It's Easy to Grow Herbs in Pots

An Interesting article on mint, one of the most used herbs worldwide. Not need to buy mint ever again if you take someof the tips given here.

Herbs can also be grown indoors in pots or containers. They can also be grown in window boxes or hanging baskets. Growing herbs in pots is not anymore difficult then growing herbs in an outdoor garden. Indoor herb gardens need the same growing requirements that garden herbs need.

All plants need three main things in order to grow successfully; sunlight, soil and water. Herbs are no exception. Sunlight is key to growing any type of plant including herbs whether they are grown indoors or in a garden.

You should place herbs grown in a kitchen or other room in a south or west facing window to get the best kind of sunlight. Different types of herbs have different light requirements but, for the most part, all need a sunny location.

Some home herb growers supplement the light source with "grow lamps" or fluorescent lamps. Herbs also need a well drained, not too rich soil to grow in. Add two parts of sterilized potting soil with one part coarse sand or perlite for herbs that are grown in containers.

You will also need about an inch of gravel at the bottom of each pot to ensure that the plant has good drainage. Herb grown in pots indoors can also be supplemented with one teaspoon of lime per 5-inch pot to ensure that the soil is sweet enough for the herbs.

Herbs grown in pots also need water. Misting the plants and moistening the pebbles will help to keep the herbs within humid conditions. Since they are being grown in containers they do need to have more water then herbs that are grown in a garden but, you should avoid getting the roots of the herbs drenched or soggy.

An advantage to growing herbs in a container is that you have the freedom to move them about as you please. Annual herbs can spend all of their time indoors but, perennial herbs do better if they were to be placed outside during the summer.

Although all herbs should be brought inside before the first frost in order to avoid the loss of foliage. This rule is over looked when it comes to mint, chives, and tarragon. These types of herbs will go into a rest period then form firmer and fresher growth after it is introduced to a light frost.

All herbs can be grown in containers but some herbs do better then others. Mint is an herb that needs to be contained or it will take over the garden. Over all it is fairly easy to maintain an indoor herb garden. It keeps the herbs handy and within reach anytime you need them for cooking.

With these tips listed above, you will be able to care for your herbs and ensure a healthy plant. You should also include periodic light feeding and yearly repotting for optimum health of the herbs. You will also have to remember to replant annuals each year and move perennials outdoors when needed.

Plus, use your herbs as much as you want as well as harvest them occasionally. It is no secret that pruning plants encourages new growth. This rule also applies to herbs. So use them in your recipes, store them and give them away to friends.

Author: Mary Eule Scarborough
Mary E. Eule, BA, MS is a professional writer and researcher who been an avid container herb gardener for over 25 years. She is also the author of the comprehensive, step-by-step guide, "The Down to Earth Guide to Easy Container Herb Gardening," Visit her website: http://ContainerHerbGardening.com to purchase her e-book, download her free herb e-course or to get additional tips and articles on growing herbs in pots .

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Mary Eule Scarborough, an unassailable marketing expert and thought leader, helps businesses of all sizes get and keep more profitable customers. A former Fortune 500 marketing executive, she is also the founder of two successful small businesses, an award-winning speaker, certified Guerrilla Marketing coach and the co-author of two new books, "The Procrastinator’s Guide to Marketing” (Entrepreneur Press, November, 2007) and “Mastering Online Marketing" (January, 2008). She has a BA in Journalism/English from the University of Maryland and a master’s degree in marketing from The Johns Hopkins University. Log onto her website: www.StrategicMarketingAdvisors.com for free marketing articles, tools, tips and templates…or to learn more about her books and services.

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Can I Eat Sprouting Garlic?

The Phenomenon of Sprouting Garlic

Many of us like to cook, and eating garlic seems to go hand in hand with healthy living. Unless you buy it in small quantities at the farmer’s market every week, you end up getting several cloves all at once. If you don’t use it for a little while, or if it’s old when you purchase it, then you’ll eventually begin to see green shoots sprouting out of the tops of some of the cloves. So what does sprouting garlic mean?

