Cal Orey's Blog, page 160

Coffee is Versatile for Spring Cleaning

By CalOrey
SPRING CLEANING COFFEE GROUNDS FOR YOUR HOME
Coffee boosts the mind, body, even spirit
Drinking coffee in the springtime for its healing powers is healing, but did you know that you can use coffee for healing your personal environment, too? Welcome to the world of coffee uses in the home, another perk of the coffee tree. Before I entered Coffee World, I didn’t know coffee grounds were eco-friendly and something to use. But now I know uncommon grounds can be home-friendly.  God bless nature’s little dark coffee grounds for their multi-purpose uses indoors and outdoors.
INDOORSKitchenUse An Abrasive Cleaner. Use grounds as a scouring agent to tackle any greasy or dirty surface. It also can get rid of pungent odors from pans and your hands.Go for a Deodorizing Buzz. Dry coffee ground (not soggy used ones) placed on a cookie sheet and put in an open container in your fridge or freezer can be an instant way to help absorb odors. Also, fill a sachet with dried grounds paired with cinnamon sticks and whole cloves and place it in close drawers (baby and pet-proof).
Living Room/Dining Room/BedroomFurniture Concealer:  Coffee grounds can do away with smells and unsightly scratches on furniture, too. Steep grounds and apply the dark brew to wood furniture with a cloth. I tried this household treatment on an antique dark chest in my bedroom and it worked. I thought, “If coffee stains cups, coffee pots, and teeth, it has to work on brown furniture.” And it did just that. Flavored coffees provide a nice aroma unlike commercial types with strong, undesirable scents.Fireplace Dust Buster: Ever notice that when you clean out the ashes from the fireplace that dust gets in your eyes and nose? You can control the dust by using wet coffee grounds on the cool ashes because they keep the dust down and not in the air. Note to self: Try to see if this method works.
BathroomAnt Repellent: In the mountains I don’t see ants but in the city I did. And if they weren’t in the kitchen they took over the bathroom, especially around water. Rather than using a chemical spray, try using coffee grounds on the area thirsty ants go to. (Be sure kids, cats and dogs are not around as the natural ant eater does its job.)
OUTDOORSPlant Fertilzer: Plants that like acidic soils will like your coffee grounds. Use grounds on the top layer of soil, or mix it with potting soil before planting. I started dumping coffee grounds on the aspens in the front yard.  It could have been the late summer rain and/or the green grounds that helped the trees perk up.Compost: Grounds not only feed your plants and trees, but they can feed your compost bin (if you have one). Simply add compost piles to increase nitrogen balance. Coffee filters and tea bags (yes, I have both, especially if my youngest Brittanydoesn’t scarf down the chamomile tea bags) will also break down fast during composting. I still don’t do the compost dance it but it’s on my list of to-do changes and coffee grounds and filters will be included. I continue to sprinkle grounds on one wilted aspen in the front yard but so far it’s not showing signs of being a coffee lover…Insect Repellant: But tossing coffee grounds on the deck, dirt, or sidewalks may have a faster effect. Again, it’s a risk to do this if you have indoor/outdoor dogs or cats, because you don’t want a sequel of the Ethiopian goat herder’s dancing goats. And that’s not all…
HEALTHY COFFEE FENG SHUI TIPS Welcome your home sweet home to the art of feng shui—the ancient Chinese art of placement—with a twist of coffee. By putting stuff in the right spots in your kitchen and other rooms it can enhance the flow of positive energy and zap negative vibrations, bringing you good health, happiness—and even fortune. Declutter Your Coffees. If you’re a coffee lover, chances are you’re going to have more than less java beans and gadgets in your home. Rather than stuffing it all in one place, such as your pantry, I suggest storing it in a variety of places just in case of a blackout. You’ll find cans of coffee (these have expiration dates) in my pantry. Plus, they are sealed so I feel safe and secure that my fur kids won’t get into the java. Also, when I open my freezer, there is an array of well packaged coffees lined up in rows. It makes me feel safe in case there is a shortage on coffee. And, in my fridge, I also have concealed containers filled with coffee in use, from day to day. It’s clutter free but coffee definitely has its place(s) in my kitchen. Clean the Coffee Pot(s) to Coffee Grinder. This is a chore but it’s good chi to have a squeaky clean pot (or two) and grinder. For the pot, use vinegar, water, and lemon (use hot water, let soak). As far as the grinder goes, day by day cleaning will keep you and yours healthy coffee drinkers.Brighten Up with Lighting.  In your kitchen, you’ll want to have neutral of earthy coffee colors, from a tan, light coffee or wood paneling.  Fresh, white curtains will lighten up the room and your energy. Scent It Up.And, of course, the constant aroma of fresh brewed coffee will linger from room to room.Boost Your Mood with Coffee Mugs. Select your favorite coffee mugs and place them together or in a mug holder on the counter. This is inviting for you or coffee. Use Coffee Art.Framed coffee prints can give your kitchen a nice visual effect, especially if they boast Mediterranean colors: red, brown, gold, and blue. Flaunt Coffee Companions. Glass canisters filled with biscotti to coffee candy, look inviting and are your friends whenever you decide to brew a cup of java.Bring Out the Fresh Fruit. Seasonal fruit in lucky numbers, such as eight, is good for you both physically and mentally. Citrus fruit, such as oranges goes well with coffees—and the shelf life is good. Conceal Knives and Scissors. These are a must-have item so when you open a new bag of coffee you can do it the right way and without going on a hunt through the house or using your nails or teeth.Hide the Gadgets.Too many coffee makers will give you clutter. So, choose your coffee toys and store the others in cupboards. Recycle these to fit the season and your mood.  Place Coffee Books in Piles. Cookbooks are attractive and show that you like being in the kitchen. Line these up in an appealing way or pile books in stacks. Either way it will give a nice coffee literary feel and will be on hand to inspire you. A bonus tip: Purchase a coffee calendar. It will keep you up-to-date on seasons and holidays—a great coffee lover’s tool so you can plan meals and coffee accordingly. And, of course, with your coffee-ized kitchen, what better way to celebrate than to have a cake, like this heavenly recipe, baking in the oven? [SHADED BOX]Heavenly Coffee Angel Food Cake* * * 1 cup sifted cake flour                               2 tablespoons instant coffee, ground 1 teaspoon cream of tartar                              fine powder in a coffee grinder         1 teaspoon vanilla extract                              1 ¼ cups sugar 1 teaspoon coffee extract (or                         1 ½ cups egg whites (10-12 large eggs) ½ teaspoon salt substitute almond                at room temperature extract
     Place a rack in the center of the oven and preheat it to 325 degrees. Sift the flour and ground instant coffee together onto a sheet of wax paper, then resift it with the sugar and salt onto a second sheet of wax paper. In a large grease-free bowl of an electric mixture, add the egg whites and cream of tartar and mix on low speed till foamy. Increase speed gradually to medium and beat until whites are stiff and shiny, but not dry. Stop the mixer and add the vanilla and coffee extracts, whisking in once or twice by hand.     Carefully lift the wax paper holding the dry ingredients and sprinkle the flour mixture gently into the egg whites. Using a spatula, carefully fold the dry ingredients into the whites till just incorporated. Do not stir hard or the batter will deflate. Very gently turn the batter into an ungreased tube pan and smooth the top lightly. Place immediately in the oven and bake for 45 minutes or till well risen and golden on top.     As soon as the cake is done baking, invert (if your tube pan doesn’t have “feet”, hang the pan upside down over the neck of a bottle). Allow the pan to hang upside down for several hours until completely cool. (If it cools right side up, gravity will make it sink and become dense.) To remove pan, slide a long thin knife around the edge of the pan and the center tube to loosen it. Top the cake with plate, invert and lift off the pan.(Source: Courtesy Coffee Science Source.) 
— Excerpt from The Healing Powers of Coffee 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 Honey and Coffee were featured by the Good Cook Book Club.) 

