The Power Hour: California Author Dishes on Healing Powers Book Series

I dished out edgy info to Middle America about vinegars, olive oils, and honeys--the 21st century healthful salad dressings....and touted the healing powers of these versatile superfoods.

This morning at 5:00 AM PST, the alarm clock woke me up with rock music. Yes, no Siamese cat alarm today. I got up and brewed a fresh cup of flavored Nutmeg Coffee with a splash of organic milk. And, I walked back to my bedroom and climbed into my cozy oversized waterbed with my two Brittanys, and kitty. Then, at 6:00 AM I was wide-eyed and ready to be a guest on The Power Hour (December 6, Hour 2) with savvy radio talk show host Joyce Riley.
My books published by New York publisher Kensington were put on the table and we discussed the ins and outs of The Healing Powers of Vinegar, The Healing Powers of Olive Oil, and The Healing Powers of Honey. Ironically, tagged a health author it was my job today to dish out how superfoods vinegar, olive oil, and honey can and do keep you healthy and happy. But today I have a pesky flu bug. Read: I feel terrible.
Blame it on the grocery store checker who had the flu on the weekend as she shared her woes while bagging my groceries. (Think the film "Outbreak"-- I was infected.) It didn't help that after the shopping trip I brought in firewood: going in and out of 9 degree temps and 75 indoor climate, and swam/walked the dogs somewhere in between. Also, burning the candle from AM to PM, day after day, didn't do my body any good either.  This workerbee is not feeling like a Queen and desperately needs some R&R.

Anyhow, I'm kind of sensing the Midwestern audience knew that the down-to-earth West Coast guest was fighting aches and pains...Perhaps, my raspy words, here and there gave 'em a hint that I was feeling under the sunny Northern California weather. I did get some emails about my hard work and requests for fat-burning diets.
Actually, on a one to 10 Sickly Scale, I'm about a 7.5 today on Day 2. That's not too bad, right? Major sick, not Great sick. No, I'm not going to go swim and do a hot tub--but I want to. Bed rest, water, oranges, and bed rest is on the agenda. Type-A folks don't do rest well. Perhaps this is a lesson.  And yes, I will drink lots of hot chamomile tea with honey. I wonder if any doomsday films about viruses are on the sci-fi channel. Maybe that's not such a good idea right now. Perhaps a nice chick flick like "City of Angels" or "As Good As It Gets" will make me feel better.  And there are dogs in each one. Or maybe "You've Got Mail"--Meg Ryan's character gets a cold. Misery loves company.

Contest: Winner,Winner Chicken Dinner: The Healing Powers Food Books

Last night we had thunderstorms, rain, and ponding. Oh my! Today, a weather forecast notes snow may be around the corner at Lake Tahoe. And I just got back from swimming at one of our resort pools... I heard chatter from locals amid tourist of getting the stay well flu shot. But hold the phone...

Personally, I don't do shots. I prefer to eat nutrient-rich superfoods, exercise (swim and walk my Brittany duo), sleep 7 plus hours a night, and keep it healthy by trying to chill during ups and downs in life with its mixed bag of stressors.

Another way I stay away from bugs is by turning to chocolate, olive oil, and vinegar. Yep, it's these good for you foods that may help you stave off pesky bugs and super bugs. This month of October, I'm offering the internationally popular Healing Powers series to you. Purchase two and I'll toss in the third one for free as well as free shipping. (Trade cover, retail at $14; you'll receive 3 for $28.)

Just e-mail me at COrey39184@aol.com -- and tell me why you love one of these superfoods. Then, dish out the three books you'd like me to send to you. (You can pay me via PayPal (click on $28) http://www.calorey.com/ near the books on the homepage) or via check. These books are genuine gifts of health for you during cold-flu season and the upcoming holidays. Hundreds of edgy home cures and healthful recipes are a mouse click away!

Celebrating Spring with Fresh Coffee Cake

By Cal Orey, The Writing Gourmet

Spring has sprung early at Lake Tahoe. I'm feeling it in the air. The snow is almost gone on my deck. And I even saw a real rabbit--yes a pre-Easter bunny--scamper across the front yard. Today's chores included raking pine needles, tossing out old pine cones, cleaning the pantry, pans and fridge, decluttering, and adding feng shui in the kitchen for the change of seasons. And there's more...

Surprise! A new project has been assigned to me this spring and is now in the works! I've penned The Healing Powers of Vinegar (now in second edition, 13th printing), Olive Oil, Chocolate--and last week I got the news that a super food I chose--and fresh book--is going to be included in the Healing Powers series. I'm excited to discover another healing food world.

I am getting ready to continue my working dog duties. That means it's time to start my researching both at home and out in the field. So to celebrate I want to have a nice, light, spring-ish breakfast tomorrow morning. What better way to do that than with a semi-homemade coffee cake, garnished with strawberries, and a cup of coffee.

This time I'm using a failproof store bought box mix for the cake part (sort of like my mom used when I was a kid). However, this is new, improved and with a 21st century update healthful spin to it, and some of my own natural ingredients, too.

Springtime Coffee Cake

* * *

2 cups wheat all purpose pancake and baking mix

2/3 cup 2% low-fat buttermilk

1/3 cup 2% low-fat organic milk

1 brown egg

2 tablespoons sugar

Streusel Topping

* * *

1/2 cup wheat all purpose pancake and baking mix

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 teaspoon allspice

2 tablespoons European style butter

1/8 cup each of walnuts and almonds, sliced

Combine dry ingredients. Mix streusel in another bowl. Spread batter in a 9" round cake pan. Top with streusel. Bake at 400 degrees for about 30 minutes or till golden brown. Cool. Drizzle with a mixture of 1 to 1 1/2 cups confectioner's sugar, 1/4 cup 2% low-fat organic milk, and 1/2 tsp. pure almond extract. (It adds a nice, sweet touch and taste.)

* * *

While I am an autumn girl at heart, I'm getting in the swing of spring. There are some pros, including no black ice, spring cleaning, a sense of renewal, wearing jeans 'n' T-shirts, it'll be off-season soon (less tourists, more town), and vivid images are playing in my mind of relocating to the outskirts of Reno for a warm, different change. The idea of a remote desert mountain environment with a ranch-style home paired with a gourmet kitchen sounds yummy.

BTW: I tried another coffee cake recipe last weekend. Two times it flopped. My dear friend and veteran baker-ess suggested I get it right. So I attempted whipping up an old-fashioned coffee cake with a grown-up twist and kept my fingers crossed. Third time is a charm, as they say. Mom does know best--even though I added a few touches of my own.

Detox Your Body During Holiday Foodfests

By Cal Orey, The Writing Gourmet

"A full belly makes a dull brain."

