Tropical Traditions-Coconut Oil Review

I have been a "user" of coconut oil for about 3 years now, and I can tell you that I love it!  It's light, slightly sweet flavor make it easy to use.  I use it for baking, cooking, in smoothies,  and even in homemade deodorant. 

The health benefits of coconut oil include hair care, skin care, stress relief, maintaining cholesterol levels, weight loss, increased immunity, proper digestion and metabolism, relief from kidney problems, heart diseases, high blood pressure, diabetes, HIV and cancer, dental care, and bone strength. These benefits of coconut oil can be attributed to the presence of lauric acid, capric acid and caprylic acid, and its properties such as antimicrobial, antioxidant, antifungal, antibacterial, soothing, etc. {from Organic Facts}

The problem was, where to get the best coconut oil I could afford?  A friend told me about Tropical Traditions, and I tried a bit of hers.  It was GREAT!  So, I contacted the company to see if I could get a sample of my own.  They generously agreed, and sent me a jar right away.  Shipping was quick, and the customer service was outstanding!    Looky what I got:

Of course, I immediately opened it up and tried some...and it was the smooth, light, sweetness that I expected that it would be. 
You can see how Tropical Traditions discovered Coconut Oil by watching this video here.

Tropical Traditions also has a Referral Program, so if you place an order with them as a first-time customer, please select “Referred by a friend” and in the box that says “How did you hear of us?” enter my sponsor ID number 5952022. By telling Tropical Traditions that I referred you, you will receive a complimentary copy of the book Virgin Coconut Oil: How it has changed people’s lives and how it can change yours! by Brian and Marianita Shilhavy with your first order! This book is filled with testimonies and research showing how healthy coconut oil is, and it also includes over 85 recipes showing how one can incorporate coconut into their diet.

You can get help placing your first order and receiving your FREE book by clicking here. Don't forget to tell 'em I sent you and use my sponsor ID number 5952022.


Disclaimer: Tropical Traditions provided me with a free sample of this product to review, and I was under no obligation to review it if I so chose. Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review or sponsor a product giveaway in return for the free product.

Menu Plan Monday

Have you made your menu plan for this week? There are many reasons to do so:

1. You will spend less at the grocery store. Buying only what you need makes it easier to stick to a budget, rather than wandering the aisles aimlessly, trying to decide what looks good.

2. You will avoid that "What's for dinner" stress. Having a plan in place makes it easier to have dinner ready and avoid eating out when nothing sounds good.

So, without further ado, here is my plan for the week:

BREAKFASTS

soaked oatmeal with fruit

yogurt

soaked pancakes

eggs and toast

crustless quiche

LUNCHES

cheese, fruit and bread

PBJ's, carrots

homemade pizza

quesidillas

sandwiches at school

CORD

DINNERS

cheeseburgers, sweet potatoes

spaghetti, salad

fettucinni alfredo, broccoli

chicken enchiladas,LI>meatloaf, fried potaotes

chicken noodle soup

chili over brown rice

year long meal planning

http://www.momlogic.com/2010/01/mom_plans_meals_for_a_year.php

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Once A Month Cooking

I am totally nervous about this.

I am going to give a presentation to a group of moms about how I cook once a month, or bake once a month. Am I really qualified for this? I have so many ideas about HOW to do it, but which way is best to share? What is the best way to go about this?

So, I have decided to put it all down here. What I do, that is. Not my butterfly stomach, or my raging nerves...

How I plan my cooking/baking day...

First, I decide that I want to do this. That is the most important of all, since if I don't REALLY want to accomplish it, I simply won't.

Then, I make a list of things that I want to make. Beans, rice, muffins, quick bread, bread dough, hamburger patties, for example. The night before the "big day", I need to presoak the beans, and make sure I have all the ingredients for the day. Nothing hampers a day of cooking in the kitchen like not having enough ingredients. I will also need to make a list of what I have in the pantry/freezer/fridge, and a list of what I need at the store. Usually, though, I try and make it with what I have on hand, since my baking day is about using up what I have normally. And, since we usually eat the same things, just in different rotation, it makes it easier.

The next day, I start by getting ready all the equipment I will need, such as crockpots, utensils, measuring cups and spoons. After much prayer, and coffee, I can begin.

I will normally get the crockpot going with beans first. They can be used for things like quick tacos, beans and rice, soups, and brownies. I like to make at least a full crockpot of them to freeze and use throughout the month. Spaghetti sauce and pizza sauce go into crockpots as well.

Then, I will start on the dough stuff, things that need to rise like bread dough, hot pocket dough, pizza dough. Once that is rising, I will usually turn to the stove top things. Browning hamburger, browning chicken and making rice and noodles for quick meals.

Of course, by the time that's done and being cooled, I will go back to the bread items, and get them to the second rise, or in the case of pizza dough, bag and freeze.

After that, I will move on to muffins and quick breads. Usually, with the oven on, the bread rises a bit better, and once they are done baking, the breads are normally ready to go into the oven. While they are baking, I will bag rice to freeze, and thaw for quick side dishes, assemble lasagnas or tetrazinni meals, and place in freezer bags and freeze laying flat. Bread comes out, and is ready to be cooled while I take a moment and grab some lunch.

I then make sure my muffins and quick bread are bagged and frozen, ready for quick breakfasts or snacks.

The sauces are then cooled completely, bagged and labeled, and frozen. Cheese can be shredded at this time, and bagged to be frozen, or we can shred it as needed...depends on my mood.

I do things differently than some others, since I don't make a menu plan, then cook/bake. I do all the prep work, and then I am able to come up with a menu plan based on what I have. I tried it the other way, but I got all confused. Guess to each their own?

After all that is done, I will usually make granola. That requires the most time from me, and when I don't pay strict attention to it, I have a tendency to let it burn. So, there you go, my once a month cooking plan. Not really fancy, I know, but it works for me.

What do you do for a cooking or baking day? I would be interested in knowing what others do and how they make that work.

I DID IT, I DID IT!!!

After 6 attempts, and several loooong weeks of working up starters, I finally got it:

Behold, the beautiful sourdough bread:

Of course, my family excitedly each ate a piece at breakfast this morning and with one loud voice, said,

"OH YUCK!!"

Sigh...guess I can still eat it...

Losing my Best Friend...update

It's been 5 days since I pulled the plug.

And you know something? I thought for sure that I would miss it, and it would be hard...but so far, it's been pretty easy.

I have had to be "on the ball" when it comes to thawing meat, and preparing lunch leftovers in the oven, but it's not bad.

Of course, I have had more pots and pans dirty daily...good thing I don't have to wash the dishes. (that's why I had kids, you know :)

I think that I could make this work permanently...

Zukay Dressings Giveaway

Donielle over at Naturally Knocked Up is giving away a case of Zukay Dressings Just click here to see how to enter!