Oil Pulling for Detox & Health

Oil Pulling

I recently got back into Oil Pulling or swishing as my children like to call it….and it is making such a difference to my well being (again!), even after only a few days. I did a few days fasting last week and included oil pulling each day – to such a difference.

In case you are not entirely certain what oil pulling is; this is a technique using about a teaspoon or two of coconut or sesame oil (usually, but other oils can work) and swishing it around in your mouth for 20 minutes or so.

After the time is up, you just spit it all out and rinse your mouth. Voila – refreshed and ready to go. 

It sounds and is, so utterly simple. But with some incredible and wonderful side effects - I often find significant results from oil pulling in as little as 1 day! Of course I add some healing benefits into my coconut oil as well…essential oils of cinnamon, tea tree, lemon, lemon grass, peppermint, clove, oregano and so forth, a different combination every couple of days.

The oils all work together and ‘pulls’ the toxins out from the general mouth area while the essential oils go and do all the things herbs and spices are meant to do. I have experienced many different results from oil pulling – which I would not have seen otherwise along my healing journey.

Some of these are a clarity in thinking, fresher breath, whiter teeth, healthy gums and tongue while others are more the results of deeper cleansing. I always feel as if my sinuses and the glands in my face and neck are benefiting from this too with less severe symptoms of glandular fever a few years ago.

I often also feel a clearing in my ears….as if whatever has been sitting around there for ever so long, starts to move or be pulled out. This can only be a good thing as far as I am concerned – I am all for taking out the rubbish in the most gentle way possible. 

However, I often have other indicators of detox taking place such as a little achy in my joints or rash in the beginning, but then my knees and skin becoming very clear. Mostly though, it’s when any brain fog clears and I feel more of a mind/body connection that I know this technique really does some good for my health.

Because this is all about controlling and perhaps eliminating some of the nasty bacteria living and growing in our teeth and mouth, I often follow up an oil pulling session with a mouthful of my lovely West Cork made Apple Cider Vinegar or some of my Rebel Juice probiotic drinks…..which adds the good guys back into your system. 

So, if you think your mouth, head, brain and body might benefit from some oil pulling – it’s so easy to get started on it and all you need is 20 minutes!

April

Raw Unrefined Coconut Oil mixed with essential oils - on my stand at the market

Food for the Soul

What to eat today….

I remember a time when it was such a chore to prepare, cook --- no it was a chore to even think about what to prepare or cook for a meal. It was as if my mind was stuck and I couldn’t even think clearly about what I would like to eat.

Perhaps part of the problem back then was that I was so busy (distracted?) by all the other stuff in my life. At the end of the day I really didn’t have any energy left to do much about nourishing myself, let alone anyone else. 

But another thing that was happening which was probably far worse was that I really wasn’t thinking all that much about the food/meals/nutrition I ended up putting into my body. 

A meal was prepared just to get something on the table most days. Things were rushed, I was tired, food was a hassle, eating was a mindless activity. Life was an ordeal.

Then, when I absolutely had no choice in the matter and had to start carefully considering exactly what went into my body for each and every meal to make it count (because the way I was living had made me sick)…then my eyes and my world opened up.

I allowed my intuition, (not advertising, imbalance, tiredness, peer pressure or worse – indifference) to dictate the needs of my body, mind and spirit. Nourishing myself has since become a multi-dimensional approach to far more then just staying alive –

It’s a process of paying attention, listening and thoroughly engaging with my food and the environment it comes from. I am feeding my body, mind and soul through the food choices I make each and every day.

So, that’s why I feast some days, fast other days and eat normally any days in between. My relationship with eating and food has become a spiritual experience – one that only asks of me to be present and involved with the food on my plate. 

Spiritual for me means being alive….

April

Yarrow 

West Cork - the centre of the Food Universe

A few of my favourite things….

I remember not so very long ago when I spent nearly a decade sugar, wheat, dairy, wheat, meat and fish free. My how times have changed since I started the fasting, raising my own food and healing my gut properly.

