#tarragon lover
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Tarragon Lover's Scallops
Lightly browned sea scallops complemented by a smooth brown butter sauce with fresh tarragon. All you fans of tarragon, this is the recipe for you!
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Photo
Tarragon Lover's Scallops
Lightly browned sea scallops complemented by a smooth brown butter sauce with fresh tarragon. All you fans of tarragon, this is the recipe for you!
0 notes
Photo
Tarragon Lover's Scallops Recipe
Lightly browned sea scallops complemented by a smooth brown butter sauce with fresh tarragon. All you fans of tarragon, this is the recipe for you! 5 tablespoons butter divided, 1 lemon zested, 2 tablespoons chopped fresh tarragon, 2 tablespoons olive oil, 1 teaspoon salt to taste, 1/2 cup dry white wine, 1.5 pounds sea scallops rinsed and drained, 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
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Photo
Tarragon Lover's Scallops
Lightly browned sea scallops complemented by a smooth brown butter sauce with fresh tarragon. All you fans of tarragon, this is the recipe for you!
0 notes
Text
a little modern au halloween party comic featuring prince sebastian and sir konstantine (and julient) of the grey circle :) if I find time to do a part two I will !
[image ID: a four page digital comic featuring sebastian, a young thin person with pale skin and shaggy shortish black hair, and konstantine, a tall buff guy with tan skin and long copper hair in a bun and a short beard, as well as julient, an average build man with light brown skin and short black hair. they're at a halloween house party where sebastian is sulking alone in the kitchen until he is interrupted by konstantine. transcription begins:
sebastian stands alone holding a cup in a crowded room, wearing a golden costume crown and a blue jumper.
sebastian: (thinking) sigh. what am I doing here?
a flashback shows julient in a prince costume, putting his crown on sebastian, both smiling as julient touches sebastian's neck and jaw.
s: (thinking) I should have known julient would ditch me. how did I let him talk me into this?
konstantine: (approaching with a cardboard sword and paldrons) oi! s'cuze me, your highness.
s: (thinking) oh great. a drunk jock. just my luck. (out loud) what're you supposed to be?
k: pssht. a knight, obviously.
s: hmp. I would've guessed barbarian, or maybe caveman.
k: (confused) uh... pardon?
s: maybe it's the beard, or all the tape you used on that "costume."
k: (poking with his sword) sorry, do I know you?
s: (flicking the sword away) no, and I think we ought to keep it that way. ta.
k: (annoyed and reaching behind sebastian) look, "my lord," I was only trying to get behind you for a drink, yeah? calm down. (leaning over sebastian) hang on, I think I do know you.
s: I think you're mistaken—
k: no no, I'm great with faces. wait, don't tell me... (surprised) oh fuck! you're cyrus tarragon's boy, aren't you? like, richest guy in all of mirideth cyrus tarragon?
s: (whispering to himself) so much for "an evening as a normal uni student" ... I'm so going to kill julient—
k: you and I have english together, right?
s: you mean gothic lit?
k: yeah, with dr. sedir. stephan, right?
s: ...sebastian.
k: (holding out his hand) I'm konstantine.
s: (after staring at his hand for a moment and not taking it) well, it's been a riot, konstantine, but I'm afraid I've got to be going now— (muttering) just as soon as I find my ghost of a roommate—
someone out of frame: heeeeeyy sebastian~ my stars, fancy seeing you here. it's been quite a while, hasn't it?
end transcription and end ID.]
#comic#comics#halloween#gay#queer#prince#knight#modern au#enemies to lovers#the grey circle#fantastic#prince sebastian#sir konstantine#sebastian tarragon#art#illustration#oc#ocs#oc art#original comic#it's a little late but oh well#sebastian
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Happy Easter to all of you who celebrate! After a rotten Friday at the animal shelter where I work, I got a very pleasant surprise yesterday when a pregnant stray who came in gave birth to five live and healthy kittens! I might share some pics later on :) In the meantime, thank you @forabeatofadrum and @you-remind-me-of-the-babe for the tags this morning, as well as everyone else who’s continued to tag me on other days. I’ve been pretty slow writing lately, but I do have some shares this week!
