Girl, organic.

Depression Symptoms Vs Antidepressant Side Effects: Is There a Difference?

2012-02-24T23:15:00.000-08:00

The array of antidepressants available is mind boggling. Sufferers of depression are presented with a synthetic smorgasbord from which they have to decide which one is right for them. A tough task, considering indecision is common amongst those with depression.

Even more mind boggling than the choice of depression drugs available, is that if you read what the side effects of these drugs are, you will see that they can be just as worse as the condition of depression itself.

Excuse the pun, but that sounds crazy, right? Let's compare depression symptoms with antidepressant side effects.

Witch Hazel for Blackheads

2012-02-20T21:22:00.000-08:00

Blackheads on nose? Tried everything but nothing works?

Many people want to know how to get rid of blackheads. There are many natural acne treatment options available to treat blackheads instead of using harsh chemicals. One of these options is witch hazel.

What is Witch Hazel?

Technically, witch hazel is a plant. But the name is also used to refer to the astringent which is produced from the leaves and bark. By the way, an astringent is a chemical compound substance which causes body tissue to shrink or constrict. This is very important to know about witch hazel, as we will see below.

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Ladybug Love

2012-02-20T19:40:00.000-08:00

The lime tree has been very fertile this season. Not only did it give me over a dozen lovely limes, it has also become the host to other kinds of fertility!

Several pairs of ladybug lovers were taking full advantage of the comfortable leaves.

Everything's coming up...limes (and a lemon).

2011-10-07T21:41:00.000-07:00

We're into the second month of spring in the southern hemisphere. The fruit which survived the last dry days of winter and hungry caterpillars is growing steadily.

Limes

Apple Cider Vinegar

2011-09-25T03:21:00.000-07:00

If you are into organics and home made remedies you probably already know about apple cider vinegar. Aside from being handy around the house and in cooking, it has several healing uses for which it is quite effective.

What is Apple Cider Vinegar?

Apple cider vinegar is made during the process of apple fermentation. During the fermentation process of any cider, bacteria and yeast are added to assist the sugar to turn to alcohol. The alcoholic liquid then has another bacteria added to turn it to vinegar.

Use What You've Got

2011-09-24T02:08:00.000-07:00

I was in the mood for potatoes tonight, so I took a leaf out of Bethenny Frankel's book and used what I already had. Using what you have isn't a new premise, and I've been doing it for many years. However Bethenny is getting the message out there to millions and I love her for it. Plus she's hella funny.

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Chicken breast with pistachio and marmalade stuffing

2009-10-02T23:38:00.000-07:00

2 large chicken breasts (I used 3 medium ones)
2 rashers of bacon - diced finely
1 medium red onion - diced
1 tblspn pistachio's - chopped
1 tblspn thyme
1/4 cup orange marmalade
1/4 cup bread crumbs
olive oil
toothpicks (for securing chicken closed)

Read more »

Blind Pimple Remedies

2009-09-25T20:39:00.000-07:00

I get blind pimples on my chin quite often. Lately I have been experimenting with various natural remedies for this no-headed monster. The following are methods that I have had various succeses with in enabling the blind pimple to form a head, thus being able to clear quicker.

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Passionfruit and Mandarin Cordial

2009-09-05T22:57:00.000-07:00

2 cups water
1 cup sugar (or an equivalent amount of an organic sugar alternative, such as agave)
1 cup passionfruit pulp
1 medium madarin
Juice of 1 lime (or lemon)

Combine water, sugar and lime juice in saucepan and bring to the boil. Add passionfruit pulp and chopped up mandarin pieces and bring to the boil again.

Reduce heat and let sit for as long as possible. The longer it sit the better the flavour will be.

You can remove the seeds and chunks of fruit whichever way you please. I just scooped out the bigger pieces with a slotted spoon, then when transferring to a bottle, poured it through a sieve.

Belated birthday package

2009-07-20T04:48:00.000-07:00

It was meant to arrive last Tuesday. I guess a week late isn't too bad!

