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Make Ourselves Great Again

11/13/2016

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The election of 2016 has been an extreme roller coaster ride over the past year and a half.  As a country we have witnessed events and behaviors that have been unprecedented.  We have seen some of the best but more of the worst sides of human nature.. We have witnessed deep divides.  We have seemed to have lost our way in being civil toward one another. Or are we only being exposed to a marginal voice of the overall amount of people who live here?

It has been a week filled with deep emotions for millions of Americans as a result of the election.. I am not one to share my political thoughts on social media but I do read what others have written. And I feel I need to assert my voice here.

I believe in the goodness and kindness of humanity, I feel most people strive to be respectful and dignified toward others. But the less angry may not be sharing their points of view in a mature and responsible way to the degree that those who are feeling outraged are. Therefore, if they are not putting a voice to their thoughts, it may appear as if this perspective is close to silent. 
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This week emotional wounds have been rubbed raw. It has been disturbing to me to read what has been written from both sides...the anger and nastiness that has come through saddens me on the innermost level.. I worry about the examples we are setting for the youngest among us. Children look to adults to learn and then model behaviors and attitudes.  We need to recognize our responsibility in this process., and do our best to be the best.

So I have written my 8 point plan to not make America great again- but ourselves first- then as goes the microcosm, the macrocosm follows,  Please give it some thought!


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Exactly What is Aromatherapy?

10/30/2016

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Aromatherapy is the inhalation and bodily application of essential oils from aromatic plants to relax, balance, rejuvenate, restore or enhance body, mind and spirit. Pure essential oils are extracted from many parts of the plant including the flower, leaf, resin, bark, root, twig, seed, berry, rind and rhizome.

A basic principle of Aromatherapy is to strengthen the self-healing processes by indirect stimulation of the immune system. The depth of use of essential oils is quite wide, ranging from deep and penetrating therapeutic uses to the extreme subtlety of a unique fragrance.

Aromatherapy is considered by some to be an ancient yet timely and modern approach to total well being that is in tune with nature. Aromatherapists, armed with a technical understanding of an oil`s constituents, artfully blend essential oils to produce new aromas.

The results of Aromatherapy are very individual. While there is general agreement about the actions of certain oils, Aromatherapy texts may vary in their descriptions of the properties and characteristics of an essential oil. In addition, no two people are affected by the same essential oil in exactly the same way. Even the same person can be affected differently by the same oil depending on surroundings, time of day or mood. 
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Today in the West, the popularity of Aromatherapy as an alternative or complementary therapy is growing rapidly. According to the National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy, in the U.S. Aromatherapy is a $300 million dollar business, and they project it to be a $1 billion dollar business by the year 2000. (Health Foods Business 12/98, p.26) Already, in areas of Europe it is common to find mainstream doctors who practice Aromatherapy and health insurance companies that reimburse for treatments. 

What are the Different Types of Aromatherapy?

The different types of Aromatherapy are cosmetic, massage and olfactory. Regardless of which type of Aromatherapy you choose, essential oils should always be diluted in a carrier oil. 

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Cosmetic Aromatherapy combines essential oils with facial, skin, body and hair care products containing all natural ingredients. 


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    Aromatherapy for Massage combines
   the healing touch of massage therapy with
   the aromatic benefits of essential oils..



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   Olfactory Aromatherapy releases essential oils into the environment around you either by inhaling or diffusion. For inhalation, you can either dispense the essential oil into a handkerchief or spray a mixture of essential oils and distilled water into the air and breathe in. Diffusion is the evaporation of the aromatic components of an oil into the atmosphere using Aromatherapy equipment. 

​Several different devises are used to fill the air space of a room. Some use heat as a means of "evaporating" the essential oils; this spreads the essential oil vapor throughout the room. Candle diffusers and ceramic or brass rings placed on light bulbs are commonly used. Other diffusers consist of an electrical air pump and glass nebulizer, which micro-ionizes the volatile oil, thus allowing for the most efficient form of inhalation treatment. 


How Does Aromatherapy Work?

