Vegan Peanut Butter Cookies

Who doesn't love peanut butter cookies?

Ingredients
1 Cup Oil (I like coconut oil & Earth Balance Margarine)
1 Cup Peanut Butter (Almond Butter, if you like)
2 Cups Sugar (less if you use sucanat) If you are using white sugar, add some molasses or substitute some of the white for brown sugar for a better flavor.

Combine these ingredients. Then, in another bowl add:

2 1/2 Cups flour (any combination will do--I like whole wheat and rice flour, but if you must, white will work)
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
2 Tablespoons ground flax seeds (this is instead of adding two eggs to the Peanut Butter mixture)

Add the dry ingredients to the Peanut Butter mixture and mix together.
If you've made your own Almond Milk, add the leftover pulp to your cookie dough--so good!
Refrigerate dough for 1 hour.
Roll into little balls and let your kids smash them with a fork, any ol' way will do.
Bake for 10 minutes in 375 degree oven.

Serve with chilled Almond Milk for an added treat and nutrition!

Recyled Crayons and Peanut Butter Banana Sandwiches

  My sweet little Clover girl has found a new game.  Yep, you guessed it,  breaking crayons.  I just can't throw out half a box of crayons so I decided to make Clover Crayons!

All you need is:

Broken Crayons-paper removed
Oven

Oven safe Container- I used a silicone one because I figured it would be the easiest to get the crayons out of and it was. 

 

1 - Place all broken crayons in container and bake in oven at 250*.....I baked mine at 300* for 10 mins and the colors mixed a little more than I wanted them to so next time I'm going for 250*   I also grouped the colors Yellows-Oranges, Reds-Purples, Blues-Greens, and Black-Gray-White.

2 - Pull them out of the oven and let them cool until hard then pop them out... I was a little worried when I pulled them out of the oven because I figured I had over baked them and I really wanted to see all the different flicks of color but boy was I surprised when I popped them out!

Peanut Butter Sandwich

1

2

 The best part about these crayons is while they cool you can enjoy my favorite Elvis Sandwich Peanut Butter and Banana...Seriously every pregnancy I have HAD to eat these, even when I'm not PG I find myself craving these babies.
All you need is:
2 slices of Bread

3

4

Peanut Butter-Only Creamy Peanut Butter in my house baby!!!
1 Banana sliced up- I just was reading that the more brown spots a banana has on it the better it protects you against cancer, but all bananas help protect, so bring on the bananas.

Graduation Party I helped out with...

Table Center Peices

Dessert Table

These are the pictures of my mother in laws graduation party that I helped out with.... First lets start out with the dessert table, I made the cake, the lemon bars (ha ha the lemon bars have a sprig of mint on them for garnish that should take care of my herb week right?), anyway I also did the fruit/dip tray, the brownies, all the floral arrangements and all the signs. I wish I had a betterpicture of the table center pieces...they were really beautiful, the flowers were red and yellow garden roses with daises, the paper lanterns were glowing on a round mirror with 4 votive candles with rose petals in them surrounding each lantern. (the only picture I have really sucks!) 

Graduation a sweet sensation.

Graduate Silhouette

Congratulations sign

The signs were so easy and cheap to make, I went to the dollar store and got 2 rolls of shelf liner/tack paper, then I took some frames I had around the house and removed the pictures and glass and I covered the back boards with the tack paper.  The rest was on the computer, for the pictures of the frames I just googled boarders, I found a

few that I liked then I tweaked them quite a bit on Microsoft.  For the silhouette of the graduate girl I took several silhouette images and cropped them and put them all together...it was actually really fun. All I had to do after that was click print, then cut out each frame, then tape them on the tack paper.  I almost forgot I also did 3 batches of my garlic twisted bread sticks to go with the AMAZING Italian dinner my sister in laws made (sorry I have no pics-it was really really good though). For all the work that went into it I think it turned out great!





