Homemade Herbal Sore Throat Remedies

photo used with permission under morgueFile free license

December means rush, rush and more rush for most people. From the warm house to the cold car to run a quick errand. By the time the car warms up it’s back out into the cold, running through the elements to the shop where we race around, usually still wrapped in our heavy outerwear, searching out our items.  Then back out into the cold to the vehicle that is, by now, cold again.

Is it any wonder that few of us seem to get through the month without becoming ill? Usually it’s a sore throat. Notice I didn’t say ‘just a sore throat’. If you’ve had one recently, you still remember how painful and irritating that sore throat can be.

For the herb lover, soothing the sore throat with a homemade herbal tea is an option that will not only sooth the throat but lifts the spirits with the beloved aroma of your favorite herb.

Whether you choose to make a tea from a single herb or a blend, you can be on your way to soothing your sore throat in the time it takes the kettle to boil.

Herbs to Soothe the Throat

Calendula flowers work as astringent, antiseptic and anti-inflammatory and make a good base for a tea to help ease the pain of a sore throat as its properties work to fight infection.

The leaf of the herb thyme contains thymol, a powerful antiseptic that can help treat infections that the sore throat may be a symptom of. It is often used to treat a dry cough and bronchitis.

Allow a tea made of fennel to cool and then use it as a gargle to help relieve the pain of a sore throat.

All written content ©2010 Patrice Campbell unless otherwise noted.

Homemade Herbal Holiday Decorations: Inexpensive Handmade Ornaments and Gifts

Even a frustrated freelancer faces the time management problem of working to pay the bills and struggling to put aside enough money to pay for the perfect gifts for loved ones.

We want our homes to be cozy and inviting. We want to enjoy the company of friends and families. On the other hand, every hour spent away from the computer means less output that satisfies our clients as well as our bank accounts.

I'm taking advantage of this juggling of priorities to share previously written articles of Holiday Tips. Hope you find something helpful that will make the upcoming holiday season less stressful and more enjoyable.

Homemade Herbal Holiday Decorations: Inexpensive Handmade Ornaments and Gifts

All written content ©2010 Patrice Campbell unless otherwise noted.

How Can One Medicinal Herb Treat Opposite Symptoms?

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Did you ever wonder why many medicinal herbs are touted to help seemingly opposite symptoms? It seems illogical that a single herb tea can be used to treat both diarrhea and constipation.

Dr. Andrew Well, M.D. explains this very well in an article I read recently at Huffington Post.

Using the example of the coca leaf he studied while in South America, Dr. Well reports that the Andeans use the whole plant as their number one medicinal plant.

“They use it to treat gastrointestinal disturbances; specifically, for both diarrhea and constipation. From the perspective of Western pharmacology, this makes no sense.”

You would think that the simulative properties of the coca leaf, the source of cocaine, could stimulate the digestive system and help relieve constipation. But, diarrhea? Wouldn’t it just make that a whole lot worse?

The coca leaf has more than one property. While cocaine is present in the greatest amount, the coca leaf also contains 14 bioactive alkaloids. These alkaloids actually inhibit the activity of the digestive system.

So how do you know which property of a medicinal herb will affect your body? If you’re suffering from diarrhea, you really want to know before you ingest it.

According to Dr. Well, “The state of the body, which is a function of which receptors in the gut's tissues are available for binding. During my time in Andean Indian communities, I collected many reports about whole coca's paradoxical, normalizing effect on bowel function, and experienced it firsthand, as well.”

If the body is able to choose the herbal properties of the whole plant that it needs to help it heal and function properly, the body will utilize those properties.






All written content ©2010 Patrice Campbell unless otherwise noted.

$34 Billion Spend Annually on Alternative Medicine

If you needed another reason to grow your own herbs besides your love of gardening, your passion for fresh herbs for teas, cooking or crafts or creating your own herbal remedies, a recent study shows how economical your herb garden actually is.



According to a study that was recently released by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,

"That includes a wide range of services from meditation and yoga to dietary supplements, such as echinacea and ginseng."

The article, $34 billion spent yearly on alternative medicine, states:

"Alternative medicine now accounts for more than 11 percent of out-of-pocket spending on health care in the United States, the researchers said.

