Easter is just around the corner. Aside from making colorful eggs, why not use some herbs for your Easter dinner. When we search for “Herbs of Easter,” the list would show – Chervil, Rosemary, Hyssop and many more. But for this post I want to feature Chervil.

Chervil is a delicate aromatic herb that adds flavor to a wide range of meat and vegetable dishes. Garden Guides said it’s a staple in French cuisine. Leaves and stems of chervil are used to add in salads,  fish, chicken, egg, potato dishes, soups and sauces. Use fresh chervil in your food because it says cooking and drying destroys its subtle flavor. You are in luck because you can have fresh chervil indoors, it can grow in shady and moist garden container. Chervil belongs to a genus that has annuals, biennials and perennials and this herb is native from Europe, North Africa and Asia.

Aside from adding flavor to our food, chervil is said to be a good source of Vitamin C and other minerals. It’s medicinal use was reported that dates back as far as the time of ancient Rome. It can be used as a cleansing expectorant.  Do you want to have soft skin? A chervil face mask might do the trick.

Chervil seed kit $19.95

How to Grow Your Own Herbs $6.16

Sunflowers uplift good mood. Some people I know are “sunflower fanatics”, collecting sunflower stuff. I can imagine why, the loveliness of its sunny, smiley blooms will make anyone happy. But do you know that sunflowers possess properties that are also good for one’s health?

What’s hot: Sunflowers  have a wide range of uses and the entire plant can be used. One of its special property is you can extract polyunsaturated oil from a sunflower plant valuable for lowering cholesterol levels. The University of Maryland Medial Center enumerated the list from the American Heart Association (AHA) for a healthy heart diet. Sunflower oil contains Omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids important to one’s health. So for those people who likes fried foods, they can use sunflower cooking oil as a substitute. But keep in mind that anything excess is not healthy. The seeds and kernels can be eaten raw or toasted. The sprouted seeds can be steamed or boiled for a quick delicious salad. The oil is also good for base aromatherapy and to treat muscular aches and pains. Sunflowers are attractive floral decoration. The list seemed endless.

What’s not-so-hot: Heavy shredding of the plant, AHA said that too much sunflower cooking oil or any cooking oil may be associated with weight gain in the abdomen.

Sunflower products:  sunflower seeds $2.99, sunflower organic cooking oil, sunflower honey toasted seeds $18.63, Klein’s Natural Sunflower Seeds, Unsalted, in Shells $16.62

Whoever  thought that you can’t have fresh coffee beans everyday straight from your kitchen window. It’s now possible with these Coffee plant in pots! I am a huge coffee fan and I find this a wonderful idea to “dwarf” a coffee plant. You can’t buy coffee beans locally unless you live in Hawaii or other tropical countries. So for those living in temperate countries, buy this coffee plant in pots and in five years, you might reap the fruits of your labor. Many swore that the coffee plant is hardy and easy to tend. You might even grow organic coffee. Adding egg shells in the pots will make any plant grow so well. I swear it’s one of the best “fertilizer” I’ve tried.

dwarf Arabica coffee beans plant $7.99, dwarf Kona coffee plant (10 seeds) $3.99, dwarf Robusta coffee plant (10 seeds) $3.99

Chopped raw Parsley is a common ingredient in salads, soups, fish, potatoes and sandwiches. But do you know that there’s more about Parsley than just an attractive garnish to dishes? The Stanford Cancer Center provided a comprehensive and complete list of nutrition to reduce cancer risk. Parsley as a dark deep green herb is included in the list as one of the Carotenoids. Preliminary evidence suggests that Carotenoids contain phytochemicals that may play a role in decreasing the risk of cancer. The dark curly leaves contain vitamins, minerals and iron. You want to know more? Read on…

What’s hot: As as plant, Parsley proved to be easy to grow. In fact you can grow Parsley in an egg shell! You can have Parsley all year round just protect it from frost. There are varieties of Parsley, the “curled” Parsley and the Italian with flatter leaves.

It is said that Parsley tea helps fight fluid retention (diuretic) and has a beneficial effect on the urinary system. Based on stories of people who tried drinking Parsley tea, it proved to be an effective treatment for kidney and bladder complains. I came across the website of Dr. James Howenstine a clinician and herbalist, who wrote about how drinking Parsley tea cured his wife’s UTI and kidney stones! It’s very informative and an interesting story. And if you like garlic, like I do (especially in fried rice) but do not like the after taste and smell of garlic in your mouth, chew on Parsley to counter the smell of garlic. You are kissable again in no time.

What’s-not-so-hot: It is advised that Parsley should not be taken as medicinal doses by pregnant women.

I am amazed of the new things I learned about Parsley. I think I will try Parsley tea next time, not that I have kidney or bladder complains, but I am curious of what the tea would taste like. I will make my own concoction and will tell you all about it!

freshly packed parsley in large jars $3.79, parsley sphagetti $14.49, parsley tea $14.82, parsley herbal supplement $5.39

I just saw the latest weather news, “Shocking cold wave drops temp to 40 below zero.” The U.S. is not alone in experiencing harsh weather for the past months. Even in Asia the weather is cold (for Asians) and dull (always cloudy)! Consequently, a lot of people are suffering from colds, cough and flu. Those who are experiencing cold wind, ice and snow might be hoping for a “global warming” soon.  If you haven’t catch colds, cough and flu and you want to prevent it from infesting your system, you may want to consider boosting your immune system the natural way by trying out drinking boiled fresh leaves of the Oregano herb or taking Oregano health supplements. The dried Oregano tea and Oregano health supplements may work but you may first want to check the sources of these because only true oregano (Origanum vulgare) or “wild marjoram” (that grows best across Europe and Central Asia) are considered effective. 

What’s hot: For culinary use, dried Oregano leaves provides a strong flavoring in dishes. I feature Oregano as good to treat colds, coughs and flu because in the Philippines I know a lot of people who use this herb to treat the above conditions. And it worked for them! Although I haven’t tried drinking fresh Oregano leaves tea because I heard it taste icky, I think this is a wonderful herb to have in the garden because it is also aromatic. (Okay I will try soon and let you know how it tastes!) Other things I researched about Oregano – have properties such as warming, it is antiseptic, helps with indigestion, good for steam inhalation, compresses for arthritis and muscular pain.

In the research study sponsored by North American Herb and Spice, Oregano oil “may be effective treatment against dangerous non-resistant bacteria.” It is believed that “carvacrol” a chemical component found in Oregano is responsible for effective reduction of infection similar to the traditional antibiotics. (Source)

If you’re inspired and want to plant this herb, you’re in luck, this is an easy herb to grow. But you may want to choose the location of this herb for experts say that bees love this herb.

What’s-not-so-hot: But can the natural way cure colds, cough and flu? Experts will say “no” because they believe prescription drugs are still much effective. But usually, colds, coughs and flu lasts for at most 10 days, we have a natural “healing system” in our bodies to help us get over these conditions.

But common sense will tell us to postpone going outdoors when the National Weather Forecast said that there will be strong wind with very low temperatures. I guess eating a hot yummy Chicken Soup will also help to keep you warm and make you feel good. You’ll be so ready when Spring comes!