This is Otis when I brought him home at 6 weeks to try to diagnose why he could not keep down food. This is one of the pictures I was sent of the puppies, which broke my heart thinking of them going to the shelter.

For those of you who were not around for Otis’ fight, here is a little back ground on him. He was born October 20^th and I agreed to take on his litter because his owners could not afford to feed the puppies.  The day after I agreed to take them on (they were 6 weeks old) Otis started vomiting every time he ate. His owner thought he was seizing and so I tried lots of things to calm his stomach. When nothing worked, the next day I took him to the vet where the X-rays showed he had Persistent Right Aortic Arch (PRAA) where his heart and his esophagus was tangled up so food could not go down leaving his esophagus all stretched out (Mega Esophagus).  I worked to raise money for him to correct the PRAA because the surgery has a 90% success rate; however, after the surgery he was worse and not better.  Only 2 days after coming home from the hospital, sweet Otis ended up with aspiration pneumonia (from inhaling his regurgitation on food).  He was in the hospital for over a week, but continued to deteriorate because his inability to keep food down just made him skinnier and skinnier.

(and see the last blog about him at: http://elsiethedomesticgoddess.com/blog/2012/01/16/giving-is-good-for-your-soul-and-can-save-a-puppys-life/)

This is Otis when I picked him up from his first surgery, I was so hopeful for what was to come.

Finally, at 12.5 weeks old, Otis was no longer in the fight.  While I was preparing to have a feeding tube put in him, he was tired of fighting.  Although he is gone, he left behind lots of vet bills, and as almost every dog I rescue (which has been about 130 in the last 15 months) needs vetting, I continue to work to pay those bills not just for him, but for all the future dogs.  Many (if not most) of the dogs I take are special needs or medical, whether that be newborn orphans or dogs with mange, I have a soft spot for the ones most people don’t want to take care of.  It is in Otis’ honor, and for the needs of all homeless pets that so many wonderful animal lovers have come together for this auction.

So when you bid on the auctioned items, not only are you getting super high quality items (and Valentine’s Day is right around the corner), but you are also helping out dogs like these:

Some of the many items that will be auctioned starting 12 noon PST 1/27 at: http://www.ebay.com/sch/elsielodde/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_from=&_ipg=&_trksid=p3686

Elsie the Domestic Goddess- When I am not doing dog rescue, I enjoy sewing.  I love creating custom items that people will love.  I teach classes and sew for different groups (including American Cancer Association, school groups and dog rescue).  I say I don’t know how to sew, I only know what I know how to do.  My basis keeps spreading as I end up having to learn to sew clothes for an awkward size dog with mange, or for other groups.  I made these two bags for the auction. You can see my Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/#!/ElsietheDomesticGoddess

This first bag is one of those ones I design and want to keep.  It is reversible (you have to unscrew it from the frame to switch it around) with dogs on one side and tattoo hearts on the other that say “love” in them. It is great for the person you love or to show your love for dogs.  The pocket on the dog side is embroidered with XOXO on all 4 sides, and also has heart designs embroidered on it.  The other side has a felt heart button with a polka dot button on top of it.  It is quilted, so it is machine washable.  The Dog side has saying like “have you kissed your dog today?” and ”my best friends.”  This bag is in perfect time for Valentine’s Day.

 This bag is also quilted and reversible. On one side there are dogs on top of an argyle pattern with matching argyle trim.  There are all types of dogs on the fabric (yorkshire terriers, shar pei, pug, lab, dashaund, husky, rottweiler, collie, pomeranian, boxer, west highland terrier, dalmatian, bermese mountain dogs, beagle, terriers and more). The pocket has a dog button on it as well.  The other side side is a vintage pattern of polka dot and floral pattern.  It is machine washable and on a 4.5″ metal antique bronze frame. 

You can see my etsy page at: http://www.etsy.com/shop/DomesticGoddesselsie and my website is www.ElsietheDomesticGoddess.com

Kreativ Artisan Gifts & Design Studio is run by Karin.  I was lucky enough to meet Karin while chained to a dog house in Nashville, TN to try to get awareness for anti-tethering laws. Karin is foster who has taken in many of these chained pit bulls.  She has been a huge supporter and is continuing to do so by donating this amazing basket.

This is a picture of the whole ScruffyMutt gift basket valued at $65. Included is one Stink-B-Gone Odor Neutralizer Reed Diffuser, one satchel of Peanut Butter Crunch biscuits, one Doody Butt poop bag carrier and pack of flushable bags, one Clippy Doo hands free doody bag carrier, one bookmark with picture frame charm, one keychain charm with picture frame, and one “Rescued” dog collar charm. Check out ScruffyMutt at: http://www.kreativartisangifts.com/

Ana Apple designs all sorts of tricked out threads. You can get a shirt for you, one for the dog, and one for the baby all to match.  You can see her Etsy shop at: http://www.etsy.com/shop/anaapple and like her on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/anaappledesigns#!/anaappledesigns

We will be auctioning off 3 different eye masks (in 3 different scents) as well as 2 dog shirts.  You choose the size for either the Mr./Mrs. Bones and the Cali Love dog shirts.

CharlieHeartsDiesel- I have all large breed dogs personally, and although I have fostered several little dogs this year that has shown me why people like the pocket pooches, I do tend to rescue a lot of pit bulls. One thing many pit parents complain about is the inability to find stuff for that size dog. But not with CharlieHeartsDiesel.  And the winner of this auction gets $40 to choose any custom item they want from the shop (tutu, scarf, or whatever you may desire).

Please check out CharlieHeartsDiesel on Etsy at: www.facebook.com/pages/CharlieHeartsDiesel/143381362423781
or on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/pages/CharlieHeartsDiesel/143381362423781

Woofs and Ruffles calls themselves couture dog clothing, and I would have to agree! The quality is amazing, the materials adorable and they are put together in a way that screams class.  Look at these outfits that will be auctioned off!

