Holiday Recipes Deserve Homemade BrothInstant Pot And Stove Top Vegetable Broth

Homemade broth is far superior to store bought.

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Homemade Broth is Far Superior

When I'm in a hurry, I often just use a Rapunzel bouillon cube for broth. I find most boxed broths taste like dishwater or they can be over salted and just unusable. But for my holiday recipes, I like to make my own broth. Especially on Thanksgiving when I need broth for soup, stuffing, and cooking potatoes or side veggies. 

You can either use fresh vegetables for your broth or veggie scraps that you have been saving in the freezer. But since it's a holiday, let's go all out and use fresh vegetables and herbs. 

Use your Instant Pot for a quick and easy broth or cook or simmer on the stovetop which is just as easy but takes a bit longer. You can double the recipe if needed.

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Instant Pot or Stovetop Vegetable Broth

Vegan, Dairy and Gluten Free

[makes 4 cups]

Ingredients

1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

1 cups coarsely chopped onions

1 cup coarsely chopped leeks

1 1/2 cups thickly sliced celery

1 1/2 cups thickly sliced carrots

1 cup mushrooms

3 cloves garlic, cut in half

1 bay leaf

3 sprigs parsley

1 or 2 sprigs fresh thyme

1 teaspoon peppercorns

Salt to taste

Directions

For the Instant Pot:

Heat the oil in the Instant Pot by pressing the SAUTE button. Add the veggies and garlic and cook until they just begin to soften, stirring frequently, about 4 to 5 minutes. Press the OFF button.

Add the remaining ingredients. Cover with water and stir. Secure the lid and press the MANUAL button and set for 10 minutes at high pressure. When done, press OFF and let the pressure come down naturally. Remove the lid carefully with the steam pointed towards the back. 

Strain out the vegetables and herbs. Use immediately or refrigerate or freeze for later use.

For the Stove Top:

Heat the oil in a large soup pot or Dutch oven and saute the vegetables and garlic, stirring frequently, until they begin to soften, about 4 to 5 minutes. Add the remaining ingredients. Cover with water, stir, and bring to a boil.

Reduce heat and simmer, covered, for at least an hour. Strain out the vegetables and herbs. Use immediately or refrigerate or freeze for later use.

Top 10 Healthy Holiday Gift IdeasMy Annual Picks for 2016!

Every year I share a few of my favorite things for gift ideas.

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Gift Ideas
For the last few years, I've been sharing gift ideas for your health conscious friends and family. After reviewing them, I still recommend each and every one. Check them all out!

See my 2013 post on Great Christmas Gifts for Healthy Cooking, or

my 2014 post on Chanukah and Christmas Gifts Ideas for Health-Conscious Cooks (Many gifts under $20 and $35) and,

last year's post, 10 Holiday Gift Ideas under $25.

Here are my picks for 2016:

#1 - Last year the kids bought me a Nespresso espresso maker with a milk frother. I love this little machine. It's super easy to use. Doug enjoys espresso and my favorite is a decaf cappuccino. The milk frother works great with non-dairy milk, especially soy and oat milk. It's pretty reasonably priced at just a tad over $100.

Nespresso Inizia Espresso Maker with Aeroccino Plus Milk Frother

#2 - Looking over my past gift ideas, I can't believe that I forgot to include the Yonanas Healthy Dessert Maker.  This simple machine makes a delicious dessert from frozen fruit that tastes just like gelato! It's amazing. Everyone we have served this dessert to has gone out and bought one - again, just a tad over $100. My favorite combination is frozen bananas and cherries. 

Yonanas Elite Frozen Healthy Dessert Maker

#3 - Kind Bars make a yummy gift. There are lots of flavors but do check each flavor for allergens. Most of them are gluten free but not all of them are dairy free. If you have friends or family who are on the go, this is a great gift.

Almond and Apricot Kind Fruit and Nut Bar
 is gluten and dairy free.

