So What’s In That Store Brand Peanut Butter?

In this post we will discuss the ingredients add to our food that we buy from our local grocery store. The next time you go shopping check the label for nutritional information as well as the ingredients. The example we will use is our local store brand Peanut Butter; ingredients listed are Peanuts, Dextrose, Full Hydrogenated Vegetable Oils (Rapeseed, cottonseed and Soybean) Salt and Corn Syrup.

The problem with some store bought Peanut Butter is the ingredients that are used to extend shelf life and to make us crave, and consume more of a food product can have harmful effects to our overall health.  These same ingredients can also be found in ice cream, jellies, juices, cookies, pies and luncheon meats and the list goes on. Below is a brief description of Dextrose: is a commercial name for glucose - the same glucose that is present in fruits or in the sucrose (table sugar) molecule. Dextrose placed in sugar included in a variety of foods, such as breads, cakes, cookies and crackers.
Corn Syrup or High-Fructose: is a common sweetener in sodas and fruit-flavored drinks. The use of use of high-fructose corn syrup is linked to obesity and other related health problems. This is a good reason not to buy sodas and fruit-flavored juices it is better for you to make your own as you can control how much sugar is add. I really enjoy package hot coca. I did realize that there was so much sugar in one small package, so I began buying the unsweet hot coco and it taste great! I like ice and buy in from the store to have at work and guess what it too have high fructose – That why it taste so good. When I make tea at home I use the tea bag, and fresh lemons. Then here too I control the sugar. So when you think about it all the sodas and fruit-flavored drink aisle is a wasted.
Please take some time out to read what the Mayo-Clinic has to say about Corn syrup or High Fructose. From the Mayo-Clinic (See link for more information: http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/expert-answers/high-fructose-corn-syrup/faq-20058201)
 Hydrogenated Vegetable Oils (Grapeseed, cottonseed and Soybean): The Hydrogenate Vegetable oils are made from grapeseed, cottonseed, soybean are also known as trans-fat these oils help to the peanut butter or other food items looking good and to extend the self-life of the product but these trans fats is also link to obesity. For more detail of the just what Trans fats are and what they do to the body please check out the link from the Mayo-Clinic http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/high-blood-cholesterol/in-depth/trans-fat/ART-2004611
In an upcoming post we try out making out own Peanut Butter.

Viewing A Movie To Gather Information.....

GOODBYE WORLD

Warning:  This movie has adult content!         
From the jacket cover:                          
“When a mysterious cyber-attack cripples civilization, James and his old college friends retreat to a remote country home. Together, they must cope with an uncertain future while defending themselves against desperate outsiders who will do anything to survive.”
I picked-up this movie from Sam’s Club, recommend this movie for adult viewing only as it has some crude language, sexual and drug content.  After you watch the movie the first time, then replay the movie, mute the sound and study the movies visual information. I will share two of these scenes with you, the first takes place in the front of the house as the friends re-unite. Do you see how they had a small garden in the front of the house? The second scene is the country dinner, notice there is no meat on the plate. There are many things to think about when planning your country home…. Enjoy the movie.

Living Simply and Enjoying Life!

The first step is: "Living a traditional life by following the leading of the Lord Christ Jesus. To do this by reading the Word of God Daily, His Word will provide you with guidance and wisdom in your sojourn."

How Did The Bread Turn Out?

The bread turn out ok, but I will need to work on this skill. I want my bread to be a little sweeter and softer.  Maybe, I could  add a little more honey and knead the bread a little more.  In the mean time, I will check out some other bread recipes I have.
Lesson learned about making bread is that you really have to follow directions step by step!