Check out their etsy page at: http://www.etsy.com/shop/WoofsandRuffles

and find them on facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Woofs-and-Ruffles-Couture-Dog-Clothing/267654533276959

Coley’s Collars makes beautiful custom collars. You can get them in any size for your cat or tea chup chihuahua or your mastiff. She uses beautiful fabrics and anyone can find something they will love.  We will be auctioning off 4 of these collars.

Check out Coley’s Collars at : www.colleyscollars.com on etsy at: http://www.etsy.com/shop/ColeysCollars or on facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/#!/coleyscustomcollars

 Aurora’s Bows makes those super cute bows any groomer or owner of a cute little dog should own.  I am the hair flower and bow queen myself, so this makes me want to have a dog I could put these on! And a $50 Gift certificate goes a long way!

Check out how adorable they are at http://Aurorabows.com/ or
http://www.etsy.com/shop/Lazytea

The Doggie Market makes some of the cutest dog clothes I have ever seen. Anyone who knows me knows I am a girly girl. I love my dresses and heels and if I were a dog I would want to wear these dresses. These dresses are about the cutest thing there is, plus they have bow ties, knit sweaters and all sorts of clothes for your pocket pooch!

We are auctioning off $50 towards any purchase of Designer Doggy Clothing from the Doggie Market (http://www.etsy.com/shop/thedoggiemarket) Really makes me want to go out and adopt a new little dog so I can dress her! Like their facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Doggie-Market/182439205120452?sk=wall

Happy Tails Pet Bakery is donating 5 sets of their Cheesy Cheddar Dog Biscuits (18 ct) and Peanut Butter Bacon hearts (24 ct).  So 5 dogs can be so excited about 42 fresh, home made, all natural doggy treats.  I am a cook (for those of you who don’t know about my blog and me) and I am a huge proponent of natural and fresh ingredients.  If the news about dogs dying from eating treats from China isn’t enough to scare you, then I think only 3 words are needed: peanut- butter-bacon.

Your dog would be spoiled with these treats. You can see what other kinds they have at: http://www.etsy.com/shop/HappyTailsPetBakery or at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Happy-Tails-Pet-Bakery/364418083574387

Missteawinkie was the first person to sign up for this auction. She sent me 3 adorable outfits to be auctioned off.  I wish my pictures did her clothes justice because they are amazing and the quality is astounding. 

Cool Dog Duke – there are so many of these plaques and stickers that make me giggle.  I love the sticker we are auctioning off for sure.  Remember what truly matters in life: Peace Love Paws!

Cool Dog Luke can be seen at their website www.cooldogduke.com or on etsy http://www.etsy.com/shop/CoolDogDuke or their facebook page https://www.facebook.com/cooldogduke

Nature’s Adornments has donated 2 items for the auction, one is a urn that can hold the remains of your beloved pet and the other is a super cute cow outfit.

I have never seen someone that crafty, who can sew, work with stone, make jewelry and everything in between. If you want to be as impressed as I am with the talents of one woman check out http://www.etsy.com/shop/NAsHandcraftedGifts

The Mad Stampers make hand stamped and durable name tags for your pet’s collar. I absolutely love the way that they look. There will be two of these amazing dog collar charms for auction. This is a 1″ tag with an added dog bone charm. You choose the material – Brass, Copper or Nickel Silver. You may choose either the nickel or brass dog bone charm.

You can see more of the Mad Stampers items at: http://www.etsy.com/people/themadstampers?ref=ls_profile

Shaggy Chic makes some amazingly adorable crocheted items, including this amazing hat they donated.  I really love it because it looks just like the hats my husband loves to wear (since he is still a child- as many men are).

Her store mainly caters to pocket pooches but she can custom make ones for larger dogs too.  Check out her Etsy store at: http://www.etsy.com/shop/ShaggyChic or her facebook page Shaggy Chic

Learned Stitchworks has donated a $17 gift certificate for their shop.  They make super cute bows and flowers for your dog’s collar.  Flowers and bow ties are made from very high quality fabric by name designers. The flower or bow tie are completely removable so that you can keep them for that special walk or occasion. They are held on with two sided velco and can be placed anywhere on the collar you would like.

You can see more of the amazing items at: http://www.etsy.com/shop/LearnedStitchworks?ref=seller_info# and visit their facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Learned-Stitchworks/198219473552701

MD Puppy Cakes- with the amount of cheesy wonderfulness on these, I actually think I would eat these!

These bisuits are handmade, gluten-free dog biscuits. They also make puppy cakes incase your beloved pet is having a birthday party and is needing a cake that all his poochy friends can enjoy!  Check out: http://www.etsy.com/shop/MDPuppyCakes?ref=seller_info

Billetsdoux donated 2 of these!!!Give your dog a sense of humour! See who gets up close and personal when your dog wears this tag. A 1″ matte aluminium disc is hand stamped with “If you can read this I will lick you.” Comes on a stainless steel giant split ring ready to slide onto your dog’s collar.

These are kindly donated by: http://www.etsy.com/people/billetsdoux?ref=ls_profile

Hungry Paws is offering a $10 gift certificate for you to choose the perfect treat for your favorite canine. Look at these amazing doggy treats! They are affordable cute and look delicious.!

You can see more at: http://www.etsy.com/shop/HungryPaws

Hueby’s Scroll Art- Woodworking is one of the many arts that has been lost. Wooden puzzles take us back to the generations before.  Luckily Hueby is still sharing this craft with the world.  He has all sorts of puzzles including the 2 he is donating for this auction.

