Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Cream of Pumpkin Soup

A few years back, when I had 1/2 as many adults and kids in my home, I wanted to cook up a fabulous Thanksgiving Dinner that had none of the traditional food items. One of the dishes was a Cream of Pumpkin Soup. I had a can of pumpkin and no recipe. I searched online, and after looking at several recipes, I came up with this recipe to whip up (a combination of many) that I actually HAD the ingredients onhand for. My mom LOVED this soup, and has been wanting it ever since. DD brought me that lost piece of paper about 30 minutes ago. It's been missing for 3 years now!

Cream of Pumpkin Soup

2 TBSP Grated Onion
2 TBSP Butter

(Combine and sautee)

2 Cups Broth

(Add to sautee and boil)

1/4 Cup Instant Potatoes
1 tsp Salt
1/4 tsp Pepper
1/8 tsp Nutmeg

(Beat in until creamy)

1 can Evaporated Milk
1 can Pumpkin (BIG can)

(Beat in)

Simmer 15 minutes and stir often. Garnish with Sour cream.

**I remember using the blender to puree this soup, partially for the onions and perhaps for homemade mashed potatoes?? I wanted a very fine texture**

Sunday, January 10, 2010

Health Care

Health care is an interesting topic, especially when you have no insurance and no funds. Fortunatly, we have alternitives to high priced doctors and cut and paste solutions! My mother arranged for me to meet her Naturopath, and I saw her today. :-D Cool!

This kindly lady had invited me to bring all the kids, and set them up to watch a movie while she took me to her workroom. I held my sleeping 9 month old, while she clipped off a piece of my hair to read. While she was testing my hair for things, she also had me go over my health history and talk about things.

When we were done, she had me hold a little vial while she did some more things... She took it back and told me that I was switched, and that I need unswitching. I guess I looked puzzled (as I am sure you do) because she explained that our body has a natural flow of energy and that when it is flowing properly, you heal, recover, and recouperate in a timely manner. Because I am switched, my energies are flowing randomly and scattered. She poured out some liquid into a dropper bottle, and popped it into a machine that set the liquid within to the proper frequency. I am to take that liquid once a day for a week, and then use it "as needed". By then, I will understand what she means.

She also asked if I was willing to take supplements. "You mean like Centrum?" No, throw those out. "Ok, so like Vitamin E, or CLO, ect..." Yes. Ok, I will take supplements. So she checks her supplies and her books, and decides that I need 3 supplements to get started but only 1 of them I should be on for life (gallbladder removed, supplement is for that).

Let's talk money for a minute. Once upon a time, I was diagnosed Bipolar. The medications to "keep me stable" come to 500 per month if I dont have insurance, and we already know I don't have it. The supplements I need will only cost 40 a month. WOOHOOO!!

I've never been to a Naturopath before, and I have some research to do, but I am really looking forward to trying this!