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SOME BASIC INGREDIENTS: white vinegar - This could be the ONLY cleaning product in your home if need be. 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. 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 furniture polish no wax floor cleaner wood floor cleaner 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…
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!) 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 infusionA 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 When you’re ready to use the infusion, pour a small amount into your palm and massage into skin. sage and yarrow moisturizer
2 t. dried yarrow flowers 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. Coming up with a name for my blog seemed to be the greatest challenge of this endeavor. Many years ago, I had a business called Homegrown Healing. I practiced skin care using products I made from my garden. While contemplating names for this project, I kept going back and forth with different ideas. We went out for dinner one night and when the fortune cookies came around, my son opened mine. This fortune cookie you see had the message inside. ” It must be homegrown”. I decided then and there that this must be the name!
So, what is it? What is my blog all about, you may ask… This is my book, folks. I’m writing a lifestyle/cookbook. I’ll record info this year then go into editing/publication mode. Now that I’ve started my own skincare business, I’m also lettin’ y’all know what I’m up to… So read on, comment, SUBSCRIBE!!! and gosh darnit…let me touch you. Come and see me! If you are too far away then I hope to touch you with my words. I’m having so much fun with this. I hope y’all are enjoying it too. Cheers to us all! When Canon was a wee 6 month old, I worked for a short time as a cook at a small bistro in Hot Springs. This chili was on the menu. The barley is a nice substitute for meat. This is my version. So fast and easy, it’s a great standby when I ‘m on the run but want some hearty comfort food.
VEGETARIAN BEAN AND BARLEY CHILI 1 large can of diced tomatoes 1 small can of green chilis and tomatoes 1 can each of black beans, red beans, and pintos 1/4 cup barley (washed and rinsed) secret ingredient…shhhh… a “swirl” of molassas chili powder to taste ( make your own * see below) In a medium sized soup pot, bring tomatoes and barley to a slow boil. Allow to boil for 15 minutes until barley starts to expand a bit. Add beans and reduce heat to medium low. “Swirl in ” the molassas and add the chili powder. Stir and let it simmer until the barley is soft, about 15 minutes more. Finish it off with some shredded cheese, chopped green onion, and a dollop of sour cream. If you want to go vegan, substitute nutritional yeast for the cheese and soy “cream” for the sour cream. Awesome with blue corn tortilla chips! makes about 8 servings Homemade chili powder
MIx together cumin, paprika, a little cayenne, and salt. Enjoy!
So, I decided to put this little painting up for sale on Etsy. I’m making it available to download. Truly an eco friendly card. Saves paper, postage and gasoline! Folks can just download it and print up their own cards. OR, send it via email for a personalized, homegrown design! I finished another one last night,”turtle doves”. I’ll scan it tonight. Well, I better get back to paintin’. Next on the list…calling birds. Fun!
Just opened shop on Thanksgiving Day! I have 10 items for sale right now and busy working on more to show. Look for cute crochet purses and hand made hoLiday cards. I may even get a some help from my little elf. www.homegrownpammyjane.etsy.com
First of all, start with wholesome peanut butter. Ingredient label should read : peanuts,salt. Go for Organic. Peanuts are a big crop in the U.S. and heavily pesticide ridden. I know you don’t want your child gettin all ADD from the pesticide residue. (I’ll write more on that another time.) Celery : Organic. Please! I know it costs like 50cents more but really, it’s worth it. Did you know that celery has a calming affect? I learned this from the juiceman juicer recipe book. I like calming….Plus, the fiber is helpful with the kid who is resistant to eating veggies. If peanut allergies are an issue, try cashew or almond butter. If you want to experiment with them, look for the “grind yer own” section at Whole Foods. Sun Harvest and Wheatsville COOP have grinders too. If you really want to go all out, get a grinder! Food processor works great! I was making this recipe for my boy and his buddy yesterday and randomly picked up a spoon to spread the P.B. instead of a butter knife which I usually grab out of habit. OMG! The spoon is the way to go for an easy spread on the celery. With the butter knife, the P.B. gets all over the place and is quite a challenge to spread evenly and pretty. The spoon technique allows for quick little dabs to get the P.B. on juuust right! Really, the little things in life make me very happy… Raisins: Yawn… I like to mix things up a little. So, we used dried cranberries instead! The tartness is so delicious and great for the holidays. Now, don’t get me wrong, I looooove raisins. Variety is the spice of life, right? How ’bout mixing up golden and black ones for halloween? Fun Fun Fun. Try all kinds of dried fruits like blueberries, chopped apricots, diced pineapple. You can rename the critter on the log each time. The creativity is bursting at the seams!!! So, who da thought there could be so much to say about this simple childhood recipe ? Hopefully it helps us to stop and think about how many different ways we can experience something. See ya, I’m gonna make some right now…for me! Oh mi cher. In case you didn’t know, I’m a Texas born cajun child and i gots ta have my pork meat! The pork…
Heat up some olive oil in an iron skillet. Sear the chops on each side. I seasoned them with a spice blend of black pepper and Italian herbs. Pour on a small can of tomato sauce. Add half a can of water. Let it boil. Add some onion ( I had half of one left over from breakfast) and fresh parsley. Let it come to a boil. Cover it and turn down the heat to simmer. While the pork is simmering, cook the pasta. I bought some foglie di carciofo . That’s Italian for artichoke pasta. They are about an inch and a half long resembling little artichoke leaves. Threw in some fresh snap beans at the very last minute to the boil… I wanted to really bring out the artichoke flavor so I added some lemon zest (from my friend Gretchen’s lemon tree) tossed them with a little olive oil, added some fresh parsley, salt and voila! The pork chops were very tender. Parmesean sprinkles. mmm. Canon cleaned his plate and asked for seconds. So yummy… I saved some for my photographer. goodnight. |
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