Category: Recipe

Corn and Potato Chowder

1/23/2025

INGREDIENTS
1 onion, diced
1 Tbsp cumin
2 Tbsp butter
2 cans diced potatoes (drained)
4 c. chicken stock
1 can corn (drained)
1 cup shredded Italian cheese mix
1 cup milk
1 tsp. flour
2 cups of shredded chicken or turkey (optional)

DIRECTIONS
In a large stockpot, saute onion in butter over medium heat until onion turns translucent, about 3-4 minutes. Add cumin and cook, stirring, for another 1-2 minutes, until cumin is fragrant. Add chicken/turkey (if adding), potatoes, corn, and stock, bring to a boil. In the meantime, mix milk with flour until mixture is smooth, then add to the soup, stirring constantly. Remove from the heat and stir in the shredded cheese, stirring until melted. Ladle into bowls and Enjoy!

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Anti-Inflammatory Ginger & Turmeric Tea

9/3/2024

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INGREDIENTS
2 quarts of water
1 organic whole lemon (zest and then quartered)
2-3" of fresh ginger root
2-3" of fresh turmeric (if you can't find it, you can use 1 tbsp of powdered - or more to taste)
dash of chili powder
1/4 tsp black pepper

DIRECTIONS
1. Place water in saucepan and heat over medium.
2. Grate ginger & turmeric and add to water. If you are using turmeric powder add that now.
3. Zest a washed (preferably organic) lemon over the saucepan, making sure to only get the yellow and not the white parts.
4. Once zested, cut lemon into quarters and squeeze the juice into the water, then add the lemon quarters to the water.
5. Add chili powder and black pepper to the water.
6. Stir and bring to a low boil. Boil for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
7. At the end of the 10 minutes, remove the mixture from the heat and allow to cool.
8. Once cooled, strain mixture with a cheesecloth (use one that you won't mind getting stained. The turmeric stains very easily) and put in fridge to chill. We put the main batch in a half-gallon mason jar but on busy weeks we fill half-pint jars so we can just grab-n-go.
9. Add honey or stevia to taste and enjoy!

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Lilac Benefits & Recipes

5/16/2024

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Lilacs boast a plethora of health benefits:

Immune Support: Lilac's antioxidants bolster the immune system by safeguarding immune cells, potentially enhancing their function, and aiding in the body's defense against infections and illnesses.
Antioxidant Protection: Abundant in flavonoids and polyphenols, lilacs combat harmful free radicals, mitigating oxidative stress and potentially reducing the risk of chronic ailments such as heart disease, cancer, and diabetes.
Stress Relief: Renowned for its calming fragrance, lilacs offer stress relief and mood improvement. Lilac essential oil or absolute is utilized in aromatherapy to induce relaxation, diminish anxiety, and uplift mood.
Skin Health: Packed with vitamin C and antioxidants, lilacs protect the skin from various environmental stressors, stimulate collagen production, and aid in skin repair, contributing to overall skin health.
Anti-inflammatory Effects: Certain lilac compounds exhibit anti-inflammatory properties, which may alleviate conditions like arthritis, asthma, and inflammatory bowel disease by reducing inflammation in the body.
Respiratory Benefits: In traditional medicine, lilacs have been utilized to address respiratory issues like coughs and congestion. Lilacs' anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties may soothe respiratory symptoms and promote lung health.

This batch took 2-3 days to air dry.

AIR DRIED LILAC PETALS
This is, probably, the easiest experiment that I did with the lilacs. The most tedious part was pulling off all the little petals.

Spread them out, in a single layer, onto a parchment lined tray or cookie sheet.
Set in an area that won't get a lot of sun, but is warm enough to air dry without molding.
Setting in the sun or heat drying them in a dehydrator/oven would be too hot and could alter the color and then aroma.

