The Gardener's Kitchen: Rosemary

Rosemary is an herb with a past.

The Romans associated, Rosemary with love and romance. The Greeks wove it into garlands worn by Greek students as it was believed to strengthen memory.

Some Christians are to believe that the Virgin Mary once draped her cloak over a Rosemary bush, transforming the blossoms from white to blue.

Rosemary’s relationship to memory goes back many years and could well be the reason that this herb is so often used in weddings and funerals.

A rosemary wreath would be worn by the bride, in order to help the couple remember their wedding vows.

Rosemary was also a part of funeral rituals and mourners would also throw sprigs of rosemary into graves, so the dead would not be forgotten.

This herb was also believed to possess medicinal properties, for example, the Chinese used rosemary to ward off headaches and even cure baldness.

The Greeks believed that rosemary could aid the liver and improve digestion.

My prime use for this easy tog row herb is culinary. It goes very well with potatoes, for example.

Roasted Vegetables with Rosemary

Ingredients:

2- Onions, yellow, (medium size) diced

2- Celery Ribs sliced
1 lb-.Carrots sliced
2 lbs.- Potatoes (white) diced
1 tbsp. Rosemary
Olive Oil, to drizzle.

Preparation:

1- Place ingredients in a covered glass or ceramic baking dish.

2- Sprinkle in Rosemary and mix well.

3- Put in preheated oven set at 350 degrees F. for about 45 minutes or until the vegetables are tender.

4- Mix the vegetables every 15 minutes.

Serve and enjoy. This dish makes a great side dish with pork cutlets or chops.

Try rosemary with spinach, peas, squash and eggplant.

Rosemary or Rosemarius officinalis grows best outdoors in countries where the winters are mild. Rosemary draws its name from the Latin ros marinus which translates as dew of the sea.

The rosemary plant grown indoors will need frequent misting as both misting and humidity are vital to the plant’s success. A spray bottle filled with water should be near by so it is simple enough to establish a misting routine.

Outdoors, in containers, a proper watering regime is also important. Be sure the plant is draining properly. Do not allow water to accumulate in the saucer or whatever container you use to place the pot in, also do not underwater. Rosemary responds rapidly to poor watering routines.

Rosemary is available in a diverse number of cultivars and it is possible to consider this culinary herb as a good plant to use for landscaping purposes as well as for your kitchen.