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When inhaled, essential oils affect our bodies in  several ways. The essential oil component molecules enter the nasal passages where they stimulate the olfactory nerve. This sends messages directly into the limbic system. The limbic system, located in the brain, is the seat of memory, learning and emotion. The inhalation of the essential oils triggers changes within the limbic system which in turn can stimulate physiological responses within the body via the nervous, endocrine or immune systems. Either stimulation or sedation of body systems or organs may occur. 

Certain essential oils may have certain effects. For example, due to their effect on the brain and the subsequent sedating or stimulating of the nervous system, essential oils can also indirectly raise and lower blood pressure and possibly aid in normalization of hormonal secretion. The inhalation method can be useful for respiratory symptoms. Local application of diluted oils on various points (i.e. spinal nerves, chakras, and meridians) is effective for certain conditions. Massage Aromatherapy provides relaxation as well as a physiological action through the nervous system. In addition, when applied topically, essential oils can exhibit anti-microbial, antiseptic, anti-fungal, or anti-inflammatory properties. Although essential oils produce certain effects that can be counted on, they also adapt to the needs of different people

How Can I Learn More?

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When learning something new, the amount of  information can be very overwhelming.  So to help those who want to dive in and learn more, Seeds for Change Wellness has published a beginners guide to help you get started with the basics- laying the foundation for safe use.  This guide focuses on 5 starter essential oils that are helpful for personal and home care use.:  Lavender, Eucalyptus, Rosemary, Tea Tree and Peppermeint Essential Oils.

This guide is available on Amazon in both Kindle and Paperback format.

Be sure to take a peek!


Paperback
Kindle
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Kitchen Sink Wisdom: Castor Oil Packs

9/22/2016

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WHAT IS KITCHEN SINK WISDOM?
Kitchen Sink Wisdom is about using natural remedies, easily done from home, with supplies and materials that you most likey have around the house..Some remedies and advice have a long family history, being handed down  from generation to generation.   

CASTOR OIL
Castor oil is a pale yellow vegetable oil, extracted through the pressing of the castor oil beans from the castor plant.  It is commonly available in stores and online.  When using the castor oil pack remedy, it is best to purchase a high quality product that has been cold pressed and free from chemical additives and pesticides. 


Castor oil may be administered externally or internally.  Internally, it has been used mainly as a cathartic (i.e. powerful laxative) and in induction of labor. The constituent ricin, in castor oil is acutely toxic, and for this reason castor oil should never be taken internally except
under the supervision of a naturopathic doctor or other qualified health care professional. Used externally, it is applied as a heated compress over the affected area


THE GENTLE WARRIOR
Castor oil has many benefits and uses for improving health, the skin and our hair. 
  • Helps boost the lymphatic system to improve immunity. Lympathic congestion is one of the major factors that contributes to inflammation
  • Helps boost circulation
  • Helps detox the liver
  • Assists in wound healing
  • Helps relieve constipation
  • Conditions the skin and hair
Several years ago I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis and was told this was a degenerative disease that would continue to get worse over time.  Upon leaving the doctor’s office, I remember a thought that entered my mind which said- "I don`t do Rheumatoid Arthritis!"  

A day or two later, a health newsletter, called Alternatives, which I received  monthly arrived.  In that issue was an article on the use of castor oil packs for the treatment of arthritis.  I was in so much pain, pretty much confined to bed, with every joint in my body inflamed.  So, I figured,  why not give it a try.  I began the treatments as described, continuing daily for one week.  

With each treatment, the pain began subsiding, the areas of inflammation reduced, and finally after a week, I was up and resuming my normal day-to-day activities.  Since that time, I may have an occasional flare-up, localized to one spot, upon which I promptly 
give myself a treatment, within a day or two, the pain disappears and I am off and running again.  

I am not saying others will see the results I had.  Everyone's situation is different, but I know it will help.  The reason I
I suggest this treatment to many is because of the personal results both I and others have experienced from its use.  Having used it in a variety of situations, it has been helpful.  The cost is cheap, and it is not a risky treatemnt, but it does involve committing to the time to follow the treatment protocols. 

BRUCE  BAAR, MS ND
“Castor Oil has been used through out the ages as a natural therapy. Castor oil applied externally in the form of "packs" is very popular with natural health practitioners. The Edgar Cayce Readings inform us that castor oil packs are to be used to improve assimilations, eliminations and circulation; especially of the lymphatic system. 

