Thursday, May 21, 2009

Use Sweet Cicely

The scent of sweet cicely will remind you of anise and myrrh and the seed pod that forms in the early summer has a nutty flavor. There are many ways to use sweet cicely. Every part of the plant can find a purpose for your home.


Instructions


1. Pluck the early seed. You can use the unripe seed chopped and added to ice cream or tossed whole into fruit salads. Eat it like candy. It's sweet and delicious.


2. Wait until the seed ripe. When the seed becomes dark brown, it can be removed and added whole to pies, conserves and cookies. The ripe seeds can be crushed and added to most dessert recipes. The leaves and seeds of the sweet cicely are sweet, so sugar amounts should be reduced.


3. Freeze the leaves. The leaves of the sweet cicely plant don't dry well. If you want to use them later, it is best to freeze them. The uses of the sweet cicely leaves vary. Use them raw as great additions to salad dressing or omelettes. You can also cook them with cabbage or add them to stews and soups.








4. Chop the root of the plant. The thick brown taproot can be peeled and chopped. Top this with a salad dressing and you have a side dish. Cook the root and you can use the sweet cicely as an alternative root vegetable.

Tags: sweet cicely, salad dressing, sweet cicely