We're excited to announce the opening of our Fall Radical Witch Program. During this 21 day flexible online study, you'll master kitchen techniques + deepen your relationship with medicinal plants. We invite you to create a kitchen apothecary, an altar space to honor your sacred body. Sign-ups are open until September 17th or until full. Last time we offered this course we were lucky enough to have a full class! Join us. http://bit.ly/2c784eh
Wherever the art of medicine is loved, there is also a love of humanity.
Hippocrates
Our N E W herbal C O O K B O O K S are now up for sale on our shop! This book is full of simple + nourishing recipes, that are infused with the healing power of plants. If you order this weekend we’ll be sure to include a sweet little note and send it out priority! http://www.thegreatkosmickitchen.com/shop/
Our NEW cookbook is just a couple weeks away from hitting stores. This book will teach you how to supercharge each meal with herbalism, so that taking your herbs is simple, fun and delicious. Sign up for our tele-class on 12/16 to learn more, and to enter for a chance to win a signed copy: https://beradicaleattraditional.squarespace.com/
R O S E W A T E R + R A S B E R R Y I C E D T E A
Raspberry leaf is astringent which makes it toning or tightening to tissues in the body. It is often part of prenatal formulas, to prepare the womb for labor. Some women choose to use it to tone the uterus and ease painful periods. Rose petals are also astringent, toning to tissues and energetically are used to promote self love.
Plants are not simply one mass of green, they are tribes and individuals
asking that we pay attention to their distinctive forms, needs, gifts and lessons.
Kiva Rose
12 W A Y S T O M A K E Y O U R K I T C H E N K O S M I C
1. Drink herbal tea.
2. Channel your great-great-grandma.
3. Cooking time is healing time, and your intentions matter.
4. Eat nutrient rich wild greens.
5. Power up with adaptogens.
6. Love your fat(s).
7. Believe in flower power.
8. Clean till you can eat off the floor.
9. Make sure everything has a home.
10. Create a food prep day.
11. Reduce waste, or give it back.
12. Share your food.
G E T T H E D E T A I L S : http://www.thegreatkosmickitchen.com/11-ways-to-make-your-kitchen-kosmic/
If you are not capable of a bit of witchcraft, don't trouble yourself with cooking.
Colette
WE’VE MOVED!
You may have wondered where we’ve gone, we got our own site! Come see what we’re cookin’ up at http://www.thegreatkosmickitchen.com/
There you will find even more recipes made with lots of love and healing plants.
Summertime Folk Tincture of St. John’s Wort
Here is a post we did for Free People! We are quite excited about the collaboration and we thought we would share the post with you all here. Love!
This small shrub with tiny yellow blooms invokes a child-like fascination within me.
When the fresh flowers are squeezed they produce a bright red medicine that drips between your fingertips. The juice feels like the blood of the plant, its life force. This magical plant goes by the name of St. John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum).
St. John’s Wort is a great plant for beginning herbalists and medicine makers because it grows wild, is easily accessible and can be used internally as well as externally. I was first called to work with St. John’s Wort because of its affinity to reduce stress, anxiety and mild depression when used consistently overtime. St. John’s Wort has a reputation of being a “Trauma Herb,” healing traumas of the skin and soul. Its blood red anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory medicine is wonderful for treating bruises, burns, sprains, reducing pain and infections.
***Because herbs work on deeper levels, when using for anxiety, stress, and mild depression, use 2-3 times daily, over a three week period or longer. You can start with one dropper full, and up the dose to two if you feel your body needs more.
A great way to preserve St.John’s Wort’s medicine is by creating a tincture. Our ancestors, the folk healers, would gather plants through the seasons and preserve them to use when necessary. Brandy is often used when making folk tinctures because it draws out the water-soluble constituents and alcohol extracted constituents (like resins and volatile oils). Tinctures also can be carried around in a small bottle, which makes herbal healing easy and convenient. It’s also a great way to invite plant ceremony into our everyday lives.
