Easy recipe-Lavender, Rosemary and Sunflower seed crackers

     I really love the scents of rosemary and lavender in my lotions, soaps and various medicinal concoctions.  Besides applying these as essential oils, there is another great way to fill your home with the scents of herbs...bake with them!  Not only does this make a nice, naturally gluten free snack, you also get the added benefits of lavender and rosemary.  Both of the herbs are great for digestion, and are calming and soothing to your system.
     So, I got several recipes from Pinterest for gluten free crackers, and then decided to tweak them with the ingredients that I had on hand.  They turned out really good, especially served with either Kerrygold cheese or homemade cashew butter.

Lavender-Rosemary crackers

• 1/2 cup raw pepitas (pumpkin seeds)
• 1/2 cup raw sunflower seeds
• 1/2 cup black sesame seeds 
• 3 gloves of garlic, minced
• 1-1 1/2 Tbl of chopped fresh herbs
• 2-3 Tbl water
• 1 Tbl extra virgin olive oil
• 1-1 1/2 tsp Celtic sea salt

Lavender and Rosemary from my "apothecary"

Cover the mixture with wax paper to flatten onto a silpat

1. Using a food processor, mix the the seeds, salt and garlic until a thick paste like mixture is formed (it took 45 seconds)
2. Add the herbs, water and oil and pulse several times
3. Slowly add the water 1 Tbl at a time and pulse until mixed and a "dough" forms (it took about 20 seconds)
4. Put the mixture on a silpat, or parchment paper, and cover with wax paper or parchment paper and roll with a rolling pin to about 1/4" thickness
5. I couldn't get mine completely square, but it doesn't really matter
6. Bake in a preheated 375* oven for 15-20 minutes, then carefully flip the crackers over and score lightly with a knife.  Turn the oven off and  reset the pan into the oven for 5-8 minutes more until dry in the middle and slightly golden in color

     I hope you give these a try, please let me know if you do.  What other homemade crackers have you tried?

Many Blessings,

Joanna

DIY anti-itch treatment...prepare now for the bugs of spring!

     Now is the perfect time to start a batch of anti-itch treatment.  We all know that with spring comes a multitude of biting bugs!   I know that all of God's creatures serve a purpose, but that doesn't mean that we have to like it when they decide to bite, sting or use our skin as a personal playground!
 
It is so easy to make a nice, relieving remedy for the annoying itch that accompanies these possible attacks.  It all starts with fresh herbs and witch hazel.  I order the chamomile from mountainroseherbs.com, and the rosemary and the lavender are from last summer's garden. ( I buy the witch hazel at the drugstore).  Simply fill a pint sized glass jar with about a half a cup of each herb, and then cover with witch hazel.  No need to measure, I just give a small handful.  Put it in a sunny window for about 10 days, or put away from direct light for 3 weeks.  After it has infused, you will need to strain it, and then the infused liquid will be a life saver when applied to an itch!  Simply store in a glass jar and apply to the skin with a cotton ball, it will remain fresh for at least 6 months (I have never had any left after that amount of time, so it may be fresh even longer).

Chamomile, Rosemary and Lavender





http://newbeginningsglutenfreeherbal.blogspot.com/2013/07/homemade-antibiotic-skin-cream.html

I added the link above to my homemade antibiotic cream just in case you need that for different skin irritations.  Do you make any of your own remedies, I would love to hear about them!

The properties of these herbs work well for the anti-itch, and/or pain from a sting, but you could use different combinations depending on what you have.  Lavender is good for literally everything, chamomile is very soothing to the skin, and rosemary is an analgesic.  Let me know if you've tried other herbs that work well for you!

Many Blessings,

Joanna

Quick, easy and hearty gluten and grain free lunches

     On this long journey to regain my health, I have been experimenting with "paleo" ideas, as well as "elimination diet" ideas.  I really love my go to lunch of either a sandwich,  re-heated leftovers, or scrambled eggs.  However, this is my 3rd week on an elimination diet, so I am skipping the eggs and gluten free bread right now.  I also love quinoa or brown rice for quick lunches, but right now they are out too.  So, I wanted to share a couple of my favorite and most filling lunches.

Salmon patties with wilted cabbage.

First off, I love salmon patties made with quinoa flakes and eggs as the binder.  Being grain free and egg free right now, I made them with coconut, almond flour and mashed sweet potatoes they were just as good!  

**I use a pouch of Chicken of the Sea salmon

    add one baked, mashed sweet potato

    add any chopped veggies on hand (I use shredded carrots and/or bell peppers)

    Add chopped garlic, and onion if desired, I used roasted garlic this time...yum!

    I added about 2 Tbl each of coconut, and almond flours (I don't actually measure, just look for                     consistency)

**Make into patties and fry in coconut oil 

**I saute'd purple cabbage, jalapeno peppers, and carrots as a side dish...simply cut thin, saute in coconut         oil, and add spices of your choice, salt and pepper

Pan fried chicken thigh

Pickled beet salad

For my second favorite, quick lunch, I like chicken and a hearty salad.

**Dredge a thigh in a mixture of 1/4 cup coconut flour, pinch each of cayenne, garlic powder, onion                  powder, thyme, salt and pepper.

    Fry in coconut oil until done and crispy on the outside

**Make a salad of your choice... mine featured spinach and some pickled beets that I made this fall

I hope you try these easy lunches, and let me know how you like them!  

Many Blessings,

Joanna

So many projects, so many happy days!

Elderberry gummies

Jewelry I'm making

I have been so busy making yummy new gluten free foods, and Paleo inspired foods.  I have made so many things that ended up being fantastic, and therefore added to my favorites cookbooks.  I will one day get around to putting them each on this blog, but at the time that I made them, I simply made pictures and posted them on Google+!  

Hubby and I found new hobby...home roasting coffee beans

Lip balm

Mark and I received 4 lbs of green coffee beans from Santa this Christmas, and we have fallen in love with roasting our own beans!  Then last week when my birthday rolled around, he gave me a home steamer, so that it's easy to have fresh cappuccinos everyday!

Stove top steamer!  

I always make time to supply myself and my family with homemade lotions, lip balms and vitamins. Recently I added a new  passion...one of making jewelry out of broken pieces!  So, for now, I have many irons in the fire, and plan to share some of my favorite findings soon.  Many blessings, Joanna