Peanut Butter

I loooove peanut butter.  It's so good in so many ways.  It's completely satisfying licked straight off the spoon.  It's right at home in Chinese stir fry.  Bananas, chocolate, ice cream and toast wouldn't be the same without it.  And I'll never forget the times that mom smeared peanut butter in my hair to melt away the gum that I thought was impossible to get out.  Songs have been written about this stuff.  It's that good.  Have fun!


it's peanut butter jelly time.  peanut butter jelly time.  peanut butter jelly with a baseball bat.

Raw Little Darlin' Lemon Thyme Shortbread

Last night was the night of the class I was teaching about herbs. It went sooooo well. Everyone had things to share and say, or questions to ask. I really enjoyed it! I served a few things there. This raw dessert was a hit. I hope you enjoy it too!
Peel of one lemon grated (I try to use organic)
Juice of one lemon
2 c. coconut flakes (unsweetened)
2 c. pecans or almonds soaked for 4 hours or overnight
1/3 c. pitted dates
1/4 c. agave or to taste ( You can eliminate either one, agave or dates and just do more of the other)
1 T. coconut oil
1/2 t. thyme dried or 1 t. fresh thyme chopped
dash of salt


First drain and rinse your pecans/or almonds. Place them in your food processor until they are crumb-like. Next combine everything else except for the coconut oil and coconut flakes. Process and while processing, slowly add the coconut flakes. If it gets too difficult to process, add the oil and then the remainder of the coconut flakes. Sometimes I will mix the very last bit by hand. Next, line a pan with plastic wrap so that it hangs over the edges of your pan. Add the mixture into the pan and press firmly into the pan. Then take the edges of plastic and fold them over the mixture as if you were wrapping it up. Cover with another sheet of plastic if you need to, then take a roller or a cylinder cup and roll it across the top, helping to firm it even more. Place the pan in the freezer for about 30 minutes and then serve. It can remain in the freezer for a month or so if it is properly sealed. Refrigerate the ones you don't eat to preserve them longer. They go fast because they are soooo yummy, so you probably won't need to! :)

I just wanted to share some pictures I took this morning. My girlfriends and I decided to start taking a 30 to 40 min. ride every morning. This is day 3! It has been so fun! We are of all types of ability, but it doesn't seem to matter. We cheer each other on up the hills and  whoop and holler coasting down them. It's great! We  enjoy the scenery and look at the amazing animals and landscape. These foals were born about 1 week ago. Aren't they sweet running along side their mothers? Happy Mother's Day to all my family! I hope you feel appreciated and loved. I know our Mother has been such a wise and loving influence in my life. I am so grateful to God for giving me such a woman to be my role model, friend, caring grandmother to my children, and tender mother to me. I love you Mom! 

Who Am I Kidding?!

I don't even know what to say....I can't get it done.  I'm going to have to pass on my turn.  Lisa, take it away girlfriend!

Baby Kimono

I just had to share! Heidi is having a Chinese kindergarten graduation party for Conner and she asked me to make Clover "something stylish to wear--and sleeveless." I had so much fun today, I hope it fits.

Since Clover doesn't like long dresses when she crawls--who would?--I made it extra short with little panties to match.

I made the pattern up from a photo, and I had pieces of fabric (can you imagine that!) and scraps of ribbon and bias tape, so the whole thing cost me only a fun Saturday afternoon!

Hope you like it, Clover!

I NEED MORE TIME!

I really want to work on a post for spices and herbs, AND I want to put up a new topic for the week,  BUT, I NEED MORE TIME.  Can I request and extension please?  Let's just say, we have the rest of this week to work on Kelly's topic and then on Sunday I will post the new topic for that week.  Is that ok?  Let me know.

Medicinal Uses of Culinary Herbs

 I was asked to give a class on herbs to the local women of the Relief Society. I am excited at the opportunity and a little nervous. I love to share with others what I have learned, but, I want to make sure I appeal to many peoples lifestyles. So, I will share with you a little of what I will share with them, mainly on culinary herbs and there medicinal values. I have planted 80 herbs, 8 different types of herbs, hoping to get some little sprouts by the time May 8th roles around. These little sprouts will go home with each of the women who would like one.

 So, I first labeled all my dixie 3 oz. cups with initials on the bottoms to know what herbs are in each cup.

