Garlic has been a family "food" and homegrown vegetable for many years. Yes garlic is a vegetable but is used as an herb. There is much information available on the various health benefits of garlic from "boosting the immune system", "bone health" to "reducing dementia risk". “Garlic is the driving force behind memorable meals.” –...
THE MEANING OF CHRISTMAS ... Update 2025
What's the meaning of Christmas? ... Charlie Brown asked Linus this question in a Charles Schulz movie titled "A Charlie Brown Christmas" in 1965. Charlie was fed up with the commercialization around Christmas and asked anyone for an answer to his question and this short video is what Linus said ... What's Christmas all about ... This video...
A Healthy Life - Living & Loving It
Over the past decade plus, I have come across some fantastic medical / science professionals and others with incredible health information. I share much of this information i.e. some research articles and many videos, and hope to give you some information to become a healthier "you". As always if you have a medical concern, refer...
Simply Real Healthy Food
A major reason of starting Caramel and Parsley over a decade ago was to share with others what was happening in our family with a major emphasis on Food & Lifestyle and Healthy Living. So basically this is a culmination of how we live and what we eat to be healthy people to the best...
Three More Healthy Root Crops to Grow
Easy to grow root crops are always okay to grow in our home vegetable garden. Besides our usual Red Russian garlic, tomatoes and Curly Kale here are three veggies to make space for. The bonus to growing these veggies, without chemicals, in your home garden is of course their freshness, they are usually more 'juicy"...
The Diabetes & Blindness Connection - Dr James Muecke
Recently I came across three videos I had not seen by Dr James Muecke who is an ophthalmologist from Adelaide, South Australia. If you have Type 2 Diabetes are you aware of risks of having diseases such as blindness and amputations? I was overwhelmed by some of the shocking information and decided simply to post...
Cancer ‘Fighting’ foods you can grow at home this Summer
There are many differing lists of foods that suggest what to eat to help “fight” cancers. Here are some of my “grow your own at home” check list. These vegetables, such as tomatoes and garlic, have been grown for many years in our home gardens, successfully without chemicals. Other favourites listed are simply “good for...
Healthy Fruits & Vegetables to Grow at Home
The Environmental Working Group (EWG) releases the "Dirty Dozen" list annually, identifying the 12 fruits and vegetables with the highest pesticide residue levels. Here is this year's annual "Dirty Dozen" list of 12 fruits and vegetables with the highest pesticide residual levels In addition to strawberries, and in descending order, this year's Dirty Dozen list...
OUR CHILDREN & THE CANCER CONNECTION
Cancer, unfortunately, is a very common disease these days with all of us having family or friends, including children and grandchildren, becoming ill or dying from this disease. What is happening around the world today? By chance recently I have come across two videos which I am simply referencing so that the choice to watch...
Windows - a Cause of Bird Mortality
It is surprising that home windows can be a major cause of wild bird mortality. Recently while staying in a home backing onto a large greenbelt with a creek the area was highly populated with native birds from woodpeckers and hummingbirds to sparrows and robins. A pair of robins had made a nest under the...
HOW TO GROW A SUPER FOOD BLUEBERRY BUSH - UPDATE
It's been over a decade since writing the original Caramel and Parsley blueberry article. This past week after watching a video on the every day health benefits of blueberries" decided an update was long overdue. The video is in a link below from Drs John Campbell & Suneel Dhand (March, 2025). A great bush to...
Crocus - A First Sign of Spring
Walking through the flower and veggie garden just after our February snow melted, I discovered a large container of purple crocus in the garden in bloom. Definitely a "first sign" of Spring which put a happy smile on my face. Since then nine other small groups of crocus have pushed through their winter mulch and...
Fabulous Ballarat Botanical Gardens in Victoria, Australia
This destination is simply a most lovely all time favourite place to visit, more than once, and hope you enjoy the photos. It is a very large area and a great place for both visitors and locals to visit and spend time. The large grounds contain a wide variety of flower gardens, exotic trees and...