About 44 cents out of every dollar spent on alternative medicine was for products like fish oil, glucosamine and echinacea. Spending on these products was nearly $15 billion, or about a third of what Americans spend out-of-pocket for prescription drugs."

Because herbs and herbal preparations sold do not fall under FDA guidelines, many experts and concerned about contamination in products that consumers just naturally think are regulated.

So, in addition to your herb garden and personal herbal blends being easier on the pocketbook, they are probably a lot safer than purchased supplements.

photo used with permission under morgueFile Free License

All written content ©2010 Patrice Campbell unless otherwise noted.

Herbal Jams

If you don't have any fruit trees to harvest, don't despair. Check the Farmers Market and the produce store to find fresh and aromatic gifts of nature overflowing the tables. Load up the car because you can't beat the prices this time of year. What you can't eat fresh, turn into pies and crumbles. Then start canning and freezing for the winter months.


Don't forget the jams and jellies, either. Even a cup of sugar won't be able to overwhelm the freshness that will come through when natures gifts are preserved. As long as you're making jams and jellies, don't forget the herbs.


I'm not giving you a recipe in this post. Just follow your basic recipe, but be creative when adding the herbs. Think a bit differently this year. Use your imagination.


Don't limit yourself to adding mint to the apple jelly. The price of lamb is sky high and chances are you won't be eating a whole lot of it before spring. Think of what you'll be cooking this fall and winter.


Do you spoon a dab of jelly on the plate with your eggs? Maybe you should flavor a couple of jars of your favorite homemade jam or jelly with some fresh basil from your herb garden. And, it doesn't have to be apple jelly. We're being creative here. Basil flavored peach or pear jam would really perk up those scrambled eggs.


Do you serve applesauce with your pork? What fresh or dried herbs do you use to season the pork? Pineapple with your ham? Have you ever tried any other kind of fruit? Why not give it a try. Make homemade jam with the fruit you bought on sale and flavor it with any herb you use to flavor the meat.


Be creative. Think of a fresh fruit herb jam to use as a relish with all of your meat dishes. Turn your kitchen counter into a showcase of gourmet herbal jams and jellies. Make enough to pass out as hostess gifts and tuck some away to give at Christmas. 


But, first things first, make sure you have enough homemade jams and jellies for your family.


Photo used with permission under morgueFile Free License


All written content ©2010 Patrice Campbell unless otherwise noted.

Herbs on the Move

Planning on bringing your herbs indoors during the winter? Herbs find moving just has stressful as people do. September is a perfect time to get the garden herbs ready for their new habitat.


Choose the herbs that will be brought indoors, and cut them back as much as possible. Keep the sprigs you remove, clean them and bundle them up to dry. They’ll come in handy during the long winter months. Even though the confidence of fresh herbs from the indoor herb garden is high, accidents do happen. You’ll also want to make sure you have enough dried herbs on hand to flavor apple jellies, vinegars,  ciders, soups and stews.


The extra dried herbs will also make wonderful homemade holiday gifts, crafts and simmer pots.


Dig up the cut back herbs, and after careful examination of disease or garden pests, plant them in a clean, well drained pot with sterile soil. Move the  herb pots to the shade for about a week or so to let them recover from the shock of the transplant. After a week, put them back in the herb garden until it’s time to bring them into the house.


Don’t overlook the mint. They will be an attractive and aromatic addition to the closed up winter home. Put them in a hanging basket in a location where they will get indirect sunlight.


Another garden plant that will give a refreshing whiff of spring each time you walk past it during the long winter months is scented geranium. The plant is sturdy enough to withstand a good washing to get rid of any insects before it is brought inside, and it’s a good idea to do just that. Just dig it up, cut back the roots by about a third, and swish it around in a bucket of lukewarm water and gentle soap. Rinse thoroughly before transplanting it in a clean pot with sterile soil.


Photo used with permission under morgueFile Free License




All written content ©2010 Patrice Campbell unless otherwise noted.

It's September! Stop Picking Those Roses

By now you should have collected and dried enough rosebuds to get you through your crafting season. Leave those roses on the bush, and start collecting the petals before they drop and blow away. Just the petals, mind you. You want to let the hips get nipped by a frost before you collect them for tea.


