Archive for July, 2011
Announcing the August 2011 Cooking with Karen Schedule!
Please click on the above image to view the flyer in a larger, easy-t0-read format.
Cooking with Karen is pleased to announce the August 2011 cooking classes. Classes are held Tuesday evenings from 5-7 pm throughout the month of August, and cover a variety of topics from basic beginner’s techniques to the exotic cuisine of Ethiopia. Class sizes are small to ensure hands-on experience and a personal touch, so sign up soon to reserve a space before the classes are all full! Groups are welcome, and in the future we will also be offering cooking classes geared specifically toward children, in which family participation will be encouraged.
Karen Jean Matsko Hood is the mother of 16 foster and adopted children of different ethnic backgrounds, and as such has a great deal of experience cooking for large groups as well as cooking a variety of international cuisines. She especially enjoys designing her own recipes and preparing creative menus with international, regional, and holiday themes. She is also the author of the popular Cookbook Delights series and has appeared multiple times on Good Morning Northwest to demonstrate her recipes. Karen’s love of cooking makes her an enthusiastic teacher, and she loves to share her knowledge and skill with others.
Cooking with Karen provides a unique, affordable opportunity to learn a new skill in a fun, relaxed environment with a knowledgeable and supportive teacher. When possible, organic ingredients from our farm are used in class recipes so that you can be assured the food is not only delicious, but healthy and good for the environment as well. For full details of August classes, please click on the flyer above.
Cooking classes are held in the Getaway Studio Dining Room at Mountain Valley View Farm, located at:
4229 S. Chapman Rd
Greenacres, WA 99016
You can also call 509-928-1200 for more information or to reserve a spot in one of the upcoming cooking classes.
Respect
As a dentist, I have all types of people sit in my chair for dental care. It is always amazing to me the differences in respect that various individual show.
Persons who have served in the military or often those from the South will answer “yes ma’am” or “yes sir.” I compare this to usually younger people who simply moan “ya.”
Respect is one of those virtues in which the more you give it others the more it is shown to you. Some simple suggestions about how to show respect:
- Use “Yes sir,” “Yes ma’am,” “Yes reverend,” “Yes your honor,” “Yes admiral,” “yes senator,” etc.
- Face the other person and make eye contact (in certain cultures eye contact is not respectful – respect those cultures).
- Be sure your facial expressions and body language are friendly and open.
- Smile (see your dentist if you cannot do this proudly).
- Sit or stand straight and not too far from or too near the person you are addressing.
- Let the other person talk and express their ideas, concerns, feelings, and perspectives, and listen without interruption.
- Speak slowly, firmly, clearly, and calmly, without losing your temper.
- Be nice.
Like anything else, “repetition is the mother of skill.” Practice showing respect and you’ll see quickly how respect is returned.
The Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin’s 1967 hit “Respect” has been around for a long time. Respect, if you can train yourself to show this virtue, which comes truly from your soul, will be returned to you and also around you for a long time.
There are basically 4 forms of respect, which all of us can work on in one form or another. They are:
- Respect for self
- Respect for others
- Respect for all forms of life and the environment in which we all live
- Respect for truth, laws, and the principles set forth by our society
Practice all forms of respect on a daily basis in your home. More importantly, help others to learn and show respect.
Smiling with respect,
Dr. James G. Hood
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Dental Care Associates of Spokane Valley, P.S.
Family and Cosmetic Dentistry Welcomes Patients
from Age 2 to 102!
James G. Hood, D.D.S., M.A.
507 North Sullivan Road, Suite A-1
Spokane Valley, WA 99037-8576 USA
Phone: (509) 928-9100 | Fax: (509) 928-0414
Email: drhood@drhood.com
Websites: www.drhood.com
www.dentalcareassociatesofspokanevalley.com
Blogs: www.drjamesghoodblog.com
www.dentalhealthandnutritionblog.com
www.dentalcareassociatesofspokanevalleyblog.com
www.jamesandkarenhoodfoundationblog.org
www.sjogrensblog.org
Online Store: www.dentalhealthandnutritionstore.com
Fantastically Fresh Farm Produce from Mountain Valley View Farm!
