Mediterranean Chicken Rice Bowl

Simple and fast! That is what I love especially when I have been outside working in the garden for hours. I need something that will fill me up, is nutritious and simple. This dish is full of flavor and makes for good left overs the next day.

Recipe

Basmati or brown rice, cooked

1 cucumber chopped

1 pint cherry tomatoes cut in half

1/4 cup kalamata olives cut in half

1/4 cup feta cheese crumbles

For the Dressing

2 tablespoons olive oil

juice of 1 lemon

2 tablespoons chopped fresh oregano and parsley

2 garlic cloves, finely chopped

Grilled or rotisserie chicken cut or shredded

In a large bowl mix together the cucumbers, tomatoes, olives and feta. Make the dressing by adding the oil, lemon juice, herbs, garlic and salt and pepper. Add dressing to the veggies. Place greens into a bowl top with rice of choice and the veggies. Add chicken and enjoy!

Organic Emily is Moving!

Farrell house

It is with sadness and excitement that my husband and I will be moving our family in the next few weeks out into the country. Our home is for sale by owner.  We will be moving to the Sanpete county area. I hope to continue herb walks, workshops and other classes in our new area where we will have more land and access to the mountains once our new home is built. Look for updates on classes in other areas including lots of hikes this upcoming year.

If you or someone you know wants to buy my home please reach out to me through my contact page. It sits on just over a quarter acre lot.  The landscape is water wise on automatic sprinkling system. There are over 140 medicinal herbs in the garden beds, vegetable garden area, a large chicken coop and a large RV pad along the side of the house. The home is 4100 sq ft all updated with hand scraped hickory floors, some carpet and stone tile in the wet areas, butler pantry 21 x 7, sun nook off the kitchen, large workshop in the back (24 x 26) with 240 volts running to it. 5 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, lots of storage space, 2 extra rooms that can be used as a workout room and library or music room. Asking price is $668,000. Here is the link to the listing.

I will still be placing bulk food orders and taking orders for Christmas on the medicinal herb kits and body care products. We will most likely have a drop off sight for bulk orders. If you are interested in buying items for Christmas please get your orders in to me as soon as you can.  Much love! Organic Emily

Medicinal Herb – Aloe and other succulents

Aloe Hens and Chicks Purslane

Medicinal Herb post #39 written July 31, 2018

Aloe Vera – Aloe barbadensis
Hens and Chicks, Purslane, Prickly Pear Cactus and other succulents.

All of these succulents have something in common. They can be used interchangeably as osmotic herbs, meaning they draw out inflammation from the effected area relieving pain. So if you don’t have Aloe in a pot and you burn yourself during the winter months, go out and grab some Hens and Chicks or other succulent plant, blend and apply topically. Aloe is an annual here in Utah unless potted and brought inside for the winter. They all love to be left alone, giving them well draining soil and maybe watering once a week when it’s hot or once a month during the winter months.

Aloe and others also contain antibacterial, antifungal and anti-inflammatory properties. Interestingly, it also soothes an irritated digestive system, like IBS and ulcers for example, and can easily be thrown into a smoothie. The juice is known as one of the safest laxatives, but should still be used with caution as it can have strong results. It tastes yummy when mixed with spearmint or peppermint tea or fresh squeezed lemon juice. Sweeten with honey or stevia if you like. It should not be taken internally by pregnant or nursing women and should be used with great caution for elderly and children in smaller doses.

Aloe promotes rapid tissue repair reversing damage from sunburn blisters and scarring. It’s great for other skin issues when used directly or in a salve for things like bites, stings, rashes, eczema, acne, and poison ivy. Aloe can also be used as a natural sunblock, blocking out around 30% of ultraviolet rays. It should not be used in cases of staff related infections like impetigo.

It can be made into a face and body cream by infusing calendula in almond oil over the stove top on very low heat for an hour. Use 1 and 1/2 cups of the strained calendula oil, 1/4 cup cocoa butter, 1/4 cup coconut oil and 1/2 cup beeswax. Melt together and cool for several hours or overnight. Place in blender and mix together 1/2 cup Aloe Vera gel and 1 and 1/2 cups purified water and favorite essential oil. Slowly drizzle the water mixture into the blender as it runs until the consistency becomes thick. Scoop into jars and keep in the fridge for long term storage.

