RYE - SOURCE OF MALT AND WHISKEY: HEALTH BENEFITS AND USES OF RYE

RYE, SECALE CEREALE

Rye was one of the last grain crops to be cultivated; some believe that it was first cultivated around 400 BC by the Germanic tribes, although this may not be the case. Certainly rye features in German as well as Eastern European and Scandinavian cuisine and has dome for centuries. It is probably best known as the main ingredient of Pumpernickel bread, which is more dense than other breads, such as wheat because the gluten contained in rye is not as elastic as it is in other grains such as wheat.

  Malt is produced from rye, by germinating the seed grain and roasting it; malt is then extracted from the grains. This is used as a sweetening agent and in brewing beer. In North America, rye is used as a base for whiskeys. The roasted grain can also be used as a substitute for coffee.

   Like oats, rye comes in various forms, such as in flakes, when it looks like the oats used to make porridge, however the grain is also sold whole or cracked, and in the form of flour. Whole rye grains retain many of their nutrients because it is difficult to remove the rye germ and bran from the endosperm. The grain looks like wheat but can be longer and thinner, coming in shades of yellow-brown or grey-green. It is a member of the Poaceae family of plants which includes millet (bajra), oats, barley, sorghum and wheat as well as sugar cane and the grasses.

   Rye is probably a native of south-western Asia, and probably grew in fields of wheat and barley as a weed, until its crop value was recognized. It may have had Secale montanum as its ancestor, which can be found in southern Europe and nearby parts of Asia, or another possibility is that it came from Secale anatolicum in Syria, Iran, Armenia and Turkistan.

  It was taken to the northeastern parts of what is now the USA by early English and Dutch settlers.

  Like other whole grains it is full of nutrients, containing the B-complex vitamins, B1, B2, B3, B5 and B6 along with folate, vitamins A and E and the minerals calcium, iron, copper, manganese, magnesium, phosphorous (in which it is rich), potassium, selenium, sodium and zinc. It also has Omega-3 and -6 fatty acids and 18 amino acids along with flavonoids and phenolics which give it potent antioxidant properties, meaning that it can combat the free radicals that can damage cells and cause cancer. It has proven to be cardio protective as are other whole grains, and of benefit to post-menopausal women, who are advised to have six servings of whole grains per week in their diets to prevent high blood pressure and cholesterol levels and so protect the cardio-vascular system..

  Rye and other whole grains are also good for people with Type 2 diabetes, as they are rich in magnesium which is involved with the body’s use of glucose and insulin secretion. Whole grains can also help prevent this type of diabetes.

  Rye and rye bread contain a lot of fibre so make a good mild laxative, and the seeds have been used in poultices for tumours and cancers in some traditional medicine systems.

  The long rye stalks have been used for thatching, paper-making, weaving small items such as mats and hats, used in mushroom compost and in the manufacture of tiles and bricks. In industry it is used as biomass and fuel. The root systems are long and can go deep into the soil so are good to stabilize sandy soils and prevent soil erosion.

  Rye can grow up to 1.5 metres tall so a small person could hide in it, which is perhaps why J.D. Salinger chose to call his iconic novel “Catcher in the Rye” rather than in one of the other grass crops. Rye figures in the nursery rhyme, “Sing a song of sixpence”,

    “Sing a song of sixpence a pocket full of rye,
     Four and twenty blackbirds baked in a pie.
     When the pie was opened the birds began to sing,
     Oh wasn't that a dainty dish to set before the king?
     The king was in his counting house counting out his money,
     The queen was in the parlour eating bread and honey
     The maid was in the garden hanging out the clothes,
     When down came a blackbird and pecked off her nose!”

In this case rye was bought to feed the birds, and to lure them to the ground so that they could be caught and eaten, as they were considered a delicacy. Robert Burns, the Scots poet also wrote a poem whose chorus is “Coming thro’ the rye.” Rye clearly had a central place in Britain in centuries gone by.
   You can substitute rye grains for rice, but soak overnight before cooking and when you drain the grains rinse again under cold running water. Cook like rice until tender. You can also use rye flakes instead of oats for porridge.

