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!