Chapter 7 – Sample Recipes

Sauerkraut

Preparation Time: 20 minutes

Fermentation Time: 2-6 weeks

Ingredients:

1.5 tsps. Salt (pickling)

1 head white cabbage (2-3 lbs)

1 tbsp.berries (optional)

Preparation:

  1. Remove the inner core of the white cabbage. Wash down the cabbage before removing the outermost layer of leaves that can be used later.
  2. Chop the cabbage in quart sizes.
  3. Using a mandolin, slice the cabbage into thin layers.
  4. Put the cabbage strips and the berries in a large mixing bowl. Add salt while massaging the cabbage with bare and clean hands. Let the strips sit for a couple of minutes or until they produce some juices.
  5. Pound the cabbage down until the cabbage can fit in fermentation vessels.
  6. Using a clean stone or a glass weight, make sure that the cabbage remains submerged in its brine.
  7. Store the sauerkraut for 2-6 weeks. Make sure to check each vessel every day.

Apple Butter

Preparation Time: 30 minutes

Fermentation Time: 2 days

Ingredients:

2 tbsps.Honey

2 tbsps. Whey

1.5 tsps. Sea salt

Water

Preparation:

  1. In a medium saucepan, put some dried apples.
  2. Fill the saucepan with enough water. Simmer the apples in the water.
  3. Allow the reconstituted apples to cool slightly.
  4. Using a slotted spoon, put the apples in a food processor. Add the rest of the ingredients. Process the mixture until smooth.
  5. Pour the resulting smoothie in a jar. Cap the jar tightly.
  6. Let the mixture stand for 2 days.
  7. Refrigerate.

Watermelon Salsa

Preparation Time: 15 minutes

Fermentation Time: 12 hours

Ingredients:

¼ tsp.red pepper flakes

1/8 tsp. cumin (ground)

1/8 cupmint and basil (mixed and chopped)

1.5 tspssea salt

1 cupred onion (chopped)

1/3 cup fresh cilantro (chopped)

3 cupswatermelon (diced)

Preparations:

  1. In a mixing bowl, put all the ingredients. Mix thoroughly.
  2. Put the resulting mixture inside a jar. Press down the mixture with a nonreactive spoon. This should flesh out some juice from the fruit.
  3. Using a clean stone or a piece of weight, make sure that the watermelon is kept below surface.
  4. Shut the jar tight and leave it at room temperature.
  5. Let it stand for 12 hours before refrigerating.

Yogurt

Preparation Time: 10 minutes

Fermentation Time: 12-24 hours

Ingredients:

0.25 cupyogurt starter

3.75 cups whole milk

Preparation:

  1. In a saucepan, heat the milk until about 180°F.
  2. Let the milk stand until it cools down to 110°F.
  3. Put the yogurt starter in a clean jar.
  4. Once the milk has cooled down enough, pour the milk into the jar leaving an inch of separation from the cap.
  5. Close the jar tight. Shake the jar to mix the yogurt starter to the milk.

In an insulated incubator, keep the yogurt warm. Close the incubator and let it stand for 12-24 hours. Refrigerate once the desired consistency is reached.

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Preview of ‘Indoor Gardening Essentials’ by Sandi Lane

Chapter 1 – Indoor Herbs: Basic Setup Needs

Setting up an indoor herb garden is not that easy; but with proper knowledge and skills, you will be able to set up your own in no time. Herbs are more convenient to plant indoors because they are basically intended for medicinal and culinary use. It is handy to use them when they are right inside your house.

There are a few things that you need to consider before setting up an indoor garden. The first thing to consider is the exact amount of lighting that your chosen herbs need. If you don’t want to use grow lights, you may find a spot in the house where the herbs can get the sufficient amount of sunlight.

