Sweet Wholesome Wednesday: Cool Peppermint Ice Cream w/ Homemade Chocolate Magic Shell

I almost forgot that today was Sweet Wholesome Wednesday, but glad I had a recipe on standby for times like this :o)

The title pretty much says it all... the peppermint is fresh from my garden and wonderfully refreshing! But I had to use a lot of peppermint leaves to get a good flavor, you'll have to adjust according to your tastes. Some like it strong, some like it mild and I'm in the middle :o)

You can revisit your sweet childhood memories of magic shells with no guilty feelings! This homemade Chocolate Magic Shell is more delicious than the distant memory of Magic Shells at your local ice cream shop! I wasn't a big fan of the Magic Shell as a kid because the flavor wasn't appealing and I felt like it was in the way of the real good stuff: the ice cream. Now, I am happy to say that this stuff rocks! The secret ingredient to making the "hard shell" is... coconut oil. For those of you who might not know, coconut oil's melting point is around 72 F and hardens very quickly when the temp. is less then 70 F. The coconut oil makes an ideal, healthy (and frugal!!) Magic Shell and you can avoid the nasty (my opinion) kinds in the stores!

Cool Peppermint Ice Cream w/

Homemade Chocolate Magic Shell

• 3 cups whole milk or cream
• 2 egg yolks
• 1/2 cup raw honey
• 2 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1 tsp. peppermint extract (optional)
• 1 Tbsp. arrowroot powder
• 15-25 (or more) fresh peppermint leaves

Blend everything together in your blender. Pour into your ice cream maker and process according to instructions. IF you don't have a maker... simply pour into a plastic container and put in freezer. When frozen, pull it out and let it thaw slightly. Chop it up and pour into your blender. Blend till creamy.

NOTE: Make sure to taste the mixture and adjust if needed. I did not use peppermint extract (didn't have any, but if you want a strong flavor... you might want to use it) and I used about 25 leaves before I was satisfied with the peppermint flavor.

• 1 cup coconut oil
• 1/2-3/4 cup cocoa powder
• 1/4-1/3 cup honey (or your choice of sweetener)
• 2 tsp. vanilla
• pinch of sea salt

Gently melt everything together over very low heat (don't want it to boil!) or use a double boiler. Taste and adjust according to your preferences. Pour into a small glass mason jar or a plastic container (easy to squeeze).

You don't have to refrigerate this amazing stuff because the coconut oil naturally preserves the mixture. Ours lasted almost 2 weeks (on the shelf) before it was used up and tasted great! If you decide to put it in the fridge... expect it to turn into a hard lump and you will need to let it sit in hot water before using.

Who says ice cream is only a summer treat?! Just turn up the heat for a little bit and daydream about the summer days while you eat this delicious peppermint treat!

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I Am Back & Tropical Traditions Coconut OIl Winner!

Hello everybody!!

I hope you all are doing well and had a good weekend. I am sorry for being absent since Wednesday and have a good reason! But before I share a little bit about that, let me announce the winner (chosen via random.org) for the Tropical Tradition Gold Label Coconut Oil...

Jessilyn82 (jessibear19@-----)

Congratulations Jess, I hope you will enjoy the Coconut Oil! And everybody who entered... thank you and don't give up! I will be having more giveaways in the near future :o)

Okay, now about my absent...

My best friend got married this past Saturday and she asked me to be there as her Matron of Honor (Thank you Michelle!). The Lord provided the funds for me, my mom and Tabitha to travel to Colorado for the wedding. I am so glad that I was there for her, because she was my Maid of Honor over 6 years ago in my wedding! We left Wednesday morning and got back last night. The short trip went by too quickly!! We had so much fun hanging out with the family (because they have been our family for so many years) and catching up with Michelle's brothers.

The wedding was simple, yet BEAUTIFUL! They held it over a small cliff with beautiful views of the mountains all around. If you are on my facebook, you can see the wedding video that her brother put together for them on my wall.

While we were in Colorado, I received some wonderful products to do reviews and giveaways. I am so excited to try them and share them with you. So, remember to visit my blog for more reviews and giveaways!

I am hoping to post a recipe tomorrow, but no promises :o)

Have a wonderful week everybody!

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Soaking Nuts & Seeds

Here is another nourishing technique that I consider very important to our diet… soaking & dehydrating nuts and seeds. They are great nutritional snacks and ideal for traveling.

I used to not enjoy nuts or seeds because I wasn’t fond of the waxy, slightly bitter taste and it would often bother my stomach, make me slightly tired and give me a light headache if I ate a couple handfuls. I thought it was because I was more of a “carb” person (which, I am) and didn’t enjoy a lot of protein. But when I started soaking and dehydrating them, I found them much more digestible and seriously DELICIOUS! Now, I love them and enjoy them daily with my salads, oatmeal or simply mixing them with raisins for a quick snack.

If I hadn’t learn about the benefits of soaking grains, nuts/seeds and legumes through the research of Sally Fallon and Nourishing Traditions, I probably would’ve developed wheat and nut allergies. My body was telling me that my digestive mechanism was under stress trying to digest the nuts and I loved bread a little too much :o)

Why Soak Nuts?

