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Herbal Wisdom:  Drying Basil and Chocolate Mint  |
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Renee M. in Michigan
True Blue Farmgirl
54 Posts
Renee
Allendale
MI
USA
54 Posts |
 Posted - Jun 09 2008 : 7:10:31 PM
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Hi girls,
What is the best way to dry basil?
Also, does anyone have a recipe or something special they do with Chocolate mint?
-- Thanks, Renee M. up in the mitten
No woman ever made history by following the rules. |
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wooliespinner
True Blue Farmgirl
1311 Posts
Linda
Manchester
Ohio
1311 Posts |
Posted - Jun 10 2008 : 04:43:16 AM
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I usually just snip the leaves off and lay them on a screen. I make sure they are not in a sunny place because you don't want them to lose their color. I have cats in the house so I usually lay screen over them or a fine mesh material you would use in a wedding veil. This keep the cats from messing with it. Once dry I store them in a container or baggie.
The book I have also says you can snip off the stems and tie a paper bag around them and dry them that way. Then remove the leaves once they have dried. I have never tried it that way before.
I have chocolate mint also but have not used it except in bouquets......not sure what to use it for either...lol.
Linda
Raspberry Run Farm
Nubian Dairy Goats |
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katmom
True Blue Farmgirl
17161 Posts
Grace
WACAL Gal
WashCalif.
USA
17161 Posts |
Posted - Jun 13 2008 : 11:14:12 PM
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I love chocolate mint, I chop it (fresh)up very fine and add it to chocolate ice cream....it sounds odd, but I love the way the two taste together.
>^..^< Happiness is being a katmom.
mjf#72
Sisters on the Fly#472
www.katmom4.blogspot.com
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BarnChickCecily
True Blue Farmgirl
673 Posts
Cecily
Corydon
IN
USA
673 Posts |
Posted - Jun 21 2008 : 5:16:48 PM
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| I just bought a sweet italian basil plant today... when do I know when the leaves are ready to snip and dry? |
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Farmtopia
True Blue Farmgirl
1465 Posts
Zan
New York
New York
USA
1465 Posts |
Posted - Jun 21 2008 : 5:25:54 PM
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Hey girls. I have lemon basil and chocolate peppermint as well as the regular peppermint. I do tie them in bunches, upside down, from a rafter in the hall (away from sunny windows), with the paper bag over the leaf ends. I've also done it without the bag, although the leaves end up a bit drier/brittle when doing this. The leaves should have no more moisture in them (I pinch a bit on the leaves to test this), and then you can store them in a nice glass jar until you need to use.
I also use little packets of silica gel (the kind found in new shoes) to keep any excessive moisture away from the inside of the jar. Once you need to use, just crumble it in a mortar and pestle. That's my two cents.
I've used chocolate peppermint in cocoa and chocolate icecream as well and I heard it makes an interesting tea. YUM
~*~Dream all you dreamers~*~
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Prairie Princess
True Blue Farmgirl
1075 Posts
Jodi
Washington
USA
1075 Posts |
Posted - Jul 02 2008 : 3:44:29 PM
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Where can you buy chocolate peppermint?? I had my hands on a plant about two years ago, but ended up giving it so someone else who absolutely loved it, and I haven't found any since... Even at the local nurseries...
~Jodi
"Women are like teabags...you never know how strong they are until they get into hot water." Eleanor Roosevelt |
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Herbal Wisdom: Drying Basil and Chocolate Mint |
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Drying Basil and Chocolate Mint
