Ann Marie, Author at The Lost Herbs

Wormwood

10/28/2022
Ann Marie
All Articles, Backyard Plants, Household Remedies, Plant of The Week, Recipes
21 Comments

Wormwood (Artemisia absinthium) is an herbaceous plant cultivated as a garden ornament. It has a bitter taste, and is used as a flavoring in some wines, vermouths, and bitters. Wormwood is also an ingredient in absinthe. This botanical spirit was…

Don’t Throw Onion Peels, Do This Instead!- cover

Don’t Throw Away Your Onion Skins, Do This Instead!

10/27/2022
Ann Marie
All Articles, Household Remedies, Recipes
11 Comments

If you are trying to cut down on your trash, a good place to start is with your kitchen scraps. Onion is probably one of the kitchen staples that you cannot miss. Most dishes start and end with an onion.…

Marigold

10/21/2022
Ann Marie
All Articles, Backyard Plants, Household Remedies, Plant of The Week, Recipes
19 Comments

Marigold (Tagetes erecta) is a popular flower identifiable by its overpowering smell and lustrous golden bloom. This flower graces the beauty of autumn, but it is also abundant throughout spring and summer. Marigold is every gardener and farmer's favorite flower…

Saffron

10/14/2022
Ann Marie
All Articles, Backyard Plants, Household Remedies, Plant of The Week, Recipes
11 Comments

Saffron (Crocus sativus) is a plant that produces the most expensive gourmet spice known to man. Owe it to its many uses, health benefits, and mostly for its labor-intensive production. The plant was used as a dye since the prehistoric…

Star Anise

10/07/2022
Ann Marie
All Articles, Household Remedies, Plant of The Week
16 Comments

Star anise (Illicium verum), or Chinese star anise, is an important spice in Asian cuisine that lends dishes a sweet licorice-like taste. It is one of the ingredients of the popular five-spice powder that pairs well with many savory dishes…

Elder

09/30/2022
Ann Marie
All Articles, Backyard Plants, Household Remedies, Plant of The Week, Recipes
9 Comments

Elder (Sambucus nigra), or black elderberry, is a woody and herbaceous shrub that bears lacy and dramatic foliage. Elder also displays a profusion of showy flowers that gives way to black and glossy berries favored for cordials, wine, and other…

Don’t Throw Banana Peels, Do This Instead!- cover

Don’t Throw Away Banana Peels, Do This Instead!

09/29/2022
Ann Marie
All Articles, Household Remedies, Recipes
31 Comments

Banana is a botanically complex plant. It is known to us as a fruit, but it is also a berry. No matter its distinction, however, there is no denying its valuable use in health and nutrition. Consuming bananas brings many…

Nutmeg

09/23/2022
Ann Marie
All Articles, Backyard Plants, Household Remedies, Plant of The Week
11 Comments

Nutmeg (Myristica fragrans) is an evergreen tree that produces two different exotic spices – nutmeg and mace. The pit of the nutmeg tree is a versatile spice for many sweet and savory recipes. Mace is the web that covers the…

Rooibos

09/16/2022
Ann Marie
All Articles, Household Remedies, Plant of The Week, Recipes
7 Comments

Rooibos (Aspalathus linearis, also known as the red bush) is a popular, caffeine-free alternative to green and black tea. It has a distinctive reddish color. Rooibos tea is the processed leaves of the shrub Aspalathus that only grows in South…

Thyme

09/09/2022
Ann Marie
All Articles, Backyard Plants, Household Remedies, Plant of The Week, Recipes
14 Comments

Thyme (Thymus vulgaris) is a dainty evergreen herb. It is a staple for many culinary uses. It lends a slightly earthy, minty, and lemony flavor profile to dishes. Thyme is commonly added to meat, vegetables, soups, sauces, cocktails, and many…