Tag Archives: enjoy life

My Top Ten Herbs (Part Six; Rosemary Recipes included)

Posted by KyAuthorProfessorJBowling499B in a spiritual life, appalachian life, clean eating, drying herbs, farm living, garden time, God’s time, holistic living, homesteading, Kentucky memories, ky author, plant-based, Vegan recipes and tagged with , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Hello from the mountains of Kentucky! I hope your Thanksgiving was amazing and your Christmas will be even better. It’s been busy in our little part of the world as we finish our Christmas shopping, and decorating for our family celebration as Christmas is only days away. With preparing for the festivities I decided to bake some rustic herb bread using two of my top ten herbs, rosemary and thyme. I love experimenting and trying new flavors, new breads, and new recipes. I am excited to share a few of my favorite recipes and uses for my sixth favorite herb in my top ten posts, Rosemary. But first a little information about Rosemary.

One of our smaller pots of rosemary .

Rosemary is an evergreen type of perennial herb that derives from the Mediterranean region. It is reasonably hardy in cooler temperatures as well. I usually pot some each year for quick access for recipes. I also grow several plants in our raised bed that winters over very well as we cover our bed during the winter months. It is easier to start the plant a plant than from a seedling. Rosemary is difficult to start from seed, but not impossible. This aromatic plant also withstands drought quite well. Keeping the rosemary pruned prevents the plant from becoming woody and stiff. Pruning will also help the plant to become more bushy and promote new growth.

Rosemary is a member of the sage family. It has a wonderful aroma that unique and pleasant. It flowers in the summer, but can flower more often in warmer climates. The flowers are small and light pinkish or white blooms. The height of this woodsy plant can vary in size, depending on the location and the amount of pruning. It’s fairly easy to grow, dry, and store. Its aromatic needles have many culinary and medicinal uses as well as uses for personal hygiene. Let’s get started with a few ways that we use rosemary on the homestead.

Rosemary can be used fresh or dried. I dry my rosemary by pruning the plant and washing the sprigs well to remove soil and possible insects that might be hiding. Gently pat to dry and place the herb on a white cloth in a shallow pan. If I have a larger amount, I add the herbs to my hanging rack, which hold much more. Place the herb away from direct sunlight and leave to dry until the sprigs are crisp. I store my dried rosemary on the stems in quart jars and strip the leaves as I need them.

One of my favorite recipes for dried rosemary is my crusty herb bread. A small amount of this delicious crusty bread packs a punch of flavor. I use the following basic bread recipe Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread: Homemade Crusty Vegan Bread and add a tablespoon and a half of finely chopped rosemary and a tablespoon of dried thyme finally chopped as you add the seeds. The dried herbs work great as they are already dried and do not add any moisture to the bread as fresh herbs have the potential to do. This delicious bread is great toasted with most any Italian meal, or toasted to use as a dipping vessel for red pepper hummus. The possibilities are endless.

Seeded herb bread

A second recipe that includes rosemary is our clean vegan summer squash soup. It is delicious year round, but tend to enjoy it most early fall or in the summer months when summer squash is at its peak. The following link will take you to this light , yet hardy soup. The herb bread above is a wonderful addition to this delicious soup. Clean Vegan Summer Squash Soup I also like to melt a slice of plant based provolone cheese on the herb bread for a little extra rich taste.

Summer squash soup

Rosemary makes a great flavoring for salt as well. This is an easy way to preserve the final sprigs of rosemary of the season and make a few stocking stuffers or gifts for those who love to cook with herbs. This delicious recipe can be prepared several ways, but my favorite is simply equal parts of fresh-cut rosemary and course kosher salt. Strip the leaves from the rosemary and add salt, pulse the mix in the food processor 8-10 times or you may use a spice grinder. You may also substitute the kosher salt with course sea salt. Pink Himalayan salt can also be used, but the shelf life doesn’t seem quite as long.

Once you add the fresh rosemary with the salt and grind set it aside on a parchment lined pan for about six hours to air dry. Add to a jar with a lid. Keeps indefinitely. Another method is to use dried rosemary pulsed in the spice grinder until desired consistency is achieved and add the mix to the preferred salt. This eliminates the drying process with fresh rosemary. Using this method allows you to use the salt immediately as the rosemary is already dried. Rosemary salt is a great addition to tofu scrambles, soups, and potatoes. For those that don’t follow a plant-based diet rosemary salt is great on eggs, pork, chicken, or lamb. The possibilities are endless. The ratio of salt to rosemary can be modified to taste.

I like to hand chop the rosemary. I’m a bit old-school.
For this recipe I used 1/4 chopped rosemary.
Shake the rosemary salt before each use to ensure it is distributed evenly.

