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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​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. 

I love lemons because they are such a versatile fruit that can be used in baking, cooking, cleaning, home decor, etc. You can pretty much use it in most situations. You can either purchase a bundle of lemons from your local grocery store or you can grow a lemon tree in your own home. It is such an easy and affordable fruit to purchase. That is why I rounded up ten uses for lemons in your home!

This might seem like an obvious choice, but you can make your own homemade lemon water at home. You can usually pour a 16 oz glass of water and add a few slices of fresh lemon to make lemon water. Some people even like to add extra herbs such as mint or basil or add another fruit such as blackberry. Lemon water has several benefits such as: detoxing your system, providing Vitamin C, providing potassium and helping absorb iron. If you drink lemon water every morning, it would help brighten your day and system quite literally. 

If you are looking to give your stainless steel kitchen sink a good clean, I recommend using this tip! All you need is a lemon, a knife and salt. To start, you are going to sprinkle salt all over your whole sink including the sink cover. You are going then to cut a lemon in half and with the lemon, scrub the whole sink with the lemon and salt. Wait a few minutes and then rinse your sink with water. Let it dry and VOILA! You should have a shiny sink. 

Lemon Peel Powder is great powder that can be included in: spice rubs, pastries and  homemade cleaning product. To get the powder, use a whole lemon that is not peeled yet for better traction. Using a zester or grater, zest the lemon peel until there is nothing left. If you would like to make a dehydrated lemon peel powder, the Homestead and Chill has great instructions on how to make it. 

Are you trying to make delicious pancakes and you are out of buttermilk? No sweat! To make a cup of buttermilk, pour a cup of any milk, add a tablespoon of lemon juice and mix. That easy!

To lighten your hair with lemon juice, squeeze a fresh lemon, put the lemon juice in a spray bottle and spray the areas of your hair that you want to lighten. Then sit in the sun for a few hours and wash your hair right after. Please use sunscreen while you are doing this!

Limoncello is such an easy recipe to make for yourself and your family. All you need is: Vodka, Lemons, Sugar and Water. You can have a great and refreshing drink in less than 4 hours. Here is a great recipe that I personally love to use: ​GIADA DE LAURENTIIS. 

Lemon juice has an amazing acidity that get rid of tough rust. So if you have stainless steel that is rusting or needs a clean, all you have to do is either put the item in a bowl that is 3/4 lemon juice, 1/4 water or use a spray bottle that is 1/2 lemon juice, half water. Then spray your appliance with this mixture and then wipe away. This is a great way to spruce your kitchen and your stainless steel items.

This might be my favorite option on this list. Lemon bars are sweet and tangy and when you add that extra powder sugar, its simply amazing. Here is a great lemon bar recipe from Sally's Baking Recipe. All you need is: Lemon, Butter, All-purpose Flour, Sugar, Vanilla Extract, Salt and Eggs.

If you are someone who likes a fresh-clean scent, adding lemon slices to your home routine would freshen your whole home. There are few alternatives to freshening your home. The first would be potpourri. All you have to do is add water to a pot, add fruits and herbs such as lemon & rosemary, and then boil, then simmer. You can let this potpourri go for awhile and once the water level is low, you can add more water. You can use the same herbs and fruits for a few days until they are fully dried out.

Another alternative to a fresh home is to peel lemon rinds and slice them. You can dry them and place them in a sachet or even add them to your fridge to deodorize. 

If you are someone who hates using bleach on your clothes, no worries, lemon juice is a great alternative. When you are doing your load of laundry, instead of adding bleach, add 1/4 to 1/2 cup of lemon juice instead. Added bonus is your laundry will have a fresh scent of lemon!