I SEE PLANTAIN IN YOUR LIFE!
By: Madame Fortuna

As I bathe in the fragrance of a sultry summer's night, a clear vision comes to me upon a beam of moonlight. I see you with a basket gathering a wild herb in myriad places. There you are along the edges of shady fertile woods picking the leaves of a low growing plant, lush and full. There - next to a fence in an industrial part of a city the same herb grows, though smaller and closer to the earth. From the cracks of a sidewalk, out of fields and front lawns you gather this robust plant. I see you on mountaintops, in Africa, in Europe, Asia, the Americas. Everywhere you go, the herb is already there!

This herb, growing in a rosette, a circular pattern, the leaves of some broad, others long and narrow sends up stalks upon which very small white flowers spiral towards the sun. Ah! This is Plantain! Plantain!

You wonder at its incredible ability to adapt and thrive in any type of soil, in many different environments and ecosystems. If you eat this plant, use it in medicines to heal and nourish, will you, over time, gain this ability to adapt and thrive in many different situations, during stressful times? Yes! I, Madame Fortuna, who knows and sees all, say yes indeedy!

Wait! What do I see? You - in your home, chopping up your bounty of plantain. A portion is steeped in olive oil for soothing and protecting skin that is chafed and cracked. This oil is stored for healing strains and sprains both new and old, for relieving hot spots, insect bites and itches. Oh! I see your wrinkled nose at the sausage smell plantain exudes as it releases its medicine into the oil. Madame Fortuna knows that this is the inherent smell of good plantain medicine and laughs.

Another portion of chopped plantain is put up in apple cider vinegar, for you know that not only does vinegar contain all the nutrition of the apple, it also acts as a solvent to release the vitamins and minerals of plantain. And plantain is mineral rich, rich, RICH! Especially in iron. And this mineral rich plantain vinegar is so tasty on salads and over cooked foods.

The remaining portion of plantain is simply steamed and served with the pot liquor poured over each serving for a delicious and nutritious addition to the evening's meal.

An owl glides through the moonbeam in search of prey and takes my vision with it as it soars down the mountain. Another vision floats down the light to me. I see someone...tall, dark and beautiful about to enter your life - then the morning sun begins to peek over the mountain and the face grows dim.

Until next time, I, Madame Fortuna, may be found in my cottage stirring a simmering pot of plantain stew.