Category: Herbs

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Simple Pleasures – Herbs, Sun Tea, Fresh Mowed Grass

I have been enjoying the simple pleasures of summer. Making sun tea in the morning sun. Mowing my lawn with my push mower and smelling the fresh mowed grass. Hot, sweaty work, but rewarding.

Herbs

Growing herbs, using them in tea, and for medicinal purposes, and in cooking is so satisfying. Today I picked some herbs and dried them to use later. My house smells so good.

Even if I didn’t use my herbs, I still benefit greatly from growing them. It elevates my mood to play in the dirt and to see things growing.

Educational

Learning about herbs and their uses is very exciting. Especially, reading how people contemporary with my grand and great-grandmothers used herbs to treat all kinds of ailments and illnesses is exciting and so educational and hopeful in a world filled with pharmceuticals.

Stories

I often say my yard has stories. I enjoy looking at my flowers and herbs and knowing who shared a sprig or root of each plant that I might have my own. It is so fun!

I hope you are enjoying your own simple pleasures of summer.

Simple pleasures
Mullein- Picked on a forage into the back woods with my friend Francis.
Simple pleasures
Dill – early summer from my friend Francis
Simple pleasures
Oregano
Simple pleasures
Sun Tea
Simple pleasures
Fresh mowed grass
Simple pleasures
Fresh Herbs from my herb garden
Simple pleasures
Dried herbs
Simple pleasures
Phlox – from my friend Francis
Simple pleasures
Day lilies from my friend Pam (2 years ago)
Simple pleasures
Irises – from my friend Pam last year
Simple pleasures
Glorious Deep Purple Iris – from my friend Pam last year
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Made by God

What amazing gifts I see daily in the spring!  As Phillip Keller said, “Whenever I am afield or outdoors, there steals over me the acute consciousness that I am confronted on every hand by the superb workmanship of my Father. It is as if every tree, rock, river, flower, mountain, bird, or blade of grass had stamped upon it the indelible label, Made by God.” I agree!

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Lawrence’s Homemade Salsa

To say my husband likes salsa is an understatement. He has been known to eat a half gallon of salsa all by himself in one week. He can eat salsa on almost anything! Anyone who knows him knows his love for salsa and nachos. Chips are an excuse to eat more salsa. We have salsa making parties where the whole family gets involved chopping onions, tomatoes, peppers, and cilantro. It’s a happy day for the whole family when Lawrence decides to make salsa. Today I am going to share Lawrence’s salsa recipe that he developed from lots of salsa making!

Small Batch Salsa

4 cups chopped tomatoes

3/4 cup chopped onion

2 Tablespoons fresh jalapeno pepper

1/2 cup fresh cilantro

1/2 cup of lime juice

 

Big Batch of Salsa

4 quarts chopped tomatoes

4 cups chopped onions

1/4 cup chopped fresh jalapeno peppers

2 cups cilantro chopped

2 cups lime juice

Whichever batch you make you just chop all the veggies and mix in a bowl. Then dig in. Or wait a bit It only gets better and better.

By the way, did you notice my amazing bowl? A gift from my dear friend Betty!

 

 

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Homemade Taco Seasoning Recipe

There are many reasons to make your own seasoning mixes. First, it is much more economical to put together your own seasoning mixes. You should check for places that sell herbs and spices in bulk for added savings. You may want to divide the cost with a friend. You can make a whole lot of taco seasoning in a few minutes and save some money too.  Secondly, you know the ingredients and can adjust for those who have allergies. Many taco seasoning packets have gluten in them.

Today I will share a couple of Taco Seasoning recipes.

Taco Seasoning Mix (Recipe I believe originally came from Gentle Spirit Magazine back in the early 1990’s )

Ingredients:

1 teaspoon chili powder

2 teaspoons minced onions dried

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1/4 teaspoon dried oregano or Italian seasoning

1/2 teaspoon cumin

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper

1/2 teaspoon cornstarch ( I would omit this)

 

This was the original recipe I used. I multiply this and keep it in a glass jar.

This will season 1 lb. of ground beef which has been cooked and drained. Add 1/2 cup of water and original recipe of the seasoning blend. ( About 2 Tablespoons) Simmer 10 minutes.  This will make enough meat for 8-10 tacos

Here is the latest recipe I have started using. You can find it at the web address below.

Homemade Taco Seasoning

https://neighborfoodblog.com/2015/04/taco-seasoning-recipe.html

I still multiply it and keep it stored in a glass pint jar. It can be used to season taco meat or chicken or pinto beans.

 

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Perennials

You may remember my sanity garden from last year. ** Well, my herbs are growing again. I actually had the oregano all winter but it is growing and spreading with spring. So happy to see my mint again too. Old friends. Planting perennials is a gift that keeps on giving. Plant perennials herbs, strawberries, apples, grapes, etc.

 

**In case you missed my post about my sanity garden last spring here it is!

Sanity Garden