Making the world a little greener
The Sage Page with our spare thyme!
Deep summer is when laziness finds respectability. - Sam Keen
School may be back in session, but we still have a few more weeks of summer. Find time for a little deep summer laziness!
Don’t miss the August meeting! We’re making....
b BITTERS b
If you’re not familiar with bitters, they are basically botanical ingredients which are steeped in high proof alcohol until the desired flavor is achieved. They originate in early Egypt. In the 18th & 19th centuries, they were often sold as digestive aids or for other medicinal purposes. Digestive bitters are still popular in European & South American cultures. The American colonists made bitters popular in the 1800s to flavor cocktails of liquor, sugar & water. The resurgence of classic cocktails has created a new market for bitters & a wide variety of artisan brands have recently emerged. Let’s see what we can create!
Join us Wednesday, August 26th @ 7pm
at The Miniature Cottage, 410 E. Iris in Berry Hill (near 100 Oaks in Nashville) We’ll supply the basic ingredients. Please bring a couple of pint size mason jars & measuring cups/spoons. And as always, bring a dish for a casual potluck dinner.
CHA
CUMBERLAND HERB ASSOCIATION • August 2015 Newsletter
Please submit news/info by the 1st week of the month to Jessica Bach: jessica_mayo@bellsouth.net or 615-891-8735.
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The Two Sides of....
SAVORY
Making the world a little greener
The Sage Page with our spare thyme!
Spicy, Pungent & Peppery Flavored Herbs
A native plant to the Mediterranean, savory is known as the "bean herb" because it compliments the flavor of beans & also contains oils that help to prevent gas. There are two common varieties:
WINTER
CHARACTERISTICS: • Compact, bushy perennial • Semi-evergreen • Dark green, needle-shaped leaves • Mounding shape with 15 inch height • Needs well-drained, sandy soil • Cold hardy (10 F) • Slow growing • Small white/purple flowers • Sharp, piney flavor
AND
SUMMER
CHARACTERISTICS: • Loose, bushy annual • Light green, needle-shaped leaves • Soft gray-green stems • Upright growth reaching 18 inch height • Needs rich, well-drained organic soil • Not cold hardy • Fast growing • Light purple/pink flowers • Sweet flavor
COMMON CHARACTERISTICS: • Needs full sun • Companion plant for beans & onions (summer variety) • Prefers soil pH of 6.7 to 7.3 • Harvest 70 days after planting • Spring planting (after last frost date) • Use fresh or freeze, dry or preserve leaves in vinegar learn more at: http://www.harvesttotable.com/2009/04/how_to_grow_savory/
Tea lovers check it out...great place for lunch! I recently met a friend for lunch at Shineworthy Tea in Antioch. The staff was friendly & the sandwiches were great. They have iced/hot teas of all kinds, sandwiches, smoothies, truffles, baked goods & gifts. It’s great to see some new businesses moving into this area. If you like tea, be sure to give this place a try! 5348 Hickory Hollow Pkwy., Antioch, TN 37013 Open Monday-Saturday 7am-9pm http://www.shineworthytea.com/ C U M B E R L A N D H E R B A S S O C I AT I O N • N A S H V I L L E , T N • A U G U S T 2 0 15 N E W S L E T T E R
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Two to Try...
Making the world a little greener
The Sage Page with our spare thyme!
This month I have a recipe from Lauren B. for sweet & spicy chicken, and instructions to make alcohol-free hand sanitizer.
Homemade Natural Hand Sanitizer
I like the convenience of hand sanitizer, but I’d rather not have the sting of alcohol. This recipe seems like a great, natural alternative. Witch hazel has antiseptic properties & vitamin E softens skin & acts as a natural preservative. You can vary the oils to change the scent, but keep that in mind that lavender, clove & tea tree oils all have germ fighting properties, so leaving them out might decrease its effectiveness. Ingredients 5-10 drops lavender essential oil 5-10 drops clove essential oil 25-30 drops tea tree essential oil 1 tablespoon witch hazel extract
8 ounces 100% pure aloe vera gel (I used Trader Joe’s brand) ¼ teaspoon vitamin E oil ¼ teaspoon jojoba oil
Equipment Small bottle with lid for storage (approx 8oz size) Method You can mix all ingredients in a small bowl & then transfer to your bottle. However, I found that it’s easier to just add all ingredients directly to your bottle & then shake to mix. Shake gently before each use. http://www.diynatural.com/homemade-hand-sanitizer/
Rum & Chili Roasted Chicken with Pineapple
I made this for dinner with my parents & in-laws. To reduce the heat, I used a small jalapeno pepper & didn’t blend the marinade into a paste. I also finished the chicken on the grill instead of using the broiler. It turned out great, but I think I’ll try it again with more pepper. Thanks to Lauren B. for sharing! Ingredients 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice ¾ tsp kosher salt 6 scallions, trimmed & chopped 4 garlic cloves, roughly chopped 2 tbsp safflower/canola oil 2 tbsp rum, preferably dark/amber 1 tbsp thyme leaves
1 tbsp brown sugar 1 scotch bonnet/habanero pepper (seeded) ½ tsp ground allspice ½ tsp freshly grated nutmeg 6 chicken thighs, rinsed & patted very dry ¾ lb pineapple pieces diced (1/4-inch chunks or very roughly chopped)
Directions: Combine lemon juice & salt in a food processor & blend for 5 seconds. Add scallions, garlic, oil, rum, thyme, brown sugar, chili pepper & spices & blend until mixture forms a paste. Rub paste over chicken pieces & marinate up to 45 minutes at room temperature or 24 hours in refrigerator. Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Put chicken in a large baking pan and scatter pineapple around it in one layer. Roast 25 minutes or until juices run clear. Broil chicken & pineapple until skin is crisp and dark brown all over and pineapple is singed in places. Coat with pan drippings & serve with lemon wedges. Recipe by Melissa Clark,• http://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/10834-rum-and-chili-roasted-chicken-thighs-with-pineapple C U M B E R L A N D H E R B A S S O C I AT I O N • N A S H V I L L E , T N • A U G U S T 2 0 15 N E W S L E T T E R
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