Timeless Rosemary.

I thought I would pay homage to the beautiful herb Rosemary, a herb that to me goes with winter comfort food like no other. Rosemary is a must have perennial herb, a solid staple for every household which is incredibly easy to grow. With its evergreen foliage and delicate flowers, it can make a lovely plant in a patio pot, or as a shrub in your veggie garden. The leaves are deep green in a needle like shape, and flowers which appear in summer, can be white, pink, purple or blue. 

Rosemary is native to the mediterranean region and Asia, but is now found  all around the world. It is highly known and prized for its aromatic and culinary qualities as well as its medicinal uses. 

The name "Rosemary" derives from the latin word for "dew" (ros) and "sea" (marinus), or "dew of the sea", because in many locations, it needs no water other than the humidity carried by the sea breeze to live. (wikipedia 2013) Because of this rosemary is very easy to grow and can withstand dry spells. In saying that, it doesn't like to get its feet wet as this can rot the roots and at times Rosemary can be susceptible to frost. This herb is best grown in well-drained, sandy soil and preferably in the full sun. Seedlings grow very slowly, so for faster results start with a medium sized plant as then you will be able to enjoy the many benefits of this edition to your garden immediately. Either find a spot directly in the garden or choose a medium to large pot to allow the plant plenty of space to get its roots down. Rosemary for the most part is pest and disease resistant and needs little to no fertilizer. It can be harvested all year round and if need be pruned back after flowering.

Medicinal:

Rosemary has often been associated with memory. In the past and some times still now it has been a herb often found in flowers for weddings and funerals as a sign for remembrance. Rosemary may also become useful in preventing and treating Alzheimer's disease in the near future. Researchers have discovered that certain phytochemicals in the herb prevent the degradation of acetylcholine, an important brain chemical needed for normal neurotransmission. A deficiency of this chemical is commonly seen in Alzheimer's patients. (herbco 2013). Rosemary is also very helpful to people who suffer from arthritis as it brings pain relief to joints when used in oils as a massage rub.

Roasted leg of Lamb, Garlic and Rosemary roasted vegetables, star anise parsnip puree, sauteed spinach and slender stem broccoli. Rosemary and Red wine jus.

LAMB

1 x 2kg Lamb leg roast

1 long stalk of Rosemary

3 peeled and crushed garlic cloves

3 Tb Olive oil

Remove leaves from rosemary and finely chop, add to crushed garlic and olive oil. Season with salt and pepper and rub over lamb. Leave to marinate in fridge for at 
least 2 hrs.

Pre heat oven to 200c/400f. Place Lamb on rack with a tray underneath to catch the juices. Cook for 75 min to get medium rare. Once cooked cover with tin foil and allow to rest for 10/15 min.

PARSNIP PUREE

1 kg Parsnips

500 ml soy milk

3 Star anise

Peel and rough chop parsnips and place in pot with the Star anise. Cover with soy milk and bring to the boil. Reduce to simmer and cook until parsnip is soft. Puree with a stick blender or in a food processor. Season with salt and pepper.

ROAST VEGE

1/2 Pumpkin

4 Large agria potatoes

2 Large Kumara (Sweet potato)

5 cloves of garlic

1 sprig of rosemary

Heat olive and butter in a roasting tray untill hot. Add vegetables and turn every 10mins to get an even crunch. Allow 50min cooking time.