Blueberry Lemon Balm Tarts / Approximately 50 mg per Tart

I think Blueberries & Lemon Balm pair really well together. When combined into a tart we have a simple recipe for easy sharing with therapeutic dosing, and who doesn't love a good homemade tart with therapeutic dosing? This is a multi-step recipe, but it is worth the process.

The Tart:

2 cups all purpose, organic flour

1 T honey or maple syrup

1 t salt 

2 sticks butter, softened.

1 egg

2 T raw milk

10 grams fresh Lemon Balm leaves

Vanilla caviar from two vanilla beans

To make the dough: in a medium sized bowl, mix together the dry ingredients, then add the honey, butter and egg. Mix well. Add milk and mix until everything is pliable. Divide the dough into half and shape each into rectangles, approximately the same size. Wrap in plastic wrap or waxed paper, and refrigerate for roughly an hour. While the dough is cooling, make the tart filling.

The Filling:

2 cups blueberries

1 t lemon balm tincture

1 ½ T lemon juice

⅓ cup succanat or ¼ cup honey

1 T arrowroot powder

1 T water

*Note: initially I used a standardized tincture with 1:3 ratio, thus equaling 330 mgs total, divide this number by the number of tarts. This dosage can change depending on the strength of your tincture.

To make filling: in a medium saucepan, add all of the filling ingredients - EXCEPT: the Lemon Balm Tincture: Warm and simmer over low to medium heat, stirring often. Once the filling is thickened to jam like constancy, turn off the heat and add the tincture, stir well. Allow the mixture to cool.

To Assemble and Bake Tarts:

1. Place one piece of the dough on a well-floured area and roll out in a rectangle shape with about ⅛ inch thickness. Repeat with the second piece of dough. Trim so that each sheet of dough is close to the same size.

2. Cut out of each sheet small rectangles, about three by four inches in size. Setting aside each matching pair, until the dough sheets are used up. My first batch made seven tarts, so this means I had fourteen rectangles.

3. Working with one pair at a time, place a generous heaping spoonful of the blueberry mixture into the center of the rectangle, and smear to about ¼ of inch of edge. Add the matching dough top and crimp all the edges with a fork. Repeat until each tart is filled.

4. Note: I measured each filling amount exactly, until I had used all my tart bottoms. Then added my tops. This way I could better track my medicinal application for the Lemon Balm. I wanted a measurable outcome with a purpose. 

5. Gently place the tarts on a lightly greased baking sheet, pricking the tops a few times with a fork. Preheat your oven to 350, then bake the tarts approximately 30 minutes or until golden brown. 

6. Remove from the oven and allow to cool. When the tarts are completely cool you can glaze them if you choose. I decided to blend some blueberries and a little cream cheese with a touch of honey, until smooth, then used this to frost my Blueberry Lemon Balm Tarts.

Calendula Cinnamon Scones with Orange Zest

 I wanted to create a medicinal loaf of Calendula Sourdough, because I believe that herbs can be added to the diet to help maintain wellness. Or to make an additional avenue for herbal delivery, especially with children or the aged. When I created my Calendula concentrate for the sourdough, I wasn't thinking of the benefits of Calendula or its potency, and therefore I killed the sourdough lift and loaf.

After some thought and some rethinking, I had success with these Calendula Cinnamon Scones with Orange Zest. This recipe is very forgiving and can be adapted to fit a person's dietary needs. 

Calendula Cinnamon Scones with Orange Zest Recipe

2 cups All Purpose Flour, Unbleached

2 Tablespoons Sucanat Sugar

2 Teaspoons Baking Powder

1/2 Teaspoon Salt

1/2 Teaspoon Baking Soda

1/2 Teaspoon Nutmeg

1/2 Cup Cold Butter

1 Tablespoon of Calendula Powder

1 Tablespoon Cinnamon

Zest of 1 to 2 Oranges, your choice (I used two)

1/4 cup Orange Juice

1/2 Buttermilk, or milk of choice

...

In a medium bowl, mix all the dry ingredients, except the Calendula powder, together. Then cut in the butter until it resembles crumbles. Stir in liquids and then add the Calendula powder, knead smooth, about six to eight times. Pat into eight-inch circle, on slightly floured surface and then divide into eight scones.

Place the scones onto a baking sheet and sprinkle the tops with Calendula petals and sugar. Bake twelve to fifteen minutes at 425. Or until golden brown/done. Option: You can incorporate the Calendula petals into the dough as well, or instead of the tops. Also, you may play around with the Calendula powder here, just add additional liquid for proper consistency. 

This recipe delivers approximately 300 mg of Calendula in eight scones. 

 

Calendula {Calendula officinalis} is a member of Asteraceae family, related to the Chamomile, Yarrow, and Dandelion. It has many beneficial properties such as helping fight inflammation within mucus membranes, addressing fungal and yeast issues - hence why I think it negatively impacted my sourdough - and is known for its effectiveness with skin issues.

Easy to grow, Calendula often reseeds and thrives in a variety of soils. The blossoms are most used, and if you are interested you may read more about Calendula here. 

Let me know if you make the scones and your thoughts.

