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    Small Fruits for the Home Garden

    Published 22 May 2023 by Liz Gardner | Leave a Comment

    Here is a list of fruits (mostly small) that I have grown in our home veggie garden over the years. If you have never eaten fresh picked fruit such as blueberries or tomatoes you are in for a pleasure treat. If you are into home canning (preserving) or freezing fruit, the taste of berries is...

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    Filed Under: Fruit, Gardening

    Devan Greenhouses - A "Destination Garden Centre"

    Published 5 May 2023 by Liz Gardner |

    Devan Greenhouses a "Destination Garden Centre" discovered quite by chance only a year ago. After living in the Abbotsford Fraser Valley area for more than a decade it was a lovely surprise. A big bonus is that the extensive greenhouses are pesticide free and follow "a holistic approach to growing". As well, they recycle water...

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    Filed Under: Flowers, Gardening, Vegetables

    An Incredible 2nd Year Vegetable Garden

    Published 16 April 2023 by Liz Gardner | 2 Comments

    Leah's Fabulous 2nd Year Vegetable Garden

    A short visit to a fabulous 2nd year vegetable garden which is the result of much time and love. The garden is the result of two years work of friends of our family. I was overwhelmed by both the garden size and the crop variety knowing this would be a garden anyone would dream to...

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    Filed Under: Vegetables

    Save Dandelions for the Bees

    Published 4 April 2023 by Liz Gardner | Leave a Comment

    Springtime is a great time to Save Weeds for the bees and other pollinators. Yes, you read that correctly! The dandelion in particular is especially easy to both see and identify with its large bright yellow blossoms. In our area, last summer, we had a shortage of pollinators for our fruit trees and tomato blossoms....

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    Filed Under: Bees & Pollinators, Flowers

    Three Quick & Easy Dinners to Make

    Published 20 March 2023 by Liz Gardner | Leave a Comment

    Quick and easy dinners to make sounds too good to be true... but these have been tested over the years and are still popular. Besides these three there are many other options, and some much simpler, such as a quick "4 Egg Scramble" which you can make on the run. The three following recipes have...

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    Filed Under: Recipes

    Top 8 Vegetables to Grow at Home

    Published 6 March 2023 by Liz Gardner | Leave a Comment

    Choosing the Top 8 Vegetables to Grow in the home garden was challenging mostly due to lack of gardening space. So intercropping ie radish between lettuce is a favourite growing method although neither of these 2 veggies even made my "top list". Always look for alternatives, such as a friend with land to spare, a...

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    Filed Under: Vegetables

    Easy to Make Chicken Cacciatore

    Published 14 February 2023 by Liz Gardner | Leave a Comment

    Chicken Cacciatore

    Chicken Cacciatore has been a top favourite over the years. This is one of those basic recipes you will make over and over again. Healthy and a time saver and great to cook ahead for company for a casual relaxed meal. Another reason to make this delicious meal is that there are under 10 items,...

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    Filed Under: Main Dishes

    Roast Butternut Squash Soup - the best!

    Published 28 January 2023 by Liz Gardner | Leave a Comment

    This Butternut Squash Soup is simply the best. So nutritious and delicious and although similar to other squash soups it has a unique flavour all of its own, thanks to possibly roasting the squash first. There is something very special about growing your own, chemical free vegetables, such as this squash and making it into...

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    Filed Under: Soups & Stews

    Top Tweets 2022

    Published 2 January 2023 by Liz Gardner | Leave a Comment

    Top Tweets for 2022. I usually do not post articles on politics or war both of which occurred very early in the year. The Truckers Convoy in Ottawa and Covid mandates "news" burst forth into full blown war as Russia invaded neighbouring Ukraine. What are the main areas of "interest "news" outside of these two...

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    Filed Under: Health, Household

    Beet or Borscht Soup - An easy to make Meal

    Published 7 December 2022 by Liz Gardner | Leave a Comment

    Home grown beetroot - No chemicals added

    Beet Soup is a new addition to my Soups Menu which I recently made for the first time. Yes, it was a treat and enjoyed by all. Here is my simple version of this nutritious soup I made with our home canned beets to keep costs down. They are best when picked straight from the...

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    Filed Under: Soups & Stews

    Lung Cancer - 10 Years & Counting

    Published 13 November 2022 by Liz Gardner | Leave a Comment

    Lung Cancer : It’s been a few years since writing about this topic but the questions are starting again on how I am managing. I just had my first CT Lung Cancer Scan in three years since 2019. The scan was scheduled on our Thanksgiving weekend and now the results have been received from my...

