Healing Baths

Since we discussed loving ourselves with bath and massage yesterday... I figured bathing was on tap today too! :)  Water is one of the most necessary elements for all humans.  We require it internally to remove toxins, assist in digestion, flush and cleanse our muscles and organs, to aid in the flow of blood through the body, and to create new healthy cells.  Water helps us cleanse our bodies, our food, and helps us calm our mind.  Every aspect of our lives depends on water. When we mix herbs / essential oils with water it takes on a healing aspect as well.

**Healing Colds and Flu Bath
This bath helps with congestion and mucous buildup, improves circulation and relieves pain associated with congestion. 

5 drops of eucalyptus oil (open nasal passages)
5 drops of peppermint oil (invigorates the body)
5 drops of lavender oil (stimulates white blood cells)
2 T vitamin C crystals
8 drops of thyme oil (congestion / aids immune system)

**Joyful Joints Bath
This bath is good for all types of joint pain (arthritis, rheumatism, fibromyalgia, etc). Comfrey is known as a "knit bone" herb due to its ability to help heal bones. 

3 drops of eucalyptus oil (anti-inflammatory)
1 handful of comfrey leaves (joints / rheumatism)
2 handfuls of chaparral herb (joints / rheumatism)

* Anger Release Blend
Anger is one of the most destructive energies and without the ability to release it - that destructive energy turns inward and causes immense damage internally.  Heart Disease, Cancer, High Blood Pressure, High Cholesterol are some of the possible outcomes - not to say that everyone that has these ailments have them due to anger.  This blend should not be used if you are either asthmatic or pregnant.

2 drops lavender oil
2 drops peppermint oil
2 drops myrrh oil

* Increased Confidence Blend
Lack of confidence is usually a programmed response.  Without proper nurturing as a child - encouragement - and love a person has a low self confidence that is destructive - especially to reproductive organs.  You must reprogram yourself into a more positive outlook.  Have small goals - achieve them - and increase the goals.

3 drops clary sage oil
2 drops ylang ylang oil
3 drops myrrh oil
2 drops marjoram oil

I have included two recipes each from two of my favorite books on healing baths. 

** Water Magic by Mary Muryn
* Healing Aromatherapy Bath by Margo Valentine Lazzara, C.Ht.

Please make sure to get good essential oils when you go to make your purchase and to store them in a dry, cool, dark space.  They can last for a couple years if they are stored properly.  I usually pick up 1/2 oz bottles of new scents that I want to try out, 1 oz bottles of scents I use rarely or sparingly, and 4 oz bottles of the scents I regularly use.  I either pick up my oils at the natural health food store or at http://www.iherb.com/. 

Organic Bathing Salts - http://www.pristineplanet.com/bath-salts-eco-friendly-organic-natural/bath-salts/1216_a_0.html 
Organic Bathing Salts - http://www.justnaturalskincare.com/9/-PRODUCTS.html?gclid=CPb0wKzM7acCFRUq2godWAgbcw

Blessings... E

Take Time to Love Yourself

Stresses of the day - family - work - home - finances - relationships - break us down.  Lack of sleep, eating bad foods, lack of exercise, not drinking enough water, all add to the stress we feel.  Every now and then you need to take a step back and recharge your internal batteries.  We have discussed how music affects your mood, and we have talked about how scents affect your mood... so... now let's talk about bathing and massage. :)  A love letter for yourself!

If you have a favorite scent - one that makes you smile and feel wonderful - Great!  If not, go to a natural food store and go to the aromatherapy oils and figure out what scents you like best.  Just like perfume, essential oils smell differently on you than they do in the bottle.  Find some soap, or bath salts and candles in your favorite scents. 

Your recipe for step one includes:
bath salts / soap
candles
soft calming music
favorite white tea

You need about 30 minutes of privacy to maximize your bath.  Water has grounding - stress relieving properties.  If you are ever really stressed or anxious - go wash your hands or take a quick shower.   This will help alleviate your stress.  Fill your tub with very warm water and add your bathing salts.  Turn out your lights and light your candles - turn on your soft music so low that you need to pay close attention to hear it.  Sink into the water and let your cares float away.  Don't forget to put your tea next to the tub so you can sip on your favorite flavor too... Once the water has cooled enough to make you want to move... it is time to buff your body with your towel... now it is time for some simple massage. 

If you have a mate, lucky you!  Lay on your stomach with your arms spread wide and your legs laid out hip wide.  Lay a flat pillow under your hips.  Have them begin at the top of your head and slowly work their way down.  Always think positive thoughts when touching another - think of sending good healing energy to the person you are touching.  Always work the massage out to the finger tips and down the legs... this draws the bad / trapped energy out and away from the body. 

If you do not have a mate, this will be a loving gesture between you and your body.  Always pay attention to how you are feeling when you are massaging yourself.  Find your tender spots and work on them (both emotionally and physically).  For self massage you will work on your hands and your feet.  Your hands and your feet have direct connections to your organs.  Pay close attention to any tender spots and refer back to the chart that references the corresponding organs and make sure you get tested to see if there are any issues.  And begin to eat foods that will help strengthen your weak organs.  There is much healing you can do when you self massage.  Reflexology is a wonderful way of getting in touch with your body and nurturing yourself.  You will be amazed how taking an hour out of your week will dramatically destress the rest of your week.

Blessings... E 

Pucker Up!

Lemons and Limes have a wealth of health and cleaning benefits.  It has been long known the benefit of vitamin C and colds... but lets take it a couple steps further.

Vitamin C is beneficial for healthy skin and a healthy immune system.  Lemons and Limes are a fabulous source of vitamin C. 

L & L in a cup of room temperature water as soon as you rise helps with constipation.  The same mixture if sipped throughout the day helps boost your metabolism and aids in weight management.  Remember to rinse your mouth as the acids in L & L will eat the enamel from your teeth. 

Lemon water is also recommended to fight nausea and heartburn.  Yes, while lemons and limes taste acidic they become alkaline in the stomach (like vinegar) and neutralize stomach acids.

L & L when mixed with honey will actually increase the absorption of the antioxidants by as much as 4%.  And when added to broccoli or spinach will increase the amount of iron absorbed.  Like vinegar when added to dishes will reduce the amount of salt needed due to its acidity. 

So... not only are there health benefits to L & L but also personal hygiene and cleaning benefits.... lemons have been used for ages to clean copper pots.  Lemon oil is also a natural insect repellent - flea treatment. 

Rub rough patches of skin on elbows, knees, and heels with lemon to get rid of the cracked, rough, dry skin.  Lemon oil also can be used for your nails to whiten and strengthen them - it also fights nail fungi.  Lemon juice also stops bleeding.  Its antibacterial properties also fight poison ivy. 

Natural Relief II

Here are some more words of wisdom from my grandmother!  Love you Grams!!  :)

Bug bites - so.... my mother always used ammonia for bug bites.  I have always used vinegar.  Either way... they both relieve the sting and draw out the poison.  Dab either on a cotton ball and wipe over the bite within the first 10 minutes of being bitten.  For the next 10 minutes, each time you get the urge to itch it, wipe again with cotton ball.  You won't even see the bite after about 20 minutes.

Bugs / Mosquitoes - so, two things here.  If you love bananas in the spring and summer, but find you are dessert for mosquitoes every time you go outside, your bananas may be the problem.  Eucalyptus oil and lemongrass oil are natural pesticides - I have a 32 oz spray bottle that is filled with water and 40 drops of eucalyptus oil and 15 drops of lemongrass oil.  I spray around all my openings about once a month.  If you spray it on yourself before going outside, you will not have issues with getting bitten.

Mosquito repellent - mosquitoes don't like onion and garlic.  There is a natural mix you can buy online that if spread on your yard will repell mosquitoes.  You need to respread about once every three weeks.

