Enchantment Learning & Living Blog

Welcome to Enchantment Learning & Living, the inspirational space where I write about the simple pleasures, radical self-care, and everyday magic that make life delicious.

Basil-Nutritional Yeast Pesto

June 17, 2014

I love basil--and pesto. I literally cannot live without either of these culinary miracles, especially in the summer when the basil is plentiful and it is so easy to whip up a batch of this flavor enhancing sauce. I like to make a big batch of it and freeze it in little ice cube trays. When I need a little something extra for pizza, salad dressing, or pasta sauce, I just pop out one of these frozen pesto cubes and--wala!--my evening meal is elevated to summery deliciousness. This pesto is also great for making your own Seussian "green eggs" (ham optional).

Usually, when It comes to making pesto, I just use what I have on hand in terms of nuts (almost always sunflower seeds) and cheese. Lately, I have been l loving swapping out the traditional Parmesan cheese for nutritional yeast in my recipe. This yeast is actually deactivated yeast that has a cheesy, nutty flavor and is often used as a cheese substitute in vegan dishes. It can be found in most health food stores. It is delicious, low in calories, and so good for you because it is high in fiber, protein, and vitamin B-12. I also don't often put salt in my pesto, especially if I am going to freeze it because I want to make sure I don't over salt my dish if I am using pesto with other salty ingredients like prosciutto or mozzarella. So I refrain from adding salt until I know what I'm pairing it with. Let's just say I learned to tread lightly with the seasoning of my pesto after one too many salty dishes!

Ingredients:

2 cups packed organic basil

1 clove garlic

1/4 cup sunflower seeds

2/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil

1/2 cup nutritional yeast

Salt to taste (optional)

Add first three ingredients in a food processor until roughly chopped and blended. Then add oil and mix until combined. Finally, add in nutritional yeast (and salt if using) and combine. Transfer to bowl or mason jar. Store in fridge for 2-3 days or up to three months in freezer using ice cube trays. Enjoy!

Enchantment Learning & Living is an inspirational blog celebrating life’s simple pleasures, everyday mysticism, and delectable recipes that are guaranteed to stir the kitchen witch in you. If you enjoyed what you just read and believe that true magic is in the everyday, subscribe to my newsletter below for regular doses of enchantment. Want even more inspiration? Follow me on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter. Here’s to a magical life!

3 Citrus-Ginger Gin Fizz

May 11, 2014

In honor of my wonderful patio garden, I had my family over for dinner last night. It was a perfect garden party (albeit a patio garden party) filled with the bounty of spring. We had radishes and young beets in our salad, asparagus and roasted lamb seasoned with herbs from my garden on our plates. There was also fresh pesto crostini for appetizers and, of course, a beautiful view of my potted plants. Naturally, when you have a garden party, you need a cocktail that tastes like spring in a glass, which is why I developed my 3 citrus-ginger gin fizz.

A traditional fizz is simply gin, lemon, a little sugar, and sparkling water--an absolutely refreshing way to wind down a warm spring day. I've added a twist to this recipe by using three types of citrus--grapefruit, lemon, and lime--and the addition of ginger simple syrup in place of the sugar. There are few combinations as heavily as citrus and ginger in my book--they play on each other's brightness. Make sure to use freshly squeezed citrus juice--the bottled kind doesn't have as bright a flavor and contains lots of hidden sugars. You can also skip the gin and have a refreshing mocktail, as my pregnant sister did.

Even if you aren't hosting a garden party anytime soon, I'd recommend enjoying this cocktail to kick off your Saturday night!

Ingredients:

Juice of 1 grapefruit

Juice of 1 lemon

Juice of 1 lime

6 ounces (3 shots) ginger simple syrup

Sparkling water

Combine three juices together in a mason jar or other container. In four glasses, add one shot of the juice mix to each glass and 1/2 shot (.75 ounces) of ginger simple syrup. Top with ice. Fill the glass to the top with sparkling water and stir. Enjoy in a shady grove, patio garden, or other lovely outdoor space. Serves 4.

