food, health, healing, journey, folk traditions, modern medical technology and revolutionary breakthroughs.

FOOD, FOOD & HEALING JOURNEY, Probiotic Beverages, The ALISON D. GILBERT Blog

Alison’s Health and Healing Project Graphics

May 27, 2023 No Comments

health-and-healing-project-graphics

FERMENTED FOOD & BEVERAGE GRAPHICS

Health and Healing project graphics are great fun to make for all my fermented beverages. In fact, I enjoy making Health and Healing projects graphics almost as much as making fermented food and beverages themselves.

In order to keep track of what I am doing with all my projects, I create promotional and identity graphics. At left, for this project, I have created a menu of the fermented food and beverages I am making.

WHERE IT ALL BEGAN: EAT FREE

It has been over 35 years since I created my first Health and Healing graphics. In fact, it was my first Health and Healing project called EAT FREE©. The name described an allergy muffin I created. It was free of wheat, dairy, and sugar. In fact, it was vegan before vegan even existed.

eat free flyer — My first health and healing project EAT FREE© flyer from 1987.

Do you notice something significant between the above two examples of Health & Healing graphics? The current piece, the menu happens to be computer generated while the vintage piece or flyer was completely freehand drawn by me.

At the time the flyer was created, I did not have access to a computer. Currently, all my graphics is computer generated. In reverse, my current Health and Healing projects themselves draw upon vintage, handmade formulas and recipes.

Illustrations work by Susan Branch, Beatrix Potter, and Mary Engelbreit

As much as I would like to create lovely handmade illustrations of my current work, the computer is easier for me. Unfortunately I do not have the skill of other artists like Susan Branch, Beatrix Potter and Mary Engelbreit to manifest handmade marvels.

Ali’s Kombucha kitchen

CAPTURING THE ESSENCE

There is an essence to all of this. It is actually captured by the senses through the ethereal vibration of it all. There is the visual, the aroma, the taste, the feeling. Although I cannot capture some of these qualities, ultimately the products is essential.

It is my sincerest desire that you will experience something special through my Health and Healing project graphics. May that be the quality of transporting you to the products themselves. Ultimately that is where the benefits and the joy reside.

SOURCES & RESOURCES

Fermented Sauerkraut
Beet Kvass
Ginger ale
Limeade
Kombucha
Susan Branch
Beatrix Potter
Mary Engelbreit

health-and-healing-project-graphics

ALISON D. GILBERT Blog, FOOD & HEALING JOURNEY, Healthy Lifestyle

A Living Healthier Plan

November 10, 2022 No Comments

Please note: This post has been written as more of a personal diary entry than a blog post with details that should apply to anyone else. It is the plan I aim to follow at this point of my life. In other words, it is designed for me by me. It is not a medical or nutritional recommendation for anyone else.

THE DECISION TO MAKE A CHANGE
A living healthier plan
It became necessary not long ago to make a change when I started to feel dizzy and unstable when I walked. The conclusion became imperative when I made a whirling dervish spin. Had it not been for my crash into the wall of a hallway, I would have landed on the floor. As a result, I probably would have broken a bone or two not to mention other damage, aches, and pains.

healthier-living-plan — Falling down people. People of different ages stumbling and jumping down stairs, slipping wet floor, injured men, women, children vector flat cartoon isolated unbalanced characters from istockphoto.com

The Do’s and Don’ts
A living healthier plan would have to include a food plan, a meal and snack schedule, as well as prescription drugs and a supplement regimen. In addition reducing sugary foods needed to become more of a priority.

Actually this plan felt like more of a step than a difficult leap. Somehow, my craving for sugary food decreased due to my desire to eliminate painful reactions to eating too many sweets. In fact, I developed itching and a painful rash that accompanied their consumption. I also wished to reduce my weight. As a result, these two situations were enough of an incentive to really cut back on those treats.

Itching and Rash

STEP ONE

A living healthier plan clearly would be facilitated by a regular routine. I had undeniably gotten off course in this area. So without much difficulty, if I could tweek my current routine, a positive change should not be that difficult to achieve.

Filtered Water

The health benefits of drinking water and why it good to drink a lot from www.mirror.co.uk

What had to come first and foremost was to drink more water. The fermented drinks that I love to make would help as well. But water was the most important liquid. Once I got that in place, I could begin my new eating plan.

