Summer Approaches. Have You Planted Your Garden?
As the old timers say, "if you don't like the weather in Maine, wait a minute." That certainly describes our spring. The plants have been very happy for the rain and the sun, even if it has been all over the place The flowers and trees are in full swing, and loving it.
We are now past our typical last frost date, and most folks are planting their gardens. Our farmers, both online and at the outdoor market, have lots of veggie seedlings, in wide varieties. Some of them are old favorites, and others are "new to us" varieties, of the heirloom type. There are even some flowers and perennials to be had. What are your favorite veggies to cultivate, and why? Are you a container gardener, or a plot gardener? Feel free to leave a comment on our facebook page, letting us know!
Featured Recipe: Herb and Spice Almost Anything
Want to spruce up your meals without a lot of extra fancy ingredients? Herbs and spices really do the trick! Have you seen herbs that you are interested in trying, but are unsure of how to use them? Here's a great list to get you started.
I suggest freezing, your extra fresh herbs. They maintain their flavor much more than by drying them, and it prevents wilty herbs, that end up in the garbage. There are lots of fresh herbs to choose from, at the markets right now. This chart will help you perk up, almost anything.
Beans(dried)-cumin, cayenne, chili,
parsley, pepper, sage,
savory, thyme
Beef- basil, bay, chili, cilantro, curry,
cumin, garlic, marjoram, mustard,
oregano, parsley, pepper, rosemary,
sage, savory, tarragon, thyme
Breads-anise, basil, caraway, cardamom,
cinnamon, coriander, cumin, dill,
garlic, lemon peel, orange peel,
oregano, poppy seeds, rosemary,
saffron, sage, thyme
Cheese-basil, caraway, celery seed, chervil,
chili, chives, coriander, cumin,
dill, garlic, horseradish, lemon
peel, marjoram, mint, mustard,
nutmeg, paprika, parsley, pepper,
sage, tarragon, thyme
Chicken-allspice, basil, bay, cinnamon,
curry, dill, fennel, garlic, ginger
lemongrass, mustard, paprika,
rosemary, saffron, sage, savory,
tarragon, thyme
Corn-chili, curry, dill, marjoram, parsley,
savory, thyme
Eggs-basil, chervil, chili, chives, curry,
dill, fennel, ginger, lemon peel,
marjoram, oregano, paprika, parsley,
pepper, sage, tarragon, thyme
Fish-anise, basil, bay, cayenne, celery
seed, chives, curry, dill fennel,
garlic, ginger, lemon peel, mustard,
oregano, parsley, rosemary, thyme,
saffron, sage, savory, tarragon,
marjoram
Fruits-allspice, anise, cardamom, cinnamon,
cloves, coriander, ginger, mint
Lamb-basil, bay, cinnamon, coriander, cumin,
curry, dill, garlic, marjoram, mint,
mustard, oregano, parsley, rosemary,
savory, tarragon, thyme
Potatoes-basil, caraway, celery seed,
chervil, chives, coriander, dill,
marjoram, oregano, paprika,
parsley, poppy seed, rosemary,
tarragon, thyme
Salad Dressings-basil, celery seed, chives,
dill, fennel, garlic,
horseradish, marjoram,
mustard, oregano, paprika,
parsley, pepper, rosemary,
saffron, tarragon, thyme
Salads-basil, caraway, chives, dill, garlic,
lemon peel, lovage, marjoram, mint,
oregano, parsley, rosemary, tarragon,
thyme
Soups-basil, bay, chervil, chili, chives,
cumin, dill, fennel, garlic, marjoram,
parsley, pepper, rosemary, sage,
savory, thyme
Sweets-allspice, angelica, anise, cardamom,
cinnamon, cloves, fennel, ginger,
lemon peel, mace, nutmeg, mint,
orange peel, rosemary
Tomatoes-basil, bay , celery seed, cinnamon,
chili, curry, dill, fennel, garlic,
ginger, gumbo file, lemongrass,
marjoram, oregano, parsley,
rosemary, savory, tarragon, thyme
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