After checking out a brand of skin care products made from only natural ingredients, I decided that rather than pay $79 for a small tube of moisturizing face cream, I would learn to make my own. Meadowsweet Herbs is a local shop that sells most, if not all, the ingredients for making skin care products, and they also offer training classes. I intend to find the schedule and attend some of these classes. I am also studying a book called "Earthly Bodies & Heavenly Hair," which contains hair and skin care product recipes. I find these recipes to be a bit more tedious than I hoped for; and the recipes call for such a vast array of essential oils and fresh herbs (I need to grow a garden of a wide variety of herbs) that it might be more cost-effective to buy the $79 cream! I am hoping the Meadowsweet Herbs classes have recipes with simpler ingredients.
The "Earthly Bodies..." book has many recipes requiring a heat-proof measuring cup. One necessity for this is measuring beeswax. You heat a certain number of ounces of oil in a heat-proof measuring container and add wax scraped off the beeswax block until the liquid is to the prescribed level.
I have been looking online for a heat-proof measuring cup that clearly marks each ounce; because those are the amounts you work with when making creams and lotions. I am intrigued with the idea of borosilicate glass measuring cups or beakers. Borosilicate glass is lightweight, thin, durable and able to withstand extreme temperatures. (It is different from Pyrex which is made of tempered soda-lime glass.) I will see if Meadowsweet Herbs carries borosilicate glass measuring cups. Natural homemade skin care products will not contain chemical preservatives such as parabens; so their shelf lives will be shorter. Thus, you will probably want to make amounts that can be used within 1 or 2 months. I was interested to read that grapefruit seed extract is a natural preservative, as are some essential oils such as lavender; but they are not as potent as the dreaded parabens.
Carrier oils such as olive, coconut, grapeseed, jojoba and almond, serve as the bases for homemade creams, lotions and balms. Each person's skin has a unique responce to an oil, and you can find the oil best suited for your skin type by testing each on your skin and seeing how it sits on or is obsorbed by your skin, whether it leaves your skin softer, how its aroma mixes with your chemistry. Generally, grapseed oil is considered to be good for oily skin, olive oil and coconut oil good for dry skin, jojoba oil good for mature skin and almond oil good for normal skin.
I am amazed at the antimicrobial and cleansing properties of essential oils. There is a lot to learn about them, and I am eager to start using them and see how they work. Hopefully, I will be conscientious about keeping you posted about my experiences with using them. Happy day to you!
Sunday, June 19, 2011
Friday, June 17, 2011
The food drier...
The almonds from Farmer Brown were soaked overnight in salt solution and have been in the food drier for about 18 hrs. Word is they might need to remain in the drier for another day in order to achieve the desired crispness. The food drier, which I purchased only yesterday, can also be used for making yogurt, which I would like to do using some of the delicious milk we purchased from Farmer Brown this week. I enjoyed some of the skimmed off cream in my coffee this morning - excellent flavor and texture.
The first food drier I ever owned was hand made of wood. The outside was painted barn red, and the contraption sat on the floor. It was about 18" square in diameter and three feet tall. The base was about 8" tall and had a heating element near the floor with a sheet of metal between the heating element and the floor. Then came several stacking trays of mesh screens with wooden frames. The top section of the drier had a fan with a vent opening to draw out the moisture from the drying food. The most difficult part of the operation was cleaning the rather flimsy screens of all food particles after each drying project. The recently purchased drier is small and sits on the counter. The vents are on the sides.
Later in the season I hope to dry ripe fresh fruit, as I did on my ancient food drier. It is a particularly good way to preserve fruit that is almost over-ripe, and making your own dried fruit, you can avoid sulfur that is usually added to dried fruit to preserve the color.
I need to finish this and start my next post. Happy Day to you!