Now, everything we can raise, make, cook, create, grow and catch ourselves is on the menu and since I love this time of the year so much there are so many goodies to choose from….LOL

This year I wanted to share a few of my favourite things with you, of course, it just goes to show, they all happen to be food! But, good foods are often simple things that become decadent once a little bit of this and a little dash of that, is added.

It’s kind of like magic – kitchen alchemy. Especially this time of year, there are so many wonderful tastes, food memories and seasonal offerings to be had. Perhaps we are quite spoilt living here in West Cork too, because this is kind of like the centre of the food Universe!

So now, where was I? Oh yes, my 3 treats of the season so far this year would have to be – Fig & Port Chutney, Brandy & Vanilla Butter and my Gourmet Seaweed Sea Salt blend (each of these are available at my Rebel Foods market stall in very limited quantities). 

Funny how two of those include a little bit of alcohol, but never mind it’s a seasonal thing!

For the Fig & Port Chutney, I slow cooked (food should be handled very gently) figs, apples, red onions, spices and demerara sugar, then added port at the last hour of cooking. This ensures that richness of flavour – can’t wait to try it on our Christmas goose (and turkey, duck, sandwiches, Gubbeen cheese….LOL).

Next my favourite seasonal delight has to be Brandy and Vanilla Butter. This is really a little bit (ok, a lot) my own take on an ancient Victorian recipe. Of course, I am using my own organic vanilla infused Jim Beam that has been aging, just waiting for this season….

Brandy butter is something special, often reserved for Christmas day pudding, it can be heated and poured over the warm pud like a sauce or better yet, a steaming hot pudding and cold brandy butter melting over top can’t be compared to anything else. 

We also love it with a cheese selection and with smoked salmon or other smoked fish. Come to think of it, smoked cheese sandwiches with brandy butter has a nice sound too….hmmm.

Lastly, I have changed my Seaweed & Sea Salt recipe for the holiday season – adding sesame seeds to this unique medley of gorgeous sea salts from around the world. I love salt, it’s healing properties and ability to turn ordinary food into an art form.

My Gourmet Seaweed Sea Salt blend has West Cork sea salt along with French, Himalayan and other Atlantic sea salts. When combined with the seaweeds and infused with thyme – the flavour is exquisite. 

So much to look forward to this holiday season – it’s all in the food! 

April

Magic of Christmas….comes in a jar! 

My Secret Garden.....A Healthy Gut

I have been fasting this week…so not much in the way of cooking right now (except making loads of sourdough breads!) however I have been doing lots of thinking about food (what else is new?) and pondering some revamped recipes for our upcoming Mid Summer feast.

In case you have not been checking the calendar this Friday at 5:04am in Ireland is the summer solstice…the longest day of summer and a great reason to have a feast! It is also the full moon within a couple of days and is quite a magical time for us all.

We have been planning our menu over this past week or so….but this time it keeps wavering. No one is really set on exactly what they would like to have – just food and lots of it! LOL

Perhaps it’s because we have not done any really long fasts this time around – just many little ones for less then 5 days or so. Or maybe there is something else at work here….

Remember how I have been mentioning that our guts have reset, changed, altered and the internal landscape is now a completely different place? (Since our mother of all cleanses in March) Well…just maybe this has everything to do with what is taking place on the table right now, so to speak.

Our menu is changing because the gut bacteria and other internal intestinal organisms have done a complete shift – they are growing and in place now. I think of it in terms of my ‘new’ internal mother culture – only this one works with me, loves me, heals and uplifts me.

Whereas before (like for the rest of my entire life) these organisms were either not present or not in significant numbers to influence me in entirely positive, healthful ways. And most importantly – what was in place was not working with me and certainly not for my benefit.

I finally feel as if I have my gut sorted – the ground-work has been laid and my inner garden is growing. Now….the most difficult task ahead of me is to decide what to have on each of these feast days!