Finally, rosemary has been thought to be a nourishing herb for strengthening and thickening hair. Rosemary can also be used in a variety of ways cosmetically. However, hair care is one of our favorites. Sprigs of dried rosemary can be added to a spray bottle of filtered water for rosemary water that can be sprayed daily on hair dry or damp hair to promote thickening and shine. Using dried herbs helps prevent mold from gathering in the bottle. I also prefer to use amber glass spray bottles. The dark color helps preserve the water and protect it from sunlight while also helping to eliminate plastic. Once you add the sprigs of dried rosemary to the water, allow it to sit for at least a week to intensify the aroma and the water to absorb the nutrients from the herb. Use as a refreshing spray to your hair, scalp, or skin.

Rosemary oil can be made from dried rosemary as well. Using throughly dried rosemary, add the sprigs to a glass bottle of oil. I prefer organic fractionated coconut oil for topical use. Seal the bottle and place in a dark cabinet for at least two weeks. After two weeks, strain the oil using cheesecloth adding the oils to either an amber colored glass spray bottle or dropper bottle. The rosemary oil can be used directly on then scalp to nourish the scalp and help promote hair growth. Once the oil is applied, massage scalp evenly for five-minutes then wrap hair with a towel or shower cap. Leave the oil on the hair for at least thirty minutes. Wash and rinse hair as usual. You may also spray hair lightly throughout to help mange dry or damaged hair. Finally, you can add a few drops of the rosemary oil to your favorite shampoo and or conditioner.

These are only a few of the great ways to use this powerhouse of an herb. Because of its diversity, I think a book could be written about rosemary. Other uses of rosemary include adding it to homemade body butter, laundry detergent, sachets, teas, and more. I hope to add more rosemary recipes in upcoming days. For now, God bless and Merry Christmas from the mountains of Kentucky. Feel free to like, share, subscribe and or follow our blog. Your support is appreciated. God bless!

Merry Christmas from our home to yours.

March Porch Book Review: Before We Were Yours

Posted by KyAuthorProfessorJBowling499B in appalachian life, book reviews, coffee time, faith over fear, holistic living, ky author, my special days, porch reviews, tea time, Vegan recipes and tagged with , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
My porch, one of my favorite places to read!

Good morning from the mountains of Kentucky. It’s a beautiful sunny morning in the mountains. I am loving these spring temperatures and all the colorful blooms on the trees. The mountains are beautiful this time of year. I am also loving the warm temperatures for porch reading! I am a firm believer that daily reading is a simple task that is all to often shelved as a pass time or a hobby. Reading is healthy. Reading is healthy for our brain and keeps us alert. It is also a time for relaxation, and a time of escape from daily worries and overscheduled days. Excuses is on the of the biggest factors in why people are not reading. I hear it often. The excuse of, I don’t have time. If you make time for television, browsing your phone, and playing games, you have time to read. So, when do I read? I love to read in the early morning, late afternoons, while I eat lunch, and before I retire for the night. The truth is that I love to read anytime of the day. I’ll say it again, reading is a vital part of our overall health. Plus… it’s enjoyable.

Another question I am often asked is about what I read. I like to read almost anything. I read the book of choice with our university’s book club each month. We read various books, from murder mysteries to fantasy science fiction. I read books suggested by friends and students. I read a novel per bi-term with my students. I read the bible daily and love to study the word for a closer spiritual walk and daily guidance. I love to read spiritual books about characters from the bible, past spiritual leaders, and books about hope for tomorrow. I love to read fiction books that are based on historical events, which leads me to March’s review of Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate. I have read several of her books that are worthy of mentioning before I review the most recent. I stumbled on one of her books at a local Good Will store while thrifting with my daughter. The title, The Prayer Box, leapt off the cover at me and I quickly tucked it in my cart with other valued treasures that I had found. This book is amazing and lead me on a path for two more books that are actually in a trilogy. The funny thing is… I read the three books backward with The Prayer Box actually being the third book in the trilogy, which I read first, then I read the first and second book, The Sea Keepers’ Daughters, and the Sea Glass Sisters. Once I finished the last book, which was the first book of the series, the suggested book Before We Were Yours intrigued me. I recalled seeing the book Good Reads, on Amazon, a d as a suggested read from a friend. I immediately ordered it. This was a purchase I found well worth paying full price.

Cover of the book!

Before We Were Yours, is a multi-plot story that takes the reader from the time of the great depression in the thirties to the 1990’s. You will travel down the Mississippi River on a shanty boat filled with love and laughter that quickly turns to desperation, deceit, and lives that will never be the same. You learn about a twelve-year old character named Rill, and her four siblings who fall victims to the fate of the Tennessee Children’s Home Society, an Orphanage in Memphis Tennessee, that was ran by Georgia Tann. Through this time travel back and forth from the time of the depression the reader is also introduced to the character of, Avery, who is is from the 90’s. Avery, accidentally stumbles onto a deep dark family secret that leads her on a mysterious journey filled with trails of adventures, love, loss, joy, and sorrow all the while uncovering mysteries that were thought to have been locked away forever. The reader also meets two elderly ladies, May and Judy, who are living in total opposite types of care facilities. Their characters will forever linger in the heart of the reader. Will the mysteries change Avery’s life? What are the connections between Rill and Avery? Where does May and Judy fit into the mystery? Read the book to discover the answers to these questions and more. The reader will meet diverse rich characters that you will come to love, mourn, and characters that you love to hate. This is was one book I could not wait to make time to read each day, as I too, was as interested in how the mystery’s were going to unfold. I couldn’t wait to travel with Avery along on the trail to solve the mystery’s that others wanted to leave buried in the past. This is one book that I will be suggesting for my students and friends to read.

