More on Garlic

Happy Halloween! Clear, Crisp Fall Weather today.

Our much in demand annual Garlic dinner was a delicious success last night. The program portion of the evening was on the "Genius of Garlic" and the amazing synergy that occurs within that bulb. We spoke on how the Allinin amino acid and the Allinase biological enzyme work together once the clove is crushed or chopped to create the Allicin -- the strongly medicinal constituent that is both antibacterial and antiviral as well as antifungal. The Allicin is unstable and begins to break down into Diallyl Disulphide which is also medicinally active especially on the blood stream for hypertension or cholesterol. On top of all that the amount of trace minerals that appear in proportionally high amounts are copper, iron, zinc, tin, calcium and magnesium (both needed for absorption of calcium), germanium, an anti-Cancer agent, and selenium which supports the activity of Vitamin E and C. And as if that's not enough Garlic also has Vitamin A, C, B1 plus some B2 and B3. It is the combination of the B1 (thiamine) and allicin which is true genius. The allicin aids in the absorption of the B1 vitamin through the digestive tract. This thiamine/allicin combination is not common in the plant world. What a ingenious design for this flavorful stinkin' rose! Last night we ate garlic in excess --which was lots of fun -- but really what is suggested is to ingest a small amount daily. So I'm on a crusade to get everyone to eat a little garlic daily. If we all ate a little garlic daily - then we would all smell alittle garlicy and the odor wouldn't be considered offensive.

Garlic - The Stinking Rose

Tonight is the annual Garlic Dinner to be held at Sweet Remembrances. This favorite event is typically held on or around Halloween, to keep the vampires at bay. A simple garlic necklace or garlic heads strewn about will protect you. With the amount of garlic in our dinner, we feel we are quite nicely protected!

The menu:

Garlic & Hot Pepper Jelly with Cream Cheese and Crackers

Local Organic Tomatoes & Eggplant with Basil, Garlic & Balsamic Vinegar

Leafy Green Salad tossed with a Rustic Garlic Dressing

Oven Roasted Pork with Garlic & Sage

Rice Pilaf with Peppers & Pinenuts

Garlic Green Beans

The Ultimate Garlic Bread (a Rosemary House specialty)

Gingersnap Pear Cheesecake with Creamed Garlic Honey Glaze

The scent of garlic is starting to perfume the air. By the time our guests arrive this evening, the fragrance will be discernible blocks away. It's always a special event!

Vampires and Poppy Seeds

We had our first frost this morning! Our gardens are decorated in the fun spirit of the season. We have bodies and body parts everywhere throughout the herb and edible flower gardens. All ages enjoy walking through the creepy herb beds that are winding down for the season. My favorite part of the gardens are the epitaphs on the tombstones. "If he had been more Sage he'd be here today" or "Night comes to Day Lily". All the tombstones feature plants in one way or another such as "They were such Fungi's, we'll miss them" or "Here lies Dear Sweet Woodruff".

Did you know that Poppy seeds were put in the caskets of vampires? It was in case they awoke the poppy seeds would keep them counting until morning.

...and we're off!

So we did it... we're off on a blogging odyssey of herbs and tea. Two sisters who enjoy each other and their interests are here to share delicious recipes, clever crafts, gardening tips, herbal medicine, herbs for kids, afternoon tea and more. Join us for the ride.