Strawberries At Your Fingertips

 One of the joys of having a garden is planting anything you want. Strawberries are a popular and much loved crop.Not only are they a high yield harvest, they are also a versatile one. They can be made into anything , from preserves to salad dressings.

Before you even buy the plants start staking out your garden. Strawberries thrive in bright sunny areas in soil that has a pH factor anywhere from 5.5. to 6.8. You can easily buy a pH indicator at any of your Home Depots' Lowes or Wal-mart.If the pH is too high or too low then mix in nutrients to help balance the dirt.Aged compost also helps in produce lush ruby berries with verdant leaves. THe plant is a perennial so it will die off in winter  but will return in the Spring. Many types of the Berry produce what is known as runners with baby pants at the tips. These runners often root themselves nearby yet remain attached to the mother plant. These types of strawberries produce more fruit if you clip off most of the runners, each plant should have no more than three daughter plants each summer. Because of all this extra growth try to plant the strawberry plants about eighteen inches apart.Let the roots be covered with soil while the stem or crown has adequate light and air.If not this will rot causing a blight.It usually takes three weeks to a month to see any fruit.

Once grown, there is a wealth. of recipes to try. Some home chefs may be brave and try to make jam or preserves.it;'s basically mashing fresh strawberries with sugar , lemon and water and  cooking in a saucepan. You could even add a pat of butter for Canadian style jam. It's then pouring this in sterilized jam jars.It makes for a nice memory when you're spreading it on warmed croissants in the fall and winter. Strawberry pie is another treat to make .It makes for a great dessert after a barbecue. A tart made with the fruit topping a creme filling inside a buttery tart crust is always a sophisticated treat. A different spin is strawberry bread which is a sweet tea bread rich with the fruit. A strawberry glaze covers it. Fresh strawberries can also be used to make delicious homemade ice cream along with a tasty butter cream frosting for chocolate or vanilla cake. Keep in mind that they can also be used in a tangy dressing. This is blending s a puree with olive oil and apple cider vinegar. Honey is added for sweetness. This is a great salad over a spinach and chicken salad. You could also add the fruit along with almonds for a really special lunch.

What a treat to have fresh strawberries. Grow them for a lovely  harvest. You 'll love the taste of these ruby red gems.

The Alkaline Diet

Could a diet not only change your life but revitalize it? According to some homeopaths and nutritionists  it could. Ridding your diet of acids is supposedly beneficial . It's an interesting mix of veggies and fruits, that anyone can follow.

What is alkalinity? It's  defined as less acidity in the body, relating to pH levels.The higher the pH the lower the acidity. According to some doctors, this works in favor It supposedly can reduce the threat of cancer along with helping with arthritis and losing weight. The body should always maintain a  level of 7.4 Testing for acidity  is easy thanks to saliva strips from Hydrion (these can be bought from Micro Essential Labs).There are physical signs, too, such as shortness of breath, frequent sighing, muscle pain or cramping, especially after walking and feeling like you're not getting enough air.many people are more acidic thanks to their diets yet there are some that are purely alkaline. Like any diet, there are restrictions. The drinks everybody loves , soda and coffee are off limits dues to their high acidity along with artificial sweeteners. Surprisingly black tea is also on the list however all herbal teas are alkaline so they're a nice fall back. Tap water is neutral along with some spring waters such as Fiji and Evian.Milk also falls in this category however adding chocolate syrup or mix will amp up the acidity. Buttermilk, though, is very alkalizing so think about adding it to your drinking, baking and cooking.

The best bet for a more alkaline diet is to go completely vegan. Many meats are pure acid along with seafood. Beef, lobster and shrimp are restricted as are crab, lamb, pork and veal. Poultry, from chicken to turkey are in this category too, but not as bad as red meats. . For those who dread the idea of going cold turkey vegetarian there are slightly acidifying meats such as some breeds of  fish and liver, for those who can stand it. Salmon, sole, trout and flounder are the least and can be made into a variety of tasty dishes. The best bets for a truly alkalized diet are anything soy, namely beans , nuts and sprouts along with both navy and white beans, Red beans and chickpeas or garbanzos are slightly acidifying but allowed. Luckily there is a whole gamut of veggies to choose from, with avocados being the most alkaline.Tomatoes and sour pickles are in the strange category of being acidic but alkalizing.. Veggies that have some acidity are artichokes, Brussels sprouts, and lettuce along with cauliflower onions and peas. Most fruits are slightly acidic thanks to their fructose levels however there's no reason to give them up..The truly non acidic ones are watermelons, bananas, sour cherries and fresh coconut. Try to mix up this last to get all the health benefits they offer.

Alkaline diets are restrictive but the benefits are worth all the restrictions. It 's just eating more fish and veggies and cutting  out all the bad stuff. Doing this will drop acid levels, making for a better life.