If you have an abundance of rose petals, use them to make rose water to use in beauty preparations. 




Homemade Rose Water

• Boil 1-1/3 cup of water.
• Turn the heat down so the water is just simmering.
• Add 1 cup fresh rose petals.
• Allow to simmer for 3 minutes.
• Strain into a clean container.
• Dispose of the rose petals.
• Return the rose water to the pan.
• Bring to a simmer.
• Add another cup of rose petals
• Repeat the process until 3 cups of petals have been simmered and strained.
• Pour into clean bottle or jar.
• Allow to cool.
• Cover

Rose water is used in scented beauty soaps, moisturizers, fragrances and bath preparations. Have enough rose water on hand to experiment with the recipes I'll be sharing.


If the steam from simmering the rose water gets to be too much, pour a bit of your already cooled rose water on a clean cloth and pat your face and throat. Cool, aromatic and refreshing, isn't it?


Lay out any rose petal that are left so that they can air dry and be ready for other preparations that I'll be writing about throughout the fall and winter. 


Check your roses daily. Don't let any of those precious petals go to waste. Keep making the water and drying the leftovers. Homemade beauty products and crafts made with roses are great for gifts if you have more than you can use yourself.


photo used with permission under morgueFile Free License


All written content ©2010 Patrice Campbell unless otherwise noted.

A Cabbage Poultice for Arthritis Joint Pain

 I was surprised to learn that cabbage leaves have been used for centuries in medicine. They make wonderful poultices and are used for swelling , skin ulcers, sprains and strains. 

In fact, rheumatoid arthritis patients in a Swiss hospital routinely have their inflamed joints wrapped with the leaves at night to find relief from swelling and pain.

How to Make a Cabbage Poultice

It’s quite easy to make a cabbage poultice. Savoy cabbages seem to work the best.

Things you need:

·         Savoy cabbage leaves
·         Sharp knife
·         Cutting board
·         Rolling pin
·         Gauze bandage

Step 1

Cut the center rib out of the cabbage leaf.

Step 2

Lay the leaves out flat on the chopping board.

Step 3

Pound the leaves with the rolling pin until the cabbage juice start to come out of the leaves.

Step 4

Wrap the juicy cabbage leaves around the painful joint.

Step 5

Cover the cabbage leaves with the gauze bandage to keep the leaves in place and prevent the juice from dripping.

photo by morgueFile free license

Nasturtiums for Dinner

You probably have nasturtiums planted in the flower garden or in containers because of the beauty of the flowers.


It’s also possible that you have them tucked into the vegetable garden because of their reputation as a great companion plant.

Many of us forget that nasturtium is actually an herb and used by many cooks.

Use Nasturtium as Spice and Garnish

The nasturtium is sometimes called Indian Cress and is, in fact, a close cousin of true watercress. Fresh nasturtium leaves can substitute anywhere true watercress is called for. If you like watercress sandwiches, try a nasturtium leaf sandwich instead.

The leaves of the herb will add a slightly peppery taste to salads and soups. Try this great summertime cucumber salad with nasturtiums.

The flowers of the nasturtium can be used as well as the herb leaves. The bright colors of yellow, orange and red brighten a simple dish of applesauce as well as making a festive herbal butter.

Get the Kids Involved

The only part of the nasturtium that can’t be eaten is the seed, which is full of oxalic acid. But don’t let that go to waste because nasturtiums are easy to grow.

Get the kids involved in gardening by giving them a few seeds. Once they stick the herb into a pot of soil or a section of the herb garden, all they need is a bit of water and sunshine. Let the kids gather the tiny leaves and add them to their vegetable to entice them to eat them for a change.

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Summer Nasturtium Salad

When the nasturtium are in bloom, it must mean it’s time for herb salad. 

Pick 6 flowers, making sure you get the leaves. Wash them and remove the and set aside the leaves and flower heads to drain. Discard the stems.

In a blender, mix:

·         2 Tablespoons of wine vinegar

·         6 Tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil

·         ½ teaspoon dry mustard

·         2 Tablespoons of chopped fresh tarragon

·         Freshly ground pepper to taste

·         Salt to taste

Peel and thinly slice 2 fresh cucumbers just before serving.

