What was the saving herb?

By Chelsie Vandaveer

November 21, 2003

Killer Savings: Gurney's Seed and Nursery—>Click here.

Suggested Reading—>Click here.

Assorted Killer Savings Garden Links—>Click here.

Killer Picks: Italian Parsley, Moss Parsley, French Tarragon—>Click here.

Green Thumb Hobby Greenhouse—>Click here.

The garden sage (Salvia officinalis Linnaeus) is native to southern Europe from the Iberian Peninsula across into Asia Minor. John Gerard wrote that Agrippa (Agrippa von Nettesheim, 1486-1535) "called it the Holy-herbe" because it helped bring babies to term in women prone to miscarriages. He considered the herb "singular good for the head and braine; it quickeneth the senses and memory, strengthneth the sinewes, restoreth health...." Of course, Gerard highly regarded an alcoholic beverage, "No man needs to doubt of the wholesomeness of Sage Ale...."

The Romans called the plant salvia from salvus "well, sound, safe, unharmed" for the saving virtue attributed to it. In Old French, the herb was known as sauge or saulge, in Old High German, it was salbeia or salveia and in Anglo-Saxon, saluige or salfige. By Middle English, the herb was sauge or sawge. Although, sage was considered good for one's brain, the derivation of the name has nothing to do with sage as in "judicious, prudent, and wise".

Sage — For Seasoning Stuffing. A smoky, woodsy taste and aroma traditionally popular for poultry stuffing. Click here - $20 off any order for $50 or more at Gurneys.com! Herb Seed Herb Plants

French Bread Stuffing
(makes 6 cups enough for an 8-pound turkey or 2 chickens)

8 cups French bread cubes
1 cup coarse cracker crumbs
1 teaspoon ground sage (no more, sage can overwhelm the flavor)
1 cup chopped onion
½ cup finely chopped celery
½ cup butter or margarine
1 ten and a half ounce can cream of chicken soup
2 beaten eggs
¼ cup snipped fresh parsley

Combine the bread cubes, cracker crumbs, and sage in a large bowl. Saute the celery and onion in the butter or margarine until tender; pour over the bread mixture. Mix the cream of chicken soup, beaten eggs, and parsley together and pour over the bread mix. Toss together until evenly mixed. Bake in a shallow pan until golden brown or use as stuffing* inside a turkey or chicken.

(Recipe from Better Homes and Gardens, Encyclopedia of Cooking, 1973)

*Used as a stuffing inside a turkey or chicken, it is recommended that the bird temperature be 180 degrees and the stuffing temperature be 160 to 165 degrees. It is difficult to get stuffing to 160 without over-drying the turkey. It is easier to cook the turkey and stuffing separately.

Unique Professionally Designed Gardens

Springhill Nursery®

Spring Hill Nursery has unique gardens professionally designed by experts to take the guesswork out of gardening. Whether you are looking for a three season garden, foundation garden, or a garden to attract hummingbirds and butterflies, Spring Hill Nursery has created a step-by-step design just for you. Click here - $20 off your first order at Spring Hill Nursery!

Herb Mill

Gurney's Seed and Nursery®

Makes Mincing Easy – Does a gourmet job of mincing herbs and chopping nuts. Comes apart for easy cleaning. Guaranteed dishwasher safe, made of no-rust stainless steel. Click here - $20 off your first order at Gurneys!
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Italian Parsley Herbs

Gurney's Seed and Nursery®

Distinctive Dark Green Strain

More subtle grass-like flavor and aroma than regular parsley. Italian Parsley is an annual. 80 DAYS.

So much better than the dried and flash-frozen herbs in the supermarket!

This Item Ships In Both Spring And Fall Click here - $20 off any order for $50 or more at Gurneys.com!

[More Herbs...} [Herb Mill]

Comments: Annual. This flat-leaved parsley, not the curled garnish variety. A dark green strain; broad leaves. Good plant for windowsills. Very adaptable. More vitamin C per volume than oranges. Gentle flavor blends well with foods.

Vegetable Seeds For Sale - $20 off any order for $50 or more at Gurneys.com!

Champion Moss Parsley Herbs

Gurney's Seed and Nursery®

Ideal Garnish

Conveniently compact strain produces frilly sprigs. Champion Moss Parsley is an annual. 70 DAYS.

So much better than the dried and flash-frozen herbs in the supermarket!

Zones: 3 - 9 (-30° F.)

Click here - $20 off your first order at Gurneys!
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Comments: Heavy biennial; usually grown as an annual. Gives good crop in full or partial shade. Compact plants.

French Tarragon

Gurney's Seed and Nursery®

Prized by Good Cooks

Tender shoots and leaves with peppery, anise-like flavor and a hint of vanilla. A gourmet favorite for seasoning meats, sauces and piquant wine vinegars.

Easy-care perennial grows 2-3 feet tall, spreads slowly.

Click here - $20 off your first order at Gurneys!
[More Herbs...} [Herb Mill]

Green Thumb Hobby Greenhouse

Henry Fields Seed and Nursery®

The Green Thumb Hobby Greenhouse is the perfect weather-resistant combination—smooth, strong, totally maintenance free resin framework with tough safety glazing.

Provides UV protection, proper air circulation, heat control and simple push-fit assembly. It is perfect for getting a jump start on your growing season!

Click here - $20 off at Henry Fields Seed and Nursery!

Start your own seedlings and transplant them in a warm environment until weather permits outside planting.
Save money by starting your own vegetables, plants and flowers right in your own backyard.
Attractive barn shape design gives more headroom and growing space than the traditional A-shaped glass houses.
Twin wall polycarbonate panels offer the best in strength, safety, light diffusion, and heat insulation. One roof vent comes standard.
Size: H: 6’6” x W: 6’6” x D: 6’6” – shelves not included.