Blueberry Lemon Balm Muffins 12 lemon balm leaves 1 cup superfine sugar 6 Tbsp fresh lemon balm, minced 1 ? cup fresh blueberries 1 cup chopped walnuts 2 cup all-purpose flour 2 tsp baking powder ? cup granulated sugar ? cup milk 1/3 cup safflower oil 1 egg Bury the 12 lemon balm leaves in the superfine sugar in a tightly closed container. Let stand overnight. Combine minced lemon balm, blueberries, and walnuts in one bowl. Mix together flour, baking powder, and granulated sugar in another bowl. Whisk together milk, oil, and egg in a mixing bowl. Add flour mixture and stir until just blended. Fold in blueberry mixture. Divide batter into greased muffin tins. Sprinkle each muffin with a little of the lemon-scented superfine sugar. Bake in a preheated 400F oven for 20-25 minutes or until golden. Remove muffins and cool on rack. Sprinkle lightly with additional lemon-scented superfine sugar before serving. (An Herbal Collection)
Melissa Liqueur 2 ? tsp dried lemon balm sliced and scraped peel of ? lemon a pinch of coriander a pinch of cinnamon 2 peppermint leaves 1 cup vodka ? cup sugar syrup Place all the ingredients in a bottle and steep 3 weeks. Shake the jar daily during the steeping period. Strain and filter into a dark bottle, adding more sugar to taste. Mature for 2 months. Sugar Syrup 1 cup white granulated sugar and ? cup water Bring to a boil, and stir until all the sugar is dissolved and the mixture is clear. Always cool before adding to alcohol mixture. (Homemade Liqueurs)
Valentino 2 oz unsalted butter, softened 8 oz cream cheese, softened 2 generous Tbsp strawberry preserves or orange marmalade 1 tsp orange zest 1 Tbsp Grand Marnier or other orange liqueur or fresh orange juice 3 Tbsp chopped fresh lemon balm Fresh strawberries for optional garnish Fresh lemon balm sprigs for optional garnish Blend the butter and cream cheese with a fork. Mix in the other ingredients. Best made a day in advance for flavors to mingle; chill overnight and serve at room temperature. Keeps for a week. Use as a dip or serve as a spread. (The Herb Garden Cookbook)
Chicken Stew with Blackberries and Lemon Balm 4 chicken breasts, partly boned salt and pepper scant 2 Tbsp butter 1 Tbsp sunflower oil 4 Tbsp flour 2/3 cup red wine 2/3 cup chicken stock grated rind of half an orange plus 1 Tbsp juice 3 sprigs lemon balm, finely chopped plus 1 sprig to garnish 2/3 cup heavy cream 1 egg yolk 2/3 cup fresh blackberries plus 1/3 cup to garnish Remove any skin from the chicken, and season the meat. Heat the butter and oil in a pan, fry the chicken to seal it, then transfer to a casserole dish. Stir the flour into the pan, then add wine and stock and bring to a boil. Add the orange rind and juice, and also the chopped lemon balm. Pour over the chicken. Preheat the oven to 350F. Cover the casserole and cook in the oven for about 40 minutes. Blend the cream with the egg yolk, add some of the liquid from the casserole and stir back into the dish with the blackberries (reserving those for the garnish). Cover and cook for another 10-15 minutes. Serve garnished with the rest of the blackberries and lemon balm. (The Encyclopedia of Herbs and Spices)
