Mad for an herb cookbook

We've been eating almost exclusively this last week from an herb cookbook that actually came out years ago. I've mentioned the Herbfarm Restaurant before (my dream), but never really explored the cookbooks 'til now. Here is the first.

We've made sooo many good things from this book in the last week. Traunfeld features my favorite herb (sorrel) in sooo many ways. I made a green risotto that was filled with herbs (yes sorrel too). My S/O is getting into it too. He made the herbed foccacia (he is the bread man) and baked herb buttermilk chicken. He has another book out called The Herbal Kitchen, that's next on my list. Can one get sick of herbs? With the garden really taking off, it's fun to cut large handfuls of herbs to make dinner. So now that Traunfeld has left the restaurant, it's up to me to make the recipes. I can't wait for the tomatoes to start. Oh and Coralie, I want you to make the Lemon Verbena Ice Cream....

Tomatoes growing, life is good

The garden got planted last weekend. What an effort. I enlarged it by a third so I could put more tomatoes in. Last year I put the tomatoes in behind the azeleas but that didn't work so well so expanding the herb garden out made more room. I think my chamomile likes it's new home better than buried under the rosemary.

I'd show you but I'm having issues with my stupid camera. But as you can see, the fennel is growing like crazy (and coming up all over the place too) and the herbs are taking off. I've planted a second lavendar to the right so there will be a lavendar frame for the garden. The other lavendar has taken over the left of the garden, but the sage is fighting it. My thyme is beautiful, it has purple flowers and is 2 feet around. I've been putting thyme in everything as you can imagine. I have 6 tomato plants in. I thought I had a 7th, a volunteer, but it seems to have gone missing. The tomato plants are up to over 2 feet now and I think there's a little tomato on one. Sooooo slow.

So I've been invited to join a cookbook club. It should be interesting. Renee has her blog called Wine Bread Cheese and she says she's going to blog our cookbook club. The first book is Friday. It's called Fish w/out a Doubt. I am in charge of appetizers. Now I just have to go check out the book (yes, from the library, if they had it) Hopefully I'll get to use my herbs.

Mostly in!

So I have all but a couple of my herbs in and have been profiting from the herb garden. The thyme has gone wild this year but the rosemary is definitely being consumed by the mint in the pot so if I ever finish digging the addition to the garden (poor tomato plants, they reallllly want to be in the ground) I will transplant the rosemary to a happier spot.

I got my nasturtiums finally, had to drive all the way out to Valley View again as they just didn't have the right ones at Greenfields, but I put some of the greens in a salad today along with some of the sorrel. Burgers and salad after a bike ride, mmmmm. Made a lovely vinagrette using the Lemon Thyme that Renee reminded me I had growing. Hadn't used it in a year I think. YUM.

I think I counted 5 tomato flowers and one pepper. Should have veggies soon!!! Last night we went to a friend's for dinner. She found the peas at the Waverly market, I missed them :-( Next week I'm getting peas!!!! Her risotto with peas and asparagus was divine, not to mention the excellent lamb chops. It is cool and lovely and life is good.