Cal Orey's Blog, page 138
August 20, 2016
An Author's Work is Never Done!
By Cal Orey
Barnes and Noble Book Signing in Anchorage, AKToday is the end of August 19, 2016. It is the day that my latest book The Healing Powers of Tea is ready to put to bed. I just printed out nearly 400 pages. I look more cross-eyed than my Siamese-mix cat and am feeling whooped. Think taking 20 classes and passing. Each time I open the document and go to a chapter to see if I got it right--I did. I am entering the land of over-proofing. The book is out the door Monday morning. Done!
Nature Tour -- Early B-Day GiftThat said, of course there could be worse things on the Earth that are happening. In fact, I am watching an end days film as I type and it looks quite grim for the characters. This is not the case. I traveled to Tea Land and back again. It's tea time...
Come Monday the FedEx people will arrive and take my baby out of my hands and it the 85,000 word manuscript will be en route to my editor in New York. Speaking of new, I will feel a breath of fresh air...time to live life a bit like that.
Preparing for Departure to Alaska!
The Aussie has a dental appointment on Wednesday. I have a dental cleaning at the end of the month. It will be a time to swim every day, and go back to the resort pool for its hot tub and less tourists as the summer ends. It will be time to bake scones, order a fresh pair of flannel sheets, pre-fall clean, order long wool socks, and prepare...
I am going to Alaska! Adventure: A Barnes and Noble book signing for The Healing Powers of Vinegar, 3rd edition (release date August 30)...Then, it's to Seward for Wildlife sightings. Hoping to see the Northern Lights, enjoy my hotel room with a view, and anticipate a little rough air and a few shakers--nothing too big but enough for a little "ah!" and "oh" for the thrill of it.
The worst part of my departure is leaving my beloved dog and cat, it's a little like letting go of my TEA child. But I can do it...I will be back and embrace all three of my loves. So, as the end of summer is upon us, I can feel the change in the air. It's colder in the mornings, it's getting darker earlier at night, pine needles are dropping, tourists are less, the town is less crowded and chaotic...feeling a sense of solitude. And that's the way I like it.
Barnes and Noble Book Signing in Anchorage, AKToday is the end of August 19, 2016. It is the day that my latest book The Healing Powers of Tea is ready to put to bed. I just printed out nearly 400 pages. I look more cross-eyed than my Siamese-mix cat and am feeling whooped. Think taking 20 classes and passing. Each time I open the document and go to a chapter to see if I got it right--I did. I am entering the land of over-proofing. The book is out the door Monday morning. Done!
Nature Tour -- Early B-Day GiftThat said, of course there could be worse things on the Earth that are happening. In fact, I am watching an end days film as I type and it looks quite grim for the characters. This is not the case. I traveled to Tea Land and back again. It's tea time...Come Monday the FedEx people will arrive and take my baby out of my hands and it the 85,000 word manuscript will be en route to my editor in New York. Speaking of new, I will feel a breath of fresh air...time to live life a bit like that.
Preparing for Departure to Alaska!
The Aussie has a dental appointment on Wednesday. I have a dental cleaning at the end of the month. It will be a time to swim every day, and go back to the resort pool for its hot tub and less tourists as the summer ends. It will be time to bake scones, order a fresh pair of flannel sheets, pre-fall clean, order long wool socks, and prepare...I am going to Alaska! Adventure: A Barnes and Noble book signing for The Healing Powers of Vinegar, 3rd edition (release date August 30)...Then, it's to Seward for Wildlife sightings. Hoping to see the Northern Lights, enjoy my hotel room with a view, and anticipate a little rough air and a few shakers--nothing too big but enough for a little "ah!" and "oh" for the thrill of it.
The worst part of my departure is leaving my beloved dog and cat, it's a little like letting go of my TEA child. But I can do it...I will be back and embrace all three of my loves. So, as the end of summer is upon us, I can feel the change in the air. It's colder in the mornings, it's getting darker earlier at night, pine needles are dropping, tourists are less, the town is less crowded and chaotic...feeling a sense of solitude. And that's the way I like it.
August 9, 2016
Author Booked for Alaska Adventure
By Cal Orey
For the past few years, as the Healing Powers series author traveling for research (for new stories to share) to book signings, I've had a love affair with Eastern and Western Canada and the Pacific Northwest.
Looking forward to meeting Alaskan peopleWith some flight miles saved I knew I was going to go somewhere in the early fall for a getaway, my birthday, and to celebrate the completion of my book on tea.
Staying on a high floor at an awesome
hotel with a pool
Coming to Seward to find a mooseAt first, it looked like Cleveland and Ontario, Canada was the destination. But then it just didn't seem to be my fantasy because it would take light years and small aircraft to get across the border. And I waited...I sent a message to the Barnes and Noble bookstore manager in Anchorage, Alaska, mentioning my the release of my new book The Healing Powers of Vinegar, 3rd edition. After all, it was my sibling who said: "Why don't you go somewhere cool, different--like Alaska?" I waited for a response. But the days turned into a week, two weeks. I assumed it was a no go. I recall coming home from Seattle and I met a man traveling from Alaska and I was envious. Also, when I arrived in Seattle I was clad in cold weather attire and some people asked me, "Are you going to Alaska?" as they were dressed in shorts for the Mediterranean climate in Washington. Perhaps, these were signs for me to go out of my comfort zone. And the past month I began to watch Alaskan vets on "Animal Planet"... The lifestyle makes Lake Tahoe seem citified. I needed to go out of my comfort zone.
Then, one day while retrieving e-mails, there was one message--not the Barnes and Noble from Cleveland (I passed) with the words in the subject title "Anchorage, Alaska." I opened it like a Christmas present. The rest is history. I accepted the invitation for a book signing. I booked a flight. I booked a hotel room. I booked a nature tour.
The bottom line: I am going to Alaska next month and it's one dream ready to come true. But the question remains: Who is going to break the news to my Aussie?
For the past few years, as the Healing Powers series author traveling for research (for new stories to share) to book signings, I've had a love affair with Eastern and Western Canada and the Pacific Northwest.
