A TARDIS kind of Christmas and a Saucey New Year!

There are many things I look forward to on Christmas night. Two of them are relaxation and the Doctor Who Christmas special! I knitted this scarf in October. You might recognize it from the Vampires of Venice and Vincent and the Doctor episodes. Amy wears something similar and of course she looks as smashing as ever ;)

Amy Scarf
yarn: cascade heritage silk 2 skeins

I have decided to get some taste in my low sodium life style and have come up with some tangy additions to my salads and chicken dishes. Maybe even a stir fry or two.

This first one I think is my crowning achievement. It is very similar to a vinegar dressing my husband and I favor at a local Thai restaurant. A restaurant I can no longer frequent. It is kind of cool how I happened upon this concoction all by accident. here it is:
Tangy Pepper Dressing:

10oz jar pepper jelly ( i used an organic local)
2 Tblsp Wholesome Sweeteners Agave
2/3cup cider vinegar
2 clove minced garlic
(2 teaspoons cornstarch/ water mixture)

cook on stove on med. heat until just to boiling. for thisckness put cornstartch in water then add to sauce for thickening) let cool and place in tupperware for storage. Suggested for just about any type of dressing. We like it over torn romaine lettuce with cucumber and red onion.

My husband and I met while attending collage and one of our favorite haunts was a restaurant that had just started a nation wide business near LSU. Rasing Canes. Boy, I have a funny story about meeting the owner too! Although this is not the exact recipe, its close enough for me. and lower sodium too:
 Chicken Dippin' Sauce:

1/2 cup mayo
1/4 cup no salt ketchup
1 tblsp garlic powder (possibly more depends on your taste)
2-tblsp pepper (possibly more depends on your taste, you want black dots throughout your sauce)
a splash of white wine vinegar

mix all ingredients in a Tupperware and store for an hour or two. flavor gets better with age ;) use with any fried meats/vegetables or grilled too!

This is an interesting Stir Fry sauce. I wasn't sure about it at all but it got two thumbs up from the hubby. You can try it and tell me what you think.... got any add ins? comment and let me know!

1/3 cup white wine viegar
1/2 cup Wholesome Sweeteners organic dark brown sugar
2 teaspoons low sodium tomato paste
3/4 cup water
1 tblsp red pepper flakes
2 teaspoons corn starch

add ingredients to pot  and heat till boil....reserve 1/4 water for cornstarch to add at end for thickening.

I have been enjoying working with Organic ingredients, even my neighbor has brought me his chickens eggs and his home grown satsumas! Neither lasted very long in this house. We love freshness! Our Pecan tree has produced a boat load this fall too. I really like the Wholesome Sweeteners and have arranged my recipes to include them. As well as other Organic things I receive from friends and family :)

I took a chance and crocheted a scarf for my niece for Christmas. I thought it came out beautifully, Noro sock can be a pain in the butt, but it looks great worked up!. She loved it!

Ripple Scarf: 
Yarn, Noro Kyreon Sock discontinued 1 ball
Pattern: Peephole Chevron multiple of 10 (add 2 for base chain)
1st row: skip 2ch (count as 1 dc), 1 dc into each of the next 4ch, *skip 2ch, 1dc into each of the next 4ch, chain 2, 1dc into each of the next 4ch: rep from * to last 6ch, skip 2ch 1dc into next three then 2dc into the last ch, turn
2nd row: 3ch (counts as 1 dc), 1dc into first st, 1dc into each of the next 3sts,, *skip 2sts, 1dc into each of the next 3sts [1dc,chain 2,1dc into 2ch sapce, 1dc into next 3 sts: rep from * to last 6sts, skip 2sts, 1dc into each of the next 3 sts, 2dc into top turn chain, turn.
Keep repeating row 2 

I did a 50 sts scarf and it came out 9" wide and 60" . i used a tiny hook. could have gone a bit bigger.

Till next time! I've got a low sodium wheat banana/nut/cherry bread and the essential Kerth family sandwich/bun bread. I make this bread weekly.... We love it ;)

Three Bean Soup

My parents and I went nuts over a soup I threw together a few days ago. Its not you average vegetable soup!
I tried to make it as simple as possible, Can goods, lots of canned goods. They really aren't that bad with the sodium, you just have to know what too look for. I always pick the "organic" canned beans before the name brands "low sodium". Most of the organic brand canned, beans and vegetables are 100mg less per serving or more. Look at the labels, always! Just b/c it says low sodium does not mean it is...

This Soup is rich in Fiber, Protien and Potassium. So if you need to stay away from excessive potassium I would not recommend this soup. But, it is perfect for those with Hyper Aldostronism.

Three Bean Soup:
1 can organic black beans (drained rinsed)
1 can organic great northern beans (drained rinsed)
1 cup shelled edemame (you can add them frozen)
1 cup V8 (low sodium)
1 can organic low sodium chicken broth
1 can petite diced no salt added tomatoes (basil oregano if available)
1tbls garlic powder
1tbls dried onion flakes
1 package of cheese tortellini (not the family size)

Place first 8 ingredients in pot and bring to a boil. add tortellini and cook until the tortellinis are double their original size.

this soup is best after it sits a day or two... it makes 5 generous servings. Add water and more V8 for a ruuny soup.

I have worked on so many crafty projects this past year here is one of them! A baby blanket for a new arrival! I just mailed it off so this might be a spoiler for the mommy.... Sorry Sara ;)

Year in Review....

So I failed to keep my "at least once a month" posting promise. I have a somewhat good excuse? Starting in April they started doing a bunch of testing because I was becoming very lethargic, and I had extremely high blood pressure with a slew of other ailments. Long story short...
I have PA. What? Whats that? Its just your adrenal gland producing too much aldostrone.
Thats all?
No biggie right?
Big biggie! My blood pressure was 199/119 daily.
I now control it with a very sodium limited diet and medication. I still have trouble with my electrolytes so running/jogging really hasn't been an option for me since this past March when I bowed out of what would have been my 3rd half-marathon.  
 I've gained nearly 20 pounds this year :( yes, and after loosing 40-45 lbs. since 2009 and running two half- marathons, a 10k and a couple of 5k's. I am bitter about this guys....VERY BITTER!
I will be leading a very different lifestyle for now on, and I've been doing a decent job so far. Only a few BP scares here and there.

If you keep up with me on Facebook you've been lucky enough to hear me whine all year long! Lucky you ;)

I wanted to go ahead and post some of my favorite pictures from this past year.

also: now that my lifestyle has changed I am making most of our foods from scratch. I've had a lot of fun making crazy stuff up! So along with the crafty things I post here, be prepared for some kick butt low sodium recipes. Tested by my poor family!