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Mountain Mama Wellness
Instagram.soul _medicine2023
Green Beauty and Herbal Remedies * Chemical Free Organic Skin Care * Herbal Education and More
MountainMamaWellness@protonmail.com - 503-472-6656
www.mountainmomma.ning.com
Click on this link and it should come up. .

Hello All,
Mountain Mama Wellness updates on Friday May 12th 2023
Saturdays: Farmers Market at the Grange 10:00 AM – 2:00 Pm
Starting May 11th Thursday Farmers Market 11:00 PM – 5:00 PM
I am booth 71 across the street on the Baptist Church Side in their parking lot.

Hard to believe it is already May 12th!! Summer is headed our way, which means everything is in rapid growth mode. At my farm it is amazing to see how much everything has grown! Including my granddaughters!

Every day I sit outside and enjoy a cuppa tea. I sit with a loved one and sometimes in solitude. This time of year while sipping tea I am sitting in a forest of bird song. The Wrens arrived a few weeks ago and the males are trying to call in their mates. The Wrens make a beautiful sound while calling in the female bird of their dreams. This week I also heard the Swainson Thrush calling out to its flock and will soon be singing its summer song. All day the birds are sharing their gift of song, which sends me into a happy state. Right now I sit with this amazing concert of bird song while sipping a cuppa tea, while gardening, while watering, while hiking and in the early morning while lying in bed. I could sit all day in stillness and listen to them, and I feel blessed for their presences.

My granddaughter Satinka is enjoying the Dandelions. She is blowing the Dandelions wishes everywhere and today she made the mistake of giving them a kiss, which meant Dandelion seeds stuck to her mouth, we both giggled at that.
She and I made a Sun Tea out of the Dandelion Flowers and added some of my Tranquility Tea.
We took a 2 cup mason jar
About ¼ to ½ cup Dandelion flowers
2 tablespoons of Tranquility Tea
Pour water into the jar and fill it up.
Put the lid on
Let steep in the sun for about 2 to 4 hours.
You could also do a lunar infusion and let it sit under the stars and moon over night. It is magical

The apple blossoms are blooming as are the Lilacs and Hawthorns.
If you have Hawthorn Flowers this would be the time to pick some and some leaves and make a tincture, glycerite, vinegar, oxymel, infused honey, or dry them for tea. You could also make a Hawthorn Flower essence

If you have Lilacs then I would encourage you to make a Lilac infused honey, it is Beautiful and Awesome!
You could also make Apple Blossom Flower Essence

Mother’s Day is Sunday:
Come check out my booth at the Farmers Market at The Grange and pick out a few items to shower her with. While you are there stop by other vendors booths they have many lovely items that mom will most likely love. There is baked goods, produce, lamb, plants and more.
My Suggestions For Mom
Floral Face Cleaner, Ylang Ylang Rose Spray, Ylang Ylang Rose Cream, A Tea, A Bath Salt, Chap Stick and put it in a basket with some chocolate. Even better a few goodies from the market tucked away in her gift basket.

New Items:
Sunscreen
Tropical Creamy Body Cream – Great for after sun care.
Ylang Ylang Rose Face Cream
Cucumber Fennel Eye Cream
Coconut Lemon Lime Lip Balm
Honey Body Butter – Heavy Moisturizer for Foot and Body – Juniper, Citrus, Ginger – Not only does this body butter moisturize it is great for your circulation.

The official pick-up date for your Wellness Box will be May 19th 2023
It is official the Mountain Mama Wellness Boxes are happening! Each monthly wellness box will have a theme with several items for you to enjoy and use. These monthly wellness boxes will have information on each item, information on each herb used, the recipes (just in case you want to recreate something you enjoyed) each box will be based on a theme. For example summer is coming up and the June box will be a Summer Herbal First Aid Kit.
The Cost is $60.00 for a Mountain Mama Wellness Box.
May’s Mountain Mama Wellness Box –
May’s wellness box is full of love, beauty and vitality. It is full of items to help you rest, repair and bring you into a state of vitality. Last week I talked about a vinegar reduction that I was making. It turned out beautiful and the color is a robust red. I am getting pretty excited about putting all of these items together as we approach the delivery day.
This month’s box will have items that help with inflammation. I felt this was an important subject since so many of us are dealing with some sort of inflammation. Emotional stress and environmental stress will cause inflammation in one’s body and these days there is a lot of stress in one's life. The effects of stress can range from allergies, skin issues, body aches, dehydration, tummy troubles, acid reflux, insomnia, heart attacks, high blood pressure, etc. Chronic stress puts your health at risk and creates an inflamed body. This box is about cooling stress down and reduces inflammation in the body. I will also give some helpful ideas to help you manage stress.
In this box, there will be Cacao Rose Bitters, a tincture for inflammation, infused vinegar, a tea, salve, infused honey, smudge stick and a foot soak and/or bath soak/
If you would like a May Box, you need to pre-pay.
Pre Order Now: Ways to Pay:
Drop off cash or check (made out to Suzanne Sanders) at the Kung Fu School or at the Saturday Market at the Grange (from 10:00 am- 2:00 pm). I can only take cards at the Market.
Pick Up: Your choice either at the Kung Fu School (Friday evening) or at the Farmers Market at The Grange on Saturday.
I can mail boxes, so if you need this option please contact me for shipping cost.
The official pick-up of your Wellness Box will be May 19th 2023

Suggestions:
Date Night Suggestion: Relax and Release Tea, Calm Soak and Yoni Butter.
Nightly Ritual: Tranquility Tea, Full Moon/New Moon Bath Soak and moisturizer with a face/body cream after.
Revitalizing Foot Soak, Tranquility Tea, and Happy Feet Cream
Calm Soak for the hands, then Honey Hand Ointment or Coriander Hand Moisturizer.
Spa Treatment: Floral Cleansing Grains use as a mask while you soak in a tub of Calm, or soak in the Hibiscus Rose Bath Melts. After bath pat your skin dry and moisturize. Gently rinse your face, apply the Ylang Ylang Rose Facial Spray and moisturize with Skin Bliss, Rose Cold Cream or Calm Body Cream
Products that are coming soon: Blue Chamomile, Super Nutritive Lavender Toner, Rose Toner Miracle Grains, Face Serum, sage spray, smudge sticks, facial steam, High Vitamin C Tea, Revitalizing Chai, and High Mineral Tea.

Fatty Lavender/ Tea Tree Rosemary Soap I personally love Fatty Soap and now so does Joseph. Neither of us like to use soap bars because they always give you that feel of something stuck to your skin after you have rinsed off. What I love about Fatty Soap is that it has extra oil, herbal powders and oat powder added to it. By doing this it feels like it is also moisturizing your skin. I have to admit that they are A LOT of work, but fun to do and the end product is worth it.

Floral Cleansing Grains: Use as a scrub or a Mask. It is great for clearing up your complexion, helps neutralize excess oil, pulls out impurities, plumps up and moisturizes your skin, and helps promote a glowing complexion. The Floral Cleansing grains ingredients are kaolin clay, oat powder, French green clay, calendula pd., chamomile pd., lavender pd., rose pd., turmeric pd., matcha pd., lavender eo, ylang ylang eo, geranium eo, chamomile eo and LOVE.
Turmeric has antibacterial and antiseptic properties and can help keep your complexion clean and clear. It is also perfect for mature skin that has become increasingly sensitive (calms and soothes troubled or reactive skin).
Take a couple tablespoons and make into a paste. You can make into a paste by add water or rose water/hydrosol.
Use as a scrub or as a mask
For Mask: Apply and keep on your face for 15 to 30 minutes. Rinse off.
After use: Apply a face toner and moisturizer.
Ideas For Making A Mask:
For Dry Skin – Add cream (coconut cream, dairy cream, yogurt etc.) optional a touch of honey and rose hydrosol (honey is a natural humectant)
For Normal Skin – Add milk (diary, yogurt or alternative milk) optional a touch of honey and rose hydrosol
For Oily Skin – Add water or hydrosol of choice
Satinka’s (my granddaughter) Herbal Allies which is all about Bioregional Herbalism. These are products that are either grown by us, or sustainably harvested here in Oregon by us. We then make products out of what we have collected. These items are seasonal.
Coriander Hand Moisturizer: lavender hydrosol, jojoba oil, sesame oil, refined coconut oil, cocoa butter, beeswax, soy free glycerin, coriander essential oil, bergamot essential oil, geranium essential, orange essential oil, honeysuckle flower essence, soy free vitamin e and LOVE
Bath Melts Hibiscus Rose: . With summer coming this is a great way to help dry parched skin. It is also relaxing and very moisturizing.
Caution: Bathtub will be slippery
Coconut oil, cocoa butter, hibiscus flowers, rose buds, lavender, orange peel, orange essential oil and LOVE
Toss one or 2 cubes in a warm bath. Soak for 20 – 30 minutes plus
After you get out of the bath, gently rub the oil into your skin and carefully pat your skin dry.
Tranquility Tea: Tulsi, rose petals, lemon grass, butterfly pea flower, oat tops, linden leaf and flower, hawthorn leaf, flower and berry, lavender, stevia, cinnamon and LOVE
Relax and Release Tea: Spearmint, chamomile, butterfly pea flower, lemon balm, lemon verbena, lemon grass, oats, skullcap, roses, stevia, passion flower, catnip, lavender and LOVE
Floral Cleansing Grains, Face Scrub or Mask
Honey Hand Ointment
Satinkas Herbal Allies - Calendula and Cottonwood Balm
Shimmering Body Mousse (think body Butter) Lavender, Lemon & Holy Basil
Rose Cold Cream – Rose hydrosol, apricot oil, coconut oil, cocoa butter, rosehip seed oil, beeswax, geranium rose eo, soy free vitamin e, oak flower essence, honeysuckle flower essence, LOVE AND BEAUTY.
Full Moon and New Moon Salt Soak: Baking soda, black lava salt, rose petals, Himalayan pink salt, Artemisia vulgaris, lavender buds, Epsom salt, bentonite clay, clary sage eo, geranium rose eo and LOVE
Ylang Ylang Rose Facial Spray
Clary Sage and Lavender Body Mist
Calm Body Cream – Luscious Moisturizer -It has avocado oil, shea butter, cocoa butter, lavender eo, ylang ylang eo, lemongrass eo, chamomile eo and love. It is whipped and looks like whipped butter.
Salt Soak – Calm Waters- It has baking soda, Epsom salt, Himalayan pink salt, sea salt, lavender buds, rose petals, chamomile, corn flowers, hibiscus flowers, hops, lavender eo, ylang ylang eo, chamomile eo, lemongrass eo and Love.
Calm Waters – Stress Relief Spray -: Lavender Hydrosol, lavender eo, ylang ylang eo, chamomile eo, lemongrass eo, bach rescue remedy and LOVE.
Mocha lip Love – organic ground works coffee, cacao, cinnamon, vanilla and a bit of mica.
Smooches Ginger and Spice
Spearmint Lip Love
Happy Feet Foot Cream
Rejuvenate and Refresh Foot Soak
Skin Bliss Face Cream
St. John’s Wort & Cottonwood –Light Luminous, Elevating & Protective – After Shower Body Cream (Bioregional Herbalism)
Warming Balm
Self Heal ( BioRegional Herbalism)
Muscle Goo
Yoni Butter

Oregon Wild – High Mountain Forest Body Cream (Bio-Regional Herbalism)

Vapor Rub

Pine Resin Salve (Bio Regional Herbalism)

Other Chap Sticks:

Hot lips - Rosy Lip Balm- Peppermint Lip Love -Cardamom Tulsi Rose - Calendula Sunshine Lip Balm with gold mica and a touch of Lemon and Lavender.    

