Laurel of Leaves

definitely one of my favorite things about fall is...

2011-03-08T16:31:24.954-06:00

definitely one of my favorite things about fall is apple crisp!

Sigh....Sadly it is not ready to launch yet. This ...

2010-12-07T15:27:17.526-06:00

Sigh....Sadly it is not ready to launch yet. This week though!

where is it?

2010-12-07T15:24:52.689-06:00

where is it?

Oh that cake looks amazing!

2010-12-04T20:09:53.129-06:00

Oh that cake looks amazing!

Ah. Thanks for the tip! I do try to stay away from...

2010-12-01T16:03:06.639-06:00

Ah. Thanks for the tip! I do try to stay away from refined sugar as much as possible, so I might just have to live with the crumbs in my icing. But that would be great if I were baking for an extra special occasion. Thanks!

Hi, I saw the comment about icing without crumbs. ...

2010-11-30T16:07:30.650-06:00

Hi, I saw the comment about icing without crumbs. I have seen professional bakers who first put a thin sugar glaze like thin icing. When this is dry they put on the frosting of their choice. Kay

Not much of a carrot cake without carrots, huh? Go...

2010-11-30T09:36:02.655-06:00

Not much of a carrot cake without carrots, huh? Good thing I didn't leave them out of the recipe when I was actually baking it :-P

I've added them to the recipe above now--it's 2 c. grated carrots. Thanks for the heads up!

Looks great- but how many carrots did you use? I ...

2010-11-29T21:39:02.944-06:00

Looks great- but how many carrots did you use? I can't seem to find them in the recipe . . . I might be blind.

Thanks Jennifer! You bring up a good point about t...

2010-11-18T08:14:12.958-06:00

Thanks Jennifer! You bring up a good point about the oven on Thanksgiving. I've haven't ever hosted a holiday at my house, so that thought didn't even cross my mind!

What a great way to keep the oven free on Thanksgi...

2010-11-18T06:46:33.127-06:00

What a great way to keep the oven free on Thanksgiving. This looks delicious! The book is beautiful, by the way.

Hi Lori! I love a good carrot raisin muffin...I ha...

2010-11-15T21:29:42.865-06:00

Hi Lori!
I love a good carrot raisin muffin...I have a recipe on my blog from last fall but I used teff flour. (Love teff....)

Thanks so much for linking up to SIT!

Hugs,
Amy
Simply Sugar & Gluten-Free

It's true, the prices weren't extraordinar...

2010-11-12T08:34:18.084-06:00

It's true, the prices weren't extraordinary. I am definitely planning on going again (and Audrey, I think I will try the Lamb Burger!).

I guess my thought is that if someone just wants a burger (and not one of the unique menu options like lamb or salmon), then why pay upwards of $9 when you can get a burger & fries that are just as delicious for $6.50 from Gabby's?

I'll work on getting a review up for Gabby's so I will have something on the site to compare it to ;)

I guess the prices were kinda high, maybe? All I k...

2010-11-11T23:52:01.592-06:00

I guess the prices were kinda high, maybe? All I know is if the guy that owns my restaurant (where I work) owned Burger Up, those burgers would cost $18. $11 at P.I.T.S. will get you a tiny pizza with one topping....

"I remember when I was a boy and you could go see a movie for $4.99!" -Me, when I am a grandpa

I guess you're right about prices and everythi...

2010-11-11T22:48:30.329-06:00

I guess you're right about prices and everything else. When Ben and I went, my parents paid, so I didn't notice the prices as much as I normally would have.
But I got the lamb burger, and I have to say, it melted in my mouth. It was incredible. Maybe I just don't eat burgers enough, but I honestly thought it was the best burger I had ever had.
The thing that impressed me the most, though, was that my mom, who grew up on a farm and had cows and eats beefburgers way more than I do, said: "Wow...I can really tell a difference. This is a good burger. This is real beef. It tastes like beef did when I was little."
Anyway, that made a difference to me.
Thanks for the post!

Hi Lori, Your muffins look really good. I will hav...

2010-11-09T10:51:16.731-06:00

Hi Lori,
Your muffins look really good. I will have to try your recipe. Thank you for sharing.
Miz Helen

Thanks Jennifer! Your version with garlic and onio...

2010-11-09T10:36:36.881-06:00

Thanks Jennifer! Your version with garlic and onions sounds great too. I'll have to try that :)

This looks so good! I do something similar, though...

2010-11-09T09:36:04.963-06:00

This looks so good! I do something similar, though far simpler, for brunch: spinach sauteed with onions and garlic, topped with a poached egg. I'm going to have to try this next time, though - it looks delicious!

Thanks for your post, I came across it on one of t...

2010-10-30T23:18:24.916-05:00

Thanks for your post, I came across it on one of the link ups. Sometimes cancer can be easily linked to a cause of bad choices, ie, a smoker ending up with lung cancer and sometimes it isn't so evident for the average person. But I tend to agree that we as parents can pass on our bad health choices to our children. Exercise, health including spiritual and emotional health are part of the equation to a better quality of life including obedience to our Master. We can't take anything for granted. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, we are to keep our bodies holy. I was just telling my children in the last two days, our Creator has chosen each one of us to be here on this earth for a specific purpose. We need to do all that we can to accomplish our purpose. The enemy will do all that he can to cause problems, disease, divorce, etc... We need to continue in Yeshua's strength to be sure to pass on the baton to our children and on to the next generation until our Messiah's return. Blessings ~ Carmen

Here's another link with multiple article in r...

2010-10-28T21:55:50.252-05:00

Here's another link with multiple article in regards to cancer: http://raypeat.com/articles/

I think we all have cancer at one point or another, perhaps multiple times and aren't aware of it because our bodies are handling it.