Full of yummy organic goodies courtesy of www.giveorganic.com.au

Potato and carrot soup with roast garlic

2009-07-11T20:32:00.000-07:00

4 large potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks
3 large carrots, cut into chuncks
3 heads of garlic, separated
1/4 cup olive oil
1 tspn cracked black pepper
1 medium onion, peeled and sliced
2 cups water
2 cups vegetable stock

Pre-heat oven to 120c. Place garlic, oil and pepper in a small baking dish and cover. Bake for about 2 hours, or until garlic is soft.

Place a small amount of oil in a large pot, heat, add onions and fry until soft. Add potato and carrots and coat in onion mixture. Add water and stock. Cover, bring to the boil, simmer until vegetables are soft. Stir through garlic flesh.

Blend in blender until smooth. Cream can be added just before serving if you like.

Creamy Pesto Penne

2009-05-10T02:22:00.000-07:00

2 tbs butter
200g mushrooms
200g semi-dried tomatoes
2 cloves garlic - minced
500g penne pasta
2 tbs flour
2 tbs butter
3/4 cup vegetable stock
3/4 cup milk
2 tbs pesto

1. Place pasta in boiling water.

2. While pasta is cooking, saute sliced mushrooms and minced garlic in 2 tbs butter. Once cooked put aside and cover to keep warm.

3. Melt the second lot of butter, and add 2 tbs flour. Stir continuously for 1 minute.

4. Add stock and milk to mix and stir until thickened.

5. Stir in mushrooms and tomatoes.

6. Stir in pesto and salt and pepper to taste.

7. Add warm mix to cooked pasta.

ANZACS

2009-05-09T02:41:00.000-07:00

1 cup flour
1 cup sugar
1 cup rolled oats
1/4 cup coconut
125g butter
2 tbs honey
1 tbs water
1/4 tsp bi-carb

Combine flour, sugar, coconut and oats in mixing bowl. Melt butter together with honey and water in wither microwave or on stove top. Once melted, mix in bi-carb. Combine wet ingredients with dry ingredients. Place tablespoon size lumps of mixture onto baking tray and bake on moderate for 30-40 minutes until golden brown.

Yummy!

Kaoka Chocolate

2009-04-24T23:48:00.001-07:00

http://www.kaoka.fr/cadre256.php

A friend put me onto this. It's amazing, all I eat is one square (granted they're big square's), and I don't scoff the whole block like I normally do!

Banana bread

2009-04-22T04:42:00.000-07:00

2 large (or 3 small) banana's

2 eggs (you may need 3 depending on the kind of flour you use)

3/4 cup sugar

2 cups flour

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon bi-carb soda

Mash banana's and add whisked eggs. Combine with sugar, flour, salt and bi-carb soda. Mix well, transfer to baking tin (I use a loaf tin) and bake on 180 for about 50 minutes (my oven is broken, so it's hard to determine exact cooking times).

Organika

2009-04-18T16:51:00.000-07:00

http://www.organika.com.au

The best organic shop/cafe on the Sunshine Coast!

Markets

2009-04-17T06:05:00.000-07:00

Organic Farmers Market
CREEC
150 Rowley Rd
Burpengary

7-11am

Farm fresh local organic & chemical free fruit,veg & eggs. Earth friendly beauty, health & cleaning products. Seafood, smoked salmon, smoothies, ice cream, honey, soy candles, seeds, seedlings, books and much more.

All this and a family friendly play area.

TKN Skincare

2009-04-17T06:03:00.000-07:00

http://www.tknskincare.com.au/default.aspx

Locally made skincare products from organic ingredients.

Bread

2009-04-16T02:37:00.000-07:00

3 & ½ cups flour
7g (one satchel yeast
1 tspn salt
1 & ¼ cup lukewarm water
Butter (for melting to coat)

Combine dry ingredients. Make a well and pour in lukewarm water. Mix well until it forms a sticky dough. Knead for 10 minutes on floured surface, adding extra flour as needed. Dough will still be slightly sticky, mould into a ball.

