Tag: herbs

Plants, Herbs & spices , ,

Hyssop

by ksenija December 1, 2011 No Comments

One of the oldest herbs in cultivation hyssop is an attractive evergreen shrub with brilliant blue, pink or white flowers held on a spike. Hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis) grows well with other scented herbs such as lavender and sage. The fresh herb from garden is commonly used in cooking. The leaves can be used to make hyssop tea which is considered a cure for bronchitis and chest complaints but the leaves are more often used in soups, salads and stews to add a bittermint flavour. It can be used for robust, rustic dishes like potato or bean soup, and it goes well with fat meat; others suggest it to spice up calf and chicken.

The flavour is strong and not universally popular. It was also used by the monks who made Chartreuse and Benedictine liqueurs and hyssop oil is used in parfumes. The plant is also attractive to bees and butterflies.

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Plants, Herbs & spices ,

Rosemary

by ksenija November 24, 2011 No Comments

Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) has been used in the home since Roman times and old herbals tell of the many properties of the plant. It is the herb of remembrance and friendship and is supposed to stimulate the mind. An evergreen shrub it can be grown easily in any container herb garden given a sheltered position for although it comes from the Mediterranean it will tolerate some degree of frost.


It flowers early in the year at the end of winter. In the kitchen it is the traditional accompaniment for roast lamb and can be used to flavour a number of other dishes.

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Plants, Herbs & spices , ,

Healing And Decorative Power Of Sage

by ksenija November 19, 2011 1 Comment

Sages (Salvias) are a large group of plants including annual, biennials, perennials and shrubs that are found in many gardens. Some are hardy, others that come from the tropics are greenhouse plants. The common sage, Salvia officinalis, and its varieties has been the best culinary herb for centuries and was formerly used in herbal medicine to treat many diseases.

An evergreen perennial or subshrub the leaves are often dried and stored for use and it is the main ingredient in sage and onion stuffing, a traditional accompaniment for roast poultry. It is also used to flavour fish, meat and cheese dishes.

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Plants, Herbs & spices , , ,

Beautify A Dish With An Edible Flowers!

by ksenija November 13, 2011 No Comments

If you are a gourmet and enjoy all benefits of delicious food, then definitely you try to improve each subsequent meal. Gourmet food is expensively delicious not only for its quality ingredients and taste, but also for its aesthetics. Aesthetics in food are making a big comeback in today’s restaurants, and for good reason. While we eat, we may think that taste is all that our brain is processing, but it’s a much richer experience than that. The smell and the sight of the food are major points in the eating experience. One of the most natural and most appealing ways to brighten up and beautify a dish is the simple addition of an edible flower! There are many varieties which are edible, and add a subtle flavor into your dish. Cooking with flowers from your garden, though, is a cautious process, as you must be completely sure that what you are serving is neither poisonous nor chemically treated.

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Plants, Herbs & spices , ,

Garden Chives – Tasty Herbs In The Kitchen

by ksenija November 12, 2011 No Comments

Known as common garden chives, Allium schoenoprasum, can be grown indoors and out. They are one of the earliest herbs to come up in spring and an attractive garden plant and versatile herb in the kitchen. Chives are rich in vitamins A and C, potassium, and calcium. Chives are one of 300 species of Allium, which is in the Lily family. They are closely related to garlic, onions, shallots, leeks and garlic chives. Though the leaves off all these plants have the distinctive onion smell, the flowers do smell like their sweeter lily relatives. They are grown for the flavour of their leaves, which is reminiscent of onion, although much milder. Both the stems and light purple flowers are used in cooking and the snipped leaves are an addition to many dishes. Chives lose their flavour with long cooking so it is best to add them to dishes at the last minute. For chopping stems, a pair of scissors is the best tool.

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Plants, Herbs & spices , ,

Plant Your Herb Garden

by ksenija November 11, 2011 No Comments

There are many different types of herbs which can be grown easily and are also very popular for gardens. They include herbs such as Basil, Parsley, Mint and Sage. Herbs are very beneficial plants as they provide us medicines, flavors for food and some fantastic fragrances.

Herbs don’t need to be grown in a garden of their own. You can tuck herb plants anywhere in your existing beds and borders. But there are times you’ll want to have certain herbs handy for harvesting or you’ll need a large space to plant the herbs you’ll need in large quantities. However you choose to plant your herbs, keep in mind that herbs can be rampant plants. Many spread by seed and by runners. The iconic four-square herb garden can be very high maintenance and a knot garden takes ongoing dedication.

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