The Herb'n Housewife

Is Your Olive Oil Really Olive Oil?

2013-05-09T22:21:00.000-07:00

I'm still in shock as I write this so if I seem rather rummy, I am. This news I read today really rocked my world and has my head spinning with questions of how I'm going to handle this situation. I just found out that almost all of the olive sold in this country is not even real olive oil but rather a blend of other oils with minor traces of low quality olive oil. Can you believe it or did you already know?

How can this be? I was upset enough when I found out that most of the honey sold in the supermarkets is nothing more than corn syrup, but this is even worse! I mean, raw local honey isn't hard to get your hands on even if you live in the city. You can purchase it at farmers markets, natural health stores, through co-ops and directly from beekeepers. But who knows or lives near an olive oil farmer? I don't know about you but I am tired of being duped and scammed and lied to! Here is the link so you can read for yourself about the great olive oil hoax we've all been a victim of...
http://www.foodrenegade.com/your-extravirgin-oil-fake/

After reading this article how do you feel about olive oil? Will you continue to purchase it in the grocery store or will you find a reputable source? I use "olive oil" a lot in my cooking for its health benefits and in my herbal beauty products, so I depend on quality, which I believed I was getting with my expensive brand of organic extra virgin olive oil. Now that I know better I will buy my olive oil from Mountain Rose Herbs, and you can too, simply by clicking on the banner on my home page.

I'd love to hear your thoughts on this issue. Will this change your oil buying habits or will you continue to purchase the same oil? Let me know what you think by leaving a comment!

Nettle Vinegar To Combat Allergies

2013-05-05T15:40:00.000-07:00

I don't know about you, but I and many people I know are suffering with seasonal allergies right now. Pollen counts are high and bits of cotton float off the cottonwood trees, making some of us downright miserable. First the eyes get itchy and red, then the throat gets tight and scratchy and last but not least the respiratory system jumps on the bandwagon to make breathing difficult and creating a dry cough that upsets the mucus membranes in your throat and just generally wears you out. It may seem ironic that even though plants are causing me grief they are the first thing I look to when I want to relieve symptoms fast without taking prescriptions or even over the counter Diphenhydramine (Benadryl). In the case of allergies the plant that soars among the rest for allergy relief is Stinging Nettle. Instead of drinking Nettle tea every day, which can be a hassle when you work or just have a busy schedule, its easy to make a nice Nettle vinegar that you can take daily in a tablespoon with warm water to greatly relieve your allergy symptoms.

If you know you are prone to seasonal allergies it is a good idea to start dosing yourself with Nettle a good 4 to 6 weeks before Spring. This will help prevent the onset of symptoms and should help ease the severity of symptoms if and when they hit. Nettle is not only good for allergies but it is a powerhouse of nutrition, boasting so many vitamins and minerals they are too many to count here. Preserving Nettle in vinegar is a tasty way to get in not only your medicine but a multivitamin too!

Making the Nettle vinegar is easy. In fact its dummy proof! It is a fun project to do with your children, especially if you can harvest fresh Nettle from your own yard or other organic source of Nettle. The most important rule in harvesting Nettle is to wear gloves. Nettle has small hairs under it's leaves that are actually like small needles, injecting a painful dose of "venom" (for lack of a better word) that will leave a stinging rash on your hands. Thus the nickname Stinging Nettle. Believe it or not, some people (me included!) purposely sting themselves with Nettle in order to reduce inflammation in painful joints. But that is a whole other story that deserves its own blog. For now, just beware of the stinging leaves when you harvest Nettle and you will be fine.

To make a good medicinal vinegar you will need a large amount of fresh leaves, enough to fill a quart sized mason jar when all chopped up. After you've filled your mason jar with the chopped nettle pour in enough organic apple cider vinegar to cover the Nettle and fill the jar. Shake your mixture vigorously and place it in a cool place in your kitchen away from direct sunlight. Shake it several times daily for 2 to 4 weeks. After 2 weeks you can do a taste test to determine if the flavor is palatable to you. The longer you infuse the Nettle in vinegar the better medicine you will get from it, but for some Nettle is an acquired taste. Once you've determined that your vinegar is done you simply strain it and pour it into a bottle or jar with a tight fitting cork or lid.

When I strain my vinegar I line a strainer with cheesecloth and place it over a large measuring cup. After I have strained the vinegar I pour it into a jar and let it sit for a few hours, allowing any leftover herbal material to settle on the bottom. Pour the vinegar back into the measuring cup and pour out the sediment at the bottom. Now pour your clean, filtered vinegar back into the jar and you have a lovely Nettle vinegar you can take daily by the tablespoon. Your vinegar will make a great marinade, salad dressing or just plain medicine.

If you don't have access to fresh Nettle you can use dried Nettle which can be purchased at Mountain Rose Herbs, a wonderful provider of herbs and herbal products online. You can visit and buy products at Mountain Rose Herbs via the banner on my homepage. When making vinegar with dried Nettle you will only want to fill the mason jar 1/2 to 3/4 full when you pour in the apple cider vinegar. Dried herbs are more concentrated than fresh herbs, therefore you don't need to use as much.

Now that you know how to do it I challenge you to make your own Nettle vinegar. If you don't suffer from seasonal allergies I'll bet you know someone who does. If you have access to organic or wild Nettle, be a hero and share this wonderful cure with friends and relatives!

I would love to hear about your own experience with Nettles!

The Ailment No One Wants To Talk About

2013-04-30T06:00:00.000-07:00

Though it is not a fun subject or something we discuss with our friends, many people suffer from Constipation and will turn to dangerous laxatives to relieve their suffering. Abnormal bowel habits can result from many things including (but certainly not limited to) stress, change of eating habits, medical illness and medications. Constipation is a miserable condition to suffer through and I have to admit I've been a victim myself. Luckily, nature, our wonderful provider of medicine and food, offers easy, gentle remedies that work as well, if not better, than what modern medicine has to offer and are much safer and better for your body. I find these two remedies help immensely and save me from taking laxatives, which can cause cramping and griping pains in the gut, not to mention other problems.

Smooth Move Bran:
1 cup applesauce
1 cup coarse unprocessed bran
3/4 cup prune juice

Directions: Combine ingredients, mixing well. Mixture will be pasty. Keep in a tightly covered container in your fridge. Take 1-2 tbsp of mixture daily followed by 1 full 8 oz. glass of water. Within one week your bowels should be back to normal. If the constipation persists try the treatment for one more week but take 2-3 tbsp of mixture daily. Drink lots of water and avoid constipating foods. This should do the trick! By the way, it tastes great!

Flaxseed Glop:
Add 2 tbsp. of flaxseed to 3 qts. boiling water. Simmer for 15 minutes. Cool and strain into container. Take 2 oz. every morning with juice or water. Taken on a regular basis this will keep you regular too!

Look Younger In Minutes!

2013-04-29T10:46:00.000-07:00

I hate wrinkles! Therefore I have found some great natural treatments to help my skin look and feel younger. I would feel guilty if I did not share these simple anti-aging remedies with you!

Here is a good old fashioned recipe for an instant face lift, great for that special night out! You probably have the main ingredient in your medicine cabinet. This will leave your face feeling more tight and lifted. I have also included a quick fix for those awful crow's feet that appear around out eyes.

Instant Face Lift:
Take generous a amount of Milk of Magnesia , probably about 2 tbsp (this is the best use for this laxative you will ever find!) and spread over face and neck. Allow to dry for 20-30 minutes. Warm up a small amount of olive oil in a pan. When the time is up, use a bit more MOM on face with water to rinse. Apply warm olive oil and wait 5 minutes. Splash face with cold water and apply your regular moisturizer. You will look five years younger and your skin will have a rosy youthful glow!

Instant Crow's Feet Minimizer:
Whip one egg white until frothy. Spread generously under eyes and crow's feet areas. Allow to dry completely. Rinse gently and pat dry. Apply olive oil or eye cream to follow up. Your eyes will appear younger for a few hours, just right for that night out dancing or that class reunion coming up!

Have you ever tried these tricks? Perhaps you have your own secrets to youthful skin. I would love to hear your own ideas, I'm sure there are many out there! I know I'm not alone in this battle to fight off old age!