Add the smallest of the nasturtium herb leaves and the salad dressing to the cucumbers and gently toss until the cucumbers are well coated.

Add the remaining nasturtium leaves and flowers as a garnish.

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Basiled Egg Scramble

Basiled Egg Scramble

Melted cheese and basil turn simple scrambled eggs into a gourmet treat that’s easy to fix. A quick breakfast on their own, these eggs, served with an English muffin and piece of fresh fruit make a nice lunch for 4. Serve with a garden salad and juice for a light dinner.

Beat 8 eggs with:

•  ½ cup of milk  
• ½ cup of fresh, minced sweet or lemon basil. (¼ cup of dried basil will work if the fresh is not at hand)

Melt 1 Tablespoon in pan

Cook the egg mixture, stirring occasionally, until the eggs are almost set.

Sprinkle with 1 cup of grated Parmesan cheese.

Salt and pepper to taste

Cover and remove from heat.

When the cheese has melted, give the scrambled egg mixture a quick toss and sprinkle with paprika.

Herbal Egg Casserole

Herbal Egg Casserole

This easy casserole recipe is for six servings, more if served as part of a buffet,  but any leftovers can easily be reheated. English muffins and wedges of avocado, along with herbed tomato juice, will make it a complete meal.

The nice thing about it is that it can be prepped well ahead of time so that the cook isn’t overwhelmed at the last minute.

Cook and crumble 12 slices of bacon

Peel and slice 12 hard boiled eggs and layer them in a buttered casserole

Blend:

• 1 cup of milk
• 1 cup of mayonnaise
• 2 cans cream of mushroom soup (or celery soup)
• ½ teaspoon thyme
• 2 Tablespoons freshly snipped chives

Pour the mixture over the sliced eggs

Pop into a 350 degree oven for 20 minutes

Sprinkle with paprika and the crumbled bacon and bake for 10 additional minutes.

Herbal Recipes for Holiday Brunch

I hope you don’t plan on making mom do all the cooking for the holiday. Shame. The budget may not allow the whole family to eat out on this special day, but Mom can be pampered in her own home if someone steps up to take on some of the food preparation.

The first step to making Mom feel special is to bring her a nice cup of  herbal tea and make sure she has her feet up. If time permits, have a cup with her and catch up on each others lives. Tell her not to be alarmed at the noises coming out of the kitchen, and assure her that the kitchen will be left as found, or as close as you can manage.

Being the organized person that you are, you’ve already made sure that all the ingredients for the dishes chosen are in place in the kitchen, so get to work.

Herbal Egg Casserole

This easy casserole recipe is for six servings, more if served as part of a buffet,  but any leftovers can easily be reheated. English muffins and wedges of avocado, along with herbed tomato juice, will make it a complete meal.

The nice thing about it is that it can be prepped well ahead of time so that the cook isn’t overwhelmed at the last minute.

Basiled Egg Scramble

Melted cheese and basil turn simple scrambled eggs into a gourmet herbal treat that’s easy to fix. A quick breakfast on their own, these eggs, served with an English muffin and piece of fresh fruit make a nice lunch for 4. Serve with a garden salad and juice for a light dinner.

Cheese and Herb Wedges

These yummy herb and cheese wedges go with eggs as well as they do with hearty stews and soups. A perfect addition to any brunch.

Add to the variety with your own version of pancake or crepes.

Pancake Rollups

Herbed pancakes stuffed with ham are a special treat, whether served as part of a buffet or as a side dish to a light meal. This recipe calls for the herb sage, but you should experiment with other herbs until you discover the perfect crepe batter. Once the batter is perfected, move on to other savory stuffings. Cooked sausage, fruit preserves or whipped herb cheeses are all proven winners in my family.

I simply add freshly chopped herb and cheese to pancake or crepe butter and cook as I would the plain ones. From then on, it’s all experimentation. I’m thinking of offering a choice of stuffing for my next brunch, letting guests choose their own rollup fillings.

Herb Seasoning for Eggs

Make up some packets of egg seasonings to give an extra zing to deviled eggs or egg salad using equal parts of:

Ground celery seed

Onion granules

Dillweed

Store in an airtight container and add to your egg mixture according to taste.