As you know, our daughter, and I love to thrift for antiques, and unusual items. On our last thrifting excursion, she actually found a hard copy of Before We Were Yours, at a local Good Will for 99 cents! What a steal! Don’t forsake browsing the shelves of the books in thrift stores, your next great read might just be shelved within the numerous books that are often overlooked.

Now for my rating of this wonderful book. I rated it on Good Reads and Amazon as a five-star book. It kept me engaged, there was no foul language, it contained rich characters, developing plot(s), and also I learned a little about a part of history that occurred only one state away from me that I never knew about. It was entertaining, well-written, educational, and held my attention throughout. I recommend this book for someone who is searching for a summer read, beach read, or a book to pickup and read periodically throughout the week as being the one that you will enjoy.

For now, God bless from the Mountains of Kentucky. Enjoy this beautiful Easter weekend and reflect on what our Savior sacrificed so that we could be born again in Him and live! He is risen!

Tea Time Tuesday

Posted by KyAuthorProfessorJBowling499B in a spiritual life, appalachian life, clean eating, clean recipes, drying herbs, farm living, God’s time, holistic living, Kentucky memories, ky author, memories, my special days, plant-based, tea time, Vegan recipes and tagged with , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Fresh peppermint tea in my favorite tea mug!

Good afternoon from the mountains of Kentucky! Today feels like spring in the mountains. Easter Lillie’s are bloomed, some of the trees and bushes are budding, and I see green plants emerging through the flower bed covering. I am excited about spring as it always feels like an opportunity for new beginnings, time to plant, and time to enjoy the beautiful mountains that we are blessed with.

Summer in the mountains!

For those of you who are serious tea drinkers, and for those who enjoy a cup of tea from time time… you’ll enjoy my series, Tea Time Tuesday. It will be a reoccurring blog post that will include random topics ranging from making teas, uses of teas, to recipes that include tea in them, and occasional recipes for goodies to eat while drinking tea. I will also review books I’ve read while enjoying a cup of tea. While some posts might be simple ramblings or inspirational words. However, today’s post is about a topic that is worthy of conversation. Loose tea verses tea bags.

I’ve been an avid tea drinker for years. I like almost all flavors of teas. But, I do have a few favorites. I love a good chai tea with oat milk, and lavender. I drink peppermint tea almost every day. I like black teas and love a good chamomile tea with either honey or lavender and sometimes both. Regardless the tea I drink, I prefer loose leaf to tea bags. The tea that I grow and dry does not even compare to purchased teas, but there are times when I buy loose leaf, especially black tea and chamomile tea. So, why do I prefer loose leaf to bagged tea? Loose leaf is more flavorful, I don’t have to worry about how long it’s been shelved, I don’t have to wonder if the bags are good quality or could they be toxic. There are so many different reasons, but flavor and the ability to use a tea ball of loose leaf tea a second time, which is a great money and tea saver, especially if you purchase tea. If you don’t like a tea ball, you can always purchase organic tea bags that you can fill yourself. The organic tea bags are great for tea on the go. They store easily in my lunch bag that I carry to work.

I’m curious about your preferences. Which do you prefer bagged tea or loose leaf, and why? I would love to hear from you. For now, God bless from the mountains of Kentucky. I think I’ll enjoy a cup of tea and porch sit a little while on this beautiful spring-like day!

In Times of Uncertainty God is With Us

Posted by KyAuthorProfessorJBowling499B in a spiritual life, faith over fear, God’s time, in time of need, Kentucky memories, Spiritual life and tagged with , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Hello, from the mountains of Kentucky. I hope this post finds each of you well. I wanted to share a small part of my heart with you today. I awoke early in the morning hours, just after midnight. I had a sense of uncertainty welling up within me. If you are like me, it seems today, more than ever, i find myself being stretched to the limit with time to complete tasks, some of which go untouched. Unfinished work, tasks, or plans leave me with a feeling of uncertainty, which sometimes interferes with my sleep. This morning was one of those mornings. But through the sleepless hours, I was reminded of just how Big God is.

His joy will fill us… if we are willing to be filled.

As I lay awake trying to find sleep, I pondered questions such as when I could complete the task(s) neglected yesterday due to unplanned obligations. How can I stretch time to allow me to meet all of the tasks that face me tomorrow? When will I find a little much-needed time for myself? And the big question, Lord, am I spending enough time with you? With questions swirling through my mind, sleep seemed far away. I began praying for peace, answers, and for sleep to come.

