Strawberry Sauce: A Happy Accident

Strawberry Sauce and Unexpected Surprises in the Kitchen

A while back, I was in the process of turning fresh strawberries into strawberry jam. At the time, I was cooking while distracted by other matters--usually something to be avoided, as kitchen accidents can occur. While distracted, I had added the pectin out of order,  contrary to the jam recipe's instructions. As a jam, the concoction was ruined; however, the mixture turned out to be an excellent strawberry sauce that can top pancakes, waffles, cheesecake, fresh peaches, and-my favorite--vanilla ice cream, preferably Blue Bell.

Here's the recipe to this "happy accident", minus the pectin:

1 quart crushed strawberries
7 cups sugar
a few splashes of lemon juice

Cook the crushed strawberries over medium heat for about 10 minutes. Add the sugar and lemon juice; cook for another 10 minutes until thickened and bubbly.

Serve immediately or can the mixture: for the latter, process in a hot water bath for 10-15 minutes (pint jars).

Bon appetit!

Sourdough Starter: Fun Chemistry in the Kitchen

Why Make Sourdough Starter? 

If you enjoy baking on a regular basis and enjoy the tangy lift that sourdough brings to various breads and pancakes, then you will want to keep sourdough starter on hand. Making and using sourdough starter is easy and fun; besides, it's not with many other concoctions that the following exchange is possible:

You: You've gotta get a whiff of this.
Other person: What is it?
You: Just smell it.
Other person: Whoa! That's sour!

Making Sourdough Starter

You need a few basic ingredients, plus a little time, in order to make sourdough starter. Here's the recipe:

2 cups milk
1 2-oz package active dry yeast
2 TBSP plain yogurt
2 cups flour

Blend the milk and yeast; heat this mixture until the milk reaches about 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Let cool a few minutes and then stir in the yogurt. Transfer this mixture to a glass container (I prefer using a large canning jar). Gradually beat in the flour. Cover the glass container with a dish cloth and then let sit in a warm place for the next 2 to 5 days; I like to place the container on a warm heating pad to ensure even temperature.

Check the mixture every day. If it bubbles and has a sour smell, that's great: the starter is fermenting beautifully. If the mixture turns pink, the fermentation process has broken down. You'll need to compost the mixture and start over.

After the mixture has fermented and is nice and bubbly, store the starter in the refrigerator. You'll probably want to use the starter at least once a week in order to keep it active.

Before using the starter, let it come to room temperature. Also, after using the starter, replace with equal amounts of warm milk and flour. So, if you use 1/2 cup of starter, you'll need to blend in 1/2 cup of warm milk and 1/2 cup of flour.

Masa_madre.jpg ‎(777 × 477 pixels, file size: 73 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Sourdough Starter                  This work is in the public domain

Holidays and Events for the Month of August

August Holidays--Some Tongue in Cheek

Who says that August is too hot to do anything? This month is filled with all sorts of notable days and occurrences. Take a look, and fill your calendar.

Events for the month of August

American Indian Heritage Month

Admit You're Happy Month

Happiness Happens Month

Family Fun Month

National Catfish Month

National Peach Month

Water Quality Month

National Picnic Month

National Sandwich Month

Celery, Fennel and Cactus Month

National Goat Cheese Month

National Panini Month 

Weekly Events for the Month of August

Simplify Your Life Week: August 1-7

World Breastfeeding Week: August 1-7

National Farmers' Market Week: August 4-10

National Resurrect Romance Week: August 4-10

National Bargain Hunting Week: August 5-11 

Elvis Week: August 10-16

Feeding Pets of the Homeless Week: August 11-17

Little League Baseball World Series: August 18-24

Be Kind To Humankind Week: August 25-31

National Safe at Home Week: August 26-30

August Holidays, some more official than others:

1 National Raspberry Cream Pie Day

1 Lughnasadh, or Lammas (literally “loaf mass”)

1 Spiderman Day

2 National Ice Cream Sandwich Day

2 International Beer Day

2 India Pale Ale Beer Day

3 National Mustard Day 

3 National Watermelon Day

4 Friendship Day 

4 International Forgiveness Day (notice how this holiday coincides with Friendship Day; it’s said that the best way to get rid of an enemy is to make him or her your friend)

