Category Archives: HERBS & SPICES

BEST BASIL I EVER TASTED

THE BASIL SURVIVE AND THRIVED in my SHADY WINDOW GARDEN. Nothing else did, but the few others were damaged plants, probably miniatures. I’M HAPPY with the basil. The best basil I ever tasted. The scent permeates the room as I sleep and I love it!! I’m planning some special dishes for this special basil inContinue reading “BEST BASIL I EVER TASTED”

A WINDOW GARDEN GROWS IN SHADE

That’s right. We face north a couple blocks from the Lake with no direct sunlight – rising, setting or in between. For a few years now I couldn’t grow a thing in this apartment. I surmised it was due to the massive pest control treatments conducted throughout the building over a long period of time.Continue reading “A WINDOW GARDEN GROWS IN SHADE”

HERBS AND SPICES

Within the category of plants that we commonly call herbs, are herbs and evergreens. Herbs are annual, biennial, or perennial plants in which the stems die down to the ground after flowering. An annual plant lives only one season or year. A biennial plant lives for two years. And a perennial plant lives more than twoContinue reading “HERBS AND SPICES”

TASTE THE BLOOD

SMOKED PAPRIKA is the key ingredient added to animal-free recipes tasting of blood. Other additives that enhance the smoked paprika thus the blood taste are garlic powder, dry mustard, turmeric and sea salt. ~ Sharon Lee Davies-Tight AFC BLOOD RED ITALIAN SAUSAGE BURGER©

Old-Style Spaghetti Sauce

  OLD-STYLE SPAGHETTI SAUCE Marinate the broth overnight. Pan-smoke your spices the next day. Blend a bunch of parsley with orange and carrot juices. Add the tomato paste and mushrooms and that’s about it. It’s easier than the directions make it sound. And it tastes about as old-style as I’ve created yet. This is beforeContinue reading “Old-Style Spaghetti Sauce”

AFC 5 SPICE – how to make

AFC 5 SPICE – HOW TO MAKE All you need is an electric coffee bean grinder and 5 spices. 5 Spice is somewhat like curry. Everybody who uses it has their own combination and amounts of spices they prefer. This is mine! Hope you like it! Makes a little more than 1/4 c.

Specialty Salts

Now that I’ve experienced them I’m always going to have them in my pantry, that is, as long as I can afford these high priced salts. The two I’m talking about here are pink Himalayan salt and Celtic salt. I don’t really have a favorite, but I definitely use more of the pink, probably becauseContinue reading “Specialty Salts”

2017 Window Garden At Rose’s Castle

No direct sun, with us being on the sunless side of the building, but we have a lake view which makes up for it. Regardless, herbs still grow absent direct sunlight. Living in an apartment doesn’t allow for drying herbs outside – so I do it inside with good results. Mint is one of myContinue reading “2017 Window Garden At Rose’s Castle”

FENNEL SEED – the perfect plant meat spice

It’s not the same as star anise. It’s close, or should I say star anise is close to fennel seed – a cousin, seems like the same DNA, but is it really? I mean, do I really want to be putting licorice into my savory sauces? That’s what star anise is, basically, the taste ofContinue reading “FENNEL SEED – the perfect plant meat spice”

USING FRESH TURMERIC

FRESH TURMERIC Lots of people are using fresh turmeric these days. Just as with fresh ginger vs powdered ginger, the benefits of fresh turmeric vs powdered are essentially the same. But if you worry that the powdered isn’t organic and/or you just want the taste of fresh, then buy fresh. The first time I hadContinue reading “USING FRESH TURMERIC”

SALT

SALT. There’s a difference between Morton’s (or similar) table salt and sea salt. To achieve the same salt taste, it takes a little more sea salt. You be the judge, since there are also differences among sea salts. Re: Kosher salt–the rock kind. All the chefs on the food network use it. I’ve tried it, and don’tContinue reading “SALT”

FENNEL SEED

FENNEL SEED. Although occasionally in some locations, you’ll be able to locate ground fennel seed, in most instances you’ll have to grind it yourself. Do this with a mortar and pestle. Or, place seeds in a plastic bag and pound with a hammer till pulverized. Remove from bag and roll with a rolling-pin, repeatedly, using hardContinue reading “FENNEL SEED”