Maple Seeds an edible treat

FALL

 I have a 150 year old Silver Maple tree in my back yard. While it is a beautiful shade tree , it does have it's drawbacks...first the red buds, then the helicopters, and lastly the leaves in the fall...

SPRING

Maple tree seeds are edible, contain protein, and can be used as survival food in winter months .

If eating maple seeds raw just doesn't trip your taste buds then boil them for about 15 minutes or until soft. Drain and season with whatever you think you will enjoy (butter and spices).

Toss spring maple seeds into a salad.

Roast maple tree seeds and eat them as a snack or toss onto a salad or as a garnish on soup. You can roast them by placing the seeds on a baking sheet and sprinkle with spices you like. Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for about 8 to 10 minutes.

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A maple seed or samara is sometimes called a key and is often referred to as a wingnut, helicopter, whirlibird, whirligig, polynose, or, in the north of England, a spinning jenny. During the autumn months, they are a popular source of amusement for children who enjoy tossing them in the air and watching them spin to the ground.

But did you know they are edible? ...and nutritious?

Are Maple seeds (the "fruits" inside the "helicopters") edible? 

I have parched some and they are delicious.

The raw ones are tasty as well, and might make a great trail nibble. 

There are so many wonderful healthy edibles in my pesticide free yard. It seems a shame to waste such a effortless garden. I'd bet my neighbors think I'm an odd sort. So be it, I have never been healthier. 

Harvest the seeds. They should be gathered when they're full but still  a little green in the spring, All maple seeds are good to eat, but some are more bitter than others (a good rule of thumb is: small and sweet, big and bitter).When their shells are brown, they are a little more bitter, but still good.
Hull the seeds. Peel off the outer skin (the "whirlygig" part). Cut the end with your thumbnail. Squeeze out the seed; it looks like a pea or bean.
Rinse out the tannins. Taste a few seeds raw. If they are bitter, you'll need to boil them in water, dump out the water, and repeat until the bitterness is gone

• Cook the seeds. If you boiled them already, just season with butter, salt, and pepper and enjoy. If they weren't boiled, here are a few more options:
• Roasting - Place the seeds on a cookie sheet and sprinkle with salt. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 8 - 10 minutes.
• Drying - Put them in a dry, sunny spot or in a food dehydrator until they are crunchy. They can then be pounded or ground into a flour, if you want. They are great for thickening sauces, and add a pleasant surprise flavor to mashed potatoes.

INGREDIENTS:

12 maple seeds
1/4 cup flour
1 tsp Turmeric powder
1 tsp Red Chilli powder

Salt to taste
Water to make a thick batter
Vegetable Oil for frying

1. Wash maple seeds well.
2. Combine flour, turmeric powder, red chilli powder, and salt in a bowl. Mix nicely and add water to make a thick batter. Set it aside.
3. Heat oil in a shallow pan. Dip the seeds into the batter and coat them nicely. Add two three pieces in the hot oil at a time and shallow fry them.
4. Fry till they  turn golden.Remove from oil by a spoon. Dry the excess oil by using  paper towel.
5. Serve hot with a side of ranch dressing!

KELP ME!!! Help your body to heal itself....naturally

For years I have suspected that I was hypothyroid. 
I first noticed my goiter close to 6 years ago, at that time it had become quite noticeable and was indeed very large.

 Obviously concerned for my health I went to see the doctor, who referred me to an endocrinologist, who then referred me to a surgeon. Strangely enough they told me my blood levels were normal and I didn't have a thyroid condition.... interesting since I have this giant goiter on my neck. .Seeing my grandma die from thyroid cancer scares the bejesus out of me. 

It seemed like my symptoms were getting worse, so I decided take things into my own hands and started researching natural therapies for hypothyroidism. All my research led me to iodine and I started taking one 12.5 mg of iodine/iodide pill a day in the form of a Kelp tablet. I just got them from the healthfood store, and love that they are all organic.I also have a ton of fibroids in my uterus, so I am hoping for them to go away also...Did you know that panic attacks are also the result of  Low iodine? Ya, I have those too...Fluoridated water depletes our iodine daily....

http://poisonfluoride.com/pfpc/html/symptoms.html

Iodine deficiency is rampant in most of us. Iodine is the best treatment for thyroid disorders, breast issues, bladder infections and many, many, many other issues. 

*Iodine clears up chest congestion. 
*Iodine improves babies IQ's when given to pregnant women.
*Iodine detoxes the body from heavy metals.
* Iodine acts to lower cholesterol and also helps to successfully remove and clear plaque from the heart arteries.
* Iodine, as well as T3 and T4, tend to accumulate in the lungs. Iodine is anticarcinogenic and antimutagenic. In the old pre-WW2 days iodine was used by medical doctors in much larger doses -- 300 mgs to 2000 mgs amounts  -- to successfully treat chronic forms of bronchitis, asthma and emphysema.  Iodine is therefore highly protective for the lungs in general.
* In larger dose, iodine inhibits the conversion of histidine to histamine. So it acts as a natural anti-histamine against allergies as well.
* For low acidity problems in the stomach, taking  iodine will treat the root cause and revive proper acid levels in the stomach for proper digestion.
* There is an artery that runs through the thyroid/parathyroid which trickles out iodine continuously into the blood. Iodine kills 90%-95% of all known pathogens.
* Iodine in the blood also prevents bacteria and viruses from attaching themselves onto host cells for invasion, attack or reproduction.
* Cyst problems such as uterine fibroids and fibrocystic breast disease are completely resolved and cured, usually over a 3 month period, by taking 50 mgs  iodine a day.
* Taking daily  Iodine can also resolve prostate problems in men.
* Larger dose iodine, just on its own, can completely cure systemic candida. Google Search "Orian Truss iodine candida".
All of the above benefits are associated with taking larger dose iodine. But most people still associate the small RDA microgram dose for iodine with just the thyroid when, in actual fact, the rest of the human body needs at least 100 times more iodide/iodine than the RDA recommends. Women also need much more iodine than men.