A sampling of some of the Zero Water Filter Dispensers

Begin Each Day
It is suggested to drink an 8 oz glass of water upon rising. I always drink filtered water using the Zero System. My cup of water is accompanied by a supplement. In this case it is a once daily New Chapter Every Woman’s Multivitamin. I think this is an excellent company with a growing selection of quality supplements. No food is required to take this multivitamin.

New Chapter Once Daily Every Woman’s Multivitamin from NewChapter.com

STEP TWO
Certain prescription medication and then at least a small amount of food are essential for me to start my day. This can range from a fruit snack to a full breakfast. But most important is that I drink my water, take my morning medication, and have a bite to eat. It is preferable that I do this between 8-9am.

CONTINUE BLOG POST
This blog post continues with Part Two, A Living Healthier Food Plan.

SOURCES & RESOURCES

Cutting Back on Sweets.

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FOOD & HEALING JOURNEY, Passion for Food, The ALISON D. GILBERT Blog

The Happy Pig’s Clucket Bucket: A Review

June 13, 2022 No Comments

PLANT BASED FRIED CHICKEN

Plant based fried chicken in The Happy Pig’s Clucket Bucket(TM) >and all its other portion packages is absolutely delicious.

In fact, it is as good as any fried chicken I have ever tasted, animal or plant based. Actually, it’s even better. So be sure to find out all the ways you can purchase it.

A Review Plus

The spicing is perfect. In addition, one would never know by the taste that this is a plant based rather than a chicken based product.

But, this is not only a Happy Pig’s plant based fried chicken review. But it is also an acknowledgement of a fantastic plant-based product that I am delighted to eat as well as write about.

HOW I FOUND THE HAPPY PIG’S CLUCKET BUCKET(TM)A Farmers Market Find

My social life began again last weekend after a long, barren winter. The past season was devoid of social activity due to to continued concerns about COVID. As a result, the spring and the Farmers Market season have come as an especially welcome time. To add to that, the find of a new product, The Happy Pig’s Plant Based Fried Chicken makes it extra special.

SAMPLING THIS PRODUCT

The sample packet I received is not the usual selling portion. In fact it was a complementary sample. Actually, the plant based fried chicken and other products have been part of the circuit of growing Nassau County based food trucks.

On Social Media, But Nowhere To Be Found

So when I went to the same farmers market this past weekend, plant based fried chicken was nowhere to be found. I was challenged by another mystery and another ‘amateur detective’ project.

It had to start somewhere. So, their website was the obvious place to start my search. But I found no Farmers Market schedule on it. Instead are these social media links:

Facebook

Instagram

There is a saying, ‘when all else fails, read the directions’. In this case, all the social media sources and resources did not yield a solution, except one. This one was a phone number on the website. Since my writing started very early in the morning, I did not call it. But when a reasonable time came, I did call. Alas, Wendy Ann Lantigua, the owner of the company answered.

During our delightful conversation, I learned the following:
• Wendy was about to update the website providing additional information.
• She attends the Malverne, LI Farmers Market whenever possible.
• Delivery will be available. There is a $5. charge.
• The food truck has been sold.

Most importantly, I certainly would have enough options to get more of this amazing plant-based fried chicken. Just to be certain, I added this healthy, delicious resource to my own healthy food source and resource list on the Healthy Food Systems Page

SOURCES AND RESOURCES

All photos about The Happy Pig’s Clucket Bucket are © Little Kitchen Creations By Wendy LLC

The Happy Pig’s Clucket Bucket Chick’n (TM).
Website
email The Happy Pig
Facebook page
Instagram
Yelp Review

FOOD & HEALING JOURNEY, Mushrooms, The ALISON D. GILBERT Blog

The Mella Mushroom Fruiting Chamber

September 27, 2021 No Comments

INTRODUCTION

This is the new mushroom fruiting chamber machine made by Mella. It is coming to the market soon. The Mella machine is designed to offer a superior mushroom growing environment. I, for one am very curious about this new technology.This is because my beginner no-tech attempt at fruiting left much to be desired.

My first no-tech attempt at growing Lions Mane mushroom. Only ADG photo.

THE STORY FROM NORTH SPORE

Here is what NorthSpore has to say about the Mella mushroom fruiting chamber.

“Awhile back, the team at FirstBuild reached out to us about the Mella Smart Mushroom Fruiting Chamber they were creating and asked if we would like to help advise the development team. And, of course, we jumped at the opportunity. This automated mushroom growing appliance has been designed to fit into small spaces (e.g. kitchen countertops) and to make the process of mushroom growing easier, cleaner, more practical for smaller-scale growers and hobbyists. (Think high-tech tiny version of a Martha tent.)

