Posted on 07/24/2009 3:37:21 AM PDT by nw_arizona_granny
Weekly Roundup - Living On Nothing Edition Category: Roundups | Comments(15)
Did you hear about the guy that lives on nothing? No seriously, he lives on zero dollars a day. Meet Daniel Suelo, who lives in a cave outside Moab, Utah. Suelo has no mortgage, no car payment, no debt of any kind. He also has no home, no car, no television, and absolutely no “creature comforts.” But he does have a lot of creatures, as in the mice and bugs that scurry about the cave floor he’s called home for the last three years.
To us, Suelo probably sounds a little extreme. Actually, he probably sounds very extreme. After all, I suspect most of you reading this are doing so under the protection of some sort of man-made shelter, and with some amount of money on your person, and probably a few needs for money, too. And who doesn’t need money unless they have completely unplugged from the grid? Still, it’s an amusing story about a guy who rejects all forms of consumerism as we know it.
The Frugal Roundup
How to Brew Your Own Beer and Maybe Save Some Money. A fantastic introduction to home brewing, something I’ve never done myself, but always been interested in trying. (@Generation X Finance)
Contentment: A Great Financial Principle. If I had to name one required emotion for living a frugal lifestyle it would be contentment. Once you are content with your belongings and your lot in life you can ignore forces attempting to separate you from your money. (@Personal Finance by the Book)
Use Energy Star Appliances to Save On Utility Costs. I enjoyed this post because it included actual numbers, and actual total savings, from someone who upgraded to new, energy star appliances. (@The Digerati Life)
Over-Saving for Retirement? Is it possible to “over-save” for retirement? Yes, I think so. At some point I like the idea of putting some money aside in taxable investments outside of retirement funds, to be accessed prior to traditional retirement age. (@The Simple Dollar)
40 Things to Teach My Kids Before They Leave Home. A great list of both practical and philosophical lessons to teach your kids before they reach the age where they know everything. I think that now happens around 13 years-old. (@My Supercharged Life)
Index Fund Investing Overview. If you are looking for a place to invest with high diversification and relatively low fees (for broader index funds with low turnover), index funds are a great place to start. (@Money Smart Life)
5 Reasons To Line Dry Your Laundry. My wife and I may soon be installing a clothesline in our backyard. In many neighborhoods they are frowned upon - one of the reasons I don’t like living in a neighborhood. I digress. One of our neighbors recently put up a clothesline, and we might just follow his lead. (@Simple Mom)
A Few Others I Enjoyed
* 4 Quick Tips for Getting Out of a Rut * Young and Cash Rich * Embracing Simple Style * First Trading Experience With OptionsHouse * The Exponential Power of Delayed Consumption * How Much Emergency Fund is Enough? * 50 Questions that Will Free Your Mind * Save Money On Car Insurance
Thanks granny
I started with rebuilding the bolt on a couple of M1 Carbines. Next came conversions for .22 semi auto rifles. I’m about to start a ‘stock bedding’ process, to give a certain carbine better barrel support in an after market stock. Being a member of a local gun range allows me to go shooting often, with an excuse to do testing! ... Any excuse will do for men and their toys.
http://5orangepotatoes.blogspot.com/2009/05/easy-dandelion-cookies.html
Easy Dandelion Cookies
Dandelion flowers, as well as the greens, are extremely nutritious and have none of the bitterness of dandelion leaves if you pinch off the green bracts at the base of the flower cluster. Visit Wildman Steve Brill to learn all about the nutritional facts of dandelions (and other wild edibles).
Tips for Removing Florets:
For this recipe you need to remove the florets from their base. Hold the florets with one hand and pinch the green flower base very hard with the other, give a little twist and that should do it.
Dandelion Flower Cookies
1/2 cup oil
1/2 cup honey
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup unbleached flour
1 cup dry oatmeal
1/2 cup dandelion florets
Preheat oven to 375°F. Blend oil and honey and beat in the two eggs and vanilla. Stir in flour, oatmeal and dandelion florets. Drop the batter by teaspoonfuls onto a lightly oiled cookie sheet and bake for 10-15 minutes. Let cool and eat. Yum and so easy to make!
For more dandelion goodness visit dandelion syrup, dandelion prints and beautiful pollinators.
http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2010/04/a-year-of-herbs-dandelions.html
A Year of Herbs: Dandelions
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dandelions in vase
**Have you been following A Year of Herbs? Learn more about common herbs and ways that you can use them as simple remedies in your own home.**
I joked last year about how my husband was trying to convince me to view the yearly explosion of dandelions in our yard as a “harvest season”.
Ahem. Last week the members of our church small group came over to our home and my dehydrator was busily whirring away in the background. A friend asked what I had going in there. Face reddened, I admitted that I was drying dandelions.
I’m already known as the kooky, health extremist in my church. I think I just sealed my fate, and will forever be known as “the one who eats all sorts of really weird stuff”.
What are the benefits of dandelions?
They are nutritive.
This is a fancy way of saying that they have lots of great nutrients in them, such as beta-carotene, Vitamins C, E and K, as well as many B vitamins (1, 2, 6, 12), and minerals such as calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, sulfur and zinc. They may also contain vital trace minerals such as copper, cobalt, boron and molybdenum.
They have many uses in natural healing.
* Supporting liver and gallbladder function
* Cleansing the bloodstream
* Can be used as a diuretic (for fluid retention)
* Aids in digestion, and the function of the pancreas, spleen and stomach
* Helpful for skin disorders, including eczema and acne
* May help to protect from high blood pressure, high cholesterol, cancer and diabetes
* High iron levels are useful for treating anemia
* Aid in bowel function, and can be equally useful for both constipation and diarrhea
* White sap from root/stem may be used as a topical remedy for warts
* Can provide relief from menstrual cramps and menopause symptoms
washing-dandelions-in-sink
They are abundant and free!
Never thought you would be happy to see them rear their yellow heads each spring? Now you can enjoy going out to your yard and picking them with relish. Instant weed control AND a way to gather medicinal herbs, all in one. Beautiful, right?
Foraging for wild foods like dandelions is definitely a frugal food option and a valuable way to add a nutrient-dense ingredient to your kitchen.
How to use dandelions
I am not yet an expert as this is my first year to actually take advantage of the harvest right outside my back door. So far, I have dried many leaves for the purpose of using in homemade herbal teas.
Leaves
* Use fresh, tender, spring leaves in salads
* Fresh leaves can also be used in juicing (minimally, though, as they do have a diuretic effect- add a small handful of leaves in with other fruits and veggies)
* Steam or saute them
* Dry them to use in teas
dandelion cookies
Flowers
* Dandelion Flower Fritters (this looks so interesting, I think my kids will love these!)
* Dandelion Wine (I discovered this last year in The Backyard Homestead)
* Easy Dandelion Flower Cookies (pictured above- image from this recipe)
* Dandelion Jelly
* Fresh in salads
The main trick is to make sure you pull off just the flower and not any of the green stem, because that is where the bitterness begins. If you pop off just the flower top, there should be no bitter taste.
