My Favorite "Weed" - The Dandelion

Something that I really enjoy and love learning about are herbs and all of the wonderful ways we can use them in our lives.  I realized that this is one of the important things in my life that I have neglected to talk about in my blog.  So, today I am going to fix that!

I truly believe that God gave us everything we need in His original creation.  I am not saying that modern medicine has no value.  I am grateful for all of the advances that have been made.  However, I believe that there are many health issues that come up in our lives that we can easily treat with natural remedies that are more effective, affordable and with less (or no) side effects.  Just incorporating certain herbs/plants in our daily diet may prevent many problems in our bodies.  In all cases, you should consult a medical professional if you have health concerns or problems.  I am no doctor or professional but am just sharing my opinion and experience with these particular plants.

There are so many wonderful and useful plants around us that we do not even recognize as being valuable or useful.  Take the Dandelion for example.  Most people consider it a weed that they work diligently to rid their yards of.  The Dandelion just happens to be a handy little plant to have around!  The entire plant is edible, the flowers and leaves go great in salads and the roots are used to make a "coffee" like beverage!  On top of that it is very healthy to have in your diet.  Dandelion Root is often used to treat Acne, Bladder Infection, Bronchitis, Colds, PMS.... the list goes on.  The leaves contain Vitamins A and C and the flowers are one of the best sources of Lecithin.  Lecithin is a nutrient that elevates the brains acetylcholine and may play a role in boosting memory and mental focus, as well as being good for some liver problems.

The Dandelion is just one of my favorite herbs.  I make and use Echinacea tincture regularly as needed for colds and other virus' that enter our home and bodies.  Stinging Nettle is another plant considered a nuisance that has amazing qualities.  It can be made into a tea for to help sooth a cold and the leaves can be boiled and prepared just like Collard or Mustard Greens.  Can't sleep?  Try a cup of Chamomile or Valerian Root tea!

The list goes on and I am still in the early learning stages of my journey with Herbs.  I will continue to share my discoveries with you as I learn and grow!

Do you use any herbs in your family?  What are your favorites?

Linking up with Thursday Favorite Things Blog Hop at KatherinesCorner.com and Winky Linky Weekend Hop over at Misadventures in Motherhood!

 

Favorite Feel Good Food

 Happy Thursday!  I am going to share with you one of my favorite things.  Well, food is one of my favorite things in general, but this is a specific one!  Homemade Turkey Broth.  With all of the bugs and virus' that are going around right now, I thought that a couple of you may appreciate this.  My daughter says "It feels like summer in my throat!"  :)

When one of us starts coming down with "the funk" we start on the Echinacea Tincture, OJ and Turkey Broth and usually have it knocked out of our systems in a day or two.  I will be sharing with you more posts on herbs and some of the handiest ways you can get healthier with less side effects very soon.  For now, lets start with this.

After I roast and strip a turkey (can be done with a chicken, too) I will put it into a large stock pot with the ingredients below.  Please keep in mind that I am not a professional chef and that the measurements are not and do not need to be exact.  Adjust to your taste and to what you have handy.  When it comes to herbs and vegetables in a broth - the more the merrier!  Get as much yummy goodness in there that you can!  The list below is just what I usually have in my fridge and cupboard.

1 Turkey Frame or Chicken Frame
1/4 cup Salt
4 Cloves Garlic -coarsely Chopped - more if you like, can't have too much Garlic for a busy immune system!
1-2 Large Onions - Quartered
3 Carrots - coarsely chopped
3 celery - coarsely chopped
3-4 sprigs Rosemary (I have a plant and just cut what I need but you can get this at the Grocery store in the produce section, not required but Rosemary has lots of good qualities for our bodies to enjoy!)
2 whole Bay leafs
4 whole Cloves if you have handy
Italian Herbs/Season for added flavor.  Thyme and Oregano are great in this!

Put it all in the large stock pot and cover with water.  Bring to a boil then let simmer on medium/low heat for at least 2 hours.  I will sometimes go longer it it needs to cook down to a thicker broth.  Pull/Strain out all of the solids left.  I then place in the fridge for a couple of hours to let most of the fat rise to the top.  Skim this off and you have a beautiful and very healthy broth!  I freeze it in bags and mark the date and volume on each bag.  When one of us starts to feel the tickle in the throat or all over body ache, we pull a bag out!  It is also wonderful to cook rice and stuffing in!  If you would like to keep some handy for cooking with to add flavor, you can fill ice trays and after frozen, transfer to a freezer bag or container.

Let me know if you have any questions!  Or if you try it and have any suggestions! :)

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