ENLIVEN YOUR KITCHEN AND PALATE WITH HERBS

WRITTEN BY VICTORIA HITTNER

“Herbs are the friend of the physician and the pride of cooks.” It’s a quote attributed to Charlemagne the Great, but the sentiment rings true centuries later. Whether blooming in a garden or simmering in a pot, herbs are an enticing delight for the senses. And while North American kitchen staples like rosemary, basil, and thyme are culinary stalwarts for a reason, there’s an entire world of herbs to explore. Try these less-common delights the next time you plant your garden or reach for a new recipe.

strawberry rhubarb jam

Yields 1½ pints

• ½ pound rhubarb, medium diced
• 1 pound strawberries, stems removed, medium diced
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• Zest from 1 lemon

Combine all the ingredients in a bowl and place in the refrigerator for 2 hours to macerate the berries. Transfer the full contents of the bowl to a saucepan and bring to a simmer. Monitor the temperature with a candy thermometer, bringing the temperature to 220 degrees F. Puree with an immersion blender and bring back to a simmer before removing from heat.

Pour the jam directly into sterilized mason jars, leaving ¼-inch headspace. Top with lids and bands while the jam is still hot. Jam can be kept in the refrigerator for 1 month, frozen in freezer-safe containers for up to 1 year, or made shelf stable with the water-bath canning method and stored up to 2 years.

RECIPE AND PHOTOGRAPH BY KRISTEL MATOUSEK
WWW.PHOTORICALFOOD.COM

ENHANCE YOUR YARD WITH ELEMENTS OF THIS FORMAL STYLE

WRITTEN BY RONDA SWANEY

Formal Italian gardens emerged during the Renaissance. Their arrival was an evolution of Italian medieval gardens, which were walled off and private, mostly tended by monks, and focused on practical plantings of herbs and vegetables. The Renaissance style broke down the walls between interior and exterior, linking the architecture of a home to the landscape architecture of surrounding grounds, connecting both stylistically and physically. The rich and powerful built these gardens, which were open so they could be seen by others, and formally cultivated evergreens to celebrate balance and control. Only wealthy landowners could create them because they required space and money to build and maintain. These gardens disdained practical medieval style in favor of pure pleasure. They were meant to be looked on, savored, and envied by others.

A Well-Choreographed Retreat in the Dominican Republic

WRITTEN BY BLAKE MILLER / PHOTOGRAPHY BY IWAN BAAN & KARLA READ

WAKE UP TO COFFEE CULTURE AROUND THE WORLD

WRITTEN BY MARESA GIOVANNINI

If you jump-start your day by sipping a cup of Joe, you are far from alone. In fact, after water, coffee is the top drink around the world with more than two billion cups consumed every day. Coffee appears to be a universal love language, but with myriad ways to brew, serve, and sip it, each cup is as distinctive as the person who prepares it. For more buzz about global coffee culture, read on.

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