THE LOVE LIST

“We recently received two of their latest prototypes to test, and we just finished our first round of growing. Suffice it to say, we were delighted with Mella’s ease and simplicity, and after much debate, the following six features made it on to our collective “love” list.

Set It and Forget It Feature

1. Mella is fully automated

“There is definitely something nice about the “set it and forget it” simplicity of Mella. Once you’ve assembled the unit and selected the humidity and fan speeds, you can pretty much leave it to do its thing for several days. The water tank (which sits on the outside) lasts for 5-7 days, and the filter and unit only need to be cleaned between mushroom harvests. There are even built-in LED lamps that create the optimal lighting environment for your fungi (which can be turned on and off, if nighttime light isn’t your thing).

2. The unit is compact, yet roomy

“The Mella unit makes excellent use of vertical and horizontal space. We were able to comfortably fit 3 of our Grow Your Own Mushroom bag kits into the unit, leaving enough room for the filter and fan to do their magic. (We also tried 3 of our Spray & Grow Mushroom Kits, which also left ample room for air and circulation.) Of course, we would be lying if we said the unit is small—it isn’t. It’s definitely larger than a standard counter-top toaster oven. That said, it isn’t huge either and took up a lot less room on our kitchen counter than expected. Added bonus—it actually looked good! The Mella design is sleek and minimalist, so it didn’t overpower the space and fit nicely on the counter-top.

3. The unit is whisper quiet

“Mella’s dual fan has two jobs – air and humidity circulation. And in all honesty, we were a little worried that the fan would create an obnoxious wind-tunnel sound in the background. But it was surprisingly quiet, even at full speed. You can definitely hear it, but it’s more of a soft ambient background noise. Think calming white noise machine, not screeching industrial fan. Two thumbs up!

4. Mella controlled smell and spores

“If you live with somebody that is sensitive to mushroom spores or doesn’t like the smell of mushrooms, the Mella is definitely for you. The unit is fully enclosed, and nothing gets in or out (except for highly-filtered air) thanks to the dual fan system. Added bonus – if you live in an area prone to fruit flies and gnats, this keeps them out!

5. The unit was easy to clean

“Mella has two clear acrylic side walls and a clear acrylic glass door. It also has a stainless-steel floor, roof, and back panel. And, while you do need to clean the unit between mushroom harvests, all inner and outer surfaces are easily wiped off with a damp cloth and soapy water or a water/alcohol mixture. The reusable humidity filter is also easy to clean. Simply run it through lukewarm water between harvests to remove any spore buildup.

6. Mella was easy to set up

“The Mella was packed with care using laser cut spongy foam pieces and only took about 5 minutes to unbox all of the components. After reading the instruction manual, it only took another 15 minutes to fully assemble, including filling the water tank. And, while we wouldn’t say it’s so easy a child could do it, it definitely wasn’t difficult. A quick read of the set-up instructions is all you need. (FirstBuild is also looking to add even easier controls in the next version of Mella.)

CONCLUSION

“Want to get on Mella’s waitlist?

You can be one of the first in line for the upcoming Mella launch (the official date has yet to be announced.) Click here to sign up for their launch announcement and find links to their entertaining demo videos.

SOURCES & RESOURCES
The Review of the Mella mushroom fruiting chamber by North Spore
https://firstbuild.com/products/mella/?affiliate_id=northspore

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FOOD & HEALING JOURNEY, Indoor Farming, The ALISON D. GILBERT Blog

Starting a New Project

August 9, 2021 No Comments

FANTASTIC FUNGI: INTRODUCTION

Fantastic Fungi is an amazing Netflix documentary featuring Paul Stamets. In fact, it is the best documentary I’ve ever seen. I’ve watched it many times, already. As a result, it has become the start of my new project, mushrooms.

Paul Stamets is a former logger turned mycologist. He is perhaps one of the most knowledgeable people there is when it comes to fantastic fungi.

As much as I wanted to create a single facebook page about mushrooms, my new project, I decided to add this topic to several of my existing facebook pages, instead. That is because fantastic fungi do not fit into just one category. They fit into several. In fact, they dovetail with every single one of my past professional categories, continued passions and hobbies.

For example, there are many kinds of fantastic fungi that are used in cooking. Actually, their use here can have delicious consequences. Therefore fascinating fungi will be included in ‘Alison’s Exotic Healthy Food Kitchen‘.

