Homemade Fruit Tea Recipes

I love fruit tea, preferring to create my own homemade fruit tea recipes, over those who you can find in most grocery stores, simply because most of them have either green or black tea. I am a purist when it comes to fruit teas. I like the recipes simple and easy, and adjustable. With small changes, like adding some spices like cinnamon or coconut flakes to the mix, you can create interesting flavor combinations without all of the unnecessary additives and fillers many commercial tea blends and mixes have.

Here is a great base recipe you can work from

250 grams of strawberries
Organic pears, apples and peaches – five each
10  organic oranges
10 organic lemons
2 sticks of lemon grass

Remove stems and seeds from the pears, apples, and peaches, cut all fruit and lemon grass in same size, small pieces
and place into a dehydrator. Dehydrate according to the manufacturers instructions.

Mix well and place into an sealed container, storing it for up to 6 months in a dry and cool place.

To prepare:

Place 1 heaping tablespoon of the tea mix into an infuser, reusable tea bag, or your favorite tea ball. Steep until desired
strength is reached, about 6 to 8 minutes. Remove the infuser, tea bag or tea ball, or strain. Sweeten with your favorite
sweetener.

Variations:

Add a half of cup of dried coconut flakes and a half of cup of dried pineapple to the mix for a Hawaiian flavor.

You can also add extra flavor like cinnamon, or ginger.

Add a handful each of your favorite dried berries to the mix, for a berry blend.

You can also skip the citrus and add a cup of dried hibiscus leaves to the mix instead.

 

Available on Amazon now!

I highly recommend this beautiful tea cup with enclosed infuser/strainer from Teaveli decorated with ancient Chinese symbols this pretty cup makes a perfect tea. I love the fact that it has a lid, which keeps the warmth of the water, while the tea is brewing. This cup is perfect for homemade fruit tea blends, or any green or black tea. It is dishwasher safe, microwavable, and comes with a saucer. Makes a great gift for birthdays, or just any day! Buy it on Amazon today!

Disclaimer: I have received this cup for free in return for an honest review.

5 Facts About Mortar And Pestles You Might Not Know

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Mortar and Pestle are not a beautiful but also a functional pair of tools to have in your kitchen, especially if you do
a lot of cooking with herbs and spices. But as you already know, I always want to know more about the tools I use, so I
decided to dig up some facts about this interesting contraption you might not have known before:

5 Things You May Not Know About Mortar And Pestles

1. Did you know in some places there were used for meat preparation? Large stone mortars with wood pestles were used in West Asia to grind meat for a type of meatloaf called kebbeh as well as a type of hummus called masabcha.

2.Here is a non-food use of the mortar and pestle: It is traditional in various Hindu ceremonies such as weddings and
upanayanam to use the mortar and pestle to crush turmeric.

3. Mortar and Pestles are a big part of Thai history: The Thai mortar and pestle dates back to the Sukhothai period which was the 1st Kingdom that was founded in 1238 A.D. and was used to grind foods and medicines.

4. the results of your grinding depend on the material of the mortar and pestle. I will get more into the details of that
in a moment.

5. The oldest mentioning of the mortar and pestle stems from Ancient Egypt, in a medical manuscript called the
Papyrus Ebers, which dates about 1550 BCE.

What are the best Mortar And Pestle material for which use?

Ceramic:
stains easily used to create powdered substances

Stone/Granite:
very heavy, durable and sturdy, look for a not so porous mortar for best use. Good for general cooking uses

Wood:
best for griding seeds and salts. Do not use with moisture. Never leave in water so it won’t warp. Delicate.

Porcelain:
Easy to clean, usually dishwasher safe, need salt in order to make grinding easier. General household use

Marble:
the heaviest of them all. Easy to clean, very sturdy, easiest to use. does not absorb odor.

 

Maxam Mortar and Pestle Available on Amazon now

I was recently given the chance to review the Maxam Marble Mortar and Pestle, and here are my thoughts:

My first impression was, that is was as heavy and beautiful as I expected from a marble piece. Of all Mortar and Pestles, I prefer marble as the material, as it is the most functional, as well as aesthetically pleasing, allowing me to leave  in full display, rather than hiding it in the cupboard somewhere. The Maxam Mortar and Pestle is not exception to that rule. With a large bowl,  it is  wonderful to use for the larger patches of spice mixes I tend to make, cutting my work time.  It is almost completely white, with the slight colors I also expect and love from marble. The pestle rests well in my hand and is well balanced, which makes working with this item easier and more convenient. Overall I am very happy with this item, which is available on Amazon at a very reasonable price.

