Muzammal Blogger

I have learned to have faith that I will be okay along the lines of my health.  I have learned to have hope and trust that all things work out for a greater purpose . I have learned to love food, good food, that heals my body. And food, need I say more ? I love food. When I was going through the worst times of my GI issues, food was not my friend. In fact, I ate so I could run. I used running as my sanity. Over time, I have experienced healing in my gut, and I can once again happily attest that I love food. Coffee is not food, but coffee is something I love. My body does not always love it. The acid tears at my stomach. It appears to make my hair all the more slick.. It makes me jittery. This frustrates me because I love coffee. Well, friends,  I have found a better coffee. Puroast coffee has 70 % less acid than most coffees , doesn’t tear up my stomach, and has lots of antioxidants. It’s all in the roasting process. So, I can enjoy my coffee sans the effects of excess acid...

 It’s hot and humid here. I want something to drink besides water, but I’m not really feeling like a hot drink when it’s so humid. I love dandelion tea so I decided to try it iced. Brewed and cooled. A little Rice Dream milk . A couple of ice cubes. Delicious. It has a coffee like taste without the jittery caffeine effects. Dandelion tea is a great liver detox drink. It is a natural diuretic and can aid digestion . I have grown to love it and drink it daily. Iced Dandelion Tea It’s a lazy summer day although the official start of summer is actually tomorrow, Sunday, June 21st…the longest day of the year. We are enjoying a lazy day at home watching a family movie on Netflix. My children leave for church camp tomorrow…. no TV for a week. Update on “The Plan” ….I haven’t had bloating in over two weeks and the cleanse helped shed excess water weight. My edema is better. I do find that I have a bit of food anxiety fretting over what I can and can not eat. Under the Plan, only one new fo...

  If you are like most Americans, your diet typically consists of meat, carbohydrates (i.e. bread, pasta, grains), dairy, eggs, vegetables, and fruits. Depending on the week or day, your amount of each food group consumed varies. Since this is what most people have grown up with, it may seem daunting to make a switch to something different. More specifically, some people today are interested in adopting the vegan diet. What exactly does this entail? When you go completely vegan, all animal products ( i.e. bacon, eggs, milk, etc.) are off the table – no exceptions . This may give you some pause, especially if you are just learning this fact.  How could you eat anything with such intense and limiting restrictions?  Don’t worry; there is some good news. Not only is it completely possible to live a vegan lifestyle, it’s also achievable in a manageable, delicious, and healthy way! Before we dive into the specifics around managing the vegan diet successfully, you need to do y...

 It is common to be confused about the process of grading maple syrup.   In fact, most people don’t really know what exactly the different letters on maple syrup bottles mean. Even though trying to decipher the grades can be frustrating, they do mean something. You might be wondering how maple syrup is graded and what will change when the new maple syrup grades go into effect over the next couple of years. As of now, the USDA’s grading system divides maple syrup into two grades: Grade A, and Grade B. Grade A is broken down into three sub-grades: Light Amber, Medium Amber, and Dark Amber, and there is only one variety of Grade B. Generally speaking, the darker the color of the maple syrup, the stronger the flavor, and Grade B is the darkest and, therefore, richest of all when it comes to maple flavor. Under the new maple syrup grading system, all retail maple syrup will be Grade A—broken down into four classes. Grade A Golden is the mildest and most delicately flavored of a...

  While you can find several different varieties of maple syrup at your local grocery store,  The sizing options are limited, and this can be very expensive for those who use a lot of maple syrup. If this is one of your cooking or baking staples, buying maple syrup in bulk saves you money and time. It is worthwhile to explore the great options that there are online to find the best prices on high quality bulk maple syrup. Ordering online is easier than ever, and you don’t even have to leave the comfort of your home. Once you find a reputable sugarhouse you like, order some products and see why purchasing bulk syrup is a wise choice for any maple enthusiast. See what is offered out there by ordering a few different grades from some different sugarhouses and enjoy the experience of discovering the unique nuances of each company’s products. It is a great way to learn the varieties of maple syrup that you enjoy the most and discover how they each complement your culinary endeav...

            The process of making maple syrup, known as sugaring, takes place during the spring months in the Northeastern United States (primarily Vermont) and in Canada. It is necessary to have colder climates when you are producing maple syrup, because the sap flow occurs as a result of the weather frequently alternating between freezing and thawing. Vermont, which is the largest producer of maple syrup and organic maple syrup in the country, begins its sugaring season in early March, and it typically lasts for six weeks. The process of sugaring begins with drilling one or more tap holes directly into the trunk of the tree. It is necessary for sugarmakers to take extra precaution to make the tap holes small enough to ensure that the tree is not damaged during the process. The sap that is used to make maple syrup comes solely from the Sugar Maple tree, which requires a time period of about 40 years in order to grow to the necessary size for tapping. Once...