Spring Tonic Roundup

Here are some of my favorite links regarding Spring Tonics! I will be adding and updating to this list as I go through my bookmarks!


Information
Spring Tonics
Spring Tonics: It's What You Get, It's How You Get It
Spring Tonics

History & Around the World
Chervil- The Spring Tonic Herb
Sassafras Tea: THE Spring Tonic
Time for a Spring Tonic

Medicinal Recipes
Cleavers Tincture
Ground Ivy Infusion

Food Recipes
Nettle Shitake Stir Fry
Pot Herb Pie--A Spring Tonic 
Omelet, Salsa, Salad and Greens Recipes
Strawberry Rhubarb Pound Cake
Rhubarb Citrus Soup
Nettle Soup 

Self Care Sunday - April's Bliss Sugar Scrub Glow

This is a series devoted to easy to make body care recipes for self care! I hope you enjoy!

~April's Bliss Sugar Scrub Glow~

1 c. organic raw sugar
1 c. powdered organic rose petals
1 tsp. organic vanilla extract
2-4 tbsp. organic carrier oil (olive/almond/avocado/jojoba)

Combine all ingredients and mix well with a fork. Store in a glass jar with a lid and let sit overnight to let the vanilla infuse into the dried mixture..

When your ready to mix up an application in a separate dish, you can add  2-4 Tbsp. of oil to 1/2 cup of salt per application. (You can basically play with the consistency..) You want it to be thick enough to scoop up with your hand or a spoon.

To use; scoop or spoon some into the palm of your hand and rub generously over elbows, knees, arms, legs, feet & hands and rinse well. Your skin will be silky soft! If you want to make the scrub extra aromatic you could add a few drops of rose otto and/ chamomile essential oil  or infuse the carrier oil with a vanilla bean. Mmmmm!!!

Mine are adorned with some whole roses just for prettyness sake.. If you choose to do this, just scoop these out of your bath/shower so they don't clog up the drain!

The Herbal Medicine Cupboard

It's heading into Fall here in Vermont! I thought I would start gathering recipes for medicinal herbal concoctions for the winter. I am busy gathering recipes, plants, jars and other needed supplies! I'm definitely going to have a medicine making day really soon at my house. (One of my favorite things to do and it's been quite awhile since I have been motivated enough to make everything for the winter season. This year I'm making that happen though!)

Here's a few of the things I am going to make;

Osha Pastilles

Elecampane, Ginger and Horehound Syrup's

Fire Cider & Immune Support Tincture

Longevity Electuary

Elderberry Elixir


What do you make to keep on hand during the cold/flu season?

Red Clover Lemonade

Our yard is currently full of red clover. After being away from the Northeast for so long I find the clover comforting in a way. Like an old friend.

Here is a recipe for red clover lemonade you can try! Red clover is a wonderful tonic herb that will nourish you body and soul! It is packed full of nutrients such as calcium, vitamin C, potassium, magnesium and niacin among others!

Red Clover Lemonade

4 cups fresh Red Clover blossoms

1 gallon water

1 c. honey

1 ½ cups lemon juice

1. Gently simmer Clover blossoms in a covered pot for 10 minutes.

2. Add honey, stirring until it dissolves.

3. Cover and let steep and cool for several hours or overnight. (This makes a strong, potent tea, maximizing the calcium and other nutrients in the Clover.)

4. Add lemon juice and chill.

Dandelion Burgers!?!

I am a little obsessed with dandelion recipes at the moment as our yard is full of them!!!

Check out this recipe out for dandelion burgers! Looks pretty interesting, eh? I have not tried this yet but I thought it was blog worthy!

More interesting dandelion recipes and a more in depth overview to come!

Cream of Dandelion Soup

Cream of Dandelion Soup

4 cups chopped dandelion leaves

2 cups dandelion flower petals

2 cups dandelion buds

1 Tbsp butter or olive oil

1 cup chopped wild leeks (or onions)

6 cloves garlic, minced

4 cups water

2 cups half-n-half or heavy cream

2 tsp salt

1. Gently boil dandelion leaves in 6 cups water. Pour off bitter water. Boil gently a second time, pour off bitter water.

2. In a heavy-bottom soup pot, sauté wild leeks and garlic in butter or olive oil until tender.

3. Add 4 cups water.

4. Add dandelion leaves, flower petals, buds, and salt.

5. Simmer gently 45 minutes or so.

6. Add cream and simmer a few minutes more.

Garnish with flower petals.

honey preserved dandelion blossom spread

Dandelions are one plant I have always loved since I was a kid. Over the years I have deeply missed the plentiful blooms of this plant out west. They are starting to sprout up all over here in New England so I am collecting any and all dandelion recipes to try this year!

I am going to make some of this honey preserved blossom spread over the weekend! Has anyone tried this recipe?

Zoom Balls and Speed Fudge

Guarana is a tropical plant native to the Amazon forest. It is a natural stimulant and used in many modern day energy drinks and diet pills.

