Artificial Flavorings ~ What's Really in Them ~ Nurse Jesse and Doctor Tig

The next time you go to the store to buy any artificial flavoring in any food, consider what it's made from.  According to Snopes.com, the FDA considers Castoreum (part of it is beaver urine) as safe, and can be found listed as "natural" on the food label today.

Read about it here:  Snopes.com:  Casotreum

You'll think twice before buying a Raspberry or Strawberry flavored Iced Tea at the check out again.  

I wonder what else the government is adding to our foods? It's bad enough to search out stores that don't have antibiotic/hormone free foods, let alone genetically modified foods/ingredients.

And some folks think I'm crazy for growing my own food/meat and making things homemade.  


Sickness remains in my home.  I'm not sure what it is, but three of us are down for the count.  My 19 year-old daughter missed her college classes today, and my 20 year-old son stayed in bed almost all of yesterday.  My 11 year-old has been complaining of headaches, and I have been hearing another one cough.  

As for myself, I did not have the energy to see the girls off this morning.  My congestion seems to be a bit better, but the fatique is in full force, despite everything we are doing.  I am calling hubby at work and telling him to bring home probiotics for all of us.  And another can of Lysol.  Thankfully, no vomiting. 

Last night I brewed up more ginger ale, and it seems to really help. No one really has an appetite.  I am still determined to kill off this sickness, and quick.

 Doctor Tig (Tiger)

 Nurse Jesse

I have to share one last tidbit.  Yesterday, I was resting my eyes in bed, and Jesse (aka Nurse Jesse, youngest dog) was at my feet.  I started having a coughing spell, and he immediately crawled up the bed, put his nose in my face and lowered down right there next to me, until I stopped coughing. He did this all day while Nurse Hilda was in school.  Then later at night, Nurse Hilda's cat was sleeping with his head on my chest.  When I coughed, he would let out a meow, every single time.  He will do the same when I sneeze too.  We call him Doctor Tig now.  I am sure Nurse Sadie will be watching over my daughter today, as she always does.  Nurse Jesse is already snuggled up with my son, keeping an eye on him.  
 

Restful Weekend

We woke up today with all of the snow melted.  The weather was still chilly over the past weekend, but today it said to be as warm as 43°F. 

Here is my oldest daughter's birthday "cake."  She wanted cupcakes, so she frosted them so you can see the number 19 (white).  She topped them with candy canes, and crushed peppermints and blue sprinkles.  She was originally due on Valentine's day the year she was born, hence the hearts made with candy canes.

I'm reading yet another home remedy book, and have been surprised at a few things I have learned (if they are indeed true).

~if you take too much zinc (more than 30 mg a day, according to the book) you can actually ruin your immune system.  I found this interesting and plan to do more research.

~you can soak your feet in a warm tub of water and dry mustard to help your circulation.  It is said to help remove head congestion, by causing the blood to go to your feet.  I actually tried this once last night, so I'll let you now how I feel in a few days.  Not sure if this is hokey, but I have also read where these types of soaks, help remove toxins in the body.

~Red Zinger tea was said to be excellent for when you feel sinus issues coming on.  Can't hurt to try this one either.  Red Zinger (Celestial Tea) contains rose hips, which are loaded with vitamin A and C.

I feel sort of like a guinea pig in trying all these, but I will never know if I don't try them.   We really don't have the extra cash to buy a cool-mist humidifier, so I am filling a pot with vapo-rub and boiling water and inhaling with a towel over my head.  I do need to invest in eucalyptus oil for this reason, and for soap making.

We had a restful weekend, aside from van trouble.  That van is bad news.  However, at the very end of the day, hubby was back home with a brand new battery for it.  We found out that it was under warranty and now have a new one.  Now...if we can just get it started so we can put the "for sale" sign on it. 

I plan on taking it easy today - a bit of laundry, and some handiwork. 

Homestead Tidbits

The two older girls saddled Blondie for some exercise.  Here is my 16 year-old, giving Blondie a head rub.  You can tell she is loving every minute of it.

