Healthy 2Day Wednesday Link-Up!

Welcome to the New Healthy 2day Wednesdays!

I am so excited to be joining these three amazing ladies in hosting every Wednesday:

• Day2Day Joys
• Christian Mommy Blogger
• Quick and Easy, Cheap and Healthy

Link up to any of our blogs with your favorite healthy post!

This week Nikki chose her favorite 3 submissions from last week's H2W. This was NOT an easy decision! Click on the pic to go to the post!:

Jill from the Prairie Homestead: She is a hunter and an awesome cook. That combines to make this perfect combination. I am going to start hunting with my hubby as soon as we move....she is such an inspiration to me!!! Thanks Jill :) I can't WAIT to make this!

Rita from Healthy Mom Sexy Wife shares her taco seasoning. Quick and easy and great to have on hand. I LOVE MEXICAN FOOD!

Quinoa for breakfast? Thank you that sounds great!! This great recipe is from Life Currents

Since you were one of the three "chosen"... you've been pinned, Facebooked and Tweeted by me!

Rules for this Link-Up:

• Share an idea, tip, recipe, things to avoid, something new to try, natural remedy, alternative medicine, going "green" tips, etc. that will help us to remain or become more healthy!
• If this is your first time participating read more info & get button here.
• Comment on another participant's post.
• Add button or link back to that day's link up.
• Spread the word so we can learn more ideas on keep our families healthy; feel free to share on Facebook or Twitter.
• Ideas: homebirths, natural remedies, an interesting article, something eco-friendly, a review, natural cleaner, alternative or holistic approaches to health, how to's, the list goes on & on!
• If you are adding a recipe, make sure the ingredients do not include white flour, refined sugar, processed products, packages products (unless it is clearly stated or pictures that it is organic or all natural) and the like. We are looking for whole food recipes that are beneficial to our health!

If you're not participating today, I hope you'll come back & join in next week!

Increase Your Wardrobe--Without Spending Any Money {at Keeper of the Home}

Image by JNNFRMARIE

On Friday, I posted about one way to increase your wardrobe--without spending any money--over at Keeper of the Home. Here's an excerpt:

My family operates on a tight budget. And since having children, there hasn't been much--if any--room in that budget for adding to mine or my husband's wardrobe.

But just over a year ago I discovered a way to increase my wardrobe--without spending any money: a women's clothing exchange. 

Read the rest of this post here. 

It's not too late to join me in the Healthy Homemaking: One Step at a Time 2012 challenge. I am leading a Facebook group through Stephanie of Keeper of the Home's book. You can purchase the book here and join the Facebook group here. 

*If you purchase the book through the link above, I will receive a small percentage of it. I thank you, as these funds truly go to feeding my family.*


I'm linking up with: The Prairie Homestead, Growing Home, Far Above Rubies, Time-Warp Wife and Raising Homemakers,  Works for Me Wednesday, Frugally Sustainable,  Deep Roots at Home, Homemakers Challenge, The Better Mom, Raising Mighty Arrows,  Live Renewed,  Simple Lives Thursday, Frugal Friday,

Do you enjoy reading The Humbled Homemaker? Subscribe here and don't miss a post!

Enter your email address:


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Lilla Rose and Sprout Giveaway Winners!

And the winner of the Lilla Rose Flexi-Clip is Sarah J.! 






a Rafflecopter giveaway

Congrats, Sarah!


Thank you all for entering! You can still get FREE shipping through January 30! You must order through this link to qualify for the FREE shipping. 

The winner of the Sprout Baby Food giveaway is Jennifer F.!




a Rafflecopter giveaway

Congrats, Jennifer! Thank you all for entering!


Be on the lookout for a review and giveaway for Kitchen Stewardship's Smart Sweets eCookbook this week!


Thank you for reading The Humbled Homemaker! Subscribe here, and don't miss a post!

Enter your email address:


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Sizzlin' Soups Series: Sweet Potato and Sausage Soup {at Christian Mommy Blogger}

Have you entered this week's giveaways? Enter to win Sprout Baby Food or a beautiful Lilla Rose Flexi-Clip! 

Welcome back to Sizzlin' Soups--a 6-week series sharing cozy, wholesome soup recipes!