With Love and Light

Phoenix (aka Sue)                 

Hello All,

Mountain Mama Wellness updates on Friday April 14th 2023

Today I have a bit of a recap and some new items to introduce. Also attached the pdf.   I recently found the domain name that I like.  It was a bit tough because there are other Mountain Mamas out there.  I actually can’t believe this was available. When I get my website up and running it will be: www.mountainmommawellness.com

My e-mail is MountainMamaWellness@protonmail.com or if you have a different e-mail that I still use then that works also.

My phone number: 505-472-6656

I am now on Instagram.  I am not sure how all this works, and I do not know (yet) how to tell you how to find me. I am under soul_medicine2023 / Mountain Mama Wellness by Phoenix Sanders. So if you use Instagram, please find me and if you like start following me.   

I recently changed a website that I have had for about 10 years from www.mcminnvillehealthdefense.ning.com to  www.mountainmomma.ning.com. ;

But… I am having tech issues and now my site is not coming up.  I am in contact with the tech people and they are working on it. 

After I am finished with the website I will start on an etsy shop.  On that note since my website is going to take more time and etsy seems a bit easier I have started my etsy account.  It is not up yet because I have to enter all my items with all their information, which includes photos, ingredients, all measurements, their weight etc.   My official etsy shop name will be Mountain Moma Wellness.  

 It is official the Mountain Mama Wellness Boxes are happening!  I have been working on the information for my Mountain Mama Wellness Boxes this week and I was going to put the information here today.  But I just realized the information is in a notebook at home. The super short version, each monthly wellness box will have a theme with several items for you to enjoy and use.  These monthly wellness boxes will have information on each item, information on each herb used, the recipes (just in case you want to recreate something you enjoyed)each box will be based on a theme. For example summer is coming up and the June box will be a Summer Herbal First Aid Kit. The official start for this will be May 2023, a great way to celebrate May Day!!   The cost is $60.00 a month. I am debating on keeping a few theme boxes available for purchase (separately) year around. Such as a Menopause Box, Pregnancy Box, Men’s Health, Women’s Vitality etc.

New items of the week:  This week’s new items gave me the wonderful opportunity to be with my friend the Rose.  What better timing to, this is that time of year I am out hiking and I literally smell the wild rose bush when I walk by it. Yes you read that right, there are no blossoms at this time of the year, but as the Wild Rose Bush wakes up it literally gives off this intoxicating rose scent that comes from the leaves and branches. It is literally calling out to you saying summer will be here soon, just breathe in my scent, be happy and you will see my blossoms soon.   The Rose has many incredible and amazing health benefits, not to mention it is a wonderful aromatic bush. The rose tells you to relax, to love, to open your heart to love, it can wake up the senses for a night of passion, it rejuvenates and regenerates the skin.   Just smelling the scent of rose gives a calming and relaxing effect.

Rose Cold Cream is now available.  It is a moisturizer that rejuvenates and replenishes your skin. It can also be used as a cleanser. Just put a light coat on and gently wipe it off with a soft tissue.  You will be amazed at the dirt that it can pullout.  Don’t forget to do it to your neck.  After you use it to cleanse your skin, if you feel like it, apply a light coat to moisturize your skin.   This wonderful cream can be used just as a moisturizer.  I also love this cream as a full body moisturizer and I love using it after I get out of the shower.  What better way to start your day than smelling like a rose.

Ah but it gets better.  I also added a couple of flower essences.  Flower Essences are a healing vibrational energy medicine.  They are amazing and I have been using them for many years.  The Rose Cold Cream has Oak Flower Essence and Honeysuckle Flower Essence in it. 

Oak Flower Essence helps those who are extremely positive (but get burnt out) in their approach to life.  They are fighters who never lose hope or give up. Any problems they have stem from their tendency to draw constantly on their internal strengths, ignoring nature’s alarm signals and exhausting even their massive energy reserves as a result. .  Oak helps recharge your batteries and it will help you recognize that there are limits even to your strength and that there is a time to rest.

Honeysuckle Flower Essence helps those who have a tendency to look to the past, maybe to happier days.  As a result, there is a risk of losing interest in the issues and demands of the present, missing out on much of life as a result through a preoccupation with past events and happenings. The remedy will help those who struggle with this by encouraging them to focus more on the present, helping them to put the past into perspective, so that it does not come to dominate their thoughts.  Honeysuckle may help bereaved people who think back all the time, or act as if their loved one were still alive.   The next new items are:  

Yoni Butter Cocoa Butter, this one is almost the same as my other one, but has less bees wax and more of a cocoa butter smell.  It is like using cocoa on your yoni, it’s nice, slippery and is a great sensual moisturizing lubricant.   If you have a partner that loves to give you a full body massage this yoni butter works great for this also.   Something most women do not think about, we always moisturize our hands, faces, body and feet.  But after a shower you can also moisturize your yoni with yoni butter. 

Next is Ylang Ylang Rose Facial Spray. Give yourself a few spritzes on your face and then apply your moisturizer.  You can also spritz your face when you feel like you need a lift. 

Then there is Clary Sage and Lavender Body Mist:  The scent is uplifting and can help with bringing hope and joy into your day.  It has three different Flower Essences in it.  It has the star of Bethlehem, Gorse and Sweet Chestnut.

The last new item for this week is, Full Moon & New Moon Salt Soak. I would like to encourage you to add foot soaks and bath soaks into your life. Start new rituals of soaking in the healing waters of life a few times a week or at least one time a week.  Get a few candles, get some flowers and fill a tub, make a cuppa relaxing tea, put the soft music on, turn out the lights and soak your body or feet  Help yourself, learn to mother yourself,  and reconnect to the natural rhythms of nature. 

These days so many need rituals to mother themselves why not start with a soak, not only is it super important for vitality it encourages you to stop, be still, be silent and go back into the warm watery womb of life.  .So as the sun sets in the west and the darkness of the night approaches, slow down and fill the tub.  Remember the sun sets in the west and gives you a beautiful sunset, but it also reminds you to take in the gift of calm to help you sleep all night long.  The night sky is a reminder there is always beauty and light and this beauty and light reminds you to take the gifts of silence and stillness of the night to help you sleep all night.  So when you wake up you can be happy, healthy and whole so you can take compassion and love wherever you go. 

Full Moon and New Moon Salt Soak:  Baking soda, black lava salt, rose petals, Himalayan pink salt, Artemisia vulgaris, lavender buds, Epsom salt, bentonite clay, clary sage eo, geranium rose eo and LOVE 
Skin Bliss is still available! (I only have a few jars left) This is one of my most popular creams. Skin Bliss is great for most skin types such as normal, dry and mature.
I made another batch of Calm Body Cream – Luscious Moisturizer. I sold all but one last Saturday and that one is going to my niece. This moisturizer works for those who need to have a light moisturizer. This moisturizer works for oily skin, normal, dry, and mature. My daughter Raquel loves it and also uses it on my granddaughters. 

Every Saturday I will be at the Farmers Market at The Grange and will continue to be there every Saturday. I will also be in the Thursday Farmers Market which starts May 11th. I will do my best to update you with what products I will have each week. Each week I will be adding more products.

Satinka’s (my granddaughter) Herbal Allies which is all about Bioregional Herbalism. These are products that are either grown by us, or sustainably harvested here in Oregon by us. We then make products out of what we collected. These items are seasonal. Coming next week Cottonwood Balm (April 22)
Products that are coming soon: Blue Chamomile, Super Nutritive, Fennel Eye Cream, Ylang Ylang Rose, Lavender Toner, Rose Toner Miracle Grains, Face Serum, Fatty Soap and more.
Product List:
*New* Rose Cold Cream – Rose hydrosol, apricot oil, coconut oil, cocoa butter, rosehip seed oil, beeswax, geranium rose eo, soy free vitamin e, oak flower essence, honeysuckle flower essence, LOVE AND BEAUTY.
*New* Full Moon and New Moon Salt Soak: Baking soda, black lava salt, rose petals, Himalayan pink salt, Artemisia vulgaris, lavender buds, Epsom salt, bentonite clay, clary sage eo, geranium rose eo and LOVE
*New* Ylang Ylang Rose Facial Spray
*New* Clary Sage and Lavender Body Mist
Calm Body Cream – Luscious Moisturizer -It has avocado oil, shea butter, cocoa butter, lavender eo, ylang ylang eo, lemongrass eo, chamomile eo and love. It is whipped and looks like whipped butter.
Salt Soak – Calm Waters- It has baking soda, Epsom salt, Himalayan pink salt, sea salt, lavender buds, rose petals, chamomile, corn flowers, hibiscus flowers, hops, lavender eo, ylang ylang eo, chamomile eo, lemongrass eo and Love.
Calm Waters – Stress Relief Spray -: Lavender Hydrosol, lavender eo, ylang ylang eo, chamomile eo, lemongrass eo, bach rescue remedy and LOVE.
Mocha lip Love – organic ground works coffee, cacao, cinnamon, vanilla and a bit of mica.
Smooches Ginger and Spice
Spearmint Lip Love
Happy Feet Foot Cream
Rejuvenate and Refresh Foot Soak
Skin Bliss Face Cream
St. John’s Wort & Cottonwood –Light Luminous, Elevating & Protective – After Shower Body Cream (Bioregional Herbalism)
Warming Balm
Self Heal ( BioRegional Herbalism)
Muscle Goo
Yoni Butter
Oregon Wild – High Mountain Forest Body Cream (Bio-Regional Herbalism)
Vapor Rub
Pine Resin Salve (Bio Regional Herbalism)
Other Chap Sticks:
Hot lips - Rosy Lip Balm- Peppermint Lip Love -Cardamom Tulsi Rose - Calendula Sunshine Lip Balm with gold mica and a touch of Lemon and Lavender.

With Love and Light
Phoenix (aka Sue)

14.4 miles.... and a breakfast for champions,

Buffalo Veggie Soup

Thanksgiving Day Hike, we headed out with our heavy wool and layers of silk and wool..

Gorge wind, ice, black ice, dark hike, a few sun spots, cold cold wind, snow, ice, frozen muscles, epic fall in the snow with a shoulder row (saved my cup), many black ice falls, epic cold freezing wind, to cold to take pictures (I only took a few), to cold to make tea, finished right before it got dark...

Gave thanks for butt warmers and dreamed of a hot shower when we got home.

Wobbled out of the car, took a 30 minute hot, hot shower, hugged the wood stove and sipped on a hot cup of tea..

I used half a jar of my Invigorating Cream on me and a took a tincture that is used for nerves and muscles.  

14.4 mile and 7 hours...

Next day we felt good and made plans to go back out on Sunday.  

My husband wrote about our adventure: 

http://mountainwarrior.ning.com/profiles/blogs/do-you-know-my-wife?xg_source=activity

I had several request for my pizza dough recipes.  Here you go....

Awesome Organic Wheat Pizza

First Step:  Do this a day or two before your pizza day.

Poolish

4 cups organic unbleached bread flour or organic whole wheat flour 

4 cups cool water 

1/4 teaspoon yeast.  I prefer the Organic Rapuzel brand. 

http://internaturalfoods.com/brands/rapunzel-organic-fair-trade-foods.html

Combine all the ingredients in a mixing bowl large enough to hold the batter after is has doubled in volume. 

Beat or whisk for about 1 minute, until the batter is well mixed and quite smooth.  (Any remaining small lumps will dissolve when the final dough is mixed, if not before.) 

Cover the bowl with natural wax paper, and then a towel.  Keep out of draft and in a warm area. Leave it at room temperature for 3 to 5 hours, or till foamy and bubbly. 

Refrigerate the Poolish, well covered, overnight. 

