Chocolate – the word brings up visions of the waterfall at Willy Wonka’s factory, that commercial where the lady is biting into chocolate like it was her soulmate, a shared moment with a friend.
Chocolate is welcome at any gathering. Heavenly, heavenly chocolate. There are so many choices when it comes to buying chocolate, yes? There is good chocolate and bad chocolate….did I actually say there is bad chocolate? I sure did! Cheap chocolate with fillers and who knows ...
Continue Reading → Share
Who doesn’t love a good truffle, amiright?! Eating a chocolatey herbal truffle while lounging in a tub resplendent with the dreamy scents and fizzy goodness of bath truffles is ecstasy as I see it. Throw in some meditation music and a nice candle and you have the makings of heaven on earth. Guess what, my friends? Bath truffles (the throw-in-your-bathtub kind) are super easy to make and quick to boot!
Here’s all you need ...
Continue Reading → Share
Fiery Fire Cider!
It’s so important to know how and why the plants in the remedies work so well for people. That gives so much more info than “this herb is good for this malady.” It gives structure to the remedy. It helps to show what herbs will work well together and the best menstrua to extract and preserve the constituents. We know they work, but when ...
Continue Reading → Share
It’s harvest time again! That means cool nights, warm sunny days. It means brilliantly colored leaves that float to the ground. Spooky fog that lingers through morning and drifts over the land in the evening. Flannel everything and boots are brought out and shined up for the occasion. Pumpkins are selected and carved. Apples are being pressed. Oh the smells and feels of the season!
The sound of the much heralded “pumpkin spice” ...
Continue Reading → Share
Perceived mistakes can turn out to be some of society’s more beneficial inventions. Take tea bags, for instance. In June of 1908, a tea dealer by the name of Sullivan sent samples of teas to customers in small silk pouches. The customers didn’t understand what to do with the bags, and reputedly dunked them in hot water. Viola! Tea bags were invented! Thank you, Mr. Sullivan. You sure did make brewing tea on the go easier.
Even after making ...
Continue Reading → Share
Who doesn’t love a nice cup of creamy spicy tasting chai on a cold winter day? Our version of chai not only fortifies your senses; it’s super warming, and will strengthen the immune system, calm the nerves, and gets the digestive system ready for hearty winter meals!
Fortify Chai
6 tablespoons roasted dandelion root.
4 tablespoons dried cinnamon chips
2 tablespoons dried ...
I love making quiche from wild greens. When we harvest healthy wild greens from unsprayed areas, the plants are so nourishing to us and our loved ones. It’s another layer of getting the medicine to the people in a way that they will love to eat! Cooking for people is one of my favorite things to do. My man builds houses all ...
Continue Reading → Share
While you can find as many ways to make herbal medicine as there are blogs on the internet, the following is a short plant medicine making tutorial based on my more than 30 years of making herbal remedies.
Herbal remedies. It’s important to know how to make the basics and to have many options to accommodate ...
Continue Reading → Share
Elder is probably the most well-known antiviral herb on the market at present. It can assist in reducing inflammation in the sinuses to relieve congestion, eliminate metabolic waste products, stimulate sweating to remediate fevers, and reduce flu and cold symptoms. Elderberries contain shikimic acid, an intermediary in the production of Tamiflu, an anti-flu pharmaceutical. While commercial production of Tamiflu uses the shikimic acid in Star Anise, elderberries also contain this valuable substance. Cool beans, Elderberry!
The Truth About Elderberries:
While vitamin A, ...
Hawthorn Chutney
4.5 lbs. hawthorn berries
1 qt. apple cider vinegar
22 oz. organic brown sugar
2 tbsp. ground ginger
1 tbsp. ground nutmeg
½ tbsp. ground cloves
½ tbsp. ground allspice
2 tbsp. sea or mineral salt
½ tsp black pepper
A few sprigs of fresh thyme
Instructions
Remove the leaves from the hawthorn sprigs (stems are okay). Put the berries in a 6-qt. pot, add the Cider Vinegar and salt to the ...
Continue Reading → Share