Big Thanks for Logo Help

Gratitude & Kudos to
@vRONIs (veronica) at Twitter for helping me with a few
LogoIdeas, I though I'd share our favorites
Look for a new logo on my Facebook Page
coming soon new cover photo art that my get
featured on my next Booster.com fundraiser TShirt.

These are by @vRONIs a very cool new friend
and Zachary Levi/Chuck Addict





Again Big Thank You for your help
If you feel so inclined please choose your favorite in the comments :)

Have a Great Tuesday
~V

Happy 2014

Happy New Year to everyone
We Wish You Good Fortune & Good Health.

Did you become resolute about something new,
or are you making the same resolutions as New Year's Past?

We have resolved to bring Hope to the forefront in our Community.



Giving Hope to others & greening it forward
will in turn make things better for more and more folks.

I speak to people at times and the convenience of things today
have blinded and even consumed some people's lives. Even if I
reopen their eyes for just a moment, it sets a spark that maybe
can be fanned into a flame. If only one person goes forward and
makes a simple change they'll make more because it makes them
feel good too.

Gardening is a simple language, that has but one result, Pleasure.
Food & Fragrance are two of the most fulfilling senses we have.
So let's grow better food for our bodies, by ourselves.
The Earth is ours, it can feed us, house us, heal us, please us.
Let's make a conscious effort to not Kill it.
Teach what you know, if you know how to grow great tomatoes, teach someone
else to do it too. Also, why it is better to grow things the right way.
No chemicals, Feed The Soil, Use non GMO items. Why do they have to keep breeding
new hybrids??? The Heirlooms are still around, still growing, and used as
bases for hybrid plants, why...Because they are a good pure thing.
Grow things the way it is intended in their original form.

Children are our Hope, it is our responsibility to teach them.
If they are taught in a lab, they will continue the cycle of destruction.
Take them outside, put their hands in the dirt, there is a connection that
needs to ne made. Technology in different forms are stealing our children away from us.
Yes they can find out all sorts of information at just a touch, but they
are losing touch. We need a true New Generation of young people, versed in the
art of balance. Green, Sustainable practices do create balanced, caring children.

So the #GreenKids of today will be
"Greening it Back by Greening it Forward."
They are our 'New Hope' for a better future.
Let's all stick together and teach them.

I am but one person, with one voice, but I believe
my Hope will spread through my Free Seminars for the kids.
Even if it's a trickle effect, Kids influence their Parents
with each child I touch with our message I know at least 2 folks
are impacted even if just a small way. Encouraged to become
and Advocate for a Better Quality of Life in all ways.

Our goal is to get everyone to try & share (Green it Forward) to 3 people each day.
It's not a challenge it's a goal.
It's even easy if you share or retweet any of our social media messages.
Or even become affiliated as a supporter in some way.
We're only moving up come with us Please.

Have a Great Weekend
Victoria ~ EarthSource Services ~#GreenKids

Secret Recipe ~ Chick Fil A

I have had a lot of request for the "Chick-Fil-A" recipe so here it is

Ingredients
1 boneless chicken breast \
jar of dill pickle slices
1/2 C flour
1 T powdered sugar
1/2 tsp each of paprika and salt
1/4 tsp each of black pepper, garlic powder, celery salt, and dried basil
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper(optional)

1/4C pickle juice
1 egg
1/4 C milk


Directions
Flatten chicken between 2 sheets of plastic wrap. Cut into 2 pieces and soak in pickle juice for at least 30 min.
mix egg and milk together. mix all the dry together.
dip chicken in egg mixture on both sides then in dry mix on both sides.
fry in oil (they use peanut oil but any will do) at about 350degrees.
serve on a buttered (lightly toasted) bun with 2 pickle slices.

I have made this as sandwiches and nuggets and both are delish

Please Participate in our Fundraiser

We are desperately trying to keep our #GreenKids Free Programs Free.
But it will take some Generous folks to contribute to our efforts
Please share this with everyone and encourage them to do the same.
If we reach our goal it should fund us for another year.
It really is a small amount considering the scope of the results.
Please check out our social connections at
Twitter ~ @HerbGir1972 & @EssSc7
Facebook ~ http://www.facebook.com/earthsourceservicessc7
K+ on Klout ~ Victoria Meetze

Scroll thru and see what we're about
and Remember the #GreenKids & EarthSource Services needs your help

This fundraiser needs to have at least 20 shirts ordered to print
and 500 is our goal.
Thanks for your time and consideration of our efforts.
PLease purchase at least one(1) tee today


https://www.booster.com/ug-13875204664578543

If you'd simply like to "DONATE" check out our Sponsorship Levels note here:

https://www.facebook.com/notes/earthsource-services/earthsourceservices-greenkids-sponsor-levels/613922642001289

What are #GreenKids? (Happier, Healthier, Caring)

https://www.facebook.com/notes/earthsource-services/what-are-greenkids-happier-healthier-caring/557649750961912

Grasshopper Cookies ~Recipe 3Fer

I have two favorite recipes that I was inspired to experiment with this Holiday Season
I have our tried and true everybody loves em Butter Mints & delicious and versatile Homemade Chocolate Wafer Cookies.