FAT HEN - NOT JUST CHICKEN FEED: HISTORY, USES AND HEALTH BENEFITS OF FAT HEN

FAT HEN, LAMB’S QUARTERS CHENOPODIUM ALBUM

Fat hen gets its name because it was used to fatten poultry; it goes by many other names too, notably lamb’s quarters in the US and pigweed in Canada, as it was used for pig and sheep’s food. In Britain it was known as Midden Myles and Dirty Dick (no, just the name!) because it likes to grow on manure heaps in farmyards. (Middens were the old name for toilets or the dung heaps where excrement was thrown.) It’s a native European plant and also grew in the America, but it is not yet conclusive whether or not it is a native of the USA or was introduced via Mexico. It does seem to have been domesticated first in Mexico and then in the US by the Native Americans. It has certainly been used as food in Europe since Neolithic (New Stone Age times) according to archaeological evidence.

  As a member of the Chenopodium – goosefoot-species it is related to both the stinking goosefoot and quinoa.

  In Pakistan it is used for liver complaints and as a mild laxative, as well as to get rid of intestinal worms, and in India it has been used in traditional medicine for skin irritation (the powder from dried leaves is dusted onto irritated skin) wile the leaf juice is used to treat burns. A decoction is made from the above ground parts of the plant and mixed with alcohol, then rubbed onto joints affected by arthritis and rheumatism.

  In other parts of the world the tisane is used as a skin wash for irritated skin, while the leaves are used in poultices to relieve painful insect bites, as well as for sunstroke, and for swollen feet and rheumatic joints. The seeds may be chewed to help with urinary problems and for preventing semen being discharged with urine. The root juices have been used to treat bloody dysentery and a decoction of the above ground parts has been used for cavities in teeth, to relieve pain.

  The plant has no odour, and the new leaves are recognizable as being toothed while older leaves which grow as the plant mature are toothless. It can grow to heights of 3 feet with a diameter of 8 inches, and can grow anywhere. If it is growing in soils that have been treated with pesticides, don’t use it, as they will have been absorbed into the plant. As it is, the plant contains oxalates, so the leaves should be cooked rather than eaten raw, for safety’s sake. You can cook it like spinach and it makes a good substitute. However plants which grow in nitrogen rich soil will contain nitrates, which are OK in small quantities, but don’t eat too many leaves, as although a small amount of nitrates can help the respiratory system, too many can be lethal. As the leaves are bland, it is best to mix them with stronger tasting ones such as fenugreek leaves (methi). The seeds may also be eaten although they are best soaked first as they contain saponins and can be used as a mild soap substitute. They can be dried and eaten or ground into flour or rather meal, and used to make bread.

  Anita Pal et al published a research paper in February 2011 in the International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences which shows that extracts of the plant are liver protective, vindicating its use for liver complaints in traditional medicine: “Hepaprotective Activity of Chenopodium Album Linn Plant against Paracetamol-induced Hepato injury in rats.” Another scientific study also published in 2011 by teams from the University of Southern Texas (USA) and University of Fort Hare South Africa, which showed that this plant has antioxidant and anti-bacterial properties. This study concludes that Fat Hen “should be used as a source of nutrients to support major sources [of food]” it goes on to say it “may be of great medicinal value.”

Young leaf

   Certainly it’s food for free and packed full of minerals, being especially rich in calcium and phosphorous and also containing potassium, magnesium, manganese, copper, zinc, nitrogen and sodium. As for vitamins, it has the three main B-complex ones, thiamin, riboflavin and niacin, as well as vitamin A. It has flavonoids and phenolic compounds responsible for its antioxidant properties it is thought.

  A good source of nutrition for free, as it is a weed!

WATER SPINACH, KANG KONG - RICH SOURCE OF NUTRIENTS: HEALTH BENEFITS AND USES OF WATER SPINACH

WATER SPINACH, KANG KONG, IPOMOEA AQUATICA (FORSK)

Water spinach is indigenous to the Indian subcontinent and can be found all over tropical Asia. It is related to the sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas), and field bindweed, being a member of the convolvulus family, Convolvulaceae. As its name suggests it is edible, with arrow-shaped leaves which may be green or purple-tinged. The green plant has white flowers, and the purple-tinged plant has lilac flowers, and the trailing vine can grow up to 4 metres long. The plants live in water in canals, ponds and paddy fields and because of pollution in some parts of Asia there is a worry that the metallic elements found in some plants my affect human health.