Pizza Dough or Bread Dough

Make your poolish !!!!!, This has to be done a day or two before pizza day

3 1/2 cups organic unbleached flour or organic whole wheat

2 teaspoons sea salt 

1/4 tsp. yeast

2 Tbls. raw local honey

1/2 cup organic olive oil 

3/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon cool filtered or spring water

1 1/4 cup poolish sponge (above recipe) 

Combine all the ingredients in the bowl of an electric mixer with a paddle attachment (not a dough hook) or a mixing bowl.  If mixing by machine, mix on slow speed for 1 minute;  increase to medium speed and mix for about 12 minutes, till the dough is smooth and creamy.  The dough will be very wet, like a thick pancake batter .

 If mixing by hand, (this is what I do) beat with a whisk or spoon for 15 minutes. 

Cover the bowl with natural wax paper and a towel

Allow the dough to rise at room temperature for 3 hours, till bubbly.  

Refrigerate overnight;  it will thicken as it cools

Side Note:  You can make pizza at this point.  You do not have to refrigerate overnight.  Just flour up your counter spot real well and knead it until smooth

If you refrigerate over night: 

Turn the dough out onto a heavily floured work surface and use a knife or pastry blade to cut it into 3 to 8 pieces.  

You can make three 12 inch pizzas, eight 6 inch pizzas, or any number in between. 

Toss the pieces, one at a time, in the flour, gently round them into loose balls, and place them on the prepared pan.   Brush a little bit of organic olive oil  and cover.  Let the dough rise for at least 30 minutes before proceeding.

Dough can hold up for 2 days in the refrigerator, tightly covered. 

This dough can be made into french bread, make cinnamon rolls, a fruit roll, etc....

GLUTEN FREE PIZZA CRUST RECIPE

I used almond meal instead of ricotta cheese( I only did this for the guest that I had, had a allergy to dairy). 

Gluten Free Flour Blend 

1/4 cup millet flour

3/4 cup white rice flour (or use a mixture of brown rice and white rice flour)

1/4 cup sweet rice flour

1/4 cup arrowroot starch (or  tapioca starch)

1/2 cup tapioca flour

2 teaspoons guar gum

OR 2 cups of gluten free flour blend 

3/4 teaspoon sea salt

1 1/2 Tablespoons raw local honey

1 teaspoon honey for proofing yeast

2 1/2 teaspoons active dry yeast

3/4 cup warm water, (heated to 115 -120 degrees)

2 Tablespoons ricotta cheese, yogurt, milk, or  for casein free try almond meal 

2 organic eggs

2 1/2 Tablespoons olive oil

1/2 teaspoon red wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar

1 Tablespoon Honey

Note: If you like your pizza dough seasoned, try adding some Italian seasoning to the dough.  I put two tablespoons of organic Italian seasoning 

DIRECTIONS:

Mix the olive oil, ricotta cheese (if using almond meal, save and add to the dry ingredients), honey, and vinegar in a medium size bowl and set aside so the mixture comes to room temperature.

This mixture should not be cold when mixed with the dry ingredients.

Next,  in a separate bowl combine all the dry ingredients and sift together.

 In a separate small bowl, place your yeast and the teaspoon of honey. Mix with about 1/4 cup of the heated water, stir, and let it sit for a few minutes. Once you know the yeast is active, proceed with the recipe. 

At this point, you want to double check and make sure all your ingredients have come to room temperature.

Give the dry ingredients a few stirs. Add the egg, ricotta mixture to the dry ingredients and stir

Add the yeast mixture. At this point, gauge the liquid level. You want the dough to look like stiff cake batter. The dough should still hold the swirls after you stir it, but it should be shiny and not dull.

Add the rest of the water slowly until the right consistency is achieved. I used another 1/2 cup – making 3/4 cup of warm water total. Since different brands of flour and measuring techniques vary, it is best to eyeball this and add the water slowly to get the texture you want. You will get good at knowing what gluten free pizza dough is supposed to look like.

Cover and let rise for 1 hour 

Turn oven on 400 degrees 

Lightly brush olive oil in pan.   With a cake scraper, slowly spread the pizza dough batter  You want the batter to be evenly distributed.  To create a beautiful crust edge to your pizza dough cover your hands in olive oil and shape the edges like you want them. Or use the back of a metal spoon dipped in olive oil.  If you find your hands or spoon are  getting too sticky get a little more olive oil.  

Pre-bake crust for 10 minutes. 

Take out of the oven and then add toppings. Cook for about 7 minutes maybe more. If you want your cheese to brown, turn the broiler on for about 2 minutes before taking the pizza out. Be careful though because the pizza will burn if left too long- I recommend watching this process carefully!!

Makes 1 12-13 inch pizza crust.

Chocolate Zucchini Bread and Gluten Free Chocolate Zucchini Muffins: 

http://mcminnvillehealthdefense.ning.com/profiles/blogs/mountain-mama-wellness-box-ninth-week

Raw Seed And  Nut Spread

1/2 cup each, sunflower seeds, cashews, and almonds

1 Tbs. olive oil

1/4 tsp salt

1/2 Tbs miso

water to blend, about 1/2 cup

Soak the seeds and nuts overnight or for 8 hours.  Rinse and puree with the remaining ingredients in a blender until well mixed and of spread consistency.  Serve with raw veggies and crackers.  Makes about 1 3/4 cups

High Vitamin C Tea: 

4 parts rose hips

3 parts hibiscus flowers

2 parts lemongrass 

1 part cinnamon chips

2 parts elderberry (optional) 

1 tablespoon per 1 cup of water.  

Bring spring  water or filtered water to a boil.  Add herbs. turn on low (no boiling) simmer for 5 minutes.  Strain and enjoy. 

I like to  make this by the gallon in the summer time.  When it is hot I add honey to taste.  Let it cool strain and refrigerate.  

Also, in the late summer I like to add some elderberries to this recipe.  I add 2 parts elderberry to the above recipe.  

This High Vitamin C Tea recipe has a nice flavor that will remind you of cranberry juice with citrus undertones. 

Only  buy organic herbs!

Gluten Free Pumpkin Cupcakes: 

http://glutenfreegoddess.blogspot.com/2011/10/pumpkin-cupcakes-with-maple-cream.html

This is what my daughter Sophia did with this recipe: 

We never use potato starch.  Non organic potatos are very toxic, high contaminated with fungicides. 

Substitute:  tapioca startch

We never use xanthan gum:  It is not a food.  It is created in a lab...... 

Substitute:  guar gum 

Frosting: 

We never use powdered sugar... Yuck. really bad for your body. 

We would never use vegan cream cheese, toxic GMO Food.... 

Here is Sophia's Frosting recipe:

1 (8 ounce) package package cream cheese, softened

1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter, softened (optional)

2 tablespoons ( or more to taste) maple syrup

1/2 teaspoon of real organic vanilla 

We usually do not put the butter in.  

Cream together cream cheese and butter in a large bowl with an electric mixer until fluffy. Gradually add maple syrup and vanilla and beat until well combined.

Lavender, rose petals, chamomile and lemon balm tea, potatoes, cabbage, collard greens, beets, onion,rosemary, sage, oregano, kale, nettle, salad mix (lettuce, bitter lettuce,dandelion,swiss chard,lemon balm, queen anne's lace flowers and nasturiums), cucumbers, zucchini, brassica mix, wild food of the week is Queen Anne's Lace (flowers, leaf  and green fruit) and celery

Wild Food Of The Week:  Queen Anne's Lace

Once you know how to safely identify queen anne’s lace, it’s a pretty versatile plant in recipes.  In the spring and fall, the roots may be dug up and eaten in the same manner as domestic carrots.  While these are quite flavorful, don’t expect them to be as big or tender as their orange commercial cousins.

If you enjoy the flavor of the leaves, they can be used either fresh or dried as you would parsley. Young flower buds may be added to stir-fries and skillet dishes.  Or the tiny flowers can be scattered upon finished dishes or in salads.  

You can also eat queen anne’s lace fruit (the tiny green or red bits that eventually dry into seeds).  Harvest the fruit of queen anne’s lace after the flowers start to curl into birds nests, but before they go completely brown.  Queen anne’s lace fruit has a strong flavor that is like an explosion of parsley with a long finish of citrus.

Side Note: Queen anne’s lace  is not a good plant for beginning foragers to try simply because of the risk of mistaking it with poison hemlock.  Never eat a plant which you cannot properly identify.  No harm ever comes from walking away; just consider it a learning experience.

Queen Anne's Lace Fruit 

For more information on wild foods: 

http://www.meadowsandmore.com/foraged-flavor

http://foragingandfeasting.com/

Queen Anne's Lace Jelly: 

http://www.eattheweeds.com/daucus-carota-pusillus-edible-wild-carrots-2/

More Information and Recipes For Queen Anne's Lace: 

http://www.carrotmuseum.co.uk/queen.html

Side Note: One of the recipes looks like a yummy wild carrot cake.  Please modify the recipe.

 I would not use tofu or  vegetable oil/corn oil.   These items are Toxic GMO ingredients. 

I would use organic sunflower oil, coconut oil or olive oil.  For the tofu I would use organic cream cheese or try organic coconut spread.  

Sage Pesto

Recipe from Rosemary Gladstar's book:  Medicinal Herbs, a beginners guide 

1/2 cup fresh cilantro leaves and stems

1/2 cup Queen Annes lace leaf fruit mix OR  parsley

1/4 to 1/2 cup fresh sage leaves, first time making it try the 1/4 cup version and if you would like it stronger than next time add more

3 cloves garlic

3/4 to 1 cup olive oil

1/4 to 1/2 cup sunflower seeds or walnuts or a mix

1/4 cup raw cheese (optional) 

Freshly ground black pepper and sea salt 

To make: 

Combine the herbs, garlic and olive oil in a blender or food processor and pulse until creamy.  Mix in the nuts or seeds and cheese (if using) and salt and pepper to taste.  

To use: 

Serve on toast or crackers, pasta, steamed grains, omelets, vegetables or organic meat.

Mushroom Lover's Special Treat:

Quinoa, Mushroom, and Sage Pilaf with Shiitake Crisps

The shiitake crisps are addictive, so you might want to make much more than theis recipe calls for 

For the shiitake crisps: 

1/2 lb shiitake mushrooms, stems removed and cut into 1/4 inch slices

1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

Sea salt and pepper

For the pilaf:

1 oz dried porcini mushrooms

3 tabls extra-virgin olive oil

2 large shallots, minced

3 garlic cloves, minced 

1/2 red bell pepper, cut into small dice

1/lb mixed mushrooms, such as white, chanterelle, shiitake, or cremini, coarsely chopped 

2 cups quinoa, rinsed

3 Tbls minced, fresh sage leaves 

3 cups organic vegetable broth or water

1/4 cup organic red wine

sea salt and  freshly ground black pepper

2 Tbls chopped fresh, flat-leaf parsley, for garnish ( you could use Queen Annes Lace leafs)

2 Tbls chopped chives, for garnish

Preheat oven to 375 

To prepare the shiitake crisps, toss together mushroom slices, olive oil, sea salt and pepper in a medium bowl.  Spread mushrooms in a single layer on a baking sheet.  Roast in the preheated oven until crispy, about 20 to 30 minutes.  They will look much smaller and dried out.  

Set aside. 

For the pilaf, soak dried porcini mushrooms in hot water for 30 minutes.  Drain, reserving soaking water.  Chop mushrooms. 

In a large saucepan, sweat the shallots, garlic, and red pepper until softened.  Add mushrooms, including chopped porcini, and cook until their moisture has evaporated and they start to brown.  

Add quinoa and sage.  

Stir well to coat the quinoa with oil.  Add in broth, 3/4 cup of the porcini soaking liquid, and wine.  

season well with salt and pepper.  Bring the liquid to a boil;  Lower heat to simmering.  Cover pot tightly and cook for 15 minutes.  Turn off heat and let sit for 10 minutes.  Fluff quinoa with a fork.  

