Fermented Vegetable Juice Day 11-Through-16

Hey everyone, sorry for being so MIA. My health and my life has been crazy lately! But have no fear, the experiment... for the most part, continues on. Due to a few unforeseen issues, I accidently missed 3 days but I've been contemplating going to the doctor over some chronic and excruciating back problems I've had ongoing this passed week or two. In either case, I am still consuming the lovely fermented juices and in the next couple days, something very exciting will happen... I'll get to open another bottle, a different flavor... yay! I am so excited because to be honest, the Beet Juice has a pretty overpowering flavoring and I am starting to get a touch bit bored with it. I'm excited for something along the lines of the Sauerkraut Juice because I am having fantasies of soaking some vegetables in it and having myself a lovely "Pickled" platter, lol. I just ADORE the fermented flavor, even if the undertones of what is fermented may or may not be my very favorite. I think I will truly enjoy getting a new flavor because for a little over two weeks now, it's been Beets, Beets, Beets and while it's been lovely, I'm ready for a little change.
As you can see, Day 11 I missed due to not being able to stand/walk or hardly move from back pain. Day 12 I took it like a shot, perhaps one of the quickest ways to get it in me. Day 13 same as day 11. Day 14 I had a delicious piece of Chicken in some lovely Chicken Broth with lightly sauteed Lettuce and Tomatoes, 1 teaspoon of the Fermented Beet Juice (which is what gives it that amazing color!) and a Tapioca Flour roll on the side, Mmm yummy! Day 15 I had it like a shot, 1 teaspoon of the juice with a tablespoon or two of water and drank it plain. Day 16 (this morning) I had my 1 teaspoon Fermented Beet Juice in a glass of mixed, fresh juiced juice that contained - Pears, Apple, Green Grapes and a Lemon. I strongly suggest if you try this, drink the Beet Juice as a shot and then drink the juice afterwards because the combination kind of reminded me a bit of dirt flavor.

How am I doing? All in all, my constitution is no longer doing so good, perhaps due to the missed doses but I just haven't been well enough or had enough free time to drink my fermented juice. I do part time work for a volunteer magazine and business has been hectic lately. Meetings, manuals, etc. I also have a condition that causes regular intestinal issues and this is probably just part of that. There isn't much to update about but I am very excited to announce the next flavor and give it a try!

Do you have a suggestion for what type of Fermented Juice to open next? Sauerkraut Juice, Red Cabbage Juice, Carrot Juice or Daikon Juice? Feel free to leave your suggestion in the comments below.

Until next time, I wish you Peace, Health and Happiness!

Jill Is Having Another Giveaway!

Hello everyone, I just thought I would let you know that my dear friend Jill over at The Real Food Forager Blog is having another wonderful giveaway and I wanted to share it with you all! She is giving away a book called "This Ain't Normal Folks" by Joel Salatin so be sure to stop by Jill's Blog and check out her Giveaway.

Until next time, I wish you Peace, Health and Happiness!

Self-Layering Pecan Pie Cake

 Okay, I'm going to be honest with you... this actually was not at all what I intended on getting when I made this recipe, it truly was supposed to be Pecan Pie. - However, the result I got is quite lovely and some of best discoveries are made by accident. This is a truly UNIQUE dessert, I have never had anything like it. It's super crispy on the outside with a really heavy moist layer and really light and fluffy layer. To tell you the truth, everything separated into layers on it's own. That is why I call it "Self-Layering" - Pecan Pie Cake.

This is a great image of the layers on the left. The top layer is a crispy nut layer, the layer just below that is a cakey, maple flavored layer, the layer just below that is a heavy, moist, eggy, maple flavored layer and the layer just below that, the bottom layer, is like lightly sweetened pie crust. - I just stumbled on this tonight as I attempted to invent my own Pecan Pie recipe, it turned into this. I have indeed sampled it myself, as well as a few other people and thus far, two thumbs up! It's an incredibly unique, dessert eating experience with the different textured layers and flavors.

