Make a Cake Pan Organizer

It was a gradual thing. I used to have just one cookie sheet. Then there were assorted muffin tins, pizza pans, roasting pans, cooling racks and various square pans. Over time, the roomy cupboard that was supposed to hold them all turned into some sort of black hole that held onto whatever I wanted when I tried to extract it. My kitchen helpers began to just shove stuff into there, hoping it would all sort itself out. It never did.

In a futile effort to solve the problem, I purchased a cookie sheet organizer. It looked like this ----->

I had high hopes that this solved the issue and loaded it up with several pans. All I can tell you about this gadget is that it may work for dorm rooms, single girls or show homes, but it wasn't very practical for my space. It wasn't long before the adjustable wire shelves got shoved around and came loose. My helpers were back to tossing things wherever they fit, but now they had to work around the wire tentacles of the pan "organizer." I had to fight with the wires that came loose to untangle my pans when I wanted them. This just wasn't working. Wire racks were not an option.

I did a search for how to build a cookie sheet organizer and didn't find a lot. What did catch my eye were some magazine holders for a bookshelf. If I could match the dimensions to my shelf space and build it out of sturdy wood, one of these must might work. Off to the storage area I went and found some 1 x 2's and 1/4 sheet of 1/2" ply-board.

I measured the opening to my cabinet: its height and width. Then I measured the depth. With the help of some basic math, I cut out the bottom, back, sides and dividers -- enough for five spaces. One important item to remember in this step is to allow for the width of the board so that you don't end up with something that is just 1/2" too high or wide or deep.

Back in the storage area I located some brown paint. I painted all of the pieces prior to construction. The hardest part was holding things in place while screwing it together. Pilot holes had to be drilled to prevent splitting. I toyed with the idea of making this part of a sliding shelf, but the hardware would have taken away from storage space (and made my day a little longer), so that was out.

In the end, it isn't the prettiest thing in the world, but it is sturdy, makes good use of the space and prevents the kitchen staff from being able to toss things into a tangled pile.

*happy sigh*

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Olla Plant Watering System Saves Time & Water

Everyone gets thirsty during the hot summer months -- even your plants. An olla can help reduce your water usage and make gardening less time consuming. What is an olla? Simply stated, it is a ceramic pot. Ollas used for plant irrigation are unglazed.

This ancient form of plant irrigation uses seepage from buried pots to deliver a steady supply of water beneath the ground. The vessel is placed in a hole and covered with soil, leaving the opening above soil. The olla is then filled with water and covered with a lid. The permeable properties of the unglazed pot will then allow water to gradually seep through its sides into the surrounding ground. Plants are placed in the ground near the pot. As long as the olla is kept filled with water, the plant has water at its roots.

Four benefits of using olla irrigation pots are:

* The pots don't clog or lose water to evaporation as other systems can.

* Plants aren't overwatered as they only draw as much water as they need.

* Water usage is greatly reduced.

* Gardeners don't have to be on hand for frequent watering.

Ollas retail for around $27 for a large pot. However, you can make one yourself for about a third of that cost -- or FREE if you have the materials on hand!

You will need two unglazed terracotta flower pots that are the same size, one 4" pot, duct tape, Gorilla glue and silicone waterproof sealant.

Place duct tape over the drain hole of one of the larger pots. Use a caulking gun to fill the hole with silicone sealant. Wet the lip of one pot and apply the glue. Invert one pot on top of the other.

Moisten the bottom of the 4" pot with water and glue it on top of the pot with the OPEN drain hole, making SURE the holes are aligned.

Wrap these with duct tape for stability and allow to cure overnight. The glue will expand.

The next day, remove the tape and scrape any excess glue from the sides. Check the top drain holes and make sure they are still opened. If the glue has expanded to close the hole, you'll need to ream it back open using the narrow end of a file.

Your homemade olla now looks like a space capsule. Apply silicone sealant to the seams at the middle and where the 4" pot joins the top.

Let this cure overnight. The next day, check for leaks by filling the pot. You will notice a pleasant glugging sound as it fills.

If there are leaks, use a pencil to mark the spots, invert the pot, let it drain, dry and re-apply sealant. Test again for leaks after this application cures.

Watch your filled pot and you will notice the terracotta changes color as the water permeates through the sides.

Another alternative is to bury a tall pot and use a

dinner plate as a lid. Here's a video demonstrating that method:

To use your olla, bury it leaving the 4" pot elevated above the ground. I painted the 4" section white to make it watertight and prevent any seepage from the above ground terracotta. A small saucer or large flat stone can be used to cover the opening, discouraging mosquitoes and preventing water loss. Here's a video demonstrating how to incorporate an olla in your garden.

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The DaVinci Road -- Blazing a Trail for Learning

Rebekah Anast brings her unique perspective to her newest book, The DaVinci Road. I half-expected to find tales of her jungle adventures, fun childhood, devotional gems, poetry or parenting tips. By the time I reluctantly turned the last page, I had not been disappointed. All of this and more are contained in The DaVinci Road.

The DaVinci Road expounds upon the learning method of observation to arrive at a conclusion. The author reflects upon her varied experiences and brings them into the classroom setting and beyond. Using DaVinci as her model, she encourages others to look and see the evidence for themselves. She urges all of us to continue to seek, to chase after the truth and to not grow complacent in that endeavor.

Her observations about life, children and academic instruction are sprinkled throughout along with some of her favorite recipes. She shares methods that have worked for her and others when dealing with a learning difficulty. The reader is left with a challenge to pursue the adventure that is this life with both eyes and ears wide open.

If you are interested in receiving a free ebook, here's the author and her husband with details on how this can be done.

