February POCKET THERAPY Special

Everlasting Gardener is offering  gift to you
and all you need to do is . . .
“LIKE” us on Facebook, and leave a comment.
Go to THIS LINK ONLY to
order your choice of a ½ oz. Pocket Therapy FREE,
as our gift to you.
Choose from:
Anti-Fungus
Breathe Free
Calm
Cool Flashes
Joint Restore
Memory
My Happy Place

FREE Gift MUST be ordered using the attached link.
You only pay $5.00 for shipping and handling.
This gift can be obtained until the end of February, 2012.

Miraculous Lavender - Part 4

If in doubt as to which essential oil to use in your
Aromatherapy treatment, use Lavender!
Lavender is known to work wherever it is needed
in the body. It balances all of the body systems.
As enumerated by Millie Troth in her
article on Lavender, it can help overcome
all of the following:
arthritis
asthma
balancing body systems
boils
bronchitis
bruises
cold sores
convulsions
earaches
hay fever
headaches
heart irregularity
hives
hysteria
infection
influenza
injuries
insect bites and stings
insect repellant
laryngitis
migraine headaches
mouth abscesses
reduce mucous
nervous tension
pineal gland (activation)
respiratory function
rheumatism
skin conditions (eczema, psoriasis, rashes)
sprains
stress
sunburns
sunstroke
tension
throat infections
tuberculosis
typhoid fever
whooping cough
wounds
You absolutely must use pure Lavandula angustifolia
essential oil if you wish to achieve any or all of the
above health benefits.
Using Lavender essential oil with any Lavandin
(a Lavender hybrid) in it compromises some of the
intended healing, especially for the skin.
Lavender 'Hidcote' flowers - a true Lavender cultivar -
saved the day when a group of ladies came to our
Gardens for a social gathering including High Tea.
Lavender kept mosquitos and other insects
from ruining one lady's pleasant experience here,
one warm summer day.
When the lady arrived, she lamented that she'd
probably be 'bitten up' by mosquitos, as she always was
when outdoors. We made a bouquet for her
to pin to her blouse, and she was not bothered by
any insects the entire visit.
More information on the uses of Lavender essential oil

Minestrone Soup

1 tablespoon virgin olive oil
1 large onion, peeled and chopped
2 cloves Garlic, peeled and minced
4 tomatoes, peeled and chopped
2 cups chicken stock
1 cup green bean
1/2 cup corn
1 cup white beans
1/2 cup peas
1/2 cup potatoes
The rind of parmesan cheese
1/3 cup very tiny macaroni

Place oil in large pot, heat to hot, add onions,
saute 5 minutes or until the onions are lightly brown.
Add minced Garlic, cook slightly.
Add tomatoes and stir well with the onions.

Add the rest of the veggies except the peas.
Add the chicken stock to the soup.
Drop in the rind of the parmesan cheese.

Cook the soup until all the veggies are almost tender.
Add the peas and macaroni pieces.
Cook 15-20 minutes until the macaroni is done.
Remove parmesan rind, drop in 2 Tbsp. Pesto (see
link below).
Serve Minestrone soup with fresh Italian or whole wheat
bread and salad.

Follow this link for a great Pesto recipe.

Miraculous Lavender - Part 3

How was Lavender essential oil discovered to be healing
in modern times?
During World War I, a Frenchman,
Rene Gattefosse, was working in his family's perfumery
lab when he suffered a terrible burn accident.
Thinking that a large beaker of clear Lavender oil
was water, he plunged his arm into it.
Immediately the pain subsided, and the burn healed
in record time.
During WWI, Lavender was used as a wound
cleanser and antiseptic. It was when traditional
medicine was in short supply that Lavender became
more widely used.
Since then, intense study of the healing plant has
been undertaken by various researchers.
Of course, Lavender is used in the perfuming industry,
and in the skin care and health industries.
Back in the 17 th Century, folks wore Lavender bundles
on their wrists to shield them from the dreaded Plague.
Way before that, ancient peoples used it to cure insanity,
enbalm their dead, give restful sleep, and treat back pain.
I use Lavender essential oil in my "Joint Restore" 
Pocket Therapy and some of my other Pocket Therapies ,
because of its many pain-killing, antibacterial,
etc., qualities.
But it is the actual Lavandula angustifola which has to be used,
in order to receive the skin-healing, calming, antibacterial
qualities. The less expensive Lavandula latifolia is often mixed
with true Lavender, and latifolia is caustic to the skin,
allowing for rashes and sensitivity.
Here are some of the other uses of true Lavender:
respiratory infections, high blood pressure,
acne, eczema, psoriasis, nervous tension, insomnia,
leg cramps, dandruff, diaper rash, flatulence,
hair loss, herpes, indigestion, lymphatic drainage,
menopausal symptoms, mouth abscesses, nausea, thrush,
natural antihistamine, and many more.
Stay tuned for part 4 of 'Miraculous Lavender'.

