I have finally found it! A cookie recipe that comes out perfect! I’m extra exited about this because my cookies tend to be too puffy or too dense. I had pretty much given up on making a good cookie. This has been very frustrating for me, as you may know how much I love to cook, plus I have that awesome kitchen aid mixer just axin’ to be used…So, this weekend I decided to give it another go and I googled up “easy sugar cookies”. I found a few recipes and decided on this one. I did tweak it just a bit and now we are making our second round tonight. Canon is in the kitchen right now with some cut outs having a grand old time. He is really into cooking lately!
Here’s the recipe!
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Ingredients….
2 and 3/4 c. flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder (omit this if you like flat cookies)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup of butter…no wonder I like this recipe!
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla (I used almond extract and reduced it to 1/2. Almond tastes so old fashioned.)
Do this…
Cream butter and sugar.
In a separate bowl, mix dry ingredients.
Add egg and vanilla or almond extract to butter/sugar. Blend until light and fluffy.
Gradually blend dry ingredients into butter sugar egg.
Roll into 1 inch balls and place on a greased cookie sheet. Or roll out and use cut out shapes.
Bake for 10-12 minutes. Mine were perfect at 12 minutes.
We also sprinkled red colored cinnamon sugar before baking to give the holiday flare.
Makes about 4 dozen.
I hope you bake some of these for your friends and neighbors! Enjoy! I’m taking the last batch out of the oven right now!
We recently added a sauna at Texas Healing Arts and I am exited to  incorporate it into my hydrotherapy class. I found this interesting tidbit while doing research…
The Christmas sauna
The sauna has a special place in the Christmas traditions of many Finnish families. In past times, peasant families started heating their saunas two days before Christmas so that everybody could bathe before the sun set on Christmas eve. It was believed that once the darkness set in, the sauna would be used by the invisible folk, the previous inhabitants of the house. In lighter versions of the tale, the visitors would be sauna elves, who also brought good fortune to the house.
Even in modern times, many families go to the sauna as part of the Christmas eve preparations. After the sauna, they visit the graves of their families and friends before settling down for the festive dinner.
 If you are tired of using over the counter medications that leave you with troublesome side effects, try Homeopathy . It is a safe alternative that is relatively easy to figure out. With that being said, make sure to check with your doctor if you are already on medication. You may also consult your local Naturopathic doctor to help with diagnoses and recommendations. 
For self help, I usually hit Whole foods, go to the Boiron display unit and browse the symptom guide. The remedies come in little bottles and resemble B-Bs. Recently I saw a kit for colds or allergies, traveling etc. Arnica is a popular remedy for bruises. We have used many different ones for all kinds of snot conditions! There are other brands as well, but Boiron usually has the largest selection.
Here, I’ve included a little history on homeopathy to get you started.
Homeopathy, also known as homeopathic medicine, is a whole medical system that was developed in Germany more than 200 years ago and has been practiced in the United States since the early 19th century. People use homeopathy for a range of health concerns, from wellness and prevention, to the treatment of diseases and conditions such as allergies, asthma, chronic fatigue syndrome, depression, digestive disorders, ear infections, headaches, and skin rashes.
The principle of similars (or “like cures like”) is a central homeopathic principle. The principle states that a disease can be cured by a substance that produces similar symptoms in healthy people. For example, one of the remedies for watery eyes is derived from onions. This idea, which can be traced back to Hippocrates, was further developed by German physician Samuel Hahnemann. After he repeatedly ingested cinchona bark, a popular treatment for malaria, Hahnemann found that he developed the symptoms of the disease. He then theorized that if a substance could cause disease symptoms in a healthy person, small amounts could cure a sick person who had similar symptoms.
So off you go, into the wild world of homeopathic medicine. One thing to keep in mind, be specific with your symptoms. Simply stating that you have a cough is not enough information. You’ll want to describe it; hacking cough or wet cough, a cough that gets worse with cold , etc and so on. Homeopathy really forces you to look at your condition, not just lay back and dose up on the nyquil.
Be well!
 Olive trees have a history as old as civilization. Fossilized olive seeds carbon dated at 8,000 years of age have been found in Spain. We are fortunate to have this ancient medicine available to us still today.
Rich in Oleuropein, one of the strongest antioxidants known to mankind, the leaves of the olive tree are valued for their antimicrobial, immune boosting, as well as energizing effects. Olive leaf is nature’s antibiotic. It stuns pathogens, scavenges free radicals and stimulates the immune system to aid in creating a balanced body.
My favorite way to partake of the leaf is by drinking a tea. Pick the leaves, and crush them a bit to release the nutrients. Pour hot, not boiling water over and let them steep for 3 -5 minutes.
