Using Cottonballs For Fun...

Yes, you read right! I know what you're thinking! Cottonballs...for fun? When you're trapped inside because of bad weather, you have to be creative and these are ingredients people usually have on hand. If your children are at a loss for something to do while the weather is keeping them inside, give this idea a try.

You will need the following ingredients:

1 cup all purpose flour
2 1/3 cups cool tap water
3 cups of cottonballs
4 drops of food coloring

For you to do: Place very small pieces of the cotton into a small saucepan and add the water while mixing. Place the saucepan over low heat and slowly add the flour while stirring continually. Add the food coloring and allow the mixture to become semi-solid before removing from heat and placing the dough on a double thickness of dishtowel with one layer of papertowel underneath.

For the children: As soon as dough has cooled, make your objects! The objects will take about a day to dry and harden. You can even make beads if you make small little balls and poke a toothpick through them and then allow to harden.

Have fun!

Peach Cake

I recently bought a case of canned peaches and will be using some of them to bake this cake for our Sunday dessert. I will revise the recipe, as I do most recipes, and use Splenda in place of the sugar in the cake, and canola oil in place of the vegetable oil. You can also use this recipe with fresh ripe peaches or pears.

Ingredients:
4 eggs
2 cups granulated sugar
1 cup vegetable oil
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/4 cup orange juice
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups sliced fresh or frozen peaches
1/2 cup chopped pecans, optional
1/4 cup granulated sugar
2 teaspoons cinnamon
Powdered Sugar (optional)

Preheat oven to 350°. Beat eggs well; add 2 cups sugar and the oil, beating until well blended. Combine flour, salt, and baking powder; beat into egg and oil mixture alternating with orange juice. Blend in the vanilla extract. In a separate bowl, toss the sliced peaches (and pecans, if using) with 1/4 cup sugar and the cinnamon. Pour about one-third of the batter into a greased, and floured tube pan. Layer one-half peach mixture over it. Cover with another one-third of batter and the remaining peach mixture. Spread remaining batter over the last layer. Bake at 350° for 60 minutes, or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool cake 10 minutes in pan; turn out onto a wire rack. If you'd like you can sprinkle with powdered sugar.

Natural Victorian Cures for Insomnia

These tips for insomnia come from 1890 and I'm not sure they will work to put you to sleep, but they are amusing!

Natural Cures
1) Chafe the body and extremities with a brush or towel, or rub smartly with the hands, to promote circulation and withdraw the excessive amount of blood from the brain. You will fall asleep in a few moments.

2) On retiring to bed, eat three of four small onions. They will act as a gentle and soothing narcotic.

A Tip To Clean...

White furniture can be cleaned by dissolving baking soda in warm water and applying the solution to the furniture with a soft cloth. Then rub with a dry cloth. Use a teaspoon of the solution to a pint of water.

Cinnamon...

Although available throughout the year, the fragrant, sweet and warm taste of cinnamon is a perfect spice to use during the winter months. Cinnamon has a long history both as a spice and as a medicine. It is the brown bark of the cinnamon tree, which is available in its dried tubular form known as a quill or as ground powder. The two varieties of cinnamon, Chinese and Ceylon, have similar flavor, however the cinnamon from Ceylon is slightly sweeter, more refined and more difficult to find in local markets.

Studies have shown that just 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon per day can lower LDL cholesterol. There are various ways to incorporate this into your diet. You can add it to your tea, put it on your morning oatmeal, even take cinnamon capsules.

Several studies suggest that cinnamon may have a regulatory effect on blood sugar, making it especially beneficial for people with Type 2 diabetes and in some studies, cinnamon has shown an amazing ability to stop medication resistant yeast infections. Always check with your Dr. before adding any herbals to your daily routine. Even though they are "natural" they can have interactions with any medications you are taking or irritate allergies you may have.

Did you know that cinnamon was one of the first known spices? The Romans believed cinnamon's fragrance sacred and burned it at funerals. Because cinnamon was one of the first spices sought in the 15th century European explorations, some say it indirectly led to the discovery of America.