Make your own gel by scraping out the insides of the leaves and blending. Store in jar and keep cold. Use in salves with other herbs like plantain, comfrey, yarrow, and calendula.

A quick word about purslane… it has almost as much omega 3 fatty acids as fish, is full of vitamins and minerals and should really be eaten often!

Medicinal Herb – Thyme

Thyme plant
Medicinal Herb Post #37 written on July 31, 2018

Thyme – Thymus vulgaris

Thyme is one of my favorite sun loving perennial herbs for cooking, but did you know it’s a powerful medicinal too? It loves our alkaline soil here in Utah and there are lots of varieties to choose from. If you want the most medicinal, choose the common garden thyme (thymus vulgaris) or lemon thyme (T. citriodorus). As the plant matures it will become woody. Prune it heavily in the spring before new growth starts (about half). I like to keep it trimmed so new soft growth continues throughout the growing season.

Thyme has many great benefits. It’s a powerful antibiotic, antiseptic, antispasmodic and expectorant making it a perfect herb for all things respiratory, including difficult issues like whooping cough. For respiratory problems I would make a tea with it and drink 1 cup several times a day. It can be used internally or externally as a wash to fight off infection. It’s incredibly useful for disinfecting surfaces. Try making my recipe for the perfect disinfectant/deodorizer by pouring half white vinegar and half hydrogen peroxide into a bottle. Add thyme, eucalyptus and pine essential oils together. Other great essential oil combos to use for cleaning are lemon, orange and tea tree; And rosemary, cinnamon, clove, orange and eucalyptus. It really works well for anything!… I’m talking the worst of the worst especially with kids. Thyme is also great for digestive issues, including expelling parasites.

I love making a syrup infused with honey and thyme. Add 4 ounces fresh thyme herb to 1 quart of water. Simmer on very low heat until the liquid had reduced to half and strain. Add 1 cup of honey and store in the fridge for a month. Take 1 teaspoon every few hours until cold/cough stops. Feel free to add other herbs to make a cough syrup like wild cherry bark, chamomile, ginger, hyssop, licorice root, marshmallow root, mullein leaf, and red clover.

I cook with thyme a lot. Here are some favorites of mine.
https://rootedemily.com/?p=1565
https://rootedemily.com/?p=1100
https://rootedemily.com/?p=712
Try this recipe with lemon thyme:
https://rootedemily.com/?p=463

I’d love to hear how you use thyme!

 

 

 

Medicinal Herb Post – Sage

Sage plant

Medicinal herb post #36

Sage – Salvia officinalis written July 30, 2018

Believe it or not this sun loving perennial is actually apart of the mint family, Lamiaceae. There are more than 750 varieties. The officinalis variety is hardy in zones 4-8 so it grows well here in our Utah climates, as do many other kinds. It prefers well draining soil. Sage is actually easier to propagate from root cuttings rather than start from seed. I whack mine back every spring to a medium ball shape. Harvest the leaves from spring through fall.

Sage is a great astringent helping to tone and pucker inflamed tissues, so it’s great for sore throats, mouth sores and diarrhea. It is also effective in drying up mothers milk when a woman is ready to wean her toddler. It’s antiseptic properties make it useful for fighting off the cold/flu. Sage is a mild hormonal stimulant, promoting regular cycles in women and relieving symptoms of menopause like hot flashes and night sweats. It also has antiviral and antifungal properties to help treat infections. Avoid medicinal doses during pregnancy and/or nursing.

Here’s a simple sage syrup for sore throats or mouth sores… Make a tea from the sage leaves, 1 Tbsp loose dried herb for every cup of water.  Add equal parts honey once steeped and strained. Add a few drops peppermint essential oil. You can also add a small amount of echinacea tincture to it too. Pour into bottle and use as needed.