4 National Chocolate Chip Day (a pattern is definitely emerging for August 4)

4 Sisters Day

5 National Oyster Day

6 National Root Beer Float Day

6 National Night Out

8 Eid-Al Fitr

8 Sneak Some Zucchini onto Your Neighbor's Porch Day

8 Happiness Happens Day (with or without the zucchini)

9 Book Lover's Day

9 International Day of the World’s Indigenous People

9 Worldwide Art Day

10 Lazy Day

10 National S'mores Day

9-11 Kool-Aid Day

13 International Left Hander's Day

14 V-J Day

14 National Creamsicle Day

15 Relaxation Day

16 National Tell a Joke Day

17 National Thriftshop Day

17 International Geocaching Day

17 International Homeless Animals Day

18 Bad Poetry Day (here’s a link to the Vogon Poem Generator to kick off this holiday in style)

19 World Humanitarian Day (a day after Bad Poetry Day)

19 Cupcake Day

21 Senior Citizen's Day

22 Be an Angel Day

23 Ride the Wind Day

24 Pluto Demoted Day (a somber observance)

24 National Waffle Day (eat waffles and commiserate about Pluto’s demotion)

24-25 International Bat Night

25 Founder’s Day, National Park Service

25 Go Topless Day (not in a national park though: you might be arrested)

25 National Whisky Sour Day

26 Women's Equality Day

29 More Herbs, Less Salt Day

29 National Whisky Sour Day (you’re not seeing double: this holiday is observed twice this month)

30 Frankenstein Day

30 Toasted Marshmallow Day (because Frankenstein and marshmellows go together)

31 National Trail Mix Day

Celebrating National Picnic Month
This work is in the public domain. 

Natural Pest Control for the Garden

Natural Alternatives to Pesticide in the Garden

Where there is gardening, pests are not far behind, waiting in the wings to decimate your crops. Yet, you may not wish to apply a chemical to rid your garden of the pests: you may be worried about ties to cancer as well as to the diminishing honeybee population due to colony collapse disorder. If so, give these alternatives a try.

1. Companion planting, to discourage pests directly or to act as "trap crops." 

2. Picking off the insects by hand or spraying them with a strong burst from the water hose. 

3. Bringing in or attracting natural predators, such as ladybugs, lace wings, praying mantises, hover flies, nematodes, and birds. 

4. Making your own plant-based deterrent, such as a spray made of onion, garlic, and hot peppers blended together.

5. Culling weak or diseased plants that may harbor pests. 

6. Rotating crops each gardening season. 

7. Watering the garden early in the morning so that leaves are dry most of the day. Wet leaves encourages pests. 

8. Sprinkling diatomaceous earth, egg shells, or coffee grounds to get rid of slugs: the rough texture of these remedies cut the underbellies of the pests. For imported cabbageworms, sprinkle Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) around members of the cabbage family; Bt also works for tomato hornworms. 

Do you have any natural pest deterrents that work for you? Please feel free to share your insights in the comments section.

By User:MatthiasKabel (Own work) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC-BY-SA-3.0-2.5-2.0-1.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons, Ladybug: example of natural pest control

Companion Planting: Making a Love Match

Companion Planting: An Ideal Match

Do you wish that your garden plants would thrive? Do you want to reduce garden pests naturally? Companion planting may be your answer. Companion planting is the practice of pairing or grouping plants that help each other grow, producing higher yields,  or that help one or the other with pest control, naturally.Also, as the excerpt "Companion Plants Made Easy" (excerpted from Companion Planting, Rodale) points out, companion planting also leads to botanical diversity in the garden, similar to that of a forest or prairie ecosystem. In any case, these plants are mutually beneficial, a match made in garden heaven.

Some Natural Companions: Not an Exhaustive List

Tomatoes and basil
Corn, pole beans, and squash--the Three Sisters: a classic match
Rosemary and broccoli
Beans and broccoli
Calendula and nearly any herb or vegetable (as a trap crop to lure insects)
Peas and carrots
Cucumbers and beans or radishes
Lettuce and strawberries or radishes
Onions and carrots
Parsley and asparagus
Garlic and roses
Thyme and eggplant
Carrots and tomatoes--as suggested by Louise Riotte's Carrots Love Tomatoes: Secrets of Companion Planting for Successful Gardening, Storey
Peppers and tomatoes or onions
Nasturtium and squash
Rue and roses or raspberries

Do you have any tried and true companion plant combinations? Please feel free to share in the comments section.

