Microwave popcorn, no bags, no butter, no oil

For the popcorn lovers!!!
COOL

Microwave popcorn, no bags, no butter, no oil!!!!

It’s genius really. Simple, simple genius.

Glass bowl + ceramic plate + popcorn kernels = perfectly popped popcorn in the microwave.

No bag. No butter or oil. Nothing to throw away afterward. And even no un-popped kernels.

This is life-changing.

Stay with me now.

Take 1/4 cup of dry popcorn kernels and place in the bottom of a microwave-safe glass bowl (pyrex is a great choice). Place a microwave-safe plate on top of the bowl. Plate should be wide enough to go beyond the rim of the bowl.

Microwave for 2 minutes 45 seconds. Watch in glory as your popcorn pops perfectly into little puffs of heaven.

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facebook comment notes: some have suggested using a brown paper bag/lunch sack for popping the popcorn in the microwave; no butter, oils or mess, just the paper bag.

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12 Home Remedies for Coughs

12 Home Remedies for Coughs

 

Home Remedy for Coughs #1 – Honey and Cinnamon

Pour some honey in a small container (I used an 8 ounce mason jar) and mix in some cinnamon to taste.  Take one spoonful as needed to quiet cough.  Both cinnamon and honey are anti-bacterial and anti-viral, and the honey coats and soothes the throat.  (Bottom right image in photo.)

Home Remedy for Coughs #2 – Lemon

Lemon helps to loosen and clear phlegm.  You can mix it with your honey, make a lemon gargle (1/4 cup water plus 2 tablespoons lemon), or mix up a cup of warm lemonade (1 cup water, 2 tablespoons lemon juice, sweetener to taste).

Home Remedy for Coughs #3 – Elderberry Syrup

I was so relieved when I discovered how to make elderberry syrup, because it was something that my youngest could take that really helped quiet his cough but didn’t make him throw up.  He’s got a sensitive stomach, and when I tried OTC meds when he was younger (before I knew better), he’d hurl them back up again.  Learn how to make elderberry syrup. (Top right image in photo.)

Home Remedy for Coughs #4 – Hot Tea

Whether it’s herbal or regular, the steam and extra liquid provided by hot tea help loosen congestion, keep you hydrated and soothe irritated tissues.  Lean more about herbal teas for congestion.

Home Remedy for Coughs #5 – Slippery  Elm

Slippery elm is good for sore throats and sore bellies.  It was commonly  in colonial America.  Because it is hydrophilic and absorbs a lot of water, it gets a slippery, somewhat gelatinous texture when heated with liquid.  Slippery elm gruel is recommended for diarrhea and sore throats (it bulks up stool and gently coats the throat and digestive tract).  I made up a batch using about 1 cup water and 2 tablespoons powdered slippery elm, and seasoned it with just a sprinkle of salt and a dab of honey.  I thought it was okay, but my eldest found the texture too slimy.  (Top left image in photo.)

Home Remedy for Coughs #6 – Herbal Cough Syrup

There are many variations of herbal cough syrup, but this season I’ve been using Rosemary Gladstar’s “Cough-be-Gone and Sore Throat Syrup”.  It’s made with an assortment of herbs and sweetened with honey.  You can find the full recipe at this Herbal Cold and Cough Care post. (Bottom left image in photo.)

Home Remedy for Coughs #6 – Herbal Cough Lozenges

You can purchase herbal lozenges like Ricola or Halls (the stronger flavored ones tend to work better than the sweeter ones) or make your own.  In the video below, Mountain Rose Herbs explains how to make homemade lozenges with slippery elm bark, licorice root and honey.  The herbs sooth as well as fight the underlying illness.

Home Remedy for Coughs #7 – Peppermint

Sucking on a peppermint candy or sipping a drop or two of high quality peppermint essential oil in a glass of water may also help calm a cough.  Use caution with this one – don’t use more than six drops of peppermint oil, and don’t use the oil with children.

Home Remedy for Coughs #8 – Steam

Few things are more comforting than a warm, steamy shower for loosening congestion and opening air ways.  This is likely to provide only temporary relief, but it sure feels good.  Keeping a humidifier running to moisten air will also help a dry cough/itchy throat.

Home Remedy for Coughs #9 – Cold Air

We came across this remedy by accident when our youngest had a croupy cough as a baby.  During the course of taking him in to the ER one night when he was really miserable, we found that transporting him in the cold air quieted his cough.  The doctor advised us to use this trick again as needed if he was hit with another coughing attack.  The cold air helps reduce the swelling and inflammation in the throat.