Bronchitis - Mustard is a warming spice that aids in breaking up and healing bronchitis.  Take 1 tsp mustard powder and mix with 1 C flour.  Add enough hot water to make a paste of the mixture.  Put on an old Tshirt that you don't mind never using again.  Paint the paste on the Tshirt (never apply to skin directly as it will burn your skin) over the middle of your chest.  Do not put any of the paste near your sensitive areas.  Cover the area with plastic wrap and put a hot moist towel over it.  Let sit for a max of 15 minutes. 

Sty - Immediately rub with a gold ring (must contain at least 14k gold).  This will reduce the length of time associated with the sty - especially if you catch it immediately. 

Sore Throat - Green tea, lemon, honey - best mix for a sore throat.  The green tea has powerful antioxidants, the honey is a natural antibiotic, and the lemon helps improve the ability to absorb the antioxidants.  Its acidity also helps pull off the junk on the back of your throat so the honey can coat and heal. 

Gargle with colloidal silver.  Colloidal silver is an AMAZING natural antibiotic.  It can be used for ear aches, and is beneficial in healing almost any ailment there is. 

Gargle with a mixture of 2 tsp apple cider vinegar in a glass of warm water.  Gargle a mouthful and then spit out - repeat until the glass is empty.  Repeat as often as necessary - up to once per hour.

Drink pineapple juice.  There are enzymes in the juice that helps sooth and heal the throat. 

Hayfever - This should be started 1 - 2 months before your allergy season begins to be 100% effective.  In addition you need to use honey / honeycomb from your region - the closer to home the better.  Daily, chew on a one inch square of honeycomb.  Swallow the honey and continue to chew the honeycomb for about 10 - 15 minutes.  Discard the honeycomb. 

Fever - Please remember that fevers usually have a purpose!  Not all fevers should be brought down.  However, if you need a natural fever breaker a nice cool glass of FRESH made lemonade. 

Marbles

Sometimes... you just need to pass along something that makes you think.... how am I spending the gift I have each and every day... I think I may have to go buy some marbles....

I turned the dial up into the phone portion of the band on my ham radio in order to listen to a Saturday morning swap net. Along the way, I came across an older sounding chap, with a tremendous signal and a golden voice. You know the kind, he sounded like he should be in the broadcasting business.  He was telling whom-ever he was talking with something about 'a thousand marbles..' I was intrigued and stopped to listen to what he had to say....

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' Well, Tom, it sure sounds like you're busy with your job. I'm sure they pay you well but it's a shame you have to be away from home and your family so much.  Hard to believe a young fellow should have to work sixty or seventy hours a week to make ends meet.  It's too bad you missed your daughter's 'dance recital' he continued. 'Let me tell you something that has helped me keep my own priorities.' And that's when he began to explain his theory of a 'thousand marbles.'

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'You see, I sat down one day and did a little arithmetic.  The average person lives about   seventy-five years. I know, some live more and some live less, but on average, folks live about seventy-five years.

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'Now then,  I multiplied 75 times 52 and I came up with 3900, which is the number of Saturdays that the  average person has in their entire lifetime. Now, stick with me, Tom, I'm getting to the important part.

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It took me until I was fifty-five years old to think about all this in any detail', he went on, 'and by that time I had lived through over twenty-eight hundred Saturdays.' 'I got to thinking that if I lived to be seventy-five, I only had about a thousand of them left to enjoy.  So I went to a toy store and bought every single marble they had.  I ended up having to visit three toy stores to round up 1000 marbles I took them home and put them inside a large, clear plastic container right here in the shack next to my gear.'

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'Every Saturday since then, I have taken one marble out and thrown it away. I found that by watching the marbles diminish, I focused more on the really important things in life.

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There's nothing like watching your time here on this earth run out to help get your priorities straight .'

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'Now let me tell you one last thing before I sign-off with you and take my lovely wife out for breakfast. This morning, I took the very last marble out of the container. I figure that if I make it until next Saturday then I have been given a little extra time.. And the one thing we can all use is a little more time.'

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'It was nice to meet you Tom, I hope you spend more time with your family, and I hope to meet you again here on the band.  This is a 75 Year old Man, K9NZQ, clear and going QRT, good morning!

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You could have heard a pin drop on the band when this fellow signed off. I guess he gave us all a lot to think about. I had planned to work on the antenna that morning, and then I was going to meet up with a few hams to work on the next club newsletter

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Instead, I went upstairs and woke my wife up with a kiss. 'C'mon honey, I'm taking you and the kids to breakfast.' 'What brought this on?' she asked with a smile. 'Oh, nothing special, it's just been a long time since we spent a Saturday together with the kids. And hey, can we stop at a toy store while we're out? I need to buy some marbles

Natural Relief

When I go visit my grandmother, I learn sooo much!  She collects medical / naturopathic digests for me and marks certain passages for me.  We discuss how medicine was done before the pharmaceutical companies took over medicine, and before chemicals took over cleaning products... So, here are some alternatives for you with every day complaints.

Headaches / Migraines - Take a lemon and peel it one inch wide and long enough to go from temple to temple.  Lay down with a towel over the lemon peel until the headache goes away (usually less than 20 minutes). 

Cayenne has several benefits to headaches and migraines - it is a natural pain reliever, and a good source of magnesium, which has been known to ward off migraines.  Dip the flattened end of a toothpick into a bottle of cayenne and sniff in each nostril.  Adding cayenne into daily meals may also help ward off migraines. 

Colds - Garlic has many wonderful healing properties - antiviral, antibiotic, antifungal, and antiseptic.  So, adding garlic to your foods when you don't feel good or need a boost is a great idea.  In addition to the healing properties above garlic is also a decongestant and an expectorant - wonderful for colds and chest ailments. 

Steep marjoram like tea for 5 - 10 minutes, cool the "tea" and gargle with the tea three times a day.  Marjoram has benefits to any bronchial ailments - congestion, pneumonia, bronchitis, upper respiratory infections, etc... It has both antibacterial and painkilling benefits. 

Ginger is widely used for nausea and joint pain - it is also beneficial when drank as a tea for colds.  It's anti-inflammatory and decongestant properties work wonders with a cold.  If you are unable to find ginger tea you can make it yourself - peel ginger (yes, from the produce section of the grocery store) and thinly slice a two inch cube of it into a saucepan with 1 1/2 C water.  Bring to a soft boil and cook for 10 minutes.  Strain and add honey and lemon to taste.  Enjoy! 

One of my favorite natural remedies for congestion (both head and chest) is to boil water in a large dutch oven and add eucalyptus oil, peppermint oil, and/or thyme oil.  The boiling water adds moisture into the air which helps to break up the congestion and the oils really help break up the congestion and reduce the swelling associated with the congestion.  I also will take a washcloth and dip it in the hot mixture and drape over my face.  Warning!!  The oils are very potent - don't take a deep breath!  You will have to play with the amount of oil and how often you add it to the boiling water to suit your own needs. 

Smelly feet - the tannic acid in black tea is known to reduce bad body odor.  Bring several black tea bags to boiled in a pint of water for 10 - 15 minutes.  Pour into a foot bath with two quarts of cool water and soak smelly feet for 10 - 15 minutes. 

Teething / toothache - When my kids were young I was given my first naturopathic direction for my daughter.  My first daughter got her teeth in pairs and had a lot of pain associated with it.  I didn't want to use painkillers or any other drugs, and so another mom suggested that I try clove oil.  There was a bottle of clove oil specifically for teething at the natural food store and I was amazed how well it worked.  BE CAREFUL.  Clove oil is VERY potent and potentially dangerous.  Turning the bottle over on your finger is more than enough for one side of the mouth.  Repeat for other side.  Clove oil numbs the gums for several hours.  You can also put it on a q-tip to use around a painful toothache. 

Bruises - This easy fix may take a trip to the produce section again.  You will need a gauze roll and parsley.  That is it!  Chill the parsley and then chop finely.  Apply directly to the bruise and wrap with the gauze roll - let sit on the bruise for an hour or so.  Reapply daily until bruise fades.

Hey Honey!

Honey is a natural antibiotic and has been used for a long time with lemon in tea.  But there are many, many other uses and benefits to honey.  There are many different kinds of honey as well - so let's start there.

