Tea (Camellia sinensis) is one of the highest sources of antioxidants, in fact it contains more of these health giving constituents than any vegetable or fruit. The antioxidants in tea appear to protect the body against heart disease by slowing the break down of ‘bad’ LDL cholesterol, improving blood vessel function and [...]
It’s amazing how things happen sometimes. For quite a while now I’ve been hoping to find Warrigal greens (Tetragonia tetragonioides) growing on our 6 acre property but it was nowhere to be seen. A few days ago I decided that it mustn’t grow in this area so gave up any thoughts of gathering [...]
As we know, history repeats itself and when it comes to food there is no exception. Culinary habits are becoming more interesting with the reintroduction of ancient grains in to the diet along with salad herbs that haven’t been seen since the sixteenth century.
Back then the diversity of textures, flavours [...]
Some time ago I was fortunate enough to be invited to a morning tea at a pretty lavender farm where there is a shop selling all types of products made from lavender including lavender wine. On the menu at the coffee shop were lavender scones…of course I couldn’t resist them.
They [...]
These fritters make a delightful and delicately flavoured dessert, especially when served with double cream or vanilla ice-cream.
12 clusters of elderberry flowers
¼ cup plain flour
1½ cups water
1 egg
Oil for deep frying
Cut the stalks from the flower clusters leaving a small stub. Mix [...]
Even before I became a medical herbalist I was interested in wild plants not only for their medicinal properties but also for food. Throughout the years I’ve searched for wild plants wherever I’ve lived or been in my travels.
When my husband and I moved on to our 6 acre property [...]
Green Amaranth (A. Viridus)
Food and medicine can be found right under our noses in our gardens if we only take the time to identify some weeds.
Recently I had to relocate my vegetable and herb garden to make room to build our house. It was a huge task but thanks [...]
In 1885 Baron Ferdinand von Mueller noted that the leaves and flowers of this popular garden plant could be eaten as a replacement for cress and considered it to be -anti-scorbutic (scurvy-curing). Although nasturtium is known more for its culinary uses Europeans use the essential oil made from the plant as [...]
“Bring me then the plant that points to those bright Lucidites swirling up from the earth, And life itself exhaling that central breath! Bring me the sunflower crazed with the love of light” Eugenio Montale
Sunflowers (Helianthus annuus) are a favourite of mine and when my new herb and vegetable garden is [...]
Allspice (Pimenta officinalis)
This is not a blend of spices as most people think; it’s a single spice with a combined flavour of nutmeg, cloves, and cinnamon hence its name. The spice comes from a tropical evergreen myrtle tree native to Central America and the West Indies. Use it to flavour [...]
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