World Baking Day

May 17th is world baking day. I love to bake. I love to bake sweets. I love to bake sweets because I like to eat sweets. I have the best chocolate chip cookie recipe in the world.

I don't share it.

It's that good.


Seriously.


It will get passed down to my children's children's children. It really is one of my favorite things to bake-- Near instant gratification.



My husband woos me with bread pudding--
It was the dessert we had on our first date.
It was my first time trying it and the moans and food-gasm has had my husband making it for me every few years

This was this year's Mother's Day Bourbon Bread Pudding with Drunk Raisins and a bourbon cream sauce (not pictured).

Happy Baking Y'all.

Bourbon Bread Pudding with drunk raisins with a Bourbon cream sauce.

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Danger of Ingestion of Essential Oils and the fleecing by MLM companies

My Point of View

I use essential oils in my life. I am a believer. My favorite thing to do is to turn on the diffuser in my bedroom mid afternoon with lavender essential oil and my the time my husband and I turn in our room is a relaxing, pleasantly scented oasis. We sleep better and enjoy the scent. I like knowing it is not full of other 'junk' that lurks in commercial air fresheners or candles. I have tremendous respect for essential oils and have taken baby steps in incorporating them into my life. I have a lot to learn about them. I am most excited about essential oils is making my own bath and beauty products. I enjoy a wonderful sandalwood scented bath using a packet I purchased at my health food store. The thrifty woman in me knows I can totally make that. I know I can. :) 

I've been able to manage illnesses, my migraines, anxiety by diffusing and using in a carrier oil at the proper dilution rates. I take care avoid a list of EOs for my child as they are cautioned against use in children under 12. I never ingest or take EOs orally. The fad of MLM companies suggesting ingestion is to increase sales for their vastly overpriced oils makes me see red. Taking advantage of others does not set well with me, especially when injecting a religious slant to it.

One Item Switch Out -- May 2015

Switch it out

Slowly over the past few months I have given up my nonstick cookware and have switched over to cast iron and stainless steel--- Cast iron is fairly easy to find online and easy to strip & re-season (most new cast iron is seasoned with GMO soybean oil).

While many stores sell stainless steel cookware, however I lucked out and found some pieces at thrift stores for well under Ebay prices. I am learning how to cook on stainless steel and while I am using a bit more of my Nourishing Traditions oil blend, I am feeling better about avoiding nonstick cookware.

What are ONE item will you be switching out in May forever and ever..?

"You Can't Wash the Wheat"

Jodie Bruning is in New Zealand, she is an amazing . She created one of the most awesome websites we have seen on GMOs and glyphosate www.safesayswho.com.This is a short clip from GMO Free News on Youtube, the whole video is worth a watch-- I am a huge fan of Kathleen Hallal of GMO Free News and enjoy watching her channel on Youtube.

Renew-- New Blog Name New Direction

As the reader will notice-- things have been happening with the blog. I have retired the Charleston Natural name and have broadened the scope of the blog beyond the Charleston Metro area.

I hope the readers will journey along with us while we delve into the crunchy granola life and become healthier, wiser, and knowledgeable about alternative methods for so many aspects of our lives. This is a journey, a small step at a time, at our own pace towards the best fit for our families and their lives.

Welcome.

Fabulous Find Friday 3/13/15

Fraggle Rock Library & Tote

This was a boon I found at a local thrift in town last summer. A stack of like new Fraggle Rock hardcover books and a adorable tote bag. I would have love to keep them but my little one is not into the Muppets.

{Sad face}

However, the new owner was thrilled and over the moon. I love matching vintage items with those who will love and adore them. Make me feel all feel-y. :)

I can still sing the theme song and still getting sad and cry on Jim Henson's birthday. Silly Muppets. As a child of the late 1970s and early 1980s, Jim Henson's shows, The Muppets, and Sesame Street were escapes from a a very hard childhood. I poured over books and stared into pictures and illustrations.

Fabulous Find Friday 3/6/15

Cake Carrier Find 

 Sharing from my private collection. I purchased this estate sale find with the intent of placing it for sale on Ebay--- One look at it and my husband was smitten. We have many Kromex aluminum canisters in our home and private collection. My personal items with few exceptions are practical and put to use. No dust catchers here. This find was a steal at less than five dollars. Impractical for long term storage, this cake cover would make a statement piece or a short distance travel carrier. This cutie is a Regal Aluminum cake cover/carrier/saver. I love it-- How hard is it to cover cakes after the guests go home-- ? Some are super big and you wrestle the cling wrap and lose a ton of icing to the cling wrap. Not good. I love the protection and style that vintage cake covers offer. Thrift and swank. Love it.

Soup of the Week 1/26/15 Minestrone Soup