The Buttery Goodness of Full Moon Ghee

By Vicki, Local Grocery Brands Coordinator

You may have been hearing the words “clarified butter” or ghee a lot recently. Since there has been an interest in more alternative medicine approaches other than our western way, people have started to look at Ayurveda for a way to feel better in life. Ayurveda is one of the most ancient healing systems in the world, developed by the sages of India thousands of years ago. Ayur means life, and veda means science or knowledge. So Ayurveda means the science or knowledge of life… who wouldn’t want to study the science of life?

Ghee is used in Ayurveda for balancing all constitutions in a person’s body. It is made from cooking butter at a very low heat for about 20 minutes or so, which removes the water in butter, and separates the milk solids and the fat from each other. Since the milk solids are removed, ghee is also safe for lactose intolerant individuals! YAY GHEE! There are numerous benefits to using ghee; improved digestion, better immune system, support for healthy levels of inflammation and just feeling like you are an awesome human being!

We'd like to introduce you to one of our favorite Ghee's in town -  Full Moon Ghee. We want to emphasize how important sourcing is, and how mindfulness is important when you are a creator AND a consumer. Full Moon Ghee is made as “an act of service to our community, our ancestors, and ourselves.” The butter comes from extremely happy cows in Lee, Massachusetts, and the ghee is made ONLY on the Full Moon (hence, the name!). Why? Read the interview to find out!

Introducing Hannah Jacobson, one of the founders of Full Moon Ghee - sharing her knowledge of life with us below.

When and how did you get the idea for Full Moon Ghee? What caused you to start making ghee? Were there any major events that led to the creation?

While studying yoga and Ayurveda at the Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health in Stockbridge, MA, I began using lots of ghee in my meals. For my 28th birthday, a dear friend gave me a home made jar of ghee and I devoured it with the awareness that it was pure medicine for the body, mind, and spirit. It wasn't until a couple of years later, when Daniel Rainwater moved to the area that we began making ghee for our friends. I attended a farmer's market for my herbal company, Sweet Birch Herbals, and had a feeling customers would eat it up! The dozen or so jars were gone within the first few hours and we knew people were hungry for healthy, local, delicious ghee. Full Moon Ghee was brought into the world in 2015 with the intention of producing the highest quality ghee made from local butter on the full moon. We infuse each batch of ghee with prayers for health, vitality, expansion, creativity, and peace.

What are your favorite health benefits of ghee? Why do you use ghee?

I use ghee because there are countless health benefits including aiding the digestive tract, increasing assimilation of nutrients, therefore boosting energy levels, lubricating the joints internally, cleansing the colon, cooling irritated mucous membranes, strengthening to the hair, skin, eyes, and it contributes to a healthy immune system. Ghee contains omega-3 and omega-9 essential fatty acids, along with vitamins A, D, E and K. Ghee made from the butter of pastured cows is one of the highest natural sources of CLA, or conjugated linoleic acid. It also has 9 phenolic antioxidants, as well as numerous other minerals. When I eat ghee daily, I generally feel more sustained energy throughout the day.

Why is it important to you to buy locally sourced organic products? Is organic important to you?

It is important to support the local food economy not only as a consumer, but also as a producer. The core value of Full Moon Ghee is to support local dairy farms by sourcing butter from them. I try to purchase mostly local and organic products as a consumer, however organic dairy can be challenging for small farms in New England when prices of feed are more than double for organic. The organic certification process can be cost prohibitive for small dairy farms, even if they are already following organic practices. That is why we source all of our butter from High Lawn Farm in Lee, MA, a farm we trust after visiting and speaking with the farmers. High Lawn Farm grows the hay and silage for their well cared for cows. The feeling I get when I'm at the farm is pure delight. We want that uplifting energy in our ghee.

How did you have the idea to only make the ghee on the Full Moon?

Ghee is traditionally made on the waxing moon according to ancient Ayurvedic texts. While traveling in India, I asked ghee producers, grandmothers, and farmers what the significance of the moon is on the ghee. They explained that when the moon is waxing, the grass is reaching upward toward the sky. The cows eat the grass full of minerals and waters of the Earth pulled by the moon, which inevitably transfers into the milk. This theory is similar the biodynamic methods of organic agriculture drawn from the ideas of Rudolf Steiner in 1924. To make ghee from the butter of the cow on the waxing moon is special because it infuses that expansive energy into the holy oil, which we then consume, becoming part of our bodies. When I asked, "What if it's made on the full moon?" I always got the same answer: "Making ghee on the full moon is very auspicious."

Since you are making a product that is “energetic” in nature, what do you do when the energy in you, or around you, isn’t positive at the moment?

