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December 20, 2017 www.DesertMessenger.com 33 RECYCLE THIS NEWSPAPER thank you! By Herbmama Tinctures are liquid extracts made from herbs that you take by mouth. They are usually extracted in alcohol, but they can also be extracted in vegetable glycerine or apple cider vinegar (non-alcohol). Tinctures are easy and conve- nient to use. Because they are taken directly under the tongue, so they enter the bloodstream very quickly and the action in the body is much quicker. Nutritive tinctures may take several weeks of continual use before best re- sults are seen. For some herbs, such as roots, barks, berries, and non-aro- matic seeds, it takes a powerful liquid such as alcohol to extract the medici- nal properties from the herb. Extracting with a less-powerful liquid will only result in a less-effective product, really, a waste of your time and money. For those who prefer a non-alcohol product and there's not one available, you can put the drops of tincture into a small amount of hot water (the amount is not important), and this will dissipate the alcohol content, leaving only the herb matter behind. Tea vs. Tincture? Teas and tinctures are made from the same combination of herbs. It's just a different way of taking them. Some people enjoy teas and enjoy the relax- ing aspects of taking a time-out to drink a cup of tea. Tinctures are also very convenient, as nothing needs to be brewed. You simply take the drops of tincture and you're done. You can easily carry a bottle of tincture with you and it is available to you at all times. It comes down to personal preference. Two droppersful of tincture equals one 8 oz. cup of tea. How much is tincture dropperful? Tinctures are usually taken by the dropperful (also known as a squeeze). A dropperful is the amount of liquid that fi lls the glass tube of the dropper when the bulb on the dropper top is squeezed and released. The liquid may fi ll the glass tube only a small portion of the way, but that is considered a "dropperful". A dropperful equals approximately 30 drops. To take a tincture, it is best to take the drops directly under the tongue. This gets the herb directly into the bloodstream. If necessary, it is fi ne to dilute the tincture in a small amount of water or juice. It may be fl avored with lemon or honey to disguise the taste. You may also put the droppersful of tincture into a cup of warm or hot water for an instant cup of herbal tea. Heat your water fi rst, before adding the herbs. Heating the herbs in a microwave may kill or weaken their healthful benefi ts. Taking the tincture directly under the tongue and avoiding any liquids or foods for at least 15 minutes afterwards provides the best results. This information is for educational purposes only. It is not intended to cure or treat any type of illness or disease. For more information contact Herb- mama at 580-490-1770. "Like" us on FB at Herbs 4 Health! • Birth • Obituary • Anniversary Place it FREE in the: Desert Messenger! 928-916-4235 Got something to share? Nancy's Kitchen HOLIDAY JELLO POPCORN BALLS 1 cup sugar ½ cup white corn syrup 1 small pkg fl avored Jello (I usually use orange for Halloween and red or green for Christmas) 9 to 12 cups of popped corn Bring sugar and syrup to a boil and add Jello. Boil long enough to dissolve Jello, completely. Pour over popped corn….and mix well, rub your hands with margarine, after mixed well, form into balls…. working fast! Let dry on a cookie sheet, then wrap with saran wrap…can tie with colorful ribbon. Use different color Jello for Holi- day fun. HOT APPLE FRITTERS 2 cups of unbleached all purpose fl our 2 teaspoons of baking powder 1 teaspoon of salt 2/3 cup of sugar 2 teaspoons of cinnamon 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract 2 eggs 2 Tablespoons of melted butter 1 cup of milk 3 medium sized apples, peeled, cored, and diced canola oil for frying (about a quart) cinnamon sugar for topping confectioners' sugar for dusting 1. Whisk together the fl our, baking powder, salt, and sugar in a medi- um sized bowl. 2. In a measuring cup, whisk to- gether the milk, melted butter, eggs, and vanilla extract. 3. Slowly mix the wet mixture with the dry mixture until the mixture is completely moistened. Gently stir in the diced apples. 4. Heat the canola oil to 375 F. Using a cookie scoop or a teaspoons, drop the batter into the hot oil. Use a slot- ted spoon to turn them after about a minute. Cook until golden brown. Make sure to regulate the heat to keep it at 375 F, this way the fritters will cook all of the way through! - Use the slotted spoon to remove the fritters from the hot oil and place on a paper towel lined plate. As soon as they are slightly cooled, quickly roll them in the cinnamon sugar. Repeat with the rest of the batter. Sprinkle the warm fritters with powdered sugar. Make sure to enjoy them warm! What exactly is a tincture?

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