What Constitutes a Long and Fulfilling Life?

This picture makes me think of this song.

I recently came across this really interesting post on the pop health site Fit Sugar. Titled “How to Live to Be 100”, the article started off by briefly dispelling a few aging myths, and then delved into some new research done on factors that affect longevity.

“Author Dan Buettner, National Geographic researchers, and The National Institute on Aging studied five places known as "Blue Zones," whose populations live considerably longer lives — from Sardinia to Okinawa. In these five areas, the researchers found four commonalities.”

Coming from a site that tends to be—in my opinion—full of a lot of health and fitness “fluff”, it is nice to see an article like this that at least alludes to the importance of holistic wellness.

While I generally don’t put too much stock in studies (there are so many variables and they can be skewed so easily), I think this one really affirms the things that we as humans intuitively knew all along.

Here is what the researchers found:

“1.    These people don't ‘work out.’ In the Blue Zones, people's lives are set up in such a way that they're naturally encouraged to do physical activity. Friends' houses, stores, and jobs are within walking distance, and they do yard work and have their own gardens.”

This aspect especially resonated with me. After all, think about it: back in the olden days people didn’t spend hours working out on the treadmill or doing endless Pilates routines. Nothing against either of these methods of exercise, but I can’t help but think that useful—i.e., movement that actually accomplishes something more than just physical benefits (gardening, for example)—is an amazing concept. Our ancestors tilled their own fields, ground their own wheat, weaved their own cloth, etc. While I realize that not all of us can ditch our jobs and houses and move to the prairie to live like Laura Ingalls, we can try to change our attitude about exercise and find methods of movement that are natural to our daily way of life. I really like the ideas given: walk or bike to friend’s houses, stores, jobs (if you can), do yard work…or how about just playing with your kids/siblings? It really makes sense to me that we should try to use our bodies more in the way they were meant to be used.

In my experience, I tend to build such a mental “thing” around exercise—feeling the need to “get it out of the way” or feeling guilty if I don’t do it. How about making it a way of life? How about not even thinking about it? How about just living, and letting our bodies work and move in the day to day situations and functions in the way that they were made to? That sounds really liberating, doesn’t it!  (P.S. This topic kind of reminds me of a post Aletheia wrote questioning how we’ve become “like hamsters on an exercise wheel.” At the time, I found it kind of off-putting, but now I sort of understand what she was getting at. Check it out!)

“2.    They have the right outlook on life, and take time to slow down to reduce stress. They also focus on their sense of purpose, and continue doing something important every day of their lives (retirement isn't in their vocabulary).”

I remember my dad telling me that when he retired last summer his cardiologist told him (something to the effect of): “You have to do something. What are you going to do to keep your mind and yourself active?” So far, staying active hasn’t been a problem for my dad, as he has since picked up another job and is busier than before he retired! This does, however, bring up an interesting point. Obviously, this cardiologist knew the importance of not letting yourself degrade just because life is slowing down. I remember seeing once that AARP even has online “exercises” you can do to keep your brain sharp. That just seems a little sad to me, though. Why not go out and accomplish something? As this study revealed, finding a purpose and doing something you are passionate about is an important part of staying young at heart. Yet even though doing something you enjoy will play a role in relieving stress, it is still important to take time to relax.

“3.    The secret to longevity has nothing to do with the notion of dieting, and has everything to do with eating wisely with a focus on plant-based foods. These groups have strategies to avoid overeating, and yes, these cultures drink wine.”

I love this! You would think by now that people would have realized that DIETS DON’T WORK! But still, we have the low carb diet, the low-fat diet, the cabbage soup diet, the grapefruit diet…and who knows what else. But in reality, it’s all a lot less complicated. As Michael Pollan says, “Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants.” (Although, I would also argue that one would be wise to eliminate animal products.) That’s it! Unfortunately, this is a lot more difficult to follow in practice than it is to  understand on paper. I think it’s also important to remember that food is just one aspect of health. While it is important, overall wellness—and therefore longevity—is so much more than just what we put in our mouths.

(By the way, I don’t know much about the wine part, as I’m not into alcohol. I don’t have anything against it, per se, I just don’t really trust it given my history and some of my family history.)

“4.    There are strong social bonds in the Blue Zones and family comes first; caring for children and aging relatives is deemed a priority. They tend to be part of a faith-based community. They surround themselves with healthy people.”

