This took months of preparation. Fortunately I was not part of it. Its nice being at the end of the production chain. So I was standing there at the end of the chain heating up the frozen vegetables (dogs included), and munching on something else also at the end – in this case an eight fruit trailmix. In fact I had absent mindedly eaten so much that I was no longer hungry. Never cook when you are not hungry – leads to all sorts of experimentations. But in this instance, it was brilliant. Add the trailmix to the pot and cover with a white sauce. Think about it. No, better yet, just try it. Added basilicum for taste (as well as protection of cell, anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, promotion of cardiovascular health due to magnesium content). And I repeat a precaution here. Most of the time, spices can be combined to produce exquisite taste patterns. But, unless you are in a situation where having to leave the room every twenty minutes is beneficial, you do not want to put too many diuretic spices together. And in case you missed it, here is a very short list of those spices which have, aside from their other pluses, the additional effect of draining the system. http://www.spice-trade.com/medicinal-properties-of-spices.html Basil, chive, coriander, oregano, cumin, caraway, zedoary, cebub, fennel, nigella, sesame seed, caper, celery, cilantro, savory, tarragon. And if you use two or more and add coffee or hot chocolate? ‘Well, it must be ten minutes’ ‘Ten minutes from what?’ ‘The last time’. http://unitproj1.library.ucla.edu/biomed/spice/index.cfm?spicefilename=medspice.txt&itemsuppress=yes&displayswitch=0 Also for plants which are antiseptic, see http://www.herbalmedicineguide.com/Antiseptics.html
 

 Complete Breakfast. Avocado (Hass) for its pro-heart, anti-cancer qualities but mainly for the taste. Experimental flop egg (trying to perfect the egg in a cup and failed) with sesame seeds and black pepper, and the ‘let someone else do all the work’ trailmix to which I added the most important ingredients sunflower seeds, walnuts, and water for a truly delicious and nutritious instant hot cereal.
 

 Spinach Spaghetti. Was going to have brown beans. I swear that one of these days, I will actually cook them long enough so that they’re done. But this time, I put them on the side because I needed the pan. Fried the mushrooms. Sprayed them with hydrogen peroxide and then with apple cider vinegar before cutting and frying. The best anti-everything around. Put the spaghetti to cook with the spinach. Drained and added the spices. Never make just enough for you. There is also the taster. The taster can consume significant amounts and when it comes to sitting down with the meal, there is this spot of food on the plate. Psychologically it’s very depressing. Even though you know that you’ve eaten the whole thing. The additions – butter, garlic powder, pepper, thyme and soy sauce  (this is where the taster comes in). No salt, the soy does it for you. Great taste.
 

  I finally ate my first ever self-fully-cooked brown beans. The half cooked ones which I had eaten before did not cause any problems, but a cooked bean is truly a unique event here. Sometimes its the small things which count in this life. And I’m not just talking beans here. How about pushing the rings out of six slices of onion with your thumbs all at the same time. We so seldom get a feeling of real accomplishment but this is one of them. Try it and you’ll see what I mean. The before and after shots. The beans are at the bottom on the first one. Waited until the bean/onion/mushroom stage was cooked and then added whatever came to hand: In my case it was za’atar, rosemary, fruit chutney (only a little here), about two tablespoons of miso, catsup. You will have to make your own substitutions for whatever you do not have, but because of the nutritional value of each one of these, you should look into it. Miso – helps digestion since it is fermented soy unlike most of the soy products we normally get. Which is one reason you will probably only find it at a health food store. Za’atar – brain food as well as being anti everything. Rosemary – cancer prevention, Chutney – Just a great taste plus the value of all its ingredients which, depending on the make, may include onion, brown sugar, orange zest, cider vinegar, ginger, cinnamon, garlic, red pepper, apples, pears, cranberries and currants. You don’t need anything else in your corner. The other guy doesn’t have a chance. The chutney recipe (not mine), so here is the link: http://recipes.recipeland.com/recipe/v/Spiced_Fruit_Chutney_43924
 

 Fast Apple and Banana Cure. Used the extra water in which the compote was boiled to make a great cup of coffee - honey-cinnamon-apple-banana-juice coffee.
 

 Complete dinner #12 (a random number) Pan fried sliced sweet potato with peel and soy dogs in cheese. Green salad with regular oil and vinegar salad with za’atar. Spices: Thyme and oregano.
 

 CarrotEgg Scrambled. A special health breakfast. Oatmeal with honey, cinnamon, walnuts (not shown).  Contains the following spices: coriander(anti-inflammatory), cinnamon(anti-septic), sage(anti-inflammatory, anti-septic), dill(inhibits infection) carrots(antiseptic), thyme(antiseptic). Cherry tomatoes have za’atar(thyme, sumac, sesame) in olive oil. This was occasioned by a pain in one of my teeth. Several hours later, the pain is halved, and I expect it to keep on halving. Further on this particular dish. Take a good look at the plate. It’s the only clean (maybe I should say clear) spot on the counter. It sucks being single. Not that I would expect anyone to clean up for me, but I would feel more obliged to clean up after myself. But I look at it and say “It’s only me, so it’s o.k., for now. And now. And now. Well you get the picture. Cat doesn’t care.

