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CUPPA TEA

Boil....

Steep....

Pour..

"Better to be deprived of food for three days than of tea for one" 

-ANCIENT CHINESE PROVERB 

They say originally "Tea" referred to one species of shrub that was grown in China, known as the Black Tea Shrub ...

The legend of tea dates back to 2737 BC in China.  The emperor Shen Neng (Shennoung whos name means Divine Farmer)  was heating water over the open fire.  The wind blew and leaves fluttered all around.  A few of the leaves fell into the boiling water  The aroma was so delightful that Shen Neng decided to taste the brew.   It was delightful and so the ritual and ceremony of black tea making began.  

The leaves were from a wild species of the black tea shrub. When leaves are fermented they produce Oolong or black tea.  Fresh brewed leaves,like Shen Nengs  brew above was made from fresh leaves which yields a refreshing green tea, which contains the antioxidant Catechin, a bioflavonid with anti-bacterial and anticancer properties.

Shennoung also was prescribing marijuana tea for the treatment of gout, rheumatism, malaria and poor memory. I am not sure which one came first, the black tea shrub or the marijuana.   

There are more tales of an ancient Chinese herbalist who knew 100,000 healing properties of herbs and he shared this wisdom with his son.  For centuries monks, and herbalists studied and shared their knowledge of herbs to be passed on to the next generation.   There are tales of Native Americans, Celtics and people of India, but whatever the legend/tale is, tracing tea’s original roots proves to be  difficult.  But what we do know is that very early on, people primarily used tea for medicinal purposes

One of the earliest  tea party's on record in America was in 1674 in the Dutch Colony of New York 

Sons Of Liberty... Boston Tea Party... The revolutions were running high and in 1773, 342 cases of expensive dried tea were tossed into the harbor.  

Early American colonist learned of locally grown herbs from the Native Americans.  These discoveries played an important role in the fight for independence.   American Women in Boston protested against the British taxes on tea in 1773.  They vowed to drink teas from indigenous weeds instead of imported teas.   The brews they came up with were called "Liberty Tea" .

Common flowers used for the Liberty teas were sweet goldenrod, red clover, chamomile, roses, and violets.  Leaves of  bergamot (bee balm), lemon balm, chamomile, and mints were brewed as many are today.  Many herbs were brewed in the 18th century including lavender, parsley, thyme, marjoram, rosemary, lemon verbena, and sage. 

Even some fruits were used in colonial teas, including those of dried strawberries, blueberries, raspberries,apples and rosehips.  

Today my life if full of tea time.  It has become a ritual, a ceremony, a time to taste and share with others, it heals, it nourishes, gives good company, brings beauty and harmony.  

Don't be intimidated about blending teas.  When I first started I would just blend everything and put it in a pot.  

My first years of making tea started when I was trying to quite drinking coffee.   I had a business that was called Outdoor Encounters and I did outdoor training for women.   During this time there were a few of us that were training for a Marathon, the Portland Marathon.   I started playing around with different teas for us to drink after our long workouts.  Some of my beginning teas were made with roasted chicory root, dandelion root, burdock root, orange peel, ginger, fennel, cardamon, and a few other warming spices.  These teas could literally grow hair on your chest.  Remember I was a coffee drinker, more like a coffee addict and I was trying to quit.   My first teas were dark and spicy and they needed honey!   But yet most of us really liked it and they tasted great with  the homemade scones that I would make.  I made wise women teas for special talks and eventually when I moved to the mountains I started making all kinds of crazy concoctions.  

I have to admit I failed several times trying to quit coffee.  I was a lost coffee addict and at times when my family thought I quit I was actually sneaking it when no one was around.  I would get up before anyone else make a cup of that dark caffeine addiction and slip away into nature to sit and drink it.   To many years of a coffee addiction and health problems did not mix.  My liver was pissed off at me and I could not keep living off of coffee just to function.  So away the coffee went on a dark new moon night and I have crossed over to the the world of tea addiction.  The good thing about that is that tea nurtures, heals, makes you feel better, is calming, is social, is medicine and so much more.  

Most people are a bit intimidated when it comes to making tea.  There are plenty of recipes out there to get you started but just jump in and have fun.   It truly is simple and you just have to play to come up with some of your own special blends.  I personally just got a tea pot and started loading it with herbs.  At times I was loading my tea pot with handfuls of fresh nettle, some mint and whatever was in season.    I did not have any training and fresh herbs are a bit more forgiving when it comes to taste and strength.    

