Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Recipe of the Day- Pumpkin Spice Muffins!

From the Pioneer Woman...another use of my favorite ingredient- PUMPKIN!

Pumpkin Spice Muffins



(photo from http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2009/10/moist-pumpkin-spice-muffins-with-cream-cheese-frosting/)

Ingredients

  • 1 cup All-purpose Flour
  • 1/2 cup Sugar- (I would substitute some agave nectar/honey and molasses here a total of about 1/4-1/3 cup)
  • 2 teaspoons Baking Powder
  • 1-1/2 teaspoon Cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon Ground Ginger
  • 1/2 teaspoon Nutmeg
  • 1/2 teaspoon Salt
  • 4 Tablespoons Butter, cut into pieces
  • 1 cup (heaping) Pumpkin Puree
  • 1/2 cup Evaporated Milk
  • 1 whole Egg
  • 1-1/2 teaspoon Vanilla
  • 1/2 cup Golden Raisins (optional!)
  • Preparation Instructions

    Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Generously grease 12 muffin tins.
    Sift flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and salt. Cut in butter with two knives or a pastry blender until it is fully incorporated. In a separate bowl, mix together pumpkin, evaporated milk, egg, and vanilla. Pour pumpkin mixture into the flour mixture. Add raisins. Fold gently until mixture is just combined.
    Pour into a greased muffin pan—batter hardly ever fills all twelve unless you keep it down to 1/2 full. Sprinkle with remaining cinnamon-sugar-nutmeg mixture over the top of each unbaked muffin.
    Bake for 25 minutes. Allow to cool in pan for 15 minutes, then remove and allow to cool
 She tops her muffins with a cinnamon sugar mix and then frosts with cream cheese frosting, but I think the basic recipe is healthier and just as delicious!

(http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2009/10/moist-pumpkin-spice-muffins-with-cream-cheese-frosting/)

Monday, October 17, 2011

Stem Cells in Breastmilk!

Check out this amazing story about stem cells found in breastmilk. This is amazing, not only for the medical benefits, but also for the many people who are opposed to using embryonic stem cells!


"Serious and fatal diseases such as pancreatic cancer, Parkinson's disease and diabetes may eventually be treated using stem cells from breast milk, researchers from the University of Western Australia have discovered.

UWA PhD student Foteini Hassiotou has potentially broken through the greatest hurdle in stem cell research - the ability to ethically obtain stem cells in a non-invasive manner."


Thursday, October 13, 2011

Time for Compassion!!

I just came across this article that I LOVE. It talks about using compassion when talking about Mommy/Baby issues on the internet.

It is no secret that I am a big advocate for breastfeeding. I love it and my personal experience with it has changed my life for the better. That being said- I also do not ever in any way want to make formula feeding Moms feel bad! Formula is not evil! Every Mom and Dad does their best. Period.

I hope that it is always clear that I try and only present information about breastfeeding and try and help educate people to help their feeding experience better. I have many, many friends who have fed their babies formula. HECK- my Mom's breastmilk dried up after awhile and I was given formula. My husband was exclusively formula fed. We turned out just fine. AND my boys have never had even an ounce of formula. I even became one of "those women" who breastfed my oldest until he was over 2 years old! I breastfed while I was pregnant! So, I have been on both sides of the issue.

But of course, I am a huge believer that more women would breastfeed (and for longer) if they were given information and support from before they even gave birth. Let's all just get along and stick together! Raising kids is hard enough without attacking each other. 

Check out this great article on the Huffington Post talking about this very topic! 




Baby friendly hospitals

Check out this great resource on the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative. To become a baby friendly hospital, the facility must meet 10 requirements:

"The Ten Steps To Successful Breastfeeding

The BFHI promotes, protects, and supports breastfeeding through The Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding for Hospitals, as outlined by UNICEF/WHO. The steps for the United States are:


1 - Have a written breastfeeding policy that is routinely communicated to all health care staff.
2 - Train all health care staff in skills necessary to implement this policy.
3 - Inform all pregnant women about the benefits and management of breastfeeding.
4 - Help mothers initiate breastfeeding within one hour of birth.
5 - Show mothers how to breastfeed and how to maintain lactation, even if they are separated from their infants.
6 - Give newborn infants no food or drink other than breastmilk, unless medically indicated.
7 - Practice “rooming in”-- allow mothers and infants to remain together 24 hours a day.
8 - Encourage breastfeeding on demand.
9 - Give no pacifiers or artificial nipples to breastfeeding infants.
10 - Foster the establishment of breastfeeding support groups and refer mothers to them on discharge from the hospital or clinic"

Sadly, there are only 119 hospitals certified in the entire country, and ZERO in Arizona. Should we start advocating for some, or what!!??

Check out this site:
http://www.babyfriendlyusa.org/eng/index.html


Thursday, October 6, 2011

More research on Breastmilk and Good Bacteria

Check out this great video about research being done by UC Davis about the chemistry of breastmilk and how it feeds the good bacteria in our stomachs. Cures are being developed for many diseases with this information!

Watch by clicking the link below!

https://www.facebook.com/UCDavis?sk=videos#!/video/video.php?v=10150331607079487


Sunday, October 2, 2011

Recipe of the Day- Agave Banana Spice Cake (No refined sugar!)

Healthy and delicious! Also great for little ones, as long as they have had milk, eggs and wheat flour. (About 12-18 months)

  • 4 ounces butter, softened
  • 1/2 cup agave nectar
  • 1 tablespoon molasses
  • 1 large egg
  • 2 to 3 bananas, mashed, about 3/4 cup
  • 1/4 cup buttermilk or sour milk- (check out easy substitutions HERE)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 scant teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Heat oven to 350°. Grease and flour an 8- or 9-inch square pan.

In a large mixing bowl with electric mixer, cream butter, agave nectar and molasses. Beat in egg, milk, vanilla, and mashed banana until blended. Combine remaining dry ingredients and spices. Stir the dry ingredients into the first mixture until moistened. Spread in prepared pan.

Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until cake springs back when lightly touched with finger.