For the first time in my life I have become a cactus owner. This little guy is so cheerful and looks so cute in my little yellow vintage Pyrex dish. I love having him here next to my sink to relieve me from the drudgery of washing the dishes.
For some reason I was never drawn to cacti as houseplants in the past because I was afraid that their prickly needles would harm me if I accidentally collided with one. They just didn't seem friendly and warm and I'm all about harmony in my home.
But after seeing a Flickr member create this combination, I was inspired to re-create it so I can enjoy it too... and indeed I am!
Showing posts with label gardening. Show all posts
Showing posts with label gardening. Show all posts
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Basil from my garden
While I love the change of seasons I hate that I have to harvest all of my basil, or else the leaves turn yellow and tasteless.
My tomatoes are pretty much done so I had to buy a couple of heirloom tomatoes from the supermarket. Also picked up a chunk of fresh mozzarella.
This could have been my last summer salad - we are well into October after all. I do feel lucky to be in Northern California where I can still harvest basil in October.
I like to serve my Caprese salad over a bed of organic mixed greens. Makes me feel like I'm eating more greens... and I guess I am! :-)
My tomatoes are pretty much done so I had to buy a couple of heirloom tomatoes from the supermarket. Also picked up a chunk of fresh mozzarella.
This could have been my last summer salad - we are well into October after all. I do feel lucky to be in Northern California where I can still harvest basil in October.
I like to serve my Caprese salad over a bed of organic mixed greens. Makes me feel like I'm eating more greens... and I guess I am! :-)
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Spring Thyme!
Thyme is my favorite herb in my garden. It's easy to grow and versatile in cooking - goes well in many dishes. This time of the year my thyme plants are thriving and the fresh spring leaves are beautiful and tasty.
Recently I learned some cool things about thyme I didn't know before.
Did you know...
- Thyme is native to areas such as Asia, southern Europe and the Mediterranean region.
- It retains its flavor on drying better than many other herbs. As a rule of thumb, use one third as much dried as fresh thyme, a little less if it is ground.
- Either in its fresh or dried form, should be added toward the end of the cooking process since heat can easily cause a loss of its delicate flavor.
- 20-54% of thyme leaves contain Thymol, which is an antiseptic and is the main active ingredient in Listerine mouthwash. Before the advent of modern antibiotics it was used to medicate bandages.
- The ancient Egyptians used it as an embalming agent to preserve their deceased pharaohs.
I'm fascinated by all the great things I learned about this herb from www.wikipedia.com and www.whfoods.org. I've gained a whole new respect for this plant and will be more mindful of it's power when I'm gardening or cooking with it.
About the photo
A friend gave me a thyme plant a couple of years ago which I planted in my garden. It has been thriving ever since, and I think of her every time I see the plant. In this photo is the batch I had to prune to keep the plant healthy. I kept it in my fridge for almost 2 weeks - used for cooking, added to salads and gave some to neighbors. A gift that keeps on giving.
Recently I learned some cool things about thyme I didn't know before.
Did you know...
- Thyme is native to areas such as Asia, southern Europe and the Mediterranean region.
- It retains its flavor on drying better than many other herbs. As a rule of thumb, use one third as much dried as fresh thyme, a little less if it is ground.
- Either in its fresh or dried form, should be added toward the end of the cooking process since heat can easily cause a loss of its delicate flavor.
- 20-54% of thyme leaves contain Thymol, which is an antiseptic and is the main active ingredient in Listerine mouthwash. Before the advent of modern antibiotics it was used to medicate bandages.
- The ancient Egyptians used it as an embalming agent to preserve their deceased pharaohs.
I'm fascinated by all the great things I learned about this herb from www.wikipedia.com and www.whfoods.org. I've gained a whole new respect for this plant and will be more mindful of it's power when I'm gardening or cooking with it.
About the photo
A friend gave me a thyme plant a couple of years ago which I planted in my garden. It has been thriving ever since, and I think of her every time I see the plant. In this photo is the batch I had to prune to keep the plant healthy. I kept it in my fridge for almost 2 weeks - used for cooking, added to salads and gave some to neighbors. A gift that keeps on giving.
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