The key to great flavor is to use the right herbs.

Fresh herbs that you grew at home are always best.

In a pinch though, dried herbs will fill the bill.

If you have a question about herbs, please use the form below to ask your question to our local Herbanite.

What is an Herbanite? – - Just think “Herb Guru with a Hat”

Herbal Salad Dressing Recipe

• Thyme
• Olive oil, extra virgin, organic
• Parsley
• Chervil
• Chives
• Tarragon
• Rosemary
• Vinegar

You can always improvise and use what you have on hand.

Many of us did.

Time to give yourself some positive motivation and recommit yourself to vibrant health.

I know I for one, ate and drank this past holiday season. It was a good time, but now I am committing myself to  30 days of 80% raw foods including raw fruits and veggies along with raw nuts and seeds. Who wants to join me? Use the comment box below to share your thoughts.

Today’s video is called the hangover smoothie. Even if you don’t have a hangover, it’s a great energizing smoothie recipe. Try it for breakfast tomorrow .

• Almond milk
• Honey
• Oatmeal
• Flax
• Maca powder
• Cinnamon
• Banana

Modify the recipe to taste and available ingerdients. Smoothies are a great way to start your day by including some good nutrition into your diet.

Try to find positive ways to motivate yourself in your weight loss and healthy living efforts. Beating up on yourself or feeling sorry for yourself tends to be not very productive. Often finding a friend to help keep you motivated and accountable works well. Try to find a buddy to give yourself positive reinforcement.

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It is a guaranteed formula for causing excess acidity in the body. And on top of that, a sure fire plan for weight gain.

Some health food gurus say, if you are going to have dessert with your meal, just eat it first, and give it a few minutes to digest, before the main meal.

A better option is to make a healthier dessert and include some plant foods that contain natural enzymes. Pineapple and basil are both known for their digestion benefits.

The Secret to Good Pineapple

The secret with pineapple is this; it must be fresh. Canned pineapple won’t do a thing for your digestion. The best way to make this recipe is to cut up a fresh pineapple and chill it yourself. Frozen pineapple from the store is a distant runner up to be used only for convenience sake.

Grow African Blue Basil

Video: How to Grow African Blue Basil.
Special thanks to HerbFest.net

Bromelain is the enzyme in pineapple that is responsible for it’s digestive benefit. The canning process destroys bromelain. Bromelain is good for breaking down protein, this is what makes it such a valuable enzyme.

What can I say about Basil? Well it’s green for starters, almost any green plant is going to be good for the body and alkalinity. Go Green! Basil has been praised by herbalists as a tonic for digestion.

I think I will make some of this myself this afternoon and enjoy it as an afternoon snack. I still have some nice basil plants growing in my garden.

Food Enzymes

Benefits:

• Supplements the body's production of important enzymes.
• Provides a blend of enzymes to digest proteins,carbohydrates and fats.
• Provides hydrochloric acid and bile salts to help digest proteins and fats.
• Helps prevent or relieve occasional indigestion.

Pineapple Basil Sorbet, Dessert Ingredients

• Fresh pineapple, chilled / frozen
• Fresh Basil leaves, grow it yourself and pick if you can!
• Ice cubes
• Coconut milk

Stick it all in the blender and give it a whirl, super quick and easy.

Nutrition in a Pineapple

Vitamins B1, B2, B12, C, PP, carotene, iron, zinc, copper, potassium, calcium, magnesium, iodine, manganese

It is also wheat and gluten free.

This is a great tasting raw food recipe that replaces regular raisin bread.

Make some today and let us know how you like it.

Raw Carrot Raisin Bread,  Ingredient List

• 3 cups shredded carrots, Use food processor
• 1 cup soaked raisins
• 1 vanilla bean or 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 tsp spice of choice: nutmeg, pumpkin pie spice, cinnamon
•  1/2  cup raisins
•  1/3 cup shredded coconut, preferably unsweetened, hard to find in some grocery stores, shop somewhere else if yours does not have it.
• 1/2 cup chopped pecans or other nuts
• 1 cup golden flax seeds, grind seeds just before adding to recipe. Do not use pre-ground flax seeds, they go rancid quickly and you may not be able to tell by the smell.
• 1/3 or so cup golden flax seeds-ground for rolling the bread in
•  Optional: Pinch of sea salt

This recipe is high in fiber, healthy fats from the flax seeds and a good amount of vitamins, minerals and anti-oxidants.

Almond butter makes  a great topping to spread on this carrot raisin bread.

If you don’t have a dehydrator, place in the oven, at the lowest possible setting.

Annmarie Gianni does a great job of  showing us how to make this recipe, in this video.

Please us the comment box below to share your recipe ideas, or let know how you liked this recipe after you try it.

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Here is one phenomenal tip, replace the everyday breakfast of toast, bagels, doughnuts, eggs, bacon and whatever else, with a green smoothie

They are quick and easy to make and nutritious.

You can get creative with your own ideas, experiment and come up with something delicious.

Mom’s Green Smoothie Ingredients

• 1 cup of pure water
• 10 grapes
• Baby spinach handful
• 1/2 Cucumber
• 3/4 cup Strawberries
• 1/2 cup Pineapple
• 1/2 Banana
• 1 tsp Hemp seeds
• 2 tsp Chia seeds
• 1/3 Cilantro

Put it all in the blender and enjoy! This provides healthy omega 3 fats and a bit of protein along with loads of anti-oxidants. Makes a great breakfast of snack. If you feel like you need something more substantial, have a handful of nuts or a can of sardines along with this delicious, nutritious green smoothie.

