Dry your own Parsley! America's favorite kitchen herb #GardenCuizine

Dried Parsley

More than just a garnish, garden parsley tops the list of America's favorite kitchen herbs used in green juices, soups, salad dressings, eggs and entrees. Green parsley is one of my favorite biennial herbs to grow - Italian flat leaf or curly leaf. In the winter if we don't have any growing at the time we need some, we'll pick up a bunch at the store. 

You can always count on parsley being readily available. The best bet is to purchase parsley by the bunch and not just a sprig or two sold in little plastic containers. Extra parsley can be easily preserved by air drying.

Many recipes just need some parsley, not all of the bunch. When we have extra parsley sitting in the refrigerator, before it goes bad, we dry it. You don't have to tie it up or do anything time consuming, simply:

• Give parsley a rinse, shake off excess water
• pat dry, spread out in a single layer and let air dry on plates or cookie sheets for several days
• Once it is crispy dry, simply crumble leaves with clean hands
• store in an airtight spice jar 
• discard stems in compost

GardenCuizine Nutrition Data Parsley: based on USDA Nutrient Reference Data
Excellent Source: Vitamin C and Vitamin K
Good Source: Vitamin A

10 Parsley sprigs (10g = about 2 Tablespoons): Calories: 4; Vitamin A: 842 IU (17% DV); Vitamin C: 13 mg (22% DV); Vitamin K: 164 mcg (205% DV); and other vitamins, minerals and compounds such as flavonols and apigenins, which may be helpful in fighting cancer.

Related Links
Health Benefits of Parsley
Blog post and photo Copyright (C)Wind. All rights reserved.

PURSLANE * Don't Weed It! * the highest vegetable source of Omega-3 #GardenCuizine #GardenChat

Purslane

A weed you don't want to pull out in your garden. After pulling out our mizuna greens after they bolted and went to seed, I was ready to plant something else in their spot. Space is at a premium in our backyard home garden. I noticed a green mat of Purslane (Portulaca oleracea) seedlings had appeared in the area, as if overnight. So guess what was going to be growing in that spot? You guessed it - the purslane stays!

Purslane Nutrition
Many clinical studies have confirmed that Purslane is a nutritious food. Purslane is the highest vegetable source of Omega-3 fatty acids. Other plant sources of Omega-3's include chia seeds, flaxseeds, walnuts, canola oil, edamame and soybeans. Purslane is also rich in antioxidants, Vitamins E and C, beta carotene and other important nutrients.

Purslane can be harvested, rinsed and added to garden salads or added as an accent green to any imaginable entree or side dish. Purslane is one of those greens you probably won't find in your grocery store. Look for it in your yard and garden, you just may have it growing. 

Purslane, the healthiest weed in your yard, is just another reason NOT to invest in weed killers. Organic, is always the best way to go. It's better for you, the wildlife and the environment.

Happy Gardening! 
Related Links
Purslane, an Edible and Beneficial Garden Weed by Darius Van d'Rhys
Purslane, Weed It or Eat It?
Ask the Expert, Omega-3 Fatty Acids Harvard School of Public Health
Chia vs Flax Omega-3 Nutrition

Blog post Copyright (c)Wind. All rights reserved.

Echinacea Blooms Brighten up the World's Gardens #gardenchat

  Echinacea

Eastern Purple Coneflower, Echinacea purpurea blooms brighten up the world's herb gardens. The photo above was taken today in our garden. Some of my personal favorite perennials are members of the Aster family. There are 9 species of Echinacea. The cheery blooms come in a wide variety of colors too; birds, especially goldfinches, and butterflies, just love it.

Echinacea is hardy to USDA zones 2a to 9b. The USDA lists Echinacea as an endangered species in Florida. Our east coast native, pink blooming Echinacea grows back for us every year in South Jersey as a carefree perennial.

Dave's Garden lists over one hundred cultivars (types) of Echinacea. Surely you can find a coneflower in a height and color perfect for your garden.

Echinacea for Cold Prevention

Echinacea has been sold in health food stores for many years. In fact, I sold it too in my store years ago. Common and popular Echinacea products today include: herbal Echinacea teas, throat lozenges, root extracts, and Echinacea tablets and capsules. Many products often combine Echinacea purpurea with other species, such as E. angustifolia, as well as with other natural, immune boosting ingredients such as zinc, spirulina or vitamin C.

Clinical studies have been variable in their statistically significant results proving the effectiveness of Echinacea purpurea in preventing rhinovirus colds. 
Related Links
Herbs-at-a-Glance
Cultivars of Echinacea Dave's Garden Plant Files
Echinacea University of Maryland Medical Center 
Echinacea MedicinePlus, NIH
Photo and blog post Copyright(C)2012 Wind. All Rights Reserved.