Winter Carrot Ferment

So here it is.  The time of year when I make garlic oil, garlic/ginger,/onion syrup. Fire Cider, Elderberry oxymel or Elderberry elixir. I could go on but I think you get the idea. Winter is coming up  and people get the crud (that term is of course scientific you know).   As an herbalist I have plenty of tinctures, salves, herbal vinegars, herbal honeys, etc, etc. But we need to remember that FOOD is our medicine too, and utilize simple things to help keep us healthy.

Certainly good immune system begins in the gut and I don’t think too many people would argue about the benefits of fermented food and their benefits for keeping the gut healthy (thus your immune system) (certainly we could talk about other things like Vitamin D-Vitamin C,etc, but not today)

So here is a nice ferment to start now to have ready for the cold, crud, crap, flu, etc season.

Supplies:

5-7 carrots giver or take

½ to 1 bulb of garlic

½-1 red onion

1 ginger root (about 1-2 inch one, larger than I normally use)

1 heaping teaspoon of turmeric

Salt

1/8 teaspoon of cayenne pepper.

32 ounce mason jar with your choice of fermenting lid.

Directions: 

I use a grater to grate all of the items mention above.  Then I salted it and let it rest for about 10 minutes. 

I then added the turmeric, cayenne to the mixture  stirred and smushed up everything with my fingers, and placed it in the mason jar. 

I added filtered water to cover the material and added more salt to taste.   I put some glass weights on the material and added my fermenting lid.  I will check it daily until it gets the taste I personally like (usually for me between 3-8) days. After it ferments, I remove the weights (scrape off any material at the top that doesn't look good and refrigerate it) 

Uses:

You eat it silly!  what did you think I was gonna say?

Here is what it looks like during ferment. 

Update

This is a hot recipe. It's yummy if you don't like hot things cut your garlic and ginger a bit and cayenne. 

Cayenne Pepper Oil

Cayenne Pepper Oil

I wanted to share how I make and use cayenne pepper oil.   I really love this on muscles that are sore (or injured), and I also rub this on my back , belly, as well and when my gallbladder acts up I rub a little on there too. It feels awesome!  And if you make it real mild it is not overly heating and feels really good (even in summer).  There is tons of uses for this, so I am just mentioning a few. It was Dr. Christopher's (one of at least) favorite medicines. 

Supplies:

2 or 3 cayenne peppers (you could use powder I guess, I just grow them so I use them this way) *

½ cup of Olive oil. You don’t want it fire engine strong. So be mindful of that and keep an eye out. 

* Note if you use powder use about 1 TBS of to same amount of oil.

Directions:

I chop up the peppers and let them sit for about 10 minutes.  (you may want to use gloves if you like)

I add the pepper pieces and olive oil in a pan.

I put these two in a double boiler (with your water in the bottom pan)

I put this on low to low med. Temperature.  WATCH IT at first make sure it is not too high.

I let this macerate on low for a while. I never really time it, I just smell and taste here and there.  It should be garlicky.

Then I strain off the peppers and add it to a clean glass jar and put it in the refrigerator for storage. 

You could also just let the peppers sit in the oil and use solar infusion.  I have done this as well and it is very nice.

USE:

I don’t refrigerate mine, but you can if you like.  I use it quite a bit so it’s never gone bad sitting out (certainly if it does you want to discard it) or you may refrigerate if you like.

I use this on my back (around the kidney area) and on my legs for circulation.  I also use it on my lower abdomen for female circulation and my gallbladder area. Keep it away from your eyes, cuts, etc.  I have also added it to salve for muscle soreness or used it by itself for that. You could add a few drops of EO if you wanted, but I don’t, personally,  I like it plain.  

Garlic Oil

Garlic Oil

I wanted to share how I make my garlic oil. This is something that most people have on hand all the time and so it is easy to have available.  Because garlic can be pretty heating, I make it a little different than some people.  I am not saying how other people make it is wrong and I am right or vice versa. This is just how I like it to be less harsh, personally.

Supplies:

I whole bulb of garlic

½- 1 cup of Olive oil--I  don’t really measure I just put enough in there to cover the garlic well.

Directions:

I chop up a whole bulb of garlic and let it sit for about 10 minutes.

I add the garlic and olive oil in a pan.

I put these two in a double boiler (with your water in the bottom pan)

I put this on low to low med. Temperature.  WATCH IT at first make sure it is not too high.

I let this macerate on low for a while. I never really time it, I just smell and taste here and there.  It should be garlicky.  Don't 'cook the garlic' per se.  just want a nice heat to infuse the garlic in the oil. 

Then I strain off the garlic and add it to a clean glass jar and put it in the refrigerator for storage. 

You could also just let the garlic sit in the oil and use solar infusion. Typically though when I need it, I NEED IT NOW, so this is what I do.  

USE:

I find it goes on nicely if it is refrigerated and I want it to last so I keep it in there.

I use this on the bottom of my feet at nighttime if I have a cold, congestion, or times when I feel icky stuff coming on.  I have even used it for allergies and sinus crud. I do this three nights in a row but for more severe issues, you can use twice or day and for longer. 

Note:

This is too strong for ear oil.   Ear oil (with mullein flowers and St. Johns Wort and garlic will have a lower garlic concentration)