First, a bit of kid!Baz POV from my COBB:
In the afternoons, I do my homework as soon as we get home and sometimes call my father. He never has much to say. I’ll offer to help Dev with his work and then water the herbs in the conservatory, reminding myself of the names and uses of each one. Dogtooth violet to stop gossip, bay leaves for wish making and prophetic dreams. Tarragon for confidence, St. John’s Wort to stave off colds and fevers. Basil can drive off dark spirits. I rub the leaves between my fingers, remembering Ebb’s lessons as the fresh summer scent breaks across my skin. “Basil can dispel confusion, boys. It turns back fear and weakness, and is used in exorcisms. Carry it with you to protect yourselves from danger, or spread it on the ground to keep away evil. It’s also sometimes used to bring lovers together.” Dev had elbowed me and sniggered, because of course we both associate the herb with my name. I don’t see how any of it relates to me, but it doesn’t really matter. It’s just what I’m called.
And the next is from a sequel I suddenly started writing to Field Trip of Dreams (god I still hate that that’s the title I gave it). I wouldn’t say it’s necessary to read the first fic, although it gives context for the fact that Baz and Simon are dating in eighth year, and everyone but the Mage knows it. It’s a longish share, but I’m enjoying writing so have it:
“Isolation Cabin?” Basilton is repeating in disbelief. His eyes narrow. “But Sir, whatever will we do if we get to talking and discover we were separated at birth?”
Simon understandably pales, but Davy merely snorts and waves a dismissive hand. “Unlikely, Mr. Pitch. Now, both of you grab your rucksacks while I conjure a bird to lead you to the cabin. It’s…out of the way.”
The rest of the students are in fits, but of course Davy doesn’t notice. He pays attention to nothing and nobody when he thinks he’s in the right. Simon has shouldered his own pack and is staring into the middle distance, refusing to look at anyone. Of course, Natasha Pitch’s son has to get in one last dig: “What’s next, a get-along shirt?”
Basilton’s unimpressed expression is fooling no one—I know blessed well that he’d only love that. “Davy,” I try one last time. “This weekend is supposed to be providing these students with a chance to learn how to get along as a community of mages. Splitting two of them off will deprive them of the chance—”
“Miss Possibelf.” I suppose it’s amusing that after all these years Davy doesn’t dare use my first name. “I know what I’m doing. Boys this age need a firm hand—” How does he not hear the sniggering going on behind him? “—and I’ve had just about enough.” After seven years. Seven years, and he’s had enough? Davy finally acknowledges me enough to turn and lower his voice. “Quite frankly, one of them has nothing to learn about survival, while the other doesn’t need to.” This last part is said in a hushed whisper, even though from the way Basilton’s eyebrow lifts, I’m certain he heard it.
I share his disdain for the sentiment, however, I’m not particularly concerned about his chances—here, or anywhere else. “Fine,” I snap, throwing my hands up. It’s not as though this trip isn’t always an annual excuse for all kinds of unsanctioned…exploration. Simon and Basilton aren’t likely to get up to anything they haven’t already, and I have bigger fish to fry given the amount of alcohol students traditionally smuggle on this fool’s exercise. David Cadwallader can be as blind as he likes, but some of us are left nursing the hangovers.