I have personally been drinking green smoothies for a few years now, almost every morning, but not every single morning (variety is good). I have a basic recipe and I vary the ingredients from day to day, based on what is growing in the garden and what is in season. Fresh locally grown foods are best, but any fruit or vegetable is better than a bagel or doughnut!

I would love to hear about your favorite smoothie recipe. Please us the comment box below, thanks for reading and watching today.

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People everywhere seem to be suffering a personal energy  crisis.

I admit from time to time I indulge in a little extra caffeine for extra energy.  Nobody is perfect.

Today I would like to share a healthier version of the energy drink.

Looking for a healthier energy drink? Get some caffeine, without all the added sugar or artificial sweeteners. Solstic Energy is sweetened with Stevia, contains vitamins and natural fruit flavors. 

Buy direct from NSP...

Mix with water, tastes great, or add to other beverages like the recipe on this page.

Solstic Energy
• Reduces physical fatigue*
• Increases mental clarity and focus*
• Helps body mobilize fat stores to be used as fuel*
• Increases exercise endurance and stamina*
• Provides energy for daily tasks*

Healthy Energy Drink

• Strawberries
• Peach
• Banana
• Garden greens
• Purified water
• Ice Cubes
• 1 packet Solstic Energy

Blend ingredients and enjoy!

Everyone knows that artificial sweeteners are bad right? Well maybe not, because there are a lot of products out there that contain them.

Try doing a Google search on “Artificial Sweeteners” and  see what comes up. Educate yourself.

In season, locally grown foods are always best.

Add some nuts, dark chocolate and coconut and you have a nice summer healthy snack recipe.

Substitute whatever ingredients you happen to have on hand.

Yes, I used apples in this recipe, which are not in season now, but the strawberries are. I used what I had on hand. I opened the frig and pulled out what I had. It would have been a notch better to use all fresh and locally grown fruits.

Looking for a healthier energy drink?
Get some caffeine, without all the added
sugar or artificial sweeteners.
Solstic Energy is sweetened with
Stevia, contains vitamins and natural fruit flavors.

Buy direct from NSP…

I would love to hear your healthy snack suggestions. Share with the world, by using the comment box below.

Here are the ingredients for this healthy snack recipe:

• Fresh strawberries
• Half an apple ( or substitute some other locally grown in season fruit for better results)
• Almonds
• Brazil nuts
• Pumpkin seeds
• Cashew butter
• Seaweed like laver or dulse (optional)
• Organic, unsweetened coconut
• Dark chocolate

This would make a great food for a picnic or other summer outing. This delicious bowl of goodness makes a great snack or could even be an entire meal. It contains healthy fats from the nuts as well as some protein, fiber and carbs. A much better alternative to chips, candy bars or other junk foods.
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This one is especially sweet, because it has natural sweetness from fruit.

Some people just cannot stand vegetables.

Here is a smoothie recipe for the dedicated veggie hater.

A lot of people know that vegetables are good for you, but just do not like the taste or texture.

Love and Peas Protein Powder

• Provides 20 grams of vegetable protein per serving.
• Is free from common allergens, dairy, lactose and gluten.
• Contains a powerful antioxidant blend.
• Offers a balanced amino acid profile.
• Is certified vegan.

Buy direct from Nature's Sunshine

This smoothie has enough sweetness, that you might consider sneaking in  a small amount of greens powder, or maybe just one leaf of a vegetable.

That way you can gradually and slowly introduce some vegetables into your body, without having to deal with the taste or texture.

Vegetable Hater Smoothie Ingredient List

• Strawberries, preferably fresh and in season
• 1 Peach
• Blueberries
• 1 Banana
• Chocolate whey protein, or rice protein if you are sensitive to dairy.
• Purified water
• Almonds, raw if you can get them
• Optional for the brave: greens powder or a leaf or two of a green vegetable

Start by soaking the almonds in the water for a bit first. If you have actual raw almonds, you could soak them overnight and discard that water, starting your smoothie with fresh purified water. Otherwise, just soak the almonds for a few minutes in the blender, while you prep the other ingredients.

Put everything in the blender and blend, it’s that quick and easy. You don’t need a super expensive blender like a vita mix to do this. It does help to have a better quality blender though, as the cheapo models may struggle with this.

If you are so inclined you could add a few ice cubes, instead of so much water.

This is a colorful and refreshing salad, quite different from your standard, lettuce based salads.

Give it a try for something different. A great spring recipe that is packed with nutrition and full alkaline food goodness.

Jicama Salad Recipe Ingredient List

• Jicama, a root vegetable
• Red or Yellow Bell pepper
• Cucumber
• Lime
• Red onion
• Olive oil
• Sea salt and pepper

This is a great recipe for raw food enthusiasts. If you have a favorite recipe, be sure to share it with everybody, using the comment box below. Thanks for reading and watching today.
This would go great on a picnic.

Modify this recipe to your own delight and taste bud pleasure, based on what ingredients you have handy.

Easily substitute spinach, kale or other greens for the garden vegetables, if you don’ t have a garden, or if you live in the north and your garden space is still covered with snow.

Banana, Nut Smoothie, with Garden Veggies. Recipe Ingredient List

• 4 cups purified water in the blender
• Half a large banana or a full banana, if smaller
• Walnuts, just a small handful
• Flax seeds about 1/4 cup
• Sprig of Rosemary herb, optional
• Large serving of organic greens, garden fresh is best, but store bought will do for people with no garden
• A few beet slices
• 2 small – medium carrots
• Chunk of ginger root
• Protein powder

Once again modify this recipe to your hearts delight, experiment with a wide variety of smoothie ingredients, have fun with it. The carrot, beet and banana provide natural sweetness. So if you are a beginner to the healthy eating scene, increase these ingredients and reduce the greens.
Here is a link to a good internal spring cleaning herbal tea >>>