Basil Smoothie

Check out this delicious Basil Smoothie recipe by Giada from the Food Network.

 

Home Brewed Tea Straight from Your Herb Garden

Is your garden over flowing with herbs? Try making tea — whether iced, sun-brewed, or made the old-fashioned way, homemade tea is a wonderful way to add more antioxidants to your day.

Good herbs to try:

• Basil (lemon basil)
• Chamomile
• Fennel
• Lemon Balm
• Lemon Verbena
• Orange or Lemon Mint
• Peppermint
• Rose Hibs
• Rosemary
• Pineapple Sage
• Lavender

Start with 3 teaspoons of fresh leaves per cup of water. Pick your herbs in the morning. Don’t be afraid to mix and combine herbs. If the scents smell good together they are likely to taste good together too. Mix your herbs with boiling water and steep for 5 minutes, strain. Alternatively, put your herbs into a pitcher with cold water and set outside. Let brew for several hours.

You can add a splash of juice or sparkling water to make it an herbal cocktail. Serve over ice!

This post was written by Melissa Williams for HealingLifestyles.com.

Green Smoothie

1 cup kale or collard greens firmly packed, stems removed, coarsely chopped (4 ounces)
1 Granny Smith apple, coarsely chopped 
1 ripe banana 
1/2 cup loosely packed fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves 

Combine kale, apple, banana, parsley, and 2 1/4 cups water in a blender; blend until smooth. If the mixture is too thick, add a little more water. 

Serves 2. Per serving: 105 calories; 0 g saturated fat; 0 g unsaturated fat; 0 mg cholesterol; 26 g carbs; 32 mg sodium; 2 g protein; 4 g fiber.




This recipe was taken from WholeLiving.com.

Cinnamon Poached Apples with Toasted Walnuts

• Ingredients

• 3 cups apple juice
• 1/2 cinnamon stick
• 1 inch fresh ginger, thinly sliced
• 2 apples, peeled, cored, and halved
• 2 tablespoons chopped toasted walnuts

Directions

1. Bring apple juice, cinnamon, and ginger to a boil.
2. Add apples, cover with parchment; simmer until tender, 8 minutes.
3. Remove and sprinkle with walnuts
   
   
   Yield: Serves 2
   
   
   This post was taken from WholeLiving.com.

Green Tea with Lemon and Pomegranate

Pomegranate seeds, rich in plant compounds, enhance the already potent antioxidant activity in a hot cup of green tea with lemon and honey.

Ingredients

• 2 teaspoons green tea (or 2 tea bags)
• 2 cups boiling water
• 2 thin slices smashed ginger
• 1 to 2 lemon wedges
• 1/4 cup lightly crushed pomegranate seeds
• 2 tablespoons honey or to taste

Directions

1. Cover green tea with boiling water, ginger, lemon wedges, pomegranate seeds, and honey. Let tea steep for 3 to 5 minutes and remove.
   
   
   Yield: Serves 2
   
   
   This recipe was taken from WholeLiving.com.

Mint

Mint helps open the mind and calm the nerves.  Having antioxidant properties, mint is excellent for the sinuses. Mint is a natural diuretic, breath freshener and a beneficial remedy for digestive problems.  Mint also acts as an antiseptic for sun burn, bug bites and other skin irritations.

Cinnamon

Cinnamon is known for its warming qualities.  Having been highly prized since ancient times, cinnamon was considered a gift fit for kings.  Cinnamon contains antibacterial and antifungal properties and has demonstrated an ability to lower blood sugar levels.

Ginger

Ginger is a potent anti-inflammatory and has pain relieving and soothing properties.  It helps relieve morning sickness during pregnancy, combats arthritis by reducing the pain and swelling in the joints, and supports heart health by preventing platelets from sticking together and lowering cholesterol levels.  

Ginger is also great for the digestive tract where it calms the stomach, eases nausea, dispels gas, and helps absorb nutrients.