Herbs Spices and Seasonings

Introducing a new MEME

Welcome

Today lets talk about our spice of the week

Herb of the week...

ANISE

This is the dried ripe fruit of an easy to grow garden annual belonging to the carrot family. Native to Egypt, it has been planted in European gardens since the Middle Ages. Anise seeds are brownish with tan stripes, oval and tapered to a point. The sweetish flavor is potent and the highly aromatic spice is a powerful flavor enhancer.

Now for all you exotic tea lovers out there, if you'd like and especially tasty treat; Try adding a teaspoon of anise seeds to a cup of boiling water and let stand for five minutes. If you like licorice, your palate should be pleasantly surprised!

When using a spice or herb for the firs time, follow a good rule of thumb…you can put more in, but you can’t take it out! Use only about scant teaspoon to start.

When using a spice or herb for the firs time, follow a good rule of thumb…you can put more in, but you can’t take it out! Use only about scant teaspoon to start.

Now 

Tell us how you use this wonderful Spice

Herbs Spices and Seasonings

Introducing a new MEME

Welcome

Today lets talk about our spice of the week

Allspice

As the name suggests, this versatile flavor enhancer is a spice because it comes from the berry of a West Indian tree, (Pimenta dioica) of the myrtle family. It has a rich, brown color and a pleasant, mild, sweet, spicy flavor.

While allspice is a familiar flavor in some dessert dishes, such as pumpkin pie, it also provides a delicate taste sensation for those seeking that special difference that it can make in a main course and even vegetable dishes.

No doubt the method of preparation of any food is very important in the resulting flavor. One additional variable affecting the end result is the skill with which the cook utilizes the vast resources of flavor enhancers, otherwise known as Herbs and Spices

When using a spice or herb for the firs time, follow a good rule of thumb…you can put more in, but you can’t take it out! Use only about scant teaspoon to start.

Now 

Tell us how you use this wonderful Spice

Thankful Thursday

 

Walking the path to follow the light of where we ought to be...

I am thankful for the light

  

Today while serving in the capacity of volunteer doing Art Masters to a second grade class they opened up. To the children came wisdom.

"what do you feel"? I asked them . With a painting called "face to face" by Klee, we began to learn of being what I call true faced.

A child who was lastly to share spoke with shaky voice. Thus only after I had maintained a respect each other boundary where each child was heard without interruption.

M"My mothers boyfriend beats her. I feel afraid".

Spoke this child.

This child spoke.

Risk was made safer for her for the light of my path this day lead to a moment of freedom for a child.

  

A child not unlike your own, or even that one who abides within you waiting to risk being 

"true face" 

To be heard.

  

He hears you.

Catching up on the week

. 

The beginning of tonights dinner.

 Ever feel like catch up is the only thing left to do?

Well today out in the garden the idea came to me to harvest, and or make an inventory of what needs to be harvested and make that the base of the meal planning.

Normally the main dish or meat is the primary start to the list.

The garden is so happy with so many wonderful foods today that it all came so naturally to do so

All you who came for the other meme's I just did my best to do one post and send it out there.

I hope it will not be a disappointment.

 

 

 This was my day to fill to the top with all things to tackle.

The oven was top of the list so once the front yard watering was timed I began to go between the kitchen tasks, including the oven.

 

  

  This is still needing more work to the top surface but a good beginning has gotten under way.

 The chore list had this on it for so long I tired of seeing it.

The nasturtiums are in bloom around the estate.

In the garden they are so happy.

 

My peas are filling out.

Harvested 10 of them for supper tonight.

  

 Today this lily opened.

It is part of the bouquet my darling gave me over the week end

It is so amazing!

Marriage Monday Febuary 1 st

Get your thinking caps on.

Join us here

February's topic , "How to Celebrate February 14 Every Day of the Year."

I'm really looking forward to Marriage Monday on February 1, 2010. 

See you then.

Want this button?

Aloha Friday

My Question is

Rain? Love it or leave it

Welcome to this week’s edition of Aloha Friday.

