Asian Vegetable Rolls

Well, it has been a long time since I posted last :(

It was a long 3 weeks moving everything from the store back to the house. And in the process, it appears that I tore the cartilage in my right knee. I've slowed down business (and even temporarily closed the supply side of the business) as I have no idea when I'll be seen by the orthopaedic surgeon to see what my options are.

But I'm still selling products! Even though I'm moving a lot slower than I used to, I'm still in slow production, and selling at the Elmsdale Farmers Market on Saturday mornings 8-1. This year, the market is located at the Enfield Legion. I'm also taking bookings for Natural Perfume Workshops.

A couple of weeks ago I made a recipe out of Animal, Vegetable, Miracle A Year of Food Life, written by Barbara Kingsolver. We've made this recipe before and the whole family enjoys it, so this time I took pictures as I went along :)

I highly recommend this book. Here's the recipe:
2 oz thin rice noodles
1 cup bean sprouts
10 soft lettuce leaves
1 cup carrots, finely shredded
2 to 3 green onions, finely chopped
1/2 cup mint leaves
1/2 cup cilantro leaves
8 rice paper wrappers (about 8 inches square) (I used egg roll wrappers, as I couldn't find any rice paper wrappers locally)

Drop noodles into boiling water, remove from heat, and let stand for 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Drain, rinse with cold water, and drain again.
Lay out noodles and vegetables in an assembly line. Heat a pan of water until it's almost too hot to handle. Soak one rice paper wrapper in the hot water for 15-20 seconds, then take it out and lay it flat. Flatten out one lettuce leaf on top (this helps prevent other fillings from poking through the wrapper). Next, place a finger-sized bunch of noodles close to one side of the paper and roll that side over the noodles. Continue this same pattern for the vegetable fillings, laying each ingredient parallel to the noodles and rolling the paper over. After the mint and cilantro leaves have gone in, fold the ends of the wrapper in, then fold the remaining side over them to secure. Set roll on a platter, seam side down. Keep rolls moist until served, and separated so they don't stick together (the wrappers will rip). If you use rice paper wrappers, they're ready to eat. If you use egg roll wrappers like I did, you need to bake them in the oven for a bit. I put them in 375C for about 10 minutes or so.
Serve whole or cut in half, with your choice of spicy dipping sauce. One simple option is to add a few tablespoons of rice vinegar and sesame oil to a half cup of soy sauce. We've done that, but the kids prefer a spicy peanut sauce, or even plum sauce.

Now I must log off and watch my daughter sing in an opera production (performed by 8-16 year olds). Until next time (which I promise won't be another 4 months!)

Happiness Thought of the Day:
"There is happiness to be gained from being able to accept that there are some things that cannot be changed"

Moving Chaos

Well, we're in the process of moving everything in the store back to the house.

I'm going to miss having the store, but my children (and their education) comes first.

I'm looking forward to selling at the Elmsdale Farmers Market starting in June. And as soon as I finish moving and get settled and organized, I'll be preparing for my new Natural Perfume workshops. I think these will be a lot of fun, where my customers will be able to host a workshop in their own home and I'll bring all the supplies, ingredients, and information needed to create your own perfume :)

I will also be going back to home parties, where my customers (and their friends and family) can shop in the convenience of their own homes.

Of course, you can always order online as well. I'm having my website updated so it will be very professional and easy to use.

I'll be creating new essential oil blends for soap very soon :) I think they will be a hit. I've been creating them in my mind for the last couple of months - now I just need to see if they'll work out in real life.

Without having the store, I should be able to have more time to update my blog more often. So stay tuned :)

Jody

Etsy - Buy Handmade!

I've recently joined Etsy. It's an online shopping extravaganza (I'm sure I spelled that incorrectly!) where everything is handmade by the person selling it. I have bought several items there in the last few months and have been extremely pleased with everything so far. I now have a "shop" there, and have just opened one for my children to sell their bead creations on (although I haven't taken the time to get anything listed for them yet as I need some nice photos of them).

