Chocolate Elderberry & Rose Hip Ice Cream

Perfect for Fall and Winter, this creamy chocolaty goodness has subtle tones of elderberry, cinnamon and cloves.

Enjoy this nourishing, creamy, chocolaty ice cream and get the health benefits from the Elderberry & Rose Hip Syrup at the same time. 

Chocolate Elderberry & Rose Hip Ice Cream

Chocolaty and smooth, with a hint of Elderberry, cinnamon and cloves.

Equipment: Blender, Ice Cream Maker, Fine Mesh Strainer

• ¼ cup Elderberry & Rose Hip Syrup
• 2 tablespoons raw honey (I use local raw clover creamed honey)
• ½ ripe avocado, peeled, remove pit and quartered
• ¼ cup raw cacao powder
• 1 teaspoon gluten free organic vanilla extract (I use Simply Organic)
• 1 ½ cups raw milk (See Resources)
• ½ cup raw cream or organic cream-top whipping cream* (See Resources)

1.     Combine all ingredients in blender.

2.    Blend on a lower setting until smooth and combined, about 10 seconds.  No avocado chunks should remain. 

3.    If any foam forms on the top, remove foam with a large spoon.  Strain with fine mesh strainer into 1 quart measuring cup.  If you have a good blender, you can skip this step.  I don’t have a good blender, so I need to strain it to remove any little remaining avocado pieces.

4.    Pour mixture into ice cream maker.

5.     Turn on and mix according to your ice cream maker’s instructions.

6.    Ice cream will start to have a “soft serve” texture when it is done.  This is my family’s favorite way to eat it.  If you prefer it to be a little firmer or need to serve it later, place in the freezer to harden. 

Yield: Makes about 2 ½ cups mixture, about 1 quart of ice cream. 

Note: Don’t worry, you will not taste the avocado.  The avocado adds nutrition and creates a smoother consistency for the ice cream. 

Dairy-Free Option: Substitute full-fat coconut milk for the dairy. 

*For California residents, check out my favorite raw milk/cream from Claravale Farm.  They sell to stores and co-ops all over CA.  If you can’t find raw cream, at least buy a quality organic product like Straus Family Creamery.  Their cows graze on lush grass in Marshall, CA near Tomales Bay and they do not ultra-pasteurize their products.      


This post is part of Turning the Table Thursday @ Around My Family Table, It's a Keeper Thursday @ It's A Keeper, Pennywise Platter Thursday @ The Nourishing Gourmet, Cooking Thursday @ Diary of a Stay at Home Mom, Fresh Bites Friday @ Real Food Whole Health, Sweets This Week @ Sugar Bananas!, Fight Back Friday @ Food Renegade, Freaky Friday @ Real Food Freaks, Fat Camp Friday @ Mangoes and Chutney, Allergy Friendly Friday @ Cybele Pascal Allergen-Free Cuisine, Homestead Barn Hop @ The Prairie Homestead, Weekend Gourmet Blog Carnival @ Hartke Is Online, Recipe Sharing Monday @ Jam Hands, Mangia Monday @ Delightfully Dowling, Melt in Your Mouth Monday @ Make Ahead Meals For Busy Moms, Real Food 101 @ Ruth's Real Food, Made By You Monday @ Skip To My Lou, Fat Tuesday @ Real Food Forager, Hearth & Soul Hop @ Mom's Sunday Cafe,  Traditional Tuesdays @ Cooking Traditional Foods, Slightly Indulgent Tuesday @ Simply Sugar & Gluten-Free, Real Food Wednesday @ Kelly the Kitchen Kop, and Gluten-Free Wednesdays @ The Gluten-Free Homemaker.

Holistic Tips to Keep Your Family Healthy

It’s that time of year again, the end of summer is approaching and the cold and flu "season" is around the corner.  People are headed back-to-school, holidays are approaching and the commercial industry starts bombarding stores with processed candy and desserts. 

Nutrition is the key to health.  When the season changes and people start consuming large quantities of sugar-laden foods, immune systems weaken and become overworked.

Boosting your immune system is important if you want to stay healthy.  A healthy immune system will lessen your chances of getting sick.  If you do get sick, the duration of illness will not last as long and you will recover quicker. 