Next I filled the cups with soil and watered them with about 3 - 4 T. of water.

Then I placed about 3 seeds in each cup. . . .

And covered them with a little dirt.

Last I covered them loosely with some plastic to keep the moisture in yet enough air way that they don't mold.

I planted Basil, Oregano, Rosemary, Thyme, Sage, Chamomile, Parsley, and Garlic.
It is surprising what these common kitchen herbs can offer to the taste buds and to feed to body medicinally.
Mom covered Basil in her blog, so I will refer you to hers for information on that. But, it is highly taken for granted. It's not just a pesto ingredient, but, great as a tea for indigestion, constipation, chest congestion, and bronchitis. In a bath it can soothe tired muscles!
Camomile is such a lovely little flower. I remember walking through an old and abandoned train station on my mission in Argentina. I kept thinking the smell was familiar. I looked down and there covered up and down the tracks was camomile! Lovely! It's greek name means "ground apple". That is a very good description of the flavor of the tea. Apple-y! The flowers is the part that is used. Fresh or dried make a tea and it is good for topical use for soothing skin that is irritated, rashy, heat rash, eczema, cuts, and sunburns. Drink the tea and it is good for indigestion of a nervous origin, insomnia, mood swings, and irritability. It also soothes the membranes in the digestive tract.
Garlic is said to originate from India and central Asia and was probably brought over to Britain by the Romans. Garlic can be in just about anything savory. Meats, vegetables, breads. In my schooling of natural healing it is said that 4 cloves of garlic is equal to a dose of antibiotic. I have found garlic to be powerfully effective. It is a great antiviral. It helps with the flu, coughs, chest infection, bronchitis, and low immunity. It also helps as a supplement for high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and a blood thinning remedy for circulatory diseases. Garlic is a good and bad name in our house. The kids know it is good for them and will help, but, sometimes it's hard to chew and swallow. :) 

Oregano has a strong flavor that lends itself well to Italian recipes and some Mexican foods. We use the leaves of this herb.  As a tea it helps headaches, menstrual cramps, insomnia, and digestion of rich foods. Also, as with Basil, it will soothe tired and aching muscles and help with rheumatic pain.  Soak a clean cotton cloth in the tea and lay it over the cuts and wounds that are swollen, it will reduce the swelling and help clean the wound. Keep the compress warm.  It is not advised to use oregano medicinally while you are pregnant. As a flavoring in foods, it is fine.

Parsley has a strong flavor as well. Used often as a garnish. It's name in greek means celery rock. The leaves are used in a tea to help with indigestion, fluid retention, and gout. It improves the appetite and improves the assimilation of nutrients. The leaves are high in vitamin C and iron. For colic (gas pains) for people from age infant to 100+, make a tea to drink. Drinking the tea also dries a mother's milk for those mother's wishing to wean their child. Mom makes a great smoothie called Chlorophyll Cocktail with parsley, alfalfa, and pineapple juice. It is an amazing drink, full of nutrition! and amazing flavor. My kids love it! and so do I!

Rosemary means "dew of the sea" because it originates from the rocky coastlines of the south Mediterranean. In the 16th Century, branches of rosemary were tied with ribbons and given to the wedding guests or as New Year tokens of good fortune. Rosemary is most often used with meat

dishes. I love rosemary with roasted potatoes, garlic, and salt! YUMMY! A tea made from dried or fresh leaves help headaches, migraines, tiredness, indigestion, and gas. The leaves put in a bath are invigorating to the body, also soothing for aches and pains.
Sage in Latin means to save or to be in good health. The leaves are used in meat and cheese dishes commonly. I always associate sage with stuffing and poultry. A tea of sage made hot will open the pores and cause profuse sweating, the tea made cold will control excessive sweating. Sage is great for those with digestion weakness or ailments. It is especially good for gas, lack of appetite, constipation and being overweight.
Thyme is one of my favorite plants in my garden. It has tiny leaves that smell this wonderful lemony smell. Thyme comes from the greek word thumus, meaning courage. I love that! It goes well with all meats or root vegetables. I love it in my French Onion Soup! Making a tea from the fresh or dried leaves helps sore throats, coughs, colds, shortness of breath, and hoarseness. It can be mixed with onion and honey and cooked for 20 min. to make a tea for whooping cough. I used it when my house was full of whooping cough. It really made a difference for me! It is said that it works as an antiseptic in this form. That means it stops microorganisms from growing. 
One of the best places to buy your herbs, other than getting them from your own yard, is at a health food store. Most health food stores have a bulk herb section that will allow you to buy those herbs. Look for these there. They are often cheaper and a much higher quality flavor and potency than that of the grocery store. 
I didn't even mention the oils of these plants. They are magical in their uses medicinally. I hope you were able to learn something new, I did! Now when you look at these herbs on your shelves, you can find more than one way to use them!