I have recently joined a team at Etsy called The Soaper Stars. This group is filled with extremely creative soapmakers, along with other creative goodies such as photographic prints, jewelry, etc. We have a blog which you can check out at http://soaperstars.blogspot.com/ There you will find links to the Etsy shops of all the Etsy Soaper Stars members, plus information on any sales, promotions, or charity drives we're doing.

Thanks!
Jody

Debut of Devo4 - Our Newest Natural Perfume

I'm so excited about this new perfume! It's been in the works since November, 2006 and I'm really happy with how it's turned out.

The main notes are Vanilla and Bitter Orange, supported by Patchouli. It also contains splashes of Himalyan Cedarwood, Bergamot, Sandalwood, Ylang Ylang, and just a touch of Black Pepper. And all of these essential oils are in a base of Fractionated Coconut Oil.

A huge thanks to my friend Devon, who was the inspiration for this blend :)

We have several glass roll-on bottles available right now for $9.65 + tax.

Happiness Thought of the Day:
"If you are ready to reject aggression, revenge, and retaliation you are ready to be happy."

Things from my Children!

My children are loving learning how to bead :) Here are some of their recent work.

This first one is a choker using memory wire that Nathaniel (who's 10) made. It has a focal piece of aqua blue glass, accented with green freshwater pearls and mother-of-pearl chips.

The second one is a choker using memory wire that Elonna (who's 7) made. It has a focal piece of lime turquoise with green glass seed beads and wooden oval beads. She also made matching earrings using sterling silver French hooks.

The third one is another choker from Elonna, using 2 aqua glass beads and red bamboo coral beads and green glass seed beads - she was going for a Christmas-themed necklace :)

And the last one is another choker from Nathaniel. It consists of a blue resin focal piece accented by rectangular glass turquoise and silver beads with glass seed beeds. It also has matching earrings.

If anybody wants to see them up close and personal, I'm keeping them at the store just in case anybody wants to buy them. They do beading at the store after school until it's time to go home. And they absolutely love doing it :) They will keep quite for hours, with just a little help from me when they need some wire wrapped...

Looks like another obsession!

The last time I was obsessed about anything was when I started making candles and soaps, back in 2000. Now I have another obsession...

I recently purchased some beading supplies for my two younger children, who are 7 and 10. They've been making simple bracelets, rings, earrings and chokers (which I have available at the store if anybody's interested). So, the last 3 evenings while watching tv, I've been playing with some copper wire, and this is what I've come up with...

Nothing fancy, and I can spot all the mistakes. But it was so much fun watching me transform simple copper wire into something that I'm now wearing on my wrist. And it fits perfectly! I don't normally like bracelets as I don't like dangly things around my hands. But this fits like a glove :) Almost as if it was made for me - oh, wait, it WAS made for me, BY me :)

Local Food Bank Drive and Sale on Lotions

We are collecting for the local food bank - Caring and Sharing - for the month of November. Starting today and ending 7:00 pm Friday, November 30 bring in a non-perishable food item for the food bank or a new item for a present for a child for the Angel Tree and we will take 10% off your purchase. The Holiday Season can be stressful enough at the best of times, let alone for families who have fallen on difficult financial times and aren't sure how they'll come up with enough food, let alone something special for their children. Please help us spread a little peace and happiness to those that aren't quite so fortunate.

We are also having a sale on our Body Lotions until 5:00 pm Saturday, November 3. Regular price is $10.53 + tax, now on sale for $7.90 + tax. This is for 250 ml. Our Body Lotion is very thick and non-greasy feeling. It sinks in quickly and helps to keep your skin moisturized. All of our Body Lotions are scented with essential oils.

We have the following scents in stock:
Lavender Orange
Grapefruit Vanilla
Indonesian Interlude (essential oils of sandalwood and geranium)
Secret Temple (essential oils of vanilla, sandalwood, and patchouli)
Challenge (essential oils of lavender, sweet orange, sandalwood, and carnation absolute)
Unscented

Happiness Quote of the Day:
"Happiness is far too important a thing to be wasted by critics, cynics, and the quarrelsome."