What to Make of Sprouting Garlic

Sprouts tend to be good for you to eat – alfalfa sprouts, bean sprouts and onion sprouts all have plenty of health benefits. But what about garlic? Most people tend to follow the direction of either culture or parenting when it comes to this subject. Namely, either their culture has dictated that some dishes work well with the sprouted garlic, or else you saw your mother picking the garlic sprout out before using the clove, and made your decision that way.

Is Sprouting Garlic Safe to Eat?

Some may have heard that it is unwise or unsafe to eat garlic that has begun sprouting. A bit of investigating around cooking chat rooms will show the casually interested that plenty of people have eaten it and despite the bitterness of the taste, they’ve lived to talk about it.

In my kitchen, if there is only a small amount of the green shoot growing from the garlic clove, I remove it and use the garlic like always. If the sprout is larger, or if there are blemishes in the clove, darkening, squishiness or a funky smell (beyond the normal one), then I dispose of it altogether.

Some cooks say that the sprout in the garlic clove is indigestible, and that you should remove it before using the garlic. This is easy to do. Using a paring knife, you simply cut the clove in half length-wise, and remove the shoot from the center of both sides. Some cultures around the globe use the garlic sprout in dishes, so aside from the bitterness, consider giving it a taste and decide for yourself.

If you are going to boil the garlic, then you can probably leave the sprout in tact. The process of boiling the cloves will remove the bitter taste.

What Else Can I Do With Garlic That Has Sprouted?

It never hurts to try planting the sprouting cloves, in the ground or in a pot so the green tips are just a little below the soil line. After a while, you should end up with new bulbs to use, provided you properly look after them. You can roast the entire head of garlic and make a spread, or peel and mash the cloves, freezing them for later. Or consider using the green garlic sprouts in a recipe, perhaps a stir fry with other vegetables.

Find more excellent tips on eating healthy, the environment and green living at the green blog: Green Eggs and Planet

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A Great Natural Medicine Site Found

Herbs are natural source of medicine and the field of knowledge in this genre is endless. In some people’s eyes they wouldn’t use anything else other then herbs for remedies and cures, but where do you get advice on this massive subject? Where can you get feedback form people who have used herbs as medicine and have experience on the methods and effect they have had?

I have found a great site that is basically dedicated to herb talk and natural medicines. With a health forum which is a Google PR5 which proves it’s popularity and other sections on nutrition and recipes based on natural herbs and other foods there is a wealth of sections that can be clicked into for advice from others who have the same interest. The site has a wide and active audience and many of the topics will have very useful information on many sources of medicine that people can openly talk about. It is a site where you can register for free and it is quick and easy, then you can ask questions you may have or answer questions given by other members.

I just thought it would be a useful resource for many people reading my blog.

Bulgarian Dill Potatoes

Dill is a herb that I never used to use in the UK. I didn’t know much about it and certainly didn’t cook many dishes that required it. If it was used it was in dried form in a small glass or plastic container. To be quite honest I wasn’t impressed with it at all.

Then Bulgaria was visited, they use Dill (called koper) in many dishes, not dried but unused fresh dill stored in freezers. I can’t remember many dishes without dill being included and of course everyone grows it here. When it goes to seed, which is around now, the dried plant with seeds still intact are used in the bottling of many vegetables such as gherkins, peppers, etc. There is now waste form the herb.

A potato dish was made two days ago was made with dill, which had such a profound effect on the flavour in combination that we just couldn’t stop eating once started. Simplicity with dill as the sole flavour to the potatoes was the key here. I will take you through the stages.

The potatoes gathered were still in the ground and the dill still on the plant growing in the garden only 30 minutes before starting this recipe. But as long as both are fresh it should still work for you.

Recipe For Dill Potatoes

Serves up to 6 people

40 minutes to cook
Ingredients:


1 kg new white potatoes

1 handful of fresh green dill chopped finely

100 g margarine

Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Method:

• Wash the potatoes and cut into roughly 2 cm sq pieces.
• Place in a pan of cold water and boil for 20 minutes or until just beginning to go soft. Whilst this is happening preheat the oven to 220 C.
• Drain the potatoes and place in an oven tray. Spread the margarine over the hot potatoes so it covers them evenly.
• Then sprinkle the chopped dill over the potatoes and season with salt and pepper.
• Place the tray into the hot oven and bake for 15 minutes.
• The dish is ready for serving.

