Stairway To Secrets

photobucket

Rosalinda — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 15:43:20 +0000

This is just a note re. the heartache of losing my video clips, slide presentations,etc. through Photobucket. Their contract with Adobe expired, and along with it, all my previous editing, and work. So the long pause is due to a little weeping, and taking first aid lessons to begin the healing process- for me and my web site. What a pain!!!

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Happy Halloween

Rosalinda — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 16:28:59 +0000

Picture by: Dimitri Castrique, Belgium

ENJOY THIS HALLOWEEN TREAT BEFORE IT ENJOYS YOU!!!!

AFTER THE WITCH’S BREW CLICK ON THE CROW IN THE TOP PICTURE AND SEE WHERE HE CAME FROM.

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Everyday Cooking with Food Storage

Rosalinda — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 04:24:06 +0000

Making Rye Bread

Hearty Soup For The Soul

Hope you enjoyed viewing the above video clips and that your taste buds are eager for a new experience! Having previously been acquainted with food-storage meals my taste buds already decided: “This will be just another day at the office.” In fact, most of those types of mixes often tasted like the box or package in which they came.

The enticing aroma with its subtle pervasive quality was the first indication that something was definitely different. My taste buds came alive (they were already aroused with the smell) the minute the spoon entered my mouth. Delving into the art of gourmet cooking myself, I was pleased to learn that restaurant chefs helped develop these food mixes that only require water, heat, a little olive oil or butter, and an eager hand for stirring!

The whole experience of this food preparation was the anticipation and romance of real home-cooking, like one had spent hours mastering texture and taste. This is exciting news for those who have very little time and yet wish to impress family or friends with good, nourishing food.

First impression starts right at your door entrance with the aroma of home-cooking to welcome your family or guests. You create your own hearty “soup for the soul” song that is equivalent to: “Over the river and through the woods to grandmother’s house we go.” As you stir the full bodied nutritious soup, you are also stirring the memories of your youth. As the aroma fills the house, others are taken on a similar journey. With a hearty vegetable soup or stew, there’s the added bonus of freshly baked bread just out of the oven.

Some of us may not resemble the great cooks we grew up with; however, preparing these foods can CREATE THE COOK IN YOU! If you consider yourself a reputable chef, you will appreciate less preparation time as well as have a base for your own master creation! For example, delicious potato soup mix can be turned into a spicy clam chowder, involving only a can of clams, green chilies, and celery (this soup has been compared to “Market Street Grill’s clam chowder!). Potato soup can be dressed up in many ways including corn chowder, or a bean medley with smoked ham. You can also enhance tortilla soup with sour cream, grated cheese, cilantro, and corn chips.

Here are some notes gleaned from the demonstration I was fortunate to witness:

Rye Bread

Simply add bread mix, dry yeast and water (2 cups) to the bread mixer; bread does not require kneading only mixing (exact measurements will be on the pkt). Mixing for 10 minutes will enhance texture, holding the bread together (2 loaves or more are easier to mix). There are no preservatives as with store bought bread (in many cases there can be over 20 different preservatives in one loaf of bread). Allow the mix to rise on a warm surface until doubled in size, then roll and place on a cookie sheet (as shown in the video). Helpful Hint: The perfect location for bread to rise is to place cookie sheet on a warm dryer while doing laundry.

Other breads available are: white, wheat, sourdough, and multi-grain. To weave your own creative flair, you may wish to add herbs, sun-dried tomato, garlic, cheese or jalapenos.

On The Sweet Side

Do you have a sweet side? Every so often we come across a recipe that just seems to hit the spot. At times like these, savoring the moment means more than sculpturing the body. Perhaps we can delight in this informal health regime as we consider it a true stress release (which ultimately smooths away the rough edges of sculpturing). Therefore, cornbread, buttermilk biscuits, blueberry pancake mix, corn muffins, oatmeal raisin, chocolate chip (comparable to Mrs. Field’s cookies), and sugar cookies should be welcomed on the menu!

Soups & Stews (high quality with a superior taste that people would remember)

The shelf life of these soup and stew mixes is approximately 10 years (perhaps even more). They are, however, so delicious tasting that you would want to incorporate these into your daily diet; otherwise, after sampling, your taste buds would go through withdrawal symptoms! They are that tasty! The general mixture for soups is 4 1/4 cups of water to one package of soup mix. Soups cook for 12-15 minutes (Broccoli is about 12 minutes) and stews cook for 20 minutes.

Meat in stews or soups are soy based (TVP chicken or beef- fabulous flavor!). Soups and stews that require butter can be substituted with olive or coconut oil (about 1 Tb). The most popular soups are Italian Chicken (tomato based), Cheese and Broccoli, Tortilla (high-bred starch gives this soup its creamy flavor), Potato, and Beef Stew.