Since Blondie is still not up to weight, my 16 year-old daughter rode her (lightest one in the house).  Blondie seemed to love her walk around the property, and Misty (left) seems to be intrigued about the new arrival on the farm.

I had to laugh at a comment my oldest daughter made.  She said that Blondie was staring at the towels on the line, and was probably trying to figure out what it was.  She said it was almost as if Blondie was warning the towels they better not try and steal her food. Ha ha ha ha!  Blondie has never see clothing drying on a clothesline before.

Peanut, one of the pregnant lamancha goats has a cold.  Thankfully, we have organic peppermint oil on hand, and it made a world of different for her.  She wouldn't come out of the barn until my daughter went out with the oil.  About a half hour after that, she was out sitting in the sun and breathing better.

I'm up to see the kids off to school, and then it's back to bed.  I got about 30 minutes of sleep.  I could not breath through my nose, and breathing through my mouth was no fun.  I drank about 1/2 gallon of water, and could not get rest at all.  No matter what I tried, I could not clear my nasal airways.  So frustrating.  My eyes are so swollen they hurt.  It's raining here this morning and warmer.

Buttermilk Cornmeal Pancakes

I know folks have different views on buying any food that has been marked down, but I wanted to share another delicious recipe.  Again, it is from a book from the library.

I bought a 1/2 gallon of antibiotic free buttermilk for $1.25.  I used to be able to find it for $.75.  In the winter, organic milk is very expensive (to make buttermilk homemade).

This recipe would need to be doubled for a large family.  Unless of course you add some eggs and a type of meat for a side.  Yum!  They are tasty and light.
  

Buttermilk Cornmeal Pancakes
(adapted with organic/local ingredients, from Back in the Day Bakery Cookbook, by Cheryl Day and Griffith Day)

1 1/2 cups unbleached, organic all-purpose flour
1 cup organic cornmeal
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon fine sea salt
2 Tbsp. organic sugar
2 large farm fresh eggs, lightly beaten
2 1/2 cups buttermilk
8 Tbsp. unsalted organic butter, melted (1 stick) *6 Tbsp for the recipe and 2 for cooking them.

Butter for Serving


In a medium mixing bowl, combine the flour, cornmeal, baking soda, salt, and sugar.

In a large measuring cup, whisk together the eggs, buttermilk, and 6 Tbsp. of the melted butter. Whisk the wet mixture into the dry mixture until just combined.

Heat a griddle or heavy skillet over medium-high heat (electric griddle should reach 350-375°F).  Grease the hot griddle with the remaining 2 Tbsp. melted butter.

Pour 1/4 cup of the batter onto the hot griddle for each pancake, making 3-4 pancakes at a time.  Bubbles will start to form on top and around edges.  After 2-3 minutes, lift each pancake up halfway with a spatula to see if it is golden brown and the edges are crispy; if so, the pancake is ready to turn.  Flip the pancake over and cook until the underside is golden brown, 2-3 minutes more.  Serve with butter and syrup.      


What I like about this recipe:

~uses very little sugar
~I can use my farm fresh eggs
~I can use local cornmeal we buy from a Mill
~uses butter vs. oil - I may get my cow yet
~and of course I can make these "on a dime" when I find buttermilk on sale/clearance.

    

Resting ~ A Rug from Rags

One braided rag rug finished.

Rest is a difficult thing for me to do.  I am always doing something - laundry, baking, dishes, paperwork, animals, kids,etc.  So, I rested, and rested.  And finished my very first braided rag rug.

The rug contains 60 feet of 1/2 inch braid.  It consists of old sheets, pillow cases, and even an old fabric shower curtain.    I wanted to make it traditionally as possible.  It measures approximately 26 inches by 19 inches.  This is underneath hubby's bathroom sink, and I absolutely love the look of it.  So much better than store bought rugs that appear to be braided.  It really makes the house feel like a home.  So it only took 50 hours or so, but it was worth it.

I will be posting this on my S.C.R.A.P. blog later, along with how I made it.  I do not know anyone that has made one of these, so I relied on books and research.  I'll be sharing tips of what I would do next time also.  I will also share what didn't work for me.