I have always been told to look for honey made in my region.  Honey is made from the nectar of flowers and pollen from those flowers finds its way into the honey as well.  For those of you tortured by allergies - honey consumed from your region is to help strengthen your immune system to fight allergies.  Another thing I have always been told is to choose the darkest honey available in your region.  The more types of flowers used - the darker the honey - this is another benefit for those of use with allergies. 

Antibacterial uses - Since honey is an antibacterial it can be used to help heal cuts, scratches, burns, and acne.  Clean the area with soap and water and put a little honey on the wound, cover with a band aid.  Repeat daily.  Honey helps to speed up healing and reduces scar visibility.
Moisturizer - Honey helps to soften skin - rough patches, rough heals, and dry skin.  Clean area with soap and water and spread a thin coat of honey over.  Cover with a warm moist wash cloth or towel and let sit for 5 - 10 minutes.  Rinse and pat dry.
Immune booster - A teaspoon of honey taken each morning with daily supplements has been professed to boost the immune system.
Energy booster - When you are in need of a quick boost, drink a cup of green tea with a tsp of honey.
Improve blood flow - The glucose in honey helps increase blood flow.
Colon damage prevention - Honey is high in antioxidants which strengthen the colon.  Daily dosage of honey helps to strengthen the colon and reduce the chances of colon cancer.
Parasite removal - When mixed with vinegar and water, honey can remove worms and other parasites in the body. 
Calming the mind and body - It is unknown how, but adding a teaspoon of honey to warm milk or tea has a calming effect on both reducing anxiety and nervousness. 
Cancer fighter - As a natural antibiotic and being high in antioxidants, honey has powerful capabilities in aiding the fight against cancer.
Calcium aid - By adding honey to your diet, you will retain more calcium in your body.
Heals stomach ulcers - Honey helps to balance stomach acids, and aids in the healing of ulcers.

Replacing processed white sugar with honey, gains you many more nutrients, minerals and gives your body more fructose (less harsh on your pancreas) in addition to the many other benefits.  Honey is the one product in your pantry that will never spoil.  Your baked goods will not dry out as quickly when made with honey as it retains moisture. 

Recommended reading for beauty secrets using honey: http://www.girlsustainable.com/beauty/jillion-honey/
Recommended reading for healing benefits of honey: http://www.honeyo.com/honeyhealing.shtml

Blessings.. E

Family Favorites IV

Three Bean Salad
1 can kidney beans
1 can green beans, cut
1 can yellow beans, cut
1 onion
1 green pepper
2 stalks celery
1 C sugar
1 C vinegar
1/2 T oil

Mix everything together, cover, and chill overnight before serving.

Cranberry Orange Bread
2 C cranberries, coarsely chopped
4 C flour
2 1/2 C raw sugar
3 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
4 T fresh orange zest
1/2 C oil
8 T butter
2 large eggs, well beaten
2 C freshly squeezed orange juice
2 1/2 tsp pure vanilla

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and place rack in the center of the oven.  Grease two 9" bread pans.  In a small bowl, combine egg, orange juice, and vanilla.  In a large bowl, mix flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and orange zest.  Cut the butter into the flour mixture.  The mixture should look like coarse meal.  Fold the wet ingredients into the dry.  Stir in the cranberries.  Pour into the two bread pans and bake 50 - 60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.  Remove from oven and let cool 10 minutes before serving.

Cranberry Salad
1 pkg cranberries
2 large whole naval oranges, quartered
1 1/2 C raw sugar
2 C walnuts

In food processor, blend all ingredients together.  Chill, serve.

Crab Salad
1 pkg flaked crab
3 green onions, chopped
1/2 C mayonnaise
2 T lemon juice
1 tsp pepper

Mix all together and let sit at least 2 hours before serving, best after 8.

Family Favorites III

Lasagne
1 can 32 oz Crushed Tomatoes
1 can 10 oz tomato puree
1 can 4 oz tomato paste
1 large white onion, minced
2 T garlic, crushed
1 tsp fresh ground pepper
1 T oregano
1/2 T basil
1/2 tsp cayenne
1 pkg chorrizo, beef
1 pkg jimmy dean sausage (regular / spicy)
monterey jack cheese, shredded
cheddar cheese, shredded
parmesean cheese, shredded
asiago / romano cheese, shredded
cottage cheese, small curd
1 egg
1 tsp oregano
no cook lasagne noodles

In dutch oven brown meats, onion, garlic, pepper, and cayenne.  Note: chorrizo doesn't "brown."  add tomatoes, and herbs.  Simmer over low heat for one hour.  Cool.  Cover and put in refrigerator over night.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  In medium bowl mix 1 C cottage cheese, egg, 2/3 C parmesean cheese, and oregano.  Set aside. In glass 9 x 12 pan laddle a thin layer of sauce.  arrange noodles to cover bottom.  Laddle sauce over to cover noodles. Sprinkle with a mix of shredded cheeses.  Arrange next layer of noodles / sauce.  Spread the cottage cheese mixture across the pan.  Arrange next layer of noodles / sauce. Sprinkle with a mix of shredded cheeses.  Sit on cookie sheet and cook for one hour on middle rack of oven or until it bubbles and is brown.  Cool 15 minutes before cutting and serving.

Chicken Pot Pie
Serves 6
1 pkg jimmy dean sausage (regular or spicy)
2 1/2 C cooked chicken, cubed
1 medium onion, chopped
1/4 C butter
1/2 C flour
1 3/4 C chicken broth
2/3 C milk
1 tsp pepper
3 C chopped mixed vegetables, steamed
Savory pastry (see below)

In dutch oven cook meat and onion over medium heat until browned, stirring often.  Drain and discard any drippings.  Set aside.  In same pot melt butter, lower heat, add flour and pepper. Cook 1 minute.  Slowly at broth and milk.  Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until it thickens and bubbles.  Add meats and vegetables.  Cook until bubbles again.  Spoon mixture into six individual 1 C pots. 

Savory Pastry
**If put the vegetables in a 9 x 12 pan instead of individual pots, double pastry.
1 C flour
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp paprika
1/2 C shortening
2 T cold water

Combine first three ingredients in a medium bowl.  Cut in shortening with a pastry blender until mixture resembles coarse meal.  Sprinkle cold water over surface.  Stir with a fork until dry ingredients are moistened.  Shape into a ball.  Chill. 

Roll out pastry to 1/2 inch thickness on a lightly floured surface.  Cut six 6 1/2 inch circles.  Place each pastry over the pots.  Seal top of pots.  Cut steam slits in top of each pastry.  Bake at 425 for 20 - 25 minutes or until pastry is lightly browned.

Pancit - Filipino Noodle Dish
Serves 8 - 12
10 dried chinese mushrooms, soaked
1/2 lb lean ground pork
3 bay leaves
1 T pepper corns
1 lb rice sticks
2 T garlic
1 C chicken stock
1 C minced white onion
3 T sesame oil
1 C soy sauce
1 C cabbage, julienne
1 C carrots, julienne
1 C bok choy, chopped
1/2 C cilantro, chopped
1/4 C scallions, chopped
1 tsp sesame oil
2 C pea pods
2 C cooked, flaked chicken
1/2 lb shrimps, cooked

Drain mushrooms and squeeze to extract most of the water, chop and set aside.  Soak rice sticks in hot water for about 5 minutes.  Drain well and set aside.  In wok over medium heat, cook pork, pepper, bay leaves, garlic, and onions.  Add 1 C chicken stock when browned and bring to a boil.  Remove only the meat and put in bowl.  Add carrots and cook 1 minute.  Add the remainder of the vegetables and cook until bright.  Remove only the vegetables and set aside.  Add the rice sticks, sesame oil, and 1/2 of the soy sauce.  If you do not have broth left add up to 3/4 C water.  Stir once or twice ensuring that your noodles have soaked up all the broth.  Remove pepper corns.  Bring everything back to the wok, add the remaining items and mix well.  Add remaining soy sauce.  Taste and adjust seasonings as you like.  Serve hot or cold.

