Wellness Tea, Simmering Potpouri, Air Purifier

In my quest to incorporate healthier foods and drinks in my life I came up with this wellness tea or drink.

I centered it around foods and spices that fight inflammation. The combination of spices with the apples is very delicious and I have enjoyed it hot, cold or added to green tea, orange juice or other fruit juice. Save the apples after cooking and combine it with some of the tea for my Wellness Tea Ice Cream Topping.

In a saucepan on the stove, combine:

3 c. Water
1 t. Ground Ginger
2 Cinnamon Sticks
3 Whole Cloves
1 T. Honey
1 T. Lemon Juice
1 - 2 Apples, unpeeled, chopped, without the core

Simmer on medium low heat for 30 minutes or more if desired.

Let cool for another 30 minutes. Then remove the cinnamon sticks (they can be used several times), the cloves and the apples (save the apples to use in my Wellness Tea Ice Cream Topping).

Strain the tea through a fine strainer and into a Mason or other glass jar. Store in the refrigerator.

Instead of using apples, try substituting orange or lemon slices, chopped mango or cherries.

Juicing for Wellness

My favorite juicing recipe.

Ways to Keep Your Heart Healthy

 

Learn More

Caramel Popcorn Recipe

When the temperature drops and colder weather sets in this caramel popcorn recipe always comes to my mind. This recipe originally showed up in my phone bill probably back in the 70's and I have treasured it ever since.

I give it an 'Excellent' rating because it not only tastes great but is easy to make with common ingredients that I typically have on hand. The hardest part about making this is waiting for the hour cooking time and then allowing it to fully cool. But it's that hour in the oven and stirring it every 15 minutes that finalizes the hardening of the caramel syrup and gives the popcorn an even coating of deliciousness.

I cut the portions of the original recipe in half, so double it back up if you prefer that.

Start off with 3 quarts of popped popcorn, which is 1/2 c. of popcorn kernels. I prefer to use an air-popper but making it other ways is fine too. I pour the popcorn in my large lasagne pan, ungreased.

Next cook the syrup on the stove over medium heat. See recipe details below.

When the cook time is done this is what it will look like - sweet, crunchy goodness!

Caramel Popcorn
1/2 c. popcorn kernels, or 3 qts. popped popcorn
1 stick (1/2 c.) butter - I use salted butter
1 c. firmly packed brown sugar
1/4 c. light corn syrup
1/2 t. salt

1/4 t. baking soda
1/2 t. vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 250 degrees. Pour popped popcorn in a large shallow baking pan.

In a large saucepan, melt butter, then stir in brown sugar, corn syrup and salt. Bring to boil on medium heat, stirring constantly. Then boil WITHOUT stirring for 5 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in baking soda and vanilla.

Gradually pour over popped popcorn and mix well. Bake for one hour, stirring every 15 minutes. Remove from oven and cool completely. Break apart and store in tightly covered container.

Winter Slipper Boots - FREE Crochet Pattern

Original free pattern Lucky Wanderer by DROPS Design. LINK Please visit their website for main pattern details of DROPS Extra 0-888. Below I detail the specifics of how I used the pattern.

This is a GREAT pattern! It works up fast and you will be wearing your beautiful warm slippers lickity cut! Here is a picture of the 1st pair I made.

I used Caron Pound for the yarn, Medium Grey Mix for the Cuff, Sole, Pom-Pom and Ties, and added Soft Grey Mix, holding the 2 strands together for the main body part of the slipper. I did use the L size hook, except as noted.

Because I was using different yarn then what the pattern called for, I did some adjusting to the pattern's largest size. However, after completing the boot, I realized it was way too large so I had to recalculate, tear out and start over.