The video clip only shows a few of the soups; there are, on the drawing board, 48 additional soups, stews and casseroles wishing to take center-stage. Here are just a few: Lasagna, Teriyaki Chicken, Chile, Macaroni and Cheese, Chicken and Rice, Corn Chowder, and Chicken Noodle Soup (traditional).

The exciting thing about including these dehydrated soups and stews as part of your daily menu is ensuring your daily intake of vegetables. Nutrition is locked in when these vegetables are dehydrated and, therefore, taste like fresh vegetables ready for a real home cooking experience! These foods are formulated with your health in mind so there is always room for healthy upgrades! Lowering sodium while maintaining gourmet quality and taste is just one example.

Run Away With Delicious Fruit

Nutritional fruit should also be a part of your daily menu. These dehydrated fruits offer an exotic taste of papaya, mangoes, pineapple, diced apple (great for trail mix and baking) and banana. This is a moment reserved for you and savoring the taste becomes your true tropical island getaway!

Mashed Potatoes

They taste like the real thing especially when made with coconut whey milk, and a little added butter. There is real flavor and nutrition because the peel is part of the deal!! It is so finely chopped that it is not detectable. The best tasting mashed potatoes however, are the garlic and cracked pepper kind. The consistency is approximately 3 1/2 cups of hot milk and 2 Tb butter added to the potato mix. Your family or guests will be clamoring for more so make plenty! Previously sold at Costco for a higher price, these mashed potato mixes earned the title of being the highest quality available!

Coconut Whey Milk

This milk tastes better than cow’s milk and is so good for you. According to testimonials, regular powdered milk tastes like skimmed milk while coconut whey milk has a full bodied taste that is comparable to whole milk. It is especially good for those who are lactose intolerant. It has a sweet and creamy taste and stands alone as a great drink. It blends wonderfully with the soups and potatoes!

72 Hour Food Kit

This is the Cadillac of all 72 Hour Food kits and is for a family of four. Included in the kit are: 3 packets of Coconut Whey Milk, Tropical Fruit, Blueberry Pancake, and Oatmeal mix; Country Beef Stew, Italian Chicken, Broccoli, Creamy Potato, Potato and Cheddar, and Tortilla Soup.

When you indulge in the experience as I have, and finish the last bite of your meal, you can feel confident that no preservatives entered your stomach. The food is squeaky clean and free from MSG, hydrogenated oil, high fructose corn syrup, and other unhealthy free loaders!!

Free loaders? Well yes, they have ALL been eliminated to the point that the cost is squeaky clean and, therefore, these foods are available at true wholesale prices.

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Pioneer Day

Rosalinda — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 01:01:38 +0000

Picture by Mircea Preda Struteanu/Romania

Happy Pioneer Day! Click on the picture above to view your online card.

1) We have more treats in store for you! After viewing your card, continue your celebration by going to the “Inspirational” spotlight and become the eagle. Make sure your volume is turned up!

2) We can’t think of any kind of celebrations without food, so select the “recipe” spotlight for a Crock Pot Powerhouse (that page is so loaded with goodies, you’ll want to visit it quite often).

3) An Eagle has perfect vision. How does your vision compare? Visit the “Vision” spotlight and find out. Also be ready for a tug of the heart and some serious laughs!

4) Expand your vision and visit the “Video” section allowing the music and dance to revive something inside of you.

5) To catch your breath and get your energy back visit the “Wholesale” spotlight, watch the video and learn how to make every cell dance in your body.

6) Leave your comment below in response to this article for Jack Rushton (Vision Spotlight) and he will be notified of all the comments (he is an active hero, and a great example to all).

7) Enjoy this article and all the goodies and make this a special weekend for you and your family!

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July 4th

Rosalinda — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 23:49:47 +0000

I hope you enjoyed the July 4th festivities. We created our own which began in Mount Charleston (just outside Las Vegas). We continued the celebrations in Vegas, as you can see in the video below. You may also be able to compare this one to last year’s celebrations somewhere in this blog journal.

Quick note re. a previous article: For those of you who did the research on water crystals as well as view the rice experiment, will perhaps understand the success of my own personal experience.

I placed a label with a very special word on it, on a small bottle of eye solution. At that time, my eyes were very sore, hurting, dry, and extremely uncomfortable. I could hardly keep my eyes open. In the past, I would resort to using eye drops that would produce very little or no immediate effect (nerve damage/side effect due to a previous car accident). This was the perfect moment for me to try something different since the discomfort was at its highest level.