The folk method of herbal medicine making is not as precise as the standard method (the method that’s used in tinctures at health stores) but it comes from a long tradition and can be just as effective. I will be sharing this simple method of making medicine with you.
FIRST, gather your herbs and materials. Brandy or vodka St. Johns Wort (top three inches of the bloom) Knife and cutting board Mason jar Tincture bottles (optional) Muslin Labels
The best place to gather herbs would be from your own garden. If this is not possible, be sure to find a trustworthy local herb shop or a company like Mountain Rose Herbs or Pacific Botanicals who sell organic and ethically cultivated and wild crafted medicinal herbs. It is best to tincture St. John’s Wort fresh. St Johns Wort can be found in spring or early summer growing abundantly in the wild across North America. Be sure to consult your local herbalist and bring a bioregional plant I.D. book when identifying wild plants for the first time.
*** If the herbs are bring harvested from the wild, please be mindful of plants at risk, whether or not the plant has been sprayed or is in a polluted area, and give an offering to the plant. It is a symbol of respect and tradition to sing to the plants, offer tobacco, and to ask the plant if it is okay to harvest its precious medicine. Also, keep in mind that there are poisonous lookalikes to medicinal plants.
THEN, chop and macerate.
Chop up the flowers of St. John’s Wort as small as possible. The more surface area that is exposed during the maceration process, the stronger the medicine will be! Then you will be ready to macerate, which means, letting the plant sit in alcohol for one month. This process pulls out all the healing constituents that make tinctures therapeutic!
For your menstrum (or solvent) you will need to use some sort of alcohol. If you prefer not to use alcohol, some herbalists like to use a glycerite (which is sweeter) or apple cider vinegar to extract the constituents. Traditionally brandy or some form of alcohol like vodka was used in folk tinctures.
Fill a jar all the way to the top with your herbs. Cover the plant material with your brandy. Let the herbs macerate for one full lunar cycle. Starting medicines on the full moon can be a magical practice that keeps the medicine potent and with the cycles of nature. Label your jar with the ingredients and date, and store in indirect light. Shake the jar daily with good intentions.
***Remember that you are powerful and the energy that you put forth and the intentions that you set will come through in the medicine.
FINALLY, strain and enjoy!
After a month has passed, strain out your herb with the muslin cloth. Squeeze out any remaining liquid that might be in the herb. Compost the finished herb, which is also known as the marc. Pour the tincture back into the jar or into a dosage bottle with a label including what it is, whether the herb was fresh or dried, and what menstrum you used. You have now made your very first folk tincture!
Now you can make medicine from all the beautiful plants that grow around you. You will begin to discover that most of what you need is close by. The St. John’s Wort along the old fire trails, the kudzu on the pine trees, the wild oats dancing in the pasture, and the dandelions in your lawn, all the plants are here waiting for you!
With love in our hearts and medicine in our hands,
Summer Ashley and Sarah Kate of The Great Kosmic Kitchen
***It is always best to talk to your doctor before taking herbs, especially if you are on any medications. St. John's Wort can interact with prescription medications and with certain medical conditions. Some things are commonly seen with SJW like hyper sensitivity to the sun and interference with pharmaceutical anti-depressants. If you live near an herbalist, a consultation would provide you with the best plants for your body’s constitution. Every being is different, therefore our experience with plants will vary too.This post is not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure. Only to inspire!
This past month an incredible woman became a garden fairy. Leslie Gardener was an author, gardener, teacher at The California School of Herbal Studies, and also started the Sonoma County Herb Exchange. I had the incredible honor of studying under her this past year, before her passing.
I went with a few friends this past week to visit her alter at The California School of Herbal Studies. I lit some sage, left flowers, and we shared food and stories together in her honor.
