Rosemary

Common Name

For thousands of years, rosemary has been used as a culinary herb and has symbolized everything from love to remembrance. Said to improve one's memory, rosemary was worn by students in ancient Greece when they were studying and was often placed in graves as a sign of remembrance. Rosemary also symbolized love and fidelity and was often used in wedding bouquets.

Throughout the Middle Ages and beyond, rosemary was used to protect against evil spirits, witchcraft and bad dreams. One superstition held that if a household's garden is full of rosemary bushes, a woman dominates the home.

There are two different legends about how rosemary received its name. The first story tells of the Virgin Mary placing her cloak on top of a rosemary bush with white flowers while trying to escape to Egypt. The flowers had turned from white to blue and the bush was called "the rose of Mary." The other legend suggests that in ancient Rome it grew on the coast and was described as 'dew of the sea' from the Latin rosmarinus.

An evergreen shrub from the mint family, rosemary will grow to heights of approximately two feet. Branches of rosemary resemble rounded pine boughs and have a warm, pine-like aroma with a touch of pungency.

Purported Medicinal Qualities*

Recent research suggests that rosemary has very strong anti-bacterial and preservative qualities preventing food poisoning and killing bacteria. The oil retrieved from rosemary has many medicinal uses, but can be toxic if taken internally or applied in large doses topically. Cooking with rosemary will not produce these results and can have positive effects on the body.

Historically, rosemary has been used to:

• Aid digestion
• As a source of iron, calcium, fiber and vitamin B6
• Improve circulation
• Reduce inflammation
• Relieve sore throats and oral irritations - rosemary tea
• Improve concentration
• As a carminative
• Relive sore muscles topically
• Promote hair growth
• Improve breath
• Relive dandruff

*Always check with your healthcare provider before consuming, inhaling or otherwise ingesting any non-prescription or prescription natural or homeopathic substance or pharmaceutical. ChefatHand.com is not recommending, suggesting, inferring or otherwise endorsing the use of any herb or spice as a medication.

Culinary/Suggested Use

Rosemary is synonymous with hearty Mediterranean food and lends its flavor to hearty pork, lamb and beef dishes. Rosemary and lemon are natural partners and together form the backbone of many Greek foods like souvlakies. Rosemary is also suitable for much lighter fare like veggies, fish and poultry. Use fresh rosemary, as it has a more intense flavor and remove leaves from the stem making sure they are green and free of dark spots. Fresh rosemary can be kept frozen, but may have a more pronounced taste once thawed. Store dried rosemary in a cool, dark place.  Food for thought:

• Garnish your Christmas or Thanksgiving turkey with rosemary sprigs and also the herb in stuffing.
• Add whole sprigs or a few leaves to sauces, soups, stocks, stews or curries and remove sprigs before serving
• Rub chicken breasts with rosemary and lemon juice
• Stuff two lemons cut in half, some peeled elephant garlic and one tablespoon of dried garlic into the cavity of a chicken before roasting.
• Add rosemary and lemon to roasted potatoes
• Add a few leaves to any egg dish
• Add rosemary to salad dressings or marinades
• Gently crush fresh or dried leaves before adding them to a dish

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