• 1/2 cup chicken broth
  
• 1 once dried porcini or other dried wild mushrooms
  
• 1/4 cup dry Madeira, dry sherry, or chicken broth
  
• 1/2 cup butter
  
• 1/4 cup chopped onion
  
• 1 pound fresh button mushrooms, sliced (about 6 cups)
  
• 4 onces shitake mushrooms, stems removed and discarded, and sliced (about 1 1/2 cups)
  
• 2/3 cup of all-purpose flour
  
• 8 cups chicken broth
  
• 1/2 teaspoon cracked black pepper
  
• 1 1/2 cups buttermilk
  

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1. Bring the 1/2 cup broth to a boiling in a small saucepan, add dried mushrooms and wine to boiling broth. Remove from heat. Let stand, covered, 20 minutes. Drain and discard excess liquid. Coarsely chop the mushrooms and set aside.
   
2. Melt butter in a 4-quart Dutch Oven over medium heat. Add onion; cook and stir for 2 to 3 minutes or until tender. Stir in fresh and dried mushrooms; cook 3 to 4 minutes more until mushrooms are tender and most of the liquid has evaporated. Stir in the flour.
   
3. Add the 8 cups broth and the pepper. Bring to boiling; reduce heat. Simmer, uncovered, 30 minutes more stirring occasionally. Stir in the buttermilk and heat through, but noot to a boil. If desired, garnish individual servings with green onion tops.
   

Labels: mushroom soup, winter recipes

bellow you will find a couple of easy recipes for lip balm

Lip balms are very easy to make, basically we follow the same method as we do for making salves. The only problem with lip balm is no matter how hard you try... you still seem to end up with too many.

Though it is tempting, do not increase the amount of honey in the following recipe. If you do, you will end up with a great tasting product, but your lips will be very sticky.

Basic Lip Balm

• 1 cup almond oil
  
• 1/4 cup beeswax
  
• 1 tsp of honey
  

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Slowly heat the above ingredients together, stirring gently. After the ingredients are mixed well, remove from heat and add flavoring such as a few drops of essential oils (spearmint, peppermint, etc.) or a small amount of vanilla extract. Once mixed, then pour the mixture into small containers.

This recipe will make lots of lip balm, so either cut it down or be ready to share with friends.

Remember this is a basic recipe, you can modify it as you desire. You may add different oils such as coconut or for thicker balm use 1/4 caster oil mixed with 3/4 cup almond oil.

Chocolate Lip Gloss

• 1 1/2 teaspoons grated cocoa butter
  
• 1/2 teaspoon coconut oil
  
• 1/8 teaspoon vitamin E oil
  
• 1/4 teaspoon grated chocolate or 3 small chocolate chips
  

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Heat oils gently until melted, then stir in chocolate and keep stirring until melted and well blended. Pour in small containers and allow to cool completely before using.

Labels: health beauty, lip balm, winter recipes