Herb Garden

I am super excited about the herbs planted in the little garden in my back yard. I mainly lived in apartments in New York and never had space to have a garden of any sort. But now I have some space and decided to section off an area to grow fresh herbs.

This was supposed to be my personal project but The Hubs some how took over and purchased and planted everything himself. Check it out.

Provence Lavender

Lavender grows well here in New Mexico and I always enjoy going to the lavender farm and festival during harvest. This season I’ll be able to make lavender oil using lavender from my own garden! How cool is that?!

Funny, at this stage, the plant doesn’t look very much like lavender to me.

Rosemary ‘Arp’

.

Rosemary

Two types of Rosemary. I don’t know the difference. The Hubs took over. They look the same to me. Maybe I’ll test the difference with my homemade oil.

Lemon Thyme

German Thyme

The thyme oil I make tastes the best. I use thyme oil on my hair too but mainly I like to eat it.

Garden Sage

Onion Chives

Orange Mint

Thai Basil

Sweet Basil

Curled Parsley

.

Herbal Home Remedy For The Flu

Now that winter is in full force, we not only need to protect our hair from the freezing cold, but we also need to project our health.

So here is an easy-to-make herb tea that works like a charm when it comes to relieving everything flu-related. Check it out.

Boil a cup of water. Turn the flame off and add:

• 1 teaspoon of linden
• 1 teaspoon of chamomile
• 1 teaspoon of thyme

Then cover the brew and steep it for maybe 15 to 20 minutes. Strain the herbs from the water and reheat the tea to your desired temperature. Drink the tea three to four times a day. It works best when a new batch is made each time.

I have used this remedy whenever I got the flu and it has healed my illness every time.

Updated Hair Cream Batch

In a previous post I mentioned a new hair cream that I made and like a lot. Well, I had time to make another batch, and the recipe is below. Check it out.

In a mixer add:

1/2 cup melted raw shea butter.

1/2 cup unmelted raw shea butter.

1/3 cup melted raw shea butter. I included a little more melted raw shea butter just to increase the quantity.

Mix the raw shea butter until there is a smooth consistency. Then to rest the shea butter, turn off the mixer, and add:

2 tablespoons  - homemade Lavender Oil.

I make my lavender oil when lavender is in season. If you cannot find fresh lavender flowers to make the oil, replace this ingredient with any favorite oil. I am running out so I’ll replace the lavender with my homemade rosemary oil when time come.

2 tablespoons of Extra Virgin Olive Oil.

2 tablespoons of Coconut Oil.

Turn the mixer on to a low speed to incorporate the ingredients. With the mixer on – add:

1 tablespoon of Agave.

2 tablespoons of Vitamin E Oil.

2 tablespoons of Sweet Almond Oil.

2 drops of Rosemary Essential Oil.

2 drops of Lavender Essential Oil.

With other homemade mixtures I made a mistake by using too many drops of various essential oils. As a result my hair became dry and it broke off. So now I use 1 or 2 drops and that is it. If I use up to four different essential oils in one batch, then 1 drop of each oil will be more than enough.

I like the mixture to be fluffy and thick.

Pour the hair cream in a glass jar.

I had to test the texture one more time. Thick and fluffy. The way I like it.

I’m done.

Deep Moisturizing Conditioner

The weather is getting cooler and my hair is getting dryer. My curls are brittle, lifeless and just dull. I am not new to this but I am also not use to it.

I needed to apply a deep moisturizing conditioner badly in hopes to bring about some kind of moisture and shine. So I looked in my pantry and refrigerator and put together a concoction that pleased my hair very much. This is what I did.

I pre-poo with lavender oil that I made in the Summer during lavender season. I left the oil on my hair so long I can’t remember the exact time. I ran errands, came home made the conditioner and then put two sweet potato pies in the oven for Thanksgiving before I washed the oil out.

After a regular shampoo and condition, I applied the homemade deep treatment. What I did step-by-step is below. Check it out.

One avocado. Remove the seed. This conditioner using avocado is a little different from the others I made.

3 tablespoons of Shea Butter.

1 cup of coconut milk. Include the fat/cream.

1 tablespoon of agave.

2 tablespoons of coconut oil.

2 drops of rosemary essential oil but I think a 3rd drop feel in on the quick.

I used a blender to mix the ingredients.

All of the ingredients blended.

I placed the mixture in a glass mason jar until I was ready to use it.

I had help with the application.

I donned a heating cap for 1 hour before co-washing the treatment out. My hair was moist and so very soft. My curls thanked me. Seriously.

I plan to use this conditioner every two weeks after I wash my hair – especially during the winter months.

Vegan Cooking for Carnivores

I have always enjoyed cooking. When I became a vegan in 2000 I had to learn how to cook all over again. As a new vegan there were ingredients I had never heard of and I made it my mission to know them all and how they blended with certain foods.

