Category: Herbal Remedies

Pickled Carrots and DUQQA (dukkah)

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EGYPTIAN Duqqa ~DUKKAH

SPICE OF LIFE! Sesame seeds found on bagels and hamburger buns are now enhanced or “stepped up a notch” with this century old mixture called Duqqa adds protein, rich nuts and spices to make your taste buds sing. 🎵

There are as many recipes for DUKKAH as there are Egyptian cooks. I like the protein from nuts and seeds. Tonight, having rainbow trout that I will dredge in DUKKAH. Sesame seeds are a must. Mix hazel nuts, walnuts, pistachio nuts, and/or pine nuts with the classic almonds.

Egyptian Dukkah Recipe

  • Servings: A Topping
  • Difficulty: easy
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INGREDIENTS

▢ Nuts: 3-4 tbsp each Hazelnuts, almonds and pistachios 
▢ Spices:
▢ 4 tbsp (1/4 cup)Sesame Seeds
▢ 1 tbsp Fennel Seeds
▢ 1 tsp cumin seeds (or powder)
▢ 1 tsp coriander
▢ 1 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
▢ 1/2 tsp. kosher salt (I use Celtic Salt)

INSTRUCTIONS
Toast/roast the nuts in the oven at 350F. Toast the sesame seeds in the oven in a separate small baking sheet. Watch for doneness!!
Dukkah depends on the freshness of the ingredients. Typically the spices are used whole, then crushed.
Combine the nuts, seeds and spices in a bowl. Crush and blend with the classic mortar and petal, or a food processor.
Pulse the processor until the nuts are well crushed. Do not over process to a powder form.

ROASTING NUTS AND SEEDS

Attempted to toast in a dry skillet on the stove top ends up with a burnt exterior and completely raw, untoasted interior. I have burned my share. Using the oven to toast your nuts is ideal because an oven provides uniform, even heat, which means that the nuts are going to be toasted from the inside out.

ROASTING TIPS🔥

Preheat oven to 350ºF. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Oven must be at a low temperature. Use an air fryer for convenience and speed. Cook the nuts only until they start to turn golden (a light brown) with parts still appearing raw. Your nose also tells you when they are done too.

Is Dukkah The Same As Za’atar?

I get asked this question a lot. The answer is: no. While Dukkah and Za’atar are two Middle Eastern blends that can be used similarly, they are clearly not the same in texture or flavor profile. DUKKAH is crunchy and granular. Za’atar , a finer blend, is a mixture of toasted wild thyme and sesame seeds along with sumac.

Pickling Instructions 🥕🥕🥕

Pickled Carrot Presentation

  • Servings: 2-3
  • Difficulty: easy
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INGREDIENTS

▢ 2 cups of pickled carrots (add zucchini + cucumber -optional)
▢ 1/4 cup fresh mint leaves (or basil)
▢ ½ cup of home made yogurt (see recipe) ~you decide how much per person)

INSTRUCTIONS/PRESENTATION
Add a large dollop of yogurt on your plate and spread it around
Place carrots (and zucchini) on top of the yogurt followed by fresh chopped mint or basil.
Finish with a sprinkling of DUKKAH on top of the vegetables with a drizzle of your favorite olive oil.

PICKLING PROCESS: Use a vegetable peeler to make carrot/zucchini/cucumber ribbons. Submerge veggie ribbons in a bowl with a mix of 1/2 apple cider vinegar and 1/2 water. Ready in one hour! Or, refrigerate overnight. I like adding pear ribbons. Tastes great. 🙂

FAST PICKLED CARROTS

You don’t have to roll your carrots and zucchini like I have done here. Alternate with carrot on the outside. Or place in jars randomly. These pickled veggies were placed in a large steel bowl marinating overnight and then placed in jars stored in the fridge for 1-2 weeks. You will use them up quickly. Hint: If you get peckish. Take a veggie roll from the jar and enjoy! Healthy snack!

Pickled Carrots 🥕 Is Good For Your Gut Health

PICKLED CARROTS offers vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.They are low in calories and fat, making them a healthy snack option. The fermentation process involved in pickling carrots (added mustard seed, 1/2 water, 1/2 vinegar) creates beneficial bacteria that support gut health.Cooking carrots depletes nutrients. Consuming pickled carrots in moderation can aid in weight loss due to their high fiber content. Adding pickled carrots to your meals provides additional nutrients.

