Spicy Meatballs

Okay, so here I am, past my due date and feeling absolutely no signs of labor.

However, every day I can literally see myself getting fatter and fatter.

I keep telling myself that no one has ever stayed pregnant forever and this baby must come soon.

So, in the meantime since I’m still pregnant and not really worried about my weight, yet.

I’m eating😊

My latest craving has been spicy meatballs covered in sour cream. YUM!

I have a batch baking in the oven right now and my mouth is watering. So instead of watching them bake I thought I would share the recipe with you.

 

Spicy Meatballs

1 lb ground

1 egg

1 cup parmesan cheese

1 cup breadcrumbs

1 tbsp chives

1 tsp parsley flakes

2 tsp salt

2 tsp black pepper

1 tsp cayenne pepper

2 tsp red pepper flakes

1 tbsp garlic powder

1 tbsp onion flakes

 

Mix together.

Form into balls.

Bake on 425 for 25 minutes.

Simple yet delicious!

 

 

What is Passover?

Passover is a Biblical festival celebrating the Israelites’ exodus from Egypt and their freedom from slavery.

You can read the story of Passover in the book of Exodus.

However here is a brief summary.

God made a promise to redeem His people from their bondage in Egypt, So He sent Moses to Pharaoh with the command to “let my people go”.

Pharaoh refused.

God then brought ten plagues upon the Egyptians. The tenth being the worst of all. Death of all the first born in Egypt.

On the night of the tenth plague, God told the Israelites to sacrifice a spotless lamb and to mark the doorposts of their homes with its blood. He also commanded a special meal to be eaten.

The Lord would then “pass over” those homes that were marked.

In every home of the Egyptians there was death.

It was this final plague that changed the Pharaoh’s heart. He let the Israelites go.

Passover and the story of the exodus is also important for Christians as well as Jews. It looked forward to the cross, where Jesus became our Passover lamb, and we celebrate it in memorial.

Jesus Christ fulfilled the Law.

Jesus is our Passover lamb. We are covered by His blood.

He was killed at the time of Passover.

The Last Supper was the Passover meal.

By accepting His blood and applying it to our lives, we are trusting Him to save us.

Happy Passover!

Where Do I Start When Changing My Diet? Part 2

Now that you’ve made up our mind to make a change in your diet, it’s time to decide what to eat.

Make a list of all the ingredients that you are not allowing in your new lifestyle and then go shopping.

Keep it simple and stick to the basics!

Over the years we have learned that fresh is best, followed by frozen and then canned.

Organic is the best choice, or at least try to buy chemical free foods. Also look for the Non-GMO stamp.

Try to stay away from processed foods. If it comes in a box you shouldn’t eat it very often.

Remember don’t be too strict or you’ll set yourself up to fail. Just know what ingredients not to eat.

Try to find a local farmer for a supply of raw milk. If you’ve never had then it you are definitely missing out. There are so many health benefits in drinking this stuff.

Now let’s talk meat. We eat a lot of venison and tend to stock up during hunting season for the upcoming year.

If you’re not a hunter then you probably know someone who is. Lots of folks these days hunt just for the sport of it.

So, we always let our friends and neighbors know that we’re willing to take any deer or turkey they aren’t going to keep.

Organic or grass-fed beef from the store is fine but can be a bit pricey. This also goes for organic chicken.

This past year we raised a bull calf and had him slaughtered. We also raise chickens and guineas; however, we prefer the guinea meat.

Then there’s fish. We go fishing at a nearby lake in the spring and summer but we usually just catch enough for one meal at a time.

It’s hard for us to catch enough fish to store away, but we’re getting there. However canned fish is something that is also good, (wild caught of course, not farm raised).

We eat a lot of eggs, just not in the winter. Our hens take their ‘time off’ during the winter months.

Now for flour we use Wheat Montana Whole Wheat Berries and grind them at home.

You can also purchase already ground organic flours, chemical free flours, and sprouted flours at most grocery stores if you don’t have a grinder.

Baking your bread from scratch is always the best option.

If that’s not your thang, then there are organic loaf breads available. Just like with meat it too can be pricey.

For cooking oil, we use olive oil for pretty much everything.

Also be sure to eat lots and lots of fruits and veggies.

Ok so it that it?? Wait I almost forgot the most important staple in our diet, BUTTER. Real Butter.

I disagree with the idea that butter is bad. There have been a lot of recent studies done showing that real butter is not bad for you at all but is actually beneficial.

Okay, there you have it.

We eat real, every day, normal food just made with real ingredients.

It’s simple, you just have to want it!!

 

How We Prepare For A Homebirth

My due date is the end of March but being my sixth child, anything could happen.

So, we’re prepping.

My supplies include:

cord clamp,

birth stool,

roll of plastic,

absorbent sheets,

essential oils (I use Frankincense Myrrh, and Clary sage)

 

Sounds simple, right?

Here’s the PLAN:

When I feel the time is near I’ll make sure my husband is home or on his way home.

We’ll prepare the bathroom, since that was the most comfortable room in the house with my last two births.

There I’ll have access to water, both hot and cold. A shower if I feel like relaxing and of course the toilet for, well you know what for.

We’ll roll out our plastic sheets and cover them with absorbent pads to catch all the stuff. This also makes for a much easier cleanup!

This time I’ve purchased a birthing stool to sit on instead of the toilet, because my biggest fear is having the baby land in the toilet.

