Merry Christmas!

Wishing each one of you a very merry Christmas today! May the peace and joy of the Lord Jesus reign in your hearts today.

I have found from experience that holidays can bring sad times rather then the fun, joy-filled times we like to envision. I've found that so often that my expectations aren't met. When I was a child, the gifts I received never quite met my desires, or gave me the fulfillment I thought they ought to. As I grew older, the materialism and focus on gifts, trees, lights, and big parties saddened my spirit when I saw that the reason for it all was forgotten or covered up in tinsel. These days it seems lonely as our families are either too far away to celebrate with, or busy. Every year without fail the things of earth fail to satisfy as I think they should, and disappointment results.

And, this year. At a time when I "should" be pulling out maternity dresses and getting over morning sickness, I'm still recovering from surgery. I missed doing the traditional baking that I've always managed to squeeze in before. Cold air leaks in all sorts of cracks and crannies. There are piles of working screaming for attention. Living in the basement has gotten old really fast. Memories are bathed in tears. The sixth member of our family is missing. Life isn't what it's "supposed" to be!

But there is a deep contentment that surpasses all the discomforts. Not that my heart doesn't ache. Not that tears don't fall, and I lay awake sometimes at night tossing and turning. But there is an undercurrent of peace. Surely, this peace passes all understanding! When it feels like it's all going wrong, where does this peace come from? I wonder that myself sometimes! And then I remember that Jesus came to "comfort all that mourn" (Isaiah 61:2) and His cry is "Comfort ye, comfort ye my people!" (Isaiah 40:1). What a wonderful Savior! He cares so deeply about this ache in our hearts. And He gives peace and comfort even when it seems impossible to have those feelings.

Look to Jesus, those of you who are heavy hearted today. He will carry you through in abundance of peace if you just look to Him. May He put His arms around you, and give you hope.

The aftermath

Having an emergency surgery is scary. And it's not easy to recover when you've lost a good half of your blood volume. Trying to recuperate with three small children, remodeling and moving all at the same time is daunting. But losing a baby in the middle of it all... that is the hardest of all.

We named our baby. We felt like he was a boy, and so he is not an "it". He was a person, real, living, ours... even though we never met him. His name is Treasure. Gone to be with Jesus November 4, 2013. And our hearts ache. Well, more than ache. They are pierced. And I've discovered that the ones who have been through it before can really understand. They know the feeling of a sword in the soul. They know about the tears that come out of nowhere and flood that stinging wound. And they, too, have found the mercy of God bringing sweet balm in the night when the tears won't stop. Now, I know it too.

I remember one night especially. I was laying in my easy chair, looking out into the vast expanse of the dark heavens. Because of residual pain from surgery, I hadn't really been able to let myself cry yet. But the tears started flowing. The emotional pain radiated more excruciating than the physical pain had earlier. I looked at the twinkling stars, and thought of my God. He was big enough to make all that, ALL that amazing expanse, with a word or two. Surely, a God that big could have intervened, could have put Treasure where he belonged, could have stopped this tragedy before it started. But, He didn't. He chose to allow us to walk the path of loss, pain, and anguish. He chose to take Treasure before our precious baby had to discover pain and heartache and sin. He chose to allow Treasure the joys of heaven without the tears of earth. He set our son free. Could I want to bring him back from that, even while my soul yearned against the bonds holding me to earth? I couldn't even question why. I just had a peace flood over me that yes, there was a reason, even though I can't see it now. God was in control, and in His love for Treasure AND for us, He chose to give us the gift of grief.

Knowing I had come so close to joining Treasure in heaven was a little startling for us all, I believe. But, even though I had thought of it as I was being prepped for surgery, I found I was not afraid. I had no apologies to make. Lots to regret, but nothing that hadn't been forgiven. And when it was evident I was going to make it, I found my heart saying with Paul in Philippians "Having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better." Yet too, the heart-groan when you realize that you work on earth is not done! "Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you (meaning, for me, my young family)."

Physically, recovery has been long and hard. After losing so much blood I have been very, very weak. Now it's been more than 6 weeks, and I have gained a little strength back but not a whole lot of stamina. Washing the laundry takes all the strength I have for one day. If I tackle too much, I end up having to rest the entire next day, or two, or three. I have been taking iron tablets to attempt to build my blood up. But my strength is so limited that the Trim Healthy Mama lifestyle has kind of fallen by the wayside. Along with a lot of other things. We have been grateful for much help from church friends and family, bringing meals, helping us move, and helping out with things like laundry and cleaning. I've been told it will probably take around 3 months for me to regain my stamina, so it still seems like a long journey ahead of me.

And the memory of Treasure will remain even after my strength is back and we look like, from the outside, like we always did. But our hearts have been broken, and I trust that God will bring a fragrance from this heart rending that will bring Him honor and glory, and allow us to be a greater blessing to those whom we might chance to meet.

Ectopic pregnancy

Ectopic (tubal) pregnancies are not all that common, so some may not even know what they are. Others have heard of them, stored the info learned for the future, and went on with life. And others have become experts in them, by the devastating circumstances of having one. And, November 4, I discovered I belonged to this latter category.

And ectopic pregnancy is when a newly conceived baby implants somewhere other than where he belongs, the waiting womb. Most often the spot chosen is in a fallopian tube (thus the common term "tubal pregnancy"), or possibly the ovary or in the abdominal cavity at large. Sometimes it is caught early enough that medication can be used to cause the tube to release the baby, but sometimes there is no sign until the tube ruptures from the pressure of the growing baby. If the tube does rupture, the resulting blood loss can be life threatening. In either case, there is no way to save the baby.

My experience began Monday morning, as I was preparing some things for school. We had known we were pregnant for just more than two weeks, and we were very excited about adding another member to the family. I hadn't been feeling very good already, and was, to be quite honest, dreading the morning sickness coupled with remodeling and taking care of my family. But still, looking forward to July 1 and snuggling a newborn again in my arms. There were several things I found strange about this one. Though I was really hoping for another girl, I felt strongly that it was a boy. And, I found myself wondering if/when I would find myself mourning a miscarriage, as a number of friends had recently been bereaved that way. Almost as if I was being prepared....

I was sitting quietly in the office chair sorting some papers when the pain came. Low in my abdomen, it came in quickly increasing waves. I carefully analyzed it, and decided it must be a bowel issue. Though I had just used the bathroom and hadn't noticed anything unusual. Done with my school prep, I decided to ignore it and head back over to the school room. But I couldn't. It was too intense. I made my way to the bathroom, then to bed. No symptoms but the pain. Feeling a little foolish about being so wimpy about a bowel issue, I called my husband and asked him to come inside and check on me. Thankfully, he was home that day, working on our new house. By the time he came in I could hardly talk. More than just in great pain, I was feeling miserable. Cold, then hot. Sweaty. Sick. The pain was like a bad contraction that wouldn't let up. I finally managed to use the bathroom again, and noticed an extreme pain around the rectal area. (Sorry if too graphic, but I'm hoping that this information might save a life someday.) The pain did subside a little then, though I hadn't noticed any other bowel symptoms, and my husband went back to his project. He had called the clinic, and our doctor was busy with an emergency and wouldn't be able to see us until later. We didn't feel it merited going to the ER, though as EMT's we both should have seen I was at that point in shock. We chalked my shock symptoms up to the pain, and I laid in bed feeling bad that I wasn't getting school done.

