Author: Kristine

Condiments, Plant Wonder Collective, Recipes

Elderberry Barbecue Sauce

Kristine

Homemade condiments are a simple and flavorful way to improve any dish. Not only do they taste better than store-bought sauces, they’re also a much healthier option. Pre-packaged condiments typically contain questionable, highly-processed additives, which can have a number of detrimental effects on health.

Another perk of making your own condiments is that you can boost their flavor and health benefits by using ingredients that help to improve vitality.

This barbecue sauce is a lovely example of food as medicine. It’s made with delicious, flavonoid rich elderberries that have a number of beneficial properties. They are a good source of antioxidants and have anti-inflammatory effects. They also help to boost immune function.

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Holistic Healing, Plant Wonder Collective

Immune Boosting Tincture Blend

Kristine

During seasonal shifts, times of stress, and while traveling we can become more susceptible to colds, flus, & other respiratory illnesses. Supporting the body with herbs that improve immune function during these times can reduce the severity of cold & flu symptoms, and may help entirely prevent getting sick.

This tincture blend combines three potent immune boosting herbs that have been long appreciated for their ability to bolster the body’s resiliency to help it fight off infections.

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Plant Wonder Collective, Recipes

Lemon Balm Jello

Kristine

For many folks, the word “jello” evokes memories of school cafeteria lunches or the fruit embedded jello salads that were once a staple at potlucks and holiday get togethers, but have now largely gone out of style. These iterations of jello are by no means a health food, as they are made with pre-packaged jello mixes that contain less than ideal ingredients —such as refined sugar, food colorings, and artificial flavors. However, homemade versions of this classic dessert food can be quite healing and nourishing.

Gelatin has a number of beneficial properties. It promotes healthy skin by helping to maintain its hydration and elasticity. It can help to strengthen the connective tissues in the joints, which may improve mobility and reduce joint pain.

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Natural Beauty

Happy Hippie Body Spray

Kristine

The use of aromatic plant oils and extracts dates back to ancient times. People have long utilized perfumes as a part of rituals & religious ceremonies, to mask body odors, and to help boost mood.

Today, most perfumes contain synthetic fragrances, which can have a number of negative health effects — including allergies, damage to the immune system, endocrine disruption, and more.

Making your own body sprays with natural ingredients is an lovely way to enjoy fragrances, without all the toxic additives. One of my favorite blends combines three uplifting aromatic plants to help boost mood. I like to keep a bottle in my purse or backpack and spritz on for an instant pick-me-up whenever I need it.

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DIY, Kitchen Basics

Benefits of Lard + How to Render It

Kristine

Lard, or pig fat, has long been utilized for cooking and baking. It is stable fat that is well-suited for frying. It is also a wonderful addition to soaps and skincare products.

While lard and other animal fats were once widely utilized, in last century or so they have been intentionally demonized by the industrial food industry (Smith, 2012). Instead, people are encouraged to use highly processed, industrially produced vegetable oils that have been touted as a “healthier” option. However, research is starting to show that these oils are not as benign or healthful as we were once led to believe.

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Plant Wonder Collective

Tulsi Mouthwash

Kristine

Proper dental hygiene plays an important role in our overall health and wellness. Poor oral health is linked to a variety of health issues. For example, studies have shown that people who have gum disease are three times as likely to have a stroke and twice as likely to die from a heart attack (Soong, 2011).

While many of the conventional mouthwashes available contain problematic ingredients — like fragrances and preservatives — that can have negative health effects, there are a number of herbs that can be used to promote healthy teeth and gums. This natural mouthwash combines tulsi, plantain, and chamomile, three herbs with well-documented health benefits for the mouth.

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Herbal Remedies, Plant Wonder Collective

Adaptogenic Tulsi Elixir

Kristine

Adaptogens are herbs + mushrooms that boost our overall well-being, vitality, and resilience. Dr. Aviva Romm says, “adaptogens help your body to cope more effectively with the demands of everyday life. They provide a sustained sense of calm, and while they increase energy, […] they are non-stimulating. In addition to their effects on stress adaptation, adaptogens have profound antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects that protect your cells from damage from a variety of chemical exposures.”

Tulsi (Ocimum sanctum), also commonly called holy basil, is a powerful adaptogen. It is a revitalizing herb that helps ease fatigue, boost energy, and improve resilience + longevity. It is calming and uplifts mood. Some find it helpful for reliving mild depression (Romm).

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Recipes

Beef Liver Paté

Kristine

While liver is rarely enjoyed in the modern diet, it is an incredibly nutrient dense food that is an important source of essential vitamins and minerals.

