Herbal Cocktails

"Come quickly, I am tasting stars!"  - Dom Perignon

Any evening is a wonderful evening for champagne....

For a refreshing change of pace to a plain glass of champagne, pour a glass of champagne, then pour 1 tablespoon of Lemon Verbena Simple Syrup in the glass, stir and add a leaf of the herb.

Ahh....so... good, yet so simple!

Watch for more herbal cocktail recipes in future blogs.

To make the simple syrup:
Boil 1 cup of water with 1 cup of refined sugar and a handful of fresh bruised lemon verbena leaves. Cool. Refrigerate for future use or use at once.

Herbal Foot Care

"To see a World in a Grain of Sand
And a Heaven in a Wild Flower,
Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand
And Eternity in an hour." - William Blake

"Plants are magnificent. There is not a tree or a flower
That does not radiate beauty. Fragrance from plants,
Has been said to alert the gods to our presence, and act as a
sign that the human mind is focused and receptive to spiritual
guidance. In many cultures sweet-smelling aromas were and still
are associated with divinity - with gods, heavens, angels, and saints
all being attributed with having a delightful fragrance." quoted from
The Fragrant Heavens by Valerie Ann Worwood

If you work in a garden, in an office, retail store, a warehouse or
Are just going about day to day, your feet take a beating, and one of
the best ways to take care of yourself with by taking care of your feet.
Here is an easy  Herbal Foot Bath Recipe:
A small pan or tub that both of your feet can fit comfortably into.
2 Gallons of very warm water
A few good size sprigs of rosemary from the garden
6 drops of rosemary essential oil
6 drops of lavender essential oil
4 drops of junior essential oil
Marbles to roll your feet on in the water
A towel to dry your feet afterwards
Soak your feet for 10 to 15 minutes and towel dry.
Hot water foot baths have been for hndreds of years to treat feet problesms
as well as headaches, colds, abdomen problems, varicose veins, and exhaustion.
We make a wonderful Peppermeint Foot Lotion which we have sold over the years in fine stores around the U.S., and is great to use daily, but also right after drying your feet from the foot bath.Peppermint Foot Lotion

"I don't enjoy public performances and being up on stage. I don't enoy the glamour. Like tonight, I am up on stage and my feet hurt." - Barbara Steisand

Herbal Heat Relief with Lemon Verbena Fizz and Heat Exhaustion Bath

"Humanity will be saved through the flower." - Huvenol, Mayan elder quoting a Mayan prophecy
Today it is over 105 degrees in Fredericksburg, Texas, so all I can try to think about is heat relief!
http://shop.urbanherbal.com/

Here is a quick refreshing cocktail recipe and a cooling bath recipe. Enjoy and try to stay cool.

Lemon Verbena Heat Escape Fizz
club soda
lemon verbena syrup
lemon slice
fresh lemon verbena sprigs
orange flower water
In a small saucepan, combine 1 cup of water, 1 cup of sugar and a few lemon verbena sgrigs muddled with some of the sugar. Bring the mixture to a boil over moderately high heat, stirring to dissolve the sugar. About 3 to 5 minutes. Let cool, then transfer to the syrup to a jar and cover. Can refrigerate until ready to use. Will keep for about a month in the frig.
Fill a cocktail glass with ice, a sprig of lemon verbena, a slice of lemon, a tablespoon of orange flower water, 2 tablespoons of the lemon verbena simple syrup, club soda, about 3/4 of the glass and I like to add a shot of gin. Mix well. Now your ready to run a warm bath with a cool blend of essential oils to really cool you off!

Heat Exhaustion Bath Blend   

6 drops of lavender essential oil
6 drops of eucalyptus essentail oil
6 drops of peppermint essentail oil
Add the oil to your warm bath water and relax with your lemon verbena fizz! You can take a shower instead, by blending the oils with two cups of  warm water in a bowl and soaking a bath cloth in the mixture and using it  in the shower.

Making Butter Better with Herbs or Edible Flowers

Making Herb or Edible Flower Butters
www.urbanherbal.com/recipes
Butters are often an overlooked culinary touch; fresh herbs from the garden are unlimited in decadent flavor combinations, and can supply thousands of possible serving ideas! Since fat carries flavor better than any other medium, just a small pat of herb butter goes a long way toward enhancing not only bread, but also meat, fish, poultry, eggs, steam vegetables, and fresh pasta.
Herb butters can be made with little effort; most herbs are easily creamed into softened butter, while others may require a few minutes in the food processor. They freeze well, too, because the butterfat naturally coats and preserves the ingredients.
Start with unsalted butter to contraol the amount of salt in the finished spread and to retain a more delicate flavor.
As a general rule, use 1/2 cup roughly chopped fresh herbs to 1/2 cup softened unsalted butter. After blending the herbs and butter thouroughly, lay a piece of parchment paper, or plastic wrap on the counter, spread the butter to make a log and roll up. Place in the freezer or the refrigerator. Let the flavors sit for at least 3 hours for all the flavors to blend. You can then slice off a section to use and put the remainder back to refrigearate, for later use. Today I made an Edible Flowers Honey Butter. It is great on little toasts, biscuits, waffles, or to use in cake icing.