I was actually feeling quite a bit better when we got in the van headed for the clinic. But it went downhill quickly from there. I felt faint while checking in, and had to sit down. I was called in promptly, and the nurse couldn't find a blood pressure. She helped me lie down, and ran for the doctor. They transported me via our own ambulance to the ER, where an ultrasound confirmed what I'd refused to consider--the baby was in the tube and it had ruptured. By that time I couldn't lay flat on my back or the pain would radiate up into my chest so intensely I couldn't breathe--a classic symptoms of blood free floating in the abdomen (and, they told me later, so was the localized rectal pain...).

In surgery they removed the "blown apart" tube, and 2 1/2 liters of blood. The average adult body has 4-5 liters of blood, total. The surgeon later told me she would have given me another hour before my heart would have run out of blood to pump, and I would have died. I NEVER passed any blood until several days after the surgery--one symptom that threw us off, as many ectopic pregnancies first show by spotting. 

So please, pass this information on... Shock symptoms are cold, clammy, pale skin, often accompanied by low blood pressure (mine had been low-normal until we got to the clinic and I'd been standing for too long) and feelings of faintness and/or an inability to think clearly. Abdominal pain is not to be ignored, especially if it is localized around the rectum and/or radiates into a shoulder. My body evidently compensates quite amazingly for blood loss, as I never fainted or had a time when I couldn't think clearly. Which is a good thing, if I'm ever in an emergency where I need to do something (like get out of a burning vehicle) while losing blood. But not such a good thing if we don't realize how badly I really am bleeding.

Every person's body is different. Every ectopic pregnancy is different. But do keep it in mind for yourself or a loved one, that shock symptoms, even if they don't always make sense, aren't to be fooled around with. Get to the hospital. Even if it seems like just a normal day. Emergencies happen. Don't take it lightly.

Back again!

Yes, it's October, and I promised I'd be back! Still with an awful lot going on. We've spent the summer remodeling the house we had moved on to our property, and still have loads of work to do on it yet. We have at least now moved into the school room (we homeschool) and the kitchen, so there is progress happening.

And I'll admit, the busyness this summer had me cutting corners on our health. Frozen pizza, hamburgers, and hot dogs were rotated through the menu as the weeds in the garden grew taller than I am. Sigh. And I was gaining more weight again, and feeling miserable that I wasn't at least doing what I knew I ought to be doing. Then I had a consultation with my healthcare provider, and she nicely informed me that I was heading right into pre-diabetic status, or I possibly had PCOS (poly cystic ovarian syndrome) and I needed to change my diet if I was ever to avoid future health issues. Not what anyone wants to hear, but the shove I needed to DO what I already knew to do. One thing she mentioned was to cut back on carbs. Despite knowing how bad sugar is for us, I was addicted to it. Plus, we had bread, pasta, potatoes, or some such at pretty much every meal--and breakfast was fast falling into the store bought cold cereal habit. Sigh. So I was looking at completely revamping my diet while in the middle of everything else. And I knew I couldn't handle it without help. So I took the plunge and bought the book "Trim Healthy Mama". I had heard a lot about it that intrigued me, including testimonies of restored health, and recipes that were low carb... and yummy too! I wasn't disappointed. I don't have time to go into the program here, but I'm finding it do-able even amidst everything else, and best of all, I can eat chocolate without guilt!! My own homemade chocolate products, but oh so yummy and healthy too. So, since my visit with my friend and consultant about two months ago (just a little more than half that is when I've been a "Trim Healthy Mama" tester) I've lost 15 pounds and feel SO much better. While I don't have oodles of energy yet, I have enough to get through the day with a decent amount of things done. I'm not starving all the time. I don't usually get shaky if my meals are delayed anymore. I just FEEL better. And the very best part, is I KNOW I am actually eating what my body needs, and I'm packing in the nutrition. I don't have to feel guilty all the time for knowingly eating stuff that is tearing my body down. And that's exciting. Especially when it's as easy, and yummy, as this!

Apology

I'm sorry I've been so negligent with updating this blog! I know it's no fun to check out a blog and then find they STILL haven't added anything.

In June we had an old farmhouse moved on to our property, and we have since spend about every spare minute possible on remodeling it so we can move in. It's a very exciting process, but it's also taking up all our time and energy right now, and will continue to do for a couple more months yet. So, check back in October, and hopefully I'll have more news for you again!

Home-made, whole wheat bread that's GOOD!

I don't know how you feel about home made, whole wheat bread. Oh, it smells so good while it's baking! And nothing beats a piece fresh out of the oven with a thick layer of butter on top. Of course, it's better for you, without all the additives found in store-bought bread. And you know it's 100% whole wheat. So, what's the hang up?

Well, for me, the hang up was, once the bread cooled, and especially once it was a day old or so, it was coarse, dry, and crumbly, hard to make into sandwiches without making a mess and needing to cut thick slices just so the bread would have a semblance of holding together. It had to be at least 1/2 white flour to combat that, and preferably more. Plus, it took time to make. As a mom with young children, I don't have any extra time just waiting to be used!

But recently I've found both a recipe and method to combat both problems. The method is to use a bread machine. At some thrift stores you can find them for relatively cheap. I'm on my third machine now. The first one, an Oster, simply quit, and the second was making a racket and the thermostat seemed to be giving out. The machine I have now (Regal Kitchen Pro) does a 2 pound loaf, which is bigger than either of my others, and I really like that. A 2 pound loaf is actually enough to split in half and make two decent size, regular loaves. I used to just let the machine do everything for me. What could be simpler? Pour in the ingredients, and out comes a hot loaf a few hours later! I still do that when I'm in a pinch for time. But the loaf pans are rather an awkward shape, and my husband didn't like it too well. So for now I simply add the ingredients, and put the machine on the dough setting. It takes about 5 minutes, including grinding my own flour in my Vitamix! Two hours later, the dough is ready. I divide it in half, and put it into two loaf pans. After letting it rise for 30-45 minutes (depending on how warm the spot is where I leave them!) I pop it in the oven till I can smell that it's done. I know, I should use a timer, but my nose hasn't let me down yet--and children like to fool with timers! Part of the reason this is such a time-saver is because it really cuts down on the dirty dishes/counter you get when making it by hand. You wash the bread machine pan (which usually ends up quite clean by the time the cycle is done anyway) and the loaf pans if you go that route. Done. No messy, sticky flour on the counter or batter on the whisk or sticky dough on the mixing bowl.

So, now for the recipe. It really is the BEST recipe for 100% whole wheat bread. It has never once failed, except the time I forgot about it and it sat in the machine for hours rising, then when my husband reminded me of it we were already in bed, so I jumped up and stuck it in the fridge overnight--and didn't get around to making it until the next evening. It had gotten tired of rising and tasted a little tart. My fault, not the recipe's! Anyway, it is a soft and flexible bread even a couple of days later, and we can easily cut fairly thin slices without it going to pieces on us. I use my Vitamix dry container to grind the flour on the spot as a general rule, but have used whole wheat flour from the store and it works fine. So, are you ready? Here it is!

