Roasted Sweet Potatoes With Rosemary

We love roasted sweet potatoes in our family, and it is also a perfect replacement for the potatoes. Potatoes has a high glycemic index we don't eat it as often.

Sweet potatoes are packed with the antioxidants beta-carotene and vitamin C and E. They are part of the morning glory family and they don’t belong in the same family as potatoes. They are rich in complex carbohydrates and low in calories. A four oz serving of sweet potatoes will provide more than 14 milligrams of beta-carotene. Sweet potatoes are high in fiber and suitable for people with diabetes. The fiber indirectly lowers blood sugar by slowing the rate at which food is converted to glucose and absorbed into the blood stream. Sweet potatoes also contain vitamin B6 and folate.

I found a new recipe on a Paleo diet website and we tried it for  the first time on Thanksgiving. It is a really easy and delicious recipe.

Roasted Sweet Potatoes With Rosemary

 1 pound sweet potatoes or yams cut into cubes

1 large sprig of rosemary

3 tbsp. lard, duck, or goose fat

5 cloves of garlic, smashed

sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
( I added more garlic and rosemary than the recipe called for)

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Bring the sweet potatoes to a rolling boil in a pot with salted cold water. Remove when it boils. Melt the fat in a roasting pan/dutch oven, and add the garlic and rosemary. After a couple of minutes add the potatoes and mix. Remove from the heat right away and season with freshly ground black pepper. Put the roasting pan in the oven until the sweet potatoes are done. 

This post is linked to:
Sunday School at Butter Believer!
Fat Tuesday

Living Well Blog Hop # 17

Welcome to the Living Well blog hop! We’d like to invite you to share a blog post about what you do to Live Well. It could be a healthy recipe, exercise tips, ideas for relaxing, getting organized, lifestyle improvements – anything that you feel makes your life better.

Your Living Well hosts for the week are:

Laurie @ Common Sense Homesteading

Jo @ Jo’s Health Corner

Tina @ Being Made New

Lea @ Nourishing Treasures

Living Well Blog Hop guidelines:

1. Please provide a link back to one of the Living Well host blogs in your post. Grab one of the buttons below if you like.

2. Please link to a specific post in your blog, not your blog’s home page.

3. If you link a recipe, please use real foods and avoid highly processed ingredients. Recipes low in refined sugar/refined carbohydrates are preferred.

4. The hosts of the blog hop reserve the right to remove any posts that we deem inappropriate.

 5. Please leave a comment below to tell us a little more about your link or share your tips if you don't have a blog.  (Linked posts do not need to be from this week.)

Thanks for joining us in Living Well.

<a href="http://joshealthcorner.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="http://i983.photobucket.com/albums/ae314/naturallysports/livingwellbutton3.jpg"/></a>

The Beautiful Colors of Fall

Autumn is my favorite season and I'm fortunate to experience the wonderful colors of fall here in the Sierra Foothills. We enjoyed a beautiful walk this afternoon.  

Happy Thanksgiving

Essential Oils & Infants - Colds and Coughs

Infants - Two to Twelve Months


Naturally you have to use your judgment and make sure that you go to the doctor if the baby shows sign of  a serious illness. A baby under three weeks old with a cough should be checked by a doctor. A baby that is feverish, not eating, and crying a lot should be checked by a doctor as well.


According to Valerie Worwood, the most simple but yet effective solution to colds is to put a small bowl of hot water under the bed. Add 3 drops of eucalyptus.

She also suggests to mix 10 drops each of lavender, eucalyptus, and tea tree. Add 3 drops of this blend to a diffuser and let it run all night as well as the following day. Add 2 drops of the oil blend on a piece of cotton and put it under the pillow.
Worwood suggests that the same blend can be used as an massage blend. Mix 3 drops of the blend with 2 teaspoons of vegetable oil. Massage the baby's chest and back. Don't use this blend more than a week.

Worwood recommends the following formula for severe cough, whopping cough, severe bronchitis, or other respiratory complaints.

