When a twig of rosemary is burned it is said to rid space of negativity because of its cleansing vibrations. It was burnt at shrines in Ancient Greece, and burned to drive away evil spirits and to drive away illnesses.

Other beliefs include:

Place a fresh twig beneath your pillow to drive away nightmares.

Lay it under your bed for a good night's sleep.

A necklace made from rosemary preserves your youth and is
said that it is also grown to attract elves.

Rosemary is also said to be an herb of  remembrance and has been added to wedding bouquets. In some European countries it is still a custom to carry rosemary in funeral processions and to cast the herb into the grave at the burial ceremony.

Before the advent of modern medicine rosemary was burned, along with juniper berries, as a
disinfectant in French hospitals.

We use Rosemary at The Cheese Factory Restaurant for marinades for Seitan, Soy Protein and Tofu.  You'll find many great tasting recipes using Rosemary and a variety of other herbs in our cookbook.

This Month's Herb

Direct seeding is not always successful. Start indoors and transplant the seedlings. Darkness will aid germination. Cover seeds lightly after sowing. Optimum soil temperature for germination is 60
degrees. Germination time 14-21 days. Sow heavily because the seeds have a poor germination rate. Some seeds can
germinate up to 3 months after sowing.  Rosemary needs full sun to partial shade, and a well drained area. Water in between dry downs; do not use enclosed planters; forget pebbles, they harbor
pests and weather ills.

You can take cuttings from a plant and put directly into a well drained spot to keep it from root rotting. It is recommended to take 4" cuttings when harvesting-which can be done anytime of the year.

During winter temperature must remain above 10 degrees Fahrenheit for outdoor plantings.  HARVEST: Snip foliage all year.
SEEDS:

We bring our Rosemary indoors because Wisconsin Winters can be too cold for the plants to survive outdoors.  This herb needs particular care to survive the winter though.

You'll need to transplant carefully in a large container so it has room to grow.  The roots tend to be tough so when digging up dig wide and deep.  Use a good potting mix and organic compost (not too much if it is a moist variety --this will be too strong in a pot and may contribute to root rot).  Make sure it is well drained, well watered and spray the leaves with water every so often, especially if you have the heat up.

Teas:  Adding Rosemary to your tea is a unique flavor that is good for soothing and cooling.  It's a great thirst quencher.  Pick a 2-4" sprig, wash it and add to your teapot.  Steep for 2-3 minutes.  Longer for a more potent flavor.  Is good with or without milk.  A sprig of Rosemary in your lemonade gives it an even more refreshing flavor.

Marinades:  Adding Rosemary to any marinade will give it a refreshing and peppy flavor.  Here's one you can use on squash, mushrooms or potatoes.  Use 1 teaspoon of powdered or 2 teaspoons of crushed Rosemary leaves to every 2 tablespoons of olive oil.  Use a dash of your favorite soy or tamari sauce and glaze your vegetables then back them or marinade them with the mix.

Meat Substitutes:  Marinating meat substitutes is our specialty.  We have a cookbook with many delicious marinades for unique flavors.  A basic marinade is a variation on the above.  Use the same formula of oil to Rosemary for every cup of water.  Add 1 teaspoon each of dry marjoram and sage and marinade your tofu, seitan strips for 8 hours, more for a stronger flavor.  Then bake or stir fry with a little olive oil or clarified butter.

Rosemary is something we use a lot in our Holiday Recipes.

Check out our Free Recipe section for more on cooking with herbs or browse our Cookbook which includes a section on our secrets and tips on how to use fresh or dried herbs to create a variety of flavors.