The designation of each spice is taken from two sources. See references below. In the second reference, the list is of essential oils, but is instructional for their use as spices. However, the following precaution is given at the site: “Given below is a list of essential oils. Most of these oils are strong in nature and can cause side effects, if they are not taken in appropriate manner and quantities. Further, their benefits are indicative and therefore consult a medical practitioner before using these oils, internally or topically.”

My use of spices, etc. is for information only of what I have used personally and experimentally. It is not a substitute for medical advice in any form. If you have a health problem, please seek out a professional.
1. http://unitproj1.library.ucla.edu/biomed/spice/index.cfm?spicefilename=medspice.txt&itemsuppress=yes&displayswitch=0 SPices – Exotic Flavors & Medicines, UCLA History & Special DCollections, Louise M. Darling Biomedical Library
2. http://www.organicfacts.net/organic-oils/natural-essential-oils/list-of-essential-oils.html List of Essential Oils from Organic Facts. This source apparently took a great deal of research to produce and is backed up by a link in the case of most oils with extensive elaboration and further reading. Here is just one of the items:

Thyme Essential Oil.
Properties: Anti spasmodic, anti rheumatic, anti septic, bactericidal, bechic, cardiac, carminative, cicatrisant, diuretic, emenagogue, expectorant, hypertensive, insecticide, stimulant, tonic, vermifuge
Health Benefits: Clears spasm, gives relief from rheumatism by removing toxins, protects wounds from being septic, kills bacteria, helps cure chest infections and cough & cold, good for heart’s health, gives relief from gas, heals scars & after marks, increases urination, makes menstruations regular, cures cough & cold,
 

This is two dishes
 Hot Potato-onion-sunflower seed fried in olive oil, with very little water added along with the spices. Oregano, rosemary, sage, cayenne pepper, sweet chili sauce, (you can see them all there in the photo), and brewer’s yeast. This is half way to the finished product on which I had my sights, but was so good that I had to stop and take a picture.

 Miso Potato Mash Tortillas. The finished product with the above mashed. It was difficult to do because I had tasted it, but goals are goals, and the end product was truly worth it. Added fermented miso paste to give it protein, ease in digestion, manganese, zinc, phosphorus, and copper making it very good in the support of immune functions, health of blood vessels, bones and joints, as well as possible protections against certain types of cancer. A possibly allergenic food to some people, and should not be eaten by those with goiter problems. Originating in the Far East, its preparation is a highly regarded art form. Two such large tortillas in one sitting? No problem. Delicious.
 

 Chunk Cheese Salad with hard boiled(almost) egg, and avocado. O.K., the egg was not fully cooked when opened, so un-programmed ancillary action was called for. Fried in butter to finish the process. On the cheese, I threw out the  wrapper before having the chance to double check the exact name, which is just as well because it probably comes from a small village in Greece, or a moshav in Israel, and you would never find it where you live. One thing though. It’s sheep cheese and delicious.  The sauce is mayonnaise, milk, basilicum, garlic powder, crushed black pepper, salt, and thyme, both paprikas – hot and sweet. 
 

 Sweet Potato Tortillas. Someone in the family does not like vegetables? This is the perfect dish. This covers all bases for an entire day in one fell swoop. Sweet potatoes, red bell pepper, broccoli, walnuts, cashews, sunflower seeds, chunk cheese (sheep), in a hand wrap. One instruction: Start the bell pepper slices first because they take the longest. The rest will be ready before you get the cheese out. Mash when cooked. Needs a strong wrist, or fork or both. The nuts and seeds were ground in the coffee bean grinder. The best buy I ever made and I have no coffee beans. Chop or crumble the cheese on before rolling. I put soy sauce on one of them but couldn’t taste the difference. Disappointed, but not enough to get up. A small amount of sweet chili sauce in the mix, with the pools of chili and fruit chutney as dips. Spices for taste not necessary, but for preventive, digestive, curative value, just pour it on. This dish can handle all because there’s minerals, and vitamins, enzymes, and etc. needed as complementary supports, absorption, and just the plain basic material to keeping every cell happy.

 Whole-Egg Cup and Cinnamon Cheese Folds With Honey. That took four muffin cups. And you might say, ‘but that took a whole four that could be used for baking’. And I say ‘Yes, but one egg is worth 4 muffins’. This is the start of my barter comparison listing.  Some precautions: Put enough olive oil, or whatever, in the bottom of the cup so that putting in the egg will force it up all sides. Otherwise, it’s tough to get out. Actually very little will do it, but it’s a matter of experimentation. Use a heavy pan with a heavy lid to stand the heat build up with only a thin layer of oil in the pan itself. Water does not work because the cups soak it all up and just lie down giving you poached. When making the folds, tan one side, turn it over, put in your cheese and cinnamon, and do not roll with your fingers. Use two utensils to fold it, or take it out and roll it outside. I will not show you my fingers to prove a point. They’re made of steel and I have a very high pain threshold. Honey on top with some extra cinnamon. Can never get enough of that stuff.