This is supposed to be an herbal adventure blog, and I see I’ve gotten a little side tracked. So here’s a quick ode to my current favorite herb: anise.

It’s officially fall somewhere so it’s time for anise. The warm spicy licorice smelling seed has me all aflutter for cold weather. I’m hoping if I use enough of it, I’ll bring the temperature down. Besides being great for tummy troubles, it also wards off evil spirits. You never know when one may visit. I tossed together this yummy salad and brewed up some anise orange peel tea on the side. I ended up icing the tea though. As hard as I tried, I just couldn’t do hot tea in 106 degree heat.

The salad: beets, walnuts, mandarin oranges, anise of course, and some champagne vinegar. Twas divine. Despite feeling like I live in the underworld, we had no evil spirits here today.