In addition, there are mushrooms that have medicinal purposes. Thus, this topic will be included in ‘Natural Healing Resources by Alison‘.

Without fantastic fungi, the planet could not survive and neither could we. Of course, fantastic fungi will be included in ‘Survival Comes First‘.

Much to my delight, I realized I had an Indoor Gardening Facebook page that I could convert from Microgreens to Mushrooms, Mushroom Mama formerly Seed Mama. It will feature a variety of mushroom data.

Even though I do not have a specific Facebook page where a crucial component of mushrooms fit, the worlds of science and consciousness, information will be included in some of the above mentioned Facebook pages.

WHERE TO BEGIN: RESEARCH

READ
In the past when I have begun a new project, much of my material has been inspired. From that initial spark, I will then research and study it in depth. But this project is unique. Because fantastic fungi can be poisonous, I have to start with research and guidance rather than experimentation at home.

Although I am not much of a reader, the purchase of a book or two might be a good idea. I have found two on Amazon that interest me.

WATCH

VIDEO AND STREAMING TV

The introduction to Fascinating Fungi, the video.

This is the video that lured me into the world of fantastic fungi. I don’t know where my journey will lead me or how long this project will last. But in this case, it requires a specific path due the the potential danger of engagement and consumption.

ONLINE CONNECTIONS

So far I have not found any groups or mentors for in person training. Therefore I have joined several facebook groups to help guide me.
1. Mushroom Growing For Beginners & Experts
2. Mushroom Identification
3. Medicinal Mushrooms

NETWORK IN PERSON

This step involves contacting people I know and talking about mushrooms with everyone I meet.

BUY A MUSHROOM GROWING KIT

Purchasing a kit is the safest And simplest way to begin growing mushrooms at home. Here are several to choose from. Just follow the directions to be on your way to growing mushrooms at home.
Fungi Ally
Northspore
Midwest Grow Kits

A video from Fungi Ally about growing mushrooms at home from a mushroom growing kit.

THE END OF THE BEGINNING

Here are a few things you will need to start you on your way to growing mushrooms at home:
1. a growing kit with the growing medium with the spores injected into it for the mushroom you desire
2. a large plastic tote to house the kit in
3. a mister/water sprayer
4. videos to follow along
5. reading material to learn more

Additional Blog Posts About This Topic
Continuing My New Project
My Past Professions, Present Passions and Possible Future Explorations Mirror the World of Mushrooms
Growing Mushrooms at Home
Reading Material About Mushrooms
Mushroom Growing Kits

Artisan Food Traditions, Passion for Food, The ALISON D. GILBERT Blog

THE RIDGEWOOD EUROPEAN PORK STORE

January 31, 2021 No Comments

INTRODUCTION

The Ridgewood European Pork Store transcends modern-day food. It is, in fact, an endangered species. It is located in what was originally an eastern European neighborhood. Amazingly, the store was born in the 1930s with very few changes in ownership and products.

ridgewpood-european-pork-store — The Ridgewood European Pork Store looking similar to the way it did when it first opened in the 1930s. Photo from Yelp.

ARTISAN FOOD

Technically homemade meat products like it had in 1930s US and Europe fill much of the store today. Artisan is the new name that has been given to this type of food. This term represents foods made in small batches, made often for freshness, and traditionally-prepared to taste as it originally did. Artisan is a new word for old-time goodness. Here is a definition for artisan food from Wikipedia

FOOD THAT TAKES US BACK IN TIME

There is an entire movement of Artisan Food. We crave food the way it used to taste, free of preservative for long shelf lives. We want it homemade with a focus on quality, not quantity, wrapped in butcher paper, not vacuum sealed plastic-wrapped. There was time when speed of preparation rather than taste was the priority. But things have changed. We want slow food. We want to go back in time.

FOOD TODAY WITH A TASTE FOR YESTERDAY

CONCLUSIOIN

I haven’t had a chance to visit the European Pork Store yet. But it is on my list of things I want very much to do. Even though I am not much of a world traveler, I love to travel the world and its history within my own world.