Put in a serving dish, sprinkle with parsley (or queen annes lace) and chives.  

Top with shiitake crisps.  

Makes 6 to 8 servings. 

Antioxidant Superstars

Rosemary, sage, thyme, and oregano are about the most antioxidant-rich foods on the planet thanks to their aromatic phenols.  Though these four have slightly different medicinal properties, they're all anti-inflammatory, circulation-enhancing, and immune supportive.  

Try these interesting beverage combinations.  

rosemary-lemon balm

rosemary lemon

sage - ginger

thyme-oregano-spearmint.  

Fresh herbs often have superior flavor, but the health benefits get stronger as they dry. 

Remember when you make a tea or herbal beverage, that if you are using dried herbs, you always use less than if you you fresh herbs. 

Lemon Balm:  Did you know that by adding a few leaves of lemon balm to salad increases the salad's antioxidant activity 150 - 200 percent?  They work as a team to refresh one another, enhance absorption, and boost activity. 

Tea Of The Week

Place bag of herbs in a gallon jug, with warm filtered water or spring water.  Stir in 4 to 6 tablespoons  of honey.  

Let sit in the sun for 8 hours

Strain and enjoy

Tea Mix Recipe

14 cups of  warm spring water or filtered water

8 heaping Tbls. lavender 

8 heaping Tbls chamomile

8 heaping Tbls rose petals

1 heaping handful of fresh lemon balm

If do not have fresh lemon balm add 1/4 cup dried lemon balm and a few lemon wedges. 

4- 6 Tbls. local raw honey

Put all ingredients in a gallon glass jar.  Stir until honey is dissolved.  

Sun infusion let sit in the sun for 8  hours

Lunar infusion let sit throughout the night

Strain and enjoy

Where To Order Your Herbs: 

http://www.mountainroseherbs.com/

Zucchini Chips:  http://www.freshbitesdaily.com/zucchini-chips/

Zucchini chips are a great snack when you got the munchies! 

If you have not made these yet, I strongly urge you to go for it and try this recipe. The are really good.  My 16 year old daughter made them and they are incredible!  She made up her own spice blend, it was a combination of garlic, pepper, sea salt and Italian spices.  

Morning Harvest:  Nettle, collard greens, three different types of kale, basil, apple mint tea, potatoes, green onions, onion, garlic, green beans, zucchini, three different types of cucumber, celery, five different types of tomatoes, egg plant, delicata squash and many varieties of peppers. 

Cucumber Salad:  You will need to pick up some organic whole milk yogurt and dill

http://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/cucumber_yogurt_salad/

Pickled Nettle and Other Nettle Recipes:  

Side Note:  I would leave out the Tamari in the pickled nettle recipe

http://www.dandelionherb.com/public_html/recipes.html

Savory Nettle Chips:  You could do this with your kale to.  

http://mountainroseblog.com/nettle-chips-recipe/

Baked Delicata Squash:  I would add few cloves of chopped garlic, organic butter and 2 tablespoons of organic maple syrup.

http://summertomato.com/better-than-butternut-roasted-delicata-squa...

How to make sun-dried Tomatoes: 

http://allrecipes.com/recipe/sun-dried-tomatoes-i/

You could add seasonings to this recipe if you like 

Roasted Peppers: 

http://markbittman.com/how-to-cook-everything-the-basics-roasted-pep/

Today marks the last few weeks of the harvest.    Just six weeks left.  Whew!  

This  season has been moving extremely fast.  We started off in June watering like it was August.  This has left us with the feeling of never catching up.    There were times you would walk around the farm and you could hear all the plants asking for water, they were extremely thirsty.  

It is September and most of our crops are almost done, due to the fast ripening of the season.   We are hoping to still have produce  towards the end of the season.    If things become slim, I will be giving herbal remedies to get you through your cold and flu season.   

We have had a lot of abundance this year, the salad greens were slim due to the heat and they bolted.

  I am very thankful for this season's beautiful abundance.  

This Weeks Harvest:   Nettle, kale, mixture of greens, rosemary, parsley, basil, wax beans, lemon cucumbers, cucumbers, zucchini, yellow squash,  a variety of tomatoes, potatoes, a variety of peppers and cabbage.

Nettle Information: 

http://cedarmountainherbs.com/nettles.htm

How To Make Your Own Powdered Greens: 

http://gnowfglins.com/2014/07/03/dehydrate-your-way-to-green-powder/?utm_content=buffer18d23&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer

Wax Bean Recipe: 

http://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/warm-yellow-wax-beans-in-bacon-v...

Use organic bacon, (Roths usually carries it) 

You can use red wine instead of sherry vinegar 

You can use regular onions instead of shallots 

You will need garlic for this recipe 

Abundance 

Mountain Mama Harvest: This weeks abundance: Collard greens, kale, comfrey, potatoes, onion, peppers, cucumber, zucchini, egg plant, green beans, carrots, sage mint tea, hops, stevia, tea mix of lavender cleavers, mint, parsley, celery, dill seed, nasturtium mix, nettle, basil, tomatoes ( roma, cherry, purple cherokee, green zebra) and cabbage  

Whew! Now it is  time to make a lot of herbal skin care products. Have a beautiful day 

Zucchini Pizza Crust: 

http://www.myhumblekitchen.com/2013/09/best-zucchini-recipe-ever-zu...

Honey Sweetened Refrigerated Pickles: 

http://www.realfoodallergyfree.com/2011/08/honey-sweetened-refriger...

Sweet Zucchini Relish: 

http://www.chicagotribune.com/lifestyles/food/sns-food-sides-zucchi...

Tomato Basil Salsa:

http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/tomato-basil-salsa-10000000223735/

Information on Dill Seed:

http://wholespice.com/blog/?p=2222

Dill Seed Braid Bread:

http://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/dill-seed-braid

Digestive Churan (dill seeds, plus you will need to purchase a few more seeds)

http://www.tarladalal.com/Digestive-Churan-31529r

Warm Dill Potato Salad: 

http://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/warm-dill-potato-salad

Nasturtium Pesto:  

You need 6 cups nasturtiums.  Because you have about 2 cups of nasturtiums, I would add some nettle and basil to this recipe to equal out your 6 cups. 

http://www.gardenbetty.com/2013/01/nasturtium-pesto/

"Changing How You Eat, Will Change The World"... "If You Eat Bad Foods, Your World Is Toxic, Your Body Is Toxic, If You Eat Organic Nutritious Foods Your World Becomes Healthy...."

Prescription for Good Health

Choose it or lose it! 

Your health, that is..... There are more than four million tons of farm chemicals spread on U.S. soil every year..... 

The standard American Diet ( S.A.D.) has a hidden agenda.  Missing on the labels of most foods are the dozens of chemicals used to grow, make, or preserve that bit of something about to go into your mouth.  Just imagine your reaction if organic farmers could take back their native tongue, and their organic strawberries were simply strawberries again and their counterparts were called " chemical or genetically engineered or irradiated strawberries."  Their certified label would have to list the 25 or so chemicals or procedures that had become a part of the strawberries very makeup.   And they would pay for an annual inspection, instead of the organic farmer (Organic farmers pay thousands of dollars every year to "certify" their food that they grow).  With the label table turned around, I think chemical foods would die a slow death on grocery store shelves.  

Would you buy a carton of strawberries with a  skull and crossbones on it?  

Remember, what you can't see can hurt you. 

  If you do not belong to my CSA then make sure you are shopping the farmers market. Search the farmers markets for  organic produce and organic meat.

 If you have not done this yet, what are you waiting for?  Make a goal this week to get over to the next farmers market near you.  

This Weeks Farm Produce: Nettle, comfrey, fennel fronds, apple mint and nettle tea mix, basil, celery,  salad mix (nasturtiums, rose petals, sheep sorrel, Swiss chard, beet greens, spinach, lambs quarters, bitter lettuce, lettuce and baby kale), kale, collard greens, carrots, onion, beets, zucchini and  cabbage.

For those of you who have not figured it out I love different types of pesto.  Here is another version of an awesome nutritious pesto:

Kale and Nut Pesto

small bunch of kale (4-6 leaves, remove the thick part of the stems*)

1/4 cup walnuts, toasted or soaked dehydrated almonds or  soaked and dehydrated pumpkin seeds.

1/2 to 1 clove of garlic

1/4 cup olive oil (or more for a smoother pesto)

juice & zest of one lemon

salt & pepper to taste

optional: grated raw cheese, or organic parmesan 

Instructions

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Fill a large bowl with ice and water.
2. Blanch kale for about 30 seconds, remove and place in the ice bath to stop the cooking process.
3. Dry the kale a bit, squeeze out some of excess water and set on a towel for a few minutes more.
4. Blend everything together in a food processor. Pulse to create a chunky pesto, blend longer to create a smoother one. Taste and adjust, adding more salt, pepper, lemon, olive oil, as necessary.

Kale and Basil Salad

4 cups finely chopped organic dinosaur kale
1 lemon, juiced
½ orange, juiced
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar

½ cup finely chopped basil

½ cup diced organic red bell pepper
4 teaspoons hulled  toasted sesame seeds
1 cup chopped organic walnuts

1/4 cup chopped organic sweet onion

Optional:  You could add some chopped apples or orange slices

Wash the kale thoroughly, then roll up the leaves together tightly (like a cigar) and chop across the roll, making very fine ribbons. Unravel and place in a bowl. Add the lemon juice, orange juice, and apple cider vinegar, and massage the kale for a couple minutes (so it softens), then set aside. Chop the basil the same way as the kale, and add to the kale mixture. Chop the bell pepper and add as well. Add the sesame seeds and walnuts last, and toss everything together.

Notes: You may also use other types of kale, as well as collard greens. 

Cabbage and Bean Salad:

Ingredients
1/2 head small-medium green cabbage, very thinly sliced (about 4 cups), core removed
2 carrots, grated (about 1 1/2 cups)
2 ribs celery, diced or one  cup of chopped celery from your wellness box 
3 green onions/scallions, chopped
1/2 medium cucumber, peeled and diced
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil 
1 1/2 cups cooked organic garbanzo 
1 organic avocado, diced

1/2 of a organic red bell pepper chopped

Dressing:
2 lemon, juice from (about 1/4 cup)
2 tablespoons organic Dijon mustard
1 garlic clove, minced
ground black pepper to taste

Options:  If you want to add color, add in a little purple cabbage,

Directions
1. Slice the cabbage so that the strands are very thin, and place into a large bowl. Add to this the grated carrots, celery, onion, cucumber, basil, beans, and avocado. Toss.

2. In a small bowl, combine dressing ingredients and blend with a fork. Add dressing to bowl of vegetables and toss thoroughly. If you are making this ahead of time, add the diced avocado just before serving.

Mason Jar Sauerkraut:

I can't wait to do this one myself! 

Click on link below: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=397Dua09VUI

For those of you who are  ready to get really serious with your sauerkraut skills: 

http://nourishedkitchen.com/homemade-sauerkraut/

Four Thieves Vinaigrette

Variations of this recipe have been treasured since Medieval times.  Legend has it that four grave robbers first used this strong antibacterial formula to protect them against the deadly plague.  Turning this classic remedy into a delicious salad  dressing helps the medicine go down easy. 

1/4 cup organic lavender flowers

1/4 cup organic sage leaf

1/4 cup organic rosemary leaf

1/4 cup organic thyme leaf

raw organic apple cider vinegar

organic extra virgin olive oil

4 cloves organic garlic, crushed 

sea salt and pepper

Place the herbs and garlic in a pint jar and fill to the top with gently warmed apple cider vinegar.  Use a piece of natural parchment paper under the lid to keep he vinegar from touching the metal.  Allow the vinegar concoction to extract for four weeks in a sunny window.  

