This soup will knock out a cold in no time! But beware–your breath might knock out your partner, too. 🙂 Actually, the soup tastes great, and it’s my go-to food when I’m dragging around from a cold or flu. Speaking of the flu, doesn’t it seem that EVERY year is called…
Run, run, run as fast as you can. You’ll never catch me, I’m the gingerbread man. That line from the children’s book, The Gingerbread Man, came to mind recently when I was reading about a study that found running enhances the ability of older adults to do everyday activities.…
Parsley is one of the easiest herbs to grow, and one of the handiest to have around at all times. Growing up, we adorned our plates with parsley and called them “gourmet” meals. However, humans aren’t the only ones who fancy this herb. The Eastern Black Swallowtail Butterfly lays eggs…
Do you have any of these growing in your garden? Calendula (calendula officinalis) is the common flower we call calendula or pot marigold, but it should not be confused with decorative marigolds (genus, tagetes) that you often find in summer gardens. As you can see, their appearance is not the…
Many years ago (okay, decades actually) I lived in France and enjoyed tilleul tea. When I came back to the States I realized we called it linden, but I still didn’t really know what it was. Â It’s been a long time since I’ve had linden tea or even thought about…
In the Victoria language of flowers, hibiscus symbolizes “Delicate Beauty.” So,  if you want to tell someone you think they are delicately beautiful (like my lovely daughter in this photo) give her a hibiscus plant. Hibiscus flowers come in many colors, but it is the dark pink or deep magenta…
If I had to choose only 10 culinary herbs for my kitchen, thyme would make the list, for sure. It’s used in many cuisines all around the world: Cajun, Jamaican, Italian, French, Greek, Middle Eastern, Australian… Although indigenous to the Mediterranean, species are also found in Asia, North Africa and…
Daffodils and dandelions tell us spring is just around the corner. Both plants produce lovely yellow flowers, but one we fertilize, and the other we poison. Ironically, it’s the one we detest that we should actually revere. Daffodils may be pretty, but dandelions are packed with nutritional and medicinal benefits! Dandelion…
Stinging nettles, more commonly called nettles, grow wild in most parts of the US, popping up in woodlands, rich soils, partially shaded areas, and along river banks. Although there are many different species, they all have similar health benefits. But that’s not all they have! Nettles are known for the…
I probably use cumin more often than any other spice in my cabinet, except salt and pepper. It’s one of my favorite flavors, and if you look through my herb pantry, you’ll find both ground cumin and cumin seeds. Cumin is also an ingredient in curry powder and garam masala,…