*UPDATE
The change in my life has been incredible. The first change was my energy. I felt completely recharged! I also felt motivated! Like I actually WANTED to get things done. Mentally I felt so much clearer. I have struggled on and off with depression and for the first time in my life I felt consistently stable. I researched this further because it was completely astounding to me. There is a known link between low thyroid function and bipolar disorder! In fact, if anti-depressants stop working or aren't as effective in some people, doctors prescribe them a medication that enhances their T3 and- viola! -their medication starts working again!
The next thing I noticed was that my knees and back were no longer hurting. They had been so painful since my car accident, I could hardly function... for at least a month they just stopped hurting completely.I can go up stairs again!!!! WOOOOHOOOO

The hypothyroid night sweats are gone (I would wake up at least 4-5 times each week with my pajamas, hair and sheets drenched), I am sleeping decently and the under eye puffiness is gone...
.
One thing that still just blows me away is that my feet are smooth. For as long as I can remember, my  heels have been dry and cracked and the skin was so thick. To get my feet in shape for sandals in warm weather took a ton of soaking and sanding. I just figured that's how my feet were. Within just a couple of days, I started noticing my heels were not as rough. After a week, they were like I had received an incredibly expensive pedicure !! To get results like this, normally I would have to soak, scrub, moisturize repeatedly and maybe after a week they would look half this good.
The whole thing is shocking and amazing to me. It has helped me beyond anything I could have imagined. I figured so many of my issues were things I had to live with and never dreamed they could even be treated. I wonder how many people are walking around with low functioning thyroids and don't even know it? I seriously felt like a 40 year old in a 90 year old body!

SMOKED BEEF BRISKET~ HOMEFAKER STYLE

                   

                You don't need Teef
                      To eat my Beef....

This is by far the easiest most flavorful,moist beef brisket recipe you will find anywhere.

 And NO SMOKER  necessary. 

I made it easy for all my little Homefakers out there. 

Why spend all that money and unnecessary time, when the results are the same if not better in the end? 

Marinade
(Combine following ingredients in a small kettle...Bring mixture to a boil, Then simmer for 30 minutes...let cool)
4 cups water
1/4 cup white vinegar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup salt
1 onion cut up
1/4 cup liquid smoke
2 T. mustard
3 Bay leaves
1 T. garlic powder
1 pinch red pepper flakes
2 T. Worcestershire sauce
2 T. black pepper

Place an approximately 5 lb. beef brisket(NOT CORNED BEEF) in a  high sided baking dish, oven bag, or aluminum foil pan fat side down. Add the cooled marinade and cover if using a bowl. Place in refrigerator overnight (at least 10 hours not more than 24 hours). Let the meat and marinade work it's magic while you get your beauty sleep.

6 1/2 hours before you want to serve, preheat oven to 300 degrees. Bake your brisket fat side up in the marinade for 4 hours covered, and no peeking! Next drain the marinade off except 1 cup. At this time you have the option to add barbecue sauce(16 oz.) if you like. My hubby hates it, so we do not. Continue baking covered for the remaining 2 1/2 hours at 300 degrees.

Cool then slice against the grain, about 1/2 inch thick, serve with gravy or your favorite barbecue sauce...ENJOY!

 And leftovers make great sandwiches ...add sliced onion, baby                       kale, tomatoes, cheese and mayo..

                     Happy Mother's Day!!

RHUBARB MARGARITA

Rhubarb strawberry syrup

4 stalks fresh rhubarb cut in small pieces, plus more for garnish
2 T. honey
1 cup water
1 cup sugar
5 strawberries, hulled



First, prepare the rhubarb syrup. Combine the  above ingredients in a small kettle....bring to a boil  over medium heat. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 10 minutes. Pour the mixture into a blender or food processor and blend until smooth. Pour the syrup into a jar and put in the refrigerator until cooled.



Now...on to the Margarita !!!

1/2 cup tequila 
1  1/2 cup rhubarb~strawberry simple syrup
1/4 cup fresh lime juice
Ice (approx 1 cup
Pinch salt
Blend together all of the ingredients in a blender until the desired consistency is reached, then pour into salt rimmed glasses. Garnish the rim of each glass with a rhubarb wedge rolled in sugar. If you wanna spice it up add a jalapeno slice or 2 before blending...DIVINE!


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TIP.....
You can make these ahead in a large batch, then put in Mason Jars in the freezer...Then BAM when company drops in remove the cover and garnish...you have a great summer treat!