salt and herbs (and I got a new camera)

Am I the last foodie to get on this salt train? Finishing salt? What the heck? I don't get out enough. I use kosher salt for everything. I made the switch a long time ago and besides being a bit bummed that the grind doesn't fit in cute vintage shakers-I love it. Before then (10 years ago?) we got really into pepper and got a great super heavy and very small grinder that we would take with us to the beach (seriously) but I am slow to the fancy salt thing. Well, no more! While strolling around N. Mississippi last night we stumbled into this wonderful shop The Meadow, and left with a lovely everyday grey salt and a fancy finishing salt to try. Amazing. The owner was so nice and informative and told me of a salt they carried that is smoked and when sprinkled on vanilla ice cream, tastes lake caramel. I will have to try this soon. They have a blog, which I just found by accident while linking to their shop site, I love that. And wow, after reading it, I guess there is a lot to know about salt.

Here's some fresh rosemary from our gargantuan rosemary bush for making rosemary oil. Rosemary bushes grow huge here in the NW, like the size of a small car. I am in full bore apothecary mode now with herbs, tinctures, oils, salts, and empty containers all over the place. I used to make this stuff a ton when we lived in Eugene when I was still in college and got really into it. I had a few disasters, like on the 95º day when I tried to emulsify oil and beeswax together to make lotion in our one and only kitchen blender. I used to make soap then too, real soap, with lye and everything, not the glycerin kind. This was, for the most part successful, but I ended up with a lot of soap. A lot. It was a family joke for awhile and almost ruined the scent of lavender for me forever.

Thanks for all the herb shop tips! The Herb Shoppe, here in Portland, was the winner for me. They carry Mountain Rose Herbs, most of which are organic, and this shop has a lot of turnover, so I know they are fresh. I actually called them and got most of it packed over the phone so the girls wouldn't freak out when we went, which was a good idea. They stayed interested just long enough to get muslin bags. So, soothing herb baths, vapor rub, and homemade chap stick. . .  here we come. Delia has a really runny nose today, just on time.

Unrelated, I saw this book made from the art project at the website Learning to Love you More by Harrell Fletcher and Miranda July, and am excited. They give 63 assignments on their website then post the submissions. You have to read the assignments and take a look around to see the genius of this, it's really amazing what people come up with. You can get a feel for it in the synopsis here. It sounds like much is lost from the website to the book, but still, I think I might have to get it. Is there anything cooler than participatory art? I don't know if there is in my book, I dig it so much. So, Harrell Fletcher is having a signing tonight at Powell's (he lives in Portland) and I really hope to go, but who knows.

The new camera is a Canon Rebel XTi EOS 40D. Sweet. I am still figuring it out, but so far so good. And the Local Pride aprons for Tie One On are due this Thursday!!

Comments

[Lisa Clarke]

Well, you learn something new every day, don't you? As far as I knew, salt was salt. I never even heard of finishing salt before and yet you could easily spend an hour browsing through all of the different varieties on that website. So, you can really taste the difference, huh? Impressive.

[amysue]

I have two wonderful salt from Trader Joe's-one is Hawaiian Black salt and the other a Red Salt. They are delicious and look lovely as well.

[amanda]

okay, that's freaky, because just last week I got all crazy about salt and bought a grocery bag full of different salts, and I've kind of been all silly about them at dinner each night. Weird.
You're rocking the new camera, girl! Congratulations!

[kariandkijsa]

Well- we are now informed! Finishing salt huh?- we need to check this out-suddenly we feel so unfinished....

thanks for sharing!
blessings,
kari & kijsa

[Violette Crumble]

You continue to turn me on to exciting new things like the Miranda July project and the things you can do with herbs (it never occurred to me that I could create such tinctures from home).

I keep seeing all the gourmet salts from around the world in our local fancy supermarket and I'm tempted to try a few but part of me feels like if I taste anything different it might just be the placebo effect.

[Kelly]

I'd heard about the salt thing, but hadn't really given it much of a thought, UNTIL you mentioned the smoked salt that tastes like caramel when sprinkled on vanilla ice cream - THAT got my attention!

[Marina]

Good luck with your new camera (from a fellow Canon Digital Rebel owner). P.S. It's not too hard once you dive in....

[HildeC]

If you would like to make your own salt with herbs/vegetables, I've got a blogpost about it: http://knittingplace.blogspot.com/2006/11/grnnsaksalt-vegetable-salt_06.html

[stephanie D]

Hah..funny about the rosemary....over in in the north east we have to whisper sweet nothings to it to get it bigger than a teacup. oh sounds like you have a bit of work ahead of you...but FUN work. What would you recommend as a primer?

[Melissa]

pretty photos. Isn't it fun to play with a new camera!

[Anina]

Lovely photos! And a lovely new banner!

[Day]

Holy moly I had no idea salt could be so...diverse.
Congrats on the new camera!

