Apple surprise!

Hello Friends,
Now that October is here it is no doubt Fall and with the Fall season we think about Apples. I think about my Apple i-phone and Apple i-pad all the time, but the fresh fruit is in season now, so my thoughts are on fresh Apples.

An Apple & Apple i-pad

The old saying,"An apple a day keeps the doctor away," always come to mind, but I had never thought about why until I looked into it. Here are a few benefits to apples:

Weight Loss
Diabetes Management
Helps lower Cholesterol
Alzheimer's Prevention
Asthma Help
Bone Protection

I love the smell of fresh apples, and even more the smell of apples baking in the oven. I started my creative herbal juices and came out with an unusual recipe that I made and shared with friends, that I have have nice comments on so I will share it with everyone here.

An Apple, Apple i-pad and Cinnamon Basil

The recipe I came up with uses Granny Smith Apples, Figs, Hibicus Flowers and Cinnamon Basil.

Apple Fig Tart

For the tart crust blend the following:

4 cups of unbleached whole wheat flour(I prefer King Arthur), 1/2 teaspoon salt, 2 tablespoons sugar, 2/3 cup softened unsalted butter, 4 teaspoons baking powder, 3/4 cups ice water.

Combine the flour, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl. Blend in the butter with large spoon or your hands until a dough consistency. Add the ice water and form the dough into a large ball. Divide into small balls and sprinkle some flour on your kitchen counter. Roll each small ball with a rolling pin to about 1/16 inch thick circles.

Set aside whole making the filling.

For the filling blend the following:

1 cup of figs, mashed, 1/2 stick of butter, 1 cup of sugar, 2 tablespoons brown sugar, 8 Granny Smith Apples, skinned and seeded, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, 2 tablespoons lemon juice, 1/4 teaspon nutmeg, 2 drops of almond extract, 1/4 cup of Hibiscus Flower Syrup. Melt the butter in a large saucepan, add the figs and half of the apples, diced. Add the other ingredients and simmer for about 15- 20 minutes.

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

For the Hibiscus Syrup

In a small saucepan, blend a cup of water, simmer, add 1/2 cup hibiscus flowers and 1 cup sugar. Continue to simmer until the sugar is dissolved and well blended. Use a strainer to strain out the hibicus flowers, and set aside in a bowl for the filling.

In eight small tart pans, lay the dough, and press down, with the pans well greased or buttered.

In a food processor, blend 1 cup fresh cinnamon basil leaves, rinsed and patted dry, with 1/2 cup of sugar. Then in a small saucepan use 1/2 stick of butter melted and add the basil sugar and simmer for a couple of minutes. Set aside.

Fill your tart pans with the apples that you have not used in the filling. Then add the filling on top. Now add another dough layer on top, and press around the edges. Using a pastry brush, brush the cinnamon basil butter blend on top of the top crust.

Lower the oven temperature to 375 degrees, and bake the tarts for about 45 minutes or until browned around the edges. Let cool for about 15 minutes, and take out of pans. Serve with a sprig of cinnamon basil. I hope everyone is off to a wonderful Fall. Herbs, Health and Happiness, Bill Varney

Apple Tart with Figs, Hibiscus Flower Syrup and Cinnamon Basil

Making a Basil Flower Wreath and a cup of Basil Tea

I love the clove scent of basil...          http://www.urbanherbal.com/herb_gardening/basil_7_07.html

Basil allows enlightenment to be absorbed by the physical mind-body, acting as a conduit, grounding at the same time as balancing subconscious thought and conscious reaction, It is then a fragrance of reality--the reality of physical existance and the reality of spiritual existence. It soars through all the realms, holding them together, allowing integration. --From The Fragrant Heavvens by Valerie Ann Worwood 
Valerie describes basil's scent as, warm, rich, fiery, sharp, peppery, aniseed-like.

To make a basil wreath: you will need, basil flowers, from the tops of the plant, florist wire, and some heavy wire to make your wreath base.
Simply cut little bundles of basil flowers, tie together with florist wire and start wiring to the base, continue around the base until you have come full circle. It will take 7 to 10 days to dry. It also makes a unique fragrant centerpiece on a table.

Basil is also a wonderful herb to use for tea. It is believed to relieve stomach cramps, constipation, and has a spicy, clove flavor. How to brew basil tea:
By infusion, use 1 teaspoon of dried basil leaves or 3 teaspoons of fresh leaves, brusied. Cover with a cup of boiling water, and let steep for about 5 minutes. You can flavor it with honey.

Chocolate Chip Cookies



Chocolate Chip Cookies just out of the oven

 Nothing beats a homemade chocolate chip cookie! Especially when they are just out of the oven with a glass of milk....
Here is my slant on the good tried & true recipe with a hint of cinnamon basil.

Recipe for Chocolate Chip Cookies with Cinnamon Basil

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened
1 cup of light brown sugar
4 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 large egg
1 tablespoon cinnamon basil, finely minced
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

                                                                                        1 3/4 cup unbleached white whole wheat flour
                                                                                        (I prefer King Arthur Flour)
                                                                                        1/2 teaspoon baking powder
                                                                                        1/2 teaspoon baking soda
                                                                                        1/2 teaspoon salt
                                                                                        1 1/2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chip cookies
                                                                                        1/2 cup pecans, chopped
                                                                                        2 teaspoons coffee (a few hours old )

Presheat your oven to 310 degrees F.
Place the butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar in a large mixing bowl. Beat on medium for about a minute. Then beat in the egg, vanilla, and cinnamon basil. In the bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder and soda, and mix for about 30 seconds. Then add the chocolate chips, pecans, and coffee and mix for about another 30 seconds.
Prepare a cookie sheet with shortening or I use a non stick spray (Vegalene). Using a scoop, measure about 2 tablespoons of the cookie dough small round dollops, and gently press down into small circles. Bake for about 20 minutes or until browned around the edges. Repeat until you have all the cookie dough used.

This recipe usually makes about 24 to 28 cookies.                        

Cookies & Milk

Cinnamon Basil in the garden