Note:
The dill potatoes make just as good meal when cold or can be reheated with a little more margarine.

Mayonnaise With A Fresh Herb Touch

A grandmother in Germany I knew many years ago gave this herb mayonnaise recipe to me. She just happened to have the ingredients at hand at the time and she never forgot it, hence the rough guide in quantities given. She had medium sized hands!

The use of mint, parsley and coriander make an excellent combination for added to a mayonnaise mix. It can make a refreshing change to ordinary mayonnaise and can be used in the same way, i.e. in sandwiches, salads, egg, pototoes (as pictured) and with many types of meat. It also makes mayonnaise feel a bit healthier although it doesn’t ‘t make that much difference to the main oil content in mayonnaise.

Ingredients:

• · 1 handful fresh mint leaves
• · 1 handful fresh coriander
• · 1 handful fresh parsley leaves
• · A Pinch of chilli pepper
• · 1 medium onion chopped finely
• · 1 teaspoon red wine vinegar
• · 3 tablespoons mayonnaise

Method:

Mix all the ingredients expect the vinegar and mayonnaise in a food processor Process until minced. Then add the vinegar and mayonnaise and mix by hand until mixed in thoroughly. Serve straight away.

It will keep if refrigerated for up to 5 days if in an airtight container.

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Sesame and Honey Energy Snack Bar Recipe

Quite often my Bulgarian partner would buy little sesame seeds and honey bars for us to eat in the journey each weekend to the village. They are an excellent little energy snack and have no chemicals in them at all with the texture typically hard and brittle.

I was informed that they are very easy to make. So I go the recipe off my partner’s friend who is a chef for a top hotel in Yambol. He recommended locally produced honey that it will produce herb-based flavours that will further enchance the great combinations of taste.

This recipe is very easy to follow and will also save you lots of money as these snack bars are quite expensive to buy ready made. They are just as good as any commercially produced snack bar and without preservatives.

Ingredients:

· 500 gm local honey
· 500 gm white sesame seeds
· The lemon peel of half a lemon

Method:

Bring honey and lemon peel to a boil in a saucepan. Add sesame seeds stirring continuously and continue to cook while stirring. Bring to the boil again and continue stirring. Remove from heat. Remove and take out the lemon peel.

Lay some parchment or greaseproof paper on a cool work surface and pour out the hot liquid evenly on the paper.

When it has cooled to room temperature put it in the fridge and leave there for around 4 hours.

Remove from the fridge a kitchen shears, break into pieces and serve.

This can be stored refrigerator or freezer in an airtight container.

TIP: You can make more or less as long as you stick to equal quantities of sesame and honey each time.

Picture Source www.goodnessdirect.co.uk/

Ginger Wine - A Simple Recipe

Ginger Wine is a great herb drink which has been underrated for many a year. Having made many batches in the UK, I often forget how much I enjoyed this drink in the evening and not just in winter, but all year round. It is a fortified wine and not like ginger beer where the finished article only has its own alcohol content from fermenting.

This recipe has stuck in my mind for years I don't know exactly where I got it from but is was a learning curve to arrive at this particular recipe. You can of course customise it to you own taste.

INGREDIENTS:

• 5 litres water
• 1 1/2 kg sugar
• 1 lemon
• 50 g fresh ginger
• 1 tsp dried wine yeast
• 120 g chopped raisins or sultanas
• 1 bottle brandy (75 gm)

METHOD:

• Put the water, sugar, lemon zest and ginger that has been cut and crushed in a saucepan and boil. Leave on a low simmer for at least and hour.

• Leave it to cool after discarding any scum that forms on the top of the liquid.

• Stir in the wine yeast when tepid and place the saucepan lid on loosely and leave for 24 hours.

• Add lemon juice and raisins or sultanas to the liquid and transfer the mixture into a clean plastic container and cover with a lid loosely or a clean tea towel. This needs to be left in a warm place for 2-3 weeks and stirred every day.