Edible Flowers Honey Butter
1/2 cup organic rose petals and assorted edible flowers (minced)
1/2 cup unsalted butter (softened)
1/3 cup honey
1 tablespoon natural rose flower water
Combine all of the above ingredients and mix well. Spread onto parchment paper or plastic wrap roll into a log and refrigerate

Here are a few other herb butter blends: Cilanto and toasted pine nuts, parsley, chives, chervil and tarragon, dill and lemon butter, rosemary olive butter. The combinations are endless.

Old Thyme Cook Cheese (Kock Kase) with rosemary, thyme & basil

I always love recipes that have been given to me! Having lived in a german town in Texas for over 25 years, I have collected lots of hand me down recipes, and of course I figure out how to mingle fresh herbs into the mix.

This recipe is so easy to do, you could easily make it for yourself or friends and family on the spur of the moment or make it ahead, put it in the frig and set it out to get to room temperature for use a few days later. Here it is:

Old Thyme Cook Cheese (Kock Kase)

1 pound cottage cheese (large or small curd)
1 teaspoon soda
3 tablespoons flour
3 tablespoons butter
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon fresh minced rosemary
1 tablespoon fresh minced basil
1 teaspoon fresh thyme

Mix all ingredients in a heavy saucepan, and place in a warm air tight area for one hour.

Cook over medium heat for about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat. Can be served at once, or cooled down and served later. Great with crackers or homemade bread.

Dog Care with Herbs

Take good care of man's best friend!

"I've seen a look in dog's eyes, a quickly vanishing look of amazed contempt, and I am convinced that basically dogs think that humans are nuts." - John Steinbeck

My little "Esparanza" Hope is a lot of fun. Roy has said that we covered all the bases, "She's black, chinese, and has a spanish name." She is also a star! She was featured with me as Mr. March in 2007 in a calender, Hunks and their Huggables." That was when I decided to come out with an herbal dog shampoo and conditioner. They both work really good, and use aloe vera, nettle, pine, burdock, chamomile, rosemary, ivy, arnica, ylang ylang, lavender, eucalyptus, and cedarwood.

Today I have decided to share a simple recipe to use between your dogs baths.

Rosemary Oil Flea Spray

Mix 1 teaspoon rosemary essentail oil, with 1 cup of water, in a small spary bottle. Shake well and spray on your dog and rub in their coat, to help repel fleas.

Here is a link on how to make herbal dog biscuits.

Hope you all have a great day, and enjoy your "hope."

Making Lavender Window Cleaner

Homemade Window Cleaner

This window cleaner is cheap to make and works great!

Ingedients:
16 ounces of water
1/2 cup of white or apple cider vinegar
1/4 cup (70 %) rubbing alcohol
2-4 drops of essential oil of lavender, or any other
essential oil that you would like to use. Suggestions would be orange oil, rosemary oil, lemon oil, or eucalyptus oil.

Blend the water, vinegar, and alcohol together in a spray bottle, add the essential oil, and your done. Ready to clean your windows!

Pickled Eggs with Fresh Herbs

I love these pickled eggs with rosemary and cinnamon basil. They are wonderful to serve as a snack with cocktails.

Herb Pickled Eggs

6 cinnamon basil sgrigs
6 rosemary sprigs
2 cans sliced beets
1 1/2 cups apple cider vinegar
1 cup of dark brown sugar
1 dozen hard boiled eggs peeled
1 medium red onion, sliced
2 tablespoons pickling spices

Drain the beets, and set beets aside. Pour beet juice into a large saucepan, and bring to a boil. Add the vinegar, and lower to a simmer. Then add the brown sugar, and stir until dissolved. Add the pickling spices.

Put the eggs, beets, and onion slices in a large wide-mouthed, heat proof glass jar or a few glass jars. Tuck rosemary and cinnamon basil sprigs to the jars. Layer the eggs, beats and onions, evenly. Pour the hot beet juice-vinegar mixture over the eggs, beets and onions. Make sure all ingedients are covered. Let cool. Cover the jar with a lid. Let stand in the refrigerator for 2 to 3 days before serving.  Enjoy with family and friends.

