Rocket – Eruca vesicaria sativa

Tags

Cashew, cashew nut, dinner, Eruca sativa, food, gardening, home grown, Italian, Mediterranean, Olive, olive oil, organic, pesto, rocket, Seed, skin blemishes, teaspoon cayenne pepper, vegetarian

Rocket has undergone a huge revival in popularity, even though it has been cultivated since the Middle Ages. It is native to the Mediterranean and was prized among the Romans and Persians. It fell out of use for 200 to 300 years. It only in the 1990s that the Italians started using it in ‘designer salads” that it regained its popularity. Medieval Monks were not allowed to grow Rocket in the cloister gardens as it was considered an Aphrodisiac.CULTIVATION
Rocket is a fast growing annual. It will often reseed itself 3 times in the Summer. It demands little attention and will thrive in full sun on compost and regular water.PROPAGATION
Collect seeds from dry pods. Sow from early Spring until mid Autumn. They can be sown in trays and planted out. Once planted out do not move them.HARVESTING
Pick the leaves and flowers often. The more you pick the more it produces.

USES:
Medicinal: Rocket has been used to treat bruises and sprains. Crushed seeds are spread on top of a warmed flannel bandage and holding against the skin without allowing the seeds to touch the skin. Crushed petals are made into a paste to treat skin blemishes. In Medieval times the flowers and green seeds were crushed and mixed with honey to treat coughs. Rocket is an invigorating tonic taken when tired or anxious. To make the teas, use 1/4 cup rocket and 1/4 cup parsley, pour over 1 cup boiling water, allow to steep for 5 minutes, strain and sprinkle with 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper. Drink slowly.

Cosmetic: Rocket juice is used as a facial cleanser for oily skins. It is often used to treat itchy inflamed spots, bites and rashes. Rocket seeds, pounded and mixed with Olive oils is used to treat broken nails and calluses.

Culinary: Rocket is used in many Italian dishes and designer salads. Steam the leaves and make a rich white sauce, and use over baby potatoes of leeks. Rocket pesto is also a firm favorite.

Rocket Cashew Nut and Chili Pesto Recipe
Ingredients:
1 cup fresh Rocket leaves
1 clove garlic crushed
1 teaspoon Olive Oil
50g crushed Cashew nuts raw
1 small chilli

Place all ingredients in food processor, blend until smooth, more Olive oil may be added to make into a creamy paste.

Bottle and enjoy with all your favorite pesto meals.

My edible garden today

Tags

Borgage, celery, food, garden, garlic, Heirloom Tomato, home grown, Lemon, lettuce, Mint Eau de Cologne, organic, parsley, plants, rocket, Sage, strawberry, winter savory

This gallery contains 20 photos.

A sunny Winter day in Ariston

Tags

allotment gardens, compost heap, food, garden, gardening, home grown, organic, plants, rocket, spring bulbs, tomato, worm garden

The Lemon Tree is finally bearing better fruit.

The Winter Garden’s Beetroot

Bonnie’s broad beans are in full flower

Cara and Esther’s Spring bulbs.

Cara’s long slim Chili 

Car’s Compost Heap starting to mature.

Craig’s Peas look strong

Crocosmia which has escaped.

The fennel is growing rampantly.

The rocket is flowering in the J garden.

The tomatoes in the J garden are forming even though they are suffering from seasonal rust.

June’s Hibiscus is full of buds.

Lavender which has been harvested.

The Pelargoniums are in full flower.

The Pink Marguerite is making a stunning display.

The Winter garden Tyre potatoes are needing the next tyre.

The Spring Oxalis is starting to show and in full bud.

Bonnie’s peas are also growing fast.

Bonnie’s Bright light spinach looking so healthy.

 

 

The worm garden after weeding. Yes all the plants are taking and starting to grow strongly.

Meat free Monday – Egg salad

Tags

basil coriander, eggs, meat free monday, parsley, recipe, rocket, sprouts, sweet basil, tomato, vegetarian

Ingredients :

Tomato chopped

Eggs hard-boiled and chopped

Handful mixed sprouts

Rocket leaves

Flat leaf parsley

Sweet Basil

Coriander leaves

Salt and pepper

Mix all together, enjoy!

Easy scrambled egg

Tags

breakfast, food, herbs, microwave, recipes, rocket, scrambled egg

Break egg into ramekin dish, add a dash of milk and mixed herbs, whisk with a fork

Microwave 45 seconds on medium high.

Serve with sprinkled rocket and basil.

Learning to grow your own workshop 2 March

Tags

carrots, compost, eggplant, food, growing from food scraps, horseradish, lettuce, marjoram, nature, oregano, pineapple, planting, plants, preparing soil, propagation, rocket, rosemary, spinach, wild garlic, winter savory, workshops, worm castings, worm compost

We had a fabulous workshop yesterday. Jo and Janine arrived full of energy and enthusiasm.

