Modern Wife

Tag: honey

  • Goldenrod

    Goldenrod

    Our honeybees and wild pollinators are so happy to see the emergence of goldenrod in the late summer. It signals the end of the summer dearth for bees and other pollinators. Believe it or not, once the spring flowers have dried up and before fall flowers bloom, pollinators can experience a scarcity of fresh nectar.

    But goldenrod is more than just a welcome source of nectar for pollinators, it is also a powerful medicinal herb for us.

    If you see this abundant flush of little yellow flowers in rows, cut the plant at ground level and hang the leaves and flowers to dry. Not to be mistaken for ragweed, which has similar buds but lacks the bright golden color. The leaves are different, too. Goldenrod has single leaves while ragweed has dissected leaves. It’s important to know the difference because ragweed has wind-blown pollen that causes allergies while goldenrod has sticky pollen which makes it a pollinator favorite (and one that soothes the respiratory system, while the other irritates it).

    Goldenrod

    Fresh or dried herbs can be steeped in an infusion (tea) for treating the flu. Herbal tradition recommends a goldenrod infusion for reducing hay fever, excessive phlegm, runny nose, irritant cough, inflamed nasal membranes, thick yellow secretions, and sinus pain. Goldenrod is an aromatic, stimulant, anti-inflammatory, astringent, and diaphoretic (promotes sweating). 

    Gargle the goldenrod tea to soothe a sore throat.

    The infusion of goldenrod also strengthens the stomach, pacifies colic, and is a carminative solution to flatulence. Because it is an effective urinary antiseptic and diuretic, Hulda Clark included it in the first edition of her Kidney Cleanse recipe to help dissolve bladder stones and calcifications

    Goldenrod Infusion:

    Put 1 tsp goldenrod leaves and flowers in an unbleached teabag and soak in 1 cup boiling water. Steep for 15 minutes and sip when warm. You may sweeten to taste with raw honey, but it tastes fragrant and mild without it.

    Pour the warm tea through a cheesecloth to filter out any herb particles and use as an antifungal douche to treat yeast infection.

    Rich in saponins and tannins, and bursting with bioflavanoids which strengthen the veins, goldenrod can reduce blood pressure, varicose veins, and fragile capillaries.

    Goldenrod Infused Oil:

    Fill a mason jar 1/4 to halfway with goldenrod flowers and leaves. Pour sunflower oil to the top of the jar. Cover and set in a cool dark place for 4 to 6 weeks. Strain.

    To make a salve, set a glass container in a pot of water (or a double boiler) over medium low heat. Melt 1/4 part beeswax. Add 1 part Goldenrod Infused Oil after the beeswax is completely melted. Pour the warm salve into a container and allow to cool. Apply Goldenrod Salve on legs or any part of the body with swollen veins.

    Goldenrod
    Sources:

  • Coconut Quinoa Cereal

    Coconut Quinoa Cereal

    You might be surprised by how delicious and filling this Coconut Quinoa Cereal is, while being quite possibly the healthiest breakfast on the planet. Let’s look at the ingredients.

    Quinoa is a versatile whole grain that can be made into a salad, a lunch casserole, or a dinner side.

    Quinoa is gluten-free, high in protein, and one of the few plant foods that contain all nine essential amino acids. It is also high in fiber, magnesium, B-vitamins, iron, potassium, calcium, phosphorus, vitamin E and various beneficial antioxidants.

    – 11 Proven Health Benefits of Quinoa
    Authority Nutrition

    Coconut milk is no slouch either. Coconut milk improves heart health, builds muscle, helps lose fat, prevents fatigue, stimulates digestion, relieves constipation, manages blood sugar, and prevents anemia, joint inflammation, and ulcers. (Source: Dr. Axe)

    Don’t you feel healthier already? Now go and make this cereal.

    Coconut Quinoa Cereal

    Ingredients:
    1 cup coconut milk
    1/2 cup quinoa
    1/3 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
    Maple syrup or raw honey to taste
    More coconut milk to taste

    Heat the coconut milk until boiling. Add quinoa and cover. Lower heat to simmer until the coconut milk is absorbed but still slightly wet. Mix the shredded coconut in. Serve warm with maple syrup or raw honey and more coconut milk to taste. Makes 2 servings.

    Experiment with some of your favorite toppings. Sliced apples with cinnamon, berries, bananas, nuts. Have a happy healthy start to your day!

  • I am a small part of the big picture.

    I am a small part of the big picture.

    Bees are magical. They pollinate plants and are responsible for many of the foods we eat. Without bees, there would be widespread famine.

    Bees also make a magical potion called honey. Honey is medicinal and lasts forever. It has recently been touted as the “new” cure for antibiotic-resistant bacteria, which is laughable considering the medicinal use of honey was documented as far back as in ancient Sumerian clay tablets.

    bee

    Bees are in danger. All over the world bees are dying. Pesticides and the loss of adequate habitat devoted to bees are killing bee colonies. Governments are not acting fast enough to make the changes necessary to save them.

    We, you and I, need to do something about it. It’s really easy to provide a honey bee haven. All bees need is pesticide-free food, shelter and water. Your garden, balcony or front porch will do.