BASIL

Growing, Selecting And Using Basil

Basil is truly an incredible herb. It is enjoyed for its rich and spicy, mildly peppery flavor with a trace of mint and clove. Basil is an annual herb belonging to the mint family, Lamiaceae (Labiatae) and like others in this family, basil can be identified by its square, hairy stems. There are over 40 known varieties of basil of which Ocimum basilicum or Sweet Basil is the most commonly known and grown. Ocimum is from a Greek verb that means "to be fragrant." The foliage is easily bruised; just brushing against its foliage releases its wonderfully spicy fragrance. Varieties can grow to a height of 2 1/2 feet and are about as wide. Foliage colors range from pale to deep green, vivid purple and even purple laced with goldish yellow foliage. Texture varies from silky and shiny to dull and crinkly. Flowers appear in summer as whorls on the ends of branches and are either white or lavender. Some of the unusual fragrances and flavors include: cinnamon, lemon and anise. Basil is native to India and Asia having been cultivated there for more than 5,000 years. It is grown there as a perennial in those warm, tropical climates.
With so many attributes it isn't any wonder that basil has become increasingly popular over the years. Being a member of the mint family, it is not surprising to see it recommended for digestive complaints. So instead of an after dinner mint, try sipping an after dinner cup of basil tea to aid digestion and dispel flatulence. Herbalists have recommended basil for years for stomach cramps, vomiting and constipation. Basil has been described as having a slight sedative action, which would explain why it is sometimes recommended for headaches and anxiety.

Culture

Basil is surprisingly easy to grow. It is easily grown from seed regardless of whether it is started indoors or broadcast outside in the garden after the danger of frost has passed. Basil is very tender and sensitive to frost injury. For indoor culture, sow seeds in a flat, and cover them with a moistened, sterile mix to a depth not more than twice the size of the seed. Space seeds 3/8 to 1/2 inch apart in the flat. Maintain a soil temperature of approximately 70 degrees F. Once germination begins, at 5 to 7 days, the plantlets must be kept warm at 70 degrees F or above and the soil must be kept moist. When seedlings have at least 2 pairs of true leaves, transplant them to 2 inch pots.
Basils grow best in a sunny location and need a well-drained, rich soil. Plants started indoors and hardened off in May can be planted outside to their permanent location and spaced about 12 inches apart. Since moisture is important to a good basil crop, mulching the area will not only discourage weeds but will maintain the moisture level of the soil keeping the plant healthy. Basil prefers a soil pH of 5.5 to 6.5. Fertilize basil sparingly as this decreases the fragrant oils. To encourage a bushy, healthy plant and to maximize production, don't be afraid to prune basil. Pinch off the flower buds as soon as they begin to emerge. Basil will usually have to be pruned every 2 to 3 weeks.

