Sauerkraut and Mother's Wisdom

Sauerkraut has never been one of my favorite foods, I admit. I have vivid memories of when my mother would have a craving for the stuff- I would open the door and smell the scent of farts wafting into my nostrils. Yes, farts. That's what I remember.

Well, it turns out, sauerkraut is a very nutrient-dense food! Made in the traditional way (fermentation), sauerkraut not only compliments bratwurst, but actually helps your body to digest it! Sauerkraut is loaded with enzymes, and the action of fermentation allows the vitamins and minerals in the cabbage to be more easily absorbed into your body. And, fermented cabbage is packed with vitamin C! Who knew?! My mother, apparently! She tells me that she, as a child, used to help her grandmother make crocks of sauerkraut... So, she's been holding out on me!

The sauerkraut in the store isn't always made in the traditional way, though! Be careful. A lot of sauerkraut is preserved in artificial stuff (check the label!). The BEST sauerkraut to buy would be packaged in a glass jar, refrigerated, and the label should read: cabbage, water, salt. If there is anything else, move on! If sauerkraut is in a can, all the enzymes have already been cooked out of it.

I actually made homemade sauerkraut last month, and it's finally ready to eat! I was told it develops more flavor with time, so my kraut stayed in the fridge for a few weeks before I broke it out. Since the enzymes are killed when sauerkraut is cooked, I ate mine cold. It was really palatable! To my taste buds, it tasted like steamed cabbage with a tart vinaigrette dressing. It did have a bit of "sour" smell (aka, farts), but it wasn't overpowering! I guess the smell is magnified by cooking...

Here's my sauerkraut! It is still a bit green- as fermentation takes place, it will get more yellow-colored like the sauerkraut you find in the store. This is day 1.

Day 2: Getting more yellow...

Day 3: Finally- the green is gone! It's time to put my kraut in the fridge and wait.

Week 3: I've cracked open my kraut, and Andy cooked me some brats. I paired my gourmet meal with a little red wine (ok, I drank most of it already). Although my mom always eats her kraut on her sausage, I thought best to try it as a side dish first. The flavors were really complimentary! I have to admit, it was really good together :)

So, this post is dedicated to you, Mom! I hope you'll try my sauerkraut when you come to visit in a few weeks :) We'll even cook out some brats to go along with it! Love you!

Not Yet Back to School Party!

We had a great time at the homeschoolers' Not Yet Back to School Party! We are planning on starting our school year next week (Tuesday) after having our first rehearsal for a Christmas play the homeschoolers will be performing in December. My friend Michelle Best is director, and Noah has already asked her if he can have the part of Christmas Future! He would only have one line, but he'd get plenty of stage time :)

Anyway, here are some photos of the kids on the diving board at Cape Coral Yacht Club pool. We were the only group that was there, since all the traditionally-schooled kids were cooped up in the classroom...




Noah was a bit squeamish when it came to jumping far from the diving board, although he did touch the bottom quite a few times- 10ft 9in!





Elena took a while to convince that the diving board was fun, but once she jumped that's all she did the rest of the day!





Gabe was the first to try the boards. He, as usual, was fearless and even tried a few cannonballs!




Annalee has an issue with getting her face wet, so she opted out of the diving board fun. Instead, she and her friend Sara snitched some chocolate cookies from the picnic area :)

I think this picture says it all! Our group of homeschoolers is goofy and fun! We had a great time, and us moms even got turns on the diving boards. THOSE pictures are safely hidden.

We are supposed to have a story in the Sunday paper, as a reporter stopped by to take pictures and interview the moms. She got a good picture of me and Gabe, so I'll be checking for our mugs in print!

Here's a serious one (except for Gabe!). What a great bunch!

My Medicine Cabinet

I so enjoyed writing about herbal extracts and salves that I decided to continue with another post! This time, I will introduce you to a few of things you would find in my medicine cabinet... my antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, healing salve, tea tree oil, and my plantain/vinegar astringent.




On the left, you can see the plantain leaf/vinegar astringent. I use this on small abrasions, insect bites or even as an acne wash! As you might guess, the smell is something to get used to but disappears quickly. It also tends to sting a bit, so I don't use it on large cuts. To make this astringent, use the same directions as for alcohol extracts but use raw apple cider vinegar instead of alcohol!