Swim for your Life - Update
Swimming has always been a happy and large part of my life since I was a child. Quote from my "Swim for your Life" introduction 2015. "I am so fortunate to have grown up in Australia with one of the longest coast lines in the world. Swimming lessons for school age children were considered mandatory and we learned to...
Quick & Easy Meals
Yes, you can make quick & easy meals that are wholesome and nutritious in a short time. Sometimes at the end of a long and tiring day the last thing, perhaps many of us don't wish to make a meal, even if it is only for yourself. But it is important to eat healthy, nutritious...
Starting a New Spring Veggie Garden?
There’s lots of snow on the ground and temperatures are below zero … and I am thinking about starting our veggie garden already (beginning February)! And Yes I have been to our favourite greenhouse nursery and am repotting and growing herbs inside for our Spring garden / greenhouse. Spring by the way starts March 20,...
Probiotic Foods to Eat for Better Gut Health
What are probiotics? The US National Institute of Health define probiotics as “live microorganisms that, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host”. These microorganisms, which consist mainly of bacteria but also include yeasts, are naturally present in fermented foods ..." Here are a few of our family favourites of 'natural...
The Lord Nolan Principles of Public Life
With possible elections and changes in global governments in the New Year 2025 these principles are of interest. According to the United Kingdom Government, the following standards have been accepted as "the Committee on Standards in Public Life" and applied to anyone who works as a public office-holder, elected or appointed to public office, police,...
Movies to Watch & Books to Read
This is simply a "fun article" as the nights darken earlier and more time is spent perhaps watching a movie or reading a book. This is a personal note based on "genre" taste and we are all different. For example I am interested in "mystery" stories and films but not so much "horror" or "war"....
Canning Red Rhubarb - Quick & Simple
In past years our abundant red rhubarb plants have been used fresh, given away or the stalks cut into 1" pieces and simply frozen. This year I decided to try pressure canning a few small jars and use them in recipes during the coming months, like a blueberry rhubarb pie! Our rhubarb though growing in...
Three "Super Simple" Soups for Fall
Here are three popular "Super Simple" and highly nutritious soups for our Fall from Caramel and Parsley. What can be more comforting than coming home to a healthy dinner of soup, with a salad or an omelette and / or your favourite dinner. Check out these 'comfort food' recipes for a healthy, enjoyable meal. “Soup...
SIGGI's Simply Delicious Yoghurt
... Is it yoghurt? ... Is it healthy?... and the next question you may ask is what is skyr? And what's in it? Here we go with a little information about "Siggi's yoghurt" ... What's it All About For those of you who have visited my website before you may be aware that I have...
Fall Fun In the Veggie Patch
Happy Fall everyone! What's happening in your garden "Veggie Patch"? This past week the weather has changed with much needed rain and colder night temperatures. Always a great time of the year to spend an hour or two in one of our favourite places - the vegetable / flower gardens . This is simply a...
"The Cancer Code" by Dr Jason Fung
"The Cancer Code" is a book written by Dr Jason Fung and published in 2020. If, like me, you are a cancer survivor, I highly recommend this book which I have found invaluable. Quote: "Cancer is the last great medical mystery... in The Cancer Code, Dr Jason Fung sheds light on the strange and fascinating...
REPLACING A VEGETABLE GARDEN RETAINING WALL
Vegetable Garden Retaining Walls are a hot topic in our home these days as we need to replace a part of the rotting wood walls in our steep veggie garden. Thanks to Theresa for writing and asking me about this subject and what to use. I am not an expert, but have my preferences. Here...
The Garlic & Cancer Connection
Are there health benefits to eating daily fresh garlic and cancer? This is a short article on the garlic and cancer 'connection' in my life over the past 12 + years. As always if you have any questions check with your own medical healthcare professionals ... some interesting information - Enjoy Did You Know this...
