Women's Red Raspberry Leaf Tea - Herbal tea formula #5 in a series

Time for Tea

Women's Red Raspberry Leaf Tea


This is the fifth post in a series of herbal tea recipes on this blog, I hope you enjoy them.

Women's Red Raspberry Leaf Tea: This tea is specifically formulated for women's needs and supports a woman's reproductive system. It is also useful for soothing symptoms of colds and flu.

A lot of women I know, including myself, drink red raspberry leaf tea during pregnancy. It is known for toning the organs, preparing for childbirth. It is not just for pregnancy however. It's great for both men and women as a general natural tonic.

This version of herbal tea also happens to be very tasty too!


WOMEN'S RED RASPBERRY LEAF TEA Formula:

3.50 ounces  Dried Red Raspberry Leaves
0.50 ounces  Cinnamon Bark Chips, crushed
0.50 ounces  Dried Apple Slices, crushed
0.50 ounces  Dried Orange Peel, crushed


Method:

Mix the dried herbs together.
Store air-tight in a cool dark place.


To Brew Herbal Tea:

Bring purified water to a boil in a stove-top kettle.
Place 1 to 2 teaspoons desired loose leaf herbal tea blend into a cup.
Pour about 1 cup boiling water over the herbs and cover the cup.
Allow to steep 5 minutes.
Strain and sweeten if desired.
Enjoy!


Sun Tea Preparation:

Fill a 1/2-gallon jar with purified water.
Fill a reusable tea bag with desired herbal tea formula (or pour herbs in jar and just strain out later).
Set the jar outside in the sunshine for 6 hours or so.
Chill the tea.


Tips:

You may use a bamboo tea strainer or Tea-ball to make straining your teas a snap.

At our house, we use a French coffee press to make bigger batches of tea - it works great!

Enjoy this herbal blend hot or iced.

Enjoy a cup on cold winter mornings and evenings to chase away the winter chill. They also help chase away colds and are so comforting. Try adding a squeeze of lemon and raw honey when serving. Or make it sugar-free by sweetening with Stevia Glycerite (recipe on this blog). About 4 drops Stevia Glycerite is all you need to sweeten your mug of herbal tea! We find that a cup of hot herbal tea helps us relax before bedtime.

During the heat of summer, try brewing as a sun tea, and then serve chilled with some Stevia Glycerite to lightly sweeten, maybe a splash of lemon or lime and lots of ice. Iced herbal tea makes a great thirst quencher and is so much better for your family than sugar-filled sodas, and such.


To your health,

Leila.

Lemon Rose Tea - Herbal tea formula #7 in a series

Time For Tea

Lemon Rose Tea

This is the seventh in a series of herbal tea recipes on this blog. I hope you enjoy them.

Lemon Rose tea; This is a delightful herbal tea blend for lemon lovers, but without the usual sour taste of lemon. It is cooling, soothing and gentle -  enjoy it often.



LEMON ROSE TEA Formula:

2.00 ounces  Lemon Myrtle Leaves
0.50 ounces  Spearmint Leaves
0.50 ounces  Chamomile Flowers
0.10 ounces  Dried Pink Rose Petals


Method:

Mix the dried herbs together.
Store air-tight in a cool dark place.


To Brew Herbal Tea:

Bring purified water to a boil in a stove-top kettle.
Place 1 to 2 teaspoons desired loose leaf herbal tea blend into a cup.
Pour about 1 cup boiling water over the herbs and cover the cup.
Allow to steep 5 minutes.
Strain and sweeten if desired.
Enjoy!


Sun Tea Preparation:

Fill a 1/2-gallon jar with purified water.
Fill a reusable tea bag with desired herbal tea formula (or pour herbs in jar and just strain out later).
Set the jar outside in the sunshine for 6 hours or so.
Chill the tea.


Tips:

You may use a bamboo tea strainer or Tea-ball to make straining your teas a snap.

At our house, we use a French coffee press to make bigger batches of tea - it works great!

Enjoy this herbal blend hot or iced.

Enjoy a cup on cold winter mornings and evenings to chase away the winter chill. They also help chase away colds and are so comforting. Try adding a squeeze of lemon and raw honey when serving. Or make it sugar-free by sweetening with Stevia Glycerite (recipe on this blog). About 4 drops Stevia Glycerite is all you need to sweeten your mug of herbal tea! We find that a cup of hot herbal tea helps us relax before bedtime.

During the heat of summer, try brewing as a sun tea, and then serve chilled with some Stevia Glycerite to lightly sweeten, maybe a splash of lemon or lime and lots of ice. Iced herbal tea makes a great thirst quencher and is so much better for your family than sugar-filled sodas, and such.

To your health,

Leila

Summer Hibiscus Punch (Sugar-Free) & Hibiscus Lemon-Lime-ade

Hibiscus blossoms make a truly beautiful & thirst-quenching summer beverage.

Summer Hibiscus Punch

Hibiscus is naturally tart and makes a beautiful ruby toned beverage.You can use it alone or mix it with citrus. Here are a couple of ways that I mix hibiscus with fresh citrus juices.

You can brew bulk dried hibiscus blossoms in a french coffee press. Pour in boiling water and let it steep 15 minutes or so. Strain off into a jar. Add more boiling water to the used hibiscus blossoms in the French coffee press and let steep a while, strain off into the jar of hibiscus tea. Chill.

I like to make a strong hibiscus concentrate and keep it in the fridge for easy use. I then dilute it with water and/or other fruit juices and sweeten to taste.


Summer Hibiscus Punch (serves 1):

This is a simple cold ,drink consisting of 2 cups cold brewed hibiscus blossom tea and 1 lime juiced. I then add a few drops of stevia glycerite , to taste. Add ice, and you're good to go!

Lovely Hibiscus  Lemon-Lime-ade: 


Yield: 1 gallon.

 Mix together 2 cups of strong hibiscus tea plus the juice of 1 lemon and 2 to 3 limes, add 3/4 c. sugar and stir well to completely dissolve.. Top off with water and ice to make 1 gallon. Then add a few drops of stevia glycerite, to sweeten to taste. Garnish with 3 thin lemon slices and a few spearmint leaves.

