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I love home-made bread and our farmers market features two different bread vendors so I can get my fill.  However, I also like to make bread at home, but I don’t always have the time (and this time of year who wants to turn on the oven), so I found a quick solution.  I use my Crockpot.  This is an unusual way to make bread, but it is so easy and you can use any combination of herbs to craft if.

MATERIALS:

• 1 Tbls. Yeast
• ¼ cup warm water
• ½ cup warm milk
• 1/3 cup quick-cook oats
• 1 ½ Tbls. olive oil
• 1 ½ Tbls. honey
• 1 egg
• 1/8 cup wheat germ
• 2 tsp fresh minced rosemary (or 1 tsp dried) - you can substitute savory if you grow it!
• 2 tsp fresh minced thyme (or 1 tsp dried) – try lemon thyme if you have it!
• 2 tsp fresh dill or parsley (or 1 tsp dried)
• 1 tsp salt
• 2 cups wheat flour, plus up to 1/3 cup more

STEPS:

1.       Turn your Crockpot to high.  Place a riser in the bottom.  Two canning jar rims or crumbled aluminum foil will do.  Add...

Tags: backyard patch, bread, dill, herbs, parsley, rosemary, savory, thyme

 These recipes are quick and fun and can make a light supper or great appetizer for summer entertaining.

• 1 cup dry cottage cheese
• 1/2 cup extra sharp cheddar cheese, grated and at room temperature
• 4 tsp. chopped fresh sage (or 2 tsp. dry)
• 1 tsp. prepared mustard
• Mix all ingredients in blender or food processor until smooth and creamy.  Store in crock in refrigerator at least 24 hours before using.  You can place this in small crocks and give as a favor to guests to take home as well. 

• 8 oz. cleaned and chopped shrimp
• 8 oz. cream cheese
• 2 T. sour cream
• 1 Tbls. catsup, mayonnaise and mustard
• 2 dashes garlic powder & Worcestershire
• 1 cup celery, chopped fine
• 1 Tbls onion, chopped fine
• 1/2 tsp. dill
• 1 Tbls parsley (or you can substitute 1 1/2 Tbls Marcy's Dill Dip Herb Mix)
• 1/2 tsp. horseradish 

Tags: cheese, dill, dip, herbs, parsley, sage, shrimp, the backyard patch

Some plants do better than others in containers.  Most annual herbs will do well in a container and grow larger in the ground.  Some perennial herbs can also do well in a container and you can bring them in to winter over.  Here are some facts and figures to use to create containers in your home with annual herbs.

Basil, Sweet (Ocimum basilicum ) - a taller grower, can get as big as 18 to 24 inches even in a container.  I suggest using Basil Genovese, Dwarf Sweet Basil, Lemon Basil, Cinnamon Basil, or Purple or Purple ruffled Basil instead of traditional sweet.  The others will grow shorter and not spread as widely and have smller leaves so they don't require as much water.

Dill (Anethum graveolens) - another tall grower it can get up to 36 inches in the ground it usually only gets as tall as 18 to 20 inches in a pot.  Place in the center of a round pot or the back side of a square and  enjoy the light fluffy foliage.

Pot Marigold (Calendula) - this is an edible flower, growing only 6 to 10 inches tall and coming in...

Tags: annual herbs, basil, container gardening, dill, marigold, parsley, savory