Strain the vinegar into  a clean glass jar.

To make the vinaigrette, add 1 part vinegar to 3 parts olive oil.  Add the salt and pepper to taste.  Blend until well combined 

Zucchini Chips: 

http://www.freshbitesdaily.com/zucchini-chips/

Chocolate Zucchini Bread or Muffins 

1 cup rapunzel organic whole cane sugar

1 cup organic sunflower oil or coconut oil 

3 organic eggs

3 teaspoons vanilla extract

2-1/2 cups organic wheat, spelt or  organic white

1/2 cup organic baking cocoa

1 teaspoon sea salt

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

2 cups organic shredded peeled zucchini

Optional:  1 tsp cinnamon, a pinch of all spice and a 1/4 tsp. nutmeg

• In a large bowl, beat the sugar, oil, eggs and vanilla until well blended. Combine the flour, cocoa, salt, baking soda, cinnamon; gradually beat into sugar mixture until blended. Stir in zucchini. Transfer to two 8-in. x 4-in. oiled loaf pans
• Bake at 350° for 50-55 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely. 
• Yield: 2 loaves (12 slices each).

Gluten Free Chocolate Zucchini Muffins: 

Special Notes:  When we bake with Gluten Free Flour we never use products that contain (or when we make our own gluten free flour mix), potato flour or starch, soy flour, corn starch and corn flour.  We do not use these food products because they are toxic.  If you can find a potato flour or starch that is organic then go ahead and use it.  But stay away from the non- organic soy and corn products, they are highly toxic... Also, stay away form xanthan gum, it is made in a lab!

Stick with products that have guar gum.

2 cups sorghum flour OR gluten-free all purpose flour mix

1 1/2 teaspoons Guar Gum (don't add gum if using a GF flour mix that contains guar gum)

Never use products that have xanthan gum 

1/2 teaspoon sea salt

1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda

1/2 cup organic unsweetened cocoa powder

1/2 cup organic agave or Rapunzel organic whole cane sugar

2 large organic eggs

1/2 cup organic light olive oil

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 cup organic sour cream (for dairy free version substitute organic applesauce)

3 cups shredded unpeeled zucchini

Optional:  1 tsp cinnamon, a pinch of all spice and a 1/4 tsp. nutmeg

Preparation:

Congratulations to all that joined Seven Steps To Wellness Workshop.  Joining this class takes some serious commitment and it truly shows how strong you are for joining this class.  

You are working hard toward great accomplishment with your health and it gives me great joy to help guide you on your path to becoming a heather new you..   

First Class:  Tea time conversations,  book,  homework, food diaries and recipe handed out.   

Last night the little devils that speak in your ear were trying to talk me into taking a break.  They were yelling loud and clear.  They worked hard all the way through to this morning to get me to not hit my goal this morning.  

As I walked up the hill that headed toward the steep mountain I heard in broad day light the howling of a coyote.  For those of you who do not know the coyote is a symbol for being a trickster.  As I stopped and stood by the big evergreen tree I enjoyed the howl of this lonely coyote, understanding the message.  

It was a morning of tiredness, not wanting to work out and wanting to give in to those evil brats that were trying to take my dedication away.  Plus, my legs were burning way to early in my walk up.  

I was still going to get up that mountain and work on my forms.  The two little devils did talk me into just doing the 3 forms just 3 times and I would stop.  So they thought... 

As I was walking up I started to feel more awake, I moved slow enough to get the burning in my legs to stop.  At that point I pulled my dog Rocky and sped up. 

I found a shady spot to workout in, it had a bit of a hill, some gravel and some slippery wet grass.  I started with some rotations a few kicks and I was ready to do my forms.  

After I made it through my forms, the little devils were in for a disappointment because I found my energy and my positive angels.  I not only did I do my forms, I worked on my kicks, added a new kick to work on ( whirlwind)  and I worked on one of the forms 3 more times.  

The morning sun was beautiful and hot.  The smell of honey-suckle was filling the air with a combinations of evergreen, the mountain was showing her beauty, she gave me strength, through her beauty, fresh air and wonderful stereo sound of song birds.  

After my workout I drank my tea and  had a great conversation.  

When the little devils tell you to quit, tell them about the little train that could.  This is one person with MCS that is not stopping her life.  I am feeling very proud of myself.    

Now. I just need to catch up on my farm chores, it seems time is moving faster and I can not work hard and fast enough.  

Workout: 

10 front kicks right and left

10 straight leg kicks right and left

15 standing oblique crunches both sides

Pow Chow 3 x

Yet Sum 6 x 

Wah Lum Little First Form 3 x 

10 outside crescent kicks right and left

10 inside crescent kicks right and left

12 spinning inside crescent kicks right and left

7 whirl winds right and left.  

10 narrow push ups

10 wide push ups

Stretch

Our First Week: We have been working10 to 12 hour days since March.  All that hard work paid off for a wonderful first start.  I am grateful for the abundance. 

Week One Product:  Nettle, comfrey, calendula, garlic scallions, mustard greens,  salad, arugula, basil, radishes, carrots, spinach, herbs, evergreens,  kale and collard greens. 

Nettle:

Nettle Pesto

Makes: 1 generous cup

1/2 pound nettles
4 large garlic cloves, smashed or garlic scallions
1/2  teaspoon sea salt
Freshly ground pepper
1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 1/4 cups extra virgin olive oil
1/3 cup grated raw organic cheese

Bring a large pot of salted water to a simmer for the nettles. Add the nettles directly from their bag and cook, stirring continuously, for 2 minutes. (This denatures their sting.) Dump into a colander to drain. When the nettles are cool enough to handle, wrap them in a clean dishtowel and wring out as much moisture as possible, like you would for spinach. You’ll have about a cup of cooked, squished nettles.

In the food processor fitted with the paddle attachment, whirl the garlic, salt, and pepper to taste until finely chopped. Add the nettles, breaking them up as you drop them in, and the lemon juice and whirl until finely chopped. With the machine running, add the oil in a slow, steady stream, and process until smooth. Add the cheese, pulse briefly, and season to taste with additional salt, pepper, or lemon juice.

http://mcminnvillehealthdefense.ning.com/profiles/blogs/spring-time-super-tonic-food-nettle

More Nettle Recipes: 

http://www.thekitchn.com/stinging-nettles-8-recipes-for-145582

Comfrey: Comfrey Infused Grapeseed Oil/Olive oil is  used in  salves, creams and lotion recipes.  I like to apply the salve to acne scars and inflamed skin rashes.  You can also just use it as an infused oil.  The magic of Comfrey is from the active component contained in the leaf and root called allantoin which helps to boost the production of new skin cells.  In fact it works so fast that you should NEVER use it on open wounds, dirty wounds or broken skin.  You should only apply it to areas that have already scabbed over.

A Recipe for Infused Comfrey Oil:

You will need:

• A clean, dry jar
• Cut and dried Comfrey leaves
• An oil of your choice, enough to fill the jar.
• A spoon
• A square of thin cotton material, or a sieve.
• A clean, dry, glass bottle.

Carrier oil: The oil can be chosen to suit your needs:
Pure sunflower oil is cheap, cheerful and perfectly good; olive oil is a little more luxurious and my favourite for medicinal purposes; other possibilities include sesame, jojoba, avocado, hemp seed, almond and many others.

Method:

• Fill a third of the jar with Comfrey leaves.
• Fill the jar to the top with a carrier oil.
• Using a clean spoon press the Comfrey leaves down to ensure that there are no air bubbles.
• Put the lid onto the jar and leave in a warm, sunny window for at least one week and no more than two weeks.
• Strain the mixture and pour into the glass bottle.
• Store in a cool, dry place.

This oil can be used to hasten the healing of abrasions, bruises and sore muscles.
It must NOT be used on deep cuts as it is capable of healing the skin’s surface so quickly that the deeper part of the wound could fester.

http://www.freshpickedbeauty.com/2012/01/comfrey-infused-oil.html

http://www.thekitchn.com/stinging-nettles-8-recipes-for-145582

Calendula Tea: 

The simplest use of calendula flowers - it's just weld Calendula as tea.
Pour one cup of boiling water over 2 tablespoons of fresh calendula flowers OR one to two teaspoons of dried calendula petals. Steep for ten minutes, then strain. By drinking two to three cups daily there will be a great improvement in blood circulation.

To help in the healing of skin wounds:
Soak a compress in Calendula Tea, and apply to the wound for 30 minutes twice daily.

Calendula can also be used to treat sore throat. Gargle with warm tea several times a day. This will help relieve the inflammation caused from the common cold.

Other Calendula ideas:

http://blog.esgreen.com/2010/04/marigold-flower-tea.html

http://mountainroseblog.com/healing-calendula/

Evergreen Tea: 

½ cup of pine needles (or other needles from fir or spruce trees)

Crush the needles slighly & add to a pot of boiling water (3-4 cups). Simmer for 15-20 mins, or simply steep the needles in not yet boiling water.

You can add a spoon of honey or other liquid sweetener (maple syrup, agave, etc), as well as herbs such as rosemary or green tea, to this wonderfully aromatic brew.

Left over tea can be added to a bath, poured over the stones in a sauna, or used as a rinse for the hair to combat dandruff!

Evergreen Tea: 

Other ideas for evergreens: 

http://mcminnvillehealthdefense.ning.com/profiles/blogs/evergreen-healing

Evergreen Infused Olive Oil.   Infuse for 6 weeks, strain and drizzle on meat, rice, bread etc. 

Arugula  And Spinach Stir Fry: 

Spinach  arugula, coarsely chopped.

Garlic scallions chopped

Basil chopped

Balsamic vinegar

A few dashes of coconut aminos or organic Brags liquid aminos 

Link to coconut aminos:http://www.coconutsecret.com/aminos2.html

Heat pan with oil of choice: 

Add chopped garlic scallions, cook until tender

Add arugula and spinach, sauteing for about one minute

Add chopped basil, sauteing for about a minute

Add 4 Tablespoons balsamic vinegar and then steam it down for another minute or two

Add coconut aminos or Brags

Optional:   add some organic cooked and chopped turkey bacon, or organic beef sausage

Serve with couscous, quinoa, or any one of your favorite starches!

Mustard Green Stir Fry or use your wild greens: 

http://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/mustard_greens/

Make sure you use organic broth

http://blog.fatfreevegan.com/2009/07/balsamic-glazed-chickpeas-and-mustard.html

I would take out the soy sauce and use organic Brags or use coconut liquid aminos

Thank you Mountain Mama Members for your awesome support.  If you have any questions please e-mail me.

Today's Harvest: Nettle, kale, mustard greens, collard greens, arugula, salad mix, curly top garlic, garlic chives, nasturtium spicy mix, peas,  yellow dock leaf, parsley, dill, basil, pineapple weed, self heal, calendula, mint tea mix, 

Article: Natural approach to help you with Hay Fever: 

http://www.westernherbalmedicine.com/Western-Herbal-Medicine/Hayfever-A-Natural-Approach.html

Books on Wild Edibles: 

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1423601505?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creativeASIN=1423601505&linkCode=xm2&tag=naturalliving00-20

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1402767153?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creativeASIN=1402767153&linkCode=xm2&tag=naturalliving00-20

Nasturtiums: The Edible Flower With A Bite

http://www.motherearthnews.com/real-food/nasturtium-zmaz82mjzglo.aspx#axzz35fogvpeS

Nasturtium Pesto

This recipe require a lot of leaves and flowers.  Just half the recipe or make it even smaller.  Enjoy! 

http://www.gardenbetty.com/2013/01/nasturtium-pesto/

Self Heal 

http://www.motherearthliving.com/plant-profile/an-herb-to-know-7.aspx#axzz35g7NWskX

Self heal (Prunella vulgaris) This scentless perennial mint is one of the great unsung healers of the world. The leaves and flowers contain more antioxidants - which prevent cancer and heart disease, among other healthy traits - than any other plant tested. And as part of the mint family, self heal is imbued with lots of minerals, especially calcium, making it an especially important ally for pregnant, nursing, menopausal, and post-menopausal women.   You  can put self heal leaves in salads in the spring and fall, make a medicinal vinegar with the flowers during the summer, and cook the flowering tops (fresh or dried) in winter soups. 

