Perhaps the hardest thing about learning how to make miso is simply obtaining all the ingredients and equipment. Soybeans are pretty easy just load up your square foot garden and you are all set. However, if you are like me, you probably fruitlessly looked all over several local health food stores searching for koji. This is the one ingredient you will probably need to order online from a specialty website.

What is Miso and How do I make Miso Paste?

Miso is actually a traditional Japanese seasoning produced by fermenting a grain or legume such as rice, barley and or soybeans with salt and koji. The result is a miso paste used for sauces, spreads or mixed in soup stock for making miso soup.

So what is koji anyway? Basically, koji is rice that has been inoculated, or treated, with Aspergillus Oryzae spores, a special type of mold that breaks starches down into simpler sugars. These starch sugars can then be fermented by yeast, and thus the miso magic begins! And FYI, Aspergillus Oryzae was discovered more than two thousand years ago and has been in use for purposes such as miso making ever since!

How to Make Miso the Traditional Way

To activate the koji, before mixing it with your cooked beans, you will need to mix it with some sea salt. Next, if you are using soybeans, you’re going to want to rinse them and soak them overnight. When learning how to make miso you will discover there are many variations, but one form of white miso I particularly enjoy uses chickpeas instead of soybeans. Chickpeas are one of the most easily digestible beans and the texture is nice and soft.

• You will want to drain the beans after soaking, but then add more water to cook them until they are very soft
• Soybeans may require 3-6 hours of boiling to get them nice and soft
• Drain again, this time reserving some of the mineral rich liquid for later to help create the perfect consistency for your miso paste
• Mash the hot soft beans well (a potato masher works well, but feel free to be creative, some people even use their (clean) feet!)

Making Miso Phase Two

Then you are going to want to sprinkle the warm mashed beans with sea salt and koji. Make sure the beans aren’t too hot though, you don’t want to deactivate the koji. You can add a little of the reserved cooking liquid to help create your preferred consistency of miso paste - generally you don’t want it too liquidy and you don’t want it too dry.

Your miso paste can then be stuffed into your crock pot (remember, fermenting miso takes many months, so do not put it in the crock you use for everyday cooking!) Also, make sure the crock is clean, some people sterilize it with alcohol or boiling water.

Another tip for making miso, if you don’t have a regular crockpot, or even if you do, but just want to make cleanup easier, put the miso paste into a food grade heavy duty plastic bag before putting it into your container or bucket.

You want to put a little bit of sea salt over all the surfaces - put salt on the bottom of the crock, add your miso paste pushing it down and compacting it well to avoid any air pockets which will delay fermentation. Next, sprinkle the top of your miso with another layer of sea salt to help protect it from unwanted organisms and cover it with plastic (or seal the bag). Then put a weight on top of it. It works well to put a plate over the top and then weigh the plate down with a heavy object such as a big clean rock to keep out excess air and dust.

Where do I Store My Miso Ferment and for How Long?

You'll need a clean, preferably dark cool place to store your miso ferment where it will be out of the way and undisturbed. Check on it after a month or so and if there is some liquid (like soy sauce) on top of it, give it a good stir, then re-sprinkle with salt on top and leave it alone. I’ve heard that you only want to mix it up one time because to do so more than that would supposedly reduce the quality because each time you open the bag, air and other organisms may enter.

Let your miso paste ferment for at least six months, or for as long as five years. It will get stronger, more sour and medicinal the longer it ferments. In miso terms, "one year" means it has fermented for one summer. Two years, would be two summers. The oldest miso I have tried so far is 3 year old red miso. The duration of the ferment determines the type of miso - generally white miso is made with a shorter ferment and red miso is formed as it changes gradually from white to red or black the more it ferments. When stored in a cool place, such as your fridge, miso should not expire.

What are the Health Benefits of Miso

There are many health benefits associated with eating miso including improved digestion. It is rich in wonderful enzymes and a little goes a long way. Miso is also a good source of many vitamins and minerals including vitamin K which is important for forming blood clots as well as the prevention of bone loss, especially in post-menopausal women. A typical preparation would be to microwave a cup of water until it is in between warm and hot, but not boiling. Then simply stir in a teaspoon (or more to taste) of your miso paste. Sometimes I like to add a little nori seaweed. It is also great with tofu, mushrooms, and any number of other variations using vegetables from your garden. Miso can be a quick low calorie digestive aid, or it can be an elaborate meal in itself.

There seem to be as many variations, when it comes to which proportions of the ingredients to use, as there are miso-makers. Learning how to make miso is something of an art, but just to give you a general idea: use 3 lbs soybeans (uncooked), 3 lbs rice koji, and about 1.4 lbs sea salt.

