Gift Giving with Herbs & Your Garden's Harvest Merry Christmas!

There is nothing comparable to receiving a gift that is handmade from the giver!

Sandy Bates making candles

In our very busy hectic, fast paced lives, it is so special when someone decides to take the time to make gifts to give to family and friends for Christmas.

I was amazed last weekend, when my gardening and herb friend, Sandy Bates decided to do just that. She brought a harvest from her own gardens in Austin, and we got to work!

Sandy reminds me of the song, "Love is all around" because she is an amazing successful business woman, gardens, cooks, has a family and has just authored, are you ready for this....... The Social Innovation Imperative, published by McGraw Hill. The kindle edition comes out this month and is available on amazon and the hardcover copy comes out January 2012. http://www.amazon.com/Social-Innovation-Imperative-Products-Challenges/dp/0071754997

In the song, if you are older and remember it goes this way:
Who can turn the world on with her smile?
Who can take a nothing day, and suddenly make it all seem worthwhile?
Well it's you girl, and you should know it....http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkuEfGZffRY&noredirect=1
Over the afternoon, Sandy made candles, potpourri, scented pinecone fireplace starters, and herb vinegars!

Sandy Bates

Over the years Sandy has worked with over 50 companies spanning dozens of industries and more than 100 innovation initiatives, helping executive teams launch award winning products, services and programs. She has engaged and trained hundreds of executives in Outcome-Driven Innovation Methodology, allowing her to enjoy both consulting and teaching others.
I hope that all of you can see by now why I am so impressed that this very busy woman took "the time" to handmake her Christmas gifts with a harvest from her own gardens in Austin.

"The only gift is a portion of thyself." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

For recipes to make your own herb vinegars go to our blog from August 7, 2011
http://bloomtoscoop.blogspot.com/2011/08/making-your-own-herb-vinegars.html


Sandy making herb vinegars



Sandy making scented pinecone fireplace starters

  














For other homemade recipe ideas go to http://www.urbanherbal.com/recipes/index.htm

                                                       "God waits to win back his own flowers as gifts from man's hand." - Rabindranath Tagore, Stray Birds, 1916

Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas!
Blessings,
Roy & Bill Varney

Bill in the garden during winter

Ribollita Soup

http://www.urbanherbal.com/Ribollita Soup, as Luca told me to say it Ree BO Letta

Fresh Herbs of Bay, Rosemary, Sage and Garlic

Hi Family and Friends!

Wow what a roller coaster week....just last Saturday was my birthday. then Sunday was a Memorial for my brother, Michael. Monday was a good day I made the Ribollita Soup, and took a pot of it up to my parents house for their dinner the next night. Mom was upset because she has just gotten off the phone with my Uncle that my Aunt had a massive stroke. The next day I picked up my parents early and we went to be with my Uncle and Aunt and family at the hospital in Austin. She passed away later in the day and we spent the evening with family in Georgetown. Friday was the Funeral for Aunt Barbara....A beautiful day for an outdoor ceremony. During the day I talked with Aunt Barbara's son-in-law and ask him how to pronounce the soup I had made on Monday night (he is from Italy) and he said, "Ree BoLetta"!!! It is a great soup. Our week became more diiicult as I was driving my parents home Friday night and my Dad became very ill and ended up being taken by EMS from the car on the highway to the hospital! Late Friday night I finally got Mom to their house and had to go back to the hospital... I left the hospital Saturday at a liitle after 4 A.M. They transferred Dad to San Antonio where he is being given great care. In the 12th year of Parkinson's Disease is not easy, for him or family. Prayers are needed, a week of lots of tears, but I know God does not give us more than we can handle. It is hard to comprehend what life is all about sometimes.

Here is the recipe for the Ribollita soup, I was so excited to to learn how to pronounce it on Friday!

