My favorite healing herb blend & my muddle

I always thought those muddle things (I realize its a mortar but we call it a muddle in this house) were cool so about three years ago, my son asked for one we saw at TJ Maxx. It was marble and only 5.99.

Buy online

I didn't know where I was putting it and I don't usually buy things unless I know where it's going to go because homeless things tend to turn to dusty clutter. 

It's still homeless, well not really, it's home is on my counter. I never put it away. I use it every single day. 

When you use a muddle to crush up your herbs, you bring out the oils and best flavors. The aroma is pure heaven.

Healing Spices 

Herbs have amazing healing powers and I love adding them to our foods to keep my family healthy. In fact I add them to everything. One of the greatest books I have on herbs is called Healing Spices- how to use 50 everyday and exotic spices to boost health and beat disease. 

It alphabetically goes through just about every spice in your spice cabinet, in great detail. 4-5 pages, describing the herb, what it's health benefits are, what it helps heal,  what it pairs well with and even includes a recipe using the herb. 

It even has a spice combo section in the back that offers spice blend recipe by region of origin, Middle East, china, Latin America, North Africa, India, France, etc. even Chesapeake bay seafood seasoning recipe. You will get no additives or fillers if you blend your own spices. Mulling spices, pickling spices etc. 

Here is my favorite healing blend. I made it up myself and I put it in everything. My husband said, I don't know what spice you are using but it's amazing!  

I'm going to call my measurement parts because I pinch the herbs for every recipe into the muddle bowl so that they are freshly muddled for each recipe. It really only takes a minute and it's so much better than making a big batch that sits around loosing flavor. 

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I realize this is a lot  of spices, but its all just pinches.  Its great on everything, from pizza, to eggs, sausage, even pasta. I am big on fennel seeds as my grandfather had Alzheimer's and I try my best to eat foods that prevent that.

My Healing Herb Blend

In the muddle bowl:

2 parts: 

Fennel seeds, rosemary 

1 part each:

Oregano, marjoram, basil, parsley, thyme,

1/4 part each:

Cinnamon, all spice, clove, nutmeg, ginger, caraway seeds, one peppercorn and a dash of sea salt. 

If the meal I'm adding this to doesn't  have fresh garlic in it I add 1 part garlic to this also. 

Sometimes I add paprika to this (1/4 part) if I want a smokey background flavor. 

Muddle away. Grind those spices. Take a whiff. Omg that's heaven. 

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I never buy powdered spices. I'd rather use a zester on my nutmeg, dried ginger root etc. there's a great Amish store near me that has a huge spice aisle with many herbs in whole form. I also love seed. Fennel seeds are my favorite herb. 

Find yourself a muddle set and play with your spices. Even if you only muddle your Italian seasoning, you are going to love the flavor results. And the aroma!  

You can buy them online or check our Ross/TJ Maxx type stores. You can get great deals on kitchen gadgets there. I got my pasta machine there for 15 bucks. If  you can't find one, you can order online...amazon offers free shipping overs so many dollars, free for prime  members. 

This is one book I've had for a few years and I always reference back to. You won't ever want to part with this book. 

Some peeks on my book. My favorite spice...

I probably don't have to remind you that you should keep your spices in the coolest darkest cabinet in the kitchen.  Away from heat sources and moisture.

 

Super Easy Homemade Bread (and pizza dough)...Five Minutes to whip up a batch of dough

I felt the need to update my post about Artisan Bread.   I got a book years ago, Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day (and since have bought all of their books, Zoe and Jeff are awesome).

I whip up a batch of this every few days..takes me five minutes and I let it on the counter for three hours, and then it lasts in my refrigerator for 2 weeks.  What could be easier..it not only makes a tasty bread (many different ways), but its a great stromboli and pizza crust too.

I have been playing with this recipe since 2007 because my cookbook club sent me a copy of their book. Its so versatile, you can use this recipe for so many things.

 You can flatten it out and sprinkle raisins and cinnamon and sugar on it and roll it up, and put it in a loaf pan and bake it...they also have a buttermilk In their book that yields even better cinnamon raisin bread, but I won't give all of their recipes away..buy the book.  You can make it with this dough though.  I have only because I make this dough several times a week and always have a rolling batch on hand.  You can use some semolina in place of the flour too for a crispy pizza crust or just roll this recipe really flat.

I add spices to mine that I muddle and toss in with the flour...because I use it within a few days..I would not attempt to keep it in the fridge two weeks adding extra stuff to it.  Keep it basic if you don't think you will go through it fast. Its so good with the "mafia" spices muddled and tossed in...goes great with cheese and beer.

I won't bore you anymore with chatter...here it is...so simple..

Artisan Bread Dough Master Recipe

In a big container like the one shown below (you can get these at the restaurant stores), add these ingredients in this order and stir with a wooden spoon:

3 C lukewarm water
1½ T yeast
1½T kosher salt
6½ C bread flour (the gluten content is ideal, but you can use all purpose, I have and it works)

Mix will with a wooden spoon and let it set out on the counter three hours, then refrigerate up to two weeks.  Grab a wad and put it onto a flat stone, freehand, or in a bread stone (sprinkle a little corn meal on the stone to prevent sticking...especially if you are rolling it out to make stromboli or pizza, and bake at 400 for about an hour, the time will depend on the size.  They say to let it rise first, but we just bake it as is and it works.  If you have the time, let it rise 30 mins before baking.

