“Cane Sugar” Free Cranberry Sauce

OK, I realize this is a little late for Thanksgiving dinner, but you can make it for Christmas dinner or any other holiday gatherings you have planned.  This recipe utilizes a combination of sweeteners and in my opinion is much better than the canned version and more nourishing.

Cranberry Sauce

1 bag fresh whole cranberries

1 cup fresh squeezed orange juice

1/2 cup pure maple syrup (grade b)

1 cup coconut sugar

pinch of cinnamon

a few drops of liquid stevia

In in a medium sauce pan bring all ingredients to a slow boil and then turn down to low.  As the cranberries heat up they will begin to pop. That’s the fun part.  Let the sauce simmer until the orange juice has reduced and the sauce has thickened.  Remove from heat and serve warm or chilled.  Enjoy!

Of course, we are used to things not being so sweet, so if you want more sweetness just add more of the sweetener.

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Two Years Ago Today…

Two years ago today my husband and I sat across from a doctor who gave us the final diagnosis of my husband’s cancer. My heart was pounding out of my chest and my poor husband was sweating in the chair next to me. It had all started over a month earlier when my husband had gone to the doctor for what he thought was a hernia. Now, after several tests we were finally getting a name for this horrible monster that had invaded my husband’s body.  I remember pulling a small piece of paper out of my purse and scribbling the words, “desmo plastic small round cell sarcoma”. I had no idea what that meant. I remember the doctor saying things like “rare”, “aggressive”, “chemo”, “surgery”.  When we left that office we felt a mixed sense of hope and fear.  The doctor was not an oncologist (he was a hernia specialist/surgeon), but he said that the tumor was totally encapsulated and could be removed. That was encouraging.  He encouraged us to find a medical oncologist. Let’s just say that overwhelmed is an understatement.

Later that evening, after my husband had gone to work (I have no idea why he went to work after hearing such horrible news, maybe just to feel “normal”), I made a huge mistake… I googled the words “desmo plastic small round sarcoma”.  Because DSRCT is so rare, I got very little information, but the information I got was grim.  As I read the words, “15% survival rate”, “deadly”, “extremely aggressive”, “incurable” I felt like my head would explode.  I was in a state of shock.  My husband had a VERY serious, VERY deadly cancer that few survive.

The fact that it was Thanksgiving Eve and I was supposed to be happy and excited for the holidays quickly evaporated.  I was living every wife’s worst nightmare. I went up stairs, closed the bedroom door behind me and wept into a pillow (so my kids could not hear me).  I cried out to God like I had never done before.  I felt so alone and yet so NOT alone. Even in the dark hole that I was in I felt God’s presence. I knew, even though everything seemed out of my control, that HE was in control and HE would provide for my every need and for my husband’s every need.  Little did I know that from there on out we would witness miracle after miracle…all straight from the hand of God!

So, it has been two Thanksgivings since that horrible day and now I always have something very profound to be thankful for. They say that going through something like that makes you appreciate life more, it sounds cliché, but it’s true.  I appreciate my husband more, I appreciate my kids more, I appreciate the little things in life so much more!  So, that’s what I’m thankful for this Thanksgiving…life!!!

“I have held many things in my hands, and I have lost them all; but whatever I have placed in God’s hands, that I still possess.”
― Martin Luther

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Isn’t Healthy Eating More Expensive?

I hear this all time when I explain to people how we eat…”I wish I could feed my family that way, but it’s sooooooo expensive!”  The idea that eating healthy is more expensive than eating junk is a myth.

First, if you think about the most expensive items you buy at the grocery store they would be milk and dairy products, meat and junk food items (ie pretty much any packaged chips, cookies, crackers, candy).  If you cut out those items or dramatically reduce your intake of those foods, your grocery bill will be much less. Next, if you are eating a plant based, whole foods diet, you will be spending more of your time in the bulk section and the produce area of the grocery store (and we all know buying bulk is MUCH less expensive).  Also, buying some of your staples online will save you much more money than buying them in the health section of your grocery store. Amazon has a program, called Subscribe and Save. It allows you to buy items at a 15% discount with FREE shipping!  You have the choice of having your items delivered automatically every 1, 2, 3 or 6 months or after your first delivery you can cancel.  The 15% discount is on top of the already low Amazon price, you will be amazed at the deals you can get!

Some packaged health foods are expensive and organic produce can be spendy. However, if you learn to make your own healthy snacks, breads, treats and even cereals, you will save a lot of cash (check out my blogroll, you will find amazing blogs that have many easy and money saving healthy recipes).

