10 DIY Oil & Vinegar Summertime Home Cures

10 DIY Summertime Home Cures

(Plus Two Must-haves to Chill Out)

By Cal Orey

“Age does not diminish the extreme disappointment of having a scoop of ice cream fall from the cone.”
-- Jim Fiebig

I'm feeling the heat of summer and trying to go with the flow of it all... Tomorrow, on July 22, we will be witnessing the Total Solar Eclipse--a powerful Earth event around the globe. And during this New Moon cycle it will intensify home, family, and taking care of you and yours, whether Mother Nature tosses us a curve ball (or not) before, during, or after a superb meal chock-full of fine food.

Tonight, as the Author-Intuitive, I will be a guest on Captain Jack's Paranormal Radio Program. It's my job to dish out the latest recipe for what Earth changes--quakes to big waves--may or may not happen now or in the upcoming months.

It's a task to think fine food when Mother Nature is on a mega mission, of sorts. I get excited and well, cooking up a gourmet meal isn't first and foremost on my To Do list. Still, that doesn't mean olive oil and vinegar doesn't play a role in my life (or yours) during the summer. Let's face it: If you're hit by one of these pesky summer-related ailments, gourmet food will be put on the back burner till you're back to normal.

During the season of fun in the hot sun (and the Total Solar Eclipse), you may fall victim to some unpleasant but treatable health ailments or even an ER disaster. Olive oil and vinegar are the cure-alls. If it doesn’t specify which type of vinegar to use, go ahead and use your own preference: an apple cider vinegar, a red wine vinegar, or a white vinegar--even herbal vinegars such as rosemary can help you snag a tick on you or your pooch.

(Personally, I prefer Bragg's vinegar -- it's in my fridge at all times as well as the pantry. And it's no secret that I love Sciabicia's olive oils from California.) So the bottom line: When I'm stressed out by summer heat and woes I simply chill with fine fun-loving dogs and a killer gourmet ice cream cone. It worked when I was a kid and it works now, too.

· Antibacterial Hand Wash: To avoid getting the flu, especially if you travel, pour 2 parts apple cider vinegar, 1 part antibacterial soap and 1 part extra virgin olive oil in a handy soap dispenser.

· Diaper Rash: Use 2 teaspoons of extra virgin olive oil with 1 teaspoon of water. Shake these two ingredients until you get a pasty emulsion, a sort of cream read to be spread on the irritated area.

· Hot Flashes: Take 1 or 2 tablespoons of olive oil per day. Or, drizzle a tablespoon or 2 on five serving of vegetables daily. (Include asparagus, beans, carrots, corn, dried seaweed, garlic, green pepper, onions, squash, and yams.)

· Insect and Bee Stings: Make yourself more comfortable in a homemade paste from vinegar and cornstarch. Apply it directly to the bumps and blisters.

· Muscle Aches: Warm 1 cup of olive oil in the microwave. Apply it as a massage oil. (If you have a significant other, this can be delightful. But doing it solo can work, too.)

· Poison Ivy and Oak: Try mixing equal parts vinegar and rubbing alcohol and apply to rash. Or mix equal parts buttermilk, vinegar, and salt and apply.

· Sunburn: Apply ice cold apple cider vinegar immediately for fast relief.

· Swimmer’s Ear: To protect against ear infections from swimming pools, a popular folk remedy to try is using a mixture of one part white vinegar to one part rubbing alcohol.

· Toenail Fungus: Distilled vinegar is believed to prevent fungus from growing. Try soaking your toes in a solution of vinegar and water, using 1 part vinegar to 2 parts water, 15 minutes per day.

· Universal Emergency: Purchase a large can of extra virgin olive oil and plastic jug of apple cider vinegar, and store it with your emergency supplies. During Mother’s Nature’s wrath, from tornadoes and hurricanes to fires and earthquakes, it’s good to have a universal cure-all product on hand.

Adapted from The Healing Powers of Vinegar and The Healing Powers of Olive Oil by Cal Orey, published by Kensington.

Cheesecake, Fruit 'n' Balsamic Vinegar

CHEESECAKE,

FRUIT 'N' BALSAMIC VINEGAR

BY CAL OREY

"The vinegar tastes like it's got oil in it."

