Stress Free Spice Blends

     I am a major proponent of the philosophy held by Hippocrates, “Let thy food be thy medicine.” Food is what nourishes us, provides us with the things our body needs in order to work properly. So if we don't take care to eat well, our health is sure to decline in some way. Keeping that in mind, I have a few things I do when I cook at home. One of them is that I try to “hide” herbs in all my food. Since I just introduced you to one of my favorite herbs to do this with, Ashwagandh, I figured I'd let you in one one of these secrets. I like to use adaptogenic herbs in my home made spice blends. 

1. Now if you look at the ingredients present in a number of spice blends, you'll find that most of these already are packed full of healthy herbs. So I like to add a few other herbs to enhance their effects. But first, here is my basic, every day spice blend. I use this in all the savory recipes I make.

Every Day Stress-Free

¼ cup dried Nettle leaf

3 tablespoons Garlic Powder

2 tablespoons ground Ashwagandha

1 tablespoon ground Shiitake Mushroom

1 tablespoon Ground Black Pepper

1 teaspoon Salt

Use a mortar and pestle, food processor, or coffee/spice grinder to lightly grind any of the whole herbs. You want them to be coarse and not finely ground. Combine all the herbs in a bowl and mix well. Store in an airtight container away from heat and light.

2. My husband and I really enjoy ranch seasoning. So I started making my own blend to make it a bit healthier, then I added adaptogenic herbs. We use this on just about everything. One of my favorites is sprinkling this on baked potatoes. Yum! If you want to make ranch dressing, simply add 1 tablespoon of this spice blend with 1/3 cup of your favorite mayonnaise, sour cream, or dairy free yogurt.

 Relaxing Ranch

¼ cup dried Parsley leaf

1 tablespoons Dill Leaf

1 tablespoon Garlic Powder

1 tablespoon ground Ashwagandha 

1 tablespoon Onion Powder

½ tablespoon Tulsi

½ teaspoon Ground Black Pepper

½ teaspoon Salt

Use a mortar and pestle, food processor, or coffee/spice grinder to lightly grind any of the whole herbs. You want them to be coarse and not finely ground. Combine all the herbs in a bowl and mix well. Store in an airtight container away from heat and light.

3. This blend works well as a blackening seasoning, or just a generic Cajun blend. I love making blackened chicken or tofu with this seasoning rub. You can also add this to a bit of lemon juice and olive oil to make a great salad dressing.

Crazy Cajun

5 tablespoons Paprika

1 tablespoon Onion Powder

1 tablespoon Garlic Powder

1 tablespoon ground Eluthero

4 teaspoons Salt

4 teaspoons ground Black Pepper

1 ½ teaspoon ground Cayenne Pepper (or less if you don’t want it too spicy)

1 tablespoon Tulsi

1 teaspoon Thyme

½ teaspoon Oregano

Use a mortar and pestle, food processor, or coffee/spice grinder to lightly grind any of the whole herbs. You want them to be coarse and not finely ground. Combine all the herbs in a bowl and mix well. Store in an airtight container away from heat and light.

4. I can't like normal things, it's just not possible. So instead of just a plain Lemon Pepper blend, I have to spice it up, adding more adaptogens in the process.

Zesty Lemon and Herbs

Zest from 4-6 Organic Lemons

6 tablespoons ground Black Pepper

5 tablespoons Salt

2 tablespoons Tulsi

1 tablespoon Onion Powder

½ tablespoon Oregano

½ teaspoon Cayenne Pepper or Paprika *optional

½ teaspoon ground Eluthero

Zest the lemons and spread them out on a cookie sheet. Place in the oven on the lowest setting and leave until completely dry, around 70-80 minutes. 

Use a mortar and pestle, food processor, or coffee/spice grinder to lightly grind any of the whole herbs. You want them to be coarse and not finely ground. Combine all the herbs in a bowl and mix well. Store in an airtight container away from heat and light.

5. Everyone likes Everything Bagels. But not everyone knows how delicious the seasonings are on other things such as avocado toast, salads, and veggies.

Simply Everything

1 tablespoon Sesame Seeds

1 tablespoon Poppy Seeds

1 tablespoon Flax Seeds

1 tablespoon Chia Seeds

1 tablespoon dried Minced Onion

1 tablespoon dried Minced Garlic

1 tablespoon Garlic Powder

½ tablespoon ground Shiitake Mushroom

½ tablespoon ground Ashwagandha

1 teaspoon Salt

Combine all the herbs in a bowl and mix well. Store in an airtight container away from heat and light.

