Strawberry Summers

Strawberry Jam Ingredients:

2 Quarts of strawberries: The peak season for fresh strawberries is between April and October. It’s extended because of advances in technology.

 Before my grandfather on my mom’s side died we would go strawberry picking every summer. My grandma loved to make jam and it was tradition. Sometime between May and July my mom, my grandma, my three sisters, and I would rub on the sun tan lotion and head out to the fields. We would each get a box to fill. We picked for at least an hour, until our baskets were overflowing.

1 box Sure-Jell fruit pectin: Strawberries are rich in iodine which is helpful for proper functioning of the brain and nervous system. They are also a great source of Vitamin C, folic acid and Fiber.

Once we got back to my grandma’s house we would dumb the strawberries in giant bowls filled with water.  Then we had to yank the green stems off the strawberries and put the strawberries in water free bowls. My grandpa would be sitting in the kitchen watching while on his nebulizer, which he always called his pipe.

7 cups of sugar: Strawberry Juice combined with honey will reduce inflammation or sunburn. Rub the mixture thoroughly into your skin before rinsing off with warm water and lemon juice.  Strawberries are also a rich source of antioxidants and anti-inflammatories which help fight cancer.

After that was done, my grandma would give all us girls a bowl full of strawberries that had to be mashed. That was always my most favorite part. I would wash my hands, stick them in the bowl and squish. Strawberry bits would ooze through my fingers as I continued to squeeze and flatten. It felt so gross and yet so awesome.  When I finished my bowl mom made me wash my hands again, then sent me into the living room. My part was done and it was TV time.

Directions:

BRING boiling-water canner, half full with water, to simmer. Wash jars and screw bands in hot soapy water; rinse with warm water. Pour boiling water over flat lids in saucepan off the heat. Let stand in hot water until ready to use. Drain well before filling.

STEM and crush strawberries thoroughly, one layer at a time. Put fruit into 6- or 8-quart saucepot.

STIR pectin into the saucepot. Bring mixture to a full rolling boil (a boil that doesn't stop bubbling when stirred) on high heat, stirring constantly. Stir in sugar. Return to full rolling boil and boil exactly 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Skim off any foam with a metal spoon.

LADLE immediately into prepared jars, filling to within 1/8 inch of the tops. Wipe the jar rims and threads. Cover with 2-piece lids. Screw bands tightly. Place jars on elevated rack in canner. Lower rack into canner. (Water must cover jars by 1 to 2 inches. Add boiling water, if necessary.) Cover; bring water to gentle boil. Process 10 minutes. Remove jars and place upright on a towel to cool completely. After jars cool, check seals by pressing the middle of the lid with your finger. (If the lid springs back, it is not sealed and refrigeration is necessary.)

It makes around 8 jars: Homemade strawberry jam is not very healthy for you, but it’s the best jam I’ve ever had, and it always reminds me of my grandparents and strawberry summers.

Recipe found at http://www.kraftrecipes.com/recipes/surejell-strawberry-jam-51957.aspx

Carrots

Did you know that there are more than 100 species of carrots that range in size and color? Yes color. Carrots are not only orange but they can be red, white, yellow, and purple also. 

Like a few other people I know, I have not eaten enough carrots in my life time. My eyesight is terrible. I’m in permanent vertigo without my eyeballs (contacts, as I call them) in.  It’s pretty common knowledge that carrots have vitamin A, which helps your eyesight, but actually vitamin A also helps your body fight off infection and keeps your skin and hair healthy, all the more reason to eat these veggies.

Carrots have been found to reduce the risk of cancer due to a compound called Falcarinol.  Falcarinol is a natural pesticide found in carrots that protects the roots from fungal diseases.

Carrots also contain beta carotene which is an antioxidant that helps the body fight cell damage. It also helps slow down the aging of cells and various negative effects associated with aging. So to anyone who wants to look younger longer eat more carrots because they have a natural anti-aging effect.

Another thing that they do is help clean your teeth. They act as a natural abrasive, which means they help in eliminating the sticky dirt from teeth and stimulate gums.  The minerals in carrots help to kill germs in the mouth and prevent tooth damage. If you eat a few carrots after your meal it will help get any extra food off your teeth which will help eliminate those embarrassing moments when someone points out you have something stuck in your teeth. I don't know about you but I've definitely been there.

To end this time I have carrot recipe because not everyone likes to eat raw carrots. I found this recipe at Allrecipes.com. It’s called Parmesan Crusted Baby Carrots.

Prep time: 5 minutes. Cook Time: 20 minutes. Calories: 57

Ingredients:

1 pound carrots chopped

2 teaspoons butter

¼ cup parmesan cheese.

Directions:

1)      Place carrots into a large pot with water and cover. Bring to a boil over high heat, and then reduce the heat to medium low. Let simmer until tender, about 15 minutes. Drain.

2)      Melt the butter in a skillet over medium heat. Stir in carrots. Cook and stir for 1-2 minutes.

3)      Sprinkle parmesan cheese on top. Wait 30 seconds before stirring into carrots. Cook and stir for 2 more minutes.

