dimanche 21 février 2010

FEBRUARY AND IT’S VEGETATION

The winter goes on and on, we are starting to be tired of it. The first bouquets of mimosa are sold in the shops and the markets but the cloudy skies and rain doesn’t give the impression of spring beeing close at hand.
The other weekend we made a little tour and found this lovely little shop in Mouriès. They sell amongst coffee, tea and other gift articles, dried plants for infusions, la tisane. They have a very large selection and they are very knowledgeable whence the name of the place, l’Herbier des Alpilles.
For this February’s vegetable I have chosen the Jerusalem artichoke, helianthus tuberosus in latin or topinambour in French. It is a near relation to the sunflower and has pretty yellow flowers too. But it is the root part that is eaten. It is one of those veggies used before and during the wars but forgotten afterwards but fashionable again today.


And this month’s herb is thyme because it is antiseptic and good against flus and colds. Yes, I’ve catched a throat virus. So, I am trying thyme’s properties to clear the throat and calm the coughs. I think it is working. The thyme is good also for digestive pains. It can be used in infusions, steaming, compresses etc. And it is a good spice, too. Of course, the best is the provençal thyme !

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