Touches of Spring

The Healing Code

I read this book about a month ago and before I recommended it I wanted to see if it would really work.  It really works!

About 8 years ago, I heard Dr. Loyd and Dr. Johnson speak at a meeting in Edmond, Oklahoma.  It was a wonderful presentation.  They were talking about quantum physics and energy that is in our bodies.  This was all new to me.  I had just started to hear about the energy in our bodies and didn't have any understanding of how all that works.  I know some people become a little apprehensive when talking about chalka points, meridian lines and acupuncture.  It sounds a little like eastern religion.  Do your research and you will find out that our bodies are made up of energy and we do have meridian lines and chalka points.  These are routes and places in our bodies where energy travels. At that time, they didn't have a book and the program they were selling was expensive....for my budget anyway.

There is a wonderful forward in the book by Dr. Jordan Rubin where he explains his concern about the codes being in opposition to his belief as a Christian.  But after talking to Dr. Loyd and doing some research of his own he felt comfortable doing the codes.

Ok. fast forward 8 years, I'm on Amazon looking at books and I came upon the healing codes.  I was very excited to see they had written a book. The book is a very quick read and it is very easy to understand.  Dr. Loyd and Dr. Johnson lay a very good foundation and build upon it step by step.

I have had several remarkable healings. On Tuesday of this week, I woke up with a scratchy throat. By Wednesday, it had started to become a sore throat and despite all of my home remedies nothing was knocking it. Thursday, I didn't feel like doing anything and as the day wore own I started running a fever, head was throbbing, sinuses all stopped up, very congested.  I really felt horrible and told my husband I think I'm really getting the flu. It finally dawned on me to do the healing codes.  I did and when I finished I could tell my head was hardly hurting and I felt better. To be truthful, I was surprised.  I could tell it made a difference so I did another round of the codes and this time my fever broke, my sinuses opened up and my headache was totally gone.  They recommend doing the codes at least 3 times a day. My nose was running yesterday when I got up and after several codes that dried up.  I have a little bit of a sniffle but nothing major. 

Dr. Johnson was healed of Lou Gehrig's disease and Dr. Loyd's wife was healed of depression that she had suffered with for 12 years. 

I hope you will get this book and read it.  I think you will be very glad that you did.

Gotta Have Chocolate on Valentine's Day!

These are the best brownies I have ever eaten.  I have made the Barefoot Contessa's brownies several times and really loved them but these are the best.  If you don't have a little surprise planned for your special someone, try these.  It doesn't take long to make them and they are truly wonderful.

These are super fudgy and you can freeze these.  They will keep in the freezer up to two months.

1 (8oz.) package unsweetened chocolate baking squares, chopped
1 1/2 cups butter, cut up
4 cups of sugar
2 cups of flour
6 large eggs
1 tablespoon puls 1/8 teaspoon of salt
1 tablespoon of vanilla extract
1 cup coarsley chopped walnuts (optional) recipe doesn't call for walnuts but I love walnuts in brownies
Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease a 9x13 pan.

Bring 2 inches of water to a simmer in bottom of a double boiler. Place chocolate and butter in top of a double boiler.  Cook, stirring occasionally until butter and chocolate melts.  Cool 5-7 minutes, then transfer to a larger bowl and add sugar.  Mix well and then add the flour and mix well.  Then add the next 3 ingredients and blend well. If you want walnuts, add them at this time and mix in well.

Pour into your prepared pan and bake for 32 to 35 minutes and if you would prefer cake like brownies add another 5 to 7 minutes.  Cool in pan 30 minutes before cutting.

Garnish with a couple of large strawberries.     

CHOCOLATE HEAVEN!!!

Happy Valentine's Day!

The greatest gift is a portion of thyself.     Ralph Waldo Emerson

LOVE AND BE LOVED EVERYDAY!

Rich and Creamy Mushroom Soup

This is a wonderful recipe from a lady who is a wonderful cook.  It's rich, creamy and oh so delicious.

1 garlic clove, pressed
1 small onion, diced
1-2 pounds fresh mushrooms, sliced
8 tablespoons butter
8 tablespoons flour
1/2 cup of chicken broth
6 cups half and half
2 cups milk
dash of thyme
salt and pepper to taste

Saute first three ingredients in butter in a soup pot.  After onions and mushrooms are tender, mix in flour a little at a time adding chicken broth after each addition until all the flour and chicken broth are gone.  Add thyme.  Slowly add milk, stirring as you go.  The add all of the half and half.  Heat on medium heat until thoroughly heated stirring frequently.  Add salt and pepper to taste.
Approximatley 9 to 10 cups.

YUM!

Lemongrass

Lemongrass is used for purification and digestion. Lemongrass also has powerful antifungal properties.

The essential oil lemongrass can be used for bladder infections, respiratory/sinus infection, digestive problems, parasites, torn ligaments/muscles, fluid retention, varicose veins, Salmonella.  I have heard of personal testomonies of lemongrass getting rid of spider veins.

I used lemongrass with clove oil, 3 to 4 drops of each in a capsule, for parasites and it works.

Beef Tips and Noodles

I have made this a lot through the years and it's easy and very tasty.  The last time I made it, I didn't think of taking a picture.  I really did think of putting this on my blog. But after we had it for dinner, I thought I really do need to post this because it is so good and so easy.  One of those week night meals that you can whip up pretty quickly. This recipe will serve 4-6 people.

