I don't have my books with me, and when I look up horehound in the plant files, a dozen names come up. Does anyone know what the plain, old horehound used for cough drops is in Linne speak? I'd like to order a plant today but I don't want to order the wrong thing.
Thanks!
Edited to say DUH. Googled it. THAT took three seconds. Marrubium vulgare.
This message was edited Sep 1, 2006 10:44 AM
horehound
now that you've found it, do you recommend any particular recipe or preparation with horehound? Always interesting to see how others use their herbs.
BTW, what is "Linne speak"?
Horehound ~
Recipe For Horehound Candy:
1. Make a strong horehound infusion: Boil one cup of fresh leaves with two cups of water for ten minutes. Let steep for five minutes and then strain.
2. To make horehound candy: Use one cup of horehound infusion to two cups of white sugar. Place sugar in small saucepan and stir in 1/8th teaspoon cream of tartar, then add the horehound infusion. Stir until the sugar has dissolved, then cook over low heat until it reaches 290 Fahrenheit degrees on a candy thermometer. [Or until a drop of the cooked infusion in cold water becomes a hard, glossy ball.] Pour on a buttered plate and score into cough drop sizes when it is semi-hardened. When cool, break apart into sections and store in a cool place until used.
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Old-Fashioned Horehound Drops
2 ounces dried horehound leaves (or 6 ounces fresh leaves)
3 cups very hot water
3 ½ pounds brown sugar
2 teaspoons peppermint extract
Pour very hot water over the horehound. Steep 30 minutes, while keeping on low heat. Strain. Add sugar and dissolve. Bring to a boil and continue boiling until mixture reaches 295°F (the temperature for brittle candy). Add peppermint, then drop mixture quickly on a buttered board, half a teaspoon at a time, or pour into a shallow, buttered pan and cut into squares before it completely hardens.
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Horehound Lozenges
Ingredients
1 1/3 cups dried horehound leaves
2 cups boiling water
2 cups honey
4 cups brown sugar
1 teaspoon cream of tartar
1 teaspoon butter
1 teaspoon lemon juice
Steep the horehound in the boiling water for 15 minutes, strain. To the tea add honey, brown sugar and tartar. Heat to a temperature of 220 degrees F. Add butter, do not stir and heat to 312 degrees F. Remove from heat and add lemon juice. Pour into hot buttered pans, mark into squares and let cool. Use these to relieve sore throat and cough. You may wish to try adding some dried licorice root for variation with this recipe.
I will be lost if my computer crashes.... : ^ 0 !
Thanks Podster! Do you make candied Elecampagne root too?
No, I have no experience with elecampane. Do you have a recipe for candied root?
I like the Elecampane root in honey as given at this link:
http://www.polishingstone.com/articles/elecampane-kylie.html
Linne was the Swedish guy who started the whole family/genus/species thing. Blessing? Curse? Depends on whether you really care, or have to learn the names for a class!
Thanks for the recipes, pod!
Having to learn Linne speak to navigate the plant files! Horehound is a favorite herb but I lost mine last year and couldn't find any plants. Too lazy to start seeds (sheepish). Good luck with the plants... and you're welcome... pod
I laid out all my seed packets and order forms (for fall shipping) and am realizing I barely have enough room for what I've already ordered! I think I'll get the horehound next year to replace something that doesn't work out this year.
Got my load of dirt! Hurting already! But the herb garden and rose garden are getting happier and happier.
Ambitious project but at least the weather is more pleasant.
It's amazing how much of a difference the humidity makes. I moved 17 wheelbarrows full of dirt yesterday and will probably move as much or more today. Oooof -- here's to me getting buff. HHAAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHA
I take it the air in your neck of the woods is getting drier with the fall weather?
We'll get humid, muggy days out here when storms come up from Mexico or Hawaii.
It really drains everyone's energy at that time. We're just not used to alot of humidity.
Yes, it's down to about 53%, which is wonderful in comparison to what it's been. It's odd how it just makes you drag along, barely able to think, much less move. It doesn't get very cool in our version of autumn, but the air feels a lot cleaner.
(Unless the wind is directly NE in which case the Evadale paper mill scents everything... ugh...)