An Herbal Diary

I'm talking all about bitters and how we can put our taste buds in rehab with dandelion green pesto. Dandelion Green Pesto Recipe: get the recipe HERE (adapted from Marcella Hazan's Essentials of Classic Italian Cooking and Deb Soule's How to Move Like a Gardener ) 2 1/2 cups fresh partially chopped dandelion greens 1/4 cup basil leaves 1/4 cup cilantro leaves 2-4 cloves garlic 2 tablespoons walnu...

Herbal actions put a name to a plant's primarily performance in our body. I'm organizing my herbal pantry into actions and talking in detail about alterative herbs. This category of herbal actions may be the support our bodies need for healthy metabolism. Mentions: Alterative Herbs Eclectic Medicine Jim McDonald, herbcraft.org Calendula infusion: 2 tablespoons dried calendula flowers & 12 ounces h...

Materia Medica translates to materials of medicine. Our material today is burdock. I'm also talking about how a plant's healing abilities reach beyond the physical into our heart and spirit. You can find the full nettle profile HERE but here's a quick episode recap: * emotional and spiritual qualities of burdock * considerations for growing burdock for food and medicine * energetics and actions *...

Digestion is foundational to our health and well-being. Today we focus on herbal roots that provide inulin. This prebiotic is vital to keeping the friendly microbes in our body happy as well as our digestion. And then I'm back in the kitchen to make super easy electuaries with powdered roots. 🍠🍯 Herbal Root Prebiotic Electuaries 1 1/2 parts (1 1/2 tsp) dried burdock root powder 1 part (1 tsp) dr...

Savory herbal decoctions second as broth, a vegetarian counterpart to bone broth. In contrast this herbal broth makes a lighter spring summer version. This is my spring cleanse, metabolic tonic with added immune strengthening capability.  And so simple to make. 🍵 💚 Burdock Root Photos Springtime Tonic Burdock Root Broth Herbs : 1 part = 1/2 cup 3/4 cup dried burdock root,   Arctium lappa (1 1/2...

Materia Medica is a fancy way of telling a plant's story and the herbal monograph documents it in an organized way. In this episode I share my own monograph on nettle. 🌿📜 You can find the full nettle profile HERE but here's a quick episode recap: * plant personalities and their stories * considerations for growing nettle  * where to buy * using fresh nettle in cooking * herbal nettle preparation...

Welcome to my backyard.. I'm talking nature awareness, plant people, growing and gathering nettle. ☀️ Pardon the contractor noise. Nettle Gathering Outfit: gardening gloves, long sleeves, long pants Favorite Garden Gloves 🧤 Lessons and Steps: Select planting area carefully Plant seeds sparingly Wear gloves when touching fresh nettles Offer gratitude and gift prior to picking nettle, or any plant...

Nettle will never be the new kale unless we negotiate its sting. We delve deep into the why of nettle sting, how it feels, then diffuse it by turning fresh to dried. Recipe : Nette-infused hot cocoa 🍃☕️ For one cup: 1 Tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder (non-alkalinized, organic) 1 Tablespoon honey (raw, local) 8 ounces nettle tea (2 tsp to 8 ounce water) 1 ounce whole coconut milk Prepare nettl...

Wondering how to use stinging nettles without suffering a sting? In today's kitchen medicine making venture we embrace dried nettles - sting deactivated - infusing them into vinegar. The result: a vitamin and mineral packed ingredient for your herbal pantry. 🍾 Nettle Leaf ( Urtica dioica )   Recipe for nettle-infused vinegar Ingredients: * 1/2 cup dried nettle leaf, powdered if possible * 1 cup a...

Materia Medica is a fancy way of telling a plant's story and the herbal monograph documents it in an organized way. In this episode I share my own monograph on roses. 🌹📜 You can find the full rose profile HERE Quick episode recap : * Materia Medica and herbal monograph introduction * considerations for growing roses for medicine * where to buy * energetics: color, taste, smell, texture, hot/cold...

On today's episode of An Herbal Diary, our exploration of rose petals continues in the kitchen. Dina prepares a rose honey syrup that inspires all kinds of heart happy ideas for rose medicines. 🌹 Recipe Equipment and Ingredients : Medium saucepan with lid Hand strainer lined with cheesecloth Glass measuring cup Jar with lid Rose petals 1/2 cup 12 ounces water 1/4 cup (50g) sugar 1/4 cup  (3oz) ho...

Big love to you! On today's episode of An Herbal Diary we're talking about stocking a kitchen medicine cabinet. There are a few first steps  to organizing it. Dina lists kitchen equipment to stock as well as introduces you to a first herb - rose - a true treasure and perfect way to start a pantry. Kitchen Medicine Cabinet equipment (suggestions only ⚖️) * stainless steel pots with lids * double bo...

Big love to you! Dina invites you into her kitchen for a discussion on herbal tea preparation. Pull up a stool, come sit and enjoy! Get the recipe from this episode Herbal Tea Blend 🍵 Holy basil ( Ocimum tenuiflorum ) Linden Flower ( Tilia cordata ) Milky oat tops ( Avena sativa ) Lemon Verbena ( Aloysia citriodora ) Rose petals ( Rosa damascena ) Supplies needed 🎛 Medium saucepan with lid | Meas...

Big love to you! On this first episode of An Herbal Diary, I share my vision and purpose for the podcast and tell you a bit about myself. I invite you to join me on this journey into the plant world. Please SHARE this episode with someone who may also be fascinated by herbal medicine. Help me to spread my passion for kitchen medicine and make everyone's home a place of herbal wisdom. 🌿✨ Mentions...