Showing posts with label herb. Show all posts
Showing posts with label herb. Show all posts

Tuesday, June 16, 2020

DIY Vegetable Bullion




 

       As much as I love spending time in my kitchen, and as much as I’d love to be able to take the time to make certain foods 100% from scratch, I also have the very modern problem of not having the time on my hands, all the time, to do so. Some things that tend to help me make sure my family is fed in the healthiest way possible involve preparing certain staples to keep either in my pantry or my freezer. One of those things is bullion. I know, I could easily buy bullion (and have done so before) at the store, so why bother making it? One of the reasons is that I am not always able to find the healthiest, most natural bullion in the stores. A lot of bullion tends to contain ingredients that are not the best, such as MSG. Another reason is that sometimes I want to make something a little different and the flavor of the bullion kind of restricts my creativity. If I have my own bullion blends on hand, I can customize them almost endlessly, and I can also make sure that they are healthy. So here are some of my favorite blends for DIY Bullion.




1. This is the basic flavor profile of just about every kind of bullion. Want something more exotic? Try replacing some of the herbs in this for other seasonings. Try throwing in a little lavender or mint to give it more of an interesting flavor. Try using all Indian or Mediterranean seasonings.



Basic Vegetable Bullion Powder


Ingredients
3 tbsp Garlic Powder
3 tbsp Onion Powder
2 tbsp Parsley Flakes
1 tsp dried Sage
1 tsp dried Oregano
1 tsp dried Basil
½ tsp dried Rosemary
½ tsp Turmeric
½ tsp Celery Seed
½ tsp Sea Salt
½ tsp Black Pepper




Instructions:
     Add all ingredients to a jar and shake or to a bowl and whisk thoroughly until blended well.

     To use, for broth, combine one heaping tablespoonful to one cup hot water: 1 Tablespoon mix + 1 cup hot water. You can also use this as a seasoning blend for a wide variety of foods.

To make it more powdery:
     Add all ingredients to the blender or food processor and process/blend until the desired consistency is reached. Because the final product is broken down more, you’ll want to adjust the measurements when using to 1 teaspoon mix + 1 cup hot water.



2. This one reminds me of a beef bullion, because of the mushrooms. They add a very “meaty” kind of flavor to the mix.


Magical Mushroom Bullion


Ingredients
1 ounce dried Wild Mushroom Mix (Really, you can use any mushrooms you find tasty. Morels are delicious, but pricey. Many people use Shitake here, sometimes I just use Maitake.)
3 tbsp Garlic Powder
3 tbsp Onion Powder
2 tbsp Parsley Flakes
1 tbsp powdered Reishi
1 tbsp powdered Shitake
1 tbsp powdered Chaga
½ tsp dried Thyme
½ tsp dried Oregano
½ tsp Turmeric
½ tsp Celery Seed
½ tsp Sea Salt
½ tsp Black Pepper


Instructions:
     Place mushrooms into a clean spice grinder, blender, or food processor and pulse until finely chopped. Allow a couple minutes for the powder to settle. Remove the lid to you food processor and add all other ingredients. Pulse and process until a fine powder.

     To use, for broth, combine one heaping teaspoonful to one cup hot water: 1 Teaspoon mix + 1 cup hot water. You can also use this as a seasoning blend for a wide variety of foods.

3. I love lemon chicken soup. This is my attempt at creating a vegetarian bullion with that same flavor profile. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.


Lemon Pepper Vegetable Bullion


Ingredients
2 tbsp Garlic Powder
2 tbsp Onion Powder
2 tbsp Parsley Flakes
1 tbsp dried Lemon Zest
½ tsp Black Pepper
½ tsp dried Lemon Balm
¼ tsp dried Oregano
¼ tsp dried Basil
¼ tsp Turmeric
¼ tsp Celery Seed
¼ tsp Sea Salt



Instructions:
     Add all ingredients to a jar and shake or to a bowl and whisk thoroughly until blended well.

