spiphywarfare

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  • Circles of Death

    MMmmmm. The smell of deep fried bread covered in sugary glaze or filled with sugary goo until it oozes out. You know of what I speak. The donut.

    Some of these little circles of death showed up at a meeting last week. I’d woken up late and had not eaten anything that morning. When two boxes of them were placed on the table my head filled with co-workers uh, voices telling me, “Eat one, it won’t hurt you” and “Come on, they’re not that bad.” I caved. Between the stressors going on in my life and the hunger I couldn’t resist. How much can one or two donuts hurt anyway?

    Well, for starters, the scale shot up five pounds the next day. My morning weight had been 199 for a week, every day. It was 204 the next. Also, some pain issues I’ve been having which will be addressed through surgery, at a minimum seemed to be worse for the next couple of days. Finally, without disturbing any readers, I’ll say that my gut sounded like a pack of lions for the rest of the day and part of the next.

    So why are they circles of death? Read the ingredient list below. This is the least-damaging list of ingredients that I found on a recognized donut makers website. There were other donuts with far more heinous lists.

    Given that I am not opposed to wheat per se and naturally occurring sugars, I intend to make an effort at putting together a donut with a much shorter list of ingredients in the near future. When I get around to a successful one, you can bet I’ll put it up here.

    Ingredients in simple glazed donuts:

    Enriched Unbleached Wheat Flour (Wheat Flour, Malted Barley Flour, Niacin, Iron as Ferrous Sulfate, Thiamin Mononitrate, Enzyme, Riboflavin, Folic Acid), Palm Oil, Water, Dextrose, Soybean Oil, Whey (a milk derivative), Skim Milk, Yeast, Contains less than 2% of the following: Salt, Leavening (Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate, Baking Soda), Defatted Soy Flour, Wheat Starch, Mono and Diglycerides, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, Cellulose Gum, Soy Lecithin, Guar Gum, Xanthan Gum, Artificial Flavor, Sodium Caseinate (a milk derivative), Enzyme, Colored with (Turmeric and Annatto Extracts, Beta Carotene), Eggs; Glaze: Sugar, Water, Maltodextrin, Contains 2% or less of: Mono and Diglycerides, Agar, Cellulose Gum, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate (Preservative), Artificial Flavor.

    This article was first published on May 12, 2014 and was recovered using AI and web.archive.org.

  • Hurry Hungry

    Hurry Hungry

    Being in a hurry and feeling hungry can be a recipe for disaster for me as far as food choices are concerned.  I spied a recipe the other day and instantly was ready to go to a barbeque with it in hand.  I couldn’t wait for that occasion to happen before trying it, and picked up the essential ingredients. I was glad to have them on hand during my hurry hungry moment and made a quick, single serving, variation of it for lunch.

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    I can’t wait to make this again using fresh basil. I mixed a little olive oil, apple cider vinegar, minced garlic, and some Himalayan sea salt for the dressing, because I didn’t see anything at the store I wanted to use.

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    I rounded out my Hurry Hungry lunch with a perfectly ripe, salad size avocado ( 3 for $1 yippee) sprinkled with Himalayan sea salt.

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    Salad adapted from Tomato, Olive, and Fresh Mozzarella Salad with Basil Vinaigrette

    This article was first published on May 8, 2014 and was recovered using AI and web.archive.org.

  • Low Carb Cheese Sauce

    Low Carb Cheese Sauce

    A while back I  made George Stella’s Cauliflower “Mac” and Cheese Casserole.  It was completely yum, but it was the sauce that I knew could be used for other wonderful things.

    Like Chili Cheese Dogs

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    Tacos with Low Carb Tortillas (each tortilla is 4 net carbs)

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    Cheese Dip with Taco Meat

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    I adapt it by using only the cream and extra sharp cheddar cheese, and then use add-ins to match the dish. For example, for a Tex Mex dish I add cumin, chili powder, garlic powder, etc.

    This article was first published on May 5, 2014 and was recovered using AI and web.archive.org.

