Category Archives: Herbal Delights

April 6, 2011

The Prettiest Spring Flower Tea Blend

By Whitney Gerschke Johnson, Nutritionist

Happy Flower Tea!

After picking out pretty herbs at the herb shop, I wasn’t sure what I was going to do with them.  I looked into my herb cabinet and found I had some beautiful passionflower just waiting to get involved, so I added her to the mix.  A tea blend seemed like the best idea for these flowering beauties.

The prettiest spring flower tea blend (about equal parts of):

  • Lavender
  • Passionflower
  • Jasmine
  • Lemon balm
  • Red Clover
  • Linden (SUCH a GREAT herb, try it if you haven’t).

If I would’ve had room, I would have included lemon verbena.  Other pretty additions are chamomile, rose (I am really surprised I forget her), and any others that strike your fancy.

What is neat is that all of these flowers have a balancing & calming effect as they act like relaxers for us, so that makes it even more lovely.  Give it a try!

Leave a comment | posted in Herbal Delights

March 11, 2011

The days may be warm, but the nights are cold: Spicy Mulled Apple Wine

By Whitney Gerschke Johnson, Nutritionist

Ah yes,  this is that time of year where we all start vigilantly looking for signs of spring and our minds and bare feet keep asking, “Is it here yet?”  Well, it is getting near, but we have some ways to go.  So for those cold nights, try this drink- it has a little spice to it…

Ingredients:

  • one bottle of not so good red wine
  • 2 star anise
  • 2 small apples (pink lady apples are my fav)
  • 16 cardamom pods
  • 1 tsp. black peppercorns
  • 1 tsp. cloves
  • 2 inches of fresh ginger- chopped
  • 2 cinnamon sticks
  • honey

To make:

  • Chop the ginger and the apples
  • Put each of the spices through the mortar and pestle
  • Add wine and ingredients to a saucepan
  • Simmer for 20 minutes
  • Add honey to taste (I used 2 tsps.)
  • Strain if you want- I suggest eating the apples- delish!
  • Drink up!

Some background on this creation:

Spicy mulled apple wine concoction!

So, while I like to drink great red wine, I mostly let my husband Oliver pick it out.  I haven’t bothered to learn much about the ins- and -outs of wine selection, but he has, so it is up to him.  I did pick a wine out a few weeks ago, strictly based on the beautiful label that showed this wonderfully radiant farm scene, and we agreed it would be fun to try.

Well, turns out it was awful!  AWFUL!  So, a concoction had to be made with it, and wah-la!  This spicy apple mulled wine drink was made.  It is quite tasty…

Leave a comment | posted in Food Makin, Herbal Delights

March 9, 2011

One of my favorite tea blends

By Whitney Gerschke Johnson, Nutritionist

Tea is a lovely thing, especially in the winter.  One of my favorite tea blends is nutritive and lovely.

Lovely Lavender

  • Nettles (high in vitamins and minerals)
  • Oat straw (calming, nutritive)
  • Lavender (lovely)
  • Betony (grounding)
  • Lemon balm (brightening)

I make this with about equal parts of each (a little more nettles and a little less lavender) and put about one tablespoon of herb per cup.  This can steep for up to four hours or 20 minutes, but the leave the lavender out for longer steeps (just my opinion based on taste).  Play with the steeping times, and do not fear if you walk away from your tea and come back a few hours later :)

 

Leave a comment | posted in Herbal Delights

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