Whipped Garlic Butter

If you’re like me, warm bread and butter is a gourmet treat all on its own. But if you really want to impress people, herbal butters are the way to go. Garlic butter dresses up not only fresh bread, but rice, hot vegetables and grilled steak.

Simply crush 4 small garlic cloves and add them to a cup of softened butter. Beat until you have a fluffy herbal butter. Put in a tightly covered container and refrigerate.

Use the mixture within a week.

Divide and Share Your Garden Herbs

As you do the spring cleanup of the herb garden, you’ll probably find shoots from the perennial herbs and want to take a quick break for a cup of herbal tea as the scent from the fresh, tender leaves surround you. Before you start the teakettle, take the time to divide the thyme, chive, oregano and mint plants first, and turn that fresh herb tea time into a gathering with friends. Present each guest with a potted herb you’ve taken from your garden and trade herbal recipes and gardening tips.

Remember not to let your guests thank you for a shared garden plant. By gardening tradition, that thanks is done by passing a rooting or division on to someone else.

Once back to the herb garden, look over the upright thyme and lavender and give them a light groom. Don’t pull them out, even though they probably look quite dead. It takes a bit longer for new growth to show on the old branches of these herb plants. The deadwood can be identified and removed later in the spring, once the new growth has sprouted from most of the branches.

The tarragon, sage, lavender and thyme probably look like they won’t survive, but leave them alone. Pull the weeds, but don’t cut back the herbs until strong new growth appears.

As the April showers bring the herbs to life, continue to divide root clumps and runner roots so that the herb plants get good air circulation. When your friend’s gardens are full, consider donating the potted herbs to clubs holding fundraisers. Senior citizen clubs are often filled with gardeners who would enjoy receiving a living herb plant. Make sure the pots are properly marked with the name of the herb.

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Herb Garden Kit for Mother's Day

It’s not too soon to start thinking about Mother's Day, and few mothers would take offense at receiving an herb garden in a planter. You can give a living herb garden, or make up a kit if you have a mom with a green thumb.

There are a lot of attractive herb garden containers to choose from. A plain container in a basket, a personally decorated planter (especially if it can be decorated by grandkids), or my favorite, the strawberry planter, all make good container gardens for herbs.

If you’re making an herb garden kit, be sure to add enough sterile potting soil mix to fill the container. Put it in a plastic baggie and wrap it up in burlap. To make the soil look all earthy and natural, decorate it by tying it off with raffia.

Add packets of quality seeds, and don’t forget a marker for each kind of herb included. Darling markers can be purchased at most dollar stores if you don’t want to make your own.

Add enough gravel to cover the bottom of the planting container. Wrap it up in burlap and tie with raffia like you did with the potting soil. Make sure you mark what it is. Tuck the gravel kit into a small watering can and stick it in the container.

To finish off the herb garden kit, add a soil scoop, snipers, fertilizer and gloves.

If you’re planning to visit mom on Mother’s Day, go ahead and plant the seeds now so you can present mom with a living herb garden as a gift. You might want to make two. Use one for a gift and keep one for your own kitchen. Use it as a quick and easy source for cooking herbs and teas, scented greenery for the window sill, or with a little creativity with plant container decoration, the tiny herb garden will make a beautiful centerpiece for the kitchen table.

Dreams of Spring

The sudden scent of a fresh breeze from the open window mixed with the smell of fabric softener from the laundry room. It was more than I could bear. Deadlines be damned, I left the computer and ventured on to the back patio.

With the dogs content to doze at my feet, I just sat and enjoyed the early afternoon. Even the fat robins seemed happy to sit on the fence and keep me company. The perfect silence of a school day, the warmth of the sun soaking into the joints, the promising green shoots of the early perennials living in the sheltered areas of the yard, all did their best to lull me into a stupor. But my mind couldn’t be stilled.

I can envision the fresh green leaves on the branches that have not even started to bud. I can smell the roses on the cut back canes that are just starting to show a hint of green. The old cement flower pots hold their secrets tightly, not yet offering hints of the annuals or vegetables they will suggest holding when the time is right for planting.