Easy Homemade Whole Wheat Bread

I attended a "Cooking For Life" class given by  a good friend of mine were I learned how to make this wonderful bread.   The bread baking in the oven smells so good!   This bread will go nicely with the Sunday family breakfast!
I hope you will also enjoy making your own bread.
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This recipe makes 1 medium-size loaf.
Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 Cups whole wheat flour
• 1 Cup unbleached white flour
• 1 Tablespoon dry yeast (or 1 packet)
• 1 Tablespoon of 0il
• 1 Teaspoon salt
• 2 Tablespoons honey
• 1 Cup hot water
• 1 gallon plastic bag
• Clean Kitchen Towel
• Nonstick Vegetable Cooking Spray

Directions:

1. Measure the wheat flour, yeast, and salt.  Put into the 1 gallon plastic bag.
2. Seal the bag and shake gently.
3. Open bag and add the oil, honey, and water.
4. Squeeze the air out of the bag and seal it again.
5. Squeeze the bag with your hands until all the ingredients are mixed up.
6. Now add the rest of the white flour (seal the bag & follow step 4) and knead again until it is smooth and from dough into a ball.
7. Keep squeezing or kneading the dough for about 10 more minutes.
8. Place the bag in a warm place and cover with a clean kitchen towel.  Let it rise until it has double in size.
9. While the dough is rising, grease or spray the bread pan with nonstick vegetable cooking spray.
10. Punch the dough down with your fist and then take it out of the bag.
11. Put the dough into the bread pan.
12. Cover the dough with a clean kitchen towel.
13. Let it rise until it doubles again.
14. While it is rising, turn oven on and heat to 350F.
15. When the bread had risen, put the pan into the oven and bake it for 30-35 minutes or until it is golden brown.

A Good Book To Read: Three Acres and a House by Della Rhem

Della Rhem shares her family's simple prayer for literally three acres of land and a house in the country.  You can get a copy of this book online at Teach Services:  http://www.teachservices.com/three-acres-and-a-house-rhem-della/

This book showed me not only how important prayer is, but also the matter in which we go before the Lord.  We need to prepare ourselves - mind, body, and soul.  To search our self for sin and repent; fasting - to help bring our body in order and quiet our self so we can hear GOD when he speaks.  Lastly to have the morning watch- the reading of GOD's Word; spending 1 on1 x  with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit will change your life!

Shades of Autumn

The mornings are cooler, days are shorter.  Soon the trees will begin to change to the many shades of autumn.  The leaves fall to blanket the earth to become food for the soil for new flowers, plants in the spring.

It’s also time to put away the summer clothes and sort through the winter clothes.  Let’s see what to keep or give away or keep for scraps to make a patchwork quilt.  Mmm, I’m thinking about my Grandmother and how she use to take our old clothes to make us grandkids patchwork quilts by hand.  As I write this post I also recall going to the mountains in the fall with a good friend as we looked over the farm land below.  I was struck by how the land below looked just like one of grandmother’s patchwork quilts.  This may be a good fall time project – let me put this on my “to do list” made a “Shade of Autumn” patchwork quilt.

Ok – Back to the chores around the house; cleaning out the basement, donating items to Goodwill and/or Salvation Army.  I enjoy having a nice table laid out using the color of the seasons as my guide.  Try to keep my table set ready to break bread with family and friends when they stop by. This may sound costly, but you can get many nice things at thrift stores, yard sales, dollar store or make them yourself.  And it’s a must is to have cold sweet ice tea and lemon aide in the fridge too!  My family seems to drinks the tea and lemon aide as fast as I can make it.  Also it’s time to get the living room painted!  Mmm…. What color do I want??  Ok – let’s move that thought to the back burner for now.

There are some upcoming fall holidays such as Columbus Day, Veteran’s Day – both of these are on a Monday which means half price days at many of the thrift stores in my area. Thanksgiving is a time for families to come together to give glory to the Lord for all he has done for us and our family. Next is a personal holiday “Black Friday” Wait hold on - I can hear you Say - What?!  For me I have found this day to be one of the better days to buy items for your home at crazy cheap prices.  This takes a bet of planning, because we don’t always know just what items will be on sale.  Well I seem to have my lists together time to drop off the donations and take care of a few errands.  At the bottom of my “to do list”, I have don’t for get to take time out to take a walk to enjoy the seasons good weather while is last and to also enjoy the many shades of autumn.

Enjoy this time by God’s Grace and Love.