Healthy Cilantro and 2 Recipes

 FLAT TUMMY SMOOTHIE RECIPE

This smoothie is a cross between a juice and a smoothie, so you get double the benefits.  Try to make this 4 to 5 times a week for breakfast or lunch:

Greens are power-packed with antioxidants and will help boost your immune system. The high fiber content of this smoothie will help with bowel movement. You will also feel full fast and will eat less!(Constipation creates bloating and your tummy will look bigger).

A medium Apple contains around five grams of fiber. Compare this to bran cereal which has about seven grams a serving.

Cucumber will rehydrate you as it is full of water and is low calorie.

Spinach is a low calorie food and has ONLY 7 calories per 1 cup of raw leaves, yet it offers twice as much fiber as other greens and it will fill you up.

Cilantro and parsley will help you cleanse and detox. They will stimulate digestive assimilation and relieve constipation. One-fourth cup of cilantro has only 1 calorie.

Lemon juice is one of the top fat flushers by boosting your body’s detoxification process. It may help you lose weight but it isn’t a miracle cure. It is one component of a healthy weight-loss plan.

Avocado is highly nutritious fruit and will help you get all the nutrients and will help you manage your weight.

Cayenne pepper and Turmeric: even though you probably don’t think of spices as weight-loss enhancers, cayenne and turmeric show promise in reducing appetite and increasing energy.

Apple, Cucumber and Cilantro Smoothie

Blend:

1 green apple
1 cucumber
2 cups fresh baby spinach
3/4 cup cilantro loosely packed
½ cup parsley loosely packed
1 small avocado
½ cup lemon juice
1 cup filtered water
1 tsp cayenne pepper
1 tsp turmeric
a dash Himalayan salt

Make sure all the ingredients are organic.

Enjoy!

Benefits of Oregano Tea plus Recipe

I am starting to plant my herbs in my greenhouse. Oregano is one of my favorite herbs for cooking, but I never thought of using it as a tea.  After seeing this poster with all the benefits I think I am going to brew some ... it should be an interesting taste.

This idea is from Edible Harmony.

Sweet Dreams Herbal Dream Pillow

I used to have a lot of trouble falling and staying asleep.  I would only sleep 3-4 hours a night if I slept at all.  That has all changed (ask me about my super sleep potion and Triple-B!).  Now that I am sleeping I want to have sweet dreams.  A friend of mine gave me a recipe for a "sleepy-time dream pillow."  Here is the recipe for you.

Possible Base Ingredients:

Anise – Repels nightmares, but be sure to use sparingly.

Calendula – Used to induce restful sleep.

Catnip - Increases restful sleep. Especially good for babies and children.

Cedar – Repels bad dreams.

Chamomile – Used for relaxation and pleasant dreams.

Hops – Aids in restful sleep and healing.

Jasmine – The dried flowers are useful for romantic and erotic dreams, especially for women.

Lavender – These flowers have the ability to ease stress, soothe, and relax. A simple pillow made only with lavender can be simply perfect.

Lemon Balm – A known for it’s ability to reduce anxiety and insomnia. Also valuable for relieving headaches and stress.

Mugwort - Protection.

Mullein – Guards against nightmares.

Rose petals – Adds loving and peaceful thoughts to dreams.

Rosemary - Repels bad dreams, but use sparingly due to the strong scent.           

Be sure all the ingredients are completely dry before combining them, then store in a tightly sealed container in a cool, dark place for 4 or 5 days. 

Use 1 or 2 of the sedative varieties mentioned above as a base, then add rose petals, or leaves, mint, any of the lemon-scented herbs, linden blossoms, or any favorite spice for fragrance.

Once you've decided on the blend, you're ready to make the bag itself.  It should be flat, even after it's filled, so it is comfortable to lie on, and not too large.  My friend used "spent" dryer sheets by putting two of the sheets together then sewing around three sides of the edge to make a pocket, added the herbs, spices, etc, then sew the pocket at the top and using pinking sheers to cut around the border to give a pretty edging to the pillow. This little bag slipped easily under my pillow case and released a soothing fragrance all night long.  Muslin is another inexpensive material used for making the bags.

