Hot and Sweaty? Try Drinking Healthy Homemade Beverages

Did you know that Caffeine and Sugar pull the water out of your cells and make you more thirsty and dehydrated.  Carbonated drinks reduce the minerals in your bones.  Why not try some alternative homemade refreshing drinks.

Barley Water is an ancient refreshing drink.  The Greeks used it in their celebrations and  many cultures use it for the ill and infirmed.  The British drink it as a refreshing drink.  Barley Water is used also for ill babies, children and adults and it provides excellent health benefits.  Check out the healing power of Barley Water.

Refreshing Barley Water

2 quarts water

1 cup hulled barley

2 lemons

1/4 cup honey

Place the water and barley into a medium saucepan; cover, set over high heat and bring to a boil.  Once the barley comes to a boil, decrease the heat to low and simmer for 30 minutes.  While the liquid is cooking, peel the lemons, being careful not to cut into the white pith.  Juice the lemons and place the juice along with the peel into a 3-quart pitcher and set aside.

After 30 minutes, strain the barley water through a fine mesh strainer into the pitcher. Discard the barley (save and add to your homemade soup, bread, or cereal). Add the honey and stir to combine. Refrigerate until chilled.

For other refreshing barley flavored drinks visit this site.

And to know more about the Health benefits of Barley Water go here and here.

Electrolyte Drinks from the grocery store are full of artificial colors, harmful sweeteners and chemicals.  Here is a recipe to make your own.  Add some citrus or fruit juice and ice and you have a duplicate of the fancy sport drinks.  Drink after long effects of the sun, illness, or you just can't quench your thirst (sign of dehydration). 

If you are on a sodium restricted diet, or medications, check with your doctor before consuming as the baking soda and salt can interact with medications.

From Bob Harper

 Electrolyte Drink

Ingredients:

1 liter of water
1/2 tsp of baking soda
2 tbsp of agave nectar
1/2 tbsp of sea salt

Combine all ingredients in water bottle and sip as needed

Simple Refreshing Electrolyte Drink

 1 cup coconut water (not milk, you can find this easily at a health food store)

1 cup pure water

1/2 tsp Himalayan salt (contains the minerals, essential to rehydrate- do not substitute)

Mix together and add sweetener and flavors as desired.

optional items:  stevia, orange juice, lemon juice, lime juice, pomegranate or other berry juice

Vitamin C Drinks.  Why not try some refreshing citrus drinks to cool off in summer heat.

6-8 Lemons, Limes, Oranges, or Grapefruits - fresh squeezed.

Water to dilute to taste

Agave, Stevia, or Honey to taste

Heat 1 cup water and add sweetener till dissolved.  Mix into juice and add ice to dilute to your favorite tartness.

Optional:  Add crushed mint leaves, fresh smashed raspberries, strawberries, or blueberries.

Refreshing Fruit Drinks are a summer must.  Here are a few recipes to get started.

Green Cooler

4 Kiwi fruit
2 cucumbers
2 Celery sticks

1/2 inch piece Ginger
crushed pepper to taste
salt to taste
2 scoops crushed ice
1 cup water

 Peel fruits and cut all ingredients in little pieces. Blend in a high power Blender add water as needed and ice to cool.  Don't over blend.  Optional additions:  Parsley, alfalfa sprouts, or mint.

Melon Cooler

2 cups cubed watermelon (no rind)

2 large stalks of celery

1/2 cup ice cubes

Blend in powerful blender

Watermelon Heaven

2 ¼ cups watermelon flesh, de-seeded and roughly chopped

2/3 cup cucumber, peeled and roughly chopped

4-5 teaspoons lime juice

1 cup coconut water

12 fresh mint leaves, rinsed

A pinch of paprika

Unrefined sweetener such as stevia, agave, coconut/palm sugar or maple syrup to taste (optional)

 Place all ingredients into a blender and blend until mint leaves are thoroughly incorporated.Strain and serve over ice. Add sweetener to taste.

Fruit Waters are very light and refreshing.  There are endless possibilities.

