Ask Arlene about Tarragon & more©

Ask Arlene©

By Arlene Wright-Correll

A recent email question asks, “Can you tell me some information about French Tarragon?”

Though this herb is native to Siberia and western Asia, tarragon is primarily used in France. We grow great French Tarragon at Home Farm Herbery where it's often added to white wine vinegar, lending sweet, delicate licorice-like perfume and flavor. It pairs well with fish, omelets, and chicken cooked with mustard, and it's a crucial component of béarnaise sauce. French tarragon isn't always easy to find, but when you get it, you'll love the bittersweet, peppery taste it imparts. Heat diminishes its flavor, so add tarragon toward the end of cooking, or use it as a garnish. A little goes a long way

Tarragon is a bittersweet herb with a hint of licorice flavor, but too much can overwhelm your recipe. 1 Tablespoon fresh tarragon = 1 teaspoon dried.  Dried tarragon should be kept in a sealed container in a cool, dark place and used within 1 year. Heat greatly intensifies the flavor of tarragon, both fresh and dried.  Tarragon is also a good herb to use in infused oils. Tarragon is a prime ingredient in Béarnaise Sauce and the French favorite herb mixture, fines herbes.  At Home Farm Herbery our variety of French Tarragon is much stronger and flavorful than its more common Russian variety.

A recent email question asks, “I have just started to learn how to work with colored pencils and I do not know how to correct mistakes when I make them. Do you know how to correct mistakes with colored pencil drawings?”

Yes, I find that rubber cement thinner does the trick! Not only is rubber cement thinner (I find the brand to use is Bestine) ideal for blending heavy layers of color, you can also use it to correct or cover up nasty mistakes. As with all solvents, work in a well-ventilated area. Working outside is recommended.

Rubber cement thinner works best with heavy layers of color. You can completely cover one layer with another layer (or more than one) and all of the layers will blend. Blending even works on areas that have been burnished. The less color on the paper, the less successful the blending will be.

It is important to test a scrap piece of paper before working on your drawing to make sure the support you’re using will stand up under blending and won’t buckle as it dries and try experimenting with new methods before trying them on artwork. See what you can do with thin and thick layers of color, with sable or bristle brushes, and with cotton swabs or cotton balls.

Always allow at least thirty minutes of drying time after blending. Not only does the support need to dry; you also want to give the rubber cement thinner ample time to evaporate and the fumes to disperse. I generally let drawings dry over night in a well-ventilated area whenever possible.

Another email question asks, “Do you know of a simple, quick and easy recipe for cooking Summer squash for dinner or lunch?”

Yes, here is one of my favorites.  Stuffed Summer Mix Squash (I recommend using yellow & green small squash.

Blanch Summer Mix squash in boiling salted water briefly, until just tender.

Scoop out the seeds, forming a cavity.

Blend together 1/2 cup ricotta cheese with 1 egg, 1 finely minced hot pepper, 1/3 cup cheddar cheese and 2 tbsp fresh chopped chives.

Stuff the squash and place in an ovenproof dish with 1/2 inch water.

Bake at 350° for 20 minutes, or until slightly browned on the top.

May the Creative Force be with you as you tread the earth lightly.

Home Farm Herbery LLC