Angelika’s Health Journey

Featured

BREAD, THE STAFF OF LIFE

Angelika’s Artisian Bread

I know I know, there are a million bread recipes out there..I KNOW, as I have tried more than I care to remember and also watched a crap load of how-to’s!

This is MY version of the No-Knead bread that is everywhere. Difference is, I use healthy flours and ingredients. If you are going to put something into your body, why not get the biggest bang for your time and effort!

Ingredients

16 oz of water

1 1/2 ts salt ( have made this without salt and its fine!)

3/4 tsp yeast ( I use more than others do as this is a dense bread and needs extra help)

1TBSP each of Chia, flax, sesame,pumpkin ( all raw and organic if you can)

Feel free to add sunflower seeds or any other kind you like. You could even add raisins, dried blueberries or cranberries.

1 TBSP extra virgin olive oil

1/2 cup of oats( not the instant or quick type)

3 1/2 cups whole wheat/rye/multi grain flour.(I mix them all together)

In a large bowl add all the dry ingredients including salt and yeast. Mix well.

Add your oil to your water and then pour over dry ingredients.

Take the end of a wooden spoon and mix this till everything is wet, then add your oats and mix it in.

cover with plastic wrap and a tea towel and allow it to rise for up to 18 hrs. I make this in the evening and it’s ready the next morning.

Degas the dough and bring it into a ball, scraping all the sides and making sure all dough is in, now sprinkle some oats so that the whole outside is covered lightly.

turn your oven on to 400 degrees heat for 15 minutes and then add your dutch over and lid and heat for another 30 minutes.

Pull dutch oven out, and place some parchment paper inside. Enough to come up the sides. Take your dough and place into the dutch oven, cover and return to over for 40 minutes. Then remove parchment paper and lid and return for 10-15 minutes.

That’s it!! Easiest, healthiest bread you will EVER have! Enjoy.

Let me know if you make it and what you think! So easy and you don’t get any nasty sticky dough on your hands!!

If you would like to follow me please jump to my new wordpress site at Angelikashaus.com

Some Exciting News!

So I have now decided I want my own domain and be hosted to build a website for blogging as well as selling things that I really believe in.

I have entered the Twilightzone!! It’s like learning a whole new language really. I was getting semi used to using the format in here…nothing fancy on my part but I was working it out and it was easy enough for me to learn something new daily.

So I jumped over to Bluehost.com. Fabulous deal on hosting as well as having the ability to do E-commerce, which if any of you know costs an arm and a leg to have as part of a package. Well Bluehost made it so affordable I could not refuse!

Here comes the BUT….But It has its own format of WordPress…totally rocket science as far as I am concerned. I thought I would be able to just move my content over, but it seems a bit more complicated than I know how to do it…so Please please, for those of you who follow my blog, please follow me over to my new wordpress blog. PLEASE! 🙂 I am so happy that you guys enjoy what I write enough to follow me so I would love for you to join me over———>there!!!!

My new domain name is Angelikashaus.com Yes I have a .com name!!!! I also have an instagram which is where all my photos of the food I make and my travels and dog Olive appear! Also Angelikashaus@instagram.com Please Join me!

Once I have everything going and published I will be selling my first items and would love any of you who followed me over to use a special discount code. More info on all that later!

See you all soon!!!!

Angelika

WATER

I grew up on a small farm in British Columbia, we had rivers and creeks and lakes all around. Most were clean and you could drink from them.

I lived near a pulp mill. The mill dumped its crap into one of the rivers that were pretty close to my home. The water was NEVER CLEAR. Even as a young person I recognized that they were polluting. I even wrote an article for a paper in school and included a sample of the water. I didn’t know how to go beyond that and it wasn’t like today where you could get samples off easy to be tested.

Many people in my small blerp of a stop on the highway (Skookumchuck BC) were dying of CANCER. I mean MANY. There was liver cancer, and of course lung cancer as the pulp mills also polluted the air. The air stank, and you could see the clouds coming out of their stacks. How could any of this be ok? Yet somehow they managed to get the ok and a clean bill of health on the water and air. That mill is still there today, doing what it does.

I started thinking more about water over the years and always did my own research on quality. Fluoride in the water? I switched to filtered or bottled that claimed to remove it. Chlorine was also something I tried to avoid. The more I read the more I realized how much crap is in our drinking water. What was the answer??