Ginger Simple Syrup

May 10, 2014

Ginger is one of those epic all-around healing foods that I can't get enough of. It adds brightness and spice to everything from a good Asian stir-fry to my morning quinoa. This time of year I absolutely love it as an ingredient in the sunny warm-weather cocktails & mocktails that become so appealing after a day spent outdoors. You can also mix it with sparkling water to make a light, refreshing soda. In either case, my ginger simple syrup is an ingredient I like to keep on hand for those impromptu fancy drinks that feel like summer in a glass.

Ingredients:

1 cup sugar

1 cup water

1/4-inch by 1-inch chunk of fresh ginger, peeled and sliced thinly

To make the simple syrup, bring water and ginger to a boil. Stir in sugar until fully dissolved. Reduce heat. Simmer for 5 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool completely. Strain out ginger and pour syrup into a mason jar. Store in fridge for about one week. Make approximately 1 cup of syrup.

Bathe Like an Egyptian Bath

May 1, 2014

Legend has it that Cleopatra used to bathe in milk and honey--the perfect recipe for soft, hydrated skin. Naturally, I thought of this as the perfect antidote to the dry skin the change of seasons can bring on. It feels purely decadent to soak in this rich liquid and your skin feels incredible afterward. The lactic acid in the milk gently exfoliates your skin, while the honey helps it retain moisture and acts as an anti-inflammatory agent. I recommend full-fat milk since it is mega-nourishing for your skin--so save the two percent for drinking. Organic is also a must--who wants anything treated with unnatural things on their skin? Plan to take some time in the bath: grab a good book, drink a cup of chamomile tea, and feel as pampered as an Egyptian queen! And feel free to imagine scantily clad buff servants fanning you with big palm leaves as you soak.

Ingredients:

2 cups whole milk

1/2 cup honey

Favorite bubble bath (optional)

Pour milk and honey under running water. Make bath water hot but not too hot. Add bubbles if desired. Soak in bath for at least 30-45 minutes. For best results, exfoliate before bathing and slather on your favorite body butter after. Enjoy!

Note: be sure to clean your bath after so you don't leave traces of milk and honey in it.

Elizabeth Taylor as Cleopatra in the 1963 film by the same name. Bathing never looked so glamorous!

On the Dandelion

April 24, 2014

A weed.

The bane of the perfect lawn's existence, wantonly flinging its seeds wherever the wind will take them. Eternal survivor, oblivious to weed killer, lawn mower, calloused hands attempting to uproot it from the crack in the concrete. Never as beloved as the luscious rose nor the frail beauty of the orchid, yet worthy of its own song--a song praising its bounty, a song of healing and grounding.

This weed is more than a weed, kicked about and neglected, but such medicine under the right touch. The hands that would rip this flower from the ground, happy to banish it from her plot of earth, instead tenderly collect the leaves, the stems, the roots, the flowers--dries them, preserves them.

For she knows the potent magic of the dandelion, detoxing the seat of the soul, the liver. Flushing out stagnation and poison from the body, rooting the spirit once again to the earth, the ground, the seed that makes the dandelion. You steep your treasure in hot water and drink the healing potion, reveling in how the dandelion spreads through your body like its seeds spread through the city, finding each nook, each empty space and filling it up with its light.

But it does more. Once inside the body, it makes its way through the liver, to the heart, to the mind, to that soft space between and above your eyes. It opens you up, casting aside the glamours of this world in order to see beyond the trappings of the mundane and into life beyond the veil--past, present, future swirl at the bottom of a cup of dandelion tea.

And yet this healing collection of seeds, roots, and leaves, lives relegated to the role of weed--only revealing its magic to those who are willing to see past the limited glory of its finer looking cousins, only sharing its bounty with those ready to be nourished, to be healed.