1 1/2 cups water
2 Tablespoons soft butter
1/4 cup molasses
1 3/4 teaspoon salt
4 teaspoons vital wheat gluten
4 cups flour
1 3/4 teaspoon active/bread machine yeast
Put ingredients in machine in order listed, or mix by hand if you don't have a machine as you would any other bread recipe.

A couple words of warning. If you use freshly ground flour I found it tends to be wetter than store-bought. Users of store bought whole wheat flour, you may need to add a Tablespoon or two of water more so that the dough is moist enough. Also, I only use hard white spring wheat. It's sometimes hard to find it in a flour already, but it is just the best for bread. Hard red wheat, the "normal" whole wheat variety, is courser and makes a courser bread. For any other Vitamix owners out there, 1 1/2 cups of wheat berries will grind into about exactly 2 cups of flour. I rarely measure my flour any more, just grind up two batches of 1 1/2 cups of berries and dump it right in. Plus, in that amount the machine seems to do a better job than when I max it out with the full 2 cups berries it can handle.

So, enjoy your bread! And please, if you try it out, leave me a comment so I know how it turned out. I'm curious if others will have the same success I do.

"146 Reason Why Sugar Is Ruining Your Health"

Here is an article I found highly interesting and informative. I also wanted to ad a quote from another book, "What's Eating Your Child" by Kelly Dorfman. "Sugar, in particular, has been proven to be as addicting as heroin to some people (and certainly in rats)." Hmmm. I refuse to drink alcohol or coffee, and use tobacco, because they are addictive and unhealthy for my body. But sugar? It's so available, so easy, very socially acceptable (ever try to refuse dessert when visiting someone else?), and SO yummy! But then, as the Lord's servant, can I continue to eat something that is impairing my health, and thus not allowing me to be useful to my full potential? Something to think on...

 

146 Reasons Why Sugar Is Ruining Your Health

By Nancy Appleton, Ph.D.
www.nancyappleton.com

Author of LICK THE SUGAR HABIT and LICK THE SUGAR HABIT SUGAR COUNTER.

1. Sugar can suppress the immune system.
2. Sugar upsets the mineral relationships in the body.
3. Sugar can cause hyperactivity, anxiety, difficulty concentrating, and
crankiness in children.
4. Sugar can produce a significant rise in triglycerides.
5. Sugar contributes to the reduction in defense against bacterial
infection (infectious diseases).
6. Sugar causes a loss of tissue elasticity and function, the more sugar
you eat the more elasticity and function you loose.
7. Sugar reduces high density lipoproteins.
8. Sugar leads to chromium deficiency.
9. Sugar leads to cancer of the ovaries.
10. Sugar can increase fasting levels of glucose.
11. Sugar causes copper deficiency.
12. Sugar interferes with absorption of calcium and magnesium.
13. Sugar can weaken eyesight.
14. Sugar raises the level of a neurotransmitters: dopamine, serotonin, and
norepinephrine.
15. Sugar can cause hypoglycemia.
16. Sugar can produce an acidic digestive tract.
17. Sugar can cause a rapid rise of adrenaline levels in children.
18. Sugar malabsorption is frequent in patients with functional bowel
disease.
19. Sugar can cause premature aging.
20. Sugar can lead to alcoholism.
21. Sugar can cause tooth decay.
22. Sugar contributes to obesity
23. High intake of sugar increases the risk of Crohn's disease, and
ulcerative colitis.
24. Sugar can cause changes frequently found in person with gastric or
duodenal ulcers.
25. Sugar can cause arthritis.
26. Sugar can cause asthma.
27. Sugar greatly assists the uncontrolled growth of Candida Albicans
(yeast infections).
28. Sugar can cause gallstones.
29. Sugar can cause heart disease.
30. Sugar can cause appendicitis.
31. Sugar can cause multiple sclerosis.
32. Sugar can cause hemorrhoids.
33. Sugar can cause varicose veins.
34. Sugar can elevate glucose and insulin responses in oral contraceptive
users.
35. Sugar can lead to periodontal disease.
36. Sugar can contribute to osteoporosis.
37. Sugar contributes to saliva acidity.
38. Sugar can cause a decrease in insulin sensitivity.
39. Sugar can lower the amount of Vitamin E (alpha-Tocopherol in the blood.
40. Sugar can decrease growth hormone.
41. Sugar can increase cholesterol.
42. Sugar can increase the systolic blood pressure.
43. Sugar can cause drowsiness and decreased activity in children.
44. High sugar intake increases advanced glycation end products.
(AGEs)(Sugar bound non-enzymatically to protein)
45. Sugar can interfere with the absorption of protein.
46. Sugar causes food allergies.
47. Sugar can contribute to diabetes.
48. Sugar can cause toxemia during pregnancy.
49. Sugar can contribute to eczema in children.
50. Sugar can cause cardiovascular disease.
51. Sugar can impair the structure of DNA
52. Sugar can change the structure of protein.
53. Sugar can make our skin age by changing the structure of collagen.
54. Sugar can cause cataracts.
55. Sugar can cause emphysema.
56. Sugar can cause atherosclerosis.
57. Sugar can promote an elevation of low density lipoproteins (LDL).
58. High sugar intake can impair the physiological homeostasis of many
systems in the body.
59. Sugar lowers the enzymes ability to function.
60. Sugar intake is higher in people with Parkinson’s disease.
61. Sugar can cause a permanent altering the way the proteins act in the
body.
62. Sugar can increase the size of the liver by making the liver cells
divide.
63. Sugar can increase the amount of liver fat.
64. Sugar can increase kidney size and produce pathological changes in the
kidney.
65. Sugar can damage the pancreas.
66. Sugar can increase the body's fluid retention.
67. Sugar is enemy #1 of the bowel movement.
68. Sugar can cause myopia (nearsightedness).
69. Sugar can compromise the lining of the capillaries.
70. Sugar can make the tendons more brittle.
71. Sugar can cause headaches, including migraine.
72. Sugar plays a role in pancreatic cancer in women.
73. Sugar can adversely affect school children's grades and cause learning
disorders..
74. Sugar can cause an increase in delta, alpha, and theta brain waves.
75. Sugar can cause depression.
76. Sugar increases the risk of gastric cancer.
77. Sugar and cause dyspepsia (indigestion).
78. Sugar can increase your risk of getting gout.
79. Sugar can increase the levels of glucose in an oral glucose tolerance
test over the ingestion of complex carbohydrates.
80. Sugar can increase the insulin responses in humans consuming high-sugar
diets compared to low sugar diets.
81 A high refined sugar diet reduces learning capacity.
82. Sugar can cause less effective functioning of two blood proteins,
albumin, and lipoproteins, which may reduce the body’s ability to handle
fat and cholesterol.
83. Sugar can contribute to Alzheimer’s disease.
84. Sugar can cause platelet adhesiveness.
85. Sugar can cause hormonal imbalance; some hormones become underactive
and others become overactive.
86. Sugar can lead to the formation of kidney stones.
87. Sugar can lead to the hypothalamus to become highly sensitive to a
large variety of stimuli.
88. Sugar can lead to dizziness.
89. Diets high in sugar can cause free radicals and oxidative stress.
90. High sucrose diets of subjects with peripheral vascular disease
significantly increases platelet adhesion.
91. High sugar diet can lead to biliary tract cancer.
92. Sugar feeds cancer.
93. High sugar consumption of pregnant adolescents is associated with a
twofold increased risk for delivering a small-for-gestational-age (SGA)
infant.
94. High sugar consumption can lead to substantial decrease in gestation
duration among adolescents.
95. Sugar slows food's travel time through the gastrointestinal tract.
96. Sugar increases the concentration of bile acids in stools and bacterial
enzymes in the colon. This can modify bile to produce cancer-causing
compounds and colon cancer.
97. Sugar increases estradiol (the most potent form of naturally occurring
estrogen) in men.
98. Sugar combines and destroys phosphatase, an enzyme, which makes the
process of digestion more difficult.
99. Sugar can be a risk factor of gallbladder cancer.
100. Sugar is an addictive substance.
101. Sugar can be intoxicating, similar to alcohol.
102. Sugar can exacerbate PMS.
103. Sugar given to premature babies can affect the amount of carbon
dioxide they produce.
104. Decrease in sugar intake can increase emotional
stability.
105. The body changes sugar into 2 to 5 times more fat in the bloodstream
than it does starch.
106. The rapid absorption of sugar promotes excessive food intake in obese
subjects.
107. Sugar can worsen the symptoms of children with attention deficit
hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
108. Sugar adversely affects urinary electrolyte composition.
109. Sugar can slow down the ability of the adrenal glands to function.
110. Sugar has the potential of inducing abnormal metabolic processes in a
normal healthy individual and to promote chronic degenerative diseases.
111.. I.Vs (intravenous feedings) of sugar water can cut off oxygen to the
brain.
112. High sucrose intake could be an important risk factor in lung cancer.
113. Sugar increases the risk of polio.
114. High sugar intake can cause epileptic seizures.
115. Sugar causes high blood pressure in obese people.
116. In Intensive Care Units, limiting sugar saves lives.
117. Sugar may induce cell death.
118. Sugar can increase the amount of food that you eat.
119. In juvenile rehabilitation camps, when children were put on a low
sugar diet, there was a 44% drop in antisocial behavior.
120. Sugar can lead to prostrate cancer.
121. Sugar dehydrates newborns.
122. Sugar increases the estradiol in young men.
123. Sugar can cause low birth weight babies.
124. Greater consumption of refined sugar is associated with a worse
outcome of schizophrenia
125. Sugar can raise homocysteine levels in the blood stream.
126. Sweet food items increase the risk of breast cancer.
127. Sugar is a risk factor in cancer of the small intestine.
128. Sugar may cause laryngeal cancer.
129. Sugar induces salt and water retention.
130. Sugar may contribute to mild memory loss.
131. As sugar increases in the diet of 10 years olds, there is a linear
decrease in the intake of many essential nutrients.
132. Sugar can increase the total amount of food consumed.
133. Exposing a newborn to sugar results in a heightened preference for
sucrose relative to water at 6 months and 2 years of age.
134. Sugar causes constipation.
135. Sugar causes varicose veins.
136. Sugar can cause brain decay in pre-diabetic and diabetic women.
137. Sugar can increase the risk of stomach cancer.
138. Sugar can cause metabolic syndrome.
139. Sugar ingestion by pregnant women increases neural tube defects in
embryos.
140. Sugar can be a factor in asthma.
141. The higher the sugar consumption the more chances of getting irritable
bowel syndrome.
142. Sugar could affect central reward systems.
143. Sugar can cause cancer of the rectum.
144. Sugar can cause endometrial cancer.
145. Sugar can cause renal (kidney) cell carcinoma.
146. Sugar can cause liver tumors.

