GARDEN BEDS

Plant fragrant, flowering herbs such as rosemary, thyme, oregano and basil in patio pots. Keep them near the grill or kitchen for easy access to fresh flavor. Sage and rosemary may outgrow their pots but they will survive some serious pruning.

LAWN AND GRASSES

Grass diseases such as fungi and blight can ruin a lawn’s appearance. Avoid diseases by selecting a grass variety adapted to our region, water and fertilize sufficiently, mow at the recommended height and maintain good soil aeration and drainage.
(more…)

So, you know that rosemary goes well with lamb and oregano goes with pizza, but what about marjoram, thyme and sage? Used correctly, herbs can add subtle flavours, enhance existing flavours and turn an otherwise bland meal into a scrumptious treat.

And because you are not the only one when who feels just a little intimidated when you approach the herb rack in your local supermarket, we’ve put together a dummies guide to herbs – simple, practical and without any highbrow culinary pretensions.

Herb basics

You can use fresh or dried herbs — fresh herbs are obviously preferable, but not always available. If you have an excess of fresh herbs, store them in the freezer in an air-tight container and use them when your fresh supply runs dry.
(more…)

Historically, the olive tree has played a central role in Mediterranean civilization. Remember, for example, that Moses exempted from military service those men who worked at cultivating olive trees. In Scriptural and classical writings, olive oil is mentioned as a symbol of goodness and purity, and the tree as representing peace and happiness. The value of olive oil as a food and cosmetic are well known; the medicinal qualities of the olive leaf, however, should not be overlooked. Modern investigation has confirmed its value in treating mild cases of hypertension (high blood pressure). It is widely used in Europe for this purpose. Interestingly enough, it does not exert this action when taken as a tea. Only when the whole leaf is used does its hypotensive activity manifest itself.
(more…)

Shangri-La, that elusive place where old people seem impossibly young, may be no more than a smile away. That’s actually one of Mitch Carroll’s tips for aging well. Carroll, a gerontologist at the Senior Medical Center at Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas, says he’s noticed that his healthiest patients smile and laugh a lot.

Carroll and other experts offered tips on aging well. And although they all agree that exercise, a healthful diet and not smoking are the best investments you can make in longevity, they had other good advice.

Jack W. Spitzberg, a cardiologist at Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas, says that with heart disease being the No.1 killer of Americans, the earlier you practice good heart health the better. Not smoking tops his list. His other advice:
(more…)

The culinary world would be very different if there were no fresh herbs. Thousands of classic dishes would never have been invented, and we’d never know the intense perfume of basil, tarragon, thyme and rosemary.

A world without pesto, béarnaise sauce and chimichurri is unfathomable. Consider cuisine without chopped parsley, potatoes drizzled with sweet butter but no dill - and fresh tacos or salsa sans cilantro.

Oddly, most home cooks are familiar with only five or six herbs when there are dozens, mostly because no one teaches cooks when to use them. Most of us use basil, parsley, dill, cilantro, rosemary, chives and maybe oregano. But you are missing out on intense flavors if you limit yourself to these.
(more…)