1 gallon of pure water

1 orange (organic because we are using the peel) scrub and wash

Cut the orange in half and cut off a small sliver at each end.  Squeeze into the water dropping the whole orange and peel into the water. Do not let the seeds into the mixture. Steep in the fridge overnight or for at least 4 hours.  Strain if desired and enjoy.  Optional: add small amount of stevia or agave.

Substitute any citrus fruit, cucumber, celery, or berry and continue as directed.  (chop any veggies into small pieces to maximize flavor).

Also try mint, ginger, basil  or herbs like rose hips, hibiscus, spearmint, catnip, lavender, lemongrass, lemon balm, lemon verbena, rosemary, thyme or parsley to add a vitamin kick. Try other fruits such as apples, grapes (halved), pineapple, peach, plum, cranberries... you get the idea.  Also, a few spices can be added sparingly: cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, whole nutmeg, etc. 

Wrap herbs and spices in cheesecloth if desired.  If you are really brave you can try evergreen pine, spruce, and fir sprigs, juniper berries, and edible flowers - rose, nasturtium, pansy (make sure they are edible) 

To add more flavor you can add caffeine free herbal tea bags, Honeybush and  Rooibos red tea. (Rooibos and Honeybush are  actually a bush, not a leaf.  They do not contain caffeine or tannin)

Teddy Bear Quilt

Gardening has taken over my sewing time, but I managed to finish this baby quilt.  This was a challenge quilt.  we were given the brown fabric and challenged to use all of it in a quilt.  I had a cute pattern from McCall's sewing patterns.  I don't usually buy patterns that are in the fashion book, but they were on sale and I had it stashed away in my sewing closet.
I wasn't happy with the pattern.  Most quilts give you instructions on how many blocks to cut and what sizes etc.  This pattern gave you pattern pieces printed on the thin tissue paper.  It made the job much harder.  I started using the pieces and realized that it would be easier to just measure the squares and use the rotary cutter and ruler to make the blocks.  This took extra time, but was much more accurate.  The rest of the pieces were applique and I traced them onto some fusible webbing.

This would be a really easy quilt to copy and use as a background and change the teddy bear design and add anything you like.  I used Pink Chenille for the flower blocks and some cuddle fabric for the muzzle.  You could use all kinds of texture fabric or felt if you wanted.  I think it turned out cute.  I love the bees.   The pattern called for small buttons, but I don't believe buttons should be on any quilt that is given to children.  It is just to much of a risk for choking.  Sew the eyes with embroidery thread.

The florescent lights changed the colors a bit.  It is a pretty pink, green and yellow pastel quilt.

August A Whirl

Now that summer has come, it seems to be passing me by more quickly than I desire.  Sorry about the lack of posts.  Vacations, gardening and just plain old summer fun is to blame. But lets just get to the fun stuff.

The last 2 weeks, I have picked some amazing produce from the garden. This is my favorite part of gardening!  Pick and share and Eat Eat Eat those tomatoes.

Here is the Garden at the first part of August, it is looking a little tropical.

First week I picked this haul of summer squash.  My favorite are the flying saucer shaped Patty Pan.

More squash and green beans from the second week of August.

Chinese Cabbage leaves.  I add these to our Udon Noodle Soup

First Cabbage and Japanese Cucumbers of the year.  This is actually really late for the Cabbage. Coleslaw anyone?

Tomatoes are just starting.  These were my first picks

We were on vacation all week last week, and I came home and picked the garden and all I can say is WOW!  Anyone for a tomato Sandwich for breakfast?  Oh yes I did!

First Corn in my little corn patch, and look at those long Chinese green beans.

Lovin the peppers.  I have to figure out how to keep them from getting the sun scald, though

Turnips and Rutabaga.  Has anyone ever cooked Rutabaga?  I have to find a recipe, this is my first year planting it in my garden.  I think they taste similar to turnips. 

Veggie Dinner tonight, Honey

Where or Where is the Perfect No Fat Dressing?

Eating a plant based diet is definitely a new experience for Craig and I.  He has a more difficult time than I do because he was raised as a meat and potato boy.  Actually, his favorite was hamburgers and milkshakes.  My father was a Navy veteran, we ate stew, bean soups of every kind, canned vegetables and lots of coleslaw and potato salad.  My mom was a good cook, but she loved to let my Dad take the lead and he would usually cook Navy style.  We loved it.  I also live in an area where farms surrounded us, so we did eat lots of local produce.  I love veggies, Craig tolerates them.