This is a great question because it raises even another question: "What is positive vs. negative?" In my attempts to raise the vibrations around me, I try to let go of the limiting dichotomies of "good" and bad." Instead, I welcome all the sensations, no part left out. As I learned in India, before making ghee, it is important to bathe and offering gratitude to the cows, the moon, the sun, the water, the fields, the farmers, and all the elements in nature which sustain us on Earth. The time around the Full Moon can often be emotionally challenging and we wonder why we chose this time to make ghee. However, I believe the moon chose us. She is our teacher. Every time we make ghee, even when we begin from a place of suffering, our moods shift because we are remembering that the transformation that takes place while making ghee is sacred. Rituals deepen our acceptance of ourselves. Our commitment to making ghee on the full moon is an act of service to our community, our ancestors, and ourselves.

In what other ways is the moon important to us? 

The Moon mirrors how the cycles of nature are within and around us all the time. We are not separate from nature. Healing takes root when we remember our innate connection to the source of all the elements: fire, water, earth, air, and wood.

Who has influenced you the most in your life?

My Mother and Father, for their steadfast commitment to unity, equality, and justice.

In what ways do you want to influence the world?

I want to reflect how deeply lovable each person is by simply being here on Earth. My offering is nourishing medicine made with intentions of healing, harmony, and peace.

Thank you Hannah for sharing your story and passion for mindfully made ghee with us! You can find Full Moon Ghee on our shelves in our healthy fats section. Just ask someone on staff to point you in the right direction!

This blog post — The Buttery Goodness of Full Moon Ghee — is for general health information only. This Web site is not to be used as a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment of any health condition or problem. Users of this Web site should not rely on information provided on this Web site for their own health problems. Any questions regarding your own health should be addressed to your own physician or other healthcare provider.

Use Your Noodle!

By John B, CN Grocery Buyer & Blog Contributor

Ever since centuries back, way before Marco Polo could even conceive of his famous visit to China, the noodle has existed in an endless array of delicious flavors and textures and varieties. From crunchy to slippery, from blindingly spicy to fragrant and floral, a person could probably enjoy a different noodle dish every night for a year without exhausting their options or succumbing to boredom. Our grocery department has a couple of excellent new noodle products in stock, so I figured it would be a great time to share some suggestions with you on how to make them sparkle! Just remember: the three recipes I'm sharing with you today are but a few shades of a few colors of the rainbow of noodly delights, and I hope you'll come into Cambridge Naturals sometime, find me in person and tell me all the creative ways you're using our products to create that perfect slurp!

Let's start with Italian: Our Semolina Artisan Pastas are a delicious and high-end treat, and put any 99-cent-a-box grocery store macaroni to shame. Paired with some of our seafood and vegetable options, they make for a heck of a meal. Cook 3/4 pound of the Semolina noodle of your choosing. Roughly chop a cup of our Matiz Artichoke Hearts, 3/4 cup parsley, and 1/2 cup our Cambridge Naturals Brand Organic Almonds. Add them to the pasta along with half a cup of our Wild Planet Sardines in Olive Oil, some pecorino cheese, our Salt & Olive Olive Oil, lemon juice, salt and pepper. Now dig in! It's like a Mediterranean flavor explosion, contained entirely within your kitchen!

Another delicious recent addition to the store are a pair of wonderful gluten-free noodle options from King Soba. They come in two flavors. much love to the Pumpkin, Ginger & Rice, but it is my opinion that this recipe works better with the Sweet Potato & Buckwheat. First, make a marinade of soy sauce, our Bragg's Apple Vinegar, garlic, and some of the ginger powder and chili flakes from our bulk section. Marinate two packages of our delicious Fungi Ally Shiitake Mushrooms for at least a half an hour. Cook the mushrooms (along with all the marinade) with a cup or two of spinach and the cooking oil of your choosing. We always have many excellent options in stock. Cook the noodles according to the instructions on the packaging, drain them. and add them to the pan with the mushrooms, spinach, and perhaps a splash of soy sauce. Let those flavors meld for a few minutes and you've got a yummy vegan meal without too much effort!

Another popular noodle here at Cambridge Naturals are the Lotus Foods Gluten Free Ramen. I've blogged some recipes using these in the past, so let's do something a bit different here today: Ramen burger buns! Looking for a new and delicious gluten-free way to enjoy your burger (or veggie burger)? Simmer 2 packages of Lotus Foods ramen, stirring occasionally, for 3-4 minutes. Rinse them with cold water. Beat two of our Handsome Farm Pasture Raised Eggs in a bowl with salt and pepper and stir the noodles in until evenly coated. Divide the noodles into six small bowls, place a sheet of plastic directly over the noodles and stack another bowl on top to flatten them, then refrigerate about 20 minutes. Heat up a skillet with some oil. Invert each bowl, careful to preserve the ramen's "bun" shape. Fry them without moving the noodles for about three minutes, flip them, and fry and additional three minutes. Should be crispy on one side and slightly softer on the other. Plate crispy side up and pile high with your sandwich fillings. You'll never look at ramen the same way again!

