Herbs Ahead

 Everyone is busy taking the last of the tomatoes and turning them into sauce. They're looking at those newly picked apples and thinking butters. Yet what about herbs. They're one of the most important ingrdients and the easiest to keep for fall and winter cooking ahead.

Herb drying has been around since the beginning of time. Home chefs and healers dried them in the sun or in their homes. The last was one by tying them in bunches and hanging them from the rafters. This not only provided flavor for their stews and roasted meats but also scented the main rooms. You can do this too, but preferably in a cool dry room like a pantry basement  or attic.Make sure the area is well ventilated otherwise the leaves will be soggy, damp or even rotty.  Can you dry herbs in the oven? Absolutely! You can even dry seeds ike pumpkin too this was too. Place the leaves on a cookie sheet in a low oven  - less than 180 degrees Farenheit for two to four hours.The leaves will be crumbly when they're fully done. Keep in mind that you should pick your herbs early in the morning and take the leaves before the plant begins to flower. This is when their flavor is at its' strongest. You can prolong harvesting by snipping off any buds that appear.Also remove dried , sickly or wilted leaves at this time too.

What can you do with dried herbs? Everything!!! Dried rosemary is used in many Italian dishes.It graces foccaccio, adding color and flavor to this famed bread. A truly tasty side dish is rosemary potatoes. This s taking red potaotes and sheet pan roasting them with rosemary and sea salt after tossing them in olive oil. They're roasted for 350 degrees Farenheit for thirty to forty minutes. You can also use the herb in homemade sauces and part of a pizza sauce. Basil is another incredibly popular herb that most gardens have. This too is versatile. Dried basil is a definite must for homemade tomato sauces what about pesto? Yes it's usually and traditionally made with fresh leaves but you can use the dried ones. Keep the same ingredients ,lemons, olive oil and walnuts and blend everything in a food processor or blender. Again you use the pesto as a plain sauce or add a teaspoon of it to sauces and even dressings. Sage is another herb that's great to dry.It'll be used in stuffings for Thanksgiving and Christmas. It imparts a slightly minty and pepepry taste that offsets the mildness of the bread. Also try it in minestrone soup too.

Keep those garden herbs going in delicious recipes for the entire year. They're a smap to dry and fun to use.  You'll have that fresh flavor well into fall.

A Soothing Cup Of Tea

This election has not only been the most contentious in US history, It's also the most anxiety causing too. Many are worried as to what Wednesday morning will bring. The solution to all of this - a soothing cup of tea or any comfort food to settle nerves.

Nothing beats a calming cup of tea  the night before or even the day of a stress inducing event.The herbal ones are the best. One of my favorites is Twinings Nightly Calm. It's a non-caffeine herbal tea made with chamomile. It's a great tea too to have if you,ve got a nasty stomach flu or just ate too much. Chamomile calms the stomach along with boosting spirits - which may come in handy if your candidate loses.It also helps with sleep and insomnia. Another favorite is Celestial Seasonings Sleeptytime  Extra Tea. This is a great tea for those who have problems sleeping, Along with chamomile and spearmint it also has valerian, a natural sleeping aid. To sweeten it try the Carmel Honey Company's Honey Stix. These are plastic straws filled with the company's signature wildflower honey, a sweet earthy taste that pairs well with the tea. As much as you want to indulge in a chocolate and caramel laced latte, don;t. All that sugar and caffeine will make you more wired than a kid with a mouthful of candy,The same goes for hot chocolate. It is comforting to drink when you;re watching the election  however it'll keep you up until dawn Not the best thing, especially if you have a full schedule  or an all important meeting or exam on Wednesday morning.

Are there any calming foods to watch as you're cheering on your candidate or cursing his or her opponent? Turkey comes to mind, thanks to it being loaded with tryptophan. Eat four ounces of it for dinner for a blissful night of sleep. If you can't roast a turkey,, then head to your grocery's deli counter to get it. Serve it with jarred gravy on top of a sliced roll or bread. Sub in Stovetop Stuffing or Arrowhead Mills All Natural stuffing.Have it with a side dish of asparagus which also is a calming food.It not only promotes sleep but also lessens stress and anxiety. Swiss chard is another green guaranteed to calm an antsy voter. It's loaded with magnesium which can also de-stress the body,Surprisingly olive oil is another stress buster. Create a salad with it, greens and turkey strips. Add pumpkin seeds which also help.Grains, too, can lessen that agita over who's going to be in the White House. Have a slice of toast with butter and honey along with a cup of tea as you're watching the intricacies of the electoral college. A big bowl of cereal is another dish that will help you chill. Just stay away from the sugary and chocolate laced ones. Stick with the all natural kinds like Moms Best brand, Plain cereal without milk is a nice nibble too.