-- Benjamin Franklin

The Harvest may be waning, but these pantry staples can keep you on the road to detoxing your body before or post-Thanksgiving. Personally, I don't want to pack on five pounds (that's the norm) during Turkey Day time. So I might rebel and turn to a detox diet regime before, after--or maybe even during the big day and forego cooking altogether. You know, give my body a feel-good mini-vacation to feel rejuvenated just for me. No guilt from overindulging and it can make you feel good from head to toe... Not just for salad or a dash of flavor, items like nutrient-dense vinegars, olive oil, herbs and spices and autumn produce are rich in disease-fighting antioxidants and other healing properties. Check out these healthful, slim-down foods--including The Healing Powers of Chocolate--to heal your body, mind and spirit...

VINEGARS

Apple Cider Vinegar: In the era of the Romans and Egyptians, there were many potent vinegars onmeal tables. Today, we know apple cider vinegar, especially the natural and organic kind, is high infiber and rich in potassium, which can help detoxify the body. Apple cider vinegar can balance sodium and potassium levels, which can also aid in weight loss. Pairing its total ingredients, including boron, calcium and enzymes, with nutritious fall fruits and vegetables may help prevent cancer, and heart disease.

Fruit Vinegars: In Japan, vinegar drinks not unlike apple cider vinegar, are made from vitamin-rich fruit. A Korean delight, persimmon vinegar, is an excellent source of vitamins A and C, which are also good for bolstering the immune system to fight off colds and flu in the fall. While it isn’t easily found in the United States, it may be found at Korean supermarkets. For a delightful kick, splash one or two tablespoons per serving on top of grapefruit and oranges.

Olive Oil

Like ancient vinegar, olive oil goes way back in time. The olive tree was first cultivated in the Mediterranean countries 6,000 years ago. Since then, olive oil has played a therapeutic role in the diet and provides amazing healing powers, from preventing diabetes to keeping off unwanted pounds, especially when combined with vinegars. Olive oil, which is 74 percent heart-healthy monounsaturated fat, contains plenty of healthful nutrients such as antioxidants, vitamins A, C and E, along with phytoestrogens and sterols. Olive oil (extra virgin is recommended) is good for the digestive system, helps regularity, lowers cholesterol levels and guards against cancer. Light or regular EVOO can help fill you up not out as I discuss in The Healing Powers of Olive Oil. And don't forget the powers of other earthy eats...

HERBS, SPICES AND TEAS

Chamomile: For more than 2,000 years, chamomile, a daisy-like plant, has been considered amedicinal miracle. It was known as “ground apple” by the Greeks because of its fragrant scent. Chamomile tea (spiked with apple cider vinegar and cinnamon) can be calming and stave off holiday stress-related eating. (Hold the sugar and reach for raw honey.)

Garlic: For at least 3,000 years, garlic, dubbed “the stinking rose,” has been used medicinally. Thetherapeutic uses of garlic have been noted in more than 1,000 scientific studies. Garlic has been found to lower cholesterol and high blood pressure, and may ward off infections and cancer via the antioxidant mineral selenium. It also contains allicin, which is a strong antimicrobial, so eating garlic may help protect against colds, flu and bronchitis--and it provides flavor to veggies without the calories and fat of butter.

Rose Hips: An important staple in the diets of Native American tribes because of their incredible health benefits, rose hips are a good source of antioxidants, including vitamins C, E and beta carotene, which can help boost immunity and provide relief for cold and cough symptoms common during the fall months. And sipping a cup or two of hot rose hips tea can soothe holiday frazzled nerves and help to keep you from overeating high calorie and unhealthy junk food.
AUTUMN EDIBLES

These versatile foods mix well with vinegars, oils, warming herbs, spices and tasty teas for healthful fall detox recipes.
*Apples: This fruit is a rich source of pectin, a water-soluble fiber that may help lower the risk of heart disease. A bonus: One medium apple has no fat and a mere 81 calories.

*Dark Chocolate: This superfood like apples has countless health perks. If you choose to give your body a vacation, quality chocolate can help you to detoxify it. By eating a small piece of dark chocolate (70% cacao) it can help to uplift your mood, beat stress and anxiety (woes during seasonal changes with colder and shorter, darker days), provide energy, and do so much more for your body.

*Pumpkin: Welcome to another good source of beta-carotene, potassium, vitamins A, C, and dietary fiber. Think pudding and/or a hearty bowl of hot soup. Pumpkin is filling and a small amount is satisfying during the holiday season. Read: Good for detoxifying, too.
*Spinach: A single serving of cooked spinach provides beta-carotene, lutein and zeaxanthin. Studies show that these carotenes protect the arteries from bad cholesterol and can heal your heart. It’s the perfect fall food for a filling salad with vinegar, olive oil, garlic and tomatoes.

*Tomatoes: Scoop up the end-of-season tomatoes while you can—these gems are rich in the antioxidant lycopene, and may lower the risk of developing cancers by preventing damage due to cancer-contributing molecules called free radicals. One cup of chopped tomatoes has just 35 calories.

So whether you choose to detox before, during (it can be tempting and a test of willpower whether you cook or not) or after the upcoming foodfest, vinegars, olive oil, and even chocolate can help you to pare unwanted pre-winter pounds and cleanse your body and spirit, too. One more thing: Savoring dark chocolate, drinking herbal tea, eating veggies and fruits doesn't seem like a serious fast but a healthful mini-fast that can be done without hunger pangs and feeling left out.

Anti-Swine Flu Hot Salad 'N' Hot Chocolate

By Cal Orey, The Writing Gourmet

“To make a good salad is to be a brillant diplomatist--the problem is entirely the same in both cases. To know exactly how much oil one must put with one's vinegar." -- Oscar Wilde

Today I have a mega case of hypochondriacitis. So much talk about swine flu and finishing my second article on the flu of 2009 (page 32)--wondering if I, like so many people, do have it. I took an online test and one said head for the doctor asap; the other said stay home and weather your flu/cold. Go figure. My brother is walking my Brittanys and now he says he is sick. Funny, yesterday we both swam for more than 30 minutes and took the pooches for a long romp. Oops, Seth wants water... He's fine. Being a health author is probably like a medical student. When they study diseases they believe they have 'em. Oh, I feel feverish. Chills. Queasy. Is it all in my head? Am I one of the thousands of the "worried well"?...

Well, we know swine flu is at Lake Tahoe. My hair stylist's daughter had it. My vet had it. The sign on the women's doc's office (the annual check-up called my name) warned to put on a mask if you have it. A young woman wore a mask while another woman three feet from me (both at the grocery store) held a box of Tylenol (yep, she told me her son had "the" flu and because of her super mommy powers she won't get it). Oh, and the mother-son team at the pool? They were from Sweden and assured me in between her boy's cough that they got their shot before arriving on the Tahoe shore.

So no wonder I sit here wondering "Do I or don't I?" I think I have a grueling headache. My cat Kerouac is meowing. Maybe he has the flu, too. Nah, he's doing fine. If you're ever sick, cats are the perfect companion. Small demands, big affection. Dogs? Sporting canines can be demanding and go-oriented which is why I love them (except if dealing with a flu bug).