Honey, Do You Have Springtime Allergies?

“The wild bee reels from bought to boughWith his furry coat and his gauzy wing,Now in a lily-cup, and nowSetting a jacinth bell a-swing,In his wandering… -- Oscar Wilde
By Cal Orey
Springtime Allergies and Vanishing Honey Bees
Allergy season is here, and stocking up on honey may be the cure. Beekeepers know that honey bees provide bee-healthy powers to help relieve a variety of symptoms, thanks to Mother Nature’s “nectar of the gods.” Drawing on the honey buzz, it is believed that honey may help you deal with pesky allergies, whether you live on the West Coast, East Coast, Midwest or Deep South. Stop Seasonal Misery with HoneySneezing, a runny nose, and coughing can ruin an indoor or outdoor event, thanks to seasonal pollen. Every year when the yellow pollen arrives like an uninvited visitor at Lake Tahoe I hold a tissue in one hand and am on the phone to a pharmacist with the other. I am always on a mission to find a natural remedy to stop my sniffles.Recently, I discovered eating a tablespoon of locally produced honey may be the cure. Proponents of honey tell me that your immune system will get used to the local pollen in it (it should be within a 50-mile radius from where you live).By taking the honey cure, you may lose your allergy symptoms. It’s worth the effort and is less pricey than a visit to the doctor or allergist. Also, honey is a natural remedy and doesn’t come with unknown side effects linked to allergy medications or shots. One summer day, I looked outside and the Tahoe pollen was everywhere—on cars, trees and the ground. I started putting alfalfa honey (from Reno 50 miles away) in my tea and yogurt. A while later my misery was history. Whether it was coincidence or a honey cure doesn’t matter. It worked.
Why You’ll Bee HappyIf you have respiratory problems, from allergies to asthma, honey may enhance the immune system to build up a better arsenal against airborne allergens—and help you breathe easier. Honey enthusiasts like the Vermont Country doctor D.C. Jarvis, M.D., believe honeycomb is excellent for treating certain breathing problems. The honey prescription, according to him, was chewing honeycomb, which may line the entire breathing tract.Also, eating honey on a daily basis was recommended. “As far as I have been able to learn, Vermont folk medicine uses honeycomb as a desensitizing agent; from the results obtained by its use it appears to be anti-allergic to its action,” Dr. Jarvis says giving kudos to the honey bees.Beekeepers tell me that honey may help allergies linked to trees and ragweed—the culprit in hay fever and its irritating symptoms during spring months and often right before. As beekeepers are busy at work selling local honey to allergy sufferers, more research is needed to prove that the honey bee’s gift works. Meanwhile, I’m not going to wait for scientists to go to their lab rats for a go-ahead. More honey, please. But while honey may be a sweet home cure for seasonal allergies, another bigger problem is, in the future honey may be scarce due to our vanishing honey bees.
Honey Bees and the Pesticides PerilIt’s no secret.  Beekeepers across America, continue to witness mysterious die-offs of bee colonies.  This condition known as Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD), is a condition that causes honey bees to vanish without a trace—and recently research is pointing the finger at pesticides…
In 2013, researchers with European Food Safety Authority announced they had discovered peril to honey bees, pinpointing neonicotinoids. What’s more, some countries abroad have banned using neocnicotinod insecticides.  Despite the scientists’ findings, two pesticide producers Sygenta and Bayer Crop Science beg to differ their products are the culprit. But note, the controversy continues…Says Honey: The Gourmet Medicine author Joe Traynor, “The beekeeping community is split on whether or not the "new" neonicotinoid pesticides are a major cause of current bee problems, mainly CCD. Bayer is a major manufacturer of necnicotinoid pesticides and has been bearing the brunt of the criticism from beekeepers who believe that neonics are indeed a major problem. A smoking gun, however has yet to be found.” The honey bee guru who runs a pollination (bee rental) and agricultural consulting service in California’s San Joaquin Valley adds, “There are about a million acres of canola (aka rape seed) in North Dakota, almost all of it grown from seed treated with neonics, yet bees do quite well on canola--no apparent problems. It is believed that the systemic neonics are diluted enough by the time canola flowers appear (or they dissipate in the plant) so that there is no bee hazard.” Honey bee experts like Traynor will tell you that America’s bee scientists that have studied CCD include a variety of  causes--varroa, viruses, nosema, malnutrition--to be the major contributing factors to CCD. He concludes “They do not exonerate neonics and still think they might be a factor in CCD-- they just haven't seen any proof (yet).”
