Prevent to Protect

Ben Franklin was right: An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Especially during the Pandemic Year's flu season. Don't forget to get a flu shot, but if you can't, won't, and/or want some added protection, let's talk about Fortitude Elixir.

Around the Autumnal Equinox (September 22 in the Northern Hemisphere), I start gathering ingredients to make Fortitude Elixir, sometimes called Fire Cider. Maybe you've heard of it, maybe your mother, grandmother, or other family member made a version of it around this time of year and dosed you with it when you started to show signs of a sinus infection, cough or cold. It's amazing stuff!

Comprised of fruits, root vegetables, herbs, spices, apple cider vinegar and honey, it's a cure-all, antibacterial, antiviral, fermented powerhouse home remedy you can make in an afternoon and have enough to not only give away, but also to last till next fall.

And it's not just for sickie-poos, you can make a mean mocktail or cocktail with it, too!

LAMOON'S FORTITUDE ELIXIR

INGREDIENTS

1 QUART MASON JAR WITH (PREFERABLY) PLASTIC LID (IF USING METAL, LAYER WAX PAPER BETWEEN LIQUID AND LID)

1/2 CUP CHAPPED GARLIC

1/2 CUP CHOPPED WHITE ONION

1/2 CUP CHOPPED HORSERADISH ROOT (OR GOLD'S PREPARED HORSERADISH)

1/4 CUP CHOPPED GINGER

1/4 CUP CHOPPED TURMERIC ROOT

1 JALAPENO PEPPER, CHOPPED WITH SEEDS

1 TBSP CHOPPED FRESH THYME

1 TBSP CHOPPED FRESH ROSEMARY

1 TBSP CHOPPED FRESH OREGANO

1 THINLY SLICED SMALL JUICE ORANGE, RIND ON

1 THINLY SLICED SMALL LEMON, RIND ON

1 THINLY SLICED LIME, RIND ON

1 BOTTLE APPLE CIDER VINEGAR

HONEY

LAYER CHOPPED AND SLICED INGREDIENTS IN MASON JAR IN ORDER ABOVE, POUR VINEGAR TO COVER, SEAL WITH LID, LET FERMENT FOR FOUR WEEKS IN THE FRIDGE. WHEN IT'S READY: STRAIN INTO CLEAN JAR, ADD HONEY TO TASTE OR 1-2 TABLESPOONS. IT'S TANGY AND SPICY, BUT SHOULDN'T BE OVERLY SWEET.

USES

PREVENTATIVE: TAKE SPOONFULS OR SHOTS WHEN YOU FEEL FEVER, FLU, COLD, COUGH, OR SINUS INFECTION STARTING, OR TO BOOST IMMUNITY GOING INTO THE COLDER MONTHS.

DIGESTIVE: HAVE A WARM CUPPA IN THE MORNING TO JUMP START YOUR AGNI (DIGESTIVE FIRE) FOR THE REST OF THE DAY.

HEALING: MAKE A HOT TODDY! DEPENDING ON HOW SICK/CONGESTED I AM, I ADD A FEW TABLESPOONS OR A HALF CUP TO MY COLD OR THROAT REMEDY TEA TO SIP.

NOURISHING: IT'S SUPER SAVORY, SO USE IT IN SALADS, MARINADES, STEWS, AND SOUPS AS SECRET INGREDIENT FLAVORING. IT'S ALSO CONSIDERED A SHRUB -A VINEGAR-BASED FRUIT LIQUEUR- SO ADD APPLE CIDER, VANILLA SELTZER, APRICOT SELTZER OR OTHER FLAVORED BEVERAGES. PROBABLY TASTES GREAT IN A BLOODY OR VIRGIN MARY, TOO!

TIPS & TRICKS

IF YOU HAVE A HARD TIME FINDING SOME OF THE HERBS AND SPICES (SOME SUPERMARKETS MAY NOT HAVE GINGER, TURMERIC, HORSERADISH, FRESH THYME, ROSEMARY AND/OR OREGANO) YOU CAN TRY DRIED/POWDERED VERSIONS, BUT REMEMBER, THEY ARE MUCH STRONGER THAN THEIR FRESH COUNTERPARTS, SO BE MINDFUL OF AMOUNTS. TRY TRADER JOE'S, WHOLE FOODS, FRESH DIRECT, OR ASIAN SUPERMARKETS OR GROCERS BEFORE YOU GIVE UP.

I USE BRAGG'S APPLE CIDER VINEGAR, BUT ANY NATURAL, RAW, UNFILTERED KIND IS FINE. AS FOR HONEY, I'VE USED RAW, CLOVER, NEEM HONEY AND LATELY BUCKWHEAT HONEY. NEEM IS GREAT FOR AN ADDED DETOX EFFECT, BUT DON'T USE IF PREGNANT OR TRYING TO CONCEIVE, IT'S AN ABORTIFACIENT. BUCKWHEAT IS A DARK, MOLASSES-LIKE HONEY, VERY RICH, EARTHY AND FULL OF ADDED MINERALS.

SINCE THIS IS SUCH AN ACIDIC BEVERAGE, PEOPLE WHO SUFFER FROM ACID REFLUX SHOULD STEER CLEAR.

CHILDREN UNDER 1-YEAR-OLD SHOULD NOT CONSUME SINCE IT CONTAINS HONEY.

I FIND IT'S MUCH BETTER WARM THAN COLD.

ENJOY!

XO

L