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How to Use Roses as Food and Medicine – 6 Rose Recipes

7:20 am by Seeking Joyful Simplicity 7 Comments

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Healing Medicine of the Rose

Roses as Food and Medicine for Physical, Spiritual, Emotional Healing

 

Exquisite, graceful, alluring, the rose is associated with sophisticated beauty and love. But the rose is much more than an ornamental flower adored for its heady aroma. The healing medicine of the rose is extraordinary and under-appreciated, and using roses as food and medicine can offer us deep physical, emotional, and spiritual healing. There are many simple ways to enjoy the extraordinary healing medicine of the rose, including making your own rose elixir (combing rose, honey, and brandy), rose honey, rose infused vinegar, rose tinctures, and rose water. Let me share the medicinal benefits of the rose, and six simple recipes for creating your own rose medicine.

History and Mythology of the Rose

Throughout Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, the significance of the rose is celebrated in art, literature, poetry, and mythology. In addition to their beauty, roses were grown in medieval gardens for use as food, medicine, and making perfumes.

Vishnu, the supreme God of India, created his bride Lakshmi using roses.

Grieving the death of her lover Adonis, Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love and beauty, created the red rose when her tears fell.

In Roman myth, Flora, the Goddess of spring and flowers, discovered the body of her dearest nymph and begged all the Gods to come to her aid and change the body of her beloved nymph into a flower.

 

Healing medicine of the rose and roses as food and medicine with recipes for making rose elixir, rose honey, rose infused vinegar, rose tinctures, and rose water

This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, I receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting Seeking Joyful Simplicity. ~ Michelle

Healing Medicine of the Rose

Roses were often used as food and medicine. Roses are part of the large Rosaceae family which includes strawberries, raspberries, almonds, apples and more.  Roses provide healthy antioxidant and anti-inflammatory flavonoids. Roses, especially rose hips, are high in vitamin C and cancer-fighting compounds.

Emotional and Spiritual Healing

We all experience grief and heartache at times, but sometimes our pain becomes too heavy a burden to carry. Rose medicine can be a wonderful way to soothe our aching hearts or lift us from deep grief.

Herbalist Kiva Rose uses roses as food and medicine and especially the powerful rose elixir. Rose elixir is exceptionally uplifting and can be used to relieve trauma, grief, depression, anxiety, heartbreak and chronic stress and fatigue. Kiva recommends using rose elixir similarly to Rescue Remedy for its soothing and recuperative effects.

The energy of the rose is elegant and uplifting, and the rose, like many plant medicines, is able to adjust to our needs.

Intuitively we know the rose is uplifting – simply inhale the aroma of the rose and notice how it affects us emotionally. Roses are sensual and evoke the spirit of love in the heart and mind, and are considered an aphrodisiac. Used thoughtfully, the rose has the powerful ability to lift depressive moods and to create a sense of well-being.

Medicinal Parts

There are thousands of varieties of roses cultivated around the world. All parts of the rose can be used as food and medicine, including: leaves, petals, hips, roots and root bark. When choosing roses as food and medicine, only use only organically grown roses. Strongly aromatic roses make the best medicine.

 

Healing medicine of the rose and roses as food and medicine with recipes for making rose elixir, rose honey, rose infused vinegar, rose tinctures, and rose water

Six Delightful Rose Recipes

Rose Elixir

Ingredients:

Glass jar with lid
Organically grown fresh or dried rose petals
Brandy
Raw Honey

Directions:

  1. Fill your jar with rose petals.
  2. Fill the jar 2/3 full with honey.
  3. Stir the honey to coat the rose petals.
  4. Add the brandy, enough to cover the rose and honey.
  5. Cover the jar and gently invert it, turning it upside down and right side up several times to gently mix everything well.
  6. Let sit for several weeks.
  7. Strain off the petals. These rose petals make a nice topping for desserts or eaten by the spoonful.
  8. Store your elixir in a covered jar. I enjoy using a decorative bottle like this one.