Anti-Swine Hot Salad

1 1/2 cups romaine greens

3 ounces low-fat Cheddar and Monterey Jack cheese, shredded

2 roma tomatoes, diced

1 tablespoon onion, chopped

1 boiled egg, sliced

2 tablespoons black olives

a few slices of avocado bed of whole grain tortilla chips or corn tortilla shell
1/4 cup all natural fresh salsa, hot
peppers and sour cream (optional)

Combine together in bowl. Arrange chips around salad to make a well for the veggies. Top with olive oil and vinegar dressing. If you're hungry (I'm not) have a warm piece of fresh whole grain French bread. The healthful salad serves one. Double for two and double again for four. Be careful (I flunked math).

Vinaigrette

Mix 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil, 3-4 tablespoons red wine vinegar, 1/2 taspoon Dijon mustard (optional), and a dash of freshly ground pepper. Stir before putting on salad greens.

* (Tried and true from my book The Healing Powers of Vinegar.)

Okay. Dark leafy greens, eggs, whole grains, tomatoes, onions, vinegar, olive oil, chocolate, organic low-fat milk, dark chocolate--all superfoods to help fight or keep away the seasonal flu/swine flu or make hypochondriacs feel better. The hot chocolate? I'll have it later tonight (with a handful of dark sea salt cashews) as I nurse my ailments, whether they're real or not. (Yes, quality dark chocolate--70% cacao--can make any pain seem less than more). Take care. (Ignore me. I'll probably be fine tomorrow.) Oh dear, I just sneezed. It's psychosomatic, right?

California Mac & Cheese(s) for Health Nuts

By Cal Orey, The Writing Gourmet

Nothing would be more tiresome than eating and drinking if God had not made them a pleasure as well as a necessity. --Voltaire

Hello Sweet November. Its the first day of the new month. Clocks changed; it's darker earlier. Doesn't it feel strange? I suppose it matters where you live. In some regions, winter-like weather has hit hard and others not so much. Here, at Lake Tahoe we're experiencing an extended Indian Summer. It feels like September. Very odd after our cold spell. So I'm not really craving those high fat casseroles and hearty soups that hit you if you're prone to Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). I'm still in the skinny, healthy go do it mode which I love to maintain year-round rain, snow, sleet or shine (but sometimes it's a challenge if Mr. Sunshine is AWOL and/or black ice is a frequent visitor)...

Enter: Mac & Cheese comfort food. I remember eating macaroni and cheese (the quickie box kind) and my mom's homemade casserole. Both made the grade back in the fifties. But nowadays, I prefer to create this pasta dish with four cheeses and a healthy Italian touch. If you glance at recipes on the Internet for this old time favorite you'll see how fattening it can be. Or, if you purchase the box kinds or prepared variety prepared at your store it's guaranteed to have lots of stuff you really don't want to eat. And thats why I just whipped up this recipe...

California Mac & Cheese(s)

2 cups cooked whole grain macaroni

2 tablespoons European style butter

2 tablespoons all natural whole wheat flour

1 cup organic low-fat, 2% milk

1 1/4 cups Italian (4 types) low-fat cheeses, grated

1 large piece of whole wheat sourdough bread, toasted

4 roma tomatoes, chopped

garlic (optional)

Mediterranean salt and pepper

Italian parsley

In a saucepan, boil macaroni. Pour into casserole dish. I put mine in a red Italian fave to give it that European flair. It's an Italian baking dish from Sur La Table made in Italy. Its size (13" length x 8 1/2" width x 3 1/4" depth) works for pasta to chocolate fudge. This beautiful piece of bakeware tagged "Italian Baker with Handles" was going to be used for my first Italian entree pasta dish but I just couldn't wait. Fudge won. Back to pasta...Melt butter (or saute butter and garlic to to your preference). Mix in flour, milk, and cheeses. Pour creamy sauce over pasta. Top with bread crumbs. Pop in a 400 degree oven for about 15 minutes. Top with tomatoes and bake for about 10 more minutes. Garnish with Italian parsley. Makes 4 servings.

Dishing up this pasta dish is enough for me. It's light, flavorful and creamy. The toasted bread crumb crunch is nice and tomatoes give it a nice bite. I'm a grazer. But sometimes, I will also pair this plate with fresh, warm whole grain bread (I buy mine at the grocery store; it comes from Truckee). Drizzle it with extra virgin olive oil and a tossed salad (romaine or spinach) splashed with vinegar, olive oil and parmesean cheese. Dessert? All natural dark chocolate ice cream sprinkled with walnuts.

Meanwhile, it's the month to boost your immune system with healthful foods and exercise. My article on swine flu was published today in Oracle 20-20 Magazine and available to read online and hard copy. It's a reminder to keep it healthy wherever you live. A nice fire, good night's sleep, swim day, walking dogs, making the house warm and cozy for fall is on the agenda. P.S. I feel like I'm 7 months pregnant--waiting for my new book The Healing Powers of Chocolate to make its debut during the holiday season.

10 Secret Fall Foods to Keep You Lean & Warm

By Cal Orey, The Writing Gourmet

“The devil has put a penalty on all things we enjoy in life. Either we suffer in health or we suffer in soul or we get fat.”--Albert Einstein

Casseroles, and candy, and cakes. Oh, my! I admit it. I don't want to pack on frightening pounds and body fat during autumn. Let's face it. Turn on Food Network and the sight of awesome dishes are going to grab you. But hold the phone! It doesn't have to be the season to pack on unwanted weight. Sure, this is the time when temperatures get cooler, and it's instinct for us to start cooking up comfort foods (often high in fat, sugar, and calories).Worse, we get a little more sedentary like big bears and fat squirrels getting ready to go into hibernation, right?...

Been there, done that. In my early 20s, when I lived in Eugene, Oregon I fell into the weight gain game during the winter. As a waitress, I ate fattening junk foods and didn't even enjoy the experience. Food was my foe. Once I returned to sunny California, I made friends with nutritious edibles, got physical, and I lost the extra pounds. It was a total diet-lifestyle makeover. Now, residing at Lake Tahoe (a place where it snows and the temps can drop below zero) I have learned to adapt and stay lean and healthy in the colder months--and so can you.

If you want to make a sharp turn into Skinnyland--the place where you get a move on and eat fresh foods it can be done. Today, I went to the pool and swam nonstop for almost 30 minutes. The Brittanys got a longer walk (they're whooped!). I brought in firewood and swept/hosed down the deck. At the store? I got apples, dried fruits, fish, nuts, dark chocolate, coffee filters and--I'm keeping it natural despite my desire to whip up new recipes. No, I will not give up baking or cooking--nor should you, but I'm not going to slide down into the chubby celeb chefs' hole of no return. No way. I'm a northern Californian and want to stay lean and healthy and I hope you do, too.

Tonight I kept it simple. I had a Greek Salad (see the photo above). How easy is that? Tossed green spinach, sprinkled feta cheese, a few tablespoons of olives, roma tomatoes, and pre-cooked jumbo shrimp. I drizzled a bit of EVOO and a splash of red wine vinegar on top. That's it. Oh, I did include a piece of fresh sourdough French bread (from San Francisco, it was a homesick thing)--but no butter. And a handful of dark chocolate nuts. OMG! These are something to write home about.

