Page 5 - March 2014

Monthly Cooking Class Focuses on the Benefts of Native Plants As a continuation of the Community and cottonwood buds. Charlene Transformation Grant’s “Healthy explained about making oil from Cooking Classes,” Charlene cottonwood buds and its uses Abrahamson, Director of Behavioral for sore muscles, joint pain and Health, was invited to share her sunburns. If there is enough interest knowledge on the uses and health we may go on a gathering outing benefts of some local plants as well with Charlene to know where, how as to demonstrate a healthy meal on and when to gather plants this time Monday, March 3 in the community of year. She also let us know that center gathering room. She began most of these ingredients can be by providing a delicious and healthy found at stores like the Olympia meal of buffalo stew, along with Food Co-Op and Radiance Herbs bread, salad and frozen fruit for and Massage in downtown Olympia. dessert. After explaining the process All in all it was a very inspiring of this surprisingly easy recipe and lesson to cook more and incorporate sitting down to share a meal with nettles and other local plants into the rest of the group, Charlene a healthy diet. All of Charlene’s continued her lesson, teaching about recipes were simple and easy to the properties of nettles, horsetail, try at home whether you’re an and red clover. experienced chef or a beginner. She began by demonstrating how Everyone pitched in helping mix the teas and package them Make sure to come for the next to make a cooking seasoning made up to take home under Charlene’s direction and help at the “Healthy Cooking Class” in the of ground sesame seeds, ground, monthly Healthy Cooking Class. gathering room on Monday, April dried nettles, sea salt, and optional ease stomach trouble. Made of spring. The second tea was made 7 from 5:00 to 7:00 PM “Reading garlic powder explaining that it can equal parts dried nettle and dried of equal parts red clover, nettle, and Labels and Artifcial Sweeteners.” be used as an all purpose cooking peppermint, we brewed a pot of this horsetail and is intended to help seasoning. She then showed us a tea so that we could all try a cup. It with bone strength, and hair and nail recipe for two different types of was a perfect after dinner tea with health. nettle tea. Everyone pitched in to a soothing minty favor. Charlene help mix the teas and package them also explained that nettle tea can Charlene showed us that many up to take home with Charlene’s help with seasonal allergies. She of these ingredients can be found direction and help. The frst tea recommends starting with a cup locally. She went across the was a Nettle Peppermint tea a day before allergy season starts parking lot before the class started which can help with digestion and to ward off allergy attacks in the to gather an example of horsetail Buffalo Stew Recipe Ingredients Directions: 1 1/2 lbs. hamburger, but if stew meat 1 lb. cubed. 1. Brown hamburger, seasoning and vegetables in extra 1 - 2 Cloves of garlic, but garlic seasoning mixed virgin olive oil. Use low heat, with vegetables on top of with other seasonings, if available, is good too. the meat. 1/2 teaspoon sea salt, unless using the seasoning 2. Once the meat has browned, then break apart the meat Horse Tail, Red Clover and mix with the spoon. If you prefer less chunky meat, begin to Nettles 1 teaspoon black pepper break it apart right away. Good for healthy bones, hair and 3. Add water and tomato paste to cover the ingredients. 1 tablespoon Herbs de Provence 4. Stir to combine. nails. 4 potatoes, cubed 5. Over medium-high heat bring to a slight boil; reduce heat Peppermint and Nettle 1/2 yellow onion, chopped to low; cover. Great for digestion and allergy season. 3 carrots, chopped 6. Continue simmering stew, stirring occasionally for 30 Herbs de Provence with minutes, basically until the potatoes are cooked. 3 celery sticks, chopped 7. This stew can be easily used with other vegetables Rosemary, Basil and Lavender Optional: 1 (4 ounce) can tomato paste (I only and sometimes I use bags of vegetables - the broccoli, Rosemary is good for your memory. use this with ground meat, not stew) caulifower, carrot mix. I’ll usually chop up the caulifower Lavender is very calming. All add 3 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil and broccoli smaller than what’s in the bag. good taste and aid digestion. chehalistribe.org  greatwolfodge.com  luckyeagle.com  eagleslandinghotel.net Page 5