Infusing & Using Herbal Vinegars
Once upon a time, before the advent of distilled alcohol, liquid herbal extracts were made one of three ways: with water, wine or vinegar.
As a menstruum, vinegar is nowhere near as effective as alcohol at drawing out an herb’s medicinal properties; however, it can assist alcohol in extracting certain plant constituents.
Simple Garlicky Goat Cheese Nettles
jump to the recipe Thanks to an unseasonably cold, wet spring, my nettle patch was starting to get very leggy, reaching skyward for every little bit of sunshine they could grab onto. You know it’s been a damp spring when your vegetable garden is starting to resemble Super Mario Brothers: Cutting back plants is an […]
Make-Ahead Fresh Garlic-Infused Olive Oil (Minus the Botulism)
As our days get busier, we are far more likely to reach for pre-packaged mixes and other convenience foods to lighten our load and make dinner prep a bit easier. These are some of my favorite homemade kitchen helpers you can make in advance and keep handy for those extra-hectic evenings… or even the non-hectic ones. Work smarter, not harder! Fresh […]
Garden of Weed’n (How to Make Weeding More Fun) Part 2
The first weeding job of the year on my vegetable garden is always the most intimidating. It’s easy to maintain throughout the growing season, but preparing the beds for planting is time consuming and tedious.
A great way to transform the tedium into something engaging and even (dare I say it?) fun — is to pay attention to the weeds you’re pulling.
Garden of Weed’n (How to Make Weeding More Fun) Part 1
The first weeding job of the year on my vegetable garden is always the most intimidating. It’s easy to maintain throughout the growing season, but preparing the beds for planting is time consuming and tedious.
A great way to transform the tedium into something engaging and even (dare I say it?) fun — is to pay attention to the weeds you’re pulling.
Waking up the Garden
Even though it’s late May, it’s still pretty darn chilly here in North Idaho. I don’t think we’ve made it over 70 degrees yet, and there’s still a risk of frost at night.
Fortunately, my perennial/herb garden doesn’t mind the cooler weather. The haskap is beginning to bud out, getting ready to make its delicious honeyberries:
Willow Wildcrafting & an Herbal Apprenticeship
I’m excited to announce that I just began a 4-month apprenticeship with the wonderful Suzanne Tabert of Cedar Mountain Herb School. I’m literally vibrating with excitement over all I’ll learn in the coming months.
Jalapeño-Thyme Infused Tequila + a Cocktail Recipe
jump to the recipe Alcohol tincturing for therapeutic purposes is a basic and useful skill in herbalism. But beyond the herbal medicine cabinet, there’s another whole wide world of fun alcohol infusions out there. Neutral grain spirits aren’t the only way to go, and infusing herbs into your favorite liquor can seriously elevate your cocktail game! […]
Herbal Coffee to Go
We are, admittedly, coffee snobs of the highest degree, but when we travel, hotel coffee is almost always a bit disappointing. So what to do when coffee at home isn’t practical or possible?
My Favorite Herbal Coffee Blend with Reishi
In recent years, the market has been flooded with new brands of herbal coffee substitutes ranging from roasted herbal roots to powdered mushrooms and everything in between.
Still, I prefer to make my own herbal coffee blends. It’s cheaper, I can make it in bulk, adjust the ratios to suit our tastes and, most importantly, I know EXACTLY what’s in it. Plus, it’s stupid-simple to throw together.