April

Fasting Has Changed My Life...I Now Have One!

Today is a fast day for me, tomorrow will be a normal food day….in a few days (Summer Solstice) there will be a couple days of feasting. Each week and every day brings something different to the table….

Because I am eating this way, I look forward to my food like never before. Even a bowl of porridge takes on a new meaning when you are truly hungry – and I fill up faster. I am satisfied after eating less.

My stomach empties out on the fast days (I usually just drink water and herbal teas), providing extra energy for detox, repair and rebuilding reserves. I work out as usual – feeling better and more myself –perhaps because I can actually ‘feel’….

My digestive system isn’t stuffed with food (all the time) – it’s a cycle of eating that has brought me back to myself in so many ways; old and new. I have discovered there is a spiritual element to eating that I never even knew existed….

Oh and the feast days! When following the Celtic or Pagan Calendar there are many feasts throughout the year. When you add in birthdays and a couple of other celebrations…there is something to plan for every few weeks.

Right now we are gearing up for the Summer Solstice or Midsummer as we know it here. This is a BIG deal for us and we have been planning our menu for weeks. Of course everyone wants a BBQ – so we are hoping the weather will cooperate too!

Fasting before a feast is not an issue at all…in fact – I think I have moved beyond my food ‘issues’ because I have permission to eat what I want, when I want it and as much as I want, during our feasts.

Of course, I’m not going to eat rubbish on my feast days either; my cleaned out digestive system enjoys organic, natural, wholesome, homemade, unprocessed and wild harvested food.

Anything I can raise, grow, make from scratch or dig up – is on the menu!

It’s hard to hang onto thoughts of deprivation when you have 3 or 4 days of non-stop cooking, baking and eating to look forward to. Once the feast is winding down I am more then happy to return to a fast day and normal eating, mostly because I am tired of all that food. LOL

Fasting has become an easy ‘out’ for me. On these days I get a breather…time to think, do some things I keep putting off – be creative and savour the feeling of a day off from eating and watch (feel) my body get stronger.

Since I started eating this way (food, fast and feast) I sleep more soundly, I wake earlier, I am less obsessed with food or eating. I think about food all the time (it’s what I do) however, those thoughts are on a far healthier level.

I am slimmer now and find it far easier to maintain a normal body weight. I work out nearly every day in some capacity (free weights, walking, Yoga etc.) – short term, intermittent fasting even enhances physical activity.

On my food days, I am the one ‘in control’ of how much I eat and when to stop. I find eating earlier in the day might be nice one day…or a big meal after a fasted workout is great too.

Everywhere I go people mention to me how healthy I look. I don’t feel tired, I have more then enough energy to do what I want to do and I feel younger then my years.

Actually…it’s far easier to take care of myself because I am eating this way then ever before. Life has found a gentle rhythm bringing my body into balance is, and I have found all this, by following a natural cycle of eating.

April

The Pagan Diet

Feeling Stuck? Fasting to get moving again....

The best way to get things moving in your life – body, mind and spirit – is to get them moving in your body. Of course one of the most efficient ways to do that is to fast….

Just ask me, I have done so many over the years and it really works.

One of the questions I get asked a lot is – what exactly is a fast and what do I eat/drink/take/do while I am fasting? You would think the answer to that is quite simple – and it is in a way.

However…it all depends on what kind of a fast you want to do and that depends on what you would like to accomplish during your time spent detoxing and cleansing.

In one way, they all accomplish the same or similar thing…a fast of any sort will move you to new ground. And for me, the most important thing about movement is to also find myself on higher ground.

Right now I am fasting…I will do a few days on only water and some herbal teas (which is basically water with nature thrown in). But, in the past I have done juice fasts, Master Cleanses, herbal tea fasts, liquid only fasts, ….you name it, I have done it.

I guess I have progressed over the years to wanting something really simple and clear when I am fasting. So, for me – water is it. Can’t get any clearer, simpler or easier then that.