I was reminded while praying to pray the Lord’s word. I was reminded that life and death are in the power of the tongue. There is life in His word. I found comfort in the following scripture. Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. (Proverbs 3:5-6 KJV). I prayed for the Lord to help me trust Him during difficult times. He reminded me that He is my Heavenly Father, and just as I, as an earthly parent, will ensure that our children are cared for and help them in any way that I can, He, too, would help me. Trust filled me and sleep soon came. It was good sleep. It was restful sleep. I awoke feeling rested and ready to face the day. I was reminded this morning of His love and mercy and His word from 1 Peter 5: 7 Casting all your care upon him; for He careth for you. My heart was filled with peace and the trust that the enemy tried to take from me in the early hours of the morning. The enemy is a liar! I am an overcome.

His word don’t lie!

We must remember that we wrestle not against flesh but against the principalities of evil. Spiritual warfare is real. The enemy’s sole purpose is to discourage, take away, and destroy God’s children. We must be steadfast, hold tight to His word, trust Him with all our heart, rebuke the enemy, and plead the blood over and around us and our family during this trying time, and at the name of Jesus, the enemy will flee. Life will be filled with uncertainties; you will feel overwhelmed at one time or another, and you will see that full calendar and fear that the tasks will not be completed. But, remember that fear does not come from God, but rather from the enemy spiritually fighting against you. God is ever-present and is as near as you allow Him to be. He will be there to help you when you call upon His name. The name that is above all names. He never leaves us, nor will He forsake us. The word tells us that He will go all the way with us.

Finally, let us never forget that as long as we have been born again, we are blessed and will be overcomers. Stay the course, press forward, pray on, stay steadfast, and trust Him for all our needs and we will finish this race as an overcomer. He is our Alpha and Omega, beginning and ending, and everything in between. I learned a valuable lesson in the early morning hours talking to Him. Maybe my awakening aimed to teach me and help you when you have that sleepless night.

God bless, from the mountains of Kentucky. I love to read comments. Feel free to like, share, subscribe, leave comments, or prayer requests. Enjoy this beautiful day that the Lord has blessed us with.

When Fall Comes to the Mountains

Posted by KyAuthorProfessorJBowling499B in a spiritual life, appalachian life, canning, clean eating, farm living, garden time, holistic living, homesteading, Kentucky memories, my special days, Vegan recipes and tagged with , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
The leaves are beginning to turn in the mountains!

Hello, from the mountains of Kentucky. Can you feel fall in the air? Fall is one of my favorite seasons. When fall comes to the mountains, something magical happens. A carpet of beautiful foliage slowly emerges throughout the mountains. The colors are brilliant yellows, crisp oranges, and fiery reds, all mixed with hints of green lingering for a few more weeks. The foliage reminds me of my sister’s handmade quilts. My sister is a brilliant artist who creates gorgeous quilts from scrap materials of diverse colors. She is legally blind but still creates unique quilts by hand with tiny stitches. Not only is she legally blind, she is also totally colorblind. My children used to ask me if she saw things in color, just like a child to wonder. Yes, I would answer she sees in colors; she just can’t distinguish which color is which. So, her quilts come together in a stunning color scheme… just like the foliage in our mountains does in the fall.

A postage stamp quilt gifted to me by my sister. Each block is the size of an actual postage stamp!

When fall comes to the mountains, preserving and canning is usually near completion. Autumn, or fall, as we call it, is the time to go to the apple orchard to pick apples for tasty recipes, preserving, drying, and munching. We enjoyed the orchard this year as the temperature was comfortable; the crowd wasn’t as big as previous visits, and the fried apple pies were delicious. The grandkids had fun playing on the playground and games, while the adults enjoyed the atmosphere and sights. We used the apples we brought home for various dishes. Some of our favorite apple dishes during the fall include frying apples with breakfast or supper. We also peeled and dried many apples, resulting in three large containers of dehydrated apples for healthy snacks, frying, cakes, or pies. Nothing went to waste. We used all the apples, even down to the peels and cores, which the chickens enjoyed as a fall treat.

Picking apples
Grandkids having fun at the orchard.

Seed saving is a common tradition within the mountains. Fall is the perfect time to save vegetable, fruit, herb, and flower seeds. The late-bearing acorn squash and peppers are the only vegetables left to be picked. We have a remnant of beans hanging on the fences drying to be used for seed next year. When collecting seeds, it is essential to use sources from plants that are healthy and produce the best vegetation or fruit. We collected seeds from the remaining vegetables and placed them on cheesecloth or white paper towels to dry. Once the seeds are dry, we put them in envelopes for storage. We recognize some sources in recycled brown jars/bottles containing organic vitamins. This is a brilliant method of recycling as well. Also, be sure to label your seeds to identify them when you’re ready to plant.

My seed box.

When fall comes to the mountains, so do pumpkins! Children and adults alike enjoy trips to the pumpkin patch to pick pumpkins, enjoy pumpkin treats, and enjoy the beauty of the mountains. Pumpkin spices and flavors are prominent in restaurants, store shelves, coffee shops, and more. Pumpkin spice is a favorite in the mountains. Many mountain families love pumpkin-flavored treats like coffee, pie, bread, butter, and cookies.