Looking forward to meeting Alaskan peopleWith some flight miles saved I knew I was going to go somewhere in the early fall for a getaway, my birthday, and to celebrate the completion of my book on tea. Staying on a high floor at an awesomehotel with a pool
Coming to Seward to find a mooseAt first, it looked like Cleveland and Ontario, Canada was the destination. But then it just didn't seem to be my fantasy because it would take light years and small aircraft to get across the border. And I waited...I sent a message to the Barnes and Noble bookstore manager in Anchorage, Alaska, mentioning my the release of my new book The Healing Powers of Vinegar, 3rd edition. After all, it was my sibling who said: "Why don't you go somewhere cool, different--like Alaska?" I waited for a response. But the days turned into a week, two weeks. I assumed it was a no go. I recall coming home from Seattle and I met a man traveling from Alaska and I was envious. Also, when I arrived in Seattle I was clad in cold weather attire and some people asked me, "Are you going to Alaska?" as they were dressed in shorts for the Mediterranean climate in Washington. Perhaps, these were signs for me to go out of my comfort zone. And the past month I began to watch Alaskan vets on "Animal Planet"... The lifestyle makes Lake Tahoe seem citified. I needed to go out of my comfort zone.
Then, one day while retrieving e-mails, there was one message--not the Barnes and Noble from Cleveland (I passed) with the words in the subject title "Anchorage, Alaska." I opened it like a Christmas present. The rest is history. I accepted the invitation for a book signing. I booked a flight. I booked a hotel room. I booked a nature tour.
The bottom line: I am going to Alaska next month and it's one dream ready to come true. But the question remains: Who is going to break the news to my Aussie?
July 30, 2016
Geologist's Theories Validated Days Before Death
By Cal Orey
Days before the unconventional American scientist's passing, national news headlines read:
"Some earthquakes on San Andreas fault are triggered by gravitational tug of of sun and moon" --
This theory is exactly what Jim Berkland, the "maverick geologist" (who predicted the SF quake that hit near the SAF on October 17, 1989 ) had been saying for decades... He was right, after all. He made a difference. His theories are immortalized. And he is smiling in the hereafter.
James O. "Jim" Berkland''' was a fearless, unconventional geologist (85, passed July 22, 2016) who thought outside of the box despite what his conservative peers thought or did. He was noted for his countless "hits" of predicting various earthquakes, including the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake and Northridge earthquake--and not to forget there was a Full Moon on December 26, 2004, the day of the unforgettable Indian Ocean Earthquake-Tsunami. And he popularized the concept that some people--and animals--are earthquake sensitive.
Pets Predict Quakes?
He was celebrated in a popular 2006 book as "The Man Who Predicts Earthquakes: Jim Berkland, Maverick Geologist: How His Quakes Warnings Can Save Lives", but his peers were often skeptical of the scientist's theories, including lunar cycles, tides, and animals sensing Earth changes before an earthquake.
Days before his death, scientists came forward in a new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences and claimed there is a link to the moon/sun/tides and earthquakes, including the San Andreas Fault Zone.
One week after his passing, I discovered that Jim was aware of these "new" findings--but the visionary knew it to true for decades. (As his biographer I got it all too well when interviewing his conservative peers and how they ignored his ideas, predictions, and successes).
Despite the controversy about the "man"'s talents for predicting earthquakes, there is documentation of the geologist's dozens of accurate earthquake predictions ''and'' theories immortalized in numerous national newsapers, and magazine articles (including stories I've penned in national magazines Woman's World, CATS, and Dog World; msnbc.com (now nbc.com) San Jose Mercury News and Tahoe Daily Tribune) and in "The Man Who Predicts Earthquakes: Jim Berkland, Maverick Geologist: How His Quake Warnings Can Save Lives."
Days before the unconventional American scientist's passing, national news headlines read:
"Some earthquakes on San Andreas fault are triggered by gravitational tug of of sun and moon" --
This theory is exactly what Jim Berkland, the "maverick geologist" (who predicted the SF quake that hit near the SAF on October 17, 1989 ) had been saying for decades... He was right, after all. He made a difference. His theories are immortalized. And he is smiling in the hereafter.
James O. "Jim" Berkland''' was a fearless, unconventional geologist (85, passed July 22, 2016) who thought outside of the box despite what his conservative peers thought or did. He was noted for his countless "hits" of predicting various earthquakes, including the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake and Northridge earthquake--and not to forget there was a Full Moon on December 26, 2004, the day of the unforgettable Indian Ocean Earthquake-Tsunami. And he popularized the concept that some people--and animals--are earthquake sensitive.
Pets Predict Quakes?
He was celebrated in a popular 2006 book as "The Man Who Predicts Earthquakes: Jim Berkland, Maverick Geologist: How His Quakes Warnings Can Save Lives", but his peers were often skeptical of the scientist's theories, including lunar cycles, tides, and animals sensing Earth changes before an earthquake.
Days before his death, scientists came forward in a new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences and claimed there is a link to the moon/sun/tides and earthquakes, including the San Andreas Fault Zone. One week after his passing, I discovered that Jim was aware of these "new" findings--but the visionary knew it to true for decades. (As his biographer I got it all too well when interviewing his conservative peers and how they ignored his ideas, predictions, and successes).
Despite the controversy about the "man"'s talents for predicting earthquakes, there is documentation of the geologist's dozens of accurate earthquake predictions ''and'' theories immortalized in numerous national newsapers, and magazine articles (including stories I've penned in national magazines Woman's World, CATS, and Dog World; msnbc.com (now nbc.com) San Jose Mercury News and Tahoe Daily Tribune) and in "The Man Who Predicts Earthquakes: Jim Berkland, Maverick Geologist: How His Quake Warnings Can Save Lives."
July 29, 2016
Geologist Jim Berkland Died July 22; His Quake Theories Live On
TODAY'S FORECAST: MOSTLY SUNNY, 80% CHANCE OF EARTHQUAKE
By Cal Orey
Days before octogenarian, geologist Jim Berkland passed, scientists made the news. It was said that yes, it's true: There is a link between the moon/tides/animals and earthquakes. This is exactly what the scientist had been trying to get across to his peers for decades. He died knowing he made a difference--and was spot-on. A tribute to the man will be published in my Earth Changes column in October--in honor of the man who forecasted the Loma Prieta major earthquake that rumbled through the San Francisco Bay Area...
What if you knew an earthquake was coming? Would you put away your valuable breakables, get together emergency supplies, remember to duck and cover? Of course you would, because the safety of you and yours come first.
Earthquakes result in millions of dollars in damage each year. In the U.S., earthquakes pose significant risk to 75 million people in 39 states. Earthquakes may not be preventable but they are predictable. You can learn to familiarize yourself with the warning signs of an earthquake and be prepared before it strikes.
Knowing when an earthquake is coming and properly preparing for it can help prevent serious injuries and save lives.
Even scientists using the most advanced and pricey technology have proven to be no match for Mother Nature. In many cases, the best information out there is off the beaten path--knowledge only recognizable by someone whose passion is prediction.