To make sugar-free: Sweeten with 1 c. erythritol and then finish sweetening it with a bit of stevia glycerite, to taste.

Enjoy,

Leila.
 

Lemon Honeybush Tea - Herbal tea formula #6 in a series

Time For Tea

Lemon Honeybush Tea

This is the sixth post in a series of herbal tea recipes on this blog, I hope you enjoy them.

Lemon Honeybush Tea: This very tasty and fragrant tea is loaded with antioxidants, minerals, and vitamins. Lemon Myrtle has antiviral, as well as anti-bacterial properties. Honeybush is rich in calcium, magnesium, potassium, and isoflavones.

I LOVE this tea. I know you will enjoy this tea blend too.



LEMON HONEYBUSH TEA Formula:

1.00 ounces  Dried Lemon Myrtle


1.00 ounces  Dried Honeybush



Method:

Mix the dried herbs together.
Store air-tight in a cool dark place.


To Brew Herbal Tea:

Bring purified water to a boil in a stove-top kettle.
Place 1 to 2 teaspoons desired loose leaf herbal tea blend into a cup.
Pour about 1 cup boiling water over the herbs and cover the cup.
Allow to steep 5 minutes.
Strain and sweeten if desired.
Enjoy!

Honeybush

Lemon Myrtle

Sun Tea Preparation:

Fill a 1/2-gallon jar with purified water.
Fill a reusable tea bag with desired herbal tea formula (or pour herbs in jar and just strain out later).
Set the jar outside in the sunshine for 6 hours or so.
Chill the tea.


Tips:

You may use a bamboo tea strainer or Tea-ball to make straining your teas a snap.

At our house, we use a French coffee press to make bigger batches of tea - it works great!

Enjoy this herbal blend hot or iced.

Enjoy a cup on cold winter mornings and evenings to chase away the winter chill. They also help chase away colds and are so comforting. Try adding a squeeze of lemon and raw honey when serving. Or make it sugar-free by sweetening with Stevia Glycerite (recipe on this blog). About 4 drops Stevia Glycerite is all you need to sweeten your mug of herbal tea! We find that a cup of hot herbal tea helps us relax before bedtime.

During the heat of summer, try brewing as a sun tea, and then serve chilled with some Stevia Glycerite to lightly sweeten, maybe a splash of lemon or lime and lots of ice. Iced herbal tea makes a great thirst quencher and is so much better for your family than sugar-filled sodas, and such.

To your health,

Leila

Soothing Mint Tea - Herbal Tea formula #1 in a series

Time for Tea

A few years back, When we owned our food manufacturing business, I had intentions of creating and selling a line of delicious and healthy loose-leaf herbal teas. I developed and tested several tasty and unique formulas, found the sources I needed for bulk herbal supplies, found the desired packaging, worked on name and logo ideas... Well, That project wasn't to be...

I hope you will pamper yourself and enjoy making and drinking these teas. They are naturally caffeine-free so you do not have to worry about them being over-stimulating. The individual herbs used are beneficial to the body and are worth learning about on their own. Beside being very enjoyable, these herbal tea blends are good for your digestion, are loaded with minerals and antioxidants, and have uplifting effects upon the body.

These teas smell heavenly and will delight your taste buds, and are designed to use year round!

Enjoy these herbal blends hot or iced.

Enjoy a cup on cold winter mornings and evenings to chase away the winter chill. They also help chase away colds and are so comforting. Try adding a squeeze of lemon and raw honey when serving. Or make it sugar-free by sweetening with Stevia Glycerite (recipe on this blog). About 4 drops Stevia Glycerite is all you need to sweeten your mug of herbal tea! We find that a cup of hot herbal tea helps us relax before bedtime.

During the heat of summer, try brewing these teas as a sun tea, and then serve chilled with some Stevia Glycerite to lightly sweeten, maybe a splash of lemon or lime and lots of ice. Iced herbal tea makes a great thirst quencher and is so much better for your family than sugar-filled sodas, and such.

Soothing Mint Tea is the first of a series of herbal tea recipes that I will be posting on this blog, I hope you enjoy them.

Soothing Mint Tea: This blend is a favorite in our home any time and is especially good for settling the tummy and easing sore throats or fevers.


SOOTHING MINT TEA Formula:

1.00 ounces  Dried Spearmint Leaves
0.60 ounces  Dried Peppermint Leaves
0.20 ounces  Cinnamon Bark Chips
0.10 ounces  Dried Pink Rose Petals


Method:

Coarsely grind the cinnamon chips in a seed mill.
Mix the dried herbs and cinnamon together.
Store air-tight in a cool dark place.


To Brew Herbal Tea:

Bring purified water to a boil in a stove-top kettle.
Place 1 to 2 teaspoons desired loose leaf herbal tea blend into a cup.
Pour about 1 cup boiling water over the herbs and cover the cup.
Allow to steep 5 minutes.
Strain and sweeten if desired.
Enjoy!


Sun Tea Preparation:

Fill a 1/2-gallon jar with purified water.
Fill a reusable tea bag with desired herbal tea formula (or pour herbs in jar and just strain out later).
Set the jar outside in the sunshine for 6 hours or so.
Chill the tea.


Tips:

You may use a bamboo tea strainer or Tea-ball to make straining your teas a snap.

At our house, we use a French coffee press to make bigger batches of tea - it works great!



To your health,

Leila

French Press

Bamboo Tea Strainer

Tea Ball Infuser

Chamomile Mint Tea - Herbal tea formula #2 in a series

Time for Tea

Chamomile Mint Tea


This is the second post in a series of herbal tea recipes on this blog, I hope you enjoy them.

Chamomile Mint Tea: Both soothing and cooling, this is a favorite body-balancing blend of herbs that is bound to be a favorite in your house, as it is in mine.



CHAMOMILE MINT TEA Formula:

1.00 ounces  Dried Peppermint Leaves
0.50 ounces  Dried Red Raspberry Leaves
0.50 ounces  Dried Chamomile Flowers


Method:

Mix the dried herbs together.
Store air-tight in a cool dark place.


