Rosemary Cooking Tips

Healthy Cooking Tips And Uses Of Rosemary

Native to the Mediterranean, rosemary has been used for cooking and in medicines for thousands of years. It is one of the few herbs bound to be in just about everyone’s pantry and for good reason. Rosemary is a versatile, aromatic herb. It is used in a wide variety of dishes, including fruit salads, soups, vegetables, meats (especially lamb), fish, eggs, stuffings, dressings and even desserts. It is
    

Buying And Storing Rosemary

• Rosemary is generally grown as a garden herb so that its fresh leaves are readily available for use whenever the need arises.
• If you need to buy from the herb store, choose fresh rosemary over the dry form of the herb since it is superior in quality and has a subtle flavor. 
• Fresh leaves should feature deep green leaves, free from spots or yellowing. Look for rosemary that has a strong, fresh smell.
• Fresh rosemary herb should be stored in the refrigerator inside plastic bags. 
• To dry your own rosemary, hang fresh sprigs in a warm, dry place. Be sure to strip off the leaves before storing. This is easily done after the sprigs are dry by putting them in a plastic bag and rubbing them off the stem. 
• Dried rosemary should be kept in an airtight container and placed in a cool, dark, and dry place where it will keep fresh for several months.

Few Healthy Cooking Tips For Rosemary

• Rosemary can be used fresh or dried. It is an evergreen plant so using it fresh is easier and preferable. You can either strip off the leaves from the woodier stems or use whole sprigs to flavour your food then remove them.
• The leaves and flowers of rosemary can be used in many different dishes.
• Remember that rosemary has quite a strong flavour so you don't need to add very much even in dishes that are slow cooked.
• The flowers can be used in desserts eg sprinkled over ice cream or mousses.
• Rosemary blends especially well with oranges but also other fruits. An orange fool flavoured with rosemary is lovely. You could also make Rosemary Syrup.
• One of the more traditional uses for rosemary is as an accompaniment to lamb dishes. If you blend rosemary leaves, garlic, lemon juice and seasoning and marinate your lamb before cooking it will taste delicious. This also works for chicken and pork dishes.
• Use sprigs for roasting, grilling or on the barbeque.
• Another combination for lamb is to mix rosemary leaves with orange to create a glaze but some people may find this a bit too sweet.
• The fresh shoots can be used to flavour olive oil or milk/cream or syrup to be used in puddings. Also delicious added to lemonade and other summer drinks.
• Onions roasted with rosemary and made into a sauce is also tasty.
• You can make rosemary flavoured oil or vinegars.
• Adding rosemary to roast potatoes is another popular use and is one of my favourite ways of using it.
• Rosemary sprigs cooked with fried vegetables make a lovely combination (don't forget to remove the sprigs before eating!)
• Makes a wonderful oil and vinegar. Great for marinades.
• Add finely chopped leaves to soups, sauces, salads, pasta and bread such as foccacia.
• Rosemary combines well with any of the following herbs: bay, chives, garlic, lovage, mint, oregano, parsley, sage, savory and thyme.
• An essential part of ‘herbes de provence’. It goes well with the following foods: apricots, breads, cabbage family, eggs, fish, lamb, onions, oranges, parsnips, pasta, pork, potatoes, poultry, squash and tomatoes.

Rosemary For Beautiful Skin and Hair

• Rosemary is one of best hair tonics available, whether you are worried about hair loss, or just want healthy, happy hair, rosemary extracts used in shampoos and herbal hair rinses will work wonders. 
• A few drops of the essential oil can be applied directly to the scalp or hair brush to restore dry, flyaway hair and make it shine. 
• Rosemary essential oil stimulates hair follicles and circulation in the scalp, which may help prevent premature baldness. 
• Use rosemary on a continuing basis for a healthy scalp that encourages healthy hair growth and slows hair loss. 
• Hoffman 177 Rosemary extract (rosmarinic acid) is a natural way to stabilize and extend the shelf life of hand made cosmetics, creams, lotions, and other herbal compounds. 
• Use rosemary in skin care to tone and soften skin.