Wishing everyone a great holiday! Be back after the new year.

Cloves

Cloves have one of the highest antioxidant rankings of any spice.
Use it in: Winter fruit salads, mulled wine or cider and spicy curries.

Holiday decorating with nature

Instead of decorating your home with pricey disposable decor, gather some pinecones, evergreen boughs, and stones to add a natural holiday touch. Add citrus for a fragrant holiday display.  Some pomagranate and lime in a clear bowl would make a pretty centerpiece.
Decorating with nature this season will not only save you money, you'll also benefit from spending time outside.

Choosing Fruit In The Winter

Satisfy your fruit cravings now even though it's winter. Many people say not to buy produce out of season. You can still enjoy fruit, It's just a matter of knowing which version is the healthiest and tastiest at this time of year.
In the winter, frozen or dried may be a better choice over fresh. Here's a guide to making the best picks now.
Blueberries: Buy them frozen.
Frozen blueberries are the petite wild version. They have been found to contain more antioxidents than the cultivated type.

Apples: Buy them fresh.
Apples are a top notch source of quercetin, an antioxidant known to slash the risk of cancer.

Peaches: Buy them frozen.
Frozen peaches are harvested at peak ripeness and quickly flash-frozen to lock in vitamins, antiixidants, and flavor.

Strawberries: buy them fresh.
Fresh or frozen strawberries are a leading source of vitamin C.

Cherries: buy them dried.
Dried cherries are high in beta-cerotine, which is a building block for vitamin A.
Be sure to pick dried cherries that are not sweetened with sugar.

Information taken from the December 2011 issue of "Health" magazine.

Benifits of a drink a day

Raise your glass to long-lasting good health: Women who are moderate drinkers(one to two alcoholic drinks a day) at midlife are more likely than nondrinkers to reach age 70 without having any
major chronic disease(including cancer, diabetes and heart disease) or major cognitive or physical impairment, according to a new Harvard study. What's more, the more often you drink, the better. Those who had one or two drinks 5 to seven days a week were much more likely to stay well into their golden years than those who drank only once or twice a week. Now there's a prescription we'll gladly stick to!
Article taken from the December 2011 issue of "Health" magazine.

Protein Packed Kale and Pasta

Ingredients:
1bunch of kale, rinsed and chopped.
1cup of peas
1 cup of white beans
Olive oil
1clove of garlic, chopped
The juice of 1 lemon
Whole grain shell pasta
Sea salt and pepper to taste
Cut seems off kale and boil until tender. Meanwhile, saute peas in olive oil for about 8 minutes. Add 1cup of white bean and garlic. Saute for another minute over medium heat.
Cook pasta as stated on the package.
Once finished strain pasta.
Strain cooked kale and mix both pasta and kale in bean mixture.
Season with salt and pepper and stir in the juice of one lemon.

We should always appreciate what we have and be thankful for those in our lives who truly care about us.

A treat for nature

Instead of tossing out your jack-o-lanterns, make a tasty treat for the animals instead.
Cut a circle where the face is on the pumpkin and place birdseed on the bottom. Set outside on the grass for animals to eat.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN.

It's best not to feel bad over the lose of something that was never ours to begin with.

"Let us learn to appreciate there will be times when the trees will be bare,
and look forward to the time when we can pick the fruit."
By Anton Chekhov

"Prey to the Moon when she is round. Luck with you will then abound. Whatever you seek for shall be found. On the sea or solid ground."

Spices

Eating a diet rich is spices like turmeric and cinnamon reduces the body's negative responses to high-fat meals.

Autumn Drink

2 cups of all natural cranberry juice

2 cups of pineapple juice

1 cinnamon stick

Combine all ingredients in a medium saucepan over medium heat and simmer for about 10 minutes, until hot and steaming(the longer the simmer, the better the flavor).

Remove cinnamon stick and pour into mugs.

Serve hot.

