Asparagus Recipes

The asparagus is especially nice this year even though we are fighting some beetles (naturally). Hope everyone who has purchased some is enjoying it as much a we are. Here are some great asparagus recipes:



Click here for 5 easy asparagus recipes or try our favorite below.

Sesame Roasted Asparagus

Ingredients
Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
In a roasting pan, toss with oil; season with salt.
Roast 10 minutes, turning the asparagus halfway through.

Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees. In a roasting pan, toss with oil; season with salt. Roast 10 minutes,
turning the asparagus halfway through.
2. Add sesame seeds, and roast until the asparagus is lightly browned and tender, about 5 minutes more.

NOTE:  I will sometime add parmesan cheese on top during the last 5 minutes in addition to the sesame seed or instead of them.  ENJOY!

Clean Out That Freezer!

This years crops are going to be ready soon to go inside that freezer for winter storage.  I hate to tell you folks, but a freezer is not suppose to be storing food for several years.  NOPE!  You are only suppose to use it for getting you through until the next crop comes in.

This is the perfect time of the year to gear your menu plan around just what is inside that freezer.  One handy tool is to keep a inventory sheet of everything you put into that freezer and when you did.  This will give you an idea how much you really need to store for this next season.

As you can see my freezer actually needs defrosted before I can even make a list of what I'm going to be cooking but you get the idea.  I've actually NOT been a good steward of what God has so graciously given. I will do better this next year.

Horehound

Horehound has been used as a medicinal herb for thousands of years. The most common application of horehound is as a cough suppressant or cold medicine; as such, it can be found in Ricola cough drops. If you have your own supply of horehound leaves, you can make a cold remedy at home. A tea made from horehounds leaves can treat coughs and colds and stimulate the appetite. Or the leaves can be used to make a salve to treat wounds and minor skin irritations.


Medicinal use: Horehound is mainly considered to be useful as an expectorant and antitussive herb. It can also be employed as a mild laxative and gastric tonic. It has long been used as cough suppressant and as a very helpful remedy against common cold symptoms. It is also very famous as a herbal medicine used for acute and chronic bronchitis, asthma, chest, nasal and sinus congestion, coughs and chest complaints, respiratory infections and sore throat. It is also very useful in treatment of cardiac arrhythmia, diabetes, bowel, gallbladder and uterine disorders. Horehound is beneficial as a gastric tonic, useful in cases of loss of appetite and flatulence. Used externally, it can be an efficient wound cleanser, and can help in cases of both temporary and persistent skin disorders. 
Safety: Some herbs could interact with certain medication. Therefore, it is highly advisable to consult your doctor/herbalist before consumption of any herb.

Tips & Warnings
Horehound is not recommended for use in children or pregnant, nursing or menstruating women. As few as 5 cups of horehound tea daily can cause an irregular heartbeat.  Horehound is in the mint family. If you have mint allergies, you may also be allergic to horehound.
Horehound Side Effects: Horehound should not be used by pregnant women, nursing mothers, very young children or the elderly.

Homemade Horehound Cough Drops

To make horehound drops use 1 cup horehound infusion, made as directed above, to 2 cups white sugar. Put the sugar in a small but deep saucepan and stir in 1/8 teaspoon cream of tarter, then add the infusion. Stir until sugar has dissolved, then cook over low heat until it reaches just 290 degrees on a candy thermometer, or until a drop in cold water will become a hard glassy ball. Pour on a buttered plate and score into cough drop sizes when it has half hardened. When cool, break apart and keep in cool place until used.

Making Horehound Cough Syrup

1/4 cup of horehound (fresh) or 1/8 cup of dried horehound leaves.

2 cups of honey

1 cup of hot water

1 tablespoon lemon juice or apple cider vinegar

Pour the water into a pot and bringing it to a boil. Next toss in the horehound leaves and remove your pot from stove, allowing everything to steep for approximately 15 minutes. Strain the leaves and then add the honey to the water, mixing it very well. You can then bottle the cough syrup for later use. Feel free to add more or less honey to adjust the thickness and sweetness of the syrup.

