Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Keeping Cool in the Kitchen with Summer Herbs

Our second day program was another success. Because we were in the children's room at the library, were in a bit of a fishbowl, and this turned out to be advantageous for us. All the moms with their tots were also at the library and intrigued by the fun we were having. Four women came in to inquire. It was a great way to increase membership.

Stephanie, our Program Coordinator, kicked off the summer with a delicious culinary program. First up, she showed us how easy it is to create refreshing herbal teas and a spicy dip with cucumbers and jalapeños.






Next was Robbynn who made a wonderful appetizer with fresh herbs and goat cheese. It took real willpower for me to stop popping those tiny balls into my mouth. Recipe for the Herbal Chèvre Rollups follows: 3 Tbl. Parsley, 2 ½ tsp. Thyme, 2 tsp. Rosemary, 3 leaves Basil, 1 tsp. Coarse pepper, ¼ tsp. Salt. Roll balls of cheese into herbal mixture. Simple, but elegant! She also demonstrated a handy way of chopping herbs with the HerbPro, by Progressive. I found one for sale online at http://www.kitchenkrafts.com/product.asp?pn=FP0050&bhcd2=1244677946







Camille made a delicious Panzanella Bread Salad that will keep you from heating up the kitchen. A recipe is at the following website; http://whatscookingamerica.net/Salad/Panzanella.htm

With the chive blossoms, her presentation was really eye catching.





Even though Natasha had just returned from a whirlwind vacation, she brought a healthy Brown Rice/Curry Pilaf - recipe is as follows:
Cook Brown Rice as directed. Add 2-3 T chopped curry plant, chick peas, salt and pepper.






Thanks Ladies! And Bon Appetit!


-Rosa Morgan Lockwood

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Going Green With Herbal Cleaners

Our new line up of day programs started off with a bang with our very own Fronica Gonzales. She began by saying she had not prepared as thoroughly as she would have liked, then went on to entertain and educate us for almost an hour on Going Green with our household cleaners. She pointed out the dangers of toxic cleaners not only to our environment, but to our health as well. And talked about how herbs often have powerful antifungal, antiviral, and antibacterial properties. Utilizing some of the recipes and suggestions in her handout, we are all inspired to use safer and often less expensive cleaners in our homes.

-Rosa Morgan Lockwood

Friday, May 1, 2009

May 11th Program

The May 11th meeting will be at 10 a.m. at the South Branch Library. Fronica will give a program on Natural Cleaning and Beauty Products.

Sunday, April 26, 2009

April Meeting Notes

The monthly meeting was April 20, 2009 at the South Branch Library in The Woodlands, Texas. Ann Wheeler presented the program, Growing Herbs, with interesting facts regarding herbs and beautiful photos from her garden as well as photos from The Arbor Gate herbal gardens.

Margaret is stepping down as Membership chairman. Camille asked for any member who is interested in this position to contact her. Ann reminded members to pay their $25 dues and to fill out the membership information form. Due to extremely bad storms, Earth Day was cancelled and will not be rescheduled. Elissa passed around clip boards requesting special interest group ideas from members. Thank you Kiki and Natasha for the refreshments. The next monthly meeting will begin the new day time schedule, meeting on May 11th at 10 a.m. in the Big Room at the South Branch Library.

Friday, March 27, 2009

March Meeting Notes

Herb Gardeners met in the library on March 23, 2009. Business notes are as follows:
1. Service Project / Donation Ideas - Suggestions given for members to consider were purchasing books for Tamina and making a monetary donation to the Friendship Center. Past donations have included purchasing books for the library and giving to the food bank.
2. Special Events - Earth Day is scheduled for Saturday, April 18th, at The Woodlands High School parking lot (off Research Forest). Set up will begin at 9 a.m. and the event runs from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Contact Natasha if you can work the herb table that day and also if you are growing herbs to be sold at this event.
3. Community Garden - general consensus of membership was not to continue maintenance of this garden.
4. Library Garden Work Day - April 25th will be a work day at the library garden. Contact Ancha for details.
5. April Refreshments - Natasha and Kiki
6. April Meeting Program - Ann Wheeler will discuss herbs.
7. February Tea and Herb Fair Discussion - general consensus of membership was not to continue with a community wide tea and herb fair. Fronica will present options to the club for a community tea and / or herbal lecture event for later 2009 or 2010.
8. Monthly Meeting Time Change - several club members expressed a desire to hold monthly meetings during the day rather than at night and wanted membership to discuss and vote. 12 members voted to change to day meetings, 6 members voted to keep night meetings, and 3 members abstained. The April meeting will be April 20th at 7:00 p.m. Since the program speaker has been scheduled for many months, it was decided not to change the time of the meeting for April. Day meetings will begin in May, meeting the second Monday of each month from 10 a.m. - Noon at the Library.