Northern California researcher Randy Oliver (www.ScientificBeekeeping.com) adds his point of view on the honey bee and its demise. He says, “Some pesticides can result in delayed colony collapse--this has been documented for decades.  Some have suggested a link between the new neonicotinoid insecticides and CCD, but no research has ever been able to establish such a link.”Oliver also points out, “Every field study ever done has indicated that the neonics, when applied as seed treatments, do not cause colony losses.  For the prime crops that are treated with neonic seed treatments (maize, soy, canola), the vast majority of beekeepers tell me that they do see problems, and that their colonies thrive around those crops year after year.  So I'd have to say that neither scientific experiments nor beekeeper field experience support the hypothesis that the neonics are the cause of CCD.”
So, while researchers in the U.S. and Europe disagree about CCD and pesticides, the busy honey bee is vanishing. If the honeymoon is over, it will affect the honey industry, one third of our crops due to lack of pollination, and, of course, honey will be more scarce and pricey to help relieve springtime allergies.

Healing Honey Flavors Around the Nation·        Alfalfa: The nectar source is a legume with blue flowers, and alfalfa is noted as the most popular in Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and the rest of the West. It is known as a versatile honey, and its proponents claim it is used to stave off allergies.·        Lemon:  This tree grows in California, Florida, and Texas. It is nice paired with chamomile tea which can help soothe coughs and sore throats.
·        Orange Blossom:  Like other Californian honeys, this citrus favorite is found in Arizona, Florida, and Texas. Its nectar comes from a variety of citrus sources—all chock-full of immune-boosting vitamin C.

Why I Wrote a Book on Joe

By Cal Orey
PrefaceOne snowy winter morning, I followed my everyday ritual. I entered the kitchen and brewed a cup of steaming hot coffee. While Mr. Coffee did its job, I fed my Brittany duo and let them outdoors. Then, I poured French Vanilla Roast into a 12-ounce white mug and embraced it, bringing the java back to bed with me. My daily coffee fix is like connecting with a forever friend: reliable, exciting, comforting— always there for me.After a sip or two of java juice, I tuned in to CNN and retrieved my e-mail. On this particular day, I got an idea. (It’s true. Coffee boosts brainpower and the creative process.) I e-mailed my book editor. My words were short and sweet: “Just thinking a tea book to go with the honey book seems like it would work well. What do you think?” His quick response: “Actually, I was thinking of a coffee book since coffee gets a bad rap. Is that a crazy idea?” I typed a one-line answer and clicked send. “Not at all. It was my second choice.” Like one coffee tree seed, this was the beginning of creating a book on coffee.During the creation of The Healing Powers of Chocolate, I included a chapter titled “A Cuppa Coffee and Chocolat.” So, I wasn’t a stranger to coffee and its virtues, past and present-day. A while later I sent a follow-up e-mail to my editor. Blame it on the coffee and its caffeine, proven to increase alertness.“Coffee may be hotter than tea and deserves attention,” I noted, and continued on as if I were creating the back cover of a book in progress. “Studies show it can help lower the risk of heart disease, cancer, diabetes; help reduce body fat and unwanted body weight—and increase longevity. Plus, coffee is used in health spa treatments and dozens of home cures and recipes. In moderation, coffee is another superfood and is teamed in cooking/baking with vinegar, olive oil, chocolate, and honey.”As a West Coast native I felt a connection to the potential book topic. After all, I grew up during the Bohemian Beatnik era, which hit the San Francisco Bay Area, where I lived; and in Seattle, Washington, a place where the coffee giant Starbucks originated, growing into a trend that swept the nation and world. These days, coffee, a new health food, is popular for its multitude of coffee roasts, flavored coffees, organic coffee, specialty coffee drinks—hot and cold—and so much more.It was no surprise that by mid-March the news arrived. The idea of writing a book about coffee and health had come full circle. While I was enjoying my morning cup of Starbucks’ Sumatra coffee I was notified by my editor, Richard Ember, that The Healing Powers of Coffee was to be my fifth Healing Powers book. I celebrated with a second cup of java juice.Like vinegar, olive oil, chocolate, and honey, coffee is derived from nature. All five superfoods contain powerful antioxidants and boast versatile uses. The fascinating thing about my journey into the wide world of coffee is that I discovered that coffee is the second most popular commodity in the world.So like a coffee tree, I began to flourish. The exciting part of my journey is that I discovered that coffee is more than just a beverage to wake up to in the morning. This time around, I’m enjoying a Kona coffee, a slice of gourmet coffee cake, and I just finished a coffee facial.In The Healing Powers of Coffee I’ll show you how and why this natural beverage from tree to cup will open your eyes to the amazing powers of the coffee tree and its treasures to make your life more complete.