A Few Easy Recipes

2013-04-29T10:18:00.002-07:00

Happy Spring! This is the time of year when many of you are out in your gardens, preparing and planting and at the end of a long gardening session, I don't know about you but I myself am pooped! The thought of putting together a complicated meal has no appeal when you are tired and sore and covered in dirt. So here is a recipe that is so easy it almost makes itself! It is a recipe that my husband and I love. We eat it often because it is delicious and so easy and quick to fix. The prep is easy and it's a breeze to clean up. It's perfect when you are short on time and want a good, nutritious and satisfying meal. It's also a great recipe for your teens that might just be learning to cook.

Enjoy!

CREAMY PEPPERED CHICKEN:
Prep Time: 10 minutes Category: Main Dish (Lowfat) Servings: 4

Ingredients:
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 tbsp. pepper or to taste (we like to double that amount)
1 8oz. nonfat or lowfat sour cream

Directions: Sprinkle chicken breasts generously with pepper. Spray nonfat cooking spray in large skillet and brown breasts on medium heat. Turn to low heat and dollop sour cream over breasts and in middle of pan. cover and continue cooking until meat is white all the way through. The sour cream will become a delicious gravy that we like to serve over whole wheat pasta, brown rice, couscous or potatoes.

Per Serving:
Calories: 187 Total Fat: 1.4 grams (7% fat) Cholesterol: 66mg Sodium,: 118 mg

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COOKING WITH KIDS!
I have found a couple of kid-friendly recipes that are fun to make and great to eat! Have fun with your children in the kitchen and teach them good habits early on. They will thank you later on!

Baked Broccolini: A recipe by 8-year-old Katie Helliwell who lives in San Diego, California. I have not had the fortune of meeting this young cook; instead I found this delicious and simple recipe in “A Taste of Home” magazine, November 2010 edition. Katie created this recipe on her own at the ripe old age of 8! Not surprisingly, Katie’s ambition is to be a restaurant chef someday.

Prep/total time: 15 minutes Yield: 4 servings

¾ lb. broccolini or broccoli spears

2 Tbsp. lemon juice (remember, freshly squeezed is always best if possible!)

2 Tbsp. olive oil

½ tsp. salt

1/8 tsp. pepper

Place broccolini in a greased 15x10 baking pan. Combine the lemon juice, oil, salt and pepper; drizzle over broccolini and toss to coat. Bake uncovered at 425 degrees for 10 – 15 minutes or until tender, stirring occasionally.

Nutrition Facts: 1 serving equals 97 calories, 7 grams fat, 0 cholesterol, 320 mg. sodium, 7 grams carbohydrate, 1 gram fiber, 3 grams protein

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Molasses cookies with an herbal twist: I found this wonderful herb-filled cookie recipe in “A Taste of Home” magazine, November 2010 issue, a great issue filled with holiday cooking ideas. I love this recipe because it’s a twist on an old favorite and chock full of healthy and healing herbs. I make this recipe with organic flours, butter and sugars for an extra wholesome snack I can feel good about serving to my own grandchildren. This is a great cookie recipe for the holidays or any time and will be a favorite of kids everywhere who will love to put on their aprons and help!

Prep Time: 40 minutes Chilling/baking time: 10 minutes per batch Yield: 8 dozen

¾ cups butter, softened

½ cup each sugar and packed brown sugar

¼ cup molasses

1 egg (or ¼ cup egg substitute)

1 ½ tsp. minced fresh gingerroot

2-¼ cups all-purpose flour (you can also use wheat flour or half and half)

1 tsp. ground cinnamon

¾ tsp. baking soda

½ tsp. each ground cloves and cayenne pepper

¼ tsp. each salt and ground nutmeg

1/8 tsp. each ground white pepper, cardamom and coriander

¾ cup turbinado (washed, raw) sugar

In a large bowl, cream butter and sugars until light and fluffy. Beat in molasses, egg and ginger. Combine the flour, cinnamon, baking soda, cloves, cayenne, salt, nutmeg, white pepper, cardamom and coriander; Ad to creamed mixture and mix well. Cover and refrigerate for 1 ½ hours or until easy to handle. Roll into ½” ball and then roll in turbinado sugar. Place 3” apart on greased baking sheets. Bake at 350 degrees for 8-10 minutes or until set. Cool for 2 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks. Store in an airtight container.

Nutrition Facts: 1 cookie equals 41 calories, 2 grams fat, 6 mg. cholesterol, 28 mg. sodium, 7 grams carbohydrate, trace fiber, trace protein

Diabetic exchange equals ½ starch

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Here is a fun recipe that makes a delightful, healthy and delicious spread for bread, toast, crackers and anything else you can dream up. I love to eat mine by the spoonful all by itself!

Herbal Honey

Fill a mason jar half to completely full with the desired herb. Some great tasting herbs that work especially well for herbal honey are:

Hyssop, Elecampane, Garlic, Ginger, Lavender, Lemon Balm, Peppermint, Rosemary, Sage, Horseradish, Sweet Marjoram, Oregano, Spearmint, Thyme, Rosehips and Rose Petals. Use your imagination and whatever is growing in your garden!

Next, fill the remainder of the jar with honey and mix well by stirring and inverting jar several times. Let the herbal honey sit for 3-7 days, then refrigerate. This honey will keep for a very long time, if not forever!
Besides making a great spread this honey will make a wonderful marinade as well! Enjoy!
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Herbal Butter

Herbal butter is another great easy herbal project that will liven up any food you use it on or cook with.

Start by softening 1/2 cup of butter to room temperature. Mix the butter with 1/2 cup of Olive Oil. Finely mince the herbs you have selected and mix well into butter either by hand or with a blender. Herbal butter stored in the fridge will last for about 2 weeks and if kept in the freezer is good for 2 months. Some great herbs to use for herbal butter are:

Mushrooms and Shallots, Rosemary and Garlic, Dandelion leaves, Orange Zest and Catnip, dried Basil and Pine Nuts, wild berries and honey, and one of our favorites, Garlic and grated fresh Parmesan Cheese.

Have fun experimenting with different herbs and flavor combinations. It won't take you long to come up with your own signature herbed butter that your whole family will love and ask for time and time again!

Apple Cider Vinegar For Amazing Hair!

2012-05-22T14:20:00.000-07:00

Here is a real quick post about the simplest and cheapest hair conditioner in the world! This cheap, amazing product will leave your hair shiny, bouncy and full of body and will cost you mere pennies per use! I use it regularly and get many compliments on how shiny and bouncy my hair is! Guess what it is...Apple Cider Vinegar! Yes, that's right, something easy and cheap that may already be in your pantry!

It's very easy to use and you will be amazed at the results! Not only does it give your hair movie star quality shine and body but each apple cider vinegar rinse will last through several shampoos! After shampooing your hair, run apple cider vinegar through it as you would a normal conditioner, scrubbing the scalp and really working it through the hair from root to ends. Leave on for a few minutes while you soap up and/or shave, then simply rinse out. Your hair will NOT smell like vinegar but it will look beautiful and hold your hairstyle in place. It is amazing and once you try it I bet you'll stick with it as part of your beauty and hair regimen.

Give this amazing hair treatment a try and I can almost guarantee you'll stick with it for life! Not only will it give your hair softness and shine without causing build-up, it will actually remove build-up from your hair without stripping the natural oils in your hair, something a clarifying shampoo cannot do! I notice that when I use it it lightens my color treated hair very slightly, not a full shade, but a tiny bit. Keep this in mind if you color your hair and use before applying a new color. It will clarify your hair as well as condition your scalp and leave it smelling fresh and clean! You'll undoubtedly get compliments about your hair so be prepared to give away your new secret to incredible hair!

I'd love to hear what you think about this unique hair treatment so please let me know once you've tried it!

My Texas Vacation W/PICS!

2012-05-09T18:59:00.000-07:00

I want to share with all of you the wonderful trip my sister Kim recently treated me to at her beautiful home in Texas a couple of weeks ago. I was very nervous about flying alone, not because I'm afraid to fly but navigating SeaTac airport and Dallas' huge Dallas-Fort Worth airport was very intimidating to me. Now that I've done it I am no longer afraid! I flew out early on a Sunday morning that was cold and drizzly in Seattle and arrived in Dallas to greet warm sunshine and my beautiful smiling sister. We stopped and had mexican food on our way to her home in Lavon, Texas and there my adventure really began.

