Blogs

Morning Harvest:  Nettle, collard greens, three different types of kale, basil, apple mint tea, potatoes, green onions, onion, garlic, green beans, zucchini, three different types of cucumber, celery, five different types of tomatoes, egg plant, delicata squash and many varieties of peppers. 

Cucumber Salad:  You will need to pick up some organic whole milk yogurt and dill

http://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/cucumber_yogurt_salad/

Pickled Nettle and Other Nettle Recipes:  

Side Note:  I would leave out the Tamari in the pickled nettle recipe

http://www.dandelionherb.com/public_html/recipes.html

Savory Nettle Chips:  You could do this with your kale to.  

http://mountainroseblog.com/nettle-chips-recipe/

Baked Delicata Squash:  I would add few cloves of chopped garlic, organic butter and 2 tablespoons of organic maple syrup.

http://summertomato.com/better-than-butternut-roasted-delicata-squa...

How to make sun-dried Tomatoes: 

http://allrecipes.com/recipe/sun-dried-tomatoes-i/

You could add seasonings to this recipe if you like 

Roasted Peppers: 

http://markbittman.com/how-to-cook-everything-the-basics-roasted-pep/

Where does the time fly?  We are on our 15th week and the Wellness Boxes end Oct 12th.  It just seem like yesterday that we just started our first delivery.  

This weeks box: 

Celery seed, lemon balm, nettle, comfrey, zucchini, cucumber, salad, beans, beets, swiss chard, kale, tea mix, potatoes,tomatoes, peppers, leeks, cabbage, basil, parsley, celery and onion. Also, there will be some cleavers, this is your last chance to get a tincture made.  

Celery Seed Information:

http://curezone.com/cleanse/kidney/Celery-seeds.asp

http://www.foods-healing-power.com/celery-health-benefits.html

Celery seeds are most commonly used as a diuretic, helping to clear toxins from our body system. People who are suffering from gout and arthritis may find celery seed helpful, as the diuretic properties promotes the clearing of uric acid crystals collecting in the joints. Celery seeds also have anti-inflammatory properties that help to reduce the swelling and pain of the joints.

Additional benefits include the ability to lower blood pressure and cholesterol.

http://www.nutrition-info.com/herbs/herbs-celeryseed.php

Provides Calcium

Fun Fall Recipes:

The pumpkins are not ripe yet, but I thought for those of you who are craving those seasonal fun drinks of the fall would like some fun recipes.   I also included a fun recipe to add rejuvenation to your skin.  Enjoy this wonderful, healing, awesome orange veggie. 

GentlePumpkin Facial Mask

Thanks to exfoliating enzymes and healing vitamins A and C, pumpkin flesh is wonderful for the skin-especially for treating acne, blackheads, age spots, or dull flaky skin. Use canned pumpkins, or cook some fresh and puree or mash it. Warm, mashed fresh pumpkin works the absolute best, feels great, and has a wonderful texture. Honey, a natural humectant, attracts moisture to skin and helps create a plump glowing complexion.

1/4 cup pumpkin puree

1 Tbls Honey 

1-2 drops lavender or geranium essential oil (optional)

Mix ingredients together and massage immediately into dry skin. (You'll get the best results if you leave it on for at least 10 minutes.) You may want to double the recipe to use as a neck decollete treatment. Rinse with warm water and apply your favorite moisturizer. 

Donn't support Starbucks (big corporation that puts the little guys out of business), make your own healthier versions of their  pumpkin latte. 

Pumpkin Latte http://mamanatural.com/pumpkin-spice-latte/

Kakai Pumpkins coming soon........... 

Cucumbers 
How Sugar Affects The Body, Giving You The Lows And Highs

Tired of being wired and tired? 

Following sugar through the body.....

When a child/adult wakes up in the morning after sleeping for ten or more hours, their blood sugar is naturally low.  Even if they had protein-rich snack before they went to bed the night before, digestion has long since delivered it to the bloodstream and into the cells, and now their blood sugar has dropped down to the bottom range of normal.

One of he most common breakfast meals is favorite breakfast cereal, toast and orange juice.  Side note: Even though the cereal boasts of fortification with vitamins and minerals, the cereal contains over fifteen grams (about five teaspoons) of sugar PER SERVING.

The toast is usually covered with jam or cinnamon and sugar, which contains more sugar and other sweeteners than actual fruit.  Another five teaspoons of sugar.  Even though the orange juice does not contain added sugars, it is still pure carbohydrate, which rapidly digest down into simple sugar.  Within minutes, the entire "power breakfast" surges into the bloodstream in the form of glucose, unimpeded by slower-digesting protein or fat.  