To Brew Herbal Tea:

Bring purified water to a boil in a stove-top kettle.
Place 1 to 2 teaspoons desired loose leaf herbal tea blend into a cup.
Pour about 1 cup boiling water over the herbs and cover the cup.
Allow to steep 5 minutes.
Strain and sweeten if desired.
Enjoy!


Sun Tea Preparation:

Fill a 1/2-gallon jar with purified water.
Fill a reusable tea bag with desired herbal tea formula (or pour herbs in jar and just strain out later).
Set the jar outside in the sunshine for 6 hours or so.
Chill the tea.


Tips:

You may use a bamboo tea strainer or Tea-ball to make straining your teas a snap.

At our house, we use a French coffee press to make bigger batches of tea - it works great!

Enjoy this herbal blend hot or iced.

Enjoy a cup on cold winter mornings and evenings to chase away the winter chill. They also help chase away colds and are so comforting. Try adding a squeeze of lemon and raw honey when serving. Or make it sugar-free by sweetening with Stevia Glycerite (recipe on this blog). About 4 drops Stevia Glycerite is all you need to sweeten your mug of herbal tea! We find that a cup of hot herbal tea helps us relax before bedtime.

During the heat of summer, try brewing as a sun tea, and then serve chilled with some Stevia Glycerite to lightly sweeten, maybe a splash of lemon or lime and lots of ice. Iced herbal tea makes a great thirst quencher and is so much better for your family than sugar-filled sodas, and such.

To your health,

Leila

Super Low Carb Fiji Sweet Hot Sauce

This amazing secret sauce is intensely punchy & sweet & spicy & fragrant...

And here is an even lower carb version for the athlete!

Fiji Sweet Hot Sauce

Happy 4th of July! This zippy recipe is our gift to you. We thought you should have some fireworks for your mouth to go along with the exploding night sky.

My mom created this healthy sauce while living in the Fijian islands, thus the name. Many people have asked for this recipe but alas, it could not be acquired - UNTIL TODAY. Do you feel loved?

"Fiji Sauce" brings it all together.

Our original Fiji Sweet Hot Sauce is much lower in carbs and sugars than a traditional Thai sweet chili sauce and you can use our yummy sauce in much the same manner.

This lower carb version omits the ripe banana and orange juice called for in the original recipe. No xylitol is used either, because it has more carbs than erythritol.

My dad has a black belt in Judo and is an instructor as well.The many athletes he trains and coaches want this very version of our Fiji Sauce because of it's super low carb and high fiber content. It helps these athletes keep their body fat percentage down, yet allows them to have a sweet treat, usually forbidden in their strict diets. This sauce does make you feel like you are cheating, it is so delicious!

Erythritol is used as the main sweetener in this lower carb version of Fiji Sweet Hot Sauce. Stevia glycerite is used to enhance the sweetness further.

Our punchy Fiji Sweet Hot Sauce is delicious as a condiment with just about anything. It makes a great dip, topping, sauce, dressing... uhh, main dish?

My dad has some of this punchy sauce everyday with his lunch or dinner. It is a beloved staple here at Kitchen Cheetahs! The picture above shows my dad ready to dig into a plate of our favorite Chicken Bake, with a side of our Quinoa Tabouli topped with this Fiji Sweet Hot Sauce.


Fiji Sweet Hot Sauce Recipe:

10 ounces frozen raspberries
12 ounces frozen pitted cherries

Mix the fruits together and set aside to thaw to room temperature.

While the fruit is thawing make a Habanero Paste:
4 to 6 habaneros
1/2 c. granular erythritol

Wearing gloves, remove the seeds and and pith from the habanero peppers.
Finely mince habaneros and then smash with the 1/4 c. erythritol to make a very smooth paste.

Puree the above thawed fruit with:
The prepared Habanero Paste above
2 16-ounce jars of "fire roasted" red peppers and their juice
4 c. granular erythritol
1/2 c. whole psyllium husks
3/4 c. raw apple cider vinegar, or a little more (to desired tanginess)
4 T. FINELY grated frozen, peeled ginger root, to taste
1 to 3 t. fresh orange or tangerine zest, to taste (or 1 to 2 drops orange or tangerine essential oil)
3/4 t. sea salt or BioSalt, or a little more, to taste
1/2 t. turmeric powder
1/8 to 1/4 t. garlic powder, to taste

Pulse/grind into a medium smooth sauce. Do in batches to accommodate your food processor.
Put the processed mixture into a large non metallic bowl or pot.

Stir in:
1 1/2 c. water
1 c. vegetable glycerine (food grade)
Stevia glycerite to taste

Add stevia glycerite to taste. It will take quite a lot (don't be surprised) to make a very sweet sauce balanced by zip and tang.  

Gently heat and stir the sauce until it reaches 110 degrees F, to blend flavors and activate fiber.

Let sauce cool before transferring into mason jars. Put 1 jar in your fridge and freeze the rest.


Notes: 

Start with 1 t. of orange zest, stir in well and then taste the sauce. You can try adding a little more orange zest, but you dont want the sauce to taste like oranges... just be highlighted in a subtle way.
.
This sauce mellows and changes a little overnight. The heat mellows and the apple cider vinegar mellows, so make sure you use enough peppers and vinegar to give a strong punch to this sauce!

My mom prefers the flavor of our first version of Fiji sauce that used more fruit plus xylitol. She is on a super low carb diet right now and does not mind the few extra carbs in the fruitier sauce.

 Photos of the process:

Be very sure that the Habanero pieces are very fine so you don't bite down a piece of ultra-hot pepper....  This also ensures that the unique Habanero flavor is dispersed beautifully throughout the sauce.

HABANERO PEPPERS ARE CRUCIAL TO THE SUCCESS OF THIS SAUCE ‼️(however, you may reduce  from 3  peppers down to 2 if you absolutely must)

Frozen ginger grates best! Use a very fine grater or a micro plane grater  so that the ginger is essentially powdered for Best results.