By Fungus Guy (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons. Corn, beans, and squash--the Three Sisters and the ultimate in companion planting

Green Salsa, Fresh from the Garden

Green Salsa: Easy Recipe

Last summer, I had an abundance of green tomatoes that had to be picked so that the plants would not be overburdened: I confess that at one point, due to a busy schedule, the garden had gotten away from me briefly. I ended up making salsa verde with this bounty, substituting these green tomatoes for the traditional tomatillos. This green sauce drew raves from the household: my unintended, temporary negligence turned out to be a happy accident, as Bob Ross would have said. These days, I have to promise to pick a significant number of tomatoes before they ripen in order to make and keep this salsa well stocked.

Garden-fresh green tomato, still on the vine

Here is the recipe: enjoy!

3 lbs. fresh green tomatoes, preferably straight from the garden, chopped

1 large yellow onion, chopped

2-3 cloves, minced

A handful or so of fresh cilantro, chopped

4-6 banana peppers, chopped

3-8 jalapeno peppers, chopped

1 c. vinegar

A pinch or two of salt

¼ tsp. cayenne

¼ tsp. cumin

Combine all ingredients in a saucepan; bring to a boil and let simmer for 15-20 minutes, until vegetables are soft. Let the mixture cool and then puree in a blender.

Set aside what you want to consume fresh, with tortilla chips (also great on quesadillas). 

If you wish to can the salsa, ladle the mixture in clean, sterilized pint jars. Process in a hot water bath for at least 15 minutes. 

Fresh Green Salsa

Top 10 Books about Gardening

My Top Ten Recommended Books about Gardening: A Must for the Bookshelf

Note: Many of these books are also available in Kindle and/or Nook format. Happy reading!

Bartholomew, Mel. All New Square Foot Gardening. Franklin, TN: Cool Springs Press, 2006. Print. This is a great source for raised bed gardening in small places.

Fell, Derek. Vertical Gardening: Grow Up, Not Out, for More Vegetables and Flowers in Much Less Space. New York: Rodale, 2011. Print. Everything you wanted to know about vertical gardening and saving gardening space.

Lovejoy, Sharon. Trowel and Error: Over 700 Tips, Remedies and Shortcuts for the Gardener. New York: Workman, 2003. Print. A handy reference for the gardener that offers effective, environmentally friendly solutions to many problems encountered in the garden.

Madigan, Carleen, ed. The Backyard Homestead. North Adams, MA: Storey, 2009. Print. This is a comprehensive guide to growing your own food through vegetable and fruit gardening as well as orchard care and keeping livestock.

Ortho. The Complete Guide to Vegetables, Fruits & Herbs: Planning, Planting, Growing, Harvesting. Des Moines: Meredith Books, 2004. Print. This is a good all-purpose gardening guide that offers excellent information, despite my initial trepidation about the company authoring the book.

Reader’s Digest. Magic and Medicine of Plants. Pleasantville, NY: Reader’s Digest Association, 1986. Print. This book explores mainly herbs, both grown in the garden and wild crafted.

Riotte, Louise. Carrots Love Tomatoes: Secrets of Companion Planting for Successful Gardening. North Adams, MA: Storey, 1998. Print. This is the bible of companion planting: the tome that started this gardening trend.

Smith, Edward C. The Vegetable Gardener’s Bible. 2^nd ed. North Adams, MA: Storey, 2009. Print. This is an excellent resource covering anything a gardener would want to know about growing vegetables.

Turner, Julie. Organic Gardening Beginner’s Manual. n.p.: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2012. Print. Provides invaluable information about organic gardening in a non-intimidating way.

Wilhelmi, Christy. Gardening for Geeks: DIY Tests, Gadgets, and Techniques That Utilize Microbiology, Mathematics, and Ecology to Exponentially Maximize the Yield of Your Garden. Avon, MA: Adams Media, 2013. Print. Who can resist the alluring combination of gardening and geek? Get in touch with your inner geek while being in the great outdoors.

Camille Pissarro [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons In the Vegetable Garden 

Strawberry Soup: A Summertime Treat

Chilled Strawberry Soup: Ideal Antidote for a Hot Day

Chilled fruit soups, Scandinavian in origin, provide a perfectly light dessert for those hot summer nights. This strawberry soup, luscious and creamy, is sure to hit the spot.

Strawberry Soup

2 cups fresh strawberries, washed and sliced
1/4 cup sugar or sugar substitute
2 cups heavy cream
1 cup milk
1/2 cup plain or vanilla yogurt

Combine the strawberries and sugar or sugar substitute in a medium pan; cook over low heat for about ten minutes.

