E - H Restaurant Menu and Nutrition Fact Guides

In this post I'm picking up from where we left off with links to more menus and nutrition guides to popular family restaurants and fast food eateries.  It isn't a comprehensive list, but I'm happy to add more restaurants if one you are looking for is missing, just contact me through a comment.

I decided to collect this information for myself due to my struggle with lactose intolerance.  I have some of the most common places we eat saved to my tablet which comes with me everywhere I go for quick reference.  When my husband and I decide we'd like to go to dinner somewhere, I look through the nutrition facts for those items on the menu that contain dairy and plan my meal before we go.  It saves me having to ask hundreds of questions at the restaurant.

So, we did a list of Restaurants from A - D, now we pick up on those from E - H, and as always, contact me in a comment if the restaurant you are looking for is not listed:

Fridays (T.G.I. Fridays) Nutrition Information pdf
Fridays (T.G.I. Fridays) Allergy Info. 

Friendly's Nutrition and Allergy Menu Info. 

Fuddruckers Nutrition

Godfather's Pizza Nutrition Information pdf

Golden Corral Menu
Golden Corral Allergens List (provided by Branson Golden Corral, but may apply to all)

Hardee's Nutrition Guide
Hardee's Allergen Guide
Hardee's Ingredients Guide

Houlihan's Menu
Houlihan's Nutrition Information

I'll be back soon to add more restaurant menus and allergy nutrition guides.

 

When You Really Have to Satisfy a Sweet Tooth

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Private Selection. All opinions are 100% mine.

I don't do a lot of baking, and don't eat food that contains a lot of sugar or butter, which can be difficult when we have family or friends over and I want to provide them with a dessert, or when we are invited somewhere and I have to bring a dessert.  Just because my diet is restrictive due to not being able to have dairy or sugar doesn't mean others have to suffer, so I'm happy to find good sources for great desserts.

For this reason it was fun to be introduced to Private Selection Upside Down Cakes.  They offer premium-quality cakes without the premium price.
I visited the site to get a Private Selection Upside Down Cakes coupon to buy a cake...there is information and links in the "Spread the Love?" emblem on the page, and a link to "Coupons" along the bottom of the page. Following is a disclaimer that I have to share with you that will give a bit more information about the coupon:

Coupon ends 6/2/13. Official Rules. In order to load these coupons to your card, you will need to sign into your Kroger account or set up a Kroger account and enter your card number. Limit one use per digital coupon. Digital offers are not eligible on Manager's Specials, cannot be combined with manufacturer paper coupons on the purchase of a single item, and do not double. Not all items are available in all stores. A limit of 150 coupons can be loaded per household at one time.

It's easy to sign up for a Kroger account at the links provided, and the cakes look simply delicious. They come in 3 delicious flavors, so good you, your family and friends will think they are home-made. You just warm them, turn them over onto a serving dish and serve.  Look at the store locator in the left margin at the site or copy and paste this link into your browser - .http://www.privateselection.com/store-locator/  Cakes are available in other stores that are part of the Kroger family as well.

Learn even more by visiting and liking Private Selection Upside Down Cakes on Facebook, then visit and follow Private Selection Upside Down Cakes on Pinterest.  You'll learn more at both these popular sites.

GMO Foods May Decline Naturally

GMO foods or foods altered with genetically modified organisms may make a natural decline. We love foods in their natural state, and seeing news like this is exciting, because it reminds us that when man tries to do something to disrupt the natural course of nature, there are consequences. God created the earth with a natural order, and we've been turning it upside down in so many ways for hundreds and thousands of years.  With technology our ability to wreak havoc has increased in pace. We truly are our own enemies. 

Following is a short paragraph from an email I received today: "While consumers fight for labeling, and activists publicize the adverse health effects of consuming genetically engineered food, it looks like the genetically engineered seed industry may be taken down by the most powerful force of all: economics. 

"Some U.S. farmers are considering returning to conventional seed after increased pest resistance and crop failures resulted in smaller yields globally for GMO crops compared to their non-GMO counterparts. 

"Farmers in the U.S. pay about $100 more per acre for GM seed. Many have begun questioning 'whether they will continue to see benefits from using GMs," according to Farmers Weekly - 2/6/13. 

"Countries around the world that do not use GM seed are outperforming U.S. Farmers." 