So I put them together, kind of a "your peanut butter's in my chocolate" kind of thing :)

The outcome is a Homemade Grasshopper Cookie
You marry these two recipes as pictured
I suggest making both parts ahead of time and letting the kids put them together while you finish another cooking project.

(Make Cookies First) and cool.

Flatten out enough butter mint, for the number of cookies you are making, to the right size. Let them set a while so they can harden a little bit.

Melt a little dark chocolate chips to stick them together on both sides.

For the vibrant Grasshopper Green color in the mints, use green color then add yellow.
It just brightens things up a little like a few drops of Sunshine :)


Here are the two base recipes to get you started

Homemade Chocolate Wafer Cookies

These are good alone, with coffee, and crushed to make cheesecake crusts

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups (6.75 ounces) all-purpose flour
3/4 cup (2.4 ounces) unsweetened cocoa powder (see Note)
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
14 tablespoons (1 3/4 sticks) unsalted butter, slightly softened
3 tablespoons whole milk
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Directions:
Combine the flour, cocoa, sugar, salt, and baking soda in the bowl of food processor and pulse several times to mix thoroughly. Cut the butter into about 12 chunks and add them to the bowl. Pulse several times. Combine the milk and vanilla in a small cup. With the processor running, add the milk mixture and continue to process until the mixture clumps around the blade or the sides of the bowl. Transfer the dough to a large bowl or a cutting board and knead a few times to make sure it is evenly blended.
Form the dough into a log about 14 inches long and 1 3/4 inches in diameter. Wrap the log in wax paper or foil and refrigerate until firm, at least one hour, or until needed.
Position the racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven and preheat the oven to 350°F. Line the baking sheets with parchment paper. Cut the log of dough into slices a scant 1/4-inch thick (I went thinner, closer to 1/8 of inch. If you’re trying to emulate the store-bought wafers, slice as thin as you can, and watch the baking time carefully, as it might be less.) and place them one inch apart on the lined sheets (cookies will spread). Bake, rotating the baking sheet from top to bottom and back to front about halfway through baking, for a total of 12 to 15 minutes. The cookies will puff up and deflate; they are done about 1 1/2 minutes after they deflate.
Cool the cookies on the baking sheets on racks, or slide the parchment onto racks to cool completely. These cookies may be stored in an airtight container for up to two weeks or be frozen for up to two months.

Makes 50 to 60 1 3/4-inch wafers. However, I cut my thinner than suggested and yielded more.

Note: These cookies should crisp as they cool. If they don’t, you’re not baking them long enough, in which case, return them to the oven to reheat and bake a little longer, then cool again.


Now for an old tyme favorite in my family

Butter Mints

Ingredients:
1 stick butter
1/2 tsp. salt
5 drops of peppermint
2 Tbsp white corn syrup
1 box 10 X confectioners sugar
coloring of choice

Directions:
Cream Butter, Syrup, & Salt. Mix well.
Add Sugar & mix well (mixture will look crumby like sand)
Add peppermint & color last & mix well. It will still look crumby but be coming together a little)
When everything is well distributed it is best to knead a little with your hand. The heat from your hand will make the candy smooth in texture and color.
Roll a small daub in palm & press down with thumb. (or roll into small diameter logs roll in waxed paper and refrigerate) Then cut into individual candies.
Makes lots of Holiday Candy

This is one of our Winter holiday favorites with adults and children alike. It is also much fun to do with kids.

Coming up is Old Fashioned Tea Cake Cookies.

Interesting Find ~ Japanese Turf Lily

Just for fun this morning I picked up my favorite Herbal Medicine book (The Way of Herbs by: Michael Tierra, C.A., N.D.) and flipped open to the first page I found and read....(quoted below)
It was a surprisingly common plant found in many gardens and yards, that usually ends up being quite abundant, with little care or maintenance.

Japanese Lily Turf (creeping lily root, dwarf lilyturf)
Ophiopogon japonicas
Liliaceae



Parts used: Bulbs
Energy & Flavor: Sweet to slightly bitter, slightly cool
Systems affected: Heart, lungs, stomach
Biochemical constituants: Ruscogenin (steroid sapogenin), siterol, stigmasterol, sitosterol-D-glucoside,
ophioside, sugars, mucilage
Properties: Demulcent, nutrient tonic, Yin tonic

This is another grasslike ornamental grown in many gardens throughout the world. Its tonic therapeutic values make it worth pointing out. Since the flavor of these little bulbets is not at all unpleasant, it is a good idea to consider a few on them in soups for their therapeutic value.
Japanese turf lily is use4d for any symptoms associated with dryness, lack of vital fluids, including general depletion of bodily fluids, dryness of the heart, skin, & dry stool. It is especially useful for dry cough, asthma or spitting of blood.
Because of its deep nourishing properties, it gives one a sense of inner well-being, strength, & thus will lessen palpitations, insomnia, & general paranoia & fearfulness.
It is contraindicated when one has a particular tendency towards cold sensitivity, diarrhea or loose stools. However the contraindication is only in regard to long term use.



