Cracking the Cilantro

"Uggh." Eyes rolling back into her head.

"Keep that cilantro away from me."

Then. A minute later.

"Well, at least you killed it to make the necklace."

While sitting at my craft fair table I have come to expect this sort of remark. People out there HATE cilantro. I mean really despise it. To the point of shuddering and staring at there friend standing next to them like, "You know how bad it is, don't you???" I just sit at my booth, staring at my cilantro necklaces wondering what is going on here! "Its guacamole season people!"

Growing up, I was fed a standard meat and potatoes diet. It was all American food. Salt and pepper was usually the spice of choice and things like hummus or curry or cilantro were not in my vocabulary. My Mom and Dad liked the crock pot filled with beef, potatoes, carrots, a little onion, maybe one garlic clove and if was getting crazy, throw in some celery too. I was the rebellious daughter who snuck chili powder and garlic into the stew. Of course came dinner time panic shook the kitchen table, "What did you put in here!?" ready to spit on me.

I remember the first time I ate something with cilantro in it. It was a salad of some sort.

My Mom's best friend was a professional cook who did catering. She was always trying out new exotic recipes. I remember going over to her house and feeling like her kitchen held culinary discoveries. I think it was a pasta salad. All I remember is the foreign taste. So different. For the first second it did taste bad. Maybe soapy now that I think of it. But, after that night I fell in love with the mysterious taste. I wanted more. My love for cilantro was born.

So now that I have witnessed so many craft fair goers adversity with cilantro. I finally did some research. How else to explain this craziness? After reading a few articles, turns out Cilantro holds a few olfactory tricks up its leafy sleeve. The Coriander leaf... aka Cilantro... has aldehyde's which are very similar or the same as soap and some bugs such as stink bugs. All right all of you weirdo's. I guess there is a reason for your Cilantro disgust. Here's a great NPR article on this cilantro conundrum.

Like the girl said, at least I killed the leaf to make the necklace! If you are one of those who is sensitive to cilantro's aldehyde's think the Hightower Botanical's cilantro jewelry as an alter to cilantro. The leaf is forever preserved as metal holding its evil smelly powers hostage and even warding off the live plant! Or maybe not if you actually like cilantro like me. Cast cilantro can plays homage to the herb too.

What can I say? I like my spices.

Cilantro in metal on Etsy:
cilantro 5 leaf necklace

large cilantro leaf necklace

small cilantro leaf necklace

hanging cilantro earrings

Garden Power

I am sick of being confined to my yard-less apartment. I'm growing an indoor herb garden this year! Just planted seeds in a little sprouter box. This is the first time I've used one and I'm very excited! I'm going all natural with only organic herbs this year. I bought herbs from two lovely etsy stores, The Little Ragmuffin and Homegrown Healthy. I doubt the sprouter kit is organic but its so cool, like miniature burlap sacks filled with soil, and when I transfer the baby plants to pots and boxes I'll use organic soil so good enough for me.

My husband and I are looking forward to fresh herbs this season. We will have so many yummy choices! Sweet and Purple Basil, Chives, Dill, Cilantro and edible flowers... I want to add mint and mini tomatoes and peppers too (but my space is limited so we will see). So many cooking possibilities and for flavor fresh usually far out beats dried.

Botanical Pottery

Hawthorne Pottery

is an Etsy shop that i came across while searching for Rosemary stuff. Since I am an avid herb lover, sometimes I peruse the Etsy's gigantic library of goods in search of herb-related items. Usually, I gotta say that I'm pretty dissapointed... nonetheless, I was very excited finding Hawthorne Pottery! They have some great stuff.

Oregano Leaf Imprint Hanging Tile

Sage Imprint Tile

And, I just bought this beautiful mulberry leaf imprint soap or serving dish!!! I think I'm going to put it on my bedroom dresser for jewelry. Thanks Hawthorne Pottery!