Today I harvested my first bundles of herbs of the growing season. Here is how I use them.
Basil is always turned into pesto and frozen in ice cube trays. There are plenty of fresh leaves left on the potted plant to use for fresh dishes. After they freeze, I pop them out and wrap the cubes individually and put into a freezer bag. One thing I did notice with the basil was that the beetles were starting to decimate the poor thing. I shook them off and brought that potted plant into the kitchen. I don’t use any pesticides anywhere on the property to ensure the best quality and most organic plants. As a result we have a lot of clover growing and the bees love it.
The mint will be used dried for tisanes and fresh in tabouleh salad and other culinary gems. Parsley and chives will be used fresh in some cold gazpacho on the hot summer days coming our way. Between tabouleh salad and gazpacho, the herbs are used by the handful which is nice…no waste.
Sage and oregano and dill will be hung and dried and used in cooking and maybe a dried herb wreath later in the summer.
All of the herbs I planted have been potted this year. If you would like to see my potted herb garden, follow me on instagram @lequitalee. One of my canines was named Pipa Lequita aka Pipalee. It’s all I can do to remember passwords, codes, numbers, letters and symbols. I never forget Pip. She was actually named Pipa Lequita Louisa Fatima Maria Mookda Ingoogoo Kovacs.
Looks like it’s going to be hot over the Fourth of July week so I’d say some cold brewed tea is in fine order!
Here’s is how I make iced tea for one or two. I did this when I served tea at the Saxonburg shop years ago. Take a big coffee mug or mason jar, (any vessel that will handle hot water). Add your preferred number of tea bags and fill about 1/4 or a touch more with boiled water, cover and steep. You are basically making a tea concentrate. If you like it sweet add your choice of honey etc. Stir and top off with lots of ice. At some point the ice stops melting and you have a nice, fresh iced tea to help you maintain your summertime cool.
Don’t forget, The Stillroom Tea shop is located inside of the awesome Diamond Antiques and Gifts Shop. The Stillroom specializes in tea and tea accessories such as tea strainers, filters, vintage tea cups, new teapots, honey sticks, honey dippers, gloves, hats etc. You will always find The Stillroom dabbled with touches of vintage and antique pieces and generally interesting things like our violet candy. The Stillroom phone number is 412-721-6357 and instagram is @lequitalee.
If The Stillroom doesn’t have what you are looking for, I’d recommend that you try Blue Monkey (formerly Margaret’s Fine Imports) on Forbes Avenue in Squirrel Hill. They have EVERYTHING!
Diamond Antiques and gifts is two floors of well displayed and organized shopping. Come and visit us and take a step back in time and enjoy all that we have to offer. Your flowers will all be blooming and what better way to display your garden goodness than with a beautiful vintage vase. Or perhaps you need a lovely outdoor chair to tuck away in a secret nook to create a space where you can just hang out and look at the sky for a minute. You don’t need a “she shed” to enjoy a quiet spot outside under the stars on these summer evenings.
A garden nook and a glass of iced tea sounds pretty nice.
Diamond Antiques and Gifts
311 E. 6th Avenue
Tarentum
Next to Masart’s historic diner, up the street from Gatto’s Cycle Diner and Seita Jewelers. Across the street from Tarentum Station Restaraunt.
Look for the black and white striped awning!
Open Wednesday through Saturday from 10-5
Open Sunday’s from 12-5
Closed Monday and Tuesday for dusting and restocking!
Remember to follow me on instagram to check out all of my garden pics..@lequitalee.
The Stillroom 
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