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  • Herbal Cold Tea

    I ruined our dinner the other night--the Caramelized Garlic Chicken.    That hasn't happened in a while... (I used to try to do too many things at one time while cooking dinner!).  The worst part, to me, is that I ruined *organic* (read: expensive) chicken.  Not good!

    Since cold season is here, I am going to mix up an herbal tea for my family.  This recipe is from holisticonline:

    Herbal Cold Tea
    One of the Best Cold Remedy

    This herbal tea, purported to be one of the best cold remedies, helps handle fever and reduce achiness, congestion, and inflammation associated with common cold.

    Ingredients

    1 part - elder (Sambucus nigra)
    1 part - peppermint (Mentha piperita)
    1 part - yarrow (Achillea millefolium) 

    Directions

    Combine the ingredients. Steep 1 to 2 tsp of the mixture in 1 cup hot water. Allow it to steep for 10-25 minutes covered. Strain and drink it hot just before going to bed. It may be taken with a pinch of mixed spice and a little honey to soothe a painful throat. 

    Note: Prepare a fresh cup for each dose. Sip the dosage slowly, never gulp it down. Swish it around the mouth before swallowing. This helps the liquid to mix with the enzymes in the saliva and rapidly assimilates the herbs into the blood stream.

    This tea will induce a sweat, and if the cold is caught early enough, may stop it altogether. Even if it is too late for this it will still be very useful. This tea can help the body handle fever and reduce achiness, congestion, and inflammation.

    Optional Additions

    Other herbs that may be added to the infusion include:

    bulletCayenne (Capsicum minimum): a favorite North American Indian remedy: use 1.25 ml (1/4 tsp) of the powder to really stimulate the circulation.
    bulletCinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum): use a cinnamon stick, and break it into the mixture of herbs, for a gentle, warming and sweat-inducing effect.
    bullet

    Ginger (Zingiber officinalis): grate a small piece of fresh root ginger into the mixture for extra heat.

     

     

  • Comfort basket

    I bought a new "comfort" basket for Fall from Ross.  It has a pretty white liner, with red swirls.  Inside, I have my soft red lap blanket (a Christmas gift from my friend Chris a couple of years ago), soft and cozy slippers, a sachet of potpourri (Summer Sorbet--I'll probably swap that out with Cinnamon Cider soon), a book that I am loving, "Larkrise to Candleford" (I've been watching the series on youtube, and I love the details in the book!), an old movie that I ordered from Amazon, "The Major and The Minor", and my favorite rosewater hand lotion.  I try to keep a small package of chocolate in the basket, but my little ones know it's there and it doesn't last long!  ;)

    I keep my comfort basket in a little corner next to my favorite spot on the couch.  During the day, it is nice to light some candles and take a break in my spot.  If I am not in the mood to watch a movie or read, my Pride and Prejudice CD is ready to play in the stereo.  I really, really like that CD (along with the movie!)--very relaxing music!  For December, I have ordered a couple of Christmas movies, will probably find some pine or peppermint potpourri, and add some small candy canes to my basket.

    If you make yourself a comfort basket, let me know!

  • What's for dinner?

    Consistently cooking every evening at my house waxes and wanes...I am on a roll this week!  Sunday, I created a twist on the old baked chicken and rice standby, and used pork chop seasoning (well, I didn't think meatloaf seasoning would fly with chicken (pun!), and I had few choices) instead of Lipton's onion soup mix, then a jar of Classico 4-Cheese Alfredo in place of cream of mushroom soup.  It was so good--I was kind of surprised.  The rice tasted like broccoli/cheese/rice casserole (minus the broc), and the pork seasoning was great on the chicken!

    I am loving this cheesy Classico--I have made broccoli and cheese (simmer frozen broccoli with the Classico sauce--super easy) as a side dish, and broccoli-cheese soup (pretty much the same procedure as the side, but added more sauce, a little chicken broth, and extra shredded cheese on top).  It is "safe" for those on the Feingold diet (a preservative-free, all-natural diet for children) and I plan on experimenting with it for any recipe that requires Velveeta.