Since I rested all day, and did a lot of much needed sleeping (sleeping off a low-grade fever), the laundry piled up into the size of a small mountain.  I really need to wash my bedding, and get the "crud" out of my bedroom. The sun is shining today, so I will shovel out my clothesline and get some fresh air.  

Just don't tell Nurse Hilda.  She's already taken my temperature in both ears (ha ha!) and has it recorded on her "chart."

One last note.  The kids have stepped up and over the past weekend, the older girls cleaned my kitchen.  I mean, really cleaned it.  My son re-stocked the firewood, refilled the chicken's, horse, and goat's water, and did three errands for me.  I didn't think the ladies at the library would want my cooties coughed all over them.  Hubby turned down over time last night so he could bring me hot soup and crackers.  

Secretly, I think they are all anticipating my complete recovery.  When I don't feel good, I am a grouch.  A fire breathing, eyeball dart shooting, dragon grouch.  

I better get started on my bedding.  I need to be back in my bed before Nurse Hilda gets home. 

 

 

From the Homesteading Journal . . .

 . . . made my first homemade ginger ale and loved it!  I plan to make more of this (more so for health reasons) for a refreshing summer treat.  There are many recipes on the Internet.  I also made a hot ginger tea.  The recipe is from my sister's Indian cookbook.  I am enjoying this, in hopes to speed up my recovery from this cold/sinus/cough/chest pain illness.

Healthier Hash

 (before adding turkey and cream)

I made another new recipe - Tasty Turkey Hash.  However, the "tasty" part wasn't what I was thinking when I ate my first bite.

This recipe lacks flavor.  In a last minute effort to make this dish "pop" I mixed in 1/2 tsp. of my ground jalapeno/cayenne pepper mix.  

If you do try this recipe, I'd like to know what you added to it, to add flavor. 

I know ginger and garlic are good with sweet potatoes, but I'm not sure about the turkey.  What would you add?

Some of the kids topped it with shredded cheddar cheese and ate in it in a soft tortilla.   

Leftover Tip:  Add scrambled eggs for a breakfast burrito (any a hot sauce if you like it).

Tempting Turkey Hash
(adapted from Tired and Wired, by Marcelle Pick)

1 1/2 teaspoons olive oil
1/2 red or green bell pepper, chopped, organic
1/2 small onion, chopped, homegrown
1 medium sweet potato, diced, organic or homegrown
1 teaspoon fresh thyme, again home grown (no chemicals)
1 1/2 cups cooked turkey, cubed (home raised or organic)
Salt and pepper to taste
3 Tablespoons cream (we used organic milk)
*1/2 tsp. ground hot pepper (our addition, used a combo of cayenne and jalapeno, also organically grown)

In medium skillet, heat oil over medium heat and saute pepper and onion approximately 2 minutes, or until softened.  Add sweet potato and thyme, stirring occasionally, and cook for 10 to 12 minutes, or until potatoes are fork-tender.  Add turkey, and season with salt and pepper.  Slowly stir in cream and simmer for 2-4 minutes, or until mixture thickens.  Serve.

Servings:  2     

Wacky Weather

We went from this on January 26th, to ....

...this a few days ago - warm and muddy mess.  I had to wear mucking boots out to put my laundry on the line.

  Today it's snowing again. 

All in a days work.

We now have three of us down with the crud.  I may have to make homemade cough syrup yet.  Looks like one of the kids will be cooking dinner again.  

My oldest daughter, although started getting sick later last night, stepped up to make dinner.  She was creative and scrambled eggs with my home canned salsa, and made egg sandwiches on English muffins.  For the side she cut up potatoes and fried them with cumin.  I regret not getting a photo.

From the Handiwork Journal . . .

 . . . I am up to about 52 feet on my braid of rags for my rag rug.  This was kind of forgotten about over summer and the holidays.  This project continues.

. . . still plugging away at knitting basket weave blocks for a blanket. 
 

. . . my 11 year-old daughter knitted her first bean bag.  She still needs practice, but she continues to learn.

 You may also like to read this post:  Crocheted Rag Rug