Breast is Better than Doing Science to it...

So...this happened, and at least one person came to the wrong conclusion from the information given.

The above two links are for information on the correlation of toxins in breastmilk and autism rates and a blog post citing said information as a good reason to not breastfeed your children (that is not the entire point of the post, but it is mentioned).

I understand how the conclusion is reached.  The problem is that by the same logic we should also reach the conclusion that babies should be grown in test tubes rather than in their mother's womb.  How do I make the connection?  What's in your breastmilk is also in your blood, so saying that a woman shouldn't breastfeed her baby because of chemicals is also saying that a woman shouldn't grow her baby because of chemicals.

The proper conclusion to come to from the above information (in my humble opinion) is that we need to stop using so many damned chemicals.  Haven't we proved the saying 'better living through science' wrong yet?
Sure, science does wonderful things, but science is not so wonderful that we can just replace everything natural with it.  I get trial and error, and on more than one occasion I've said - quite enthusiastically - "LET'S DO SCIENCE TO IT!" but isn't it time we dropped all the chemical nonsense.

The problem is how entrenched we are in big-ag *coughmonsantocough* and subsidising shoot-yourself-in-the-foot farming methods.  And for everyone out there who says farming organically is unsustainable in practice, I read a fantastic point about that on a paleo blog saying that our current reliability on oil-based products is not sustainable either.

Do I have the answers?  No, and I don't pretend to know them either.  What I can do is turn my front yard into a garden rather than an ornament.  I can choose to clean my home with things like white vinegar, enzyme cleaner and vodka.  I can make my own chemical free laundry soap and dish detergent, and my own chemical free shampoo.  I can live as cleanly as I have the means to live (which turns out to be more about my personal energy levels than financial means, because clean living is actually cheaper).

I can't ask anyone else to do it, but I can try to lead by example.  Not everyone is a fan of the way I like to live or the way I'd like to live in the future.  A lot of people (and I mean a lot) think I'm pretty well off my rocker for doing things like avoiding soy (and now gluten thanks to some post-partum thyroid shenanigans).  But that's okay.  I'm happy this way, and I think a good number of people could be happy this way as well.

If only we could stop falling into the trap that is Man vs. God.  We're not God, we're meant to be keepers of the life around us.  We should start actually keeping it.

WAPF Pie

With the holidays here I wanted to bake pie.  I had ten mason jars full of puree (from two pumpkins!) so I thought I'd make pumpkin pie.
I've never made pumpkin pie before, so I consulted my Nourishing Traditions book.  I love the crust recipe; the filling was...interesting...so I modified it so that it would have more of the traditional pumpkin pie flavor I like so much.

The first time I made the filling I just used my mixer.  This produced slightly lumpy pie, almost like I put apple pieces in it.  Not only that, but the recipe calls for grated lemon rind, so the pie tasted something like a lemon creme pie with pumpkin.  Maybe I used a lemon that was too large, but the next time around I skipped the lemon.

The second time I made the filling I ran it through my blender after mixing it together.  This pie came out much smoother and overall more pleasant to eat.  In addition to omitting the lemon I tweaked the spices which produced a better flavor.

The third time I made the pie I ran the liquid through my blender before adding the pumpkin and then ran the blender a bit more.  I also tweaked the spices further.  The result was pretty awesome I think.  I didn't have an actual slice of this pie because I took it to my friend who just had a baby boy (yay!) but I baked some of the filling in a ramekin to make sure it tasted okay.

So here's the crust recipe.  The only modifications are the partial substitution of whole wheat flour for the white and the removal of Stevia powder:

1 cup unbleached white flour
1/3 cup whole wheat flour
pinch of salt
1/2 cup (1 stick) frozen butter
2 egg yolks
3 rounded tablespoons cold water

Stir flour and salt into a food processor.  Cut the butter into about 16 pieces and distribute over flour.  Pulse the processor until the butter is broken into pea-sized pieces and is well distributed.  Beat the egg yolks briefly with a fork and dribble over the flour mixture.  Pulse once or twice (maybe three times for good measure).  Turn on the processor and pour water in, stop the processor "at once."  The butter should still be visible in pea-sized pieces.  Turn the crust onto wax paper, wrap up and squeeze (not hard, wax paper tends to split open), forming a ball.  Refrigerate for several hours.
Roll on a floured sheet of wax paper.

For your viewing pleasure:

 This really does work, by the way.  And I found that it was amazingly entertaining to do.  Now I just have to keep a plastic bottle around.

Pumpkin Pie Filling (my modified recipe)

15 ounces pumpkin
3 eggs
90 ml dark brown sugar (1/4 and 1/8 cups)
1 1/2 teaspoon ginger
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1 cup piima cream or creme fraiche
2 tablespoons brandy

Oven: 350°

Line a pie pan with the crust above.  Cream eggs and sugar, gradually adding everything except the pumpkin.  Blend.  Add pumpkin and blend a bit more.  Pour into the pie shell and bake for 35 to 45 minutes or until a knife inserted into the center comes out clean.

If you want a sweeter pie, go ahead and just use 3/4 cup of dark brown sugar (or Rapadura is what the original recipe calls for).  I always halve the amount of sugar a baking recipe calls for.