1. Sanchez, A., et al. "Role of Sugars in Human Neutrophilic
Phagocytosis," American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Nov
1973;261:1180-1184.
Bernstein, J., et al. "Depression of Lymphocyte Transformation
Following Oral Glucose Ingestion." American Journal of Clinical
Nutrition.1997;30:613.
2. Couzy, F., et al."Nutritional Implications of the Interaction Minerals,"
Progressive Food and Nutrition Science 17;1933:65-87.
3. Goldman, J., et al. "Behavioral Effects of Sucrose on Preschool
Children." Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology.1986;14(4):565-577.
4. Scanto, S. and Yudkin, J. "The Effect of Dietary Sucrose on Blood
Lipids, Serum Insulin, Platelet Adhesiveness and Body Weight in Human
Volunteers," Postgraduate Medicine Journal. 1969;45:602-607.
5. Ringsdorf, W., Cheraskin, E. and Ramsay R. "Sucrose,Neutrophilic
Phagocytosis and Resistance to Disease," Dental Survey. 1976;52(12):46-48.
6. Cerami, A., Vlassara, H., and Brownlee, M."Glucose and Aging."
Scientific American. May 1987:90.
Lee, A. T. and Cerami, A. "The Role of Glycation in Aging." Annals of
the New York Academy of Science. 663:63-67.
7. Albrink, M. and Ullrich I. H. "Interaction of Dietary Sucrose and Fiber
on Serum Lipids in Healthy Young Men Fed High Carbohydrate Diets." American
Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 1986;43:419-428.
Pamplona, R., et al. “Mechanisms of Glycation in Atherogenesis.”
Medical Hypotheses. Mar 1993;40(3):174-81.
8. Kozlovsky, A., et al. "Effects of Diets High in Simple Sugars on
Urinary Chromium Losses." Metabolism. June 1986;35:515-518.
9. Takahashi, E., Tohoku University School of Medicine, Wholistic Health
Digest. October 1982:41.
10. Kelsay, J., et al. "Diets High in Glucose or Sucrose and Young Women."
American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 1974;27:926-936.
Thomas, B. J., et al. “Relation of Habitual Diet to Fasting Plasma
Insulin Concentration and the Insulin Response to Oral Glucose,” Human
Nutrition Clinical Nutrition. 1983; 36C(1):49_51.
11. Fields, M.., et al. "Effect of Copper Deficiency on Metabolism and
Mortality in Rats Fed Sucrose or Starch Diets," Journal of Clinical
Nutrition. 1983;113:1335-1345.
12. Lemann, J. "Evidence that Glucose Ingestion Inhibits Net Renal Tubular
Reabsorption of Calcium and Magnesium." Journal Of Clinical Nutrition. 1976
;70:236-245.
13. Acta Ophthalmologica Scandinavica. Mar 2002;48;25.
Taub, H. Ed. "Sugar Weakens Eyesight," VM NEWSLETTER;May 1986:6
14. "Sugar, White Flour Withdrawal Produces Chemical Response." The
Addiction Letter .Jul 1992:4.
15. Dufty, William. Sugar Blues. (New York:Warner Books, 1975).
16. Ibid.
17. Jones, T. W., et al. “Enhanced Adrenomedullary Response and Increased
Susceptibility to Neuroglygopenia: Mechanisms Underlying the Adverse Effect
of Sugar Ingestion in Children.” Journal of Pediatrics. Feb 1995;126:171-7.
18. Ibid.
19. Lee, A. T.and Cerami A. "The Role of Glycation in Aging." Annals of the
New York Academy of Science.1992;663:63-70.
20. Abrahamson, E. and Peget, A.. Body, Mind and Sugar. (New
York:Avon,1977.}
21. Glinsmann, W., Irausquin, H., and Youngmee, K. “Evaluation of Health
Aspects of Sugar Contained in Carbohydrate Sweeteners. F. D. A. Report of
Sugars Task Force.” 1986:39.
Makinen K.K.,et al. “A Descriptive Report of the Effects of a 16_month
Xylitol Chewing_Gum Programme Subsequent to a 40_Month Sucrose Gum
Programme.” Caries Research. 1998; 32(2)107-12.
Riva Touger-Decker and Cor van Loveren, “Sugars and Dental Caries.”

