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

2 cups Nutritional Yeast

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 Porcini Mushrooms

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 cups Nutritional Yeast

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 cups Nutritional Yeast

2 tbsp Garlic Powder

2 tbsp Onion Powder

1 tbsp Parsley Flakes

1 tsp powdered Ashwagandha

1 tsp dried Tulsi

1 tsp powdered Kelp

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!

4 Thieves Vinegar

What Is Four Thieves Vinegar?: A vinegar based tincture of herbs thought to cure, treat, and/or prevent the Bubonic plague. In modern day, it’s used to boost the immune system, repel insects (including the fleas that spread the plague), and as a condiment.

A Little History: There are a number of different versions of the origin of this traditional remedy, but they all share the same basic points. I’ll summarize them here. When the Bubonic plague was sweeping through Europe, there arose a group of grave robbers and thieves that covered their bodies and doused their face masks in an herbal vinegar with strong antibacterial and antiviral properties in order to keep themselves from contracting the plague. Initially no one worried about the grave robbers and thieves who stole into the houses in the dark of moonless nights to rob victims of the Black Death as, the townspeople assumed, the plague would inevitably infect and kill the thieves, too. But it didn’t. The thieves continued to assail the homes and graves of the dead with impunity until they were finally caught in the middle of their act, tried, and set to be burned at the stake. Astonished by the thieves’ immunity and seemingly indifferent attitude toward the plague that devastated the community so severely, the judges offered the thieves a bargain: in exchange for releasing the cause of their immunity, the thieves would be hanged instead of burned at the stake – a less brutal and more quick end. The thieves acquiesced and surrendered the recipe for their elixir, and the legend has continued to grow since then.

What Is That Recipe?: No one really knows the original recipe, and many recipes for Four Thieves Vinegar abound. Though a recipe written by Jean Valnet, a renowned aromatherapist and herbalist of the early 20th century, may resemble the original more closely than any other. He calls for vinegar, wormwood, meadow sweet, juniper, marjoram, sage, cloves, horse heal, angelica, rosemary, horehound and camphor. Valnet calls for steeping these herbs in vinegar for six weeks before decanting, for a lighter flavor some people only steep the herbs for only seven days.

Does It Work?:  While this traditional remedy may or may not have helped grave robbers and thieves to stave off the plague that ravaged Europe centuries ago, it seems modern herbalists and gardeners have revived the interest in this garden remedy. Many herbalists use it as a cleansing agent – transferring it to a spray bottle and using it to clean and sterilize kitchen counters or bathrooms; indeed, many of the herbs possess strong antimicrobial effects and vinegar, in any case, makes an excellent natural cleanser. Others recommend using Four Thieves Vinegar in personal care, diluted with water of course, as a cleansing agent for the skin or as an astringent. Among neo-Pagan circles, Four Thieves Vinegar is thought to have protective qualities and some swear that if you dress your doorstep with the vinegar, it’ll keep your enemies away. As to preventing the Plague, many people attribute it’s abilities to a combination of the immune boosting, antiviral, and antibacterial properties of the herbs and the bonus fact that many of the herbs used in the recipes also drive away pests such as fleas, which are the currently known way that the plague is spread.

The Basics of The Recipe: Really and truly, there are so many versions of this recipe that you can customize it almost endlessly. All you need to do is use a good quality Apple Cider Vinegar as your base (though some recipes call for other vinegars, I think this one has the most antibacterial and beneficial qualities), crush up a few cloves of garlic (crushing the garlic releases the antibacterial properties, though you may notice that your garlic turns blue after a few days in the vinegar, this is a natural process and does not indicate it’s gone bad), and throw in a handful of herbs. Herbs that are traditionally used include lavender, rosemary, mint, sage, marjoram, anise hyssop, wormwood, meadow sweet, juniper, cloves, horse heal, angelica, horehound, camphor, thyme, black pepper, cinnamon, rue, cayenne, chili pepper, coriander, plantain, and lemon balm. Though I’m sure there are more herbs that could be used. Some people recommend using only 4 herbs, one for each thief, and others just throw in however many they feel like using.

Four Thieves Vinegar

2 tbsp Lavender

2 tbsp Rosemary

2 tbsp Mint

2 tbsp Sage

2 tbsp Juniper Berry

2 tbsp Lemon Balm

4 cloves Garlic (peeled and crushed)

4 cups raw Apple Cider Vinegar

Instructions:
Toss herbs and garlic together in a one-quart mason jar, cover with vinegar and place them in a cool, dark location. After a minimum of seven days (you get more medicinal benefits after 6 weeks), strain the vinegar through a fine-mesh sieve into a second, clean 1-quart glass jar.


