Thankfulness

I cant believe that its the week of Thanksgiving! Where do I begin?!
  As I quickly steal a moment while the children work on their school, I am pondering at how blessed I am. I absolutely didn't do anything to deserve What The Lord has blessed me With. Doesn't that encourage you, that the Lord is so open hearted and open handed toward us.
       Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!
2 Corinthians 9:15

What is new in my kitchen this year, you might ask?
 Well, Lots of fermentation going on.
 We started brewing  Kombucha!
nourishedkitchen.com 
 It has been a great experience.
I love to play around with different flavors. Our favorite is ginger. The kids think its like, ginger beer.(You have to say ginger beer with an English accent)!I love working hard for my family. It brings me such joy. Also, brewing in the kitchen is some yummy Kefir. Talk about getting in your probiotics friends. hehe. I swapped  a SCOBY for some kefir grains this summer with someone. We love kefir smoothies in the mornings. Since I also enjoy baking bread a sourdough starter was something that was much needed. I found nourishedkitchen.com to be very helpful.  The first few breads I made where not so great and after that I just allowed the sourdough to sit in the fridge for a while, until I just said, ill try again another time. Only to be inspired by some great sourdough Artisan bread photos on instagram, and after searching in our local library for some books. I tried again! The book I picked up was Flour Water Salt Yeast The Fundamentals of Artisan Bread and Pizza.I am now enjoying sourdough crusty lovely bread! I also got a wonderful crock from my brother and made sauerkraut. Not to happy how that turned out, but later on that one.=)  I haven't done much canning this summer, sadly to say.. But there have been lots going on. I froze a lot though. We went strawberry picking at a local organic farm www.greenfieldberryfarm.com . Apple picking also at a local organic farm. Breezyhillfarmohio.com We Enjoyed the veggies that did grow from our garden! We had 8 ears of corn this year. yey! We celebrated our little guys first birthday. Epic celebration it was.=)Our 6 year old daughter lost her first couple of teeth this year, witch reminded me of how quickly our time with our children passes, and what a privilege it is to be able to experience all these little beautiful moments together. Another thing that I did a couple times this year was attend a local food swap. It is so much fun to be creative in my kitchen and to experience other foods that you wouldn't even think about making! you can find more info
here--> www.cvcountryside.org We look forward to buying our pastured Turkey from one of our favorite local farmers also
here --> Bruntyfarms.com The kids get so excited to be able to go and pick up a lovely fresh Turkey. It is a big blessing for our family.  I am encouraged by Proverbs 31:13-15, although I love all of Proverbs 31.
   She seeks wool and flex, and works with willing hands. She is like the ships of the merchant; she brings her food from afar. She rises while it is yet night and provides food for her household. I thank the Lord for granting me health and instilling in me the desire to work with my hands and find satisfaction in a simple way of life.

So you see, I have so much to be Thankful for! And that was just a little glimpse of my year. I am wishing you and your family a Wonderful Thanksgiving. I encourage you to stop and Thank the Lord for all the blessings in your life!
  Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 5:20

Our journey to health

Let Food Be Thy Medicine and Medicine be thy Food. ~ Hippocrats

 

1 Corinthians 10:31 tells us

So whatever you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

A little bit of how I grew up, I was born in Ukraine and moved to the States when I was three. I am the second last child in my family. I have three sisters and two brothers. My childhood was very adventures. We traveled every few years, back and forth to Ukraine and the States.  I attended school here in the United States & also in the Ukraine. It felt like two diffrent worlds.  Life was busy for us here, my parents worked a lot and us kids loved life in an American fashion, lots of TV watching was a big part of our growing up, we lived in an apartment so we didn't have much space to run and play. We did love the neighborhood park, and if my younger sister and I could talk my older sister or brother into taking us there,  we would enjoy the swings or the big sand box. We loved meeting new people and learning about their culture.  My mom was a great cook and we often had people over for a good homemade lunch or dinner. Her cooking was very traditional to our Ukrainian culture. With homemade ( beet soup) Borsch. Pirogis stuffed with farmers cheese and potato. We had a diffrent soup every few days, and we had to eat soup on a daily basis at least ones a day. My mom would say, your stomach will hurt if you don't eat your soup today.  So it was a must! When we would go to the grocery store, my parents would love to buy fresh fruit and lots of veggies, some processed things were allowed only because they didn't know about  preservatives and GMO's. Well, not in depth.  If they didn't allow us to get something, they would say it's full of chemicals or it has to much unnatural dyes. We still ended up eating lots of fast food, it was a treat! 