Here, take a look at some fab fat-fighting fall foods you can enjoy cooking, baking, and eating without putting on fat.

1. Fresh Fruit: Apples, oranges and berries (yes, strawberries are still available). Research shows that diets high in fiber help keep you full. Low-fat, fiber-rich fruit also promotes regularity. The result: A flatter tummy. Try a decadent and healthful warm cobbler teamed with a scoop of calcium-rich all-natural vanilla yogurt with autumn fresh fruit, and drizzle sweet balsamic vinegar on top.

2. Potassium-Rich Foods: Bananas, dried apricots and cranberries are high in potassium and used in baking during fall. They act as natural diuretics, which may reduce bloating. These are good plain or put into all-natural healthful nut breads and muffins that you make and bake.

3. Cheese: Don't skip good cheese because it's a good source of calcium and other nutrients such as protein and vitamin A--and it's creamy and tasty in veggie pastas and hot, toasty sandwiches. But think moderation and real cheese (no fake stuff). Sharp cheddar, feta, provolone are good to get satisfaction from a small amount.

4. Olive Oil: Adding a little extra virgin olive oil to your cooking and baking--like cheese--can help stave off unhealthy food cravings. Not to forget olive oil is a monounsaturated fat which is proven to be heart healthy, may stave off cancer, and help you to keep your weight in check.

5. Nuts: Almonds (as are other nuts) used in cooking and baking are a great godsend. They're high in zinc, rich in antioxidant E, contain some B vitamins, and sodium is very low. The crunchy texture is great in a fall salad or nutrient-dense good for you chewy cookie without chemicals and preservatives and chock-full of those dried fruits.

6. DARK Chocolate: Not just a fall holiday food--it's a year-round health food. Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Cashews, for instance, boast fiber, and iron. Nine scrumptious nuts contain about 200 calories, zero cholesterol, only 60 mg sodium--and will give you that feel-good boost for your mind, body, and spirit. Count on it. Chocolate is oh so versatile--it's not just a dessert. And yep, it can help you cut craving for fattening sweet foods.

7. H20: It's more of a challenge to drink water (not a food exactly but essential for survival) than eat chocolate in the colder months but it can be done. Yeah, I'm doing it now. Try adding a twist of orange, lemon or orange to bottled water. If you purchase water, you'll feel more obligated to drink up! It's good for you from head to toe...

8. ...Herbal Tea. Speaking of water, sipping a cup (or two) of a hot, steaming and healing herbal teas (such as vitamin C-rich rose hips) can help you to fight colds and flu; relieve stress and anxiety (so you won't be tempted to overeat). Black and green teas are chock-full of disease-fighting antioxidants. One cup of green tea has no fat, sodium, sugar, or calories.

9. Tomatoes: These little wonders--hot or cold-are rich in the antioxidant lycopene--a cancer fighter and wonder for hot and filling whole grain rice dishes for dinner to healthy omeletes for breakfast. One cup of chopped tomatos has just 35 calories. Because of this, tomatoes are a fat-free, nutrient-rich, and and versatile fall filler in many hearty meals.

10. Pumpkin: The alpha carotene in pumpkin (like sweet potatoes), a fall favorite, makes this vegetable a nutritional bonanza. Pumpkin is rich in heart-healthy carotenoids, potassium, magnesium, and folate, all of which may protect you from heart disease. This comfort food has only 25 calories per half cup and no fat. During the cold season, a warming and healthful dessert is a slice of pumpkin pie teamed with a steaming cup of hot water spiked with a tablespoon or two of apple cider vinegar and soothing chamomile tea.

A Bonus Food: A Cup of Cocoa: Don't forget savoring a cup of hot chocolate made with low-fat milk or water for that European touch. P.S. A new study to be published in a medial journal this November shows that yes, cocoa is heart healthy--and it will nurture your spirit and warm your soul.

Ouch! A Cup of Tea & Chocolate, Please

By Cal Orey, The Writing Gourmet

"Ecstasy is a glass full of tea and a piece of sugar in the mouth."

--Alexander Puskin

On Friday night I was feeling good watching a film on TV, chilling out with my companion animals, and pain free--until it happened. I went into another room for a minute and then heard that tell-tale familar sound of Seth, my three-year-old Brittany chomping on a plastic bottle of water that I left behind. I scurried towards the bedroom to catch him in the act (before the water spills and he gets the bottle cap). But in my great attempt to beat him to the punch I tripped in the dark hallway. I fell on the gate room divider (a must-have for active Type A pooches). And BAM! as the famous Chef Emeril says. Down, down, down I went onto both the oh-so hard floor and wooden gate. The visible damage: One red and swollen lump the size of a hard boiled egg on my right cheekbone. The day after: I am sporting two pesky black eyes, a sore shoulder, bruised thigh, and aching back. Ouch...

Coincidentally, an eye-catching new October study published in the Journal of Neuroscience shows that both chocolate and drinking water can help curb pain. Well, it worked for the lab rats.

Meanwhile, today my cheekbone smarts. A lot. So, I'll choose both natural painkillers. As a Libra who loves balance, I'll take mine in all forms. For starters, have I been in the mood to bake? No. Swim? Yes. But the tourists are here till tomorrow so no pool today. I'll nurse my wounds with the help of hot tea, bottled water (yes, watching the pooch), and dark chocolate chips. Not to forget ICE and a heating pad.

Take Two Chocolates and Pet the Dog

So how can chocolate also help to soothe pain, anyhow? Well, in my chocolate book I discuss the multiple feel-good compounds for aches and pains--but for now I will tell you something you may already know. Dark chocolate is a known natural painkiller. Plus, both swimming and hydrotherapy (hot tub) paired with dark chocolate can help you to relax (like pets can do) and boost pain-relieving endorphins. It's a double effect to soothe pain and help you feel better...

And tea? My tea of choice is chamomile. Not only does it ease inflammation (yeah, I've got that going on), protect against infection, but it also soothes and relaxes. It can help soothe your nerves (enough for me to go get highlights put in my hair to match my orange and white Brittany pair)--and that can help you to look and feel relaxed.

Chamomile & Chocolate Pain Recipe

Pour 1 cup of boiling water over 1 teaspoon dried chamomile flowers or 1 tea bag. Steep at least 5 minutes.

Take one or two premium dark chocolates (70% cacao) or drink a cup of hot dark chocolate twice a day during a bout of pain.

One more thing. Ouch. My cheekbone throbs. Where's the chocolate? Note to self: Train the pooch to brew me a cup of tea. Can dogs do that?

Fresh Fruit Salad & Chocolate Balsamic Vinegar

By Cal Orey, The Writing Gourmet

"I cannot endure to waste anything as precious as autumn sunshine by staying in the house. So I spend almost all the daylight hours in the open air."

