Cornbread

1/2 cup white whole wheat flour or oat "flour" (process dry rolled or quick oatmeal in a blender or food processor until it is rather fine)

1/2 cup plain unbleached flour (or make it 100% whole grain by using 1 cup of white whole wheat or oatmeal)

1 tbsp natural sugar or white sugar (optional)

4 tsp baking powder (I use Rumford since it does not contain aluminum sulfate)

3/4 tsp salt

1 cup yellow cornmeal (not self-rising)

2 eggs

1 cup milk

1/4 cup butter or smart balance, melted

Preheat oven to 400˚ if using a glass dish or 425˚ for a metal pan.

Grease or spray with non-stick spray a 9x9x2-inch pan. (Or go old-school with a 9" iron skillet.)

Whisk dry ingredients together.

Whisk wet ingredients together in a separate bowl.

Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients, whisking together just until mixed.

Pour into prepared dish and bake for 20 to 25 minutes.

This recipe also works well for muffins. Use same temperature but reduce baking time to 12 to 15 minutes.

This recipe is easy to cut in half since it calls for two eggs. Since I'm usually cooking for two, that's what I usually do. I bake it in a glass loaf pan. Reduce the baking time to 15 to 20 minutes.

Recipe Black Bean Soup

One pound package of dried black beans

Vegetables:

Fresh garlic cloves minced - 1 or 2

Carrot chopped ~ 1/2 cup

Celery chopped ~ 1/2 cup

Onion chopped ~ 1/2 cup

Bell pepper chopped ~ 1/2 cup

Can of stewed or diced tomatoes including juice

Frozen corn kernels ~1/2 cup

Chicken broth (I use homemade)

Small can of green chilies

Seasonings:

Mrs Dash original

Cumin

Chili powder

Spike (sold in health food stores and some grocery stores)

Salt

Turkey or beef smoked sausage - Optional

Garnish with shredded cheese

Wash and soak beans overnight. Drain and add fresh water to cover.

Cook until almost soft. (I use a crock pot.)

Add vegetables except tomatoes and corn. Add seasonings except salt.

Add chicken broth.

Cook until beans are soft and vegetables are cooked.

Mash the beans slightly using a potato masher.

Add the can of tomatoes, can of green chilies, and corn.

Continue to cook until additional ingredients are heated.

Taste and add salt if needed.

If smoked sausage is desired, slice and add to soup. I usually brown it slightly.

Notes:

Since the chicken broth and canned tomatoes have salt, I always wait to see if it is needed.

The amount of chicken broth I add depends on how much of the water cooked away. It also depends on how thick I want the soup.

I don't measure anything when I make soup, so the measurements are an educated guess.

You can adjust based on what you like or dislike.

Sometimes I add salsa or Louisiana hot sauce if the soup seems too bland.

If you have questions or comments, please fire away.

Unborn Babies Have Short Term Memory

New Study Finds Babies in Utero Have Short Term Memory

Aimee Herd (July 20, 2009)

"For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well. My frame was not hidden from You, when I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them." –Psalm 139: 13-16 (NKJV)

A recent study out of The Netherlands has documented evidence that babies, as young as 30 weeks in the womb, already have developed short term memory.

The research reportedly involved monitoring the pre-born baby's reaction when a loud sound is played, and then their subsequent reactions to the repeated playing of the same sound. The babies were found to remember the sound, no longer reacting with surprise.

FOX News contributor, Dr. Manny Alvarez says the finding is "positive" and "good news." (Photo: FOXNews.com)

Alvarez noted that knowledge of a child's development in the womb has been very limited, and this new research can greatly aid in understanding a child's cognitive and neurological development.

At 30 weeks—the study found—the fetus has a short term memory of about 10 minutes. At 34 weeks, the preborn baby can store information and retrieve it approximately four weeks later.

"It tells you that kids in the womb already know their surroundings, their parents, music, and things like that," added Dr. Alvarez.

He also stated that, especially in the latter part of pregnancy, playing music for the baby in utero, and reading to them can positively affect the child's development.

Dr. Alvarez stressed that talking to your baby while he/she is in the womb is very important, especially in light of the new study.

"I always tell fathers, in my practice, to go to the mother's belly and actually talk to the baby. I think these bonds that are created, in the long run are going to play out."

Watch the FOXNews video report on this, at the source link provided.

Source: Megyn Kelly, Dr. Alvarez – FOXNews.com

Courtesy the Elijah List