Cooking uses and healing properties of sage

Here is another article I wrote on Helium dot com.

Here it is:

Sage, also known as Salvia Pratensis is an important herb that should be included in your kitchen garden of herbs. In tea it is a natural HRT treatment and eases colds and painful periods. If you mix the tea with cider vinegar as a gargle for sore throats and laryngitis. The juice can improve the shine of dark hair. Sage contains powerful antioxidants and is a good remedy for digestive problems.

The part of the sage that is used is leaves, as a whole herb. It can be taken as tea, infusion and the shelf life is 1-3 years. Try freezing leftover sage in an airtight bag.

As for cooking with sage, it has a strong distinctive bitter flavor and aroma, so not everyone likes using it. Dried sage should be used in moderation. The fresh sage leaves can be fried whole or used as a topping on hot charcoal for barbeque's. It can be chopped up into pieces or finely grounded. I suggest combining it with other herbs. Try cooking chicken or pork with a mixture of herbs like sage, basil, oregano, thyme and perhaps a mint or rosemary. Mix any combination of these herbs you normally use or like. Use it with thyme and beans in soups or add to vegetable and potato dishes. I use sage in stuffing and if you buy the stuffing, read the ingredients, it is part of the packaged stuffing. The grocery stores sell sage leaves packaged loosely. Some people like making Sage Pesto which includes sage leaves, lemon juice, almonds, and extra virgin oil. Tomato based sauces, cheese and salad dishes usually have sage in them. The key is not to overuse dry sage and to mix other herbs with it for cooking. The fresh sage leaves can be fried whole or eaten with potatoes and meat dishes. There are many recipes on the Internet and cookbooks that offer information on using sage.

* Please note that pregnant women must avoid sage and thyme.

I hope and pray this helps someone today.

Fibro Viv