2 Recipes with Summer tomatoes

Summer tomatoes are the best. They are so ripe, and have such incredible flavor and I have bean using them like crazy.  

For the first recipe I took 3 medium-small tomatoes (2 red and 1 yellow) from our greenhouse and one sweet pepper from farmers market. I sliced them and roasted them with olive oil, salt, pepper, kalamata olives, and basil on 2 slices of bread (I used a sprouted grain bread) then topped them with some raw monterey jack and some herbed goat cheese. You can either roast everything separate from the bread and then top the bread with it later, or you can put the bread on a sheet pan with some olive oil on the bottom and put all of the toppings on it minus the cheese and broil it for 10-20 minutes in the middle of the oven then top with the cheese and let it melt.The 2nd option is a little more tricky to get the bread toasted and the veggies roasted just right, but either way you are left with deliciousness. 

This next recipe is even easier. Cut up some sweet peppers, tomatoes, and cucumbers (I used lemon cucumbers) and toss with olive, a bit of vinegar (balsamic or red wine) goat cheese, basil and/or other herbs, salt and pepper. This recipe is so easy to change that it makes a great salad to start with if you are wanting to start branching away from recipes to make your meals more personal.

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The Truth About Fat.

I'm starting a series on food. Specifically posts that will focus on a food group, but I'll probably decide to  post about some diets and whatever else informational that comes to mind. Today though I am going to focus on fat. This is probably one of the most difficult concepts for people to grasp now days, but FAT IS GOOD! Yes it makes food taste good, but it is also so good for us! Isn't that exciting? Also, not to blow your minds or anything, but fat can help you LOOSE weight! YES! I am totally serious and this is based from science people, SCIENCE! 

When you eat fat with sugar it makes it so that you don't have a crazy sugar spike that raises your insulin levels and makes you gain weight. Saturated fat plays an important roll in the communication of your metabolism and for your body to know how much insulin to produce. (If your not getting enough saturated fat, then your metabolism gets all whacked out) Also, when you eat fat, especially fat with longer chain lengths (molecularly speaking) they take longer for your body to use, giving your body longer to use the calories in the fat and the other food you eat with it as well as keeping you full longer. Don't focus on the chain lengths, it's pointless and if you do get it all figured out your body is going to get unbalanced from you trying to eat just one type of fat. If you eat healthy fats from  meats, dairy, and healthy nut oils you will get a good variety of short to long chained fatty acids. 

The shorter chained fatty acids absorb quickly into the body, giving you an initial boost of energy. They also have anti-microbial properties to them which kills viruses, yeast, and harmful bacteria, protecting your body from whatever you put into it from the start. Medium chained fatty acids also have anti-microbial properties. 

You must have fat for brain health. The brain can consist of as much as 60% fat. The calories in mothers milk is 50% from fat, most of that is saturated fat. Children need good fats and cholesterol for proper development, especially for the brain. If your brain isn't healthy then the rest of you isn't going to be ether. Fat is important for the absorption of vitamins A, D, E, and K. If  you have a vitamin deficiency may be you might just need more fat to be able to absorb that vitamin.

Lets talk a bit about saturated fat. I know what you'r thinking, "Run away! It's evil! It's going to give you heart disease!" Well, no, it's not. Before the 1920's heart disease was extremely rare in America. How can this be when it is now the main cause of death? Heart disease has bean the main cause of death since the mid-1950's even.  From 1910 to 1970 the proportion of animal fat in the American diet went down from 83% to 62%. American used to eat 18 pounds of butter per person a year, and now it is only 4. The cholesterol intake has only increased by 1% so it can't be that, but vegetable and refined oil consumption raised 400%! The consumption of sugar and processed foods increased by 60%. I doubt that this is the only reason for heart disease, but all of the studies of people groups that I have seen show that the groups that eat only healthy fats mostly from animals and some from nut and olive and none from processed vegetable oil such as from corn, soy etc show that the people who eat a lot of saturated fats and good cholesterol had less heart problems, were a healthier weight, happier and generally healthier in every way. I know that this seems really weird to you, but their is very little proof that diets low in saturated fat or cholesterol lowers heart disease. 