  Water spinach is also known as Water Morning Glory, Water or Swamp convolvulus and kang kong. It also has several Latin names including: - Convolvulus repens Vahl; Ipomoea repens Roth and Ipomoea reptans Poiret.

  However it is cultivated in southern China, and can be found in many markets around south-east Asia. The leaves and young tops and stems are boiled and used as a leafy vegetable. The leaves have a mild flavour and can be eaten raw, boiled or lightly fried as in stir-frying.

   The plant is rich in the minerals calcium and iron, as well as containing sodium, magnesium, phosphorous, manganese, copper and zinc. It also contains some of the B-complex vitamins, notably B2 (riboflavin) along with vitamins C and K. The flavonoids such as catechin and phenolic compounds it contains give it potent antioxidant properties and also antiproliferative ones, meaning that it can inhibit the growth (in vitro) of some cancer cells. In a study published on October 28^th 2004 (ejournal sinica edu) “Antioxidant and antiproliferative activities of water spinach (Ipomoea aquatica Forsk) constituents,” Huang et al conclude that the flavonoids and phenolic compounds in the plant “may have a significant effect on antioxidant and anticancer activities.” Extracts from the stems of the plant were more potent than the leaves it was found.

  In other studies extracts from the plant decrease cholesterol and triglycoside in rats and are thought to have possible uses in the treatment of diabetes mellitus. However further studies need to be done on humans and more needs to be discovered about how the flavonoids and phenolic compounds work.

  Water spinach is used in traditional medicine systems and the tops are known to have mildly laxative properties (not as strong as senna or jamalgota). The milky sap or latex from the plant is dried and used as a purgative, while it is said that the juice of the plant is effective against poisoning from opium and arsenic. Poultices of the leaves are used during fever with delirium and the buds are used to get rid of ringworm.

  You can use it in the same way as spinach, and it is good with garlic and chillies, cooked in olive oil for a few minutes. However you have to know where it comes from because of the problem with pollutants.

CAMPHOR TREE - THE MOTH-BALL TREE: INFORMATION AND USES OF CAMPHOR TREE

CAMPHOR TREE, CAMPHOR LAUREL, CINNAMOMUM CAMPHORA

The camphor tree produces a white crystalline substance, camphor, which has been much used as insect repellant. If you have ever smelled a moth ball-that’s camphor. It comes from the wood of the evergreen tree which can grow up to 100 feet and can have a canopy of 6 or 7 feet in diameter. It’s native to the Indian subcontinent, China, Taiwan, Japan and Borneo, and curiously the trees possess different quantities of chemical variants such as linalool and cineole depending on their country or region of origin. Of course it is a relative of cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum).

  It is said to kill fleas as well as repel insects such as moths (personally I’d prefer to use patchouli oil to keep moths away!) I remember that my grandmother smelled of mothballs at the change of seasons, and I never liked the smell.

  Camphor is found in other plants, not just in the camphor tree, called kafar in Arabic and Urdu, karpoor in Sanskrit, the English word camphor seems to come from the mediaeval Latin (derived no doubt from the Arabic) camfora. For example dried rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) leaves contain 20 % camphor oil. The Arabs used camphor to flavour both desserts and meat dishes and it is mentioned in the Quran as being added to drinks for flavour. This must be an example of how our preferences for tastes and smells have changed over the centuries, just as the English herbalist Gerard hated the smell of fresh coriander, so we find it pleasant.

  Camphor has been used medicinally in the Indian subcontinent for millennia and has been used to treat Parkinson’s disease, bronchitis, tetanus, liver and kidney diseases, cholera, breast pains, to cure headaches and as an aphrodisiac. It is used externally as a stimulant and muscle relaxant and as a counter irritant to the pains of rheumatism.

  It has diuretic and diaphoretic (sweat-promoting) properties and is anti-microbial and anti-fungal so useful for skin complaints. In the Middle Ages it was used in lozenges for sweetening the breath. It is also supposed to relieve “the Itch” or genital problems. However, if taken to excess it can result in paralysis and coma, and less severe symptoms such as headaches, convulsions, nausea, vomiting and loss of sight. It’s probably best avoided and stick to using it as an insect repellant rather than for any other uses, unless you use the wood for cabinets, in which case, you will never get woodworm in them.