Check out all the amazing puzzles at: http://www.etsy.com/shop/huebysscrollsawart

18″ pearl necklace- This 18″ strand of freshwater pearls comes with a certificate of authenticity and valuation stating the suggested retail value of this piece is $450. Every woman should have a pair of real pearls so here is your chance to own one and help a good cause. Remember valentine’s day is right around the corner!

Sacramento People!!!

Callie Foster Smith works as a hair stylist in both Folsom and Placerville. She is donating her services for this auction.  If you want to book with her directly you can contact her at: 916-316-9068

If you would like to donate for the auction you still can, you can contact me at: ddbnorcal@gmail.com

Monetary donations are always welcome as well. Thank you for supporting one rescue, in the memory of one sweet boy, to benefit the future dogs.

I don't have unsweetened chocolate, but I have cocoa powder, how can I use what I have and save a trip to the store? I want those crackle cookies !

It has happened to all of us. We are craving brownies but don’t have eggs, want to try a chocolate souffle recipe but do not have the baking chocolate. Before you get out of your bunny slippers and head to the store, see if you can find a subsitute for your missing ingredients.  I have personally done this more times than I can count. I have a craving and want it (NOW) but am ill-prepared for the munchy monster (I have severe food cravings and an emotional attachment to food- this has always been the case and can be attrributed to a family of addicts).  Being hypoglycemic does not help, when I tell my husband, Nick, I am hungry, his only question is “what do you want?” I am a very patient and loving person, except when I am hungry and then you should stay far, far away.  Let this princess go 5 hours without eating and you might have an ogre on your hand, so knowing how to satiate the beast is always a great thing.  I am also known for looking at one thing and grabbing the other, and after coming home from shopping the last thing I want to do is turn around and go right back out, so sometimes I must improvise.

Don't mess with us when we are hungry, we are very scary (luckily my pit bull is much nicer than me, he would never bite, but I cannot promise the same- it is ok, I have my rabies shots).

Many ingredients are used for more than taste, eggs are used as both a source of liquid and fat but also leavening (texture), so knowing there are way to add these without the product can be very helpful when you want that boxed cake at 9 and aren’t willing to remove your snuggie.  If you are looking for a substitute I have not listed, all else fails search online for it, you never know what you might find!

I refuse to remove my snuggli and go to the store for those eggs, but Hannah here wants brownies... what to do?

Egg- Not for scrambling but this works well in your baking recipes. Just mix 2 tbsp water with 1 tbsp of oil and 2 tsp of baking powder
Unsweetened Baking Chocolate (per oz)- (just did this with my chocolate crackle cookies) 3 tablespoons cocoa powder plus 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, vegetable oil or shortening
Cream of Tartar- For those of you who want to make sugar cookies but who uses Tartar for something other than fish? If you don’t have it, simply use 1/2 teaspoon white vinegar or lemon juice
Cream Fraiche- Ok this fancy word   is commonly used in fancy baking. Since most of us don’t have it you can combine 1/2 cup whipping cream plus 1/2 cup sour cream
Half and Half (1 cup)- 7/8 cup whole milk plus 2 tablespoons melted unsalted butter
Heavy Cream (1 cup) 2/3 cup whole milk plus 1/3 cup melted unsalted butter
Sour Cream (1 cup) 1 tablespoon lemon juice or vinegar plus enough whole milk to fill 1 cup (let stand 5-10 minutes and see why it is called that)
Honey (1 cup) 3/4 cup maple syrup plus 1/2 cup granulated white sugar
Sweetened Condensed Milk (14 oz can)- If making my easy fudge recipe you will need lots of this. You can make it by blending the following ingredients: 1 cup instant nonfat dry milk , 2/3 cup granulated white sugar, 1/2 cup boiling water  and 3 tablespoons melted unsalted butter
Molasses (1 cup)- 3/4 dark brown sugar heated to dissolve in 1/4 cup liquid
Light Brown Sugar (1 cup)- If you don’t know why there is a difference between dark and light brown sugar check out my other blog: http://elsiethedomesticgoddess.com/blog/2011/06/21/the-importance-of-brown-sugar-and-chewy-chocolate-chip-cookies-recipe-inside/

If you have dark and you need light, simply substitute 1/2 cup dark brown sugar and 1/2 cup white granulated sugar

This is one of the pictures I was sent of the puppies, which broke my heart thinking of them going to the shelter.

Otis was born October 20th, 2011.  His owners were going to take the whole litter to the pound and I stepped in to intervene.  All the other puppies were healthy but Otis, who we now know had Persistent Right Aortic Arch (PRAA) which is where the heart and esophagus are mixed up together so food cannot go down. The owners, fed the puppies huge adult food, which only exacerbated his condition.  The food sat in his esophagus and stretched it out causing a condition called Megaesophagus (MegaE).

This is Otis when I brought him home at 6 weeks to try to diagnose why he could not keep down food.

After a lot of fighting, and 3 weeks after his diagnosis, Otis got surgery to repair his PRAA (cut the stricture that was choking his esophagus and setting it free) which should have made it better, but in fact, it made it worse. 

This is Otis when I picked him up from his first surgery, I was so hopeful for what was to come. Otis was sent home even though he was unable to hold down food and had bad chest sounds and within 2 days he was back in the hospital with Aspiration Pneumonia. His inability to swallow pills kept him there for 9 days at which time the on-call vet (since his regular was on vacation) called to very harshly tell me I needed to come and get him and Otis needed to have a feeding tube surgically placed in his stomach or else he would starve to death.  I was very hopeful that I could at least manage his condition, after all I did a ton of research and spent a lot of time on the MegaE support group (on Facebook search: Canine Megaesophagus support group) and he was doing well before the surgery. But it only took about a day before I realized if he did not get his surgery, and quick, that the vet may have been harsh, but he was right: Otis will starve to death.  On top of not getting enough food in him, his regurgitating also puts him in great risk of getting pneumonia again, which at this stage would likely be fatal.  So the call is in with the internal medicine surgeon at UC Davis veterinary hospital (it is a school so they provide lots of services normal vets cannot). It is obvious Otis does not have very long before he starves to death.