The essential oil and its fragrance help relax tight muscles, ease painful joints, and relieve menstrual cramps. In addition, it increases circulation and sweating when used as a liniment. Use 2 to 4 drops per ounce of vegetable oil for a warming oil or 8 drops per ounce to make a hot liniment.

Cinnamon also has magical properties including: Purifying, healing, empowering, protective. Stimulates visions, strengthens focus, attracts wealth, love and harmony. It opens the root chakra, and aids in connecting with guides. Associated with the Element of Fire.

Cinnamon can also be an irritant so be careful if you are using the oil.

Homemade Cinnamon Tea
Ingredients:
1 cinnamon stick
1 cup of boiling water
1 regular or decaffeinated black teabag (or use loose tea if you have it)

1. Place the cinnamon stick in a cup.

2. Add the boiling water and steep covered for 10 minutes.

3. Add the teabag. Steep for one to three minutes.

4. Sweeten to taste, if desired.

Brighten Up Your Tea Time With Sunflowers...

No flower can lift spirits quite like sunflowers can. If you are longing for spring, yet in your part of the country it won't be warming up for a couple months yet, this is the perfect gift for yourself or the tea lover in your life. Handmade, the cozy will keep your tea hot for hours. The tea wallet is perfect for carrying your favorite teas to work or on outings. For more information and to see this item click here.

Crockpot Apple Coconut Crisp

Yes, here I am again with another crockpot recipe! I'm sure I am one of it's biggest fans! Put this together and you'll have a great dessert at the end of a long day. This is actually placed in a casserole dish and then placed in the crockpot, using the crockpot as your mini oven.

Ingredients:
4 large Granny Smith apples, peeled & coarsely sliced (about 4 cups)
1/2 cup sweetened flaked coconut
1 tablespoon flour
1/3 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup butterscotch or caramel ice cream topping (fat-free is fine)
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/3 cup flour
1/2 cup quick rolled oats
2 tablespoons butter or margarine (I use I Can't Believe It's Not Butter cubes)

Directions:

1. In a casserole 1 1/2-quart baking dish that fits in your slow cooker/Crockpot, combine apples with coconut, 1 tablespoon flour, 1/3 cup brown sugar, and cinnamon. Drizzle with the ice cream topping.

2. Combine remaining ingredients in a small bowl with a fork or pastry cutter and sprinkle over apple mixture.

3. Cover and cook on high for 2 1/2 to 3 hours, until apples are tender. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream or whipped topping.

Natural Garden Pesticide Recipe

We've had rain here in Southern California this past week, and I can't wait to see my flowers burst forth in happiness from it! I have spring fever and luckily, here in our area, I won't have to wait until May to start working in the garden. My little roses are already forming buds and the aphids are already attacking them!

In the past I have not used sprays on my plants. I feed the birds and had hoped they would each choose at least one insect to eat per day to repay me for my kindness! It was not to be. Everything in my little garden lives in harmony, year after year after year. If I didn't know better, I'd think I had the same grasshopper (it's size is a testament to how much he likes my plants)the same snails, the same aphids etc. I know I have the same birds and they all have names. When I attempted to grow tomatoes the year before last, the caterpillars were such that they prompted their own post on my blog! They were gigantic!

This year, I have to get these insects under control. I want lovely plants but not the toxins. I want to persuade the insects and even Jiminey (the cricket) to visit other gardens in the neighborhood. I found this recipe for a natural garden pesticide and will be testing it out.

In a blender puree:
4 onions
2 cloves garlic
2 tablespoons cayenne pepper
1 quart water (1 liter)
Set the mixture aside. Now dilute 2 tablespoons soap flakes in 2 gallons (7.5 liters) water. Pour in the contents from your blender, shake or stir well, and you have a potent, environment-friendly solution to spray on your plants.

Provencal Tomato Rice Soup Recipe

I first posted this recipe in January of last year, and since it is again soup weather, I thought it would be great for a repost. Both dried and fresh Provencal herbs enhance tangy tomatoes in this wonderfully flavored soup. Rice cooked directly in the vegetable broth gives off just enough starchiness to thicken the consistency.

