The North Country & Florida Mesh
I love Indian food. I love the Indian drink Mango Lassi.
Yesterday a dear friend gifted me 2 mangos that came straight up from Florida, picked from the backyard of another fellow Lake Ozonia neighbor. (picked from their Florida backyard... mango trees would suffer in the ADK mountains come winter!)
To feed my clutch of kids this AM, I started them with a mango lassi; melding the best of Florida fresh fruit with the best of the North Country.
I love Indian food. I love the Indian drink Mango Lassi.
Yesterday a dear friend gifted me 2 mangos that came straight up from Florida, picked from the backyard of another fellow Lake Ozonia neighbor. (picked from their Florida backyard... mango trees would suffer in the ADK mountains come winter!)
To feed my clutch of kids this AM, I started them with a mango lassi; melding the best of Florida fresh fruit with the best of the North Country.
- 2 medium ripe Florida Mangos
- 1 cup full fat goat's milk yogurt
- 1 cup full fat raw goats milk
- 1 heaping tablespoon of raw, local honey... thank you very much Mark Berninghausen of Squeak Creek Apiaries out in the Brasher Falls area
- 1/4 tsp. of rose water made from the roses at Old Market Farm in Winthrop
- 1/4 tsp. cardamom
- 3 ice cubes
- garnished with local strawberries fresh off the vines from Martin's Farm Stand, Potsdam
Sometimes I just have to go with the flow and enjoy a melding of local and well, not so local. The Lassi was deeeelish! The kids were happy!
Use this recipe with any fruit combination & enjoy.
Ode to My Farmers
Ode to My Farmers
Farmers are my (everybody's) lifeline
worth more than silver or gold
the food they feed me now
will keep me young as I grow old
I write of real farmers
true stewards of the land
farmers who love their animals
sustainability is their stand
Food IS our best medicine
to prevent and heal disease
farmers are the keepers of our health
hug your farmer(s) today, please
Rob & Winny Sachno
PS Compensate your farmers well for the food they grow you.
(It IS hard work!)
Good food IS your preventative medicine,
Your farmer is your best Doc!
Even the wee ones make awesome farmers!
Gramma's Grass Acres, the Lynch's, processing chickens!
PPS This is a mere sampling of the amazing farmers in my life. To find your own farmers use your local farmer finding resources: farm markets, Co-ops, Health & Natural Food Stores, etc.
In St. Lawrence County, NY, we have Gardenshare!
Weeds, To Eat or Not To Eat!
www.HandsOnHealthHH.com
Holistic Hugs & Peaceful Blessings!
Paula M. Youmell, RN, MS, CHC
Holistic Health, Nutrition & Fitness Counselor
(315) 265-0961
"Just lift the corner of the clouds and the sun is
ALWAYS shining!" Eli Schechter
Spring Nettles poking out of my home garden plot, Spring 2014
Weeds to one person are another person's medicine!
I love spring for the wonderful green plants shooting out of the earth around my home, in the woods and fields. These plants remind me of the ever changing and newness of life, the bounty of good food right outside our doors, and the nutritional value and healing properties of what many people consider weeds. I personally await the spring's wild leeks, dandelion greens, first nettle shoots, plantain leaves, rhubarb shoots, and so many more spring edibles.
These spring edibles awaken our taste buds, livers, digestive tracts, and each and every body cell. The incredible amount of nutrients in the plants adds to our nutritional stores and cleans our winter blood, liver, and digestive tracts.
What a relief to move away from my beloved winter root veggies (beets!) and begin incorporating our natural spring foods.
For more thoughts on the whole food-ness of herbs (weeds) click here.
Dandelion greens and flowers; good for liver health!
Fun Food Focus
Spring Greens Soup
I gather several kinds of spring greens: dandelion, plantain, lambs quarters, nettles, mustard greens, sorrel, violets... the list goes on. (Learn to identify them, pick and enjoy!)