So there you have it, a few ways (outside of our cognitive supplements) in which Cambridge Naturals can help you use your noodle! Bon apetit!

Elevate your Tuna

By John, Grocery Buyer & The Naturalist Contributor

Ah yes, the humble tuna salad... a staple of brown-bagged lunches for countless American childhoods. But what happens when those children grow up? Often the simple joy of the tuna sandwich is cast aside in favor of other, supposedly more sophisticated tastes. It's easy to see why. It's a recipe which is simple to make, but surprisingly difficult to master. Thankfully, we here at Cambridge Naturals are ready to show you several ways in which you can recapture the childhood comfort of the tuna salad experience in several delicious and unique styles.

Let's start with our take on a classic tuna melt! First, prepare the tuna salad. Mix 2 cans of our Wild Planet Albacore Tuna with one Real Pickles Dill Pickle spear (diced), one teaspoon Mustard & Co Classic Grain Mustard, one tablespoon Matiz Garlic Aioli, a pinch of Curio Spice Co Aegean Salt, and a pinch of black pepper. Slice some Neighborly Farms Monterey Jack Cheese and layer it on a slice of Dan's Brick Oven Rye + Whole Wheat Bread. Add a healthy layer of the tuna salad and top with more bread. Fry it up, flipping every few minutes, in a skillet with some of our Organic Valley Cultured Pasture Butter. It's ready when the cheese is gooey and melty. Feel free to add some bacon or tomato slices to up your deliciousness factor a little.

One of tuna's most delicious applications outside of sandwich form is of course in sushi. But can you make a sushi-inspired tuna salad hors douvre? You bet you can! For the salad itself, mix 2 cans of our Wild Planet Albacore Tuna with 2 tablespoons Real Pickles Ginger Carrots, 1 tablespoon Primal Kitchen Avocado Oil Mayo, and half a teaspoon Flora Sesame Oil (be very careful with that sesame oil, a little goes a long, long way!) Spoon the mixture onto Edward & Sons Tamari Seaweed Brown Rice Snaps. The bolder among you might even consider finely crushing some of our Seasnax Wasabi Stix, and sprinkling it on top. These little bites are great at parties so make sure to make a lot. They'll go fast!

Another way to be adventurous with the tuna salad concept would be to replace the tuna altogether. Why not a twist on some classic deli salmon? Mix 2 cans of our Wild Planet Wild Pink Salmon, 2 teaspoons Canaan Wild Caper Tomato Tapenade, and 1 tablespoon Primal Kitchen Avocado Oil Mayo. Spread a generous layer of our Kite Hill Almond Cream Cheese onto a Sunfood Raw Coconut Wrap along with a heaping helping of the salmon salad. Top with greens, tomato slices, a little red onion, or whatever your little heart desires. Wrap it on up and go to town! A delicious, dairy and gluten free sandwich that really hits the spot.

These three variations are simply a few of many possibilities where tuna (and salmon) salad are concerned, so come in and talk with our helpful grocery staff. We'll share our secret recipes if you share yours. Bon Appetit!

Surviving Thanksgiving Dinner (and beyond!)

By Bex, Supplements Buyer & The Naturalist Contributor

Some of you count down the days to Thanksgiving all year long, and are excited to gobble up a meal that brings together family, friends and tantalizingly decadent dishes. Others dread the massive feast and that heavy, sluggish feeling that follows it - particularly, when you have to undo that top button of the pants you wore specifically because they were loose. Ugh!

Regardless of which Thanksgiving camp you fall into, the day can be loaded with foods that make you feel, well, loaded. Sugar. Alcohol. Starches. Fat. Oh my! How do you avoid ending the night feeling like a stuffed turkey?

Now, some Thanksgiving survivalists suggest feasting with your eyes, rather than your mouth, but what if you are a Thanksgiving enthusiast (and pragmatist) who wants to indulge a little? How about enjoying the meal in a mindful way that supports your digestion, your taste buds and your waistline? Here are five Thanksgiving dinner survival tips to get you and your belly through the day! (And not to mention, the rest of the holiday season.)

