I have this love affair with lovage. My mom gave me a chunk from her plant several years ago and at first my reaction was mostly dismay. You know...the whole six feet tall and growing like kudzu thing. It smelled so strongly of celery that I was afraid to use it.
Last year I overcame my trepidation and slowly began to use leaves in soups, stews, spaghetti sauce etc. Then we all started cooking meat with it. Soon it became a staple, with dinner seeming downright bare without it. Last summer I froze some (wash it and throw it in a freezer bag) dried some in the oven, dried some on paper towels, left some on the counter to wither until I got around to using it, and we cooked with it all winter.
The last two jars are just about empty. Maybe two or three good tablespoons left. I was beginning to worry about running out and have been skimping the past couple of weeks. Then today I went out to shoot my Sunday Stills Easter pic and look what I found! If I was the type I would do a happy dance.
And on a totally different topic...how would you react, say you were pretty darned conservative and wrote a farm column for your local paper, and included in the text of your column, right at the end, not separated in any way from your paragraph (in a story about goats btw) the powers that be placed a public service announcement for the area Democratic Committee? I am sorta kinda dumbfounded.
Lovage, heh. Might have to try it if I can keep it away from the cats who seem to love celery scent as much as catnip.
ReplyDeleteAs to your column with the addendum: Perhaps "the powers that be" were making a subtle connection between goats and Democrats? Think about it. A "goat" in sports language is the guy who lost it all because of some terrible error or faux pas. Seems to fit for me.
But, yeah, putting PSAs on the end of an article with your by-line is pretty poor editing.
I'm going to see if I can grow it here.....or at least find some to try..I love new plants.
ReplyDeleteDitto what Joated said!
"Fair and Balanced."
ReplyDeleteheehee
Now that is an herb I have never tasted. Actually, never even seen.
"Dumbfounded" is rather a polite word! Perhaps they figured that putting it in your column would make sure that it got read!
ReplyDeleteI think it has to do with this- Nancy Pelosi is a goat.
ReplyDeleteXOXO
Joce
I don't think I've ever heard of Lovage. I'll check the seed catalogs and see if they have it.
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful Easter. :)
Learn something new every day - never heard of lovage before.
ReplyDeleteMaybe in your next column you could add a disclaimer about how you were not responsible for associating the local Dems with goats! Betcher editor wouldn't like that!
I'm learning something every day here.
ReplyDeleteLovage. Lord. This is embarrassing. I guess I've heard the word, but, shoot - sounds like 'forage' to me.
You must be a great cook. My poor husband.
And that 'happy dance'. Well - I'd missed that bit of news from the white house lawn. Whew.
As for the last topic. Pass the duct tape please . . .
Joated, it is amazingly great stuff. I am thinking of splitting my big plant so I can have TWO. Wish my blog friends lived closer so I could share some seed.
ReplyDeleteI was really surprised to hear what they had put in my column, but I did think that it was appropriate as far as the goats went
LInda, I wouldn't be surprised if you could. It seems very hardy, almost weedy. I lose a lot of herbs every winter, but it soldiers on year after year.
FC, makes me wonder if anyone actually READS it, since only one family member besides Ralph mentioned it. lol
NW, I was pretty bumfuzzled I'll tell you. It was one of those skinny little papers they put out now and then, so maybe everybody is on vacation or something.
Rebz, she certainly has the facial features and the little horns and cloven hooves.
Dani, I have found some seeds here and there, but say the word and I will send you some this summer when it goes to seed. (if it is legal to do so.)
Jeffro, I very seriously thought of doing so, and if I still had the editor I had when I began writing, a guy with a terrific sense of humor, I probably would.
Cathy, my folks and I used to really get into the whole herb garden thing, back before I married the boss and the cows. lol
Lovage is one they bought from an area herb specialist and it sure is good stuff!
And when I read that happy dance story that Jeffro posted I was downright embarrassed. Good grief!!!! You would expect just a tad more dignity from the spouse of a world leader.
Like FC and Dani I've never heard of lovage. Obviously, it ain't from round here LOL
ReplyDeleteI would complain about them slipping that into your article. Hopefully it was just a mistake.
Have a wonderful Easter!
I read it as well and was stumped why you would have put it in your column. I know how it happened now....
ReplyDeleteScMomma, it does irk me just about enough to complain. I wonder who slipped. lol Hope your family had a terrific Easter and thank you.
ReplyDeleteNYV, I'll bet, knowing me as you do, that you were pretty puzzled.
Lovage. I am very interested in Lovage. Do you think it would grow in our semi-desert zone 5?
ReplyDeleteLinda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com
Linda, I think it very well might. It is quite a weedy thing and grows nicely in some sand here.
ReplyDelete