Psyllium husk's thicken the Fiji Sweet-Hot Sauce. It's a good idea to purchase organic psyllium if you can, as it is guaranteed to be clean.

Summer chicken snack: Coarsely shred chilled white chicken breast and serve with your favorite mayonnaise and a side of Fiji sweet hot sauce.It's super fast. Super quick. Super delicious!

Mayo and Fiji sauce dipped chicken

Chicken breast dipped in mayo and Fiji sauce - It doesn't get better than this.

3 1/2 quarts of Fiji sauce️️

Gorgeous birds eye view of the 3 1/2 quarts of Fiji sauce

Well, Hello Gorgeous!

Enjoy!

Leila & Nancy.

Comforting Chamomile Tea - Herbal tea formula #3 in a series

Time for Tea

Comforting Chamomile Tea

This is the third post in a series of herbal tea recipes on this blog, I hope you enjoy them.

Comforting Chamomile Tea: a very gentle and calming tea. Chamomile has many health benefits. As I was growing up, my mom always made chamomile tea for me when ever I came down with any kind of illness. I'd drink it, fall asleep, and wake up feeling much better.



COMFORTING CHAMOMILE TEA Formula:

1.20 ounces  Dried Chamomile Flowers
0.50 ounces  Cinnamon Bark Chips, crushed
0.50 ounces  Dried Orange Peel, crushed


Method:

Mix the dried herbs together.
Store air-tight in a cool dark place.


To Brew Herbal Tea:

Bring purified water to a boil in a stove-top kettle.
Place 1 to 2 teaspoons desired loose leaf herbal tea blend into a cup.
Pour about 1 cup boiling water over the herbs and cover the cup.
Allow to steep 5 minutes.
Strain and sweeten if desired.
Enjoy!


Sun Tea Preparation:

Fill a 1/2-gallon jar with purified water.
Fill a reusable tea bag with desired herbal tea formula (or pour herbs in jar and just strain out later).
Set the jar outside in the sunshine for 6 hours or so.
Chill the tea.


Tips:

You may use a bamboo tea strainer or Tea-ball to make straining your teas a snap.

At our house, we use a French coffee press to make bigger batches of tea - it works great!

Enjoy this herbal blend hot or iced.

Enjoy a cup on cold winter mornings and evenings to chase away the winter chill. They also help chase away colds and are so comforting. Try adding a squeeze of lemon and raw honey when serving. Or make it sugar-free by sweetening with Stevia Glycerite (recipe on this blog). About 4 drops Stevia Glycerite is all you need to sweeten your mug of herbal tea! We find that a cup of hot herbal tea helps us relax before bedtime.

During the heat of summer, try brewing as a sun tea, and then serve chilled with some Stevia Glycerite to lightly sweeten, maybe a splash of lemon or lime and lots of ice. Iced herbal tea makes a great thirst quencher and is so much better for your family than sugar-filled sodas, and such.

To your health,

Leila

Our Favorite Reduced Fat Sour Cream Blend - Plus a recipe for Strawberries Romanoff, a La Madeleine Restaurant Copy-Cat

Favorite Reduced Fat Sour Cream Blend

We love sour cream. We like yogurt. We love them mixed together. Using Greek yogurt results in a thicker "sour cream". You won't have to skimp anymore when dolloping your dishes with sour cream. You can use a low-carb Greek yogurt to make it even better for you. Greek yogurt alone is Not a replacement for sour cream, I don't care what anybody says. But this works!

We recommend this in a classic dessert called Strawberries Romanoff:  Our easy version of this recipe is to simply dollop our sour cream blend over fresh ripe strawberries and then sprinkle with Golden Lakanto powder (a healthy brown sugar substitute). O.K., I'll post a more complex recipe below...



FAVORITE REDUCED FAT SOUR CREAM BLEND Recipe:

2 pound container Greek yogurt
8 to 12 ounces organic sour cream (our favorite is "Green Valley Organics" Lactose Free sour cream)


Method:

Stir sour cream to make it a softer texture.
Add 1/2 cup of the Greek yogurt, and blend in well.
Add 1 more cup of the Greek yogurt, and blend in until smooth.
Add the rest of the Greek yogurt and blend until smooth and uniform in texture.
Scrape out into an air-tight storage container and chill to thicken.


Use as you would regular sour cream.



STRAWBERRIES ROMANOFF Recipe:

Total prep Time:  5 minutes

4 c. fresh strawberries, washed and de-stemmed, cut into bite-sized pieces if needed
1/2 c. Kitchen Cheetahs Reduced Fat Sour Cream Blend
3 T finely powdered brown Lakanto (natural brown sugar substitute)
1 T. real vanilla extract (or brandy flavoring, to taste)
1/2 c. heavy whipping cream (cold!)
1 T. finely powdered white Lakanto (natural white sugar substitute)
Stevia glycerite, a few drops to taste (stevia glycerite recipe on this blog, or use NOW brand's)


Method:

Put the prepared strawberries into a serving bowl or individual serving dishes.
In a bowl, mix together the "sour cream", brown Lakanto powder, and flavoring.
In a separate bowl, whip the cold whipping cream until about half-way thickened.
Add the 1 T. finely powdered white Lakanto sweetener and finish whipping until soft peaks form.
Sweeten to taste with a tiny amount of stevia glycerite, if desired.
Fold the whipped cream into the sour cream mixture until uniform.
Top the berries with the finished sour cream mixture and serve.


This more complex recipe is based on a recipe from La Madeleine Restaurant. I removed all the sugar and real brandy. The original recipe calls for 1 T. brandy, 3 T. brown sugar, and 3 T. white sugar.

Enjoy,

Leila

Zesty Hibiscus Tea - Herbal tea formula #4 in a series

Time for Tea

Zesty Hibiscus Tea

This is the third post in a series of herbal tea recipes on this blog, I hope you enjoy them.

Zesty Hibiscus Tea: A very flavorful tea that contains Vitamin C and is a beautiful pink color. A favorite both hot and iced, especially with a splash of lemon.