Here are some nifty facts that I pulled out of Nourishing Traditions:

• Cell membranes consist of at least 50% saturated fatty acids giving them integrity. 
• For calcium to be effectively incorporated into your bones, at least 50% of your fat intake needs to be saturated
• Saturated fats lower LP, a substance in the blood that indicates a proneness to heart disease
• Saturated fats protect the liver from Alcohol and toxins
• Saturated Fats enhance the immune system
• Saturated fats are needed for your body to be able to use other fatty acids properly
• Saturated fats surround the heart for it to use in times of stress. Yes, your heart loves saturated fat, it is its the best food for it.
• Short and medium chain saturated fatty acids protect us from harmful microorganisms in the digestive tracts.
• People who live in the tropics that use coconut and palm oil have less intestinal and bacterial problems than people in the tropics that use processed vegetable oils because coconut and palm oil kill harmful bacteria and fungus.
• Cholesterol actually protects from free radical damage
• Like certain oils, cholesterol can become damaged by high heat such as high temperature frying, which can cause damage to arterial cells and plaque buildup in the arteries. 
• Bile salts are made from cholesterol, which is vital to digestion.
• Dietary cholesterol is important for maintaining the health of the intestinal wall. 

The countries where people live the longest (Japan, Switzerland, Greece, and Austria) eat healthy fat, and little processed foods. Japan has increased in longevity since World War II along with an increase of fat and animal protein in their diet. The Swiss eat one of the fattiest diets in the world, but are second in longevity. I seriously think that we really used to have a good thing going for us, and as evidence shows, people in Japan, Switzerland and other countries can be healthy eating the way our forefathers ate, why cant we? Their is all this nonsense about diets and what is best and what isn't. and so much confusion when we just need to get back to our roots. Being healthy, and eating healthy isn't difficult. It isn't bland, and tasteless. It's full of fatty goodness, rich spices, and beautiful herbs that give our bodies so much nutrition and vibrant health. 

The good fats:

(I am not including shellfish, pork, or other unclean meets simply because... well, parasites are nasty.)

Fats from grass fed beef, goats, mutton/lamb, etc.

Fats from grass fed dairy products (better if raw)

Flax seed oil (high in omega 3's)

Macadamia nut oil (balances your omega 3's and 6's)

Olive oil (has a long fatty acid chain so it can make you put on more fat than butter or coconut oil. Odd isn't it?)

Peanut oil (in small amounts because of its high omega 6 content)

Sessame oil (in small amounts because of its high omega 6 content)

Palm Oil (very good for you, can be used at high heat, and is high in lauric acid which is anti microbial.) 

Coconut oil (also extremely good for you, can be used at high heat, and is high in lauric acid)

Oils to not ingest:

Safflower, Corn, Sunflower, Soybean, Cottonseed, and Canola oils. These oils go rancid easily. They can not be heated, or they go rancid, creating free radicals that damage your cells. Canola can cause a deficiency in vitamin E which is necessary for a healthy heart, and can also cause heart lesions from its erucic acid content. 

I hope you found this beneficial. You can subscribe over on the side bar with either email, blogger, or google. 

further reading

On coconut oil. Highly recommend you read this!  http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2010/10/22/coconut-oil-and-saturated-fats-can-make-you-healthy.aspx

http://wellnessmama.com/1265/why-you-need-saturated-fat/

Stretchmark cream and face cream

This is my favorite recipe for stretch marks, it even works for getting rid of older ones and their are no expensive ingredients; even better it smells like white chocolate and roses. The coco butter and the castor oils are both great for stretch marks, by themselves and the castor oil works for cellulite too, but it needs another oil to make it work better and that's where the coco butter works again! The face cream is light and works for even cleaning of makeup and washing your face. 

For the stretch mark cream:

The castor oil makes this a bit sticky, so it's kinda weird at first but it's so awesome at working well.

(variation for an even easier version after directions)

1 oz of beeswax

3.5 oz of coco butter

3.5 oz of castor oil

1 tsp of vitamin E oil

5 oz of rose water or just water 

dissolve a heavy pinch of borax into the water to make it easier to mix everything together. You need a good borax that is specifically for cosmetic uses. I get mine from mountain rose herbs. 

