Coconut Flour for Baking

I've just found a great post on the blog The Nourishing Kitchen on How to Bake with Coconut Flour.

For those who want a grain free or wheat free alternative to flour, coconut flour looks like a great choice.

This blog post is an excellent reference for how to use coconut flour, the benefits of coconut flour, measurements for substituting coconut flour for other ingredients, and links to a number of recipes using coconut flour.

Here is just one section of this very informative post:

"Benefits of Baking with Coconut Flour

- Coconut flour is rich in protein, fiber and fat, which makes it exceptionally filling.

- Coconut flour is also a good source of lauric acid, a saturated fat thought to support the immune system and the thyroid. Like most healthy fats, lauric acid also promotes good skin health.

- Coconut flour is an exceptionally goodshource of manganese which helps you to better utilize many nutrients including choline and biotion (found in eggs), vitamin C and thiamin. Manganese also supports bone health, nervous syste function, thyroid health andhelps to maintain optimal blood sugar levels.

- Coconut flour is not grain-based, and, as such does not present many of the issues that accompayn grains. Coconut flour is a gluten-free and, while it does contain food phtate, the mineral-binding effect of phytates in coconut are virtually non-existent so coconut flour does not need to be soaked (read more about soadking coconut flour)."

 

A Winter's Tale

As a Priestess of the Ancient Ways, I am thus a servant to the Great Ones.

I have been advised by Them to speak with you, and tell to you of the events that have passed since the Precession of the Invernal Equinox, especially since the Dark Night is almost upon us.

I seek only to humbly serve my Gods and Goddesses, as I am but a mere human. Still they have chosen me to serve them, so I must seek to honour my most Auspicious Masters.

One of my priestly duties, as a Keeper of the Ancient Ways and One Who Walks Between, is to honour the Great Gateways, those Gateways of the Elements - Earth, Air, Fire, Water. One of my duties is to draw water for the honouring of the Western Gate, as it rules the Element of Water.

The Great Ones have told me that they have been pleased with my Drawing of the Sacred Waters, or as those of the more mundane realms might say - “The Running of the Water”. What has pleased them most is the response I am able to elicit from the humans on this more mundane Plane of Existence.

When I draw from the Sacred Waters, one of these humans has begun to respond. I can only assume he seeks to honour this Great Rite with his actions. When he hears the Running of the Water, whether it be day or night, he responds by drumming quite loudly upon walls of his dwelling with a long metal rod. Most impressive was his response one evening - I believe that it was the New Moon was close upon us. He began by banging on all the walls of his dwelling with his metal rod quite furiously, going from one wall to the next, until he’d played upon every wall. He then proceeded to “play” upon a metal fixture that radiates heat, thrumming upon the spine of this fixture quite loudly and vigorous for several minutes. I must say, the Great Ones were very pleased.

That I was able to elicit such a response also pleased them, for it was not often that a human responds so heartily to The Running of the Water.

Thus spake the Ancient Ones. Thus this telling is done.

 

 

Poem | Gratitude for All Who Inspire

 

Namaste


called forth by the muses

evoked

provoked

to get down these words

how else to express
this urge to honour the sacredness

a poem ...
words only attempt
to express the sacredness
and ecstasy
of
life
as constant
miracle upon miracle

putting it down in words
seems a desecration of the sacredness

yet, if I write nothing,
that is a sin in itself

to not honour the gift of inspiration given me

if it inspired another so

then I am redeemed

 

- j. khat o'brien

 

 

A Poem for Independence Day

JULY 4th  mmxiv


that familiar pungent odor
is wafting in my window
over the cloying humid air

skunk

someone has found its sleeping lair
in the middle of the day


who needs firecrackers?


- j. khat o'brien

Motorcycle design inspires new patronage system

News story from NPR's Marketplace BUSINESS

Two Obsessed Guys and a Radical Motorcycle Design

MSG in Disguise - Read the Label Carefully!

From John Douillard's Life Spa website -

This article is very much worth a read through. There are many health issues that are exacerbated by eating MSG.  John Douillard explains what MSG is, how is affects our bodies, and just how much the use of MSG in its many forms is dangerously prevalent in many foods we would not think would contain MSG - why? because, as the title of his article explains - MSG has many sneaky names.

"Sneaky Names for MSG: Check Your Labels"

"The dangers and prevalence of MSG will shock you! This flavor enhancer is linked to a host of health issues, including fibromyalgia (1), obesity (2), fatty liver (3), high insulin and blood sugar (3), high cholesterol (3), liver toxicity (3), metabolic syndrome (4), high blood pressure, disturbance to the gut-brain connection (5), neurological and brain damage (6).
The danger lies in that MSG is almost impossible to avoid.

Why? The reason is twofold:
    1.    There are over 40 different ingredients that manufacturers use, that all have MSG.
    2.    It is not just a flavor enhancing additive – it is a natural by-product of processing proteins.

These MSG by-products are found in many of your favorite organic health foods. ... "

please read on

Ponder this - a view of the gut-brain connection

A slide show presentation by Todd R. LePine, MD, a graduate of Dartmouth Medical School, and interestingly he did practice at Canyon Ranch in the Berkshires. The information on the nature of bacteria is absolutely fascinating, as well as all the other findings on the brain-gut connection.

The Gut-Brain Connection: An Inside Look at Depression from Augustin Bralley

Ad Madness

All right, I don't drink, have not had a drink in many years.

This is an ad for Southern Comfort - and the last time I had that, well ... let's just say ... I have not had a drop of it since then.

