Know Your Herbs and Spices - Handy herb and spice chart of fun facts and uses for all seasons. See more wonderful illustrations from Bambi Lund at Bambiedlund.com. Click Image : to view larger version
Nasturtium recipes can be hard to find, and even those gardeners that know nasturtiums are edible tend to just snack on them right out in the field. Bring these tasty blooms (and leaves) indoors with
Learn How to Grow Star Anise and enjoy an unlimited supply of this flavourful Spice from your home garden!
STORK’S BILL, ERODIUM CICUTARIUM Stork’s bill is a member of the Geraniaceae or geranium family, making it a relative of the wild geranium. It is native to Europe, including Britain, North Africa, the Himalayan region and Japan. It was introduced into North and South America by the Spaniards, and is now classed as an invasive weed. It grows to around two feet tall and flowers between June and September, with the seeds ripening between August and October. It is similar to the Crane’s bill (wild geranium) and in Britain it is sometimes called the Hemlock Stork’s Bill. (However it is not related to hemlock and does not have its toxic properties.) The young leaves and stems may be eaten raw and added to salads, as they taste a little like parsley when young and tender. They can also be used like spinach and Kang Kong (water spinach), and may be added to soups stews and so on to enhance their flavour. Children often chew the root as you do chewing gum. It is best to harvest the leaves and root before the plant comes into flower. They can be used fresh or fried for later use, although you should check on the conservation status of the plant in your locality before uprooting them. The root and leaves are the main parts used in traditional medicine and breast-feeding mothers eat these to increase their milk flow. Externally the decoction of the root is used as an antidote to bites, and to soothe the pain from them; it is also useful for skin infections. In the past an infusion if the plant was used as a remedy for typhoid fever. If you suffer from rheumatism you may want to steep the leaves in your bath water to gain some relief from the pain. The plant is said to control bleeding (it’s haemostatic) and is used in Mexico to decrease the bleeding after child-birth, and to prevent infection. It has astringent properties as well as antioxidant ones. In Peru it is used by traditional healers to regulate blood pressure (both high and low). According to one study the plant may have some antiviral properties, but more research is needed. The tisane or infusion made from the root and leaves is used to reduce inflammation, and the hot moist leaves may be used in a poultice to reduce swelling. In the Bach Flower remedies the crane’s bill is used to relieve obsessive anxiety or worrying and for those who give disproportionate attention to trivial events and small problems. It is said to help them gain a wider and truer perspective on issues which to so many of us are routine events. It helps such people to spend less time worrying about things which they have blown up out of all proportion. When the Stork's bill is growing in arid conditions, the stem may be red, giving rise to the name the Red-Stem Stork's Bill, although if it is growing in more moist conditions it will have a green stem. A green dye is obtained from the whole plant. The plant is also called Pin clover or Pin grass (it is no relation to clover) because of its long, thin seed capsules. The seeds have a helix-shaped bristly hairs attached to them and these help them to be dispersed as they stick to the hair of goats and other browsing animals, and to birds’ feathers. The hair also has a corkscrew action which buries the seed in the ground. The hairs are also interesting as they twist or uncurl depending on the humidity in the atmosphere, making them one of nature’s barometers.
You don't often think of grandma's flower garden as a good place to harvest your lunch, but there are a surprising number of tasty edibles growing in most perennial flower beds. Beyond edible flowers,
Edible flowers are a great way to add color and flavor to dishes, plus they make wonderful companion plants. We share which parts of flowers are edible, how they taste, and how to use them.
Early one hot summer morning, I put the kettle on and headed to the pantry for hibiscus, the key ingredient in our summer stock item, a strong hibiscus tea (an infusion). I reached for the ruby red flower, poured some out of the jar and into a pan, and poured boiling water over them. As […]
When it comes to brunch cocktails, head-spinning heavyweight drinks aren't on the menu. We'll take ours fresh, breezy, and bright, please.
