Solution For Stubborn Green Tomatoes

After going to all the work of cultivating, planting, weeding, watering...and all the rest that goes into a good harvest, it can be decidedly discouraging when those lovely green tomatoes never ripen and turn red.

This has happened to me several times.  Fortunately I have a 96 year old gardener friend who clued me into the simple solution to my discouraging tomato patch. Over the years, I have tried this and it has worked everytime.

Recipe for success:

1. 2 Tablespoons Epsom Salt (will not harm you or your plants)
2. 1 gallon warm water
3. Combine and stir until dissolved 
4. Pour over the soil and around the roots of the plant

NOTE: this recipe is per plant

For more gardening tips with epsom salt, I found this post helpful:  click HERE

 With love and gratitude,
  

Each of us lead a life filled with miracles, we just need to pause and see them! What's new and good with you?

Recipe for How to Grow Organic Worm-Free Apples, Cherries, and Pears

I've used this recipe for years. The result is much better than pesticides.

Worm-Free Apples, Cherries, Pears

• Using a cleaned out 1 gallon milk jug, cut a hole about the size of a small egg just below the milk jugs shoulder.  This can easily be done if you first put hot water in the jug and shake it around until the sides get warm.  Empty out water and cut hole with a sharp knife. 

Recipe:

1 cup cider vinegar

1/3 cup dark molasses

                        1/2 teaspoon ammonia

                        Add enough water to make 1 1/2 quarts liquid

Parable Of The Sower - Part 1: Introduction

 

I've decided to do an in-depth study comparing:

1. Parable of the Sower - Matthew 13:1-23 (see also Mark 4:1-9, Luke 8:4-15)
2. Lehi's Vision - Nephi 8, 11
3. Zenos's allegory of the tame and wild olive trees - Jacob 5

How Getting Back into the Kitchen with Your Spouse Could Save Your Marriage

Getting back into the kitchen with your spouse can be a fun adventure. It will bring spice to your marriage, compliment each others unique cooking skills or lack of cooking skills, and bring you closer together.

When I married Lance, my cooking skills were extremely pitiful. What made it worse was his mother was an amazing cook. I struggled for years and years (and years) to learn how to cook. I wanted to please my husband, but failed more than succeeded. 

GMO's - Genetically Modified Organisms

photo source 

Just what are GMO’s and why are they causing such a ruckus? 

It seems that eating healthy is getting more and more difficult. First it was organic vs non-organic and now it’s GMO vs non-GMO. If there is one thing I’ve learned, it’s not to put my complete confidence in the FDA or any other agency where monetary gain or power gain are the controlling motivation. I know this can sound kind of cynical, but I promise I am not a cynical person.  I believe in being well informed and abreast of what is best for me and my loved ones. 

Add More Greens to Your Diet

 

Spring is in the air...

I enjoy this time of year because planting my organic garden is so refreshing. The thoughts of harvesting straight from my own garden and eating the freshest of the fresh sends my taste buds in to hyper-drive! 

Green is associated with Spring, the time of rebirth, revitalizing and refreshing energy.

Crisp, fresh, dark leafy greens are great! They are fat-free, low-carb, raw, gluten-free and vegan. Greens are full of nutrients, vitamins and are great for:

• lifting the spirit
• purifying the blood after a long winter
• improve cirvcilation
• strengthening the immune system 

No matter what dietary plan you are following, greens will fit in perfectly! Greens are such a blessing for our bodies. God knows what we need!

Adding these delicious veggies to our daily diet is important. Sometimes we start out with good intentions, but then we get bogged down with so many other distractions. When we get hungry, we grab something easy and convenient.  Thankfully, there are some quick ways to get more of these delicious greens into our daily meals and snacks.

Age Well

Recently I was on the phone with my website tech support. While we were waiting for a glitch to work out, we started visiting and I asked him what his biggest health concern is. (I know, I can't help myself.)

His response was one I hear often - "I'm getting older, and my joints are starting to hurt. I'm worried about getting old and being in a lot of pain."  The main difficulty I hear from people is they want to keep living and eating the way they are but they don't want their bodies to deteriorate....this doesn't work. If a person is noticing sore joints, weight gain, brain fog + , then their body is telling them to make changes and make them soon!

Our body is a fine tuned organism...but just like a fine tuned car, if we don't  keep in maintained, it's going to start sputtering and finally end up in the junk yard.

The good news is - Life expectancy is UP!

Psychology of Eating – Why Diets Don’t Work - How to Successfully and Permanently Lose Weight

Do you know that weight loss is directly affected by your bodies nervous system? Sounds crazy, but it’s true and I’ll explain how…

Got Dairy?

I was raised in the 'old school' when drinking milk was recognized as the only source for calcium...

"Drink your milk, so your bones will grow big and  strong." 