Please click on the above flyer to see or print it in a larger, easy-to-read format.
Organic produce is grown without the use of synthetic fertilizers, artificial pesticides, herbicides, or genetically modified organisms (GMOs). At Mountain Valley View Farm, Inc. we also strive to use sustainable farming techniques that are gentle on the environment: growing organic crops without the use of chemicals is merely one important part of that. Even better, organic produce is also optimal for our family and our customers. There are many studies that demonstrate the greater nutritional value of naturally grown food–and not only do they contain more nutrients than commercial crops, they also contain a much higher percentage of cancer-fighting antioxidants, on average 40-60%. This is especially telling since the chemicals and GMOs of non-organic foods have been linked to a wide range of health problems and diseases, including various forms of cancer.
Mountain Valley View Farm, Inc. is part of a growing movement toward healthy, all-natural, organically produced food that is better for the Earth and all its creatures, great and small. We are currently in the process of seeking organic certification, and we are excited and proud to bring fresh, locally grown produce to the Spokane area. We want to spread the word about sustainable farming techniques, the risks of commercially grown crops, and the wonderful benefits of eating nutritious organic foods. Even more, we want to bring those benefits to you, our customers.
Our Fantastically Fresh Farm Variety Boxes are a fabulous way for you to bring home healthy, organic produce from our farm. Each Variety Box is economically priced and comes packed with a selection of fresh, delicious food that you can always trust for quality, nutrition, and safety. The selection of fruits and vegetables is rotating, depending on what crops are in season and what we are harvesting at the time. You can choose a box of assorted fruits, a box of assorted veggies, or a combination of both. Family size boxes are available, and we have also put together two special baked good boxes that will delight your tastebuds with a variety of homemade cookies, toffees, and candies–you can even choose a book from Karen Jean Matsko Hood’s popular Cookbook Delights series to help you prepare some of that tasty produce! Please click on the flyer above for pricing and more information.
Fantastically Fresh Farm Variety Boxes can be delivered to your home for a small delivery fee. Please call Kelsey at 509-928-1800 to get an estimate of the cost. You are also welcome to drop by our farm at:
4301 S Chapman Rd
Greenacres, WA 99016
Or visit us at one of the following local farmers’ markets:
Spokane Public Market
32 W. 2nd Ave
Spokane, WA 99210
10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Wed – Fri
Spokane Farmers’ Market
5th Ave between Division & Brown
Spokane, WA 99210
8:45 a.m. – 1 p.m. Wed & Sat
Spokane Northside Farmers’ Market
315 E. Francis
Spokane, WA 99205
Wed 3 – 7 p.m. and Sat 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
South Perry Farmers’ Market
924 South Perry Street
Spokane, WA 99202
3-7pm Thurs
New Ponderosa Outdoor Market
4102 S. Bowdish
Spokane Valley, WA 99206
3-7 pm Tues
We look forward to seeing you soon!
My Achalasia Story
Dear Fellow Achalasia Patients,
I write this blog today during a beautiful, sunny Spokane, Washington, Sunday. As I write I wonder how all of my fellow achalasia patients out there are doing.
Achalasia is a rare disease. I know from experience that it helps to talk to others who have the same affliction. It is hard to believe that October 4, 2011, will be the fourth anniversary of my repair surgery. Life is far better than it was for the seven years before the surgery. Prior to that time, I was not aware of the term “achalasia.” Therefore, what I would like to tell all of you is that there is hope. Do not struggle with your current situation, as professional help is available.