Leslie was one of those people you remember. She had a twinkle in her eye and a visionary spark. Leslie would always consult the fairies before planting, transplanting, or making any major changes in the garden. She knew the folklore of almost every plant in the garden, and there about 400 different species of medicinal plants there at the herb school.
I came home that evening feeling anxious and scattered. I know that she is in another place now watching over us and the plant Queendom, but I still feeling this change deeply. To calm myself and bring the day to a close, I burned a candle Leslie gave each of us upon Herb School graduation and made a meal with the herbs she loved so deeply.
That night I made lamb that was marinated with lavender flowers, paprika, thyme, and garlic. For a dressing I made this Lemon Balm, Lavender, and Mint Yogurt Sauce to calm my frazzled nerves. It turned out great so I thought I would share this with you all. It is perfect for a summertime barbecue to share with family and friends.
Thank you for your blessings Leslie, I love you dearly.
Lemon Balm, Lavender, and Mint Yogurt Sauce
INGREDIENTS.
1/4 cup of mint
1/4 cup of lemon balm
lavender flowers and paprika for garnish
1/2 cup plain yogurt
2 cloves of garlic
1 lemon
salt & pepper
METHOD.
Chop the fresh lemon balm and mint until it is very fine. Mince the garlic cloves. Stir into the yogurt. Squeeze in half a lemon and add salt and pepper to taste. You can add more lemon if you feel it is needed. I often add a full lemon because I like things to have an abundance of flavor. Garnish with lavender flowers and a dash of paprika. Now you have a yummy yogurt sauce with the healing powers of lemon balm, a nervine that helps to reduce anxiety, stress, and calm the nervous system.
Spring Vinegars.
Recently I found two vulture feathers. I saw them as a message to be more resourceful and to utilize the abundance that surrounds us. Vultures are scavenger birds who patiently soar above until the deceased offer their bodies back to the earth. Death offers life to these creatures. A symbol of transformation and a great lesson for us to use the gifts that the wild world offers us.
I am so lucky to be living on the coast of Northern California with clean air, fresh water, and an incredible amount of wild medicinal and edible plants. Every day I discover a new creature or green being that I didn't know before. I can walk to the beach, to the river, or just cook a meal and hear the birds chirp outside my window.
Over the past month or two the nettles on the trail to the Russian River have gone from sprouts to a forest. I started cutting them back so folks could actually walk down the path without being stung, and I got to use all the greens for this herbal vinegar!
One of my teachers, David Hoffman, once said to my class at The California School of Herbal Studies, that "when in doubt, give nettles." Nettles are traditionally used for an array of different ailments. These greens have been used for arthritis, allergies, skin issues, and more. In Western Herbalism nettles are used in spring and often preserved in vinegar- which does an excellent job of extracting the calcium rich spring greens. Once nettles are processed through a blender, are given a light saute, or left to macerate in a vinegar, they lose their lively sting.
I am crazy about this plant because it is packed with a high amount of vitamins and minerals. In this spicy vinegar recipe I also included some herbs that happened to be laying around my kitchen...
Burdock root as well as nettles, is a diuretic and alterative. These actions gently help the body flush out toxins. In folk traditions it is also known as a "blood purifier". This is a great root to add to teas, broths, or just eaten in a stir fry. It can be a powerful ally for those who suffer from acne, eczema, and other skin issues.
Ginger root is warming and increases circulation in the body. It is great for those with digestive cramping because it is a "carminative" - which basically means it helps to relieve gas. I like to add it into formulas because I feel works well synergistically with other herbs.
And garlic cloves. Garlic is one of the best medicinal foods we have. The cloves are anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, and help the immune system ward of the bugs (just to name a few of it's many properties).
INGREDIENTS.
1 burdock root
2 handfuls of nettles
2 thumb size pieces of ginger
3 garlic cloves
and apple cider vinegar.
MATERIALS.
quart sized mason jar
lid with wax paper (or plastic lid)
METHOD.
