Replies

http://www.anniesremedy.com/remedy_use129.php#2

[All herb names are links and other hidden urls]

Addictions:Stop, quit smoking, natural herbal remedies
Stop Smoking : Helpful Herbs :Related: Alcoholism/Drug Abuse *

Herbs can help relieve the tension,depression and stress that goes with stopping smoking - but remember the real power to quit lies within. Other herbal stop smoking aids can help repair the damage done to lungs, help remove the carcinogens, and provide non-harmful tobacco substitutes.
Lobelia, commonly known as Indian tobacco, may be the closest thing to a true herbal tobacco substitute. The herb contains a chemical called lobeline which acts much like nicotine. It is thought that the herb can help fool the body into thinking it has nicotine in the system, which may account for it’s use in reducing cravings.

1 Toning the lungs: Herbs can help boost your body’s ability to repair the damage caused by smoking. Coltsfoot , best known as a cough suppressent, helps soothe inflamed lung tissue, loosen secretions, and tones the lungs. Mullein also tones the mucus membranes of the respiratory tract, soothes irritated lungs and speeds healing of damaged tissues.

2Garlic helps counteract the addictive properties of nicotine and relaxes the blood vessels counteracting the effect of smoking on blood pressure. Licorice is helpful in quitting smoking in 2 ways, as an adrenal tonic it helps restore energy while it soothes the lungs. Tumeric has been shown to help remove the carcinogens that smoking puts into your lungs.

Stop Smoking remedies

remediesHome Remedies for Stop Smoking

Lobelia, known as Indian Tobacco,
acts much like nicotine

Easing the Stress: Green oats (oatstraw) are thought to have a sedative effect, fighting anxiety and panic attacks and are also useful when trying to stop smoking by reducing the craving to smoke.

Kava Kava works much like Valium, as an antidote to the depression and mood swings that often occur when you stop smoking. Passionflower is a strong calming herb generally used for treating insomnia.

Passionflower can be occasionally useful for severe daytime anxiety, and could be employed in a stop smoking stragegy.

Skullcap is a sedative herb that can help alleviate the anxiety
that sometimes accompanies giving up cigarettes. Can’t sleep without a last puff?

Valerian relaxes tense muscles, and can be used as a sleep aid if insomnia is one of your quitters symptoms.2

Using Aromatherapy

Use uplifting aroma room sprays to cleanse the air of state cigarette smoke and calm your nerves.

Buy organic bulk herbs, spices, oils and teas at Mountain Rose Herbs
Herbs for :Stop Smoking
Coltsfoot
Coltsfoot
Profile Coltsfoot helps soothe inflamed lung tissue, loosen secretions, and tones the lungs.

(White,Linda B., M.D. )
Garlic
Garlic
Profile Garlic helps counteract the addictive properties of nicotine and relaxes the blood vessels counteracting the effect of smoking on blood pressure.

Gentian and licorice root
Gentian and licorice root
Profile In the mid-1800s gentian and licorice root were mixed and sold as a patent medicine. They both still show up in many herbal stop-smoking products today. The evidence for gentian is pretty slim, still it is good for gas and indigestion, and a whole lot better than cigarettes

(Duke, James A, Ph.D. )
Green oats (oatstraw)
Green oats (oatstraw)
Profile Green oats are thought to have a sedative effect, fighting anxiety and panic attacks and are also useful when trying to stop smoking by reducing the craving to smoke.
Kava Kava
Kava Kava
Profile Kava kava works much like Valium, as an antidote to the depression and mood swings that often occur when you stop smoking.

(Linda White )
Licorice
Licorice
Profile Licorice is helpful in quitting smoking in 2 ways, as an adrenal tonic it helps restore energy while it soothes the lungs

(Linda B.White )
Lobelia
Lobelia
Profile The lobeline in Lobelia , commonly known as Indian tobacco, acts much like nicotine although it is less potent the herb can help fool the body into thinking it has nicotine in the system.

(Duke, James A, Ph.D. )
Mullein
Mullein
Profile Mullein tones the mucus membranes of the respiratory tract, soothes irritated lungs and speeds healing of damaged tissues

(White,Linda B., M.D. )
Skullcap
Skullcap
Profile Skullcap is a sedative herb that can help alleviate the anxiety that sometimes accompanies giving up cigarettes.

(White,Linda B., M.D. )
Tumeric
Tumeric
Profile This bright yellow spice has been shown to help remove the carcinogens that smoking puts into your lungs.

(White,Linda B., M.D. )
Valerian
Valerian
Profile Can’t sleep without a last puff? Valerian relaxes tense muscles, it can be used as a sleep aid if insomnia is one of your quitters symptoms.
Infertility Wrinkles Rheumatoid arthritis Aromatherapy Natural Pet false unicorn Oolong Tea Candida Maca Ylang ylang Low Energy? Grapefruit diet Calendula Yoni Powder Dong Quai Rose Kava-Kava Red Clover Bringing on the Moon Bach Flower Remedies Motherwort Ready for Romance Tamanu Oil Fibromyalgia Migraines

references

1. Duke, James The Green Pharmacy Herbal Handbook .(December 15, 2000)
2. Linda B.White, M.D.The Herbal Drugstore(2003)

Common Misspellings:Home Remedys, treaments, releivers

http://www.anniesremedy.com/remedy_use79.php

Headaches can be caused by a variety of factors, such as muscle tension or with common illnesses such as the flu.

Migraine Headache remedies

remediesHome Remedies for Migraine Headache

Migraines: Many people are turning to herbs like butterbur to help relieve and prevent migraine headaches. Butterbur,Petasites vulgarisisis used in Germany to treat migraines. Trials have shown that an extract of the root can reduce symptoms and attacks by 40 per cent. Butterbur is thought to work by reducing spasms in muscle tissues, including blood vessels. However, there are concerns about possible liver damage, so consult a herb-savvy health professional for any long term use. For home herbal use, first try non-invasive, and less toxic herbs for migraine headache cures like aromatherapy oils.

Using Aromatherapy

Aromatherapy is therapeutic for headaches because of the duel actions of the analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties and the relaxing calming effect the oils have on the mind. For sinus headaches, use a steam inhalation method to clear sinuses. Good choices would include rosemary, lavender and peppermint oil.

Buy organic bulk herbs, spices, oils and teas at Mountain Rose Herbs

Herbs for :Migraine Headache
Bay laurel
Bay laurel
Profile This familiar culinary herb, like feverfew, contains pathenolides. Try using bay in combination with feverfew to prevent migraine.

(White,Linda B., M.D. )
Cayenne
Cayenne
Profile Massage a balm containing cayenne into your temples for headaches, or take encapsulated cayenne.

Coffee
Coffee
Profile Doctors at the Diamond Headache Clinic in Chicago, Illinois, have found that the common painkiller, ibuprofen, is more active against tension headaches when combined with caffeine.

Corydalis
Corydalis
Profile In TCM, corydalis is a major pain reliever used particularly for menstrual cramping, gastric and abdominal pain, and headaches.

