Monthly Tea Ideas for June - sleep and digestion

If there’s one good thing you can do for yourself in a day, it’s taking five minutes out to make a cup tea and have a moment of calm. Herbal tea remedies can provide amazing healing properties when the right herbs are combined together. Even the act of making a cup of tea is a mindful process in itself!

The purest way to reap these benefits is to make your own herbal teas at home - which is way easier than it sounds. If you do not have these herbs, then try some of our Backyard Patch tea blends.

What you need:

• A tea pot
• A glass jar to keep your mixture in
• Tea strainer or unbleached empty tea bags
• dried herbs, preferably organic

Tea to aid sleep

• 3 parts dried chamomile flowers - these have a calming element and natural sedative properties.
• 3 parts dried lavender flowers - these have a calming scent that is soothing and promotes relaxation.
• 1 part dried passionflower - soothes the mind, calming brain activity, also a natural sedative
• 1/2 part dried valerian root - this helps calm the nerves and promote a peaceful sleep, it also has natural sedative properties.

Measure out your herbs in a bowl. Mix herbs together, then transfer to jar. 3. If making in a pot scoop 2 tablespoons of mix into teapot and pour over boiled water, set aside and let steep for 5-10mins, then strain through into cup, sit back and enjoy.

For a tea bag cut your ingredients down to 1 Tbls and add the measured ingredients to a tea bag, place in cup and pour over boiled water, allowing to steep for 5 minutes before drinking.

Tea to aid digestion

This tea has a serious licorice flavor, but with the addition of ginger, you cut the sweetness and up the healthy benefits for an upset stomach.

• 3 parts dried fennel seed - aids digestion by helping to increase the production of gastric juices to get digestion started properly.
• 2 parts licorice root - helps the liver neutralize toxins and is anti-inflammatory
• fresh ginger root, sliced - this is highly anti-inflammatory, helps in digestion and reduces gas; easing bloating and burping. Keep ginger separate and add in fresh slice ginger when making tea pot

Measure out your dry herbs into a bowl. Mix together, then transfer to jar (except fresh ginger, slice this fresh as it provides more flavor.) 

If making in a pot scoop two tablespoons of mix into teapot, add two coins of ginger root to the pot and pour over boiled water, set aside and let steep for 5-10mins, then strain through into cup, sit back and enjoy.

For a tea bag use a single coin of ginger root with 1 teaspoon of herbs in a tea bag. Place in cup and pour over boiled water, allowing to steep for 5 minutes before drinking. 

Making Herbal Rub Mixtures for Grilling

With Father’s Day right around the corner, I thought I would share a few ways to make some great blends of herbs to use for grilling everything from beef and chicken to fish and vegetables.

The Backyard Patch makes several Rubs and Marinades (LINK) https://www.etsy.com/listing/72884068/grilling-special-herb-rub-and-marinade

https://www.etsy.com/listing/77123884/marinades-made-with-dry-herb-cooking

Two of the blends are nice and spicy for those who like a robust meat rub:

N’OrleansSecret - This blend will add some punch to everyday dishes and makes a great meat rub for grilling as well as a way to zip up your ketchup for burgers.  Just try 1 Tbls. N’orleans Secret in a cup of tomato ketchup for a spicy summer condiment.  

Four Spice Meat Rub - A nod to the fact that when barbequing the need for a stronger flavor that will hold up to fire is sometimes required,  we created this spice blend (with a few herbs) that can be used as a meat rub.  You can also use it to create a wonderful warm BBQ sauce.  Blend 1 tablespoon Backyard Patch Four Spice Meat Rub with 1 cup ketchup or tomato sauce and a bit of salt to taste, then warm in a sauce pan and serve hot. 

Making your own Rubs

If you want to craft your own rubs and seasoning, here are a few blends to try.  At the bottom of the post are a couple of recipes to go with these blends.

Bay Blend for Meat & Poultry
3 parts powdered bay leaf
2 parts rubbed sage
2 parts dried savory
1 part dried marjoram
1 part dried thyme
1 part dried basil
1 part dried rosemary
½ part garlic powder
½ part onion powder

Mix all ingredients. Store in lidded container. Rub into meat or poultry before roasting or broiling, or grilling.

No Salt Seasoning Mix

Good sprinkled on eggs, meat or chicken.  Use 1 to 2 Tbls. as a meat rub.  Blend with butter or margarine over fresh steamed vegetables.   You can even combine 1 Tbls. of the blend with 2/3 cup oil and 1/3 cup vinegar for a tangy salad dressing.

