If you received an herb garden this year for Christmas, you are probably thinking, “Why would I want a Herb Garden”. If you don’t use fresh herbs very often, you may not know which herbs are best in certain foods. Our local store does not sell fresh herbs and I don’t get to go to the major store but about once a month. Sometimes I forget to buy them. So, I like my herb garden. I always have dried herbs on hand too, but when you smell the aroma coming from fresh herbs in your dish, it smells wonderful. So plant your herbs and get ready to cook. Here is a brief list of what herbs to use:
Dill: Leaves are used for garnish. Seeds can be used to cook any food you would like a hint of dill taste
Fennel: This is a sweet, hot flavor. You can use both seeds and leaves. Seeds are good to use as a spice in baked foods
Marjoram: Used in soups or for stuffings
Tarragon: Great to use in all salads or sauces because it has a hot taste to it. Used to flavor vinegar
Curry Powder: This powder gives a taste of several spices together
Chives: Leaves are used in such foods as: Toppings for baked potatoes, salads, omelets, soups. It has the taste of a very mild onion
Sage: This seasoning is good to use in stuffings. Add it to meats like sausage.
Caraway: Use this spice in baked goods such as cakes, breads or soups. The seeds have a spicy smell
Paprika: Use this for a garnish such as potatoes, salads or eggs. It is a red pepper that is bright red in color. Really good in chef salads
Basil: This herb has a warm, sweet flavor. Use with main dishes such as meats or vegetables
Oregano: Use this with tomato sauces or any tomato based food
Bay Leaf: Use this whole leaf to flavor soups and stews or tomato sauces. Remove the leaf before you serve
Ginger: Use this herb in such foods as pickles, some Jams or Jellies, Cakes, cookies or soups.
Shallots: These are small onions that can be used to flavor meats or to use as a topping on many dishes.
To prepare your fresh herbs, just snip what you need with regular kitchen scissors. Don’t snip them over your dish that you are preparing, you might snip too much. Measure first.
Here are some Herbed Recipes to try: