September 2005

We’ve seen enough heart disease within our family to know how scary it can be when your heart isn’t in top shape. It’s made us pay extra close attention to our own diets. I try to keep plenty of fruits and vegetables on hand and have been frying foods less and broiling, baking and grilling more.

I also try to serve oatmeal as often as possible - apparently, as far as “heart food” goes, it’s nearly perfect.

Below’s a recipe for “Overnight Oatmeal”. It’s perfect to wake up and have breakfast waiting for you!

8 cups water
2 cups steel-cut oats (Sometimes referred to as Irish Oats. DON”T try to use regular oats for this recipe. It would give all new meaning to the word Disaster.)
3/4 cup chopped pecans, dried cranberries, or chopped dried apple (or any combination)
1/4 teaspoon salt

Combine all ingredients in a 5- or 6-quart slow cooker. Turn heat to low. Put the lid on and cook until the oats are tender, about 7 to 8 hours.

Butter and sweeten your oatmeal as desired - but in the spirit of better health, remember to go as lightly as possible.

Yield: 8 one cup servings.

Joi
Out of Bounds

I’ve become absolutely addicted to Chai tea. I feel like I’m betraying coffee, somehow, by saying that, but since it’s still the angel of my mornings, maybe it’ll understand.

In Owensboro we have a great Coffee House, Beyond the Brim. They’re the ones that got me hooked on the stuff. But I can make a pretty close “knock-off” here at home for those times when they aren’t open when the mood hits me.

Celestial Seasonings makes a “Teahouse Chai” flavor in their specialty coffee line. (I’ve fallen for tea so hard that I’m working my way through all of their flavors, and there are ALOT of them!)

I make the tea according to the box, then sweeten it - don’t skip that part….don’t ever skip that part - then I add what makes the tea utterly delicious: Steamed, foamed 2% milk. If you heat the milk (and it really needs to be lowfat, it just works better), then whip it up in a blender, it’ll get nice and foamy. Then, you’ll want to just spoon a little into your cup of tea. It’s almost as important as the sweetener, so don’t leave out the foamed milk either.

Now you can sit down with your tea and read your paper, or better yet - watch the next Survivor episode. (This HAS GOT TO BE Steph or Bobby John’s year!!)

Joi
Out of Bounds

From the eBook, 47 Herbal Remedies:

QUICK FACTS AND TIPS

Hemorrhoids:
Cayenne will stimulate circulation. Nettles and Irish Moss increase blood circulation. A potato suppository (raw potato) inserted overnight brings healing to hemorrhoids. Slippery Elm or Flax Seed will do the same.

Diarrhea:
Barley or rice water stop diarrhea. Boil one cup of rice or barley in 8 cups of water for on hour. Celery juice, coconut milk or lime juice can be added to cool colon. Blackberry root, Bush Monkey Flower or White Oak are antiseptic herbs.

Pain:
3 parts Confrey, 1 part Lobelia and 1 part Cayenne.

Garlic:
Externally for skin disorders such as ringworm, scabies, and lice. Make a strong tea 3 times a day for 2 weeks to ingest.
Syrup of Garlic for catarrh, asthma, tuberculosis, regulating blood pressure, heart weakness and internal ulceration.
To cover odor or tast of Garlic, use Oil of Anise, Caraway, Fennel Cinnamon or Peppermint.

Stress:
1 ounce Bayberry Bark, 2 ounces Ginger, 1 ounce White Pine, 1 dram Clover, 1 dram of Cayenne. Mix all together under stress. Put one teaspoon in a cup of boiling water for 15 minutes.

Antispasmodic Tincture:
1 ounce Lobelia Seed, 1 ounce Skullcap, 1 ounce Skunk Cabbage Root, 1 ounce Black Cohosh, ½ ounce Cayenne.
Add above to one pint of boiling water for ½ hour. Add 1 pint of Apple Cider Vinegar and bottle for use. Dose: 8 to 15 drops in cup of hot water every hour. For shock, cramps, epilepsy, hysteria, lock jaw, poisonous bites and stings.

Homemade Toothpaste:
1 pinch powdered Sage
1 ounce powdered Myrrh
1 pound powdered Arrow Root
20 drops Oil of Clover
12 drops Oil of Bergamot
½ ounce powdered chalk
3 ounces powdered Oris Root
4 teaspoons tincture of Vanilla
15 drops Oil of Rose Geranium
Add honey to get desired consistency

Nerve Tonic:
1 part Black Cohos Root
1 part Cayenne
1 part Hops
1 part Ladys Slipper Root
Powder and mix. Place in gelatin capsules. Take two capsules three times a day.