Some Ideas for Variations: In all these variations use 4-8 cloves of garlic, 4 cups of apple cider vinegar, and equal portions of the suggested herbs.
A Bitter Formula: Wormwood, Rue, Anise Hyssop, and Juniper
(this recipe would be great for your digestion, take a dropperful 15 minutes before eating
to improve digestion and prevent stomach problems)
A Great Salad Dressing: Lemon Balm, Thyme, Rosemary, and Coriander
(this recipe tastes great and is also good for digestion)
A Spicy Adventure: Cayenne, Chili Pepper, and Black Pepper
(this recipe will help clear upper respiratory illness, break fever, and makes a great marinade)


You can also feel free to add in any herbs you may feel like. Elderberry or Hibiscus may be beneficial to the formula, adding in extra immune boosting properties. Hawthorne and ginger may help to improve heart health. Mix up your own recipe, try new formulas. Feel free to post any questions, comments, and/or observations in the comments down below. Follow me on Facebook and Instagram or updates on my adventures in Nature. 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!

Resources:

The Noursihed Kitchen: https://nourishedkitchen.com/four-thieves-vinegar-recipe/
Adventures in Making: http://adventures-in-making.com/recipe-the-legendary-four-thieves-vinegar/
Farmer’s Almanac: https://www.farmersalmanac.com/four-thieves-vinegar-35968
Magical Recipes Online: https://www.magicalrecipesonline.com/2012/08/how-to-make-and-use-four-thieves-vinegar.html
Common Sense Home: https://commonsensehome.com/thieves-vinegar/
Learn Religions: https://www.learnreligions.com/four-thieves-vinegar-2562515
The Herbal Academy: https://theherbalacademy.com/diy-four-thieves%E2%93%87-vinegar/
Tipnut: https://tipnut.com/four-thieves/

Natural Eyelash Conditioner

    Thick, long, healthy eyelashes are a beautiful thing. So ingrained in our idea of beauty, in fact, that false eyelashes have seen a boom in popularity. Not only the temporary ones that you can apply in your daily makeup routine, but also extensions that require a professional and that last for a long time. However, most eyelash glues contain super harsh chemicals, and removing these “falsies” can rip out natural lashes. All in all, I'd much rather prefer to stick to my natural eyelashes. However, a friend of mine recently had her extensions removed and was asking for advice on helping her natural lashes get back to their healthy, former glory. So I shared with her a few recipes to help hydrate her lashes, and stimulate their growth. I also figured that you guys might be interested in this as well. These recipes are great, even if you don't wear false lashes, or even wear makeup at all. You can also use them on your eyebrows to help encourage their growth.

How to Use These Serums:

     After your long day, make sure to remove all of your makeup before applying (here's my recipe for a DIY makeup remover). Simply dip a cotton swab into the serum and massage it into the root of your lashes, both the top and bottom ones (you can also rub the serum onto your eyebrows). Don't put too much on or it may drip into your eyes. Leave it on over night and remove it in the morning. You can also use a clean mascara wand to apply the serum to cover your lashes for extra conditioning on your existing lashes.

   
A Word On Ingredients:

Coconut Oil- This oil is super full of healthy, fatty acids and vitamins. These bind to the protein in the lashes to protect both the roots and strands. Coconut Oil is also antifungal and antibacterial which helps protect your eyelashes from falling prey to infections that limit hair growth.

Olive Oil- This oil contains a great amount of Vitamins E and K, both of which are necessary for healthy skin and hair. It moisturizes the hair, hair follicle, and the skin around the follicle, helping to promote healthy growth.

Castor Oil- This oil is full of healthy proteins, Vitamin E, and fatty acids. Known to be readily absorbed by hair follicles, castor oil will help hydrate and nourish your lashes. It's also helpful in relieving dry, itchy eyes due to allergies.

Almond Oil- This oil is the perfect oil to mix with some of the more strongly smelling oils (such as Neem). It’s also full of health promoting fatty acids, Vitamin E, and even calcium. It’ll moisturize and deeply hydrate your lash hair follicles and prevent against them breaking off and falling out!

Argan Oil- This oil is full of antioxidants like Vitamin E as well as fatty acids which nourish, hydrate and promote healthy lash growth. Argan oil is especially great for reversing damage done through harsh chemicals, such as lash glue and mascara.