In Hawaii, Aloha Friday is the day that we take it easy and look forward to the weekend. So I thought that on Fridays I would take it easy on posting, too. Therefore, I’ll ask a simple question for you to answer. Nothing that requires a lengthy response.
If you’d like to participate, just post your own question on your blog and leave your link below. Don’t forget to visit the other participants! It’s a great way to make new bloggy friends!
Join us here

Honest Scrap

Michelle over at  Beautiful Chaos gifted me with an award.

This is one with a request of listing 10 things about myself. Points of honesty about myself.

the rules say i have to tell ten honest things about myself and then pass the award along to seven other bloggers.

Well thank you for thinking of me Michelle
be sure to go over and give her a visit.


Ten things?

1. I pour myself into whatever I am doing at the exclusion often of other things. Like this summer making the garden extension left the inside of the house in want. But then I will pour myself into the house for a few weeks.  It is hard for me to just balance. I will get in the mood to cook and I cook up a storm. The Strange thing is a dichotomy because at any given moment I have such a variety of projects going at the same time. By pouring myself so deeply into a project I will often exhaust myself. Like a hamster on a wheel then the bearing seizes up. That is when projects switch. I'll go from physical to intellectual pursuits.

2. My creative ideas can become very overwhelming so I have to use care to choose what ideas to pursue. I just love to do so many different things.

3. I am afraid to take the time to do the rest of the work on my novel for if I do I may become enveloped.  One of the reasons I do not write is that I really hate being interrupted in thought when I write fiction. Writing fiction takes me into a muse of sorts where time is lost and the world in my  mind becomes like a movie picture. I close my eyes and type. Did that one year for namo pro blamo and had a novel in 31 days. It is just like letting my imagination take me into lives that let my inner most thoughts and deepest most human lessons become laid out for all to see. When I become so intensely enveloped I can be very irritable when interrupted. I do not think that fair to the children or to myself to set up explosive scenarios.

4. I would of loved to be an inventor or an architect. I love to solve creative problems. Making the tools and environment work for me where it might be something that normally works against me. I want things to function well. I really love high quality tools for any of the skills that I practice. I will wait to afford the best tool. Or afford the best tools for a job that I can.

5. Love is not a feeling it is an act of your will

This is the real base for our long marriage.

There are days or moments when choice is forced to be made. Often this occurs with misunderstandings or with disagreements. Often it can be solved by hearing each other out without being defensive. Often it has been my own selfish or tender soul. Assuming that the intent was different than it was. Male / female thinking also plays a big part in helping me see more clearly.

6. I do not take as good of preventative care of my self as I ought too. Mainly my body. However I did learn today at my women's well visit that I have lost 15 pounds since last year. I was startled.

7. I really really can not stand tags in my clothing. They always get cut out. The threads will also get picked out. It is just on of those things.

8. I have heard it said that the number of taste buds on a tong will often have great bearing on how much a person will enjoy flavors. If you  have many many your likely to be very sensitive to flavor. 

I must have few for I LOVE STRONG FLAVORS! It is like I can not get enough. Herbs are a huge part of my cooking and baking for bland will never do with me. I love to have a bite of fresh thyme for example in my salad to me it is just the way life was suppose to be. Full of spice.

9. I love cotton. I would rather iron or have a few wrinkles in my clothing than to be encased in fake fabrics. Silk is abundant life and beads are the eye candy.

10. I am a very deep thinker. Often times I am a seer. That is my spiritual gift. Things I see spiritually often are not spoken. I will see things often before they happen. I will pray and think a lot about why I am shown something. I love to see people the way my spirit sees them. They are to me the name of the vision I see over them. I will often know people much more intimately by what I see over them than by what my eyes might see before me. I really like that, but it is a strange sort of way to live around folks. I think it would of been more normal for me to have lived as a native American many years ago. My brother said that my grandmother was a Cherokee medicine woman. I have often wondered if this is a part of my gift. It makes me a peculiar person I think especially in the Christian setting. Many religious folks tried to convince me that it was evil or that it was demonic to see. I now understand this is a gift from God and it is holy. As with any talent one must gain skill in the practice of it to become an artisan. It has been hard to do so as a born again Christian. Only through my Friendship with God have I come to terms with his sweet sweet provision for me. I understand that this is how HE made me and that is not evil.