FOOD & HEALING JOURNEY, The ALISON D. GILBERT Blog, THE ECONOMY & ENVIRONMENT

THE POOR MIDDLE CLASS NUTRITION CRISIS

January 31, 2017 No Comments

Why This Post Is Called A Nutrition Crisis Rather Than A Food Crisis

The Poor Middle Class Nutrition crisis is due to the lack of healthy, nutritious, especially locally grown food. It is not as much about the availability of food itself. There are plenty of sources for cheap, empty calorie items. But access to affordable, healthy, local food is a the root of the Poor Middle Class Nutrition Crisis. The major food challenges for the Poor Middle Class are:
• having access to healthy food
• affording to eat healthy food
• eating enough nutritionally rich food
• staying healthy by being able to eat healthfully

Challenges & Solutions to the Poor Middle Class Nutrition Crisis

The following tools for accessing food have both pros and cons. The one thing they have in common is the added expense of time. Some involve monetary cost. Others are financially free. There is always a trade-off. This can also require a significant adjustment in lifestyle if one is used to supermarket shopping for quick and easy access. Here are some suggested alternatives that are mainstream or government sponsored:

• Buy In Bulk

• Use Store & Brand Coupons

• Barter & Exchange Products

• Get WIC & Farmers Market Coupons

• Go To Food Pantries

• Collect Food Stamps

Here are Alternative Lifestyle Means of Obtaining Food

• Grow Your Own from seeds and food scraps-Here is a post about starting a community garden.

• Go Dumpster Diving-This food was retrieved from dumpster diving

• Foraging for Food is making use of nature’s bounty, free for the taking, with gratitude. Be sure you are a pro or are foraging with a pro. You want to pick healthy not deadly items.

• Farm your own chickens for eggs, cows for milk and goats for milk

• Make Your Own Essentials and Seasonal Treats with fermentation, canning and other wholesome preserving techniques.Here is a great alternative. It is the Afro Jam story. I just love their graphics.

• Kill Your Own Food-This is a controversial but reasonable alternative. It is probably the cleanest source of animal protein, fish and fowl. It certainly is much harder to obtain than at the supermarket. But you know exactly where it comes from. It also brings us much closer to nature in relationship with the animal that has died for us to survive.

The Issue of Hunger

In addition to the existence of a nutrition crisis, there are people who go hungry in this country. Each of these crises is unique. Here is a short list about hunger and health:
• hunger is the result of a lack of food
• health is the result of a lack of healthy food
• accessibility and availability are issues
• poverty and homelessness can be a contributing factor
• food waste is a very serious contributor to food insecurity

nutritional crisis — Food Insecurity and Food Waste Are Opposite Sides of the Same Coin from The John Oliver Show

Sources & Resources

10 Steps to Starting A Community Garden UPDATE: Man Who Broke Into Restaurant, Ate Food, Urinated in Garbage Can Won’t Face Charges

Trump: 43 million Americans on food stamps By Nadia Pflaum from www.politifact.com

Why we should all be ethical carnivours now

The Slow Food Movement

Slow Food Manifesto

Joy Bilee Farmg

The Homestead Hippie

Homesteading on Facebook

Cambridge Sustainable Food

Grow Your Own Food from Food Scraps

A Detroit Urban Farm Preserves Black History In Jam

Food Waste In America According to the John Oliver Show

Millenials Fuel UK Food Waste Mountain

FOOD & HEALING JOURNEY

Cholos Try Vegan Food

November 4, 2015 No Comments

‘Cholos Try Vegan Food’ is a video that proves an important point. If something tastes good, advertising for it does not have to be in good taste. It can still be great, creative promotional material. This piece is actually part of a new advertising campaign targeting the Latino market.

For those who do not know what a ‘cholo’ is, this is the Urban Dictionary meaning, “A cholo is term implying a Hispanic male that typically dresses in chinos (khahki pants), a wifebeater sleeveless teeshirt or a flannel shirt with only the top buttoned, a hairnet, or with a bandana around the forehead, usually halfway down over the eyes. Cholos often have black ink tattoos, commonly involving Catholic imagery, or calligraphy messages or family names.”

For those who do not know what vegan food is, let me explain briefly.

Alison D. Gilbert shared We are mitú 's 'Cholos Try Vegan Food' a video of them trying two of my favorite foods and…

Posted by Ali's Kombucha Kitchen on Wednesday, November 4, 2015

A review of the video on Klaq.com

The video on facebook

Vimeo version of Kale Chips & Kombucha.

FOOD & HEALING JOURNEY

The Very Versatile Vegetable Pear

July 31, 2015 No Comments

A Facebook Mystery Q&A

This blog post, The Very Versatile Vegetable Pear, started as a facebook mystery Q&A. A photograph was held up on her facebook page by a friend, Dawn Leahy, who asked, ‘Could somebody please tell me what this fruit is’?