Honestly, if I had known everything that this would have entailed I would have done it differently.  I have to feed him every 2 or so hours, which means he waits in my car for me at work, we sleep on the couch together because he cannot lay flat or else he will regurgitate, and even with being propped up he usually wakes me up vomiting on me in the middle of the night. There are sub-q fluids, fighting to find food he will eat, including making puppy jello and canned dog food recipes.  There are the occasions I have to hold him next to a running hot shower for an hour to clear up his lungs, and I have to crush pills to mix them in water, and lots of things that are simply routine for us. Every time he regurgitates my heart breaks for him, seeing anything suffer is hard, and every day is emotionally damaging.  Even for someone who watched her parents suffer and cause pain daily, it is a lot to handle. So I pray that he gets his surgery quickly, that he is then easy to manage and grows up to be a happy dog.  And I pray that the continued support of people, some I know and some I do not, help me through it all. 

The vet bills for him (so far) are at about $3500, which is why another $1500 seems like a lot, but I have already spent so much I feel “pot committed” and I genuinely feel like I have to fight for him. I have lost several puppies in the last 6 months or so for different reasons (starvation by owner, neurological damage likely caused by injury from owners, parvo and distemper in shelters, etc) and I have a hard time even considering losing this one. 

It is not all selfishness that keeps me fighting, people wonder why work so hard for just one dog. If it were my dog I would fight tooth and nail to do what ever it takes, but there is a perception by some (people usually like me) who think there are so many that need help, why waste so many resources on just one dog? I have been told by many people to put him down, but there is a light in his eyes. I don’t prescribe to many people’s beliefs that dogs do not have souls, I can see his shining in those bright eyes inside that sunken skull.  I don’t feel like he has quit and he has no voice of his own, so I advocate for him.  I think back to 60 years ago when children were born different and they were locked away (because to kill them would be criminal) and how it took one person deciding to not do that, and then another, and then another for that to change.  I would spend every cent I have on my dogs, and perhaps it is the spirit of Merlin that won’t let me quit on him.  Merlin was born with bad kidneys and a malfunctioning mitral heart valve, but he was our baby.  I tried very hard to keep him alive (and still people judged for spending the money on him) but without a heart and kidney transplant I knew he was terminal. We loved him until the end, and we mourn him all the time.  But I feel like I am growing from this experience, even with taking care of loved ones who were dying, I didn’t carry the sole weight of it all. I am now. My heart breaks for my friend who has a baby and a husband who is always in the hospital needing a transplant. Tears fall easily for those who have fought for their children. Why am I only seeing how hard it is now, as a 33 year old and not when my aunt (who I consider my mom) died when I was 19? I am not sure, either way, my compassion level is so high, because being a care giver is sad and lonely but one thing I have learned is how one compliment or word of encouragement or act of kindness can change the day.  So this is what Otis has taught me (thank you to people like you).

Besides your warm words and prayers there are a few other ways you can help.  We will be holding an auction for him and so far some of the supporters include:
http://www.kreativartisangifts.com/ScruffyMutt_c3.htm
http://www.etsy.com/people/themadstampers
http://www.etsy.com/shop/ShaggyChic
http://www.etsy.com/shop/muddypuppys

If you would like to donate items for Otis’ auction you can contact ddbnorcal@gmail.com or you can donate for his care at: http://elsielodde.chipin.com/otis-pneumonia

I watched a documentary recently called Tapestries of Hope (http://tapestriesofhope.com/) where I learned of Betty Makoni and a foundation she started in Zimbabwe called the Girl Child Network (GCN). The stories of the girls are heart wrenching, many are orphans, have been sexually assaulted and many of them are sick and dying of a disease which affects 40% of the population. I thought, if there was anyone who will be able to help with my idea about distributing feminine hygiene products, it would be Betty.  I contacted GCN and was forwarded on to Betty who thought this was a good idea.  With her go ahead my plan has moved on.

See more Maxi pads by Lil Poppers at: http://www.etsy.com/shop/LilBoppers?section_id=10332913 You can see CoxyFolk's other items at: http://www.etsy.com/shop/CozyFolk?ref=seller_infoYou can see CoxyFolk's other items at: http://www.etsy.com/shop/CozyFolk?ref=seller_info

You can see CoxyFolk's other items at: http://www.etsy.com/shop/CozyFolk?ref=seller_info

How can you help?

I am collecting new underwear (the government has banned the distribution of used underwear) for the girls, as well as am looking for donations of reusable maxi pads (sometimes known as “mama cloths”) and tampons. If you know how to sew or crotchet and are interested in making items for donation, please contact me at elsie@elsiethedomesticgoddess.com and I can send you the pattern to make them (or you can go to http://donatepads.org/)

. You can then mail all items to me at:
Elsie Lodde
Po Box 163726
Sacramento, CA 95816

You can get these reusable tampons at: http://www.etsy.com/shop/danilykewoah?section_id=5771675

The items collected will be sent to Zimbabwe to make a difference. You can find out more about the GCN on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Girl-Child-Network-Worldwide/109935497517 or at their website at http://www.girlchildnetworkworldwide.org/

Sitting at a table this weekend with a couple discussing “grass fed beef” and their shock over how much better it tasted, gave me the ability to teach 8 more people about how meat is processed in our country, to explain that it is not a shock that the meat tasted so much better. Growing up on a small farm (it was a nothing more than a self-sustaining farm with 1 cow and pig at a time and chickens and turkeys to give us eggs and feed us year round), I always knew how animals should be raised. My mother, also an avid animal lover, kept the animals as pets until they were slaughtered (well except the turkeys, they are huge jerks). But we had random animals, ponies, turkens (yes it is a real animal, ugly, but real nonetheless), a goat, and all sorts of barnyard friends.