Jojoba Oil- This is not a true oil. It's a liquid wax and it has made its way to prominence in the cosmetic industry since the 1970's. Jojoba oil helps to unclog blocked follicles and stimulate healthy hair growth. It can also clear up quite a few skin irritations that lead to hair loss.

Neem Oil- This oil may smell awful, but it's worth putting up with the smell for the results. Neem oil is one of the best oils for eyelash growth, period. It’s rich in the fatty acids that deep condition and moisturize dry, brittle lashes. Plus it has regenerative properties that support healthy hair cells and stimulate hair follicle growth and function.

Vitamin E- Many vitamins are important to the health of both skin and hair. However, one of the most effective ones is Vitamin E. This vitamin is a great antioxidant that helps promote circulation to your hair follicles. This ensures that they receive proper nutrition and allows your lashes to grow to their full potential.

Lemon Peel- Lemon peels contain quite a few vitamins, including B, C, and folic acid. It's also full of other nutrients essential for promoting natural growth of eyelashes. Lemon peels also have the ability to stimulate the cleansing properties in castor oil, helping to repair damage done to the lashes by harsh chemicals.

Lavender- This herb helps eliminate free radicals and has been proven to boost hair growth, which makes it ideal for eyelash growth too. Lavender oil also has anti-parasitic and antibacterial properties, which help to keep your lashes clean and healthy. When lavender is applied around the roots of the eyelashes it stimulates blood flow, making sure that the eyelash hair follicles receive more nutrients while improving regeneration of the skin.

Rosemary- Rosemary is one of those herbs that always comes up when natural hair care is discussed. The herb is widely known for its ability to boost healthy circulation, cellular regeneration, and hair growth. Rosemary is not only good for hair growth, but also helps reverse signs of graying. All of these properties help keep the eyelashes looking more plump and healthy.

Why I don't recommend essential oils:

     Essential oils are wonderful for so many reasons. However they are strong, so strong that I advise caution while using them. Certain essential oils can be so strong that just the scent of them can trigger seizures in certain individuals. They are also quite irritating to mucus membranes. When you are dealing with any recipe that may be used around your eyes, I would recommend you leave out the essential oil and, instead, use the herb itself. It may require more patience to get the desired result, but it is much more gentile and has less of a chance to trigger an extreme reaction. While there are quite a few recipes, floating out there on the web, that include essential oils for use in eyelash serums, I am personally not comfortable using them. One of my rules as an herbalist is that if I am uncomfortable using something for myself, I won't recommend it for someone else.

On To The Recipes!:

Simply Conditioning

1 teaspoon Coconut Oil

2 teaspoons Olive Oil

1 Vitamin E Capsule

     Warm the coconut oil over a double boiler and add in olive oil. Break open the Vitamin E capsule and add the contents to the other oils. Mix well and remove from heat. Pour into an air-tight container. This recipe will keep for 6 months or more as long as you do not expose it to water or humidity.

Deeply Conditioning

1 teaspoon Coconut Oil

1 teaspoon Castor Oil

1 teaspoon Almond Oil

1 organic Lemon Peel, abut ¼ inch long

2 Vitamin E Capsules

     Warm the coconut oil over a double boiler. Once the coconut oil is melted, remove from heat and combine with castor oil, almond oil, and lemon peel in an air-tight container. Close and place in a cool, dark area for 3-4 days. Break open the Vitamin E capsules and add their contents to the mixture. You do not have to remove the peel before use. This recipe will keep for 6 months or more as long as you do not expose it to water or humidity.

A Little More Oomph

1 teaspoon Coconut Oil

1 teaspoon Jojoba Oil

1 teaspoon Argan Oil

¼ teaspoon Rosemary Leaves (fresh is preferred, but dried will work)

¼ teaspoon Lavender Flowers (fresh is preferred, but dried will work)

2 Vitamin E Capsules

    Warm the coconut oil over a double boiler. Once the coconut oil is melted, remove from heat and combine with jojoba oil, argan oil, rosemary, and lavender in an air-tight container. Close and place in a cool, dark area for 3-4 days. Break open the Vitamin E capsules and add their contents to the mixture. You do not have to remove the herbs before use. This recipe will keep for 6 months or more as long as you do not expose it to water or humidity.