I discovered recipes by reading vegan websites, various cookbooks, and I watched cooking shows on PBS. The newest addition to my cookbook collection is VEGAN COOKING FOR CARNIVORES: Over 125 Recipes So Tasty You Won’t Miss The Meat (Grand Central; $29.99) by Robert Martin.

The first recipe I made is called Mexican Wedding Cookies. Are you guys tired of me talking about wedding topics?

Below are the ingredients, baking instructions and what I did to make my batch. Check it out!

½ cup raw, slivered almonds

½ cup chopped pecans

16 tablespoons (2 sticks) (1 cup) vegan butter, cut into cubes and chilled

1/3 cup confectioners’ sugar, plus 1 cup for dusting

1/3 cup agave nectar

1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract

½ teaspoon kosher salt

2 cups organic, unbleached, all-purpose flour

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.

Grind the almonds and pecans in a food processor until they are a coarse meal.

Add the butter, sugar, agave nectar, vanilla, and salt and pulse until a dough forms. Add half of the flour and pulse to incorporate. Add the remaining flour and pulse until incorporated.

Scoop out 2-tablespoon portions of dough and roll them into balls. Place the balls on the prepared cookie sheet, spacing the cookies 1 inch apart. Bake for 13 to 15 minutes.

Transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool before rolling them in the confec­tioners’ sugar.

MAKES ABOUT 30 COOKIES

I found all materials for the Mexican Wedding Cookies at Whole Foods. Below is a picture of Robert’s batch.

Nice, uh? My stuff is below.

Raw chopped pecans and slivered almonds.

Vegan butter. I like this brand.

Confectioners’ sugar.

Agave.

Vanilla.

The recipe calls for kosher salt but I like sea salt.

Unbleached All Purpose Flour.

Everything mixed in my food processor/blender.

Raw cookies about to go into the oven. I substituted a few things as you can see.

My batch of Mexican Wedding Cookies!

I ate 1  1/2 cookies. A carnivore ate the rest!

Homemade Burdock Root Oil

I purchased a stalk of organic burdock at the local Food Coop not really knowing what to do with it. I thought about sautéing the root with other vegetables and just eating it. After all, burdock is good for the liver, hair and skin.

Then I thought – instead of eating it – I can make my own burdock oil and use the substance on my hair as a hot oil treatment and to seal in moisture. I would also be able to use the oil on my skin as a make-up remover in addition to adding a few drops to shampoos and conditioners to give each product an extra kick.

So the use for the root was set in place. Then I thought – how do you make burdock oil? It can’t be hard, I convinced myself. I’ve made other oils and they turned out just fine. So why was I nervous about this one? I’m not sure. But I kept things simple. This is what I did.

The burdock root. Ultimately I added another root because one wasn’t enough.

I washed the root in hot water. I peeled it. I left a little skin on and chopped it up in small pieces. Once I finished chopping, I noticed that the burdock started to turn colors, sort of like a brownish beige.

I placed the chopped pieces in a glass jar.

And saturated them with Safflower oil.

Here it is in my pantry next to the Thyme oil plus the Nettle and Horsetail herbs. I will let the mixture sit between four to six weeks before I use it.

If you decide to make this oil, you may notice little air bubbles in the jar. Just release the cap to let them out. But be careful not to waste too much of your oil.

Homemade Facial Tonic

Twice a day, or sometimes more, I use a facial tonic that I created based on my skin type. I’ve been using this homemade remedy for more than two years. Over the years I made other remedies but this one I like the most because it seems to be keeping my oily skin and pimples under control.

The recipe is so simple. Seriously. It takes just a few minutes. Check it out below.

Glass Jar – I always use glass jars when making homemade stuff. Glass is better than plastic. This goes for plastic Tupperware too. Plus glass bottles look prettier on the shelves. This jar is about 4 oz.

Rose Water – Use Rose Water that you can cook with and drink. Rose Water is an excellent treatment for acne and wrinkles. It is a fantastic healer for many skincare problems. I transferred the remaining Rose Water into a glass jar.

Vitamin E Skin Oil – I love Vitamin E. It can do no wrong. I put 1/8 teaspoon into my tonic.

Peppermint Essential Oil – I used 2 drops. Peppermint increases blood flow and stimulates nerves. Plus I like the cooling effect it provides to my skin.

Frankincense Essential Oil – I used 2 drops. This is an anti aging ingredient. It also heals scars and controls oil.

Myrrh Essential Oil – I used 2 drops. Myrrh maintains firm youthful skin by helping to prevent tissue degeneration. It also cools, soothes and heals scars.

Shake the bottle.

And that’s it.