NOTE: If you've got a computer and an Amazon account, you can use their Kindle application free. In other words you don't need a smartphone or some other personal electronic device (other than your computer) to read the book online. Here's the link for Kindle https://kindle.amazon.com/

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STOCKING UP ON SAVINGS -- ARE COUPONS WORTH THE EFFORT?

Keeping a well stocked pantry, medicine cabinet and a good supply of various household items on hand has long been recommended by various preparedness and survival experts. This strategy, however, can also be used to help save money and insulate your household from fluctuating prices.

The biggest hurdle that families on limited incomes have is that there just isn't that much disposable income with which to accumulate a stockpile of items. When you are thinking about getting the funds to acquire the tools to preserve and store food items -- and the foods also -- it can seem like an impossible task.

Instead of trying to do everything at once, I recommend you break it down into three gradual steps.

STEP ONE: Create a 'Buy Price List.'

This is a two-step process that involves writing down each item you purchase, the size and the price. If you are using paper, use a separate sheet for each major category. I use the following categories: Baking, Beverages, Bread, Canned Goods, Cleaning, Clothing, Condiments, Dairy, Dental, Grain/Dry Beans, Hair Care, Household Items (batteries, etc.), Kitchen Tools, Meat, Medicine/Supplements, Paper, Personal Care/First Aid, Pets, Produce, School & Office, Seasonings and Snacks.

There will be duplicate entries because you'll keep this up for about two to three months. Eventually, you will notice that there are times when you get a better price than others. On a separate sheet of paper, you'll write down each item you normally purchase and the best price or the 'Buy Price' for that item. An example would look like this:

Household Items -- Batteries -- AA Alkaline Batteries -- $.37 each -- $5.99 for pack of 16

This is important because your 'Buy Price List' tells you when prices have dropped to the best price for your area. When prices hit the range on your list, purchase enough to last you for 6 weeks or so. Why six weeks? Because retail stores have sales cycles that range from 6 to 8 weeks. You'll have enough of an item in your home to hold you over until it goes on sale again. This means that the same products you already purchase will (eventually) only be purchased by you when you see the price drop.

There are online sites that offer guidelines on what is considered the lowest price, but these seldom take into account things like organic vegetables and/or the ingredients that you might use if you make things from scratch. You'll want to make your own list in order to know when something like your favorite bulk herb or Bragg Apple Cider Vinegar is available for a good price.

Step Two: Combine your buy price with coupons.

I know. Food coupons often promote processed foods and less than healthy options. However, consider for a moment how many items come home in your shopping bag that aren't actually foods. You probably purchase clothing, hair products and accessories, toothbrushes, batteries, canning jars, storage bags, garbage bags, paper products, etc. By combining manufacturer coupons with sales prices, you can greatly reduce the cost of these items, leaving more money for the healthy foods you prefer.

Many stores offer store coupons in their sales fliers and on their web sites. These can be printed off at home and redeemed in the store. Most stores will allow you to use a store coupon AND a manufacturer coupon for the purchase of single item. My husband was able to use this strategy to purchase two loaves of sprouted grain bread. The store coupon and the manufacturer coupon actually totaled more than the cost of the bread. He went through the checkout and got paid to leave with some very healthy bread.

Step 3: Leverage your savings

Now that each dollar is being used to get products at lower prices, and you are stocking up on the items you regularly use, you should notice a drop in your spending. This can take a few months to kick in, but it will happen. Once this occurs, you'll have a little nest egg. Use that as seed money to invest in tools to increase your savings. Whether it's as small as a well-organized coupon book, or as large as a durable wheat grinder, tools like these pay for themselves.

Maybe you've been thinking about raising your own eggs with some backyard chickens, or you'd like to find a rock bottom price for some bulk grains, or you need to build a sturdy pantry -- whatever your needs, consider purchasing something that increases your ability to be self-sustaining and thereby further stretches your dollar.

Your savings will also allow you to collect items that would be a blessing to a family in need. Imagine how a basket of toiletries and cleaning products would be received by a family that had just lost their home. What you were able to collect for free (or nearly free) could be a great bounty to them.

If you are interested in learning more about how to effectively coupon, here are some resources I recommend:

Books & Couponing tools at Morrison's Mercantile

Southern Savers

Coupon Mom

The Krazy Coupon Lady

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SOME SAVING STRATEGIES

Getting quality ingredients that are packed with nutrition has become increasingly difficult on a tight budget. Finding someone to tell you how to keep expenses down can become even more confusing because every family has different needs and there are TONS of methods for saving on groceries.

So, what I will share in this article are a few things that work for me. These are not hard fast rules. I will not send the Learn and Live Well police to your home to check for violations. These are simply guidelines that I use which have proved helpful. Hopefully, there is enough here to help you get the most for your money.

Become a Low Price Expert
Your family's grocery shopper may not have a lot of influence over the household and food budget. Regardless of your circumstances, you can make yourself a student of pricing in your area. Knowing how much an item costs -- what is actually a good price and what isn't -- will make you a smart shopper. If you've only got $5 to spend, you may as well get the most out of your limited budget. One way to do this is to start a price comparison notebook. Give a separate page for each item you regularly purchase. Include cleaning products, snacks, toiletries and food. You can use your receipts, sales fliers or just walk the aisles of your favorite store and record the size and price of each item, along with brand name and a short description. Once you know what's a good price for an item, you can watch the notices for sales and make purchases when you see the price fall to that level.

Use Basic Ingredients
Another way to save money is to stop purchasing convenience items. Processed foods don't just compromise your health, they lower your bank balance. Learning how to organize your kitchen and cook from scratch isn't too overwhelming if you just begin with one thing at a time. Mastering one dish will encourage you to attempt more ambitious things. For instance, knowing how to make bread can lead to grinding your own grain which can lead to learning how to make your own tortillas and pasta . . . . all of which will be more nutritious and less costly than the name brand item you are purchasing now. I can get organic brown rice cheaper than the regular off the shelf version by knowing how to find it cheap, store it and prepare it.

