How to make Rosemary Sea Salt ...

                                           Rosemary Sea Salt

The rosemary from my garden looks like a small forest of pine trees....

I decided I wanted to make some Rosemary Sea Salt to use for recipes. Aromatic and flavorful.....

  Rosemary is one of the sturdiest

 and most popular herbs used in cooking. 

The most easiest herb to grow in your garden as well!!!!

              I used gardening shears and cut off a few sprigs 

 then washed the rosemary and made sure they were 

cleaned from any debris, critters or dirt.

                                   then I laid the rosemary out 
                                 on paper towels to dry overnight.

Drying rosemary is very easy to do and there are several  methods.

You can use the hang-dry method which you bundle the rosemary  together with a rubber-band  and hang them in a cool, dry area that is well-ventilated  for 2 weeks to dry out 

or you can use a Food Dehydrator  

   (I want one of these !!! It  is on my x-mas list for Santa) 

or I used the Easy method which is using the oven .

                      Pre-heat the oven to the lowest temperature . 

                          Place the rosemary on a baking sheet.

Bake for 1 hour. If your oven is on a lower setting 

than 170 degrees F then it may take up to 2 hours to dry out the rosemary .

The rosemary leaves will curl up then you know they are all dried out.

Crispy to the touch...

Pull the rosemary off each sprig into a bowl.

My bunch of Rosemary only made about a 1/2 cup worth of dried herb.

Place the dried rosemary in a food processor or coffee grinder.

                                             Add the Sea Salt...

                                                Blend until all is well combined .

 Place the Rosemary Sea Salt in a glass jar

 

                                        that have openings holes with a lid.

 

Spoon the Rosemary Sea Salt into each jar.

                                  This batch has made  2-4oz jars.

                                             Uses of Rosemary Sea Salt....

            Rub Seasoning for chicken, pork,lamb,pot roast or a Ribeye Steak.

      Spice topping for pizza, soft pretzels or focaccia bread .

    Make a herb butter. 

           Seasoned your mash potatoes or sprinkle on french fries.

As a snack try Rosemary Sea salt roasted pecans or almonds

 or season some baked tortilla, sweet potatoes or kale chips....

Great sprinkled on any veggie...

zucchini, squash, eggplant, tomatoes and onions etc... 

 Tonight I made roasted potatoes & carrots 

with olive oil & my Rosemary Sea Salt.

                                                  Food fact :
Eating rosemary offers some wonderful health benefits. According to whfoods.com:
“The wonderful smell of rosemary is often associated with good food and great times. But it could just as easily be associated with good health. Rosemary contains substances that are useful for stimulating the immune system, increasing circulation, and improving digestion. Rosemary also contains anti-inflammatory compounds that may make it useful for reducing the severity of asthma attacks. In addition, rosemary has been shown to increase the blood flow to the head and brain, improving concentration.”
Rosemary leaves and flowers are the parts most important for us. Leaves contain phyto-chemical compounds that have many health benefits; they have no cholesterol while rich with dietary fiber. Fresh leaves are good source of antioxidant vitamin – 100 grams of leaves contain 22 mg of vitamin C. Regular consumption of the food rich in vitamin C is excellent for skin, bones, and blood vessels. Moreover, this vitamin protects the body from scurvy, boosts immunity, helps free the body from harmful radicals, and is important for collagen synthesis in the body.
Calming herb for digestive system – Rosemary has been used for centuries as a remedy against upset stomach, indigestion, constipation and other digestive problems. To sooth the digestive tract, drink rosemary tea, or use rosemary tea with diluted peppermint to rub it on the stomach. This treatment can help with stomach cramps as well.
Herb to fight cancer – Anti oxidants in rosemary plant, fight free radicals in the body. They also block the estrogen thus prevent the breast cancer.
Powerful herb for respiratory system – When breathing in the scent of rosemary essential oil, this plant effectively treat colds, allergies, flu, bronchitis, asthma, and respiratory infections. For another treatment, boil fresh rosemary in a pot of water, and breathe in the steam. This way rosemary can help clear the lungs and throat, and easy the head and sinus pain.
Herb with diuretic properties – When rosemary is used regularly, it helps the kidneys to function properly. In a word, it gets rid of the excess water in the body and increase the urine flow.

                                               The Holy Herb :

For Christians, rosemary is a holy herb because, according to the legend, the Virgin Mary draped her cloak over a rosemary bush and the colours of the blossoms turned from white to blue.