.H. Protein composes 15 percent of the human body and when this protein cannot be properly broken down, it weakens the immune system, causing allergies and many other problems. Allergies caused by cow's milk are extremely common. In fact, Dr. Taylor states that when a single food can be isolated as the cause of an allergy, 60 percent of the time, that food is cow's milk. Dr. Ellis notes that symptoms of this allergic reaction to cow's milk in infants can include asthma, nasal congestion, skin rash, chest infections, irritability and fatigue. Dr. Oski's book cites evidence from Dr. Joyce Gryboski, director of the Pediatric Gastrointestinal Clinic at Yale University School of Medicine, who states "they see at least one child a week who is referred for evaluation of chronic diarrhea and proves to have nothing more than an allergy to cow milk."

Another reason many people suffer various symptoms of disease from drinking milk is that, according to Dr. Oski, the majority of the world's adult population is "lactose intolerant," meaning they cannot digest lactose, the sugar in milk (cow's milk and human milk). An enzyme known as lactase is required to digest lactose, and Dr. Oski states that "between the age of one and a half and four years most individuals gradually lose the lactase activity in their small intestine. This appears to be a normal process that accompanies maturation.... Most people do it. All animals do it. It reflects the fact that nature never intended lactose-containing foods, such as milk, to be consumed after the normal weaning period."...

...Another serious problem caused by consumption of cow's milk is iron-deficiency anemia. Dr. Oski notes that 15 to 20 percent of children under age 2 in the U.S. suffer from iron-deficiency anemia. Cow's milk contributes to this condition in two ways. First, he notes that cow's milk is extremely low in iron, containing less than 1 milligram of iron per quart. Because of this, he writes that it is estimated that a 1-year-old would need to drink 24 quarts of cow's milk a day to meet his iron requirements, which would be impossible. He states many infants may drink from one to two quarts of cow's milk a day, which satisfies their hunger to the point that they do no have the appetite to consume enough of other foods that do have a high iron content. The second way that cow's milk leads to iron-deficiency anemia in many infants is a form of gastrointestinal bleeding caused by increased mucus and diarrhea associated with dairy consumption. "It is estimated that half the iron-deficiency in infants in the United States is primarily the result of this form of cow milk induced gastrointestinal bleeding," Dr. Oski writes. "Mucus is frequent and some stools contain obvious traces of bright red blood... The diarrhea impairs the infant's ability to retain nutrients from his feedings. In addition, the changes produced in the gastrointestinal tract by the allergic reaction result in seepage of the child's own blood into the gut. This loss of plasma and red cells leads to a lowering of the infant's blood protein level and to the development of anemia."

The mucus created by dairy products causes other problems as well. It is well-known that dairy products cause excessive mucus in the lungs, sinuses and intestines. Dr. Ellis notes this excess mucus in the breathing passages contributes to many respiratory problems and that mucus hardens to form a coating on the inner wall of the intestines that leads to poor absorption of nutrients, which can cause chronic fatigue. This mucus also causes constipation, which can lead to many other problems. Two very common problems with infants are colic and ear infections, both of which can be caused by cow's milk. Medical studies have found cow's milk can contribute to these problems either directly, when the infant drinks cow's milk, or indirectly, when the infant breast feeds from a mother who has been consuming dairy products. Colic, suffered by one out of every five infants in the U.S., is characterized by severe stomach cramps. The July/August 1994 issue of Natural Health reports, "When a mother eats dairy products, milk proteins pass into her breast milk and end up in the baby's blood; some studies have found that cow's milk proteins (from milk drunk by the mother) might trigger colick-like symptoms in infants fed only human milk and no cow's milk." Concerning ear infections, Dr. Northrup states, "You just don't see this painful condition among infants and children who aren't getting cow's milk into their systems." The Natural Health article also notes, "Removing dairy from the diet has been shown to shrink enlarged tonsils and adenoids, indicating relief for the immune system. Similarly, doctors experimenting with dairy-free diets often report a marked reduction in colds, flus, sinusitis and ear infections."

Interesting (and Disgusting) Facts about Dairy
Milk's Basic Contents:
*ALL cow's milk (regular and 'organic') has 59 active hormones, scores of allergens, fat and cholesterol. Most cow's milk has measurable quantities of herbicides, pesticides, dioxins (up to 200 times the safe levels), up to 52 powerful antibiotics (perhaps 53, with LS-50), blood, pus, feces, bacteria and viruses.
*80% of the protein in milk is casein. Casein is a powerful binder, a polymer used to make plastics and a glue that is better used to make sturdy furniture or hold bottle labels in place. It can be found in thousands of processed foods as a binder named "something" caseinate.

Cancer Fuel:
*Of those 59 hormones, one is a powerful GROWTH hormone called Insulin- like Growth Factor ONE (IGF-1). By a freak of nature it is identical in cows and humans. Consider this hormone to be a "fuel cell" for any cancer... (the medical world says IGF-1 is a key factor in the rapid growth and proliferation of breast, prostate and colon cancers, and we suspect that most likely it will be found to promote ALL cancers). IGF-1 is a normal part of ALL milk... the newborn is SUPPOSED to grow quickly! What makes the 50% of obese American consumers think they need MORE growth?