No pressure holiday tags: @rimeswithpurple, @artsyunderstudy, @cutestkilla, @c0nsumemy5oul, @tender-ministrations, @nausikaaa, @thewholelemon, @orange-peony, @youarenevertooold, @carryonsimoncarryonbaz, @ivelovedhimthroughworse, @letraspal, @bookish-bogwitch, @nightimedreamersghost, @aristocratic-otter, @brilla-brilla-estrellita, @hushed-chorus, @prettygoododds, @supercutedinosaurs, @shutup-andletme-go, @aceumbrellaheroes, @asocialpessimist, @wellbelesbian, @ic3-que3n, @raenestee , @larkral, @facewithoutheart, @papierhaikuphoto, @cows4247, @stitchy-queerista, @carry-on-big-bang, @imagineacoolusername, @ileadacharmedlife, @confused-bi-queer, @j-nipper-95, @jasonfunderberkerthefrogexists, @iamamythologicalcreature, @bazzybelle, @valeffelees
#cobb 2024#carry on big bang#snowbaz#WIP#six sentence sunday#the simon snow series#simon snow#tyrannus basilton grimm pitch#Baz pitch#small!baz does his chores and homework#small!dev…does not#watford eighth year#Simon and Baz are having a stupid fight#or is it stupid?#😇#in any event the mage’s solution is definitely stupid
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Hold me Without Hurting Me
Chapter 13: Tulips and Tough luck
A/N: In which an old friend fills your life with flowers again, along a bumpy sided road.
Pairings: Ceo!Jay × Ceo!fem!reader, includes rest of Enhypen and certain other groups
Warnings: angst-fluff, hurt/comfort, friends to enemies to fake dating to enemies to lovers, Mentions of food and alcohol, swearing, nothing much but it's a bumpy story.
Story prompt: If I had a flower for every time I fell in love with you, I would walk in my garden forever. (This story is based on the language of flowers.)
A/N: I am very sorry for the long wait, and I know this chapter is really short BUT WE ARE ARE ALMOST AT THE END YAY two more chapters to go and then we will be done. So just a little longer until I finish the next chapters and we'll be done!
SERIES MASTERLIST
You had always regarded regret as a shallow emotion. What even was it and why would you ever feel it? Regret, in your opinion, was an emotion made up by humans who hadn't done their sowing and were now looking for their bread. You had felt regret only two times in your entire life. The first, when you couldn't raise your tongue up to tell Jay what he needed to hear and the other, when you stared at Jay's naked chest and his peaceful sleeping face as you scanned your room with cautious eyes. The room felt hazier than it usually did and the bed averted more comfort than it usually did.
You had just fucked the man who you swore not even to talk to. And for some reason, regret wasn't coming easy to you.
The rising and falling of his chest like mountain valleys attracted you, drawing you in like a magnet to iron. You checked the alarm. 10 o'clock. And you were late for whatever was scheduled today.
The slight movement of Jay's body made you flinch as you heard a groan escape from his lips. His eyes opened slowly and his nose twitched, like a cat awakening from its slumber.
"Good morning." He said, yawning and pulling the covers closer to him, "How did we get like this?" He chuckled at the end of his question to which you smiled, at how eased he was.
"Let me guess." You ran your fingers through your hair, "I got drunk and horny, you got horny, and somehow this room had magical powers to make us fuck each other."
"You're on the pill right?" Jay asked uneasily, letting the covers fall a bit down. "Of course I am Jongsoeng." You rolled your eyes, "You think I'll let you fuck me raw that easily?"
"You did, once." Jay mumbled, avoiding your eyes, "You still smell the same." You could feel the remorse in the tone he used, whispering into nothingness, refusing to look at your face.
You still smelled the same.
A rather depressing complement, but a complement nonetheless.
"Would you like to shower first?" Jay asked hesitantly, turning to look at you in the eyes. "Oh yeah thanks." You said, meekly pulling on your blanket, "there's a shower downstairs too, if you wanna go first cause I gotta..... You know."
Dressing in front of Jay seemed like a very good option. Showering with him? Even better. But unfortunately the human mind does not like to say it's true feelings out loud, lest it's heart take full control, so you watched sadly as Jay quietly left the room with nothing but his pants on, getting up to go to the bathroom yourself before noticing the hickeys on your collarbone.