Knowing a blizzard or two is yet to come, I was content to sit in the sun and dream. I saw the hammock that lives under the maple tree in the summer. I could smell the herbs and taste the berries. I think red petunias will look inviting in the wishing well in the corner.

It’s the first week of March. Bits of ice still linger in the shady parts of the yard. More will come. But today was a gift. I’m glad I took advantage of the offering and left the computer to just sit and dream. 

I Think I Just Invented Contentment Tea

Herbal teas have been used to treat ailments for thousands of years, and sometime we get so caught up with the medicinal uses of herbs that we forget to just enjoy them for their flavor and the warm, cozy feeling we get from them.


Tonight, I have a backache from sitting at my desk too long. I also have a chill. All I wanted to do was put my feet up and relax with a cup of tea. I didn’t want caffeine, but wanted something quick. Luckily I had a box of chamomile tea bags. I plugged in the water kettle, added a dollop of honey to my big old mug, and searched through the spice cabinet to find something to give the chamomile tea some extra flavor.

I think I just invented Contentment Tea.

I added ginger and cinnamon to the honey and some warm water to mix it all together until the honey dissolved. Plopped in the teabag and filled the mug to the top with boiling water.

I gathered up my laptop and my tea, propped the pillows against the headboard, and was already feeling more relaxed as I brought the mug to my lips.

The first thing I noticed was how heavenly my tea smelled. I felt myself relax a bit more. But my first sip of the brew actually made me smile.

I wish I had measured out the honey, ginger and cinnamon so that I could share my recipe, but I didn’t. But it doesn’t really matter. What matters is that what I mixed together with my herb tea is giving me contentment. It’s warming, relaxing and comforting to me at this given moment.

At any given time you can make a cup of herb and spice tea to satisfy an unidentified need. Experiment. Don’t worry about not having fresh or dried herbs from your garden. You can use store bought teas and spices from a jar in a pinch.

So should I call it Contentment Tea or Comfort Tea?

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Cinnamon, the Valentines Day Spice

A bedtime snack of toast and hot chocolate spiced with cinnamon can warm you up in more ways than one. It gives a whole new meaning to the innocent phrase red hot, as cinnamon has long been used as an aphrodisiac.


Associated with the God Apollo and the sun, cinnamon is also linked with the element of fire. Love charms and spells depend on the spicy scent of cinnamon and its essential oil. Gift shop scented brooms can be charged to bring love into the household where they are displayed.

Cinnamon is a spice, and not an herb, but is used by herbalists, cooks and witches because of it's beneficial properties.

Cinnamon incense brings a warm feeling on a cold evening, and can increase a mood and as well as a mans’ libido. A cinnamon scented candle in the bedroom will add to the romantic setting.

Because cinnamon goes so well with so many things, it’s easy to use discreetly as a love potion. Set the mood for passion by adding cinnamon and sugar to cider, wine or coffee. Cinnamon goes as well with squash as it does with apples or oranges. And no one will question a little extra in the potpourri.

For those who’d rather attract money than romance, make a bowl of cinnamon clay. Place a few coins in the bowl along with a slip of paper with the amount of money you need written on it. Once you get the money, bury the paper and the coins you used in the yard as repeat the process as the need arises.

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Garlic as an Herbal Aphrodisiac

Do you know a pregnant woman bothered by jealous nymphs? Recommend garlic.

From Aphrodisiac to medical antiseptic to an aid to increase sperm count, garlic has had many medicinal uses throughout history. The pungent herb has a surprising history associated with lovemaking.

The word garlic comes from "spear," and the shape of the plant shows a phallic connection. Maybe this is why in some places of the world a groom would wear a flower of the garlic plant to enhance the chance of a successful and romantic night with his new bride.

The volatile oil in the raw clove has an antibiotic effect. In fact it was used during WWI to treat wounded soldiers. The Russian army used in during WWII when they ran out of penicillin. But even before that the early Greeks helped troops build up their courage with a garlic tonic, and treated battlefield wounds with garlic antiseptic. Perhaps garlic is reason why so many woman have always been attracted to man in uniform.

Garlic is well known to protect against vampires, but I never thought of the smelly cloves as a love potion.