Back then, dairy was raw and nutritious. It came from grass fed cows that grazed in the fresh air and pastures.

Now we live in an era when dairy is pasteurize, homogenized and 98-100% of the cream has been removed. This brings up a very controversial question: 

Gluten Intolerance and Gluten Sensitivity

 

I grew up on spaghetti and fresh baked bread. So many fond memories are tied up in these foods. As I got married and my family began to grow, we ate a lot of pasta dishes and made tons and tons of fresh baked whole wheat bread. I loved to have my kids come in the house to the smell of fresh baked bread. We would sit at the table, slice the warm loaf and smother it with butter and honey. It was delicious.
 

Gradually, I began noticing that my inflammation was worse after such delicious indulgences. I went in to total denial. I loved my whole wheat pancakes, breads, oatmeal cereal, and pasta.  Finally I had to accept the fact that I am gluten sensitive….totally NOT fun.

So, what exactly is gluten?

Chew Your Food

 

How often do we sit down to a delicious meal only to get up 10 minutes later and realize we didn't even taste the food?  Not only that, but we are hungry again in just a few short hours.

One of the first 'quick fixes' for poor nutrition and poor digestion is chewing your food. Chewing each bite 30-100 times is best. Wow! Who chews their food 100 times? I must confess that I don't. Usually 30-50 chews per-bite is enough for me. There are those who do chew 100 times though...something to think about!

We live in a society that demands everything to be fast. We even have Fast Food.

Fast food is just that - usually eaten fast (less nutritional absorption), and then in no time at all we're hungry again and feel like we've been fasting all day. Our society is literally overweight and nutritionally starved.

Relieve Stress With These Simple Breathing Tips

Deep breathing activates the parasympathetic nervous system (the one that calms us down.) How we breath can trigger this built-in stress reliever for immediate, positive effects.

Benefits of conscious breathing -

Top Five Prevention Tips for Optimal Mental And Brain Health

I am a woman who is 54 years old. I feel healthier and more vibrant now than I did when I 30.

At age 28 my health began spirally down and down, until I eventually found myself in a wheelchair and sleeping over 18 hours a day. Brain fog and pain were my constant companions. 

4 Simple Steps to Help You Detox

"All disease begins in the gut" ~ Hippocrates

Are you suffering from all the rich holiday foods?

Bloating  HEADACHES    brain fog 

Mood Swings   lack of consentration   low energy 

Here are my favorite tips on how to detox and start feeling better today!

3 Simple Steps to Stop the Sugar Overload Guilt Trips

The holidays are supposed to bring feelings of love, excitement, and charity. But most of the time we are having such a fierce battle with feelings of guilt from eating too many sweets, that the good feelings of the holiday can get pushed aside.

But, you CAN beat the guilt trips and bring back the holiday cheer with these 3 simple steps.

Winter Warming Recipe Fest - Soothing Cinnamon Whip

This is my all time favorite warm drink. I don't care much for hot chocolate and I don't drink coffee. In fact, my Soothing Cinnamon Whip is a great alternative to your morning coffee - especially if your loooking for a healthy alternative.

I chose the title for this beverage for a special reason. This drink has soothing properties yet it doesn't put me to sleep. It's calming affects helps the body relax and create more focused energy. 

Enjoy my delicious Soothing Cinnamon Whip recipe all year long!

 All my best to you,

Warming Winter Recipe Fest - Lip Smacking Vegetable Soup

Soups are one of the best foods for warming your soul on cold wintry days. Combining liquids with hearty vegetables, keeps you feeling full longer.  For the same reason, soups are also recommended for successful weight loss.

My Lip Smacking Vegetable Soup uses colorful veggies that are packed with nutrients. It's warming affect on your body will also help you keeped balanced and grounded. Cook up a bowl and enjoy!

All my best to you,

Warming Winter Recipe Fest - Autumn Harvest Bake

Using my own homegrown garden produce is so satisfying

• I know it's organic.
• I know I'm feeding my family the best!
• No GMO's in my garden.
• I choose the produce varieties I ♥ best (not dependent on what the grocery store chooses to market).
• I get the satisfaction of self-reliance.
• I get inspired to create new, healthy delicious recipes using my garden produce - like my 'Autumn Harvest Bake'

Warming Winter Recipe Fest - Pinto Bean Chili

Have you ever had a delicious bowl of chili only to have it sit like a rock in your stomach?

I love chili but not the after affects of the beans. After experimenting with 5 different beans, I found pinto beans were mild, and gentle on the digestive tract.

The blustery, cold days are upon us and my recipe for Pinto Bean Chili will give your body the protein it needs to keep warm.

Warming Winter Recipe Fest - Pumpkin Smoothie

For the next 5 days I'll be sharing my favorite new recipes and the story behind each recipe.

Today's recipe is my Pumpkin Smoothie