Kid Kwips

Backcover of Unpublished Magazine Issue

Recipes of the Season (From This Past Season)

This summer I only had a couple of days where I found time to look around at the local garage sales. During my first day of the season where I was able to find that kind of time I came across a yard sale where everything was half price. It was the last hour of their sale, so the gal there was trying to get rid of everything as quick as possible. I thought I’d help her out if I could find anything I wanted. I saw some toys I didn’t want to clean up off of my floor (I’ve learned to look at toys in a whole new light than I once did), some woman’s clothing too large for me, and a table covered in miscellaneous items. On this last table I found my grand prize. A bread machine marked $4. I asked the lady if it worked. She said it did, so I asked why she was getting rid of it. She said she found out she is allergic to wheat and only eats spelt bread now. I thought to myself that you could probably make spelt bread in it, but instead decided to buy it. I thought, “Well, at least I won’t cry too hard if she is lying—it’s only $2.00!” When I got home my husband found a link online where I was able to read about how to work my bread machine. I gave it a try and… it did (does) work! About a month after that I found a second bread machine at a thrift store for $4.00, which I also bought. I figured that way I would have a back up if the first one broke. What I didn’t think of is that way I’ll be able to make enough pizza dough for four pizzas at once! That is what I have been doing ever since. So, needless to say, the following recipes are ones I have been using all summer with my bread machines.

My Favorite Pizza Dough

1 1/4 cups warm water (110° to 115° degrees F)

2 1/4 teaspoons (1 packet or 1/4 ounce) quick-rising active dry yeast or bread machine yeast.

4 cups unbleached all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons salt

Pour warm water and yeast into bread machine bowl. Let sit for about 5 minutes, then add remaining ingredients. Set your bread machine on the Dough setting and start it. Prepare a big mixing bowl with about 2-3 tablespoons of oil (I use rice bran oil) in the bottom. When your bread machine has finished process (about 1 1/2 hours later) take dough out and shape into a smooth ball by stretching the outer surface and tucking the sides underneath the bottom of the ball. Place the ball, smooth side down, in the bowl, turn to coat the ball all over with oil, and rest it seam side down in the bowl. Cover bowl tightly with saran wrap to prevent moisture loss and set aside in a warm place for dough to rise until doubles in bulk, about an hour and ten minutes.

After dough has risen gently press on it with your fist to expel air. Then either divide ball into two parts or transfer bowl to refrigerator. You may leave your dough in refrigerator for up to 36 hours punching dough down up to 4 times before your yeast will be exhausted. If you have refrigerated dough, let sit out until it has reached room temperature before stretching dough for pizza.

Preheat oven for 30 minutes to 500°.

Generously oil bottom of a 14 inch cast iron skillet, then place dough into pan and carefully pull and stretch until it reaches the edges of pan.

At this point I place 2 tablespoons of butter in a microwave safe bowl and microwave until butter is melted. Then using a pastry brush I brush a generous amount of butter on the entire spread of pizza dough, add mozzarella, any toppings desired, and a little more mozzarella on top. Place in oven on the very bottom of your oven for 8-12 minutes. You know it’s done when you use a spatula to lift it to check the bottom of the dough and it is slightly browned. Place on cutting board to keep it from burning in the cast iron skillet and slice!

Have fun!

Fast White Bread

1 cup very warm (115° to 125° F) water
2 3/4—3 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon sugar
1 package (2 1/4 teaspoons) quick-rising active dry yeast
1 1/4 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons of butter

Place water and yeast in bread machine bowl, let sit for about 5 minutes. Add remaining ingredients and either use your dough setting (if you want to bake in oven, as I usually do) or use your white bread setting (usually the first setting, sometimes called the “basic” setting or something similar). If using your dough setting wait until your bread machine finishes (about 1 1/2 hours), then take dough out and make it into a somewhat smooth ball before placing it in a bread pan. Set in a warm place to rise for about an hour.

Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 450°. When the dough has risen to about twice its size, place in oven and bake for 10 minutes, reduce heat to 350° and bake until the bottom of the loaf sounds hollow when tapped, about 30 minutes. I would check it after about 28 minutes, because my loaves are often done around that time.

There’s nothing quite like fresh bread out of the oven with a dallup of butter and a generous spread of raw honey!