Pineapple Weed: 

http://www.commonsensehome.com/pineapple-weed/

Kale Recipes

In our  house we LOVE KRISPY KALE CHIPS 

Spicy Krispy Kale ( I love this recipe)  

http://www.veggiecation.com/recipe-of-the-month/spicy-krispy-kale-chips.html

Spice with Cashews and Nutritional Yeast:

Side note:  If you do not have the time to soak the cashew you could use organic cashew butter.  You will have to adjust the recipe a little.  

http://www.thisrawsomeveganlife.com/2012/02/ellusive-kale-chip.html#.U6sVYfldUfg

Cheezy Spicy Kale Chips:

Omit the Agave and use honey instead or just leave out the sweetener.  Never use vegetable oil.  Use organic olive, avocado, sunflower etc. 

http://kblog.lunchboxbunch.com/2011/08/cheezy-spicy-kale-chips-vegan.html

Nettle Pesto: Note:

Omit the pine nuts they are not good for you.  Add walnuts, almonds or pumpkins seeds instead. 

http://jessthomson.wordpress.com/2011/04/26/stung/

Creamed Collard Greens:  

Make sure you get organic cream and make sure it is not ultra pasteurized!  You could also use full fat coconut milk.

http://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/creamed-collard-greens

Basil :) 

Sage Fir Deodorant Sample

Vodka, distilled water, essential oils of fir, sage, tea tree, black pepper, bay, intentions of Love, Beauty and Health

Curly Top Garlic (Scapes)

http://islandvittles.com/2010/07/02/top-five-friday-garlic-scapes/

Calendula

Calendula Tea recipe:  Remember when following a tea recipe that uses dried herbs and you have fresh herbs, double the amount of herb used in the recipe. 

http://www.anniesremedy.com/chart_remedy.php?rem_ID=173

Mountain Mama Wellness Box:  The food items listed below are what the  Mountain Mama Wellness Box members received.  For those of you who do not have a farm to home share/CSA, what are the food items you  have been eating?  Are you supporting local organic farmers at the farmers markets and in your area?  Are you purchasing more organic food in your life?   How is your green, red, orange veggie intake?  Are you eating too many potatoes, tomatoes, carrots, celery and not enough green veggies?  What new recipes have you tried this week?  Have you eliminated fast food from your life?  How about supporting a restaurant that supports local farmers?  Have you eliminated GMO food from your life?   Have you eliminated movie junk food out of your life?

A Parent challenge, how about you challenge yourself to not buy hot dogs, mac and cheese, sugary cereal, monster drinks, soda, non-organic chips, let go of my eggo, colored yogurt and colored candy?

Do you  have your kids in sports, how about giving your family a health challenge, by making a pact not to eat at the snack shack, turn down the little Debbie's snacks with a Capri sun, cheese and cracker sets, peanut butter Nabisco cracker, cheddar cheese fish crackers etc.. and never set foot into  an Izzy's?     

Health Challenge to all the coaches, the dance teachers, the school teachers, the martial arts teachers, you are mentors, you are around kids and some of  you for quite a few hours,   If the kids, teens and tweens see you eating crap, junk food, colored drinks, monster drinks, chips, candy, Izzy's, McDonalds, etc, you are teaching them bad health habits.  You should think about this.

Parents challenge those coaches, dance teachers,  public school teachers, martial arts teachers, gymnastic teachers etc.. a doughnut party is not cool,  Krispy Kreme, double not cool.  Ask them to look for healthier alternatives.

Someone needs to step up and be the leader.  Just take ONE of my challenges and take off with it.  Once you have developed a healthy habit then move on to the next challenge.  Imagine if you start and people see it, just maybe they will start and so on.

We will never have change in the world if you and I do not implement change in our own lives.  Period.  

Mountain Mama Wellness Box Items: 

Tomatoes, peppers, potatoes, collard greens, brassica stir fry, broccoli leafs (for wraps), nettle, kale, swiss chard, dandelion greens, onion, parsley, celery, green beans,lemon balm, tea mix of apple-mint, cleavers and lemon verbena, basil, zucchini and cucumbers. 

Adventure In Life

Life Is Either A Great Adventure Or Nothing

“The purpose of life is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience.” 

What is your story from yesterday, today and tomorrow?

What story, what adventures will you be able to tell your grand-kids?

What story will you be able to tell your children?

Have you played?

Have you added spice to your life?

Are you living or are you just existing? 

Has time been put off over and over and the day is over

Have days been lost?

What story can you tell from that?

Live Like You Are Dying...... 

Broccoli Leaves 

Potato and Dill Broccoli Leaf Wraps Original Recipe

http://www.thewoodenspoon.net.au/recipes/potato-and-dill-broccoli-leaf-wraps-with-parsley-and-pepita-sauce/

This is what I did: 

Two cups potatoes (or sweet potato), chopped

1 large leek or two small chopped

4 garlic cloves, chopped or minced

2 cups (or more) collard greens chopped

1 organic sweet red bell pepper, chopped

2 tablespoons dried dill ( I did not have fresh dill)

sea salt and pepper to taste

You could also add some organic meat to these wraps.

SAUCE:

1/2 cup organic pumpkin seeds

1 big bunch parsley, chopped 

1 Small red mild pepper, chopped

1 tsp. organic onion granules

2 tsp. yellow mustard seed

1/4 organic hemp seed oil

1/4 cup spring water

a dash of apple cider vinegar

1 Tbsp. honey

Sea salt  ( or celtic) and pepper to taste 

FILLING: 

Boil the potatoes until they are lightly cooked.  Strain

Saute chopped garlic and leeks.  (if you are going to add meat, start it with the leeks and garlic) 

Add dill 

Add chopped red bell pepper, cook for a minute

Add chopped collard greens cook for a minute

Add potatoes 

Turn stove off and add: 

Juice of half of a lemon

sea salt and pepper to taste. 

Large Broccoli Leaves 

Steam broccoli leaves 30 seconds to a minute.  Should have a nice dark green color.  

Lay  the large broccoli leaf out, add your filling and wrap like a burrito.  

Top with the sauce

Share and sit with family and friends. 

Wrapping It Up

Ready To Eat 

 Collard Slaw

High in nutrients, including phytochemicals and antioxidants  dark leafy greens are good source of calcium especially when combined with lemon juice.  

1 bunch of collard greens, ribs removed, leaves rolled and sliced into thin ribbons

1 1/2 cups shredded carrots

1 unpeeled apple, shredded 

3 tablespoons fresh squeezed lemon juice

2 teaspoons dijon mustard 

2 tablespoons live oil

1/2 tsp. sea salt 

Cut collard greens into ribbons and combine with shredded carrots and apple, set aside.  

In a large bowl, whisk together lemon juice, dijon mustard, olive oil and sea salt

Add collard greens mixture and toss to coat. 

Chill in frig for a few hours. 

Dandelion Leaf:

Dandelion leaf is good for the kidneys, high in B vitamins, restores and replenished energy, excellent source for calcium. High in vitamins and minerals including magnesium, iron and vitamins A and C.  

Here Are 10 Ways To Use Dandelion Leaf: 

http://www.thekitchn.com/10-ways-to-use-those-dandelions-recipes-from-the-kitchn-188774

7 HERB LONG-LIFE SOUP

A nourishing and restorative blend, soup.   It is an excellent broth to serve someone who is sick or recovering from illness.  Use fresh herbs whenever possible, if they are not available chopped dried roots will do.  

Pictured below is a broth I made.  I boiled a chicken carcass (last nights dinner) to make bone broth, I added Sunday's veggies scraps.  In this picture the scraps where leeks, collard green stems, broccoli leafs, garlic and one habanario pepper.

7-Herb Long-Life Soup:

Extra-virgin olive oil

2 onions, sliced or chopped 

2 - 3 cloves of garlic, chopped 

3 quarts filtered water OR Your own homemade broth 

8 large shiitake mushrooms (fresh or dried), chopped

4 ounces  fresh burdock root thinly sliced or 2 ounces dried 

4 ounces fresh dandelion root  thinly sliced or 2 ounces dried

2 ounces lycium berries

1 ounce  fo-ti (ho shou wu), cut and sifted 

1 tablespoon fresh grated ginger root 

1 ounce ginseng root 

Organic miso paste 

In large pot, heat just enough olive oil to coat the bottom of the pan.  Add the onions and garlic and saute until tender and golden

Add water or your broth and bring to a boil

Add the mushrooms and herbs, turn down the heat, and simmer over low heat for several hours 

When the roots are tender, turn off the heat and strain out the herbs.  If the herbs are soft you do not need to strain them out.  It is up to you. 

Add other seasonings and chopped vegetables as desired 

Pour into soup boils and add miso paste to taste.  Start with a tiny amount first (1/4 tsp.)

Do not boil the miso, as it destroys its valuable enzyme's  

Pickled Nettles: 

Serve with toast, feta, and olives, pickled nettles are a tasty treat. 

Fresh tender nettle tops

Place them raw in a quart pickling jar  

Fill the jar to the top with apple cider vinegar, being sure that no nettles surface above the vinegar 

Add a few garlic cloves 

Add a whole cayenne pepper

Cap tightly, and let sit for 8 - 12 weeks. 

Enjoy 

 Weekly Wellness Box :

This weeks goodies:  ZUCCHINI (lots) collard greens, nettle, brassica stir fry mix,  sage, rosemary, tea mix of lemon balm peppermint, pineapple sage and a honey suckle flower, lettuce/flower mix, kale,  a mix of wild spinach, orch spinach arugula, swiss chard and a few mustard greens, fennel fronds,  a mix of garlic and onion chives, cucumbers, basil and a few green beans

If you do not have a membership with a CSA, it is time to hit the farmers markets.  They are all over the place with loads of incredible fresh food.  Make sure you are supporting local organic farmers or no spray farmers.  This is vitally important for your health, your family's and the earth.  

Here is a list of foods you should be (or at least try) adding to your life.  

Arugula, spinach, salads, kale, cucumbers, zucchini, basil, swiss chard, fennel fronds, sage, rosemary, lemon balm, peppermints, chives, celery, tomatoes (for some areas) collard greens, cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, all sorts of brassica leaves, carrots, beets, green beans,onions, new potatoes, strawberries (organic only), blueberries (organic only) flower salads, mustard greens (almost at the end of the season, coming back for fall) and the wild foods, curly dock, yellow dock, cat's ear flowers, lambs quarters, sorrel, honeysuckle, raspberry leaves (for tea).  

As you can see this is a great list of many healthy foods that you can add throughout the day.

A great way to start on your path to longevity and being robust: 

Cut out ALL fast food (yes ALL)

Cut out ALL  Soda (yes ALL )

Cut out All artificial colors, artificial flavors, natural flavors

Cut out boxed food

Cut out crap meat, example hot dogs, deli meat, injected chicken breasts, canned meats, etc.  

Say NO to the junk food.   Bake things at home.  

(When I say bake, that does not mean open box of Betty Crocker!   Betty Crocker is not a food, it is an item that feeds cancer cells)

Shop your farmers markets, buy local organic food, local no spray food, and make sure the meat you purchase is grass fed/pasture fed and/or organic feed only 

Get rid of the word diet in your life, it as a negative connotation.  It is time to think about wellness, longevity, being robust and vigorous!  It is time to eat, eat, eat, but, eat the right foods.  