Disclaimer:
The information herin this blog entry is from the above said source. I do not recommend the practice of using herbal medicines without the consultation of your medical practitioner. Although I do condone use of natural medicinals in place of chemical products. This is for informative and entertainment purposes only the blogwriter is not liable for any misuse of informations provided.

I do recommend reaearching your health condition and searching for helpful herbal remedies. In every culture, in every climate, in every continent, herbal relief for ecological niches common ailments are usually found all around you. It is a God given pharmacy, don't misuse what resources you have but know what is there. It is the way things are supposed to be, we have been provided for, and yet we destroy what has been given to us and remedies that are rightfully ours. Become an advocate for your self, your health, your planet.

Have a Great Week
~V

Homemade Fig Newtons

First we oven dried our figs, took a long time.
We will from now on use a dehydrator.



I think we are going to try some other flavors as the fall season is upon us and a new fresh produce season is upon us, maybe pumpkin newtons, apple newtons, pear newtons, date newtons...Somebody Stop me...LOL

For the Dough
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour, sifted
1 stick (or 1/2 cup) unsalted butter, room temperature
1/2 cup sugar
2 tbs honey, or corn syrup
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/8 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon orange zest
3 egg yolks
1 ounce orange juice

For the Filling
1/2 cup dried figs, finely chopped
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
1 1/2 tbs honey or corn syrup
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

Making the Dough
Your dough will need to chill for at least 4 hours before you begin, so make sure to do it ahead of time!

~Cream together the butter and sugar. Add honey (or corn syrup), baking soda, vanilla, cinnamon, and orange zest and continue mixing until the mixture is light and fluffy. Add the egg yolks one at a time, mixing thoroughly after each addition. Add in your sifted flour all at once and mix it in slowly. Drizzle in the orange juice and continue mixing until just combined. The dough should be very soft and wet.

~Prepare a large sheet of plastic wrap and use a rubber spatula to transfer the dough from the bowl to the center of the plastic. Fold the plastic over the dough and flatten into a disc. Wrap with remaining plastic and refrigerate for four hours or overnight

Preparing the Filling
~Combine the figs, applesauce, honey (or corn syrup), and cinnamon in the bowl of a food processor. Pulse until smooth. Scrape the bowl down and pulse again to ensure no chunks remain. Transfer the fig paste to a bowl and set aside.

Baking and Shaping the Cookies
If you don’t care about the shape of your fig newtons, you can play around with other looks and appearances too! Just keep your cookie dough about 1/4th an inch thick and it should still bake up the same way.

~Preheat your oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit.

~On a well-floured surface, roll out your chilled dough to about 1/4th an inch thickness. Make sure the dough is floured enough not to stick to any surfaces. Cut your dough into several 3 1/2 inch wide strips. It’s easier to work with strips no longer than 6 inches long, so you might want to cut them down a size.

~Spoon your filling down the center of each strip and spread it so that it’s about 1 inch across and 1/4th an inch thick. Fold the dough edges over the middle line of filling. The edges should overlap a little bit. Flip the cookie over so that the seam side is down. Transfer your newtons to a prepared cookie sheet and bake for approximately 12 minutes, or until cookies are puffed and browned all around. If they are still moist to the touch, continue baking for a few minutes.

~Once your cookies are done, cut each of your bars into 1 inch pieces. Layer them into a plastic ziplock bag or seal-able Tupperware container. If you’re stacking cookies, place a sheet of parchment paper in between each layer. Stored at room temperature, they should stay moist and tasty for about 2 weeks!


This is not my own recipe but one I found on the internet at
http://www.yummly.com/blog/2012/11/how-to-make-fig-newtons-from-scratch/

Saying Good Bye to Summer

2013 has been an unexpectedly mild summer for us here in South Carolina. Only reaching triple digits in the way of Heat index 2 times I believe. Much more moisture than most years, which started out great but did turn detrimental for some crops as it continued with gully washing force. One day by the debris on some neighbors trees in a low spot, it rose about 30 inches in the creek between two homes, took the upper gravel driveway and delivered it to the other side of the road some 100 feet away.

From Harvesting and learning new ways to use Semi Exotic but common Summer Harvests Like Turkey & Mission Figs



By the way all that wasn't jarred was eaten in Homemade Fig Newtons, and dried Figs (The little one just loved them)

We have had some beautiful Full Moons (Blue Moon 8/21/13)



And Spectacular Skyscapes



Of Course there was much color everywhere (This is the slightest sampling of the photographs I got to take this year.) I was blessed with multiple sprains and twists so I didn't get to do much more, Fall clean up is going to be a clearout.



So today I say Good bye to Summer, Fall has felt like it has snuck in here for the last couple days.
A little precipitation this weekend would be perfect, as it has been a little on the dry side.

It has been reported that Snakes are plentiful, and here in the end of the summer the insect critters have been too. (Although some are about 2 months behind schedule...aka: June Bugs in August) Wasps, Yellow Jackets, and bees have been on the down low, and we're just getting to see some butterflies in more numbers.

I hope you enjoy this taste of what I get to live with.
Looking back over my photographs I am truly blessed.

Victoria Meetze/EarthSource Services
http://www.facebook.com/EarthSourceServicesSC7