Herb Week: Thyme For Change

Who knew we had so many herbs? (Today marks the start of Herb Week #3) This is Thyme (Thymus vulgaris.) Ancient Egyptians used thyme in embalming. The ancient Greeks used it in their baths and burnt it as incense in their temples, believing that thyme was a source of courage. It was thought that the spread of thyme throughout Europe was thanks to the Romans, as they used it to purify their rooms and to "give an aromatic flavour to cheese and liqueurs."

In the European Middle Ages, the herb was placed beneath pillows to aid sleep and ward off nightmares. In this period, women would also often give knights and warriors gifts that included thyme leaves as it was believed to bring courage to the bearer. Thyme was also used as incense and placed on coffins during funerals as it was supposed to assure passage into the next life.

Thyme is a good source of iron and is used widely in cooking. Thyme is a basic ingredient in French, Greek, Italian, Lebanese, Persian, Spanish, Syrian, and Turkish cuisines, and in those derived from them. It is also widely used in Arab and Caribbean cuisines.

Thyme is often used to flavour meats, soups and stews. It has a particular affinity to and is often used as a primary flavour with lamb, tomatoes and eggs.

It's really a shame that the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel decided to take Doonesbury off the editorial page, eliminating it from the paper altogether. This is Sunday's strip, where frame by frame, creator Gary Trudeau takes aim at Sarah Palin's past and the Republican party's attempts to deal with it. (click on the cartoon to take you to a larger, more readable version.)

Thyme for Change? You bet!