Surprising Saffron

Surprising Saffron

One of the most interesting things I have in my garden, one that is always a conversation starter is saffron (Crocus sativus). A species of autumn blooming crocus. The same extraordinarily expensive spice is also quite easy to grow here in NY, its prohibitive cost 

Butter From Scratch

Butter From Scratch

When I first discovered how to make butter from scratch, I was horrified. How have I lived so long without making my own butter? I felt like an entire world opened up to me that I had previously not known before. Dinner guests are always 

Wise Sage

Wise Sage

Sage (Salvia officinalis) is a wonderful culinary herb, especially as the weather gets colder and roasts and savory dishes become more frequent. It’s a hardy perennial down to zone 5, so it’s a plant it and forget it sort of herb. It’s also not invasive, 

Sophie’s First Fish

Sophie’s First Fish

Let me preface this by saying that throughout my childhood and the majority of my adult life, I have never been able to kill anything on purpose (except mosquitoes) and the idea has always been greatly taboo not only in my upbringing (my parents are 

Rosie Rosemary

Rosie Rosemary

A lot of sources will tell you that Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) is only reliably perennial from zone 9 upwards, zone 8 pushing it, and zone 7 should be wintered indoors. This is where a location’s microclimate as well as choosing cold hardy varieties come into 

Mitsuba Parsley

Mitsuba Parsley

Italian parsley is grown as an annual/biennial culinary, which means that it usually dies in its second year after it sets seed. That doesn’t make it suitable for my particular application of a perennial food forest so sometimes I decline to grow it, even though 

Natto With Shiso

Natto With Shiso

If the thought of slimy, gooey, pungent, fermented soy beans make you run the other way, this post is not for you. If however, like myself, my daughters, and a large population of Asia, the thought of you makes your mouth water and stomach grumble, 

Hamachi Kama: 3 Ways

Hamachi Kama: 3 Ways

My sister (follow her on Instagram), who is a chef working at an upscale Italian restaurant in Brooklyn, gave me three hamachi kama (yellowtail collars) the other day when I went to visit her and my parents where they live in Queens. I was daunted 

Giddy Up, Horseradish!

Giddy Up, Horseradish!

This is the story of how I started out with one horseradish plant (Armoracia rusticana) and ended up with over 20. Horseradish is one of the few condiments that I can’t do without when eating raw clams or oysters. It’s also a delicious compliment to 

When Life Gives You Lemon Balm

When Life Gives You Lemon Balm

Lemon Balm (Melissa Officionalis) is a perennial herb part of the mint family with very similar growth habits. It’s hardy and invasive if left to its own devices, so like my mint, it’s been relegated to the invasive herb box where it holds its own