    1. Stop using pesticides in your garden. Explore organic ways to control pests such as ladybugs.
    2. Plant flowers bees would love throughout the year, especially in the late summer and fall.
    3. Set up a clean source of water, like a shallow fountain or rainwater collection system. Bees don’t need much.
    4. Leave some ground undisturbed with dead branches for wild bees to find shelter in.

    These are the recommendations made by Honey Bee Haven. It’s a small contribution that can make a big difference.

  • Coconut Muffins

    Coconut Muffins

    Coconuts made quite an impression on my husband and daughter when we visited the Philippines. My home has coconut trees growing right on our front yard. One Sunday morning a boy climbed one of the trees with a machete and carefully lowered bunches of coconuts down to our driveway.

    harvesting coconuts from tree in the Philippines

    We drank fresh coconut juice and ate fresh coconut “meat” that day.

    Coconuts are nutritious and can be eaten in so many different ways: juice, “meat,” oil, milk. Here’s a healthy breakfast recipe that uses various coconut products:

    Coconut Muffins

    Ingredients:
    4 tablespoons organic virgin coconut oil, melted into liquid
    6 organic eggs
    1/2 cup organic coconut milk
    1/2 teaspoon salt
    1/2 cup organic coconut flour
    1/2 teaspoon aluminum-free baking powder
    6 tablespoons shredded unsweetened coconut

    Preheat oven to 400˚F. Grease a 12-muffin pan with coconut oil or use paper muffin cups.

    Beat eggs, coconut oil, coconut milk and salt. Add coconut flour and baking powder. Whisk until smooth. Pour batter halfway into muffin cups. Sprinkle with shredded coconut.

    Bake for 15 to 20 minutes. Makes 12 muffins. Serve with raw honey for sweetening.

    This is based on a recipe found in The Candida Free Cookbook by Shasta Press. I skipped the Stevia for sweetening. Stevia is the sweetener of choice for people who are on a candida-free diet. Since my family and I are not, I took the liberty of topping the unsweetened coconut muffins with raw honey to taste.

  • My Daughter’s Homemade Lipbalm

    My Daughter’s Homemade Lipbalm

    I tend to skip the lipbalm. Instead of putting on lipbalm when my lips are dry I just drink more water and eat more hydrating fruits. Most lipbalm is made of petroleum, which is a burden on the immune system and obviously wouldn’t be helping me in the long run.

    Until I tried my daughter’s super awesome lipbalm.

    My daughter made this fantastic lipbalm out of healthy kitchen ingredients:

    2 teaspoons organic virgin coconut oil
    1 teaspoon raw honey
    a few drops vanilla or peppermint extract (optional)

    Ingredients for homemade lipbalm - coconut oil, raw honey and peppermint extract

    Mix them all up and store in a little plastic container. She made one by recycling a used HDPE juice bottle. Another time she upcycled plastic Easter eggs. My kid is amazing!

    If the weather is warm, keep your lipbalm refrigerated when you’re not using it to prevent the coconut oil from liquifying.

    I love my daughter’s lipbalm. I use it all the time. My lips stay soft and moist from the healing powers of coconut oil and raw honey.

  • Honey Lemon Ginger Tea

    Honey Lemon Ginger Tea

    It’s a lifesaver. Ginger is known to alleviate headaches, stomach aches, nausea and many other pains. In addition, raw honey is an antibacterial elixir and lemon is rich in vitamin C, which boosts the immune system.

    Ginger Lemonade

    Here’s the recipe for Honey Lemon Ginger Tea (or Ginger Lemonade, if you like it cold):

    sliced organic ginger
    juice of 1 organic lemon
    raw honey to taste

    Heat 1 quart of water to just before boiling point. Add ginger slices and let it steep for 20 minutes. Add lemon juice and sweeten with raw honey.

    Serve warm right away. Store the rest refrigerated in a quart jar.

    I like to keep the ginger slices in so it steeps even longer and brings it a stronger ginger flavor day after day.

    If reheating for tea, take it off the burner just before it boils. It’s also delicious served cold.

  • Honey Lemon Garlic Tea

    Honey Lemon Garlic Tea

    Every year I revisit this recipe, from Dr. Aviva Jill Romm’s book, Vaccinations: A Thoughtful Parent’s Guide: How to Make Safe, Sensible Decisions about the Risks, Benefits, and Alternatives. The recipe is listed as Garlic Lemonade, but I call it Honey Lemon Garlic Tea. Sounds sweeter (trying to just sneak in the “garlic” in there, so it doesn’t turn off my vampire husband and garlic-squeamish kid).

    My daughter has been spending a lot of time outdoors. Recess everyday consists of sled rides down the snowy slope. Last night I heard the beginning of a cough. It sounds dry right now, but I want to nip this cough in the bud. If the cough gets any worse I will have to give her minced half a clove of garlic in honey syrup. Blech! She knows the Honey Lemon Garlic Tea is a more palatable option.