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Do you know of other herbal phhrodisiacs? Leave a comment with info so we can prepare our Valentines Day love potions.

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Cheezy Herb Wedges Recipe

On cold blustery winter days I love home made soup. I like to have a big pot of it and I freeze cooled portions in freezer bags so I can have it when I please.

A perfect companion to homemade soup is homemade bread or rolls. But who has the time to bake homemade bread? Luckily, I found this recipe that is based on Bisquick. It doesn't have to rise, so prep time is just minutes, and it bakes up in another 25. By the time you fix a cup of herbal tea and warm up the soup, the whole house smells good and you know it's time to eat.

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
grease a round 8" cake pan

In a medium bowl, mix:

• 1 slightly beaten egg
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/4 cup butter, melted
• 1/2 cup wine (sauterne)

 Add

• 2 t. dried minced onion
• 2 cups Bisquick
• 1 T. sugar
• 1/2 t. dried dill
• 1/2 t. oregano
• 1/2 t. basil

Beat the mixture until blended.
Pour into the greased cake pan.
Sprinkle 1/3 cup shredded Cheddar cheese (I like the extra sharp) over the mixture and bake for about 25 minutes. Serve with butter.

If any of the bread is left over, which I doubt, toast it, cube it and use it in salads.

What are your favorite herbs to add to bread? Do you make herb butter for bread? Please share.

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Replace the Salt in your Food with Herbs

Unless you're planning on selling the bulk of your herb garden harvest, it's always good to know just how to use them in cooking. Although experimenting turns out well for a lot of people, some need advice and recipes if for no other reason than having someone else to blame if a piece of meat is not to everyones liking.

With a little patience and creativity, you can produce herbal blends to complement your dishes so that you can reduce, and even eliminate salt from your cooking. In fact, try substituting a lesser amount of low-sodium herb margarine for butter in popcorn. Use about half a teaspoon each of onion powder, garlic powder, and basil per half cup of diet margarine (for approximately 10 cups of popcorn) and see if anyone notices the lack of salt.

Enhance the flavor of beef with your own blends of scallions, onions, garlic, marjoram, rosemary, oregano, bay leaf, thyme, parsley or basil.

Eggs perk right up with the addition of thyme, tarragon, chives, marjoram, rosemary and basil. The only spice to add is pepper and/or paprika.

Instead of salt, flavor poultry with thyme, sage, marjoram, garlic, basil, tarragon or thyme.

Mint is a favorite herb to add to lamb, but you can also try scallions, garlic, rosemary, thyme, sage or marjoram.

Vegetables also benefit with the addition of herbs. I love mashed potatoes with garlic and potatoes fried with onion. Mint or rosemary will also compliment the spud.

Savory, dill, dry mustard, garlic or onion all go well with green beans. Spritz lemon juice and dry mustard on asparagus, or steam with thyme or marjoram.

Carrots seem to be a vegetable you just can't ruin, no matter what you add, even maple syrup. For a lighter carrot dish, try spearmint and marjoram, thyme or dill.

What's your favorite?

Add a Medicinal Herb to Your Favorite Cup of Herbal Tea

Identifying the perfect blend of herbs for tea may take some time because once the perfect blend is found, you realize other herbs and spices can be added to give it the extra zing you sometimes need.

 Medicinal herbs can be added to tea bring relief on those sick days when you use herbal tea as a comfort drink. If the herb with the properties your body needs doesn't suit your taste, simply stir in a teaspoon of honey. It will sweeten the tea, mask the taste of the medicinal herb and soothe the throat.

Medicinal Herbs

• Headaches can be eased with equal amounts of thyme, rosemary and lavender.
• Yarrow, boneset, rosemary, lavender and thyme can all temporarily relieve the symptoms of colds and flu.
• When you're not feeling well, no matter what the cause, you can calm your nerves with a brew of marjoram, chamomile, thyme, sage or catnip.

The herb yarrow has been used to treat almost everything, so if you like the taste, try incorporating yarrow into your herb tea blend as well as your herb garden. It grows to a height of 2 to three feet, so plant it in a spot that will highlight your garden.