Of course, this will change the items you purchase and your price comparison notebook will reflect the change. Instead of the best price on glass and surface cleaner, you'll want to know the best price on vinegar and baking soda. The good news is that you'll automatically be spending less by purchasing the ingredients AND you'll save more on top of this by finding the best price on those ingredients.

Invest in Local Farmers
It's one thing to tell everyone they should be eating farm fresh produce, but it's quite another to find a way to accomplish it in practice. Unless you have years of farming experience and plenty of acreage outside of a residential area, you may find the task a daunting one. Not everyone has the vision and abilities that Jules Dervaes has demonstrated by turning his little city lot into a working farmstead. (Check out the Dervaes' story on www.urbanhomestead.org you might be inspired to plant a tomato or two.)

Instead, you can do the next best thing. Consider purchasing shares in a local farm. Find farmers near you that are willing to allow you to invest in their farm. These are called CSA's which stands for Consumer Supported Agriculture. Using the web site www.localharvest.org we were able to find a farmer near us that had a good reputation and a wide variety of produce. After touring his farm (and meeting his lovely family), we agreed on a price and purchased shares in all three 7-week growing seasons in our area. In addition, we were able to make arrangements to purchase some beef in advance of processing. This required some up-front money, but it also insured that we would have weekly baskets of fresh produce and a freezer full of beef without a hint of pink slime. *blech!*

Purchase Bulk Dry Goods
Organic staples like dried beans, brown rice, wheat berries, grits, corn meal, etc. can be difficult to find at good prices. One way to make sure you have them on hand is to purchase them in bulk. These are often found in 25 pound bags or larger. The dry goods can be kept in a large freezer or at controlled room temperature in pest-proof containers. I've found that placing a bay leaf in containers keeps them weevil and bug free as well as placing them in wide-mouthed canning jars that I vacuum seal using a FoodSaver Vacuum Sealer using a Wide-Mouth Jar Sealer attachment. Combining this with a well built shelving unit has freed up my freezer space (for the beef I purchased from our CSA *smiles*).

Combine Coupons With Sales on Items You Use
There are a lot of web sites out there which tell you how to accomplish this. In fact, by making so many things from scratch you will already be beating most couponers in the low price game. However, when it comes to ANYTHING you buy off the rack -- from tires to toilet paper -- you can save some MAJOR money using coupons. One store near me sells organic canned vegetables for more than $1 per can. I wait until those same items go on sale for $.60 and then load up my cart with enough to keep the pantry full until the sale hits again. I use my customer loyalty card that gives me an additional discount on certain days and saves me money when my husband gets gas for the vehicles. For more discussion on whether coupons are worth your time, check our this post: STOCKING UP ON SAVINGS -- ARE COUPONS WORTH THE EFFORT?

Here are my three favorite sites for information on how to save money with coupons.

Southern Saver -- I like this site for practical strategies and information for beginners. She includes a lot of in-store videos that demonstrate her methods. She also gives workshops. Check her calendar.

Krazy Coupon Lady -- This site helps those who already use coupons increase their savings with various strategies. They also have a really good book available on the subject called: Pick Another Checkout Lane, Honey: Save Big Money & Make the Grocery Aisle your Catwalk!

Coupon Mom -- This site includes a very handy searchable database to investigate the sales in your area and tell you where to find coupons.

Check out the coupon helps section of Morrison's Mercantile.

read more “ SOME SAVING STRATEGIES ”

ITALIAN SEASONING, TACO SEASONING & SAUSAGE MADE SIMPLE

These blends are ones that I use in recipes that call for Italian or taco seasoning. At the end of this post is a recipe you can use to make your own sausage in just a few minutes. Enjoy!

ITALIAN SEASONING
Italian seasoning herbal blend isn’t difficult to make. Just toss these few herbs together into a small jelly jar and store with your other kitchen spices. You can use this as a substitute for the herbs in the sausage recipe as well as for seasoning in other dishes such as spaghetti, homemade pizza and chicken. I don’t add salt and pepper to this blend, preferring to add it during the cooking process.

3 Tbsp oregano
2 tsp thyme
2 tsp marjoram
2 tsp parsley
2 tsp basil
1 tsp sage

Makes a generous ¼ cup
Keep in small glass jar with tight fitting lid


TACO SEASONING BLEND
Have you tired of adding maltodextrin, monosodium glutamate, sugar, malic acid, silicon dioxide and soybean oil to your tacos? There’s a cheaper and easier way to get the taste you want without those chemicals. Make your own using 8 ingredients:

4 Tbsp chili powder
1 Tbsp cumin
2 tsp paprika
½ tsp red pepper flakes
2 tsp sea salt
2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
*2 tsp onion powder
*2 tsp garlic powder

Mix thoroughly and place in a small glass jar with tight fitting lid. Keep in a dark area to preserve flavor. Use for any meat that needs seasoning, including blackened fish. Usually 2 tbsp of this mix is enough for 1 pound of meat.
*Note: I often make this mix without the garlic or onion powder. I season my dishes to taste and add fresh garlic and onion when cooking.


HOMEMADE SAUSAGE
Homemade sausage is an easy way to avoid nitrates, nitrites, chemical preservatives, artificial coloring and flavorings. Not only that, it just tastes better! Ground turkey, beef, pork and chicken are available in many retail outlets or you can grind your own. It isn’t necessary to stuff the seasoned meat into casings. I think that making sausage patties gives you more flexibility when using them in meal preparation.