Make yourself healthly, your family and the earth  buy Piling those plates with massive green leafy veggies! 

Tea Mix:  lemon balm, pineapple sage, peppermint and a honeysuckle flower

Gallon glass jar

Spring or filtered water

Empty bag into gallon glass jar, pour water over herbs.

Let sit in the sun for 8 hours

Strain

Sweeten with honey (optional)

Refrigerate for a few hours and then enjoy! 

Pineapple Sage benefits:  digestion, heartburn, balance the nervous system, general tonic

Lemon Balm benefits:  sedative properties, lowers fever, improves digestion, relaxes spasms, antiviral, antibiotic, insect repellent,  helps anxiety, depression, nerve disorders and tension headaches.

More on lemon balm:  http://www.ageless.co.za/herb-melissa.htm

Peppermint benefits:  helps with morning sickness, nausea, digestion, gallbladder, bile ducts, 

More information on Peppermint: http://www.ageless.co.za/herb-peppermint.htm

Honeysuckle benefits:

In traditional Chinese medicine honeysuckle tea is used to treat ailments of the heart and lungs, fevers, and dysentery.

Honeysuckle tea is used to ease sore joints and reduce inflammation.

Honeysuckle tea helps improve circulation and relieve fatigue.

European honeysuckle can help treat coughs and colds.

Honeysuckle tea is used to treat upper respiratory tract infections and infection in the bladder. The tea is said to inhibit the bacteria that causes salmonella, strep, staph and tuberculosis infections.

Honeysuckle tea can help alleviate headaches.

Honeysuckle tea can help treat nausea and vomiting.

Honeysuckle tea can help make eyes brighter.

Rosemary:  http://www.ageless.co.za/herb-rosemary.htm

Rosemary is one of my most favorite herbs! Here is a recipe for apple rosemary coffee cake.  I actually made them as muffins instead and they were intoxicating! 

I used used honey instead of sugar.  I used about 1/4 cup of honey.

I never use baking powder so I just used 1 tsp. baking soda.  If you use baking powder make sure you are using one that is aluminum free! 

I used organic spelt flour.  

Awesome Apple Rosemary Coffee Cake Recipe

http://www.cauldronsandcrockpots.com/2012/10/apple-rosemary-coffee-cake/

Apple Rosemary Muffins

Honey Basil Simple Syrup:

1 Cup honey

1 Cup Water

1 Cup fresh basil coarse chopped

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Stir ingredients together in a small saucepan over medium-high heat until honey is dissolved, but don’t boil
2. Remove from heat, pour through a wire-mesh strainer into an airtight jar or container, discarding leaves
3. Let cool completely before using
4. Store in a covered jar in refrigerator up to 2 weeks

Fruit Salad With Basil and Lime

To me a lush carpet of pine needles or spongy grass is more welcome tha the most luxurious Persian rug.

 “The woods are  Ritalin. Nature calms all, focuses all, and  excites your  senses.” 

“If getting our kids out into nature is a search for perfection, or is one more chore, then the belief in perfection and the chore defeats the joy. It's a good thing to learn more about nature in order to share this knowledge with children; it's even better if the adult and child learn about nature together. And it's a lot more fun.” 
― Richard Louv, Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Di...

This morning was a beautiful morning.   It started with the birds singing their morning song, a cup of root chai and the weather was beautiful.  

Today's Harvest

Three different types of kale, two different types of mustard, lettuce, nasturtiums (spicy flower), peas, garlic greens, garlic chives, dill, parsley, lambs quarters ( wild spinach), sheep sorrel,  basil, nettle, stir fry brassica flower mix,  cleansing ( detox) tea of cleavers and apple mint, catnip (tea relax), lemon balm ( relaxing tea, infuse honey or infuse in olive oil), ox-eye daisy tops ( use like capers), arugula ( mix in salad or use for stir fry)

Mustard Green

  Arugula 

Lambs Quarters

Brassica Stir Fry Mix

Detox Tea Cleavers and Apple Mint

Ox Eye Daisy Tops ( use like capers)

Information on Ox Eye Daisy

http://rawedibleplants.blogspot.com/2012/06/ox-eye-daisy-leucanthem...

http://www.ediblevineyard.com/index.php/stories/article/ox_eye_dais...

http://www.celtnet.org.uk/recipes/miscellaneous/fetch-recipe.php?ri...

Information on Lambs Quarters: 

http://www.wildmanstevebrill.com/Plants.Folder/Lamb'sQuarters.html

Sheep Sorrel Spread:

http://www.wildmanstevebrill.com/Web%20Recipes/Sheep%20Sorrel%20Spr...

Have a great day ! 

This Weeks Harvest:

Nettle, kale, spinach,cabbage, cauliflower/broccoli mix, brassica mix, bitter Lettuce, zucchini, a pepper, a few purple beans, a cucumber,  collard greens, celery, curly top garlic,  lemon balm, peppermint, sage, basil and high vitamin c tea

High Vitamin C Tea

Ingredients:  rose hips, hibiscus flowers, lemon grass, cinnamon chips

Note:  Vitamin C is a noted antioxidant with disease-fighting abilities.  

Rose Hips:  They contain more vitamin C than almost any other herb, many times the amount found in citrus fruit when measured gram by gram.  

Hibiscus:  high in vitamin C and bioflavonoids.  It has slightly astringent properties.  It is useful for treating mild colds, flus, bruising, and swelling. 

Lemon Grass:  http://planetwell.com/lemongrass-health-benefits-and-healing-properties/

Cinnamon:  Although cinnamon is considered to be simply a spice by most Westerners, herbalists have been using it for centuries as a warming digestive aid.  It is a wonderful mild stimulant and can be combined with ginger to treat circulatory and digestive problems.  It has antiviral and antiseptic activities, making it useful for fighting infections.  

High Vitamin C Tea Recipe: 

4 parts rose hips

3 parts hibiscus

2 parts lemongrass

1 part cinnamon chips 

This is where I order my herbs from: http://www.mountainroseherbs.com/

This is a great recipe, I really recommend trying this one.

Sage Pesto:  http://mcminnvillehealthdefense.ning.com/profiles/blogs/sage-pesto

 ‘Green Sauce'

Green sauce is a common and ages-old early spring recipe, adapt to what you have on hand.

2 cups mixed greens, you can use orach, green garlic, beet greens, chard, arugula, celery leaves, nasturtium leaves, almost any other green herb from your garden... The sky's the limit. 1 clove garlic or 1 shallot or 3 scallion bottoms, chopped fine 1/2 cup cottage cheese 1/2 cup yogurt or sour cream S & P & lemon juice to taste Put all ingredients in  a food processor and mash/whirl til desired consistency. This sauce can be a soup embellishment, a potato topper, a risotto flavoring, etc. Experiment and enjoy.

Basil Vinaigrette

6 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil

1 tbsp. white wine vinegar
20 basil leaves
3 roasted garlic cloves ( or more if you are a garlic lover)
sea salt and ground black pepper, to taste
 

In a blender, purée 4 tbsp. oil, vinegar, , basil, and garlic and season with salt and pepper; transfer vinaigrette to a small bowl and set aside.

Pour this yummy vinaigrette on some chopped veggies and roast them in the oven.  

Bread, Tomato and Basil Salad 

2 lbs. medium tomatoes, cored and cut into small wedges
12 oz. organic french bread or sour dough bread, torn into bite-size pieces and lightly toasted
1 cup loosely packed baby arugula ( or mustard greens, spinach, collard greens)
12 fresh basil leaves, torn
½ red onion, thinly sliced
½ cup extra-virgin olive oil
3 tbsp. red wine vinegar
2 cloves garlic, minced
sea salt and ground black pepper, to taste
organic goat cheese or raw organic cheddar

INSTRUCTIONS

1. In a large bowl, combine the tomatoes, bread, arugula, basil, and onions.

2. In a small bowl, vigorously whisk together the oil, vinegar, and garlic; drizzle dressing over salad. Season generously with salt and pepper, toss to combine, and let sit for 10 minutes before serving.

3.  Serve and sprinkle with organic goat cheese 

Lemon Balm Herbal Butter: 

1/4 cup finely minced lemon balm

2 tablespoons, finely chopped thyme

1 cup of organic butter 

1/4 tsp. pepper

1/2 tsp garlic granules

Cream butter and stir in herbs. Chill for at least 3 hours to allow flavors to blend. Use on roasted meats, rice, vegetables and bread.  

Lemon Balm Sun Tea 

2 tablespoons of fresh leaves for each cup water

Place lemon balm and cool water in covered jar in the sun for a few hours

Strain add honey and, or lemon

Add mint for a refreshing lemony mint tea

 Chocolate Zucchini Bread-Gluten Free

1 cup of Rapunzel Chocolate Hazelnut Butter OR  use almond butter sweetened with 1 tbsp of maple syrup

1 cup shredded zucchini

2 large eggs

2 tbsp grade b maple syrup

1 tbsp pure vanilla

1 tsp apple cider vinegar

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/8 tsp sea salt

1-2 tbsp organic dark chocolate chips

1. Preheat oven to 400 F.
2. In a medium bowl combine the chocolate hazelnut butter, eggs, maple syrup, vanilla and sea salt and blend for 2 minutes on medium speed.
3. Add baking soda and vinegar (will fizz up) and blend for 30 more seconds.
4. Stir in shredded zucchini. If really watery, squeeze out excess water.
5. Place in a lined or greased loaf pan. You can use one 5x9" pan or 2 mini loaf pans.
6. Top with 1-2 tbsp of mini chocolate chips.
7. Bake for 23-28 minutes if you have mini loaf pans and 35-50 minutes for large loaf pan. Start testing with a toothpick at 35 minutes and when it comes out clean when inserted in the center, it is done.
8. Allow to cool on a cooling rack and serve. You can also serve warm too.

This weeks wellness goodies are:  honeysuckle, therapeutic tea, heart warming tea, the wild food is yellow dock/ nettle, collard greens, basil, kale, spinach, radish, carrots, onions, mustard greens, comfrey, fennel, garlic scallions, celery salad and a bouquet of flowers.  

Honeysuckle Fun

Honeysuckle Information: 
 Japanese honeysuckle is edible and medicinal. High in Calcium, Magnesium, and Potassium, the leaves can be parboiled and eaten as a vegetable. The edible buds and flowers, made into a syrup or puddings. The entire plant has been used as an alternative medicine for thousands of years in Asia. The active constituents include calcium, elaidic-acid, hcn, inositol, linoleic-acid, lonicerin, luteolin, magnesium, myristic-acid, potassium, tannin, and zink. It is alterative, antibacterial, antiinflammatory, antispasmodic, depurative, diuretic, febrifuge, and is also used to reduce blood pressure. The stems are used internally in the treatment of acute rheumatoid arthritis, mumps and hepatitis. The stems are harvested in the autumn and winter, and are dried for later herb use. The stems and flowers are used together a medicinal infusion in the treatment of upper respiratory tract infections (including pneumonia) and dysentery. An infusion of the flower buds is used in the treatment of a wide range of ailments including syphillitic skin diseases and tumors, bacterial dysentery, colds, and enteritis. Experimentally, the flower extracts have been shown to lower blood cholesterol levels and are antibacterial, antiviral and tuberculostatic. Externally, the flowers are applied as a medicinal wash to skin inflammations, infectious rashes and sores.

Nettle: It is a vitamin factory, rich in iron, calcium, potassium, silicon,magnesium, manganese, zinc, and chromium as well s a host of other vitamins and minerals.  