The purpose of my fasting is to clear out the debris – to continue the process of unblocking, unlocking and restructuring my energy field. Which in turn transforms my body, mind and ultimately my life.

If you haven’t yet done a fast…start out slowly – try 12 hours on herbal teas, water or light juices (homemade of course!). I guarantee you will feel better, more in control, grounded and almost certainly less stuck or blocked.

Go ahead, start a fast today and see where it takes you.

April

Detox Season is Upon Us...

Today is a great day to once again take stock - it's always nice to look back and observe our progress during a period of time perhaps to remind ourselves that change, movement and new energy is taking place even when it doesn't feel like it.

When we are making healthy changes to our diet and lifestyle - it is important to not let things get old, stale or boring. Keep making changes, learning and gaining ground within yourself as each week moves on.

I was just sitting here thinking of how far I have come since this time last year - this was actually the date I started a 40 day detox last year which took me up to 21 December just in time for the Solstice which started on the 22. 

It was quite a hike that one, but we did it and felt great for so many months afterwards LOL. I honestly don't think I will ever forget so many things about those 40 days as they must have shifted my life in some huge way.

I have not felt, thought or been the same since. My thinking is now far more along the lines of day by day, making overall plans and being prepared but take each moment as it comes. And it wasn't even about letting go of control either...

For me, there appears to be an even deeper level of control now or the meaning, axis of control has shifted somewhat and it is more in my own hands now. Each of these fasts I have completed since that time - have allowed me to keep moving forward as well as to maintain a high level of focus.

Right now this is once again 'Detox Season' - the best time of year to detox is now. The lining of our guts is at it's thinnest, the season at it's darkest with lots of space for deep clearing. This is perhaps the worst time to over indulge and get all Christmasy - save that for when it comes!

For far too many years I remember succumbing to the hype - the pre Christmas Dinners, the parties, the hoopla - so premature that by the time the Solstice season rolled around we were nearly sick and tired of it all.

For nearly 2 decades now I have refused to do much of anything in terms of getting into the spirit until the week or two before Solstice. I want to really enjoy the entire season to be part of the energy of excitement, renewal and festivity. I do not want to live it all now and be worn out by the marketing machines. It all means far too much to me to spoil it in this way. 

So, for now I will carry on with my detox, focus on what my body is doing - not for one moment giving up on myself or my dreams while I am building up the Solstice energy inside of my body to make this the best and most festive season ever.

April

Master Cleanse juice 

Food as Comfort - Nutmeg Stewed Apples & Pears

Today I am only on day 4 of my November Master Cleanse - and I am not certain yet how long I will go with this one - perhaps 15 or more days. It is the detox season just before Solstice and Christmas and the perfect time of year to cleanse.

So, I am working at it here - of course by now, I have slipped into my usual cleanse routine of getting more organized, thinking about recipes and food! This is where my heart is so I can often be found puttering around the kitchen late at night conjuring up things to make. 

Right now with this cleanse I feel as if I am processing through an entire encyclopedia of old patterns and issues - and perhaps most of them have to do with food. I have been wondering if absolutely everything in our human existence revolves around food.

I know there are many who would say we respond to and revolve around sex - however, you can't have a healthy sexual attitude without being fed properly and developing at least to a minimum emotional level. And that requires food. 

Besides eating is sensual and a loving activity people can share and make part of any relationship. The first thing we do in life, besides breathing, is eat and seek out comfort after the ordeal of birth. So our food should provide not only nutrition but also comfort for us. 

With this in mind - the kids have been spending more time outside (cool sunny days) and working hard in the barn with all the animals and chores to be done. So I wanted to make a little treat for them today to warm them up when they came inside.  

I had to use up some organic Irish apples and pears - so I made them a stewed apple/pear dish with big chunks of fruit and a little nutmeg. I love the smell of warm apples in the house and the nutmeg is very warming as well. 

Late last night I had made a cinnamon banana bread with the older bananas - a slice of this in a bowl with the hot stewed apples over top was not turned down by anyone. It smelled and looked delicious!