For much more on the GMO issue, visit gmoinside.org. You will also find a link to free a GMO Free Food List and app plus info and opinions from people on both sides of the issue at GMO Free or Non-GMO Food Lists and Information Sources.

Event: Authors Giving for Healthy Living

Are you free this coming Saturday, April 27th, 2013?  If so, you're going to want to spend a little time at a very special event, "Authors Giving for Healthy Living".  It's an International gathering of Authors and book lovers to benefit a very special project. 

The project is sponsored by gardener and culinary herb farmer, Bea Kunz of Sage Hill Farms, and is being coordinated by Kim Mutch Emerson of Master Koda Select Publishing, LLC.  I have had the pleasure of knowing both of these woman for many years via the internet and can vouch for their integrity and passion for all that they do.

Books by special authors will be available for sale, and proceeds from the sales will benefit a gardening project for students at Curry Middle School.  The  project encourages children to appreciate better foods and better health through hands-on experience.

Please visit this link for a Press Release with more detailed information: "Top Authors Give Proceeds to Middle School Gardening Project".
  
To view the books being offered, you can visit this link. 
 

The Season for Weddings and Engagements is Here

Spring is here and romance is in the air.  As a matter of fact, my anniversary was this month, early in April, so I was a Spring bride.  My daughter was married about 9 years ago and was a traditional June bride.  

For my wedding, we purchased a cake from a bakery.  For my daughter's wedding, we had a friend who was a baker make the cake, and my sister made beautiful silk flowers to decorate the cake with.  It was a lovely cake!

We did not have engagement parties for these weddings as many people do now, and though I don't regret how we chose to do things, I do think it would have been fun.

While visiting different sites and being introduced to engagement cakes, wedding cakes and anniversary cakes, I realized we never had any text on our cakes.  This is perhaps more appropriate for an engagement or anniversary cake, but can be used on a wedding cake as well, or any cake for that matter. 

When you are looking for a site that provides  engagement cakes, you will see an example of what I'm talking about.  At the site you can actually order your "bespoke" cake and add a request to the order stating what you would like the cake to say.  The cakes are fun and/or beautiful to look at, and come in a delicious selection of flavors.

Now obviously, this is a nutrition site, and we are not big fans of lots of sugary treats, but when it comes to special occasions, unless your diet is strict and prohibits it, I think you can celebrate a bit without it being harmful to you...all things in moderation.

Image Credit: The Cake Shop

How to Find my Allergy Relief Posts

The trees are putting out lots of pollen in our area, as well as the flowers, and grasses.  Personally, I am most sensitive to tree pollens. 

If you are looking for the posts on allergies on this site, visit this allergies link which will take you to a few that I have written, which will further lead you to other helpful articles.

You will also find allergy articles I have written at this link on Weeds and Seeds Swap.

I hope you are enjoying a healthy and happy Spring.

Preparing the Kitchen and Vegetable Gardens

This post brought to you by Scotts Miracle-Gro. All opinions are 100% mine.

I have longed for the arrival of spring and summer, missing all the delicious garden and local-grown vegetables and herbs that we enjoyed so much last summer.  We live in a rural area where many are concerned about preserving our natural resources.  The concept of sustainable gardening is an important one, in fact there is a community garden that many contribute time to in our Town, reaping the benefits of the vegetables, and sharing the overflow with food pantries in Town.

But for this post, I am concentrating on preparations for my own garden.  I grow herbs, including mints, lemon balm (pictured), scallions, horseradish, oregano, and other similar plants that grow easily and prolifically.

I am in need of some gardening supplies.  My 3 prong tiller is still in good condition, but I've been using the same trowel and other hand gardening tools for years, so will be looking to buy good quality at bargain prices.  While I shop for these items I'll also be looking for Scotts Florida Select Natural Eucalyptus Mulch and other Florida Select Mulch products that I've just been introduced to.
 
The mulch made with Eucalyptus instead of Cypress was interesting and new to me.  It is something that people in Florida appreciate a lot because Eucalyptus replenishes itself much more quickly than Cypress does. This makes for a more sustainable product, while not over-using Cypress.  I appreciate this as well because even though I don't live in Florida, I am concerned about our environment on a national and world-wide scale. 

