The moment I fell in love with cooking was when I discovered the power of organic spices. I grew up in a house where vegetables were almost always steamed with a bit of salt, pepper, and butter. That being the case, I was not a veggie fan. Of course as I grew older, I learned that I’d have to find a way to enjoy what I knew to be an uninspiring source of nutrients.

Chili-based condiments have a nuanced world of their own. Often shelved away in the bottoms of pantries and pushed to the ends of recipe books, there are more variations of these spicy delights than one could imagine. Harissa paste is one such delicacy. Like many of the spice blends I’m familiar with, this harissa recipe uses cumin and coriander, but it shines with flagrant uniqueness because of its citrusy tang, hint of caraway, and unbeatable chili flavor.

Besides being a practical skill to know, making your own soap from scratch is a fun way to express yourself creatively while producing something that's useful and great for your skin. By following this simple recipe, you can make basic unscented bars of soap, or customize them by adding organic herbs, flowers, essential oils, and other skin-loving ingredients.

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!

One of my favorite herbal preparations to make is a salve. For me, the aroma of wax and olive oil always evokes memories of summers spent adventuring through the beautiful wild places of the Pacific Northwest.

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.

Adoration for cacao can be traced back to ancient cultures in Mesoamerica. Bitter beverages made from the crushed seeds of this voluptuous fruit were enjoyed with a belief that these pods had magical properties. Mildly stimulating with a pronounced twinkle of euphoria, cacao was reserved for sacred rituals and royalty.

Herbal syrups are a time-honored way to administer not-so-pleasant-tasting herbs to the young ones and picky eaters in your life. Tasty on their own by the spoonful, they also add an herbal boost to your favorite culinary recipes and libations. Try them in teas, desserts, bubbly beverages, cocktails, DIY root beers, or atop ice cream.

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.