recipes from a gluten-free kitchen
Afternoon Tea and Cookies Herbal teas have been used as an aid to healing for thousands of years. Many of our grandparents knew which root to dig up and boil to help a particular ailment. Native American, Inca and Chinese medicine doctors, as well as the Ayurvedic healers of the East, all used similar knowledge to help heal the common cold, seasonal virus or even a headache. Reaching into our history, we find Mother Nature holds the secrets to help us continue to have optimal health and thrive through the winter. Here are four of our favorite herbal teas for winter. Licorice Root Tea - Licorice is one of the most popular flavors in candy and beverages around the world, and a hearty cup of licorice tea certainly does not disappoint. Licorice tea can help balance the body’s levels of cortisol and cortisone, which are especially helpful with holiday stress. Other benefits include relief from depression, menopause, PMS and thyroid disease symptoms.
Vanilla Wafers Yield: about 3 dozen 1⅓ cups gluten-free all-purpose flour ½ tsp baking powder 1/8 tsp baking soda ½ tsp kosher salt 8 Tbsp unsalted butter at room temperature ½ cup packed brown sugar 1 egg at room temperature, beaten 4 tsp vanilla extract 2 Tbsp almond milk Preheat the oven to 325° F. Line rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper and set them aside. 30
Chicago
NAChicago.com
Chai Tea - Chai is a bold blend of black tea and spices with an invigorating taste that is sure to beckon your taste buds along a savory journey. Ginger, cardamom, cinnamon, fennel, black pepper and clove each contains its own special benefits, and when combined can be even more powerful for the body. Chai benefits include possibly helping support digestion, lowering blood sugar and promoting cardiovascular health. Chaga Tea - Known colloquially as the "king of mushrooms”, chaga is an exceptional ingredient and creates an equally exceptional tea with a smooth, rich flavor that any avid tea drinker will fall for. Chaga mushroom tea has a potential benefit for many health concerns, including heart disease, diabetes, liver disease, parasites, stomach pain and certain types of cancer. Matcha Tea - This green tea variety is made from tea leaves that have been powdered, which gives it a strong, appealing flavor
when brewed. Matcha is a favorite of tea connoisseurs, and has been enjoyed for more than 1,000 years. The secret behind matcha’s superfood strength is found in its polyphenol compounds called catechins, which are a type of antioxidant found in superfoods like cocoa and apples. Potential benefits range from improved heart health to lower blood sugar levels, increased weight loss and more. A touch of sweetness is a wonderful accompaniment to afternoon tea. Here are three favorite gluten-free cookie recipes to bake and share this holiday season.
In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, add the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt; whisk to combine. Switch to the paddle attachment and add the butter, sugar, egg, vanilla and milk, beating well after each addition. Chill the dough for 1 hour or more in the refrigerator. Scoop dough with a spoon onto the prepared baking sheets, gently flattening the top of each raw cookie. Space about 1 inch apart. Bake for 15 to 17 minutes or until the cookies are a golden color. Cool for a few minutes on the baking sheets before moving to a wire rack to cool completely.
Photo credit Life-n-Reflection
Healthful Herbal Teas
Photo by Marta Dzedyshko from Pexels
by Tiffany Hinton