In my opinion, this may be the most important aspect of all. I think having a positive attitude, balanced disposition and—most of all—a strong faith (!) is absolutely essential to not only health, but also happiness. If our spirits are sustained it only makes sense that the rest of us will thrive.

  As one commenter said on the original article: “If I were to guess, I would say it is the last that most people overlook. If you aren't happy and kind to yourself and those around you, then why bother living to 100?” I couldn’t agree more, and I think this leads us to an important topic: Why do we want to live so long in the first place? While everything these days seems to be geared towards avoiding aging and staying young…do we really want to live that long? Especially if we believe in eternal life? This is a question I ponder a lot. I sometimes ask myself: Why am I so concerned about being healthy or not getting sick? Dying just means being with Jesus! I shouldn’t be afraid!

Some of you probably think this sounds a little crazy. Maybe it is. But the point I am trying to make is that it doesn’t matter how long we live if we aren’t happy. Many people see longevity as the reason for adopting healthier habits, but what is the point of being a centenarian if you aren’t happy and fulfilled with your life in the first place? There is a real fear in our society today of dying…of the unknown. But if we truly believe in Jesus Christ and in his message, what do we have to fear? Nothing. This really deserves a post of its own, however. : ) But just to tie things up, I think that God truly wants us to be happy, we just can’t expect ourselves to ever be completely fulfilled or satisfied by this earth.

What are your thoughts on ageing and longevity? Would rather live a short happy life or a long unfulfilling one?

It feels really good to be writing this kind of post. While they can be fun, I honestly get tired of my endless foodie posts. These are the kind of things I really love to write: honest, from my heart, thought-provoking, and unique. Okay, maybe I’m flattering myself by giving showering on all those accolades, but let me just say that writing stuff like this—even if it is lame—is one of the ways blogging helps me. I don’t care if it’s long and tedious and rambling and hard to read, getting my thoughts out like this allows me to work stuff out and dig deeper…it’s just really me.

Happy Sunday, all!

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“Wish not so much to live long as to live well.” –Benjamin Franklin
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P.S. Averie is having a giveaway!
P.P.S. Lauren is having a giveaway!

Are Natural Beauty Products Worth It?

I was going to label this post “Natural Beauty Products: Hype, Hoax, Healthy, or Headache?” but I decided that was a little too wordy. : )

Whether or not to use natural/organic beauty products is something I struggle with. It just seems like one area that it is difficult to adapt to while still getting the desired results.

On one hand, there are organizations such as the EWG, who through projects such as their Cosmetics Database hope to educate consumers of the harmful ingredients lurking in their beauty products. On the opposite end of the spectrum are all of the companies that most Americans regularly use—big name or drugstore brands that are readily available and rarely questioned by consumers.

I used to use these brands, and trying new beauty products was something I enjoyed. Who doesn’t want silky hair, smooth skin, and everything else those advertisements promise that their brand will give you? 

But as I became more educated on the dangerous ingredients in many of these products, as well as more aware of what I put into and on my body,  I started to seek out more natural and organic beauty methods.

I’ve already mentioned the fact that I have quite a mane, and unless I pull an Elisha Cuthbert, Ginnifer Goodwin, or Carey Mulligan anytime soon, I’m stuck with responsible for making my head of hair manageable and presentable. The thing is, it is quite a challenge to tame those tresses (and clean the rest of me!) using natural products. But I like a good challenge!

So far I have tried various brands of “natural” shampoo, conditioners, lotions, and cleansers, but I have yet to find one that is:

• inexpensive
• available near me
• delivers the desired results
• has a good rating on the Cosmetics Database

I have also tried other do-at-home treatments such as sugar scrubs, coconut oil as a moisturizer and conditioner, castile soap, avocado facials, olive oil, rubbing limes on my face…I’ve done just about everything but the no ‘poo method (where you just wash your hair with vinegar and baking soda!) and most of these haven’t turned out so well. I still use the sugar scrub occasionally but after getting some in my eye I was rather disenchanted with the process; the coconut oil works well for shaving but it clogs the drain and when I try it on my hair it makes my head look like a grease bomb; I still use castile soap to wash my hair but it while it does seem to clean, it seems to leave my hair horribly tangled.