To make your own sausage, combine:
1 pound beef
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 small onion, peeled & finely chopped
1 tsp red pepper flakes
¼ tsp each: fresh ground pepper, cumin, marjoram, nutmeg, oregano & ginger
1/2 tsp each: basil, thyme, sage & sea salt

(Italian sausage option: Substitute 1 tablespoon of Italian seasoning for the herbs listed.)

I roll these into 2 Tbsp patties and press them to about ½ inch thickness. This allows me to be sure they are cooked completely and not underdone inside. I prepare mine in a heated cast iron pan wiped with olive oil. They can be served in a variety of ways to suit your own taste.

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How to Make Your Own Facebook Banner

There are many applications that allow you to create banners on the new Facebook Profile. However, each application comes with limitations in your ability to customize or create. If you'd prefer to make your very own banner, it takes just a little time following a few guidelines.

The 'banners' that you see on people's profiles are actually images that are tagged with that person's name. The order that those images appear in are related to WHEN those tags were placed. The images appear in order from the most recently tagged to the 5th oldest one.

In order to create your own banner, you'll need to find an image that is horizontally oriented, or one that can be cropped to be oriented in this way. Once you have this image on your hard drive, you'll need to size it properly to begin creating your banner.



Using your picture editor, size your banner to 490 pixels wide by 68 pixels high. These overall dimensions can be divided into 5 equal segments that will fit together like puzzle pieces that create your banner. To divide your banner, select the upper left hand corner of your image and draw a box that is 98 by 68 pixels. Copy this selection and paste it as a new image and label it 'imageA'. Return to your original image and draw another box that is 98 x 68, position it's starting point at the 98th pixel from the left border of your image. Copy this section and paste it as a new imaged named 'imageB'. Return to the original image and repeat this process three more times.


Here are the starting pixel positions of each 98 x 68 segment of your 490 x 68 original:

98
196
294
and
392

Once you've created all five images, go to your social networking page and upload these five images. Place them in a folder together. Tag each photo in that folder with your own name moving from the last to the first. If the images are lettered A, B, C, D & E, then you will need to tag with your name in the order of E, D, C, B, and A. View your profile page or wall to see how the images look. If they are out of order, you may need to remove the tags and go through the process once more, saving after each tag. If you tag them without saving your work between each tag, the order can sometimes be mixed.


There you have it! You now have your own customized banner without having to share your information, current email address or friends list to acquire it.

If you'd like to use the banners I've made for my own Facebook page, feel free. Just add Kay Morrison to your friends list, browse through my photos and use any banners that you enjoy.

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GET RID OF TAB MARKS IN PASTED TEXT

I wanted to take the time to post a short note about something I found to really make my life a little easier. I enjoy sharing tools that make life easier!

If you've ever had to copy and paste text into a word processing application, you may find that there are numerous tabs scattered throughout your copy. Removing them can be tedious -- especially if you are working with a lengthy document!

I've found a handy way to solve that problem. Pull up your find/replace feature and type ^t into the 'find' text box. The “^” symbol is made by pressing the shift button while striking the 6 key on most keyboards. Follow this with a lower case letter “t”. In the 'replace' box hit the space bar. Activate the find/replace and the tab keystrokes will be replaced with a space.

After this, you may have too many spaces in your document. You can use the find/replace feature to correct this by placing two spaces in the find window and a single space in the replace window. Repeat find/replace until you no longer have a string of spaces making gaps in your document.

Easy Peasy!

ADDITIONAL HELPS:

Too many returns

To get rid of too many returns in your document, type ^p into your find box. Leave the replace box blank. Be sure you are using the replace option. For the first search click on the button 'Find Next.' If it finds one of the stray returns you wish to eliminate, click 'Replace.'

Continue to use the 'Replace' button throughout your text. In this instance, using the 'Replace All' button doesn't work well. You do have to move through the document and deal with each paragraph mark individually, but the search/find option makes it go a little quicker.

How can I tell where there are tabs and paragraph marks in my document?

There is a way to see what keystrokes have been made in your document. In order to see them, press the Ctrl key while you strike the * symbol. To get the *, you will have to hold the shift key and press the 8 key at the same time.

This is a toggle feature. That means that if you want to see the keystrokes in your document, you can press Ctrl+* and if you wish to turn the feature off, you simply hit Ctrl+* once more. I work with this feature on so that I can tell what is creating blank space in my document.

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CABBAGE LEAVES RELIEVE PAIN AND SWELLING

Cabbage isn’t just for slaw and sauerkraut – although those are wonderful uses! Cabbage leaves also have a proven history as a treatment for wounds and swellings.

An old Irish blessing reads, "May the leaves of your cabbage always be free from worms."

Ancient armies carried cabbage for use not only as a food, but as a wound dressing that fought infection. The explorers of the 17th and 18th centuries carried Vitamin C rich cabbage with them as a natural preventative of scurvy. On one of Captain Cook's voyages sailors injured in a storm had their wounds bound with cabbage to help prevent gangrene.

Cabbage leaves act as a diuretic, and they contain powerful anti-inflammatory compounds. Cabbage juice is rich in lactic acid, a known anti-bacterial. Applied to the skin, these compounds are remarkably effective at relieving swelling and the pain associated with it.

There’s not a simpler remedy for engorged and painful breasts than the application of raw cabbage leaves. Bruise a couple of cabbage leaves. Cap a leaf over the affected breast. Use a bra to hold the leaf in place next to the skin. Wear it for a few hours. Noticeable relief can be detected by the following day.

The leaf of the cabbage is an effective treatment for the pain of swellings due to sports injuries and strains. Apply ice and elevate the injured limb to curb initial swelling. Then apply the cabbage leaf compress two or three times daily until pain and swelling subside. You may want to hold it in place with a cloth bandage. If you’ve been slow to recover from a sprained ankle, this remedy is worth a try.