You can get the book here. They also have a healthier version Healthy Bread in Five Minutes a Day 


I now buy my bread flour at Sams in 25 pound bags because we go through a lot of it.  I also get my yeast there really cheap.

Here my husband made a breakfast pizza with it.
http://margaritastewart.blogspot.com/2010/01/allens-artisan-breakfast-pizza.html

I have some of my baking stones for 20 years.  Get good quality baking stones here.

Here is the video of the authors making a batch way back when, on a news show.

Chèvre and strawberry overnight French toast

I had this dish in a restaurant as a grilled cheese and loved it. Wanted to turn it into a fast breakfast for my family. Here it is. 

You can make this the night before, or if you are an early bird like me, make it and let it set at least an hour to soak up the eggs. 

Grease a baking dish. The size will be determined by how many you are cooking for. 

Layer first layer of bread. Sprinkle chèvre onto break then squeeze strawberry jelly onto it. Top with a layer of bread slices. 

In a bowl, scramble 12 eggs (9 x 13 pan, half for 10 x 10). Whisk in some milk. Pour over bread. 

Refrigerate at least an hour, overnight is better. 

Let rest on counter while oven pre-heats to 375°  Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until egg mixture sets up. 

Serve w powdered sugar, cocoa powder and strawberry syrup. 

You can also serve it with walnut ice cream topping. Yum! 

Homemade ornament 2013

Every year I like to try to give a homemade gift out to my family and friends. 

This year I saw something on Pinterest has sparked my interest. I saw a melted snowman in a clear  glass ornament. 

It's really quite simple it's kosher salt, whole peppercorns and some embellishments and a few tiny twigs from my Christmas tree. I made the scarf curved with ZOTS (adhesive scrapbooking dots. They are  like a glue but in  that you just stick on.). And the nose is just a triangle cut out of craft foam. 

I probably could have found a tiny top hat at the craft store, but then he wouldn't be melted if he had his magic hat. 

No cook Rum Balls

Here are a few basic rum ball recipes. They are do easy to make and the sky is the limit on making them your own. Oreo cookies, nuts of your choice, add your favorites. 

They travel to parties well in candy boxes you can buy at craft stores. 

These cookies start out exactly like rum balls except you add 1 cup of Graham crumbs to the mixture. I used unsweetened chocolate, because the icing sugar and the Graham crumbs are already sweet. The first bite is bitter, but then the cookie is less so, which is a nice surprise.

1 cup icing sugar
1 cup finely ground almonds
3 squares [3 oz] unsweetened chocolate, melted
1/3 cup dark rum or your choice of hard liquor
1 tsp vanilla
unsweetened cocoa to roll into

• Line trays with waxed paper and set aside.
• Place a fry pan on low heat and add the chocolate.
• Stirring continuously, partially melt the chocolate.
• Remove from pan from heat and stir until chocolate is fully melted
• In a large bowl, combine the almonds and the icing sugar.
• Add the melted chocolate, the rum and vanilla.
• Add the Graham crumbs and stir to combine.
• Press together with clean hands.
• One by one roll mixture into 24 balls.
• Roll each ball into unsweetened cocoa and place on the prepared tray.
• Let rum ball cookies dry on the tray for 1 hour.
• Serve or place cookies in Tupperware containers until needed.
• Rum ball cookies freeze well.

Source: 

http://zsuzsaisinthekitchen.blogspot.com/2011/12/rum-ball-cookies.html?m=1

You know those days when you really, really, really want a homemade cookie, but the thought of the mixing and the baking and the cooling and the cleaning up makes you reach for the box of supermarket cookies instead, when what you really wanted was the homemade deal?  That is where these delectable little rum balls come in.  They require exactly no oven, no cookie sheet, no baking, no cooling and about 15 minutes from “I think I want a cookie” to popping into your mouth.

Ironically, they do START with supermarket cookies –Nilla Wafers, to be precise.  You’re going to pulverize about 2 cups of wafers to make about 1 3/4 cups of Nilla Wafer crumbs…this is best done in your food processor.  Do the same thing with walnuts – about 3/4 cups to make 1/2 cup of finely ground walnuts.  Now dump all of that into your stand mixer with some powdered sugar, some butter, some water and a little rum extract (which you can find in the baking aisle next to the vanilla extract).  Let the mixer rip until you have a nice stiff dough.

Now roll the dough into little balls (about one inch across), and then roll the balls in a little powdered sugar until the are nice and coated.  And that’s it – you’re done.

Seriously!  Done.  Homemade cookies.  Ready for the eating.  Sometimes the easiest things are also the most delicious!