My kids first years of drinking tea where tea pots stuffed with fresh nettle and whatever else I could find that was in season  or a  wild edible.   Lemons balm, horsetail, all sorts of mints and I used catnip a lot.  

Just last week a family member  was hit with the flu and the teas, tonics and infusions where started right away.   I made teas of parsely, sage, rosemary and thyme, lots of nettle infusions, high vitamin C tea with elderberry syrup added, teas with garlic elixirs added, teas with infused honey added and turmeric drinks.      

I think most people when they hear the word tea they think of a cup of tea.  But tea is more than that.  Tea can be used as a foot bath, hair tonic, first aid wash, bath soak and more.

For me it is my first go to when someone is sick.  I always start with a simple cup of tea before I use stronger herbal medicine.    As soon as someone is feeling slightly off the tea pot is put on the stove.  Tea works it's magic in such a simple beautiful way and I raised my kids on tea for nurturing, nourishing, for calmness, for companionship, ceremony, hikes with views and road trips are started with cuppa tea.. 

It is also my first go to for adding gentle herbal medicine into my animals feed and first aid wash for wounds on both animal and human.  

So lets get started! - Beginners, begin light and add more herbs for more flavor

DO  NOT ADD ANY ESSENTIAL OILS TO YOUR TEAS 

1 To 3 Tablespoons of herb per cup of water.  Beginners start with 1 Tablespoon.  

Infusions - are made from the more delicate parts of the plant, including the leaves, flowers, and aromatic parts.  These fragile plant parts much be steeped, rather than simmered, Because they give up their medicinal properties more easily than do the tougher roots and barks.  

To make an infusion, simply boil 1 quart of water per ounce of herb.  Or 1 cup water to 1 - 3 tablespoons of herb.  Pour water over the herb and let steep for 30 minutes.  The longer it sits the more medicinal it gets.  

Decoctions - are made from the more tenacious parts of the plant, such as the roots, bark, and seeds.  It's a little hard to extract the constituents from these parts, so a slow simmer or an overnight infusion is often required   To make a decoction, place the herbs in a small saucepan and cover with cold water.  Heat slowly and simmer, covered, for 20 to 45 minutes   The longer you simmer the herbs, the stronger the tea will be. 

In general, with herb teas you want to boil hard roots and peels (examples:  licorice, orange peel, sarsaparilla, cinnamon, ginger) and steep flowers and leafs (examples: chamomile, spearmint, peppermint, raspberry leaf and clover).

Steep, don't boil, cloves and black teas, as they will turn bitter when boiled.   

You can drink hot or cold, make into ice cubes or Popsicle.     

I personally like to make big batches to last throughout the day (a quart of each type of tea).   You will save time by doing it this way.  

Once brewed refrigerate the extra.  Stored in the refrigerator it can last for about 3 days.  

Solar Tea:  Place the herbs and the water in a glass jar with a tight fitting lid.  Put it in the directly in the sun for several hours.  Strain and enjoy

Lunar Tea:  Place herbs and water in a jar with a tight fitting lid.  Position it directly in the path of the moonlight.  This is one of my favorite things to do when I am out back-packing.  I pick pine and evergreen needles and place them in a jar with filtered water and cover with tight fitting lid.   I then set it on the edge of a lake in the direct moonlight.   The next day I have a cool herbal moonlight infused tea to drink throughout the day.  

Nourishing Infusion: 

What is an Nourishing infusion - A nourishing infusion is made from specific herbs that contain lots of minerals and vitamins.  The main herbs you use in an infusion are, nettle, red clover blossoms, oat straw, comfrey leaf, linden flower and leaf.  You can also use chickweed, mullein, burdock, elderberry, marshmallow root, violet leafs, plantain leaf, raspberry leaf hawthorn leaf, flower and berry.  

You use 1 ounce of herb to 1 quart boiling water.    

Susun Weed leads the way on this one, more information below

http://www.susunweed.com/herbal_ezine/September08/anti-cancer.htm

Nettle - Blood tonic and circulatory stimulate, diuretic, energy builder, helps with respiratory weakness, helps with allergies and hay fever, vitamins and minerals

Oat Straw - Tonic for vital energy, strengthens your immunity, nourishes your nervous system with nutrients, use often to help fight against exhaustion and fatigue, stimulant, nerve tonic, antioxidant, antispasmodic and diuretic.. Gentle 

Red Clover Blossoms - Detoxifier or blood purifier, anti-tumor , respiratory tonic and rich in minerals.