Enter Jim Berkland. He is the only American scientist to predict and name a major quake. His forecast of the infamous October 17, 1989 World Series Quake that rumbled through the San Francisco Bay Area was right on the money. He also accurately predicted at least 6 other significant quakes around the world.
Many of Berkland's theories--based on tides, moon cycles, disoriented animals, and magnetic field changes--were factors in the great Indian Ocean quake-tsunami disaster on December 26, 2004. Since scientists admit they aren't able to predict earthquakes, is it really so far-fetched to monitor lost cats and dogs, check a calendar for dates of full and new moons, watch erratic tidal changes? Berkland doesn't think so. He hopes that someday earthquake warnings will be announced along with the weather and could save countless lives around the world.
The book The Man Who Predicts Earthquakes by Cal Orey provides intuitive insight into this man's passion for predicting quakes and his methods. In this groundbreaking book you will get cutting-edge advice about do-it-yourself quake warnings and earthquake preparedness. This book makes the information Berkland has found through a lifetime of study available to the public. It's an intriguing collection of survivors' testimonials, regionally specific quake information, preparation tips, earthquake cover-ups, and more. The book's publication coincides with the 100th anniversary of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake.
Jim Berkland was a maverick geologist who worked many years for the U.S. Geological Survey. He was also the first County Geologist for Santa Clara County in Northern California. He was a popular guest on many network news programs and talk shows on the subject of earthquake prediction. He resided in Glen Ellen, California.
Both geologist Berkland and author Orey have been guests on Coast to Coast AM, KSFO, The Jeff Rense Program, PBS, and will be viewed on National Geographic channel's program "Chasing Earthquakes," as well as countless Barnes and Noble bookstores up and down the West Coast.
A Timeless Book: The Man Who Predicts Earthquakes: Jim Berkland, Maverick Geologist--How His Quake Warnings Can Save Lives
By Cal Orey
ISBN 1-59181-036-1$16.95SCIENCE/BIOGRAPHYDistributed by Sentient Publications300 pages www.barnesandnoble.com www.amazon.com www.sentientpublications.com
By Cal OreyDays before octogenarian, geologist Jim Berkland passed, scientists made the news. It was said that yes, it's true: There is a link between the moon/tides/animals and earthquakes. This is exactly what the scientist had been trying to get across to his peers for decades. He died knowing he made a difference--and was spot-on. A tribute to the man will be published in my Earth Changes column in October--in honor of the man who forecasted the Loma Prieta major earthquake that rumbled through the San Francisco Bay Area...
What if you knew an earthquake was coming? Would you put away your valuable breakables, get together emergency supplies, remember to duck and cover? Of course you would, because the safety of you and yours come first.
Earthquakes result in millions of dollars in damage each year. In the U.S., earthquakes pose significant risk to 75 million people in 39 states. Earthquakes may not be preventable but they are predictable. You can learn to familiarize yourself with the warning signs of an earthquake and be prepared before it strikes.
Knowing when an earthquake is coming and properly preparing for it can help prevent serious injuries and save lives.
Even scientists using the most advanced and pricey technology have proven to be no match for Mother Nature. In many cases, the best information out there is off the beaten path--knowledge only recognizable by someone whose passion is prediction.
Enter Jim Berkland. He is the only American scientist to predict and name a major quake. His forecast of the infamous October 17, 1989 World Series Quake that rumbled through the San Francisco Bay Area was right on the money. He also accurately predicted at least 6 other significant quakes around the world.
Many of Berkland's theories--based on tides, moon cycles, disoriented animals, and magnetic field changes--were factors in the great Indian Ocean quake-tsunami disaster on December 26, 2004. Since scientists admit they aren't able to predict earthquakes, is it really so far-fetched to monitor lost cats and dogs, check a calendar for dates of full and new moons, watch erratic tidal changes? Berkland doesn't think so. He hopes that someday earthquake warnings will be announced along with the weather and could save countless lives around the world.
The book The Man Who Predicts Earthquakes by Cal Orey provides intuitive insight into this man's passion for predicting quakes and his methods. In this groundbreaking book you will get cutting-edge advice about do-it-yourself quake warnings and earthquake preparedness. This book makes the information Berkland has found through a lifetime of study available to the public. It's an intriguing collection of survivors' testimonials, regionally specific quake information, preparation tips, earthquake cover-ups, and more. The book's publication coincides with the 100th anniversary of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake.
Jim Berkland was a maverick geologist who worked many years for the U.S. Geological Survey. He was also the first County Geologist for Santa Clara County in Northern California. He was a popular guest on many network news programs and talk shows on the subject of earthquake prediction. He resided in Glen Ellen, California.
Both geologist Berkland and author Orey have been guests on Coast to Coast AM, KSFO, The Jeff Rense Program, PBS, and will be viewed on National Geographic channel's program "Chasing Earthquakes," as well as countless Barnes and Noble bookstores up and down the West Coast.
A Timeless Book: The Man Who Predicts Earthquakes: Jim Berkland, Maverick Geologist--How His Quake Warnings Can Save Lives
By Cal Orey
ISBN 1-59181-036-1$16.95SCIENCE/BIOGRAPHYDistributed by Sentient Publications300 pages www.barnesandnoble.com www.amazon.com www.sentientpublications.com
July 28, 2016
10 DIY Vinegar Chill Out Home Cures
10 DIY Summertime Home Cures(Plus Two Must-haves to Chill Out)By Cal Orey
“
Age does not diminish the extreme disappointment of having a scoop of ice cream fall from the cone.
”
--
Jim Fiebig
I'm feeling the heat of summer and trying to go with the flow of it all... Tomorrow, on July 22, we will be witnessing the Total Solar Eclipse--a powerful Earth event around the globe. And during this New Moon cycle it will intensify home, family, and taking care of you and yours, whether Mother Nature tosses us a curve ball (or not) before, during, or after a superb meal chock-full of fine food.Tonight, as the Author-Intuitive, I will be a guest on Captain Jack's Paranormal Radio Program. It's my job to dish out the latest recipe for what Earth changes--quakes to big waves--may or may not happen now or in the upcoming months.It's a task to think fine food when Mother Nature is on a mega mission, of sorts. I get excited and well, cooking up a gourmet meal isn't first and foremost on my To Do list. Still, that doesn't mean olive oil and vinegar doesn't play a role in my life (or yours) during the summer. Let's face it: If you're hit by one of these pesky summer-related ailments, gourmet food will be put on the back burner till you're back to normal.During the season of fun in the hot sun (and the Total Solar Eclipse), you may fall victim to some unpleasant but treatable health ailments or even an ER disaster. Olive oil and vinegar are the cure-alls. If it doesn’t specify which type of vinegar to use, go ahead and use your own preference: an apple cider vinegar, a red wine vinegar, or a white vinegar--even herbal vinegars such as rosemary can help you snag a tick on you or your pooch.