I will probably be modifying that to use 2 pounds of koji rice, 2 pounds chickpeas, and a little less than a pound of sea salt (.92 lbs?....). I may also add some sea vegetables and plan to use spring water. This batch will be a 6 month ferment. When it is done, the white miso is generally stored in the fridge, (a glass jar works well) to halt the fermentation process.

If you don't have the patience for making your own miso check out the organic miso for sale below - enjoy!

Default By Relevance Bestselling Price: low to high Price: high to low Newest arrivals On sale

Maruman Organic Red Miso 26.4 Oz Sale Price: $6.78   Eligible for free shipping!

Eden Genmai Miso, Organic Soy & Brown Rice, 12.1-Ounce Packages (Pack of 3) List Price: $26.64 Sale Price: $20.49 You save: $6.15 (23%)   Eligible for free shipping!

This post on how to make miso shared on Real Food Wednesday and Fight Back Friday.

If you are beginning your journey in learning how to make miso we'd love to hear your comments, what has worked for you?

How To Make Miso the Traditional Way is a post from: Natural Health Goodies

Who knew, dandelion tea benefits our health in numerous ways. It's true, dandelions are high in many vitamins and minerals and have been consumed for thousands of years as a nutritious edible plant. So if you have been battling those pesky but pretty flowers year after year - just give in and get back by eating them instead of cursing them!

I recently discovered an article touting the benefits of dandelion tea, as well as cooking with the leaves and roots so I did a little digging (both in the back yard and online) to discover numerous dandelion tea benefits.

Dandelion and Dandelion Tea Benefits and Nutrition

Dandelion leaves are 15% protein and just one cup of dandelion greens contains 2.1 g of protein, 112% of the daily recommendation of vitamin A, 32% vitamin C, and a whopping 535% vitamin K. A cup of dandelion leaves also contain 218 mg of potassium, 103 mg of calcium, and 1.7 mg of iron. Throw in trace amounts of zinc, copper, selenium, magnesium, folic acid and a handful of B vitamins and you have one action packed punch of good for you health benefits when eating dandelions and drinking dandelion tea.

Dandelion root extract and dandelion tea have been discovered to cause apoptosis, or cell suicide in several different types of cancer cells without harming nearby healthy cells. Leukemia, prostate cancer cells, breast cancer cells and other drug-resistant melanoma cells have all been shown to be effected by dandelion root tea.

Aside from these astonishing results there are many other dandelion tea benefits, as dandelions are potent liver and kidney purifiers that help the body rid itself of harmful wastes and toxins. Dandelion is a natural diuretic thus a dandelion tea weight loss aide can gently stimulate your body to excrete more water from your system and promote bile production necessary for good digestion and nutrient absorption. More important than the resulting weight loss is the benefit of all the good for you vitamins and minerals and flushing out everyday toxins from the body.

Here are Ten Dandelion tea Benefits you can look forward to

1. Liver Cleanse: Dandelion cleanses and stimulates the liver promoting good digestion and removal of toxins. The vitamin-C and Luteolin in dandelion tea keeps the liver functioning well and protects it from age related stress. For the same reason it is good for gall bladder disorders as dandelion tea benefits the function of the gall bladder protecting it from harmful oxidants and infections.

2. Diabetes: Along with the liver cleanse dandelion tea benefits those with diabetes as it stimulates the production of insulin from the pancreas thus keeping the blood sugar levels low. Since dandelion acts as a diuretic it helps remove extra sugar from the blood stream and kidneys. As an extra boost dandelion tea is slightly bitter which lowers blood sugar levels as well, as all bitter foods do. A note of caution if you have gallbladder or pancreas problems dandelion tea stimulates bile production and might cause severe problems should there be any obstructions so please check with your doctor before trying dandelion tea.

3. Bone Health: Dandelion is high in calcium which of course is good for bone growth, plus the anti-oxidants in dandelion protect the bones from free radicals and bone density loss.

How to Make Dandelion Coffee
1. Dig up dandelions with big roots
2. Cut roots into 1/4 inch pieces
3. Roast at 250 degrees F for 2 hours
3. Grind roasted roots in coffee grinder
4. Brew like coffee

4. Pregnancy: Dandelion tea is a fantastic drink for mothers to be. Not only is it high in much needed vitamins and minerals, but the diuretic properties can help with constipation. Chinese herbalists have used dandelion for centuries to help with sore breasts and as a method to increase lactation. Interesting to note roasted dandelion root is said to taste much like coffee so if you are avoiding caffeine while pregnant try a bit of roasted dandelion root tea!

5. Skin Care and Acne: Dandelion in various forms is great for natural skincare and as an acne treatment. The dandelion "milk" from the stems and leaves has germicidal, insecticidal and fungicidal properties so it can be used to treat itchy rashes like ringworm, eczema, bug bites and even directly on acne. Plus since dandelion tea is a good detoxifier and diuretic it helps open the pores and cleanse acne causing toxins from the body before they clog the pores and develop into acne.

