Something special in the Garden -

.....That I never noticed before-

See the Garlic that is about to flower 

When the flowers burst open-

they leave the outer cover 

on the ground

I had not noticed these before now.

It resembles a beautiful delicate, paper-like

white dried flower-

I gathered a few and brought them inside

                                                                No, they don't smell like garlic.

They made me smile !

Have a wonderful day.

xo Lisa S

Vintage Linen Tissue Pouch

 

Hello !

I had a day off work last week 

so we went to a local Flea Market.

We had a good time walking around, enjoying

a beautiful sunny day.

I picked up a few things.

 I  found this pretty little embroidered doily.

It looked like the perfect size for a tissue pouch.

I made a paper pattern.

Then cut a piece of fusible lining.

I cut a piece of fabric

I ironed the lining  to the fabric back

and folded and ironed over the raw edge.

Pinned piece to the doily.

Top stitched to doily.

Folded up the sides.

Then stitched the sides.

Tucked inside the tissue pack.

The raw edges from  the doily show but I don't mind.

I used a small piece of Velcro for a closure.

This will help the Kleenex package stay together in my purse.

Thanks for the visit!

xo Lisa S

Tepache- Fermented Pineapple Drink- Step by Step

 

Hello there my friend!

Do you like pineapple? Fresh is the best!

This recipe is a traditional Mexican drink.

Lightly fermented, a little fizzy, sweet and tangy

like kombucha.

Tepache

You need:

1 whole ripe Pineapple

2 cinnamon sticks

5-6 whole cloves

1 cup brown sugar

1 half gallon jar 

4 days !

Made with the part of the pineapple you would

usually through away.

Tepache is so delicious,

  refreshing and easy to make.

Perfect for summer!

Slightly soft to the touch, center leaf pulls out easy-

It's ripe and ready to eat.

Gently wash the outside of the pineapple.

 (Don't worry about the prickly parts it will be stained later.)

Cut as you would normally.

Deep enough to remove the eyes with 

some fruit attached is fine.

Separate the fruit pile from the skin pile.

Set aside the fruit to eat !

I use a half gallon Mason Jar.

Start to pack your jar with the pineapple skin scraps.

Traditionally we would add 

(2) cinnamon sticks

I like to add 5-6 whole cloves

optional : 2 Star Anise

If you like the taste-

It is not necessary for the fermentation.

(I had some on hand so I added it this time.)

Sugar is necessary for the fermentation.

'piloncillo' Brown sugar cone is traditional-

I use Brown sugar and that's fine.

3/4 to 1 cup Brown sugar

Pour into jar,

fill with filtered water,

Use  long knife or metal spoon to stir.

All the sugar will dissolve easily.

Try to press down the skins to cover with water.

Day:1

Cover with a clean breathable cloth and rubber band, 

set aside on the kitchen counter out of direct sunlight.

Day 2 :

Remove cover-

there will be white foam and maybe some

bubbles forming, stir and press down any fruit.

The fermentation has already begun.

Re-cover jar.

Day 3:

More foam, more bubbles,

Stir it up and cover.

Day 4:

Ready to strain.

The cinnamon has turned the foam brown.

 This may happen to you,

it's not mold.

I just transfer the Tepache to another clean jar-

I use a small sieve and stain in the sink in case I spill.

That was easy-

Beautiful golden color-

Use a lid now and refrigerate

Make sure your jar and lid are made for fermentation.

Pressure is minimal at this point and no need to 'burp' the lid.

If you don't fill small jars, no need to worry about exploding bottles

in the refrigerator.

All that's left goes in the compost bin.

You can serve right away on the 4th day!

Serve over ice.

The pineapple core is high in an enzyme

called bromelain. It helps with digestion and immunity.

It helps with inflammation.

A probiotic filled with vitamin C and Magnesium.

All that and delicious too.

Enjoy

xo Lisa S

Make your own Bees Wax Wraps

Hi friends!

Have you ever thought about making Bees Wax Wraps ?

These reusable food wraps are a great alternative to plastic wrap.

To make your own Bees Wax Wraps-

look through your fabric scraps.

You will want to use 100% cotton fabric,

approximately 1/2 yard total for this recipe

          If you don't have and scraps  

     of fabric, the Dollar Tree has some of the cutest prints!

Wash and dry your fabric-

Iron if you like- and decide what size 

you would like to make your wraps.

Cut your circles or squares.

I decided to cut my fabric first and then

cut the edges with my pinking shears.

The picking shears are optional

 but it keeps the edges from fraying.

Most people cut the wraps after they are waxed

but I did not want to ruin my scissors.

We will see if this works.

I cut a few squares not knowing how many I would

be able to wax with this recipe.

I did not want to make a huge mess so I used a disposable

aluminum baking pan from the Dollar Tree

I have my own version of a double broiler.

It has worked well for candles and salves.

The saucepan is filled half way with water and the

 stainless steel bowl

sits on top.

Recipe for wraps :

Bees Wax Pellets   1/2 cup

 (I used a bar and measured in ounces)

First let the wax melt on low heat, then add the oil,

then add the Pine Rosen last.

Pine Rosen  3 TBSP.

(This helps the wraps to keep there shape)

Some say this ingredient is optional.

Note: Pine is a common allergen, and needs to be disclosed to 

anyone you may share your wraps with.

Jojoba Oil  2 tsp.

( The oil keeps the wraps pliable)

It is food safe and will not go rancid 

A brush that will be only used for bees wax

This was so messy and fast moving, I was unable 

to take any pictures of  the next steps.

I laid my squares in the tray and 'painted the cloth with the wax.

It cooled fast, I then lifted the edge and pulled up the pieces and 

let them dry on a cardboard box.

This recipe was used to complete:

3 - 7'' squares

2- 10'' squares

1- 15'' square

I was happy with the way the wraps turned out.

This fabric was from a vintage table cloth.

It was my favorite.

Wraps can last for years.

Easy to clean with a little soap and water.

Hang to dry.

If the wraps leave a sticky residue on your hands it can be removed

with rubbing alcohol or hand sanitizer.

Note:

 Do NOT use in the microwave and be careful near a hot stove!

I prefer to use them over a bowl, but food can be wrapped up

like a small gift.

Wouldn't this be a nice way to present your

homemade sourdough bread to a friend?

Have a wonderful week!

XO Lisa S