A couple months ago I even went so far as to make a detailed chart comparing the products I previously used and those that I was using at the time. I can get pretty hardcore about this beauty product overhaul business! I did it more for fun than anything (yes, for fun. Don’t laugh) but while it may have been just a big waste of time, it does highlight how difficult it is to find the “perfect” cosmetic. In fact, after making the above chart, I ended up returning some of the products I had purchased because some of these so-called natural products procured  EWG ratings that were not all that different from their conventional counterparts (yet cost a lot more)!  There is actually somewhat of debate within the natural cosmetics circle as to what qualifies as truly natural, certified organic, etc. As well as some companies that claim to be organic but still use harmful ingredients.

I think it is important—as always—to retain a balanced approach to this information. We shouldn’t get paranoid or obsessive about it, nor should we just shrug it off. As long as we do the best that we can and make an effort to not remain ignorant with the evidence available to us, sometimes I think that there is only so much that we can do. After all, there are far more important things in life than skincare or shampoo. Still, it is an interesting topic!

Do you use natural cosmetics? What do you think about the state of our beauty products? What tried and true methods are part of your routine? Any tips or brands to recommend?

Other resources:

• Check out this handy guide to shopping for safe cosmetics
• Learn some tips for DIY facials based on your skin type
• This website has some more info on the truth about beauty
• Avoid these 15 Toxic Ingredients in Personal Care Products

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“‘Not as man sees does God see, because man sees the appearance but the LORD looks into the heart’” (1 Samuel 16:7). ___________________________________________________________

I Heart Seaweed (and Chia Pudding, too!)

Yes, I realize how utterly cheesy that title sounds, but when ocean vegetation tastes this good, sounding sophisticated suddenly seems less important. Okay, I think that statement just makes me sound weirder…so let’s just move right along to the plant in focus…

Nori.
The other day I got some nori sheets and set to work making my own vegetable rolls (or California rolls, or whatever you call them). These were quite simple: just spread on a little mellow white miso, top with shaved carrots, julienned cucumber, yellow bell pepper, some baby greens, and a bit of avocado.

Spread, stack, roll, slice.

 

Seriously, they’re a wrap. (Could my humor get any lamer?)

They were pretty to look at and really tasty. I loved the “fishy” taste of the nori. Quite delicious, if you ask me! 

 
Other fun things I’ve made lately include veggie crudités with homemade hummus. Okay, that’s  not really that exciting, but the homemade hummus is kind of special, right? Speaking of dips, this past weekend I also made the raw ranch dressing (not pictured) from Jennifer Cornbleet’s Raw Food Made Easy for 1 or 2 People.

See that little dab of hummus there? (It’s sprinkled with paprika, by the way.)

One of my favorite things that I made recently, though, would have to be CHIA PUDDING. I’ve been wanting to try this for a while now, but just never really got around to it because I thought a) I needed a recipe and b) that it would take a long time. Well, I didn’t and it didn’t.

All I did was mix 3 T. of chia seeds (I’ll probably just do 2 T. next time—trust me, they really expand!) with some homemade almond milk, a squirt of agave nectar, and a bit of vanilla extract.

I then let it sit for a while (maybe 15-30 minutes?), stirring periodically until the seeds became less crunchy and more gelatinous, eventually forming this amazingly creamy, rich, tapioca-like pudding!!! I stirred in some cut up orange sections and sliced banana…and behold! It was fabulous. These pictures I took aren’t that great, but trust me it was good. : )

It would be so fun to experiment with different nut milks, flavorings, fruits, add-ins…you name it. Chia pudding is a clean canvas for your creativity. (Sometimes I even amaze myself with these incredible metaphors. Jk. Hehe. ; ))

Sorry this is all kind of recap…I had to make it quick because I have a math quiz to study for. Wish me luck!

 
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“Faith is to believe what you do not see; the reward of this faith is to see what you believe.”   ~ St. Augustine
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Life, Blogging, Balance…and an Award!

I’m sorry if I haven’t been commented very faithfully on other’s blogs recently. I don’t know where the time goes but I find it really difficult to keep up with my subscriptions. In the battle of Google Reader vs. Audrey, Google Reader is winning. Observe:

351 unread items. And counting. *Heavy panting*  Why do I feel like I’m treading water on this? As much as I wish I could comment on every blogger in the world’s every post…I can’t. You see, there is this thing called “real life”. For me, it is made up of classes, actual face-to-face communication, homework, outside activities, driving, eating, personal hygiene, exercise, cleaning, chores…the list goes on. And frankly, I have trouble balancing it all!

How do you balance blogging/life/everything? I would really love to get your thoughts on this, as I find it amazing how ‘active’ some bloggers are…yet they still seem able to maintain a life beyond the computer. How do they/you do it?! Getting up early? Staying up late? Share your secrets, tips, and advice…please!