April

Cinnamon banana bread with stewed apples & pears

Cooking and Baking - The Approach

It has been another fasting day for me here - and a welcome break from all that eating and cooking - well sort of a break because I am still cooking for everyone else here and baking bread most days. Recently I came across mention of how if you like cooking, usually you would not like baking - and vice versa.

I was floored by this - mainly because there probably isn't one aspect of food, cooking, baking, preserving or eating that I don't enjoy. I even like the washing up after wards - because I like a clean kitchen and to have everything back in it's place.

Of course, you know me, I have been mulling this over ever since. How might someone enjoy baking and not cooking....hmmm. Then it hit me! It was because they have put these two activities down as being separate from each other.

That baking is somehow separate kitchen magic from ordinary cooking of meals for instance. So, I guess it must all be in the approach. I would bake up a storm before any feast days. Baking bread is something I do nearly every day, and I would use the oven to cook some meals such as stew in the Tagine.

Baking therefore is not separate from any other meal for me. But there is more than this - for others baking conjures up visions of sweets, chocolate dripping off of cakes and cookies that make you fat just by looking at them.

It is an entire separate food group (which would not even register as food as far as I am concerned) crammed with as much sugar and other nonsense as possible for your enjoyment and dining pleasure. Then, that would depend on your idea of pleasure. 

Giving children sweets full of sugar and other junk and watching them act up and get a sugar rush - is not something I would take pleasure in. I know enough teachers and others who work around children who would say the exact same thing. 

The poor child would then be yelled at or some other negative response because of this behaviour and we are well into a vicious cycle here. 

So, I  enjoy baking yes and cooking - what I enjoy far more is the fact that any of my cooking can be eaten without concern of sugar or other nasties. It is certainly not a behaviour altering experience to eat good, wholesome organic food - unless having extra energy changes your life!

April

Cinnamon Cake 

Making Homemade Muesli - A great breakfast!

I just finished a great bowl of muesli after fasting since Sunday evening - and a couple of good workouts. It tasted heavenly! I love our muesli for a few reasons, mostly because I make it myself, but also because it is so easy to make! 

The kids love it, and I always feel like they have something substantial in their stomachs when they are heading off for sailing or rock climbing - activities that require some fuel in the system. A bowl of homemade muesli eats like a meal, filling, hearty and balanced.

I have included my recipe below, which will be included in my new recipe book Eat Like A Pagan - however there are a couple of things to point out - I use a very large mixing bowl and just start adding ingredients. Basically whatever I have on hand that might taste good in muesli, goes in. I also do not measure anything, a handful of this, a cup of that - just pour it in to your desired amount.

That way no two mueslis are alike, I use different nuts, seeds and dried fruit each time, but some such as coconut, raisins, sunflower seeds and oats form the backbone of this cereal.

Muesli

Sultanas

Shredded Coconut

Seeds (Pumpkin, Sesame, Sunflower)

Slivered Almonds, chopped walnuts, hazelnuts or cashews 

Oat flakes or Millet flakes (or both)

Chopped dates, apricots, figs or raisins

Dried blueberries or Cherries

Ground linseeds, ground almonds 

Maple Syrup and Olive Oil

1 teaspoon Cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg (less if making less)

Mix all dry ingredients together in the quantities desired (use a little or a lot) then pour over 2-3 tablespoons (or more to taste) of Maple Syrup and about 2-3 tsp of Olive Oil. Adjust the quantities of spices to match the quantity of muesli - use more or less as desired. 

When thoroughly mixed, scoop out enough to cover a flat baking sheet or other dish that can be easily placed under a grill. Grill or toast the muesli until you can smell it (should smell sweet) and it turns a golden brown.  Careful to not leave it too long - it will burn.

Take it out and stir to turn the cereal over and put back in for another few minutes. Once done enough, take out and enjoy with Almond milk or goat's milk as a great wholesome breakfast or as a snack for extra energy.