Ways to Enjoy Your Rose Elixir

  • Take by the teaspoon
  • Add to seltzer or mineral water
  • Add to tea or other beverages
  • Use as a topping for cakes and muffins
  • An indulgent topping for ice-cream

Rose Honey

If you want to avoid alcohol, you can make a simple herbal-infused honey using rose petals. The process is the same as the elixir, except you eliminate the alcohol and simply cover the rose petals with honey. Rose honey can be used to top baked goods, in plain yogurt, on homemade bread, by the spoonful, added to beverages and of course rose honey makes an elegant gift.

Rose – Infused Vinegar

Rose vinegar is lovely and can be used in a variety of ways, including:

  • Colorful vinaigrette salad dressings
  • Aromatic addition to sauces and marinades
  • Rose vinegar can be combined with water in a spray bottle to use on sunburns and bug bites – roses are cooling and offer relief from conditions of heat and inflammation. You can even make your own rose – aloe cooling lotion and spray (click here for the simple recipe)
  • Rose vinegar makes a lovely addition to your homemade hair rinse

And of course, rose vinegar would make a unique gift.

Ingredients:

Rose petals fresh or dried – red or dark pink petals  create a distinctively colored vinegar
Glass jar with lid
Vinegar of your choice

Directions:

  1. Fill your jar with rose petals
  2. Cover rose petals with vinegar and stir to remove air bubbles. Add more vinegar if needed.
  3. Cover (I used a piece of waxed paper under the metal lid to protect it from the vinegar)
  4. Allow to infuse for a few weeks. You will see the vinegar take on the color of the roses.
  5. Strain the rose petals and enjoy your lovely new vinegar.

Rose Tincture

Rose tinctures are generally used in small amounts. One half to one dropper full at a time on the tongue delivers the medicinal qualities of the rose directly to the bloodstream. Sometimes I add a dropper full to a small glass of water or an herbal tea.

Ingredients:

Pint jar with lid
tinted glass jar with dropper for storage of your tincture
Roses fresh or dried to fill your jar
Brandy

Directions:

  1. Fill your jar with rose petals (full but not stuffed)
  2. Add brandy to completely cover the roses, stirring to remove air bubbles. You might need to check after a few minutes and add a little more brandy as the roses soak up the alcohol, especially if you are using dried rose petals.
  3. Label, cap and allow to sit for at least four weeks.
  4. After four weeks, strain the rose petals and keep the tincture in a tinted glass jar. I prefer keeping my tinctures in a small tincture bottle with a dropper for ease of use. When the small bottle runs out, I simply add more tincture from the larger jar (using this this tiny funnel.)

 

Rose Infused Oil

Rose oil can be used directly for skin care, as a massage oil, to create a healing salve, or added to your favorite natural homemade lotion recipe. Rose is cooling, soothing, and excellent at relieving pain and inflammation. This makes rose oil perfect for all kinds of skin care including rashes, eczema, hives, and poison ivy.

Ingredients:

Dried roses
Jar with lid
Carrier oil – Olive or Almond Oil

Directions:

  1. Fill your jar with dried rose petals. Dried is best for making an oil, since the moisture present in fresh rose petals might cause mold to form in the oil.
  2. Add oil to the jar, making certain you completely cover the rose petals. I suggest adding the oil and giving the jar a gentle stir to remove air pockets. Add more oil as needed to cover the petals.
  3. Cover and let sit for at least four weeks, but try to remember to shake daily.
  4. After four weeks, use cheese cloth or similar material to strain your oil. Squeeze the cheese cloth to get all that precious rose oil out!
  5. Store in a cool dry place.

 

Rose Water

Rose water is simple to make and can be used in so many ways. Use the links for inspiration and instructions on using your rose water to make your own:

  • Homemade perfume spray
  • homemade facial toner
  • Cooling and uplifting rose water face mist
  • Sunburn relief spray

Ingredients for making Rose Water:

  • Rose petals fresh or dried – 1/4 cup for dried petals, 3/4 cup for fresh petals
  • Water 1 1/2 cups
  • Cheesecloth
  • Dark bottle for storage

Instructions

  1. Add your rose petals and water to a saucepan, cover and bring to a gentle boil.
  2. Once boiling, reduce heat and simmer, covered.
  3. Simmer until the petals lose their color (5-10 minutes)
  4. Keeping the lid on, allow the water to cool completely.
  5. Strain through your cloth.
  6. Store in a dark bottle in a cool place

The Majestic Power of the Rose

Roses capture our imagination and are a wonderful way to say “I love you.” But roses are much more than simply decorative ways to commemorate our love, they can change us – physically, emotionally, and spiritually. I hope you invite the majestic rose into your life and find ways to enjoy the extraordinary health benefits.