Roots
* Harvest in fall (try to find large, well-established plants). Roots can be dried and roasted then ground up to be used as a coffee substitute. They are a common ingredient in many herbal/grain coffee substitutes in health food stores.
* Can also be boiled to make a nutritious tea
* Add them to soup broth for added nutrients
More resources on using dandelions:
Dandelions are Super Foods
Health Benefits of Dandelions
Dandelion Root Health Benefits
The Makings of a Frugal Garden
Welcome! I’m glad you’re here! If you like what you read, why don’t you subscribe by email or RSS feed so that you don’t miss another post?
onion-sets1.gif
Since it’s on my mind right now and it’s definitely that season (or at least, it’s getting to be for those in colder places), I thought I would share some of the ways that I have put my garden together quite cheaply!
I didn’t have much of a budget for gardening this summer, and I knew that buying all of my seeds would take up the bulk of it, so I had to get creative with the rest. I was working with a good sized plot (12 x 28 ft), that was fairly overgrown, with no raised beds and the soil was clay-ish and not very rich.
garden-2.gif
As you can see, my garden is not gorgeous (it’s a little rough around the edges, literally!). It’s not going to win any awards. It’s certainly not as lovely as the perfect square foot gardens on the cover of my well worn book. But, it works and I am eagerly anticipating a bountiful harvest (leaving room for much human error, of course!). Even in all of it’s simple practicality rustic charm it is a peaceful haven for me on lovely spring days, and I cannot wait to spend more time in it this summer.
I probably spent about $50 on seeds, plus another $7 on strawberry plants and $2 on onion sets. This is a lot, but it is because I bought all heirloom seeds, many of which are organic (which wasn’t as important to me as heirloom, non-GMO seeds). I hadn’t gardened last year, so I had to start from scratch, and next year will be much cheaper as I will already have many of my seeds.
The rest of what I spent was just on a few peat starter pots (about $4 I think?), and two bags of starter soil ($3 each), plus two bags of topsoil ($3 each) and a bag of manure (also $3), and then $13 on tools and $10 on gloves, bringing me to a grand total of $101.00. Considering how much produce we will get out of all that, and the fact that we will still have the tools, many seeds and the strawberry plants next year, I’m happy with what I spent. I know that it could have been much more!
Here are some of the ways that I kept costs low for establishing my garden this year:
1. I found free composted horse manure from a local farm that I found on Craigslist in the free section (forget that I went to pick it up on a rainy day, by myself with both kids, and I had foolishly worn sandals, and it was disgusting- but other than that it was great, LOL!)
2. We built garden borders (for raised beds) out of scrap wood we got for free. It doesn’t look perfect or as pretty as I’d like, but it sure was cheap, and it’s functional. We held the wood in place using old tent poles- you could use proper pieces of wood or long nails instead, but the poles work for us, for this year anyways.
3. I did a bunch of calling around to find the best deal before I rented my roto-tiller and discovered that at one place (Home Depot) Tues-Thurs were half price until June, if I rented for a half day (4 hours).
4. I had no garden tools this year (last time I gardened was at a community garden, and they had a shed full of shared tools), so I looked around on Craigslist and even asked on Freecycle. From that, I came up with some tools for $5 a piece, which is pretty good, but didn’t end up getting those. Then I went to a garage sale and got 3 of the tools I needed for $1 each! That’s my kind of price!
5. I suppose it’s getting a bit late in the season for this tip, but consider it for next year. I know that I saved so much money by starting my own seeds, rather than buying the plants already started. It cost more up front this year to purchase my seeds, but I have so many seeds left over for next year of most things (tomatoes, pepper, squash, herbs, etc.) that it will be even more cost efficient next year. It doesn’t take that much work, and I just viewed it as a science activity with my daughter. She loves watering her “plants” and it’s fun to point out how they’re growing.
6. Making my own compost will pay off shortly. I’ve been working on it for a couple of months now, and it’s not quite there, but as the weather heats up more, it will go faster. I can’t make as much as I need for this summer (hence the horse manure), but next summer I will be ready with more that I’ve made throughout the year.
7. To continue to keep costs low, I am going to seek our more free sources of compost and manure to keep feeding my garden, as well as making some of my own. I will need some posts and wire to make a trellis for my vertical plants to climb, as well as supports for my tomatoes, but I will keep my eye’s out on Craigslist and Freecycle for anythign useful, as well as garage sales.
And, here are a few more great, frugal ideas for your garden that I found today!
Get coffee grinds for free from Starbucks! I did this a week ago, and wasn’t exactly sure what to do with them, except that I’ve often seen big bags of them offered with the sign “Grounds for your Garden”. Here’s a link that I found today with some interesting testimonials and ideas for using the grinds.
Grow potatoes in a garbage can! I had heard about this a while ago, and it’s been on the back burner of my mind ever since. Today I decided to google it, and found these instructions. It sounds so simple, and anyone can do it, even if you don’t have a real garden or yard! I have an extra garbage can without a lid that I have no other purpose for, so I’m thinking it’s about to become a potato garden
Do you have any good gardening tips (frugal or otherwise)? Please share!!!
Part of Frugal Fridays hosted by Biblical Womanhood.
More from Keeper of the Home
* The Backyard Homestead | Keeper of the Home
* Q&A- Grain Mills | Keeper of the Home
* A Tale of Two Gardens | Keeper of the Home
* Q&A: Getting the Best Deals | Keeper of the Home
http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2009/11/homemade-cough-and-cold-syrup.html
Homemade Cough and Cold Syrup
onion-cough-syrup
Since mentioning and tweeting (@keeperhome) about this syrup I made, I’ve had many requests to share the recipe, so here it is!
10 essential herbs - It comes from a book I mentioned briefly before called 10 Essential Herbs by Lalitha Thomas. This is a rare (I believe because it’s out of print) book from 1996 that my mother-in-law stumbled upon somewhere. It’s very interesting because Lalitha is not a “certified” anything when it comes to herbs, but it’s clear as you read through the book that they are very much a part of her daily life and that her own personal study and use of herbs is extensive. Personally, I’m very happy to read a book by someone who doesn’t have letters after her name but has devoted much of her life to learning a craft, and Lalitha is incredibly skilled at communicating how to use herbs in a down-to-earth way for anyone who is just learning. I love this book in particular because it focuses on 10 easily acquired herbs (cloves, chaparral, cayenne, comfrey, ginger, garlic, onion, peppermint, slippery elm and yarrow) and shows you how to treat almost anything with only these 10 herbs. Amazing!
This recipe I’m sharing comes from her chapter on Onion, which I confess I had sort of skipped over at first to read the other chapters on more “interesting and useful” herbs. The laugh is on me, because when I finally got around to reading about the humble onion, I was astounded at how useful it is! I made this recipe in 20 minutes yesterday while puttering around the kitchen making other things and Abbie and I have been using it since then. It seems to be keeping her coughing to a minimum, as well as helping to ease my sore throat and minimizing my stuffiness. I feel like it’s helping to decongest my sinuses, which is such a relief, even if it means I’m going through tissue by the boatload.
