Elderberry Ginger Simple Syrup and Mocktail Recipe
Fruity fizzy drinks are a staple in my household. As much as we love water, there is something extra satisfying about a fizzy beverage— the sound and sensation of carbonation bring a kind of magic and celebration to the very mundane act of imbibing. My partner and I have even taken to adding agave nectar to flavored sparkling water to satisfy both our craving for effervescence and our sweet tooth. This simple method of creating a bare-bones mocktail inspired me to try my hand at crafting an herbal variation to bring a bit more glamour and some seasonal wellness to our fizzy drink routine.
Herbal simple syrups are incredibly easy to make, and once you have some on hand you can use it with the same ease that you would agave or maple syrup. My favorite thing about herbal simple syrups is the vast array of different flavor combinations and actions that can be utilized. It is a decidedly whimsical way of incorporating beloved herbal allies into daily life. For this recipe, I wanted to use herbs that will help support my loved ones and I as we venture into the damp and chilly months ahead. Elderberries and ginger both offer health-supporting qualities for the immune system and are a delicious and warming flavor combination. If chilled drinks during the cooler months aren’t your thing, try adding this syrup to teas, mulled ciders, or toddies!
Salted Earl Grey Caramel Sauce
If there are three things that I love, they are sweets, botanicals, and Star Trek. Did I ever think I would be party to a recipe that would marry those things together? Not really, and to be fair, the Star Trek involvement in this recipe is pretty nonexistent. (However, if any Next Generation fans are reading this, I think you will appreciate the reference.) In all seriousness, we already know that sweets and botanicals go hand in hand, and we are always trying to find creative ways to combine the two. We recently stumbled upon this classic Mountain Rose Herbs caramel sauce recipe and could not resist bringing it back. Earl Grey fans to the front of the class, please! This recipe is for you.
Is there anything that caramel doesn’t make better? Don’t overthink it because the answer is no. The beauty of caramel in a sauce form is its ease of use and “drizzability.” Caramel is a classic choice for any ice cream-related adventure, and also amazing when paired with baked goods, apples, nuts, chocolate, coffee drinks, or even some cocktails. This particular recipe brings in the unique floral flavor of Earl Grey tea to balance and enhance the creamy, sweet, and salty flavors of the caramel. I am not exaggerating when I say it is both easy to make and ridiculously delicious. Enjoy (and live long and prosper)!
Organic Spinach Powder Benefits + Pizza Crust Recipe
Spinach has been providing humans with bountiful nutrition for more than 2,000 years. By the time this cool-season annual reached western Europe in the 11th – 15th centuries, it was already an established crop and widely cultivated in the Middle East and Asia. It has long been considered the “Captain of Leafy Greens,” which is an apt title for this vitamin- and mineral-packed veggie. However, because our bodies cannot metabolize spinach quickly, it can produce gas, bloating, and stomach cramps. This is not to say we shouldn’t eat raw spinach; we absolutely should because it’s loaded with all kinds of other essential nutrients like vitamin C, niacin, potassium, etc. that are more available to our bodies when eaten raw. But to capture all of the benefits of spinach, it behooves us to eat it in other ways as well. Dried spinach is a delicious, high-nutrition option!
Organic Spinach Powder Benefits + 2 Recipes
Spinach has been providing humans with bountiful nutrition for more than 2,000 years. By the time this cool-season annual reached western Europe in the 11th – 15th centuries, it was already an established crop and widely cultivated in the Middle East and Asia. It has long been considered the “Captain of Leafy Greens,” which is an apt title for this vitamin- and mineral-packed veggie. However, raw spinach contains oxalic acid which, when eaten in large quantities over time, can actually interfere with the absorption of some of the nutrients like calcium and iron for which spinach is famous. Also, because our bodies cannot metabolize spinach quickly, it can produce gas, bloating, and stomach cramps. This is not to say we shouldn’t eat raw spinach; we absolutely should because it’s loaded with all kinds of other essential nutrients like vitamin C, niacin, potassium, etc. that are more available to our bodies when eaten raw. But to capture all of the benefits of spinach, it behooves us to eat it in other ways as well. Dried spinach is a delicious, high-nutrition option!
