Freedom From BigBrother Now!

Biodynamics is the practice of gardening by directing earth energies and a growing trend in today’s finest vineyards. The practice was devised a century ago by Austrian philosopher Rudolf Steiner and is becoming the next big fad in viticulture.

Although the methods seem far from scientific, one can’t deny the results - biodynamic procedures are used in France’s most prestigious vineyards including Domaine Leflaive in Burgundy whose wines sells for around $1000 US a bottle.

Biodynamics, however wasn’t always for wine. Rudolf Steiner had developed the system for his own gardening pursuits. The most popular treatment seems to be a concoction called “preparation 500″.

In this practice, cow horns are hollowed and filled with cow manure. They are then buried, on the fall equinox, in places around the property where astral energy lines cross. On the spring equinox, they are dug up and the contents diluted in rainwater.

This mixture is then stirred, by hand, in alternate directions for an hour to “dynamize” it. Using only about a handful for every acre, the mixture is then watered down and sprayed on plants and the ground. Preparation 500 is believed to transfer the life giving force of the earth to the plants.

A little less romantic, and a little more sadistic is a recipe for biodynamic pesticide. You must first capture some offending insects and char them in a wood stove. Then, grind the charred remains in a mortar and pestle and sprinkle the ashes around the garden.

All of this must be done when the moon is in Scorpio. I hate to see any creature killed, but if it does work, I suppose it’s better than spraying the earth full of chemicals and killing them all anyway. What’s the life of a few to save the lives of many, maybe?

I have no personal experience with biodynamics and have no idea whether or not I should believe the claims. Mind you, the fall equinox is coming and my garden could always use a little help - anyone have a cow horn I could borrow?

Ivy Mills has been researching chemical sensitivity and natural alternatives for over five years and has brought her knowledge to the marketplace in her company, Valhalla Essences. Her personal experiences have fed a passion to help others with the same problem. Ivy welcomes others to share their stories and experiences on her blog, Peaceful Power.

Restaurant recipes are offered to you. That means that you can make your favorite dishes from your favorite location in your home. This helps to cut the cost down tremendously which can help you to trim your budget. Yet, you will not feel deprived because you still get to have your favorite foods. You can find these recipes offered right on the web through many of the recipe databases. Simply locate one, type in the restaurant name and the recipe name, and soon you will be in your kitchen cooking up these dishes.

If you are looking for American recipes, you will find plenty of the best restaurants offering their versions. If you love a great burger and a plateful of fries, why settle for anything less? Is there anything better than good old American apple pie? Maybe, if you make it al a mode! If you would like to find any of these American recipes the good news is that there are many databases on the web to offer them. Choose from meats, seafood, pasta dishes, and vegetables. Even desserts are available. You can locate restaurant recipes that are in this tradition as well.

The same thing goes for Mexican recipes. One of the best things to do when it comes to this type of food is to find an excellent spice blend that screams Mexican! There are many out there that you can easily pick up, bring home and use in your dishes to recreate a restaurant recipe or to help you to come up with that recipe that you remember your grandmother making when you were growing up. You can find recipes to help you make these blends as well.

Today, it is very costly to go to a restaurant for a meal. The more in your family, the more outrageous the prices are. Yet, for many, there is almost a craving for that special plate or that perfect dessert. If you are one of the many that has this problem, fear not. There are plenty of online recipe communities where you can go to get the best restaurant recipes out there to tempt your taste buds at home.

For more info please visit my website at Restaurant Recipes

For more informatiin please visit my website at Restaurant Recipes

This is the original recipe for making punczki that was brought
from Europe by my wife’s grandmother when she first arrived at
Ellis Island and the onward to Pennsylvania Where she finally
settled.

Just how old this recipe really is I have no idea but the only
thing I know is how good the punczki’s are. You must follow this
recipe exactly or it will not work well, I know, I have tried to
create some shortcuts that were ok but not as good.

This recipe yields 4dozen of the most delicious punczki that you
ever had.

Remember all ingredients should be room temperature.

1. Disolve:

ounce yeast in cup warm water

warm quart milk

add to the yeast and warm milk 3 cups flour and let rise for
about hour to create what is called a sponge.

2. Put together:

quart warm milk lb. Butter

2 tablespoons shortening

cup sugar

2 tablespoons whiskey

3. Mix steps 1 and 2 with 6 eggs, pinch of salt, 9 cups flour
until you get a really good textured dough.

Let the dough rise until double in size, cut the dough into 2
ounce pieces and form balls.

Place the dough balls on a well oiled flat pan, let them rise
for about hour to about hour.>br> Fry dough balls in 350
degree oil until well browned on both sides then put them on a
brown paper bag to drain the oil form frying.

