A few weeks ago when I was talking to my best friend on the phone a subject came up that I think all of us struggle with, how to deal with the grief that comes from the loss of a loved one and especially how to help our other loved ones get through it. This past winter her family unexpectedly lost her husband’s father. It was very hard on the whole family, especially since the week before they ...
Grilled Millet Flatbreads with Sesame Seed and Kombu Seaweed Sprinkles (Gluten Free, Vegan)
My favorite gluten free bread baking cookbook is Gluten-Free and Vegan Bread: Artisanal Recipes to Make at Home by Jennifer Katzinger and I especially like her various sandwich bread recipes. Usually I make the Soft Millet Sandwich Bread and a couple of weeks ago, I had mixed the bread dough, preheated the oven and was all ready to slide my bread in, when I realized my oven had shut off and ...
The Quickest, Most Efficient Way to Dry Herbs, Using Only Solar Power, is In Your Car!
Hello friends, today I want to share with you my favorite way to dry herbs! This is peak herb harvesting season. It seems that everyday when I go outside, there is something prime for picking. I don’t always have a lot of time to tend to the herbs once I have picked them and so my fall back method is always drying them for later use! Dried herbs are wonderful for teas, both for their health ...
Witch’s Brew: Toasted Marshmallow Paired with Whisky
Yes, you read that right, I found a wonderful combination perfect for any barbecues or bonfires you might be attending this weekend. This is the perfect treat for the grownups to enjoy after the sun has gone down and you are having a moment to relax. I love gin drinks in the summer, but at heart I am a whisky girl all the way. I have been drinking and learning about single malt scotch ever ...
Strawberry (Heart Berry) Sponge Cake with Swiss Meringue and Coconut Cream (Grain Free, Dairy Free)
I read a wonderful article last week, Sacred Strawberrying Time! about strawberries and their symbolism to Indigenous peoples of the Eastern nations (like the Cherokee, Haudenosaunee (Iroquois), Ojibway, Shawnee, and hundreds of others), where it is referred to as the “heart berry” and is strongly linked to women. I thought this made perfect sense when I read it and I have been thinking about ...
Witch’s Brew: Summer Solstice Sunset Cocktail
Do you all like my new Witch's Brew logo? Thanks to my awesome husband Roberto for making it. This series feels so official now! I created this cocktail on the afternoon of the summer solstice and we enjoyed these drinks as a way to toast the beginning of summer as well as the two fathers in our house on Father’s Day (which fell on the same day this year), my husband and my father in law, the ...
Simple Potato Salad with Pickled Chive Blossoms
Potato salad is a no-brainer when it comes to the summer table. I often like the traditional mayonnaise version, but others prefer something a bit lighter and vinaigrette salads are becoming more popular, especially with the addition of healthy raw apple cider vinegar. This salad is simple to put together, but adds a special zing because of its unique garnish, pickled chive blossoms. Chives ...
Witch’s Brew: Chamomile Coconut Cooler
This is the first edition of what will hopefully become a new blog series: Witch’s Brew! This series will feature craft cocktails, wine, cider and other spirits of note. My intention is to make this a weekly series, but I may need to re-evaluate as time goes on and to gauge interest. So please let me know you love this series and these posts by commenting on the posts, “liking” links on ...
Chamomile, A Hearth Keeper’s Friend
DISCLAIMER: I am not a professional health care provider, herbalist, nor homeopath. I am just a person who has used and researched these integrated therapies for close to 20 years and I use them on myself and my family and have had excellent results. Please read the safety precautions of each herb before ingesting, or consult a health care provider. Who is a Hearth Keeper? It is ...
Red Lentil Pasta with Wilted Arugula, Sun-Dried Tomatoes and Goat Cheese
This combination of sun-dried tomatoes, chèvre, pine nuts and baby greens, mixed with pasta is something I created long ago and it is still my favorite. This dish is quick, easy, healthy and full of taste popping ingredients that you are sure to love! I should just call this Pasta alla Jenn, because for the past 20 odd years I have been making a version of this dish using these key ...
Infuse Your Life with (more) YUM. YUM is the stuff that feeds not just our bodies but also our spirits. Offering simple recipes and tips, life hacks and tools and little pleasures to infuse life with more of the Good Stuff, the YUM.