Me on our Indian pony

The 1930s was a hard time in America. The country was crippled from the depression and farmers worked hard to figure out ways to make Agriculture more cost effective so that both people could afford their products and so the average American could more easily afford them.  What this meant for us was a completely different way of raising animals for human consumption. 

My Great-Grandmother (Elsie) and her cow

Most meat and dairy products are now produced in large farms where only one animal is housed and most are raised in a “Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation,” or CAFO,  by ways where the animals are given little space by high calories to try to fatten them up quickly so they can be sold for slaughter in less time.  I will try to save you most of the horrors of these types of operations (after all, if you wanted to know you would look it up yourself) and stick with the important points. I apologize if, on occasion, my personal beliefs poke in there (I have left out my despise of veal and foie gras). I might be a meat eating Domestic Goddess; however, I am also an animal rescuer.

Beef- Traditionally in CAFOs cows are not fed the meals they would naturally eat (grass) and instead are fed corn.  Corn is a cheap product in this country making it an affordable way to both fatten up cows; however, since they are not meant to eat grain it causes other issues.  70% of all antibiotics used in America are used in cows. Since cows do not nauturally eat corn, it is not something their systems are designed to digest and so antibiotics keep the cows from becoming sick from this unnatural feed.  Also since CAFOs are not hygienic and so this is done to prevent intestinal parasites once again allowing cows to get larger that they would otherwise.  Besides the antibiotics used, hormones are often given to cows because it improves feed efficiency, rate of muscle development and just makes the dead cow look more appealing. Antibiotics and hormones help lower the farmers cost and raise the value of the meat so it is widely used. Many of these hormones are synthetic; however, there have not been studies on how that affects people who consume them (it is postulated that these hormones are what is causing early menstruation and development in children, but again, long term studies are lacking) but the waste water from runoffs have shown fish develop unusual sex characteristics (such as having both male and female sexual organs).

Grass Fed- what’s the big deal?

Most grass-fed cattle are much leaner so the fat content and caloric level of the meat is much lower than the traditionally corn-fed meat. So for those who think the fat is the best tasting part of the beef, this might not be for you. Nutritionally speaking (besides lacking antibiotics and hormones) meat from grass-fed cattle also have higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids, and over 400% the vitamins A and C as corn-fed beef, making it better all together for your body.  Since Mad Cow disease also came about by the feeding of tainted animals to other animals, if you are concerned with diseases such as these, grass fed beef is much safer as well. However, grass-fed beef is not standardized as much as traditionally raised cattle and you may find your taste buds prefer corn-fed beef, but I would suggest all die hard steak eaters (like me) give it a try at least once.

Like all producers and sellers, there are some tricks that are associated to try to fool consumers. There is a difference between grass fed (whereas the cows are fed grass their entire lives) and Grass Finished Beef. Finishing is just another word for the time that cattle are normally fattened for the last 3-5 months on grass. While this does increase the amount of Omega 3 fatty acids and conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) in the meat, it still does not have all the health benefits of grass fed beef.

My Great-Grandmother, Elsie, and her chickens. True free-roaming birds.

 Poultry- is buying organic, cage free or free range any better? The answer might surprise you.
Organic chicken is chicken that has only been fed organic grains, which means that no pesticides or chemicals were used on the farm to grow the grain in the last three years. The chicken must also never have been given antibiotics, drugs, or hormones to accelerate growth; however, if they get sick they will be treated (and this is pretty much a given in large farms).  I am a proponent for animals with less drugs and hormones (for reasons described about the cows).  Organic might not make a huge difference in taste, but would probably be the best of the options as for balancing healthier chicken and humane keeping (although unless you know where the chicken comes from, there is still a good chance they are inhumanely treated while living). 

Cage free- Ideally cage free chickens never have to ordeal the hell of farmed chickens being crammed in cages with other hens and no space; however, this term has been bastardized to not mean much.  Pete and Gerry’s Organic Eggs in New Hampshire have “cage free” chickens, so they charge more for the product, but the truth is instead of in cages they have 20,000 chickens crammed in a 400 ft long shed. So this is not any healthy or more humane than normal farmed chickens.

Free Range- The term free range means that they chickens have to have access to go outside.  We would like to imagine chickens living in a field, picking green grass and eating bugs and playing chicken games like pin the tail on the weasel, but again, this term has been used for a marketing ploy with no true benefit to the chicken or consumer. This often means that they might be able to go out to a tiny section where there is fresh air but may only have gravel and no pecking going on at all. 

I will save you from the horror of what really happens in these places; however, unless you know the farm where your chicken is coming from, it is very likely that you are wasting your money buying “free range” and “cage free” animals.  In this case, you might as well stick with the normal cheap chicken and save your money to get yourself a few hens to lay eggs. 

Farmed Salmon vs Wild Salmon From both a nutritional and environmental impact perspective, farmed fish are far inferior to their wild counterparts. Despite being much fattier, farmed fish provide less usable beneficial omega 3 fats than wild fish (and isn’t that the reason most people want to eat fish in the first place?). Much like with CAFO beef, farm-raised fish are doused with antibiotics as well are exposed to much more pesticides than wild fish are. On top of the pesticides and antibiotics, farmed salmon are also given food coloring to change their meat to a pink color rather than the bland natural gray color. The huge setback to wild salmon is the price, true wild salmon can cost up to $10/lb more than their farmed cousins making it cost prohibitive.