Hydrating Hair Mask

April 17, 2014

When I got home today, I was preparing for my yoga practice when I noticed how dry my hair was looking. After wearing my hair down--something I haven't done in a long time (I might have slept past my alarm clock today...), I realized how parched it looked and brittle it felt while trying to flip it into a sloppy bun.

I have long hair. Really long hair. And thick hair. Really thick hair. It doesn't take much to dry it out--especially during a dry, windy spring like we've just come out of. The trick to keeping my locks shiny, moisturized, and healthy is my honey and olive oil hair mask, which I promptly slathered all over my scalp post yoga. Both the honey and oil moisturize and nourish your hair.

You may need to play around with the quantity of the ingredients depending on your hair type. If you tend to have oily hair, put little to no oil in the mix (the honey adds moisture to your hair on its own). If you have damaged or super dry hair, you made need a little more oil. In either case, start with a little bit of this mask and then add more of either ingredient as needed--or opt for less oil the next time around. I've also swapped out the olive oil for coconut oil--bliss!

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon organic olive oil (or coconut oil) optional

4 tablespoons organic honey

Mix ingredients in a microwave safe bowl. Heat in microwave for 15 seconds or until warm (but not too hot!). Gently massage mask into wet hair, using a plastic comb (makes for easy cleaning) to distribute mask over hair evenly. Put more of the mask on the dry parts, like frizzy ends. Wrap your hair into a bun and let sit for 30-40 minutes--it's probably a good idea to do this hair treatment when you want to linger in the bubble bath. When done, rinse hair with your normal shampoo and conditioner routine and enjoy softer hair!

On Chamomile

April 9, 2014

It is the soft yellow heads you see first, then thin white petals dried into healing slivers. You smell ripe apples and rich earth next, the sweet graininess of the little flower a soothing potion when steeped in hot water.

Gingerly, you gather a small handful of these fragile little flowers and funnel them into your tea strainer which you then nestle into the arms of your favorite fat tea mug.

You pour hot water, freshly boiled, into your mug, enjoying the sweet steam that rises to kiss your face; it is the perfume of sweet grass and sun-warmed fruit that laps over your skin.

You watch the flowers bloom anew in your mug, the white petals unfurling and then dissolving into the warm liquid.

When it it is time, you remove the strainer from your mug, leaving behind only a thick healing concoction the color of yellow straw--your own liquid sun cupped between your hands.

You take a sip, letting it wash your throat and course through your body, at once attracting abundance and repelling unwanted energies--if lore is to be believed.

Just one sip of the brew from this apple-scented flower and you are convinced. Inside and out, it has cocooned your body in its warmth, sheltered you from that which you don't need and saving you for that which you do.

Sleepy Time Tea

February 24, 2014

At night I need a little herbal tea to get me ready for bed. I grew up drinking Celestial Seasoning's Sleepy Time Tea, mostly because it had a cute bear on the cover of the box all curled up in his jammies by the fire, his cup of tea on the table next to him. All I would have to do is look at that box and be ready for bed--but, of course, I still drank the tea too. And, yes, there is still a part of me that wants to drink only that brand of Sleepy Time Tea just for the bear on the cover. These days, though, I can do a pretty good imitation of that bear myself, both in how I fall asleep on the couch in my pjs, my cup of tea at my side, and in my own Sleepy Time Tea Blend that I've concocted in honor of that Celestial Seasoning's sleepy bear.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup skullcap

1/2 cup hops

1/2 cup chamomile

Blend all ingredients in a bowl and transfer to an airtight container. Keep away from direct sunlight and heat. To brew, use a heaping tablespoon per cup of hot water. Add more tea per cup of water for a stronger brew. Makes approximately 1 1/2 cups of tea. Enjoy!

Health benefits of ingredients:

Chamomile: anti-inflammatory; sedative; skin softening; all around body soother.

Hops: contains calcium and magnesium among other vital nutrients; sedative; soothes PMS symptoms; diuretic; antispasmodic.