A Tuscan, Italian Soup called Ribolitta (which means reboiled cabbage soup)

Ingredients:
4 cloves of garlic, minced
5 sage leaves, minced
3 bay leaves
1 sprig of rosemary, minced
1 onion, peeled and chopped
2 carrots, peeled and chopped
3 stalks of celery, chopped
1/2 head of cabbage, coarsley chopped
1 bunch of swiss chard, chopped
2 potatoes, peeled and chopped
1 bunch of kale, chopped
1/2 cup olive oil
2 cups of dry cannellini beans ( you can use great northern beans )
4 cups of water
32 ounces of chicken broth (plus I cooked in 2 chicken breasts minced )
a pinch of salt
14.5 ounce can of diced tomatoes
fresh ground black pepper to taste
10 - 15 slices of toasted Italian bread, cut up
1 cup of fresh grated Parmesan Cheese
 Olive oil to drizzle

Preparation:
1. Rinse the beans and put them in a large pot with the water. Bring to a boil and cook for 10 minutes. Turn off the heat and let stand for 1 hour.Then drain the water off. Set the beans aside.
2. Put the chicken broth and minced chicken, garlic, sage, garlic, bay leaves and salt in a large pot. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer for about an hour. Cool.
3. Heat the olive oil in a skillet and add the onions, cook until transparent. Combine the carrots, potatoes, cabbage, chard, and kale. Add the rosemary. Then add the tomatoes. Cook for until all the greens have wilted.
4. Then add the beans and the onion mixture in the large pot,  and cook for about 45 minutes. Add a little more salt and pepper to taste. Add the toasted bread slices and cook for about 15 minutes.. Cool and refrigerate. It tastes better is you can refrigerate for at least 2 to 3 hours or overnight.
5. Reheat the soup for 25 minutes. Serve in bowls with the grated Parmesan Cheese  and drizzled olive oil on top.

It tastes with a glass of Italian Chianti....

Ribollita Soup

Thanks be to God!
Enjoy this soup with family and friends.

Bill Varney

The Garden of Herbs (see a few spooky tips...) hahaha

Hello and Happy Halloween from our herb garden and herb shop!

"Only a witch can grow parsley" - Finnish Saying

Does this sound like witchcraft?

A few great herbs to grow in the Fall in the South are Parsley Parsley, Petroselinum sativum

Rosemary...a different use!

and Rosemary Rosemary, Rosmarinus officinalis    

PARSLEY & ROSEMARY ALL WINTER!

Autumn is the best season in which to sniff, and to sniff for pleasure, for this is the season of universal pungency. Pumkins, Apples, pies, pickling, fruits, and of course lots of herbs!




Test your herbal knowledge?
For thousands of years, herbalists have been extracting the essences of various herbs for medicinal, culinary, and other uses. WHat do you call the process that involves soaking or fermenting the herb in alcohol?
a. an infusion
b. a decoction
c. an extract
d. a distillation

The answer....go to URBANherbal's facebook page to see the answer Urban Herbal Facebook

Well, gardening is always a tough choice...I was discouraged again this weekend, when I was in the garden early yesterday morning to find out that we had a hard enough freeze to destroy most of by basils and hoja santos and other tenders about 2-3 weeks ahead of our normal first freeze.

Wishing everyone a great day.
Herbs, Health and Happiness,
Bill

Flowerpot Bread

Baking Bread in Clay Flowerpots
For me it is not enough enjoy to gardening outside with clay pots, I like to use them inside for cooking and decorating. I hope you enjoy baking in clay flowerpots too. Please let me know your thoughts.


Flowerpot Bread in the oven

 Why bake bread in a flowerpot? The baked clay that flowerpots are made of is a perfect mold for bread, ensuring a crust that metal pans never quite achieve. But you must season the pots so that the dough won't stick to them.

Treating the Flowerpots: Use very clean flowerpot and generously rub the insides all over with vegetable oil. Place the pots in a 450 degree F. oven and let them bake for one hour(do this, if possible, alongside something else that may be baking, so as not to waste fuel).

After this treatment the pots need simply to be washed in warm water after you've baked in them. (Avoid soap:it can absorb into the porous clay, leaving a soapy residue.) If you notice any sticking, repeat the treatment.

Recipe for Flowerpot Bread:

1 1/2 packages of dry active yeast
2 cups warm water(105 to 115 degrees)
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 tablespoon sugar
6 to 7 cups all purpose flour(I like to use King Arthur Flour)
1 cup of finely minced fresh herbs(I used a melange of these rosemary, thyme, basil, mexican mint marigold, chives, flat leafed Italian parsley), I also did another batch of edible flowers bread that I used the following (johnny-jump-up petals, snapdragons, rose petals, mexican mint marigold flowers and lavender, as well as the zest of 1 lemon)

In a large bowl, dissolve the yeast in the warm water and add the salt and the sugar. Stir thoroughly. Set aside for 10 to 20 minutes until foamy.

