Avocado & lemon balm green dream smoothie
This green avocado and lemon balm smoothie is especially velvety and refreshing.
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Lemon balm
Lemon balm
XLemon balm has a lemony scent and flavour, and it is used in cooking, herbal medicine, and honey production. The herb is used for making medicinal tea, while fresh and dried leaves are used for cooking. Lemon balm leaves and shoots should be used before flowering, as once the plant starts to flower, it develops a bitter taste.
As a flavouring, lemon balm is used in all kinds of dishes that go well with lemon due to its similar taste and aroma. It can also be used successfully with other herbs, though lemon balm should only be added after boiling. The somewhat hairy leaves, when used in moderation, can be used to wonderful effect in salads. This goes particularly for raw food salads containing apples, pumpkin, zucchini or carrots. Lemon balm is also used in soups, sauces, pea and carrot foods, cold green sauces, boiled fish, and egg dishes, and is one of few herbs used for flavouring compotes, juices, jellies, and sweet vegetable preserves. Fresh lemon balm leaves are used for garnishing desserts and cold dishes. Also used in the canning industry, and widely in the liqueur and vodka industries. Lemon balm is a great substitute for lemon, which makes it perfect for preparing stuffed fish. It can used to make vinegar as well as infused oils.
Lemon balm makes a wonderfully refreshing tea on hot days, and hot lemon balm tea goes well with any meal or dessert as an alternative to coffee.
To prepare a refreshing tea, try combining lemon balm with sweet wine and black tea. Prepare the black tea and lemon balm tea infusion separately, as black tea requires boiling water and 3 minutes of steeping, while lemon balm should be steeped in hot water for 10 minutes. After cooling, mix with wine and keep in the refrigerator or serve with ice. For extra flavour, try adding some tarragon. Lemon balm can also be used to prepare a tasty buttermilk drink by mixing chopped lemon balm leaves with dairy ice cream in a blender.
To prepare lemon balm tea, it is generally recommended to use 1 tablespoon of the dried herb for 1 cup of hot (not boiling!) water. Then steep for 10 minutes and drink while hot.
Storage tips
Lemon balm is best stored between +4 and +8 °C. This means storage is easiest in a cool place, such as a pantry or refrigerator. For longer storage, you should also lightly water the plant once a day. You can keep the pot in a glass of water, but cool conditions are still recommended. Will also keep on the kitchen table or a window sill if watered properly, though not quite as long as when kept cool. Lovely to look at and fills the air with a wonderful aroma when kept on a table.
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Spinach
Spinach
XSpinach can be used in both hot and cold dishes. It is a versatile plant that can really unleash your culinary imagination. For example, recently spinach has become a popular ingredient in smoothies. Spinach is used in soups, purées, fish, omelettes, pies, fresh salads, and even pancakes.
Storage tips
Fresh spinach lasts longest when kept between +4 and +8 °C. This means storage is easiest in a cool place, such as a pantry or refrigerator. For longer storage, you should also lightly water the plant once a day. You can keep the pot in a glass of water, but cool conditions are still recommended. Will also keep on the kitchen table or a window sill if watered properly, though not quite as long as when kept cool.
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Peppermint
Peppermint
XThe peppermint plant is commonly used for making aromatic peppermint tea. Fresh peppermint leaves are also used for flavouring and garnishing a range of desserts. Can be used equally well for seasoning meat dishes.
Storage tips
Peppermint is slightly easier to preserve than most other herbs, as long as you protect it from the cold and water it well. While not as delicate as basil, peppermint leaves will turn dark in cool conditions. To keep it fresh longer, ensure an even temperature: temperature fluctuations reduce the shelf life of the plant. The most convenient way to store peppermint is to place it on the kitchen table in a decorative pot. This way, it is lovely to look at and will freshen the air with its wonderful aroma. Provided the plant is kept sufficiently moist, it will keep this way for a relatively long time.
Korean cucumber salad
This Asian-style salad is a more exciting take on the classic cucumber salad.
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Cucumber
Cucumber
XCucumbers are great for daily consumption. To ensure maximum freshness and nutritional benefits, you should always choose locally produced cucumbers.
Storage tips
Plastic-wrapped Grüne Fee cucumbers are best stored between +12 and +14 °C. Due to the high water content of cucumbers, keeping them in a warm location will slowly cause the water to evaporate and the cucumbers to become shrivelled. While cucumbers are sensitive to cold, it is still better to keep them in the refrigerator than in a warm location.
Note! Avoid storing cucumbers next to bananas or citrus fruits: this will trigger chemical reactions that can cause cucumbers to yellow and spoil rapidly. Sour varieties of apples and tomatoes can also have the same effect. Therefore, you should keep cucumbers separately from these fruits for a significantly longer shelf life.
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Chives
Chives
XChives are commonly used for adding flavour to salads and soups. Also suitable on sandwiches. Milder than scallions. For a simple and tasty side salad, combine fresh chives with tomatoes, cucumber, and sour cream. Chives are best when fresh, but also great when dried.
Storage tips
Fresh chives last longest when kept between +4 and +8 °C. This means storage is easiest in a cool place, such as a pantry or refrigerator. For longer storage, you should also lightly water the plant once a day. You can keep the pot in a glass of water, but cool conditions are still recommended. Will also keep well on the kitchen table or a window sill if watered properly, though not quite as long as when kept cool.
Double chocolate cake with mint
This cake combines copious amounts of both dark and white chocolate. The two are brought together by a refreshing taste of mint.
Use
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Peppermint
Peppermint
XThe peppermint plant is commonly used for making aromatic peppermint tea. Fresh peppermint leaves are also used for flavouring and garnishing a range of desserts. Can be used equally well for seasoning meat dishes.
Storage tips
Peppermint is slightly easier to preserve than most other herbs, as long as you protect it from the cold and water it well. While not as delicate as basil, peppermint leaves will turn dark in cool conditions. To keep it fresh longer, ensure an even temperature: temperature fluctuations reduce the shelf life of the plant. The most convenient way to store peppermint is to place it on the kitchen table in a decorative pot. This way, it is lovely to look at and will freshen the air with its wonderful aroma. Provided the plant is kept sufficiently moist, it will keep this way for a relatively long time.