--Nathaniel Hawthorne

Today I was a guest on a radio show hosted by Will Clower, Ph.D.--a guru on the Mediterranean Diet. We dished out a big helping of chat about the amazing powers of vinegar, olive oil, and chocolate. These three superfoods have so many virtues that I felt like a juggler trying to keep each in the limelight. Last night, on Captain Jack's program, I talked quakes in the Pacific Ring of Fire and Golden State along with geologist Jim Berkland. Three plus hours later...Whew. But hey, Dr. Clower gave me a new name: "Renaissance Woman." I always thought of me as "Nature Girl." No matter...
It does seem like whenever and whatever I write about the topic is related to Mother Earth. Speaking of the globe, yesterday I finished an article on the Swine Flu Shot for my November Earth Changes column in Oracle 20-20 magazine.
So, it's time for a little pampering R&R. Yes, I did go swimming this afternoon. The water was almost perfect--pool all mine. Yes, the Brittanys, Simon and Seth got a nice, long walk (the snow has melted). Now it's time to feast on autumn's fresh fruits. I am getting ready to whip up a healthful, immune-boosting seasonal fresh fruit salad dressed in chocolate balsamic vinegar. In the fridge there's a lot of Northern California fruits, such as kiwi, pears, grapes (green and purple), strawberries, and apples. I like the combo in the photo above. So that way I don't have to make any decisions. But I love pink grapefruit and dark chocolate so I'm including it to the salad.

Fresh Fruit Salad & Chocolate Balsamic Vinegar

1 fuji apple, slices

1 Granny Smith green apple, slices

1 orange, slices

1/2 pink grapefruit, slices

purple grapes

Combine in bowl. Squeeze fresh lemon juice on fruit. Sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar or honey. Put in the fridge and chill. Once cold, drizzle Chocolate Balsamic Vinegar on an elegant white plate. Spoon a half to one cup of fresh fruit mixture on top. (I have a bottle of Hotel Chocolat: Cocoa Nib & Balsamic Vinegar. One tablespoon is a mere 20 calories; 0 fat, cholesterol, sodium. It includes Cocoa Bean and Sugar Cocoa Powder.) As with red wine vinegar, the labeled contents aren't the entire story. Balsamic vinegar, like its grape-filled counterpart, contains powerful antioxidants that protect against heart disease--and may even fight cancer.)
So, pairing Chocolate Balsamic Vinegar with nutrient-dense fruits, you've got a good for you salad. This vinegar has a distinct, rich flavor. (I've enjoyed regular pricey balsamic vinegar on vanilla ice cream at an Italian restaurant). Pairing Chocolate Balsamic Vinegar with fresh fruits will titillate your palate and give you a taste of autumn.

Hot Chocolate, Citrus Fruit & Candles

By Cal Orey, The Writing Gourmet

“The fireplace is an appropriate element in any room. Imagine relaxing by the fire, reading the paper with a cup of hot chocolate in your bedroom. It's very sensory.”
-- Gary Lewis quotes

I am feeling fall and I'm loving it. The kitchen is squeaky clean and organized. The wood is stacked. The pantry is getting fuller day by day. The wind gusts are increasing. The pine needles are falling down. The companion animal trio are nearby for warmth and comfort. And here I sit, suffering from mega writer's block. My monthly Earth Changes article is due yesterday and I am watching Food Network and Mother Nature make her moves.

I see more than less of the celeb chefs are still flaunting high fat and high sugar dishes, such as hamburgers, monster cupcakes and frosted sugar cookies. While good fats are good for you, moderation is key. I don't want you or me to pack on unwanted pounds or body fat this season. So, as the adage goes, I'm turning over a new leaf. Translation: I'm cookin' up more recipes boasting seasonal fresh fruits and veggies...

Tonight for a late and fun snack it'll be a mug full of gourmet hot chocolate spiked with cinnamon (maybe a gooey low-cal, fat free marshmallow or two) and a fresh orange, scented citrus candles, and my first fire of the season (enjoyable in the living room but also enjoyable in the bedroom with a view of the fireplace). It's simple pleasures, like these, that can give your senses from head to toe a feel-good boost without putting your health in harm's way.

Since my work on The Healing Powers of Chocolate, I have been using MarieBelle Aztec Hot Chocolate (European Style recipe) ...Tonight, I'm trying something different. Ghirardelli Chocolate, Natural Unsweetened Cocoa: 1 1/2 Tbs. Cocoa, 1 1/2 Tbs. Sugar, 1 cup milk (I favor organic 2% reduced fat milk). I can spike it with cinnamon sticks. And, of course, a juicy sweet and tart autumn orange. (Ah, warmth of chocolate and spice teamed with vitamin C. How good is that to boost the immune system during flu season?)

This type of sensual treat after 7:00 P.M. is the European way to stay lean, happy, and healthy as I write in my books: The Healing Powers of Vinegar, Olive Oil, and Chocolate. It's the traditional Mediterranean style that works. Too many friends of mine will eat dinner later and this type of behavior leads to weight gain and other health woes. I recommend do as the Europeans do: If you must eat later in the night, make it fresh fruit (apples, cantelope, kiwi and so much more) and hot chocolate.

The bottom line: Studies have shown that certain smells affect the "pleasure center" of the brain, making you feel happy. Researchers also know dark chocolate contains amazing compounds to provide a sense of well-being and good health. And happy people are healthier people who live longer. A toast to hot chocolate 'n' citrus (which go together like vinegar and olive oil), and scented candles.

QUESTION: WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU HAD A CUP OF HOT COCOA--WHERE WERE YOU? PLEASE SHARE YOUR EXPERIENCE.

12 Healthy Feng Shui Tips for Your Kitchen

By Cal Orey, The Writing Gourmet

“In the childhood memories of every good cook, there's a large kitchen, a warm stove, a simmering pot and a mom.”
-- Barbara Costikyan

Here I sit in bed feeling better and hoping that I'm on the road to recovery. I'm eager to get back into the fall swing of writing two assigned articles, scheduled to be on national radio to dish out Earth changes, swimming at the indoor resort pool (with a waterfall and hot tub), and spreading the news about my new forthcoming book The Healing Powers of Chocolate. What's more, it's confirmed. I've morphed into a "Food Network" junkie and if something isn't brewing in the kitchen it feels empty.

So, here I am fantasizing about baking my own chocolate birthday cake for October 6. And the kitchen is oh-so much cleaner thanks to the mega cleanup and feng shui moves I've been making. (Simply put, feng shui is the ancient Chinese art of placement. Its goal is to bring you harmony. By putting stuff in the right spots in your kitchen it may enhance the flow of positive energy and zap negative vibrations. The end result: good health, happiness, and fortune.) Read on--you, too, can enjoy a well-balanced kitchen that feels good from head to toe like I recall enjoying as a little girl...

1. Use Eco-friendly Vinegar and Olive Oil Cleaners. For starters, turn on Harvest Moon by Neil Young, have a cup of hot cocoa or piece of quality chocolate (70% cacao) and it will boost your energy and mood...Then, it's time to clean your kitchen from top to bottom with natural stuff. You'll be doing you, yours, and Mother Nature a favor. Using nontoxic vinegar can help you to: lose the ants; clean stainless steel, get rid of dust, and keep fresh flowers longer. By keeping it green it will provide you with better health and energy. Tons of good for you cleaning tips for indoors-outdoors can be found in my books The Healing Powers of Vinegar and The Healing Powers of Olive Oil--both are available in tradecover and mass market editions on all online bookstores.