Three-Cheese Lasagna

Precooked Lasagna noodles
1 pounds extra-lean ground beef
12 ounces shredded mozzarella cheese
4-6 ounces finely shredded Cheddar cheese
1 egg
One 15-ounce carton ricotta cheese
One 16-ounce jar spaghetti sauce

Preheat oven to 350°

Brown meat in a heavy frying pan add a bit of salt, black pepper, and maybe some garlic powder (you can also leave it un-spiced if you wish).

Add the egg to the ricotta and blend together.

Now assemble the ingredients in a shallow casserole approximately 9”x13”. Pour a little sauce on the bottom and on it place a layer of noodles. Over this spread half of the ricotta mixture, half the meat, and half the mozzarella. Spread on about one-third the sauce. Layer another row of pasta and repeat. Top with pasta, the remaining sauce, and the Cheddar cheese.

Bake until the sauce bubbles around the edges, about 30 minutes.

This can be assembled ahead of time and baked just before serving, or it can be frozen before or after baking. I usually make about 4 casseroles and we eat one fresh; I refrigerate one unbaked for that same week, and freeze the other two unbaked. If you store it frozen or unfrozen, cover it with plastic wrap, not aluminum foil. Foil can react with the tomato sauce, shedding gray flakes over the lasagna.

Note to Last Entry

Note: Although the everyday brand of apple cider vinegar is fine; natural, unfiltered and preferably organic apple cider vinegar is best.

Apple Cider Vinegar

This spring, in an attempt to help a good friend of mine get relief from her headaches, I started reading about all of the different natural cures. Not knowing the cause of the headaches was probably the reason for my failure in that area, but along my search I found a discussion board online where many people talked about getting rid of their headaches with a daily dose of apple cider vinegar. I quickly forwarded the discussion to my friend and she decided to give it a try. After about two or three weeks I asked her if it had worked at all. She responded that although it hadn’t taken away any of her headaches it had taken away all of her arthritic pain! She said she hadn’t been sure it was the apple cider vinegar until she quit it for a awhile and the pain had come back. After looking it up on the Internet she found that apple cider vinegar was actually supposed to help with that pain, only she hadn’t known it until then.

That got me thinking. If it could help with arthritic pain, what else could it help with? During my time of research on the subject I came across many uses for apple cider vinegar. It certainly isn’t a new cure to these problems. People have been using vinegar for many uses over the centuries. The armies of Julius Caesar drank vinegar mixed with water as an invigorating tonic for its antiseptic benefits. Samurai warriors of Japan would down a vinegar-based beverage to accrue superior strength. The record of Hannibal’s march over the Alps describes how vinegar was poured on hot boulders to crumble them to make way for his troops and elephants to proceed.

Did you know vinegar is mentioned eleven times in the Bible? Ruth 2:4 says, “And Boaz and unto her, ‘At mealtime come thou hither, and eat of the bread, and dip the morsel in the vinegar.’” I am not certain whether Boaz was delivering culinary or medicinal advice.

During the time of Jesus Christ, vinegar was used as a condiment but was also valued for its medicinal properties. Jails in the holy land had two stone jugs kept near the wall where prisoners were flogged. One jug contained oil to soothe and heal, the other contained vinegar used as an antiseptic.

So, you see, vinegar is nowhere near a new discovery. Below you will find all types of different uses for apple cider vinegar. After reading this article you’ll probably realize vinegar is one of the most multipurpose products you can find for under $2.00 a gallon!

From Head to Toe

“An apple a day keeps the doctor away.” You’ll learn in this section, the derivative of the apple—apple cider vinegar—would not only keep the general doctor away, but also the cardiologist, dermatologist, gastroenterologist, and even oncology doctors at bay.

I’ll begin with the internal benefits that could be acquired from vinegar. In part 2 of this article I’ll cover the external uses for apple cider vinegar.

Arthritis

Arthritis is one of the most common chronic diseases of aging found in Western countries. It is a condition of inflammation of the joints, which some researchers believe is caused by a buildup in the tissues of irritant metabolic wastes and toxins. High risk people include those who don’t eat many vegetables, who smoke, who are over 45, who don’t exercise much, who have arthritis in their genes, those who have had an infection in any joint, those who have had a injury in a joint, those who are overweight, and those who have had a blood transfusion. Many arthritis problems can be solved simply by eliminating food allergies, the most common of which are wheat, dairy, corn and citrus.