(Mabey, Richard p59)

Feverfew
Feverfew
Profile Its best documented use is in preventing and alleviating migraines. A phytochemical called pathenolide most likely is responsible, but don’t discount the value of other natural compounds in the plant

(Duke, James A, Ph.D. )

Feverfew
Feverfew
Profile Feverfew herb is most likely to be helpful for migraine sufferers who also have allergies or asthma.

(White,Linda B., M.D. )

Feverfew
Feverfew
Profile Sesquiterpene lactones in feverfew may inhibit prostaglandins and histamine released during the inflammatory process, so preventing spasms of blood vessels in the head that trigger migraine attacks..also important in the inflammation and pain of arthritis, promoting restful sleep, improving digestion, and relieving asthma attacks. Feverfew users involved in clinical studies reported that feverfew helped their depression.

(Mabey, Richard p47)

Jamaican Dogwood
Jamaican Dogwood
Profile Jamaican Dogwood is considered a relatively powerful remedy for migraine and neuralgia.

Kava-Kava
Kava-Kava
Profile Phytochemicals called kavaloactones provide kava’s gentle stress-beating, muscle-relaxing influence. Great for tension headaches

(James A Duke, Ph.D. )
Lavender oil, rosemary oi
Lavender oil, rosemary oi
Profile For headaches apply a few drops of lavender oil neat to the temples. A few drops of lavender rubbed on the temple will cure a nervous headache.. Combine with rosemary and juniper oils and apply to the back of the neck and shoulders, and massage until the muscles relax. Lavender herb teas should be used in combination with melissa (lemon balm) and skullcap.

Oregano Leaf
Oregano Leaf
Profile An infusion made from the fresh plant will relieve nervous headache

Peppermint essential oil
Peppermint essential oil
Profile A few drops of peppermint essential oil in a cold compress across the forehead or over the back of the neck cools the body

Rue
Rue
Profile Externally, Rue is an active irritant, being employed as a rubefacient. If bruised and applied, the leaves will ease the severe pain of sciatica. The expressed juice, in small quantities, was a noted remedy for nervous nightmare, and the fresh leaves applied to the temples are said to relieve headache. Compresses saturated with a strong decoction of the plant, when applied to the chest, have been used beneficially for chronic bronchitis. If a leaf or two be chewed, a refreshing aromatic flavour will pervade the mouth and any nervous headache, giddiness, hysterical spasm, or palpitation will be quickly relieved.

( )
Skullcap
Skullcap
Profile Skullcap also treats the symptoms of emotional excess “rising” in the body to cause blushing, flushing, irritability, or headache.

Valerian
Valerian
Profile Valerian is effective as an nerve tonic, and as a remedy for headaches and pain

Wood Betony
Wood Betony
Profile The dried herb may also be smoked to relieve headache, and is a component of British Herb Tobacco

The following was found posted very low on a refrigerator
door:

Dear Dogs and Cats: The dishes with the paw prints are
yours and contain your food. The other dishes are mine and
contain my food. Placing a paw print in the middle of my
plate and food does not stake a claim for it becoming your
food and dish, nor do I find that aesthetically pleasing in
the slightest..

The stairway was not designed by NASCAR and is not a
racetrack. Racing me to the bottom is not the object.
Tripping me doesn’t help because I fall faster than you can
run.

I cannot buy anything bigger than a king sized bed.. I am
very sorry about this. Do not think I will continue
sleeping on the couch to ensure your comfort, however.
Dogs and cats can actually curl up in a ball when they
sleep. It is not necessary to sleep perpendicular to each
other, stretched out to the fullest extent possible. I
also know that sticking tails straight ou! t and having
tongues hanging out on the other end to maximize space is
nothing but sarcasm.

For the last time, there is no secret exit from the
bathroom! If, by some miracle, I beat you there and manage
to get the door shut, it is not necessary to claw, whine,
meow, try to turn the knob or get your paw under the edge in
an attempt to open the door. I must exit through the same
door I entered. Also, I have been using the bathroom for
years - canine/feline attendance is not required.

The proper order for kissing is: Kiss me first, then go
smell the other dog or cat’s butt. I cannot stress this
enough.

Finally, in fairness, dear pets, I have posted the following
message on the front door:

TO ALL NON-PET OWNERS WHO VISIT AND LIKE TO COMPLAIN ABOUT OUR PETS:

(1) They live here. You don’t.
(2) If you don’t want their hair on your clothes, stay off the furniture.
That’s why they call it ‘fur’-niture.
(3) I like my pets a lot better than I like most people.
(4) To you, they are animals.. To me, they are adopted sons/daughters who
are short, hairy, walk on all fours and don’t speak clearly.

Remember, dogs and cats are better than kids because they
(1) eat less
(2) don’t ask for money all the time
(3) are easier to train
(4) normally come when called
(5) never ask to drive the car

and

(6) if they get pregnant, you can sell their children

To visit group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/hillbillyherbalism/

[I laughed twice as much, for TT is enthralled with the toilet and has to be on it, if I am.

He [she] is becoming a guard cat,she guards the house from my bed, so she can see down the hall and I am not sure if she thinks that I will disappear down the toilet or not.
granny]

Old Time Flower Jellies (Honeysuckle, Rose, and such)
Posted by: “Kelly”

Flower jellies

Basic flower jelly Make an infusion from edible
flowers.

1 pint of flowers to 1 pint of boiling water.

Most flowers
have a bitter bit where the petal joins the flower so you must cut
that part off. I use scissors and just trim the petals of flowers,
leaving the points attached. (though once I actually snipped the
points off 2 quarts of rose petals.... tedious beyond belief!) 2 C
flower infusion 1/4 C lemon juice 4 C sugar 6 oz liquid pectin
*optional; few drops food coloring Mix infusion, lemon juice and sugar
in stainless steel or enamelware pan.

Bring to hard boil you can’t
stir down.

Add liquid pectin and return to hard boil.
Boil at this
temp. 2 minutes.
Pour immediately into hot sterilized jars and seal.
Turn jars upside down for 5 minutes and revert [or process for 5 min
in waterbath].

Makes 4-4.5 cups of jelly.

I’ve found liquid pectin
works better with flowers (and herbs) than the powdered kind. You CAN
make jellies with flowers and juice and I often make an apple mint
jelly with apple juice and apple mint. My favorite herb combination,
though, is lemon mint, made with 1 cup lemon verbena infusion and 1
cup spearmint. I never use the food coloring because I like the pale
yellow and gold and pink and ruby colors.

P.S. The word from the wine making group (where I first got the idea
to make honeysuckle jelly) is to wash the blossoms first. This is
probably a good idea because I made a batch of honeysuckle jelly over
the weekend and there was an awful lot of pollen in the flowers.
The jelly tasted like honey, btw, and quite good...not at all lemony, but
not enough of the actual honeysuckle flavor I was aiming for. I’ll
probably increase the proportions next time.

Here’s another rose petal jelly recipe which makes more jelly.

