365 ~ 121 ~ Cuke Twins

No, I didn't mean "cute"... I meant "cuke".... :)  In my friend Kim's garden...

365 ~ 120 ~ Just Peachy

My dearest friend, Kim forced me to take a bag full of Florida Peaches from her tree!!! :)  I will be making peach cake this week!  Woo-Hoo! :)  YUM.

365 ~ 118 ~ Beans N' Bokeh

Where is Jack when you need him? 

365 ~ 117 ~ Egg rolls anyone?

My first cabbage of spring...this one was shredded for Baked Egg Rolls - one of my families favorite dishes.  The second harvested cabbage was "bartered" with my best friend for green onions and cucumbers from her garden.  :)

365 ~ 116 ~ Pretty Weed

Butterfly weed is so pretty, I almost hate to call it a weed. 

It freely seeds itself throught the garden and when I find a plant growing where I don't want it, I simply dig it up and move it to the butterfly "area".  It grows tall, over 2 feet and looks pretty in a flower garden.

Caterpillars LOVE it and will eat it to a stub, but it always comes back...God has created it to do exactly what it should.

365 ~ 115 ~ Muncher

I try to keep a lot of plants in the garden for the caterpillars to munc on.  This little guy will become a gorgeous Florida Swallowtail Butterfly with a radiant blue coloring.  Here he is munching on some butterfly weed which has a pretty orange flower...see tomorrows post.

365 ~ 111 ~ So Sweet

It's that time of year again...when the pineapples begin producing.  Last year I had 7, this year I only see 2 growing right now...but it's early, a couple more could pop up.  After all, I have about 20 pineapple plants throughout the garden, you just never know what sweet surprises they hold.

365 ~ 110 ~ I'm so Blue

I had to share this one too.  I wasn't sure how the blue on blue would work, but I really liked the shadows and the angle on this shot.

365 ~ 109 ~ Sugar Plumbago

I'm not sure why, but Blue Plumbago in the sunlight always makes me think of a sugary frosted icing flower...they just have this sparkle to them...

I was happy with this shot SOOC.  I am really loving the new red "barn" color of our shed...it made a great backdrop!

365 ~ 103 ~ Birth of a Bean...

This will be a sweet, crispy green bean one day...

365 ~ 99 ~ Busy...

... very busy, pollinating all those lovely spring flowers.

365 ~ 98 ~ Budding Love

365 ~ 96 ~ Romancer

This Rose has a lovely scent and a gorgeous color... in spring and late fall it is happiest and covered in fragrant blooms....this Romantic rose is called Don Juan.

365 ~ 95 ~ By any other name...

Truly the sweetest scent ever... Belinda's Dream Roses...

365 ~ 80 ~ Herbs in Macro V

Parsley

Parsley is widely used in Middle Eastern, European, and American cooking.  Green parsley is often used as a garnish, with potato dishes (boiled buttered potatoes or mashed potato), with rice dishes (risotto or pilaf), with fish, fried chicken, lamb or goose, steaks, meat or vegetable stews (like beef bourguignon, goulash or chicken paprikash).


In southern and central Europe, parsley is part of bouquet garni, a bundle of fresh herbs used as an ingredient in stocks, soups, and sauces. Freshly chopped green parsley is used as a topping for soups like chicken soup, green salads or salads.

Intersting Note:  Parsley tea is used to lower blood pressure.

365 ~ 79 ~ Herbs in Macro IV

Thyme

Thyme is a good source of iron and is widely used in cooking in French,Italian, Greek and many other types of foods.  It is great to use in meats, soups, and omlets. It is a common ingredient of the bouquet garni, and of herbes de Provence.

Interesting Note:  The essential oil of common thyme 20-54% thymol, an antiseptic, and the main active ingredient in Listerine mouthwash.  Before modern antibiotics were invented, it was used to medicate bandages.  It is also effective against toenail fungus, and is the active ingredient in all-natural, alcohol-free hand sanitizers.


A tea made by steeping Thyme in water can be used for cough and bronchitis.  It cna be used treat respiratory infections in the form of a tincture, tisane, salve, syrup or by steam inhalation.


I use Thyme in my hubby's favorite dish... Chicken n' Dumplin's.  I'm quite certain that this flavorful herb is what make this dish so amazingly delicious! :)

365 ~ 78 ~ Herbs in Macro III

Mexican Tarragon

Also called: Mexican marigold, Spanish tarragon, or Texas tarragon.  Commonly used as a substitute for tarragon. The leaves have a tarragon-like flavor, with hints of anise (or a licorice type flavor).  In late summer or early fall, the plant bears large clusters of golden yellow florets.
Interesting note:  In one study, methanolic extract from the flower inhibited growth of Staphylococcus aureus, E. coli, and Candida albicans cultures—an effect that was enhanced with exposure to ultraviolet light. The roots, stems, and leaves also had the same effect when irradiated with UV light.... not quite sure if that means we should eat it and then go lay in the sun, or what??? lol



I use this herb in a soup I created that my husband just LOVES.... I call it... Kathy's Kickin' Chicken Soup.

365 ~ 77 ~ Herbs in Macro II

Rosemary

A popular herb in Mediterranean cooking, used both fresh and dried.  The leaves have a very strong scent and a slightly bitter taste, complimenting many foods.  

Intersting note:  Rosemary is extremely high in iron, calcium, and Vitamin B6.  Rosemary extract has been shown to improve the shelf life and heat stability of omega-3 rich oils, which are prone to going rancid.


Here are some ways to use Rosemary...for more, just go to The Wooden Spoon, and type Rosemary into the search box.

Olive Oil and Rosemary Bread

Seasoning a Turkey

365 ~ 76 ~ Herbs in Macro I

Oregano

Oregano is a very popular cooking herb, often more flavorful when it's leaves are dried and crushed.  It is a staple in Italian/American cuisine, but is also used in Turkish, Greek and Latin foods as well as many others. 

Interesting note:  It became popular in the US when World War II soldiers brought it back with them, calling it the “pizza herb”.  Not only used for pizza, in Southern Italy, it has long been with roasted, fried or grilled vegetables, meat and fish. Oregano combines well with spicy foods, which are popular in southern Italy.  It is less commonly used in the north of the country, where marjoram tends to replace it.

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Here are some recipes from my cooking blog that call for Oregano...for more, just go to The Wooden Spoon, and type Oregano in to the search box.

Off the Cuff Mexican Lasagne

Broccoli and Bacon Stuffed Shells

Pasta e Fagioli Soup

365 ~ 73 ~ Spring V

This Bouganivilla (Bow-gan-vee-ya) has such a beautiful shocking bright pink color and it has grown into a small tree along my back fence.  Just recently all the Bouganvillas in this are have bloomed out heavily, it's quite a show.