Sneak Peak: Apples to Oranges

I have been working on art as well as content these past few weeks.

Here is the book cover I created for my recipe, artistic, storytelling, educational cookbook: Apples to Oranges: Whole Foods for Whole Bodies. 

An apple a day keeps the doctor away, while an orange has more Vitamin C. Since apples to oranges imply comparison and contrast, this book will compare and contrast many different food topics while still entertaining you with art, poems, and recipes.

Here is an excerpt I have so far:

"And, cooking just like life is all about balance. In my years, I have spent more time in the kitchen than most teens and young adults. I have baked cookies, breads, bundts, cakes, and candy. I have cooked stews, chilis, ethnic foods, and American classics. I may not be a chef, but I am a down home cook."  

Thank you!

Melted Chocolate Dreams

Chocolate, how could you do it?

You broke my heart. I loved you. I worshiped you. I enjoyed you. 

How did you repay me? You repaid me with GMO crappy, store bought cocoa. How could you? 

So in my efforts to make sure my diet is clean and healthy, I am switching anything I find that is not healthy over to the better quality version. Chocolate is no different.

GMO free chocolate that I buy is through an online source. So of course, I had to have some shipped with my regular items on one of the hottest weeks of the summer. By the time I opened my package, the chocolate was liquid. 

I could swish the chocolate back and forth in its little baggie. I laid the bag flat on the highest shelf in the refrigerator to see if I could make a chocolate bar out of the melted chips. A few hours later and I have a candy bar. Yay, me! 

Even though you broke my heart with your corrupted DNA, I still love you, chocolate. I am hooked. Now I have a new version to love you by. A version that will not lead to illness or inflammation.

Love me, leave me... or just buy GMO free!

Have a great and wonderful day!!!

Are Essential Oils Essential to the Recovery Process?

In the next stage of my recovery from a debilitating, chronic illness, I have ventured into the realm of essential oils. 

Essential oils have garnered quite the resume in healing circles. 

With my sensitive sense of smell, I have to be careful. My brain is on the look out for anything to attack, including me. So the slow process of retraining my brain has commenced.

I have decided to try peppermint first to cool down and repair my digestive system.  i can add it to cocoa. I can eat it straight in emergencies. I can also place some in carrier oils like olive and coconut to put on my skin. 

So far the effects are better than my peppermint filled mocha from Starbucks without the added sugar or fat... don't even get me started on the transgenic additives as well. 

Have you had your peppermint today?