It should also be noted that gout is a type of arthritis.

Most natural treatments for arthritis involve a combination of diet, exercise and weight control. Nutrient-rich apple cider vinegar can play a role in relieving the pain and in slowing the progression of arthritis. The prevailing remedy consists of one teaspoon of vinegar in a glass of water taken four times a day, sometimes with honey to make it a bit more appetizing. Although, if you want to get it over with, my friend simply adds two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar to a small glass of water, quickly drinks that, then drinks a second glass of water to take the taste away. Not only are you getting your daily dose of apple cider vinegar done that way, but you’re also hydrating yourself! Think of it as a bonus.

Asthma

According to some naturopathic doctors, asthma can be relieved by combining the nutritive values of apple cider vinegar with the benefits of acupressure by holding vinegar-soaked pads to the inside of the wrists.

Bones

While it isn’t completely clear how they work, it is acknowledged that trace elements needed to maintain bone mass and strength include manganese, magnesium and silicon, all of which occur in apple cider vinegar, and all of which are delivered to the body in a naturally balanced and easily-absorbable form. Doctors recommend supplements of these elements and others, particularly among post-menopausal women.

Cancer

To some degree cancer is a symptom of the harm created by free radicals—unattached, unwanted cells that wreak havoc wherever they lodge in the body. Junk food—food without nutritional value (things like white bread) are the main way these unwanted cells end up in your body in the first place, but that is a whole other article! Antioxidants absorb free radicals, rendering them harmless. Beta-carotene, a carotenoid present in vinegar, is a powerful antioxidant. Moreover, carotenoids serve as the body’s raw material for the production of vitamin A, another potent antioxidant, the scarcity of which has been linked, in particular, to cancers of the respiratory system, colon and bladder. Carotenoids and vitamin A work together to protect the body from cancers associated with chemical toxins.

The American Cancer Society recommends a high-fiber diet to help prevent several forms of cancer, particularly colon cancer. Pectin, a soluble fiber in vinegar, binds certain cancer-causing compounds in the colon, speeding their elimination from the body, according to a study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

Western Michigan University reports early test results which indicate vinegar can be used to increase the accuracy of conventional tests for cervical cancer. Adding the new vinegar-based test to the standard Pap test allows medical personnel to “...detect woman at risk for cervical cancer who would not have been detected by the Pap test alone.” The vinegar test is simple to administer, noninvasive, safe and low-cost

Cholesterol

High blood cholesterol is a symptom and early warning sign of heart disease. The very best ways to lower cholesterol are by maintaining your ideal weight, getting plenty of exercise, eating plenty of vegetables and fruits, and avoiding processed foods, hydrogenated oils (found in margarine, baked goods, chips and many other processes foods) and other “nutrition-free” junk food.

One of the most effective ways of directly lowering cholesterol is to make sure there is plenty of fiber in your diet. Fiber is the indigestible portion of foods, and while all fiber is beneficial, not all fiber works the same way. Some fibers are water soluble and some are not. A water-soluble fiber soaks up water (adding bulk) and has the ability to interact with the body. Insoluble fiber also soaks up moisture but does not interact with the body. Fiber literally soaks up excess fats and cholesterol so that they are excreted from the body rather than reabsorbed.

In addition to fiber, in the form of pectin, vinegar also contains a number of amino acids which can neutralize harmful oxidized LDL cholesterol.

Colds

PH levels are a scale of acidity and alkalinity. It has been determined the pH levels of the body become more alkaline prior to the onset of a cold or flu. Since vinegar is acidic, taking a teaspoon in a half in a glass of water two or three times a day when a cold is coming on, can help rebalance pH levels, warding off the cold.

Constipation

Normal digestion includes the production of acid and pepsin by the stomach as well as digestive enzymes from the pancreas. As we age, we begin to under produce these digestive juices, which can lead to constipation.

It is important not to ignore the problem because constipation interferes with the flow of nutrients throughout the body which keeps us healthier, longer. There are many diet and supplements that address this problem, but the simplest and most effective is eating foods high in fiber to add bulk and stimulate proper bowel contractions. Fiber also stimulates the growth of healthful bacteria in the colon which aids in absorption of nutrients. Apples and their fermented derivative, vinegar, contain the fiber pectin.