Eucalyptus 3 drops
Hyssop 1 drop
Thyme 1 drop

This formula can be added to a bowl of hot water that is placed under the bed away from the head during the night. It can also be used in a diffuser. se this blend for three nights, take a break for two nights, and if needed use it again. Dilute the essential oils in some water before using  them in a diffuser for babies.

Remember that this is for educational purposes and it is not meant to diagnose. Seek professional help when needed.

Reference:
The Complete Book Of Essential Oils & Aromatherapy, Valerie Ann Worwood, New World Library, 1991

Photo credit  

Before you leave:

I recommend that you always perform a skin patch test when you try a new oil.

Check out my safety page to make sure you are aware of any contrindications before you use essential oils. Some oils are not suitable when suffering from certain conditions. Also, Read this Before You Start Using Essential oils. Some oils should not be applied prior to sun exposure so make sure you check this list before spending time in the sun.

Not sure how to apply the oils? Visit these pages to learn how to apply the oils:

• Topical Application
• Inhaling Essential Oils
• Are You Diffusing the Oils Correctly?
• How to Dilute Essential Oils
• Vita Flex Technique

If you're new to essential oils you might want to check out my Getting Started Guide. 

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Johanna is an aromatherapist and she is passionate about educating people about health, essential oils, real food, natural remedies, and nutrition so they make healthier choices in their lives. 
Follow Johanna on twitter and facebook for more health tips and information.

This post is linked to:Monday Mania, Healthy 2day Wednesday , Simple Lives Thursdays

Living Well Blog Hop # 16

Welcome to the Living Well blog hop! We’d like to invite you to share a blog post about what you do to Live Well. It could be a healthy recipe, exercise tips, ideas for relaxing, getting organized, lifestyle improvements – anything that you feel makes your life better.

Your Living Well hosts for the week are:

Laurie @ Common Sense Homesteading

Jo @ Jo’s Health Corner

Tina @ Being Made New

Lea @ Nourishing Treasures

Living Well Blog Hop guidelines:

1. Please provide a link back to one of the Living Well host blogs in your post. Grab one of the buttons below if you like.

2. Please link to a specific post in your blog, not your blog’s home page.

3. If you link a recipe, please use real foods and avoid highly processed ingredients. Recipes low in refined sugar/refined carbohydrates are preferred.

4. The hosts of the blog hop reserve the right to remove any posts that we deem inappropriate.

 5. Please leave a comment below to tell us a little more about your link or share your tips if you don't have a blog.  (Linked posts do not need to be from this week.)

Thanks for joining us in Living Well.

<a href="http://joshealthcorner.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="http://i983.photobucket.com/albums/ae314/naturallysports/livingwellbutton3.jpg"/></a>

Living Well Blog Hop # 15

Welcome to the Living Well blog hop! We’d like to invite you to share a blog post about what you do to Live Well. It could be a healthy recipe, exercise tips, ideas for relaxing, getting organized, lifestyle improvements – anything that you feel makes your life better.

Your Living Well hosts for the week are:

Laurie @ Common Sense Homesteading

Jo @ Jo’s Health Corner

Tina @ Being Made New

Lea @ Nourishing Treasures

Living Well Blog Hop guidelines:

1. Please provide a link back to one of the Living Well host blogs in your post. Grab one of the buttons below if you like.

2. Please link to a specific post in your blog, not your blog’s home page.

3. If you link a recipe, please use real foods and avoid highly processed ingredients. Recipes low in refined sugar/refined carbohydrates are preferred.

4. The hosts of the blog hop reserve the right to remove any posts that we deem inappropriate.

 5. Please leave a comment below to tell us a little more about your link or share your tips if you don't have a blog.  (Linked posts do not need to be from this week.)

Thanks for joining us in Living Well.

<a href="http://joshealthcorner.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="http://i983.photobucket.com/albums/ae314/naturallysports/livingwellbutton3.jpg"/></a>

Stay Warm with Essential Oils

Essential oils may be used to increase the circulation to keep the body warm. You can blend the oils in some massage/vegetable oils and apply before you are going outside, or if you are cold inside. A warming foot bath may be easier than taking a bath when cold, add 4-6 drops of essential oils to a small tub and soak your feet. Dispersion is important because most essential oils will float on the surface and may burn the skin. Here are more ideas on how to use essential oils.

