RECIPE: Chive Blossom Mayonnaise

We LOVE chive blossoms!  Here's one of my favorite ways to use them.

Original recipe:  Immersion Blender Mayonnaise

Chive Blossom Mayonnaise

There are two ways to make this.

(1) You can add the chive blossoms to the egg-lemon-mustard-salt mixture before adding the oil.  Stir to make sure they're covered with egg, add the oil and proceed with the recipe.  That's what I did in the photo above.  This gives you chive flavor distributed evenly thoughout.

(2) You can stir them in after the mayonnaise is made in which case you'll get a burst of chive flavor every now and then.

In both cases use 1/4 c. of chive blossoms for one recipe.  (Use more if you want a really strong chive flavor.)  Here's how to harvest chive blossoms.

I use this for egg salad, ham salad, chicken salad, tuna salad, potato salad, dipping sauce for crudites, and as a spread for sandwiches.  It would also be good with these carrot pancakes. 

Cognitive Decline: My plan to avoid it

My plan to avoid cognitive decline

My grandmother died with Alzheimer's.
My mother was diagnosed with Dementia at age 87 and lived with it for another 10 years.
I intend to avoid both of these diseases.

Press HERE for an explanation of the steps I plan to follow.

I will be updating this page with my results and comments as things progress.

Here's what I've done so far:

Preliminaries:

1. Get a personalized diet plan like SWAMI, to determine lectins dangerous for my genotype

• I've been following my SWAMI since 2006  
• In June 2018, if you get this done through COEGM it will cost you $515 
• If you have it done through Dr. Robert Brody it will be much cheaper  

2. Have all amalgam tooth fillings removed by a mercury-safe dentist.

• I had this done decades ago.

3. Have my genome decoded by 23-and-me and  Ancestry.com 

• 23-and-me.com had a loooong turnaround time, 8 weeks  
• Ancestry.com turnaround time (for me) was 3 weeks.  

4. Have Opus 23 analyze results from 23-and-me.com and Ancestry.com

• This cost $515 for my initial 90-minute appointment
• Subsequent 60-minute appointments with Dr. Robert Brody were $300
• You can find a local practitioner HERE. 
• If you use Dr. Robert Brody please tell him I referred you (no, I don't get a commission).

Optimize filtration mechanisms:

1. Insure colon is functioning correctly - as least 2 BM/day, ability to produce diarrhea.

• I now start each day with a green smoothie, and I have greatly increased my consumption of resistant starches (sweet potatoes, parsnips, turnips, rutabagas, celeriac, etc...).  I've also reduced my protein intake.  This has made me very regular. 

2. Insure minerals are balanced.

• Still working on this as I'm not sure how to determine whether they're off.  I add minerals to my morning smoothie which I hope will correct any imbalance.

3. Get detox pathways working.  

• I am currently working with Dr. Robert Brody on correcting my detox pathways.  He has an AMAZING amount of knowledge in this area and was able to answer every one of my questions without hesitation.  I recommend him wholeheartedly.  If you are in New England and can visit him in person, he accepts insurance.  If not, he's able to work with you remotely via Zoom. 

Dr. Brody agreed that it would be a good idea for me to detox because, as I suspected, I DO have SNPS in several places which compromise my ability to create/clear certain compounds.

I'm not going to share exactly what he prescribed for me because the supplements are specific to MY GENOME and I don't want someone with different SNPs following my protocol.  Here are some of the changes he recommended FOR ME:

Increase dosage of Ashwagandha for adrenal health.
Switch from Berberine to Skullcap for brain health.
Increase dosage of Quercetin for allergies
Maintain dosage of DHA and billberry for eye health
Maintain dosage of Magnesium Threonate for brain health
Eliminate Vitamin D3 and K2 until I have had my levels tested (I was taking too much)

He added the following:

Riboflavin-5-phosphate to correct several SNPs that compromise my ability to create serotonin. 

Topical glutathione, which corrects 7 gene traits, to accomplish the following processes:

• Strengthen the immune system
• Detoxify the body
• Improve the rate of cellular repair
• Boost brain function

After two months on these supplements - which my body will use to clear those compounds that require serotonin - I will add a specific type of b12 which will improve my methylation pathways.  Which type of B12 is determined by my genes.

Concurrently, he prescribed several supplements for brain health:

Klaire Target gb-X for gut-brain axis.  When I questioned the ingredients "maize starch (cornstarch)" and "maltodextrin (sugar)" he said they were there to provide food for the probiotics, and were refined to the point where all lectins had been removed.

