No Fuss

I am not a Baker, all that measuring, and temptation. When I do have to bake something, it is usually a whole day process. But, I found an Easy, Delicious and Pretty dessert that everyone will love.
Boxed brownie mix (cupcake pan)
Cream cheese and powdered sugar frosting
Fresh raspberries

Enjoy

Heart Health

You say you don't like Oatmeal, I say you never tasted mine.  Although Steal Oats have more fiber and a very nutty flavor, they take 40 minutes to cook.  I can get Organic Rolled Oats in bulk for $1.20 a lb. So, for pennies, I have an Extremely healthy meal in less than 5 minutes. Please avoid any Boxed oats, they are loaded with sugar, salt and are very costly.

single serving:
half a cup of oats to 1cup water.
bring to boil, turn to low for remaining 2 minutes.
add dried cranberries, walnuts and sliced apple.  For the sweet tooth; add a little Real 100% Maple Syrup or sprinkle with cinnamon.  Be Bold, experiment with brown rice for breakfast, or oatmeal for lunch. Be different, take a new path and EnJoy

Soup

  

There is nothing like soup in cold weather.

My soups are never the same, because I use whatever I have on hand, so this is the best recipe for my green tortilla soup. I use Organic ingredients, but do the best you can for your location. I also cook dried beans and make broth to have on hand, but now our stores are filled with so many organic choices.

1 box vegetable or chicken stock (about 4 cups homemade)
2 cups of water
1can of small White beans or 1/2 cup dried beans.
2 Carrots, 3 celery ribs, as many green chilies as you like (I use 5) or 2 small cans, 3 tomatoes or 1 can when tomatoes aren't in season, 3 small potatoes, 2 tblsps Cumin and cayenne pepper to taste. Bring to boil, reduce heat and cover for half an hour. Uncover add 2 small zucchini diced and a half cup of frozen corn. I serve this with Fresh tomatoes (or fresh salsa), Avocado, feta cheese and fried corn tortilla strips. So Yummy! Many more soup recipes to come, share your favorite and EnJoy!


Rosemary, Lavender and Lemon

       I've been laying around reading, not exercising, and now I am paying for it. I got a terrible headache. So, I went out to the garden, picked a little rosemary, lavender and a lemon (zest), threw it in a pot of water and brought it to a boil. Turned off the flame and made a towel tent over myself and the herbal water.  It's amazing how it clears up your head and makes the house smell nice too.  Give your house or bath a nice refreshing smell with your own herbal steam, and be well. 

tending

My green thumb came only as a result of the mistakes I made while learning to see things from the plant's point of view. 
~H. Fred Dale

Mistakes? Most of the greatest Joys I've experienced have been from accidents.  Meeting my husband, having my child, and all the friends that have blessed my life. The blackberry bush on my side yard is another delight.  We all know berries are good for us, but blackberries have many unique qualities not shared by other berries.  They are actually a member of the rose family and contain individual drupelets that surround a firm core called the receptacle. These drupelets, their skin and seeds, along with the receptacle give the highest fiber of any fruit. Blackberries are full of vitamin A, C, potassium, calcium , phenolic acids and many other healthy anti-carcinogenic properties.  Their leaves are beneficial as an antiseptic and astringent.  A tea made of blackberry leaves aids in reduction of nausea and also promotes healthy digestion.  Blackberry leaves can also heal the very scratches they often cause while picking them. There are many reasons I have decided to live with the blackberry bush, but the most obvious is that they are delicious. So whether your thumb is green, red or purple, remember goodness can come from things we may first see as Mistakes.  There is so much that can be learned through the process of simply living.  EnJoy

Connecting

The clouds bring storms and cause the seed to sprout.

"He who seeks, let him not cease seeking until he finds; and when he finds he will be troubled, and when he is troubled he will be amazed, and then, he will reign."  Jesus

Nothing  is a singularity. Not even an atom exist alone.  Our blood was grown from the union of two, our food is nurtured by sun, rain and microbes in the soil. All is Connected.
  Jesus taught us "Do unto others, as you would have them do unto you"  Jesus
  This is the greatest of laws. Not only love our brother, but also our enemy. Not because we  need to do good for salvation, but because we "See" that in connecting we become whole.
  Nothing exist in isolation.  The Nuclear bomb does not only destroys the location of detonation, but the air on the entire planet.  The depleted uranium bullet the soldier fires, poisons himself and his future children.  The rain falls from the clouds, each a single drop made of more than one molecule, becoming one with the vast oceans, and is lifted again.   
The connecting spirit of nature, is a wise teacher.  "For those who have eyes, let them see." Jesus

Mushrooms

Mary Jo's Stuffed Mushrooms:
Approximately 20 Mushrooms
1 Pack Cream Cheese
1 medium Onion
8 slices Bacon ( 8 slices veggie bacon strips)
1 dash liquid smoke, a few dashes of Tabasco sauce, 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce.

De stem and clean mushrooms. Prepare bacon, Finely chop onion, mix all into cream cheese. Stuff mushrooms, bake at 400 for 20 minutes.

I use the veggie bacon strips because they have more flavor and stay crunchier in the cheese.

Feta Walnut Mushrooms:
20 mushrooms
1 small onion (1/2 med. onion)
1/4 cup Feta cheese
1/4 cup chopped Walnuts
Bake at 400 for 20 minutes

Lemon Twist Mushrooms:
10 mushrooms, set aside stems
1 small onion
1/2 cup bread crumbs
mushroom stems


Saute stems and onions in a little olive oil or butter. Mix in bread crumbs and fill Mushrooms.  Bake at 400 for 20 minutes. Squeeze with Lemon Juice before serving.  EnJoy
For additional flavor, add garlic, Italian bread crumbs, Italian sausage, or Parmesan cheese.  If you like add all of these.  If you like Mushrooms, experiment and find your favorite way to stuff.