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Make Your Own Fall Jam

Autumn is here and brings the leaves on the trees to shine in the brightest colors. Many autumn fruits and vegetables are also ready for harvest and appear colorful on trees, bushes, and in the fields. In order to be able to enjoy the delicious yield for a long time, canning is particularly suitable. That’s why here’s the latest do-it-yourself: make your own autumn jam!

Canning fruits and vegetables are super complicated and take forever? No way: Exactly the opposite is the case! Making fall jam yourself doesn’t take much longer than an hour and the effort is richly rewarded. The aromatic and colorful contents of the preserving jars drive away from the winter blues and sweeten the day. And best of all: Everyone can cook and enjoy their very own favorite autumn jam!

Sea Buckthorn Jam

The ingredients

For eight glasses of 250 ml each

  • 1 kg sea buckthorn berries
  • 100 ml orange juice
  • 500 g preserving sugar 2:1

The preparation

  1. Wash the sea buckthorn berries and cover with a little water in a pot and bring to a boil until the berries burst.
  2. Now pass through a sieve and weigh out the fruit pulp. Bring the preserving sugar and the orange juice to a boil in a saucepan and simmer for about four minutes.
  3. Now carry out the gelling test and fill it into the jam jars. Seal airtight and turn the lid upside down and leave to cool.

Pumpkin Lemon Jam

The ingredients

For eight glasses of 250 ml each

  • 1.2 kg Hokkaido pumpkin pulp
  • 1 kg preserving sugar 2:1
  • 3 unwaxed lemons
  • 600 ml orange juice
  • ginger to taste
  • 2 tsp vanilla sugar

The preparation

  1. Cut the flesh into small cubes, mix with the preserving sugar in a large saucepan and leave to stand for about 1 hour.
  2. Meanwhile, grate the zest from two lemons and squeeze the juice. Cut the third lemon into thin slices.
  3. Rinse the jars with hot water and drain them on a tea towel.
  4. Bring the pumpkin cubes to a boil with the lemon zest, juice, slices, and orange juice. Cook the mixture until the squash is soft and has set.
  5. Fill the jam into the screw-top jars, seal immediately and place on top of the cap. Do this until all the jam is filled. After about 5 minutes, the glasses can be turned upside down again.

Pear and ginger jam with cinnamon

The ingredients

For eight glasses of 250 ml each

  • 1.2 kg of pears
  • 4 tbsp lemon juice
  • 40 g ginger root
  • 1 kg preserving sugar 2:1
  • 2 sticks of cinnamon

The preparation

  1. Peel the pears, quarter, core, cut into small pieces and mix with the lemon juice. Then coarsely puree everything with a hand blender. Peel the ginger, cut it into small cubes and add it to the pear sauce.
  2. Weigh the pear puree and add the appropriate amount of preserving sugar and cinnamon sticks. Bring everything to a boil while stirring and let it simmer for about four minutes. Fish out the cinnamon sticks and fill the hot jam into the glasses.
  3. Immediately close the jars carefully, place them on the lids and leave to cool for about 15 minutes, then turn upside down and leave to cool.
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Lifestyle

Love: This is How Our Body Decides who We Fall in Love With

The body decides who I fall in love with, not the heart. Love is born in the mind. Biology knows which criteria are decisive for falling in love.

This is what happens in our body when we fall in love

What is love? A poet will give a different answer to this question than a biologist. The sober answer from a scientific point of view can take away the romantic illusions of a magical love for many newly in love: Love is a feeling with a biochemical basis and a neurobiological pattern that simplify or even enable the start of a relationship. Above all, love serves a higher mating success. An increased heartbeat, moist skin and hands, cheeks with good blood flow – anyone who has ever been in love knows these symptoms only too well. But what exactly triggers the infatuation signs in our body?

Even if the heart can pound at the sight of the swarm, infatuation does not develop in the heart, but in the brain. There, the lymbic reward system is particularly active during this time, while the prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for rational thinking, is particularly inactive. The body releases a lot of dopamine. Some people in love have higher serotonin levels. Both are happiness hormones that make the world look a lot nicer. Testosterone levels in women go up and men go down. Decisions are now made via different neural pathways than before.

It is not always possible to prove exactly why the individual values ​​are falling or rising. But one thing is clear: something is happening in the body! In their thinking, people in love are even similar to people with OCD. However, this only applies to the first phase. After about a year, the intoxication wears off, and bonding and security hormones such as oxytocin and vasopressin replace dopamine. Researchers speak of the so-called Coolidge effect. However, if the two partners are compatible, the exciting infatuation turns into love.