A castor oil pack is made with layers of flannel like material, enough to absorb and hold the castor oil during application. The flannel material is wool, cotton or the newly designed disposable pack, each of which you will need to saturate with cold-pressed castor oil before using..

A common area to apply the castor oil pack is on the right side of the abdomen, between the upper part of the rib cage and the upper edge of the hipbone. Another common area is across the abdomen from the right to the left side of the body, covering from the sternum to the pubic or groin area. Application is usually for 1 to 2 hours. A heating pad is placed on top of the castor oil pack to keep it very warm during application. It is best to consult your health care practitioner to determine frequency of application.”
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CASTOR OIL PACKS
Applying a castor oil pack is  easy.  It is the go to remedy in our household when we are dealing with inflammation and muscle aches and pains.

This is how we apply a castor oil pack.  Instead of using the wool flannel, we use those disposable blue bed sheets and cut a piece to size.  Sometimes we add in a pinch of tumeric or ginger which have  inflammation fighting properites, to give it an additional boost.


  • Cut a sections of the disposable sheet to a size large enough to cover your abdomen and place enough castor oil onto the sheet so that  it is  saturated but not dripping.
  • Place this over the abdomen area.
  • Cover the disposable sheet with  plastic wrap. 
  • Place a heating pad over the disposable sheet. Turn the setting up to high.
  • Leave on for 1 hour.  If this becomes too hot, turn it down a bit until you can return it back to the higher temperature.
  • After one hour, turn off the heating pad, and clean off the area where the castor oil was.  The sheet can be stored in a plastic bag in the fridge, and reused several times
  • Repeat this procedure 3 days in a row. 
  • Day four: take the day off from giving yourself a treatment, Return to castor oil treatments on day 5 & 6. 
  • Do not use the castor oil treatment packs if pregnant.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
A good reference source is the book: The Oil That Heals: A Physician’s Successes with Castor Oil Treatments . Author: William A McGarey, M.D. .Publisher: A.R.E. Press, 215 67th Street, Virginia Beach, VA 23451-2061


See Video on how to apply a Cold Pressed Castor oil pack
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Baked Butternut, Yummy!

9/19/2016

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    One of my favorite vegetables from the garden is
    butternut squash.  And it's a good thing, because
    my hubby definitely overplants!

    Besides the yummy taste of butternut, a big plus is
    that when you plant enough of it, like in our garden,
    it can be stored in a cool garage and your harvest
    will last until the next season.

Storage:  We live in the northeast, with cold winters, so I have a space in our garage when I can store the butternut on an old bookcase.  I stand them up, next to each other on the shelve.and that's it!  When I want butternut for dinner, throughout the year, I just go out and get one.  They stay wonderfully!

I think the best way to make this squash is to bake it.  It is so quick and easy.  Often when it is just my husband and me looking for a quick meal, we will each have a whole butternut squash and small salad as our dinner. What could be simplier than that?

MY BAKED BUTTERNUT RECIPE

1 butternut squash
2 TBS melted butter
real maple syrup
brown sugar
cinnamon
nutmeg


  • Preheat the oven to 400 degrees
  • Wash off the outside of your butternut.  
  • Split in half as shown in the picture.
  • Scoop out the seeds.  Save them to dry if you want for next years garden.
  • I leave the skin on, but pierce the outside several times with a fork to create holes to help the baking process
  • Line a cookie sheet with tin foil, grease lightly.
  • Place your butternut squash face down and cook for about 45 minutes
  • When it is almost done, melt about 1 tablespoon of butter for each half of the butternut squash- then mix in the rest of the ingredients- I don't use measurements- but mix the rest together to the taste desired.  The maple syrup and brown sugar can be eliminated if you want a healthier version.
  • Mash the butternut with a fork like you would a baked potato, then add your butter mix, and blend throughly.. 
  • Bake an additional 10 minutes.

Saving Your Seeds

If you want to save your seeds for next year, it's a simple process.  Put your seeds in a colander and rinse with cold water to wash off all the gook.  Dry them with a paper towel. Then lay out your seeds on a sheet of wax paper to dry. Once dried, put in an envelope, date and lable.  Place in the fridge until needed next season.