Arthritis sufferers can often reduce the amount of medication they must use or eliminate it completely with the application of a cabbage leaf dressing. The cabbage leaf helps eliminate waste products from the body.

Use leaves as a poultice on other skin conditions such as psoriasis, burns and ulcers. Flatten layers of cabbage leaves with a rolling pin. Wrap leaves around affected areas of skin until the leaves turn yellow. Change the leaves and repeat until the wounds heal. Between reapplications, clean and dry the wounds.

To apply a cabbage leaf dressing:
Use clean leaves and – if at all possible – ones that have been grown organically. Peel off the outer layers of cabbage and remove the hard stem. Bruise them slightly with a rolling pin or other hard cylinder. Use gauze or other cotton cloth to hold the leaves in place. An additional layer of plastic wrap can be applied, unless you are dressing a burn. Keep the cabbage wrap on the area for two to four hours. You may want to repeat the process, using new leaves. Some people apply the leaves at bedtime and keep the poultice on overnight.

If you are interested in reading more about how to use leaves as dressings, I highly recommend the book, COMFORT FOR THE BURNED AND WOUNDED by John W. Keim. At the time of publication, the author of this book had over 20 years of experience in treating wounds with natural dressings. In this small book, he details case histories and the results of various treatments. I have found his recommendations regarding the use of plantain leaf to be very valuable as a first aid application in various circumstances. He doesn’t claim to be a doctor, nor is he medically trained. However, this is a fascinating read whether or not you are in the medical field.

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THE EASY WAY TO COOK PERFECT BROWN RICE

Brown rice is a staple food which is rich in soluble fiber and can be combined with nutrient rich beans to create a complete protein. When money is tight and every calorie counts, knowing how to cook brown rice helps make sure you get enough nutrients to maintain your health.

Brown rice is less expensive when purchased in bulk. In addition to a lower price, you’ll also find that the overall quality of the rice is better. Bulk grains are often fresher. You will notice the difference in the intensity of the sweet smell when a large bag is opened. For storage, food grade buckets with tight lids are fine. My preference is to store it in a chest freezer. The cold keeps bugs away. A few bay leaves tossed into your grain bucket will help repel insects also.

For years, I had cooked brown rice using the absorption method. This involves placing rice into a pot of salted boiling water and cooking it for 45 to 50 minutes. Twice as much water as brown rice is used. This works well enough, but it is a bit of an art to get rice that isn’t too mushy because (as mentioned above) the moisture content of the grains can vary. Many people use rice cookers to automate this process, but the result is the same. Another drawback is that this process has the potential to create burnt rice if you lose track of the time or miscalculate the water to rice ratio.

There is a simpler way!

Because it is a grain, I soak brown rice. This isn’t as important with rice as with other grains, but I like the texture that soaking produces. To soak brown rice, measure double the amount of water as grain into a stainless steel or glass container. Add a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar for every cup of grain you use. Let this sit overnight or 24 hours. In a pinch, this time can be reduced without hurting the final product.

Once I’m ready to cook the rice, I strain it using a large strainer set inside a larger bowl. I repeatedly rinse the grain until the water runs relatively clear. You may notice little flecks and bits floating to the surface. Throw those away. You may not want to examine them too closely.

Here is a demonstration on how to rinse rice.
The cloudy water that you pour off of it can be used to water your plants.
I would skip using the rice cooker!

Re-fill your pot with clean filtered water, using twice as much as the measurement of soaked rice. Season the water with sea salt and any other flavorings you prefer. I like to use chicken broth. Bring this to a rolling boil and then add the soaked rice to the pot, giving it a single stir. Boil this uncovered for about 20 minutes if the grains have been soaked, 30 minutes if they are dry. Remove the pot from the heat and strain the rice from the hot water. Let the rice drain for ten to fifteen seconds. Return the rice to your empty pot and cover with a tight-fitting lid. Let the rice sit, absorbing the water that remains on the grains for ten or 15 minutes.

Fluff with a fork and serve. The rice will be fully cooked without mushiness.

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DVD Review: MAKING HERBS SIMPLE VOLUME 2

This video is great by itself and even better as a compliment to volume 1. MAKING HERBS SIMPLE VOLUME 2 has all of the features I enjoyed in volume 1 and more.

Once again, Shoshanna takes you into the wooded areas around her home and introduces you to a variety of herbs in their natural habitat. Art projects, syrups, yummy teas, and healthful remedies are all part this video. Shoshanna teaches viewers how to make a healing salve. You'll learn about a herb that can be used as a laundry detergent and cleanser. Debi, a retired midwife, returns to discuss nutritive herbs that boost female reproductive health. Kristen testifies to the effectiveness of a home remedy for poison ivy.

You'll want to watch it from start to finish when it arrives. However, this isn't a DVD to be left sitting on a shelf. It's segmented into topical chapters and bonus features that are easily accessed from the menu, helping you review portions as needed. This video is highly entertaining, but also very educational! It would be a great compliment to a more indepth study of each of the herbs.

For added convenience, Bulk Herb Store has also included a handy pocket guidebook printed on heavy stock and in full color. This means that you will have images that help you identify the plants as well as printed recipes for the applications mentioned in the video. There's even a hardiness zone map with corresponding information on each featured herb. It's nice to see that Bulk Herb Store continues to look for ways to give more information to their customers.

MAKING HERBS SIMPLE VOLUME 2 would be a great gift for anyone that wants to find inexpensive ways to incorporate herbs into every day life. . . . That is, if you don't just decide to keep it for yourself!

---

FOR A LIMITED TIME, Bulk Herb Store is making BOTH volumes 1 & 2 available for one low price. FOLLOW THIS LINK for more information.

