My "Afternoon Pick Me Up" Herbal Tea

I started a new daily ritual back in the spring that I somehow never got around to blogging about: my afternoon herbal tea! Now, that might not seem like anything special since many of us drink herbal teas on a regular basis (myself included). What's special about this one is that I purposely chose to make this blend more for its health benefits than its taste (although it is a very pleasant tasting tea).

My "special blend" is a teaspoon each of dried oatstraw and lemon balm, plus about a teaspoon of finely diced fresh ginger and a quarter of an organic lemon. I put this all in a pint sized Mason jar, then fill with boiling water, cover, and let it steep for about 20 minutes. I then strain it through a fine-mesh sieve into a large mug and sweeten it with a bit of local honey.

How did I arrive at this particular blend? 
Well, for starters, a friend of mine had recommended oatstraw as an herb with a lot of health benefits that she thought would be useful to me, so when I placed an order with Mountain Rose Herbs I added some to my cart even though I wasn't sure how I was going to use it! I was placing a large order that day and so I didn't notice that I'd accidentally ordered *two* 4 oz packages of oatstraw instead of one! Now I was even more motivated to find a way to use it on a regular basis.

I decided to try it in a tea blend with lemon balm, an herb that's known for its ability to relieve tension and anxiety while also perking you up (as opposed to some other relaxing herbs that sedate you!) In other words, it's just about perfect for providing an early afternoon boost to help me get through the rest of the day. I added the lemon and ginger for both taste and further therapeutic benefits and the combination tastes great while delivering some powerful health benefits:

Oatstraw:  This herb is considered a full-body tonic that can strengthen your immune system and boost your energy. It's also said to have antibiotic and antidepressant properties. Like lemon balm, it is good for relieving stress, tension and fatigue. In addition, oatstraw is packed full of nutrients, including vitamin A, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B6, vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin K, calcium, chromium, iron, magnesium and selenium. 

Lemon Balm: Along with its tension-taming qualities, lemon balm is also antiviral and antibacterial (Caution: regular use of lemon balm is not advised if you have hypothyroidism)

Ginger: I have been a fan of ginger for a long time! It has warming properties, which is nice for people like me who are always cold :) It is also anti-inflammatory, which is useful if you have seasonal allergies or conditions like arthritis.

Lemon: In addition to giving the tea a flavour boost, lemons are antibacterial and help remove acid wastes from the body. I use organic lemons as conventional lemons have a lot of things on the outside of them that I don't want ending up in my tea!

Where to buy the ingredients:
You might be able to find the oatstraw and lemon balm at a local health food store that sells bulk herbs. I buy mine from Mountain Rose Herbs - their quality is fantastic!
It's not too hard to find ginger root or lemons :) I buy 2 lb bags of organic lemons at Fortinos, where they sell them for a reasonable price.

Note: I'm an (extremely) amateur herbalist, and I'm just writing about something that I've found beneficial for myself. I encourage you to do your own research and consult with your healthcare practitioner before using these or any other herbs. This post contains affiliate links to Mountain Rose Herbs and I will receive a small commission from any purchase you make when using those links.

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RECIPE: Sunshine Shakes

I had oral surgery yesterday morning and will be eating mostly liquids for the next week or so; I can't quite bring myself to post a really scrumptious-looking dish that I won't be able to eat for a while! I decided to compromise by sharing this recipe for one of our favourite smoothies, since I'm sure I'll be consuming plenty of these while I wait for my mouth to heal up.

When I have leftover crushed pineapple from baking a batch of Aloha Muffins or other quick breads, I freeze it in an ice cube tray to use it in this refreshing drink.

Ingredients:

1 cup orange juice
1/2 cup coconut milk or yogurt
3/4-1 cup frozen pineapple or peaches
1-2 tsp honey

Instructions:

Combine all ingredients in blender and blend until smooth, adding more orange juice if necessary to get desired consistency.

I shared this recipe at Recipe Swap Thursday,  Full Plate Thursday, Frugal Food Thursday, Fat Camp Friday, Friday Favorites and the GCC Recipe Swap.

My Favourite Smoothie

It's time to dig out my blender - smoothie season is here! Now that the warmer weather has finally arrived, I am starting to crave refreshing, cold drinks again. I love smoothies for lots of reasons; not only are they incredibly satisfying, they are filling enough to serve as a snack, they are quick and easy to make, and the variations are as endless as your imagination (and the contents of your fruit crisper).

Here is my personal favourite:


Raspberry Coconut Smoothie
This is equally fabulous using strawberries!

Time: under 5 minutes
Serves: One large or two small servings

3/4 cup frozen raspberries
1/2 cup orange juice
1/4 - 1/3 cup coconut milk

Toss all ingredients in blender and blend until smooth. Add more juice if necessary to get desired consistency.

It's easy to create your own "custom" smoothie by choosing different combinations of fruit and juice. For best results, at least 50% of the fruit used in your smoothie should be frozen to give it that characteristic thickness. Milk or yogurt can be used in place of the coconut milk.

Make homemade Popsicles by pouring the smoothie mixture into Popsicle molds. My kids can't get enough of these! At ages 8 and 10, they are able to do most of the prep work themselves and just need a bit of help pouring the mixture into the molds.

Money Saving Tips:
-Use the juice left over from canned fruit in your smoothies.
-Smoothies are perfect for using up over-ripe fruit!