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Mornings Made Easier

9/18/2016

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FREE BOOK DOWNLOAD 9/18 & 9/19 AT AMAZON

Is the start to your day crazy?
 

Maybe you get up late and are rushig to get ready for work.

Maybe you have kids that you that you need to get ready and out the door in time to catch the school bus.

Or maybe you are just trying to get off to a good start- calm, cool, relaxed.

Fuel Up!
Whatever the case may be, it is important to get get fueled up to face the day..
Just like your car doesn't run when the gas gauge registers empty- you too don't perform at you peak level if your body is not energized and ready for action.

So, make a promise to yourself- and treat your body like it desevers to be treated!  

One of the ways to do this is to get a good, healthy nutritious meal inside so you function well on the outside. 

I'd like to share a few of my favorite recipes from my book Grab & Go Breakfast Recipes  that can help you keep that promise.

Recipe Ideas:


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    Strawberry Breakfast Parfait
 
    Indredients:
     Low fat plain yogurt
     Cut up frozen strawberries
     Brown Rice Syrup
     Wheat & Barley Cereal
     Flaxseed meal and wheat germ



​Grab a glass, and cover the bottom with yogurt. Add some cut up frozen fruit.
Put on another layer of yogurt. Mix in a little bit of sweetener. Top with cereal, wheat germ and flaxseed. Mix up and eat.

Mix up your parfait the night before in a mason jar, Cover, and put in the fridge for a really easy grab and go breakfast!

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      Mango Lassie Smoothie

      Ingredients:
      
1 cup low fat plain yogurt
      1 mango- cut up
      2/3  cup  water
      Handful of ice
      Flaxseed meal and wheat germ
      Dash of cinnamon
      Dash of cardamom





The best way to make the perfect smoothie is to forget the measuring cups and rely on a little trial and error.  The ripeness of your fruit, whether it is frozen or not, and how good your blender is, all factor into the amount of time you will need to blend your smoothie. 

A good smoothie will be just liquidly enough that you can suck it up through a straw without having to strain your lungs to the point of bursting.

Toss your ingredients into your blender, liquids first, then buzz away!

If your smoothie is too thick, add more liquid, if it is too watery, thicken it up with more ice, yogurt or frozen banana.

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      No Cook Breakfast Bars
      Ingredients
      Kashi cereal
      Dates
      Nuts: Sunflower seeds, walnuts, almonds
      Optional ingredients:
      Unsweetened coconut
      Unsweetened coco powder
                                                                        Cinnamon
                                                                        Brown sugar

A great grab and go breakfast!  Make a big batch and freeze what you will not use within a few days.  You are only limited by your imagination- no specific measurements needed.  Use what you have in the pantry at the time.

Place all ingredients into a food processor to blend.  Form into bars, place on a wax paper lined cookie sheet overnight to dry. Cut into bars, wrap and freeze the extras

Well I hope I have inspired you with a few of these recipes!  
Give them a try and let me know what you think.


FOR MORE RECIPE IDEAS CHECK OUT
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DIY Linen Spray

9/4/2016

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linen spray

Freshen Up Your Clothes!

I love working with essential oils for so many reasons  They smell wonderful, are natural and mutlifaceted in use. Whether you are dealing with a minor ailment, want to make a personal care product or need some help with household chores --there is an essential oil out there that can help.

One of my least favorite chores is ironing! There is no TV in the room where I iron to distract my attention, but when I use this linen spray- it does help make me feel more cheerful- the aroma just transports me and I forget about how much I'd rather be doing something else! 

It is very easy to  make, is much less costly than buying a spray from the department store and you get the satification that you have make something special for yourself.

WHAT YOU NEED:
  -  a 4 oz spray bottle
  -  2 tbs of witch hazel
  -  6 drops of Lavender essential oil --tje real stuff, not a cheap fragrance
  -  distilled water

In your spray bottle, add the witch hazel and drops of Lavender. Shake it up for about a minute or so to really blend the essenial oil with the witch hazel.  Then fill the rest of the sprayer with distilled water. Cap and shake well!  It is as simple as that.  Oh, yes, before you use your spray again- don't forget to shake it up!