Crab Soup with Lemon Balm and Coconut Milk 1 large steamed crab, such as Dungeness or blue ? inch piece ginger, peeled 12 large lemon balm sprigs 3 shallots, 2 chopped 2 garlic cloves, chopped 2 Tbsp Thai or Vietnamese fish sauce 1 tsp dried shrimp paste or ? tsp anchovy paste 1 14-oz can unsweetened coconut milk 1 green Thai or serrano chili 1 red Thai or serrano chili zest of ? lime juice of 1 lime, or to taste. Scrub the crab well, then crack the shells and remove the meat, keeping it in large pieces. Set the meat aside. Break the shells into small pieces with a mallet or the blunt side of a chef s knife. Place the broken shells in a food processor with 1 cup water and process for about 1 minute. Scrape the shells and liquid into a noncorrodible pan and add 4 cups water. If you are using pre-shelled crab meat, place 4 cups chicken stock in a noncorrodible pan. Slice the ginger about 1/8 inch thick and add to the shells and water or to the stock. Bruise six lemon balm sprigs and add them to the pan along with the chopped shallots and garlic. Simmer the broth for 15 minutes, skimming occasionally. Strain the broth into a clean noncorrodible pan. Stir the coconut milk very well and add half of it to the broth. Remove the leaves from the remaining lemon balm and shred them. Cut the remaining shallot in a fine dice. Stem the chilis and slice them in thin diagonal pieces. Remove the seeds if desired. Add the lemon balm, shallot, chilis, and lime zest to the broth and simmer for 5 minutes. Add the crab meat and lime juice and heat through. Serve hot. (Herbs in the Kitchen)
Lemon Balm Chicken 4 boned chicken breasts 2 Tbsp dry sherry ? cup shredded cheese (Swiss or another white cheese) ? cup light cream 4 Tbsp butter 1 Tbsp chopped lemon balm Salt/pepper Season chicken with salt and pepper. Melt butter and fry chicken 5-7 minutes. Place chicken in glass baking dish. Add sherry and lemon balm and cream into the pan of hot butter. Stir and simmer over low heat. Pour liquid over chicken. Top with cheese and bake for 15-20 minutes in 350o oven in covered dish. Serve with sauce over angel hair pasta. (The Herbal Connection Collection Volume 1)
Chartreuse 10.5 oz fresh hyssop leaves 10.5 fresh lemon balm leaves 5 1/3 oz fresh angelica leaves 2 1/6 oz cinnamon 2/3 oz mace 2/3 oz saffron 5.5 quarts potable wine alcohol 2 5/8 cups white sugar Steep all the ingredients except the sugar in the alcohol for 1 week, then distill. Sweeten the distillation with the sugar before bottling. (Mastering Herbalism) Lemon Balm-Spearmint Pesto 2 cups fresh lemon balm and spearmint leaves ? cup olive oil ? cup garlic cloves Chop and blend all ingredients together. This blend can be stored frozen for 2-3 months in an airtight container. Ideal to use as a fresh summer sauce on fish. (Herb Mixtures & Spicy Blends)
Watercress, Lemon Balm, Parsley and Chive Sauce A verdant sauce to serve with cold, poached chicken, fish or seafood. Or spread it over raw fish or chicken before baking. 1 cup loosely packed watercress leaves 1 cup loosely packed fresh parsley leaves ? cup loosely packed fresh lemon balm ? cup minced fresh chives 1 cup mayonnaise 2 to 3 drops of hot pepper sauce. Put watercress, parsley, lemon balm and chives into a food processor, and process until fine. Then add mayonnaise and hot pepper sauce, and process until well blended. (The Herb & Spice Cookbook: A Seasoning Celebration)
Nana s Chicken Salad 1 (3- to 4 ? lb) chicken ? cup olive oil 1 tsp minced garlic 4 hard-cooked eggs, chopped 1 dill pickle, chopped 1 bunch celery hearts, chopped 2 Tbsp sweet relish 2 tsp fresh lemon balm 2 tsp fresh tarragon 2 tsp fresh basil 2 tsp fresh chives salt and pepper to taste 1 cup mayonnaise 1 Tbsp lemon juice 1 Tbsp tarragon vinegar fresh parsley and radish flowers for garnish Boil chicken until tender. Remove from liquid and cool. Cut into small chunks. Combine oil and garlic. Pour over chicken and let stand 30 minutes. Add egg and next 7 ingredients. When ready to serve, combine salt, pepper, and next 3 ingredients. Add to chicken and mix. Garnish. (Today s Herbal Kitchen)