-- Richard Simmons

I have cheesecake on the brain... It's been a long time since I've had a fling with cheesecake. Too long. I thought about buying all the ingredients and baking up one from my kitchen but it seems like so much work. Then, I pondered, "If I buy a whole one I may be tempted to eat the whole thing." Yep, cheesecake is a trigger food for me. That means, I cannot eat just one slice and it will trigger me to eat slice after slice until it's all gone.

Today, I recalled the small solo cheesecakes found at bakeries. These are adorable. These are ready-made for one or two with one fork. And these often are topped with fresh fruit. Years ago, a friend of mine brought me these little pastries, time after time. She was helping the baker to keep his shop open and spreading the word. Yes, they were marvelous.

Personally, I love New York-style cheesecake with its cream cheese and eggs. Italian-style is dryer than than American styles. And there are so many varieties it makes me think "Gee, I should write a book--The Healing Powers of Cheesecake." But for now, a quick fix will suffice.

I've decided tomorrow I will purchase one of these cute creations at the local bakery. However, I will choose a plain one and top it with my fave seasonal fruit: blackberries. Next, that dark chocolate I recently received? I will grate fine bittersweet chocolate on top of the cheesecake. Lastly, I'll drizzle balsamic vinegar on top--just a bit for extra taste.

More good news for cheesecake lovers. Cheesecake does contain good stuff, such as zero trans fat, protein, vitamin A, calcium, iron, and monounsaturated fat (that's what's found in olive oil). Sure, it has saturated fat but hey, you don't have to eat a whole cheesecake. Go small. And it will do your spirit good. If you don't believe me, catch a rerun of the classic sit-com The Golden Girls. I swear they go to cheesecake for all of life's ups and downs. I know, I know. That's TV. But cheesecake is good for the soul in real life, too.

One more thing: To learn everything you want to learn about the different types of cheesecake, go to wikipedia and type in those sweet words. And balsamic vinegar? Ditto. Or, just choose a brand or two at your fave store. And to discover nutrition and health facts about balsamic vinegar and the "Balsamic Boom"--check out my book The Healing Powers of Vinegar, Revised and Updated (Kensington). Lastly, by drizzling vinegar on top of cheesecake topped with fresh fruit? It's the gourmet way to do it. Enjoy. It's all good.

Strawberry Shortcake Surprise: Vinegar 'n' Chocolate

Strawberry Shortcake: Balsamic Vinegar & Chocolate

by Cal Orey

One must ask children and birds how cherries and strawberries taste.

--Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

It's Monday afternoon and while I'm at the computer working hard for the money, I'm in the mood for something sweet, something fun, something healthy... I've had Strawberry Shortcake on my mind for a while. So, yesterday, I decided against making homemade biscuits like mom used to bake (yes, the writer is busy writing) but that didn't stop me from getting the other right ingredients to make up one of my fave and kind of healthful dishes. And this time it's got an European twist to it with a gourmet touch.

This dessert reminds me of several years ago. I traveled to British Columbia with a boyfriend and ordered this at a restaurant. I was smitten by the old-fashioned treat (more my compatible match than my gentleman friend). Once back in the SF Bay Area, again, I lived on Strawberry Shortcake--it was a phase... I also recall visiting an awesome fish aquarium in Canada. It was the highlight of the trip (for me). The Shortcake came in second.

Off topic, sort of and sort of not. Yesterday, at Lake Tahoe I switched swimming spots (no, not the Lake) due to the coming invasion of the tourists. Read: See I Am Legend. The visitors remind me of the spooky Dark Seekers. But to keep sane, rather than going against the flow of strangers, I'm trying to learn how to go easy with it all. Speaking of swimming, my poor fish (yep, another noname one passed and went to fish heaven). So, I cleaned the aquarium, got new fish plants (and fish) and I am sensing all is good. My boys (I'm assuming) are swimming and lovin' it.

And if you swim regularly like I love to do, yes, yes you can savor a surprise dish, like this one (even with the pound cake and whipped cream) on occasion, without packing on unwanted pounds.

