Pau d'Arco

I stopped into the local health food store with the Bug early last week.  She wanted something to clean her out, get her insides working again.

I know -- really technical healthspeak.  Shows you how often I get into the health food store.

Anyway, The Bug was too embarassed to ask about this stuff because it involves pooping.  I, however, cleaned poop off her very bottom between 16 and 19 years ago.  I have little trouble talking about (other people's) poop.  So I was elected to speak to the store's Lady Who Knows About That Stuff.

She told me all about these expensive colon cleaning kits.  I asked about what you're supposed to take after you're all cleaned out, to kind of maintain a good balance in your system.  She mentioned probiotic yogurt, which I knew about.

Then she mentioned Pau d'Arco, which I'd also heard about.  But she said this:  it's an anti-fungal.  This caught my attention immediately.

I've had sinus problems my whole life.  In my refusal to believe that this is somewhat chronic and incurable (they can cure everything these days; are you kidding me?), I ran across some research that indicated that fungus can be a contributor to sinus infections.  They may develop over years of sinus trouble.

Now I doubt this means green nastiness growing in your nose.  It might, but I'd rather not thing of it like that.  It's gotta be something that looks entirely different than the green moss growing on trees in the forest.  Of course, then again the snot that comes out of your nose isn't particularly appealing, so maybe it is green nastiness.  Well, at least it's MY green nastiness that my body is producing.  Yeeee-aaaauuuck!

(repeat:  we come from the earth, we are made of the earth, we cannot be grossed out by the earth.  We come from the earth, we are made of the earth, we cannot be grossed out.)

I've also noticed this creeping crud on the knuckles of my fingers.  I never had that before.  It's like dry spots.  I've been rubbing athlete's foot cream on them, because Hunk O Man has had this stuff -- probably gave it to me at some point in our 24 years of marriage -- and a dermatologist gave him an anti-fungal prescription, which cleared it up.

So anyway -- back to the Pau d'Arco -- I bought a little bottle of the tincture and have been drinking 2 dropperfuls with a bit of water 2 times per day.  It's a little bitter, but tossing it down with about 1/4 cup of water, cold, isn't too bad.  I don't mind it.

Amazingly, what I've noticed is that the creeping crud has gotten worse.  BUT . . . the guy at the register (husband of Lady Who Knows About That Stuff) said that it would likely get worse until my body got rid of it altogether.

So it's working!

Call it whatever you like.  Maybe those health food nuts are onto something after all.  I'm just about out of the tincture and I'm going back for more.  And next time I have a problem, I think I may go to them and just see what they think.  Hopefully it will not have to do with green nastiness or poop.

xoxoxox

Making Due

OK, so I saw this recipe in Better Homes and Gardens.  It's a winner from Lisa Speer of Palm Beach, FL:

Fresh Corn Cakes with Garden Relish

2 T. olive oil
2 cups fresh corn kernels
1/2 cup chopped sweet onion
1 cup buttermilk
1 egg, lightly beaten
3/4 cup quick-cooking polenta mix
1/2 cup flour
1/4 t. baking powder
3/4 t. baking soda
1/2 t. salt
1 recipe Garden Relish

I won't go over the rest of the recipe, because you can find it in the July 2010 issue of Better Homes and Gardens, just like I did.

I thought this looked appealing.  I thought 'hey, that would go with the meatloaf I am making tonight - frozen meatloaf muffins from the last big freezer cook day.'

So I went to work.  Here's how it went:

Olive oil?  Nah.  These things get fried.  Where's the Canola?  I used enough to cover the bottom of the pan.

2 cups fresh corn?  Who has that this early in the year?  One can of corn from the pantry.  Check.

1/2 cup chopped sweet onion?  I don't want pieces of onion in my mouth.  Let's try a nominal amount of dried minced onion.

Buttermilk?  Are they kidding?  Who has buttermilk in the fridge?  Well, I have evaporated milk and some butter.  I'll just use both.

An egg.  Well, finally something I actually have on hand.

Quick cooking polenta?  Doesn't that have corn in it?  OK, I am NOT going to the store.  Here's some Jiffy Cornbread Mix in the pantry.  That should work, right?

Flour.  Hah!  I have flour!

Baking soda/baking powder/salt:  now here is where I am a genius, thank you very much. My Jiffy cornbread mix already has all that.  So there.

So I whizzed it all up in a bowl and made a batter.  Then I tasted it.

Then I added some sugar and a shake of crushed red pepper.  And salt.

I tasted it again.  Then I dropped it into the hot oil and fried'em right up.

Garden relish?  No thanks.  Too much trouble.

Now I am decidedly NOT a cook, let alone a good one.  But these were quite good with some butter.  I was shocked.

Gourmet?  Not me.  Throw it together with what you have?  Well, there you go.

xoxoxox

Graduation

Oh, the cupcakes.  Jeesh.

Check out how to make these Graduation Cupcakes at Hello, Cupcake!

xoxox

And You Thought I'd Forgotten Completely About This Blog

Well, fair enough, I kind of did.  At least, it certainly wasn't on the front burner.  But I think I may use this blog to just talk about all the silly stuff I never can put on the House or Sewing blogs -- both of which you should check out!  Today at Jen's House has a spiritual/Christian focus, and Today in Jen's Sewing Room has a decidedly sewing/home dec focus.

Since so much of what happens in my house happens in my kitchen -- actually, virtually ALL of what happens in my house happens in the kitchen -- I think I'll start posting it here.  I do use coupons and try and save money wherever possible.  I always thought Hunk O Man was the cheapskate, but I think I have some admitting to do there -- I catch myself all the time being cheap.  Oh well, I live better than I would otherwise!  LOL!

So while I won't become one of the blogs that posts about coupons and store deals, I will link you to those sites on my sidebars.  If you subscribe to too many of these, it can get overwhelming.  But one or two in your area are really good for grabbing deals.  I usually focus on Target, CVS, and my local Lowe's grocery store.  I'm in a location where the shopping (other than WalMart) is about 35 minutes away.  So by the time I get to the sales stuff is sometimes gone -- but I do have a CVS here, and once you learn that system, it really saves you some buckage!

So let me begin by giving you a look at my kitchen.  This is where it all starts -- and I'll be checking in soon!

xoxox