Nuts are rich sources of natural oils, protein, vitamins and they are very nutritious food if properly prepared. Once again, the habits of traditional societies should be served as a guide. They understood instinctively that nuts are best soaked or partially sprouted before eaten. Why? Because nuts contain numerous enzyme inhibitors that can put a real strain on our digestive mechanism if consume in excess (which is very likely why my body didn’t do well when I ate raw nuts). The enzymes are useful in preventing the nuts and seeds from sprouting prematurely.

Nuts are easier to digest and nutrients more available if they are soaked in warm salt water overnight, then dried in a warm oven or dehydrator. Salt in the soaking water activates enzymes that neutralize enzyme inhibitor and simulates the production of beneficial enzymes. These enzymes increases the levels of vitamins (especially the important B vitamins), makes the nuts easier to digest and the nutrients are easily absorbed. The Aztecs are a great example of this process… they would soak pumpkin or squash seeds in salty water and sun dry them. They ate pepitas whole or ground into a meal.

Some of you might be wondering why salt is used for the soaking instead of a cultured or acidic medium. Here’s what I found from Sally Fallon:

The salt helps activate enzymes that de-activate the enzyme inhibitors. For grains, we soak in an acidic solution to get rid of phytic acid. Nuts do not contain much phytic acid but do contain high levels of enzyme inhibitors. The method imitates the way the native peoples in Central America treated their nuts and seeds--by soaking them in seawater and then dehydrating them.

If you eat substantial quantities of raw pecans, walnuts, Brazil nuts, filberts or others, you have a choice of swallowing enzyme capsules with them to neutralize their enzyme inhibitors, germinating them or soak them in salt water and dehydrate. Obviously, germinating or soaking them is more frugal and healthier in the long run.

How to Soak Nuts & Seeds

The basic technique is the same for all nuts and seeds, but there are slight changes for most of them and I will list each of them separately. But before I do, let me explain the basic way of soaking your nuts and seeds:

• Pour your choice of nuts and/or seeds into a big enough bowl.
• Sprinkle sea salt over them.
• Pour lukewarm water over them, using enough to cover completely.
• Stir it around really good.
• Leave in a warm place for the time specified or overnight.
• Then drain, using a colander.
• Spread over your Dehydrator screens and set it no warmer than 150 degrees.
• If using an oven, spread on stainless steel cookie sheet and place in warm oven (no warmer than 150 degrees). Turn occasionally.
• Take out when the nuts and/or seeds are thoroughly dry and crisp (important!).
• Store in airtight jars/containers and enjoy!

It is really important to make sure they are completely dry with no moisture. They could mold and wouldn’t have that delicious, light, crunchy texture. Often times if I soak them for a longer period, then it will take longer to dehydrate them.

I use my dehydrator instead of the oven and LOVE it! It works extremely well and is very handy to have around. The dehydrator uses up less energy, doesn’t heat up my kitchen and is great for many things. Sadly, my dehydrator is getting ready to retire and I will be looking for a new one soon. I was blessed with this used simple dehydrator a few years ago (my friend’s mom found it in a garage sale, yeah!) and have used it weekly since then. Yeah, it got used a lot!!

For those who don’t have a dehydrator I have heard that you can use your oven by leaving the door slightly ajar to keep the temperature lower than 150 degrees. I know this isn’t very energy efficient, but it could work. You can also shop around Craig’s List, ebay, garage sales and resale stores… maybe you just might find a used dehydrator in good condition and at a good price!

Pumpkin or Squash Seeds (Pepitas)

• 4 cups raw, hulled pumpkin seeds
• 2 Tbsp. sea salt
• 1 tsp. cayenne pepper (optional)
• filtered water

Soaking: At least 7 hours or overnight

Dehydrating: 12 hours or overnight, until dry and crisp

Sunflower Seeds

I've never really enjoyed sunflower seeds until I soaked and dehydrated them. Now, I love them with my salads!

• 4 cups raw, hulled sunflower seeds
• 1 Tbsp. sea salt
• filtered water

Soaking: At least 7 hours or overnight

Dehydrating: 12 hours or overnight, until dry and crisp

Pecans or Walnuts

The buttery flavor of the pecans intensifies through the soaking and drying process… So good! I also noticed that the walnuts have a less bitter aftertaste when they are soaked and dried. Special note: Walnuts should be stored in the fridge to preserve the natural omega 3 oils.

• 4 cups raw pecans or walnuts
• 2 tsp. sea salt
• filtered water

Soaking: At least 7 hours or overnight

Dehydrating: 12 to 24 hours

Peanuts, Pine Nuts & Hazelnuts

The peanuts and hazelnuts are best skinless.

• 4 cups raw peanuts, pine nuts or hazelnuts
• 1 Tbsp. sea salt
• filtered water

Soaking: At least 7 hours or overnight

Dehydrating: 12 to 24 hours, until completely dry and crisp.

Whole Almonds & Slivered Almonds

Our favorite!! NT says it is best to use skinless (easier to digest) and more satisfactory in recipes. But I use almonds with skins and like them just fine :o)

• 4 cups almonds or almond slivers
• 1 Tbsp. sea salt
• filtered water

Soaking: At least 7 hours or overnight

Dehydrating: 12 to 24 hours, until completely dry and crisp.