 My mothered was and is  a great homemaker  and loved to create and work with her hands.  She always cooked everything from scratch and was very creative in the kitchen. She was a great model of hard work and dedication to her family. Life in Ukraine was little more laid-back in a sense where there was not so much business and you went with the flow, of the day. We lived with the seasons. We would eat what we planted and preserved everything, to keep for winter. He kept chickens and a hog a year. We kept rabbits for meat. We made our own pasta and shopped at the local market, at the time there was not that many groceries. Now it's way diffrent. We loved buying ice cream from old grandmas who would stand at the market with a box filled to the top, and it would sell quickly because they had no cooler. The best ice cream of my childhood. We made our own wine,and  would drink raw cows milk. Simple right?! 

 In 2002 I met my wonderful Husband and we got married a year later! In 2004 we had our first child and from then on we had three almost four  children at this point in our life! 

 

When we had our first son my Husband weighed 300lb. and wore a size 44 pants. He was on a few different prescription drugs and was told he had to take them all his life. He was sick very often. There was a time that he was hospitalized for 12 days, to be released home with a stomach virus. My daughter struggled with constant ear infections from when she was one to 1 ½. This was extremely frustrating to me. We practically lived at our doctor’s office. Always being sent home with some sort of prescription. I had to get on my knees and cry out to God and ask for wisdom. Teach me Lord another way of living. Show me a different way. Matthew 7:7-8

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

 Gradually the Lord started sending people in our path, with more knowledge and experience with their own health. They shared with us their own struggles and accomplishments. We dove into researching everything that went into our mouth. To some it seemed like we were being a little nuts and saying things like.  We will all die eventually, or once in a while McDonalds is a treat… Honestly every time my kids had McDonalds My daughter would have horrible   diarrhea, and my son cannot processes, processed food well at all.  To me McDonalds was not a treat I would want to feed my children.

We soon started to learn about healthy living from eating organic and local foods. To cutting out processed foods, foods that my grandma didn’t eat or ever would! We learned about Chiropractic’s and the benefits that, that could have on your health. We started learning about essential oils and the benefits of different herbs. And Honestly, I never even realized of how our amazing creator created our body to be able to heal itself. We were never intended to eat the kinds of foods that are out in our grocery store shelves. I started to think back when I was little and how I watched my grandfather process a chicken for our dinner that night and how he made his own egg noodles. How he spent hours in the garden pulling weeds and collecting the bounty that the Lord provided. I loved how in the fall time when the air was so crisp and cool we started our grape harvest, big fat purple grapes would be transformed to amazing juices and homemade wine! I can smell it as I imagine it! Or the time I was 9 years old and mom asked me to help her plant some tomato plans in our garden. All of the sudden a summer rain shower drenching us, and I remember my feet sinking into the mud between my toes. There is no better feeling then being connected to the earth like that.   I am so blessed to be able to have these type of memories. It also makes me sad to see where we are now as a people. Everything has to be fast and processed and microwaved. Everyone is always so busy.  Hosea 4:6

My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge.

I keep thinking this is not the way the Lord intended us to eat.

1 Corinthians 6:19 tells us

Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?

 I make our meals from scratch. 95% of the time.  And trust me when I say. All the things I make almost is always 30 minutes or less!!  Our children eat pretty much everything we serve in our house. Sure we have some who would rather never eat a tomato, but they love broccoli and  some do have certain foods they strongly despise , ( liver, or goose liver pate.) but they usually will try things at lest once. We keep healthy foods in the fridge and cupboards.  As parents modeling healthy habits is important. What you do, say, eat they will do too!

