learning from faliure

here's the update on THE PLAN...

picture from gnowfglins

so lets start off with the positive things... the soaking part went really well!!  i tried a raspberry muffin recipe at passionate homemaking, and a pumpkin bread recipe from gnowfglins.  i noticed that when i soaked things i didn't exactly get a stomach ache, but they kinda made me feel a little bit acidic.  after doing a bunch of reading i figured out that i probably wasn't soaking anything as long as i should have.  i had only been soaking things for about 7 hours, but most things say AT LEAST 8 hours, but up to 24!!  this is the next part of our soaking adventure... figuring out how many hours doesn't make me feel any kind of sick.  BUT the exciting thing is that everyone in my family LOVED the pumpkin bread and really liked the muffins!!  this is VERY exciting news because i have some VERY picky siblings!!  :)

we also soaked some oatmeal and i tested out a big bowl to see if i got a stomach ache!  i got a minor one, but once again, i probably need to soak it for longer.  i actually liked it lots better than normal oatmeal.  oh, and we soaked some brown rice and i couldn't even tell a difference!!  i think one of my sisters was paranoid that it had kefir in it and said that i tasted really sour.  but i really couldn't taste it. 

oh boy... now on to the whoopsies, mistakes, floops and failures!!

these rather disgusting looking things are supposed to be pumpkin pancakes.  they were DISGUSTING!!!  i made them with sprouted wheat that we had sprouted and dehydrated.  we let them sprout for JUST A LITTLE too long.  and they didn't work AT ALL!  oh well... live and learn right?? 

this little jar used to be a thriving sourdough start.  the first couple of days it was insanely active!!  then for the next week it just sat there and did nothing.  so i tried another start... and it didn't even do ANYTHING!!!  sigh... so i just decided to continue to work on soaking, try to get my sprouted flour to work and then i'll save up and buy a sourdough start from cultures for health.

so there's the update on THE PLAN!  i'm feeling TONS better and love all the new things that i'm learning!!  i have to admit that this morning i was super discouraged, it's a whole different way of cooking and one that i know nothing about!!  but i'm trying to change my perspective and look at it as an adventure!!  :D  

the plan

you know how in life there are times when everything just seems to be teaching you the very same thing?  well, this is one of those times.  i've been thinking that i needed to start eating better (note - i already eat fairly well, but have somethings that need to be changed), but i just kept putting it off.  now it can't be put off any longer!  i've started having major stomach issues again, and it's given me the push that i needed.

so here's the plan:

* no sugar (or at least drastically reduce my intake)

* lots more fruits and vegetables

* soaking all the grains/flour that i eat

* getting another sourdough start going

i'm super excited to get this started!  i'll be much better at posting these next couple of weeks i promise... so keep your eyes out for some awesome posts and recipes!! :D