  In India Hindus use camphor as incense (as they do sandalwood Santalum album) although this is not edible camphor. A distinction is made in the subcontinent between that used for culinary purposes and the one used for incense. It can also be used in embalming and has been used in the making of fireworks.

  In a recipe for Zangcha duck in China’s Szechuan province camphor tree branches and twigs are used for smoking the duck. In the 13^th century an Andalusian cookery book has a recipe for meat with apples, flavoured with camphor and musk (still used in Pakistan as a medicine). Another was for Honeyed Dates flavoured with camphor. This demonstrates the Arabic influence on Andalusian cuisine at the time as camphor was widely used in cooking in the Islamic world at that time.

 The Camphor laurel as it is called in Australia was introduced there in 1822 as an ornamental but now it is invasive in New South Wales and Queensland, as its leaves when they fall, prevent other plants from growing. It is also threatening the native eucalyptus trees, which the endangered koalas rely on. The trees’ extensive root systems are wreaking havoc with sewage and drainage systems.

  It was introduced into the USA in 1875 and has become naturalized in the southern states, and is classed as an invasive species in Florida.

  The tree’s essential oils are found in the leaves as well as in the wood, and a few drops of the oil, or camphor crystals mixed with coconut oil and massaged into the scalp strengthens hair and promotes hair growth, allegedly. Camphor is absorbed through the skin and has a cooling effect; or rather it can act as a local anaesthetic. It is one of the ingredients in Vick’s rubs for bronchitis which you might have been subjected to as a child. It is also used in balms for chapped lips, chilblains, skin problems, and a variety of other medications for respiratory problems and is good for colds and coughs as is menthol and eucalyptus.

  In some parts of Asia the old leaves of the camphor tree are dreid and used as a spice and condiment, while the young shoots and leaves are cooked and used as a vegetable. There’s simply no accounting for taste.

  

CELERIAC - LOOKS HIDEOUS BUT TASTES DIVINE: HEALTH BENEFITS AND USES OF CELERIAC: CELERIAC SIDE DISH RECIPE

CELERIAC, APIUM GRAVEOLANS VAR. RAPACEUM

Celeriac is the unpromising-looking root of celery, which is warty due to the rootlets that stem from it. If you get over its appearance you will find that it combines the flavours of celery and parsley (to which it is also related). It is a member of the Apiaceae or Umbelliferae family which makes it a relative of anise, caraway, fennel, dill, carrots and parsnips. It is known by several names such as root celery, knob celery, and turnip-rooted celery, as it does bear some resemblance to a giant turnip, although it is certainly not as attractive.

  It shares the same history as celery but was cultivated for it s root in Italy in the 17^th century. It soon spread to the rest of Europe, and became famous in France in the classic dish, celerie remoulade. To make this cold salad, peel the celeriac, grate it and marinade it in lemon juice to get rid of its ‘raw’ taste. Then dress it with a mustard mayonnaise.

  You can boil it, mash it, bake or roast it and deep fry it - anything you can do with a potato you can do with this unprepossessing vegetable. It’s very good mashed with potatoes and garlic. You can make a creamy vegetable soup with it for winter or use it in salads such as the one above in summer. The recipe given below is a delicious accompaniment to meat and goes well with broccoli.

  Celeriac has been used for its medicinal properties, as it helps with periods, and promoted milk flow in breast-feeding mothers, as well as being a diuretic and good for breaking down and flushing out kidney stones. It has also been used to strengthen the nervous system, as a stimulant and tonic.

  It is fairly low in calories, but contains sodium, so you don’t need to put much salt with it when you cook it. You can bake it whole and then peel it for ease after cooking and to have a low calorie snack. The leaves can be used to flavour soups and stews and they can be eaten raw, but it is better to blanch them at least as they have a strong taste.

