Eye Pillows!

I will be listing about 5 aromatherapy eye pillows / sleep masks per day on my etsy shop until my inventory is completely listed.  I wanted to share a coupon code with my readers.  At the checkout if you enter "dec10" you will receive 10% off.  Right now I have only lavender chamomile listed.  I will be listing mint pillows, anise and clove, as well as a few unscented.  I also have some herbal heating pads for bumps, bruises, menstrual cramps, headaches, etc.  So keep an eye on the store for new things daily.  http://www.edenessentials.etsy.com/

Cookies to Rival Nestle Toll House

I grew up on Nestle Toll House cookies!  My mom's family is from Pittsburgh, PA so we call them "Nisly Tool Hass."  Inside joke, I'm sure...but it's fun!  I have been searching for a whole wheat cookie with texture and flavor to rival that of "America's Favorite" cookie but have, until now, come up with dense, flavorless, hard, rocks that just make me miss my mommy.  But my good friend, Jeanette, gave me this recipe recently and it is a truly irresistible cookie!  The texture is perfect and the chocolate chips are melty and stringy just like the commercials we've all seen with delicious holiday cookies.

You will need:
1 stick of unsalted butter, room temperature
1 c. sucanat
1 egg
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
1/2 - 1/3 c. kamut flour
1 c. whole wheat flour
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
1 c. chocolate chips

Combine all ingredients.  Spoon the dough out onto a sprayed cookie sheet (about 12 cookies per sheet) and bake at 350*F for 12 minutes.

I get my difficult to find ingredients through Azure Standard.  For more information on buying natural / organic things in bulk, visit the site.  It's a wonderful program.  Chances are you have a drop site in your area.

Tuscan Rigatoni Soup

This is an adaptation of a Betty Crocker Minestroni soup that called for everything canned.  I like my soup fresh, crisp and flavorful.  Betty has really good recipes for when you are strapped for time, but I just like to make it my own and make it fresh!  I will put what Betty called for in parenthesis.

Tuscan Rigatoni Soup
3-4 Medium tomatoes chopped, with juices (28 oz. canned tomato, with juice)
1 c. navy beans cooked from dry beans (15 oz. can navy beans, with juice)
1 c. kidney beans cooked from dry beans (15 oz. can kidney beans, with juice)
1 c. frozen corn (15 oz. canned corn, with juice)
2 celery ribs sliced thin
1 zucchini, quartered and sliced (1 c. zucchini)
1 medium onion, chopped (1/2 c. onion)
1 c. cabbage, sliced
1 c. rigatoni pasta, dry (1/2 c. macaroni, dry)
6 c. water or vegetable broth (she called for 1 1/4 c. because of all the canned juices)
1 tsp. Italian seasoning
4 tsp. "Better the Bullion" if using water (called for 2 bullion cubes)
2 cloves pressed garlic (1 clove for Betty)
parmesian cheese
My own additions:
3 bay leaves
1/4 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. pepper
1-2 tbsp coconut oil

Method:
Heat coconut oil in a large pot.  Add each veggies approximately 2 minutes at a time:  onion, garlic, zucchini, celery, tomatoes, beans, corn, cabbage.  Saute until it looks like it's all "coming together."  Add seasoning,  broth and bay leaves.  When it comes to a boil, add pasta and cover for 15-20 minutes.  Garnish each bowl with desired amount of cheese.

This makes a big pot.  Our family of 4 was able to have it for lunch the next day.  I like to store it in washed and reused pickle or olive jars because they are big and clear so you can see what is in there.  Usually if you put it in the jar warm, the heat will seal it to wear the lid pops when you open it...which is always fun for me.  :)