On the right is my bottle of tea tree oil. This oil is antiseptic, so it can be used on cuts. I have also used tea tree oil on canker sores in the mouth, but it tends to taste a bit earthy :).

My favorite item is, of course, the salve! I have been documenting how I use it in my home, and uses range from fire ant bites to an infected ear canal (after three applications with a Q-tip, the ear infection was gone!) Instructions for making this wonderful item are described in a previous post called "Herbal Salves".


Thank God for herbs and their natural healing abilities!

Herbal Salves

On to the final installment of my herbal blog series! Herbal salves are wonderful to have around. Salves are applied externally for cuts, boils, bug bites, poison ivy, etc. -It all depends on what herbs you use! I am going to make a salve today that can take the place of any antibacterial (petroleum-based) ointment in your medicine cabinet.



Salves require a couple more steps than glycerites, but the first few steps are the same!

First, gather your herbs and fat. I am using calendula flowers (marigolds- which are anti-inflammatory), comfrey leaf (a contact healer), and plantain leaf (antibacterial). Coconut oil is my favorite oil to use for salves. I am using a coconut oil I found at Walmart, although expeller-pressed oil would be better.









Fill 1/3 to 1/2 of your jar with herbs. I would not wet the herbs in this type of extract, as water doesn't mix with oil! You would end up with a weepy salve.
















Coconut oil is solid up to 76 degrees, so filling your jar might be easier if you gently warm your oil first :). Since this is going in my crock pot with the glycerite, I will just let the coconut oil melt, then top off with olive oil (another great oil for the skin)!


















Into the crock! Since my crock pot isn't deep enough for this jar, I will probably transfer to a smaller one. It is important for the oil to stay very warm throughout while the herbs are "cooking", so make sure the water level is pretty even with the level of the oil.



This mixture should stay in the crock for 2-3 days, and you should shake it at least once a day to keep the herbs circulating.




When it is darker and herbal smelling, remove and strain oil into a saucepan. You will then need to gently melt about 2 oz beeswax per 9 oz extract in saucepan. Once the beeswax is melted, remove the saucepan from heat and stir in a few drops of vitamin E (a natural preservative). Pour into shallow containers and store for up to one year! It will harden as it cools, but should still be soft enough to spread on wounds.



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Here are the finished products!!
On the left is the glycerite, on the right is the alcohol extract. Notice how dark they are!

I have labeled each of them, and I will store them in a dark cabinet (preferably one that is not used much- sunlight will weaken the potency).







The salve should be green in color. The block in front of the salve is beeswax (it can be bought from a local beekeeper or a craft store in the candle isle), and to the right is the vitamin E (you can use capsules from the pharmacy, also!)



I hope you've enjoyed my herb series! Please comment or e-mail if you have any questions :)

My Herbal blog series is part of Monday Mania at the Healthy Home Economist

Herbal Glycerite

Today, I am going to be making an herbal glycerite (an herbal extract using vegetable glycerine). This is the kind of extract you usually find in health food stores- it usually says "alcohol free" on the bottle. Herbal glycerites are used in children's herbal medicine, for obvious reasons.


Glycerites are not as potent as alcohol extracts, and their shelf life is only about 1 year (unless preservatives have been used- check the label). This is also the kind of herbal extract I use in my lotions and soaps. Since glycerine is already used in many of my recipes, the herbs just add more goodness and healing power to these products!


The first step is gathering your ingredients. You will need food grade glycerine, your herbs, and a jar with a tight-fitting lid. For this type of extract, you will also need a crock pot.

I am using a mixture of licorice root and peppermint (licorice root is good for throat ailments- peppermint is just for taste). The glycerine is from a local health food store- they can usually special order it in gallon jugs.










First, you need to fill your glass jar about 1/3-1/2 full of your herbs. Just eye it- it doesn't have to be too precise! At this point, you can soak your herbs with hot water to get them started. Use just enough water to wet the herbs, but don't drown them! (This is the same step as in alcohol extracts.)















Next, you fill the jar to within about an inch from the top with glycerine. The herbs will not want to mix, so you need to stir them and add more glycerine. Once you add the glycerine, screw on the lid tightly.

















