Sore Throat Remedy

Sore Throats are the pits!  But this cool little remedy is a goodie to keep on hand through the winter months.  So soothing, so lovely!  

Ingredients:

1 lemon, sliced into thin slices

a few thin slices of ginger (I use 2, you can use more if you're a big fan)

Organic honey

Directions:

Combine in a jar, and refrigerate.  It will become a jelly-like substance.  When needed, take one teaspoon out, put into a cup, and cover with boiling water.  Mix, let cool a little,  and drink! Stores 1-3 months.

Heart burn/Acid Reflux Remedy

In a perfect world all people would be the same, and each bodily malfunction would be treated the same.... but this is not a perfect world, and unfortunately each person is different.  So while this remedy works for most, if you have an odd issue causing your acid reflux, this may not work.
Did you know that medications like Nexium and Prilosec are the most prescribed medications on the planet? ! The idea behind most of these medications, including Tums and the like, is too inhibit, or stop acid production in the stomach, but come to find out, less acid is not what we need!  Actually a high percentage of Acid Reflux, or GERD (Gastro Esophageal Reflux Disease) is caused by a lack of acid production in the gut.  So if you're taking these medications, you could be exaggerating the problem.  There's a tender balance of acids and alkalines in the gut, and disturbing that can cause a burn like the fires of Gahanna!  Try replacing the acid with a citric acid.

Ingredients: 1 Lemon

Directions:
Cut lemon into 4 pieces
Squeeze once piece into your mouth and swallow juice, and then eat the "meat" of that piece
Discard the peel
Feel the burn! (current erosion in the esophagus will make itself known by burning while swallowing the lemon juice
Wait 5 to 10 minutes
If your problem is lack of acid production, your heart burn or acid reflux will be gone within minutes

To reduce Heartburn and acid reflux stay away from vinegar... that includes condiments like ketchup, mustard, and salad dressing!  Coffee and carbonated beverages exacerbate the pain also.

Eye Stye Remedy

Oh the joys of having a giant inflamed stye on your eye.  I mean nothing screams I'm confident and ready to face the world like a giant pulsating interference on your face!  Okay, so how to move on with your life?  The natural remedies encyclopedia and many other credible sources say that a potato has an incredible quality about it that pulls the stye to the surface and speeds healing.  Early treatment is best.

Ingredients:
1 raw potato
1 gauss cloth or folded napkin
Your joyful face

Directions:
On a cutting board, cut a small piece of your potato off, about the size of the tip of your thumb (from the knuckle to the tip)
Put the rest in a ziplock and refrigerate for later
With a very sharp knife, cut the small piece into the tiniest pieces imaginable, you want to make this into a puree... so chop away, until it just a bunch of juicy mush
Put the mush on your cloth and put directly on the stye or area that feels like it's becoming a stye
Hold it there while you relax and pout
This needs to be replaced with a new "poultice" every two hours
Keep this in place as much as you can throughout the day

I haven't personally tried this, but there are many that swear by it.  If you get styes often, you need to be washing your face every night (removing eye makeup) and consider buying new mascara more often.  Clogged pores are usually the culprit.

Diaper Rash Remedy

Diaper rash is usually caused by exposure to urine and feces, and lack of oxygen. It can also be caused by yeast (candida), or chemical burn.  I recently found out about all of the harsh and dangerous chemicals in baby wipes, so if you have done all you can, and your baby still has a sore and red bottom, consider using a wet napkin, or cloth instead of store bought wipes.  There are also all natural recipes for wipes you can find on the internet, like my favorite by wellnessmama.  But, if your baby has just the everyday diaper rash, clean them up really well, and just let that hiney get some air!  Lay them on a pee pad or towel for their nap, or overnight with no diaper on.  You may have a small mess to clean up, but the redness will miraculously disappear with just of few hours of air exposure.  After you've aired out those cheeks, opt for a simple, edible grade product to keep the buns dry.  Try using cornstarch from the baking aisle instead of perfumed baby powder.  All of those chemicals are not necessary, and they do more harm than good.  Traditional store bought diaper rash ointment is filled with harmful ingredients also, and has been proven to cause nerve damage.  Zinc oxide is the ingredient that is helpful to healing.  It can be purchased online without additives, if you feel your baby needs a strong ointment.  I have used a product called "Dream Creme" from Kabana skin care, which is made with edible grade oils and Zinc oxide.  It's terrible that companies will put out hurtful products to make a buck, but we as parents must be the diligent ones, protecting our babies from all that we can.

