Sunday 30 May 2010

Healing Teas: St John's Wort

I have uploaded to my YT account a video detailing the healing properties of St. John's Wort. You can watch it here also. I will posting videos like this more often as i am attempting to gain a degree in Herbal Sciences, so as i learn i will teach you what i know because this is the best way to study.

So here it goes: Hope you get some good information


Love and Lighr

Saturday 29 May 2010

Herb roasted chicken

To go along with the French bread i made i also made for dinner of  herb roasted chicken which is made with lots of butter (what truly French dinner isn't made from butter?)
The recipe calls for whole chicken but i used chicken breasts with bones still in and it came out great .

Ingredients: Serves 8

  • 2 tbsp butter
  • 1 tsp dried sage
  • 1 clove garlic, crushed
  • 1/8 tsp black pepper
  • 1 whole chicken or 4 bone in chicken
  • 1 tsp dried rosemary
  • 1 onion peeled
  • 2 cups chicken broth
  • 6 oz new potatoes (parboiled)
  • 3 bell peppers (deseeded and cut into quarters)
  • 2 medium zucchini, cut into chunks
  • 1 red onion,sliced
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • flat-leaf parsley sprigs in garnish

Nutrition Information: per serving: calories 350; fat 21g;(sat fat 7g); carbs 13g

Easy Step-by-Step

1) Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. In a small bowl combine butter,sage,garlic and pepper. Carefully loosen the skin from the chicken breast being careful not to tear it.
2)Spread half the herb mixture under the skin; rub the rest on top. Sprinkle with rosemary. Place onion in chicken cavity and tie legs together with kitchen string
3) Place the chicken on a rack in a roasting pan and pour in broth into pan. Cover pan with foil and roast for an hour (or until liquid runs clear when pierced )
4) Uncover chicken and roast about 40 mins transfer to a serving dish. let stand 15 mins before serving.
5) Meanwhile, place the parboiled new potatoes,peppers,zucchini and onion slices on a separate baking tray.Drizzle with the oil and then roast for 35-40 mins until cooked and crisp around the edges. Arrange around the chicken,along with the parsley to serve.


An alternative to the butter could be pesto (2tbsp) in step two. Slice and serve cold on a bed of lettuce for a fresh and summery salad.
Dessert: 


a bowl of fresh fruit salad is the perfect ending for this roasted chicken dinner. serve with fresh whipped cream on the side.

Happy Eating

Friday 28 May 2010

One of the things...

I plan to do this summer is read as many of the books on my list of must reads as possible and watch as many of the 1001 movies I must see (according to some publisher of said book title). 

I have found myself falling in love with the old black and white movies that many would consider great. This week I watched several Audrey Hepburn movies ( will talk about those later) and fell in love with Humphrey Bogart (now i know why everyone raves about him so much),
So i think this summer i will get to know as many of the leading ladies and gents of the bygone era, and as to that i will start a page of the movies i wish to see and write when i saw them as i go through the list. if you have any you can of think  that are must see make sure to  write a comment and ill check them out

One of the reasons I'm doing this is well its been two kinds of temps aroung here lately 1)Hot enough to kill you for even thinking about going outside or 2) Pouring down rain with Tornado warnings attached

Color me not amused with this weather :(
So to make this a more interesting summer I am attempting to learn more about the arts, and do it as cheaply as possible (nothing beats Free) hence most of these movies will be rented from the library or seen at the local movie theatre where they play older movies once a week.

To say the least it should be interesting, and at the most I will get some really good ideas for clothing, because I really love the old "glam" look.

Anywhoo I won't take up anymore of your time today My loves
Remember No drinking and flying, :)

Thursday 27 May 2010

West stands for Water

For every full moon i try to do something new and incorporate the sense of creativity that the full moon encompasses. 
So for the last few days leading up to the full moon i have been searching for something new to try, and decided to make physical symbols of the four cardinal points in the circle, 

Last nite i made water as the first symbol. as if the universe was attempting to help me understand it poured like crazy after a day of really high temps for our area, the lighting storm was amazing to watch and become apart of, the energy was so amazing, it only rained for a few minutes so i wasn't able to get lighting water but i got great video and got to feel the rain and watch the amazing display of the storm.  West and water are the emotion and intuition section of the circle. so connecting emotionally to the storm goes right along with doing this.