  • Stretching Ground Beef

    Stretching Ground Beef

    I have a love/hate relationship with ground beef. On one hand, it can be cooked up yummy and it satiates. On the other hand, if I allow myself to think about what it is, I get really grossed out. Not too long ago, I decided that ground beef for us should be of the grass fed and finished variety.

    No, we did not find long lost accounts gifted to us from Croesus.

    I made a deal with myself to pick it up once a week or so if I could stretch it out. Last week I took a one lb package that cost between $7 and $8, and made two dishes that totaled seven servings for us.

    In one skillet I browned the ground beef. In another skillet, I cooked half an onion and one carton of chopped mushrooms in butter.

    Using the same skillets I move portions around until I had half the beef and a third of the mushroom onion mix in one skillet, and half the beef and 2/3 the mushroom onion mix in the other.

    To the first one with less mushroom onions, I added a bag of cabbage (cheaper to chop your own, but I make the biggest mess chopping cabbage so the little expense is worth it to me), about half a can or 7 oz of crushed tomatoes, a little water, dried oregano, garlic powder, and black pepper (spices all to taste). I cooked it until the cabbage was tender, and then served with a sprinkling of grated parmesan.

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    To the other meat mixture, I added garlic powder, black pepper, heavy cream, and a few dashes of liquid aminos.

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    I liked the way these dishes cooked up and tasted, that I picked up the ingredients today to duplicate (I’m going to swap out the chopped cabbage for a bag of broccoli slaw) them this week.

    This article was first published on April 30, 2014 and was recovered using AI and web.archive.org.

  • What’s up with all the God stuff anyway?

    What’s up with all the God stuff anyway?

    God-stuff wordcloud

    So you’ve come to this site through a search for health information. Maybe a link off another site. Who knows? You’re here and you’ve noticed spiphywarfare is a bit different, what with references to God, the Bible, and stuff. That doesn’t go on a site about being healthy. Does it?

    Yes. True health encompasses your whole being.

    Some people strive for the world’s vision of success. Always putting in a few more hours of work. Seeking one more material good that will surely be the one that finally satisfies. It rarely does. Can contentment be found?

    It is impossible to read or watch news without being exposed to tragedy and human failure. Every day. More and more unbelievable stories are blasted at us and then left in the past so quickly they become like old technology. Something unbelievable becomes something simply passé. Those stories build up on our souls in layers, weighing us down over time.

    Health-wise, the prosperous countries are losing a battle against obesity while in other countries people can’t find enough nutrition to survive. An increasing number of people are finding success in LCHF, paleo/primal, and other diets place carbs where they should be. Unfortunately, many still try and fail. Each failure an added chain tying them to a belief they are destined to be burdened with obesity.

    What is the answer?

    Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.~Matt. 11:28

    Our Lord Jesus Christ is the answer.

    Coming to Him requires us to accept that sin in our lives has separated us from God and His presence.

    “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23

    This separation by sin requires a price be paid. Jesus paid it on a cross long ago.

    “God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8

    It was paid for us out of love, not because we deserved it or earned it.

    “He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy.” Titus 3:5

    Our own efforts to obtain eternal bliss will fail. It is only through grace that we can obtain this gift.

    “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9

    The good news is that if you believe, you can have eternal life. An eternity free of current ailments and weaknesses.

    “For God so loved the world that He gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” John 3:16

    All that is required is to take the gift being offered to you. Speak it out loud and believe it. It’s there for the taking.

    “If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.” Romans 10:9-10

    Many years ago I was in the fast lane on a highway to hell. God turned me around. I try hard not to beat people over the head with the Bible and my beliefs. When I have seen that, it is rarely done out of love. But, I felt the need to put this out there very clearly this one time.

    Peace.

    This article was first published on April 29, 2014 and was recovered using AI and web.archive.org.

  • Hummus. Nutritious and Inexpensive.

    Hummus. Nutritious and Inexpensive.

    While a LCHF diet is ideal for me, it is not for everyone.  Not everyone in our household needs to be on a ketogenic or vlchf diet, but I do like to keep their sugar intake low and nutrition high.