DUKKAH (duqqa) with hummus is enjoyed as a dip or sandwich spread. Add pickled veggies as a burger topper. Sprinkle the Dukkah directly on the burger, chicken or seafood.

Using DUKKAH on so many foods encourages healthy choices as we develop good eating habits for better living!

Sprinkle Dukkah On Top Of Your Saurkraut/Carrot Side Dish!!

Add pickled carrots to sauerkraut. It softens the tanginess of the SAURKRAUT and adds good flavour. I also shred a raw potato to the sauerkraut and heat it up all together with the pickled carrots.(my German relatives recipe). OPTIONAL: serve with pork chops or sausages. 1 PROTEIN/Fat (sausage/port chops) plus 2 VEGGIES (carrot and cabbage).

Low Carbohydrate !!

Carrots are Complex carbs and Keto friendly. Very low carbohydrates. Carbs A cup (128g) of chopped raw carrots has 12.3 grams of carbohydrates, with 3.6 grams of fiber and 6.1 grams of natural sugars. Carrots are sweet! Almonds are not nuts they are classed as a stone fruit. Cashews are a fruit of the Cashew trees. As olive is a fruit too. The nuts you choose should come from a tree not in the ground(peanut).

AWE NUTS! Tree Nuts?

All these nuts are 15-18 gm weight. Eating dukkah does not involve a lot of calories since it is sprinkled on food.

Oven Roasted Tomato Sauce

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ROASTING FRESH TOMATOES, carrots and onions until they’re soft brings out natural sweetness. All you need is simple seasonings, like aromatic oregano (or herbed de province ) and a good hit of garlic, to enhance this delicious, velvety tomato sauce. Make a big batch to freeze for the winter.

Recipe

  • Servings: MANY
  • Difficulty: easy
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INGREDIENTS
3 pounds Roma tomatoes, halved
1 yellow onion, halved and sliced into ¼-inch half moons
6 large garlic cloves
2 carrots, peeled and cut into large pieces
2 teaspoons Italian seasoning (or herbs de province)
½ teaspoon red pepper flakes or Aleppo pepper, (add more to your liking)
Kosher salt
Black pepper
Extra virgin olive oil

INSTRUCTIONS
1. Preheat your oven to 450°F.
2. Prep the tomatoes and vegetables. To a large sheet pan (or two medium ones), add the tomatoes, onions, garlic, and carrots. Sprinkle on the Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, and a big dash of salt and pepper. Drizzle a generous amount of olive oil (about 3 tablespoons). ( I use a spray bottle ) all over the vegetables and toss to coat. Spread the vegetables well so that they are in one single layer and the tomatoes are cut side down.
3. Roast. Cook on the middle rack of the heated oven for about 35 to 45 minutes, or until the tomatoes have fully collapsed and the veggies have gained some color and charred in some parts.
4. Remove from the heat and set aside to cool briefly. If you like, use a pair of tongs to remove the tomato skins and discard (sometimes I just leave the skin on for texture when I want a chunkier sauce).
5. Blend. Transfer the tomatoes and their juices and the vegetables to the large bowl of a food processor fitted with a blade. For a smooth and silky sauce, close the lid and blend until you reach the desired consistency. If you want a rustic, chunkier tomato sauce, pulse until the tomatoes and vegetables are broken up to your desired consistency.
6. Use or store. Use immediately, or let cool fully before storing.

Tomatoes are the major dietary source of the antioxidant lycopene, which has been linked to many health benefits, including reduced risk of heart disease and cancer. Technically a fruit, tomatoes are found with vegetables—and they belong to the infamous nightshade family, which also includes eggplants, peppers, and potatoes. The carb content of tomatoes consists mainly of simple sugars and insoluble fibers. These fruits are mostly made up of water (95 %).

What to Serve with Roasted Tomato Sauce

Poaching eggs: Use just like the base Eggs. Bring the sauce to a simmer in a large, wide saucepan, then make holes to add the eggs, and cover until they’re set.
Meatballs or sausage: You can simmer the meatballs right in the sauce, or serve spooned over……
Pizza: Use as a base for homemade pizza.

meatballs with sauce/gravy – roasted sauce & poached eggs on a bed of hummus

To store: Transfer the cooled tomato sauce to airtight mason jars or plastic containers and refrigerate for up to 4 days or freeze for up to 4 months. If freezing, leave 2-inches of headspace. Once frozen the sauce will expand in the freezer. Thaw overnight in the fridge before using.