Home Remedy for Coughs #10 – Booze

There’s a reason many over the counter medications contain alcohol.  Alcohol kills bacteria and acts as a counter-irritant in the throat (thus the burn on the way down).  Instead of high priced alcohol cocktail, adults may opt for a simple shot of liquor to calm their cough.  Mom used to dose us with peppermint schnapps. Just a sip can often have the desired effort.  Whiskey is another popular option, but I think the alcohol/peppermint combination is better.

Home Remedy for Coughs #11 – Milk and Butter

This was a new one on me, but in Home Remedies What Works, they suggest combining 1 cup of warm milk with two tablespoons sweet butter for dry coughs.  This will work better for a dry, unproductive cough (not much mucus), because it will coat and relax the throat.  (Skim doesn’t have enough fat to get the job done.)

Home Remedy for Coughs #12 – Chinese Hot Mustard, Wasabi or Horseradish

If you can brave them, these fiery spices can kill your cough – and possibly your taste buds – as well as clearing out congestion in a hurry.  You can use them liberally on food, or take them straight.  What I don’t recommend is something a college friend of mine did on a dare – inhaling Chinese hot mustard right up your nose.  He won the bet and cleared his congestion, but I don’t think his sense of smell has been the same since.


http://www.commonsensehome.com/home-remedies-for-coughs/

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For Icy Steps & Sidewalks in Freezing Temps

✿♥✿ FOR ICY STEPS & SIDEWALKS IN FREEZING TEMPS ✿♥✿

MIX:
1 teaspoon of Dawn dish washing liquid
1 tablespoon of rubbing alcohol
1/2 gallon hot/warm water

POUR over walkways.
They won’t refreeze. No more salt eating at the concrete in your sidewalks & tracking into your house.

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40 Quick Healthy Snacks

1. Nuts
2. Trail mix:  Mix dried fruit, nuts, seeds, and a handful of real dark chocolate chips
3. Fresh fruit:  Whatever deliciousness is in season – our selection this week is apples, oranges, and strawberries
4. Dried Fruit:  Raisins, dried berries, dried apple slices
5. Salad:  If your veggies are pre-washed you can put this together very quickly.  As well, salad can be preassembled.  Simply add protein and dressing at serving time.
6. Veggies:  carrots, radishes, sugar snap peas, celery, peppers, cucumbers, and cherry tomatoes
7. Steamed veggies:  Top them with cheese or chopped hard-boiled eggs
8. Eggs: Nature’s fastest protein – boil, scramble, poach or fry – eggs make a great topper for other “fast foods”
9. Yogurt Parfait: Top your homemade yogurt with fruit and granola
10. Leftovers
11. Cheese: Opt for a healthy version without additives and artificial colors
12. Smoothies:  Throw fruits, veggies, yogurt and your milk of choice into the blender.  Add a little pure vanilla and some honey.  We like to freeze fruit for this purpose to make a rich thick shake.
13. Homemade granola cookies: Recipe HERE (you can make them into granola bar shapes if you want to)
14. No-bake haystack cookies:  Recipe HERE
15. Hummus:  Serve the dip with veggie sticks, homemade crackers, or tortillas
16. Applesauce:  Try topping it with homemade granola and vanilla yogurt for a  quick no-cook “apple crisp”
17. Chocolate Milk: Directions HERE
18. Apples with natural peanut butter
19. Frozen Yogurt Berries:  Toss well-washed berries in homemade vanilla yogurt.  Place them on a baking sheet in the freezer for at least 2 hours for a cold, healthy treat
20. Popcorn
21. Edamame
22. Pancakes or Waffles:  Top with fruit for a nutrition boost
23. Couscous:  This speedy grain only requires the addition of boiling water or broth.  Let it sit for 5 minutes, covered, and you have an instant hearty side dish.  Add some steamed veggies and lean protein to turn it into a one dish meal
24. Cottage cheese:  Top homemade cottage cheese with fresh fruit
25. Home-canned food:  Meals like chili, soup, and spaghetti sauce can be pressure canned at home for a delicious healthy “fast food meal”
26. Fruit Salad: Top it with nuts and a honey-sweetened yogurt for a protein boost
27. Dill Pickles:  Home-canned, of course
28. Ants-on-a-log:  Celery sticks stuffed with natural peanut butter then topped with raisins
29. Quick Greek Salad: Chopped cucumber, peppers and cherry tomatoes with feta cheese and vinaigrette
30. Homemade Fruitsicles:  Puree fruit that is overripe, then freeze it in popsicle forms – strawberry-banana is a favorite combo here
31. Guacamole
32. Savory snack mix:  Popcorn and nuts sprinkled with parmesan cheese and spices
33. Tzatziki:  This yummy Greek garlic and yogurt dip is a satisfying snack with homemade crackers or veggies
34. Medjool dates and almonds
35. Frozen grapes
36. Homemade gazpacho:  Puree tomatoes, peppers, onions, jalapenos, and other seasonal veggies.  Keep in the fridge and serve cold.
37. Quick Banana Nut Cookies:  Mash 2 overripe bananas well.  Stir in 1 cup of steel-cut oats and 1/2 cup of chopped walnuts or pecans.  Bake at 350 for 15 minutes.
38. Latte:  Make a delicious latte with a homemade creamer
39. Mexican Black Bean Salad:  (you can use a can of rinsed organic black beans or beans that you cooked yourself previously)  1 cup of black beans, 1/2 cup of diced tomatoes, 1/2 cup of chopped bell peppers, some fresh cilantro, and lemon juice
40. Green Apple Salad:  Chopped green apple, red grapes, and walnuts sprinkled with a dressing made from honey, lemon juice and cinnamon

