Weekend Herb Blogging turns 6

Way back in what seems the dawn of blogging (2005) when weekends had been set aside for dog and cat blogging, Kalyn decided as a bit of fun, to post photos of the plants in her garden. From that simple act, Weekend Herb Blogging has grown to be a celebration of those humble, plant-based ingredients we use everyday and for the last year, it has been a great pleasure to see the introduction of the Italian version of Weekend Herb Blogging.

I would like to thank all the bloggers who take part, without you there wouldn't be a WHB and to those that each week volunteer to host the English -
Anh, Astrid, Chriesi, Chris, Cinzia, Graziana, Huan, Janet, Katie, Min, Lynne, Rachel, Rinku, Simona, Susan, Winnie and Yasmeen
and Italian versions -
Ancutza, Aitina, Branca & Conchita, Brii, Elena, Fiorella, Kris, Libera, Marta, Simona and Terry

From next week we'll also have a shiny new logo:

As part of WHB's birthday celebration, everyone that joins in this week will go into a draw to receive a choice of the following:




The latest from Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall - River Cottage Veg Everyday or the classic by Alice Waters - Chez Panisse Vegetables. Either would be a great addition to any cookbook collection.

For those taking part in the Italian version - this week it will be hosted by Brii, they will go into the draw for:

Cucina Regionale - Ricette di Osteria d'Italia.

So how do you take part - it's very simple.

You have the week to post about any herb, vegetable, fruit, nut, seed, flower or grain - in fact if it is plant based, we would love to know more.

Your post can be informative and/or include a recipe where your featured ingredient is the main ingredient of the dish. Posts can be written anytime during the week but they need to be sent to me by the deadline.

Please include the phrase Weekend Herb Blogging in your post with a link to this hosting announcement.

Send your posts to whb AT cookalmostanyting DOT com with WHB#308 in the subject line and the following details:

• Your name
• Your Blog/URL
• Your Post URL
• Your Location
• Attach a photo: 300px wide

The email will need to get to me by the following times:

• 3pm Sunday - Utah Time
• 10pm Sunday - London Time
• 11pm Sunday - Rome Time
• 9pm Monday - Melbourne DS Time

Castelluccio Lentils with Sausage

Lynne from Cafe Lynnylu is hosting this edition of Weekend Herb Blogging and this week I'm focusing on Umbria and their prized Castelluccio Lentils.

Weekend Herb Blogging #307 Hosting

This week the talented Lynne from Cafe Lynnylu will be hosting Weekend Herb Blogging.

While it's called Weekend Herb Blogging we don't limit ourselves to just posts dealing with herbs - we celebrate vegetables, fruit, nuts, seeds, flowers, grains - in fact if it is plant based, then we'll love to hear more.

Your posts can either be informative and/or include a recipe where your featured ingredient is the main ingredient of the dish. If you've found a new way to cook an old ingredient or discovered a new ingredient, you're more than welcome to share it with WHB.

Posts can be written anytime during the week but need to be sent to the host by the appropriate deadlines. You can find more information by checking out the WHB rules.

Send your entries to lynnylu AT gmail DOT com
with WHB#307 in subject line and the following details:

• Your Name
• Your Blog Name/URL
• Your Post URL
• Your location
• A photo: 400px wide

Your entries need to be received by:

• 3pm Sunday - Utah Time
• 9pm Sunday - London Time
• 10pm Sunday - Rome Time
• 8am Monday - Melbourne DS Time

Don't forget you can also keep track of the Italian version of WHB - hosted by Elena from Zibaldone Culinario.

Plum Crostata

Susan from The Well-Seasoned Cook is hosting this edition of Weekend Herb Blogging and this week I've channelled my inner little Jack Horner and pulled out a whole lot of plums.

Black and White Wednesday #15

As always B&W Wednesday is hosted by Susan from The Well-Seasoned Cook who this week is also hosting Weekend Herb Blogging.

The photo this week is taken around one of Bologna's Medieval market streets - Via Pescheria Vecchie and is fairly self explanatory.

This little piggy went to market...

Weekend Herb Blogging #306 Hosting

The amazing Susan from The Well-Seasoned Cook is hosting this edition of Weekend Herb Blogging.

If you haven't taken part or it's been a while, here's a quick summary of the rules.

You have the week to post about any herb, fruit, vegetable, seed, nut, flower or grain - in fact if it is plant based, then we'll love to hear more.

Your post can be informative - spotlight a particular ingredient and include information about how they are used in cooked and/or include a recipe where your chosen ingredient is one of the primary ingredients in the recipe.