Wishing you good health,
~ Michelle

More on Roses as Food and Medicine

http://www.susunweed.com/Article_Wild-As-A-Rose.htm

http://joybileefarm.com/how-to-eat-a-wild-rose-roses-for-food-and-medicine/

 

If you enjoy learning how to use herbs to improve health, consider the Herbal Academy’s online courses. They offer introductory, intermediate and advanced classes. The Herbal Academy’s programs are rich and full with recipes to get you started creating your own herbal remedies.
Online Introductory Herbal Course

 

 

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Lemon Balm Recipe – Lemon Balm Cookies

5:00 am by Seeking Joyful Simplicity 5 Comments

What can be more uncomfortable than breaking out in a sweat at any random moment? If you suffer from hot flashes, you are certainly not alone. Approximately 75% of women experiences varying degrees of hot flashes, sometimes mild, sometimes radical. There are many natural remedies that can be effective for relieving hot flashes, and herbal teas for hot flashes are one of the simplest ways to stop the heat. #hotflashes #midlife #menopause
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Lemon Balm Uses

Lemon balm is a delightfully aromatic culinary and medicinal herb. With a fresh lemon aroma and flavor, lemon balm can be enjoyed in a variety of ways and makes an attractive addition to any garden. A member of the mint family, lemon balm is easy to grow and can tolerate both sun and shade and does well in containers.

 

This post may contain affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, I receive a small commission at no cost to you. SeekingJoyfulSimplicity.com is a participant in the Amazon Services Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Thank you for you for supporting Seeking Joyful Simplicity. ~ Michelle

Lemon Balm Recipes

Lemon balm can be enjoyed in a variety of ways – used in place of lemons to flavor meats, added to salads, infused into a hot tea or iced tea, and used in baking. These lemon balm cookies are sweet with a touch of lemon flavor.

Lemon balm recipe - lemon balm cookies are a delightful way to enjoy this aromatic herb. Lemon balm can be used in a variety of ways and is super easy to grow at home.

Lemon Balm Cookies

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 cup butter softened
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh lemon balm (or 1 teaspoon dried)
  • 1/2 teaspoon lemon oil
  • 1 1/2 cups flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon sea salt

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Cream the butter and sugar.
  3. Add the eggs, chopped lemon balm, and lemon oil. Mix well.
  4. Slowly add in flour, baking powder, and sea salt.
  5. Drop by the teaspoon onto a lightly greased cookie sheet.
  6. Bake at 350 degrees for 8-10 minutes.

Yields about 1 dozen.

Lemon balm recipe - lemon balm cookies are a delightful way to enjoy this aromatic herb. Lemon balm can be used in a variety of ways and is super easy to grow at home.

 

Have you considered growing your own medicinal and culinary herbs? It’s easier than you think. Here’s a great article on Starting Your Medicinal Herb Garden – 5 Herbs to Grow in Containers and Gardens.

And Susannah at Healthy Green Savvy talks more about the benefits of  lemon balm – Lemon Balm – An Herb Worth Knowing and Growing.

Have you tried lemon balm? What’s your favorite way to use it?

~ Michelle

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Blackberry Season and Five Easy Recipes

10:22 am by Seeking Joyful Simplicity 3 Comments

Blackberries are a sweet summer berry and endlessly versatile. Learning to enjoy seasonal foods, we have found freezing fresh blackberries to be a wonderful way to preserve the freshness of summer to enjoy all year long. Let me share five easy and delicious blackberry recipes including a gluten-free blackberry oat bar, wild berry buckle (coffe-cake like), vanilla lavender blackberry jam, blackberry mead, and blackberry cobbler.
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Blackberries are a sweet summer berry and endlessly versatile. Learning to enjoy seasonal foods, we have found freezing fresh blackberries to be a wonderful way to preserve the freshness of summer to enjoy all year long. Let me share five easy and delicious blackberry recipes including a gluten-free blackberry oat bar, wild berry buckle (coffe-cake like), vanilla lavender blackberry jam, blackberry mead, and blackberry cobbler.