Use olive leaf for skin conditions such as Acne, Rosacea, or Psoriasis. The antimicrobial action targets in on pimples, while the powerful antioxidants relieve redness and irritation. Use the tea as a toner. Pour into a spray bottle and apply after cleansing. Be sure to use it up within a week’s time. Continue drinking olive leaf tea while using it on your skin. As your immune system gets stronger, your skin conditions will improve!
 We have been enjoying a new harvest of fresh leaves over at THAI. (Texas Healing Arts Institute). There are a few different varieties of olives growing on the grounds and it’s interesting to taste the subtle differences of each one.
Come by and sit down for a cup . We can chat about skin care and I’ll clean your skin for you with a freshly made olive leaf infused beauty tonic.
www.texashealingarts.com
Fall is here and with it comes the bountiful harvest of those gorgeous gourds we know as winter squash. Different from it’s summer cousin, winter squash grows on a vine and stays there until it’s skin has hardened, allowing it to be stored for 3 to 6 months. Round, elongated, scalloped or pear-shaped with flesh that ranges from golden-yellow to brilliant orange, these fall friends are loaded with vitamin A, and are a great source of fiber. Bake ‘em, stuff em’, make some soup. You can also use them for decoration until you’re ready to use them!
Here is a rundown of the different varieties you may see at the market these days. 
Acorn has distinctive longitudinal ridges and sweet, yellow-orange flesh. Although considered a “winter” squash, acorn squash belongs to the same species as all “summer” squashes (including zucchini and yellow crookneck). The most common variety is dark green in color. However, newer varieties have arisen including Golden Acorn, for its glowing yellow color, and some that are white. They can also be variegated (multi-colored). As the name suggests, its shape resembles that of an acorn. This one is good for stuffin’. Roast whole, cut longways, scoop out the seeds and let your imagination go wild!
Butternut is sweet and nutty , similar to pumpkin. It has yellow skin and orange fleshy pulp. When ripe, it turns increasingly deep orange, and becomes sweeter and richer. Butternut is most popular as a soup squash but If you’d like to try something different, after roasting this guy whole, scoop out the seeds and stuff the itty bitty part with some crabmeant dressing . Cover it with Parmesean and pop it under the broiler until it’s toasty brown. Ooh, mi cher….c’est ce bon!
Carnival squash have hard, thick skins and only the flesh is eaten. Cream colored with orange spots or pale green with dark green spots in vertical stripes, the delicious yellow meat is reminiscent of sweet potatoes and can be baked or steamed then combined with butter and fresh herbs.
Delicata may be my all time fave! It’s an heirloom from the late 1800s and was popular through the 1920s. It’s recent return has got me all a flitter with the ever so tender skin and sweet golden flesh. It’s flavor is reminiscent of corn with a hint of sweet potato. Try slicing them in rings, scoop out the seeds, then saute in butter and thyme. mmmm. Divine!
 The Hubbard squash is said to have a mysterious origin, possibly named after a Mrs. Elizabeth Hubbard in the 1840s, who gave seeds of it to friends, thus increasing its popularity. This particular variety is often tear-shaped, red, blue, or grey skin, and like the pumpkin can grow quite large. Some reach 50 pounds in weight! Mostly, I’ve seen the 10 pounders. I call it mellow yellow.
 Kabocha also known as japanese pumpkin, or kuri squash, is hard and knobbly-looking, with a dull finished deep green skin and an intense yellow-orange color on the inside. It has an exceptional naturally sweet flavor, even sweeter than butternuts. A favorite recipe I found in The Voluptuous Vegan is Red kuri and bean ragu.
 Spaghetti Squash is unique with it’s pasta like flesh. The larger the squash, the more flavor. Go for the bright yellow and stay away from the whitish ones. Cut this one in half, longways, scoop out the seeds and place open side down in a baking dish with 1/2 inch of water or so. Bake until tender, then after cooling scoop out the flesh with a fork. Saute for a bit to keep it from getting too mushy. Try it with olive oil, roasted red pepper, and feta!
Turban has colors that vary from bright orange, to green or white. It has golden-yellow flesh and tastes a bit like hazelnuts. These guys come in bizarre shapes with extravagant coloration that makes them popular as harvest ornamentals. The top can be sliced off so it can be hollowed and filled with soup. Festive!
I’m just wild about saffron.
…and he’s just wild about falling into a big pot of simmering winter squash soup. How can he resist? It’s in his nature. Do you know the story of Crocus? Well, we’ll talk about that later. For now, I must share this recipe before the details get filed away into the index card box inside my brain….
This recipe makes a big pot of soup. Enough to fill a crock pot.
Backyard Pumpkin Soup with Garlic and Saffron
ingredients:
5 - 10 lbs. winter squash (hubbard, butternut, acorn, kabocha, or pie pumpkin)
3 big cloves of garlic, minced.
olive oil
good coarse kosher salt
10 strands or so of saffron
stock (veg. or chicken - I cheated and used an organic MSG FREEE! boullion cube and water.
