New Year Resolutions for Herbalists

Follow me this month while I try to clear out my own chaos and get a few tips on how to get your herb cabinet and/or business back in order! January is a perfect time for reflection and planning, but also, we have time for getting things done since the rush of garden season is still a few months away, the snow keeps us at home a bit more....as does the promise of a warm house and hot cup of tea. Each day, I am going to tackle something that needs constant care or attention, but that is often left to become dysfunctional as the year goes on. Will this be the year, I actually keep on top of things? Who knows...but if not, I will repost next year!

January 4 ~

Add a New Herb to Your Meals 

Friday night dinners are a big deal at our house as we celebrate Shabbat and it is one of the few dinners we, as a a family, get to have together. After 35 years of herbal work, it may be hard to think of a new way to use an herb in food, but fortunately, all the available foodie magazines and web sites make it so easy. Tonight will be easy. My daughter gave me a jar of Dukkah for the holidays. While I have never used it, I have read about it in several issues of Bon Appetite'. We can use the same herbs over and over, but get very delicious results by playing around with  various proportions and ingredients. Dukkah is a Middle Eastern (particularly, Egyptian) spice and nut blend--used as a side dish for dipping oils or breading fried foods. My jar has in it: sesame seeds, almonds, fennel seeds, coriander, anise and kosher salt. Another recipe I saw for it was: 3/4 cups sesame seeds, 1/2 cup dried chickpeas, 1/4 cup hazelnuts, 1/2 cup coriander, 2 Tbsp. cumin, 1/2 tsp. salt. Roast the chickpeas, sesame seeds and nuts at 350 for 3 mins.--stirring a few times. Let cool and combine all other ingredients in a grinder or mortar & pestle. Store in airtight container. It seems that sesame seed is the one constant ingredient, while the nut and other herbs may vary.

The spices and nuts in this blend all are superior for adding minerals, protein and immune properties to your diet and increase circulation and digestion...who can ask for more?

For me, the best medicines are the foods you eat--the herbs and veggies that prevent illness or make it easier to heal. The amount daily should not be a concern--simply the consistency of eating wholesome foods on a regular basis. So eat your herbs, experiment with flavor combinations. Enjoy!

So for this evening's meal, I will add my ready made Dukkah to a bit of virgin olive oil and dip my challah in it.