Horehound Tea

Ingredients

• 1 C. fresh leaves or 1/4 C. dried
• 1 quart water
• 2 Tbs. honey
• 1 fresh lemon
• 1 Tsp Anise Seed (opt but gives a great flavor)

Directions

Place the herbs into a pan, add water and simmer for about 20 minutes. Strain the tea, pressing the herbs as you strain. Add the honey and the juice of the lemon. You may add more honey if you wish. Sip it warm. 2-3 cups per day as needed. You can also add a little bit of fresh ginger in place of the anise seed. 

WE ARE GREEN! Our herbs are naturally grown from division or cuttings from our gardens. No chemical pesticides, herbicides or fertilizers are ever used.

The statements regarding the use and/or historical use of our naturally grown herbs have not been evaluated by the Food & Drug Administration. Our products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Check with your physician, naturopath, homeopath or herbalist for answers to questions about your health & the use of herbs. 

Lemon Balm Information with RECIPES

Lemon Balm has SO many uses!  

Use fresh leaves in salads and as a garnish for fish and other dishes. When candied, the leaves make attractive cake decorations. Chopped leaves can be added to egg, fish and chicken dishes and sprinkled over fresh vegetables. Goes well with corn, broccoli, asparagus, lamb, shellfish, ground black pepper, olives and beans. Add the leaves to cooked dishes in the last few minutes. They can also be added to summer drinks and fruit salads, soups, sauces, and ice cream, and make a good substitute for lemon peel in recipes. An ingredient of Benedictine and Chartreuse. The flower tips and young leaves are floated in wine or fruit cups as a flavoring and garnish. Substitute for lemon rind in jam making, and add to marmalades. Makes a delicious tea, alone or added to ordinary tea.

It helps relieve anxiety attacks, palpitations with nausea, mild insomnia and phobias, and when used as a sedative it is good for children. It combines well with peppermint to stimulate circulation, and can also be used for colds and flu and is most effective in the early stages of a cold. The tea is used to treat headaches and tiredness, mild depression, laryngitis, colic and dizziness, and is reputed to enhance the memory. It calms a nervous stomach, controls high blood pressure, relieves menstrual cramps, promotes menstruation and treats insomnia. Fresh juice is used to treat goitre and Grave's Disease. It is especially suitable for children, and makes a good substitute for chamomile. A crushed fresh leaf applied to insect bites eases discomfort. As a poultice it treats sores and tumours. In ointment, it is good for cold sores.

Early Spring Greens Available!

We are finally loosing the cold weather and it may turn into spring yet!  We are suppose to get another frost this weekend and then we'll go ahead and plant the tender plants, hoping for the best.

Currently available in limited quantities:

Arugula

Asparagus

Spinach

Green Onions/Scallions

Bok Choi

Spearmint

Oregano

Thyme

Sage

Onion & Garlic Chives

There are blossoms on the Pear and Cherry Trees.  We planted more Apple Trees and a new Pear Tree yesterday plus some new Raspberries and Black Currants.  The Strawberries are also blooming.  We planted green beans yesterday and put some herb and Eggplant plants in the ground.  Waiting to go into the ground:  Roma, Cherokee Purple and Black Cherry tomatoes, 8 varities of peppers, loads of herbs, cucumbers and summer squash.  In the next two weeks ALL the beds will be filled.  WHEW!  As crops come out, a new crop goes in.  Melons will be planted between the rows of Potatoes so that when the potatoes come out the Melons will take over.

Free Product Samples

During the Month of MAY everyone who orders/purchases over $20 in products from HERITAGE HARVEST HOME(STEAD) will receive a free sample product.

Our first WINNER is  Susan and Rob Stoppkotte  of the Grand Island/Hastings, NE area who ordered several GLUTEN-FREE products home-made with loving care from Grandma Farmers kitchen here at HERITAGE HARVEST HOME(STEAD) through the Nebraska Food Coop.  Thank you for your order!

You can be a WINNER too!  Any combination of products can be ordered to get your free sample product!

Check out our LOCAL DIRT offerings (free delivery to Auburn, Lincoln and Nebraska City) by clicking this link:  http://www.localdirt.com/market_search-a230.html?vendorID=6377  OR contact us via email and pick up your order here at the farm!