Chop up whatever herbs you want to use and place them into your mason jar. The more chopping you do, the more surface area will be covered by the vinegar, thus more medicine will be extracted. Some other great spring herbs can be found here on a guest post I did last spring for one of my favorite blogs Witchin' in the Kitchen.
Then add your vinegar. I like to use apple cider vinegar. I find that it is packed full of nutrients and makes a great base for salad dressings, which is how I normally use these herbal vinegars. This vinegar would also taste great in rice and beans!
Cover your mason jar with wax paper and then the lid to prevent rusting or use a plastic lid. Not usually a huge fan of plastic but in the scenario I would recommend it.
And there you have it! Store it in a cool place, shake often, and the medicinal vinegar (also known as an acetum in herbalisim) can be strained in one months time. I find it best to store the vinegar in a cool place or a refrigerator so that this taste of spring can be enjoyed for seasons to come!
With love and gratitude,
Summer Ashley
“Nobody sees a flower - really - it is so small it takes time - we haven't time - and to see takes time, like to have a friend takes time.”
*photo by Karen Prosen
Spring is setting in and as a pisces, I am feeling right at home with the bursting wildflowers, cool evening breeze and the non-stop soaring hawks. Everything around me is pulsing with energy that its hard not to soak it all in and feel renewed in the process.
The past few weekends have been devoted to being outside, running around in the woods and just exploring the natural lands of Florida. My friends and I can't get enough of the wild horses at Paynes Prarie, hiking through the pine flat woods and finding secret paths through finger-like mangrove branches revealing salty marshes, perfect for cooling off.
All this traveling around can make eating well and feeling nourished difficult. Even when I eat out at a decent place, I never feel quite the same as when I make food for myself. So I found that with a little planning, eating well and inexpensively, whether traveling or not, doesn't have to feel like a burden.
I depend on a few simple practices to help meals come together in minutes which keeps me going throughout the week and eating well when I'm on the road. For me, preparing foods before hand, allows more freedom in the kitchen to experiment with different flavors and combinations because cooking time is no longer the main factor. And when I prepare food with my own hands, I feel so much more nourished and I see it as an act of love for my body, mind and spirit.
Above all, I just function better. When I'm hungry I get irritable and moody and I can watch a pattern of emotions ensue. Starchy, sweet deliciousness is what I reach for, but end up paying for it later when I'm completely drained of energy. Instead of going on this roller coaster, I give myself the gift of simple meals that I prepared ahead of time that are not only good for my body, but taste delicious.
// Soaking grains and legumes //
Traditionally, grains and legumes were soaked before being cooked to ensure easier digestion and easier access to their nutrients. These types of food are actually seeds, and have enzyme inhibitors that prevent the seed from sprouting in unfavorable environments.
So in order to help break down the inhibitors, like phytic acid, simply soak the desired amount of dried grains or beans overnight in warm water, with 2 tablespoons of either vinegar, lemon juice, whey, buttermilk, or yoghurt.
In the morning, after at least 7 hours of soaking, rinse the grains or beans well and cook. Keep in mind that soaking in this way will reduce the cook time, which is another wonderful benefit of this practice.
Dried grains and legumes for the pantry:
- basmati rice, brown rice, buckwheat, quinoa, millet, bulgur
- garbanzo, cannalini, black beans, heirloom beans, pigeon pea, kidney beans, green lentils, red lentils
These are regulars in my pantry. I keep them on hand and usually make a batch of grains and legumes to use in meals throughout the week.
I like to store them in glass jars, which makes them easy to distinguish and keeps them fresh. Buying bulk is great because it costs less than buying canned goods and you don't have to wonder about the preservatives in the canning process.
// Dressings/ Spreads/ Herbed Oils //
Having these ready to grab from the fridge adds so much flavor to the simplest meals. Eating healthy doesn't mean food shouldn’t taste good. I’m much more apt to eat this way when there are layers of flavor and texture. And I enjoy using fats to serve as a vehicle to incorporate other medicinal herbs that support vitality.