The first food drier I ever owned was hand made of wood. The outside was painted barn red, and the contraption sat on the floor. It was about 18" square in diameter and three feet tall. The base was about 8" tall and had a heating element near the floor with a sheet of metal between the heating element and the floor. Then came several stacking trays of mesh screens with wooden frames. The top section of the drier had a fan with a vent opening to draw out the moisture from the drying food. The most difficult part of the operation was cleaning the rather flimsy screens of all food particles after each drying project. The recently purchased drier is small and sits on the counter. The vents are on the sides.
Later in the season I hope to dry ripe fresh fruit, as I did on my ancient food drier. It is a particularly good way to preserve fruit that is almost over-ripe, and making your own dried fruit, you can avoid sulfur that is usually added to dried fruit to preserve the color.
I need to finish this and start my next post. Happy Day to you!
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Transitioning
I am SO SORRY I have been neglecting my blog! Every time I think of something to focus on and write about, I am jerked to something else. I recently joined a group called "The Heirloom Project," and that is first on my mind right now. Through this group, I can buy locally grown milk, eggs, greens, meat, homemade bread, etc. Today I made my first purchase at their once-a-week get-together, at 801 Sherwood in Missoula. I purchased 1 lb. cheese, 1/2 gal. whole milk, 1 lb. sausage, 1-1/2 lb raw almonds. I am following a recipe in my new cookbook "Nourishing Traditions" for processing the raw almonds. I am soaking the almonds in saltwater overnight. Tomorrow I will drain off the water and bake the almonds very slowly in the oven.
The guy who provides many of the products, particularly milk and meat, calls himself Farmer Brown. His name is Frank Brown, and he lives with his young family near Ronan, MT. Gary and I are planning to visit their farm this summer.
The book "Nourishing Traditions" that I have been getting my new eating plans from, has some good information. However, like all nutrition books I have read, I take issue with some of the ideas laid out in the book. For instance, the "Nourishing Traditions" author calls for carob chips instead of chocolate in her recipes! How crazy is this - almost as crazy as her remarks against caffeine! Where is this woman's brain? NO, NO, NO - I will not give up chocolate or caffeine!
I am transitioning to a diet plan that for a few decades now, I have wanted to try. If I feel better, then I guess the eating plan is a good one for me. In my earlier years, I did not have the time or energy I needed to devote myself to this experiment. I am encouraged by what to me are new concepts - - that meat and animal products such as milk, eggs and cheese, are good for your health! Especially if they are grown without chemicals, growth hormones, antibiotics, etc. Whole milk and milk products are better for your body, and the bodies of growing children, than processed unnatural products such as skim milk, lowfat yogurt, margerine and Velveeta Cheese (please don't take away my Velveeta - just kidding!), etc. Butter is good! Lard is good! WAHOO!
At the same time I am trying to assimilate into my brain new information about food and how to prepare it, I am trying to absorb information about personal care products and how I will make them. This is a good exercise for me; but I am plodding along at a snail's pace and trying to forgive myself for the slow-pokey-ness.
I will let you know any surprising and intriguing things I learn in the next few days and weeks. Happy Day!!!!!
The guy who provides many of the products, particularly milk and meat, calls himself Farmer Brown. His name is Frank Brown, and he lives with his young family near Ronan, MT. Gary and I are planning to visit their farm this summer.
The book "Nourishing Traditions" that I have been getting my new eating plans from, has some good information. However, like all nutrition books I have read, I take issue with some of the ideas laid out in the book. For instance, the "Nourishing Traditions" author calls for carob chips instead of chocolate in her recipes! How crazy is this - almost as crazy as her remarks against caffeine! Where is this woman's brain? NO, NO, NO - I will not give up chocolate or caffeine!
I am transitioning to a diet plan that for a few decades now, I have wanted to try. If I feel better, then I guess the eating plan is a good one for me. In my earlier years, I did not have the time or energy I needed to devote myself to this experiment. I am encouraged by what to me are new concepts - - that meat and animal products such as milk, eggs and cheese, are good for your health! Especially if they are grown without chemicals, growth hormones, antibiotics, etc. Whole milk and milk products are better for your body, and the bodies of growing children, than processed unnatural products such as skim milk, lowfat yogurt, margerine and Velveeta Cheese (please don't take away my Velveeta - just kidding!), etc. Butter is good! Lard is good! WAHOO!