6. High Blood Pressure: Believe it or not urinating lowers blood pressure - in fact most high blood pressure medication relies on this to lower blood pressure. Dandelion tea benefits those with high blood pressure since it is a great diuretic. Dandelion tea is a good source of potassium which replaces sodium in the body and thus helps lower blood pressure. Also since dandelion is a good source of fiber it helps lower cholesterol which in turn helps lower high blood pressure.

7. Urinary Disorders: Many of the benefits of dandelion tea revolve around its ability to cleanse out the kidneys and urinary system. The diuretic properties of a good cup of dandelion tea benefits those with urinary disorders by eliminating toxins. Plus dandelion juice acts as a disinfectant to inhibit microbial growth in the urinary system to prevent the reoccurrence of urinary problems.

8. Jaundice: Another liver related condition dandelion tea will benefit is jaundice. Jaundice is caused when the liver produces too much bile, resulting in yellow tinted eyes and skin. Using dandelion tea as a treatment for jaundice will improve the health of the liver which helps regulate bile production. Excess bile is also removed through the diuretic process of the dandelion tea. The triple whammy in jaundice fighting comes from the antioxidant, disinfectant and anti-viral nature of the vitamin-C and Luteolin in dandelion. Dandelion tea taken in conjunction with sugarcane juice is more effective as sugar needs to be replaced from the excess bile effects on the body.

9. Cancer Fighting: As mentioned above dandelion has been shown to have some pretty amazing effects on active cancer cells. Dandelion tea can also help prevent cancer in the first place because of the strong anti-oxidant presence of vitamin-C and Luteolin which reduce free radicals in the body. The over all detoxification properties of dandelion help prevent cells from damage as well.

10. Weight Loss Wonder: Dandelion tea weight loss treatments are effective in the removal of water weight because of the safe diuretic nature of dandelion tea. It may not be the weight loss wonder you are looking for but it will help cleanse the cells of excess water weight and give you much needed nutrients and detoxification that will increase overall health while you pursue a healthy weight loss and exercise program. So throw some dandelion greens in a green smoothie and enjoy!

As you can see dandelion is a surprisingly healthy plant - maybe not so deserving of the disdain many of us have for her as she beautifies our lawns.

If you plan to harvest dandelion from your own yard make sure you have not used any chemical fertilizers or weed killer on your lawn as those substances are quite toxic. There are many options for dandelion and dandelion tea on the internet so if your dandelions aren't safe to consume take a peek below for a few featured organically grown dandelion teas.

If you find a good source of organically grown dandelion near you it is quite easy to make your own dandelion tea. There are many ways to make dandelion tea - from the flowers, leaves and even the roots. Each method yields a slightly different taste so stay tuned for a few dandelion tea recipes. Until then try out the many dandelion tea benefits with one of these fine organically grown dandelion teas for sale on Amazon.

Dandelion Root Tea - 30 - Bag List Price: $9.81 Sale Price: $7.16 You save: $2.65 (27%)   Eligible for free shipping!

Traditional Medicinals Organic Roasted Dandelion Root Herbal Tea, 16-Count Wrapped Tea Bags (Pack of 6) List Price: $33.00 Sale Price: $21.17 You save: $11.83 (36%)   Eligible for free shipping!

This post on the many dandelion tea benefits shared on Fight Back Friday.

Dandelions: Can’t Beat em Eat em – Ten Dandelion Tea Benefits is a post from: Natural Health Goodies

Do you think you'd enjoy an extra special chocolate milk recipe? I have to admit I hadn't indulged in chocolate milk in a long time - but who says adults can't enjoy a good chocolate milk now and then? And for that matter who says chocolate milk has to be completely unhealthy? Granted throwing overly sugared chocolate milk power into a glass of milk and giving it to my kids isn't high on my list of naturally healthy snacks, but with this chocolate milk recipe you are about to discover (are you full of anticipation yet?) you can feel a lot better about an ice cold glass of creamy milk chocolate for yourself or any "kids" (yes husbands and boyfriends can count as kids) you may have in your life.

How to Make Buttermilk to Enhance Your Chocolate Milk Recipe

Before revealing my secret chocolate milk recipe let me preface by saying I recently received the Nourishing Traditions cookbook as a gift so I have been learning all about how to make buttermilk - one of the secret ingredients in this chocolate milk recipe. Buttermilk is super easy to make, just put a 1 to 3 mixture of buttermilk (store bought is fine) and whole milk in a covered container and let it sit on your counter for 24 hours and you have yourself some buttermilk. If you need more buttermilk just put a cup of your existing buttermilk in a new container throw in 3 cups of whole milk and away you go all over again.