     To use, for broth, combine one heaping tablespoonful to one cup hot water: 1 Tablespoon mix + 1 cup hot water. You can also use this as a seasoning blend for a wide variety of foods.

To make it more powdery:
     Add all ingredients to the blender or food processor and process/blend until the desired consistency is reached. Because the final product is broken down more, you’ll want to adjust the measurements when using to 1 teaspoon mix + 1 cup hot water.


4. This bullion blend is one that I use when my family is going through majorly stressful times. It’s full of adaptogenic herbs that help us to deal better with stress. If you don’t like the herbs I have chosen, feel free to substitute your own favorite adaptogens.


All’s Well Bullion


Ingredients
2 tbsp Garlic Powder
2 tbsp Onion Powder
1 tbsp Parsley Flakes
½ tsp dried Sage
½ tsp dried Oregano
¼ tsp powdered Reishi
¼ tsp dried Rosemary
¼ tsp Turmeric
¼ tsp Celery Seed
¼ tsp Sea Salt
¼ tsp Black Pepper


Instructions:
     Add all ingredients to a jar and shake or to a bowl and whisk thoroughly until blended well.

     To use, for broth, combine one heaping tablespoonful to one cup hot water: 1 Tablespoon mix + 1 cup hot water. You can also use this as a seasoning blend for a wide variety of foods.

To make it more powdery:
     Add all ingredients to the blender or food processor and process/blend until the desired consistency is reached. Because the final product is broken down more, you’ll want to adjust the measurements when using to 1 teaspoon mix + 1 cup hot water.





     If you have any questions or comments please leave them below. Feel free to play around with these recipes and experiment with different seasonings. Follow me on Facebook and Instagram for updates. Find me on YouTube and check out my videos! I also have a few things up on Teespring, check it out! Also, if you like what I do and what to see more, Become a Patron!

Monday, October 8, 2018

Lemon Balm





     There are certain herbs that keep popping up in mythology and historical texts. Lemon Balm, often just referred to as Balm, is one of these. The scientific name, Melissa officinalis, actually comes from Greek mythology. A nymph, named Melissa, had a tendency to share the secretes, and many uses, of honey with everyone she met. This made her especially sacred to bees, beekeepers, and anyone who used honey (bakers, doctors, etc). Since Lemon Balm's flowers are known to attract bees, especially honey bees, the name Melissa was used for this lemon-flavored member of the mint family.

     Since Lemon Balm has a very lemony flavor, it makes a great herb to add to your culinary experiments. I like the fresh leaves in a salad, or used to season my chicken. You can also use it to infuse vinegar, make a refreshing herb butter, or even add a few leaves to your tea. It's so versatile and tasty that you can really use it in just about any recipe, savory or sweet.


Medicinal Uses:


Summary of actions- Antibacterial, antioxidant, antiviral, antispasmodic, aromatic, carminative, cerebral stimulant, diaphoretic, digestive, emmenagogue, febrifuge, nervous restorative, tonic, spasmolydic, and sedative (mild).

Stress Management- Lemon Balm has been used, for centuries, to help calm the mind while not making one drowsy. Many people have reported that just smelling the plant or essential oil has a calming, stress relieving, effect.

The Cardiovascular System- Lemon Balm helps reduce stress in the whole body, which helps to reduce the amount of stress put on the cardiovascular system. Not only that, but it also helps to protect the heart in many ways. Just inhaling the essential oil lowers high triglycerides and improves cholesterol synthesis in the liver, reducing the amount of cholesterol that gets stuck in the arteries. After consuming Lemon Balm on a regular basis, one's heart has a better resistance to injury. This herb also helps reduce heart palpitations and regulate arrhythmia (the heart beating at irregular rhythms).

Improve Sleep- This herb supports a restful sleep. While it doesn't make one drowsy, it does help with relaxation, helping to shut off the mind when the body is ready for sleep. Lemon Balm is useful for all ages, it can even be used for infants and breastfeeding mothers, and has been reported to help all ages get better sleep.