This load of blood sugar is dangerous for the brain.  Although the brain is fueled by sugar, it can't handle excessive sugars, so the pancreas leaps to the rescue, dumping Insulin in to the bloodstream to remove excess sugars before they can "burn" the brain.  At each meal, the pancreas senses how much insulin is needed, even before digestion and absorption are complete, so an insulin reaction can happen very quickly.  Large amounts of insulin are released.  

Then just as rapidly, sugar is pulled out of the bloodstream and deposited in the liver.  When the liver is full, the excess sugar is stored as fat, contributing to the super rising epidemic of obesity in this country! 

Side note:  Even the child/adults who are thin these days are carrying to much fat.  This is also a new epidemic.

Due to the high sugar content of the breakfast the insulin response was exaggerated, so the blood sugar plummets.  It is as though someone pulled an electrical cord out of a socket, he or she will run out of steam.   Their sugar is too low and the brain starts to panic.  They get cranky, headachy, irritable, can't concentrate.   Sometimes a child will fall into a chair and star listlessly at their TV, computer or video games.  At other times their adrenal gland spits cortisol into the bloodstream in a desperate attempt to raise blood sugar.  This extra cortisol makes someone hyperactive and damages the hippocampus, their memory center.  Their energy is "false"...

At this point, child/adult reach for the frig, pantry or freezer, pulling out all the sugary foods they can get thier hands on and stuff them into their mouth, just to get their sugar up.   This will only work briefly, but insulin again kicks in and drops the sugar.

This cycle continues, all day long, daily weekly, monthly yearly unless their lifestyle eating habits change.  

I hope by reading this I have given you some motivation to stay away from sugar.  Fall is here soon and for most it starts the "Sugar Fest Of Eating" until after spring.   Challenge yourself to stay away from all the sugar holiday items this fall, winter and spring.

 Just Say "NO" To Sugar This Season! 

Getting Rid Of The Tired Bug Or The Up Down Bug

1.  Get rid of foods with added sugar, corn syrup and agave

2.  Limit fruit.  

        a.    Eat fruit for a dessert at night.  

         b.   Eat a protein with the fruit.   

         c.    Choose fruits that have less fructose in them, chart below 

3.  Exercise is a must

     a.  Adults at least 1 hour 5 days a week, this is the minimum amount 

     b. Tired after work, tough go for a walk/run/kung fu/lift weights/dance etc...

              1.  Get an exercise partner

               2.  Blog and have an audience help you keep your goals

               3.  Get private classes, this will keep on on task 

     c.  Children, tweens, teens.  At least an hour EVERYDAY.

                1.  Young children need to physically play off and on ALL DAY

                 2.  It is up to you as a parent to get your child physically moving, because                             there is not enough physical activity in school. 

4.  Limit Screen Time video games, movies, facebook, TV, social net works:

       a.   2-4 hours a week 

        b.  By limiting their screen time ( and yours) you will gain more energy 

5.  Get plenty of Protein- Organic When You Can

         a.  Eggs, nuts, seeds, cheese, meats 

          b.  Beans combined with rice, pasta or potatoes makes a complete protein

          c.  Organic protein bars

          d.  Organic protein drinks 

6.  Sleep

           a.  Lack of sleep increases health problems, add this to bad eating habits and                     you have doubled your chances of getting diabetes, heart disease etc.  

More information on sleep: 

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2010/08/23/seven...

7.  Avoid these foods:  read labels

Soy, corn, canola,  non-organic wheat, artificial colors, artificial flavors, msg, corn syrup, sugar, agave, hydrogenated oil, frozen meals, campbells, most restaurants, pilsbury products, hot dogs (unless they are organic) any coffee drink with added sweeteners and artificial sweeteners! ,  no soda,  no caffeinated drinks for kids, tweens and teens!! and any food that has words you do not know what they are. 

http://www.cspinet.org/nah/10foods_bad.html

Nettle,  comfrey, kale,  tea mix is apple-mint/stevia,  tea mix lemon verbena, basil, rosemary, beets, carrots, onions. peppers, tomatoes, green beans, potatoes, swiss chard, zucchini, cucumbers, celery and cabbage 

Making Apple Rosemary Muffins! 

http://www.cauldronsandcrockpots.com/category/herbs/rosemary-herbs/

Charred Green Beans with Lemon Verbena Pesto: 

Here is a link to a yummy recipe.  In this recipe they use pine nuts.  Never eat pine nuts, they are not good for you.  Use walnuts instead.  Use organic ingredients to make this a healthy meal. 

http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Charred-Green-Beans-with-Lemon-Verbena-Pesto-395330

Other great uses for Lemon Verbena:  

Lemon Verbena infused olive oil and Lemon Verbena infused vinegar,  Yum! 

http://laist.com/2012/06/07/seasonal_eats_the_powerful_flavor_o.php

Are you taking care of your Hippocampus?  If you want to have a great memory in your golden years, make sure you take care of this one.   Hint:  Stay away from most caffeinated drinks, make sure you add play to your life and meditate on a daily basis.   