2 quarts rose petals **see note
below 2 quarts water 1/4 cup lemon juice 7 cups sugar 6 oz liquid
pectin Boil petals in 2 quarts of water with the lid on, till 1/2
liquid is gone.
Measure out 3 cups liquid. (save the remaining cup!!)
mix with lemon juice and sugar.
Bring to rolling boil.
Add liquid
pectin (this will be 2 packages of the liquid certo brand) and bring
back to hard boil. Boil 2 minutes and pour into hot sterilized
jars.
Seal in preferred manner.
I use the little 4 oz jelly jars so
that I can give away a lot. This makes about 15 little jars.
The
remaining cup can be mixed with a 1 cup infusion of a favorite herb
like mint or lemon balm and used in the previous recipe. I also boiled
a cinnamon stick in with the jelly-making part (not the first boiling
of petals) I think because I heard of a restaurant called Cinnamon
Rose and the name stuck. Anyway, at first the cinnamon seemed a little
strong.

A friend said the jelly tasted like the apple pie from
heaven. BUT after opening a sealed jar a few days later I DID detect
both the rose and the cinnamon flavor. Be sure to discard the cinnamon
stick before bottling. **I’ve used less and I’ve used more, so the
exact proportions probably don’t matter. In fact, even when I pick
them at night when I get home from work, and they have little scent,
cooking them brings it out a lot. Just remember, for a good red color
you will need some red roses and also remember.. ..the rose brew will
stain your hands, your sink, your clothes!!!

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/hillbillyherbalism/

A Recipe with a little story behind it:-) Enjoy, Kelly

Mrs. Elder’s Apple Rolls

My kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Elder, loved children and teaching.
Everyday in her class was an adventure but I think the highlight for
all of us were trips to her farm. She and her husband had a large
wheat farm and lots of farm animals. Each fall she took her class
to the farm and her students would visit all the animals, churn
butter and have a wonderful time. Now 50 years later, my other
kindergarten schoolmates still talk about the trip to the farm. She
taught for many years in a small one room building adjacent to the
larger school building. My husband’s favorite memory of her is
seeing her drive into the local McDonald’s (she was in her late 80s
by then) in a huge pickup truck, complete with dual wheels, and her
head visible just above the dashboard.

Mrs. Elder’s Apple Rolls
Ingredients:
2 cups flour
2 T baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

2/3 cup butter

3/4 cup milk

1/4 cup sugar

2 1/2 cups raw grated apples

2 T soft butter

Sauce

1 cup sugar

1 cup apple juice

1/2 cup cinnamon red hots

2 T butter

Directions:

Mix flour, baking powder and salt. Cut in butter to flour mixture.
Add milk and stir until moist. On a lightly floured surface, roll
dough until 1/4 inch think and about and 18” by 12” rectangle.
Spread with 2 T. soft butter. Mix sugar and apples and spread on top
of the buttered dough. Roll up as a you would a jelly roll and cut
into 9 pieces (use a sharp wet knife). Place in a baking dish and
freeze. Mix the syrup ingredients and bring to boil. Boil 1 minute.

Bake rolls at 350 degrees for 35-45 minutes. When rolls start to
brown, remove from oven and pour syrup over the rolls, return to
over to finish baking.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/hillbillyherbalism/

White Chocolate Cherry Bread (variation)
Posted by: “Steven

OK, I started to make the bread. Then I soon found that we had eaten up all of the dried cherries that I remembered in the cupboard. So of the dried fruits that I have, the best substitute I could come up with was dried blueberries. As for the chocolate, I knew that I did not have the white chips but I did have semi-sweet and knew that they would work just fine. So now my bread became “Blueberry Semi-sweet Chocolate Bread”.

Yes, I did use whole milk instead of the buttermilk.
For the next part, the recipe is for a 1 1/2 pound loaf and my machine only does a 1 pound loaf. I knew I could do the math but 2/3 of an egg was going to be a little hard. So instead I decided to give the machine a work out with a 1 1/2 pound on the dough cycle. (The machine did fine.)
After the dough was finished in the machine I decided to not change anything else, so I let the dough rise on a flat pan and baked it for 25 minutes. Let it cool completely.

The next morning I sliced it up and decided that some cream cheese might be a good topping (since I did have some on hand). It was absolutely delicious.

I still want to try the white Chocolate Cherry but that will have to wait until I get the proper ingredients for it.
Thanks for all of your help Karon.
Peggy

THE RECIPE AGAIN
I make a 1 ½ pound loaf. Three cups of flour.

The White Chocolate Cherry is the easiest!

1 cup buttermilk

1 egg

2 tablespoons sugar

1 teaspoon salt

1 tablespoons vanilla extract

3 cups white bread flour

2 teaspoons dry yeast

1 cup dried cherries

Put all these in your machine per machine order. Set to dough cycle. When it
comes out, knead as usual adding ½ to 1 cup of white chocolate chips as you
knead. This helps distribute the chips randomly through the bread.

Shape into preferred loaf shape, I like round. Slash top and set to rise.
Because of the sugar content, this can be a heavier bread, so it sometimes
takes longer to rise. Allow up to 1 ½ hours to double bulk. Bake at 350 for
20-25 minutes to lovely brown. Feel free to egg wash if you like. I usually
don’t but, with an egg wash, you can decorate the top of the oaf with extra
dried cherries.

Allow bread to COMPLETELY cool before cutting. If you cut it warm, you WILL
have a hard, doughy center. YUCK!

Once completely cooled, slice and gobble! You e it by itself, you can ice
with a milk/vanilla/confectioner’s sugar glaze or, my personal favorite,
just spread with a little bit of room temp butter.

Warning: it will be a race to see who can grab this bread first!!!

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bread-machine/

Serrano Chicken Sandwich
Posted by: “*~Tamara~*”

Serrano Chicken Sandwich

2 chicken breasts
4 slices pepper jack cheese
2 onion-cheese Kaiser rolls, toasted
4 slices fresh tomato
4 slices avocado

Marinade:*
1 cup olive oil
1/4 cup lime juice
1 garlic clove, minced
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
1/2 tbsp. cumin powder
1/2 tbsp. chili powder
1 tsp. cayenne pepper

Southwest Sauce:
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup sour cream
3 tsp. chopped onions
2 tbsp. chopped tomato
3 tsp. cilantro
1 tsp. peeled fresh garlic
1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper
1 1/2 dashes Lawry’s seasoned salt
1 1/2 dashes cumin powder
2 Serrano peppers, or fewer for less heat

*Or you can use a Mexican-style bottled marinade.

In a shallow pan, marinate chicken for 1 hour in marinade mixture (or use your favorite marinade).

Make up Southwest Sauce in food processor.

Remove chicken from marinade, sprinkle with salt and pepper and grill until done, placing cheese on top of each piece at end of cooking to melt slightly.

Toast rolls.

Assemble sandwiches with tomato, avocado and Southwest sauce, and eat.

Southwest Sauce:
Combine all the ingredients in a food processor and process until smooth. Let the dressing stand for at least 1 hour to blend the flavors. Keep in refrigerator.

There will be extra sauce, which can be used up in sandwiches, salads or wraps.

Serves 2

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Recipes-for-2/
Need recipes with smaller servings?