Who do we fall in love with?

We know countless people, with some we are friends, with others we can imagine more. What actually determines who we fall in love with? The first thought that probably comes to many people’s minds is a mixture of looks, character and interests. In fact, various scientific studies have shown that appearance is the first criterion when choosing a partner, especially for men. But that is not how it remains.

If you ask psychologists, the choice is mainly about similarities. Here, for example, age plays a role, but also a similar level of education and a common social milieu. On average, men are two to three years older than women in relationships. A similar milieu creates opportunities for encounters, many people get to know each other at work and at school. Common interests and similar characteristics evoke sympathy in people. But biology thinks differently: it is precisely differences that attract.

The more different two people’s genes are, the more attractive they find each other. This has one purpose above all: to protect the offspring from diseases. In general, from an evolutionary biological point of view, choosing a partner is about sexual reproduction. The genetic material should be combined in such a way that it results in the best conditions for potential children. This is where a surprising fact comes into play: smell is key. Everyone has an individual scent that we subconsciously perceive. This scent signals to the other person whether it is a potential reproductive partner or not.

Partners are like your own parents – is that true?

A mixture of appearance, character and interests – so it’s not quite that simple after all. But while smell is an essential factor in who we fall in love with, looks play a different role. 80 percent choose partners who look a bit like their parents. Is it true that we fall in love with people who resemble our parents?

There’s something to it. At least that’s what the results of a Hungarian study say. For the study, the researchers measured face sections of several people per family. When comparing the measurements, it became apparent that daughters tend to favor men whose central facial area resembles that of their father. For sons, the lower part of the mother’s face was significant. In total, the faces of 312 people were measured.

The researchers attribute this fact to the socialization process of the children. And in principle, familiar faces are more sympathetic to people than strangers. Couple therapists know that resemblance isn’t just limited to looks. The same often applies to character traits and behavioral characteristics. In addition, the actual influence of this factor also depends on how good or bad the parent-child relationship is.

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health

9 Natural Home Remedies to Fall Asleep Better

Natural home remedies for sleeping better will help you fall asleep better. So you no longer have to spend the nights sleepless in bed. We show you the best home remedies for better sleep, which you can do without numerous remedies from the pharmacy.

Improve the quality of sleep with natural means and finally sleep through the night again. This makes the days worth living again because every morning can now start well-rested and fit. Many people have trouble falling asleep at night. Grandma’s old home remedies can be a simple, quick, and effective solution to help you fall asleep more easily.

1) Hot milk to fall asleep

Even the grandmother knew the sleep-promoting effect of milk with honey. In fact, the substance tryptophan and the sugar contained in the healing miracle cure honey lead to the formation of the substances serotonin and melatonin in the brain. As a messenger substance, serotonin plays a role in human sleep-wake regulation. And melatonin has been shown to promote sleep. Hot milk with honey can help you fall asleep faster after bedtime. However, it does not help with chronic insomnia. However, it is an effective home remedy for coughs.

2) Warm cocoa

The health benefits of cocoa are impressive. Since cocoa contains the substance phenylethylamine, it can help you fall asleep. This increases the production of happy hormones. And too many happy hormones make you tired after a short time. This will make you want to sleep quickly. So you should have a hot chocolate drink 30 minutes before bed to help you fall asleep.

3) Golden milk as a sleep aid

In addition to our traditional drinks such as warm milk and cocoa, there is golden milk – a traditional drink from India. This is said to have a very positive effect on human health and to be helpful as a remedy for sleep problems. So if you want to try something new, try our recipe for making golden milk yourself and it will make it easier for you to fall asleep.

4) Valerian to fall asleep

You can also buy valerian in the form of drops or dragees. This natural sedative has been known for generations and still ensures the best night’s sleep today. To do this, take a few drops 10 minutes before going to bed. Valerian then provides the desired tiredness and rest. This makes your sleep more relaxed and restful. Also, see our article on relieving symptoms of anxiety and stress. This can also improve your sleep.

5) St. John’s Wort for better sleep

As you have already learned, many herbs can have a calming and relaxing effect on your sleep. St. John’s wort can also help you sleep better. For this, you can take St. John’s wort in the form of tea or dragees. And thus promote a good night’s sleep in a natural way. It is also a good home remedy for avoiding annoying winter depression. So worth a try every time.

