Cooking with Sage

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Garden sage is probably one of the hardiest herbs I can think of. Even in the Midwest I can harvest from the plant almost to Christmas! Sage can be used fresh or dried, but I really prefer fresh when it's available. You can also freeze the leaves whole in plastic freezer bags. Today I have some nice recipes, plus on the site there are plenty more with growing tips as well.

Sage and Apple Chutney

Ingredients:

• 1/3 cup onion, thinly sliced
• 2 1/2 pounds tart apples, peeled, cored and coarsely chopped
• 1 cup apple cider or apple juice
• 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1/3 cup dried cherries
• 1/2 cup raisins
• 1/3 cup chopped dates
• 6 tbsp. wine vinegar
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/2 cup fresh sage, minced

Mix all ingredients in heavy saucepan and cook until thick. Serve with turkey or other poultry.

Lima Beans with Sage

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 pounds dry lima beans
• 6 cups of cold water
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1 1/2 tbsp. sage, finely chopped
• 1 large clove garlic, crushed

Place the lima beans in a large pot. Add cold water to cover the beans by a few inches. Allow them to soak overnight. Strain the beans and place them back into the pot. Add the 6 cups of cold water, 1/4 cup of olive oil, sage and garlic. Bring to a boil then reduce heat. Cover and simmer for 45 minutes or until the beans are tender. Occasionally stir while cooking. When done strain and season with salt and pepper. Drizzle the remaining oil over the beans and garnish with fresh sage.

Sesame Sage Biscuits

Ingredients:

• 2 1/4 cups buttermilk baking mix
• 2/3 cup milk
• 1/2 cup toasted sesame seed, 1 tbsp. reserved
• 1 tsp. minced fresh sage or 1/2 tsp. dried

Blend all ingredients together til a soft dough forms. Drop by spoonfuls onto a sprayed cooking sheet. Before baking sprinkle the biscuits with reserved sesame seed. Bake in 450F degree oven about 8 minutes or until lightly browned. Makes 4 servings.

Citrus Sage Chicken Breasts

Ingredients:

• 2 pounds boneless chicken breasts
• 1 can frozen lemonade(6 oz.)
• 1/3 cup honey
• 1/2 tsp. lemon juice
• 1 tsp. crushed dried sage
• 1/2 tsp. dried, crushed thyme
• 1/2 tsp. dried mustard

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Rinse the chicken breasts and pat dry. Place chicken in a shallow baking dish. Combine the remaining ingredients. Pour 1/2 of mixture over the chicken and bake for 20 minutes. Turn chicken and pour the remaining sauce over top. Bake 15-20 minutes more until done. 8 servings.

Sage Molasses Glaze

1/2 cup molasses
1/4 cup red onion, minced
5 or 6 fresh sage leaves, finely chopped
1/2 cup olive oil
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 tablespoon kosher or sea salt

Whisk all ingredients in a small bowl until combined. Use to glaze boneless or bone-in turkey breasts, roasting chicken, Cornish hens or other poultry. Brush on the inside and outside before roasting, then glaze 1/2 way through cooking. You may need to pour a little bit of water in the bottom of the roasting pan to avoid the glaze dripping and scorching. You can also try on pork roasts or hams.

Garlic Sage Butter

Mix all together or process quickly in a food processor. Chill and serve with rolls or use it on vegetables such as green beans, Brussel sprouts, cabbage or other green vegetables.

Using Fresh Sage For the Holidays

A Living Herb Centerpiece Wreath: Use sage and other herbs that may still be in the garden such as thyme to make a fresh wreath centerpiece. You may lay it flat on the table with a pillar candle in the middle or a hurricane lamp.

You'll need:
wreath form
sphagnum moss
floral oasis
fresh herbs: thyme, lavender, rosemary, and sage
floral wire

Line the wreath form with the moss. Cut the oasis to fit inside the wreath form. Soak the oasis so it holds the water, then gently press it into the form. At this point you can take fresh herb springs and make small "bouquets" wrapping the floral wire around the stems, then make a hole in the oasis and insert the sprigs. OR take small potted herbs and insert the pots into the oasis, evenly around the form. Then fill in around the sprigs or pots with moss, then into the moss you can set ornaments, pinecones or other natural elements. Since the wreath is sitting as a centerpiece it's easier to add to it since it won't be hanging. Mist the wreath occasionally to help it last longer.

