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(Columbia Station, Ohio)
My Herbal Obsession
[ Member listing ]
 We harvest our herbs at the peak of freshness and infuse in white wine champagne stock vinegar. Our Herbes de Provence Champagne Vinegar changes with the growing season, Tarragon, basil, lavender, chive, fennel, thyme, bay leaves, lemon thyme, and garden burnet. With a dash of lavender honey. Since the herbs change monthly the color of the vinegar changes also.
Click here to view our new product Herbes de Provence Champagne Vinegar
Vinaigrette du Provence
Ingredients:
2/3 cup Olive Oil
2 1/2 tablespoons Dijon Mustard (I like Grainy)
2 1/2 tablespoons Herbes of Provence Champagne Vinegar
Fresh Ground Black Pepper, to taste
Preparation:
Whisk all ingredients until well blended. Serve vinaigrette at room temperature.
Do not limit your yourself to just leafy greens. If you like a little sweeter dressing add a 1/2 teas sugar.
Posted by Blossomfarm
@ 08:29 AM CDT
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Sometimes I am in a rush and do not have time to make herb jellies from scratch.
So I need to improvise....
Simply buy a jar of your favorite brand of Apple Jelly (16 OUNCE) warm gently in pan -- DO NOT BOIL, and infused your choice of 1/3 cup clean organic herbs. Pull out leaves and store in refrigerator until ready to use.
Any variety mints, lemon verbena, English lavender flower buds, lemon, lime or purple basil, anise hyssop, cinnamon stick, anise star are a few examples.
Enjoy! Gayle at blossomfarm.com
Posted by Blossomfarm
@ 07:27 AM CDT
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Growing up in a family greenhouse business, my grandparents put everything on hold at 3 o'clock.... Grandpa would always serve the women employees (of age) the classic highball and Grandpa would drink his weidleman's beer. Now I prefer to have a deep dark great lakes porter, that my waistline has to show for it, so I have made up this refreshing low cal virgin cocktail, that makes 3 o'clock break a special time.
Since I grow and sell over 15 varieties of fragrant mint, I try a different flavor every other day in my club soda.
Mint Surprise Refresher
6 Washed Mint leaves You choice of variety.
1 key lime squeezed, add rind in glass (or 1/2 regular lime)
1 leaf of Stevia plant OR 1 tablespoon Slenda
Muddle the above together
Then add lots of crushed ice to the top of glass with club soda water. allow ice to to mingle and serve with straw.
Enjoy a moment to reflect on the day!
Posted by Blossomfarm
@ 12:58 PM CDT
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In ancient Rome the tradition of breaking bread over the brides head right after the wedding ceremony. The wheat in the bread symbolized fertility and the crumbs were considered good luck. This is how the wedding cake evolved.
Looking for unique wedding toss visit our members listings for Herbal Wedding Confetti
Posted by Blossomfarm
@ 06:55 AM CDT
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WE ALL HEARD THE FOLLOWING RHYME:
Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue
and a sixpence in her shoe.
~An old English rhyme
Something old symbolized the bride's past and hope for a long marriage.
Something new, relates to the bride and grooms new life together.
Something borrowed; borrowing the happiness of an existing marriage and using it to start happiness and joy in the couples in new married life.
The bride carrying something blue symbolized loyalty and fidelity in the marriage; and a silver sixpence in here shoe symbolized good luck.
Posted by Blossomfarm
@ 10:59 AM CDT
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 A fun recipe to do with the kids this summer when the fields are in full bloom with unsprayed wild clover. Over a hundred years old from an old New Hampshire native.
HOMEMADE HONEY
2 1/2 cups white clover flowers (No green parts)
1 cup red clover flowers (No green parts)
Petals of four wild roses
10 cups sugar
1 teas. alum
3 cup water
Directions:
1. Wash blossoms and drain well.
2. Bring all ingredients except alum to a boil and stir slowly.
3. Add alum and stir 60 times (no more, no less). Turn heat off
Allow to streep for 3 hours.
4. Strain mixture through cheesecloth, reheat to boil and pour into clean sterilized 6 oz containers.
Note: If you use green parts your recipe will taste grassy.
Happy Gardening! Gayle at the Blossom Farm
Posted by Blossomfarm
@ 07:14 PM CDT
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If you are near Westlake, Ohio you may want to attend the following fundraiser. It is a wonderful afternoon to spend with your friends, daughters, sisters or invite an elderly widow. I know you will not be disappointed. Make sure you get your tickets soon-they sell out fast.
The Herb Guild 25th Annual Scholarship Luncheon
August 5, 2009
Wagner’s Country Inn
30855 Center-Ridge Road, Westlake, Ohio
Speaker: Parker Bosley, past owner of Sammy’s and Parker’s restaurants, chef extraordinaire & sustainable farming advocate.
Mr.Bosley will give a PowerPoint presentation on Local Seasonal Foods, Saving the Farm and Restoring the Family.
Entertainment: Gary Richards at the piano
Menu: Chicken crepes, glazed carrots, green beans almandine, herb rolls, salad, chocolate mousse for dessert. Beverages included. The Herb Guild Herb tea blend 2009 will be served as an option. A wine cash bar will be available.
Basket Raffle & Silent Auction.