First Aid Kit:
Charcoal for external drawing of poisons
Oil of Garlic
Antispasmodic tincture
Peppermint Oil for nausea
Sweating Herbs – ½ Elder Flower and ½ Peppermint

Liniment:
2 ounces powdered Myrrh
1 ounce powdered Golden Seal
½ ounce Cayenne
1 quart Apple Cider Vinegar
Mix together, shake each day for seven days then strain and bottle.

Gout:
Eat a minimum of four ounces of fresh Bing Cherries each day. If fresh cherries are not in season drink bottled or buy concentrate and have on tablespoon three times a day.

Hangover:
Rub a wedge of lemon in each armpit.

Migraine Headache:
At the first sign, dip a toothpick in Cayenne Pepper and sniff in each nostril.

With Coffee cup in hand, yesterday I surfed the web looking for the coolest of the cool and the hippest of the hip. We (my coffee and me) stumbled on a few blogs we fell in love with. The bloggers came up with some really original and fun ideas - I’m amazed at the ones that are able to come up with so much great content for single-topics. Check them out, you’ll be impressed!

The Bacon Show

Balmy Duck: Review of boxed Cake Mixes

Pork Cracklins

Hot Sauce Blog

Espresso! My Espresso! - (Hands down, my coffee’s favorite blog.)

Joi
Out of Bounds

From the eBook, “47 Herbal Remedies”:

Tinnitus
Hands down, Ginkgo is the best treatment for Tinnitus. The best way to take it as an extract which you will probably only find in a health food store. When shopping look for 50:1 on the label. 40mgs per day is recommended to treat Tinnitutis.

Tonsillitis
Echinacea and Goldenseal are a good bet to treat Tonsillitis. Combine the two as a tea and gargle as well as ingest.

Toothache
As mentioned earlier, Clove Oil is a good treatment for toothache. Another is a compress of Ginger and Red Pepper. Mix the powdered spices in enough water to form a paste. Use a small cotton ball to dip in the paste then apply the cotton directly to the tooth without letting it touch the gum. If it is too hot, rinse your mouth and try a different remedy.

Ulcers
You may find this recipe too tasty to be called a treatment!
Bananas, Pineapple, Blueberries, Ground Cinnamon, Ground Cloves, Ground Ginger, Honey. Cut up the bananas and pineapple and place in a serving bowl. Add blueberries and season generously with the Cinnamon, Cloves and Ginger and sweeten with the Honey. Or, use above ingredients to create a anti-ulcer drink.

Vaginitis
Carefully peel a clove of Garlic so that no nicks are made in the meat. Wrap in clean gauze with a clean, unbleached string creating a small tampon like packet. Insert into the vagina each night for up to six nights. If this treatment does not cure the infection see your physician.

Yeast Infections
Mix two to three drops of Tea Tree Oil in a tablespoon of yogurt. Soak a tampon in the mixture. Insert the tampon at night for up to six nights. Care must be taken when using any plant extracts. They are extremely concentrated and even in small doses can cause harm.

From the eBook, “47 Herbal Remedies”:

Pain
Use clove oil for toothache, applied directly to the painful tooth.
Red Pepper contains capsaicin that stimulates the release of endorphins. Use in recipes.
Willow bark contains salicin, the original aspirin. Start with a low dose tea. If you are allergic to aspirin, avoid this treatment.

Pneumonia
There is no substitute for your doctors recommendations, but you might enhance treatment with a tea comprised of Dandelion. Cook the greens and roots. And drink the juice that remains after the green are cooked. If fresh Dandelion is not available, use the dried herb.

Prostate Enlargement
Make a spread of Saw Palmetto, Licorice and Pumpkin Seeds. Place a half cup of fresh Pumpkin Seeds in a food processor. Add one Saw Palmetto Capsule contents (without the capsule), and add a few drops of Licorice extract. Blend until smooth. You may add a little Brazil Nut oil to make it spread easier. Eat a couple of tablespoonfuls every day. Make small batches at a time to insure freshness.

Psoriasis
Folk healers have recommended rubbing mashed Avocado on psoriasis patches. If nothing else, it is cool and soothing.

Shingles
Try using a mixed mint tea. Use lots of Lemon Balm plus ay other mints you would like: Hyssop, Oregano, Peppermint, Rosemary, Sage, Self Heal, Spearmint or Thyme. Add a little Licorice as well. Drink it, of course, but also try applying it directly to the rash.

