There may be no better reason to stash persimmons during fall persimmon season than this recipe. We freeze the persimmons whole (though you could freeze puree) and simply pop them in the blender with the other ingredients. If you are new to persimmons, you should know that if the persimmon is not dead-ripe, it will…

Gourmet coffee houses separate many of us from quite a few dollars around the holidays on drinks like this pumpkin spice latte. Save a few bucks and use quality ingredients at the same time to splurge at home. This recipe requires actual pumpkin puree, though you will get a richer flavor out of butternut squash…

Increasingly, people are using lavender in creative ways to promote relaxation. As I describe in the article on lavender oil uses, it is popular to use in nebulizers, sprays, salts, and scrubs to calm the body and promote sleep. Creative cooks are using it increasingly in cooking as well. Tea is a simple start to…

As a coffee substitute or simply because you want a healthier chocolate drink where you control the ingredients, try a “cacao bean brew” — brewed up just like you would brew coffee. Cacao is a chocolate bean — it is the unprocessed form of the bean that is used to make cocoa. You can use…

This vegetable slushie is extremely refreshing and satisfying. On a hot summer night this drink can definitely be “dinner.” With tequila, it may be dessert as well… We use cucumber, celery, garlic, jalapeno, cilantro, and purslane. The exact ingredients are totally flexible, as is the case with any vegetable drink. I do recommend the cucumber…