‘Cause, yeah, I like blogging. It is a great outlet for me and I think it is fun! But there is this whole lifestyle built up around it—like the unwritten rule of blogging. It goes something like this: “In order to get readers you must comment on [insert infinity symbol here] blogs per day, you must promote, you must improve your blog, you must post amazing content on a regular basis, you must….” Etc.

Some people will argue that readers aren’t really important, and I can see where they’re coming from—blogging should be enjoyable and it should be for personal expression more than anything else. But—and I can only speak for myself here—one of the main reasons I blog is because of the primal instinct to connect with others. Especially those who may have similar interests, beliefs, and ideas. I want to be part of  a community of supporting and sharing in which we all learn and struggle and rejoice together.

That’s one of the reasons I’m not really satisfied with my recent flurry of recipe posts. The reason I’ve shared so many recipes lately is because they are quick, easy posts to write and I want to get something up when pressed for time. But while recipes are really swell, and I do love getting ideas from other blogger’s ‘concoctions’,  I don’t want this space to be just about food. Because food is just food. And as much as I love plinking around and experimenting in the kitchen, I don’t think it should be the focus of our lives. At least I don’t want it to be the focus of my life…or the complete focus of this blog. So will I stop sharing recipes? No! I love doing that. I just want to balance it out with other stuff. In other words, just bear with me as I find my bloggin’ groove.

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Coincidentally, as I ponder the meaning of life my blog, I was given “The Amazing Reader-Blogger Award.” Thanks to the very sweet, kind, witty—and always genuine—Aletheia for this lovely award! I am so flattered, especially considering I am not always a very faithful reader or blogger (as I mentioned above).

Isn’t it cute?

Okay, so as part of the award I now have to list 8 different ways that people can make my day. In no particular order, here are some that come to mind:

1. Leave me comments! : )
2. Send me an email
3. Give a heartfelt hug
4. Listen
5. Clean my room for me (hehe)
6. Compliment me on a new recipe/concoction
7. Turn on some fun music and sing-along
8. Be yourself

Thanks, Aletheia! That was fun (even if my list sounds rather lame). Oh, and please, if you haven’t already, check out her blog.

Now, it’s your turn! What makes your day? It can be how people can make your day (like above), or things you do to make your own day.
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Since yesterday marked the 37th anniversary of the passing of Roe v. Wade, keeping with the pro-life theme, here are some great quotes:

"It is a poverty that a "child must die", So that you may live as you wish... - Mother Teresa

"I’ve noticed that everyone who is for abortion is already born." - Ronald Reagan

"Abraham Lincoln recognized that we could not survive as a free land when some men could decide that others were not fit to be free and should therefore be slaves. Likewise, we cannot survive as a free nation when some men decide that others are not fit to live and should be abandoned to abortion or infanticide."
~ Ronald Reagan – Abortion and the Conscience of the Nation ~

“Many politicians, like much of the American public, seem to be unaware that abortion and euthanasia are serious violations of the inalienable right to life. These are not just 'Church' issues but are governed by the natural law of God, which is binding upon all human beings. The right to life is the most fundamental of all rights, since a person deprived of life has no other rights.”
~ Cardinal Avery Dulles, S.J.

“I swore never to be silent whenever and wherever human beings endure suffering and humiliation. We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented.” –Elie Wiesel

This really is the civil rights issue of our time. It is the slavery issue of our time. It is all of that, but worse. Because unlike those grave injustices, the horror of abortion never even affords the helpless human being the chance of defense. 52 million people never had a chance. Because someone took it away from them. Someone killed them. And it’s okay because it’s legal? I don’t think so. More importantly, GOD doesn’t think so.

Honestly, looking at this picture just makes me cry. Despite, gross media inaccuracies, the March this year WAS huge—just look at how far back that line goes! I wish I could’ve gone. I’m so proud of my three brothers that were able to go…and I hope to join them next year. We won’t go away until every child, every person, is guaranteed the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Because as Dr. Seuss says: “A person’s a person, no matter how small.”

Date-Nut Muffins

Guess what? I have another vegan baked good recipe today. Considering the recent content of my posts I doubt that’s surprising to anyone, but I have to admit, I’ve been enjoying this baking kick. I just love vegan-ifying recipes!