Let's Go Camping BC
Why not go camping in beautiful British Columbia this summer. We just returned from a camping trip away for a week - a most restful and fun break. There are so many glorious places to visit and many ways and means of travelling. This article concentrates on provincial and other parks scattered throughout BC. If...
Type Two Diabetes Update
Recently it has come to my attention, of the higher interest in all things "diabetes related" on my @CaramelParsley social media posts. As a result of this current upsurge I am writing this short article on statistics and links which hopefully will be of interest to those who would like to know more about diabetes,...
Three Foods with Great Health Benefits
Here are three delicious and versatile foods with great health benefits. You can eat these with a clear conscience knowing they are good for you and your family. The three healthy vegetables are all members of the Brassica vegetable family. Each food included in this article has nutrition Search Results from the USA FDA (not...
Things I Have Learnt from Having Two Primary Cancers
Many people have cancer these days but having two separate primary cancers not so much. As outlined in Caramel and Parsley's About the first experience was breast cancer in 2008 with another primary cancer in a lung in 2012. After Breast Cancer surgery, during treatment, I met a wonderful surgeon, and she told me so...
Honey Bees all over the Blossoms
Checking for honey bees every day the blossoms are out but not many bees around the past week so did a little hand pollinating. Our fruit trees are all in full bloom after two warm days of lovely sunshine. Another sunny day today and checked the blossoms. I heard the bees buzzing before I arrived...
New Vegetable Gardening Ideas for your home
New vegetable gardening ideas are not always by choice. For example this year the raccoons searching for chaffer beetles to eat have turned many lawns in particular, literally upside down. On regular walks, now Spring is in the air, many home owners are assessing the damage and looking for options. Feel free to let me...
Four Easy Flowers to Grow for Birds, Bees & You
Here are four really easy to grow plants for flowers to share with hummingbirds, bees and yourself. It is a challenge in early to mid spring each year for the local Anna's Hummingbirds to find feed. We have been maintaining a hummingbird feeder for the Anna's each winter and have had a family (families) each...
Spring Cleaning - It's that Time Again
Spring arrives this week so that means its time for Spring Cleaning in the gardens. It has been very cold, with snow flurries, but starting to warm up a little this week (early March). So still time to plan this year's vegetable and flower gardens and start seeds inside. As always, there are lots of...
Four Fruits & 2 Veggies to Grow Organically
These 4 fruits & 2 vegetables I recommend growing organically as they are included on a list called the 'Dirty Dozen'. Each year EWG updates and publishes two lists one of which is called the Dirty Dozen and lists the top fruits and veggies with the most "pesticide chemical residual". The other list is the...
Grow Grapes at Home
Yes you can grow grapes in your own home garden. Our propagated Purple Grape is perhaps very "old". It was found growing in an area which for many decades was an orchard. Overall, our cuttings have grown well and been very fruitful over the past 3 or 4 years since planting and the taste is...
"Leftovers" a Soup Recipe
Leftovers can make a nutritious Soup, which is always a big 'winter winner" meal for us. But sometimes its also more of a "what have you in the cupboard" soup. You will be surprised what a healthy, delicious meal you can make this way. Recently we had a heavy snowfall (12 inches) on our weekly...
Eyesight is so precious - preventing blindness
If you have had any eyesight concerns you will know how devastating it can be and the ways your life can be changed with deterioration or loss of eyesight. I believe today the connection between diet and health is much overlooked. This article contains links with excellent references for you to follow up with your...
The Spectacular Great Ocean Road
The Great Ocean Road is so "spectacular". I know I have written about this amazing world tourist destination quite a while ago (2013) but this year we introduced our grandchildren (and grown children) to this incredible ocean tour in Victoria, Australia. It's been more than five years since visiting my homeland and it truly was...
Never Enough Mulch for the Garden
It is so true that there is never enough mulch, especially for the veggie gardens at our home. Mulching is just one of “those things” to do automatically when gardening. For example; when transplanting outside in the Spring I always add mature compost as a mulch to plants such as tomatoes and kale. Even with...