It's that time of year familia, summer is coming to an end, mornings are a little chillier, and autumn is just on the horizon. 

Enter: Fire Cider

We love it for its warming compounds, its ability to help strengthen the immune system, and its digestive benefits. There's nothing quite like a zesty shot of Fire Cider on a cold fall morning...YUM.

For the past few years, we've made it a tradition to get a nice big jar of fire cider going right around the end of summer so that it's ready and waiting for us with all of its immune boosting benefits when the seasons change. 

This year is particularly special to us because my husband and I grew the majority of the ingredients that went in to this batch. This tonic has a whole lot of love infused into it and I just can't wait for it to be ready in a few weeks time. 

Let's cover the basics. Since fire cider is a folk remedy, the ingredients can vary depending on what you have on hand, what you're growing, or what you can find locally. The traditional base to a nice fiery tonic is apple cider vinegar, onion, garlic, horseradish, and peppers. From there you can add any additional herbs or veggies that might be calling to you.

In honor of our very own garden and utilizing what we have at our disposal, we opted for dandelion root instead of horseradish this year. Remember friends, there are so many plants and herbs that have incredible benefits, and they're often considered weeds. So don't be afraid to change the recipe up based on what you have growing right in your backyard. Dandelion root is known to support gut health and a healthy gut microbiome leads to a healthier skin microbiome, which gives you that natural glow from within. 

Once you have all your ingredients mixed in a large jar, you just put it in a cool, dark place for about 4 weeks, giving it a good shake every couple of days, and voila! It's ready to use.

The changing seasons bring on seasonal colds and for some, allergies, and if you have kiddos in school, you already know that extra support for your immune system is a must. So how do we use our fire cider? We love to take a daily tablespoon for all the health benefits, but if we start to feel under the weather we'll triple that dose. It's also delicious on salads and veggies, mixed with some olive oil and honey to cut some of the tartness. 

Remember this recipe is very forgiving so give it a try with what you have and let us know how you like it!

Fire Cider Recipe

Ingredients:

•1 large red onion (rough chop)

•1 head garlic (minced)

•1 padron pepper (rough chop)

•1 large knob of ginger (grated)

•2 large lemons (cut into quarters)

•1/2 cup dandelion root (cut into pieces)

•2 Tbsp fresh rosemary (rough chop)

•2 Tbsp fresh sage (rough chop)

•2 Tbsp fresh oregano (rough chop)

•2 Tbsp fresh calendula (torn)

•1/4 cup organic turmeric powder 

•1 Tbsp whole black peppercorns

•1/4 cup (or more) raw, local honey (added after straining)

Directions: 

•Add all of your prepared herbs, veggies, roots, fruits, (except honey) to a large glass jar (at least quart-sized). 

•Pour apple cider vinegar to the top of the jar, covering all the ingredients. Give it a good stir and muddle the ingredients to get their juices flowing. 

•If using a metal top, place a piece of parchment paper over the jar before covering it as vinegar will cause the metal to rust. You can also use a plastic top or jar with a glass lid (like ours). Give it a good shaking to get everything mixed really well. 

•Store your jar in a cool, dark place for at least a month and give it a good shake every 1-2 days. 

•After a month, strain your mixture using a fine mesh sieve or cheesecloth into a clean bowl. Make sure to squeeze out as much liquid gold as you can from the pulp. 

•Pour your fresh fire cider into a clean jar and add honey tasting as you go. Add enough to your liking. And that's it! It's ready for any and all uses.  

Happy creating familia! We hope you and your families enjoy this beautiful recipe as much as we do.