Yams with Apples and Candied Pecans

3 Medium Yams sliced thick or chunked

2 Granny Smith apples peeled cored and sliced

¼ cup coconut oil ½ tsp salt

1 ½ Tbs cornstarch 1 cup water

½ cup maple syrup 1 Tbs lemon juice

Parboil the yams for about 15 minutes. Cool. Melt coconut oil in a saucepan. Add cornstarch, maple syrup, and salt and mix well. Add water; cook and stir until it has thickened. In an oiled casserole dish alternate yam slices with apple slices. Add lemon juice to the sauce and pour the sauce over the yams and apples. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour. Sprinkle the pecans over the yams and apples for the last 15 minutes of baking.

Candied Pecans

1 tsp cinnamon

1 Tbs maple syrup

1 ⅓ cup pecans

Mix cinnamon and maple syrup in a large bowl. Add the nuts and mix until the nuts are well coated.

 Echinacea

Jo Francks

This time of year is the time to reflect and show appreciation and give thanks for the great blessings in our lives. One of those blessings for me is the knowledge that I have of herbs and the herbs themselves that have blessed me and my family for so many years. 

Echinacea was one of the first herbs we used and found that it was a true blessing for healing from colds and flu. It seemed to never let us down when we needed its virtues.  Whenever we felt sick we would reach for the echinacea extract bottle and most times it was what we grew and made ourselves. It helped to stimulate our immune system and stop the cold from progressing and we’d feel better in no time. Echinacea is an herb I wouldn’t want to be without. 

Echinacea has many different species. The most common are Echinacea angustifolia, Echinacea pallida, and Echinacea purpurea commonly known as purple coneflower. All parts of the plant can be used but the root is most often what is sold for medicinal purposes. The leaves and flowers have many of the same benefits as the root and can be picked and dried for making infusions or extracts. 

Echinacea flowers have purple ray petals and bristly cones in the center, They are on a long erect stalk with lance-shaped toothed leaves. The properties of echinacea are to stimulate the immune system by increasing the white blood cells making it effective for fighting infection in the body. It is a powerful blood purifier and is known as a remedy for snake bites and spider bites. Echinacea can be taken frequently at the first sign of an illness and is effective for about 5 days then take a couple of days off and start again. Topically echinacea can be applied to any wound and it will help prevent infection and encourage healing. 

Echinacea has been used by Native Americans throughout history. It is native to North America but caution should be used in gathering plants in their natural habitat because of over-harvesting. We want to keep this plant around forever. It is a very nice plant to grow in any herb garden and adds color and beauty as well as medicinal benefits. It can be cultivated by seed or root transplants. 

If you don’t have echinacea growing in your herb garden, consider adding it this next growing season. It will provide beauty and medicine when needed and will be something you will be grateful for.