After some contemplation, I thought I would ”test the waters” and proceeded to select my word and place the label on the bottle. After a minute or so, I tried the solution, and was astounded at the immediate results. Not only did it work right away but the discomfort never came back (as it often did).

It has worked ever since (whenever I get those spells). I am curious to know how many of you have tried the water experiment and, if so, what word you have chosen? For some fun, if you can guess my word I’ll throw in a 3 day getaway. Let me know via this article so we can all take a peak. Also, if you decide to do the experiment let us know what personal word you have chosen. If you haven’t a clue what I am talking about go to the “Art/Photo” spotlight, select the current spotlight on there, and view the video clips. The rice experiment is the last one to view.

One final note: Look at the previous article, “Song of the Magpie” and see if you detect anything unusual in one of the photos and video clips. It’s pretty amazing! If you can guess what it is, a 3 day getaway is yours as well (for 2 adults and 2 kids). Don’t forget to respond via that article. This concludes our July 4th fun!

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4th July Celebration

Rosalinda — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 01:08:58 +0000

Picture by: Sam LeVan/ Philadelphia, PA.

The declaration of America’s Independence on July 4th 1776, the day the wording of the declaration was APPROVED by congress, was proclaimed inside this building, preparing the way for the birth of the “United States Constitution” which was in later years drafted, debated and signed within these walls.

Click on the picture, “Independence Hall” to view a very special card!

Now sit back and click on the flags below to enjoy the following slide presentation and music presented by high school students, playing impressive trumpet sounds and singing the “Battle Hymn of The Republic.”

This song, written by Julie Howe in 1861, contributes to the overall theme of this article, declaring the continued fight for freedom. This fight wears many hats that are ultimately shelved to collect dust indicating, as the history books confirm, man’s constant struggle for freedom, power, and independence. The journey is ongoing until man learns how to WIN the war FOR All the inhabitants of the earth! Before he can do this, perhaps he needs to remove his hat…….

Click on these flags, photo by Paula Brewer from New York, to hear the words of the song below. (After, read the little note at the bottom).

Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord:

He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored;

He hath loosed the fateful lightning of His terrible swift sword:

His truth is marching on.

Chorus:

Glory, glory, hallelujah

Glory, glory, hallelujah!

His truth is marching on.

I have seen Him in the watch-fires of a hundred circling camps,

They have builded Him an altar in the evening dews and damps;

I can read His righteous sentence by the dim and flaring lamps:

His day is marching on. Chorus

I have read a fiery gospel writ in burnished rows of steel:

“As ye deal with my contemners, so with you my grace shall deal;

Let the Hero, born of woman, crush the serpent with his heel,

Since God is marching on.” Chorus

He has sounded forth the trumpet that shall never call retreat;

He is sifting out the hearts of men before His judgment-seat:

Oh, be swift, my soul, to answer Him! be jubilant, my feet!

Our God is marching on. Chorus

In the beauty of the lilies Christ was born across the sea,

With a glory in His bosom that transfigures you and me:

As He died to make men holy, let us die (now “live”) to make men free,

While God is marching on. Chorus

He is coming like the glory of the morning on the wave,

He is Wisdom to the mighty, He is Succor to the brave,

So the world shall be His footstool, and the soul of Time His slave,

Our God is marching on. Chorus

Quick note: I want to give you a little more time to study the current art/photo spotlight (videos and links) before I share my experience with you. By the way, I hope you enjoyed my previous articles on the monastery and the song of the magpie. Thank you to those who took a moment to comment! I’m in love with that baby magpie, so I will do some more filming of “Benny Monk!” I’ll be out of town for a few days, so here’s an early happy 4th July to you!

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Song of the Magpie

Rosalinda — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 05:04:58 +0000

The song of the magpie will haunt you as you embark on this journey with me. A baby magpie was found in the grounds of the monastery (just after we came out of the building). There were birds frantic in the tree tops as a hawk was feasting on their young. At the base of a tall tree stood the little bird. For the first few moments he appeared fearless; however, I could see that his heart was pounding. I knew he wore a cloak of bravery as he remained still even when I got very close to him. The bird’s sibling nearby, did not survive the fall.

I could see no parents in sight! I wondered what had happened, because magpies are aggressive in nature and can defend their young very well (little birds have to protect their young from them). The trees were very tall and the nest was very high up; however, I was sure that a hawk nearby could have encouraged the free-fall.

So there I was, crouched down, eye to eye with this baby magpie. I took a picture and started filming as well. The bird remained perfectly still. He seemed to know that he would be rescued and loved. Perhaps he already knew the outcome and was waiting for the rescuer to realize it. I told my friends that we couldn’t leave him there as his parents were gone and the hawk was still around. Therefore, one of my friends tenderly picked him up and we made our way back to the car.

