Rosemary...
>> Sunday 11 October 2009
Assalamualaikum and Salam Sejahtera to all...
Vernacular name: Rosemary
Botanic name: Rosmarinus Officinalis
Family: Labiatae
Rosemary was believed to be originated from the Mediterranean area but now it is planted in many places, in tropical area it is planted on high land.
Through research Rosemary has element of anti-bacteria, anti-fungi, anti-oxidant and anti-cancer. It also produced hyperglycemia and poison for obsessive use. It is not advisable to be taken by pregnant women or those who wants to get pregnant as it has poison element but rarely happened.
Rosemary in culinary or therapeutic doses is generally safe.
Content: 9.3% water, 46.5% carbohydrate, 5% protein, 15% fat, 18% fiber, 1-1% carnosic acid, iron, fit sterol, prosperous, calcium, magnesium, natrium, pro-vitamin A, vitamin B, and zinc.
I don't chop rosemary finely because it will turn black
Uses in food:
Rosemary has bitter and astringent taste. Chefs use it as marination for chicken and red meat. Rosemary is also used in salad, cake, jam, biscuits, vinegar, cordial, butter, oil and wine. The oil is used as processed food flavor.
My style:
I usually put rosemary as herbs in stocks, especially for meat stock like beef or chicken, (not recommended to be used for fish/seafood as they don’t really get along). Chopped rosemary as marination for beef in grilled/barbeque and pan fried cooking method. I also used it as extra flavor for sauce (whole/sprig) but you have to be careful adding another ingredient as some ingredient would kill its flavor and smell. Cooking with Rosemary in potatoes and vegetables would give different result, tasty and scented.
Tips: using rosemary in stock or sauces, remember to not to pun the stems as it would result bitterness.
Poached chicken in rosemary water which I use for salad
Used as marination for beef steak
Medical use:
Researchers learnt that Roesmary’s leaves could make you active and improving memories. Infusion is used as lotion for red eyes also for hair growth and anti-dandruff, also used as mouth washes and throat pain. Rosemary’s oil is used as hair tonic, dry scalp, migraine, headache and breathing problems. It is also used to improve out blood stream system, pump heart and liver. Rosemary’s stems and leaves are used for menstruation cycle and as cure for asthma, nerve system, cough, fever, blotted and stomach pain.
Other uses:
Dry leaves and flowers are used as scent in ‘pot pouri’. Stems and leaves were to be burnt to create smells in houses as purpose to get rid of (evil) spirit or to get rid of ‘bad luck’ It also used in Shampoo. Rosemary oil is used as insecticide, ingredient for perfume, washing liquid, spray and soap. Some people plant rosemary as bonsai in their garden. Spiders eat rosemary.
Rosemary sprig as garnish
~In the Middle Ages, rosemary was associated with wedding ceremonies - the bride would wear a rosemary headpiece and the groom and wedding guests would all wear a sprig of rosemary, and from this association with weddings rosemary evolved into a love charm. Newly wed couples would plant a branch of rosemary on their wedding day. If the branch grew it was a good omen for the union and family. In ‘A Modern Herbal’, Mrs Grieves says “A rosemary branch, richly gilded and tied with silken ribands of all colours, was also presented to wedding guests, as a symbol of love and loyalty.” Another example of rosemary’s use as a love charm was that a young person would tap another with a rosemary sprig and if the sprig contained an open flower, it was said that the couple would fall in love. Rosemary was used as a divinatory herb-several types of herbs were grown in pots and assigned the name of a potential lover. Then they were left to grow and the plant that grew the strongest and fastest gave the answer. Rosemary was also stuffed into poppets (cloth dolls) in order to attract a lover or attract curative vibrations for illness. It was believed that placing a sprig of rosemary under a pillow before sleep would repel nightmares, and if placed outside the home it would repel witches. Somehow, the use of rosemary in the garden to repel witches turned into signification that the woman ruled the household in homes and gardens where rosemary grew abundantly. By the 16th century, this practise became a bone of contention; and men were known to rip up rosemary bushes to show that they, not their wives, ruled the roost.~ taken from Wikepedia.com
Chef Nash…