That's normally how you make buttermilk, but I like to experiment and we were leaving for a week vacation and had some cream we needed to use up so I thought hey I wonder how that would be in buttermilk… so I added about a quarter cup of cream to my already finished batch of buttermilk in the fridge and away we went.

Upon our return I discovered... It Was Heavenly!

I had been making a chocolate milk recipe using our homemade buttermilk a few times but with this new super creamy buttermilk it was oh so much better, so I figured I had to share.

Super Deluxe Extra Creamy Chocolate Milk Recipe

Here is what you'll need, and forgive me for not knowing exact measurements but as I said before I like to experiment so I never really follow a precise guide. I'll do my best to guess at about how much I use. You can use the ingredients to taste.

• 1/4 cup extra creamy "cream buttermilk"
• 1 1/2 cups whole milk
• 2-3 Teaspoons chocolate milk powder or syrup (organic is best of course but I won't tell)
• 1 Tablespoon The Greek Gods strawberry and honey Greek yogurt

Note: the strawberry Greek yogurt really ads an extra layer of indulgence to this chocolate milk recipe. I plan to try my hand at making yogurt one of these days and I'll give it a try with some homemade yogurt and let you know how it is.

The super healthy probiotics in the buttermilk and yogurt really make this delightful chocolate milk recipe about as healthy as you can make chocolate milk. I hope you enjoy it as much as we have. I'd love to hear about your favorite chocolate milk recipe in a comment below!

This post on a super yummy chocolate milk recipe shared on Slightly Indulgent Tuesdays, Fat Tuesday and Real Food Wednesday.

Super Creamy Buttermilk Chocolate Milk Recipe is a post from: Natural Health Goodies

It is hard to believe Natural Health Goodies was started in December 2009 - where does the time go? Rhetorical question don't answer that, unless you know the secret to stopping time so I can get more done in a day in that case please leave a detailed explanation in the comments.

This past year has been an exciting ride for Natural Health at least personally as we have meet many fun and knowledgeable real food bloggers, discovered Nourishing Traditions and even gasp, entered the wild world of Facebook for the first time. (Visit us at our fledgling Earth Friendly Goodies Facebook page and please 'Like' us if you want to read about green and natural health goodies from us and other great bloggers)

For fun and remembrance sake I am listing our top five natural health topics for 2011. There are some interesting tidbits and surprising results, well surprising for me maybe since I've been along for the whole ride. If you are new to Natural Health Goodies maybe you can be as surprised next year.

Without further ado (drum roll please) here are:

The Top Five Natural Health Topics for 2011

1. Wasabi, Spicy Green Goo or Really Good for You?

The number one (and number two as well) post for 2011 was written by our guest author Sandra who loves experimenting with natural traditional foods. In this post she writes about the health benefits of wasabi. At the time she was fighting off a cold and thought maybe wasabi might be good for fighting off colds. If you want to find out what happened check out the post.

2. My Water Kefir Recipe: a Fermentation Experiment

The second most read post for 2011 also by Sandra (I'm starting to get an inferiority complex) was about her water kefir experiment. She shares her experience with making water kefir for the first time as well as many variations and extra ingredients you can try when making your own water kefir. Look for this post to do well in 2012 as well thanks to a mystery Facebook Liker who just shared the post to the tune of 300 extra readers. Thanks mystery Liker! (if it wasn't you pick your favorite post and see if you can beat 300)

3. Is food grade mineral oil really food safe?

A more recent post in 2011 was this little debate over the use of mineral oil on wood cutting boards. You may or may not know that mineral oil is a petroleum product but is widely recommended for use in curing wood cutting boards. Personally I can't see how that could be healthy so I started this debate and a quest for an alternative to mineral oil.

4. Hey Who Stole My Cold? Thieves Oil Strikes Again

Here is a surprise 4th place finisher since this post was written one month after Natural Health Goodies was first started! Just goes to show some information never gets old. Although I think i may go back and give this one a refresher. Thieves oil was pretty unknown for me until I researched this post, but there are many health benefits to using thieves oil. In fact it is claimed to have a 99.96% success rate against airborne bacteria! Read more on the uses for and ingredients in thieves oil, as well as how to make your own in this interesting post.

5. Feline Pine: Best Cat Litter to Alleviate Cat Asthma

Number five is a great post for natural health cat lovers, and a bit of a debate as well on why traditional clay cat litters are very dangerous for our cats (and people too). We've been using Feline Pine for years now after trying many natural or green cat litter options. If you are using Feline Pine you may be surprised to know there is a cheaper option out there that is basically the same thing - read the post to find out more.

So there you go, five fun posts to dip your toes into if you are new to Natural Health Goodies. These top five are based on overall views for the year - if you want to base the top five on number of comments or interaction look at the bottom of the page for the most commented on posts. As always thanks for visiting we certainly love your commnets (even if I can't spell comments). Feel free to like our new Facebook page and share your own natural health goodies.