Disclaimer: I was given the Maxam Mortar and Pestle for free in return for an honest and unbiased review.

Stay tuned for some more interesting facts about every day items, you might not have thought about before.

This post is a part of the following blog hops:

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Amaze Me Mondays

A to Z Challenge: Tea Leaf Reading Symbols – Letter K

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Do you know the origin of iced tea?  According to legend, Richard Blechynden, an enterprising English merchant, was put in charge of the tea pavilion during the St. Louis Fair, in 1904 . Unfortunately, in planning for the Fair, he never considered the potential impact of weather. When Mother Nature produced a blistering summer day, cups of hot tea were not a popular item with the fairgoers. Exhausted and desperate to showcase his product, Blechynden tried serving the tea cold in glasses filled with ice. The scheme was an instant success, and iced tea was born.

If you are a fan of iced tea, you should try this variation of the classic iced drink. Enjoy!

Refreshing Citrus Green Iced Tea

2 cups of prepared green tea 

3 tablespoons of honey or your favorite sweetener

500 ml (2 cups) of fresh squeezed Grapefruit juice 

A sprig of fresh lemon balm to garnish – if desired 

Ice cubes 

 

Sweeten the prepared green tea with honey, and allow to cool completely. Add the grapefruit juice to the tea in a large pitcher. Add ice cubes to 4 tall glasses, and fill with tea. Top with a little piece of lemon balm if desired. Serve immediately. A variation of this that works well is using orange juice instead of grapefruit. 

Let’s get back to our Tea Leaf Reading Dictionary! Today’s letter is the letter K!

Letter K:

Kettle: Health problems may be on the horizon. Also a sign of possible other trouble being on the way. Be cautious

Keyhole: You have someone untrustworthy around you. Watch your back

King on a Throne: Steadfastness, security, and overall peace. A sign that there is a potential promotion to a high value position in the works.

Knives: One knife indicates a sign of unpleasantness while multiple knives indicate deeper danger that needs to be watched out for. Not necessarily of the physical kind, this could also indicate a financial disaster or a personal one.

 

Vitamins (via Grapefruit juice)  are not only a good addition to teas, it is also a great addition to skin care. If you are looking for an effective eye gel containing Vitamin E, that is suitable for sensitive skin, check out Insta Natural Youth Express Eye Gel. While it is not an instant miracle product, it reduces puffiness around the eyes, after about 2 weeks of daily applications. It did not irritate my sensitive skin, and it is a cruelty-free product. I highly recommend Insta Natural’s Youth Express Eye Gel with Vitamin E, Plant Stem Cells and Jojoba Oils. Available on Amazon today!

Disclaimer: The Insta Natural Youth Express Eye Gel was given to me for free in return for an honest review.

 

A to Z Blogging Challenge: Tea Leaf Reading Dictionary “J”

Hi and welcome back!

Today, I want to share with you a Chai Tea recipe that is my favorite. While chai tea is widely available in tea bags, there is nothing better than the home made variety. Also, you can adjust the ratio of the ingredients to fit your needs, once you got a feel for the base recipe.

Chai Tea Recipe: (for one pot of tea)

6 cups of water

4 cups of milk

6 cardamon seeds

4 pieces of cloves

1 tablespoon of fennel seeds

1 tablespoon of anise

1 cinnamon stick

½ teaspoon of freshly minced ginger

4 tablespoons of your favorite loose black tea

6 tablespoons of honey

Place all ingredients, except milk and tea into a pot and slowly heat it to simmer. Allow it to simmer for 10 minutes. Add the milk and softly simmer the mixture for another 5 minutes. Add the black tea, allow it to come to a boil, remove from heat, and allow the mixture to steep for 3 to 5 minutes. Strain through a “screen”, and sweeten as desired. Serve hot.

A wonderful variety of this tea (which I prefer for breakfast), is to make it with green tea. Follow the same instructions, but allow the green tea to steep for 3 minutes only.

Time to get back to the Tea Leaf Reading Dictionary! Today’s letter J was not very easy to compile. There happens to be not too many symbols that begin with this letter. Here are the two that I found:

Letter J:

Jam: this symbol cautions you not to waste your resources and time. Don’t make any over the top decisions or spending ventures. Be conservative for the time being.

Jug: A good sign that indicated health, and overall well-being. Also a financial good omen.

