Pesto, 3 ways!

Pesto is a quick and delicious way to add flavour to any meal! There are countless ways to make it. All you need is some kind of nut, some kind of herb, a vegetable oil, unrefined sea salt or rock salt, and maybe some citrus juice and/or roasted garlic for flavour. Sometimes I like to mix in some leafy greens (such as kale, mustard greens, or dandelion greens) with whatever herb I'm using to save money (herbs are expensive!!) and add some extra nutrients and a touch of bitterness. Feel free to experiment, and if you come up with a new delicious creation, be sure to let me know!!

Bone broth

Using bones to make broth is one of the eleven principles that the fabulous Dr. Weston Price discovered during his worldly travels studying the traditional diets of "primitive" people. It is an extremely cost-effective way of loading up on nutrients and healthy fats (especially if you're using bones and/or carcasses that you'd otherwise throw out), and makes soups, stews and kitchari taste amazing!!

Fresh Ginger Tea

My name is Jessica, and I'm a gingerholic.

Since I discovered fresh ginger tea, it's been the only tea I ever make. I have it every day, sometimes so much that it replaces all the water I drink! I am hopelessly, fabulously addicted to it and I've managed to get many of my friends and family addicted too! It's spicy and sweet at the same time, with a fresh, bright, energizing flavor.

Ginger is one of my favorite foods, which is lucky for me because it's renowned for its health benefits and has been used in Chinese medicine for thousands of years to treat many different ailments. Here are some of the things ginger is most famous for:

Coconut Raisin Almond Date Butter

This is amazing as a snack, dessert, or even for breakfast! If you want to impress someone or give it as a gift, roll it into balls and roll the balls in cinnamon, cocoa powder or almond pieces. This method will only work if the almonds have been dehydrated, since the butter will be too soft otherwise, and you will have to grind some of the almonds in your food processor first if you want to use them as a coating.

Potato Subji (Indian Spiced Potatoes) with Fresh Herb Raita

This is my all-time favorite way to make potatoes! I highly recommend making your own kefir or yogurt for the raita - it will be cheaper, tastier, and (especially if you are fortunate enough to have access to raw milk) full of wonderful probiotics and enzymes, which are essential for good digestion, longevity, and optimal health! Try eating enzyme-rich foods with every meal and you will be ASTOUNDED at how much energy they give you. (Translation: no more food comas!!!) This is because they are taking much of the burden off your digestive system by helping to digest your food before it even leaves your stomach!

Spicy Lemon, Basil and Roasted Garlic Hummus

This hummus is absolutely bursting with bold, vibrant flavors! My favorite way to eat it is wrapped in lettuce leaves with a tiny drizzle of raw honey. For a more traditional hummus, simply omit the lemon, basil, and cayenne.

Traditionally, a lot of time and care was put into preparing beans, resulting in optimal digestibility and nutrition. These days traditional methods have been largely abandoned in favor of canned beans and time-saving shortcuts, and the result is that beans have been given a "musical" reputation. Here are some tips for preparing beans so that your body stays nourished and your tummy stays happy:

How to roast garlic

I much prefer the mild, earthy flavor of roasted garlic to the overpowering bite of raw garlic, so I keep a bulb of roasted garlic in the fridge at all times to add to my cooking. This way there is also no need to tediously mince or crush garlic, and your fingers won't smell of garlic for days!

Roasting garlic is very, very simple. It does not need to involve olive oil, tin foil, or chopping of any kind. You don't even need to use a single dish or utensil!