What do YOU do with the following?

Sweet Basil


Bee Balm


Greek Oregano


Thyme


Lavender


Rosemary


Spearmint





Planted a couple of herb gardens....they're really doing well...but, with a few exceptions, I don't really know what to do with them. Any suggestions/tips would be appreciated.


Thank you

What do YOU do with the following?
There's lots of things you can do with these herbs. You can use any of them fresh or dried. If you use them fresh, use twice as much as the recipe calls for dry herbs. If you want to dry them, you usually can find an inexpensive dehydrater at walmart or other such stores. It doesn't have to be fancy. Or if your oven goes down real low you can put them on a cookie tray and dry in the oven. The oven has to be very low or the herbs will bake instead of dry. They are dry when they crunch , crispy. Remove from stems and store in air tight containers. Even zip loc bags. If you have more than you can use this year consider giving some away. I know I always appreciate gifts from the garden. I wish I had enough room to plant 1 herb garden. Good luck! Also try recipezaar.com for recipes. You can search by ingredients.
Reply:my best is..





mince 2 garlic cloves.. add to a large skillet containing a good dollop of olive oil and heat to release the fragrance of the garlic. toss in about 10 diced roma tomatoes and bring to a boil for about 5 minutes. splash in a half cup of white wine. toss in chopped BASIL and OREGANO and toss the herbs into to tomatoes.. Season with salt and black pepper and simmer untill all is heated through. Serve over cooked angel hair pasta. (tomatoes should still be chunky.. )





I didn't cover everything.. but it's an excellent use of two of the herbs on your list!





(BEE BALM and LAVENDER are nice flowering and SPEARMINT is great steeped as a tea.)
Reply:I just plant and enjoy them. Some people snip them for cooking.
Reply:Use the basil, oregano, and thyme in spaghetti sauce. Use the rosemary as the skewer for kabobs, spearmint for ice cream.
Reply:Sweet Basil seasons spaghetti sauce.





Greek Oregano is wonderful incorporated in bread dough. It is also the signature aroma of pizza sauce. Good also in Mexican cooking; also to flavor vegetables or rice.





Thyme is used also with Marjoram to flavor soups and stews, cabbage rolls and some meats. [I use dried Marjoram with dried roses in arrangements.]





Lavender flowers make good tea and is good also in lemonade. [I use the dried Lavender flowers to fill sachets for the Bride.] The sachets can be placed in closets, drawers, bathrooms to create a calming aroma and to protect clothing from moths and you from mosquito's.





Rosemary is excellent covering a steak!


Also on roasted veggies. I use it occasionally for tea.





Spearmint, use for tea, in baking or as garnish.





If your area has violets growing they make excellent salads and the flower can be sugared for beautiful and delicious garnishes.





The Library has many cook books on herbs, they are full of ideas for these herbs and can entice you to plant more kinds as well. Have fun, that's what its all about.
Reply:I'll go out and snips a few tender tips off several plants including lavender, snip them small and mix into cheese for a sandwich or bagel spread. Never the same twice so is always interesting.


Ones you don't list but I use a lot is french sorrel, savory, parsley %26amp; burnet. Try sorrel with ginger and allspice in tomato soups. Replace spinache or chard with part sorrel for a tang either cooked or fresh.





Lavender is part of Herb Provence.


Blend lavender with rosemary, marjoram, basil, bay leaf, %26amp; thyme.





I snip them into salads. Not even into the dressing but part of the salad.





Make lemonade at home with two tips of rosemary added.


1:1 lemon to water or club soda


Sweeten with sugar


I use a bit of hot water to melt the sugar and add it to the lemon and herbs then add cold water.





1-2 sprigs cilantro torn or chopped


1-2 slices fresh jalapeno pepper


1:1 lemon juice: club soda





Bee balm is usual found in Earl Grey tea that I dislike so I do not use that plant except as a flower. I know people who use the flowers in Iced Tea. ~1/2 c flowers in a large jug of tea steeped together. I like that better than the Earl Grey.





Lavender shortbread- I use 2 T lavender buds to my shortbread recipe.


http://www.epicurious.com/members/member...


Lavender is a member of the mint family and is close to rosemary, sage, and thyme. It is best used with fennel, oregano, rosemary, thyme, sage, and savory in general.





I like to make tomato/basil pesto with either pine nuts or if I don't have pine I'll use walnuts or filberts. Basil is another member of the mint family so goes well with oregano.





Shove cherry tomatoes and other soft veggies like eggplant %26amp; zucchini onto rosemary twig then grill. Shove a skewer into a potato then replace it with a rosemary twig. Bake.





I like to mix a large amount of fresh herbs to layer in casseroles of tomato, potato, onion, or zucchini. I'll mix 2-3 T each parsley, basil, 1-2 tsp each sage, thyme, then grate 1/2 tsp nutmeg. Mix with 1/2 c toasted bread crumbs. Top with cheese and more crumb mix. Sometimes I add cardamom.





Use the flowers also. They are all edible and look good in a salad or omelet.


