Library visit with the kiddos

The car doors swung open, kids unbuckled from their car seats and jumped out of the car… Raced towards the library double glass doors. We were there to pick up new books for the week.

We picked up 11 books this week, my two smaller children were both to pick five, but of course Gracie the five year old snuck another one in and I didn’t notice till check out… Sneaky girl!

The kids also bring home a book everyday from school so that brings our total to 21 books this week we will read.

There will soon be a reading competition going on to celebrate Dr Seuss… So as winners that we are… We will start amping up our reading here soon.

My kids young and older are all fantastic, above average at reading and we have so much fun spending time together reading all these awesome books we pick up.

I love libraries, we are able to get well over 100$ of books to read for free…

My biggest problem… We are already through 7 of the 11 books.. And we still have four more days to go… May need another quick trip in a couple more days.

“A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies, said Jojen. The man who never reads lives only one.”
George R.R. Martin

live

re

A new year deserves good food!

Many have set their New Years resolution to get healthy. I am constantly trying healthy eating… Try to limit processed food, for sure no Trans Fats… Lots of veggies, organic just about everything and wine 😉

Portobello Mushroom Pizza is one of my favorite go to low fat/low calorie meal.

I usually use organic marinara, green peppers, banana peppers, weight watcher cheese, and a thin slice of salami, bake for 10 min then… Yummmmmo!

Weight Loss… Fasting and Making it!!! 😋

Since starting this new way of eating (5:2) I have lost 13 lbs!!! Wohoooo! (1 month).

I fast two days a week and pretty much eat clean the other five but I don’t restrict myself if I want some goodies such as wine, or a meal out once or twice a week and the lbs are falling off.

I encourage you to watch this documentary… It has changed how I eat… http://vimeo.com/m/54089463
You won’t be disappointed!

Then read this… And it will change the way you think about food, the commercialism in it and you will be on a path of weight loss success today! http://ebookbrowsee.net/eat-stop-eat-by-brad-pilon-pdf-d322147020

I will start at the gym today to help those little fat monsters off me even quicker. Weights here I come.

The 5:2 allows 500 calories a day while fasting, however I choose to not eat anything. To help me get through this, I usually make my own broths to drink throughout the day and I don’t ever feel pangs of hunger, rather very content.

Throw in a bunch of veggies in water and some seasoning and let simmer for a few hours… Strain and drink or store for another fast day.

Throw in some organic chicken/beef bones if you want to as well. There has been some studies that show that bone broth is very healthy for your body!

The advantages of bone broth are amazing to me… Heals the lining in your stomach, helps alleviate joint pain, hair, skin and nails benefit from the collagen.

Read up!!! And then run and make some!

http://www.naturalnews.com/040493_bone_broth_immune_health_nutrients.html

http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-9890/10-benefits-of-bone-broth-gut-healing-recipe.html

Losing weight has never been so easy!😊

If you are struggling with your weight… Then you need to watch this documentary!

This has changed my life! I’m already down 13 lbs in three weeks….and I can eat whatever I want!!! No more stupid diets… No more restrictions.

http://documentaryheaven.com/eat-fast-and-live-longer/

I’ve decided to quit listening to everyone telling me that I need to eat every 3-4 hours to kick start my metabolism. There is more and more scientific evidence that states that’s just a bunch of hooey!

Then spend a bit of time and read this.. http://healthandbeautyfirst.com/eat-stop-eat-pdf-download-free/

i have conditioned my body to want food at the normal times of breakfast, lunch and dinner. I “feel” hungry… But I don’t actually need to eat.

So today is beer and wings… And I am not worried. Tomorrow is fasting, and the weight keeps coming off!

Traveling in Germany

Living in Europe presents itself as a treasure that one will forever cherish.

When we have the opportunity to take a quick day trip it’s easy to find a memory a few hours away. Some of our favorite places to visit are old churches. It’s amazing to see the craftsmanship of centuries past and touch the walls where someone laid the stones, the attention to detail. You just can’t find this in the States as plentiful as you will in Europe.

We visited St Jakobs in Rothenburg, Germany…..a small church in comparison to some we’ve visited but so very beautiful and makes your jaw drop!

This particular church was finished in 1322. The stained glass is 56′ high and was installed from 1350 to about 1400… It’s amazing these beauties have been in place for so many centuries and are of such quality.

The chancel pews are from 1514.. You can see the original wood floors in the picture.

The wood carvings are meticulous and are from many masters spanning different years centuries ago depicting scenes described in the bible.

So very blessed to experience.

Enjoy the tour.

A door is a door… To somewhere

Ever since I can remember I have always loved doors. In my past I have adored antique doors in old homes and store shops.

Germany has offered up so many unique and old doors… On churches, houses, store fronts, castles.

On every trip even ten minutes down the road I have been known to stop the car and snap a picture to remember… I know I’m kinda crazy :0) … Sue me.

I often wonder who has walked in and out of these doors… The families, the history I can only leave to my imagination.