Harvesting

The ideal time to harvest basil and other herbs that are to be dried, is on a sunny morning immediately after the dew has evaporated and before the day becomes too warm. When harvesting basil, cut it back to about 1/4 inch above a node. Leave enough foliage on the plant so it can continue growing healthy.
There are several methods you can use to dry basil; all methods are relatively simple. First dry basil in small bunches by hanging them upside down in a dark, dry, warm, well ventilated room. Use twine, rubber bands or twist ties to hold the bundles together. Second, you can dry basil leaves on screens placed outside in the shade on a hot day. Cover them with cheesecloth to keep the leaves from blowing away. Still another method of drying is on a low setting in the microwave. Lay basil on a paper towel and cover it with a paper towel. It could take up to 3 minutes to dry basil in the microwave. Stop periodically throughout the drying process to turn the basil to help promote quicker drying and to avoid burning. It is very difficult to dry herbs without burning them because of hot spots in the microwave. If you smell the herb as it's drying, chances are you have lost many of the fragrant oils. After drying the basil, store in a sealed, preferably dark container away from the heat.
In addition to the drying methods mentioned above, you can also preserve basil by freezing it in ice cubes (nearest to fresh taste when added to cooked foods), putting fresh leaves in vinegar or oil (most useful in salad dressing), and blending it with oil, cheese, and pine nuts, (walnuts or sunflower seeds) to make pesto. Pesto freezes well for six months. Be sure to "seal" your pesto with a layer of olive oil. Dark opal basil makes a beautiful, tangy purple vinegar. Putting herbs in vinegar captures their flavor for the months when fresh herbs are not available.

Uses

Basils can be used in the herb garden, flower garden, as borders plants, in containers, raised beds, and in hanging baskets.
Each variety of basil can add an accent to a garden: dark opal offers stunning purple foliage and mauve flowers; the miniature or bush basil is especially attractive for borders; the ruffled varieties (O. basilicum 'PurpleRuffles' and O. basilicum 'Green RuMes') offer unique textures.
Bring the wonderful fragrance of basil indoors by incorporating them in potpourris, sachets, and dried winter bouquets. The heavily scented opal basil and the sweet scented thyrsiflora basil are particularly good. Other fragrant varieties include: lemon, anise and cinnamon basils.
The best flavor is found in fresh leaves, but frozen and dried leaves are worth the effort also. The leaves can be used cooked or raw. Crush, chip or mince the leaves and add to recipes, or add whole leaves to salads. Sprigs of basil make a wonderfully aromatic garnish. The flowers are beautiful, edible, and also make a unique garnish.
Basil is traditional in Italian, Mediterranean andThai cookery. It is superb with veal, lamb, fish, poultry, whitebeans, pasta, rice, tomatoes, cheese and eggs. It blends well with garlic, thyme and lemon. Basil adds zip to mild vegetables like zucchini, summer squash, eggplant, potatoes, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, parsnips, spinach and to the soups, stews and sauces in which these vegetables appear.

Basil Species and Varieties
Name	Flower	Leaves	Comments
Ocimum basilicum Sweet Basil	White	Deep green	Excellent in salads, vinegars, pesto
O. basilicum 'Crispum' Lettuce-leaf Basil	White	Very large, crinkled	Excellent in salads
O. basilicum 'Green Ruffles' Green Ruffles Basil	White	Lime grean, serrated, ruffled, much longer than sweet basil	Excellant omamantal good accent plant, borders
O. basilicum 'Minimum' Bush Basil	White	1-1 1/2 in.	Dwarf, compact foml; good for pot culture and borders
O. basilicum 'Purple Ruffles' Purple Ruffles Basil	Lavender	Dark maroon, shiny	Striking omamental; good accent plant, borda, excellent in vinegar and as a garnish
O. basilicum 'Purpurascens' Dark Opal Basil	Lavender	Deep purple, shiny	Striking omamantal; excellent in vinegar and as a garnish
O. basilicum 'Thyrsiflora' Thyrsiflora Basil	White and deep lavender	Bright green, smooth	Very sweet fragrance; used in Thai cooking
O. kilimandscharicum Camphor Basil	White, red anthers	Green	Camphor scented; tea taken for stomachaches and colds; not used in cooking
O. sanctum Holy Basil	Lavender	Gray-green, coarse	Sweet fragrance; excellent omamental; not used in cooking

Jeanne Youger-Comaty. "Growing, Selecting, and Using Basil".  Ohio State University Extension Fact Sheet.   Ohio State University.  April 28, 2012.  <http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/1000/1644.html>

Kale Chips

Kale has been a new discovery for me.  I never used to like it, but then I'd never really given it a chance.  It's like the Green Eggs and Ham story.  I would not eat it with a fox or in a box or with a mouse or in a house.  I would not eat it anywhere.  And then I tried it.

