If there was one herb the most common or well-known, mint could claim it. Although several different kinds exist, it's fresh scent can be recognized anywhere. Because mint is everywhere! This Cocoa Mint Almond Milk is a great way to enjoy this fresh herb plus the milk tastes kind of like a peppermint patty in a delicious drink. When was your first encounter with mint? Or your last? Maybe it started as sticks of gum in your mom's leather purse or fragrant leaves picked fresh from Granny's green garden. But it is also... in the rug district of Morocco, offered hot in dainty little glass jars etched with intricate gold patterns as you stroll through brilliant woven wares. Then there it is again, ice cold partnered with cucumber as you step glistening from a sauna at a high-end spa. And there again, made crushed over ice and served in a frosted silver cup with bourbon. And it's always here, in the comfort of home, a warm mug offering gentle sips to calm a nervous belly. And...

Blueberry Basil Smoothie is one of my favorite summer smoothies. It contains basil picked fresh from the garden. Here I used lovely purple basil but feel free to use whatever basil you have. Green and purple basil are very similar tasting. Basil is a major anti-inflammatory. It contains powerful essential oils like eugenol that fight inflammation. In fact, a friend started serving this recipe to her family and it helped her husband's chronic pain!  Basil also helps freshen breath and restores the body's proper PH. Basil improves digestion and aids gut flora. It is also a powerful antibacterial and antiviral. Plus, it's vibrantly tasty. In addition with the blueberries, it makes this smoothie very refreshing. NOTE: You do need to use fresh ba sil as dried doesn't have the same flavor. Blueberry Basil Smoothie 2 cups frozen blueberries 1 1/4 cup unsweetened almond milk or coconut water (which helps replenish electrolytes) * 2 large handfuls baby kale or other greens Sev...

Today brings a recipe that will make your tastebuds dance. Shaved ice for adults but with a fun, herbal flair!  Sweet's Elderberry started making a lovely elderberry shrub and sent me a bottle to try. I love the shrub mixed with sparkling water , in salad dressing ( recipe on my instagram ), or in this tasty shaved ice (adults only or minus the gin for youngsters). The gin prevents this Sweet's Elderberry Shrub Shaved Ice cocktail from completely freezing so it's easy to "shave it" (you really just scoop it) when it's time!  Sweet's Elderberry Shrub can be found on their online store here plus you can use the code MARY10 to get 10% off your purchase! Sweet's also has a delicious elderberry syrup you'll see in this truffle recipe .  The directions for this Sweet's Elderberry Shrub Shaved Ice is delightfully easy: Mix. Freeze. And scoop out! Then repeat (because you'll want to). It's delicious with sparkling water poured over the top. ...

This morning Sally Clarkson asked in my devotional: "God loves providing for you! How can you provide beauty or love or comfort to your family in the next twenty-four hours?" My mind blanked on what the answer was until later when my children and I all stood around the Breville milk frother with almond milk mustaches, licking the milk froth off the spoon. It may seem silly but it is our own kind of luxury, however small, to be sitting around together and sipping our tea with a pillowy cloud on top. A bit of beauty and a bit of comfort. And together? There's the love. What a blessing in these times.  As Thorin once said in The Hobbit, "If more of valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world."  And so I bring you this recipe: Rosy London Fog with wild rose petals.  Plus, it's dairy-free. Impossible, you might say. If you have been around the block with dairy-free milks, you know all of them are not created equal. It's  imp...

Have allergies? Consider making this herbal drink: Nettle Lemonade or Nettle-ade. To combat seasonal allergy symptoms, nettle leaf, lemon and honey all combine together in this delicious, amber lemonade. Nettle leaf acts as an anti-inflammatory and contains quercetin. Quercetin is an antihistamine, making it a great resource for those who suffer from seasonal allergies. How does nettle leaf help allergies? Nettle or stinging nettle is another one of those “weeds” that has much to offer. Due to its high contents of iron, silicon, Vitamin K and potassium, nettle leaf tea (or infusion) is very nourishing. Nettle leaf also contains quercetin which helps alleviate allergy symptoms. Quercetin is an antioxidant that helps slow the body’s release of histamines. Histamines cause allergy symptoms in our body and our body usually releases them when in contact with an allergen (like that lovely pollen floating in the air). The quercetin in nettle leaf slows the release of histamines while fig...