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    Filed Under: Health, Personal

    Simple Fun Activities for Healthy Aging

    Published 20 August 2022 by Liz Gardner | Leave a Comment

    En route camping

    Healthy aging: some of us are fortunate to reach a healthy "elderly" age and spend many happy years with family, friends and yes, work if you wish, and obtaining great enjoyment out of Life. Here are three areas we can all focus on in our lives to be happier, healthier and enjoy life more ....

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    Filed Under: Health, Personal

    Rebounding Into Senior Years

    Published 7 August 2022 by Liz Gardner | Leave a Comment

    Here is the amazing rebounder in our home

    Here is a lot of fun and exercise rolled into a Rebounder (mini trampoline) which I came across a few months ago. A chance video caught my interest, and well, its only been a month or so, but no looking back. The rebounder is a bonus which can be used at home and stored behind...

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    Filed Under: Health, Personal

    Reversing Type 2 Diabetes - Hope

    Published 26 April 2022 by Liz Gardner | Leave a Comment

    REVERSING TYPE 2 Diabetes: A personal letter - "So lovely to speak with you last night and catch up with our news.  I am so sorry to hear about your friend and I sincerely hope that some of the following will help her.  As I said last night I can only say what has helped...

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    Filed Under: Health

    Spring Gardening Journal - April

    Published 18 April 2022 by Liz Gardner | Leave a Comment

    Tomatoes growing inside

    Well, yes, this is about what there is to do if you are into Spring Gardening. This short article includes a flashback to my Spring Gardening Journal in 2020. Hang on to your hats for lots of tips, notes, ideas and links. The quotes are from Ruth Stout: I love spring anywhere, but if I...

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    Filed Under: Gardening

    Greek style Feta & Spinach Quiche #2

    Published 22 March 2022 by Liz Gardner | Leave a Comment

    That's correct a Greek style feta & spinach quiche which just happens to be one of our family favourites. It takes a little longer to prepare but is still quick and as always bake one for tonight and another for the freezer (store for up to a month). Quiches are such an ideal choice for...

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    Filed Under: Main Dishes

    Planting Your Spring Garden

    Published 15 March 2022 by Liz Gardner | Leave a Comment

    Planting your Spring Garden is a catchy title for a poem, and caught my attention! Spring is just around the corner and the following poem came across my social media today (from Australia) and it “hit the spot”. I decided to share this on my blog as it is thought provoking and hopefully uplifting.  The...

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    Filed Under: Gardening, Personal

    Quick Quiche Always a 'Dinner Winner' #1

    Published 8 March 2022 by Liz Gardner | Leave a Comment

    Vegetarian quiche with tomato & cheese topping

    It is so true that Quiche is quick and easy to prepare and can be popped in the oven to cook while you make a salad or other side dish and not feel rushed. Another benefit of the nutritious quiche is the almost endless varieties from simple traditional Quiche Lorraine, made with the eggs, plus...

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    Filed Under: Main Dishes

    2021 Top Tweets - Covid Continues

    Published 15 February 2022 by Liz Gardner | Leave a Comment

    A part of Life's Journey - finding the end of the rainbow

    Top Tweets 2021 continues ... Last year on Twitter was a roller coast ride, with interest in tweets up and down each month. What holds peoples' interest each month can be surprising. So as we start 2022 with a continuation of the global Covid pandemic; expectations are also 'be prepared' for a continuation of high...

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    Filed Under: Health

    All Time Top Posts - Gardening!

    Published 24 January 2022 by Liz Gardner | Leave a Comment

    Here are three of the all time top posts from CARAMEL & PARSLEY over the past years. All Time Top posts is a feature I was unaware of, especially how interesting it could be. Some of these articles have been written years ago but The List, to me, was surprising to say the least. Here...

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    Filed Under: Environment

    Dad's Favourite Canned Tomatoes (An Update)

    Published 13 January 2022 by Liz Gardner | Leave a Comment

    Fresh picked and canned organic tomatoes

    This recipe is a rewrite of "Dad's Favourite Canned Tomatoes". It is almost "vintage" as it was about the third article written for Caramel and Parsley over a decade ago. Tomatoes are still grown every summer, wherever we are, and the canning recipe is basically unchanged. But ... on re-reading the article thought perhaps it...

