Fresh Lemon and Ginger Iced Tea (Real Food, Paleo, Vegetarian)

Summer is here! Wait, I know summer truly isn't here but I live in Vegas and it is already too warm for me! And for me, summer heat means summer drinks all day long.

Along with fresh lemon, plenty of fresh ginger is used here for a punch of flavor and health boost. Ginger, as we all know, is a root that is widely used in cooking and beverages. But did you know that ginger has been regarded as a powerful medicinal since ancient times, too?

We know that ginger is a powerful tool to use when fighting off cold and respiratory issues but compounds in ginger (chromium, magnesium, and zinc) can also help normalize blood circulation. It can alleviate motion sickness symptoms and relieve stomach discomfort. And, ginger also stimulates secretion of enzymes in the stomach and pancreas, which improves the absorption of essential nutrients in the body. Plenty of reasons to add this refreshing infusion to your collection of healthy drinks to have on hand!

This recipe calls for a minimum amount of sweetener, as always, but feel free to add more if it is needed. I do call for organic lemons here, and I will highly recommend them since the entire lemon, (peel and all) will get steeped in the water before it is strained.

Fresh Lemon and Ginger Iced Tea

4 cups water
2 large lemons, organic
1 2-3 inch piece fresh ginger root, peeled and grated (use a box grater or mini chopper)
1/4 cup raw honey, plus more to taste
Ice
Fresh mint, for garnish (optional)

In a medium saucepan, add the water and bring to a boil. Halve one lemon, peel and all, and squeeze the juice into the pan and the lemon halves into the pan, too. It is ok if seeds fall into the pan - they will be strained out later!

Add the freshly grated ginger, about 3 tablespoons, into the saucepan. Lower the heat and simmer the mixture for about 15 minutes.

Remove the pan from the heat and using a fine-mesh sieve, strain the liquid into a pitcher. Discard the solids. Add the honey to the warm tea and stir until it is dissolved. Taste and add additional honey, as needed.

Refrigerate the tea until it is well chilled.

Thinly slice the second lemon. Serve the tea over ice and garnish with a thin lemon slice and mint sprig.

Comments

Slow Cooker Menudo (Real Food, Paleo, Whole30, AIP Friendly)

Menudo , or tripe soup, is a traditional soup commonly served on a Sunday morning. It is considered labor-intensive since it requires a very long cooking time, so it started the night before any plans to eat it, or made for special occasions. Due to its nourishing collagen-packed broth and mineral-rich protein, it has a cult following for those wishing to get rid of the Saturday night hangover! I remember my dad being the one prepping the tripe at night and I remember someone getting up during the night at various times to check on the pot of soup bubbling on the stove. I also remember becoming a teenager and deciding I no longer would eat organ meats! So I even gave up on all the other delicious ones, like tender beef tongue and beef cheeks. I also happily gave up the ones I never liked - like liver and mushy brains. Yes, brains...... As an adult, I decided being an adventurous eater was much more fun and I incorporated liver back in my diet. ...

Water Kefir Agua Fresca, Two Ways (Paleo, Real Food)

Mexico is the land of aguas frescas. Agua fresh, literally means fresh water, and it refers to traditional fresh fruit and/or veggie drinks. Aguas frescas are usually single-ingredient drinks, such as an agua de limon (a lime-ade), agua de pi ñ a (pineapple) or my favorite: agua de tamarindo (tamarind drink). And some aguas are simple combos such as a lime and cucumber agua fresca. Interestingly, the lime and cucumber flavor is usually made with nutrient-dense chia seeds and is recommended for a healthy digestion. Walk down most streets, especially those around or in the town square, and you may find a vendor or two serving a variety of aguas frescas out of huge glass containers. The drinks are then served in a plastic baggie with a straw, which is great while exploring the town! During market day or special event, vendors multiply and make it hard to choose between tables of colorful options! I spent three weeks in Mexico last month and indulged in...

Soft Baked Chocolate Chip Cookies (Real Food, Paleo, Vegetarian)

My soon to-be 13 year old daughter loves to both try new recipes and create them as well. She is the only one in our family that tolerates dairy well, but when she gets the urge to make a dessert, she will usually oblige me and make it Paleo. And lucky for us, she likes to make recipes like this one. You will have to trust me when I say that these cookies are legitimately delicious! This recipe makes around 21 cookies per batch. Her instructions do not call for you to smash each cookie down slightly before baking, but doing so may make for a denser and larger cookie. Also created by my daughter: MX's Healthy Homemade Chocolate Soft Chocolate Chip Cookies Dry Ingredients: 2 cups blanched almond flour 1 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon real salt Wet Ingredients: 1/3 cup raw honey 1/4 cup palm shortening, melted (I use Nutiva ) 2 teaspoon vanilla extract 3 eggs, room temperature 1 1/2 dairy free chocolate chips (I us...

Holistic Instincts

Search This Blog