Trehalose Complex, 1 t. per day, for healthy brain and nerve function.  You can get this directly from Dr. Brody, or you can get it cheaper via Amazon's Subscribe and Save program .  If you want to save even more money, you can make your own 'complex' using the following 3 ingredients.  You can use other brands but the quality won't be as high.  I add 1 t. to my morning smoothie.

Source: Amazon.com

Mix thoroughly:

• 12 T. (5.5oz) pure Trehalose from Non-GMO corn
• 3 T. (1 oz) SHINE d-Ribose (I use this one)
• 3 T (0.5oz) fractionated citrus pectin (I use this one)

Dr. Brody also approved the use of Gotu Kola, Bacopa Monnieri, Guducci Stem, and Lion's Mane for several other SNPs but I will be adding them one at a time to determine if I have a reaction.

Concurrently,  I've decide to start lining my gut with binders even though I haven't yet done all the other steps.  This should trap any new toxins I ingest before they can be added to whatever is already in my body.  It should make detoxing easier once I get to the 'mobilizing' stage.  In the master list below I've crossed out the ones I'm not going to take until I start mobilizing:

• Zeobind CLINOPTILOLITE - for toxic metals, organophosphates, insecticides, pesticides, dyes, (I use PURE BODY, a liquid spray I can carry with me.  It is as clean as ZeoBind)
• Silica from horsetail - for aluminum and glyphosate 
• Microsilica - for lead, cadmium, nickle, mercury, and barium 
• MetalSweep - microsilica plus vitamin C for prolonged effect along the entire gut
• Chlorella PYRENOIDOSA - a host of toxins that then don't go through the kidneys 
  (I use THIS ONE)
• Activated Coconut Charcoal - for mycotoxins (fungi) except for aflatoxin  
• Calcium bentonite living green clay - for plant and mold based biotoxins including aflatoxin 
• PC Ecklonia Cava - same metal binding capacity as chlorella but a different spectrum
• Sophia FLOW - to clear the lymph nodes in my brain  

UPDATE June 18, 2018:

Yesterday, my friend and I drove down to Dr. Brody's office to have him run a BIA test on us, to create a professional version of SWAMI, and to be registered as a patient so he can order labs under our insurance plan.  We had a WONDERFUL TIME!!!  We were the last patients of the day and spent the entire afternoon with him.  Afterwards, we had a delicious dinner at a restaurant across the street that uses grass fed beef and organic vegetables.  They have an outdoor patio, the temperature was a comfortable 74 degrees, and there were no bugs.  It was an absolutely perfect day.

My BIA scores were 'good' but not 'great' so I will be working to improve them.  We added Membrosia Complex and Fluidizer to my supplements.  I take them with ginger tea and it tastes good.

My new, professional, SWAMI is very close to my old xpress SWAMI except that he emphasized foods to improve my BIA scores.

I'll be going back next month to see whether I've improved.  I'll be getting the B12 supplement at that time, too.  I haven't noticed any changes in the weeks since I've been taking the riboflavin and glutathione except that I'm using the bathroom more frequently.  Dr. Brody says this is because my body is getting rid of wastes, which is exactly what I want it to do! 



UPDATE December 18, 2018:

It's now been 6 months since my last Brody appointment and I've leaned a LOT about my body during that time.  I will post an update after I review my findings with Dr. Brody.






Listed below are links to the other cognitive decline pages on this blog:

Dementia and Alzheimer's Overview

DETOXING - Why it's necessary

DETOXING - How to - PRELIMINARIES

DETOXING - How to - MOBILIZING TOXINS

DETOXING - How to - OTHER CONSIDERATIONS

DETOXING - How to - SYNOPSIS

Review of Dr. Bredesen's The End of Alzheimer's

RECIPE: Apple Mint Vietnamese Spring Rolls

Original recipe: Spring Rolls with Avocado and Mint  (Isn't the presentation beautiful?)

Photo credit:Feasting at Home

Spring Rolls with Apple Mint and Thai Dipping Sauce

There has been apple mint in our farm store the last few days and I wanted to do something special with it.  Unfortunately, I found NO recipes online!  I try and use as many farm veggies as possible in every meal so I googled the ingredients I had on hand and this recipe came up. I decided to try it using the apple mint and it was delicious.

Follow her instructions on how to soften and roll the rice paper wrappers.