Yes, organic produce is often more expensive. But, if you shop sales and learn which produce is best bought organic and which produce you can buy conventionally, your produce bill will balance out and will be limiting your family’s exposure to toxins.  Planting your own garden or purchasing produce at your local Farmer’s Market is also a great way to save money and enjoy amazing produce! I like to think of it this way…pay at the grocery store or pay at the doctor’s office. Here’s a list of foods that you don’t have to buy organic (known as the “clean 15″).  Look here to see a list of foods that you should always buy organic as they are highly sprayed or absorb pesticides more readily (these are called the “dirty dozen”).

Hint, more and more healthy foods companies are offering coupons which will go a long way to saving you money.  Many stores like Costco and Trader Joes and Amazon, offer healthy foods at low prices. As you learn to navigate the grocery store with a view to eating healthy and saving money, you will see how nourishing your family with whole foods is NOT more expensive.  Yes, it takes some planning, but just like anything, once you get the hang of it you will see that eating healthy is very do-able on a budget!  Here are some good sites that I use to find great coupons for healthy foods: Saving Naturally and Healthy Life Deals.  Stayed tuned for more money saving tips and recipes! Thanks for reading!

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What is pH? And why is it important?

When my husband was first diagnosed I instinctively knew that we needed to change his/our diet.  It didn’t take much to convince him as he was more than motivated to do what it took to live and fight off the horrible cancer that had invaded his body.  So, we embarked on a way of life and a way of eating that would help boost his immune system, detox his body and make his body alkaline.  However, I really didn’t know where to start. There were bits and pieces that I knew we needed to do, like cut meat, dairy and sugar out of our diets.  I felt overwhelmed and didn’t know exactly HOW to get his pH from VERY acidic to alkaline.

All this talk about pH levels may sound like hocus pocus to you, but it is rooted in science and it has been proven that cancer cannot live in an alkaline environment. One book that clearly explains the alkaline diet is a book by Dr Michelle Schoffro Cook called “The Ultimate pH Solution”.  Let’s just say that as I read this book the light bulb finally turned on for me!  Dr Cook is a naturopath and best selling author. She has penned several books, including “The Life Force Diet” and “The Phytozyme Cure”…both amazing books that I highly recommend reading!  Her book,  “The Ultimate pH Solution” is a must read for anyone who is interested in achieving health, energy and pH balance in their body.

But, why is pH so important?  Let me explain.  The cells in our bodies are constantly in a power struggle to be either acidic or alkaline.  Ideally, your body wants to be alkaline, 7.0 or higher to be specific. Many chronic diseases have acidity as their foundation; that is why it is so important to maintain an alkaline pH. Unfortunately, due to the highly processed, sugar laden, dairy rich and meat rich diets of most Americans, most people in our country are walking around with very acidic pH levels. Hence, the rampant chronic disease that plagues many, many people. Here’s a great scientific explanation of pH, from an article by Kris Carr.

“pH is a measure of the hydrogen ion concentration, [H+] in solution. Neutral is 7.0. A pH lower than 7.0 is acidic, anything higher than 7.0 is basic or alkaline. The body ideally likes a slightly basic environment at a pH of 7.365. Our bodies are designed around the concept of homeostasis – that neutral, groovy set point where everything is a-okay. The body keeps things at this “zen” space by intricate interactions of charged molecules, balancing one another out for optimum function. Every bodily function, from breathing to pooping, is regulated this way. The body will wreak havoc trying to maintain or regain homeostasis – in this case, a pH of 7.365.”

So, now you may be wondering what causes acidity in the body?  As I mentioned above the poor diets of most American’s is the main cause.  Foods like dairy, meat, processed foods and sugar and stress are the main contributors to acidosis. Yes, this means you will need to totally cut out meat, diary and sugar or at least dramatically reduce it if you are serious about bringing your body into pH balance. Foods that create an alkaline environment for your body are colorful vegetables, especially leafy greens.  A diet high in colorful vegetables will balance out your pH levels and bring your body into balance.  Other alkaline foods are: avocados, quinoa, lentils, lemons (yes, even though they are acidic, once they enter the body they alkaline your body and also are excellent for detoxing the liver. Drinking lemon water through out the day can go a long way to alkalizing your body) and dark, leafy greens. Dr Cook’s book contains a very helpful list of which foods are more alkaline and which are more acidic. Taking a wholefood, green supplement will also help to give your body an alkaline boost.

So how do I know where my body is on the pH scale?  You can purchase pH strips at most health food stores or online. Next, you will need to pee on the strip every morning (it’s usually best to test your second pee of the day) and every evening.  Typically, you’ll be more alkaline in the evening.

This article by Kris Carr is excellent and also helps to clarify why pH is so important. Kris Carr was diagnosed with cancer in her 30′s. She was given a death sentence. Instead of giving up she embarked on a journey to heal her own body through natural means and today she is cancer-free!  Her site is an amazing resource for anyone who is interested in natural healing and healthy living.

Thanks for reading and start eating those greens and drinking that lemon water!!!

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