Using a wooden spoon stir in the flour, one cup at a time, and add the finely minced herbs or edible flowers combination with the lemon zest, until a smooth dough forms. Flour a board or your counter and turn out the dough and let it rest a few minutes. Now knead until the dough is elastic. Place the dough in an oiled bowl, and cover with a towel and let set in a warm draft free place for about an hour and thirty minutes.

Turn the dough onto the floured board or counter, punch it down and knead it again. Divide the dough into how many clay flower pots you have. (The recipe makes to regular size loaves) So it depends on the size of your pots.

Place each piece of dough into each oiled clay pot, making sure not to put dough more than halfway up, as it will rise. Clay pots dough expand more readily, so if they are more than half full, the bread with mushroom over the top so much that it will fall over to one side.Let the dough rise another 5 to 10 minutes.

Place a pan of boiling water in the bottom of  a cold oven, turn the oven on to 400 degrees and bake the flowerpot bread for about 30 to 40 minutes, until browned. Place on a rack to cool.  The bread will just slide out of the flowerpots.

The flowerpots make a great presentaion to gardening friends, or cooks or just for fun.


Flowerpot Herb Bread Cooling



Edible Flowers for Flowerpot Bread

                                         


Fresh Herbs For Bread

Hope you have a glorious day, gardening, baking and having a glass of wine.

Bill Varney

"A loaf a bread, a jug of wine, and thou." Omar Khayyam

Edible Flowers

With the beautiful Fall weather, everything is starting to grow again! Even our roses are blooming again here in Fredericksburg, Texas. 

Edible Flowers are far from being a new concept: traditions of flower cookery come to us from the Victorian era and go back as far as the Roman Empire.
We have been cooking and experimenting with edible flowers since 1987 and have been excited about their potential as seasonings and garnishes.  We use them under butter pats, on top of cakes, and in salads, soups, ice cream, breads, and in cocktails. Like all herbs, and vegetables, flowers blossoms must be well washed and pesticide free. Make sure you onely use organically raised flowers.

To the left I have put a copy of our Edible Flower Chart to help Guide you with a few suggestions.

Here are a few other tips for using edible flowers:

* Use lavender or roses to flavor jams and jellies

* Decorate the top of an iced cake with mild-flavored fresh flowers like pansies, roses, dianthus or Johnny-jump-ups, or calenduls

*Freshen up your plain tossed green salad with rosemary blossoms, chives blossoms, borage blossoms, nasturtiums, Johnny-jump-ups, or calendulas.

*Freeze borage blossoms, dianthus, or Johnny-jump-ups into ice cubes for a beautiful accent to party punches or just plain ice water!

Johnny-jumps-ups

Mexican Mint Marigold

Here is a fun recipe for a
Rosy Cooler
www.urbanherbal.com/recipes/index-16.htm#rosey-cooler

We would love to hear from you with some of your favorite edible flower recipes.

Wishing you Herbs, Health and Happiness,

Bill & Roy Varney

Herbs to Compliment Foods

No matter what you are preparing in your kitchen, herbs help to bring out the best flavor in the foods!
Yesterday evening I was happt to go the the San Antonio Herb Society Meeting to hear and meet Susan Belsinger. She is a noted culinary herbalist, food writer and photographer and has authored over 20 books.

Susan Belsinger & Bill Varney

Her lecture and demo was, "Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Herbs" She told how to make a basic Herb Syrup, Herbal Pastes, Herb Sugar Scrubs for the body, Herbal Salves, and a homemade Ginger Ale, that you could also add rum and called it a Humdinger Rum Zinger.You can visit her website at http://www.susanbelsinger.com/ A few of the books I bought years ago by Susan are out print now, but she has new titles out and writes for various magazines and writes the Herb of the Year book for the International Herb Association each year. So nice to meet you in person Susan!

