Body Series - Oils - Part 3: Grapeseed, Kukui Nut, and Olive Oil

My first post on this topic (Part 1) covered three oils (Almond, Avocado, and Coconut) and my follow-up post (Part 2) covered Meadow Foam Seed Oil, Jojoba, and Hemp Seed Oil, including two favorites (Meadow Foam and Hemp).

Starting top, clockwise: Grapeseed, Kukui Nut, Olive

In this post (Part 3), I discuss below my experiences with Grapeseed Oil, Kukui Nut Oil, and Olive Oil. Keep in mind, this is a casual experiment and based on my experiences with these oils over the course of several weeks. But, I think you'll find the results meaningful and useful.

Why Should We Send Holiday Cards...?

About three years ago, I started down the very slippery slope of "holiday card sending decline". I had recently moved, gotten married, and was now helping to raise a little boy. I had a full time job, a house to keep clean, and nourishing dinners to get on the table-- and all this during the holiday season, when I was trying to shop for presents, decorate, and complete end of the year projects for work.

Wowee, I was busy and I sure didn't know if I was going to have time to write any silly holiday cards. I didn't have time for that! Surely everyone could see how busy I was?

Rice and Lentil Pilaf

This would be great to make on a Sunday so you could have quick and easy lunches all week. If you use a vegetable stock, this is vegetarian.

Lettuce Wraps

We love the lettuce wraps at PF Chang's and make a version at home that is really good. They are also pretty fast to make. It's a great change to the menu rotation that the little one and husband really love. I hope you'll give them a try.

Homemade Hot Sauce (Tabasco Style)

My husband is so wonderful--he shares my time with work and this blog and happily tests out all the things I make. I am not sure he is the best test subject, because he mostly says everything is delicious, but it's certainly good for my self-esteem.

This past weekend he made a hot sauce in the style of Tabasco Sauce, which we had always purchased and kept in the house (prior to making this recipe) and which does not appear to have weird ingredients. But we grow a lot of peppers every year and even husband appreciates the value of foods with ingredients we can follow directly to the source. So this year, he made this sauce and it is even better than the store-bought kind.

Warm Lemon Water - A Morning Routine

When I quit drinking coffee, I starting drinking a mug of warm water with the juice of half a lemon every morning instead. This was something I had tried off and on over the years, at the recommendation of Dr. Hyman in his Detox Box, and had also heard this practice recommended from numerous other sources. However, it wasn't until I quit coffee that I starting drinking a glass of warm water with lemon every day. And, I'm glad I did! There are many, many wonderful reasons to add a glass of warm lemon water to your morning routine, and I've discussed several below.

Try drinking a mug of warm water in the morning with the juice of one-half lemon squeezed into the water. ***Be sure to scrub the outside of the lemon before using and try to use organic if at all possible.

Why is this a good idea...?

Pumpkin Pancakes with Cinnamon Crumb Topping

I usually don't really care to make pancakes. For one thing, they take forever and mine always turn out funny looking. Now, in all honesty, part of my problem, I am sure, is that I refuse to use a pancake griddle. So, instead, I am trying to cram these tiny pancakes in a skillet with rounded sides and gravity takes over and the result is these funny oval-shaped things. The other reason I don't care to make pancakes is because, normally, I don't think they taste all that great for so much work involved in making them.

Well, this is not any old pancake recipe. This is a super amazing pumpkin pancake recipe and, despite everything I mentioned above, these pancakes are totally worth it. I have to thank Two Peas and Their Pod for the inspiration for this recipe. Go check out their recipe though for really slick looking pictures.