'Great' you thought 'so this isn't a very amazing nightmare.'
"Jay?"
"Hmm?"
"Did- did you mean everything you said last night?"
Jay's concentrated eyes faltered at that. You could see his body slightly shudder and his fingers start to fiddle with the button of his coat as he adjusted his outfit, from your position at the couch.
"If I said I did, how would you react?"
His question made you stop in your tracks. You tried to distract yourself with anything in the room, in order to calm yourself down.
Tarragon, Zinnia, Tulip. Every flower in the room was distracting you.
"Y/N, answer me." Jay knelt down to your level, his face mere inches from yours.
His eyes seemed soft, genuine, bringing back a kindred memory for you, which you had hoped to stash away.
"I- Jay, did you truly mean it?" Your tears were on the verge of escaping, "Tell me you feel for me like I do for you." A but dramatic in your part, but what is romance without drama?,
"Tell me-" you would have asked him a question that had been stuck in your throat for a time un-ideally desired, "Tell me you regret everything that had happened fifteen years ago."
The sweet scent of the tulips in the room distracted Jay, telling him to keep his secrets inside. Someone else can tell her, why should I?, ran a mile through his mind. Tulips. The sweet sunlight in a smile. And Jay couldn't help but agree that it would be the perfect flower to describe you, other than yarrow of course.
"I- I want to." Jay whispered, his lips barely ghosting yours, his breath hitting your skin like a perfume. "Jay I-"
The feel of his lips on yours felt genuine this time, like a rose decorating a garden or a marigold completing every bouquet perfectly. His lips felt like first snow, like the first scent of a book, like a drunken kiss on New Year's night with a boy you knee you shouldn't.
"We can't." Jay pulled away, stroking your tear stained cheek with his soft hand, "I know, my yarrow, but we can't do this."
He stood up, and adjusted his collar, before swinging out the door.
"Let me go, one last time Y/N."
#jay#jay park#park jay imagines#enhypen park jay imagines#park jay angst#park jay fic#park jay fluff#jay smut#jay park smut#enhypen jay fluff#jay fluff#enha#enhypen#Enha#enha fluff#enhypen fluff#Enhypen angst#enha fics#jay fics#jay park fluff#enhypen jay park#bye bye now
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feelin' thorny
rating: M
pairing: seungkwan x gn!reader
wc: 0.4k
summary: florist seungkwan receives a bouquet from his rival — emotions are had
warnings: slightly nsfw discussion, language
tags: rival florists, the is the start of an enemies to lovers fic (that i will probably never write), soonyoung says some Wild Shit, reader is actually only mentioned in this sorry
a/n: i know nothing about flowers or their meanings i just used google and then made shit up lol (also this was originally a vmin drabble i posted on twt two years ago)
Seungkwan looked down at the bouquet of flowers — beautifully arranged and wrapped in old newspaper and tied with a dainty blue ribbon — gobsmacked.
It was addressed to him of all people.
No one ever sent Seungkwan flowers. Because who would send flowers to a florist? Especially from his rival's shop?
And speak of the devil, the little card carefully attached to the ribbon simply read from y/n <3 in a distressingly elegant calligraphy.
He looked at the artfully arranged flowers more closely. There was an obvious yellow color scheme — hyacinth (jealousy - sport, game, play) and tansy (hostile thoughts, declaring war) and tarragon (lasting interest) arranged neatly around a single tall sunflower (haughtiness) — but a few white roses (I'm worthy of you) were included to help balance it out. It really was beautiful, and some unknown feeling did a little somersault in his chest.
And then the meanings sunk in.
You had just sent him a flower arrangement that essentially said "wow, you're so jealous, fucking fight me" but in the most annoyingly flirtatious way possible. It made Seungkwan want to commit arson.
"That absolute motherfucker."