Celeriac strips

   When raw the root contains a fair amount of vitamin C and it is potassium and phosphorous rich and also contains many of the B-complex vitamins although not thiamin (B1). It also has the minerals selenium, calcium, iron, zinc, copper, manganese and magnesium in it. Potassium is good for many reasons especially as it lowers blood pressure and the risk of strokes according to Harvard University Health Professional Study which also found that drinking coffee has benefits. Combined with magnesium, potassium helps men with erectile dysfunctions as it promotes the blood flow and dilates the arteries.

  If you want to grow this in your garden it goes well with French beans (green beans), leeks, tomatoes and the brassicas (cabbage, broccoli, brussel sprouts etc.). This root vegetable only arrived in the US in the 19^th century and it is only now that people are realizing its benefits that it is becoming more popular.

CELERIAC SIDE DISH

Ingredients

3 large celeriac, peeled and cut into thin strips

water and lemon juice combined in a bowl

juice of ½ lemon

olive oil

½  cup of any one or two of the following herbs:-

tarragon, parsley, chives, mint, lemon balm, basil

salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Parmesan cheese freshly grated to serve

Method

As you peel and cut the celeriac into strips, put them in the bowl of lemon water.

Bring a saucepan of water to the boil and add the celeriac and the juice of ½ lemon. Bring back to the boil and then reduce the heat and simmer for about 30 minutes until the celeriac is tender, but not mushy.

Remove from the heat and drain and then return the celeriac to the pan along with the olive oil and herbs of your choice and salt if necessary and freshly ground black pepper.

Heat through and serve.

This has Taste and is a Treat.

  

MAST TREE - NOT THE ASHOKA TREE: INFORMATION AND USES OF MAST TREE

THE MAST TREE, POLYALTHIA LONGIFOLIA

The Mast trees Polyalthia longifolia and the variant pendula are native to the Indian subcontinent, and are easy to spot because of their elegant erect appearance. They have long, lance-like glossy pale to dark green leaves, depending on their maturity, and look as though they could walk. They are usually planted as screens and it is a wonderful sight to see them in a line. They can give shade, so are welcome in hot climates. They are members of the Anonaceae family of plants which means that they are related to the custard apple (shareefa) Anona recticula or squamosa and to the American pawpaw, or prairie banana Asimina triloba. The mast tree is also known as the False Ashoka as people frequently mistake this tree for the Ashoka tree, which is not related. The trees in this family typically contain acetogenins which may have anti-cancer and anti-HIV activities.

  In the days of sailing ships the wood from these Mast trees were used for masts, as they are flexible with straight trunks. These days however the pale yellow wood is mainly used to make decorative items such as ornamental boxes. The trees have special religious significance for Hindus and are often planted close to temples. Their branches, leaves and pale green flowers are used in religious ceremonies as decorations.

  The Mast tree is evergreen, with the new leaves being a coppery brown, although they soon turn glossy pale green which darken as they mature. The pale star-shaped green flowers grow on the small branches in clusters but are difficult to spot as they blend in with the leaves so well. They blossom in spring and are followed by small fruit which contain a single seed. Five fruit can come from one flower, and these are much loved by bats that flock to the trees in the evening when they have fruit. The trees can grow up to 12 metres tall and are easy to see on the landscape. The name polyalthia comes from the Greek meaning ‘many cures’ while longifolia means long leaved, and pendulous, hanging.

 In Ayurvedic medicine the bark is used to bring down the temperatureof the body during fevers. It is also used for skin diseases, inflammation, diabetes and to lower high blood pressure. In traditional medicine the seeds are also used to lower the temperature in fevers Ithas been the subject of quite a few research studies and has been shown to have antimicrobial and antifungal properties. It is though that it is the alkaloids found in the stem bark that are responsible for these properties. In 2009 a patent was taken out on an extract of the leaves for anti-inflammatory diseases (rheumatism etc) and its action against cancerous tumours. Just recently, on July 12^th 2011 it was reported that “new antioxidants” had been found in the Polyalthia longifolia var. pendula. Once again it would seem that ancient remedies for diseases often have a sound basis in medical science.