Cashews

According to NT: Care must be taken in preparing cashews. They will become slimy and develop a disagreeable taste if allowed to soak too long or dry out too slowly. Possibly because they come to us no truly raw but having already undergone two separate heatings. You may dry them at 200 to 250 degrees because the enzymes have already been destroyed during the processing.

• 4 cups “raw” cashews
• 1 Tbsp. sea salt
• filtered water

Soaking: No more than 6 hours

Dehydrating: at 200 degrees, 12 to 24 hours till dry and crisp.

Macadamia Nuts

I love macadamia nuts, but choose them with great care! If they look oily or old… don’t buy them. Try to find them as fresh as possible with no or little oil residues. Make sure not to soak them too long or they will get slimy.

• 4 cups raw macadamia nuts
• 1 Tbsp. sea salt
• filtered water

Soaking: At least 7 hours or overnight

Dehydrating: 12 to 24 hours, until completely dry and crisp.

Source: Nourishing Traditions, 2nd Edition

I have been soaking and dehydrating nuts/seeds for 3 years now and my family loves them. I am thankful that I came across Sally Fallon’s excellent research on this area and for her dedication to bring back traditional, nourishing foods into our modern world.

Do tell me... What you think of all this?

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Sweet Wholesome Wednesday: Spicy Ginger Pecan Ice Cream

I found this DELICIOUS recipe in my Nourishing Traditions book and it has become a regular in my family. I've been making this for several months now and made some changes, but ended up going back to the original recipe.

I just love the spicy, warm feel in my mouth while savory each bite of this deliciously sweet treat. The pecans imparts a wonderful buttery flavor that you can only get from pecans :o) This is a great treat for those who are heading into the fall and winter season. This cool treat will leave you feeling warm and tingling.

Spicy Ginger Pecan Ice Cream

• 3 cups whole milk or cream
• 3 egg yolks
• 1 Tbsp. arrowroot
• 1 Tbsp. ground ginger
• 1 Tbsp. vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup honey or maple syrup
• 1/2 - 3/4 cup chopped pecans

Beat egg yolks in a bowl and either pour into a blender or keep in the bowl. Blend in the remaining ingredients. Pour into an ice cream maker and process according to its instructions. When done, transfer the ice cream into a shallow plastic bowl and store in freezer or eat right away.


If you don't have an ice cream maker... simply pour into a shallow plastic container, cover and store in your freezer. When frozen, take it out and let it thaw till slightly soft. Put back in the blender and give it a whirl till creamy.

Both ways give delicious results!!  Also, don't forget: enter to win a FREE quart jar of Tropical Traditions Organic Virgin Coconut Oil.

I almost forgot! Kristy @ My Little Space gave me a Friend Button... Thank you Kristy!!!!

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Review & Giveaway: Tropical Traditions Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil

The giveaway is now close!

Thank you Tropical Traditions for the giveaway!

Thank you everybody for entering!

In my previous post I mentioned that my in-laws were visiting, but they flew back home Saturday (waaahhh!). We had a great time with them and always enjoy their visits! Every time they visit they usually bring over things that we can't find or haven't found a good source here in Costa Rica (coconut oil, dried cranberries, rice noodles, etc...). Well, I was so pleased to find a quart of Virgin Coconut Oil in the midst of things they brought over. Tropical Traditions send me a sample of their Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil and book "Virgin Coconut Oil: how it has changed people's lives and how it can change yours" By Brian and Marianita Shilhavy to review and host a giveaway!

You all know I am a huge coconut oil fan because I use it in almost all my recipes. Before reading the book, I already knew the many benefits of eating and using coconut oil. The book reconfirmed what I knew and MORE! I always enjoy reading and hearing testimonies from people who have benefited greatly from using coconut oil.

Not only does this book contain tons of rich information, research and over 100 testimonies, but it also has over 85 recipes showing how you can incorporate coconut into your diet! I have tried a few with great success. Our favorite is the Coconut Banana Muffins using coconut flour. So moist, rich and great source of protein and fiber! Now it gets better, you all can get your own free copy too! All you simply need to do it place an order with them as a first time customer and click on "Referred by a friend" and in the box that says "How did you hear about us?" enter my referral number: 1310574. By telling Tropical Traditions that I referred you, you will receive a complimentary copy of the their book FREE. You will enjoy it and learn a lot! You probably won't want to put it down till you finish reading it!

I use coconut oil in pretty much everything:

• moisturizes my hair and skin
• smoothies
• cook with food
• mix it in with oatmeal
• use as a replacement for butter
• apply to sunburn and rashes
• eat it straight off the spoon mixed with raw honey
• use on cuts and scratches
• spread on toast with honey and cinnamon
• use in my baking and sweets
• in the bath water for my girls
• and more that I can't think of right now :o)

Check out this simple video and watch how this coconut oil is produced:

Most of you might be wondering... "what about the Nutiva brand that you claim to be your favorite?"... well, I have to say that Tropical Traditions' Gold Label Coconut Oil matched the taste and quality of Nutiva's Coconut Oil, but the Gold Label is a step ahead because of the way it is produced. Please read on...