In my case I was officially diagnosed with achalasia in August 2007. I had no idea what achalasia was and was not particularly worried with the term. Being as curious as I am, I immediately went home after my esophageal dilation procedure and waited for the anesthesia to fully leave my body so I could hop on the Internet and read exactly what achalasia was all about. Holy Molie! I became scared almost to death! There is truly frightening stuff out there on the Web. In fact, after reading the stuff, I thought I would be dying soon, and this was no happy thought!
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- “Bird’s beak” appearance, typical in achalasia
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- A CXR showing achalasia (arrows point to the outline of the massively dilated esophagus)
I have a lot of people who depend on me and a lot of responsibilities in my life, so I began trying to take care of things in my now suddenly expected short life. I called my doctor, and he said I most certainly was not near death, but I thought he was just trying to be optimistic and nice. I wasn’t having any of it!
To my husband’s dismay, I planned my own funeral arrangements to save him the trouble. Yep, I selected a simple coffin and a nice cemetery with a view. It seems that relaxation for me only takes place when I have a view. Weird as it may seem, I was at peace making time payments on my selected plot and even bought one for my husband next to me. Of course, he would not be using it for a long time after me, since he would have a long, healthy life, I figured. The thought of him marrying too soon, without a respectable time mourning my passing, was disturbing, so I pushed those thoughts right out of my mind. I was having enough trouble as it was.
Back to my achalasia. Now it was time to complete more research, so back to my computer I went. I ordered every natural remedy out there, although there were only a few at the time. Still hopeful in spite of my funeral planning, I faithfully followed directions on all of them. My physician told me there was no cure but that most achalasia patients live with the disease and do not die from it. Yipes! That was not reassuring.
My weight dropped 69 pounds suddenly. It scared my kids and my husband. Previously I was a tubby, but this was no way to lose weight. I could not get or keep much food down. My stomach sphincter was so tight that it would allow only a trickle of fluid through to my stomach. My regurgitation was out of control, and since my diagnosis was vigorous achalasia, it brought the worst type of pain. Sometimes my esophageal pain would last an hour. My family timed it, and it seemed that I could not bear the duration of the pain. Often I would run out of the house and walk around the house, using my animal instinct to flee. Nothing worked and for the first time in my life I could understand people wanting to die because of pain.
Stay tuned for the second installment of my story. There is hope at the end of the tunnel.
Karen Jean Matsko Hood
Achalasia Support Group
James and Karen Hood Foundation
507 North Sullivan Road, Suite LL-6
Spokane Valley, WA 99037-8576 USA
E-mail: karenscustomerservice@gmail.com
Phone: (509) 924-3550 | Fax: (509) 922-9949
www.achalasiablog.org
www.jamesandkarenhoodfoundationblog.org
www.karensblog.net
www.jamesghoodblog.com
Know Your Eggs
Mountain Valley View Farm, Inc. is delighted to provide farm fresh, organic eggs from our flock of chickens, ducks, and geese to the Spokane area. But what should you, as a consumer, look for in your eggs? Read on to find out.
Freshness
Freshness can be determined several ways. If you place an egg in a cold cup of water, it will sink if it is fresh and float if it is old. Furthermore, when you break open the egg, its consistency should remain firm and the yolk stand up round. An old egg will spread out and have a flattened yolk. Mountain Valley View Farm, Inc. always puts a packing date on each egg carton we sell so that you can be assured the eggs you are getting are fresh. According to the USDA, fresh eggs can be stored in the refrigerator for 4-5 weeks without spoiling. Some people find that duck and goose eggs keep even longer due to their thicker shells, but if you choose to use an egg after it is more than 5 weeks old, please use caution. Mountain Valley View Farm is not responsible for any illness you may incur.
