Summertime, and the livin' is easy

Greetings, All:  It's been a while since we've talked, but that's the way it goes during the summer.  I, like everyone else, have been busy doing, doing, doing, since it got a lot warmer; hotter, I should say.

It's been one of the hottest summers I can remember.  The temperature today is over 100 degrees, and the humidity is probably eighty percent.  I've been in the house, exclusively, for over a week now.  I only venture out to go to the bank, the grocery store or the post office.  My life sounds real exciting, doesn't it?

I've become interested in Indian cooking.  I happened to see a cooking show on the cooking channel, entitled Spice Goddess, and watched as the hostess cooked Indian cuisine.   I was totally amazed at how easy she made it seem.  I was also very interested in all of the spices she used.  I have two turntables in my kitchen cabinets, full of spices.  I know some of them are probably years old, but they still have a pungent smell, so I'll keep them for a few more years.  Spices are very expensive, especially the ones that are used in Indian cooking.

After looking at my spices, I found I have most of those that are used in Indian cooking.  I found one spice, Garam Masala, at Food Lion, much to my surprise and delight.  I also ordered two Indian cuisine cookbooks from Amazon.com today, one with meat, and one vegetarian.  I can't wait until they arrive so I can try some of the recipes.  Being a vegetarian, it will be nice to eat something that's entirely different from what I've been eating.

When I got home from the grocery store, it was time for lunch.  I fixed a rice pilaf, Uncle Ben's, that you put in the microwave for ninety-seconds.  The rice used is brown rice and it's absolutely delicious;  I was pleasantly surprised.  I also opened a can of Progresso Lentil soup to which I added garlic powder, onion powder, pepper, a dash of tabasco, a dash of dill weed, a dash of Italian seasoning and a dash of Garam Masala.   This tasted awesome!  Garam Masala is a combination of spices containing coriander, black pepper, cumin, cardamon and cinnamon.   It has a very unusual taste and smell that I like, although some might not.

I've really gotten into cooking now that I have to be on the alkaline/acid balance diet for the rest of my life.  I'm beginning to feel a lot better than I have been feeling.  Food makes all of the difference in ones sense of well being and is the absolute key to good health.

I also ordered a gluten-free cookbook that uses almond flour, agave nectar with grapeseed and coconut oil.  My grandson and I both have problems with gluten.  When I get all of my ingredients together, I'm going to make a BIG CHOCOLATE CAKE.  I've been craving chocolate cake for months.  It will be wonderful to finally be able to indulge my taste buds and I know my grandson will be happy.

I'm still beading, of course.  I haven't been doing much lately, as I've been busy trying to get three meals on the table every day.  Believe me, when you're on a special diet, this takes some planning, but it's well worth it.  I feel good eating "live" food that's not processed and so acidic.

I've started going to church again.  I've been out of church for a while and it is so nice to go to church again and praise the Lord.  I go to a church that is free in the "Spirit" and that allows you to raise your hands, move around,  clap, say Amen, etc.  Once you start praising God this way, you can't ever go back to a conventional church service.  Being free to express yourself in worship is one of the most satisfying experiences I know.   The Word says..."God inhabits the praises of his people."

Well, it's time to eat din din.  I don't know what I'll have, but I'm sure I can whip up something delectable in a short amount of time. (?)


Au Revoir, Nana