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2. Moroccan Lentil Stew - pressure cooker
Posted by: “~*Piper*~”

Moroccan Lentil Stew - pressure cooker

2 cups brown lentils
2 or 3 tomatoes,chopped
1 medium onion, chopped
3 cloves of garlic, finely chopped or pressed
4 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley or cilantro
2 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
2 1/2 teaspoons paprika (some hot,or some smoked paprika if desired)
1 1/2 teaspoons ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1-2 teaspoons salt
2 Tbls. olive oil

Mix all ingredients in a pressure cooker or pot. Add 2 quarts of water,
Cover, and cook on pressure over medium heat for 30 minutes, or until the lentils are tender. If the lentils are still submerged in sauce, reduce the liquids so that the sauce is ample, but not watery. Adjust the seasoning if desired, and serve.

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3. Fresh Mango Chutney With Coconut
Posted by: “~*Piper*~”

Fresh Mango Chutney With Coconut

2 medium firm, but under ripe mangoes, 1 lb. each
1 tablespoon peeled fresh coconut, finely chopped
2 tablespoons fresh coriander, finely chopped
1 tablespoon fresh ginger root, finely chopped
1 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon ground hot red pepper

Yield: about 1 1/2 cups

With a small, sharp knife or a vegetable parer with a rotary blade, peel the mangoes completely. Cut the flesh away from the seed. Discard the seed and cut the flesh into 1/2-inch cubes.
Place the mangoes in a serving bowl and add the coconut, coriander, ginger, salt and red pepper, tossing the ingredients gently with a spoon until they are thoroughly combined. Serve at once, or cover tightly and store in the refrigerator for no more than 8 hours before serving.

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4. Ras El Hanout (Moroccan Curry) Mix
Posted by: “~*Piper*~”

Ras El Hanout (Moroccan Curry) Mix

2 tablespoons black peppercorns, crushed
1 tablespoon ground cardamom
1 tablespoon ground mace
1 tablespoon ground ginger
1 teaspoon hot red chile powder, such as cayenne
1 teaspoon fennel seeds, crushed
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon ground allspice
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon crushed malagueta pepper
2 teaspoons dried ground galangal or ginger
4 cloves garlic, crushed
1 tablespoon turmeric
2 tablespoons crushed dried lavender
2 tablespoons crushed dried rosebuds

Place all the ingredients in a spice mill and process to a fine powder.
Store in an airtight container. Use to spice up stews, rice and couscous.

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5. Okra in Lentil
Posted by: “~*Piper*~”

Okra in Lentil

1/4 cup fresh/frozen cut okra
1 cup split yellow lentil (tur or toor dal)
1 tsp.. tamarind paste dissolved in 1/4 cup water
2 green chilies (any kind), chopped
a pinch of turmeric powder
2 tsps. salt
2 tsps. oil
1 tsp. black mustard seeds, optional

Cook the yellow lentil either in a pressure cooker or over the range with enough water. The lentil should be mushy and easily break apart when cooked.
Heat the oil.
Add the optional mustard seeds. After they crackle and pop add the okra pieces and green chilies and fry for 5 minutes covered, stirring now and then.
Add the tamarind paste dissolved in water and bring it to a boil.
Add the cooked lentil, salt, turmeric powder and cook it all together for another 5 minutes till everything comes together and remove from heat and serve with plain rice or tortillas.

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6. Quick Tex-Mex Lasagna
Posted by: “~*Piper*~”

Quick Tex-Mex Lasagna

Seasoned Pinto Beans:
1 15 oz. can pinto beans, rinsed, drained
1 large jalapeno pepper, minced
1/2 envelope taco seasoning mix
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. ground cumin
2 tsps. ground chipotle powder
1 14.5 oz. can diced tomatoes

Lasagna:
8 oz. reduced fat sour cream
1 cup Mexican cheese blend, shredded
1 recipe Seasoned Pinto Beans, above
3 6” corn tortillas, cut to fit dish
1 8 oz. jar your favorite salsa
1 cup Monterey jack cheese, shredded
1 tbsp. fresh cilantro, chopped

To make seasoned pinto beans: Mix all ingredients in a large bowl. Set aside.
To make lasagna: Stir reduced fat sour cream and cheese mix together. Set aside.
Spread half the pinto beans on the bottom of a lightly greased 13x9” pan. Layer with all the tortillas (cut them in pieces to fit if needed), sour cream mixture and remaining beans.
Cover and bake for 40 minutes at 350 degrees. Top with salsa and the Monterey Jack Cheese and bake, uncovered, for another 5 minutes until cheese melts. Sprinkle with cilantro, and serve.
Makes 4 servings.

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7. Quemada Salsa
Posted by: “~*Piper*~”

Quemada Salsa

“Quemada” literally means “burnt”, and that is what is done to the
tomatoes and green onions, giving the salsa a smoky flavor and rich color.

1 lb. tomatoes, cored
1 tbsp. garlic puree
1 bunch green onions, trimmed, washed
1 tbsp. lime juice
1 tsp. salt
1/2 bunch fresh cilantro
1/2 tsp, freshly ground white pepper
1 tbsp. vegetable oil
1/2 tsp. ground oregano
3 serrano chiles, stemmed
1 cup water

Place tomatoes and green onions on a hot mesquite grill (over hot coals,
not flames). Pile the cilantro on top, so that it does not touch the grill.
Grill the vegetables 10 to 15 minutes, or until the peppers are soft.
Place the vegetable oil in a saute pan over medium-high heat.
Add the serranos and saute until the peppers are soft.
Place the serranos, tomatoes, onion,and cilantro in a food processor fitted with the metal blade.
Process until coarsely ground. Remove tomato mixture to mixing bowl and stir until ingredients are evenly distributed.
In a separate bowl, mix garlic, lime juice, salt, white pepper, oregano, and water until well blended.
Add garlic mixture to ground vegetables and mix thoroughly.
Makes about 3 cups.

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8a. Corn and Jalapeno Custard
Posted by: “~*Piper*~”

Corn and Jalapeno Custard

2 tablespoons jalapeno chiles, stems, seeds removed, chopped
1/2 cup creamed corn
1/2 cup cooked rice
1/2 cup grated Cheddar cheese
1/4 cup yellow cornmeal
1/4 cup whole milk
1/4 cup minced onion
1/4 cup chopped black olives
1 large egg, beaten
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon baking powder

Combine all ingredients and place in a greased 8 x 8-inch baking dish. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until set and lightly browned.
Serves 4 to 6.

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9. OT: Urgent prayer request
Posted by: “*~Tamara~*”

My boss’s 11 year old grandson was accidentally shot in the head while hunting this morning. His name is Beau. Please send out all the prayes you can for this precious lil boy.

Thank you,

Tamara

This is another great group owned by *~Tamara~*

To visit group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Simply-Spicy/

http://globalguerrillas.typepad.com/globalguerrillas/2009/10/rc-journal-the-dollar-crump.html

Saturday, 10 October 2009
RC JOURNAL: The Dollar Crump

Here’s a what if post that hopefully gets you thinking. Please feel free to rip it to shreds.

