How many times have you reached into your jewelry drawer to discover a hornet’s nest. How many hours have you spent trying to untangle a necklace without breaking it? How many times has your bangle bracelet gotten jammed in your drawer. Well,  if you have had one of these experiences, you’ve probably had more. It’s like jewelry “dances in the dark”, just waiting for you to find the chosen partners.

An answer-your towel holder or cool hooks.  You can get them in all sorts of designs and style. The holder can be open or closed,  as most jewelry has a clasp. You won’t believe how organized you will become. You will easily see all of your choices, and this practical approach is actually quite decorative.

I am such a fan of this juicer, I can hardly stand it. It’s quiet, it beyond efficient, and “yeah”, easy to clean. Hurom is “it”  in more ways than one.

The Hurom Juicer wastes nothing. It is amazing. It takes on wheat grass with a vengeance, and leaves only beautiful nutritious juice. Nuts are no challenge either-you won’t believe the almond milk you can make. Oh so versatile, and for once you get what you paid for.

But I love my latest approach. I have three dogs-the lights of my life. For eight years I have had my dogs on the raw diet. As a result their eyes are bright, coats shiny, and they are Happy, Happy dogs. But most of all,  they are truly healthy dogs. I have watched chronic ear infections disappear, and food allergies fall away. Now, I use my Hurom Juicer as a quick way to really get their veggies processed fast. I merely juice their veggies,  and recombine the puree and juice. All the nutrients presented in minutes with each in a way that their bodies can absorb the benefits to the optimum level. I even process their flaxseed this way.

Wow- two birds with one stone. Make your juice, feed you dogs, celebrate health in a new way.

While I was quite pleased with everything, I was most intrigued with the look of the garlic. Each clove  was  large and  perfectly shaped, but without all of the usual papery skin usually found, and a beautiful web of roots. The garlic cloves fell easily apart and seemed ready to rinse and chop.  Of course off to the references I went, and well, thought I should share a little.

The long and short of it is that I missed the harvest on that side of the garden, and those beautiful cloves were just getting on the the business of growing since I had passed them up. The good news is that they are back in the ground, and not wasted. I just have to be more attentive next year.

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Bulk Foods – A Natural Way to Buy

For years we had it drummed into our heads that “Buying Bulk” was the way to save. How many times have you bought the giant “value” size only to throw most away-was that really a savings? My take on bulk is a little different. Buying bulk is buying “freshness” at your fingertips. You will have greater success in the kitchen, and far less waste.

My favorite bulk department is at Winco. It’s great to be able to purchase small amounts of fresh baking powder, dark chocolate chips, or soft fresh raisins. This is a virtual wall of value. Participate in  environmental consciousness as you buy bulk,  purchasing just what you need.

Don’t even think that you’re going to be compromising on selection. Spice selections are amazing. You’ll love their pepper melange(and the price is amazing). Sea salt, salt for grinders, sugars galore, and of course grains. Shop, choose wisely, and remember-Always Keep It Fresh!

If you have apples, the Victorio Apple Peeler is a must, if you have loads of grapes the Steam Juicer is a nice addition, and of course for tomatoes there’s nothing finer than a  food strainer and sauce maker. With these tools your processing time is cut to a minimum. But the most important important part of this season is getting it all done! Often our eyes see greater expectations than our time, interest, and expectations. Here’s a great answer SHARE!

Did you know that one of the best pest and disease control solutions is actually preventing excess fruits and vegetables to rot on the the ground. Dispose of, or compost the  rotting fruit. Leaving it in your garden can potentially add to your pest population, and disease level in the following year.

So when your enthusiasm is satiated, and you  still have more left, let your fingers due the walking. There are countless charities and  food banks in tremendous need of food supplies, and gleaning has become the Buzz word. Gleaning is the process of picking excess produce after its first harvest. Let them pick it, and chances are, they’ll even give everything a good rake in return. You are accomplishing two things at once, and should have a “feel good about yourself moment” at the same time. Wow, how can you lose. I live in the Reno area, and the Gleaning project is one of many. For further reference give this  post a glance.