Quantity:
*Each bite of hard cheese has TEN TIMES whatever was in that sip of milk, because it takes ten pounds of milk to make one pound of cheese. Each bite of ice cream has 12 times, and every swipe of butter 21 times whatever is contained in the fat molecules in a sip of milk.

Cholesterol:
*The cholesterol content of three glasses of milk (the recommended daily "dose") is equal to what one would get from 53 slices of bacon. Do you know of any doctor who recommends that much bacon per day?

Mad Cow Disease:
*There may also be prions (pronounced PREons) in the milk and meat. This is crystalline substance that acts like a virus... with an "incubation" period of 5 to 30 years. The end result is MAD COW DISEASE!

Homogenization:
*Large fat molecules cannot get through the intestinal wall into the bloodstream. The cream no longer rises... because homogenization breaks up those large molecules into small ones that DO get into the bloodstream! This becomes an expressway for any fat-borne toxins (lead, dioxins, etc.) into your (otherwise) most protected organs.

Bacteria:
*Cow's milk is allowed to have feces in it. This is a major source for bacteria. Milk is typically pasteurized more than once before it gets to your table - each time for only 15 seconds at 162 degrees Fahrenheit. To sanitize water one is told to boil it (212 degrees F) for several minutes. That's a real comfort, isn't it? Keep in mind that at room temperature the number of bacteria in milk DOUBLE around every 20 minutes. No wonder milk turns rotten very quickly.
*ONE cubic centimeter (cc) of commercial cow's milk is allowed to have up to 750,000 somatic cells (common name is "PUS") and 20,000 live bacteria before it is kept off the market. That amounts to a whopping 20 million live squiggly bacteria and up to 750 MILLION pus cells per liter (a little more than 1/4 gallon).

1 cup = 236.5882cc 177,441,150 pus cells ~ 4,731,600 bacteria
24 oz (3 glasses) = 532,323,450 pus cells ~ 14,220,000 bacteria
(the "recommended" daily intake)

Mistreatment of Cows:
*With genetic manipulation and intensive production technologies, it is common for modern dairy cows to produce 100 pounds of milk a day— 10 times more than they would produce in nature. To keep milk production as high as possible, farmers artificially inseminate cows every year. Growth hormones and unnatural milking schedules cause dairy cows' udders to become painful and so heavy that they sometimes drag on the ground, resulting in frequent infections and overuse of antibiotics.

Quote:
*"It's not natural for humans to drink cow's milk. Human's milk is for humans. Cow's milk is for calves. You have no more need of cow's milk than you do rat's milk, horse's milk or elephant's milk. Cow's milk is a high fat fluid exquisitely designed to turn a 65 lb. baby calf into a 400 lb. cow. That's what cow's milk is for!" --Dr Michael Klaper MD

Alternatives to Dairy
In our opinion, soy milk is an excellent substitution for cow's milk when used with cereal or even in cooking and baking. I know that there has to be some of you who inwardly cringe at the thought of even trying soy milk, let alone consuming it on a regular basis, but let me tell you, soy milk is good! My mother and I are living proof that even the pickiest most discerning person will enjoy having soy milk. My mom, who (like me) is very sensitive to trying strange, new things, recently started using soy milk in her cereal. She conveyed to me that when she sat down with her first bowl, she gagged a little at the thought, but once she took her first bite, she thought, "Wow! What a treat!" Now, she completely looks forward to it. So far, she has only tried the vanilla-flavored Silk soy milk. I find that kind to be a little too sweet for my liking (especially with a sweeter cereal), so we use the regular soy milk. We are not brand-loyal yet. We just look for the best price, so when Silk is on sale, we get that. When it's not, I use my $1 off coupon on Organic Valley soy milk.

Another good substitution is coconut milk. Remember the strawberry coconut milk ice cream? That stuff is good! Coconut milk is thicker than cow's milk, so it makes for a rich, creamy ice cream. This recipe was originally for chocolate coconut milk ice cream, but we just changed it to strawberry for Larissa's birthday party. The chocolate ice cream was good, but you have to be sure to really mix in the cocoa powder completely. There were a few little "balls" of cocoa powder towards the bottom of the ice cream churn container, but for the most part it was fine. The recipe is the same, but instead of the strawberries, use 2/3 cup of cocoa powder in the single recipe. Oh, and in case you are wondering, coconut milk does not have a strong coconut flavor. In fact, I don't think it really tastes like coconut at all, especially after you've added the strawberry or chocolate to it.

As far as cheese goes, we haven't found a really good substitution. There are soy cheeses, but I haven't been too impressed with them. Jason and the girls thought it was fine, but I'm a little pickier than they are, I guess. =) If you decide to try a cheese substitute, make sure you look at the ingredient list. We found a rice cheese a couple of months ago, and since we used to get rice milk years ago, we thought the rice cheese would also be dairy free. After we tried it, we thought, "Wow! That was great!" Come to find out, they put casein in the mix. So, we haven't had it since.

Right now, we have some soy cream cheese in the refrigerator that we plan on using in one of our favorite cheesecake recipes. We're desperately trying to come up with some good holiday substitutions BEFORE the holidays get here, and since that is basically 4 months away, we are in a time crunch! When I come across good recipes, I'll post them for you to try.

If you have any questions or comments about this post, let me know. I hope that this has been helpful and informative. =)