So here is the pattern for the starfish water symbol:
Begin with sliding loop or if you can't do that you can: chain 2 and sc in the second chain 

1) Ch 1 10 sc in ring, join with slip st to first sc (10 sts)
2) Ch 1, 2 sc in same stitch, 2 sc in sc around with slip st to first sc
3) *Ch , sc in thrid chain from hook, hdc in net ch, dc in next 2 ch, tr in next ch, skip 3 sc, slip st to nect sc; repeat from * four more times, ending last repeat slip st to bas of first chain. (five points made) Fasten off
4) holding star point to front, join yarn in center sc of any 3 skipped sc from round 2, ch 1 sc in same sc * ch5, sc in ch2 space a tip of corresponding point, ch 5, sc in same round 2 sc**, ch 4, sc behind star point in center sc of next 3 skipped sc, repeat from * around, ending last repeat at **ch 2 join with hdc in first sc.
5)*5dc in next ch-5 space, (tr, ch 4, tr) in next sc, 5 dc in next ch-5 space, sc in next ch-4 space, repeat  from * around ending with last sc in beginning space, join with slip st to round-4 dc joining stitch.
6) Ch-1 *sc in next 6 stitches (hdc, ch1, dc,ch3,dc,ch1, hdc) in ch4 space sc in next 6 stitches, skip 1 sc; repeat from * around, join to first sc. Fasten off











Happy crafting everyone

Blessed be
love and light always
Aisha

Artisian bread

Bonjour internet
(and thats the extent of my writing French.lol).
 So you must be wondering why I'm attempting this really hard language well today i made something french...... Baguettes. Qui ! Mon-Ami's i made beautiful french bread. it took a lot of hours (good thing i had the day off) but it was so well worth it, the bread was nice and crusty and the inside was beautifully fluffy. I enjoyed making it and watching my family enjoy it made it twice as nice.  I can now see the lore of staying home and being a homemaker (I'm not attempting to insult anyone but before I thought as a homemaker i personally would be bored but i realize now there is so much to do because you become a crazy perfectionist so your home looks stunning..and you are never bored! *poof* problem solved)



Recipe:
1 1/2 tsp sugar
1 1/4 cup water
2 1/2 tsp yeast
3 1/2 cups unbleached flour


Yeast: follow instructions on package to set it up

Dry ingredients:


  1. In a bowl mix together the flour (sift it first) and salt, with a wooden spoon create a well in the center of the floor and pour in proofed yeast (plus water) and create a sponge in the center by adding flour slowly to mixture with the spoon. allow to sit for 20 minutes covered with a clean kitchen cloth
  2. mix in all the flour and add water slowly to create a soft sticky dough.
  3. turn out onto a lightly floured surface and knead until soft, smooth and supple, takes about ten minutes
  4. in a lightly oiled clean bowl place dough and allow to double in size for 1 1/2 hours make sure it is covered and not in a drafty place
  5. punch down, recover and allow to rise again for 45 mins, punch down again, recover and let rise again for another 45 mins
  6. divide the dough and shape into two baguettes place on baking tray or baguette tray and allow to proof for 50 mins
Place in oven and bake until golden brown (about 20-25 mins @ 475 degrees )and when you hit the baguette it should sound hollow. place on wire cooling tray and allow to cool or serve hot.

well i hope you enjoy it as much as my family did....

love and light always
Aisha

Monday 24 May 2010

Living Oprah by Robyn Okrant

i have to say when i heard of this i thought" what a great idea" then i read the book and wanted to shoot myself.  Now let me first explain that i personally dislike when others attempt to tell me how i should view advertising or who i should listen to, and with this book  you got it in spades.

 Now i understand the premise is for her to see if living by Oprah's advice would give her her best life, as im reading this (which im glad as hell i didnt purchase but borrowed from the library) i kept wanting to hit her over the head, Oprah has never said follow every single word or idea i have ever uttered and i personally think if she had focused on one aspect in which to follow O's advice then this book would have been better.

 This of course is all my opinion and she too is allowed to have hers, but this book doesnt really go  beyond numbers and her increased sense of self importance and her lowered self esteem. Now i know that many women become like this because they believe some celebrity Guru is going to show them the way and help them find happiness and Nirvana and as a yoga teacher i was surprised she didn't already know this and have some common sense about this topic.

Despite saying all of that there are several salient points to this book which much like she says to stay glued thinking there would be some nuggets of truth buried within and she has them there buried in the end of the book. Its never easy attempting to live up to anyone else's ideal of happiness and she shows that throughout the book. the one thing that struck me is that for a yoga instructor she doesn't mention any real practice beyond work and i wonder if she realized that had she maintained a spiritual practice even with all the things she was attempting she wouldn't have been as stressed out in the end?

Oprah (who i cant say im an avid watcher) does have a lot of good info out there and its up to you to glean all the pertinent information that relates to you and your lifestyle, i understand she was trying to see what would happen if you listened to Oprah, but many people listen to others they cant name for what they wear, read,eat, dine at and how they look; i personally feel this book would have been better if she had focused on one or two things in her life she was going to use Oprah's advice for, then this wouldn't have been the ramblings of a over 30 married without children woman but someone who could say Yes or No O's advice didnt help her, as it stands im upset that i took the time to even read this.

since i dont want to give away the ending if you still want to read it after reading my ramblings, post back and tell me what you think.


love and light
aisha

Saturday 22 May 2010

Plans galore

With summer fast approaching Im sure many of you like I am planning what is going to happen over the next twelve delicious weeks. Summer fun, relaxing and the beach (ahh the days ahead are looking so good!!!)