[Julie]

I purchased that same camera back in May...best purchase ever! You'll love everything you can do with it!! Have fun :)

[punchanella]

just watch more iron chef... that's what i do. ;)

[Katie]

I have to admit I am a little skeptical of zillions of fancy salts, mainly because I have to remember these are not some I really *need* on my budget. I have heard about the nutritional qualities of grey salt, though, and I've been wanting to try it out.

The herbs look fantastic. Hearing about a great herb shop in Portland is just increasing my desire to move there even more!

[Creole Wisdom]

I love salts! When I traveled to France I went to a bath-salt factory, and just so happened to lean TOO close to take a whiff. And you can imagine- salts up the nose... NOT good! LOL!

I used to live in the West Hills of PDX and remember how HUGE rosemary would get there. Unreal!

And you will ADORE your camera. I have a Canon 20D (now extinct, replaced by the 5D). Canons are wonderful, wonderful cameras.

-Katie

[Steph]

here's me thinking I'm fancy for having sea salt but I guess not.

[Ruth Simons]

i, too, love the salts at Trade Joe's. They taste lovely on cold sticks of cucumber! Nice pics too.

[Amanda]

My husband has made smoked salt before...but finishing salt? I have never heard of the stuff. If you are a pepper snob (we also take our grinder on vacation) you should try course black pepper on vanilla ice cream, it is very delicious!

[molly]

i'm so living vicariously through you on this herbal remedies stuff. I love it and have zero time right now to get into it. But i love reading about it!
And when you've come up with the perfect potion for the red soreness my children get under their noses from wiping a drippy nose, let me know. That's the recipe I'll definitely have to whip up! I could use a big blog of it today for em.

[molly]

i mean, a big 'blob' of it.
(i think my fingers type blog without even thinking, just reflex.)

[Kathy]

Wow, I had no idea you were such a girl after my own heart. I haven't made soap in a while, but I sure love the stuff. I've been thinking about getting back into it. I used to try a lot of herbal cures, too. How funny!

[Jeannette]

Rosemary grows huge in Texas too... we have one that is threatening to take over our entire side yard and up the neighbors house.

[Jeannette]

Rosemary grows huge in Texas too... we have one that is threatening to take over our entire side yard and up the neighbors house.

[Tanya Whelan]

Oh, the book (love that cover) and website are so interesting. Thank you so much for the link, can't wait to explore it more.

Any kind of salt and lots of it please...

[Scribbles & Bits]

Hmmmm. I've always used a coarse sea salt or kosher salt for finishing because I never found any labeled finishing salt. Now I am curious! And very curious about the salt that tastes like caramel!

Randomly, I don't know if you ever mentioned this, but I wanted to make sure you knew: in the latest issue of Blueprint (the one with the woman sitting under the empty painted frames), your book is mentioned in the 100 things area that they always have in the back (set up like a periodic table this time). Just wanted to be sure you saw that! I thought it was so cool!

[Danielle]

Your pictures look lovely and remind me of my past. I used to work at an herb store much like the one you mentioned in Portland (my in-laws live there.) I used to teach herb and aromatherapy classes, along with being a massage therapist. I'm actually going to teach a couple next year again. Looking forward to it more now-your pictures inspire me. Thanks! peace, d.

[CC]

I had no idea that Rosemary grew so large, I'll definitely have to give some a try in the spring.

The photos look great. Congrats on the new camera.

[missy k]

what is the ice cream salt called??

[missy k]

found it - i had to do some research first...!

[aleciagrimm]

wow! Thanks for the link to the salt store. The information on their site is amazing!

[sulu-design]

I had no idea about finishing salts until The Meadow somehow made its way into my in-laws' and friends' lives - now I keep hearing about it. I guess I'll have to swing by the shop...

[Diana]

Finishing salt? I hadn't heard that one yet either...I would think I should have heard it on Food TV or via Martha Stewart, but oh well...perhaps I wasn't paying attention.

The Herbe Shoppe sounds lovely...I wish we had something like that around here!

:) D

[EarthmamagoddessDeb]

Amy, I just spent the better part of my afternoon searching online for where in Portland to buy bulk herbs, lavendar specifically for a Blessingway I am giving this week. Your blog came up and was the MOST helpful of anything else on Google AND I now have found a fabulous new blog to read!!!

YOU ROCK and I can't wait to read your archives!!

[Emily]

Hey there --

Love the blog.. Just had to post that making rosemary oil is risky -- flavored oils are very prone to botulism, an odorless and tastless killer. Rosemary vinegar is much safer...

[Grace]

I've gotta get on the fancy salt bandwagon.

Congrats on the 40D! I got my 400D (Rebel XTi) last year and am so in love with it. Yours is going to be even better!

[knitxcore]

i bought that book, it's a great coffee table conversation starter.
i really want to do some of the projects, miranda is a genius.

[laylablue]

i know the wax is clearly imprinted with the word wax, but whenever i see it, i think
CHEW HOMEMADE CARAMEL!