Now is the time to plan for the season change. 

Holistic Tips to Keep Your Family Healthy

Lemons, ACV, Elderberry Rose Hip Syrup, Master Tonic, Raw Honey, Lemons, Garlic, High Vitamin Butter Oil Fermented Cod Liver Oil Blend, Kelp Granules, Ginger, Shiitake Mushrooms, Kombu

{Amazon & Mt. Rose Herbs Affiliate links included help support this blog}

Stock Your Kitchen w/ These

• Organic Lemons – Great for colds, sore throats, cleansing.
• Organic Garlic – Naturally antimicrobial, both antiviral and antibacterial, great for upper respiratory issues.
• Raw Honey – Naturally antibacterial, antiseptic and antifungal (not for babies).
• Coconut Oil -  Strengthens the immune system, is naturally antimicrobial and has antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal properties.
• Organic Ginger – Great for upset tummy, chills, colds and fevers (use w/ caution if pregnant, consult w/ your health care practitioner). 
• Organic Cranberries – Preventative, bacteria cannot thrive w/ cranberry.
• Dried Thyme – Naturally antimicrobial, make as a tea for colds/flu, great for coughs and respiratory issues, helps relieve diarrhea.
• Organic Shiitake Mushrooms – Have immune boosting properties.
• Elderberry & Rose Hip Syrup – Preventative, increase amount w/ illness, known for helping prevent the flu and/or lessen the duration of the illness.
• Fermented Cod Liver Oil & High Vitamin Butter Oil – Natural dose of vitamin D, very important for staying healthy, helps the immune and digestive system.
• Organic Sea Vegetables like Kombu, Kelp, Nori, Wakame – Full of vitamins and minerals, very nourishing, add to soups, beans, grains, vegetables (See Resources).
• Seasonal Organic Vegetables & Fruits for Juicing – Very cleansing, full of nutrients that are readily available for your body.
• Lacto-Fermented and Cultured Foods – Great for your gut, loaded with natural probiotics, helps with digestion, helps boost your immune system. 
• Bone Broth or Homemade Stocks – Loaded with nutrition, very nourishing, helps with healing process, stock up and store in freezer.
• High Quality Probiotics – Important for your gut, keeps your gut healthy. 
• Organic Unfiltered Raw Apple Cider Vinegar – Old school remedy, natural antiseptic and antifungal, very healing. 

Nettle, Thyme, Astragalus Root, Catnip, Elderberries, Rose Hips, Fennel Seeds, Vitamin C Powder,  Raw Honey, Olive Oil, Tinctures, Bioplasma Cell Salts, Neti Pot

Stock Your Holistic & Herbal Wellness Chest w/ These

• Organic Olive Oil (high quality)  - To make rubs/salves/oils.
• Pascalite Clay – Many uses, very healing.
• Neti Pot – A must have for colds/allergies and for keeping your nasal passages clear.
• Dried Organic Herbs & Flowers – Nettle (a MUST have), Rose Hips, Elderberries, Red Raspberry Leaf, Fennel Seed, Chamomile, Catnip, Lemon Balm, Oatstraw, Peppermint, Spearmint, Slippery Elm Powder, Dandelion Leaf, Calendula Flowers, Lavender – Herbs are great for making herbal infusions, loaded with vitamins and minerals that are readily available to your body (I buy bulk dried herbs here).
• Dried Astragalus Root & Tincture – Immune boosting.
• Echinacea Tincture – Immune boosting, helps prevent and treat.  Helps with viruses, is antimicrobial and great for infections.
• Goldenseal Tincture – Very potent, a natural antibiotic.  Use for bacterial infections, persistent infections, take w/ probiotics to help restore good gut flora.
• Calendula Tincture – Very healing, naturally antiseptic.
• Elderberry Tincture or Extract –A preventative or take with illness, helps lessen duration of symptoms, known for helping prevent the flu.
• Cranberry Tincture, Capsules or Concentrate – Take w/ illness, helps lessen duration, bacteria cannot grow/thrive with it.
• Bioplasma Cell Salts by Hylands – 12 essential cell salts that the body needs, many benefits, very healing, increase w/ illness.