http://eatlocalgrown.com/article/11375-quick-clean-eating-40-non-processed-snacks-for-busy-moms.html

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42 Healing Ways to use Coconut Oil

42 Healing Ways to use Coconut Oil

Here are 42 of the many amazing benefits and uses of this miraculous super-food by Real Food Heals for Young and Raw:

1. Lower cholesterol through regular consumption of coconut oil.

2. Improve immune function and the body’s resistance to both viruses and bacteria with regular consumption of coconut oil.

3. Can be used in cooking since it has a high smoke point and will not burn like other cooking oils such as olive oil or butter. Great for sautéing, baking and stir-frys.

4. Can help with weight loss if taken daily, since it isn’t stored as fat and may boost your metabolism. (Results have been seen with 1-3 tablespoons a day.)

5. Add to smoothies for a whole host of nutritional benefits. Try this one!

6. Can be used as a healthy creamer substitute for coffee.

7. Can boost metabolism so you burn more calories naturally.

8. Can be used on the skin as a moisturizer.

9. Can be used on the hair as a deep conditioner.

10. Apply to your nails as a cuticle softener.

11. Apply to skin as a natural sunscreen. (Only an SPF 4 though!)

12. Soothe a sunburn or any other type of burn.

13. Hydrate dry, cracked feet by coating the feet in oil and sleeping overnight with socks on.

14. Can be used as a soothing eye make-up remover.

15. Soothes psoriasis and eczema skin conditions.

16. Take orally to kill intestinal parasites and yeast overgrowth.

17. To replace butter in baking recipes.

18. Can be used for minor scrapes and skin rashes as a natural antibacterial ointment.

19. Can soothe bug bites and reduce the itch.

20. Supports healthy thyroid function.

21. Can be used as a scalp treatment for dandruff.

22. Can stimulate hair growth.

23. Can smooth frizzy hair.

24. Mix with epsom salts for a detoxifying body scrub.

25. Mix with baking soda for a whitening toothpaste.

26. Can improve digestion if taken before meals.

27. Can be used as a natural baby lotion and diaper rash cream.

28. Fight signs of aging as a natural facial moisturizer.

29. Heals cold sores naturally when applied topically.

30. When taken daily, can help with allergies.

31. When taken daily, can improve sleep and mood.

32. Can improve insulin levels for diabetics.

33. Can remove bacteria and plaque from the mouth with oil pulling.

34. Use as a tropical massage oil.

35. May help you to shed “difficult to lose” abdominal fat by taking daily doses of 2-3 tablespoons of coconut oil.

36. Can be therapeutic for brain disorders such as epilepsy and Alzheimer’s disease.

37. Reduce appetite with regular consumption.

38. Reduce hot flashes through coconut oil’s ability to regulate hormones.

39. Absorb fat-soluble vitamins better (like vitamins A, D, E & K).

40. Can be used for shaving. It doesn’t wash off and it will moisturize your skin as you shave!

41. Can be made into a homemade deodorant.

42. Rub on a pregnant belly to prevent stretch marks.

See the full post on YoungandRaw.com here: http://bit.ly/17q15Zc

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Breathe easier!!

With the weather turning colder, EVERYONE should know this!

Just add 1 TBSP of Vicks to your warmer!

This is way cheaper than the plugins and refills I buy! Breathe easier this year!

I have had a few message me and say this works AMAZING!!!!

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Cold relief, stuffy nose, difficulty breathing, Vick's VapoRub (TM)




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DETOX WATER

DETOX WATER

Helps you maintain a flat belly.

2 lemons

1/2 cucumber

10-12 mint leaves

3 quarts water

Brew overnight to create a natural detox, helping to flush impurities out of your system.

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