Now, the Giveaway...

A quart jar of organic Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil. I am really enjoying this oil because the taste is so silky and delicious! The oil is produced through wet milling / fermentation (as shown in the video above). Learned from the older generation and done by hand, they extract the oil by grating the fresh coconut, extracting the coconut milk and then letting the coconut milk stand in a covered container for 24 hours. After 24 hours, the oil naturally separates from the water producing a clear oil that retains the full scent and taste of coconuts. This coconut oil is not only delicious, but it is also RAW because most processed virgin coconut oils experiences temperatures close to the boiling point of water (200 F).

How To Enter...

Head over to Tropical Traditions and check out their great products. Then come back here and leave a comment (one entry) letting me know what products you would love to try... while you are there, subscribe to their newsletter if you aren't receiving it already (required). I really enjoy getting their newsletters and knowing what is on sale. They frequently offer "buy one get one free" sales and free shipping. Good stuff :o)

Extra Entries...

You must do the main entry first (above), then post a separate comment for each extra entry. Thank you and have fun!

1. Subscribe to receive my posts via email
2. Follow me on Twitter (if you aren't already) & tweet about this giveaway
3. Follow Tropical Traditions on Twitter
4. Friend me on Facebook
5. Follow my blog

The Rules...

PLEASE, every comment must have an email address. You can comment with your blog account as long as I can contact you through there! The giveaway ends on September 22nd and is open to those who have US mailing addresses (hint: if you live outside of the US, but still have a US mailing address and a way to get the product to you... you are qualified!).

Tropical Traditions is a great company and I love the fact that their coconut oil comes directly from family farms and mostly made by hand. Here's a sound bite from their website:

We have a strong commitment to family farming and organic standards. But the organic label is not enough for us. We research and find out where the products are produced, and how they are produced. We find that some organic standards too loose for our trust, so we look beyond what is claimed on a label. We find out as much as possible about those who provide the products. And if a certain quality of product does not exist, we will work with others to produce that product and offer it to our consumers. We did that with Virgin Coconut Oil in the Philippines, and we are working on several other products both here in the US and outside the US that we plan to introduce to you soon.

Now, head over to Tropical Traditions and do your thing! If and when you do make your first order... don't forget to use my referral number: 1310574 and get your free copy of their "Virgin Coconut Oil..." book!

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¡Oiga!: How to Make The BEST Quesadillas Ever (Seriously!)

Oigo - Costa Rican saying for: Hey or Listen Up!

Hello Everybody!

I hope you all a good week. I am sorry that I've been absent, but my in-laws are here, we have been updating and working on our RO4Y newsletter to send out via mail AND some other things came up. Yeah, I've been pretty busy, but now I'm back!

So, usually everybody has a favorite day, right? Garfield (and most people) hate Mondays, but I don't know who hates Fridays... I love Fridays! Its Farmer's Market (Feria) day. Its the end of the week. I can have my hubby home for the weekend. Dinner is usually early, easy and light because we sometimes make popcorn and watch a family movie.

You know, I just suddenly had a flash back: TGI Friday's... back before we started the road of healthy eating and nourishing foods, it was one of my favorite places to eat. We would ALWAYS order their killer brownie for dessert and walk away feeling sick (now I know why!). Why am I talking about this? For those who don't know... TGI Friday's means: Thank God It's Friday!

Anyway...

Today I decided to make Quesadillas for dinner and realized I've kept this yummy idea from you for too long now.

Every time I make this... I love the results, especially if I leave it in the fridge overnight to let all the flavors soak into the cheese. I came up with this idea several months ago while making dinner for my family and some friends.

Now, let me explain something, I really enjoy quesadillas... I do, but I don't enjoy how the veggies and cheese would often fall out or get pulled out when I am taking a bite. That night, while I was thinking about that and working on a huge block of fresh raw cheese, a great idea popped up in my head...

Delicious Cheese Mixture

By Marillyn Beard

• Big blocks of fresh cheese (your choice)
• Fresh cilantro
• Tomatoes
• Onions
• Bell Peppers
• Jalapenos (opional)
• LOTS of fresh garlic, minced
• Dried or fresh oregano
• Black pepper
• Sea salt
• Dried chile peppers (optional)
• Ground cooked beef or chicken (optional)

Grate your choice of cheeses (I love white cheddar and mozzarella together). Finely chop all the veggies and cilantro into small pieces. Mix in with the cheese (adjust according to your tastes... I like a even amount of everything, but sometimes add extra tomatoes). Add a big scoop of dried or fresh chopped oregano (I use about 1-2 Tbsp.). Grind in fresh pepper to taste and add sea salt if needed (I don't usually need to because the cheese already supplies the salt). If I don't have jalapenos... I like to add dried chile peppers for a spicy flavor.

Mix everything together well and either... 1) use it right away OR for the BEST results... 2) put in a sealed container and let it sit in your fridge overnight. Proceed to top your flour tortillas, fold over and toast both sides on a hot, oiled pan. Enjoy with fresh avocado, lime and salsa.

