About Virginia Wright

VIRGINIA WRIGHT (born Virginia Brown) is an American multi-genre best-selling author, award-winning illustrator, and nature photographer born and raised in Maine. As an artist, the cover Wright designed for Steampunk Alice by Dennis Higgins won the AUTHORSdb Gold Award (2014). She won the AUTHORSdb Silver Award (2016) from Timothy the Christmas Mouse Coloring Book. Crying Bear ranked #1 Amazon Best Seller in Children's Bear Books (2016). Buzzzzzzzz What Honeybees Do, ranked #1 Amazon Best Seller in three categories (2016). Buzzzzzzzz What Honeybees Do is the AUTHORSdb Cover Contest Bronze Award winner (2018), in the Education category. Ayuh, Another Downeast Cookbook ranked #2 Hot New Release Best-Selling in New England Cooking, Food & Wine (2018). As a multi-genre writer, Virginia's WIP is currently a romance novella. Besides writing, in her pastime, when she isn't spending time with her husband, Virginia is a foodie and restaurant reviewer. She enjoys sifting through old recipes and photographing everything she cooks and eats. She is also a nature photographer and a mixed media artist; she gets her ideas for her illustrations through inspiration that she gathers from the nature that surrounds her, which is ever-present in her designs.

What Foods Help With Indigestion?

Posted on January 21, 2014 by Virginia Wright

Does heartburn, gas, bloating, and burping keep you awake at night? Do you know what foods help with indigestion?

For me, homeopathic remedies make me a believer in natural treatments. I would prefer to grab a fruit or vegetable rather than a synthetic manufactured concoction with various side effects.

There is good news for all of us! Do you remember your mother ever saying eat your apple as, “An apple a day keeps the doctor away?” Well mother knew what she was talking about–research shows that apples can be used to treat symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), as apples help with indigestion. Curbing the painful acid back up into the esophagus from happening, will help the esophagus heal no matter what natural helpful food remedy you choose.

Organic sweet apples—eat an apple, and let the indigestion disappear.

Apple cider vinegar is another such known remedy for digestion troubles. However, for me, if my stomach were not feeling good already, why would I want to subject myself to apple cider vinegar when I could grab a sweet apple and enjoy it? Nonetheless, both options are natural remedies that are help for indigestion. As is applesauce—an easy to eat natural help for indigestion. Applesauce is also one of my favorite natural indigestion help remedies when my stomach just does not seem to be digesting properly.

Banana is another known non-acidic food that will help with indigestion. Simply slice and eat. I hope that before you know it, that the indigestion will be wiped away with this mellow yellow fruit, packed full of potassium.

Quick and Easy Banana Ice Cream Recipe

Peppermint is another good belly soother and alleviates digestive discomfort. When my stomach is not up to par, I like to steep myself a cup of Organic Peppermint Tea for 10-15 min., especially after a heavy meal. If the aromatic scent is not soothing enough, the peppermint will relax digestive discomfort and bring your acid indigestion back in check.

Cup of Peppermint Tea
© 2014 Virginia Wright

List of foods that help indigestion:

Apples
Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple Sauce
Bananas
Peppermint Tea

What is acid reflux?

Acid reflux is a condition that causes the stomach acid to back up into the esophagus.

Dr. Jamie Kaufman, author of the book Dropping Acid: The Reflux Diet Cookbook & Cure, has found that working with a person’s diet to eliminate acidic fruits (all citrus fruits that have a small amount of Vitamin C are acidic), sodas, canned and bottled foods received acid reflux relief.

Low Acid Foods

Apples

Watermelon

Apricots

Raisins
Source(s):

Apple cider vinegar and reflux study: http://www.sophisticatededge.com/apple-cider-vinegar-and-reflux-studies.html#ixzz2r4KycxX3

Cure acid reflux: http://www.livestrong.com/article/30092-cure-acid-reflux-apples/

http://www.acidalkalinediet.com/alkaline-foods/acidic-fruits-and-the-fruits-low-in-acid#.Ut7ksxAo7Dc

http://www.ehow.com/way_5316450_applesauce-cure-acid-reflux.html

Warning: This information is strictly for entertainment purposes only. The author is not a physician. Do not substitute this article “What Foods Help With Indigestion” for visiting your primary care physician when feeling sick. It is always best to seek the advice of your doctor when in doubt.

“Is there really soy in my canned ‘Tuna in Water’?”

Posted on January 18, 2014 by Virginia Wright

By Virginia Wright

Tuna Salad

Since as long as I can remember, I have eaten canned tuna fish. One of my favorite lunches has always been a toasted tuna sandwich. Yup! I have eaten tuna most my life…tuna sandwiches, creamed tuna, tuna patties, tuna salad, tuna noodle casserole–and tuna with a fork right out of the can. And it is safe to say, that I have eaten just about everything tuna.

However, today was a staunch reminder how extremely important it is to read product labels–to avoid eating GMOs. That is right, clearly listed along with (tuna and water) are the words, “Contains Soy!” Since this is not Certified Organic Soy, we have no way of knowing whether this is genetically modified soy and/or sprayed, dusted, or treated with systemic chemicals.

More information on soy:

What are GMOs?

GMOs, or “genetically modified organisms,” are plants or animals whose genetic material has been altered through genetic engineering techniques, thereby modifying the original genetics of the material.

What are GMOs?