At the same time I am trying to assimilate into my brain new information about food and how to prepare it, I am trying to absorb information about personal care products and how I will make them. This is a good exercise for me; but I am plodding along at a snail's pace and trying to forgive myself for the slow-pokey-ness.
I will let you know any surprising and intriguing things I learn in the next few days and weeks. Happy Day!!!!!
Saturday, June 11, 2011
New Old Nutrition Philosophy
This morning we went to the Farmers' Market to buy a fat hog (okay; not exactly). I purchased a beef chuck roast and a pork shoulder roast as well as beets and turnips with their greens on. The greens are soaking, and I will research the best way to cook turnip greens. Paula Deen might know.
I am in the process of revamping (again) the way I think about what to eat, based on the advice of my nutritionist who believes what Sally Fallon, author of NOURISHING TRADITIONS says. Basically, she advises that processed foods are what you should NOT eat; and UNprocessed foods are what your body needs in order to maintain vitality and help prevent the degenerative diseases that are becoming more and more prevalent in our society.
In my first post, I talked about re-introducing butter, coconut oil and lard into my diet; and eliminating processed oils such as corn, canola and Crisco. I am also focusing on eating more meat, because meat contains triptophan, an amino acid. Triptophan makes seratonin which elevates mood. Seratonin produces melatonin, a hormone necessary for sleep. Meat does other good things for your body; and fat from the meat you eat stores energy, enabling you to go longer without food. Meat raised without growth hormones or antibiotics is best, as we have been advised for the last several years.
According to Sally Fallon, fat will not make you gain weight. Processed foods make you gain weight, because they are in a form that your body was not designed to process. Avoiding processed foods takes resolve and constant vigilance. The sugar and flour most of us were raised with, as well as boxed cereals, snack food items, vegetable oil, to name a scant few, are all processed foods. I wonder if there is any fast food that is not processed?
I have been following this food philosophy for 9 days. With very minimal sugar consumption, I feel more energetic and sleep better. In a month, there should be a noticeable drop in my weight. If this happens, I will be pretty well sold on the idea of getting back to what people ate in the days before processed foods and before the medical community decided that red meat, butter and eggs could have an adverse effect on my health. I find this new eating plan to be very pleasant. Happy day to you!!!
I am in the process of revamping (again) the way I think about what to eat, based on the advice of my nutritionist who believes what Sally Fallon, author of NOURISHING TRADITIONS says. Basically, she advises that processed foods are what you should NOT eat; and UNprocessed foods are what your body needs in order to maintain vitality and help prevent the degenerative diseases that are becoming more and more prevalent in our society.
In my first post, I talked about re-introducing butter, coconut oil and lard into my diet; and eliminating processed oils such as corn, canola and Crisco. I am also focusing on eating more meat, because meat contains triptophan, an amino acid. Triptophan makes seratonin which elevates mood. Seratonin produces melatonin, a hormone necessary for sleep. Meat does other good things for your body; and fat from the meat you eat stores energy, enabling you to go longer without food. Meat raised without growth hormones or antibiotics is best, as we have been advised for the last several years.
According to Sally Fallon, fat will not make you gain weight. Processed foods make you gain weight, because they are in a form that your body was not designed to process. Avoiding processed foods takes resolve and constant vigilance. The sugar and flour most of us were raised with, as well as boxed cereals, snack food items, vegetable oil, to name a scant few, are all processed foods. I wonder if there is any fast food that is not processed?
I have been following this food philosophy for 9 days. With very minimal sugar consumption, I feel more energetic and sleep better. In a month, there should be a noticeable drop in my weight. If this happens, I will be pretty well sold on the idea of getting back to what people ate in the days before processed foods and before the medical community decided that red meat, butter and eggs could have an adverse effect on my health. I find this new eating plan to be very pleasant. Happy day to you!!!
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