Uncategorized

Mexico: The History of the Piñata

elizabethadan Leave a comment

A piñata is a hit party decoration that’s covered in colorful crepe paper. The classic piñata is the shape of a donkey, but they also come in tons of cartoon and other awesome colorful shapes. They’re a staple at birthday celebrations and are filled with small toys and candy. Piñatas are thought to have come from Mexico, but they actually have a lot of international roots, stemming from the Far East.

Photo Courtesy of: Renato Ganzona

Photo Courtesy of: Renato Ganzona

History of the Piñata

The earliest known piñata dates back to the 13th century when Marco Polo found one in the Orient. The traditional Mandarin way of ringing in the New Year involved a small animal tribute made out of craft material. Continue reading →

Turmeric Juice for Pain Relief

elizabethadan Leave a comment

Turmeric has many health benefits. It’s good for digestion and joint pain. This juice may not be your favorite and won’t taste like a milkshake, but it works wonders on balancing your internal organs and reducing pain throughout the body. If possible, use all organic ingredients.

Photo Courtesy of: Steenburgs

Photo Courtesy of: Steenbergs

Pain-Relieving Turmeric Juice

Ingredients:

4 stalks of celery

1 peeled and chopped cucumber

1 inch of ginger root Continue reading →

DIY Deodorant for Women and Men

elizabethadan 2 Comments

There are many reasons to make your own deodorant, the most important being the certainty of ingredients. Aluminum additives in commercial deodorants are dangerous for your skin so rest assured knowing you’ve made your own! Try to use organic ingredients if possible. Here is a recipe for deodorant for women or men.

Photo Courtesy of: ijokhio

Photo Courtesy of: ijokhio

Deodorant for Women and Men

Ingredients

Cocoa butter

Coconut oil

Shea butter Continue reading →

Sprouting Garlic

elizabethadan 13 Comments

Garlic is a magical plant. The cloves have antibacterial and healing properties and add a fragrant zing to every food item. Here is how you can grow garlic yourself, starting by sprouting it indoors.

Sprouting Garlic

Garlic can be grown using the cloves you already have in your kitchen! I sprouted my garlic indoors using cloves from a bulb I had inside my fridge. Garlic sprouts faster when kept at colder temperatures so place it in the fridge 1-2 weeks before you want to start growing it. Continue reading →

Caring for Your Sourdough Starter

elizabethadan Leave a comment

Once you’ve made your sourdough starter, you’ll need to care for it to keep it alive and ready for baking. Keep a clean cloth or paper towel over the top to keep bacteria out. You can store it on the counter at room temperature or in the fridge or freezer.

Photo Courtesy of: Brown Eyed Baker

Photo Courtesy of: Brown Eyed Baker

Storing on the Counter

Make sure your counter isn’t too hot or too cold. Keep your starter between 70-80 degrees. If you’re storing it on the counter, you’ll need to feed and stir it every day. It will keep separating and it’s okay to stir the yellow colored “hooch” back in to keep fermenting. Feed it at least once a day by adding equal parts warm water and flour. For daily feedings I only add a little bit, ½ a cup of each. Continue reading →

How To Make a Sourdough Starter

elizabethadan Leave a comment

Sourdough bread is made without using any added yeast, all of the yeast comes from the addition of the sourdough starter. Having a sourdough starter at your disposal is a nice luxury without much added work. A sourdough starter, when made and kept properly can last a lifetime. Once you make a good sourdough starter, you won’t need to buy yeast again to make sourdough bread!

Photo Courtesy of: dailyartmasomenos

Photo Courtesy of: dailyartmasomenos

How to Make a Sourdough Starter

What You’ll Need

Water

Flour

A Glass Container

Wooden Spoon Continue reading →