Growing Tomatoes From Seeds

Old German Tomato

If the last day of frost supposed to be April 15, then it's time to start your tomatoes. Tomatoes should be started 6-8 weeks before the last estimated frost date. So if you haven't started them yet it's time to do it. It actually also depends on your set up, if you have a heat mat and lamps then starting them a little late is OK, if you do not then start them a little early. Tomatoes typically germinate between 3-10 days, depending how fresh the seeds are and the temperature you start them at.
Here are a few steps to follow if you want to grow your own tomato plants from seeds:
(1) Select the varieties you like to grow
(2) Get fresh potting soil, and if they are not pre-fertilized, add a small amount of fertilizer
(3) Fill 4" pots with potting soil, moisten slightly.
(4) Place one seed on each corner, cover with more potting soil.
(5) Water well, and keep in a warm, sheltered space.
Check periodically and water when necessary. You only need to keep the soil moist, not drenched. When the tomato seeds germinate and about 2" tall:
(6) Separate them and transplant them into their own 4" pots. Keep them there until ready to transplant.
(7) Transplant the tomatoes when the night time soil temperature is above 50 degrees F consistently. Add

Small seedlings

Tomato ready to transplant

What to do with expired vitamin pills?

If you ever have vitamins and other health supplements that are expired, don't through them away, feed them to your plants. You can do this for your indoor plants as well as the outdoor ones. Make sure you water the plants well after you fed them the vitamins. You will be surprised how much vibrancy they can bring out the plants. And best of all, what not? waste not!

Homemade Strawberry Lemon Zest Jam

Strawberry Lemon Zest Jam

Strawberry Lemon Zest Jam This is my all-time favorite jam. When make strawberry jam. It is delicious with a tangy surprise of the lemon zest. It makes a great gift for anyone.
Ingredients:
5 cups crushed strawberries (about 5 lbs)
Zest from 2 lemons
1/4 Cup lemon juice
1 pack of fruit pectin
7 cups granulated sugar
8 half pint (8 oz) glass preserving jars with lids and bands
Directions:
1. Heat jars in hot water
2. Combine strawberries, sugar, lemon zest and lemon juice in a large saucepan. Gradually stir in pectin. Bring the mixture to a full rolling boil that cannot be stirred down. Cook for an additional minute. Turn off the heat.
3. Pack hot jam into hot jars with 1/4 inch head-space. Wipe rim with a paper towel dipped in hot water. Place jar lid and screw band until finger tight.
4. Process in a boiling water bath for 10 minutes. Remove jars, tighten lids and allow to cool.

How Food Can Affect the Body's Balance.

In Chinese Medicine, lamb is considered a Yang food, which means it brings warmth to the body and increase the body's Yang aspect. For people with Yang deficiency, eating lamb can correct their imbalance, but for people with symptoms of Excessive Heat or Yin Deficiency should be cautious when consume lamb.

Symptoms of excessive heat are: Skin eruptions, redness in the eyes, canker sores in the mouth or the tongue, inflamed or bleeding gums, nose bleed, and sore throat. Excessive heat in the body may also cause scant and dark urine, constipation. When the body has excessive heat, the tongue may appear reddish in color, and with thick yellowish coating.

Symptoms of Yin Deficiency are: Feeling hot in the palms of hands and feet (one indication is you like to expose your feet when you sleep), impatience, hot flashes, red cheeks, insomnia, dry mouth and sore throat, dizziness, ringing in the ears and night sweats.
These symptoms suggest the body either has too much fire (Yang Excess) or not enough water (Yin Deficiency), eating lamb is only going to exacerbate the conditions. On the other hand for those who are Yang Deficient, eating lamb can greatly improve the condition.

Symptoms of Yang Deficiency are: Feeling cold in general, especially hands and feet,lack of appetite, pale face and lips, loose bowel or diarrhea, clear and copious urine, sweat easily, lack of energy, pale tongue, white tongue coating and teeth marks on either side of the tongue.
When someone is Yang deficient the body is in a state of needing more energy and warmness, and eating lamb can accomplish this goal. Other food good for increasing the body’s Yang includes cinnamon. So for those people with Yang deficiency, occasional cinnamon rolls can make you feel good. Exercises can also increase the Yang of the body. So for folks who are Yang deficient, after eating the lamb stew and cinnamon rolls, some light exercise is in order.

People with symptoms of Excessive Heat or Yin Deficiency should be cautious when consume lamb, while for those who are Yang Deficient, eating lamb can correct their imbalances. Another factor to consider when eating lamb is the seasons. Winter is cold, therefore more Yin in nature, so eating lamb in the winter can increase the body’s Yang to balance with nature’s Yin. Summer is hot and Yang in nature, so avoid eating too much lamb to avoid excessive fire being generated in the body.

Disco Fried Eggs AKA Toad in the Hole from India

If you have fresh home raised eggs, definitely try this recipe. It is easy and super delicious, and has the added bonus of health benefits :) http://gardenmyway.com/healthy/bt-food/141-disco-fried-egg

Dolma, Easy and Delicious

Dolma

Dolma is a popular Middle Eastern dish. If you have grape vines in your garden, make this easy and delicious dish using the tender grape leaves. All you have to do is to make a ground beef and rice mixture, similar to that of a cabbage roll. Only instead of warping them in cabbage leaves, you wrap them in grape leaves. The easy part is you just have to steam them for 15 minutes, and they are ready to serve. Super easy and delicious!

Feverfew (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feverfew) is a great medicinal herb, it possesses anti-inflammatory quality. Its name came from Latin, meaning "fever reducer". The plant can be used to treat minor ailments such as headache. Scientific studies have shown that feverfew has the ability to kill off some cancer cells. Feverfew tea is delicious, here'w how to make it:
Place feverfew flowers, mint leaves and lemon balm leaves in a tea pot, pour boiling water in the pot. Cover the teapot with a kitchen towel. Let stand for  minutes. Serve with honey.