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2023 Kitchen Cupboard Medicine

Excited to give a gift that keeps on giving the whole year through?

Wondering what to do with all the herbs that collect in your cupboard & garden?

Curious about…

  • how to make your own cough syrup from things in your kitchen cabinet?
  • the folklore & history behind our most common herbs?
  • what foods to pair with your favorite herbs?
  • fun tricks & tidbits using what you already have in your pantry?

This information, and much, much, more is jam packed into 2023’s colorful, hand drawn & painted calendar! Look for it coming soon to these retailers:

Lebanon Coop Food Store (603) 643-4889. 12 Centurra Parkway Lebanon, NH

Claremont Spice & Dry Goods (603) 542-9050 12 Tremont Street Claremont, NH

Edgewater Farmstand (open for CSA pick-up Wednesdays through November) 246 Rte. 12 A. Plainfield, NH

City Market: Downtown (802) 861-9700 82 S. Winooski Ave. Burlington, VT & South End (802)540-6400 207 Flynn Ave. Burlington, VT

Acres USA (800)355-5313 Greely, CO

NOURISH (603) 526-6687 9 Old Sutton Road. Bradford, NH

Petal Patch 2 (603) 477-6362 41 Pleasant Street. Claremont, NH

Springfield Coop (802) 885-3363 Main Street. Springfield, VT

Sweet Beet Market (603) 938-5323 11 West Main Street. Bradford, NH

Pheonix Gifts (802) 387-4692 (Upstairs from Putney General Store) 4 Kimball Hill Road. Putney, VT

Putney Food Coop (802) 387-5866 8 Carol Brown Way. Putney, VT

Hannah Grimes Marketplace (603)352-6862 42 Main Street. Keene, NH

Moon Mama Herbals (603) 414-2780 1385 Rte. 103. Newbury, NH

Petal Patch (603) 863-3883 2 Main Street. Newport, NH

Petal Patch 2 (603) 477- 6362 41 Pleasant Street. Claremont, NH

Interested in a wholesale order or purchasing from afar? Please reach out to Emily at buddingnourishment@gmail.com.

As always, thank you for your support!

2022’s Inspiration

As the days lengthen & the taste of spring is in the air (accompanied not long after by the howl of the latest No’easter blowing in!) I often find myself sorting through recipes, looking to my old collection of cookbooks, and tagged favorites on my ancient laptop.

Until I decide how to tap into a better format, here’s some of the web inspiration I’ve been chewing on lately…

Just Take A Bite with Mary Voogt: Effective Answers to Food Aversions & Food Challenges

Reading the Body with Margi Flint. Sounds interesting, but haven’t delved into fully… yet!

Tongue Assessment with Larken Bunce, class now offered here

Dr. Yum.org …. practical, simple inspiration for familes on the go

budgetbytes.com … not all “nutritional therapy approved” but great information for tightening the food budget!

Rebecca Katz … DELICIOUS & NUTRITIOUS!

cookie + kate … my summer go-to site for how to put veggies to good use!

https://thefamilyfreezer.com/ … my long-time co-worker & friend shared this winter & it’s inspired me to get some reusable bags to try working with some of my own recipes. Love the concept & excited for Edgewater Farm to start offering something similar (in the next decade… maybe?!)

Harmonized Cookery with Lisa Mase… she originally inspired me to pursue my interest in nutrition after working together on recipe testing for a Vermont-based company. Her pecan pie bars were just the thing for my sweet tooth this holiday season! (look under November 25, 2021).

A Food Centric Life with Sally Cameron… more tasty & healthy whole foods! Hooray!

Thriving Health with Maria Adam… inspired me to pursue a Nutritional Therapy Certification. Her stuffing was a huge hit at Thanksgiving this year (DESPITE it’s non-traditional nature!)

Precision Nutrition … great articles & fun reads on debated topics. Especially loved this read on “Superfoods vs. Regular Foods”

Time to throw some more logs into the wood furnace & get breakfast ready!

My most recent cookbook highlights will be in the next post. In the meantime, get in touch if you want to share where you’re finding your food inspiration or to learn more!

THE ANATOMY OF A MEAL

Wondering what to get for the seasoned cook or budding chef in your life?

Curious about… what your cravings mean? … how to substitute sugar in your favorite recipes? … Companion planting & culinary herbs? …Iron-rich food combinations?