We tried to think of a name for the bird and after discussion, “Benny Monk” was the end result (St. Benedict for Benny, and the monk we spoke to). We stopped at a few places on the way home and, as you can tell from the video (towards the end of the trip), he adjusted well to human companionship.

Life offers its many symbols and lessons. I believe this was another one of those.

Both birds fell out of the same nest but one was taken and the other wasn’t. Perhaps that has a symbolic sound to it. In my own words, one was taken to a peaceful place, and the other was taken westward bound.

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Monastery

Rosalinda — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 02:50:24 +0000

For those of you who wanted to go on our recent day trip to the monastery but couldn’t, this video clip was taken with you in mind! We’ll soon go again as a group. It’s a beautiful drive to Hunstville (a small village with Scandinavian influence).

The monastery, “Abbey of the Holy Trinity,” was founded in 1947 by some Kentucky monks from the “Abbey of Gethsemani.” This community of monks is of the Cistercian Order, who call themselves Trappists, having originated from the “Abbey of La Trappe” in France.

Their way of life is governed by the rule of St. Benedict which involves strict adherence to vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. They also make a vow of stability, promising to remain for life in the community of their profession. Their chief activity is prayer; they gather together seven times a day to supplicate their God for the needs of the church and the world.

They are very hospitable monks offering a place to stay for males who seek solace and direction in their lives. Visitors are welcome to attend their mass or pray privately inside the beautiful abbey. You can hear them chant, usually in the evenings (5.30 pm).

There are about 18 monks who mark their presence at the abbey; the youngest is in his 50’s and the oldest is 92 years old. I was very impressed interviewing the kind monk who assisted us in the tiny shop. The monks make their own special kind of honey, flavored with raspberry, or roasted almonds, rum, dates and pecans, etc. They also sell different types of jam, jelly, and marmalade; however, these are imported all the way from a nunnery!

The monks are to be commended for their sacrifice, and hard work. I think it would be nice if we could include them in our prayers as many are stricken with old age; upkeep of the land and buildings probably gets harder for them! Actually, when you are done reading this article, take a moment and say a little prayer for them.

There will be a little surprise for you in the next article (as I certainly was), when we continue more on this day’s trip!

By the way, did you view the video clips in the Art/Photo spotlight? If you haven’t yet, I’ll give you another day before I share my experience. Remember to get through all the videos including the link on the rice experiment.

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Father’s Day Card

Rosalinda — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 18:28:30 +0000

Click on the above picture to view your Father’s Day Card

Happy Father’s Day! All you fathers out there deserve a special treat, and I have found a way to shower you with a few! It begins with viewing a special recipe in the “Recipe” Spotlight (that you can get your wives to try out). Let me know how good it tasted! After, it may be a good time to visit the “Health Tip” section for a boost of energy (actually this form of energy will truly fascinate you).

Another treat for you is to view the “Inspirational” spotlight that will set the tone for a few days (and assist you with your challenges of work, projects, etc.). Then, for a break, listen to some fabulous instrumentation in the ”Music” category. The music goes right along with the “Art/Photo” section; again, this may fascinate and astound you.

I actually tried an experiment after all the research, and lo, it worked- immediately! I did not do the rice experiment (as it already had been done) but I wanted to try something else that would possibly have an effect on my body. My gosh, and did it ever! The results were astounding. I will let you know in the next blog article so be sure to read and view the video clips in that spotlight (Art/Photo).

I pulled a product out of the Hall of Fame as there is a You Tube video revealing additional information for that particular product. I thought it too valuable to ignore. I, myself, use this product because of its tremendous benefits (keeping my youth in tact).

I’m not sure if I mentioned the “Vision” Spotlight in a previous article, but it would be worth a visit. I had a lovely chat with this fellow last week and will reserve some hugs for him when we get together!

So, you wonderful dads out there (including mine), give yourself some time to enjoy these treats. You deserve recognition for the roles you play, and for your protective and loving nature. I salute you!

List of new spotlights waiting for you: Recipe, Health Tip, Inspirational, Music, Art/Photo, Wholesale Product, and Vision.

Drop me a line and let’s see how your day/weekend was spent (i.e. list of activities, celebrations, etc.)

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Hot Springs At Last!

Rosalinda — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 23:33:41 +0000

We have arrived at the hot springs at last! Enjoy viewing the above video clip. When viewing the video below, notice the difference between the two. In the video below, the blue sky and sunshine add to the growing joy of the entire experience. Notice the discovery of a baby rattle snake and what was done to protect all concerned (including the snake).

Hope you enjoyed the journey with me and my family. Think about sharing your hiking or hot spring adventures. We’d love to hear about them. Also, write us a note if you have previously visited these hot springs.

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