I’m hardly being hyperbolic when I state that I think world peace could be negotiated over a plate of shortbread cookies and a cup of organic Earl Grey tea. In fact, I think I have solved some of my own most pressing concerns with just that combination. Now, this may all be owing to my Scottish heritage and my penchant for all things old-fashioned and steeped in tradition—I am, after all, just an antique girl living in a modern world—but I am not alone in my belief in the power of a good shortbread cookie!

I was first introduced to kava (technically called “kava kava”) while visiting Hawaii’s Big Island. After getting back to the mainland, I began to notice kava everywhere. Kava bars were now easy to find on my travels coast-to-coast, from Asheville, North Carolina to Portland, Oregon. Articles in publications like The New York Times extolled its increasing popularity as an alternative to caffeine-fueled coffee shops or alcohol-centric drinking establishments.

While I’ll never stop loving a classic café latte, I’m amazed by the variety of creamy drinks you can create with healthful herbs and teas. That's why we were overjoyed to see this submission from Rita Gillan (ritadoula.com), a recipe contest winner from our Fall 2017 catalogue. Enjoy her simple how-to-guide and chai maca latte recipe. Now you can make this delicious herbal beverage in the comfort of your own home. Thanks, Rita!  

Elderberry is traditionally used to support a healthy immune system*, so I'm always searching for ways to integrate it into my meals. And one of my recent New Year's resolutions was to speed up my morning routine. Just imagine my excitement when I stumbled upon this recipe that combines my quest for a daily dose of elderberry with my need to buy back time in my day.

The first time I cooked spaghetti squash I was heartbroken. I had recently broken up with gluten and was trying desperately to fill the hole in my stomach left by pasta. And while my marinara game was on point that day, the spaghetti squash only added to my heartbreak. Thankfully a dear friend challenged me to think outside the Italian Seasoning box and these smoky Southwestern-inspired spaghetti squash bowls were born.

I’d been told I just had to try the house-made sweet vermouth at a trendy Italian spot on a recent trip to California. Not one to ignore a recommendation from a friend with trustworthy taste buds, I obliged. He was right! The icy glass of the slightly bitter, oh-so-refreshing herbal aperitif was a total, delightful, surprise.

This little butternut squash galette is the perfect seasonal accompaniment for a winter lunch or an intimate dinner gathering. Made with local butternut squash and infused with savory herbs like thyme, sage and garlic, not only does this recipe make your house smell amazing, but it's a delicious dip into the bounty that this time of year brings. Adding hemp seeds and parmesan cheese creates an extra umami pop, and the hint of lemon zest is a subtle reminder of summer’s gifts.

Infusing herbs into butter only takes a few minutes and is a tasty way to add an extra punch of flavor to your food. Herbal infused butters, also called compound butters, are decadent on steamed vegetables, warm dinner rolls, baked potatoes, pasta dishes, or incorporated into sautés and sauces. Here are a couple of my favorite recipes!

For chocolate lovers, very few things compare to snapping open a raw cacao bean, rubbing it between your palms to crumble your own cacao nibs, and taking a deep inhale. If you’ve never tried raw cacao (pronounced “kah-cow”), you might be in for a bit of a surprise.

When the air gets cooler and the days shorter, it’s time to cozy up indoors with good company and good food. Here at Mountain Rose Herbs, one of our favorite things to do this time of year is to create delicious, herb-inspired recipes to share with our co-workers. When you have a variety of flavorful, organic spices to play with, you can’t help but get creative in the kitchen!