Easy Handmade Gift Ideas - Infused Herbal Oils

This Infused Herbal Oil is so easy to make and requires no cooking!

Will last up to 1 year so keep on hand for last minute gift giving.

This oil will get stronger as it steeps

You will need: Large bottle of Olive Oil, Head of Garlic, Mixed Peppercorns, Pink Peppercorns, Chili Flakes, Sprigs of Thyme and Rosemary and Decorative Bottles

First add peppercorns, garlic, chili flakes, rosemary and thyme into bottles, next fill with olive oil

Put on cap, label or wrap with ribbons, etc....

These oils will get stronger as they steep so I advise using within 6 months.

Keep away from direct heat and sunlight for a fresh tasting oil

Use in stir-fry's, salad dressings, pour over roasted chicken or pot roast, or use as a bread dip with balsamic vinegar.

I added the pink peppercorns for a festive look, all ingredients are optional and to taste.

Other flavors to consider....lemon peel and ginger, garlic parsley and sundried tomato... 

Easy Handmade Gift Ideas - Chocolate Vanilla Honey

Here is another easy homemade gift idea that doesn't cost a lot and looks and tastes great. Have them on hand for last minute gift giving. Plus you can enjoy if you have leftovers.

 Chocolate Vanilla Honey

I used 3 cups local raw honey, 1 cup dark chocolate chips, and 3 vanilla beans

 first add honey on low heat, next add chocolate chips and vanilla beans cut in half.

stir continually until melted, then pour into jars while hot.

Do not scorch or boil the honey.

Cut vanilla beans from the pot to size and add to the jars, let cool and secure lids.

Make your own handwritten labels, ribbons, etc...

Great poured over pancakes, muffins, cookies, coffee cake or in coffee.

Experiment with different flavors....Chamomile Vanilla honey great in herbal tea's or Lavender Honey

I got these cute jars online from Specialty Bottle Supply

http://www.specialtybottle.com/

Working In A Good Way, Traditional Teachings

I recently had to take a break from my work due to health reasons and a deep spiritual heartache. This proved to be very difficult as when I'm in pain all I want to do is pour myself into my work.

But all the teachings I have been given have shown me that when working with your hands and especially when working with medicine you must be in a good way, if not physically, especially mentally and spiritually and I definitely was not. Everything that is in your heart, mind and body goes into what you do. This is a way of life that I respect and try to follow.

I know you're thinking you can't just take a break from work whenever you are sick or not in a good way, but this is exactly what we must do to take care of ourselves. This kind of stress in our lives and in our bodies will make us sick in the future, maybe to the point where we cannot work at all. It has happened to me before so now I take the teachings seriously.

So as I sat contemplating my increasingly depressing situation, trying to make sense out of it I thought of my teachings and of all those women that gone before me, that have certainly gone through worse; my Mother, my Aunties, my Grandmother and so on....
I find it completely amazing and comforting to know that they have all long since passed yet they continue to teach me and guide me whenever I need them.

So I would like to share some of these teachings with you that have helped me through some tough times.

First:
- Try to keep your hands busy. Although I could not make medicine at this time I could make other things or just get caught up on sewing, baking and some general things that needed to be done that didn't take too much physical effort.

this is a headband I made out of a belt

- Clean up your work space or where you spend a lot of time, a messy home brings a messy life, is not just a metaphor, it is a traditional teaching.

 I know it may look cluttered but it's clean!

And Alphabetized! Well I was off for a whole week!

- Go out into nature. This is a big one for me, I try to get out every day even when the weather is nasty. It helps to show me my place in the world and understand that we all have a place, even if it's just to walk my dogs lol

Hard to be sad hanging around these two

Do something for someone in need. During this time I wrote a letter to the family we sponsor in Pine Ridge ND, asking if they need anything extra other than the monthly food order. Last year all the kids needed winter coats. This puts things in perspective for me, instantly grateful for my life today and remembering what it's like to struggle daily for food and shelter.

- And last but not least, talk to an elder. Again to put things in perspective. After talking to my Auntie I am always left with something to think about other than myself and usually a good laugh.

and a smile

And before you know it back to usual or even a little better, whatever that is for you!

Wopila! Many Blessings, Mitakuye Oyasin

Sweet and Savory Pumpkin Seeds

Caramelized Salty Pumpkin Seeds!