    Last night, I attempted a homemade version of Olive Garden's Zuppa Toscana soup.  I don't think I'll be eating soup and salad at Olive Garden any more, lol.  I just did what I thought made sense, then later looked on-line to see if there was a recipe available.  My recipe was almost exact--except that I used dried parsley instead of fresh kale.

    garlic chicken

                             (photo http://www.home-ec101.com/)

     

    Tonight, I am going to try out this recipe for Caramelized Garlic Chicken--it sounds delicious!  I think that we'll have roasted sweet potatoes and peas? green beans? alongside it...

  • Tugs at my heart strings...

    emptyskynotebook

    Lesley is talented with recycled papers~you will love her shop, Small Meadow Press~and she also writes a beautiful blog.  This entry , so sweet, brought tears to my eyes... I hope you enjoy it!  ♥

  • Ideas needed

    I am trying to figure out what to buy for our soon-to-be 5 year old for his birthday.  I feel so out of it, toy-wise.  What's hip right now?  ;)

  • Taste of Home Cookbook Giveaway

    Home Ec 101 is giving away a Taste of Home Cookbook~go put your name in the hat!  :)

  • A real post

    Howdy, strangers!  ;)   Am I the only one who cannot regulate her computer time?  It is as if I am either addictively reading blogs and posting, or I do not even turn the computer on.  I cannot find a happy medium!  Lately, I have been on Twitter quite a bit--it is not as satisfying as blogging, but I get to put my *short* thoughts "out there" and interact a little.  With Twitter, I can also sit down at the computer for a few seconds at a time and not get too distracted (running off on rabbit trails into the internets!).  So, it is almost like a compromise between the all or nothing relationship I have with my computer!

    Well, it is inexcusable, but we have not had our house on the market this entire time.  I would be embarrassed, but I gave up months ago on worrying about it!  ;)   I finally realized that I could not get it ready on my own, and it became clear to me that I am not in control.  So, I just do my daily thing--homeschooling, cleaning, a little organizing, and when my husband is off, we finish projects.  I know this:  When this house is sold, we are going on a desperately needed vacation! 

    I tried something new last week that I am excited about!  Our neighbors brought us a bag of tomatoes and about six pounds of blueberries.  I decided to freeze the blueberries in pint Ziplocs, then I canned the tomatoes.  I have never canned anything!  After watching 3 or 4 youtube videos, I just did it!  I ended up with three quarts--I could not believe how many tomatoes fit in one jar, lol.  They have to be packed really tight!  Anyways, it was so easy--I am shocked at how easy it was.  I feel like I could can anything now...I would like to try jams or jellies next!

    Whew!--I would love to know what everyone is thinking about the current state of our nation--and our world!  I feel like everything is upside down.  I am concerned about the health care plan--in many areas, but right now, the funding for abortions.  I just cannot fathom that 20 years of fighting abortion could possibly not only vanish, but at the same time, actively fund for even more murder.  I actually have more to say about this, but that will have to be another post!  I am also concerned about the H1N1 panic and vaccination.  My children receive specific, delayed vaccinations--I only allow the most necessary vacs, and one per year.  I certainly will not allow the government to use my children as guinea pigs for their new vaccinations!  If voluntary adults want to try it out, that is their business (I will not be one of them).  How to Legally Avoid Unwanted Immunizations

    This is getting long, but I have so much more to say!  :)   I will return tomorrow for more...leaving on this note:  I was in a gas station yesterday, and while checking out, saw a picture of President Bush above the cash register.  The caption said, "Miss me yet?" 

     

     

  • Testing...

  • Hello, friends!

    I popped in the other day with a list of posts I have brewing, only to abandon it all as life got in the way.  Oh, well...that seems to be the way we roll around here!  In my lengthy absences, be assured that I will return--with a Lifetime membership, you know that I will not stay away from Xanga permanently!  ;)

    I have many pictures to upload, but my computer's anti-virus expired, and I have been turning my computer on in "safe-mode" lately.  I can't upload pics in safe-mode...  Sometime next week, I will be taking my tower in for a young computer whiz to de-bug (he'll also install a new anti-virus), then I will have a few picture posts for y'all.

    In other news, I was one of the winners of homeschoolingthem's Yoplait giveaway!!  I am so excited--I cannot wait for my little guys to see what we won (I am not going to say anything to them until it arrives)! 

  • Yoplait Giveaway

    Homeschoolingthem is having a Yoplait Giveaway~go check it out and comment!  She's drawing three names on April 21st!