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    Filed Under: Recipes

    Easy Peanut Butter Cookies - No sugar

    Published 24 November 2021 by Liz Gardner | Leave a Comment

    Peanut Butter cookies

    With unexpected company coming the question was what to bake for a quick tasty treat? We all love peanut butter cookies and this recipe sounded too good to be true with only six ingredients. This was a first time baking this recipe and it's great when the cookies turn out delightfully delicious the first time....

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    Filed Under: Household, Recipes

    Kids Can Cook

    Published 29 October 2021 by Liz Gardner | Leave a Comment

    Fresh organic eggs

    Kids really can cook! This article was inspired by our 10 year old grandson, who on a recent visit, cooked us brekkie from scratch. What a pleasant surprise. This short article is a variety of his choice of a simple, nutritious breakfast, lunch or dinner for four of us. Truly take your pick of this...

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    Filed Under: Health, Recipes

    A Visit to the North Island Wildlife Recovery Centre

    Published 28 September 2021 by Liz Gardner | Leave a Comment

    Sea Wolf

    On a recent family visit to Vancouver Island it was recommended we visit the North Island Wildlife Recovery Centre.  What a great day it was! Many of the birds and animals we saw were mostly being cared for then released to the wild. At the time of our visit there were several eagles soon to...

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    Filed Under: Environment

    Remission of Type 2 Diabetes

    Published 7 September 2021 by Liz Gardner | Leave a Comment

    Dr Unwin Sugar Infographic

    The topic on the remission or reversing of Type 2 Diabetes has been highly controversial in the medical profession for some decades. In the last few months several research studies on this "hot" subject have been published stating that reversing diabetes is possible. "This group proposed ”remission“ as the most appropriate descriptive term, and HbA1c...

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    Filed Under: Health

    Tangy Apricot Jam No Sugar Added

    Published 21 July 2021 by Liz Gardner | Leave a Comment

    This apricot cooked jam recipe is almost my top favourite with a delightful taste all of its own. A super sweet treat with cream cheese or peanut butter. Great combinations ... and a pretty easy jam for the super busy person to make. During the canning season small quantities of jam are made as gifts...

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    Filed Under: Recipes

    It's Berry Time again

    Published 14 July 2021 by Liz Gardner | Leave a Comment

    Chemical free beans tomatoes strawberrry & raspberry

    A very special and delicious time of year - the first Berry crops are ripe for the picking in our home garden. This year with the warm weather we have three different fruits ripening at the same time. During the heat wave the vegetable garden was well watered although some plants were a little burnt....

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    Filed Under: Gardening

    Staying "cool" at Home during a Heat Wave

    Published 5 July 2021 by Liz Gardner | Leave a Comment

    Peaceful ocean waters at low tide

    After the recent disastrous and unprecedented heat wave (June / July 2021) we all need to be aware that our climate in "beautiful BC" has changed. The extremely sad news of "Sudden deaths recorded during #BC's #heatwave is up to 719 people ... (July 3, 2021) with many of the victims being #seniors who were...

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    Filed Under: Environment, Health

    Fatty Liver Disease & Our Children's Health

    Published 14 June 2021 by Liz Gardner | Leave a Comment

    Most big box stores dedicate entire aisles to the display & sale of soft drinks

    If your children drink lots of Sugary Drinks there is a good possibility that they may have a disease called Non Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease or NAFLD. Many parents I talk to today seem to know very little about this illness. For instance, in one the following videos it states that once a person, or...

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    Filed Under: Health

    M E N U for a Special Occasion ~Lamb Roast

    Published 9 April 2021 by Liz Gardner | Leave a Comment

    A sample menu for a special occasion of any kind. The happy "bonus" for this meal was that it was prepared entirely by my husband, who I only found out recently is a great cook. Another bonus (for me) was Roast Lamb, with all the trimmings, was on the menu. If you are looking for...

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    Filed Under: Recipes

    Lamb Bone & Scotch Broth

    Published 31 March 2021 by Liz Gardner | Leave a Comment

    Lamb Scotch Broth

    I grew up in Australia where Lamb and Scotch Broth were often on the menu, sometimes daily. Today that is definitely not the case and it has been a long time since making both recipes. We are now able to purchase local, grass fed lamb once a year so as I write I am making...