We have a nice size garden where we grow our own veggies. We also grow black currents. We have been growing a garden for 4 years.voting with our dollars is important. Supporting local organic, non GMO farmers. I really enjoy going to a local plant sale every May. Lets just say, I am in my happy place! Having a garden is such a great learning tool for our children as well. Our kids love to plant seeds, watch them grow, and most of all they love to pick what’s growing. When my son learned to walk he loved walking into the garden and eating our cherry tomatoes, exploring all the things around him. It also is so satisfying to have fresh herbs and veggies at your fingertips.  This day and age children are not sure where food comes from, or the difference between a tomato or a potato. It’s our job as parents to teach and model that life style. To provide your children with the most healthy freshest foods. When we started to think healthy, it didn’t happen overnight. It was a gradual    process, we are continually learning something new each day! If you are struggling with your health and want to get started, Give up one bad thing for a good thing. Gradually before you know it you will be making progress in the right direction. Trust the Lord to guide you and provide for your needs.  

As for my husband and daughter, they are much better. Praise God! My husband now weighs 175lb. size 36 pants that are a little loos!! He is off all prescription medications and is feeling healthier then he’s ever been. My daughter never struggles with ear infections. My Son who is three never had an antibiotic ever. All to the Glory of God.  

 Deuteronomy 8:7-10 says

For the LORD your God is bringing you into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and springs, that flow out of valleys and hills; a land of wheat and barley, of vines and figs trees and pomegranates, a land of olive oil and honey; a land in which you will eat bread without scarcity, in which you will lack nothing; a land whose stones are iron and out of whose hills you can dig copper. When you have eaten and are full, then you shall bless the LORD your God for the good land which He has given you. I love this passage for its simplicity, this is a simple way of life. A good friend of mine said this...

  I had a good friend share her thoughts about health physically and spiritually! 

 Eating wholesome foods is important to the health of our physical bodies, but there is a matter infinitely more important than this.  For, because this is a broken world, because of sin, we will all die, no matter how well we take care of our physical bodies.  The corruption of our food supply is only a symptom of a much greater problem. God's ways are perfect and holy--he made everything good.  But man is sinful and he ruined it all.  From the beginning of time, man has chosen to serve himself instead of the Lord.  We want to run our own lives and not submit to God's authority.  For this reason, our relationship with our Creator is broken.  Our rightful punishment is death and hell forever.  However, God in His grace and mercy would not let us go.  He sent His only Son, Jesus, to the cross to bear the punishment that our sins deserved.  Only by putting our faith in Christ and by following Him wholeheartedly can we escape God's judgment and go to heaven.  So, yes, nurture your physical bodies in this life, enjoy God's good gifts, be good stewards of what He gives you.  But remember, most importantly, to feast on the Lord Jesus Christ.  To abide in Him and draw your nourishment from His love on the cross.  The Bible says that "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God" Mt 4:4. 

Something to think about: 

The rates of chronic illness is increasing rapidly, why? What has happened over the years that we see our children struggling with all sorts of  ailments . Allergies, diabetes, asthma, ear infections, cavities , etc. We are the voice for our little ones, let us educate ourselves, let us not sit with a blind eye to the issues that happen within our own walls.  If our American way of life fails the child, it fails us all. ~ Pearl S. Buck

  Wishing all of you a healthy and joyous filled life. 

 

Chamomile

   The simplicity of summer! I love everything about it. The hot summer days, the smell of the trees when we walk threw our beautiful northeast Ohio Metro parks.. The kids love enjoying the summer evenings running after firefly's. The evening walks together.  I could go on and on.
 We expanded our garden this spring to be able to plant more veggies.

Before

(our little garlic)

we expanded our garden by using a back to Eden Garden approach.