Cramps

I’ve known many people who wake up during the night from the sharp pain of muscle cramps (my husband is one of them). The pains most often occur in the legs, but sometimes occur in the vicinity of the stomach or heart, which can be very scary!

When the cramps appear in the legs or feet, people with jump out of bed and start pounding and massaging the location of the cramp in an attempt to alleviate the pain. When the cramp is in the legs, many people are accustomed to getting up and “walking it off.” Those plagued with nighttime leg cramps may find relief with a glass of water, with one or two teaspoons of apple cider vinegar mixed in. Honey may also be added. Don’t feel bad if you don’t feel up to trying this. My husband has been plagued by these cramps for over a year now and still won’t try this method!

Diabetes

In most people with diabetes, digestive impairment is present, which includes stomach malfunction with underproduction of hydrochloric acid and pepsin, as well as digestive enzymes by the pancreas.

When the stomach isn’t performing as it should, the body cannot be well nourished with the protein and minerals it needs.

Cutting way back on refined sugars and carbohydrates, improving the digestive function, plus vitamins and minerals, can make a big difference for diabetics. Physicians frequently recommend high-fiber diets to help control diabetes, and several studies have shown that pectin, the fiber in apple cider vinegar, helps control blood sugar (glucose) levels in diabetes.

Diarrhea

The pectin contained in apple cider vinegar provides effective antidiarrhea action because the fiber swells up to add bulk to the stool. In addition, intestinal bacteria transform pectin into a protective coating for the irritated lining.

Pectin is also effective against several types of bacteria capable of causing diarrhea. It’s potent stuff. Pectin is the “pectate” in the popular over-the-counter diarrhea preparation, Kaopectate. It’s so much less expensive and more natural to just take some apple cider vinegar!

Dietary Transition

People in the process of switching from a refined-food diet to one primarily composed of whole grains and vegetables, will benefit by taking a little vinegar to help the body manage the detoxification process and help it to adjust to different digestion. During the early stages of transition, sip one-third cup of water mixed with one teaspoon of apple cider vinegar three times a day.

Depression

Some believe that while mental depression is experienced in the mind, it is rooted in stagnant liver. Due to its cleansing effect on the liver, mild cases of depression are thought to be relieved by taking a teaspoon of vinegar in a little water.

Others attribute the ability to decrease depression to its amino acid content.

Eyes

Vinegar’s primary antioxidant—beta-carotene—contributes to maintaining good health by protecting the eyes from cataracts. Cataract development is related to oxidation of the eye’s lens which occurs when free radicals alter its structure.

Fatigue

A buildup of lactic acid, released during exercise and stress, can cause fatigue, and the amino acids in vinegar can counteract the effect of excess lactic acid in the bloodstream. The enzymes and potassium in vinegar may also play a part in treating fatigue. One suggested dosage for chronic fatigue is three teaspoons of apple cider vinegar to an eight of a cut of honey, taken at bedtime.

Food Poisoning

Taking a quarter-teaspoon of apple cider vinegar once a day until food poisoning symptoms are relieved helps neutralize the poisons and kills harmful bacteria in the digestive tract. Some doctors will recommend use of vinegar before meals when eating in foreign countries and visiting questionable restaurants. I recommend not visiting questionable restaurants, but I haven’t decided what to do about the traveling abroad thing. It isn’t as if you could bring your own meals from home! Hmm…

Hiccups

Slowly sip a glass of warm water with one teaspoon of vinegar mixed in to end a bout of hiccups.

Gallstones and Kidney Stones

This ailment is said to be unknown in areas or households where vinegar is frequently used.

Headaches

A headache is a sign that something somewhere in your body or mind is wrong and needs attention. The problem may be in your liver, kidneys, gallbladder or other organs. It may be triggered by allergies and/or emotional stress. Vinegar is by no means a cure-all for all types of headaches, but it can be a very effective remedy for some.

Frequently when headaches strike, the urine, which is normally acidic, is more alkaline in nature. This indicates that the body is somewhat out of balance. Here the acids in apple cider vinegar may come to the rescue by helping the kidneys return to normal balance.

Inhaling vaporized apple cider vinegar may provide headache relief for some sufferers. In a pan from your kitchen, boil a splash or two of apple cider vinegar with some water. As steam begins to rise, remove from heat and, with a towel over your head to act as a funnel, lean over the vapors and breathe in the steaming vinegar-water mixture. (Do not breathe in too deeply at first and burn yourself! Test the steam carefully at first.) Alternatively, pour a dash of apple cider vinegar in an electric vaporizer and breathe the vapors for five minutes. With either method, expect results within half an hour.