We started by assessing the site in which we were going to garden.

We proceeded to improve the soil with compost made from straw, cow manure and mushroom compost.

We then planted some 2 liter bottles with small holes in the bottle to make sure we have water going down to the roots.

We then look around for plants we could propagate to plant . Rosemary,  wild garlic ( our companion plant), horseradish, winter savory, oregano and marjoram were chosen.

The worm farm was harvested for worm compost. Oh my word the girls just fell in love with the worms.

We then planted using the worm compost.

Seeds that were chosen to sow were : carrots, spinach, eggplant and lettuce. the carrots were sown directly into the ground, the others were planted up in seed trays which Jo has taken home to nurture until they are ready to be planted out.

Our piece of resistance for the day was planting a pineapple from food scraps.

We finished the bed by mulching with leaves and compost again and a thorough watering.

We all left thoroughly dirty and tired but thoroughly satisfied.

Book now for the next workshop in April

https://aristonorganic.wordpress.com/workshops-for-2013/

email aristonorganic@gmail.com

Rocket and Garlic dip

Tags

cottage cheese, crackers, crusty bread, food, food processor, garlic, garlic chives, home grown, organic, party dip, recipe, rocket, vegetarian

A really quick and easy dip to make. It will have all your friends going back for more.

Blitz rocket, garlic and garlic chives in the food processor.

Mix with a tub of smooth cottage cheese, add a dash of salt and pepper.

Serve with, fresh crusty bread, crackers and vegetable crudités.

Rocket – Eruca vesicaria sativa

Tags

Cashew, cashew nut, dinner, Eruca sativa, food, gardening, home grown, Italian, Mediterranean, Olive, olive oil, organic, pesto, rocket, Seed, skin blemishes, teaspoon cayenne pepper, vegetarian

Rocket has undergone a huge revival in popularity, even though it has been cultivated since the Middle Ages. It is native to the Mediterranean and was prized among the Romans and Persians. It fell out of use for 200 to 300 years. It only in the 1990s that the Italians started using it in ‘designer salads” that it regained its popularity. Medieval Monks were not allowed to grow Rocket in the cloister gardens as it was considered an Aphrodisiac.CULTIVATION
Rocket is a fast growing annual. It will often reseed itself 3 times in the Summer. It demands little attention and will thrive in full sun on compost and regular water.PROPAGATION
Collect seeds from dry pods. Sow from early Spring until mid Autumn. They can be sown in trays and planted out. Once planted out do not move them.

HARVESTING
Pick the leaves and flowers often. The more you pick the more it produces.

USES:
Medicinal: Rocket has been used to treat bruises and sprains. Crushed seeds are spread on top of a warmed flannel bandage and holding against the skin without allowing the seeds to touch the skin. Crushed petals are made into a paste to treat skin blemishes. In Medieval times the flowers and green seeds were crushed and mixed with honey to treat coughs. Rocket is an invigorating tonic taken when tired or anxious. To make the teas, use 1/4 cup rocket and 1/4 cup parsley, pour over 1 cup boiling water, allow to steep for 5 minutes, strain and sprinkle with 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper. Drink slowly.

Cosmetic: Rocket juice is used as a facial cleanser for oily skins. It is often used to treat itchy inflamed spots, bites and rashes. Rocket seeds, pounded and mixed with Olive oils is used to treat broken nails and calluses.

Culinary: Rocket is used in many Italian dishes and designer salads. Steam the leaves and make a rich white sauce, and use over baby potatoes of leeks. Rocket pesto is also a firm favorite.

Rocket Cashew Nut and Chili Pesto Recipe
Ingredients:
1 cup fresh Rocket leaves
1 clove garlic crushed
1 teaspoon Olive Oil
50g crushed Cashew nuts raw
1 small chilli

Place all ingredients in food processor, blend until smooth, more Olive oil may be added to make into a creamy paste.

Bottle and enjoy with all your favorite pesto meals.

 

Rocket Pesto

Tags

almond, baked potatoes, clove garlic, dinner, Eruca sativa, food, food processor, home grown, olive oil, organic, pasta, pasta pizza, pesto, Pine nut, raw, raw almonds, rocket, Seed, vegetarian

Large handful Rocket leaves washed and dried

25ml Olive Oil

25ml raw Almonds

1 clove garlic

1 small chili (optional)

Blend all together in food processor until smooth.

Enjoy!

Good on Pasta, pizza, baked potatoes, a dollop in salads…. add to your green smoothies…..

Your imagination is the limit.

Rocket seed will germinate readily. It needs moist rich soil. Sow seed in rows and thin plants to around 20cm apart. Seed can be sown in spring and in autumn in milder climates. Rocket need to grow quickly and be kept well-watered to maximize its flavor. If it becomes dry or starts to bolt the leaves may be unpleasantly bitter. (Eruca sativa)

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