4)      Eat and enjoy! J

Cucumbers

My favorite vegetable has forever been the cucumber.  If I get a salad I want it to have cucumbers in it or it’s not a salad. During family gatherings I go right for the cucumbers in the vegetable bowl. I am a cucumber fiend.  So of course I ended up looking them up.

Cucumbers are mostly water, either 95% or 96% water.  I have looked up multiple sources and some say 95 and others say 96 so I’m not certain which it is. Either way cucumbers are mostly water. Because of this they keep the body hydrated, regulate the body’s inner temperature, and help the body flush out toxins.

Cucumbers also have vitamin K. One cup of cucumbers has 12% Vitamin K, to be exact.  Vitamin K helps build bone strength. It can help reduce the risk of arthritis and osteoporosis later on in life.  This makes me wonder if my adoration of cucumbers has something to do with the fact that the only bone I’ve ever broken in my life is my nose. I swear I should have broken my fingers multiple times by now but it hasn’t happened.

Another fact is that the skin of cucumbers contains a good amount of Vitamin C and fiber, so it’s beneficial to leave it on when eating cucumbers. But for those of you who don’t like to eat the skin (that would be me) you can use the skin to relieve sunburn and mild skin irritations. Its effects are similar to Aloe Vera.

Cucumbers have also been found to reduce dark circles under the eyes has well as puffiness. Just lay down and put cucumbers on your eyes for 15 to 20 minutes, or dab a cotton ball in cucumber juice and apply to the skin just under the eyes.

I want to end with an interesting fact I found that has nothing to do with health benefits and everything to do with yumminess.  For those out there like myself who love to munch on cucumbers, did you know that the flavor comes from their seeds?  Medium sized cucumbers with soft small seeds have the best flavor. So keep that in mind when grocery shopping.

Limes

I looked up limes because of a massage I got once.  It was actually my first professional massage ever. When I was done they gave me some water to drink. It tasted really interesting and I looked to see what was in it and they had a bundle of cut up pieces of fruit. I noticed the lime in there and wondered about it. I had never drunk lime juice before. So I went to the store and got a lime, cut it up and started putting it in my water every day.  I noticed I had to go to the bathroom a lot, and not in a bad way. One glass of lime water had a similar result to drinking two glasses of regular water.  So I got curious.

Like lemons limes are rich in vitamin C but not as rich as lemons. Also just like lemons, the seeds of a lime are poisonous.   

Limes aid in digestion for a couple of reasons. The first is that the scent of a lime makes the mouth water, so saliva floods your mouth before you even taste the lime and digestion has started. The second reason is the acid in limes help break down food in the stomach.

Limes also help with weight loss. The citric acid in limes is a great fat burner.   Drink a couple glasses a day and you will start to see results.

These multitalented fruit also help with urinary disorders.  Limes have a high potassium content which is helpful for removing toxic substances. Also it’s disinfectant properties help cure infections in the urinary system. 

What can limes do for your skin? You’d be surprised.  When you consume it or apply it externally it can revive the skin and keep it shinning. Limes also protect skin from infections and can reduce body odor do to the amount of vitamin C and Flavonoids in them.  When you apply it to your skin externally the acids help scrub out dead cells, helps with rashes and bruises, and can help cure dandruff.

Like lemons, limes have even more uses that I haven’t even talked about though they are more for people with specific problems.

Lemons

My name is Deanna and I have irritable bowl syndrome (IBS). If you don't know what IBS is I'll give you a quick rundown. IBS is a problem with the digestive system. If I eat certain foods I'll get sick or have some nasty bodily reactions. Every time I eat I always end up feeling nauseous. Because of my condition I have a tendency to look up different foods to find out how they might be able to help me feel better. I have found some interesting facts and health benefits of fruits and vegetables during my research and decided I'd like to share them.
 
Today I wanted to talk about the different health benefits of Lemons.

First a warning. The seeds of a lemon are poisonous and can be life threatening if eaten in large amounts. So remember to avoid swallowing lemon seeds if possible.

Lemons are rich in vitamin C. Eating foods that are rich in vitamin C can help reduce the risk of dying from cancer, stroke and heart disease.

If you have high blood pressure you should try drinking lemon juice. It contains potassium which helps control blood pressure. It also helps control dizziness and nausea.

If you have constipation put a lemon in your water every day or squeeze some juice into your beverages because lemon juice can get things moving again.

Now here is a real interesting fact, lemons can stop internal bleeding. They have antiseptic and styptics properties. If you put lemon juice on a small cotton ball and stick it gently inside your nose it can help stop a nose bleed.

Lemon juice is also a cooling agent. If you apply it to burns it will give off a nice cooling sensation and ease the pain. It also will help the scares of burns fade.

Another really nice use of lemon juice is for foot relaxation. If you add some lemon juice to warm water in a bucket (or whatever you want to stick your feet in) it will do wonders for those sore aching feet.

These are only a handful of the things lemons can do for you. They can also help with hair care, skin care, dental care, weight loss, respiratory disorders, cholera, fevers and more. It's fascinating how  lemons can really benefit people.