Re: Mandy You bring up a really good point. Even ...

2010-10-28T21:18:25.124-05:00

Re: Mandy

You bring up a really good point. Even people with similar genes, raised in the same environment, with the same habits can have different genetic expressions. Your genes will be slightly different from those of your sister (unless she happens to be an identical twin) which could have an affect here, but probably a bigger factor is things that have happened to your body during your lifetime.

This can range from traumas to medications you've taken even to stress levels or emotional traumas. All of these can have cumulative harmful physiological effects, which are going to be absolutely unique from person to person. There's one factor in particular that I'd look into to start with for AS.

Specifically, spinal misalignments can put pressure on nerves that control how your organs (and immune system) function. This may not be associated with any back pain (since only 7% of our nerves sense pain), but it can have a long-term effect on how well those systems work that are supplied by the nerves under pressure. Since AS is related to swelling in the joints of the spine and pelvis, I'd recommend going to a wellness chiropractor if you haven't already. They can perform adjustments which will relieve that nerve tension and allow your body to begin working properly again, so that it can return to normal.

In combination with this type of corrective care, which will ultimately deal with the cause of the problem - not the symptoms - there are a few natural things you can to help reduce the inflammation in your spine: 1. Cut out sugar, inflammation feeds on it. 2. There are certain anti-inflammatory foods to add in to your diet: omega-3 oils, ginger, and turmeric. These two should help a lot, especially with the chiropractic adjustments.

Lastly, I do believe that God has us here for a reason, but I'd challenge you that He designed us to have a very active role in achieving it. Since our bodies are His temple, we out to take care of them (which includes keeping our spines - and therefore everything else - healthy). Also, consider the fact that often people do die outside of God's timing. If this were not true, Jesus (and the disciples) would not have raised people from the dead. God has a destiny for us, but we can ultimately decide to what degree we walk into it.

Hey Mandy, No worries that your post was long. T...

2010-10-28T13:26:46.002-05:00

Hey Mandy,

No worries that your post was long. Thanks for joining the conversation! I love what you said about "whether you are right or wrong it is a good point to look at and study." I've had such a paradigm shift in the last couple years about what health truly is. So just to get people thinking about it is awesome. I know I didn't give this sort of thing a second thought in the past. :)

Of course the US has a national soup! It's Sen...

2010-10-26T20:06:50.629-05:00

Of course the US has a national soup! It's Senate Bean Soup! But then Michigan has its own Bean Soup; and there's Manhattan Clam Chowder and New England Clam Chowder; Chili--Texas style, Cincinnati style; Oyster Stew...

Ok...so I did see your post on facebook the other ...

2010-10-25T10:07:08.108-05:00

Ok...so I did see your post on facebook the other day and lets just say I didnt like it :) But after really thinking about it this is what I have believed for several months...I think in a few years we will come to realize that cance is triggered from foods we eat. (BTW...my post will prob be long and sorry for that!!!)

Yes, we all have cancer cells in our body so why do some act out and some do not? I do believe it is the chemicals we are around and breathe in along with the chemicals we digest with the processed foods. By NO MEANS am I perfect and eat the healthiest ways...but I am aware of what I do eat and am working on changing that on a slow day by day process.

Also, I was diagnosed with a disease called AS (Anklyosing Spondylitis) in March. This is an auto-immune disease (which so is cancer but by NO MEANS am I calling what I have even CLOSE to cancer!!!). People usually diagnosed with AS has been found with a certain gene (similar to how we have cancer cells in our body). So what made mine flair up but my sisters has not and several others in my family have not?? This is what has led the doctors to believe why my AS flared up from this gene (only a hypothesis) I got sick with Bronchitis in January and was only given a zpack. Didnt think much of it and continued to work out after a few days of rest (was training for the half in December) all of the sudden I felt like I had the flu and hurt all over so after some extensive testing they discovered my disease (AS). They believe I never got 100% HEALTHY and the virus turned inward and attacked my body which in turn made that disease from that one cell flare up.

So...after this LONG POST...my point is I realized that maybe you, Lori are not all off with the healthy part. I think we automatically get mad at what you said but after thinking about it...how do we classify healthy?? My disease came on from not being healthy...not taking care of my body and running it down...whether you are right or wrong it is a good point to look at and study. My final belief is that God has us here for a reason and only HE knows what our purpose is here on this earth and how and why we leave the earth the way we do.

That sounds good, Lori! :) And we're sort of w...

2010-10-22T09:00:09.986-05:00

That sounds good, Lori! :)
And we're sort of watching Lord of the Rings too, because Ben has been rereading the books.
I feel like I could watch them all the time.

And you're going there! So exciting.

I actually take coconut oil daily...I have the act...

2010-10-18T13:59:57.783-05:00

I actually take coconut oil daily...I have the actual coconut oil and if you take that then it is (I believe) two teaspoons a day. I just couldnt take it straight so I got it in pill form and take 4 pills a day. I also drink coconut water...ever heard of it? IT IS WONDERFUL STUFF!! I take it when I am working out or if I am just tired. It is made by ONE and gives you a boost of energy but without all the other gunk in it that Gatorade has in it. I see a rheumatologist once a month for something else going on with me but when I told him I was taking both Coconut oil and drinking coconut water he said DONT STOP it is wonderful for you!

Here is an interesting link out there for everyone on coconut oil...

http://www.organicfacts.net/organic-oils/organic-coconut-oil/health-benefits-of-coconut-oil.html

Thanks for the other tips Lori! I am definitely going to try them!!!