It's the weekend.
For me, this means I've survived yet another week of graduate school and several overnight shifts at work. This semester has been the hardest for me so far to adjust to. I know that eventually it will all be worth it, but for now, cooking has become less of a little hobby and more of a therapeutic outlet and stress reliever. I don't get to cook everyday anymore, so my weekends are my days to get in some quality time with my kitchen.
One of the things I've really come to enjoy over the last six or so months has been drying vegetables and herbs. I grew a small herb garden last summer, and loved drying the herbs out to keep for the long winter. It feels so good to incorporate an ingredient that you grew yourself when you're living in a season that doesn't let anything grow! It just sort of makes it feel that much more homemade and personal.
I love having a cabinet full of all sorts of delicious seasonings that I can use whenever I want, regardless of the season. For instance, celery is super cheap and easy to find, but I still often find myself without it from time to time. Either my schedule is too hectic and I've forgotten to pick some up with my groceries, or I've used it all up in soups, dinners or as a snack that I can take to work with me.
When that happens, I look to my spice rack to see if I've got anything that might do in a pinch. I bought my first house a few years ago, and my mother gave me all sorts of herbs and spices to fill my kitchen with. I've had celery salt and celery seed in there for the longest time. but only just started using them in cooking as a celery substitute. It seemed logical to me...
Now, I have a very large assortment of herbs and spices in my house, and many have been grown, dried and/or ground by me. I've got four jars devoted specifically to the celery flavor that I'm going to share with you!
Celery Seed
20-30 celery stalk flowers
Cut flowers off of celery stalks after they have dried out and browned. The seeds will be in the center of the flower, dried as well.
They may fall out of the flower so be careful to keep them upright as you collect the flowers. Pour them onto a tray and use a spoon to collect any that haven't fallen out of the flower.
Store seeds in an airtight container.
Celery Seed
20-30 celery stalk flowers
Cut flowers off of celery stalks after they have dried out and browned. The seeds will be in the center of the flower, dried as well.
They may fall out of the flower so be careful to keep them upright as you collect the flowers. Pour them onto a tray and use a spoon to collect any that haven't fallen out of the flower.
Store seeds in an airtight container.
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