Banana Bread
1 c. sugar
1/2 c. brn sugar
1 c. oil
2 eggs
2 1/2 c. mashed ripe bananas
2 t. vanilla
2 t. cinnamon
2 1/2 c. flour
1 t. baking soda
1 1/2 c. chopped walnuts

Place oven rack in second to lowest rung.  Heat oven to 350 degrees.  Grease bottoms only of 2 loaf pans.  Mix sugars, oil and eggs together in large bowl.  Add bananas, vanilla, and cinnamon - mix well.  In medium bowl mix flour and baking soda together.  Add 1/2 c at a time to egg mixture until blended.  fold in nuts (if wanted).  Pour into loaf pans. Reduce heat to 325 degrees and bake 1 hour - 1 hour 15 minutes or until top is lightly browned and cracked across the top.  A toothpick should come out clean. 

Tea Benefits

There are so many nutritional benefits to tea I cannot name them all.  Let's discuss the different types of tea, the benefits of tea, and where to get your best teas.  I have friends that know much more than I do about tea - so if I am wrong with any of the information I provide - I KNOW they will set us all straight!  :)  Here are the most common types of tea.

Black Tea - Goes through the most processing.  Tea leaves are picked and set out to wilt in the sun.  Then, they are twisted and crushed to ferment and fully oxidize in the sun.  This process changes the color of the leaves black when complete.  There are different types of black tea - typically named for the region in which the tea is grown (i.e. darjeeling, assam, and ceylon).  Black tea has a stronger, sometimes more bitter flavor and higher caffeine levels than other types of tea.

Oolong Tea - Is a hybrid of Black and Green tea.  It is also wilted but only partially oxidized.  There is a wide range of Oolong teas some almost black, some almost green. 



Mighty Athena - Green Tea



Green Tea - There are two different types of green tea.  Primarily the Chinese variety is roasted to dry the leaves.  And the Japanese style to steam dry the leaves.  Green tea leaves do not go through the fermentation stage like black and oolong teas.  Green tea has a grassier / flowerier flavor and fragrance and much lower caffeine levels.

White Tea - Is the least processed of all tea.  The top leaves and bud are picked very early in the season while the white hairs are still on the plant and the bud has not opened yet.  They are not fermented, nor are they roasted / steam dried but let dry naturally in the sun.  The flavor is much more delicate and sweeter than any other type of tea and is often mixed with fruit.  It has the lowest amount of caffeine.

Herbal Tea - Is a combination of herbs, flowers, and fruits - anything except tea leaves.  Herbal teas are typically used to heal maladies. 

Up until recently, I have always gone to the store and chosen a variety of different prepackaged teas - usually green, white or herbal.  My cousin introduced me to Phuong Le a master Tea Craftsman.  And OH MY GOSH!  I had no idea what I had been missing out on... all these years wasted! :)  To enjoy her fabulous teas, you will need a diffuser - she has them on her site too.  AH-MAZING!  I can't say enough.  Her teas are all organic and hand crafted. 

So, what are the benefits of tea?  Tea has a high concentration of antioxidants.  White tea having the highest concentration.  High in Vitamin C which boosts immune system and helps promote healthy skin.  Tea contains polyphenol which fights certain cancers.  It is known to soothe the digestive tract.  Tea lowers cholesterol, boosts metabolism, and regulates blood sugar levels.  It is also a detoxifier and a stress reliever.

Visit Phuong's site - my favorite so far is definitely Mighty Athena - but I am trying new ones every day!  She has new combinations that were just released... enjoy!!  http://www.iloveono.com/

Thank you Tracie for introducing me to Phuong.  And to Phuong, thank you for the bright and shining star you are - you are a good role model for us all.  Blessings...E

Benzene Danger?

I received another email (thank you - I really do appreciate them!) about the dangers of air conditioning and benzene poisoning.  As I stated in yesterday's post, I really do try to do a bit of research before I respond to these messages. 

Here is the email I received:
My new car's booklet specifically states that one should open car windows for 5 minutes + to air the car before switching on the Air Condition I wondered why.

No wonder more folks are dying from cancer than ever before.  We wonder where this stuff comes from but here is an example that explains a lot of the cancer causing incidents.  Hmmm.  Many people are in their cars first  thing in the morning and the last thing at night, 7 days a week. As I read this, it makes me feel guilty and ill.  Please pass this on to as many people as possible. Guess its not too late to make some changes Car A/C (Air Conditioning) MUST READ!!!

Please do NOT turn on A/C as soon as you enter the car. Open the  windows after you enter your car and turn ON the AC after a couple of minutes.

Here's why:
According to a research, the car dashboard, sofa, air freshener emit Benzene, a Cancer causing toxin (carcinogen - take time to observe the smell of heated plastic in your car). In addition to causing cancer, Benzene poisons your bones, causes anemia and reduces white blood cells.  Prolonged exposure will cause Leukemia, increasing the risk of cancer. Can also cause miscarriage.

Acceptable Benzene level indoors is 50 mg per sq. Ft. A car parked indoors with windows closed will contain 400-800 mg of Benzene. If parked outdoors under the sun at a temperature above 60 degrees F, the Benzene level goes up to 2000-4000 mg, 40 times the acceptable level. People who get into the car, keeping windows closed will inevitably inhale, in quick succession, excessive amounts of the toxin. Benzene is a toxin that affects your kidney and liver.. What's worse, it is extremely difficult for your body to expel this toxic stuff.

So friends, please open the windows and door of your car - give time for interior to air out -dispel the deadly stuff - before you enter.

I haven't done all the research on the acceptable levels of Benzene - and honestly, don't care.  Like yesterday's post - remember that everything as it breaks down releases gases.  The same is true when you heat things up - molecular changes occur.  We know this - look at water - what happens when we super heat water?  We have discussed the dangers of diet sodas due to the change in its molecular structure when it is super heated.  So, there isn't much of a surprise that when all the plastic and other components of your vehicle are super heated - there is bound to be some changes that occur.  Does your car smell the same cold as it does after a 95 degree day??  Hardly.  I believe your danger lies in thinking that nasty smell when you get into a hot car isn't a warning sign to you. 

As for the specific issue with your car and Benzene snopes has a good breakdown for you http://www.snopes.com/medical/toxins/benzene.asp and so does about.com http://urbanlegends.about.com/od/automobiles/a/benzene_in_car.htm

It is very wise to open your car several minutes before you plan to get in it and go anywhere - whether it is hot or not.  Obviously, in frigid temperatures one might not choose to do this - but in any weather there will be some buildup and just because it is cold NOW doesn't mean it wasn't hot earlier in the day - or between driving.  

Blessings... E 

Granite Countertops Harmful?

I received an email about the dangers of Radon poisoning with granite countertops.  Like everything else, before I am going to make any remarks about it - or forward the email - I try to do my due diligence and research it. 

This is the message I got via email:

January is Radon Awareness Month - a good time to learn more about this carcinogenic natural radioactive element. Radon is an odorless, colorless gas produced by the breakdown of uranium that seeps out of the earth. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that about 21,000 lung cancer deaths are caused by radon each year. In the home, radon sometimes enters basements through concrete cracks and becomes concentrated in the air that we breathe. It can also be present in natural materials that are brought into the home - including granite countertops.  Some granite and other natural stones contain trace amounts of uranium; if it emits radon, it typically does so at very low levels. But in some instances, tests have found that granite countertops give off potentially dangerous levels of radiation: The New York Times reported in July 2008 that the increased popularity of granite countertops over the past decade has resulted in an expansion of the kinds of granite available and that reports of "hot" countertops seem to come from "the more exotic and striated varieties from Brazil and Namibia."

Hmm.. so, doing my research I found a very good - seemingly unbiased - article written by Joel Bittle for Green Building Elements.  http://greenbuildingelements.com/2008/09/18/a-rational-discussion-on-radon-in-granite-countertops/

I also found a good article written for the radon.com website: http://www.radon.com/radon/granite.html.  They give you lots of good information - how to test, what to expect from any stone product, etc.

