Category: Home Life

Dark, Green, Leafy Veggies! (And a great Cooking Demo Video!)

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Ever noticed now horribly anaemic and weak gorillas and elephants look? No, me neither. I guess it must be all the meat they consume. No again. In fact, gorillas and elephants eat almost exclusively of plants and in particular green, leafy plants.

For vegetarians and vegans (people who choose not to eat meat, fish and in some cases also eggs and dairy products) it is vital to replace the iron and protein from the animal products with plant-based food sources. Dark green, leafy vegetables are one easy, affordable and tasty way to do this. Spinach, kale, romaine lettuce, mustard greens, collard greens, chicory, swiss chard, broccoli, bok choy and choy sum are all excellent sources of iron and protein and also contain fiber and folate.
When 100 calories of boiled broccoli (357g / 12.6oz) is compared to 100 calories of broiled porterhouse steak (30g / 1oz) something stands out. The broccoli contains 11.1g protein compared to 6.5g in the steak and the broccoli delivers 2.2mg iron compared to 0.8mg in the steak. It’s clear that the plant-based food certainly delivers the iron and protein we need.

As Author Ellen White writes, “Grains, fruits, nuts, and vegetables constitute the diet chosen for us by our Creator. These foods, prepared in as simple and natural a manner as possible, are the most healthful and nourishing. They impart a strength, a power of endurance, and a vigour of intellect that are not afforded by a more complex and stimulating diet. “{MH 296.1}

Why not try to use green, leafy vegetables every day in your cooking? Take a look at my first cooking show episode ‘Coconut Curry Tofu’ to see just how easy and yummy cooking with greens can be!

Click here to watch Dr Michael Greger’s video ‘The Healthiest Vegetables’ for extra motivation https://nutritionfacts.org/video/the-healthiest- vegetables/

May you come to love dark, green leafy vegetables as much as my family and I do.

Guest Post: A Sneak Peek inside the new ‘No, We Don’t Only Eat Carrots!” Cookbook

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Many thanks to homeschooling mom Leah Jones, for sharing with AHE!

About 10 years ago a thoughtful friend of ours, Ken, shared an amazing book with us: Jane A. Plant’s ‘Your Life In Your Hands’, a powerful and inspiring testimony about a woman’s victory over breast cancer. By eliminating dairy (even the hidden dairy ingredients in things like potato chips and wine) Jane overcome her cancer, and this turned our world upside down.

The following few months led us to read two other life-changing health books, Dr T.Colin Campbell’s ‘The China Study’ and Dr Joel Fuhrman’s ‘Eat To Live’. Motivated by Campbell’s extensive research and studies, and Fuhrman’s shocking health statistics and motivating recovery stories, we committed ourselves to eating a plant-based diet with eggs. Later we committed to a 100% plant-based diet (vegan) and we remain informed and motivated by Dr Greger’s health videos at http://www.nutritionfacts.org.

When we later learnt about the health message promoted by Ellen White we were amazed at the scientific accuracy of her statements even though they were written 150 years earlier.

I’d like to share a recipe with you from my new cookbook ‘No, We Don’t Only Eat Carrots! Plant-Based Food For Humans’ with the hope that it encourages you to begin (or continue) your health journey. For more recipes and information please visit my site www.notonlycarrots.com.

 

Tacos, Guacamole and Salsa

446 kilojoules (106 calories) per taco
Makes 24 tacos

INGREDIENTS

Guacamole
2 large ripe avocados
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon savoury yeast flakes (nutritional yeast)

Salsa
1 tin diced tomatoes (400g) (14 oz)
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon dried basil
2 teaspoons olive oil
1 teaspoon lemon juice

Mince
2 small onions, diced
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1/2 green capsicum (bell pepper), bite-sized chunks
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 ¼ teaspoons ground coriander (ground cilantro)
1 ¼ teaspoons ground paprika
1 ¼ teaspoons ground oregano
1 ¼ teaspoons ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon chilli powder (optional)
1/2 tablespoon savoury yeast flakes (nutritional yeast)
1 1/4 teaspoons salt
1 tin brown lentils, drained (1 cup cooked)
1 tin champignons (mushrooms), drained and sliced (220g) (7 ½ oz)
1 tin red kidney beans, drained (1 cup cooked)
1 tablespoon cornflour (corn starch) + 1 tablespoon cool water, made into a paste
3/4 cup water (200ml) (200g)

Salad & Tacos

¼ head of lettuce, shredded
4 tomatoes, diced
1 large carrot, grated
1/2 large continental cucumber, diced
24 taco shells

SALSA PROCEDURE

Conventional
Cook all ingredients in a small saucepan over a medium-high heat until thick.
Remove from the heat and transfer to a heat-proof bowl.

