Chia Seed Pudding Recipe With Pumpkin Spice
I will admit that I was a latecomer to the pumpkin pie spice trend. I still have not had a pumpkin spice latte, for instance. I have been starting to come around though. My turning point came after I tried one of our very own blog recipes, pumpkin pie spice roasted mixed nuts. Ever since that day, I have felt the undeniable pull towards this seasonal favorite. As the days grow shorter and cooler, the warming spices seem to offer the perfect comfort and sense of wellbeing. Naturally, I wanted to celebrate the arrival of pumpkin spice season this year with a recipe variation!
We have sung praises for chia seed pudding before. It resides in that oh-so-special territory where it is tasty enough to be a dessert and healthy enough to be a fueling breakfast or snack. Chia seeds are high in fiber and rich in brain- and body-loving nutrients like omegas, proteins, and antioxidants; the fact that they naturally create a pudding-like texture is what makes them pure magic. Chia seed pudding is also highly versatile and customizable, and thus, it felt like the perfect canvas to spread a little pumpkin spice joy on.
Typically, pumpkin spice just refers to the spice blend used in pumpkin pie, for this recipe I decided to throw myself fully into the season by adding a bit of pumpkin as well. Happy Autumn!
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!
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.
Food as Medicine | Tea Talks Roundtable
In this “Tea Talks Roundtable,” Jiling discusses the topic of “Food as Medicine” with herbalists Christa Sinadinos, Rona Leah, Jana Kilgore, and Mary Colvin. With our collective herbal experience as two professional cooks, three book authors, two herb school founders, and five herbalists working with different populations, teaching styles, and botanical expertise– you can expect a fun and delicious conversation!
We explore:
everyday strategies to integrate Food as Medicine into your average diet and lifestyle
delicious culinary spices
common wild herbs (in different bioregions) to supplement standard kitchen herbs
easy to find foods and herbs that can be used medicinally while traveling
breakfast strategies and considerations
nutritional snacks
different preparations for common wild herbs
specific recipes like Rona’s Herb Sauce, Demulcent Waters, Christa’s Schug, and Jana’s Morning Chai!
Homemade Mushroom Bouillon + Seasoning Salt Recipe
If you love the convenience of instant noodles, but want to avoid the unhealthy additives in store-bought ramen-style soups, we have the perfect solution; easy, quick, homemade mushroom bouillon powder with extra herbal goodness! Whether you use it as powder or make it into bouillon paste, this DIY mushroom bouillon offers up the delicious umami flavor and health-supporting superpowers of shiitake mushrooms combined with an herb-centered seasoning salt blend, plus added protein, fiber, minerals, and vitamins from nutritional yeast flakes. It’s perfect for noodle bowls, roasted and sautéed vegetables, omelettes, and more. You can make the seasoning salt and the bouillon in less than fifteen minutes and keep them on hand for super-quick meals in the future. Just be sure to purchase ramen or gluten-free noodles without unhealthy preservatives, and you’re on your way to a delicious, healthy, super-fast noodle bowl.
Interviews On Herbal Radio With Thomas Dick | Featuring Jiling Lin
Thomas sat down with our good friend and talented herbalist, Jiling Lin, over Zoom this past fall to get to know her a little better. We’ve had the great fortune of partnering with Jiling on numerous projects including filming instructional videos, writing poetic blogs and journal articles, emceeing Free Herbalism Projects, and of course hosting Tea Talks on Herbal Radio. We’re so grateful for the opportunity to get to know Jiling even more as Thomas and Jiling chat about her upbringing, the sharing of plants and stories, and the pivotal herbal plot points in her life. We hope you enjoy our conversation with Jiling as much as we did!
Healthy Breakfast Recipes: Power Powder Blends
Trying to get everyone in the family out the door with everything they need on a busy morning can be challenging. It’s hard, when you’re trying to juggle so many balls at once, to make time for a healthy breakfast. Happily, our friend Jiling Lin has some great ideas that you can make ahead so you and the ones you love can start your day with something substantial to feed your body and mind. Jiling Lin has created 3 Power Powder blends to add to your food and beverage creations. These powder blends are delicious and easy ways to incorporate herbalism into your daily life. Feel free to mix and match herbal powders according to your seasonal needs and individual constitution. Have fun, create something delicious in bulk, and store it in a big jar to easily satisfy your daily breakfast needs!
Healthy Breakfast Recipes: Powerhouse Oatmeal
Trying to get everyone in the family out the door with everything they need on a busy morning can be challenging. It’s hard, when you’re trying to juggle so many balls at once, to make time for a healthy breakfast. Happily, our friend Jiling Lin has some great ideas that you can make ahead so you and the ones you love can start your day with something substantial to feed your body and mind. It all begins with an oat or chia blend that you can customize to your tastes—add nutritious herbal powders, nuts, seeds, and more. Create your favorite blends in bulk and store them in jars for a super easy, delicious get-up-and-go breakfast!