Let cool for a while and fill using a pastry bag with a tip
that has a whole about the size of a pencil, roll in sugar or
10x sugar and enjoy with a hot cup of coffee.

You can fill them with prune leckvar or any jellies that you
like.

If you are considering starting a rapid weight loss program, then you should be aware that it will affect how you live your life from day to day if you are serious about losing weight. This is all about attitude change and the determination to succeed in the diet you have chosen. Many factors are involved in how quickly an individual will lose weight; for example:

*Obesity or weight problems that may run in the family *Previous mental anguish *Attitude

Excessive weight causes many problems; some but not all are physical aspects. Of all the changes that happen to a person when they start to regain their old weight, it is those of being happy with what they are achieving that is the most pleasing. Rapid weight loss programs can achieve this but they are generally a combination of things; regular exercise and a healthy nutritious diet are also going to be part of this plan. The diet plan must be flexible to your tastes other wise it will fail, put aside at least a quarter of an hour every day to carry out some form of physical activity like brisk walking, running or other type of cardiovascular exercise.
You would be wise to choose an exercise method that suits your physical abilities so if all you are able to do is walk then that is fine; however, try to improve the pace you walk at as your diet progresses, remembering that you will look better when your fat is converted into muscle. Exercise often means a great deal of body fluids are lost and need to be replaced; whether on a rapid weight loss program or not, don’t forget the benefits of at least six 8oz glasses of water each day because it also flushes out nasty toxins as well. Avoid fat drenched deep fried foods which can also mean fish and chicken if you are eating the wrong part of the animal.

When the food we eat is digested it provides us with energy and growth but the condition called diabetes does not allow this process to work as it should. Our bodies use glucose, a form of sugar which our digestive system has broken down from the food we eat, which is then transported around the body via the bloodstream. As glucose is the fuel our body needs to survive it is imperative that it is able to be transported by the blood without any problems, something which diabetes stops. Owing to this condition, excessive levels of glucose build up in the blood stream instead of absorption into the cells.

If you do not know what causes diabetes, there is some basic information below. Young people (sometimes older) are liable to contract type 1 diabetes which occurs when the body stops producing insulin; this can occur at any age but diabetics must take daily insulin injections in order to survive. Insulin is a hormone that regulates the amount of glucose (sugar) in the blood and is required for the body to function normally. Type 2 is also called adult onset or non-insulin dependent diabetes; it results when the body either cannot produce enough insulin or does not use the insulin it makes properly.

Our body needs energy which it obtains from food that it converts into sugar like bread, potatoes, rice and pasta etc. High blood glucose levels over a long period of time can cause blindness, heart disease, kidney problems, and amputations. However, it is possible to manage diabetes by maintaining a strict health regime; a number of the conditions will actually get better whilst others will be slowed down. Care of your condition relies on you maintaining certain aspects and any prescribed medication must be taken routinely; but this means sticking to your medication, watching your blood sugar, cholesterol and to stop smoking!

It also means that you will need to keep your weight relatively stable within a prescribed range which should also help to reduce your blood pressure to within tolerable limits. The bad news about this is diabetes a life long condition; the USA is particularly badly hit with over 5.5 million sufferers. The frightening thing is that it is estimated that at least the same number of people has this condition but just don’t know it yet; over 600,000 new cases are diagnosed each year. The number of Americans who have diabetes and die each year is approximately 320,000 but only 34,000 die as a direct result of having the condition.

Are you tired of your regular Joe life and your regular Joe cup of coffee that you start your day with? Then it’s time to reward yourself with something different. Why not jazz up your morning ritual with cup of rich gourmet coffee.

The dictionary defines gourmet food like this, “Gourmet food is that which is of the highest quality, perfectly prepared and artfully presented.” If you want the highest quality food you go to a top notch restaurant but if you want the highest quality coffee, you can do that at home yourself. That gourmet meal is probably going to stay at the restaurant unless you invite a chef over but gourmet coffee can be made in the comfort of your own home with just a little practice.

Gourmet coffee is more expensive than say, supermarket brands but the taste is also much richer. Unless money is no object, why not save the gourmet cup of coffee for the weekends. Make it an end of the week tradition. Stick with the supermarket coffee for when you’re rushing off to work.

To make your own gourmet coffee start with the beans. Gourmet Coffee beans can be bought by the pound and there are many varieties to choose from. Some of the most popular gourmet beans include Kona, Jamaican Blue Mountain, and Sumatra types.

Coffee beans are similar to wine in that they name the beans after the region. In the world of wine you have the popular Sonoma wines which come from Sonoma Valley in California. In the world of coffee the equivalent would be Kona beans which come from Kona, Hawaii.