Bottled water?? Then we started realizing that we were creating an ocean of plastic. The plastic was horrible for the environment! And then we became aware of the companies who bottled water. Many claims of them using water no better than tap and also companies like Nestle who were stealing water from countries and then selling it back. . I no longer buy bottled water unless I am traveling and there is no choice. I have a few stainless steel bottles I bring with me, hiking, on the plane, to my hotel. (SAFE WATER BOTTLES). These are through Amazon but you can source them from many other places.

In comes my room mate. Brings with her this amazing filtration system. Berkey!!

I feel safe when I use this water. Not only do I drink it but I wash my fruit and veg with it and cook with it! A bit of a dollar investment, but well worth it!! Berkey Canada

I also have a LifeStraw! This was developed during the time of hurricanes that destroyed many small countries and left them without drinking water. This little device can be used like a large straw to suck water from a lake or puddle when you have no other water to drink. I take it with me on hikes and camping. It filters 4 thousand litres! They also make a larger versions! I highly recommend checking out your options for having clean drinking water in your home.

Water is everything to life! Unfortunately although it is a human right, not all humans have clean safe water!

If you would like to follow me please jump to my new wordpress site at Angelikashaus.com

SELF IMPROVEMENT

Wow, this journey of mine has changed a lot since the COVID-9. I think you all can agree times have changed? Some things have changed for the worse and some for the better!

Shall we start with the bad news first? I like that, as it gets the nasty out of the way and then we can finish with the fabulous!!

The Bad

1- I miss my work, my craft, my interaction with my clients, the laughs, the cries, the getting to know people on a level you don’t get with just any job or anyone!

Being a Massage Therapist, I touch skin….First of all, you are a stranger and I then, am touching you!! That in itself is a bizarre thought right? Touching strangers…and they pay me for it!

I MISS the physical aspect of my work! I connect with human beings on a level most people will NEVER know.

Not only do I physically touch people, I get to know many on an intellectual level. I am a shrink, a bartender, a best friend. People talk to me, they tell me all sorts of things, and ethically I never pass that on to anyone. Not co-workers or friends, not even my partner. Their secrets and stories are between us. I treasure this interaction. What better way to get to know a person than when they are laying down with just a sheet between us and telling me all their tales?!

I MISS MY WORK!!

2-The money…..ahhh yes I do what I love to do but I also get paid for it and I do appreciate the fact that I make a decent living. OK..Past tense..MADE A DECENT LIVING. Now that I am jobless I get government money which frankly I dislike..I like working for my money not sitting back and watching it pop into my bank account! I am getting about 1/3 of what I earned and it’s humbling. I have had to tighten the belt and buy nothing but the vitals. FOOD..that’s it! Food. No savings, no meals out, not trips anywhere..food and of course bills!

3-Being able to see my children and friends face to face. Something we all had in our lives and without thought. Now social distancing has brought us to our knees! We are texting and calling and sending photos not because we like it but because that is ALL we are allowed. I miss hugging my children.

The Good

So now that I am at home with endless amounts of time on my hand and mind..what have I been up to?

1- I have been baking!! In fact I have perfected the No-knead Artisan bread recipe. It is so amazing I share it with all my friends. I no longer buy bread but I MAKE IT!!!! Healthy and full of whole grains and seeds like chia, sesame, pumpkin and flax!! Let me know if you want the recipe!

2-I have eliminated SALT from my diet. I mean zero salt. I have been on high blood meds for about 2 years and I hate it..hate being on any medication. So in order to help myself be healthier I removed SALT. And you know what???? A week off the meds and no salt and my numbers are down 10 points!!!!!! that’s a huge amt..so thrilled.

We don’t need added salt in our diet! Once you remove it of course it will take your taste buds a little to get used to NO SALT. Things start to taste amazing in their pure form! I suggest you all give it a try, even if you don’t have high blood pressure! We don’t need added salt!

3- Along with this no salt thing, I have not bought anything processed in a month! No chips! No crackers! No candy! No crap.

This has to be good for me! I know it is, Everything processed has added salt, sugar and a host of other chemicals and junk.

4-I am now on a workout routine!! 3 days a week I do my circuit and the alternate days I use my exercise bike!! I will be more energetic and hopefully back to my former athletic days.