Then, you need to fill your crock pot with water. This mixture is going to "cook" in a warm water bath for 2-3 days- this depends on how hot your crock cooks. ( I set the jar on a rag, so that it doesn't get too hot and crack.) Set crock pot on lowest setting, and keep an eye on the water level,- you will need to add water as it evaporates! As with the alcohol extract, you need to mix the herbs about once a day to keep them circulating.





When the mixture looks dark and smells very herbal, strain into a clean glass jar. You can use an old tee shirt to squeeze remaining extract out of herbs. Store jar in a cool, dark place for up to 1 year!

This post is part of Monday Mania on the Healthy Home Economist!

Herbal Extract

This week, I will be going over a few different ways to use herbs. Herbal extracts, glycerites and salves are the three that I use most (apart from teas).

Today, I am going to show you how to make an herbal extract using vodka. There are 2 main reasons to use alcohol for an extract (as opposed to vegetable glycerine): 1. Alcohol draws the most "goodness" out of the herb; 2. Alcohol extracts have a long shelf life (up to 2 years!).

Although most people wouldn't give a full-strength alcohol extract to their children, this extract can be mixed with a glycerite (glycerine extract) to extend its shelf life and potency. If mixed with a hot beverage, most of the alcohol will evaporate. I will be covering glycerites in the next post!




To make an herbal extract, you will need alcohol (either vodka or rum)- I use a fairly cheap vodka, as I am not a connoisseur! Any vodka will do. You will also need a glass jar with a tight-fitting lid and your herbs. Today, I am using a pre-mixed Immune Booster from The Bulk Herb Store, to which I have added some elderberries.
















First, you need to fill your glass jar about 1/3-1/2 full of your herbs. Just eye it- it doesn't have to be too precise! At this point, you can soak your herbs with hot water to get them started. Use just enough water to wet the herbs, but don't drown them!


















Next, fill the jar to within about a inch from the top with your alcohol. There may be some trapped air at the bottom, so stir the herbs and add more alcohol, if necessary.



















When the alcohol is in the glass, attach the lid tightly and give it a good shake. Then, store your jar in a dark, cool place (such as a cabinet) for about three weeks. Be sure to shake the jar about once a day to keep the herbs circulating. When the three weeks is up, strain your extract into a clean jar (I use an old tee shirt to squeeze out any remaining liquid from herbs). Label extract and store in a dark place for up to 2 years!













This post is part of Monday Mania at the Healthy Home Economist

An Introduction to Herbs

As a mother, I know the stress of having a sick little one. I also worry over the medicine that my children take- I would rather give them something natural than give them something man-made that may cause side effects that are worse than the illness! My experience with allergy medicine with my oldest son (5 years ago) led me to look into natural remedies for my children. I have since learned about the wonderful, God-given herbs that have been used for illnesses throughout history.



























Some of my favorites include: fennel (used for colic in babies), peppermint (for tummy aches), chamomile (for restlessness or sleeplessness), and echinacea + elderberry (an immune booster-used at the first sign of a cold). You can find natural baby herbal drops in the pharmacy at Walmart that include some of these herbs!


First, before you prepare your herbal tea or tincture, you need to research which herbs best serve your purpose. My favorite website for herbs is The Bulk Herb Store. They not only sell fresh herbs but also provide you with their vast knowledge of herbal remedies. They even have beginner packages that give you all the tools you need to get started! Click on the link below to check out their store.






There are many ways of preparing herbs, and I'll be blogging about them in the next few days...

Tomorrow- how to make an herbal extract with vodka!!

My Herbal Series is part of Monday Mania on the Healthy Home Economist

A Florida Rainbow

We have some pretty amazing storms around here! Just the other night, our power went off a total of five times before the lightning finally moved on. These storms creep up at about the same time every day, so we are able to enjoy a good breeze and some cooler weather right before dinner time... Usually, the sun comes out before the day is done (especially since the sun is setting around 8:30 these days), and we have full rainbows to enjoy. The kids and I are always on the lookout after a rain shower, and more than likely we'll find one!

Here's Annalee enjoying a rainbow- she is telling me where to find the Skittles and the pot of gold.