Herbal Tea and Fair at The Friendship Center

Herb Gardeners of Montgomery County hosted a Herbal Tea and Fair at The Friendship Center in The Woodlands, Texas on February 28, 2009.

Camille welcomed members and guests and introduced the day's planned event. Ten decorated tables filled the Friendship Center with herbs, fine china and flower bouquest where each table highlighted one herb: spearmint, basil, oregano, rose, bay, parsley, lemon balm, rosemary, lavender and dill.

The luncheon included egg salad sandwiches, cheese and broccoli quiches, cucumber sandwiches, cheese and sage muffins and turkey and ham with herbed cream cheese. Also, an assortment of chocolates, cheesecake with lemon balm, lavender cookies, white chocolate ginger truffles, brownies, scones, meringues and fresh fruit were served. Earl Grey tea, Darfeeling tea and Lemon Hibiscus Tisane were served at each table.

Elissa, the key note speaker, related stories of the history and culture of tea and how in our modern lives we find solitary delight in a cup of tea or share in the joy of 'taking tea' with our friends.

Rosa thanked guests and members for the successful day. She presented our president of the herb club, Camille, a gorgeous bouquet of flowers. Prior to the tea, all members and guests were asked to vote on the best decorated hostess table and that prize went to Nancy. Her decorated table was equisite with fine china and silver pieces. Three people were selected as wearing the 'best hat' to the tea. Herbal gifts were given to each winner.

Elissa, a talented artist and club member, donated a watercolor to be given as a doorprize. The lucky winner was Barbara B., a member of the club.

Guests were invited to visit the Fair, where herbal crafts, plants and gently used herbal books were for sale.

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Herbal Tea and Fair - Rose



Rosa decorated a lovely table featuring roses.

Herbal Tea and Fair - Bay

Robbynn at her decorated tea table.

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Herbal Tea and Fair



Rosa and Lois at the registration table for the tea.

Herbal Tea and Fair



Lois greets guests and takes tickets for the doorprize. Elissa, a club member, donated a beautiful watercolor to be given as the doorprize. Elissa was also our featured speaker for the event.

Herbal Tea and Fair



Tim, the butler, escorting Becky into the tea.

Herbal Tea and Fair



Entertaining guests as they arrive with musical selections on the mandolin was Mike. The music was enjoyed by everyone.

Herbal Tea and Fair



Lois, Sherri, Rosa, Camille, Patty and Elissa enjoy their cup of tea.

Herbal Tea and Fair - Thank You Camille



Camille was presented a bouquet of flowers from the club. Rosa, chairman of the event, thanked Camille for her work and support of the tea, saying Camille never turned down any job asked of her. The tea and fair was a huge success. Thank you Rosa and Camille and all club members.

Herbal Tea and Fair -Best Hat Winner


Picking a 'best hat' winner from the guests was not an easy task. There were many lovely hats and three winners were selected. Fronica presents one of the 'best hat' winners with her gift.

Herbal Tea and Fair


Elissa, Camille, Ancha, Rosa and Tim visiting after the tea.

Herbal Tea and Fair



Evan, Natasha, London and Camille were assembling sandwiches and filling the plates for the tea.

Herbal Tea and Fair - Plant Table



Many herbs were for sale after the tea. Thyme, marjarom, chocolate mint, basil, lavender, tansy and many more were available. Margaret was on hand to answer any questions about the planting and care of the herbs.

Herbal and Tea Fair



Rosa and Tim relaxing after the tea.

Herbal Tea and Fair - Spearmint

Natasha and London proudly show off their table.

Monday, March 2, 2009

Herbal Tea and Fair - Herbal Craft Table



A themed table with lavender dryer bags and rose and lavender potpourri.

Herbal Tea and Fair - Book Nook Table


Club members donated gently used herbal books for the Book Nook; a real bargain with nothing over $3.

Herbal Tea and Fair - Basil

Sally hosted a lovely table at the tea that featured basil.

Herbal Tea and Fair - Lavender

Nancy took top honors with her 'best' decorated table at the tea featuring lavender.

Herbal Tea and Fair - Best Decorated Table


Nancy's tea table was voted 'best decorated' table at the Herbal Tea and is shown with Rosa who presented her with a goregous arrangement of lavender.

Herbal Tea and Fair - Parsley

Stephanie hosted a lovely table at the tea and featured parsley.

Herbal Tea and Fair - Lemon Balm



Lemon balm was featured at Anne's beautiful table.