Hope you enjoyed today’s short but sweet dictionary entrance. Before I let you go, I want to share with you an offer from our sponsors:

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How to Use White Cosmetic Clay

This post may contain affiliate links

If you are like me, interested in making your own skin care products, or at least know what is in those you buy, you probably have seen the ingredient white cosmetic clay, or Kaolin Clay before.

What is White Cosmetic Clay?

White Cosmetic Clay is also known as Kaolin Clay, and often found in skincare products and cosmetics. It is a very fine and light clay with a natural absorbency. Because it is the mildest clay it is perfect for those with sensitive skin, like me,
or who are prone to allergies. Because it does not dry out your skin, it can be used in DIY recipes for those with dry skin
types. This type of clay is also softer for scrubs and masks, then the much harsher bentonite clay. Kaolin Clay
should be off-white in its dry state, and brown when wet.

Look for the unrefined variety when creating your own skin care products.

What are the benefits of White Cosmetic Clay?

1. it removes impurities from your pores
2. it stimulates circulation, improves healing, and provides nourishment for your skin
3. It does not over-dry, as mentioned above.
4. It has disinfectant properties, which helps prevent acne breakouts
5. It removes dead skin cells

Is it safe to eat Kaolin Clay?

Some nutritionists believe so, but most medical professionals disagree. Never take Kaolin Clay internally, without
the proper guidance of your natural health care professional.

Valentia Skin Toxifying Clay Mask – which is a part of the Valentia skin care line – uses the power of Kaolin Clay
to assist your skin. It is my go-to mask, and I have very sensitive skin. Despite this, it has never dried out my skin
leaving me rather refreshed, with a softer and less red complexion. If you are looking for a mask, that is not only
great for your skin, but also cruelty-free, check out Valentia Skin Detoxifying Clay Mask.

Disclaimer: I have received the Valentia Clay Mask for free in return for an honest review.

5 Tips To Pamper Your Tired Feet

Chasing the kids, dogs, cat and sometimes the husband around makes my feet tired! I don’t know about you, but feet tend to be the last thing I think about, expect when it is time for a pedicure or the newest sandals. Any other time, they are
here to carry me, and that is it. And then it happens – they hurt, burn, or just feel simply miserable.

Time to take care of your feet!

Raw Honey Available On AmazonLucky for you I have five tips on how you can do just that.

1. DIY Foot Soaks Like this Honey and Cream Foot Soak
Yes, you heard me right, a foot soak that takes advantage of the powers of honey and cream. And it is simple.
Add 1 tablespoon of honey (I prefer raw honey, like this one), and 2 tablespoons of whipping cream  ( I use Organic Valley for everything I do or make with whipping cream), to the warm water you placed into your foot soaking basin or foot spa.
You can also try this wonderful DIY Lime-Mint Foot soak recipe from Tidy Mom!
You should check it out! I love it!

2. Get a foot spa
Speaking of, you really should get a foot spa. These inexpensive little machines, hold the warmth for you, and most of them, like this Conair Foot Spa (I have two of those), come with vibration and heat. My husband who spends hours in work boots every day. swears by them.
And so do I.

3. Strengthen your foot muscles by exercising your feet!
Yes, you heard me right – it is important to exercise our feet. there is not much equipment needed. Simply roll up a small towel, place it on the floor, and stand upon it, to increase your balance (caution, if you have any issues with balance, do not attempt this exercise). You can also place the same towel upon the floor, and try to pick it up with your toes. Repeat as often as you feel comfortable. Practice this daily.

4. Go barefoot.
Allow your feet to breathe, and go barefoot. Too often confined in tight shoes, and not so natural fibers, our feet hardly ever
get a chance to be placed bare upon the ground. Try walking across many different textures, from carpet to grass, sand, and gravel to strengthen the soles of your feet.

5. Gentle stretches
While you already have your shoes off, practice some gentle stretches. How about this one: Toe Stretch. Sit in a chair, with feet on the floor, and spread your toes apart. Hold for a few seconds, then release. Repeat 10 times

What are your favorite ways to pamper your feet?

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See you soon!
Claudia

How To Get Rid Of Your Headache Naturally – 6 Quick And Easy Remedies

Headaches happen for many reasons – stress, neck or posture problems, change of weather, or slight dehydration. No matter what the cause, I prefer to grab a natural health remedy to combat the pain, rather than grabbing for the chemical solutions of aspirin and company.

Here are few quick home remedies to get rid of headaches:

Anti-Headache Water:

Add the juice of a lemon to two cups of water, and two add the juice of a lemon to two cups of water, and two add the juice of a lemon to two cups of water, and two add the juice of a lemon to two cups of water, and two teaspoons or Himalayan Salt. Mix well, and drink as you would drink normally your water.