Salad dressing with fresh herbs 1 T thyme, 1 c parsley, 1/4 cup tarragon leaves, 1/3 c each basil %26amp; oregano leaves all chopped. 1Clove garlic, 1 bulb shallot, 2/3 c oil. 1/4 c water, 1/3 c vinegar,


Useing hand immersion blender, blend garlic, shallot, water, vinegar, a pinch of salt and pepper. Drizzle oil in running blender. Add fresh herbs.


Use on blanched julienned green beans, julienned squash, %26amp; green salad.
Reply:the basil you pick when its a full leaf and either hang dry and store in a spice jar .. you can use that in spaghetti sauce





same with the oregeno





the Thyme i use when grilled chicken or pork chops





lavender i use as a garnish on plates





Rosemary i also use on the grill on chicken chops or lamb....





the spearmint is also good on lamb and icecream....





any of these can be picked and dried so you can store then until you want to use them.. just let them dry so they dont mold when you store them good luck!
Reply:Basil and oregano can be used in spaghetti sauce. I also cut it and hang it upside down in the garage to dry. You can then crumble it (taking out the stems)and store it in an air tight container for months. Thyme is good with pork, I put it on my pork roast. Spearmint can be used with ice tea. Just put a leaf or two in your glass. The others I haven't used. Bee Balm smells great in the garden. hope this helps!!
Reply:Couldn't tell you what to do with Bee Balm other than look at it. You do some girly crap with lavender.





Basil, Oregano and Rosemary are for Mediterranean style cooking. I'll also use them, chopped up along with thyme and marjoram, to mix with vegetables and olive oil for grilling. I'll also use rosemary stems instead of wood chips for grilling. Gives you a different flavor smoke.

How to grow Spearmint seeds indoors?

I have a pack of Burpee Spearmint seeds I got at walmart and I was wondering if I could grow them inside and how... the instructions state: 8-10 weeks before the last spring frost. Lightly cover and keep moist until germination occurs, usually in 7-14 days at 70 Degrees.. Transplant to individual containers when seedlings have at least two pairs of leaves. After last frost, set out in garden, spacing about 18 inches apart..





Is there any way I can keep it indoors ...





How

How to grow Spearmint seeds indoors?
I had some spearmint growing inside. I had two pots of them growing, but they unfortunately died because I was gone for too long and they did not get water. :( I have some other herbs growing right now - basil, marjoram, chives, and parsley. I would like to try growing spearmint again if I can ever find the seeds... I started my spearmint plants in a four inch pot which I misted every day being careful not to overwater. Use saran wrap or an actual greenhouse for germination. High humidity is great for increased germination. I am currently germinating some ponytail palm and bird of paradise seeds. I really hope they work, as I do not have tons of gardening experience. Good luck, and I hope I was some help!
Reply:Sure, Just find a 6 to 8-inch deep plastic container big enough to hold all the seeds you want to germinate and place about 3-inches of topsoil or vermiculite inside.





I would wet down the topsoil first before planting the seeds to avoid the water washing them all together in a corner of the container. Cover the container lid with plastic wrap and make sure it is sealed tight. No light needed, just keep it warm. You'll have to transplant to different containers after they have those first two pair of leaves.





Follow the instructions on your package.

How much to charge as a Nanny?

In a bag of candy 1/3 of the candy is cinnamon and 3/8of the candy is spearrmint. what fraction of the candy i

in a bag of candy 1/3 of the candy is cinnamon and 3/8of the candy is spearrmint. what fraction of the candy is either cinnamon or spearmint?

In a bag of candy 1/3 of the candy is cinnamon and 3/8of the candy is spearrmint. what fraction of the candy i
i think it is spearmint 9/24 and cinammon 8/24





so 17/24 is one or the other.
Reply:cinnamon or spearmint refers to both so you just add the two fractions together. Make the fractions have a common denominator. So 1/3 can turn into 8/24 and 3/8 can turn into 9/24. Add the numerators so you get 17/24. Therefore the fraction of candy either cinnamon or spearment is 17/24
Reply:17/24ths?
Reply:5/6

What other options are there for PCOS treatment?

I am open to different options at this point. We have been trying to conceive for 14 months now with no luck. I used to be on birth control and 5 pills of metformin/day from 17-21/22 years old. Since I have hypoglycemia I had to take an additional medication because the metformin was taking my sugar levels too low. Obviously taking birth control isn't my first choice since we are still trying to conceive. What other options are out there. Someone told me to drink spearmint tea, that it would help, I have also been told to drink green tea.