So what does it all mean? It means for me, I will continue to eat regular chicken (although I think they are some of the most inhumanely treated animals and so I will curtail my consumption of them), and I would prefer to eat organic meat to try to keep as many hormones, pesticides, and (inevitable) antibiotics out of my system.  I have said it a million times, I would love to be a vegetarian, but I crave meat (especially beef) to a point of obsession.  If you do have the ability to raise your own animals, I would suggest doing it.  We had one cow at a time (their names were Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner), one pig, and loads of chickens and turkeys. Although we lived in a pretty suburban place with about an acre, we were about to keep this self sustating farm running easily. I think it was good for my brother and I to learn about having to feed the animals every day and although we were sheltered from their slaughter, we knew what happened.  Even though we were pretty poor, we always had a freezer full of healthy and delicious meat that came from our loved farm animals.  And it was shockingly easy to seperate the animals for food from our pets.  Albeit, I may have been traumatized from making chocolate chip cookies and cracking an egg to find a chicken embryo, but again, I think it was good for me to get that perspective on where meat comes from.

Sodium bicarbonate, which you probably know better as “baking soda,” is primarily used in cooking as a leavening agent (to make breads rise) and provides texture in everything from cakes to pancakes. It is not the only leavening agent used while baking; however, it is the most common. Sodium bicarbonate also has many other uses and can be used in recipes outside the kitchen as well. I will go over some of the many uses of sodium bicarbonate and provide you some recipes using this amazing ingredient for something other than baking.

 In food: Sodium bicarbonate was used a lot in the 40s and 50s when cooking vegetables. It made them softer and would also help to bring out the color as well as allowed them to cook faster. There were medical journal articles discussing how this process removed the nutrients from the vegetables and between that and the fact that we tend to prefer firmer vegetables now, it has gone out of fashion. It is still used in Asian cuisine to tenderize meats and it is also used in the breadings of fried food to make it crispier.

In medicine: Sodium bicarbonate is used as an antacid, to treat chronic forms of renal failure, for the treatment of aspirin overdose and there are even some articles out linking its usage to cancer treatment. Because of the mild antiseptic qualities of sodium bicarbonate, it is a simple way to treat a burn. It will help to prevent blistering and scarring (cover the scalded area with a liberal layer of sodium bicarbonate and water paste and seek medical assistance).

In personal care: Sodium bicarbonate can be used as an exfoliant. Its particles are rounded and fine in texture, making it both effective and gentle on the skin. Using baking soda as an exfoliating scrub removes dead skin cells. Sodium bicarbonate is also used as an ingredient in some mouthwashes as well as toothpastes. The reason for this is that it neutralizes the production of acid in the mouth and also the antiseptic qualities I mentioned before also help to prevent infections.

Around the house: We all know that you can put baking soda in the fridge to help absorb the nasty odors that might linger there. But you can make a paste from baking soda which is very effective for cleaning and scrubbing. Last Christmas I was able to clean some antique silver using sodium bicarbonate. It was an easy way to clean tarnished silver without using chemicals (especially chemicals I didn’t have). We see that Arm and Hammer seal everywhere, especially in laundry detergent. This is because it acts as a softener and is also a natural way to remove odors from clothes. And just as using it in your toothpaste can help remove stains, the same is true with cups heavily stained by coffee and tea. Simply add sodium bicarbonate and warm water in the glass. There are many other uses including “Sodablasting” paint, in pools, spas, and garden ponds to raise pH levels, and it works as a fungucide. Also, sodium bicarbonate powder may be used to smother a small fire (not of a fryer), as heating of sodium bicarbonate releases carbon dioxide which smothers the fire.

 I have a huge bag of sodium bicarbonate at home (well a few) and they can be purchased in bulk (eBay has the best prices) for use in non-cooking recipes, such as making bath bombs. Here are several recipes which call for sodium bicarbonate.

Basic Bath Bomb Recipe

Pulled Pork (slow cooker)

All of this cost about $45 and fed a huge amount of people (it is 14 lbs of pork)

One of my go to recipes is using a slow cooker to make pulled pork. This is a very cost effective way to feed people and you will get lots of positive feedback. Amongst meat eaters, it seems most enjoy pulled pork. There are several ways to make this, some people just dump BBQ sauce on top of the pork and cook it.  I love Sweet Baby Ray’s BBQ sauce more than anything, but I do not find this to be the biggest way to wow.  Some people use BBQ sauce and rootbeer or gingerale, so it is a different spin on the pork, but it still super simple. The soda adds another level of sweetness to it (but if you think your BBQ sauce is sweet enough than I would definitely suggest omiting the soda). 

If you want another simple recipe for your pulled pork then I would suggest picking up a packet of Slow Cooker seasoning for Pulled Pork. You have to add ketchup, apple cider vinegar and brown sugar; however, in my taste tests (yes I made both and questioned my co-workers, but they were ok with it) people agreed it was much tastier (had a more complex taste and then if you added BBQ sauce you could taste the difference). 

Of course the old fashioned way to make pulled pork included several ingredients. If you want to make it from scratch it may be less cost effective (if you do not already have the spices), but of course I love home made everything and prefer it over preservatives any day. 

Slow Cooker Pulled Pork
5-6 lb. pork shoulder/pork butt
1 medium onion, thinly sliced
1 cup ketchup
2/3 cup apple cider vinegar
2/3 cup firmly packed brown sugar
3 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
3 tbsp mustard
2 tsp paprika
2 tsp garlic powder
pinch cayenne pepper
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
3/4 cup water

Place onion on the bottom of your slow cooker. I generally remove as much fat as I can (and the bone if it has it) and then place the meat on top of the onion in the crockpot. In a large mixing bowl, whisk the rest of the ingredients to make the sauce. Pour sauce over the crockpot and cover. I like to have enough sauce to cover the meat; however, you may wish to save some of the sauce for when you serve the sandwiches. 