Below, find an excerpt from the DVD MAKING HERBS SIMPLE, VOLUME 2

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THE BENEFITS OF GINGER ROOT

Ginger is a valued ingredient in recipes around the world. This herb is found as a seasoning in a variety of foods including cakes, cookies, breads, beverages, sauces, fruit dishes, and Asian cooking.

More than just a spice, Ginger Root is a powerful weapon in your arsenal against sickness. This potent root protects the stomach and is useful in the treatment of bowel disorders, cleansing the colon. In treating stomach upsets, it is strong enough to relieve the nausea of chemotherapy patients and gentle enough to ease morning sickness associated with pregnancy or colic in an infant. Ginger can help relieve diarrhea along with indigestion, motion sickness and vomiting.

Ginger reduces spasms and cramps, making it an effective treatment for muscle pain and the pain associated with menstruation. Because it helps stimulate the circulatory system, it can also help relieve poor circulation.

These qualities combine with Ginger Root’s anti-inflammatory properties to make it a good selection when dealing with osteoarthritis. Ginger has been beneficial in dealing with the symptoms associated with ulcerative colitis. Studies suggest that this herb may lower cholesterol levels and prevent the blood from clotting. Further studies have found that ginger may have some anticancer activity.

A strong antioxidant, effective antimicrobial and an anti-viral: Ginger Root helps fend off pathogenic microorganisms like bacteria, fungi and viruses. Additionally, these qualities make it a good choice for healing poultices applied to wounds.

Taken internally, this herb helps protect the liver and cleanse the kidneys while moving excess toxins from the body. It is traditionally used to treat the common cold, flu-like symptoms, headaches and other pains.

It’s no wonder this herb is found in many traditional tonics and herbal cleansing blends. In our family, we like to use it in a tea at the first sign of congestion and love the flavor it adds to stir fry dishes. Look for ways to incorporate this beneficial herb in your daily living today.

CONGESTION CLEARING TEA
1 Tbsp fresh minced ginger root
1 Tbsp fresh minced garlic
1 tsp apple cider vinegar
Honey to taste

Place ingredients in a mug and add 8 ounces of boiling water. Cover, and let steep for 10 minutes. Strain the bits from the liquid, enjoy.


MORNING LIVER TONIC SMOOTHIE RECIPE
Have this first thing in the morning before eating.

In a blender, puree the following until smooth. Adjust the ingredients to suit your taste preferences.
• 1 inch fresh ginger, minced
• 1 tablespoon extra virgin cold pressed olive oil
• 1 clove of garlic
• 2 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
• 1 apple, chopped small
• ½ small beet, diced
• 1 stick celery, chopped small
• a few sprigs of parsley, chopped small
• 1 cup filtered water

The apple cider vinegar helps the oil and water emulsify. Garlic will lose its potency once it’s cut. For these reasons, it is best to drink this tonic before it separates.

If you want to intensify the effects of this tonic, increase the number of tablespoons of olive oil and the number of garlic cloves over a few days. For example, on the 2nd day use 2 Tbsp oil and 2 cloves, on the 3rd day use 3 Tbsp and 3 cloves and so forth, but don’t go beyond five tablespoons and cloves.

Blend and enjoy!

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TAKE NOTE: Information and ideas presented here are for the reader’s use and enrichment. This is not offered in lieu of solid medical advice. The opinions and ideas expressed are fallible and that of the author. Readers are encouraged to be well-informed and draw their own conclusions.

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Here’s a video of another variation of the “liver flush.”

Here is a CBS news segment about a mother and daughter who bake ginger snaps for cancer patients.

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DVD Review: MAKING HERBS SIMPLE VOLUME 1

MAKING HERBS SIMPLE takes the viewer into the woods of Eastern Tennessee. Shoshanna locates nine herbs in their natural habitat and gives the viewer tips on how to recognize them. Later, she joins her friend Kristen to demonstrate how to dry herbs for storage and how to use them to make poultices and simple tinctures. Along the way, you learn interesting tips and tidbits about the properties and uses of each plant.

If you've ever wondered about other ways to use the herbs growing around your home, you'll be glad you watched this. This video isn't just for wildcrafters. Hints for how to incorporate packaged dried herbs are discussed. It's nice to see what the plants look like growing wild, even if you normally use them dried.

That's not all! There's a segment featuring the herbalist's herbalist, Debi Pearl. Shoshanna and Debi discuss how to preserve herbs and create your own remedies to meet your family's unique needs.

I appreciated the way the DVD is segmented into topical chapters. If you need to review some information, just go to the menu and select the desired subject -- no need to fast forward through other footage! This feature is great for teachers who might want to reinforce botanical lessons with short video clips.

Bonus features include a demonstration of how to use Bulk Herb Store's BEAUTIFUL HAIR herbal blend. These scenes are humorous at points as you discover beauty can be a messy business! The DVD comes with a booklet that gives you summary information and full-color pictures of the featured herbs. The companion guidebook is sturdy and pocket-sized so that you can easily take it with you to help identify these plants in your own backyard or keep it handy as a quick reference for selecting just the right ingredients for cooking, teas and other uses.

MAKING HERBS SIMPLE makes a sometimes overwhelming subject fun. It's an encouragement to people on all levels of expertise to enjoy getting creative with preparations and applications. It's a reminder that herbs can be simply and joyfully incorporated into daily life.

Whether you are interested in natural medicine, herbs, or plant identification, MAKING HERBS SIMPLE is great to own or give as a gift.

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Available at Bulk Herb Store.

Click on the image to order.

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DVD Review: HOMESTEADING FOR BEGINNERS

HOMESTEADING FOR BEGINNERS is just the video for those who are considering the possibility of moving to the country. This video gives a delightful overview of life on a small family farm. Erin and Mark Harrison invite the viewer into their home to learn and laugh with them and their five children through the many adventures of homesteading.