Years ago I found an amazing herb seasoning that I couldn’t find again. I looked at the ingredients in the bottle and decided to make it myself. I grow each herb in my yard and use equal parts dried. I throw it into everything, from soup to spaghetti and more. Here’s the recipe https://rootedemily.com/?p=1802

This grilled herb chicken recipe is my absolute favorite! So flavorful!https://rootedemily.com/?p=210

Medicinal Herb Post – Rosemary

Rosemary plant

Medicinal Herb Post #35 written July 30,2018

Rosemary – Rosmarinus officinalis

Native to the Mediterranean, Rosemary means “dew of the sea” as it grows wild along the sunny hillsides next to the sea. It is a perennial in zones 7-10, like warmer climates in St. George. There is a variety named Arp that is supposed to do well here in Northern Utah. I have yet to find a micro-climate in my yard to get it to live through our colder winters. But I keep trying .  I’ve had a few live, but only if the winters are mild. Rosemary prefers full sun. It doesn’t like to be over watered, but it doesn’t want to be completely dried out either. Spray the leaves with a water bottle in between waterings weekly to keep it happy. I always keep one in a pot and bring inside during the winter months to use for cooking. Be sure to keep it in a sunny window and/or under lights or powdery mildew will take over. If you are growing one outside just be sure to trim any dead branches that may be affected by cold temps. When harvesting, cut the sprigs almost to the ground working from the outside in, all the way around the plant, leaving the center to continue growing. Rosemary is easily propagated by cuttings. Snip a 6-8 inch branch and place 3 inches of it in a small cup of water. Place on a sunny windowsill and watch is root out over the next few weeks. Transplant to a pot and then into the ground the second year.

Rosemary is well known for improving memory and increasing concentration through circulation improving brain fog, mild depression and headaches caused by vasoconstriction. It’s mildly simulating because it increases oxygen levels within the cells. It does this through improving circulation and can help with cold hands and feet. It is really beneficial for those with vein issues when used with hawthorn berries and gotu kola.

Rosemary helps the body break down fats and food waste improving digestion. When the essential oil is applied to the hair after a shower while the pores are still open within 2 minutes is can stimulate the mind, hair growth and eliminate dandruff. It can help ease muscle tension and headaches and can even work for mild depression. It contains anti-inflammatory properties which can attribute to being a mild pain reliever.

Here’s a great brain tonic: use equal parts ginkgo leaf (harvest at the end of the growing season), gotu kola leaf (if you have it), holy basil, rosemary leaf and peppermint leaf. Make a tincture or tea. Use daily, 1 tsp as a tincture 3x a day or 1 tsp as a tea at the end of the day. Herbs always take time before they start working, usually a few weeks. I like the saying use early, often and after for them to be effective.

Rosemary is also a great antiviral. It can be used for chest infections and clears excess mucus from the sinuses and lungs.

One of my favorite cookies is a rosemary butter cookie. Believe me, you’ll be pleasantly surprised! Here’s the recipe https://rootedemily.com/?p=1541

I love adding rosemary to my breads. For every 2 loaves I make, I add 1-2 tablespoons depending on your taste preference. Here’s a great recipe for a yummy chewy rustic loaf. https://rootedemily.com/?p=197

Another great idea is to infuse rosemary into olive oil over the stove top on low heat for 30-45 minutes. Turn into a salad dressing, a dip for bread or a garnish in soup.

Next time you throw a pot roast in the crock pot or roast chicken add rosemary to it. It not only tastes amazing, but it will help with digestion too.

I’d love to hear how you use rosemary! 🙂

Medicinal Herb Post – Oregano

Oregano plant

Medicinal Herb Post #34 written July 26, 2018

Oregano – Origanum vulgare and other spp.

Oregano is a sun loving perennial that reseeds easily in rich soil if allowed to flower and go to seed. Keep it cut back regularly and it will keep producing spring, summer and fall. I like to dry it and use throughout the winter for cooking. Oregano means “joy of the mountains”. Historically it was often used to make crowns for the bride on her wedding day. The Greeks would make a poultice to relieve aching muscles, wounds and bites. I like using Greek oregano for its hotter flavor and stronger medicine.

Oregano is also part of the mint family, Lamiaceae, so it is going to effect our nervous and and want to kill something. It’s a strong antibacterial, killing everything in its path. Be careful to replenish your gut bacteria when using medicinally. It is helpful with colic and bloating. It is also detoxifying and a good respiratory expectorant. It can help regulate menstrual cycles and relieve toothache pain, sore muscles and pain from bug bites.

My favorite supplement that contains oregano I take when I feel like I’m getting sick is called Immunity Shots from California Naturals. You can get it off Amazon. I have kicked strep throat with it twice. Use 6 sprays every 30 minutes the first day and then every few hours after until symptoms subside. Be sure to buy the refill bottle too.

