Monday focus. ugh. Mondays can be HARD! Especially ones that follow a series of non-routine days, like today. Its the start of the first full week of school after Christmas vacation here in the north-east. I like this pairing because of the spicy/herbal/green of the scents. Black pepper always feels warm and comforting to me, and rosemary is one of my FAVORITES!
Rosemary is the herb of remembrance and faithfulness. In history the plant was used as a fumigant to help drive away evil spirits and protect against plague illnesses. Rosemary is native to the Mediterranean, a member of the mint family, and in its native climate, is an evergreen bush. When cooking with rosemary, I add this to almost every meat dish. Somewhere in my travelings I heard that adding rosemary to meat can make it healthier to eat, especially when grilling.
The smell is as spicy as its taste. Black pepper is is beautifully fragrant when used aromatically, and is a great stimulant for your senses. Did you know Indian monks would eat several peppercorns a day to maintain stamina and energy? The peppercorns are the fruit of a climbing vine that is native to India. The plant begins to bear fruit at about 3 years old, and can produce for almost 40 years!