Skullcap: nerve tonic; tension soother; contains calcium, potassium, and magnesium, among other vital nutrients.

Honey Face Mask

February 22, 2014

I woke up this morning feeling like a simple home-spa day. It was a full week, and happily so, finished off by an all-day conference downtown yesterday. Now that I've got all sorts of professional inspiration to bring into next week, it's time to unwind and recharge. So after my yoga, a bubble bath is in order, followed by an afternoon of reading and tea drinking and yes, napping.

But before we get to the naps, I've got plans to enjoy a simple honey face mask during my spa hours. This is literally the easiest face mask on the planet--and so good for you! Antioxidant-rich honey is soothing and moisturizing for dry skin and does a great job of adding a natural glow to your face. It is also antibacterial, making it great for fighting acne and unclogging pores. Best of all, honey is gentle so it won't irritate sensitive skin. You can even add a little cinnamon to your honey to get even more antibacterial benefits, but be careful as cinnamon can irritate sensitive skin.

Ingredients:

1-2 tablespoons organic honey

A pinch of cinnamon (optional)

Apply honey liberally to clean face and let sit for 20-30 minutes. Rinse off with warm water and moisturize.

On Visiting the Herb Store

February 16, 2014

You feel like you've stepped into an old apothecary shop. Jars and jars of herbs, dried flowers, gnarly broken down roots, and strange powders line the shelves.

You run your hands across the line of pots, marveling at the wealth of healing magics birthed from the earth. Each herb is a little miracle, made from dirt and sunlight and water--tiny seeds brought to life by sheer willpower and raised through the ground for no other reason than a will to see the light, breathe in the fresh air that tickles their leaves and feeds their roots. These glorious specimens contain the life force of all they sucked in through their roots, all they absorbed through their leaves.

You have a list of herbs you need. More raspberry leaf for women's health, along with some hops and skullcap for a sleepy time tea recipe you are concocting. You allow yourself to be seduced by the jar of nettle leaves, the prickly thing known best for its sting, but is, at heart, a gentle tonic for the system. You also get taken in by rose hips, more robust than the fragile petals of their flower, an unsung nutritional powerhouse.

You watch the herbalists measure out and weigh your selection, while you contemplate how you will use these new herbs in blends and simple steeps. You can't wait to get home and unwrap your little bundles of herbs and pour them into your own jars, your own collection of earth's healing magic.

Orange Lavender Tea

February 9, 2014

This time of year, I always have the faint longing for spring. I eye the ground hopefully, looking for that first almost-there flower bulb peeking out of the earth, its green shoots braving the cold winter air, while its roots stay firmly snuggle underground. I begin to think of my garden, of the radishes and lettuces I wish to plant. I find there is no better remedy for this early spring fever than a cup of Orange Lavender tea--it has the subtle brightness of spring from the citrus and the soothing floral aroma of winter's passing from the lavender. So when you find yourself longing to be in the dirt sowing those first seeds in your garden even though spring is still a long way off, console yourself with this gently fortifying blend.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup tulsi

1/2 cup dried orange peels

1/4 cup lavender

1/4-1/2 cup spearmint (depending on how minty you want it to be)

Health properties of ingredients:

Dried orange peel: contains vitamins A, B, and C; unblocks stagnant energy.

Lavender: a traditional nerve tonic and relaxant; antiseptic and antibacterial.

Spearmint: soothes nerves, motion sickness; cures headaches, cramps, sore throats, and stomach aches.

Tulsi: helps body adapt to stress by balancing out cortisol levels, antibacterial, and anti-fungal.

Women's Soothing Mint Tea Blend

January 31, 2014

This tea is dedicated to all the ladies in my life who need a little extra TLC now and then. It has the soothing flavors of mint kissed with cinnamon and orange peel, with the healing power of raspberry leaf--a plant traditionally considered a healing tonic for women. Personally, I drink this tea pretty much nightly before I go to bed since it's caffeine free. Drinking it regularly allows me to get the maximum health benefits of the blend.

