Summer Herb Tea

I love to simmer this for 5 to 10 minutes, strain, add cane sugar (or honey), and pour it over ice in the summer. 

5- 2inch sprigs of rosemary

2- 2 inch cinnamon sticks

peel of 1 lemon

and about 3 1/2 quarts of water

 The rosemary is straight from my garden.

 

One of my favorite things...

You girls know how much I love my tea, right?

DH brought this in some time back and it has become one of my faves! What makes it really special is that I was planning on asking him for one for my next b-day! He read my mind- or 'my favorites'!

See..I didn't WANT to microwave my tea water- and I especially didn't want to heat up water for 6 kids in the microwave, one right after the other, right after the other, right after the other,...

And can you imagine trying to get them all to make the choice of drinking the same tea so I could just boil a pot of water on the stove?!?!!? (Hey! Look kids, here's some peppermint tea, want some or not!?)

Well, my nice little pot stops ALL the fuss!

Here's you a cup, and you a cup, and you a cup, and ....you wanna cup?

And - you know what else is really super neat about my li'l' teapot??

It whistles so I CAN'T burn the water!!!

Woo hoo!

I'm glad my dh reads my mind- or 'my favorites'!

And more importantly- I'm thankful to share hot tea with my favorite peeps on the planet, my kids!

****

For more about Gratituesday, visit Heavenly Homemakers!

I found a great site!

If you are interested in the Sassafras tea that I mentioned or other things of an Amish or Mennonite nature, here's a site where you can order lots of neat things if you don't live close to a community that has a general store. YODER'S COUNTRY MARKET

That link will take you to the page that has the Sassafras concentrated tea for $3.15!

Sassafras Tea....

I've been wanting to try some of this and I found this little bottle the other day for a little over $2. Sassafras was once used in root beer. (NT talks about this.) This is a concentrated form and you add just a spoon or two to a glass of water and you have tea! A tea that tastes like root beer! Yummy!

If you remember, many months ago, I bought some sassafras and tried my hand at making my own root beer. It was OK, not like bottled, and sorta medicinal tasting.

This stuff here, however, is very mild and tasty.

A nice treat!

A neat-tea treasure!

My DH came in the other day with a super neat little find, just for me! Whatever could it be?

Well, I'll say! What a lovely little piece! Its a silver-plated brass tea steeper and stir tea infuser!

You push the end and it opens! Neat! It just slides open and you can scoop and steep!

Ginseng and licorice root anyone?

Almost like Christmas today....

Not only did I cook one of those .49 lb turkeys today, I got my order from the Bulk Herb Store!

Would you like to know what I ordered? ..Well, if you ordered, I would love to know what you got! ;-)

Okay, here's what I ordered:
(some were refills for my tea cabinet and one was new to me)
-arrowroot powder
-bentonite clay powder
-butcher's broom root
-chamomile flowers
-fenugreek seed
-ginseng root, siberian
-hops flowers
-horsetail, shavegrass
-licorice root
-passion flower
-rose hips

A nice sweet treat....

I made these and stuck them in the freezer for 'just the right time'. These have some sweetened condensed milk and melted chocolate (leftovers from making candy) and I let the kids have them with 'hot drinks' (coffee, tea, etc) as 'stir spoons. A fun treat to sweeten their drink! (Perhaps you've seen plastic ones sold in some coffee shops and Etsy shops?)

WFMW...Tea Steeper!

My new tea steeper for my herbs is what WORKS FOR ME WEDNESDAY!

Dh brought this in just for me the other day and I couldn't have been more delighted!

I had been using a mesh tea-ball from Walmart for my bedtime tea and well....it was rusting a little and making my tea taste yucky!

But this neat little gadget is stainless steel!

It is like a cup that fits in your cup! (put loose tea in it and place it in your cup of hot water) It has tiny holes in it but they are small so that the tea stays put while steeping. It has a neat little tab on the top for a handle and ...can you see the little plate-like thing that it is sitting in? Well, it doubles as a scoop and also a cover while you are steeping, and then, as you see here, you can sit the steeper in it when you are done so you don't have a big, drippy tea mess all over the counter!

Merry Christmas to me, Merry Christmas to me...

Ok, I know its not really Christmas but when I get these.....

Its like Christmas to me!!!

Its my herbs!! Yippeeee!

I've been out of several things for many months now and it was soooo exciting to find my box on the porch this morning!

I think I've showed you before how I take the labels from those thick plastic bags and place them on jars to store the ones that I will be using.
The jars are just easier to get in and out of than those bags!
Wanna know what I ordered?
:-)
I got more Passionflower-Oh, how I love this herb!!! It makes for really sweet dreams!
I also got Butcher's Broom, Ginkgo, Peppermint, Alfalfa, my beloved Rose Hips, and a new thing, Kelp! (I've got to figure out some places to smuggle that in!)


Here's some of the others that I already had;
Olive Leaves, Yarrow, Hops, Oatstraw, Horsetail, and some hidden Bilberry. (and a teeny bit of Ginseng)
**
Now, what's frugal about the herbs?
Well, they are cheaper than pop! And you can use your choice of sweeteners- like honey, cane sugar, etc. Which will add to your health (rather than take away :-).

AND, these are nourishing your health, which is very frugal in the long run! How frugal? Well, there is one herb that I know of that helps with irregular heart beat and you can get a 3 month supply for under ten dollars- one of the drugs prescribed for that is $100 a month and on top of that, it has some very unfavorable side effects!
(you will find a link at the bottom of my page for the Bulk Herb Store where I order from and there is also a large amount of information on their site about herbs and remedies)

FOR MORE FRUGAL FRIDAY TIPS, CLICK HERE!
And if any of you are feeling chatty, I would love to hear about herbs that you've found useful!
HAPPY EASTER!

Herbs 101: Peppermint

Ahh Peppermint!

I love to keep peppermint around mainly because it covers the bitter taste of some of the teas that I use. But peppermint tea alone, is a great treat!

One of my children who won't drink herb teas will always drink a cup of peppermint tea, anytime! And yes, he will even ask for it!

Peppermint has long been used to soothe tummy troubles. Old-timers used to make mild teas for colicky babies. It helps with indigestion and bloating. That's likely why lots of antacids use peppermint to flavor their medicines! It's also good for nausea.

It is said that it can also help to reduce fever.

And it is high in several nutrients according to The Bulk Herb Store's notes on it.

Some places say that it will even cure a headache!

And you thought peppermints after a meal were just to freshen your breath! ;-)

****

**Some say it's a good sub for coffee because it is a stimulant.**

(I say it's stimulating, but it's not caffeine!;-)

Herbs 101: Rosemary

Rosemary is often included when I place my orders for herbs with The Bulk Herb Store.

It is probably my favorite herb to cook with because it seems to work with anything! No, I don't usually add it to my tea unless someone has a cold or cough. If someone is sick, I often will add it in the mix.

It is not only used as a cough and cold remedy, it's used for a number of female problems, brain power, fighting depression, nervous fatigue, and several other things.

Recent studies that I've read suggest that it is useful in fighting cancer as well. It seems that it may help to block carcinogens.

But all around, the flavor is unbeatable and it goes well with poultry, beef, soups, and even breads! I add to almost every savory dish that I fix.

Herbs 101: Butcher's Broom

I've always wondered about the name of this stuff! However, I have thought that it looked like dried broom straw!

This is another herb that I try to add to every cup of tea that I make. You can also find this in all sorts of forms on the net. I saw it in a cream on one site!

It is said to be good for circulatory problems including hemorrhoids, as well as being a mild laxative, and of assistance to those with arthritis.

I use it for circulatory issues in my legs. I have had swelling problems in my ankles since having half a dozen children and now my veins are starting to give me trouble. My hope is that this herb will keep these problems from getting worse, especially since I am on my feet for most of the day!

For more information and to check out the site that I order from, please visit the Bulk Herb Store.

Herbs 101: (Siberian) Ginseng

Ginseng is said to have many good properties and benefits. I use it periodically in my tea.

It is said to prevent toxins, aid with depression, restore vigor, help with allergies, as well as give an overall sense of well-being. I have found many places where it is stated that it is a help with memory and mental alertness too.

My primary reason for using it is to aid in balancing hormones. I have found it to be very useful during those days prior to my period when I feel all stressed among other things :-). So, as soon as I begin to feel that way, I just add some to my tea for the next couple of days and I feel so much better!

And you thought that it was only good for the fellows, huh?

Please see this link to the Bulk Herb Store for more info and if you would like to order, you can do that too!

Tea Balls: for steeping loose tea

Just in case you've ever wonder :-)....this is my tea balls! Meet Little T and Big T.

Little T is the smaller tea ball on the left. I use it for single coffee cup size steeping. It can hold about a tablespoon of packed herbs and/or tea. I usually prefer this one for my daytime tea. It screws together in the middle, making it easy to use and it is stainless steal and very durable. It can be found online in many places but I bought it at the local Health Food Store for about $2.49. A good buy, especially considering that it is almost impossible to damage!

Now, Big T that you see there on the right? - It's used usually for my night-time tea. I put nearly a dozen different types of herbs in my bedtime tea and usually use my big 2 + Pyrex measuring-cup to steep it in. This could be used for a small pot of tea as well. It can hold several tablespoons of tea/herbs. It is more of a screen, mesh-type material and has a clip-type latch that I have found to be pretty delicate. (I've destroyed two of these! -and this one has been bent back into shape a time or two.) They can be purchased at WalMart for apporx. $1.99 and considering how much they can hold, still a good value.

--Just in case you wondered what to do with teas and herbs!

Herbs 101: Oatstraw

Oatstraw is another herb that I have been using in almost every cup of tea that I make. I love the smell of it...it reminds me of driving past a fresh cut hay field! So sweet!

As some of you know, I have some dental 'issues' -mm-hmm...and osteoarthritis runs in my family as well so I decided to use this herb as it is a source of calcium and magnesium. Magnesium is necessary for proper calcium absorption so it sounded like a great combination! I don't drink much milk, if I ever find it raw I likely would but for now, this is my drink of choice!

Oatstraw also is high in chromium, which is useful to balance blood-sugar. That's a plus for a sugar-addict like myself!

Oatstraw is also said to be beneficial for nervous disorders, depression, menstrual problems, hair and nails, eczema, etc.

For more info and to order if you like, please see this article from the Bulk Herb Store.

(** I'm not a medical professional. I'm only sharing my personal findings!)

Herbs 101: Horsetail/Shavegrass

This is another herb that I've been adding to my tea. I originally started using it because it is said to help strengthen your hair and nails. My nails flake and break easily and my hair is fine and prone to split ends that are horrid because it causes tangles! Eek!

I've had to cut alot of damage off of my hair and I did not want to have to do that again (1 Cor 11:15) and so I made some decisions to try to limit the chemicals on my hair (at least for a while) and use this herb. I lost about 8 to 10 inches because of terrible damage and I could barely get a comb through it! My hair is now more manageable and my nails do appear to be stronger and grow longer (and seemingly quicker) before I end up having to cut them rather than them chipping/flaking.

But this herb is said to have many more benefits than just 'cosmetic'. It appears that it helps assist in the formation of collagen. It seems that it is also used to treat osteoporosis and edema as well. If so, it will be of even greater benefit to me.

Click here for more info and you may also order from there as well. I love the Bulk Herb Store!

(**Again, I'm not in the medical field...only sharing my findings!)

Herbs 101: Passion Flower

This beautiful flower can often be found in fields where I live. We picked some last year while taking a walk around the graveyard during VBS. They are a very unique flower.

I have been using this dried 'herb' at bedtime. It comes highly recommended by Michael Savage as an aid for insomnia. I have noticed that it does give a rather good sense of sleepiness! It has become part of my nightly before-bed ritual. (*I like to mix it with other things, peppermint in particular for flavor. It seems a bit bitter when steeped alone.)

Passion Flower can also be used for anxiety and nervous disorders from different things that I've read. It appears to have a calming effect. It also has many other uses. Any ailment that would need muscle soothing and/or calming would be benefited by this herb.

I find buying this herb in bulk to be the most frugal. Not to mention, this is likely a far better alternative for your health in the long run, than pharmaceuticals.

Please see the catalog at the Bulk Herb Store for more info.

I order from BulkHerbStore.com

(**I am not a medical professional. I'm simply sharing my findings about herbs!)

Soured Oatmeal Coffee-'cake'....

This was an interesting experiment! It's a cross between cake and baked oatmeal when it's hot but once it's cooled, it becomes more cake-like.

Soak overnight:

3 cups rolled oats

1/4 cup buttermilk

2 3/4 cup of water

(I didn't want a real sour taste but I did want the benefits of soaking!)

Mix in:

1 1/2 T oil

3/4 cup cane sugar

1 t vanilla

2 t baking powder

1/2 t salt

1 t cinnamon

1 T orange zest

1 beaten egg

2 cups of plain flour

Pour into baking dish and make the topping:

1/4 cup melted butter

1/4 cup cane sugar

1/4 cup chopped pecans

1 cup shredded coconut

Sprinkle over cake and bake at 375 for approx. 30 to 40 minutes.

Homemade Hot Chocolate

Pantry style Homemade Hot Cocoa:
1 cup of powdered milk ...(doubled)......2 cups powdered milk
1/2 cup cocoa powder.......................... 1 cup cocoa powder
3/4 cup brown sugar.............................1 1/2 cups brown sugar
3/4 cup powdered sugar.......................1 1/2 cups powdered sugar

*Use 1 1/2 to 2 tablespoons per cup.
(I doubled this and store it in an old 20 oz hot cocoa can or coffee can.)
*Variations: toss in cinnamon, crushed peppermints, ginger, allspice, etc for a different taste.
THIS IS WHAT WORKS FOR ME!

Peel it away, but don't throw it away!

Citrus peels are a delicacy in the right place, don't you think?

I love to use zest in cookies, cakes, and sweet breads but I found myself never having them when I needed them...Sooooo.....

....now I've started grating them and freezing them in small ziploc bags or just tearing the peels from the lemon, lime, orange, clementine, etc and tossing them in a freezer bags to add a zing to my herb teas!

I also drop them into a quart jar and cover with vinegar to make a great cleaner!

I have another post here called "Limes, 3 ways to use 'em".

For more Kitchen Tips, visit Tammy's Recipes!