 

After

 

 

 

And it looks wonderful. We planted lots of new things this year, like cauliflower, Red Russian kale, eggplant, yellow squash, different zucchini, and of cores herbs! I planted sage, French Thyme, lemon drop, more lavender, and finally chamomile!!

 

 

Our little ones!

 

  I went out this afternoon to take a look in the garden, as I do everyday and I looked over to see beautiful Chamomile flowers. 
  Every time I think of Chamomile, I think of the lovely Mrs. Beatrix Potter and her lovely story's.
We read her beautiful books very often. Enjoyed by every little Eckel in our home. Back to Chamomile, as I can talk about Beatrix Potter for hours, but this post is suppose to be about Chamomile.

We enjoy chamomile tea with raw local honey!
 I am finding out its not just good for helping you relax and fall asleep, there are many great uses for this daisy looking flower.


1, insomnia and other sleep disorders
2,Anxiety and panic attacks. (I should drink this when I speak in a large group of people:)
3,Muscle twitches
4,Wounds, burns, and scrapes. ( I bet this would be a great herb to infuse in organic coconut oil)!
5,skin conditions such as psoriasis, eczema, chickenpox, and diaper rash.
6,stomach problems such as menstrual cramps, stomach flu, and ulcers.(Wheat grass also helps with ulcers).
7, It also is good for IBS, Irritable Bowel Syndrome.
Chamomile reduces cramping and pain in the bowels and also helps to relive excessive gas and bloating in the intestines. So just make a lovely cup and drink.
8, It is great for nausea.
9, Migraines, take a cup of tea when you start noticing the symptoms of a migraine headache.
10,Reducing Dark Circles around eyes. Chamomile tea has been found to help relive eye fatigue and dark circles. A simple remedy is to dip two tea bags in warm water. After 5 minutes, remove the tea bags from the water and let them cool to room temperature. Then place them on your eyes at night as a compress.
 We buy our dry Chamomile at,  thebulkherbstore.com
  So their you go! Here is a few ways Chamomile is used for. I hope you enjoyed this post. Why don't you share  how  you use Chamomile?!

Grandmas truffle cookies

I recently made these cookies and thought I should share!These are originally my grandmothers recipe.My mother has my grandmas recipe book now,and oh how i wish one day to have it be past down to me.I have to say that My grandmother is not with us anymore, and so my mother has been baking these cookies for years over the holidays.My Grandmother was a great baker. As a little girl, I remember her old recipe book, the pages inside all dusted nicely with flour,from baking as much as she did. She was a wonderful women.With my sisters help, i had to play around with the measurement's.I will be giving you step by step instructions.

Ingredients

3 boiled egg yokes.( graded)

1/2 Cup. Sugar.

1 lb. good butter.(room temperature)

1 Tablespoon.vanilla extract.

1 teaspoon.lemon Juice with a little zest.

4Cups.Flour ( all-purpose flour)

Walnuts, as many as needed.

Powdered Sugar

Lemon Juice

Preheat oven 350.Degrees.

If the dough still sticks to your hands add a little more flour.As my mom says, Eye IT;)

Mix together the butter,sugar,egg yokes,vanilla extract,and lemon juice with the zest.Until the butter is fluffy and beautiful.Then add the flour by cup.

The dough should feel like play-dough in your hand,you will be rolling them in to little balls.You will insert a piece of walnut in each ball of dough. Once you finish rolling them and insert the  walnut.Putting them on baking sheet,and bake for about 15-18 minuets. So they are very light brown. You can tell if they are done by looking at the bottom of the cookie.The top will look a little cracked, That is normal. Once they cooled. You roll them in powdered sugar.

Powdered sugar

 

(the way my grandmother did) or I also made a Lemon glaze, 2 Cups of powdered sugar and three Tablespoons of lemon juice.or more for the consistency desired. I drizzled the glaze on the cookie.Very simple and very beautiful. The cookie melts in your mouth. I hope you enjoy them.

 

 

 Lemon glazed.