2 packages of beef tips
2 cans mushroom soup
1 package of Lipton's onion beef soup mix
salt, pepper, and garlic powder to taste
1 1/2 to 2 soup cans of water
1 small container of sour cream
1 large package of egg noodles (I use wide noodles but you can use smaller if you like)

I wash the beef tips really well under cool water. Then I cut the large beef tips in half.  Put the beef tips in a large Dutch oven sprinkle with salt, pepper and garlic powder.  The use 1/2 packet of the Lipton's onion beef soup mix.  This is really rich.  I open the packet and stir the mix because it has dried onions in it. Then I sprinkle half of the package over the beef tips.  Use your hands and toss the beef tips to make sure the seasoning gets on all the beef tips.  Open the mushroom soup and pour over the beef tips and mix well.  Then put water in the soup can and pour over the mixture and stir well.  Cover the top of the pan with foil and put in the oven at 350 degrees for about one and a half to two hours or until meat is tender.  Check to see if beef tips are tender, they should be if not cook a little longer maybe 30 minutes. 

Then remove from oven.  Start your water for the noodles. Take the foil off of the beef tips and stir them well and then add half of the sour cream. If you would like more sour cream you can use it all.  When the noodles are tender, drain them and add the noodles to the beef tips and stir well.

This goes great with a green salad and some crusty bread.

For a make ahead meal you can do the following:



You cook the meat with the sauce minus the sour cream.  Let it cool and put in zip lock freezer bags and freeze.  When you are ready to use it, unthaw the freezer bag, put beef tips and sauce in sauce pan and heat. When warm add sour cream.  In the meantime, boil water for egg noodles.  When the noodles are tender pour the beef tips and sauce over noodles and you are ready to go.

Benefits of Warm Water and Lemon Juice

Start your day with one cup of warm water and the juice of one half lemon.  This is so easy and has many health benefits.

1. It's an immune booster.  lemons ar packed with vitamin C and vitamin C is probably one of the easiest and fastest ways to boost your immune system  It will help decrease acne and wrinkles.  :)

2. This drink also helps you maintain an alkaline state.

3. Lemon juice helps promote healthy liver function.  It is a great liver detoxifier.

4. Cleans out and aids in digestion.

5. Natural diuretic

6. Hydrates the lymph system.

Are You a Prepper?

A dear friend that I have not talked to in quite some time called me last week.  I was so glad to hear from her. We had a good visit and caught up on kids and what we both had been doing. Then she asked me if I had been "prepping."  I sat there a moment trying to figure out what she was talking about and finally I had to say, "what is prepping."  She said, "you haven't heard of prepping, haven't you watched the Dooms Day Preppers?"  Oh yes, I have seen it called prepping and no I haven't watched the Dooms Day Preppers. 

We had both made preparations for Y2K and shared ideas, so she was wondering what I was doing to prepare for future problems when the economy collapses. You notice I said when, not if. I am not an economic wizard so I don't know if inflation will get so bad that food will be so high you can't afford it or if there will be shortages.  I haven't a clue, only God knows that.

I told her the most important thing I think any one can do is to prepare a garden spot in your back yard. I think everyone needs to grow a garden whether there are economic problems are not.  Raised beds are easy to care for and you can grow a lot in them.  I told her about the book Square Foot Gardening.  I also told her to get a supply of heirloom seeds from Bakers Creek Heirloom Seeds Company. Also, buy a book on saving seeds. If you have a small back yard and not room for a raised bed then use your flower beds. Put together a good medical kit and buy the book Where There is no Doctor. Keep a good supply of water.

You can get all kinds of gardening information at the OSU Extension center.  They have a million fact sheets that tells you how to grow just about anything, how to take care of it, everything you would want to know. They have a website you can probably find this info on line but I'm still a notebook person who likes a copy in hand. They also have a fact sheet on how to build a cold frame so you can grow greens in the winter.

I would also suggest getting a book on canning and can your produce this summer.  Mrs. Wheelbarrow's Kitchen is a blog that I look at and she has wonderful canning recipes and she knows what she is doing. Check her out!

Also, Francis Tuttle VoTech Center is having Prepper's Classes this spring.  I thought that was very interesting. If you don't know your neighbors, I would get to know them.

The most important thing that I can say to you is to love your fellow man because most people will not be prepared when things start to happen.  Be willing to open your heart and your homes to help others.

Baked (Fried) Apricot Pies

This was my first attempt at baked "fried" pies.  I can tell you what I did wrong.  First of all, they are called fried pies for a reason......they should be fried.  The baked was just ok.  They were too dry.  The apricot filling was too dry also.  I would have liked the filling a little more runny.  The pies certainly didn't melt in your mouth with filling oozing out as you bite into these little delicacies.
The filling was very tasty and this is how I made the filling.

2 cups dried apricots, diced
1 1/4 cups sugar
1- 6 ounce can apricot nectar
1 cup water
1 small jar apricot jam
2 tablespoons corn starch
1/8 teaspoon almond extract
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Put first five ingredients in a saucepan and cook over medium high heat for about 15 minutes stirring occasionally. When apricots are softened add almond and vanilla extract, stir well then add the cornstarch mix with a little water to the mixture and stir until it starts to thicken.  Remove from heat.

I used more cornstartch than I listed above.  I cut it down because I think that is why the filling was too thick.  I will try them again but next time I will fry them.  :)

Gorgonzola Dressing

This doesn't look any different from a lot of creamy dressings but OH my goodness it is my favorite.  I could almost just eat this with a spoon.  It is my favorite.  I've almost been a blue cheese salad dressing person until this came along.  I have been making this for about four years.

This dressing is best served with a wedge of iceberg lettuce with crumbled crispy bacon and slice red and yellow cherry tomatoes.

2/3 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup sour cream
1-2 garlic cloves, minced (if you like garlic, add 2)
6 ounces crumbled Gorgonzola
salt and pepper to taste

Whisk together first together first three ingredients, then add Gorgonzola stir well.  Add salt and pepper and stir once more.