Mad About Herbs

How to make Spiced Biscuits

Here is another activity that I've written for the www.ichild.co.uk website.  Click here for the recipe.
Yes, my daughters did help make those biscuits in the picture and they didn't last very long at all.

Let me know if you like them!

How to make an Orange Pomander

I'm pleased to say that I have been asked to write a herb or spice related activity for the website www.ichild.co.uk which provides free educational and fun activities for children up to the age of 11 years.

This is the first one which is How to make an orange pomander.  Just click here to access it.

The one in the photo has just been made; it needs to dry out for a few weeks then you won't see any of the orange and it will smell lovely.

Hope you have fun if you try this out, just try not to get orange juice squirting in your eye!

Winter colds: How to prevent and treat them

As many of you may know I am concentrating on herb gardening, cooking and craft information because I am not qualified to say too much about the medicinal use of herbs, although I am learning more every day.

I am therefore very pleased to say that Dr Joshi who is an award winning pediatrician in India who has 28 years of experience and offers online consultations regardless of your ability to pay; you decide how much you can afford (Her website is: www.farawaysister.com) has offered to write a regular article for my monthly newsletter.  Below is the first of these articles, I'd appreciate your comments about it.

Winter Colds: How to prevent and treat them
by Dr Joshi

Winter has arrived and has ushered in the season of coughs and colds and runny noses. A sudden dip in ambient temperature allows the population of winter viruses and bacteria to shoot up in the surrounding air. Not only that, the low temperature coupled with an early morning fog actually makes them more invasive. Respiratory syncytial virus, rhinoviruses, influenza and some adenoviruses abound, as do a few varieties of Streptococci.
Small babies and young children who haven't been exposed to the current strains of viruses and bacteria are the ones most susceptible to catching an infection, as are the old, whose natural immunity has declined with time.

Apart from taking routine precautions such as avoiding a prolonged exposure to cold air ( whenever possible ) and being suitably clothed to protect oneself, one can add herbal teas made from your garden herbs like:

Ginger root

Elderflower

Fennel seeds

Mint

Chamomile

Thyme

You may add any of the following spices to enhance the effect of the herbs:

Dried ginger root

Cloves

Nutmeg

Cardamom

Cinnamon

Saffron

Honey may be added as a sweetener, or unrefined ( brown ) sugar. This tea needs to be taken for as long as there is a chance of catching an infection, or until an infection that has set in passes over.

Apart from these garden herbs, however, there are more specific ones that prevent and treat respiratory infections more effectively.

But these do not usually grow in gardens, so they need to be purchased in the form of herbal remedies from Homeopathic or Ayurvedic pharmacies in your vicinity.

A judicious combination of herbs very often dispense with the need for antibiotics and other prescription medicines, and even over the counter medicines.

For more information visit Dr Joshi's website where she offers online consultations. There is a lot of information on the website as well: www.farawaysister.com



Please note that all the advice and opinions in the article are that of the author. Please note that some herbs which are beneficial in small doses can be harmful if taken to excess or for a long period. You are advised that self-treatment for serious or long-term problems without consulting a qualified medicinal practitioner should not be attempted. If you are pregnant or already taking any medication, you should obtain medical advice on whether any herbs or spices should be consumed and whether there are any contra-indications with the proposed herbs to be taken. Taking this into account, before trying any herbal remedies, I recommend that you sample a small quantity first to establish whether you experience any adverse or allergic reaction. I can not be held responsible for any adverse reactions to the recipes, recommendations and instructions contained in the article, and the use of any herbs or spices mentioned is entirely at the reader's own risk.

Which herbs and spices go with Apples, Pumpkins and Mushrooms?

Apples

The spice most people would associate with apples is cinnamon when making baked, stewed apples or apple pie. However there are many more spices and herbs that also taste great with apples, here are just a few:

Herbs
Sage, lemon balm, bergamot

Spices
Cloves, vanilla, caraway, coriander seeds, cardamom, lovage seeds, allspice and pepper

Mushrooms

Mushrooms and garlic are a common and delicious combination, but you could also try the following:

Herbs
Lemon verbena, lemon balm, oregano and marjoram, rosemary and thyme.

Spices
Coriander seed, kaffir lime, tamarind, saffron, lovage seed, pepper (red/green/black), sichuan pepper.

Pumpkin and squashes

The pumpkin is often made into pumpkin pie which uses mixed spice of which there are many versions so here is a list of spices which you could experiment with to make your own blend:

Spices
Allspice, coriander seed, cloves, mace, nutmeg, cinnamon, star ansie, saffron, cumin, pepper, ginger, cloves and dill seed.

So next time you're cooking apples, mushrooms or pumpkin/other squashes check your garden herbs and spice cupboard for an extra flavour to add in. These lists are by no means exhaustive, so feel free to let me know your favourites or recipes or any new combinations.

Go on, have fun experimenting!

This article is from my monthly newsletter.  If you liked it, why not try the newsletter.  Just click on  the green envelope icon (to your right), you'll also receive a free ebook '7 Everyday Herbs Made Simple'.