If to buy, or not to buy, (light or dark) tuna was not enough of a worry due to mercury contamination–now, additives to tuna packed in water is yet another concern. I am not saying soy is necessarily bad, in fact, for years soy has been touted as a healthy product. Rather, I am saying–that I personally, do not want soy that is not organic in my foods. As I do not want soy that may have been treated with systemic chemicals in (anything).

Read nutrition labels carefully!

With a little research, I found a couple of canned tuna brands to buy with only (tuna and water) as ingredients.

Both brands can be found for sale in bulk on Amazon.com.

*Please note, some tuna packed in pouches do contain vegetable broth. Vegetable broth may contain soy (read nutrition labels).

Author Interview with Virginia Wright by Jodi Desautels

Posted on January 13, 2014 by Virginia Wright

Hi Everyone! This is my first post in 2014–And I am extremely excited as I have a couple of writing projects planned for this year. One of them is a “My First Book” series, and the first book in the series is titled: Wild Animal Sounds. This will be age appropriate for toddlers 0-4. This is a book I wrote and illustrated many years ago, and like many of my writings pulled it out and gave it another look and had renewed energy with it. The illustrations I am doing for the book are coming along lovely. I’m very excited to start sharing some of them as I go along, and the cover is almost complete. And there will be more details given as I have them throughout the year about all my writing endeavors.

Today I am honored to have been interviewed by a fellow author/illustrator and educator, Jodi Desautels. Next week I will be giving away my educational, non-fiction book Buzzzzzzzz What Honeybees Do, to one of the commenters on her blog post.

Please visit Jodi’s blog to read the interview she did with me. Don’t forget to comment for your chance of winning my book, Buzzzzzzzz What Honeybees Do.

See you there…

-Virginia

New Year’s resolutions –Do you make them?

Posted on December 30, 2013 by Virginia Wright

Happy New Year! New Year’s Resolutions…I have definitely made new year’s resolutions in the past. Lots of preparation and thought went into the list of things I “would not” do in the new year to come, with lots of things I promised myself I “would” do. Some years the list would be short, sometimes the list would be long. Resolutions never the less.

I’d happily join in with all the discussions about new year’s resolutions on the social media sites proclaiming that I was going to lose weight, eat healthier, write more…sound familiar?

res·o·lu·tion

noun \ˌre-zə-ˈlü-shən\

: the act of finding an answer or solution to a conflict, problem, etc. : the act of resolving something

: an answer or solution to something

: the ability of a device to show an image clearly and with a lot of detail

Do you know the history of New Year’s resolutions?

Click here to read a great article by Gary Ryan Blair.

And…

The best New Year’s resolution “I” ever made was not to make anymore New Year’s resolutions. :-) With that said, on New Year’s Eve–eat, drink, and be safe on the road. If you drink, have a designated driver. Wishing you all a happy, healthy, 2014! See you next year…

(((Hugs)))

-Virginia

Recipe | Dessert | Chocolate Dipped Peanut Butter Pretzel Bites

Posted on December 21, 2013 by Virginia Wright

Authors Cook!

On the recipe section of my blog, The Recipe Weekly, recipes are posted that I have developed, recipes from friends, family, followers and fans, as well as from various genre authors. It is true… authors cook! Speaking of authors cooking…

I caught up with Author Dennis Higgins the other day and I asked him what sort of goodies he fixes at Christmas. Before I talk about a recipe he shared, I want to tell you about his newest book release, Pennies Across The Veil. Pennies From Across the Veil is a love story… about death. Karl Himmel tells the story to an unknown presence, of how he met, fell in love, and married the woman of his dreams, Jenny Engels. But at the time of the telling, Karl and Jenny find themselves on different sides of the veil—the separation we call death.

But not even death can stop true love.

Powerful signs come to those from loved ones who have passed. They can be found any and everywhere, we just need to look for them. The most significant for Karl and Jenny was the finding of numerous wheat-back pennies. However, could there have been many others, and did these signs have a deeper meaning?

Sounds like a great book, can’t wait to read my copy!

Dennis gave me an easy but delicious recipe that I could share: Chocolate Dipped Peanut Butter Pretzel Bites. Please also read the history behind the pretzel that he shared with me.

This author cooks!

*****************************************************************************

Chocolate Dipped-Peanut Butter Pretzel Bites

Did you know the pretzel has a Christian beginning? In the olden days in Germany, the season of Lent was stricter than it is today and the faithful had to give up all forms of oils, eggs and a host of other things. The pretzel was invented to make a treat that didn’t use any of these ingredients. The way they folded it in the traditional pretzel form was supposed to represent arms folded in prayer.

Ingredients:

Pretzel chips or Wheat Thins

Chunky peanut butter

Chocolate bark, melted

Directions:

Take two pretzel chips or Wheat Thins, spread chunky peanut butter between them–dip in melted chocolate. Dennis says you can fancy it up with sprinkles too. Voila! These pretzels are a delicious treat everyone will love!

Dennis noted that if Wheat Thins are used, they must be the reduced fat version. They are crispier.

Dipped Pretzels with Sprinkles

Find Dennis Higgins books on Amazon.

http://www.timepilgrims.com/index.html

Before you go cook… check out my latest release, Timothy the Christmas Mouse and the companion coloring book.

Merry Christmas,

-Virginia Wright

VIRGINIA WRIGHT, Author – Illustrator

The Official Website of Virginia Wright, Author – Illustrator. Designer. Non-fiction Writer. Children's Fiction, Romance & Cookbook Author. Nature Photographer.

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