ZESTY HIBISCUS TEA Formula:

0.50 ounces  Dried Red Hibiscus Blossoms
0.50 ounces  Dried Rose Hips
0.50 ounces  Dried Peppermint Leaves
0.50 ounces  Dried Lemon Verbena Leaves
0.50 ounces  Cinnamon Bark Chips, crushed
0.50 ounces  Dried Orange Peel, crushed


Method:

Mix the dried herbs together.
Store air-tight in a cool dark place.


To Brew Herbal Tea:

Bring purified water to a boil in a stove-top kettle.
Place 1 to 2 teaspoons desired loose leaf herbal tea blend into a cup.
Pour about 1 cup boiling water over the herbs and cover the cup.
Allow to steep 5 minutes.
Strain and sweeten if desired.
Enjoy!


Sun Tea Preparation:

Fill a 1/2-gallon jar with purified water.
Fill a reusable tea bag with desired herbal tea formula (or pour herbs in jar and just strain out later).
Set the jar outside in the sunshine for 6 hours or so.
Chill the tea.


Tips:

You may use a bamboo tea strainer or Tea-ball to make straining your teas a snap.

At our house, we use a French coffee press to make bigger batches of tea - it works great!

Enjoy this herbal blend hot or iced.

Enjoy a cup on cold winter mornings and evenings to chase away the winter chill. They also help chase away colds and are so comforting. Try adding a squeeze of lemon and raw honey when serving. Or make it sugar-free by sweetening with Stevia Glycerite (recipe on this blog). About 4 drops Stevia Glycerite is all you need to sweeten your mug of herbal tea! We find that a cup of hot herbal tea helps us relax before bedtime.

During the heat of summer, try brewing as a sun tea, and then serve chilled with some Stevia Glycerite to lightly sweeten, maybe a splash of lemon or lime and lots of ice. Iced herbal tea makes a great thirst quencher and is so much better for your family than sugar-filled sodas, and such.

To your health,

Leila

Warm Winter Spice Tea - Herbal tea formula #10 in a series (Caffeine-Free) - Perfect for this time of year

Time for Tea

Warm Winter Spice Tea


This is the tenth in a series of herbal tea recipes I created and have posted on this blog. I hope you enjoy them all.

Warm Winter Spice Tea: This caffeine-free tea has a nice roasted flavor with the perfect touch of spice. It will warm you up and chase away the winter chill beautifully. The dandelion root and spices used are good for the digestion. It is grain-free too and can be used as a healthy coffee substitute.



WARM WINTER SPICE TEA Formula:

2.00 ounces Roasted Dandelion Root
0.50 ounces Cinnamon Bark Chips
0.50 ounces Dried Ginger Root Chips
0.50 ounces Hulled (decorticated) Cardamom Seeds
0.50 ounces Star Anise Pods
2 to 4 drops Cardamom Essential Oil



Method:

Crush the herbs and spices a bit in a mortar & pestle or blend 1 to 2 seconds in a seed mill.
Place the tea blend in a small glass jar with an air-tight lid.
Drop the cardamom essential oil onto the tea blend, seal jar tightly, and shake well.
Let the flavors blend in the tightly sealed jar for a time, before brewing into a tea.

Store air-tight in a cool dark place.



To Brew Herbal Tea:

Bring purified water to a boil in a stove-top kettle.
Place 1 to 2 teaspoons desired loose leaf herbal tea blend into a cup.
Pour about 1 cup boiling water over the herbs and cover the cup.
Allow to steep 5 minutes.
Strain and sweeten if desired.
Enjoy!


Sun Tea Preparation:

Fill a 1/2-gallon jar with purified water.
Fill a reusable tea bag with desired herbal tea formula (or pour herbs in jar and just strain out later).
Set the jar outside in the sunshine for 6 hours or so.
Chill the tea.


Tips:

You may use a bamboo tea strainer or Tea-ball to make straining your teas a snap.

At our house, we use a French coffee press to make bigger batches of tea - it works great!

Enjoy this herbal blend hot or iced.

Enjoy a cup on cold winter mornings and evenings to chase away the winter chill. They also help chase away colds and are so comforting. Try adding a squeeze of lemon and raw honey when serving. Or make it sugar-free by sweetening with Stevia Glycerite (recipe on this blog). About 4 drops Stevia Glycerite is all you need to sweeten your mug of herbal tea! We find that a cup of hot herbal tea helps us relax before bedtime.

During the heat of summer, try brewing as a sun tea, and then serve chilled with some Stevia Glycerite to lightly sweeten, maybe a splash of lemon or lime and lots of ice. Iced herbal tea makes a great thirst quencher and is so much better for your family than sugar-filled sodas, and such.

To your health,

Leila

Exotic Jasmine Spice Tea - Herbal tea formula #8 in a series (Caffeine-Free)

Time for Tea

Jasmine Spice Tea


This is the eighth in a series of herbal tea recipes I created and have posted on this blog. I hope you enjoy them all.

Jasmine Spice Tea: This delicious herbal tea is naturally caffeine-free. The jasmine flowers are delicate and sweet, and enhance the rooibos perfectly. The blend of spices make this tea even more exotic, and also enhance digestion. Drinking this fragrant, high antioxidant tea is a perfect way to end your evening.


JASMINE SPICE TEA Formula:

22 grams Red Rooibos Herbal Tea
11 grams Dried Jasmine flowers
8 grams Dried Orange Peel
8 grams Cinnamon Bark Chips
3 drops Cardamom Essential Oil
2 drops Clove Bud Essential Oil
1 drop Cassia Essential Oil


Method:

Place the dried orange peel and cinnamon bark chips in a small glass jar with an air-tight lid.
Drop the essential oils onto the orange peel and cinnamon, seal jar tightly, and shake well.
Add the rest of the dried herbs and shake to mix.
Let the flavors blend in the tightly sealed jar for a time, before brewing into a tea.

Store air-tight in a cool dark place.

Dried Jasmine Flowers

To Brew Herbal Tea:

Bring purified water to a boil in a stove-top kettle.
Place 1 to 2 teaspoons desired loose leaf herbal tea blend into a cup.
Pour about 1 cup boiling water over the herbs and cover the cup.
Allow to steep 5 minutes.
Strain and sweeten if desired.
Enjoy!