#4 - My favorite gift recommendation this year is a rebounder. It will especially come in handy after the holidays, when everyone is trying to lose those holiday pounds. My Stamina 38" rebounder is less than $50 and will provide hours of bouncy fun while helping circulate the lymphatic system.

Stamina 38-inch Intone Plus Rebounder

#5 - Saffron is a very luxurious spice. I love putting a little pinch in my rice cooker whenever I make rice. It's also the key spice in paella. But it is very expensive. I asked Doug to pick some up for me one day and he came home with a single gram of Pensey's saffron for about $20. You can buy illegal drugs for less! So I was very happy when I found this 2 gram tin of pure Spanish Saffron on Amazon for a little over $6 a gram. I've bought from this company twice now and I really like their product.

2-gram tin of Spanish Saffron

#6 - An aroma therapy gift set makes a wonderful gift. Here's a set that has an Essential Oil Diffuser bundled with a selection of JuJu Aroma Oils.

The Smiley Daisy Diffuser comes with lavender, eucalyptus, peppermint, rosemary, tea tree and sweet orange essential oils.

#7 - My office is not near the kitchen so when I want a cup of tea, I have to walk up the stairs and across the house. So I really appreciate this Brentwood Stainless Steel Tea Kettle.  You can spend a lot more on these, but this simple kettle costs less than $20 and does the job. The reason I selected this one is because the inside is stainless steel, not plastic. Many of the others on the market have plastic in contact with the boiling water. 

#8 - I use my kitchen scale every day. This inexpensive EatSmart Precision Pro Digital Kitchen Scale has been working flawlessly for years and it's less than $20.

#9 - Garlic is a pain to mince. Since my friend Christine gave me her Pampered Chef Garlic Press, I've been pressing garlic in most every recipe now instead of mincing it. This kitchen jewel is also very easy to clean. 

#10 - For the wine lovers on your list, buy them a Vinturi Essential Wine Aerator. We love ours. If you have a wine that is a bit young, this aerator allows the wine to breath and gives it the depth that it would have gotten if it were aged. Plus it makes a cool sucking sound when you pour the wine through it which always entertains your guests!

Of course gift giving isn't everything. Enjoy a holiday meal with your friends and family and provide the love and support to each other that everyone can use about now.

Happy Holiday!

Make Organic Pain Relief Salve In Your Instant PotMakes A Great Holiday Gift!

Homemade salves make a great gift,
especially when they are in Infinity Jars.

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Herbs
My latest passion is working with herbs. I especially enjoy making salves using the highest quality ingredients I can find. My next step will be to grow some of these flowers myself but today I'm going to show you how to make a simple salve that you can use on sore or spastic muscles, nerve pain, arthritic pain, and more. 

The most important thing is to use organic ingredients. Even though it is not to be used internally or on broken skin, this salve will be absorbed through the skin. I buy all certified organic herbs from Mountain Rose. I also like using organic extra virgin olive oil instead of coconut oil, probably because I'm Italian and I use olive oil for everything, and because it's easier to get consistent firmness. I also throw in a little jojoba oil (it's actually a wax) for added moisturizing and vitamin E as a preservative.

Arnica can help treat physical trauma, bruises, strains,muscle pain and can reduce swelling.

Calendula flowers are useful for skin irritations.

Comfrey relieves pain, swelling, supporting muscle, cartilage and bone.

St. John's Wort is used for bruises and nerve support.

Instant Pot Does It Again
Just when I am convinced that I've discovered all the things my Instant Pot Electric Pressure cooker can do, I discover another one. It turns out that the yogurt setting and the slow cooker setting are perfect in the salve-making process! 

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Organic Pain Relief Salve
Do not use internally or on broken skin
[makes 8 ounces]

Requires a pint jar and top, an Instant Pot Pressure Cooker, a scale, cheese cloth, small cosmetic jars, a pint or quart pyrex with pour spout (one that fits inside your Instant Pot).

