Fresh Herbs

Fresh Herbs

I don’t know about you all but I love my fresh herbs….I usually plant mine in large pots so I can move them inside if I need to due to the weather …. You can also used window boxes, put on patio or deck….I have parsley, basil, thai basil, lemon basil & cilantro right now….Mine do better on my patio (north side) than putting them in my garden….Being in Texas & with the heat they need some shade…

Ya’ll should try some herbs this season if you haven’t already…..You will love having them outside your door….

Also when you buy green onions in the grocery store cut them down to about 2 ” from the bottom….Save your bottoms & plants in a pot…You will have greens onions in about a week….Just go outside & cut down to the white section & they will keep regrowing…..I love that….

If I get a large amount to harvest at one time of my herbs, I have dried them in microwave….Place on plate (I use a corelle,  the plate doesn’t get as hot to handle) with a paper towel on bottom & put one  on top of herbs….Spread herbs out on plate to cover  the bottom of plate…  In my microwave I cook  them for  about 4 minutes…..You will need to experiment with your microwave….Seal in zip lock bags….

Using fresh herbs makes your dishes taste so much better…… You will love having them available at your finger tips….

Well these are a few ideas for you….If you have any suggestions  Please share…..

Happy Gardening & enjoy…..

Tilapia fillets with veggies…

Tilapia fillets with veggies   

INGREDIENTS

4 (4 ounce) fillets tilapia

salt and pepper to taste

5 tablespoons butter

3 cloves garlic, pressed

6 fresh basil leaves, chopped

2 large tomato, chopped

8oz sliced mushroom

1 cup white wine

DIRECTIONS

Preheat a saute pan add 3 Tbsp of smart balance…Add red onions, mushrooms, garlic &  saute for 2 minutes than add tomatoes,basil, white wine  and salt & pepper to taste…Simmer for 20 minutes…When this is done than go to step 2…

Preheat a saute pan add 2 Tbsp of smart balance & cook tilapia 2 minutes each side….Add your veggies & simmer for a few minutes…

Serve on steam rice, whole wheat noodles, or with  your favorite baked potato…

Essential Oils & their uses for the home

I love putting my favorite essential oil on my light bulbs, so when the bulb  heats you can smell your favorite scent through out the house….

You can also put essential oil on your potpourri that has lost its scent….

I have used essential oils in candles that have no scents also..

Oil of citronella if good for repelling mosquitoes, black flies, fleas, and ticks….I have sprayed my screen doors for the mosquitoes with liquid citronella…I have used citronella on the top of the dogs collars…

Preservatives for your home made facial or body scrubs

If you plan on storing your body scrubs  for longer than a couple of months mix a preservative into it.

If  giving the scrub as a gift and aren’t sure how long the person will keep it make sure you add a preservative.

Vitamin E oil and Sea Salt  are natural preservatives you can use in homemade sugar scrub.

Tea tree is not only antiseptic, and antibacterial but antiviral and antifungal as well…. I love this & it truly works…

Add a stronger preservative, if there’s a chance you’ll get water into your sugar scrub. Use a  preservative like Liquid Germall Plus, which fights bacteria in water-based products found this is on the web.

Liquid Germall Plus is a convenient, easy to use water soluble preservative. It is one of the most effective antimicrobials and inhibits the growth of gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, yeasts, and molds.

Brown Sugar Body Scrub

Brown Sugar Body Scrub

1/2 cup of brown sugar
15 drops of allspice oil
1/4 cup of liquid Dove hand soap
1/4 tsp of  jojoba oil

Wet your body in shower….Stir your scrub and apply to your body… Gently rub &  stand away from the water so you are not rinsing the scrub off ( DO NOT use on face) Make sure you rinse thoroughly…

Allspice has a calming yet uplifting quality which improves mental clarity and relieves exhaustion.

The best container to use is plastic, glass get slippery….Make sure it is air tight…Sit on the ledge in your tub so you won’t forget to use it….

Silky Smooth Milk Bath

This recipe is for those of you that like to take baths…..Light a candle, get a book & lay back & relax and enjoy…….

Silky Smooth Milk Bath

Milk bath leaves your skin smooth and silky soft …

Instructions

Combine all ingredients in a bowl, mix well. Add 1 cup of milk bath mixture to a tub full of  WARM water not cold water or ingredients will not dissolve.

Ingredients

1 Cup Powdered Milk
4 Tablespoons Grated Cocoa Butter
2 Teaspoon Jojoba Oil
2 Teaspoon Favorite Essential Oil

A Tip to Lower Cholesterol

Flaxseed can help reduce total cholesterol and LDL (“bad”) cholesterol levels.

Flaxseed Oil also contains omega-3 fatty acids, but it doesn’t have the beneficial fiber that the seeds have.

I have also been using  flaxseed oil for dry eyes…  I take 1,000 mg a day and it  really has  helped…

Include Flaxseed in your  daily diet and get creative: Here are some examples…

• Add a tablespoon of ground flaxseed to your hot or cold breakfast cereal.
• Add a tsp of ground flaxseed to mayonnaise or mustard when making a sandwich.
• Mix a tablespoon of ground flaxseed into an 8-ounce container of yogurt.
• Add a tablespoon  of ground flaxseed to your favorite smoothie while blending in blender
• Bake ground flaxseed into cookies, muffins, breads, and other baked goods.
• Add to sauces, soups

Welcome

Well, I have been doing this blog for a week and having the best time….

New  posts are available each day for you….I hope that you all are enjoying this as much as I am putting the info together….I have always been interested in herbs & vitamins…Love sharing the info with all of you…

Please feel free to send in recipes and I will post them for everyone to see…

Have a Great and Healthy day

Tee

Natural Dog Treat Recipe

Natural Dog Treat Recipe

for your favorite companion

1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
3/4 cup multi-grain oatmeal or quick cooking
oats,uncooked
1/4 cup wheat germ
1/4 cup chunky peanut butter
1/4 cup canola oil
1/4 cup honey
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 cup water

Use  Dog shaped cookie cutter- bones, shoes, ball

Preheat oven 350       Makes about 20

In large bowl,with mixer at low speed, mix 1 cup flour with remaining ingredients and 1/2 cup water until well blended. With spoon, stir remaining 1/2 cup flour.

With floured hands, on well-floured surface, knead dough until dough holds together. Roll dough 1/4 inch thick. With 5″ by 2 1/2″ cookie cutter, (or use knife) cut out as many shapes as possible. Repeat with remaining dough.

Bake on large, ungreased cookie sheet for 20 minutes….Turn Oven OFF. Let cookie sheet stay in oven 45 mins. to 1 hour.

Remove treats from cookie sheet & place on cooling rack. When cool, store in airtight container or freeze if not using right away.

Note: For less than 6 month old puppies, if frozen thaw for 5-10 minutes.

Champagne Chocolate Body Wrap

Champagne Chocolate Body Wrap

Yummy

16 strawberries

3/4 cup honey

1 cup chocolate pieces

1 1/2 cup champagne

1 cup water bottle

clean paint brush

plastic cling wrap

In microwave melt chocolate on low setting.While chocolate is cooling, puree strawberries and honey, then add to chocolate.  Apply to entire body with paint brush, starting at feet; once covered, spritz on Champagne and water mixture. Wrap well with cling wrap.  Wait 15 minutes.  Rinse well.