Have a mighty fine new year from the gang at Natural Health Goodies!

Top 5 Natural Health Topics for 2011 is a post from: Natural Health Goodies

Every once in awhile you make a meal that just works, it is easy to make and everyone loves it. (if you have kids or a picky spouse that instance can be quite rare and always treasured). That was the case with this potatoes and scrambled eggs recipe.

Just this past Christmas Santa's little elves came up with a winner and granted my wish with the book Nourishing Traditions. If you haven't heard about this natural health resource / cookbook check it out at the library or grab yourself a copy on Amazon it really is an eye opening book.

As a new Nourishing Traditions owner it is easy to become overwhelmed with all the prep that can go into a simple recipe if you want to make it in the most, well nourishing traditional way. This morning I was perusing the book for ideas and something must have sunk in because I was inspired to try something new.

I have to admit I rarely cook from recipes - usually I use cookbooks for ideas and I let the kitchen creative bug take over… a dash of this, a sprinkle of that and somehow it comes out tasting just fine (or maybe not given the instances of 'I don't like that' from the kids, but picky kids will be picky kids). So this morning I came up with a new scrambled eggs recipe based on a Nourishing Traditions inspiration.

I often get mixed responses from the kids as far as scrambled eggs goes sometimes they like it other times I get the automatic response mentioned above. Well with this red potato and scrambled eggs recipe I "creative kitchen created" it was an overwhelming winner….

Ok fine, enough back story what is the scrambled eggs recipe already?

What you'll need: (since this is a natural health blog I try to use the best ingredients I can get my hands on which would be eggs from pasture fed hens, organic potatoes, cultured butter from pastured cows etc.. but you can use what you have on hand I won't tell)

• Red Potatoes
• Eggs
• Garlic
• Sea Salt
• Butter
• Cheese
• Sweet Onion
• Cracked Black Pepper
• Fresh Basil

The quantities will vary depending on how many you are serving so use your best judgement.

Potatoes and Scrambled Eggs Recipe Prep

Slice the red potatoes into 1/8 inch slices
Sliver a garlic clove
Dice some sweet onion
Chop up a few leaves of fresh Basil

Cook the slices of red potato in a generous amount of butter, seasoning with sea salt and cracked pepper to taste. I also put a few slivers of garlic in while the potato is sautéing.

When the potatoes are soft in the middle yet have a nice golden brown outer appearance remove them from the pan.

Add an additional pat of butter and the rest of the garlic to the pan until the garlic is a nice toasty brown. Add your scrambled eggs to the pan as well as the fresh basil. When the eggs are nearly done put in a handful of grated cheese, sweet onion and any other seasoning you like. I have a homemade seasoning blend in a grinder with dried basil, rosemary, garlic, sea salt, pepper corns and toasted sesame seeds that is just wonderful.

Serve it up and hopefully count the smiles, thank you's and 'I love it's' and save them for a rainy day.

If you think you might try this Potatoes and Scrambled Eggs Recipe, or have a favorite of your own please leave a comment below.

This post on an NT style red potato and scrambled eggs recipe shared on The Weekend Gourmet and Real Food Wednesday.

Good Old Fashioned Potatoes with Scrambled Eggs Recipe is a post from: Natural Health Goodies

Making yogurt at home is an amazingly simple, inexpensive, and fun thing to do on a hot summer night. Some people use thermometers, special double boiler pots or fancy yogurt heaters, but not me. Who says there aren’t advantages to living in the desert? I used just two ingredients: 1 quart of whole milk (for a creamier yogurt), and 1 tablespoon of plain yogurt from the store. It really is easy-just make sure the yogurt from the store contains live cultures and you’ll be good to go…well, I guess living in the desert helps too!

How to make yogurt... in the Desert

I was going to use Dannon, which probably would have worked fine, but then I found Nancy’s nonfat yogurt in the health food section of my local Bashas grocery store for the same price of $2.99 for 32 ounces, and decided to go the more natural route and get the kind without rBGH artificial growth hormones.

I found The Secret in How to Make Yogurt from Wild Fermentation

I learned how to make yogurt and many other awesome fermented recipes from a book called, Wild Fermentation: The Flavor, Nutrition, and Craft of Live-Culture Foods. I cannot recommend this book more highly for taking the mystery and fear out of fermenting foods. Bacteria is not a dirty word, in fact, bacteria is very pro-life in general-like training wheels for the immune system---I am much more wary of anti-bacterial soap and antibiotics now. The beneficial bacteria in yogurt, Lactobacillus, are even said to have cancer preventing properties.

How to Make Yogurt the Easy Way: In the Desert!

