HERBS AND SPICES: THYME

Thyme (Thymus vulgaris)

Thyme contains many organic compounds that contribute to its fragrance and medicinal properties: thymol, p -cymene, myrcene, borneol,  linalool, and more. Here is the full nutritional information on thyme.

 
Grow
Thyme is a perennial plant that I am obsessively growing everywhere in my garden. However, the plant thrives mostly in the sunnier locations with well-drained soil. I am replanting throughout the warm season, and this is easily done by dividing the rooted stalks (look at this video). If left to me, I would substitute the entire lawn around the house with thyme. I am in love with the plant because it is beautiful, it bestows the most divine aroma to my herbal tea, and it can be planted anywhere between walking stones on paths and everywhere I want to suppress weeds from growing.
 
Harvest and storage
For tea, harvest the plant when it flowers. Collect the greener upper part of the stem with the flowers. For cooking, collect the leaves only any time during the growing season (summer and fall for me, in zone 5, U.S.). Fresh thyme is flavorful, but it lasts only a week in the refrigerator. For tea, I dry my thyme: I collect the flowers after rainfall (so I do not need to wash them), spread the sprigs on a towel, away from sunlight and once the plants are completely dry and crumbly, I store them in glass jars. This process may take awhile if the weather is humid.
 
Medicinal uses for thyme
From ancient times, thyme was used for embalming and incense in temples. Not so long ago, thyme oil was used in bandages to heal wounds. Presently, thyme is used to prepare hand sanitizers and mouth fresheners. In fact, thymol is the active ingredient in several commercial mouthwashes. All of these applications are due to the powerful anti-bacterial properties of the plant. Thyme might also have some anti-fungal activity, since it is recommended against toenail infections. In traditional medicine, thyme is used to help fight persistent cough, bronchitis, pneumonia, gastrointestinal problems, and diarrhea. For these conditions, steep 5 teaspoons of chopped fresh thyme (or 1 teaspoon of dried, crumbled plant) in 1 cup boiling water (this is the maximum daily dose). This infusion is also beneficial for washes (and gargling) for mouth and throat inflammations. For a breakfast tea, try the mix of dry thyme, St. John’s wort, mint, and oregano.
 
Cosmetics with thyme
Due to its anti-bacterial properties, thyme is effective against acne. The Feel Good Style website recommends a thyme toner made of dry thyme and some witch hazel, as well as a moisturizer with dry thyme and argan, sesame, or jojoba oil.
For a spray breath freshener, watch James Wong whip one with thyme. James Wang uses the leaves of fresh thyme, mint, and eucalyptus. I may try the recipe without the eucalyptus (I have no idea where to find it), but peppermint and thyme are abundant in my garden. The leaves are chopped finely, and approximately ten Tbsp mint and ten Tbsp of thyme are covered with 150 ml vodka. The flavor is made stronger by adding the peel of a lemon, 3 tsp of cloves and 3 tsp of aniseed. Everything is blended and left to sit in a dark jar, in a cool dark place. In a month, the potion is strained, thickened with 3 Tbsp of glycerin, and poured into a spray bottle ready to use!

Cooking with thyme
For cooking, add the fresh sprigs, but make sure to discard just before serving the dish. Alternatively, strip the stalk and use the leaves only. I have to admit that although I am growing almost a lawn of thyme, I am not using it for cooking. However, things may change soon, as I found a few interesting thyme-centered recipes on The Kitchn website. In general, thyme is great on pasta, chicken, pizza, toasted veggies, in salads and stews. Finally, instead of drinking soda or juice, even orange juice, try a glass of cold thyme-flavored water.
 
Resources 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thyme
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kKd2VSvi0EY
http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/spices-and-herbs/218/2
http://feelgoodstyle.com/2012/07/14/3-thyme-recipes-to-clear-up-acne/
http://www.thekitchn.com/from-the-spice-cupboard-thyme-89346
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ndlemn2idQ8  

HERBS AND SPICES: PARSLEY

Parsley (flat leaf)
Petroselinum crispum
 


What’s in it
Parsley contains flavonoids and antioxidants, folic acid, and vitamins A, K, and C. In addition to fiber, parsley contains calcium and iron (here is the full nutrition information). Excessive consumption of parsley should be avoided by pregnant women.