Comfrey Leaf - Demulcent, vulnerary, mucilaginous, nutritive and more

Linden Leaf and Flower - Tenderhearted flower with a calming nature, relieves anxiety, internal stress and helps reduce muscle tension.  

Respiratory Tonic Tea. 

Book Source:  Rosemary Gladstar's Herbal Recipes for Vibrant Health 

Use over a period of time to create a healthier respiratory system. Rosemary has this tea listed  in the Children's section of her book, but I use it for adults too :) 

4 parts fennel

4 parts rose hips

2 parts lemongrass

1 part calendula

1 part coltsfoot

1 part mullein 

1 part red clover flowers 

Blend together, put in a jar and label.   

Boil Water, add herbs, turn off stove, cover, steep 20 minutes, strain and enjoy. 

Fennel:  Fennel was used by Greek marathon runners for strength and vigor.   It is high in nutrients. Good for a circulatory tonic, eases cramps and spasms, stimulant, anti-inflammatory, diuretic and mild expectorant and more

Rosehips Infection fighters, respiratory aid,  recovery tonic,

high vitamin C and more

Lemongrass - Aromatic herb that is used often in blends.  It has a lemony taste and vitmin C that adds a little zest to any blend. 

Calendula - Antiseptic, astringent, antiviral, antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory, bitter tonic, diaphoretic, detoxifier and diuretic 

Coltsfoot - Emollient, demulcent, expectorant, pectoral, diaphoretic and tonic 

Mullein - diuretic, demulcent, antispasmodic, vulnerary, astringent, emollient, pectoral and anodyne

Red Clover - Alterative, mild stimulant, blood purifier, depurative and detergent 

Elder Tea Blend:

Use this blend to kick that bug before it gets you! 

Ingredients: 

1 Tbls.  dried elderberries

1 Tbls. dried elderflowers 

1 Tbls. dried organic cherries, or other dried ORGANIC fruit

1 Tbls. dried peppermint

1 Tbls. dried holy basil 

Tons of Love 

You can make this mix by doing it in parts to make a bigger batch

Combine the herbs in a jar and mix well.  Label the jar. 

To use: 

1 tsp to 1 Tbls.  of you Elder Tea per 1 cup of boiling water, turn heat off and cover. 

Steep for 5 to 20 minutes

Strain and enjoy!

You can add honey and fresh squeezed lemon juice if you like.  

More on Rejuvenating Teas and Herbs:

http://mcminnvillehealthdefense.ning.com/profiles/blogs/rejuvenating-teas

Lemon Verbena and Rose Tea: 

http://mcminnvillehealthdefense.ning.com/profiles/blogs/lemon-verbena-and-rose-petal-tea

We have had a lot of people asking us about "Liver Detox or Spring Detox"  Below is our thoughts and  our beliefs from our studies and experiences. Please also click on the links at the bottom of this blog for further research.   

You can see that spring is telling us what to eat.  But, Americans are clearly very disconnected to nature because they are not getting the message.  The only message humans seem to be getting is jump on the latest fad and start your spring detox and flush your system.  

Spring is not about the next new detox diet, the next fruit juice fast, etc..  Spring is the awakening of the new season to come.  It is the season to wake up from the sluggish winter and  eat bitter.  It is time to move your body more and get outside in nature.  

Feeling sluggish by spring, means you need to take better care of your body throughout the year and through winter season.  It does not mean do some radical detox and flush your body out.  

You feel sluggish because you gorged yourself with foods that were to heavy, toxic and sugary during the winter season.  

Spring brings us beauty and awakening.  If you were eating right through the winter and sleeping enough you would feel renewed.  Instead of focusing on a detox diet, focus on creating a better winter eating plan for next winter.   You need to be thinking about the long term damage to your body that your are creating , not short term quick fixes like detox/cleansing diets that really don't work and are damaging to your body.  

Spring brings us spring greens, spring edible weeds and spring herbs. Spring brings us beauty after a long dark winter.  Spring is a reminder to eat your greens , especially eat  your bitter greens, it is a reminder that you should always think about boosting your detoxifying process, not just once a year.  