1. Digestive bitters, digestive bitters, digestive bitters - and digestive enzymes.

The typical western diet is lacking in bitter foods, which help to jumpstart the production of digestive enzymes, bile and other digestive juices. Bitter tastes literally tell your entire digestive system, "Food is coming! Get working!". "Digestive Bitters" like those made by Urban Moonshine are traditionally used to support indigestion, nausea, gas, bloating, and balanced blood sugar levels. They encourage everything along the track - from our salivary glands to our intestines - to get the digestive party started. Consider grabbing a spray bottle of Urban Moonshine Bitters to stash in your purse or pocket Thanksgiving night. Take them about ten minutes before the big meal - and consider taking more after your meal if your gut needs a little extra love.

For those of you who need something that packs a little more punch, you may want to give digestive enzymes a whirl. Digestive enzymes support the process of breaking down food into smaller, more absorbable and digestible molecules. On Thanksgiving Day, we tend to eat more food in general, and often consume more fat, sugar, dairy, gluten and alcohol than usual. Enzymedica’s Digest Spectrum is specifically formulated to support those who suffer from food intolerances. Digest Gold is a high-potency enzyme formula, great for supporting your body in breaking down carbohydrates, fats, protein and fiber. Lypo Gold is a fantastic choice for those who aren’t used to consuming the richer foods on the Thanksgiving table and could use a substantial dose of lipase to support efficient fat digestion. Digestive enzymes are most often taken right before or during a meal, but many people find them to be effective within 30 minutes of a meal.

2. Eat a wholesome breakfast and drink lots of water!

It may seem counterintuitive to start your day with food when you know there will be so much more of it on your plate later. However, fueling your body in the morning can help you stave off some of the hunger pangs and low blood sugar crashes that can lead to overeating. Drinking enough water throughout the day can also support normal hunger levels and help your body process the high amount of salt that often comes with a heavy Thanksgiving meal.

3. Joy Tonic by Urban Moonshine

For those of you who are terrified about your crazy in-laws imposing their political beliefs upon everyone at the dinner table, we understand. For those who feel uneasy when there is enough food on your table to feed your family for a week and there are people starving in this world, we understand. For those who feel conflicted about the very origins of this 'Thanksgiving' tradition, we understand. Whatever may be causing your Thanksgiving Day anxieties, Urban Moonshine’s Joy Tonic could be the stress support that turns your day around. Formulated with uplifting herbs that promote peacefulness, inspiration and positivity, just a teaspoon of Joy Tonic can help provide that gentle emotional boost necessary to make it through the feast with a smile.

4. Plant Sterols

If you are at all concerned about the high cholesterol in turkey, not to mention other heavy foods weighing down your plates (and stomachs) this Thanksgiving, taking plant sterols might be a worthwhile investment in your health. Since plant sterols have a similar structure to cholesterol, they support the absorption and metabolism of cholesterol so that it is eliminated through your stool. As you have probably heard us say, we are not doctors or pharmacists, but clinical studies and customer experiences demonstrate that plant sterols can lower total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol. We recommend Plant Sterols 500 mg by Blue Bonnet. 

5. GIVE THANKS! And, start those New Years Resolutions early. 

Get into the spirit of the holiday and express your gratitude for the people, experiences and transformations that have positively impacted your year. Alternatively, make some proactive commitments for how you will support your community (global or local) and honor your values in the year ahead. Share these with the table - positive affirmations can ease anxiety and bring joy to those around you in difficult times. 

As a thank you for reading this entire article, here are some extra credit tips: 

• Probiotics can be a great way to support the optimal environment for your gut. Cambridge Naturals Brand (including our line of Probiotics) is still on sale 20% off through the month of November!
• If you end up feeling bloated or gassy, Gaia makes a great formula called (seriously): Gas and Bloating. It includes some pretty remarkable digestive herbs.
• Get outside! A Thanksgiving hike will help burn those calories and get your digestive system humming along. Plus, you can avoid the crazy in-laws for another hour or so. 
• And of course… come by the store or give us a call if you have any other nutritional questions!

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This blog post is for general health information only. This Web site is not to be used as a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment of any health condition or problem. Users of this Web site should not rely on information provided on this Web site for their own health problems. Any questions regarding your own health should be addressed to your own physician or other healthcare provider.

Soups for Days with Five Way!

It’s that time of year again. We’re turning back the clocks, it’s getting dark early, and we’re all settling in for another long, cold New England winter. But it doesn’t have to be all gloom: this is an opportunity to get comfy and cozy. Cuddle up with a good book, a warm blanket, and a nice, hot soup!