Sun Tea Preparation:

Fill a 1/2-gallon jar with purified water.
Fill a reusable tea bag with desired herbal tea formula (or pour herbs in jar and just strain out later).
Set the jar outside in the sunshine for 6 hours or so.
Chill the tea.


Tips:

You may use a bamboo tea strainer or Tea-ball to make straining your teas a snap.

At our house, we use a French coffee press to make bigger batches of tea - it works great!

Enjoy this herbal blend hot or iced.

Enjoy a cup on cold winter mornings and evenings to chase away the winter chill. They also help chase away colds and are so comforting. Try adding a squeeze of lemon and raw honey when serving. Or make it sugar-free by sweetening with Stevia Glycerite (recipe on this blog). About 4 drops Stevia Glycerite is all you need to sweeten your mug of herbal tea! We find that a cup of hot herbal tea helps us relax before bedtime.

During the heat of summer, try brewing as a sun tea, and then serve chilled with some Stevia Glycerite to lightly sweeten, maybe a splash of lemon or lime and lots of ice. Iced herbal tea makes a great thirst quencher and is so much better for your family than sugar-filled sodas, and such.

To your health,

Leila

Sleep Well Tea - Herbal tea formula #9 in a series - Designed for a deep restful sleep.

Time for Tea

Sleep Well Tea


This is the ninth in a series of herbal tea recipes I created and have posted on this blog. I hope you enjoy them all.

Sleep Well Tea: I designed this soothing and gentle tea to help relax you and ease you into a deep restful sleep. It has a delightful lemon flavor and is mildly cooling on the throat. Enjoy this tea anytime you want some comfort.


SLEEP WELL TEA Formula:

0,60 ounces (1/2 c.) Dried chamomile Flowers
0.40 ounces (6 T.) Dried Passion Flower Leaves
0.25 ounces (1/4 c.) Dried Lemongrass
0.25 ounces (5 T.) Dried Spearmint Leaves
0.20 ounces (2 T.) Dried Skullcap
0.20 ounces (5 ml) Organic Lemon Essential Oil


Method:

Measure all the ingredients by weight, even the lemon essential oil.

Place all the dried herbs in a small glass jar with an air-tight lid.
Drop the lemon essential oil onto the herbs, seal jar tightly, and shake well.
Let the flavors blend in the tightly sealed jar for a time, before brewing into a tea.

Store air-tight in a cool dark place.


To Brew Herbal Tea:

Bring purified water to a boil in a stove-top kettle.
Place 1 to 2 teaspoons desired loose leaf herbal tea blend into a cup.
Pour about 1 cup boiling water over the herbs and cover the cup.
Allow to steep 5 minutes.
Strain and sweeten if desired.
Enjoy!


Sun Tea Preparation:

Fill a 1/2-gallon jar with purified water.
Fill a reusable tea bag with desired herbal tea formula (or pour herbs in jar and just strain out later).
Set the jar outside in the sunshine for 6 hours or so.
Chill the tea.


Tips:

You may use a bamboo tea strainer or Tea-ball to make straining your teas a snap.

At our house, we use a French coffee press to make bigger batches of tea - it works great!

Enjoy this herbal blend hot or iced.

Enjoy a cup on cold winter mornings and evenings to chase away the winter chill. They also help chase away colds and are so comforting. Try adding a squeeze of lemon and raw honey when serving. Or make it sugar-free by sweetening with Stevia Glycerite (recipe on this blog). About 4 drops Stevia Glycerite is all you need to sweeten your mug of herbal tea! We find that a cup of hot herbal tea helps us relax before bedtime.

During the heat of summer, try brewing as a sun tea, and then serve chilled with some Stevia Glycerite to lightly sweeten, maybe a splash of lemon or lime and lots of ice. Iced herbal tea makes a great thirst quencher and is so much better for your family than sugar-filled sodas, and such.

To your health,

Leila

Yummy Sun Warrior Butterscotch Protein Pudding (Low-Carb, Vegan & Sugar-Free)

Butterscotch Pudding with Crispy Toasted Almonds and Monkey-Break Bananas.

Here It is as promised... Now you can have dessert for breakfast. 

Here is our delicious low-carb, sugar-free Butterscotch Protein Pudding recipe! First we came out with a yummy chocolate protein pudding. Next I will be posting a recipe for Vanilla Protein Pudding!

We love these puddings because they are really good for you and they are very enjoyable to eat. I feel good about offering this to my family, and you can too. Like the chocolate protein pudding, this is low-carb, sugar-free, gluten-free, corn-free, egg-free, dairy-free, and vegan.

You also get a nice dose of healthy coconut oil in this recipe. Research the virtues of coconut oil if you are unfamiliar with it's health benefits.

This pudding is silky, creamy and dreamy. You will be very surprised when you review the ingredient list. It is unusual but trust me, it's good. It is very quick to mix up a batch in your VitaMix (high-powered blender). This pudding is"cooked" just like the Sun Warrior Chocolate Protein Pudding. You can then transfer it to serving size mason jars and store in your refrigerator, and it will be ready when the cravings hit. It freezes beautifully too.


Sun Warrior Butterscotch Protein Pudding Recipe:

3 c. hot water
1 1/4 c. Sun Warrior "Warrior Blend" Raw Vegan Vanilla Protein powder
1/2 to 1 c. Golden Lakanto Zero-Calorie Sweetener, to taste
3 T. deodorized coconut oil
1 T. caramelized ghee  (or omit and just use 1/4 c. coconut oil)
1/4 c. raw cashew butter (could try roasted cashew butter)
1/4 c. Kitchen Cheetah's sugar-free maple syrup
1 c. deep orange baked yam (without skin)
1/4 t. Kitchen Cheetah's BioSalt
Kitchen Cheetah's Stevia Glycerite
Butterscotch flavor, to taste (or vanilla and butter flavor, plus rum or brandy flavor)

Method:

Place the HOT water into a VitaMix blender container.Then add the 1 1/4 cup protein powder, and 1 cup Golden Lakanto.