It’s VERY likely that over the next decade we are going to see the dollar fall to less than half of its current value (half is an optimistic assumption) as compared to global currencies. The combination of high and rapidly growing US debt loads (nothing is being done to reverse this trend), the erosion of US ‘safe haven status due to crony capitalism, and an accelerating movement among exporting nations to replace the dollar as the reserve currency (with a basket of currencies/gold) have turned this trend into an onrushing freight train. This depreciation and the loss of reserve currency status will have the following effects:

* It will make US government debt very expensive. Funding for foreign wars, big domestic programs, and economic stimulus efforts will dry up (we are already seeing the fear of this driving decisions on Afghanistan and health care ‘reform’).
* Costs for the middle class will skyrocket. The ongoing depopulation/depletion of the middle class participating in the global economy will accelerate.
* Locally produced goods/services will become VERY competitive with globally/nationally sourced goods. Why? Energy costs will zoom.

Resilience Everywhere

The beneficial upshot of this dollar crump won’t be much growth in US exports (there’s nobody to sell to). What it will be is a trigger for the rapid formation of resilient communities nation-wide as we decentralize to become competitive/survive. In short, communities that physically produce food, energy, services, security, and products at the local level and share info/insight/R&D virtually on a global level will enjoy prosperity. The penalty for those communities that don’t prepare for this shift are extreme — favelaization and black globalization/global guerrillas await.

Posted by John Robb on Saturday, 10 October 2009 at 11:28 AM | Permalink
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Comments

Mr. Robb,

Do you expect these resilient communities (RCs) to be legal entities or associations of citizens operating under the radar, sometimes or mostly illegally?
How do you expect the central government (federal/state level) to behave when faced with the loss of influence and legitimacy? Do you think it would encourage its own dismantling, or it would treat the RCs as destabilizing agents?
I wholeheartedly agree with you that the cost to produce goods in RCs (in ideal conditions) will be competitive with the global chains, but what happens with the price? It’s not hard to impose laws that tax goods produced in RCs much higher that those coming from the “preferred” global chains? The governing forces will need the proceeds to keep quiet the newly formed favelas and maintain the loss of legitimacy at a decent rate of decline.
I personally do see a future in RCs, but organized more like GGs or P2P sharing networks rather than kibbutzim.

Best regards,
CD

snipped- interesting comments....

Re: the RC versus legalities imposed from beyond its border or stakeholders.

A glaring example is security, which JR consistently includes in the locally produced list. Let’s say in Seattle we as a norm shoot people caught lurking on roofs after nightfall; and legalize, grow and tax pot. We would get screams of social injustice on CNN for the shootings, and screams of being drug selling hippies from Christian Coalition types.

This is the friction I see coming.

The only answer I’ve seen to overcoming such friction is in a comment by CD:

“I believe that one of the first types of successful RC will be one that assembles, conducts business, and disassembles faster than any significant hostile outside actor can react.”

Posted by: lancemiller777atgmaildotcom | Sunday, 11 October 2009 at 06:53 AM

Wikipedia, whic can usually be counted on to present the centralist view in key areas, has a very lengthy defense of central government’s power to stop formation of resilient communities in its article on Wickard v. Filburn.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wickard_v._Filburn

The argument is basically that during economic crises the central authorities must prevent even individual farmers from acting autonomously because their independence can reduce overall “economic activity”. Of course, this gets back the more fundamental problem of governments taxing economic activity rather than artificial property rights.

Posted by: James Bowery | Sunday, 11 October 2009 at 11:26 AM

“I believe that one of the first types of successful RC will be one that assembles, conducts business, and disassembles faster than any significant hostile outside actor can react.”

that right there is a TAZ

Posted by: wu.ming | Sunday, 11 October 2009 at 12:24 PM

There are many potential models for many types of RCs already in existence in the US, and many other countries throughout the world. Intentional communities (IC) have been forming for many decades for many different types of reasons. These can range from sharing housing structures to local production focus to almost complete local economic integration. See http://ic.org to get an idea of the range of types of communities that are already in existence.

There are a subset of ICs that do have the level of integration similar to medieval monasteries. Many of these are religious, some are secular, like FEC communities (http://thefec.org).

My point is that I don’t think we have to suddenly create RCs from scratch, as there have been decades of experimentation in creating a wide variety of communities that are in their own ways striving to what could be called RCs. They’re just ‘under the radar’ in general.

I think the situation is somewhat analogous to second and third century Rome, where the dominant form of political organization was collapsing. There were many years of chaos, but the models for the new communities that replaced the Roman power structure (Christian communities and ‘barbarian’ cultures) were already in existence. They only became predominant when the superpower started to lose control.

We already have models of RCs. The questions for me are more which models will be the best for a given local community in the specific conditions of its transition, and are there ways RCs can work together to prevent a transition period like Rome’s crisis of the third century?

Posted by: postrev.wordpress.com

http://globalguerrillas.typepad.com/globalguerrillas/2008/01/the-resilient-c.html

THE RESILIENT COMMUNITY

It should be clear, as we watch the gyrations and excesses of global markets, that no organization/state/group has any meaningful control over its direction. The same is true for almost every other aspect of globalization, from the environment to transnational crime to energy flows. In short, we’ve lost control and our collective future is in the hands of a morally neutral system that is operating in ways that we don’t fully understand (nor will we). The best defense against this emerging situation is not to call for new Manhattan projects or global treaties or Marshall plans, which won’t work since we can neither marshal the resources necessary nor collectively agree on anything other than the most basic rules of connectivity, it is to slowly introduce organic stability into out global system. The concept I’ve latched onto as a solution is what I call the resilient community.
This conceptual model creates a set of new services that allow the smallest viable subset of social systems, the community (however you define it), to enjoy the fruits of globalization without being completely vulnerable to its excesses. These services are configured to provide the ability to survive an extended disconnection from the global grid in the following areas (an incomplete list):

* Energy.
* Food.
* Security (both active and passive).
* Communications.
* Transportation.

The resilient community has broad applicability beyond just improving the ability of those of us in developed economies to preserve wealth and a quality of life despite severe system shocks. It can also be applied to the problems of counter-insurgency in semi-modern urban environment (to radically update a process that was built for the last century) and provide the potential for organic development in underdeveloped areas of the world. The key is that we need to support the open source efforts currently underway to expand this capability underway such as the transition towns movement to MIT’s low tech solutions effort.
I touched on this concept in Brave New War and here on this blog. Might need to put out a short book that really explores the concept in a way that allows people to get their heads around it.

Posted by John Robb on Wednesday, 30 January 2008 at 09:01 AM | Permalink
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Comments

Dear Bob,
I agree with your very interesting vision linking resilience and community.
I have in mind that to built up those communities, some kind of free exchange will be at the root, just as a seed. I fell that people may be part of many of those communities All of those will have something in common different from traditional links (family, culture...). I look forward on having your thoughts about that.

Posted by: SWIMMER21 | Wednesday, 30 January 2008 at 09:52

snipped....

John,

The notion of resilient community is critical to leverage the benefits of globalization while simultaneously achieving sustainability and human fulfillment. Whether in economics, security, or the environment, globalization threatens to marginalize the human input as it would any other economic “cost” unless this process is checked by communities that are minimally self-sufficient—that is, they can negotiate with the global marketplace from a position of independence, rather than be forced into the marginalization-or-isolation dichotomy. Communities can interact with the global market as as equals, rather than in a subservient-master relationship, only when they can meet their basic needs in a local and sustainable manner, and only interact globally to their benefit, not out of dependency. I’ve tried to approach this concept in the links below. I’m looking forward to your further explorations of this theme...

http://www.jeffvail.net/2006/04/envisioning-hamlet-economy-topology-of.html
http://www.jeffvail.net/2006/04/rhizome-central-place-theory.html

Posted by: jeffvail

[These communities are indeed forming and several have been talked about on some of the lists.