Here are my changes and post project comments:
CUFF:Start with a tail long enough to seam the cuff, about 20". Work per pattern instructions for 27 rows.
SLIPPER: Using the 2 strands held together work 33 sc sts along one edge of cuff. Work per pattern instructions but make decreases at beginning, end and middle on rows 6, 8, and 10. I worked 12 total rows for the Slipper part.
SOLE / Bottom part of Slipper for Grey pair: I worked 6 rows per pattern instructions, then on last row (7) I made decreases at the beginning, end and also 1 decrease in the middle.
ASSEMBLY:Work as per pattern instructions.
POM-POM TIES: Using size I hook, ch 175. Pull the middle of the tie through a couple stitches about 1" above the Bottom part. Tie the pom-poms on each each and trim the excess yarn.

The single layer on the sole seemed to need beefing up. I wanted more warmth, cushion and durability. So I dug through my pattern notes and decided to make a separate sole to whip onto the bottom. This seemed to be very effective. But on my 2nd pair I will fine tune the process and make it a little better.

So here are my detailed instructions on how to make the sole for a size large (size 10-10.5 shoe size). I made the 2 Layer Sole - Option 2 with a size G hook:

1 Layer Sole: working from the center out. Rnd 1: ch 27. hdc in 3rd ch, hdc in same st, hdc in next 3 ch, sc in next 8, 5 hdc, dc in next 7 ch, work 5 dc in the end ch. Now work opposite side of ch – 7 dc, 5 hdc, 8 sc, 3 hdc, 2 hdc on beg. st of rnd. Join with sl st.

Rnd 2: ch 2, hdc in next st, 2 hdc in next 2 sts, 3 hdc, 7 sc, 5 hdc, 7 dc, 2 dc in next 5 sts, 7 dc, 5 hdc, 7 sc, 3 hdc, 2 hdc in next 2 sts, hdc in last st. Join.

Rnd 3: ch 2, hdc, 2 hdc in next 4 sts, 12 hdc, 12 dc, 2 dc in next 9 sts, 12 dc, 12 hdc, 2 hdc in next 3 sts. Join. Fasten off with a 3 1/2 yd. yarn tail.

2 Layer Sole – Option 1:
Make 2 separate layers following the directions for the 1 Layer Sole.

2 Layer Sole – Option 2:
Make 1 layer (outer sole) working only Rnds 1 & 2 of the 1 Layer Sole directions, fasten off. Make a 2nd layer(inner sole), but after working Rnd 2, match up the outer sole on top of the inner sole. Pull the last remaining loop of the inner sole through the outer sole. Continue with Rnd 3 working through the loops of both inner and outer soles.

3 Layer Sole: Make a 2 Layer Sole-Option 2 then make and a 1 Layer Sole. Connect them together when attaching to the top. The 2 Layer Sole will be between the Top part and the 1 Layer Sole bottom. Only leave a long yarn tail on the 1 Layer Sole.

To attach the sole to the boot, I first stuffed the bottom of the boot with plastic bags. Then I positioned the sole on the bottom, pinned it, hand basted it with large stitches, then hand whipped around the edges of the sole.

Next I was on to make my 2nd pair (one isn't enough with this pattern, trust me!) using Caron Pound Lace (beige color) for the Cuff, Sole / Bottom Part, Pom-Poms and Ties; then changing to White and Off White for the Slipper main body.

I followed the changes I detailed above until I got to the Sole / Bottom part of the slipper. On this version I worked only 4 rows with Lace color, then fastened off. Then I worked the 3 Layer Sole detailed above. The stitches on the boot were nearly twice the size of the stitches on the sole. In counting there were 48 stitches on the boot and 82 stitches on the sole. That meant I would be working almost every other stitch on the sole, matched to every stitch on the boot.

I positioned the sole(s) on the boot and tied a marker yarn at the center toe to be sure that location lined up properly. Here is the detailed instructions for attaching the piece:

Attaching sole to top:
Take your time on this step and be sure you are catching in all layers with each stitch made! Your sts should be snug but not so tight as to hide the middle layer.
Working from outside of slipper and using size G hook
Match top to sole with sole facing you.
The yarn tail should be close to the center back of the heel.
Pull yarn tail through to the slipper top side.
(Insert hook from sole through top, YO and pull through; move to next st), rep.(), making sl sts around the complete edge of the sole. Fasten off and weave in ends.