So, if you’re ready to find out how to make yogurt, here’s what I did. Using medium heat, I warmed about a quart of whole milk on the stove, stirring occasionally until it was hot, but not boiling. Heating the milk will result in a thicker yogurt, and stirring it helps prevent it from burning. Let it cool for a while until it is still warm, but not hot to the touch. Next add 1 tablespoon of yogurt. Wild Fermentation explains why using more than 1 tablespoon is actually not better-the bacteria like their room. It is going to consume the lactose turning it into lactic acid and giving it a sour taste. Stir the yogurt into the warm milk, tighten the lid, and put it somewhere warm. I finished this process at 2 A.M. and put it outside where it was around 80 degrees, knowing that as the sun rose, it would soon warm up to the more optimal temperature of 100-110 degrees for yogurt making. When I checked on it at 3 P.M. it looked like real yogurt-because it is!
Homemade yogurt is similar to what I would find at the store, but has a richer flavor because I used whole milk instead of lowfat. I sampled a spoonful and put the rest in the fridge. I plan to eat it with blueberries and maybe some blackberry jam for sweetness. This was really easy though, and considering this was my first time making yogurt boy am I relieved! I can’t believe people actually pay $3 or more for a tub of this stuff at the store when yogurt is so easy to make at home.

Ok, I just did a little wandering around the internet to see how other people make yogurt-I suppose if you don’t happen to live in a warm climate like the desert, it might actually be helpful to get one of those thermometers and some of the fancy gizmos might be helpful too. (although Wild Fermentation will show you how to make yogurt with just an insulated cooler so you can make yogurt at home year round anywhere you live.)

I consider this an adventure in learning to trust my taste buds. People were making yogurt at home long before it was ever mass produced. Some of our ancestors used to do adventurous things like store milk inside dead cow’s stomachs. If they had the courage to do that, I’m pretty sure a few us “adventuresome types” can manage making yogurt at home!

How do you make yogurt? If you've tried making yogurt at home I'd love to hear your comments.

And if you don't happen to live in the desert or don't want to try making yogurt with an insulated cooler there are yogurt makers that will do all the hard work for you. I haven't tried a yogurt maker myself yet but below are some of the most popular yogurt makers for sale from Amazon. Have fun making your own yogurt and don't forget to let us know how to make yogurt your way!

Default Featured items Bestselling Price: low to high Price: high to low Alphabetical: A to Z Alphabetical: Z to A

Euro Cuisine Automatic Yogurt Maker, White. List Price: $50.00 Sale Price: $35.99 You save: $14.01 (28%)   Eligible for free shipping!

Euro Cuisine Yogurt Maker. List Price: $29.95 Sale Price: $28.00 You save: $1.95 (7%)   Eligible for free shipping!

This post on how to make yogurt was shared on Real Food Wednesday, Fat Tuesday and Fight Back Friday.

How to Make Yogurt in the Desert is a post from: Natural Health Goodies

If you've looked at the ingredient list of your average instant oatmeal I hope you have a degree in chemistry - or a very nimble tongue, and plenty of time on your hands because the list is long and unpronounceable - not a good sign when buying food.

I've recently discovered Better Oats® - quite simply as the name implies - they are better oats. Well, instant oatmeal anyway. Better Oats makes 9 different instant oatmeal brands among them Oat Revolution, Abundance, Oat Fit, Raw Pure and Simple and Mom's Best Organic.

I haven't tried them all, in fact just looking at their website there are some I didn't even know about. But the one's I have tried have a simple healthy ingredient list without all the added junk you'll find in regular instant oatmeal.

While not all of them are organic, many of them are and even the non all natural non organic brands use simple ingredients - for example one of our kids' favorites is the Oat Revolution Strawberries and Creme which isn't organic but the ingredients are as follows: Whole grain rolled oats, sugar, flaxseed, natural and artificial flavor, dehydrated strawberries, salt, and citric acid. Yes you can make a case for the "natural and artificial flavor" being on the not so good list but overall for a non organic instant oatmeal that ingredient list I can live with.

And one thing I love with the strawberries and creme and well, all the Better Oats instant oatmeal's I've tried is the aroma - as soon as that hot water hits the oatmeal the smell is wonderful and rich.

If you are looking for an organic instant oatmeal option try the Raw Pure and Simple or the Mom's Best Organic which have Organic whole grains of Oats, Barley, Quinoa, Rye, and Wheat as well as flaxseed. Even the Abundance might be up your alley as it also has natural Oats, Barley, Quinoa, Rye, Wheat and flaxseed.

In this world of over processed hard to pronounce ingredient lists and just plain cruddy grocery store food it is nice to see a company that cares about health and tries to make healthy products that we will actually feed to our kids (and ourselves of course).