Cook over low heat for about 8 hours (I usually cook it about 14 hours).
You can then shred the pork in the crockpot or move it into a large bowl before shredding it with two forks. Transfer meat back into slow cooker and cook for a few more minutes, until meat has soaked up the sauce. Serve on soft rolls, you may wish to topp with extra barbecue sauce.

Authentic Posole Recipe

Another affordable way to feed a large group of people would be with Posole, and who doesn’t love a good soup (especially during the winter?). I even made this recipe for my housewarming party, so I know it is a good way to stretch your budget when you are short on cash.  

Serves 10-12 (hearty servings)
Ingredients
5 lbs. Pork shoulder
2 Large cans white hominy
10-12 Dried red chiles (Usually found in the Mexican isle. The more the spicier!)
1 clove garlic
Oregano
2 tbs. Olive oil
Salt
Fresh cracked black pepper
Cut pork into bite sized pieces. Heat olive oil in large stock pot. Sear pork and season with salt and black pepper. Add enough water to cover the pork and simmer.
Slice open the dried chiles and remove all seeds and veins (It doesn’t matter if they break into pieces). In a small pot, boil the chiles with just enough water to cover. Once tender, about 10-15 min., put chiles in blender, water and all,
add one clove of garlic and 1 tsp oregano. Blend until smooth consistency.
Add the chile paste to the simmering pork. Then add the hominy, include the water from the can. If necessary add water to desired consistency. Salt and pepper to taste. Simmer until pork is tender and juicy and broth has thickened slightly.
Cooking Time: 1.5 hours +
Serving Suggestions
Chopped onion and cabbage can be added when serving the dish. Also, lemon
slices and tortillas are often served.

Butter Mints

With a mixer on low speed, beat together the sugar, butter, cream, and peppermint oil until well blended.  When it becomes too stiff for the mixer, dump the mixture onto a surface lightly powdered with powdered sugar and knead by hand, working in more powdered sugar as necessary, until the mixtures is soft and smooth but not sticky. Divide the mixture into 8 pcs. Working with 1 piece at a time (keep the rest covered with plastic wrap) add a few drops of red and green food coloring to different spots. Work the piece gently in your hands until the color is distributed in irregular streaks. On a surface dusted with pwd sugar, roll each piece into a rope about 10 inches long and ½ inch thick. Cut the rope into ¼ inch squares. Place mints on a wax paper-lined baking sheet. Step 4: Cover the mints loosely with a second sheet of waxed paper and let them stand at room temperature until dry.

My goal for the week is to post simple and cheap ideas for those of you who want to make sure the people you appreciate, to feel appreciated. And nothing says  Another easy home made gift ideas I have been a fan of body scrubs for quite some time. They are used to remove the layers of dead skin, to reveal the young and smooth skin underneath. Exfoliation gets increasingly important as we age, as our body is not as quick to replace the skin (so exfoliate and moisturize to bring out the goddess in you). Body scrubs consist of exfoliants (coarse material such as sugar, oatmeal and salt), in some sort of liquid to make it even glide over your skin. One day I went to the store to buy some sugar scrub, I got home and then I realized that $20 seemed really excessive for a 16 oz jar of sugar scrub. I love the way it makes my skin feel, but do not love to break the bank, so I set out to make a great scrub. You can easily make sugar or salt scrub with items in your house, of course to make it perfect; you might want to go out shopping (which I prefer). First you need to know whether you are more interested in a salt or a sugar scrub so you should know the differences.

Sugar Scrubs

• Sugar scrubs are gentler than salt scrubs, so they are safe for use after you shave (knick yourself with a razor and use salt scrub and you will feel the burn!) and for sensitive skin types.

• Sugar (depending on the type used) tends to dissolve quicker in hot water than salt so it is less abrasive.

• Because of how gentle they are, sugar can be used for facial exfoliation.

• The sugar scrub is great for those without a lot of corse dead skin, especially women and girls under 30 or elderly women.

Salt Scrubs

• The salt scrub is more abrasive than the sugar scrub helps smooth out hardened skin. • Salt scrubs are used for therapeutic benefits. They are believed to help remove toxins and impurities from skin and it also has mineralization properties that help in achieving a healthy skin.

• Salt scrub is best suited for people with dry rough skin and people with acne problems, as it helps absorbing excess of oil from the skin.

• Salt scrub may be a bit irritating (according to skin type) and therefore not to be used in sensitive, irritated or cut skin (hence avoid after shaving).

Making a Scrub Again there are 3 main items that are needed for producing a great scrub, the exfoliant that will smooth your skin, the oil that hydrates your skin and then potentially essential oils for scent. Sugar- usually when making a scrub I use a mixture of brown sugar and granulated sugar (50/50), but if you have other sugar laying around as well (such as raw sugar) then feel free to use it as well. Powdered sugar or sugar substitute are not very helpful (I know most of you probably already know that).

Salt- Sea salt works best, avoid the ionized table salt that you usually use for cooking.

Oil- You can use cooking oil (almond, grape or even olive oil) in your scrub; however, I do not for the pure cost factor. Baby oil works well; however, you may find the over whelming scent of baby oil a turn off. If you like the texture and feel of baby oil and not the smell use mineral oil (also found in the first aid section of your grocery store) which is baby oil without the added scent.

Scent- you can use a food based scent (even vanilla from your kitchen) or other essential oils. I would recommend avoiding scents meant for craft use (although I have used them with no problems they say they may be an irritant). Check out the Christmas Essentials Guide at: http://http://www.aromaweb.com/essentialoils/essentialoilsforchristmas.asp Other possible additives-

There are many different items you can put in your scrub, you see many lotions with apricot pits or other things ground up in them to make more natural and less abrasive pumice. As far as I am concerned, the best (and cheapest) additive is plain oatmeal. I grind it up quickly in my blender and add that to my sugar base for a scrub that withstands the water a little more and is not quite as gentle as pure sugar.