Am. J. Clin.Nut. Oct 2003; 78:881-892.
22. Keen, H., et al. "Nutrient Intake, Adiposity, and Diabetes." British
Medical Journal. 1989; 1: 655-658.
23. Tragnone, A. et al. “Dietary Habits as Risk Factors for Inflammatory
Bowel Disease.” Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol. Jan 1995;7(1):47-51.
24. Yudkin, J. Sweet and Dangerous.. (New York;Bantam Books:1974), 129.
25. Darlington, L., Ramsey, N. W. and Mansfield, J. R. "Placebo_Controlled,
Blind Study of Dietary Manipulation Therapy in Rheumatoid Arthritis,"
Lancet. Feb 1986;8475(1):236-238.
26. Powers, L. "Sensitivity: You React to What You Eat." Los Angeles Times.
Feb. 12, 1985.
Cheng, J., et al. “Preliminary Clinical Study on the Correlation Between
Allergic Rhinitis and Food Factors.” Lin Chuang Er Bi Yan Hou Ke Za Zhi Aug
2002;16(8):393-396.
27. Crook, W. J. The Yeast Connection. (TN:Professional Books, 1984)..
28. Heaton, K. "The Sweet Road to Gallstones." British Medical Journal. Apr
14, 1984; 288:1103-1104.
Misciagna, G., et al. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
1999;69:120-126.
29. Yudkin, J. "Sugar Consumption and Myocardial Infarction." Lancet..Feb
6, 1971;1(7693):296-297.
Reiser, S. "Effects of Dietary Sugars on Metabolic Risk Factors Associated
with Heart Disease." Nutritional Health. 1985;203-216.
30. Cleave, T. The Saccharine Disease. (New Canaan, CT: Keats Publishing,
1974).
31. Erlander, S. "The Cause and Cure of Multiple Sclerosis, The Disease to
End Disease. Mar 3, 1979;1(3):59-63.
32. Cleave, T. The Saccharine Disease. (New Canaan, CT: Keats Publishing,
1974.)
33. Cleave, T. and Campbell, G. Diabetes, Coronary Thrombosis and the
Saccharine Disease: (Bristol, England, John Wrightand Sons, 1960).
34. Behall, K. "Influence of Estrogen Content of Oral Contraceptives and
Consumption of Sucrose on Blood Parameters." Disease Abstracts
International. 1982;431-437.
35. Glinsmann, W., Irausquin, H., and K. Youngmee. Evaluation of Health
Aspects of Sugar Contained in Carbohydrate Sweeteners. F. D. A. Report of
Sugars Task Force.1986;39:36_38.
36. Tjäderhane, L. and Larmas, M. “A High Sucrose Diet Decreases the
Mechanical Strength of Bones in Growing Rats.” Journal of Nutrition.
1998:128:1807-1810.
37. Appleton, N. New York: Healthy Bones. Avery Penguin Putnam:1989.
38. Beck_Nielsen H., Pedersen O., and Schwartz S. “Effects of Diet on the
Cellular Insulin Binding and the Insulin Sensitivity in Young Healthy
Subjects." Diabetes. 1978;15:289-296 .
39. Mohanty P. et al. “Glucose Challenge Stimulates Reactive Oxygen
Species (ROS) Generation by Leucocytes.”Journal of Clinical Endocrinology
and Metabolism. Aug 2000; 85(8):2970-2973.
40. Gardner, L. and Reiser, S. "Effects of Dietary Carbohydrate on Fasting
Levels of Human Growth Hormone and Cortisol." Proceedings of the Society
for Experimental Biology and Medicine. 1982;169:36-40.
41. Reiser, S. "Effects of Dietary Sugars on Metabolic Risk Factors
Associated with Heart Disease." Nutritional Health. 1985;203:216.
42. Preuss, H. G. “Sugar-Induced Blood Pressure Elevations Over the
Lifespan of Three Substrains of Wistar Rats.” J Am Coll of Nutrition,
1998;17(1) 36-37.
43. Behar, D., et al. “Sugar Challenge Testing with Children Considered
Behaviorally Sugar Reactive." Nutritional Behavior. 1984;1:277-288.
44. Furth, A. and Harding, J. "Why Sugar Is Bad For You." New
Scientist.”Sep 23, 1989;44.
45. Lee AT, Cerami A. “Role of Glycation in Aging.” Ann N Y Acad Sci. Nov
21,1992 ;663:63-70.
46. Appleton, N. New York:Lick the Sugar Habit. (New York:Avery Penguin
Putnam:1988).
47. "Sucrose Induces Diabetes in Cat." Federal Protocol. 1974;6(97).
48. Cleave, T.:The Saccharine Disease: (New Canaan Ct: Keats Publishing,
Inc., 1974).131.
49. Ibid. 132.
50. Vaccaro O., Ruth, K. J. and Stamler J. “Relationship of Postload Plasma
Glucose to Mortality with 19 Year Follow-up.” Diabetes Care. Oct
15,1992;10:328-334.
Tominaga, M., et al, “Impaired Glucose Tolerance Is a Risk Factor for
Cardiovascular Disease, but Not Fasting Glucose.” Diabetes Care.
1999:2(6):920-924.
51. Lee, A. T. and Cerami, A. "Modifications of Proteins and Nucleic Acids
by Reducing Sugars: Possible Role in Aging." Handbook of the Biology of
Aging. (New York: Academic Press, 1990.).
52. Monnier, V. M. "Nonenzymatic Glycosylation, the Maillard Reaction and
the Aging Process." Journal of Gerontology 1990:45(4 ):105-110.
53. Dyer, D. G., et al. "Accumulation of Maillard Reaction Products in Skin
Collagen in Diabetes and Aging." Journal of Clinical Investigation.
1993:93(6):421-422.
54. Veromann, S.et al.”Dietary Sugar and Salt Represent Real Risk Factors
for Cataract Development.” Ophthalmologica. Jul-Aug 2003 ;217(4):302-307.
55. Monnier, V. M. "Nonenzymatic Glycosylation, the Maillard Reaction and
the Aging Process." Journal of Gerontology. 1990:45(4):105-110.
56. Schmidt A.M. et al. “Activation of receptor for advanced glycation end
products: a mechanism for chronic vascular dysfunction in diabetic
vasculopathy and atherosclerosis.” Circ Res.1999 Mar 19;84(5):489-97.
57. Lewis, G. F. and Steiner, G. “Acute Effects of Insulin in the Control
of VLDL Production in Humans. Implications for Theinsulin-resistant State.”
Diabetes Care. 1996 Apr;19(4):390-3
R. Pamplona, M. .J., et al. "Mechanisms of Glycation in Atherogenesis."
Medical Hypotheses. 1990;40:174-181.
58. Ceriello, A. “Oxidative Stress and Glycemic Regulation.” Metabolism.