Last year, I was invited to join one in Arizona, near Payson.

The Kingman area has had them since the 1960’s and they come and go, usually they do remain.
granny]

http://globalguerrillas.typepad.com/globalguerrillas/2009/09/journal-a-college-degree-for-99-a-month.html

JOURNAL: A College Degree for $99 a Month

610xTo the extent that educational background is a factor in my hiring decisions, I would be more likely hire a person that succeeded at an educational program like Straighterline than somebody that went to a standard four year institution. Why? The choice demonstrates an ability to improvise — in that they were able to see the advantages of a $99 education vs. something equivalent at 100 times the cost. It’s also because they demonstrated an ability to operate successfully within an online work environment — which, despite it quickly becoming the critical job skill of the 21st Century, is something that traditional colleges don’t teach and most workers are terrible at.

Here’s a great article on the school by Kevin Carey at the Washington Monthly on Straighterline, and how the educational establishment is successfully resisting it. This resistance will halt progress until the prolonged economic failure of the global middle class makes the switch to online education (in this price range) inexorable.

Posted by John Robb on Friday,

Interesting comments....

This blog offers links to free e-learning websites for Electrical Engineers and architects.

Those seeking faster ROI for their Electrical Engineering Education and those students who want to be job-ready after graduation may visit this site.

philipjarina.blogspot.com

FREE CONTINUING EDUCATION AND E-LEARNING FOR ELECTRICAL ENGINEERS AND ARCHITECTS

Posted by: Philip Jarina | Monday, 07 September 2009 at 06:03 PM

I didn’t go to MIT to get a college degree. I went to learn how to be a civil engineer. And thankfully, came out a non-practicing architect and generalized systems engineer. Ask me the value of that as a first-in-class-high-school student and I’d have had no clue.

There is no point in having a college degree. The point is whether or not one has learned anything. My son is excited about building with stone. Houses, trailes, patios, chicken-coops. I love it. Do it once, do it right. He tells me he can look at a stone (circa Acadia Park) and know how long it will take him to bust it with a sledge into rock dust for a trail or wall underlayment.

That’s a spiritual understanding. Not a $99 a month credential.

$99 Credential tells you that bad bolts is what you are supposed to produce.

The focus on price is wrong. The focus should be on the understanding. No bad bolts.

Though I’ll leave it to a jury of my peers - peers - peers as to whether a bolt can be bad enough on a submarine.

cfm

snipped.......

Here is a new market for innovative education:

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/columns/html/20090912T230000-0500_159592_OBS_OF_CRIMINAL_GANGS_AND_THE_LAW.asp

“But in Japan they are taking the world of the criminal gang to a new level. Now, Japanese mobsters are apparently taking exams.

The core activities of Japanese criminal syndicates are the same as gangs all over the world. They include drugs, prostitution and protection rackets. Japanese gangsters like to put tattoos all over their bodies. Despite the law-abiding image of the Japanese society, organised crime is widespread. And their crime syndicates are much larger than those of other countries that have a high degree of formal organisation. One of the largest gangs is called Yamaguchi-gumi and it has thousands of members.

So concerned is the Japanese government by the spread of organised crime, that last year they introduced a new law which allowed gang leaders to be sued for the activities of their subordinates. This has caused Japanese gang leaders to panic. They are worried that they will have to go to court and pay fines because of the activities of their out-of-control associates. As a result of this, the leaders now require that gang members study the new law and then take a test. The 12-page test paper questions mobsters on a wide range of banned activities, from vehicle theft to the illegal dumping of industrial waste and phone fraud scams.

The gangs have reportedly identified loopholes in the new law and are circulating briefs amongst themselves. One loophole would see gang leaders writing ‘retroactive letters of expulsion’ to prove a suspect was no longer a gang member at the time he allegedly committed a crime.

“It is now illegal to give financial rewards or promote someone who was involved in a hit against a member of a rival gang,” reads a briefing distributed by one gang. “But it is not illegal to give them a salary with a front company and promote them within that organisation.””

Posted by: Duncan Kinder |

http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA

Fly with the sun at Israel’s airport

With its large supply of sunny days, Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport will become one of the first airports in the world to generate renewable energy.

(Communicated by Karin Kloosterman, Israel 21C)

http://192.168.180.222/NR/rdonlyres/28CE2C98-5773-41DC-B35F-D393BE60FB9F/0/21cbgAIRPOT.jpg
Ben Gurion Airport (Photo: Anna Kaplan/ Flash90)

Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport is cashing in on a government initiative by installing solar panels to produce clean electricity that will help the environment and make money.

There’s no denying that wall of Mediterranean heat that hits you like a brick when you disembark at Ben Gurion Airport outside Tel Aviv. Soon, Israel’s major international airport will take advantage of all that sun and be partially powered by solar energy. That will make Israel one of the first countries in the world to generate renewable energy sources at its airport, and the first to do so in the Middle East.

The 50-kilowatt solar energy pilot project slated for 2010 will be 5,382 square feet in area. An array of solar panels that will convert the sun’s energy into electricity will be installed above the airport’s long-term park-and-fly parking lots, in the most impressive of the many new green ideas from airport executives.

Other environment-friendly targets include finding new ways to reduce noise pollution; recycling waste (both liquids and solids); a plan to reduce hazardous substances while preserving panoramic views; and building future terminals with green-certified construction materials.

With annual energy costs running at $15 million, the airport executives expect a return on their solar energy investment to the tune of $100,000 - as the sun-powered electricity is sold back to the national grid, as part of a government initiative. Since solar energy is clean energy, an added benefit is the huge amounts of additional greenhouse gases that won’t be entering the atmosphere.

This strategy dovetails nicely with a proposed energy conservation plan at the airport, which calls for a reduction of 15 percent of the airport’s energy costs, which were about $1.9 million in 2009. As a government-owned entity, the airport’s goals are also in line with Israel’s national strategy for 10% renewable energy by 2020.

Sunny profits that are green too

The Israel Airports Authority’s (IAA) director of commerce, business and development, Eyal Kshepitsky, tells ISRAEL21c that this environment project is under his purview because it makes solid business sense. The energy will be collected, and then sold back to Israel’s Electric Company at high rates.

Despite it being a business venture, IAA chairman Ovadia Eli says it’s also part of his long-term vision, to green the recently remodeled airport that serves millions of tourists and business people each year.

Eli, who was not available for comment, was previously quoted as saying: “Solar energy is the cleanest renewable energy source known today, and does not pollute or make noise. We’re pleased to have the opportunity to build this project, which will help the environment and generate profits, as well as saving us a lot of money.”