Simple Salt Scrub Ingredients

• ½ cup Oil (choose from mineral, baby, olive, almond, jojoba or any other kind of oil)

• 1 cup Sea Salt

• Few drops of Essential Oil

Brown Sugar and Oatmeal Scrub Ingredients

• 1 cup Oil (choose from mineral, baby, olive, almond, jojoba or any other kind of oil)

• 1 cup brown sugar

• 1 cup refined sugar

• ½ cup oatmeal (quickly blended to a finer texture)

• Few drops of Essential Oil

For both of these, like cooking, you just want to mix the dry ingredients thoroughly first and then add the oils to them. Put them in your favorite new or repurposed container and enjoy. If giving them as gifts, just remember if you opt to decorate with printed labels, that chances are the labels will not withstand the water in the shower (although there are water friendly labels).

When infusing you generally want to work with high quality, fresh ingredients. If you are using frozen fruit, then it is likely the flavor will not be as strong and the fruit will be soft.  If using herbs, they must be whole fresh herbs, not from a bottle! The better quality the oil, vinegar, alcohol is, generally the better it will taste. If you are using an oil with a strong flavor, then the taste of the added ingredients will not shine (which is why you see a lot of flavored vodka, but not a lot of flavored tequila). If the peel of the fruit is inedible (like melon) you should remove it before use, except citrus which has a huge amount of oil and flavor in the peel).  It is hard to tell how long it will take for items to be infused, I will try to put some guidelines; however, it really depends on your personal tastes on how long it should sit before you strain the bits out of the liquid (if necessary).

Apple Pie Infused Vodka

Makes 1 (750 ml) bottle of vodka

Ingredients

• 4 whole cinnamon sticks
• 6 large red apples, sliced, cored
• 1 (750 ml) bottle of vodka

Directions

1. Combine cinnamon sticks and apples in a large jar.
2. Pour vodka into jar and let chill for a few days or until desired flavor is achieved. Strain through a mesh strainer or cheesecloth.
3. Store in original bottle.

Cherry Infused Vodka

Makes 1 (750 ml) bottle of vodka

Ingredients

• 4 pints/baskets of cherries
• 1 (750 ml) bottle of vodka

Directions

1. Combine cherries and vodka into jar and let chill for a few days or until desired flavor is achieved.
2. Strain through a mesh strainer or cheesecloth.
3. Store in original bottle.

Cucumber Infused Vodka

Makes 1 (750 ml) bottle of vodka

Ingredients

• 4 cucumbers
• 1 (750 ml) bottle of vodka

Directions

1. Combine cherries and vodka into jar and let chill for a few days or until desired flavor is achieved.
2. Strain through a mesh strainer or cheesecloth.
3. Store in original bottle.

Vanilla Extract

You can use this same recipe but instead of letting it sit for 4-6 months, you wait for a week and you will have vanilla infused vodka, but if you like to bake, this is an affordable (and domestic) way to get your vanilla. You can continue to top off the jars as you use them as well.

Ingredients

• ¼ lb of vanilla beans (would suggest buying them on ebay or a website such as: http://www.homemadegourmetmixes.com/whvabe14po.html)
• 1 (750 ml) bottle of vodka

Directions

1. Split beans lengthwise (using either scissors or a knife)
2. Place 3-4 beans in a mason jar.
3. Fill jar with vodka and put lid on jar.
4. Keep in a cool dark place for 4-6 months and shake occasionally.

Basil Oil

I use this when I make my butternut squash soup (http://elsiethedomesticgoddess.com/elsies_favorite_recipes/soups) , it is a favorite of many of my friends. The olive oil may solidify slightly when chilled, but it will quickly liquefy when it comes back to room temperature.

Ingredients

• 1 ½ cup fresh basil leaves
• 1 cup olive oil

Directions

1.  Rinse and drain basil leaves.
2. Boil water, put basil leaves in the boiling pot for about 30 seconds (until they turn bright green.  Then drain them and pat leaves dry with a towel.
3. In a blender or food processor, combine basil leaves and olive oil. Blend until the leaves are finely chopped, do not puree them.
4.  Pour mixture into a small sauce pan over medium heat. Stir occasionally for 3 to 4 minutes or until oil bubbles around pan. Remove from heat and let stand until cool, about 1 hour.
5. Line a fine wire strainer with two layers of cheesecloth and set over a small bowl. Pour oil mixture into strainer. After oil passes through, gently press basil to release remaining oil. Discard basil.
6. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 months.

Salsa Vinegar

Ingredients

• 4 large red jalapeno peppers, quartered lengthwise
• 3 scallions with green tops, well washed
• 12 large sprigs fresh cilantro
• 2 garlic cloves, peeled and halved
• 3 cups good white wine vinegar

Directions

1. Trim tops of scallions to fit the bottle.
2. Stuff the jalapenos, scallions, cilantro and garlic into a tall, decorative, 1-quart bottle.
3. Fill the bottle with the vinegar to completely cover the ingredients.
4. Seal the bottle and let it stand in a cool, dark place for at least 2 weeks before using.

Thyme, lemon peel and black pepper vinegar

Ingredients

• 1 large sprig fresh thyme
• 1 long spiral lemon peel
• 2 heaping tablespoons black peppercorns
• 2 cups white wine vinegar

Directions

1. Place herbs in a one-pint sterilized jar.
2. Add vinegar and seal tightly.
3.  Place in a light-filled window for one month (sorry a little late for Christmas, but such a great recipe I had to share).
4.  Give the bottle a gentle shake every so often.