"Okay, Kwan-ah, I'm confused," Soonyoung piped up from where he was re-poting some ferns in the corner. "Do you want to kill whoever sent those, or fuck them?"
Seungkwan choked on his spit.
Soonyoung blazed on, "Because the words you just said were mean but you look so grossly in love that I'm concerned hearts and rainbows are going to start shooting out of your pores like some kind of homoerotic pipebomb."
Or maybe murder was on the table after all.
"Kwon Soonyoung you are henceforth forbidden from ever opening your mouth inside my shop ever again." He threw one of the many flower-themed stress balls he kept lying around for this exact reason at Soonyoung's head, taking pleasure at the pained yelp Soonyoung let out as he failed to dodge out of the way and sprawled gracelessly across the floor.
Satisfied, he turned his attention back to the bouquet. "And to answer your question..."
The flowers stared up from where he was still clutching them with both hands, judging him. Waiting.
Seungkwan sighed.
"Both. Definitely both."
#seungkwan x y/n#seungkwan x reader#seungkwan x you#seungkwan fanfic#svt#svt fic#seventeen#seventeen fic#seventeen fanfic#seventeenweeklyarticle#the rest of svt watch on as seungkwan and reader try harder and harder to politely out petty each other#it's both hilarious and unbearably frustrating for them to watch lmao#also i hope u accept this offering of old fic i'm reposting while i continue to work on wips#savv writes#savv fics#can't believe i almost forgot my own tags lmao
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Hey, I’m new to following you and I’ve always loved your username- but while I was gardening today I realized Artemisia is the genus of the herb tarragon (one of my favorites!!) That made me wonder about your process for naming characters in fanfic, especially in Pietas. How do you come up with names? They’re all lovely!
Aww thank you. I chose the name because I love the painter Artemisia Gentileshi. But I love Tarragon in fish stew (You may have inspired my weekly shop).
So oftentimes, I go digging for old fashioned names (https://www.behindthename.com/top/lists/italy-renaissance/1427).
In Aeliana’s case I chose her name because it means sun (which is a star) and I wanted some star crossed lovers symbolism.
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🇫🇷❓❓Hello les amoureux du tire-bouchon. Et vous, connaissez-vous les Côtes du Roussillon Villages❓❓🇫🇷
🍇🍷Aop Côtes du Roussillon Villages rouge 2020 cuvée Alchimie du Domaine La Part Des Anges 🍇🍷:
🍇 :
Syrah
Carignan
Grenache noir
🏺:
Production 8000 bouteilles par an
💰:
Non communiqué par le domaine
👁️ :
Un robe de couleur grenat soutenu
👃 :
Un nez expressif sur des notes de fruits noirs, épices.
💋 :
En bouche, on a un vin aromatique, élégant, ample, généreux. Sur des arômes de fruits compotés, murs, cassis, pruneaux, le poivre en grains fraîchement moulus. Une belle longueur en bouche avec une finale sur des notes de cigares et de chocolat en poudre.
📜En résumé📜 :
J'ai vraiment adoré cette cuvée d'une belle justesse. Du plaisir à chaque gorgée. Un gros coup de cœur, je dois bien l'avouer.
🧆Dégusté sur un magret de canard saignant 🧆.
🍷Quelques accords mets et vin possible avec cette cuvée🍷 : Colombo de cabri, Coquelet à l'estragon, Cuisses de canard rôties, Filets mignons de porc, Jarret de porc braisé......
📌N'oubliez pas, boire un canon c'est sauver
un vigneron. Allez voir le site internet du domaine pour voir toutes les cuvées et promotions du moment📌.
🔞« L'abus d'alcool est dangereux pour la santé, à consommer avec modération »🔞 La plupart des vins ont été dégustés et recrachés. Dégustation non rémunéré.