You gain insight into all that it takes to get a REAL chicken dinner onto the table from the ground up – literally, from seed to supper. All of the scenes are filled with a beautiful rural setting and happy, healthy, helpful children keep popping up into almost every scene.

Learn how to make butter and cheese using kitchen tools you likely already have on hand. See how this family raises and harvests chickens and eggs. Get an introductory demonstration on wood splitting, building a simple chick pen, learn how to start seeds and tend a low-maintenance garden. Mama takes the time to show you how to freeze and can your produce and meat, gives you the recipes, and then shows you how to prepare the meal. Pamper your inner flower-child and learn how to make a wild-flower crown to adorn your head. If you watch carefully, you might spot Mike and Gabriel Pearl giving a knife-throwing demonstration.

The attentive viewer may even pick up some tips on how to incorporate child training and education throughout the busy day. Washing eggs becomes a math and chemistry lesson taught by a curly blond-headed little girl that needs a step-stool to reach her mama’s kitchen sink. It’s one of my favorite scenes in the film. A take-charge big brother is happy to demonstrate how to use scraps of wood to make signs for the garden. Listen carefully as Papa patiently explains how to milk a cow while little voices comment on the condition of the barn floor (you’ll have to rewind here as your laughter might drown him out).

Grandpa and Granny loved watching with us as little ones stole scene after scene. Grandpa said, “I can see now, if I wanted to homestead, I’d have to find some little helpers.”

HOMESTEADING FOR BEGINNERS should come with a warning label for parents that are used to children sitting peacefully in front of the television all day. After viewing this video, those children could be inspired to go enjoy the great outdoors more often. They might begin asking for some chickens or a cow of their own . . . possibly even some pigs to ride!

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Available at Bulk Herb Store.

Click on the image to order.

Review an excerpt from the video here:

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HOW TO CREATE EXTRA STORAGE

There are many techniques to finding the space to store needed items. Whether you are just downsizing or struggling to create a pantry in a house with no closets, here are a few ways to find a place to put your stuff.

USE SPACE BENEATH FURNITURE
Skirted Storage
A skirted table can hide a myriad of things in almost any room of your house. Secure a plywood top over a base such as a small bookcase, low filing cabinet or an upside down trash container. Drape a decorative cloth over the board that is long enough to reach the floor. Beneath the skirt there is storage space for books, boxes, craft supplies, television, etc.

Beds, Tables, Chairs
Storage can be created using plastic boxes or baskets. Place baskets under tables and in open cabinets for miscellaneous storage. These are great for shoes, out-of-season items, sports equipment, etc. Place a label on the end of the box, listing the contents. If your bed is too low, it can be made higher by "building" taller legs with plumbing pipes or ready-made bed risers.

REPURPOSE ITEMS
Doors
Storage can be found on the back of every door. Hanging shoe bags, shelves, or racks can be used for everything from toiletries, to office supplies.

Closets
Two-drawer filing cabinets easily fit into most closets, and the top can be used as a shelf. The space remaining above can be used to hang short clothing.

Lidded Furnishings
Choose a bench with a hinged lid for the end of a bed, under a window, or table seating. Lidded cubed ottomans can also provide extra storage as can a chest used in place of a coffee table. Use the space to store blankets, sheets, dishes, linens, out-of-season items, or toys.

REPURPOSE SPACE
Look Up
Few people utilize space higher than 5 feet. Consider installing shelves 12" to 18" below the ceiling. Mount shelves above the windows of the room. Use this to display things you don't use regularly but love to look at such as plants, hats, or photos. Use museum wax to anchor your collectibles in place.

Hooks
Hooks mounted on walls can be used to hold buckets and bags for everything from laundry to tools and toys.

Shelves
Make sure your shelves are spaced properly. If all the shelves are arranged at 18" but stored items are 8" high, you're missing out on about 10" of storage space. Reorganize this by adding shelf supports and new shelves.

Halls
Install shelves or hooks along one side of a wide hallway or above door height. If you have space at the end of the hall, use it to house a small desk and chair. Add shelves above the desk for supplies or books.

Unused Corners
Corner cabinets and shelves are great for unused space such as on a stair landing. A corner can also house a file cabinet. Since most file cabinets are also metal, take advantage of strong magnetic holders and hooks for storage on the exposed sides.

Beneath Stairs
An assortment of wooden nooks, hooks, cubbies, drawers and shelves can be custom fitted to suit your needs. This can be finished with cabinet doors or curtains.

Between Wall Studs
Shallow recessed shelving can be created between wall studs. In most homes, studs are spaced 16 inches apart. These shelves average about 3 ½ inches deep.

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Here are included a couple of short videos with additional tips on finding ways to create storage with limited space.

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EASY BATHROOM CLEANUP TIPS

When you don’t have time to wash a tile floor, baking soda is a quick, easy, non-abrasive floor cleaner and polisher. A homemade scouring powder made with a mixture of baking soda and Borax is also a good choice with the additional benefit that it discourages bugs.

Sprinkle baking soda onto the tile and grout lines. Push it with your broom into corners and crevices. Sweep the soda into your dust bin. Toss the soiled baking soda into the bathroom wastebasket where it will continue to help fight bathroom odors.

The baking soda will turn dark with the debris it picks up. This even works well on dried on stains and bits of hair. The baking soda clings to all of it and dries even oily residues so that they can be swept away. If you’re tired of reaching around the base of bathroom fixtures to get hard-to-reach areas, this makes things much easier.

One of my readers was dealing with stubborn black stains in the grout lines of her bathtub wall tiles.

Those stubborn stains are most often caused by mold, mildew and hard water. Baking soda addresses all of these issues as it is a water softener and it releases carbon dioxide from the surface, killing organisms that thrive in an anaerobic (without oxygen) environment.

