Rose Cottage

   After enjoying a lovely  ᎠᎵᎮᎵᏍᏗᎢᎦ (ga-li-he-lis-di i-ga  Thanksgiving)  meal with the family yesterday, (all beautifully gluten free - and only one dish had dairy!) I'm enjoying my 'back to normal' fare... Brussel sprouts, beans, quinoa and natto Yesterday I brought out some  chickpeas I had in the freezer, and decided to make two batches Holiday Hummus - oh my!!  I used recipes from the 'Bits and Bites' chapter of Gaz Oakley's Vegan 💯 cookbook, and they are awesome! ᎰᏩ (Ho-wa / ok) that's not what Gaz (who's Welsh!) Calls them - but don't you think a seasonal name perfect for these 'super pink beetroot' and 'pumpkin sage' hummus beauties?? Roasted beets and squash seeds I roasted slices of acorn squash , their seeds and garlic cloves in my air fryer (with olive oil and salt); then roasted the quarterd beets. Mini processor and Holiday Hummus Rather than Tahini, I used the squash seeds and roasted garlic in both batches - rice vi...

 Turnip carving -  This was fun! I was intrigued, reading about the tradition of carving jack-o'-lanterns in the British isles, using turnips!   (In her post on the 17th, Vedya mentioned this old practice!) Carving turnips goes back hundreds of years, long before new world crops (including pumpkins, tomatoes, potatoes and other plants) were introduced. In Switzerland, they hold a turnip lantern festival, called Räebelichtli Umzug . Turnip hollowed with a spoon   So - I got the largest turnip in the bin, heated it  about 10 minutes in my Air Fryer (to soften it a bit), then used a knife and spoon to scoop out the interior, and then to incise designs.  Carved and lit from within Since they are smaller than the new world pumpkins used these days, a battery tealight is suggested for lighting; I used a real candle for the pics - and made the handle from twine. Another side My friend Kathleen Schulte sent me this Pic of a carved turnip they spotted at...

   Do you know self heal?  This simple, easy to  find and identify  t onic herb in the mint family has a long history of herbal use in many cultures, including Native, Western and traditional Chinese medicine. Its gentle healing properties and general safety are confirmed by recent research.  This  YouTube clip  by Herbal Jedi gives a great overview on how to identify, harvest and use this mint relative, Prunella vulgaris. Our Western Oregon native variety: lanceolata, is easily found in yards and vacant lots. In contrast to  other mints, self heal's taste is neutral, so it's easy to include in salads, add to tea or cook with other greens.  Prunella is classed as a tonic herb or  adaptogen , which helps the body manage stress, and return to homeostasis or 'reset' itself.  Adaptogens can generally be used on a daily basis, and are easily incorporated into a healthy diet. They are often herbs which need to adapt, often growing in...

 In the 70s, my friends in La Leche League and I took turns driving to a nearby farm weekly for grade A+ raw milk, and I began making yogurt with some of mine. Both my hubby and I grew up drinking full fat raw milk, and preferred it to processed milk.  These days, I do better off most dairy, so make my yogurt using tinned Coconut milk, following cardiologist Dr William Davis' recipe. (Here's  the option  using dairy) Coconut milk yogurt Dr Davis wrote this about the L-ruteri strain,  "in adition to causing release of oxytocin from the hypothalamus that leads to effects such as reduced skin wrinkles, increased dermal collagen, acceleration of healing, and increased muscle and bone density, also exerts unique upper gastrointestinal tract colonizing effects.  "This may be important in preventing small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, or SIBO, that is now occurring at epidemic proportions in modern people."  Oxytocin is know as the 'bonding' hormone, and p...

 In the Rose Cottage kitchen - liposomal Vitamin C in process. I've been making this for about a year, and love this essay way to get an optimal daily dose.  Liposomal Vitamin C Vitamin C powders with filtered water are  in the pitcher (Sodium ascorbate, Ascorbic Acid, Acerola and rose hip Bioflavenoids) The Sunflower Lecithin is in the blender. The Lecithin went in the fridge for a bit, then was blended again, combined with the Vitamin C in the pitcher, then placed in the ultrasonic machine (jewelry cleaner) for ~ 90 minutes.  C powders and sunflower Lecithin 3 Tablespoons of the liposomal liquid will provide ~ 2500 mg of this highly absorbable Vitamin C! The liposomal form helps disperse Vitamin C effectively - encapsulating the vitamin C in the lipid (non-GMO Lecithin) allows it to merge with cells. It can also be used on the skin (on burns, anti-aging...) Vitamin C cocktail  (3 TBSP) Unlike most other mammals, Humans lack the liver enzyme necessarily for...