Below are lists of plants and the length of time that they need to spend under ample sunlight. Herbs that love sunlight and need at least 6 hours under the sun are as follows:

Some herbs that can tolerate fewer hours of sunlight are:

Some of the herbs that like sunlight but want a cooler temperature (around 60 degrees F) in order to bloom include:

If your indoor garden only allows 6 hours of direct sunlight each day, then you may try growing tarragon and lemon balm. If the garden has lesser amount of sunlight and cooler temperature, then you may grow verbena and bay. Some garden experts recommend ‘grow lights’ to grow plants evenly. Grow lights are useful when your indoor garden doesn’t have any window. You can purchase them in home depots.

The Importance of Air Circulation

The next thing that you need to consider is the surrounding air. Most herbs need a continuous range of wind (around 70 degrees F during daylight and around 50 degrees F at night). Herbs can tolerate higher range of temperature (over 75 degrees F) but their growth will be lesser and they will be more stressed. This can make them susceptible to diseases and insect attacks.

Keep in mind that drafts can damage your indoor herb garden tolerably. An instant change of temperature caused by open windows or doors can shock the plants and weaken them. They can get damaged and they will wither when there is a strong breeze of cold air. So avoid leaving the door and window open, especially during winter.

Herbs don’t tolerate cold drafts but they need a constant circulation of fresh air. Don’t hesitate to put a small fan inside the garden. The herbs will benefit from the slow moving of air, allowing them to grow healthier.

Watering Your Herbs

The amount of water that indoor herbs need will depend on where they are planted. A plant that is growing in a container needs more water and gets dry faster than those that are planted outside.

You can monitor your herbs by watering them regularly. Set a watering schedule for each herb. This is the best way to keep your plants from getting dry and prevent them from going through a stressful condition.

The water should be in room temperature. Warm is better than cold. Just like the outdoor plants, indoor herbs need to be watered in the morning so they will be able to absorb the water just before the heat of sunlight affects it. Watering the plants at night can promote dampness that causes mildew and makes them more prone to disease.

It is also important to set up a drainage system. Herbs don’t like to soak in water for a long time. You can place your herbs in a plate full of gravel so they can drain properly yet remain damp the entire day.

Proper Spacing

Before investing on an indoor herb garden, you must decide the garden’s exact size. Generally, an herb garden for the kitchen measures at least 20 x 4 feet. Each herb should have an individual area of 12 x 18 inches plot, which is an adequate space for them to grow in. Separate the annual and perennial herbs. You may also create a diagram of your indoor herb garden to help you determine the space easier.

Don’t overcrowd your plants. Give each herb enough space to breathe and grow. When purchasing the herbs, read their tags. Pay attention to their height and width. What is their size when they are fully grown?

Overplanting can waste your money, time and effort. The herbs won’t have enough space to develop so you will hardly get any good harvest. Herb plants can grow lovely flowers; but herbs taste best when harvested right before the flowers bloom. Flowering is also a sign that the herb is about to die. So if you ever see a budding flower, pinch it right away. Herb flowers can be persistent so it would be best if you cut the entire stem to prevent the flowers from growing back.

Preservation

Don’t spray chemicals on the herbs. It is tempting to force the growth of herbs but if you are going to eat your herbs, it won’t be a good idea to contaminate the leaves with chemicals. The products may contain labels that say these are safe for people but that doesn’t mean that they are edible.

Keep a close attention to your indoor herb garden. You must know when the plants are no longer healthy. Watch out for damaged leaves as this may mean that the herbs are attacked by insects. If the leaves and stems are beginning to fade in color, it would give you enough time to save your plant from dying.

You should also check any disturbance on your soil. See if there are insects that are starting to live in there. Protect the herbs from all damaging agents. Don’t be afraid to use different methods to protect your plants. There are homemade and organic controls that you can use to prevent damage in your plants. Organic sprays are safe and edible.

You need to water the soil around the herb and not on the leaves.  You can fertilize the soil with a natural product such as a compost tea. It helps grow your herbs healthily but won’t affect the taste of the herbs.

Weeds can steal the nutrients and water that are intended for the herbs so you need to weed regularly. When weeding, be careful not to destroy the roots of your herbs.

Herbs can look better and they become healthier when they are properly pruned on a regular basis. Keep a record of pruning schedule so you won’t forget when you need to prune them again.

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