Put the VitaMix lid on and blend on medium speed just until combined. Turn off the blender and then scrape down the sides of the blender.

Secure the lid on tightly and process on highest speed until steaming hot and perfectly smooth. The temperature should reach at least 130 degrees F. for the pudding to have the best texture and flavor (don't go over 170 degrees). The friction of the blades heats the liquid after a short time. Measure temperature with a thermometer.

Turn off the VitaMix, remove lid and add the rest of the ingredients to the blender, except for the stevia glycerite and flavoring.

Place lid tightly on and process on the highest speed until the pudding is steaming hot and smooth. Scrape down the sides as needed (with the blender turned off!). If the mixture gets a little too thick, use the "Tamper" to help it along. 

Turn off the VitaMix, Taste the pudding. Add stevia glycerite, a few drops at a time, to taste if you want the pudding sweeter. Add flavorings to taste.

Give a final blend and taste for balanced flavors.

Portion finished pudding into serving-sized jars and store in the refrigerator. The jars of pudding also freeze well!

To Serve:

A good way to serve this is to top the pudding with sliced or broken bananas and crushed gluten-free pretzels. Pour your favorite cold, milk over top and dig in! Our favorite milks are whole organic milk, almond mylk, coconut/almond mylk, or cashew mylk.

Notes: 

This pudding thickens more when chilled due to the coconut oil content. If the chilled pudding turns out thicker than you would like, just stir in a bit more water to suit your individual taste.

We add the flavorings to the pudding to make the most of the butterscotch flavor and to make the least of the pea protein flavor!

Enjoy,

Leila & Nancy,

Fresh Figs & Cream for Breakfast

Here is a super easy, delicious breakfast when figs are in season

This is so simple, and we wanted to bring this yummy dish to your attention.

I enjoyed eating this for breakfast at my mom's house after we went and picked figs together. I especially enjoyed taking off my sandals and climbing the fig trees to get the ripe ones on the tippy-top! We got to go harvest figs twice while I was there. So fun!

Some of the figs we picked and brought home.

Here are some "blond" figs too!

My mom calls this "Fig Mush". It's delicious, whatever you choose to call it!


Fig Mush Recipe:

Fresh figs
Organic whole milk
Organic cream
Stevia glycerite, optional
BioSalt, optional


Method:

Snip fresh figs into a serving bowl.
Pour over some milk.
Pour over some cream
Add a drop of stevia glycerite to sweeten further, if desired
Stir and add a pinch of BioSalt, if desored.

Snip the fresh figs into little bite-sized pieces.

Pour milk then cream over top. Sweeten with a drop of stevia glycerite if desired.

Blond Fig Mush.

Enjoy,

Leila & Nancy.

Refreshing Iced Rooibose Tea Recipe (Caffeine-Free Sugar-Free)

Stay hydrated! This healthy iced tea is a great way to do that.

Now that the weather is starting to warm up, I wanted to share with you a delicious recipe for a very refreshing, healthful iced tea.

If you have not heard of rooibose tea before, it is a very tasty herbal tea that is very high in healthful antioxidants and is naturally caffeine-free. I love using it as a base for my Herbal Chai and Thai Tea beverages. I also love it alone, hot or cold. Look for rooibose at your local health food store, or online.

I have included different sweetening options for this iced tea. I usually cut the amount of granular sweetener called for by at least half and enhance the sweetness with Stevia Glycerite, to taste. It makes the cost of the sweetener alternatives less expensive to use, and it tastes just as good. Stevia only tastes weird or bitter if you use too much. Most people use too much. In a large mug of hot herbal tea, I only use about 4 drops of stevia, just so you get an idea of how much to use. Sour things may need more sweetener, obviously.


Caffeine-Free Rooibos Iced Tea recipe:

5 cups purified water
3 Rooibose tea bags (remove any paper tags)
4 to 5 T. Raw organic sugar, or 5 T. xylitol, or 6 T. erythritol or Lakanto zero-cal sweetener
2 lemons
1 lime


Method:

Bring 4 cups water to a boil, remove from heat and add tea bags. cover and steep several hours, or preferably overnight. The stronger the tea, the better. Store in the fridge until needed.

Dissolve the sweetener in 1 additional cup of hot water and stir until dissolved.

Juice the lemons and lime.

Remove and squeeze dry the rooibose tea bags. Add the 1 cup sweetened water and citrus juice to the rooibose tea. Mix and serve over crushed ice.


Notes: 

If you choose, reduce the above sweetener by half and add a few drops of stevia glycerite, to taste.

You may also try steeping the rooibose teabags with cinnamon chips too.


To make 2 liters:

Place 4 Rooibose tea bags inside a 2 liter jug. Pour boiling water to fill the jug and let steep 5 to 10 minutes. Add about 5 to 6 T raw organic sugar or other sweetener of choice, to taste. stir to dissolve. Remove the teabags when the tea is strong enough for your liking, or leave teabags in and chill for a few hours in the fridge. Do not dilute with ice at this time.

You may like adding chopped fruit to your glass of ice (chopped apple, a lemon slice, orange, pineapple...).


Enjoy!

Leila

Sweet Perfection Copy-Cat recipe (All-Natural Sugar Substitute)

This is an all-natural,  super simple sugar-free formula to make at home. 

IMO powder - A fabulous sugar substitute.

We like to make our own Sugar-Free sweeteners. We make several intense sweetener blends, bulking sugar blends and several mixtures combining both bulk sweeteners with added intense sweeteners. We make many different formulas for different applications. It gets complicated, but we love it.

We already have posted some sweetener blends on this blog that you can make yourself:

Stevia Glycerite (Now brand Copy-Cat)
Copy-Cat Truvia
Low-Carb Vanilla Sugar
Low-Carb Brown Sugar
Low -Carb Pancake Syrup #1

We love IMO powder and (IMO Syrup). We also love erythritol, and xylitol. We love using stevioside (stevia), although not usually alone. We also love monk fruit extract and citrus extract. There are more, but most of them are not available to the public. We would LOVE to introduce them to you, maybe with time, we will be able to be a source for you.