The bigger the company, the more likely you will see packaging changes on a regular basis. They call it “freshening the image”, but merchants call it “damage control”. Try to look past the old look, knowing that the same great product and formulation is just waiting for your enjoyment, and most often at a really great value. A couple of examples are Crabtree & Evelyn Rose Bath Gel and The Thymes Eucalyptus EDT, but the list goes on and on. Just remember, “don’t judge the book by its cover, but rather what’s inside”, you’ll find great great savings and value during this trying economic time.

An easy way to accomplish this mission is to actually clean your air, and start over. Lampe Berger accomplishes this task in simply amazing ways. With this little burner, your area is cleaned, rid of allergens, and prepared to fragrance your air,  enlivening  your space with the fragrance of your choice. Just as fast as you have added the fragrance you can change and change. Now, isn’t that a pleasant surprise?

Apples done easy

It’s that time of year. There are apples every where, and it’s time to seize the moment. Make you life  easy-don’t stress. You can knock out bushels of apples in no time at all!  The Victorio Kitchen Products stand for Old World taste and wholesome goodness in food preparation. The Apple Peeler helps families enjoy preparing and preserving nature’s harvest. The suction base can be set up on any smooth counter top or table. Use the adjustable peeling blade to just peel, the coring and slicing blade to just core and slice, or both blades together to peel, core and slice. This is totally the easiest way to process apples for pies and sauce. Why stress-you will use this little tool throughout the year!

If it’s juice you love try the Hurom Slow Juicer for maximum taste and nutrition.

Well here we are, approaching the waning days of September. The garden is showing the stress of growing all summer, and yet there’s still much to ripen and grow. The peaches aren’t quite ripe, but the birds are finding them quite tasty. Suddenly there’s a new crop of aphids,  and there are tons of tomatoes taking their good sweet time to ripen.

Last year I found several great ways to pick under ripe fruit, and still have tasty “on the vine” or “on the tree” ripened flavor.  Believe it or not ripening is actually the primary goal of most plants, as they need their seed to be spread to keep reproduction up. The ripening makes them more attractive to birds, and animals that will consume the fruit and spread the seeds. Somehow, the human population gets left out of this concern, and we have to take matters into out own hand.

Some fruits and vegetables naturally produce more ethylene than others and ripen more quickly. Bananas for example, produce very high levels of gas compared to other produce.  As shorter days, and cooler fall temps arrive the action of ethylene slows,  thereby retarding the ripening process. Adequate air circulation slows the ripening process because it allows the ethylene gas to dissipate.

That’s where a few of these tried and true ideas come into play.  Sealed containers lock in the ripening hormone causing the contents to ripen quickly. When stored together in close proximity to other ethylene gas producing fruits and vegetables, produce ripening will occur.

• A simple method is a brown paper bag and a banana. Bananas produce lots of ethylene gas, which mimics the orchard, or plant outside. To ripen your fruit or veggie, place it in the paper bag with the banana. Seal the bag to prevent the ethylene produced by the banana from escaping. Give a glance every two to three days, remembering that every time you open the bag, some of that precious ethylene gas disappears.  When the produce ripens, refrigerate it to slow the ripening process. You’ll have farm fresh taste with ease.

• Another great method  is the Jareen Fruit Ripener. This guy has bee around for years, and isn’t just another one of “those gadgets” that will end up in the garage sale. I have two of them. The fruit ripener itself is a deep plastic bowl with a bowl-like lid of clear polycarbonate. Specifically designed, there are Holes located by agro scientists in the bottom and top pieces that  allow heavier carbon dioxide to escape from below while fresh air enters  the top. Meanwhile, ethylene gas, which the fruit gives off naturally during ripening, is captured within the dome to accelerate the process. It’s the total ripening process right before your eyes.

Hot Air Balloon Cookies

It’s Balloon race time of year, or the time when the cool morning air of fall invites the giant color of hot air balloons to the sky. Celebrate with traditional champagne, hot cocoa and of course hot air balloon shaped cookies. Paint them bright with your colors. Have fun!