Herbs powders are used a lot around here. They are a big component in getting herbs into my food rather than getting them by preparing a tea or infusion. I love adding them to nut butters, yogurt, dressings, milky beverages, and smoothies.
Some of my go-to powdered herbs are:
< Ashwaganda- Withonia somnifera > adapotgenic herb used for helping the body/ mind with stress, nervous exhaustion, rejuvenate for muscles and bone
< Astragalus- Astragalus membranaceus > energizing and tonic herb, especially for the spleen and lungs, builds immunity, great for chronic imbalances
< Reishi- Ganoderma lucidum > builds the immune system, has anti tumor and antiviral properties
< Greens powder > spirulina based, rich in B vitamins and protein
< Maca- Lepidium meyenii> adapotgenic herb used to increase energy, balance hormone levels and mood
Ideas for how to use herbal powders:
- Greens Powder dressing- simple way to get more spirulina into your day without compromising the taste of your salad. Start by adding a teaspoon or more to your favorite vinaigrette recipe and keep a jar ready in the fridge.
- Magic Sauce - simple olive oil drizzle, great for sautéing, adding to soups, stir frying rice or veggies, pan frying beans for extra flavor (recipe here)
- Medicated Ghee- adding tasty herbs into a healthy fat when cooking or sautéing. I've been addicted to Maca ghee lately.
- Zoom Balls- great as a snack, to spread on sprouted grain toast, or to throw into your morning smoothie
// Fresh Staples //
Seeing a fresh array of veggies in the fridge always gets me in the mood to prepare something delicious. I've listed a few of my go-to's that can be used in any meal but highly suggest keeping fresh herbs around all the time. They just add so much flavor and freshness with such little effort.
Tip: To keep herbs fresh, snip the bottom of the stems and keep in a jar or glass in a little water either on the counter or covered in the fridge.
- greens- kale, collards, dandelion greens, salad greens mix
- fresh herbs- parsley, dill, cilantro, thyme, rosemary, basil
- fruits -seasonal
- carrots- great for quick soups and snacks
- seasonal vegetables
- chesse - feta, raw goat
- yogurt, raw milk
- raw nuts & seeds
// Freezer/ Fridge ready //
These are some essentials that help make soups come together in minutes. They add so much flavor and nourishment without having to take hours to prepare.
- Bone broth (recipe here) - great for quick soups
- miso paste - great for quick soups, dressings, roasting veggies
- local organic meats
▽ Warm Paprika Chickpea and Feta Salad△
This recipe incorporates soaking beans, fresh herbs, and adding medicinal herb powders to meals. Lately, I’ve been making this salad for lunch and I enjoy every bite. The salty creamy feta combined with the paprika toasted garbanzos, makes this a meal I crave. And I throw it all together in the morning so I’ll have something delicious for lunch.
INGREDIENTS
1 TBS magic sauce (recipe above)
1 cup soaked, cooked garbanzo beans
2 handfuls of mixed salad greens
fresh herbs, chopped, I like cilantro and mint
greens dressing to taste (recipe above)
crumbled feta to taste
METHOD
In a saute pan, add the magic sauce and heat on medium. Once the oil is hot and aromatic, add in the garbanzo beans and fry for 3-5 minutes or until their skins are nice and golden. Allow garbanzos to cool for a minute then toss them in a bowl with the mixed greens and feta. If eating right away, add in the dressing, or if taking as a meal for later, store the dressing in a small container until ready to eat.
Serves 1 person as a meal or 2 people as a side dish.
This recipe is just the jumping off point. Another way I make this salad is by using rice instead of garbanzos. Adding in crunchy chopped nuts or hemp seeds is also really good. Or try it with a fried egg on top for more protein and a good brunch option.
