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

Bread and Fermentation Class Open Enrollment

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Come and learn about the significance of the gut microbiome and how to care for it with the skill of preserving through fermentation of veggies, salsa, fruit and bread. The workshop is $15. You’ll get to taste lots of delicious fermented foods and take home your own sourdough starter.  Class will be held August 1st at 1 PM. Deadline to sign up is July 25th.

Did you know that what you eat and how you live directly impacts your health and how you feel? For every cell we have in our body there are 10x more bacteria, viruses, fungi and protozoa that are all talking to our mitochondria, coordinating repair and growth. We are only 1% human… the rest of us is an ecosystem that works harmoniously with our body if we are treating them right. Those little critters are the control center of the body, regulating hormones, inflammation, brain chemistry and what we do or don’t absorb. We know that 70% of our immune system is in the gut, where health begins. Our gut health even impacts our brain activity because more gaba and serotonin are produced in the gut than the brain. For every 1 message our brain sends to our gut, our gut sends 9. These messages include the activation of our immune system, the growth of new brain cells and the adaptability of these new cells to learn. More science is finding that our gut microbiome is critical to whether or not we experience chronic illness and impacts the health of our future. Come and learn what foods trigger inflammation and which foods to eat more of. We will learn the simple skill of fermenting vegetables like kimchi and salsa, fruit chutneys and even fermented bread which lowers the gluten content significantly. Seating maximum for this class is 25. No refunds available after the deadline. Cost goes to food purchased for the class.

Class Price – $15

Sign up here.

Medicinal Herb – Wild Choke Cherry with Wild Cherry Cough Syrup

chooke cherry shrub

Medicinal Herb Post #41 Wild Choke Cherry – Prunus virginiana and other species

Along a wild path that is now a dry creek near my home, leading up into the mountains several miles away, there are a several wild choke cherry shrub like trees. Choke cherries grow everywhere from the Rocky Mountains to California, N. Arizona and up through Washington. They tend to grow near river banks and canyon bottoms. Choke Cherries flower in the spring and produce dark purple berries in the fall.  The fruit is quite astringent leaving the mouth to pucker when eaten raw.  Once they are cooked they have a much sweeter taste. Although the fruit contains antioxidants, are nutritious and can help with digestions and bouts of diarrhea, the medicine lies within the inner bark of the plant.  This plant contains cyanide so it’s important to harvest the inner bark in the fall after the berries have ripened indicating the cyanide is in the seeds. Don’t worry, after they are cooked there is no cyanide left. Besides you won’t be using the seeds when making a syrup.

The inner bark is fabulous for dry hacking coughs that aren’t productive and serve no purpose. It is really good for protecting the cilia found within the bronchi as a cough suppressant for dry mucous membranes, pertussis, irritable coughs, bronchitis and even lung cancer.  Combine wild choke cherries and the inner bark with elderberries for a powerful antiviral, immune-enhancing medicine. Or combine it with elecampane root and pleurisy root for deep bronchial infections that won’t go away. Use with mullein leaf and marshmallow root for irritated inflamed tissues within the respiratory tract. It’s is also known to reduce aches and pains caused by fevers. As you can gather it is a great herb for colds and the flu. It has also been known to help break up stones in the kidneys.

This fall I harvested several pounds of choke cherries just outside my door and made a delicious wild cherry bark syrup with the berries for flavor and depth.

Recipe
4 cups choke cherries
4 cups water or more if needed
1 cup wild cherry bark
1 cup raw honey
1/2 teaspoon almond extract

Make a decoction by simmering the choke cherries, water, and wild cherry bark until cooked down to 1 cup strong liquid. Strain and press out remaining juice from the cherries.

cooked choke cherry

 

Add the honey and almond extract. Stir and place in pint jar. Keep in the fridge for up to 6 months. You can add 1/4 cup brandy to extend the shelf life if you like.

choke cherry syrup

 

For young children take anywhere from 1-2 teaspoons every few hours as needed. For adults take 1 tablespoon 3-4x a day.

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 – Chickweed

Chickweed 1

Medicinal Herb post #38 written July 31, 2018

Chickweed – Stellaria media

Chickweed is a delicate looking annual with pretty star like flowers that prefers rich soil, a sunny location, but also a cool area. It will do well in partial sunny areas too. It can become invasive so harvest often and use in salads or smoothies. It contains many vitamins and minerals.

Chickweed contains wonderful demulcent properties, making it a great herb for skin irritations, eye inflammation and a great liver and kidney tonic as it is a diuretic. I use it as one of my main ingredients in my salve recipe to relieve itching from bug bites. It works immediately. It’s also beneficial for eczema, rashes, skin ulcers, psoriasis, nettle stings and diaper rashes. Make a tea with chamomile and chickweed for an eye wash to soothe irritated tissues. It can be used for bowel problems like IBS, constipation and other GI distress due to its anti-inflammatory properties.  It also has anti-pyretic properties to help lower fevers.

It is best to harvest, dry and use chickweed right away. Either making a tincture or salve with it.

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