So good I'm going out to get more pumpkins just so I can make more!!!

Quick Pumpkin Seed Health Facts:

Prostate Protection, promote overall prostate health

High levels of Zinc, great for bone mineral density and osteoporosis

Natural anti-inflammatory effects for Arthritis

Contains L-Tryptophan, naturally effective against depression

Phytosterols in pumpkin seeds may help lower LDL cholesterol, enhance immune response and prevent some forms of cancer

and they're a great source of fiber so enjoy this time of the year when there is an abundance of pumpkin and squash seeds!

Here's the recipe:

2 cups pumpkin seeds

1-2 teaspoons of brown sugar

1/2 teaspoon butter or olive oil

1/4-1/2 teaspoon salt

OK so I started with 2 cups of pumpkin seeds rinsed and dried in the oven at 200F for about 2 hours, turning frequently.

Next toast the pumpkin seeds on medium heat on stove top until golden brown

Then add 1/2 teaspoon butter (best flavor) or olive oil (healthy heart), stir constantly to coat all seeds and not scorch.

Next immediately sprinkle on the brown sugar and salt so it coats the seeds, stirring constantly and allow to caramelize (about 5 minutes)

I left the measurements open to tastes...I like mine really sweet and savory so I used 2 teaspoons of sugar and 1/2 tea of salt so you might want to start with less and season to taste.

These are so good they won't last long!

Just made 2 batches...one for snacking (which is gone already) and the other batch I used in my homemade sweet and savory granola bars! So good!

You could also use these to sprinkle on salads or stir fry's, on the tops of muffins, add to your pumpkin seed brittle.

Strawberry Lavender Honey Jam

My favorite jam to make because it's Kris' favorite and I love using Lavender in cooking, and not just the flavor, I like to throw the flowers right in. If you don't want flowers in yours put them into a tea bag or strainer and just steep it in the jam for about 10 minutes.

So it sounds difficult but it's super easy to make....I try to make new recipes by the book then next time I can break the rules. 

I've been using this Pomona's pectin because you can make twice the amount of jam with 1/2 the sugar and it turns out great! I use the "cooked jam recipes" from the pectin and then slightly vary it depending on what I want or what ingredients I have

So I cut the strawberries quite small and pour the 1/4 cup of lemon juice on to help soften the strawberries before I mash them b/c even ripe strawberries are not easy to mash.

Next start cooking, throw in about 3 tablespoons of fresh or dried Lavender (to taste)

Add sugar or honey...I only had 1 cup of honey left so I made up the rest with sugar or (also to taste)

Then boil for a one minute and put into whatever jars you have just make sure your jars are sterilized.

I just happened to have some cute jars I ordered for my medicinal honey recipes :)

see the nice little flecks of lavender?

And there you go! 

Cute, organic and homemade, great for gifts and you can get cases of fruit right now for cheap!

It took me an hour to make in total and I got 6-8oz jars and 4-3.75oz jars and everything cost me $11.00

I was motivated to make my own again when I recently paid $7 at the farmers market for an 8oz jar of jam....and when I asked if there was a discount for buying multiples the answer was a quick "no"

And sometimes Kris and I make it together, which is super fun and super sticky!

Why Grow Your Own Food?

Sometimes I look at my meagre harvest and wonder why am I putting so much effort when I end up shopping at the market anyways? and when you factor in costs of soil and labour it's so much cheaper...

I certainly don't always feel like I'm making that large of an impact on global warming or feeding my family....especially now that I'm reduced to container gardening.

But there's something more that goes into growing your own food, tending to it, watering it, getting to know each plant....and actually being a part of the growing process that gives me a connection to food in a way I had forgotten.

Growing up on a farm and raising animals gave me a love of nature and also a great respect for where my food came from, my dad hunted, my mom cooked from scratch and all the kids had many chores taking care of the animals.
We moved to town when I was 8 and it wasn't long until I lost that connection especially with food.
I remember going into my neighbors yard and picking the apples and being chased off and threatened if I ever came back. I watched for the rest of the summer as the apples fell to the ground and rotted never being eaten.
From that time on we moved around so much I never really had a chance to be connected to any one place and inevitably became a city kid living on hotdogs and KD

It wasn't until I had grown up and gotten my own place that I really got back into gardening and literally got back in touch with my roots!