Yellow Dock and Nettle Strudel 

3 cups onion, diced fine

4 cloves of garlic chopped

2 tsp caraway seeds

3 tsp dill weed

1 tsp sea salt and pepper

4 to 8 cups finely chopped yellow dock/nettle mixture

1 1/2 cups cooked rice 

1 cup cream cheese

1 1/2 cup raw cheese

2 eggs

1/2 lb filo- You could also make this like an lasagna and use lasagna pasta instead. 

Butter or olive oil

Always use organic ingredients as much as possible 

Saute the onion, garlic, caraway, dill, salt, pepper, yellow dock and nettle in olive oil unit soft.  Remove from heat.  

In large bowl, mix yellow dock/nettle saute mixture, rice cheeses, and eggs. 

Skip this next step if you are going to layer your mixture with lasagna pasta

Assembly begins by thawing the filo dough.  

• Remove filo from package and lay on a flat dry surface. Cover with wax paper or foil and follow recipe instructions.
• Re-roll any unused filo sheets and seal in a plastic bag.
• Dough can be refrozen up to 3 months or stored in the refrigerator 2 weeks.
• Be sure to keep dough moist when putting recipes together; to ensure crispness, do not use overly moist fillings.
• While traditional dishes call for brushing each filo leaf with melted butter, try a light coating of safflower, olive, or other cooking oil on every second layer. You can also use most cooking sprays with excellent results.

You could make individual strudels or layer the filo dough in a 9 x 13 pyrex baking dish 

Use two to three sheets of filo down between layers in a 9 x 13 pyrex baking dish.  Layer it like you would a lasagna.  Brush each layer with melted butter or olive oil and spoon the yellow dock/nettle mixture in-between  your layers.

Here are some more recipe ideas that you can do with your yellow dock/ nettle mixture.  Just use the yellow dock/nettle mixture as a substitute for the cooked greens that are in the recipe.

http://rosesprodigalgarden.org/recipes/nettlesrecipes.html

http://foragedfoodie.blogspot.com/2013/05/superfood-mac-cheese-recipe-with.html

http://rosesprodigalgarden.org/recipes/yellowdockrecipes.html

http://laughinglemonpie.com/recipe-dock-au-gratin/

Most health food stores carry this brand of organic filo: 

http://www.fillofactory.com/fillo-recipes

Fennel Frond Pesto

Makes 4 servings, plus leftover pesto

Preparation time: 30 minutes

1/3 cup pistachios, toasted

2 to 4 garlic scallions finely chopped or 2 cloves garlic chopped

1/2 cup raw cheese

1 teaspoon sea salt 

Ground black pepper, to taste

2 cups lightly packed fennel fronds 

optional: 4-5 mint leaves, torn

about ½ cup extra virgin olive oil

juice of ½ lemon, or to taste

1 pound penne pasta

1 cup frozen peas

Put the pistachios, garlic, cheese, salt, and pepper in a food processor/blender. Pulse a few times to grind slightly.

Add fennel and mint, if using, to the food processor/blender. With the motor running, drizzle in the olive oil until the mixture is reduced to a paste and has a spreadable, but not greasy consistency. Taste and add salt if necessary. Squeeze in a little bit of lemon juice to taste.

Bring a large pot of water to a boil.  Salt the water generously and cook the pasta until al dente.

While the pasta is cooking, set up a colander in the sink and put the frozen peas in it. (If you have fresh peas, by all means use them. You can add them to the boiling water in the last few minutes of cooking the pasta.

When the pasta is done, drain the pasta in the colander. Return the pasta, along with the peas, into the pot. Stir in the pesto until pasta is lightly coated and flavorful. Squeeze in a little lemon juice, to taste.

You can use this pesto on crackers, bread, meat or a starch.  

Need a new  recipe for your radishes?

http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Roasted-Radishes-with-Brown-Butter-Lemon-and-Radish-Tops-364609

This one looks yummy.  The only thing I would change is omit the green chilies and use 1 big organic red pepper.  Never eat green peppers..... 

http://giniann.wordpress.com/2006/12/23/radish-curry-saute-with-onions-garlic-and-chili/

One More Greens Recipe:  Use organic broth with this recipe

http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/recipe/sauteed-greens-white-beans-and-garlic

Fun Facts About Your Greens:  Share the knowledge :)

Collards, Mustard, and Kale all belong to the Brassica family and are considered SUPER FOODS because of their antioxidant qualities.

Collards are a good source of protein, potassium, are high in fiber, and provide vitamins A,C,E,K and B6.

Mustard is especially known to protect against hay fever, sinusitus, and asthma.

Kale is loaded with organosulfur compounds (that may lessen the occurrance of some cancers), and has phytonutrients that help the liver to neutralize potentially cancerous substances. 

Now you know why it's so important to "EAT YOUR GREENS"!

Fennel Fronds Pictured: 

Where does the time fly?  We are on our 15th week and the Wellness Boxes end Oct 12th.  It just seem like yesterday that we just started our first delivery.  

This weeks box: 

Celery seed, lemon balm, nettle, comfrey, zucchini, cucumber, salad, beans, beets, swiss chard, kale, tea mix, potatoes,tomatoes, peppers, leeks, cabbage, basil, parsley, celery and onion. Also, there will be some cleavers, this is your last chance to get a tincture made.  

Celery Seed Information:

http://curezone.com/cleanse/kidney/Celery-seeds.asp

http://www.foods-healing-power.com/celery-health-benefits.html

Celery seeds are most commonly used as a diuretic, helping to clear toxins from our body system. People who are suffering from gout and arthritis may find celery seed helpful, as the diuretic properties promotes the clearing of uric acid crystals collecting in the joints. Celery seeds also have anti-inflammatory properties that help to reduce the swelling and pain of the joints.

Additional benefits include the ability to lower blood pressure and cholesterol.

http://www.nutrition-info.com/herbs/herbs-celeryseed.php

Provides Calcium

Fun Fall Recipes:

The pumpkins are not ripe yet, but I thought for those of you who are craving those seasonal fun drinks of the fall would like some fun recipes.   I also included a fun recipe to add rejuvenation to your skin.  Enjoy this wonderful, healing, awesome orange veggie. 

GentlePumpkin Facial Mask

Thanks to exfoliating enzymes and healing vitamins A and C, pumpkin flesh is wonderful for the skin-especially for treating acne, blackheads, age spots, or dull flaky skin. Use canned pumpkins, or cook some fresh and puree or mash it. Warm, mashed fresh pumpkin works the absolute best, feels great, and has a wonderful texture. Honey, a natural humectant, attracts moisture to skin and helps create a plump glowing complexion.

1/4 cup pumpkin puree

1 Tbls Honey 

1-2 drops lavender or geranium essential oil (optional)

Mix ingredients together and massage immediately into dry skin. (You'll get the best results if you leave it on for at least 10 minutes.) You may want to double the recipe to use as a neck decollete treatment. Rinse with warm water and apply your favorite moisturizer. 

Donn't support Starbucks (big corporation that puts the little guys out of business), make your own healthier versions of their  pumpkin latte. 

Pumpkin Latte http://mamanatural.com/pumpkin-spice-latte/

Kakai Pumpkins coming soon........... 

Cucumbers 
How Sugar Affects The Body, Giving You The Lows And Highs

Tired of being wired and tired? 

Following sugar through the body.....

When a child/adult wakes up in the morning after sleeping for ten or more hours, their blood sugar is naturally low.  Even if they had protein-rich snack before they went to bed the night before, digestion has long since delivered it to the bloodstream and into the cells, and now their blood sugar has dropped down to the bottom range of normal.

One of he most common breakfast meals is favorite breakfast cereal, toast and orange juice.  Side note: Even though the cereal boasts of fortification with vitamins and minerals, the cereal contains over fifteen grams (about five teaspoons) of sugar PER SERVING.

The toast is usually covered with jam or cinnamon and sugar, which contains more sugar and other sweeteners than actual fruit.  Another five teaspoons of sugar.  Even though the orange juice does not contain added sugars, it is still pure carbohydrate, which rapidly digest down into simple sugar.  Within minutes, the entire "power breakfast" surges into the bloodstream in the form of glucose, unimpeded by slower-digesting protein or fat.  

This load of blood sugar is dangerous for the brain.  Although the brain is fueled by sugar, it can't handle excessive sugars, so the pancreas leaps to the rescue, dumping Insulin in to the bloodstream to remove excess sugars before they can "burn" the brain.  At each meal, the pancreas senses how much insulin is needed, even before digestion and absorption are complete, so an insulin reaction can happen very quickly.  Large amounts of insulin are released.  

Then just as rapidly, sugar is pulled out of the bloodstream and deposited in the liver.  When the liver is full, the excess sugar is stored as fat, contributing to the super rising epidemic of obesity in this country! 

Side note:  Even the child/adults who are thin these days are carrying to much fat.  This is also a new epidemic.

Due to the high sugar content of the breakfast the insulin response was exaggerated, so the blood sugar plummets.  It is as though someone pulled an electrical cord out of a socket, he or she will run out of steam.   Their sugar is too low and the brain starts to panic.  They get cranky, headachy, irritable, can't concentrate.   Sometimes a child will fall into a chair and star listlessly at their TV, computer or video games.  At other times their adrenal gland spits cortisol into the bloodstream in a desperate attempt to raise blood sugar.  This extra cortisol makes someone hyperactive and damages the hippocampus, their memory center.  Their energy is "false"...

At this point, child/adult reach for the frig, pantry or freezer, pulling out all the sugary foods they can get thier hands on and stuff them into their mouth, just to get their sugar up.   This will only work briefly, but insulin again kicks in and drops the sugar.

This cycle continues, all day long, daily weekly, monthly yearly unless their lifestyle eating habits change.  

I hope by reading this I have given you some motivation to stay away from sugar.  Fall is here soon and for most it starts the "Sugar Fest Of Eating" until after spring.   Challenge yourself to stay away from all the sugar holiday items this fall, winter and spring.

 Just Say "NO" To Sugar This Season! 

Getting Rid Of The Tired Bug Or The Up Down Bug

1.  Get rid of foods with added sugar, corn syrup and agave

2.  Limit fruit.  

        a.    Eat fruit for a dessert at night.  

         b.   Eat a protein with the fruit.   

         c.    Choose fruits that have less fructose in them, chart below 

3.  Exercise is a must

     a.  Adults at least 1 hour 5 days a week, this is the minimum amount 

     b. Tired after work, tough go for a walk/run/kung fu/lift weights/dance etc...

              1.  Get an exercise partner

               2.  Blog and have an audience help you keep your goals

               3.  Get private classes, this will keep on on task 

     c.  Children, tweens, teens.  At least an hour EVERYDAY.

                1.  Young children need to physically play off and on ALL DAY

                 2.  It is up to you as a parent to get your child physically moving, because                             there is not enough physical activity in school. 

4.  Limit Screen Time video games, movies, facebook, TV, social net works:

       a.   2-4 hours a week 

        b.  By limiting their screen time ( and yours) you will gain more energy 

5.  Get plenty of Protein- Organic When You Can

         a.  Eggs, nuts, seeds, cheese, meats 

          b.  Beans combined with rice, pasta or potatoes makes a complete protein

          c.  Organic protein bars

          d.  Organic protein drinks 

6.  Sleep

           a.  Lack of sleep increases health problems, add this to bad eating habits and                     you have doubled your chances of getting diabetes, heart disease etc.  

More information on sleep: 

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2010/08/23/seven...

7.  Avoid these foods:  read labels

Soy, corn, canola,  non-organic wheat, artificial colors, artificial flavors, msg, corn syrup, sugar, agave, hydrogenated oil, frozen meals, campbells, most restaurants, pilsbury products, hot dogs (unless they are organic) any coffee drink with added sweeteners and artificial sweeteners! ,  no soda,  no caffeinated drinks for kids, tweens and teens!! and any food that has words you do not know what they are. 

http://www.cspinet.org/nah/10foods_bad.html