Saffron is said to be sweet, with floral notes, along with grassy and earthy flavors. However, this spice's flavor and aroma have been described in several different ways by different people.
Are rowan berries edible? When are they ready for harvest? Learn all you need to know about harvesting and using rowan berries here.
As one of the earliest wildflowers of springtime, violet rolls out a green carpet of lush leaves and draws the eye with its signature blooms. Used as a traditional cleansing herb, respiratory remedy, and lymphatic, violet is a plentiful staple for both the home medicine chest and the clinical apothecary.
When chives are in bloom, make chive vinegar. In two weeks you'll have a vinegar that adds great flavour to salad dressings. I especially enjoy the addition of this vinegar in my potato salad dressing. To begin, sterilize a glass jar, then go and pick a bouquet of chives in bloom. Wash chives well and air dry. Fill jar 3/4 full with white vinegar , and add the dry chives. Press chives into jar. Seal jar and place in a dark cool for 2 weeks. After 2 weeks the vinegar will be a nice soft pink. Using a cheese cloth strain the vinegar. Discard the chives and put the vinegar back into a clean jar. Store in a cool place. Chive vinegar has a stronger flavour so use it sparingly in place of regular vinegar in salad dressings and dip.
Every special event deserves a show-stopping moment, and our Goat Cheese with Edible Flowers appetizer is just that. Its heavenly flavor profile, mesmerizing appearance, and...
Playing with flowers. They smelled very strong and lovely, but I did not have many, and it was either sugar or vinegar, for catching that...
Make elderflower syrup to make beverages or to add to fruit, yogurt, and desserts as a wonderful topping. It can keep in the fridge for one month.
Edible lilacs are a spring treat that can't be beat. Try them in one of these amazing recipes.
Edible Flower Salt will add WOW factor to any dish. This recipe helps preserve your edible flowers to use throughout the year.
The nasturtiums are going crazy in my garden! Time to pull out a recipe from the archives... Nasturtium Vinegar. This recipe was part of a f...
Botanical Name: Scutellaria baicalensis. Other Common Names: Huang qin, baikal, baical skullcap root, scute, scutellaria. Habitat: Chinese skullcap is native to eastern Asia. It thrives on sunny, grassy slopes in higher elevations. The plant grows well in sandy, rocky soils and needs full sun. It prefers dry soils and does well in cultivated planting beds. Plant Description: This perennial grows to a height of 0.3 meters and a width of 0.3 meters. It has narrow, single erect stems with many 2.5 centimeter bluish-purple flowers. The plant is anchored by a skinless, yellow root. Plant Parts Used: The root of Chinese
We’ve collected 15 creative ways that you can add edible flowers to your menu and reap the benefits of fresh edible blooms.
If you peek inside my cupboards, you’ll see countless little jars of herb and honey concoctions that are both delicious and healing. Making herb-infused honey has become one of my favorite ways to use leftover sprigs of thyme from cooking dinner, a handful of wild mint found while foraging, or the buds of an edible flower bouquet. There are five steps in making herb-infused honey.
Dopo aver illustrato l’uso dei fiori commestibili e aver parlato delle loro proprietà curative, continuiamo a parlare di fiori spostandoci ai fornelli e proponendo degli accostamenti. Possiamo usare i fiori…
Roselle / Rosa de Jamaica / Hibiscus Salt is the perfect seasoning: from veggies to fruits. Any way you use it, it's perfect!
Growing anise will provide you with a delicious award for your labors - an aromatic, edible flower that can be used in salads, garnishes and teas.
Keep lilac season going all year long with this floral liqueur!
Don’t be shy when it comes to garnishing this cocktail classic. Follow the lead of Spanish bartenders, who traditionally load on flowers, herbs and spices
From the ingredients you use to the foods you put them on, flavored salts are wide open to your imagination. Start with a flaky salt, add herbs, spices, or other ingredients, and you have a quick, unique way to season everything from sliced tomatoes to chocolate cakes. They make wonderful edible gifts, too. Here’s a step-by-step recipe with basic ratios to get you started, plus tips for how to use seasoned salts, and a few of our favorite ingredient combinations.