#lesdegustationsugo #wine #winelover #vino #winetasting #winetime #winelovers #instawine #redwine #winestagram #winery #beer #wineoclock #vin #sommelier #love #vinho #foodporn #winelife #instagood #whitewine #cocktails #drinks #wein #foodie #wineporn #drink
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⏬🇫🇷Français dans les commentaires🇫🇷🇮🇹Italiano nei commenti 🇮🇹⏬
🇬🇧❓❓Hello corkscrew lovers. And you, do you know the Côtes du Roussillon Villages ❓❓🇬🇧
🍇🍷Aop Côtes du Roussillon Villages red 2020 cuvée Alchimie from Domaine La Part Des Anges 🍇🍷:
🍇:
Shiraz
Carignan
black grenache
🏺:
Production 8000 bottles per year
💰:
Not communicated by the domain
👁️:
A deep garnet color
👃:
An expressive nose with notes of black fruits and spices.
💋:
On the palate, we have an aromatic, elegant, ample, generous wine. On aromas of stewed fruits, blackcurrants, prunes, freshly ground peppercorns. A nice length in the mouth with a finish on notes of cigars and powdered chocolate.
📜In summary📜:
I really loved this cuvée of a beautiful accuracy. Pleasure in every sip. A big crush, I must admit.
🧆 Tasted on a bleeding duck breast 🧆.
🍷 Some food and wine pairings possible with this cuvée 🍷: Colombo de cabri, Cockerel with tarragon, Roasted duck legs, Cute pork fillets, Braised pork shank......
📌 Don't forget, drinking a cannon is saving a winemaker. Go see the domain's website to see all the vintages and promotions of the moment 📌.
🔞 "Alcohol abuse is dangerous for your health, consume in moderation"🔞 Most of the wines have been tasted and spat out. Unpaid tasting.
#lesdegustationsugo #wine #winelover #vino #winetasting #winetime #winelovers #instawine #redwine #winestagram #winery #beer #wineoclock #vin #sommelier #love #vinho #foodporn #winelife #instagood #whitewine #cocktails #drinks #wein #foodie #wineporn #drink
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🇮🇹❓❓Ciao amanti dei cavatappi. E tu, conosci i Côtes du Roussillon Villages❓❓🇮🇹
🍇🍷Aop Côtes du Roussillon Villages rosso 2020 cuvée Alchimie del Domaine La Part Des Anges 🍇🍷:
🍇:
Shiraz
Carignano
granato nero
🏺:
Produzione 8000 bottiglie all'anno
💰:
Non comunicato dal dominio
👁️:
Colore granato intenso
👃:
Un naso espressivo con note di frutti neri e spezie.
💋:
Al palato abbiamo un vino aromatico, elegante, ampio, generoso. Su aromi di frutta cotta, ribes nero, prugne, pepe in grani appena macinato. Una bella lunghezza in bocca con un finale su note di sigari e cioccolato in polvere.
📜In sintesi📜:
Ho davvero amato questa cuvée di una bella accuratezza. Piacere in ogni sorso. Una grande cotta, devo ammetterlo.
🧆 Degustato su un petto d'anatra sanguinante 🧆.
🍷 Alcuni abbinamenti enogastronomici possibili con questa cuvée 🍷: Colombo de cabri, Galletto al dragoncello, Cosce d'anatra arrosto, Filetti di maiale carini, Stinco di maiale brasato......
📌 Non dimenticare, bere un cannone è salvare un enologo. Andate a vedere il sito del dominio per vedere tutte le annate e le promozioni del momento 📌.
🔞 "L'abuso di alcol è pericoloso per la salute, consumalo con moderazione"🔞 La maggior parte dei vini è stata assaggiata e sputata. Degustazione non pagata.
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🌿🌺 Are you looking at an empty spot in your garden and wondering what to plant? Herbs are always a great choice. They're lovely to look at and add flavor while cooking. Not to mention, they smell fantastic!
🌞🌞🌞Full Sun Perennial Herbs:🌞🌞🌞 Your sunny garden spots are prime real estate for these sun-loving herbs. They add flavor to meals and bring beauty to your outdoor space.