Prepare yourself for…

Date-Nut Muffins

Ingredients:

• egg replacer (I used ENER-G brand) equivalent to 1 egg
• 3/4 cup water or non-dairy milk (I didn’t have any nut milk on hand so I used water. I would recommend the milk, though.)
• 1/4 cup oil (any kind will work, but one suited for high-temperature cooking is preferable)
• 1 T. vanilla extract
• 1/3 cup sugar (sucanat, turbinado, regular brown, or other)
• 1¾ cup whole wheat flour
• 2 tsp. baking powder
• 2/3 cup chopped dates
• 1/3 cup roughly chopped nuts (I used walnuts, though another nut—such as pecans—would be heavenly.)

Directions:

1) Preheat oven to 400° F. In a mixing bowl combine egg replacer, water, oil, and vanilla. Add sugar and mix well.

2) Gradually add flour and baking soda to above mixture. Stir just until moistened (batter should be lumpy).

3) Carefully blend in dates and nuts. Mix until evenly incorporated into the batter but be careful not to over-mix.

4) Spoon batter into muffin cups fitted with paper liners. Fill each about 2/3 of the way full.

5) Bake in a 400° oven for about 20 minutes or until golden.

6) Remove from pans and serve warm.

                                                                                        Makes 10-12 muffins.

These were quite tasty, if I do dare say so myself. The dates got all melty and gooey and were positively delicious paired with the slightly-chewy crunch of the nuts. Variations include using maple syrup for the sugar, or just substituting the vanilla flavor for maple extract. Consider serving as an accompaniment to a steaming cup of tea. Just perfect for those chilly January afternoons!

In other news, I’m pretty excited because yesterday I got my braces off!!! Whoop-de-do! Prepare, world, to be blinded by my dazzling smile!

That’s all for now, peeps. Enjoy your Friday!

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"Sweeter even than to have had the joy of caring for children of my own has it been to me to help bring about a better state of things for mothers generally, so their unborn little ones could not be willed away from them." - Susan B. Anthony 1889 (there’s a pro-life feminist, for ya!)

For Catholics, today is a “day of penance for violations to the dignity of the human person committed through acts of abortion, and of prayer for the full restoration of the legal guarantee of the right to life.”  Regardless of your faith, please keep the “little ones” who never had a chance to live in your thoughts and prayers as you go about your daily tasks. One idea is waiting to make those scrumptious date-nut muffins until tomorrow!

Vegan Peanut Butter Cookies

Success! I finally made a vegan cookie that I think actually tastes pretty good! Plus, besides being vegan these cookies use no refined sugar and are whole grain.

After doing a little online recipe hunting and realizing I was always lacking some ingredient, I ditched that idea and just tweaked an old family recipe (actually called Grandma V___’s Peanut Butter Cookies) and came up with these:


Audrey’s Peanut Butter Cookies

Ingredients

Cream together:

• 1/4 cup refined (non-hydrogenated) coconut oil
• 1 cup sucanat
• 1/2 cup natural peanut butter (I used chunky)
• egg replacer equivalent to 1 egg (I used ENER-G brand)
• 2-3 T. vanilla extract (depending on how strong it is)
• 1/8 cup (2 T.) agave nectar

Sift (or stir) in:

• 1¼ cup whole grain spelt flour (measure carefully—spoon into cup and level off with knife)
• 2 tsp. baking soda
  

Form into 1-inch balls and place 2 inches apart on a cookie sheet. Flatten by crisscrossing with the tines of a fork.

Bake in a 375 (F) degree of for 8-10 minutes (be careful not to over-bake). Cool for 1 minute before removing from cookie sheet. Makes about 32 small cookies.

   

Of course I tried to balance everything out with… Blended GREEN soup. (I was eating this and my 12-year-old brother came up and said “No, no. I won’t even ask.” I guess he thinks it looks gross? Hehe.)  Mexican spaghetti, and
Veggies and dulse, among other things. Yum-my!

And, just because I like them, here are some more Narnia winter pictures. 

Does your family ever make fun of our act weirded out by what you’re eating? What’s the strangest reaction you’ve ever gotten? Do they like trying new things right along with you? What things have you made that they like?

