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FIRST OFF…Thank you everyone that commented on my Food for Friday post about going gluten free!  There is a lot there to digest (pun intended), and I really thank everyone for sharing their stories, and their advice.  I’m not sure I am equipped yet, mentally, to individually reply to everyone, since there is so much good advice and information…so I thought perhaps one big THANK YOU was in order!!!

I have found a brownie recipe to try, thanks to (as I was writing the post) my BFF, the Canoe Queen (I just made up her blog name, lol), which might interest some of you.  I’m thinking it might be about time for a GF brownie recipe round up & review…

After brownies, pizza dough is the next challenge!

Random “I thought this was really cool” Advice:

And, just because its tradition, my first pot o’ tea for the day: Holy basil, peppermint, and elderflower

Quote of the Week: 

There are four questions of value in life: What is sacred? Of what is the spirit made? What is worth living for? And what is worth dying for?

The answer to each is the same.

Only love.

~Johnny Depp

What I’m reading now (or about to read):

What I’m watching now: Dinosaur Train, on the big TV…but I need to get my butt in gear and watch my Astrobiology class lectures to take my quizzes for this week.  Tomorrow I’m going to enjoy some Downton Abbey and NCIS, since its my day off!

Idle musings…there is a pretty good chance I might be MIA for a couple days.  I think I need to reset my computer to factory settings and redownload everything.  Its been acting a bit buggy and slow, and I’ve tried everything else. We’ll see–I really hate doing it.

Politi-Thal’s thoughts on Guns: This could probably be a rant of its own, but I’d prefer to avoid that.  Never mind…after trying to keep it to a paragraph, and having determined how impossible that is, I’ll be making a post on the subject.  In the mean time, a thought provoking article.  And I will leave you to ponder what my position on this is–it might just surprise you (or it might not).

Kitchen Witch Book Recommendation of the Week: If you can find it (used on Amazon, prices start at $.01 plus $3.99 shipping), I totally suggest getting the Complete Guide to Food and Cooking from Better Homes and Gardens.  Its basically a food and food preparation dictionary, with pictures, charts of cooking times and techniques, and occasional recipes.  If you aren’t someone that already knows how to cook first order foods, the book is a godsend.  And even if you are its still pretty darn informative as a reference–for example, the entry on fennel give you a picture, a verbal description of the appearance and flavor, and tells you what parts are usable, how to choose a fennel at the store, how to store it and how long it lasts, and how to cook it.  Combined with this website, its pretty much my standby for food information, when I’m not looking for a recipe.

Herb of the Week: Black Pepper
Peppercorns for black pepper come from the plant Piper nigrum. In ancient Rome pepper was worth its weight in gold, and it has been part of the spice trade ever since.  In Ayurvedic medicine it is used to improve circulation and digestion, to reduce fevers, and to help respiratory and chest infections.  In aromatherapy, the essential oil of pepper can be used in massage to improve circulation and for muscle aches.  Magically, pepper is a masculine herb ruled by the planet Mars and associated with the element of fire. It is useful in spells and rituals for protection and exorcism, specifically to dispel negativity.

Parting thought:

Oh, crap…I’m going to be late for work if I don’t leave now!!