July 2013

Holy Basil ~ Queen of Herbs

July 29, 2013 // 3 Comments

Holy basil, or tulsi,[ ocimum tenuiflorum, sanctum] is a member of the mint family. It’s closely related to the sweet Italian basil, but the flavors are different. Sweet Italian basil has a clove like flavor with a milder and sweeter taste, while holy basil is often called pepper basil due to its spicer and [ ...click to read more ]

Summer Salsa With Fresh Herbs

July 20, 2013 // 0 Comments

Apple-Pepper Salsa 1 large apple such as Fuji or Gala, cored and chopped 2 bell peppers, any color, cored and chopped 1 clove garlic, minced 1/2 teaspoon chopped fresh mint 1/2 teaspoon chopped fresh cilantro 1/2 teaspoon chopped fresh parsley 2 tablespoons cider vinegar 1 tablespoon lime juice Salt and pepper In a [ ...click to read more ]

Ampalaya or Bitter melon (Momordica charantia) a savory vegetable used to treat diabetes and other ailments

July 13, 2013 // 0 Comments

Used extensively in traditional herbal medicine in the Philippines, ampalaya (Momordica charantia) is also a flavorful vegetable. The rind of the fruit is used while still green and has a bitter taste. (As the fruit ripens, the rind turns yellowish and loses its bitter taste while the seeds inside become [ ...click to read more ]

Essential Oils to Repel Mosquitos at your Outdoor Party

July 11, 2013 // 0 Comments

Essential oils can be bought at CVS, Rite-Aid, Walmart and most health food stores. . The best oils to spray on the lawn and surrounding areas are these: Lemon Eucalytus Oil – must be at least 70% cineole content Lavender Oil Tea Tree Oil [ possibly the best out there ] Thyme Oil Citronella Oil Rosemary Oil One [ ...click to read more ]

July in the Herb Garden

July 2, 2013 // 0 Comments

Time to: Deadhead flowers of dill, cilantro, basil, thyme, and chives to keep them producing all summer. Snip off the flowers before they have fully bloomed. Use the flowers in salads, marinades, etc. Sow more seeds of cilantro to replace the plants that will soon set seed. Once cilantro has produced a small seed [ ...click to read more ]