***A Note on Tinctures: Glycerin based tinctures do not work as well.***

Essential Oils & Natural Cleaning Products - White Vinegar, Grapefruit Seed Extract, Lemons, Baking Soda

Tips for Your Home

• Change your filters every 1-2 months, especially when the season changes.  Replace w/ high quality filters, not the cheap ones that barely catch anything, you want filters that filter mold, viruses, dander, etc.
• Clean ceiling fan blades.
• Use natural/”green” cleaning products, make sure to read ingredient labels.
• Use True HEPA air filtration portable units (not HEPA-Type).
• Vacuum house at least once a week, every other day if possible, with a HEPA vacuum.
• Add indoor house plants to the home to clean the air.
• Use Nebulizer Diffusers w/ essential oils (like Thieves or Medieval essential oil) to clean the air, body will absorb the healing properties of the essential oils too.
• Remove any commercial-grade scented candles or air fresheners from the home.
• Open your windows as much as possible to allow fresh air into the home, outdoor air quality is almost always better than indoor air quality. 

Your Mind, Body & Spirit

• Remember that your body believes what you tell it and it will act accordingly.  Talk to your body (seriously!) and tell it want you want to occur and/or thank it for getting your attention.  Be positive when talking to your body and be grateful for the messages it sends you. 
• Daily Self-talk – Flood your mind w/ positive thoughts, peace, joy, happiness and comfort.
• Do your best to keep balance and harmony w/ all things.
• End the day w/ positive messages to yourself.  If you have children, this is an excellent time to talk to them and give them positive messages to sleep with.  Tell them that tomorrow will be a happy day, tell them how grateful you are, tell them the things you love about them, tell them that they are happy, healthy, strong, loving and whole.  Say the same things to yourself too!
• When you can, get outside and enjoy the fresh air.  If there is sun shining, make sure you enjoy it and soak up the vitamin D.  Be out in nature as much as possible.  Your body will thank you.
• Get some form of exercise, our bodies are not meant to be sedentary. 
• Make sure to get plenty of rest.  If you do get sick, honor your body by resting and sleeping as much as you need to.

Holistic & Natural Remedies

• Raw Organic Garlic + Raw Honey – This excellent remedy comes from my midwives.  As soon as you feel illness coming on, mince 1 clove of raw garlic into 1 tablespoon of raw honey, take orally, swallow and chase w/ drink if necessary.  The garlic is naturally antimicrobial, both antiviral and antibacterial and the raw honey is naturally antibacterial, antiseptic, antifungal.  This remedy is safe for pregnant moms.
• Garlic Oil – Use for chest rub, drop in ear for ear infections.
• Pascalite Clay – Helps w/ nausea, helps w/ diarrhea, very healing, many uses.
• Bone Broth – Loaded w/ nutrients, helps you heal faster.  See here for my bone broth recipe.
• Cranberry Compote – Great way to get cranberry into your body.  Bacteria cannot grow when consuming cranberry. 
• Vitamin C Tea – Full of vitamin C as well as other vitamins and minerals which are all readily available for your body.
• Thyme Tea – Naturally antimicrobial, great tea to drink during colds/flu, strengthens immune system, important to take during illness and after to help prevent recurrent illness.
• Herbal Infusions – Make herbal tea infusions with various dried herbs and flowers.  Typical infusions steep for a minimum of 30 minutes to overnight.  Loaded with vitamins and minerals that are readily available for your body, better than a vitamin/mineral supplement.  See here for my Nourishing Herbal Tea Infusion and Nettle Cinnamon Herbal Tea Infusion recipe.
• Hot Garlic-Ginger Lemonade – Beneficial for colds/flu, drink hot and often.
• Master Tonic and Pepper Tonic – Helps prevent illness and lessen the duration of illness.
• Elderberry & Rose Hip Syrup – Take as a preventative daily.  Increase dosage w/ illness.  Known for helping prevent the flu and lessen the symptoms. 
• Echinacea Tincture – Great preventative, boosts your immune system.  Take during illness to treat and lessen the duration of illness.
• Thieves Oil or Medieval Oil – Great preventative and helps lessen the duration of illness.  To make your own Thieves Oil, you need Clove, Lemon, Cinnamon, Eucalyptus and Rosemary high quality essential oils.  To make your own Medieval Oil, you need Sweet Orange, Lavender, Lemon, Tea Tree, Eucalyptus, Red and White Thyme, and Rosemary high quality essential oils.  Place in carrier oil (like olive oil or jojoba), rub on bottoms of feet before bed and in the morning after bathing, also dab behind ears.  Use in a Nebulizer Diffuser to help cleanse the home during illness and use as a preventative during the cold and flu season.  
• Raw honey – Naturally antibacterial, antiseptic and antifungal.
• Breastmilk – Very healing and full of beneficial properties, place drops in the eye/ear for infections, drops in nose for congestion, gargle for sore throat, good for the ears, nose, eyes, skin, gut, etc.
• Juicing – Brings balance to the body, very cleansing.
• Slippery Elm "Candies" for Coughs –  Great for pesky coughs.  It helps soothe irritations, helps moisten dry throats and calm coughs.  