Ingredients:
1 cup freshly chopped onion
About 1/2 cup raw honey
Plus any of the following (optional):
1 tsp. Cloves (whole or powdered)- specifically good for pain relief
1-2 Tbsp. Comfrey or Slippery Elm (dried or powdered)- Comfrey is particularly good for healing, and Slippery Elm has more of a reputation for soothing and coating the throat
1-2 Tbsp. fresh chopped Ginger root OR 1 tsp. Ginger powder- Ginger increases warmth, circulation (important for healing) and the overall effectiveness of the syrup
**You can include all of these optional herbs, but at a maximum of 2 Tbsp. extra herbs total
simmering-onion-syrup
Directions
Put chopped onions and any herbs of choice into a small stainless steel or glass pot (not alumnimum). Add enough honey to cover the onions ( for me, this seemed to be about 1/2 a cup, though I didn’t measure exactly).
Turn the pot on low heat and slowly simmer. The honey will soften and become liquidy, and you want to keep the temperature very low while allowing the herbs to steep in the honey. It’s best to keep a lid on to help keep all of the medicinal properties of the herbs in the syrup, and just take the lid off to give it a quick stir every few minutes to ensure it doesn’t burn at all (though the temp. should be low enough to prevent this).
Give it 20 minutes of simmering, then remove it from the heat. Strain the onions and herbs out and store the remaining honey (which might have flecks of herb in it and this is fine) in a small glass jar with a lid and keep it in the fridge.
The syrup can be used as often as needed, up to every half hour. Here are the dosages:
1 tsp. for a younger child
1 Tbsp. for anyone 10 years and older
onion
Image by thenss
While we’re on the topic of using onions medicinally, I thought I should mention another use I learn yesterday. A commenter said that when her children are sick, she puts chopped onions in a small bag around their neck when they go to bed and in the morning, they wake up well. First I had ever heard of it, but I’ve heard stranger things. Wouldn’t you know it that later yesterday, as I was reading about onion in the book, I read that breathing the fumes of an onion will help with congestion from a cold or other illness!
Since both Johanna and I have been plugged up lately (her more at night, me all the time) I decided to chop a large onion into chunks and put it in a bowl on the night table near where we both sleep. I couldn’t quite bring myself to actually put it in bed with me, but I could still smell it, for sure! Well, last night was the best sleep I have had in a few nights and the first time that I woke up without feeling all plugged up! Three cheers for the onion!
[LOL, granny notes that the onion can still be used the next day in a pot of chicken soup, free no cost healing at night and ready to cook onion waiting for you in the morning.]
http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2009/10/herbs-for-the-new-mama.html
Herbs for the New Mama
At long last, A Year of Herbs begins!
Though I am eager to begin to study about individual herbs and their specific uses, my formal study of herbs has begun in a much more practical manner... finding and learning to use herbs that are helpful for both mother and baby in the early weeks and months after birth!
I’ve mentioned a couple of times that life has been particularly busy and stressful over the last month or so, just with some current circumstances, recovering from giving birth, and adjusting to life with a new (and fussy) baby in general and I have been feeling quite worn out as a result. In the midst of all this I was beginning to really struggle with my emotions— sad and weepy one minute, angry and very irritable the next. I felt perpetually overwhelmed and like I was breaking a bit under the pressure of it all. In speaking with my husband and midwife, I recognized that what I was experiencing was the beginnings of post-partum depression.
I am so grateful to have realized this before things got any worse. My midwife encouraged me to discuss with my husband how I could find more times for rest and just ways to feel more like myself again and remove some of the stress I was feeling (which we did, and he was so supportive and loving to allow me to do that). She also gave me the go-ahead to do some research into herbs that I could try, that might assist my body in coping with the stress, bringing my hormones and emotions more under control, and just continuing to strengthen and rejuvenate my body so that I could better handle the demands that were on me.
Natural health after birth I borrowed a book from the library called Natural Health after Birth by Aviva Jill Romm, a practicing midwife and herbalist. The focus of the book is on the post-partum period, a season of life that is often overlooked by most people, including new moms (and yes, especially me!). A wonderful aspect of the book is the use of herbal remedies to aid the mother’s body in recovering physically and emotionally, as well as for increasing milk supply, helping fussy and colicky babies and more (though I can’t recommend the book in it’s entirety, as she is not a believer and there are some new age aspects of the book in some chapters).
With the blessing of my midwife, I decided last week to put together one of the herbal tea mixes in the book, intended for helping with the symptoms of post-partum depression. Here is what I put together, partly from one of the book’s specific recipes, and with some of my own substitutions (due to not being able to easily purchase all of the exact suggested herbs).
Keeping-Your-Balance Blend (slightly altered)
2 parts chamomile flowers (for relaxation)
2 parts nettle (for nutritive purposes, includes trace minerals and vitamins, to treat anemia, weakness and stabilize blood sugar. Also helpful for those feeling stressed and physically or emotionally drained)
2 parts peppermint (to energize and also soothe the nerves at the same time)
2 parts red raspberry leaves (rich in minerals, tonifying to the uterus, aids in balancing hormones, as well as adding a nice flavor to the tea)
1 part dandelion leaves (highly nutritive with trace minerals and iron)
I also added in:
2 parts catnip (a nervine herb, meant to relax and de-stress)
1 part yarrow (for reproductive organs and hormone balancing, immune boosting and digestion)
I mixed all of the dry herbs together in a glass jar and keep it on the counter with a measuring spoon. Whenever I want to make some, I boil some water and place 1 Tbsp of tea per cup of water into a french press. I let the kettle sit for a moment after turning it off so that it is no longer at a rolling boil (because this can damage the volatile oils in many herbs and reduce their effectiveness), then pour it over the herbs. With the lid on (but not pressed down), I let it sit and steep for 10-20 minutes before pressing it and pouring myself a mug. I aim to drink 2-4 cups of this tea a day.
**The original recipe did not include the catnip or yarrow, and also includes 2 parts of chrysanthemum flowers (for anger, stress and related emotions), oatstraw (nutritive, provides vigor and energy) and strawberry leaves (as a tonic and for nerves), and 1 part of both gingerroot (improves and stimulates circulation) and rose petals (relaxation, taste and possibly hormonal balancing). One substitute for oatstraw is to simply eat more oats, as they also contain most of the same qualities.
I am amazed at how much better I am feeling after only a week! Of course, it is not just the herbs. I have really been crying out to the Lord in prayer, playing worship music and meditating on Scripture truths, talking about how I’m doing with my husband and several friends, as well as just trying to take little breaks whenever I feel my emotions starting to rise up and become out of control.
I do feel, though, that the herbs I’ve been taking this past week have contributed to feeling much more calm and emotionally steady and more physically well than I did before. There have been many trying moments, but in general, I don’t feel as overwhelmed as I did before and am more able to use self-control in how I respond to difficult situations.
