FI really love spring…..I love all the other seasons, too…However, there is just something, for me about spring that makes me aware of new beginnings, regeneration, new growth and the hope that fills my heart with Joy.

Yesterday, as I was in the gardens at A Thyme for Herbs…I was so happy to see that the beautiful “Miss Violet” is blooming in all her wonderfulness!    It is said that if you gather the first violet in the spring your dearest wish will be granted(but first, you must ask her permission).  Ancient Greeks wore the violet to calm tempers and induce sleep.                                                          This little jewel in our gardens is so amazing, not only does she share her beauty and her wonderful fragance that is soooo uplifting, she also shares many medicinal properties that are so beneficial to us.  Fresh violet tea is very yummy,  she can be used for poultices, cold infusions, Violet flower syrup…just to name a few….Her principal actions are primarily demulcent, astringent, bitter.  She is great for the lymphatic system, however first and foremost Miss Violet nourishes, so eat her flowers and leaves(be sure the leaves are the very young ones), she is rich in minerals and abundant in vitamins A & C, and is  wonderfully soothing  for inflammation of the sinuses, just to name a few of her healing abilities….

From Hildegard of Bingen’s(who practiced herbalism over 800 years ago) we were given, what she felt was one of  her best skin remedies, The Violet Salve, which is effective against scar tissue:  she says “Take violets, press their juice, and strain it. Weigh olive oil to one-third the weight of the violet juice, and take goat’s fat exactly the same weight as the juice.  Let these three ingredients simmer in a new pot and it will become a salve.”

So, while in my gardens and being out in Nature, I will definitely take time to stop, admire and pay homage to this wonderful little Lady of our plant kingdom.   For she is special, there is much we can learn from her, remembering, always  to be grateful for the  many, many gifts that she is so willing to share with us.   Thank you, thank you, thank you, Miss Violet, we honor you.

Many, many green blessing and joy to all.

Once again,  we had a wonderful GATHERING  at  A THYME FOR HERBS on this last Saturday…so many wonderful beings showed up and were present, thank you, thank you, thank you….At each of these GATHERINGS all of the food that are created and shared will be in  the up coming book, HERBS, FOOD & LOVE Cookbook…which is really great for me, because I have all you wonderful “food tasters” out there who give me feed back on all of the recipes, once again I am filled with Gratitude and Love for all of you.  Everyone seemed to like this one and  I was asked to share this one before the book is published…so here you are..

HERBAL KALE QUINOA “LOVE NUGGETS”

(My adaptation from Cheryl ‘s recipe at Everyday Dishes)

Preheat oven to 400 degrees; lightly grease a baking pan(cookie sheet works best)

2 1/2 cups cooked quinoa, cooled; 4 cups kale, cleaned, deveined and chopped small; 3 large eggs, beaten; 1 tsp. sea salt;  1/4 cup fresh parsley;  1/2  yellow onion, diced; 1/2 cup chives, chopped; 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated;   3 cloves garlic, minced; 2 tbsp. nettles, dried; 1 tbsp. alfalfa, dried; 1/2 tsp. basil, (using *chiffonade technique); 1/2 tsp. tumeric; 1 tsp. cilantro;  1 tsp. flaxseed, ground;  1tsp. eluethero; 1 tbsp lime juice;   3 tbsp. lemon juice;  3/4 cup of finely ground bread crumbs(I used gluten free bread and ground my own); 3 tbsp. Extra Virgin Olive Oil(EVVO) and a dash of cayenne pepper(to taste); garnish with Limes or Lemon and always with  a huge dash of Love & Gratitude.

 1. In a medium mixing bowl combine quinoa, eggs, parmesan cheese, chives, nettles, basil, tumeric, cilantro, alfalfa, flaxseed, eluethero, salt and cayenne.                                                                       2.  Over medium heat let your skillet warm  up then add EVVO, let it heat until just before it smokes( the oil will kind of “wink” at you…don’t let your pan smoke)   add  the onions and garlic and sweat for about 3 minutes, then add Kale until it is soft and bright green in color. Let cool for a few minutes.

3.  Add quinoa mixture and kale mixtures in a large bowl, then mix in bread  crumbs, lime juice and lemon juice, and mix,  I used my hands to mix(got more love into it that way).  The texture should be just sticky enough to hold together nicely.

