Happy Wednesday!

So far we’ve looked more closely at Cinnamon, Cranberry and Clove. I guess I should choose a fall flavor that starts with something other than the letter “C”, huh? Well, you’re in luck! This week we’re talking about ginger. Ginger is far more than just another way to call someone a redhead. It is perennial herb, most often used by chopping, mincing, slicing, grating or drying and turning to powder the root of the plant. It can be used in entrees, desserts, beverages and has great health benefits for your overall well-being, especially as we ease into the winter months!

As we eat heavier foods and face the cold and flu season ginger is a great, natural option to help aid in digestion and clear the airways. It can also help relieve inflammation in the throat and joints (Herbal Academy of New England). Ginger appears even to be useful for helping regulate and control blood sugar, insulin release, and even metabolizing lipids and carbohydrates (The Paleo Mama). Ginger has “sharp, green top notes and fiery, woody sweet, spicy undertones”. (Totallyessential.org). It is often used in Asian cuisine and you probably know it best as that pile of thin slices of something most people don’t touch next to their wasabi on a plate of sushi.

{ Read More of The Many Benefits of Ginger from The Paleo Mama }

A little sidenote here: the reason it’s on your sushi plate is because it’s an excellent palate cleanser between different cuts or at the end of a meal.

Also available as an Essential Oil, ginger is: antibacterial, analgesic, antiseptic, an aphrodisiac, stomach tonic, anti-nausea, an expectorant, may help reduce fevers, and can assist with stimulating and clearing the mind.

According to Produce Made Simple, ginger pairs well with: apples, basil, beef, chocolate, cilantro, cream, cuin, lime, onion, scallions, sesame oil, shrimp, soy sauce, sugar, chicken, cinnamon, curries, fish, garlic, honey, lemon & pears.

Now for some fun recipes to try:

{ Gingerbread Cookies from Cake and Allie }

{ Spicy Shrimp with Fresh Ginger Herb Curry from Eatwell 101 }

{ Ginger Peach Upside-Down Cake from Taste of Home }

{ Lazy Avocado Sushi from the doTERRA blog }

{ Ginger Root Tea }

{ Dark Chocolate Almond – Ginger Zucchini Waffles from the doTERRA blog }

And it wouldn’t be a post about ginger without a homemade ginger ale recipe, now would it?

{ Homemade Ginger Ale from The Nourishing Cook }

Now, after the holidays are over and you’ve yet again made a New Year’s Resolution to get healthy, try this one:

{ Post Holiday Detox Tea from Free People }

Two of the recipes above used doTERRA’s Ginger Essential Oil. For more information on ginger or any essential oil and how to purchase, email me at lauren@theoliveshoe.com, send me a message on the contact page, or click HERE.

Yum! What’s on your menu this evening? Next week’s flavor: Apples!

For more fall ideas and inspiration from The Olive Shoe, check out these posts:

• Fall Flavors | Clove | 12 Creative Recipes to Try Using Whole Cloves, Ground Cloves and Clove Oil
• Fall Flavors | Cranberry | 8 Creative Recipes to Try Using Cranberries
• Fall Flavors | Cinnamon | 6 Cinnamon Recipes and EO Spotlight
• Fall Into The Season | Creative Parenting | by Lauren Cop
• 6 Fun DIY Thanksgiving Wreaths You Can Make Before Next Thursday
• Ways to Use Uncarved Pumpkins for Thanksgiving
• 5 Fun Halloween to Thanksgiving Fall Decor Ideas
• 10 Inspiring Table Ideas for Thanksgiving

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