 This week for Earth day, our Climate Action Group hosted several events:  Saturday a fair worth talks on reducing use of plastics and recipes/ tips.  On Monday, we joined the worldwide prayers for the earth, and showed the new film Common Ground, which highlights the importance of returning to sustainable agricultural practices. Rojo Chiquito beans in filtered water  This morning, I'm soaking Rojo Chiquito beans  (du ya • gi ga ge i) - I usually soak beans 4+ hours, then rinse, drain and pre-sprout by repeating the rinse / drain sequence several times over 8-24 hours.  I'll simmer frozen veggie trimmings for stock, and add a splash of vinegar, kombu (seaweed) a bay leaf,yomohi and herbs as I cook the beans.  For making Stock, plus my Rice n Lentils recipes, check out this post . These small red beans will take a bit longer than the lentils, likely 60-90 minutes total. I Picked up the beans on my Tuesday trip to Wellspent Market (in Mac Mkt on A...

  This morning I'm beginning the process for turning rose petals into precious beads, which will retain their fragrance and last for decades! Dried rose petals rose petals (I'll strip all the petals off the stems rose geranium and lavendar tea electric coffee mill  small crock pot cinnamon, 5 spice powder or garam Masala, lavender and nutmeg Rose petals and supplies The activity for March in the Seasons of Wonder Devotional, which our church is using this year, is to craft simple rosaries. Did you know that rose petals have been used for prayer beads for hundreds of years? Rosary - from the Latin Rosarium- rose garden. 'In the east, rose-beads are Atul made.  Dried roses are crushed to powder, moistened with rose water and formed into pellets, which are strung, dried and polished, ready for use.' (The rose by Ann Mayhew, illustrated by Michael Pollard - p75) My grandmother Mary used the fragrant petals of our heritage rose to craft rose beads, and I began making the...

 One of my Reset tasks this weekend has been cleaning the fridge! I moved into Rose Cottage 10 months ago, and have done spot cleans - one shelf or drawer at a time as I emptied a container or cleaned out the veggie drawer, but it was time for a thorough go!  Tuesday - before You know the drill - turn it off, empty the contents (into a cooler, if it's going to take awhile! ), wash drawers and any organizers, wipe down shelves, walls and gasket! I did the main shelves Saturday, and saved the door for today.   I have a random selection of clear shelf organizers, so put them in the dish pan and gave them a good wash.  Compost went into my under sink container, then out to out bin.   ' After ' Don't you love a clean and reorganized fridge?!! The oddest one I ever saw was in the home of a friend's aunt - one lazy Susan on each shelf, and all items on one of those lazy Susan's! Way to OCD for me - but necessary for her!  Natural cleaning products I lo...

 Over the last 27 years, my daughter Mary and I've passed the Breitenbush Cookbook back and forth several times.  Breitenbush cookbook With a snowy week and lots of time at home, she's been cleaning out her cookbook shelf, so it's come back to me! Mary asked about favorite recipes contained therein - what a treat to revisit them, and see our notes on GF modifications and other tips!  One of them is compiler Sara Joy's Calazones. Growing up in NY, she and her twin sis loved their family tradition of pizza on Saturday nights. Calazones make nice personal pizza, and were always popular at the Bush!  I was on Healing Arts and lived at Breitenbush in the early 90s, and have enjoyed many meals from the BB kitchen - this post has several pics of the land and river.  Winter Calazones Root veggies, mushrooms and greens are nice options in winter - for this batch, I used cilariac, parsnip, onion, chard, garlic, acorn squash and endive. Calzone • veggies • meltable mozare...

 In the 70s, I feel in love with Anne McCaffrey's writing and her fantasy world Pern, with its telepathic dragons and dragon riders! Who doesn't want a dragon (or more practically), small fire lizard in their corner? Map of Pern And throughout these magical books, two drinks figure prominently, wine from Benden hold, and Klah... ' Aleesa herself served him up a cup of Klah . Pellar nodded and smiled in thanks, cupping his hands gratefully around the warmth. The klah was thin and watered down.' (Dragon's Fire,  p 92) So - what's Klah, and how do I make it?  The mythical Pern is the 3rd planet from its system's star, Rukbat, with a similar climate to the colonists home planet Earth.  As they settle in, they miss their familiar coffee. The early botanists find the bark of a native tree to have stimulant properties, and that it tastes rather like a blend between coffee and cinnamon, so begin using it for their daily brew. Klah, book and recipe A decade or so ag...

