BUTTERFLY GARDEN Besides for growing veggies and herbs, our backyard also sports a butterfly garden. Remember the caterpillar experiment your teachers brought to school in kindergarten? We experience that in mass production every spring and summer. We planted some milkweed and parsley, and that was the start of our butterfly garden. Monarch butterflies (identified as beautiful black and orange butterflies) are attracted to the milkweed and lay their eggs there all season long. What do we get? Stunning green cocoons that erupt into many beautiful butterflies. Additionally, swallowtail butterflies (identified as black and blue butterflies with pointed wings) are attracted to our parsley bunches and lay their eggs on them all season long. My children and I watch the metamorphosis of every butterfly with bated breath. The nifla’os haBorei leave us spellbound, every day anew.
HOMEMADE PESTO SAUCE I always tell my clients that dredging our proteins in sugar is a true shame. One of the ways I love to prepare my salmon or chicken cutlets is by making my own pesto sauce with my homegrown basil. Even if you don’t grow your own herbs, you can do this too using frozen basil cubes. Pesto Sauce: Handful fresh basil or 3 frozen basil cubes 3 cloves fresh garlic or 3 frozen garlic cubes ¼ cup olive oil ½ tsp salt Blend with an immersion blender. Pour over fish or chicken cutlets and grill in grill pan or outdoor grill. Pure, natural goodness. At this point, you can see why functional medicine doctors recommend spices, herbs, and derived supplements as a routine part of preventive care. When we understand that food is medicine, it follows that herbs and spices go a step further—they are super-potent medicine that tastes great, with no “spoonful of sugar” required.
Shaindy Oberlander, BS, INHC, a graduate from Mercy College and IIN, runs her functional medicine-based nutrition practice in Toms River NJ and virtually as well. Shaindy has tracks for teens, nursing and pregnant mothers, women peri/post menopause, and tracks from women suffering from hormonal issues. She can be reached at 347.228.1198 or via her website at www.benefithealthprogram.com Note: Please consult with your halachic authority regarding insect inspection of home-grown produce.
WELLSPRING / SIVAN 5783
43
