Delicious Detox Soup!

This soup is wonderful because:
a) it’s so easy and quick to make (20-25 min.)

b) it’s full of vitamins and minerals

c) it’s versatile and fun to experiment with

I make this soup on days when I feel I need a boost of vitamins and minerals and a simple, cleansing meal to help move any stagnant energy, especially after days of heavy (and not so healthful) meals.

The basics ingredients:

3 medium carrots, peeled and grated

1-2 daikon radishes, peeled and grated

1 onion, sliced

1 tablespoon of dried nettle leaf (see below for alternatives)

2-3 cups of stock or burdock root decoction (see below)

Directions: heat up some sesame oil (or any oil of your choice) in a soup pot. Add all the vegetables in together, along with the nettle. Stir the veggies well and lower the flame to medium/low. Allow the veggies to soften, about 10 min. Add the stock or burdock root decoction, bring to a boil, then simmer for another 12 minutes. The soup is ready when all the veggies are soft, and the soup has a deep orange color.

Alternatives/Extras:

Instead of dried nettle, you could add parsley, thyme, or other herbs on hand. Nettle leaf is awesome in the soup because it adds so many vitamins and minerals and also helps the liver do its thing.

Instead of daikon, you could use fresh burdock root.

Instead of stock (veggie, chicken, beef) you can use a Burdock Root decoction. I usually make mine with 2 tablespoons of dried burdock root in 2 cups of water. I boil it and let it simmer until the water turns a golden brown, about 15 minutes. Then I add this to the soup, either with some extra water or stock. I even put some pieces of the burdock root in the soup, as it is edible and delicious. The burdock root is excellent because it purifies the blood and also helps the liver function. It’s extra great for skin problems.

Ideas for other additions to the soup are:

1 tablespoon of seaweed (I use wakame)

1-2 garlic cloves

Fresh grated ginger to taste

Fresh scallions, thinly sliced

Hope you can try this soup out, and that it brings you strength and nourishment.

Skin Care: things you never thought an avocado could do

My teacher Rosemary Gladstar wisely says, “anything you wouldn’t eat, shouldn’t go on your skin!” This really rings true to me. It must follow that if something is so good to eat, such as avocados (and in season, thank you Subway commercials) they’d also be beneficial for skin care. (This goes for healthy, organic stuff, right..no pizza-based masks please!) This here is an amazing little facial mask from my favorite Madame Pompadour, you can try now that it is avocado season. Adjust the ingredients for your skin type, and apply after cleansing with a soft clean brush. Leave on your skin until you feel the avocado drying, then gently rinse off with lukewarm water. You won’t even need moisturizer afterwards because your skin will feel so smooth. If you are a newcomer to DIY skin care, don’t mind the voice in your head saying “this is too weird.” It’s only half right – it is a bit weird rubbing mashed avocado all over your face at first, but once you feel pure and simple ingredients on your skin, you won’t regret it! I bet you’ll be raiding the fridge and searching for your next food to try.

Dry skin: 1/2 avocado + 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil. Mix well + apply.
Oily skin: 1/2 avocado + 1 egg white. Mix well + apply.
Normal skin: 1/2 avocado + honey. Mix well + apply.

Use the avocado shell as a “bowl” for the mixture because it contains healing oils and will keep the mixture from oxidizing if you choose to save if for tomorrow.