Heat the oven to 350.
Stab your pumpkin to make for some breathing holes and put him on a cookie sheet or pan.
Roast him whole for 30 minutes or so until a knife goes in easily.
Take it out and cut it in half. Let it rest until cool enough to handle.
Scoop out the seeds. (remember to save them!)
Peel off the skin, smash the pulp with a potato masher and set aside.
Saute garlic in a good amount of olive oil, maybe 1/4 cup or so.
Be gentle not to burn the garlic. When it starts sizzlin’ turn off the heat.
Add the squash. Mix it up.
Start adding stock until the consistency is soupy. It will be a little thin for now.
In batches, puree the mixture until creamy.
Or better yet, use a stick blender.
Pour it all into the pot and heat up to boil, then set low to simmer.
Salt it. This soup takes quite a bit of salt. It took about 3T. but start slowly. Better to add it later.
Saffron time! Start with 5 -6 strands first.
Simmer for a half our or so, tasting as you stir. Add more salt and saffron if needed.
It’s absolutely deevine with rustic sourdough croutons!
Croutons… Cut 1 -2 inch cubes of sourdough. Toss in olive oil and fresh rosemary. lay them out on a cookie sheet, sprinkle coarse salt and broil until brown.
*Last years pumpkin seeds grow into this years’ pumpkins. So, toss the seeds out in your backyard and wait… or if you want to start one for next year, get yourself a nice winter squash at the natural grocer. Make sure it’s certified organic.
Better yet, shop at your local farmer’s markets.
*Hubbard squash is what I had, courtesy of Keturah.
Hubbards have a blue grey look to them and can come in different shapes. Pretty big, mine was probably a 10 pounder. I love their flesh the best! Golden yellow, sweet. Yum.
My first commission piece. 20×40. watercolor on wood.
Currently I’m working on some similar pieces on recycled paper. If you like the style and interested in one, let me know. I plan to show in the East side studio tour this fall. Stay tuned!
Here’s a cropped version. A bit easier to see…
 With the awareness of toxicity in conventional household cleaners, an array of “natural” alternatives have made their way to the supermarket shelves. Even the most popular brands are touting eco-friendly versions. As I look through the choices on the shelf, I see products selling for $5 or more! I’d much rather spend that money on something other than cleaning products. So, I just make my own. With a few basic ingredients you can keep your home clean and fresh… and lower your weekly grocery bill!
SOME BASIC INGREDIENTS:
white vinegar - This could be the ONLY cleaning product in your home if need be.
A multitude of uses from medicinal to anti bacterial, vinegar should be kept in the home at all times. How does it work? you may ask…The acid in vinegar cuts through grease and germs. Healthy bacteria naturally found in vinegar goes to war with the bad bacteria. One of nature’s many disinfectants! I usually buy the least expensive white distilled for cleaning.
Borax - A natural occurring mineral composed of sodium, boron, oxygen, and water. It can be used as a laundry booster, deodorizer, or stain remover. It’s a great alternative to toxic scrubbing powders. The most common brand is Mule Team. It’s located on the laundry detergent isle in the grocery store. Although it’s not acutely toxic, be sure to read the manufacturer’s safety info on the box.
Baking Soda - Another natural occurring mineral, sodium bicarbonate. Used similarly to borax but non toxic. A safer choice when children are in the house. Plus, it’s a must for perfect chocolate chip cookies!
Lemon - Yep. Regular ole lemons. Naturally antibacterial and acidic. Here’s a good tip: Rub lemon on your chopping board to neutralize onion smell. Leave it for 10 min. Rinse with water.
Castille Soap - Dr. Bronner’s… It’s not homemade but a little goes a long way. Non toxic,too. I like to add a squirt in my cleaning mixture for extra dirty jobs. The natural surfactants get under the dirt and lift it off.
Also, you can choose one of the scented ones if you like essential oils but don’t have any on hand. My favorite is the eucalyptus!
Essential oils - Essential oils have natural anti-microbial properties. Here’s where you can customize your cleaners. Or just use them straight up. Essential oils are very concentrated so use sparingly. Keep it simple. Only use up to 3 different types in a mixture. You can refer to my aromatherapy page for more details on essential oils. (coming soon!)
A FEW RECIPES:
all-purpose household cleaner
In a 2 liter spray bottle, pour
1/2 c. white vinegar
1/4 c.baking soda (or 2t. borax)
fill to the top with water
Add 5 drops oil of lavender and 5 drops oil of tea tree. Shake it up.
