Simple, Comforting Kitchen Rituals

Simple, comforting kitchen rituals that fit real winter life, especially when days are short and schedules are full. These are easy to weave into everyday routines without turning into “one more thing to do.”

1. The Daily Teapot Ritual

Keep one teapot (or French press) as the winter teapot.

• Refill it once a day—morning or mid-afternoon.
• Use the same favorite blend for a week to create continuity and comfort.
• Let it be your pause: steep, inhale, sip—no multitasking.

Why it works: Repetition creates calm, and warmth is grounding in winter.

 2. One-Pot Mondays (or Anyday)

Designate one evening a week for a single pot or pan meal.

• Soup, stew, braise, or sheet-pan dinner
  
• Use a go-to herb blend so you don’t have to think
• Leftovers become lunches or freezer meals

Why it works: Fewer decisions, fewer dishes, more nourishment.

 3. The “Flavor Boost” Habit

Add one intentional herb or seasoning to an otherwise ordinary meal.

• A pinch of Fine Herbs in eggs
• A spoonful of Soup & Salad Blend stirred into canned soup
• Herb butter crafted with Butter N Cheese, melted over frozen veggies

Why it works: Small upgrades make winter meals feel cared for without extra work.

4. Light Before Dinner

Before starting dinner, light a candle or turn on soft lighting.

• Do it before cooking begins
• Let the kitchen feel warm and welcoming even if dinner is simple

Why it works: Signals a shift from day mode to evening mode.

5. The Weekly Jar Reset

Once a week, refill or refresh one kitchen staple:

• Simple syrup
• Infused vinegar
• A small jar of herb seasoning
• A tea blend for the coming week

Why it works: Keeps your kitchen feeling stocked and intentional without a big prep day.

6. Warm Drink After Dinner

Replace dessert some nights with a warm, gently spiced drink.

• Herbal tea
• Warm apple juice or cider with mulling spices
• Milk or plant milk with a pinch of spice

Why it works: Supports digestion and helps signal the body it’s time to slow down.

7. Recipe Card by the Stove

Keep one favorite winter recipe card out for the week.

• Familiar, comforting, no decision fatigue
• Even if you don’t make it every night, it sets the tone

Why it works: Familiar food = emotional warmth.

8. The “Clean & Close” Ritual

End the night by fully closing the kitchen:

• Wipe counters
• Empty sink
• Turn off lights with intention

Why it works: Waking up to a reset kitchen feels like a gift to your future self.

9. Use the Same Herbs All Week

Choose 1–2 herb blends and use them repeatedly:

• Soup - robust herbs like rosemary, sage or thyme
• Eggs - savory herbs like chives, parsley, dill or chervil
• Roasted vegetables - strong herbs for roasting like thyme, oregano, or marjoram
• Grains - flavorful herbs like basil, oregano, and chives

Why it works: Builds flavor memory and reduces overwhelm.

10. One Quiet Moment each Day

Even just 2 minutes:

• Standing with a mug
• Watching steam rise
• Tasting intentionally

Why it works: Ritual isn’t about time—it’s about attention.

 

Elevate Your Summer BBQ with Herbal Blends from the Lombard Farmers Market

Nothing says summer quite like the smoky aroma of food sizzling on the grill. Whether you're a weekend grill master or a casual backyard cook, using the right herbal blends can take your barbecue to the next level. At BackyardPatch Herbs, we’ve crafted blends designed to enhance meats, vegetables, and even grilled fruit, all while keeping things fresh and flavorful.

And what better place to grab the freshest ingredients than your local Farmers Market? Pair our Grilled Meat Rub, Paprika Chicken Rub, and BBQ Spice Blend with market-fresh produce and proteins for an unforgettable outdoor feast!

Grilling with Herbs: The Flavor Boost You Need

Herbs add depth, complexity, and balance to your grilling. Unlike traditional salt-heavy seasonings, our blends focus on fresh, homegrown flavors that complement rather than overpower.

🌿 Grilled Meat Rub – A balanced blend of garlic, onion, thyme, and other aromatic herbs that bring out the natural richness in beef, pork, and even portobello mushrooms.

