tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1263602850797908874.post6906536410152884129..comments2023-10-29T03:43:34.300-07:00Comments on Bread and Roses: The Urban Huswyfe's HerbalDulce Domumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15835872248177497717noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1263602850797908874.post-31529605175214065672008-04-24T09:07:00.000-07:002008-04-24T09:07:00.000-07:00Cheers chuck, v. interested in your Martha post, b...Cheers chuck, v. interested in your Martha post, but must dash, will return...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1263602850797908874.post-1392699439306669152008-04-24T07:50:00.000-07:002008-04-24T07:50:00.000-07:00Hi LinnetIf you strain the herbs out of the oil th...Hi Linnet<BR/>If you strain the herbs out of the oil through muslin (or a clean tea towel), then the oil should keep pretty well. If you leave the herbs in the oil (especially the soft herbs) then you are entering a world of mankiness!Dulce Domumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15835872248177497717noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1263602850797908874.post-9195078418954163642008-04-24T05:04:00.000-07:002008-04-24T05:04:00.000-07:00Most of the school is off today, only about 4 clas...Most of the school is off today, only about 4 classes in. <BR/><BR/>Just checking I've understood you: So the oil retains the flavour, the herbs get thrown away and you add the oil to the recipe? Sounds a great idea, thanks! Do you know how long it keeps? Only I made my own furniture polish with olive oil and lemon and within about 2 weeks it was full of mold; would the herb mix go mouldy or does it keep as long as the olive oil keeps?<BR/><BR/>Sorry more questions...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1263602850797908874.post-24639146688123015732008-04-24T04:43:00.000-07:002008-04-24T04:43:00.000-07:00Hi MicheleI'm glad there is another voracious read...Hi Michele<BR/>I'm glad there is another voracious reader out there! Enjoy your lavender!<BR/><BR/>Hi Linnet<BR/>My eldest is still in school, no NUT members at her school, obviously. Anyway, to answer your questions, you're better off not drying soft herbs like basil, parsley and coriander. I just think they lose too much flavour when dried. However, rosemary, thyme, sage and bay are great when dried. In fact, it may be worth drying thyme and sage, particularly, as I've noticed my plants don't link a wet winter. You can dry herbs in a very low oven, as low as your oven can go. Wash them and put them of a shallow baking tray, leave them in this low oven for an hour or more until they look dry. Pop them in jam jars and hey presto!<BR/><BR/>You can dry mint like this too, and mint is a soft herb that *does * do well dried. It's particularly good in middle eastern meat dishes, and also you can used dried mint for mint tea. Dry mint as above.<BR/><BR/>The *best* way to preserve soft summer herbs is in oil or vinegar. Pop the herbs in a jar, cover with olive oil (not extra virgin, it would be a waste) leave to infuse for a week or two, no more, strain the oil and get rid of the herbs. This works for garlic, chillies, and all soft herbs and is a time saver in the kitchen. <BR/><BR/>Also, could always use Zillah's idea of collected the green seed of the coriander...they are yummy.<BR/><BR/>Hi Zillah<BR/>I think the green coriander seeds are absolutely yummy. But I'd never thought of freezing them before. Thank you for the tip!Dulce Domumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15835872248177497717noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1263602850797908874.post-27219595623155540832008-04-24T03:56:00.000-07:002008-04-24T03:56:00.000-07:00I often have very little freezer space. Do you eve...I often have very little freezer space. Do you ever dry your herbs? Where's best to dry them? How long do they take to dry and once dry how long do they keep? When I've grown herbs before I've always used them fresh...which is such a waste to have to bin what I don't use, I want to be more organised this time.<BR/><BR/>Questions...questions.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1263602850797908874.post-11757703907683421972008-04-23T14:34:00.000-07:002008-04-23T14:34:00.000-07:00Ah yes, I have herb sowing to do as well. I have ...Ah yes, I have herb sowing to do as well. I have been giving myself the excuse that being so far north I can slack off for a while for too long now. Time for action.<BR/><BR/>A note on freezing coriander - I had great success with freezing the green seeds of the coriander once it had flowered. Don't let them dry, just freeze in a freezer bag as soon as the seed has set. They freeze brilliantly and give a fresh coriander zing to anything you use them in. I found it less faff than freezing the leaves.<BR/><BR/>ZillahZillahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12347799103341131560noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1263602850797908874.post-46660486058381891432008-04-23T08:27:00.000-07:002008-04-23T08:27:00.000-07:00We planted some marigolds (and minuture cornflower...We planted some marigolds (and minuture cornflowers) on tuesday and already they've popped up through the soil. They are planted indoors and on our living room windowsill which is south facing.<BR/><BR/>I have some basil, tomatoes, sunflowers, and carrots to plant yet. I wanted to do the tomatoes today but I have been busy all day. Durn teachers are on strike tomorrow so I had to try to cram everything in today. <BR/><BR/>Thanks for the carrot advice BTW.<BR/><BR/>Hugs.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1263602850797908874.post-74624111041015744152008-04-23T07:57:00.000-07:002008-04-23T07:57:00.000-07:00I have just purchased some lavender seeds and you ...I have just purchased some lavender seeds and you reminded me that I need to get them into a pot. I love it when you do these types of posts because you always seem to be able to make things seem doable. (o:<BR/><BR/>Oh! And I'm the same way you described when I'm learning about a subject--reading voraciously and then applying very little of it to my every day life. *sigh*<BR/><BR/>Many Blessings!<BR/>MicheleAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com