BACKYARD BEEKEEPING HERBES DE RECIPE backyardbeekeeping.iamcountryside.com BY RITA HEIKENFELD

Expensive to buy and sometimes hard to find, you can make your own recipe blend. It’s basically a blend of dried that thrive in the sunny of Provence in the South of France. All of in the blend are easy to grow, and are available at your neighborhood grocery store, except perhaps the lavender.

HERBES DE PROVENCE RECIPE

Lavender ( (Rosemarinus officinalis) augustifolia) You’ll recognize the strong pine- The sweet, intoxicating of like fragrance and flavor of the lavender is essential and it allevi- rosemary . Rosemary is good ates anxiety. for your memory. INGREDIENTS: (Thymus vulgaris) Savory ( hortensis) 4 tablespoons dried thyme Like a chest in a plant, Like thyme, savory has a peppery 2 tablespoons dried or the thyme plant has a peppery flavor and is a great digestive . 1 tablespoon flavor. It relieves congestion. (Foeniculum vulgare) 1 tablespoon dried rosemary, minced Oregano (Origanum vulgare) and Licorice-like in flavor, fennel eases 1 tablespoon dried savory leaves Marjoram (Origanum majorana) a jittery tummy. 1 tablespoon dried lavender Culinary cousins, oregano has a Bay () 1 teaspoon fennel distinctive spicy, somewhat sweet Tear a fresh bay in two and 1 dried , crumbled taste and is stronger in flavor than you’ll be surprised — a little sweet marjoram. Marjoram has a grassy, and yet complex. Bay helps control DIRECTIONS: Stir together and store in sort of lemony taste. Both herbs blood sugar. airtight container in dry place away from are good for joints. heat and light.

HERBES DE PROVENCE HONEY RECIPE

The herbs, as they infuse the honey, lend a haunting fragrance and delicate flavor. I love this on scones, biscuits, and stirred into yogurt.

1 cup honey, preferably organic and raw 1 tablespoon dried Herbes de Provence recipe

Place honey and herbs in a double boiler. Keep the water at a simmer, not a hard boil. Stir occasionally, letting the herbs infuse for 30 minutes. Strain in very fine strainer. Cool and place in glass jar. Store in pantry for up to a year.