Boneset, an herb once listed in the U.S. Pharmacopoeia as an official medicine, tastes awful, but also has a list of medicinal herb uses. If you want to give the herb boneset a try, be prepared to use a lot of honey to mask the taste, or, if you drink a lot of tea, set aside the boneset decoction and add a bit at a time to each cup of your favorite fresh herbal tea.

One of the oldest herbal medicines is thyme. At one time it was used to prevent nightmares, and is still popular as a headache remedy.

And don't forget to visit the Herbal Tea Recipe Swap article to get ideas and share your favorite herbal tea recipes.

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Herbal Tea Recipe Swap

There is something about a bracing cup of herbal tea to take away a chill, and as I was looking out the window at the snow covered ground yesterday I started wondering about blending herbs for experimental brews. So I decided to do some investigating to see what others liked.


It seems mint is popular with most people. But there are so many mints it would take the rest of the winter to try them all. Luckily, Iced Mint Tea also seems to be a winner.

When making herbal tea, use 2 leaves of herb per cup. Don’t brew herbal tea in a metal container, and strain tea leaves before drinking.

Fill the cup with boiling water and let it steep. If you cover the cup with the saucer, it will keep it from cooling quickly. If you like sweet tea, add 1 teaspoon of honey.

Applemint tea is a favorite of many, especially during the holidays, with a little added cinnamon. It sounds like it would also be a good iced tea.

I really enjoy spearmint tea, but I tend to reserve it for when my tummy is bothering me.

Orangemint has also been recommended. As has pineapple mint and peppermint. Peppermint is available in black or white.

Catnip is considered a mint, and makes a relaxing bedtime drink, unless you’re a cat.

While mint makes a wonderful tea on its own, it also enhances your favorite brand of commercial tea.

Other herbal tea favorites include lemon balm and lemon verbena.

A blend of thyme, oregano, chamomile, marjoram and sage is a sworn favorite of my friend Phyllis. She uses the herbs in equal measurements.

I think a bit of sage and rosemary added to peppermint tea would be good, as would a blend of the citrus mints.

Once you find your favorite blend, experiment by adding medicinal herbs to your brew. Especially during flu season.  Learn more about medicinal herbs.

If you have a favorite herbal tea blend, please share it in the comment section below. It would help a lot of us with our plans for the organic herb garden.

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Start your 2010 Herbal Journal

Did you get your seed catalogs? If not, they should be arriving any day. Pull out your graph paper and pencil and start redesigning your herb garden.


As you look through the seed catalogs, gardening magazines and websites take notes and keep them in a 3-ring binder so you have your own herbal journal. You can always add sections for recipes using herbs, an herb wish list, and tips on growing, using and preserving herbs.

Sub divide your sections so you can easily find information herbal cooking, medicinal herbs, herbal beauty products, potpourri recipes, essential oils and decorating with herbs.

Another way the herbal journal will come in handy is to record how well your herbs grew so that next year you can try planting them in a different area of the garden or perhaps purchase the herbs from a different vendor.

Don’t forget a section for thing you might try someday. For instance, if you think you might want to make homemade herbal sachets and pillows for gifts, you might want to keep track of ideas and tips as you find them. Here’s your first tip:

If you plan on making herbal Christmas decorations for next year, get out now and buy Christmas fabrics at a deep discount.

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New Year Indoor Herb Garden

As the holiday ornaments are taken down and put away, fill the empty spaces by starting an indoor herb garden. Attractive, aromatic, and handy, the growing herbs will cozy up your newly barren spaces.


Fresh herbs are preferred to dry by most cooks, and can easily be grown in a container on the window sill or kitchen counter. Herbs can be kept close at hand throughout the year, or transplanted in the garden when the weather permits.

Sage, basil, parsley, chives, and oregano will fit nicely in a strawberry type planter and be an attractive addition to you kitchen. Just snip off what you need as you cook.

The most popular herbs for a kitchen herb garden are spearmint, savory, basil, oregano, sage, dill, parsley and chives. You can start these indoors on the window sill and later move them. As long as you’re planting, add other cooking favorites, like thyme, rosemary, lavender, mint and some scented geranium.

Remember to control your mints by planting them in a metal container to keep them from overtaking you container or kitchen garden.