Bay, black pepper, cinnamon, ginger, eucalyptus, pine, rosemary, thyme, peppermint have traditionally been used. Black pepper and cinnamon should be used in low dilutions only and eucalyptus should not be applied to the face of children.

Chilblains
Chilblains are reddish, blue discolorations of the skin and accompanied by swelling affecting parts of the body exposed to cold. Children are more prone to chilblains on their feet in winter. Poor circulation increases it.

According to Battaglia, rubefacient oils will help stimulate the local circulation and can be used if the skin is unbroken. He says the most effective oils are ginger, nutmeg, black pepper and Spanish marjoram. Battaglia recommends to use a 3% dilution and massage the affected area. These oils are stronger and caution must be used. Baths and massage with lemon and rosemary are also recommended.

Please refer to the safety post

Stay warm!

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Johanna is an aromatherapist and  she is passionate about educating people about health, essential oils, real food, natural remedies, and nutrition so they make healthier choices in their lives. 

Follow Johanna on twitter and facebook for more health tips and information.

Sources:

Salvatore Battaglia (1995). The Complete Guide to Aromatherapy. The Perfect Potion Pty Ltd

This post is linked to:

Seasonal Celebration Sunday

Living Well Blog Hop #14

Welcome to the Living Well blog hop! We’d like to invite you to share a blog post about what you do to Live Well. It could be a healthy recipe, exercise tips, ideas for relaxing, getting organized, lifestyle improvements – anything that you feel makes your life better.

Your Living Well hosts for the week are:

Laurie @ Common Sense Homesteading

Jo @ Jo’s Health Corner

Tina @ Being Made New

Lea @ Nourishing Treasures

Living Well Blog Hop guidelines:

1. Please provide a link back to one of the Living Well host blogs in your post. Grab one of the buttons below if you like.

2. Please link to a specific post in your blog, not your blog’s home page.

3. If you link a recipe, please use real foods and avoid highly processed ingredients. Recipes low in refined sugar/refined carbohydrates are preferred.

4. The hosts of the blog hop reserve the right to remove any posts that we deem inappropriate.

 5. Please leave a comment below to tell us a little more about your link or share your tips if you don't have a blog.  (Linked posts do not need to be from this week.)

Thanks for joining us in Living Well.

<a href="http://joshealthcorner.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="http://i983.photobucket.com/albums/ae314/naturallysports/livingwellbutton3.jpg"/></a>

A Refreshing and Uplifting Soap

It's getting closer to the holiday season so I like to purchase suitable containers to use for my homemade gifts. My husband and I took our youngest children and went to IKEA yesterday to pick up some things we needed. I found some really nice bottles that would make great gifts, so I am quite happy. I am planning to use these bottles for liquid soap and bath salts. My daughter and I decided to try them out by making some soap today.

I like to use Dr. Bronner's liquid un-scented castile soap when I don't make my own from scratch. It is a wonderful soap that keeps my skin real moist.

Essential oils like orange, lemon, and peppermint are very refreshing this time of the year when it is dark outside and we have less sunlight. Lavender makes a nice addition to the other oils. Not only do the essential oils provide a wonderful aroma, but they possess powerful healing properties as well.

First we added the liquid soap to a glass bowl. It is best to mix the oils and the soap before adding them to the bottle.

Mix 60-80 drops of essential oils to 8 oz. of liquid soap. We used 25 drops of lavender, 20 drops of orange, 30 drops of lemon, and 10 drops of peppermint to 10 oz of soap.

 After mixing the oils with the soap, we added the mixture to the bottle.

Here it is! 

A non-toxic, refreshing, uplifting, and healing soap that definitely will wake you up in the winter darkness! Aloe vera, jojoba oil can be added for extra soothing properties, and B-complex capsules can be opened and used to add color and healing benefits as well.