Here are a few pictures of Kim's beautiful homestead!

I could post more but I think you get the picture! Here are photos of Kim's pottery studio and her husband Don's workshop!

And some pics around the property!

A few pics of inside the Brock homestead!
Kim gets tired of modeling for pictures!
This is a view of Kim's cowhide from upstairs in the loft. The floor plan is open and airy and allows for great natural lighting throughout!
The stairway leads up to the loft, a lovely space where Kim and Don watch TV and hang out in the evenings.

This is Kim's large soaking tub. I won't bore you with pics of the rest of her bathroom but let me tell you that I could practically live in her master bathroom. It is nearly a religious experience, LOL!

When we arrived at her house I spent the first hour taking pictures. I felt that I had arrived at a 5 star hotel with beautiful grounds and a gorgeous pool. We spent the day relaxing, chatting and getting "caught up." We had a healthy meal of stir fry that Kim made and then we enjoyed an awesome beverage my sister invented called a "Razatooey" which consists of Bacardi raspberry flavored malt liquor with raspberry flavored vodka and vodka-infused whip cream! Yum! Easy to overindulge! I'm not much of a drinker but with drinks that delicious I could be!

On my first full day we decided to hang around the house and relax. We took the dogs for a walk on a large undeveloped property that is directly behind Kim's place. Don blazes a trail with his riding lawn mower for easier walking!
As you can see, the area of Lavon, Texas is greener than many parts of the state. I loved the trees and wildness of the property!
I found some lovely wildflowers that I've never seen in Washington state before, this one was my favorite. In the hot Texas sun the flower seemed to be on fire! I only wish my camera could have done it justice!

We went to lunch that day at The In-n-Out Burger, mostly because I thought it was merely a fictitious restaurant from the movie "The Big Lebowski" and when I heard it was real I had to eat there! I don't usually eat fast food but I have to admit...it was a pretty good burger!

That night we had a healthy lasagna with salad for dinner and tucked in early, anticipating our fun day in Dallas Tuesday. After a leisurely breakfast, and mocha for Kim

we headed for Dallas, about 50 minutes from where Kim and Don live. We did part of the Dallas art walk, a fun tour of various sites throughout Dallas. We didn't do the whole walk but here are some of the highlights. We started with the Crow museum of asian art and here a few pics of some of our visit there:

This was my favorite piece in the Tantric exhibit.

When we left the museum we walked around and found these various sculptures:

This was an interesting feature...when you touch the sphere with your hand you can change the direction of it's motion. I really liked it though the pic doesn't really show off it's beauty.

As we walked we spotted this awesome mural painted on the side of an old building. I loved it and had to capture it on film!

We finished up our long walk, several miles by the time we were done, at the Dallas farmer's market. It was full of beautiful colorful veggies and fruits and the vendors give you free samples which ended up being a great healthy snack for us after all that walking!

My sister is so beautiful! Look at that Goddess hair!

We had fish tacos at a lovely cafe and enjoyed our food outside!
Me, hungry and waiting for that taco, which was spicier than our fish tacos here in Washington! My mouth was on FIRE!

After our fun day in Dallas we went home and Don smoked a chicken and we got to eat corn on the cob. Now that may not seem like a big deal to you but here's the thing: my sister has had an anaphylactic allergy to corn since she was a little girl. Less than two years ago she would have died by simply touching a kernel of corn. Thanks to the NAET protocol, a natural alternative allergy therapy, she can now eat all the corn she wants. She can also sit in the grass and enjoy wheat products, both of which would also have killed her prior to NAET. Here is a pic of Kim enjoying her corn...

On my third day we hung out and broke in the pool for the first time of the season. We had a great time splashing around
Since the pool is not heated it took us some time to brave going in all the way! But finally we did and OH! it felt so GOOD!

After the swim we both felt refreshed and ready to do anything!

Me, the palest gal in Texas, LOL!
Lucky Kim has the figure to brave a two piece suit!

On Thursday we lazed around house and property. Kim and I kindled together on her reading chaise lounge:

We watched as the dogs enjoyed a swim:
Molly loves to swim, especially when she can combine swimming and playing with her ball!
Roxy just gets in and out to cool off.

Don, who is such an awesome brother in law that I truly think of him as a real brother, is a power para glider and teaches people to fly. Here is a unit he bought while I was visiting:

Here he is checking out the new wing:

Kiting the wing:

Don had planned to take me flying but the wind kicked up for my last three days so it was unsafe to fly. That gives me a great excuse to go back!

Thursday night Kim and Don invited their good friends Brian and Prissy over, who brought their dogs. It was canine invasion night and I cooked Chicken Chili for everyone. It was a fun time of fellowship! Kim and Don have truly awesome friends!

Friday we all decided to head to Dallas to have lunch at The Alligator Cafe. It was the cutest little restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating but we sat inside because I forgot my hat and my sister didn't want me to have a Lupus flare. She's such a great little sis!

Gotta love that alligator skin wallpaper! And here is what I ate...a very heatlhy meal of grilled alligator with a tomato and cucumber salad. I found alligator to be simply delicious and I know what you are thinking! "It tastes like chicken!" LOL! I thought it tasted like a perfect combination of chicken and pork with just a hint of beef.

Curtis, our sweet little waiter, assured me that alligator is very lean and low in cholesterol and fat. He is planning a trip to Seattle soon and asked me to recommend a good place to eat. Of course I told him to sample our fine seafood here and recommended Salty's, my favorite seafood restaurant.

On Saturday, my final day in Texas, Kim's friend Kim came over and we lounged in the sun all day, chatting and laughing and having "girl" time, something I don't get much of. The "other" Kim was a hoot and I only wish I could have brought both of them home with me!

Here are a few more random pics of my time with Kim and Don:
This is an awful picture of me but it really captures Don at his goofiest best!
Don enjoys a beer after working with a new wing in the hot sun.

13 years married and going strong!

This is a pic of the propane tank that Don plans to make into a "submarine" and Kim is going to plant blue flowers all around. I will blog those pics when that project is done so stay tuned! Don is one of those guys who can build and make and create anything! I suggested he make it the yellow submarine but got a great big "NO!" for an answer, LOL!

That about wraps it up. We got up EARLY Sunday morning to take me to the airport. I have to tell you that I did have an interesting TSA experience! I was, for some reason, chosen to be patted down. My pockets were checked and I had to remove my socks, apparently they were worried I was smuggling something between my toes. The worst part was that the gal then made me move my necklace to my back and stuck her hand down my shirt, into my bra and asked "Do you have anything in your bra?" To which I responded, "Aside from my boobs and your hand, NO!" The flight home, though not brutal, was full of turbulence and I was very glad to get back on the ground. The best thing of all was when I was riding down the escalator to baggage claim and saw my handsome grinning husband waiting there for me. I missed him so much on my trip and will NEVER go anywhere without him again! When I got home my dog went ballistic and showed me how much she had missed me as well.

I am happy to report that I did not gain so much as one ounce on my vacation! I normally only weigh in once a month but for this occasion I did weigh in prior to and just after my vacation. I was proud of myself but honestly, it wasn't hard because my sister also eats healthy and we had so much fun we just didn't snack!

Vacations are great but so are happy homecomings! Thanks for sharing my trip with me!

Apples, GERD, Pimples And Toothpaste!

2012-05-05T12:30:00.000-07:00

This is a quick post about two problems I am currently battling. The first is the annoying onset of pimples. How is it that in my teenage years I never had so much as one pimple? I got my first pimple after my son was born when I was 22. Since then I have not had serious acne but do battle the occasional pimple, especially around that time of the month that every woman hates. I only get a few at a time but they are always around my mouth or on my cheeks where they are visible and shout to the world "Hey Look At Me!" I simply hate pimples!

This is not a picture of me but this is a common place for pimples to land on my face. How can you hide something like that? Makeup just doesn't do it and I believe the more makeup we add the more we contribute to the problem. Being an Herbalist I have tried several remedies, none of which work as well as the one I am going to share with you. This remedy I have tried really works, costs nothing and usually destroys the blemish within 24 hours. And it's really so simple to get rid of the pimple!

