Volume XVIII, Issue 3, May 2009

Volume XVIII, Issue 3, May 2009

HERB GUILD THYMES

The Charlotte Herb Guild

Newsletter

 May Meeting:

Guild Service Project

DATE: Tuesday, MAY 12, 2009

TIME: 7:OO p.m.

LOCATION: Dove's Nest

1814 Euclid Avenue

Charlotte, NC 28203

 Visitor fee $5.00

The Dove’s Nest is the woman’s program for the Charlotte Rescue Mission. We’ll put our gardening skills to work and help build a raised bed for a garden (complete with herbs, of course). Wear garden clothes and gloves. The meeting officially starts at 7:00 p.m. but members that are able to come as early as 6:00 p.m. may do so to start the project! Find out more about the Charlotte Rescue Mission at www.charlotterescuemission.org.

Hospitality: Mary Beth Collins, Margie Orell, Jan Sundberg

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Minutes of the April Meeting

Charlotte Council of Garden Clubs

Charlotte Herb Guild

April 14, 2009

At 7:15 PM, President Dana DeBellis called the April business meeting to order and gave special thanks to hostesses Netta Turnbull, Jennifer Warner & Theresa Travelute for the lovely and delicious assortment of refreshments. 

The March minutes were approved with one amendment.  The guest’s name was corrected to read:  Susie Simonson. 

Marie McCord was introduced as a guest at the April meeting. 

President DeBellis announced: 

• Sandy Fenton and Lynn Lytle will co-chair The Yorkmont Farmers Market on Saturday, September 12^th.   Leslie Belcher will manage the Tussie Mussies.
• May 25^th is the date for the Garden Council Plant and Attic sale. CHG will donate 3 cookbooks.
• The Garden Council Silent Auction is scheduled for Wednesday, May 27^th at the Carmel Country Club with Bryce Lane, host of the PBS’ “In the Garden” doing a program.  The CHG will contribute an herbal basket for the event.  Donate and bring materials for the basket to the May meeting. 
• The Matthews Farmers Market on Saturday, May 30^th will be headed up by Cathy Tolman and Jennifer Warner. Plan to be on site by 7:00 AM. Bring containers and herbal materials for tussie mussies to the May meeting.
• Patti Harlan, program co-chair, re-distributed the events calendar for 2009-2010.  The Bluebird Hill Lavender Farm trip on Saturday, June 6 is coming up.   RSVP to Patti Harlan if you are planning on going, as a final count is needed.

Judy Powell presented the April 2009 Treasurer’s report in Dixie Kelly’s absence.  The balance on 4/14/2009 was $14,341.01; total expenses amounted to $360.00; deposits were $1172.90. The ending balance on 4/14/2009 is $15,153.91.

Announcements from the membership:

-Ann Baldwin reported that we now a friendly relationship with our neighbors and we can use their rear parking lot on meeting nights

-A workday at the Alexander Hezekiah Herb Garden on April 15, 10AM. Volunteers are welcome. Contacts are Jane Ireton and MaryAnn Nagel.

-Pioneer Days, Hezekiah House is April 18^th, 9-4PM. Dana Debellis & Lara Barnett will sell CHG cookbooks. Volunteers needed.

-The Cabarrus County Herb & Plant Festival is Saturday, April 18^th, at 518 Winecoff School Rd,Concord, NC.

-The Garden Council’s April 22 meeting, 9:30AM, will feature “Planters with         Pockets.” Our own Ann Baldwin will be doing a presentation on herbs in strawberry pots.

-The Wing Haven Plant Sale will be April 22-25.

-Historic Rosedale off North Tryon Street is looking for a presentation on herbs anytime in 2009. If you are interested, contact Cathy Tolman.

A lively plant exchange took place with everyone taking at least one herb or flower home. 

Meeting adjourned.

Respectfully submitted,

Theresa Nardi, Recording Secretary

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April Recipes

 

Rosemary Cornmeal Cookies

Netta Turnbull

Netta made Marsha Capps’ recipe from The Charlotte Herb Guild Cooks Again, page 249.

Sausage Rolls

Netta Turnbull 

Pepperidge Farm frozen puff pastry

1 package Jimmie Dean sage skinless sausage

1 egg, beaten

Defrost pastry in the refrigerator to prevent it sticking together. Carefully, open up a sheet.  Use a sharp knife to cut each sheet into 3 strips and then each strip into 4 pieces (12 pieces altogether).

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. With a knife, cut the sausage into quarters.  Then cut each quarter into three pieces (12 altogether).

