A Vigil of Purpose

Moms for Real Food is a proud sponsor and participant of the Vigil of Purpose road trip!

We have had to change our original plans from seeking a travel sponsor and have shifted to a preliminary crowdfund to make the journey possible.

What are we doing?? So far, we are 5 Moms and 11 kids going on a tour of Northern BC, and the Lower Mainland to honour the lost lives of the Highway of Tears. We will hold nightly vigils. We will interview anyone who wants to share their story. We are linking arms, traveling new terrain and learning about a situation that deserves a solution at long last.

This is an edgy topic! it is difficult to request that a corporate sponsor align with this Vigil, so please hear our plea! YOU can make this possible. $5, $50, whatever you can give us. We will light a candle in your honour every night for the duration of the tour with your name on it, honouring the lives that have been lost while we all figure this out.

We will be blogging, live streaming, interviewing and singing!! We require money for Fuel, Fresh Food, Ferry rides, and Camping Fees. Please help us! We have 8 days until departure. We will be tenting, the kids will be scrapbooking and we will be coming together united without race to pay our hearts and our respect to those enveloped in the symptom of an age old wound. 

How you can help? With any amount of money

FREE - share the Facebook post and Group
$5 - $100: A Candle with your name on it that we will burn in your honour during our night time vigils

$100 and Up - A Candle + Please accept our thanks and receive an "Anything is Possible" temporary tattoo and a hand made card from the children (they will have lots of time while we drive!) in thanks for your contribution.

Please send your kind contributions to:
paypal.me/vigilofpurpose

We will be activating the crowdfunder the morning of June 28 and will be looking to cover approximately 8,000 kms and to raise $15,000 for Steffanie's plan for Owl Care, a program created to connect the elders and offer a wholistic self care program. We will return two weeks later with hearts full and wisdom deep. 

Here is our story and our website, please subscribe to our newsletter and receive updates of our journey.
www.vigilofpurpose.love

We can not do this alone, and we are so appreciative of you hearing our cry and our desire to stand for these stories of the heart.

Here we go Ladies!! (Oh and the ever talented camera man Todd) Charis Lynn Curtis
Steffanie Ali Howard Tracy B. Loeppky Keri Nelson Sarah Gwyneth Kyllo (I hope) Laura Olsson (with us in spirit) Violet Marie Pilkey (Movement Making first hand?) Joline Hardisty (our Cheerleader to the North)

Satisfying Vegetable Smoothie Soup

I recently went to a weekend retreat where many people came together and made food. One of the most memorable soups was this one.
So I give credit to my ladies Charis, Reneigh and Violet for inspiring me to make this once I got home.
I hope you all enjoy it as much as I do!

Ingredients:

• 2 whole Sweet Potatoes/Yams
• 6 Carrots
• 3 Stalks Celery
• 1 large Leek
• 1 carton Vegetable broth
• Butter/ Olive Oil/ Coconut oil
• 2 cups Coconut Milk
• Himalayan pink salt - to taste
• Pepper - to taste
• OPTIONAL: pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, goats cheese to garnish

Instructions:

1. Chop all ingredients into small cubes.
2. On Medium heat,  soften leek, celery in the oil of your choice until transparent.
3. Add the rest of your ingredients.
4. Continue to cook on medium heat until everything is somewhat softened.
5. Add broth.
6. Bring to a boil, turn heat down to minimum and allow to simmer until all ingredients are mushy.
7. Use a blender, food processor or hand held blender to whip up - incorporate coconut milk until smooth and creamy.
8. Heat through once more.
9. Serve hot or cold - ENJOY!

 

Economic Struggles and Encouragment From the Past!

Once Upon a Time, The Government Encouraged Self-Sufficiency ......

Now, they require our dependency, through GMO crops, GMO seed patent laws, fast foods, regulations on raw milk/eggs/meats, taxation, flu shots - and the list goes on.

With the economy, especially in Alberta, being extremely tight and most of us balancing a budget tighter than bankers fist, we need hope. Hope that even though things are tough, they weren't as tough as Wartimes - and even THAT wasn't s bad as the Dirty 30's depression.

So what did folks do? They grew. And they shared. Then they survived. So too shall we!

I came across these War Time posters from the US, and suddenly realized - holy crap - in just over 50 years we've come full circle in our mindset ... and that is ALL it is: a mindset!

Living Right, Living in Balance, takes patience and hard work.

Billy C.'s Ten Minute Tequila Salsa

One of our buddies, Billy C., and his famous ten minute salsa! We've had it many times ... D-Lish!!

Homemade Mozzarella Cheese 1 Pound For Less Than $2.50

Who doesn't love cheese? 

But if you're like me, you're not so fond of the price of cheese!

Visit Heart Hands Home blog for this recipe!

Well we found a fabulous recipe to make your very own; it's easy, simple and so inexpensive you'll wonder why you didn't do this years ago!

 

Homemade Mozzarella Cheese
1 gallon whole milk (just be sure that it is not Ultra-pasteurized, any other kind will work, store bought, fresh from the cow (or goat))
1 tsp. citric acid*
1/4 rennet tablet*
2 tsp. cheese salt*
A big pot
Thermometer
Slotted spoon ....

For Full Recipe Click Here

 

Homemade Chicken Soup

Homemade Chicken Soup - Moms For Real Food Initiative

The chicken soup I make is probably the 3rd generation of a family recipe. 
It's been tweaked and altered a few times for either convenience or nutrition sake.
The one I make is never really the same each time, because I alter it according to what is in season and what's in the pantry.
It's a great all time favorite that you purposely make far too much of so you can either freeze or can for the future.

