Healthy never tasted so good – Part 3

Celebrate Mothers with food and family

Do you know how Mother's Day started and how we have now veered away from its original intent? If you do, great, if not, keep reading. Mother's Day preceded the Civil War and was started as "Mother's Day Work Clubs" to teach local women how to properly care for their children. After the Civil War, mothers gathered with former Union and Confederate soldiers to promote reconciliation under the name of "Mothers' Friendship Day". In 1873, a push was made for a "Mother's Peace Day". The name was later shortened to "Mother's Day" as a way of honoring the sacrifices mothers made for their children. In 1914 Woodrow Wilson signed a proclamation establishing the official day for Mother's Day.

Bring back traditional eating habits: family style sit-down gatherings

Let's take the original intents and combine them into one so we bring back the true meaning and legacy. Perhaps, there is a gathering with matriarchs (elder mothers) in the family who teaches the other females in the family the traditions to be passed on to future generations which includes reconciliations. On this day families come together to prepare traditional healthy home cooked meals and exchange recipes.

Now, Chew On This: Here are a couple of recipes that date back to the time of the Civil War.

Tea Cake Cookies

Ingredients:

• 5 cups flour

• 1 tsp. baking soda

• 1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg

• 1 cup butter

• 1 cup buttermilk

• 2 large eggs

• 2 cups sugar

Preheat the oven to 375 F. Grease the cookie sheets. Sift the flour, baking soda, and nutmeg together in a large mixing bowl. Cut in the butter with a fork or pastry knife until the mixture looks like coarse crumbs. In a separate bowl, whip together the buttermilk, eggs, and sugar until the sugar is dissolved. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. Stir well.

Wash hands and lightly coat your fingertips with butter. Shape the dough into 1 inch round balls. Place the balls on the prepared baking sheets. Dip a fork in flour and use it to make a criss /cross pattern on the balls. Bake 10-12 minutes or until golden brown. Makes 5 dozen. 

Relaxing Calming Tea

Great for family gatherings to keep everyone calm!

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup dried spearmint

• 1 cup dried lemon balm

• 1/4 cup dried lemon grass

• 1/2 cup dried catnip

• 3/4 cup dried chamomile flowers

• 2 tbs. dried lavender flowers

Combine the herbs and store in an air tight container in a dark cool location. Make hot tea using 2 teaspoons of herb blend for each cup. This is also a great tea to drink cold which makes it refreshing yet calming.

bout Dr. Charmène Mama Vega

 Dr. Charmene "Mama" Vega is Founder, President and CEO of Mama Vega Enterprises

(www.MamaVega.com).  She is also a philanthropist, published author, Medical Nutrition Therapist, holder of a Master of Science degree in Special Education and an Honorary Doctor of Humanities.

 Dr. Vega believes in giving back to the communities where Mama Vega products are sold. For every Mama Vega product purchased, a percentage of each sale is donated to those communities' non-profits. Like us on Facebook.com/MamaVegaFoods between May 1 and 12 to receive: Your Free Heart Healthy Recipe.