The Herb Garden – Rosemary
I’ve always wanted an herb garden. It sounds so Victorian, so English and something that self-reliant people should have. While I do have an herb garden I’m not sure that I’m making the best use of it.
This is the shining star of my herb garden – the rosemary plant. Not only do I know how to grow this one, I also know how to cook with it.
After the rosemary gets settled into its spot it doesn’t like a lot of frivolous treatment. Water? Who needs water? Not the rosemary plant. Plant it in the sun and let it go. OK, I do fertilize Mr. Rosemary once a year but he scoffs at me while I’m doing it.
I use rosemary when I make roasted chicken. I put a sprig into the body cavity, put some other herbs on the top, add some water to the pan and away I go. While all of that is wonderful I’m sure I’m missing out on some other great uses for rosemary.
Hi Marsha,
I had a few minutes. Liked your blog. Thank you. Keep going.
Anny
I was surfing “uses for rosemary” and here you are! You’ve got a lovely plant there — mine get that big too, in full sun, well drained sandy soil, and watered daily simply because they pick it up from the soaker hoses watering the flower bed next to them in front of the house.
If you’re looking for a new use or two you might consider the following: If you barbecue, use older, thicker branches as skewers, or just toss some rosemary on the coals towards the end of the cooking process, which not only smells wonderful but imparts some flavor (try with poultry). If you like roast leg of lamb, try cutting slits in the meat and putting in small slivers of garlic and a rosemary leaf or two. Heavenly! Small new red potatoes cut in about 1 to 1-1/2 inch pieces, tossed with extra virgin olive oil, good sea salt and rosemary leaves and then roasted are delicious.
I also just cut sprigs to put in with my sheets and towels because I love the smell. I’ve heard that if you steep rosemary leaves in boiling water until it cools this makes a wonderful rinse for dark hair.
I hope this may have given you something new to try. Enjoy that beautiful plant!
Marion,
Thank you so much for the great ideas! Summer is officially here now so I’m looking forward to trying out your “rosemary on the coals” idea.
Take care,
Marsha