Tomorrow the fate and history of the country will be decided. It has been a stressful nineteen months. Destress from it with a sleep inducing meal or a soothing cup of herbal tea.

Superseedz Pumpkin Seed s Super Yummy Super Versatile

One of the best snacks for you are pumpkin seeds. They're crunchy and fun snacks, perfect for a side at lunch or a nighttime snack. A bag of them is perfect on a hike or just for munching at the beach. Best of all, now they come in different flavors thanks to a great company, Superseedz. They have created really delicious savory and sweet snacks,

Eating pumpkin seeds is nothing new. The indigenous Americans have been nibbling on them for millennia. They are heart healthy as well as beneficial to the liver.along with just being a fun and crunchy snack. Now  Kathie Pellichio, creator of Superseedz takes it a step further by making them both savory and sweet/They are even pan roasted in small batches as she first cooked them to ensure more flavor and even roasting. To be honest Superseedz is one of the best snacks out there today. There are nine(!) different flavors from Naked to Super Spicy to nosh on. I love the Naked because there's that earthy , nutty taste and the Sea Salt flavor which is just salted perfectly however I'm mad for the Tomato Italiano which has a cool pizza flavor. I can see scattering these in an Italian hero, or a simple garden salad to give it texture and zing. The Curious Curry is another fave, the perfect blend of good for you curry with the seeds. Superseedz Super spicy is coated with dried habanero and cayenne along with a zip of garlic. I definitely recommend adding this to any chile , giving it a true Mexican spin along with bringing more heat to the sauce.

Of course the sweet Superseedz are just downright yummy too. I love the Cocoa Joe's and the Cinnamon and Sugar. There is also the flavorful Maple Syrup and Sea Salt, a true marriage of sweet and salty. Thanks to the roasting process, some of the seeds comes together in little clusters and they are fun little snacks, sort of like Crackerjack, but much better for you. Cocoa Joes' can also be good on ice cream and for something truly different , and sprinkled on cake filling for a crunchy surprise.. These and the Cinnamon and sugar can also be used to decorate cupcakes instead of sprinkles and mixed into plain cereals for extra flavor and benefits.The Maple Syrup and Sea Salt can be made into a fun take long granola if you bake them with oats, honey and raisins.  Pumpkin seeds have much needed zinc and iron  in them along with protein. Any of the Superseedz flavors are a good source of protein, perfect for those cutting back on their meat intake/ Another plus is that the bags are just right for slipping into a picnic basket , lunch bag or even desk for easy snacking . They're also easily resealable so that the seeds always stay fresh.

If you want a new snack that's good for then try the tasty savory and sweet flavors of SuperseedzThese gourmet pumpkins are a great alternative to the traditional snacks along with having a ton of benefits. Get addicted now to these super little seeds with a big flavor!

Recrunching Granola

Granola has had crazy roller coaster ride since it's introduction to the American diet four decades ago.It has been loved by flower children and exploited by every cookie and cereal maker.it's taking on a new life with moms who want a healthier snack or breakfast for their kids. Granola is primarily an American invention, being First created by Dr. Connor Lacey In 1894. There were some name variations such as granula by Alex Lacey. Granola is a mix of oats , puffed rice raisin, honey along with dried fruits , nuts and even chocolate chips. first dismissed as a "hippie" food, it slowly gained acceptance as an alternative to those overly processed breakfast cereals. It's everywhere now from gracing brand name yogurts to the ubiquitous breakfast and energy bars. If it's made right , it is good for you. the best bet are the all natural brands coming from smaller or boutique companies. Most stores now sell all natural hand made granolas. This kind is good as a snack or breakfast. Just make sure that it is all natural and the ingredients are pure. Granola is easy to make and the Web is chock full of good recipes by both top chefs and ordinary home cooks. be creative. Add some fun surprises such as sunflower or pumpkins seeds for crunch and a kick of saltiness. for some sweetness think dried cherries or cut up dried apricots. You can also try the traditional route of adding raisins and almonds , along with walnuts. for sweetening ,go the natural route of honey, cinnamon and brown sugar. avoid using refined white sugar at all costs. Granola is a good and healthy addition to any diet. Make it or buy it.Either way' you and your family will enjoybthis good for you American classic.