Healthy Halloween Treats

Here's some healthy goodies to give as treats on Halloween.
Fruit snacks such as raisins, fruit strips, and fruit leathers are very satisfying for a sweet tooth.
Dark chocolate contains less sugar than milk chocolate. It also has more antioxidants which makes for a perfect treat for trick-or-treaters.
Don't offer nuts because some kids have nut allergies. Instead offer licorice or sugarless candy.

Garlic Facts

The Greeks and Romans believed that garlic- also known as the "stinking rose"- could be used to treat eczema, toothaches and snakebites.
Information from "the food encyclopedia"

Apple Sauce

Ingredients;
6 to 10 medium
McIntosh, Crispin, Jonagold, or Cortland apples cut into 3/4 inch pieces
3/4 cups of water
1/4 cup of honey
2 tbs fresh lemon juice
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground cloves
Combine apples, 3/4 cups water and honey in medium sauce pan. Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally.
Reduce heat, cover and simmer until apples are very tender and skins are softened.
Uncover and simmer until almost all liquid in saucepan has evaporated. Remove from heat. Cool for 30 minutes.
Using fork or potato masher, mash apple mixture until coarse and chunky. Serve at room temperature or serve chilled.

Garam Masala Lentils and Potatoes

Ingredients;
1 pound brown lentils, rinsed
1 1/2 pounds all purpose potatoes, peeled and cut into 3/4 inch pieces
2 onions, peeled and chopped
1 can of no-salt- added diced tomatoes
2 teaspoons salt
1 1/2 tsp garam masala seasoning
1/2 tsp ground cumin
1/2 tsp black pepper
2 yellow or red peppers, cut into 1 inch pieces, seeded and cored
1/2 cup cilantro leaves, chopped
3/4 cups toasted slivered almonds

In a large saucepan, combine 4 cups of water, lentils, onions, potatoes, diced tomatoes, garam masala, salt, cumin and pepper. Cover and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to medium low and simmer, covered for 35 minutes. Stir occasionally. Add yellow peppers and simmer an additional 5 minutes.
Stir in cilantro and sprinkle almonds over top.
(From; Family Circle magazine)

Nuts for Health

Even though nuts are high in fat, studies have not linked them to weight gain. Most of their fat is the healthy unsaturated type. Nuts are a great source of protein, fiber and phytochemicals. Nuts are good to add to any weight reducing diet.

Every leaf speaks bliss to me, fluttering from the autumn tree.
By Emily Bronte

Pumpkin Facial Mask

This facial mask is made with pumpkin puree, which is packed with Vitamin A. Vitamin A is known to reduce fine lines and wrinkles.
Ingredients;
2 tsp pumpkin puree
1/2 tsp honey
1/4 tsp whipping cream
Mix all ingredients and apply to face. leave on for 10 minutes.
(Information from; Bonding over beauty)

An Autumn Sunrise

Enjoying a pretty autumn morning from my front porch.

Peach Jam

I've been really busy gathering veggies, herbs and fruits lately, so I'm going on a blog break. Taking a blog break will give me more time to  preserve the foods I pick up at farm stands, or get from my own yard.

I'm wishing everyone a great rest of the summer.

Be back in October!

Since peaches are so juicy, sweet and delicious right now, I've posted a healthy "peach jam" recipe.

 Ingredients;

1 1/3 cups of finely chopped and peeled peaches

1/3 cup of white grape juice

3 tsp bottled lemon juice

1 1/2 tbsp Ball "real fruit" low sugar or no sugar pectin

Up to 1/2 cups of honey (optional)

Sanitize jam jars as stated on the "Ball" mason jar package.

Always use clean brand new lids when preserving fruits and vegetables.

Combine peaches, juice, and lemon juice in an 8 qt. sauce pan.

Gradually stir in the "Real fruit" pectin.

Bring mixture to a full rolling boil that cannot be stirred down, over high heat, stirring constantly.

