We're still working on the leftovers from Thursday's big feast and we've already jumped into the hustle and bustle of the upcoming season with great abandon. After all, we're staring headlong into the frosty eyes of December! My belly could use a reprieve from all the tasty treats and maybe more of a boost than can be had from an ordinary cup of tea. This is the perfect time for a stronger infusion or a decoction. While tea is a type of infusion, sometimes it is helpful to steep herbs for longer than the usual 3-5 minutes--especially some of the woodier roots and nutrient-packed plants.

Aromatic herbs and spices like sweet cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and vanilla define our culinary palate this time of year, and that goes for cocktails too. Thankfully, you don’t need to stock the cabinet with a fortune’s worth of pretty liquor bottles to enjoy these delights.

It's coming! In fact, for many of us, it's already here.

This week marks the start of some busy, invigorating, stressful, and downright overwhelming days as we plunge headlong into the holiday season. It's going to take some focus to make sure we take care of ourselves, get plenty of rest and give our bodies the nutrition and support we need to carry us through the coming weeks. For me, oatstraw, red clover, and lavender are musts for a nourishing, calming cup of herbal tea! I call this recipe my "Do All The Things" tea blend; it even has a boost of Lemon Balm extract or tincture for a little extra concentrated feel good!

Elderberry syrup is delicious and oh-so-good-for-us, but what if you haven't had time to make up a batch? Maybe you've just drizzled your last drizzle and are in need of some elderberry boost right now! There's something a little decadent about this fruit and spice tea, but there's also a lot of soothing deliciousness. Why not brew some up and snuggle in for a blustery day? (This recipe makes enough to share and can be made ahead and refrigerated too!)