I didn't have to hack the ingredients but I used what I had on hand (and we don't eat tofu):

• 8-10  spring roll wrappers (8 1/2 inch in diameter)
• 1 cucumber – cut into strips
• 1 diakon radish cut into strips ( or use red radishes)
• 12 oz baked tofu- cut into 1/2 inch strips
• 2 cups mache, arugula or salad greens
• 1/4 cup chopped mint, basil, cilantro or combination of any
• 1 red bell pepper cut into strips
• 1 carrot cut into strips 
• 4 green onion tops cut into strips
• 1 avocado, sliced

Prep all filling ingredients and have them ready to roll.

Fill a large bowl with lukewarm water.

Submerge 1 rice paper in the water until tender and flexible, about 30 seconds-1 minute. Working with one at a time, place the softened rice paper on a damp kitchen towel, smooth it out and fill with fresh veggies and fresh herbs. Roll it up tightly like a burrito. Set it aside seam side down. Repeat with all the Spring Rolls.  (They can be refrigerated at this point, briefly). 

She served them with Nước chấm.  I served them with Thai Dipping Sauce.

Of course, mine didn't turn out as beautiful as hers but they were tasty, and the mint was the best part!

RECIPE: Lovage Mayonnaise

Lovage Mayonnaise

Makes a little more than 1 c.

1/2 c. packed lovage leaves
1/2 c. unrefined avocado oil
2 large egg yolks
1/2 t. himalayan pink salt
1 t. Dijon mustard
1 T. water
 Equipment:
2 pint jars
immersion/stick blender

In one pint jar combine the lovage leaves and the oil and blend until smooth.

In the other pint jar layer the remaining ingredients in the order listed.  Pour the lovage oil on top and wait 15-20 seconds for the contents to settle (oil will rise to the top).

Insert the blender and blend, gently rocking the head to slowly draw in the oil,  until the mixutre has emulsified.  Add water if it's too thick - it should be sauce-like.

Adjust seasoning.

Serve with raw carrots or roasted veggies.  It's also DELICIOUS with grilled steak!

RECIPE: Lovage Cooler

Lovage stems are hollow and can be used as straws!

Ginger Elderflower Cooler with Lovage Straw

Serves : one

2 t. elderflower syrup (you can also make your own)
1/4 - 1/2 c. ginger tea*, depending on how strong you like it (photo on left is 1/4c., on right is 1/2c.)
1" piece of seedless cucumber cut in half and sliced into wedges
2 deep red strawberries hulled and cut into wedges
1-2 ice cubes
club soda
1 stalk lovage with long stem, stripped of leaves

On the lovage stalk, wherever there is a leaf branch attached, the stem will not be hollow.  You may need to (gently) pass a long skewer through these nodes to make sure liquid will pass all the way through.

Mix the syrup and tea in a tall glass.  Add the cucumber, strawberries and ice and fill with club soda.

Insert your lovage 'straw' and enjoy!  Add an ice tea spoon so you can eat the fruit afterwards.


* I make ginger tea by steeping fresh ginger in boiling water.  I like it strong so I use a lot of ginger.

RECIPE: Risotto w Chicken, Asparagus, Lemon and LOVAGE

LOVAGE!

I had planned to make risotto with chicken and asparagus, but while I was chopping the onions I kept smelling something delicious.  When I realized it was the lovage lying on the counter waiting to be cleaned I decided to add it, and it raised the flavor profile of the risotto to a higher level.

(This recipe, without the lovage and lemon, is delicious with Chili Orange Oil.)

If you don't know how to make risotto, there are lots of tutorials on the internet.

Risotto with Chicken, Asparagus, Lemon and LOVAGE   

Serves 4

1 cup short grain rice (I use biodynamic sushi rice)
4-6 cups water or unsalted broth (I used veal broth)
1 t. himalayan pink salt
1 large onion, diced
1 small head (yes, a whole head) garlic, minced
2 stalks of lovage about 8-inches long, washed and dried, leaves separated from stalks**
2 T. ghee
2 bunches thick asparagus, washed, ends trimmed, and stalks cut into 1-inch pieces
1 pound cooked chicken, shredded
1/2 c. cream or 1/4 c. shredded parmesan*
1 small lemon

2 T. minced chives

Zest the lemon, then juice it, and reserve both zest and juice.

Measure out 1/3 cup packed lovage leaves.  Slice them into 1/4" strips.  Save the stalks to use as straws!

Steam the asparagus until just barely cooked.  I put the stems in the steamer first, and add the tops after a minute or two so the tops don't overcook.  Set aside.

Melt the ghee in a large saute pan on medium heat.  Add the onions and cook until translucent, stirring occasionally.  They should not color.  Add the garlic and the rice and saute for 1-2 minutes until the rice is opaque.  It, too, should not color.