 

Blackberries are a sweet summer berry and endlessly versatile. Learning to enjoy seasonal foods, we have found freezing fresh blackberries to be a wonderful way to preserve the freshness of summer to enjoy all year long. Freezing fresh seasonal blackberries is really very simple, and I want to share five easy and delicious blackberry recipes including a gluten-free blackberry oat bar, wild berry buckle (coffe-cake like), vanilla lavender blackberry jam, blackberry mead, and blackberry cobbler.

 

Blackberries are a sweet summer berry and endlessly versatile. Learning to enjoy seasonal foods, we have found freezing fresh blackberries to be a wonderful way to preserve the freshness of summer to enjoy all year long. Let me share five easy and delicious blackberry recipes including a gluten-free blackberry oat bar, wild berry buckle (coffe-cake like), vanilla lavender blackberry jam, blackberry mead, and blackberry cobbler.

 

Cicada songs greeted us as we arrived at Hill Top Berry Farm and Winery. This is our favorite spot for berry picking, just a few miles from home. They don’t spray, and they use the berries grown on the farm to flavor their wines and honey meads. I love blackberry season and have five easy blackberry recipes to share.

Freezing Blackberries

Most of the berries we pick go into the freezer, and the memory of today will warm us as we enjoy blackberry goodness during the cold of winter.

Freezing blackberries is super easy. Freezing them on cookie sheets first makes them easier to remove from the bags. Simply rinse, drain, and spread over a cookie sheet and place in the freezer. Once the berries are frozen, pop them into freezer bags.

Five Blackberry Recipes

There are so many ways to enjoy blackberries, and as we moved through the fields picking berries, my mind wandered to recipes. I couldn’t quite decide what I wanted to make first…a simple blackberry cobbler, blackberry oat bars, blackberry jam?

Although most of the berries were frozen for later, I was excited to make something yummy. I ended up making one of Carl’s favorites – Blackberry Oat Bars. This is a simple recipe and we frequently substitute whatever seasonal fruits are available. I prefer to make mine gluten-free by substituting almond flour.

Blackberry Oat Bars

Blackberries are a sweet summer berry and endlessly versatile. Learning to enjoy seasonal foods, we have found freezing fresh blackberries to be a wonderful way to preserve the freshness of summer to enjoy all year long. Let me share five easy and delicious blackberry recipes including a gluten-free blackberry oat bar, wild berry buckle (coffe-cake like), vanilla lavender blackberry jam, blackberry mead, and blackberry cobbler.

 

Easy to print PDF Blackberry Oat Bars Recipe

Filling
1/2 cup Blackberry jam
1/2 cup fresh or frozen blackberries
Crust
1 tablespoon ground flax seed
4 tablespoons water
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 cup flour (wheat or almond flour)
1/2 -3/4 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 cup oats
1 cup chopped walnuts
1 cup coconut oil (melted)

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Oil an 8×8 glass baking dish

For the Filling:
In a small bowl, mix the jam and the berries

For the Crust:
In a small bowl, combine the ground flax seeds with water.
In a large bowl, mix together the flour, sugar, cinnamon, salt, and baking soda.
Stir in the oats and the walnuts.
Add the oil, vanilla, and flax to the dry ingredients and stir until combined.

Assemble the Bars:
Press half the crust mixture into the pan.
Spoon the filling over the crust.
Cover the filling with the second half of the crust mixture, pressing down firmly.
Bake for 30 – 35 minutes.
Allow to cool completely before slicing into squares. We like to keep ours in the refrigerator. It’s great served cold or warm, and is wonderful warmed with ice-cream on the side.

I asked some of the bloggers in my network for their favorite blackberry recipes, and they all sound great! Here are more ways to enjoy blackberries:

The Free Range Life loves to use her wild blackberries in a Blackberry Buckle. What is “Buckle”, you ask? She describes it like this – “A buckle is more like a coffee cake- it has a cake batter that is mixed heavily with berries and then a bit of crumb topping on the top.” Sounds great to me!

