Herb Mother

Homestyle Desert Ranch Juevos Rancheros with desert rhubarb.

Rinse greens well. Saute butter, garlic and balsamic vinegar in pan. Use enough balsamic vinegar to reduce and create a nice thick sauce. Add greens, and saute until wilted and fully cooked. Heat corn tortilla, place greens on tortilla, add a fried egg over greens, and top with favorite salsa. Enjoy!

I was really excited to find this little guy popping up all over my folks place in Cornville, north of the valley near Sedona. I first encountered the desert rhubarb in New River and though I had a hunch it was some kind of dock, I was really hoping it was yerba mansa as I’ve been on the hunt for that plant. But a wise botanically adept friend let me know I had discovered the rumex instead. As soon as I found out what it was, I of course got to searching for it in my books. Turns out it has been widely used as food and somewhat as medicine forever. The greens a bit bitter and citrus tasting they are often added to other greens and the stalk is used in a similar way other rhubarb is used in pies and deserts.

The roots are astringent and can be used as wound healers for cuts and rashes and apparently as a sore throat gargle. I dried and powdered them to add to our tooth powder as well as a wound powder I’ll be making and sharing about soon. The beautiful roots were also used to dye clothing and material. If I had more time here I’d definitely be trying this out too.

I was really excited to discover the amazing color on the inside of the root. Rosalee suggested making jewelry from them, and I am on the hunt to figure out how to preserve these beauties to do just that. Any ideas????

As always my eager helpers, the girls really enjoyed digging and sorting these beautiful desert treasures.

Now, here’s an interesting part of the story. Both my parents got really sick after eating the greens. My husband and I were fine. I don’t tell you this to scare you away from trying out these delicious greens. Just for full disclosure. I know these greens can have some bitterness that may be irritating to the stomach lining if eaten in excess and not cooked enough. So a good rule is to boil them a few times, changing the water each time to cook off that oxalic acid a bit better. We’re not sure if it was the greens, or something else since D and I were fine, but do want to let you know in case it happens to you.

Thanks to the gals at the Wild Foods RoundUp for the inspiration to go out and try em!

Love and besos,
latisha

I have the great honor of a writing a feature for the ever inspiring WishStudio today. Hop on over and check it out. Thank you Mindy!

We shall not cease from our exploration
And at the end of all our exploring
Will be to arrive where we started
And know the place for the first time
~T.S. Eliot

I’m a natural gypsy soul. I love to try anything once. I’ve lived on a beach in Spain. I’ve taught English to Vice Presidents in the Czech Republic. I managed six figure retirement plans in Washington when I was 19. But none of those experiences have been as fulfilling as finding my creative muse as a mama. And don’t be fooled, it can be tricky business…….Read more!

It’s hard to know how to share what in this space anymore. There is so much going on in my world. So much change, and awakening that is hard not to share. But the creating of this space was born out of a love of herbs. Not just as medicine, but as a sensual vocabulary expander. I love everything about plants. The way they smell, touch, feel, and make you see in a new way. They are the gentle hands that guide me back to the earth. Every day.

For me they are sacred. Not in some etheric intangible way. Playing with aromatic healing delicious herbs opens us up for experience beyond the mundane. Even with something as simple as an afternoon snack. A few months ago, I went to a friends house and she had some delicious edamame hummus from Trader Joe’s. Sage, my little munchkin who rarely eats anything but meat devoured it. Being the ever industrious (read cheap ass) that I am, I knew I could make it myself. So I set my sights on recreating this delicious treat.

I found some organic non-GMO edamame and got to work. The shelling of four pounds of edamame brings a certain connection in and of itself. Not unlike the memories I have sitting on the front porch with my grandmother and aunts shelling countless pounds of peas drinking sweet tea, swatting away the mosquitos. This particular morning, it was just me and a view to die for: two desert pixies flittering around the garden eating flowers. A practice in seeing. It was time I needed for settling in to a good moment. The ones we live for. Working with plants, whether it’s for food or medicine or pleasure allows us to entertain a primal need to act from our senses. A place rooted in the need for survival but also where our most innocent experience is born. Where we *know* the treasures of life.