A few weeks ago a group of friends and I started up a girls craft night that we hold every two weeks at one of our homes.  We all get to leave our kids at home and bring over whatever crafty thing we're working on.  We sit and chat and enjoy everyone's company and talk about the fun crafts that are happening or the crappy things that are going on at work or the awesome things our kids are doing.  It's so much fun.

Last week we went to the home of our dining hall manager's wife.  Her husband is an amazing chef and he offered to make a little snack for our group.  He made a fruit, cheese and cracker platter, but it was simply elegant.  The fruit was sliced into perfect little 1/8" slices arranged about a wooden board.  There were three different kinds of cheeses, none of which you could find in a regular grocery store.  Small cups were placed around the serving board and were full of dried fruits spilling gracefully out over the edges.  The crackers were definitely not made by Nabisco.

The most surprising thing for me was the kale chips.  What???  Kale chips?  I had to ask which of the crackers was the one with the kale.  None of them.  It was the bowl of perfectly crisped, lightly salted bits of kale sitting in a bowl to the side.  They were positively addicting.  I couldn't stop eating them.  I thought about them for days afterward.  I asked for the recipe and will share it with you now because you have got to try this.  If you don't try another recipe from this blog, you must try this one.

These things are like potato chips.  You know, you just can't stop at one chip?  I ate the entire cookie-sheet-pan full of kale by myself.  It was so good that I felt guilty after doing so.  But then I reminded myself that this was kale that I just devoured.  And then I didn't feel so bad.  But, I didn't share them.  I am a bad person.  Be naughty with me.  Make these.  Eat the whole bowl all by yourself.  You will thank me.

Kale Chips

1 head kale, washed and thoroughly dried

2 tablespoons olive oil

Sea salt, for sprinkling

Preheat the oven to 275 degrees F.

Remove the ribs from the kale and cut into 1 1/2-inch pieces. Toss with olive oil and salt.  Lay on a baking sheet  and bake until crisp, turning the leaves halfway through, about 20 minutes. Serve as finger food.

Herbs and Spice and Everything Nice!

Thyme

Guess who the proud owner of this herb and spice rack is to your left? . . . . ME! I am so happy to have it. I love it! Mom actually set me up with all these containers and labels. She is so awesome! I got the shelving at a garage sale for a couple dollars and now walla! I love it and use it everyday! I used to wonder how people could use so many different herbs and spices. How did they know how and when to use them? Well, I am still learning, but, a lot of it comes from just trying them out over time. I'd follow a recipe and try a new one out. You get used to a flavor and then you can match it with other flavors. It can be really fun for me and more over when the herbs or spices you are using in a culinary fashion have medicinal action as well, it's delightful to learn! We have the power with in us and around us to create, heal, and enjoy life. This week I challenge us all to try out some herbs and/or spices. Learn about their characteristics and how to use them. This is a great time to plant some too! I look forward to what we all have to share! Have a great week! P.S. Sorry for the funky placement of the pictures. They were not cooperating, so I gave up trying.  You get the idea.

Lavender

Oregano

Clove Oil & Vinegar

I'm afraid my research is only personal on this, but perhaps it's worthy of sharing. Without health insurance and not much confidence in the medical profession anyway, I tend to reach for inspiration for health remedies. A few years ago I was having some skin cancer spots on my face and knew I had to do something. I had been to a dermatologist years before, but $500. was currently out of my range.
I can't even remember what prompted me to use these items, but use them I did and I continue to do so.
Apple Cider Vinegar & Clove Oil
Initially, I used a cotton ball and rubbed the affected area with apple cider vinegar. Then with a q-tip I dabbed on some clove oil, rubbing it in a bit, also. I did this two or three times a day for about two weeks. Then I got a little frightened because the spots were getting more red and scabby, so I stopped with the clove oil and continued with the vinegar. (What's interesting is that the healthy skin around the lesions did not get red and scabby, just the original sores.) My face didn't get worse, in fact it started healing quite quickly. In about a week my face was totally healed with no trace of the original lesions and no scarring. As I reflected on my experience, I realized that the process I went through was similar to what the dermatologist had done a few years earlier. That cream they give you to put on your face that turns the skin cancers into red scabby spots all over your face--same experience, only not as intense, and I felt in control.
I use apple cider vinegar as an astringent several times a week now--it makes a PH level that cancer doesn't like. And when I feel I need it, I do the clove oil treatment with more aggression.