According to the Weston A. Price Foundation, liver provides:

  • “An excellent source of high-quality protein
  • Nature’s most concentrated source of vitamin A
  • All the B vitamins in abundance, particularly vitamin B12
  • One of our best sources of folic acid
  • A highly usable form of iron
  • Trace elements such as copper, zinc and chromium; liver is our best source of copper
  • An unidentified anti-fatigue factor
  • CoQ10, a nutrient that is especially important for cardio-vascular function
  • A good source of purines, nitrogen-containing compounds that serve as precursors for DNA and RNA.”
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Drinks, Plant Wonder Collective, Recipes

Rosemary Orange Sparkling Water

Kristine

Rosemary has long been appreciated for its aromatic and medicinal qualities. It is rich in antioxidants and has been used to boost cardiovascular and digestive health. Studies have shown that rosemary helps to improve memory and may be beneficial in improving mental performance in elderly individuals.

This tasty sparkling water is a lovely way to enjoy the flavor, and potentially some of the health benefits of rosemary.

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Recipes, Sourdough

Rosemary & Garlic Sourdough Buns

Kristine

These savory sourdough buns combine two of my very favorite culinary herbs — rosemary & garlic. In addition to boosting flavor, these herbs also have beneficial properties when added to food.

Rosemary supports the liver and helps to aid digestion, reducing gas, cramping, and bloating. Garlic is also carminative, helping to improve the digestive process and prevent constipation. Both herbs have antimicrobial effects and have been used as natural preservatives to help prevent food spoilage (de la Forêt).

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Natural Beauty, Plant Wonder Collective

Rosemary Dry Shampoo

Kristine

Rosemary is a common culinary herb that is also a lovely addition to a variety of cosmetics. It is antiseptic, anti-inflammatory and rich in antioxidants.

When used on the scalp, rosemary essential oil improves circulation and nerve growth to help boost the overall health of hair. It is said to reduce hair loss, promote hair growth, and prevent premature graying. It may also ease dry, itchy scalp and dandruff.

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Fertility, Wild Woman

Reclaiming Female Fertility

Kristine

“The primary purpose of passing laws to control women’s fertility is to obscure the fact that it’s not possible to control our fertility.” — Yolande Norris-Clark

The recent overturn of Roe v. Wade in the United States has led to a great deal of discussion around women’s rights and the ever heated subject of abortion. Yet, despite all the conversation surrounding these recent changes, it is rarely acknowledged that while laws might be passed indicating otherwise, women will always own their fertility. Modern females have all but forgotten this, but for thousands of years, women have been avoiding & releasing pregnancies, entirely outside of the system and without permission from anyone.

Now, this isn’t me advocating for sketchy back alley abortions. I don’t see that as a good solution. Instead, this is a call to something bigger and much more powerful — a reclamation of our fertility. I recognize that this is a foreign notion in a culture that teaches us to be ashamed of our our bodies, to disconnect from our monthly rhythms, and ultimately to disassociate from our feminine power. But, there is a wild woman inside of you that knows the way back.

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Herbal Remedies, Plant Wonder Collective

Ají-Mint Pain Relief Spray

Kristine

Ají & Mint Pain Relief Spray is inspired by Icy Hot, a cooling and warming topical pain relief ointment. This herbal version, however, is easy to make yourself and contains only natural ingredients. It’s great to have on hand to help relieve aches, leg cramps, muscle soreness and pain.

I used a homemade tincture of ají (Capsicum pubescens), a spicy pepper that’s common here in the Ecuadorian Andes and grows abundantly in our gardens, in this spray, but cayenne (Capsicum annuum) tincture is a wonderful substitute for those living in Northern climates.

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muffins, Recipes

Banana Orange Muffins

Kristine

Organic, local oranges and bananas are abundant here in Ecuador. Both grow well here in the Sierras and throughout the country. When you drive to the Ecuadorian coast you’ll see miles and miles of banana plantations along the roadways — reminiscent of the seemingly endless monocropped fields of corn and soy that you find in the Midwest region of the United States, where I grew up. Oranges are also quite common, and many folks with garden space have at least one (but usually several) orange trees.

These banana-orange muffins are a delicious way to utilize these abundant fruits and are a tasty spin on a classic from my childhood — banana bread.

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Condiments, Plant Wonder Collective, Recipes

Mint Yogurt Sauce

Kristine

Mint (Mentha spp.) is a well-known herb that is a common flavoring for gum, mouthwash, & toothpaste, as well as foods and beverages, like ice cream & tea.

If you have an established mint patch, you likely have an abundance of mint, and may be wondering how to utilize it. This sauce is super quick & easy to put together and is a tasty way to use fresh mint from the garden.

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