• 2 tsp. onion powder
• 2 tsp. basil, crumbled
• 1 tsp. marjoram
• 1 tsp. dry mustard
• 1 tsp. paprika
• ½ tsp. granulated garlic
• ½ tsp. thyme, crumbled
• ½ tsp celery seed
• ½ tsp parsley, crumbled
• ½ tsp curry powder (optional)
• ¼ tsp. ground black pepper

Combine all ingredients in a small jar with a tight-fitting lid; shake well.

 

Peppered Lavender Beef Rub

• 1 tablespoons whole black peppercorns
• 1 tablespoons whole white peppercorns
• 2 tablespoons fennel seeds
• 1 1/2 teaspoons dried thyme
• 2 tablespoons dried lavender flowers
• Pinch of savory

In a small spice or coffee grinder, coarsely grind the black peppercorns, white peppercorns, fennel seeds, thyme, and lavender flowers; rub mixture all over the meat. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 2 hours or overnight (preferably).

This is good on a tenderloin roast, rolled roast, steaks or even pounded Round steak.  Just sear the meat then broil or crock pot cook it until fully cooked.  The recipe amount is calculated for a 3 to 4 pound roast

Fish & Poultry Rub

• 2 parts sorrel
• 1 part lemon balm
•  ½ part thyme 

This blend can also be made with fresh ingredients.  Just finely mince the fresh herbs using the same proportions add to a bit of olive oil and spread on your fish or chicken like a paste.  When using dry herbs combine ingredients in a jar with a tight fitting lid.  Use as a rub or stuff the cavity before poaching or baking.  Use about 1/3 less on you fish or poultry when using dry versus fresh herbs in this mixture.

Blackening Rub

• 4 tsp. paprika
• 2 tsp. black pepper
• 1.2 tsp. cayenne pepper (adjust for personal taste)
• 2 tsp. garlic granules
• 2 tsp. onion powder
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• ½ tsp. cumin
• ½ tsp. dry mustard
• 1 tsp. salt (optional)

Combine the dry ingredients in a screw-top jar, using more cayenne if a hotter mix is required; shake well

 

Recipe to try

Blackened Chicken

• 6 boneless, skinless, chicken breasts
• 8 Tbls butter, melted
• A generous portion of  Blackening Rub

Pound the chicken breasts lightly until thinner and of an even thickness. Heat barbecue or cast-iron skillet or grill pan for about 10 minutes, until very hot.

Dip the chicken into melted butter and sprinkle the spice mixture on both sides. Cook the chicken for about 2 minutes on each side, until a black crust forms and the chicken is cooked through. (This cooking process will create a lot of smoke and is best done outdoors. Have a strong exhaust fan operating if cooking indoors.)

 

Pork Roast with Horseradish & Herbs (Serves 8)

• 1  2-pound lean boneless pork rib roast or loin roast, all visible fat removed
• 1 teaspoon prepared horseradish
• 2 Tsp. Backyard Patch Butter N Cheese Herb Mix

Preheat oven to 350° F. Place pork roast in a shallow baking pan. Rub horseradish over the surface of meat. Set aside.

In a small bowl, combine remaining ingredients. Sprinkle over roast. Place roast, uncovered, in oven. Cook about 1 hour, or until a meat thermometer registers 160°F. Let stand 5 minutes. Slice to serve.

 

 

Large Scale Bath Bag Blend Wedding Favor - Bath Blend of the Month

Bath bags make a scented gift that is good not only for the bath but also as a sachet or aromatherapy item.  Need a gift for those at work, or even a party favor for a special event or wedding this is a perfect recipe. This recipe is very large making 1,100 -- 1/2 cup bath bags (or about 550 cups of bath bag blend.)  You can make half  or 1/4 of the recipe instead if your need is not this large.

Large Scale Bath Bag Blend

• 25 pounds (300 cups) lavender
• 6 pounds (96 cups) lemon verbena
• 7 pounds (84 cups) chamomile
• 2 pounds (32 cups) valerian root
• 2 pounds (24 cups) marjoram
• 1 pound (16 cups) linden blossoms

Mix all ingredients together adding valerian a bit at a time to get it mixed in thoroughly.

Measure 1/2 cup into cotton muslin bags and attach a label with use instructions.  

To Use:You can either toss the bag into the water or hang it from the bath spout under the running water. Allow the bag to soak for several minutes before adding cold water to adjust to your preferred temperature. Then, get in and enjoy! It really is that simple.