Melt the beeswax in a double boiler, melt the coco butter, then add in the castor oil and the vitamin E oil. Once all of that is melted, take the mix off of the heat and slowly mix in the water with a beater. You can whisk it really quickly but the beaters are much easier. You can add in a few drops of rose oil or other repairative oils to make it more potent, but if you are pregnant make sure that they are safe to use. Lavender and rose are both good choices.  And your done! Massage into the skin daily after a shower when your skin is more receptive for best results.

Variation to make it even easier: Melt two parts cocoa butter and mix with one part castor oil. Add a few drops of rose oil or rosewater concentrate if desired.

For the face cream:
For this face cream you will need to use whatever type of oil you use to wash your face. Click HERE to learn more about the oil cleansing method. I use macadamia nut oil.
1 part beeswax
3 parts oil
2 to 3 parts water (you can use a hydrosol too)
a pinch of borax and arrowroot powder dissolved in the water (optional)

Melt the beeswax, add in the oil and make sure everything is melted, then mix in the water.

Use as a face cream or even as a light hand cream. Since you will be using the oil that works best for your skin then it will work to help it out wherever you put it. 

Acid/Alkaline

Unfortunately I wasn't able to do the stretch mark cream diy that I had planned for this week, but it will be up by the end of next week, so keep an eye out for it. In the mean time I am posting a video by Markus Rothkranz that explains the alkaline diet myth. Which, the alkaline diet not working makes SO much sense! Especially if you payed attention in science class, but then again I am a bit of a nerd that way; haha! I found it very interesting that your saliva adjusts to the ph of food, even if you'r just thinking about it! So crazy! Thank's mom for showing this to me, xo!

Restful tea recipe and how to brew and store tea

I have been making this blend to help my husband sleep. This tea is flavorful and nicely calming. For my husbands tea I use chamomile as a base, but since I have read quite a bit that pregnant women shouldn't use chamomile, I use Red Bush tea for my base. (consult with your Midwife or Dr. before trying any herbal teas.) Red bush tea has many health benefits to it and is so sweet and delicious on its own. Read about red tea HERE.I buy all of my herbs in bulk because I like to make my own tea blends and also make herbal infusions to put in my beauty products. If you have a store that sells herbs in bulk you will likely be able to purchase only the amount you need rather than huge quantities.

2 Tbsp of chamomile flowers
1 1/2 Tbsp of passion flower
1 tsp of lavender flowers
1 Tbsp of rose flowers (optional)
1 Tbsp of Red Bush tea (optional)

This will be enough to make a 4-6 cup pot of tea. Bring your water to a roaring boil, the hotter the water the more nutrients are extracted. Steep for at least 5 minutes, serve and enjoy.

When brewing tea I go by teavana's brewing times. White tea will be 3 to 5 minutes depending on the quality; green tea will take less than 1 minute to 3 minutes, and black tea will take 2 to 5 minutes. White, green, and black teas will become bitter if you use to hot of water or steep the tea for to long.
If you want a stronger flavor use more tea. Do not extend the brewing time.
You always want to follow the times recommended on bagged teas because they are often times in cardboard boxes instead of tins and are from scraps or "tea dust". However, not all boxed teas are inferior. There are plenty that are supper yummy, you will just need to use them up much sooner or transfer the bags to a tin.
To properly store your tea keep it in a sealed airtight container in a cool place. If it is in a glass container make sure it is from amber glass or stored in a dark spot. Tins work marvelously at preserving tea. I have a couple of teas that I keep in the refrigerator because they are very high quality and refrigeration helps to keep them better preserved. If you do put any dried teas in the refrigerator make sure that is is air tight so that no moisture gets in. You don't want moldy tea.

Happy brewing, and don't forget to subscribe via email, google, or blogger over on the side if you want more diy's, recipes, healthy living tips and whatever else I decide to post.

8 tips for healthy hair

Many of us want hair that is thicker and longer, or maybe we just have problems with breakage or just need a few tips on how to detangle those unruly locks.  Hopefully this post will have some tips to help you out.

