Ask yourself, “Does my diet contain enough minerals?” 

Chef Audrey Barron, Ezra’s Enlightened Cafe, says what you might not know is that minerals don’t just nourish us, they help regulate our hormones, our mental function and the function of our organs.  And we need well- functioning hormones and organs to be healthy and have a high quality of life.

In our kitchen today, Audrey shares a few recipes that are not only easy and fun to make, they also are truly brimming with vital minerals and nutrients.  Audrey says it doesn’t have to be hard to eat well.  It can be as easy as making a dessert or a bowl of popcorn with herbal sprinkles.  Check it out!

Wild Herbal Immune Dust (all recipes as told by Audrey) 
I created this recipe as a solution to help my family consume more wild foods and herbs that support our immune system and PREVENT disease.  We keep it on the dinner table to sprinkle on salads or popcorn or to use during the cooking process.

•    1 cup dried nettles
•    1 tablespoon dried lemon balm
•    2 tablespoon dried oregano
•    2 tablespoons dried sage
•    2 tablespoons nutritional yeast
•    ½ cup sesame seeds
•    ½ tablespoon turmeric powder
•    1 teaspoon sea salt

1.    To make your dust, add all of your ingredients into either your food processor, dry vessel on your blender or your herb only coffee grinder.  If you are using a coffee grinder (that you designate just for herbs), you will need to grind each ingredient on its own and then blend together.
2.    Keep in a container you love and is easy to leave out in view for you and your family.  Having it in a jar with holes in the lid allows you to sprinkle on your food like salt and pepper.
3.    Use on your popcorn, salads, or as a seasoning for sauteeing or baking.  Enjoy!

Mama’s Reishi Millet Crispy Treats

Makes approximately 10-12 squares

I was inspired when at our local health food store, Good Earth, a few weeks ago when I saw organic millet cereal on the shelves.  So I created my version of the rice crispy treats I grew up knowing.  They were a staple Halloween treat.  Yes, back when I was a kid, the neighbors often home-made treats.  It was a good time to grow up.

Anything I make for my family is made with their health in mind.  So I didn’t want to use processed sugar.  I also wanted to up the nutrient and mineral content, which is where the hemp and reishi come into play.

Ingredients:

3 cups puffed millet
½ cup maple syrup (we use local)
½ cup organic almond butter
1 teaspoon reishi powder (we use Jing Herbs)
¼ cup organic hemp seeds
¼ teaspoon sea salt

Instructions:

1.    Grease your glass dish.  I recommend a 5×5 inch or no bigger than an 8×8 inch.  
2.    Slowly warm maple syrup and almond butter over stove on low until it all melts down and looks like caramel.  Depending on how dry your almond butter is, it will take 5-10 minutes.
3.    Add reishi powder and stir.  Add salt and stir.
4.    Add hemp seeds and stir
5.    Add your puffed millet and stir gently until all ingredients are mixed together
6.    Place your mixture in your greased glass dish and press down until it’s evenly dispersed and smooth on top.
7.    Place your dish in the freezer for an hour to set up.
8.    Take out and cut into squares – sizes of your choice.  Enjoy!

Check out Ezra’s class lineup and more about Ezra’s Café at www.ezrasenlightenedcafe.com. Want to follow Chef Audrey to see what she’s up to at home, behind the scenes at the café and at her farm? Find her at @GaiaChef or www.gaiachef.com.