Medicinal Clay Available On Amazon

Medicinal clay mask
Create a thick paste with enough medicinal clay and water to cover your forehead only. Relax for 30 minutes, and rinse off thoroughly The cooling effect of medicinal clay works wonders on tension headaches!

Peppermint oil
Using pure peppermint essential oil can be also helpful for headaches. Simply massage a few drops (3 to 5 ) onto your temple for relief.

Cinnamon relief paste:
Mix one teaspoon of ground cinnamon with a teaspoon of water, and apply the paste upon your forehead. Leave on for 10 minutes, rinse off well.

Headache relief juice:

Black And Decker 400 Watt Juicer available on Amazon now!

If you have a juicer, try this green juice to make your headache go away:
1 stick of celery
3 large kale leaves
1/4 lemon
1/2 pineapple
1 small piece (about a half inch) of ginger root
1/2 of an organic cucumber

On The Road Headache Fix:
If you do not have access to any of these household items, and you are on the road, pick up Gatorade, and drink two cups of it rather than grab for an aspirin. This will cure most headaches rather quickly. follow the instructions of your juicer and enjoy

What are your favorite natural remedies for headache relief?

I am required by law to add this disclaimer:
For educational and entertainment purposes only. The information given in the above post, is not meant to replace the advice of a health care professional. Always consult with a health-care professional before using any alternative medicine or healing methods. Always make sure you are not allergic to any of the ingredients before use.

This post is  a part of the following blog hops:
Amaze Me Monday

Manic Mondays

Be Inspired

Farmgirl Friday Blog Hop

5 Interesting Facts About Cocoa Butter You Might Not Know

Disclaimer: The following post contains affiliate links. I have received the product mentioned for free in return for on honest review – see disclosure page for details

If you love chocolate, you are at the right place, because today, I am writing to you, about one of the key ingredients for the world’s most loved treat – cocoa butter. But, cocoa butter is much more versatile than you might think. Let me tell you a little more, with this list of 5 interesting facts you might not know about cocoa butter:

1. It is very popular in vegan cooking. Sweets treats, such as cakes, chocolates, and others do not need to be missed a part of a vegan diet when incorporating cocoa butter to your food prep. But not only sweets benefit from a cocoa treatment – because of its easy to melt consistency, it can also be used to pan-fry items such as tofu.

2. It makes a great base for DIY cosmetics. Body butters, lip balms, and facial masks are just a small example of what this wonderful butter can be used for. And if you have, like I do, problems with handling overly scented beauty products, those created with cocoa butter as a base, are a breath of fresh air (or chocolate) for our sensitive noses.

3. Cocoa butter is often used as the base of luxury bath soaps. These soaps are especially great for preventing dry or cracked skin, leaving you feeling especially soft. If you are prone to oily skin, I would rather suggest not to use it as a base for facial soaps and cleansers

4. 100 grams of cocoa butter contain up to 900 calories. This fact, in combination of the realization that it also contains 60 % saturated fat, makes it a winner when it comes to beauty products and no so much in the kitchen – no matter how good it tastes

5. It is an essential component of the “chocolate” used for massages. Ever tried chocolate massage therapy? If you have not, you have missed out on something special, not only because the combination of shea butter, cocoa butter, and cocoa powder is wonderful for your skin, but because it smells divine, and is incredibly relaxing. making it the perfect treat for anyone.

Natural Beauty Goddess was kind enough to send me a 1 lb package of their raw 100 % cocoa butter to review. This type of cocoa butter is not food grade, but rather thought for the above-mentioned beauty treatments. Rich and thick, this great raw and organic cocoa butter is Kosher certified, and comes in a beautiful screw top container, that makes dispensing it easy. I suffer from contact allergies, which, after I applied it to my arm, felt immediately better. The smooth, beautifully scented butter is one of the few things, I can put on my skin without hesitation while loving the smell, and luxurious feeling. The only downfall I found is, that due to the lack of outer packaging, my container came with a slightly broken lid. so, improved and additional packaging would prevent any breakage. That did not diminish the high quality of the product, which by the way comes with a free ebook, containing recipes and information about cocoa butter. I am planning on creating a few of the mentioned DIY cosmetics shortly

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The above post was a part of the following blog hops:

Coastal Charm 

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At Our Home

Cozy Little House

Stone Gable Blog

Bernideen’s Blog

 

5 Reasons To Make Your Own Spice Mixes

Ever thought about making your own spice mixes? Thought that this was a little too daunting of a task? Think again. Creating herb and spice mixes is easy, inexpensive and efficient, as well as a fun activity you can do together with your kids.

