Mosquitos

So, one of the things I hate most about summer is mosquitoes. I'm not a huge fan of toxic mosquito sprays either, so I thought I'd share this little bit of info with you that I found a while back. We have had such a dry summer so far that the mosquitoes really haven't been a problem at all, but you can use this info for the future!!

Here are a few things that mosquitoes are attacked too.


Carbon dioxide: Many species sense carbon dioxide levels and zoom in on pockets of CO2.
Lactic acid: People release lactic acid after eating salty foods and other certain foods, as well as after exercising.
Moisture: Perspiration and damp skin attract mosquitoes.
Floral or fruity fragrances: Perfume, cologne, shampoos, scented skin lotions and even laundry detergent may generate odors that attract mosquitoes

So, if you can prevent at least a couple of the things above, you may not be such a huge mosquito target!

Essential oils that discourage mosquitoes include:

•    Lemon and citrus scents
•    Cedar
•    Peppermint
•    Clove
•    Rosemary
•    Cinnamon
The Citronella Plant

If you have any essential oils, you can always make your own naturopathic mosquito repellent! Young Living are my favorites!

Dehydrator Snacks

HEALTHY SNACKS 

Dried Mango Chips

I don't put anything on my mango slices when I dehydrate them. They are a really sweet fruit to begin with and I think they turn out perfectly with nothing added to them. The toughest part is cutting them!

These are so easy to pack and carry anywhere.

I make fruit leathers fairly often because Gabe loves them, and I can take them to work or pack them for any outing. I never use a recipe for mine either. I usually try something a little different every time. 

 The one above contains blueberries, strawberries, ground flax seeds, hemp seeds, and banana. The red one below contains strawberries, mango, banana, and chia seeds. I used to never add any of the seeds, but it's a great way to add them to your diet! You can even add protein powder if you want!! Go figure! You can't buy these versions at the grocery store!!

A place called "home"

A PLACE CALLED "HOME"

I can remember picking the sunflower seeds out of these when I little!

 I grew up right here in this amazing little countryside of Illinois! My dad has always had a huge garden and I planted my very first seed in this very garden below, so it's pretty special to me. Time with dad, country views, and gardening........LOVE! So, today I'll share his amazing garden with you!

 He has the most amazing turn out of raspberries every year! They are the biggest juiciest raspberries I've ever tasted! And yes, I usually manage to take some home every year!

 Spinach

 Lettuce

 Peppers. He usually cans peppers in the tomatoes every year. My mom then uses them for chili. It's pretty tasty!!

 A tiny baby pepper is already growing!!

 Tomatoes!

 Dad has regular and sweet potatoes planted. I'm planning to take some sweet potatoes when they are ready to make some raw sweet potato pasta!!

 Fresh broccoli, which I will be taking home with me!

 Look at all of that parsley! I told dad he needed to juice it! I will also be taking some of it home with me!

 Leeks.

 Celery perhaps? I took so many pictures and now can't remember what everything was. I'm not an expert gardner by any means! I just like eating the stuff!

 Cabbage.

 Sweet corn. Some of the best sweet corn you will ever taste!

 Onions.

 Look at what I found! Raspberries are usually ready in Aug/Sept, but there were a few that I picked....and ate!

 Blueberries!

 Dad has some of the most amazing grapes from this grape vine as well. He makes some super delicious grape jelly!

 A few blueberries just starting to grow!

These pictures were all taken about a month ago, and this pic will likely make Julie (my mom) sad, because Toby, the cat, went missing about a week ago and hasn't been seen since. Poor Toby! Well, at least he made it onto a raw food blog before he departed!

 Black walnuts.

 Apple and crab apple trees!

 The best part about all of dad's fruit and vegetables, is that they are all organic and chemical free! LOVE that! I'm so glad I grew up in a home that valued gardening!! Thanks for the good example Dad!!

The horses! Can't come home without at least several dozen pictures of my boys!! Mine are the two black ones, Indy and Sunny.

Pineapple-Cucumber Gazpacho

 Pineapple-Cucumber Gazpacho

PINEAPPLE-CUCUMBER GAZPACHO

From RAW FOOD REAL WORLD by Matthew Kenney and Sarma Melngailis

4 cups chopped peeled cucumber (from 1 large English cucumber or a few Kirbys)

4 cups chopped pineapple (from 1 large or two small pineapples)

1 cup fresh pineapple juice

1 small jalapeno pepper, seeded and diced

1 green onion, white and 1 inch of green, chopped

1 tablespoon lime juice

2 teaspoons sea salt

1 handful cilantro leaves, plus few extra for garnish

3 tablespoons avocado oil, macadamia oil, or cold pressed extra-virgin olive oil

1 handful finely chopped raw macadamia nuts

In a blender, add 3 cups of cucumber and pineapple, the pineapple juice, jalapeno, green onion, lime juice, and salt. Blend until smooth. Add the remaining 1 cup of cucumber and 1 cup of pineapple, the handful of cilantro, and 1 1/2 teaspoons of the oil. Pulse blender quickly a few times-the gazpacho should remain chunky. Taste for seasoning. If you have time, chill before serving. Before serving, add the macadamia nuts and stir to distribute them evenly. Place in serving bowls and drizzle the remaining 1 1/2 tablespoons of oil. Garnish with cilantro.

I have posted this recipe in the past, but decided to post it again for two reasons. First, it's such a refreshing summer treat. If you have a garden, it's a perfect chance to grab some fresh cilantro, green onions, and cucumbers to make this. Second, I decided to make a juice version of it today, and it turned out pretty darn good! In fact, my 2 1/2 year old drank so much of it that his little belly was distended!! Here's what I used:

1 small pineapple

1 medium cucumber

1 medium zucchini (because I have a lot I needed to use)

1 bunch of fresh cilantro

You could certainly juice a small green onion and a small jalapeno pepper as well, but I wanted to make sure Gabe would drink it! 

Here a few health benefits to this juice:

Cucumbers:

Cucumbers help promote hydration d/t the high water content, which also helps to reduce toxins in the gastrointestinal tract and reduce acidity. They contain the lignans lariciresinol, pinoresinol, and secoisolariciresinol (I know, I can't pronounce them either!) which have been shown to reduce several cancers including, prostate, ovarian, and breast cancer. The high content of potassium and magnesium help promote healthy blood pressure, They are a good source of silica, which helps promote joint health, strengthens connective tissues, and is great for nail health. Cucumber is also rich in vitamins A, B1, B6, C, D, folate and calcium, which when mixed with carrot juice can help reduce uric acid levels in diseases like gout. Interestingly enough, it also contains a hormone needed by the cells of the pancreas to produce insulin.

Cilantro:
Aids in digestion, works as an anti-inflammatory, helps detox the body, helps to manage cholesterol levels, and helps prevent nausea. It's high in iron, magnesium, phytonutrients, and flavonoids.

Pineapple:
They are rich in vitamin C and help fight off viruses. They are also great for cough and colds d/t the high amount of bromelain they contain, which helps suppress coughs and loosens mucous. They contain manganese which helps support strong bones and connective tissues. Their anti-inflammatory qualities also help with diseases like arthritis. Pineapples also help to reduce the acidity of the GI tract. With the high acid producing diets that most Americans consume, this is a really important quality!