Lavender: This aromatic herb is a garden favorite, with its soothing fragrance and attractive purple blooms.
Rosemary: A robust herb known for its aromatic leaves and bee-friendly flowers, rosemary thrives in the sun.
Thyme: Small but mighty, thyme is a sun-lover with a delightful aroma and a culinary staple.
Oregano: Perfect for any sunny herb garden, oregano offers culinary excellence and petite flowers.
Sage: Known for its gray-green leaves and beautiful purple flowers, sage is a hardy addition that loves sunlight.
🍃🍃🍃Partial Shade Perennial Herbs:🍃🍃🍃
If your garden gets a break from the direct sun, these herbs will feel right at home. They're perfect for cooler, shaded areas and add color and texture to your garden.
Mint: A refreshing herb, mint is ideal for cooler, partially shaded spots, but remember, it can spread quickly! (Plant in pots to control it!)
Chives: Not only do they add a delicate onion flavor to dishes, but their purple flowers are also a visual treat.
Lemon Balm: With a lemony scent and flavor, lemon balm is great for teas and enjoys partial shade. (It's also an aggressive grower that helps prevent soil erosion).
French Tarragon: This herb prefers a little shade and adds a unique flavor to your culinary repertoire.
Parsley: A versatile culinary herb, parsley flourishes in slightly shaded areas, adding fresh greenery and taste to your garden. It's not a perennial; it is a biennial, needing to be replanted every two years.
Contact Tayloe's Lawn Care Services, LLC, at 252.287.3376 for more gardening insights or lawn care advice. #tayloeslawncare #mowlikeatayloe #herbs #herbgardening
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What am I supposed to smell in this wine?
Your eyes are shut tight and your nose is dipped genteelly into your glass, seconds later your head lifts and you ask “What am I supposed to be smelling here?” “What do you smell?”. Alas, what I smell and what you and your table mate(s) smell are rarely the same, and guess what? It doesn’t matter.
Your wine came with a list of tasting notes including words like: Bing and dried cherries, tropical fruits, cedar, black raspberries and melon, even wet stone, leather, pencil lead and barnyard. You spend precious time that could be spent enjoying your purchase trying to find the experience the reviewer told you to expect. Are you confused, disappointed that you couldn’t discern what you were supposed to? Let it go and let’s move on to all you really need to know to “sacar todo el jugo” as the saying goes in Spanish- “get all of the juice out” of the experience.
Like most passionate students of wine (especially those seeking certifications and advanced degrees), I spend a great deal of time sniffing through spice cabinets, ethnic grocery stores and farmers market stands, blooming flowers and fruit trees, freshly mown grass and hay, the ocean breeze, the wet pavement after summer rain (petrichor), the earthy smell of an open field after a heavy downpour (geosmin). I smell the differences between Oolong, Earl Grey and Lapsang Souchong teas; between Italian espresso roast and Cuban coffee; between uncured and smoked bacon. In other words, I stick my nose into a lot of places where it doesn’t necessarily belong-also looking for signs of faults in a wine like: locker room, dirty laundry, geranium, rotten egg, burnt rubber, cooked garlic, or skunk. I volunteer at a local farm to smell freshly-dug earth and the growth stages in the lifespan of heirloom tomatoes. I grow seasonal veggies and herbs on my patio so that I can enjoy the scent of my Meyer lemon tree in bloom and the lingering smell of tarragon on my fingers at harvest. Many wine lovers are also great cooks who recognize the variations in aroma of a ripe vs an unripe ingredient, uncut vs sliced, raw vs cooked or a fresh vs fermented one. I recommend that anyone looking to more fully understand the vocabulary of wine begin by learning to smell, as many of the aromatic characteristics also reveal themselves on the palate.
