Plectranthus amboinicus

http://nsushma.blogspot.com/2010/02/doddapatre-tambuli-coleus-aromaticus-in.html

Indian Borage -- Effective Cough Remedy from your herb garden

The Indian borage first came to my notice when I was suffering from a bad cough, and a friend suggested chewing the leaves of this plant she had growing in her garden. Apparently, even her son, a doctor, found it helpful when more conventional medicines didn't help. And she was right, the leaves provided almost immediate relief. So of course I had to go plant one of my own, which led to me checking out sites and books to find out more about the Indian borage.

In the process, I discovered that it makes a wonderful addition to a herb garden, with its many culinary and medicinal uses (more that I would ever have imagined). And, if you're like me, a beginner gardener, it's encouraging to grow a plant which thrives without much care.

The Indian Borage (Plectranthus amboinicus) has heart-shaped leaves with scalloped edges, and the typical four-cornered stem of the Lamiaceae family. The thick, succulent leaves are entirely covered with short, fine hairs. Try lightly brushing the hairs, and you'll get a pungent aroma. The plant typically grows to about 50 cm in height.

INDIAN BORAGE

Botanical name Plectranthus amboinicus (Coleus amboinicus, C. aromaticus, C. carnosa)
Botanical family Lamiaceae (Labiatae)
Other names

• Country borage
• Puerto Rican oregano brujo / Cuban oregano
• French thyme / Spanish thyme / Broad-leaf thyme (West Indies)
• Mexican mint / Soup mint / Indian mint
• Sak dam ray (Cambodia)
• Ajeran, daun jinten, daun kucing (Indonesia)
• Daun bangun-bangun (Malaysia)
• Latai, suganda, oregano (Philippines)
• Po-hor (Singapore)
• Hom duan huu suea, niam huu suea (Thailand)
• Can day la (Vietnam)
• Pashan Bhedi, Karpooravalli, Patharchur (India)
• Da shou xiang (in Chinese)

Active ingredients Major components of its essential oil are 3-carene, g-terpinene, camphor and carvacrol (Source: Wee Yeow Chin, A Guide to Herbs and Spices)

Zucchini Bread

I found this recipe from AllRecipe.com. I like this though I haven't try yet because it looks like healthy treat! We are trying to go for whole grain and whole food experience.

Zucchini Bread III

Ingredients

• 3 eggs
• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 1 1/2 cups packed brown sugar
• 2 cups grated zucchini
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 cup whole wheat flour
• 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 3 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1 cup raisins (optional)
• 1 cup chopped walnuts (optional)
• 1/4 cup wheat germ

Directions

1. In a large bowl, combine eggs, oil, sugar, zucchini, and vanilla. Mix well. Add flours, baking powder, soda, salt, wheat germ, and cinnamon; stir to combine. Stir in raisins and nuts, if desired.
2. Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 1 hour, or until a tester inserted in the center comes out clean.

Ingredients

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 3 eggs
• 2 cups white sugar
• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 2 cups grated zucchini
• 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 cup sour cream

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease two 9 x 5 inch loaf pans.
2. Beat together eggs, sugar, and oil. Blend in the grated zucchini, and then the sour cream. Mix in the flour, baking powder, soda, and cinnamon. Stir in chocolate. Pour batter into prepared pans.
3. Bake for 80 minutes. Cool on wire rack.

Zucchini Pineapple Bread I

Ingredients

• 4 eggs
• 1 1/2 cups white sugar
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 3/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1 (8 ounce) can crushed pineapple, drained
• 2 cups grated zucchini
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

Directions

1. Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
2. In a large bowl, mix oil, eggs, vanilla, sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Blend in pineapple and zucchini. Stir flour mixture into zucchini mixture. Pour batter into two greased and floured 9 x 5 inch loaf pans.
3. Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 1 hour. Cool on wire racks.

Summer Bounty Harvest!

Despite that I did not plant anything beside tomatoes on pots. Well, I brought early girl and beef boy which were 5 gal to begin with so I got a few tasty ripe tomatoes! I got zucchini and yellow summer quashes as bonus to my bf mom who had so many that she and her husband could not eat all. I gave most away to our friends to share the bounties! My sister column Northern Light red apple gave lot of flowers but I chose only a few to ripe. The apples were still hanging in the tree but there was strong wind knock them off. It was a good thing that they were ripe. They are sour and felt light but they were very juicy! I still have some display on crystal fruit bowl. They ripe and got knocked down about 3 weeks ago. I made oatmeal brown sugar apple dessert or you could call it like hot cereal breakfast.