Healing Herb of the Day

MINT!

Every now and then I will feature an herb of the day and give some information on it's healing properties and even ways to cook with it! Today's featured herb is Mint. Some species of mint are used to treat Alzheimer's disease and to flavor candies, gum, toothpaste, and liqueurs and even cooking extracts. They are also used as digestive aids. Peppermint oil is antiallergenic and is used in aromatherapy to stimulate brain activity or just to relax!

Name derives from the nymph Menthe, who was turned into a plant by the goddess Perserpina when she found out that Pluto was in love with her. Greeks used mint to clean their banqueting tables and added it to their baths to stimulate their bodies. Romans used it in sauces, as an aid to digestion and as a mouth freshener.

Mint is also rich in Vitamins A and C which is an important antioxidant and may help decrease certain cancers.

And to finish today's lesson on mint, I thought I'd let you in on a recipe! Okay, so this doesn't call for fresh mint but since the holidays are coming up I thought I'd use a fun cookie recipe that uses mint chocolate.

CHOCOLATE CHOCOLATE MINT CHIP COOKIES

Ingredients:

2 1/4 cups flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 sticks butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup packed brown sugar
2 large eggs, beaten
1 tablespoon vanilla
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa
2 cups mint chocolate chips,
2 Hershey's chocolate bars chopped
1 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a bowl stir together flour, salt, and baking soda. In another large bowl stir together butter, both sugars, eggs, vanilla and cocoa. Gradually stir flour mixture into butter mixture and mix until combined. Stir mint chocolate chips, chopped chocolate bars and walnuts, if using, and stir to distribute evenly.

For cookies: Drop dough by tablespoonfuls onto greased baking sheets and bake about 10 minutes. Cool on a baking rack.

Enjoy that minty goodness!