>>not just for pickles!

What's happening at Thyme & Seasons this week?

There are plenty of fresh herbs ready for picking in the gardens, that's what, and we're having a Saturday afternoon workshop on herb vinegars. Everybody will make three different bottles of vinegar. You don't have to bring anything--we'll provide the herbs, vinegar, bottles, and how-to. So come on over and have some fun.

We'll start by cutting the herbs at mid-day, when the volatile oils are at their peak. Then we'll take them to Thyme Cottage (the old stable at the back of the Thyme & Seasons garden), where we'll wash and pat them dry and strip the leaves from the stems. You'll choose the herbs you want to use, pack them into the sterile jars, fill with the vinegar of your choice, and add a cap. At home, you'll put your bottles into a dark cupboard and shake them every few days. When your vinegar tastes right, it's ready to strain, rebottle, and enjoy! (Perfect for gifts, too.)

Here are some piquant combinations to tune up your taste buds. Try combining these herbs:

• nasturtium flowers and leaves, garlic, shallot, and a chile pepper with apple cider vinegar, for a zippy salad
• basil, oregano, marjoram, and lovage with red wine vinegar, to spike a vegetable plate
• lemon balm, lemon thyme, lemon grass, and lemon zest with rice vinegar, for a garden veggie stir-fry

And if you get really, really into this vinegar thing, here's something else you can try: making your own vinegar from honey, clover, dandelions. Got leftover wine? Make vinegar! One thing you need to remember, though. Vinegar looks pretty on the kitchen windowsill, but don't leave it there. Sunlight can destroy its acidity and change the flavor and color.

For lots more ideas about making and using herbal vinegars, read Maggie Oster's comprehensive book, Herbal Vinegar : Flavored Vinegars, Mustards, Chutneys, Preserves, Conserves, Salsas, Cosmetic Uses, Household Tips, by Maggie Oster

Now it's your turn! What are your favorite herb-and-vinegar combinations? How do you use your herbal vinegars? Post your ideas in the comment section.

In the works. Ruby says to tell you that if you have suggestions for future posts, all you have to do is pop us a comment and we'll consider it. Oh, and don't forget: the Myra Merryweathers are having their annual Passalong Plant Sale next Friday, in the back yard at the Guild House right here in Pecan Springs. Hot tip: I understand that Mrs. Barnscape is bringing some of those Egyptian walking onions she got two years ago from Alice Gomme. If you want some, better get there early. What? You've never met a walking onion? There's a great photo here. Time to get acquainted!

Comments

[Pam]

OMG China, I'll be there! You're vinegars are much more exciting than mine, and sound really yummy! The herbal vinegar I make is from dill weed and garlic in apple cider vinegar for my fresh green salad, yummy, but your Nasturtium one sounds really good! Ohhh, and I'd love to try growing some of those Egyptian Onions, so I'll get to the annual Passalong Plant Sale early! Thanks for the tip! I'll have to see what I have in my garden that I can passalong, maybe some Tansy or Lovage. See you soon!

[Marti]

Well China and Ruby, I am in a dilly of a situation here so I won't be able to make the herbal vinegar class at this time. I am growing the cucumber vine that ate Texas and all of those cucumbers have ripened at the same time. I am going to make pickles and since I have never done this, I should be in for a real learning experience. Luckily my husband has experience with pickles so I will be in good hands. I grow basil, oregano and marjoram in my garden but don't have any lovage. Still I think I can make a pretty good herbal vinegar with just those herbs. Do you think that would work?

Looking forward to chatting with y'all again real soon.

Marti

[Carin]

That's sounds not to difficult, the making of vinigar. I never made some my own, but I will give it a try.

Egytian walking unions... never heard of them before. Don't think they grow in the Netherlands ... or have they walking away to pecanspring ;)

[Mary Beth]

Oooh! I love the walking onions!

I've made basil vinegar for gifts, but it was pretty unremarkable. Now I see that there's a world of combinations out there...can't wait to give it a try! Thanks for the ideas! Wish I could be at the workshop to do it with y'all!

Great to hear what's up in my favorite Texas town.

[Dani G.]

Hi you two,

I accidently discovered my now-fave salad dressing. We have a bumper crop of lettuces at the moment... and not bitter at all despite the heat ..... so recently, reached into the fridge and grabbed a little pitcher of what I thought was homemade vinaigrette. Turns out it was maple syrup leftover from Sunday pancakes! Eeek.... so I added roughly the same amount of good apple cider vinegar and grapeseed oil and a pinch of salt and pepper. Well, the maple syrup and apple cider vinegar together is just serendipitously delish! And so easy; Old Herbaceous likes it, too, though I have to add a bit of juice or water for him to tone down the vinegar. Try this if you haven't already.... refreshing and good on any mix of greens.

[Linda Mandeville]

China, please put my name on the list! I have never made vinegars, but buy them instead. I grow some herbs, so I think I could learn to make them with help. Sounds like your class is just the thing!

[Dani G.]

One of the best places to use vinegar is to wash wool.... which begs the question, when is someone there going to take up knitting?? I can't believe someone, someone hasn't gotten hooked yet. Even boys are knitting these days. Ruby would look soooo good in those yummy new novelty yarn fashions! Plus, look at it economically. China could grow dye plants and add some kachings to the cash register. Or how about this.... have some knitting groups meet there for tea. Doesn't anyone near Pecan Springs raise sheep? I know y'all are busy, but how can life be complete without fiber? Without knitting needles? Mercy.