Another idea is to make a "bed post" pouch.  You can find draw string bags in a craft store.  All you have to do is fill the bag up with your favorite herbs and spices, draw the string and then hang on your bed post.  This is also a great "reusable" solution!

If you have a special hankerchief (my aunt used to collect them) ... you can fill the center with herbs, etc, then pull the corners up together and tie the top with a pretty satin ribbon.

Even babies can benefit.  A sleep pillow filled with dill (an herb seldom used for adults) will lull them to sleep when they're restless.  Put the bag under the crib sheet or outside the crib to eliminate the possibility of choking.

Keep your herb pillow nearby for an hour or so before you go to bed, then either sleep on it, or keep it close to your head.  Enjoy the gentle fragrance as you drift off and sleep into the sweetest of dreams, just like Panda in her box of catnip.


Why I LOVE Love Apples (Tomatoes) plus Recipe

I love using tomatoes in my cooking which is evident in how many tomato varieties I have already planted this year.  Here is a great poster from Farmers Market which explains good reasons that you should love tomatoes too!  Followed by a great recipe for Baked Tomatoes Oregano.

Baked Tomatoes Oregano

Prep Time: 15 minutes                   Cook Time: 20 minutes                  Serves: 4



Image from AllRecipes.com



Note:  Ripe tomatoes are baked with Romano cheese, fresh bread crumbs, garlic and herbs.  It reminds me of pizza without the crust!  I love this simple recipe on nights we are grilling.

Ingredients:

4 large ripe tomatoes, sliced ¼ inch thick
1/8 cup grated Romano cheese
1/2 cup fresh bread crumbs
1 clove garlic, minced
2 sprigs fresh parsley, chopped
Salt and pepper to taste
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1 Tablespoon olive oil
Sprig of basil

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.  Coat a shallow baking dish with cooking spray.

2. Place tomato slices close together in prepared  baking dish.  Sprinkle with cheese, bread crumbs, garlic, parsley, salt, pepper, and oregano.

3.  Bake for 20 minutes in the preheated oven, or until cheese is lightly toasted.

4.  Garnish with a sprig of basil.

Nutrition Info: Calories: 110     Total Fat: 5g     Cholesterol: 4mg     Sodium: 103mg
Total Carbs: 14g (Dietary Fiber 3g)     Protein: 3g



My Spicy Veggie Fry Spice - Recipe

Fries are not just for potatoes any more.  Since Tom and I have started growing our own produce, I have discovered you can make "fries" out of all kinds of veggies.  I've used sweet potatoes, carrots, parsnips, and lot of different squashes.  The other great thing about my veggie fries ... is that they are not "fried" at all ... they are baked!! (Taking out TONS of calories and fats).

I like my fries "spicy" so I have come up with what I consider a great seasoning for my veggie creations.

I start off by setting the oven temperature to 425 degrees F. 

The next step is to cut up the veggies (in this case I am using Georgia Jet yams/sweet potatoes).

Then I mix the seasoning which consists of:
1/2 teaspoon fresh ground salt (I use Himalayan Salt)
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon sweet paprika
1/4 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper

Here is a little time saving tip.  I mix up 3-4 times the amount of seasoning that I need and put it into a shaker bottle.  Not only does it save time when I am trying to make dinner, it also makes it easier to evenly distribute the seasoning over the "fries."

Next I lightly spray the vegetables with an olive oil cooking spray (like Pam), and I shake some of the seasoning onto the veggies.

Pop them into the pre-heated oven and bake for 20-25 minutes (turning once after 10 minutes).

Take out and enjoy.  I like to serve sweet potato fries with light ranch dressing for dipping.

Let me know what you think?

Saving Herbs for Cooking

Is this a great idea for saving fresh herbs, or what?  The pictures show putting the herbs into ice cube trays and then filling the tray with organic olive oil, then putting the tray into the freezer. You could also probably just put them into the refrigerator and let the oil solidify if you are going to be using the cubes within a few days. 

I bet you could also fill the trays with coconut oil or butter (if you are not counting the calories) and have a great starter for cooking or sauteing.

This idea from www.organic-gardening.com