Dear Healthy Moms,
I would like to cordially invite you to the grand opening of Cafe Diasozo - my new blog about health in spirit, soul, and body.  For those who have known me over the past ten years, you know that Healthy Moms, Healthy Families was a big part of my life for many years as my hearts desire was to encourage women to feed themselves and their families foods that would nourish their bodies for optimal health. 

For about the last five years, HMHF has been on the back burner.  This time has been very fruitful for me as I learned a great deal more about health, not only for our physical bodies, but also for our spirit and soul.   At times I've felt like a seed planted deep into the soil - underground and out of sight.  From the surface it looks as if nothing is happening.  But in reality, there is much transpiring.  It reminds me of John 12:24 - The truth is, a kernel of wheat must be planted in the soil.  Unless it dies it will be alone – a single seed.  But its death will produce many new kernels – a plentiful harvest of new lives. 

The seed that was buried is now beginning to sprout into something new.  Its a tiny plant that I believe will grow to nourish and encourage people in the process of health and healing.  This new plant is called "Cafe Diasozo" which means "a small establishment serving refreshments...to heal, to make perfectly whole".  I invite you to read more about it at http://www.cafediasozo.blogspot.com/   And I also invite you to make a reservation (in other words "subscribe") to Cafe Diasozo because the Healthy Moms blog will be discontinued very soon. 

With love and gratitude,

Connie

This 11 year old kid sums it up in only 5 minutes!  If you want to know more about what he is talking about with regard to corn, I recommend the video called "King Corn".

French Dressing
1 cup water
1/2 - 3/4 c. sundried tomatoes
1/2 garlic clove
1 Tbsp onion, chopped
1 Tbsp Agave (sweetner), more to taste (or 5 dates)
1/2 tsp salt
2/3 c. olive oil
1/2 c. lemon juice

Blend well. Toss with your favorite greens and enjoy!  Makes more than a pint.

This recipe was inspired by a recipe I learned at Bella Vita.  My kids love it too!

Just a quick note to say...if you havn't seen the new movie called Food, Inc. yet, I highly recommend it.  The kids and I watched it last night and it is excellent!  Very educational and well done.  http://www.foodincmovie.com/

It's that time of year again! Beautiful, fresh, local produce at the farmer's market! Great time to throw together a simple TOMATO CUCUMBER SALAD. Delicious and nutritious :-)

Roma tomatoes, quartered and sliced

Cucumbers, quartered and sliced

Red onion, sliced thin and halved

Fresh basil, chopped

Kalamata olives

Olive oil

Balsamic vinegar

Salt & Pepper

Toss it all together and enjoy!

Thought I'd share our simple Banana Bread recipe. I use my Vita-Mix to grind the flour first and then, after emptying the flour into a bowl, I use the Vita-Mix container to mix up the banana mixture - quick and easy.

Banana Bread
1 1/2 cup whole wheat pastry flour (or grind 1 c. wheatberries)
1 1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
1 cup walnuts or pecans (don't bother to chop - they'll get cut when you you slice the bread)

3 very ripe bananas
1/4 cup maple syrup
3 Tbsp. olive or safflower oil
1 tsp. vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350. Grind 1 cup wheatberries in Vita-Mix on high for one minute (or measure 1 1/2 c. flour). Put flour in mixing bowl and mix with baking soda, salt, and nuts. Blend bananas, syrup, oil, and vanilla in Vita-Mix. Pour into bowl with dry ingredients and mix. Pour into loaf pan (I like Pyrex). Bake 40 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.

Need a Vita-Mix? Get free shipping when you use my code 06-003148

Greetings Healthy Moms & Dads!

It's been quite awhile since you've heard from me. We've been a little busy lately getting our house on the market and hitting the road. If you haven't already heard about our new lifestyle, please visit our blog to get the scoop.

On the food front, I had to write and tell you about an amazing restaurant we came upon in Granger, IN - near South Bend. If you live in this area, please check it out! It's called Uptown Kitchen and we LOVED it. It's a rare occasion to stumble across such a treasure. We were driving down 23 and Ashley said, "Hey, turn in here and see what there is." We turned into a shopping area that was still being developed. Many stores weren't even open yet, but we kept driving and then we came around a corner and spotted the Uptown Kitchen with a tag line that says "Eat well. Be happy."

We walked in and were delighted with the funky upbeat decor. When we sat down and looked at the menu we were even more excited! How often do you see "organic" on a menu? And smoothies with real fruit! So we splurged a little. We got the Hummus Plate for an appetizer. Jake ordered French Toast on challah bread - his new favorite now that we've added organic eggs to our diet. Ashley went with the vegetarian pasta nightly special. Rich splurged on organic salmon, and I ordered an veggie omelet with a side of multigrain toast. It was all so wonderful! So we decided to share a piece of chocolate cake for dessert.

We met the owner Jonathan Lutz and wished him and his family all the best with his family-run business. Gems like this are hard to find in a fast food world. If you know of any other wonderful places like this around the country, please email me or leave a comment. We would love to support other local restaurants as we travel around the country.

Tonight we ate "well" and were very "happy." You will be too if you have a chance to eat here! It's definitely worth the trip if you are anywhere near South Bend, IN.