    All three ingredients: honey, lemon and garlic are known to boost the immune system and are particularly awesome at taking care of the respiratory system. Here’s the recipe:

    Garlic Lemonade

    3 medium-sized garlic cloves, chopped
    (blogger’s note: instead of chopping, I pounded the garlic in a mortar and pestle)
    Juice of 1 lemon
    Raw honey to taste.

    Place the garlic in a 1-quart jar and fill the jar with boiling water. Let the garlic steep for 20 minutes and then strain it out. Add the lemon juice and sweeten with raw honey.

    Give 1/2 to 2 cups daily, the lower dose to prevent illness and for younger children and the greater quantity for older kids who feel like they are coming down with a cold.

    Don’t give the lemonade every day; just use it as needed.

    It’s fine to serve it cold in the summertime. But since it’s winter I heat it up to just when it steams (not boiling) and serve warm.

    Previously posted on Garlic Lemonade and Lemon Garlic Tea.

  • Yogurt Face Mask

    Yogurt Face Mask

    The most fabulous beauty products can be found in our very own kitchen pantries. Michelle Pino, Spa Manager at Skana, a luxury spa in Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, upstate New York, sent me a few recipes for DIY body products we can whip up easily at home. I tried one of them today.

    Moisturizing Yogurt Face Mask

    DIY Moisturizing Face Mask made from yogurt, raw honey and extra virgin olive oil

    Ingredients:
    2 tablespoons organic plain yogurt
    1 tablespoon raw honey
    1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

    DIY Moisturizing Face Mask made from yogurt, raw honey and extra virgin olive oil

    Doesn’t it look so pretty in the bowl? After measuring out the ingredients I couldn’t help but stick the spoon into my mouth. Raw honey from a local beehive helps us develop immunity from local allergens. Yum!

    DIY Moisturizing Face Mask made from yogurt, raw honey and extra virgin olive oil

    Whisk the ingredients together.

    Apply the yummy moisturizing face mask all over clean face and neck. Leave the mask on for 10 to 15 minutes. Resist the urge to lick it off your face. Don’t be like me.

    Then rinse. It was still pretty sticky while I was rinsing with water. I had good results with gently dabbing a paper towel on my face to help get rid of the sticky mask. I was fine with leaving a little bit of residue on my face, as long as it wasn’t totally embarrassing to go out in public, or getting it all over pillows and stuff.

    My skin feels fabulous! Thanks, Michelle. Michelle enjoys DIY projects, healthy recipes, exercise, and all things related to skin care. If you have any comments or questions, feel free to contact Michelle via email at michellepino@turningstone.com – tell her you learned about her from Modern Wife.

  • Carrots for Red Highlights in Hair

    Carrots for Red Highlights in Hair

    My husband’s grandmother was an Irish redhead. My husband’s mother had auburn hair. Our daughter’s hair bleached blond under the sun, and darkened as she grew older. She has natural copper  highlights in her hair when the sun hits it. She wanted more of that red to come out. Tonight she showed me a YouTube video of how to use ingredients from our kitchen pantry to enhance the red highlights in her hair. Here’s the video:

    We didn’t have cranberries but we had everything else. So here’s what we whipped up:

    Ingredients:
    3 medium organic carrots, grated
    3 tablespoons organic plain yogurt
    2 tablespoons raw honey

    Other things needed:
    plastic shower cap
    plastic bag to wear over clothing
    paper bag or old newspapers to stand on and catch drippings

    Carrot, Yogurt and Honey brings out red highlights in hair

    Get ready by pulling a plastic bag over clothing and spread paper bag or old newspapers on the floor to catch the drippings. Mix the ingredients together in a bowl. Spread all over hair until it is all soaked and caked.

    Carrot, Yogurt and Honey brings out red highlights in hair

    Put a plastic shower cap over head. Let it sit for at least half an hour. Rinse it out in the kitchen sink so the carrot shavings don’t clog your bathroom drain. Jump in the shower and wash/shampoo hair as usual.

    It really works! I guess I shouldn’t be surprised. Carrots do stain. I’m wondering now if it would be just as effective to juice the carrots and use that instead of grated carrots. It would save us the trouble of picking out little carrot shavings out of hair, which we had to do a lot!

    We’ll try cranberries when they become available in the fall. I bet beets would do the job too.

  • My Daughter’s Snack Recipe

    My Daughter’s Snack Recipe

    I don’t remember when my daughter started helping me in the kitchen. Was it at age 3 or was it even younger? I remember her taking initiative making us snacks not even a mother could love.

    Now that she’s 8 she’s become quite a cook. She can cook her own breakfast eggs. She’s been my assistant for the past two Thanksgivings, peeling and slicing potatoes like a big girl. She’s also got those really strong arms from gymnastics. The girl can whisk like a pro!

    Today she made another one of her no-bake snacks, but this time she wrote her recipe out.

    Malaya's snack recipe

    I asked her what the letters stood for. Here’s what she told me:

    C.C. – cupcake liner
    G.M. – granola Mom’s
    M.S. – marshmallows
    Sh.W. – sugar white (in our house that’s organic evaporated cane sugar)
    H.W. – honey raw
    R.O. – raisins organic

    And what does M.W.H.B. with a circle and backslash stand for?

    No Mother With Hanging Butt. 😐