This information and much more is contained within this colorful hand drawn & painted calendar! Keep things fresh in the kitchen year-round & look for it at these retailers:

Edgewater Farmstand (open for CSA pick-up Wednesdays through November 17th & Tuesday November 23rd ) 246 Rte. 12 A. Plainfield, NH

Lebanon Coop Food Store (603) 643-4889. 12 Centurra Parkway Lebanon, NH

Claremont Spice & Dry Goods (603) 542-9050. 12 Tremont Street Claremont, NH

City Market: Downtown (802) 861-9700. 82 S. Winooski Ave. Burlington, VT & South End (802)540-6400. 207 Flynn Ave. Burlington, VT

Gallery At The Vault 802-885-7111. 68 Main Street. Springfield, VT

Acres USA (800)355-5313 Greely, CO

NOURISH (603) 526-6687 9 Old Sutton Road. Bradford, NH

Sweet Beet Market (603) 938-5323 11 West Main Street. Bradford, NH

Pheonix Gifts (802) 387-4692 (Upstairs from Putney General Store) 4 Kimball Hill Road. Putney, VT

Putney Food Coop (802) 387-5866 8 Carol Brown Way. Putney, VT

Interested in a wholesale order or purchasing from afar? Please reach out to Emily at buddingnourishment@gmail.com.

Thanks for your support!

Trying to BEAT the HEAT

Without further ado, two recipes that have been helping us stay cool…

MANGO (or your favorite fruit) LASSI RECIPE

Blend together:

  • 4 cups frozen peaches, mangos, nectarines (or your favorite fruit)
  • 2 cups plain yogurt
  • 2 cups unsweetened coconut milk
  • 1/2 teaspoon cardamom (optional)
  • 1/4 cup maple syrup
  • lime zest & juice to taste
  • handful of fresh mint leaves

What’s great about this lassi is that you can easily freeze leftovers into popsicles! I’m also getting back into the habit of making smoothies for breakfast this summer…

My Go-To Smoothie

  • 2 cups Wyman’s wild blueberries (they have more antioxidants than your standard blueberries & I’ve found, even better, more flavor!) or Edgewater’s strawberries (grown just up the road!)
  • 1 Tablespoon chia seeds
  • 1 Tablespoon flax seeds
  • 1 Tablespoon freshly grated ginger
  • handful of a fresh herb like cilantro, mint, lemon verbena or lemon balm
  • 1 cup yogurt
  • 1 banana
  • 1 Tablespoon dulce (yes, this is a type of seaweed with lots of minerals in it!)
  • 1 Tablespoon spirulina (yes, also seaweed– has a strong-ish flavor but has lots of great nutrients)
  • 1/2 cup water to taste/texture
  • 1 scoop protein powder (I use CABOT whey protein powder in hopes of supporting farmers like my parents who sell their milk to Agrimark, but after doing some research for a client recently, I found there are many options out there for lactose-intolerant people & those that struggle digesting protein. Here are some options on as-close-as-we-can-get-to-whole-foods-protein-powders–

Make your own— kefir, raw egg yolk & chia seeds/collagen powder 

Mt. Capra whey-goat protein

Natural Force

Ancient Nutrition

PALEO PROTEINS

To make the smoothie simple to whip up in the morning I’ve been pre-measuring the seeds/powders & grated ginger into containers on Sunday, then I’m ready to go for the week ahead. You could also pre-measure your fruits, unfortunately, I find I’m often out of room in the freezer.

Between diaper duty, weeding, cooking & getting back to work, these are a couple recipes I’ve been working on to streamline our breakfasts. With a temperature in the 90s a couple weeks ago, I found myself, surprisingly, without much of an appetite. These drinks really helped satisfy and helped with the hydration factor. I also try to chew on a few nuts before downing a smoothie to kick start the digestive process. I’ve been getting back into my quart of lemon water in the morning which is also a great way to get the digestive juices flowing and start the day off hydrated!

My half-dead lemon verbena that just made it through the winter is suddenly bursting with new leaves and celebrating the soaking rains that came through this week. It has lovely leaves to add to my water bottle or smoothie. Thank goodness for summer!

Digestion 101: Nutritional Therapy Approach

Every wonder why you feel bloated or sleepy after a meal?  Feel better if you skip breakfast?  Feel excessively full after eating even a small amount? 
 
Tune in virtually for this series on Digestive Health.  In three, hour long classes, she will explain the Nutritional Therapy approach to wellness, while giving you a virtual taste of some recipes, foods, tips and tricks to best support your digestion and improve how you feel.  
 
Come prepared to question your moods, favorite foods, cooking techniques, and health challenges as we learn more about how it’s all linked together in this three-part series.

For more information and to sign up for these classes, please visit Claremont Makerspace.