Pre-Order everywhere
NEXT MONTH
ARRIVES! 3rd Edition(Personally, I prefer Bragg's vinegar -- it's in my fridge at all times as well as the pantry. And it's no secret that I love Sciabicia's olive oils from California.) So the bottom line: When I'm stressed out by summer heat and woes I simply chill with fine fun-loving dogs and a killer gourmet ice cream cone. It worked when I was a kid and it works now, too.
· Antibacterial Hand Wash: To avoid getting the flu, especially if you travel, pour 2 parts apple cider vinegar, 1 part antibacterial soap and 1 part extra virgin olive oil in a handy soap dispenser.
· Diaper Rash: Use 2 teaspoons of extra virgin olive oil with 1 teaspoon of water. Shake these two ingredients until you get a pasty emulsion, a sort of cream read to be spread on the irritated area.
· Hot Flashes: Take 1 or 2 tablespoons of olive oil per day. Or, drizzle a tablespoon or 2 on five serving of vegetables daily. (Include asparagus, beans, carrots, corn, dried seaweed, garlic, green pepper, onions, squash, and yams.)
· Insect and Bee Stings: Make yourself more comfortable in a homemade paste from vinegar and cornstarch. Apply it directly to the bumps and blisters.
· Muscle Aches: Warm 1 cup of olive oil in the microwave. Apply it as a massage oil. (If you have a significant other, this can be delightful. But doing it solo can work, too.)
· Poison Ivy and Oak: Try mixing equal parts vinegar and rubbing alcohol and apply to rash. Or mix equal parts buttermilk, vinegar, and salt and apply.
· Sunburn: Apply ice cold apple cider vinegar immediately for fast relief.
· Swimmer’s Ear: To protect against ear infections from swimming pools, a popular folk remedy to try is using a mixture of one part white vinegar to one part rubbing alcohol.
· Toenail Fungus: Distilled vinegar is believed to prevent fungus from growing. Try soaking your toes in a solution of vinegar and water, using 1 part vinegar to 2 parts water, 15 minutes per day.
· Universal Emergency: Purchase a large can of extra virgin olive oil and plastic jug of apple cider vinegar, and store it with your emergency supplies. During Mother’s Nature’s wrath, from tornadoes and hurricanes to fires and earthquakes, it’s good to have a universal cure-all product on hand.Adapted from The Healing Powers of Vinegar and The Healing Powers of Olive Oil by Cal Orey, published by Kensington.
I'm feeling the heat of summer and trying to go with the flow of it all... Tomorrow, on July 22, we will be witnessing the Total Solar Eclipse--a powerful Earth event around the globe. And during this New Moon cycle it will intensify home, family, and taking care of you and yours, whether Mother Nature tosses us a curve ball (or not) before, during, or after a superb meal chock-full of fine food.Tonight, as the Author-Intuitive, I will be a guest on Captain Jack's Paranormal Radio Program. It's my job to dish out the latest recipe for what Earth changes--quakes to big waves--may or may not happen now or in the upcoming months.It's a task to think fine food when Mother Nature is on a mega mission, of sorts. I get excited and well, cooking up a gourmet meal isn't first and foremost on my To Do list. Still, that doesn't mean olive oil and vinegar doesn't play a role in my life (or yours) during the summer. Let's face it: If you're hit by one of these pesky summer-related ailments, gourmet food will be put on the back burner till you're back to normal.During the season of fun in the hot sun (and the Total Solar Eclipse), you may fall victim to some unpleasant but treatable health ailments or even an ER disaster. Olive oil and vinegar are the cure-alls. If it doesn’t specify which type of vinegar to use, go ahead and use your own preference: an apple cider vinegar, a red wine vinegar, or a white vinegar--even herbal vinegars such as rosemary can help you snag a tick on you or your pooch.
Pre-Order everywhereNEXT MONTH
ARRIVES! 3rd Edition(Personally, I prefer Bragg's vinegar -- it's in my fridge at all times as well as the pantry. And it's no secret that I love Sciabicia's olive oils from California.) So the bottom line: When I'm stressed out by summer heat and woes I simply chill with fine fun-loving dogs and a killer gourmet ice cream cone. It worked when I was a kid and it works now, too.
· Antibacterial Hand Wash: To avoid getting the flu, especially if you travel, pour 2 parts apple cider vinegar, 1 part antibacterial soap and 1 part extra virgin olive oil in a handy soap dispenser.
· Diaper Rash: Use 2 teaspoons of extra virgin olive oil with 1 teaspoon of water. Shake these two ingredients until you get a pasty emulsion, a sort of cream read to be spread on the irritated area.
· Hot Flashes: Take 1 or 2 tablespoons of olive oil per day. Or, drizzle a tablespoon or 2 on five serving of vegetables daily. (Include asparagus, beans, carrots, corn, dried seaweed, garlic, green pepper, onions, squash, and yams.)
· Insect and Bee Stings: Make yourself more comfortable in a homemade paste from vinegar and cornstarch. Apply it directly to the bumps and blisters.
· Muscle Aches: Warm 1 cup of olive oil in the microwave. Apply it as a massage oil. (If you have a significant other, this can be delightful. But doing it solo can work, too.)
· Poison Ivy and Oak: Try mixing equal parts vinegar and rubbing alcohol and apply to rash. Or mix equal parts buttermilk, vinegar, and salt and apply.
· Sunburn: Apply ice cold apple cider vinegar immediately for fast relief.
· Swimmer’s Ear: To protect against ear infections from swimming pools, a popular folk remedy to try is using a mixture of one part white vinegar to one part rubbing alcohol.
· Toenail Fungus: Distilled vinegar is believed to prevent fungus from growing. Try soaking your toes in a solution of vinegar and water, using 1 part vinegar to 2 parts water, 15 minutes per day.
· Universal Emergency: Purchase a large can of extra virgin olive oil and plastic jug of apple cider vinegar, and store it with your emergency supplies. During Mother’s Nature’s wrath, from tornadoes and hurricanes to fires and earthquakes, it’s good to have a universal cure-all product on hand.Adapted from The Healing Powers of Vinegar and The Healing Powers of Olive Oil by Cal Orey, published by Kensington.
July 13, 2016
Healing Powers Series Author Books Alaska B&N Signing
By Cal Orey
I believe in signs. I believe in timing. I believe you are where you're supposed to be. This summer I've been at home in my rustic cabin but traveling via mind through Tea Land. While my long trip is coming to an end come next month something happened yesterday that caught me by surprise, sort of...