Source: http://www.framedcooks.com/2013/04/no-bake-rum-balls.html

RUM BALLS 

1 large box vanilla wafers
3 TBS cocoa powder
3 TBS light corn syrup
1 cup powdered sugar
1/2 cup rum
chocolate sprinkles (for rolling)

Process the vanilla wafers in a food processor until finely ground.Add the powdered sugar and cocoa powder and stir until combined. Add the corn syrup and rum and mix well. Chill if necessary and then shape into 1 inch balls. Roll the balls in the chocolate sprinkles. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Source: http://www.foodhuntersguide.com/2013/12/throwback-thursday-rum-balls.html?m=1

Message to Milk Haters

I got really irritated with a milk hater the other day. "People don't need milk after a certain age, people's bodies can't digest it after a certain age". 

MY body can digest it. Quite well. My body runs better when I consume raw, organic milk. 

So you don't  eat cheese, ice cream, or beef/chicken/fish or even vegetables for that matter??  Let's be real, your body doesn't need meat, or even vegetables to survive. I know people who don't eat either that walk on two legs. You'll go on living eating junk but adding meat, vegetables and dairy give your body nutrients. 

Milk and gluten is bad for people who are intolerant  of it. That doesn't mean people who are capable of eating it and digesting it shouldn't have it. 

So to say milk isn't meant for humans is a crock of bullshit. Mind your own business if YOU can't digest milk. 

Look at that cream line in my raw, organic milk at the top of this page. 

If you want to learn the benefits of drinking raw milk, do your own research and don't believe all of the horror stories of the naysayers on the web. Most of those stories are fabricated and exaggerated. 

http://www.realmilk.com/

There's my tirade. Let me have my milk. Of you don't like it, don't drink it. 

Shampoo from kitchen ingredients that costs pennies to make

I have tried a gazillion recipe for shampoos that I saw on facebook.  Most of those "forwards" (shall we call them) are bogus fails in my book.

As far as castile soap recipes...it may work for some, but I have never had success, in any form, no matter what ratio I used..my hair turned into a nightmare.

A friend recommended something with a baking soda in it.  That got me thinking...I love using apple cider vinegar rinse for my scalp...why not baking soda and vinegar!  Genius!!!  So simple!

I not only experimented on my hair, but I also had my husband try it.  (He's a real trooper).
His hair looks amazing and he likes it.  You do not smell vinegar.  I love it too, of course, or I wouldn't be blogging about it.

I put it in these containers for keeping the baking soda moisture free until I use it, and easily applying the vinegar rinse.

Here is how it works..wet your hair in the shower and take a handful of the dry baking soda and rub it into your scalp...rub it all around, Then, with a pointy nose bottle, apply the vinegar to your scalp(I get mine at Sams Club in a six pack in the restaurant section)

You will get a reaction like this on your scalp.

Let it react and rub your fingers thought it.

Then rinse thoroughly...you want to get the baking soda out.  Proceed with your regular beauty regimen fo your hair...I am low maintenance...comb it and blow dry it (or let it air dry if I have nothing to do).  I keep it simple.

You can add a few drops of essential oil to it also..we have tried both with and without and both get great results..the essential oils just add a bit of remedy for things like dandruff/dry scalp, psoriasis, etc. It is said to help men keep their hair longer too.  Who knows.  It can't hurt.

I won't toss the castile soap, as it works for making a shaving lather, that is hopefully safer than the commercial brands.

I am slowly but surely working on ways to lessen the toxins in the products I use.  I am in no way close to getting rid of it all,but I am well on my way.

Some other things that work for me.....


Honeybee Gardens makeup is the safest makeup I have found that stays on for most of the day (8-10 hours before I need to touch it up)

 I just got this cute new compact this week.  I only picked two shadows so far. I am new to eye shadow, as I never really wore it. I am just learning to use it so I haven't decided on the other colors yet. I guess the packaging sold me on the shadow, since I never thought I needed it until I saw the compact lol..

Toms is my favorite deodorant. I tried the crystal and like it for a short time, but the staying power on that isn't the best...Toms gets me though a normal day. I am sure I can come up with a homemade baking soda deodoarant, but I need convenience..I am out the door before 5am, so I don't have time to play with things that take time.

Some other home remedies I love is....scrubbing in the shower (for cellulite deterrent, see my earlier post) and also dry brushing my body.
And it need be, or as a summer sun lotion...
Coconut oil!  Everyone uses that now adays.  I love it on my lips too.  I melted some and put it in a tiny container and apply it with my finger.

Other tried and true remedies I use regularly.

My Homemade Toothpaste

Home Remedy for warding off colds...and shortening their lifespan if you waited too long to ward them off.

Cellulite Relief

Homemade Sink Scrub

Homemade Thieves Oil

I look forward to a friend sharing with me, her coconut milk shampoo, as I like variety when shampooing my hair and making coconut milk is simple.  Coconut oil treatment as a "hot oil" treatment once a month is nice..but that is all my hair can take for oil.  I have thin straight hair and anything that can make it look greasy, will.  

I don't like eggs or mayo in my hair, the smell nauseates me.