FIELD SOUTHERNWOOD - USED BY THE PHYSICIANS OF MYDDFAI TO CURE INSANITY

FIELD SOUTHERNWOOD, ARTEMISIA CAMPESTRIS

Field Southernwood, unlike southernwood, is a native of the British Isles, although it is not as prolific as it was in Culpeper’s day in the 17^th century, as he reports that it grew everywhere. It grows all over the temperate regions of the Northern hemisphere and can grow to around 30 inches high.

   It is another member of the Artemis genus which includes tarragon, (A dracunculus), mugwort (A. vulgaris), wormwood (A. absinthum) and sweet wormwood (A. annua). It has very similar properties to southernwood but they are not as potent. However if it is easier to come by and you’d like to discover what a tisane of it tastes like, follow the recipe given for southernwood).

  Culpeper believed that it was a good diuretic and advocated a conserve being made from the fresh tops, beaten with twice their weight of sugar and given in cases of hysteria and as a diuretic. He describes the taste as being “…pleasant, warm, aromatic” so unlike its close relative wormwood.

  It was used in poultices for rheumatic joints, eczema, bruises and sores. The tisane or infusion can be applied on the skin for eczema too. An infusion of the roots was used especially for children as a hair tonic and to treat any scalp problems, although these did not include head lice. The roots were also made into an infusion and given as a laxative and diuretic. However if you need a laxative, then senna would be more easily available, I imagine (Jamalgota is far too potent in the normal way of these things.)

  The pulverized roots were often used as perfume in the Middle Ages, to keep away unpleasant odours and diseases.

  The Welsh Physicians of Myddfai used it for palsy and insanity, although these uses seem to be very diverse.

  This is their remedy to cure palsy, although it did have to be taken specifically on Christmas Day.

  “Take the field southernwood, pound it in a mortar, and strain the juice to about a small cupful, and give it the patient to drink, on the dawn of God's day of Christmas.”

This is there remedy for insanity; clearly these are for reference only.

“When a man becomes insane, take daisy, field southernwood and sage, digesting it in wine, and let the patient drink it for fifteen days.”

  In other ways, Field southernwood is little different in properties and uses to the Southern European southernwood.

RED CABBAGE - QUEEN OF CABBAGES: HISTORY, USES AND HEALTH BENEFITS OF RED CABBAGE: WINTER SALAD RECIPE

RED CABBAGE, BRASSICA OLERACEAE var. CAPITATA F. RUBRA

The red cabbage is a headed one and has health benefits which the green cabbages don’t have, so it is well worth adding this cabbage to your diet.

  The wild cabbage was probably taken to Europe by the Celts who had settled in Britain by the 4^th century BC, although they were in Asia Minor (modern Turkey) by 600 BC. Their name for cabbage was bresic, clearly this word in Latin became Brassica, so it is highly likely that the Celts introduced the cabbage into Europe and not the Romans. It would seem that the wild cabbage grew in Asia, but was cultivated in the Mediterranean area by the Romans and ancient Greeks, although this was the loose-leaved cabbage. The hard-headed cabbages were late to appear on the scene, as they were not known until 1536 when the English made clear distinctions between loose-leaved and hard-headed ones using two words for cabbage, “cabaches” and “caboche.” The green Savoy cabbage, named after the province in Italy where they grew, was being cultivated in England in the 1500s.

  Red cabbage is a variant of the head cabbage which is white, and these two combined make a very healthy winter salad as given below. You can find pickled red cabbage in jars on supermarket shelves, but the taste is nothing like the one you get from a fresh cabbage that you have grated, or cooked yourself. Red cabbage tends to turn bluish when boiled, so if you want to keep the colour, add lemon juice to the water. Boiling red cabbage gets rid of some of its health-giving nutrients, so it is best steamed or eaten raw.

  Red cabbage is related to brussel sprouts, kale, broccoli and collard greens, and is packed with nutrients. It is probably the best of the cabbage family in terms of its protective benefits. All cabbages glucosinolates, but they contain different patterns of these, scientists have discovered, which means that we should include all types of cabbage in our diets to get the maximum health benefits from them. Sinigrin is one of these, and this has shown unique protective qualities against colon, bladder and prostate cancers.

  Red cabbage gets its colour from anthocyanin pigments which have potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and is probably the best cabbage for its preventative, and curative properties.