6) A warm bath in the evening

A nice home remedy to fall asleep is a warm full bath before going to bed. When sleep just won’t come, a warm bath can often work wonders. If you use the power of herbs as a bath additive and use mixtures with a calming effect, you can look forward to relaxed sleep afterward. Essential oils such as chamomile, St. John’s wort, or the beneficial power of the medicinal plant lavender are suitable for this.

7) Scented sachets and beautiful scents

Likewise, you can not only please your nose with beautiful scents, but you can also promote your night’s rest with delicate scents and improve your sleep. To do this, fill a sachet with aniseed, thyme, mint, lavender, lemon balm, and chamomile, and place the sachet next to your pillow. Then it will be easier for you to fall asleep. Or get a scent lamp with ylang-ylang or lavender to improve your sleep. But a nice rose oil can also bring you relaxation with its wonderful scent before you go to sleep. So your sleep will be relaxed and deep again. Also, note ideas for making room fragrances yourself.

8) Compensate for magnesium deficiency

If you are tired and sleepy in the evening but cannot fall asleep, then there may be a lack of magnesium in the body. Therefore, you should integrate magnesium into your diet or as a dietary supplement. Thus, the body is made fit again. And consequently, healthy sleep is no longer a long time coming. Also, read our 5 tips for a good and healthy sleep.

9) Warm feet help you fall asleep

Cold feet make it difficult to fall asleep. Thus, cold feet can be a reason for poor sleep in the evening. If you suffer from insomnia and cold feet, you should try whether you can sleep better with warm feet. There is a theory about this problem that says that cold feet signal to the body that frostbite is imminent and that the body is, therefore, unable to rest. That’s why you should put your feet in ice-cold water for a few minutes before going to bed. This promotes blood circulation and your feet get warm. Of course, you can also use a hot water bottle, a grain pillow, or wool socks to warm your feet. Of course, it’s best if you have a two-legged hot water bottle to warm up your feet with. This is also a good tip for avoiding a cold and strengthening your immune system.

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Food

4 Edible Wild Plants to Collect in The Fall

Many wild plants bear fruit in autumn and thus provide us with nutrient-rich food for free. We introduce you to four interesting wild plants and show you how you can use them in the kitchen.

If you go for a walk regularly in autumn, you can also keep an eye out for edible wild plants and thus obtain food directly from nature. You can easily recognize many plants by their colorful fruits.

Wild plants in autumn: the mountain ash

You can recognize the mountain ash, also known as the rowan berry, by its small, spherical and red-colored fruits. These usually grow in small bundles on the branch. You can harvest them between August and October. However, only the fruits of the sweet rowan varieties are edible. Other varieties contain too many bitter substances, which makes the small berries inedible.

You can recognize the Moravian (or edible) mountain ash, for example, by the multi-pinnate leaves, which are darker and larger than the leaves of other varieties. The rowan berries of this rowan species are also significantly larger with a diameter of about 13 millimeters.

Thorny, but with sweet fruits: the hawthorn

Another wild plant that bears fruit in the fall is the hawthorn. It belongs to the rose family and grows as a small tree or large shrub. It reaches a height of about 500 to 700 centimeters. Its long sharp thorns are particularly characteristic. In spring you can also recognize it by the magnificent white flowers, which look beautiful but smell unpleasant.

The fruits are ripe in August and September. They have a diameter of about one centimeter, are uniform and dark red in color. You should only harvest the fruits after the first frost, when they are really sweet and tasty.

Well-known wild plant in autumn: the rosehip

One of the best-known types of fruit that grows on wild plants in autumn is the rosehip. Rose hips are the fruit of different types of roses. They come from the blossoms of the rose. Particularly common types of roses that form the aromatic fruits are, for example, the dog, mountain or wine rose.

You can harvest the rosehips themselves in October and November. They are rarely available from September. In addition to the characteristic and mostly pleasantly scented rose blossoms, you can recognize the rose hips themselves by their spherical or oval shape. The fruits are usually red, orange or yellow in colour. However, some varieties also have a greenish to brownish tinge.

It hurts, but it’s healthy: the stinging nettle

You can use all parts of the nettle plant as a spice or medicinal herb. Leaves and roots are available all year round and contain, among other things, significant amounts of vitamins A, C and K as well as calcium, iron, magnesium and high-quality vegetable protein.

In autumn, the wild plant provides us with its seeds in particular. You can recognize stinging nettles by their oval-shaped leaves, which end in a point at the front and are deeply notched at the edges. The burning pain that emanates from the leaves is also particularly characteristic. You should therefore be careful when harvesting.

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