So far, we've warmed up with a yummy Creamy Chicken and Vegetable Chowder from Leigh Ann at Intentional by Grace and drooled over a Sausage and Kale Italian Zuppa at Rachel at Day2Day Joys!

This week we're hearing from Nikki at Christian Mommy Blogger! 


At the end of the 6-week series, we will have a surprise for you. *hint: it's FREE* 

To be sure you don't miss out, consider subscribing to The Humbled Homemaker, or any one of these participating blogs:

• Rachel @ Day 2 Day Joys, 
• Nikki @ Christian Mommy Blogger, 
• LeighAnne @ Intentional by Grace, 
• Anne @ Quick and Easy Cheap and Healthy and 
• Mindy @ The Purposed Heart.

This soup has a sweet and savory balance: sweet potatoes, spinach, homemade broth and sausage combine to give you a nourishing meal that warms you from the inside out! Check out the rest of the recipe here.


*I'm linking up with: Monday Mania, Real Food 101, Traditional Tuesday , Homestead Barn Hop, Fat Tuesday, Slightly Indulgent Tuesdays, Real Food Wednesday, Gluten Free Wednesday, Simple Lives Thursday, Pennywise Platter, Full Plate Thursday, Live Renewed,  Fight Back Friday, Fresh Bites Friday, Friday Food, Living Well Blog Hop,  

Do you enjoy reading The Humbled Homemaker? Subscribe here and don't miss a post!

Enter your email address:


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The First Years: The Second Best Milk for Babies

Have you entered this week's giveaways? Enter to win Sprout Baby Food or a beautiful Lilla Rose Flexi-Clip! 


I'm so excited to have contributing writer, Brandy, of Living Water Health and Wellness, posting today! Brandy's mission is to share the message of health and wellness according to the Word of God! Be sure to stop by her blog--Living Water Health and Wellness!

By Brandy, Contributing Writer

WHAT MILK SHOULD YOUR CHILD BE DRINKING?

We have probably all been told that we should start our babies on whole cow’s milk around the time they turn 1.  Most people do not question this advice because we believe we can trust our doctors.  After all, milk is a rich source of calcium and vitamin D, right?  Well, that all depends on where you get your milk and how it has been processed.  With dairy allergies at an all-time high, and the many health complications that have risen from dairy consumption, we have to stop and ask ourselves some questions.  

Is there a certain type of milk that is better than others?  Is it possible that conventional, store bought cow’s milk could actually be harming our children?  I believe the answer to both questions is yes …

Image by kris69

I do my best to base my wellness philosophy on the word of God and traditional wisdom.  On my blog I have discussed my beliefs about dairy extensively, and for good reason.  You see, there is a BIG difference between the milk God said was good for food and the milk we now find on grocery store shelves.  When God gave us permission to eat animals and animal products, the atmosphere in which these animals were raised was gravely different from modern farming practices. 

Image by nkzs

GOD GAVE US MILK

I know many people have opted to go dairy free, and while this may be best for some, I firmly believe that it is not the milk in and of itself that causes most of the health problems associated with it, but rather the way the milk is produced and processed.  God clearly thought milk was a good thing for us to consume.  After all, the Promised Land was a land flowing with milk and honey.  And I often say, if fat free/low fat, pasteurized, homogenized milk was what is best for us, God would have made it come out of the cow that way.

IT’S MAN, NOT MILK THAT IS THE PROBLEM

Pasteurization has been touted as a necessary safety protocol for milk.  In fact, it was not required until the industrial revolution when cows were being placed on small plots of land with no room to roam and no healthy green grass to eat.  Just like us, if cows are eating things they were not created to eat, they and their milk will greatly suffer.  Many dairy cows are kept in small pens, with little to no grass, and fed grains and genetically modified corn that have been doused with pesticides, fertilizers, growth hormone, and antibiotics.  They sometimes do not even have access to sunshine, which we all know is important for vitamin D production.  

Image by kit_carson

When cows live in these conditions, they get sick.  When they are sick, they pass those bacteria and pathogens into their milk. Eating corn actually makes cows produce e coli in their stomachs.  This is why pasteurization became necessary.  It has nothing to do with the cows or the milk, but rather the people who are raising them.

One of the most shocking things I learned while researching the health benefits of raw milk is that when calves are fed pasteurized, homogenized milk rather than being allow to nurse from their mothers, they almost always fail to thrive, and many die within six weeks!