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Yes, it's toothpaste! Can you believe it? Maybe you've heard this before or perhaps you are already hip to this awesome pimple cure! Simply dab a bit of plain white toothpaste (I use good old Crest) on the pimple as soon as you notice it. Apply a good amount at bedtime and by the following morning the pimple will be greatly diminished if not gone completely! I am sure that you already have toothpaste in your bathroom, so give this a try!

Another problem that I have is GERD, which has really impacted my life in a negative way. I love to sing and I am (or at least I used to be) good at it. Singing has always brought me joy, has earned me some money and simply makes my life better. In 2010 I noticed the quality of my voice was not what it used to be. I lost my high notes and felt less control. It just didn't come as easy for me anymore. At first I thought it was just part of the aging process, though truth be told I think my voice has gotten better with age simply because of years of practice and learning what works and doesn't work for me. As my voice got worse and began to crack I finally sought medical help. After the fun scope down the throat test I was diagnosed with GERD, vocal lesions, nodules and damage due to acid reflux. I was put on voice rest, Prilosec and told my voice may never come back.

The process of GERD; damaging and painful!

I went into a deep depression that continued to get worse simply because I wasn't singing anymore. I only stayed on the Prilosec for a month and stopped, trying herbal remedies instead. Occasionally I would crank up my karaoke machine and sing but was always disappointed that my voice was still damaged and for many months I didn't even try to sing. I made changes to my diet, started drinking Aloe Vera juice three times a day and consumed lots of water and herbal teas, such as Throat Coat, all of which helped mildly but the hoarseness continued. Then I read an article about a man who started eating a red apple the moment he felt any GERD symptoms. He claimed it was almost a cure for the problem. I've never enjoyed apples but I bought an apple corer and a few gala apples. Lo and Behold! My GERD symptoms disappeared within moments of consuming the red apple. Now I eat at least one a day and sometimes more. In fact, I even like apples now!

Last week I went to Texas to visit my sister and we have always loved to sing together. Of course we ended up singing a couple of our old favorites and I was surprised to find that my voice quality was much better. I came home and continued my voice rest and apple therapy and yesterday I decided to put my apple therapy to the real test. I turned on my karoake machine and was amazed to hear myself. No, my voice is not 100% but it's back to a point that I can once again perform in public and I know it is going to get better with time. I do attribute some of this success to the Aloe Vera juice and dietary changes but the past month of eating apples is really what has made the difference. Two weeks ago I believed I would never sing in public again, something I miss. Singing and performing has always been my natural anti-depressant and I could not be happier if I had won the lottery! I sang a dozen songs last night and my voice never gave out! I could have sung more but my poor hubby had to get some sleep. Now I am happy to say we are planning a karaoke night out next weekend. This is a milestone for me and I want to share with everyone my good news! Everything they say about apples is true! Not only has my GERD improved drastically but I also find I snack less, have lost a pound or two and I am more "regular" if you know what I mean! If you have GERD I highly recommend you try eating red apples! Green apples don't work the same but any red apple will do!

Do you struggle with pimples and/or GERD? Give these remedies a try and I bet you'll be a happier, less blemished person! Let me know how it works for you!

Super Glue And Sugar Scrub

2012-04-19T16:40:00.002-07:00

Today I had an incident that involved my kitchen counter, a paper towel, my hands and a bottle of open super glue. I won't go into details but the end result was my hands covered in super glue with bits of paper towel stuck to them. No, this was not my finest moment. I tried using acetone nail polish remover to no avail. I tried hot soapy water with a gentle brush, no luck. Finally I scrubbed some of it away with some rubbing alcohol and went about my business, occasionally getting snagged on the furniture with remnant glue, and decided to whip up a batch of organic sugar facial scrub. Lo and Behold! When I had finished almost all of the glue was gone from my hands. I scooped up the leftovers from the bowl and scrubbed my hands real well and now they are about 98% back to normal, with just one fingertip stubbornly holding on to the glue. Sugar scrubs for my hands are now going to become a regular part of my skin care routine!

Here is my basic sugar scrub recipe and I hope you'll try it! It leaves your skin, yes even super-glued fingers, feeling young, soft and wonderful!

Ingredients:
1 cup organic fine sugar
1-1 1/2 tbsp. rosehip seed oil or sweet almond oil
10-20 drops essential oil of choice. I prefer Lavender because it is so healing and good for the skin

Directions:
Mix all ingredients in a small mixing bowl until well mixed. If too dry, add a bit of your carrier oil. If too wet, add a bit more sugar. When you have the right consistency put into jars or plastic containers.

To use on your face, simply dampen your face with warm water and rub sugar scrub gently into your skin in a circular motion, using your ring fingers because they are the gentlest to the skin. Avoid the eye area completely because those tissues are too fragile for exposure to the sugar.

To use for a hand scrub, wash your hands well and apply a small amount of sugar scrub to your hands. Rub well as if you were washing your hands. Rinse and repeat if necessary. It feels really good! It also is nourishing to your nails and cuticle and will give your nails a natural glow. This sugar scrub also makes wonderful gifts and Mother's Day is just around the corner!

Enjoy this free recipe and remember it if and when you ever have a superglue disaster of your own!

Fight Cancer With Asparagus!

2012-04-18T11:10:00.000-07:00

Today I received an email from a friend who, like me, is always interested in natural alternatives to medications whenever possible. This email is all about Asparagus and the way it fights Cancer. Maybe you know someone with Cancer or even have it yourself. If so, please read this article and invite Asparagus back into your kitchen!

Asparagus -- Who knew?
My Mom had been taking the full-stalk canned style asparagus, pureed it and took 4 tablespoons in the morning and 4 tablespoons later in the day. She did this for over a month. She is on chemo pills for Stage 3 lung cancer in the pleural area and her cancer cell count went from 386 down to 125 as of this past week. Her oncologist said she will not need to see him for 3 months.
THE ARTICLE:
Several years ago I met a man seeking asparagus for a friend who had cancer. He gave me a copy of an article, entitled"Asparagus For Cancer" printed in the Cancer News Journal, December 1979. I will share it here, just as it was shared with me: I am a biochemist, and have specialized in the relation of diet to health or over 50 years. Several years ago, I learned of the discovery of Richard R. Vensal, D.D.S. that asparagus might cure cancer. Since then, I have worked
with him on his project. We have accumulated a number of favorable case histories. Here are a few examples:
Case No. 1, A man with an almost hopeless case of Hodgkin's disease (cancer of the lymph glands) who was completely incapacitated. Within 1 year of starting the asparagus therapy, his doctors were unable to detect any signs of cancer, and he was back on a schedule of strenuous exercise.
Case No. 2, A successful businessman, 68 years old, suffered from cancer of the bladder for 16 years. After years of medical treatments, including radiation without improvement, he began taking asparagus. Within 3 months, examinations revealed that his bladder tumor had disappeared and that his kidneys were normal.
Case No. 3, On March 5th 1971, a man who had lung cancerwas put on the operating table where they found lung cancer so widely spread that it was inoperable. The surgeon sewed him up and declared his case hopeless. On April 5th he heard about the Asparagus therapy and immediately started taking it. By August,
x-ray pictures revealed that all signs of the cancer had disappeared. He is now back at his regular business routine.
Case No. 4, A woman had been troubled for a number of years with skin cancer. She developed different skin cancers which were diagnosed by the acting specialist as advanced. Within 3 months after beginning asparagus therapy, the skin specialist said her skin looked fine with no more skin lesions. This woman reported that the asparagus therapy also cured her kidney disease, which had started in 1949. She had over 10 operations for kidney stones, and was receiving government disability payments for an inoperable, terminal, kidney condition. She attributes the cure of this kidney trouble entirely to the asparagus treatment.