Eggshell Color
Eggshells can vary widely in color, although the most common are white and brown. The eggshell color varies from breed to breed, and has no real significance to nutritional value or quality of the egg. However, it is interesting to note that most commercial egg producers use breeds that lay white eggs because these chickens eat less and lay a higher quantity of eggs, and they are looking only at the bottom line. These chickens are usually kept in small cages and are given antibiotics that end up tainting the eggs with chemicals. Small farms like Mountain Valley View generally prefer breeds like the Rhode Island Red, who lay brown eggs and are better at foraging for food, making them ideal free-range birds. Mountain Valley View has several breeds of chicken that lay brown eggs, as well as the Araucana which lays gorgeous, vibrantly blue or blue-green eggs. Our ducks also lay some blue-ish eggs, and the Cayuga breed lays eggs with a speckled black and white shell, even occasionally an all-black shell. All our birds are free-range, hormone and antibiotic free.
Egg White
The egg white of a raw egg is translucent, and only turns white after the egg is cooked. A somewhat yellow or green tint to the raw egg white is nothing to worry about: it indicates a high content of riboflavin. Similarly, a cloudy egg white is not a problem and indicates a very fresh egg.
Egg Yolk
The color of the egg yolk can vary due to the diet of the hen that laid the eggs. Caged hens on commercial farms receive a less diverse and nutritious diet than the free-range hen, so commercial eggs often have a lighter-colored yolk. A free-range hen will generally consume plenty of plants with yellow/orange pigments known as xanthophylls. These pigments are deposited in the yolk, turning it a bright yellow; and the xanthophylls become carotene, which is the precursor to Vitamin A. Hens who roam green pasture will produce darker yolks, and these are also more nutritious than commercial eggs.
Blood Spots
Blood spots are rare, but when you do find one, don’t worry. It is actually an indicator that the egg is very fresh, and there is nothing wrong with the egg in any way. Rather than indicating a fertilized egg, the blood spot is caused by a rupture of a blood vessel during formation of the egg. If you are still concerned, you may simply use a knife to cut away that portion of the egg and eat the rest.
Benefits of Organic Eggs
Organic eggs are extremely nutritious and contain significantly higher ratios of Vitamins A and E, Omega 3, and beta carotene than commercially produced eggs. They are also lower in cholesterol and saturated fat, making them an excellent choice for anyone concerned about their health. Furthermore, trace chemicals from pesticides and fertilizers have been detected in commercial eggs, and many of these chickens are given growth hormones and antibiotics to make them produce more. Chickens at Mountain Valley View Farm are fed an all-natural grain and allowed to roam and forage for food to supplement their diet. We do not use chemical pesticides or fertilizers on our farm, nor do we give our animals growth hormones or antibiotics, so you can be assured that our eggs will not have the toxins so common to commercially produced eggs. You will also love the taste of our eggs, as studies have shown that organic eggs from hens that eat a varied diet have a noticeably stronger and more pleasing flavor than commercial eggs.
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You may purchase farm fresh, organic eggs directly at the Mountain Valley View Farm, located at:
4301 S Chapman Rd
Greenacres, WA 99016
Or find us at the following area farmer’s markets:
Spokane Public Market
32 W. 2nd Ave
Spokane, WA 99210
10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Wed – Fri
Spokane Farmers’ Market
5th Ave between Division & Brown
Spokane, WA 99210
8:45 a.m. – 1 p.m. Wed & Sat
Spokane Northside Farmers’ Market
315 E. Francis
Spokane, WA 99205
Wed 3 – 7 p.m. and Sat 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
South Perry Farmers’ Market
924 South Perry Street
Spokane, WA 99202
3-7pm Thurs
Millwood Farmers’ Market
3223 North Marguerite Rd
Spokane, WA 99212
3-7pm Wed
New Ponderosa Outdoor Market
4102 S. Bowdish
Spokane Valley, WA 99206
3-7 pm Tues
Liberty Lake Farmers’ Market
1421 N. Meadowood Lane
Liberty Lake, WA 99019
8:45 a.m. – 1 p.m. Sat
You can also arrange to have products delivered to your home. Delivery charge will vary depending on your location. Call 509-928-1800 for more information, or to schedule a time to pick up your delicious organic eggs!
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