Spot Light On Herbs
I was fortunate to attend some herb classes this summer and decided to begin my own herb garden. For an amusing perspective on our herb garden, please visit melaniesblog@missmelaniestearoom.com and see life at our tea room from the perspective of our back porch kitty, Lily. Apparently, she would be much happier having some catnip added!
Our rosemary has done so well, it has inspired me to add it to so many dishes this summer. I cooked a beautiful BBQ chicken dinner and did a rosemary rub. Speaking of rubs, adding Lapsang Souchong tea to your marinades and rubs is a wonderful way to add layers of smokiness to your dishes. We will be teaching all of our Tea Academy students about this new trend of using tea as a culinary ingredient in desserts, sauces, dressings, marinades, rubs and in noodles and rice and baked goods.
I digress! Back to the herbs! We have also discovered many uses for our French fringed Lavender including baking lavender muffins and scones. The lavender is lining our walk ways and gives off such an aromatic scent when you come to our front door! It has been a wonderful addition to our herb garden!
The most unusual herb we planted was a pineapple sage. It has grown from a small three inch sprout to a four foot tall bush with leaves resembling mint. It is highly scented and smells just like a very ripe pineapple. I have been told that it will grow to six feet high and produce trumpet shaped red blooms that will attract hummingbirds. I cannot wait!
I haven't minded weeding the yard so much this year because it has given me an opportunity to inhale the wonderful herbal aromas coming from our beds. I think just by knowing that there are fresh herbs right outside my door, I have been far more inventive in my everyday cooking for the tea room as well as for my family.
Rosemary can be harvested and frozen in ziplock bags to be used as needed throughout the winter. It also winters over well and is a hardy perennial. We really have enjoyed taking our children's cooking class students outside to the herb garden to pick their own herbs and add to their dishes. Many of them did not understand the difference in herbs and how flavorful they were. They really enjoyed comparing the textures and aromas and adding them to their own marina sauce and breads.
I hope you will consider planting herbs in a container or in your garden. You will save money, expand your culinary horizons and get the added benefits of aromatherapy in the process! I have decided to also dry some of my herbs to do some new tea blends. I will let you know what I come up with!
Until Our Next Pot of Tea,
Melanie
Our rosemary has done so well, it has inspired me to add it to so many dishes this summer. I cooked a beautiful BBQ chicken dinner and did a rosemary rub. Speaking of rubs, adding Lapsang Souchong tea to your marinades and rubs is a wonderful way to add layers of smokiness to your dishes. We will be teaching all of our Tea Academy students about this new trend of using tea as a culinary ingredient in desserts, sauces, dressings, marinades, rubs and in noodles and rice and baked goods.
I digress! Back to the herbs! We have also discovered many uses for our French fringed Lavender including baking lavender muffins and scones. The lavender is lining our walk ways and gives off such an aromatic scent when you come to our front door! It has been a wonderful addition to our herb garden!
The most unusual herb we planted was a pineapple sage. It has grown from a small three inch sprout to a four foot tall bush with leaves resembling mint. It is highly scented and smells just like a very ripe pineapple. I have been told that it will grow to six feet high and produce trumpet shaped red blooms that will attract hummingbirds. I cannot wait!
I haven't minded weeding the yard so much this year because it has given me an opportunity to inhale the wonderful herbal aromas coming from our beds. I think just by knowing that there are fresh herbs right outside my door, I have been far more inventive in my everyday cooking for the tea room as well as for my family.
Rosemary can be harvested and frozen in ziplock bags to be used as needed throughout the winter. It also winters over well and is a hardy perennial. We really have enjoyed taking our children's cooking class students outside to the herb garden to pick their own herbs and add to their dishes. Many of them did not understand the difference in herbs and how flavorful they were. They really enjoyed comparing the textures and aromas and adding them to their own marina sauce and breads.
I hope you will consider planting herbs in a container or in your garden. You will save money, expand your culinary horizons and get the added benefits of aromatherapy in the process! I have decided to also dry some of my herbs to do some new tea blends. I will let you know what I come up with!
Until Our Next Pot of Tea,
Melanie
Comments