Chocolate Without The Guilt

For years I drank a hot cup of cocoa every day but lately I thought the caffeine was bothering me so I laid off of it for a couple of months. I had some yesterday and what an elevated feeling I received for hours afterwards. What a fool I’ve been. Anyway, chocolate is back in my life and because I try to limit sweets these days, especially sugar, I use a teaspoon unsweetened powdered baking cocoa to a cup of hot water and it’s quite pleasant. Now mind you, I’m not afraid to indulge in some real chocolate candy and I’ve found that even the inexpensive chocolate bars are quite delicious.

Suellen Ocean is the author of the vegetarian cookbook, Poor Jonny’s Cookbook. Available here:

http://www.amazon.com/Poor-Jonnys-Cookbook-Suellen-Ocean/dp/0965114031

eBook or computer download through Smashwords:

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/260122

eBook through Barnes & Noble:

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/poor-jonnys-cookbook-suellen-ocean/1102338251?ean=2940016618609

What Is TVP And How Do You Cook With It?

TVP is texturized vegetable protein and it is made from soy beans. It is a complete protein so I enjoy adding it to my vegetarian diet. It’s easy to throw into homemade vegetarian chili, be careful though because it swells up a bit so you don’t need much, maybe 1/4 cup of the dried TVP per  pot of chili. Another way is to make veggie burgers out of it. I take about a half cup of dried TVP and add warm water, just enough to cover and let it swell. Then I add a raw egg and some whole wheat flour just to thicken it. A squirt of soy sauce and perhaps a tablespoon of nutritional yeast and mix it up and it’s ready to fry or bake. The egg makes it thick and stick together. They are very good, think I’ll go make some for dinner tonight.

Suellen Ocean is the author of the vegetarian cookbook, Poor Jonny’s Cookbook. Available here:

http://www.amazon.com/Poor-Jonnys-Cookbook-Suellen-Ocean/dp/0965114031

eBook or computer download through Smashwords:

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/260122

eBook through Barnes & Noble:

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/poor-jonnys-cookbook-suellen-ocean/1102338251?ean=2940016618609

The Acorn MouseTeaches Children the Art of Eating Acorns

Follow the adventures of Acorn while he ventures into the home of “the lady” whom Acorn has caught stealing his acorns. She gathers, leaches and grinds the acorns in a blender, infuriating the little mouse until he realizes what benefits he might retrieve. Children introduced early into the art of eating acorns will learn that nature provides not just grocery store produce but wild foods from the forest.

Suellen Ocean is the author of The Acorn Mouse, an illustrated children’s story designed to teach the art of gathering and eating acorns. Available here:

http://www.amazon.com/The-Acorn-Mouse-Childs-Eating/dp/1484140672

eBooks and computer downloads available through Smashwords:

https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/ocean

Poor Jonny’s Tortillas

Jonny’s Tortillas

1 & ½ cups whole wheat flour

¼ cup rye flour

1 Tbs sesame seeds

1 Tbs carob powder for flavor

Use water to make dough thick enough to roll out or pat onto a dry cast iron skillet. Heat thoroughly, turn and heat other side thoroughly cooking tortilla completely. Pile tortillas as you make them and keep them covered to stay warm. Top with honey when ready to serve.  Suellen Ocean is the author of the vegetarian cookbook, Poor Jonny’s Cookbook. Available here:

http://www.amazon.com/Poor-Jonnys-Cookbook-Suellen-Ocean/dp/0965114031

eBook or computer download through Smashwords:

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/260122

eBook through Barnes & Noble:

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/poor-jonnys-cookbook-suellen-ocean/1102338251?ean=2940016618609

What Is Solstice?

There are two dates a year that Solstice is celebrated, approximately December 22nd for the winter Solstice and approximately June 22nd for Summer Solstice. Stemming from the Old French and Latin origins of the word, solstitium, its meaning is when the sun (sol) stands still (sistere, statum). Summer Solstice occurs when the sun “apparently” stands still at the first point in the ecliptic of the sign of Cancer. The Winter Solstice occurs when the sun appears to stand still at the first point in the ecliptic of the sign of Capricorn.  Suellen Ocean is the author of Gold River. Available here:

Gold River: http://www.amazon.com/Gold-River-Suellen-Ocean/dp/1484094042

eBooks and computer downloads available through Smashwords:

https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/ocean

Acorn Chocolate Cake … What’s Not to Like?