Ingredients:

1 cup raspberry leaves

1/2 cup peppermint leaves

1/2 cup spearmint leaves

1/2 cup cinnamon bark

1/2 cup dried orange peel

Health properties of herbs:

Cinnamon: antiseptic, aids digestion, calms nervous system, anti-inflammatory.

Dried orange peel: contains vitamins A, B, and C; unblocks stagnant energy.

Peppermint: a cure-all herb for headaches, cramps, sore throat, and stomach aches.

Raspberry leaf: rich in vitamins A, B, C, E, magnesium; tones uterus; relieves tension.

Spearmint: soothes nerves, motion sickness, along with the properties associated with peppermint; stronger flavor than peppermint.

Energizer Bunny Bars

January 29, 2014

On the days I teach three classes in a row, I need a little snack to get me from my 6 am breakfast to my 1:30 pm lunch. This is especially important since I'm not the type of person who can function while hungry (that's the hobbit in me). Plus, getting too hungry can lead to grabbing easy but often unhealthy snacks on campus...so I Iike to have my stash of readymade delicious, healthy treats I can take with me to school.

One of my new favorites is this Energizer Bunny Bar, packed full of chia seeds, oats, and all sorts of good-for-you nutrients. I adapted it from the Healthy Family and Home's raw hemp and chia seed bar, supplementing ingredients with what I had on hand. What can I say? I'm an improviser. These bites store well in the fridge and freeze well too. Remember, this raw bar is full of fats--good for you, yes--but stick to a small 2inx2in square for your snack so you aren't eating more calories than you can burn. To learn more about the health properties of these ingredients, check out the link to the raw hemp and chia seed bar above.

Dry Ingredients:

3 1/2 cups multigrain oats (rye, barley, wheat)

1/2 cup organic blue corn meal

1/2 cup organic chia seeds

1/4 cup organic flaxseed meal

3/4 cups organic almond meal

Wet Ingredients:

1/2 cup organic honey

1/2 cup organic applesauce

3/4 cups organic peanut butter

1/4 cup organic coconut oil (melted/liquid)

2 teaspoons organic vanilla extract

Mix all wet ingredients together. In a separate bowl, mix all the dry ingredients together. Then slowly add the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients, stirring frequently (you may also need to get in there and mix it up with your hands). Put mixture into a 9x10 baking dish or piece of Tupperware and press down firmly until the mixture spreads out evenly. Let chill in the fridge for at least one hour to firm up (you'll want to continue to store them in the fridge because they soften at room temp). Cut into little squares and enjoy!

Makes approximately 12 squares.

On Playing with Herbs

January 25, 2014

You have your jars of herbs lined up before you like wild soldiers. Each is stuffed with gifts from the ground--fat golden flowers and thick roots and long needles--each its own medicine. Here is calendula, that happy marigold, ready to soothe irritated skin and frayed minds; there is ginger root, the fiery cleanser of the solar plexus, stoking the heat, the determination within yourself; tucked in the back is that brash kitchen herb rosemary, that fearless sharp evergreen the clears the mind and heals your tired bones.

You let the scents of each open jar mingle and cloud your nose as you take first a pinch of this herb and a scoop of that. You want something--your body is humming, calling for the soothing wisdom of these plants and they answer that call with the gentle melody of tiny buds bouncing against the sides of your mixing bowl, dried leaves whooshing into the pile of your new blend.

You inhale the rich grassy scent of alfalfa leaves, hungry for their nourishment. You search through your jars looking for alfalfa's mate, that balancing force that tempers the mouthful of mowed grass with sweet and soft. Your eyes light on fennel, that little seed made up of licorice and mint; yes, this will pair well with your other leaves.