Bring On The Growth

1 teaspoon Coconut Oil

½ teaspoon to 1 teaspoon Neem Oil (depending on your tolerance of the smell

2 teaspoons Almond Oil

¼ teaspoon Rosemary Leaves (fresh is preferred, but dried will work)

¼ teaspoon Lavender Flowers (fresh is preferred, but dried will work)

2 Vitamin E Capsules

     Warm the coconut oil over a double boiler. Once the coconut oil is melted, remove from heat and combine with neem oil, almond oil, rosemary, and lavender in an air-tight container. Close and place in a cool, dark area for 3-4 days. Break open the Vitamin E capsules and add their contents to the mixture. You do not have to remove the herbs before use. This recipe will keep for 6 months or more as long as you do not expose it to water or humidity.




I hope you enjoy these eyelash conditioners. If you have any questions or comments, please leave them below!

Herbs de Provence

     So last week I posted some information on one of my favorite herbs, Lavender. In that post I mentioned that it's used in French cooking, particularly in a blend called Herbs de Provence. So I figured I'd share my recipe for this amazing blend, and a few recipes that use it. I hope you enjoy!



This is the most basic form of this herb blend. If you want to be a little more adventurous or fancy, you can try adding in 1 tsp of dried fennel seed, 1-2 tsp of dried orange zest, or 1-2 tsp of dried lemon zest. Feel free to play around with it and make it your own! This particular recipe makes about 1 cup of spice blend so make sure you have a container that can hold that amount.

Herbs de Provence

½ cup dried Thyme leaf

¼ cup dried Marjoram leaf

2 tablespoons dried Oregano leaf

2 tablespoons dried Rosemary leaf

2 tablespoons Savory

1 teaspoon dried Lavender flowers

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.



     So now that you have this amazing herb blend, what do you do with it? This blend works well with all meats, particularly poultry and fish. It also goes great on root vegetables such as potatoes, and it makes a great herbed butter or infused olive oil. Here are a few of my favorite recipes using Herbs de Provence.

Provencal Vinaigrette 

     This salad dressing is so amazing, and super easy to make and uses Herbs de Provence and Dijon mustard to make your taste buds feel like you're dining in Provencal France!

Provencal Vinaigrette

3 tablespoons Lemon Juice

1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

2 teaspoons Distilled Water

1 teaspoon Raw Honey

1 teaspoon Herbs de Provence

½ teaspoon Sea Salt

¼ teaspoon ground Black Pepper

¼ cup Red Wine Vinegar

½ cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Combine all ingredients, except olive oil, in a food processor. Process away for about 1 minute. Slowly drizzle in the olive oil (my food processor allows me to do this while actively processing the dressing, this is the best way to incorporate the oil, but if your processor does not, just drizzle a little at a time and process for 30 seconds between drizzles). Your dressing should be nicely emulsified and ready to store in the refrigerator. Chill for 1 hour before serving to allow all the flavors to nicely combine.

French Lentil Soup

     Lentil soup is a staple in my household. It's super easy to make and really quick if you're in a pinch for time. This version uses French lentils and Herbs de Provence to make a soup that's out-of-this-world!

French Lentil Soup

1 tablespoon Olive Oil

½ of 1 medium Yellow Onion, chopped

1 medium Carrot (and greens if possible), chopped

1 Celery Stalk, chopped

3 Garlic cloves, smashed

1 tablespoon Red Wine Vinegar

1 cup French Lentils, rinsed and drained

6 cups Vegetable Broth (or Bone Broth)

2 teaspoons Herbs de Provence

1 teaspoon Sea Salt

1 teaspoon ground Black Pepper

½ of 1 medium Red Onion, chopped

4 cups Swiss Chard leaves (or Baby Spinach)

In a large pot, over medium heat, heat the olive oil. Add onion, celery, carrot, and garlic. Cover and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in vinegar, lentils, broth, and all seasonings. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Simmer, covered, about 30 minutes. Add in the red onions and cover, cook for an additional 15 minutes, or until the lentils are softened. Taste and adjust the seasonings if necessary. About 5 minutes before serving, stir in the Swiss Chard. Serve piping hot!

This goes great over rice and/or quinoa.

Sensational Tofu & Roots

This recipe shows off how well Tofu can blend with just about everything. Now, for those of you who prefer meat, you can substitute chicken for tofu (just make sure it's fully cooked, it might take a bit longer than tofu) and get a delicious main dish, or simply take out the tofu and get a wonderful side dish of root veggies with gravy.

