Ginger Lemon-Lime Switchel

Switchel is traditionally known as the “haymakers punch”. It was the drink farmers would grab for in the 1700-1900s (before soda was a thing….). It’s known for being hydrating and energizing! Traditionally, when it was hot outside they would drink hot drinks to keep their body temp. similar to the outdoor temps. I LOVE that this was a thought for the farmers in the 1700-1900s because it is very much the thought of Traditional Chinese Medicine. (TCM). Although this drink is cool, it is warming because of the ginger!

I am by no means a TCM expert. But it is something that I love researching, learning about and is the base and methods for most of the recipes we use at home. I think it is a fascinating way to relate to your body and I have had such a better mind-body connection when I am following the TCM method.

The other day it was a hot, humid summer day here in North Dakota (my favorite kind of days). I was paging through one of my favorite TCM cookbooks and came across a drink that looked particularly refreshing — Ginger Lemonade Switchel. I didn’t quite have all the ingredients, so I made up this little ditty and WOW it is so refreshing. Perfect drink after a workout or to refresh on a hot summer day.

I can’t claim that I made up this recipe. Its was more of a Whatever-is-in-our-Fridge Switchel, but a lot of the time that is how I find my favorite recipes!

(Okay, I’m back. I had to go pour myself a glass after all this talking about it!)

Let’s chat about Mineral Essence for a moment.

Speaking of old farming ways….back then they used to have SO many more nutrients in their food. Because of the way farming is practiced now and all the chemicals…..are “food” is often a far cry from what they ate years ago. Young Living’s Mineral Essence is a balanced, full-spectrum ionic mineral complex. It helps us get the minerals we *should* be getting from our food. Ionic minerals are the most fully and quickly absorbed minerals available.

“You can trace every sickness, every disease, and every ailments to a mineral deficiency.”

-Linus Pauling PhD, two time Nobel Prize winner.

Fair warning, Mineral Essence has a strong…..essence. ha! But when you put it in this mixture you can taste nothing but goodness!

GINGER LEMON-LIME SWITHCEL

Makes about 2 Quarts:

• 1/2 c. Raw Honey

• 2 c. Hot Water

• 6 c. Room Temp Water

• 2 t. Apple Cider Vinegar

• 1 c. Freshly Squeezed Lemon + Lime Juice

• 6 Drops Mineral Essence

• 2 tsp. Fresh Ginger Pulp/Juice

• 1/4 tsp. Sea Salt

In a small saucepan mix honey and hot water, stir to dissolve. Pour into a 2-quart jar or pitcher and add the room-temperature water, vinegar, lemon + lime juice, ginger pulp, mineral essence drops and sea salt.

Keep in fridge for up to 1 week, shake or stir each time before serving.

*If you do not have fresh ginger, you can add 3-5 drop Ginger Vitality Oil!

*If you prefer you can use pure maple syrup over honey.

Ginger Blueberry Mocktail

I am a big fan of a good ol’ mocktail.

It you haven’t heard of the word mocktail before, allow me to explain. Mocktails hold all the deliciousness of cocktails without the alcohol. Most of the time half the fun of drinking the cocktail is because it’s fancy + fun, right? Enter: mocktails! Delicious, nutritious (at least the one’s I sip) and won’t leave you feeling like c-r-a-p the next morning.

I made this Ginger Blueberry Mocktail while at a friends cabin this weekend. It was dreamy; soaking up the sun, the smell of the grill and sitting by the water sippin’ this little number.

Does anyone else daydream about food and drinks like me?

Stepping into the kitchen is when my creativity comes out. I love trying new recipes, chopping veggies on the cutting board, traveling via the food on my plate. These are the things that make my heart skip a beat.

During this crazy time of the Covid Pandemic, I think we could all use a little stress relief. Being stuck in our homes and often times stuck in our head, a little kitchen therapy would do the heart good.

