As most of you are aware, breast cancer awareness month in the USA is October. Earlier in October I participated in the Susan G. Komen Race for a Cure in Omaha. I was on a team in support of my niece who has now reached her five year mark of surviving a very aggressive form of breast cancer. She is such a sweetheart (and a grandmother if you can believe it!). I absolutely love this photo of her! She gave me permission to use it. It makes me smile. I wanted to do this post to remind us to always be aware of this disease and continue self exams and annual mammograms.
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While on the subject of health, many of you know DH and I have planted a couple of acres of Aronia Berries which we are growing organically. Aronia berries are very healthy and higher in antioxidants than any other fruit, including blueberries. Our plants should start producing in two years, but we did get some berries from another grower nearby. I have been trying them in various recipes. They are not very good just raw, but add a very pleasing taste when used in recipes. They seem to take on and enhance the flavor of the other ingredients. So far I have used them in strawberry-banana smoothies, oatmeal cookies (in place of raisins) and strawberry-rhubarb crisp with excellent results. We also add them to our morning cereal.
In one of our Sunday papers I found a recipe for muffins. The recipe is called Apple Cinnamon Whole-Wheat Muffins and is submitted by Marjorie Varnadoe of St. Simons Island, GA. Find recipe at americanprofile.com/muffins.
They are full of chewy goodness! Ingredients called for include whole-wheat and all-purpose flour, sugar, shredded apples, shredded carrots, raisins, optional coconut, walnuts or pecans, milk, eggs etc. I substituted aronia berries for the raisins, but in retrospect could probably use both. I was adding the last ingredients when I realized I was out of vegetable oil, so I substituted olive oil. I also used my home-grown carrots - which were supposed to be purple carrots but were orange when pulled out of the ground :-(
4 comments:
your friend looks so well now, so glad she has gone through the treatment and come out the other end.
Your niece is beautiful and I am very thankful for her 5 year survival anniversary. Blessings...
What wonderful news about your niece! (she doesn't look old enough to be a grandmother!)
The aronia berries sound very interesting, and those muffins look delicious.
Your niece is gorgeous and I am so happy for her.
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