 Over a decade ago, my son-in law Matt asked where he could find chia seeds, as he wanted to make a traditional drink for boasting energy, Chia Fresca or Iskiate! 1 cup water 1 T whole chia seeds 1-2 Tbsp fresh lime juice 1 tsp maple syrup (or honey, etc) Mix together & let sit 20-30 minutes. You can experiment with the liquid; coconut milk, sun tea, water kefir . . . Here's a video of the process. Iskiate and Wind Rider I like to add 1/2 tsp of mixed sea salt and cream of tartar (which is high in potassium and comes from grapes), for an inexpensive and easy electrolyte recharge. And yes, Chia seeds are gluten free! And grade B (less refined!) Maple syrup is a lovely sweetener.  This drink became popular amongst runners after the publication of  Born To Run , about the Tarahumara Indians 'a Meixcan group of super-athletes,' who cover great distances running barefoot, and drink Is kiate.  Like flax, Chia seeds are high-fiber, omega-3, high-protein, antioxidant ...

 I've been intrigued with homemade concoctions and  Kitchen cosmetics since my teens, and it's fun to watch my granddaughters experimentation with their own formulas!  My mom was sensitive to chemicals and fragrances, so kept her routines simple - she washed her hair with baby shampoo, and used skim milk (from powder) to set her hair in pin curls ! Her mama Mary worked with herbs, so my mom was supportive when I tried recipes from my American Girl magazine (facial stream using mint leaves, facial masks with oatmeal and honey ...)  In my 20s, my botanist hubby and I grew herbs, and with guidance from our books, I steeped nettles, horsetails, lavendar,  Rosemary and chamomile, for hair rinse, made facial masks, and drank herbal tisanes. I learned to identify plants, and harvest nettles, horsetails and wild herbs.  When my son was 8 or 9 and spurred by our mean rooster, we learned about clay for wound care from our friend Kylene - after thorough cleaning, the...

  Rice & lentils  is a year round favorite. Lentils take about as long as brown rice to cook, & are easier to digest than some of the larger beans. I like an organic mix including red & wild rice, and then add quinoa or buckwheat the last 20 minutes. Simmering I begin by putting the rice (usually ~  3/4 Cup rice to a Cup of lentils) & a chopped onion or the white part of a leek in a pan with a bit of olive oil, & heat water (or Stock *) in another pan. Stir the rice  frequently  till more than half the grains have turned white, & take pan off heat. Add the lentils & * stock or boiling water, season with herbs of your choice - fresh from the garden or favorite blends: Italian or Herbs de Provence (includes basil & lavender), a piece of  Kombu  (seaweed - great for additional flavor & extra nutrients - cut) & a bay leaf, sea and pepper.   Bring to a boil, then turn down & simmer for 20 minutes, ...

 The monthly gathering of our singles group was a harvest potluck Saturday evening, and our hostess Lynn asked me to bring GF Cornbread, to pair with the bean Chili she made. I used my GF sourdough starter, and increased it the night before, adding sufficient flour and water for 1 1/3 Cup of batter, reserving 1/3 Cup in the morning for the next batch.  Gluten free starter   To the remaining starter, add an egg (or flax egg - 1 Tbsp flax in 2 Tbsp water),  and 2 Tbsp melted coconut oil.  1 Cup sourdough Egg or Flax egg 2 Tbsp coconut oil, melted 1/2 C corn flour/ cornmeal 1/4 C coconut flour 1-2 Tbsp sugar 1 tsp salt 1/2 tsp baking powder Mix dry ingredients into wet, adding a bit more liquid or cornmeal as needed, to get a stiff dough.  Let rise 20 minutes or so, shape into balls to fit your muffin cups (3/4 full) Let rise again 10 minutes or so.  I preheat my Air fryer 340° for a few minutes, then set cups on the rack (4-5) and bake (in batches) 18-20...

 This morning I decided to make a batch of Elderberry syrup with fresh berries from our black lace Elder mama tree.  Elder tree mother and herbs I looked up several recipe/ tutorials, and decided to add other adaptogens (herbs that protect us from stress and disease) : several large Rose hips, ahandful of Ivan's Belle berries (Rowan/hawthorn cross) ginger, astragalus, Cinnamon and licorice. Adaptogens are tonic herbs which can be used daily, and boost our bodies' general health and immunity.  Elderberries and rose hips Elderberry (Sambucus nigra) is high in phytonutrients, vitamin C, flavanoids and fiber, acts as an antioxidant, promotes heart health, lowers inflammation and stress, helps the respiratory system and lungs, boosts the immune system, aids blood sugar and pain management.  Astragalus is an antioxidants that inhibits free radical production, and has long been used in TCM. It can help protect us from colds and influenza, and can help the liver, spleen, k...