Here are a few of my favorite recipes and uses.
https://rootedemily.com/?p=68

Medicinal Herb Post – Basil

Basil plant

Medicinal Herb post #33 written July 26, 2018

Basil – Ocimum basilicum and Ocimum sanctum (Holy Basil)

This sun loving annual is part of the mint family (Lamiaceae), with a square stem and alternating and opposing leaves. It has over 150 different varieties of its kind like lemon, cinnamon and holy basil to name a few. I like to grow it from seed under lights and put outside as starts. I also directly seed into the ground after Mother’s Day. I have found that directly seeding into the ground produces better. But I still like the starts to give me a few early leaves to use in cooking. Don’t let the plants flower by keeping them cut back and they’ll continue to produce all season long. It’s Greek meaning refers to “kingly” or “royal herb”. Historically it was used for royalty in healing salves. We use it today as a culinary and medicinal herb.

Basil effects the digestive and nervous systems (because it’s a mint  ). It will help with stomach issues like bloating, cramps, nausea and vomiting. Basil regulates gut flora so it supports the immune system. It is on the calming spectrum of the nervines. A mild sedative that can help with headaches, fatigue, anxiety, insomnia and irritability. It also contains antibacterial properties and can help relieve itch and pain from insect bites. There are no contraindications.

A word about Holy Basil… or otherwise known as Tulsi. It grows wild throughout India and is considered a highly regarded plant in Ayurvedic medicine, second most holy herb next to the lotus flower. It’s the only basil that reseeds itself in my garden. It is used regularly for restoring vitality and renewing energy on a regular basis. It can be made into a tincture or a tea.

Try making a tea with basil, lemon balm and chamomile for headaches and even stomach aches.

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I love homemade pesto. I make enough to freeze and get us through the winter until next season. I use almonds instead of pine nuts so it’s much cheaper and I think it tastes better. Here’s my recipe… https://rootedemily.com/?p=394

Here are a few of my other favorite recipes.
https://rootedemily.com/?p=1325
https://rootedemily.com/?p=1999
https://rootedemily.com/?p=1529
https://rootedemily.com/?p=1346

What do you use basil for?

Medicinal Herb – Parsley

 

Parsley

Medicinal Herb Post #28 written July 12, 2018

Parsley – Petroselinum crispum

Parsley is a biennial that goes to seed the second year and dies. I planted parsley one time when we first moved into our home 8 years ago and haven’t had to worry about planting again. It produces a lot of seed and will take over your garden if you let it. The flowers attract beneficial pollinators into the garden. I like to have 1st and 2nd year plants in my garden every year for different reasons, like cooking, medicine and pollinators/seed. All parts of the plant, leaves, roots and seeds are used either medicinally or for culinary purposes. It is high in chlorophyll and vitamins, A, B ,C, iron and calcium.

Parsley leaf is great for halitosis or bad breath and digestive issues like gas and bloating. It’s leaves are also a diuretic helping to flush the kidneys or other organs and tissues holding on to too much fluid in cases such as edema or congestive heart failure. It’s also great for bladder or urinary tract infections to help flush out bacteria. The root is an antilithic, an old word that means “stone” or in this case anti stone, breaking up kidney and gall bladder stones. I like to harvest the plants that are just starting their second year of growth. Yank out the ones where I don’t want them growing and chop and dry the root. Parsley should be avoided in large medicinal quantities by mothers who are nursing because it can dry up milk, unless that’s what you want, then go for it.

I just made a tincture for kidney/gall stones made with parsley root to break up stones, marshmallow root to soothe irritated tissues, lobelia as an antispasmodic to calm down constrictive smooth muscles and dandelion or parsley leaf as a diuretic to help flush everything out. This can be used acutely or as a preventative monthly or if one is less prone to stones, every 6 months.

I love adding parsley to salads, soups and especially making fresh garlic herb bread.
Cut two loaves of French or sourdough bread sandwich style. Heat 6 cloves chopped garlic, 1/4 cup chopped parsley leaf and 2 tablespoons oregano leaf, salt and pepper to taste in 1/2 cup olive oil. Be careful not to burn the garlic or herbs. Take off the heat once you start to smell the herbs. On the top of each loaf, spread softened butter. On the bottom of each loaf spoon the herb oil mixture and spread evenly. Close the loaves and wrap in foil. Heat in a 350 degree oven for 10-15 minutes. Cut and serve warm.

