How to dry citrus peel

After having spent nearly $8.00 for a bottle of grated lemon peel, I wondered if it was safe, to grate your own, and air dry them. Turns out, you can.

Grate the skin, being careful, not to remove any of the pith.

Spread them thinly, on a plate, and let them air dry. I was concerned, they might stick to the plate, so I tossed them, a few times, during the first 24-hours.

It took 4 days, for them to dry.

Pulse them a few times, in a spice grinder or food processor. 4 oranges yielded about 1/4-cup.

Bringing an herb from the garden - indoors

Tarragon is a perennial. I grew a different variety, this year, (Texas tarragon) that I really liked, but it's only hardy to zone 8. It's doesn't stand a chance in my zone 5b garden. I wasn't sure if I would find another, next spring, so I decided to bring it indoors.

I dug it up, shook off as much garden soil, as I could. This was a fairly large plant, so I cut it back to about 4 inches, to reduce the shock, and give the roots a chance to recuperate. I kept it moist, and after 2 weeks, I'm seeing signs of growth. Now I'll have fresh tarragon in the winter too.
I also brought in a Thai basil, and a  ghost pepper plant, that hadn't bloomed yet. (it started setting flower buds, after I potted it... go figure)  I didn't have to cut either of them back, and they look happier indoors than out. If you bring an herb indoors, that is growing a little lopsided, just cut it back, a bit and it will grow back fuller, and more evenly.

                        Thai basil 'Siam Queen' growing happily indoors.

Grow your own Ginger

 Leave the root at room temperature for about 1 week, then you will notice little eyes begin to sprout. This tiny piece has two.
 Ginger (zingiber officinale) Photo ,that you buy in the produce section of your grocer, is a live rhizome, that can easily be grown. It becomes a tall bamboo-like plant, that is really tough, and can take a lot of abuse. The root grows very similar to an iris, sending out nodes, and spreads, fairly rapidly, filling the pot. They can be removed, with a knife, and washed. You now have a constant supply of ginger. I once had one, that filled an 8" pot, it made a pretty plant for one corner of my living room.

 Plant the root shallowly in at least a 4" pot, laying it flat, leaving the top exposed. The rhizome will creep along the surface. treat it like any other houseplant, watering when it looks a bit dry.

                                              After 2 weeks.

Drying Herbs

                                       Thai basil "Siam Queen"
I like to grow a few of the herbs I use, indoors, particularly, the ones that are hard to find. I grow many more, in the garden.

Cut a small cluster of stems, from the plant, before it begins to flower. Twist a rubber band around the stems, and find a spot to hang them, until they are dry. In most cases, two weeks is long enough. Here is a bundle I dried, from a Texas tarragon, that had become overgrown.

I've found a less messy way of removing the leaves from the dried stems. Put the bundle in a gallon storage bag, and lightly, crush. The leaves crumble and fall to the bottom of the bag.

Since I was rejuvenating the tarragon, it had already flowered. Remove any flower buds, and stems, from the leaves. Store in jars or a small bag.

Some herbs, come from trees, like this baby bay tree, I recently bought. I wouldn't want to cut this type of plant, just pluck leaves, and dry them on a screen or similar.

                      Drying basil leaves, on a towel covered cooling rack.