About the Author

Rita Heikenfeld

Starting with the most important, I'm a wife, mom, grandma, aunt and sister to a very large family. My own family includes husband Frank, 3 grown sons and, to date, 11 grandchildren. We live on a little patch of heaven outside of Batavia, Ohio where we raise produce and herbs, and chickens for eggs. We heat with wood that we gather. Professionally, I've had numerous "careers". I'm an herbalist, educator, media personality, speaker, journalist and author. I've published books on kids & adults nutrition, gifts from the kitchen and garden, and herbs. My website abouteating.com reaches people who share their tips, thoughts, recipes and memories. My philosophy is simple. I have a deep faith and believe in the law of abundance: share your talents, encourage others. I love writing for the Countryside group and it's fun to see so many like-minded folks sharing my vision!
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Articles by Rita Heikenfeld

DIY Deli Faves: Best Tabouleh Recipe, Hummus, and More

Add to Favorites What do hummus, pimiento cheese, chicken liver pate, and the best tabouleh recipe have in common? They’re all customer favorites at delis across America. They are expensive …

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How to Make Rice Pudding for Family and Friends

Add to Favorites Rice pudding. Those two words have a way of evoking pleasant memories of days gone by. I took a bowl of sweet rice pudding to my elderly …

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How to Make Bread Pudding

When I was a child, mom took leftover bread, milk, sugar, eggs, and flavoring and morphed those ingredients into a simple, comforting bread pudding.

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Sheet Pan Roast Chicken Recipes

Add to Favorites Whether it’s an oven fried chicken recipe, an old-fashioned chicken pot pie recipe or a Mediterranean style chicken eggplant recipe, roast chicken recipes are becoming staples in …

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5 Easy Snacks to Make at Home: No Refrigeration Needed

I believe the kitchen is the heart of the home, and making something that tastes good and is good for you will make memories that last.

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How Long Does it Take Tomatoes to Grow?
March 1, 2019 · · Growing

Add to Favorites It’s fun to grow your own tomatoes. There’s pure joy in biting into a sun-ripened tomato that you grew yourself. And therein lies the question how long …

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Use a Hydroponic Grow System for Year-Round Produce
February 25, 2019 · · Growing

Add to Favorites Have you ever grown a sweet potato vine or avocado pit in water? If so, consider yourself a hydroponic gardener! My first experience with a simple hydroponic …

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Stress Relief Techniques: RX From Mother Nature
February 25, 2019 · · Growing

Add to Favorites No doubt about it, stress is a normal part of life. But there’s good news: stress can be managed in the most basic of ways with a …

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10 Ways Drinking Lemon Water Benefits You
February 13, 2019 · · Canning & Kitchen

Each morning I drink a glass of warm lemon water to jump start my day. I learned years ago that drinking lemon water benefits me in so many ways.

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Reap Bay Leaf Benefits in Teas, Oils, Foods
February 13, 2019 · · Self-Reliance

Add to Favorites The first couple of years when I was growing bay leaves I didn’t know much about the many bay leaf benefits. I used the leaves for culinary use …

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Growing Valerian: Taking Root in the Garden
February 13, 2019 · · Growing

Add to Favorites I have been growing valerian (Valeriana officinalis) for years in the medicinal section of my herb garden. Native to Europe and Asia, this calming herb also grows …

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Coriander/Cilantro: Herb and Spice All in One
February 13, 2019 · · Growing

Tips for growing, harvesting, and cooking with coriander seeds and cilantro herb.

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10 Plants That Repel Bugs Naturally
February 13, 2019 · · Growing

Add to Favorites Originally published in Countryside May / June 2017. Subscribe for the full digital issue!  I have learned a lot through the years about plants that repel bugs naturally. …

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A Guide To Growing Basil
February 13, 2019 · · Growing

Add to Favorites I’m willing to bet that if you start an herb garden, growing basil (Ocimum Basilicum) will be high on your garden herbs list and one of the …

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