Deborah Dolen's Blog

Monday, May 27, 2013

Deborah Dolen Creative Images

Photography is fun and here are some collage style photographs I think are so very cool. Images copyright and owned by Deborah Dolen. Here are some of my favorite things collaged into one photo.

A Florida sunset taken off Anna Maria Island, and if you notice a honey bee on my hand as well as a bird in the other hand. Visit me on Deborah Dolen or Deborah Dolen on Pinterest.

Friday, September 28, 2012

Cucumber Yogurt Sauce Tzatziki Recipe by Deborah Dolen

Cucumber Yogurt Sauce Tzatziki by Deborah Dolen

16 ounces plain yogurt (I use lowfat)

1 medium cucumber, peeled, seeded, and minced (I do not peel all of mine to have some pretty green coloration)

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons vinegar

6 fresh mint leaves, finely chopped [Optional becaue few people have this handy]

Process all of the above in a food processor and chill to serve later with any Greek style dish. I bump mine so it leaves chunks of green cucumber in there which adds to the texture and color. RELATED RECIPES: Best Beef Jerky Marinade Ever Beef Jerky Recipe Book on Kindle Beef Jerky Recipe Book on Nook Deborah Dolen on Pinterest Gyro Ground Meat Recipe

Deborah Dolen is a Bestselling author on

Amazon and Barnes and Noble. Her books are primarily DIY related. Most of Deborah's recipes are "pinned" on Pinterest so if you want to read more unique recipes check out her board Deborah Dolen Recipes. Follow Deborah Dolen on Twitter or her Facebook fan page. Many people tell Deborah they wrote a book or want to break into writing and ask for advise. Based on the sheer amount of interest, Deborah Dolen wrote a great 3 series article titled "How to Market Your Book or Product" which comes up number one in a Google search out of millions of people competing for those words! This also demonstrates she not only knows how to market a book, she knows how you can be number one!

Best Gyro Meat Recipe by Bestselling Author Deborah Dolen

Best Gyro Meat Recipe by Bestselling Author Deborah Dolen

Gyros are great and even better with fresh sun ripened mushy tomatoes and sweet Vidalia onions as well as sliced cucumbers or lettuce. The cucumber yogurt dressing (known as Tzatziki sauce) [recipe link below] and grilled pita bread make it all happen. Many people get stuck on where to get Gyro Meat? Well, if you can find it - you can safely assume it is over priced. 33% ground lamb and the rest lean ground beef with garlic and other spices mixed in - and you have home made Gyro meat! You can mix this up, roll it flat and freeze it to almost frozen if you want to cut strips. Few recipes I have seen mention lemon and if you have ever had a gyro served to you - you can see them often spritz the gyro loaf on the rotisserie with lemon. That breaks up the fat a little and definitely compliments the flavor. This is an excerpt of my bestselling Beef Jerky recipe book. The eBook also has a recipe for making jerky Greek style in a dehydrator which is not a ground type recipe as this one is.

The simple Cucumber Yogurt Sauce Recipe is here:
http://deborahdolen.blogspot.com/2012/09/cucumber-yogurt-sauce-tzatziki-by.html

To make this you can also use a jerky gun if you happen to have one. A jerky gun looks like a cake decorating tool. You can quadriple this recipe and baste it on a rotisserie or just make it jerky style in a dehydrator. Mine gets made with the oven method. I make extra and freeze it for future entertaining.

Makes 1 to 2 pounds depending on cooking method

2 pounds lean ground meat

1 pound lean ground lamb

Combine the meat and knead these spices into it:

4 tablespoons Lemon Juice [This goes on at the end to baste]

1-2 tablespoons garlic powder

1 tablespoon thyme powder

1 tablespoon paprika

1 tablespoon onion powder

1 tablespoon salt

1/2 tablespoon oregano powder

1/2 tablespoon marjoram

1/2 tablespoon cumin powder

1/2 tablespoon black pepper

Mix all desired ingredients and press through a jerky making utensil such as “Jerky Works." The Jerky should be dried at 155 degrees and may take anywhere from 8-15 hours to dry. Absorb any excess fat on paper towels. This recipe does not store for long periods of time as non-ground beef recipes that can last for several months. If you do not have a jerky gun, you can also use the freeze and cut method used in the "Hamburger Jerky" recipe in this book.

Baste your Gyro meat with the lemon in the last hour of dehydration.

This is wonderful served with toasted pita and fresh sliced sweet onions, tomatoes, lettuce and Tzatziki sauce also known as Cucumber - Yogurt sauce. The simple recipe is in this book.

Oven method at 140 degrees could be 12 hours, but I am not really out to dry it so much, so 4 hours is fine for me.

Deborah Dolen is a Bestselling author on

Monday, September 5, 2011

Aromatherapy Chapter I by Deborah Dolen

Aromatherapy Chapter I

INTRODUCTION TO AROMATHERAPY by Deborah Dolen

Intro to Aromatherapy– The term 'aromatherapy' was first used in the 1920's by the French chemist René Maurice Gattefossé who accidentally discovered in laboratory that lavender oil relieves pain and assists in healing of superficial burns. Please full excerpt of Aromatherapy Basics by Deborah Dolen at Apothecary University.

Aromatherapy Chapter II by Deborah Dolen

AROMATHERAPY - Chapter II What is Aromatherapy?

Excerpt How to Make Perfume and Aromatherapy Basics Copyright © Deborah Dolen 2011 This e-book is available in full version on Amazon Kindle and Barnes and Noble Nook. by Deborah Dolen pen name Mabel White.

The word “Aromatherapy” is a compound Greek word made up by the words fragrance (aroma) and treatment (therapy).

Please full excerpt of Aromatherapy Basics by Deborah Dolen at Apothecary University.

Excerpt How to Make Perfume and Aromatherapy Basics Copyright © Deborah Dolen 2011 This e-book is available in full version on Amazon Kindle and Barnes and Noble Nook. by Deborah Dolen Mabel White. Follow Deborah Dolen on Twitter!

Saturday, September 3, 2011

Aromatherapy Chapter III by Deborah Dolen

AROMATHERAPY - Chapter III by Deborah Dolen
History of Aromatherapy

Deborah Dolen Aromatherapist Botantist

Excerpt How to Make Perfume and Aromatherapy Basics Copyright © Deborah Dolen 2011 This e-book is available in full version on Amazon Kindle and Barnes and Noble Nook. By Deborah Dolen

Please full excerpt of Aromatherapy Basics by Deborah Dolen at Apothecary University.

Friday, September 2, 2011

Aromatherapy Chapter IV by Deborah Dolen Safety Issues

AROMATHERAPY - Chapter IV Safety Issues of Essential Oils by Deborah Dolen

Excerpt How to Make Perfume and Aromatherapy Basics Copyright © Deborah Dolen 2011 This e-book is available in full version on Amazon Kindle and Barnes and Noble Nook. By Deborah Dolen Mabel White

Safety Issues of Essential Oils

The best course of action is always prevention. Meaning, do not allow essential oils in the hands of inexperienced people. Keep your essential oils out of reach of minors. Some smell so good, there have been reports of minors determining it smelled good enough to drink. Orange essential oil would be a good example.

Transference is not hard. For example, you could get a micro amount of Cinnamon on your hands and not realize it until you rub your eye. If you live to talk about it, chances are you will never forget that experience.

Please full excerpt of Aromatherapy Basics by Deborah Dolen at Apothecary University.