Castor Oil Cures with a little Lavender

Castor Oil
Castor oil comes from a castor bean plant that is grown mostly in the Mediterranean, Africa, and India. The oil comes from the seed of the plant, which is called the bean, but is actually the seed. If the seed is eaten it is very poisonous. However, if the seed is cold pressed, it is not toxic to the body. It is very versatile in its uses. You may see it in the ingredients in your soaps, shampoos, mechanical products, foods. It has been used for a variety of ailments as well. I first heard about it when I was pregnant with my first child. Someone told me if I wanted to go into labor, to drink castor oil. Ok, well, I tried. But, it was so thick I had a hard time swallowing. When taken internally, it stimulates the bowels to contract and thus irritates the uterus as well. It gets things movin'.  A few years ago,  I thought I had breast cancer. I had a lump and I went to a doctor to have an exam. They didn't help me much. They didn't even feel it to see what I was talking about. They said unless it is oozing, I am probably ok. Well, that didn't help me feel at peace. Especially for a $70 bill to hear that counsel! So, I called David Christopher, a Master Herbalist in my area and overseer of the School of Natural Healing where I attend. He said to put castor oil on the affected area with a damp cloth over that, and then a piece of plastic over that. Then he said to get a hot pack and a cold pack. Put the hot pack on for 12 min. and then the cold for 4 min. Back and forth I did that for 2 hours while I watched a movie to entertain myself. I did that for only 2 nights and I could tell that the lump was going away. It did completely. I do not believe I had cancer. I believe I had some congestion built up there that needed help moving along. Castor oil does just that. It goes into the blood stream and helps to remove mucous and toxins from the inner body. I have used castor oil with gall stones and stomach cramps as well. I had gall stones that felt horrible. It's like getting speared in the back to the front. Terrible. When I realized why I felt so bad, I took a drink of watered down apple cider vinegar and did another application of castor oil as I mentioned earlier. I did that for a while. I put it in the tub water while I bathed also. It helped to move things greatly, along with the vinegar and apple juice I drank. After 2 days, I was noticeably better. I have also used castor oil while I was doing a cleanse. I applied the oil externally over my liver and placed the damp cloth and plastic over the area and then did the hot and cold packs. I did that for 30 minutes and it helped. The liver is your detoxifier and when you are cleansing it gets over worked. So, this helps it along greatly.  I have heard of using castor oil as a  face cleanser to clogged pores. Rub the oil on the face and then follow with a hot, wet cloth. Hold it on for as long as you can, then re wet and repeat for 10 min.  Wash off the oil with soap when finished. I also found this on the internet about helping to prevent hair loss. I really believe in the ability castor oil has to create movement and cleansing to areas.

How Do You Use Castor Oil to Prevent Hair Loss?

Here are the common step-by-step techniques for using castor oil in hair loss:

1. Using your fingertips, apply high quality castor oil to your roots and scalp.
2. Make sure that you distribute the oil evenly on the scalp.
3. Do your best to avoid the oil fro getting into your hair as its thick consistency may be hard to wash out.
4. After applying it to your scalp, cover your hair with a plastic cap and wrap it in a towel.
5. Let the oil stay in your hair for at least 15 to 20 minutes or allow it to set overnight.
6. Wash it out with shampoo after to remove the castor oil.
7. Do this once a week for 6-8 weeks to see the results.

