A lot of people plant an herb garden yet have no idea what to do with the harvest. What herb goes with tomato or what would work in a curry?Is marjoram good on grilled meat? Or is that rosemary? What about dill seeds or mint?The solution here is to know your herbs and what their specific uses are. You'll have more flavorful meals when you know what to add to your marinades or mix into your batters.
Basil is the most popular and is grown in any Italian garden. it's the primary ingredient of pesto, that tangy green sauce usually reserved for gnocchi, However you can also use it in red sauce and of curse on pizza Margherita. Basil can also be shredded and used as extra flavor in panini or to add zing to summer salads. The best thing about it is that it can be frozen and used in the winter for holiday meals. If you're going to grow basil , then you might as well grow rosemary and oregano. All three found widely in Italian and Greek cooking but also can be used in grilling and creating tasty marinades. Together they can turn a bland barbecue into something special or add zest to any sauce. They are also easy to grow and usually yield an abundant crop.
Tarragon and chives are probably the next popular herbs. Tarragon is wonderful in flavoring chicken but it can also be used to liven up mayonnaise. Chive can be used for much the same thing. A relative of the onion, chive is always thought to top baked potatoes. However you can use it in sauces and to flavor soups and stews. Thyme is another herb that 's versatile It's great adding zest and color to homemade seafood chowders. You can also use it if you're grilling shrimp kabobs or having a hearty salmon steak. Sage is another herb, that's found in most garden. It's usually considered a "winter herb" because it' s used in stuffings and to flavor heavy pork dishes. If you're growing it, you may want to dry it and save it for the cooler months.
Herbs are a great addition to any meal. You can use them in a variety of ways to liven up a plain shish kabob or put zest into a sauce. Just remember that specific ones work best with certain foods.
Tomorrow - more on herbs!!!!!!!!
Thursday, April 16, 2009
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