Herbal Wander

Chive Blossom Pasta

Chive Blossom Pasta Homemade pasta can be such a fun way to explore various herbs, flowers, and tastes! Once you have a basic pasta recipe handy, the sky is the limit. Last year, I found myself making some stinging nettle pasta. It was fun to play around with the green color of nettle. However it…

Stinging Nettle Soup

Stinging Nettle Soup This is a perfect summer soup made with fresh nettles and roasted vegetables. Today was cool and rainy, the best kind of day to make summer soup. The day before, when it was warm and sunny, I had gathered some fresh nettle tips. The tender young leaves at the top are delicious…

Pickled Spruce Tips

Pickled Spruce Tips Right now all the evergreens are speckled bright green as they reach further out and extend their branches. During the middle to end of May all the evergreens begin to grow and display an inch or so of soft new needles. Typically munching on spruce needles isn’t all that pleasant but this…

Valentine’s Day Roses

What to do with Valentine’s Day roses? Their beauty may be fading but these flowers can certainly bring more joy into your life! Most commercially purchased roses are sprayed with chemicals, so it’s advised not to consume them. Rose petal honey, ice cream, and cookies are absolutely delicious but best organic or wild (given you…

Stinging Nettle Crepes

Stinging Nettle Crepes Crepes are very nostalgic to me! My grandmother taught me how to make them when I was young and I continued making them for many years after. I made them every father’s day for years. Since then, I have strayed from the basic recipe by adding spinach, stinging nettle, and turmeric to…

Bonfire Cider

Bonfire Cider (Fire Cider) Bonfire Cider stimulates the immune system and digestive system during the colder months. For generations, herbal medicinal recipes have been prepared and passed down for many years to fight against the common cold and other illnesses. Recipes varied from year to year depending on what was available and in season. Even…

Shortbread Herbal Cookies – Violets

Shortbread Herbal Cookies I have come to a point in my life that I can’t imagine making cookies without adding flowers or herbs. I was first inspired by Lori Stern, a private chef and caterer in California, who adds loads of eye-popping color to all her dishes with the use of flowers. It was around…

Herbal Pastilles (Pills)

Herbal Pastille Making What is a pastille? A pastille (or pill) is made by simply combining powdered herbs with a liquid or honey and rolling them into small pea-size balls. Some common uses are for sore throats, coughs, and, digestive complaints. Basic Pastille Recipe Place medicinal powdered herbs in a bowl and mix with honey…

Herbal Infused Sugars & Salts

Infused Sugars & Salts The colder nights are upon us here in New England and it’s time to squirrel away our summer and fall bounty. Fortunately there are a whole bunch of ways to preserve and enjoy herbs for months, even years to come! Here are a few ways I’ve preserved my herbs this year:…

Bath Fizzies!

Bath Fizzies! Bath bombs, bath fizzies, whatever you want to call them are so fun and easy to make! You can make them as potent or as pleasurable as you’d like and they can aid in soothing your body in all sorts of ways, from achy muscles to chilling out. I personally enjoy making them…

Herbal Wander

Pine (Pinus strobus)

Garlic (Allium sativum)

Sage (Salvia officinalis)

Burdock (Arctium lappa, A. minor)

Autumn Olive (Elaeagnus umbellata)

Alpine Berries