Famous "Herb" Quotes

Herb Quotes

"There's fennel for you, and columbines; there's rue for you; and here's some for me; we may call it herb of grace o'Sundays."
William Shakespeare, Hamlet



“Much Virtue in Herbs, little in Men.”
Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) Poor Richard's Almanac

"Those herbs which perfume the air most delightfully, not passed by as the rest, but, being trodden upon and crushed, are three; that is, burnet, wild thyme and watermints. Therefore, you are to set whole alleys of them, to have the pleasure when you walk or tread."
Frances Bacon


"Hot lavender, mints, savory, marjoram; The marigold, that goes to bed wi' the sun, and with him rise weeping."
Shakespeare, The Winter's Tale


“Parsley - the jewel of herbs, both in the pot and on the plate.”
Albert Stockli


“Oh, better no doubt is a dinner of herbs,
When season'd with love, which no rancour disturbs
And sweeten'd by all that is sweetest in life
Than turbot, bisque, ortolans, eaten in strife!
But if, out of humour, and hungry, alone
A man should sit down to dinner, each one
Of the dishes which the cook chooses to spoil
With a horrible mixture of garlic and oil,
The chances are ten against one, I must own,
He gets up as ill-tempered as when he sat down.”
Edward Bulwer-Lytton (1831-1891) Lucile (1860)


“Time is an herb that cures all Diseases.”
Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) Poor Richard's Almanac


An ounce of Yarrow sewed up in flannel and placed under the pillow before going to bed, having repeated the following words, brought a vision of the future husband or wife:
'Thou pretty herb of Venus' tree,
Thy true name it is Yarrow;
Now who my bosom friend must be,
Pray tell thou me to-morrow.'
Halliwell's Popular Rhymes, etc.


“As for rosemary, I let it run all over my garden walls, not only because my bees love it but because it is the herb sacred to remembrance and to friendship, whence a sprig of it hath a dumb language.”
Sir Thomas More (1478-1535)


“The leaves and floures of Borrage put into wine make men and women glad and merry, driving away all sadnesse, dulnesse, and melancholy, as Dioscorides and Pliny affirme. Syrrup made of the floures of Borrage comforteth the heart, purgeth melancholy, and quieteth the phrenticke or lunaticke person.”
John Gerard, The Herball, or General Historie of Plantes (1597)


“Pounding fragrant things -- particularly garlic, basil, parsley -- is a tremendous antidote to depression. But it applies also to juniper berries, coriander seeds and the grilled fruits of the chilli pepper. Pounding these things produces an alteration in one's being -- from sighing with fatigue to inhaling with pleasure. The cheering effects of herbs and alliums cannot be too often reiterated. Virgil's appetite was probably improved equally by pounding garlic as by eating it.”
Patience Gray, cookery author


“If one consults enough herbals...every sickness known to humanity will be listed as being cured by sage.”
Varro Taylor, Ph.D. (herb expert)


Sage cures Everything!!!
"Good for diseases of the liver and to make blood. A decoction of the leaves and branches of Sage made and drunk, saith Dioscorides, provokes urine and causeth the hair to become black. It stayeth the bleeding of wounds and cleaneth ulcers and sores. Three spoonsful of the juice of Sage taken fasting with a little honey arrests spitting or vomiting of blood in consumption. It is profitable for all pains in the head coming of cold rheumatic humours, as also for all pains in the joints, whether inwardly or outwardly. The juice of Sage in warm water cureth hoarseness and cough. Pliny saith it cureth stinging and biting serpents. Sage is of excellent use to help the memory, warming and quickening the senses. The juice of Sage drunk with vinegar hath been of use in the time of the plague at all times. Gargles are made with Sage, Rosemary, Honeysuckles and Plantains, boiled in wine or water with some honey or alum put thereto, to wash sore mouths and throats, as need requireth. It is very good for stitch or pains in the sides coming of wind, if the place be fomented warm with the decoction in wine and the herb also, after boiling, be laid warm thereto."
Nicholas Culpepper, 'A Physicall Directory' (164