If you make too much you can store Muesli in an airtight glass jar for a few days to weeks (we have eaten after a month and still great!) as you eat it. This is great for traveling as well, my hubby takes it to work for a snack...

Muesli in jars 

There is nothing as good as a lovely breakfast to get your day started! Have a healthy day,

April

making Muesli 

Loving our feast and other weight loss stories

This is grueling, day after day of non stop eating!! LOL

Back into the kitchen again today to make crackers, gingerbread men, spelt breads, naan bread, garlic butter, pot of jam (use up fruit), chilli con carne with lamb mince, and the list goes on. All of that today and I still found time to make our meals, get some gardening done, read, write and exercise.

It all just seems to fall into place, of course it really helped that the day was bright sunshine for most of it, warm and pleasant all around. Everyone felt great, the kids kept themselves busy, the work got done and all with smiles on our faces because of the sun.

One of my favourite breads to make are naan bread, I made them especially to go along with the chilli (tomato free of course) and used my handy food mixer to make the garlic butter. I needed an excuse to use it! 

Naan bread dough

What makes naan breads different is the goat's yogurt I use to make it. Otherwise it is a simple easy bread to whip up in minutes - whole grain spelt flour, soda bicarbonate, salt, goat's yogurt, water and sesame seeds. Mix these ingredients together, with more yogurt then water, place onto a flat pan for baking and into the oven for about 20 -25 minutes or so.

Naan breads ready for the oven

The result is a very soft flat bread that tastes great with a stew or chilli. I also add herbs into the mix and sesame seeds on top to give it some more texture. Naan bread is great with garlic butter or used as a bun for burgers too.

Naan bread cooling on rack

After all that baking and cooking, I even had a chance to do some reading online - looking through some nutrition articles I came across one mentioning the problem with weight being stuck or doing all the right things and still not losing the excess weight.

That was me not so long ago. Excellent diet, exercise program, busy lifestyle and still the pounds crept on. Of course it is hormonal for the most part for nearly all of us, but what brings down our hormones and where does it all end?

For me, the answer lies in the toxins carried around, buried deep within inflamed cells. It has long been established overweight and inflammation go hand in hand. Of course, high levels of toxicity are also present in any site of chronic dysfunction.

The one area each of these articles missed was glaringly obvious - remove the toxin load from the body and you will reduce the inflammation, while losing excess weight and balancing body systems. It really is this simple. They mentioned nearly everything else, but the absolute necessity of detoxification.

Cleansing your body on the inside is as easy as cleaning it on the outside and should be carried out nearly as often. Using water, our bodies will be gently detoxed of embedded poisons over a period of time - this has changed my life or I should say simply given my life back to me. 

All of life, eating, living and being who we are should be simple, otherwise, why would we do it? 

Have a healthy day,

April 

Lamb tomato free chilli 

Here's what I am 'eating' right now during my cleanse...

A few of you have been asking, exactly what am I eating or drinking during a Master Cleanse - what gets taken in and how much. Well, today I thought that I would post this for you, here is my recipe and an explanation of why it is different. 

Today and for 9 days during a Master Cleanse, I drink a tea mixture with lemon juice, maple syrup and a tiny bit of black pepper. I mention drinking it only 9 days because the first full 24 hours I only take in water or straight herbal tea.

Starting with day 2 - I make litres of water, herbal tea, juice of 1 lemon, 2 tablespoons of maple syrup and a pinch of ground black pepper. Throughout the day I might drink over 2 litres of this but not usually much more than that. 

April's Master Cleanse ingredients

I also drink water with this and late at night some herbal tea, lots of liquid coming in but not overdoing it either. I also sip this during the day, I don't drink large amounts in one go, unless I am outside in the sun and working etc.

These particular ingredients I have found over the years since I have been regularly detoxing, are important for a couple of reasons. First, the water must be natural well or spring water, not stored in plastic bottles or treated in any way. You are gently flushing your tissues to remove toxins, this is not the time to introduce more of them.

