http://www.growingherbsforbeginners.com Learn how to grow herbs quickly and easily! Thu, 19 Jan 2012 03:32:27 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 http://www.growingherbsforbeginners.com/sage-sausage-kale-and-butternut-squash-soup/ http://www.growingherbsforbeginners.com/sage-sausage-kale-and-butternut-squash-soup/#comments Tue, 10 Jan 2012 19:26:00 +0000 Greenthumb http://www.growingherbsforbeginners.com/?p=2178 I’m not the type of cook that measures much. I usually eyeball ingredients and toss them together and this recipe is no different. If you are a strict measurer, don’t let that scare you! All amounts are approximate, but you absolutely cannot mess this up if you have a little more or less of anything. [...]]]> http://www.growingherbsforbeginners.com/sage-sausage-kale-and-butternut-squash-soup/feed/ 0 http://www.growingherbsforbeginners.com/super-cute-paper-seed-packets/ http://www.growingherbsforbeginners.com/super-cute-paper-seed-packets/#comments Thu, 22 Dec 2011 20:41:20 +0000 Greenthumb http://www.growingherbsforbeginners.com/?p=2085 Super cute, these puffy little packets are perfect for gift cards, candy, small gifts or SEEDS!  You’ll need:  Heavy paper – I generally use old holiday cards and card stock, but watercolor or heavy scrapbook paper and large paper grocery bags work beautifully! Glue or tape Scissors and or craft knife Here’s how to make [...]]]> http://www.growingherbsforbeginners.com/super-cute-paper-seed-packets/feed/ 2 http://www.growingherbsforbeginners.com/why-mint-dies-in-pots/ http://www.growingherbsforbeginners.com/why-mint-dies-in-pots/#comments Sat, 10 Dec 2011 17:26:00 +0000 Greenthumb http://www.growingherbsforbeginners.com/?p=2137 Mint needs room to run. It really does. Anyone that has ever tried to pull mint plants out of their yard knows it has roots that travel all over the garden. When you grow mint in a pot you’ve confined those rambling roots.  Now the mint has to content itself with circling the container and [...]]]> http://www.growingherbsforbeginners.com/why-mint-dies-in-pots/feed/ 0 http://www.growingherbsforbeginners.com/how-to-dry-ginger/ http://www.growingherbsforbeginners.com/how-to-dry-ginger/#comments Thu, 01 Dec 2011 16:28:18 +0000 Greenthumb http://www.growingherbsforbeginners.com/?p=1904   Gingerbread men, exotic recipes and spicy herbal tea blends. What do they have in common? Ginger! Did you know you can dry ginger at home?  Yep, it’s easy. Whether you’ve grown your own or bought it at the store you can dry and make your own ginger powder. You don’t need any special equipment, [...]]]> http://www.growingherbsforbeginners.com/how-to-dry-ginger/feed/ 0 http://www.growingherbsforbeginners.com/rooting-for-pineapple-sage/ http://www.growingherbsforbeginners.com/rooting-for-pineapple-sage/#comments Tue, 22 Nov 2011 15:58:10 +0000 Greenthumb http://www.growingherbsforbeginners.com/?p=2067 Pineapple Sage or Salvia elegans is a delicious herb. It’s bright red blooms are gorgeous and it is also a tasty herb to grow in your herb garden! Another member of the mint family Pineapple Sage is considered to be winter hardy in zones 8-11. Being a short day plant, Pineapple Sage is a late [...]]]> http://www.growingherbsforbeginners.com/rooting-for-pineapple-sage/feed/ 0 http://www.growingherbsforbeginners.com/making-awesome-herb-garden-art-with-molds-2/ http://www.growingherbsforbeginners.com/making-awesome-herb-garden-art-with-molds-2/#comments Sun, 13 Nov 2011 20:39:15 +0000 Greenthumb http://www.growingherbsforbeginners.com/?p=2015     Making your own concrete garden art is SO much fun. In part 1 we learned how to create a mold. This time we’ll do some casting! Before you get started there are some things you will want to have on hand:  a place to work- with above freezing temperatures for several days to [...]]]> http://www.growingherbsforbeginners.com/making-awesome-herb-garden-art-with-molds-2/feed/ 0 http://www.growingherbsforbeginners.com/making-awesome-herb-garden-art-with-molds/ http://www.growingherbsforbeginners.com/making-awesome-herb-garden-art-with-molds/#comments Tue, 08 Nov 2011 20:29:43 +0000 Greenthumb http://www.growingherbsforbeginners.com/?p=1970 Making rubber molds for concrete or hypertufa castings is ridiculously easy. It’s also one of those things that seem scary…until you’ve done it! You can start small- try a rock, or an apple or orange. If you use garden produce it must be fairly solid and fresh-no softer than a firm orange. It will be [...]]]> http://www.growingherbsforbeginners.com/making-awesome-herb-garden-art-with-molds/feed/ 10 http://www.growingherbsforbeginners.com/how-to-grow-parsley/ http://www.growingherbsforbeginners.com/how-to-grow-parsley/#comments Tue, 01 Nov 2011 02:19:47 +0000 Greenthumb http://www.growingherbsforbeginners.com/?p=2148 Parsley is an easy herb to grow… once it’s started. That goes for both the flat leaf or Italian Petroselinum neapolitanum and the curly leaf Petroselinum crispum types. If you’ve only seen parsley as a garnish on a restaurant plate, you have only met the curly type.  