Rosemary

Note: Consult a doctor if you are being treated for any illnesses before using any type of food for its’ health benefits.

Rosemary is an attractive herb. It is said to mean friendship, and has health benefits. It is said to help to prevent:

• Cancer
• Menstrual cramps
• Digestive issues

Rosemary is very useful in cooking. It can be used in:

• Lamb dishes
• Teas
• Soups and stews
• Fish dishes
• Rice dishes

It can also be used as a companion plant for cabbage and sage.

Italian Potatoes with Onion and Rosemary

Drinking Tea for Optimal Health Benefits

1: Do not use dairy products in your hot tea. These types of products take the effects of the antioxidants that occur naturally in the tea away.

2: I do not add sugar to my hot tea. I got used to this practice slowly, by using less and less sugar over time.

3: Consult a doctor if you are being treated for any illnesses before using any type of food for its’ health benefits.

4: Drink hot tea when eating meals, instead of milk. This can help with weight and metabolic problems.

Green Tea

Note 1: Do not use dairy products in your tea. These types of products take the effects of the antioxidants away.

Note 2: I do not add sugar to my tea. I got used to this practice slowly, by using less and less sugar over time.

Note 3: Consult a doctor if you are being treated for any illnesses before using any type of food for its’ health benefits.

Green tea is an excellent source of antioxidants, making it a healthy beverage. It has been used as a medicine in China. Some things that green tea may help to prevent are:

• Infections
• Cancer
• Flu
• Cholesterol
• Stroke
• Osteoporosis

Green tea has no calories, making it great for dieters. However, it does have caffeine. It can be purchased both loose and in tea bags.

Green tea is tasty on it own, as well as when combined with these teas:

• Oolong
• Black
• Grey
• Peppermint
• Orange
• Chamomile

Peanut Butter and Banana Roll-Ups

These are great as snacks, for breakfast, or in a lunchbox. They are affordable, and can be made from leftovers. Roll-ups are also quick and simple to make.

You can make these rollups using a few different wraps.

These are easy for children to make.

Peanut Butter and Banana Roll-ups

• Pancakes, crepes or tortillas
• Peanut Butter 
• Banana, sliced thinly

1. Spread peanut butter on a cooled pancake, crepe or tortilla.
2. Place thinly sliced bananas in a layer over the peanut butter.
3. Roll up the pancake, crepe or tortilla and wrap or place a toothpick through the roll-up to hold it together.

Shannon

Parsley

Note: Consult a doctor if you are being treated for any illnesses before using any type of food for its’ health benefits.

Parsley is a Mediterranean herb. It is very aromatic. It is used as a seasoning as well as a garnish, and is very easy to grow and dry. It is packed full of Vitamins C and A. It has many antioxidants, making it very good for you. Parleys’ health benefits include:

• Optimal health
• Heart health
• Arthritis

Parsley is great added to:

• Potatoes
• Salads
• Soups and stews
• Pasta and pizza sauces
• Chicken and beef dishes
• Fish dishes

Oolong Tea

Note 1: Do not use dairy products in your tea. These types of products take the effects of the antioxidants away.

Note 2: I do not add sugar to my tea. I got used to this practice slowly, by using less and less sugar over time.

Note 3: Consult a doctor if you are being treated for any illnesses before using any type of food for its’ health benefits.

This tea is often served in Asian restaurants in the United States, and has a pleasing taste and aroma.

It appears that people in China drink Oolong tea using small teapots and cups, very delicately.  The Chinese also use tea as a medicine.

• One of the major health benefits of Oolong tea is its ability to help with obesity. The tea helps with metabolism levels when drunk frequently.
• It may also prevent tooth decay.
• It may also help with Atopic Dermatitis.

This tea is often consumed with meals, which may be the reason why it helps with obesity and metabolism. It is thought that this occurs when drinking hot liquids with meals, possible because the fat in foods does not have the ability to solidify when hot beverages are consumed.