I was not surprised at this result as `The elements of materia medica', edited in1854 by a Professor at the University of Pennsylvania , stated that asparagus was used as a popular remedy for kidney stones. He even referred to experiments, in 1739, on the power of asparagus in dissolving stones. Note the dates! We would have other case histories but the medical establishment has interfered with our obtaining some of the records. I am therefore appealing to readers to spread this good news and help us to gather a large
number of case histories that will overwhelm the medical skeptics about this unbelievably simple and natural remedy.
For the treatment, asparagus should be cooked before using. Fresh or canned asparagus can be used. I have corresponded with the two leading caners of asparagus,Giant and Stokely, and I am satisfied that these brands contain no pesticides or preservatives. Place the cooked asparagus in a blender and liquefy to make a puree. Store in the refrigerator. Give the patient 4 full tablespoons twice daily, morning and evening. Patients usually show some improvement in 2-4 weeks. It can be diluted with water and used as a cold or hot drink. This suggested dosage is based on present experience, but certainly larger amounts can do no harm and may be needed in some cases. As a biochemist I am convinced of the old saying that `what
cures can prevent.' Based on this theory, my wife and I have been using asparagus puree as a beverage with our meals. We take 2 tablespoons diluted in water to suit our taste with breakfast and with dinner. I take mine hot and my wife prefers hers cold. For years we
have made it a practice to have blood surveys taken as part of our regular checkups. The last blood survey, taken by a medical doctor who specializes in the nutritional approach to health, showed substantial improvements in all categories over the last one, and
we can attribute these improvements to nothing but the asparagus drink. As a biochemist, I have made an extensive study of all aspects of cancer, and all of the proposed cures. As a result, I am convinced that asparagus fits in better with the latest theories about cancer.
Asparagus contains a good supply of protein called histones,which are believed to be active in controlling cell growth. For that reason, I believe asparagus can be said to contain a substance that I call cell growth normalizer. That accounts for its action on cancer and
in acting as a general body tonic. In any event, regardless of theory, asparagus used as we suggest, is a harmless substance. The FDA cannot prevent you from using it and it may do you much good. It has been reported by the US National Cancer Institute, that
asparagus is the highest tested food containing glutathione, which is considered one of the body's most potent anticarcinogens and antioxidants.
Just a side note... In case you are wondering why this has not been made public, there is no profit in curing cancer!
Please send this article to everyone in your Address Book.The most unselfish act one can ever do is paying forward all the kindness one has received.

R. E. “Bo” O’Heffernan
“IN GOD WE TRUST”
“NOT SO WITH OUR U.S. POLITICIANS”

“ESPECIALLY PRESIDENT OBAMA”

Are You Getting Enough Dietary Fiber?

2012-04-16T09:17:00.000-07:00

Getting enough dietary fiber is important in our daily diet. Are you getting enough? How do you know if you are getting enough and how do you know which types of fiber you should be filling up on? I found a great article about fiber at Webmd.com and wanted to share it with you. I hope you will find the article as helpful as I did! In this age of confusing nutritional and diet information I hope this helps clear some confusion for you!

Fiber: Give Yourself a Fresh Start for Health

Just a few changes of habit can give a big boost to your diet's fiber profile.

By Wendy C. Fries
WebMD Feature

Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD

We hear it on all fronts: We need more fiber in our daily diet. The questions for most of us: How much do I need, and exactly how do I get it?

If you think the answers involve unreachable goals and endless raw veggies, fear not. Boosting your dietary fiber is as easy as acquiring a few simple habits and as delicious as eating the meals you already love.

FOR THE REST OF THE ARTICLE GO HERE:

www.webmd.com/food-recipes/features/fiber-give-yourself-fresh-start-for-health

Now that you've read the article, will you be making any changes to your current diet? Will you be adding fiber or are you already getting enough? I find that increasing the fiber in my diet is helpful for many things, such as aiding in digestion, lowering my cholesterol and making me feel full between meals. How does fiber help you? I'd love to hear your thoughts!

A Nutty Egg Substitute!

2012-04-12T10:17:00.000-07:00

I know there are plenty of people out there who are limiting their intake of eggs for many reasons; allergies, cholesterol, vegan diet, just to name a few. I found an awesome egg substitute for baking that adds protein and works better as an egg substitute than using plain egg whites. I found this recipe on www.sparkpeople.com, a site that has a plethora of information on healthy eating, and wanted to share it with you! Here it is...

Flax Seed Egg Replacer (For Baking Only)

Ingredients:
3 tbsp. ground flax seed
6 tbsp. water

Directions:
Mix flax seed and water. Microwave for 30 seconds. Stir well, then microwave for another 30 seconds. Stir again.

This recipe equals 2 eggs and can be easily adjusted for any recipe.

Happy Baking and let me know how you like the flax seed replacer! I find it works AWESOME in quick breads, such as pumpkin or zucchini, and you'll never miss the egg!

Fun Facts From The Almanac

2012-04-06T11:39:00.000-07:00

I don't know about you but every year I look forward to getting the new Farmer's Almanac and reading it cover to cover. I enjoy this almost as much as I enjoy perusing my herbal journals and magazines when they come. It is like having an old friend come to visit and I carve out some quality time just to spend reading. The Almanac is always full of great information about gardening and planting and tide tables and astronomy guides but it is also chock-full of interesting facts and awesome tips from readers that can really help you in your garden and home, not to mention the great ideas for frugal living you can find. I thought I'd just share a few of the great stuff I found in this year's Farmers Almanac, though there are so many it was hard to choose just a few! I recommend you pick up your own copy so you can have the full scope of this awesome information!

Some of my favorite tips for 2012:

1. Corn Circles: Blues guitarist Elvin Bishop, famous for the melody "Fooled Around And Fell In Love," has
this unique tip for growing corn - In his 10x10 plot Elvin lays down a water drip line in a spiral of ever
increasing circles spaced 1 foot apart. The circular planting formation allows for more even pollination,
resulting in a better yield of corn.

2. Instant Compost: Put fruit, vegetable peels, rinsed egg shells, coffee grinds and other compostable items in
a blender. Add water and process. Spread wherever you need compost. Works great for container
gardens!

3. Eggshell Starts: Place small amount of dirt in bottom of rinsed eggshell. Plant seed and allow to sprout.
Once sprouted, simply plant the whole thing, eggshell and all! I LOVE this idea!!!

4. Use leftover deli chicken containers as mini greenhouses! When I think of all the deli containers I have
recycled...I wish I had read this tip years ago!

5. Perfume Paint: Mix one tsp. of Vanilla, or other flavored extract into one gallon of paint. What a great
idea! I have to paint my bathroom soon and I will definitely be trying this, though I will likely replace the
vanilla extract for a tsp. of Lavender essential oil!

Those are just a few of the great ideas to be found in the 2012 Farmer's Almanac. I can't wait to try these
ideas around my own home and garden!

What great home and garden tips do you have to share? I'd love to hear them!

Why I've Been M.I.A.

2012-04-04T10:46:00.000-07:00

I have not written anything in quite a while now and I have to confess to you it's because I've been down in the dumps, uninspired and unmotivated. I guess everyone experiences burn-out occasionally and I'm no exception. I still love herbs and natural healing, still enjoy cooking and trying new recipes, still make and sell herbal products to boost health and beauty, but for some reason I have just not felt like writing. With spring and the onset of gardening season I will likely be too busy to write. So what is my problem?

First, I've been unemployed for too long. I work per diem shifts here and there but that only amounts to 4-5 days per month. I have all this time on my hands but I've become lazy...a million projects to work on and no motivation. So, I'm going to Texas at the end of the month, a gift from my sister and am hoping to feel rejuvenated when I return home. She has a yard project for us to work on and I am hoping that will get my blood flowing again!

Second, I don't have much of a following so it is hard to feel strongly motivated to write when no one is reading! However, I have reminded myself that I don't do this blog for anyone but myself and so the writing is for me, not readers! Since I don't do FB, this is the closest thing I have to social networking.

Third, winter is always a dreary time for me! Arthritis keeps me pretty miserable from Halloween to Easter and when I'm hurting I don't feel like writing, typing or being creative.

SO...I'm taking the bull by the horns! I'm going to commit to posting at least 2 blogs per week. They may be very short posts or very long ones. They may be a simple picture or new recipe to share. They may be just be a shared article from the web that I found interesting. Whatever they are, I am making a promise to myself that I will write at least twice per week. If I'm particularly inspired I may write more!

Gardening time is almost here. I have my seeds ready and just need to start them indoors. I am giving up my herb garden space to my husband this year for our vegetable garden. Where my main herb garden sits is the best site for veggie gardening so I decided to sacrifice my space and pull up the plants so that the veggies may have the sunniest spot and I will plant my herbs in containers this year. I will transplant a few of my well established plants, such as Rosemary and Sage, but will plant the rest new. I am excited about this but when I think of all the work involved...GROAN! I believe that we will have our most successful vegetable garden this year so the work will be worth it!