To call something Holy evil is a shame and really grieves the Holy Spirit.

We do not have to know Gods mind just His heart for us and the world.

There are so many peoples with so many cultures and so many many ways of worship.

There is only one God in three Father Son Holy Spirit.

Many people in varied cultures worship the true God.

I am never going to finish this if I do not just post. I began this last night.
The day has been so full.

So I tag these dear hearts in hopes they might have a chance to open their hearts to us.

Annette

Denise
Lynn
Tiffany
Amrita


If any of you might have the oppertunity to do so as well feel free to join in.

Alaha Friday #100

Welcome to this week’s edition of Aloha Friday.

In Hawaii, Aloha Friday is the day that we take it easy and look forward to the weekend. So I thought that on Fridays I would take it easy on posting, too. Therefore, I’ll ask a simple question for you to answer. Nothing that requires a lengthy response.

If you’d like to participate, just post your own question on your blog and leave your link . Don’t forget to visit the other participants! It’s a great way to make new bloggy friends!

Join up here

My question for you is three part.

1. What is your favorite color and specify if it is to ware to for decor?
2. What do you collect or enjoy...like birds, dolphins, hands, words, books...you get the idea?
3. What characteristic do you treasure most in people?

for me?
For decor black accents like wrought iron.
To ware summer colors blue and brown together is a favorite right now.

Realistic nature images are a favorite

Being true faced...I heard it said once that he who is true faced need not fear.
You may suffer rejections or pains but your safe in center of your being. You know who you are as you are known clearly by the Creator.
I feel safest among folks who are for I know what to expect in them.
Good or bad:)

The Simple Woman's Daybook

For Today... Sunday, September 6, 2009

Outside My Window...
dusk falls upon the last day of a long week end

I am thinking...
I am not able to get the ...bold print on this sentence to release so...I will just let it go. There is so much I have to let go.


From the learning rooms… Thoughts of economics, organizations ideas of things yet to create

I am thankful for... The love of my husband, the tenderness of my daughter and her kind spirit. My darling sons humor and vigor at life.

From the kitchen... homemade bread rises to be baked before bed. A new tool for the kitchen. An electric skillet was purchased today to help keep the cool of the kitchen and continue to prepare good foods. Ideas of using it on the porch as I do the crock pot..

I am wearing... Royal blue work out pants with a stripe of green down the leg, a top with flowers on the blue background. A blue head band and no jewelery for I just kneaded bread

I am reading... "A few different books that have fallen by the side and await my free moments to read them. A bead magazine that I love.

I am creating... A nursery set, Christmas gifts. Order out of chaos in the studio.

I am hearing... The children in the office playing a game on the computer with the daddy man.

I am going... To get my flu shot in the morning. To the school to set up my service calender. To the baby shower of my Grand Nephew next weekend.

Around the house... I had an extra child again this weekend, we had a lot of one on one times with the kids. Each child was taken out to find new shoes . Many wants and all the needs were met this weekend for overtime made us able to gain those things.

One of my favorite things... The intimacy with my Beloved, how we see the things around us and can easily identify with each other with understanding.

A Few Plans for the Rest of the Week: Lunches, menu, food prep, some garden prep as weather permits. Sewing the pillows and the little fish for the nursery set. Making more order in the sewing studio. Getting together with a friend on Thursday.
Pedicure. Sewing a curtain for my back door. Home decor. Freezer inventory, bills, budget update. Many many sewing jobs to finish up.


Here is a picture thought I am sharing…

My new skillet and the pancakes made for the weeks breakfasts.

Menu Plan Monday

A little late but up and running...
Oh baby I am running!

Funny how many things come upon my calendar the moment a new school year begins.

This is "the big board"
My brain on the wall.
A balence life wheel . This is the wheel that was incorporated into the program at the hospital I was at so many many many years ago.
They used my balence wheel to teach and I was glad that it helped and helps others still.