Of course, the most important component of any soup is the broth. Here at Cambridge Naturals we have several excellent broth brands, but my personal favorite is Five Way Foods. They’re a not just a locally-based company, they also locally source the ingredients for their chicken, fish, and veggie broths. So when you buy their products from us, you’re supporting the local economy at least three times over! How cool is THAT?!

I’ve come up with a simple recipe suggestion for each of their three broths, using lots of ingredients you can find here at Cambridge Naturals. With any luck, they’ll leave you imagining hundreds of other ways to warm up your winter with Five Way. The possibilities are limitless!

First up is an option that is both vegan and gluten-free. Simmer some carrots, peas, and onion in 16 ounces of Five Way Ginger Veggie Broth until the veggies are soft. Add a packet of Lotus Foods Forbidden Rice Ramen and cook for another four to five minutes. Remove from heat and stir in the ramen’s miso packet. If you’re looking for a little extra heat, add some of our Kitchen Garden Brand sriracha to taste.

If you’d rather sample the tastes of the sea, simmer 16 ounces of Five Way Foods fish bone broth with our Maine Coast Sea Vegetables Alaria (Wakame) seaweed. Stir in South River Garlic Red Pepper Miso and finish with some of our ready-to-eat Gold Mine Kelp Noodles. The Atlantic may be frigid right now, but its bounty is as comforting as a warm, fishy hug!

Finally, a true winter comfort food: chicken and rice soup! Cook up some of our Tru Roots Organic Sprouted Rice Trio. Add to 16 ounces of Five Ways chicken bone broth along with celery, carrots, and some chopped, dried shiitakes from our bulk section. Season with a few pinches of Curio Spice Company's Kozani Spice Blend. You'll be radiating a deep inner warmth in no time!

If you want to level up your textures, try crumbling some Jovial Sea Salt Einkorn Crackers over any of these soups. Or simmer in any number of the healing herbs from our bulk section for a delicious wellness boost. There are a million scrumptious ways to enjoy Five Ways broth! Come on into Cambridge Naturals and talk to any of our brilliant and beautiful grocery staff for additional suggestions.

Let's Do Brunch!

By John B, Grocery Buyer, CN Blog Contributor, and Brunch Aficionado

Ah, brunch.  Not quite breakfast, not quite lunch, but a perfect excuse to gather with friends and catch up ahead of your afternoon plans. But what about the weekend crowds? The waits? The lines? These can be frustrating, especially for the brunch-goers among us who are just trying to nurse their hangovers with some fried food and a little hair of the dog in peace. Too bad it would be such a hassle to organize a brunch get-together at your own place, right? WRONG! With a little help from the Cambridge Naturals grocery section, you can put together a full vegetarian brunch spread, with appetizer, main course, dessert, and cocktails, that will be easy to prepare, not to mention much more nourishing and healthful than anything at your local greasy spoon.

Let's start with the first course. This one is as simple as it comes: Smear our Lundberg Brown Rice Thin Stackers with some Justin’s Chocolate Hazelnut Butter Blend and top with a sprinkling of Phoney Baloney’s Coconut Bacon. This vegan sweet-and-savory combo will be sure to wake up your taste buds. Even connoisseurs of “real” bacon will find it irresistible!

For the main course, let's talk Tex Mex. I was in Austin recently, and a brunch staple there which the northeast sorely lacks are migas, a fantastic scrambled egg and tortilla dish. For a somewhat non-traditional take, start by frying some diced tomatoes, bell peppers, and onion in our Dr. Bronner's Coconut Oil. Rather than frying day-old tortillas, just have some of our Jackson's Honest Tortilla Chips nearby. Add the chips and some well-beaten eggs into the pan with the veggies, shred in some of our Neigborly Farms Savory Pepper Cheddar Cheese and scramble it all up! For a little added heat, our Los Roast X-Hot Chile Sauce makes a great condiment. Serve with a side of black beans or home fries, if that strikes your fancy.

Photo of migas via Pinch of Yum

After those hot and spicy eggs, your guests are sure to want something cool and sweet. Try making a parfait of our Organic White Mountain Bulgarian Yogurt with thin layers of Fiordifrutta fruit spreads and any of our delicious granolas. 

Now that you've got a good, strong base of delicious brunch treats in your belly, it's time for that post-meal cocktail. Mix 3/4 oz of Bushwick Kitchen's Trees Knees Cinnamon Maple Syrup, 3/4 oz dark rum, and 8 oz of our Slingshot Cold Brew Coffee. Stir and pour over ice. Voila! The perfect cap to a great meal. Your guests will think you are a culinary genius, I guarantee it.

These are just a few ideas to get you started based on what we have in our always changing, expertly curated grocery section. Come on in or get in touch for more ideas; or tell us some of your own!