Great for the kitchen and bathroom!
furniture polish
Using a recycled squirt bottle, like the one agave syrup comes in, or a jelly jar, pour equal parts olive oil and white vinegar. Add a couple drops of essential oil to freshen the smell.
no wax floor cleaner
1/2c. white vinegar
1/2 gallon warm water
10 drops desired essential oil or…
the juice of half a lemon!
wood floor cleaner
1 squirt castille soap
1/2 c. white vinegar
1/2 gallon water
RANDOM TIPS:
As far as dishwashing soap goes, I stick to 7th generation free and clear. In the past, I experimented with Dr. Bronner’s but found that it left a residue on the dishes. Maybe I didn’t dilute it enough.
Laundry detergent: I’ve seen recipes for homemade laundry detergent using plain bar soap, washing soda , and borax. I have not attempted to make it. I usually get whatever “free and clear” is on sale.
Garbage disposal deodorizer: Although I don’t have one, I read about this and thought it was really interesting… Freeze white vinegar in an ice tray. Drop a few vinegar cubes down the disposal and let it chop ‘em up. Intriguing…
Stinky dog remedy: Wet the hound down with fresh water. Use a mixture of 1c. vinegar, 2 gallons water and saturate yer dog’s coat. Dry off and the smell is gone!
To help with fleas- Put a teaspoon of vinegar in your pet’s water. For this I would use apple cider vinegar because of it’s health benefits.
Windows and mirrors: Use the all-purpose cleaner and your old newspapers to clean the windows. Less streaking and saves on paper towels!
Well, that’s all for today folks. I have a sudden urge to mop the floor…
 Oh yeah, and feel free to share your own natural concoctions right over there in the comment section…
This title comes to us courtesy of my client, Cathy. I was sharing with her the idea for my next posting. She said, ” a pantry spa!” Thanks Cathy, for the name. I love it.
Years ago I started a small business called Homegrown Healing. Branching out on my own after working in the spa industry for 10 years, I was eager to make my own skin care products. So I did! I had an extensive herb garden and made preparations the night before a client’s facial. Everything was fresh and raw so the leftovers were bottled up and sent home to be used within a week’s time. Now here we are 10 years later! I’d like to share some of the recipes with y’all. I love to hear feedback so let me know how your skin likes them!
quick cleansing milk
This preparation is good for all skin types. The lemon juice is astringent and quickly restores the pH balance of the skin.
1/2 small container of natural yogurt. ( I like White Mountain - made right around the corner!)
1 T extra virgin olive oil
1/2 T lemon juice
Whisk together and massage onto skin for one minute. Rinse with lukewarm water and follow with a toning infusion. ( Use within 2-3 days)
toning flower infusion
A nice way to add moisture to the skin after cleansing.
Make a tea (infusion) using fresh, organically grown herbs. Use 1 tablespoon of herbs to 1 cup of water. If you are using dried herbs, use 1/2 the amount.
Allow it to cool and store in a sterilized glass bottle or jar. Keep it in the fridge. Stays fresh for 3 days or so. Here’s a list of some herbs specific for different skin conditions:
normal/dry: rosehips, scented geranium, linden, calendula
normal/oily: lavender, chamomile, rosemary, thyme
When you’re ready to use the infusion, pour a small amount into your palm and massage into skin.
sage and yarrow moisturizer
 The grapefruit seed extract (available at most health food stores) , acts as a natural preservative helps to keep this moisturizer “good” for a couple of weeks without refrigeration.
2 t. dried yarrow flowers
2 t. dried sage leaves
1/2 c. filtered water
1/2 c. rosewater
2 T. vegetable glycerin
1 T. witch hazel
2 drops grapefruit seed extract
Boil the herbs in the filtered water in a stainless steel pan, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes. Allow to cool, then strain into a sterilized glass jar or bottle. Add the rosewater, glycerin, witch hazel, and grapefruit seed extract. Smooth into skin for an easily absorbed moisture treat.
During this time of year a lot of my clients complain of dry skin. If you feel like you are slathering yourself with the richest, creamiest lotions to no avail, try exfoliating your skin.
Yes, most of us do exfoliate our faces but sometimes our bodies get forgotten about. Dead skin accumulates and makes it tough for moisture to penetrate. Scrubs are great to rid the body of excess dead skin, but you can also do something that will give you even more healthful benefits.
Have you ever heard of dry brushing? Try this out: Before you get into the shower, brush your skin. A long handled bath brush works well but if you don’t have one, a wash cloth or towel works just fine.
Dry brushing also stimulates circulation and promotes lymphatic flow . Lymph is a liquid that filters toxins from the bloodstream so it’s important to brush in the direction of blood flow: toward the heart.
I like to start at the feet and move up. Use long, sweeping motions. Don’t be whimpy. Use more pressure than less, but don’t brush yourself raw! The skin can be a light pink color when finished. When you get to the tummy, brush in a clockwise motion to follow the direction of digestion. Up the back to the shoulders. Hop into the shower and wash your body. Practice this simple ritual daily for a month and see how you feel. I bet you’ll see a big difference with the dryness and an overall feeling of wellness.
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