A trip to the pumpkin patch is always fun!

When fall comes to the mountains, it’s a time for family gatherings, cookouts, dinners, and a time to socialize and relax away from the world’s cares. Mountain cookouts usually have hot dogs, hamburgers, vegan burgers, marshmallows, chips, and some sides.. This is also a perfect time to include pumpkin cookies or pumpkin bread. Cookouts in the mountains are about the food and the socialization! Sitting by the campfire with loved ones, roasting marshmallows and sharing stories is the best way to enjoy fall in the Appalachian Mountains.

And finally, when fall comes to the mountains, it’s time to prepare for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Thanksgiving in the mountains is a time for family to come together for the day. Each person typically brings a side-dish to menu and everyone gathers at one house, which is typically my house. I love when all our family gathers together to relax with appetizers that consist of; my traditional cheese ball, peanut butter and chocolate buckeye candy, dips with chips, and of course banana and or pumpkin bread. We load Thanksgiving dinner with good food. Dinner usually includes the traditional dishes of turkey, usually prepared two ways. We roast one turkey in the oven and we smoke a second turkey outside in the smoker. A ham is prepared and complete with brown sugar and pineapples. The side dishes usually include mashed potatoes, green beans, fried corn, homemade cornbread stuffing/dressing, brown gravy, sweet potato casserole, and more. It’s a smorgasbord! A literal feast. Family members can be found eating around the dining room table and in the kitchen. We add tables for kids in the family room. After the dinner, dessert is available for those who have room, and those who do not! Dessert typically consists of peach cobbler, Butterfinger delight, carrot cake, cherry cheesecake, and other delicious recipes that family brings with them. Football can be found on the television and often-times, one of our favorite Christmas movies… The Christmas Story is on 24/7 on Thanksgiving and on one of the televisions. It’s also a time that most of the females are bargain shopping as the black Friday sales have begun! But, the best part of the day is the heartfelt prayer that is prayed before the meal begins, and the socializing during dinner and after. It’s a wonderful to catch up on what has been going on in the lives of our family.

When fall comes to the mountains of Kentucky… it’s more than the beautiful scenery. Fall is a time of hard work as we can preserve and clean up the garden. It’s a time of gathering seeds for the following year. Fall is a time of fellowship with friends, our church family, and our family. Fall is a time for campfires, holiday meals, and winter transition.

Late fall last year in the mountains!

I hope you’ve enjoyed this post and a little time in our small corner of the world. Feel free to follow and or comment. Get ready! I have an outstanding sweet potato recipe that I will post in a few days. You can prepare this cake vegan or non-vegan. It’s delicious. Well, let me give you a sneak peek at the cake!

Sweet potato pound cake… recipe coming soon!

For now, God bless, and happy fall from the mountains of Kentucky!

Canning Homemade Vegetable Soup

Posted by KyAuthorProfessorJBowling499B in appalachian life, canning, clean eating, farm living, garden time, holistic living, homesteading, in time of need, Kentucky memories, plant-based, Vegan recipes and tagged with , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Good evening, from the mountains of Kentucky! I hope you are having a great start to your week! It’s a hot week in the mountains with temperatures soaring into the nineties. I don’t mind it. I’m savoring the last weeks of summer. With that being said, with the lingering days of summer vanishing swiftly, also comes the final rounds of canning. We have worked to stock and restock our pantry and canned goods from the harvest of our garden. Even though I wasn’t able to do much of the planting because of my hip replacement in June, I have enjoyed the labor of harvesting and canning. Let me say this: God is so good. He has truly been with me literally every step of my recovery. I am so thankful for how well I have progressed. I give Him all the glory for it. Now, to delve deeper into canning vegetable soup.

Recently, I decided I would use the lingering remnants of leftovers in our fridge and turn them into a savory vegan vegetable beef soup. You could easily change this recipe to be vegetable beef soup with real beef.

Vegan vegetable beef simmering on the stove.

Recipe ingredients:

  • One bag of your choice of plant-based beef crumbles. I used a bag of Ultimate Beef pieces.
  • Half of a yellow onion
  • One small bell pepper of choice
  • One tablespoon minced garlic or fresh garlic
  • One cup of fresh diced tomatoes or organic canned diced tomatoes
  • One cup of organic vegetable broth
  • One tablespoon of organic extra virgin olive oil
  • Two cups of freshly cooked green beans or one can of organic green beans
  • One cup of fresh corn or one can of organic corn
  • One cup of frozen organic peas or one can of organic sweet peas
  • Four medium-size potatoes
  • One cup of fresh carrots or one can of organic carrots
  • One quart of freshly canned tomato juice or two-three cups of organic canned juice

Process:

If you are using beef, brown the beef and drain. If you are using vegan meatless meat, you can add to the onions and peppers while they are simmering.

Peel and cut potatoes to desired size. Add potatoes to saucepan of water with a pinch of salt and oil. Cook potatoes until the cut easily with fork or knife. If you’re using fresh carrots, you may either peel, slice and steam them, or cook them with the potatoes. Set potatoes aside.