Ingredients:
3 tablespoons olive oil
2 onions, chopped
1 carrot, diced
1 rib celery, chopped
3 cloves garlic, pressed
2 teaspoons orange zest
½ teaspoon dried thyme
½ teaspoon fennel seeds, crushed
2 tablespoons tomato paste
3 cups water
1 28oz can petite-diced tomatoes
1 ½ cups chicken stock
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon granulated sugar
¼ cup white rice
1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
2 tablespoons fresh basil, chopped
Preparation:
In a large saucepan over medium heat, sauté onions, carrot, celery, garlic, orange zest, thyme, and fennel seed for 5 minutes, until the vegetables start to become tender. Add tomato paste and water, whisking until the tomato paste is fully incorporated. Stir in canned tomatoes, chicken stock, salt, pepper, sugar, and rice. Simmer for 15-20 minutes, until rice is tender. Stir in parsley and basil and serve hot.

Makes 8 servings.

Remove Rust From Knives...

With an onion! No, your eyes did not deceive you! You can forget about using steel wool or harsh chemicals. The next time you spy a little rust on your knives try this trick. Plunge your rusty knife into a large onion three or four times. If it's very rusty you will have to add a few more jabs. First, the juice from the onion will help loosen the rust. Second, the action of rubbing the now juiced rust stain against the onion will help rub the rust out. With most rust stains, one onion will remove all of the rust from your knife.

Make Your Own Leg Wax...

Women’s pursuit of smooth, hairless skin has been a beauty constant for centuries. Did you know that in ancient Egypt, women applied hot wax and strips of gauze to their legs and after it hardened, they ripped the wax and hairs away, paving the way for today’s waxing procedures?

In Elizabethan times the Queen herself, along with all the ladies of the court, began plucking the hair from the top of their foreheads in order to make their foreheads appear higher and “nobler.” During the Victorian era, particularly in the United States, women’s fashions dictated the removal of hair from both legs and underarms.

You can make your own leg wax by using the following recipe...

2 cups granulated sugar
1/4 cups cold tap water
1/4 cup lemon juice
2 drops of essential lavender oil

Place the sugar, water and lemon in a small saucepan. Mix and bring to a boil. Cook until the mixture is at the "softball" stage or about 250 degrees on a candy thermometer. Remove from heat and allow it to cool, then pour into a jar and store in a cool dry location.

When ready to use just spread on legs and let dry. Quickly peel it off and your legs will be smooth as silk!

Eat Your Carrots...

Before tasting carrot soup I have to admit I didn't think I'd like it. I like carrots but in a liquid form? I just wasn't sure. Then I visited a local French restaurant and noted it was the soup of the day. I decided to be adventurous and give it a try. Besides, the bread that came along with it was enough for me to throw caution to the wind! I loved it! It instantly became one of my favorites and it's so healthy. If you like carrots, give this recipe a try. I would bet you will love it as much as I do!

Ingredients:
1 tbsp olive oil
1 lb sliced carrots
2 cups low sodium vegetable broth
1/4 tsp ground thyme
1 bay leaves
1 tsp frozen orange juice concentrate
1 pinch black pepper
1/2 tsp fresh ginger root ,grated
1 cup fat free milk
1 tbsp chopped parsley

Directions:
1 Heat the oil in a nonstick saucepan. Cook the carrots for 10 minutes, stirring frequently. Mix in the stock and bring just to a boil.
2 Stir in the thyme, bay leaf, orange juice, pepper, and ginger root. Decrease the heat and simmer for 8 minutes. Remove any froth that forms. Discard the bay leaf.
3 Pour the soup into a blender in batches and blend each batch until smooth.
4 Put the soup back in the saucepan. Add the milk and cook for approximately 12 minutes, stirring often. Sprinkle the parsley on top.

Serve hot or chilled.

Old Fashioned Cleaning Tip...

Here's a tip you'll find handy if you have aluminum pans. If you find yourself with a burnt bottom on your saucepan pour some water in it and add an onion. Set it to boil and you will soon find that all the burnt matter will loosen and come to the top, leaving the saucepan clear and bright again.