Add honey if using. Return to a full rolling boil. Boil hard for 1 minute stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Skim off any foam.

Ladle jam into hot jars one at a time, leaving 1/4 inch space from the rim. Place lids on jars. Apply bands and adjust to fingertip tight.

Place filled jars in a canner making sure jars are covered in 1 to 2 inches of water. Place lid on canner. Bring water to a gentle, steady boil.

Process jars for 10 minutes. Turn off heat and remove the lid of the canner. Let the jars stand for 5 minutes.

Remove jars and let cool for 24 hours.

Check lids for seal after 24 hours. Lids should not flex up and down when pressed in the center. If so, refrigerate jam and use within a week.

Store jam at room temperature and enjoy this healthy preserve all winter long:)

Baked Tomatoes, Squash, and Potatoes

This is a great recipe I got out of my "Whole Living" magazine.

Ingredients:

2 Tbs extra virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling

1 onion, thinly sliced

2 tomatoes, sliced thin

1 medium yellow squash, sliced 1/4 inch thick

1 medium potato, sliced 1/4 inch thick

salt and pepper to taste

1 tbs fresh thyme leaves

2 tbs Parmesan cheese(optional)

Heat oven to 375.

Heat oil over medium and cook onions until tender and lightly golden, 6 to 8 minutes.

Arrange onions at the bottom of the baking dish.

Overlap potatoes, tomatoes, and squash on top of onion.

Season with salt and pepper. Sprinkle with thyme leaves and Parmesan cheese.

Bake covered for 30 minutes. Uncover and bake until golden, 30 more minutes.

Apple Facts

Apples are a natural food, not loaded with artificial sugars and fats like many man made sports snacks.

Apple Facts

Apples contain the trace mineral boron, which helps strengthen bones and protect against osteoporosis.

Apple Facts

Apples contain pectin, a reliable source of fiber that causes the stomach to slowly empty. Pectin keeps you from getting hungry and distracted during your workout.

Apple Facts

Apples are an excellent source or soluble and insoluble fiber.

Apple Facts

Apples help maintain blood sugar levels, boost your stamina and enhance performance.

HOT CHILI PEPPER SAUCE

Here's a great hot sauce recipe hubby found online. He modified it a bit to meet our taste.

Since I have tons of chili peppers in the garden right now, I'm making this tasty hot sauce and preserving it.

Ingredients;

5 cloves of garlic, chopped

10 chili peppers, halved and seeded

1 onion, chopped

1 tbs chopped cilantro

1 tbs chopped oregano

1/2 cup vegetable oil

4 cups of water

1/4 tsp cumin

Sea salt to taste

Saute garlic, onions, and peppers with a bit of vegetable oil in a sauce pan for 7 minutes.

Add the rest of the ingredients. Bring to a boil. Once boiling, reduce heat and let simmer on low for 1 hour.

When sauce finished, pour into blender and puree well. Transfer back to the pan and simmer until slightly thickened.

Store hot sauce in the refrigerator, or preserve sauce in mason jars.

Apple Facts

Apples are a good source of carbohydrates, your main fuel while you exercise.

Apples help you build muscle and lose fat.

Apple Facts

Eating 2 fresh apples a day can improve cholesterol levels in as little as 6 months.

Apples

Apples deliver an array of advantages for people who want to have an active lifestyle. Many of these benefits are directly related to exercise and working out.

For example;

Apples are nutrient rich with less than half the calories of a chocolate bar.They'll fill you up without filling you out!

Photo by me

There's always something new to study, or explore in nature.

Honeydew was originally cultivated in southern France and Algeria centuries ago.

Honeydew is a part of the gourd family, which is divided into fruits and veggies.

One wedge of honeydew provides penty of vitamin C and is 64 calories.