To new adventures and eating well with a view,
-Sarah
photos by Sarah Benjamin & Summer Singletary
❝ In fact, my soul and yours are the same, You appear in me, I in you, We hide in each other. ❞
Rumi
It's a Spanish Needle Spring!
Spring is in full effect here in Florida. Driving through the back country roads near my parents home, familiar smells of childhood are carried by the breeze. The honey aroma of orange blossoms, jasmine, and honey suckle can turn an ordinary drive with the windows down into an intoxicating affair. The trees are getting in on the action too. Bursting with new bright green growth, mirroring the grasses and setting the backdrop for pops of yellow, pink and purple wildflowers.
One of my favorite flowers to see growing on the roadside is a common herb we call here in the South, Spanish Needle. An incredibly humble herb who grows so prolifically its often overlooked and (gasp!) even called a weed. Floridians know this plant well, even if they aren't attuned to its healing properties. Spanish needle (Bidens pilosa/ B. alba) is the #3 nectar producing species in the state coming behind saw palmetto and orange blossom.
Some would say its a pioneer species, often being the first herb that pops up after the soil has been disturbed. Its a plant that's hard to miss, since most of the year, little white daisy-like flowers are scattered along the roadsides, tucked in cracks of the sidewalk or popping up in abandoned urban lots.
The latin name Bidens means "two teeth," describing its seed that resembles a two pronged fork that sticks to just about everything. But plants are smarter than we give them credit for. Having a toothed seed allows for easy spreading by animals of all kinds, especially humans.
My love affair with Bidens began when I learned of its medicinal properties and when I was shown what good "daisy chains" they make. Traditionally, its been used as medicine throughout China, Africa and Central America. People have used this plant to expel pathogens from the surface of the body, clear up heat, remove toxins, and eliminate stagnancy, just to name a few uses. On the more intense side of its healing properties, studies are finding that the chemical constituent polyacetylenes have shown to inhibit the malaria parasite Plasmodium faliciparum, which makes sense why its been used in the Amazon where malaria is a real cause for concern.
Personally, I feel really called to work with Spanish Needle medicine because of its affinity for the urinary mucosa and its ability to tone and strengthen the tissue. The revered South West herbalist, Michael Moore first turned me on to how powerful this plant truly is. Perhaps Bidens does not just work on the physical needs of the urinary system, but also the emotional needs that imbalance in an area, often sheds light upon. The urinary system is part of the Sacral Chakra, which governs our sense of safety and well being. So, if we are having feelings of not being nurtured, either by ourselves or others, or not feeling safe, Bidens is a plant that can help on these levels by filtering out emotional toxins that are no longer serving our being.
In his book, Medicinal Plants of the Pacific West, Moore says that Bidens also helps to remove environmental pollution which goes in line with the traditional uses of removing toxins and eliminating stagnancy. Living in the city, I often wonder, if Bidens are growing in such abundance for more of a reason that just loving disturbed sandy soil, but perhaps, its the medicine of the city, growing everywhere to help us with the constant bombarding of pollution in urban areas.
Most times, when we are in tune and paying attention, its easy to notice that what we need the most is right in front of us. Especially in the case of using Bidens this spring. Its like the Earth is exploding with its flowers, so that everywhere we look, this medicine is right there, ready to heal and ready to teach us if we are willing to listen.
HARVEST:
If this plant is not already growing in your yard, in a patch away from roadways, here are a few guidelines on wild harvesting:
- make sure plants are at least 50 ft away from the roadway
- check to see that it isn't growing near any plants that could be toxic
- ask the plant for permission to harvest (offering loose tobacco or a piece of your hair is also a respectful practice)
- only take what you need
PREPARATION:
- Colds/sore throat: hot infusion of fresh plant
- Urinary/Bladder issues: overnight infusion in a quart jar
- Toss in fresh flowers to add a little bite to your salad
Happy Spring!
May we all find the nurturing we need this season,
Sarah
Photos by: Sarah Benjamin & Summer Singletary