Labeling Foods For Storage

My Dymo LetraTag labeller is probably one of the most used "utensils" in my arsenal!

Before freezing, storing, refrigerating or filing always label it! Too easy my friends.

Rice Pudding Recipe

Rice Pudding

I've enjoyed rice pudding since I was a child - my Oma used to have canned rice pudding in her pantry all the time!
I've made and eaten various kinds, brands and types ... not all good. (ugh!)

So I've come up with one that still satiates that craving for starchy sweetness, but doesn't compromise my ideology of food for my family.
The goal is to triple the capacity of the rice. And since we are using whole grain rice it does take some time to get it starchy enough to be the right texture.
It takes me about 2 days to make a proper large bowl of this.

Ingredients

• 2 cups Whole grain rice
• 3 cups milk
• 3 cups coconut milk
• 1 cups water
• 1/2 cups raisins
• 1 tbsp ground cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp ground cloves
• 1 cup honey, or brown sugar

 

• Bring rice, 1 cup of milk,  1 cup of coconut milk, and 1 cup of water to a boil. 
• Turn heat down and allow to simmer for 1 hour or until the rice is beyond soft. Stir occasionally to prevent scalding or scorching bottom.
• Turn off heat, and add spices and sugars, stir until combined.
• Add 1 cup each milk and coconut milk - refrigerate until cold. (approx. 5 hours)
• Take out your rice mixture and put back into a larger pot, bring to a simmer and add remaining1 cup milk & coconut milk and raisins.
• Allow to simmer for another half hour, stirring occasionally.
• Remove from heat and refrigerate until cold.
• Stir once in a while - by the time it's cold it will be ready to serve! It should be a thick, and creamy texture.

How-To Meal Plan - Quick and Easy guide, List and Calendar.

We DO meal plan here at Moms For Real food. 

We don't just talk about it, it isn't some pie-in-the-sky chatter we spew to make people think they need to be more organized.

We really WANT you to spend less, buy more and feel more organized and less stressed -and MEAL PLANNING is THE best way to accomplish that.

Healthy Pine Needle Tea!

Moms For Real Food Initiative - Pine Needle Tea

Pine needle tea has been sipped by homesteaders, cowboys and mountaineers since the dawn of, well, PINES. 

I learned about pine needle tea when I was a child from one of the Interpretive Programs in the Kananaskis campgrounds. They taught us  how it will save your life if stranded in the woods, it will keep you nourished and give your energy - not to mention it's just darned tasty!

Alberta Schools are Gardening

We have published pictures of our local school gardens before. We now have updated pictures, and some information on th amazing people who have helped the school accomplish these gardens!

Urban Gardening in Schools!

Moms For Real Food asks: Does YOUR school Garden?

 

Our elementary school does!  We have 18 raised beds that the different grades and classes have planted. 

During the summer a few moms will be volunteering with their children to help tend to these beds so that when the fall some - there will be a bountiful harvest!! .....

Local Raised Gardens at a school in Alberta

 

Fat Stored Food Toxins can be Life Shortening When Losing Weight.

"Pesticides and other toxins are fat soluble. There are many pesticides and other toxins in our food supply that are fat soluble. Human bodies store these toxins relativity harmlessly in body fat. If you lose that fat too quickly,

Moms for Real Food Prescription for Health!

Moms for Real Food Prescription for Health!

Homemade Frozen Fruit and Yogurt Pops

Everyone LOVES Popsicles! But unfortunately store bought pops and ice-creams are loaded with refined sugar,  dyes, preservatives and not-so-fresh fruit-like-substances. Some of them even "May Contain" wheat, soy and nuts.

THE best way to avoid all that, and as per MFRF's motto - is to make it yourself! And, it's totally easy.

Cost of a Farmer Part 1: Will GMOs end world hunger?

So we recently had some comments on our Facebook site from someone who is very pro GMO, I would like to let everyone in on what the current state of GMOs are and why they are killing the family farm. Why 'Big Ag' is driving out the smaller producer.

Firstly, my sweet Hubby and I are trying to go back to the 'simple life'. We want to start by growing our own food to feed our family first, then get a little bigger everyday so we can help feed our community with fresh, organic, local food at a fair price. Here is what I have been learning, and why we are both so passionate about our choices. Here is my open letter to Mr. Brian

Dear Brian,

I understand that you are convinced that GMOs will save the world,

Dole has a can of worms??

 

Well, no.

But I certainly opened one when my mom asked me; "Were you were the one who told me Dole was GMO? Well in the Rose Bowl parade their float had NO GMO signs all over it."

My inner response was to immediately go and research it - "there must be a loop hole" I thought. I found a BOAT LOAD of information. So I will do a fair amount of "back and forthing" between good and evil. ;)

Let's start with ... What the HECK is a GMO??

GMO- genetically modified organism:

• A genetically modified organism (GMO) is an organism whose genetic material has been altered using genetic engineering techniques. Organisms that have been genetically modified include micro-organisms such as bacteria and yeast, insects, plants, fish, and mammals.

• Genetically modified foods are foods produced from organisms that have had specific changes introduced into their DNA using the methods of genetic engineering.

• These techniques have allowed for the introduction of new crop traits as well as a far greater control over a food's genetic structure than previously afforded by methods such as selective breeding and mutation breeding.

FHEW.

So Dole says "We do not use GMO's in our products".