Here are some of my suggestions for herbs to pair with different foods:

Soups

Anise, Basil, Bay, Caraway, Chervil, Chives, Coriander, Dill Weed, Marjoram, Oregano, Parsley, Rosemary, Sage, Summer Savory, Tarragon, Thyme

Breads

Anise, Basil, Caraway, Coriander, Dill Weed, Fennel,Lavender, Marjoram, Parsley, Poppy Seed, Summer Savory, Thyme

Fish

Basil, Bay, Dill Weed, Lavender, Marjoram, Rosemary, Sage, Summer Savory, Tarragon, Thyme

Eggs

Basil, Bay, Chervil, Chives, Dill Weed, Fennel, Garlic, Marjoram, Oregano, Parsley, Rosemary, Summer Savory, Tarragon, Thyme

Poultry

Basil, Bay, Caraway, Dill Weed, Lavender, Marjoram, Oregano, Parsley, Rosemary, Sage, Summer Savory, Tarragon, Thyme

Lamb

Basil, Bay, Dill Weed, Oregano, Mint, Rosemary, Sage, Summer Savory, Tarragon, Thyme

Pork

Basil, Caraway, Corriander, Dill Weed, Fennel, Marjoram, Rosemary, Sage, Tarragon, Thyme

Beef

Basil, Bay, Chervil, Dill Weed, Marjoram, Oregano, Parsley, Rosemary, Sage, Summer Savory, Tarragon, Thyme

Vegetables

Anise, Basil, Bay, Chervil, Coriander, Dill Weed,Lavender, Marjoram, Mint, Oregano, Parsley, Rosemary, Sage, Summer Savory, Tarragon, Thyme

Desserts

Anise, Bay, Cinnamon Basil, Lemon Basil, Caraway, Coriander,Lavender, Mint, Fennel,Rosemary, Thyme

For more recipe ideas go to www.urbanherbal.com/recipes/index.htm

Hoping everyone is enjoying the beautiful Fall weather. I wanted to share this quote from Bertha Reppert who founded The Rosemary House.
"To grow them is to know them,
To know them is to use them,
To use them is to love them,
And then-happily-Herbs
besome your Way of Life." Bertha Reppert
http://www.therosemaryhouse.com/

Here's to Herbs, Health and Happiness,

Bill Varney

Bill Varney & Rene Bajeux

A day in the life at URBANherbal

Hello Friends and Family,
After the most difficult drought and heat we have ever experienced, I am leaning toward succulents, cactus and herbs! http://www.debraleebaldwin.com/
Here are a few offerings that I have at URBANherbal.

We have been given the gift of rain the past few days, and cooler weather. I have taken advantage it with lots of weeding in my gardens.

Cooler weather also means harvesting, and taking the time to enjoy friends at the table...

I am busy making a melange of herbal sachets, toilet waters, lotions and bath gels for the shop, so please be sure to stop by if you have the chance.

Wishing to herbs, health and happiness!

http://www.urbanherbal.com/herb_gardening/fall_herbs.html

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

BloomToScoop: Herbs & Yoga - Yoga & Herbs

BloomToScoop: Herbs & Yoga - Yoga & Herbs: Herbology for Yogis Hello Herb & garden lovers! I am going to share a little yoga and herbs.... Bill with Herbs for the practice of...

Herbs & Yoga - Yoga & Herbs

Herbology for Yogis

Hello Herb & garden lovers! I am going to share a little yoga and herbs....

Bill with Herbs for the practice of Yoga

Traditional Yoga has always hinged on a special yoga diet and yoga herbs to act with it.

Yoga postures are something we do and an expression of our energy...how we feed ourselves and our souls.

Herbs are a powerful aid in the practice of Yoga!

If you are involved in yoga you should consider taking helpful herbs to get the most out of yoga and our life.

Our daily herbs may be as important as our daily bread.

The benefit of herbs accrue over time, your lifestyle and diet.

After a yoga session, a warm cup of Chai Tea is soothing & aromatic for your body and soul.... This recipe uses:
a bag of black tea, cinnamon,ginger, cardamon,clove steeped with hot water and blended with milk and a little honey or sugar.



CHAI TEA

 Oils blended with herbs for your body !

I came up with a blend called Yogassage oil. It uses sesame oil, sweet almond oil, coconut oil, safflower oil, eucalyptus oil, peppermint, oil, wintergreen oil and sage oil. They stimulate the mind and promote insight, as well as calming and opening the mind.
Please watch for more on Yoga & Herbs in BloomtoScoop

"Yoga is body gospel." - Reaven Fields

New Hope for Diabetes with Chaya Herb

Chaya  Chidoscolus chayaman, a tender perennial that requires part sun is a Mexican herb used  for medicinal and culinary purposes.