Kona coffee beans are grown in rich volcanic soil and the mild tropical climate of the Kona coffee belt on the western side of the Big Island of Hawaii. It has a wonderfully full, rich and smooth flavor with little or no bitter after taste. Be sure that you buy Kona beans and not a Kona blend. A Kona blend can legally be labeled as Kona with as little as 10% of actual Kona beans in it.

Next you’ll need to grind your beans. Ground coffee begins losing it’s flavor once it’s exposed to air. So you’ll want to grind just enough to make your desired amount. Store any leftover grinds in an air tight container. You’ll want to grind you coffee beans very fine but don’t pulverize them into dust. If you over grind them the heat and friction will vaporize the oils that give the coffee it’s distinct flavor.

When was the last time you cleaned your coffee maker? A clean coffee maker makes a significant difference in how your coffee tastes. At least once a month pour a mixture of half vinegar and half water into your coffee maker. Let the mix run through the full brew process. Repeat the process again using only water this time to rinse it out. Do this one more time if a vinegar smell is still present.

Now you’re work is done and it’s time for the coffee maker to pulls it’s weight. Use clean filtered water and fill the coffee maker to the desired level. Use about 6 ounces of water for every 2 heaping tablespoons of coffee. Turn it on and hang around while it brews. You’ll want to be there to enjoy the delightful aroma.

Everyday coffee is perfect for everyday life. But every once in a while you should treat yourself to something special. And what better way to start a special than that with a special cup of coffee. Gourmet coffees can really jazz up your day.

Anthony Tripodi is the webmaster of EndlessCoffeeBreak.com - The Guide To Coffee. For more information about coffee including speciality coffee drink recipes, ideas and equipment, visit http://www.endlesscoffeebreak.com.

Use your imagination to fill these hot sandwiches. The
recipe makes 15 or 16 sandwiches. Leftovers can be used
for snacks and to take to work for lunch.

Sandwich Pouches
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1 1/2 cups warm water
1 package dry yeast (or 2 teaspoons bulk yeast)
1/3 cup canola oil
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup dry oatmeal
4 1/2 to 5 cups flour

Dissolve yeast in warm water. Stir in remaining ingredients.
Knead for a couple of minutes. Dough will be a little soft and
sticky.

Divide dough into balls the size of small eggs.