The Facebook Conversation

Well that started a facebook conversation about what this green produce item was. Guesses and suggestions came in from all around the globe. Recipes also flooded in. The irony was that they were for both fruit and vegetable dishes. Talk about it being versatile. I thought it might be a papaya. It did have a resemblance.

The outsides could be deceptive as they do have a resemblance. But once cut open, there is no mistaking one from the other. In addition, the versatility of the vegetable pear surpases the papaya and many other types of produce. The vegetable pear is known as chayote in Latin America, sayote in the Philippines, choko in Australia and chu chu, elsewhere. It is in the gourd family along with melons and squash. It can be eaten raw, steamed, boiled, fried with butter and garlic as well as disguised as apples for apple desserts. These are just a few comments and recipes suggested by facebook and other friends, Myraflor Quinton Sario Atkinson, Marcus Sean Atkinson, Dominique Neuhofer, Nedvon Tree, Allado Janice Lara Nunes and Aaron Aveiro.

History and Nutritional Value of The Vegetable Pear

Thanks to Aaron Aveiro, owner of Aladay Organic Farm, a fact sheet from Google and other resources, I learned about the amazing nutritional value of The Very Versatile Vegetable Pear as well as other fascinating facts.”I found out, too, that these Mexican fruits, which the Aztecs called chayotli, are now widely grown in tropical and subtropical areas around the world. They are known as christophine or mirliton to Caribbeans, chocho to Madeirans, pipinella to Italians, and pipinola to Hawaiians. (The plant’s scientific name is Sechium edule, but most North Americans call them “vegetable pears.”)1

In Conclusion

I would like to end this blog post with what is the most exciting discovery about The Versatile Vegetable Pear. Due to its intrinsically bland flavor, it is the idea substitute for higher carb fruits, like apples and can be ideal for mock apple pie and apple crisp. The vegetable pear will absorb the apple juice and make the most delicious dessert. So used as a vegetable or a fruit, this once mystery item is a fantastic, nutritional discovery.

Resource Material and Recipes

1. Growing Chayote

Chayote squash side dish

Fried chayote squash

Braised chicken and chayote

Chayote (mirliton) nutrition facts

How To Make A Mock Apple Pie

FOOD & HEALING JOURNEY

Traditional Fermented Ginger Ale: Introduction

March 17, 2015 No Comments

traditional-fermented-ginger-ale

FERMENTING AGENTS

Traditional fermented ginger ale is the only drink I make that is in a similar category to Homemade Organic Fermented Lemonade or Limeade. These drinks are kissing cousins because they can use the same fermenting agent, whey. But for ginger ale, a ‘ginger bug’ is my preferred fermenting agent.

Whey
Using whey in making ginger ale does make it ferment faster. But I prefer not to add it and let the ginger ale ‘slow brew’. In addition, for people who are sensitive to dairy or are vegan, whey needs to be avoided since it comes from dairy.

Ginger Bug, No Whey
So we won’t be going into detail about the use of whey as our fermenting agent today. Instead, our focus will be on making a ‘ginger bug’.

Be Persistent More Than Consistent
Keep in mind that my first effort failed. So don’t give up. Over time, I have used various recipes as my template for guidance. It is amazing how recipes can vary. That is because fermenting is as much an art as it is a science. There is no exclusive way to make this. The only one that matters is the one that works. And based on all kinds of environmental and other input, the same recipe may not work consistently.

Ginger
Let’s start with the ginger itself. I only use fresh ginger. If it is organic, I just rinse it. If it is not organic, I peel it. Either way, the ginger should be nice and plump, not wrinkled or moldy. Ginger is available in Asian food stores, in health food markets and often in supermarkets.

Recipe One
There are two recipes that I used at the start. The first is from Wellnessmama.com calling for a small amount of ginger, sugar and water added daily.

Recipe Two
The second is from Nourished Traditions and is fairly similar to the wellnessmama.com recipe.

Ginger Bug Care
I am not sure if I found a recipe for this or if I started doing it on my own. I am admittedly overwhelmed sometimes with caring for all my fermented beverages and food. Daily attention to my ‘ginger bug’ become difficult. So I started weekly feeding of my continuous culture, you never use it up but always save some to start the next one.