To schedule a one-on-one consultation, or learn more about Emily McNamara’s offerings, please email her at buddingnourishment@gmail.com.

F A T & happy.

I never thought much about this saying, but while prepping for a little talk on Refreshing Your Pantry in the new year at our local library, I was reminded about the essentiality of fats and oils in our diet.

These long winter days spent quarantining while feeding a new baby have certainly demanded high quality fat. Though I haven’t found research pointing to needing MORE fat while nursing, there is evidence that eating high quality fats is important for mom and baby’s brain.

Suffice it to say, I’ve been lucky enough to be able to try to answer my body’s call for fat (dry, cracked heels and fried food cravings) with salmon, cream, and my husband’s straight-from-the-farm-made butter.

I jokingly tell my husband he’s buttering me up when he brings home a half a gallon of cream…. and I suddenly find myself making crème brulee and forcing the grandparents to shake a container of cream to make butter because, inexplicably, we are out of it AGAIN!

A visit to my grandmother’s house a couple weeks ago revealed an interesting artifact inspiring me to think more about fat… a roster for The New England Fat Man’s Club from 1912. In an article inside, my great, great grandfather is reported to be the largest man in Western Massachusetts, weighing in at 430 pounds. A nod to an era gone-by, the club celebrates fat as the ultimate symbol of prosperity and well-being. Even if it did kill Frank J. Hunt at 51. An article from the local newspaper marvels at the largest pair of trousers ever made for him by an Orange trouser company, a 72 inch waist, speaks to FJ Hunt’s girth with a candid description, “For many years he’s operated a milk route and done hard manual labor, but in his case it’s never acted as a flesh reducer in his case.” One can only imagine what a little Nutritional Therapy wisdom may have revealed about dear Frank’s fatty acid balance.

It’s important for all of us to avoid too much of a good thing. When it comes to fat, avoiding trans fats, and balancing our omega-6 fat intake (think most roasted nuts, fried food and our favorite processed food snacks) with omega-3 fats (think seafood, eggs, and grass-fed beef) is essential. I’ve been enjoying re-reading Lily Nichol’s “Real Food Pregnancy” and visiting her website for updates and inspiration in the sphere of pregnancy and postpartum nutrition.

Let’s just say the fat isn’t melting off my postpartum body, it’s getting melted into my cornbread, made into creme brulee, chocolate lava cakes and hot chocolate. And I’m trying to embrace it more knowing that fat is neccessary for:

  1. Improved food flavor and satiety 
  2. Absorption of fat soluble vitamins A, D, E and K
  3. Digestion speed regulation
  4. High caloric energy for long-low-intensity activity (breastfeeding perhaps?)
  5. Construction of cell membranes- creating the protective lining on organs (healing & happy skin!)
  6. Proper hormone function (keeping up the oxytocin levels!)
  7. Regulation of inflammatory response

Now I just need to make sure I’m getting the best quality I can.

So, what are some simple ways to make the most of our fats?
Purchase and use high quality fats. Store them properly.

Look for olive oil and nut oils in tin containers that are not exposed to light and stored in cool conditions to maximize benefits of their antioxidants. Use up before expiration date and keep in a cool location to avoid oxidation.

Avoid hydrogenated fats (i.e- crisco and margarine) which when heated, pressurized & combined with a catalyst (usually nickel) are made solid & less able to rancidify at room temp. Unfortunately this can cause an increase in total cholesterol, a decrease in HDL & increase in LDL, which may increase the risk of cardiovascular disease.  

The more saturated fat a product contains, the more stable (essential for hormone & immune cell function… ever notice when you’re feeling moody you crave peanut butter or french fries? Consider if you are treating your body to a nice balance of fats in your diet.)

Cook at the right temperature.

What do rancid fat & cooking fats at too high of a temperature have in common?
They can result in oxidation*
*the off-flavor you may notice in old oil or oil cooked above it’s smoke point for too long that contributes to forming…
FREE RADICALS: (n.) ions or molecules that have an unpaired electron in their outermost shell that is unstable and destructive to surrounding molecules. These free radicals create havoc on the cells causing cancer, atherosclerosis (the build-up of fatty material in the blood vessels), Alzheimer’s disease, emphysema, diabetes mellitus, cataracts, macular degeneration, rheumatoid arthritis, among other aging-related deterioration.

