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The Culinary Side of Dill
By Brenda Hyde
Dill is not only a pretty foliage plant; it's fragrance is a "comfort
smell" for many people. I barely touch it's feathery leaves and
the smell of homemade dill pickles, crisp and savory, rubs off on
my hands. At the same time, dill is an herb that is often passed
over as just a pickle spice and is not truly appreciated.
Growing Dill
Dill can easily be grown from seed in full sun, and can even tolerate
a slightly sandy soil. However, when first planting you should keep
the soil moist until established. Do not move your dill; instead
plant where you will be growing it. Thin the seedlings to 10 inches
apart; they will grow about 3 feet high. Use the seedlings that
you pull up; they are tender and delicious! Be sure to let one of
the plants remain with it's seeds after the season is finished,
so it will reseed itself. These plants will be much sturdier and
hardier. Throughout the summer you can plant dill in 2 week intervals
also, to maintain a supply of fresh leaves.
Using Dill
Dill leaf can be clipped and used in cottage cheese, potato salad,
cream cheese, tomato soup and salads. You may also sprinkle chopped
young dill on broiling lamb, pork chops or steak during the last
five minutes of cooking. The seeds that form on dill can be sprinkled
on small pieces of toast or crackers with salmon that has been mixed
with mayonnaise. Both the seed and leaf can be used in fish sauces.
The fresh leaves can be frozen in small resealable bags and used
in dishes. When the leaves are dried, they are referred to as dill
weed in recipes. The seeds can be kept in a closed container and
used as needed.
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The Medicinal Side of Dill
By Lucinda Jenkins
Dill is a favorite spice used around the world but
it does have medicinal properties too. Dill's healing properties
are antispasmodic ( which means an agent that relieves cramps),
calmative (an agent that has a mild sedative effect), carminative
( an agent that moves gas from the intestines) and diuretic (an
agent that increase urine flow).
Dill will also encourage menstrual flow because it
is a powerful emmenagogue. Chewing dill seed has been a treatment
for gas and heartburn. A little dill tea is an excellent remedy
for colic for children according to famous herbalist David Hoffman.
Chewing some dill seeds can clean the breath and
using dill in soap can deodorize the hands.
Dill & The Nursing Mother
Another attribute of dill is the property called "galactagogue"
which helps to increase milk flow. Now that gives a whole new meaning
to a pregnant woman craving dill pickles but a pregnant women should
not use the dill tea as a remedy until after the baby.
Here is a kitchen remedy for increasing milk flow:
combine together 1 teaspoon of each, anise, coriander, caraway,
dill seeds, pour a pint of boiling water over the herbs and let
steep for 30 minutes. Drink one cup an hour before feeding baby.
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