You can also order through Nebraska Food Coop at:  http://www.nebraskafood.org/food/product_list.php?type=producer_id&producer_id=124 or www.NebraskaFood.org, click on shopping, list or producers, Heritage Harvest Home to get a list of our products.

Spearmint

Spearmint herb or garden mint or common mint has long been reputed for its characteristic aroma it imparts to the recipes it added to. The least pungent and subtle among the species of mint family, this unique herb is one of chef’s main culinary favorites.

Health benefits of spearmint

• Spearmint is pleasantly aromatic herb packed with numerous health benefiting vitamins, antioxidants and phyto-nutrients.
• The leaves and herb parts contain essential oil, menthol. Unlike in peppermint, spearmint leaves composes only small amounts of menthol, 0.5% compared to the 40% in peppermint. Less menthol content would make this herb least pungent and subtly fragrant herb in the mint family.
• The herb has low calories (about 43 calories per 100 g) and contains zero cholesterol.
• The chief essential oil in spearmint is menthol. Other important chemical components of spearmint areα-pinene, β-pinene, carvone, cineole, linalool, limonene, myrcene and caryophyllene. These compounds in mint help relieve fatigue and stress.
• The herb parts are also very good in minerals like potassium, calcium, manganese, iron (148% of RDA), and magnesium. Iron is required for enzymes in cellular metabolism and synthesis of hemoglobin. Potassium is an important component of cell and body fluids that helps control heart rate and blood pressure. Manganese is used by the body as a co-factor for the antioxidant enzyme superoxide dismutase.
• Further, the herb is also rich in many antioxidant vitamins, including vitamin A (provides 4054 IU or 135% of RDA), beta-carotene, vitamin C, folates (26% of RDA), vitamin B-6 (pyridoxine), riboflavin and thiamin.

Medicinal uses

Almost all parts of spear mint herb found a place in various traditional as well in modern medicine.

• The herb decoction is an excellent remedy for minor ailments such as headaches, nervous strain, fatigue and stress, as well as for the respiratory problems; helping with asthma, bronchitis and catarrh.
• It is very useful to deal with digestive problems, including nausea, flatulence and hiccups as it relaxes the stomach muscles.
• The essential oil, menthol, has analgesic, local anaesthetic and counterirritant properties. Menthol also found application in the preparation of toothpaste and mouth refreshers.
• On the skin, when used as cream or lotion, it may help relieve the itching of pruritis, dermatitis, and hives.
• Spearmint oil is used as blended massage oil and in the aromatic therapy to help relieve headaches, stress, fatigue, and nervous conditions and to relieve itching.
• Spearmint tea can be used safely in pregnancy. In women, it helps reduce unwanted hairs through its anti-androgenic properties.
  
  
  
  
  

  Selection and storage

  Fresh spearmint leaves available all around the year. The herb is grown in much similar fashion like peppermint,basil, oregano, etc. It can be grown in pots, as garden herb or cultivated at a larger scale as a field crop for the production of essential oils. In general, its leaves are harvested just before flowering stage for culinary purposes. However, the whole plant may be gathered in full flower for distillation of essential oils.

  In the herb store, its leaves and stems, fresh or dried are available. Choose spearmint leaves that are fresh, tender shoots featuring bright green color with spearmint scent. Avoid wilted, yellow and floral leaves.

  Once at home, wash the leaves in clean running water, pat dry with absorbent paper and store in the vegetable compartment of the refrigerator for use in a near future.

  Preparation and serving methods

  Unlike other mint species, spearmint contains very minimal quantities in menthol; hence less harsh and pungent, making it one of the most preferred herbs in cooking, confectionary, and in health drinks.

  
  

  Here are some serving tips:
  

  • Its fresh leaves, either chopped or ground, can be added in the salads.
  • It is good for making mint sauce. To prepare mint sauce, ground fresh mint leaves mixed with yogurt, cumin and little salt.
  • The herb is also used as flavoring agent in ice-creams, jams, cakes, jelly, etc.
  • Spearmint tea is a popular drink.
  • The herb is also used in cooking recipes. In general, the herb is added in small amounts, chopped or ground, to recipes at the last moment in order to retain their flavor and taste.