Often times I use it right away, but always have a lot leftover. The flavors are even better the next day or two (great for lunches!). Stronger, spicier and so tasty! Now, I try to make it ahead of time and use it a day or two later for the best quesadillas ever! The cheese and veggies don't come out in clumps and everything melts really evenly. I know it probably sounds tacky to say that, but... Seriously, that is what I think and what my family and friends are telling me.

Also, you can use the leftover cheese mix to make omelets. So delicious with some lime sprinkled on top!!

When you go grocery shopping... make sure you put this on your list and try it. Now, off I go to the market to do my weekly shopping. Have a great weekend!

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And The Winner is........

Kelly Parr!!

She was chosen via random.org for the Fermented Veggie Master Giveaway. Congratulations Kelly! Please contact me within 48 hours with your address and phone number.

For the rest of you, THANK YOU for entering and participating! Here is a coupon code: MJN2009 to receive 10% off on all merchandise (excluding Excalibur Dehydrators) until September 16th. Simply add the code just before you finalize your order!

Make Your Own Lacto Fermented Veggies!

Click here to order your gadget

I hope there will be more giveaways coming in the near future!

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Naomi: I am THREE now!

Naomi Shalom is now 3 years old! Yesterday was the day, but I was unable to write up a post due to blog troubles. Oh well! Better late then never :o) My in-laws are here for the week and we enjoyed a simple day as a family. Naomi is blessed to have her Grammie and Grandpa here for her birthday. I made a yummy Banana Coconut Chocolate Chip Cake (Naomi's favorite ingredients) while my mom whipped up some Arroz con Pollo (Naomi's favorite Costa Rican dish). Everything was delicious!

I am so blessed to have such a spunky, strong & feisty daughter. She brings sunshine into our home. I am learning more and more about the importance of walking in grace and love with Naomi. She is so much like me and that makes it challenging at times. Thankfully, Jon works very well with Naomi and I am always learning from him as we work together to train Naomi up in the way of the Lord. I can't imagine doing it without Jon... Naomi needs her Daddy just as much as she needs me.

"Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord."

Ephesians 6:4

"These are the commands, decrees and laws the LORD your God directed me to teach you to observe in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess, so that you, your children and their children after them may fear the LORD your God as long as you live by keeping all his decrees and commands that I give you, and so that you may enjoy long life. Hear, O Israel, and be careful to obey so that it may go well with you and that you may increase greatly in a land flowing with milk and honey, just as the LORD, the God of your fathers, promised you.

Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates."

Deuteronomy 6:1-9

Its not easy to raise two young girls and an awesome responsibility. I remember back before I was pregnant I didn't think I was fit to raise a child... especially two! God obviously proved me wrong :o) Now, I can't imagine my life without my girls!

For those who don't know... Naomi Shalom means "Beautiful Peace". We decided that name even though we didn't know if we were going to have a boy or girl. It fits her so perfectly because right before she was born, the Lord brought a peace over me and my fears of pain and the birth were taken away. When I went into labor... there was such a calmness and peace around me and my family. The Lord blessed us with an easy labor and natural birth... it was a beautiful time, especially when we all first looked upon our baby girl, Naomi Shalom.

"Grandchildren are the crowning glory of the aged;

parents are the pride of their children."

Proverbs 17:6

It is our prayer that Naomi will grow up to be a godly woman who will love the Lord with all her heart, soul, mind and strength... and love others. We can't expect perfection, but we can expect God's best in her life. Jon and I are not alone in this... my parents, who live with us, are a blessing and huge help. Naomi has a wonderful and special relationship with her Papi and Nina, especially Papi. She loves to follow him around and "help" him while he cares his plants... It is a joy to watch her with my parents because not many kids see their grandparents everyday. I am blessed to have parents who love the Lord and support us. Naomi and Tabi are truly the crowning glory of my parents :o)

I want to share with you a few pictures I took of Naomi and her Daddy... Wow, she was so tiny!

Have a wonderful week!

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Sweet Wholesome Wednesday: Mango Upside Down Buttermilk Cake (Soaked)

I am enjoying my "Sweet Wholesome Wednesday" posts, but I have so many desserts to share with you that I might end up sharing them on other days besides Wednesdays. I guess I am more of a baker than a cook. I LOVE doing both, but making sweets is my thing. I have so much fun experimenting with recipes, making changes and eating them... my family loves it too :o) LOL!

Well, today I have a really fun recipe to share with you all. I've been eyeing this recipe from my Costa Rican cookbook for a while and decided last week to give it a try. Instead of your usual pineapple, I used mangos and instead of using the crazy amount of sugar that it called for, I cut it in half and used coconut palm sugar instead. I replace the all-purpose flour with spelt flour and soaked it using cultured buttermilk because it will decrease the phtytic acid and increase absorption of vital nutrients (read more here). The results... awesome! Overall it was sweet, buttery, chewy and rich... having it with fresh milk rounded it up to perfect.

I made this again this past Sunday to test the ingredients and make sure the results were the same. This time I used mangos AND blackberries... it was amazing! The blackberries' tartness jumped out among the sweetness of the mangos. Oh yum, I must make this again!!