 

Grow 
In zone 5, U.S., parsley grows as a biennial, it flowers in the second year, and this is when I collect its seeds. I prefer to grow the Italian (flat leaf) variety of parsley. According to this website, one can start the seeds 3 to 4 weeks before the last spring frost since parsley withstands cold weather, and it can take up to 3 weeks for the seeds to sprout. To grow parsley, choose a sunny place in your garden with rich soil.

Harvesting
For cooking, cut gently the individual parsley leaves on their stalks in the first year of the plant. Do not pull on the plant, since the root can re-grow new sprigs again and again. You can harvest the same plant during the entire summer and fall (parsley is the last plant to die in my garden in late fall). I use fresh parsley throughout the warm season. To store parsley for winter cooking, I wash the leaves, dry them for an hour and press tight in sandwich bags by expelling as much air as possible. The batches frozen at -20ºC last through the winter. When I cook with parsley, I take a bag from the freezer and until the herb is frozen, I crush it in the bag with my hands to skip the chopping.

Medicinal uses for parsley

• According to Web MD and phytotherapy books, parsley stimulates the appetite, improves digestion, reduces gas, increases urine production, reduces spasms, and increases menstrual flow! Both parsley leaf and root can be used in teas as a diuretic to reduce excessive water in the body (as in gout and rheumatism).

• Parsley is one of the herbs that fight anemia. One recipe I have tried for my own anemia was a daily dose of a cup of plain yogurt with chopped parsley and a bit of salt. Yogurt helps restore your healthy gut bacteria, and parsley’s vitamin C helps the absorption of iron.

• Parsley is also antibacterial and antifungal, may be this is why is effective is reducing bad breath (just chew on a few sprigs). 

• Apigenin, one of the compounds in parsley, has been researched as an anti-cancer substance.

• More healing properties of parsley are listed on this website.

For some of these medicinal applications, use an extract of ½ teaspoon of crushed seeds and 1 cup of water left for 8 hours at room temperature. This is the dose for one day. When using the root, use 4 teaspoons of thinly chopped root in a cup of boiling water, strain after 15 minutes. Fresh leaves are also used to prepare tea (one teaspoon of chopped leaves with one cup of water).

Cosmetics with parsley 

• Due to its high vitamin C contents, parsley may reduce dark eye circles. For this purpose, a few drops of juice are extracted from chopped parsley leaves, mixed with yogurt, and applied under the eyes.

• Due to its antibacterial properties, parsley is also used in recipes against acne.

Cooking with parsley 
Almost all soups and salads I prepare include parsley. For soups, add the chopped parsley right at the end of cooking, immediately after the heat is turned off. This will preserve the healthy compounds in parsley. 

Here is also a recipe for a  cheap and easy to prepare vegetarian dish:                                  

Green beans meal
Soften one chopped onion and a few chopped carrots in two tablespoons of olive oil. If the veggies start burning, add a bit of water (half a cup). Once the carrots and onion are soft, add two cans (14.5 oz) of green beans (without their liquid), and water the volume of the two cans. Add 2-3 chopped tomatoes (or a 14.5 oz can of chopped tomatoes), salt, paprika and hot red flakes to taste. Bring to boil, and then turn the heat down to simmer for five minutes. Just before turning off the heat, add chopped ½ bunch of dill and ½ bunch of parsley. In summer time, serve the dish cold with feta cheese sprinkled on top. The dish is also delicious when warm and served with a spoonful of plain yogurt on top. If the green beans are fresh, increase the cooking time. You can also use green peas instead of green beans.

Resources

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parsley

• http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/vegetables-and-vegetable-products/2513/2

• http://www.everygreenherb.com/anemia.html

• http://www.stylecraze.com/articles/amazing-health-benefits-of-parsley

• http://www.stylecraze.com/articles/amazing-health-benefits-of-parsley/

• http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-792-parsley.aspx?activeingredientid=792&activeingredientname=parsley

• http://www.bibliotecapleyades.net/ciencia/ciencia_industryhealthiermedica141.htm

• http://www.almanac.com/plant/parsley
  

HERBS AND SPICES: DILL

I decided to start a new series of posts dedicated to herbs and spices. I am not a botanist, I am not an herbalist, but I am learning in the process of looking for new recipes and remedies for common conditions. The first post below is dedicated to dill.

    Dill [Anethum graveolens]

Dill contains monoterpenes, some of which have the fantastic names of carvone, limonene, and anethofuran, and flavonoids named kaempferol and vicenin. Dill has also fiber, vitamins A and C, some calcium and iron (click here for full nutrition information). 