Ingredients
1/4 ounce organic calendula flowers
1/4 ounce organic comfrey
1/4 ounce organic arnica flowers
1/4 ounce organic St. John's Wort
Everclear or vodka in a small spray bottle
1 1/4 cups organic extra virgin olive oil or more to cover
1 ounce beeswax*
1 tablespoon organic jojoba oil 
1/4 teaspoon vitamin E
40 to 50 drops organic essential oils

* For a vegan salve, substitute carnauba wax

Directions

Clean the cosmetic jars thoroughly and dry completely. Set aside.

Carefully measure out your herbs. Break the flowers up with your hands (don't grind or they will be hard to strain out later). 

Place the broken up herbs in a shallow pan and spray with Everclear or Vodka to open up the herbs. Let sit for 5 to10 minutes.

Place in a jar and cover with olive oil.

You want to make sure that you end up with 1 cup after straining so you must allow some of the oil to be absorbed by the herbs.

Some people let this mixture sit for weeks, but you can reduce that time dramatically if you heat the herbs at 100 degrees for 48 to 72 hours, stirring a few times a day. The yogurt setting on the  instant pot is about 104 degrees so it's pretty perfect! I just set the jar of infused herbs directly on the bottom of the pot, hit YOGURT and set the timer for 72 hours (I didn't realize the pot timer went up that high!) Make sure you use a canning jar that can take the heat. 

When it's done, lay several layers of sterile cheese cloth in a strainer and strain your herbs.

Now it's time to squeeze as much out of the herbs as possible into your pint or quart pyrex.

Just squeeze the balled up cheese cloth with your hand. As a little trick, I pulled out my potato ricer, which I never use for potato ricing, and put the ball of herbs in there for a good press.

Place an inch or two of water in the bottom of the Instant Pot and hit SLOW COOK. The water should get to around 220 degrees F. This beats having to mess with a double boiler.

Line up your cosmetic jars. When everything is ready to pour, you'll have no time to do this so do it now.

While the water is heating, measure out the beeswax. One ounce will make a firm salve. Use less if you want a looser salve. If you want a vegan salve, use carnauba wax. I have no personal experience with carnauba wax but I assume the amount needed is similar.

Place the beeswax in the pyrex of herb oil and place the pyrex into the pot of hot water being very careful not to get any moisture into the oil. The wax will slowly melt. Stir occasionally until all the wax is melted into the oil. 

Quickly stir in the jojoba oil and remove from the heat. But before you remove it from the heat, you can drop a bit onto a piece of parchment to see if you like the hardness of the salve. If it's too stiff, add more oil. If it's too soft, add more beeswax. Throwing the sample in the freezer for a few minutes will speed up this test.

If you are happy with the firmness, remove from heat and quickly stir in the vitamin E oil and whatever essential oil drops you desire. I used a mixture of lavender, peppermint, and DoTerra Aroma Touch which all have relaxing properties and are good for sore muscles.

Once everything is mixed, quickly pour your mixture into the cosmetic jars before the salve starts to harden. Let the jars cool completely before you cover them.

Well, there you have it. Instant Pot Salve! Who knew?

10 Holiday Gift Ideas Under $25

You'll find some great affordable gifts
in your local neighborhood stores.

Still Shopping?
If you are still looking for some thoughtful yet inexpensive gifts for Chanukah or Christmas, you may only need to look as far as your local bookstore, hardware store or food coop. Here are 10 gift ideas under $25 for people who love to eat, cook, learn and garden.

#1 Locally Roasted Coffee
I was in Oliver's market yesterday and noticed their lovely coffee selection. Most food coops and high-end grocery stores have a nice selection too. There's been lots of press lately touting coffee's health benefits. Coffee has an extremely high antioxidant content and is linked to reducing the risk of chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, cancer, Alzheimer's and more. So if you are buying a gift for someone who enjoys a cup of Joe, pick out a nice pound of coffee. Make sure to find out if they enjoy caffeinated or decaf.

Finding locally roasted coffee is a nice touch.