Make a small batch of sweetener at first and then try sweetening mild herbal tea with it or try it in a smoothie. It's easy to adjust. Its easier to add more IMO that it is to reduce the amount of stevia, obviously.

Look online for IMO powder, monk fruit extract, and pure, white stevioside extract.


Sweet Perfection contains:

99 % Oligofructose from chicory root fiber (a prebiotic fiber that doesn't increase blood sugar)

1 % Organic stevia

Serving size: 1 t. and contains 3 calories and 3 g fiber.
Each 20-ounce bag costs $22.95 and contains 3 cups.


To duplicate this I use:

99%   IMO powder (like VitaFiber from http://www.bioneutra.ca/faq.htm)
1%   95 to 98% pure stevioside powder (without maltodextrin or other bulking fillers)

Method:

Mix ingredients together Very well. Putting in a blender on very low speed works great.
Store air-tight and use as you would sugar.



A newer Sweet Perfection formula contains:

99.5% Oligofructose from chicory root fiber
Organic stevia
Monk fruit


To duplicate this I would try:

99.5%   IMO powder
0.5%   Combined intense sweeteners:
      0.3%   95% to 98% pure stevioside powder
      0.2%   Lo Han Guo (monk fruit) concentrate powder

Method: 

Premix your intense sweeteners.
Dilute a tiny amount in water and see if you like the ratio of stevia to monk fruit. Adjust as desired.
Mix VERY well with the IMO powder.
Store air-tight.
 

Note: IMO stands for isomalto-oligosaccharide

Sweet Perfection's label.

Have fun experimenting!

Leila & Nancy.

Copy-Cat Bragg's Ginger Spice Apple Cider Vinegar Drink Recipe (Sugar-Free)

My Copy-Cat version of Bragg Organic Apple Cider Vinegar All Natural Drink 

- Ginger Spice flavor

This drink is for those of you who are health conscious. Because this drink is not like a diet Coke...I'm just sayin'.

A dear friend of mine came over to my house drinking this bottled beverage. Of course I was curious. She likes it and says it is a definite pick-me-up. I  tasted it, and when I heard how much a bottle of it cost, I looked at the ingredient list and then I told her I thought I could duplicate it. It costs pennies to make yourself. She left me the bottle with a bit of the drink left in it. I figured out how to make the drink at home the next day and sent her the recipe.

This drink is not for everyone, but it is strangely good. You may have already heard about the health benefits of drinking a little apple cider vinegar daily. We know that ginger is amazingly good for us too. The 2 together are an improvement for the vinegar, I must say. I like not having any sugar added and the stevia does a nice job of sweetening this beverage without calories.

When I set out to duplicate a recipe, I always look at the product's ingredient list. I write down the ingredients like you see below. I leave space for me to write in the recipe amounts. I do a sensory test of the product and take notes. I source my ingredients and then get to formulating. Just in case you were curious. Personally, I think it's fun to formulate.

This is the ingredient list on the Bragg Ginger Spice bottle:

Pure distilled water
Bragg organic apple cider vinegar
organic ginger
organic stevia extract

Here is my formula...

Ginger Spice Apple Cider Vinegar Drink Recipe:

Yield: 1 quart
Difficulty level: Easy Peasy

Ginger Water Concentrate:

2-inch piece of raw ginger root
2 c. distilled or purified water

Ginger Drink:

Ginger concentrate, to taste
1/4 c. raw apple cider vinegar (like Bragg's) (plus 1 T. more for a tarter version)
1/4 t. stevia glycerite (recipe on this blog, or use Now brand)
Water to make up a total of 1 quart


Method:

Grate or finely mince the ginger into a medium-sized pot.
Add 2 cups water and place on the stove.
Bring to a boil, then turn down to a simmer.
Simmer, covered, for 10 minutes.
Take off heat and allow to steep. Let cool to room temperature.
Strain, pressing the pulp dry.
I like to add a bit more water to the spent ginger pulp and puree a bit in the blender and strain again.
Pour the desired amount of ginger concentrate into a 1-quart glass jar. (I pour in all of it!)
Add the vinegar and stevia glycerite. swirl to mix well.
Top off with water.
Taste and add more ginger or vinegar as desired.
Chill or serve over ice.


Variations:

Add 2 T. chia seeds
Add a pinch of tumeric powder
Add some real maple syrup, to taste (not sugar-free)


Some benefits of drinking apple cider vinegar: 

Contains antioxidants
Improves blood sugar levels
Antibacterial, so helpful for a sore throat

http://www.doctoroz.com/ says,
"Drinking apple cider vinegar before a high-carbohydrate meal improves insulin sensitivity—slowing the rate of blood sugar levels rising—in people who are insulin resistant (a prediabetes condition) or have type 2 diabetes, according to a 2004 study. The researchers note that vinegar may possess physiological effects similar to the anti-diabetes medications acarbose and metformin."
http://www.doctoroz.com/article/people-are-drinking-vinegar-should-you 

Enjoy,

Leila

Photos of the process (making a double batch):

I freeze my ginger and then grate the amount I want for my recipes.

Grate the ginger while it's still frozen. Here I have about 4 inches worth for a double batch.

Put the pot on the stove with 2 cups of water. Simmer covered, and then let steep.

The ginger has brewed and cooled somewhat and is ready for straining.

I use a fine mesh bag draped over a mason jar strainer to easily strain and then squeeze the ginger dry.

Pour ginger brew into fine mesh bag to strain.

Tightly squeeze the ginger dry.

Put the ginger root in a blender with 2 c. more water (for a double batch) and blend.

Yield: 4 cups ginger concentrate.

Now I am making my Ginger Spice Apple Cider Vinegar Drink. For my double batch I used the full 4 cups ginger concentrate.

Best served cold, over ice! Are you fighting off a cold? Add a pinch of cayenne and drink hot or cold. I like to add a little bit more ACV to make it more therapeutic. A touch more stevia added is fine too.

Author, Leila Wood.