Add 1 c. water/stock and raise heat to med-high/high.  Add the lovage leaves and the salt.

Cook stirring constantly and adding water in 1/4 c. increments whenever you can see the bottom of the pan as you stir.

Adjust the heat so that when you add the new liquid, the liquid in the pan immediately comes back to boil.  The water/broth does not have to be hot if your cooktop is powerful enough to maintain this simmer.  If it isn't, you will need to heat the broth.

When the rice is almost done - there should be a speck of white visible in the center of the grain - stir in the chicken.

Cook until rice is done and chicken is heated through.  Don't over cook the rice!  You may not use all the liquid.  If you need more liquid, use water.  It should take *about* 20 minutes but don't freak if it takes longer.

Turn heat off.  Stir in asparagus, lemon juice and cream.  Taste and adjust seasoning.

Serve sprinkled with lemon zest and chives.

* A few years ago I used cream instead of parmesan when I made risotto for a friend who didn't like cheese.  We liked it so much I use cream exclusively now.  I use raw cream so I stir it in last. 

** You will only use the leaves.  Reserve the stalks to use as straws!  

RECIPE: Bok Choy Pac Choi Salad

My girlfriend gave me this recipe years ago.
I don't know where she got it but this one is similar: Bok Choy Salad.

Pac Choi is spicier than bok choy.  Baby bok choy is milder than either.  You can use any of these.

Bok Choy or Pac Choi Salad

Serves 4

FOR THE SALAD:

• 5-6 small bulbs or 3 large bulbs cleaned and sliced 1/2" thick, about 6 cups
• 5 scallions, sliced 1/4" thick
• 1/4 c. sliced almonds
• 1 package rice vermicelli noodles
• 2 T. butter
• 2 T. sesame seeds 

FOR THE DRESSING:

• 1/4 c. light brown sugar (or 2T. dark brown sugar + 2T. turbinado)
  
• 2 T. apple cider vinegar
• 2 T. light sesame oil
• 2 T. dark sesame oil
• 2 T. tamari soy sauce or 2 T. coconut aminos 
• 1 t. salt

Combine dressing ingredients in small bowl and set aside to meld while you make the salad.  Taste and adjust seasoning.  The sweet, sour, and salty elements should be balanced.

Break rice noodles into 1" pieces.  Heat butter in small saute pan and fry rice noodles until the puff up and turn light gold.  DON'T BURN THEM!  Set aside on paper towels.

Add almonds to butter and toss until lightly browned.  Set aside on paper towels.

Toast sesame seeds in remaining butter until lightly browned.  Mix into dressing.

Mix cabbage and green onions with dressing.  Top with remaining ingredients and serve.

NOTE:  The dressing was very good served with baby white Hakurei turnips with their greens.  The turnips are a little spicy and the sweetness of the dressing cuts through them:

RECIPE: VERY green smoothie

I have this for breakfast every morning.  It's very 'green' but loaded with nutrients.  Without the lemon juice it's a bit too green for me but with the lemon I crave it.  It's not sweet; add stevia if you need sweetness.

The addition of Dr. Cowan's powders turn this from a healthy smoothie into a NUTRITIONAL POWERHOUSE.  You'll be getting a full day's worth of vegetables in one serving!  You can make it without the powders, of course, but it won't be as healthy.

You can add sea vegetables (thyroid and bone support) or nori (iron, b6, b12) for even more nutrition but they overpower the taste for me.  I have to take them in a capsule (yes, you can make your own!)

Very GREEN Smoothie

makes 3.5-4 cups

3-4 T. fresh lemon juice
1/2 avocado (fat helps the body assimilate the nutrients in the greens) OR 1 ripe banana plus 2T almond butter
1.5 c. packed baby greens (you want a LOT of these - really squish them in!)
1/2 c. packed spinach including stems (stems have more nutrition then the leaves!)
opt: 1/4 c. loosely packed dill sprigs (these make the avocado version taste amazing!)
opt: 2-3" peeled and seeded cucumber
1/2 t. agave inulin feeds good gut bacteria (agave is the most sustainable inulin source)
Dr. Cowan's powders:

• 1/2 t. perennial greens (my favorite Dr.Cowan powder - LOADED with nutrients!)
• 1/2 t. burdock root powder stimulates liver enzymes that promote detoxification
• 1/4 t. ashitaba powder one of the most nutrient dense vegetables on the planet
• 1/4 t. fiddlehead fern powder high in omega 3, niacin, potassium and carotinoids
• 2.5 t. low oxalate greens powder (these smell heavenly)
• 1 t. spinach powder (when I don't have fresh spinach)
• Opt (I add them when I won't be eating these veggies during the day) :
• 1/2 t. three-beet powder liver and gall bladder tonic due due high betaine content
• 1/2 t. carrot powder

1 leaf radicchio - inulin feeds good gut bacteria
1.5 - 2 cups water or tea* depending on how thick you like it

*Instead of all or part of the water, you can use herbal tea.
I use pao d'arco and/or hibiscus-rosehip-lemongrass-oliveleaf

DIRECTIONS

I make one serving in my Nutri-Bullet.  If you don't have a similar machine you can use a blender and make two or three days worth.  Store in a glass container in the fridge.