Add a tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil to a large stock pot. I prefer cast iron to Teflon. Heat on low and add diced onions and peppers. Season with salt and pepper. Allow onions and peppers to become slightly translucent. Add drained beef or vegan meat and stir. I like to add a little extra seasoning at this stage to build flavor. I use a little cumin, paprika, salt, pepper, and turmeric. These are optional. After mixture is mixed well, add diced tomatoes. Drain potatoes and carrots and add to soup mixture. Stir in additional veggies to the soup mixture. Taste to season and add tomato juice. Allow soup to come to a soft boil, then reduce to low and simmer for two hours.

This soup is great served with crackers, cornbread, grilled cheese or vegan grilled cheese. Now to the canning process!

Sterilize jars, rings, and flats. Add warm soup to pint jars. This can be done in the dishwasher or by boiling them in the canne

add water to canner and warm on medium heat. Place canning funnel over pint jar, ladle warm soup into jars. Leave at least a half for head space. I like to wipe the rim of the jar, flat, and ring with a clean dish cloth or paper towel dipped in vinegar before sealing. This helps guard against possible bacteria. Place warm jars of soup in the canner and allow the water to come to a boil. When the water comes to a hard boil set the timer for thirty minutes.

when the time exhausts, turn the stove off and allow the water to simmer for about ten minutes. Remove the jars with the jar lifter. Set the jars on a dry folder to cool. As the jars cool, you should hear the coveted ping ensuring you that the jars are sealed! After the jars have cooled add the date to the lid.

This soup should have a shelf life for 18-24 months. Maybe longer! I’ve never found out as it usually lasts at my house for 10-11 months and it’s gone! This is a great soup to take along as lunch at work, if you have access to a microwave or one of the lunch size crock pots. It’s great for those nights when you don’t feel like cooking. It’s great served with cornbread or crackers. I personally love it with a vegan grilled cheese sandwich. You be the desired!

Don’t forget to add the date to the lids!

I hope you enjoy this soup as much as we do. Feel free to leave a comment or ask a question. As always, feel free to follow for more recipes and canning ideas. For now, God bless from the mountains of Kentucky! Thank you for stopping by my blog! Every reader is appreciated!

Essential Oils, Tea Bags, and Bee Stings

Posted by KyAuthorProfessorJBowling499B in a spiritual life, appalachian life, drying herbs, essential oils, faith over fear, farm living, garden time, holistic living, in time of need, Kentucky memories, ky author, memories, plant-based and tagged with , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Hello, from the Mountains of Kentucky! The heatwave continues in the mountains today! Dry and hot, yet beautiful! We all know what else comes with summer temperatures. Yes, that’s it! Bees! I’m not allergic to bee stings like our grandson is, but I certainly do not like the pain from those pesky things. To be so small, their stings can pack a punch!

Our beautiful flocks! Butterflies love them, but so do bees!

While watering my flowers this morning, wasps, or as we call them, waspers, were swarming the flocks. I thought as I always do, if I don’t bother them they won’t bother me. Wrong! As I left the flower bed a red wasp decided to make a plunge for my hair. My first instinct was to swish my hair back and forth to encourage it to leave. It left! But, it came back with a vengeance. I returned and stung me on the shoulder through the sleeve of my shirt. Ouch!!

Lavender and basil. Crushed basil leaves helps soothe a sting.

Once inside, I grabbed a roller ball of lavender and rolled it on the sting to sooth it. I had just finished drinking a cup of black so I grabbed a soaked tea bag and held it on the sting to draw the poison out. As the sting started soothing, I made my way to my apothecary chest to retrieve the purify essential oil, which acts as an antiseptic and massaged a few drops directly on and around the sting. Once it dried, I added a few drops of clove essential oil that acted as a numbing agent. It numbed the bee sting and the area around it. With the mix of essential oils, the organic tea bag, and a whispered prayer, relief came to affected area.

My apothecary chest that housed my essential oils and teas.

I am a firm believer in herbs, essential oils, and teas as well as prayer. I prefer natural methods of treatment rather than over the counter medicines. God created all living things and with that He provides us with an abundance of resources all around us. It’s a good idea to keep a few essential oils in a convenient place. I always keep a few essential essential oils in my purse and a couple of tea bags when we’re away from home, for bee stings, minor headaches, scrapes, or an upset stomach.

I look forward to sharing more tips that I have found helpful for using essential oils, herbs, and teas for minor ailments. I hope that this post will be beneficial to you and your family. Also, remember, those who are severely allergic to bee stings might find this method to help soothe stings until they can be seen by a physician or use an epipen.

Clove is a versatile oil that smells wonderful and helps numb bee stings.

Blessings from our home to yours! As always feel free to leave a message and or click follow to subscribe to my blog.

Hebrews 6:7 For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God

Fan The Flames… Spread the Word! God’s Not Dead… He’s Still Alive!