Many cooks prefer the flat leaf for flavor [...]]]> http://www.growingherbsforbeginners.com/how-to-grow-parsley/feed/ 0 http://www.growingherbsforbeginners.com/making-your-own-herbed-croutons/ http://www.growingherbsforbeginners.com/making-your-own-herbed-croutons/#comments Thu, 20 Oct 2011 17:16:11 +0000 Greenthumb http://www.growingherbsforbeginners.com/?p=1921 Yum! Fresh herbed croutons are a snap to make at home. Buttery, light and crispy they have more flavor than anything you've ever tried out of a box or package. If you haven't tried making your own croutons at home, you should! This is my "Lazy Woman's Guide to Homemade Croutons" Here's how: ]]> http://www.growingherbsforbeginners.com/making-your-own-herbed-croutons/feed/ 2 http://www.growingherbsforbeginners.com/favorite-herbal-tea-blending-books/ http://www.growingherbsforbeginners.com/favorite-herbal-tea-blending-books/#comments Sat, 08 Oct 2011 08:29:31 +0000 Greenthumb http://www.growingherbsforbeginners.com/?p=1882 Some Favorite Herbal Tea Recipe Books I love herb teas or tisanes, and like to play around with different combinations and flavors. Starting out on your own with single herbs is great, but there may come a time when you want to try something more, whether just for enjoyment or maybe a little something in the medicinal [...]]]> http://www.growingherbsforbeginners.com/favorite-herbal-tea-blending-books/feed/ 0 http://www.growingherbsforbeginners.com/glazed-parsley-garlic-and-onion-meatballs/ http://www.growingherbsforbeginners.com/glazed-parsley-garlic-and-onion-meatballs/#comments Wed, 05 Oct 2011 16:54:03 +0000 Greenthumb http://www.growingherbsforbeginners.com/?p=1866   Oh boy, these meatballs with garlic and parsley are scrumptious! These are BIG meatballs- but feel free to make a bunch of smaller ones. This recipe makes 12-15 jumbo meatballs.   Preheat your oven to *350. For the meatballs you will need: 3 pounds ground beef 3  eggs, lightly beaten 2 1/2 - 3 cups quick cooking oats [...]]]> http://www.growingherbsforbeginners.com/glazed-parsley-garlic-and-onion-meatballs/feed/ 2 http://www.growingherbsforbeginners.com/how-to-make-fairy-doors-and-gnome-doors/ http://www.growingherbsforbeginners.com/how-to-make-fairy-doors-and-gnome-doors/#comments Thu, 29 Sep 2011 00:38:14 +0000 Greenthumb http://www.growingherbsforbeginners.com/?p=1844 Are there fairies and gnomes in your herb garden? Here is another great garden decor project you can make! These fairy and gnome doors are easy to do and lots of fun to make. They look terrific placed against a tree with a hollow, or in a 'nook' around tree roots...]]> http://www.growingherbsforbeginners.com/how-to-make-fairy-doors-and-gnome-doors/feed/ 0 http://www.growingherbsforbeginners.com/growing-herbs-in-grow-bags-product-review/ http://www.growingherbsforbeginners.com/growing-herbs-in-grow-bags-product-review/#comments Wed, 21 Sep 2011 20:58:55 +0000 Greenthumb http://www.growingherbsforbeginners.com/?p=1946 I grew some herbs and veggies in folding polypropylene bags for the first time this year. Three of the bags I purchased and tested were from Gardener’s Supply and are called “Grow Bags”. I originally posted on my personal blog when I started using them  in May and then posted my findings there in August [...]]]> http://www.growingherbsforbeginners.com/growing-herbs-in-grow-bags-product-review/feed/ 0 http://www.growingherbsforbeginners.com/rosemary-orange-ice-cream/ http://www.growingherbsforbeginners.com/rosemary-orange-ice-cream/#comments Tue, 13 Sep 2011 23:35:16 +0000 Greenthumb http://www.growingherbsforbeginners.com/?p=1817 We're still on an ice cream kick as summer is winding down. This week we made Rosemary-Orange, Vanilla and Peach ice cream. Guess which one is my favorite? As usual it's the herbal ice cream! For this Rosemary Orange version I use the same creamy rich custard base as the Basil and Lemon Ice Cream. We use much less cream than the original recipe because we usually use our goats' milk but I'll share the original with you. It's super rich!]]> http://www.growingherbsforbeginners.com/rosemary-orange-ice-cream/feed/ 0 http://www.growingherbsforbeginners.com/fresh-basil-and-lemon-ice-cream/ http://www.growingherbsforbeginners.com/fresh-basil-and-lemon-ice-cream/#comments Tue, 13 Sep 2011 22:13:10 +0000 Greenthumb http://www.growingherbsforbeginners.com/?p=1800 This Basil ice cream is so refreshing! It does not taste like Basil, but has a 'basil perfume' to it. You just have to try it, but I think you'll find it has more lemon flavor than anything. Since we use our fresh goat milk we use less cream than the original recipe calls for, but I'll give you the original custard recipe. It's killer! I also strain off the basil/lemon peel, blend it with some of the milk mixture and add it back in before freezing. I like the little yellow and green flecks. If you do not like yellow and green flecked ice cream then strain out the basil leaves and lemon peel and just toss them. ]]> http://www.growingherbsforbeginners.com/fresh-basil-and-lemon-ice-cream/feed/ 0