Upcoming Programs - Baking and Gifting

This November I have two very similar programs in two very different locations.

Be an Herbal Gourmet program in Vernon Hills

Tuesday, November 19 -- 7 to 9 PM

The first is Tuesday November 19th through the Vernon Hills Community Education Department of District 129.

On that night I will be presenting "Making Gifts with Herbs"  I call the program Sharing your Bounty. We will go over making spiced items perfect for the holiday decorating season as well as ways to craft vinegar, sugar and other dried herb and herb scented creations.  A special aspect of this program is what I call an Herbal Play Station where participants will be able to craft a few dried herb recipes to take home with them.

To register for this program being held at the Vernon Hills High School, just click this link.

Here is one of the recipes I will be demonstrating during this presentation.

Sofa Sachets

2 part rose petals
1 part lavender
1 part hyssop

Combine the dried herbs in a bowl or bag and mix thoroughly.  Measure 2 Tablespoons of the mixture into a large tea bag, coffee filter or muslin bag.  Tightly close the bag.  Give as a gift in groups of three with the instructions: Place beneath the cushions of your couch or chair and enjoy the sweet treat with every seat.

Saturday, November 23 -- 9:30 to Noon

On Saturday November 23rd (9:30 am to Noon) I will be at the Morton Arboretum presenting "Herbal Holiday Baking."  In this program we will explore ways to use sweet and savory herbs in baking and candy
 making.

The program will include techniques for making herbal sugar and honey, as well as herb butter.  Then we will use those materials to craft baked goods from scones to cookies to sweet and savory breads. Samples will abound and participants will take home a scone mix and some herb sugar.

If you are a member of the Morton Arboretum there is a $7.00 discount on the cost of the program.  To register, click here.

This is a recipe like those I will be sharing as part of this baking program:

Old Fashioned Rose Drop Cookies

1/2 cup butter or margarine

3 tablespoons finely minced fresh rose petals, organically grown

2/3 cup of sugar

2 eggs

1 1/2 cups of flour

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon rose water

Cream together margarine and minced fresh rose petals. Add sugar and beat thoroughly.

Beat in eggs one at a time. Add rose water. Stir in flour previously mixed with baking

powder. Mix until smooth. Drop by tiny teaspoonfuls on a lightly greased cookie sheet.

Bake at 350 degrees for 7 minutes. Cookies should be lightly browned just at the edges.

Makes about 80 bite-size cookies.

I will be presenting a Cleaning with Herbs program in December, in Vernon Hills.  For more details, follow this link.

Northshore Church Program - Cooking with Herbs

Saturday I had the most thoroughly enjoyable experience with the women's fellowship group of the Northshore Unitarian Church.

I was asked to present my Cooking with Herbs lecture and to give it a breakfast theme.  I even gave a few recipes for them to try out and present that morning and some members did use a few.  I was very flattered by that.  For a few other recipes from the program, check out the Program Recipes page of this blog.

Here was my set up before the program with herbs and ingredients laid out.

The participants mingled, chatted and drank tea from special collection of tea cups that are pulled out just of this event!  I thought it was a grand idea!  Aren't they lovely?

The Orange Juice was served in Ikea ceramic cups that look like terra cotta pots! And the members brought a smorgasbord of detectible treats as you can see.

The company was very delightful and we talked about movies and herbs and Downton Abbey and a number of other things.

After a great introduction I was able to share about making butters, vinegars, and cooking with fresh vs. dry herbs.  We sampled everything and I was able to impart a few jewels of wisdom.

herbal butters fresh on the left, dried herbs used on the right

Lemon Fruit Dip

Lemon Herb Yogurt Sauce for fruit

1 Tablespoon frozen orange juice or lemonade concentrate, thawed

1/2 Tablespoon of lemon herbs like lemon thyme, lemon balm, lemon verbena or lemon grass

1 tsp. lemon peel

1 container (8 ounces) vanilla yogurt

Whisk the juice concentrate and the herbs and lemon peel into the yogurt.  Serve chilled over fruit or as a fruit dip.   You can then use a fresh or frozen fruit salad and have this on the side or tossed in.

Seasoned pork with sage, parsley and maple syrup.

We tasted fresh herbs used to season pork and in savory breakfast muffins.

We ended by giving away from Fun Herb items and discussing medicinal herbs like Golden Seal and comfrey and wild crafting.

Savory muffins with parsley, dill and thyme.

I want to add a special thanks to Sallee, Fran, Sandy, Andrea and the others who made this such a special morning of fun and sharing!


If you want to see a list of all the program I can provide you your group, please see my Program Listings (located on the website.)

Lectures and programs

I just had to share what a marvelous time I had today doing a program for the Hinsdale (IL) Garden Study Group today.  They had about 40 members there and I did my program "INFUSIONS" which is about making vinegars, oils, water, sugar and salts infused with herbs.  I passed items around and demonstrated some techniques and shared the way to make each of the infused items.  The women were wonderfully attentive, even though I ran long and had extraordinary questions.  Overall it was a great experience and one I thoroughly enjoyed.

Tomorrow I will be presenting and selling my wares at the Oakbrook, IL chapter of the Salvation Army women's group.  I am looking forward to this group and its educational theme.  I will be doing my program "Beginning Herbs"  where I speak about how to grow and use herbs.

The Salvation Army is one of Chas and my favorite charities and this year I know donations were down, so I am virtually donating my program tomorrow so they don't have to dig into their coffers to pay my fee.  In exchange they are letting me set out a few things to sell which should cover my gas expenses, if the cost of gas does not go up again!!

If you have a local Illinois, southern Wisconsin or western Indiana organization and would like me to come share about herbs, you can see a list of all my available programs, by visiting www.backyardpatch.com

Have a great day!