Making Hungary Toilet Water

Today was another very Hot day .... over 100 degrees again and no rain!!!
So I worked inside most of the day,other than to cut the fresh herbs from the garden for this
simple toilet water, that is great for men and women. It is also refreshing on your skin
when it is so hot!

Here my version of the recipe:

Queen of Hungary Toilet Water

Fresh Rosemary sprigs
Fresh Thyme Sprigs
Fresh Sage Sprigs
Fresh Lavender Sprigs
1/4 cup rose flower water
1/4 cup everclear(95% alcohol)
1/4 cup witch hazel
1/2 cup distilled water
A few drops of essentail oil of the following: rosemary, thyme, lavender, mint and lemon

Mix all of the liquid ingredients together in a large container. Gather a few bottles or one large bottle, put the sprigs of the herbs in the bottle and pour the mixture over the sprigs in the bottles. Shake daily and store in a cool place for at least a week.
Use as a skin toner on the face and body.
Use as a cologne.
It is said that The Queen of Hungary took years off of her life by using this toilet water.

Enjoy!   

Ginger Zingiber officinale

Ginger is a native to the moist tropical forests of southeast Asia.
It grows as a potted plant here in Fredericksburg, because of our cold winters.
The portion used is the fat, knobby rhizome, a type of underground
stem. It is generally called ginger root, which is technically a misnomer.

Grated ginger baths can help ease pain and increase circulation. Just drop a few granules
of grated ginger in your tub of hot water. Don't use too much, as it can quickly bring your
blood to the surface. For pain, you can also soak cloths in ginger tea and apply them directly to the area of pain.It also sweetens the breath. It helps with loss of appetite and indigestion. It also helps with nausea, and  relieves backache and headache.
In cooking, I love to use it in Asian dishes, meats, fish and rice. and of course cookies and bread!

Ginger also is great in a footbath and is a stimulant and an aphrodisiac.

I will post ginger recipes later..... Ginger Pear Tart and a refreshing Ginger Drink!

Herbal First Aid

It's the natural way.....
Using herbs for your face, body, food, and home is simple, natural and inexpensive.
http://www.urbanherbal.com/herb_tips/index.html

Herbal First Aid

Reach for a remedy from your garden when outdoor activities result in bites, burns, bumps, or blisters. Many herbs, use fresh or in simple preparations, offer time-tested treatments for minor skin maladies.

Heat rash: Use sage, lavender, and lemon balm in a bath. After drying off use a dusting powder made with cornstarch.
Wasp or Bee sting or mosquito bite: Remove the stinger. Apply lavender essential oil.
Sunburn: Apply aloe vera (the gel in the leaves). Use lavender and mint oil in a bath.
Minor cut: Apply clean, fresh crushed plantain, mullein, or comfrey leaf.
Scrapes: Apply a mullein, or yarrow poultice or rose geranium essential oil. Use thyme, calendula and rosemary in a bath.

When treatment is needed, first use clean, cool water and a little soap to clean the affected area; apply ice to reduce swelling.

Seek medical advice for serious injuries or if you have allergic reactions.

Herb blend for vegetables

For a homemade blend from the garden:

Cut fresh mint and sage from your garden, dry them in the oven at 225 with the door ajar for 15 to 20 minutes on a cookie sheet, mince, put them in a mortar and crush fine, along with celery seed and white pepper corn. Makes a great blend to season veggies .

2 tablespoons dried minced sage
2 tablespoons dried minced mint
1/2 teaspoon celery seed
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper.http://www.urbanherbal.com/recipes/index.htm

Garden Thoughts

On this very hot August day I wanted to share some garden thoughts:

TIME OUT

“The garden is a place of many sacraments, an arena – at once as common as any room and as special as a church – where we can go not just to witness but to enact in a ritual way our abiding ties to the natural world.”

-Michael Pollan, The Botany of Desire

BLOSSOMS TO BEAT THE BLAAHS

Spring and summer, they’re not the only seasons for blooms.  Unlike the tentative pastel petals of early summer, herbs grown in autumn burst with provocative blossoms.  A bouquet of flowers saturated with months of full sun can cheer more than just your room.  Rutgers University professor of psychology Jeannette Haviland-Jones says, “the presence of flowers triggers happy emotions and heightens feelings of satisfaction.”

Snip buds from your garden, make a run for the local nursery or florist; it’s easy to tap into the power of flowers.  Mix a mass to lift your spirits, place a bunch on you’re your desk for a spark of inspiration, or hide a sprig under your pillow.  It will either a)dispel melancholy or b)prevent nightmares –maybe both! 