🌶️ Paprika ChickenRub – A smoky, slightly spicy mix featuring paprika, rosemary, and a hint of citrus, perfect for chicken, turkey, and even shrimp skewers.

🔥 BBQ Spice Blend – The ultimate all-purpose BBQ seasoning with a savory, slightly sweet profile—ideal for ribs, burgers, or roasted corn on the cob.

Farmers Market-Inspired Grilled Recipe

Try this Herb-Rubbed Grilled Chicken with Summer Veggies, featuring our Paprika Chicken Rub!

Ingredients:

• 
  2 lbs chicken thighs or breasts
  
• 2 tbsp Paprika Chicken Rub
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 zucchini, sliced
• 1 bell pepper, chopped
• 1 ear of corn, cut into rounds
• 1 tbsp butter
• 1 tbsp BBQ Spice Blend

Coat the chicken with olive oil and Paprika Chicken Rub. Let marinate for 30 minutes. Toss the zucchini and peppers in olive oil and BBQ Spice Blend. Grill the chicken for 6-8 minutes per side until fully cooked. Grill the veggies and corn for 5 minutes, turning occasionally. Serve hot and enjoy the herbal-infused goodness!

Come See us in Person

This summer, stop by our local Farmers Market, if you are in Lombard, Illinois Tuesday afternoon from 3 to 7 PM and pick up your favorite Backyard Patch Herbs blends to make your grilling season unforgettable!

🌟 Introducing Zodiac Herb Blends: Herbs Written in the Stars 🌿

We have not created a whole line of products like this since the beginning of our herb catalog in 1994, so this launch of 12 new blends took some time and effort, but we are very excited to share a line of Zodiac Herb Blends -- one for each sign.

Ever wondered what herbs match your zodiac sign? Whether you’re a fiery Aries or a dreamy Pisces, the stars may have something to say about your herbal preferences—and your energetic needs. That’s exactly what inspired me to create Zodiac Herb Blends, a brand-new collection from Backyard Patch Herbs.

🔮 What Inspired Zodiac Herb Blends?
Astrology has always held a special fascination for me—not just as a fun personality guide, but as a system rich with symbolism and tradition. Pair that with my decades-long passion for herbs, and you’ve got a recipe for something magical. Herbs, like celestial bodies, have been revered for their energetic properties for centuries. Many plants are linked to specific planets and elements, echoing the same traits we find in the zodiac signs. I wanted to explore this connection deeply and create something that speaks to both the soul and the senses.

🌿 How I Chose the Herbs for Each Sign
Each zodiac sign carries its own flavor—energetically, emotionally, and sometimes even literally! I dug into classic herbal texts and cross-referenced planetary influences, ruling elements, and the core characteristics of each sign. Then came the fun part—blending. I selected herbs that harmonize with each sign’s vibe, whether that’s the invigorating warmth of rosemary for Aries or the calming sweetness of chamomile for Cancer. Each blend is carefully crafted not just for flavor, but for balance and energetic support.

🌟 More Than Just a Cooking Blend
These are not just seasoning mixes. They are deeply versatile blends meant to integrate into your life however you need them. Brew them into tea for reflection, stir them into soups and stews for nourishment, infuse them into oils for ritual or massage, or sprinkle into a bath for self-care. I wanted each blend to be an invitation—to savor your sign, connect to your nature, and maybe even discover a little stardust in your everyday.

♈ Example: Aries – Bold & Bright
Let’s take Aries as an example. This sign is ruled by Mars, the planet of action and energy, and is known for boldness, initiative, and a zest for life. The Aries blend reflects that spark with invigorating herbs like cayenne pepper and rosemary, balanced with thyme and basil to keep that fire from burning out. It’s the perfect pick-me-up for those born under Aries—or anyone needing a burst of courage.

♋ Cancer – Gentle & Nurturing
In contrast, Cancer, ruled by the Moon, is all about nurturing, emotional depth, and intuition. Its blend is soothing and restorative, with herbs like lemon balm and chamomile that promote calm, sleep, and heart-centered connection. It’s like a gentle hug in a cup of tea.

