ISBN: 978-0-449-81993-7
Paperback, 384 pages
Publisher: Clarkson Potter
Retail: $27.50
About the book:
From modern garden master Stephen Orr comes a new, definitive book on herbs to finally replace the dusty and outdated classics. Here are entries on hundreds of plants that are extraordinarily useful in cooking, homeopathy, and more; dozens of recipes and DIY projects; and beautifully styled photographs so you know just what you're growing.
With more than 900 entries, each accompanied by brand new photography and helpful growing advice, The New American Herbal takes the study of herbs to an exciting new level. Orr covers the entire spectrum of herbaceous plants, from culinary to ornamental to aromatic and medicinal, presenting them in an easy to use A to Z format packed with recipes, DIY projects, and stunning examples of garden design highlighting herbal plantings. Learn about the herbs you've always wanted to grow (chervil, chamomile, and lovage), exotic herbs (such as Artemisia, the bitter herb used in Absinthe, or the anti-inflammatory Meadowsweet), and ornamental varieties (Monkshood and Perilla). For cooks there is indispensable guidance on planting and maintaining a bountiful kitchen garden and crafters will delight in dozens of exciting new uses for fresh, dried, and distilled herbs. Here, too, are 40 delicious recipes such as Ragu Bolognese with Fennel and Lemon Semolina Cake with Lavender, as well easy steps for projects such as a hanging herb garden and instructions on how to plant, dry, and preserve your garden’s bounty.
Meticulously researched and exhaustive in its scope, The New American Herbal is an irresistible invitation to explore the versatility of herbs in all their beauty and variety.
About the author:
STEPHEN ORR is the author of Tomorrow’s Garden and the former Editorial Director for Gardening for Martha Stewart Living. Previously he was the garden editor for House & Garden magazine and has written extensively for Domino,The New York Times and the Wall Street Journal. He has been a regularly featured gardening expert on The CBS Early Show and Today, and lectures at garden clubs around the country. Orr writes about extraordinary gardens on his blog, What the Skies Were Like.
My thoughts:
Great book for reference. As can be read in the 'about this book', it contains diverse listings of herbs. For each herb the author has included recipes, DIY projects, how/when/where to grow, positive and negative characteristics of the herb, and other aspects. An example is that at the start he tells how to make dyes. Each herb also has photographs of it growing, how it's used, or in other appealing ways. As soon as we received the book, my daughter sat herself down on the kitchen floor to flip through it. Almost 30 minutes later she was still there!
The recipes are kinds that we've never really tried before but they definitely look interesting and are tempting to try. We also appreciate the cultural and historical information that is included about the herbs.
All in all, we would recommend this resource for others who are interested in herbs, their uses, growing them, or just for information's sake. The price is pretty reasonable for the size of the book along with the color photographs.
***Disclaimer: I received this book free from Blogging for Books for the purpose of this review. The opinions stated are my own or those of my family. See Disclosure/Policies.***
Thanks for visiting and commenting today at my blog. It does feel good to get back on the THM bandwagon. Convincing my teenage daughter has been a different story but she is slowly coming round. I didn't feel better overall before and hoping for the same this time as well.
ReplyDeleteBlessings
Diane