FAMILY FARM & BAKERY

Hello there! ​If you're like me, drinking water does not seem appetizing when there are so many options to consume such as Diet Coke and Sweet Iced Tea. That is why I am excited to write this post to kick start my daily routine of fruit-infused water. Not only does this provide my daily intake of water, but it helps kick the soda habit. Here are some great combinations that I have found and the benefits of implementing fruit-infused water into everyone's diet. 
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I love drinking different combinations of fruit water. I usually just use produce and herbs that are in my fridge, but sometimes I will grab an item for a specific combination. Here are some of my favorite combinations:

Orange-Kiwi
Grapefruit-Kiwi
Raspberry-Mint
Blueberry-Lime
Lemon-Cucumber
Lemon-Ginger
Strawberry-Basil
Strawberry, Blueberry & Raspberry

To prepare your infused water, all you need is a glass, water, ice and whatever produce/herb. I recommend making your water the night before so you can have maximum taste.

If you are not interested in drinking fruit infused water, feel free to try my recipe for Himalayan Salt Sole. This provides great electrolytes.

​There are a plethora number of benefits of drinking fruit water every day. It can assist with:

Kidney Function
Detoxification
Hydration & Hunger
Mood
Electrolytes (if you include citrus & other fruits)
Prevention of Kidney Stones

These benefits alone should make you excited to implement fruit-infused water into your daily routine. As the spring and summer season approaching, there should be no reason to get affordable and easily accessible fruits and herbs. I hope you enjoy the combinations and your increased hydration.

Is there any combination that you like that was not listed above? Please let us know below in the comments!
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Potpourri is such a great way to freshen your home and make beautiful gifts for your family and friends. It is such an easy and cheap way to make your house smell beautiful and you can make it with any herb or fruit lying around your house. For gifts, all you have to do is dehydrate the fruits and herbs to provide freshness for anyone who receives it. Who wouldn't love that!
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Potpourri can be made in two ways: either by drying various plants to provide a light natural scent and placing them in a bowl or by using fresh ingredients and having them simmer in a pot. I prefer the simmer method, but you can do either way. You can use any natural fruit such as lemon or citrus, flowers such as rose or any herb. You can even add other ingredients like vanilla to enrich the scent.

My favorite recipe for potpourri is the mixture of Lemon and Rosemary. Lemon brightens any room while rosemary provides an earthy piny punch. Add a few drops of sweet vanilla, and you have the perfect mixture for your home. 

3 Lemons sliced
2 Sprigs of Rosemary
2 Tsp. of Vanilla
Several Peppercorns
Water to Fill the Brim of Potpourri
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Add potpourri materials in a stovetop and add water. Boil the water and then simmer. You can simmer as long as you want. We recommend checking every hour for the water level, and once it's too low, add more water. The potpourri will last up to 3 days of freshness. 

If you do not like lemon or rosemary, no worries- there are several other combinations you can use for your stovetop potpourri. We recommend using some of these combinations during the holidays to provide a more holly experience. 

Apple Cider: 4 slices of Apple, 2 Cinnamon Sticks, a few Cloves & 2 slices of Orange

Mulled Wine: 3 slices of Orange, 2 slices of lemon, 2 cinnamon sticks, a few Anise, a few Allspice, a few of Peppercorn & a few of Cloves

Rose Floral Blend: 1/2 Cup of Rose Petals, 1/4 Cup of Chamomile, 1/2 Cup of Lavendar, a few sprigs of Sage

Strawberry Basil Margarita: 4 slices of Lime, 4 sliced strawberries, sprigs of Basil

​I can't believe its already February and Spring is right around the corner. Spring brings new life into the year and I cannot wait for the ensuing Farmer's Markets in town. Since I live in the Midwest, they usually begin in March or April, but I am excited for Spring I wanted to share one of my favorite smoothies of the season- Pink Lemonade. 
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​All you need for this smoothie is a few ingredients: Strawberries, Lemons, Banana and Orange Juice. You can add ice or pineapple as optional. If you want to save your batch for future use, you can squeeze the lemon juice and orange juice, but do not blend the strawberries or banana, just slice them. Then add the juice and fruit into a ziploc bag and freeze. When you want to use it, take it out an hour before, and blend. You can then enjoy a fresh fruit lemonade smoothie anytime!
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​I hope you enjoy one of my favorite smoothies of the Spring and Summer season. Is there anything else you wanted to add to your Pink Lemonade Smoothie? Please comment below! 

Thank you for reading!
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If you know me, you know that I love spices and herbs since they are such a multi facet product you can use in your home. I especially love using tarragon as a flavoring in my food products while also using it as herbal medicine.

Tarragon is a perennial herb that is prominent in Europe, Asia and North America. There are prominently three varieties of Tarragon, which are the: French, Russian and Mexican variety. All three have distinct flavors and can be used in a variety of dishes. 

The flavor profile for all three are as followed. For the French variety, it has a bittersweet and slightly sweet taste with an overall strong flavor. The Russian variety is very bitter but has a lighter flavor taste than the French variety. The Mexican tarragon, or more prominently known as Mexican Marigold,  has a similar taste profile than the French variety, but its overall taste is lighter. So if you want a mild tarragon, the best recommendation would be the Mexican variety. ​

​Tarragon adds a complex flavor to any meats, fish, salad dressings and breads. I recommend using tarragon in Chicken dishes, since it pairs well with wine-based sauces. For salads and veggies, tarragon pairs beautifully with vinegar-based dressings, since it gives a sweet balance to vinegar's acidity. It also works great with lemon or limes as well for butters, fish dishes and bakes. For breads, you can add it to any Focaccia, homemade crackers or Lemon-Carrot Breads.

We also recommend adding tarragon to soaps and potpourri since it has an aromatic fragrance 

Tarragon has been used for its medicinal properties throughout the centuries. A primary example is during the Roman Empire and the use of tarragon to assist with nerves of battle. Since we do not live in such a chaotic world as the Romans, we use tarragon for a plethora of other medicinal benefits. You can consume tarragon either through brewing as tea, by itself or as a supplement. 

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Tarragon can assist with:

Insomnia
Anxiety
Increases Hunger
Relieves Osteoarthritis
Manage Inflammation
Relieves Toothache
Prevent Food-borne Illnesses such as E. Coli

If you prefer drinking Tarragon tea to assist with the symptoms above, here is how you can make a perfect cup:

Add 1 Teaspoon Dry Tarragon or 1 Tbsp fresh Tarragon in a tea sachet
Boil water and pour water over the tea sachet.
Brew for 3 to 5 minutes. 
Enjoy!

Optional: To assist with Insomnia, you can add 1/2 tsp of chamomile. To assist with nausea or hunger, you can add a few slices of ginger. For flavor, you can add lemon slices. 

One of my favorite meals during wintertime is making a big batch of homemade chili. What makes the chili so warm and tasteful is the amount of spices used and the amount of chili powder. That is why using a nice chili blend or making your own homemade chili powder is key to a good chili.

I recommend if you want to purchase your own chili powder, to stick to either Watkins Chili Powder mix or McCormicks Chili Powder. If you would prefer making your own, here is the recipe:
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If you are limited on some of these ingredients, you are able to use a few different spices/foods to replace them.  Therefore, we recommend in place of chili powder to use:

1. Taco Powder Mix (they have very similar ingredients)
2. Cumin and a dash of cayenne pepper
3. Paprika
​4. Ancho Chiles
5. Adobo Sauce

I hope this helps with your chili making process. For the mix, we recommend using a spice container so the ingredients stay fresh. I always make a big batch since chili is such an easy meal to make once a week. Thank you!