And here is one more link from The Marble Institute http://www.marble-institute.com/industryresources/granite_radoninfo.cfm.

Every article I read was written in or around 2008 which I found to be very interesting.  The most practical deductions from everything I read is that all stone and soil has some type of naturally occurring radiation.  This makes sense as it is all breaking down - and as it does trapped gases are released.  As for the levels of dangerous gases - I would expect it depends on where the stone was mined - and what was around it.  So, be careful and do your research before you buy stuff for your home.  Like everything else - there are always positives and negatives, weigh both sides and decide.  Don't listen to all the marketing hype they will NEVER tell you the bad stuff - you have to ask for that. 

Blessings... E

Soap Nuts

So, after researching about soap in general, I decided I needed to change from my ALL Free to Soap Nuts.  Even I am fooled by the marketing guys - LOL! Even though I chose a product that had many of the OBVIOUS toxins - it still is a problem.  So, I changed this week to soap nuts.  I had an interesting research product to decide are there any concerns? which was the best?  how many should I get? and is there any difference between them? sooo many questions! :)

So, before we get to those questions - you should probably understand WHAT soap nuts are.  I had heard about them for a while without really understanding what they were or how they worked.  Soap nuts aren't nuts at all but berries.  They do look like a nut - but are very light as they are just the shell of the berry.  There are many variations of soap nut trees - they originally were only harvested in Nepal and India, but we now have them growing all over the world.  Soap nut berries have a high concentration of saponins which is what breaks down the oil and dirt in clothing and aids in the cleaning of all materials. 

Are there any concerns? Actually, the answer to that is yes.  There seems to be a difference between products that are packaged in the US and those packaged overseas.  Both for quality and for contamination.  I found several very good sites that explained in detail about how and why the choose specific types of soap nuts. 

Which is the best?  Rather than best - you may want to use the phrase most preferred.  There are so many different kinds of soap nuts - I was hard pressed to determine which was best.  But most all of the sites do agree that the berries from the Sapindus Mukorossi which is the larger of the trees - providing the larger berries are most commonly used.  Whether it is due to the higher concentration of saponins or for some other reason - I am unsure.  

 How much should I get?  This question is also mated with "how long do they last" - right?  :)  Let's start with the last question first as it may answer the first one for you.  Soap nuts are dried fruit and dried fruit has a very long shelf life if kept in a dry dark place.  Soap nuts should be stored at an average temperature of 65 - 75 degrees with low humidity.  For your laundry 3 - 4 soap nuts in the small muslin bag will work - you can do 3 - 5 loads with each group of soap nuts - replacing when they turn gray and mushy.  One pound of soap nuts equals about 180+ loads of laundry and will cost you about $25.00 US. 

Is there any difference between them?  As I alluded to above. Yes, there are differences.  Read up and make your choice on which is better for you.  I liked the NaturOli site as it provided me with the most amount of actual information.  I ordered one pound - and expect to share it with family to last for quite some time!

NaturOli: http://www.naturoli.com/
BuySoapNuts.com: http://www.buysoapnuts.com/
Organic SoapNuts: http://www.organicsoapnuts.net/

Blessings... E

ewww... Milk

Is it normal to dislike the taste of milk?  Is it normal to have a reaction to anything with milk in it?  The answer may surprise you... YES!  Yup, it is true.  Here are some facts we don't really think about...

1. Humans are the only species that continue to drink "milk" once weaned.
2. We do NOT need milk products to get our daily requirements of calcium and vitamin D.
3. It is ABNORMAL to be able to eat and drink milk products.
4. Babies classified as "colicky" may be lactose intolerant.
5. Most all people that are born lactose intolerant - are lactose tolerant during their formative growing stages (10 - 23) and then revert back to lactose intolerance.
6. Many cases of IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) are actually Lactose Intolerance.

I am lactose intolerant - and didn't know it until I had my second daughter.  All during my pregnancy I had issues - and for a while I thought I was dying my discomfort and pain were so great.  I didn't know until my daughter was born (she is also lactose intolerant) and I was searching for answers to her colic that I found we were both lactose intolerant.  Lactose Intolerance wasn't formally designated / recognized until mid to late 1960s - up until then babies were just said to be colicky.  My mom retells the stories of me crying constantly - and as a child I HATED milk... it has always tasted sour to me and is gross. 

How do I know if I am lactose intolerant?  There are many symptoms - upset stomach, heart burn, belching, stinky gas, stomach cramps, and diarrhea.  And they appear in that order depending on how intolerant you are and how much you have consumed.   The easy way to quickly determine your tolerance is to drink an 8 oz glass of milk.  If you are lactose intolerant you will know within 20 minutes.  It will also give you a pretty good idea of HOW intolerant you are.  The faster you go through that list of symptoms - and how long they last - will tell you very quickly how intolerant your body is. 

If you are 100%, you are not even able to eat things with whey or powdered milk in them.  For a while I was 100% intolerant - I couldn't even eat pre-packaged tortillas because they had whey in them.  For me soft processed cheeses (velveeta), milk and ice cream were the worst. 

So, what IS lactose intolerance?  As a creature grows from breast milk to normal foods, they lose the ability to break down lactase, which is a complex sugar.  As a result, that creature becomes lactose intolerant - and the taste of milk and milk products changes - becomes distasteful.  Obviously, that is a simplified definition - but one you should easily be able to grasp.

We are told by all the dairy companies, and doctors that we NEED milk.  This couldn't be further from the truth.  Again, we are back to marketing... does milk provide you with calcium and vitamin D? yes.  Is it the only way to get those nutrients? no.  Mother's breast milk provides a lot more than those two nutrients - but they are very necessary to an infant due to the rapid growth that they go through in that first year.  Once we are weaned - our bodies aren't growing any where near the speed of that first year and don't need the amount of nutrients found in breast milk. 

Foods that replace your need of calcium in milk include sesame seeds, spinach, rhubarb, collard greens, molasses, bok choy, broccoli, swiss chard, kale, brazil nuts, celery, almonds, papaya, flax seeds, and oranges - to name a few. 

Recommended reading: http://pediatrics.about.com/od/calcium/a/06_calcium_food.htm

Foods / other things that replace your need of vitamin D in milk include fish (omega 3), orange juice, soya, mushrooms, spinach, potatoes, eggs and most importantly SUNSHINE!

Recommended reading: http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=nutrient&dbid=110

Family Favorites II

The first post went over so well that I thought I would add some more family favorites....These are my favorites.

French Onion Soup
This is one of my favorites from childhood - Panera now serves it every day... yummm
1/4 c sweet cream butter
8 c sliced yellow onions (4 - 5 med. onions)
2 14-ounce cans beef broth
3/4 cup chicken broth
3 T all-purpose flour
1 1/2 c water
1 T ketchup
2 tsp fresh ground black pepper
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp dried thyme
1/4 tsp garlic powder
couple drops Tabasco pepper sauce

Garnishcroutons
shaved asiago cheese
Onions and croutons and cheese...oh, my.

Melt butter in a dutch oven (stew pot) over medium heat. When the butter is melted, add sliced onions and sauté for 15 - 20 minutes, stirring often, until onions turn brown.Add remaining ingredients (but not the garnish) to the pan and stir to combine. Heat soup until it's boiling, then reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 20 minutes.

Make croutons for the top of the soup by slicing foccacia bread (or any bread you may have) into 3/4-inch thick slices. Butter both sides of those slices, then cut the slices into bite-size cubes. Bake the bread in a 425 degree oven for 15 minutes or until crispy. Shave some asiago cheese by simply dragging a potato peeler over the edge of a wedge of asiago.

Serve the soup super hot with a handful of croutons floating on top followed by a couple tablespoons of shaved asiago cheese.
Oyako Donbouri - Japanese fast food
Serves 4 - this was my favorite dish in Japan.  Oyako means Chicken, Donbouri means bowl.