But besides that it is a creative activity, that goes beyond a home economics lesson, it is also a great way to keep artificial by-products out of your families reach.

Do you have family members with food allergies and chronic diseases, like I do? Then you really should consider making your own mixes.

 

Allow me to present to you 5 reasons why you should make your own spice mixes

1. Store bought mixes contain modified starch which is often derived from GMO sources (not always), used a thickening agent

2. There are also hidden sugars – does anyone really need more sugar in their diet? The answer is surely no, especially when you or someone in your family deals with diabetes or other chronic illnesses

3. Store brands as well as national brands contain partially hydrogenated vegetable oils – GMO derived trans fats from various sources, such as soybean oil, do I need to say more?

4. They contain MSG – MSG can be hidden under other names.

5. Often contains Hidden gluten – a dangerous situation for anyone with celiac disease

But where to find recipes? You can borrow my “Mixing Spices” book for free on Amazon Kindle Unlimited! A no-nonsense collection of mixes, which contains no fillers, unlike store brand ready-mixes. My recipes range from Taco Season to Goulash, and more adventurous recipes, that are easy to replicate, without the need for weird and crazy ingredients you can find anywhere.

Get it on Amazon now!

 

 

Store your spice creations in these beautiful containers, for an airtight seal.

Magnetic Steel Spice Rack by Home Basics, available on Amazon now! 

 

 

 

If you are looking for a non-expensive, but effective spice grinder, I highly recommend this little powerhouse:

Krups Coffee And Spice Grinder available on Amazon now!

 

 

 

 

The above blog post is a part of the following blog hops:

Share With Me

 

Winter Blues Wednesday

Inspire Me Wednesday

Talk Of The Town

The Creative Board

How To Make Your Own Cat Food

 

Disclaimer: The following post contains affiliate links, see Disclosure page for details

Upon request of a dear reader, I am writing today about making your own cat food. But before sharing a recipe with you, I would like to take a moment to caution you about making your own pet food. My dogs are fed exclusively on homemade dog food, due to severe allergies. They simply can not eat the commercial stuff without loosing all of their fur, and breaking out.  My cat, on the other hand, is almost exclusively fed on commercial food, because he has no allergies. If you are feeding all of your pets homemade food, do not feed the same food you make for your dogs to your cat. With very different nutritional needs, you would have to cook separately. That said, I make homemade cat food as an occasional treat, which he enjoys very much.

 

There are a few foods that should never be added to homemade cat food. Those are:

 

• Garlic
• Onions
• Raisins
• Raw Egg whites
• Tomatoes
• Grapes

Some people will tell you that garlic keeps away fleas, in both cats and dogs, but it is also poisonous to their system. So stick with the commercial flea protection like Bayer Advantage  and skip the garlic

 

When feeding the amount of homemade cat food, keep the following factors in mind, when giving food:

1. Age
2. Activity level
3. pre-existing conditions
4. size of the cat

 

You should consult your holistic veterinarian for feeding guidelines, or consult books specifically written on the subject.

 

Basic Cat Food Recipe:

 

• 1/4 teaspoon olive oil or salmon oil
• 7 grams of feline vitamin/mineral supplement
• 30 grams of potato, cooked without skin
• 50 grams of carbs (choose one: cooked pasta, white rice, barley, oatmeal, peas)
• 83 grams of cooked animal protein (whole meat chicken, lamb, rabbit, beef, pork, tuna, salmon)

Mix all of the ingredients together (a blender works really well for this purpose) and store the food in the fridge until needed

 

Some of my vegan friends consider feeding their cats and dogs an animal protein-free diet. I personally do not recommend that the same goes for raw diets. Most people making homemade food for their pets will agree that liver should only be fed on occasion as the animal protein given. I completely stay away from liver, as my dogs both seem to have an adverse reaction to it (even though they love the flavor). Every animal will react different to a homemade diet, therefore, your vigilance is required.
Here are two books I highly recommend on the subject:

Dinner PAWsible: A Cookbook of Nutritious, Homemade Meals for Cats And Dogs

available on Amazon now

 

 

 The Ultimate Guide To Cats Food

available on Amazon now

 

 

This post is a part of the following blog hops:

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Manic Monday Blog Hop

Farmgirl Friday Blog Hop

Keeping It Simple

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