Culinary herbs

[Deleted]

I always thought this was Vietnamese coriander,it's rampant in the garden right now.

[bixaorellana]

It is ~~ look at #s 48 & 49. It's just that the dark markings are not quite as prominent in your plant. I've grown it before, & mine looked more like your picture.

[hwinpp]

The stuff I get here is also without the darker shading.

[Deleted]

My new pot of parsley died for some reason. That is supposed to survive nuclear fallout. The mint is still fine, and it looks like the dill is really going to grow.

[Deleted]

Jun 1, 2010 21:00:43 GMT bixaorellana said:

It is ~~ look at #s 48 & 49. It's just that the dark markings are not quite as prominent in your plant. I've grown it before, & mine looked more like your picture.

Oh, I see it now,the darker shading threw me off when I looked earlier.

[bixaorellana]

Hmm ~~ just went through this whole thread and no one has mentioned tisanes yet.

I love them, especially if I feel something flu-like lurking. Then I make up about a quart of tea, tossing in anything that seems appealing, but being sure to include thyme for its antiseptic properties. Drinking it throughout the day can stop the bug in its tracks.

Mint tea, hot or cold is always delightful.

I like to grow as many lemon-flavored herbs as possible. Alone or in combination, they make a lovely tea.

What else?

[Deleted]

May 27, 2010 18:23:58 GMT auntieannie said:

I love itl, but PLEASE do NOT add it to chocolate! that is such a terrible mistake!

Annie, are you kidding?

The combination of mint and chocolate is the best food invention ever.

[Deleted]

May 29, 2010 3:15:10 GMT hwinpp said:

I think I might try that, D. I'll have to try and find seeds of a local variety.

I hope it works for you, hw. Mine is doing really well, growing like it should. Here's a more recent pic of it:




Jazz, that sounds like the perfect drink for a hot summers day.

[bixaorellana]

Oh yeah ......... it's important to remember never to boil mint. Everything nice about it will be ruined.

Many people say only steaming, not boiling water should be used for tisanes.

[Deleted]

I have an excess of Greek oregano growing in my herb garden. I don't use it all that often. Not nearly as much as I do the basils,mints,thyme and rosemary.
I heard on a cooking show on the radio this past weekend, a woman caller asked what to do with fresh oregano?
The hostess of the show recommended mixing it finely chopped with capers, lemon zest and olive oil.
To be used on bread, fish and pork and lamb dishes.
I'm going to try it real soon, it sounds delicious.

[Deleted]

I've never had fresh oregano but I would love to do some experiments. I often substitute one spice for another and am often (but not always) pleased with the results.

[Deleted]

It's a strong herb,and it needs mellowing IMHO. I love the sound of the lemon zest etc. curbing it some. I need to get some capers soon and try it.

[fumobici]

I had so much oregano in the herb garden I had to cull a lot this year. It is strong fresh, do be sparing with it, I think it's one of the few herbs that works better dried. The bitterness seems to leave and the characteristic scent and flavor stay behind. It may also be the absolute favorite of the bees of all the herbs I grow, they are all over it constantly.

[Deleted]

I prefer it dried too, but, with the plethora I have of it, I glommed onto the above recipe.
I'll never dry that much oregano and it would be bound for the compost after cutting back otherwise.

Yes, the bees adore it!

[Deleted]

My mint did not appreciate my absence and the dill committed suicide. But I think the mint will forgive me.

[Deleted]

I have Basil coming out of my ears.
I made a huge batch of pesto yesterday that will last me awhile.

[Don Cuevas]

Love that basil. I can hardly get enough of it. Sra. Cuevas, the jardinera, harvested and dried all our basil before we left on our 2 weeks+ trip to the States. She had also planted three more pots of it, but to me they don't seem to be thriving. Maybe we have too much rain and not enough sun. However, it's early yet. I. Must. Be. Patient.

[bixaorellana]

Pretty basil! Beyond the fact that I use basil all the time because I love it & it's versatile, it's just something that must be in the garden. A house is not a home without it!

Plant one of those three in the ground, DonC, to see if they'll take off.

Re: oregano ~~ The Greek recipe sounds wonderful. The oregano here is much milder, but try this local favorite as a salsa on chicken, whether roasted, leftover, or however: Grind oregano with garlic, salt, & fresh chile, then mix with vinegar or lemon or lime juice. It's somewhat addictive.

[Deleted]

I couldn't agree more about the need for basil. I have 3 varieties growing, not all visible in the pic. A huge Thai basil is next to the others.

Oh! That oregano salsa sounds fabulous Bixa. Do you do it with a mortar and pestle? Milder may be even better as previously mentioned.

Now, what to do with all this lemongrass?
Other than sitting pretty with some occasional use I would love some recipes. I'm going to make some vinegar with it to be sure.

[bixaorellana]

Yes, mortar & pestle for the oregano salsa.

One use for lemon grass could be as a property border, where its paper cut dealing leaves would shred kids wanting to come into your yard to look for the lost ball.

I tend to use the leaves the same way you'd toss in a bay leaf, but I can't imagine ever making real inroads on an established clump of the stuff.

See what you think of #17 here: anyportinastorm.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=recipes&thread=2230&page=1#40243

[Deleted]

Yes,it looks good!! I will have to wait until the kitchen isn't 110F before I'm making any jelly anytime soon though...

[rikita]

my dill looks nice, and i hope my dad will water it while i am gone next week... my basil is still tiny... my parsley seems to be doing quite good...

[bixaorellana]

Isn't your dad pretty much a plant guy, Rikita? Surely he'll watch over your herbs.

This is a raised bed of herbs in almost pure compost. They really like it!

[Deleted]

Speaking only of culinary herbs and not the purely medicinal ones, I was wondering if there is any official list of which herbs are good for you -- loaded with vitamins and such -- which ones are neutral and which ones might even be bad for you (in excess).

I made a dish with a lot of thyme the other day and I absolutely love the aroma, but I was thinking at the same time "hey, this is just a bunch of dried crushed weeds." I can't imagine thyme having all that much nutrition, but perhaps I am wrong.

[bixaorellana]

Actually, thyme is great to take when you have a cold or flu. It has antiseptic properties & an infusion of it can be used as mouthwash. Those are all I remember, but I know it has other medicinal benefits.

In that same line, the other day I was putting tons of basil into a dish & thinking that surely it must count as a leafy green.

[Deleted]

I discovered a new cultivar of mint last week at the Farmer's market,; Ginger mint. I've already used it in a few dishes and beverages and it is everything like it sounds like. Minty with a subtle flavor of ginger. I adore it!!

[Deleted]

I am just happy that my ordinary mint has not only survived the heat wave but seems to be thriving.

[mossie]

My mint has been neglected this past year or so, but is now going absolutely mad.

[Deleted]

Mine keeps soldiering on through the blazing heat, but I have to give it a lot of water.

[Deleted]

I ran out of bay leaves this week and I am absolutely furious to discover that the first three supermarkets that I visited do not appear to sell them anymore. They have always been an extremely common item in France so I am outraged by their apparent fall from favour. I know that I will find some soon, but I am really astounded that they have disappeared.