I gently wash them, throw them in my blender with some raw goat's milk and wild leek shoots and leaves. Blend into a puree and warm gently.
You can also saute' the wild leek, ever so gently, then toss in the green and saute' for 1-2 minutes before blending.
Easy greens to start with are dandelion, plantain, nettles and violets.
Another idea: mix them in a salad with local, mixed baby greens - they should be available soon! Dress with raw - apple cider vinegar, organic - extra virgin olive oil and a few dried spices. Yummy!
This picture taken today, 5-16-14. The nettles are getting larger!
Bonus information: Check out Martin's Farm Stand website, you can pre-order your fresh, local, seasonal produce, on-line! Cutting edge - local food access!
Seasonal Allergies: Gear Up Now!
What would a healing post, from me, be without my favorite herb... stinging nettles! It is my "go to" herb for all nourishing and healing needs. Start with nettles + herbs specific for the health symptoms = healing equation!
Got allergies? Gear up now to fortify your body before pollen season. (I know, it does seem like winter will never go away, here in Northern NY! But, pollen season will happen!) This self-responsible, preventative health action will help to ease the seasonal allergy symptoms. Breathe freely this spring, summer, and fall...
1. Freeze dried stinging nettles: Get to Nature's Storehouse, Canton, NY and purchase some freeze-dried stinging nettles. Start taking them now to calm and heal your immune system and relieve the seasonal pollen allergies.
2. Local, raw honey. Start eating 1/2 to 1 teaspoon two times daily, now. Local, raw honey will acclimate your body to the local allergens before they bloom and blossom. This local honey will help to relieve or even rid your seasonal pollen allergies.
3. Herbal Formula: Herbs Etc. is a great company. I use many of their formulas in healing ways with friends, family, and clients. They work!
Allertonic® Enhances healthy inflammatory responses of the respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts. Stabilizes mast cell walls and fixed antibodies found in the eyes and respiratory system, keeping the tissues calm. Normalizes secretion of the respiratory system, liquefies mucus, stimulates its removal from the lungs, and keeps pulmonary tissues hydrated.
Ingredients: Fresh Stinging Nettle herb, Licorice root, Eyebright herb, Horehound herb, Osha root, fresh Horsetail herb, fresh Mullein leaf, Elecampane root, and fresh Plantain leaf.
Suggested Use:
Acute: Take one soft gel or 40 drops with water every two to three hours until comfort is achieved or as directed by your health care professional. Noticeable comfort is attained within the first or second day. Switch to ongoing use.
Ongoing: Take one soft gel or 40 drops with water three times a day.
Proactive: Two months prior to seasonal challenges, take one soft gel or 40 drops with water twice a day.
4. Yes, you can use all three of these natural, allergy relief "foods" as a preventative measure. Start now, before the snow melts!
5. Whole foods: I would be seriously amiss as a whole food, holistic healer if I did not tell you that the foods you put into your body, every time you eat, affect the way you feel. Eat crap, feel like crap! If you over load your body with packaged, factory made foods, you overwhelm your immune system (actually, you overwhelm your whole body, every body cell!). Your immune response to allergens in the seasonal air will be seriously heightened if your body is already overwhelmed by crap food. Eat whole, love your body cells!
6. Liver Nourishment: As I write this post, I have a draft post on liver nourishment, ready to go. Be looking for it. Keeping the liver healthy will cut down on seasonal allergy symptoms.
7. Acupuncture: is an excellent healing tool in the seasonal allergy toolbox. Give Five Elements Living a call if allergy relief is in your plans!
PS: I can order any product from Herbs Etc. for you. Check Nature's Storehouse OR the Potsdam Food Coop for a similar product. Compare the ingredients as many herbal companies make allergy relief herbal combinations.
Need Help? Not sure about herbal healing foods: what to take, how to take it, when to take it, etc? As a Certified Herbalist, I can help with this! Give me a shout.