Herbal Blessing: ALL ABOUT HOLIDAY HERBS

“Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others,
faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.”
I Peter 4:10

Today was the November Herb Seminar at Full Moon Natives & Herbs - All About Holiday Herbs - the use of 5 herbs and 5 spices for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Marvette Bagwell and I teamed up to share everything from cooking to crafting!

HERBS:

Most herbs were originally used because they symbolized a quality or were important to the spirit of the holidays. We have forgotten many of these symbolic meanings over the years, but there is renewed interest in recovering our holiday "roots." Herbs bring brightness to the sometimes heavier foods of the holidays.

SAGE (Salvia officinalis) – symbol of immortality, long & healthy life

pleasantly pungent, lemony flavor that enhances many foods plus an effective treatments for a sore throat
number one ingredient in stuffing plus use in cranberry sage jelly and as a fried garnish!
floral arrangements in pumpkins, spicy potpourri

BAY (Laurus nobilis) - symbol of merit and honor

Spicy, citrus fragrance which seems to bring other flavors together giving them depth and richness
holiday soups
wreaths, swags, kissing balls, decorated pine cones

THYME (Thymus spp) – symbol of courage and strength

pleasantly hot bite tempered by a savory-sweet note
herbal butter, stuffing, herb bread
place card mini pumpkins/wreaths, cinnamon/herb bundle, nativity stable & manger

MINI WREATHS: Gather several 8”-12” lengths of thyme (or any other small leafed herb) and twist into a small wreath, adding additional thyme until it looks full. Tie loose ends with a ribbon. May be used as place cards, Christmas ornaments or placed around the necks of small animal figurines!

ROSEMARY (Rosmarinus officinalis) – symbol of remembrance

strong somewhat piney, mint-like flavor with a hint of ginger
vinegar with fresh cranberries, soup herb wreath, roasted meats and potatoes
Christmas evergreen - popular with holly and mistletoe, vase w/fresh cranberries or topiary trees, yule log, tuck fresh sprigs into cards, favors or wrapped napkins

MINT (Mentha spp) – symbol of virtue, refreshment & hospitality

unmistakable refreshing fragrance and flavor
fresh or crystallized after dinner, paired with chocolate especially cocoa
garnish to holiday platters, winter sachets

Marvette demonstrated several holiday herb recipes including holiday baked ham, butternut squash with sage pasta, savory monkey bread, spicy cranberry sauce, apple mint chutney and wassail. Recipes are available at http://fullmoonnatives.com/recipes.htm

Plus I shared one of my favorites for tasting too:

PUDDIN’ HEAD GINGERBREAD MEN
1/2 c butter
1/2 c brown sugar
1 pkg instant butterscotch pudding mix
1 egg
1 1/2 c flour
1/2tsp baking soda
1 1/2tsp ginger
1/2tsp cinnamon

Cream butter, sugar and pudding mix and egg, then add remaining ingredients. Chill 1 hour. Roll dough ¼” thick, cut with cookie cutter and place on an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 6-8 mins. Cool.
Icing: Mix 2c powdered sugar with 2Tbs frozen lemonade concentrate and ice cookies.

SPICES: Symbol of Festivity

Whether bold or subtle, spices impact our holiday traditions & fragrances as much as the foods. Their delightful flavors and aromas create holiday memories that will last a lifetime and make the house smell great!

CINNAMON (Cinnamomum cassia)

most favorite holiday spice with its sweet flavor and fragrant note
used in everything from cookies to vinegar and a perfect partner for anything chocolate!
Cinnamon/herb bundles, wired stars

WIRED CINNAMON STAR

Thread 10 – 2” cinnamon sticks onto a 40-inch long wire in a continuous line. Bend to form the outer 5 star points so that the last stick is joined to the first stick at an inner angle. Twist the wire.

Use 5 – 1” cinnamon sticks to fit the inner pentagon and thread each stick into place twisting the wire around each intersection. Cut off excess wire and it's ready for your Christmas tree.

ALLSPICE (Pimenta diocia)

tastes like a blend of spices with a slight peppery note
adds a distinct holiday flavor to mulled drinks, mincemeat, fruit cake
all-purpose holiday mix

CLOVES (Syzygium aromaticum)

among the most intense in aroma and flavor of the spices
baked goods, sweet potatoes, fruit desserts, studded ham plus chewing on clove will take bad breath away!
pomanders (oranges, lemons or limes) studded with cloves and rolled in mixed spices

FRESH POMANDERS: Use a citrus zester to cut lines into the peel of lemons, limes or tangerines either free form or using a rubber band as a guide to create simple circles or complex snowflake designs. Insert whole cloves into the lines at regular intervals or to mark points where lines cross. Pomanders will remain fresh several days.

STAR ANISE (Illicium verum)

the world’s prettiest spice with a star-shaped seed & anise-like flavor
goes well with such holiday fare as poultry, pumpkin and fruits
beautiful plate garnish, floated in a pot of tea, dip tree

GINGER (Zingiber officinale)

pungent bite used fresh, ground or crystallized – relieves nausea
classics like gingerbread men, paired with honey, nuts & dried fruit as well as the other holiday spices
gingerbread houses