FOR HIGH TEMP COOKING, FRYING, BAKING, BROILING, ROASTING: beef tallow, ghee, chicken & duck fat, coconut oil, lard, butter

FOR STIR-FRY, LIGHT SAUTEING, or FINISHING: (look for cold extracted or expeller pressed) avocado oil, butter, macademia nut oil, olive oil**, peanut oil, sesame oil 

FOR RAW USE ONLY: almond oil, black currant seed oil, flax oil, evening primrose, pumpkin seed oil, hemp oil, nut oils, rice bran oil, safflower oil, sunflower oil

**A 2018 study suggests that extra virgin olive oil may actually produce the least oxidation after being heated.

“…under conditions used in this study, smoke point does not predict oil performance when heated.  Oxidative stability and UV coefficients are better predictors when combined with total level of PUFAs. Of all the oils tested, EVOO was shown to be the oil that produced the lowest level of polar compounds and oxidative by-products (in contrast to high-levels of by-products generated by oils such as canola) after being heated closely followed by coconut oil.  EVOO’s fatty acid profile and natural antioxidant content allowed the oil to remain stable when heated.”


We CAN do this!

[Motherhood (n.): a lesson in gratitude]

It has been 7 weeks since I became a mother! Our little cherub has put many things in perspective. I have a feeling this is just the beginning. For now, I am counting my blessings, which are many!

I’m thankful this lanky, little bundle of good natured joy who’s joined our family has gotten to meet ALL his grandparents AND two of his greats!

I am thankful that despite our infant’s demanding feeding schedule, and my husband’s 17 hour shifts twice-a-week to prove his worth (and some might say, insanity) I’ve still found myself fiercely loving them both in spite of the hours they keep!

And most importantly, I’m thankful for our amazingly loving and supportive group of family and friends who have kept melting my heart and stunning me with all their generosity! WE CAN, because of what they DO. Be it meal or vegetable deliveries, grocery runs, endless gifts of new and old baby gear,  visits on gentle walks outside (as we try to navigate what supportive and welcoming is supposed to look like for a new mother and baby in the midst of a pandemic),  or just a thoughtful phone call, text, email, note, or postcard to “check in”. 

As I bellowed at my husband while laboring in the backseat of our Kia Sorrento on the way to the hospital,


 “We CAN do this!” 


Let us remember to hang tough this winter, not forgetting to count our blessings, keep a sense of humor about us, and share in the joy of the simple things in these dark days. 

Coming soon: old blog posts republished and more recipes, foods, and “experiments” (as I like to call my hapoy-and-yes, sometimes…-not-so-happy- mistakes made in the kitchen!) I’ve tried or tasted as a new parent.

 

2021 CALENDAR NOW AVAILABLE!

While I take my sweet time to bring my new WordPress website up to speed transferring my various blog writing, pictures & wisdom from my previous website…

I’m happy to announce that the 2021 calendar has been drawn, handpainted, printed & is ready for shipment! It is 11×17 inch, hand painted, wire bound and along similar lines as 2020’s with even more Nutritional Therapy wisdom for this upcoming year.  DoLittle’s of Claremont, New Hampshire is once again doing the printing.   Topics range from Digestive Health to Pollinator plants! I think it’s the perfect gift for the foodie, gardener, or localvore in your life this holiday season.

Interested in purchasing directly from me? Please email me at buddingnourishment@gmail.com for pricing. Otherwise, be sure to check out the local retailers listed here.

WHAT’s YOUR BIGGEST CHALLENGE WITH MEAL PLANNING?

My biggest challenges with meal planning are getting to the grocery store (in the winter season) and TIME (this is a  problem for me all year long!)  Then comes having it all together enough to create a satisfying meal for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Along with learning about the value of piles of generously given baby clothes (&diapers&changingtables&cribs&breastpumps&diapers&toddlerclothes&”light”reading on birth&postpartum care&foodsformakingahealthysmartwonderfulbaby) pregnancy has been reminding me the importance of meal planning!  And finding inspiration in the “fixings”.  I’m excited to share some of my favorites that I FINALLY got online at the Edgewater Farm Kitchen webpage over here. If you are reading from afar, these are some wonderful foods to have on hand, hope they can inspire you.  If you live locally, come on down and pick some up.

About a month ago I sent a message out to some of my clients, friends and family asking them what the biggest challenge with meal planning.  They mentioned:

  • routine
  • sticking to a plan
  • organization
  • inspiring recipes*

*I’m hoping to get up my favorite books list on here soon!

Interestingly, most of you have said that putting together a meal (and planning ahead for it) can be the biggest roadblock to getting a “nutrient dense whole food meal”.  Aside from getting partners or kids to eat it!  I am grateful to have access to many forms of protein as part of my husband’s”benefits package”.  BUT, as prices of, what I consider, basic proteins like meat and eggs rise, it definitely challenged me to think of how other people might consider getting in a balanced meal on a budget.