Image by Ale_Paiva

"Many nutrients and immune-enhancing components are destroyed by exposure to high heat and the temperatures used during pasteurization. Vitamin A is degraded, proteins and enzymes are denatured, and immunoglobulins are destroyed."  (www.realmilk.com)  

Not only that, but when milk is homogenized, the fats are damaged as well.  Think hydrogenation.  When you damage the oils, they become unhealthy.  It’s the same concept with milk.  Homogenization makes truly healthy fats into unhealthy substances that have no business going into our children’s bodies.   

Image by lizeritx

I know many people are afraid of raw milk.  The FDA has done a good job of convincing people that raw milk is a danger to their health, but the truth is, as long as the farmer you buy from raises his/her animals properly, raw dairy is incredibly safe and nutrient dense.  My family and I have been consuming raw milk for over 5 years and none of us have ever gotten sick.  

I drank it the whole time I was pregnant and both my boys (ages 5 and 1) have been drinking it since they started on cow’s milk.  I make homemade raw  yogurt and butter and our whole family is enjoying the health benefits.

Image by evah

RAW MILK CAN REVERSE DAIRY ALLERGIES

The truth is, real, raw milk is full of beneficial nutrients that are nourishing for growing children and adults alike.  Many people believe they are allergic to milk, when in fact, they are simply missing the incredibly important enzyme, lactase(among others).  Lactase is essential for digesting lactose, the primary sugar in milk. 

Pasteurization greatly reduces the amount of lactase in milk, making it much more difficult for our digestive systems to process.  Many people who believed themselves to be allergic to dairy are able to drink raw milk and recover completely from their allergies.  

And parents whose babies were unable to nurse or could not tolerate conventional formulas, have had great success making their own formula from raw milk.

"Raw milk from healthy pasture-fed cows has a rich array of essential nutrients including vitamins A, D, C, all of the B vitamins, calcium, magnesium, phosphorous, essential fatty acids and trace minerals. Pasteurization destroys up to 50% of these nutrients."  (www.sunherb.com/rawmilk) And many would argue that 50% is a very conservative estimate.  

So in reality, giving our children conventionally raised cow’s milk is essentially the same thing as giving them processed food, which we know is not healthy.  When you alter the design of a food that God created, it does not react in our bodies the same nor give us the nutrients it should.

Any good parent desires to give their children the best nutritional start in life that they can.  I believe choosing raw milk is one of those choices.  Conventional and even organic milk that has been pasteurized and homogenized can rob our children of healthy nutrients that they need in order to grow and develop the way God intended them to.  I challenge you to do some more research.  Find out why raw milk is so wonderfully healing to so many people and give your children the best kind of milk there is.  

I could probably talk about why raw dairy is amazing for days, but since I am not able to do that here, please visit my other posts about milk:

Milk: Does It Really Do A Body Good?

Wellness Wednesday: More On Raw Milk

The Weston A. Price Foundation has done incredible research on the benefits of raw dairy.  If you want to learn more than you ever thought possible, visit their page.  And for a list of sources in your area for real, raw milk, please click here.

 Brandy is a full-time homemaker, has been married to the love of her life for 7 years, and is the mommy of two amazing little boys. The two most important things in her life are her relationships with God and her family.  She is living the abundant life with her wonderful husband and sons and is constantly learning how to walk in the fullness of the promises of God.Her mission is to share the message of health and wellness according to the Word of God and traditional wisdom! She blogs at Living Water Health and Wellness. 

*Disclaimer: Neither Brandy nor I are health professionals, and any health decision you make should be after conducting your own research. My family (Erin) cannot currently afford raw milk, and it is illegal to sell it in my state. 

Traditional Tuesday, Fat Tuesday, Women Living Well, Healthy 2Day Wednesdays, Simple Lives Thursday, Pennywise Platter, Live Renewed, Fight Back Friday, Living Well Blog Hop, 

Homemade Homemaking: Cream of Chicken Soup

Have you entered this week's giveaways? Enter to win Sprout Baby Food or a beautiful Lilla Rose Flexi-Clip! 


Welcome to this month's edition of Homemade Homemaking! Today, we're making cream of chicken soup!