Tofu & Roots

½ pound of Fingerling Potatoes, quartered

2 large Carrots, peeled and sliced

1 large Parsnip, peeled and sliced

1 Celeraic (celery root), peeled and chopped

2 tablespoons Olive Oil

1 medium Yellow Onion, chopped

3 Garlic Cloves, smashed

½ pound of Cherry Tomatoes

1½ teaspoons Herbs de Provence

1 teaspoon Sea Salt

1 teaspoon ground Black Pepper

1 cup Vegetable Broth (or Bone Broth)

2 tablespoons Arrow Root Flour

1 block (about 14-16 oz) Extra Firm Tofu, drained and pressed

In a large pot, on high heat, begin to boil the potatoes, carrots, parsnips, and celeraic. While the root veggies are cooking (about 15-20 minutes or until fork tender), heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil over medium-high heat. Add onions and garlic and sautee until tender, but not translucent. Add in the tomatoes, 1 teaspoon of Herbes de Provence, ½ teaspoon of salt, and ½ teaspoon of pepper. Cook about 5 minutes. Add in the broth and simmer, uncovered, about 10 minutes. Lower the heat to Low, add in the flour and whisk well to incorporate. Once the mixture thickens, set aside. Once the root vegetables are tender, drain them and set them aside. In another skillet, heat the remaining olive oil over medium-high heat. Slice the tofu into ¼ inch thick triangles. When the oil is hot, add the tofu. When the bottom is nice and crisp, flip them and add the root vegetables. Season with the remaining seasonings and cook until everything is golden. Pour the broth gravy over the tofu and roots and serve.





     In any of these recipes, feel free to change the ingredients around.  Play with different veggies and herbs.  I hope you enjoy this Herbs de Provence recipe, and have fun using it in every dish! Have fun, play around, and let me know what you think below!

5 Herbs to Grow Inside

     There are many wonders that modern technology has given us. We have the world at our fingertips, and an easy way to travel. But in the South, and especially here in Florida, there's one modern miracle that makes life so much easier this time of year, air conditioning. A/C makes summertime in Florida livable. Unfortunately the air quality inside most of our homes is pretty horrible. We use chemicals in everything, and all of those chemicals effect our air quality. Since we are spending so much more time inside to beat the heat, what can we do to clean our air and make life a little more pleasant? Plants! Bring the herb garden inside! That way you have easy access to herbs you love to use, and they help to filter your air. Here's a list of 5 of my favorite herbs to grow inside and why they're so awesome!

1. Aloe Aloe Vera

Aloe is a plant that I use almost every day. I make quite a few hair and skin products using aloe gel, I use the whole leaf to reduce inflammation, and I even drink aloe water. It has a number of amazing health properties and I could go on and on and on. In fact, one of my first posts on this page was all about aloe. It's easy to take care of as long as you keep it well drained and it helps to filter out formaldehyde, which is commonly found in carpets, rugs, and furniture.

2. Rosemary Rosmarinus officialis

Rosemary might be a little tricky to grow inside, especially if you're new to gardening (this page has some great tips). However, it's well worth the effort. Not only does it help to purify the air, but it releases essential oils from it's leaves. These oils actually improve cognitive function. They help improve memory, protect the brain from free radicals, and they help keep your house smelling great. Plus, whenever you need some rosemary for that special recipe, it's just a few feet away!

3. Mint Mentha spp.

Mint is another herb I tend to use a lot. It helps improve the flavor of quite a few teas, tastes great in salad, improves digestion, and smells great. However, when you plant it, it will take over EVERYTHING. So I always make sure it's in a container, inside or outside, and I never plant it with other plants. I used to have a decent sized container that had 7 different varieties of mint, from pineapple mint to chocolate mint. However, the chocolate mint slowly took over and now I just have a large container of that. Lessons learned. But it's still a great plant to grow inside. It works well to filter air, but it also makes the air easier to breathe for those with weak lungs.

4. Lavender Lavandula angustifolia

Lavender is one of my favorite plants to grow indoors. It keeps the house smelling fresh and clean, repels insects, helps reduce anxiety, improves sleep, and is one of my favorite scents. However there are a few people who are allergic, and if you have cats make sure to keep it in a place your kitty won't get to. Cat's livers cannot process the lavender very well and may not cause immediate reactions, but over time the build up can cause liver damage. However, keep in mind that lavender LOVES sunlight and well drained, not very rich, soil. Windowsills are a great place for lavender to go.