Sinusitis
Create your favorite vegetable soup. Add heaping amounts of Garlic, Onions, Horseradish, Hot Pepper and Ginger. Enjoy the dish while feeling your sinuses open.

Skin Problems
In addition to Aloe, the best known herb for skin treatment, try Evening Primrose Oil. Apply directly to the irritation. Should be available in your health food store.

Sore Throat
Slipper Elm capsules will do the trick for a raging sore throat. Just remember that it is probably a portent of a cold, flue or strep to come. Another treatment is a few teaspoons of crushed Euclyptus leaves per cup of boiling water for a soothing tea.

Sunburn
Use wet teabags to apply to sunburned areas. Aloe applied to the affected areas is always a good recommendation. Calendula speeds the healing of burns. You can probably find commercial creams that contain Calendula at your health food store.

Swelling
One of the active components in Ginger is Zingibain. One gram of Zingibain can tenderize as much as 20 pounds of meat. The most pleasant method of ingesting Ginger is to eat Ginger candy. Pineapple is also known to contribute to the reduction of swelling. Tastes good too! Dandelion is a potent diuretic and can remove some of the excess fluid that causes swelling. Youc an also purchase capsules.

Indigestion
Create a tincture of:
A dash of Angelica, Anise, Camomile, Coriander, Fennel, Ginger, Rosemary and Turmeric along with two dashes of any mint herbs. Steep these herbs overnight in the refrigerator in a mixture of alcohol and water (one shot of vodka per cup of spring water). Drink as a tea or mix with juice.

Insect Bites/Stings
Try using Citronnela Oil. Do not use without first diluting. Add several drops to vegetable oil and rub directly on your skin.

Insomnia
Lemon Balm is a sedative as well as a stomach soother. Try a tea made with two to four teaspoons of dried herb per cup of boiling water.

Liver Problems
Use Milk Thistle for all types of liver troubles. Available in capsule form at health food stores.

Menopause
Black Cohosh is recommended for many “female complaints.” It contains estrogenic substances that relieve menopausal symptoms, especially hot flashes. Native American women knew to use it for childbirth and other gynecological problems. Try 2 parts Chasteberry, 1 part St. John’s Wort and 1 part Life Root. To 5ml of tincture taken three times a day.

Motion Sickness and Nausea
Raspberry leaf tea, used for morning sickness is also a good treatment for motion sickness. Ginger is another treatment for motion sickness. Munch it or buy Ginger capsules at the health food store.

Osteoporosis
Few people know that high protein diets leech calcium from bone. Reduce protein intake and try this broth:
Place leftover fish bones in a large pot. Add a few quarts of water. Bring to a boil. Cover and simmer 30 minutes. Add a couple handfuls of finely chopped Cabbage, Dandelion Greens, Stinging Nettle greens, Parsley, Pigweed and Purslane. Season to taste with salt, pepper and any other seasonings you prefer. Remove fish bones before serving as a vegetable/herb soup or as a stock for hearty bean soup.

From the eBook, 47 Herbal Remedies:

Gallstones and Kidney Stones
The best way to treat these diseases is with prevention and that begins with drinking six to eight glasses of water each day. This keeps the urine too diluted to create the stones in the first place. Drink several cups of Stinging Nettle Tea each day to prevent and treat kidney stones. To one cup of boiling water, steep one teaspoon of finely chopped dried herb.

Gout
It is purported that Celery Seed keeps uric acid below critical levels. Try taking two to four tablets of celery seed extract daily.

Headache
No single treatment works for all headaches. Feverfew is probably the best known treatment. Some people try ingesting the leaves directly, causing mouth sores. The good news is that you can also brew a tea with two to eight fresh leaves steeping in boiling water. Do not boil the leaves however, as it breaks down the effectiveness. Pregnant women SHOULD NOT take Feverfew nor should women who are breast feeding.

Heartburn
Camomile is the best source for heartburn and stomach problems. Licorice might be a second choice, but take care. Too much Licorice will produce headache, lethargy, and a potential serious loss of potassium as well as the possibility of high blood pressure.

Hemorrhoids
Use the following salve after each bowel movement.
One teaspoon Calendula
One teaspoon Camomile
One teaspoon Yarrow
One teaspoon Plantain
One teaspoon St. John’s Wort
Mix each herb in powdered form with enough emollient oil (almond) to form a paste then apply.