4.  These can be made as patties, but I prefer them in 2-3 inch rolls. Place them on a lightly greased baking (cookie)pan, and leave in oven for 17 – 2o min. or until the bottoms are browned nicely, then  flip them and bake another 5 minutes ( this always depends on oven temperature variables);  remove from oven, these can be served hot from the oven or at room temperature (they are yummy with sour cream or greek yogurt as a dip)

*Chiffonade Technique:  This is for leafy vegs. or herbs like basil, stack the leaves into a little pile and then roll the pile up as if it were a cigar.  Then, you cut the cigar into little threads, or ribbons.   When chopped rather than using this technique,  both basil and mint will quickly turn black because the enzymes in them do not react well when exposed to oxygen, this is the least invasive way to work with these herbs

I hope you have a much fun as I did making this recipe, Lots of Love, From My Heart to Your Heart and many, many Delicious Blessings.       Dixie

It is spring and my thoughts and actions have turned to Detoxing my body…I call it “Spring Cleaning”.  Unfortunately, our lives are Toxic, sad but true, there are toxins in our food, our water, the very air we breath and our own bodies produce toxins as a result of the metabolic processes that keep our body in good working order.

There is much written about toxins and what they are..but just to recap…A toxin is any substance that creates harmful or irritating effects in our bodies, that undermine our health and impair our bodies proper function.  WOW!  Pretty scary….This is not to scare you, but to awaken you to information and techniques that will guide you so that you can  make educated decision to obtain balance and optimum health.  Some of the benefits of cleansing are: improved health; increased energy, better digestion, restful sleep, weight loss, better flexibility not to mention the mental and emotional benefits.

So what do we do??  We remember that food is our medicine and we do a gentle Detox….First, we look for signs that we need to detox…do we have aches & pains; allergies; anxiety; headaches; constipation; depression; and fatigue…these are just a few of the symptoms….does this sound like you????  If so you probably could  use a detox  but, ( always BEFORE you  detox, check with your primary care physician, as not everyone should do a detox because our bodies are all unique).  There are many ways to detox so it is important to listen to your body signals to determine the one you need that will best serve you.

For myself, I have chosen a gentle detox program…I am using a gentle Organic Cleansing Tea Blend consisting of Burdock, Oregon Grape, Dandelion root, Licorice root, Nettle, Peppermint, Ashwagandha root and Marshmallow root( this blend can be purchased at  A THYME FOR HERBS).  After my cleanse with the tea and juices for a day, I will then eat a diet of Organic greens, vegetables, fruits, vegetable soups, brown rice, some  Wild fish, small amounts of Organic chicken,  nuts and whole grains…I will be drinking lots of water so I do not get dehydrated.

Here a recipe for a Spring Tonic Soup (my adaptation from “14-Day Herbal Cleansing” ~~ Laurel Vukovic)

This is a delicious cleansing tonic soup that can be used all year long…very loving for your liver,  kidneys,  immune system and basically your whole body will love it.

1 small leak, sliced thin; 1/2 cup  sliced shitake mushrooms; 1/2 cup carrots, sliced; 1/2 cup bell peppers; 1/2 cup kale; 1/2 cup bok choy;  1/2 cup dried nettles or 1 cup fresh; 1 inch piece of fresh  minced ginger; 2 cloves minced garlic; 1/2 tbsp. Ashwagandha root powder; 1/2 tsp. tumeric;  2 tbsp.  extra virgin olive oil(EVVO);  5 cups veg. stock or water; 2 tbsp. light miso, or to taste; 1/4 cup chopped parsley; freshly ground pepper.

1.  In a large pot over medium heat, make sure your pan is heated, then add EVVO, and jus your pan starts to smoke (you will note that your oil kind of “winks” at you) then, saute leeks, shitake mushrooms, carrots,  bell peppers, kale, bok choy; fresh nettles (if you are using dried nettles, add later),  and garlic until vegetables have softened, usually takes about 5 minutes.

2,  Add vegetable stock and bring to a boil, lower heat, cover and simmer for about 10 min.  Dilute miso in a small amount of hot broth and add to soup,  if you used dried nettles, add at this time,   add  Ashwagandha root powder, tumeric, cover and simmer for  1 hour.  Allow to cool for 5 minutes, add freshly ground pepper  and garnish with parsley.  Add a large pinch of Love & Gratitude…..Enjoy!