Play is crucial for social, emotional and cognitive ­development.

Imaginative and rambunctious “free play,” as opposed to games or structured activities, is the most essential type.

If you do not play you will become anxious, socially maladjusted, depressed, and have possible health issues.  

More on the importance of play, as an adult.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-tian-dayton/when-adults-play_b_666145.html

OK, turn off the computer, pack a picnic, head for a beach and watch the sunset or go for a hike, or buy an art pad and some pastels sit and draw,  just head outside and breath, laugh and play......

Kakai pumpkin, acorn squash, mix of collard greens, swiss chard and kale, Italian brassica leaves, cucumbers, peppers, zucchini, basil, rosemary,green tomatoes, tomatoes, tea mix lemon verbena, comfrey and nettle.

Kakai Pumpkin and Acorn Squash: 

Use the Kakai flesh in soups or bake in an oven to use in muffins, cookies, cakes, or bread recipes.

http://www.happyboyfarms.com/our-produce-varieties.php?id=24&keywords=Kakai

Acorn Squash

Cut open, clean out seeds

Place in a Pyrex baking dish

Drizzle ( or heavy drizzle) with olive oil, butter, brown sugar, garlic powder, sea salt and pepper

Bake until tender 

Last Basil Of The Season

If you have not made the infused olive oil with the basil, you really want to make this one, it is incredibly good!

Let it infuse for about 4 to 6 weeks and then drain. 

Green Tomato Dip

A dip for fresh vegetables, a salad dressing for mixed greens, or a sandwich spread.  

Boiling-water bath canner; four 1-pint jars

8 green tomatoes, washed and cored

4 red bell peppers, washed, halved, and seeded

4 large onions, peeled, cut in half

3 cucumbers, peeled, cut into chunks 

1/2 cup sea salt or pickling salt 

2 1/2 cups white wine vinegar

1 cup organic sugar

2 teaspoons celery seed 

1 teaspoon dry mustard

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 

1 teaspoon mixed pickling spice 

2 organic eggs

1/2 cup organic white flour

3/4 cup organic olive oil 

Grind the vegetables coarsely, using a hand-turned grinder or pulsating motions in a food processor.  You may also chop the vegetables by hand.  Sprinkle them with the salt. 

Cover and let stand at least 8-12 hours to allow the vegetables to "sweat" 

Drain the vegetables and combine them with 2 1/4 cups of the vinegar, sugar, celery seed, mustard, and pepper.  Add the pickling spice tied in a cheesecloth bag. 

pour the vegetables and seasonings into a nonreactive saucepan.  Cook, simmering over low heat, for 30 minutes.  Combine the eggs, flour, and the remaining vinegar in a food processor.  With the motor running, add the oil by droplets in a  steady stream until the mixture becomes thick and smooth. 

Remove the spice bag from eh vegetables and stir in the egg mixture.  Cook, simmering over low heat, until thick.  This should take 56-10 minutes.  

Ladle into hot, clean jars, leaving 1/2 inch of headspace. 

Cap, seal, and process in a boiling water-bath canner for 10 minutes.

Green Tomato Pickle

4 quarts sliced green tomatoes

6 large onions, sliced

1/2 cup sea salt 

6 cups apple cider vinegar

6 sliced peppers

3 diced sweet red peppers 

6 garlic cloves, minced 

1 tablespoon dry mustard 

1 tablespoon whole cloves

1 stick cinnamon 

1 tablespoon powdered ginger

1/2 tablespoon celery seed 

2 1/4 cups honey 

Combine sliced green tomatoes and onions.  Sprinkle with salt.

Let mixture stand for 12 hours. 

Wash in clear water and drain. 

Heat vinegar to the boiling point, and add the peppers and red peppers and garlic. 

Then add the tomato-onion mixture. 

Tie the spices in a square of cheesecloth and drop into the mixture.  