Thermomix
Put MC on an angle (this will reduce splatter) and add all ingredients to the TM bowl and stir for 3 seconds on Speed 3.
Cook for 10 minutes at 100°C (212°F) on Speed 1 and transfer to heat-proof bowl.

GUACAMOLE PROCEDURE

Conventional
Mash the avocados until creamy with a fork and stir in remaining ingredients.

Thermomix
Purée all ingredients for 10 seconds on Speed 4-5 until smooth. Scrape down the sides and repeat as necessary. The guacamole should be creamy.

 

MINCE PROCEDURE

Conventional
In a medium-sized frypan,  sauté onions, garlic and capsicum in oil over a medium-high heat until soft.
Add in the coriander (cilantro), paprika, oregano, cumin and yeast flakes. Keep stirring until you can smell the spices strongly.
Add the remaining ingredients and stir continuously until the mixture thickens. Reduce to a medium-low heat and simmer for 5 minutes stirring occasionally.
Remove from the heat, cover and set aside.

Thermomix
Chop onion, garlic and capsicum for 2 seconds on Speed 7.
Add in the oil and sauté at 100°C (212°F) on Speed 1 for 5 minutes.
Add in the coriander (cilantro), paprika, oregano, cumin and yeast flakes and cook for 2 minutes at Varoma temperature on Speed 1.
Add in remaining ingredients and stir for 5 seconds on reverse Speed 3.
Put MC on an angle (reduces splatter) and cook for 15 minutes at 100°C (212°F) on reverse Speed soft. Transfer to the Thermoserver.

SALAD AND TACOS PROCEDURE

Preheat the oven to 200°C (400°F).
Separate the taco shells and heat upside down on a large baking tray for 5 minutes.
Meanwhile, prepare each of the salad ingredients. Keep each salad in its own bowl.
Each person makes his/her own tacos, so place the bowls of mince, salsa, guacamole, salads and heated taco shells in the middle of the table. Layer each taco in this way: a large spoonful of mince, a small spoonful each of guacamole and salsa and a small amount of each of the salads. Guaranteed to be a messy, but oh so yummy, event!

Alternatives

In place of the brown lentils, dice a tin of Nutmeat into bite-sized chunks or use Casserole Mince (both Vegie Delights Brand).
Sprinkle some grated vegan Bio Cheese (My Life brand) on top of each Taco.
Add more of each spice if needed.

Serving Suggestions
In place of taco shells, use corn chips or wraps.
Serve with Raw Cashew Mayonnaise (p.23) as an alternative to guacamole.

Sabbath Playlist – Happy The Home Series

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Happy the Home #1 of 26 – “What We Need to Succeed” from Restoration International on Vimeo.

Program 1 in the 3ABN “Happy the Home” series with the Rayne family. Corresponds to Chapter 1 in the book “The Connected Family” by Paul & Carolyn Rayne.

“A practical twenty-six step program designed to help parents make their children a priority, lead them to make a commitment to God, and teach them the tools for Christian living. “

Teach Helpfulness at an Early Age

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Image courtesy of TheTripClip.com. Printable versions of the chore charts shown can be found by clicking on the image.

“Very early the lesson of helpfulness should be taught the child. As soon as strength and reasoning power are sufficiently developed, he should be given duties to perform in the home. He should be encouraged in trying to help father and mother, encouraged to deny and to control himself, to put others’ happiness and convenience before his own, to watch for opportunities to cheer and assist brothers and sisters and playmates, and to show kindness to the aged, the sick, and the unfortunate. The more fully the spirit of true ministry pervades the home, the more fully it will be developed in the lives of the children. They will learn to find joy in service and sacrifice for the good of others.”

The Ministry of Healing, 401.

Parents, help your children to do the will of God by being faithful in the performance of the duties which really belong to them as members of the family. This will give them a most valuable experience. It will teach them that they are not to center their thoughts upon themselves, to do their own pleasure, or to amuse themselves. Patiently educate them to act their part in the family circle.