Depending on your preference, you can also mix the oil with other oils (i.e. grape seed) to eliminate the super-thick consistency and unpleasant scent of castor oil.

www.castoroilhome.com/castor-oil-hair-growth-treatment

Lavender Oil

Last I wanted to share my new favorite! Lavender oil! I got this bottle from a race I ran last year for Lavender Days in Nephi, Utah. Young Living has a lavender farm just 10 minutes from my house and I finally remembered to sign up for their run! As a gift to the runners, we received oil and a shirt, etc. It was awesome! Now I use it everyday as my perfume and mood enhancer. I place it on my shoulders and wrists. I have received so many compliments for how soothing and lovely it smells. It has really been a good switch for me and my mood. Lavender oil is also a great healer. It is great put topically on bruises! I also put it in my bath water or in my oils to  moisturize my body. I looooove my lavender! In fact, you could add lavender to all the uses I just explained with the castor oil. A few drops with your castor oil and you have a lovely smelling medicine! I use fresh lavender as a tea as well. With a little lemon and honey, now that is really lovely! Mmmmmm!

Coconut Oil

One of my friends gave me this for a birthday present and a list of 52 uses for coconut oil, and an article on "oil pulling" (which I thought was going to be something like taffy pulling....boy was I wrong!).  Anyway, first thing I did was rub some on my hands, which felt really good.  Then I sat down and read all about coconut oil.  (just google "oil pulling coconut oil", because there is just too much information for me to write about) It all made good sense to me, I was not about to try it, but it still made sense. I wanted to see John's reaction, which surprised me!  He said he was gonna try it!!  The next day I saw my friend and told her how much I loved the stuff and that John said he was going to try oil pulling.  She told me that she has been doing it and that it made her hemorrhoids go away (then she apologized for sharing too much information! ha ha, ya gotta love her)  Not that I have hemorrhoids, but she was so excited about it that I felt like I wanted to try it.  So last night I gathered up my courage and decided to try it.  And I have to say....it's not bad!  In fact I'm doing it again tonight (right now in fact).  I'm gonna give it a week and see if anything is miraculously cured!  I'll let you all know how it goes.
Now, I want you all to know I purposefully left out all the details so that those of you who do not know what oil pulling is will have to look it up, otherwise I would be here typing all night.  The article I read was "Oil Pulling for a Brighter Smile and Better Health" by Bruce Fife.

All Natural Essental Oil Bug Spray and All Natural Mold Killer/Prevention

We have so many bugs in Kansas that I needed something to keep the bugs away from my kids that was not packed full of chemicals. Essential oils were the key for me. This may initially cost a bit but over time this makes a ton of bug spray. If you are concerned about cost you can always start with just Witch Hazel and Citronella just keep the ratios about 10-25 drops essential oil to 2 tablespoons of witch hazel. Be creative with this its your own bug spray so you want to enjoy the smell. Other oils that deter bugs are: Lavender, Eucalyptus (can be hard on the skin though), Lemon, Thyme, Pennyroyal, Geranium, and Catnip (great for mosquitoes).

1 brown glass sprayer-essential oils keep better in a brown glass. $1.50

1/2 cup Witch Hazel-is soothing to the skin especially insect bites. $1.44

35 drops Citronella-is know for keeping bugs away. $4.00
15 drops Lemon Grass- deters mosquitoes. $11.55
15 drops Cinnamon Leaf- deters mosquitoes. $7.55
15 drops Cedarwood-deters most bugs. $9.00
15 drops Rose- deters ticks. $15.00

Mold Killer/Prevention
Before you use this mix make sure to clean all mold, personally I use bleach (make sure to wait 24 hours to spray after bleaching). The thing about bleach is after a day or so it will not do anything to keep away mold that's where the essential oils come in they will actually continue to work over time. My experience with this mix is about 1 year of prevention. This is a base recipe you can adjust the amounts to smell good to you. Just keep in mind the 2 important oils are Cinnamon and Cloves be sure to keep these in fairly high amounts.

1 brown glass sprayer
1/2 cup white vinegar or witch hazel
35 drops Cinnamon Leaf-Stops mold in its tracks.
30 drops Clove oil-Highly anti fungal.
20 drops Rosemary
10 drops Lemon
10 drops Eucalyptus

Oils

I thought this week it would be fun to have a topic that could encompass many different areas. So ta-da Oils....just think of the possibilities: oil paints, essential oils, massage oils, cooking oils what the heck even motor oils, the list could go on forever!