🌿 Is Your Own Sign the only one for you? Not at All!
One of my favorite things about astrology is its depth. Your sun sign might be your anchor, but your moon, rising, and even Venus signs tell a bigger story. I encourage you to explore beyond your primary sign—let your intuition (or your taste buds!) guide you. Each blend was crafted to resonate, but they’re all grounded in flavor and wellness, so feel free to mix, match, and make them your own. We even made a post with detailed suggestions for other matching signs: Moon and Rising sign suggestions.

✨ My Personal Favorite?
That’s the hardest question of all! I truly love them all, but if I had to choose, I’d say I have a soft spot for my own sign, Virgo. The combination of parsley, basil, rosemary, chives, thyme, and fennel is so vibrant, grounding, and kitchen-ready—it’s a go-to in my own spice cabinet.

🛍️ Ready to Find Your Herbal Match?

I’m thrilled to announce that the Zodiac Herb Blends are now officially available! Visit the Zodiac Collection on the Backyard Patch Herbs website to discover the blend crafted for your sign—or the one that calls to you most. Whether you're drawn to astrology, herbalism, or just love a good kitchen experiment, there's something here for you.

Let the stars guide your herbs—and may every blend bring a little cosmic joy to your day!

Holiday Gift Items and a Craft show announcement.

 My first Craft Show in over a year is this weekend.  Close to home, so if I forget anything I can at least send hubby home for it.

For those local to me (Chicagoland) - Willowbrook High School WPO 5th Annual Craft show 9 AM to 3 PM Saturday 11/13/21

As a result I am making gifty items and getting a few things made up in advance for online sales.  There are more that 15 soups in our list of items now and we added two this year that will be available only around the holiday, then be retired.  These two new soup mixes are:

Hearty Italian Soup

This is a bouillon included (vegetable) add water only soup that has several kinds of beans.

Five-bean Soup

This interestingly flavored soup is rich in herbs.

And we have made these great gift items.

A Charcuterie Starter Kit that has herb cheese spreads and dips included as well as a recipe for serving 6 to 12 people with a Charcuterie tray.

DIY Grilling Kit with materials and instructions for making your own marinades, meat rubs and other grilling spices.

Popcorn Lovers gift with corn you can pop on the cob and two of our salt-free popcorn seasonings to use with it.

Olive Oil Dipping Sauce with a bottle of virgin olive oil.

We have a fun new item, Cinnamon-scented Fire Starters.  These special scented pine cones can be used as kindling in your fire place or just tossed onto a fire to give off the wonderful seasonal scent. Or you can hang them with the band included in your car, faux tree or on a wreath.

We also have our Wine Dips and Spreads which will be packaged with wine glasses and holiday plates and spreaders.

And something brand new (like this week) -- By client request we modified our spiced wine blend to create something you can use in cider or apple juice, so we now have a new product called Wassail Drink Mix and have changed the packaging on our spiced wine to match calling it Wine Wassail.  Both allow you to create flavored cider or wine with holiday spices and smells.

Holiday gift making posts are in the works, so stop by in the next couple weeks and I will share herby ideas for gift giving.  Also this year we are doing the advent calendar as a daily email.  Sign up now to receive these, as we will not just blast the entire mailing list with daily emails, only those who sign up.

You can do so here ===== Advent Calendar Daily Idea sign-up

Pork Chops Dijon - Monthly Recipe Theme

This recipe was originally included in my Backyard PatchCookbook, which I put together back in 2000. It is a collection of recipes using herb ingredients, like this one using herb vinegar. Since it is the perfect season to make herb vinegar, I thought it was a perfect inclusion for this month’s theme.

This recipe has a nice tang to wake up the taste buds and is great served with a side of wild rice or couscous and green beans.  You can always use a plain wine or rice vinegar if you do not have herbal vinegar, but I recommend making an herbal vinegar to enjoy in the winter.  You can use fresh herbs from your garden, the grocery or the farmers market.  Full instructions for this easy technique are available in this previous post.