While I'd been thinking about traveling somewhere (especially to promote The Healing Powers of Vinegar, 3rd edition) I couldn't decide where to go. I've done Canada many times and I feel Seattle is my second home. The Barnes and Noble in Cleveland invited me to come for a discussion/signing; but once I discovered it was a long trek onward to Toronto, Canada (a place I hitch and hiked to back in my 20s), I passed.
As I continued writing the final parts for my TEA book I figured the Barnes and Noble bookstore who wanted me to come to talk and sign my new book would determine where I'd go. After all, I had saved flight miles (from a missed flight by one minute due to a tight connection for me and a fellow traveler coming from Alaska); and a trip prior to birthday is something that has become tradition. Alas, Anchorage, Alaska came calling on me. The rest is history.
One round-trip booked flight, booked hotel, and almost booked cruise and tram to see moose and the wilderness in Seward is in order. I haven't the heart to tell puppy that mommy is going for a few days, nor let kitty know that he'll be on his own with my sibling. These two are my companions when I write a book--they are by best friends. But it's time again. How does the song go: "I'm leaving on a jet plane, I don't know when I'll be back again..." But, but, but I need this getaway. Traveling out of your comfort zone, meeting new people, relinquishing control to a plane, another country or state, and going solo is exciting and well it's happening. Yes, I'm doing my happy dance like I did back in the hitchhiking days when I was young.
I believe in signs. I believe in timing. I believe you are where you're supposed to be. This summer I've been at home in my rustic cabin but traveling via mind through Tea Land. While my long trip is coming to an end come next month something happened yesterday that caught me by surprise, sort of...
While I'd been thinking about traveling somewhere (especially to promote The Healing Powers of Vinegar, 3rd edition) I couldn't decide where to go. I've done Canada many times and I feel Seattle is my second home. The Barnes and Noble in Cleveland invited me to come for a discussion/signing; but once I discovered it was a long trek onward to Toronto, Canada (a place I hitch and hiked to back in my 20s), I passed.
As I continued writing the final parts for my TEA book I figured the Barnes and Noble bookstore who wanted me to come to talk and sign my new book would determine where I'd go. After all, I had saved flight miles (from a missed flight by one minute due to a tight connection for me and a fellow traveler coming from Alaska); and a trip prior to birthday is something that has become tradition. Alas, Anchorage, Alaska came calling on me. The rest is history.
One round-trip booked flight, booked hotel, and almost booked cruise and tram to see moose and the wilderness in Seward is in order. I haven't the heart to tell puppy that mommy is going for a few days, nor let kitty know that he'll be on his own with my sibling. These two are my companions when I write a book--they are by best friends. But it's time again. How does the song go: "I'm leaving on a jet plane, I don't know when I'll be back again..." But, but, but I need this getaway. Traveling out of your comfort zone, meeting new people, relinquishing control to a plane, another country or state, and going solo is exciting and well it's happening. Yes, I'm doing my happy dance like I did back in the hitchhiking days when I was young.
July 4, 2016
Tourists at Lake Tahoe: Scene out of film Twister
By Cal Orey
I wasn't going to blog about this hell week on Fourth of July but I'm thinking why the heck not? Welcome. Usually I am a quiet, balanced author-intuitive who writes articles and books. Three days ago, my life changed as I knew it...
As an intuitive, I sensed chaos was on its way. I prepared as I do before forecasting a mega quake swarm (2008 Reno-Tahoe) or the Angora Fire (2007) or thunderstorm (through the summer). I've done Northern California floods and blizzards before the Tahoe drought, and rough air when I choose to fly away to Canada and escape. But this Fourth of the July--is a piece of work.
On the upside, I've lost those three pesky pounds thanks to the Fourth of July Diet. Blame it on the vacationers here at the Lake. My street no longer looks like it once did. It is an Old-Tahoe-style neighborhood but the locals have managed to keep their homes clean and neat. Not so right now. Last night it looked like a scene out of "Twister"--and I was waiting for a flying cow to pay me a visit.
Dogs, young and old, were running loose up and down the street day and night. Cars, cars, cars everywhere. Clothes and towels, chairs, people galore were everywhere. And the noise factor? Hot tubs bubbling, screaming, laughing, sirens...Ugh, I feel sick to my stomach. Sure, I get it. I live in a "tourist town"--get used to it. But you see, the intensity of holiday events never comes inland to the neighborhood as much as it is this year. Well, we do hear fireworks and concerts but have become desensitized to it. I've learned to stock up on food and water, have a low profile, and wait until the storm is over. This time the storm of unruly pets and their people overflowed into my world. RVs, flood lights (night and day. see "Lakeview Terrace" and how irate neighbors become when there's big balls of sunshine in their bedroom), umbrellas, one flag, and a car lot is what I see when I peek outside the windows.
So you may be thinking: "Get used to it, local, you live in a tourist town!" or "The town needs tourists' money"--but I do not get paid from the tourists. It's locals, like me, who are the bread and butter for the locals who offer services year-round during off-season. Meanwhile, as I sit here working at home (feeling captive, love to swim or walk the dog but I'm intimidated so I will not do either) I am done fighting. It is out of my control.
As I look at photos of trips I've taken I think: "I didn't trash the town or do insensitive things." I do not get drunk, let my dog run loose, scream and party all day and night (however I wish I did at this moment). So my Aussie chews his bones in between chaos and I try to finish the book that is due in less than two months but I cannot lie. I'm feeling frustrated and unbalanced. The town has been invaded and tourists to vacation homeowners are acting selfish and insensitive to people who live here. But, but, but...
Will not walk him tonight--
no safe place
... It's eerie out there (almost feeling like Will Smith's character in "I Am Legend" and sense "darkseekers" are out there). Ready to board of all the windows. Besides one local's dog who jumped the fence (I felt so sorry for her--the shepherd's blue eyes met mine--she was scared) and her concerned owner rescued the dog. I feel for these pets and their people. Tonight we get 25 minutes of loud fireworks, after all, it's the time when we celebrate and our sensitive dogs and cats flee. And that's what I should have done. One more thing: My Aussie is barking out in the living room. I am allowing it because it's an insensitive tourist walking by with a wayward off-leash canine and ignoring our town laws.
I wasn't going to blog about this hell week on Fourth of July but I'm thinking why the heck not? Welcome. Usually I am a quiet, balanced author-intuitive who writes articles and books. Three days ago, my life changed as I knew it...
