I firmly believe all children should grow up with some kind of pet. It teaches compassion for other living things, as well as responsibility for caring for an animal. In my recent September/October issue issue of Eating Well Magazine had an article that caught my eye - "Would getting a dog benefit my kids?" it … Continue reading All Kids Should Grow up With a Pet
One of my memories is of my grandmother, whose sight was not the best anymore, scooping up a fork-full of horseradish, instead of mashed potatoes, with her roast beef. Popped the whole thing into her mouth. After a couple coughs, she said, "Well that will clear out the sinuses!". I love horseradish. My mom used … Continue reading Using and Growing Horseradish
Autumn is approaching. I've noticed that by mid- August this year, some of the sugar maples already have hints of color, and the summer flowers and ferns are all dying back. I am not a summer person. I much prefer the cool days of autumn, with sunny pleasant days, that sometimes even require a sweatshirt, … Continue reading Bounties of Summer, Cool Nights of Autumn
I wanted, no needed, to bake something. So I went to one of my sources for all things baked. I love the Bake from Scratch Magazine. Wonderful pictures, do-able recipes for the home cook. More things than I can make unless I bake something every day. I've also purchased both books: Bake From Scratch Artisan … Continue reading Lemon Cardamon Cake Loaves
Spring and summer are fresh fruit salad times. I love using the most local, freshest fruit I can find for it. I've made versions of this fruit salad for years. I've long since lost the scrap of magazine where I found it. I make different combinations depending on what fruit is available, but always include … Continue reading Kicked Up Fruit Salad
Recently I have found myself thinking, as I peruse recipes on FaceBook and on line, many of these things are truly not healthy. Loaded with sugar, fat, and process products, desserts may look delicious, but I would be a tub if I ate them everyday! So what did I pull together this morning? A Decadent … Continue reading Make an easy Decadent Chocolate Ice Box Dessert
As a veterinary technician, I saw lots of dogs with hot spots, technically called a moist dermatitis. A pet owner would call in a panic for an appointment, because overnight their dog now had a large, irritated bloody spot with no hair, and the dog just wouldn't stop licking. As a pet owner, I've never … Continue reading Summer means Hot Spots in Dogs
This morning I wanted coffee cake. Blueberry season is almost here, and I need to use up what's left in the freezer from last year before I freeze and save this year's drop. So I found 2 or 3 small bags in the freezer, and poured them into a colander to thaw and drain. Now, … Continue reading Fox Pines Blueberry Coffee Cake
Making mayonnaise may seem daunting, but it's really easy! With a food processor (or a blender) you can whip up thick creamy fresh mayo that tastes better than any store bought jar. Once I made it in my own kitchen I stopped buying it at the store. Mayo is simple ingredients, things you probably already … Continue reading Easy Homemade Mayonnaise
I have always loved nature, and I love taking a walk outside in the woods. Unbeknownst to me, it's even got a name - forest bathing or in Japanese, Shinrin-yoku meaning forest medicine . This is the practice of immersing yourself in nature and using all your senses - sound and smell as well as … Continue reading Why Go Out into the Woods? Shinrin-Yoku, that’s why