HOW TO DRY LEAVES
Dried herbs can be used as an alternative to fresh leaves (use half the amount) and will provide you with a supply during the winter months. Pick leaves or buds early in the morning before the heat of the day has evaporated any of the essential oils.
If you are drying large quantities of herbs, hang them upside down in bunches somewhere warm and dry. Wrap a paper or muslin bag loosely around the bunches and use a tie-twist to secure the stems as it allows you to tighten the bunches as they shrink.
Make a dryer by stretching muslin over a wooden frame, or pick up a drying rack online. Lay the herbs individually across the muslin and turn every 12 hours or so.
Dehydrators are another nifty gadget to use but if your oven can be set as low as 38C (100F), then use that. Test your herbs are dry by crumbling them between your fingertips.
Store dried herbs in sterilised airtight jars out of direct sunshine. They can last for up to a year.
Dear Coleen
I FEEL heartbroken because my parents won’t support my choice of boyfriend. I’m a 28-year-old single mum with a four-year-old son and Mum and Dad think my boyfriend, who’s 22, is too young and immature to look after us and take the relationship seriously.
My mum has suggested he might do a disappearing act if someone else comes along who doesn’t have the responsibility of a child. My dad even called him a “loser”, which really upset me because it’s not true and I was shocked that he could be that mean.
What do you think? Can I talk them round?
Coleen says
NO, probably not. I think the thing that will change their minds is time and seeing that he isn’t any of those things.
This is tough but try to remember that they’re saying these things because they love you and their grandson, and don’t want to see either of you get hurt.
Maybe when we’re out of lockdown, your parents will have the chance to get to know your boyfriend better and they will then feel reassured.
I think all you can say to them is that you don’t know if this relationship will last – none of us knows how things will play out at the start of a relationship – but at the moment you’re very happy with him.
Equally, if things aren’t working out with your boyfriend, don’t stay with him because you want to prove your parents wrong and don’t be worried about admitting it. I’m sure your parents will be there to support you.
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