In a blender, blend the heavy cream, milk, and yogurt until frothy. Pour half of the mixture in a large bowl. Add the strawberry mixture to the other half of the mixture and blend. Fold this blended strawberry mixture into the large bowl. Chill for at least 8 hours.

Garnish with sliced strawberries, if desired

Serves 4-6 (in my household, it's closer to 4)

Chilled Strawberry Soup

Mulching: A Practical Miracle

What Is Mulch?

Mulch is, usually, an organic covering to be heaped around growing plants. Mulch can consist of straw, fallen leaves, tree bark, chipped trees, and even cocoa hulls (NOTE: Do not use cocoa hulls if you have pets: chocolate in any form is toxic to dogs and cats); there is also a plastic mulch on the market. Mulch is  applied in order to discourage weeds (the botanical pest, not the television series) from appearing--I would be lying if I claimed that mulch entirely eliminated the need to weed--as well as to conserve water and to deliver nutrients, gradually, to the soil. As an added bonus, mulching can help mark the boundary between garden and yard--extremely helpful if you have a housemate who has no clue about gardening and what distinguishes garden from yard (yes, a fence would help too: that has not happened yet and probably will not during this season).

How to Mulch: One Method

The following mulching method works for me: water your garden well, and then spread a layer of compost on the ground, near and surrounding the plants. On top of this compost, spread a heaping layer of mulch--I prefer fallen leaves (hey, they're free) and then water the garden again to wet the leaves (or whatever you use as mulch). You may need to top off the mulch every three to four weeks. Otherwise, be secure in the knowledge that you have saved countless hours weeding and that you are conserving water, nutrients, and much-valued time--leaving you free to sit back and actually enjoy your gardening space.

What are your thoughts about mulching? Please feel free to share your insights in the comments section. 

Christine Matthews [CC-BY-SA-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
Mulched snowdrops

Weeding Woes

Weeding: The Necessary Chore

"That's Roman wormwood - that's pigweed - that's sorrel - that's piper-grass - have at him, chop him up, turn his roots upward to the sun, don't let him have a fibre in the shade, if you do he'll turn himself  t'other side up and be as green as a leek in two days.  A long war, not with cranes, but with weeds, those Trojans who had sun and rain and dews on their side.  Daily the beans saw me come to their rescue armed with a hoe, and thin the ranks of their enemies, filling up the trenches with weed dead.   May a lusty crest-waving Hector, that towered a whole foot above his crowding comrades, fell before my weapon and rolled in the dust." --  Henry David Thoreau, Walden, 1854

Let's face it: there's nothing sexy or appealing about weeding a garden. Of all the gardening chores, weeding is my least favorite. However, keeping weeds from stealing valuable water and nutrients from your plants is crucial. Below I have some suggestions in making weeding less onerous. 

1. Start weeding early in the growing season, and keep weeding throughout the life of this season's garden.Set aside 30 minutes to an hour each week, preferably in the cool of the morning, to tackle this chore. Don't let weeds get the upper hand.

2. Make weed pulling a meditative exercise: as you pull each weed, visualize removing a specific problem (money issues, for example) or character flaw (such as jealousy)  from your life.

3. You can also make weed pulling an exercise in emotional release. If something is bothering you, take it out on the weeds. Pull them, scream at them, stomp on them. Then, burn them in a fire-safe container. You will experience a much-need cathartic release and will feel much better. Of course, if your neighbors seem worried, you may need to explain to them and/or to the police what you're doing.

4. You can get even with some weeds by eating them: some weeds, such as dandelions, lamb's quarters, or purslane, are edible but should be picked young. Be sure you can identify a weed as edible; if in doubt, don't eat it. Also make sure that the weeds you pick are free from pesticides.

5. In order to reduce the need to weed, consider mulching your garden -- a topic for next time.

By Rosendahl [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Quick Red, White, and Blue Parfait

Fourth of July Parfait

If you need a quick dessert for a Fourth of July celebration that involves no cooking time, look no further than the parfait. Involving just three ingredients and highlighting fresh fruit of the season, parfaits can be prepared and assembled in plenty of time for a cookout, barbecue, or other event, leaving more time to enjoy Independence Day festivities.

