Repost of older post with great links and resources

This is an original post I made January 2010 but it has lots of great links towards the bottom that are just the start of really good resources for doing your own research. It really only takes a small amount of time and you can gain an endless amount of information to make more informed choices.
**Also note my knowledge and thoughts on soy have changed dramatically in the last 2 years. Especially the more I have learned about Monsanto and also the processing of soy. However, if you use soy and love it the companies I have found that are non GMO are Eden products and Wildwood.

Begin post from January 30, 2010:
Wow! Have I had my eyes opened this past week?

Watching Food Inc, reading eating animals and doing some research. I thought I knew a lot when it came to food, health & nutrition and in a few minutes of research I was proven very wrong.

Yes, I know, this is a subject most of us wish to ignore.

We say “I think I'll skip that", or “I’d rather not know". But this is a matter that affects our children and their children and the earth that we are trampling on by not paying attention.
It is vital to look at this!

Even if somehow the care and treatment of the animals means nothing to you, you cannot avoid that fact that it all ties together. Factory farming is causing more global warming effects than all the transportation combined in the world. On top of everything else the TRUTH is whatever hormones, poisons and feed those animals are being given your family is ingesting those same things when you eat them.

It really does deserve a closer look.
I have done a lot of research in a little time and found reliable sources that have loads of information for consumers.

I urge you to read some of these reports, look at the scorecards of the milk you are buying and the soy products. The ones that opt not to participate should obviously be avoided. Many of the major organic players in the market make you think you are buying one thing when in actuality you are not getting what you are paying for.

Pay attention! Read labels and research the brands you are buying you will be surprised if not appalled by there unconscious behavior towards the environment as well as the inhumane and cruel treatment they evoke on the animals.

I will post sites that can help you find local farmers that grow grass fed and finished beef, free range clean fed poultry, pigs, turkeys and on and on. Find a local dairy that grass feeds the cows and treats them humanely.

There are so many sources with the internet now and you can find them and in most cases set up easy delivery or pickups for these products that are well worth there price.

I know I can go on forever on this soap box it is something I am passionate about.

I have always been conscious about what I buy, what we eat and how I cook. Now, I am sickened with the research in finding that I have been buying products that I believed in and backed up to many of you when asked. Only to find out they are no better then the next guy.

On a POSITIVE note there are a few that I was relieved and ecstatic to discover hold up to there name. Organic Valley , Eden and Wildwood products to name a few.

The change that is needed in the world around our food system will only change if every consumer takes a stand. You have to buy the products that you can consciously back and rely on.

~Eat seasonally whenever possible according to your area. or grow your own garden and food with heirloom organic seeds like the ones you can buy from Peaceful Valley Farm (link below) and many others.

~By from your local farmers and local dairies. Go visit them first and ask questions. If they don’t let you visit then DON'T buy their products.

We can change this and take back our food system one consumer at a time.

LunaMamaP

http://www.vitacost.com/Referee?wlsrc=rsReferral&ReferralActionId=702000075723

http://www.eatwild.com/products/index.html

http://www.localharvest.org/

http://www.nongmoproject.org/

http://www.cornucopia.org/

http://www.groworganic.com/default.html

http://www.polyfacefarms.com/

Here are just a few of the helpful, informative sites. The Polypace farm is the farm in Food Inc. many local farmers are following his footsteps and running there farms this way. Reading his site is helpful in giving you a guideline for what to look for in a sustainable, humane, conscious farmer!

Hope this finds you healthy & happy
LunaMamaP

~ Pasta Alfredo~

So I know what your thinking… ya right, Alfredo pasta that is dairy free!

Well when you just need a creamy, cheesy, comfort food dish this one really hits the spot.

I know you’re going to have a similar reaction to mine the first time you read the recipe ingredients below, but hey, if your eating allergy friendly like our family is, you are really going to appreciate this one.

My recipe was inspired by a combination of 3 different raw cookbooks that I have.

Experiment with seasoning it. Garnish with fresh black pepper,basil ( fresh or dried), crushed red pepper and more garlic. Top with grilled or baked chicken, steak or seafood.

So here it is…

ABC Allergy free ~ Pasta Alfredo

2cups raw organic cashews or macadamia nuts. (Depending on your individual situation you may be sensitive to one of these nuts. So you can use them interchangeably and achieve a similar taste. ) I prefer the cashews myself.

1 cup pine nuts (If you don’t have these then use some more cashews but the pine nuts give it a really nice flavor)

1Tbsp fresh squeezed organic lemon juice

Fresh organic garlic to taste. About 1 clove to start add from there.

1 ½ cups water to start. I end up using about 2cups to get the consistency I
want using a vita mix.

1 tsp Thyme

1 tsp salt

A pinch of nutmeg… yes Nutmeg

Brown rice / Quinoa spaghetti or linguine pasta

The key to making this dish is to get it all ready and make all the pieces at once. If you’re going to eat chicken with it then get the chicken cooking while you’re boiling the pasta and getting the sauce ready to blend.

The sauce is  raw.
This means it is not meant to be cooked or boiled. You’re going to cook and drain your noodles and toss them with the warm sauce straight out of your blender and top with chicken and serve.

To make sauce put all ingredients in the Vita mix or high speed blender. Blend until smooth and creamy. In the vita mix you blend it and let it get warm and steamy.

We found this recipe to be a nice treat for a Friday or Saturday night dinner when we are thinking about Pizza or some other fast non friendly food from the past. It hits the spot and leaves you feeling really happy. It DOESN’T leave you feeling yucky & bloated. A nice change to typical heavy Italian dishes.

Enjoy!

LunaMamaP