Mouthwatering Macaroon Cookies...Diabetic Recipe!

Macaroon cookies are a favorite of mine, and if you love them too, give this recipe a try! It is a diabetic recipe I found that rivals any macaroon you could come across. Perfect for your afternoon tea or coffee.

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cup flaked sweetened coconut
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup white all purpose flour
1/4 tsp. salt
3 egg whites, room temperature
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp. almond extract

Preheat oven to 325°F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper or aluminum foil.

In medium bowl, use a rubber spatula or wooden spoon to combine coconut, sugar, flour and salt.

Stir in egg whites and extracts until well blended. Drop by rounded teaspoonful on prepared baking sheets.

Bake for 18-20 minutes, or until golden brown. Move cookies with parchment paper or foil and place on rack to cool.

When cool, remove from paper or foil and store in sealed container.

Nutritional Information: Per Serving— Calories: 21.6 Carbohydrates: 3.6g Protein: 0.4g Total Fat: 0.7g Saturated Fat: 0.7g Fiber: 0.3g Sodium: 25.2mg

How To Care For Your Vintage Accessories

I wrote this article last year but I thought it would be nice to repost it for my new readers. After all, we take so much time finding our treasures that we want to keep them nice once we get them home!

Your vintage ensemble would not be complete without the all important accessories. How you clean them largely depends on what material they are made of. Here are some tips on caring for some of your much loved vintage items.

Step 1- Brush hats with a hat brush (available at most hat stores). To remove blemishes from a felt hat, hold it over a steaming teakettle and brush the areas you wish to clean.

Step 2- Dry clean silk scarves or hand-wash in warm water with a mild detergent.

Step 3- Clean all leather accessories (such as purses and belts) with a leather cleaner and conditioner. Use a suede cleaner for suede, not a leather cleaner.

Step 4- Tapestry and petit point purses should be cleaned with dry suds only. Put 1/8 cup mild detergent in two cups of water and beat with a whisk or beater until suds form. Using a toothbrush or clean sponge, spread suds only onto purse. Wipe with a damp sponge.

Step 5- Fabric purses should be blotted clean with a clean cloth and cold water. Blot, do not rub.

Step 6- Hand wash gloves in a mild detergent such as Woolite in cool water.

Step 7- To whiten vintage lace collars, put them in a solution of 2/3 cup white vinegar to two cups cool water and soak for about an hour. Rinse in cool water and lay flat to dry, preferably in a sunny area.

Keeping Your Cutting Board Clean...

Everyone needs a cutting board and there are a few different types you can purchase. I prefer to have a wooden cutting board and I'm still using the one my son made for me in wood shop while he was in high school. Taking care of the board so that it will last for years is important so here are some tips.

First, buy the best board you can afford, unless you're lucky enough to have someone make one for you. Take care of it, and it is likely that your grandchildren will be using it. Even as they age, or especially as they age, good wooden cutting boards become more and more attractive. Before using a new butcher block, season it to prevent staining and absorption of food odors and bacteria. Proper surface treatment is important to guard against germs and/or mold growth on both new and older boards. The wood surface needs an oil that can be repeatedly applied to fill the wood pores and repel food particles, liquids, and oils. Never use any vegetable or cooking oils to treat or finish a cutting surface, as in time the wood will reek of a rancid spoiled oil odor.

USP grade mineral oil is a popular choice for treating cutting boards as it is the cheapest pure food-grade oil you can buy and mineral oil remains safe throughout it's life.

Here are some ways to keep your cutting board clean and sanitized for safe use:

Butcher Block
Minimize stains and cover scratches by rubbing mineral oil on surfaces. Mineral oil is odor-free and nontoxic.

Cutting Board
To disinfect and clean your wooden cutting boards or butcher block countertop, wipe them with full-strength white vinegar after each use. The acetic acid in the vinegar is a good disinfectant, effective against such harmful bugs as E. coli, Salmonella, and Staphylococcus. Vinegar is especially good for people with chemical allergies. Keep a spray bottle of undiluted vinegar handy for easy cleaning and sanitizing.