As I’ve been reading and studying more about herbs lately, I’ve also been coming across some others that may be particularly useful for new mamas:
Nutritive (herbs with nourishing qualities, including protein, vitamins, minerals, etc.): Alfalfa, Ashwaganda, Gotu Kola, Hawthorn berries (and leaves and flowers), Milky oats (and oats in general), Nettle, , Red Raspberry leaf, Rose hips.
Nervines (herbs which support the nervous system, have a calming effect and help to relieve stress and tension): Ashwaganda, Catnip, Chamomile, Hops, Lavender, Lemon balm, Milky oats, Motherwort, Skullcap, Vervain
Galactagogues (herbs which support the nursing mother, particularly with maintaing an ample milk supply): Blessed thistle, Dandelion leaf, Fennel, Fenugreek, Nettle, Saw palmetto, Vervain, Vitex (this one is a little more controversial)
Herbs to AVOID while nursing:
Alkanet, Aloe Vera (externally is fine, but not internally), Aloes, Basil (as a food seasoning it’s fine), Black Cohosh, Bladderwrack, Borage**, Bugleweed, Cascara sagrada (again, externally is fine), Chinese rhubarb, Coltsfoot, Comfrey**, Elecampane, Ephedra, Garlic (as with basil, fine for use as a food seasoning or ingredient), Joe Pye, Licorice, Male fern, Pugring buckthorn, Senna, Stillingia, Wormwood.
**I have seen conflicting information about comfrey and borage. Some books say they are fine, and even recommended for use as galactagogues. However, Romm suggests in Natural Health after Birth that they should not be used, though no specific reasons are given and I cannot seem to find any in my own research. I will have to continue to study, and so I can’t really recommend them to you, one way or the other. Use your discernment in choosing whether to use them or not.
Nursing-tea-jar I am currently also taking a herbal nursing tea, made by Rhea’s Herbals Extractions (the products are great, but the site doesn’t offer much information). I began taking it right after Johanna was born, to help establish a really solid milk supply, something which I struggled with a bit after Caden’s birth for various reasons. It includes:
Red Raspberry, Chamomile, Lemon Grass, Borage Leaf, Fenugreek Seed, Star Anise, Marshmallow, Coriander, Fennel Seed, Galega.
I have found that, despite feeling quite stressed and busy (usually not helpful for maintaining a good milk supply), I haven’t really had any problems with having enough milk. There have been only a few days (and really, only one or two feeds on those days) where I felt it was a bit lacking, and I usually felt that was in response to me being too on-the-go, and not having had enough to eat and drink.
For more great information on maintaining a good milk supply and a wonderful recipe for homemade mother’s milk tea, check out this post.
My next herb post will focus on some things that I have been learning about herbs for soothing the fussy, colicky or restless baby!
http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2009/10/herbs-for-the-fussy-baby.html
Herbs for the Fussy Baby
Johanna-with-acne
Johanna at about 1 month old, during the worst of her colic and baby acne
Colic and fussiness in young babies just isn’t fun for anyone. Not for the baby. Certainly not for the parents. It can be downright exhausting, and it’s difficult to see your baby in such pain and discomfort and to feel that you can’t do anything about it.
There are a lot of products out on the market for colic in babies. Unfortunately, most of them use substances that only treat the symptoms, such as sodium bicarbonate which is used in antacid relief (like Tums or Rolaids), or gas suppressing medications such as Simethicone which are used in over-the-counter remedies like Ovol (basically a child’s version of Maalox or Mylanta), not to mention the alcohol that is so often used in commercial infant Gripe Water.
Personally, I chose to go with herbal remedies that I felt would
support and improve my baby girl’s digestion, which was where her fussiness
seemed to be originating. She was also dealing with a lot of baby acne,
which I noticed was very related to her digestion. When she had a less
fussy day and less stomach pain, the acne decreased, and on her worst
days, the acne flared up badly.
By using herbs that promote
better digestion we have seen a remarkable difference in our sweet
girl. In the course of a week of me taking a herbal tea that I put
together we saw her colic decrease immensely, to the point where she
would happily sit in an infant seat for up to 20 minutes at a time
(whereas before she constantly needed to be held, bounced, patted,
rocked, etc.). We’ve also seen her acne completely clear up. The change has really been amazing!
How Should Herbs Be Used With Babies?
I am still bit torn on whether to try giving something to baby directly, such as small amounts of diluted herbal tea. My basic concern is that a newborn or young baby’s digestive system is just so incredibly sensitive and immature (hence the reason that they are fussy and colicky to begin with!), and the risk of introducing something to them that their systems cannot handle or may react to is very real.
In my experience with Johanna, I did try giving her some very small amounts of weak tea. I tried both a yarrow tea and a fennel tea. With the yarrow, I didn’t specifically notice any difference, though I might not have tried it for long enough to really see it. With the fennel, I definitely did notice a difference. It was the first breakthrough we had in bringing some level of calm to our distraught baby.
Fennel-seeds
**Fennel seeds**
However, I continued to feel a little bit unsettled about giving it to her, even though I know that many practitioners (such as midwives, naturopaths, herbalists, even doctors) would consider it safe. I’m not convinced that it isn’t either, and I will be the first to admit that it can be very effective.
After my experience these past couple of weeks, however, my personal preference is taking stronger herbal teas myself. This way the soothing and digestion-easing properties of the herbs can be present in my milk, but have gone through the filter of my body first, rather than going into hers directly. I have found this to be equally as effective in helping my little girl, if not more effective, than giving her the herbal teas orally.
That said, if you would like to try giving them to your baby as a weak tea, here are some guidelines:
Simple vs. Combination
In my recent studies, I’ve learned that herbs are used both as “simples”, meaning on their own, and also in combination with other herbs (and most herbs can be used in either way). When giving herbs to any infant or young child, it is always best to introduce each herb first as a simple, before giving it in combination. As with new foods, it is always possible (though not highly likely) that a baby could react to what they are being given, and if this happens you would want to know exactly what they reacted to in order to avoid giving it to them again. Once you know that baby does not react to several simple herbs, it would be fine to try them in combination.
Dosage
It is important to remember how much smaller an infant’s body is than ours. At 7 weeks old, my 10 lb baby is a mere 1/13 of my body weight, and as a 7 lb newborn she was even that much smaller. Anything you give an infant needs to be in a much weaker, diluted form than what you would take yourself. In The Complete Medicinal Herbal
by Penelope Ody, she recommends giving any child under 1 year a dose that is one twentieth (1/20) of what would be a full adult dose. With something like fennel tea, if I were to make myself a tea I would probably use 1 Tbsp of fennel seas to 8 oz. of hot water. To make it for an infant (for example only- not all herbs use the same dose), I might use only 1 tsp. per 8 oz. to make a weaker brew, and then only give a 1/2 an ounce to 1 ounce at a time.