Tags: #dropsdesign #crochet #freecrochetpattern #crochetslippers

Circular Placemats - FREE Crochet Pattern

Inspiration and original free pattern from petalstopicots.com. LINK
Please visit her website for main pattern details. Below I detail the specifics of how I used her pattern.

I just LOVE this pattern! It works up fast and was easy to memorize the stitch patterning. Wandering from the traditional natural fiber yarns, I decided to use Caron Pound, an acrylic yarn. After trying different sizes of hooks, the J hook size gave me the density I was happy with.

The look I wanted was a layered look, though the placemats can be used separately, with the size and colors to compliments my dishes.

For the smaller mat, which is 13" in diameter, I added two extra rounds before the final round of scallops; a total of 10 rounds.

This change was done by simply repeating round 6 as my round 8 and repeat round 7 as my round 9 but working 4 sets of 2DCs and then the single DC.

For the larger mat, which is 17" in diameter, I added four extra rounds before the final round of scallops; a total of 12 rounds.

This change was done by simply repeating round 6 as my rounds 8 & 10 and repeat round 7 as my round 9 & 11 but working 4 (Round 9) or 5 (Round 11) sets of 2DCs and then the single DC. No blocking or steaming seemed to be needed.

Moss Stitch Blanket - FREE Crochet Pattern

A FREE Pattern, Designed and Written by Patty Kubitzki
COPYRIGHT ©, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED, Dec. 2017

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Whether you are a beginner or more advanced with your crochet skills, this project will yield professional looking results using only the most basic crochet stitches.

Difficulty Level: Easy
Size: 35” x 55”
Yarn: Caron Pound, weight 4
Color A = White
Color B = Soft Grey Mix
Color C = Medium Grey Mix

Hook Size: I
Gauge: 8 sts = 2”; 20 rows = 5”

Abbreviations and Terms Used (U.S. Crochet Terms)
Beg = beginning; ch(s) = chain; ea = each; rep = repeat; rnd(s)= round(rounds);
sc =single crochet; sk = skip; sl st = slip stitch; sp = space; st(s) = stitch(stitches)

Pattern Notes
The entire blanket and the border are worked using the Moss St.

Moss St = (sc, ch 1, sk 1) rep ( ), working a sc in the 1st st and the last st of ea row.

Color Sequence:
Color A: Work 20 rows
Color B: Work 1 row
Color C: Work 1 row
Color A: Work 2 rows
Color C: Work 1 row
Color B: Work 1 row

Blanket Body
Starting Ch: With Color A, Ch 144.
Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook; (ch 1, sk 1 ch, sc in next ch) rep ( ), with sc in last ch.

Rows 2 – 202 (end of body): Ch 1, turn. Work in Moss St through the Color Sequence above until eight(8) Color A 20 row sections have been completed.
Do not fasten off.

Border
! Note - Do not turn at the end of Rnds.

Rnd 1 - Using Color A: Ch 1. Turn to work along the edge of the blanket. Continue working the Moss St except when making the sc st insert the hook 1 further row down or 1 further st away from the side. Be sure to pull the 1st loop of the sc st far enough to eliminate bunching. At the corners, work an extra ch1, sc as needed to keep corner smooth and flat. Work this elongated Moss St pattern around the entire blanket body. Join at beg with sl st.

Rnds 2-4: Work the regular Moss St around, adjusting the corners as needed with an extra ch 1, sc. Join with sl st. At the end of Rnd 4, change to Color B to make joining st.

Rnd 5: With Color B work the Moss St around. Change to Color C to join with sl st.

Rnd 6: With Color C work the Moss St around. Join with sl st.
Fasten off.

Weave in and trim all ends.
Lightly steam block, as needed.

Enjoy your beautiful new crocheted blanket!
It will surely be a treasured piece.

COPYRIGHT ©, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED, Dec. 2017