High Blood Pressure
Try vegetable soup. Yes, vegetable soup! Add any of the following: Celery, Garlic, Hawthorn, Kudzu, Onion, Tomato, Broccoli, Carrot, Purslane (any anything else that contains magnesium), Saffron, Valerian, Fennel, Oregano, Black Pepper, Basil and Tarragon. Consume on a regular basis. Eliminate pork, beef, and alcohol from your diet. Eat more plant foods and herbs and use a good vitamin regimen.

From the eBook, 47 Herbal Remedies:

Dandruff
Create an herbal scalp rinse.
Add one teaspoon of Potassium Chloride (find in salt section at the supermarket) into 6 cups of water. Heat until the Potassium Chloride dissolves. Chop four ounces of fresh Celandine (if fresh is not available use a half cup of the dried herb instead).Add Celandine to the solution. Allow to stand for two hours. Then boil slowly for 20 minutes. Strain out the plant material, and simmer reducing to one and one half cups. Add eight ounces of glycerin and continue simmering reducing the liquid slowly to two cups. Strain the result and bottle it. Store in cool place. Use once or twice a day as a hair rinse.

Depression
Persistent depression is a serious disorder and you should see your doctor for treatment. In the meantime you might like to try a Licorice tea. Simply add some to any of your favorite herbal teas. Using up to approximately 3 cups of tea a day or more or ingesting larger amounts can produce headache, lethargy, sodium and water retention, loss of potassium and high blood pressure. At least eight Licorice compounds are monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors which are compounds capable of potent antidepressant action.

Diarrhea
Use two to three teaspoons of Agrimony (high tannin content) leaves to make a tea.
Apple pulp is rich in pectin. Try eating applesauce.
Use cooked carrots to treat diarrhea in infants. Will soothe the digestive tract while providing nutrients that are lost during the attack.
In all cases, drink plenty of water to prevent dehydration.

Earache
Taken internally, Garlic can help cure a middle ear infection. A few drops of Garlic oil in the ear can’t hurt either. You can also try using a teaspoon of dried Echinacea in tea.

Fever
Two to three teaspoons of Elder flowers a day in tea will help reduce feverish chills.
Try Ginger tea or eat candied ginger or sip ginger ale. Add peppermint to fever-fighting teas.

Flatulence
Ever wonder why the instructions on packages of beans recommend soaking the beans overnight? It actually has nothing to do with the recipe, but everything to do with an anti-gas remedy. You can also deflate flatulence with a tea made up of Camomile, Caraway, Dill, Fennel, Lemon Balm and Peppermint. Sweeten with Licorice.

I have a stellar reputation with everyone who knows me for my coffee obsession, but I’m just as well known for my passion for fried chicken. I literally could have it everyday and never grow tired of it. I guess it’s fitting, since I’m from Kentucky - home of the world’s most famous fried chicken, Colonel Sander’s own legendary “seasoned with 11 herbs and spices” chicken.

Harland Sanders, the founder of Kentucky Fried Chicken, opened his first restaurant on the outskirts of Laurel County - near Corbin, Kentucky. Years later, his nephew, Lee Cummings (also a resident of Laurel County) created his own recipe for fried chicken and went on to co-found the Lee’s Famous Recipe chain.

So, where else would the World Chicken Festival take place if not in Laurel county?! These two famous former residents are remembered and honored each September with a wonderfully fun and delicious festival. People come from all over to enter the competitions (Best Fried Chicken, Bluegrass Band competition, Col. Sanders lookalikes, Mother-Daughter lookalikes, Father-Son lookalikes, Chicken costumes, Clucking Contests, etc….)

More than 250,000 people come to this beautifully scenic and quiet spot in the Appalachian foothills each year. You can’t find fault with the entertainment: music, dancing, comedy, contests, children’s events, and the food so good that none of the rest matters. Fried chicken dinners and snacks abound, made in the world’s largest stainless-steel skillet. The skillet is 8 inches deep with a 10 ft x 6 in diameter and an 8 foot handle. It weighs 700 pounds and requires 300 gallons of cooking oil.

Fried chicken dinners are for sale throughout the festival and include a chicken quarter, potato salad, baked beans, and a roll.

If you’re within “striking distance”, you’ll want to cirle the dates on your calendar and head to the mountains - well, at least to the foothills. The festival hours are 5 pm to 11 pm Thursday(Sept. 22); 10 am to midnight Friday and Saturday (Sept. 23-24); and 1 pm to 5 pm Sunday(Sept. 25). They say there will be “No chicken serving hours on Sunday” - so I’d immediately chicken scratch that day off.

For more information, you can visit http://www.chickenfestival.com

I am now officially dying for some fried chicken!

Joi
Buttermilk Press