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Rosemary, a Herb

Written by Sky Taylor, Diet Bites

Basil's House of Herbs: Herb Recipes |  When Herbs & Medicines Collide

Rosemary - Culinary Notes & Roots

Commonly known as 'Old Man', Rosemary is a member of the mint family.

It does best when planted in sandy loam, lime-rich soil in full sun. After the herbal plant flowers, it should be trimmed back (pruned) so that plant retains its shape.

When we speak of 'full sun' this applies to regions where the sun isn't harsh and intense - such as in areas that experience high temperatures in the nineties.

In hotter temperatures, the herb should be granted some sort of shade for the hottest time periods of the day to prevent wilting and dehydration.

Dates Back to Ancient Greece

Rosemary dates back to ancient Greece and was associated as a simultaneous relating to memory functions.

Students often donned the savory herb to enhance and fortify memory; brides often wore rosemary to signify that their families would not be forgotten; even the dead were decked in rosemary to signify they would be remembered by the living.

Folklore & Rosemary

In addition, folklore touted that washing a thief's feet in a rosemary solution would remove his ability to steal.

Culinary Uses, Excellent Plant for New Gardeners as It's Easy to Grow

Rosemary is one of the more aromatic herbs and is often added to meats, poultry, breads, Italian cuisine, including the all-important pizza.

It is also one of the easiest herbs to grow. Even the poorest of specimens tends to take root and survive as long as it is planted in an area of the garden that receives adequate light. Because I reside in the deep south, mine is planted in an area so that it is protected amid the smoldering times of the day amid summer - and at times, it gets plenty scorching here amid spring and autumn.herbs for weight loss, weight loss

Quick Rosemary Bread Recipe

One of my favorite uses is for bread and it also compliments chicken very well. To prepare a light and delicious chicken dish, roast the bird in a roasting bag along with carrots, potatoes, celery, and onion. Place a sprig of fresh rosemary into the cavity of the bird.

For a delicious bread recipe try our 'Quick Rosemary Bread' recipe.

Rosemary Bread Ingredients

You will need the following ingredients.

1 Tablespoon of Yeast
1 Tablespoon of Sugar
2 ½ Cups of Bread Flour
1 Teaspoon of Salt
2 Tablespoons of Chopped Fresh Rosemary
1 Cup of Warm Water (not hot)
2 Tablespoons of Butter (you can opt for reduced fat margarine, but butter produces a better bread with this recipe)

How to Prepare Rosemary Bread

Combine the yeast, sugar and water in a cup. It will become bubbly quite quickly and this is the stage you want it to reach for the recipe. Next pour the yeast mixture into a medium sized bowl and add 1 Tablespoon of the butter (melt first), salt, 2 cups of the flour and 1 Tablespoon of the rosemary.

Knead the mixture for about 10 minutes adding flour if necessary. Smear a bowl with oil then add the kneaded dough. The oil will prevent it from sticking to the bowl. Be sure to use oil and not cooking spray. We recommended extra virgin olive oil because it will add just a bit of flavor to the dough.

Cover the dough with a damp towel and allow to rise for one hour. Punch it down and let the dough rest for about five minutes.

Spray a pan with cooking spray; add the dough and arrange in a loaf style to fit the pan as it rises when baking. Coat the top of the dough with the other Tablespoon of melted butter. Sprinkle on the additional rosemary if desired. Bake in a preheated 375 degree oven for about twenty minutes or until golden brown.

Rosemary - Herbal Medicine Uses

Medicinal uses for Rosemary include: to alleviate gas, antispasmodic powers, and used as a digestive aid. It has also been used for treating toothache, baldness, headache, gout, coughs, and respiratory distress.

Reference: Tom, the Biologist

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