In order to get through to the menu I had many things to review first.
Some weeks the balance tends to slip...
This is the menu for this week however in order to tend to several tasks that hit all at once I simply repeated the meals that slipped last week.

Order really helps me to keep up...
The menu board still needs that order but to get this far is progress for the wheel has spun in a bit of a different direction.

Relationship and friendship will be the compass point this week for there will be many moments to enjoy others. The parenting point is full as well for there will be two band practices (nights out) and two nights out with my kids...
So the spinning wheel spins...
Like the wheel the clock too spins into infinity and days are gone as a flash is the week.
Months fade to years and the children mature into young adults who one day will be free of those imposed reins and will bridle their own lives as the wheels spin.

The Simple Woman's Daybook

For Today... Monday, August 24, 2009
Outside My Window... I know it is hot however the new heat block film on the window stops the most of the heat from coming through. It is afternoon and the sun setting on my shoulder is not hot as it was before. The color of the light a bit more diffused and softer.

I am thinking... My back is tired. I finished the application of window tinting film on the three double windows in the master bedroom today and it was a big job! I did the window by the front door as well. My bad mood wore me out.

From the learning rooms… The childrens' study is also finished today that was also a very BIG job. They had the table with a nice lamp on it and they did the homework just as they came in and were done. Nice set up and I am so glad to see they like it.

I am thankful... A calm moment that the tasks were done and that those monkey's are off my list and my back!

From the kitchen... A big abandoned mess due to the focus of the day being the Master and the kids study. A dinner that needs made and I am so spent .

I am wearing... Knit shorts and a t-shirt with flowers on it from the botanical gardens. Dirty bare feet that beg a pedicure and a soak for I have worked all day in my bare feet and they are just really black.

I am hoping... A positive evening with Dash for I promised him some one on one time. He needs some pants for school and all he can think of is toys. I am taking my boy out for some time together not to just stand in the toy isle.

I am creating... Leather key bob's that I will tool, jewelery and a baby gift for my newest Great Nephew the son of my recently deceased nephew.

I am hearing... Much grumbling inside today for I am frustrated with picking up after everyone and still trying to accomplish more...only to feel that it too sill be a mess when I turn around. Mommy/ Wife stuff we deal with.

I am going... To spend time with Dash tonight, take a shower.

Around the house... The master is now in need of more attention. I cleared out under the big bed the lasts of the things left over packed from the house sell move and move back in. I am getting all my writing books together to begin the edit phase of my novel. I could not get the stupid mower started this morning and it just left me ill tempered as then it was one thing after another all day long...just being real folks!

One of my favorite things... checking a long overdue tasks off my long to do list. Being finished so I can have my freedom to move onto the next thing.

A Few Plans for the Rest of the Week...Time with my sister tomorrow to sew together on the her new grandsons nursery. A little boy over for a play date with Dash on Wednesday. Time with a good friend on Thursday.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing…
pending

If you would like to join us in The Simple Woman's Daybook, please see Peggy for details.

Menu Plan Monday

A couple of days late
The importance of a menu for me makes it a wonderful tool

This week I will be piggy backing the meats
Yesterday after thawing the large 5lb pkg of chicken thighs
Half were set aside to marinate for tomorrow
The other was made into fried chicken instead of the chicken and rice
We had biscuits and gravy as well for I had a container of plain soy milk to use up.
The potatoes were mashed.

Later this afternoon I will char broil the two London broils and set one aside for the end of the week. I may then broil the chicken for the grill will be hot...if I have energy left to do so.
can you say 115+
In front of a grill
Me tired!
but the meat for the week is cooked!

Re heating in the summer can save a fortune!
Cooking it all once as much as possible and then setting aside the things to be reheated at meal time.
Helps me a lot.

Menu Plan Monday

Good Morning!

Well it is the last week of June already.
Last week I spontaneously added a note to myself on the master grocery shopping list.
see image
Remember to ask specifically for your every need.
Dependence is a good thing in that relationship. :)

This morning the harvest was ready for the Butternut squash that helped itself to grow in the garden.
I did not plant this fellow...
Best guess is the compost.