Kshepitsky, who is also responsible for airport shop tenders, tells ISRAEL21c that the environment is a top priority at the airport, as evidenced by the fact that Eli made sure that every executive unit at the airport is aware of the new project. Kshepitsky sees additional advantages to the solar investment: “Not only will we get solar energy, we will get protective shade above our long-term parking lot to protect the cars during the long, hot hours of the day.”
In terms of return on investment, the airport project, “will give us four times [the money that] we are paying,” asserts Kshepitsky, who notes that the solar energy buyback deal is guaranteed by the government for 20 years. Constrained by 50 kilowatts per site, “We are examining the possibility of installing some at other airports and areas,” he adds.

The IAA executives chose Ben Gurion as the pilot site because it’s the largest airport in Israel. If the pilot is a success, they will consider installing similar arrays of solar panels at Israel’s other airports. Eilat, in the southern tip of the country, would likely be the next location. The almost-always scorching hot city has a short runway, but can welcome some international flights.

Cashing in on the sun

According to local news reports, the IAA has already been making efforts to drastically reduce noise as well as complaints about noise from neighboring towns and villages. From 1999 to 2005, an estimated 25% decrease in noise was measured in aircraft taxiing and take offs from runway areas
.
Since the opening of the airport’s new Terminal 3 in 2004, about 30 million passengers and an equal number of visitors and employees have enjoyed the facilities.

The recent upgrade is a big change from more than five years ago, when passengers deplaned onto hot tarmac to walk into an island-style terminal, usually accompanied by considerable chaos and confusion.

Since its renovation, the Airport Council International ranked Ben Gurion Airport high up among the world’s airports that serve a similar number of passengers. A perk of passing through the airport is the free wireless internet available. In many western countries airports charge big bucks and Euros per hour and there are frequent connection hassles.

Kshepitsky says that the tender for the new project has not yet been released. When it is opened, his team will choose from among a number of local solar energy providers, such as Sunday Solar, Interdan and the Arava Power Company. The IAA is following the lead of schools, institutions and businesses - and local and foreign investors - looking to benefit from the government’s attractive plan of cashing in on the sun.

[Liberal site, supports genetic engineering, posted for history content only....We should plant only Heritage seeds...granny]

http://www.historycommons.org/project.jsp?project=seeds_prjct

View all events for this timeline (179)
Timelines filtered by category

Genetically Modified Crops
Experimental GM Crops (3)GM Contamination (22)International trade of GM food (2)National policies toward GM food (7)

Seed Industry
Seed/biotech industry consolidation (8)Biotech/seed industry (13)Biotech patents (7)Coercive tactics (12)Perception management (3)Public-private collaboration (10)

Companies
Delta & Pine Land (9)Monsanto (52)Syngenta (2)

Policies
International agreements (4)Court decisions (2)National legislation/policy (4)

Social impacts
Biodiversity (11)Environment (6)Farmers’ rights (24)Food security (8)Indigenous peoples (6)Public Health (4)Resistance (4)

Studies
Studies-private sector (0)Studies-government (6)Studies-academic (5)Studies-civil society (1)Studies-other (3)

Legal actions
Monsanto v. Schmeiser (56)Sample v. Monsanto (4)Other (5)

Crops
Canola (15)Corn (14)Cotton (11)Potatoes (1)Rice (1)Soybeans (10)Wheat (0)

Cases studies-GM Crops
Indonesia (10)Argentina (1)Mexico (12)Afghanistan (0)Zambia (0)India (6)Brazil (1)

Cases studies-Other
Terminator seeds (39)Seed Sector Review (3)Iraq (1)

Events Recently Added to the Genetic Engineering and the Privatization of Seeds timeline
RSS Feed

* 1/13 - Mexico Denies Permits to Biotechs to Plant GE Corn in Northern States, October 9, 2006, posted by Derek
* 1/11 - Judge Rules against USDA for Permitting Biotech Firms to Grow Experimental Drug-Producing Crops in Hawaii, August 10, 2006, posted by Derek
* 1/8 - Iowa Corn Contaminated with Genes from ‘Pharma-Crops’, September 2002, posted by Derek
* 1/4 - Monsanto Vice President Tells Enthused and Idealistic Employee ‘We Are Here to Make Money’, 1996, posted by Derek
* 1/3 - US Announces 2005 US Rice Harvest Contaminated with GM Rice, August 18, 2006, posted by Derek

More
Timeline entries sorted by the month they were published

Received this from a friend.....thought I would share.

Here are 25 FREE Taste Of Home Digital Cookbooks to download. Don’t click on subscribe, instead click on each cookbook to download (you can download one or more pages).

http://www.tasteofhomedigital.com/tasteofhome/

Iced Almonds

1/4 cup butter
2 1/2 cups whole unblanched almonds
1 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract

In a heavy saucepan, melt butter over medium high heat.

Add almonds and sugar. Cook and stir constantly for 7 to 8 minutes
or until syrup is golden brown.

Remove from the heat and stir in vanilla. Immediately drop by clusters
or separate almonds on a greased baking pan. Cool.

Store in an airtight container.

Makes: 12 servings

Barbecued Peanuts

1/3 cup barbecue sauce
2 Tbsp butter, melted
1 tsp garlic powder
1/4 to 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
1 - 16 oz jar dry roasted peanuts

In a large bowl, combine barbecue sauce,butter, garlic powder and
cayenne. Add peanuts and stir until evenly coated.

Transfer to a greased 13 x 9 x 2 inch baking pan. Bake, uncovered,
at 325 degrees F. for 25 to 30 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes.

Spread on waxed paper and cool completely. Store in an airtight
container.

Makes: 3 cups

Coconut Granola Bars

These quick to fix bars are wholesome and delicious.

3/4 cup packed brown sugar
2/3 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup corn syrup
1/2 cup butter, melted
2 tsp vanilla extract
3 cups old fashioned oats
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup flaked coconut
1/2 cup sunflower kernels
1/3 cup wheat germ
2 tsp sesame seeds

In a large bowl, combine brown sugar, peanut butter, corn syrup,
butter and vanilla.

In another bowl combine remaining ingredients then add to the
peanut butter mixture and stir to coat.

Press into two greased 13 x 9 x 2 inch baking pans. Bake at 350
degrees F. for 25 to 30 minutes or until golden brown.

Cool on wire racks. Cut into bars.

Makes: 3 dozen

Spicy Cashews

2 - 10 oz cans salted cashews
3 Tbsp butter
1 Tbsp vegetable oil
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp chili powder
1/4 to 1/2 tsp crushed red
pepper flakes

In a large skillet, saute cashews in butter and oil for 4 to 5 minutes
or until golden brown.

Spread on a paper towel lined baking sheet and let stand for 2 to 3
minutes.

Transfer to a large bowl. Sprinkle with salt, chili powder and pepper
flakes then toss to coat.

Store in an airtight container.

Makes: 2 2/3 cups

Spiced Pecans

Toasting nuts intensifies their flavor, and the sweet coating on these
pecans is absolutely delicious.

1 egg white
1 tsp cold water
4 cups (about 1 pound) pecan halves
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp salt

In a small mixing bowl, lightly beat the egg white. Add water and beat
until frothy but not stiff. Add pecans then stir until well coated.

Combine the sugar, cinnamon and salt. Sprinkle over pecans then toss
to mix.