I have decided to grow less herbs this year and concentrate on growing the plants I use most for making my medicinals and beauty products. I need to be less wasteful! I also am bugging my husband about building me a cheap composting unit and hope to be blogging about that soon!

What will you be growing this year? Do you garden in the ground or containers? I would love to hear about your gardening plans!

Valentine's Day Chocolate Torte

2012-02-16T11:22:00.000-08:00

Valentine's Day is over but I wanted to share with you an awesome recipe for Valentine's Day or any day of the year that you want to woo and impress your loved one! This is a delicious, rich and decadent flourless chocolate cake that your gluten-free friends and family will love! It is simple to make and one of the best tasting desserts I have ever tried! This recipe comes from my favorite cousin Julia who has given me a number of truly fantastic recipes...here is one more!

Ingredients:
7-9 oz. 50% cocoa semi-sweet chocolate bars (I used 70% cocoa organic dark chocolate candy bars)
3/4 cup butter
1 cup sugar, divided in half
4 eggs, separated

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Melt chocolate and butter on low heat and stir in 1/2 cup sugar and 4 egg yolks, mixing well into melted chocolate. Lightly beat egg whites and add in 1/2 cup sugar. Beat on medium to high until stiff peaks form. Fold the egg white mixture into the chocolate and stir well until all combined. Pour batter into a 8x8 greased pan or round cake pan. Bake for 30-40 minutes until a toothpick inserted in middle comes out clean. It is important to remember that this cake will not rise like a normal cake so don't worry when you remove it from the oven and it seems rather flat!

The Chocolate Torte Without Sauce

If you want to top your torte with raspberry sauce here is the recipe, if you can call something so easy a recipe! Just take a small container of fresh raspberries and sweeten slightly with sugar or sweetener of choice. Heat in a saucepan until a sauce is formed and spoon the sauce onto the cooled torte. Voila! A lovely and delicious dessert that will impress even the most critical guests! Enjoy!

Fraulein's Favorite Pumpkin Doggy Biscuits

2012-02-16T11:00:00.000-08:00

Does your dog have a sweet tooth? Mine does.

Fraulein

Yes, Fraulein likes anything sweet and especially loves the flavor of pumpkin with cinnamon. I hate giving her unhealthy snacks and have to admit that occasionally my dog (Fraulein) has the pleasure of licking a beater when I'm baking pumpkin or ginger bread. I know, my bad! Thankfully those days are over! I found a recipe today that I couldn't follow exactly because it called for different types of gluten-free flour that I don't have, so I tweaked it using what I could find and the doggy biscuits are now in the oven, leaving my house filled with the scent of pumpkin bread reminiscent of the holidays. It's heavenly!

Here is my own recipe for Pumpkin Doggy Biscuits:
Ingredients:
1 cup oat flour (I make my own by simply grinding whole oats in a coffee grinder for about 15 seconds)
3/4 cup whole wheat flour or any flour of your choice
1/4 cup organic unsweetened applesauce
1 cup pure pumpkin puree (not the pie filling!)
1 egg or egg equivalent
1 tbsp. organic virgin olive oil or heart healthy oil of choice (coconut might be good...I might try it next time!)
2 tbsp. ground organic flax seed
dash of cinnamon and/or pumpkin pie spice (optional but great if your dog has a sweet tooth!)

Directions:
Preheat oven to 325 degrees. In a large bowl combine the flours and ground flax seed. Add in your optional spices if desired. Add in the pumpkin puree, applesauce, egg and oil. Mix until combined. This is one treat you can allow your dogs to really enjoy! Let your pet lick the beaters and the mixing bowl clean, after all it's made specially for them!

Now for the messy part! Just try to channel your inner child for this task! Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and spread the mixture evenly with your hand until you get a thickness of about 1/8 inch. It's easier if you keep your hand just damp with warm water and have some patience! Score into squares, or use cookie cutters for shapes, but do not remove the shapes. This is just to score the shape to make it easier to break apart after baking. Now, bake for 1- 1 1/2 hours, until the biscuit has the desired crunchiness. For an older dog you may not want it to be so crunchy, depending on their teeth and oral health.

Remove from the oven and transfer the parchment paper to a cooling rack. Cool completely before you try to break the pieces apart. For best results, store in the refrigerator for up to a week or store in the freezer and remove portions as needed.

Not too pretty, but tasty and ready to eat. I even had one!

These will make great treats, training snacks or meal supplements for your dog. You may want to play with ingredients based on your dog's special needs and this base recipe allows a lot of room for creativity! I hope you'll let me know if you try the recipe and what changes you have made for your own dogs!

Fraulein happily does a taste test!

Fraulein loves her pumpkin "cookies" and comes running when I offer one! I hope your dog (s) love this recipe too! I'd love to hear from you what kind of treats you make for your own pets!

Delicious German Chocolate Cake

2012-02-02T17:07:00.000-08:00

My wonderful husband just turned 50! Happy Birthday Gunnar!

When I asked my husband what kind of cake he wanted for his birthday I really already knew...duh, a german chocolate cake. What else for a guy born and raised in Germany? So his answer was no surprise for me. Now usually I just pick up a cake mix from the store, add a bit of this and that to add flavor and moistness, then top it off with some store-bought frosting from a can. That just didn't seem good enough for a 50th birthday cake so I scoured the internet for recipes and found, I think, a true winner. I must admit, baking the cake from scratch was labor intense but SO worth it! It was moist, delicious and rich...divinely decadent! My hubby loved it and we've been enjoying it all week, though my waistline is starting to complain!

melting the chocolate was fun!

I couldn't help but try it! Yum!

Here is the recipe, which I tweaked only slightly by adding an egg, using dark brown sugar and substituting light sour cream for the full fat variety.

Ingredients for cake:
2 1/4 cups all- purpose flour (I used cake flour)
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1 1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
1 cup butter, softened
1 cup sour cream
5 large eggs
4 oz. sweet baking chocolate, melted
1/2 cup milk
3/4 tsp. vanilla extract

Instructions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees, grease and flour two 9" cake pans. In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking soda, salt, butter, sour cream, eggs, chocolate, milk and vanilla. Beat with mixer on low speed until well blended. Increase mixer to high speed and beat for another 2-3 minutes. Spoon batter into prepared pans. Bake in oven at 350 degrees for about 35 minutes or until a wooden toothpick inserted in the center of cake comes out clean. Remove to racks to cool completely.

Ingredients for frosting:
3/4 cup evaporated milk (1 small can)
1/2 cup light brown sugar, firmly packed
1/2 cup butter
3 1/2 oz. flaked coconut
1 cup chopped pecans

Instructions:
In a saucepan over medium heat bring evaporated milk, brown sugar and butter to a full boil. Remove from heat. Stir in coconut and pecans. Set aside to cool to room temperature. DO NOT attempt to frost the cake until both the cake and frosting are COMPLETELY cool...it will not frost well as you can see from the picture of my completed cake. I was too anxious! It may not have looked pretty but it sure tasted heavenly.

Gunnar enjoyed his 50th birthday cake! I hope you will try the recipe and let me know how your family like it!

Quick And Easy Fix For A Headache!

2012-02-02T10:08:00.000-08:00

Today my husband is home ill with a migraine headache. Over the years my poor migraine-prone hubby has tried everything for his headaches from aspirin to Imitrex and other prescription drugs. Narcotic pain pills only cause rebound headache and Ibuprofen and Tylenol only help a little. But we have a secret weapon in our arsenal! This secret weapon is an inexpensive natural product that has a myriad of uses but is especially helpful for headaches. Our secret weapon is...drum roll please...Lavender Essential Oil. Yes, something that simple!

I simply dampen a washcloth and sprinkle on it just a bit of the lavender essential oil, then I roll it up and place it on my suffering spouse's forehead. The Lavender Essential Oil really helps to knock out his tough headaches! Lavender is wonderfully relaxing and just a few drops on the cloth make the whole bedroom smell like a Lavender garden. My husband is able to sleep for a few hours and almost always wakes refreshed and headache free. I hope you'll try Lavender Essential Oil the next time you have a headache. If using the damp washcloth is impractical for you just rub a few drops of oil into your temples and dab a bit under your nose.