Dill is an annual plant in my corner of the world (zone 5, the U.S.). I use only the leaves during the summer, but at the end of the plant’s life, I am sure to collect the seeds for the next growing season. The plant and its floating yellow flowers  are so dainty and beautiful that I seed dill everywhere in the garden. Dill, however, thrives only with lots of sunshine and in rich, well-drained soil.   During the harvesting period, one can pinch off the flowers to increase the leaf production. However, be sure to leave some flowers for seeds.

Fresh or dried leaves are called dill weed, and used for cooking and medicinal purposes.  The dill seeds are also collected for the same applications. I store dill leaves by freezing them: after harvesting the leaves, I wash, drain, air dry for a few hours, and press tight in sandwich bags by expelling as much air as possible. These frozen at -20ºC batches last through the winter. When I cook with dill, I take a bag from the freezer and until the herb is frozen, I crush it in the bag with my hands to skip the chopping.

Medicinal uses for dill

Dill activates the secretion of bile and digestive juices and stimulates the motion of the intestines, easing the passage of bowel movements and relieving constipation.

Dill may sooth and calm down; therefore, it may help in case of insomnia.

Dill contains calcium, therefore, it could strengthen bone development.

Dill may reduce the fluctuations in insulin levels.

Dill prevents excessive gas accumulation.

Dill is antibacterial: this is why Hippocrates used dill in a recipe for cleaning the mouth, and ancient soldiers applied dill seeds to their wounds.

Dill may prevents oxidative damage, and thus protect the genes from damage.

For medicinal applications use a teaspoon of crushed seeds. Cover the seeds with a cup of boiling water, leave for 10 minutes and strain. This is the dose for one day.

Cosmetics with dill

Dill oil is used for soap making. Here is a recipe for your own dill soap.

Dill extract may increase expression of an enzyme in skin that generates elastin and counteracts skin aging. I have not been able to find a recipe for a homemade facial cream with dill, but I may try to adapt this recipe with some dill extract.

Cooking with dill

I included a few of my recipes here, but if you desire more variety, I recommend a Pinterest search under “DILL”.

Cold cucumber soup: chop cucumbers and dill, add ground walnuts, salt, oil. Mix well with yogurt and water to the desired thickness. Refrigerate and serve cold. Alternatively, mix the dry ingredients with strained yogurt and serve as a “salad” or dip.

Zucchini soup: chop equal amount of zucchini and potatoes. Cook both in oil and very little water until soft. Press (mesh or blend) the vegetables into a puree, and add more water to the final soup volume and the desired thickness. Once the soup starts boiling again, add a cup or less of rice and boil for another 10 minutes. Before turning off the heat, add two big bunches of cut parley and dill. Salt to taste. Serve with a bit of yogurt stirred in, lemon, and crumbled feta cheese.

Spinach soup: chop a large onion, cut in half 10 -12 baby carrots, and soften these in 2-3 spoons of cooking oil in a deep soup pot. After 5 minutes, add a bit of water to prevent burning the vegetables. After the onion and carrots a softer (another 5-7 minutes), add 6-7 cups of water, and bring to boil. Meanwhile, defrost the frozen chopped spinach (two boxes) in the microwave. When the soup water starts boiling, add the defrosted spinach and ½ cup of rice. If the soup seems too thick, add more water. Bring to slow boil and cook for 10-12 minutes (or until the rice is cooked). Meanwhile, wash and cut one bunch of each parsley and dill. If these were frozen, then just crush them in their bags (no need of chopping). Before turning off the heat, add the parsley, dill and salt to taste. Serve with some yogurt, crumbled feta cheese, black pepper and lemon. If accompanied by a tasty toast, it is a complete dinner meal!

Dill could be used to add flavor to:

• egg salad, tuna salad, potato salad (boiled potatoes, olive oil, lemon juice, fresh dill and salt),

• fried potatoes (sprinkled with chopped fresh dill and crumbled feta cheese),

•  cucumber salad (cucumbers with garlic, salt, lemon juice, olive oil and fresh dill)

•  fried zucchini and eggplant (with yogurt sauce with salt, olive oil, crushed garlic and fresh dill)

Resources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dill

https://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/seed-and-nut/dill.html

http://www.biomedcentral.com/1472-6882/9/30/

http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=71

http://www.paulaschoice.com/cosmetic-ingredient-dictionary/definition/dill-extract

http://www.naturalcosmeticsupplies.com/dill-seeds.html

http://www.complete-herbal.com/details/Dill.htm