This Weekend's Beef Tenderloin

It was wonderful!
Herbed Beef Tenderloin by De Stewart (Herb's and Spice Findlay Market)
2 Whole tenderloins (I do 1 whole tenderloin cut in half. I buy it only at Jungle Jim's and only when it's on sale for $9.99/lb. They trim it up and grind the left over meat. It makes a great meatloaf. I usually pay $70-75, but get a huge tenderloin meal and 1-2 ground beef dinners.This week I made heavenly hamburgers and Taco salad with the ground meat. I also got a quiche out of the cooked meat and Bette took home 2 beef tenderloin sandwiches)Pretty cost effective for the quality!
1 Tbsp. + 1 tsp. olive or canola oil
4 cloves minced garlic
1 Tbsp. dried basil
1 Tbsp. dried rosemary (crushed)
2 tsp. sea salt (fine not coarse)
2 tsp. ground pepper
Tie tenderloin w/ kitchen string every 2 inches.
Combine olive oil and garlic and brush over meat.
Combine basil,rosemary,salt and pepper. Sprinkle over entire roast and let it sit 30 min.
Place on the rack in a shallow roasting pans (fat side up).
Bake 425 degrees until De says pull out at 135 wrap tight w/ foil and let it sit. I go to 160 and wrap and it's still really pink.It con't to cook and the juices redistribute.

Herby Thanksgiving

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Pesto Recipes

Basil Pesto
2 cups packed basil leaves
1 clove garlic
3 Tbsp. pine nuts
1/4 - 1/2 olive oil
1/4 c. grated Parmesan
salt and pepper to taste

Place basil, garlic,and nuts in food processor and pulse until roughly chopped. Slowly add oil in a steady stream w/ the motor running to desired thickness (start 1/4 cup)
Add Parmesan and salt/pepper pulse until smooth
Makes 1 cup

It was great to touch base with the herbies.

Marie brought a recipe from Bon Appetite for
Spinach-Walnut Pesto crostini:
2 5oz. packages of baby spinach, divided
1/2 cup walnuts
1/2 cup Pecorino Romano (plus some for garnish)
2 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice
2 cloves garlic,chopped
1 red jalapeno chile, seeded and chopped
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
20 1/2 inch thick baguette slices
Place 1 pack (5 oz) spinach, walnuts, 1/2 cup cheese,lemon juice, pepper, and garlic in food processor. With machine running add 1/4 cup olive oil:process until spinach is coarsely chopped. Add remaining spinach and slowly add another 1/4 cup oil, processing until a coarse puree forms. Transfer to a bowl and season with salt and pepper. (Can be made the day ahead of time: Cover and chill)
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Arrange bread in slices in a single layer on a rimmed sheet. Bake until lightly toasted turning once midway (about 10 min. total baking time). Cool. Spoon generous amounts onto each bread slice . Garnish with shaved cheese.

We also discussed how to freeze pesto (place in clean, tiny ball mason jars and cover the top with olive oil to form a fine layer). Freeze for 6 months (although I have used it frozen at 1 year out and it was fine. Not what I am recommending, just what I have done.
Uses can be on pasta, on breads, or IN pasta if you make your own. Great way to preserve those tender herbs. There are all forms of pesto. Mint/cashew,cilantro, etc. It doesn't always have to be basil. And if you need mint, I know of a lady who has 3 acres of it named Rita.............

Finally A Meeting!

Cracker Barrel today at 5 pm. I'm bringing the pesto! I'll post minutes soon.

5 Things..............

5 Things You've Eaten and Think that Everyone Should Eat at least Once Before They Die. I won't force my culinary opinions on anyone so my take on this is:

Five Things I'd Like To Eat Again (It's too morbid to bring death into this)

1. Fried Catfish from Cracker Barrel
2. Rita Heikenfeld's White Bean Italian Soup
3. Giuseppe's Pizza from North Canton....it's worth the drive!
4. A French 2 Step sundae from Aglameisi Brothers in Oakley (2 scoops vanilla with chocolate whipped cream and chocolate syrup drizzle)
5. A steak made by a Jeff Ruby Restaurant (I prefer The Precinct)

Now it's your turn. What is your favorite?

Evolution of Treatments

2000 B.C. - Here, eat this root.

1000 A.D. - That root is heathen. Here, say this prayer.

1850 A.D. - That prayer is superstition. Here, drink this potion.

1940 A.D. - That potion is snake oil. Here, swallow this pill.

1985 A.D. - That pill is ineffective. Here, take this antibiotic.

2000 A.D. - That antibiotic is artificial. Here, eat this root.