Homemade Oil-Based Facial Cleanser

I may be an adult but I still experience break-outs. So to keep the acne and oil in check, I cleanse my face twice a day with a homemade oil-based facial cleanser.

Cleansing the face with oil is not new. I’ve been following this method for years and so have others. The oils in the cleanser can also be taken internally. I like to add a few drops of my favorite essential oils to give the remedy a little kick. This is what I do.

Glass Bottle – This is a about 4oz. I always use glass bottles or jars when making my homemade stuff because all of the goodness from the ingredients last longer in glass than plastic.

Castor Oil- I fill about half of the jar with Castor Oil. This oil cleanses and heals the skin.

Grapeseed Oil- Then I add a little Grapeseed Oil. This is another light cleansing oil.

Hazelnut Oil- I try to equal the amounts of Hazelnut and Grapeseed Oils. This oil fights oily skin and acne.

Lavender Essential Oil- Another acne fighting ingredient. I added 1 drop.

Tea Tree Essential Oil - Tea Tree cleans, heals and prevents acne. Plus it keeps oily skin under control. One drop was included in the mixture.

Frankincense Essential Oil – Used for anti-aging purposes. One drop was put into the cleanser.

Myrrh Essential Oil – Anti-aging. I used just 1 drop.

I like to shake the bottle.

Done.

How to use the facial cleanser:

First I take off my make-up using my homemade lavender oil (excellent for controlling acne) with a hot wash cloth. The temperature of the heat is as hot as I can stand it.

• Pump 2 or 3 squirts in the palm of my hand.
• Warm up the oil by rubbing my hands together.
• Apply the oil onto my face and massage it in. This lifts the dirt and oil.
• I then use a hot face cloth and wipe away the oil.
• I may repeat the cleansing steps at least 2 or 3 times.
• Splash cold water on my face to close the pores.
• I like it when my face squeaks.

Homemade Brown Sugar Facial Scrub

Since my teen years I have had many skincare regimens. The oil, pimples, blackheads and whiteheads forced me to always find new and interesting ways to take care of my skin.

Now that my skin is more mature, the oily and acne haven’t gone any place. To help maintain a youthful look, and to prevent breakouts and excessive oil, I like to exfoliate once a week with my homemade Brown Sugar Facial Scrub.

 Below is how I make it.

1 cup of Brown Sugar – cleans and tightens pores giving the skin a more even uniformed appearance

Honey – Add enough to make a consistency you like. Honey softens and heals the skin tissue bringing natural moisture to its surface.

1 tablespoon of water – To help loosen the mixture so it will go on easier (you can use less H2O or not at all)

• 1 drop of Lavender Essential oil – Great for acne and scars
• 1 drop of Tea Tree Essential oil – Best known for its antiseptic properties (I use Tea Tree to clean my makeup brushes as well). It is useful in treating and healing acne and scars.
• 2 drops of Frankincense Essential oil – I love everything Frankincense. This is a very powerful ingredient and it can be used in many things. In this mix it is suitable for anti aging benefits and as well as scars.
• 2 drops of Myrrh Essential oil – Myrrh has been used for hundreds of years as a skin preservative and is often used to prevent tissue deterioration.

The mixture should look like this

The brown sugar and honey will harden and crystallize when they are exposed to air. So pour the scrub into a glass jar and seal it to eliminate waste.

I also use the scrub on my:

• Ankles
• Knees
• Elbows
• Body and
• Anyplace I have a scar

Turkey and Pullet Eggs

I really enjoy shopping at local Farmers’ Markets especially since I moved to New Mexico.

While browsing around one  Saturday morning I noticed a farmer had  a bunch of small colorful eggs as well as large eggs with polka dots. I inquired about them because they looked interesting and I wanted to know more.

The farmer told me that the small eggs are known as pullet eggs and are from young chickens just starting to lay. The large eggs with brown speckles were from local wild turkeys.

I couldn’t walk away after learning that information. I had to buy them. I purchased six pullet eggs and six turkey eggs for $4. What a bargain for eggs coming from free range and drug free poultry.

I offered to cook a turkey egg for my mom but she declined. If I ate eggs I would have at least tried it but my vegan diet does not allow me the opportunity to do so.

However, I do use vegan and vegetarian haircare products, and egg shampoos are a perfect vegetarian protein source for the hair that I highly recommend. Check out one of my older posts on using eggs as a shampoo by clicking HERE.

First, I shampooed my hair. Afterwards, I shampooed again using the eggs.

Pullet eggs. They are really small. I like the blue one.

Turkey eggs.

The blue pullet egg.

This is the turkey egg. The yolk looks just like a Chicken egg to me.

Side by side. Look at the difference.

Both eggs mixed together.

The eggs in my hair. It lathered rather nicely. After rinsing, my hair was literally squeaking clean. Seriously. I am not kidding!