5-I am sleeping longer and I am sleeping better!

6-Reading. I have made time to read…I used to be an avid reader and lost touch with the passion. Now I am reading self help as well as fiction!

So, now what???

Well meditation is on my list!!! Stay tuned and Stay healthy!!

If you would like to follow me please jump to my new wordpress site at Angelikashaus.com

ESSENTIAL OILS

In the last 13 years of practicing my craft of Massage Therapy, I have been working with essential oils for at least 10. I’m not a scientific expert by any means but having used them on clients and on myself and family and I can definitely tell you about their benefits on so many levels.

I started off just using Japanese Mint oil for muscle aches and tension release and moved to Lavender for pain and relaxation. Both smell amazing and so the aromatherapy aspect to them is also beneficial.

Next I learned about oils that have the properties to detox our bodies..externally and internally through absorption!

Anti-viral/anti-fungal/anti-bacterial/anti- parasitic OILS

This group of oil is the one that interests me the most. In the age of super bugs due to the over use of antibiotics I embrace a natural way to keep healthy.

Here are the top rated oils.

*clove

*cinnamon

*oregano

*thyme

*lavender

*peppermint

*lemon

*eucalyptus

*pine

* tea tree oil

It is no wonder that some cleaning products contain some of these oils. They have the power to kill germs!

Here is a link (light reading) …and it delves into the powers of the oils, all scientifically researched and proven!!

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5206475/

I am currently waiting for my order of oils in bulk so I can help others benefit from these amazingly powerful oils!!

Stand by!!! It’s coming soon and I will share links where you can buy it from me. One hint is, I will be selling Organic oils only. Most of the oils out there are not organic and if you are worried at all about the use of pesticides and many chemicals, then you will be delighted with my choices!

My first blend is named THOR. Thor was a Germanic/Norse god whose job was to protect mankind. What a suiting name for a blend of 5 oils which can help to keep us healthy!

If you would like to follow me please jump to my new wordpress site at Angelikashaus.com

Time Now to Work on Ourselves

So what shall we all do while self isolating? Distancing ourselves from others physically? The options are endless!! When have we ever had a stay-cation that might last for weeks or months? What positive things can we do with our time?

I was thinking that this is the perfect time to Reflect on our lives as to what is important. Family? Friends? Health? Self-development? Healing?

In the next few post I write I will be talking about what I am doing with my time. I hope to inspire some of you. This is the perfect time to get healthier, happier , more spiritual, kinder, wiser!!

TODAY:

I started my day with a huge bowl of slow cooked oats. I added flax seeds, pumpkin seeds, dried cranberries, cinnamon, turmeric. Once it was cooked I added blueberries and oatmilk and a little maple syrup. I feel full and happy.

WHOLE PLANT-BASED meals!!! So much nutrients all in one bowl.

I plan on starting the book ” How Not To Die”, by Michael Gregor, seems fitting right?

I will walk my dog, get some fresh air!!

Get on my exercise bike and pedal for 45 minutes while I watch an episode of “Father Brown”

Stretch, use my foam roller, my chi machine (will talk about that another time), and REFLECT!

What will you do with your extra time? Don’t spend it worrying, right now we need to focus on the moment.

Stay Healthy!!

If you would like to follow me please jump to my new wordpress site at Angelikashaus.com

14 Days of Self-Isolation

Wow…this Pandemic is like nothing we have seen in our lives. Not even the virus itself, but the world and how it is reacting.

I had a vacation booked for my birthday, March 7 to 14th. Mexico. AREEBA!!! My girlfriend was coming with me.

Red-eye flight, meaning airport time was 9:30 pm March 6. So exciting! I love flying and traveling and vacations , most of all, I love Mexico.

8:16am March 6th (morning of airport) I get a text from my friend telling me she has decided that she will not be coming with me. Now this has happened to me before, and I am OK traveling alone. BUT seriously…a little more than 12 hour notice? I was PISSED!!!

Fast forward to Mexico…fabulous time, not much happening there as far as people being all worried about the virus until a few days to my departure, we start worrying we might not get home.

March 14th, 6:30am I am on the plane back home to Calgary!! Whew..dodged that bullet!!

Now I am home, self isolating as per our Provincial requirements.

Thank god for Netflix and the internet!!

Stay healthy people!!