As an intuitive, I sensed chaos was on its way. I prepared as I do before forecasting a mega quake swarm (2008 Reno-Tahoe) or the Angora Fire (2007) or thunderstorm (through the summer). I've done Northern California floods and blizzards before the Tahoe drought, and rough air when I choose to fly away to Canada and escape. But this Fourth of the July--is a piece of work.On the upside, I've lost those three pesky pounds thanks to the Fourth of July Diet. Blame it on the vacationers here at the Lake. My street no longer looks like it once did. It is an Old-Tahoe-style neighborhood but the locals have managed to keep their homes clean and neat. Not so right now. Last night it looked like a scene out of "Twister"--and I was waiting for a flying cow to pay me a visit.
Dogs, young and old, were running loose up and down the street day and night. Cars, cars, cars everywhere. Clothes and towels, chairs, people galore were everywhere. And the noise factor? Hot tubs bubbling, screaming, laughing, sirens...Ugh, I feel sick to my stomach. Sure, I get it. I live in a "tourist town"--get used to it. But you see, the intensity of holiday events never comes inland to the neighborhood as much as it is this year. Well, we do hear fireworks and concerts but have become desensitized to it. I've learned to stock up on food and water, have a low profile, and wait until the storm is over. This time the storm of unruly pets and their people overflowed into my world. RVs, flood lights (night and day. see "Lakeview Terrace" and how irate neighbors become when there's big balls of sunshine in their bedroom), umbrellas, one flag, and a car lot is what I see when I peek outside the windows.
So you may be thinking: "Get used to it, local, you live in a tourist town!" or "The town needs tourists' money"--but I do not get paid from the tourists. It's locals, like me, who are the bread and butter for the locals who offer services year-round during off-season. Meanwhile, as I sit here working at home (feeling captive, love to swim or walk the dog but I'm intimidated so I will not do either) I am done fighting. It is out of my control.
As I look at photos of trips I've taken I think: "I didn't trash the town or do insensitive things." I do not get drunk, let my dog run loose, scream and party all day and night (however I wish I did at this moment). So my Aussie chews his bones in between chaos and I try to finish the book that is due in less than two months but I cannot lie. I'm feeling frustrated and unbalanced. The town has been invaded and tourists to vacation homeowners are acting selfish and insensitive to people who live here. But, but, but...
Will not walk him tonight--no safe place
... It's eerie out there (almost feeling like Will Smith's character in "I Am Legend" and sense "darkseekers" are out there). Ready to board of all the windows. Besides one local's dog who jumped the fence (I felt so sorry for her--the shepherd's blue eyes met mine--she was scared) and her concerned owner rescued the dog. I feel for these pets and their people. Tonight we get 25 minutes of loud fireworks, after all, it's the time when we celebrate and our sensitive dogs and cats flee. And that's what I should have done. One more thing: My Aussie is barking out in the living room. I am allowing it because it's an insensitive tourist walking by with a wayward off-leash canine and ignoring our town laws.
June 28, 2016
Here comes Vinegar 3! Sold 1/4 million past editions
VINEGAR POWERS 3 IS COMING! This August the new, improved book (sold nearly 1/4 million last editions) is on its way to you!
By Cal OreyFrom the Author*One-of-a-kind book full of goodness (with an underlying Mediterranean diet and lifestyle theme for the complete Healing Powers series)* Share a journey through the world of vinegar(s) with the author on the road and at home* Exclusive one-on-one interviews with well-known nutritionists, medical doctors, and renowned researchers--not found online
From the Inside FlapThe Apple and the Grape Yield Two Powerful Vinegars
Apple cider vinegar has been touted by vinegar gurus as one of nature's most healthful foods, especially if made from fresh, organically grown apples, then allowed to age. And now, red wine vinegar, the ignored condiment, may be its new sidekick, thanks to the grape known as "the vine healer."
People from all walks of life--as well as some vinegar pioneers and contemporary medical experts--believe apple-rich cider vinegar aids digestion, helps maintain weight, and keeps blood pressure down. Apple cider vinegar is also known to relieve congestion and maintain healthy skin.
And now, New Age doctors claim red grapes yield another amazing vinegar. Red wine vinegar, claim medical experts,contain healtful nutrients that are part of the "neutraceutical revolution," too. While it's apples that make apple cider vinegar what it is, it is the grape that may be core of red wine vinegar's nutrients.
In this book, I will show you how using both vinegars can be one of the best things you do for yourself--and your health. But note, many people will not want to reap the benefits of vinegar by drinking the healthy brew solo. While vinegar is great for salad, it also is a great seasoning for many foods. Vinegar has a vast number of uses in cooking, and I've included more than 100 recipes to help heal your body, mind, and spirit.
But first, let's go way back into the past. Take a close-up look at why and how vinegar is one of the world's first--and most prized--natural medicines.
From the Back CoverFrom Folk Medicine to 21st Century Favorite--Discover the Amazing Powers of Vinegar!
Revised and updated, this comprehensive book draws on the latest scientific studies and interviews with top health researchers to reveal how apple cider and red wine vinegars--as well as balsamic, fruit, rice, and herb-infused vinegars--can help you stay healthy. Often partnered with olive oil, a key ingredient in the heart-healthy Mediterranean Diet, vinegar is the basis for easy, tasty, rustic recipes--including favorites of health spa chefs. You'll also find proven home health cures, innovative cosmetic secrets, lively anecdotes, and environmentally friendly household hints--from making countertops sparkle to cleaning up kids and pets.*Take advantage of vinegar's natural therapeutic, antioxidant, and culinary virtues as this 5,000-year-old healer evolves in new uses and products--from sipping vinegars to home-cooked foods.* Learn how vinegar helps lower the risk of heart disease, diabetes, obesity, cancer, and bone loss.*Discover how vinegar's acetic acid kills bacteria, and may help prevent tuberculosis and combat antibiotic-resistant superbugs.* Use red wine vinegar to enjoy the same important antioxidants as red wine--without the alcohol.*Pair vinegar with healthful oils to ease anxiety, boost brain power, enhance energy, and aid digestion.* Create home cures to treat allergies, arthritis, toothache, sunburn, swimmer's ear, sore throat, and other pesky ailments....and discover much more in this invaluable resource to help you slim down, shape up, and enhance longevity!About the AuthorCal Orey, M.A., is an accomplished author and journalist. She has a master’s degree in English from San Francisco State University, and for three decades has written hundreds of articles for national and international magazines. She specializes in topics such as health, beauty, nutrition, relationships, science, and pets. Her books include The Healing Powers of Olive Oil, The Healing Powers of Coffee, The Healing Powers of Honey, The Healing Powers of Chocolate, The Healing Powers of Vinegar, 202 Pets’ Peeves, and Doctors’ Orders. She lives in northern California. Readers are invited to visit her website at www.calorey.com, read her blog The Writing Gourmet at calorey.blogspot.com, find her on Facebook, and follow her on Twitter.