Note:  If you cut all your vegs. the same size, they will cook more evenly.

From My Heart to Your Heart, many, many Delicious Blessings,    Dixie

 This is the  AMAZING GARLIC HERBAL IMMUNE SOUP recipe that we served during the October Gathering in Arnold at A THYME FOR HERBS….hope you enjoy this delicious soup while you are supporting your Immune system …..

Ingredients:

1 Tbsp. extra virgin Olive oil

1 Tbsp. butter(organic)

1  Onion (large) chopped(organic)

2 large heads of garlic (peel the cloves and chop)(organic)

1 apple, chopped & peeled(organic)

1 qt. homemade chicken broth or canned(organic)

2 Tbsp. fresh parsley or (1 Tbsp. dried )(organic)

2 Tbsp. fresh thyme or (1 Tbsp. dried)(organic)

1/2 Tsp. Eleuthero Root (organic)

1/2 Tsp. Ashwagandha Root(organic)

1/4 Tsp.  sea salt & fresh ground pepper

1/2  cup,  half and half(organic)

Garnish with fresh parsley(organic)

Heat the oil and butter in a large pot over low to medium heat. Add onions and garlic

and saute. Cover & cook stirring until soft and just beginning to turn brown, about 20-25 minutes.

Add apples, continue to cook for 10 more minutes, occasionally stirring.

Add stock and herbs, bring to a boil…reduce heat and simmer for about 15 minutes.

Puree the soup in your blender or (this is best) with an immersion blender.

Salt and pepper to taste, then add the half and half and simmer, stirring.

Remove from heat and top with chopped parsley.

Note:  how these herbs support your  Body system:

GARLIC: supports Immune system, Lung ailments, high & low blood pressure, parasites, infections; headaches; nervous disorders; colds; flu; fevers; earaches; sprains, etc.

ASHWAGANDHA ROOT:  restorative, rejuvenating; reduces stress, fatigue & low energy; protects the Immune system; improves memory, learning & reaction time; helps reduce brain-cell degeneration; lowers cholesterol; anti-inflammatory; enhances sexual potency for men & women.

ELEUTHERO ROOT:  relative of Ginseng; tonic; calming;great for insomnia, bronchitis, chronic lung ailments; lowers blood pressure; reduces cholesterol levels, stress & impotence.

PARSLEY:  rich in iron and vitamin C; diuretic; supports the urinary tract; cancer preventative; supports gallbladder and helps expel gallstones.

THYME:  Tonic; good for fevers; nervine, good for  relief of nightmares; used for lung troubles, coughing & asthma; relieves headaches and acts as a mood elevator.

WOMEN’S   EMPOWERMENT   STUDY   CIRCLE

Personal & Spiritual Growth ~~~~ Expansion ~~~~Conscious Evolution

“Unlimited Potentiality, Space for Pure Potential”

“We are all Spiritual Beings having a physical  experience and many of us are waking up to the awesome power of our true inner selves, outside the confines of ego-based desires and realities.  If this resonates with you, this could be the group for you…This group is intended to serve as a space to come together in discussion.”

This is a heart centered group of like-minded women who are looking for a different possibility in their lives, to grow, expand, evolve spiritually, consciously, mentally, physically and make a difference in their World and our Planet.

This is not a religious group, but rather a spirit, mind and body exploration circle that will be meeting once a month to explore and expand our conscious evolution, our growth.  We are seekers who are willing to remember who “we really are and why we are here.”  All seekers are honored and welcome…. This “space” is intended to accommodate and support various individuals….We welcome teachers, healers, and students who are beginning or have been on their journey for a long time.  This circle serves as a safe “playground, a sacred space” in which guidance and support is provided through talking, sharing, creating and contributing to one another, demonstrations, presentations, discussions that will provide opportunities for greater understanding of your world, our Universe, Humanity and our Planet as a whole.