Ironing may not be fun, but your clothes will smell wonderful! 
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Easy Steps to Start Dowsing

9/4/2016

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Learn More About Dowsing
Have you always been interested in the magical ability of dowsers? Wishing you could do the same thing yourself? Well the bad news is---there is no magic; the good news is---we all can dowse. Now how well you dowse, that degree of skill and ability is entirely up to you.

Just like any other skill in life, we become competent with practice, we become good with more practice plus understanding, and finally we become the master with more practice, understanding, and willingness to allow our intuitive abilities to shine through the veil we hide behind.

The purpose of this article is to outline the basics so you can begin your adventure into the world of dowsing as soon as you have finished reading. There are any number of tools that can be used to dowse, such as L-rods, Y-rods, bobbers, and pendulums. For the master dowser, tools begin to be unnecessary and a large number of tool-less dowsing techniques are employed. I will be discussing learning to dowse using the pendulum, simply because this is my tool of choice.

The First Thing You Need is a Pendulum 
You can purchase one from a store or online, but if a simple tool is all you need to get started, begin by looking around your house. Any string or chain can be used which has something suspended from the end of it. I have made hundreds of pendulums in the past ten years using gemstones, crystals, stones and beads but my favorite pendulum is the necklace I wear. It is a simple quartz crystal pendant on a silver chain. It is my signature jewelry piece, not wearing it feels like walking around without underwear. So it is always with me. The trouble with my other pendulums was that I wouldn't always have it with me then I would want to dowse something and ughhh! no pendulum. The necklace eliminates the problem. You can use a needle on a thread, a key on a keychain, a screw looped through a string. The possibilities are limited my your imagination.

Now We are Ready to Get Started:


Step 1: Get Clear
Empty your mind of any busyness that is cluttering it up...pretend there is a port hole on the side of your head... open it up, allow the thoughts, chatter, mind-mess to drain out. If you have some trouble with this, concentrate on your breathing...breathe in open space, breathe out stuffiness, continue until you feel very clear headed.

Step 2: Get Connected & Grounded

Get connected to your higher self, this is a continuation of step one, once the gunk is moved out, our higher energies have space. Use whatever means gets you into this space. I like to center myself and ask to be in perfect alignment with my higher self, by focusing my attention on the crown chakra at the top of the head, while imagining a strong golden cord between me and the Source. I then ground myself. This is done simply by visualizing strong roots growing out of the bottom of my feet, moving deeply into Mother Earth. Here I am provided with a two way flow...if I need to discharge energy it can flow into the earth to be transmuted, if I need to gather earth energy, it is absorbed upward.

Step 3: Find Your Yes & No

In order to dowse, you must know what your Yes response will look like as well as your No response. Holding your pendulum chain or string comfortably in one hand, position your elbow on a table or solid foundation. Give the direction: "Please Show Me My Yes Response". Then let go of any expectation and wait. It may take a minute to have your pendulum show a reaction, although most people can get a response much quicker, within 10 -15 seconds on their first attempt. The swing may be a vertical or horizontal line, a clockwise or counterclockwise swing, or a diagonal to the left or right. Record what your Yes Response was.

Next give the direction: "Please Show Me My No Response." Generally it will be the opposite of your Yes response. If your received a horizontal line for a Yes, then in most cases you will receive a vertical line for a No. This is not always the case but it is more frequently than not. Record what your No response was.
On the first few attempts the response may be a weak signal. If this is the case, you can strengthen the response just by asking. For example, when you direct "Show Me My Yes" and you get a weak (slow moving/barely moving) horizontal line, follow with the direction "Show Me a Stronger Yes". The pendulum will move faster or quicker, in a more definite or defined way. A few times practicing this will generally result in strong swings from then on.

Step 4: Questions to Ask Before Dowsing

Dowers practice asking 3 questions before beginning. May I? Can I? Should I? The questions refer to: May I dowse for this information? Can I- do I have the ability/experience to dowse for this information? Should I dowse for this information or is it best to leave it alone?

Step 5: Some More about Your Questions

The subconscious mind is very literal and does not make assumptions.....
  • Be specific and clear.
  • Yes or No questions only! Seems basic but sometimes we forget.
  • Ask only one question at a time. This means: NO COMPOUND QUESTIONS.
  • Empty your mind, be curious to know the answer,don't use this system to validate something you want to prove
  • Along the same lines, do not ask questions you have a vested interest in or are 
  • highly emotional and you can not detach from-have someone else dowse for you.
  • After you ask the question- let go and let the response come through you.