Strawberry Shortcake Surprise

2 cups organic strawberries

1/2 cup balsamic vinegar

1 tablespoon real maple syrup

all butter pound cake

real all-natural French vanilla ice cream and/or real whipped cream

dark chocolate shavings

Wash, slice berries. Put aside. Warm up balsamic vinegar (saute or microwave). Cool and add syrup. Wait till it cools. Cut a few thin slices of pound cake. Top with plenty of vitamin C rich, anti-stress strawberries. Drizzle sweet balsamic mixture on berries. Top with a scoop of ice cream and/or a dollop of whipped cream. Garnish with dark chocolate shavings.

Cool Ways To Fight Fat! Stir-Fry Shrimp & Rice...

Forget Meat! Eat Rice,Veggies & Fish...

Slim Down, Firm Up

by Cal Orey

I woke up this morning and thought to myself: "Why are some of my gal-pals and guy-pals struggling this summer with unwanted body fat and pounds?" It isn't rocket science...I believe part of the extra weight formula is due to three factors: rather than grazing (eating metabolism-boosting mini meals throughout the day) they wolf down three big meals (or one!) per day; making meat a big part of it all; and lack of exercise.

Do as the Europeans and Hawaiians do--when they follow their traditional diet (including veggies, whole grains, fish in moderation) and exercise regimes. You can go from fat to firm at any age!

In my late teens, I rebelled and stopped eating my mom's meat dishes. Also, I became physically active. The result: I was a petite shrimp--lean and fit...Today, in my mid fifties, same deal: size 4, 122 lbs. at 5' 5". So when I hear folks and peers complain about their weight (often at the pool I swim at) I tell them simply to do as I do. Eat more rice, veggies, fish--less meat--and get a move on! Here, is a great jump-start recipe to give you a taste of eating right. It's quick and easy and will help you to slim down.

Stir-Fry Shrimp and Rice

3 green onions, sliced

1/2 cup chopped green bell pepper

1/2 cup red beel pepper

1 pound tiny cocktail shrimp

1 quart cooked long-grin rice, cold (I prefer brown rice)

1 (8 ounce) can pineapple chunks in juice

1/3 cup natural rice vinegar

3 tablespoons Oriental sesame oil (I prefer extra virgin olive oil)

a pinch of pepper

1/4 cup fresh cilantro

1/2 cup sliced almonds

In a large nonstick skillet or wok, stir-fry onions with green and red pepper for a few minutes. Stir in shrimp and rice. Add pineapple with juice, vinegar, oil, and pepper. Heat thoroughly. toss in cilantrol. Garnish with almonds. Serve hot, or for salad, divide mixture into 4 small molds and chill 2 hours or overnight. Unmold salads onto lettuce leaves.

(Excerpt from The Healing Powers of Vinegar, by Cal Orey)

My First Fresh Herbal Garden:The Mediterranean Way

My First Fresh Herbal Garden:

The Mediterranean Way

Living in the mountains at Lake Tahoe is a challenge if you want to play Happy Herbal Gardener. I've got a green thumb, sort of. Inside my home the philadendrons and ficus plants are happy year-round. Summertime it's been daisies and Boston ferns on the deck. But now it's time for change. Yikes!
The idea of fresh herbs have captured my imagination, nurturing instincts, and desire to put together an herbal garden. I called up a nursery and a friendly assistant manger told me that thyme, parsley, oregano, and mint and even tomatoes--all will do well. The sunny deck may be the perfect place to start. (The best part, Simon, Seth, and Kerouac--my furry trio--will not be tempted to snack on the upcoming garden; but not sure if raccoons and coyotes are really into the natural herbal thing). And so the song Scarborough Fair lyrics join me in my new adventure.
Today, the Langoliers (aka tourists are coming much like the Stephen King sci-film) are invading the town so a quick trip to the store (a new shipment of herb plants have arrived) is on the agenda. I've decided to inch my way into this venture. Translation: Purchase mint (my first herbal plant) and place in pot (two for starters) on the deck. And that's not all...