For example, some well-ripened cheeses smell pungently of dirty socks. Not very appetizing to those who don't enjoy Époisses from France or Dutch Limburger but make sense to those who love them. The nuance of animal fat is especially prevalent in Syrah from France's Rhône Valley. A stone-like scent and flavor (some of us diehards have even licked the stones) are the hallmarks of Sauvignon Blanc from the Loire Valley, Champagne and Chablis. Many southern French reds hint at licorice. German Riesling often smells faintly of gasoline – in a good way.
The Wine Aroma Wheel is a helpful tool for learning to describe the complexity of wines by categorizing their characteristic aromas in relation to fruits, vegetables, flowers, minerals, animals, wood, oak and yeast, etc. However, none of this is very useful to someone unfamiliar with the aromas listed. Sadly, today’s supermarkets offer little help in identifying the scents on the wheel as most fruits and vegetables, especially imported tropical fruits (mango, papaya, guava, starfruit) were picked before prime ripeness and lack smell as well as flavor. I once told someone who didn’t like papaya that they most likely hadn’t had a local, fully ripened one. How many of us have access to fresh gooseberries, green almonds, persimmons or quince whether unripe or ripened? What about boysenberries and dragonfruit? Was that lychee fresh or canned? How many have plucked a fig or olive from the tree, can differentiate between the scent of iris, jasmine or lilac? Ever ride a horse or wear Granddad’s old leather bomber jacket? Do you smell your shitake, oyster and maitake mushrooms? See what I mean? This is not a game for everyone.
Having a common language for winetasting allows people of diverse backgrounds to communicate fluidly. Learning the basics is desirable and can add fun when sharing wine with others; but should not be stressful for the average consumer. At a recent tasting of wines from Bourgogne and Bordeaux, a heavily Aussie accented presenter swirled the glass before handing a juicy red Burgundy to me. He raised his glass to his nose as I did mine and we both said, almost in unison “Horsehair!”. The scent took us both back to the memories of saddling up a freshly brushed horse, while also hinting at the wine’s age and vineyard location. A connection was made. A Jamaican-American wine and food writer I know often refers to Barbados cherries, Marionberries, Hibiscus or Sorrel flowers and sea urchin. Do these hold any meaning for you? If so, enjoy these bonus associations when they occur, if not move on.
Detecting aromas is not a parlor trick or for showing off. Your server at a restaurant should be able to detect most faults in the wine before pouring. Let them examine the cork and discreetly sniff for off odors. If an off-putting aroma or bad taste slips by them, let them know, trust your judgement that the wine shouldn’t smell like a wet dog or taste like your kitchen sponge. A faulty wine is generally identifiable, so if this occurs with a bottle you open at home, cork it up and return it to the vendor, if possible. For this reason, I never tell attendees in my classes what to smell or taste; rather to “feel the sensations” of the wine. The important elements of a balanced wine are in its acidity, tannin structure, residual sugar level, alcohol by volume (ABV%), mouthfeel – assets that most people can detect - tartness, sweetness or the lack of it, the heat of alcohol and the thin or thick texture on the palate. After all, what the average drinker wants from a glass of wine is enjoyment.
If you fancy yourself “not average” by all means join me in exploring all the good and bad smells associated with wine – otherwise, as my class descriptions advise “Smell, Sip, Taste, Enjoy” and leave it at that.
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Seafood Recipe
Sea scallops that have been lightly browned are served with a silky brown butter sauce that contains fresh tarragon. You tarragon lovers should try this recipe out!
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Tarragon Lover's Scallops - Shellfish
Lightly browned sea scallops complemented by a smooth brown butter sauce with fresh tarragon. All you fans of tarragon, this is the recipe for you!
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BLT with Soft Shell Crab and Tarragon Aioli
Calling all seafood lovers. Elevate your sandwich game with our delicious Soft Shell Crab BLT, perfectly complemented by a tangy Tarragon Aioli. Prepare to be blown away by this culinary masterpiece.
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