My family is pretty much comprised of gung-ho meat-eaters (think hunters), so my decision to not eat meat, dairy, etc.  is seen as pretty radical and crazy in their eyes. But although they may give my plate strange looks or occasionally attempt to cajole me into eating some “beef”, for the most part they just accept the way I eat as “me”. I have to admit, though, some of their reactions can be quite funny sometimes: “You eat seaweed?!” And if I make something:  “What’s this have in it? Is it normal?” Or as my 10-year-old brother asked yesterday: “Did you put anything healthy like poppyseeds [I’m assuming he meant chia or flax seeds?] or kale in this?” It’s a muffin, Michael. Of course I didn’t put kale in it…but now that I think of it, that’s not a bad idea… Hehe. Sometimes it’s rather amusing to observe their reactions! (And, don’t tell anyone, but sometimes I secretly enjoy weirding them out a little!)

 
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"One touch of nature makes the whole world kin." –William Shakespeare
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Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Banana Ice Cream

(That title is a mouthful. Not quite as bad as my last post, though.)

Hello, peeps! I hope you’re all having a very nice, relaxing Sunday.

Last night I got this inspiration to try my hand at making mostly-raw vegan chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream (whew! that was a long title)! Okay, so here is how I did it. As a base I used Gena’s totally awesome banana soft serve recipe (love!). After whipping up that fluffy goodness in my food processor, I added:

  Cookie dough: I used a “cookie dough” that I had mixed up the day before. It was kind of an experimental run for me and I just threw in almonds, oats, dates, vanilla, and who-knows-what-else. You can use Angela’s recipe, Averie’s recipe, Katie’s recipe, or another raw cookie dough recipe. After you make your preferred dough, make little (pea-size or slightly larger) balls out of it to stir into your ice cream.

Chocolate chips: you can mix these into the dough or add them separately. For the chips, you can either use vegan chocolate chips (miniature or regular size), or use either Angela’s or Joanna’s version (scroll a bit), OR just combine agave nectar and cocoa or cacao or carob powder—plus a little coconut oil, if you wish—until you get a thick dough; then just roll into little balls. Wa-la!

You can add the mix-ins right away, but I would advise freezing the dough chunks (and if you made homemade chocolate chips, those too) first so that when you stir them into the ice cream it won’t get all gross looking. So first make your chips and dough and then, after they are frozen, make the ice cream and mix in the fun stuff. (If you do decide to add the dough and chips unfrozen just be very careful not to over-mix.)

It is very gooey when first made (like soft serve):
But if you allow it some time in the freezer it will harden quite nicely:

The verdict: The banana flavor is not neutral like regular ice cream is, so expect this to taste distinctively fruity. I think the cookie dough theme would go better with a coconut ice cream, maybe? I’ve never had that, though, so I can’t say for sure. My main problem was that it didn’t settle well in my tummy. As you can see, this is a food combining disaster and although I thought that I wasn’t really sensitive to bad combinations, recent experience has proved me wrong. It wasn’t debilitating by any stretch, but my stomach wasn’t very peaceful and happy after consuming this.

Over all, it wasn’t a phenomenal recipe, but it sure was a lot of fun to create! I think I prefer my banana soft serve either plain or with a fruity companion, like cherries (although I usually use maraschinos, as the real thing isn’t easy to find this time of year).

This post is kind of short/lame but I have to get some homework done, so I will leave you with some pictures of the beautiful scenery that greeted me during my walk today. I woke up this morning and everything—every visible blade of grass and every bit of dried foliage—was covered with that mystically sparkling frozen dew. Beautiful.

Oh yes, I was walking in a winter wonderland.

  These pictures really don’t do it justice. I love the beauty in the bleakness of winter. It is so calming and peaceful.  I never thought I was much of a winter girl, but I have to say that sometimes it can be a quite magical season.

What’s your favorite season? What simple things of beauty have surprised you today?

 
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“There is a privacy about it which no other season gives you.... In spring, summer and fall people sort of have an open season on each other; only in the winter, in the country, can you have longer, quiet stretches when you can savor belonging to yourself.”  ~Ruth Stout
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“Embracing an Eating Disorder?” Revisited & Mostly-Raw Mexican Spaghetti

A week ago I posted about  attitudes towards an eating disorder. If you missed that post, you can read it here. In response, I received some very thoughtful and interesting comments. One of them that stuck out to me was from fellow blogger Aletheia. In her wisdom she suggested this unique perspective in dealing with eating issues. It could really be applied to any hardship or struggle, however…

You may actually find it more helpful not to pray to remove your thorn - ie. that your circumstance would be "better" in an outward sense - but that the Lord would gain what He is after in you, even if He must keep the thorn on a bit longer... Tell the Lord in a very simple and honest way, as if He is your bestest and only real friend in the whole world: "Lord, I can't make it." And He will tell you that He already knows that. :) His whole purpose is to SHOW us that even our strongest efforts are really just weakness - He wants us to lean on Him as our beloved (like in Song of Songs). :)

So maybe we don’t so much need to embrace an ED (or whatever your issue is), as we need to learn and grow from the experience that God has obviously given us for a reason. What could be possibly be teaching us through this?
 