I just can't get this ad out of my mind. It is just so crazily funny that I have to go back and watch it and laugh. Laughter is a good thing. The song is also great, and even better juxtaposed with the wild video -
I'm a Fool to Care, by Les Paul and Mary Ford



 
 

Something Big | Gregg Braden

Some things to consider in these changing times ... a talk by Gregg Braden. He has a hopeful message, using science, the principles of ancient wisdom and many years of research in the world.


Something Big is About to Happen, Gregg Braden

Who is Gregg Braden?

from his website:

"New York Times best-selling author Gregg Braden is internationally renowned as a pioneer in bridging science, ancient wisdom, and the real world! Following a successful career as a computer geologist for Phillips Petroleum during the 1970's energy crisis, he worked as a Senior Computer Systems Designer with Martin Marietta Defense Systems during the final years of the Cold War. In 1991, he became the first Technical Operations Manager for Cisco Systems.

For more than 27 years Gregg has explored high mountain villages, remote monasteries, and forgotten texts to merge their timeless secrests with the best science of today. ..."

 
 

Pete Labonne, Baby!

finally getting a round tuit ...

this could have been added to my post Pajama Pants, however, I think it deserves its own post.

take a look at Pete Labonne's website, as he wrote Pajama Pants ... from the nav bar, ZOO CABINET, you'll be whisked away to a zone where you can listen to a Pete Labonne original recording of Pajama Pants.

For your further listening pleasure, Labonne at Cafe Lena ... especially for all those who "are just a little bit old"



 
 

eat your greens

Informative article on why eating your greens not only feeds you, but is healing, too.

"Who told you to eat your green veggies? Your mother? Me, or another clinical nutritionist? Well, not only was mom right, but there is now some amazing research that will get you running to eat that broccoli and kale! Really! Read on…

Food goes into your intestines, you knew that. But did you know that 80% of your immune system is housed in your small intestine? The immune system is the one that either successfully fights off ‘bad guys’ such as bacteria and cancer or it succumbs to infections and disease results.

Three brilliant women, doctors and researchers from the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute’s Molecular Biology division in Melbourne, Australia, just discovered that a special type of immune cell can be controlled by the consumption of leafy greens in your diet."

please click to read the rest of this article "Eating Greens ..." by Dr. Vikki Peterson

Some of best of the Green (Cruciferous) Vegetables, according to the article are:

• Greenest: arugula (rocket), bok choy, broccoli, broccoli rabe
• Greener: cabbage, cauliflower, collard greens, watercress, kale, mizuna
• Green: radish, rutabaga, turnip greens

there are others ... I recommend reading the full article

Gotta Dance ... in Pajama Pants!

For your dancing pleasure -

Pajama Pants Baby|Catbirds Say Yeah
 

from the album Catbirds Say Yeah

Pajama Pants, original by Pete Labonne



 
 

My LIttle Radish

Little thoughts of the coming growing season ... a sketch of a radish I did on my old old drawing tablet a while back.

Eat Your Fortune?

This was new to me ...

If you don't eat all your fortune cookie, then your fortune won't come true.

I overheard this while eating at an oriental restaurant the other day. One patron was urging another to eat all the cookie. This might be fine except that I never eat the cookie, never! It is an allergy thing.

What if I really wanted that wish? It would be fine if the wish was undesirable. Then, by not eating it, the fortune would be null and void. It is a bit amusing to think of it, but then think how fear driven it is.

So, I am not a subscriber to that. I'll "set my fortune free" and let it go to the compost, and trust in the Sweet Sacred Invisible to bring me my fortune.

David Winston, founder of Herbalist & Alchemist, is truly a wizard. I have attended his classes, stood in ceremonial circle with him, and have taken his products, with excellent results.

One of the most remarkable healings I have had with his products was when I took his formula, David Winston's Women's Transition Formula™ right after surgery, in experiencing surgical menopause. My doctor had wanted to start me on estrogen replacement, and I had decided that that was not an option for me. I started on his formula right after surgery, and made the transition smoothly. I kept up taking it for about a year, and then transitioned to a simpler program, with the help of herbalist Greg Patch, who had gotten me started on David's formula in the first place.

David's website has many resources, in addition to his formulas. He has information on the uses of all of the herbs in his formulas, as well as a  library of CDs of many of the classes he teaches, with class notes. I highly recommend him - he is a great resource.

winter serenity

Amidst small city affairs, a green refuge ...

we can find serenity if we take the time to return to Center, and with a grateful heart, witness the everyday beauty that is all around us.

thanksgiving - simple psalm

simple psalm
thanksgiving day 2012


distilling
concentrating
it is an alchemy

creating a push
and pull

a pulse

a flow

becoming that

being that motion
there is a deepening
a silence
in which there is an opening

in which we open to all

all the world is wondrous
and we
awash in the wonder

the miracle of being present
the exquisite beauty that is

we are that exquisite beauty
we become that unspeakable ecstasy

how unspeakably joyous
and it is ours

we revel
we drink deep
we celebrate
we rejoice

steeped in
an endless
gratitude

consider THE D.O.T.

THE D.O.T.
•

consider the dot

"Vashti even made a dot by NOT painting a dot."
from The Dot, Peter J. Reynolds




Motion Piece by Pat Malley for The Dot.


Thank you, Peter J. Reynolds, for your book, The Dot.

The Dot has been awarded The Irma Simonton Black and James H. Black Award for Excellence in Children's Literature.       

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a little ditty ...

... to html dot code

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ditty ditty dot dot dot …

all hail Ellipsis!