Honeydew salad:

12 wedges of honeydew

6 cups arugula

6 fresh figs, trimmed and sliced in half

1/2 cup thinly sliced red onion

3 tbsp toasted and chopped walnuts

Vinaigrette:

3 tbs white balsamic vinegar

2 tbs extra virgin olive oil

1 tbs honey

1 tsp dijon mustard

1tbs fresh mints, chopped

A pinch of sea salt

1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper

Arrange arugula on plate

Top each serving with honeydew, fig halves, onion and garnish with walnuts.

Whisk vinaigrette ingredients to combine.

Drizzle dressing over salad.

That which is timeless is found now.

Buddha

Do not seek perfection in a changing world.

Instead perfect your love.

Hive Magic- HONEY

Honey is an elixir packed with vitamins, probiotics and powerful enzymes, whose anti microbacterial properties help to break down dead skin. This helps sloth away skin.
Honey also absorbs moisture pulling water from the air, and then helping your skin's top layer to retain it.
Information taken from the July 2011 issue of "Whole Living" magazine

Blackberry Jam

(picture by me)

There are a ton of blackberries ripening in my backyard right now.

My blackberry bushes have spread tremendously since I've moved into this house in 2002.

Instead of letting all those delicious fruits go to waist, I've decided to make jam.

For the amount of berries I have, The jam should last my family for a few months or more.

This is the first time I've ever preserved jam.

Here's a recipe for anyone who may also have easy access to a lot of blackberries. This particular recipe doesn't use refined sugar as a sweetner. Fruit juice is used instead.

(Picture by me)

 You will need jam mason jars and new lids. Run the jam jars through the dishwasher to sanitize them. Place flat lids in water that has almost reached a boil. remove from heat and let the lids sit in the water until ready to jar the jam.

For the jam:

2 cups of fresh picked blackberries

1/3 cup of fruit juice(grape or pear or both mixed)

1 1/2 Tbs of "Ball" no sugar needed pectin

Crush the berries in a bowl with a potato masher, but leave it chunky.

Place the crushed berries in a saucepan and add the fruit juice to the pan. Slowly stir in the pectin and bring to a rolling boil over high heat, stirring almost constantly.

Once the berries have gotten so they can't be stirred down, boil for one minute, stirring constantly.

Remove from heat. Using a canning funnel fill sterilized jam jars quickly and leave 1/4 inch of space between the jam and the rim. Wipe off any access jam that may have gotten on the edge of the jar and and place a dried flat lid on jar, then screw the cap tightly. Place the jars on a towel to cool for 24 hours before storing.

Once they've been sitting for 24 hours, check to see which jars sealed by pressing down on the top of the lids.

If they pop up, they did not seal and you can store them in the refrigerator for immediate use. If they sealed they will be secure with no noise when pressing the tops. These can be stored for later use.

(Picture by me)

Each bee must eat 8 to 10 pounds of honey and fly an equivalent of six orbits around the earth to produce a pound of wax.

Hive Magic

In the past beeswax as well as honey were the best of skin care for centuries.
Only now their benefits are being rediscovered for it's natural beauty benefits.
Bee populations are on the decline and they are of major importance to planetary and human health.
Nothing restores the glow of youth like ingredients from bees.
Beeswax and honey exfoliate, moisturize, and protect the skin.
Information taken from  the July Issue of "Whole Living" magazine.

photo by me

Gardening is a great form of meditation.

Hive Magic

Bees visit an estimated 2 million flowers to produce a single pound of honey.

Keeping Snails At Bay

Keeping snails and slugs away from our vegetable plants can become a challenge.

An inexpensiveive way to keep slugs away from your plants, is to place smashed eggshells around them.

Slugs won't crawl over the eggshell bits, because they don't like the feeling of the broken eggshells.

glitter-graphics.com

Just 15 minutes of sunshine a day will give you the recommended daily dose of vitamin D needed, as long as your not wearing sunscreen and your face and arms are exposed to the sun.

Photo by me

Happy Summer Solstice!

Wishing everyone a "Happy Father's Day!!"

We will be enjoying our father's day by having a party at my house.

The weather is beautiful!