    We love hummus, and I like to eat it while camping on high activity (biking, hiking) days when I can afford a few more carbs.  I think it’s crazy expensive to pick up prepared hummus at the grocery store, especially compared to how inexpensive it can be made at home.  Plus, you can customize it to your tastes. Don’t have tahini sitting about? No problem. You can substitute no sugar added peanut butter.

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    I used this recipe for my guide.

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    Chickpeas nutritional information

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    This article was first published on April 25, 2014 and was recovered using AI and web.archive.org.

  • Principles

    Principles

    For years I was concentrating on things like career and education. Some were exceptionally lean years financially. Time to work on home maintenance was scarce and often the funds for routine maintenance were directed to another semester of tuition. Over the last eight weeks my phone has filled with pictures similar to these:

    If this initially seems like a strange set of images to have on this site, please bear with me for one moment. These pictures represent what happens when the many small fixes over the years were deemed not high enough in priority to address at the time. In the end, they all added up to one HUGE job.

    It was a huge job I attempted by myself initially. After about three weeks of going it alone, one family member and one friend came along on their own (I don’t ever ask for help) and started helping. The difference in how quickly things were getting done after that was amazing. They showed up right as I began experiencing something new for me. I wanted to give up.

    prin·ci·ple [n] a fundamental truth

    Two principles were driven home to me during this time. Principles that apply to our spiritual and physical health. Principles that apply to pretty much any area of life.

    1. Small problems left unaddressed will grow into seemingly overwhelming issues.
    2. Facing insurmountable problems becomes much easier with even a little support.

    Weight loss can seem like a lost cause. Maybe you’ve tried and it seems as if you’re getting nowhere. Possibly you’ve been at it for a while and only a little weight has come off. This is especially true if, like me, you have treated your body like I treated my house. All of those maintenance issues still had to be taken care of. But there is light at the end of the tunnel.

    Failure to maintain our spiritual health has similar results. Unchecked sin can become such a burden that you can feel it chaining you down. It has to be cleaned out as well to keep your spiritual home clean. The longer it builds up, the harder it is to overcome. Again, there is a light.

    You CAN improve your health. You CAN lose weight. If you must, you CAN do it by yourself. Do not follow my example. Ask for help. If you can get someone you are close to join you it halves the burden. If you can get several around you, it actually becomes less burden and more fun. Oddly enough, my Bible study this morning was based on 1 Cor. 6:19.

    Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?

    The good news is that if you are one of God’s children, you don’t have to face either of these alone. Need to clean out or shape up the temple you’ve been given? You have help. “From God” in fact.

    By the way, the house went on the market. The realtor, when she saw it, commented “You all did a great job! This is much better than what I expected.” I wouldn’t have believed that would ever be said a month before that. So keep after it. If you are working to rebuild yourself spiritually or physically, keep after it and don’t give up. Those issues that added up can still be addressed, it just takes more effort. And don’t go it alone.

    This article was first published on April 23, 2014 and was recovered using AI and web.archive.org.

  • Low Carb Parmesan Crusted Chicken

    Low Carb Parmesan Crusted Chicken

    This is an easy chicken recipe. I leave out the bread crumbs for lower carb count.

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    I seasoned half with dried basil and the other half smoked paprika.

    The basil seasoned chicken is tasty with artichokes, tomatoes, and feta.

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    This article was first published on April 22, 2014 and was recovered using AI and web.archive.org.

  • Genesis 9:3 Diet

    Genesis 9:3

    New International Version (NIV)

    3 Everything that lives and moves about will be food for you. Just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you everything.

    There you go.

    This article was first published on April 21, 2014 and was recovered using AI and web.archive.org.

  • Resurrection Sunday

    Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.
    Romans 8:34

    I read this and see a rhetorical question from Paul. One asked with a touch of derision, at least to me. Who is he who condemns? It doesn’t matter who he is or who he thinks he is. We condemn ourselves through our sin, others condemn us, the devils tries to convince us we have been condemned. All of that pales in the light of our Risen Savior, Jesus Christ. May you know the freedom that He gives from condemnation.

    This article was first published on April 20, 2014 and was recovered using AI and web.archive.org.