Time with Kids
Jo Francks MH
When I was a kid my mom would make these yummy
candies out of peanut butter, honey, and powdered milk. I thought they tasted
like the inside of a peanut butter cup. Occasionally I still make those tasty
treats but I have since substituted the powdered milk with different options
like powdered herbs or oat flour. The peanut butter is now substituted with
homemade almond butter.
As I was thinking about different activities
that would be fun and helpful to do with children these candies came to mind
along with the different herbs that might be beneficial to include for them at
this time.
The first herbs that came to mind were
astragalus and marshmallow; herbs that strengthen the immune system without overstimulating it and they don’t have a strong overpowering flavor. I haven’t made
this yet but here’s my plan.
Blend up some rolled oats in the blender to
flour consistency, mix about 2 tablespoons each of the oat flour, the
marshmallow root powder and the astragalus root powder.
In a separate bowl combine ½ cup almond butter
or peanut butter and ⅓ cup raw honey. Now start adding the herb and oat powder
mixture starting with ¼ cup and adding more if needed until it can be rolled
into balls or other shapes.
Optional ingredients to add if you like are
cocoa powder, carob powder, slippery elm powder, dried fruit, nuts, cinnamon,
powdered elderberries, rose hips, or hawthorn berries.
Powdered herbs can also be mixed into honey to
make little medicine balls. The same herbs can be used or other combinations
can be used like mullein, slippery elm and chickweed. These herbs would be a
good combination to use for respiratory issues as an expectorant. Elderberries
or echinacea powder could be used to boost the immune system. I have a child
who liked to make the sore throat remedy with garlic honey and cayenne as a
snack:)
Tea parties are a great way to spend time with
children. Peppermint tea combined with elderflowers is an old classic used for
fevers. The herbs act as a diaphoretic to make you sweat. Raspberry leaves are
great for any tea party a few thyme leaves could be added if you or your child
has a cough. I would use chamomile if someone needed to calm down.
When I asked my daughter what she has learned to
do when she has a fever she said: “Take a hot bath with hot tea.” She learned
well. We would use a combination of diaphoretic herbs for the tea which could
include any of the following herbs; peppermint, yarrow, raspberry leaves,
calendula flowers, sage leaves or elderflowers. When they were done with the
bath they would shower off with cold water real quick and go to bed and sweat a
little more.
If you find you have a little time to spend with
kids you may want to try out some of these suggestions.
Nut Butter Candy
½ cup nut butter
⅓ cup honey
Powdered oat flour or powdered herbs
Combine the nut butter and honey and add enough
of the powdered ingredients to make a dough. Roll into balls or other fun
shapes.
Optional ingredients to add if you like are
cocoa powder, carob powder, slippery elm powder, dried fruit, nuts, cinnamon,
powdered elderberries, rose hips, or hawthorn berries.