When the nursing mom is taking the herb instead, she simply needs to stick to what would be a reasonable amount of any herb (ensuring that the herb is safe for baby, of course). With the tea that I am currently drinking for post-partum health, I consume about 3-4 cups of full strength tea (1 Tbsp to 8 oz. water) throughout the course of the day. Usually 1-2 cups before noon, and another 2 cups in the evening. With this amount, we have seen nothing but excellent results in Johanna (and myself) and not a speck of a negative reaction.
Do Your Research
As I am only beginning my personal study in herbology, I would not dare tell you exactly which herbs you ought to take and in which dosage. I am learning from many different sources and am continually looking for new information and using things cautiously as I proceed.
One excellent resource that I have just come across in my studies is on kellymom.com (a fantastic resource for breastfeeding moms in general). Here you will find an alphabetized list of herbs and remedies, and whether they are safe for the nursing mother, as well as some dosage suggestions and possible uses. I would suggest that in your own research it is best to be more on the cautious side than to quickly accept ideas and suggestions from any old source. It’s always better to be safe than sorry.
Daddy-holding-jojo-7-weeks
Our sweet girl with her skin cleared up, and feeling so much happier!
Specific Herbs That are Helpful for the Fussy Baby
* Fennel seed
* Dill seed
* Catnip
* Chamomile
* Caraway
* Anise or Aniseed (not to be confused with Star Anise, which should not be given to babies)
As well, for more information on herbs that may be harmful for baby or for nursing mothers, here is more info on the topic from kellymom.
As with most natural remedies, what works for one person doesn’t always work for someone else, and vice versa. Sometimes it’s necessary to try a few different things before you find what works for you. Though they can be very effective in some situations, herbs may not always solve a baby’s fussiness or digestive struggles. Many babies simply need more time to grow and mature and their issues will work themselves out with time. So hang in there, mama! You are doing an incredible job nurturing and caring for your little one and remember that this too shall pass! :)
Welcome! This website was developed to provide evidence-based information on breastfeeding, sleep and parenting. I am the mother of three lovely children, and I am an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC). I hope that my articles are helpful and encouraging. Thanks for visiting!
Oh, Stephanie, I did the *exact* same thing a couple of months ago! Although my husband loves my cooking and really enjoys trying new things (and is very into healthy living), I realized that I had stopped making his favorite meals.
So I appealed to my blog readers for good pot roast recipes and started trying them out, one by one. Then I added roast chicken to the menu on a regular basis. And I scheduled in more taco salads, spaghetti (gf pasta for me), and other such things. He was really pleased when I told him what I was doing. He hastened to say how much he enjoys my cooking, but that he would, indeed, love to have some old favorites more regularly.
I put together a list with his help and try to schedule one of those meals every week. Like you say, I want to serve and bless my husband, to do him good and encourage him.
Keeping him healthy is a part of that, but pleasing and delighting him is vital as well. Fortunately, godly husbands are very forgiving creatures!
Two hearty whole grain bread recipes
For Frugal Fridays lately, I’ve been posting homemade bread recipes (a couple weeks ago I posted about making your own sourdough). The reason is simple. Baking your own bread is simply much, much cheaper than buying bread, if you want to buy anything of much quality (ie. better than Wonder Bread).
Doing a very basic cost calculation (estimating high, just in case I’m off), and basing it on full price for my items (such as organic milk, which I try to buy on discount and free run eggs, which I don’t use in every loaf), I make very high quality, organic bread for $1.40 a loaf and in reality, it’s probably cheaper than that. Compare that to the $2.50-$4.00 it costs to buy a good loaf of organic bread in the stores, and it adds up very, very quickly.
I’ve received a few requests in the last couple of weeks for some hearty bread recipes, and although I have a couple, I was putting it off because there was something I wanted to accomplish with them first.
Many of you have heard me talk about how grains should be soaked, sprouted or sourdough- this ensures the best digestion and the most available nutrients. So, my goal was to turn these two unsoaked, yeasted bread recipes into soaked recipes, but unfortunately, I didn’t succeed at making the adjustments very well. I did make a couple loaves yesterday, and they turned out ok. Just ok. Not great, and nothing I want to share with all of you.
Since I’ve been really trying to incorporate the 3 S principles in my baking (just since this last fall), I have either made or bought sourdough, or bought organic sprouted, but yeasted bread, or just made these regular homemade recipes (not soaked). My understanding is that when learning these new baking techniques, such as in Nourishing Traditions, that is is easier to learn to do quick breads, pancakes and other grain dishes first, before attempting to move on to bread. I can accept that. If you’ve read my 100 things post, you might remember that baking is not my forte (I much prefer cooking).
With that upbeat intro, I now present to you my two best yeasted, whole grain bread recipes!
Whole Grain Bread (this recipe comes from my sister and brother-in-law, who also use spelt rather than wheat. It’s a little on the sweet side, but you could also lower the amount of honey a little bit and add a couple extra Tbsp of milk or water to make up for the loss of liquid)
Makes 2 loaves, bake at 375 F
4 1/2 cups whole wheat flour (works well with spelt and pretty good with kamut)
1/2 cup oat bran (sometimes I use oat flakes, or half flax seeds, or you could use a grain mix, etc.)
3 pks yeast (1 pk= 2 1/4 tsp)
1 Tbsp salt
2 cups milk
1/3 cup honey
1/4 cup oil
1) Combine dry ingredients, using just 4 cups of flour to start. Meanwhile, heat milk with honey and oil on the stove to just warm them.
2) Add warmed liquid to dry ingredients and stir well. Add more flour to make a stiff dough.
3) Turn onto a floured board and knead for 8 min. or until smooth and elastic, adding more flour as needed. Cover and let rest 10 min.
4) Shape into 2 loaves and place in greased loaf pans. Cover and let rise until double in bulk, about 45 min.
5) Bake at 375 F for 35 minutes, until the tops are evenly browned. Cool on a wire rack.
Dsc04648
Basic Whole Wheat Bread
(this comes from Bread Machine Magic, an older book full of over 100 machine specifically for the bread machine. There are many great recipes, but I like this one for it’s simplicity and consistently. It is also a good bread to make if you are starting out, or not used to eating whole grains, as you can gradually up the amount of whole wheat flour).
Makes a 1 1/2 pound loaf
1/2 cup water (if you have a Welbit/Dak machine, add 2 Tbsp more water)
3/8 cup milk
1 egg
1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
1 1/2 cups bread flour (I use all whole grain flour, and have done it with wheat and spelt)
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 Tbsp oil
1 1/2 Tbsp honey (do the oil first, then the honey, and it will slide so easily off the spoon)
2 tsp active dry yeast (they recommend Red Star and I would agree)
Place all ingredients in bread pan, select Light Crust setting and press start.
Or, you can do what I have been doing lately, with excellent results. is to make this bread on a dough cycle, then pull it out, knead very briefly and place it in an oiled pan. Let it rise until doubled (usually less than an hour), and bake in the oven at 375 F for about 30 minutes (I set my timer for 20 and check it, as I’ve only done this a couple times so far). Bake until nicely browned.