Ginger is good for you for so many reasons:

+ Boost Circulation

+Helps Digestion

+Reduce Nausea

+Fight Infections

+Fights Germs

+Lower Blood Sugar

+++

Simple + easy to make. Perfect for the long, hot summer days. Refreshing for your mind + Body

GINGER BLUEBERRY MOCKTAIL

• 2 T. Frozen Blueberries

• 1/2 Inch Fresh Ginger, Minced

• 8 Ounces Sparkling Water

• 2-3 Fresh Mint Leaves, Mulled

1. Place mint leaves on bottom of glass, mull with a wooden spoon.

2. Mince fresh ginger and place in glass, with juices.

3. Place blueberries in glass.

4. Pour 8 ounces sparkling water.

5. Stir and enjoy!

*What I love about essential oils is they can easily replace an ingredient you don’t have on hand! Replace Ginger or Mint with one drop Ginger Essential Oil or one drop Spearmint Essential Oil on the blueberries!

Wassail

Wassail is a beverage of hot mulled cider, drunk traditionally as an integral part of wassailing, a Medieval Christmastide English drinking ritual intended to ensure a good cider apple harvest the following year.

If you haven’t caught onto this about me yet, I loooove warm drinks. I also have an obsession with mugs. Maybe it’s because I live in North Dakota and it is a near necessity to have something warm in your hands at all times for about 9 months out of the year? It’s like a hug in a mug that warms you all the way down to your toes.

One of my favorite things to do is warm up Wassail 4-5 hours before people come over. It gets your home smelling delicious, welcoming and warming. I pull out my favorite mugs, set them beside the stove and wait for everyone to arrive.

When you step into my home you will first be welcomed with a hug and soon after the question of what can I get you to drink?

Something about being warm, feeling comforted by those you love, digging into deep conversations and the corners of your heart…those are the things I believe Jesus meant when he told us to love our neighbors.

Last night I had friends come over, old and new, we sipped Wassail, giggled, and I taught them how to bake with essential oils. It was dreamy. Really, it made one of my dreams come true to have my own cooking show. (giggle giggle)

This is a big portion of Wassail. I invited you to pull out the mugs, place it on the stove and invite friends over to your home.

This is also perfect for the holidays when people are coming and going, hanging around all day and it’s always nice to have a sip while you’re also snacking on something.

*A note on the essential oils. Oils like having something to cling to. I liked dropping 1 drop of Orange Vitality and 1 drop of Nutmeg Vitality on a cinnamon stick and putting it in each mug along with a slice of orange, you could also drop the oils on the orange.

Wassail

• 2 quarts apple juice

• 1 quart cranberry juice

• 46 oz of pineapple juice (1 can Dole Pineapple Juice)

• 2 oranges, 1 sliced orange for full pot and 1 orange sliced for mugs

• 20-25 whole cloves

• 5 whole star anise

• 5 cinnamon sticks, plus cinnamon sticks for individual mugs

• 1 drop Orange Vitality (per individual cinnamon stick)

• 1 drop Nutmeg Vitality (per individual cinnamon stick)

1. Slice one orange into 4 or 5 slices, push 4-5 cloves into each orange slice and set aside.

2. Add juice to 1 dutch over (or large stock pot) on the stove.

3. Add the orange slices with cloves in them, 5 cinnamon sticks and 5 star anise to the juice mixture. Cover and cook on low for 4-5 hours.

4. Once Wassail is almost finished, prepare the mugs. Drop 1 drop Orange Vitality and 1 drop Nutmeg Vitality on one cinnamon stick, repeat and prepare 15 cinnamon sticks.

5. Slice the other orange into thin slices. Pour Wassail into each mug, top with a slice of orange and an essential oil cinnamon stick.

Plus, for you wine drinkers (raises hand), add a 1/2 bottle - 1 bottle of any red wine and you have yourself an alcoholic Wassail that is sure to make anyone cheery!