Post should include the phrase Weekend Herb Blogging and a link to the rules and to your host.

You can post anytime during the week but remember to email your host by the deadline.

Entries must be submitted by:

• 3pm Sunday - Utah Time
• 10pm Sunday - London Time
• 11pm Sunday - Rome Time
• 8am Monday - Melbourne (Aus) DS Time

Send your posts to thewellseasonedcook AT yahoo DOT com
with WHB#306 in the subject line and the following details:

• Your name
• Your Blog/URL
• Your Post URL
• Your Location
• Please include a photo sized:400px wide

Don't forget that the Italian edition of Weekend Herb Blogging is hosted this week by Simona from Simona's Kitchen.

Frittelle di Mele

The lovely Cinzia from Cindystar is hosting both the English and Italian editions of Weekend Herb Blogging and this week I've found an American apple in Italy called Stayman.

Chocolate, Hazelnut and Ricotta Tart

Today is the start of Eurochocolate so it's fitting that this posting has a chocolate theme to it. There's one particular product you'll see a lot of in Eurochocolate and that is, unsurprisingly, Nutella.

But I've recently discovered an artisan alternative called Nocciolape - a mix of hazelnut, cacao and acacia honey

Black and White Wednesday #14

It's time for another Black & White Wednesday hosted by the fabulous Susan from The Well-Seasoned Cook



As a bit of fun we've been keeping the corks and caps from the wines we've enjoyed during our trip - this collection started in Paris and has moved through Piemonte with the latest additions coming from Emilia-Romagna. Ah, if these corks could talk..

Weekend Herb Blogging #305 Hosting

Both the English and Italian editions of Weekend Herb Blogging will be hosted by the fabulous Cinzia from Cindystar.

While it's called Weekend Herb Blogging we don't limit ourselves to just posts dealing with herbs - we celebrate vegetables, fruit, nuts, seeds, flowers, grains - in fact if it is plant based, then we'll love to hear more.

Your posts can either be informative and/or include a recipe where your featured ingredient is the main ingredient of the dish. If you've found a new way to cook an old ingredient or discovered a new ingredient, you're more than welcome to share it with WHB.

Posts can be written anytime during the week but need to be sent to the host by the appropriate deadlines.You can find more information by checking out the WHB rules.

Send your entries to cmc AT cindystar DOT it
with WHB#305 in subject line and the following details:

• Your Name
• Your Blog Name/URL
• Your Post URL
• Your location
• A photo: 300px wide

Your entries need to be received by:

• 3pm Sunday - Utah Time
• 10pm Sunday - London Time
• 11pm Sunday - Rome Time
• 8am Monday - Melbourne DS Time

Piadina con Culatello

Here I am in the capital of the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy and the food item you'll see just about everywhere is Piadina.

Piadina is the unleaven flatbread of the region and I have made it for this blog back in 2006 (gosh, time flies). While I make a pretty good version of it back in Australia I'm curious to see how it compares with the "real version".

One of the more traditional fillings for Piadina is prosciutto but I felt like having something a little more special so I've chosen the ultimate prosciutto - Culatello

Borettane Onion Tart

Chris from Mele Cotte is hosting this edition of Weekend Herb Blogging and this week I've been moving "home" from Piemonte to Emilia-Romagna but I'm still enjoying the wonderful produce of the country like these fabulous Borettane Onions.

Weekend Herb Blogging #304 Hosting

The wonderful Chris from Mele Cotte will be hosting this edition of Weekend Herb Blogging.

If you haven't taken part or it's been a while since you last joined in, here's a quick summary of the rules.

You have the week to post about any herb, fruit, vegetable, nut, seed, flower or plant. Your post can be informative - spotlight a particular ingredient and/or include a recipe where your chosen ingredient is one of the primary ingredients in the recipe.

Complete information can be found here.

You can post any time during the week but remember to send your email by the following cut-off times:

• 3pm Sunday - Utah Time
• 10pm Sunday - London Time
• 11pm Sunday - Rome Time
• 8am Monday - Melbourne (Aus) DS Time

Send your entries to melecotte AT gmail DOT com with WHB#304 in the subject line and the following:

• Your Name
• Your Blog Name/URL
• Your Post URL
• Your Location
• A photo: 250px wide

You can also keep up with the Italian version of Weekend Herb Blogging - this week Marta from Viaggiare è un po’ come mangiare will be hosting.

Fonduta con Tartufo Bianco

Winnie from Healthy Green Kitchen is hosting this edition of Weekend Herb Blogging. This week marks the official start of the White Truffle Season, so it makes sense that the ingredient I'm featuring has to be Alba White Truffle!