The Review and Herald, November 17, 1896

Sabbath Playlist ~ God’s Word the Parent’s Guide by Tom & Alane Waters

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Recommended listening from AHE staff.

God’s Word the Parent’s Guide by Tom & Alane Waters

 

 

Reading Aloud is for All Ages!

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Becoming a Nation of Readers (Anderson, Hiebert, Scott and Wilkinson, 1985) presented among its findings that “the single most important activity for building the knowledge required for eventual success in reading is reading aloud to children.” This landmark  Commission on Reading report also indicated reading aloud in the home is an essential contributor to reading success, and that reading aloud… is “a practice that should continue throughout the grades.”

What powerful motivation to include reading aloud as part of a homeschooling schedule!  Most families however, see read-aloud time asMother_reading_to_child_1850 an activity for younger children only.  But as the report states, the practice should continue because the benefits of reading aloud don’t diminish as children grow older.

Pre-Readers

For the very young child, being read aloud to sends a multitude of important messages. The time spent with the reading parent is a vitally important bonding time. The young child gets the message that the act of reading is important, fun and desirable. Even though the child may not begin to read himself for several years, the underlying knowledge needed for reading success is being developed.

 

Emerging/Growing Readers

As a child enters his emerging reader years, the act of being read to still maintains a place of importance. Motivation becomes key factor in reading success, and being read aloud to keeps that motivation alive. It shows that reading is important and is a skill valued by the family. While the emerging reader listens, he takes note of the sounds of words, how punctuation is used, and begins to develop a personal vocabulary. As the books read aloud become longer, and the words become more difficult, a growing reader is able to gain access to new material with support.

Older Readers

One might think that reading to an older child is not a valuable exercise, but that is far from the truth.  It is one of the best ways to promote independent reading in older readers.  Because most children listen at a higher level than they read, reading aloud is an opportunity to present material they may have difficulty accessing on their own.   Reading aloud may motivate a reluctant reader to try material previously thought too difficult. Reading aloud to older readers also stimulates fluency and vocabulary growth. In addition, taking the time to discuss the reading material is excellent preparation for higher level critical thinking and writing.

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How Stands Our Record in 2014?

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“Fathers and mothers, how stands your record? Have you been faithful to your trust? As you have seen your children inclined to follow a course that you knew would result in impurity of thought and word and act, have you, first asking God for help, tried to show them their danger? Have you pointed out to them the peril of following a path of their own choosing? Mothers, have you neglected your God-given work,—the greatest work ever committed to mortals? Have you refused to bear your God-given responsibilities? In the time of trouble just before us, when the judgments of God fall upon the impure and unholy, will your children curse you because of your indulgence?

Your home is a little world of itself. In it, order, prompt obedience, submission, should prevail. It is a duty that parents owe their children to make wise rules for the guidance of the household, and then to see that these rules are obeyed.family-on-beach

The home is a training school. The mother is the teacher. She is to choose for her children. She is to mold and fashion their characters. She is to teach them to bring God into their lives. She should be so closely connected with God that through her he can work out his will.

Mothers, have you neglected your work? Then I beseech you to take it up now in the fear of God. Be converted. Before the year closes, confess your neglect to your wayward children, and ask them to help you to begin the new year aright, and during its hours, to live for God.

Parents, you are the ones who must decide whether your children shall choose the service of God or the service of mammon, eternal life or eternal death. Watch them carefully and tenderly. Give them wise instructions, line upon line, precept upon precept. Study their dispositions, that you may know what traits of character to repress and what traits to encourage. Teach them to guard constantly against selfishness, fraud, cruelty, dishonesty, and to cherish all that goes to make human beings Christlike. Remember that what your children learn in the home, they will carry with them when they go out into the world, and that it will affect all their future experience.

If you have neglected your work, repent before it is too late, and strive to atone for your neglect. Think of the time you have lost, and be doubly earnest in your efforts to undo the wrong you have done. The result of your neglect you may see in the wayward course of your children, and in their lack of power to resist the corrupting influence of the age. And very plainly you will see it when they go forth to fight the battle of life for themselves. I entreat you to arouse before it is too late, and take up your work, lest you be found unfaithful. To the parent who neglects his life-work, God cannot say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

Review & Herald- December 23, 1902