 

Simply Herbal: Thymus Vulgaris

 I believe in using what you have or what you can easily access. I believe in not having to know everything, but what you do know - know well. This includes herbalism. While I am all for learning new things and growing in one's scope of abilities and interests, I don't feel one needs to look to the next 'thing' in order to be wise, effective and able. Let me say it this way: if your herbal knowledge is only of those botanicals that require you to purchase and import from afar, in order to have them in your possession - then you have enabled a middleman... and I am all for cutting out as many of those as possible. It is better to know a handful of herbal remedies well, than to know a little about many.

Which brings me to this series - Simply Herbal - where my goal and hope is to help inspire you to learn, use and possibly grow effective botanicals for your home apothecary. To get to know the simple things effectively and to help encourage a connection to your bioregion and foster confidence in your journey. 

Herbalism is just as much art as it is science, to me it is kind of like baking bread. You have to get your hands in it, to be able to tell what is needed next. For you and for your apothecary. 

Let me introduce you to Thymus Vulgaris // used for intestinal gas; stomach upset, respiratory concerns, heartburn, bronchitis, pertussis, sinus issues and coughs. She is an expectorant, antimicrobial, and often used as an astringent. Thyme in her whole herb form has been used to help a variety of fungal concerns, along with her essential oil. I must state here that while I love and appreciate the use of essential oils, I do prefer whole herbal applications most often. This is due to the various constituents working synergistically with the whole botanical, thus utilizing the plants wholistic benefits verses an isolated compound. 

This doesn't mean I don't use Essential Oils, just that I believe they have a time and a place. That being said, Thymol - is pretty potent in its own right and definitely should have a space in the home.  

Thymus Vulgaris // of the family Lamiaceae // is used within our home in many forms. In the kitchen, a culinary delight with a knowing flavor - we use it in salad oils, baking, in meats and soups. In the apothecary, as a main ingredient for steam inhalation and topical skin oils. In the garden, a pollinator attractant and genuine flowering beauty which is lovely to watch grow. 

Thyme grows well in a sunny, fertile area with a PH near 7.0 and is easily divided once it becomes too big for the area. I usually purchase one plant from a reputable nursery and divide from the mother plant as needed.  

This month we created Thymus Oil for skin concerns that may arise later, culinary Thymus oil for homemade salad dressings and we used dried Thymus for steam inhalation. I also checked on our Thyme plant in the garden, to make sure it was surviving the winter well. Below I will link some simple recipes/applications to get you started, and hopefully share my recipe for Thymus Oil at a later date. 

Thymus Infused Oils for the Kitchen: HERE

Thymus Tincture: HERE

Thymus Vulgaris Essential Oil: HERE

*After years of using essential oils and botanical remedies, I have personally weeded through a lot of fluff and marketing and wasted a lot of money. So, I am extremely picky on what I bring into my home now. I know what things that I am willing to spend money on and what I am not, and I say this because when I share links for companies it is because I have used them. Recipes are another matter. :) 

Hopefully this sharing encourages you to start simple, to start small and to create. As I am able, I will add some of our own recipes and applications. For now, spend some moments learning about Thymus Vulgaris and her benefits, plan some space in your garden for her... she also does well in a pot on the windowsill. 

Til' Next Time...

Five Notes on Herbal Dosing & Home Preparations

The topic of dosing can be a somewhat controversial subject among modern herbalist. Often times being one the biggest challenges for an herbalist to face. With the numerous herbal preparations, blend potentials and the various dosing guidelines – it could leave one wondering how to choose the best method for success. But the need to address dosing should not be ignored and here's why:

Five Reason's You Should Not Disregard Dosing:

 

• The standardization of herbal remedies use what is called the '150 pound rule'. Meaning that the recommended doses on the bottle of a standardized supplement are for those individuals weighing an average of one hundred fifty pounds. This means if you weigh more or less than that weight, you will need to dose up or down for the herbal remedy to keep it's standardized effectiveness. Unless otherwise noted.
  

• Children offer a whole new complexity. For this reason, there are a variety of 'rules' known among herbalists regarding dosing. I personally am focused on two, attempting to commit them memory, as well as keeping them handy for reference. These are known as Clark's Rule and Freid's Rule - you can read more about pediatric dosing guidelines and the formula here. Freid's Rule – similar to Clark's – is for infants and small children.

• Counting drops doesn't always offer the same precise measurement and dose. This is because a drop can vary in remedy strength, due to dropper size and liquid viscosity. It's often fine for home use, with safe herbs. However, it's wise to remember that it is not precise and that drop dosing, when used, should be utilized in the metric system. 
• No concern for the strength of a herbal remedy, the quality of the herbal matter or even accurate dosing can result in either dangerous overdosing or inadequate usage. One factor at play here is the use of whole herbs vs. liquid extracts. Whole herbs must first be broken down by the digestive system before they are available for the body to use. The bodies ability to break down the herb effects the bodies ability to absorb the supplement. This is just one element to consider when dosing and/or making preparations. 

• The method of extraction is another important factor to consider in dosing, one reason for this is because using alcohol with water-soluble compounds, such as mucilage or tannins, creates a dilution in the alcohol. Resulting in a lower concentration or potency of the remedy. This in turn effects dosing.

These note highlights were from my first herbalist course, and I have carried them with me over the years. Solid reminders as I grow and a new season approaches. Encouraged by the next step in my herbal education.

Please Remember: I am not a Doctor, nor a Medical Advisor - these are simply educational notes from my own gleaning.