     In any of these recipes, feel free to change the ingredients around.  Try using other adaptogens such as Reishi, Licorice, or Astragalus. Have fun, play around, and let me know what you think below!

Warm Holiday Drinks

     It's finally getting colder, even in Florida. That means it's time to break out the warm cozy sweaters, the scarves, and warm drinks. While coffee and hot cocoa are on the top of most lists for warm and comforting drinks, there are a few others that make this season feel more festive. Wassail and Mulled Wine are just two traditional and warm drinks that can make the holidays more cheerful. Plus they are also super healthy.

Wassail:

Wassail is a traditional drink that dates all the way back to the Middle Ages in Europe. Wassail is traditionally made with hard cider, seasonal spices, and a variety of seasonal fruits. There are so many recipes and variations today that you can make your Wassail unique to your family without much effort.

The Juices:

Apple Cider is one of the traditional ingredients and I can't imagine a Wassail recipe without it. You can use hard apple cider or non-alcoholic apple cider.

Orange Juice provides a super amount of vitamins that help support your immune system and fight colds and the flu.

Pomegranate Juice is a more modern addition that you can use in place of orange juice, or with it (use half orange juice and half pomegranate juice). Pomegranate juice is high in antioxidants and vitamins which help your body fight off infections and help boost your immune system and endurance.

Cranberry Juice is a more traditional addition and you can use it instead of the orange juice, or you can use it with the orange juice (use half orange juice and half cranberry juice). Cranberry juice is full of vitamins and minerals that help provide support for your immune system. It also helps to fight off a number of infections.

The Spices:

Cinnamon is one of the ingredients you will find in all Wassail recipes. It provides a natural sweetness without adding sugar, and is an excellent medicinal herb. You can read more about the benefits of cinnamon here.

Clove is another ingredient you will find in all Wassail recipes. These little spices are packed full of medicinal benefits that include pain relief, improving digestion, reducing inflammation, relieving the symptoms of upper respiratory infections, and much more.

Nutmeg is an herb you will usually find accompanying both cinnamon and clove. It is a mild sedative, helping to relax and making sleep more peaceful.

Star Anise adds a slight licorice flavor to the blend, and it looks super impressive. Medicinally it's used to help sooth sore throats, treat cold and flu, as well as relieving quite a few digestive issues.

Juniper Berries are one of my favorite ingredients to add to my Wassail because they add a timeless flavor. Juniper berries are also super healthy. They help fight bacterial infections, they help you to get the most out of your sleep, they improve digestion, and they are good for your heart.

Ginger adds a nice punch to your Wassail. It's also one of my favorite medicinal herbs for this time of year. You can read more about ginger here.

Cardamom is the herb that gives Chai Tea it's distinctive flavor. It's also a great digestive herb and helps support the liver.

Pine Needles might seem like a strange addition, but they add a nice, citrus-like flavor. They are also super loaded with vitamins. Read more about the benefits of pine here.

Other Ingredients:

Fresh Fruit is often added to improve the flavor and make the Wassail look amazing. The most commonly added fruits are citrus and apples. You can also find cranberries, pomegranates, and just about any seasonal fruit.

Health Promoting Herbs make great additions to any recipe. Though the traditional herbs I have already listed are also super healthy, feel free to try your favorite herbs. I've seen Wassail recipes that include rose hips, hibiscus, hawthorne berries, elder berries, chamomile, lemon balm, lemon grass, passiflora, raspberry leaves, and so much more.

Liquor is something we all know the dangers of, but it's also full of health benefits. Plus, it makes any party awesome. The traditional alcohol to use for Wassail is brandy, however you can also try whiskey, rum, or just about any liquor you want. Two of my favorites to add are honey flavored whiskey or spiced rum.

Wassail 

3 quarts (¾ gallon) Apple Cider

1 quart Orange Juice

5-7 Cinnamon Sticks

10-20 Juniper Berries

15-20 Cloves

1 Nutmeg, crushed

½ inch Fresh Ginger, sliced

2 Oranges, sliced

1 Apple, sliced

1 Handful Fresh Cranberries

Instructions:

Combine all ingredients in a large stock pot, or crock pot, and bring to a simmer (in the crock pot, heat on low) stirring occasionally. Turn down heat, cover, and warm for at least 1 hour. You can also remove from the heat and store to warm up for a future use.