2. Declutter Your Stuff. Ditto. Getting rid of things you don't use will up your energy. It's true. You feel lighter with less kitchen baggage, starting fresh is exhilerating. I cleaned out both the fridge and freezer. Add a fresh box of baking soda to soak up odors. Then, I tackled the pantry and tossed out olive oil, pasta, rice, soup, gourmet spices (yep, I sadly discovered they don't last forever) and anything else that expired...What's the saying: Out with the old and in with the new.

3. Clean the Stovetop and Oven. This was a chore but it feels right to have the stovetop shine. (My Stepford Wife colors are starting to show.) The inside of the oven is sparkling, too. Writing Gourmet Tip: If you must use toxic oven cleaner, go over it with the natural stuff. Trust me, this is a feel-good must-do before warming up to those cooler days 'n' nights of unforgettable autumn baking and cooking (breads, muffins, casseroles, etc.).

4. Brighten Up with Lighting. During the colder days without sun you'll want to have sunny-type lighting which can up your energy and mood--linked to good health. Go for full spectrum light bulbs. No fall blues or other pesky problems. Speaking of lightening up...

5. Boost Your Mood with Plants. To help wipe out pollutants in your kitchen, fill your space with hardy, happy plants. Your best bet during the fall: philodendrons. They do well in the Sierras unlike Boston Ferns (which I love).

6. Bring on the Water. Fish aquariums provide positive energy in the dining room, especially with a gentle filter Ever notice Asian restaurants and the calming ambiance of fish?

7. Fish, Fish, Fish. Today, I read that goldfish can bring you good luck and prosperity. In fact, nine is the lucky number. The colors? Gold and one black one. (Go smaller rather than bigger in size = less cleaning.) My kitchen/dining room/study all are connected. So, the fish aquarium is a pleasant, calming treat for all three rooms. Note to self: Add more fishies.

8. Bring Out the Fresh Fruit. I've got several plump healthful seasonal fruits on display and ready to eat, such as pears placed in a stainless steel collander. According to feng shui concensus, a full bowl may lead to a full life. Translation: Display pretty bowls with plenty of pretty fruit. Empty bowls with just a few pieces of not so nice fruit not so good. And oranges? Nine is the lucky number I've read...Put 'em in a wooden bowl and on the kitchen or dining room table. (Note: If they're pricey, purchase the ones in a bag. Save the separate, sweet and juicy ones for eating.)

9. Conceal Knives and Scissors. My father gave me a black and white marble knife block, cutting board, and rolling pin. I love it. But the knives are out of sight. Bad vibes, say feng shui folks. (My black cat Kerouac likes to chew the black tops. Yes, black cats can and do bring good luck.)

10. Hanging Pots and Pans. Today, my cooking stuff is hanging on the wall in an arrangement. But I'm thinking about getting one of those artsy-looking overhead pots and pans hangers. If so, I will not, nor should you hang it over your workspace. Not good energy, or so they feng shui wizards claim.

11. Hide the Gadgets. Too many kitchen items can clutter up all that positive decluttering you did. So, choose your favorites and recycle as you use 'em. Or, you can always get a Kitchen Island. I'm thinking a rustic, wooden Mediterranean type. It would be modest, wooden, but eye-catching, and a great place to stack some kitchen gadgets, and a workspace.

12. Hang Wind Chimes with Crystals. I brought one of mine in from the deck--and put it above the kitchen windows. The one I chose is of a sun with a face. It makes me smile everytime I look at Mr. Sunshine. Feng shui gurus recommend hanging chimes in the doorway to the kitchen or over the stove sings good energy.

A bonus tip: A couple of days ago, I purchased a 2010 calendar. It's called Sweet Journey with photos of scrumptious sweet foods including narrative, such as "Power to the Truffle" to "The Mysterious Brownie." I just noticed it also features inspirational thoughts--and, of course, the dates of lunar cycles. I'm feeling better already.

Vinegar, Oil & Chocolate Rx for Health Author's Sinus Woes

By Cal Orey, The Writing Gourmet

"Life is like a box of chocolates ... You never know what you're gonna get." - Forrest Gump

It happened on cue. Odd that it struck right after stocking the pantry with get well foods. I'm sicker than a dog. Maybe I caught the ear infection from Simon, my Brittany. Just kidding. I am in bed with sinusitus. Read: ears throb (on a 1-10 pain scale 8.5) and pop when I swallow, post nasal drip, raspy sore throat, fever and chills (last night). It's embarrassing for a health author to fall victim to germs in the world. Worse, my article on natural swine flu prevention for Oracle 20-20 Magazine (November issue, online) is due in a few days and I feel terrible...

Blame it on the roller coaster temperature changes due to living in the Sierras, low humidity and high altitude at 6,500 feet, swimming, prone to change of season sinus-ear woes, and that is the formula to entering sinusland. And yes, Ms. Natural is now using antibiotic ear drops for safety's sake (I think I've been hanging out too much with my dog; his ear has healed) to not let this woe spin out of control and get the best of me--a boomer. And, of course, I'm also turning to natural remedies--vinegar, olive oil, and chocolate. So take a look at this at-home list of home cures--straight from my trilogy (The Healing Powers of Olive Oil, Vinegar, Chocolate)--to help soothe pesky sinus-ear trouble so you don't feel my pain...

• Vinegar Rx: To clear up clogged respiratory congestion, inhale a vapor mist from a steaming pot containing water and several spoonfuls of apple cider vinegar. Why You'll Like It: It will help clear the air passages naturally and you'll be breathing easy again.
• Olive Oil Rx: Put a few drops of olive oil in the ear canal. Repeat as needed. Why You'll Like It: For one, if it's a minor earache, olive oil, which is believed to have mild antibiotic properties, can and does get rid of the ache and heal the pain. It may help swimmer's ear, too--yep, it pays me a social call in the winter mountain months thanks to the water--my true love.
• Chocolate Rx: Last but not to be forgotten, try a cup of quality dark European spicy hot chocolate--chock-full of disease-fighting antioxidants--made with water not milk (dairy products can add to congestion). Why You'll Like It: Hot spices taste amazing and help unblock sinuses. As one who does get sinus headaches, from time to time, and congestion (living in the high mountain altitude and lack of humidity doesn't help), I can tell you that hot foods stimulate nasal secretions and loosen up unwanted mucus. So spicy hot chocolate is both fun to drink and can help fight off a sinus infection. And note, chocolate can do so much more as I note in my new book The Healing Powers of Chocolate (Kensington, December 2009).

Meanwhile, I sit here (a Type-A go-getter) and fret as I sit and nurse my woes. I vow to drink plenty of water, fresh orange juice, hot herbal teas, and munch on vitamin-C rich fruits, vegetables, and nutrient-dense whole grains. Brown rice with veggies and herbs is on the menu for tonight or hot veggie soup--I'm not hungry or in the mood to cook or bake. On the upside, if I can get through this then if and only if I get the flu it may be a piece of cake (chocolate). I wonder if the romantic film hot Chocolat is on TV. I must be feeling better, huh?