6 - 8 c rice, cooked
4 - 5 eggs
1/4 - 1/2 lb chicken breast
4 green onions

Sauce:
2 1/2 c dashi or chicken stock

6 T dark soy sauce

6 T light soy sauce (yes, there is a difference)

3 T sugar

Mix - do not beat - eggs in a bowl lightly and set aside.  Cut chicken breast into 1/4-inch pieces. Chop onions diagonally into 1-inch (2.5cm) lengths. 

Combine ingredients for sauce in a medium-sized saucepan. Bring to a gentle boil over medium heat. Add chicken and simmer, uncovered, for 5 minutes. Add onion and simmer 1 minute longer. Stir the eggs and pour gently in a steady stream around the chicken in the simmering sauce. Let the egg spread naturally. Do not stir. Keep heat at medium high till the egg starts to bubble at the edges. At this point, stir once. The egg will have almost set but will still be a little runny. Keep in mind that the high temperature of the rice over which the egg will be placed will do the final cooking. Do not let the egg cook hard.

Put portions of hot rice into individual donburi bowls (deep soup bowls). With a large spoon, scoop a portion of the egg topping and sauce and place on rice. Sauce will seep down into rice, but the dish will not be soupy. A traditional Donbouri bowl will have a lid to aid in final cooking.  if you do not have a lid for your bowls use a small plate.  Serve immediately.

Gyoza - Japanese Pot Stickers

30 - 40 dumplings

1lb lean ground pork - I usually find a nice pork loin and ask the butcher to grind it for me

1/2 - 1 c soy sauce

2 tsp fresh garlic, crushed

1/4 tsp fresh ginger, grated

4 green onions, chopped

1 - 2 tsp pepper

1/4 c finely grated carrot

2 tsp sesame oil

1 tsp cayenne pepper

gyoza or round wonton wrappers

peanut oil

Mix all ingredients down to the wrapper and let sit for 30 minutes to marinate.  Take a small teaspoon of the meat and put in the middle of one side.  I am including a link that shows you how to "pleat" the dumpling as it is rather difficult to explain without pictures - http://japanesefood.about.com/od/tempuraappetizer/a/aboutgyoza.htm 

In large frying pan (you need one with a lid) over medium heat add just enough peanut oil to cover sparingly the bottom of the pan when hot.  Lay the gyoza in the pan flat side down and let brown.  Once browned quickly add 1/2 c water and immediately cover with lid.  The gyoza will be done when the top of the dumpling begins to wrinkle.  Remove and sit on paper towel to draw out some of the oil.  Serve hot with dipping sauce.

Dipping Sauce:

3T soy sauce

2T teriyaki sauce

3T vinegar

1 tsp sesame oil

tobasco to your level of heat desired.

Fresh Summer Rolls - Thai

4 servings

1 package of large dried rice wrappers / spring roll wrappers (also known as "rice paper")

8 shrimps cleaned and steamed

4 strips tofu fried ( 1/2" wide, 1/4" thick, 2" long)

1/4 c warmed honey

2 T fish sauce (nuoc mam)

1 T fresh lime juice

1 fresh chili, minced, OR 1-2 Tbsp. chili sauce

1/4 c white cooking wine

3-4 oz. thin dried rice noodles bean threads (asian section of the grocery store)

1/2 c fresh basil

1 c fresh cilantro / mint (whichever flavor you prefer)

4 spring onions, sliced thinly lengthwise (into matchstick-like pieces)

2 cups lettuce (any type), chopped

Make a marinade by combining the warmed honey, fish sauce, fresh lime juice, and chili sauce. Mix this with the shrimp and tofu and set aside. In large bowl add enough HOT tap water to cover the noodles - set aside for about 10 minutes until softened.  Rinse and drain completely.  Set aside. In a pie plate that allows you to lay one sheet of wrapper completely cover with HOT tap water and let soften completely - only about 30 seconds. 

Lay on counter and fill (like you would a burrito) from the center of one side - noodles, two shrimps, herbs, tofu and wrap like a burrito - middle up, sides in, and roll to complete.  They should be wrapped tightly.  Cut in half on a diagonal.

Peanut Dipping Sauce:

1 c fresh-tasting dry roasted peanuts, unsalted

1/3 c water

2 cloves garlic, minced

1/2 tsp soy sauce

2 tsp sesame oil

1 T brown sugar

2 T fish sauce

2 T lime juice

1 tsp Thai chili sauce

1/3 c coconut milk

Place all ingredients in a blender and mix until sauce is smooth.

Which Glass Are You Holding?

I have talked a lot about "mental well being" but we haven't really talked specifically in a post about how important this is.  To put it bluntly - YOU have the ability to think yourself SICK or WELL.  Which do you choose?

Is your glass 1/2 full or 1/2 empty?  It isn't important that you admit this to anyone but yourself.  Believe it or not - this is the exact same question I asked above... so take heed and be honest with yourself.  This is your first step to becoming mentally healthy.

If your first thought was 1/2 full .... DUH!  Then congratulations, you are done and can move on ;)  Seriously, this means your base personality is a positive one and you are focused on the right things.  If, however, your first thought was 1/2 empty, we need to talk. 

A change in your base personality can only happen with work.  It won't change over night.  It won't happen on it's own.  You will have to make a concerted effort every moment of every day until you have forced a change.  But... we can help you along the way.  In your office, on your fridge, by your bed, as your bookmark in the book you are reading - make a note to yourself with "my glass is 1/2 full" and put a smiley face next to it.  I am serious.  Every time you have a negative thought, a selfish thought, or an angry thought look at that sign and think of how you can change your thought process. 

There are always multiple ways to look at a situation.  Take this for example.  I know a couple that have been together for a couple years.  She calls me one day in a panic, "He is thinking about an ex-girlfriend.  He is distant.  He hates me.  He is cheating on me." On and on she goes.  All she sees is the negative.  What she didn't see was that he and I had talked the night before about old times.  Our conversation had triggered a memory of this ex-girlfriend, not in a sexual way - but in a caring way.  He wondered how she was doing and hoped she was happy.  Obviously, my friends have some kinks to work out in their relationship and trust is a huge one.  But we all carry baggage - and we need to deal with that baggage so it doesn't misinterpret things in current relationships and causes bombs to destroy something good.  If you are my female friend in this situation, work on communicating better, working out your issues from past relationships, and facing facts - don't assume anything (we all know what assuming does right?) ask the questions - even the tough ones.  It really is better to know, and to deal with the bad stuff than to imagine the worst.

So, along with your little pick-me-up signs, there are some changes you can make in your life style.  Music - what are you listening to?  Do you listen to music?  Music really can calm the savage beast - use it in a positive way.  Find some instrumental music that calms you, there are all kinds out there, and play it low during the day and evening hours.  You will be amazed.

Recommended reading: http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/01/24/using-music-to-lift-depressions-veil/

Scents too can make a difference.  Scents tend to lock in a memory.  Find a happy memory from your relationship, your childhood, your family - and release that scent into your daily life.  Candles, incense burners, potpourri jars.. there are lots of ways to get that back into your life.

Recommended reading: http://www.healingtherapies.info/Aromatherapy.htm

Color - we really haven't talked much about color yet, but this too plays a big part.  Here is a good color wheel: http://realcolorwheel.com/tubecolors.htm.  Get a piece of paper and a pen/pencil.  We are going to do two different things - first living space.  Take a look at the color wheel - which colors calm you - relax you - make you smile.  Write them down in order from most to least (I would say choose five).  These colors should be your accent colors in your home.  Second you - Again take a look at the color wheel - which colors animate you - energize you - make you happy.  Again write them down as before.  These should be the accent colors you wear.  Most of the time there will be some similarities between the two lists. 

Recommended reading: http://depression.healthytreatment.com/depressives-try-color-therapy/
http://www.energymed.org/hbank/handouts/healing_properties_colors.htm

Friends and family are very important to a positive mental well being.  Get out.  Don't sit at home in front of the brain musher - get out and see your friends and family.  The more active you are - and the more interactive you are, the happier you will be.  Getting out with friends and family will activate your brain - laughter and happiness releases positive endorphins in your body that help keep you young and help your body heal.  Now, I am not saying to go out and be a party animal - but getting out with friends for a barbecue or Sunday dinner with the family is good!