Wonderful Lavender

Other uses for Lavender are: anxiety/stress, wound and skin care. For anxiety and stress you may want to rub a bit of the essential oil into your temples or simply take a few deep inhalations from the bottle. A cup of Lavender tea will also settle those nerves! For wounds simply apply a drop or two of Lavender essential oil to help heal and ward off infection. Lavender is also known to help the skin and fight wrinkles so adding about 30-50 drops into your face lotion will help to fight aging and keep your skin glowing. You may even notice less breakouts, if you are prone to them. Experiment with the essential oil of Lavender and you will discover an array of uses and delights! If you need to purchase Lavender essential oil just click on one of the links to Mountain Rose Herbs on my blog...they will hook you up and I can personally vouch for the quality of their products.

Let me know how Lavender helps you! I'd love to hear from you!

Natural Beauty The Easy Way

2012-01-23T16:35:00.000-08:00

Do you wish you could afford lavish spa treatments and body oils? Why not just make your own? There are lots of ways to use the ingredients around your kitchen and home to keep you youthful, glowing and looking your best! Here are just a couple of ideas that are fun and easy and feel luxurious without a trip to the spa!

Glittery Body Glow:
This lovely, scented oil will keep your skin glowing and refreshed all day long!
Ingredients:
1 cup almond oil
1 tbsp. mineral makeup, golden tone (powdered eye shadow works well)
10 drops natural perfume or essential oil of choice (optional)

Preparation:
Add all the ingredients to a small container. Put the top on and swish the mixture around until well mixed. Smooth onto arms, chest, neck and legs for a glittery glow that that will last for hours!

Morning Buzz Coffee Scrub:
A different way to wake up with caffeine in the morning and a great way to use up those coffee grounds!

Ingredients:
1/2 to 1 cup of used coffee grounds
2 tbsp. coarse salt
1-2 tbsp. olive oil

Preparation:
Place the coffee grounds in a container that will be safe in your shower. Add the salt and drizzle the olive oil, stirring with your fingers to blend. Scrub your body gently with the coffee grounds mixture, being careful to avoid the eyes. Rinse well and feel refreshed all over!

I hope you enjoy these fun and easy beauty tricks. The coffee scrub feels great and is truly rejuvenating! The body glow is fun on a summer day or on a winter's day when you want to feel a bit of summer. Enjoy!

Are You Ready For Flu Season?

2011-11-14T12:32:00.000-08:00

That time of year has come...yes, it's flu season! What, if anything, are you doing to prevent the flu from striking you or your loved ones? Take the time to take the quiz at the bottom of my blog...it will tell you if you are ready to face H1N1 and other flu viruses coming your way!

Some of the most basic tricks can help you from getting the flu, such as frequent hand washing and avoiding sick people. These two actions are your biggest help in warding off the flu. If you do develop symptoms grab some Elderberry tincture (I have plenty available and if you buy it by the end of this month I will give you a 20% discount!) and hot herbal teas. You may not have much of an appetite if you develop the flu but try to force yourself to eat clear broths with lots of fresh ginger root, onions and raw garlic. Remember to drink lots of fluids and get plenty of rest. I make a great big batch of carrot-ginger soup every fall that I store in the freezer in case of colds and flu. This soup is very healing and easy to heat up when you are ill. But don't wait until the flu hits because you won't be well enough to cook, so make it now and save it for when you need it!

Kelly's Carrot and Ginger Soup:

Prep Time: 20 minutes Servings: 6-8 category: Appetizer/Main Dish/Soup
Ingredients: Try to use organic products as much as possible!

2 lbs. carrots, washed and sliced (DO NOT PEEL THE CARROTS!)
3 tbsp. virgin olive oil
6 garlic cloves, minced or crushed
6 whole garlic cloves
4 cups broth or water
1 large onion
1 tbsp. fresh lemon juice (in a pinch bottled will do but fresh is truly best)
6 thin slices of fresh ginger root
1/2 tsp. dried thyme or 1tsp. fresh thyme
gr. black pepper to taste
whipping cream - OPTIONAL to use 1/4 to 1/2 cup
6 whole cloves

Instructions:
Heat oil in a heavy pan over medium heat. Add carrots, onion, ginger, whole cloves and whole garlic cloves and saute all until the onion is translucent. Add 3 1/2 cups broth. Cover and simmer until carrots are very soft, about 30 minutes. Remove cloves from the broth and discard. Puree soup in blender. Return soup to same pot and mix in lemon juice. Season to taste with salt and pepper and thin to desired consistency with leftover broth. If desired, whisk cream in medium bowl until just slightly thickened, about 10 seconds, and drizzle over soup when serving. I myself do not add the cream and the soup is still delicious. Add raw crushed garlic to soup just before serving. I like to add an herbal garnish. Rosemary is the garnish featured in the picture above. Any fresh herb will make a great garnish!

Not only is this soup waistline friendly, it is incredibly good for you. It's a wonderful fall harvest soup for crisp autumn nights. When you feel a cold or fever coming on, make this soup and triple the ginger in the recipe. It will be especially helpful if you add 1-2 cloves raw garlic to your soup bowl before you pour in the soup. You only get the real health benefits from raw garlic, so pile it on! Eat this soup often when ill. Make a big batch and keep in the freezer for when you need it and don't feel well enough to cook! Of course, this soup tastes great and is awesome to eat even if you are feeling fine and healthy!

A Honey Of A Problem!

2011-11-09T13:50:00.000-08:00

Today a shocking report was revealed at Natural News that I find especially disturbing. I'm thankful that I only buy raw honey from local honey growers because today I learned that about 75% of the honey sold in grocery stores and discount warehouses is not even honey! It is nothing more than processed corn syrup and other artificial and harmful ingredients. To think how many consumers are innocently buying honey thinking that they are doing something good for their family. How many of you housewives have switched to using honey rather than sugar in some of your recipes? I guarantee you will feel cheated after you have read this article. This article makes a strong case for buying locally grown raw honey. It is worth your time to seek a good honey grower out. Not only will you pay less for a high quality product, you will truly be enhancing your family's health! Please read this article and share it with your friends, loved ones and all honey lovers you know! Here it is...

(NaturalNews) Just because those cute little bear-shaped bottles at the grocery store say "honey" on them does not necessarily mean that they actually contain honey. A comprehensive investigation conducted byFood Safety News(FSN) has found that the vast majority of so-called honey products sold at grocery stores, big box stores, drug stores, and restaurants do not contain any pollen, which means they are not real honey.

For the investigation, Vaughn Bryant, one of the nation's leading melissopalynologists, or experts in identifying pollen in honey, and director of the Palynology Research Laboratory at Texas A&M University, evaluated more than 60 products labeled as "honey" that had been purchased by FSN from ten states and the District of Columbia.

Bryant found that 76 percent of "honey" samples purchased from major grocery store chains like Kroger and Safeway, and 77 percent of samples purchased from big box chains like Sam's Club and Wal-Mart, did not contain any pollen. Even worse were "honey" samples taken from drug stores like Walgreens and CVS, and fast food restaurants like McDonald's and KFC, 100 percent of which were found to contain not a trace of pollen.

For the rest of the article please go here: http://www.naturalnews.com/034102_honey_consumer_alert.html

Learn more:http://www.naturalnews.com/034102_honey_consumer_alert.html#ixzz1dFKfLMrL

Now that you've read this article, are you shocked? I was shocked at first but after giving it thought I realized this is just one of the many hoaxes and lies fed to hungry consumers each and every day. We all need to become better label readers but in this day and age we need to go one step further! Become proactive and take advantage of today's technology! Take the time and do some research into the products you are buying, the companies that are manufacturing and selling them and question the quality, safety and cost, both financially and to your health, when deciding what to grab off the grocery shelf!

I would love to hear your comments and ideas for healthier shopping and buying habits! Will you do more research into what you are eating? Are you a honey lover and just plain mad about being duped? I want to hear from you!

Save Big Bucks On Food And Medicine!