Acorn Chocolate Cake

Mix together well with a fork:

2 cups flour

2/3 cup baking cocoa

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

½ tsp salt

In a second bowl mix:

1 & ¾ cup sugar (or less, depends on your diet)

¾ cup ground, leached, cooked, pre-frozen, thawed and drained acorns (See “Acorns And Eat’em” cookbook below)

½ cup rice milk (dairy milk o.k.)

2 tsp vanilla extract

Slowly add to sugar and acorn mixture:

2 beaten eggs

¾ cup water

Carefully add sugar mixture to the first bowl. Mix well.

Oil and flour two 9” cake pans (or one 13×9). Bake in a preheated oven at 350 degrees for 25-35 minutes. Cool

Chocolate Frosting

1 & ½ cups powdered sugar (or less, depends on your diet)

2/3 cup baking cocoa

½ cup butter (one cube) or margarine softened

5-6 Tbs rice milk (dairy milk o.k.)

1 tsp vanilla extract

Suellen Ocean is the author of Acorns and Eat’em, a how-to vegetarian cookbook and field guide for eating acorns available as a FREE download from Ocean-Hose. Find it here: http://www.oceanhose.com or as a paperback you can purchase it here:  http://www.amazon.com/Acorns-Eatem-How–Vegetarian-Cookbook/dp/1491288973

Watch the how-to video, Acorns and Eat’em www.youtube.com/watch?v=CG-5EDrHDhM

What Is Paganism?

Today Paganism has redeemed itself among many members of the counter-culture. Fed up with the rules, restrictions and hypocrisies cropping up within contemporary religion, romantic views of the Pagan beliefs of old have taken root. Images of beautiful women with garnets of flowers in their hair celebrating around the Maypole and bearded Druids sharing the wisdom of nature, draw in folks who romanticize purer ancient ways of expressing spirituality. The definition of Pagan is “one who is neither a Christian, a Mohammedan, nor a Jew; a heathen.” Also, “an irreligious person” and “idolatrous.” While the Latin paganus means “heathen” the French Latin paganus means “civilian” or “peasant” and the French pagus means village or district.

Suellen Ocean is the author of Gold River. Available here:

Gold River: http://www.amazon.com/Gold-River-Suellen-Ocean/dp/1484094042

eBooks and computer downloads available through Smashwords:

https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/ocean

What Does Beltane Mean?

Beltane is a Gaelic word bealtainn, bealtuinn, representing the Celtic May Day festival. Occurring on May 1st, Beltane is celebrated by dancing around the Maypole and sometimes crowning a May Queen with a garland. Always celebrated with brightly colored flowers, those who celebrate Beltane may gather around a fire pit in the cool spring evening of May Day, catching up with their rural neighbors about the comings and goings of the village. Beltane is a colorful, joyful welcoming of spring. Suellen Ocean is the author of the historic novel The Celtic Prince Available here:

http://www.amazon.com/Celtic-Prince-Before-After/dp/1484086392

eBooks and computer downloads available through Smashwords:

https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/ocean

eBook through Barnes & Noble:

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/celtic-prince-suellen-ocean/1102338307?ean=2940016618968

What Does Calorie Really Mean?

The word calorie is used to explain the heat or energy producing value of food. Using honey as an example, it means that if one tablespoon contains 100 calories the body will release just that amount of energy to use in physical activities. Using computer lingo from the 1980’s, SISO (shit in – shit out) one might think of this with calories. Most of us are aware that if we don’t exert ourselves enough to burn off those 100 calories, the body will store it.

Suellen Ocean is the author of the vegetarian cookbook, Poor Jonny’s Cookbook. Available here:

http://www.amazon.com/Poor-Jonnys-Cookbook-Suellen-Ocean/dp/0965114031

eBook or computer download through Smashwords:

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/260122

eBook through Barnes & Noble:

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/poor-jonnys-cookbook-suellen-ocean/1102338251?ean=2940016618609

What’s A Plateau?

What’s A Plateau?

It’s a tableland, an elevated tract of land ranging from 1,000 feet elevation to as high as 16,000 feet plus. Famous plateaus are Tibet, Mexico City and the high plateaus inhabited by the Aztecs, Incas and Toltecs. Often plateaus are surrounded by the dramatic beauty of mountain ranges, as is Tibet. It is also used to describe the reaching of a point where one levels off, as in “I’ve reached a plateau.” Suellen Ocean is the author of the satirical novel Gone North. Available here:

Gone North: http://www.amazon.com/Gone-North-Long-After-Summer/dp/1484094360

eBooks and computer downloads available through Smashwords:

https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/ocean