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The
nymphs became so jealous of each other that they began neglecting
their duties to Apollo's sister, the goddess Diana. She turned
them into four dull-white marigolds which upset Apollo. He
countered by sending down his most brilliant rays to color
them gold.
Calendula
prefers a rich loam and full sun, but will grow in most soils
and partial shade. A self-seeding annual, it can become quite
invasive if grown in ideal conditions.
The word calendula comes from the Latin calens (the same root
as calendar), meaning the first day of the month, because
the Romans thought that this was when the plant bloomed. Christians
called it "marygold" or "marybud" because
the blooming coincided with festivals celebrating the Virgin
Mary. Other names for the herb include: Summer's Bride, Husbandman's
Dial, Holigold and "poor man's saffron" because
its color and mild peppery taste make it an excellent and
inexpensive substitute for the Spanish condiment.
Medicinally, calendula has proven itself as a very effective
skin conditioner for cuts, scrapes, wounds and burns. It's
very beneficial for diaper rash and for soothing nipples that
are sore from breast-feeding. To make your own calendula cream
add three grams of flower petals to two cups of edible, preferably
olive, oil. Place in a double boiler and gently heat for two
hours. Remove from the heat and strain out the petals. Place
fresh petals in the oil and repeat the gentle heating for
another two hours. Strain out the calendula flowers again
and add three grams of beeswax, gently stirring over the heat
until the wax and oil have blended. Allow to cool in clean
jars before sealing.
Calendula petals, added to a salad, not only enliven it with
color, but also contribute nutrients. The herb is a good source
of lutein, a powerful antioxidant. It is particularly effective
in combating age-related macular degeneration, the leading
cause of irreversible blindness in North Americans.
Calendula also makes a delightful tea, especially when combined
with lemon balm. One caveat: If you're allergic to ragweed,
you might react to pot marigold also.
For culinary use, here's my recipe for "Romantic Rice"
for two. I always use long grain brown rice for its superior
taste and nutritional qualities, but white rice can be substituted:
· 1 medium onion, diced
· 2 tsp. olive oil
· 1 cup fresh, rinsed calendula petals
· 1 cup of water
· ½ vegetable or herbed bouillon cube
· ½ cup of rinsed brown rice.
Sauté the onion in the olive oil in a small, heavily
lidded pot. Take half of the calendula petals and add them
to the cup of water in a blender. Blend well and then pour
the liquid over the onions. Add the chicken or herbed bouillon
cube to the water and bring to the boil. Add the rice while
stirring. Turn the heat to simmer, cover and cook until the
water is absorbed, usually 40-45 minutes for brown rice and
25-30 minutes for white. When the rice is ready, stir in the
rest of the calendula petals. This makes a perfect carbohydrate
accompaniment to a fish, chicken, meat or vegetarian dish.
For breakfast try these Calendula Corn Muffins:
· 1 cup stone-ground cornmeal
· ¾ of a cup unbleached white flour
· 2 tsp. baking powder
· ½ tsp. salt
· 2 extra-large eggs
· 1 cup milk (non-diary such as nut milk may be substituted)
· 3 Tbsp. corn oil
· ¾ of a cup grated cheddar cheese
· 1 cup of corn kernels, fresh or frozen and thawed
· ¼ cup of calendula petals.
Butter
a muffin tin and preheat oven to 375F. In a mixing bowl combine
the cornmeal, flour, baking powder and salt. In another bowl,
beat the eggs and add the milk and oil, blending well. Stir
the cheese and corn into the wet ingredients. Pour the wet
ingredients into the dry and blend. Stir the calendula petals
into the batter. Fill the muffin tins almost full. Bake for
20 minutes or until golden brown. Let stand for five minutes
before serving.
Another caveat: Whether your application is culinary or medicinal
never use edible flowers that have been grown commercially.
Only use plants that you know have not been subjected to herbicides
or pesticides. This includes plants from your own garden.
If you use herbicides or pesticides keep them well away from
the beds of any plants you plan to eat. Washing them isn't
good enough. The plants will absorb these poisons and so will
you.
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