3% hydrogen peroxide can also be used as a bacteria-killer. To kill the germs on your cutting board, use a paper towel to wipe the board down with vinegar, then use another paper towel to wipe it with hydrogen peroxide.

Sprinkle sea salt on your board and cut a fresh lemon in half. Use the lemon to scrub the salt on the board. Lastly, rinse off the board. Lemon is a natural astringent and sanitizer. This method will take away any stains and leave a fresh, clean smell on the cutting board.

To rid cutting board of onion, garlic or fish smell, cut a lime or lemon in two and rub the surface with the cut side of the fruit.

Pour liquid bleach on the cutting board to clean and sanitize it. Rinse well, then apply a bit of mineral oil.

To make a stained cutting board look like new, mix a couple teaspoons of liquid bleach into a dishpan full of warm water. Scrub the board. Rinse the board several times with very hot water and apply a bit of mineral oil and allow to dry well.

Wooden boards need oiling or reseasoning once a week to seal the grain against bacteria. An oil finish helps to prevent the wood from cracking or pulling apart at the seams. One last natural method of cleaning a cutting board is to make an antibacterial spray. Mix 10 drops of lavender essential oil with 1 cup of water in a spray bottle. Shake the bottle to mix the ingredients. Then spray the contents on the cutting board to clean. Do not rinse.

Make sure to keep your board dry when not in use and prop it up for air circulation if possible.

Treat Yourself To The Aroma Of Lavender...

Hanged up in houses,
it doth very well attemper the aire,
coole and make fresh the place to the delight
and comfort of such as are therein.
~~By John Gerard, 1597.~~

The fragrance of lavender hangs in the air and soothes and tranquilizes the senses.
Did you know that Queen Victoria was a great enthusiast in the use of lavender? She appointed Miss Sarah Sprules “ Purvey of Lavender Essence to the Queen.”

Lavender was very fashionable among the ladies of the Victorian Era and they would purchase it from street sellers. Fresh lavender was dried and put into muslin bags for wardrobes, used to wash walls and furniture and lavender bags were stuffed between sheets in linen presses. Lavender was used to repel inspects, treat lice, as a perfume and a potpourri, in furniture polish and soap and as a cure-all in household medicine cupboards. Smaller bags were made for young women to wear in their cleavage in hopes of attracting a suitor.

Add a muslin lavender bag to your dryer when drying your linens and sheets. It can be used up to 25 times before the scent has faded and you need a new bag. (Note: remove lavender from the decorative colored bags and place in muslin bags or you will stain your laundry items...use muslin bags only for the dryer)

Use of the lavender sachets deters moths and protects your clothes as well as scenting them. You can also lay sprigs in drawers and chests or hang them in the airing cupboard.

Click here to view our lavender items.

Breakfast The Night Before...

I was browsing through my recipes to share with you and came across this one. This dish is made easier by mixing it the night before so you can enjoy a leisurely morning. It makes a great addition to a brunch buffet as well.

Ingredients:
1 pound bulk, fresh pork sausage, mild or spicy-hot as desired
8 slices bread, cubed
2 cups cubed cheddar cheese (8 ounces)
4 large eggs
2 1/2 cups milk
3/4 teaspoon dry mustard
1 (10.75-ounce) can condensed or golden cream of mushroom soup
1/2 cup milk

Cook sausage in large skillet until brown, breaking up with wooden spoon; drain. Pat sausage dry with paper towels.

Grease 9 x 13-inch baking dish. Place bread cubes in baking dish. Sprinkle cubed cheddar cheese over bread. Sprinkle sausage over cheese.

Combine eggs, 2 1/2 cups milk and dry mustard in medium bowl; mix with mixer or fork until well mixed. Pour egg mixture over layered mixture in baking dish. Cover with plastic wrap. Refrigerate for 8 to 24 hours.

Heat oven to 300°F (150°C).

Stir together cream of mushroom soup and 1/2 cup milk in small bowl. Pour over mixture in baking dish. Place baking dish on baking sheet and bake, uncovered, about 1 1/2 hours or until center is set when baking dish is slightly jiggled. Let stand for 10 minutes before serving.
Makes approx 8 servings.