Book Review: The Magic Teaspoon
The Magic Teaspoon by Victoria Zak is simply amazing. I use it, abuse it and share it: coffee and food stains imprint this book with love. If you are interested in natural healing through herbs and spices, this book is for you. Zak offers a run-down of all the herbs and spices and their magic. She states, "At home in a coastal Mediterranean cottage, a young mother keeps her child's fever at bay with a simple spoonful of thyme."
She offers over 100 recipes for health-boosting meals and snacks, the sugar lover's survival guide, the top-notch teas for healing, "The All Natural" chart revealing the best herbs and spices to choose for specific health issues and much more.
Did you know that Basil is the King of Herbs? Basil's scientific name is called "Ocimum Basilicum" and originally held as a sacred and noble herb in India, Asia and Africa. Basil comes from the ancient Greek "Basilikohon" which means Royal. It plays a key role in Italian and Thai cuisine.
Basil helps antibodies to fight infections and disease. It helps to increase oxygen to the brain and strengthens the nervous system to fight headaches and depression. This fragrant herb is easy to grow in your garden or right in your kitchen: sling it in a pot of sauce, make a Caprese Salad or a Basil Pesto Sauce.
One of my favorite recipes from The Magic Teaspoon is called Basil Bliss. I have made this for family, friends and co-workers. This amazing dip is great to use with Cream Cheese as a spread with crackers, french bread, a bagel or a baguette.
We can make Magic in our kitchens with all the herbs and spices at our fingertips. As she states, "Some enchanting evening in your kitchen, take a minute to feel the texture of a fresh or dried herb or spice in your fingers. Inhale its fragrance, taste a bit on your tongue and think of the journey the herb or spice has taken to come to your table.
Each herb and or spice represents the bounty of nature in lands far and near, the care it took to grow and harvest them in the season and the global cooperation it takes to bring each special taste, color and fragrance to your table to make a little magic in your kitchen."
This book is perfect for readers who enjoy natural living, home remedies, or simply want to be more mindful of what’s in their kitchen. While it doesn’t replace professional medical advice, it certainly enhances the reader’s awareness of everyday ingredients and how they can be used creatively and safely for health.