Strawberry - Chocolate Cinnamon Basil Cobbler

Cinnamon Basil and Strawberries

Lemon Dill Savory Salts

As my abundance of basil continues, I have been drying various basils, and using them in everything! From savory herb salts  to pestos to desserts.

 I made this dessert for tonight and thought I would share the recipe:

Strawberry - Chocolate Cinnamon Basil Cobbler

1/2 cup unsalted butter

1/3 cup Valrhona unsweetened cocoa                             
1 cup sugar
2 cups pastry flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons cinnamon basil, finely minced
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 cup of milk
1 pint of strawberries

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Place the butter, cocoa, and 1/4 cup of the sugar in a 3 quart glass baking dish. Place in the oven for 3-5 minutes to melt the butter. Remove from the oven and stir until well blended.

Meanwhile, in a medum bowl, combine the flour, cinnamon basil, ground cinnamon, baking powder, and the remaining 3/4 cup sugar. Add the milk and stir until the mixture is smooth. Spoon onto the melted butter cocoa mixture, but do not stir.

Sprinkle with the strawberries. Bake for 45 to 55 minutes, or until a wooden toothpick comes out clean.

Let stand for 15 to 20 minutes before serving.

It tastes great served with a dopple of Whipped Cream made with minced Cinnamon Basil.

Rosemary for Remembrance

I love rosemary, whenever I brush up againist it's leaves the piney sent makes me feel good! So today in weeding in the garden I decided to write about rosemary and provide a great easy and popular way I have used this wonderful herb.

ROSEMARY

Rosmarinus officinalis

_____________________

“Grow young along with me! The best is yet to be. The last of life, for which the first was made.”  -Browning

Robert Browning musing on the herb Rosemary? We suggest that the gloomiest, darkest days in winter are the best time to appreciate an herb that according to one herbal, “will keepe thee youngly.” Glorious rosemary! It looks likes a diminutive woody tree with pine-needle-like leaves, dark green above and white beneath.  The leaves taste pine fresh, with a hint of pepper that leaves a warm feeling within.  In the axils of the leaves pink, blue, or white flowers bloom – similar to tiny orchids.

Rosemary is a semihardy, woody perennial, low shrub and is used for culinary, medicinal and crafts as well as ornamentally. The generic and common names are derived from the Latin ros-marinus, ‘dew of the sea’, in reference to its favorite habitat near salty sea spray. Its specific name refers to its inclusion in the early pharmacopoeias because of its medicinal properties. It grows from 2 to 6 feet high and up to six feet wide. It will grow well in full sun to partial shade and will take almost any soil as long as it is well drained. Indoors, big pots of rosemary reach for filtered southern sun, a six hour sustenance. They prosper in a cool (45 to 55 degree) spot.

Rosemary is an herb of strong, diverse symbols. It has been considered the emblem of loyalty, friendship and remembrance. Where basil symbolized the quickening of love, rosemary was a token of its long-lasting qualities. Bridesmaids wove rosemary into the bridal wreath they presented to the bridegroom on the wedding day. It was also placed under nuptial mattresses to encourage faithfulness and discourage insects and mildew. 

According to custom, rosemary twined in your hair stimulated the memory or helped prevent baldness, depending upon your need.  Also connoting friendship, no more cherished party favor could be offered than a gilded rosemary twig.

Rosemary flourished through medieval and Renaissance periods.  Every garden seemed to have a single bush or several, often pruned in fanciful or symmetrical shapes.  The essential oil or the leaves and flowers were used as a bath freshener and mouthwash, in liniments  and as a moth repellent.

Rosemary has been grown in gardens for so long that natural hybrids  have occurred, resulting in forms suitable  for many landscape situations.  Rosmarinus officinalis has an upright, shrublike growth habit, reaching 3 to 6 feet high and as wide. Plants blend well with many gray- foliaged plants found in the herb garden.

R. officinalis ‘Prostratus’ is the ground-hugging form, more commonly grown in mild winter regions of the West.  It performs well as a cascading ground cover draped over a wall, on slopes or in the foreground of a flowerbed. The gray-green leaves create a dense, 2-foot-high plant that can spread 4 to 6 feet in diameter. 

ROSEMARY  KNOW-HOW

Use two teaspoons of minced fresh leaf in a recipe to serve four.

If you only have dried rosemary, use a teaspoon in a recipe to serve four.(Dried leaves are tough little spikes! Finely mince for comfortable chewing.)

