You know I like to talk about health and anything that promotes it. Well, a few years ago I discovered a cereal that is simply amazing, and I want to tell you about it. I'm going to sound like I work for this company, and I don't. This will sound like an info-mercial, but it's not. I simply feel this is something too good to keep to myself:

The product is Dee's Cereal, and it is ground, mixed, bagged, boxed and frozen the same day. It has no added sugars or preservatives and contains over 15 grains, nuts and dried fruit (almonds, bananas, barley, brown rice, corn, cranberries, flax seed, garbanzo beans, raisins, sunflower seeds, oat groats, rolled oats, oat bran, whole wheat).

It keeps at least six months if kept frozen and 60 days if refrigerated. And that's an important point about this food - there are no preservatives or chemicals in it - it's a raw food and is most often found in the dairy section of most super markets.

On the website (DeesCereal.com) you can read the creator, Dee was 80 pounds overweight and suffering from diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, failing eyesight, and numb hands and feet. He wasn't particularly concerned, however. He says he had enjoyed good health all his life, ate whatever he wanted, anytime he wanted, and exercise was not even a temptation. He figured all these ailments were just part of getting older.

Then he received a wakeup call. His doctor summoned Dee into his office where, in funeral like tones, he informed Dee that he was severely diabetic and that insulin injections were needed, and they had to begin immediately! Dee was handed five hypodermic syringes filled with water, and for the next 30 minutes he had to practice giving himself injections in his knee. Since daily injections became a necessity, his life was forever changed.

And one even more disturbing issue was that his health continued to deteriorate. Eight years and over 6000 shots later, his body had been consumed by diabetes, and he was not expected to live. My moment of truth had arrived - he realized if he were to live, a change of lifestyle was necessary, and it had to be drastic and immediate. Dee says he chose to live!

To lose weight, he started walking. At first, a hundred yards was an effort. Now he walks several miles a day, five days a week. He also experimented with various breakfast combinations, but found himself forever hungry: hence the eventual development of Dee's Cereal, a cereal that kept him going throughout the morning. It made a huge difference in his energy level, his healing, and his weight loss.

When he changed his lifestyle, he lost 80 pounds, and the diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure and other health problems simply went away. They did so within a year. He says the tragedy for him is that he would have avoided years of needless sickness and pain if he had known then what he knows now. He believes his life would have been far different.

And this is why I share his story and tell you about this product. Many of our Cook'n Club readers are concerned about their health, can relate to Dee's story, and continually look for "better ways" to eat. Consider looking into this product - and if you don't find it in your grocery store, you can go online and order it. Meanwhile, for those that already know about and use this great cereal, here are a couple recipes off Dee's website:

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Harvest Fruit Crisp

6 cups fresh fruit (apples, pears, peaches), peeled, cored, and sliced
1 Tbsp. lemon juice
1/2 Cup stevia
1/2 Tbsp. cornstarch
1 tsp. cinnamon

Topping
1/3 Cup whole wheat flour (or millet, oat, etc.)
1/2 Cup packed brown sugar
1/2 tsp. salt or *sea salt
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
3 Tbsp. butter, chilled
1/2 C Dee's Cereal

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Spray 2 qt. baking dish with a non-stick cooking spray. Combine fruit and lemon juice in baking dish. Toss to coat. Combine stevia, cornstarch, and cinnamon. Stir with whisk until cornstarch is combined. Add cornstarch mixture to fruit and toss to coat. Set aside.

Combine flour, cereal, brown sugar, salt, and cinnamon. Cut in butter with a pastry blender until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Sprinkle cereal mixture evenly over the fruit. Bake for 40 minutes or until fruit is tender and topping is golden. Cool on wire rack for 12-20 min. before serving. Serve plain or ala mode. Servings: 8

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Blueberry Muffins

1 Cup whole wheat flour
1 Cup Dee's Cereal
1 Tbsp. baking powder (aluminum free, such as Rumford's)
1/4 tsp. Salt or *Sea salt
1 Egg, slightly beaten
1 Cup skim milk
1/4 Cup brown sugar
1 Tbsp. vegetable Oil or * liquid coconut butter
2 Tbsp. applesauce
1 tsp. vanilla
1 Cup blueberries
3/4 Cup powdered sugar
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1 Tbsp. skim milk

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line muffin cups with cupcake papers. Combine flour, cereal, baking powder, and salt (Sea salt). Add blueberries and toss to coat with flour mixture. Combine egg, milk, brown sugar, oil, applesauce, and 1 tsp. vanilla. Whisk lightly to blend. Stir wet ingredients into the dry ingredients, stirring until moistened. Gently spoon batter into prepared muffin tin. Bake 15-20 minutes or until lightly golden. Remove from oven and cool on a wire rack. Drizzle glaze over warm muffins. Optional glaze: Combine confectioner's sugar, 1/2 tsp. vanilla and 1 Tbsp. milk (vanilla Soy Milk). Add additional milk as needed to achieve desired consistency. Yield: 15 Muffins

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Quick Granola Bar

You will have a hard time finding a granola bar recipe that requires less time than this one. Not only is the preparation for this granola bar recipe fast and easy, but the baking time is only 10 minutes, so you can have these granola bars ready very quickly. This granola bar recipe includes rolled oats and wheat bran to give a wonderful texture which, combined with the sweet taste of vanilla, make this granola bar recipe a great choice for any occasion. I use this granola bar recipe for any outdoor activities I may have planned. The granola bars are easy to carry, and provide an energizing, healthy snack. They take just 20 minutes to make. Serves 24.

3 cups rolled oats
1 1/2 cups packed brown sugar
1 cup wheat or oat bran
1 cup butter
1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp baking powder

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Cream butter, sugar, cinnamon, and vanilla together in medium bowl. In another bowl mix oats, baking powder, and bran. Stir both mixtures together. Press into greased 9x13-inch baking pan. Bake for 10 minutes. Allow to cool then Cut into bars.

These granola bars pack plenty of fiber and protein which your body needs to stay healthy and strong. This granola bar recipe is great for making a snack to help you keep your energy up when you are on the go and do not have time to sit down to a full meal.

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