Wild Berry Buckle Recipe

One Acre Vintage Home has a lovely Vanilla Lavender Blackberry Jam

Pixie’s Pocket Shares a great Recipe for One Gallon of Blackberry Mead

Better Hens and Gardens offers her recipe for fresh Blackberry Cobbler

Do you have a favorite blackberry recipe? Let us know!

 

~Michelle

 

 

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Best Foods to Grow to Save Money When You Don’t Have a lot of Time

7:49 am by Seeking Joyful Simplicity 1 Comment

This is a simple list of the best foods to grow to save money when you don't have a lot of time. Easy to grow, long lasting, and easy storage.
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Many of us want to grow our own food because we enjoy eating homegrown and we want to reduce our food budget. But we also don’t have a lot of time or energy for keeping up with a large garden, plus the harvesting, canning, and preserving. This is a simple list of the best foods to grow to save money when you don’t have a lot of time.

This is a simple list of the best foods to grow to save money when you don't have a lot of time. Easy to grow, long lasting, and easy storage.

This post may contain affiliate links. If you purchase by clicking on these links, I receive a small compensation, at no additional cost to you. I participate in the Amazon Services Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

 

Baskets bursting with fresh garden abundance. Nourishing meals made with home-grown foods. Pantries stocked with canned home goodness. Watching the sun set from the front porch, sipping a glass of iced mint tea, picked fresh from the herb bed.

 

This is a simple list of the best foods to grow to save money when you don't have a lot of time. Easy to grow, long lasting, and easy storage.

The reality is, of course, all of this takes time, sweat, and a whole lot of work. Blisters, bug bites, and sunburns can just as easily be a part of this reality. Bean beetles, slugs, rabbit, deer, and other pests often enjoy more of the garden abundance than we do. Despite our never-ending efforts, the weeds overrun the garden. And there are often as many disappointments as rewards to gardening.

Gardening in Less Time and The Best Foods to Grow to Save Money

How do we accomplish the goals of growing more of our food, saving money, and eating healthy on a budget?

There are a lot of reasons for wanting to grow more of our food. For me, it is about enjoying healthy food grown without chemicals, being more self-sufficient, saving money, and the wonderful sense of satisfaction that comes with enjoying home-grown meals and a well-stocked pantry.

But how do we balance our desire for home-grown food with the limitations on our time and energy? This is the challenge, isn’t it? I struggle to find the time and energy for growing more of our food and saving money, while trying to avoid homestead burn out. (I share my strategies for avoiding homestead burnout here.)

Gardening to Save Money on Food

Through trial and error, research and reading, this is my list of recommended foods to consider if gardening to save money is your goal, even when you don’t have a lot of time. Of course, everyone’s priorities are different, and you may have some foods you simply can’t do without, and others you don’t want to bother with. Choose those that work best for you.

This is a list of low-maintenance, easy to grow foods that will save you money at the grocery store.

  • Lettuce
  • Chard
  • Garlic
  • Winter Squash
  • Culinary Herbs

I might also add tomatoes to the list, since they can be quite expensive in the winter months. If you choose a determinate variety of tomato, they will ripen all at once, making for a shorter harvest time, and you can process them in one large batch.

I freeze bags of sliced tomatoes to use in soups, stews, and other recipes. Freezing is quick and easy. Of course, canning tomatoes – whole, sliced, or as sauces is a way to preserve and store long-term.

Lettuce

Lettuce is easy to grow, takes up little space, and matures quickly. Lettuce grows well from direct-seeding, allowing you to avoid the time of starting seeds and transplanting. Lettuce can easily be grown in containers, and keeping them in shade during the hottest part of the summer will help you enjoy your lettuce all season long.

My favorite variety for hardiness and long-lasting production is the Prizeleaf Lettuce variety. Gorgeous bright green leaves with ruffled edges in deep bronze, it has a crisp texture with a sweet taste. Slow to bolt, offering a longer harvest time.

Swiss Chard

Chard is my favorite for saving time and money. Heirloom organic Swiss chard seeds are inexpensive and the chard provides me with fresh greens from spring right into the fall.