Maybe we should all switch to drinking this tea rather than milk with our meals;)

This tea has a pleasing taste when combined with:

• Chamomile tea
• Green tea

Cream Cheese, Cinnamon and Apple Roll-Ups

These are great as snacks, for breakfast, or in a lunchbox. They are affordable, and can be made from leftovers. Roll-ups are also quick and simple to make.

You can make these rollups using a few different wraps.

These are easy for children to make, as long as parents slice the apple for younger children.

Cream Cheese, Cinnamon and Apple Roll-ups

• Pancakes, crepes or tortillas
• Cream cheese, any flavor
• Cinnamon
• Apple slices, thin

1. Spread cream cheese on a cooled pancake, crepe or tortilla.
2. Sprinkle cinnamon on the cream cheese.
3. Place thinly sliced apples in a layer over the cinnamon.
4. Roll up the pancake and wrap or place a toothpick through the roll-up to hold it together.

Shannon

Chives

Note: Consult a doctor if you are being treated for any illnesses before using any type of food for its’ health benefits.

Popular among Greeks, Egyptians and Romans, chives are easily grown in any garden, or even where there is no garden.  They are part of the lily family, like onions and other types of herbs. They originated from Asia and Europe, coming to the United States later. Both the leaves and the flowers can be eaten.

Chives are noted as having certain health benefits, such as those needed for:

• Digestion
• Circulation
• Respiration

My nephews enjoy eating the leaves fresh from the garden. Chives make great additions to many recipes, including:

• Soups
• Stews
• Salads
• Potato Recipes

Here are some ways in which you can use chives:

• Top baked potato with chopped leaves.
• Add to soups and stews after cooking.
• Chop leaves and add to omelets.
• Use the flowers in salads.

What uses do you have for chives?

Shannon

Earl Grey Tea

Note 1: Do not use dairy products in your tea. These types of products take the effects of the antioxidants away.

Note 2: I do not add sugar to my tea. I got used to this practice slowly, by using less and less sugar over time.

Note 3: Consult a doctor if you are being treated for any illnesses before using any type of food for its’ health benefits.

With roots in British History, grey tea is a great tea to keep on hand. Water is known to be a filler, but adding tea to the water turns it into a healthy beverage. The antioxidants in the tea are what gives it the healing properties.

• The tea is thought to have anti-depressant properties.
• It is used to relieve fever.
• It has cancer-fighting properties.
• It hay also help with heart disease.

Made from both Indian and Ceylon teas, grey tea also utilizes oil of bergamot giving a slight citrus taste.

Recipes utilizing this tea include:

• Earl Grey Tea Cookies
• Homemade Iced Tea

Earl grey tea would make a good beverage at tea time served with a citrusy type dessert such as lemon cookies or orange glazed cake.

Shannon

Black Tea

NOTE: You should never add milk or any other dairy products to tea. The dairy dissolves any benefits derived from the beverage.

Black tea is a very common tea these days. The tea plant grows in a few different places, including Africa, Japan and China. Black tea does have low levels of caffeine, but not as much as coffee.

Black tea has just as many health benefits as green tea does, according to the research that has been being done. It is said that some of the the health benefits of drinking black tea are:

• Helps with viruses of the mouth.
• Sooths diarrhea.
• Helps with pneumonia.
• Antioxidants in the tea may help to prevent some types of cancer.
• Helps to prevent heart disease.
• Helps to lessen the likely hood of tooth decay.
• Helps metabolism rates.
• Sooths arthritis.

I enjoy black tea very much. It is good to have a cup of tea a day, and I have even heard that two or three cups a day is good. I do not add creamer, milk or sugar to my tea, but I do sometimes add a pinch of cinnamon, nutmeg or ginger.

I also mix my teas. For instance, 1 bag or black tea mixed with 1 bag of one of the following makes a great combination.

• Chamomile
• Peppermint
• Orange

What types of black tea combinations do you enjoy?

Shannon