Check out these Better Oats instant oatmeal for sale below
or you can find a better sale at Target from time to time as well

Default By Relevance Bestselling Price: low to high Price: high to low Newest arrivals On sale

Better Oats RAW Pure & Simple Multi-Grain Hot Cereal ~ Bare Flavor ~ 5 Pouches per 7.4 oz Box (Pack of 3 Boxes) Sale Price: $11.94   Eligible for free shipping!

Lavish Old Fashioned Instant Oatmeal - Dark Chocolate - 5 Pouches Per 7.75-oz. Box (Pack of 3 Boxes) List Price: $10.95 Sale Price: $7.85 You save: $3.10 (28%)   Eligible for free shipping!

This Post Shared on Fight Back Friday and Real Food Wednesday

Better Oats: Instant Oatmeal that I’d actually feed to my Children is a post from: Natural Health Goodies

Love pesto but looking for a change of pace - or maybe a substitute for olive oil in pesto? Have you heard of chia oil? Yes it really is made from the same seeds as those found in late night infomercials and children's cartoon networks. While I don't know if I'd delve into the head of my Chia Pet for a late night snack the use of gluten free chia seeds and chia oil is becoming the latest health craze and makes a pretty darn good pesto.

Chia seeds and chia oil is packed with beneficial Omega-3 fatty acids, even more so than flax seed (in fact chia seeds are the richest plant source of Omega-3, and you'll even hear blatherings about it having more omega-3's than salmon if you eat 100 grams or like almost a half cup - personally I don't go around downing half cup sized handfuls of chia seeds - but the point is they are good for you)

Now back to our regularly scheduled program
- Chia Oil Pesto.

Pesto comes in many shapes and sizes - or textures and consistencies. Different ingredients can be used with subtly different tastes, but the basics are basil, pine nuts, Parmesan cheese, and an oil - usually olive oil, and of course if you like a pesto that bites you back (and anyone within 10 feet of you) garlic. Yum. Chia oil has a light buttery taste that is scrumptious with toasted pine nuts and roasted garlic.

Most people associate pesto with a thick or creamy paste - but I like to make a lighter fluffier pesto that goes absolutely sublimely perfectly on top of a nice juicy turkey burger. (oh great I just awakened the beast and my taste buds are working overtime to get me off the computer and placate them with a snack) Basically what I'm saying is that if you like a traditional pesto consistency just modify the ingredients (add more chia oil) until you get what you are looking for.

So enough dilly dallying already here's what you'll need for a Chia Oil Pesto

I'm sure you can figure this one out, but for those not used to making pesto I'll give you the list...

1. A good handful of fresh basil leaves
2. 1-2 tablespoons of toasted pine nuts (or cashews, sunflower seeds or almonds will work if you can't get your hands on pine nuts. I've even used crackers in a pinch, shhh don't tell)
3. One clove garlic (or more if you don't have a date in the next day or so) but one should be plenty.
4. A couple tablespoons Parmesan cheese (yes I know could I be more vague? What can I say I don't like to follow rules)
5. 1-2 tablespoons chia oil

Pulse that up in a food processor until everything is blended into a light fluffy mixture, but before it turns to a paste. whalah! or however you spell whalah. Serve and enjoy, or take your picture with your chia oil pesto and post it on Facebook if that's more your thing - but really it's meant to be eaten.

Your Turn to Share: What Have You Made With Chia Oil?

I'd love to hear what you think - what do you use Chia oil for?

This Post on Chia Oil Pesto Shared on Slightly Indulgent Tuesday, Seasonal Sunday and Fat Tuesday - Check 'em Out!

Chia Oil Pesto – Yum – Pass the Chia Pet Please is a post from: Natural Health Goodies

Portable Far Infrared Sauna: A Whole Body Spa Vacation

Are you ready to sweat out some toxins and get in shape? Or maybe you’re like me and you just crave a little effortless warmth in the winter. I have been so happy with my new Far infrared sauna. I’ve been researching various types of portable saunas for many years now. For me, part of the challenge was affordability; I wanted an affordable luxury, less than $400 (though the one I got retails for over $900, there’s a really good special on Amazon – but only 3 left). The other key concern for me was space because when you live in an apartment, every inch matters. This one folds up so it stores easily after each use and is lightweight (less than 15 pounds for the whole unit).

There are so many great things about this Far infrared sauna, I’m just going to list some of the infrared portable sauna uses and the benefits of infrared saunas that I’ve noticed.

Far Infrared Sauna Health Benefits and Uses:

FIR Far Infrared Sauna Dome Wrap
(Currently on sale for 34% off – 2 left)

1) The Far Infrared sauna helps your body detox
2) Heats your body, not the air (so when you live in a small apartment, it doesn’t make your apartment feel like a sauna)
3) You lie down in it. This equals total relaxation. Sitting in a sauna is nice, but after being able to lie down in one I would never want to go back to sitting again. It’s good to let your whole body relax once in a while.
4) Sweat like you’ve never sweat before. I’m one of those people who hardly ever sweats (I’m always cold). I’ve noticed that with regular use of this sauna, my circulation has improved and my hands are even warmer.