Skin- Lemon Balm has been used by women throughout the ages, to help reduce and soften wrinkles. This practice can be recorded as far back as the 14th century in Hungary, where the Queen herself used it to bring a more youthful appearance to her face. Today it is used to reduce fine lines, and help prevent lip blemishes.

Improve Memory and Problem Solving- Lemon Balm does help calm the body and mind alike, but it does so without causing drowsiness. In many cases, it's even been shown to boost alertness. But it also helps to stimulate the memory. It also has been the subject of several studies that have shown it to help increase a person's ability to solve complex problems, regardless of age. After quite a bit of testing, it's been determined that Lemon Balm contains quite a number of compounds that help prevent the breakdown of neurotransmitters, helping the brain to communicate more efficiently and promoting healthy aging of the brain.

Liver Support- Lemon Balm also helps to support healthy liver function. Helping to protect the liver from some of the negative effects of an unhealthy diet and improving cholesterol synthesis.

Antibacterial- The natural antibacterial properties found in Lemon Balm make it great to use on wounds, in soaps, shampoos, hand sanitizers, and for cleaning products around the house. It also helps to control the growth of candida, a yeast naturally found in the gut, but when overgrown, can cause some serious problems.

Diabetes- Quite a few studies have shown that Lemon Balm can help reduce blood sugar levels and reduce the oxidative stress related specifically to diabetes.

Overactive Thyroid- Lemon Balm is fairly effective at controlling an overactive thyroid. This is particularly effective for those with Graves disease.

Digestion- Lemon Balm helps to prevent the formation of gastric ulcers. It also helps to soothe the stomach and improve digestion.

PMS Symptoms- Quite a few of the symptoms associated with PMS in most women are exacerbated by stress. Lemon Balm's stress relieving capabilities help to even out those PMS symptoms. It's especially shown to be effective for teenagers.

Contraindications, Cautions, and Warnings- Lemon Balm is not recommended for people who have a low functioning thyroid. If you suspect that you have a thyroid problem, please consult your doctor. Also, pregnant and nursing mothers should use caution when using this herb, it's mostly considered safe, but there can be some interactions.


     I only included a basic introduction to this amazing herb.  I hope you have learned a new appreciation for how amazing lemon balm is.  If you have any questions or comments, please leave them below.

References:


9 Impressive Health Benefits of Lemon Balm: Global Healing Center: https://www.globalhealingcenter.com/natural-health/9-benefits-of-lemon-balm/

9 Lemon Balm Benefits + Natural Uses for Home & Health: Dr Axe: https://draxe.com/lemon-balm/

10 Ways to Use Lemon Balm: Homespun Seasonal Living: https://homespunseasonalliving.com/10-ways-use-lemon-balm/

12 + Things to Do With Lemon Balm: The Nerdy Farm Wife: https://thenerdyfarmwife.com/12-things-to-do-with-lemon-balm/

A Family Herb, Lemon Balm Benefits: The Herbal Academy: https://theherbalacademy.com/a-family-herb-lemon-balm-benefits/

How to Use Lemon Balm as a Natural Bee Sting Remedy: The Herbal Academy: https://theherbalacademy.com/how-to-use-lemon-balm-as-a-natural-bee-sting-remedy/

Lemon Balm: WebMD: https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-437/lemon-balm

Lemon Balm Medicinal Uses, Grow Your Own Medicine: Natural Society: http://naturalsociety.com/medicinal-uses-of-lemon-balm-grow-own-medicine/

Lemon Balm/Melissa: Herb Wisdom: https://www.herbwisdom.com/herb-lemon-balm.html

Melissa Essential Oil: Ayurvedic Oils: http://ayurvedicoils.com/tag/lemon-balm-essential-oil

The Many Uses for Lemon Balm: Very Well Health: https://www.verywellhealth.com/the-health-benefits-of-lemon-balm-89388


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Greetings from the Bat Lady!

     Welcome to Bat Lady Herbals.  I have been fascinated by herbs and various herbal uses for quite a few years now.  Plants are amazing t...