Pork Chops Dijon

• 2 Tbls butter
• 4 ¾-inch thick pork chops (trimmed of fat)
• 2 Tbls Chive or Garlic chive -based vinegar
• 1 tsp Dijon mustard
• ½ cup heavy cream
• 2 tsp chopped chives (dry or fresh)
• Salt and pepper to taste

Melt butter in a large skillet over low heat, turning occasionally, for about 30 to 35 minutes, until brown and tender. Remove from the pan and keep in warm place. Now turn up the heat just a little and deglaze the pan by adding the vinegar and stirring well, scraping up any brown bits.  Next stir in the mustard, then the cream.  Simmer, stirring for 2 to 3 minutes, then serve over the chops sprinkled with fresh chives. Serves 4.

RECIPE THEME

Each month a theme is chosen and a number of recipes on that theme from my massive archive will be shared.  This year we have 12 new topics, different from the topics of last year.  

To find the recipes of last year, check out this recipe link or search the blog with the topic Recipe2018, Recipe2019, or Recipe2020.

 
You can search the monthly theme by looking for the theme keyword in the search box and it will pull up the recipes on that theme as posted, so look at the bottom of the recipe in each posting for the KEYWORD for each month.  All recipes this year will be tagged Recipe2021 so you can find them all.

The themes are:
Jan 2021 – Baked Items
Feb 2021 – Breakfast Dishes
March 2021 – Italian Dishes
April 2021 - Chicken Recipes
May 2021 - Appetizers
July 2021 – Pork Recipes
August 2021 - Seafood
September 2021 - Pizzas
October 2021 – Mexican Dishes
November 2021 - Cookies
December 2021 – Gift Recipes

Earth Day 2021

When I started this list I was listening to the wind wildly howling outside of my home. Although we had no snow yet, Winter was definitely knocking at the door.  I dislike not having a blanket of snow on the ground when the wind howls, I worry about my lavender which can dry out in strong wind. I worry about my thyme whose tiny roots can freeze without a winter blanket.  And I get concerned that the water table will not be properly replenished without the moisture of snow.

Wind can be an inconvenience to me when it blows my mulch around the backyard, and can be a threat to me when it becomes a destructive force during weather events. But I remind myself that this wind is a gift. This is the wind that blows fresh air into my lungs. This is the wind that disperses the seeds that will be this summer’s bounty. This is the wind that will bring in the warmer weather to come. This is the wind that shapes the landscapes that shape my life.  

Every minute of every day in every season we receive gifts from the earth.  That’s why, to celebrate Earth Day this year, I decided to give myself an Earth Day Challenge:

List 51 reasons why I am grateful for the earth. (It is the 51^st Earth Day this year and we so did not celebrate last year!)

At first it seemed like a tedious task, but about halfway through I noticed that the more gratitude I listed, the more gratitude I felt, and the rest of the list was done in a flash. That’s the way these things work. Fear leads to more fear. Gratitude leads to more gratitude. And more gratitude leads to more gifts. So this year for Earth Day, I have decided to focus on the gifts I receive from the earth.

By the time I reached the end, I had renewed my appreciation and commitment to giving back to the earth as best I can. Isn’t that what Earth Day is all about? Good luck, and remember to share your lists to spread the gratitude!

This Earth Day, I Am Grateful For:

1. The wind’s power and presence.
2. The beautiful sunset today.
3. The fresh drinking water that comes into my faucet from an underground well.
4. The trees around me. I always feel sheltered. Not to mention their gift of oxygen!
5. The seasons. They encourage me to remember that change is good and necessary. 
6. The smell of lavender, which is very calming to me.
7. Bees. Besides the gifts of honey and wax, they pollinate plants so that humans can enjoy the fruits.
8. Rocks. Many indigenous people call rocks the grandfathers of the earth. They hold the wisdom of the earth as they humbly hold up my home.
9. The knowledge and wisdom that I have gained from watching my herbs grow.
   