5) Improved quality of sleep. I’ve been having trouble sleeping through the night for years. I’ve been using the sauna for about two weeks now and have already noticed improvements in the quality of my sleep. I have been waking up feeling well rested and much earlier than usual on my days off when I use the sauna the night before.
6) I’ve read other reviews that say infrared helps get rid of cellulite, helps with pain management, improve skin condition, metabolism, and more.
7) Even physically disabled people can enjoy some of the healthful benefits of “exercise” –burns over 600 calories in 30 minutes!
8 ) Can accommodate a person up to 6’5” tall.
9) Easy to set up. No tools required.
10) Your body will thank you.

Far Infrared Sauna Tips From My Experience

* Far infrared sauna Tip #1: I lie on top of a cotton sheet to make clean up simple (You will sweat like crazy using this thing and the sweat is like 7 times more toxic than regular sweat, so you’ll want to take a shower within 20 minutes as well.)

* Portable infrared sauna Tip #2: Try listening to relaxing music, dim the lights, and drift off to your happy place. It’s like a mini vacation that you’ll want to return to again and again.

FIR Far Infrared Sauna Dome Wrap Technical Details
• Burns over 600 Calories in 30 Minutes!
• Free Heating Mat Included + Pillow
• Powerful 1,000w Ceramic Heater
• Large Size - Accommodates anyone up to 6.5' Feet Tall
• Easy Storage - Folds up into a portable size for each storage

Product Description
Healing Benefits: The use of a portable infrared sauna is very important for the detoxification and cleansing of your body. It can rid your body of many toxins through your sweat glands. It will also improve your metabolism, and burn calories! Many people have noticed it helps deal with stress, as it allows your body and muscles to fully relax. It also improves blood circulation, and gets your heart rate up, which is very healthy. A sauna can also have a huge benefit for your skin. A good sweat is excellent for healthy skin. Helps with: Relief from headaches Weight loss - Burns over 600 calories in 30 minutes or less! Increasing body metabolism, Elimination of toxins, Blood circulation, Pain management, Immune system deficiencies, Detoxification, Respiratory ailments, Skin rejuvenation, Can help improve sleep, Lower stress and Many more benefits not even discovered yet!

If you've used a Far Infrared Sauna, have you seen any health benefits?

Default By Relevance Bestselling Price: low to high Price: high to low Newest arrivals On sale

Far Infrared FIR Portable Foldable Spa Sauna Detox Ion, SI01 List Price: $428.00 Sale Price: $185.00 You save: $243.00 (57%)   Eligible for free shipping!

New Deluxe X-large Home Infrared FIR Portable Sauna Detox Loss Weight Silver Sale Price: $181.89   Eligible for free shipping!

Why I love My Portable Far Infrared Sauna is a post from: Natural Health Goodies

I just received a beautiful bamboo cutting board as a gift and I've been looking into how to cure it or season it before use. Every where I look suggests using food grade mineral oil to first cure the bamboo cutting board and then re-apply once a month to maintain a good luster.

Now my dilemma is this: is mineral oil, even supposedly food grade mineral oil really safe?

Here is the definition of mineral oil found on Wikipedia:
"A mineral oil or liquid petroleum is a liquid by-product of the distillation of petroleum to produce gasoline and other petroleum based products from crude oil."

Now does that sound safe to consume to you?

Me either.

Is there a natural health alternative to mineral oil in curing a wood or bamboo cutting board?

I'd like to start a discussion on the use of mineral oil in curing wood cutting boards, so for any of you real food experts or natural health guru's what do you think? And what do you use to cure or maintain your wood cutting board?

Wondering Where to Buy Food Grade Mineral Oil See These Options Below

I'm still not entirely convinced food grade mineral oil is as food safe as it claims but the consensus is that it is the best option out there for protecting wood cutting boards. If you can't find food grade mineral oil at your local store Amazon has many options available below.

Default Featured items Bestselling Price: low to high Price: high to low Alphabetical: A to Z Alphabetical: Z to A

John Taylor Butcher Block Conditioner Food Grade Mineral Oil and Natural Waxes, 12 fl.oz(355ml) Sale Price: $9.95   Eligible for free shipping!

John Boos Mystery Oil Butcher Block Oil List Price: $14.95 Sale Price: $6.95 You save: $8.00 (54%)   Eligible for free shipping!

This Post on Food Grade Mineral Oil Shared on Real Food Wednesday and Fight Back Friday

Is food grade mineral oil really food safe? is a post from: Natural Health Goodies