• The brandy can now be added and left another couple of weeks without stirring.

• Place the container in a cool place for 24 hours then strain or siphon off the clear wine into wine or plastic lemonade bottles.

• Serve cool or with ice.

TIP:
You can serve this as a toddy by heating up the wine on a cold night (not too hot though as the alcohol will evaporate.)

Herbs Brighten Up Any Boring Turkey

Turkey normally bore me to death, especially the Christmas roast turkey which leads to me cook other meats on Christmas Day. A few weeks ago however, I was treated to roast turkey and I really enjoyed it. The secret I was told, was the addition of fresh herbs, not dried herbs. I go the recipe off the family and have now written it up for others to share.

This really does make the difference between enjoying or enduring a turkey dish.

Ingredients

• 1 whole turkey, without neck and giblets
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 100 ml yoghurt
  
• 2 large lemons, juiced, lemon halves reserved
  
• 1 tablespoon plain white flour
• 1 oven roasting bag
• 3 tablespoons freshly chopped marjoram
• 2 tablespoons freshly chopped rosemary
• 3 tablespoons freshly chopped thyme
• 3 tablespoons freshly chopped basil
• 3 tablespoons freshly chopped dill
• 3 tablespoons crushed garlic
• Freshly ground black pepper
• Salt

Method

The oven should be preheated to oven to 35o F or 175 C. Mix the marjoram, rosemary, thyme, basil, dill, garlic and black pepper and salt and put to one side.

Lift the skin away from the turkey meat then brush the meat with olive oil mixed with the yoghurt. Pour some lemon juice over the meat and sprinkle the meat with half of the mixed herbs that was put on one side. Gently pat the skin onto the meat and shower the remaining herbs inside the turkey along with the squeezed lemons.

Put the flour into the turkey-roasting bag and give is a good shake. The turkey then should be placed into the bag and sealed. This then can be put into a deep roasting pan. Cut 6 half-inch slits in the top of the bag.

Before the turkey is roasted cut a few slits in the bag at the top then cook in the preheated oven. This should be cooking until the juices run clear. It is best to use a cooking thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh. This will take away guessing.

Remove the turkey from the oven and cover it over with a sheet of foil allowing it to cool for 20 minutes before the process of slicing the turkey takes place.

You now have a turkey with taste and excitement returns again for the roast turkey dish and not just for Christmas.

Watercress Is Not A Weed

Watercress may look like a weed to most people, but brings back those memories of a crunchy salads with a bit of a peppery bite to it confirming that it is definitely a salad herb. This was something I enjoyed immensely when I was younger, but alas it seems to have gone out of fashion as an outright salad nowadays. I used to gather watercress for the side of small streams where it grew wild, even in the centre of London. The health benefits from this water dwelling herb are far reaching like many other herbs; it's not just the taste and texture that appeals.

Watercress can be cultivated quite easily in your garden. It is well-suited to water that is slightly alkaline which is why it thrives in chalk streams in the south of England. Cress leaves can't be dried and has to be consumed within a short period. Storage life is only 1 - 2 days in refrigerated condition.

Watercress can grow to over one metre in height. The foliage of turns bitter when the plants begin producing flowers. An interesting piece of trivia is that watercress is one of the main ingredients in the mass produced V8 Vegetable Juice and used in many commercially made sandwiches.

This distinctive herb has major benefits when eaten as it contains iron, calcium and folic acid as well as vitamins A and C. It can act as a stimulant an antioxidant, a diuretic, an expectorant and a digestive aid. Treatment for suppressing cancer has also been shown to be positive and specifically helps defend against lung cancer.

Strangely enough many regions consider watercress as a weed as mention earlier and are totally unaware of its potential as a food source. What a shame that education fails in some regions where it grows.

So if you are in a region where watercress grows, give it a try, or try growing it in your garden. It doesn’t take much maintenance grow very quickly and also acts as a great water filter in ponds. As long as you crop and eat it regularly it will be a great addition to the dinner table with health benefits written all over it.

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