My Inspiration -- The Herb Garden

A true treasure in Kansas City

is the John Wornall House

But the treasure of the John Wornall House

lies not within it's walls

but behind the house

The Herb Garden

This herb and perennial garden contains the larges variety of herbs grown for public display in the Kansas City area.     Commissions by the Kansas City Herb Society in 1976, Dr. John Baumgardt designed the garden as a memorial to Kathryn Barnes Williams

Although the formal enclosed design is more elaborate than a typical 19th century garden, the plantings are in keeping with the interpretive period of the house.     

A variety of culinary and medicinal herbs share the garden and represent many of the plants deemed necessary to the life on the frontier.

In the mid 90s I discovered this wonderful garden,

And it was the inspiration for what became the final herb garden at Linderhof

And going from a two barrel herb garden to a four square herb garden,
I needed inspiration for herb use in the kitchen

And, I bought these three books on a visit to the Wornall House.

All are titled "Thyme On Our Hands" and one is "Volume III" but I'm not sure which of the other two came first!

On one or two visits, they would have samples of some of the recipes.

Which were exceedingly good and which I still make.

Last year . . . 

They published a new book --

again titled "Thyme On Our Hands"

And it does contain some of the recipes in the older books

But lots of new recipes as well.

I love using my herbs in the kitchen

And there is hardly a meal at Linderhof that doesn't utilize herbs.

But I adore using herbs in sweets

And the new book had a recipe for

Lemon Rosemary Shortbread

It's a great cookie!     A really great cookie!

A platter of the lemon rosemary shortbread, napkins, spoons, a cream pitcher of pansies and cups and saucers on a wicker tray.

To be carried outside

And a pot of tea brought after!

For at Linderhof, I can do something that you can't do at the Wornall House Herb Garden

Have tea in the herb garden!

The lemon rosemary shortbread is a good cookie and one that I will definitely make again.

If you're not fond of rosemary, omit the herb -- the cookies would be almost as good without!

LEMON ROSEMARY SHORTBREAD COOKIES

2 sticks unsalted butter, softened

3/4 c. sugar

1 T. lemon zest (from 1 lemon)

1 T. lemon juice

1 t. vanilla

1 egg

2 1/2 c. flour

1 T. minced fresh rosemary

3/4 t. salt

In a bowl of a stand mixer, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.    Add lemon zest and lemon juice, vanilla and egg and beat until incorporated.    In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, salt and rosemary.    With mixer on low, gently add dry ingredients into butter mixture.     Mix until ingredients are combined and a stiff dough is formed.     Cut two 12 x 16 inch pieces of plastic wrap.     Divid dough in half and place one half of dough on each sheet.    Form the dough into 1 1/2 inch diameter logs.    Open the plastic wrap and sprinkle with sugar and roll a bit more to coat the logs well in sugar.

Wrap logs tightly in the plastic wrap, place on baking sheet and freeze for 1 hour or until firm.

Preheat oven to 375.    Line baking sheets with parchment paper.     Remove dough logs from freezer and remove the plastic wrap.   Slice dough into 1/4 inch thick slices and place on prepared baking sheets 1 inch apart.    Bake until cookies are just golden at the edges, about 12 to 16 minutes.    Allow cookies to cool on wire racks.    Store cookies in an airtight container for up to 4 days.