Your Backyard Herb Garden or Simple Chinese Cooking

Your Backyard Herb Garden: A Gardener's Guide to Growing Over 50 Herbs Plus How to Use Them in Cooking, Crafts, Companion Planting and More

Author: Miranda Smith

Everything you need to know about growing your favorite herbs using safe, natural, all-organic methods!

Practical tips and advice on all aspects of successful herb growing.

A wealth of great ideas and helpful how-to on using herbs in cooking, crafts, cosmetics, health care, insect repellents, and more.

Illustrated herb directory featuring all the most popular herbs-- from aloe to yarrow-- each with complete information on growing, care, harvesting, and uses.

Table of Contents:

	Introduction	4
	Planning and Preparing Your Herb Garden	6
	Choosing Your Plants	8
	Choosing Locations	13
	Designing Your Garden	16
	Formal Designs	20
	Kitchen Gardens	22
	Herbs for Fragrance	24
	Color	26
	Growing and Caring for Your Herbs	28
	Breaking Ground	30
	Transplants and Seeds	34
	Caring for Your Garden	40
	Propagating Your Herbs	44
	Preparing for Winter	48
	Growing Herbs Indoors	50
	Pests and Diseases	52
	Using and Enjoying Your Herbs	58
	Harvesting Your Herbs	60
	Drying Herbs	62
	Freezing Culinary Herbs	64
	Herbal Seasonings	66
	Dressing Up Salads	68
	Brewing Herbal Vinegars	70
	Herb Flavored Oils	72
	Making Herb Teas	74
	Herbal Jellies and Honeys	76
	Herbal Breads	78
	Herbs for Health and Beauty	80
	Herbs and Your Health	82
	Herbs for Beauty	86
	Custom-Blend Potpourri	88
	Pillows and Sachets	90
	Herb Bouquets	92
	Dried Arrangements	94
	Insect Repellents	96
	Herb Directory	98
	Aloe	100
	Angelica	101
	Anise	102
	Anise hyssop	103
	Basil, sweet	104
	Bee balm	106
	Betony	107
	Borage	108
	Calendula	109
	Caraway	110
	Catnip	111
	Chamomile	112
	Chervil	113
	Chives	114
	Cilantro/Coriander	115
	Clary	116
	Comfrey	117
	Dill	118
	Fennel	119
	Feverfew	120
	Geraniums, scented	121
	Hyssop	123
	Lavender	124
	Lemon balm	125
	Lemongrass	126
	Lemon verbena	127
	Lovage	128
	Marjoram, sweet	129
	Mints	130
	Nasturtium	132
	Oregano	133
	Parsley	134
	Pennyroyal	135
	Rosemary	136
	Rue	137
	Saffron crocus	138
	Sage	139
	Santolina	140
	Savory, summer	141
	Savory, winter	142
	Southernwood	143
	Sweet cicely	144
	Sweet woodruff	145
	Tansy	146
	Tarragon, French	147
	Thyme	148
	Valerian	149
	Vervain, European	150
	Violet	151
	Wormwood	152
	Yarrow	153
	USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map	154
	Resources and Recommended Reading	155
	Index	157
	Acknowledgments	160

Go to: Libraries in the Information Age or Skill Wars

Simple Chinese Cooking

Author: Kylie Kwong

Cooking Chinese food at home has truly never been easierall you need is this book, a wok, and a quick trip to the supermarket

Simple Chinese Cooking offers Kylie Kwong's philosophy of marrying the freshest ingredients and the simplest techniques to create amazing flavor. Kylie grew up devouring the mouthwatering heartiness of her mother's traditional Cantonese cuisine. Armed with the fundamental techniques, she set out to give ancient tradition a modern twist and bring the joys of Chinese cooking to all. Now, people from all over the globe flock to her popular restaurant in Sydney, billy kwong. But in this book, she brings her delicious recipes to Chinese food lovers everywhere.

Simple Chinese Cooking demystifies the preparation of Chinese cuisine—with ingredients that are readily available in any grocery store, and recipes that are friendly and easy-to-follow. From soy sauce chicken and steamed fish fillets with ginger and spring onions, to prawn wonton soup, this book offers delicious everyday meals, as well as dishes that are perfect for entertaining. With succulent 4-color photographs throughout and step-by-step instructional pictures, Simple Chinese Cooking will guide anyone to create a delectable feast.

Publishers Weekly

A companion to her second Australian television series, this appetizing and beautifully illustrated collection will earn Kwong a large American following. Seeking to demystify Chinese cooking for the uninitiated, she allocates ample space to the basics: equipment, ingredients and techniques along with recipes for tasty yet simple dishes. The well-known Sweet and Sour Pork is balanced by the less familiar Sung Choi Bao of Pork, providing treasures for both those learning about the cuisine and those who are looking for more diversity. Kwong offers a comprehensive look at all aspects of Chinese offerings-from stocks, soups and rice to meats, poultry and tofu. Soy Sauce Chicken is not to be missed, and neither is Crispy King Prawns with Honey and Garlic Sauce. Sections on Salads, Wontons and Pickles are an added bonus, highlighting such gems as Pickled Asparagus and Mint Salad and Button Mushroom Salad. Kwong also provides tips on menu planning, saving time, food for kids and what to drink with Chinese food. Highly recommended for all fans of Chinese food, this collection is a welcome addition to a crowded field. 150 full-color photos. (Feb.) Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.