Tea from the garden

L'Heure du The

As part of a healthier eating plan, I have reduced and nearly eliminated all types of caffeine and tea from my diet and most hot drinks have been herbal teas.

It seemed only time before I would explore how to include plants that could provide me with a surplus of leaves for herbal infusions. My favourites are mint, lemon verbena, verbena and lavender but there are others that could well be useful plants. I have not used any of the following plants although all of them in one way or another have edible parts that make tea.
Do not try this unless you are sure which parts to use.


Hyssop - hysoppus officilanis
Mallow - hybiscus syriacus
scotch heather - calluna vulgaris
anise hyssop-agastache foeniculum
chamomile
columbine - aquilegia vulgaris
creeping thyme
peppermint - menta x piperita vulgaris
spearmint - mentha spicata
honeysuckle - lonicera spp.
marigold flowers

Lemon verbena is beginning to grow at the moment. It is quite an invasive plant and keeping it in a container makes easy picking. A few leaves, crushed and steeped for 5 mins give a refreshing brew that has the ability to calm the nerves.

Eating the garden

Wow, has it been that long ? Apologies, I must have got lost in the garden.What I have been up to, well, sitting still, being poorly and dealing with the end of year for the business, boys off on holidays and mountains of washing. Very mundane things.

Its spring and although I am wearing 3 layers of sweaters, quite nice out there. In fact it was so nice today we managed lunch out. A lunch without bread. The norm for me now but still quite alien for the men in the household.

The plan this year, as it is year 2 in the garden is to start harvesting what is abundant and to use it for all its bounty.

Today's goat's cheese warm salad includes :
rocket
land cress
lambs lettuce
roasted vegetables - tomatoes and green pepper ( slightly going past its best in the shop)

Roast the vegetables in olive oil for about 20 mins, while you pick the salad. Heap roasted vegetables on salad. Add 1 tablespoon of balsamic vinegar in the oven dish, swirl and spoon over salad ( that's the dressing). Finish up with some goats cheese which will melt on top of it. Yummy even with 3 sweaters on.