When I was a newlywed 6 1/2 years ago, I barely knew how to cook. One of the first staples in my pantry became canned cream of chicken (or mushroom) soup. 


I used these creamed soups for EVERYTHING. We were living in the Deep, Deep South--where fried foods and creamy casseroles reign. I never learned to fry without burning, but we probably ate a creamed soup casserole at least every other night. 

Ingredients

When I started eating real food, I realized how bad these canned soups were for us. Not only did the cans contain BPA, but the soup was preserved with MSG and also contained soy. 


As much as we loved our creamed casseroles, I just couldn't keep buying canned creamed soups in good conscious. 

But we started missing our old comfort foods. So about a year or so ago, I set to making my own version of creamed soup. 


I use this recipe to replace canned soups in any recipes that call for them. I hope you enjoy it!


Ingredients

• 1/3 cup butter
• 2-3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/3 cup white whole wheat flour
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1/4 tsp. pepper
• 1/2 Tbsp. minced celery tops OR 1/4 tsp. celery seed
• 1 3/4 cups chicken broth
• 2/3 cup milk 

Method

In a saucepan over medium heat, cook garlic and celery (if using) in butter until soft. Stir in flour, salt and pepper (and celery seed if using). Slowly stir in chicken broth and mlk. Simmer over medium-low heat until thickened. 

Variations:

Cream of Mushroom--toss in a handful of minced mushrooms

Cream of Broccoli--toss in a handful of minced broccoli

Cream of Celery--toss in a handful of minced celery

Stacy Makes Cents also makes a great creamed soup!

The winner for the Plum Organics giveaway is Brandi B.! I have sent Brandi an e-mail to notify her. Congrats, Brandi, and thank you to everyone who entered! 

I'm linking up to:  Works for Me Wednesday, Make Your Own Monday, Tuesdays at the Table,Real Food Wednesday, Pennywise Platter, Full Plate Thursday, Frugal Friday, Fight Back Friday, Friday Food,Frugally Sustainable, Made at Home Monday, Kitchen Tip Tuesday @Good Cheap Eats, Deep Roots at Home, Homemakers Challenge

Healthy 2Day Wednesday Link-Up!

Have you entered this week's giveaways? Enter to win Sprout Baby Food or a beautiful Lilla Rose Flexi-Clip! 


Welcome to the New Healthy 2day Wednesdays!

I am so excited to be joining these three amazing ladies in hosting every Wednesday:

• Day2Day Joys
• Quick and Easy, Cheap and Healthy
• Christian Mommy Blogger

Link up to any of our blogs with your favorite healthy post!

This week it was my privilege to choose my favorite 3 submissions from last week's H2W. You guys. Seriously. You made it so hard on me! I had a really tough time picking my favorites, but here goes:

Gluten-Free Pizza Crust @ The Frugal Farm Wife

I have been very unsuccessful in the past with my attempts at GF pizza crust - This one looks like it works very well! Time for me to try again.

Living Healthy Without Going Crazy @ Healthy-n-Balanced

I completely agree with the philosophy written down here, and I believe this is a must-read for anyone tempted to dive head-first into whole foods.

Natural Multi-Purpose Citrus Cleanser @ Lexie:Naturals

I've seen recipes for this particular kind of cleanser before, but this is the first time I actually understood the directions. And now, I want to try it again, now that I know what I'm doing!

And just so you three know... you've been pinned, Facebooked and Tweeted! Oh, and Stumbled. Cause you're just that good.

Rules for this Link-Up:

• Share an idea, tip, recipe, things to avoid, something new to try, natural remedy, alternative medicine, going "green" tips, etc. that will help us to remain or become more healthy!
• If this is your first time participating read more info & get button here.
• Comment on another participant's post.
• Add button or link back to that day's link up.
• Spread the word so we can learn more ideas on keep our families healthy; feel free to share on Facebook or Twitter.
• Ideas: homebirths, natural remedies, an interesting article, something eco-friendly, a review, natural cleaner, alternative or holistic approaches to health, how to's, the list goes on & on!
• If you are adding a recipe, make sure the ingredients do not include white flour, refined sugar, processed products, packages products (unless it is clearly stated or pictures that it is organic or all natural) and the like. We are looking for whole food recipes that are beneficial to our health!

If you're not participating today, I hope you'll come back & join in next week!