These beauties are from our day trip to Rothenburg Germany… A small town surrounded by walls that were used to protect the city during wars.. Most notably the 30 year war. You can walk the wall that is about 1.5 miles and amazing to experience where people from different centuries have walked before.

Enjoy…

Rochefort 8 Trappistes

Like a fine wine that is hard to get or very expensive from another country, this blog is dedicated to Rochefort Trappistes 8, from of course… Belgium.

It’s to be sipped and enjoyed at room temperature. It’s very flavorful, with tingly mouthfeels! There is a taste of cocoa, fruit, a little pepper and enough hops to be subtle while sipping.

Beer Advocate rates this at 96%. I would say that is a solid rating for this beer. Not quite 100% but darn close!

While easier to get than the coveted Westvleteren 12’s… It’s still takes a drive over the Belgium border to get a case at a decent price. Every beer run to the Abby we get a case of the Rochefort 8’s.

My hope is that when we return to the US we have a decent amount of these and others to have a nice collection for special occasions.

Salsa Fresca

Salsa Fresca is good on just about anything. We make it fresh about once a week and eat it on almost everything. Eggs, steak, anything Mexican and of course chips.

Why people buy this when it takes 10-15 minutes for a weeks worth without preservatives is beyond me.

Chop, dice….and enjoy!

Okinawan Awamori

I am blogging today to show my appreciation to one of my newest followers and her country of origin.

I’ve always been a gal who has made home where the house is… I’ve been very lucky to get the chance to live in other countries. Besides Germany I had the awesome opportunity to live for a few years in Okinawa, Japan.

How cool my life has been to experience so many different cultures. I have very fond memories of Okinawa. I met my better half there, many friends made, singing karaoke with my friends often, sushi out the yang, bowls and bowls of ramen and plenty of rice wine tastings!

Awamori is near and dear to my heart and very special as it is only made on the island of Okinawa. (so pretty much impossible to get in Germany) Some people compare it to Sake, though I scoff at that comparison!

Sake is made using yellow koji mold, and awamori is made using black koji mold of Okinawan origin. Another difference is the kind of rice each uses. Awamori is made from long-grained indica rice while sake is from short-grained rice. Mold… Is good for so many things! The taste has a night and day difference to me.

Most people drink sake hot, while many enjoy Awamori on ice. I like to put a splash of water in mine. You sip this like a fine scotch, this is to be savored.

I was lucky that my old boss here in Germany had family he would go see in Okinawa every few months so I was so appreciative that he would bring me back my favorite Awamori, Chatan Choro.

We purchased glow in the dark glasses that were hand blown in Okinawa that we only break out for the special occasions we are able to enjoy this. These are so unique and I’ve never seen anywhere else… I would literally shed tears if one broke.

Good times in Japan I shall cherish forever!

Kampai!!!!

Homemade Ramen.. Yummy

On chilly nights there is nothing my family loves more than a big ol bowl of homemade ramen. My better half has converted me as much as possible on making what we eat fresh.

I remember watching a video on YouTube where one person ate store bought Top Ramen and the other homemade ramen noodles. After eating they both swallowed a M2A camera pill. During the video they showed the bodies inability to break down the processed food (Top Ramen) over a 32 hour period. There are many preservatives in the store bought processed foods that our bodies just aren’t meant to ingest.

One such product in Top Ramen and is in many of our processed foods is TBHQ, a petroleum derivative and is banned in many countries but not America. Hmmmmmm…. I’m no doctor, nor do I pretend to be… I just know that it hit home for me and I believe that homemade actually tastes 1000% better than store bought!

So here is my recipe for a healthier version.

Bread Flour
2 tsp Baking Soda
Eggs
5 Star anise
Two quarts of Organic Beef Broth (reduced sodium works too)
A Beef Brisket (3-4 lbs)
Whole Allspice
Sliced Ginger (about half a big one)
1 Tbs Sugar
1/4 C Soy Sauce (reduced sodium works too)
1 tsp White Pepper
Sliced Green Onions

Directions

Pour in a stock pot the entire containers of Organic Beef Broth, plop in the Brisket, Star Anise, Allspice, Sugar, White Pepper, Soy Sauce and sliced Ginger. Cover and simmer until soft, about 3-4 hrs.

Noodles:

You’ll need to find the right texture but we use about 4-6 eggs, baking soda and enough Bread Flour to make it not sticky (about 3-4 cups of Bread Flour)… But not dry. We have a Kitchen-aid that we run the dough through multiple times and then run the dough through the cutter. If you don’t have one like we didn’t for years, knead it by hand and then cut thinly with a knife.

Bring a pot of water to a boil and boil noodles for about two min…place cooked noodles in a bowl and then place sliced brisket on top of noodles and ladle in the soup from stock pot. Garnish with green onions and viola!!! One of my favorite dishes of all time!
It takes longer but I promise the taste is worth the limited time you actually have to put into this dish!