Opus of the week

This week we prepared a Stir-Fry Vegetable Medley for Two. It includes 1 small broccoli, 2 scallions, sugar peas, baby dragon carrots, a small squash, chard, mustard leaves and cilantro. Now how easy is that! Of course, we will have other herbs for you to add as well, depending on your taste preferences. Also new for this week will be herbs already tied and ready for hanging for your winter teas.
The weather here now, in August no less, is already inviting a nice warm cup of healing tea. It is a little different having the warm cup of tea while sitting and gazing out on a landscape of flowers and vegetables, with a cloudy sky promising to do the work of watering for me.
My main activity of this week, besides saving “Aunt Farmer’s” heirloom seeds, has been making herbal vinegars. I have one that specifically commemorates many of the herbs and flowers we took to market. The white vinegar had turned the loveliest shade of pink within one hour of pouring it in over nasturtium flowers and leaves, thyme flowers, anise hyssop flowers, rosemary, hyssop flowers and more.
For those who have never made vinegars, it is the easiest thing in the world to do. Take the herb(s) and flowers, put them in a glass jar, pour the vinegar of your choice over them, and put a lid on it. Wait 3 weeks and you have just made your own easy and elegant vinegar. If you want to you can strain out the flowers and herbs at the end of that time and put in some fresh sprigs for display. I have a vacuum sealer that works on canning jars so can make lots to store too. These make great stocking stuffers, although not a surprise to my family now that I’ve blogged it. Oh well, maybe I’ll keep mine and encourage them to make their own instead.
Happy Market Day to You All,
Aunt Farmer