Friday, February 18, 2011

10th International Herb Symposium

Hey east-coasters! Holla' back now!

I'm thinking about attending this symposium with a portion of the profit I earn from my minimum wage job this summer...

Wanted to post it in case others are interested. Check out the topics and see if they wet your appetites.

Also, there is a Women's Herbal Conference: http://www.womensherbalconference.com/, which sounds pretty awesome as well. Don't know if I can attend that one, but thought I should include it in this post.

Another idea: What if we all went to Burning Man this year and had our own tent? Our trade item could be home-made medicinals.
Comments?

Only love!

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

BREAD!

Hey Folks! Want to bake? You know I do! ;-)

Kripalu Herb Cheese Bread

2 3/4 C very warm water
1 T active dry yeast
3 T honey
1 C unbleached white flour
1 1/2 C whole wheat flour
1/4 C canola oil (or butter, or olive oil)
1 T salt
1 t dried oregano (any of these fresh is great, just add more, like a T)
1 t dried basil
1 t dried thyme
1 t dried dill
1 t dried marjoram
1/2 C grated mozzarella cheese
1/2 C grated cheddar cheese
1/2 C grated parmesan cheese

1) Mix honey with warm water and add yeast, let sit for 2-3 min. If it bubbles and foams in the middle, you know you're yeast is good.
2) Add flour, oil, and salt. Let stand 10 min.
3) Lightly flour a surface (and have some spare flour in a bowl if dough is too wet) and knead dough for 10 min. (yeah, it's a work-out)
-after 2-3 min. of kneading, add herbs
-after 7 min. of kneading, add cheese
4) Place in well-oiled bowl and cover with clean cloth. Keep in a warm place for 40-60 min. rising time (or until dough has doubled in size).
5) Punch down dough and shape into a mound. Let rise again another 30 min.
6) Roll out and place in 2 oiled pans, or shape to your liking (I like to roll some garlic or tapenade inside for extra fancy times).
7)Bake at 375 Farenheit for at least 45 min. If you can knock on the bread and it sound hollow, you should be good...check bottom of bread to make sure. When bread is done, remove off pan immediately and let cool on rack.

Sunflower Oatmeal Bread

1 1/4 C warm water
1 pkg. or 2 1/2 t active dry yeast
1 1/4 C warm buttermilk (you can use milk or yogurt, or make some buttermilk)
1/4 C honey
2 T molasses
2 T butter (room temp)
1 C whole wheat flour
1 C regular rolled oats
3/4 C sunflower seeds
1 egg beaten
2 t salt
5 1/4-5 1/2 C all-purpose flour

1) mix warm water with a little of the honey, add yeast and proof.
2) add other wet ingredients, in another bowl mix dry, and then mix all.
3) cover and let rise until double (~1 1/2 hours).
4) punch down and divide into 3. Let rise 10 min.
5) shape and brush with beaten egg (i don't always do this, because there is often left over egg, but you can always fry up the extra for a small snack:) ).
6) sprinkle with sunflower seeds, oats.
7) let rise until doubled.
8) bake @ 375 Farenheit for 30-35 min. until bread sounds hollow when tapped. Remove from pan and let cool on rack.

PS Sorry lyss kiss, I am unsure of any alterations for gluten-free baking. I hope to learn more soon!

LOVE!



Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Parasites and Magic Papaya


a picture of my notebook, since no evidence remained of the papaya

LAS SEMILLAS

I've been suffering from a stomachache for a few days/weeks. Another traveler recommended las semillas de papaya, and I instantly remembered reading in that herb book that papaya seeds, a spoonful chewed, helped with stomachaches, especially contra parasites (most likely the issue). I tried it, and a few hours later, felt great! Great enough, even, for a splash of posh (Chiapas sugarcane moonshine).

Normally, in a land where pineapples and coconuts and mangoes run free, papaya is not my preferred fruit. But after slicing one open for the seeds, intending to give the fruit away, I ate the entire thing. Guess I'm a born-again papaya lover.

Love from here,
moonrose
aka BLUE LUNAR STORM (my mayan kin)
xoxo

Sunday, February 6, 2011

west coast herb schools

this is an incomplete list, if anyone knows of other ones leave a comment and i will add it. i think it would be useful to have lists of all the herb schools we can find out about in the different regions of the us!

OREGON
elderberry school - portland, oregon
meghan went here, i think, and had mixed reviews of it.

portland school of traditional western herbalism - portland, or
matthew wood's school.

CALIFORNIA
california school of herbal studies - forestville, ca (sonoma county)
this is the school rosemary gladstar started and i have heard many good things about it. the cost also seems reasonable for the amount of instruction time.

northwest school for botanical studies - arcata, ca (humboldt county)
never heard of this one.

ARIZONA
southwest school of botanical medicine - bisbee, az
michael moore's school. i think they only do correspondence courses.

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Just in case you haven't heard of this site and you're wondering how to make leggings...


http://www.threadbanger.com/


P.S. TheMooner, will you post your delicious bread recipe?

In Need of Notes

Hey loves,
Just wondering if anyone would be willing to send me a copy of their notes of Michelle's talk on Women's Herbs. My arm was incapable of writing that day.
Cheers from the snowbank!