Dandelion Greens

My mom taught me to recognize a lot of what are called "weeds".  You might be surprised at what is growing in your backyard that is of medicinal use for you!  We have everything from wild blackberry, ribwort plantain, to my favorite, . . . dandelion.  Why pay $3.00 per bunch when you can go pick your own greens??  Ok, so that's not really true here, . . . I actually don't pick my dandelion greens from the yard unless I know the dog hasn't peed on it, which is not really ever the case in our house.  Still though, their appearance give me the inspiration to write about them, they are everywhere these days.

Dandelion greens are wonderful.  I never knew about their magic till I was pregnant with Serafin and dealing with some very uncomfortable constipation (darn babies get you all plugged up!).  These greens will get your bowels moving for sure!

In my opinion, the greens are too bitter to eat raw, sometimes I throw them in soups or stir-fries, but my favorite way to eat them is the greek way.  When I was a little girl my Dad used to make Horta (stewed greens).  You can make this with many different types of greens, in Greece they make Horta according to whatever greens were currently coming up that season.  Since you can find anything in the grocery store these days, my Dad seemed to always settle on dandelion greens.  


Honestly, I never liked Horta as a child, but as my palate changed, I have grown to love this yummy dish.  So y'all, . . . another greek dish from my childhood, to honor the greens of spring, . . . and it's simple to make, . . . enjoy!

Horta (stewed greens)

Steam greens till well wilted.

Drizzle with olive oil and juice of half lemon (or to taste)

Add salt. 
Done!

That's all! 

Now, chow down!

Yum!

Tasty Teas #5: Roobois

We don't do all loose leaf teas in this house. Choice Roobois tea is one of our favorite bagged teas. Roobois is a red tea, it's caffeine free and is packed with anti oxidants. They use it in South Africa to help in calming children. It's a very relaxing, deliciously tasting tea. Mmmmmmm. 

 I used to love to drink black tea during my "England Days", but I'm pretty much a no caffeine girl  now.  Roobois is a nice alternative and you can add milk and sugar just like you might to a cup of "English Breakfast" tea. You get a nice nutty flavor, mild, but just strong enough. We've tried many different types of Roobois and have found that the Choice bags are good for the price you pay. For my British hubby, I have to say, it is his tea of Choice (ha ha, pun definitely intended!).  We by them in bulk, six boxes at a time, that's how much we love it!

The Sewing Machine, . . .

Ladies and Gentleman!  I am happy to announce that I have gotten over my fear of the sewing machine!   I figured it was about time to get over my phobia of needles and presser foots and get down and dirty.  I want to be able to make curtains, clothes, bed sheets, halloween costumes, yada yada yada.

I've had my mom's machine for a very long time now.  It's a Singer Genie from the 60's, note the decorative flower pattern on the casing, . . groovy dude!  I've been shown how to thread it a number of times, but for some reason, I always left it and then forgot how to do it.  

I think I was kind of intimidated by the thought of sewing "properly".  I never took the time to learn about patterns and fabric and whenever I thought about it, there was always a way to get around it.  What was my breaking point?  I guess I just got sick of looking for ideas online that re-quire the words "no sew".  Plus, I HATE the smell of a glue gun.

So, a few weeks ago I began a basic sewing class.  We've learned about fabrics, how to pick and follow a pattern, how to pin, and use our sewing machine.  You know, the basics.  I'm working on a dress, no buttons or zippers, nothing too fancy, but nevertheless, it's a start!  Plus, I love that I'm learning on the same machine that my mom worked on.

Oh yeah, speaking of groovy things, . . . the other day I decided to put my knowledge to the test and ended up making these cute pants for Miss Serafin!  Love it!  Can't wait to learn more and explore my new (but not very new) toy!

"I'm a Dish Washer!"

Sometimes the best activities are the most simple.  A little soap and water can take you a long way!   Serafin love's "washing dishes" and I consider it a nice way to teach her some responsibility. It's also a great way to keep the kiddo occupied while you chop up some veggies and put dinner together.  Here are a couple of fun photos plus a video of my little "dish washer" (please excuse the plumber's butt!).  

Oh Sweet Neti Pot!

(My neti pot lives on the shelf in our kitchen)

  Well, I've talked about poop and vomit on this blog, it's about time I write about snot!  I have recently really discovered the wonders of the Neti Pot!  I've had one sitting around our house for years and used it only on occasion, like when I had a nasty cold.  In the last 3 months my sinuses have been totally flared up.  I hear allergy season is particularly bad this year and I'm thinking that might have something to do with it--a lot of people seem to be complaining.

After a phone conversation with my brother, another pro-neti pot advocate, I decided to give it another honest try.  I researched online to find a recommended saline solution and kind of came up with my own little concoction.  What's the kicker???  Apple Cider Vinegar!

I have been flushing my sinuses 1-2 times per day, . . .WOW what  a difference.  Little Serafin now now comes in and says, "Mommy, are you getting rid of your snot??"  It makes me laugh.  Here's what I've been doing, . . .

********************

1)  Mix and grind up the following: 

• 3/4 cups salt, non iodized, I used Black Diamond Koscher
• 3 Tablespoons of Baking Soda

2)  Store in a sealed container.

3)  When you are ready to flush those sinuses, . . . .

          

          -Add 1/2 tsp of solution into tepid water.  

          -Stir so that salt dissolves.  

          -Add 10 drops of Apple Cider Vinegar (if you really want a zing, use 1/2 tsp of ACV,   

           it might sting a little, but your sinuses will thank you for it later.)

********************

What I've noticed, in my experience, if it hurts or stings, you are less likely to do it!  So play with the solution and find what works for you.  This recipe is a good place to start, but don't forget, we're all different and what clears my snot, might not clear yours!  Don't give up though, once you are "clear" it will be worth it in the end!

Catnip teething pops!

Catnip isn't just for cats, it has quite an amazing impact on us two legged creatures as well!  While giving a handful of this herb to our furry friends makes them go a bit crazy, it has the opposite affect on us.  When I drink a cup of catnip tea I find myself winding down and getting sleepy.  It helps calm the nervous system and is an analgesic, pain reliever.  

Catnip has been given to children as a teething remedy for ages.  It is a very gentle herb.  I figured, since ice also helps numb the gums, I thought I could give Silas a double wammy and hit him with two teething tricks at once.  Henceforth we began making catnip teething pops!

They are simple to make, just brew some catnip tea, using a ration of 1 Tsp to 1 cup of water.  Once the brew  has cooled, freeze the tea in ice-cube trays.  When you child is driving you batty and needs something to gnash on, you can either put one in one in a mesh feeder, or, my more preferred method, put it in a cloth napkin, secure it with a knot or piece of string and let your child go to town.  If anything, it will give your kiddo something to do for a little while!  Poor little ones, teething is no fun!

Egg Shades

One afternoon I was looking for something for Serafin to paint and thought it might be fun to do something with an egg carton.  We go through so many eggs in this house and I'm always looking for creative ways to re-use them.  Todays project was a success!  We ended up painting and making some goggles!  Serafin had fun wearing her new shades as well as forcing them on me and Silas!

First, of course, Serafin tries them on, . . .

Then subjects poor Silas to them, . . .

And then me, . . . (SEXY!)

Then she wanted them back and wore them on her head for an hour before taking them off (after which she proceeded to stomp on them).  Whoot whoot!  An eventful day!

PS, . . . I just found this awesome blog that does these fun challenges and I thought I would partake.  This one was dedicated to egg cartons--go figure!