Making the world a little greener with our spare thyme.
The Sage Page
The Cumberland Herb Association
February 2013
MEETING 1 WEEK EARLY: Tuesday, February 19 at 7:00 p.m. will be our next meeting at the Miniature Cottage located at 410 E. Iris near 100 Oaks in Nashville. We will be making sugar scrubs for the Lawn and Garden Show.
The Lawn and Garden show’s overall theme for 2013 is Gardens of the Sun. Our garden theme will be Thyme After Thyme and we will incorporate recycle/upcycle ideas to bolster our theme.
Lawn and Garden - SHOWTIME!!!
CHA Newsletter Editor -Michelle Murakami 445-8749 (kitvroom@yahoo.com) Think about who of you would like to take over the monthly newsletter. I will be moving to Fairview soon and will not be the editor after that.
Herb of the month - Elderberry - (Sambucus)
Respect your Elders! American Black Elderberry is common throughout the United States. So show a little respect for our HERB OF THE YEAR! All parts of the elderberry plant are considered to be a valuable healing plant in many folk medicine traditions. Elderberry flowers (the mildest part of the plant) contain flavenoids and rutin, which are known to improve immune function, particularly in combination with vitamin “C”, & also contain tannins, which account for its traditional use to reduce bleeding, diarrhea, and congestion. Prepared as a tea, it is used to break dry fevers & stimulate perspiration, aid headache, indigestion, twitching eyes, dropsy, rheumatism, appendix inflammation, bladder or kidney infections, colds, influenza, consumption. The leaves, which are stronger, have a slightly laxative property. Applied externally, leaves, flowers, bark and twigs are excellent as a poultice, mixed equally with chamomile, for soreness, inflammations, joint stiffness, and to reduce the swelling of bee stings. The flowers and berries, employed as a diuretic, can aid arthritis and rheumatism. Steeped in water, the flowers are used externally to aid in complexion beauty, tone and soften the skin, and lighten freckles or spots. The berry juice made into salve aids burns and scalds.
The juice taken internally will act as a purgative. The leaves and inner bark can be used as an insecticide and a dye. Stems can be hollowed out and used for spouts, musical instruments, and toys. Pies, marmalades, cordials, liqueurs, yogurts, soft drinks, protection from witches; wow! with such a versatile plant, it’s no wonder it’s the herb of the year! Warning: Ingesting large amounts of the uncooked leaves, twigs, branches, seeds & roots can be toxic as they contain a glycoside which gives rise to cyanide as the metabolism processes it.
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Illustration of elderberry by: Beatrix Potter - circa 1895
Elderberry Liqueur
INGREDIENTS: 1 pint fresh elderberries 1 quart vodka 3 one-inch pieces of lemon rind, white pith removed Sugar
DIRECTIONS: Put elderberries into a quart Mason jar and pour over the vodka. Add the lemon rind (make sure the rind has no white pith, as it is bitter.) Seal and put in a dark cupboard for at least a month, or up to 6 months. The alcohol will extract flavor from the elderberries over time, so the longer you let it sit, the inkier it will get. When it is the color you want – anything from a Pinot Noir color to downright black — pour the vodka through a strainer lined with cheesecloth into another
INGREDIENTS:
Elderberry Pie
1 recipe pastry for a 9 inch double crust pie 4 cups elderberries 1 cup white sugar 3 tablespoons cornstarch (or tapioca) 1 tablespoon lemon juice
DIRECTIONS:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Mix cornstarch in a little bit of water and add to berries and sugar. Cook, stirring constantly until desired thickness. Add more cornstarch if not thick enough. Add lemon juice. Pour into bottom crust. Dot with butter. Put on top crust or
jar and add sugar. How much sugar? At least 1/4 cup, but to your taste; I go with 1/3 cup. Shake to combine and put back in the cupboard. After a few days or weeks, the sugar will completely dissolve and the elderberry liqueur is ready to drink. It keeps forever.
make a lattice. Bake at 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) until browned and berries are bubbling through holes in the crust, approximately 40 minutes. Note: It is a good idea to put a pan or foil under the pie as it bakes since it might bubble over.
Illustration of elderberry by: Beatrix Potter - circa 1895
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Fried Sambuco Flowers (Elder flowers)
Dip the freshly cut elder flowers in a light batter of egg, water and flour and then fried in an inch of olive oil. The trick is to make the batter fairly liquid, dip the flowers and then gently shake off any excess batter from the flowers or you end up with a heavy fried batter that masks the deli-
cate flavor of the flowers. Make sure your oil is hot enough to sizzle the batter, but not so hot it’s smoking…this way your batter gets lovely and crispy quickly without absorbing oodles of oil. Served with a green salad, they are slightly sweet and tangy.
INGREDIENTS: 5 ounces elderberries 1 quart water, divided 1 1/2 teaspoons cornstarch 1/2 pound apples - peeled, cored and diced 1 lemon peel white sugar to taste INSTRUCTIONS:
bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, and simmer 10 minutes. Remove from heat, puree in a blender until smooth, and return to the pot. In a small bowl, mix the cornstarch with 1 tablespoon of the puree, and stir into the pot to thicken. In a separate pot, bring the apples and remaining water to a boil. Place the lemon peel in the pot. Reduce heat to low, and simmer 10 minutes. Remove peel. Mix the elderberry puree into the apple mixture, and sweeten to taste with sugar.
Elderberry Soup
Place the elderberries in a pot with 2 cups water, and
Herb Word Search
ELDERBERRY CALENDULA B AY L A U R E L DILL HORSERADISH ROSE BASIL COCOA YA R R O W GARLIC SAGE THYME FIG
CHAMOMILE PA S S I O N F LO W E R PA R S L E Y CILANTRO L AV E N D E R MINT S AV O R Y CHIVES FENNEL MARJORAM OREGANO PA R S L E Y STEVIA
H Y R O V A S E V X Q P J
GA R A C H E DN R A F NWO ODD R T E T HA N Y V AMA L E R I O R C X B
L O E T N D R U V R U E H
I C T R U B H R UO V A L C T A MW N A Z O I E O RMD Y R T I F L N O LM I H V E V V G J O R AM A L Y A B GANO P R R E WO
F Y I E L R F Y B A S I L
S K E G F E N N E L T P F
C A L A F B N I V O F U N
H I V E OCOC RML E S K L Y EW I E R E D L A S H S D E O R I U V A S A L P H J QA K NWS O I S S
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A I V E T S Y E L S R A P
Did you know that the elderberry is in the honeysuckle family? Drunk all the time, feeling fine on elderberry wine Those were the days, we’d lay in the haze. Forget depressive times
Bernie Taupin / Elton John - Elderberry Wine Lyrics