 The Boutique will include Herb & Garden related Gifts, Vintage treasures, culinary herbs, teas, herb mixes, herb dips, herb vinegar, herb jelly, Bakery and more. Our own herb bread recipe baked exclusively for us by the Breadsmith of Lakewood. The featured Herb of the Year: Bay Laurel.
Donation: $30.00. Tickets go on sale May 12.
Contact Joyce Hayward, ticket chair for reservations
330-801-7202
Mail checks payable to: The Herb Guild
7229 Songbird Lane
North Ridgeville, Ohio 44039
All money raised is towards an educational scholarship for students entering college to study horticulture related fields.
Posted by Blossomfarm
@ 08:06 PM CDT
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Chamomile is known to calm and is anti-inflammatory and antibacterial.
Calendula helps to prevent the overgrowth of yeast and is soothing to the skin.
Calendula / chamomile Baby Oil
8 ounces of oil (olive, almond,or sunflower)
1/2 ounce dried calendula flowers
1/2 ounce dried chamomile flowers.
Place the oil and flowers in a crock pot on low temperature
for about 4 hours to extract the beneficial properties of the flowers into the oil. Check very carefully that your oil is not getting to
hot. Allow the oil to cool and then strain it using cheese cloth.
Or fill mason jar with flowers and cover with oil, label, store in dark cool place, shake ever few days, in about 6 to 8 weeks, strain, and label.
You can add a few drops of essential oils if you like. Try 5-10 drops
of lavender essential oil.
To make into a salve, simply add 1 ounce of beeswax or soywax.
For gifts pour in small bottles then wrap raffia add instructions for use.
Happy Gardening, Gayle at the Blossom Farm
Posted by Blossomfarm
@ 06:45 AM CDT
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In Europe and colonial days May Wine was a traditional popular drink served in spring and early summer when the Sweet Woodruff is fresh and in full bloom and was traditional served in Germany on May 1.
Celebrate with May Wine on Mother's Day with this simple recipe.
 Simply gather Sweet Woodruff (makes sure it is SWEET WOODRUFF) and allow to dry, this concentrates cumarin (vanilla) which gives its fragrance and flavor. You can cheat and dry it in the microwave.
Using an inexpensive bottle of German Riesling wine or other light white wine, steep the sweet woodruff in wine overnight, strain out the woodruff, Add 1/3 cup of sugar, shake to dissolve the sugar and chill.
When ready to serve, add one bottle of sparkling water, wine or Champagne to the mixture. The May Wine is often served with strawberries or other fruit.
AN HERB TO KNOW:
Galium odoratum
Sweet Woodruff
Height: 10" Zone: 5 Light: part sun to shade
Description: Fragrant ground cover combining the scents of newly mown hay and vanilla. A calming scent used to stuff pillows and scenting linen. Prefers moist shade and is a sea of white in spring. Used to make May Wine (vanilla flavor) and is an essential in a fairy garden. The FDA has rated unsafe in foodstuffs (except wine) due to compounds closely related to blood thinners. Medieval churches prepared for religious holidays by hanging woodruff. In herbal folklore this plants signify humility.
Posted by Blossomfarm
@ 08:26 PM CDT
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Tuesday Night (May 5, 2009) is the last day to order Garden Gift baskets for shipping. We offer a large selection unique gifts for every type of MOM! Butterfly lovers, lavender lovers, herb lovers, soap and lotions gifts, please visit our members listing.
This is wierd but I wish my kids would send me some flowers? You would think I would be sick of plants? But you know whatever they will get or don't get, I feel lucky to have such very respectful children. Even when it is not Mothers day they still ask if they could get me another cup of coffee, now that is what I call a blessing! Or is it just great training????
Happy Planting, Gayle
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Posted by Blossomfarm
@ 05:25 PM CDT
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Infusions
Infusions, or tisanes as they are frequently called, are made by pouring
boiling water over the herbs and allowing the mixture to steep for 10-30 minutes depending on the strength you prefer. Infusions
are used for extracting the properties of flowers and the herb or leafy
part of the plant. Always keep the container tightly closed when infusing herbs. If using a teapot, atea caddy is helpful in keeping all
the properties in the water.
Decoctions
A decoction is used to extract the more tenacious plant material and is
the preferred method for brewing most roots, barks and hard nuts/seeds. A decoction is made by simmering the herbs in
boiling water for 15-30 minutes depending on the strength of tea
desired. Always keep the pot tightly
covered.
Solar Infusions
Sun charge your tea! Place the herbs in a large glass jar and cover
tightly. Put in the direct sunlight and leave for several hours or until the desired flavor is attained. There's nothing quite like the taste of
sunshine brewed in a perfect blend of herbs to lift the spirits.
Lunar Infusions
Just as solar infusions capture the essence of sunlight, lunar infusions
utilize the great luminary energy of the moon. Though much subtler than other methods of brewing herbs, lunar infusions capture a
certain magic and essence. To make, place herbs (fresh flowers are
especially nice in lunar infusions) in a crystal bowl and set the bowl in a place where it will get direct moonlight. Let sit overnight and
first thing in the morning, drink your lunar infusion. Try it on the
next full moon. You'll be enchanted.
Posted by Blossomfarm
@ 07:30 AM CDT
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