Chaya Leaf



 It has been used by local South Texans for years to control blood sugar. A recent study by Texas A&M University pointed out that an induced rabbit could be brought back from high levels of blood sugar within four hours. Some patients who drink Chaya tea have stopped taking their medications for diabetes. Some say that the Chaya plant could be the second wonder plant of the century.
Brought down from the Mayans to moedern Mexicans, South Texans are the only region that knows that Chaya exists. Researchers say that this plant contains powerful doses of vitamins, proteins and minerals. Other research shows that the Chaya plant provides mega amounts of vitamins! Other people that have used the plant have had good results in weight loss, depression, dry skin and circulation. While some even claim to have better sex when eating the leaves and making of tea of it's leaves.
The National Institute of Nutrition in Mexico City says that ingesting Chaya will:
Improve blood circulation
Help Digestion
Improve Vision
Improve memory and brain function
Calm stressed veins
Help lower cholesterol
Help reduce weight
Prevent coughs
Combats diabetes and arthritis

Chaya Plant

I always enjoy growing unusual plants that you don't see everywhere! The best part about growing it, is just how easy it is to grow. Mine has trippled in size in two months.It is also know as "Tree Spinach,"and  is best to grow it in a pot, to protect it during the Winter months. It will grow to about 6 feet tall and cutting it, encourages new growth.
The are bland, so you will want to add them to soups, casseroles, spaghetti sauces, salads and salsas. It is richer in iron than spinach!

TO MAKE A SIMPLE CHAYA Tea,  boil a gallon of water, and steep 4 or 5 Chaya leaves with a couple of bags of black tea in a glass pitcher or jar. Do not use aluminum containers, as it can cause a toxic reaction, causing diarrhea.

The leaves should be boiled for five minutes before consuming, because they contain cyanogenic glycosides, which can cause cyanide poisoning.

Plant Herbs for Fall

Now is the time to plant herbs!

Potting Bench in the greenhouse

Why is Fall a good time to plant herbs?
In the Texas Hill Country and South it is actually a better time to plant cold hardy herbs because we are in a cooler season before winter and your plants have time to get established before Winter. Then by Spring they will really be growing and in full swing.

Fall is a time for rejuvenation. After we have had the tough heat, and no rain, plants use this time to their advantage. For our area it has been the most difficult Summer I have ever seen, record heat and record drought and of fires! I was in Austin this week and on my drive back to Fredericksburg, it started raining! What a joy for us! I measured a little over an inch of rain in my garden.  The cooler evenings and mornings have been a nice change.
Some of the herbs I would suggest for planting now are:
Rosemary
Thyme
Chives
Oregano
Sage
Mexican Mint Marigold
Curry
Parsley
Cilantro
Marjoram
Arugula
Borage
Fennel
Garlic
Here is a link to my Fall Planting Guide Herbs to Plant in The Fall
I love this quote from Thomas
Jefferson:
"I am still devoted to the garden. But although an old man I am but a young gardener."
Herb Seeds

Soil Bench in the greenhouse

Here are a few examples of some herbs for Fall to grow in pots for your patio or balcony

Enjoy your garden and let me know what ideas you have for herbs, gardening, cooking and aromatherapy.

Wishing to herbs, health and happiness,

William "Bill" Varney

"But now in September the garden has cooled, and with it my posessiveness. The sun warms my back instead of beating on my head. " - Robert Finch 1981 Common Ground

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.

Dog / Cat Biscuits for your little friend

"Observe your dog :if he's too fat you're not getting enough exercise." --Evan Esar



Esparanza (on 3 legs now)


As some of you may know this past week has been a rough one for my dog, Esparanza .....she got hurt late Saturday night and it has been lots of visits to the vet, and lots of TLC, and medicine, and homemade cooking to getting her on the road to recovery. She can only walk on 3 legs, but at least she is recovering!

I have been making homemade dog/cat biscuits for a long time and sell them on-line and in the herb shop, but thought I should get another fresh batch made today. Here is the recipe:

Dog & Cat Biscuits
2 tablespoons margarine, lard, or bacon fat
1 teaspoon brown sugar
1 egg slightly beaten
1/2 cup dry milk powder
1/2 cup chicken broth
1 cup all purpose flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 cup wheat germ
                                                                       1/2 teaspoon salt
                                                                       1/2 cup catnip (for cat biscuits)
                                                                       8 cloves of garlic finely minced (for dog biscuits)
Cream the margarine or lard and brown sugar in mixing bowl until light and fluffy. Beat in egg, dry milk and broth. Add flours, wheat germ, salt and either the garlic or catnip. Mix well. Knead until soft dough forms. Roll on a floured surface. Cut with shaped cookie cutter. Place on lightly greased cookie sheet. Bake at 325 for 30 minutes or until browned and crisp. Cool on rack. Store in airtight containers until served.