Spring is in the Air, It's Monday

By Cal Orey
Christopher Norman, gourmet chocolate
The temps are beginning to change in the Sierra pre-Easter days Snow has melted. We're talking high sixties this week. It's a cue that spring has sprung and off season has arrived.  I saw two blue jays yesterday afternoon in my neighbor's yard. It's time to purchase bird seed to keep Zen, my indoor kitty amused as well as bird dog Simon. 

CANINE COMPANIONS
Speaking of dogs... On Saturday Skyler, the Aussie of my life, got his dog shots--all of them. After a few words of caution from the staff, I waited for side effects: sleepiness, subdued... No such luck. Skye has boundless energy. He is the most fun-loving canine companion I have ever known. A smile on his face--always. And ready to go do it--always.

SWIMMING IS BLISS

Before 8 a.m., I kept my vow for spring and hit the pool.  It was bliss, as usual. For the next two months, the pool and hot tub(s) will be all mine in the early morning. Then, it's to the outdoor water.  Swimming is a way to soothe the spirit, and it does boost energy levels to keep up with an energetic pooch.

ANIMALS FLEEING YELLOWSTONE
As a news segment guest on Coast to Coast AM last Friday night, I was asked to give my take on the 4.8 earthquake at Yellowstone, not to ignore the question are the fleeing bison and AOL elk, as a sign of an upcoming supervolcano. So now, I'm writing a piece due in a few days on the topic. While my time was short I'm glad I didn't sound like the character in 2012 film when there was a mega meltdown. Actually, I'm on the fence.
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HEALING POWERS, BOOK SERIES
So, here I sit...fielding calls for the psychic networks. I wonder about my 2nd edition of The Healing Powers of Olive Oil (my 2nd child), and where it is in production.

Last I heard the cover copy was being edited.  Marketing my books on vinegar, olive oil, honey, chocolate, even coffee isn't difficult. But I wonder why people love vinegar more than joe.  That is an interesting article topic that is a must write. I suppose if I were stranded on an island and could have one or the other, vinegar would help wounds heal, but coffee (with water which I'd need to survive) would boost my mind, body, and spirit. 

HERE  COMES EASTER
Easter is on its way. I sit here viewing Food Network, brainstorming ways to make a healthful carrot cake. It seems like everyone loves cream cheese frosting but this treat can be good without icing (on another planet). Well, maybe muffins sweetened with nature's nectar--honey and frost half, leave half plain. Tomorrow I will decide. Yesterday, craving Easter candy I was surprised at all the junk put into grocery store packaged candy (not like gourmet chocolate I have had) so I grabbed different chocolates and will make marbled bark infused with walnuts and sprinkled ever so lightly with pastel colored ice cream sprinkles to celebrate the new season.

Quiz: Do You Have ESP?

A Quiz: Do You Have ESP? by Cal Orey  Expert Psychic is an accomplished author-journalist specializing in health, nutrition, science, and pets. She is the author of the internationally popular Healing Powers series (Kensington), and the 2nd edition of The Healing Powers of Olive Oil will be published 2015. The intuitive is a phone psychic for two international networks, has been a guest on national radio shows, including Coast to Coast AM and the Mancow Show, and pens a monthly Earth Changes column for Oracle 20/20 Magazine. She lives in northern California. 