Load the blending jar in the order listed above.  I pack in as many greens as the jar will hold, sprinkle the powders on top, and put the radicchio leaf in last over the powders to keep them from sticking to the blades. I then pour in water to the 'max fill' line.

Blend until no small bits remain visible.  Transfer to glass and enjoy!

(Rinse blending jar immediately or it will be hard to clean.)

NOTE:  If you make the banana version, it will be thinner than the avocado version.  I alternate them.  The more spinach you use, the greener it will be.  In the photo below I didn't have much spinach so I doubled up on the green powders.  

Green smoothie made with banana and almond butter

RECIPE: Anti-tickbite tea (cistus)

I drink this during the summer (I add it to my Antioxidant Tea glass) to discourage ticks from biting.  I also add a little to our dog's water bowl.

Anti-Tickbite Tea (Cistus)

Makes 1 quart of concentrate ==> 16 pints reconstituted.

1/4 c. cistus tea (it is also available on eBay but I can't vouch for the quality)
1 quart of water.

This tea needs to be brewed 4 times.  Each infusion extracts different components.  I do all four infusions back to back and then combine them in a quart jar.  You can drink it alone - it has a very mild taste - but I put a few tablespoons of the concentrate into my antioxidant tea.

Place 1/4 cup tea into 2-cup french press, pour boiling water over and steep 10 minutes.

Strain into quart jar.

Bring water back to boil, pour over same leaves in french press and steep 10 minutes.  Strain.

Repeat two more times until quart jar is full.  Cool and store in the fridge.

RECIPE: Antioxidant Tea

I sip this tea all day long, 1-3 glasses.  I make it once a week and brew it very strong, then dilute it with water.  I prefer to drink it cold but you could dilute it with hot water if you prefer.   The olive leaves and pau d'arco can be bitter but the acidity of the fruits mitigates that.

Every one of the ingredients has multiple beneficial actions.  Together, they're a powerhouse of nutrients but many of the benefits overlap so you can eliminate those ingredients that don't agree with you (some people don't like ginger) and you'll still have a potent brew.

A word of caution: this tea is slightly diuretic due to the ginger and hibiscus so don't drink too much!

Antioxidant Tea

Makes 2 quarts of concentrate ==> 16 pints of reconstituted tea

I brew the pau d'arco separately because it requires different treatment, and I store the two teas in separate containers so that I can control the amount of pau d'arco in the mix.  You could mix the two together in a half-gallon jar but the pau d'arco will overpower the fruit.  

FOR THE FRUIT-GINGER TEA:
1/4 c. seedless rose hips - very high in vitamin C, and has many other benefits 
1/4 c. hibiscus flowers  -  anti-inflammatory and potent antioxidant
1/4 c. lemongrass  - potent detoxifier good for almost everything
1/4 c. olive leaves  - among other things supports respiratory & cardiovascular systems
1/4 c. dried ginger  - regulates blood sugar, supports brain health, promotes digestion
1 quart boiling water

Combine in a french press, cover with 1 quart of boiling water, and let steep until water is cool.  Strain into a glass jar/pitcher pressing firmly to extract all the liquid.  Raise the press halfway  and add a little more water to 'rinse'  the remaining tea, press that out and combine with the concentrate.  Store in the fridge.  (Shown on the right in the above photo)


FOR THE PAU D'ARCO TEA:
1/4 c. pau d'arco - high in selenium*, antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, antiparasitic
1 quart water

Make sure the brand you buy contains only the inner bark.

In a small saucepan cover tea with water and bring to a boil.  Boil for 3 minutes then simmer for 20 minutes.  Strain into a jar/pitcher and store in the fridge.  (Shown on the left in the above photo)

TO SERVE:

This is how I 'serve' it but you can make it stronger or weaker:


Add 2 T fruit tea and 1 T. pau d'arco tea to a large glass and dilute with 1.75 c. water.
If you use RO water, add a few mineral drops.

* selenium helps you eliminate toxins