  It contains vitamins A, C, E, K and many of the B-complex vitamins, choline and betaine, Omega-3 and -6 fatty acids, and the minerals calcium, iron, phosphorous, potassium, sodium, selenium, magnesium, manganese and zinc. It is rich in potassium and this combined with magnesium can lower blood pressure and ensure a smooth blood flow, and dilates the veins so that it can help men with erectile dysfunctions. Who would have thought that the cabbage may be a true aphrodisiac for the male of our species?

  With that thought, perhaps you’d like to try this winter cabbage which is everywhere in Greece during the harsh winter months. They flavour it with oregano but caraway is good too and celery seeds, or dry-fried fennel seeds, the choice is yours.

                                                                                                          

                                                                                                                        

                                                                                                              

                                                                                                                

WINTER SALAD

Ingredients

½ head of red cabbage, thinly sliced

½ head of white cabbage, thinly sliced

4 large carrots, scraped and grated

30 gr sultanas

2 tsps dry fried cumin seeds

1 green apple, chopped

lemon juice

olive oil

freshly ground black pepper

Method

Soak the sultanas in lemon juice for 30 minutes so that they plump up.

Put all the ingredients in a bowl, pour over the lemon juice and olive oil, add the freshly ground black pepper and serve with meat or fish.

This has Taste and is a Treat.

SOUTHERNWOOD - NOT JUST A PRETTY ORNAMENTAL; HISTORY,USES AND HEALTH BENEFITS

SOUTHERNWOOD, ARTEMISIA ABROTANUM

Southernwood is native to Spain and Italy and was much used as a medicinal herb in the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. It is scarcely used these days however as modern medical research has not yet been carried out to support or disprove the uses to which southernwood has been put.

  It is related to others in the Artemisia genus of plants, which include wormwood (A. absinthum), sweet wormwood (A. annua), mugwort (A. vulgaris), tarragon (A. dracunculus) and a whole host of others supposedly given by Artemis to Chiron the Centaur (after whom centaury was named, for the benefit of the human race) as he was in mythology at least, the first physician.

  In French it is called garderobe meaning clothes protector as it is a moth repellent. It is said that women used to take bunches of the herb to church with them along with balm, to prevent them dozing during long-winded sermons. It was also reputed to ward off contagious diseases, and was apparently put beside prisoners in the dock in bunches along with rue so that the good people at the trial would not catch jail fever. This practice continued up until the 19^th century.

  Southernwood, like sweet wormwood grows quite tall, and although it was introduced into the UK in 1548, it rarely flowers in the climate. In Italy it was once used as a herb in cooking, although it was more often used in the perfume industry. It is good to dry the leaves and crush them and add them to muslin sachets with dried lavender flowers and rose petals. To keep moths at bay, crush the dried leaves and put hem in muslin sachets with crushed cinnamon bark after first putting a few drops of patchouli oil on the muslin.

  Young country boys in Britain would burn the leaves and stems and use the ash in a homemade ointment made primarily with lard, and rub it into their faces in the hope of growing a beard. Perhaps that it was why it was known by a country name of Lad’s Love. It symbolized fidelity if it were presented to a loved one in a bouquet.

  A tisane of the fresh or dried leaves has been used to start periods which are irregular or absent, and to help with stomach cramps. You have to put ½ oz of fresh chopped leaves in a pot which has a tightly fitting lid and pour a cup of boiling water over it, then leave it to steep for 10 to 15 minutes covered, so that the aromatic steam does not escape and drink a cup three times a day. It doesn’t taste awful, but you may want to put a little honey in it to sweeten it.

  The dried, powdered leaves were given to children in a teaspoon of treacle to get rid of internal worms.

  Dioscorides writing in the first century AD thought that the bruised seeds heated in water and drunk stopped pains in the joints and sciatica, while boiled in wine they were an antidote to poisonous bites. He said that if the herb was burnt, venomous creatures would not go near it.

  Culpeper recommended it for worms, the spleen and said “The leaves are a good ingredient in fomentations for easing pain, dispersing swellings and stopping the process of gangrenes.” He also suggested a “wasted quince” mixed with oil of southernwood was good for inflammation of the eyes.

  Of course this is for information only. If you go anywhere near southernwood, wear gloves, as it can cause dermatitis.