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Brook replied to the discussion For Summer Solstice Jun 19

About Me:: I am a freelance writer with gardening and culinary arts among my specialties. I'm a passionate foodie, and have cooked professionally in the past.

I garden extensively, strictly heirlooms and open pollinated plants, using organic and sustainable methods. I will not put a hybrid in the ground, as much for political as horticultural reasons.

I'm co-founder and managing director of the Appalachian Heirloom Seed Conservancy---whose mission is to preserve Appalachia's edible heritage. And I'm the Reviews Editor at ChefTalk.com.

Dream garden travel destination:: Historic farms specializing in heirlooms of the time/region

At 8:52pm on June 23rd, 2008, Penelope said…: Oh, I like to make a lime/cilantro mayonaise/sauce.

Cilantro
lime juice
garlic
mustard
mayo
hot sauce

blend and drizzle over crab cakes

At 8:48pm on June 23rd, 2008, Penelope said…: Sounds delicious, but what's in the Creole Mustard? what's a good substitute?

At 5:19pm on June 23rd, 2008, Penelope said…: If PBS mentioned the cemetary, I tuned in too late. BUT has someone recorded the Elizabethan English? I'd love to hear it. I've heard tthere are pockets in Appalachia where language has stood still, or evolved differently than just the usual regional differences. Interesting. Thanks for the "tour."

For lunch I made rice with snowpeas, green onions, and parsley from my little garden patch. I pulled up all the radishes -- they didn't do well, but I have a few more coming up. Spinach bolted almost immediately. the tomatoes finally look like they're going to grow a bit. We had such a cold spring. Basil died. I've replanted some of that too. Carrots, beets and turnips look really great this year so far. Onions, both sets and seeds, look good. And I've had several batches of lettuce to wilt and dress. The row of mesclun has some really strange things in it, very bitter, and now almost woody. I'm not sure what it is, but I don't want to eat it.

the crab recipes sound great. I grew up on Puget Sound eating clams we dug ourselves and Crab Louies. If i buy a fresh crab here in Idaho, I am often disappointed, but I have located a decent canned dungeness for making crab cakes.

Would you part with your crab cake recipe?

At 3:07pm on June 23rd, 2008, Penelope said…: The "outer banks" do you mean the ones off North Carolina? I just watched a PBS program about them, how they weren't there when Columbus "discovered" this part of the world.

What kind of crab and how do you eat them? I am a DUngeness and King Crab lover. (to eat, not pet)

At 10:19pm on June 18th, 2008, Penelope said…: Happy full moon and solstice. I'm missing your ascerbic commentary.

At 10:46am on May 6th, 2008, John Walker said…: Dear Brook,
To be read with a tongue firmly planted in one's cheek

My dear old gran told me never to pry,
cos I'd see something that would make me cry,
yet perusing storm's site
I saw your note
dissing me a a liberal,
Is that what you wrote?
A liberal? moi!
say it ain't so,
Lloyd George would spin
in his grave
if it were so.
Just thought I'd pen a pome,
to let you know
what a lurker I am
if not a poet.
;)

At 4:39am on April 3rd, 2008, Valerianella said…: Oh I forgot one: olbas oil

At 4:37am on April 3rd, 2008, Valerianella said…: Hey Brook this was a difficult question, had to think about it for some time. My first thought was goldenseal, but then I thought we rarely ever use it. My second thought was lavender, just because I love it's fragrance and appearance. However than my husband was talking about the stinging nettle the other day and I thought that's it. The herb I would grow would be the stinging nettle, it's not only an excellent medicinal herb but also one of the most valuable vegetables and it grows all by itself, what more could I wish for. However if you would ask me what herb my husband gives mostly to people and what we grow in largest number than this would be Ginkgo biloba.
What makes the calendula so special for you?
I also have a question for you. If you would have to put together a herbal first aid kit, what would you put in ( lets say 5-10 herbs or herbal preparations)
I would put Echinacea/ Goldenseal tincture, Calendula and/or Comfrey ointment, Lavender essential oil, Anise/ Fennel/ Carum carvi tea, Ginger and Turmeric powder and probably Passiflora tea and Orangeblossom hydrosol.

At 2:50pm on March 30th, 2008, Valerianella said…: Thanks, I always thought angustifolia is the more "potent" one and purpurea the more easy to grow one. Anyway very interesting, so 9 Echinaceas thats even better. Do any grow wild in your area? If the aerial parts can be used, I wonder why nobody does it, or have you come across aerial plant material being sold as med. herb, I haven't. I generally prefer herbs that do not need to be dug up.

At 3:09pm on March 26th, 2008, Valerianella said…: Brook, thanks for your comment, I know 4 Echinaceas (angustifolia, purpurea, paradoxa and pallida) what is the 5.? I grow angustifolia and purpurea. Its the first time I hear that the leaves have med. action too, do you have any reference for this?