WHEN:  TBA     TIME:  TBA        COST: Love Donation- $10(to help pay for the space)

Please bring finger food or a snack to share

WHERE:  TBA

CONTACT:  Dixie Lee Norkoli, dndixiereiki@gmail.com

There is nothing quite like being out in Mother Nature, along a creek, on a trail or in the forest on a beautiful clear day walking among the plants and listening to the stillness and the messages that we can receive if we are aware….when we are silent we can hear them whisper,  immersing ourselves in their Magic….within  the deep connection(if we are worthy) we are  then given permission to receive their gifts of healing, joy, peace and harmony….this is such an honor and makes my heart sing…..speaking from a “dirt worshiping tree huggers” point of view…..

Harvesting plants is a part of an ancient tradition.  For me, wildcrafting is an art and a spiritual experience, a chance to connect with Pachamama (Spirit of Mother Earth).  As with all beings we need to ask permission, state our intention, and our gratitude…before we begin to harvest.  To collect plants for their medicinal properties or therapeutic use, it is my belief that expressing your intention to the plant is as important to the making of medicine as are the herbs chemical constituents, and thus therapeutic properties.  Studies have shown that plants are affected by the emotional, spiritual and physical environment (time of day and conditions, etc.) in which they are gathered.

In Belize, the medicine makers and Shamans pray to the plants as they harvest: “I thank the spirit of this plant and have faith with all my heart that this plant will cure the ills of the people.”  Other herbalists simply say, “help and heal” as they collect the plants.  It is said that if one does not thank the plant, its spirit will not follow you home to help.  Once harvested, this spiritual connection continues throughout the processing of the herb.  Every step is taken with consciousness and appreciation for each plant tht has given its life so that a human being may benefit from its properties and actions.

Another important spiritual aspect of wildcrafting comes from simply being familiar with the wild plants.  Familiarity: knowing the names, recognizing and knowing properties of plants in one’s local invironment, provides a certain security and comfort.  If the economy crashes or one becomes “lost in the woods,” the wild plants can provide nourishment, survival, and healing at many levels.  There is little doubt among gardeners, plant lovers and “tree huggers,” that plants and people create an  affinity with one another.  Plants can “speak” to you, guide you and help you in times of ill health.  They provide beauty, uplifting vibrations and some can even remove toxins from the air.  There is something unique and special about the teaching of the plant kingdom….all we need to do is be in nature mindfully, be silent and listen… listening…. so that we may hear their voices……this alone can be a healing experience, just being in the beauty of Nature….Thanks for checking in with this “dirt worshiping tree hugger”….I am off to the woods to learn and enjoy the energies of the “Plant Kingdom”..so until next time, many, many Green Blessings

Pets and the Rainbow Bridge.

What a wonderful day, just got back from visiting “The Mighty Zues” (my grandson)…many of you may know Zues, he is a most wonderful little Pug dog you have ever seen and he not only runs my daughter and son-in-laws life, he can be found 5 days a week at A THYME FOR HERBS(you see, he runs that place, too)……..Then just as I drove into my driveway…I was greeted by 2 more wonderful little Pugs(belonging to one of my neighbors….And I was reminded that this is the first time in my life that I have not had pets….All my life, from childhood I have always been blessed with dogs, cats, horses, sheep, goats, you name it I had one………One of my friends once told me that if she was re-incarnated, she wanted to come back as one of my pets…..And I started remembering all the wonderful  animals in my life….I remember the joy and love we shared…but, I also remember the pain and sorrow when they had to leave this earthly plain.  It is very hard to explain to someone who is not a “pet person” what it feels like when you have lost a pet, the grief you feel can be as strong as for any human member of your family.  I still greive for my little corgi, Cappy(she passed in 2005) and my wonderful big Bear dog(Irish worlf hound, lab and german shepard mix)…..you may have heard the phrase “Angel Healing Dogs”, well that was my Bear…..I miss them both and they are with me daily.

Just recently, I discovered the “Rainbow Bridge Poem” and for those of you that have felt the pain and loss of your dear pets…I believe this will give you comfort, it did it for me….

“Rainbow Bridge Poem”  author unknown

Just this side of heaven is a place called “Rainbow Bridge.”   When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to ‘Rainbow Bridge”.  There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together.  There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.  All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor.  Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by.  The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.  They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance.  His bright eyes are intent; His eager body quivers.  Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.  You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again.  The happy kisses rain uon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.  Then you cross “Rainbow Bridge” together.

May this bring you peace and comfort……..Namaste

The Magic of Herbal Cookies.