Heart/Blood Pressure

Taking a daily dose of apple cider vinegar with water several times a day has been shown to lower blood pressure and strengthen the heart muscle. There is some evidence that vinegar acts as a blood thinner, reducing the risk of a stroke. The potassium in apple cider vinegar is also beneficial for the heart and blood.

Indigestion

Contrary to common belief, indigestion (and heartburn) are not due to excess stomach acid but, most often, a lack or underproduction of acid.

Normally our stomach digests food with strong hydrochloric acid and pepsin, an enzyme active only in an acid environment. When under-acidity is remedied by taking apple cider vinegar before a meal, the flow of nutrients to the body is improved, helping you feel more energetic and healthy.

Apple cider vinegar improves metabolism, due in part to the compatible presence of malic and tartaric acids which not only serve to restore the proper acid conditions, but also inhibit the growth of unfriendly bacteria in the digestive tract.

Apple cider vinegar has long been regarded a remedy for liver stagnation and accompanying indigestion. Vinegar appears to have highly activating and detoxifying properties. It counteracts the effects of rich, greasy food and functions as a solvent to break down fats and protein and dissolve minerals for improved assimilation.

For indigestion or to aid digestion, take one tablespoon vinegar in half a glass of warm water after, or preferably, before , a heavy meal. When taking before a meal, the vinegar solution acts to stimulate the flow of saliva which starts the digestion process in the mouth by activating digestive fluids to flow faster.

Muscle Soreness

Sore muscles and stiff joints may be the result of excess acid accumulation in the tissues and at body joints.

A dose of vinegar in water works in the body to precipitate the accumulated acid crystals, placing them in a solution which can be flushed out of the body through organs of elimination . For this combine one to two teaspoons of apple cider vinegar in a glass of water. A spoonful or two of raw honey may be added if desired.

To soothe tired or sprained muscles, sometimes just wrapping the afflicted area with a cloth wrung out of apple cider vinegar for up to five minutes will do the trick.

For all-over aching, soak in a tub of warm water that you’ve poured two to three cups of apple cider vinegar into.

Nasal Congestion/Sinuses

Many suffer the discomfort of excess mucus from the nose or throat and from the sinus cavities. This annoying and painful drainage may be reduced for many by simply drinking one teaspoon of apple cider vinegar stirred in a glass of water. Lightening up on mucus-promoting foods (particularly diary products) at the same time wouldn’t hurt.

Nasal congestion can also be relieved by heating and inhaling a 50/50 mixtures of vinegar and water.

Sore Throat

Causes of sore throat can be viral or bacterial. At the first sign of sore throat, send in germ fighting apple cider vinegar as a gargle consisting of 50/50 solution of vinegar and warm water. For children you can add a little honey if you need to. Make sure they spit out the mixture so they aren’t swallowing unnecessary germs. Gargle every hour or so until symptoms are relieved. Rinse the mouth (but not the throat) with fresh water to prevent any acid erosion of tooth enamel.

If you are susceptible to sore throats (or want to avoid laryngitis), it’s a good idea to gargle the apple cider vinegar solution once or twice a week to ward off germs in the throat.

Yeast Infection (Candida)

Yeast infections (Candida) can be local, usually in the vaginal area, or more widespread. When strictly local, the infection can be controlled or eliminated with a variety of local applications.

Yeast normally exists in harmony with other organisms in the body, but when something alters the usual pH of the vagina, it can cause the yeast there to grow at a high rate, causing itching and burning. Many things can disturb the balance of yeast, most notably, antibiotics and diet.

As a very effective preventative and curative, you can use a vinegar-and-water douche. Changing the pH of the vaginal environment at the first sign of a yeast infection may be sufficient to end the condition. Standard procedure is to douche twice a day with a solution of two tablespoons of vinegar to one quart of room temperature water until symptoms disappear.

The Beginning

I can't stop thinking about "The Wild Truth" and how much I would like to share my thoughts on so many important subjects. So, since I don't quite have the time, energy, or money for producing a magazine I thought I'd give this new trend, blogging a chance! For now, this is where I'll put the articles and thoughts I find time to write. :o)

~Rachael