Garlicky Kale A'la SuRae

Kale, Kale the gangs all here

• 1 bunch raw kale, washed, de-stemmed and dried
• 2 Tablespoons tahini (this can be lessened or omitted)
• 2 Tablespoons apple cider vinegar (or water)
• 2 Tablespoons lemon juice
• 2 Tablespoons Bragg’s liquid aminos
• 4 Tablespoons nutritional yeast
• 2 teaspoons minced garlic (1 – 2 cloves of garlic)
• sesame seeds, to taste as garish (optional)

Instructions

1. Break or cut kale into bite size pieces and place in a large ziplock bag.
2. Puree all ingredients except kale and sesame seeds in a blender or food processor to blend the dressing.
3. Pour dressing into bag with kale, pressdown and remove excess air and zip closed.  Massage the bag well until all pieces of kale are coated. massaging and squeezing will allow kale to break down and appear as cooked once served
4. Let the bag sit in the fridge for an hour or so to marinate. You can skip this step if you need to eat right away, but allowing some time to marinate will add to the wilt from massaging the kale.
5. Sprinkle on some sesame seeds before serving if so desired.

NOTE.  I have several add-ins for my kale at different times they are as follows
~thinly sliced red onion brings in a beautiful color
~thin rings from the small multi colored sweet peppers
~shreaded carrots
~broccoli slaw (bagged shreaded broccoli stems)
~pine nuts
~halved or quartered grape/cherry tomatoes
~smokehouse black pepper for a garlicky/smoky flavor and delightful smell
~Worcestershire sauce about a teaspoon
~minced garlic added to the bag (for that True Garlic Bite)

Now these are added in as a single item or maybe a couple to add to the overall serving presentation.  I invite you to experiment and make this your own.

Way Number two to Ditch the Poo

Wash your hair with a shampoo replacement.

• For curly or wavy hair that isn't oily: Distribute a conditioner on your entire scalp and massage your scalp with the tips of your fingers. This will cleanse the scalp of any dirt and get rid of dandruff. Then rinse thoroughly. You only need to do this step every other day to once a week.
• For straight hair or hair that's oily: Consider using home remedies in place of harsh shampoos. All of these still may be a little drying to the hair so be sure to condition afterwards.
  • Baking Soda Mix: Baking soda is also known as sodium bicarbonate. It is sold in most supermarkets, health food stores and similar places. Before showering, combine one tablespoon baking soda with one cup warm or hot water in a plastic bottle and shake thoroughly. Work into the hair and comb through. Rinse thoroughly with water then follow with a vinegar rinse to condition your hair.
  • 'Apple Cider Vinegar or Distilled White Vinegar Rinse: This of course, smells like vinegar. Don't worry though; once you have rinsed your hair the smell will go away. If it doesn't, you are using too much vinegar. Combine one to two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar with one cup water in plastic bottle. Work into the hair and comb through. Rinse thoroughly.
  • Lemon Juice: Combine the juice of one lemon with an equal amount of your normal or home made conditioner. Work into the hair and if you can, comb through. If not, simply rinse thoroughly.

How to go ALL NATURAL. Ditch the Poo (Shampoo that is)

This is it.  This is the time and the SEASON.

I have participated in "Natural Hair" Shows, regular Beauty Shows and many things of the like.  I

once went about a year without washing my hair in the customary manner.  I simply rinsed it and

cleaned my scalp with Baking soda and witch hazel. Now I use Baking soda and Apple Cider

Vinegar mostly and love witch  hazel on my face.

Worked amazingly and then I got sent overseas and I got back on the "Poo", Shampoo that is.

Today I am packing up all the hair and skin care condiments and returning to Nature.

talk about "Back to Nature".  LOL

Here is a good recipe for a Conditioning wash (Co Wash)

What you will need

1. Pure Natural soap (pH10) 50ml
2. Natural conditioner (pH) 200ml
3. Tea Tree Essential Oil 5 drops
4. Rose Mary Essential Oil 12 drops
5. Peppermint Essential Oil 12 drops

First make sure you have a clean container or bottle with a lid to put your co-wash.Next, mix conditioner and soap together. Follow by adding each of the essential oils. Make sure everything is blended well. Your co-wash is now ready for use.

So, here it is my basic Routine for ditching the Poo!!


And then we have a great clarifier:

Baking soda is your friend

 

Baking soda works wonders on hair, along with its other many household helps. It’s gentle, it’s the weakest alkaline, and it very gently clarifies hair from chemical buildup.

Like many natural cleaners, the recipe isn’t static — it can be tweaked to suit your needs. The standard amount for hair care is one tablespoon of baking soda to one cup of water. Those with curly or thicker hair might need a bit more baking soda, and those with thin or fine hair might need less. Experiment, and see what works for you.

I use a simple 8-ounce squeeze bottle, pour in a tablespoon of baking soda with a funnel, then fill up the rest with water from the kitchen sink. I give it a good shake to dissolve the baking soda, and it’s ready to be used.

In the shower, I soak my hair with water, then I squeeze a bit of the baking soda mixture on my scalp, starting at the crown. I massage it in as I go, squeezing a bit more here and there, concentrating mostly on the scalp. I include my hair as well, but since most of the oils originate from the scalp itself, the hair will naturally get cleaned once the scalp is clarified.

After a few minutes, I rinse it out, just like I would the poo.

Apple cider vinegar is your next friend

Apple cider vinegar is a mild acidic, working well to counteract the baking soda, and thus acts as a great replacement for conditioner. It detangles the hair follicles, seals the cuticle, and balances the hair’s pH balance.

A little goes a very long way, just like the baking soda. The standard recipe is also one tablespoon apple cider vinegar to one cup water. For this, I use an old conditioner bottle, and fill it with the vinegar and water via funnel, then finish it with a shake.

My hair tends to rest a little on the oily side naturally, so I don’t use much of this. I pour a little on just the ends of my hair, let it sit for a few seconds, then rinse it out.

And that, from start to finish, is my current hair care routine.

Other tips

• You might have a transition period that lasts from a few weeks to a few months, where your hair reacts with excess oil to the lack of shampoo. This is perfectly normal. It’s used to having its oils stripped, so it might take time for the oil to stop producing so heavily in protest. My transition period only lasted about two weeks, and it wasn’t a big deal.

• I hear that eventually, you can wean off baking soda and vinegar all together, relying only on water in the shower to remove dirt and oil. I haven’t gotten there yet.

• If you find that your hair is too oily (after the transition period), try using less vinegar, or not using it all together. Some people also use lemon juice instead of vinegar as their acidic clarifier.

• If your hair feels too dry, use less baking soda, or try using honey or vegetable glycerin instead of vinegar.

• I don’t need anything else for my hair. I stopped using pomade and greases YEARS ago.  I do use come coconut oil just to keep it smooth and supple (I also use this as my facial moisturizer—I LOVE this stuff). My hair is amazingly pliable, and can hold styles without my needing to do much of anything. I’m thrilled with the results!

• This can also be used on our kids hair, though only use it once a week or so since they don't really require daily poo.  Their scalps don’t really produce much oil at a young age.