Feb 2000;49(2 Suppl 1):27-29.
59. Appleton, Nancy. New York; Lick the Sugar Habit. (New York:Avery
Penguin Putnam, 1988).
60. Hellenbrand, W. ”Diet and Parkinson's Disease. A Possible Role for the
Past Intake of Specific Nutrients. Results from a Self-administered
Food-frequency Questionnaire in a Case-control Study.” Neurology. Sep
1996;47(3):644-650 Cerami, A., Vlassara, H., and Brownlee, M. "Glucose and
Aging." Scientific American. May 1987: 90.
62. Goulart, F. S. "Are You Sugar Smart?" American Fitness. Mar-Apr 1991:
34-38.
63. Ibid.
64. Yudkin, J., Kang, S. and Bruckdorfer, K. "Effects of High Dietary
Sugar." British Journal of Medicine. Nov 22, 1980;1396.
65. Goulart, F. S. "Are You Sugar Smart?" American Fitness. March_April
1991: 34-38
66. Ibid.
67. Ibid.
68. Ibid.
69. Ibid.
70. Nash, J. "Health Contenders." Essence. Jan 1992-23: 79_81.
71. Grand, E. "Food Allergies and Migraine."Lancet. 1979:1:955_959.
72. Michaud, D. ”Dietary Sugar, Glycemic Load, and Pancreatic Cancer Risk
in a Prospective Study.” J Natl Cancer Inst. Sep
4, 2002 ;94(17):1293-300.
73. Schauss, A. Diet, Crime and Delinquency. (Berkley Ca; Parker House,
1981).
74. Christensen, L. "The Role of Caffeine and Sugar in Depression."
Nutrition Report. Mar 1991;9(3):17-24.
75. Ibid.
76. Cornee, J., et al. "A Case-control Study of Gastric Cancer and
Nutritional Factors in Marseille, France," European Journal of
Epidemiology. 1995;11:55-65.
77. Yudkin, J. Sweet and Dangerous.(New York:Bantam Books,1974) 129.
78. Ibid, 44
79. Reiser, S., et al. “Effects of Sugars on Indices on Glucose Tolerance
in Humans." American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 1986:43;151-159.
80. Reiser,S., et al. “Effects of Sugars on Indices on Glucose Tolerance in
Humans." American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 1986;43:151-159.
81. Molteni, R, et al. “A High-fat, Refined Sugar Diet Reduces Hippocampal
Brain-derived Neurotrophic Factor, Neuronal Plasticity, and Learning.”
NeuroScience. 2002;112(4):803-814.
82. Monnier, V., “Nonenzymatic Glycosylation, the Maillard Reaction and the
Aging Process.” Journal of Gerontology. 1990;45:105-111.
83. Frey, J. “Is There Sugar in the Alzheimer’s Disease?” Annales De
Biologie Clinique. 2001; 59 (3):253-257.
84. Yudkin, J. "Metabolic Changes Induced by Sugar in Relation to Coronary
Heart Disease and Diabetes." Nutrition and Health. 1987;5(1-2):5-8.
85. Ibid.
86. Blacklock, N. J., "Sucrose and Idiopathic Renal Stone." Nutrition and
Health. 1987;5(1-2):9-12.
Curhan, G., et al. “Beverage Use and Risk for Kidney Stones in
Women.” Annals of Internal Medicine. 1998:28:534-340.
87. Journal of Advanced Medicine. 1994;7(1):51-58.
88. Ibid
89. Ceriello, A. “Oxidative Stress and Glycemic Regulation.” Metabolism.
Feb 2000;49(2 Suppl 1):27-29.
90. Postgraduate Medicine. Sept 1969:45:602-07.
91. Moerman, C. J., et al. “Dietary Sugar Intake in the Etiology of
Biliary Tract Cancer.” International Journal of Epidemiology. Ap
1993;2(2):207-214.
92. Quillin, Patrick, “Cancer’s Sweet Tooth.” Nutrition Science News. Ap
2000.
Rothkopf, M.. Nutrition. July/Aug 1990;6(4).
93. Lenders, C. M. “Gestational Age and Infant Size at Birth Are
Associated with Dietary Intake among Pregnant Adolescents.” Journal of
Nutrition. Jun 1997;1113-1117.
94. Ibid.
95. Bostick, R. M., et al. "Sugar, Meat.and Fat Intake and Non-dietary Risk
Factors for Colon Cancer Incidence in Iowa Women." Cancer Causes & Control.
1994:5:38-53.
96. Ibid.
Kruis, W., et al. "Effects of Diets Low and High in Refined Sugars on
Gut Transit, Bile Acid Metabolism and Bacterial Fermentation.” Gut.
1991;32:367-370.
Ludwig, D. S., et al. “High Glycemic Index Foods, Overeating, And
Obesity.” Pediatrics. Mar 1999;103(3):26-32.
97. Yudkin, J and Eisa, O. “Dietary Sucrose and Oestradiol Concentration
in Young Men”. Annals of Nutrition and Metabolism. 1988:32(2):53-55.
98. Lee, A. T. and Cerami A. "The Role of Glycation in Aging." Annals of
the New York Academy of Science. 1992; 663:63-70.
99. Moerman, C. et al."Dietary Sugar Intake in the Etiology of Gallbladder
Tract Cancer." Internat J of Epi. Ap 1993; 22(2):207-214.
100. "Sugar, White Flour Withdrawal Produces Chemical Response." The
Addiction Letter. Jul 1992:4.
Colantuoni, C., et al. “Evidence That Intermittent, Excessive Sugar
Intake Causes Endogenous Opioid Dependence.” Obes Res. Jun 2002
;10(6):478-488.
101. Ibid.
102. The Edell Health Letter. Sept 1991;7:1.
103. Sunehag, A. L., et al. “Gluconeogenesis in Very Low Birth Weight
Infants Receiving Total Parenteral Nutrition” Diabetes. 1999 ;48 7991-8000).
104. Christensen L. et al. “Impact of A Dietary Change on Emotional
Distress.” Journal of Abnormal Psychology .1985;94(4):565-79.
105. Nutrition Health Review. Fall 85. Sugar Changes into Fat Faster than
Fat.”
106. Ludwig, D. S., et al. “High Glycemic Index Foods, Overeating and
Obesity.” Pediatrics.Mar1999;103(3):26-32.
107. Girardi, N.L.” Blunted Catecholamine Responses after Glucose Ingestion
in Children with Attention Deficit Disorder.” Pediatrics Research.
1995;38:539-542.
Berdonces, J. L. “Attention Deficit and Infantile Hyperactivity.”
Rev Enferm. Jan 2001;4(1)11-4
108. Blacklock, N. J. “Sucrose and Idiopathic Renal Stone.” Nutrition
Health. 1987;5(1 & 2):9-17.
109. Lechin, F., et al. “Effects of an Oral Glucose Load on Plasma
