How to Quickly and Easily Peel A LOT of Garlic

Garlic is really good for anything that ails ya plus it adds so much flava to almost any dish.  I try to use it generously.  But peeling those pesky pods can take forever.

Try this.  Break apart a garlic bulb and toss the cloves into a metal bowl.

Put a smaller bowl on top.  Shake like mad for about ten seconds.  Pretend you're playing percussion in a rock band.

 Voila.  The papery stuff comes off like magic.

Below you can see most of the garlic cloves peeled themselves.  The pile of 4 cloves in the bottom of the picture was easy enough to remove.

Here's to stronger garlic breath,
Julie

Keepin' it Real

This is what it looks like when you make real food with little people.  Messy.  Keepin' it real.

Hiding More Nutrition in Food

There were several noteworthy comments related to the previous post, "Hiding Nutrition in Chili."  The first two were emailed to me; the third was a comment on the blog.  - Julie

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Julie, I love your posts and your ingenious ideas!  Just one thing bothers me about this one: referring to liver as "offal".  I group it under "delicacies" along with the other "organ meats" (heart, tongue) we offer.  To my mind, "offal" is that stuff in the barrels at the back of the processing plant, not a delicacy like liver!  I'm with you on the taste - I much prefer ribeye or hamburger - but liver's not bad after a long soak (or two) in salt water or milk, thorough rinsing under cold water, really thorough trimming and cutting into bite-sizes, and sauteing -not too hard - with LOTS of onions and LOTS of garlic.  (Dave's invention, called "Notcho Momma's Liver".)  You and Lisa Lipe say it right out: hide it!

Big hug.  Thanks for all you do :-D
Lisa Cone
Waterfall Hollow Farm
Berryville, Arkansas

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I dried some water kefir grains and then pulverize them in a coffee grinder. I use the "powdered grains" in salad dressings. My daughter won't drink Water Kefir or Kombucha, so this is a way to get some of those good probiotics into food. She doesn't have a clue!

Catherine Janosky

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I've hidden offal and bone meal before. Our little one is allergic to dairy so getting enough calcium in him is a challenge. Thanks for the reminder--I sometimes forget to "hide."

jcurran
(comment on the original post)

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Tell me more!  I'm ready to hide more nutrition.  :)

Hiding Nutrition in Chili

With picky eaters, sometimes it is the unfamiliar that causes them to snarl their noses.  Chili is a familiar food so use it to hide nutrition!  Previously I shared about successfully hiding roasted butternut squash.

Here are some things you can hide in chili. I've done them all except liver.  I just can't get past the taste of liver.  I've swallowed hunks whole before.

-carrots, sweet potatoes, squash
-shredded zucchini
-liver or other offal (read tips here, Lisa hides liver in hamburgers.)
-onions and garlic
-peppers (bell or banana)
-turnips or radishes
-broth if you like it soupy

I'd love to know what you would add.
-Julie
Be sure to read the follow-up post with more tips!

FREE Informational Meeting for Parents of Struggling Learners

Since receiving my second NeuroNet certification right before Christmas, I am more excited than ever about offering these programs to struggling learners!  I provide services to children in a variety of educational situations so any interested parents are very welcomed.  Please forward and share this information.  Thank you!

--Lisa Lipe

FREE Informational Meeting for Parents of Struggling Learners

What: Learn about NeuroNet programs and meet Lisa 

When: Saturday, January 18, 10-11am (participants are welcome to stay later to ask questions)

Where: Integrated Learning Connections

(Home-based business at 17 Warwick Rd., Little Rock AR  72205)

Presenter: Lisa Lipe, M.Ed., Certified NeuroNet Provider, Private Educator of struggling learners, and "almost-finished" home school mom  To find out more about Lisa click here.

**If you would like to come, RSVP to integratedlearnermail@gmail.com with the number of people who will be with you.  (No children please, unless nursing.)

What is NeuroNet?

NeuroNet is a movement-based brain-training program which  can be implemented at home in about 20 minutes per day to help children improve motor skills, language skills, and information processing. Automation of these foundational skills facilitates fluency in reading decoding, handwriting and math fact retrieval which makes all future learning easier.  

Who can benefit?

·         auditory processing disorders

• doesn't overhear and jump into conversations (often strikingly absent)
• frequently asks "what?" or needs repetition of questions and directions
• auditory misperceptions (hears "cookie" for "cooking"; "hoot" for "hoop" etc.)

·         dyspraxia or apraxia of speech

·         developmental delays

·         ADD and ADHD

·         balance disorders

·         developmental vision disorders

·         high functioning autism

·         overly fearful, or excessive risk-taker

·         constant motion - self-distracted

·         clumsy

·         messy eater; difficulty with cutting, tying shoes

·         handwriting challenges (dysgraphia)

·         history of ear infections, asthma, allergies or other respiratory illnesses

·         late talking

·         articulation problem: some speech sounds still incorrect or unclear

·         difficulty learning verbal sequences such as months of year, alphabet

·         minimal interest in books or reading-readiness activities (dyslexia)

NeuroNet programs offered:

·         Integrated Rhythms

·         Tools for Learning

Find out more about NeuroNet programs at www.neuronetlearning.com

Healing Ulcerative Colitis with Real Food: A Testimony

Tappi Haney contacted me through Facebook and shared briefly her story, of how real food has healed her.  It encouraged me so much I cried when I read it to my husband.  I begged Tappi to share her story to encourage you.  Thanks, Tappi, for encouraging all of us.  -Julie

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Me (Tappi) at the 12 mile mark if the 3 Bridges Marathon. I had to give up running a few years ago because of my tummy troubles.  Now I'm back at it thanks to Real Food in Little Rock.  I really don't know how to express how grateful I am.