I know for me, personally, that suffering an eating disorder has challenged everything that I thought I was. Going through something like this has forced me to stop relying on myself and instead turn to God for everything. I literally feel so helpless and so small at times, and for a control freak like me those are not easy emotions to deal with. But perhaps he is preparing me for something greater, maybe this is just the next step in something truly big that he is going to do in my life.

Looking back, it is interesting to observe how much I have changed through this process of growth…and how it has, in a way, forged my passions and what I want to do with my life. I want to help others, I want to share my talents and promote the truth. Without my eating disorder would I still feel as firmly about those things?
 
I think it is nearly impossible for anyone to go through something like an eating disorder and not emerge with a strong desire to help others. Maybe that is what he wanted of me all along? And maybe, for that, I should be grateful to my eating disorder. After all, it is part of what has made me what I am today.

Yet at a certain point of recovery, I think we need to let that identity go and instead embrace the person we have become—ready to take what we’ve learned and pursue life with all our energy.
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Mexican Spaghetti

Last night I made a really yummy dish. In fact it was so tasty that I recreated it today for lunch. The basic idea was a mostly-raw version of the classic black beans and rice. I took a little interpretive license, however, and it ended up more like Mexican spaghetti (this Italian/Mexican--Mexitaly?-- theme reminds me of Shannonmarie’s spaghetti tacos). Whatever it was, it was surprisingly good. I say “surprisingly” because as someone who is really new to raw foods, it still amazes me when I come  across a dish that is both satisfying and raw. You raw veterans probably think I’m crazy for thinking otherwise, but like I said, I’m just learning and sometimes my experiments don’t always turn out quite right. : )

Anyway, here is the basic recipe: I made some zucchini “pasta” using a julienne tool (I don’t have a fancy spiralizer yet) and topped it with a sauce I made in the food processor out of some red bell pepper, a handful or so of cherry tomatoes, and a carrot (this recipe was roughly based on Aletheia’s gazpacho). On top of that I put cooked black beans (not raw; I used canned ones that were very well rinsed), some frozen corn that I rinsed to thaw (I don’t think this is technically raw, either. Fresh corn would be delish!) and a 1/2 of an avocado which I cut up (not pictured). Now, for the secret ingredient: cumin. Lots of cumin. This is what really makes the dish taste Mexican and it adds a lovely flavor! You could also sprinkle on some cilantro (fresh or dried) and perhaps a little fresh ground black pepper, as I did today. Also try squeezing a bit of lime or lemon juice over everything, or mix it into the sauce. Yum!

I think it would be fun to tweak this recipe and make the sauce more like a salsa. Perhaps one could even experiment with sprouted beans instead of the cooked, too (I don’t know).

I would still like to make a dish more similar to the black beans and rice I grew up with. Our version was usually beans served on a bed of rice (I could make cauliflower “rice”) and garnished with cheese  (use shredded carrots or freeze nut cheese and then shred), salsa (make a fresh version), and sour cream (a cashew cream, maybe?). I may have to experiment with that recipe a bit more… Let me know if any of you decide come up with anything or have any suggestions!

Today I got my hair cut…well, actually I got them all cut…but that is a lame joke so we’re just going to move right on….

    Before: (my hair was wet here)
 
                                    After:
  Please try to ignore my acne. : / Hehe.  As you can see, nothing earth-shattering; just a trim and some minor layering. It’s pretty boring but I don’t feel like going back to bangs just yet. The good part is no more shaggy, nasty ends. I didn’t realize how bad that looked (well, it’s kind of hard to really compare because my hair is wet in the “befores”.) Oh, and I’m not doing any kind of interpretive dance in the second of each set of pics—I just have my hand up to hold the camera up. : )

Be sure to check back tomorrow for a decadent mostly-raw take on an old favorite!

 
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“Suffering is but another name for the teaching of experience, which is the parent of instruction and the schoolmaster of life.” ~Horace
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P.S. Katie is hosting a Vitamix giveaway. Check it out!