Varieties of chard, including rainbow and Swiss, are incredibly easy to grow, and chard is both cold and heat resistance. The seeds can be directly sowed, and with good mulching, require little care. Of all the greens, chard seems to be the least susceptible to pests.

 

This is a simple list of the best foods to grow to save money when you don't have a lot of time. Easy to grow, long lasting, and easy storage.

 

Chard can be used in a variety of ways, both raw and cooked, and can be frozen in freezer bags without blanching, saving you both time and money.

Uses for chard include – add to salads for color and taste, fresh or frozen added to smoothies,  chopped leaves fresh (or frozen) can be tossed into soups and stews, stir-fried, steamed, and much more.

Garlic

This is a simple list of the best foods to grow to save money when you don't have a lot of time. Easy to grow, long lasting, and easy storage.

Garlic is an incredibly low-maintenance crop to grow, and a small space can yield enough garlic to last you throughout the year. Garlic is typically planted in the fall and grown over the winter, which makes good use of garden space.

Once planted and mulched, garlic requires little care. The most time-consuming part is the harvest and curing stages. But it is well worth the effort to enjoy the flavor and health benefits of garlic year-round.

There are a lot of choices when it comes to garlic, and they differ greatly in flavor and bulb size. I prefer the Music Variety of Hardneck Garlic. The bulbs are large and the flavor crisp, but not over-bearing.

Winter Squash

This is a simple list of the best foods to grow to save money when you don't have a lot of time. Easy to grow, long lasting, and easy storage.

 

Winter squash are a favorite among gardeners because they’re easy to grow, don’t require weeding once established, and most importantly, they store well through the winter to provide a valued vegetable for eating all winter and spring.

The runners need a lot of room to spread, but you can also use vertical garden space with trellis and fencing.

My favorite winter squash is the butternut squash because it is so easy to grow, highly resistant to pests, stores extremely well in your cupboard or pantry, and is so very versatile in the ways you can enjoy it.

Tomato butternut soup is a great way to combine end of summer tomatoes with your winter squash.

Culinary Herbs

This is a simple list of the best foods to grow to save money when you don't have a lot of time. Easy to grow, long lasting, and easy storage.

 

Culinary herbs add flavor and nutrition, and a small amount goes a long way. But fresh culinary herbs can be quite expensive to purchase. Growing your own in containers or garden beds is a wonderful way to enjoy the flavor of fresh herbs without spending a lot.

Many culinary herbs offer medicinal benefits. You can learn more about the best herbs to grow in Starting a Medicinal Herb Garden – 5 Herbs to Grow in Containers and Gardens.

Summary

There are many more foods I could add to this list, but this is simply a way to get you started thinking about the best foods to grow to save money when you don’t have a lot of time.

In addition to growing food you love and saving money, it’s important to consider what grows best where you live and take into consideration your soil, space, sun exposure, and the pests you may encounter in your garden.

And of course everyone has favorites – sometimes the extra effort is worth the pleasure of growing food you love.

Wishing you all the best in your gardens
~ Michelle

Further Resources:

Grow a Good Life – 9 Food Crops to Grow for Storage

Eartheasy blog – 6 Most Cost-effective Vegetables to Grow

Morel Mushrooms and 5 Mouthwatering Recipes

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5 Mouthwatering Morel Mushroom Recipes

7:59 am by Seeking Joyful Simplicity Leave a Comment

Easy and delicious morel mushroom recipes - try these 5 mouthwatering morel mushroom recipes.
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This is a guest post presented by Craig Scott at Everything Backyard

If you enjoy gardening and mushrooms, Everything Backyard has a Complete Guide on How to Grow Morel Mushrooms. You can read it HERE.

And growing your own mushrooms is a great addition to your garden, especially if you don’t have a lot of time. You can read more about the Best Foods to Grow When You Don’t Have a lot of Time.

Easy and delicious morel mushroom recipes - try these 5 mouthwatering morel mushroom recipes.