Glazed Raspberry Tarts with Lemon Balm ? cup all-purpose flour 1 Tbsp sugar 3 Tbsp very cold butter 1 egg yolk ? tsp cider vinegar 3 oz cream cheese, softened 1 Tbsp confectioners sugar 2 Tbsp minced lemon balm fresh raspberries ? cup red currant jelly lemon balm leaves, for garnish Preheat oven to 300o. Stir together flour and sugar. With a pastry blender, cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse meal. With a fork, stir in egg yolk and vinegar. Work dough with your hands until it forms a smooth, noncrumbly ball. (to make dough in a food processor: in a work bowl fitted with steel blade, combine flour, sugar, and butter with on/off motion until mixture resembles coarse meal. Add egg yolk and vinegar. Continue processing until dough forms a ball.) Press a rounded tablespoon of dough into each of 6 tart pans that are 2 to 2? inches in diameter, forming an even layer on bottom and sides of pans. Prick the pastry with a fork, line with aluminum foil, and fill with dried beans or pie weights. Bake for 20 minutes, or until golden brown. Let cool in pan, invert to remove and set aside. Discard beans. In a small bowl, cream together cream cheese, confectioners sugar, and lemon balm. Spread 1 tablespoon cheese-lemon balm mixture on the bottom of each cooled tart shell. Arrange berries in tart shells. In a small saucepan, melt jelly; brush over berries. Refrigerate tarts until ready to serve. (Kitchen Herbs)
Herb and Vegetable Stir-Fry 1 head cauliflower, cut into florettes 5 carrots, peeled and sliced thinly 1 bunch broccoli, cut into florettes 1 tsp ginger powder ? tsp garlic granules 1 tsp dillweed, snipped fine 6 fresh lemon balm leaves, cut small 1 Tbsp oil 1 Tbsp vinegar 2 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce 1 can condensed tomato soup diluted with ? can water 1 cup cooked rice Mix vegetables and herbs and saut at medium heat in oil. Continue to stir slowly until tender crisp. Add vinegar, Worcestershire sauce and diluted tomato soup. Mix and simmer slowly for a few more minutes and spoon over cooked rice. (An Herbal Feast)
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Lemon Balm Cheesecake 2 c flour ? cup sour cream or yogurt 1 c butter or margarine 1 egg yolk Combine in food processor and process about 1 minute, until well blended. Flatten on waxed paper and refrigerate for about 1 hour. Filling: 8 oz cream cheese ? c sugar 3 c lemon balm leaves, loosely packed, large stems removed 2-3 drops lemon extract (optional) 1 egg 1 tsp lemon rind Cut cream cheese into chunks, put all ingredients into food processor. Pulse a few times, then process for about 2 minutes until smooth and well blended. Remove pastry from refrigerator and roll out on floured waxed paper until about 1/8 inch thick. Cut 4 circles with knife and lift each circle into a muffin tin. Press down lightly to make circle fit tin. Spoon in cheese filling about 2/3 of the way full. Makes about 15 small cheese cakes. Bake at 250 degrees, 20 minutes. Don t over bake. (The Culinary Gardener)
Lemon Balm Cheesecake Crusts: 6 whole graham crackers 6 gingersnaps 2 Tbsp maple syrup Preheat oven to 350F. Crumb the cookies and crackers in food processor. Mix in the syrup. Press into bottom of greased springform pan. Bake 10 minutes. Filling: 14 oz ricotta cheese 8 oz cottage cheese 6 oz light cream cheese ? cup minced lemon balm leaves 4 Tbsp butter, soft 4 Tbsp honey 4 eggs 2/3 cup sugar ? tsp vanilla Blend all ingredients in food processor; pour into baked crust. Bake for 1 hour at 350F. Bake an extra 20-25 minutes ast 300F or until cheesecake is firm. Cool slightly, then chill for several hours. Garnish with lemon balm sprigs. (The Charlotte Herb Guild Cooks)