By Cal OreyFrom the Author*One-of-a-kind book full of goodness (with an underlying Mediterranean diet and lifestyle theme for the complete Healing Powers series)* Share a journey through the world of vinegar(s) with the author on the road and at home* Exclusive one-on-one interviews with well-known nutritionists, medical doctors, and renowned researchers--not found online
From the Inside FlapThe Apple and the Grape Yield Two Powerful Vinegars
Apple cider vinegar has been touted by vinegar gurus as one of nature's most healthful foods, especially if made from fresh, organically grown apples, then allowed to age. And now, red wine vinegar, the ignored condiment, may be its new sidekick, thanks to the grape known as "the vine healer."
People from all walks of life--as well as some vinegar pioneers and contemporary medical experts--believe apple-rich cider vinegar aids digestion, helps maintain weight, and keeps blood pressure down. Apple cider vinegar is also known to relieve congestion and maintain healthy skin.
And now, New Age doctors claim red grapes yield another amazing vinegar. Red wine vinegar, claim medical experts,contain healtful nutrients that are part of the "neutraceutical revolution," too. While it's apples that make apple cider vinegar what it is, it is the grape that may be core of red wine vinegar's nutrients.
In this book, I will show you how using both vinegars can be one of the best things you do for yourself--and your health. But note, many people will not want to reap the benefits of vinegar by drinking the healthy brew solo. While vinegar is great for salad, it also is a great seasoning for many foods. Vinegar has a vast number of uses in cooking, and I've included more than 100 recipes to help heal your body, mind, and spirit.
But first, let's go way back into the past. Take a close-up look at why and how vinegar is one of the world's first--and most prized--natural medicines.
From the Back CoverFrom Folk Medicine to 21st Century Favorite--Discover the Amazing Powers of Vinegar!
Revised and updated, this comprehensive book draws on the latest scientific studies and interviews with top health researchers to reveal how apple cider and red wine vinegars--as well as balsamic, fruit, rice, and herb-infused vinegars--can help you stay healthy. Often partnered with olive oil, a key ingredient in the heart-healthy Mediterranean Diet, vinegar is the basis for easy, tasty, rustic recipes--including favorites of health spa chefs. You'll also find proven home health cures, innovative cosmetic secrets, lively anecdotes, and environmentally friendly household hints--from making countertops sparkle to cleaning up kids and pets.*Take advantage of vinegar's natural therapeutic, antioxidant, and culinary virtues as this 5,000-year-old healer evolves in new uses and products--from sipping vinegars to home-cooked foods.* Learn how vinegar helps lower the risk of heart disease, diabetes, obesity, cancer, and bone loss.*Discover how vinegar's acetic acid kills bacteria, and may help prevent tuberculosis and combat antibiotic-resistant superbugs.* Use red wine vinegar to enjoy the same important antioxidants as red wine--without the alcohol.*Pair vinegar with healthful oils to ease anxiety, boost brain power, enhance energy, and aid digestion.* Create home cures to treat allergies, arthritis, toothache, sunburn, swimmer's ear, sore throat, and other pesky ailments....and discover much more in this invaluable resource to help you slim down, shape up, and enhance longevity!About the AuthorCal Orey, M.A., is an accomplished author and journalist. She has a master’s degree in English from San Francisco State University, and for three decades has written hundreds of articles for national and international magazines. She specializes in topics such as health, beauty, nutrition, relationships, science, and pets. Her books include The Healing Powers of Olive Oil, The Healing Powers of Coffee, The Healing Powers of Honey, The Healing Powers of Chocolate, The Healing Powers of Vinegar, 202 Pets’ Peeves, and Doctors’ Orders. She lives in northern California. Readers are invited to visit her website at www.calorey.com, read her blog The Writing Gourmet at calorey.blogspot.com, find her on Facebook, and follow her on Twitter.
June 17, 2016
2nd Edition Olive Oil Book--Gift Size Gem! for Summer
By Cal Orey
"A fascinating read--olive oil is not only delicious--it is good medicine!" --Ann Louise Gittleman, Ph.D.
"One of our most important foods. This book deserves to be in everybody's home library." --Elson M. Haas, M.D., author of Staying Healthy with Nutrition, 21st Century Edition
Discover Olive Oil's Extraordinary Powers!
Revised and updated, this indispensible book reveals why chefs, doctors, and nutritionists all love extra virgin olive oil, a key ingredient in the Mediterranean Diet--and why other healthful oils from vegetables, fruits, and nuts are not far behind. You'll find easy recipes for satisfying foods like Pizza Baguettes with Garlic Oil, Fudgy Coconut Oil Brownies, Honey-Citrus-Olive Oil Fruit Kabobs, and Macadamia Nut Oil Cookies. Also included: home cures that beat colds and reduce pain, beauty and household secrets, and pet care tips that really work!
Deliciously healing surprises. . ..
The art of using olive oil for mind, body, and spirit goes back 6,000 years. Hippocrates, "the father of medicine," used olive oil in over 60 healing remedies.
New research confirms that olive oil can help lower the risk of heart disease, cancer, and type 2 diabetes, and it can stall age-related diseases.
Combining olive oil with other oils (like coconut and macadamia nut oils), can help combat fatigue, infections, and insomnia, and help you fight fat and shape up!
Bring on the butter--especially the right kind and right amount. When paired with oils, this twentieth-century "forbidden" saturated fat is a new twenty-first-century health food.
"Orey gives kudos to olive oil--and people of all ages will benefit from her words of wisdom." --Dr. Will Clower, CEO Mediterranean Wellness
"A fascinating read--olive oil is not only delicious--it is good medicine!" --Ann Louise Gittleman, Ph.D."One of our most important foods. This book deserves to be in everybody's home library." --Elson M. Haas, M.D., author of Staying Healthy with Nutrition, 21st Century Edition
Discover Olive Oil's Extraordinary Powers!
Revised and updated, this indispensible book reveals why chefs, doctors, and nutritionists all love extra virgin olive oil, a key ingredient in the Mediterranean Diet--and why other healthful oils from vegetables, fruits, and nuts are not far behind. You'll find easy recipes for satisfying foods like Pizza Baguettes with Garlic Oil, Fudgy Coconut Oil Brownies, Honey-Citrus-Olive Oil Fruit Kabobs, and Macadamia Nut Oil Cookies. Also included: home cures that beat colds and reduce pain, beauty and household secrets, and pet care tips that really work!
Deliciously healing surprises. . ..