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    Filed Under: Recipes

    Healthy Swiss Chard - a Year Round Vegetable

    Published 24 March 2021 by Liz Gardner | Leave a Comment

    Healthy Swiss Chard is a very nutritious, but perhaps forgotten, vegetable which oftentimes will grow year round in our climate area. It is a member of the spinach family and, it really is a very easy to grow green vegetable. This year I have planted an old favourite called Fordhook Giant which is an heirloom...

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    Filed Under: Vegetables

    How to Can Non-GMO Corn

    Published 9 March 2021 by Liz Gardner | Leave a Comment

    Non GMO local corn is great with chilli, cacciatore, etc

    Home canning of corn is one of the most simple ways to preserve fresh picked corn. Non-GMO Corn has been on our "buy local" menu for a decade especially Jubilee triple sweet Non-GMO corn on the cob. Last summer several types of Non-GMO corn were canned for the first time in years.  A very easy...

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    Filed Under: Canning & Preserves

    High Fiber Veggies to Grow This Year

    Published 23 February 2021 by Liz Gardner | Leave a Comment

    S/He who plants a garden ...

    High fiber veggies are very good for your health and your "gut microbiome" so here we go with a few ideas on what to grow in 2021. Much will depend on the space you have but not the gardening experience. Home gardening is a super fun and easy hobby for those with absolutely no training....

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    Filed Under: Vegetables

    Top Tweets in 2020

    Published 17 February 2021 by Liz Gardner | Leave a Comment

    The annual Caramel and Parsley Top Tweets for the previous year continues: 2020 has been once in a Century occurrence as was reflected from the beginning of 2020 through the following months. There is no way anyone can avoid knowledge and experience of the coronavirus that assaulted the earth and all its occupants. There have...

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    Filed Under: Environment, Health

    Breathing Difficulty & Home Humidity in Winter

    Published 13 February 2021 by Liz Gardner | Leave a Comment

    Thick clear ice covering branches

    If you have a breathing difficulty and it becomes worse in our very cold winter,  check out your home humidity. It did not take long for us to realize that the decreased humidity in our home was the cause of increased breathing difficulty this winter.  With outside temperatures all this week with highs in minus...

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    Filed Under: Health, Household

    Dr Aseem Malhotra on Heart Disease & Metabolic Syndrome

    Published 20 January 2021 by Liz Gardner | Leave a Comment

    Dr Aseem Malhotra

    For many years Dr Aseem Malhotra has featured in numerous journals, newspapers, social media, etc and now with the continuing global Covid 19 epidemic in 2020 - 2021, his articles are very timely.  If this is your first introduction to Dr Malhotra; he is a cardiologist and leading doctor in the UK and very well...

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    Filed Under: Health

    Sugar Equivalent Infographics

    Published 6 January 2021 by Liz Gardner | Leave a Comment

    Sugar ... not so nice

    Sugar Equivalent Infograpics are very helpful when baking, losing weight, family health and when writing an article on sugar and food. Simply it is good to know how much sugar is in your food especially if you have diabetes. The graphics were originally endorsed by NICE in the United Kingdom and then disappeared. For those...

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    Filed Under: Health

    What Exactly is Ultra Processed Food?

    Published 5 January 2021 by Liz Gardner | Leave a Comment

    It is so important to read food labels - start first with whats in your cupboard at home

    There are many definitions of what exactly constitutes "ultra processed foods" depending on who you speak to. This short article provides an excellent description from NOVA in Brazil with links to additional information about the country's Food Guidelines. Here by way of introduction, is information, with quotes and links. Group 1. Unprocessed or minimally processed...

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    Filed Under: Health

    Real Men Eat Frittata ...

    Published 16 December 2020 by Liz Gardner | Leave a Comment

    Mixing up veggies

    "Real men don't eat Quiche but ... Real Men Eat Frittata". A long standing joke in our family is this quirky saying as eggs have always been a family favourite. Eggs are often a first choice for a meal or snack and we look forward to our weekly fried egg brekkie as well as frequent...

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    Filed Under: Recipes

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    Hi, I'm Liz! I have been a happy gardener all my life. My goal on this blog is to share tips and resources to help you learn how to garden too. Passionate about all things "healthy". Life long learner and asker of "how".

    More about me →

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    Gardening

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    Recipes

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    • Chicken Cacciatore
      Easy to Make Chicken Cacciatore
    • Roast Butternut Squash Soup - the best!
    • Home grown beetroot - No chemicals added
      Beet or Borscht Soup - An easy to make Meal
    See more Recipes →

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