Central America

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Herbal Illuminati

December 10, 2025

Herbal Illuminati December 11th, 2025 The current Herbal-Roots (2025) winter collection, Illuminated Juxtapositions & Enlightening Travel, didn’t begin this year or …

December 10, 2025

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Impromptu healthy quick garden meal.

Beet green and shaved fennel chicken meatballs over a little gem radicchio parsley mint salad with pomegranate, grapefruit and oranges (also from the garden)

Feta. (@mt.eitan.cheese obviously)
Orange olive oil vinaigrette- and my Kefalonia Black Olive Sheepherders Herb Salt @myherbalroots winter collection out Thursday.

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If you ask me there are two essential tail components to an exceptional cranberry sauce. Herbs and liquor. This one I’m making is rather simple (not per my usual)it’s got like a French orange and thyme vibe - although it’s rather inviting which isn’t stereotypically French. lol.

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Leftover hers laying around?

Italian salsa verde.

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If you received my Cinnamon Basil Vanilla Pie Spice from the Fall Collection - use it in a Pumpkin Basque Cheesecake.

#Recipe link in story

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WHISKEY CARAMEL UPSIDE-DOWN CAKE
Makes 1 9-inch cake

A few years back, while writing a whiskey article and recipes for Edible Marin & Wine Country, @sonomawhiskey
Sonoma Distilling Company gifted me with a bottle of Black Truffle Whiskey which I was immediately enamored with and turned into a caramel sauce which I used for this cake

I incorporate rosemary and warming spices into the cake and keep it more on the savory side since caramel is so sweet, I thought it the perfect combination, especially when dolloped with tangy vanilla spice yogurt.

This is equally delicious with pears.

Ingredients

For the apples and sauce:
6 tablespoons butter
2 teaspoons finely chopped sage leaves
1 teaspoon maldon salt
¾ cup raw sugar
¼ cup dark brown sugar
¼ cup Sonoma Distilling Company Truffle Whiskey or whiskey of choice
2-3 apples, cored and sliced thin

For the cake:
1 ½ cup all-purpose flour
¼ cup sprouted grain flour
½ teaspoon baking powder
¼ teaspoon kosher salt
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
¼ teaspoon ground white pepper
¼ teaspoon ground long pepper (optional)
¼ teaspoon ground cardamon or grains of paradise
1 ½ teaspoon finely chopped rosemary needles
2 teaspoons of orange zest
¾ cup softened butter (salted)
¾ cup raw sugar
2 eggs
2/3 cup Greek yogurt, plus 1 cup

Directions

Heat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9-inch springform pan and line the bottom with parchment.

Melt the butter, crisp the sage for a few seconds, then add the salt and sugars. Cook a couple minutes until the sugar starts to melt and looks gritty. Add the whiskey and cook one more minute.

Spread the hot caramel over the parchment-lined pan. Arrange the apple slices on top in circles, starting outside and working inward.

Whisk the flour, baking soda, spices, rosemary, zest, and salt in a large bowl.

In another bowl, cream the butter and sugar until fluffy. Add the eggs and yogurt and beat smooth. Add the dry ingredients gradually, beating between additions until the batter is smooth.

Spoon the batter evenly over the apples and smooth the top.

Bake about 45 minutes, until a knife tip comes out clean.

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Making a sheet pan version of one of my favorite fall recipes that I developed for a story a few years ago for @ediblemarinwc
A Window Into Fall-
FALL IN LOVE WITH APPLES’ SAVORY SIDE

First photo by @nat.cody

( link in story)
Using my Cinnamon Basil Vanilla Pie Spice)

Roasted Apple and Squash Soup

The Red Kuri is my favorite squash varietal and is often passed by for the easier to peel Butternut or the sensationally sweet Delicata. The Red Kuri is nutty and sweet and it’s predominant flavor reminiscent of roasted chestnuts. When its roasted with apples and onions and some subtle spices, a rich, complex earthy flavor is born and once blended a decadent velvety texture emerges and tantalizes the tongue with a soft and warm airy quality. This soup is remarkably easy to make and clean up abd best of all the leftovers get turned into Velvety Apple & Squash Mac & Cheese.

1 2-pound Red Kuri squash
1 yellow onion, chopped large
1 shallot, peeled and quartered
3 tart apples, peeled and chopped
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons melted butter
¼ cup maple syrup
1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves
¾ teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
½ teaspoon ground mace
½ teaspoon cayenne powder
2 teaspoons cracked black pepper
2 teaspoons salt
4 cups water
¼ cup heavy whipping cream (optional)

Directions

Preheat oven to 400°F. Cut the squash in half using a larger and thicker bladed chef’s knife or a large cleaver by carefully pushing down on both ends of the blade slowly. Once the squash is cut in half, scoop out the seeds and set aside if you are making the spiced seed garnish. Place the cut side down on each half and cut it into 12 wedges, then carve off the peel of each wedge. Cut the peeled squash into roughly 2-inch pieces. Place the squash, onions, shallot and apples in a large glass baking dish (11” x 17” ideal) and toss together with the oil, melted butter, maple syrup, thyme and spices. Make sure everything is well combined and coated in the oil/butter mixture. Place the baking dish in the oven and roast for about 40 minutes, or until a slight char appears on the onions and shallots. Mix the vegetables once during the roasting process.

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While the east coast has its first snow, I’m still plucking basil from the garden here in California.

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Fall 2025 Collection Thanksgiving Sale
10% off with discount code Fall Meander

With the collection purchase you get a choice of one of the fall herbal brines, plus the six collection sliders and the bonus peppercorns!

These are beautiful additions to your Thanksgiving excursions, make amazing gifts and are just generally joy (herb) filled.

www.Shop.Herbal-Roots.com

All Thanksgiving orders this this week to arrive by early next week in time for planning and inspiration.

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My Cinnamon Basil Pie Spice in action

Persimmon braised short ribs with butternut squash over mashed potatoes.

I used some beer that @rachel._pierson left in my fridge a long time ago. Lots of fresh herbs as well as shallots and garlic and Hachiya persimmons.

Central America | My Herbal Roots