The art of using olive oil for mind, body, and spirit goes back 6,000 years. Hippocrates, "the father of medicine," used olive oil in over 60 healing remedies.
New research confirms that olive oil can help lower the risk of heart disease, cancer, and type 2 diabetes, and it can stall age-related diseases.
Combining olive oil with other oils (like coconut and macadamia nut oils), can help combat fatigue, infections, and insomnia, and help you fight fat and shape up!
Bring on the butter--especially the right kind and right amount. When paired with oils, this twentieth-century "forbidden" saturated fat is a new twenty-first-century health food.
"Orey gives kudos to olive oil--and people of all ages will benefit from her words of wisdom." --Dr. Will Clower, CEO Mediterranean Wellness
June 14, 2016
Honey, Celebrate National Strawberry Shortcake Day!
By Cal Orey
Hello, strawberry shortcake! Pre-summer days are a time for the Southern classic, strawberry shortcake, a sweet biscuit dessert paired with strawberries. But shortcake can be so much more! Turning to blackberries, blueberries and even peaches scored in the Sierras can make this dish pop with a sublime taste of honey--nature's sweet nectar made from the honey bee.
Be Creative! I prefer the old-fashioned biscuits, commonly savored in the South--or homemade buttermilk waffles topped with berries and drizzled with honey. You can make country-style biscuits from scratch or bake biscuits using a mix in a box to get a homemade flavor, and a gift of convenience. The most popular shortcake is made with strawberries — a reasonable price at Tahoe for a late spring fruit. And the strawberry shortcake of choice is the kind with vanilla ice cream, and/or whipped cream. But the beauty of this fun-and-healthful food is that you can add other fresh fruits and give shortcake a new, improved look for the thrill of it.Speaking of thrilling, a few years ago, I was in author research mode to write “The Healing Powers of Honey.” It was part of my plan to go to Reno during late spring and visit thousands of honey bees and their beekeeper. Once in the backyard amid bees flying hither and thither, I wasn’t spooked like a character in a sci-fi film. Perhaps it was the calm sporting dog walking about that put me in a comfort zone. I was envious. I thought, “Maybe I’d be happier as an outdoors-y beekeeper instead of a sit down and write indoors author.” I felt a bond to the hardworking bee: making honey and pollinating our favorite foods including fruits such as strawberries and peaches.A HONEY OF A FRUITY SHORTCAKE1 cup pancake and baking mix1/3 cup organic low-fat milk2 tablespoons raw sugarRaw sugar to sprinkle on top2 cups fresh strawberries and peaches, sliced (or use blackberries and/or blueberries)1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice2 teaspoons honeyAll natural vanilla ice cream and/or whipped cream (or try strawberry)In a large bowl, combine baking mix, milk and sugar. Instead of kneading and cutting circles, you can use the rustic drop method and place four spoonfuls onto an ungreased baking sheet. Sprinkle with sugar. Bake for about 15 minutes or till golden brown. Serve warm, sliced, and top with fruit (mixed with lemon juice and honey), ice cream and/or whipped cream. Serves 4 mini shortcakes or 2 medium-sized ones.On Wednesday morning, I effortlessly whipped up a batch of biscuits and married fresh peaches and strawberries mixed with honey. I let it chill for about an hour. The warm shortcake with cold juicy fruit pieces and whipped cream layers was awesome; and the raw sugar crunch was a like a strawberry on top, making it one dessert to love.Motto: A little extra effort and shaking things up with old and new ingredients can wow your senses bigtime.— Cal Orey, M.A. is an author and journalist. Her books include “The Healing Powers” series (Vinegar, Olive Oil, Chocolate, Honey, and Coffee) published by Kensington. (The Healing Powers of series was featured by the Good Cook Book Club.) Her website is www.calorey.com.
Hello, strawberry shortcake! Pre-summer days are a time for the Southern classic, strawberry shortcake, a sweet biscuit dessert paired with strawberries. But shortcake can be so much more! Turning to blackberries, blueberries and even peaches scored in the Sierras can make this dish pop with a sublime taste of honey--nature's sweet nectar made from the honey bee.
Be Creative! I prefer the old-fashioned biscuits, commonly savored in the South--or homemade buttermilk waffles topped with berries and drizzled with honey. You can make country-style biscuits from scratch or bake biscuits using a mix in a box to get a homemade flavor, and a gift of convenience. The most popular shortcake is made with strawberries — a reasonable price at Tahoe for a late spring fruit. And the strawberry shortcake of choice is the kind with vanilla ice cream, and/or whipped cream. But the beauty of this fun-and-healthful food is that you can add other fresh fruits and give shortcake a new, improved look for the thrill of it.Speaking of thrilling, a few years ago, I was in author research mode to write “The Healing Powers of Honey.” It was part of my plan to go to Reno during late spring and visit thousands of honey bees and their beekeeper. Once in the backyard amid bees flying hither and thither, I wasn’t spooked like a character in a sci-fi film. Perhaps it was the calm sporting dog walking about that put me in a comfort zone. I was envious. I thought, “Maybe I’d be happier as an outdoors-y beekeeper instead of a sit down and write indoors author.” I felt a bond to the hardworking bee: making honey and pollinating our favorite foods including fruits such as strawberries and peaches.A HONEY OF A FRUITY SHORTCAKE1 cup pancake and baking mix1/3 cup organic low-fat milk2 tablespoons raw sugarRaw sugar to sprinkle on top2 cups fresh strawberries and peaches, sliced (or use blackberries and/or blueberries)1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice2 teaspoons honeyAll natural vanilla ice cream and/or whipped cream (or try strawberry)In a large bowl, combine baking mix, milk and sugar. Instead of kneading and cutting circles, you can use the rustic drop method and place four spoonfuls onto an ungreased baking sheet. Sprinkle with sugar. Bake for about 15 minutes or till golden brown. Serve warm, sliced, and top with fruit (mixed with lemon juice and honey), ice cream and/or whipped cream. Serves 4 mini shortcakes or 2 medium-sized ones.On Wednesday morning, I effortlessly whipped up a batch of biscuits and married fresh peaches and strawberries mixed with honey. I let it chill for about an hour. The warm shortcake with cold juicy fruit pieces and whipped cream layers was awesome; and the raw sugar crunch was a like a strawberry on top, making it one dessert to love.Motto: A little extra effort and shaking things up with old and new ingredients can wow your senses bigtime.— Cal Orey, M.A. is an author and journalist. Her books include “The Healing Powers” series (Vinegar, Olive Oil, Chocolate, Honey, and Coffee) published by Kensington. (The Healing Powers of series was featured by the Good Cook Book Club.) Her website is www.calorey.com.
