This is so true. The trick, however, is finding out what's really good for you, and what you especially need to avoid. Your wonderful articles are very helpful in designing excellent food plans. Not that long ago I'd have scoffed at the notion that I could eat fish without lemon and lots of salt. Cayenne has changed my tune.

It took me a long time before I realized the difference between "hot" and "heat". Once I found out that "heat" was that sensational feeling I got from curry, it finally sunk in.

My Mom never knew how to use cayenne or curry (probably wasn't even in her spice rack) or any of those things because Dad didn't like it. We never got it at home and IF we did go out to eat it was McDonald's.

We are getting sprinkles now and it looks like a dreary fall day ahead. Going for a drive in the country.

Enjoy your ride, Vickie. We could use a little rain, too.

Well we didn't get as much rain as I thought we would. Just a few sprinkles. The drive was very nice and relaxing. Still some pretty fall colors out there. Went through the stripper pits and saw lots of small saplings in the ditches that were ablaze with color but I didn't have my camera with me this time. Oh how I wanted to bring one home! They were so pretty.

Making vegetable soup and it makes the house smell so good. Does anyone add okra to vegetable soup? I bought a couple of cans of okra, but am a little leary of putting it in because I have never done it before. Advice please and thank you!

I do! (Okra in soup). It's delish.
I've never had okra from a can though so don't know how the texture is, or flavor. You might like frozen okra better; sometimes you can find it non-breaded in the freezer section of your store.

Glad you mentioned making soup, I've been wondering what to have for supper tonight!

Shoe

I love okra in soup, but I love okra any way at all. But like Shoe says, I've never had it canned, only fresh or frozen. I had dried okra once, it was a pretty tasty snack too.

Glad you had a nice drive, Vickie!

The okra from the can was good, but I bet it would have had more texture if it had been frozen or fresh. I really like fried okra (like you can get from Grandy's). I froze three gallons of vegetable soup and today am already taking out a frozen one. Both my girls and families are coming for lunch! They must have known I was cooking

Bet you'll have a happy lunch today!

It was a wonderful day! All the kids were home.

Another great informative article, Sharon. I love the taste of hot pepper, but can
only tolerate just a smidgen of heat. Much more than that, I'm fanning my mouth with
my hands going at warp speed, and grabbing a liquid to drink.

Because of your knowledge of medicinal properties of plants, I have a question
regarding cucumbers, if I may. I would like to know what could be in cucumbers that
provides the effect as described below:

I've found that rubbing a slice of cucumber on a mosquito bite stops the itching and
swelling, but it only works on mosquito bites, not other insect bites. For others, I simply
use ice, which works for them.

During the summer, I use fresh cukes, but freeze slices during the winter to use early
spring before the cukes are ready to harvest.

Have tried numerous over-the-counter products that did not work at all, so keep going
back to the cukes which I've used for years, so I don't think it is the result of a placebo
effect. I could not find anything online that would explain what properties the cukes
might have that would have this effect.

My guess would be that cucumbers are an astringent. Have you ever read or seen where cucumbers were used over puffy eyes to reduce the puffiness? Same thing, I'd think, but I have no idea why it works only on mosquito bites.

A lot of times during summer I blend cucumber slices with aloe and keep the thick results in the fridge. I use the combo to rub on insect bites and that works for me. Of course it doesn't last long, so I don't make much at a time.

Anyway, that's all I know, cucumbers cause the pores to constrict, to sort of draw together, so I guess that's what happens to the swelling from a mosquito bite. I've never used it that way, but always use it with aloe.

Ha! I'm no help at all, but maybe somebody else knows the answer regarding other bites.

Oh, and me too about eating very much hot stuff all at once. I can never get enough ice cold water!

You might have something there. It may constrict not only the pores, but maybe the capillaries as well,
thereby restricting the toxin's entry. Anyway, it does work, and
I have been curious as to why.

Cucumbers do have that slimy substance. The dried out ones don't work as well.

Yes, I have used it on puffy eyes as well.

dave said:I'll reward your Halapeno story with a photo of the string of peppers. Gotta get the camera out.

Better late than never! Here's the string of peppers:



close up:

O!

That's so pretty.
My first thought was to wrap it around a Christmas tree like a rope. 'Tis the season, I guess.

I haven't seen peppers on a string in a long time.
Thanks, Dave.

Trish did a fantastic job.

And they match the cabinet!

Cayennes are so good for eating. To me, just the right heat.

My grandson and I bottled some up in olive oil in a pretty container this year, and he uses it for stir frys.

Polly,
You shoulda bottled up some for Christmas gifts!! And when you send mine to me, send Jamie along too. He's a better cook than I am.