I make this a lot because it is so versatile and will last in the refrigerator for months. It is a good substitute for all those dried particles in you cabinet that pass as spices. It contributes a lot of flavor, freshness, and “green” to those fall meals. It can dress up any protein, vegetable or grain. You can blend it into a soft cheese or sauce. I have used it to make salad dressings, marinades, etc. The possibilities are endless. I see it as a way to store sage over the cold times of the year until fresh is available again.
It is pretty easy to make. I coarsely chop the fresh sage. I turn the stove up to medium. I use a cast iron pan. I start with 1-2 TBSP of herb and brown it in 2 TBSP of butter until it crisps but still stays green. I scrape all the butter and bits out of the pan and put them in a small jar. I just keep going until the jar is filled and store it in the refrigerator.
Every garden has at least one “mother plant”. She is a perennial, one of the largest and most vigorous plants in the garden. She may be old, leggy, gnarly, asymmetrical and not as “pretty” as the other ones. She takes care of the other species in the area and she will take care of you. I have a sage plant like that now. I had one like that 30 years ago. She came to me one night in a dream. She was being hacked to pieces. When I visited her the next day in my community garden plot she had been dug out and destroyed by another gardener who did not understand the layout of the plots. She was the oldest plant in my garden. The only one living when I was first assigned the plot to rent. True story.
Sage is thought to be good for stress, depression, hot flashes, migraines, digestive issues, flu, arthritis pain and staph infections. She is a wonderful gargle for sore throats. As a bath she is has been used to address all kinds of skin issues. There is a long history of using her as a symbol of wisdom, longevity, and protection. I like hanging bundles of the fresh plant in my house, washing the floors with the tea, burning dried leaves to clean out energy from a space.
Is there an herb that you feel a strong connection to or have had unsual experiences with?
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