Mulled Wine:

Another traditional drink served during the winter months. Mulled Wine is typically red wine sweetened and spiced, but modern recipes have made it much more than that by adding in fresh seasonal fruit and alcohol. I know this seems like a warm version of sangria, but it's a great addition to any holiday party. Not to mention the health benefits.

The Spices:

Cinnamon is one of the ingredients you will find in all mulling spice recipes. It provides a natural sweetness without adding sugar, and is an excellent medicinal herb. You can read more about the benefits of cinnamon here.

Clove is another ingredient you will find in all mulling spice recipes. These little spices are packed full of medicinal benefits that include pain relief, improving digestion, reducing inflammation, relieving the symptoms of upper respiratory infections, and much more.

Allspice is an impressive herb from any standpoint. It's name comes from the fact that it has flavor notes from all the major spices such as cinnamon, clove, and nutmeg. It's also great for your health, aiding in digestion and helping to improve immune function.

Nutmeg is an herb you will usually find accompanying both cinnamon and clove. It is a mild sedative, helping to relax and making sleep more peaceful.

Black Peppercorns add a bit of heat to your Mulled Wine, but they also help improve your digestion.

Star Anise adds a slight licorice flavor to the blend, and it looks super impressive. Medicinally it's used to help sooth sore throats, treat cold and flu, as well as relieving quite a few digestive issues.

Ginger adds a nice punch to your Mulled Wine. It's also one of my favorite medicinal herbs for this time of year. You can read more about ginger here.

Cardamom is the herb that gives Chai Tea it's distinctive flavor. It's also a great digestive herb and helps support the liver.

Other Ingredients:

Honey is a great way to sweeten your Mulled Wine without resorting to sugar. It's also full of health benefits and can help fight off infections.

Fresh Fruit is often added to improve the flavor and make the Mulled Wine look amazing. The most commonly added fruits are citrus and apples. You can also find cranberries, pomegranates, and just about any seasonal fruit.

Health Promoting Herbs make great additions to any recipe. Though the traditional herbs I have already listed are also super healthy, feel free to try your favorite herbs. Some herbs to try include rose hips, hibiscus, hawthorne berries, elder berries, chamomile, lemon balm, lemon grass, passiflora, raspberry leaves, juniper berries, pine needles, and so much more.

Liquor is something we all know the dangers of, but it's also full of health benefits. Plus, it makes any party awesome. The traditional alcohol to use for Mulled Wine is brandy, however you can also try whiskey, rum, or just about any liquor you want. Two of my favorites to add are spiced rum or apple flavored whiskey.

Mulled Wine

1 bottle of Red Wine of your choice (or Pomegranate Juice for a non-alcoholic option)

1 Orange, sliced

½ cup Pomegranate Seeds

½ cup Honey (or sugar)

5-10 Whole Cloves

5-10 Black Peppercorns

5-10 Allspice Berries

2-3 Cinnamon Sticks

3-4 Cardamom Pods, lightly crushed

Instructions:

Combine all ingredients in a large stock pot, or crock pot, and bring to a simmer (in the crock pot, heat on low). Turn down heat, cover, and warm for at least 30 minutes. You can also remove from the heat and store to warm up for a future use.

I hope you have a wonderful Holiday Season and enjoy these great recipes! If you have any questions or comments, please leave them below. Feel free to share your experiences with us as well!

Resources:

9 Surprising Health Benefits of Mulled Wine: BT.com: http://home.bt.com/lifestyle/health/healthy-eating/9-surprising-health-benefits-of-mulled-wine-11364229012051

Herbal Wassail Recipe: Wellness Mama: https://wellnessmama.com/472/wassail-recipe/

Make a Toast to Wassail: Seasonal Wisdom: http://www.seasonalwisdom.com/2010/01/make-a-toast-to-wassail/

Slow Cooker Cider Wassail: A Spicy Perspective: https://www.aspicyperspective.com/wassail-recipe/2/

Traditional Mulled Wine Recipe: The Spruce: https://www.thespruce.com/mulled-wine-recipe-3510986