Have you always suspected you have ESP? Humans have five senses: hearing , smell, sight, taste, and touch. Do you have an animal-like sixth sense—a psychic sense? Ever predict the future, or sense imminent danger? Well here’s your chance to find out. Take Cal Orey’s quiz to see how sensitive you really are…When the telephone rings at dinner time, you: 
A) automatically know who it is on the end of the line.
B) Keep your fingers crossed and hope it’s you know who.
C) Wonder if the pizza guy is lost.After awakening from a dream that rocked your world, you:
A) quickly jot down the details and decode it all.
B) ponder the messages and are semi-intrigued.
C) forget all about it.When facing a decision, you listen to your gut feelings about it:
A) always.
B) sometimes.
C) never.You’re considering relocating. You:
A) use deep meditation to make your decision.
B) call some real estate agents to try to get a vibe about the new location.
C) stay put because you fear the unknown.How often have you had an image or strange feeling about a friend or family member, to find out later that they were in trouble?
A) often.
B) sometimes.
C) never.Have you ever felt like you’ve been somewhere or with someone before?
A) definitely.
B) once in a while.
C) not really.Do you find yourself able to finish a person’s sentence?
A) yes.
B) occasionally.
C) no.Do you believe humans and animals have a sixth sense and can sense oncoming natural disasters? 
A) undoubtedly.
B) maybe.
C) no way.Do your dreams ever come true?
A) you bet.
B) once or twice.
C) never.Ever think about someone, only to have them contact you within minutes or hours?
A) of course.
B) sometimes.
C) no.TALLY UP
The more A’s, B’s, and C’s you answer will tell you how sensitive or psychic you are. Some experts think humans have ESP (extraordinary perception by means other than physical senses). Some say it’s a mystery of nature. And some things humans know are unsolved mysteries—or are they?Mostly A’s – Super Sensitive (empathetic, sensitive, sensual)
Congrats! You’ve got your psychic abilities in working order. You trust yourself and are a clear thinker who sees the signs through images, hunches and emotions. Jeffrey A. Wands, psychic and author of The Psychic in You (Simon & Schuster), says the Super Sensitive “acts upon her intuition.”
Time to Tune In: Adds LA celeb psychic Malena: “Intuitive people tend to be emotional sponges. Be mindful of your personal boundaries.” Most importantly, pay attention to dreams, visions, and your those little inner voices. There are gut feelings you must never tune out.Mostly B’s – Hunch Honey (cautious, flexible, open-minded)
Sometimes you get a hot premonition and sometimes you don’t. “Hunch Honey has the same ability as the Super Sensitive but she doesn’t act on her intuition,” says Wands. “It takes her longer to trust her intuitive feelings.” But you can read some signs, sort of.
Time to Tune In: You often get those déjà vu feelings,” says Malana. “Don’t fear your inner knowledge. Your hunches can help you.” Next time you get a funny feeling, don’t tune it out!Mostly C’s – Clueless Camper (conservative, headstrong, skeptical)
Unlike the Super Sensitive and Hunch Honey, this clueless person is out of touch. “She walks around in a constant fog. Her feelings are as unpredictable as the stock market. She relates on a totally intellectual level rather than a spiritual one,” explains Wands. “She thinks, ‘Intuition, what’s that?’”
Time to Tune In: “When you get a get feeling, go for it!,” says Malena. “Be receptive to clues no matter how silly they seem.” In other words, feel emotions, images and thoughts that come to you, and enjoy the gift of intuition.

Java Jolt: A Coffee Lovers' Quiz

JAVA JOLT: A COFFEE LOVERS QUIZ
View an instant trailer on health perks of your cup of joe It’s the beverage we can’t live without—yet few consume it without some guilt. But the wonderful truth is that coffee has abundant health benefits.  It’s time coffee’s bad rap is debunked. Start by taking our coffee lovers’ quickie, eye-opening quiz—straight from The Healing Powers of Coffee: A Complete Guide to Nature’s Surprising Superfood--to discover more reasons why coffee is the “newest” health food.


Wake Up to the Amazing Perks of Coffee!
1. According to legend, an Ethiopian goat herder was the first to discover the energizing benefits of the coffee bean plant centuries ago.  YES or NO2. Drinking freshly ground coffee from whole beans can help lower the risk of heart disease, cancer, type 2 diabetes, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. YES or NO3. Coffee is the number 1 source of antioxidants in the U.S. diet. YES or NO4. Coffee can relieve a host of ailments, including fatigue, headaches, muscle pain, and a lackluster libido. YES or NO5. A cup of joe can help you slim down and shape up! Its caffeine provides extra energy to help you exercise (burning calories and boosting metabolism at rest), curb your appetite, stimulate water loss, and keep you regular for a flatter belly. YES or NO6. Coffee can boost longevity in conjunction with a healthful diet and lifestyle. YES or NO7. Decaf has 20 percent less antioxidants than caffeinated coffee but it still has health perks. YES or NO8. Java juice has more fiber than OJ. That means, coffee can help lower total cholesterol and bad cholesterol, lessening the risk of developing heart disease. YES or NO9. Women say that drinking coffee “is a good way to relax,” while men indicate that coffee “helps them get the job done.” YES or NO10. While antioxidants are the health perk of coffee, its caffeine can help remedy a headache, pain, hangover, and even poor handwriting. YES or NO

SCORING:  The more yes answers you circled above, the more likely your coffee is working for you. Still not sure what it all means?  Find out more reasons how your cup of joe is your best friend in The Healing Powers Coffee—and savor coffee because it can help boost your mood, energy and well-being for life.

April 7 is National Coffee Cake Day!

By Cal Orey, The Writing Gourmet



Warm up this Spring! Coffee has perks!
It boosts brainpower, enhances mood, energy,
and helps you to stay lean!Discover why this potent elixir has gone from vice to virtue and how to incorporate coffee in Mediterranean-style healthful recipes like homemade Biscotti to ready-made gourmet coffee cake--and where to get it in the nick of time to celebrate National Coffee Cake Day! (plus DIY espresso drinks).
It's all here--and so much more--in the new, revolutionary book The Healing Powers of Coffee (Kensington Books).  This book was even featured by the Good Cook Club -- thanks to the tested recipes by pro chefs, major coffee companies, and well-known health spas nationwide. Check out this cake with a scrumptious twist of java!