Step 6: Begin to Dowse
Start dowsing very simple things until you get comfortable. Here are a few examples of what you can do::
  • You can get a partner to work with and have 2 apples in the room,one organic and one conventional. Hang your pendulum over the first apple, asking "Is this apple organic?" Your partner will know the answer and confirm your response for you.
  • Get a deck of cards, pull out equal numbers of red cards and black cards. Hang the pendulum over the card, ask "Is this card red?" Check your response. Shuffle the cards and continue practicing.
  • Have your partner sit in a chair, asking them to think of either a happy thought or a fearful thought, but not tell you what they are thinking. Hold the pendulum over their head and ask, "Is _____ thinking a happy thought?"

Other Important Things to Remember
As with any new skill: Practice! Practice! Practice! is necessary to achieve accuracy. 

  • When you get tired-stop, period! It affects the accuracy of results.
  • Perform ethically.
  • If asking about the future, remember there is not one possible answer but several potentialities, all based on the current set of circumstances.
So now that you have some of the basics, go ahead, off with you! Have fun dowsing.

​If this has peaked your interest and you want to learn more, check out my Beginner's Guide to Dowsing.


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Yummy Watermelon Salad

9/4/2016

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I don't know about you, but I love watermelon! So if you are reading this, you are probably  a watermeloner as well!

Watermelon is great any which way it is served.  I love its juicy sweetness.  I love to chop it up to put in the freezer to use as frozen ice cubes for drinks or to make popsicles with.  But my all time favorite is this watermelon salad that also does double duty as a salsa.

So, if you are a watermelon fan- take it to the next level and give this a try!

Ingredients:
  • 2 large beefsteak tomatoes ( we have an abundance of herilooms this year and that is what we are using)
  • 1 watermelon 
  • 1 large cucumber
  • 1/4 cup sliced red onion
  • Raspberry Mint Dressing (below)
Chop all the ingredients into bite size pieces, smaller if you are making this as a salsa. Mix together, then toss with the Raspberry Mint Dressing. Chill for 2 hours.

Raspberry Mint Dressing
  • 1/4 cup fresh mint leaves- chopped
  • 1/2 cup raspberry vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons raspberry preserves
  • A few dashes of lime juice
  • 1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
  • Hot pepper to your likening- use either pepper flakes or fresh cut up jalapenos- I love ours firey!
Mix all the dressing ingredients together, then toss over your salad.

This is a great dish or salsa to serve at your next summer get-together.  And be prepared, everyone will want to know how you made it!

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The Mighty Basil Bounty

9/3/2016

5 Comments

 
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   If you are a gardener growing basil, this time of year    is when the plant begins to really fill out and provide   you with a lot of aromatic abundance.

   So what are   some of the ways to use this garden        delight?. Let's see... how can I count the ways?
   How about 10 great ways to use up those beautiful       basil leaves?


1. BASIL INFUSED OIL
 This has so many uses- for your salad dressing, to make  your pesto with, or to use
 when when cooking.  At Preserving Your Harvest, they take you through two easy                  methods to make your own.

2.  INFUSED BASIL VINEGAR
 If you are making an infused oil, why not also try making a companion vinegar?  Red            Fern Farm gives a great pictorial, taking you through the entire process..

3.  SHARE THE WEALTH
 Still have more basil coming in- 
give it away to family and friends ,Unlike zucchini, no            one says no! Then they will come back asking for more.

4. WINTER FRESH LEAVES
 Want to save some basil for the winter? Freeze the leaves- Here is a trick I learned a few     years ago. Clean and dry the basil leaves, then place in a small jar with good quality             olive oil, just enough to keep the leaves wet. Place in the freezer. When you pull out your     basil in the dead of the winter, it will be fresh and green. If you just freeze your leaves           they will  retain their flavor but not their color.

5.  STOP THE ITCH

Crush a few fresh basil leaves to use as a herbal rub and topical treatment for insect           bites to reduce the itching and inflammation.