Spring is not here to torture your internal organs with fad detox diets.  It is a reminder that if you feel sluggish because you made bad choices throughout the winter with heavy sugary holiday food, toxic food that maybe next winter you will make healthier choices for your body mind and spirit.  

What spring is telling you  is to wake up, take a walk out in nature, slow down your life because you refused to do it, breath more, and enjoy the beauty that the next few seasons will bring.  

Say NO to spring detox/cleansing diets, start making better choices/better life style habits and learn to eat your bitter greens.

 A life of eating to be healthy is truly about finding  balance, listening and seeing what nature  is bringing  to you.  

 Life Detox:

You are living a life that is too fast.  Slow it down.  Take deep breaths, learn to breath again.   A fast paced life gives you indigestion. Simply put, it is bad for your digestion to live a life that is fast.  Instead of a juice fast that will give you a blood sugar high, sit down under a tree with a cup of nettle tea.  

Drink nourishing bone broth made from animals that are treated beautifully and fed a non-gmo diet.

Practice being kind and learn to give instead of take

Get to bed by 10:00 PM

Cut out sugar

Find out your food allergies

Exercise is a must.  No excuses, humans need to move their bodies.  Find something you like.  It does not have to be something that is hard core.  Walking is a great way to exercise.  It is being consistent that is important.   You need to exercise at least 5 days a week.  

Eliminate chemical toxins out of your life.  Remember hair dyes and nail polish are toxic.  Eliminate products that are made from petroleum, synthetics and GMO's 

 All screens, cell phones, computer, gaming, video games, TV, I pads, kindles,  etc All of them put your body in Fight or Flight mode.  So, instead of reaching for the newest cleansing diet, turn of your screens and limit your use of them.   If you have a cell phone then only use it for emergency's or if it is job related and If you have to use it for your job then set limits right away.    Turn the ringer off.  

Stop texting and start making time to see each other.  Texting turns you off from this world and keeps you overly connected, it is stressing your digestive tract out.   You need to set limits.  

Gaming/Video games, this is one of the worst things you can do to your body.  Total fight or flight mode every time you log on.   Get gaming out of your life, it is a serious addiction to adrenaline and it turns you  off from the real world.   Set your bare feet onto the ground and drink a cup of burdock root tea.  

Be Here Now.  Simply put if you are waiting for someone or something, just be, look around, observe what is going on around you, start a conversation, smile at someone, bring a paper book to read,  just get off of your phone.  You are keeping your body in constant state of stress.  What does stress do to your digestion? 

Create community and get involved.  This gives your body happy emotions 

Smoothies are the new quick fix, and you are skipping one of the first steps to digestion by drinking your meals.   I truly feel people are having more digestion issues because of our liquid diet and the smoothie fad.   Chewing and saliva are the first steps to breaking down your food.  

Sit and eat.  Be still while you chill.  Breath while you eat.  Breakfast at the table.  No Screen time while you eat.  All of those routines are becoming extinct .  It is time to start the day by eating a balance breakfast  with cooked greens, a clean protein and a salad.   

Stop eating raw food in the winter. 

Eat more green vegetables.   To this day I have yet to meet someone who eats enough vegetables.  

Eat seasonally. It does not make sense to your body for you to go on a juice fast in the spring if you live in an area that fruit is not ripe or even growing at this time.  

 Shop local farmers markets.  They are growing the foods that you can eat seasonally.   Buy organic as much as possible.   It is important for your health to eliminate eating foods that have  chemical toxins in them.  

Drink filtered water or spring water.  Most people are not drinking enough water 

Eat Spring Greens

Wild Spring Greens, head out and harvest some spring energy

Nettle, Urtica dioica - Nutrient, diuretic, detoxifying, astringent, glactagogue, decongestant and hypoglycemic.  Highly nutritious, high in vitamins and minerals.   Great for a nourishing tonic.  They stimulate the action of the kidneys and bladder.  Nettles help cleanse the body of toxins and wastes.  In the respiratory system nettles help clear catarrhal congestion and relieve allergies such as hayfever and asthma (with a balanced, healthy, diet) 

Cleavers, Galium aparine - Diuretic, alterative, antiinflammatory, astringent, antineoplastic, tonic and refrigerant.  Cleavers cleanse and clear toxins from the system and reduce inflammation.  They are a diuretic aiding elimination of wastes and also act ot enhance the lymphatic system, promoting lymphatic drainage of toxins ans wastes.   These actions ( with a healthy balanced diet) make them excellent for fluid retention, skin problems , urinary infections, and more.  