I was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis in my mid-twenties. Ulcerative colitis is a chronic condition, an inflammatory bowel disease similar to Crohn's, and often the symptoms of abdominal cramping and bloody diarrhea develop gradually.  Though for some people the symptoms are sudden.

I didn't have a clue what the diagnosis meant and after a few months of flares the pain went away.  Looking back, maybe the remission was because I didn't eat junk food or maybe I wasn't eating anything to cause a flare.  Maybe I was just young and invincible.

Then in my mid-forties I started needing frequent bathroom trips. I didn't think anything of it until one day I felt pain. I knew exactly what that was.  The previously diagnosed ulcerative colitis was back with a vengence.

For seven years I writhed in pain, experienced countless embarrassments, and took prescription medicine: the awful Remicade that elevated my liver enzymes.  I was miserable.

Because of the tummy troubles I missed so much work I was afraid of losing my job.  Most trips to work were spent with me begging God to please help me get across the parking lot to the bathroom. I always brought a change of clothes with me.

I was frustrated.  My life was over, I couldn't do anything I enjoyed anymore. I had to have a bathroom, plus the constant pain that just sucked the energy out of me.  I was on medicine year round and I didn't like that.

This chronic condition was manageable but not good. I had mostly given up hope that I would ever live a normal life again.

Over time I began to put it together that food had something to do with the flares.  I started a food journal and kept a list of foods that I knew hurt, but if I didn't have a bad experience within 24 hours then it didn't make the list.  Things gave me issues were potatoes, beans, corn, and things like that.  Wheat or sugar never made the list because those take their time in causing pain.  (When I brought the food-to-flare correlation up at doctor visits, he would get angry.)

Then one day I was buying pork from a local farmer and I mentioned my problem. She said to connect with Real Food in Little Rock. I signed up for the email and thought it was interesting.

Then one day Caris' mom, Wendy, wrote about her daughter. She detailed the story about how wonderful it was that Caris was no longer miserable with gut trouble. She explained the Specific Carbohydrate Diet. Caris, after years of pain similar to mine, was experiencing normalcy, having fun, and playing.

I couldn't believe what I read. A flame of hope began to flicker. I could be normal too. I printed the article and read it probably a hundred times. I bought the book Breaking the Vicious Cycle.

After reading the book I would not have tried the diet if it hadn't of been for Wendy writing about Caris.  She showed me it was the way to go. I would have thought it was an impossible diet to follow otherwise. I followed it and was patient.

It was said that die off of bad bugs in my gut would happen and that I would feel horrible for a while. Oh boy, were they were right. I felt awful for about 3 months. Not stabbing-pain-gut-trouble awful, just awful all over - sort of like flu symptoms.

Then one day I drove to work and I didn't have to go to the bathroom. At all.  Looking back it is kind of funny now, but I wondered if I was constipated. :)

I only got better from there. I will say that I didn't get over the "top" until I eliminated eggs. I have been off all medicine since April 2013. I have a normal life. I can't tell you have wonderful it is to be normal and pain free.

I have a new life. As I write this tears are in my eyes as I am so happy and grateful that Wendy wrote about Caris and that Julie takes the time to write a blog. Thank you both. You have changed my life.

-Tappi Haney

see also: The GAPS Diet Heals Ulcerative Colitis and Yes! You CAN Heal from Ulcerative Colitis with NO Drugs!
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Thank you, Tappi for encouraging us with your story.  If other readers would like to share a story, email me, Julie, luvmyhub AT gmail DOT com

Brain and Sensory Foundations - On Line Workshop

{Recommended by Lisa Lipe}

Brain and Sensory Foundations - On Line Workshop

Learn rhythmic and reflex integration movements that help children focus, learn, reduce anxiety, control impulses and develop emotional and physical maturity. With specific movement patterns, derived from womb life and early infancy, we calm the nervous system and develop effective brain and sensory pathways. The brain grows at the fastest rate in infancy largely because of these infant movements. We can use these movements at any age to support optimal learning and development.

Appropriate for parents, therapists, OTs, PTs, special educators, social workers and caregivers.

What parents and professionals are saying about the Online Brain and Sensory Foundations class:

"I wanted to share with you how amazing this year in school has been for my 14 year old son.  We have been pretty consistent with the movement exercises and some integration of specific reflexes.  He has taken such a leap forward I am totally convinced that the movements played a big part in it.  He is doing well in almost all of his subjects and it has become so much easier for him.  Thank you so much."

Colleen L., Hawaii

"My son has responded very well to the rhythmic movements and even reminds me to do them.  We have already seen improvement [after 4 weeks] in his being less distracted and less prone to over-reaction.  He is beginning to be more calm over all. He seems to be having more moments of rational thinking before immediate over-reaction. My husband has noticed this too."

Shelly Willeford, TX

Read more comments here.

When: Tuesdays from 7:30pm to 9:15pm Central time

January 28 through March 25 (8 weeks, skipping Feb. 25)

Register by January 15th to receive course materials on time.

$30 DISCOUNT REGISTRATION CODE:  ILDisc2014

Presenter:  Sonia Story develops and teaches courses in neurodevelopmental movement and has a private practice in Washington State,  Move, Play, Thrive . Along with many mentors, Sonia has trained directly with Harald Blomberg, MD and Moira Dempsey, authors of the book, Movements That Heal, and she is a certified Rhythmic Movement Training instructor and developer of the Brain and Sensory Foundations Training with Steven Kane, OTR/L.

Find more course information here.

View a course brochure and mail-in registration form here

Read related research here.

Click here for more information about how neurodevelopmental movement helps children with academic challenges.  

Learn why reflex integration is a key for sensory integration here.