5 Secrets How Vinegar Rx's Fizzle Out the Flu

By Cal Orey, The Writing Gourmet

"Nature opened the first drugstore." -- D.C. Jarvis, M.D.

As the author of The Healing Powers of Vinegar: A Complete Guide To Nature's Most Remarkable Remedy, I can't help but notice that apple cider vinegar is getting a lot of attention on the Internet. One foodie blogger noted today the powers of the ancient Rx and fruit. Good catch. Yep, both vinegar and fresh seasonal fruits teamed with vegetables are chock-full of nutrients that enhance your immune system and can help you stave off or fizzle out the flu--old-fashioned seasonal flu or the Swine flu, too. Living in a resort town, with a lot of worldly visitors, going to store(s), the swimming pool(s), theater, and just living life has got Lake Tahoe locals and folks around the globe, like me and you, thinking "What if I get sick?" Here, take a peek at five vinegar home cures (for the "worrried well" or if you're already feeling a bit under the weather) to help you sail through the fall flu season...

1 Bye-Bye Cold. Got a runny nose, sore throat, cough, muscle aches, and pains? Poor baby, you've got a cold. Rose hips, a key staple in the diets of Native American tribes, may help boost immunity and provide relief from cold and cough symptoms. If you pair up this herbal wonder with vinegar, you might be able to say good riddance to your nasty bug. Or, you can turn to vinegar solo.

Vinegar Rx: Mix 1/4 cup of apple cider vinegar with 1/4 cup of honey. Take 1 tablespoon at least three times daily. Repeat as needed.

2 Clear Up Congestion. When it comes to fighting colds and sinus congestion, apple cider vinegar comes to the rescue, according to folk medicine.
Vinegar Rx: To clear up clogged respiratory congestion, inhale vapor mist from a steaming pot containing water and several spoons of vinegar.
3 Stop A Cough. Hack, hack, hack. Coughs come with everything from the common cold to acute bronchitis, which cause mucus in the throat and lungs. Not only is coughing annoying, but it can hurt your chest after a while, too. Soon you want something to make the symptom go away.

Vinegar Rx: Mix 1/2 cup of apple cider vinegar, 1/2 cup water, 1 teaspoon of cayenne pepper, and 4 teaspoons of honey. Take 1 tablespoon when your cough starts up. Take another at bedtime.

4 Soothe A Sore Throat. When you feel the sniffles or flu coming on, a sore throat is often a symptom. While healing foods like vitamin C-rich juices can lessen the severity of an illness, vinegar may help relieve that scratchy, painful feeling in your throat that makes it so hard to swallow.

Vinegar Rx: To get rid of a painful sore throat, gargle with a 50-50 solution of warm water and vinegar.

5 Fizzle Out The Flu. Do you have muscle aches and pains, headaches, low back pain, fatigue, and fever? If you are a victim of the flu season--or don't want to be--drink plenty of fluids. Water, herbal teas, and other liquids can flush out any toxins that you might accumulate, notes Ray Sahelian, M.D., of Southern California. For instance, goldenseal makes a great immunity-boosting tea because it contains berberine, an antibiotic substance that is a great flu fighter.

Vinegar Rx: Try 1 teaspoon of the ground root of goldenseal in 1 cup of boiling water. Steep for a few minutes, then strain. Add 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar with honey or lemon. Repeat three times daily.

• What Vinegar To Try: http://www.bragg.com/ Bragg Apple Cider Vinegar. Organic, raw, unfiltered, with the "mother." Mother or "mother-of-vinegar" is a term used to describe the excess liquid that accumulates on top of cider or other juice, which turns them into the most nutritious vinegar for health. As the fermentation progresses, mother forms a floating clump or filmy substance, like a coffee latte with the foam on top. Mother, the latte-like foam, is a living mixture of "good" bacteria and enzymes.

The Four Thieves Flu-Fighting Rx

As the legend goes, during the Middle Ages, four robbers in a French town preyed upon the homes and belongings left behind by the people who fell victim to the bubonic plague, or “Black Death” of Europe. Eventually, they were caught and brought before judges, who wondered how these four thieves had protected themselves from the deadly plague while looting plague-ridden possessions.

It’s been said that the thieves bargained the famous Four Thieves Vinegar Formula for freedom, explaining that they washed themselves with the infection-fighting liquid every few hours. Upon learning about these immunity-boosting qualities, the formula was also used by priests and doctors who treated the ill.

No one seems to know who wrote the formula, which differs from recipe to recipe, but it is basically the same and it works in various ways. It’s recommended to dilute with water to half strength. It can be used to disinfect sick rooms and as a body wash. Taken by the teaspoonful (consult with your doctor for the safe amount), it can also be used as a preventive measure to stave off viral infections, such as the flu and help prevent and cure a sore throat, headache, and other physical flu ailments.

The Formula: Basic ingredients: Combine 3 quarts apple cider vinegar; 3 tablespoons each of rosemary, lavender, sage, mint, rue, and plantain; and 6 cloves of garlic. Let it sit in a covered container for at least 24 hours.
Where Can You Buy Vinegar and Herbs? To avoid a possible price increase, stock up. If you live in the U.S., you can get apple cider vinegar and herbs at your local health food store and grocery store. International countries can obtain products online at: https://www.yourhealthfoodstore.co.uk/content/international-delivery-destinations.php .

Healing Your Kitchen with Olive Oil for Autumn

By Cal Orey, The Writing Gourmet

Delicious autumn! My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns. --George Eliot

The sun is shining, the air is warm, but fall is lingering in the air of Lake Tahoe. I can feel it, especially at night, earling morning, and I see the changes (i.e., trees, big and small, are turning a golden color and squirrels are getting busy and plump). Recently, I began pre-autumn cleaning and shared six tips with you about detoxing the kitchen with vinegar and olive oil. Today, it's back to the kitchen to continue the never-ending chores. And olive oil is going to give me a hand (or two)...

So join me. Misery loves company! Nah, there is an art to cleaning and it can be fun and the rewards are healing for the mind, body, and spirit. Here are some things you can do with olive oil and vinegar teamed with other natural ingredients such as lemon, water, and essential oils. You'll find that these mixtures can be used to clean floors, polish furniture, freshen the air, and much, much more. My kitchen and dining room are spacious and connected so my fall cleanup is a team effort while I seem to be going back and forth to each room to make it match and balanced (a true Libra, the sign of the scales)...


