Making Lemonade
I've got the Black Thumb of Death - and am trying to get rid of it for the sake of my cooking experiments. I like plants that are at the same time pretty as well as useful. This is why a growing herd of wacky, unusual greenery is assembling on my balcony. With this post I'm trying to keep track of various experiments - feel free to either suggest or steal ideas:
- Chili: I'd already had a nice collection of various chili varieties, among them "Bolivian Rainbow", "Bird's Eye" and "Criolla Sella". They all ended up victim to my two years' worth of commuting. This February I skipped raising a new batch of seedlings because of having to move. So I just bought a grown bush, "Pinocchio's Nose". They are supposed to have a fantastic aroma, so I'm looking forward to harvesting season - and hopefully an opportunity to make some of Feni's chili jam.
- Sage: My favourite kitchen herb and a beautiful plant to boot. Tea made from fresh sage leaves is my household remedy of choice whenever the Headcold of Doom strikes again or my tummy is upset. In summer, cold fresh sage tea with honey helps curb heavy sweating. I used to import sage leaves from my parents' bush. Since I prefer stuff made from fresh leaves, I bought myself a pot for my balcony. It's supposed to be hardy, so it's got high odds of surviving on me. I'll be trying a recipe for sage lemonade next. EDIT: success! Great stuff, not too sweet.
- Mexican giant hyssop: Known as Lemonade Plant, it has a refreshing scent of lime and aniseed and looks extremely pretty to boot. A delicious-smelling lemonade base is currently brewing in my fridge. EDIT: Mmmmmmm... so good!
- Tomatoes: My sister Bee has a garden, loves growing vegetable and usually keeps distributing seedlings early in the year. This year she gave away tomato plants. I got two different breeds and they still look fantastic - probably because I mostly leave them alone. They have started blooming now, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed for fresh tomatoes later in the year.
- Sweet woodruff: Mmmmm. This smell ... I look forward to making May Wine as often as I like - without having to crawl through the forest for wild woodruff. EDIT: also good in lemonade.
- Tangerine Peppermint: Smells wonderful, is supposed to be useful for tea as well as cocktails or lemonade. Will be experimenting soon. EDIT: It most definitely is great stuff, although I kind of miss the hint of tangerine flavour I've been expecting.
- Curry plant: Looks very pretty and smells appetizing. Supposed to be useful in indonesian cuisine. Not my forte, but I'll try my best. EDIT: I read that you're not supposed to eat it. Woops?
..
..
- Chili: I'd already had a nice collection of various chili varieties, among them "Bolivian Rainbow", "Bird's Eye" and "Criolla Sella". They all ended up victim to my two years' worth of commuting. This February I skipped raising a new batch of seedlings because of having to move. So I just bought a grown bush, "Pinocchio's Nose". They are supposed to have a fantastic aroma, so I'm looking forward to harvesting season - and hopefully an opportunity to make some of Feni's chili jam.
- Sage: My favourite kitchen herb and a beautiful plant to boot. Tea made from fresh sage leaves is my household remedy of choice whenever the Headcold of Doom strikes again or my tummy is upset. In summer, cold fresh sage tea with honey helps curb heavy sweating. I used to import sage leaves from my parents' bush. Since I prefer stuff made from fresh leaves, I bought myself a pot for my balcony. It's supposed to be hardy, so it's got high odds of surviving on me. I'll be trying a recipe for sage lemonade next. EDIT: success! Great stuff, not too sweet.
- Mexican giant hyssop: Known as Lemonade Plant, it has a refreshing scent of lime and aniseed and looks extremely pretty to boot. A delicious-smelling lemonade base is currently brewing in my fridge. EDIT: Mmmmmmm... so good!
- Tomatoes: My sister Bee has a garden, loves growing vegetable and usually keeps distributing seedlings early in the year. This year she gave away tomato plants. I got two different breeds and they still look fantastic - probably because I mostly leave them alone. They have started blooming now, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed for fresh tomatoes later in the year.
- Sweet woodruff: Mmmmm. This smell ... I look forward to making May Wine as often as I like - without having to crawl through the forest for wild woodruff. EDIT: also good in lemonade.
- Tangerine Peppermint: Smells wonderful, is supposed to be useful for tea as well as cocktails or lemonade. Will be experimenting soon. EDIT: It most definitely is great stuff, although I kind of miss the hint of tangerine flavour I've been expecting.
- Curry plant: Looks very pretty and smells appetizing. Supposed to be useful in indonesian cuisine. Not my forte, but I'll try my best. EDIT: I read that you're not supposed to eat it. Woops?
..
..