Newsletter: 20th October
Jekka's Autumn Evergreen Herbs
Even with a milder and oddly warm week, you can definitely see winter is on its way and both the deciduous and herbaceous herbs are going into hibernation mode. This is the time for your evergreen herbs to provide colour and interest in your garden as well as being a source of food for both you and your birds and bugs. See Jekkapedia to learn about the different Evergreen Herbs.
The king of the evergreen herbs has to be Bay (Laurus nobilis). It's botanical name, Laurus nobilis, is translated as either ‘praise’, ‘famous’ or ‘renowned’ and, as a wreath, symbolises both 'wisdom' and 'glory'; hence the term, Poet Laureate. Therefore, it certainly is the king of the garden!
You can read more about Bay in our "all about herbs" series, which can be read through the link below.
Autumn Comforts with Bay
As the nights draw in, especially with the clocks going back next weekend, nothing is more comforting than soothing food and Bay, with its spicy peppery flavour, is a perfect addition. From Jekka's Herb Cook Book, try Rice Pudding with a Bay Leaf or Bay Salt.
For the Rice Pudding with a Bay Leaf, add 2 tbsp of pudding rice to 2 tsp of sugar, 10g butter and 600 ml of full cream milk in a greased overnproof dish. Mix and tuck in 2 bay leaves. Then grate nutmeg and flake 15g of butter over the top. Cook at 200 deg C for 20 - 30 mins and then 150 deg C for a further hour. The texture should be soft with all the milk absorbed. Curl up and enjoy!
For Bay Salt, simply add 250g of non-iodised salt to 6 Bay leaves and pound together with a pestle and mortar to release the flavour of the Bay. The Bay Salt can be used straight away and keeps for about 3 months; makes a perfect Christmas gift!
For more receipe ideas, check out Jekka's Herb-Based receipes through the link below.
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Autumn herbs will enable you to add fresh herb flavours to your winter meals, soups and salads.
It is the perfect time to sow culinary herbs to produce a winter crop because the soil is still warm and the pest and diseases that might have been present earlier in the year, such as carrot fly, have gone away.
It is also a wonderful time of year to plant herbs in your garden, especially herbaceous plants, because they will put their energy into growing roots resulting in healthier herbs in the spring.
If you missed open days, don't worry you can organise a farm gate collection or, for gifts and seeds online, simply choose "Pick up in store" at checkout.
Place an order and try Jekka's Bay & Rosemary St Evals Candle to bring the scent of Bay into your home this autumn.
Cultivating flavour, creating experiences.