Posted by KyAuthorProfessorJBowling499B in a spiritual life, appalachian life, faith over fear, God’s time, in time of need, Kentucky memories, ky author, memories, Spiritual life, Uncategorized and tagged with , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Good morning from the mountains of Kentucky! It’s a hot one here today! Heat advisory’s have been posted, and the air is already warm this morning. I am not complaining though, I love this time of the year! I wanted to share a small piece of my heart with my readers this morning. I want to encourage you. I hope you enjoy.

Standing alone, but not forgotten.

I have always had a fascination with old things, antiques, vintage items, old barns, old homes, old school houses, and especially old churches. I even find a fascination in the house seats where old houses once stood. You know the ones that still have remnants left behind. Sometimes it’s a really matured oak tree. Other times, it’s an old stone fence, or maybe a dilapidated barn or the remains of an old root cellar. I instantly begin to visualize and imagine those that lived there before. What was there life like? Were they Christian’s? Did they enjoy the mountain scenery? Did they have children? Did they farm? The questions roll sometimes until I can’t stop my mind from wondering. I am often stirred within and feel a connection to the past.

Beautiful home! Oh the stories that could be told.

I love the group, Abandoned in KY group that I follow on Facebook. I can’t browse too much or I find myself lost in the photos making them larger to see every detail of even the tiniest object that was left behind by the previous tenants. Then the questions roll again. I am fascinated and saddened at the same time, especially when I see so many abandoned churches across our state being postsed. I find myself asking, why did no one carry on? Why is the homes and the churches abandoned? Have they been forgotten? Where are the ancestors? Did no one share the importance of maintaining a home? Did anyone share the importance of attending services in the church. Did no one keep the fire burning?

A one-room school house/church restored through a grant written by teachers.

I have pondered on these empty dwellings and sanctuaries for years. I have written many poems about them, and am currently working on a novel based on many of the empty structures that I have photographed. But today, I feel like lifting someone up. In the day we live in many of us look around at our churches and notice an undeniable trend of low attendance, lack of concern, and empty seats. I want to say this, don’t dwell on what you see or who you don’t see, but focus on God. Pray without ceasing, press for the mark, lift up His name, and pray for the return of fire in God’s church. Not just the church where you attend, but His church. The body of Christ. Remember a fire begins with one single tiny spark. The spark must then be fanned to produce a flame. Once the flames ignite, keep fanning and keep praying. A wildfire, a revival wildfire will erupt. But remember, don’t neglect the spark. Press on. Stay the course. Ignite the fire through prayer and fasting. Praise God for what’s coming, don’t look at current circumstances, and be willing to fan the flames of revival. Will you be that spark?

Let the the fire burn so bright that it can be seen even in the darkest times.

I hope you feel encouraged. Don’t be down trodden, don’t look at what you see with your physical eyes. Look through spiritual eyes and recognize that God is still God. He don’t change. It is His pleasure to restore and connect our todays and tomorrows to history of our yesterdays. Great awakenings erupted in the past through dedicated prayer and fasting and He can open up the geysers of anointed revival again. God’s not finished yet! Fan the flames! God is still God! The same today as yesterday!

Feel free to comment or click follow to follow my blog. God bless from the mountains of Kentucky. Fan the flames, spread the word, God’s still God! He’s not dead! He’s still alive!

Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. KJV

Time Worn Paths

Posted by KyAuthorProfessorJBowling499B in a spiritual life, appalachian life, God’s time, Kentucky memories, ky author, memories, my special days, Spiritual life and tagged with , , , , , , , , , , , ,
The highlighted path of yesteryears…

Good morning, from the mountains of Kentucky. I hope you’re having a wonderful spring and enjoying the beautiful outdoors. I felt the Lord inspire me this morning to write a post about paths. I love when the Lord inspires me with one word, then encourages me to dig deeper into the word for a better understanding of why He is speaking the word to me. Many times, when a believer says the Lord is speaking to them, it opens up opportunities for others to ask questions. For me, some of those questions include; Are you hearing an audible voice speaking this word or words? How do you determine that it’s the Lord speaking this word? What if it’s not Him? I typically answer with, no, it isn’t an audible voice, but it very well could be. I also reply that the Holy Spirit allows me to know that it is the Lord encouraging me to dig deeper into the word or words. Finally, if it’s not or wasn’t the Lord, then what would be the harm in exploring the word(s), praying about it, and learning from them? God grows us in various ways. The key is that we have to be receptive, willing to hear, and sometimes see what the Lord is impressing on our heart… and then have a willing heart to do something with the word or words. Willingness produces growth.

Growing up in the Appalachian Mountains in a more simplistic time than we now know. There wasn’t always entertainment at our fingertips. We had typically five to seven channels on television if the cable was working correctly. Did that mean we sat in front of the television mesmerized, much like youth are today? No, indeed not. We didn’t spend time indoors when we were home from school unless it was raining or bitterly cold. Were we being punished? No, indeed not. We were typically outside exploring, playing, and enjoying the surrounding entertainment that God provided. We spent most of our days fishing or wading in the creek, creating mud pies, playing in our homemade clubhouses, and making our own fun with what we had available. Were we bored? No, indeed we were not. We enjoyed checking out books from the bookmobile that frequented our house during the summer months. As a child, adventures awaited us daily. Adventures lay within the eye of the beholder, just as they are for me today. Pray for eyes to see, ears to hear, and a heart to receive what the Lord is telling or showing you, then to have the wisdom to apply what He is saying.

