Ear Infections

I recently had a neighbor come to my door in serious pain from an ear infection. I was very excited to loan her my mullein oil and my garlic oil. It is amazing how it can work within a 1/2 hour to relieve pain and begin healing the ear.

Garlic Oil

6-8 garlic cloves crushed

olive oil

Place the garlic in a glass jar. I use a small jelly canning jar. Fill the jar to just cover the garlic and shake the jar a couple times a day. After about two days I squeeze the oil out with a metal tea strainer and a spoon and discard the garlic. I then put it into dropper bottle. To use in the ear I put the bottle in my pocket to warm it to body temperature. I keep the oil in the ear with a cotton ball. Garlic oil is an antibacterial and will fight the infection.

Mullein Oil

1/4 cup mullein flowers

olive oil

Place the mullein flowers in a glass jar and just cover the flowers with olive oil. Shake the jar a couple times a day for 2-3 days. Strain the oil and discard the flowers. Store in a dropper bottle. Keep it in place with a cotton ball. The mullein relieves the pain in the ear.

Alicia's Favorite Salsa

I have tested this on the teenagers in the neighborhood. They love it! I taste it until it seems hot enough and often add change the amount of jalapeños I use.

4 cups tomatoes

2 cups green peppers

½ cup jalapeños

1 anaheim pepper

¾ cup chopped onions

1 tsp ground cumin

1 tsp oregano

1 tsp cilantro

1 ½ tsp salt

2 cloves garlic

5 tbps vinegar

Quarter whole tomatoes and coarsely blend in blender 4 cups at a time. Add to pan. Blend onions, peppers, green pepper add to pan. Simmer for a 10 min then add to pint jars. Water bath can 40 minute for pints. I don't worry too much about how many peppers I have or what kinds, as long as it tastes right before I process it.

3 Bean Mexican Soup

16 oz jar of salsa

15 oz can of mexican stewed tomatoes (I also use crushed, whole)

3 cups of vegetable broth or chicken broth

1 Tbsp chili powder

½ tsp minced garlic

1 tsp cumin

3 15 oz cans of beans (kidney, pinto, chickpeas, black & etc.)

15 oz can of hominy (optional, I don’t use)

15 oz can of corn or frozen corn (I just throw some in)

3 cups of cooked chicken (opt.)

1 medium zucchini chopped and diced (opt.)

I put the first 6 ingredients in the blender, even the garlic whole so I don’t have to mince it. I then put it all in a big pot and add the beans, corn and sometimes zucchini if I have some. If you are serving it with chicken add it now. Warm your soup and serve.

I used to blend up the zucchini also so my kids couldn’t tell it was there but now I know they like it. I also make my own bouillon found at this website http://www.101cookbooks.com/archives/homemade-bouillon-recipe.html

I add 3 Tbs of my own bouillon to 3 cups of water instead of chicken broth. It is so much cheaper than the products I was buying and so flavorful for all kinds of soups.