This zoom ball recipe is by the famed herbalist Rosemary Gladstar. Michael Moore also has a recipe for guarana fudge I have included as well. I have made the zoom balls but not the fudge. I may give it a whirl one day soon! (feeling very low energy here)

**These should not be taken by pregnant or nursing moms or those sensitive to caffeine** KEEP OUT OF REACH OF PETS AND CHILDREN!

ZOOM BALLS
A Rosemary Gladstar recipe

• 3 cups tahini (drain excess oil from the top)
• 1 cup cashew or almond butter
• 2 cups honey (more or less to taste)
• 5 oz guarana powder
• 2 oz eleuthero powder
• 1 tbl cardamom powder
• 1 oz Chinese ginseng powder
• 1/2 oz nutmeg or mace powder
• 1 oz bee pollen
• 2 vials royal jelly
• 1 package carob or bitter chocolate chips
• 8 oz unsweetened shredded coconut- toasted
• 1 cup finely chopped almonds
• unsweetened cocoa powder
• 2 # bittersweet dipping chocolate

1. Mix tahini, nut butter and honey until smooth. Combine the herbal powders, bee pollen and royal jelly and add to tahini mix.
2. Add chips, coconut and almonds - mix in well. Mix in enough cocoa powder to bring the dough to the desired thickness.
3. Roll the dough into small balls. If you want to coat the balls with chocolate, chill them in the refrigerator of easier dipping. You can also spread the mixture onto a baking sheet and cut into squares.
4. Melt the dipping chocolate in a double boiler. Drip the balls 1 at a time and place on waxed paper to cool.
5. Store the balls in baking tins in a cool place. They will last for weeks.

GUARANA FUDGE (AKA Speed Fudge)
by the late Michael Moore ( www.swsbm.com )

Mix together:
5 cups brown sugar
2 1/2 cups milk
salt

Add later:
1 cube sweet butter
6 ounces powdered Guarana Bean
Various nuts (if desired)

Boil sugar,salt and milk to the soft ball stage. Remove from heat for 10 minutes, add 1 cube sweet butter. Mix in 6 ounces of powdered Guarana Bean, and stir constantly until the glistening surface starts to look like frosting and stiffens. Add nuts (if desired), scrape onto greased surface, cool until set, and cut.

WARNING: This stuff tastes GREAT, but speeds like a mother.

Marmalade Time!

I am going to be making marmalade with the family this weekend, something I want to start a tradition doing each spring with the kids!

While I was thinking abut it earlier and gathering supplies I decided to search for some herbal marmalade recipes! Here's a few I found that I thought I'd share!

These would make delicious Mothers day (or anytime) gifts!

Lemon Lavender Marmalade

Minted Pineapple Lime Marmalade

Rosemary Orange Marmalade

Ginger Marmalade

Rose Hip Marmalade

Green Tomato Ginger Marmalade

Surely chamomile would make a wonderful marmalade mixed with ginger, lemon or oranges. I can't wait to try each and every one of these!!! :)

seaweed bars

I have a long "to do" list going of herbal projects going and such for this spring and summer. I am going to post that one day soon for the fun of it and to keep track of things. :)

This recipe is on the top of my list!! Even though I don't really like sea veggies all that much I am really wanting to try this one for my kiddos for a healthy snack!

Chickweed Salve

Good first aid for cuts, nicks, bites and scratches, itches and rashes.

12 oz fresh chickeweed 1 pint olive or sweet almond oil ½ oz beeswax

In ovenproof container combine Chickweed and oil.

Place in 150°F oven for 3 hours; strain and add ½ oz melted beeswax to oil (always melt waxes in top of double boiler to avoid fire); stir as mixture thickens.

Damiana Liqueur

I'm a big fan of the herb damiana. It is a wonderful aphrodisiac and I have also used
it to overcome fertility issues. Here is a recipe I am going to try in the next few weeks!!!


This is delicious and was one of the first things I tried upon delving into the
world of herbal medicine!  Boy did it get my attention! Anyway I have been dying to make
some since then and that was sadly 15 years ago and I have been hanging on to the recipe
for a long while needless to say! So I have decided my man (who is studying herbs)
and I will make some in the very near future. Well as soon as I get all the ingredients gathered.


Damiana liqueur has been used for centuries in Mexico and also by ancient
civilizations such as the Mayans. It can be used as a tincture or infusion.


1 fifth brandy

4 oz damiana

2 oz lemon grass

4 oz cinnamon sticks

1 tsp. ground cloves

1 tsp. ground nutmegs

1 c. honey

1 oz marijuana tincture (optional but recommended- I will post the directions
for this specifically sometime this coming week!)

cheesecloth

large wide mouth mason jar w/ a lid



Place the herbs in the wide mouth jar. Cover with the brandy and screw on the lid.

Let this sit for 4-6 weeks.

Strain through cheesecloth and sweeten with honey.


Enjoy! ;)