Well my game plan is to get to know my state better, I mean i know my town and the towns nearest me but there is so much more here.
 So much history this is New England after all.

 In that light i went to the library and borrowed several books about the New England area and my state in particular, i will list all the fun stuff im going to be doing just as soon as i decide, i do know that i am taking my sister to Niagara Falls as soon as she graduates high school in two more weeks then to Philly to see the Liberty Bell and eat a real philliy cheesesteak maybe even go see the Amish and who knows what other kinds of trouble we can get into. .

Whatever we do im sure it will be fun just cause it will be Summer


Either way safe flying !!!!

Thursday 20 May 2010

Preserving Fruit: How to Make Jam HD




Hey guys i was actually going to make a video about this but my fave YTer did it and i thought i would share hers instead.

hope you guys learn something and check her out on YT she is amazing: http://www.youtube.com/user/GardenGirltv

thanks for wayching and blessed be

Saturday 15 May 2010

ahhh the bucket list...


ahh the bucket list .... 

......every good girl plans and bad girls well they fly by the seat of their pants...sometimes literally.  

What is a bucket list you ask?  Well i'm glad you asked !! It is quite simply the list each of us has of things we wish to do, see, taste, touch, and experience before we punch our tickets for the final ride to the "big house". 

For me well..... I have two lists, one that i can show my parents (the good girl list) and then there is the list that no one but me has had the privilege of seeing, lets call it..... the Not so good girl list.  They both contain all the things that i to enjoy before this body and life go to pot... 

 Im not waiting until i retirement either... I mean where is the fun in that? No!!! now is the time to get all done before i get burdened down the "responsibilities of being an adult" as my mother loves to say.

So whats on the bucket list???
 Well readers i think it would be easier to ask what isn't? I want to taste feel, touch see it all and man am i going to have fun doing so. 

So this site will be my journal of my experiences and whats happening, and of course as a visual reminder to myself that Yes Ladies and Gents i have done it and now on to the next one.......


So here's to my pagan adventures and all those witchy dreams


Friday 14 May 2010

Latch Hook Rose






I made this project a little while ago, but i thought it would be nice to share some info about it and have you actually see it being created.  I love doing these because they come in every size and every imaginable pictures (even some you wouldn't think to do they have". so check it out and i hope you like it 
Blessed Be and thanks for stopping by and reading

Aisha

Being a tester

So i had the privilege of being a tester for an amazing designer of crochet patterns, the colors she gave i didn't have so i made the pattern into a Jamaican themed pattern and placed it on my center table and i love it.  She is here on Blogger,

 http://smoothfoxlover.blogspot.com/











She has an amazing site where she shares some patterns and sells a few online.

So this is the pattern laid out so you can see it.
I hope you guys love it as much as i did,

Thanks for stopping by and reading

Love and Light Always
Aisha

Friday 7 May 2010

It taste just like.....

....Chicken.

 Yeah Yeah i know we have all heard the tales of how something we have never had before how similar it taste to chicken well im here to tell you its A LIE darn it its all a LIE it never taste like chicken.
Let's start this tale off right;
I went to support my sister at her school's Black Student Union event, where they had tables set-up by different students, and groups, and of course a wonderful (read free) lunch, of every culinary newness as possible, and a petting zoo.

It was a way for the sororities and frats to do something good and bring the different factions of her small school together.  The event went off without a hitch, at first it was a little slow, then the petting  showed up and everyone came out.

I got to hold an american alligator, I had to do the pixalating, I don't know the people behind me and my facial expression is too weird, gators are squishy and it felt odd, it was both muscular and squishy at the same time, so I pulled a face, and of course that's the picture they snapped UGH!!
There were many tables that were placed outside with different displays. Including my sisters',
only problem was it was hot and they forgot to bring out shade for us, and they happened to pick the most in the sun quad. So we were sitting out in the heat of the day dying, of course then they brought out the food:
Wild flower salad:
Bloodfruit and something else I can't remember.
and the piece that inspired this post, Spicy Fried Gator:
It was chewy, and crispy, spicy and very different. It was nothing like chicken, it took like an hour for me to get up courage to actually try it. The salad went down easy, the bloodfruit was actually really good, the gator?!?!?!? Well all I can say is that I tried it. I won't be going out of my way to eat it, but it's something I can say I did. it was especially weird because I had just held a gator and now I was munching on one.

Here are the other animal pictures:
Lynx, it was easy to hold actually:

The lynx close-up, it was actually pretty friendly, it didn't scratch or attempt to leave when it was done. It just sat there.
The Gator before I held him:
The animals are generally rescued, the show was a way to earn money to help keep the preserve open. They collect exotic 'pets' that owners turn out and the country doesn't know how to deal with.  It was an excellent show because they had all kinds of animals, including a python that at 20 feet is considered a baby.@_@

But we had fun and I got to check off two of my bucket list items. So it was a good day.
Be Blessed everyone and thanks for reading