Kitchen

• Cutting Board Cleanup. A wooden cutting board in your kitchen is a must-have, and olive oil can help to preserve it. After using it, wash it with soap and water. Dry. Then, once it is squeaky clean, wipe it with olive oil.
• No More Rust. Got a cast-iron frying pan? If so, chances are it's a hand-me-down. So, you want to take care of it and keep it in tip-top condition. After each time you use it, wash it, and dry it, don't forget to lightly apply olive oil to keep it rust-free and maintain its natural shine.
• Pamper Kitchen Helpers. Olive oil fans use the versatile home aid to add a vibrant shine to kitchen helpers such as the blender, coffeemaker, and toaster. After you clean these items, simply spray them with a mist of olive oil and water (3 parts water to 1 part olive oil) and buff until they gleam olive oil pretty.

Dining Room

• Wow Wood Paneling. I live in a house that was built decades ago. It has a lot of built-in cupboards, and it's wood paneled throughout, including the dining room and kitchen. I use a vinegar and water (with a bit of lemon for the scent) solution first to clean the wood. Then, I turn to a traditional furniture polish and then buff surface scratches with olive oil. It's pet-friendly (my Brittanys get into everything I do) and this makes the paneling shine.
• Buff Brass. To keep brass looking shinier, buff your treasures with olive oil after cleaning them. I have a hand-me-down collection from my dad, who was also a nature lover. So, preserving his brass birds, ducks, unicorns, and reindeers means a lot to me. Olive oil keeps the brass from tarnishing so fast.
• Preserve Antiques. I have a glass dining room table with classic wrought iron from the good old 1950s. Rubbing a bit of extra virgin olive oil onto the iron legs of the table and four chairs using a soft cloth provides a fantastic shine to this classic and preserves its worth.

Meanwhile, as a feel of Indian summer stays like a tourist in the Sierra, in between cleaning (wherever you live) it's a time to cleanse your body with fresh salads (a garden variety of dark greens, tomatoes, sprinkled with Italian cheeses, and herbs) drizzled with olive oil and vinegar. Fall fruits (pears, apples, and grapes) and vegetables (pumpkin, eggplant, carrots) are to be embraced and used in nut breads and morning muffins. And healing herbal teas to stave off the fall flu? Ah, in the morning and night, hot teas (green or black) are a must-have and iced chamomile teas and fresh fruit juices during the day are good for you and a good way to bring in the change of seasons.

A bonus tip: I've put bottles of herbal vinegars in the kitchen windowsills. Still trying to decide to hang the fresh curtains or enjoy the new, improved look without them. And my fave feng shui secret for the day? Two weeks ago, I hung a wooden black framed mirror above the stovetop. It reflects the kitchen window and makes the kitchen appear larger as it boasts the great outdoors (picture-perfect pine trees)--and this tip promises to bring good luck. Did it do its deed? You betcha in the nick of time! Try it.

(Adapted from The Healing Powers of Olive Oil: A Complete Guide to Nature's Liquid Gold by Cal Orey, published by Kensington; 2009, mass market paperback)

My First "Homemade" Old-Fashioned Mixed-Apple Pie

By Cal Orey, The Writing Gourmet

“If you want to make an apple pie from scratch, you must first create the universe.”
-- Dr. Carl Sagan quote

I did it! I made a homemade double-crust apple pie, sort of. Scratch the crust because I got a little help from Marie, Marie Calender's pie crust. And I'm glad I chose it. Like an apt pupil, I read up on DIY crusts--made with flour, sugar, salt, butter, shortening and water; refrigerated varieties (supposedly the best that you simply roll out yourself); and the frozen ones that got slammed with criticism. No matter. I followed my heart and followed Marie and purchased her frozen pie crusts. No regrets. After all, we used to have a Marie Calender's here at Lake Tahoe, and the pies were my favorite, especially the light, flaky crust like mom used to bake.

The truth is, I've always wanted to make a double-crust pie but never did it by myself. Sure, when I was a tween I helped my mother, a baking goddess, do it. I remember together we sliced the apples and she explained to me how to prevent the apples from browning as I put the wedges into a bowl of cold ice water. Fast forward: As I took out my bottom crust from the packaging I got hit with flashbacks, one by one, when plopping my apple wedges high into the pie shell. (I admit it: I need to get one of those fancy coring gadgets because preparing these puppies, one by one, made my blood pressure soar. But the good news is, potassium-rich apples can help lower BP.) I did it. I did it like when I was a kid with my mom there as my guide...

The Crust

• I read up on the trials of a prepared frozen crust. So I was one up on the woes I faced. I kept 'em frozen before preparing (not refrigerated like I was told to do at the store). Upon opening up the package of two crusts, I was surprised at the texture--just like homemade. I lightly floured the bottom with whole wheat flour. Then, I plopped my apples (see below for Filling info) in and was pleased at the metamorphisis that was appearing before my eyes. (Next time I will do a lattice crust but that is a bit more challenging.)
  
• When taking out the second crust to avoid sticking I flopped it over in my hands and ran warm water over the tin pan. Then, flipping it back, I topped the pie with the second crust and there were a few glitches. No worries. I dabbed a bit of warm water on the torn parts and smoothed out a handsome crust to write home about. When I fluted the edges (like mom taught me to do) I felt like she was in the dining room with me. It was an unworldly experience. Instead of brushing the top of the crust with an egg white, I chose organic milk. And sprinkling cinnamon and sugar on top was just the beginning of a good time because I sensed the work was over.
  
• I cut a few slits (as I read to do) and cut out a small circle on top of the pie. It looked like pies in photos. Into the oven for 15 minutes...and then I peeked at my pie before turning the oven down for another hour. It was confirmed. My first homemade apple pie was not going to flop. My mom was an excitable, passionate bakeress and I will never forget one time when her homemade Butterscotch Pie turned out too soupy. She cried. I cried. It was a sad event. (To prevent a sequel, I was thankful that I read ahead of time and remembered to prevent the pie crust from cooking too fast and burning...fold foil over the heat-sensitive edges.)

Filling

• Note: A no brainer: Do this first before turning to your crust of choice. Combine the ingredients. I put it all in a collander and drizzled thick, brown juice ontop of the apples, stirring it up so each and every apple was coated.

6 large apples (Golden Delicious, Granny, Fuji), peeled, quartered, cored, cut into wedges

1/2-3/4 cup brown sugar

2 tablespoons corn starch

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon fresh lemon

• One hour later: At 8:50 P.M. last night I peeked inside the oven. My pie was golden brown and the apple juices were all bubbly oozing out through the slits. I took a fork and pulled out one single apple wedge--tender. It was done. Sixty plus minutes later (I couldn't wait any longer to judge the pie), I cut a piece of pie (I rarely eat after 7:00 P.M.--the secret to maintaining a size 4-6) and savored the first bite. Success. The apples were hot and juicy, not too sweet or too tart. The crust tender, a nice golden light color, and hard to decode if it was homemade or not. It was a natural, wholesome apple pie (almost like mom used to bake). I miss her. Making and baking this sweet apple pie brought me back into time, the Sixties, when I was just a kid who loved her mother who knew how to bake from scratch.

P.S. Enter the Healthiest Survival Pie Contest and Win a Copy of The Healing Powers of Chocolate, Olive Oil, Vinegar--Your Choice. Click Here for Easy Details--the Title of Your Fave Healthiest Pie.