Varieties of Sugar
It worked. And what works even better is using muscovado sugar. It is very dark because it has a substantial amount of molasses left in it. It tastes almost taste more like ginger beer than ginger ale. My original bug is made with a lighter sugar called demerara with less molasses so it is not as potent.

Ginger Wort
The next step in making traditional fermented ginger ale is preparing a ginger wort’. The recipe for that will appear in the next blog post, Traditional Fermented Ginger Ale: ‘Ginger Wort’. Following steps will appear on additional blog posts throughout the coming week.

SOURCES & RESOURCES

Ginger Bug Recipe from Wellness Mama

Ginger Bug from Nourished Kitchen

This blog post details information discussed by Alison D. Gilbert, Healthy Living Consultant, on A.M. News on Renegade 101.3 FM. If you wish to share it, please give credit where credit is due. Photography is by the author unless otherwise indicated by scanning your mouse over the image. Thank you.

traditional-fermented-ginger-ale

1 2 3 … 8 Next »

FERMENTED FOOD & BEVERAGE GRAPHICS

Health and Healing project graphics are great fun to make for all my fermented beverages. In fact, I enjoy making Health and Healing projects graphics almost as much as making fermented food and beverages themselves.

In order to keep track of what I am doing with all my projects, I create promotional and identity graphics. At left, for this project, I have created a menu of the fermented food and beverages I am making.

WHERE IT ALL BEGAN: EAT FREE

It has been over 35 years since I created my first Health and Healing graphics. In fact, it was my first Health and Healing project called EAT FREE©. The name described an allergy muffin I created. It was free of wheat, dairy, and sugar. In fact, it was vegan before vegan even existed.

CAPTURING THE ESSENCE

SOURCES & RESOURCES

Share this:

Like this:

The Do’s and Don’ts A living healthier plan would have to include a food plan, a meal and snack schedule, as well as prescription drugs and a supplement regimen. In addition reducing sugary foods needed to become more of a priority.

Itching and Rash

A living healthier plan clearly would be facilitated by a regular routine. I had undeniably gotten off course in this area. So without much difficulty, if I could tweek my current routine, a positive change should not be that difficult to achieve.

Filtered Water

What had to come first and foremost was to drink more water. The fermented drinks that I love to make would help as well. But water was the most important liquid. Once I got that in place, I could begin my new eating plan.

CONTINUE BLOG POST This blog post continues with Part Two, A Living Healthier Food Plan.

SOURCES & RESOURCES

Share this:

Like this:

PLANT BASED FRIED CHICKEN

A Review Plus

The spicing is perfect. In addition, one would never know by the taste that this is a plant based rather than a chicken based product.

But, this is not only a Happy Pig’s plant based fried chicken review. But it is also an acknowledgement of a fantastic plant-based product that I am delighted to eat as well as write about.

HOW I FOUND THE HAPPY PIG’S CLUCKET BUCKET(TM)A Farmers Market Find

SAMPLING THIS PRODUCT

The sample packet I received is not the usual selling portion. In fact it was a complementary sample. Actually, the plant based fried chicken and other products have been part of the circuit of growing Nassau County based food trucks.

On Social Media, But Nowhere To Be Found

Facebook

Instagram

Yelp Review

Now Where?

A good detective does not give up. Since I earned my Ace-Detective badge from my favorite call-in music radio show, I have an obligation to solve the mystery of where, when, and how to get more of this amazing plant-based-fried-chicken. Plant based fried chicken cutlets from ‘The Happy Pig’

SOURCES AND RESOURCES

The Happy Pig’s Clucket Bucket Chick’n (TM). Website email The Happy Pig Facebook page Instagram Yelp Review

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INTRODUCTION

THE STORY FROM NORTH SPORE

Here is what NorthSpore has to say about the Mella mushroom fruiting chamber.

THE LOVE LIST

1. Mella is fully automated

2. The unit is compact, yet roomy

3. The unit is whisper quiet

4. Mella controlled smell and spores

5. The unit was easy to clean

6. Mella was easy to set up

“Want to get on Mella’s waitlist?

You can be one of the first in line for the upcoming Mella launch (the official date has yet to be announced.) Click here to sign up for their launch announcement and find links to their entertaining demo videos.

SOURCES & RESOURCES

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FANTASTIC FUNGI: INTRODUCTION

Fantastic Fungi is an amazing Netflix documentary featuring Paul Stamets. In fact, it is the best documentary I’ve ever seen. I’ve watched it many times, already. As a result, it has become the start of my new project, mushrooms.