This weekend I will make a pitcher of herbal tea (my favorites are calming but bland chamomile, black or green) and garnish it with my first fresh mint leaves. It's simple. It's real. It's easy. I'm excited like a kid. Baby steps. The real new, improved herbal, plant, flower garden will begin in June. Uh-why wait? You never know what you're going to get with the weather at the Lake. Read: We can and have had snow in the summer. So step by step and I will start my first fresh herbal garden and treat it with lots of TLC...I can do this--I think I can. I think I can. (I so miss the Mediterranean-style climate of San Francisco Bay Area where I grew up and growing a garden is easy, breezy with a capital E.)
The Bonus: I will be able to use fresh herbs in the recipes in my books The Healing Powers of Olive Oil and The Healing Powers of Vinegar. Enjoyment will come from seeing the greenery on the deck and knowing fresh herbs (not the store bought lifeless stuff in tins) will be part of my all-natural Mediterranean diet (think fresh veggies, fruits, fish, pasta plates, spices and olive oil) and lifestyle. Here's a toast to herbal tea with my first taste of fresh mint leaves. Buon Appetito!

Vinegar Rx to Prevent Swine Flu?

Apple Cider Vinegar Rx

Protect Yourself from Getting

Swine Flu

Can apple cider vinegar really help us--the "worried well"--to stay healthy and get peace of mind during the ongoing outbreak of Swine Flu? It's possible, according to history. In my book, The Healing Powers of Vinegar, I document the amazing therapeutic formula used by four savvy robbers who escaped the bubonic plague...

During the Middle Ages, vinegar made its mark, too. Four robbers in the French town of Marseilles 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 French judges, who wondered how these four thieves had protected themselves from the deadly plague while looting plague-ridden possessions.

The legend is that the four thieves bargained and exchanged the famous Four Thieves Vinegar 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 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 can be used to disinfect sick rooms. If diluted with water, if can be used as a body wash. Taken by the teaspoonful (consult with your doctor for the safe amount), it can be used as a preventive measure to stave off viral infections, such as the flu.

Therapeutic Formula of the Four Thieves

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.

For more information on antibiotic and immune-boosting benefits of vinegar, turn to The Healing Powers of Vinegar, Revised and Updated.

One more thing: Will I put together my own natural Four Thieves "vaccine"? Most likely. As the adage by Benjamin Franklin goes, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."

http://herbs.suite101.com/article.cfm/make_your_own_herbal_disinfectant (The Healing Powers of Vinegar's Four Thieves legend is noted. Article written a year ago. Talk about keen insight!)

Simple Salmon

Ah, seafood. Fish contains the omega-3 fatty acids (which are found in salmon), potassium, and only a small amount of sodium. And it's these ingredients that help keep your blood pressure in check during the ups and downs in life.

What's more, when you include heart-healthy vinegar, garlic, onions, and olive oil with fish, as in this fish recipe, you'll be on track to keeping a healthy heart.

I love this recipe because it's easy to make. It's simple as that. It's keeping it real. And these are the ingredients that help keep me petite--size 4 and 122 pounds--and healthy. Vinegar Bon Appetit!

P.S. Enjoying a 3 1/2 ounce serving of Simple Salmon with vegetables is the right road to allowing ample room to savor a plain but scrumptious dallop of French vanilla ice cream drizzled with balsamic vinegar. Remember, fine food is like a fine friend.

Simple Salmon

Marinate and Bake the Salmon in the Same Pan

6 filets, 6 ounces each 2 ounces olive oil
1 tomato, peeled, seeded, and diced 2 ounces red wine vinegar
4 ounces yellow onion, sliced 2 ounces dry red wine
2 ounces carrots, sliced 2 bay leaves
1 lemon, sliced into rounds 3 fresh thyme sprigs
2 cloves garlic, sliced 4 fresh tarragon leaves
8 ounces vegetable broth salt and pepper to taste

Place the 6 salmon filets in an oven-proof glass pan. Add all the other ingredients. Marinate for 1 hour in the refrigerator. In the ssame glass pan, cover salmon loosely with a piece of foil and bake for 15 minutes at 350 degrees. When salmon is done, remove to a service plate. Strain liquid from baking pan and reduce to less than a cup using a whisk. Adjust seasoning and pour over salmon. Serves 6.
Recipe by Chef Salvatore J. Campagna

(from The Healing Powers of Vinegar, by Cal Orey)

Fight Spring Fever 'n Fat with Oil & Vinegar!

