Recipes to Help Digestion and Immunity

Homemade fire cider for digestion and immunity is a vinegar infusion of spicy herbs and veggies that is beneficial to the circulatory and immune systems. This is a great tonic to have on hand during the colder months.

Ingredients – ½ cup ginger, fresh (grated) / ½ cup horseradish (fresh, grated) / 1 onion (chopped) / 8 cloves garlic (crushed or chopped) / 2 pepper, jalapeño (chopped) / 1 lemon (zest of) / 2 tablespoons rosemary, dried (or several sprigs of fresh rosemary) / 1 tablespoon turmeric, ground/apple cider vinegar / ¼ cup honey (plus more to taste)

Instructions – Put ginger, horseradish, onion, garlic, peppers, lemon zest, lemon juice, rosemary and turmeric in a quart canning jar. Cover with apple cider vinegar by about two inches. Use a piece of natural parchment paper or wax paper under the lid to keep the vinegar from touching the metal. Shake well. Store in a dark, cool place for one month and shake daily.

After one month, use cheesecloth to strain out the pulp, pouring the vinegar into a clean jar. Be sure to squeeze as much of the liquid goodness as you can from the pulp while straining. Add ¼ cup of honey and stir until incorporated. Taste your cider and add another ¼ cup until you reach desired sweetness. Fire cider should taste hot, spicy and sweet. It is great as a wintertime tonic and as a remedy for colds and coughs. Often people use it as salad dressing, on rice, or with steamed vegetables, and enjoy it!

Homemade Cough Syrup – Here is a great recipe for a natural and effective cough syrup.
This is non-toxic and excellent for that disturbing cough that keeps your kids up at night.                                                                                                                       Obviously, do not use this on children under the age of 1 where honey is not indicated.                                                                                                                      (DO NOT give honey to children under the age of 1)

Ingredients -1 large brown onion, peeled and thinly sliced / Honey, preferably Manuka honey (this is made from tea-tree flowers – and is particularly medicinal with anti-microbial properties) / 1 glass jar slightly larger than the onion with a lid

Instructions – Place the sliced and peeled onion into the glass jar, tightly packed.
Cover with honey and close lid.
Let sit overnight. The onions will become dry as the honey extracts the onion juices out / Remove the onion leftovers.
Keep refrigerated. Take as needed for cough.
Typical dose is 1 tablespoon for children under 6 and 2 tablespoons for 6 years and older

Flu Fighter Tea: Bring 1 litre of water to a boil and add 1 tablespoon honey / 2 tsp fresh grated ginger, 1 slice lemon (skin on) / 1 cinnamon stick / ½ tsp cinnamon powder / 1 clove garlic / ¼ tsp fresh chopped chilli

Continue to boil for 1 minute, then cool and drink the warm tea freely throughout the day.

I hope these recipes can help you brave the cold season and allow you and the family to stay happy and healthy!