Sheep Sorrel - click on link below: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ivx-B9iRcCo

Horsetail, Equisetum arvense - click on link below

http://www.herbwisdom.com/herb-horsetail.html

Chickweed, Stellaria media - Alterative, demulcent, refrigerant, mucilaginous, pectoral, resolvent and discutient. It is a mild diuretic and is used for water retention.  Has many nutrients, including calcium, potassium and iron.  Use as a food, it heals and soothes.  

Violet Flower and Leaf, click on links below: 

http://www.herbalistlisewolff.com/violets.html

http://www.susunweed.com/An_Article_wisewoman3e.htm

Lemon Balm, Melissa officinalis - Antiviral, decongestant, antihistamine, antiseptic, carminative, antispasmodic, antidepressant, nervine diaphoretic, hypotensive and bitter tonic.   Lemon balm is an excellent remedy for soothing the nerves and lifting the spirits ( a rainy spring would be a great time to make a wonderful cup of tea with this beautiful herb) It has a particular affinity with the digestive system, it calms and soothes nausea, vomiting poor appetite, colic, dysentery, colitis and any stress related digestive problems.   Make a bitters and it will gently stimulate the liver and gallbladder and enhance digestion and absorption.   It is useful for nervousness or depression.    It makes a great remedy for headaches and migraines.  A hot infusion causes sweating reducing fevers and making a good remedy for childhood infections.    This is one plant I would make sure I had growing in my garden!  

Dandelion Greens, Taraxacum officinale - Cholagogue, diuretic, antirheumatic, laxative, tonic, nutrient and detoxifying.  The whole plant ca be used medicine and is highly nutritious.   Pick the leaves in the spring and early summer.   Eat them as a bitter tonic to cleanse the body of wastes from the heavy clogging food and more sedentary habits of winter.  Dandelion eliminates toxins, wastes and pollutants through the liver and kidneys, cleansing the blood and tissues.  The bitters in both root and leaf activate the digestive tract and the liver, increasing the flow of digestive juices, enhancing the appetite, easing digestion and cleansing the liver.    So instead of reaching for the latest detox/cleansing diet, take a hike and eat some Dandelion Leaves (in a no spray area) 

Plantain, Plantago major - Leaves: demulcent, refrigerant, detoxifying, astringent, vulnerary, decongestant, expectorant, antiseptic and diuretic. 

My recommendations are this:

I won't recommended a Liver Detox tea to flush out toxins. I would never recommend a juice fast.   I will recommend that you increase your intake of green raw and cooked veggies,  I will recommend Susan Weeds Nourishing  infusions, I will recommend nutritive teas that nourish and tonify your body. There are many more recommendations that I would make.  But the most important thing I will tell you is that you need to take care of your body all the time, think about detoxifying it all the time through nourishing your body with healthy habits.   

Wild Weed Pesto: 

http://mcminnvillehealthdefense.ning.com/profiles/blogs/let-food-be-thy-medicine-and-medicine-be-thy-food-hippocrates

Trying implementing Nourishing Infusions in your daily wellness plan: 

http://www.susunweed.com/herbal_ezine/September08/anti-cancer.htm

More information on Winter Detox Diet: 

http://www.herbalremediesadvice.org/winter-detox-diet.html

Herbs for your liver: 

http://www.herbalremediesadvice.org/natural-liver-cleanse.html

"The Way You Do Food Is The Way You Live Life"

Digestion 

Welcome to Wild and Weedy Wellness.  You are about to take a journey down the  holistic health hike.    This journey will tease your senses, satisfy your taste buds, bring you new ideas and knowledge.  

We  are starting our Wild and Weedy Wellness with items that aide your digestion.   It has been a long winter, a lot of heavy foods have been eaten and it is time to get things moving.   

The digestive system is one of the most important systems in your body and I personally feel it is very abused.  This is why  Colon cancer is one of the highest cancers out there.  

The digestive system  consist of many important organs for digestion, absorption, assimilation, distribution, and elimination.    It begins at your mouth and ends at your rectum.   So next time you think about eating something think about this.  Does the food your about to eat give your body what it needs?  Will your digestive system be able to digest it, absorb nutrients out of it, will it be able to assimilate nutrients out of it,  can it be distributed healthfully and can you eliminate it all the way comfortably? 