   
   
10. The reliability of earth’s cycles (daily, monthly, yearly, etc.) is very grounding.
11. The song of frogs in the spring. It makes me want to sing, too!
12. The few inches that my shoulders drop when I go into nature.
13. Turtles. They teach me patience and persistence.
14. The satisfaction of planting a seed in the spring and watching it grow all summer.
15. Spring flowers, which bring hope after a long winter.
16. The experience of absolute stillness and peace that can be found in certain places on this earth. It reminds me to slow down and listen.
17. Medicines I have created that have come directly from the earth.
18. The feeling of my bare feet in grass. Aaahhhh!
19. The freshness of the air in wintertime, especially after a snow.
20. The smell of fallen pine needles in the sunshine
21. The changeability of nature. It’s very rare to see the same exact thing twice.
22. The extremes in nature that collectively create balance. Our earth has darkest and lightest, highest and lowest, biggest and smallest, hottest and coldest.
23. Eagles that amaze me in their strength and power.
24. The clouds in the sky that warn of upcoming weather and amuse me with their designs.
25. The ocean. It can be a very relaxing place, but also exhilarating!
26. The end of a hot summer day when the cicadas start calling, the fireflies come out, and the relief of coolness is finally felt.
27. Resources from the earth such as sun, coal, oil and wind that provide me with heat and power.
28. The times I have seen the earth physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually heal people.
29. Human beings. We are as much a part of the earth as the crow that calls and the leaves that fall.
30. The diversity on this planet in people, plants and animals. This keeps our ecosystems strong and resilient.
31.  The yearly emergence of butterflies reminds me to live within the natural stages of my life.
32.  The adaptability of nature and people.  
33. The dead squirrel in the road, it reminds me to slow down.
34. The song of the chickadee.
35. Water. It can take any form, can serve any purpose, and keeps us all alive.
36. The light of sun and moon that brightens the dark reaches.
    
    
    
37. Zinnias, an explosion of color that can last all summer.
38. Comfrey – purple flowers and large leaves that enhance the growing of other plants
39. The change of flowers as spring blooms give way to summer flowers and changes the atmosphere.
40. The smell of lemon herbs as I harvest them and the brightening of my mood as a result.
41. Rain as it nourishes the earth, feeds the plants and cleans the air.
42. Sunshine as it sparkles of the dew in the early morning when I rise.
43. Birds who take a bath in my rain garden after a large summer rain.
44. Skipper butterflies playing games in the afternoon glow of my front yard.
45. The blooming of the perennial herbs in late summer to bring delight to the cooling weather.
46. The flowering of shade plants the brighten the gloom.
47. The crack of thunder in a summer storm.
48. The texture of bark on the trees as one strolls through the woods.
49. The smell of lilacs on the fence line.
50. The electricity of a summer rain when everything is that much greener.
51. The sudden release of scent when I brush against scented geraniums on my steps, it reminds me to pause and experience my day.

So do you have things to be greatful for from the earth?  Share them with me!

Improvements and Changes to Backyard Patch Herbs

Covid has taken a lot out of me.  I am sure you can relate.  I did not realize how much I need to interact with others to boost my own creativity.  I miss just talking randomly about herbs.  Comments on my blog aren’t doing it, discussions on Facebook aren’t doing it.  I just need to have spontaneous questions. Everything seems to take me longer to do: Making herb blends, printing labels, packing items.  I can spend hours and lose track of time.

I have tried in this down time of quarantine to learn how to edit videos, so far I have not finished one of them.

I did clean and organize the cabinets in the herb room, scanned a pile of recipes (still not much of a dent in the collection.) I organized my craft room and cleaned out my part of the garage. Seriously, I never do these things, much to my husband’s chagrin.

Working during Quarantine

I am working from home, all of my jobs are now in one building.  This could be part of my problem I never escape.  My living room is now my office, my dining room was for teaching via zoom, my basement is for blending herbs.  The only escape I have is the garden. Which is probably why I have been spending so much time there.  Neglecting things I should be doing, like writing my monthly newsletter.

The weeds have never been more tamed.  But I have not grown one herb or flower that was new, except those two biennials I planted last year.

The Silver Dollar Plant flowered wonderfully and made these great branches when I harvested the seed.

 

The hollyhocks turned out to be black (I had no idea from the gift seeds I got.) When the sun shown on the plants they actually looked deep purple.  I liked the color difference from morning to evening.

 

But beyond this I have not been very creative in the garden. 