Fight Spring Fever and Fat with

Olive Oil & Vinegar...

Spring is a time when love is in the air. I can feel it. Rather than sing the blues (especially if you're carrying unwanted winter weight) when couples seem to be blossoming like olives everywhere you look, let the sun shine on you--like I do.
Whether you're enjoying the season of renewal in the U.S. or getting ready to travel somewhere new and exciting like Europe, you want a leaner, fit and fab beach and pool body, right? Here are six tried-and-true tips from me who has mastered the art of weathering spring fever and staying skinny year-round (fall is my fave season) for both health and vanity's sake.

1. If you are solo, hug or adopt a companion animal. Caring for a pet can help lower blood pressure and reduce stress. Remember, walking the dog (or cat) can rev up your metabolism. I guarantee it.
2. Talk to a human. Feeling lonely? Pick up the phone and call someone you know. Or better yet, make a social call in person. Keeping active and in touch will keep you from overeating. I sip water while chatting it up.
3. Visualize an oasis. Whether your “peaceful place” is in a Long Island garden, a museum in Manhattan, or some other calming place, simply close your eyes and picture it. If you're centered you won't want to overindulge in food. I imagine a swimming pool like the one in the photo -- Umbria, Italy (http://www.rogaia.com/).
4. Get adequate shut-eye. Ever notice that when you don’t get enough sleep, you get cranky, or overeat sugary foods? Eight hours is the amount of sleep recommended by experts to help replenish your body and mind. I snooze with my two Brittanys--great cuddlers, no snoring.
5. Don’t forget the oil and vinegar. While you’re waiting for Mr. or Ms. Right to come into your life, visit your local health foods store (a good place to meet good people) and purchase eco-friendly white vinegar and olive oil for spring household cleaning (you'll burn calories as you declutter). I love going green--no chemicals. Feels PC.
6. Commit to exercise regularly. Join a local health club, gym, or indoor pool, to get and stay in shape. Use olive oil or olive oil-based products to help keep your skin smooth from head to toe. I swim four times a week, at least. Hope I am a fish in the next world.

Speaking of your body...
Spring Two-Day Vinegar and Oil Detox Diet

This slimming, healthy jump-start meal plan, from my book The Healing Powers of Vinegar, Revised and Updated (Kensington, 2009--new mass market edition), can help you shed up to five whopping pounds or more of unwanted winter weight and body fat. I promise you this plan works like charm.

Breakfast: Fresh berries (no limit)
Lunch: 4 ounces fresh white-meat turkey
Greens with dressing made of fresh parsley, 1 tablespoon each virgin olive oil and apple cider vinegar, and spices to taste
1 cup fresh berries
Dinner:
6 to 8 ounces fresh flounder, sole, or salmon
1 cup fresh berries
COOL NOTES:
• Drink a minimum of six 8-ounce glasses of water with fresh lemon throughout the day.
• Check with your doctor before starting this or any diet.
• For an extra healthful edge to this diet plan, every day before each meal, drink 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar in an 8-ounce glass of water. Add 1 to 2 tablespoons of honey, if desired.

Olive Oil Book Contest: Free Liquid Gold!

OLIVE OIL IS MORE THAN JUST FOR SALADS...

it's good as gold

By Cal Orey,

author of The Healing Powers of Olive Oil

April 12, 2009
Yes, I am giving away my latest book, The Healing Powers of Olive Oil: A Complete Guide to Nature's Liquid Gold. It's a perfect and practical gift for this season and during the economic shake-up. Staying healthy is as good as gold...

And olive oil teamed with the good for you Mediterranean diet and lifestyle can help you to shed unwanted winter weight this spring...Prevent Heart Disease and Cancer...And Live Longer, Healthier and Happier... It's time to discover how the powers of olive oil can be your best friend--always a constant like a beloved pooch--especially in shaky times.

Contest: The 5th poster who leaves a comment why they love olive oil (be original!) will win a free signed, sealed, and mailed copy of a new mass market edition. Check back to see if you're #5--if so, just go to my Web site (listed on this blog, see Email Me on top of the homepage) and send me your address. It's that easy.