Delectable Fruit Roll

Yes, I use Pillsbury a lot, give me a break, I have a three year old and a nine month old!  But even if I didn't, I'd still be inclined to use these recipes.... they're just unbelievably good! This is perfect for your breakfast entree, or for brunch, and social gatherings that involve lattes and hot cocoa. This sensation, just happened to come together after looking at a similar concoction in "Seven Secrets".  It's hard to believe that there is no added sweetener in this rich roll.  It is definitely a crowd pleaser, and it's pretty easy too. She's not the most beautiful entree, but she's a winner.

Ingredients:

1 can Pillsbury Crescent Rolls

1.5 Cups Date Pieces

1/4 Cup Dried berries (I use the great value brand from walmart)

2 Cups water

Directions: (photos posted below)

Put your dates in the blender

Boil 2 cups of water, and pour over dates until covered

Let sit for 5 to 7 minutes to soften

Pour off water until the tops of the dates are visible

Blend smooth, add water a little at a time if needed to blend

Roll out Crescent roll flat on an oiled cookie sheet

Spoon date spread onto crescent dough and smooth evenly 

Sprinkle dried berries onto date spread

Roll up crescent roll like a tootsie roll

Bake 15 minutes COVERED on 350 degrees

Then uncover and bake 20 minutes or until golden tan

Remove from oven and slice into about 6 portions with a sharp knife (careful, don't push down hard, or you'll mush out all of the filling... use a sawing motion gently)

Serve warm, freezes well for later!

Cover dates with hot water

Spoon onto dough, and spread evenly

Sprinkle dried berries evenly

Roll up like a tootsie roll, cover and bake

Slice with a sharp knife (don't push too hard! Use sawing motion)  The pre-made perforations will sometimes detach, but that's okay, it doesn't hurt the taste :)

 I like to serve two portions on each person's plate, that way they don't have to get up for seconds, they will definitely want more.  Enjoy!

Homemade Peanut Butter

This really isn't too much of a recipe, it's more of a short process.  I absolutely love peanut butter, and I've made it two ways.  One: you have to have a high-powered blender, like the Vita-Mix, or two:  you have to have a juicer, like a champion juicer.  This may very well work in a food processor, but I've never tried it, so you're on your own until I venture out that way :)  This is easy, and much healthier than those with hydrogenated oils, and high fructose corn syrup.  I keep mine in the refrigerator, but I don't know that it's necessary.

Ingredients:

2 Cups of roasted peanuts (salted or unsalted)

1 Tbs. of Agave nectar, maple syrup, or raw unheated honey (or regular, if you don't have it)

1/2 tsp. of salt (or more to taste)

1 tsp. carob powder (optional)

Directions:

Place all ingredients in your Vita mix and blend, pushing the peanut butter down with the wand (safety lid in place), until smooth and creamy

If using a champion juicer, put all ingredients in a bowl, mix until well coated, and spoon into juicer, pressing as you would fruits and vegetables. (using the solid plate, instead of a screen)

Have your storage container ready on the other end!

Super Fast Blueberry Cobbler

If you know anything about blueberry cobbler, the last thing you think of is "super fast".  I personally, think of super slow, country, made from scratch, sat in the kitchen window to cool.  But this southern girl doesn't have time for that, most of the time.  Every now and then, you're hit with an impromptu invite to a social gathering, and oddly enough when you ask "what should I bring?" the answer is always the same, "bring a dessert".  That's been my experience anyway.  Super-fast and Vegan are rarely mentioned in the same sentence, at least until you've got this thing down to a science and have perfected the skill of baking in bulk.  One day while scrambling to come up with a dessert that wouldn't ruin my reputation, or make us an unfashionable 2 hours late, I threw together 2 pre-made ingredients, that just so happened to become the life of every social gathering.   I've promised and delayed for long enough.  Here is the secret to my super fast, super splendid, blueberry cobbler!

Ingredients:

2 cans of Pillsbury crescent rolls

1 can of pre-made blueberry pie filling (make sure it doesn't contain Gelatin! I use Lucky brand)

Directions:

In a medium sized, oiled, casserole dish, roll out one can of dough

Open your can of pie filling and pour onto dough, spread even with the back of a spoon

(Add additional blueberries if you want it really full, like pictured)

Roll out second can of dough on top of filling

Bake for 20-25 minutes, until golden tan

I use this dessert to entertain guest, except to make it exceptional, I serve it hot with a dollop of vegan ice cream on top.  Make you wanna slap somebody!