Tie a couple of sprigs of rosemary together with some string or raffia to make an herbal whisk.  Send it along with a thank-you note for a recent dinner party because “Rosemary is for remembrance.”

Add one tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary to a favorite corn muffin or biscuit recipe.

Try a small amount of finely chopped rosemary in your cake mix, for an unusual taste.  We make a wonderful cake with rum, orange-rind and rosemary.

Add a few drops of essential oil of rosemary to your own home-made hair tonic of ½ teaspoon sesame oil.  Dip your fingers into the mixture and burrow your fingers into your hair and scalp massaging  while deeply breathing to help cure a common headache.

Try growing a rosemary plant to help improve your life and those around you.

Urbanherbal’s

Rosemary Orange Rum Cake

1  2 layer package yellow cake mix

1 small package vanilla instant pudding mix

1 tablespoon finely minced fresh rosemary

Grated zest of one orange

½ cup water

½ cup canola oil

½ cup light rum

4 extra large eggs

1 cup of toasted chopped pecans

Glorious Glaze

            Combine cake mix, pudding mix, rosemary, and orange zest in a food processor or blender. Process until well mixed. Add water, oil, and rum; mix well. Add eggs one at a time; mix well after each addition. Blend in pecans. Pour into Bundt pan sprayed with nonstick baking spray. Bake at 325 degrees for one hour or until wooden toothpick comes out clean. Pour Glorious Glaze over cake in pan. Allow glaze to soak in completely before removing cake from pan. Invert cake so that glazed top is facing up. Garnish with long rosemary sprigs.

Glorious Glaze

½ cup unsalted butter

1 cup of sugar

¼ cup water

¼ cup rum

½ tablespoon finely minced rosemary

Bring butter, sugar, water and rum to a boil in a saucepan. Boil until the mixture reaches soft-ball stage 

or 235 degrees on a candy thermometer. Yields enough glaze for one cake.

From Along The Garden Path by Bill & Sylvia Varney  

Good Thyme Sangria

It is getting close to Happy Hour and it is Friday afternoon. Here is a quick easy recipe for Sangria, cool and refreshing on a hot summer evening! At least we had a little rain  this morning and it has been cloudy all day, but still hot. We need a lot of rain and cooler weather.
CHEERS!

URBANherbal’s

Good Thyme Sangria Recipe

This is super simple and always a HUGE Hit whenever I serve it!

1 can frozen lemonade concentrate

1 can  frozen limeade concentrate

1 can frozen orange juice concentrate

4  cans Sprite or 7Up

1 bottle of red wine

Rose’s Grenadine to taste (1/2 cup)

1 lemon sliced

1 orange sliced

6 sprigs of thyme

6 sprigs of lemon balm

In a large pitcher add all of the ingredients and stir. Serve in ice filled glasses with an accent sprig of orange and thyme sprig.

The Art of Designing an Herb Garden

HERB What’s in a name we cherish? The plants we call “herbs” comes from the Latin word, herba, meaning “green crops.”

As gardeners, we have come to a different understanding of which plants are herbs based on our changing relationship with nature. Today, herb has an expanded definition that includes plants , generally aromatic or fragrant, whose parts, whether leaf, flower, seed or root, are useful to mankind for food, flavoring, medicine, household and cosmetics. Whew! By contrast, spices, with their many uses for flavoring and fragrance, primarily are harvested from the bark, root seed berry or pod of vines, shrubs, or trees grown mostly in tropical climates.

Planning Your Herb Garden

Transforming an empty or overgrown spot into an herb garden can be one of life’s most gratifying experiences. Time spent outdoors in your garden relaxes mind, body and spirit. However, facing a raw, undeveloped, what-did-I-get-myself-into site can be intimidating. Visions of a private herbal getaway do come true, but not before you make lots of choices and accept responsibility for a fair amount of planning, digging and planting.

1. The best way to get your herb garden off to a good start is to plan it out on paper. Measure the area, and scale it down to transfer it to graph paper (each square to equal one foot). Do start small, increase the size of your garden later.

2. Mark in the positions of your herb beds and borders with their dimensions. Locate the short, compact herbs in the front of your herb beds; the taller ones behind them. Be sure to determine their final size; you will avoid overcrowding come time to planting.

3. It’s best to make beds four feet wide if you can reach across it from both sides, three feet wide if you have access from one side only. Make it as long or short as your space permits.

4. Select your plants according to your needs (culinary, craft, cosmetic, medicinal, landscape, etc.), and dictates of the soil and site. Also consider whether they are evergreen, perennial, annual, flowering, non-flowering, as well as their different textures and colors.