I always thought that I loved salads.  Lots and lots of lettuce and chopped veggies. Mmmmm and don't forget the home grown tomatoes.  It wasn't until we started eating a plant based diet, that I realize that I didn't love the salad so much as I loved the salad dressing.  True confession:  I love salad dressing.

In addition to our plant based diet, we are eating no fat.  Yah, we are trying to clean out our old arteries and make room for all our wonderful blood supply.  I cannot find a no fat salad dressing that I can tolerate.  Salads are just not the same.  I tried the lemon juice and pepper, vinegar and spices,  pureed fruit and vinegars, tomato purees and spices and vinegar,  all manner of concoctions.  I bought some fat free dressings from the health food store in the refrigerator section and they were so strong with vinegar, I could have breathed out fire and vapor.  It is my quest to find some dressing that is fat free, or nearly fat free that I can tolerate, because frankly I love salad dressing more than salad, who knew!

Tonight I had a breakthrough.  A dressing that I could enjoy.  I am still on the path to no fat dressing nirvana, but for now I enjoyed my very first salad dressing.  It isn't 100% no fat, but it has very little with no added oil.

Almost Nirvana Dressing

Mix together in a blender or I use a magic bullet
1/3 block of soft tofu
3-6 Tablespoons Apple Cider Vinegar, to taste
3 or more Tablespoons of Almond milk to thin
1 small tomato chopped
small handful of chopped green onions
1 tsp of dry ranch dressing mix (I used the dip packet, yes this isn't the healthiest seasoning, but but but but)
spices to taste  I used:
garlic powder
onion powder
cumin
chipotle pepper powder, just a dash
dried vegetable seasoning
Salt, pepper, dash of stevia
Blend and add more vinegar or almond milk as needed for consistency.
I think I would add a bit more seasoning the next time I make this. Maybe a little tomato paste.
My goal was a creamy tomato dressing. 

To go with the salad, I made a Polenta Tamale Casserole

Polenta Casserole (no added fat)

1/2 large sweet onion chopped

1 large green pepper chopped

1 can corn

1 can of black beans

1 small can tomato sauce

1 cup of fire roasted tomato chunks

1/2 package of Boca Burger meatless shreds

1 tsp cumin

1/2 tsp chili powder

1-2 tsp of a taco seasoning (I used frontiers Mexican fiesta seasoning)

dash or more of chipolte pepper seasoning, depending on your taste for heat

salt and pepper as desired

Place pan on burner and let it heat.  Add onions and peppers to a hot no-stick pan and let them sizzle until cooked and almost ready to stick, stir often.  Add tomatoes and all the other ingredients, stir and cook until well heated. Set aside and make the polenta.

6 cups water

1 3/4 cup cornmeal

salt to taste

Bring water to a boil, add salt and add cornmeal in steady stream (not too fast) stirring continually.  Once all the cornmeal is added, stir and cook back to a boil.  Lower heat and cook till tender, stirring frequently.  Remove from heat and quickly spread half the mixture in a 9x11 casserole dish, sprayed with pam. Spread flat. Add the Boca burger mixture then top with the remaining polenta and spread flat.  Bake for 25 minutes in a 350 degree oven.  Serve with Salsa, ketchup and a sprinkling of rice cheese. 

Unexpected Surprises

We had a health surprise last week.  I won't go into the personal details, but I have gained a new perspective about healthy eating, health care, and health management.  "You are what you eat". 

While dealing with health care this week, I neglected my garden for two days.  Yup, just two days.  While I was absent I had a new SQUATTER  move into the garden. In a two day period of time, he ate the whole top off an heirloom tomato plant.  Sheesh, I have lived here more than 20 years and have never seen a Tomato Horn Worm. This year I have a whole family.   I can't help but wonder where they have been hiding, since I have just barely found them devouring my plants. 

I did a little research and found that the giant Hawk Moth, lays its eggs in the soil and they emerge in the spring as caterpillars.  I am not sure what they have been eating, but I do have a fairly large potato patch. Maybe they hung out their until they noticed I wasn't around for two days straight, then it was tomato plant buffet.

