More Herbal Ideas...the last...

Happy Friday everyone...

How are you all tonight?

I am posting my LAST herb segment... yeah....

For a time, anyway... If I haven't convinced you yet to get involved with herbs then I may as well wait for awhile and try again... smile...

Just a couple of new ideas and a few older ones...

I forget to be honest where I saw this idea.. Pinterest, maybe..

I do not know.. But I loved it and decided to make some..
Baby Sock Sachets

I was at a yard sale and I found a little bag full of baby socks..

Just plain little ones but brand new..

You just fill the foot of the sock with lavender or whatever herb you like...

Then tie the top really tight with a pretty ribbon or you could use and elastic and cover it with some sort of a tie..

You can place them in a drawer or linen closet or perhaps make some up for your gift pantry...

A nice little add in for a baby gift..

Every once in awhile just squeeze the foot and it will bring the lavender scent back nice and strong...

Hope you like them..

If you don't grow you own lavender then  you can buy it online or if you are near me I sell it in the shop by the scoop...

Or the Health Food Store nearest you always have it in bulk...

I think rosemary would be nice, too..

The other idea for tonight is this..

You probably do it anyway but here goes..

Herbal Oils..

I love this.. I know I should not have it too often but if we are having pasta night..(which I have cut back to only once a week)

sigh....then I occasionally make this for us..

Now to be honest... this is not Terry's thing...

But it is my thing.... grin...

Bread Dipping... Yummy...

I even bought these sweet little bread dippers at a sale..

For the recipe..

I just take a smaller mason jar and fill it 3/4 full of good oil..

I always add a minced garlic but that is optional.

And then a good handful of chopped herbs of choice..

My fav is basil... but whatever you like..

Then I add a speck of my seasoned basil salt (recipe below) and pepper...

Shake well and let it sit for a few hours... 

Keep it in the fridge though especially if you have garlic in it.. 

Just take it out a bit before serving..

Now... I don't just use this for bread... 

You can use it instead of mayo.. on sandwiches ..especially tomato and salads and such.. 

Or just add some lemon juice or vinegar and you have a salad dressing or marinade... 

Or use it for dip for veggies... 

OK?

Here a few links from previous posts when I was on an herb bend... smile.. 

Just click on the word below and it will link to the posting... ok?

BASIL 

 this includes pesto and the salt which is heavenly..

I made it for the first time last year and kind of forgot about it until half way through the Winter.. Then I tried it.. Oh my..

It is delicious on salads, soups, fish or any where that you like salt.. It is coarse salt and you do not need very much..

This year I am making basil, chive and lovage salts...Lord willing.. 

I know ... salt isn't good for you... neither is coffee.. grin..

VINEGARS

I made this with chive blossoms, nasturtium , tarragon and rosemary were my favs...

Lovely gifts..

Dip the corks in melted wax and then you can give them away..

SALAD DRESSINGS

We do not buy salad dressings here hardly at all..

Only the two that I use for marinades and sometimes Caesar..

The rest I make... There are so many recipes out there..

But this one is my old standard...

Well, girls have a wonderful weekend..

Enjoy your family and remember to praise God for all His loving kindness...

He is awesome..

Blessings from our house to yours...

Preserving the herb Basil...

How is everyone this evening?  I thought I should try to post a bit more often if I can as I haven't done very well this summer.
I went up to Salisbury yesterday to a market  called The Green Pig... I love farm markets and this one has all kinds of goodies.. Lots of veggies, of course but crafts, soaps and a few vintage finds, too..
Since I was passing by the exit  I thought I should stop and see what they had.. I was so glad I did as they had fresh herbs... I am trying to grow them here but we were late getting the garden in as we were working on the shop so I only have enough for salves and daily meals...
I was so happy to find big bags of fresh basil and huge bunches of fresh dill...

Today, I preserved the basil....

I heard about this way of preserving herbs from a French lady from northern N. B, who happened to stop  by my shop this summer.  I looked it up on google and I guess it is a popular method especially in Quebec.. The lady explained that her mom and grandma used to do this and that it is delicious..  I am giving it a try..

First, you wash your herbs and pat them dry with paper towels.   It  doesn't need to be basil ... Any herb will do...lol

Then take the leaves off of the stems

Find yourself a nice bottle and sterilize it... Then pour in a good layer of kosher or coarse or sea salt on the bottom,  Layer your herbs and then a thin layer of salt just to cover the leaves.. You keep doing this and pressing it all down until you get to the top.. Put another thick layer of salt and put on your cover..

One site that I read said to keep this in the fridge.... So I am..

She said it is delicious to put a spoon or less into your soups, tomato sauces, or over your fish...

After awhile the salt takes on the flavor of the herbs...Sounds good to me although, I expect some people don't like to use salt...

Then, of course I have to do my Pesto....

So here you do the same things... wash, dry and take the leaves off the stem.. For this much basil I added 4 cloves of garlic... I like more but I want Terry to like it, too....lol...

Just place your leaves and garlic and pine nuts if you like... Some people will put any kind of nuts ....

I personally don't like to put the pine nuts in until later but it is up to you...

Anyway, just put your leaves and garlic into a food processor, blender or chopper thing..

I love lemon juice... it keeps it green and we love the flavour...I just add 1 lemon juiced for this amount of basil.. oh, and a pinch of kosher salt. (4 cups of basil) and enough olive oil to blend it well.

Then I put it in ice-cibe trays and freeze...

If you need an accurate amounts for your recipe you could google one.. I just add and blend.. Sorry..

When they are frozen I then take them out and bag them  in separate baggies for the winter...

We use pesto on sandwiches, especially tomato... pizzas, add to tomato sauces and of course...

|This...

Pasta....just add parmesan and more lemon juice if like..

If you girls know of anything that tastes any better than this... Please let me know  for I would dearly love to try it....LOL..

Oh, Lynn if you are reading this I am so sorry you wern't her to try it....LOL...

Well, that is all for tonight... I am trying to go to bed early for the next few weeks as I need to work towards getting ready for my Fall Flavors Open House...

 Hope you are making out all right with getting your children out to school each day..

Please try to make time to say a wee word of prayer with them before they step out into this big wide world....

Love ya..

Faye...