Filling
~~~~~

Use what you like for the filling. I have used slices of
summer sausage, thin-sliced ham, cotto salami, smoked
turkey breast, dried beef. For the cheese, I have used
cheddar, colby, and mozerella.

Assembling the Kangaroo Pouches
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Roll dough to approximately 6 inches wide by 8 inches long.
Place a slice of meat and a slice of cheese slightly below
the center of the dough. Drizzle a few drops of Italian salad
dressing or a scant teaspoon of spaghetti sauce over the
cheese. I have also used a scant teaspoon of sour cream or
blue cheese salad dressing.

Bring the top part of the dough over the filling and seal the
edges by rolling up the dough toward the filling.

Place sandwiches on a greased baking sheet.

Bake at 325 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes. Some of the
cheese may melt out of the Kangaroo Pouches, but in that
case, when you serve them, scoop the melted cheese on
top of the sanwiches.

Serve with a salad or other fresh vegetables.

Yield: 15 or 16 Kangaroo Pouches

Note: My husband loves to take to these to work and heats
them up in the microwave for lunch.

***************

LeAnn R. Ralph is the author of the farm books “Cream of
the Crop (More True Stories from Wisconsin Farm)” (trade
paperback, Sept. 2005); “Christmas in Dairyland (True
Stories from a Wisconsin Farm” (trade paperback 2003);
“Give Me a Home Where the Dairy Cows Roam” (trade
paperback 2004); “Preserve Your Family History (A
Step-by-Step Guide for Interviewing Family Members and
Writing Oral Histories” (e-book 2004). You are invited to read
sample chapters, order books and sign up for the free
newsletter, Rural Route 2 News — http://ruralroute2.com

Beef Consommé with Choux Puffs

20 to 30 black peppercorns

4 large egg whites, reserve the shells 1 lb plum tomatoes,
quartered

1 5-6 ribs of celery, cut to fit in stock pot

1b lean ground beef

1 Tbs salt

6 Cups beef stock

Celery leaves, for garnish

Diced tomatoes, for garnish

Whisk egg whites until foamy, then add in egg shells,
peppercorns, chopped tomatoes and celery. Stir in beef and salt.

Place beef stock in a stock pot or heavy saucepan. Whisk in the
egg white/beef mixture. Heat to a simmer over medium high heat
about 20 minutes. Stirring and scraping the bottom of the pan
constantly with a wooden spoon to prevent egg whites from
sticking. Reduce heat and gently simmer without stirring for
about 30 minutes. This will allow all the impurities to rise to
the top. Underneath a clear broth will form.

Line a large sieve with two layers of paper towels and ladle the
broth through into a large bowl. The broth should be completely
clear, if it is not repeat this process a second time. Discard
all the solids.

Bring the consommé to a boil, when heated, ladle into bowls and
top with choux puffs. Garnish with celery leaves and diced
tomatoes.

Choux Puffs

Cup water

stick butter

1/8 tsp salt

Cup all-purpose flour

2 large eggs

Preheat oven to 425, place oven rack in middle of the oven.
Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.

Combine water, butter and salt in a saucepan and bring to a boil
over high heat. Add all the flour at once. Cook about 2 minutes,
stirring briskly with a wooden spoon until mixture pulls away
from the sides of the pan. Remove from heat and allow to cool
slightly.

Add eggs one at a time, stirring after each addition until the
mixture is smooth.

Place the dough in a piping bag with a number 12 tip. (A
disposable piping bag with the end slightly snipped off works
well if you do not have a piping bag and number 12 tip.) Pipe
1/3 inch diameter mounds about inch apart onto baking sheets.
Gently flatten each mound with a water dampened fingertip. Bake
one sheet at a time. About 12 to 15 minutes or until golden
brown. Cool on a rack.

If you have extra puffs they can be frozen for about a month.
The puffs can be made up to 2 days ahead of time. To re-crisp
the puffs thaw and place in a 350 oven for 5 minutes.

The Chinese have known about the medicinal benefits of green tea for over 4,000 years. But recent studies are just starting to unlock these ancient secrets of green tea.

Today, a great deal of research is being carried out about green tea health benefits and the findings are very exciting.

Here are just a few medical conditions that drinking green tea is reputed to be helpful with:

• Cancer
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• High cholesterol levels
• Cardiovascular disease
• Infection
• Impaired immune function
• Controlling high blood pressure
• Lowering blood sugar

Researchers believe the real secret of green tea lies in the fact that it is rich in EGCG which is a powerful anti-oxidant. EGCG has been found to kill cancer cells without harming healthy tissue.

A University of Purdue study recently concluded that a compound in green tea actually inhibits the growth of cancer cells.

Red wine has been long studied because it contains resveratrol, a polyphenol that limits the negative effects of smoking and a fatty diet.

But researchers from the University of Kansas determined that EGCG is twice as powerful as resveratrol, which may explain why the rate of heart disease among Japanese and French men is quite low, even though approximately seventy-five percent of them are smokers.

Research also indicates that drinking green tea lowers total cholesterol levels, as well as improving the ratio of good (HDL) cholesterol to bad (LDL) cholesterol.

But the health benefits of green tea don’t end there. Green tea has been found to inhibit the abnormal formation of blood clots which is the leading cause of heart attacks and stroke.

New studies have actually shown that green tea can even help you loose weight. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition performed a study at the University of Geneva in Switzerland. Researchers found that men who were given a combination of caffeine and green tea extract burned more calories than those given only caffeine or a placebo.

It has also been shown that drinking green tea can give your body a greater ability to fight infection and kill bacteria.

Green tea can even help prevent tooth decay. Its bacteria-destroying abilities kill the bacteria that causes dental plaque and aids the immune system with its antifungal properties by improving digestive function.

You may be asking if other Chinese teas offer similar health benefits. But the answer is no. Although green, oolong, and black teas all come from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant, the way green tea is processed is what sets them apart.

Green tea leaves are steamed, and that prevents the EGCG compound from being oxidized. Black and oolong tea leaves are made from fermented leaves, which converts the EGCG into other compounds. This process makes oolong and black teas much less effective in preventing and fighting various diseases.

So how much green tea should you drink? There are as many answers to this question as there are researchers investigating the health properties of green tea.

While some companies selling green tea say that ten cups per day are necessary to reap the maximum benefits, a University of California study on the cancer-preventative qualities of green tea concluded that you could probably attain the desired level of polyphenols by drinking two cups a day.

The research of this ancient beverage continues, and it may take decades to unlock all of the secrets it holds. Although green tea should not be considered to be a magic bullet, researchers agree the positive health benefits are very promising.

Copyright © 2004 PerfectCoffees.com. All Rights Reserved.

This article may be re-published “as is” (unedited) as long as the author’s bio paragraph (resource box) and copyright information is included. The URLs in the resource box should be set as hyperlinks if used on a web page.

Gary Gresham is the webmaster for http://www.perfectcoffees.com where you can purchase quality coffee, tea, cups & mugs, coffee gifts and delicious desserts online. He offers a free monthly coffee newsletter with similar articles at http://www.perfectcoffees.com/newsletter.html

Gary@perfectcoffees.com