Keeping Summer Alive

What better way to keep Summer alive Down in our meadow than to bottle it up in a gorgeous jar to brew and brew until all that beautiful perfume fills our air. Little Livy and I spent some time recently picking all the strong scented roses and drying them in our sunny laundry. Once dried, we gathered a cup or two of the perfumed petals and placed them in a jar. We then took 1/2 a cup of Vodka and poured it over the petals. Then comes the brewing time...2 whole weeks. We are a day or two away from opening up the lid to smell and test. If the perfume is not strong enough, you add another cup or two of strong perfumed petals until you get it just right. We have old vintage bottles that we will place our new "remembering Summer" ( yes we even have a name for it) in. I am introducing natural homemade soaps, cleansers, shampoo's and creams into our home. Each child will have a turn to stir and add. That should help us as we wait for our Warmer months again. Our ever faithful 'Pride of India' tree is looking beautiful in its golden glory. Off to sleep she goes....

I too have been busy in my kitchen...I have a lovely raw recipe to share. I have made all my new ingredients visible so that all these good foods can inspire me. I feel I need to add in some exciting recipes as this is all very new to us. I saw a version on this recipe and have added Superfood ingredients to it. You can give and take with this recipe I did add and taste as I went along. Our raw food journey has begun and overall has been positive. The children have been the ones I have been concerned about and have been adding new flavors in slowly. Apart from a few moans and groans, they have been good sports..One thing I do need to add is that I am in the kitchen all day. I am constantly preparing for the next meal. I do know that it does get easier as time goes by. I suppose it is just that I page through my recipe book constantly looking. Nut milks (almond) needs soaking so, that is time...Dehydrating most things is either 6-8 hours or overnight..So I am am kept on my toes~!

Raw oat bars

1 cup of organic rolled oats
1/2 cup of cranberries
1/2 cup of cashew nuts
1/2 cup of goji berries
1/2 cup pumpkin seeds
1/2 cup or less of raw cacao chocolate nibs
1 tablespoon or more of maca powder
1 teaspoon or more of cinnamon
3 tablespoons of agave nectar or honey
1/2 a cup of almond/brazil/cashew butter
2 tablespoons of coconut oil.

Add all these ingredients together, mix and place in a Tupperware or Pyrex flat square dish. Place in the freezer to set. Take out and cut into bars. Each bar can be wrapped individually, frozen and eaten for an on the run snack or for a tea time treat.

A happy day to you~