Toilet Paper

So this morning, my friend who is in Australia posted an article about how stores are trying to stop panic buying. And what item is the item people are panicking about???? Toilet Paper!!!!!

I thought wow, that’s craziness. Lucky this isn’t going on here in Calgary!

I get into my truck to drive to work and the radio is a buzz with talk about places running out of TP. Costco is OUT!!! This is SERIOUS.

I arrive at work, where people tell me other places are out.

Guess what??? I need toilet paper. I won’t lie, I had a little sweat going on.

Friends text me, family texts me, all with news of NO TOILET PAPER.

OHHHHHH GAWD!!!!! What would I do? I mean I am not thinking I need toilet paper for when the Apocalypse hits, but I only had 2 rolls left at home and what would I do???

Some say, ” come on!! use water or a cloth!”, ” We used to use the pages from the Sears catalogue! “

A Cloth???? Pages from a catalogue??? And then what? Wash it out? Burn it??

After work I try not to speed to the grocery store..as I walk into store I see a few people with armloads of toilet paper….I nonchalantly walk to the tissue aisle, and there it is……..a whole AISLE of toilet paper. No one is panicking, or grabbing as many as they can carry..no one is in hysterics!!

I grab 2 packs, relieved I got there in time, I now have enough for a few months. I will have to revisit the plan if the Apocalypse arrive. Dodged that bullet!!

Corona Virus

Ok…my friends…the latest frenzy on the news…What the heck is going on???

Do we think this is a serious world altering plague that will thin the crowds, cull the herds? Or do we think it’s hysteria? Or perhaps something in between?

Scientists have long been saying that we are going to seeing a plague that will wipe out a lot of humanity…that it is an eventuality. Is Corona Virus this plague?

We saw the SARS ,H1N1 and MERS also bring up a lot of hysteria and in the end a local health authority said it was no worse than the yearly flu. Who can we believe?

In the meantime we can protect ourselves……

TIPS

Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
Stay home when you are sick.
Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
Follow CDC’s recommendations for using a facemask.
- CDC does not recommend that people who are well wear a facemask to protect themselves from respiratory diseases, including COVID-19.
- Facemasks should be used by people who show symptoms of COVID-19 to help prevent the spread of the disease to others. The use of facemasks is also crucial for health workers and people who are taking care of someone in close settings (at home or in a health care facility).
Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
- If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty.

The above advise comes to us from the Center For Disease Control.

Just a little reminder!!!

Random Facts

*Corona Virus has been around for a very very long time. 8000BCE

*”Beijing health officials have warned that while 2019-nCoVvirus is not as deadly as SARS, it is mutating more quickly, making it more transmissible.”

*SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) is believed to have made a species jump from bats to humans via the intermediate host of farmed civet cats bred for human consumption, and MERS (Middle East respiratory syndrome) from bats via camels.

*800 people have died so far (March2020)

*Following countries have travel advisories, if traveling there, check for updates: Government of Canada

33 million people are in lock down in 10 cities

Ok…So that’s just my brief blurb about the Corona Virus. Please research for yourselves …

STAY HEALTHY MY FRIENDS.

Who Am I ?

I have been kicking around for over 50 years. I’m not an expert on anything, rather have an interest in many things!

I’m a mom, although my kids are out of home, so I’m an empty-nester now!

I’m an artist, have been painting and drawing things since I was 4. I got a little better as I got older!

I’m a healer, RMT for the last 13 years. I love nothing better than helping people feel better and showing them ways to improve their muscles.

I’m a Vegan…thats a long story, but right now, I’m getting to my 7th year. And in case you wonder why..it’s for the animals, for the planet, for my kids, and well a little for my health too!

I’m also a Foodie. I would rather cook up a meal at home than eat out. I want to know what I am eating and how it was done. I am usually disappointed at meals when I go out. But I will will be including my own reviews of places I go to, in-case you want to know!

I cook and I bake and am up for most challenges to Vegan-ize anything!! So I will be including simple recipes and guess what??? They will be short and to the point, no need to scroll and scroll and scroll to find the recipe. I will include a photo and a cut to the chase recipe…one page at most!! Maybe a video one day, but for now just a photo!!

I also love to travel!! So will often include photos and comments about resorts and places I visit!!

That’s it for now! Please Subscribe and you can get my writing to your email!