Eat

As the cool weather is setting in for some of us, now’s the time for some hearty and grounding recipes.

If you have read other articles in the raw milk series, you are by now probably familiar with the benefits of eating raw, locally produced milk. From beneficial microbes to supporting your local food system, consuming raw milk is great for addressing several environmental and personal health needs!

With the fall equinox just around the corner you might be starting to think about parties and pumpkin pie, but instead of jumping into the holiday season, why not ease into it?

Last month, an article published by NPR suggested that in many cases, seniors can have hearts that look 30 years younger than their age. In fact, the study on which this was based demonstrated that people who had been exercising throughout their lives had muscles that matched those of 25-year-olds; participants in the study were 75.

Still mastering the art of sourdough breadmaking, I have become willing slave to the patient process. Sourdough is just magical to me, and due to the investment of time and energy into the process—by both me, and the happy lactobacillus!—the flavor is that much more satisfying.

Looking for a healthy, stress-free meal? Over the last several years, the dog days of summer seem to have stretched farther into September. The prolonged heat, combined with the energy of people coming back from vacation and kids going back to school, makes a stress-free meal particularly enticing now.

Making cheese is a craft handed down by generations of people from all over the world. To make a raclette, for instance, takes time, patience, perfect conditions, healthy animals, and skilled people. You, however, can be the maker of your very own cheese as well. Fresh farmer’s cheese is relatively quick and easy to make and can be used in so very many ways, from a spread on toast, to paneer cubes in your next curry, a topping for a salad, or even on pancakes.

By summer’s end, when your body has accumulated several months of heat, the idea of cooling down holds special appeal. And while you might be tempted to reach for a cold drink or ice cream to soothe your body, there are other, delicious, healthier foods that can do the trick, like today’s cucumber raita.

When it comes to food, flavor is only part of the goodness. Eating well is one of many ways we can care for ourselves, and sharing a meal increases its health benefits. When you choose simple, adaptable recipes like today’s Mediterranean salad, you can effortlessly extend your wellness circle to include others.

Local, raw milk is one of the greatest gifts that cows can give us. You can feel good about consuming local raw milk because in most cases you are building a direct relationship between yourself and your food source. If you are nervous about consuming raw milk, I encourage you to go out to the farm where the milk is produced and see for yourself how the process works. Any farmer that cares about their consumer will be happy to show you their set-up and introduce you to their cows.