ALL SCRIPTURE FEATURED ON MY BLOG IS TAKEN FROM THE BIBLE (KING JAMES AUTHORIZED VERSION), WITH PERMISSION FROM THE AUTHOR.

Monday, April 26, 2010

Lavender Sugar Cookies

1/2 C unsalted butter, softened
1 C sugar
2 eggs
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract(I added a little more)
2 tsp lavender flowers, ground
1 1/2 cups of sifted flour
2tsp baking powder

Directions:

(Grind lavender flowers in blender
& store in a covered jar w/the
recipe so it's all ready to use
and keeps well.)

Cream butter and sugar. Beat in eggs, vanilla,
lavender flowers.

Sift flour and baking powder together and add to
butter mixture. Drop by spoonfuls of batter on
ungreased cookie sheet.

Bake 8 minutes, just until edges are brown.

Cool and enjoy!

Monday, April 19, 2010

Water Kefir

I wanted to let everyone know that I am selling water Kefir grains. If anyone is interested let me know. It is $16 including shipping and handling or if you would like a mason jar to put the Kefir in so you can get started right away once you receive your Kefir then it will be $20 all together with shipping and handling included. Once you buy the grains you won't have to buy them again because if they are healthy they will reproduce and you will have more grains!




Milk Kefir: Milk Kefir vs. Water Kefir

Milk kefir and water kefir are essentially very similar. Both exist in the form of small crystalline grains which can be brewed into drinks and both confer huge health benefits to the people that include them in their diet. The main difference between them – and the reason why many people prefer water kefir – is the difference in versatility between them.

Milk kefir grains were the first kind of grains used to brew drinks. Since they have been around a lot longer, they have had more time to become widespread popularity and are currently well known throughout Russia and Eastern Europe (which is a pretty wide area).

They are also popular in the west, although not yet to the same extent. One of the great limiting factors on milk kefir popularity is the fact that there are many people out there who do not enjoy “milky foods”, or simply cannot digest them.

Water kefir grains provide all of the same health benefits as milk kefir, whilst being much more versatile! It is fun to experiment with them and see just how much they can do. If you start to cultivate your water kefir and then want to make a milk-based drink with them, you can just transfer a few of the grains into some milk. After a brief “lag phase”, the bacteria inside the grains will adjust to living off milk and start acting like milk kefir!

Water kefir grains really are that versatile. Many water kefir enthusiasts also enjoy brewing their grains with grape juice or coconut water, since it opens up whole new avenues of recipes that can be made with the finished drinks.

Many probiotics – the types of foods that, like kefir, contain helpful bacteria – are made from milk products. Pro-biotic yogurts are great, but not if you don’t like yogurt!

Water kefir grains allow you to make probiotic foods without always having to involve dairy, which is something milk kefir grains cannot achieve. They can be brewed into drinks (starting with almost any sugary liquid) or simply eaten, and can benefit almost anyone.

Although milk kefir grains are more widespread, and often easier to come across than water kefir grains, with a little effort it is usually possible to find someone who is happy to send you the things you need to get started making water kefir for yourself.

What is Kefir?

Strictly speaking, Kefir is the substance that exists as “Kefir grains,” that either look like pieces of cauliflower (in the case of Milk Kefir) or like little crystals (in the case of Water Kefir)..

These grains are living colonies of bacteria and yeasts that live in perfect harmony together, and have been around for thousands of years! One day someone discovered that if these strange-looking grains were brewed into a drink, the person that drank it would experience enormous health benefits. The idea soon spread, and Kefir is now popular as a health drink all over the world.


Kefir, which actually means “feel good” in Turkish, is a handcrafted, effervescent, cultured and enzyme-rich probiotic drink that's filled with friendly micro-organisms that help balance your inner ecosystem.

Drinking Water Kefir may help you achieve your optimal health, strengthen your immune system, and help to prevent diseases of all kinds.

Here's just a some of the MANY benefits of drinking Water Kefir:

Contains a wide variety of good bacteria and beneficial yeasts as well as many vitamins, minerals, amino acids and enzymes. (including Vitamin c, Vitamin B, and

Has antibiotic and anti fungal properties.

Contributes to a healthy immune system and has been used to help patients suffering from many conditions, including AIDS, chronic fatigue syndrome, herpes, Candida, autoimmune diseases and cancer.

Can stop unhealthy food cravings, especially cravings for sugar and sweet foods. (For some)

Aids in the digestion of all foods.

Has a tonifying affect on the intestines, reduces bloating, and flattens the abdominals!

It appears to cleanse the liver.

Many see changes in their complexion and overall condition of their skin.

Brown liver spots may fade as can skin tags, moles, warts, etc.

With high levels of valuable minerals, including potassium, natural sodium, and chloride, the hair, skin and nails become stronger and have a prettier shine.

It appears to have a beneficial, cleansing effect on the endocrine system (adrenals, thyroid, pituitary, ovaries). Women find that their periods are healthier; some who had experienced early menopause have found this important monthly cleansing returning again.

It increases energy and gives you an overall feeling of good health.

Its tranquilizing effect on the nervous system has benefited many who suffer from sleep disorders, depression, ADHD and autism.

Drinking water kefir regularly can help, promote bowel movement, relieve all intestinal disorders, reduce flatulence and help create an all together healthier digestive system.

It's cleansing effect on the whole body helps to establish a balancing of the insides for optimum health and longevity.

It can also ameliorate eczema, psoriasis, and acne.

It tastes great... and it's a really inexpensive drink to make!


~ I myself have noticed a difference. It definitely detoxifies.

Peach Cobbler

Howdy, Everyone!

It's been awhile since I have posted so here I am:)  I wanted to share a video and a recipe with you.
I saw an excerpt  of the West Ladies in The Art of Cooking and they were making peach cobbler. So, I decided to look for a recipe similar to their and I found one! I made it Saturday and it turned out pretty good. My Dad agreed and said, "That was good!"

So, here's the video and I will include the recipe underneath it.:
The Art of Cooking


Ingredients

* 2 cups fresh peaches
* 1/2 cup sugar (for peaches)
* 1/4 lb butter
* 3/4 cup milk, for batter

Batter

* 1/2 cup sugar
* 1/4 teaspoon salt
* 1 teaspoon baking powder
* 3/4 cup flour

Directions:

1.Heat the peaches in saucepan with 1/2 cup sugar, til good and hot.
2.(if using canned peaches, don't add sugar).
3.Melt butter in 2 qt baking dish. ( I doubled the recipe and baked it in my 12 inch cast iron skillet)
4.Mix dry ingredients for batter.
5.Add 3/4 cup milk, beating until all the lumps are gone.
6.Pour batter onto melted butter.
7.DO NOT STIR!
8.Spoon hot peaches onto the batter.
9.DO NOT STIR!
10.Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes, or until top is golden brown.
11. The batter will have risen to the top, making a beautiful golden crust.
12. This is also good with plums, boysenberries, apricots etc.


ENJOY!!! - I forgot to take a pic of it after I took it out of the oven...I know I am terrible!