Yes we all have read the studies that show how working with the earth and getting into nature brings down our stress levels, and never mind all the health benefits of eating fresh grown local food, and further still all the earthly beneficials of growing plants in general for the bee's ect......

BUT there is something else that comes from connecting to plants, to animals to unci maka, our great Grandmother Earth, that is as indescribable as holding a newborn baby or being in love; a sacred connection that once made will always remain.
So yes it is not only worth the effort but vital for me now to have this connection, this relationship with something greater than myself and greater than just digging in the garden.

Chief Seattle said it best when he said "What we do to the earth we do to ourselves"

SF Sunday Market Madness

I love love love summer markets especially when I'm not working them because you actually get to enjoy the market!

Yesterday I planned on hitting up just the Indie Market but when I stopped in Glen Park to get cash I thought I'd just take a peek at the Glen Park Market just around the corner....... 

It's still quite a small market being fairly new but I found out today when you go at there end of the day ( a not so secret tip of mine)

just before 1pm....

you get great deals!

  My $5.00 produce bag turned to be

Full of super fresh produce

and we feasted on grilled veggies

so easy in the summer when you don't want to cook....

So then I was back on my way to the Indie Market when I thought....I wonder if there's anything good at the Alemany Flea Market today..........

  and sometimes if you look really hard you

 might find... a hidden treasure :-D

Like this polka dot tea pot and serving tray!

nice but a little pricey

Or something super creepy...

                            Like a container for keeping your dead flies!

 Nothing here for me today........

         

So Finally!

The 4th annual Indie Mart

First time for me and it was a great turn out

Tonnes of great designers, live music, food and lot's of people watching                         

         

 Do it yourself workshops....

   and crafting...  

this pic's for Tanya

I did pick up some great pieces at a steal from Theme clothing

as they were fundraising for a new space!

Now you see what I get up to when I'm not in the garden!

Finally Harvesting!

Today's harvest

So it may not be enough to sustain a household for even a day, it's a start!

I'm saving that one blackberry for Kris! It's his favorite.

I'm learning how to get along with the perpetual fog that surrounds my neighborhood, it's like Spring all the time with bits of Summer....One of the benefits of continual Spring

A never-ending supply of Chickweed (stellaria media) This nutritional green is often overlooked as a weed but has many amazing uses! It's the main ingredient in my Chickweed Balm for eczema as it is great for dry, itchy, flaky, irritating skin conditions. Appy topically or better yet just eat it!

I use Chickweed as a salad green, in pesto and in my juicer, wherever you would use spinach.

New research also indicates it is a useful antihistamine.

Some of the other plants in the garden...

Calendula, Dill and Bergamot

Cherry Tomatoes (the only kind that will grow here without a greenhouse)

Our Blackberries coming along...

and I happened to find some Catnip (nepeta cataria) growing under the Rosebush

Used for insomnia, colic in babies, respiratory infections fever and sore throat, headaches, indigestion and stress.

As always folks please consult a herbalist or someone knowledgeable with plants before experimenting with herbs as they can have possible side effects (although rare) and make sure you properly ID the right plants for use.

Happy Tincturing

Yes! I finally have a tincture press!
Some things are much easier to acquire in the States...

Until now I have been hand squeezing/wringing out my tinctures, which is time consuming and after about doing 3 tinctures your hands feel like they they have rope burns all over them! Not cool!

Oh right...what is a tincture??????

Tincturing is a super infusion of herbs in a 'marc', the marc is usually a solution of alcohol or glycerine.

I only use glycerine in all of my tincturing as I am allergic to alcohol. Plus it tastes a lot better!

Tinctures are concentrated and can be used instead of a decoction or tea as you only need to take a small amount at a time and they are travel friendly!

So after soaking in the glycerine for about 6 weeks you need to strain out the herb and this cool contraption makes it sooo much easier!!!

Here I'm straining out my Echinacea Tincture....



So just fill the little cloth bag with tincture
put it in-between the 2 bowls
screw down the top screw thing....
and out pours the liquid medicine

Perfection!!!

Finished Product!

Echinacea angustifolia Glycerite!

available on my online sites......

White Buffalo Naturals on Etsy

White Buffalo Naturals on Poppy Swap

How To Make an Infused Honey

I've been planning on infusing honey's for awhile so when Kris got sick this weekend it seemed like the perfect medicine for him.
Honey is a great delivery medium for strong tasting medicines not only because it tastes good but it has amazing healing properties on it's own.