Remember, nutrition is key and our body reacts to what we put in it.  Do your best to eliminate or at least limit processed foods and refined sugars.  When you buy food, try to buy organic or food that has been grown using organic practices.  You don’t want your body loaded up with pesticides, herbicides and GMO foods.  Check out local farmers markets and get to know your farmers.  If you need help finding some in your area, to find a local farmer or a CSA box delivery, check here: Eat Wild and Local Harvest.

Nourish the mind, body and soul. 

Be well.

What do you do to help boost your immune system?

Disclaimer: ALL information you read on Recipes to Nourish is purely for informational and educational purposes only.  I love to share and share with love, but I am not a health care practitioner.  This information is not intended to treat, cure or prevent any disease.  If you have questions about food, diet, nutrition, natural remedies or holistic health, please do your own research and consult with your health care practitioner.  


This post is part of Traditional Tuesdays @ Cooking Traditional Foods, WLW Wednesday Link-Up Party @ Women Living Well, Healthy 2day Wednesday @ day2day joys, Works for Me Wednesday @ We are THAT Family, Simple Lives Thursday @ A Little Bit of Spain in Iowa, Whole Health Weekend Link-up @ Nourishing Treasures, Monday Mania @ The Healthy Home Economist, Wildcrafting Wednesday @ Mind Body and Sole, and Weekend Gourmet Blog Carnival @ Hartke Is Online.


Amazon and Mountain Rose Herbs links are affiliate links, prices are the same for you.  Should you decide to purchase through my blog, thank you in advance and much gratitude for supporting Recipes to Nourish.

Chocolate Elderberry Freezer Fudge

Homemade fudge is a favorite at my house.  I make it often with my little love; she’s the best helper and loves to sample the deliciousness as we make it. 

This nourishing fudge is absolutely delicious and so simple to make.  It uses five ingredients all of which I almost always have on hand.  I feel good about serving it to my little love as a treat because it is a good way for me to get pasture butter into her.  Ah the benefits of pasture butter … it’s loaded with omega-3 fatty acids and CLA (conjugated linoleic acid), it helps your body absorb minerals, it is a good source of vitamin D, E and K, it helps prevent tooth decay and is a good source of Activator X (to learn more about Activator X, CLA, omega 3 and the benefits of pasture butter, check out the book Cure Tooth Decay {*affiliate} by Ramiel Nagel).

Elderberry & Rose Hip Syrup adds a unique flavor to this fudge.  It also adds more health benefits (see my Elderberry & Rose Hip Syrup recipe for more information).  This fudge recipe is truly divine!  Enjoy!

Chocolate Elderberry Freezer Fudge

This yummy, healthy, chocolaty goodness is so easy to make.  Try some today!  Make sure to lick the beater and spatula or share it with a special someone, don’t let any of the delicious fudge go to waste. 