5. Repeat herb varieties for symmetrical patterns, or plant to create a wild look. Remember, the more formal a garden, the more pruning and maintenance is required.

6. Assess your soil. Is it well drained (sandy, gravelly, chalky)? Does it hold water and feel sticky when wet, cracking badly when dry? Is it dark colored, spongy when wet and dusty when dry. Most herbs like a fertile, well-drained, sandy soil.

7. Assess your location. Which parts are sunny or shady? Does the area get wind, if it does, is it primarily from the north, south, east, or west? Is it likely to retain frost in the winter? Is it sheltered by walls, fences or shrubs? How much rain does it get? Select heartier herbs (rosemary, thymes, sages, mints, and parsley) for more vulnerable spots.

8. Decide on the number of plants your garden will require and purchase accordingly.


“He who sees things from the beginning will have the best view of them” -Aristotle

HERBS TO MATCH YOUR SOIL TYPE

Sandy Soil-
Borage, Chamomile, Coriander, Fennel, Lavender, Tarragon, Thyme, Marjoram and Winter Savory

Clay Soil-
Bee Balm, Comfrey, Mints, and Wormwood
Working compost into clay soil makes it more hospitable to herbs that prefer Loam and Moist soils.

Moist Loam Soil-
Bee Balm, French Sorrel, Lady’s Mantle, Lemon Balm, Mint, Parsley and Valerian

Loam Soil-
Basil, Bay, Caraway, Catnip, Chervil, Chives, Coriander, Dill, Fennel, Lady’s Mantle, Lovage, Rosemary, Rue, Sage and Thyme

COMPANION PLANTING

Even in the most ancient of times, gardeners have claimed that many herbs are of great benefit when planted next to certain vegetables and herbs. On the other hand some herbs are believed to hinder growth. Put into practice, the idea of companion planting may help in the garden by encouraging healthy growth, increasing flavor and fragrance, as well as repelling some pests and diseases. Listed below are, according to folklore, some helpful plantings, and some you may wish to avoid.

Plants that help each other

Anise-Coriander, Basil-Vegatables-Esp. Tomatoes, Chervil-Radishes, Borage-Strawberries, Chamomile-“Plants Physician”-Garden Health, Caraway-Peas, Chives-(Natural Pest Repellant)-Leek-Carrots, Chives-Apple Trees, Dill-Cabbage-Corn-Lettuce-Cucumber, Garlic-Chives- Pest Repellant for Roses, Horseradish-Potatoes-Fruit Trees, Hyssop-Grapes, Lavender-Thyme-Vegetables, Lovage-Potatoes-Root Vegetables, Mint-Rosemary-Sage, Nasturtium-Apples, Parsley-Tomatoes-Roses, Rosemary-Sage-Carrots, Sage-Cabbage, Salad Burnet-Thyme-Mint, Savory(Summer)-Onions, (Winter&Summer Savory)-Beans, Sorrel-Oregano, Southernwood-Cabbage, Thyme- Natural Pest Repellant, Yarrow- Increases fragrance of most herbs.

Plants that Supress each other

Basil-Rue, Chamomile-Peppermint, Caraway-Fennel, Coriander-Beans and Tomatoes, Dill-Carrots, Fennel-Beans and Tomatoes, Garlic-Chives-Leeks-Shallots-Inhibit Beans and Peas, Hyssop-Carrots-Radishes, Wormwood-Plant off in a corner


If you would be happy for a week, take a wife;
If you would be happy for a month, kill your pig;
But if you would be happy all your life, plant a garden.
---Chinese Proverb

Circulation for your Hands & Feet

After a busy day of working, whether in your garden, kitchen, office or just a very hectic day, I hope this might give you some relaxation  and relief.

For many people bad circulation can be a problem, especially in your hands and feet. Your ankles and feet can swell for many reasons. including arthritis, rheumatism, varicose veins, high blood pressure, fluid retention and even constipation. Resting your feet up  is always an effective measure.

To help treat your feet and hands here is a very simple recipe:
Circulation Oil Blend
6 tablespoons sweet almond oil
2 tablespoons safflower oil
40 drops of geranium oil
20 drops of lavender oil
Blend the oils together and put in a small clean glass bottle. Rub a little of the blend on yourself from your hands to your elbows ad from your feet to your ankles.