My number one tip is to brush your hair really well morning and night and to braid your hair every night. This may seam like a lot of work for some of you, but once you get the hang of it it is a really great way to relax and de-stress before bed. At night, start by brushing your hair from the ends working upwards so that the knots from the top don't tangle with the knots near the bottom. Once the knots are out brush from the roots of the hair down to the ends. This distributes your hairs natural oils so that your hair is less greasy and the ends stay healthier and conditioned. Brushing the scalp also stimulates the hair to grow. Try to brush your hair with 50 to 100 strokes. Then braid your hair so that it doesn't get pulled and tangled during the night to prevent breaking. I prefer a side braid for comfort. In the morning brush your hair just to stimulate the scalp and to distribute the hairs oils, about 20 to 50 strokes.

A biggy for preventing breakage is to not brush your hair when it is wet and to only use a wide tooth comb to comb your hair when it is wet. Brushes and smaller toothed combs pull and stretch then break the hair when it is wet.

Rosemary and peppermint stimulate the scalp and promote hair growth. Rubbing these oils into the scalp help to combat baldness as well as helping your hair to grow longer.

Another fabulous agent for promoting hair thickness as well as strength is gelatin. You can take it as a supplement by mixing a tablespoon in water and drinking it. Click HERE to read more about the many benefits of gelatin.

Use sulfate free shampoo. Sulfates remove the hairs natural oils and dries it out. This makes the scalp produce extra oil to compensate leaving your hail oily. This makes it so that you need to wash your hair everyday. Your hair needs its natural oils to be able to stay healthy, you will be more likely to have dry ends which will need to be cut off removing the length that you have gotten. Perhaps not all of it but if your goal is to grow your hair longer then you might as well use a shampoo that will help you rather than hinder your growth. Hair conditioners help, but they don't work nearly as well as your natural oils.Click HERE for more on sulfate free shampoo and the no poo method.

I rinse my hair with apple cider vinegar for conditioner. This makes my hair so soft and shiny. If you want to make it help your hair grow, add in some rosemary and let it sit for 3 weeks so that the rosemary infuses with the vinegar.

If your ends are dry or you have fly aways use a nourishing oil such as olive, coconut, or jojoba. I like macadamia and jojoba because they are similar to the hairs natural oil and they just work best for me.
Styling your hair with heat such as blow drying, curling irons, and flat irons damage your hair making it more prone to breaking. Back combing your hair also makes your hair more prone to breaking.

If you have any questions leave a comment or email me, also if you want more diy's, recipes, health tips, and more every week don't forget to subscribe at the side via email or through blogger or google. 

A book and a recipe

I read "The Fault In Our Stars" By John Green yesterday. Let me tell you, it is one of the best books I have ever read. Though it is a young adult book, adults would love it too. This book is narrated by a 16 year old girl with terminal cancer who meets a boy at a cancer support group. The two make a hilarious and insightful duo that ask and attempt to answer so many questions that most of us don't think about because we oftentimes like to think ourselves invincible or at least years from death. Yes, their is a lot of melancholy to this book, some might even call it down right depressing, but it is beautiful non the less. This book had me laughing even during the darkest moments. Truthfully I laughed far more than I cried, which really helped to give it a balance that left my heart feeling light.

Now for a recipe. This is just a simple way to cook eggplant, zucchini, bell pepper, onion, and tomatoes.
Slice up your veggies width wise so that you form circles. You will want them to be about 1/4 of an inch thick, but my husband likes them to be more like 1/2 an inch thick.

For the sauce you will need to pure 8 ripe tomatoes with 5 sun dried tomatoes that have bean soaked, 1/4 cup of olive oil, salt, pepper, 1-2 cloves of garlic, and a small handful of basil.

Pore a thin layer of sauce on the bottom of a pan and put down a layer of veggies. A layer of sauce, a layer of veggies. Continue until you have reached the top but make sure you have sauce on the top. Cover with foil and bake at 350 for 45 min to one hour.
*When preparing eggplant make sure to drain the bitters. Put down a layer of paper towel with salt on it, and your eggplant, more salt, and more paper towel. Make as many layers as needed and put some bricks or canned food on top to squeeze out the bitter juices. Depending on how thick the slices are it takes usually takes 1 to 4 hours.