What other options are there for PCOS treatment?
try to do the sex in your fertile days, this may help in conceiving. also get your checkup from good gyanecologist.
Reply:if you have PCOS...losing some weight with help regulate your cycle...metformin combined with clomid usually works. Talk to a reproductive endocrinologist.
Reply:I was on metformin for 6 months and then put on clomid 50 mg one month and got pregnant that month. I am now 15 weeks pregnant
Reply:PCOS runs in my family along with a slew of other fertiity issues. Thankfully I haven't had any problems, but my sister has. She had been put on a high protein, low carb diet by her OB/GYN and it had up her hormone levels significantly and was able to get pregnant. Ask your doctor if this might be helpful for you.
Reply:I used clomid and metfromin and got preg. the 1st time after TTC for about a year!! Clomid did the trick for me and I took metformin for the 1st 12 weeks of my preg. 3 times a day I'm almost 17 weeks now!
Reply:I would 1st purchase an ovulation kit to find out exactly when I ovulate. After I find out ovulation days I would have sex on those days. If nothing happens then I would see my doctor and maybe discuss Clomid to help you ovulate. A low dosage because it's not good on your ovaries. (I had some low abdominal pain). If nothing after that cycle I would ask the doctor to order you a HSG test to look at your fallopian tubes. ( I just found out mine were block). From the all the extra testing Fibroid, Estrogen etc. Get a semen analysis for your partner because us ladies always think it's us but not all the time. After all that is done they will definitely have some type of explanation for the infertility. (I am undergoing IVF).
Reply:Boy do I know what you are going though. I have been trying to concieve since 2003, with no results. I have PCOS as well, and am on metformin. I have heard it work wonders with some people, I guess we are just not them.





Personally I would look into Chateberry (vitex), false unicorn, and other herbs.





Green tea has caffiene, and you should avoid caffiene when trying to conceive.
Reply:try more sex in your fertile days

Does anyone remember the Martha Stewart Spearmint Candle? They stopped making them and I am trying to recreate

Hi, Kmart carries a line of candles by Martha Stewart. They are great and very inexpensive. They had a spearmint candle that they discontinued a few years ago. I make candles and am trying to recreate it, but I can't! It was called "Spearmint" and thats it, but there was something else in there, an additional scent. I have tried adding lavender and other scents to recreate it, but I just can't! Does anyone know where they still sell these or has anyone ever had this candle? I am trying to either find out what the missing smell is or buy the candles if anyone has any. I doubt I will get any answers to this question, but I have been trying for like 4 years now, so I figure it's worth a shot. Thank you!

Does anyone remember the Martha Stewart Spearmint Candle? They stopped making them and I am trying to recreate
I not familiar with this candle, but have you gone to the Martha Stewart website. They have a community forum, blogs, etc. You may be able to find some information there, or at least send a message to the people in charge, and get your candle back on the market.
Reply:This is a recipe I found for Jelly Jar candles on MS's website. It lists some ingredients you can add. I'm guessing you can also add spearmint to this. Maybe it will be close to what you are looking for. Good luck.





To begin, fix a wick with a metal wick tab to the bottom of a jar using plumbers' or wick putty; suspend the wick from a pencil laid across the top of the jar. Place some bleached beeswax (1 pound fills four or five 8-ounce jars) in a double boiler, and heat to 135 degrees (check with a candy thermometer). Remove wax from heat, and stir in about 50 drops of a pure, oil-based plant essence, such as lavender, sandalwood, or jasmine. (The exact amount will depend on the oil's intensity and your own preference.) Pour wax into jars; set jars in a cold-water bath to cool. Add more wax as needed.

Why did Wrigley's start putting aspartame in their chewing gum?

My wife is a gum addict. However when she consumes aspartame it blurs her vision. (no kidding) She switched from Doublemint To Spearmint. Now they have put the aspartame in Spearmint as well.

Why did Wrigley's start putting aspartame in their chewing gum?
ASPARTAME IS NOT SAFE THAT IS WHY IT HAS TO BE ON THE LABEL AND ESPECIALLY IN KIDS. SWITCH TO ONE THAT DOES NOT HAVE IT
Reply:I totally agree. Aspartme is a poison. They put it in b/c it remains sweet and they can advertise it as being "Sugar Free", which it is.





Your best choice is to find gum that uses Xylitol, it is a natural sweetner that has even been shown to reduce plaque and gingivitis

barber

Is it safe to drink Tazo Zen Green Tea while pregnant?

The ingredients on the box read 'green tea, lemon verbena, spearmint leaves, lemongrass, and other natural flavours.'





I know that pregnant women aren't supposed to drink herbal teas in large quantities, but I'm not sure how much of the tea comprises herbs. Also, how many cups constitute a lot--more than one a day? Does anyone have more insight on this tea or teas that are blended with herbs?





Thanks.

Is it safe to drink Tazo Zen Green Tea while pregnant?
tea IS made from herbs. they made from tea bush leaves.


tea contains Caffine and that's why women who are pregnant should not drink it coz caffine can affect the infant.





Green tea is no different it actually has as much caffine as coffee.





this is from the following website:


http://coffeetea.about.com/od/health/a/p...





Most people are quick to agree that pregnant women should cut caffeine out of their diets. But current research has shown that a moderate intake of caffeine won't do any harm to developing fetus. Moderate intake would equal approximately 3 cups of coffee per day (300-400mg of caffeine).





you should read the whole article it has good info.
Reply:It's very simple. You know you are not supposed to drink anyting "herbal" So dont drink it. Not even a sip. Just stay away from it. I don't know how much or how little is safe. But it dosnt matter, just dont drink or eat herbal stuff.
Reply:as long as it is caffeine free, then it is ok. I just had a baby and I asked my doctor and that is what he told me. Remember that Green tea is also an antioxidant, and it is cleansing your system out of all unwanted purities that can possibly be harmful to your child.