Wild Violet Syrup. I made my first batch of wild violet syrup last night.
I had half expected it to taste like sugar water, but I was pleasantly surprised. It turned out to have a nice sweet floral taste and made a nice addition to my evening tea. I’ve always been familiar with wild violets, but never by that name. My grandma always called them fighting roosters, because kids used to compete by hooking the “crooks” behind the flower head together and pulling to see which head would pop off first.
The person with a flower still attached would be the victor. For this recipe you will need: Wild violet blossomsWaterSugarLemon juice I used white sugar in this recipe to achieve the ideal color, but I imagine you could use any type of sugar. Wild Violet (Viola odorata) Making violet syrup is simple. Once you have picked your violets, place them in a jar or glass and add enough boiling water to cover the flowers. Let the flowers steep for an hour or two (until the water cools). Pretty cool huh? The finished product! Lavender Lemonade with Honey. 1134StumbleUpon Lavender is beginning to bloom now in my garden, not only looking and smelling beautiful, but attracting bees and other pollinators to the rest of my plants.
I harvest it for its beauty, and dry it for use as food and medicine. Growing Lavender Lavender is easy to grow in full sun and any well-drained soil, and is a relatively drought tolerant, perennial plant that adds interest to any garden with its grey leaves and tall, purple blooms. Like many plants grown for their essential oils, a lean soil will encourage a higher concentration of oils. While you can grow lavender in USDA Zone 5, it is unlikely you will ever have a lavender hedge. It is dampness more than cold, that is responsible for killing lavender plants. Lavender planted where the ground routinely freezes and thaws throughout the winter will need a thick layer of mulch applied after the ground initially freezes. Shrub love — Rediscovering a colonial classic. We wait all year for this: fingers stained with cherry juice, arms covered in bramble scratches, and countertops cluttered with canning jars.
We can, dry, freeze, jam, pickle, and preserve summer, and we’ve gotten pretty good at it. But there’s another way to bottle summer’s bounty. Easy Homemade Probiotic (no starter culture or special equipment required!) Easy Homemade Probiotics (no starter culture or special equipment required!)
December 4, 2013 Depending who you talk to, the best diet is a raw food diet. Or a grain-free diet. Or a low-fat diet. How the heck are we supposed to make decisions about food and get on with our lives? But in between the fads and hype and extreme views, there are some areas of truth that overlap. One of those truths? Some dietary theories don’t mention fermented food, but I’ve never found one that actively recommends against it. I first learned all this while studying Macrobiotics.
At one point I tried. I gave up. Four years later, I felt ready to try again. After all, I’ve got one toddler and a baby on the way. Actually, my kids are giving me good reason to work on my home fermentation. How to Make Cardamom Infused Tonic Water. Natural Ginger Ale Recipe - Homemade Fermented Probiotic Drink. Honey lavender soda. For the honeycomb baby shower I served a lavender honey soda.
It was my first attempt at herbal soda making and it was amazing! I made a second batch this week to drink myself, it is incredibly refreshing on a hot afternoon. To make the soda; combine 1 cup of honey with 1 cup of water and 1 tablespoon of lavender florets (find these in the spice section). Simmer until combined, about three minutes. Strain most of the lavender out and let chill until ready to use. Switchel. DIY Healthy Soda - Simple Life Abundant LifeSimple Life Abundant Life. Once upon a time I was addicted to Coca Cola.
Lacto-femented Sparkling Apple Cider - Nourishing Simplicity. Nothing says the holidays like a glass of sparkling apple cider.
It’s the favorite of kids and many adults for Thanksgiving, Christmas, weddings and toasting in the New Year. You would not belive how easy it is to make your own sparkling apple cider that is full of millions of healthy bacteria, enzymes and probiotics! Mix whey with apple juice, cover and a few days later you have your very own lacto-fermented apple cider! The fermentation process eats up of most of the sugars in the juice and leaves it slightly carbonated. It’s as easy as that, you’re very own bubbly drink is ready for your next special occasion.
Learn how to make this tasty cider at Modern Alternative Mama! Ancient Ales. You might not know it, but medieval Germans nearly ruined beer forever.
In 1516, a purity law called the Reinheitsgebot mandated that beer be made with only water, hops and barley. (The role of yeast hadn't yet been discovered.) Thanks to that bit of brewing censorship and the bastardized recipes of modern brewing conglomerates, beer drinkers have been subjected to bland lager for a long, long time.