Here is the Daddy Horn Worm.  He sports a beautiful blue iridescent coat.  Isn't he beautiful. He is about 4 inches long.

Here is the Family:  Dad, Mom and the Twins  (three cousins showed up the next day and didn't get their family picture).  Of course this is just a wild guess.  It could be possible that they are all brothers and sisters and the big one is exceptionally hungry and works out a lot to be bigger than its siblings. 

I could not squash the worms, after all they are pretty juicy.   I couldn't put them down the disposal either.  So I did what any bad pet owner would do:  I took them for a ride!   I suppose they will probably starve if they don't have tomatoes to eat, but I just couldn't do them in.  Sorry little guys!

This is an Amazing Story of Courage.

My son Adam produced this video for Snowbird Resort.  Not only am I amazed by this video, but I am so proud of  Adam and my son Jordan who also helped film.  I hope this video is inspiring to you, too.  Pass it on to your friends.

I have been reading motivational stories, messages, and books so that I can develop a better understanding of myself and my actions.  I saw a show about a girl who was morbidly obese, almost 500 pounds.  Her story of weight loss was inspiring.  She had what seemed like an impossible task ahead of her.  One of the things she said was that there comes a time when there are no more excuses.  I have been thinking about that lately.  I have been thinking about the excuses I make for myself.  This video shows that the only limitations we have, are those that we create for ourselves.  No More Excuses!

Things That Should Not Come in From the Garden

Thing # 1 - CAULIFLOWER THAT HAS GONE TO FLOWER.  Yuck 

I was out in the garden trying to sort out what was weed and what was edible.  One thing for sure, cauliflower is my nemesis.  I have never been able to get a good forming head of cauliflower and this season is no different. I planted early, but our weather is crazy crazy.  I planted three cauliflower plants and they bolted to a flower and are very bitter.   However, one of the cauliflowers did manage to form a fairly white head before it bloomed and therefore it is not bitter.  I plan on eating it.  Never bring in a bolted head of Cauliflower, you WILL be disappointed.

Thing # 2 - UN INSPECTED DOGS.  Never bring in your dog before checking what he was doing in the garden.
I wasn't watching Merit while I was weeding this morning.  He has a new haircut because he gets so hot in the summer.  It might seem wrong to cut the hair on a Sheltie, but his is so thick he is really uncomfortable outside, and he loves his yard.  Well, to make the story short, I called him in to a nice clean house to discover he had dug himself a little cave in the rock wall and wallowed in the dirt.  He went out nice and clean and came in full of dirt.  I wish they had an automatic Dog Wash. 

Thing # 3 - THIS SHOULD NOT GO OUT INTO THE GARDEN.  My new cute brown sandals I paid almost nothing for, but love.  I got busy weeding and throwing weeds and dirt everywhere then noticed what shoes I was wearing.  Once I quit my weeding project and come in to change those shoes, I am not going back out in that baking sun.  I came in anyway. I hope I didn't destroy my lovely Walmart cheapo brown sandals.  I just can't bear it.

Thing # 4 - BUGS MUST ALWAYS STAY OUTSIDE.  I have brought my fair share of earwigs and ants into the kitchen on the lettuce and leafy green plants.  I don't use insecticides on my garden, I believe in "share and share alike:  However, if they come into the house, I do my best to feed them to the disposal.  Once in a while one will make a break for the counter top and I blast it with my handy dandy faucet sprayer, or Lysol cleaner, then I feed it to the disposal.  That was the case today.  I was focused on the last spinach of the season, I wanted every last edible leaf.  Snip snip swish swish and on to the paper towel.  The fan is spinning in the kitchen and a thought a loose hair brushed my neck, so I quickly brushed it back with my hand.  Yikes, Ugh, Ick, Oh No, it was something squishy soft and large.  Chill, shiver, recoil, fling into the sink.  IT'S A SPIDER.  I'm doing the spider dance all over the kitchen floor.  Shake, scrape, brush do it all again, put your right foot out and shake it all about and do the hokey pokey and turn yourself around, that's what it's all about.  Gotta Love Gardening!