the elixir
I haven’t posted in a while, as I have been traveling around Mexico tasting and drinking and enjoying…..and can’t wait to get to work on some new recipes to share with you.
But first, I need to detox. I’ve spent the last two weeks in Mexico eating and drinking and then eating some more. Not to mention the weeks that proceeded Mexico were spent eating and drinking and eating to celebrate the Christmas holiday.
Now, I’m not one for juice fasts (or any other fasts for that matter), but I do like to start each day with a healthy beverage, especially when recovering from a 1-month food frenzy. This elixir is a wonderful base, to be taken alone, or mixed with a variety of other healthy additions…fresh ginger, lemon, apple cider vinegar, echinacea….whatever your body needs. And with the cold weather we’ve been having in New York, my body has been needing a lot.
The primary ingredients are organic raw honey, organic ground turmeric, and organic cayenne pepper. Raw honey is an excellent source of antioxidants and strengthens the immune system. Make sure you use raw honey, as processed honey (most honey is processed, it must say RAW) loses many of the health benefits when it is heated above 115 degrees Fahrenheit.
Turmeric is a root that looks like a bright orange ginger root. I can sometimes find it fresh, but for this recipe, I use ground organic turmeric. Turmeric is a powerful anti-inflammatory and is thought to inhibit the growth of cancer cells. It is often used in Indian cooking and Ayurvedic medicine and gives yellow mustard its bright color.
Cayenne pepper is a wonderful detoxifying agent and is also thought to kill cancer cells. Use as much as you can handle.
The Elixir
Makes about 1 1/2 cups. Keeps in cool, dark pantry for several months, but if you’re drinking it every day, it won’t last that long!
This is a warm, soothing drink that I look forward to every morning. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.
1 pound organic raw honey
1/4 cup (about 30 grams) organic ground turmeric
1-2 teaspoons (2-3 grams) organic ground cayenne pepper
fresh lemon wedges (for serving)
fresh ginger root (optional, for serving)
Combine honey, turmeric and cayenne pepper in a glass container, making sure to incorporate well. Store covered in a cool, dark pantry.
To use, add one generous teaspoon to a teacup.
Add hot but not boiling water, as you want to preserve the health benefits of the raw honey. Stir well. Add a generous squeeze of fresh lemon and if you have the ginger, finely grate some into your teacup as well. Drink one cup first thing in the morning and another before bedtime.
If you’re coming down with a cold or feeling a bit under the weather, substitute 1 tablespoon organic apple cider vinegar for the lemon and add a generous dropper of echinacea.
chocolate hippos 
One Response to “the elixir”
Gathering all ingredients today. Thank you!