Self Layering Pecan Pie Cake:
CRUST:
1 and 1/3 Cups Almond Flour or Meal
2 Tablespoons Melted Butter OR Oil
2 Tablespoons Maple Syrup or Liquid Sweetener

PECAN PIE CAKE:
1/4 Cup Melted Butter OR Oil
2/3 Cup Maple Syrup or Syrup of some kind
1/2 Teaspoon Salt
3 Large Eggs
1 and 1/2 Cups Chopped or Ground Pecans/Nuts

Preparation: Begin by heating your over to 350 degrees, Butter or Oil/Grease your Pie Plate. Mix Almond Flour, Butter and Syrup crust mixture and press it into JUST the bottom of the Pie Plate. Bake for 10-12 minutes. (I did 12 minutes)  Then start preparing the filling, in a medium sauce pan, melt 1/4 Cup Butter over Medium-Low heat. Add Syrup and Salt once Butter is melted. In a separate bowl, whisk the 3 Eggs until thoroughly mixed. Pour the Egg mixture into the sauce pan, stirring until well combined. Mix in the nuts and continue to heat for another 1-2 minutes. Remove from heat and once your Pie Crust is done baking, pour the filling mixture into the Pie Plate and bake for another 35-45 minutes until it is fully set and no longer jiggles. (I did 40 minutes) A butter knife inserted in the center should come out clean. Allow to cool slightly, then cut, serve and enjoy!

I am particularly curious about everyones thoughts and comments on this recipe. Does this sound interesting? Does this sound good? (It is good, even if it doesn't sound good) Would you like to try this recipe? Have you tried it and got something to say about it? I'd love to hear from you, just leave your message in the comments below.

- Until next time, I wish you Peace, Health and Happiness!
This Post has been linked to Healthy 2Day Wednesday!

Fermented Vegetable Juice Day 5 - 10

Hello everyone, sorry I have been AWOL for a while but life got really hectic and then I was sick for a while with a head cold and some sort of stomach bug. Either way, I am back and fear not, I've still been doing the Fermented Vegetable Juice Experiments!
So far it's been going great, the burning that usually accompanied consuming it at first... is now gone. I have tried taking it in many ways. Day 5 it was in a Smoothie of Pureed Banana, Orange Juice and Almond Milk. Day 6 it was in a Smoothie of Pureed Banana, Applesauce and Almond Milk. Day 7 it was in a Smoothie of Pureed Banana and Orange Juice. Day 8 I had my Fermented Beet Juice in a Pureed Banana.

I haven't upped my dose due to the being sick and getting caught up in other things, so I'm doing an extra week at 1 teaspoon. Day 9 - I had my Beet Juice mixed in with some Broccoli Chicken Soup, Mmm, Yummy!
On Day 10 - I tried doing a shot of it slightly watered down. That would be the image of the dark reddish fluid, I put the 1 teaspoon Beet Juice in with maybe a tablespoon of water. Not bad.

I haven't yet had my dose today, which will be day 11! I have been alternating taking it mornings, afternoons and nights. Either one seems to work just fine.
Official Report:  I truly and firmly believe that drinking the Fermented Juice was a HUGE part of why I didn't get very sick. Everyone else around me was miserable for days but mine was fairly mild, I only had one truly bad day and then I was pretty much fine. I actually think this is helping and making a difference in my digestion and health. I have even been a lot more productive lately, though you'd never guess that from the fact that it's been about a week since I've posted, lol. I am very sorry about that, it was just really hectic here.

Questions? Comments? Stories?

Please feel free to share with us in the comments, we'd love to hear from you.

Until next time, I wish you Peace, Health and Happiness!

Fermented Vegetable Juice - Day 4

 Today my Fermented Beet Juice was served in a smoothie along side my breakfast. How appropriate that on Valentines Day it would tint my little smoothie such a lovely shade of pink.  -  This smoothie contains one pureed Banana, 1/4 cup Orange Juice, 1/4 cup Pineapple Juice and 1/4 cup Almond Milk with my added 1 teaspoon of Fermented Beet Juice. It was undeniably delicious, I cannot even tell you how much I am loving this stuff. I tasted my smoothie before adding the Fermented Beet Juice and quite frankly, I think it tasted better AFTER I added the Beet Juice. Yum, yum!

Breakfast: Pineapple Chunks, A Banana and
 My YUMMY smoothie!

In all honesty, I thought incorporating this was going to be a lot harder than it actually is. 
While it is still too soon to tell, I think this may be doing my digestive system quite well. The one and only downside I have experienced thus far is the extreme sugar cravings and the hypoglycemia that I had beat... is now back. I am not certain why this is but I attribute it to possible die-off. If the good bacteria is getting in there and kicking the bad bacteria butt, in particular - Yeast, it may be causing them to cry out for sweets in their dying hour. This is of course just a simple hypothesis. Other then that, things are going great in the experiment so far. I certainly think this little endeavor is very promising indeed.                                                                                                                                                      

Any questions or comments? Feel free to post in the comments below. 

Peace, Health and Happiness to all and to all a great day!