#2 A Selection of Teas
There are so many delicious teas available. And tea, like coffee, contain substances linked to a lower risk of diabetes, heart disease, and cancer - especially green tea. Although loose leaf tea is a nice gift, most people would rather use a tea bag for convenience. There are some products that come in impressive little fabric tea pouches that make a great gift. Mighty Leaf is one to consider and is available in markets such as Whole Foods and in many food coops. Find out if your tea drinker prefers herbal, non-caffeinated teas or those that contain caffeine, such as black or green tea preparations. 

Notice the cute fabric pouch!

#3 Gourmet Vinegars and Oils
My mother used to make a salad every night with a red wine vinegar and olive oil. Nothing fancy. But today their are too many types of exotic vinegars and oils to count - each with their own unique flavors and health benefits. They make wonderful gifts and there's a huge selection under $25.

#4 Beans and a Recipe
Many years ago someone gave me a beautiful jar layered with different beans and a recipe for Harvest Bean Soup. It was one of the coolest gifts I ever received. You may not be inclined to go through the trouble of layering different beans in a jar, but you can go pick up a few pounds of different beans and print out your favorite recipes to go along with them. This is a fun and very affordable gift, especially for your friends that have Instant Pot Pressure cookers!

#5 Chocolate
Why did I wait so long to mention chocolate? Yes, we now all know how good dark chocolate is for us but most of all, it's delicious! And don't feel like you have to go out and buy a box of expensive, gourmet chocolates. It's fun to buy an assortment of bars and wrap them with holiday tissue paper and tie them in a bow. Or jus drop them in Christmas stockings!

# 6 Heirloom Seeds
For the gardener on your list, go to your hardware or garden shop and pick out a nice assortment of organic, heirloom seeds. Pay attention to the size of the garden these are going into. For example, don't buy corn seeds if the person has a tiny garden. An heirloom lettuce or some herbs would be more appropriate. Select a few packets of seeds and a garden trowel. Place the seeds in the base of the trowel and hold them in place with ribbon and a bow. 

#7 Gardening Gloves
All gardeners can use a new pair of gardening gloves and you can get a really nice pair for under $25 in your local hardware store. Longer ones are needed for roses, but most gardeners just need the kind that come an inch or so above your wrist. Washable ones are a big plus!

#8 "How To" Books
What's more fun than learning a new hobby or perfecting your skills even further! I have a few books on my own wish list this year that will teach me how to work with medicinal herbs, and one on how to make soap, and another on how to make my own herbal shampoos and cleansers. Just think about a topic that will interest the person you are buying a gift for and find a well-rated book on the subject. Perhaps they want to learn how to make a quilt, refinish furniture, play the ukulele, or how to paint.  Read through the reviews on Amazon and you'll get first-hand feedback.

#9 Assortment of Raw Nuts
Over a 30 year period, 119,000 men and women were tracked. People who ate a handful of nuts each day were 20% less likely to die from any cause, had a 29% reduction in deaths from heart disease and had an 11% reduction in deaths from cancer. So why not give someone this wonderful longevity food, assuming they don't have a nut allergy. Go to your local coop or health food store and buy a nice assortment of raw nuts - walnuts, pecans, almonds, pistachios, cashews, hazelnuts, macadamia nuts, etc. Throw in some dark chocolate covered raisins for good measure and fill up a pretty glass quart jar. Top with a bow and you're all set! 

#10 Bath Soap
A nice bath soap is a real treat. Especially when it is natural and contains lovely essential oils. I particularly like exfoliating soaps with oatmeal like the one from my daughter's company, Lulu Organics.  The reason bath soaps are a real treat is that most people won't spend $5 or $6 on a bar of soap for themselves but getting a few bars as a gift is a real luxury. 

I hope I've given you some ideas. For more posts on this topic, see my 2013 Great Christmas Gifts for Healthy Cooking or my 2014 Gift Ideas for Health-Conscious Cooks.
Happy shopping!