Before you leave:

I recommend that you always perform a skin patch test when you try a new oil.

Check out my safety page to make sure you are aware of any contrindications before you use essential oils. Some oils are not suitable when suffering from certain conditions. Also, Read this Before You Start Using Essential oils. Some oils should not be applied prior to sun exposure so make sure you check this list before spending time in the sun.

Not sure how to apply the oils? Visit these pages to learn how to apply the oils:

• Topical Application
• Inhaling Essential Oils
• Are You Diffusing the Oils Correctly?
• How to Dilute Essential Oils
• Vita Flex Technique

If you're new to essential oils you might want to check out my Getting Started Guide. 

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Johanna is an aromatherapist and she is passionate about educating people about health, essential oils, real food, natural remedies, and nutrition so they make healthier choices in their lives. 
Follow Johanna on twitter and facebook for more health tips and information.

This is linked to:
Your Green Resource
Wildcrafting Wednesday 
Frugal Days, Sustainable Ways
Simple Lives Thursday 
Monday Mania 
Make Your Own Monday Link-Up

Frankincense (Boswellia carteri)

Frankincense is one of my favorite oils. I use it often and it is also my dog's favorite essential oil. We used to  live in an area in Texas where allergies are high and my dog developed allergies after we moved here. Frankincense was a life saver during the times when my dog's allergies caused the most congestion. I simply added a few drops of oils on the palms of my hands, and I rubbed my hands together before I put the hands in front of the nose to let the dog inhale the oil. This was extremely effective in calming her, as well as ease the congestion during her panic  attacks when she could hardly breath.


Frankincense has a warm, sweet, balsamic, woody, spicy scent with a hint of lemon. It slows down breathing and produces feelings of calm. It has historically been used for respiratory congestion.  It also has astringent properties, which may also help balance oily skin conditions. 

Frankincense has cytophylactic properties. Cytophylactic means that the oils stimulate the generation of new cells, which will aid in preserving the health of the skin. These oils are also used for treatments of burns. Frankincense has traditionally been used for wrinkles and scars, so I use if for wrinkle prevention and my son for his huge facial scar from his surgery.

According to Battaglia, frankincense has historically been used for respiratory catarrhal discharge and respiratory congestion. It may be helpful for  asthma sufferers according to Battaglia. He also states that as an astringent it may relieve heavy periods, and it generally acts as tonic to the uterus.

According to Gary Young, researchers have discovered that due to the sesquiterpene content, frankincense stimulates the hypothalamus, pituitary, and the pineal glands. The hypothalamus is considered the master gland and it controls the release of thyroid hormones as well as growth hormone.

According to Gary Young, frankincense may help with allergies, bronchitis, insect and snake bites, cancer, respiratory infections, diphteria, headaches, hemorrhaging, herpes, high blood pressure, stress, tonsilitis, warts, and typhoid. Its constituent sesquiterpene has the ability to cross the blood brain barrier.


It blends well with basil, bergamot, black pepper, jasmine, lavender, geranium, lemon, orange, patchouli, pine, rose, sandalwood, vetiver, and ylang ylang. 

Before you leave:

I recommend that you always perform a skin patch test when you try a new oil.

Check out my safety page to make sure you are aware of any contrindications before you use essential oils. Some oils are not suitable when suffering from certain conditions. Also, Read this Before You Start Using Essential oils. Some oils should not be applied prior to sun exposure so make sure you check this list before spending time in the sun.

Not sure how to apply the oils? Visit these pages to learn how to apply the oils:

• Topical Application
• Inhaling Essential Oils
• Are You Diffusing the Oils Correctly?
• How to Dilute Essential Oils
• Vita Flex Technique

If you're new to essential oils you might want to check out my Getting Started Guide. 

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Johanna is an aromatherapist and she is passionate about educating people about health, essential oils, real food, natural remedies, and nutrition so they make healthier choices in their lives. 
Follow Johanna on twitter and facebook for more health tips and information.