Fun Activities Coming Up!

From gift ideas to outdoor events and fall classes to seasonal recipes, Backyard Patch Herbs has something going on you might find fun!

Recipe Theme and Community Education

This year we have been working on sharing recipes from our huge archive of herb-theme recipes. Each month we have a different theme with a variety of recipes. In July the theme is Grilling. We started on July 3 with Basil Grilled Chicken and will continue several times a month adding more items. Previously, we've had Breads, Jambalaya, soups, stews and more. On the blog you can search the recipes with the subject "recipe2018" and each month there is a search name for that month's theme which you can find at the bottom of any recipe posted.

Here is a great recipe to enjoy exclusive to the newsletter:

Grilled Provençal Shrimp Skewers

1 ½ pounds peeled and deveined large shrimp

½ cup mayonnaise

2 teaspoons Backyard Patch Herbs de Provence

kosher salt and black pepper

DIRECTIONS

Heat grill to medium-high (prepare charcoal grill as usual and grill at the edges of coals. In a medium bowl, toss the shrimp with the mayonnaise, Herbs de Provence, ½ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper. Thread the shrimp onto 8 skewers (soaked if wooden) and grill, uncovered, until cooked through, 3 to 4 minutes per side.

This fall we are working with two different Community Education departments. The first is one we have worked with for years District 128 in Libertyville/Vernon Hills. This fall we have added H.S. Dist 214 which serves Arlington Hts, Mt. Prospect, Elk Grove Village, Wheeling and other surrounding communities. They are focusing on some different programs especially my cooking demo program with my husband Chas which was a great hit in Villa Park last year.

In Vernon Hills we will be doing Tea 101 on September 17 featuring how to choose and brew green and black teas with samples and on September 26, I'll be presenting the Art of Canning. There will be more programs in October and November. To find the whole list, see the Upcoming Events page on the Blog.

So visit the District 128 website or the Dist 214 website to register now for one of these great classes. To find my classes, just search my name as Instructor Marcy Lautanen-Raleigh. Both districts have registration open for Fall 2018.

Enjoy Summer Grilling Sets

Marinades, Rubs and BBQ Sauces are perfect blends to enjoy in grilling season. Try out one or a set of four or five with special recipes all available on Etsy under Seasonal Herbs!

Cooling off in a Bath

Most people do not think of taking a bath in the summer is the thing to do, but in truth after a day in the extreme heat we've been having this year you can reduce you core temperature much better imerced in a bath of room temperature or tepid water.

This month our Bath Blend of the Month focuses on Lemon which is perfect to revive the skin which also suffers in the heat and sun.
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Upcoming events

Coming in September, beyond the programs with Community Ed we will have lectures at the Itasca Garden Club and the Oak Park River Forest Garden Club, a program on Mocktails at the Sandwich Public Library on September 19 as well as vending at the Home & Farm Artisan Market in Oswego IL on September 15, 2018. The Artisan Market features a number of local crafters and homemade specialists. They post information about the vendors on the Market Facebook page. Come check us out!