After baking, remove bread from pan, place on cake rack and allow to cool for 1 hour before slicing (this is good practice whenever baking bread).
comments:
Yes, I just mean regular oatmeal or rolled oats. That’s what I used yesterday, and my husband said it was just fine (I can’t try it because of my diet). It’s just like the fancy, grainy breads at the store that you see oatmeal flakes on. I’m all about substitutions!
Lauren, what I did the other day was to soak only the grains in a yogurt/raw milk mix. The next day I added everything else and mixed it, kneaded it, etc. I also had to add a lot of flour, and the texture just seemed off to me. It didn’t rise nearly as much as it usually does.
I actually just read something today suggesting that it’s helpful to mix it all together with the oil and sweetener, so it’s interesting that it worked well for you. I would worry about the oil going rancid as well, just sitting out overnight. Hmmm...
Obviously I need to keep researching this and experimenting with my breads. I’ll post about it as I figure out more of what works and doesn’t. I’d love to hear more of what you learn, too!
Melissa - make sure you’re not using soft wheat because it doesn’t contain enough gluten to activate the yeast to rise. (I’m pretty sure that’s the reason.)Hard red or spelt work wonderfully, though!
Stephanie - I baked bread again and this time soaked the spelt & wheat with buttermilk together with the sweetener (I used a little agave & blackstrap molasses). I let it sit for 24 hours and then added the yeast, salt, oil, and vital gluten. And it turned out beautifully! So, I would recommend soaking everything together except for the oil, salt, yeast, and gluten (if you use it). It does rise REALLY fast though! I probably let it rise a little too high, so it fell a little, but it still turned out very well.
Melissa, I can think of a couple possible reasons why it didn’t rise as high as you’d like. The first is having old yeast, or not storing your yeast in the freezer or at least the fridge.
Another is the type of flour you use, as Lauren mentioned. I don’t have any really good whole wheat flour on hand, so I used some so-so stuff (with not enough gluten) yesterday, and my bread did rise, but it wasn’t as high as I prefer. One way to get around this is to add some gluten to your dough.
Also, I noticed when I made it that I knead it one extra time more than the recipe states (after the 10 minute rest, I knead it another 5 minutes before putting it in loaf pans). You could try doing this, or try kneading it longer than 8 minutes the first time (try more like 12). Also, check out this link, for some ideas of what may help bread that doesn’t rise enough:
http://www.thefamilyhomestead.com/faqbreadbaking.htm
Lauren, thanks for letting me know! That’s exciting, now I can’t wait to try it again!
I helped spread Dandelion seeds today. I was shooting the white puffs at 100, 160, and 200 yards with my Marlin 795 rifle out at the range this afternoon! When you hit one of the puffs it goes *POOF* spreading the seeds to the breeze. We had a substantial cross wind so it was quite challenging.
Wild as the Day is Long: The Restorative Medicine of Avena
Posted: 17 Apr 2010 05:18 PM PDT
There’s nothing quite like the sound of a warm spring wind rustling through a vibrantly green patch of Oats. Bowed with the weight of their ripening fruit, they nod and toss their heads with each breeze. Their sweet smell and long smooth leaves certainly invite us to sit down and get acquainted with them. In case you can’t tell, Avena is a favorite plant of mine, both as a beautiful living plant and as a primary medicine in my materia medica.
Many people think of gruel or porridge when they hear the word Oats. For some, this is a pleasant association of home-cooked food and for others, not so much. Most don’t necessarily connect Oats to medicine or even to a live plant but rather to that flaky brown stuff in the round cardboard container many of us grew up with.
And yet, Avena has its origins in a wild plant that has spread so well and so widely that even experts are unclear on exactly where it first began. Feral and cultivated Oats are one of our best nervines, nerve tonics and overall supplementing tonics. As weeds and wild things, they require little from human hands to make themselves at home and proliferate at will. There’s a lesson to be had in their tenacious vibrancy and in the particular medicine they provide us. In their capacity to restore frayed nerves and tired minds, they also give us the gift of returning to our original wild selves with renewed energy and vigor.
While I have previously written at some length about the use of the fresh plant tincture of milky tops of Avena, this particular post is about the dried aerial parts of the plant, including either just the dried milky tops or the entire above ground green plant, harvested during the milky stage.
Avena is one of those mild herbs that I was at first rather skeptical of. I found myself wondering if it actually ~did~ much of anything, outside of providing vitamins and minerals. Yes, yes, I know what the books say, but I’ll admit that I’m rarely convinced of anything just by reading about it. In my world, experience will prove something out, or not. That the fresh tincture of the milky tops worked as an effective nervous system trophorestorative I had little doubt of after many case studies where the plant did indeed make a significant difference. But it’s taken me much longer to make what I feel is a fair and accurate assessment of the dried plant used as an infusion. This monograph is a summary of just that – my experiences working with Oatstraw with family, friends, clients and myself.
Avena is a consistent, safe and effective nutritive tonic for those suffering from exhaustion from overwork or emotional trauma. Often there will be symptoms of irritability, chronic fatigue, inability to focus, loss of libido and sometimes heart palpitations. The loss of libido is often directly related to the other symptoms, as it can be difficult to be fully present and physically engaged when dealing with anxiety and bone-deep tiredness. However, it does appear that Avena has a more specific effect on the endocrine system as well, promoting balanced menstrual cycles and sexual health. And proving the old saying about sowing one’s oats. This is even more true when the Avena is combined with an adaptogenic/tonic herb such as Withania.
Avena is most indicated when there is a combination of anxiety and restlessness (often accompanied by insomnia) with some level of depression, mental fatigue and inability to focus. It’s great for that “tired but wired” feeling so many of experience after long periods of overwork (or child rearing), especially if there is a history of lack of adequate sleep. It’s also an excellent tonic for those whose nervous systems are worn down or fried from substance abuse of any kind. Additionally, I have seen it significantly reduce the occurrence of chronic tension headaches brought on by anxiety, overwork, menstrual cycle and/or exhaustion.
The herb can be very helpful where there are palpitations triggered by tiredness and endocrine imbalance. Avena has a long reputation as a mild cardiotonic, and while I’m not sure if the mode of action is simply through its effect on the nervous system or if there is a more direct impact on the heart itself but I have definitely seen it reduce the frequency and severity of heart palpitations clearly brought on by stress, although I prefer the dried plant combined with the use of the fresh plant tincture of the milky tops in such cases. From King’s American Dispensatory:
This plant is a nerve-tonic, stimulant, and antispasmodic. It ranks among the most important restoratives for conditions depending upon nervous prostration, and for the nervous exhaustion consequent upon typhoid and other low fevers, and the accidental disorders arising from these complaints, as weak heart, spermatorrhoea, insomnia, etc. In enfeebled states of the heart muscle it acts as a good tonic to improve the energy of the organ, and is recommended by Prof Webster to prevent relapsing cardiac rheumatism. In this condition it is not thought to be specially antirheumatic, but rather to strengthen that debility upon which the rheumatic diathesis depends, so that the patient is less subject to atmospheric and other impressions.