It is time to start eating those spring greens, cut sugar out, start moving and start breathing.   

Here are a few pointers to help you with your digestion.  After all this is your gas tank and what happens when you put bad gas in your car? 

Take  a bitters extract.  Bitters stimulate bile production.  You can take them before or after meals.  I will also take them if I feel like I have heartburn.  I just put a few drops on my tongue or a few drops (10 plus) in a 1/8 cup of water swish in my mouth and swallow.  

Bitters Information: 

http://www.westonaprice.org/health-topics/abcs-of-nutrition/bitters-the-revival-of-a-forgotten-flavor/

Eat bitter food, like fresh dandelion greens

Eat spring greens, cooked greens, lots of veggies and eat a vegetable rainbow 

Limit your fruit intake and up your green veggie intake

Cut out sugar, cane sugar, brown sugar, high fructose corn syrup 

Make sure your honey is real honey.  

Shop at your local farmers market and purchase organic produce 

Most people are not drinking enough water.  Drink filtered water or spring water.

Eat Slowly 

Turn off all screens.  No cells, no computer, no movies etc...

Breath slowly while eating.  Take deep breaths.  When the blood lacks oxygen absorption decreases.  

No late night eating.  Eat dinner by 7:00 pm or earlier.  If you are full with food when you go to bed then your body is working on digesting and not repairing and rejuvenating.  

Drink relaxing teas to calm your nervous system down. 

Don't overeat,  instead undereat slightly 

Don't eat when unhappy

Think positive thoughts when you are eating

If you are constipated and you are having trouble going poo, don't try to force it out.  Relax drink some chamomile tea,  drink some water, take a walk, do some exercise, eat green veggies, cooked  veggies and big salads.   Let the poo come out when it is ready.  

Check out the Squatty Potty: 

https://www.squattypotty.com/unicorn-a/

All -Purpose Herbal Salt 

All purpose herbal salt tenderizes food, making it more digestible.  Rub it on fish, vegetables and meats.

1/4 Cup salt (mixture of sea salt and pink himalayan  salt)  

2 tablespoons pd. coriander

1 tablespoon pd. turmeric

1 teaspoon pd. cumin

1 teaspoon pd. fennel seed

1 teaspoon pd.  mustard seed

1/2 teaspoon pd. star anise

Honey Spice Packet - Digestive Aid

Ingredients:  orange peal, dandelion root, ginger, burdoct root, star anise and cloves

Let this herbal honey help you digest you meals.  

For a wonderful cup of tea add 1 tsp of this honey to a cup of warm water, stir and enjoy.  

You will need:  local honey (make sure it is real honey), one 16 oz jar

I cup of honey

I packet of Digestive Aid Spice

Directions:  

Put herb packet in jar, top with honey, stir, and cap with a tight-fitting lid. Place in a sunny windowsill, and turn the jar over at least once per day.

Label the jar

Add more honey if the herbs rise above the honey.

Allow to infuse for two weeks.

Just leave the herbs in the honey, there is no need to strain.  

Cranky Belly  Seed Chew

Keep this seed chew on your kitchen table or bring it along with you if you are traveling.     When you travel there are times you might get constipation, icky belly or digestion issues.   Chew on this seed mix to help you these issues.  

2 tablespoons whole sesame seeds

2 tablespoons whole fennel seeds 

1 teaspoon whole cumin seeds 

Mix together, put in a jar and label

Rejuvenating Foot Soak -External Use Only- Shake Well 

Fill tub or basin with warm water

Add Rejuvenating Foot Soak 

Mix well 

Soak feet for 20 minutes

Ingredients:  apple cider organic, vegetable glycerin, epsom salts, tea tree EO and peppermint EO 

Better Belly Bitters: - Made with alcohol 

Ingredients:  Artichoke leaf, hawthorn berries, fennel seed, star anise, orange peel, hibiscus, local honey, brandy (alcohol) and LOVE  

Use 10 to 40 drops in a small amount of water  before meals.  Sip slowly to let it mingle with your taste-buds.    

About Bitters: 

https://www.herb-pharm.com/blog/digestive-bitters-compound/

GLUTEN FREE PIZZA CRUST RECIPE

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.