Are TOMATOES Good For Your GUT HEALTH?

Whether they’re adding a delicious pop of color to summer salads, or making your savory sauces sing, tomatoes are one of the most well-loved prebiotic foods around. Tomatoes support a healthy, balanced gut. Antioxidants in tomato sauce (cooked tomatoes) boost the helpful effects of L. reuteri, resulting in the overall positive effect on gut health.

FOOTNOTE: I added 🥕carrots after I learned they are a preventative measure against Alzheimer’s ( mom’s disease). Onions are good for your immune system and much more. Along with the roasted garlic, I would add one fresh minced* garlic to each jar. (A garlic farmer’s suggestion) at the very end! Feel free to enhance the recipe to your liking. Make it healthy!

Let me know what you think of this recipe. Do you have a favorite ❤️ way to ‘can’ or preserve tomatoes?

Herbal 🥃 Ice Tea * NO CAFFEINE

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My orange-turmeric herbal iced tea is one of my favorite summer drinks since school days. Enjoy your summer COOL drinks – refreshing and full of ready-to-absorb nutrients. Did I say easy to make? So easy – your road to good health!

It could be herbal ice tea she’s holding? 🥃 Use your imagination!

Orange -Turmeric Ice Tea

One summer, I was working at Ontario Place’s ( Toronto, Ontario, CAN.) beer garden, wearing a traditional German dirndl. A friend, brought in Celestial Seasonings’ “Constant Comment” tea 😋 when we visit [Today they replaced it with “Mandarine Spice Tea‘]. This was the FIRST TIME I tasted herbal tea in my life! You felt great during and after drinking herbal tea ~ with no caffeine. I think it was the orange zest that raised you to flavour town.

FUN FACT: Beer is made from herbs too called Hops. Hops act as a preservative and stabilizer. Barley and yeast are also in beer. Hops is used for women during menopause; that mimics estrogen.

Herbal teas, also known as HERBAL INFUSIONS

…and less commonly called tisanes are beverages made from the infusion or decoction of herbs, spices, or other plant material in hot water”.….published by wikipedia.org. Tastes best on a hot day!

Herbal Ice Tea

  • Servings: 6-8
  • Difficulty: easy
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INGREDIENTS
▢ The rind curls of 2-3 mandarin oranges (approx 1/4 cup)
▢ 2 tablespoon thinly sliced fresh turmeric root or ½ teaspoon turmeric powder
▢ 2 tablespoon thinly sliced fresh ginger root or ½ teaspoon ginger powder
▢ A few (4 or 5) whole black pepper corns or ¼ teaspoon black pepper powder
▢ 2 cloves
▢ 1 star anise (add 2 if you desire)
▢ 1 cinnamon stick (3-4 inches long break in half) or ½ teaspoon cinnamon powder
▢ 4-6 cups water (steep longer with more water) test taste throughout
▢ 2 tsp of tea leaves: green ‘gunpowder’ tea leaves or black tea leaves
▢ 1/2 cup mandarin orange juice (optional -use to taste.)
INSTRUCTIONS

  1. peel zest curls from clementines (about 1/4 cup).
  2. Boil 4 (6) cups of water
  3. Turn stove off and stir in sliced fresh turmeric, ginger plus the rest of the ingredients
  4. Place a lid on the mixture and leave for 3-5 hours to steep on your stove top. Taste and adjust
  5. OPTIONAL:Add or leave out the mandarin orange juice. It is a taste preference. start with 1/4 cup, then taste it
  6. Strain mixture into a pitcher and refrigerate. If your herb tea is too strong add water. Too weak? Boil your left over herbs and spices in 1 1/2 cup of water and add to your pitcher of tea.

It is clear that turmeric(anti-inflamatory) and ginger( heart health) have amazing power to boost your health by reducing inflammation and pain. Reduce joint inflammation. Reduce cholesterol. Curcumin in turmeric has also been successfully used in treating rheumatoid arthritis. Give your immune system a boost!

Turmeric Orange Tea

Buy online $38.99 U.S. In my recipe I used clementine or tangerine for an extra Yumm! I wanted to mimic my favorite Celestial Seasoning –>”Constant Comment”< tea. The closest now is their mandarin orange spice tea. There may have been conflict with Bigalow’s version inspired 75 years ago. But, I liked Celestial’s version the best. ..gone…today. It always brings a smile to my face. A memory from school days and still a favorite today.