Sweet Glazed Pecans

Sweet, buttery and luscious! - These make a delicious snack and happen to be one of my favorite combinations. Sweet Protein. See, I have problems with my blood sugar. So I practice the fine art of trying to make my sweets as protein packed as possible to prevent the spike and crash roller coaster.   - This is like natures popcorn only better because Pecans are so healthy and they make the perfect nut for this job. They are easier to chew, not like the harder nuts that make you feel like you're going to break a tooth AND they are naturally mild in flavor.

Don't forget that Nuts contain anti-nutrients
and it is best if they are soaked prior to eating.


So YumMmmMmmy!!!

Sweet Glazed Pecans:
1/2 Cup Pecans
1 Tablespoon Butter
2 Tablespoons Maple Syrup
 -  Directions :
Place Butter (Or Coconut Oil) in a frying pan and melt, add Maple Syrup and lightly fry the Pecans over medium - high heat for 5-10 minutes.
Be CAREFUL - These WILL be Very HOT! - Allow to cool and get to snacking. These are fantastic with a glass of Almond Milk on the side and they satisfy a sweet tooth in a very healthy, protein filled way.
  -  Enjoy!

Any questions or comments? Have you tried making these? How did they turn out? What did you think? Do you have any additions, suggestions or tips? We're listening. Please feel free to share in the comments below.  - Until next time, Peace, Health and Happiness!

Fermented Vegetable Juice - Day 3

Today's dose of Fermented Beet Juice was served in an interesting way. I initially wanted to have a salad but alas there was no lettuce. So I hard boiled an Egg, I washed, peeled and shredded a Carrot, washed and quartered some Cherry Tomatoes, sliced some Black Olives, diced the Egg White and reserved the Egg Yolk. From there I mashed the Egg Yolk with a teaspoon of Walnut Oil, a teaspoon of the Fermented Beet Juice, some Black Olive Juice, some of the Tomato Juice from cutting the Tomatoes and a splash of Almond Milk, this made a very tangy and tasty "dressing" for my "salad" - All in all it wasn't a bad "salad" and the Fermented Beet Juice really put some tang in my "dressing."

I have noted increased energy with each dose upon first taking the juice and it lasts about an hour. The mild tummy discomfort it caused on Day 1, has not been back since Day 1. Both Day 2 and so far Day 3 have been Gastrointestinally uneventful, lol. Though there is still a mild burning sensation in my stomach and while I cannot say for sure that it is the juice, it did begin the day I started taking it. I assume this is much like the effect Fermented Apple Cider Vinegar has, it too causes a mild burning sensation when ingested. Fear not though, this is a good thing! It's an indication that your body has adequate Hydrochloric Acid for proper food digestion. I thought today we might take a look at what makes Beets SO darn healthy!

Beets are a root vegetable with a plethora of benefits. They have been used for many, many purposes through history and modern times. In the past Beet Leaves were used for binding wounds and Beet Root was used to treat a whole host of ailments. Beets contain a strong color pigment called Betalain that has Antioxidant, Antifungal and Anti-inflammatory properties. It is useful in detoxification and may help support Cancer recovery. The Leafy Green part of Beets is high in many vitamins, including Vitamin K, Vitamin C, Vitamin, Iron, Copper, Potassium, Magnesium, Sulfur, Calcium, Choline and Silica. Though you should be warned that consuming large amounts of Beet Juice or Beets in general, may cause your stool and urine to darken or redden. Beets are quite high in naturally occurring Sugar, so I suggest taking it easy on them, maybe just a few ounces of Beet Juice a week or just a couple servings of Beets per week. 

Of course you may eat them as often and as you see fit, I have read that too much can be not so good. So like anything else, everything in moderation. Beets are especially healthy Raw because Oxalic Acid can become somewhat toxic when cooked. Though if you have eaten cooked Beets for years now, you probably know more than me, so just keep doing what you're doing. These are merely guidelines and some helpful information for folks who may not know a lot about our friend the Beet. Juicing is another wonderful option, especially if you Juice the whole Beet, greens included because the greens contain much of the nutrients in a Beet. Raw Beet and Beet Juice consumption have been show to help with Arthritis, Cancer, Eye Problems, Kidney Stones, Varicose Veins and Cardiovascular health as well. It's also been indicated that Beets and Beet Juice may help with Stomach Acid Production and improve the function of many organs.

- Any questions or comments? Feel free to leave me a message in the comments below. I'd love to hear your stories or input on Probiotics or Fermented Foods.

Until next time, Peace, Health and Happiness!