Make Your Own Ginger Tea

Do you ever have those days that you just don't feel your usual great self? Yep, me too! I notice it when my diet changes or if I try to add something that my body doesn't like. I have always had a touchy tummy and it seems to react with different types of unpleasantness, including nausea. For a few days last week I was feeling kind of yucky and remembered I had read that ginger helps relieve nausea. I got busy and researched several web sites and articles that said ginger has many health benefits, but also precautions with usage (if you're pregnant, diabetic or have heart problems). As always, do your research and check with your doctor if you have questions.
With no obvious health issues, this is how I made my ginger tea.

 
Directions:

• Ginger root - I washed mine rather than peeling it, then broke off a couple of the roots.

• Slice into 12-15 pieces, place it into a pan with 3 cups of water. Boil for 20 minutes over medium heat. Turn the stove off and let it sit for about 5 minutes. I strained the tea so I wouldn't have any ginger pieces in it.

• I poured my tea into a very special cup, added a small amount of honey (less than a teaspoon), a squirt of lemon juice and let it sit for a couple of minutes. I poured the leftover tea into a Ball jar and am keeping it in the refrigerator until next time.

I sat in my favorite chair with my feet up, sipped my ginger tea and my nausea disappeared! For real!
 

Added bonus!
I put the ginger back into the pan, added water almost to the top and 20-25 whole cloves. I simmered this over low heat for a few hours. The house smelled so yummy!

 Love and peace,
~ Simply Tammi

No Bake Oatmeal Bars

I haven't ever had an "Oh Henry" candy bar so I'm not sure if this tastes like the real thing or not, but it is still a yummy treat, it's easy to make, and I usually have the ingredients on hand.  I got this recipe years ago from a friend of mine. 

Here's what you need:

• 1/2 c butter
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 3/4 c Karo syrup, I have always used the light corn syrup, but I'm guessing you could use either
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 4 c. oatmeal, I use "old fashioned oats" but the recipe says "quick cook" 

For the topping:

• 1/2 c peanut butter
• 1 c. chocolate chips 

Heat butter on low heat, add Karo syrup and brown sugar. Heat and stir on med-high until it boils. Boil and stir for 1 minute, remove from heat and add vanilla and stir in oatmeal. Depending how thick you want the bars, you can put in an 8x8 or 9x13 pan. For the "frosting" melt 1/2 c peanut butter and 1 c. chocolate chips in the microwave, in 30 second intervals, stirring until chips melt. Pour and spread over bars, refrigerate until set, then cut and store in refrigerator. Enjoy!

~Simply Angie

Crescent Taco Hotdish

Since my family has moved from MN to Washington state, we are in a temporary apartment until we find a house, we left most of our things (including my homemade and canned food). I have had to do a little more grocery shopping to re-stock my pantry. I realize again how much the cost of groceries add up. It didn't seem like much, but the homemade laundry soap, seasonings, jellies, yogurt, etc. really seem to make a difference in the budget. Even if you only make a few small changes, it adds up to big changes in the checkout lane! This recipe is one of our favorites, I actually got it from Tammi but since I left my homemade seasoning..and my cookbooks in MN, I have adapted it a little to the ingredients I had on hand.

Here's what you need:

• one tube of crescent roll (Pillsbury or store brand)
• 1 lb. of ground beef or turkey
• 1 packet taco seasoning
• 1 14oz can tomato sauce
• I substituted both the seasoning and sauce with about 2 cups of salsa
• 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, or the kind and amount you like
• a few handfuls of broken up Doritos (or nacho flavored chips)

Toppings: shredded lettuce, onion, tomato, sour cream, salsa, etc.
In a greased 9x13 pan, roll out the crescent roll dough and lay it on the bottom, gently pushing it down and pressing the seams together. In a separate pan, cook the ground meat then add seasoning and tomato sauce (or salsa) to the meat. Pour onto the dough, top with cheese and crunched up chips.
Bake 375 about 25 minutes, check the bottom to make sure it's not burning, you might have to adjust your bake time.
When it's done baking you can add the other toppings or serve them on the side for everyone to top with what  they like.
~Simply Angie

Make Your Own Chalk Paint

Before

I'm very excited to tell you about my new DIY project! My daughter's old computer desk was on it's way out of her house, so she asked me if I needed a new computer desk. So once again, here's how it works...mom needed a smaller computer desk/table, which is what I had but I wanted something different. I was looking for a vintage item to re-purpose. But as soon as I saw the pictures of my daughter's desk, I knew something very cool was about to happen here! As you might guess, mom took my original desk and my daughter's computer desk landed at my house! This is how you trade furniture - haha!! My original plan was to buy some Annie Sloan chalk paint but it seemed that it was not to be found in our city (on my first attempts anyway) so I decided to make my own chalk paint. I went to a local hardware store and bought a quart of incorrectly tinted paint (these are really cheap and most paint stores have them, it's the paint that was mixed for someone but the color was wrong so they brought it back to the store). I found the perfect off-white shade. I also bought a small bag of plaster of paris.

Then off to the craft store I went, I used my handy dandy 40% off coupon on a small jar of acrylic paint - I call it shabby blue but the real name is Spa Blue. I mixed the blue and creamy white paints for the perfect color for my new desk. My sister will love this next part because you don't need to sand or prime when using chalk paint (I must confess, I also enjoyed that part!)

Chalk Paint:

3/4 cup creamy white latex paint

1/3 cup Spa Blue acrylic paint

3 T (heaping tablespoons) dry plaster of paris

Mix all together until it has the consistency of cake batter and no lumps. If you find a color you like, you don't have to add any acrylic paint, just use the latex or the Annie Sloan paint. Start brushing, you can brush in different directions, this paint is very forgiving, it also dries quickly. I applied one coat, in some areas I applied the paint a little thicker. On the same day, after it dried, I applied the clear wax, then some dark wax.
Finishing Touches:
I researched the ways to finish the furniture and decided I really wanted to use the correct products for the look I wanted. After numerous phone calls, store visits and internet searching, I still had issues trying to find the Annie Sloan products, then finally I found some at a vintage shop downtown. I was SO excited! I bought the clear wax, dark wax and a paint brush. This was an expensive (about $90) little purchase for me, I would not usually spend that much on any DIY items but I really love this look and I already have my eyes set on a couple of more items in my house. Google the Annie Sloan videos (on You Tube) for help with techniques.

Happy painting!
Love and peace,
~ Simply Tammi