Also, cream fraiche is like french sour cream.  I like it better than sour cream, myself.  You can find it at Sprouts, or a health food store in your area.

~~~

Okay, so this is me coming up with grandiose plans that most likely will not happen but I'm going to give it my best shot.  I'm going to try and make one recipe from the Nourishing Traditions book a day - or at least one a week.  This is a massive project, but I'm really trying to commit to eating better and I think this might be a good way to start.

Anyway, I hope y'all had a great Thanksgiving filled with good cheer and merriment and such!

Yard Work.

Today I planted the garden!

I planted a rainbow assortment of heirloom carrots.  I've got purple, white, yellow, and orange.  Although I couldn't tell you which seed was which, so it'll be a surprise when they come up.
I also planted purple cauliflower, cucumbers, spinach, acorn squash, and two types of tomatoes.  All heirloom.
I had another two volunteer pumpkin sprouts, the first of which I uprooted without knowing what it was.  The second I had the presence of mind to actually check the root system and found that it was sprouting from a pumpkin seed, so I transplanted it.
There are three (potentially) sugar baby watermelon plants in the back next to the pumpkin sprout.
I've got a jalapeño and an Anaheim pepper plant.  I'm going to plant some scotch bonnets and other types of peppers behind them.
I bought a bag of organic potatoes and a bunch of them sprouted, so I put those in a row.
And I still have space for herbs.

I'll be going to Ace soon to get plants.  They sent me a pretty awesome coupon set.  May's coupon is 20% off anything live.  I'll probably stop by and pick up more plants this week.

Our lawn mower broke over the winter.  The carburetor's shot apparently.  Our lawn has been growing wild pretty much since the winter, so it got pretty tall...and kind of gnarly looking while we waited for a replacement mower.
We ordered a reel mower on ebay.  It came last week on Friday, and then it rained.  So hubby finally mowed the front this afternoon while I did the garden.  He also picked up an electric weed whacker and trimmed the rest of the back and the front.
The lawn finally looks presentable!

I am so glad we don't live in a neighborhood with an HOA.

Anywho, I'd be interested to know what you planted, if you planted anything.

Midori Days.

Pumpkins grow in trees!

I'm learning about gardening.  This is my second summer in this house, but last summer I was busy with improvements like refinishing floors and repainting stuff.  There will be no refinishing of floors this summer, not while I'm preggo.  So I'm turning my attention to the outside of the house.

My parents made an excellently large bed for gardening when they were here and the soil is pretty well taken care of.  This I know because we had volunteer pumpkins last summer (two plants) and sooo many pumpkins in the autumn.  The vine on the largest plant even grew up the fence and into our backyard neighbor's tree!  If you look at the picture you can see the little green pumpkin hangin out in there.  He never did get ripe; too much shade.

At any rate, I'm learning that I very much enjoy gardening.  Digging around in the dirt is pretty awesome; I think everyone should do it.
I get ridiculously excited any time I plant something too.  Ask hubby.  I'm sure he'll be tired of me asking him to come look at the new plant I put in the ground when gets home from work, if he's not already.  I had him look at the rosemary when I put it in a larger pot outside, and he came and looked at the baby blueberry bush that is now sitting between the corner of our house and the pine tree.  I don't know why I get so happy over it, and I feel foolish telling him to come look at it, because it's really not impressive, but I can't help myself.
I suppose it's because this is a new thing for me, and I'm not confident in my abilities yet.  So every time I do something properly I feel good about it and want to share my excitement with others.  Particularly with plants and gardening, because this is life I'm trying to take care of, it's kind of a big deal to me.  Which is to say that if my blueberry bush dies I will be very sad about it.  Same for the rosemary.
I get attached to things too easily I think.

At any rate, I'm very excited about gardening.  It's a lot of work, but I enjoy most of it, and the rest is worth doing for the results.  I'll let you know what I plan to plant, other than what I purchased already.  I have this crazy thought of planting purple dragon carrots.  I think I've romanticized them somehow.


p.s. if you're wondering about the title "midori" is Japanese for green.  It's also a reference to a bizarrely cute anime.  Not to mention a particularly delicious melon flavored liquor.

Blueberries!

Today I bought plants and potting soil.  I'm very excited about these things.  I bought four heirloom tomatoes, Anaheim and jalapeno peppers (one each), some columbine, and a blueberry plant.
I'm just going to plant the blueberry plant and hope for the best.  The tag said hardy to -40° so we shall see.

Today was also the big ultrasound to make sure baby is growing in the proper fashion.  Everything is fine.  It was cute to see the little feet and hands and things.  Also, amazing what the technology shows.

It would appear that on sitting down I have forgotten what I was going to write about.  Hm...

So..here's a list of ways I'm thrifty?

• I buy the vast majority of my clothing and household items from Goodwill: I got a changing station there for $20, a nice wood one with two shelves below the padded top (exciting!).
• When it comes to organic cleaners, if I can't clean it with vinegar water I buy whatever cleaner is on sale that meets my standards.  Less than five ingredients, etc.
• Organic produce I purchase in much the same way as the cleaners: I scavenge the sale papers.
• I make nearly everything from scratch.  I'll be looking into making cereal here very soon.
• I save the produce bags from the store: they make a great substitute for plastic wrap.
• I shop around, keeping a loose price inventory (honey went up $3!!) on things I buy most to make sure I get them the cheapest I can.

Also, random tip:
If you think you don't have time for baking a cake from scratch there's a nifty trick you can do.  One day, when you have five minutes, mix all the dry ingredients together and put them in a tupperware/bag.  Stow away for later use.  When you need to actually bake the cake, take out the tupperware/bag and add the wet ingredients.  Viola!  You made your very own "box cake."  Note: it's helpful to keep the recipe on hand.