Mouthwatering Morel Mushroom Recipes

Spring showers bring more than flowers! That’s right, we’re entering into Morrel mushroom season. Based on the climate of your location, you will start to see these mushrooms sprout up in early to mid-spring when the ground begins to warm. Since your local farmer’s markets and grocers will soon have this delicacy on their shelves, here are some recipes to prepare you for the arrival of Morrel mushrooms.

Simply Buttery

Morels have a unique earthy texture and taste. Instead of covering up this uniqueness, highlight it by making it the centerpiece of the dish.

What You’ll Need:

  • 3 to 4 medium-sized Morel mushrooms
  • 1 TBS butter
  • 1 clove minced garlic
  • 1 quarter cup of chopped onion
  • a pinch of salt and pepper

Simply chops 3 to 4 medium-sized Morrel mushrooms into strips. Then, over low heat sauté the mushrooms in 1 TBS of butter with 1 clove of minced garlic and 1 quarter cup of onion to achieve this recipe. Once the mushrooms are tender, add a pinch of salt and pepper. Serve the mushrooms warm as a main or side dish. Pair the mushrooms with a crusty baguette if serving as a main course dish.

Easy and delicious morel mushroom recipes - try these 5 mouthwatering morel mushroom recipes.

French Onion Wine Sauce

This dish is inspired by the flavors of traditional French onion soup. You’ll need a bottle of your favorite dry white wine, thyme, and a few other simple ingredients.

What You’ll Need:

  • 5 to 6 medium Morel mushrooms
  • 1 tsp butter or olive oil
  • 1/2 cup of finely chopped onion
  • 1/2 cup dry white wine
  • 1 sprig of thyme
  • a pinch of salt and pepper

To begin, chop 5 to 6 medium Morrel mushrooms into chunks and sauté lightly over medium heat in 1 tsp of butter or olive oil. Add in 1/2 cup of onions to the pan as you sauté the mushrooms. Next, pour in 1/2 a cup of wine and add 1 sprig of thyme. Adjust the heat to low and then allow the wine to simmer down and thicken.

Both the onions and mushrooms absorb the aromas of the wine and thyme, capturing the heartiness of French onion soup. Finish this dish by topping it with chives, salt, and pepper.

Creamy Soup

If you love creamy mushroom soups then this recipe is sure to win over your taste buds. In addition to 1lb Morel mushrooms, everything you’ll need to make this dish is listed below. Grab a stock pot and fill it with 3 cups of your favorite stock (vegetable, chicken, or beef). Bring the broth to a boil, reduce to a simmer, and then add the following ingredients:

  • 1 tsp butter or olive oil
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1 chopped leek
  • 4 small chopped red potatoes
  • 1 clove minced garlic
  • salt and pepper to taste

Allow these ingredients to simmer for 30 minutes as the liquid reduces. Then, add 1lb of Morel mushrooms and cook for an additional 10 to 15 minutes. Garnish this dish with fresh parsley and serve warm.

Mediterranean Pasta

For this dish, you want to get the freshest basil and tomatoes you can find. The amount of flavor in these two ingredients can make or break the recipe.

What You’ll Need:

  • 8oz of handmade noodles
  • 1/2lb Morel mushrooms
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 TBS olive oil
  • 2 sprigs of sweet basil
  • 1 cup of sweet cherry tomatoes
  • 1/4 cup parmesan cheese
  • salt and pepper to taste

Begin by boiling 8-oz of your favorite handmade noodles. Set the noodles aside when finished cooking. As you’re boiling the noodles, sauté a 1/2lb of Morel mushrooms in 3 cloves of minced garlic and 1 TBS olive oil. Once the mushrooms are tender, combine cooked noodles, sweet cherry tomatoes, basil, and 1 TBS olive oil into the pan. Continue to cook the pasta for 3 to 5 minutes before removing from the heat and topping with parmesan cheese, salt, and pepper.

Flaky Tart

This mushroom pastry is a perfect brunch, lunch, or even dinner dish. Its flaky, yet buttery texture compliments the earthiness of the meaty Morels.