Simmer for about 1 hour, or until tomatoes are transparent, stirring frequently. 

Then add the honey

Pour into hot jars, leaving 1/4 -inch headspace, and process quarts 15 minutes and pints 10 minutes in a boiling-water bath. 

Mountain Mama Wellness Box:  

Lemon balm, tea mix (apple-mint, lemon verbena, calendula and cleavers), collard greens, swiss chard, kale, tomatoes, peppers, nettle,  potatoes, zucchini, broccoli leaves, celery seed, wild food mix (dandelion, yellow dock and sheep sorrel), kohlrabi, garlic chives, celery, basil, beets, onions and tops.

If you don't have a CSA/farm share, no problem, check out the organic farmers at your local farmers market.  Fall crops are starting to come in, that means it is time to up your intake of more green veggies.  It also means it is time to stop the sugar intake, do not increase your sugar intake with all the holiday goodies.  Sugar brings down your immune system!  

Again increase the green veggies, the beets, the turn-up greens, mustard greens, collard greens, cabbage, wild edible weeds, kohlrabi, etc...   

JUST A REMINDER...........

Think Twice Before You Support Wholefoods: 

http://tv.naturalnews.com/v.asp?v=B2DB9DDBCAAFBB5162760F0D61FD46FD

HAVE YOU MADE A GOAL OF NO FAST FOOD?  

YOUR BODY IS YOUR 401 K PLAN........

Zucchini Pineapple Bread: 

Wild Soup: 

Dandelion, yellow dock and sheep sorrel

Garlic chives, chopped

Celery, chooped

onions, chopped

1 tsp (or more thyme) 

1 tsp pepper

4 cups organic milk, (raw is best) never buy ultra pasteurized!  or Milk Alternative

2 tablespoons arrowroot or organic white flour

2 tablespoons organic butter 

Sea salt to taste 

Saute onions and celery then add chopped garlic chives. Cook about a minute

 Wash sorrel, dandelion and yellow dock and put in saucepan with a little water (not covered). Cook slowly for about 1/2 hour.  Strain and put in a soup pot. 

Add sauteed mixture

Put 4 cups of milk . Add 2 teaspoonfuls of butter and 2 tablespoonfuls of  arrowroot or flour (thoroughly blended to avoid lumps) to the hot milk.

Add thyme and pepper,  Cook on low for about 5 minutes, be careful not to burn. 

Enjoy! 

More on Sheep Sorrel:

http://blog.emergencyoutdoors.com/edible-wild-plants-sheep-sorrel-rumex-acetosella/

Kohlrabi and Kohlrabi leaves

http://www.thekitchn.com/top-five-ways-to-prepare-kohlr-60321

Kohlrabi leaves:  saute them like beet greens. Yummy! 

Sauteed Kale and Kohlrabi:

http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Sauteed-Kale-with-Kohlrabi-354974

We like to eat ours raw.  Here is a great recipe below.  Remember if you do not have a certain ingredient, for any recipe, just omit it or get creative with what you have around the house.  

We also like to keep it simple and just slice it up and eat it raw.  

http://g0lubka.blogspot.com/2012/08/kohlrabi-avocado-salad.html

Garlic Chives

Barbecue Sauce: 

1 cup plain tomato sauce

2/3  cup organic shade grown strongly brewed coffee

1/4 cup molasses

1/4 cup apple cider vinegar

2 tabelspoons tomato paste

2 tablespoons coconut sugar or organic brown sugar

2 tablespoon organic unsweetened cocoa powder

2 teaspoons dijon mustard

1 or 2 chipotle chili pepper or  pepper of choice.  You can also roast them. 

 (never use green bell peppers)

4 shallots, or 1 large onion chopped

4 garlic cloves minced 

2 teaspoons finely minced fresh organic ginger root

1 teaspoon ground cumin

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1/4 teaspoon sea salt

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

1.  Saute, shallots or onion, garlic and peppers. 

2.  Add minced ginger to sauteed mixture, cook 2 minutes

3.  Put sauteed ingredients in medium size sauce pan. 

4.  Place all  the rest of the ingredients in a medium size sauce pan.  Stir adn combine. 

5.  Bring mixture to a simmer over medium heat.  

6.  Reduce heat and simmer uncovered, stirring occasionally, until mixture has thickened slightly about 10 minutes.  

7.  Remove from heat and let cool in the pan. 

Enjoy!

Saturday Morning Fire

A great place to sit and drink tea after harvesting this morning

Thankful for the abundance of produce! 

AND PLEASE REMEMBER....