LILAC OIL INFUSION
INGREDIENTS

Fresh lilac flowers and leaves
Carrier oil (such as coconut oil or olive oil)

INSTRUCTIONS:

Place petals of the lilacs in a glass jar.
Pour the carrier oil over the lilacs until they are fully submerged.
Seal the jar and store it in a cool, dark place for 2-4 weeks to allow the infusion to develop.
After the infusion period, strain out the flowers and leaves from the oil.

LILAC TONER
Lilac blossoms and leaves possess astringent qualities, which can help to firm and mildly dry the skin, making them beneficial for individuals with oily or acne-prone skin. Try preparing the Lilac Toner provided below, or simply apply Lilac Infusion to your face after cleansing.
Lilac also serves as an excellent tonic for both hair and scalp. Gently massage Lilac Infusion onto your scalp to fortify your hair from the roots and alleviate dandruff concerns.

All you need to make this is 2 simple ingredients, a quart size mason jar, and a few weeks for it infuse.

Fill a jar with lilac blossoms, picked on a dry sunny day. Cover the flowers with 100% witch hazel. Place in a cool dark place that is easily accessible since you will need to shake it daily.
After a few weeks (or longer if you want), strain into a clean jar and label. If kept in a cool dark place, this will last six months or longer.

TO USE: On clean dry skin, apply your toner with a cotton pad. No need to rinse. Follow with your usual skin care routine.

LILAC INFUSED HONEY
Creating lilac-infused honey is a delightful way to capture the essence of this fragrant flower. Here's how to make it:

Fresh lilac blossoms (ensure they are pesticide-free)
Honey (preferably raw and unfiltered)

INSTRUCTIONS:

Begin by gently rinsing the lilac blossoms to remove any dirt or debris. Allow them to air dry completely.
Once the blossoms are dry, pluck the individual flowers from the stems, discarding any green parts.
Place the lilac blossoms into a clean, dry glass jar.
Pour the honey over the lilac blossoms until they are completely submerged.
Use a clean utensil, such as a chopstick or skewer, to gently stir the honey and lilac blossoms together, ensuring that the blossoms are evenly distributed throughout the honey.
Seal the jar tightly with a lid and store it in a cool, dark place for about 1-2 weeks to allow the flavors of the lilac to infuse into the honey. The petals will rise to the top, so twice a day I would turn the jar over to get some movement in the mixture. You can also stir with a skewer or chopstick, but I didn't want to chance getting any contaminants in the jar. You can taste-test the honey after a week to see if the desired level of flavor has been achieved.
Once the infusion period is complete, strain the honey through a fine-mesh sieve or cheesecloth to remove the lilac blossoms. Press down on the blossoms gently to extract as much infused honey as possible.
Transfer the strained lilac-infused honey into a clean, dry jar or container for storage.
Label the jar with the date of preparation and enjoy your homemade lilac-infused honey drizzled over toast, stirred into tea, or used in various culinary creations.

This lilac-infused honey adds a delicate floral flavor to any dish and makes a lovely homemade gift for friends and family. Enjoy experimenting with this unique and flavorful creation!

This picture was taken the day I combined them together.

This is 4 days later. - Still has quite a ways to go.

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Chili Lime & Cilantro Quinoa

4/1/2024

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INGREDIENTS
1 cup quinoa
2 cups water
1/4 cup lime juice
1 tsp ground peppers (varies depending on your heat tolerance)
2 Tbsp fresh minced cilantro
Optional: for added protein I have added 1/4 cup of hemp seeds when adding the cilantro

DIRECTIONS
1. Cook quinoa to package instructions, once cooked - Optional: add a tsp of salt to the water.
2. Add cilantro, lime, and ground peppers to cooked quinoa. Stir and serve. Or let cool and add to salads.

I make this recipe a couple times a month and portion it into thirds. One third goes into the fridge to add to meals and salads. Two thirds get bagged separately and placed in the freezer for times when I need a quick snack or addition to meals and salads.

If you like quinoa recipes, check out:

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Corn and Potato Chowder

Anti-Inflammatory Ginger & Turmeric Tea

Lilac Benefits & Recipes

Lilacs boast a plethora of health benefits:

Chili Lime & Cilantro Quinoa

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