This is one of my favorite summer dishes, most ingredients from the garden, including parsley!
https://rootedemily.com/?p=569

Medicinal Herb – Garlic and Onion

Garlic plant Onion plant

Medicinal Herb Post #27 written July 12, 2018

Garlic – Allium Sativum
Onion – Allium cepa

Harvested my garlic and onions this week. Both of these Allium plants have much in common, are easy to grow and have versatile uses. Garlic should be planted in the fall, in full sun, with each clove about 6 inches apart and 2 inches deep. Feed heavily with nitrogen every 2 weeks once the bulbs start to shoot up green leaves in the spring. Harvest in the mid summer when the tops start to die back. You can dry the tops completely and braid each bulb, storing them in the pantry or cellar. Be sure to save your best cloves for replanting.

Garlic has been used for centuries as medicine. It is a great antiseptic due to its high levels of sulfur compounds. And because of its sulfur compounds it’s great for opening sulfate pathways through the liver to help the body detox. During WW1 doctors would use it to wash wounds to prevent infection. It is also a vulnerary herb which stimulates cell division and accelerates healing. Garlic is a wonderful antimicrobial herb, meaning it is great at fighting off bacteria, viruses and fungus. It stimulates the production of white blood cells, boosting immunity and helps to lower blood pressure and high cholesterol. It won’t raise cytokines so it’s great for fighting off respiratory illness that doesn’t want to go away and is also a good expectorant by breaking up mucus. It’s a good wormer for humans and animals, just chop up roughly 1 clove and swallow with water, 3x a day for 2 weeks. Garlic is also helpful for the digestive tract when feeling bloated from eating too much or eating foods that cause inflammation. I like to eat it chopped with a teaspoon of honey and pinch of cayenne pepper for sore throats. You can make a dressing to go over salad, soup, pasta or dipping bread by infusing it in olive oil over low heat or steeping in apple cider vinegar also on low heat. Add other herbs for more flavor.

I make a garlic ear oil for ear infections with mullein flowers, St.Johns Wort flowers, calendula flowers and garlic (fresh). Steep in olive oil in the hot sun covered in a jar or on the stove top on very low heat for about an hour. Strain and place in dropper bottle. 2-3 drops go in the ear at the first onset of infection 2-3x a day and a few days after symptoms go away. Keep in the fridge for up to 12 months. Warm it under hot water before using. Make a new batch every year.

I also really love the Winter Fire Cider recipe I learned from Rosemary Gladstar, a well known herbalist. Combine 1 medium chopped onion, 1 bulb chopped garlic, 4 tablespoons chopped ginger, 4 tablespoons chopped horseradish root and 3-4 chopped cayenne peppers or 1 tsp cayenne powder (used after it is steeped). Place in jar and cover with warm apple cider vinegar. Allow to steep on the counter for 3-4 weeks. Strain and add equal amounts raw honey to herbal vinegar (add powdered cayenne pepper if using). Take 1-2 tablespoons at the first sign of illness. Repeat every 3 hours until symptoms subside and continue taking 3x a day for a day or two after. It can be taken during pregnancy.

I like to start my onions from seed indoors in the winter under lights just an inch away from the plants. They can be planted as soon as your soil can be worked. They love lots of nitrogen just like garlic. Harvest when the tops begin to die back and fall over. Onions are also used medicinally as an antiseptic, antibacterial, antifungal, hypotensive (decreases blood pressure) expectorant and antispasmodic. I know people that make a poultice out of chopped onions and place on the chest for deep difficult coughs. You can make a syrup with chopped onion and honey for sore throats/coughs on the stove top over very low heat for about an hour or until the onion has infused into the honey. I know people that place a slice of onion on the bottom of their feet, wrap plastic wrap to hold in place then put on socks overnight to draw out illness. I’ve never tried it, but people swear by it. Onions are really good for people that eat high transfatty foods to help clean out arteries and fatty deposits. One thing I do use chopped onions for (outside of almost every savory dish I make) is to clear up ear infections really fast. I’ll alternate it with the garlic ear oil I make. Grate the onion and squeeze a few drops of the juice into the ear 2x a day. Seriously, it works so well you may only need to do it one time.

Here is my method of making onion powder
https://rootedemily.com/?p=928

Both of these herbs should be grown in every garden in my opinion. They are safe to use with no contraindications unless they cause heart burn or for nursing mothers with infants prone to colic. What do you use garlic and onions for medicinally?