Recipe for Parfait

2 boxes pudding mix: white chocolate, cheesecake, or vanilla
20-24 strawberries, or to taste
1 dry pint blueberries
whipped cream (optional)

Prepare the pudding according to the package directions; chill for about fifteen minutes. Wash, hull, and slices the strawberries. Rinse the blueberries.

Add two to three heaping tablespoons of pudding to the bottom of each glass. Add a small handful (I have small hands) to each glass. Add two to three more heaping tablespoons of pudding on top of the blueberries. Add two to four sliced strawberries to each glass. Add two to three more heaping of pudding on top of the strawberries. Add the remaining strawberry slices and blueberries, in a decorative pattern that pleases you, on top of the pudding. If desired, add a dollop of whipped cream on top.

Serves 4.

Fourth of July Parfait

Have a fun and safe Independence Day!

Notable Events and Goals in July

Welcome, July

Aah: July, the seventh month of the year, is officially here. Traditionally the second hottest month, we see more outdoor cooking as well as recipes based on fresh fruit and ice cream. In the garden, we tend to reserve most of the chores--weeding, feeding, watering, and harvesting to the cool hours of the morning (preferable) and/or the evening. For teachers as well as schoolchildren, July is the last full month of vacation, so an almost imperceptible energy that demands increasing fun activities, such as barbecues and beach trips, while not neglecting the midday siesta, fills the air during this time.

Notable July Dates, Some Sillier Than Others

National Blueberry Month

National Hot Dog Month

National Ice Cream Month

Mango and Melon Month

1 Build A Scarecrow Day 

1 Canada Day

4 Independence Day (U.S.)

6 International Cherry Pit Spitting Day

7 Chocolate Day

7 National Strawberry Sundae Day

9 National Sugar Cookie Day

10 Piña Colada Day

12 Pecan Pie Day

13 National French Fries Day or National French Fry Day 

15 Tapioca Pudding Day

17 Peach Ice Cream Day

19 National Raspberry Cake Day

21 National Ice Cream Day 

22 National Penuche Fudge Day

23 National Hot Dog Day

23 Vanilla Ice Cream Day

28 National Milk Chocolate Day

29 National Lasagna Day

30 National Cheesecake Day

My Goals for July, in the Garden and in the Kitchen

1. Harvest from the garden. I currently have the following planted: tomatoes, jalapenos, bell peppers, Swiss chard, basil, various green beans, wax beans cucumbers, zucchini, yellow squash, white scallop squash, asparagus (can be harvested next year), mini pumpkins, and acorn squash (the last two can be harvested in the fall). Plus, I have several perennial herbs, such as mint, rosemary, and Greek oregano, that can be harvested.

2. Preserve this harvest by drying, freezing, and canning. In the past, my canning has consisted of using the hot water bath method; I plan to learn how to can using a pressure cooker.

3. Learn how to make herbal wreaths.

4. Keep up with weeding the garden.

5. Mulch the entire garden.

6. Visit pick-your-own farms and farmers' markets for other produce, such as strawberries and blueberries.

7. Make sourdough starter.

8. Do more grilling outdoors.

9. Learn how to make homemade ice cream.

10. Spend more time relaxing outdoors, near the garden. Enjoy the season.

How do you plan to enjoy the month of July? Please feel free to share your comments.

By Lotus Head from Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa (sxc.hu) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html), CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/) or CC-BY-SA-2.5-2.0-1.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5-2.0-1.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

My Top Ten List of Favorite Strawberry Recipes

Strawberries: The Perfect Fruit

I love strawberries: always have. Judging from the popularity of events like the Pasadena Strawberry Festival in Texas, as well as other strawberry festivals in the rest of the United States, Canada, Great Britain, and Australia.

Nutritious strawberries,  loaded with vitamin C, antioxidants, and fiber, are luscious and versatile: it is possible to feature these fruit in every meal's course: salad and main dish, as well as dessert. Of course, they also make a good snack to eat, as is, without any embellishment.

It is difficult to limit my list of favorites to a mere ten, but below is a list of superb strawberry recipes I have found. Enjoy!

1. Strawberry Spinach Salad

2. Strawberry-Avocado Salsa

3. Padre Prawns with Strawberry-Jalapeno Dressing 

4. Chicken-and-Strawberry Salad

5. Zucchini "Pasta" (vegan)

6. Linda's Cheesecake Stuffed Strawberries

7. Strawberry Shortcake

8. Strawberry Bruschetta

9. Strawberry-Mint Sparkling Limeade 

10. Chocolate Covered Strawberries

Chandler strawberries. Photo by Ken Hammond. *Source: http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/graphics/photos/k7726-1.htm {{PD-USGov-USDA-ARS}}   

Compost: Magical Miracle for the Garden

"Double, double, toil and trouble;
Fire burn and cauldron bubble.