I’ve been known to go through my day eating a bowl of “loaded” oatmeal on my drive into work at 5 am while, if I’m lucky, I enjoy the sunrise over the Cornish Covered Bridge and wonder what the day will bring me in the Kitchen in between the radio’s morning news.  The day proceeds at breakneck speed, while I eat a few cookies, nibble on some salad and come home ravenous at 4 pm for an actual meal and a nap.  This really messes with blood sugar regulation, but that’s a conversation for another time!

This spring, I’ve made it a point to incorporate a smoothie into my daily morning routine.  It often includes blueberries, a banana, yogurt, dates, whey protein, chia seeds, flax seeds & a little ice, though I’ve been inclined to add mint & mango when I’m feeling exotic.  Strawberries have been a staple in smoothies lately.  Other variations I’ve tried when I’m feeling like I’d like to be an adventurous health nut include spirulina & cilantro with barley juice grass powder.  [Yes.  I can feel the eye rolls of the farmers in my life already.]  

Part two of my new meal planning habit forming is getting my lunch together the night before with leftovers from dinner.  Which, lately, has been different variations of salad!  I’ve been trying to include lots of nuts, seeds, cheese, eggs & meat to get in the baby’s ever-increasing need for protein.

To give you a taste of my go-to-dinner-menu that served me well for many weeks this spring, here’s some inspiration…

Quiche

Truth is I’ve been making this for me to eat whenever.**  I know, it has eggs in it, but I’d love to hear if you all have alternatives that have been satisfying you for breakfast, lunch or dinner.  **Sometimes I even make it into a wrap with greens & sauerkraut.

Stuffed mushrooms

I’ve really been into these lately, I’ve just been tossing together whatever ingredients I have on hand to fill them.  Best suggestion was to pre-cook them at 350 for about 10-15 minutes, then fill with mixture of old bread run through the cuisanart with some hamburger (or you could use quinoa), eggs, your favorite spices & herbs (fresh chives from my herb garden–yumm!).  I like to top with some cheese to support the dairy farmers.

Tacos/ Taco Salad 

Depending on if I get to the grocery store depends on if this turns into a salad.  Take any vegetables, your favorite protein, beans, salsa, sour cream, cheese… wahlaa.  Done.  Maybe I should start foraging for dandelion greens to really make Jay’s day…   Been loving this easy recipe for frying your own tortillas.  Another my gluten free friend introduced me to is this— and another friend told me that she leaves it in her fridge for up to a week to really make it ready to roll.  A project for kids to get involved….???

Yes. I’ve been using my bacon grease for this— though coconut oil is wonderful too!

Quinoa (or Lentil or other Grain) Bowls

This is a new one for me.  Trying to actually use my grains properly & soak them ahead of time. AND wanting to use up some of my frozen vegetables— sauteed & mixed in.  Officially out of onions, so still hope to use the chives in here too.  Maybe this ginger-tahini dressing on top to knock our socks off?  Otherwise, there’s always the Eating for the Season’s green dressing….

Wraps/ Quesadillas/ Hamburgers

This is turning into my go-to Friday night meal.  I found these wraps (supposedly more protein).  I’ve also been enjoying burgers with a side of roasted sweet potatoes that I just slice up the night before, toss with oil, salt & garlic & have ready to pop in a 375 degree oven when I get home.  Have a little broccoli or side salad and good to go…

Pizza

Been experimenting with many versions.  I made this easy chickpea flour version the other night that was certainly filling & felt like I was getting in  a bit more protein.  Favorite toppings? Ricotta (or in a pinch cottage cheese), olives, feta, & a drizzle of honey with basil.  I’ve also been adding a little spelt flour to my regular King Arthur flour recipe which I think gives it some unique flavor & makes it a bit crustier.

Flourless Chocolate Lava Cakes

Speaking of flour, or the lack of it in the grocery store, I’ve been putting the plethora of my wedding ramekins to good use, buttering them up, sprinkling in a little cocoa powder & baking them off for an impressive but not intensive dessert.  And, no, I don’t use any flour just substitute in all cocoa powder.  Also have successfully subbed in maple syrup instead of sugar. I think you could use coconut oil instead of butter if you don’t have it on hand by the pound like I do! 

Look forward to hearing what challenges you in regards to food.  As always, be sure to send an email to me buddingnourishment@gmail.com if you are ever interested in learning more about how to create meal plans that fit your needs, or to learn more about how Nutritional Therapy can help you!