Avena has neither overt relaxant or stimulating actions, but instead seems to heal and nourish the nervous system so that the body can respond appropriately to stimulus rather than overreacting with either depression or anxiety. Its soothing character and neutral energetic profile makes it appropriate for nearly anyone, including children and those weak from deficiency or long illness. Herbalist Thomas Avery Garran specifically says that:
Oat is a gentle supplementing medicinal. Its action of supplementing both yin and qi is somewhat unique and makes it appropriate for many patterns affecting an extraordinary number of patients in the West. Coupled with its [ability] to nourish the heart and calm the spirit, these supplementing properties make oat extremely important in modern practice…
Keep in mind that Avena is a nutritive, gentle herb and can take time to have a noticeable effect. While some people, especially those with extreme exhaustion, can feel the soothing touch of the plant right away, many only notice the effects after 4-6 weeks of consistent use. If symptoms are severe and a more rapid resolution is needed, consider using the tincture of the fresh milky heads in addition to the Oatstraw. The tincture doesn’t replace the mineral-rich water-based preparations of Oatstraw, but it usually has a quicker action and they work very well when used in tandem.
Some herbalists are of the opinion that only the fresh plant tincture of the milky tops is the only part of the plant worth using, but I have found in my practice that the dried green herb also has great value. This is in part due to its impressive mineral profile, but also because of its gentle nervine effect. I consider the tincture and the dried plant to be somewhat different medicines, and often use them concurrently.
Oatstraw is the foundation of many of my nourishing infusion blends for clients with nervous system depletion, endocrine deficiency and general lack of energy and mental clarity. The infusion is quite pleasant tasting, light, slightly nutty, grassy and sweet and with a bit of honey, even most children can be convinced to indulge in a cup of Oatstraw. It’s hard to go wrong with Avena, and it will often help and almost never harm or cause complications. It is a core restorative, and very much a tonic in the sense that it replenishes and supplements at a deep level rather than simply stimulating surface function. I can’t emphasize how needed and vital these sorts of medicines are in an age and culture where burnout is the norm and exhaustion is expected. Do keep in mind though, that depletion needs to be addressed on every level, from lifestyle and sleep habits to nutrition and herbs. There is no one quick fix, the key is supporting the whole person.
Oats are common feral and wild plants throughout most of the US and beyond. They’re also are very easy to grow seed, even indoors or by children. Wildlife are very fond of it though, so keep it protected if you have hungry neighborhood critters. It’s ready to harvest when the immature green fruits pop when you squeeze them and emit a milky white fluid. You can harvest the whole plant or just the milky tops. If you harvest the tops and cut them back by about half, they tend to come back with a second round of fruit to harvest.
Common Names: Wild Oats, Oatstraw, Oatgrass, Catgrass,
Botanical Name: Avena sativa, A. fatua
Botanical Family: Poaceae
Taste: Sweet, bland
Energetics: Neutral, moist
Actions:Nutritive, nervine, nervous system trophorestorative
Parts Used: Dried aerial parts or tops harvested during milky phase.
Preparations: Usually taken as an infusion, and sometimes a decoction (if primarily interested in extracting minerals).
Dosage: From 1-4 Cups of the infusion per day usually, preferably spread out through the day rather than all at once.
Considerations & Contraindications: None except that a very few people wit Celiac disease or gluten intolerance have problems with Oats in any form, sometimes because of cross-contamination with other grains during processing. Additionally, some individuals have a rare reaction specifically to Oats. Otherwise Avena is a very safe and basically a food-like herb.
Recipe: A favorite spring tonic of mine that I find very beneficial in increasing energy without overt stimulation and while simultaneously providing a sense of centered calm is a sweet and spicy blend of Oatstraw, Raspberry, Sassafras, Roses and Cinnamon. This alterative mix is both nourishing and energizing, and with a bit of honey or maple (or birch) syrup, enjoyed by both children and adults served either cold or hot.
* 1/2 C Oatstraw or Oat tops
* 1/4 Cup Raspberry (Rubus) Leaves or 1/8 C Sassafras Leaves
* 2 Tsp Sassafras root
* 2-3 large pinches of Rose (Rosa) petals
* small pinch of Cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum) powder
Add ingredients to a quart jar. Cover with just boiled water and cover with airtight lid. Allow to infuse for 2 hours to overnight. Strain and enjoy.
Variation: For a stronger relaxant nervine effect, try substituting Peach (Prunus persica) leaves or Black Cherry (Prunus serotina) leaves.
Resources & References:
King’s American Dispensatory (Felter-Lloyd)
Medical Herbalism (Hoffmann)
Western Herbs According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (Garran)
Herbal Medicine of the American Southwest (Kane)
The Earthwise Herbal: Old World (Wood)
Applesauce Pancakes
Posted by: “~*Piper*~”
Applesauce Pancakes
2 c. Bisquick
1 tsp. cinnamon
2 eggs
1 tsp. lemon juice
1 c. applesauce
1/2 c. milk
Beat all ingredients until smooth. Pour onto hot griddle and cook as other pancakes.
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2a. Bisquick Baked Taco Sandwich
Posted by: “~*Piper*~”
Bisquick Baked Taco Sandwich
Makes 4 servings
1 pound ground beef
1 envelope (1 1/4 ounces) taco seasoning mix
1 cup Original Bisquick(r)
1/3 cup cold water
3/4 cup shredded Cheddar cheese (3 ounces)
Sour cream, if desired
Shredded lettuce, if desired Chopped tomatoes, if desired
Heat oven to 450°. Grease square pan, 8x8x2 inches. Cook beef and taco seasoning mix as directed on envelope of seasoning mix. Mix Bisquick and cold water until soft dough forms; spread in pan. Spread beef mixture over dough. Bake uncovered 25 to 30 minutes or until edges are golden brown and toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Immediately sprinkle with cheese. Let stand 1 to 2 minutes or until cheese is melted. Serve with remaining ingredients.
——————————————————————————————————— To visit your group on the web, go to:
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Pecan Fingers
4 1/2 cups biscuit mix (ie. Bisquick)
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup chopped pecans
2 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon almond extract
hot water
powdered sugar
Preheat oven to 375 F. Blend buiscuit mix with butter, nuts, and sugar. Stir in extract. Add water a little bit aat a time, mixing until the dough forms a ball and cleans the bowl. Shape into fingers 2 1/2” long. Bake on ungreased cookie sheet 10-12 minutes. Roll in powdered sugar while warm.
Note: Taster’s note: We had to modify the quantities of the original recipe as it came out much too wet to shape into fingers. The recipe printed above however worked nicely and it made a cookie that was rich in almond and pecan flavor and not too sweet. We also tried rolling the cookies in superfine sugar, and dipping one end of the cookies in melted chocolate. The chocolate ones all got eaten first.