Glycerites: How to Use Vegetable Glycerine to Extract Herbal Constituents
Organic vegetable glycerine—known as glycerol and sometimes spelled glycerin—is an effective alternative to alcohol-based tinctures for extracting and preserving many beneficial herbal constituents. Of course, infusions, decoctions, and oxymels are ideal for many herbal wellness goals that don’t involve alcohol, but glycerites—the medicinal preparations made by mixing vegetable glycerine with herbs—can open new opportunities for teetotalers, parents, and those who do not wish to have alcohol. Bonus: it tastes good! Glycerol is a clear, colorless, odorless liquid with a viscous consistency and a pleasing sweetness that makes it a good base for botanical flavors.
Minty Lemongrass Oxymel (Without Vinegar)
Oxymels are an herbal extraction of an acid mixed with honey. Usually, when we think about extracting herbal properties with acids, we look to vinegars. But did you know that if you replace the vinegar with a citrus juice like lemon or lime, you still capture the herbal constituents and end up with a drier oxymel that is perfect for summer mocktails?
Our friend Amanda Crooke from the Center for Herbal Studies has kindly shared a simple recipe for a delicious citrus-based lemon-mint oxymel and a lemony, bubbly mocktail that is the perfect refreshing sipper on a hot summer day. We think these are the ideal recipes to get the summer party started!
Culinary Herbs: The Benefits and Uses of Oregano
Some of our favorite healthful herbs are also our favorite culinary herbs. We recently spoke with our friend Shana Lipner Grover from Sage Country Herbs about one such aromatic: oregano. This beloved, age-old culinary herb does more than make our food taste wonderful—it has long been used to stimulate digestion and ease digestive discomfort. And if that’s not enough, oregano is also known for its support of the immune and respiratory systems.
You can make oregano into tea, infuse it in alcohol for tinctures or oil for salves, use it in foot soaks, and incorporate it into a steam that supports the lungs and sinuses when you need some relief. And best of all, almost everyone has a bottle of oregano already in the kitchen spice cupboard! Listen in with Shana to learn more about this special herbal ally.
Spring Pesto Recipes for Health & Vitality
Research compiled by Oregon State University has shown that roughly half of the adult population in the United States doesn’t get enough of the vitamins and minerals that leafy greens supply: 52% don’t get the recommended intake of magnesium, 44% don’t get enough calcium, and 43% don’t get enough vitamin C. Although many of us know that we need two to three cups of leafy greens a day to supply our exquisitely complex bodies with the vitamins and minerals needed to carry out cellular processes and repairs, many of us have trouble eating adequate amounts of those greens.
Dandelion Chive Pesto Recipe for Spring
Research has shown that about half of U.S. adults don’t get enough of the vitamins and minerals that leafy greens provide, including magnesium, calcium, vitamin C, and more. Our bodies need those nutrients to carry out cellular processes and repairs, but many of us find it difficult to get an adequate amount of those all-important greens. Enter… pesto! Pesto is a fantastic way to bring fresh greens and herbs—with all their flavor and nutrients—to your meals. Adding fresh herbs helps our bodies improve nutrient uptake by increasing digestibility, supporting the enzymes and probiotics in the gut, and helping to catalyze digestive processes. When you have pesto on hand, it’s easy to top any cooked food with fresh greens! When you think of pesto, you might think of the delicious basil version, but our friend, herbalist Kami McBride, has four new pesto recipes for you to try, because the world of pesto is bigger than basil.
Salad Dressings from Around the World: 4 Recipes for Summer Salads
There are a lot of reasons to love summer, but a big one here in the Willamette Valley of Oregon is the wealth of fresh garden and farm produce. We’re heading into salad season, always a good opportunity to explore new flavors and ways to enjoy the freshest greens, ripest tomatoes, crispest cucumbers, sweetest corn, and more. We’ve got four standout salad dressing recipes from around the world for you to enjoy this season, along with ideas about how to best use them: horiatiki from Greece, wafu from Japan, esquites from Mexico, and tahini-lemon from the Middle East. Enjoy!