When the baby is making his way down the birth canal it’s kind of hard to find that perfect position and the toilet relives a lot of the pressure and feels comfortable.

With my second homebirth, my baby’s head emerged while on the toilet. I lunged forward as fast I as I could to avoid his landing in the toilet.

So, I wanted to try the birthing stool this time.

My husband then prepares the oils and heats up some water.

I use frankincense for a relaxing and calming smell during and/or between contractions.

Next, he mixes myrrh and olive oil in a crockpot with hot water to use as a compress if I begin to tear.

The last essential oil he’ll prepare is clary sage. Which he will also mix with olive oil as a rub for my lower back between contractions, as it helps stimulate and keep labor progressing.

My job is to stay calm, relaxed and focused. My body will do the rest.

God is in control, and we trust Him to deliver a perfect baby!

 

Before she travailed, she brought forth; before her pain came, she was delivered of a man child..….. I bring to the birth, and not cause to bring forth? saith the LORD: shall I cause to bring forth, and shut the womb? saith thy God. Rejoice ye with Jerusalem, and be glad with her, all ye that love her: rejoice for joy with her, all ye that mourn for her:  That ye may suck, and be satisfied with the breasts of her consolations; that ye may milk out, and be delighted with the abundance of her glory….then shall ye suck, ye shall be borne upon her sides, and be dandled upon her knees. (Isaiah 66)

 

Cole Slaw

Ingredients:  

1 medium head of cabbage

3 medium carrots

¼ cup of onion

1 tbsp vinegar

2 tbsp sugar

1 tsp salt

1 ½ cups of mayo

 

1. Grind cabbage, carrots, and onion.

2. Combine with vinegar, sugar, and salt.

3. Stir in mayo

4. Eat & enjoy!

 

The Importance of Real Salt

Has anyone ever told you that eating too much salt was bad for you?

Your mother, father, or maybe even your doctor?

The truth is the salt most Americans are eating is bad for you. I’m talking about table salt, the white stuff. Sodium chloride, which is highly refined. Lacking all key nutrients.

Real salt such as Himalayan pink crystal salt contains 84 minerals along with trace elements.

Unrefined and unprocessed, just completely raw and natural.

Just the way God intended.

In the early 20th century it was noticed that people who were eating white table salt started to suffer from things like goiter and mental retardation.

The cause was a deficiency in iodine. Which naturally occurs in raw salt.

So, iodine was added back into table salt, thus creating ‘Iodized salt’.

They strip over 80 naturally occurring minerals from our salt and only add one back in?

The other minerals that are stripped out are what we need to function properly, and the lack of, causes disease.

Think rickets and scurvy.

During their discovery they were treated with the pharmaceuticals of the time.

After much research and study, we know today they’re simply a deficiency of vitamins and minerals.

 

What else are we missing in the other minerals?

7 Layers

Ingredients:

Chopped romaine lettuce

Chopped cauliflower

Chopped green onions

Chopped broccoli

Frozen peas

Shredded cheese

Mayo

 

Spice mix:

1 tsp salt

1 tsp sugar

½ tsp garlic powder

1 tsp onion powder

½ tsp black pepper

½ tsp parsley

½ tsp paprika

 

1. Layer in order of ingredients list.

2. Smooth mayo to cover.

3. Sprinkle spice mix.

4. Cover and allow to sit in fridge overnight, or at least 8 hours.

Pasta Salad

Ingredients:

Cooked pasta noodles

Chopped green peppers

Chopped cauliflower

Chopped carrots

Sliced cucumbers

Shredded cheese

Homemade dressing

 

Directions:

1. Cook pasta according to directions and allow to cool.

2. Prepare veggies.

3. Mix together with homemade dressing.

4. Top with shredded cheese

 

Homemade dressing Ingredients:

1 cup mayo

1 cup sour cream

2 tbsp minced onion

2 tbsp onion powder

1 tbsp parsley flakes

4 tsp salt

1 tsp sugar

1 tsp garlic powder

Mix ingredients together and store in an airtight container. If time allows it mix up at least two hours prior to mixing in pasta so all the flavors will blend together nicely.

 

 

 

Veggie Soup

Ingredients:

5 medium potatoes, cubed

1 15oz can of green beans

1 15oz can of corn

1 10oz bag of frozen broccoli

2 medium carrots, diced

1 15oz can of diced tomatoes

2 stalks of chopped celery

1 onion, diced

4 garlic cloves, chopped

1 46oz vegetable juice

2 tsp black pepper

2 tsp salt

 

Stovetop Pot:

1. Place all ingredients into a pot and bring to a boil.

2. Cover and simmer on low heat for 2 hours.

Crockpot:

1.Place all ingredients into pot.

2.Cover and cook on low for 8 hours.

 

Chili

Ingredients:

1 lb ground venison or beef

1 15oz can of black beans

1 14.5oz can of petite diced tomatoes

1 medium onion, diced

4 garlic cloves

46oz tomato juice

1 tbsp black pepper

1/2 tbsp of red pepper flakes

3 tbsp chili powder

2 tsp salt

1 tsp sugar

 

1. Brown meat in skillet, sauté with onions.

2. Add to pot with other ingredients.

3. Bring to a boil.

4. Cover and let simmer about 2 hours.

5. Add a dollop of sour cream and a sprinkle of cheese.

6. Enjoy!