I’ve found a secret. A secret to nourishing my family which really isn’t a secret at all. It’s a concept that goes back generations into all of our ancestral lines.

The secret is…. layering medicine into every bit of food I make for my family. It feels like a secret or a treasure trove that I’ve found… because this way of living was not passed down to me. And I know many of us are in that boat. Deep nourishment simply wasn’t a focus in our household growing up. We gardened and I had a wonderful childhood. I was taught the basics of eating healthy and not consuming a lot of junk, which I’m so so grateful for. And the name of the game in the 80’s with both doctors and the media was more about staying slim than feeding every cell. I’ve heard from so many folks my age (40) that we really didn’t learn as children how important it is to make sure we are consuming a plethora of minerals, nutrients and fats. We’re having to learn this now on in our adulthood. Because calorie counting alone does not equate to vibrant and thriving living.

And I’m not talking about making brownies with black beans or zucchini (both of which I’ve done and turned out awesome). I’m talking about deep nourishment that soaks into every cell, into the bones…the blood. Using simple herbals and mushrooms to layer in the nourishment and medicine at every turn in our kitchens.

This is something I teach and weave into every lesson I teach in my Medicine Woman membership. And is more important now than ever for us to be doing for ourselves and our family….eating to nourish.

The recipe I am about to share is a peek into the types of recipes I share with our members (and each recipe shared in Medicine Woman comes with a video from my medicine kitchen). I love this recipe because the delicious flavors keep me coming back to nibble. My children and husband too. And with each nibble, we’re taking in anti-oxidants, adrenal support, kidney support, easily digestible protein and more.

We’re taking “plant’based”, “gluten-free” to another level….deeply nourishing. I believe living from labels alone and focusing on being free of something like gluten without focusing on making sure what we’re eating is deeply nourishing is leaving out a huge part of the puzzle. These seeds give you instant access to medicine and nourishment during those busy times or when you’re in a snacky mood and also don’t want to consume packaged unhealthy foods from the store. They help us add on more layer of medicine to a dish.

You can use these seeds in many ways:

• As a snack – just put some in a bowl and enjoy
• Sprinkle top of a salad
• Sprinkle over roasted veggies
• Sprinkle over a bowl of soup
• Use over your savory oatmeal
• Add to your yogurt for a savory crunch
• Take with you on your travels as an easy non-messing and nourishing travel food

Basically where you can imagine it, you can use them.

Let’s take a look at the medicine in these seeds

• Nettle seed – supports the adrenals, kidneys, energy levels and thyroid (I harvest nettle seed in the late summer and into fall. Dry her and then use in the kitchen. We talk about how to identify, harvest and deep dive into her medicine in Medicine Woman)
• Garden sage – anti-viral, anti-bacterial and supports immune system
• Rosemary – supports brain health, memory, circulatory system
• Fennel – supports digestive system and gut health, supports the liver and protects the body against harmful bacteria
• Black pepper – supports the digestive system, high in anti-oxidants, helps to fight infections and improves cognition
• Sea salt – mineral powerhouse, supports healthy electrolyte balance
• Onion powder – is known to protect from cancer, provides anti-oxidant, helps to treat cold and flu, supports the heart and bones
• Olive oil – truly healthy fat that supports a healthy heart, skin, brain
• Raw local honey – anti-viral, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal
• Sunflower seeds – high in protein, supports the heart, protects against cancer, supports the thyroid and the bones
• Pumpkin seeds – high in protein, antioxidants and supports the prostate, bladder and immune system
• Sesame seeds – very high in calcium, in protein and protects the body from certain cancers, prevents heart disease and improves digestion

Here is nettle seeding in her natural habitat….

Join me in the kitchen

Spice Ingredients

• 1 heaping tablespoon dried nettle seed
• 1 heaping tablespoon dried sage
• 1 heaping tablespoon dried rosemary
• 1 tablespoon fennel
• 1/2 tablespoon black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
• 1/2 tablespoon onion powder
• 2 tablespoons nutritional yeast
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 tablespoons raw local honey

Seed ingredients

• 3/4 cup pumpkin seeds
• 3/4 cup sunflower seeds
• 1/2 cup sesame seeds

Let’s put it all together

• Preheat your oven to 300.
• Add your nettle seed, sage, rosemary and fennel into your herb grinder and grind until you have a powder
• Add your ground herbs to your large bowl and now include the pepper, sea salt, onion powder, nutritional yeast olive oil and honey.
• Mix well and then add in your seeds and mix again until all seeds are coated.
• Now spread your seeds on your baking sheet and bake for 1 hour.
• Turn the seeds with a spatula 3-4 time in the hour so that it bakes evenly.
• Allow to cool and store in an air tight container

I hope you enjoy these Medicine Seeds as much as we do.

We dive deep into layering food with medicine in my program, Medicine Woman. This online course helps you weave plant knowledge into wisdom and to bring the medicine of our wild herbs into your every day life. This includes how to identify and harvest wild plants and how to make remedies and medicines with them as well as layer their medicine into your meals. I also teach practical tips on how to grow your own food and medicine using Earth-based and permaculture practices.

To stay connected for weekly writings, recipes and journeys into my gardens, you can sign up for my newsletter here (I’ll also send you a free plant-based and gluten-free recipe e-book 🙂

Gaia Blessings,

Audrey Barron

*This article is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Always do your own research before consuming a new plant.