Sage

Sage is a Holiday Meal staple. I grow two bushes of it because I love it so much. I dry a lot of it to cook with and often times I find myself running out to pick some fresh leaves for the dinner I am putting together. Well, sage is more than a flavor for chicken, turkey, and breakfast sausage. It's a healer as well. It helps reduces night sweats, hot flashes, and sore throats(used to gargle with). Apparently, the Romans and Greeks also used it as a meat preserver. Sage has a powerful antioxidant, which slows spoilage.

 Growing sage at home is easy. the plant is not difficult to care for. Sage loves the sun and well-drained soil. Water it daily and harvest the bottom leaves, leaving behind ones on top to encourage new growth. Remember that a plant's goal is propagated, so do not let it go to seed too early in the summer. Continue to pick any flowers it sets out. 

Sage plants may need to be replaced every 4-5 years as they begin to slow down their new growth production. You can use the leaves right away for any recipe that calls for it dried. Just use more, 1tbs per 1 tsp called for. This is because fresh takes up more space than the same leaf dried. I like to lay the extra leaves out on a drying screen until fully dry and crispy. I then store them in a mason jar, tightly sealed for future use. I do not always crush them up first, but you most certainly can to save on space.  You could also use sage in homemade deodorant. This is something I LOVE because I really don't like putting chemicals into my body. First, make your infused oil of sage and maybe lavender. Both are great for you. Sage cools, and lavender is an antiseptic. Using dried herbs is best, no need to introduce the water of said plants to the oils. You may end up with moldy oil when you are ready to strain. Unless you are able to keep a close eye on your oil, like daily. After 2 weeks your oil is nicely infused and ready to be strained and used. You can soak your herbs for up to 6 weeks, so if you forget them it is going to be fine. Use 1/2 cup of your herby oil, 2 ounces of beeswax, 30 drops of essential oils if you want to add more to smell good, 1 ounce shea butter, 2 tbsp arrowroot powder, and 2 tsp baking soda. melt the beeswax, with your infused oil, on a double boiler until the wax is completely melted and mixed in. Then add shea butter, stirring until dissolved. Removed top pan and stir in essential oils if you should choose to use some. Then stir in the arrowroot and baking soda. Stir for about 2 minutes, to fully incorporate everything together. Pour into an empty deodorant container or soap mold. It could take up to 3 hours to completely solidify, so do not attempt to use it until then. 

As usual

Keep brewing, keep cooking, and most of all keep healing.

Cheers,

MysTorri