Do things that make you happy.  When was the last time you laughed?  Smiled?  Enjoyed what you were doing so much that you didn't want to stop?  Find those things and do them REGULARLY!  Make a list of all the things you want to do - put it in front of your face so you think about it all the time - and MAKE IT HAPPEN!  Simply smiling will increase your serotonin levels and move you in a more positive direction.

We want to activate your brain in a positive way - and a negative attitude / outlook and depression have a lot of the same markers.  So, the same herbs will benefit both.  Omega 3/6/9, ginkgo biloba, SAMe, St John's Wort, Ginseng, Basil, Rosemary, Ginger, Clove, Sage, and a host of other herbs are great for fighting depression.  They work to release the positive chemicals in your brain - dopamine and serotonin among others.  As always - READ thoroughly about each herb and its side effects and interactions with foods / chemicals before taking any of them.

Recommended reading: http://holisticonline.com/Remedies/Depression/dep_herbs_1.htm

Get plenty of leafy dark green vegetables, fresh herbs, and dark fruits.  Stay away from our standard bad foods - sodas, caffeine, fried foods, packaged foods, junk foods, sugary drinks / foods.  The bad foods will cancel out all the good work you do to try and be positive. 

Recommended reading: http://www.healthy.net/scr/article.aspx?Id=2805 http://www.everydayhealth.com/depression/foods-that-fight-depression.aspx

Add exercise to your daily regiment.  If you build to where you can sustain 30 - 45 minutes of cardio, you will find an amazing thing happens - your body goes into a natural high state - almost euphoric.  It is a wonderful sensation.  And beyond that it also raises your metabolism for 24 hours. 

Recommended reading: http://www.fitnessusa.com/fitness-info/exercise/the-natural-high/

And lastly, but far from being last on the list of todos is sunshine.  Being outside in the sun will activate the pineal gland and release tryptomines which are happy chemicals into the body. 

Recommended reading - this guy gets it: http://www.infobarrel.com/Surround_Yourself_with_Beauty_and_Life_to_Fight_Depression
Recommended reading - Webmd - total picture too:
http://www.webmd.com/depression/features/foods-that-fight-winter-depression

Come back in 30 days and tell me... is your glass 1/2 full or 1/2 empty?  Blessings... E

What's in a Name?

I thought at one time that I would love to go into marketing full time.  I love tweaking the way things look - designing layouts - playing with colors... I thought it was a good match.  For those that don't know me - I am a gypsy and have had MANY varied careers that have NOTHING to do with one another... When I started really studying marketing I realized that it was nothing more than lies.  How to manipulate things - tell only the good stuff - and none of the bad stuff.  No full disclosure.  This is totally against who I am at my core - and I knew I couldn't continue. 

Be careful when you begin your journey into natural medicine.  There are those out there that are just dabblers and don't know enough or research enough to give you good open answers.  There are those that are in it because it is a current "fad" and they want to cash in on as much as they can.  I can't stress enough to READ YOUR LABELS!!

Certified Organic - To be classified as "certified organic" the product must be grown in soil that meets state or federal requirements.  Certification means that the land is tested both soil and water and detail records are kept. 

Organic - this is an excerpt from the definition of "organic" that the National Organic Standards Board adopted in April 1995: "Organic agriculture is an ecological production management system that promotes and enhances biodiversity, biological cycles and soil biological activity. It is based on minimal use of off-farm inputs and on management practices that restore, maintain and enhance ecological harmony."

Recommended Reading on both: http://www.ota.com/organic/faq.html

Natural - There is no "official" definition for using the word natural in marketing.  the FDA refers to natural ingredients as "ingredients extracted directly from plants or animal products as opposed to being produced synthetically."

Botanical - The FDA terms botanical as "all plant-derived materials whether fresh, preserved, or dried full plants, plant parts, plant species mixtures, plant extracts, and compounds found in such materials. Items that are commonly termed herbs or herbal products, regardless of whether they meet the dictionary definition of herb or that are comprised of parts, extracts, or preparations of woody plants are included as botanical ingredients."

Herb / Herbal - There is no "official" definition for using the word herb or herbal in marketing. 

With all the marketing ploys out there, it is so vitally important that you read those labels.  Look at the things with pretty colors - but don't pick them up if they are artificial colors!  There are some great scents out there - but what are those smells covering up?  and are they going to cause an allergic reaction?  Most everyone loves sweets - but what artificial flavors, colors, and sweeteners are being used?  Many of these same questions can be asked of the products we use on a daily basis - soap, face cleaner, detergent, toothpaste, deodorant, etc... There is a great database out there that tells you exactly how dangerous products are to both us and the environment.  http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/

Blessings... E

Family Favorites

I LOVE to cook.  I guess it started when I was a child.  I am the eldest child in a family of six - AND - the only girl. :)  I have lived in the city, on a farm, in the suburbs, and overseas.  I LOVE to travel almost as much as I love to cook.  And I think it is for similar reasons - trying new things / places, meeting new tastes / cultures, etc.  Cooking allows you to experiment and, if you are lucky, interact with others.  I love cooking with someone - whether it be my kids, friends, or a loved one.  It can be fun - it can be intimate - it can be creative.  I am NOT a good person to get recipes from though because I cook with my nose and my taste buds... and I get a lot of grief from others because I don't use proper measurements.... but in my way of thinking... cooking is personal.  What tastes do YOU love?  What herbs do you like?  Do you like more spice or more sweet?  I am pretty much a pescatarian (meaning I am a vegetarian that eats fish), but since I have a daughter that is a meat and potatoes kinda girl - until I moved south I cooked all types (meat) of foods.  So, I am going to share some of my family's favorite dishes - and only give you the base recipe - experiment and have fun. 

Both of my daughters were born in Japan, and since we were linguists many of the men we were friends with, married women that spoke their language of choice - Thai, Korean, Vietnamese, Laotian, Japanese, Filipino, etc... Since I loved food - I took this opportunity to learn as much about their food as possible (while tweaking along the way).  So many of the recipes you will find below come from that time.

Bulgokee - Korean Barbecued Beef - Sweet / Spicy
2 servings
1lb top loin or sirloin steak - have butcher sliver paper thin
1/2 c soy sauce
4T brn sugar
2T sesame oil
3green onions, chopped
2 cloves or 2 t fresh garlic crushed
1/2 - 2 t cayenne
1/2 - 2t crushed red pepper
lettuce leaves
fresh cilantro, basil, mint (any or all - your choice), chopped
chopped tomatoes
1c jasmine rice, cooked

In wok or large fry pan, mix beef (or chicken), soy sauce, sugar, sesame oil, onion, garlic, and peppers.  Let marinate 30 minutes.  Start rice at this time.  Turn on heat to high and stir continuously until a dark thickened sauce remains.  If you like the sauce like my family - double the ingredients in the marinade. 

Traditionally this dish is made by marinating the meat and then cooking on a hibachi.  Once cooked the meat is wrapped in lettuce leaves with fresh herbs and vegetables and eaten like a burrito.  My variation provides a very tasty sauce that goes with.  You can still wrap as the Koreans do or serve it over your rice and add your vegetables and herbs on top.  Enjoy!

Lumpia - Filipino Eggrolls
20 - 30 pieces
1lb lean ground pork - I usually find a nice pork loin and ask the butcher to grind it for me
1/2 - 1 c soy sauce
2 tsp fresh garlic, crushed
1 small white / purple onion, minced finely
1 - 2 tsp pepper
1/4 c finely grated carrot
1/4 c finely chopped water chestnuts
2 tsp sesame oil
1 tsp cayenne pepper
1 pkg lumpia wrappers (asian market)
Peanut oil

Mix all ingredients down to the lumpia wrappers in a medium bowl, cover and let sit in the refrigerator for an hour to marinate.  You can stir once or twice during the process to ensure that all of the meat is covered equally. 