Each addition to your bowl is the promise of a new healing elixir that will float from a steaming cup and into your soul to mend, to cleanse, to ground. And though you started with your jars and only a vague sense of needing a cup of wellness, you find that after your blend is made and steeped and drunk, that what you really needed was time in the kitchen. Time to unscrew the lids on those jars of herbs and play with nature's medicine cabinet. Time to let your mind drift, to let the taste of rosemary settle on your tongue, and to have no other aim but to blend.

Easy Peasy Baking Soda Face Scrub

January 23, 2014

First I will say that baking soda is the miracle kitchen staple, good for baking, house cleaning...and beautifying. Truth be told, I'm obsessed with baking soda because of how good it is for you--a cheap, natural, healthy product you can put in almost anything to make it better.

Which brings me to my love of a good face scrub. The skin on your face is more fragile than the rest of your body, so you need something that will scrub away the dead skin and other bad stuff without irritating it. This is something I take to heart, since my skin is super sensitive--so sensitive in fact that even gentle organic products can irritate it, making it feel like it's burning or drying it out. But I do like to give my face a little extra TLC, so after some experimentation, I've found that baking soda is a perfect primary ingredient for an easy, gentle face scrub. I then use olive oil as the wet ingredient (although you could use just water or another lighter oil) because it hydrates the skin. A drop or two of clove oil gives the scrub antibacterial qualities--but be careful not to overdo the clove oil, as it can irritate your skin. I recommend using the scrub no more than once or twice a week, so you don't strip your skin of good-for-you-oils. And of course, all ingredients are organic.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup baking soda

1/2 cup olive oil

1-2 drops clove oil (optional)

Mix all ingredients in a bowl and transfer to a mason jar to store. Makes a little over 1/2 cup. Enjoy!

Easy Cinnamon-Vanilla Chia Seed Pudding

January 21, 2014

There are two things I absolutely love in my diet: chia seeds and the occasional desert. I say "occasional desert" because as much I am sometimes tempted to abandon myself to the pleasures of a decadent treat, I am rational enough to know that my waistline can only handle so much indulgence...so what's a woman to do? I've found the perfect answer to this question in chia seeds, the nutritional powerhouse loaded with antioxidants, calcium, and omega fatty acids.

And while we're on the subject of things I love, I'll add that I simply adore good, healthy food--fast. I enjoy cooking, yes, but if it gets too complicated than its a no go. Cooking should be relaxing, after all, not another homework assignment.

...so, back to chia seeds and my desert dilemma. I've found that when soaked in milk, these seeds soften to resemble the consistency of tapioca, making them a perfect base for a quick, healthy pudding when I feel like an easy, healthy treat.

I was inspired by chia seed pudding recipes from A Beautiful Mess and Food Fanatic but tweaked a few things based on what I had on hand in the kitchen and my love of cinnamon. I also like to top the pudding with fresh (or frozen and thawed) berries when I have them for that extra kick.

Ingredients:

4 tablespoons chia seeds
1 cup canned coconut milk
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
2 tbsp honey (plus more to taste) 1/2-1 tsp cinnamon

Combine all ingredients in a mason jar with a lid. Screw the lid on the jar and shake vigorously. Allow ingredients to sit in the fridge for at least one hour, making sure to flip the mason jar occasionally so the honey mixes with the other ingredients. To serve, divide the pudding between two bowls and top with more honey and fruit if desired. Makes two servings.

Warrior Tea Blend

November 23, 2013

This is a great tea for the warriors in your life. It is made up of a variety of herbs and grains that restore vital nutrients to your body and at the same time help it get rid of toxins.

I developed this blend for my brother-in-law, a personal trainer, who constantly needs to replenish and heal his body because of his constant activity. He is on his feet all day helping clients get fit, so he needed something that would give him an energy boost--here in the form of vitamins and minerals naturally found in herbs--and something that would ease inflammation and sore muscles after a day of working out. This blend is good for anyone who works long hours or needs an extra boost during the day; it provides energy without unhealthy snacking or caffeine consumption and soothes the nervous system.

