Lavender is trending TEXT Alice Spenser-Higgs All the trends for 2018 point to lavender. Purple is the ‘new colour of health’, as well as the choice of Pantone’s trendsetters. Foodies flirting with ‘botanical’ flavours are experimenting with lavender lattes, and the world-wide focus on wellness underscores lavender’s pre-eminent position as one of the best natural […]
herb
Watermelon and Herb Salad
Watermelon and Herb Salad Watermelon and herbs make the idea complement to any summer braai. The freshness of the herbs combined with the juiciness of the melon is irresistible. This simple and quick-to-make recipe will brighten up any summer braai table. Serves 4-6 people Ingredients 90 g rocket 60 g basil 40 g mint 600 […]
Best herbs for a braai
We don’t need an excuse to braai – after all, it’s part of our heritage. But, like all other good things, a braai can become boring if there is no variety. There is no better way to ‘spice’ up a braai than by adding herbs. Herbs can be used in rubs, marinades or in butters […]
Green up your braai area
All you chop-chowing carnivores out there shouldn’t miss out on having some lush greenery growing close to the braai area. It is not only for the plants’ attractive appearance, which will beautify these traditionally very masculine and functional areas, but also the ability of their sprigs, leaves and flowers to add flavour to a braai, […]
Braaiing with herbs
Tanya Visser, presenter of The Gardener and copresenter of Home Made Easy TV programmes, is a gardener at heart. So it makes sense that she would cook using her favourite collection of fresh home-grown herbs. One of her favourite pastimes in her busy schedule is to light a fire and cook for her friends and […]
Contained Flavour
Contained Flavour There is no need to ever be without herbs. For a year-round supply, grow them in pots. Herbs grow so well in pots that there is almost no excuse for not growing your own. Nothing solves a problem like a pot. No space, not enough sun, heavy clay soil, dogs that dig – the […]
Sage
The genus name ‘Salvia’ comes from salvare, which means ‘to cure’ in Latin, and is indicative of the fact that the herb’s healing powers have been recognised since early times. Interestingly, folklore associates sage with wisdom and now laboratory studies are suggesting that it may be useful in helping prevent or delay the onset of […]
Noble Bay
Bay, the noblest of leaves It may come as a surprise, but sweet bay (Laurus nobilis) has a long association with December festivities, even predating Christmas. In Roman times branches of bay were used to decorate homes during the festival of Saturnalia in mid-December, coinciding with the winter solstice. Bay leaves werealso burnt as a […]
Lavender fragrance
Make your own fragrance The allure of lavender is its aromatic yet fruity fragrance that always lifts the spirits. The first recorded use of lavender was as a perfume over 2500 year ago, and it has been used in that way ever since. MOIST LAVENDER POTPOURRI To make a lasting lavender fragrance, try this recipe: […]
Lavender
Lavender If you plant just one herb, it should be lavender, for no other herb combines so many qualities in one plant. Its beauty and fragrance are self-evident, it is a significant healing and tonic herb, it has a myriad of culinary, beauty and household uses, and can play a role as a pest-repelling plant […]