Let's Heal with Rosemary
Omg y’all, we did it! This election, the pandemic, all of 2020, and the past 4 years have truly been unbearable. Thankfully we used our power and our vote to usher in a new and better opportunity for our lives. It feels so good to finally say that things are looking up! With all of that, stress is still here in our lives and even with this good news, we must hang on tight because unsavory events are still happening. Due to this fact, the residual effects will take time to fully process and leave our orbit. So let’s call in Rosemary to the rescue!
Known by its scientific name Rosmarinus officinalis, Rosemary is a Mediterranean herb that’s been used in culinary and medicinal aspects for centuries. It’s also a staple in many gardens due to its ease of cultivation and its intoxicating scent. When you walk past a rosemary bush, you know it instantly because its scent envelopes you and takes you to a place far away from the hustle and bustle of life.
Rosemary is a perennial shrub that’s grown for daily consumption as well as it makes a gorgeous ornamental display in gardens. It’s one of the easiest herbs to grow in your garden and it will get the most use due to its versatility. Lots of sunshine and properly draining soil are prime ingredients to a healthy and long growing life for your rosemary plant. It grows in the form of long stems that have needle-shaped leaves.
Rosemary has an astringent flavor and its scent profile is woodsy with notes of pine, camphor, and mint. When you press the leaves between your fingers, they release all of those scents on your fingertips, and the smell is divine!
When the plant is young, the stem and needles are soft and pliable to the touch. As the plant grows older, the stems become woody and stiff, as well as the needles begin to harden a bit. If the stem is hard enough when it becomes woody, it can be used as a skewer to make delicious kabobs. As the kabobs cook, the flavor from the rosemary stem infuses into the meats and vegetables creating an elevated dish!
An interesting fact about rosemary is that it’s a proud card-carrying member of the mint family, Lamiaceae! I was very surprised when I found this out. A few other surprising members include lavender, savory, thyme, catnip, and patchouli. In the words of the illustrious Tony Baker “I never, I never knew!” ;)
When it comes to its culinary aspects, rosemary is a robust herb that is used in dishes that require and can handle a mighty pow of flavor. Meats like poultry, lamb, and pork pair beautifully with this herb. It’s why during the holidays you always see fresh rosemary front and center for use in dishes like a Thanksgiving turkey, baked chicken, and roasted root vegetables such as potatoes and carrots. Rosemary also pairs well with seafood like barramundi and shrimp. For example, these Rosemary and Lemon Shrimp Kabobs are phenomenal! The heat from the grill chars the rosemary and infuses it into the shrimp for a delectable bite!
The versatility of using rosemary in cooking is amazing! Fresh rosemary is perfect for soups and stews which pair well with the current fall weather. By chopping up the tender leaves, you can make delicious compound butters, marinades, and vinaigrettes. Infusing olive oil and vinegar with long stems of rosemary creates additional ways to elevate the flavors of your everyday dishes. Popping a stem of rosemary in a glass of champagne or a cocktail adds an aromatic twist like no other! Lastly, rosemary is delicious in baked goods like focaccia and sourdough bread. Imagine some slices of leftover roasted thanksgiving turkey sandwiched between 2 pieces of rosemary sourdough bread...Yum yum!
Now let’s switch gears to how Rosemary can be helpful in a more personal fashion. With regard to the medicinal aspects of rosemary, this herb is foundational for a good reason. Due to our current situation in the world right now, we are experiencing different levels of stress all at the same time and they are consistent due to the length of this pandemic and its effects. This is on top of the everyday stressors we are used to dealing with and it’s wreaking significant havoc amongst us all.
Due to this fact, it is more important than ever that we counter this by taking on higher and more consistent levels of self-care so that we can sustain ourselves through this tumultuous time and after. Practicing aromatherapy by using fresh herbs and their essential oils is a wonderful way to include self-care in your daily rituals. Since we are discussing rosemary today, I’m going to provide you with some great examples of aromatherapy techniques to help ease you through your stressful days.
In its fresh form, rosemary can be used in ways to uplift your spirits and give you an instant punch of vitality. If you are feeling low energy while working, put a small stem in a glass of drinking water and allow the oils to naturally diffuse in the water. When you drink it, you’ll get the scent, taste, and effects of the essential oils.
Placing long stems of rosemary into a hot bath will help you soak the cares of the day away. Tying a few stems in a bundle and hanging them up in your shower allows the scent to mix with the steam which, in turn, gives you an aromatherapy shower. You can also crush the leaves to create mixtures for herbal bath salts and facial steams.
Rosemary can also be tied in bundles like sage and burned to cleanse and uplift the spirit of your home. Lastly, you can do something as simple as grabbing a fresh stem, bringing it up to your nose, close your eyes then take a few deep breaths. This simple act works wonders to calm your spirit and bring you back to the present moment.
That’s it for today’s culinary and aromatherapy lesson on Rosemary! I hope you love using this herb just as much as I do. Please share your thoughts and favorite ways you like to use rosemary in the comments below. Take care of yourself, love each other, and stay tuned for a tasty recipe featuring today’s ingredient! It’s a celebratory time, so I think you’ll enjoy this one. See you then!
-Shari :)