Making Dog Biscuits


Here is a link to making them on youtube:
http://urbanherbal.com/bill_varney/index02_11.htm


Just going into the oven:

For many friends, an animal is the constant and comforting presence in their lives.
Make sure your pet gets an edible present early for special occasions - or for no-reason-at-all moments.
http://shop.urbanherbal.com/Pet-Care_c2.htm

SEX, Fertility and Plants

Indulging in sexual intercourse among the crops was a custom which accurred frequently in many places throughout America and Europe. Ritualistic copulation was so performed to increase the fertility of plants.

A scene from The Herbal Bed in NYC

Sometimes pregnant women were employed to plant seed, the inference being that their own obvious bountifulness would transfer itself to the growing plant. Similarly, pregnant women hugged trees to induce healthy growth.
All of the above is part of folk and legend from A Miscellany of Garden Wisdom by Bernard Schofield.
In The Botany of Desire by Michael Pollan he says, " the gardeners and descendants of Johnny Appleseed who would try to make some of this wildness... All of them had ventured into the garden--into Darwin's Ever-Expanding Garden of Artificial Selection-for the purpose of marrying powerful human drives to the equally powerful drives of plants; all were practitioners of the botany of desire.
In many of the foods we eat aphrodisiac's are used from the garden....such as in the Fall: The crisp air and autumn colors of fall ask for cuisine that is hearty, rustic, and substantial.

Feeling Sexy Now in the garden?

Pollinating Tomatoes
Procure a cotton ball or some other similar light fluffy ball and tie it to a stick. At about midday, treat every tomato plant by lightly touching the front part of each flower with the fur. This will distribute the pollen, fertilizing the female organs of the flowers.

Here is a recipe link from Intercourses, sure to have you thinking about your garden in a different way! http://urbanherbal.com/recipes/index-11.htm#spicy_grilled_shrimp

The garden is a place of many sacraments.....
Herbs, grow up close and personal. They are not just flowers, but calendulas, nasturtiums and roses. They are not garnishes, but cinnamon and lemon basil, apple mint and chocolate mint, parsley, lavender and thyme. They are not bulbs, but garlic, chives, dill and fennel. That is why I encourage you to try your hand at growing savory, reputed to have earned it name from the satyrs who found it essential to their amorous activities. Consider, too, the advise of Nicholas Culpeper, herbalist of the 17th century, who suggested a garden of mustard, onion and prickly asparagus for sparking an enchanted evening. For more on Growing and Using the Plants of Romance read Herbs by Bill and Sylvia Varney http://shop.urbanherbal.com/HERBS-Growing-Using-the-Plants-of-Romance-0600.htm

Pomanders for an earlier, gentler time to fragrant your personal space

Pomanders
They were originally small balls of gold, silver or ivory and contained rare spices that were fixed with ambergris. They were used to ward off objectionable smells. My favorite pomanders are made with apples, oranges, lemons or limes and studded with cloves and aged in a curing spice blend. They can then be placed in bowls around your home or hung with ribbons to scent the home. Because they look and smell so festive, pomanders have long been associated with Christmas and the holidays.
I love their scent year round and if you start early, you can have a number of them made up ahead of time to give as gifts.
To make a pomander you will need the following:
Oranges, apples, lemons or limes.
Whole large headed cloves
A curing spice mixture ( recipe below )
An ice pick or crochet hook for piercing the fruit. This makes it a lot easier to insert the cloves.
A large bowl to put the curing spices and cure the pomanders.
As you inset the cloves, hold the fruit firmly, but don’t squeeze it. The cloves can be place at random in the fruit. They should be close together, but not too crowded.
Place the studded fruit into a bowl with the curing spices and roll in the spices.
Each day roll the fruit in the spices and continue until the fruit has hardened. They are then done and ready to put in bowls or hand with ribbons.
Curing Spice Mixture
4 ounces powdered cinnamon
2 ounces powdered cloves
1 ounce powdered allspice
½ ounces powdered nutmeg
1 ounces powdered orris root.
This mixture can be used over and over and be stored in a sealed ziplock bag and put in a cool dark cabinet.

The finished pomander can give you a number of years of fragrant pleasure.