| Rosemary is one of my favourite herbs - its clean, | | | | 3 or 4 cloves garlic |
| spiky scent pervading my kitchen takes me to the | | | | 2 sprigs rosemary |
| South of France on a warm summer's day. It is the | | | | 450g/1lb tinned tomatoes, drained and chopped |
| hardiest plant in my herb garden, surviving our driest | | | | 2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar |
| summers and putting out new growth as soon as the | | | | 1 tin of tuna drained |
| winter rains begin. You can pick from it all year round | | | | Put the olive oil, thinly sliced garlic and rosemary |
| and it has useful medicinal properties too. | | | | sprigs in a frying pan over a medium heat. When the |
| I love Roast Lamb with generous amounts of | | | | garlic starts sizzling add the tomatoes, with salt and |
| rosemary and garlic tucked underneath as it cooks or | | | | pepper and cook for 10-12 minutes. |
| else I take Nigella Lawson's advice and mince the | | | | When the pasta is just cooked - really al dente - |
| garlic and rosemary to a paste with some olive oil | | | | drain and put back in the pan and toss with the |
| and tuck it into small incisions in the meat before | | | | sauce over the heat for 1 minute. Add the tuna, stir, |
| cooking. After that the meat just cooks itself (as | | | | then off the heat stir in the balsamic vinegar and |
| long as you remember to switch on the oven for it!) | | | | serve immediately. |
| and you have a marvellous Sunday lunch for very | | | | There is a wonderful recipe for a Rosemary Cake in |
| little effort. A dash of red wine added to the juices | | | | Nigella Lawson's book 'Feast'. She allocates it to her |
| from the roasting dish and warmed through gives | | | | Funeral Feast section. as rosemary has always been |
| you a 'jus' that any five star restaurant would be | | | | the herb of rememberance, but this cake is great for |
| proud to own - do spoon off the excess fat first | | | | any occasion when a light, not too sweet, plain |
| though. For a totally low effort lunch serve the roast | | | | sponge is required. It has apple in it too and the |
| lamb with a generous green salad and boiled new | | | | combination of that and the rosemary, gives a moist |
| potatoes, or expend the effort you've saved with | | | | but aromatic cake. A long sprig of rosemary adorns |
| the meat on producing loads of crispy roast | | | | the top of the cake and as it cooks releases more |
| potatoes, baked butternut squash and tender green | | | | aromatic oils into the cake. Try it. |
| peas. | | | | To make use of rosemary's health boosting |
| The following pasta sauce recipe came from | | | | properties try a cup of rosemary herbal tea. One |
| experimenting with a recipe from Marcella Hazan's | | | | sprig with a cup of boiling water poured over it and |
| Marcella's Kitchen. To her tomato and rosemary pasta | | | | left to stand for five to ten minutes, makes a |
| sauce I added some tuna to create a nutritious and | | | | revitalising and stress-relieving tea. It acts as an |
| delicious meal for my kids - the balsamic vinegar gives | | | | anti-inflammatory and aids circulation, helps with |
| a mellow, rounded note to the sauce and is not in | | | | stress, anxiety and depression and improves memory |
| the least overpowering as I thought it might be. | | | | and concentration. It also is a useful source of easily |
| Penne with Tuna, Tomato, Rosemary and Balsamic | | | | absorbed calcium, far more effective than taking pills. |
| Vinegar | | | | So plant a rosemary bush in your garden or in a pot |
| For 450g/1lb pasta | | | | on a balcony for your own free, energy-boosting |
| 8 tablespoons olive oil | | | | calcium supplement! |