Lightly flour surface and roll/stretch each strip thin. Then roll out each sausage piece and place atop each strip.  Wet the bottom of the strip with water, then with your hands, roll the pastry around the sausage.  Dip a pastry brush into the beaten egg and brush surface of uncooked sausage roll.  

Place rolls on a cookie sheet or the rack of a roasting pan (with the roasting pan beneath).  Bake for about 15 minutes.  Lower the temperature to 325 degrees and bake an additional 10 minutes.

 Mint Chocolate Cupcakes with Butter Cream Frosting

JenniferWarner

Cake:

1 box devil’s food cake mix

1 box chocolate fudge pudding

2 eggs

1¼ cup water

½ cup vegetable oil

1 tablespoon finely chopped mint

 Frosting:

1 cup butter

½ cup shortening

6 cups powdered sugar

4 ounces heavy cream

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 teaspoon mint extract 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix the cake ingredients until smooth. The batter will be fairly thick. Pour into lined cupcake pans and bake for 18 to 20 minutes. Remove from oven and cool on wire racks.  

Mix all frosting ingredients until well blended.  Frost cupcakes and garnish with fresh mint. 

Herbed Cream Cheese Spread

Jennifer Warner

 2 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese (may use reduced fat)

½ cup (1 stick) butter

1 teaspoon minced garlic

Chopped herbs of your choice and to taste   (Jennifer uses fresh rosemary, oregano,  chives, basil, sage and thyme), kosher salt and black pepper to taste

Mix cream cheese and butter until well blended. Add remaining ingredients until well mixed. Add kosher salt and black pepper, if desired.

Serve with baguettes, crackers, or fresh vegetables.

Rosemary Lemonade

Theresa Travelute

Theresa made Debbie Moore Clark’s recipe from The Charlotte Herb Guild Cooks Again, page 39. 

Quick Cookies

Theresa Travelute

 I egg

1 cup brown sugar

1 cup peanut butter

2 tablespoons lemon balm

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and grease a baking sheet. Mix egg and brown sugar. Add peanut butter and lemon balm. Roll dough with your hands into ping pong sized balls. Place on prepared baking sheet.   Bake for 10 minutes.  Remove from oven and cool on wire racks. 

Sweet and Spicy Party Mix

Theresa Travelute

4 cups Rice Chex

4 cups Kix

4 cups Cinnamon Toasters

4 cups Honey Nuts Oats

4 cups Pretzel Snaps

3 tablespoons chopped rosemary

12  tablespoons margarine or butter

5 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

1½ teaspoon garlic powder

1 teaspoon onion powder

4 teaspoons Emeril’s original essence seasoning.

 Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Combine all cereals in a bowl. In a microwave or on the stove top, melt butter or margarine. Add rosemary and remaining seasonings. Pour over cereal mix and toss well. Spread in a single layer on a cookie sheet.  

Bake for 5 minutes, stirring twice. Remove and cool.

Store in airtight container.

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The Charlotte Herb Guild

Executive Board, 2009-2010

President, Dana DeBellis 

Vice President, Lara Barnett                                                                 

Program Co-chairs, Patti Harlan and Brenda Dills 

Recording Secretary, Theresa Nardi

Membership Secretary, Shirley Patton

Treasurer, Dixie Kelly 

Newsletter Editor, Margery Orell

Past President, Mary Beth Collins

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Inside the Picket Fence 

May is a good month to start a Mediterranean Herb Garden.  The Desert Botanical Garden inScottsdale, Arizona, suggests these herbs because they thrive in well-drained soil and lots of sun:  oregano, sweet marjoram, sage, thyme, and rosemary.  Most are drought tolerant and low-maintenance. 

Origanum majorana – sweet majoram

Origanum vulgare – Italian (Greek) oregano

Rosmarinus officinalis – rosemary

Salvia officinalis – culinary sage

Thymus herba-bonara- caraway thyme

Thymus vulgaris – English thyme

Thymbra capitata – conehead thyme.

Did you know that oils from crushed oregano can be used to polish furniture? Try hanging leaves of oregano in closets for a lovely scent to your clothes and linens.

Outside the Picket Fence

May 16-17  Davidson County Master Gardeners' Annual Garden Tour.  Agricultural Extension Office, 301 East Center St., Lexington, NC 27292.  Tickets are $10.00.  336.731.1427.

May 25  Garden Council Plant and Attic sale

May 30  CHG at Matthews Farmers Market

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Charlotte Herb Guild on the Web

 

The CHG Webpage, www.geocities.com/charlotteherbguild

Send contributions to Madge Eggena.

 

The CHG Blog, charlotteherbguild.blogspot.com

Recipes, calendar, current and past newsletters.

Send contributions to Margery Orell.