A large, upright plant from the figwort family, mullein (Verbascum Thapsus) is a biennial, meaning it grows two years in a row. The first year, the plant produces a leafy base; the second year, a single upright stalk emerges from the center of the base and produces a thick head of soft yellow blooms.
The beauty of flowers sometimes makes us believe that appearance is all they have to offer. But like other edible plants, flowers can bring to our plates (
Time is running out! Well it is if you love woodland violets and live here in central Maryland. The vast purple-blue carpet where I harvested a whole basket of beauties ten days ago has now vanished from my neighbor’s untended side yard. Now, blooms are only popping up in the cooler, shadier parts of my...Read More »
Though I should rather call it honey, because it tastes like that and even the consistency is the same. It is real nice treat with a slice of buttered brioche. When I found the recipe last year on Robert's blog, it was already too late to try, because dandelion wasn't blooming anymore. After this week's rainy days, finally I managed to collect the flowers and to cook the syrup. Yum! Ingredients: 100-150 dandelion flowers 1 lemon 250 g sugar Shake flowers so the insects can escape. Pour water over it, just enough so that it is covered and bring it to the boil. Remove any foam if necessary. Now add sliced lemond and cook until it is reduced by half. Cover and let it stand until the next day. Sieve and measure liquid. Cook dandelion liquid with sugar, half of the amount of the liquid (in my case 500 ml liquid with 250 g of sugar). Cook it over low heat until it thickens, it takes körülbelül 2 hours over 90°C. Pour it into jars and enjoy.
In my garden a bright jungle of colourful nasturtiums are rejoicing in the surprisingly warm sunshine-y October weather. After a summer of taking their prolific spiciness for granted, I’m keen […]
Botanical Name: Levisticum officinale. Other Common Names: Old English lovage, Italian and Cornish lovage, maggi plant, smellage, cajoler’s weed, levisticum, maggiqurzel, sauerkrautwurz. Habitat: Lovage is native to the Mediterranean region of southern Europe and Asia Minor, and can be found growing throughout central and southern Europe, parts of Britain, Eastern U.S., and southwestern Asia. It is cultivated in Europe to be distilled for essential oils. It does best in sunny to partly shaded locations, in a moist, well-drained soil rich in humus. Lovage prefers a pH range from 5.0 – 7.6. Description: Lovage is a perennial plant that may reach
In this easy-to-follow guide, we’ll show you how to grow coriander in pots. We cover everything - growing, planting, care, and harvesting. Check it out now!
Fresh and peppery, these quick pickled magnolia petals take the prettiness of Spring and turn it into a tasty condiment.
Botanical Name of Shepherd's Purse: Capsella bursa-pastoris. Other Common Names: Lady's purse, shepherd's bag, mother's heart, shovelweed, caseweed, borsa de pastor (Spanish), bouse de pasteur (French), Hirtentäschelkraut (German), hjartarfi (Icelandic), hyrdetaske (Danish). Habitat: The plant is probably native to Europe and parts of Asia, but now it can be found in temperate regions around the world. The European settlers brought the plant with them to North America, and the species quickly spread across the continent. Shepherd's purse is often regarded as a weed. Plant Description: Shepherd's purse is an annual plant that belongs to the mustard family (Brassicaceae) with highly
Like herbs with purple flowers? Borage is a lovely addition to the herb garden. Providing forage for the bees and nitrogen for the soil, borage is a boon!
This is a continuation of my Spice Series. Welcome to my information on Vanilla! Vanilla is the world's most expensive crop after saffron and cardamom. This is because there is no alternative to hand pollination
Ah, it is late June, and the Mimosa trees are blooming! These pink, fluffy trees are cartoonish but beautiful, looking like "truffula tuft" trees from Dr. Seuss books!