Equipment: Standing Mixer and Bowl, Food Processor or Hand Mixer, Spatula, Plastic Wrap or Parchment Paper

• ½ cup pasture butter* (See Resources)
• ½ cup raw honey (I use local raw clover creamed)
• ¾ cup raw organic cacao powder
• 3 tablespoons Elderberry & Rose Hip Syrup (See link for recipe)
• 2 teaspoons gluten-free organic vanilla extract (I use Simply Organic)

1.     Fit standing mixer with the flat beater (if you don’t have a standing mixer, you could use a food processor or hand mixer w/ bowl).  Add pasture butter and raw honey to standing mixer bowl and mix on a low speed until the butter starts to soften.  Increase speed and whip until creamed and it begins to have a lighter white color, about 1 minute.  Stop mixer and scrape down mixture with a spatula.  

2.    Add cacao powder, elderberry rose hip syrup and vanilla.  Turn mixer on low until the cacao powder starts to incorporate.  Increase speed to whip until creamy, fluffy and it begins to turn a lighter brown color, about 1 minute.  Scrape down sides as needed with a spatula to make sure ingredients are combined well.

3.    Place a large piece (about 12-15 inches long) of plastic wrap or parchment paper on a flat surface.  Scrape the fudge mixture into the middle of the plastic wrap.  Fold the plastic wrap over the top of the fudge.  Gently press down with you hands to smooth out the fudge, making it about ½ inch thick.  Fold the edges of the plastic wrap over.

Fudge folded up and ready for freezer.

4.    Very carefully pick up the fudge and place on flat surface in the freezer.  I place mine on a flat ice cube tray lid and it fits perfectly. 

5.     Freeze for at least 4 hours or overnight, the longer it freezes, the firmer it becomes. 

6.    Cut into small squares, strips, chunks or whatever shapes you desire.    

My little love enjoying the view.

Yield: Varies, about 15 one-inch squares.

Note: This fudge is best served right out of the freezer and not left out at room temperature, as it will start to become soft and melt.

Dairy-Free Option: Use coconut oil instead of pasture butter.

*You could also use ghee or coconut oil if you prefer.    

*Amazon links are affiliate links, prices are the same for you.  Should you decide to purchase through my blog, thank you in advance and much gratitude for supporting Recipes to Nourish.  


This post is part of Pennywise Platter Thursdays @ The Nourishing Gourmet, Real Food Weekly @ The WHOLE Gang, Fresh Food Friday @ La Bella Vita, Fight Back Friday @ Food Renegade, Simple Lives Thursday @ A Little Bit of Spain in Iowa, Allergy Friendly Friday @ Cybele Pascal Allergen-Free Cuisine, Fresh Bites Friday @ Real Food Whole Health, Monday Mania @ The Healthy Home Economist, Weekend Gourmet Blog Carnival @ Hartke Is Online!, Hearth and Soul Hop @ Mom's Sunday Cafe, Made From Scratch Tuesday @ From Mess Hall to Bistro, Traditional Tuesdays @ Real Food Whole Health/Traditional Food Blog Carnival Hop, Slightly Indulgent Tuesday @ Simply Sugar and Gluten Free, Good & Tasty Tuesday @ Stay At Home Babe, Real Food Wednesday @ Kelly the Kitchen Kop, Gluten-Free Wednesdays @ The Gluten-Free Homemaker, Healthy 2day Wednesdays @ day2day joys, What's Cooking Wednesday @ The King's Court IV, Tuesdays At The Table @ All the Small Stuff, Whole Health Weekend Link-Up @ Nourishing Treasures, Recipe Sharing Monday @ Jam Hands, and Tea Party Tuesday @ Sweetology.   

Elderberry & Rose Hip Syrup

About two years ago, I was browsing through the Holistic Moms Network national loop (a group that I’m a member of) and I saw a post about “What are you doing to help keep your family healthy during the cold and flu season.”  I was intrigued by the topic and wanted to see what some of the other moms were doing.  Reading through all of the posts, Elderberry Syrup kept popping up.  Everyone seemed to be raving about it.  So, I had to find out more and do a little research of my own.

