From the garden again tonight . . .

So many wonderful flavors available in the garden!

Garden Bruschetta

Recipe for one serving. Specific varieties are what we have here at the herb Farm. Use the ones you have in your garden or farmers' market.

Slice:

• Handful of Primax cabbage (Brassica oleracea)
  

Coarsely diced:

• Brandywine tomato, an heirloom cultivar (Solanum lycopersicum)
  

Small amount to taste some or all of each of the below:

• Lovage (Levisticum officinale) leaves
• Lamb's quarter (Chenopodium album)
• Chickweed (Stellaria media)
• Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) leaves
• Parsley (Petroselinum neapolitanum)
• Genovese Basil (Ocimum basilicum)
• Greek Oregano (Origanum vulgare subsp. hirtum)

Brown on both sides a slice of homemade whole wheat & oatmeal bread in:

• 1 TL olive oil
• 1 TBL butter

Put hot bread on a dinner plate
Add cabbage on and beside the bread
Add tomato and greens to taste
Garnish with crumbled feta cheese and walnuts
Salt & pepper to taste
Dress with olive oil & balsamic vinegar
Serve right way!

Umm Umm Good

Chenopodium album . . .

A weed or healing herb?

As you work in the garden and find Chenopodium album, commonly known as lamb's quarters or white goose foot to name a few, don't be in a rush to pull it all out and toss in the compost pile.

Related to spinach, beets and quinoa, it is high in protein, vitamin A, calcium, phosphorus and potassium. The leaves and young shoots (under 10" high) may be eaten as a leaf vegetable. Toss them in a salad raw or eat them steamed or sautéed.

In the fall you collect the seeds which are high in beta carotene, calcium, potassium, iron (more than spinach!), b-complex vitamins and vitamin C. Dry and grind the seeds. Use them as you would other dried grains, as cereal or add to your bread recipe.

A weed or healing herb?

Photo from Wikipedia