Cough Syrup

I am down in Florida, enjoying some sunshine, and my mom develops a bad cough. Over-the-counter expectorant cough remedies suppress the cough and do not address the underlying problem. I learned about this onion cough syrup you can make but never actually made it and then thought no one better to experiment on then my mother! Well, after 2 days she swears by this easy homemade remedy and says I "cured" her......

This is simply what I did.

Cut up 1/2 an onion into small pieces and placed in a cup. Topped with organic honey until the onions were covered. Let it sit over night. The mixture will be thinner in the morning. Press out all the fluid and take a teaspoon 3 x per day.

The onions remove mucus and honey is wonderful for the immune system

I think in the future I would even add a little ginger......

Grapeseed Oil

I tend to have 2 types of oil in the house, extra virgin olive oil and grapeseed oil. I was first introduced to grapeseed oil as a cosmetic oil that was light and rich in antioxidants. Olive oil is the reigning star of cooking oils because of all the research done on the Mediterranean diet and its cardiovascular benefits. But the far less well known grape seed oil has also been shown to have positive effects on cholesterol, and it’s rich in antioxidants!! The other good thing about grape seed oil is that it has a higher smoke point than olive oil, which means that it can be burned at a higher temperature and does not turn rancid. Grape seed oil also, has a very mild flavor so can be used in almost any culinary endeavor from sautéing to baking. One last thing is that it is a hypoallergenic oil which is also key for me!

Homemade Granola

I made this granola over the holidays put it in glass mason jars for people as gifts. They were super cute and really tasty! I love granola but even the most healthy ones have unwanted ingredients and tend to be higher in fat. This is a really simple recipe, chalked full of fiber and healthy fats.

3 cups of oats
1/2 cup of flour (i used spelt)
1/2 cup pumpkin seeds
1/2 cup chopped almonds
1/4 cup sesame seeds
1/3 cup maple syrup
1/2 cup grapeseed oil
1/4 cup apple juice
1 tsp vanilla
2 tsp cinnamon

I simply mixed everything into one bowl (I am the queen of 1 bowl baking or cooking!!)

and placed in a baking dish at 325 F for 45 minutes. The key is having to stir up the granola every 10-15 minutes so the bottom does not burn. Voila!