Fillet of a fenny snake,
In the cauldron boil and bake;
Eye of newt and toe of frog,
Wool of bat and tongue of dog,
Adder's fork and blind-worm's sting,
Lizard's leg and howlet's wing,
For a charm of powerful trouble,

Like a hell-broth boil and bubble." -- Shakespeare, The Tragedie of MacBeth 4.1.10-19
Making compost may seem as strange and  perhaps intimidating as the famous partial incantation above, but this magical, earthy "potion" is easy and free to make, and it will work wonders for the garden: compost improves soil structure--clay, sandy, or somewhere in between--and will enrich the soil, adjust the pH levels,  and fertilize garden plants, naturally, without questionable chemicals. Plus, the non-meat kitchen scraps will not add to the landfill burden; instead, they will be recycled to the earth.

The University of Illinois Extension offers a handy list of what to compost, and what not to compost.

How do you make compost? It is a simple process: on top of bare ground, within a compost bin, layer "brown" materials (fallen leaves, twigs) and "green" materials (vegetable and fruit scraps, coffee grounds, seaweed) and then mix in a nitrogen source, such as green manure (clover, buckwheat grass) or composted manure. Sprinkle a little water on the mixture and stir with a shovel. Every couple of weeks or so, aerate the pile by stirring it. The mixture will "cook" down. When the compost looks like dark soil, with woodsy pieces,
then the compost is ready to use.

Compost Created 6/12/2006 Photographer: Kessner Photography. May be freely distributed with attribution

Creating Herbal Vinegar

Herbal Vinegar: A Practical Use for an Abundance of Herbs

When it comes to herbs, do you have an embarrassment of riches? If so, making herbal vinegar is one good way to use up those excess herbs. Not long ago, my Greek oregano was threatening to take over the rest of the garden box; it was even trying to crowd out the antique rose (yes, it had been awhile since I had pruned the Greek oregano). I trimmed away two armfuls of the herb and decided to make an herbal vinegar of part of this bounty (I dried the rest), adding some garlic and a bit of rosemary for good measure.

This is the basic recipe I used:

4 handfuls of Greek oregano
several sprigs of rosemary
3 tablespoons of minced garlic
1 gallon of distilled white vinegar (you can substitute red wine vinegar as well)

Rinse the herbs and then place in a non-reactive saucepan. Add the garlic and then the vinegar. Bring to a boil; simmer for five minutes. Let cool for about ten minutes and then put the mixture in a canning jar or jars. Let this mixture steep for two weeks.

Steeping Herbs

Using a bowl underneath a sieve, separate the now-flavored vinegar from the steeped herbs. Run the liquid through a filter--I use a paper towel in a funnel--to remove any trace herbs. Pour the filtered vinegar into a clean jar or bottle.

Filtering the Herbal Vinegar

Your herbal vinegar will make a great homemade vinaigrette dressing or an interesting addition to soups or beans.

Herbal Vinegar, Ready to Use or to Give

Top Ten List of Recommended Herbs for the Garden

Why Herbs? 

If you are new to gardening and feel intimidated, growing herbs can help put any fledgling gardener at ease: Most herbs are easy to grow and do not demand rich soil--in fact, using soil that is not nutrient-rich will yield more flavorful herbs. Of course, many veteran gardeners appreciate growing herbs as well for the colors, scents,and textures the herbs provide in a garden scheme.

Below I present my top ten list of herbs to grow in the garden, in no particular order.

My Top Ten List

1. Mint: this water-loving plant, once established, is difficult to kill. Mint--spearmint, peppermint--chocolate mint, what-have-you--is notorious for spreading and trying to take over the rest of the garden, so plant this herb within a barrier, such as a sunken pot.

2. Basil: this fragrant herb is a must for pesto and marinara sauce, and comes in many varieties. Purple-ruffled basil, anyone?

3. Greek oregano: plant this aromatic herb from cuttings rather than seed to take full advantage of the incomparable flavor.

4. Chives: this herb prefers cool weather but can be planted in a semi-shaded area to prolong production. Chives are great mixed with cream cheese or snipped over baked potatoes.