Neurotransmitters in Humans.” Neurophychobiology. 1992;26(1-2):4-11.
110. Fields, M. Journal of the American College of Nutrition. Aug
1998;17(4):317-321.
111. Arieff, A. I. Veterans Administration Medical Center in San Francisco.
San Jose Mercury; June 12/86. “IVs of Sugar Water Can Cut Off Oxygen to the
Brain.”
112. De Stefani, E.“Dietary Sugar and Lung Cancer: a Case Control Study in
Uruguay.” Nutrition and Cancer. 1998;31(2):132_7.
113. Sandler, Benjamin P. Diet Prevents Polio. Milwakuee, WI,:The Lee
Foundation for for Nutritional Research, 1951.
114. Murphy, Patricia. “The Role of Sugar in Epileptic Seizures.” Townsend
Letter for Doctors and Patients. May, 2001.
115. Stern, N. & Tuck, M. “Pathogenesis of Hypertension in Diabetes
Mellitus.” Diabetes Mellitus, a Fundamental and Clinical Test. 2nd Edition,
(Phil. A:Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2000)943-957.
116. Christansen, D. “Critical Care: Sugar Limit Saves Lives.” Science
News. June 30, 2001;159:404.
117. Donnini, D. et al. “Glucose May Induce Cell Death through a Free
Radical-mediated Mechanism.”Biochem Biohhys Res Commun. Feb 15,
1996:219(2):412-417.
118. Allen S. Levine, Catherine M. Kotz, and Blake A. Gosnell . “Sugars and
Fats: The Neurobiology of Preference “J. Nutr.2003 133:831S-834S.
119. Schoenthaler, S. The Los Angeles Probation Department Diet-Behavior
Program: Am Empirical Analysis of Six Institutional Settings. Int J
Biosocial Res 5(2):88-89.
120. Deneo-Pellegrini H,. et al.Foods, Nutrients and Prostate cancer: a
Case-control study in Uruguay. Br J Cancer. 1999 May;80(3-4):591-7.
121. “Gluconeogenesis in Very Low Birth Weight Infants Receiving Total
Parenteral Nutrition. Diabetes. 1999 Apr;48(4):791-800.
122. Yudkin, J. and Eisa, O. “Dietary Sucrose and Oestradiol
Concentration in Young Men. Annals of Nutrition and Metabolism.
1988;32(2):53-5.
123. Lenders, C. M. “Gestational Age and Infant Size at Birth Are
Associated with Dietary Intake Among Pregnant Adolescents.” Journal of
Nutrition 128; 1998::807-1810.
124. . Peet, M. “International Variations in the Outcome of Schizophrenia
and the Prevalence of Depression in Relation to National Dietary Practices:
An Ecological
Analysis.” British Journal of Psychiatry. 2004;184:404-408.
125. Fonseca, V. et al. “Effects of a High-fat-sucrose Diet on Enzymes in
Homosysteine Metabolism in the Rat.” Metabolism. 200; 49:736-41.
126. Potischman, N, et.al. “Increased Risk of Early-stage Breast Cancer
Related to Consumption of Sweet Foods among Women Less than Age 45 in the
United States." Cancer Causes Control. 2002 Dec;13(10):937-46.
127.Negri. E. et al. “Risk Factors for Adenocarcinoma of the Small
Intestine.”
International Journal of Cancer. 1999:82:I2:171-174.
128.Bosetti, C. et al. “Food Groups and Laryngeal Cancer Risk: A
Case-control Study from Italy and Switzerland.” International Journal of
Cancer, 2002:100(3): 355-358.
129. Shannon, M. “An Empathetic Look at Overweight.”CCL Family Found.”
Nov-Dec.1993. 20(3):3-5.
130. Harry G. Preuss, M.D., of Georgetown University Medical School
131., “Health After 50.” Johns Hopkins Medical Letter. May, 1994.
132. Allen, S. "Sugars and Fats: The Neurobiology of Preference." Journal
of Nutrition. 2003;133:831S-834S.
133. Booth, D.A.M. etc al. “Sweetness and Food Selection: Measurement of
Sweeteners’ Effects on Acceptance.” Sweetness. Dobbing, J., Ed.,
(London:Springer-Verlag, 1987).
134. Cleve, T.L On the Causation of Varicose Veins. “Bristol, England,
John Wright, 1960.”
135. Cleve, T.L On the Causation of Varicose Veins. “Bristol, England,
John Wright, 1960”.
136. Ket, Yaffe et al. “Diabetes, Impaired Fasting Glucose and Development
of Cognitive Impairment in Older Women. Neurology 2004;63:658–663.
137. Chatenoud, Liliane et al. “Refined-cereal Intake and Risk of Selected
Cancers in Italy.” Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, Dec 1999;70:1107-1110.
138. Yoo, Sunmi et al. “Comparison of Dietary Intakes Associated with
Metabolic Syndrome Risk Factors in Young Adults: the Bogalusa Heart Study”
Am J Clin Nutr. 2004 Oct;80(4):841-848.
139. Shaw, Gary M. et al. “Neural Tube Defects Associated with Maternal
Periconceptional Dietary Intake of Simple Sugars and Glycemic Index.”
Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, Nov 2003;78:972-978.
140. Krilanovich, Nicholas J. “Fructose Misuse, the Obesity Epidemic, the
Special Problems of the Child, and a Call to Action “ Am. J. Clinical
Nutrition, Nov 2004;80:1446-1447.
141.Jarnerot, G., “Consumption of Refined Sugar by Patients with Crohn's
Disease, Ulcerative colitis, or Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Scand J
Gastroenterol. 1983 Nov;18(8):999-1002.
142. Allen, S. "Sugars and Fats: The Neurobiology of Preference." J Nutr.
2003;133:831S-834S.
143. De Stefani E, Mendilaharsu M, and Deneo-Pellegrini H. Sucrose as a
Risk Factor for Cancer of the Colon and Rectum: a Case-control Study in
Uruguay. Int J Cancer. 1998 Jan 5;75(1):40-4.
144. Levi F, Franceschi S, Negri E, La Vecchia C. “Dietary Factors and the
Risk of Endometrial Cancer. Cancer. 1993 Jun 1;71(11):3575-3581.
145. Mellemgaard A. et al. “Dietary Risk Factors for Renal Cell Carcinoma
in Denmark.” Eur J Cancer. 1996 Apr;32A(4):673-82.
146. Rogers AE, Nields HM, Newberne PM. “Nutritional and Dietary
Influences on Liver Tumorigenesis in Mice and Rats. Arch Toxicol Suppl.
1987;10:231-43. Review.

