Wilted Spinach Salad

We are going camping this weekend...yay!!

And so I am trying to use up the fresh food I'm not planning on taking and since I have a huge amount of spinach in the firdge and don't want to come back to find it wilted and didn't want to buy more food...well I think Spinach Salad will make the perfect lunch.

Don't you?

Wilted Spinach Salad (2-3 servings)
6 cups baby spincah
2 slices bacon, diced
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 cup red onion, chopped
salt and pepper to taste
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
a squirt of honey
2 hard boiled eggs, chopped
1. Cook bacon until crispy, set aside to drain on paper towel covered plate.
2. To bacon grease in pan add the olive oil and the onion and the salt and pepper. Cook for 2-3 minutes until the onion is soft.
3. Add vinegar and honey and swirl.
4. Toss the spinach with the dressing and add the bacon and the eggs.


Have a great weekend!!

And that is this gal's view for today.

10 Facts About Saturated Fats

I've been dong doing some research about fats and I must say it has been eye opening.

A blog entry is not the place for lots of detail, but here are ten facts I think you'll find to be interesting.

1. There are good fats and bad fats, I'm sure you know that. But what might surprise you is the good for your fats come from butter and red meats while the bad for you fats come from vegetable sources. You probably thought just the opposite, huh?

2. Saturated fats make up at least 50 percent of a cells membranes giving them the stiffness they need to function properly.

3. Saturated fats contribute to our bone health. Without saturated fats calcium would not be able to be absorbed into the skeletal structure.

4. Saturated fats lower the Lp level in the blood. Higher levels of Lp often point to heart disease.

5. Saturated fats help to protect the liver from alcohol and other toxins.

6. Saturated fats pump up the immune system.

7. Saturated fats help the body to put essential fatty acids to work.

8. Saturated fats surround the heart and help to protect it in times of stress.

9. Saturated fats help to protect the digestive system from harmful bacteria.

10. Saturated fats fill us up sooner and leave us feeling full for longer.

As you can see saturated fats are far from the disease causing evil villian they are so often portrayed as. In reality they are part of a healthy diet and contribute greatly to our well being.

And that is this gal's view for today.

Fruit Bar Popsicles

Yikes!! I have been so terribly negligent of this blog!

I'm becoming one of those people whose posts read as above.

I think it was the change of direction I tried to take.

I got stuck.

So maybe I should just return to where I was...at least for now...

How about a recipe for some delicious popsicles to help cool you down on these hot summer days?

Of course with real food only.

Fruit Bar Popsicles
orange juice
banana
frozen strawberries
frozen mangos
frozen pineapple
frozen blueberries
I have to admit that I don't have exact measurements for this. It's not like baking a cake where everything has to be just right. With this you can add a little of this or more of that or less juice or more depending on how thick you want it.

I put about 1 and 1/2 cups of juice in the blender and then 1/2 banana and a small handful of everything else. Give it a good whirl until it's mixed well. At this point you can pour it in a cup and enjoy a great all fruit, dairy free smoothie, which we do quite often. Or you can pour it into popsicle molds, or small paper cups with a popsicle stick stuck in the middle. Freeze until firm and then enjoy. By the way, it helps to run warm water over the molds when trying to release them.

Goodness but it sure feels good to be back with you all!!

And that is this gal's view for today.

Where To Start??

The whole idea of traditional foods can be a little overwhelming.

Where to start I've been asing myself these last few days.

Well how about this question...how do you climb a mountain?

One step at a time?

Yes!!

So that's how I'll tackle traditional foods one step at a time.

The "Who" Of It...

Well I was going to link you up to the book "Nourishing Traditions" by Sally Fallon but since I live in the state of California and Amazon has cancelled all of their affliate accounts with those of us who live in California because our wonderful, lovely governer has decided that all California residents should pay sales taxes when they purchase anything from the internet even if it is from another state...well I guess I won't be able to do that now will I?

But I will link you to Nourished Magazine, also by Sally Fallon, where you will find lots of good information.

As I mentioned here I'm about to take my quest for eating real foods to a higher level.

Cultured dairy products, fermented vegetables and fruits, sprouted grains, nuts and seeds, traditional fats and bone stocks...I read all about these a few years ago in Sally Fallon's book and must admit that I was a bit overwhelmed by it all. But now, well, I think I might be ready to tackle it.

I'm by no means claiming to be an expert. This is a journey for me and I'm brand new, but I thought it would be worthwhile to chart my course for all of you.

Together we can learn as I share my experiences with this new way of doing food.

I think it will be kind of fun.

And that is this gal's view for today.

What and Why...In a Nutshell...

So what are traditional foods and how do they fit into the scheme of things.

In a nutshell they are real foods.

But foods prepared the way they were prepared years and years ago.

Before there was mass production of food. Before food companies were giant corporations. Before supermarkets. Before transfats, high fructose corn syrup, preservatives, and artifical colorings or flavorings.

Because before all of that people had a much closer relationship with their food than they do today.

People grew it and figured out how to keep it and they slaughtered it if it was moving.

Dairy products were raw, vegetables were often times fermented, and grains were likely soaked.

So why go back to all of that?

Well people were healthier.

In our time one in three people dies of cancer, one in three suffers from allergies, one in ten have ulcers, and one in five are mentally ill. And arthritis, multiple sclerosis, digestive disorders, diabetes, osteoporosis, Alzheimer's, epilepsy, and chronic fatigue are occuring at alarming rates while our young people are also plagued with learning disabilities such as dyslexia and hyperactivite.

These are conditions which were very rare only a generation or two ago.

Something is not right.

And I think it has to do with the food we consume. Or what seems to pass for food these days.

Anyways that's the what and the why if it. Tomorrow I'll tell you about the who of it.

And that is the gal's view for today.

New Directions

I was a bit absent last week...sorry about that!

I could tell you that life has been so busy that I just didn't have time for writing and yes it has been busy, but I've been away more so because I've been doing some thinking.

Some thinking about the direction of this blog.

That is the great thing about blogging...you can tweek yourself a bit from time to time. Nothing is set in stone and as life changes around so can your daily accounting of it.

As I mentioned, not so long ago, my purpose here is to tout the benefits of eating real foods. And to show you that it is possible to do so.

Even on a busy schedule and even on a limited budget.

But I did mention something about "kicking it up a notch"...

And that's what I aim to do.

I'm going to take real foods a step further...

I'm going to start exploring the world of traditional foods.

And I'm gong to chart the course of this new journey here, in This Gal's View.

I'm going to explore the why's and the how's of fermented veggies, bone broths, and soaked grains.

I'll be examing the benefits of butter, lard, and coconut oil.

And I'll be anxiouxly sharing all of this new knowledge with you, my gentle reader.

So let the adventure begin!

And that is this gal's view for today.