Saturday, October 30, 2010

E-cloth


I have E-cloth finally! Ever since my mom used E-cloth on my windows I have wanted to get some. Well, they perform as well as they boast. Here are some facts that might make you interested in buying E-cloth.

You only need water
Removes dirt and grease
They are washable and dryable
The process is a time saver

These little cloths are made of tiny fibers that are 1/1oo smaller than a human hair. This ensures the removal of everything on your windows, even germs. Wash or spray with water and wipe clean with the glass and polishing cloth- streak free and perfect!
What a great idea to reduce waste and reduce the use of chemicals in our homes.

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Some simple things to improve your health



After doing some reading, I have concluded there are some things we cannot be without in our daily diets. These are:

Apple cider vinegar has often been noted as a cure all, it most likely because it helps balance the bodies Ph. Many susceptibilities to illnesses and cold/flu have to do with an improper balance in one's body. It is recommended that one drink 2-4 tsp a day of apple cider vinegar in water.(throughout the day) It cleanses your system and gives you minerals and vitamins. The apple cider vinegar to purchase is one that is cloudy or has what is called the "mother" in it.




Like apple cider vinegar honey has all kinds of claims to it's name.
Honey is great mixed with apple cider vinegar as a drink and it is great taken by the teaspoonful for building one's immune system and giving one energy. Honey is the slowest releasing sugar and does not cause problems with one's blood sugar levels. The honey to buy is one that is preferably local to one's area, is unfiltered or filtered, but raw. (meaning not pasteurized)


Kelp is so full of nutrients and minerals. It is organic and much easier for the body to use than say a multi-vitamin. Kelp tablets or powder are the easiest way to incorporate this into an everyday regime. The powder is salty and can be used as a salt substitute. Kelp contains Iodine(in natural form)that one's body needs to function correctly.

There have been whole books written about all three of these amazing foods. I have not begun to touch the surface of all the good things about them.

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Get well soup

Soup has got to be one of the best things for your body when you are sick. It cleans out your sinuses, soothes your throat, and warms you up. Here is a recipe that I like to use, and I apologize for the lack of exact measurements... I tend to throw things in a pot and taste as I go :-) The spices in this recipe really get your body working quickly and will help your system attack the virus. When you are sick you should not eat much at all, your body needs to focus all its energy on fighting the problem and not spending all its energy on digesting food. Liquids are a great way to help cleanse your body and keep you going even if you aren't eating. Above all, rest and don't load your system down with drugs that only mask the problem and don't fix the problem.

3-4 cloves of garlic pressed and lightly sauteed in oil or butter
4-5 cups of homemade chicken stock( I cannot stress enough to use homemade- bullion is so bad for you)
3-4 organic or homegrown carrots scrubbed and diced
1/4 of a cabbage chopped
1/4 box of spaghetti noodles(healthy pasta)

Seasoning:
1/4 teas of cayenne pepper powder (very good for sick people)
1 table of curry powder
1 teas of celery seed or use about a cup of chopped fresh celery
a little salt

Saute garlic first( only a little so as to save all those wonderful garlic properties), then add broth, then carrots, then cabbage, then noodles, then spices. Cook on high and cook till carrots are soft enough. Then you can simmer longer if you want.

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Soaking grains


As I continue to learn things about healthy living and eating I have come across this old practice of soaking grains before eating them. I feel like I have a lot more to learn about this, and I will be posting more in the future. I am trying my first batch of bread today. The flour was pre-soaked and slightly fermented for about 21 hours. There is an element in grains and legumes that is called phytic acid. This has a binding affect on minerals, meaning most of the minerals in the bread or grains we eat is not being absorbed by our bodies, but carried right out by the phytic acid. There are studies being done on phytic acid and there are some instances in which it presents itself as a helpful agent in people with the need to draw heavy metals out of their bodies, but for every day health it looks like we need to be soaking our grains and legumes to get maximum nutrition out of them. I am not sure how the processes are done yet, but I am starting, and I encourage you to look into the idea of soaking your grains before eating them.

Friday, August 6, 2010

Hummus


Spread or dip~
Ingredients:
1 can of garbanzo bean or chickpeas (my can was 15.5 oz)
1/4 cup of liquid from can
1/4 cup of lemon juice (you can build up taste by tablespoon if you don't want a strong lemon flavor)
1/4 cup of olive oil
2 T of sesame seeds (more if you want)
2 cloves of garlic
1/2 tsp of salt (again it is something you can build to your desired taste)

Put in a blender or food processor and let her rip.. starting out on low that is :-)
Store in the fridge in an airtight container.

This tastes so yummy and is so healthy! Traditionally it is eaten with pita bread. Try it with crackers, corn chips, bread, or anything you think will taste good!

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

Watch out for Wild Parsnip



This pretty looking flower that looks similar to fennel and dill is not very friendly. If you get the plant oil on your skin you will get what is called phyto-photo-dermatitis. The plant oil combined with sunlight makes for an unpleasant sun burn feeling or blister. Essentially the skin is chemically burned. The leftover result will be a dark brownish-red color on the skin. These markings can last for a very long time. I myself have had mine for about 2 months and they are now starting to fade. Some people have reported having the markings for several years. If you have had contact with the plant oil try washing the places that you think have been touched. The best thing to do is avoid the plant or wear gloves and long clothing if it needs to be moved from your yard.

Dill and Fennel will both have feather like leaves.

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Wheat crackers


After looking at some inspiring blogs this morning I decided to make some crackers. They are very easy to make and very simple. This is a great basic recipe that could have herbs or cheeses or any sort of yummy thing added to them.



Recipe:
* 2 1/4 cups whole wheat flour (freshly ground is best on pastry setting)
* 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
* 3/4 teaspoon salt
* 1/3 cup vegetable oil or whatever oil you have on hand
* 1 cup water
* salt for sprinkling

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F after you have mixed your dough
2. In a medium bowl, stir together the whole wheat flour, all-purpose flour, and 3/4 teaspoon salt. Pour in the vegetable oil and water; mix until just blended.Using a fork is the easiest.
3. On a lightly floured surface or for less mess use parchment paper, roll out the dough as thin as possible - no thicker than 1/8 inch. Cut into squares or use cookie cutters. Place shapes on an ungreased baking sheet as close as you want. Prick each cracker with a fork a few times, and sprinkle with salt by hand so as to get the salt on the just the crackers.
4. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes in the preheated oven, or until crisp and light brown. Baking time may be different depending on how thin your crackers are. When cool, remove from baking sheet,and store in a bag or airtight container.

This recipe was adapted by me from allrecipes.com