Thanks to its antimicrobial action, it not only soothes sore throats but can also kill the bacteria that sometimes cause them including the influenza virus. Moving down the esophagus and through the digestive tract, honey can help to heal ulcers and upset stomachs and has also been proven to regulate intestinal function, alleviating both constipation and diarrhea. Honey also contains a variety of antioxidants, which may reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and cancer. Honey is also used for a sleep aid, treating hair loss, controlling weight, treating tooth decay and much much more! Yay go honey!
So to increase the anti-microbial virus fighting sore throat soothing energy of honey I infused this batch with some dried Bear root, Sage, Lemon peel, and Propalis (that I just picked up locally from the market)

Propalis is another amazing medicinal product from the bees that comes from their collection of leaf buds and bark from trees, that they then use to line the walls of the hive for protection.
The propalis is shown here in the jar on the right ground into a powder.
It tastes very bitter so best used with honey:)

Bitter root/Bear root or Osha root, very strong medicine used for sore throats, virus', respiratory and mucus membrane ailments.
Lemon peel for sore throats, coughs, colds and flu
Sage for inflammation of mouth, gums and throat, laryngitis, loss of appetite, weak stomach, and night sweats.

Cut up root and put dried herbs in into a cup of honey on very low heat or in a double broiler. 
You do not want to heat the honey too high as it will reduce the healing properties of the honey. You just want to cook out the medicinal properties of the dried herbs.
I left mine to simmer for 1 hour.

You then want to strain before the honey cools too much while the consistency of the honey is thin.
As it cools the honey starts to thicken and it gets harder to strain and then things get messy!!!

I then pour into sterilized jars and save the honey'd herbs to suck on or eat later.
Kris liked the honey and found it very soothing for his sore throat but would not try the honey'd herbs.
They were still very strong but the honey made them quite palatable, plus the strongest medicine is still going to be in the herbs!












You can use this format to infuse honey for flavor, medicinal qualities and gifts for friends, such as flavoring with Lavender flowers, Mint leaves, Lemon or Orange peel, Cinnamon or Cayenne.
Use your imagination and favorite flavor pairings to get creative!

When Life Gives You Lemons

Today is bring your dog to work day......Kris took Levi to the office and Kita stayed home to help me work

I've wanted to start using these delicious lemons from our backyard for something other than just juicing! Although they liven up any juice or tea.......

Known for it's health benefit for generations, lemon helps to strengthen immunity, cleanse stomach and purify the blood.
Lemon juice is especially useful for people having heart problem, owing to it's high potassium content.
It controls high blood pressure, and helps with respiratory issues and throat infections.
Lemonade also helps you stay calm and cool:)



Other than our loads of lemons we have beautiful roses surrounding the house in full bloom,
so we started brainstorming......


I had wanted to harvest the rose petals to use in teas
but I started thinking they would make a delicious lemonade!

We set out the petals to dry a bit and to let out any inhabitants.....


Tip #1 make sure you grate and squeeze your lemons BEFORE harvesting rose petals...just in case you get pricked! Lemon juice in tiny cuts = mucho pain!

Rose petals infusing in the sun for rose flavored water

      

Break time!
Kita likes the shade from the lemon tree:)








And for extra Rose flavour and health benefits we decided to add Vitamin packed Rosehips to our Lemonade!


For this Rosehip Lemonade recipe you will need:

11/2 cups of fresh lemon juice (7-8 lemons)
5 cups of water
1/3 cup or 6 tblsp of honey
2 tblsp rosehips
3-4 teaspoons of rose water (optional)
*flavor to taste
rose petals for garnish

Combine water, rosehips and honey in a saucepan, heat over med-low heat for 30 minutes to infuse the rosehips.
(At this point you could add whatever flavor you want to your lemonade....just replace the rosehips for green tea, black tea, mint, or a fruit infusion)

Let cool, strain rosehips, then add to pitcher of freshly squeezed lemon juice, add rose water to taste
Serve with rose ice cubes if you are feeling really fancy!

YUM!


I have a lot of other recipes I'm thinking about that use lemons, like:
- Lemon sugar
- Lemon herb pesto
- Lemon echinacea ginger super immune elixer
- Several lemon infused honey's





And I have to use all this zest!!!!

So check back for our ongoing lemon thriller!!!