Geranium (Pelargonium graveoloens)
The oil is distilled from the leaves of this herb (known as "rose geranium) and smells like a combination of  rose, citrus and herb. A light adrenal-gland stimulant and hormonal noramlizer, geranium treats PMS, fluid retention, sterility, and helps to regulate blood pressure. It is a versatile skin treatment  and reduces inflamation, infection, and can heal passive - agressive nature.
Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)
Distilled from the herb's flower buds, this sweetly floral aroma is also herbal, with balsamic undertones. Lavender treats lung, sinus, muscle pain, headaches, insect bites, inflammation. It also helps boost the immune system,  relieve exhaustion, and insomnia.

Basil Good Food & Great Mood

BASIL


The sun loving basil has been cultivated for at least 4,000 years and through the ages it has had a somewhat contradictory reputation. As John Gerard wrote in 1597, " The smell of basil is good for the heart and the head, that the seed cureth the infirmities of the heart, taketh away sorrowfulnesse which cometh of melancholy...maketh a man merry and glad."
It was named by the early Greeks. perhaps, even Aristotle. Basileus is the Greek word for "king," and basil came to Greece from India, where it was considered "the king of herbs."  Even though India is considered basil's native country, some small leafed varieties can be found in South America, Mexico, The Caribbean Islands, and in Haiti. By the mid 16th century it had reached Europe and was used as a strewing herb and as a medicine.
I love all varieties of basil and with our driest, hottest summer I have ever experienced in the Texas Hill Country, it is doing very well. The varieties I have growing this year in abundance are Sweet Basil, Holy Basil, Lemon Basil, Cinnamon Basil, Licorice Basil , Purple Ruffles Basil and "Poppy Joe's Basil.
It's aroma and oils can help relieve headaches, sinus congestion, nausea, indigestion, sore muscles, and a broad range of other healing properties for our crazy lives.
In India, it is used in aromatherapy, as they say when it's leaves are rubbed to release the uplifting aroma, people are given sattva or enlightenment and harmony!
The essential oil of basil is tremendous for helping one concentrate and think straight. It reduces stress and rattled nerves, while increasing confidence and positive thoughts.
It does well grown in the ground or in pots. It is very sensitive to cold, so it is almost always the first to die when cold frosts first come. Not a worry with our 100 degree temperatures now.
It is impossible to grow basil and not think of cooking with it. It is one of the cooks and gardeners favorite herbs. The scent of basil is a cross between mint, cloves and thyme. It is a great addition to salads, pastas, soups, chicken, fish, beef, scallops, even desserts.

The EROTIC HERB

Here is one of my favorite recipe's for using Cinnamon Basil from our book Herbs, Growing and Using The Plants of Romance Ironwood Press

Chile Peach Pesto

2 cups fresh Cinnamon Basil

4 cloves Garlic, minced

1/4 cup minced sun dried peaches

1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

2 teaspoons freshly minced rosemary

1/2 teaspoon crushed red chile pepper

3/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

1/4 cup chopped pecans, toasted

In a food processor, grind the basil, peaches, garlic, cheese, rosemary and chile. While machine is running, slowly add the oil. Add the pecans and pulse briefly. It is great to serve as a snack with crackers, or stuff under the skin of chicken breasts. or in a cheese torta.
Watch the blog for more basil ideas along with what is going on in our garden and shop!

Making your own Herb Vinegars

Vinegar Lesson

Vinegars have a reputation of being sour, cider-tasting plastic bottled liquids, to be sparingly sprinkled on salads as an after thought for the diet-conscious.

The first vinegar may well have been an accident-perhaps someone left the wine out in the hot sun. It "turned" and became vinegar. "Vinegar" comes from a medieval French term, "vinaigre," or sour wine. The first herb vinegar, too, may have been a mistake - a cook throwing a handful of herbs to cover up some wine - gone - sour, forgetfully putting it aside.

Since that time, herb vinegars have been put to culinary, medicinal, and even cosmetic use. Wine vinegars are made from all types of wine from many different countries. Balsamic vinegar is considered to be the ulimate. Made in Modena, Italy, since the sixteenth century, balsamic vinegar was said to be so valued that it was often included in a bride's dowry or in a family inheritance. Dark, rich, sweet and pungent, balsamic vinegar is the fermented juice of Trebbiano grapes. As with old Cognac, wooden vats of oak, walnut, or cherry store the vinegar until maturity -- traditionally ten years.