We do have cats again.  It was hard being on lockdown with no pets so we contacted a fostering agency called Mutts and Meows and got a pair of young cats.  Aren’t they adorable?

 

I have not written an email to my membership in months, mostly because even finding the energy to post to the blog has been hard, a newsletter is time consuming and I have had ½ a dozen false starts.

There are few events to promote, no talks to support with info and no new herbs to share.  And since we are not traveling, I do not have any cool places for you to visit right now.  That makes finding newsletter topics difficult.  So finally when the weather turned cooler this week I sat down with my journal and a pen and a view of these….

 

Zinnia, Cosmos, calendula and on the arbor is hops, just about to ripen.  All I need is a couple days of sun and I will have a huge hops harvest.  Might need to learn to brew beer!

In my journal I wrote down product ideas, garden ideas, newsletter topics, recipe ideas and finally after all that writing I decided a few things.

I created a DIY product - DIY Refrigerator Pickles. Doing things at home being popular these days made it fun to make kits for making refrigerator pickles. They have everything needed except vinegar, water and the veggies.  And as long as the veggies are fresh, they can come from a garden or from the store or farmers market.  In 24 hours one can have pickles without having to know how to can.  

If one wanted to know how to can, my Canning Basics class is coming up in October with District 214.  It will be virtual, so you don't need to leave home.  I am also showing how to make vinegar, sugar, honey and other items infused with herbs in a special three-part class called INFUSION which is happening starting September 16th at 7 PM via Zoom.

Time for Change

I have decided after making all my notes and watching YouTube videos on growing my business that things need to change. Don’t get me wrong.  I have nothing to complain about.  I still have my part time day job, I am still teaching in a limited capacity and Backyard Patch Herbs did very well during lock down, so I unlike many I could still pay the rent and pay bills.  My soup mixes and baking products were a big hit as were my gift baskets.  But I realized I need to simplify. The wide variety of products available all the time is terribly time consuming to make, even if I don’t make things ahead and only do on-demand crafting, it is still a lot of work. 

·        So I have decided to rework my product line and my email strategy, as well as what I do on Social Media. Here is the short list: 

• My newsletter will be once every three weeks.  Not quite twice a month, but not once a month either. I will add more fun to the newsletter and cover more things, but in different ways, this way I can create useful content more often than before in less time.  
• I will share garden images; 
• easy and challenging recipes for the beginner and the adventuresome cooks; 
• share more information of what I enjoy from my herb and gardening friends with links to websites you may have overlooked; 
• book reviews on garden and herb topics; 
• sharing the herb and gardening wisdom of my herby friends. 
• If you want to join the newsletter visit this link.
• I have enjoyed choosing recipes on a theme to post each month on the blog (this month the theme is quiche), so I will be doing more of that, expanding to include recipes with photos on Instagram. In other words, you get to see some of my hubby’s tasty creations.
• I will also be changing my product line.  I plan to add some special items that will be DIY type creations that are available seasonally and will allow folks to enjoy herbs in new and different ways.
• I will reduce my herb blends to those that are most popular and with the exception of my Italian Dressing and Marinade I will be retiring all blends that have salt. Stock up now they will be gone on December 31, 2020. If you want to vote on your favorite herb mixes, as there are 45 - I will be holding a vote of some sort in the newsletter and on Facebook in the coming weeks.
• Although I love to experiment with Herb teas, I am going to reduce the offerings to 10 - 12 teas, those being my most popular. Other teas will come and go seasonally in much the way I have begun offering Holiday only teas for Halloween and the Winter Holidays.  Those of you who love a tea will always be able to order it, just remember the name and email and can send it.
• I am going to offer subscription services, like a CSA style box as well as tea of the month and herb blends of the month. This is where I will share my new experiments rather than adding them instantly to my product line as I have in the past.
• I will continue to offer remote programs on Zoom as well as in-person programs, but will work to add programs to a Youtube channel (I think I will trade herbs for editing assistance.) And eventually create an herb cooking class on a platform like Teachable where folks can learn at their own speed.

If there is anything you think I should or should not do in the coming times?  Any products you might like to see?  All suggestions will be considered.