Mystery Mocha Cake* * *     The only mysterious thing about this cake is how it can be so delicious and still contain virtually no fat. Looking at this deep, almost black chocolate cake, cushioned in a velvety fudge sauce, you’ll think, “No way. No way is this cake low-calorie.” But, at 124 calories a serving (not including the whipped cream/ice cream you’ll be dying to add), it won’t push your calorie count for the day into the stratosphere.CAKE ¾ cup (5 ¼ ounces) granulated    
sugar                 
1 cup (4 ¼ ounces) King Arthur Unbleached  All-purpose or White Whole Wheat Flour 2 teaspoons baking powder                           
¼ teaspoon salt           ¼ cup (3/4 ounce) low-fat cocoa                  
¾ cup (6 ounces)  skim milk 2 teaspoons salt SAUCE ½ cup (3 ¼ ounces) brown sugar, packed    
½ cup (3 ½ ounces) granulated sugar cup 
3/4 ounce low-fat cocoa                                                 
1 cup (8 ounces) double-strength coffee,   room temperature                                                           
CAKE     Preheat the oven to 350 F. Lightly grease an 8 x 8-inch baking pan. In a large mixing bowl, stir together sugar, flour, baking powder, salt and cocoa. Add the milk and vanilla; beat till smooth. Pour the batter into a lightly greased 8 x 8-inch pan.SAUCE     In a small bowl, mix together the white and brown sugars and cocoa. Sprinkle evenly over the batter in the pan. Pour the coffee over all. This may look kind of strange and messy, but never fear; everything will turn out fine.     Bake the cake for 40 minutes, or until the top springs back when pressed gently. Remove from the oven and cool on a wire rack. This cake is best enjoyed warm, between half an hour and an hour after you’ve taken it out of the oven. Yield: 1 cake, sixteen 2 x 2-inch servings. Yield: 1 cake, sixteen 2 x 2 inch servings.(Excerpt from The Healing Powers Coffee: This recipe is in the book and was provided via Courtesy King Arthur Flour.)

West Coast Shake-Up, Seismic Drought Over?

By Cal Orey


Pets can sense oncoming earthquakes. One hour before
last week's central CA quake south of Tahoe
my cat vocalized and ran through the house one hour prior
As a California native, author of The Man Who Predicts Earthquakes, earthquake sensitive, and intuitive, I admit the recent shakers are no surprise. In my monthly Earth Changes column for Oracle 20/20 Magazine, January 2014 issue, my forecasts included the West Coast would rock and produce a major shaker, most likely in regions including Offshore NorCal, and SoCal (Greater Los Angeles). And that it is. (Worse, I discovered last night that I'm hardly alone in my California earthquake prediction.)

Last Monday night, I was a News Segment guest on Coast to Coast AM. I spoke to host George Noory about the 6.8 Offshore Northern California. This seismically active region shook and the quake was widely felt but no damage or injuries. Last night, I spoke about the shallow and widely felt quake in San Fernando Valley that hit yesterday morning before 6:30 AM. More than 9000 people reported to the USGS that they felt the sharp jolt that lasted at least 10 seconds. It occurred during the time of the Full Moon (believed to be a time when earthquakes can and do happen sometimes great shakers).

This Golden State wake-up call of quakes takes me back to 2005, mid June when we had a 7.2 and 6.7 Offshore NorCal; two strong quakes in SoCal--like a trigger effect. At the time, my book on quakes was in production and ready to be released in 2006. The publisher considered an earlier pub date, especially since I covered the Indian Ocean quake-tsunami(s) that happened on December 26, 2004. And the thing is, we too, in California are not immune to a big wave happening on our coastline. 

The Cascadia Subduction Zone could and has been the place where a 9.0 would be the place where a great quake may hit. And SoCal isn't off the map either. When I was doing a quake book tour down South I recall driving on the coastal highway and seeing the tsunami signs on the the side of the road. It is a reality.  

So we wait. Yesterday's morning quake and today's Offshore NorCal "aftershock" of 4.4 (I got a shakemail this a.m.) are cues that we Californians may be next in line for a significant earthquake in the upcoming days, weeks, or months. And it's time to get prepared. No, our state may not literally fall off into the Pacific Ocean, but fresh water flooding, landslides, devastation could happen when the next major earthquake rocks California, whether it is north or south. On a final note: A major earthquake could even happen at Lake Tahoe where I reside near three fault lines and a place where a big wave occurred centuries ago and changed the geography of the West Shore.

Spring Cleaning with COFFEE!