3 1/2 pounds!
There is tree more in the cue growing into a fine meal for us.
Now butternut is one of my favorite...
cut the squash in half length wise.
Scoop out the seeds (toss them in the compost ya never know hahah).
Perhaps I will save these intentionally to replant later.
Lay them flat in a small amount of water and bake for one hour
Add some brown sugar, or maple syrup perhaps some mace or nutmeg.
Oh man it is really living!

Well It has been a very expensive month for us.
What with tires, a ticket and a retreat so many other little and big hits that we felt we were totally over budget.
I have worked so very hard on the grocery and other expenses to keep to a minimum.
Well to our amazement we kept within our self imposed goals.

So at the end of it all we see we sill be able to do the things we desired and with the 73. left I headed off to the grocery with a hand full of coupons and the work on the lead in adds I did during the week.

Look at that receipt!
My budget was $73.!
Dash wanted to come with me and so I had a bit of a distraction added in.
He was very sweet and good.
Just very VERY talkative.

We got everything we needed and had the coupons for.

Total spent $73.76

Total savings! $95.67

big hug from husband!

Like I said we got every thing we needed!

We are well covered till the first and will be able to keep to goal.
Keeping track of every dollar both coming in and going out is awesome!
We have so much peace.
Our overtime stopped this month.
This too is a blessing for Dash has a visit down at St Joe's Children's the second week of July.
By that time we will be off it for two pay checks of 80 hours each.
We will then be easily able to qualify once again for the 0% out of pocket coverage.
Now we are at 100% out of pocket because we worked so much overtime to pay off the $14,000. in medical copay's last year. We did it we paid it all off no debt.
Do you see it?

Provision and all I have need of his hand has provided.
The loss of overtime was a big hit and yet we made it.
We will now be able to qualify!

Even to the dollar!
Cool
By the way I was not counting the amount because I was interacting with Dash too.

The kitchen freezer became my baking storage near the baking center.
I used to keep it in the outside freezer (it keeps fresher) .
Now it is right there where I can see the flours I have.

Rye, millet, corn meal, amaranth,soy, flax and so on.
This will make baking much easier and now that I am baking every other day that will be nice.

Menu Plan Monday

This week the big adventure will be in making authentic tortillas and some green sauce.
Tomatillo is a fruit that is like a green tomato in looks but not a tomato.



I love this book!
It is very old.
It tells of each item how to purchase/store and use it.

A dear friend told me if I get the Crisco and the matsa she will come over with her own rolling pen and we can make tortillas togeather. So check back next week.

Now the tomatillo it is a Peruvian native.
This is how the book is laid out.
I just love this quality reference.
Click image to enlarge photo

Best purchased small...opps
Always learning something new.
Recipe here

I look forward to making my own.
I purchased this often at a Trader Joe's store.
It is a family favorite.
Perhaps it will be better and much cheaper at $1 a pound for them at the local Wal-Mart.
The Hispanic section at this store near me has really grown.

Everything in four's........

So Hello! I got tagged by my Sweet Friend Annette to do this little ditty...

1) Four places that I go over & over:
Saint Joseph Children s Hospital Clinic (for Dash)

Feed Lot (chicken food)

Grocery,

Mail box:)

2) Four people who E~Mail me often:
Shorty Bear, Amrita, Michell G., Susie

3) Four favorite smell's:
My husbands neck after showers, My children s fresh washed hair, clove and cardamom.


4) Four people who I think might respond:
Shorty bear, Amrita, Susie and Michelle G.

This would be fun to let my friends know just a little bit more about me" so please feel free to do the fun little guestioner, even if I havent written your name in # 4, and there are so many of you sweet friends who E~mail, so if I didnt write your name down on # 2, please dont think that I dont think fo you as a friend cause I truley do. Have fun.......

Six Word Saturday

join us here

In the palm of His Hand

Word filled Wednesday

join us at the 160 acre woods