#COOKING WITH CLORIS--SPICE UP YOUR HOME AND BODY WITH CINNAMON

Two weeks ago I wrote about various clever ideas for using orange peels. Today I have some suggestions for spicing up your life with cinnamon, a very versatile spice that’s not just for baking snickerdoodles and apple pie.

Just as orange peel can be used as a natural insect repellant, cinnamon, combined with a couple of other spices, can be used as a natural moth repellant.

Natural Moth Repellant

You’ll need small sachet bags (available at craft stores), 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon, 1/2 cup whole cloves,1/2 cup black peppercorns.

Mix cinnamon, cloves, and peppercorns together. Fill sachet bags. Hang bags in closet or place in dresser drawers.

Natural Athlete’s Foot Soother

Did you know cinnamon is an antimicrobial? If you’re plagued with athlete’s foot, boil ten sticks in a quart of water. Allow to cool. Soak your feet for twenty minutes. Dry completely.

Natural Hair Therapy

Cinnamon also increases blood flow. Some people believe it helps stimulate hair growth. To give your hair a boost, mix together 1/4 cup honey with 1/4 cup cinnamon. Apply to your scalp and allow to sit for fifteen minutes. Rinse thoroughly.

Natural Furniture and Floor Repair

You can use cinnamon to hide scuffs in wooden floors and furniture. Just use a cotton swab to rub some ground cinnamon into the scratch marks.

HEALTHY LIVING WITH JANICE - CINNAMON FOR GOOD HEALTH

We’re learning more and more everyday about the health benefits of certain herbs and spices. Today health editor Janice Kerr takes a look at cinnamon. -- AP

Studies show that cinnamon is good for your heart. One teaspoon a day can lower cholesterol, reducing your risk of heart disease. Start your day off right by sprinkling a teaspoon of cinnamon on your morning oatmeal. Or add a teaspoon to fresh fruit and cottage cheese or yogurt. Cinnamon is also delicious mixed into applesauce or sprinkled over pancakes or waffles. You can also stir it into your tea or coffee or warm apple cider.

And it smells so good! Thanks, Janice. Readers, can you think of other ways to add cinnamon to your diet? -- AP

CRAFTS WITH ANASTASIA--ESPRESSO BEAN TOPIARY

Before I talk about today's craft project, I have a little shout-out for author Lois Winston because it's really all about me. For those of you eager for a little taste of ASSAULT WITH A DEADLY GLUE GUN, Lois has launched her newly redesigned website, and you can now read an excerpt from Chapter 1. Just click on over to http://www.loiswinston.com -- AP


Now back to our regularly scheduled blog post:


Did you know that July 24^th is Coffee Day?  Anyone who knows me, knows how much I love my lattes, but I’ll bet you didn’t know you can craft with coffee, too. Here’s a quick and easy project in celebration Coffee Day. 

ESPRESSO BEAN TOPIARY

Materials: 3” x 6” craft foam cone; 6” cinnamon stick; dk. brown acrylic paint; satin finish acrylic sealer; ¾ cup espresso beans; tacky glue; 3” clay pot; floral foam; Spanish moss; 1” foam brush; 4 strands raffia in color of your choice.

Note: Allow paint, glue, and sealer to dry between steps.

1.  Poke a hole for cinnamon stick in bottom of cone.

2. Paint cone with dk. brown paint.

3.  Glue cinnamon stick into hole in bottom of cone.

4.  Beginning at bottom edge of cone and working up, glue beans side by side in rows around cone.

5.  Apply sealer to beans.

6.  Glue Spanish moss over floral foam.

7.  Tie raffia into a bow and glue to front of pot.

Since Coffee Day falls on a Saturday this year, why not throw a Coffee Day party? Invite your coffee loving friends. Make one Espresso Bean Topiary for each guest.  Group the topiaries in a row down the center of your table as a centerpiece. After the party, give one to each guest as a gift.  Tomorrow Cloris will have a to-die-for dessert you’ll want to serve at your Coffee Day party. And of course, it’s made with coffee.


Have you ever used an unusual material in a crafts project? Let's hear from you.