Historic, archived document Do not assume content reflects current scientific knowledge, policies, or practices. © © ‘ 4 As ' op 4s ‘ 7 x : Phe ay 2 . eS . ; = é 3 . ' EA i RE | a | SS ira Cato ics and the Bureau of Plant Industry, U. S. D. A. --0—— If you look back a generation or two to those old-fashioned thrifty housekeep- ers ot earlier days you'll recall that many of these grandmothers and great-srand- mothers of ours had Herb gardens wrich were their pride and joy. Many a thrifty Woman today has taken up this practice. Some women are even successfully selling the herbs they raise. The thrifty home gardener today is using every little corner ot her vegetable patch, her dooryard, her window box or even her flowerbed to tuck in a cutting, a plant or the seed of some useful herb. Thus she has on hand for her own use or for sale thyme, sage, chives, or dill for pickling, Or perhaps she will jeave Sweet Marjoram, basil, savory, chervil, or tarragon for vinegar and chilli peppers, or, if she lives in the South, sesame seed, She will have parsley and mint, (cress and perhaps some lemon verbena or rose geranium leaves, and probably others of the long and fascinating list of herbs that we cherish for their fragrance and their flavor, Does somevody suggest that these are mere frills? According to the Bureau lof Home Eeonomics, they are highly useful and practical additions to the family Ood supply, especially if the family is short of cash, Different ways of season- = add variety to lowcost dishes, If you raise your own seasonings, you save ese and are sure of having them fresh. These so-called "frills" often add to tempting appearance of a dish. A bit of chopped parsley or a sprig of cress, 6 color to a disn as well as additional flavor. Since this is gardening time, this is the time to grow your favorite herbs. Can use them fresn during the summer and dry them for winter. Some of these DS you will plant from seeds, others from cuttings. In the northern part of the d States, this is seed-planting time for herbs and a few cents will buy the Farther soutn, vetter use cuttings now or transplant -- perhaps from a fhbor's garden. If you have no garden space, you can grow a few herbs in flower $ or window boxes, Perhaps you'll remember that last fall we suggested groWing Shoots for winter salads or creamed dishes, soups and stews, And we sug- d growing these in the window box in your sumy south window. At this season an grow many other things in flower pots or window boxes. You Can grow parsley, , mint, watercress, rose geranium, nasturtium, and lemon verbena. The otaer we have mentioned-- savory, sesame, tarragon, chervil, sage, chives, and dill S best put in the ground, but they need very little space to grow. ‘Wow ways to use these old-fashioned herbs. Sage, thyme and savory make excel~ t Seasonings for stuffings for poultry, for sausages, and for cheeses. ‘Tarragon yes and dill seasm vinegars and pickles. Use them also in sauce, especially te for fish. Chives give a delicate flavor to sausages, Salads and omelets. ) one needs to tell any good housekeeper how to use mint. Mint is delicious ngs, especially for stuffed lamb roast; in mint jelly to go with meats in . Mint is also delicious chopped and added to salads and fruit combina- ~ FON A. 1X lune eae U8, 3 F | HOUSEKEEPERS' CHAT THURSDAY , June 15, 19g5e0tare iY) (FOR BROADCAST USE ONLY) = ees Seer, oe "Grow Your Own Seasonings." Information from the Bureau of Home Econom- | 2-H ee 6.15.33 tions. A sprig of mint makes an attractive garnish for fruit appetizers, fresh | fruits, salads and beverages. Mint flavor is a favorite in iced tea, fruit | punches and even some chocolate milk drinks. Basil is a favorite seasoning for soups and stews and for tomato dishes, es- | pecially macaroni with tomatoes and cheese, Italian cooks use it also in bean SOUP. i What about sesame, or bene as it is sometimes called? This is a seed used to | flavor cookies or little cakes, MNasturtiums? They are useful as well as decorative, | Tender, spring nasturtium stems and leaves are delicious chopped in salads, Later | the bright nasturtiu petals make pretty decorations for food, And the green, un- ripe nasturtium seeds make spicy pickles, also nice for salad, As for seranium leaves,old-fashioned housewives used these to flavor cakes and jellies, especially | apple jelly. To make a fancy apple Jelly--perhaps for a Christmas gift or for a || company meal, place a small geranium leaf in the jelly glass as it is being filled and then pour in the hot liquid jelly, Keep the leaves suspended in the jelly with a fork until the jelly is almost cool, These are some of the more familiar uses of these seasoning plants -- little, || inexpensive ways of adding to the variety of commonplace foods. Among the everyday (\disues that gain new zest if you season them with herbs are tomato soup, vegetable soup, gs, and omelets, rice, fish, meat balls, veal or lamb stew and cottage \cheese, Which nerbs to use and how much of each area matter of your own taste, but one secret is never use too much. Delicate, elusive flavors are more successful ||taan strong flavors. A fine sandwich, full of interesting flavor, contains a mixture of chopped cooked mushrooms and ezzs with chopoed parsley, chervil, chives and sweet basil in equal quantities, You can make another summer sandwich by mixing chopped mint, | chervil and cress with the butter before spreading the bread. In white sauce for broiled fish or omelets, chervil, sumer savory or chives are good seasoning, Or jyou May season your sauce with a mixture of chives, parsley, sweet marjoram, and jthyme. Use your own ingenuity. fryvout a wlittielo: thistilavor audi a litile ot )that. You'll discover many delicious ways to pep up low-cost meals from your om ; herd garden. Tomorrow: "More Ege Dishes."