Coffee Craze: Grounds for the HouseholdBy Cal Orey
(Excerpt from The Healing Powers of Coffee)
Healing Your Home Room By RoomDrinking coffee for its healing powers is healing, but did you know that you can use coffee for healing your personal environment, too? Welcome to the world of coffee uses in the home, another perk of the coffee tree. Before I entered Coffee World, I didn’t know coffee grounds were eco-friendly and something to use. But now I know the dark brown gritty grounds can be home friendly. Bless the little coffee grounds for their uses indoors and outdoors.KitchenUse an abrasive Cleaner:  Use grounds as a scouring agent to tackle any greasy or dirty surface. It can also get rid of pungent odors from pans and your hands.Go for a Deodorizing Buzz: Dry coffees (not soggy used ones) placed on a cookie sheet and put in an open container in your fridge or freezer can be an instant way to help absorb odors. Also, fill a sachet with dried grounds paired with cinnamon sticks and whole cloves and place it in close drawers (be sure it’s baby and pet proof).Living Room/Dining Room/BedroomFurniture Concealer: Coffee grounds can do away with smells and unsightly scratches on furniture, too. Steep grounds and apply the dark brew to wood furniture with a cloth. I tried this household treatment on an antique dark chest in my bedroom and it worked. I thought, “If coffee stains cups and coffeepots, it has to work on brown furniture.” And it did just that. Flavored coffees provide a nice aroma, unlike commercial types of cleaners with strong, undesirable scents. Fireplace Dust Buster: Ever notice that when you clean out the ashes from the fireplace dust gets in your eyes and nose? You can control the dust by using wet ground on the cool ashes because they keep the dust down and not in the air. Note to self: Try to see if this method works.BathroomAnt Repellent: In the mountains, I don’t see ants, but in the city I did. And it they weren’t in the kitchen they took over the bathroom especially around water. Rather than using a chemical spray, try using coffee grounds on the area thirsty ants got to. (Be sure kids, cats, and dogs are not around as the natural anteater does its job.)


OutdoorsPlant Fertilizer: Plants like acidic soils will like your coffee grounds. Use grounds on the top layer of soil, or mix them with potting soil before planting. I started dumping coffee grounds on the aspens in the front yard. It could have been the late-summer rain and/or the grounds that helped the trees perk up.Compost: Grounds not only feed your plants and trees, but they can feed your compost bin (if you have one) also. Simply add compost piles to increase nitrogen balance. Coffee filters and tea bags (yes, I have both) will also break down fast during composting, I still don’t do the compost dance, but it’s on my list of to-do changes and coffee grounds and filters will be included. I continue to sprinkle grounds on one wilted aspen in the front yard, but so far it’s not showing signs of being a coffee lover…Insect Repellent: But tossing grounds on the deck, dirt, or sidewalks may have a faster effect. Again, it’s a risk to do this if you have indoor/outdoor dogs or cats, because you don’t want a sequel of the Ethiopian got herder’s dancing, frisky goats perked up by the caffeine in coffee.

5 Coffee Feng Shui TipsWelcome your home sweet home to the art of feng shui—the ancient Chinese art of placement—with a twist of joe.  By putting stuff in the right spots in your kitchen and other rooms you can enhance the flow of positive energy and zap negative vibes, brings you good health, happiness—and even fortune.·        Declutter Your Coffees. Rather than stuffing java beans all in one place, such as your pantry, I suggest storing it in a variety of places (including the freezer, and concealed containers in the fridge).  It works and keeps your kitchen clutter free.·        Use Coffee Art. Framed coffee prints can give your kitchen a nice, visual effect, especially if they boast Mediterranean colors: read, brown, gold, and blue.·        Flaunt Coffee Companions. Glass canisters filled with from biscotti to coffee candy look warm and inviting and are your friends whenever you decide to brew a cup of java.·        Brighten up with Lighting. Enjoy earthy coffee colors from a tan, light coffee on wood paneling. Fresh white curtains will lighten up the room and your energy. Scent It Up: Coffee candles made with different aromas (like café au lait and hazelnut) will warm up your kitchen and linger from room to room.