Mango Upside Down Buttermilk Cake

By Marillyn Beard

• 2 cups spelt or whole wheat flour
• 3/4 cup cultured buttermilk

Mix flour and buttermilk. Soak for 12- 24 hours (I soaked mine for almost 24 hours).

• 3 cups firm & ripe mangos (about 2 lg. mangos)
• 1/2 stick of butter
• 1/2 cup palm sugar or honey

Slice mangos and lay out them out on a 9x13 pan. In a small pot over low flame, stir sweetener and butter till just melted... don't not let it bubble. Pour the the mixture over the mangos. Set aside. Preheat oven to 350 F.

• 3 eggs
• 2 tsp. baking soda
• 1/4 tsp. sea salt
• 1/2 cup palm sugar or honey

Mix into the dough one egg at a time. Make sure each is mixed in before adding another. This will require some serious stirring on your part. Add the rest of the ingredients and mix well. Pour over the mangos and put in oven to bake for 30-35 minutes. The top should be golden brown when done. Let it cool and turn it over onto a serving plate. Serve with either fresh milk or ice cream, your choice :o)

I hope some of you will try this and enjoy the wonderful results :o)

REMINDER: Enter to win a FREE Fermented Veggie Master... ends on Friday!

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Food Introduction & The Birth Story: Happy Birthday Tabitha!

Today is Tabitha Charis Helle Beard's 1 year birthday, woohoo! I know most moms say this, but I truly can't believe how fast a year has gone by! Just a year ago she was a helpless babe... now she is crawling around and learning to walk. We are teaching her baby sign language and she can sign "milk", "food", "more" and "all done". She is one smart chick :o)

We actually decided to start introducing food about a week ago, but she hasn't really shown a whole lot of interest. She is still breastfeeding and prefers it over food. We've given her egg yolks, ground beef or chicken, kefir, banana & avocados, but she mostly wants to play with it than eat it. She really likes my Cortido (Latin American Sauerkraut), which I've given to her alone and mixed with the ground beef. We are also giving her a very small dose of cod liver oil once a day. She takes it no problem! We use Garden of Life's Cod Liver Oil and its flavored with lemon oil and peppermint oil... really helps with digesting the oil and the taste.

Most of you might be wondering why I didn't start her on rice cereal like most babies. Here's a sound bite from a wonderful article founded in Weston A. Price Foundation website:

Babies produce functional enzymes (pepsin and proteolytic enzymes) and digestive juices (hydrochloric acid in the stomach) that work on proteins and fats. This makes perfect sense since the milk from a healthy mother has 50-60 percent of its energy as fat, which is critical for growth, energy and development. In addition, the cholesterol in human milk supplies an infant with close to six times the amount most adults consume from food. In some cultures, a new mother is encouraged to eat six to ten eggs a day and almost ten ounces of chicken and pork for at least a month after birth. This fat-rich diet ensures her breast milk will contain adequate healthy fats.

Thus, a baby's earliest solid foods should be mostly animal foods since his digestive system, although immature, is better equipped to supply enzymes for digestion of fats and proteins rather than carbohydrates. This explains why current research is pointing to meat (including nutrient-dense organ meat) as being a nourishing early weaning food.

NOTE: Please read the rest of the article on why cereal is not the ideal first food, the importance of fats for a growing baby & good foods to start introducing.

Now I really want to share the birth story with all of you and a few pictures. We had great birth experiences with both girls. Naomi was born naturally in a hospital with a great midwife (Dana Ericson) and Tabi was born naturally in home with a wonderful midwife (Uva Meiner). We chose to do a hospital birth the first time around because it was my first time and didn't know what to expect exactly. It was beautiful, fast and amazing! The second time around, I knew I wasn't going to be in a hospital (especially after I learned that most Costa Rican hospitals had 80+% c-section rate!!!) and it was so different from the first time but still beautiful, fast and amazing :o)

I am going to share with you three different perspectives: Jon's, mine & Nikon (the camera) :o) We posted this on our RO4Y blog and now posting it here. Enjoy the birth stories and pictures!

The Birth Story: His Perspective

I hustled back from the bank with an eagerness to get on the road. Marillyn and I had recently met a professional photographer who volunteered her services for family portraits before the birth. However, the day decided to take an unexpected twist.

"Jon, I'm feeling contractions. I'm not sure if they are premature, but this could be the real thing."

"Do you want to cancel?"

"Yes."

Thus begins my day as Mr. Multi-tasker. Yes, ladies you read it: MR. Multi-tasker.

I got on the phone and called the photographer, our mid-wife Uva and Marillyn's parents. I grabbed Marillyn's Nikon and begin to chronicle the day, not to mention entertain Naomi and change a few diapers here and there.

Uva arrived a few hours later and we prepared the birthing tub. Naomi, Uva and I shot up to her home to get the rest of the supplies and we prepared the living room for the birth.

While I connected the hoses in the laundry room for the tub, I grabbed Mare's tri-pod and set up my video camera. Did I mention that I also offered some liquids for my wife and massaged her lower back?