What You’ll Need:

  • 10 sheets of phyllo dough
  • 1/2 lb. of Morrel mushrooms
  • 2 TBS butter
  • 8 oz of goat cheese
  • 8 oz of spinach
  • salt and pepper to taste

First, grease the baking sheet and then layer the phyllo dough while brushing melted butter onto each layer. Top the phyllo dough with diced Morels, chopped spinach, goat cheese, salt, and pepper. Bake in the oven at 375 degrees until golden brown, around 25-30 minutes. Remove the tart from the oven and allow it to cool for 10 minutes before serving. This dish can be served with a homemade cranberry sauce for a sweet yet tangy kick.

About the author:

Craig Scott at Everything Backyard 

Outside of writing for EverythingBackyard I love to spend all the time I can outdoors and find every excuse to leave my house. I write about everything from backyard DIY projects to gardening. If you can’t get a hold of me I am probably on a trail or a boat.

 

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Strawberry and Rhubarb Recipe – Strawberry Rhubarb with Mint

8:03 am by Seeking Joyful Simplicity 1 Comment

Strawberry with rhubarb and mint - what a lovely combination - red, ripe strawberries, tart rhubarb, and mint. This makes a great topping for oatmeal, yogurt, ice-cream, cake, or as part of a strawberry-rhubarb cobbler or crisp.
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Strawberry and rhubarb recipe – what a lovely combination – red, ripe strawberries, tart rhubarb, and mint. This makes a great topping for oatmeal, yogurt, ice-cream, cake, or as part of a strawberry-rhubarb cobbler or crisp.

Strawberries and rhubarb signal the start of summer season, and using strawberry and rhubarb recipes can be a wonderful way to celebrate and create your own seasonal traditions around food.

 

Strawberry and rhubarb recipe - what a lovely combination - red, ripe strawberries, tart rhubarb, and mint. This makes a great topping for oatmeal, yogurt, ice-cream, cake, or as part of a strawberry-rhubarb cobbler or crisp.

 

Strawberry and Rhubarb with Mint

Ingredients:

  • 4 cups rhubarb stems sliced into 1/2 inch cuts (remove the leaves!)
  • 2 – 3 cups sliced strawberries
  • 1/2 – 1 cup water
  • 1/2 – 1 cup sugar
  • 1 Tablespoon spearmint chopped

Directions:

  1. Combine the rhubarb, sugar, and water in a pan. Cook down until the rhubarb starts to fall apart.
  2. Next, add the strawberries and cook 5 minutes more.
  3. Add the mint and cook a few minutes longer.

Top your favorite cake, ice-cream, yogurt, granola, or turn it into a rhubarb cobbler.

 

Strawberry and rhubarb recipe - what a lovely combination - red, ripe strawberries, tart rhubarb, and mint. This makes a great topping for oatmeal, yogurt, ice-cream, cake, or as part of a strawberry-rhubarb cobbler or crisp.

 

 

Ideas for other Strawberry and Rhubarb Recipes

Strawberry rhubarb cobbler

Strawberry Rhubarb Maple Crisp

Rhubarb Fruit Leather

 

Want to try a unique summer slaw recipe? Try combing sweet apples with crunchy fresh fennel, cider vinegar, and molasses for a unique slaw – Sweet and Crunchy Fennel Apple Slaw.

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Filed Under: Simple Food Tagged With: rhubarb recipe, strawberry and rhubarb recipe, strawberry and rhubarb with mint

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Hello and welcome! Seeking Joyful Simplicity is about creating space in your life for the things that matter most - abundant health, joy, and contentment. With a holistic approach focused on self-reflection, simple foods, and herbal support, I offer a practical approach to living with purpose and vibrant health. Want to learn more? Start here…

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The information provided here is not intended to replace professional medical advice and care. It is simply my perspective for you to consider as you make good choices for you and your family’s health. The use of herbs is a time-honored approach to strengthening the body and maintaining health. Herbs, however, can trigger side effects and can interact with other herbs, supplements, or medications. For these reasons, you should take herbs with care. The information provided has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not meant to diagnose any disease, nor is it intended to treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Seek the support and care of a physician and/or complementary care practitioner you trust, and above all, listen to and trust in yourself. Be well! Seeking Joyful Simplicity is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Amazon offers a small commission on products sold through their affiliate links. Each of your purchases through their links supports us at no additional cost to you. For more information - visit our privacy and disclosure page

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