2011-11-08T11:20:00.000-08:00

I don't know about you, but in this economy I am trying to save money in whatever ways I can. I was unemployed myself for over 2 years and have only been working again for 4 months, part time and on a temporary assignment which is over at the end of this month. I am already stressed about making our mortgage payment and keeping the utilities on, not to mention paying other bills and eating too! I am sure many of you are in the same boat or know someone who is. I found a great video series where we can all learn to keep the cost of food and medicine down for our families through these trying financial times. I found it at Natural News and encourage you to check out this unique educational series for yourself! If you are interested in learning how to feed your family for much less this low-cost video series might be just what you are looking for! This is not just a series about how to garden and harvest your own fruits and vegetables but also how to make medicine for you and loved ones right in your own backyard. It doesn't take an Herbalist or an expert to make basic home medicine and this series is a great value for such a low price! I hope you will enjoy the series and share with us what you learn!

Here is the introduction and a video trailer for you to watch from Natural News:

Dear NaturalNews readers,
We've just launched a really educational video series that teaches you how to find zero-cost food and medicine all around you, even if you live in the suburbs or a city.
This is an especially timely video series because of the worsening economy and the need for people to find more food and medicine without spending money on it.
I'm personally studying this course to make sure I've got a backup supply of foods and medicines that I can readily identify and harvest if I need to.
Click here to see the preview trailer or get the video series now.

Please share with me and other readers what you think of the series after you view it! Will this change your buying and/or food growing habits? Will you become your own pharmacist and make your own medicine? I would love to hear your feedback!

Hershey's...The Evil Halloween Chocolate!

2011-10-23T11:19:00.000-07:00

It's that time of year again when spooks and ghouls come out to play, when children don costumes and trick or treat for candy, when neighbors yards look like haunted houses and the stores are selling tons of Halloween candy. Did you know that almost half the Halloween candy sales are Hershey's products? It's probably no surprise to you but what may shock you is to learn that Hershey's is guilty of illegal child labor. Please read the following article before you go out and purchase your Halloween candy!

(NaturalNews) Fed up with Hershey's continued import of cocoa harvested by children, a group of more than 45,000 consumers, has banded together to call on the company to stop the practice, and to urge consumers to boycott its chocolate this Halloween. DubbedHershey: Raise the Bar!, the initiative is calling on Hershey's to live up to its promise to end child labor, forced labor, and trafficking in its cocoa supply chains, which it has failed to do so far.

According to the petition, which can be found at Change.org (http://www.change.org/petitions/her...), several major chocolate companies, including Hershey's, committed roughly a decade ago to stop using cocoa grown and harvested with child labor. Since that time, many of the other chocolate companies have made at least some progress in ridding their supply chains of child labor chocolate, but Hershey's has not.

Learn more:http://www.naturalnews.com/033940_child_labor_Hersheys.html#ixzz1bd5OXsom

For the rest of the article go here:
http://www.naturalnews.com/033940_child_labor_Hersheys.html

After reading this article will it affect your buying decision when you are facing the Halloween candy in the grocery store? Will you buy Hershey's chocolate candies or will you go with another brand? Before I read the article I was blissfully unaware of Hersheys' child labor practices. Now that I am aware I must admit that I will not be buying Hershey's this year and will opt for a different brand. I would feel bad giving children candy that came from the forced labor of other children. But that's just me. I would love to hear your thoughts and opinions on this so please comment or even email me!

I'm kissing Hershey's chocolate goodbye!

Five Ordinary Foods That Are Really Superheroes!

2011-09-26T12:40:00.000-07:00

Today while I was cruising Natural News for interesting stories I ran across this article that talks about 5 "ordinary" foods that are really superheroes! I wanted to share this article with you...enjoy!

(NaturalNews) When observing the typical diet of American consumers, with all the fried foods, aspartame-laced "diet" products and pasteurized, hormone-ridden dairy products that typical people consume, I sometimes ask myself a question that perhaps you've pondered, too: What on Earth is keeping all these people alive?

The answers may surprise you. Hidden inside the typical western diet of highly-toxic processed foods are gems of natural medicine that you'd never suspect are really health foods. So here, I've assembled a short list of the five most powerful health-enhancing foods that don't seem like health foods but which are quite possibly the one remaining source of natural medicines for mainstream consumers.

#1 - Mustard

Mustard, believe it or not, is a medicinal paste made from the seed of the mustard plant. It's a superfood that's been around for at least 5,000 years, and it's one of the few common sources of cancer-busting selenium, a trace mineral often missing from over-farmed soils.

Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/033695_health_foods_mustard.html#ixzz1Z5ZrYUba

For the rest of this great and interesting article go here:

http://www.naturalnews.com/033695_health_foods_mustard.html

Now that you've read the article how will you incorporate these 5 super foods into your family's diet and lifestyle? I'd love to hear your feedback so comment or email me today!

Kelly's Own "Welcome To Autumn Harvest Soup"

2011-09-25T21:23:00.000-07:00

Today we woke to a blustery and crisp autumn day with the sun shining and the leaves fluttering wherever the wind led them. It felt like a good day to make soup with the vegetables left in the garden. Gunnar would be working in the yard and later watching football and making soup just seemed like the thing to do. I went outside and gathered some fresh tomatoes, onions, carrots, zucchini, a few remnant green beans, and I even dug up a few baby potatoes to throw in to the soup.

To make my Welcome To Autumn Harvest Soup I gathered:
8 or 9 medium sized tomatoes
1 medium zucchini
8 green onions
handful of green beans
8 small carrots
5 small potatoes
1 cup sliced baby portabella mushrooms
3 cloves fresh garlic, minced or pressed
dry pasta (opetional)
1/5 au jus dry seasoned packet
corn, fresh or frozen
sea salt and pepper to taste
fresh herbs of your choice, preferably what you have growing or access to
1 lb extra-lean ground beef (I used 4% fat)
whatever else you want to throw in the pot, such as other veggies, herbs and leftovers from the fridge!

After cleaning and cutting the tomatoes I threw them in my soup pot and let them start cooking while I cut up and added the rest of the vegetables. Once the tomatoes had cooked down I added 2 cups of organic low sodium chicken broth and some sea salt and ground black pepper to taste. For added nutrition and a nice mellow flavor I added 2 handfuls of sliced baby portabella mushrooms to the soup which contributed nicely to the soup's interesting mixture of autumn flavors.

I then returned to the garden to gather some herbs. I decided on Basil because it goes well with tomatoes, Rosemary because it goes will with the lean ground beef I added after the vegetables were soft, Thyme because it adds a great flavor to everything and just a few snips of Sage to round out the flavor. To cook the ground beef simply brown in a frying pan and add to soup when cooked rare to medium rare. It will finish cooking in the pot.

I went back inside and added a chopped handful of each of the herbs and tossed them into the soup pot, giving the soup a good stir to blend in the herbs for added flavor and nutrients.

The soup pot looks so pretty with the addition of Rosemary and Thyme added for flavor and nutritional benefits.

I grabbed some dry pasta noodles from the cupboard and added about a handful and a half to the soup as well as a good portion, about a cup, of frozen corn. I let this all simmer for about an hour, stirring occasionally and adding a few more handfuls of fresh Rosemary, Basil and Thyme. After a taste test I decided to add just a bit of Au Jus (about 1/5 of a dried seasoning packet), 1 cup of organic low sodium beef broth and fresh garlic. I let this simmer another half hour until the soup smelled so wonderful we just couldn't wait any longer!

Of course, I had to taste the soup and make sure it was good enough to feed to my wonderful husband who worked so hard in the yard cleaning up the debris left by those strong autumn winds!

Gunnar loaded a big bowl of soup and with a grilled cheese sandwich on the side, it's a complete meal packed with nutrients, taste and your own garden's harvest!

Kelly eats from a smaller bowl, ever practicing control!
This is a very hearty soup that was great with the grilled cheese sandwiches but would pair nicely with a green salad and chilled fruit, such as cinnamon pears. Or just grab some crackers and enjoy!

The best thing about making a Harvest Soup is that it will be different every time you make it because you will have different vegetables to harvest each time you make the soup.

mm...mm...good!

Be creative, clean out the fridge and come up with your own fall harvest soups! Please share your ideas and recipes here at theherbnhousewife! I would love to post reader's recipes so don't be shy!