5. Parsley: another herb that prefers cool weather, parsley blends well and enhances other herbs in cooking.

6. Cilantro: while this herb tends to bolt in hot weather, this herb is a must for salsa and guacamole.

7. Sage: this easygoing herb enlivens many a poultry dish.

8. Dill: this beautiful, feathery herb tends to bolt in hot weather; however, dill is mandatory for many pickled dishes; it also boosts plain-Jane cottage cheese.

9. Rosemary: this has to be my favorite herb of all. It is especially difficult to kill, aromatic--reminiscent of pine--and versatile in the kitchen.

10. Thyme: this diminutive herb enhances meat dishes but also works well with zucchini and other squashes.

Do you have any favorite herbs that did not make the top ten list? Please feel free to share in the comments section.

An Assortment of Herbs from the Garden

Why Gardening? Why Not?

In recent years, more people have turned to gardening as a hobby, honoring a tradition that was practiced by our grandparents and great-grandparents. Whether spurred by the economy or a need to get back to basics, gardening is enjoying a tremendous revival. According to the National Gardening Association, the number of people planning to grown their own food increased by 19% from 2008 to 2009; more recently, according to a 2013 National Gardening survey, about two million more people expressed an interest in "lawn and garden activities," an increase of 2% over the previous year.

Gardening has a legion of benefits:

1. Gardening is good, all-purpose exercise. The digging, hoeing, raking, lifting, squatting, and similar activities will involve muscles you never knew you had. You probably want to supplement gardening activities with others, such as walking, jogging, swimming, or lifting weights, but this activity will get the body moving.

2. Vegetable and herb gardening, as well as small fruit and tree fruit gardening, bless your table with the most enticing, freshest possible foods. Store-bought produce, while convenient, just cannot compare to the fresh taste and texture of produce picked just minutes before from the garden.

3. Gardening can save you money in the long term. Growing your own vegetables and herbs, or other produce,  encourages you to consume them more often, leading to less waste overall.

4. With gardening, you know exactly which fertilizers and pesticides have been used because you have made those decisions yourself. You get to decide whether to grow organically--using compost, for example,  or to use commercial items to build up the soil, feed the plants, and discourage pests.

5. Gardening is a great mood-lifter or mood stabilizer. Whenever I am out of sorts, my loved ones tell me to "go play in the dirt already." Feeling the richness of the soil, the soft silkiness of flower petals, and the like brings a peaceful calm. Even the act of weeding can be Zen-like (yes, it can). Gardening is cheaper than medication and has none of the side effects.

6. Gardening lets you be more in tune with the seasons. Just the act of planning which seeds to plant during the cool season (what Texans call "winter")--peas, lettuces, carrots, for example--and during the warm to hot season (for Texans, this is eight to ten months out of the year)--beans, tomatoes, peppers, and the like--will heighten your appreciation of what each season has to offer.

7. If you have children, gardening can be an excellent way to teach about nature's cycles. Besides, this activity gets children out of the house and away from the television or computer for awhile.

8. Gardening allows you to be creative. You can experiment with different color combinations and garden layouts (formal, semi-formal, and informal; themed gardens, such as clock gardens--these are floral gardens that feature flowers that open up during different times of the day). You can add accessories, such as a bird bath or wind chimes. The possibilities are limited only by your imagination.

9. Gardening need not demand a lot of space. If you live in an apartment, for instance, container gardening may be for you. If you have a window sill, you have enough space to start your own garden.

10. Gardening can be a spiritual activity. When you are working or just admiring your garden, you are witnessing the miracle of life unfold, each and every day. You can appreciate this miracle as is, or you can add prayer and/or meditation to the experience.

What are your thoughts on gardening? Are you a veteran gardener, or are you a beginner who is eager to get  his or her feet dirty? Please feel free to share your comments.

Welcome to Sensual Thymes: An Inaugural Post

With this first post, I eagerly launch my latest blog, Sensual Thymes, This blog is meant to combine two complementary passions of mine: gardening and cooking.  The garden and the kitchen are both sacred spaces where one can honor life, each and every day. With both pastimes, I am fortunate enough to honor the bounty that each season brings and to experiment with new ideas, in both spheres, as well as to adhere to proven techniques for success.

Both garden and kitchen bring sensual pleasures, a delight to the eyes, ears, hands, nose, and tongue. My goal is to celebrate this titillating of the senses. I invite each and every one of you to join me in this ongoing celebration. Salute!