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Hello
They say only a mere five percent of the population of the United States has
had the opportunity to taste a perfect, really fresh, ripe apricot.
Those who have will never forget it.
This is the season for
apricots so be sure to look for them at your local Farmer's Market.
This month's recipe will incorporate apricots and organically raised
pork tenderloins.
Last month I wrote about organic produce. This
month I'll attempt to demystify the organic cattle industry. It is an
extensive topic so I will include links for those that would like more
information and explanation.
Thank you all for your continued loyal support.
Much Love,
Julie
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Feeding the Needy |
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Organic Meats
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The next opportunity to help those in need will be Sat June 27.
Click here for pictures
Be sure to reply to this newsletter or email me if you're interested in helping us feed the needy. We can't do it without you.
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Now on to Therapy Dogs....
Cami and I are a therapy team.
Many people ask what that means. Do we both need therapy? Well probably but that's not what it refers to.
As
a therapy team we visit patients in nursing homes and hospitals. There
are a lot of programs available to us. Some include: Read to the kids
program where therapy dogs are brought to the library and children read
to the dogs as a way to increase literacy.
There are therapy dogs
who work with autistic children and adults. A therapy specialist and
the dog's handler train the dog to do specific tricks that help teach
the autistic patient. Most hospitals have therapy dog programs. Rady Children's Hospital has a 2 year waiting list for therapy dog teams.
To
become a therapy team, we both were evaluated and tested several times.
Our evaluation included checking Cami's temperament while being touched
& fiddled with by strangers. I was evaluated as to how I
interacted with her and how connected we were as a team as well as how
we interacted individually and as a team with the patients.
We are registered and insured through
Therapy Dog's Inc, (TD Inc)
Therapy dogs and service dogs are not the same. Service dogs are allowed in restaurants and public places that therapy dogs are not.
Service dogs are trained to aid in 1 or more of certain recognized services.
Some of the services are are, sight to aid the blind, hearing or signal dogs to help those who are deaf and alert their owners to sounds like
smoke alarms, doorbells crying babies and more. Assistance dogs help
with picking things up, turning on lights, closing doors etc. There are
medical response dogs who will call 911 & bark into the phone in the event of
their owner having a seizure. Recently dogs have been trained to detect allergens to protect their owner's health.
Currently dogs who are used as emotional
support are not technically considered service dogs. I think that will soon change with the growing number of post traumatic stress syndrome cases being diagnosed.
It has been proven that petting a dog lowers one's heart rate and many patients respond and heal faster when visited by dogs, their own or a visiting therapy dog.
Cami and I currently visit RMG radiation clinic weekly. We visit with the patients before their treatment hopefully taking their mind's off their cancer if only for a few minutes.
Cami At RMG Radiation Clinic. This timing spreading some love with the staff.
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More than 95% of beef produced in the US is raised on grain-based diets
in feedlots, using supplemental growth hormones, both natural and
synthetic.
The use of supplemental hormones in beef production has been deemed safe for humans by the
U.S.D.A.
Grain
feeding combined with growth hormones also results in a nearly 40 %
reduction in greenhouse gases (GHGs) per pound of beef.
Center for Global Food Issues
has published research that shows implants safely and responsibly allow
humanity to produce more beef from less feed, using less land, and
creating less waste.
So there's that. Then there's this....
In
January 1989, the European community stopped purchasing American beef
that had been raised with the use of growth hormones. The largest
concern about antibiotics is that bacteria may develop resistance. In
1998, the European Union banned antibiotics for livestock that were
also manufactured for human use. In January 2006, all antibiotic use in
cattle for growth promotion was eliminated.
What do they know that we aren't being told?
For a chilling answer, I invite you to read Diet for a New America. But for now we'll keep it lighter.
Do not confuse the terms Organic and Natural as synonymous. The
USDA defines natural as a product containing no artificial
ingredients or added color and that is only minimally processed. This
focuses strictly on post-harvest processing and does not guarantee that
the product's source has never received hormone and/or antibiotic
treatment.
Cattle raised for slaughter in the Organic or
"never-ever" programs must be raised under organic management from the
last third of gestation. Producers are required to feed products,
including pastures that are 100% organic, but they may provide vitamin
and mineral supplements allowed by the
National Organic Program (NOP).
Organically-raised cattle may not be given hormones,
ionophores, or antibiotics for any reason.
Preventive
management practices, including use of vaccines, to keep cattle healthy
are allowed, and producers are prohibited from withholding treatment
from sick or injured cattle. However, cattle treated with a prohibited
medication may not be sold as organic.
The philosophy of organic
production is to provide conditions that meet the health needs and
natural behavior of the animal. Thus, organic livestock are given
access to the outdoors, fresh air, water, sunshine, grass and pasture,
and are fed 100 percent organic feed. Any shelter provided must be
designed to allow the animal comfort and the opportunity to exercise.
Organic practices prohibit feeding animal parts of any kind to
ruminants (hoofed animals that chew & cud) that, by nature, eat a
vegetarian diet. Thus, no animal byproducts of any sort are
incorporated in organic feed at any time. Livestock cannot be fed
plastic pellets for roughage, or formulas containing urea or manure.
They cannot be given antibiotics or growth hormones. All of these are
allowable practices in conventional agriculture.
In processing
operations there also are specified cleaning agents that are prohibited
in organic plants but are allowed in commercial operations.
Raising
organic cattle requires more land and the livestock require more food
than commercially raised cattle which are raised in pens and fed growth
hormones which is why organic meats are more expensive. The extensive
record keeping and tracking of animals from birth to consumption also
plays a part in the price for the consumers.
There is so much that could be said on this subject. I hope this helps a bit and maybe peeks your interest enough that you might to do some research on your own.
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KITCHEN ADVICE:
Apricots should be stored on the counter top until ripe then refrigerated if not eaten within a day or two. For the fullest flavor, it's best to allow the fruit to come to room temperature before eating.
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RECIPE OF THE MONTH:
PORK MEDALLIONS WITH FRESH APRICOTS
AND MINT GLACE
18 (1 1/2 oz.) organic pork tenderloin medallions, skinned and fat removed
9 ripe apricots
1 tbsp. fresh copped rosemary
6 oz. whipping cream
3 egg yolks
1 oz. mint jelly
10 mint leaves--chopped
Flatten medallions slightly and season with salt, pepper and rosemary. Put apricots into boiling water for 15 seconds, then into ice water. Peel the apricots, cut in half and discard the seed. Mix the egg yolk with the mint jelly and
chopped mint leaves. Add just a touch of salt and pepper. Whip heavy cream until it peaks and fold in egg yolk mixture. Keep refrigerated until needed.
Saute pork medallions over high heat until cooked to desired doneness. Place apricots in saute' pan and cook until heated through. Place three medallions of pork on each plate and top with apricot halves. Cover apricots with mint sauce and
place under broiler until just browned. Fresh peaches cut down to size or slices of papaya may also be used.
Note: pork tenderloin can be substituted with any other meat or poultry.
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