Honey Bee-autiful: The Healing Powers of Honey

Honey Bee-autifulBy Cal Orey If you want to gather honey, don’t kick over the beehive. --Abraham Lincoln From The Healing Powers of Honey 
A few years later, after nesting in San Jose, like a forager bee I found a new home in Boulder Creek, Santa Cruz Mountains, California. It was an Emily Dickenson-type setting. On the San Lorenzoriver, complete with redwoods and oak trees, and wildflowers—honey bees and I lived in harmony. A typical Tuesday and Thursday would be leaving my young furry children—like bee larvae to me—while I traveled to San Francisco State University. Monday, Wednesday, Friday and weekends were heavenly—a queen bee’s existence.One spring day, after a swim in the river with my two dogs (I had adopted another Labrador retriever); I combined a honey and vegetable oil hair conditioner and massaged the mixture on my long, curly dry locks. Thirty minutes later, I rinsed the goo and shampooed. I dried my hair in the sun. My mane felt soft and silky. I felt like a natural woman again without insect fuzz.
THE BEE-AUTY OF HONEY POWERI’m hardly alone in discovering beauty benefits of honey and its versatile healing powers from head to toe. Since honey is a natural preservative and antibacterial agent, it protects and promotes moisture in the skin—which I, too have experienced.  What’s more, it’s a humectant (an ingredient that holds moisture), something I’ve used in hair conditioners to help tame my curly mane the same way humidity does in the Deep South or Hawaii. Eating honey can help you get beautiful on the inside, but treating your body on the outside with the golden nectar can make you look and feel great, too. And honey—natural stuff in the jar to ready-made honey products are making a buzz from present-day and have roots from ancient times. 
SPA BEE-AUTIFIYING TREATMENTSIt’s no beauty secret that honey combined with other natural ingredients can enhance your blood circulation, zaps stress and anxiety, and makes your skin feel silky. All-natural manuka honey, for one, teamed with other honeys and natural plant extracts and essential oils can help exfoliate, soften, and even make your skin look firmer and glow. And this is why some spas around the nation and world include honey in their spa treatments.  Here, take a look at some of the popular ones.
Milk and Honey Bath   The treatment begins with a honey scrub, followed by a warm bath filled with milk and honey, and culminates with a light massage. This is a double delight—because it exfoliates and moisturizes the total body.Manuka Honey Drizzle Body Masque  The spa technician will use bare hands or a spa brush, apply approximately ½-1 full cup of product to your skin, from the shoulders down to the feet. It will remain on your skin for about 10 minutes before rinsing with a shower.Orange Blossom & Body Wrap  Enjoy the healing hydrating and conditioning properties of a honey wrap. Treatment begins with an exfoliating full-body dry brushing, includes an invigorating Orange Blossom & Sugar Cane Sugar foot scrub and concludes with a yummy application of Honey-Orange Blossom Body Butter. 50 minutes.Manuka Honey Drizzle Pedicure   Savor the pampering of a professional pedicure. Treatment begins with  you soaking your feet for 5-10 minutes in a Manuka Honey Drizzle product into a basin of warm water. After, a pedicure and polish will accentuate the softness of your feet.
DIY HONEY BEAUTY RECIPES FROM HEAD TO TOE Do it yourself products make it possible and easy to enjoy the spa benefits in the comfort of your home. And more people—both men and women—are discovering the beauty benefits of honey, whether it’s straight from the hive or comes in a glass jar. Here, take a look at some of the at-home treatments I tried from head to toe, and you’ll be thanking honey bees forever.EYES Honey Eye Nourisher:   One of the best things I did one morning was whip up an anti-puffy eye cream with 1 tablespoon aloe vera gel, 2 teaspoons cucumber, peeled with seeds removed, ½ teaspoon chamomile tea, 1 teaspoon honey. After steeping chamomile tea, in boiling water I set it aside to cool. In my blender on a low setting I combined cucumber, aloe vera and honey, added chamomile tea, and whizzed it till smooth. I put the honey goo under my eyes using fingers. Ten minutes later, I looked like I wasn’t a worker bee.FACE Honey Mask: Curious and delighted, I didn’t stop there. I grabbed a small bowl and combined 2 tablespoons honey and 2 teaspoons milk.  I slathered the mixture over my face and throat. Ten minutes later, with warm water I rinsed off the concoction. My skin was soft not fuzzy like a honey bee’s legs.SKIN Honey Skin Lotion:   On a honey beautifying roll, I whipped up 1 teaspoon honey, 1 teaspoon vegetable oil, ¼ teaspoon lemon juice. I used it on my hands and felt like I was ready for a much-needed manicure. But authors on deadline don’t get such sweet treats. Honey Lemon Body Wash:   The next morning, I went to the bathroom like a bee goes to honeycomb and prepared a honey soap of 2 cups unscented castile soap, 2 cups honey, and ½ cup lemon juice—and put it in a plastic bottle and shook it. In the shower rather than using ready-made honey soap, I used a loofah and washed my body and rinsed. Extra benefit, I got to feel my skin soft and watch CNN right after without fleeing to a spa.FEET Honey Eucalyptus Foot Soak:   That night, the favorite thing I did for the day was blend 8 cups hot water, 1 cup honey, 2 cups Epsom salt, 2 tablespoons almond oil,6 drops eucalyptus oil—and soaked my feet with it. Fifteen minutes later, my feet looked human again. Both spa treatments and do-it-yourself action works for me. But it doesn’t stop there, especially for bold and beautiful people. Prince Charles’ wife Camilla, for one, is noted to using bee venom—a natural facelift remedy. It’s been tagged as “the botox alternative”—combining bee venom, manuka honey and shea butter, and promises to minimize wrinkles.
Whatever season or wherever you live, a honey will rejuvenate your body from head to toe and you’ll feel good both inside and outside.
Cleopatra’s Famous Honey and Milk BathsBack in the day of Cleopatra, the legendary Queen of Egypt savored honey and its beauty powers. The queen allegedly turned to the nectar of the gods for a facial each morning. Milk and honey baths were also part of her beauty regime. The idea was that honey was the golden secret to keeping her skin soft as well as defying age.In the 21st century royal honey beauty treatments have carried over to spas that cater to the rich and famous and include anyone who wants to be treated like royalty for a spa day or week. It’s a pampering honey and milk beauty treatment, like the recipe below from Savannah Bee Company that draws the healing powers to both women and men, thanks to Cleopatra.Milk and Honey Facial MaskIngredients: 2 tablespoons organic milk 1 tablespoon Savannah Bee Company Wildflower Honey Plastic wrap or warm face cloth

Directions:  Take the plastic wrap and cut the corners to make an oval slightly larger than your face. Cut openings for nostrils and mouth. After you make the mask and apply it, you’ll be covering your face with the plastic wrap for about 10 minutes.  Add milk to a small bowl. Slowly stir in honey. Mix well and stir until moisture is smooth. It may be slightly runny. Apply the milk mixture to your face with your fingertips. Set timer for 10 minutes. Put on some soothing music, lie down and cover face with plastic wrap or cloth. When the 10 minutes are up, wipe face with a warm cloth and rinse with cool water. Gently pat skin dry. Finish with your favorite moisturizer.