Country Kitchen Pantry - Herbs, Spices, Cooking, Recipes

I opened the journal I keep in my country kitchen's pantry, and this is what I wrote:


Friday, July 13, 2007

About Town: Vegan Visitor

Vegan VisitorVegan Visitor is a blog that invites you in with scrumptious recipes and colorful photography. The author starts her introduction by writing, “This is a guide to fill you, satisfy and demystify vegan cuisine.” Then she tells the story of her consternation at learning her fiancé’s parents, who were coming to dinner, were vegans. She had no idea what to serve them and had to research in cookbooks to figure out what to cook. That was a while back; now she’s a regular at vegan cooking and shares her recipes on her blog.

This blog is nominated for the Blogger’s Choice award. It would be nice to take time to vote for it while you’re checking it out.

One major thing I feel is missing from the blog is more description about the writer. I really prefer blogs where you can get to know the person who’s doing the writing. She’s got a great writing style, but there’s no name or picture to go with it. Still her personal stories are interesting and her talent for cooking is obvious. I recommend a look at her recipe blog, for anyone who enjoys vegan food.

Now I’ve got to hurry to get ready for work, and I’ll be out of town this evening and hopefully tomorrow. Today is my birthday and my boyfriend is taking me out on the town in the Eureka, California area. Have fun this Friday night.

Filed under: Blogs — Linda @ 7:53 am



Thursday, July 12, 2007

Orange Punch

Something sweet to drink on a hot day:

Combine a 12 ounce can of frozen orange juice, melted… with 2 quarts of 7up.

Add 1 pint of orange sherbet and 1 pint of vanilla ice cream on top, by spoonfuls.

Serves 12.

Filed under: Beverages, Fruit — Linda @ 6:32 am



Wednesday, July 11, 2007

Pacific Madrone Berries and Madrone Bark Tea

A few days ago I got into my car, which I’d parked under the tree next to my house, and noticed a lot of Madrone bark had fallen onto the window. It reminded me that Pacific Madrone is a tree that Native Americans here in the Klamath River Valley used for medicine, years ago.

The berries of the Pacific Madrone mature around November. In centuries past, they were gathered to use as food, though eating many at one time is not recommended. I have tasted them, and find them either bitter or tasteless with a dark red outer peel and a white interior. I imagine that they could have been a great treat for Native Americans, prior to the proliferation of sugary treats we’re now accustomed to. But since our taste buds have been spoiled by ice cream, candy, and cookies, Madrone berries don’t hold quite the same attraction they might have two hundred years ago.

My son used to always gather Madrone berries to string together before the winter holidays - they make attractive country-style garlands on a Christmas tree, or hung above windows.

Madrone bark curls and peels naturally from the trees, so you don’t have to worry about hurting a tree for the bark. It is easy to gather. Native Americans brewed the tea to use topically on wounds and sores. It was also used to settle upset stomachs, but I’ve never used it internally and don’t know how safe that is.

The Pacific Madrone grows all along the USA West Coast from Santa Barbara to Washington. There’s another variety of Madrone that grows in Texas. For you who are amateur herbalists - if you don’t live in one of these locations, and would like a sample of Madrone bark for your collection, feel free to email your address to me. I’m willing to mail out an envelope full of bark so long as I’m living in the Klamath River Valley. I’m surrounded by madrone trees, and the bark here is plenteous.

Filed under: Herbs, Madrone — Linda @ 5:53 am



« Previous PageNext Page »

Google
 



Hi, my name is Linda. This is my personal home and hearth journal.

I am a self-trained herbalist. I became a vegetarian when I was a teenager in the 1960s. I was a San Francisco Bay Area hippie in the 60s and early 70s. Then I became a mom - the most important job I've ever had.

Now I live in a very small mountain community. The nearest fast food restaurant is more than forty miles during summer, and more than seventy miles in winter when the pass is snowed under. I've never owned a cell phone, but I talked on one once.





Food, Natural Healing, and Health News (Off-site)

Crop Failure from the BP Gulf Oil Spill

Poisoned tomatoes in Australia

Premature birth from diet sodas

Doctors want crackdown on junkfood

Toxins on fruit

Pesticides found on fruits

Why cauliflower is so good for you

US food prices climbing

Olive Oil may prevent cancer

Cell Phones and Tumors

Avandia banned in UK

Schools in UK photographing lunchboxes

Video: Baby hears for the first time

Fluoride Causes Kidney Disease

Pregnant women should be given vitamin D supplements, researchers claim

Qigong Master Jo boils water with his hands under an infrared camera

An elixir of life biochemical has been discovered in the soil of Easter Island, prompting suggestions that an "anti-ageing" pill could soon be produced

Whole Foods Market seeks non-GMO seal

A remote town in south-eastern Australia has become the first place in the world to ban bottled water

Plant chemicals found in red wine, cocoa and a wide range of fruits and vegetables may protect against Alzheimer's

Economic survivalists take root

Rocket Fuel Chemical Found In Baby Formula

The Best Day Ever

Farmers to cut US planting

The Laws of the Pharmaceutical Industry

The Medical Mafia

Taking the fizz out of Coke ad claims

Marijuana Chemical May Fight Brain Cancer

Nuts! Salmonella Fears Hit Pistachios

Priory staff try to crack recipe of 'elixir of life'

Enthusiasts say camel milk may be a cure-all

Rewards of a home vegetable garden

Fruits of labor: How to grow an edible garden

Does gardening count as a moderate workout?

Why Urban Farming Isn't Just for Foodies

Return of the salad days

Cherries, an old and effective remedy

Medicinal plants in danger of dying out, according to conservationists

Penny-wise Planting

Grow your own drugs with James Wong

Daily Red Meat Raises Chances Of Dying Early

Prince Charles' Duchy Originals ordered to remove 'misleading' herbal remedy claims

One child in 60 'suffers from a form of autism'

Two Food Additives Have Previously Unrecognized Estrogen-like Effects

How Cell Phones May Cause Autism

Slash Your Prostate Cancer Risk -- With Sunlight!

Optimism is the best defence aganist the recession

Who Owns Organic

Burt's Bees, Tom's of Maine, Naked Juice: Your Favorite Brands? Take Another Look -- They May Not Be What They Seem

Goodbye farmers markets, CSAs, and roadside stands

Government launches bid to allay fears over GM food

HR 875/S 425: Farm to Fork Food Fascism Comes to America

Dollars from dirt: Economy spurs home garden boom

Getting tough on food-borne disease outbreaks

Taking aspirin to avoid a heart attack: new recommendations

What Is Moderate Exercise?

Octomom brings two of her babies home

Lose your property for growing food?

Oxygen therapy benefit in autism

High Heels Cripple Your Feet

Catastrophic Fall in 2009 Global Food Production

Low EMF Computer Set-Ups

Obese die up to 10 years early, study of a million people finds

Live Avian Flu Virus Placed in Flu Vaccine Materials Sent to 18 Countries

Coffee: The New Health Food?

Breast cancer is linked to poor diet and low exercise in the early years, says report

A bowl of porridge in the morning 'will make you feel fuller for longer'

Why are Genetically Modified Foods Not Labeled?

Suicide Risk: The New Fibromyalgia Drug

Many people are raising their own food to save

U.S. capital struggles to contain HIV epidemic


RSS Blog Feed

RSS Blog Feed

RSS Comments Feed

RSS Comments Feed


To subscribe to this blog by email,
enter your email address:



Country Kitchen Pantry