"European elder is a plant native to Europe, Northern Africa, and Western-and Central Asia. Its flowers and berries have a long history of use in traditional European medicine. Elder berries have also been used for making preserves, wines, winter cordials, and for adding flavor and color to other wines. Native Americans used the flowers, berries, and bark of elderberry trees to treat fevers and joint pain for hundreds of years, but elderberry's real claim to fame is as a cure for the flu. Israeli researchers have developed five formulas based on elderberry fruit that have been clinically proven to prevent and ameliorate all kinds of influenza." – Mountain Rose Herbs

A friend of ours that works at our local natural foods co-op also told us about Elderberry Syrup and said it is fabulous stuff.  He shared that it boosts the immune system and decreases the length and severity of cold and flu symptoms. 

For my family, it’s important to do everything we can to boost our immune system, especially during cold and flu season.  After learning more about Elderberry Syrup, I was sold.  Besides the immune boosting properties, elderberries are high in vitamin A, C, and bioflavonoids.  Elderberry syrup is a staple in our house and we take it daily as a preventative. 

There are so many different versions of Elderberry Syrup – many of them are loaded with sugar.  Refined sugars are not welcome in our home; we choose local raw honey instead.  I add rose hips to my recipe to add an extra punch of vitamin C and sweet flavor, cloves and cinnamon for their medicinal and warming properties, and ginger, which is especially beneficial for fevers, flu and colds.  I also take extra care not to heat the raw honey.  I add it after cooling the syrup in an ice bath.  This helps add potency to the syrup by allowing the raw honey to retain its nutrients.  Raw honey is naturally antibacterial, antiseptic, antifungal and a natural antibiotic. 

I hope you enjoy my version of Elderberry Syrup! 

Be well.

Elderberry & Rose Hip Syrup

This syrup is sweet and scrumptious.  Great to have on hand before school is back in session and also as cold and flu season approaches. 

• ½ cup dried elderberries
• ½ cup dried rose hips
• 2 tablespoons cinnamon chips
• 6 dried whole cloves
• 1 inch chunk fresh ginger, peeled, grated/minced
• 2 ½ cups filtered water
• ½-1 cup raw honey*, preferably local or biodynamic

• Water – cold tap water is fine here, it is not used in the syrup
• Handful of ice

1.     In a medium-size saucepan, add elderberries, rose hips, cinnamon chips, cloves, ginger and water.  Cover with lid, bring to a boil and reduce heat to simmer for 45 minutes.

2.    Remove pan from stove, strain and mash through fine mesh strainer into a glass 1 quart measuring cup, small bowl or Mason jar. 

3.    Fill small bowl with a handful of ice and cold tap water (fill only halfway).  Place measuring cup into ice bath.  Let syrup cool in the ice bath about 15 minutes or until cooled.

4.    Remove cooled syrup from ice bath. 

5.     Add raw honey to a standard Mason jar.  Pour syrup into Mason jar.

6.    Stir honey and syrup together until they combine.  If the honey does not dissolve right away, let it sit at room temperature for a bit, then stir again. 

7.     Place lid on jar and store in the refrigerator.

* I use ½ cup of local raw creamed clover honey.

Yield: Makes about 2 cups syrup.

Dosage: 1-3 tablespoons daily as a preventative. Consume more with illness.

Storage: 2 months in the refrigerator, but if you’re taking it as a preventative daily, it will not last that long.

Notes: This recipe can be divided in half to make a smaller batch.  If you prefer a thicker, sweeter consistency, use 1 cup of raw honey.  


Can't find bulk herbs locally?  My favorite source for bulk herbs is Mountain Rose Herbs {*Affiliate link included helps support my blog}. 

Tip:  To “peel” ginger, scrape ginger “skin” off with a spoon.  The skin will come off very easily.  

Get Creative: Serve it on gluten free pancakes, drizzle it over vanilla ice cream, or stir into your favorite herbal tea.  How will you use it?

*Mountain Rose Herbs link is an affiliate link, prices are the same for you.  Should you decide to purchase through my blog, thank you in advance and much gratitude for supporting Recipes to Nourish.

Disclaimer: ALL information you read on Recipes to Nourish is purely for informational and educational purposes only.  I love to share and share with love, but I am not a health care practitioner.  This information is not intended to treat, cure or prevent any disease.  If you have questions about food, diet, nutrition, natural remedies or holistic health, please do your own research and consult with your health care practitioner. 

This post is part of Handmade Christmas Gift Carnival @ The Nourishing Gourmet.