Balm wine 10 lbs white sugar 4 gallons water 1 ? lbs fresh lemon balm tops 2 Tbsp brewer s yeast sugar lumps Boil the sugar in the water for 1 ? hours, skimming carefully. Bruise the balm tops and place them in a small cask or tub with 2 tablespoons brewer s yeast. When the sugar water has cooled, pour it over the balm, stirring the mixture well. Let stand for 24 hours, stirring every 4 hours or so. Cover the cask lightly until the fermentation ceases about 9 weeks and draw off the liquid into bottles, placing a lump of sugar in each bottle. Cork firmly, and store for at least 1 year before using. (Mastering Herbalism)
Lemon Balm Cookies 1 cup shortening 1 cup sugar 2 eggs 1 tsp baking powder ? tsp salt 1 Tbsp anise seed 3 tbsp lemon balm leaves, chopped finely 2 Tbsp water Cream shortening and sugar. Add eggs, then rest of ingredients. Mix well. Roll into balls, 1 teaspoon at a time. Press flat on sugared surface with a glass bottom that has been dipped in granulated sugar. Place on greased cookie sheet and bake at 350F for 15- 20 minutes. (Favorite Recipes from Well- Sweep Farm)
Tropical Smoothie with Mint and Lemon Balm 1 medium banana, peeled and slices 1 medium mango, peeled, seeded, and chopped 1 medium papaya, peeled, seeded, and chopped 3 cups skim milk ? cup fresh mint leaves ? cup fresh lemon balm leaves 2 Tbsp honey. Combine all ingredients in a blender, puree, and serve immediately. Garnish with sprigs of fresh mint or lemon balm, if desired. (The Herbal Palate)
Lemon Balm Summer Cooler ? quart boiling water 2 blackberry tea bags ? cup sugar ? cup lemon balm leaves ? cup lemon juice, freshly squeezed 3 oz frozen lemonade 1 bottle white wine optional: extra lemon balm leaves for garnish Make the tea with boiling water, tea bags, sugar, and bruised lemon balm leaves, stirring often to dissolve the sugar. Steep for 5 minutes. Strain and cool. Mix lemon juice, lemonade, and wine with the blackberry tea. Chill. To serve, pour over ice in tall stemmed goblets and garnish with fresh lemon balm leaves. (The Fearrington House Cookbook)
Lemon Balm Bread 1 cup sugar 1 stick butter 1/4 cup chopped lemon balm leaves 1 1/2 cups flour 1 tsp baking powder 1/8 tsp salt 2 large eggs 1/2 cup milk grated rind of 1 lemon Glaze: 1/2 cup sugar 2 Tbsp chopped lemon balm leaves juice from one lemon Grease and flour 4 small bread pans. Preheat oven to 350. Cream sugar and leaves. Add eggs, beating after each addition. Add remaining ingredients and mix well. Pour into pans and Bake 25-30 min or until bread tests done with a toothpick. Pour glaze over top of bread while still hot. When very cool, remove from pans. This bread is even better when allowed to meld in the fridge over night.
Lemon Herb Tea Bread 3/4 cup milk 1 Tbsp. lemon thyme, fresh 1 tsp. thyme, dried 1 Tbsp. lemon balm, chopped 1/2 cup butter 1 cup sugar 2 large eggs 1 tablespoon lemon juice 1 tablespoon lemon zest 2 cups all-purpose flour 1 1/2 tsp. baking powder 1/4 tsp. salt Glaze frosting: 1 cup powdered sugar 3 tablespoons lemon juice Combine milk and herbs in small saucepan and bring just to a boil. Remove from heat, cover and let stand. Cream butter. Add sugar. Add eggs 1 at a time. Stir in lemon juice and lemon zest. Separately, combine flour, baking powder and salt. Add to butter mixture alternately with milk mixture, beginning and ending with flour. Bake in a greased, floured 9x5x3 loaf pan at 325 for 50 minutes or till done. Mix together powdered sugar and lemon juice to make glaze. May have to add more lemon juice. When bread has cooled a bit, top with glaze. Variation: Can substitute orange juice and zest for the lemon in recipe to make orange bread. If you do not have the fresh herbs, make the bread with the dried thyme only.