Canning beans

A healthy source of protein and dietary fiber, dry beans are a mainstay of many diets in poorer countries of the world. I don't know about you, but for me the main reason I don't use beans more often is that I have to think ahead to use them! The traditional method of soaking them overnight to be cooked the next day almost never happens at my house. I just don't think about meals too much the day before. If I decide on beans for supper by lunch time I can do it the quick way by bringing the beans to a boil for five minutes, then letting them soak for an hour before cooking them. But by far the most used beans at our house are the ones I can. Then they're available instantly, for that last minute "I forgot all about supper!" moment, the days we're gone till supper time, for Sunday lunches when we get home from church at 2 pm and needed lunch an hour ago, and for spur of the moment company. Saves on buying junk food for last minute meals, and they're SO yummy!

First you need some sort of dry bean. I've canned kidney beans for chef's salads and chili, navy beans to add to soup, and most of all, pinto or cranberry beans for refried beans in burritos, quesadillas, and bean dip. Pinto and cranberry beans are very similar, though I prefer the cranberry. They're slightly larger and have a smoother texture when mashed.

Put 1 1/3 cups of dry beans into a colander. You'll want to sort through them to pick out any bad beans or little stones that might be mixed with them. Then rinse them, and put them in a quart canning jar. (Make sure the jar is clean and the rim free of cracks or chips that would inhibit the seal.) When all your jars have 1 1/3 cups of beans in them, you can add any seasoning you want. I often just add 1 teaspoon of salt (Real Salt, for the added minerals that they didn't bleach out of it like regular salt), but have added onion salt, onion and/or garlic pieces, cumin, etc.

Clean, washed Cranberry beans in the jar with salt.

 

Once the seasonings are added, fill the jar to the bottom of the threads with water. You want about 1/2 inch of headspace. Set them in your pressure canner. Follow your canner's directions for adding water, etc.

 

Remember to check the vent hole on the canner lid to make sure it's clean and clear! I often forget, but it's an important step.

Secure the lid and follow your canner's instructions to start it. Process at 10 pounds pressure for 25 minutes. You can also use jars of dry beans to fill up a canner of green beans or meat. Makes use of the space without being much extra work!

To use, open the jar and use however you like! I mostly dump all the contents of the jar into my Vitamix and give it a whirl. Add any more seasonings you like, and heat for quick, yummy burritos. The leftovers I'll spread onto half of tortilla, add some cheese, fold the tortilla over, and heat in a skillet for a very quick, nutritious lunch. Serve with salsa, sour cream, and sprouts! Or add sour cream, cheese, cream cheese, salsa, and browned, seasoned ground meat, heat in a crock pot, and serve with chips as a bean dip.

Or rinse a jars' worth of beans and serve on top a chef's salad. Or dump the beans into a pan with some rice and water, season, and cook till the rice is done--voila, Gallo Pinto, the Nicaraguan national dish. Well, to make it authentic you'd need to do a little more, but hey, it works and tastes great! Add the beans to chili or taco soup, or if they're navy beans, to beef/venison/lamb, or chicken stew.

Enjoy!

 

Reflections on resolutions

Well, first let me wish you all a very happy, and healthy, and wonderful New Year--a few days late!

As I watch others though, planning their goals and lists for 2013, I've been thinking about mine. The year's beginning does seem like a good time to take stock of our lives, where we're going, what our priorities are, if we're succeeding at what we want to succeed at. It's good for us to take the time to sit down and evaluate it. Though, personally, I think it ought to be done way more than just once a year! A year is a LONG time to keep everything in perspective. Especially when we're constantly bombarded with so many things seeking to pull us away from what our heart desires. Do we want a closer walk with God? Social media, telephone calls, activities we must attend or plan or prepare for, all steal time and energy from seeking God. Do we want to make sure our children are trained in the way they should go? Wow, that's takes TIME! And lots of thought and wisdom. There are so many things out there calling for our time and energies to be poured into other things! A good marriage is the basis of a happy family. Are we actively protecting our marriage, and our relationships with our children, from the ever so subtle influences that are deliberately designed to tear us apart? Are we soaking up the truths that God shows us in His Word, that combat the influences of our day? Wow, I could go on a long, long time on that one!

But I do feel that so much of the New Years resolutions hoopla can't be all that healthy. Our bodily health is tied in to our emotional and spiritual health more than we often realize. What is one of the most common resolutions you hear of? Yes, losing weight! We've already discussed that in another blog entry, so if that's a resolution you've made go read that one. :-) But what usually happens? Someone makes that resolution, fired usually by a few pounds gained over the holidays. Horrified, they are determined that those pounds are coming off. So they work diligently at their diet, or exercise, or whatever other way they've chosen to battle the bulge. Some must buy memberships at clubs, or buy exercise equipment, from all the ads you see for such places popping up all over. It lasts for awhile. They might actually lose a little. But then, life just keeps happening, and all those resolutions and determinations fall by the wayside. Suddenly, it's spring (if it even takes that long!) and you realize that resolution has disappeared. I don't know about you, but about that time I start feeling discouraged. I just can't do it (whatever "it" might be--not always weight loss!) and so why try? It creates such a defeat in our spirits, and can cause an underlying tension as we're feeling like we can't cut it. It's not always just a new year that brings that kind of high-low experience. I've seen people do the same thing when they come across some great new teaching or tactic to address a problem. Often it involves buying or making something new in order to get started. But soon, the newness wears off, it's harder to actually do than you thought it would be, and it falls by the wayside. Another failure to chalk up to yourself, and your spirit wilts some more. Been there, done that.

So, how do we combat the tension created by the high-low cycle of resolution and failure? One way is to not make resolutions. And maybe, in some areas, that may just be the best thing to do. Another way, that I've found to be quite effective, is to lower the resolution. My goal: a cleaner, neater home for my family. That's a great goal, and providing a neat, restful atmosphere in the home is so good for us! But if I start by cleaning the whole house and expect to keep it clean, it won't happen. I've tried it, lots. So I know I'm setting myself up for failure to try that again. So, what's a manageable step in that direction, one that I can see if I'm making progress with? How about, making the bed every morning? Remember, it takes about a month to make a new habit. So the goal for the next month is to make the bed every day after I fix my hair. And then, yes, I can do that! And I did it. I found it helped to tie it in with something I already do every day, so then it's easier to remember. And it's just a little thing, taking about a minute to toss those covers up. But it does make our room look so much neater. Win-win! Another thing I've worked on is throwing away the trash when I'm cooking or baking. So many times I feel like I'm in such a hurry doing this project, but once it's in the oven I'll have time to clean up. With three small children in the house? Hah! As soon as I can be free, I'm needed somewhere else--five minutes ago! My husband is the one who saw this and encouraged me to just throw the trash away as I make it. Crack an egg? Toss the shell! Empty a can? Rinse and put it in the recycle. Right now. This wasn't as easy a habit as the bed, as it isn't so noticeable and harder to remember. BUT there's rarely just trash laying around the kitchen anymore. Ok, there's still dirty dishes and floury counters, but no more trash. I praise the Lord for bringing me that one little step closer to my goal! Now for the current habit to build: clean and wash off the table after EVERY meal as soon as it's over. . . Nothing big, just one little baby step at a time. At this rate, yes, it's going to take a long time. But it's ever so much better than setting lofty goals I'll never reach, causing stress and frustration and depression.

And the other big part of it, is to keep seeking the Lord and His will. He has promised to give wisdom to those who ask for it! So let's ask. Every day. "Lord, what is Your goal for me today? Oh, grant me wisdom to do it!" So many times we get caught up with our goals and our stuff, and then find ourselves overwhelmed with too much. Let's take one moment at a time and with every step ask, "Lord, what now?" He is faithful!