5. Rose Geranium Pelargonium graveolens

There are over 200 different species of geranium, and they are all great air purifiers and easy to care for. I prefer to grow Rose Geranium, however, because it's also a great tea for diabetics, it lowers blood glucose levels fairly quickly. All geraniums also repel insects and can survive without water for up to 2 weeks. Rose Geranium also smells very similar to roses, so it's a great way to get a beautiful, floral scent in your home without having to resort to chemical heavy scents. The more sunlight it has, the more it blooms, the more fragrance you'll notice. It also helps filter out, not just chemicals, but also bacteria from the air. So if your family is prone to infections, invest in some Rose Geranium plants.

Rosemary Juniper Cranberry Sauce

     I am always experimenting in my kitchen, especially this time of year.  One of the things I try to do most often is add herbs into our food, both to enhance the flavor, and to make sure my family is consuming enough vitamins (herbs are jam packed with vitamins and minerals).  Rosemary and Juniper are two herbs that I absolutely love and they have great health benefits, so when I ran across a recipe online for Cranberry Sauce with Rosemary and Juniper, I decided to try it out and make it my own.  I have included the URL for the original recipe down in my resources, for those of you who want to check it out.

A note about the herbs:

     Rosemary Rosmarinus officinalis is excellent for your memory, improves your mood, reduces inflammation, eases pain, protects the immune system, stimulates circulation, detoxifies the body, protects against bacterial infections, prevents premature aging (because of its high amount of antioxidants no less), and helps heal many skin conditions.  Most of these benefits have been known and used for centuries.  Shakespeare even wrote “rosemary, that’s for remembrance” in his play Hamlet.  Rosemary is also commonly added to food in many areas and does help aid digestion and calm the stomach.  Also, because of its antibacterial properties, rosemary makes a great breath freshener. 

     Juniper Juniperus communis is naturally antibacterial, antiviral, and antiseptic.  This makes it a great choice to fight infections of all kinds.  Juniper is useful to reduce inflammation and to increase the production of stomach acids, which means that it’s great for digestion.  Juniper, like cranberry, is great for the urinary tract and helps to prevent and treat urinary tract infections.  Juniper also helps to lower blood sugar and can alleviate some of the problems associated with a woman’s menstrual cycle. 

Rosemary Juniper Cranberry Sauce

12 cups organic cranberries (fresh or frozen)

1 bottle hard apple cider of your choice

2 cups apple cider (the family friendly kind found in your local produce department)

1 cup orange juice

½ cup red wine of your choice

1-2 tsp dried juniper berries, lightly crushed (I love the taste of juniper, so I lean more towards 2 tsp, but it is a strong flavor so start light)

3 tsp fresh rosemary leaves, roughly chopped

Raw, local honey

½ tsp sea salt

Combine cranberries, apple cider, hard apple cider, orange juice, wine, juniper, and rosemary in a pot.  Cover and bring to a boil over medium-high heat.  Reduce heat to a simmer and cook, covered, for about 10-15 minutes, or until all the cranberries have popped.  Add ½ cup of the honey and all of the salt.  Stir and taste, if it needs more sweetening, add more honey about ½ cup at a time.  Add more juniper or rosemary at this time as well, if needed.  Simmer until the sauce has reached the desired consistency, remember that it will thicken a bit upon cooling.  

If you want to store it/can it, pour into sterilized mason jars (makes 5-6 pints), leaving ¼ inch free at the top.  Put the jars into a boiling water bath for about 15 minutes.  This sauce will keep, canned, for about 1 year.  Refrigerate after opening, or just serve fresh at Thanksgiving dinner!

I hope you all enjoy this recipe.  Just like with all my recipes, feel free to play around and make it your own.  Change up the herbs (basil or mint should be tasty, or you could go with the classic cinnamon and clove combination), use beer instead of cider (there are some really good gluten free beers out on the market right now), gin instead of wine (for those of you who just love the flavor of juniper), or add some seasonal nuts (walnuts might be especially tasty).  Experiment and have fun making healthy food for your friends and family!

Resources:

Herb Wisdom – Juniper: http://www.herbwisdom.com/herb-juniper.html

Local Kitchen Blog – Cranberry Sauce with Rosemary and Juniper Berries: https://localkitchenblog.com/2009/12/12/cranberry-sauce-with-rosemary-juniper-berry/

Organic Facts – Health Benefits of Rosemary: https://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/herbs-and-spices/rosemary.html