Organic Milk and Honey

Natalie Merchant's lyrics for "San Andreas Fault" are in my head as I write this:

"Go west, paradise is there, 

you'll have all that you can drink of milk and honey over there." 

I have been sipping on warm organic milk and honey for the last few weeks.  It's an Ayurvedic sleep remedy that's calming and soothing before bed.  I also find it warming in the morning and perfect whenever I need to relax.  Heat 8 ounces of organic milk in a saucepan or a microwave-safe mug and then stir in a teaspoon of honey.  Sip and slow down with this sweet treat.

Mint Tea

I have been reading Ayurveda recipes and cookbooks.  My body type - vata -  prefers warm/hot foods and drinks.  This homemade mint tea is a hot and simple green drink for you to try this fall; it's perfect for vata and kapha constitutions when served hot.   Pittas will probably like this drink cold.  You can learn more about Ayurveda here. 

There are lots of ayuvedic tea recipes online and in cookbooks; I have been enjoying Eat Taste Heal: An Ayurvedic Cookbook for Modern Living.

For mint tea: You'll need about 5-10 fresh mint leaves (from your garden or grocery market), 1 cup filtered water, and honey.  Place the filtered water in a saucepan. Bring to a boil.  Then remove from heat and add the mint leaves. Steep for 10 minutes.  You can strain the mint leaves if you prefer, but I don't.  I actually eat some of them. Pour into your favorite mug - my favorites are my Polish pottery mugs - and add honey.  Sip and enjoy!

Note - While writing this post, I had two cups of this warming, calming mint tea.  

Ginger Garlic Tea

I survived the first week of school and Back to School Night with the parents.  However, Saturday morning I was feeling a little tickle in my throat.  I don't know if it was the new "germs," the air conditioning that has been blowing non-stop, an allergy, or what, but I refuse to be sick for the long weekend and the second week of school.

When my Baci A. was dying, my family hired a Hospice caretaker, named Sheila, to be with her 24-7.  Sheila was this kind, soft-spoken woman from Trinidad who made ginger garlic tea.  I don't remember if the tea was intended for my Baci or for someone who was starting to feel ill by my Baci's bedside. Anyway, the tea Sheila concocted for us many years ago is still a family home remedy whenever we begin to feel sick.  I will warn you, it's potent.  It may even border on the line of offensive in smell, taste, and from the burning sensation you may experience as it is going down, but it works.

For ginger garlic tea: boil a 1" piece of chopped ginger and a few cloves of diced garlic in water for about 20 minutes.  Then strain the tea and serve the hot liquid immediately with honey. You will need the honey to cut into the potency of the ginger and garlic.  Besides, honey is good for you when you are feeling under the weather. 

Needless to say, I made and drank several cups of this pungent tea Saturday and Sunday and I no longer have that tickle in my throat.  I am not saying this tea will cure everything, but it sure seems to help at the first sign of an itchy, scratchy throat, or at the beginning of a cold for my family.

Turmeric: Tea and Sore Throat Remedy

I've been learning about Ayurveda - the sister science of yoga - through my yoga classes, readings, and have been perusing some Ayurveda cookbooks from the local library. Turmeric is used in many Indian dishes and is an Ayurvedic ingredient.  One yoga instructor stated that turmeric is also very healing; turmeric is said to be anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, and anti-viral, it may prevent Alzheimer's disease and some cancers. There are several studies and articles on this spice. Here's one. 

When I get a sore throat I usually gargle with salt water (thanks Mom) but I have also gargled with turmeric and salt (thanks to Pinterest).  For this Ayurvedic natural sore throat remedy you'll need: 1/2 cup of warm water, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon powdered turmeric.

In the last week, I have made a warming turmeric tea with fat-free milk several times. When mixed well, it has a lovely yellowish mustard hue. Turmeric IS the ingredient that makes our mustard yellow. The recipe suggests almond milk (I am sure that has some Ayurvedic benefit too, but I just used what we had in the fridge.)

For turmeric tea, you'll need:
1 cup milk - heated on the stove
1/2 teaspoon turmeric
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ginger
1 teaspoon honey

Heat the milk in a saucepan, stirring often so you do not burn the milk.  When the milk is hot enough for your liking, add the dry ingredients to the milk and mix well.  Transfer to a mug and add the honey. 

NOTE - If the milk is not hot enough, the spices will not be incorporated into a tea; instead, they will settle to the bottom leaving you with a strong mud-like concoction.  

Summer Drinks

M and I have been making drinks in our mason jars.  His drink is a Mississippi Queen and mine is a Ginger Babushka Mule. The Mississippi Queen is an ode to M's dad.  

Ginger Babuska Mule (left), Mississippi Queen (right)

For a Mississippi Queen you'll need: a 16 ounce mason jar and straw because drinks look cooler and even taste better in them (trust me), 6 ounces of lemonade, 4 ounces of an ale/lager, 2 ounces of bourbon, and ice. 

Directions for a Mississippi Queen:

1. Place the lemonade, beer, bourbon, and ice in a shaker or thermos (like us).  Shake well.

2. Add ice to the mason jar and add your shaken drink.

3. Top with a Maraschino cherry (optional).  Of course, you can adjust the liquids to your taste. 

The Ginger Babushka is our version of a Moscow Mule, since we are Polish.  Okay, okay, I cannot take credit for the name, I had a similar drink with the same name at a local restaurant recently. This green-herb  drink has alcohol, but I'm sure you could make it non-alcoholic. 

For a Ginger Babushka Mule you'll need: a 16 ounce mason jar and straw, 2-3 ounces of vodka, a few sprigs of mint (we used fresh mint from our garden), 12 ounces non-alcoholic ginger beer (you need non-alcoholic ginger beer NOT ginger ale), 1 teaspoon of bitters (the liquid in the olive jar), and ice.

Directions for a Ginger Babushka Mule:

1.Combine a handful of ice, 2-3 shots of vodka, 3 ounces of ginger beer, the mint, and bitters in a shaker. Shake well - in a shaker or thermos. 

2. Fill the mason jar with more ice.  Pour your shaken drink into the mason jar. 

3. Top with the remaining ginger beer.  Stir and add a straw.  

 Na zdrowie! 

(Pronounced: Naz-droh-vee-ay, which means cheers or drink to your health in Polish.)