Source: www.baking-christmascookies.com
My other yahoo groups: BisquickRecipes, CookingandBakingMixes, and FavoriteFamilyRecipes
——————————————————————————————————— To visit your group on the web, go to:
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Re: Gnats
Posted by: “mobius”
We have a problem with those here in Maine. If you leave your lights on after dark they will come right through the screen. They call them no-see-ums. We also get the regular gnats. I kill them all with a little device that can be yours for only....just kidding.
I put a little light in a coffee can. Like an old Christmas tree bulb, when they screwed in.
Then put a clear glass bowl of water on top so the light shines through the water. Leave it on all night and in the morning it will be full of drowned gnats. Works very well.
Fred
have you ever
heard of or used a product called “Seal All”? I’ve used it
in the past and it’s pretty amazing....it will even hold up
to battery acid as I’ve experienced that personally with a
car battery that got a hole poked in it from a sharp piece
on the flat plate the battery sits on. From my personal
usage this stuff is amazing, not that expensive and stores
easily...Might be something to put on the “list”. Here’s a
link that gives more info on it...its available at most car
parts stores as well as WalMart.
http://www.eclecticproducts.com/sealall.htm
Pat in OH
To visit your group on the web, go to:
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Saturday
Growing Corsican Mint
Mints are easy to grow, fragrant and useful in the kitchen. They’re also pretty to look at if you’re into lush greenery with “benefits”.
Although old favorites like spearmint, peppermint and chocolate mint get everyone excited, especially around mojito time or during Kentucky Derby season, this little mint with a creme de menthe aroma and delicate appearance should be part of your collection too.
Corsican mint is a dynamic ground cover and ornamental mint if you can give it lots of moisture. It takes some abuse from being trod on and comes back just fine. If you have a low spot in the garden with a few neglected looking pavers surrounded by bare dirt, Corsican mint may be the solution to your problem.
What You’ll Need to Grow Corsican Mint
Give this happy little mint sandy soil and dappled light. It should never be allowed to dry out. If you’re keeping it in a conservatory (which works great by the way), make sure that it has good air flow from a little fan (I use hat fans). Corsican mint is a great creeper that fills in well once it finds a spot it likes. I’ve kept it successfully under downspouts and around faucets. It’s also a nice pot companion to other herbs.
If you love mint, Corsican Mint’s tiny, delicate leaves, light minty aroma and bright green color will charm you. It’s also a natural for your rock or oriental garden. The leaves in the photo are between an eighth and a quarter of an inch across.
>>>I started with rebuilding the bolt on a couple of M1 Carbines.<<<
Sweet little rifle!
Carried one in the Army (almost 50 years ago)- qualified Expert with it - bought one years ago. Love shooting it.
Now you aren’t filing down the sear are you? That could get you in lots of trouble.
Any sources for low cost 30 Cal Carbine ammo?
I have sporterized a 7mm Mauser and glass bedded a custom birdseye maple stock with a beautiful grain (was working on that one - heading to have it blued - when JFK was shot) - lots of fun. Used to resize 30-06 brass, trim it to length and reload it so I could afford to shoot more. Back then you could get supplies pretty cheap from Herter’s in Waseca(sp), Minn. - sure miss their great products and prices. I got the brass free from the range.
I do go plinking every so often with .22 Semi - a Remington 522 Viper. It’s not as steady or accurate as a Winchester 52, but it is a lot of fun to shoot and rather inexpensive.
There may come a time when gunsmithing is a high demand item that could command considerable barter clout.
Next item for me is going to be a 410 - Youngest Daughter and Grand Daughter (soon to be 14 & 13) need something light to get started with. I have a 12 ga and wife has a 16 ga. that we hunt with - ducks, geese, rabbit & deer (with slugs).
>>>Any excuse will do for men and their toys.<<<
LOL - wife says that often... Creative Justification...
I just made a batch of these this morning and they are absolutely awesome!
Great for using up the odds and ends in the cupboard too! They freeze like
a charm, and will be great to keep in the freezer. I used my home dried
raisins and coconut, and fresh ground peanut butter in them.
Enjoy!
~ Dee in Western Canada
**************************************
One Cup of Everything Cookies
1 cup margarine
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup granulated sugar
3 eggs
1 cup peanut butter
1 cup coconut
1 cup chocolate chips
1 cup flour
1 tablespoon baking soda
1 cup oatmeal
1 cup raisins
1 cup pecans
Preheat oven to 350º
Beat margarine, both sugars, eggs, and peanut butter until creamy.
Add remaining ingredients and mix well.
Drop by spoonful onto cookie sheet and bake for 10 minutes.
Makes 9 dozen.
Source : The Just-Dessert-Recipes mailer on googlegroups
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Protein Biscuits
Posted by: “vergie
MMMMM-—— Recipe via Meal-Master (tm) v8.05
Title: Protein Biscuits
Categories:
Yield: 8 Biscuits
2 1/2 c High protein mix*
1/2 c Water
*Separate recipe.
Preheat oven to 425°. LIghtly oil baking pan.
Combine mix & water; knead gently until combined.
Pat out 1” thick; cut into 8 2” squares.
Bake 15 to 20 minutes, or until golden.
Makes 8 biscuits.
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3a. High Protein Mix
Posted by: “vergie
MMMMM-—— Recipe via Meal-Master (tm) v8.05
Title: High Protein Mix
Categories:
Yield: 1 Mix
3 c Whole wheat flour
1/4 c Soy flour
3/4 c Wheat germ
1 c Nonfat dry milk powder
2 1/2 tb Baking powder
1 1/2 ts Salt
1 tb Nutritional yeast
1/2 c Oil
Combine all, mixing until oil is absorbed. Store
in refigerator.
Makes about 7 cups mix.
Recipes using mix:
Protein Biscuits
Protein Cracker Bread
Protein Muffins
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4a. Protein Muffins
Posted by: “vergie
MMMMM-—— Recipe via Meal-Master (tm) v8.05
Title: Protein Muffins
Categories:
Yield: 8 Muffins
3 1/4 c High Protein Mix*
1 c Water
1 Egg; beaten
2 tb To 4 honey
Preheat oven to 400°. Oil 8 muffin cups.
Combine mix, water, egg & honey until completely
moistened. Spoon into muffin cups. Bake 15 to 20
minutes.
________________________________________________________________________
5. Protein Cracker Bread
Posted by: “vergie
MMMMM-—— Recipe via Meal-Master (tm) v8.05
Title: Protein Cracker Bread
Categories:
Yield: 10 Crackers
2 1/2 c High protein mix*
1/2 c Water
Sesame seeds
*Separate recipe.
Preheat oven to 425°. Oil a baking sheet.
Combine mix & water to form dough. Divide into 10
balls and rool each into a 4” x1/8” thick round.
Place on baking sheet. Sprinkle with sesame seeds;
press gently to make them stick.
Bake 10 to 12 minutes, until golden.
Makes 10 cracker breads.
My other yahoo groups: BisquickRecipes, CookingandBakingMixes, and FavoriteFamilyRecipes
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