Soon more help arrived. Uva's assistant, Patricia, begin to organize the kitchen into a mini-herbal-pharmacy along with birthing chair and exercise ball. During this time, I called the Goransons again and reorganized the kitchen to help Patricia. I also got a few candid photos and some close ups with the video. I might have said this already, but I cleaned up several water spills on the tile floor with some old towels. (Naomi decided to check if the water hoses were actually working and proceeded to water the living room floor!)

As Mare entered the pool, I readjusted the tri-pod, changed into my board shorts, gave Naomi a few crackers and strawberries and prepped our bed with several sheets and a couple shower curtains.

At this point, I transformed into the human Bow-flex for Marillyn. I was pressed, squeezed, leaned on, pulled on, held, braced and even yelled at few times. I was also a mediator for my hearing impaired spouse and her mid-wife, as well as my almost two-year-old daughter and the photographer and Patricia. (Melanie, the photographer, had arrived and was taking over film documentation duties.)

Then she arrived. While gripping my arms in a squatting position, Mare delivered Tabitha Charis Helle Beard into the reaching arms of our midwife at 3:38 PM. (Uva was reaching through my legs to get to Tabitha!) With babe in arms, we positioned Marillyn into the birthing stool and gazed at our new child. She had come! S-H-E. I couldn't believe we had another girl. My heart was overwhelmed with joy and a little fear. Joy that Tabitha was outside the womb and fear that I would not be able to love another little girl as much as I love Naomi.

However, as I gazed into the beauty of the moment, I knew that God saw me fit to raise and love another little woman into this world.

What a crazy day! What a perfect day!

This is my birth story.

The Birth Story: Her Perspective

Well, okay. So Monday morning I get up to go and Jon takes off to the bank while Naomi is having a crying fit because she misses Papa (a.k.a. grandpa).

I felt a little achy around my hips and my pelvis. I thought "Am I stretching out even more or are these Braxton Hicks contractions?"

It was a beautiful day, so I decided to take Naomi to the park. We played on the swing for a long time. (In hindsight, this is when I know the labor started.)

We headed back into the house just as Jon got home. I wasn't sure if I wanted to go out for family pictures, so I went to lay down on the bed. I felt a little bit better, but we decided to cancel and just take it easy.

I remember trying to figure out what I was feeling: Was labor starting or just something else? I got up to use the bathroom then went out to the kitchen and told Jon,

"This might be it, but I'm not positive."

All excited, Jon asked, "Are you ready to have a baby?"

"Sure," I said, "but I have no idea if this is it or not."

A little while later I noticed that it was really starting to feel like contractions and they were growing more intense with each one. I didn't time the contractions or anything, because I didn't really think that it was necessary. I told Jon that this might be it, please try and get a hold of my parents. Jon called Uva, our midwife, and also left a couple messages for my parents.

The contractions and everything that I was feeling was very different from Naomi's birth. During her birth, everything came as if it was one big contraction; so fast and I really didn't have time to think (which was good). This time around, the contractions came in waves and I noticed that it felt different. I had space in-between my contractions to talk and play with Naomi.

Then Uva came down to the apartment. She was concerned that we wouldn't have the tub ready to use. I said, "No way! You have to at least try because I don't want the same story as with Naomi." I wasn't able to have the tub with her for that very reason. I thought to myself, "If it is ready great, if not that's okay."

Jon and Uva got started setting everything up. Jon got the camera up and Naomi was playing with the birthday ball, rolling around and being silly. While Uva set the pool up with Jon, I went and put on a different top to be ready to go into the pool.

The contractions were coming much more steadily, but my water had not yet broken. I was breathing in through my nose and out through my mouth. While the air escaped my throat, I made low moaning noises which actually helped me to relax.

At this point my parents finally called and said they were on their way. Uva's assistant, Patricia, arrived and helped set up everything else needed for the birth.

My focus turned inward: letting go and allowing my body to do its job. As the contractions got more intense, I called Jon over to rub my back. I moved my hips back and forth as I kneeled on the couch. I asked when the tub would be ready for me to get in. I continued to focus; to breath long and deep breaths in order to not allow myself to tense up as each contraction came and went.

When the tub was ready, I stepped into the warm water and I could feel my whole body relax. The contractions got stronger, but they had a different feel in the water. Uva encouraged Jon to get into the pool; he asked me if I wanted him to get in. It felt good to have Jon in the pool with me, rubbing my back and holding onto my hands, holding onto me.

It's amazing how painful the contractions were, but yet how quickly they go away. God made our bodies for birth; all the right chemistry and systems to make and birth a baby. So perfect.

At this moment, I started seeing flashes from a camera. Melanie, our new friend and photographer, arrived to document this special day. Jon asked me if the flashes were bothering me, but I barely noticed because my focus was so intense on the birth.

Uva then encouraged me to come out of the pool and walk in order to help bring the baby down a little bit further. So I got out and Jon led me around, supporting me when I had my contractions. As each contraction came along, I would hang off of my husband's neck and arms. (A few times I even hit him because it hurt so much.)

Though the contractions were steady and strong, it didn't feel like the baby was coming down. My water still had not broken yet. So I got back in the tub and tried different positions to get comfortable with Jon supporting me and reminding me to trust in the Lord.