MORE SAGE RECIPES

Stuffing Herb Blend

Combine together by chopping or mincing. Keep up to one week in the refrigerator. Use to season stuffing.

Roasted New Potatoes with Shallots and Sage
From Bon Appétit, November 1997

Preheat oven to 375°F. Cook butter and fresh sage in small saucepan over medium-heat until butter simmers and is well flavored with sage, about 4 minutes. Toss potatoes with dried sage and 2 tablespoons sage butter in bowl. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Transfer potatoes to 2 baking sheets. Bake 20 minutes. Toss shallots in same bowl with 1 tablespoon sage butter. Season with salt and pepper. Divide shallots between baking sheets. Roast until potatoes and shallots are tender and golden, turning occasionally, about 35 minutes longer. Transfer potatoes and shallots to large bowl. Add remaining sage butter; toss. Season with salt and pepper. Makes 8 Servings.

Herb and Shallot Butter

Stir together butter, shallot and herbs. Use this for fresh vegetables, a steak topping or for bread. Makes 1/2 cup butter.

Garden Herb Medley

Cut all of the vegetable into julienne strips. In a large skillet heat oil, sauté zucchini and peppers until tender stirring occasionally, with lid on for about 5-8 minutes. Add garlic and sage; continue to cook until crisp tender. Do not allow garlic to scorch. 4-6 servings.

Sage and Bean Pasta

Cook pasta as directed, adding carrots the last 5 minutes. Drain, and place in serving bowl to keep warm. Saute drained beans, garlic and sage in the olive oil. Cook until garlic is lightly colored and beans are hot. Add to pasta; season with salt and pepper and toss to mix. Makes 5 1/2 cups.

Beans, Tomatoes and Herbs

Rinse and drain beans. In a large skillet over medium low heat, place olive oil, garlic, red pepper flakes, and chopped herbs (except for one tablespoon parsley). Sauté for 2 to 3 minutes, then add tomatoes, salt, and pepper, and sauté until tomatoes begin to soften, about 2 more minutes. Gently stir in beans, adding water to moisten (4 to 5 tablespoons). Cover pan and cook until heated through. Remove from heat and stir in sliced red onion. Drizzle with extra olive oil and top with remaining fresh parsley. Offer grated cheese at the table. Serves 4 to 6.

Carrots and Sage

Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sauté the carrots, onion and sage about 10 minutes to brown the onion. Season with salt and pepper as the vegetables cook. Pour in the broth, lowing to a simmer. Cover and cook 15 minutes, or until carrots are tender when pierced with a knife. As they cook, watch carefully, adding a little water if necessary. Before serving, uncover and simmer off any liquid, leaving only enough to coat the carrots in a moist glaze. Taste for seasoning and serve hot.

Red Potatoes With Sage

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. In a large bowl, stir together oil, potatoes, salt, pepper, and 2 tbsp. of the sage. Mix until coated. Pour a small amount of water in a shallow pan and lay the potatoes on the pan, in the water, spreading them out evenly. Cover tightly with aluminum foil. Roast potatoes for 15 minutes. Remove foil and roast 15 minutes more. Turn the potatoes over and roast 10 to 15 minutes more until crisp. Sprinkle with the remaining sage and serve.

Basil And Sage Butter

Combine the oil, butter, sage and basil in a small saucepan and cook over low heat for 10 minutes. Let the mixture sit for 10 minutes at room temperature. Strain the butter and while still hot stir in the anchovy until it melts into the hot butter. You can use this to baste pork that has been grilled or chicken breasts. You can drizzle it over as a sauce or brush on.

Sage can be used in herbal tea blends as well, but if you are pregnant or nursing it should be avoided.

Delightful Herb Tea Blend

Combine the dried herbs together and store in an airtight container. Use 1 tsp. for a cup of tea.

From Brenda Hyde, owner of Old Fashioned Living.com. Visit her for more tips, recipes and crafts. Sign up for her free newsletters here: http://www.oldfashionedliving.com/news.html