Secondly, lemon is a natural cleaner, it is alkaline once in the body and has a host of positive benefits on internal organs. Lemon promotes and enhances;

• immune system health
• cleaning of internal gut tissue
• stimulates the liver 
• aids digestion
• contains Vitamin C, folic acid, potassium and phosphorus 
• aid weight loss

And much more. I use organic lemons to remove toxic debris, keep my tea/juice as clean as possible and not slow down my detox in any way. 

The single biggest difference in my methods of detoxing and what I recommend for people is to use herbs in the recipe. Herbal teas (which can be a few of many that are gentle) are a natural way to balance, regulate and improve body function while you do your cleanse.

I have always used herbs and it was a natural follow on for me to include them in my Master Cleanse formula. Of course, I also grow, harvest and make many of my own herbs for the teas - so I know exactly how they are handled and of course they are pesticide free. 

Lastly, I include a small pinch of black pepper as opposed to the cayenne in the traditional recipe mainly because I know the detrimental effects of Night Shades on health and spirit, but also because I do not particularly feel that cayenne pepper is particularly healing. Many people have problems with it.

Black pepper has several beneficial properties such as working as a mild diuretic, encourages the body to sweat (helps eliminate toxins), digestive aid, breaks up congestion and cleans the taste buds in the mouth. I like it because it has a nice energy and use an organic whole peppercorn which we grind. 

During a Master Cleanse such as I am doing right now, this is what I drink every day until I am finished. Each day that I do this I feel more and more like myself, I love my fasting days nearly as much as my food days and my life has dramatically changed for the better as a direct result of following The Pagan Diet - Food, Fast & Feast.

Remove the toxins, free yourself

April

Sunlight shining through the Master Cleanse juice - Juice Angel!! 

Love Summer Fruits

Yesterday was another interesting day with still being on this fast, and wanting to create and cook - I ended up making ice cream and apple sauce in small batches to just keep myself occupied really. I find that I relax, am happy in myself and can think or process through things when I am busy working with food. 

First of all ice cream is something that I have been making for awhile and we have a small ice cream maker. The main reason we got this was because we had been all going without any ice cream for several years due to the fact that we don't eat cows milk, sugar or want the added chemicals of commercial ice cream.

There are companies out there who make ice cream from goat's milk however, it would have other ingredients that we did not like or need. Therefore, being resourceful, I started to make my own for our special occasions (such as summer!) and feast days. There is a feast day coming up soon at the beginning of August, and now the ice cream is ready for this celebration. 

When I first started out making ice cream I just researched what other people were doing and then improvised to fit our own needs - and it turns out very well. I make goat's milk ice cream using bananas, milk, jam and little else.

Yesterday I used 4 bananas, about 2.5 cups of goat's milk, 1//2 cup fresh peach jam and a tiny bit of raw agave syrup - mostly because I could not taste it to see how sweet it was. Otherwise I would not use the agave, but the jams I am making are mainly only fruit, some lemon juice and 1/2 cup of apple concentrate per batch of jam. They will not be overly sweet.

Then I decided to try my hand at making my applesauce recipe and canning it into the last remaining jars because I had apples that were not being eaten. I never liked applesauce as a child or at any other time - until I started making it myself. I think for me it has to do with the texture - if it's too much like baby food, I don't want it.

I also like applesauce that is warm and spicy with lots of cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger or allspices in it. So this is what I did - 8 cups of chopped apples, teaspoons of spices, tiny bit of lemon juice and cooked the apples into a sauce. They bottled up perfectly as well, in the jars that would not seal the day before, go figure! 

Now, when I open the cupboard there are a dozen jars lined up filled with jams and sauces - ready for the coming winter and changing seasons. It is a warm and fuzzy feeling for me and I truly feel right now these few remaining items that have been creeping into our diets will be eliminated once and for all.