The physical worn path…

I have enjoyed walking and exploring the beautiful mountains of Kentucky since I was a young girl. I still see a path that’s worn by those that sojourned before me and imagine who blazed the first path. Where were they going, and what did they find? Even today, I get lost in my imagination as I walk the path before me. The Lord has piqued my curiosity about the word path countless times. He allowed me to know that paths can be physical paths made by the footsteps of others and that paths can be the remnant of what’s left behind in annotations in Bibles. There’s something about the smell of a path through the mountains that entices me, just as the aroma that fills my nostrils from the time-worn pages of a bible. Both paths arouse curiosity and both have the potential to grow me spiritually, and opportunities to hear from the Lord. I am a firm believer that if we are receptive to our surroundings, objects, places, the word, and the people that He places in our paths, He will grow us. God doesn’t change, we do. I encourage you to dig deep, find that child-like faith, the curiosity of a child, and always the willingness to trust Him when He speaks to you. Again, the key to growth is the willingness to adhere to what the Lord is saying. It’s not about us, but all about Him.

The annotated & highlighted path reveals the past…a spiritual timeworn bath left behind.

I hope this short post has encouraged you to listen closely, and to not dismiss the repetition of a word or words that surface from various places, and to pray through the experience and allow the Lord to lead you to gain new knowledge, help someone else, or just satisfy a curiosity that lies within yourself. Life is short. Live it… live it for Him. Love life and above all love Him, and resonate His love toward others. God bless, from the mountains of Kentucky. As always, your comments and questions are always welcome.

“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not to thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” Proverbs 3:5, 6.

 

Divine Doors

Posted by KyAuthorProfessorJBowling499B in a spiritual life, faith over fear, in time of need, Kentucky memories, my special days, Spiritual life, testimony Tuesdays and tagged with , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Good morning, from the mountains of Kentucky. I hope your spring is off to a great start. It’s a rainy spring day in the mountains today. I feel compelled to share this experience with my readers today. I hope it blesses you as much as it has blessed me.

Clouds over the mountains.

I awoke a few mornings ago with a word lingering in my thoughts and spirit. I have since repeatedly been hearing the word, doors. I’ve thought much about the word. Why was I hearing it, what did it mean? What was the hidden message behind this thought, this word? I would ponder and pray about the word, doors, and ask the Lord for an answer.

Doors serve many purposes. They can lead to unknown places, familiar places, opportunities, and adventures… and that’s just a minimal number of things that often await us behind a door.

God’s promises!

As I pondered and prayed about the significance of the word doors. I envisioned journeys and opportunities that might await, but for who? I wondered if this word was meant for me, a family member, or did it hold a significant meaning or message for the future. I wasn’t sure. Maybe, it was for all the above.

Confirmation came, not only once, but multiple confirmations came. Confirmation one came for our son-in-law, who had recently leased a small storefront to serve as an office. After a period of time, the office was no longer needed. Just as he was removing his last load of belongings from the office, a man stopped him as he exited the building and stated, you don’t know me and I don’t know you, but I feel that the Lord wants me to tell you something. Our son-in-law replied that he would like to hear what the man had to say. The stranger proceeded to tell him that the Lord wanted him to stop and tell him that when one door closed, the Lord will always open another door. And a door opened, a door of opportunity opened wide for him a few days later. Confirmation number one! I’ll share more about this opportunity at a later date.

The second confirmation came through a spoken word by a friend at church just as the Lord began to deal with my spirit that He wanted us, His children, to take His word through the doors of the church and out to others. He was speaking to me that we need to tell others about Him and share His word with them, but we needed to walk through the doors to do so. It’s great to assemble in the church to worship and fellowship, but He was saying there was work to do beyond the church doors. As my brother-in-law testified about the need to have a servant’s heart. I felt the tugging again that we were to take the word outside of the church and share God’s goodness with others. Confirmation number two. We must walk through the door to take the word, His word, out to others.

Let the Lord lead… and you follow.

Finally, the third confirmation showed up in a totally different way. The Lord allowed me to see a beautiful doorway in a vision yesterday. The doorway was divine, big, dark wood, and beautiful. It had intricate scrolling wood carvings, and beautiful green vines covering the outer edges. The door served as a gateway to a beautiful garden just beyond the door. The garden was full, lush, and green. It was alive with colorful blooms, and vibrant colors, and bees were buzzing around the blooms. It was alive! The Lord instilled within my spirit that just as the beautiful garden was alive… His word was alive. The garden door served as a gateway to a vision of God’s living word. We, as Christians, need to walk through our doors into the outside world and be living examples of His word, every day.

As always, feel free to leave a comment. God bless from the mountains of Kentucky!