FREE COLLEGE DAY!! a.k.a. St. Clair County Community College unleashes me on an unsuspecting public every spring!

This is year four of my volunteer presentations on Herb Cooking at the local community College. Here's an abridged version of the presentation (recipes will be posted tomorrow after I've recovered):

WHY COOK WITH HERBS?
• Herbs as a healthier alternative to salt and fat
• Herbs are nutritious on their own
• Herbs can make a dish go from ‘Okay’ to ‘Oh, Wow!’
• Herbs lend variety to ‘standard’ menu items
• Herbs can make an old dish new and can enhance pre-packaged foods

USE OF HERBS DURING THE COOKING PROCESS
• Trying out new herbs in your standard dishes (butters and sauces)
• The ‘3 to 1’ conversion for fresh and dried herbs
• Using Dried Herbs in Cooking
• Using Fresh Herbs in Cooking
• When to add Herbs to your dishes

WHY GROW HERBS YOURSELF?
• Fresh herbs are available in most stores, but they’re not cheap out of season
• They’re pretty!
• Homegrown herbs taste great – and you know how clean and fresh they are
• Keeping a taste of summer in your pantry or freezer all year long

OVERVIEW OF A FEW COMMON KITCHEN HERBS AND THEIR USES
• Basil – A taste of Italy
• Bay Leaves – Is it soup yet?
• Chives – A starter herb with many uses
• Dill – Pickles, relish and so much more
• Lemon Balm – Nature’s ‘Pledge’
• Lemon Verbena – and Lemon Balm - The sweethearts of your herb garden
• Mint & Catnip – Sweet little weeds
• Oregano & Marjoram – easily confused, incredibly tasty
• Parsley & Cilantro (Coriander) – Not just a garnish anymore
• Rosemary – History’s mystic herb
• Sage – Poultry’s pretty friend
• Savory – Two aptly named herbs
• Tarragon – The great pretender
• Thyme – the All-Star herb

CREATING YOUR OWN HERB GARDEN
• Pots, planters or beds; keep it simple and close to your kitchen
• Let there be light (and water and food)
• Don’t be afraid to ask questions of the grower/greenhouse
• Beware the invaders – keep your spreaders and creepers where they belong
• Harvesting

Wednesday: It's a small, weird world, and Facebook makes it more so!

Facebook.  I am torn between thinking it's the best thing ever, and hating it for being a major time-sucker in my life.  I use it more than this blog, so why have both?  Sigh.


I have found people I lost track of three decades ago.  I keep up with my cousins, nieces and nephews, who are both numerous and located all over the U.S.  I've even found a former co-worker who lives in Spain and commutes to Holland!

I just need to keep disciplined about using it....don't laugh!

Night of the Living product test

I always wanted to be famous.  Studied acting, singing, dancing, was in professional radio for several years.  So what do I get known for on the innertubes?  My embroidery!  A crafter was referred to me by the muses at Urban Threads. She wanted someone to product test a new pattern she made for a Zombie Hand puppet.

I hadn't made a puppet since grade school.  So this was fun and challenging.  The pattern was well made and very forgiving, which was great because if anyone can get it backwards, it's me. So, here's the Zombie. He's made of felt, embroidery floss and glass beads for his eyes.

We've had lots of fun with him.  If you want more info, contact SW Stitchery on Flickr.  Miss Maya also has an Etsy shop...check it out!

New Year, New Decade, so why is the only 'old' thing in this equation me??

When I was a much younger girl, I once looked at how far into the 21st century I would live.  Like all youngsters, I imagined I'd live to be at least one hundred, so that made it 2061 as my last year, possibly.

I look at it a little differently now.  I spend the first half of my life in the last half of the 20th century. I'll spend the last half of my life in the first half of the 21st century.  When I look back at all that happened during the life spans of my parents and what's happened in the world in the 49 years I've been here so far, I'm both excited and apprehensive to see what else is going to come down the pike!

Happy New Year, my beloveds.  I wish you health, peace and more happiness and laughter in 2010!