Spread in a greased 15 x 10 x 1 inch baking pan. Bake at 250 degrees F.
for 1 hour, stirring occasionally.

Store in an airtight container.

Makes: 12 servings

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FoodPreservationDryingCanningAndMore/

Twin Mountain Muffins

2 cups all purpose flour
1 Tbsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup sugar
1 slightly beaten egg
3/4 cup milk

Grease twelve 2 1/2 inch muffin cups and set aside.

In a small bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, and salt; set aside.

In a medium bowl, beat the butter with an electric mixer on medium to
high speed for 30 seconds. Add the sugar and egg; beat until combined.
Add the milk and the flour mixture alternately to butter mixture,
beating well after each addition. Spoon batter into prepared muffin
cups, filling each about 2/3 full.

Bake in a 425 degree F. oven for 12 to 15 minutes or until golden brown.
Cool in pan on a wire rack for 5 minutes. Remove from muffin cups. Serve
warm.

Makes: 12 muffins

I found the recipe originally in a cookbook I got in a second hand store somewhere in Oregon when I was fishing up there. I don’t remember anythng else remarkable about the book, but the muffins were heavenly. It had a blueberry varation. Since I have blueberries in the freezer from swapping at farmers markets I want to make some.

Cranapple Jelly

2 cups cranberry juice
1 1/2 cups apple juice
6 whole cloves
2 broken cinnamon sticks
4 cups sugar
1 package powdered pectin

Combine juices and spices in a large saucepan and simmer for 5 minutes.
Discard cloves and cinnamon.

Add pectin and stir. Bring to boil, add sugar, stirring constantly, bring
to a full rolling boil. Boil hard for 1 minute.

Skim and pour into jars leaving a 1/4” headspace. Process jars for 10
minutes in a boiling water bath. Adjust time according to altitude.

Makes: 5 half pints

Variations:

Crangrape - Substitute the apple juice for grape juice. Omit spices.
Cranraspberry - Substitute the apple juice for raspberry juice. Omit spices.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FoodPreservationDryingCanningAndMore/

http://betterlivingdaily.blogspot.com/2009/10/herbal-remedies-to-fight-cold-and-flu.html

Herbal Remedies to Fight the Cold and Flu
Here are my favorite herbal and aromatherapy-based remedies for the cold and flu.

Aromatherapy
Lavender essential oil is is my #1 favorite remedy. It has the most uses of almost any essential oil. Lavender essential oil has natural antiviral and antibiotic properties. It is an effective decongestant when inhaled, alieviates body aches when added to a bath, warm compress, or body oil or lotion and applied to the body. I have put a few drops on cotton balls and placed the cotton ball in my ears (like ear buds) to cope with ear ache pain. Many warm mist vaporizers have a way to medications or aromatherapy oils to the steam.

You can add some lavender oil and water to a spray bottle and use the mist to naturally disinfect your home. Natural cleaning is essential to stop the spread of germs, and lavender does a great job of disinfecting. By disinfecting commonly-touched areas, like door knobs, telephones, countertops, etc., you help prevent the spread of disease. Bonus- lavender smells great.

Please note, these healing properties are attributed only to the actual plant-based essential oil. Synthetic fragrance oils have none of the chemical compounds of the real thing, and are worthless for aromatherapy. NEVER ingest essential oils.

Herbal Tea
Any member of the mint family (peppermint, spearmint, etc.) will help thin mucus. Add some lemon for some extra Vitamin C. You can add mullein to help with chest congestion, anise for sinus congestion, and Slippery Elm for a sore throat.

However, here is what I drink when I feel a cold or flu coming on:

* Ginger root, a piece about the size of your thumb, peeled (aches and fever relief)
* Garlic cloves, at least three, peeled and cut in half (boost immune function)
* 9 whole cloves- the kind you stick in a ham (pain relief)
* 3-4 cinamon sticks, broken (sore throat relief)
* 1 Tablespoon of thyme (antibiotic)
* 5 cups of water, cool
* Honey to taste (enzymes, anti-bacterial, anti-viral properties)

Add all ingredients to a pot filled with 4 cups of cool water. Bring the water up to a boil. Allow to boil for 10 minutes and reduce to simmer for another 20 minutes or until the water has reduced by half. While this is simmering, in another pot, heat the remaining cup of water to steaming. Remove from heat, add the thyme, and inhale while waiting for the first mixture to reduce. When the first mixture is ready, add one tablespoon of the thyme liquid to the ginger-based liquid, and pass through a mesh strainer. Ginger and garlic are both strong tastes. When tea is cool enough to drink, add honey to taste. Do not add honey to boiling liquid. It will destroy the enzyemes that give honey its healing properties.

It is recommended to begin drinking this tea at the onset of symptoms for greatest relief. Of course, if you have an allergy to any ingredient, leave it out.

(Technically, this is called a decoction, not a tea, because it uses roots and barks which must be added to cool water and brought to a boil A tea uses leaf or flower parts of the plant and are added to hot, but not boiling water.)

Herbal Tinctures (Extracts)
Tinctures offer concentrated herbal properties in a standardized dosage. Some of the tinctures reputed to help fight the flu include elderberry and golden seal. Reports on echinacea are conflicting. There are many studies (as well as lengthy, historical usage) to suggest that echinacea is effective if begun at the onset of symptoms. There are, however, many studies that show echinacea to be ineffective on the flu.

Where to Buy Herbal and Aromatherapy Supplies
I have had good experiences ordering from the following companies:

* Mountain Rose Herbs They carry bulk herbs, essential oils, and more.
* Herb Pharm They specialize in standardized herbal tinctures (extracts)

Next blog entry: Frugal and Natural Homemade Cleaning Supplies

Live better, a little every day.
Posted by Cat Ellis at Wednesday, October 07, 2009
Labels: Health, Self-Reliance
3 comments:

Sena said...

Yes, echinacea is not really a good idea for flu or common cold. It works on the body by prompting an immuno-boost by adverse stimuli. If used over too much time or too frequently it can over tax that stimulus pathway and actually drop your overall immune system. Maximum length of use is about 2wks and then you need at least a week off it. Recommending for tincture is good, as some of the medically active components are not water soluable and only come out in alcohol. Traditionally it was used as part of a larger formula to treat what we would now recognize as certain types of cancer.

There has also been some interesting research out of east asia about star anise extract being particularly effective on some of the newer flu strains like bird flu and h1n1-a. One study even came up with it being more effective than tamiflu.
October 7, 2009 1:01 PM
Cat Ellis said...

Thanks, Sena, for that tip about star anise extract. You wouldn’t happen to have those studies on hand? If not, I’ll try to find them.

I have never had a good result with echinacea myself. On the other hand, I have friends who swear by it. I have heard that it can only be taken for two weeks, and that you have to take it right away at the onset of symptoms. Otherwise, forget it.

Personally, to boost immune function, I’d just as soon eat a lot of garlic- goes great in tomato sauce.
October 7, 2009 1:22 PM
Jeremy said...

A good Cough syrup is to mix 2 parts raw honey to 1 part apple cider vinegar (with mother). Take 1 Tbsp every 4 hours.