You can not substitute regular eggroll wrappers for lumpia wrappers - a completely different animal.  If you are unable to find lumpia wrappers, let me know and I will attach a recipe to make them yourself - they aren't all that difficult to make but time consuming and they don't come out as uniform as prepackaged wrappers. 

To roll.  CAREFULLY separate a single wrapper from your stack (novice wrappers may want to cover the remainder of the wrappers to keep moist) and lay in front of you as a diamond.  about 1 inch up from the bottom point put one tsp of mixture and draw out in a line about 1 inch from each edge.  Fold up the bottom and over each side, and roll to the end.  Set aside and move on through the rest of your wrappers.

Heat a skillet with enough peanut oil to be 1/2 to 1" deep over medium heat.  If you have a deep fryer - you can use this as well.  A drop of water will sizzle when it is the right temperature for cooking.  Remember we are cooking pork here - you don't want the oil too hot otherwise the meat will not cook properly.  You want your lumpia to be golden brown when they are done.

Remove from the oil and place on paper towels to drain.  Using peanut oil, minimizes the amount of oil absorbed into the eggroll and gives a nice crispy texture to the wrapper.  All the Filipinas I have met, cut the eggroll in half before serving. 

Mushroom Chicken
4 Servings
4 chicken breasts
2 large cans mushroom soup
2 - 3 large potatoes / 2 c rice (whichever you prefer)
3 tsp thyme
2 tsp sage
fresh ground pepper

In dutch oven (stew pot) put two chicken breasts and sprinkle with ground pepper.  Brown and turn over add more pepper and brown.  Remove and repeat with the other two chicken breasts.  Once browned, add one can of mushroom soup, the other two chicken breasts and the other can of mushroom soup.  Add spices, no need to stir.  Reduce temp until it just barely bubbles and cook 30 minutes.  If  adding potatoes, chop and add.  Cook an additional hour, stirring occasionally.  If adding rice cook one hour and then start rice so that they are ready about the same time. 

Baklava - Greek - Pastry / Dessert
serves a LOT but not for long!
4 c. walnuts, ground FINE
1 c. light brown sugar
2 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp ground cloves
1 lb phyllo (frozen section near pastry shells)
1 c. butter, melted
1-1/2 c honey

Phyllo box should sit out 10 - 15 minutes before you begin preparing.  If frozen, put in fridge over night.  In large bowl mix nuts, sugar, and spices.  Grease the sides and bottom of a 9 x 12 glass baking pan.   preheat oven to 425 degrees.  Phyllo is a very thin sheet that tears very easily - it also dries out very quickly.  Open only one of the packages at a time and keep covered with a moist towel when not in use.  If you only have one package in your box - you may need to cut in half to fit in pan.  Remove one sheet if phyllo and lay in pan, use a pastry brush and coat lightly with butter, top with another sheet of phyllo.  Repeat until you have 5 sheets ending with a coating of butter.  Pour 1/4 of your nut mixture in pan and even across the phyllo.  Repeat the 5 sheets/ butter and nut process until all the nut mixture has been used.  Finish with the 5 sheet phyllo / butter combination. 

Bake for 7 minutes and then lower the heat to 350 degrees and bake another 10 minutes.  During the second baking session put a small pan on the stove over medium heat and melt your honey.  It should not boil. 

Remove baklava from oven and cut on a diagonal one inch wide strips and then across this 3 inch lines CAREFULLY.  Pour the honey over the hot baklava.  Make sure you get all your cracks and crevices.  Once it is cool enough to cover, cover and let sit eight hours before serving.

Tropical Fruit Salad
4 servings
1 mango, cubed
1 papaya, cubed
1 c sliced strawberries
1 c sliced grapes
1 c fresh pineapple, cubed
2 kiwi
3T frozen (thawed) limeade concentrate
1T olive oil, virgin
1T honey, warmed
1/8 t poppy seeds

Mix fruit in large bowl.  Either shake or whisk the remaining ingredients and pour over fruit. 

Quesadillas
3 servings
1 flavored tortilla (cheddar jalapeno, tomato basil)
1/2 c feta cheese
fresh baby spinach leaves
fresh cilantro, chopped
1 avocado, sliced
fresh ground pepper
cayenne

In omelet pan lay tortilla shell, spread entire shell with peppers, cover 1/2 of shell with feta cheese.  Cover with cilantro and spinach (as much as you like).  Turn on heat to medium.  Add avocado.  Wait for the tortilla to begin to bubble - this is a sign that it is ready to fold over.  Remove from heat and cut into 1/3s. 

Enjoy! 

Spring Angst

It started with an occasional cough, and progressed into post nasal drip and congestion.  The trees are blooming and flowers are out in Texas!  While it is my favorite time of the year... spring kills me for my allergies.  While the Yanks are still covered in snow... we in the South have welcomed spring completely!

Growing up I had allergies almost all year round.  Up until about eight years ago (when I embraced Naturopathy completely) I got Bronchitis every fall and usually was out sick for a full week.  Now, I am rarely sick - and only really have issues with my allergies in the fall (mold and mildew).  So... what changed? 

Actually, there were quite a number of things that changed.  I went from eating red meat, pork, chicken, and fish every day - at least once a day to eating primarily fish only once a week or so.  I worked out more, got more sunshine.  I ate more vegetables both raw and lightly steamed.  I paid more attention to WHAT I was eating - preservatives, artificial colors, artificial flavors.  I began taking Omega 3/6/9 daily.  And I also started drinking more water and green tea.  I also have removed all of the carpet in my home - I know that isn't usually a choice we all have, but it was a huge part of my year round allergy problem. 

My allergies were so bad that my doctor told me that I needed to completely close up my house through out the year.  What I didn't know at the time was that by closing up a house and running the AC / Heat year round you never remove the toxins from your home - and your home becomes more toxic than air in a smog filled city.  This is the reason I have recommended you open your home for several hours at least once a month.  Yes, you will be letting pollen and dust in, but more importantly you will be releasing the toxins from in your home - from your carpet, paint, and furniture, from your cleaning products, and from any other potentially dangerous things in your home.  DON'T EVER keep your home closed up for long periods of time. 

I have heard a lot of positive results with Acupuncture.  If you choose to go this route, make sure that you have found an experienced Acupuncturist. I have also heard of good results with Chiropractic adjustments.  Again, be careful whom you choose.  Both sciences have had a lot of bad press - but with the right professional, you will see a lot benefits. 

There are foods and herbs that also help lessen the sensitivity to the environment.  Garlic, echinecea, nettle, butterbur, and zinc are all herbs known to help fight allergies.  Foods that are high in Omega 3 (tuna, salmon, walnuts) help fight allergies.  Local honey has also been shown to reduce sensitivity with allergies, by ingesting honey made with local flowers you are basically ingesting small amounts to build up your resistance to the pollen.  Spicy foods help clear sinuses but don't really have any other benefit to allergies. 

This is from Mother Earth News - the link to the full post is below: Quercetin. A natural plant-derived compound called a bioflavonoid, quercetin helps stabilize mast cells and prevents them from releasing histamine. Quercetin also is a natural antioxidant that helps mop up molecules called free radicals that cause cell damage, which can lead to cancer. Citrus fruits, onions, apples, parsley, tea, tomatoes, broccoli, lettuce and wine are naturally high in quercetin, but allergy sufferers will most likely need to use supplements to build up enough of this compound to prevent attacks. The recommended dosage is about 1,000 milligrams a day, taken between meals. It’s best to start treatment six weeks before allergy season. Those with liver disease shouldn’t use quercetin, so please consult your doctor before using this or any other supplement — especially if you are pregnant or nursing.

Full post: http://www.motherearthnews.com/Natural-Health/2006-08-01/Six-Natural-Allergy-Remedies.aspx?page=2#ixzz1GLklfSeo 

There are also specific foods to stay away from when you are congested, primarily dairy and bread.  Both increase the production of mucus in both the head and chest. 

Again, I caution you - if you are going to use herbs, please read all the details about each before using so you understand the pros and cons of each.  Herbs can be dangerous, if you do not understand how to use them properly.