Making Your Own Herb Vinegars

Homemade vinegars make great gifts and are beautiful displayed in your own kitchen, as well. If made correctly, these vinegars will last for years. Give it a try!
Consider using any of the following herbs in your vinegars:
basils - lemon, cinnamon, sweet, lettuce leaf, purple ruffled, Italian; bay leaves, chervil, chives, cilantro, dill, fennel, French tarragon, garlic, lemon balm, lemongrass, lemon verbena, lovage marjoram, Mexican mint marigold, mints, oregano, parsley, rosemary, sage, savory, scented geraniums, thymes.
It is best to harvest in the morning when the herbs are freshest and have the most flavor. Clean them, making sure no bugs are hiding within.
Fill a clean, sterilized glass bottle with fresh herbs or a combination of herbs and spices or fruit.
I suggest using 2/3 white vinegar to 1/3 white or red wine or champagne to make your vinegar more mellow.; this takes the bite or sharpness out. Pour the vinegar/wine mixture over the herbs, into the bottle. Bruise the herbs slightly with a wooden spoon of skewer. Put the top on the bottle and store in a cool, dark place at room temperature. Stir the mixture about five days later with a wooden spoon or skewer, or shake the vinegar in the bottle. This allows the flavors to be released. Your vinegars will be ready in 3 to 6 weeks, depending on how strong you the flavor.
Here are a few combinations you can use to make an unusual bottle of herb vinegar. Be creative and have fun!

Purple Basil with Blueberry Vinegar

2-3 sprigs of purple basil
2-3 tablespoons of fresh blueberries
Follow the basic directions given above.

Peaches & Herbs Vinegar

1 peach thinly sliced and with skin removed
2-3 sprigs of cinnamon basil
1 cinnamon stick
Follow the basic directions given above

Edible Flowers Herb Vinegar

1-2 sprigs of rosemary
a few organically grown edible flowers
Follow the basic directions given above.

Basic Herb Vinegar

2-3 sprigs of sweet basil
1 fresh bay leaf
1 sprig of oregano
1 teaspoon mixed peppercorns
Follow the baic directions given above.

Here are a few tips for using herbal vinegars:

1. Add 1-2 tablespoons of herb vinegar to sauces and gravy.
2. After sauteing meat, pour a few tablespoons of herb vinegar with the browned particles in the pan to make a savory sauce.
3. Add a tablespoon of a peach or blueberry vinegar to a cake mix batter to bring a bold flavor note.
4. Add 2-3 tablespoons of herb vinegar to a soup or stew.

5. Add 1/3 cup edible flowers vinegar to 1/3 cup of honey, 1 cup canola oil, 1/2 teasoon paprika, 1/2 teaspoon paprika, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1 1/2 teaspoon lemon basil, finely minced. Puree in a blender and refrigerate for one hour before using for a great salad dressing.

Herbal Spray

In this hot summer weather, cool down your personal space with a homemade Room Spray.

In lieu of commercial sprays, or "arosol deodorizers", use more ecologically pleasing pump sprays.

Here is a simple recipe:

1. Fill an 8oz. spray bottle (which you can purchase at almost any store) with 6 oz of distiller water.

2. Take 2 oz. of alcohol (use vodka or ever clear) and mix with 18 to 20 drops of essential oil. 

3. Choose lavender, or eucalyptus, or mint or lemon verbena or whatever you are in the mood for. Shake well, and blend in with the water in the spray bottle.

Spraying the room freshened spray in the room actually helps lower the room temperature and puts you in a good mood with the scent.

Enjoy!

Fresh Rosemary Wreath

To take advantage of an abundance of rosemary in your garden during the hot months, make this simple wreath.

Materials:
3 feet of garden wire
Wire cutters
Medium gage florists wire
12 long stems of fresh rosemary

This wreath is delightful, fragrant and extremely easy to make.
You can use similar herbs to make other herb wreaths.

1. Make a hook at each end of the garden wire. Bend the wire into a circle, and join the ends together and wire closed.
2. Start at the top of the wreath, use florist's wire to attach a stem of rosemary to one side so that it's leafy top points into the middle. Repeat on the other side. Wire stems of rosemary down both sides. Add extra pieces until the wreath is completely covered with the thickness you desire.

Pesto Vegetable Soup

With a huge crop of basil in our garden, we have been adding basil to salads, chicken, making pesto, and then did pesto soup. Enjoy this recipe and we would love your comments!

6 Cups of chicken broth
2 New potatoes, precooked and diced
1 Medium onion, diced
4 Mushrooms, diced
1/2 Bell pepper, diced
2 Stalks of celery, sliced
1 Jalapeno, seeded and diced
1 Cup of sweet basil or spinach pesto (See our website for the recipe.)
1/4 Cup brandy
Salt and pepper to taste
1. Bring the chicken broth to a boil.
2. Add the fresh vegetables and cook for 10 minutes.
3. Add the pesto and brandy and simmer for 35 to 45 minutes.
4. Serve alone or with a side salad ad bread.