DIY Garden Projects, Yummy Recipes, & Crafty Goodness
To be able to grow citrus in my climate is a dream. A dear friend passed on a tiny yuzu sprout that he started from seed that I have tucked away in my herb bed hoping for some of this deliciously sour and fragrant Japanese fruit, albeit many, many years from now. This month on the pages of Martha Stewart Living there is an article about stylish California citrus grower, Alta Tingle, discussing her passion for all things lime.
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Please welcome guest blogger and author, Erica Kerwien, to share with us a recipe from her new book, Cooking for the Specific Carbohydrate Diet: Over 100 Easy, Healthy, and Delicious Recipes that are Sugar-Free, Gluten-Free, and Grain-Free. Her book is said to be the most comprehensive and delicious cookbook on the topic. This full-color book has over 100 recipes that will satisfy an entire family–not just those members who follow the Specific Carbohydrate Diet.
Oh, and check out how to win a copy of Erica’s book at the end of the recipe!
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Several years ago my oldest son was diagnosed with Crohn’s, which is an auto-immune disease that affects all or part of the digestive system. At times it can be very challenging to eat and maintain proper nutrition. In my search to help my son, I heard about a special diet (called the Specific Carbohydrate Diet, or SCD) used by people who have Celiac disease, Crohn’s and other digestive issues. I started a food blog, Comfy Belly, to share recipes so that others could benefit from my ideas and I would now have a reserve of recipes to use.
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Infused sugar smells divine, tastes decadent, and makes a beautiful gift. I made up three recipes to share over at the My Own Ideas blog:
Vanilla Spice,
Making bath bombs can be a really fun project and save a few bucks but like many things it is an art that develops over time. I have made my fair share of them. I have soaked my troubles away and enjoyed giving them as gifts.
Sea salt infused with lemon and rosemary makes a great addition to chicken or lamb dishes. I also like it in grain dishes like quinoa and since I’m eating mostly vegetarian these days, it’s fun to have it to spice up a salad or a roasted veggie dish.
Gardening in a small space sometimes leaves me feeling envy for the the expansive veggie gardens and fruit orchards that I seem to see on endless magazine pages and websites. My new home doesn’t have much room for a backyard garden and not a lick of room for one in the front. I have to pick and choose what I want to grow very carefully, be it things I love but are hard to find at the market, or veggies that just taste a whole lot better when picked fresh. I was just thinking about this today as I get ready to start my vegetable seeds and then I read an article in Martha Stewart Living’s March 2013 issue about professional forager, Tama Matsuoka Wong. Fascinating!
Photo: colinclarkphoto.com
I’ve often been interested in foraging, and have certainly gone on my fair share of mushroom hunts, but this is a great way to augment my limited garden production. I love that Tama not only collects a variety of wild edibles for restaurants but also teaches school children this skill. Tama has a new book out, Foraged Flavor: Finding Fabulous Ingredients in Your Backyard or Farmer’s Market (Clarkson Potter, 2012), that I’ll be rushing to pick up. Particularly when I can see the range of edibles she describes.
Photo: colinclarkphoto.com
Please welcome guest blogger, Michelle Pino, from Skana Spa who has stopped by today to share an all-natural recipe for an avocado and carrot face mask.
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A Fresh Face For Your Valentine
Are you feeling a little less fresh-faced than usual? The brisk air from winter can leave your skin and face feeling dry and dreary. With Valentines Day right around the corner you may need a little something to get you feeling rejuvenated and confident without spending a ton of money. Or hey, maybe you just need a little pick me up. I have a wonderful, all natural face mask recipe that might be just what you are looking for- it’s easy, it’s cheap and it will feel GREAT! This recipe will be good for one use.
Ugh, it’s cold a flu season. And a rotten cold is why I haven’t been around as much. I suppose it’s not a terrible time of year to snuggle in a watch about 20 movies (give or take) but when you are hit hard and need a little relief from chest pain and cough there is nothing like camphor and menthol, otherwise known as the active ingredients in Vick’s Vapo Rub.
Always one to make the most natural of just about anything (check out the Natural Skincare Series for more natural recipes), I thought that making my own might be just what the doctor ordered. If you would like to make a nice natural version of the stuff, here is the recipe. This makes 3 x 4 oz tins. [Read more...]
My recipe for Christmas Morning Granola packed with pecans, cranberries and coconut is posted today at the My Own Ideas blog. It makes a healthy breakfast choice for holidays laden with rich food and too much drink. Top 1/3 cup of Greek yogurt with 3/4 cup homemade granola for a filling breakfast or a healthful treat.
It’s around this time of year, when I the vegetable garden is gone to sleep for the year, that I depend on herbs for fresh favours. I grow such abundance that no matter how much I freeze and dry, I am always left with a whole bunch to give away. This year I thought of sharing herbs in a new way: flavored vinegars. Now my friends and family will have a bottle of my homegrown herbs to last them until next year, when the garden becomes lush and fruitful again.