Much to my delight, I realized I had an Indoor Gardening Facebook page that I could convert from Microgreens to Mushrooms, Mushroom Mama formerly Seed Mama. It will feature a variety of mushroom data.

Even though I do not have a specific Facebook page where a crucial component of mushrooms fit, the worlds of science and consciousness, information will be included in some of the above mentioned Facebook pages.

WHERE TO BEGIN: RESEARCH

Although I am not much of a reader, the purchase of a book or two might be a good idea. I have found two on Amazon that interest me.

WATCH

VIDEO AND STREAMING TV

This is the video that lured me into the world of fantastic fungi. I don’t know where my journey will lead me or how long this project will last. But in this case, it requires a specific path due the the potential danger of engagement and consumption.

ONLINE CONNECTIONS

So far I have not found any groups or mentors for in person training. Therefore I have joined several facebook groups to help guide me. 1. Mushroom Growing For Beginners & Experts 2. Mushroom Identification 3. Medicinal Mushrooms

NETWORK IN PERSON

This step involves contacting people I know and talking about mushrooms with everyone I meet.

BUY A MUSHROOM GROWING KIT

Purchasing a kit is the safest And simplest way to begin growing mushrooms at home. Here are several to choose from. Just follow the directions to be on your way to growing mushrooms at home. Fungi Ally Northspore Midwest Grow Kits

A video from Fungi Ally about growing mushrooms at home from a mushroom growing kit.

THE END OF THE BEGINNING

Additional Blog Posts About This Topic Continuing My New Project My Past Professions, Present Passions and Possible Future Explorations Mirror the World of Mushrooms Growing Mushrooms at Home Reading Material About Mushrooms Mushroom Growing Kits

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INTRODUCTION

ARTISAN FOOD

FOOD THAT TAKES US BACK IN TIME

FOOD TODAY WITH A TASTE FOR YESTERDAY

CONCLUSIOIN

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Why This Post Is Called A Nutrition Crisis Rather Than A Food Crisis

Challenges & Solutions to the Poor Middle Class Nutrition Crisis

Here are Alternative Lifestyle Means of Obtaining Food

The Do’s and Don’ts
A living healthier plan would have to include a food plan, a meal and snack schedule, as well as prescription drugs and a supplement regimen. In addition reducing sugary foods needed to become more of a priority.

CONTINUE BLOG POST
This blog post continues with Part Two, A Living Healthier Food Plan.

A good detective does not give up. Since I earned my Ace-Detective badge from my favorite call-in music radio show, I have an obligation to solve the mystery of where, when, and how to get more of this amazing plant-based-fried-chicken.

Plant based fried chicken cutlets from ‘The Happy Pig’

The Happy Pig’s Clucket Bucket Chick’n (TM).
Website
email The Happy Pig
Facebook page
Instagram
Yelp Review

So far I have not found any groups or mentors for in person training. Therefore I have joined several facebook groups to help guide me.
1. Mushroom Growing For Beginners & Experts
2. Mushroom Identification
3. Medicinal Mushrooms

Purchasing a kit is the safest And simplest way to begin growing mushrooms at home. Here are several to choose from. Just follow the directions to be on your way to growing mushrooms at home.
Fungi Ally
Northspore
Midwest Grow Kits

Additional Blog Posts About This Topic
Continuing My New Project
My Past Professions, Present Passions and Possible Future Explorations Mirror the World of Mushrooms
Growing Mushrooms at Home
Reading Material About Mushrooms
Mushroom Growing Kits

Whey
Using whey in making ginger ale does make it ferment faster. But I prefer not to add it and let the ginger ale ‘slow brew’. In addition, for people who are sensitive to dairy or are vegan, whey needs to be avoided since it comes from dairy.

Ginger Bug, No Whey
So we won’t be going into detail about the use of whey as our fermenting agent today. Instead, our focus will be on making a ‘ginger bug’.

Recipe One
There are two recipes that I used at the start. The first is from Wellnessmama.com calling for a small amount of ginger, sugar and water added daily.

Recipe Two
The second is from Nourished Traditions and is fairly similar to the wellnessmama.com recipe.

Ginger Wort
The next step in making traditional fermented ginger ale is preparing a ginger wort’. The recipe for that will appear in the next blog post, Traditional Fermented Ginger Ale: ‘Ginger Wort’. Following steps will appear on additional blog posts throughout the coming week.