Uva's touch was reassuring on my skin. She was very calm and gentle with everything that she did. She understood how the body is made to do this with very little interference.

At this point, she decided to check and see where I was and see if my water was still there. She found that my bag of water was still very firmly closed. She said it was very strong. So she took a plastic finger/glove with a rubber tip and went in to break my water. At first she did it very gently but it wouldn't budge! So she had to do it a lot more firm a second time and I felt my water break immediately.

It actually felt really good. My contractions changed. It didn't hurt as much as before, but they were still very strong. Before my water broke, I remember my hips hurting a lot. It was because the contractions were going up against a "wall": the bag of water that had not yet been broken. The contractions continued but much smoother and thorough. They were flowing much easier than before.

Uva encouraged me to get out of the water again and walk some more. I felt the baby move down very quickly. As soon as I got out of the water I immediately squatted and felt the urge to push. I felt the baby move down even more! Uva continued to encourage me to stand up and walk; so I waddled around a little bit, but the contractions were coming faster and harder. With every contraction I wanted to get down and squat. It felt good to have to have my husband's support. Literally!

I sat on the birthing stool, but as soon as a contraction came around I threw myself onto Uva. She sat on the floor facing me and I kneeled onto her lap. As soon as the contraction was over I got onto the birthing stool, but I didn't like sitting on the stool. It was very uncomfortable.

At this point, I found myself breathing through my nose and out through my mouth much quicker as the baby got closer to coming out. I got up and waddled a little more, but with every contraction getting closer and closer, I decided to, no, I FELT the urge to push and that was the starting point of the baby crowning.

I stayed there in the squatting position; holding on for dear life to Jon's arms, while Patricia was behind me supporting me. Uva was behind Jon working between his legs to watch as the baby came out. (Claudine our landlady showed up at the perfect timing to take care of Naomi.)

As I pushed, I felt a burning sensation very strong and I was confused because I didn't think the baby was that far out yet. So I pushed but with caution so I wouldn't tear. Uva was pleased with my progress, but the burning sensation was growing.

Then all of a sudden she was out! I felt her body slide out of my tummy so fast that it felt weird. I could feel her feet kicking and a large gasp escaped me as the baby flew out of me.

Unfortunately, I tore pretty badly. I was too focused on our new baby to really care at the moment. I really wanted to know if it was a boy or a girl.

They got me up and moved me back to the birthing stool to birth the placenta. I asked Jon if it was a boy or girl. We looked and found, to our surprise, that it was a girl. She was beautiful even though she was covered in white vernix, blood and slime. It was an amazing realization that we had another baby.

Uva's assistant Patricia gave me a few different herbal remedies and a spoonful of honey. I birthed the placenta easily with very little blood (though I did have a lot of blood from the tear).

They moved me to the bedroom and got me comfortable and settled so I could continue to bond with our new baby girl, Tabitha. Breast feeding started without any problems. Praise the Lord. Tabitha smelled so sweet and felt so warm.

Uva checked me over and looked at my tear. She saw that it was pretty bad. We had to call the doctor, who came later that evening to stitch me up. He did a wonderful job.

Naomi came over and explored her new little sister. I was so proud of her because she was so calm and watchful through the birth. Even times when I was obviously in pain, she didn't get upset because she knew that this was a normal process. I'm so grateful that she was able to witness the birth of her little sister. She immediately learned Tabitha's name.

Shortly after the birth my parents arrived. I know that my mom was very disappointed that she missed the birth, but I'm glad that she made it safely with Dad. They came over and got to meet their new grand-baby. Naomi was so happy to see her Papa and Nina that she covered them with kisses.

Patricia brought chicken soup to me that she had just made fresh in the kitchen. It tasted so good. I didn't realize how hungry I was until I had the first bite because I had only drank coconut water throughout the labor.

I continued to rest and enjoy our new baby. Jon sat with us and Naomi and my parents. We all crowded into the bedroom to get to know the new member of the family.

Uva brought in the placenta for us to see. She said it was the healthiest she's ever seen (she has been a mid-wife for 13+ years). It was extremely strong and thick. We decided to make an imprint of the placenta on a piece of paper. We are planning to mat and frame it. The print is very cool because there is an image of a tree growing from the cord into the placenta. This image is called "The Tree of Life" by many people.

It was definitely a unique experience, very different from Naomi's birth. I loved the homebirth atmosphere! Not having to labor in the car on the way to the hospital or be bothered by nurses. Not having to tolerate the hospital smells. Not having to worry about Naomi adjusting to a place that she has never been too. It was all here in the one bedroom apartment; everything had become familiar over the last two weeks we had been living here. I will definitely do a home birth again if the Lord gives us more kids.

It was a very beautiful day as a family. And a very funny one as I gave birth on Labor Day, again!

The Birth Story: In Photographs

Uva (our midwife) & Naomi enjoying Tabi

Please click on the link above and enjoy MORE pictures! Also, if you would like to receive our updates about the RO4Y ministry... please sign up on the upper right sidebar on the RO4Y blog. Thanks!

Coming Soon: Naomi's Birthday!!

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