Another thing about this mulch is it's ability to expand when wet and hold moisture for extended periods, cutting down the need to use water as frequently, which is especially helpful  during water shortages.  Mulch naturally cuts down on the growth of weeds.  Care should be taken with how close you place the mulch to the side of wooden homes, sheds and other structures, and the base of trees.  You can use it for trees and shrubs, just keep it a few inches away from the base.  And young plants just coming up may get lost in it, so don't use it until plants mature a bit.
 
The colors of Scotts Nature Scapes mulch appeal to me as well.  You can choose from Classic Black, Sierra Red and Deep Forest Brown depending upon the landscaping affect you want to achieve.

I grow vegetables and some berries in containers as well as the garden...including my tomatoes, green peppers, strawberries, cucumbers,  and other things to add to my lunch and dinner salads.  Mulch can be used in containers as well, and is especially helpful in containers because the soil tends to dry out more quickly and need more watering than my gardens.  The mulch will help the soil stay moist longer.

Please note that all photos on this page are taken by the author and are copyrighted. You are welcome to use them if you provide a link back to this post.

I hope you are as excited about getting your hands into the garden as I am, it has been a long winter where I live.

My Recipe for Kombucha Tea

Though Kombucha, a fermented tea drink, can be purchased pre-made, it is very easy to make at home.  I've had a taste for it recently, and it's been a while since I've brewed some.  I'd like to share my recipe for Kombucha Tea with you, and then provide you a link to a longer article I wrote on the subject, including it's health benefits and where to get a Scobie, mother of Kombucha or mushroom...whatever title you'd like to use for the starter.

Here is what you will need to begin:

• A large glass jar...I use an old pickle jar - clean very well
• Water 
• 10-12 tea bags - you can use black tea and/or green tea to start, and get more exotic as you learn 
• 1 cup of sugar - "food" for the bacteria that ferment the brew 
• 1/4 cup Kombucha from previous brew or a few T. of white vinegar
• Stainless Steel or glass pot for boiling water - must be stainless steel or glass 
• Plastic, wood or stainless steel stirring utensil
• Coffee Filter
• Rubber Band

Instructions:

• Put water in pot 
• Boil water for 5 - 10 minutes, turn off heat 
• Add tea bags and brew for 1/2 hour 
• Remove tea bags, cover pan, and cool overnight, or long enough so at room temperature 
• Pour into your very-clean, large glass jar...fill to top of widest part of jar for largest air surface area. 
• Add the 1/4 cup of Kombucha from previous brew or white vinegar, don't stir
• Lay your Kombucha Scobie on top..it is okay if it sinks
• Put a coffee filter over the top, seal with a rubber band to keep out fruit flies that will be attracted to the brew. 
• Never seal closed with a lid, it needs air circulation and the jar may explode or break during the fermentation process. 
• Put on a shelf with subdued light, where there is little air movement, and temperature is about 70+ degrees 
• Let it ferment for about 7 days - do not move during that time

When your tea is ready, strain through cheese cloth other mesh material into your storage container...preferably glass...and put in the refrigerator. 

As it is fermenting, a new starter will grow on top of the liquid, or attached to the original starter mushroom.  When your done, you'll have a starter for your next brew, and one to give away or double up your amount.

To read more about Kombucha you can also visit my article Kombucha Tea - A Healthy Fermented Drink.

Start out by drinking only about 1/4 cup a day, split between the morning and evening. If you have no detox symptoms you may want to increase the amount. People have been known to drink 1-3 cups a day, but everyone is different.

Aged Cheese and Lactose Intolerance

Last night my husband and I were driving home from an event and stopped to pick up a quick dinner at a favorite drive-through.  I love their salads, but had to ask them to leave off the cheese, then came home and added some of my own cheese from our refrigerator.  It is necessary for me to do this because I'm VERY lactose intolerant.  It can mean spending a miserable day the next day if I accidentally eat something that contains lactose. 

I LOVE cheese, whether it be an extra-sharp cheddar or an Italian cheese that you purchase in the store or online to be grated and added to, or put on top of, your favorite Italian pasta dish.

Generally, the longer a cheese is aged, the less lactose it contains.  The bacteria used in aging and curing, including Lactobacillus, break down the lactose in the cheese, so naturally the longer the cheese ages, the better.  These cheeses might include your hard Parmesans, well aged cheddar, and similar cheeses. 

When you visit a site and are interested in a cheese they are offering, and no information is provided regarding lactose intolerance, contact the owner and inquire.  By doing so, more and more sellers of cheese will be be inclined to add this important information to their sites, packaging and advertising material.