Dr. Franken-Cilantro, I Presume?

My cilantro bolted. Actually, it is currently bolting. What does it even mean, to bolt? It sounds like something in Dr. Frankenstein's notes: 

...don't forget bolting: Add contact points to monster [sides of neck?] for attachment of jumper cables; crucial for next phase in reanimation of creature. Bwah-ha-ha-hah!

"It's Ali---ive!!!"

In this instance however, it describes what happens to cilantro plants when their roots notice that the soil has reached 70°F. If you've ever had your cilantro bolt on you, you'll know what I'm talking about. If not, I'll let you in on what happens at that magical 70°F point... the plant decides that the time is right for making seeds, shoots up with a staggering amount of growth, bursts into pretty little blossoms, followed by round green seed pods.

It happens fast. It happens dramatically. You're happily snipping some cilantro here, some there. A salad dressing one week, maybe a marinade or quesadillas the next, and then...BAM! By the time you realize what's happened... it's too late to warn the villagers.

So... I guess the whole creating-a-monster analogy actually does apply here after all.

However, unlike Frankenstein's monster, once the cilantro bolts, it's done. Finished. Over with. There's no cutting it back to encourage more leaf-growth, so don't even bother. Just sit back and enjoy the pretty flowers and the shiny green seed pods. They really are quite lovely.

Then go out and get a new cilantro plant, read up about it's care and needs, and try, try, again! Here are some tips for the next time...

• Cilantro bolting at Gardening Know How 
• Harvesting Cilantro at Backyard Vegetable Gardening
• A better way to grow cilantro at Sunset Magazine

All the careful tending will be worth it for all the deliciousness you can make with it...

• El Torito Cilantro & Pepita Salad Dressing at Food.com
• Cilantro Lime Rice at Martha Stewart
• Cilantro Pesto at Simply Recipes
• another Cilantro Pesto this one from Real Simple 
• Pan Seared Salmon with Pumpkin Seed Cilantro Pesto from Bon Appetit  

...and of course lets not forget about salsa (like that's even possible!)...

• Fresh Salsa from Foodie Relations 
• Restaurant Style Salsa from Pioneer Woman
• Pico de Gallo at Sweet Life

But wait! Don't pull up that old bolted cilantro plant just yet! 

There's still some life left in that old monster after all. . . come back later and find out more. . .