Coat the inside of a large bow with melted butter, place dough ball inside and turn to coat with butter. Cover and place in a room temp area with no breeze. The dough will double in size - the time this takes will vary, so just keep an eye on it.

Once doubled, uncover and punch down into the dough. This will release the gases that have pent up from the yeast. Remove from bowl and knead for another few minutes. The dough should have a stretchy, rubbery consistency.

Place into loaf tin and push out to shape. Cover again and let rise for a further 30 mins, or until it has risen slightly over the top of the baking tin.

Bake on medium for around 30-40 minutes. Bread is done when there is a hollow sound when you tap it.

This is a really basic recipe. You can use whatever flour you like, and add whatever you like.

Devilled eggs

2009-04-11T17:59:00.000-07:00

I've never made these before, but by golly they're simple and delicious!

6 eggs
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1 teaspoon mustard pickle (or use whatever mustard you like)
1/2 teaspoon white vinegar (or white wine vinegar)
salt and pepper to taste
paprika

Boil the eggs. Peel and cut in half length ways. Remove the yolks and mash in a bowl. Add mayonnaise, mustard pickle and vinegar to yolk mash and mix well. Add salt and pepper to taste. Spoon mixture back into egg whites, dispersing evenly. Sprinkle with paprika.

Eggplant and tomato chutney

2009-04-11T00:34:00.000-07:00

1 eggplant
2 tomatoes
1/2 cup water
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 onion, thinly sliced and diced
2 teaspoons crushed garlic/garlic paste
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon cumin
salt

Slice up eggplant, place in a colander in a sink (or something similar) and sprinke with salt. Leave for about half an hour then wash salt off thoroughly.

Roughly dice up eggplant and tomatoes and place in a saucepan with the water. Bring to boil then simmer for about 10 minutes, or until eggplant is soft. Mash together with a fork.

In a frypan heat the oil, then add the onion, garlic, cumin, and cinnamon. Cook on low heat until onion is soft. Add the eggplant mash and cook for a further 5-10 minutes.

Can be served warm or cold with whatever your little heart desires.

Thomas Chipman

2009-04-10T17:34:00.000-07:00

Delicious range of potato and corn chips. My local Coles and Woolworths stock them, and they are of course available in many organic/natural health food stores.

http://www.chipman.com.au/

Jojoba Oil

2009-04-09T21:41:00.000-07:00

Jojoba oil (pronounced ho-ho-ba) is a fantastic oil with numerous uses. Check out this article for some ideas http://beauty-treatments.suite101.com/article.cfm/uses_of_jojoba_oil

This site is similar with a little extra info http://www.acne.org/jojoba-oil.php

Natural Instinct

2009-04-09T16:38:00.000-07:00

Here is a fine example of misleading packaging. I have just read on the Bhip (http://www.borderlinehippy.com/forums) forum that Natural Instinct, although saying their products are Sodium Lauryl Sulphate free, still contain other sulphates. Yes they may use essential oils, organic ingredients and be free of a lot of other nasties, but what's the point if the products still contain other sulphates?

Natural Instinct products contain Sodium Salt of Sulphonated Laureth 2, or SLES 2EO. This is what makes the product foam, however it is also harmful to the skin and can cause irritation after extended exposure. There is also talk of it being a carcinogen, which is an agent related to causing cancer. Check out the Wikipedia reference for more info http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodium_laureth_sulfate

It just goes to show that when buying, we need to read the ingredients listing on the product (although sometimes even then companies don't list all ingredients). Don't just take the front label as gospel! Remember that most companies out there are only interested in selling, and they'll put anything on their packaging to do so!

Additives

2009-04-09T01:37:00.000-07:00

Apart from trying to buy organic, I am also very aware of what additives are in the food I eat.

This is an interesting website with loads of info on what food additives are, and what implications they can have on one's health.

http://www.fedupwithfoodadditives.info/

Here is the link to a list of nasty additives you can print out, fold in half (so it becomes a business card size) and store in your purse/wallet for when you are food shopping:

http://www.fedupwithfoodadditives.info/information/nastyadditivecard.pdf