Nettles are happening right now in many parts of the world. It is a wonder food! Use nettle
leaves and stalks as an everyday nourisher, an energetic changer, a marvelous kidney/adrenal tonic, digestive restorative, a respiratory strengthener and more. I eat it fresh, I dry it for tea, I dig the roots in the fall and make a tincture for my lymphatic system, I even rinse my hair in nettle tea. It is truly an ally for you. And it’s free!!
Nettles — Astringent, a bit sweet and salty, cool, dry. Enriches liver yin, nourishes the blood, relieves fatigue, restores adrenals and thyroid, restores the lungs, relieves coughing & wheezing, promotes detoxification, reduces tumors, promotes urination & relieves edema
NETTLE PESTO
Ingredients
1 cup raw almonds
1 (15- to 17-inch-long) baguette, cut into 1/2-inch slices
10 cloves or 1 large head garlic
1 teaspoon mineral salt, or to taste
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground white pepper
4 cups spring nettles*
3 cups loosely packed arugula leaves
1 cup extra-virgin olive oil
2 TBS fresh lemon juice
Dash of water to thin if necessary
*optional 3 cups finely grated parmesan cheese (I prefer omitting this and serving on top of goat cheese)
Adjust seasoning, oil, lemon, water to taste
*If nettles are unavailable, use additional arugula (7 cups total). Use just the leaves of nettles. They lose their sting once chopped, dried, or cooked.
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350°F. In shallow baking pan, toss together walnuts and pine nuts, then place in oven, stirring occasionally, and bake until golden, about 8 minutes. Cool completely.
Arrange baguette slices on large baking sheet and bake until golden, 10 to 12 minutes.
With food processor running, drop in whole garlic cloves. Process until finely chopped, then stop motor and add cooled nuts, nettles, arugula, lemon juice. Process until finely chopped. With motor running, add oil and process until incorporated. Add a little water if needed, or more oil. Fold in grated cheese. Makes 3 1/2 cups pesto (with leftovers). Add salt and pepper to taste.
Once I did a journey to ask nettle if it was alright to tell the world about it’s valuable medicine for us humans. I didn’t want to exploit it. Nettles response to me was, “Would you want to go through your whole life without your virtues being known?” I took that to heart and took steps toward offering my gifts in the world. I share this with you because I too would like to encourage all us women to let our virtues be known.