Make a paste with baking soda and water. Apply the paste to the grout with an old toothbrush. For really stubborn areas, make the paste with hydrogen peroxide and baking soda. Let it sit for a while. Come back later and rub the toothbrush over the area and rinse it clean. An effective rinse is to mix vinegar and water. The acid in the vinegar further activates the sodium bicarbonate in the baking soda. Wipe the surface dry with a soft cloth.

The vinegar and water also adjusts the pH to a level that discourages mold and mildew from reforming. You can use this as a general surface spray between showers and baths.

Another help is to keep the tub and shower areas free of soap, toiletry bottles, washrags, towels and other items. Store these outside of the tub/shower area. The soap residue provides a place for mold and mildew to grow. The bottles and their storage racks hold water against walls and horizontal surfaces. With these removed, you’ll be better able to hit all of the nooks and crannies when you spray the shower/tub area with your diluted vinegar.

For convenience, use small plastic crates to hold needed supplies. Assign a storage area on a nearby shelf. Then, when someone uses the shower, he/she can just bring along the toiletry box and contents, rather than trying to manage an armload of assorted products.

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EASY LACTO-FERMENTED DILL PICKLES

Lacto fermentation is a method of preserving foods that does not require hot processing. The food is preserved by lactic acid which inhibits the growth of bad bacteria.

In general, you will want to have enough salt suspended in a liquid to keep mold from forming while the lactobacillus (the organisms that produce lactic acid) take hold and begin to multiply. This salt and liquid mixture is called your brine. Lacto-fermentation enhances the digestibility of the food so that your body can better assimilate nutrients. As with other cultured foods, consuming foods preserved in this manner will help replenish the digestive tract with beneficial enzymes that help aid digestion and fight harmful bacteria.


The seasonings within the jar can be adjusted to suit the individual’s taste and used for many other types of fresh produce. Feel free to experiment with green beans, carrots, corn, beets and other vegetables. I prefer to use pint jars so I don’t have an opened jar sitting for a long time in my refrigerator until it is used up. If I need more, I just open another jar.

Ahead of time:
Boil your jars, rings and lids in water for 3 minutes. Sometimes, I just bring the water and jars to a simmer, turn off the heat, and cover the pot with a lid while I work on other projects. When you are ready to begin, remove the jars from the water and dry thoroughly.

To make about 5 pints:
Dissolve 3 tbsp sea salt in 2 quarts of warmed, distilled water. You can heat the water on the stove, but you don’t want it too hot. Make sure it has cooled to at least 100°F before you use it so that the lactobacillus in your whey is not killed.

When the water and salt mixture is cooled, place the following in your sterilized jars:

• 1 ½ tsp mustard seeds
• 1 tbsp dried dill weed
• ¼ tsp dill seeds
• ½ tsp cracked peppercorns
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• ¾ tsp minced garlic
• 1 tsp Grape leaves (this helps keep things crisp)
• 2 tbsp whey
• 3 to 4 Tbsp of the distilled water & sea salt brine

Use a chop stick or the handle of a wooden spoon to stir and mix the seasonings.
Wash and dry enough cucumbers to fill the jars (3 to 5 or so) and slice them ¼ inch thick.
Pack jars tightly, stopping 1 inch below the rim of the jar. I just stop at the point the threads begin on the neck of the jar.

Add enough distilled water/salt brine to cover the cucumbers. This should leave at least ¾ of an inch between the brine and the inside of the lid. The cucumbers shouldn’t float if they are tightly packed.
Cover the jar securely with the lid and rings. Shake the jar to mix the seasonings into the brine. Sometimes, the jar’s contents may shift and rise above the water level. Repack and add more brine if needed.

Loosen the ring only slightly – just enough to let any gas escape, but not enough to let air inside.
Let the jars sit for 3-4 days at room temperature.
Transfer to cool storage.
If the taste is not as strong as you’d prefer, you may leave them at room temperature for a little longer.
The fermentation process produces its own vinegar taste that is pleasant without being overly harsh.

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Here's a video demonstration of another variation of lacto-fermentation. This particular method takes longer and runs more of a risk of mold as it does not utilize a whey starter. However, if you wished to make a large crock of pickles, rather than just pint jars, you could do so and just add about 1/2 cup of whey (for a gallon-sized crock).

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HOW TO MAKE WHEY

Whey is a valuable addition to any diet. It can be an added ingredient to enhance many sauces, foods and beverages. It is also a key ingredient in lacto-fermented foods.

A quick internet search will reveal that many people cover their jars with cloth or a coffee filter when making whey. I don’t. The reason I don’t do this is because I am not trying to capture bacteria from the environment. Raw milk comes perfectly packaged with the right blend of digestive enzymes and bacteria needed to cause separation to occur. You needn’t expose it to the elements for this to happen. As a matter of fact, if you left raw milk in your refrigerator long enough, separation into curds and whey would eventually occur within the sealed container at cooler temperatures. Leaving it on your countertop simply places the milk at temperatures where this happens sooner.

To make whey, pour raw milk into a clean glass quart jar. Cover the jar with a plastic lid (or coffee filter, or clean cotton cloth) and allow it to sit undisturbed for 2-3 days until separation occurs. You will know the milk has separated when you see white solids floating in a yellowish clear liquid. The liquid is whey. The white solid is cream cheese – also known as curds.

Line a strainer with an unbleached coffee filter or clean cotton cloth (such as a freshly laundered t-shirt).

Pour the liquid and solids into the strainer, catching the liquid in a glass bowl. When the dripping stops, transfer the whey into a lidded jar labeled with the date. The whey will keep in your refrigerator for about 6 months.

The cream cheese can be seasoned to suit your taste and used in your favorite recipes.

If you have yogurt, the yellow or clear liquid that floats to the top is whey. You can pour this off and use it in food preservation.

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