6.  MAKE A HERBAL TINCTURE
Make a herbal tincture with basil leaves to help relieve nervous conditions and induce         relaxation. Follow the steps at the Herbal Information Center to learn how to make a             herbal tincture..

7.  MAKE A HERBAL TEA
Make a herbal tea with fresh basil leaves and a few of the seeds. Basil is known as a             herbal aid in digestive issues. Studies show that basil contain anti-inflammatory and             anti-bacterial properties.

8.  RELAXING BATH
Need a relaxing bath?  Fill the tub with warm water than add a large handful of fresh           leaves to the tub.  The fresh aroma will awaken you senses and make you feel refrshed.


9. BASIL SALT
 At Birds & Bloom they show you how to make a basil flaovred salt, how wonderful it that
!

10. BASIL PESTO
No list is complete without the addition of the yummy Basil Pesto.  This is how I make         mine. I don't measure, just create!  In the food processor I put a bunch of cleaned and         dried fresh basil leaves, the add a handful of pine nuts, a few pieces of peeled garlic and   a good sprinkling of parmasean cheese. Give it a few good pulses to roughly chop                 everything up. Then using a good quality olive oil, begin to drizzle it into the food                   processor, a little at a time.  Keep adding oil until you get it to the consistency you want.. 

​Either use it right away or store some for the rest of the year.  I lay out wax paper, then         drop a large tablespoon full of pesto down, leave a space and repeat.  When I have 3           tablespoons full I wrap it up and start another row.  After using up all my pesto, I then           wrap the wax paper in plastic wrap and put it into a baggie for the freezer. Don't forget to     date and label it.  Then later in the year when you want fresh pesto for whatever you are     cooking up, just take out the amount you need.


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The Ants Come Marching

9/3/2016

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Picture
Remember the lyrics to a song from childhood that went, "The ants come marching one by one, hoorah! hoorah!"? Well that is exactly what is playing out on our kitchen counter right now. And to say the least, I would rather have them marching to their catchy little tune outside, instead of tramping through our house.

Each summer it seems these tiny little creatures make their pilgrimage into our house. Sometimes they come by route of the front door, at other times they come from the kitchen window sill, but regardless of their point of entry, they remain uninvited. My first attempt is always to ask them politely to remain outside, but my communication skills with these insects isn't honed enough yet that they respond to my requests.

So the second try is to use non-toxic remedies. Let me clarify, the non-toxic methods are for humans and pets, but are a deterrent to the ants to keep them out. So if you have GOT ANTS too, here is a list of suggestions. Depending on your conditions and the type of ants entering the premises, different suggestions work better than others. So read on to find out what can be done to keep them marching four by four out the door.


It is always a good idea to find the point of entry and work from that direction onward.

SOME SOLUTIONS TO TRY:

White Vinegar:
Place in a spray bottle and squirt the area where you see the ants, let is dry. Reapply as needed

Cinnamon

Sprinkle plain old cinnamon where you see the ants coming into the house.

Black Pepper:
This can also be sprinkled at the point of entry to keep the ants from marching on in.


Apple Cider Vinegar & Water
Mix a 50/50 blend of apple cider vinegar and water and sray as needed.

Windex & Ivory Soap
 Mix equal parts of each, then spray the problem area.

Bay Leaves
Keeping Bay Leaves out in the areas that are affected by the ants.

Borax with Sugar
Mixing a 
bit of borax with sugar then spreading out on the counter where the ants will come for a taste.

Drawing a Line with White Chalk
Drawing a line with white chalk where the ants are entering is supposed to keep the ants from crossing over.

Mint:
Not a favorite of ants and they will stay away. Instead of using the herb, try a few drops of Peppermint Essential Oil mixed with water to spray at the entry areas.

Diatomaceous Earth:
Sprinkle where the ants will be walking.


There are plenty more solutions-- this being just the short list of possibilities. This year we had the teeny tiny little black ants coming through by the kitchen window so I used a combination approach. First, I wiped down around the affected window and counter area with straight white vinegar. After that dried I then mixed cinnamon with some crushed mint leaves and spread a line of the blend right below the window on the kitchen counter, and so far so good- I no longer have ants marching into the house at this point in time!

Good luck to you. Send in suggestions or approaches that have worked for you, I would love to hear them.

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