Lemon Tea Bread 3/4 c. milk 1 T. lemon balm (finely chopped) 1 T. lemon thyme (finely chopped) 2 C. all-purpose flour 1 1/2 tsp. baking powder 1/4 tsp. salt 6 Tbsp. butter (room temperature) 1 c. sugar 2 eggs 1 Tbsp. grated lemon zest Glaze: Juice of 2 lemons Powdered sugar Butter a 9x5x3 inch pan and preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Heat milk with chopped herbs and let steep until cool. Mix the flour, baking powder and salt together in a bowl. Cream the butter and gradually beat in sugar. Continue beating until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs, 1 at a time. Beat in the lemon zest. Add the flour mixture alternatively with the herbed milk. Mix until the batter is just blended. Put the batter into the prepared pan. Bake for about 50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out dry. Remove from the pan onto a wire rack that is set over a sheet of waxed paper. Pour lemon glaze over the still hot bread. Decorate with sprigs of lemon thyme. For lemon glaze: put the lemon juice in a bowl add sugar stirring until thick but still pourable.
Honey and Lemon Balm Tea Biscuits 1 cup butter 1 cup honey 3 eggs 3 cup flour 3 tsp. Baking powder 1 tbsp. milk 2 tsp. lemon juice -OR- lemon flavoring 4 sprigs fresh lemon balm, chopped Thoroughly cream the butter and honey. Add eggs and beat well. Add the dry ingredients, then the milk, flavoring, and lemon balm. Drop by spoonfuls on an ungreased baking sheet and bake 8 to 10 minutes at 375 F.Lemon Balm Cornucopia Cookies with
Minted Berries and Lemon Balm Custard 3 cups strawberries cut into fourths 3 Tbsp sugar 1 ? Tbsp Grand Marnier 1 Tbsp minced fresh mint ? cup sugar 2 Tbsp melted unsalted butter 1 tsp grated lemon peel 1 Tbsp minced fresh lemon balm 1 large egg white, at room temperature ? cup flour 6 large egg yolks 6 Tbsp sugar 3 Tbsp whipping cream 4 ? Tbsp fresh lemon juice 6 Tbsp whipping cream 1 Tbsp minced fresh lemon balm Sprinkle strawberries with 3 tablespoons sugar, Grand Marnier and mint in large bowl; stir gently. Chill for 2-4 hours. Process ? cup sugar, butter, lemon peel and 1 tablespoon lemon balm in food processor until fluffy. Add egg white. Process for 2-4 seconds. Pour mixture into bowl; stir in flour. Spoon 1 tablespoon batter onto buttered baking sheet. Spread into a 5-inch circle. Repeat, having 2 circles on baking sheet at a time. Bake at 325 degrees for 12 minutes or until pale golden color. Loosen each cookie from baking sheet quickly; fold into cornucopia shape. Cool on wire rack. Repeat process until all batter is used. May prepare a day in advance and store in a single layer in an airtight container. Whisk egg yolks, 6 tablespoons sugar, 3 tablespoons whipping cream and lemon juice in double boiler. Cook over simmering water for 5 minutes or until mixture is thickened and no longer separates, stirring constantly. Pour into bowl to cool; press waxed paper on top to prevent skin from forming on custard. Beat 6 tablespoons whipping cream in mixer bowl until soft peaks form. Fold in 1 tablespoon lemon balm. Fold mixture into cooled custard. Fill cornucopia cookies with custard, allowing some custard to spill out onto dessert plate. Drain strawberries; spoon over custard. Garnish with fresh mint leaves. (Along the Garden Path)
Balm Claret Cup 1 bottle light red wine 1 sprig fresh lemon balm 3 or 4 fresh borage leaves 1 orange, sliced ? cucumber, sliced thickly 1 oz white sugar 1 shot brandy 2 cups soda water Mix the ingredients together in an earthenware, ceramic or glass jug (traditionally, with a silver spoon). Chill in the refrigerator for a couple of hours, and add 2 cups soda water and ice before serving. (Mastering Herbalism)
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