Spinach, Gruyere and Garlic Fondue

Fondue:
3 cups baby Swiss cheese, shredded
2 1/2 cups Gruyere cheese, shredded
2 tsp. cornstarch
2 Tbsp. Garlic infused oil, plus 1/4 c. Garlic cloves, from
Herb-infused Garlic recipe, below
1/4 c. cider vinegar
2 c. finely chopped spinach leaves
1/3 c. fresh cream
3 Tbsp. minced fresh Chives
Toss cheeses with cornstarch and set aside.
In a heavy saucepan over low heat, add olive oil and
Garlic coves. Mash cloves lightly with a fork, then add vinegar.
Gradually add cheeses to the pan, stirring constantly until
cheese is melted. Stir in spinach, cream and 2 Tbsp. Chives,
until well combined. Season with salt and pepper.
Garnish with remaining Chives. Serve immediately with
cubes of fresh baked whole wheat or artisan bread, or try
cooked baby new potatoes, radishes, roasted asparagus,
sugar snap peas, baby carrots, or beets.
Herb-infused Garlic:
1/2 c. peeled Garlic cloves
1 Bay leaf
4 sprigs fresh Thyme
1 dried red chile (if desired)
1/2 tsp. sea salt
1/2 c. extra-virgin olive oil
Bring all ingredients just to a simmer, then reduce heat and
continue heating over very low heat 25 to 30 minutes
until Garlic is very soft.
(adapted from a recipe in The Herb Quarterly)
More healthy recipes here

Salmon and Sugar Snap Pea Salad

Served with a bed of greens, this makes a very nutritious,
      healthy meal, along with its creamy dressing.

2 pounds small red potatoes (new, if possible), cut in half
2 tsp. fresh thyme leaves
3 Tbsp. extra-virgin Olive oil
Sea salt and freshly-ground black pepper
12 oz. sugar snap peas
2 Tbsp. fresh-squeezed lemon juice
2 tsp. Dijon mustard
3/4 c. heavy cream
1/4 c. mayonnaise
1/3 c. chopped Chives
6 c. mixed Spring greens
1/4 c. Chervil leaves
3 Tbsp. Tarragon leaves, if desired
3 Tbsp. Dill leaves
3 Salmon pieces (smoked if you like it),
     broken into bite-size flakes
1 bu. radishes, cut into wedges
1 small red onion, thinly sliced
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
Wash potatoes and pat dry, then toss with Thyme leaves,
2 Tbsp. olive oil, and season with salt and pepper.
Roast in oven for about 20 min., or until
tender and lightly golden. Let cool.
Trim snap peas, toss with 1 Tbsp. olive oil, salt and pepper.
Roast for about 2 min., cool.
In small bowl, whisk lemon juice and mustard.
Stir in cream, mayonnaise and Chives.
Season with salt and pepper, set aside.
Combine greens with Chervil, Tarragon and Dill leaves.
Place greens on large platter.
Top greens with potatoes, peas and salmon.
Add radishes and red onion.
Drizzle salad with small amount of dressing,
serve remainder on the side.
Serves 6
(adapted from a recipe in The Herb Quarterly)
Here are many more healthy Herbal recipes.

February Special

“LIKE” us on FaceBook, and leave a comment.
Use THIS PAGE ONLY to order your choice of a
½ oz. Pocket Therapy FREE,
as our gift to you.
CHOOSE FROM THE FOLLOWING:
Anti-Fungus
Calm
Breathe Free
Cool Flashes
Joint Restore
Memory
My Happy Place
Your FREE Gift MUST be ordered using
the button on this page.
You only pay $5.00 for shipping and handling.
This gift can be obtained until the
end of February, 2012.