Soon, I want to try my hand at making some chutneys and perhaps pickles as I get more adventurous  with my canning abilities. Last night Max came home with over 30 more jars, so I guess that was my green light to keep going with this. 

Keeping it real here in West Cork,

April

This is my ice cream maker - very simple little thing!

Here is a deep mixing bowl filled with the 4 ingredients of my ice cream

Cooking while fasting....

To be honest with you, I get asked this all the time - don't you find it hard to cook and be around food when you are fasting? All I can say right now is that perhaps I am so used to it that it no longer bothers me, however I am not sure that it ever did.

Of course I can smell the food, I can see it and I would love to have some. However, once I start a cleanse, I am single minded enough to follow it through no matter what is happening on the outside. It's as if my body goes into the 'detox mode' that I talk about in my book The Pagan Diet© and until this is finished, nothing deters me from my goal. I find that I am especially creative and want to cook and research recipes during my cleanses.

Yesterday was a productive day in many ways, I made lots of muesli for our post cleanse meals - I have been making my own muesli for years (my recipe is in The Way to Heal Body Mind & Soul) and if you have not tried making this yet, please do. You will not ever go back to buying anything from a shop - I like the fact that I can put anything into it that I want and I am the only one who handles it.

When I make it, I try to make enough to last about a month - it is not something that we would eat every day, but usually on the weekends or when my son comes home for sailing absolutely famished, it is an easy ready snack.

Muesli is packed with concentrated energy, which is a fantastic way to start a food day or even to end it as a final meal. I like toasted muesli that is not too sweet, with a variety of dried fruits, nuts, seeds and anything else in the cupboard!

Then late last night, because I had more fruit to be used up (local organic strawberries) I made some more jam, but not with the same results that I had the night before. My strawberry/apple jam turned out wonderfully and the jars sealed. Then I made some ginger/peach jam in a bigger batch - and 2 of the jars did not seal.

I was doing some trouble shooting when looking at the lids, they had been used previously for storing fruit, so this might be the problem with the lids, or it was just too late at night and I was tired. However, the other jars did seal and they were poured later... I did find that I preferred to make smaller batches at one time as this was easier to handle, at least right now when I don't have all of the equipment that I would like to have. 

But, all is not lost because I simply put the jam from the unsealed jars into the freezer to be used as freezer jam. Fruit is fruit and nothing need be wasted here - it will all be eaten. I am figuring that for  a family of 4 who loves jam ( and use it in everything) we would most likely go through about 1 big jar each week. That means I have to make at least 50 jars to last until next summer.

I still have work to do here! (smile) Now, I want to find more creative and tasty combinations for these fruits and will do some apple sauce as well. So, back to my research on fruit, jam and canning.

Have a homemade day everyone!

April

Muesli - raw in first bowl, then finished in middle bowl and ready to be toasted in oven tray. Finally in the jars once cool.

Well, this will be a challenge!

I love a challenge and I also love to cook, eat, create new recipes, shop for food, grow vegetables in my garden and even the washing up after a meal. Anything to do with food and eating is a passion for me - however, I have come to appreciate good food, real meals made with fresh, whole, organic ingredients.

My goal here is simple - I want to find a way to replace the remaining foods that creep into our diets with homemade versions. This means that I have to source the raw ingredients, find or create recipes and then experiment with making these foods as well as storing them.

There are a few things that I have in mind and will write about them in the coming days and weeks. However, if you follow my other blogs or know me - (please check out The Pagan Diet© blog) - then you also know that I fast and do Master Cleanses regularly.

I have hesitated because I was thinking this is going to be a challenge - can I cook and create these foods when I cannot taste test them? Or do I only experiment with some new recipes on my food days? LOL Believe it or not, this was my biggest obstacle to starting another blog. 

Of course now I realize that I will carry on as I usually do - during my cleanses and fasting days I do the research and planning for my recipe experiments. Then on my food and feasting days - I get to play around in the kitchen and enjoy my creations. 

Hang around and visit often -- this is going to get interesting!

April