Better than “Jiffy” Cornbread Mix
This cleaned-up copycat cornbread mix is so easy to whip up in advance and store in a jar in the refrigerator until needed. Toss some vegetables in it for a quick breading (my Texas-born husband is crazy about pan fried okra!) or combine the mix with an egg and buttermilk, and you’ve got yourself a fast and easy cornbread, corn muffins, corn casserole or cornmeal fritters. The sky’s the limit!
Dabbling with Dragon’s Blood
Dragon’s blood is a plant resin that’s been used for various purposes — including skincare — for centuries. From Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) as far back as the Han Dynasty (206 BCE – 220 CE) to Dioscorides and Pliny the Elder to modern day, dragon’s blood has been employed for its medicinal properties.
When Life Gives You Sumac… Make Sumac Pink Lemonade
Let’s make some super-easy sumac pink lemonade! A cold-water infusion of the ripe berries produces a nutritious and refreshing lemon-like beverage known as “sumac-ade” or “poor man’s lemonade.”
Mint-Infused Honey (Plus a Mocktail Recipe!)
There’s nothing quite like fresh mint. It’s chock full of benefits all by itself, but paired with raw honey it becomes a therapeutic (and delicious) powerhouse!
Spicy Szechuan Chili Crisp
Calling all spicy food lovers! I adore spicy foods. There’s something about it that makes me feel vital and alive. Besides being positively addicting, capsaicin — the constituent in chili peppers that makes them spicy — confers a number of health benefits.
Allow me to introduce you to your new culinary best friend: Spicy Chili Crisp.
Honey-Mint Lip Butter
I’m one of those weird people who insists on having about 47 chapsticks or lip balms in strategic places around the house. And in the car, in my desk, in multiple purses, my gym bag, my pocket, melted in the dryer (oops)…
Mineral Enriched Tallow Deodorant (That Works)
Over the years, I’ve also tried many (so, so many) recipes for homemade deodorants, including Milk of Magnesia, magnesium oil sprays and even Desitin with varying degrees of mediocre success. They just didn’t work for me, and I always gave up and reluctantly went crawling back to my commercial antiperspirant… until the injustice of being forced to use a toxic product made me angry enough to try again. Rinse and repeat.
So why worry so much about finding a quote-unquote “natural” hippy-dippy deodorant?
Spicy Dill *Everything* Rub
There is a hidden gem of a restaurant called The Settlement not far from our home in the neighboring town of Priest River, Idaho. I’ve been all over the world, and I can honestly say they have the best dry rub chicken wings I’ve ever tried.
Mr. Redheaded Herbalist and I love their recipe so much that I took a stab at recreating the spice blend at home.
Buzz Buttons 🐝
At a recent herbal apprenticeship class, I was introduced to Acmella oleracea, also known as spilanthes, buzz buttons or the “toothache plant.”
Spilanthes is a frost-tender tropical plant and not remotely native to northern climates, but it can be grown as an annual in most growing zones given enough sun and water. With unusual looking yellow and red gumdrop-shaped flower heads, spilanthes can be a visually striking addition to a flower or herb garden.
A Simple Way to Supercharge Your Tinctures & Oil Infusions
At a recent herbal apprenticeship class, I learned a very simple tweak to my usual maceration process that creates much more potent alcohol tinctures and alcohol intermediary infused oils. It’s not just about speeding things up… the vibrant colors achieved by blending herbs as part of the infusion process are mind blowing! ♥