The plants for me are something of the heavens. The children of earth sun alchemy, a direct gift from source for nourishment and pleasure. A chance to be reverent for something that is delicious and joyful and simply fun to make with. Eventually I mastered the edamame hummus well enough to be a big hit in our home. And, to be honest I think I could give Trader Joe’s a run for it’s money.

As always my recipes come with little precision and lots of love. But give it a shot. You won’t be disappointed.

Cilantro Edamame Hummus
A giant bowl of shelled and cooked edamame
A handfull of pepitas (pumpkin seeds)
A drizzle of olive oil
One big bunch or two grocery store boxes of fresh cilantro
A head of garlic or four
Some lime juice, salt, and pepper

Blend in a food processor. Enjoy with carrots, chips, pitas. Save some to share.

Love and Besos,
Latisha
p.s. there is still time to enter the giveaway for a FREE word of the year pendant from Stacy.

And I’d be most grateful if you passed this post along using your favorite eShare tool by pinning, digging, liking, linking, tweeting etc.

In honor of the Goddess Temple, I’m holding space for Hecate this week, well trying anyway, and had a wee vow for silence. But when you surround yourself with visionary women, it’s hard to ignore the work they do for a simple principle of silence. So I’m stepping out for this one.

I have been wanting to write about the word of the year bracelet in the picture above for so long, but never found the right inspiration. So here’s the skinny, this woman has been mindfully and lovingly crafting the mantras that have carried me through the last four years with grace. She is stepping into her dreams in a big way welcoming her perfect artist studio. As another work from home mama to two girls, giving herself the gift of this expanded and solitary space inspires me to no end. I’d like to help her on her way by sharing her beautiful work with you.

Choosing a word for the year, can seem, well like a lot of responsibility. But, it’s so worth it. Every year I feel like I’ve failed my little silver circle until about March. Yup, just when spring rolls around, I can see the past year with dewy eyes and experience every moment I lived with intention toward my purpose for that year. I remember distinctly in 2009 when I was at my darkest moments, the jingle that came with the new artistry at my wrist reminding me to always maintain a Joyful Mind. I look back fondly at 2010 when I shyly joined my first women’s circle, tiptoed into an open invitation to an art gathering, and said yes to a stranger’s invitation as the Community I had always hoped for circled around me. I smile, a little crooked looking upon 2011, when I broke out of my shell to answer the call of my Community with a Joyful Mind as I asked myself over and over again, ‘What would Courage do?’ and fully stepped into my roll as teacher, healer, and herbmama.

This year I reach out to Maitri my tree. To develop unconditional friendliness to myself, not forgetting the years that have come before to give me the foundation and reminder to do so as I build my little herb loving empire. I’ve chosen to put these markers on a bracelet, with each year stamped on the back. I’ve chosen to tell my story in these words. To share it as it becomes written and so that my girls can one day grasp each of these precious circles in their own heart and hands as they tell my story, their story to their children. Our stories are important. Our legacy is worth remembering.

In support of my dear siStar Stacy, I am offering to begin building a word of the year pendant to *you* in a giveaway.

Rules:
*Please leave a comment sharing what your word would be.
*One entry per person please
*Comments will be closed Thursday March 22nd
*Winner will be chosen by random number generator and notified Friday

What story do you need to tell?

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I have so much enjoyed reading all of your delicious words. It’s a comforting feeling to be in such good company. You are all so inspiring. Thank you so much for participating. She’s moving into her studio soon and I can’t wait to see what deliciousness comes from her expanded view.

The Winner Is:

Donata who’s word is:
Clarity, a clear mind, a clear heart, a clear path, clear reasoning, clear communication, Clarity.