I've included the recipe for this blend below, along with the health properties of each ingredient.

Warrior Tea Blend (makes about 6 cups)

2 cups roasted barley

1 cup alfalfa leaves

1/2 cup dandelion leaves

1/2 cup cinnamon bark chips

1/2 cup calendula (marigold flowers)

1/2 cup tulsi (holy basil)

1/2 cup fennel seeds

Blend all ingredients in a bowl and transfer to an airtight container. Keep away from direct sunlight and heat. To brew, use a heaping tablespoon per cup of hot water. Enjoy!

Health benefits of ingredients:

Roasted barley: antibacterial, aids in digestion, improves blood circulation, lowers cholesterol, cleanses body of toxins, balances blood sugar levels, rich in vitamins B1, B2, iron, and fibers.

Alfalfa leaves: natural diuretic, improves digestion, rich in vitamins A, E, K, B, D, iron, magnesium, potassium, and sodium.

Dandelion leaves: natural diuretic, aids with anemia, rich in iron and vitamin C.

Cinnamon: antiseptic, aids digestion, calms nervous system, anti-inflammatory.

Calendula: anti-inflammatory, aids digestion, reduces swollen lymph glands, soothes irritated skin.

Tulsi: helps body adapt to stress by balancing out cortisol levels, antibacterial, and anti-fungal.

Fennel: aids digestion, relieves bloating.

Nourishing Tea

October 12, 2013

Tea blending is daily magic in its most basic form: creating a healing concoction of herbs to create well-being.

The curanderas, or medicine women of New Mexico, have been doing it for years to promote health and prevent, or in some cases cure, illness. Tea blending draws from the power of the earth to nourish ourselves with the gifts of nature. I'm not saying that I'm above using Tylenol for headaches or a good antibiotic when I get sick, but a strong ginger and echinacea tea does wonders to prevent a cold, and Valerian and hops chill me out better than any shot of whiskey. Plus, taking the time to blend my own teas allows me to consciously imbue my tea drinking habit with self-care.

I feel like an alchemist when I'm in my kitchen adding a pinch of this herb and a handful of those flowers, thinking about what tastes, colors, and healing properties best work together to create a nourishing brew.

All if which is my way of saying that I've been tinkering with a new tea recipe. I've been marinating on this idea of nourishment--how do we feed ourselves, our souls, or minds, our bodies? What we ingest both physically and psychically determines our sense of personal well-being. So with this in mind, I went to work in my kitchen, playing with herbs that would both soothe and nourish for my latest blend.

This new tea has got chamomile in it, the ultimate all around comforting flower. It is known for soothing restless minds and minor aches and pains in the body. To boost the soothing properties of my tea, I also added the happy flower calendula aka marigold. This flower brings a burst of golden color to my blend, along with skin soothing and heart healing properties. The key nourishing ingredient in my blend is alfalfa, which is chock-full of vitamins A, E, K, B, and D, and minerals like iron, magnesium, and potassium to name a few. The final touch to this blend is fennel seed. It helps balance the grassiness of the alfalfa with its subtle sweetness--and let's not forget that these little seeds aid digestion.

I made a cup of this tea for my mom when she was frazzled after a sleepless night. What a change it caused! Twenty minutes after a cup of this nourishing blend, she was back to her tranquil self, restored and ready to tackle the day's adventures.

I'm including the recipe here and hope that you will try it. You can find these herbs at your local herb store (mine is actually called "The Herb Store") or online at Rose Mountain Herbs. I look forward to hearing about the results!

Ingredients:

1 cup chamomile flowers

1/2 cup alfalfa leaves

1/2 cup calendula (marigold flowers)

1/4 cup fennel seeds

Blend all ingredients in a bowl and transfer to an airtight container. Keep away from direct sunlight and heat. To brew, use a heaping tablespoon per cup of hot water. Makes 2 1/4 cups. Enjoy!